bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Interplay between Glutathione-S-Transferase and Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase in Neonatal Cord Blood
Authors: Hunaiti Abdelrahim A. , Al-Shareef M.
Published: October 2009

Three hundred neonatal cord blood samples were collected from two major cities in Jordan and assayed for glutathione-S-transferase (GST), glutathione, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD). A significant positive correlation between the levels of G6PD and GST activities was detected. When the G6PD activity decreased, the GST activity declined. A similar concurrent decrease in the concentration of reduced glutathione was also observed. When the samples were divided into males and female samples, some significant variations in the levels of the two enzymes were observed. Female samples exhibited higher G6PD and GST activities as compared with male samples. Moreover, the incidence of severe and moderate G6PD deficiencies was higher in male as compared with female samples. Analyses of the samples for total bilirubin, red blood cells, hematocrit, and hemoglobin were also performed, and slight nonsignificant variations were noted.
Response of Hepatic Mitochondrial and Peroxisomal β-Oxidation to Increasing Palmitate Concentrations in Piglets
Authors: Yu Xing Xian , Drackley James K. , Odle Jack , Lin Xi
Published: October 2009

Responses of total, mitochondrial, and peroxisomal β-oxidation to increasing [1-14C]-palmitate concentrations (0.02–1.0 mM) were measured in liver homogenates from neonatal pigs. Incubations were conducted in the absence (total β-oxidation) or presence (peroxisomal β-oxidation) of antimycin A and rotenone; mitochondrial β-oxidation was calculated as total minus peroxisomal oxidation. Total and mitochondrial β-oxidations were maximized at a palmitate concentration of 0.05 mM, whereas peroxisomal β-oxidation was maximized at 0.50 mM palmitate. Across concentrations, peroxisomal β-oxidation contributed 40–47% of total β-oxidation. An increased rate of CO2 production and a greater ratio of CO2 production to total mitochondrial β-oxidation as palmitate concentration increased suggested that the limited capacity for mitochondrial β-oxidation was attributable primarily to limited ketogenic capacity. Comparative observations in liver from adult rats showed that peroxisomal β-oxidation was maximized at 0.1 mM palmitate, but total and mitochondrial β-oxidation rates were not maximized even at 1 mM palmitate. At 1 mM palmitate, peroxisomal β-oxidation was 20% of total β-oxidation in adult rats and 37% in adult pigs. Therefore, the contribution of peroxisomal β-oxidation to total β-oxidation is highly dependent on substrate concentration and appears to be greater in adult pigs than in adult rats. The greater proportional contribution of peroxisomal β-oxidation in piglet liver might act as a compensatory mechanism for piglets to oxidize milk fatty acids.
Constitutive Expression c-fos, c-jun, and NFκB mRNA Is in Nucleated Fetal Blood Cells and Up-Regulation of c-fos and c-jun with Anti CD3 Stimulation
Authors: Jarvis James N. , Zhao Lin , Xu Cheng Su , Moore Heide T. , Berry Stanley
Published: October 2009

Fetal and neonatal lymphocytes are relatively resistant to activation and cytokine production when stimulated either via their T-cell antigen receptors or lectins. The molecular mechanism(s) responsible for this phenomenon have not been clearly elucidated. We have hypothesized that such defects in fetal/neonatal T-cell activation may be due to lack of expression of the transcriptional regulatory elements required for T-cell activation. We used reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction to examine both fetal and term neonatal cord bloods for mRNA expression of three transcription factors implicated in T-cell activation: c-jun, c-fos, and NFκB (p50 subunit). We demonstrate that mRNAs for all three of these regulatory factors are expressed in fetal blood cells by the 27th week of gestation and in term cord bloods. Activation of term infant cord blood mononuclear cells with anti-CD3 monoclonal antibodies resulted in up-regulation of both c-jun and c-fos mRNAs within 15 min of stimulation. However, secretion of IL-2 by anti-CD 3-stimulated cord blood mononuclear cells was still blunted compared with control cells from adults. We conclude that fetal nucleated blood cells constitutively express important genes for cytokine regulation and are able to increase intracellular accumulation of the mRNAs for these factors in response to anti-CD3 stimulation. Thus, qualitative differences in the capacity to regulate these factors could not be shown in fetal blood cells. Quantitative experiments comparing binding of these transcription factors to the IL-2 promoter are currently under investigation.
Clinical Utilization of the Neonatal Hair Test for Cocaine: A Four-Year Experience in Toronto
Authors: Ursitti Franca , Klein Julia , Koren Gideon
Published: October 2009

Background: There has been a steady increase in the number of newborns affected by maternal drug use. Cocaine and its metabolites cross the placenta and have been routinely measured in neonatal urine; however, due to the short half-life of the drug many exposed fetuses have negative urine tests. We have developed a neonatal hair test for measuring cocaine and its metabolites by radioimmunoassay. Since the validation of this test we prospectively evaluated its clinical utility by physicians, hospital nurseries and social welfare agencies who requested neonatal hair analysis to verify clinical suspicion of maternal cocaine use during pregnancy. Objective: The objective of the present research was to establish the sensitivity of the hair test in validating clinical suspicion of in utero exposure to cocaine in the presence of negative urine test. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that the use of the hair test in cases of clinical suspicion but negative urine test will yield a substantially higher rate of positivity than expected in the general population. Design: Between October 1991 and April 1995 we prospectively analyzed a total of 192 neonatal hair samples to confirm clinical suspicions of intrauterine exposure to cocaine. Of these, 10 did not have sufficient hair to analyze for cocaine metabolites. Results and Discussion: Fifty-five (30%) of the remaining 182 were positive for cocaine metabolite. This rate was 5.5-fold higher than the 5.5% found by us in a population-based research study in three nurseries in Toronto (p < 0.001), thus documenting the efficiency of this test in confirming clinical suspicions of fetal exposure to cocaine. Benzoylecgonine concentrations in this cohort were 2-fold higher than among positive cases in a previous population-based screening study (p = 0.0001) indicating that when clinical suspicions prompted physicians to test neonatal hair, they identify a subgroup of heavy cocaine users, who are probably at higher perinatal risks.
An Evaluation of the Lipoprotein Composition and Corresponding Apolipoproteins in the Newly Hatched Male and Female Broiler Chick from Two Different Age Flocks
Authors: Latour Mickey A. , Peebles David , Gardner Chris W. , Schonfeld Gustav
Published: October 2009

The purpose of this experiment was to investigate the effects of breeder flock age (30 vs. 39 weeks) and sex of the newly hatched chicks on lipoprotein composition and apolipoprotein AI (apoAI) and B (apoB) concentrations. Additionally, fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) was used to evaluate which lipoprotein fraction (VLDL vs. LDL vs. HDL) carried the bulk of cholesterol in newly hatched chicks. Other lipoproteins were separated by density gradient ultracentrifugation to determine their chemical composition. Serum apoAI and apoB were compared by density scanning of VLDL, IDL, LDL and HDL fractions from sequential ultracentrifugation spins. The lipoprotein profile and apolipoprotein concentrations were similar for all chicks, so samples were pooled across both sexes and age groups to strengthen the data. For the lipoproteins, VLDL had the highest level of triglycerides followed by IDL, whereas the LDL particles had the highest levels of cholesterol esters compared to all other fractions. After separating the lipoprotein particles by size (FPLC) it was determined that both LDL and HDL carried approximately equal levels of cholesterol. These data suggest that lipoproteins in newly hatched chicks are not effected by sex or flock age chosen. In addition, LDL and HDL cholesterol are carried equally in newly hatched chicks.
Effect of Leptin on Vascular Calcification in Apolipoprotein E–Deficient Mice
Authors: Zeadin Melec , Butcher Martin , Werstuck Geoff , Khan Mohammad , Yee Colin K. , Shaughnessy Stephen G.
Published: October 2009

Objective—

The adipocytokine leptin has been proposed to increase cardiovascular risk in both obese and diabetic individuals. In the current study, therefore, we used apoE-deficient mice to examine the effects of leptin on both lesion size and calcification.

Methods and Results—

Mice were treated with once daily intraperitoneal injections of leptin (125 μg/mouse/d) for 2 months. The mice were then euthanized, and sections of the aortic root and thoracic aorta analyzed histomorphometrically. Measurements of lesion size and surface area occupied by atherosclerotic lesions did not reveal any differences between nontreated and leptin-treated animals. However, von Kossa staining of the aortic root demonstrated an 8.3±2.0-fold increase in lesion calcification as well as a 2.5±0.6-fold increase in valvular calcification in those animals treated with leptin. In addition, the percent total lesion area demonstrating ALP-positive staining was 5.4±2.1-fold greater in leptin-treated mice when compared to nontreated control mice. This increase in ALP staining was also accompanied by an increase in the expression of the osteoblast-specific markers, osteocalcin, and osteopontin.

Conclusions—

Based on these observations, we conclude that leptin may increase cardiovascular risk by promoting osteogenic differentiation and thus vascular calcification.
Smooth Muscle Cell α
2
δ-1 Subunits Are Essential for Vasoregulation by Ca
V
1.2 Channels
Authors: Bannister John P. , Adebiyi Adebowale , Zhao Guiling , Narayanan Damodaran , Thomas Candice M. , Feng Jessie Y. , Jaggar Jonathan H.
Published: October 2009

Rationale
:

Voltage-dependent L-type (Ca
V
1.2) Ca
2+
channels are a heteromeric complex formed from pore-forming α
1
and auxiliary α
2
δ and β subunits. Ca
V
1.2 channels are the principal Ca
2+
influx pathway in arterial myocytes and regulate multiple physiological functions, including contraction. The macromolecular composition of arterial myocyte Ca
V
1.2 channels remains poorly understood, with no studies having examined the molecular identity or physiological functions of α
2
δ subunits.

Objective
:

We investigated the functional significance of α
2
δ subunits in myocytes of resistance-size (100 to 200 μm diameter) cerebral arteries.

Methods and Results
:

α
2
δ-1 was the only α
2
δ isoform expressed in cerebral artery myocytes. Pregabalin, an α
2
δ-1/-2 ligand, and an α
2
δ-1 antibody, inhibited Ca
V
1.2 currents in isolated myocytes. Acute pregabalin application reversibly dilated pressurized arteries. Using a novel application of surface biotinylation, data indicated that >95% of Ca
V
1.2 α
1
and α
2
δ-1 subunits were present in the arterial myocyte plasma membrane. α
2
δ-1 knockdown using short hairpin RNA reduced plasma membrane-localized Ca
V
1.2 α
1
subunits, caused a corresponding elevation in cytosolic Ca
V
1.2 α
1
subunits, decreased intracellular Ca
2+
concentration, inhibited pressure-induced vasoconstriction (“myogenic tone”), and attenuated pregabalin-induced vasodilation. Prolonged (24-hour) pregabalin exposure did not alter total α
2
δ-1 or Ca
V
1.2 α
1
proteins but decreased plasma membrane expression of each subunit, which reduced myogenic tone.

Conclusions
:

α
2
δ-1 is essential for plasma membrane expression of arterial myocyte Ca
V
1.2 α
1
subunits. α
2
δ-1 targeting can block Ca
V
1.2 channels directly and inhibit surface expression of Ca
V
1.2 α
1
subunits, leading to vasodilation. These data identify α
2
δ-1 as a novel molecular target in arterial myocytes, the manipulation of which regulates contractility.
US Geographic Distribution of rt-PA Utilization by Hospital for Acute Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Kleindorfer Dawn , Xu Yingying , Moomaw Charles J. , Khatri Pooja , Adeoye Opeolu , Hornung Richard
Published: October 2009

Background and Purpose—

Previously, we have estimated US national rates of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) use to be 1.8% to 3.0% of all ischemic stroke patients. However, we hypothesized that the rate of rt-PA use may vary widely depending on regional variation, and that a large percentage of the US population likely does not have access to hospitals using rt-PA regularly. We describe the US geographic distribution of hospitals using rt-PA for acute ischemic stroke.

Method—

This analysis used the MEDPAR database, which is a claims-based dataset that contains every fee-for-service Medicare-eligible hospital discharge in the US. Cases potentially eligible for rt-PA treatment based on diagnosis were defined as those with a hospital DRG code of 14, 15, or 559, and that also had an ICD-9 code of 433, 434, or 436. Thrombolysis use was defined as an ICD-9 code of 99.1. Study interval was July 1, 2005 to June 30, 2007. Hospital locations were mapped using ArcView software; population densities and regions of the US are based on US Census 2000.

Results—

There were 4750 hospitals in the MEDPAR database, which included 495 186 ischemic stroke admissions during the study period. Of these hospitals, 64% had no reported treatments with rt-PA for ischemic stroke, and 0.9% reported >10% treatment rates within the MEDPAR dataset. Bed size, rural or underserved designation, and population density were significantly associated with reported rt-PA treatment rates, and remained significant in the multivariable regression. Approximately 162 million US citizens reside in counties containing a hospital reporting a ≥2.4% treatment rate within the MEDPAR dataset.

Conclusion—

We report the first description of US hospital rt-PA treatment rates by hospital. Unfortunately, we found that 64% of US hospitals did not report giving rt-PA at all within the MEDPAR database within a 2-year period. These tended to be hospitals that were smaller (average bed size of 95), located in less densely populated areas, or located in the South or Midwest. In addition, 40% of the US population resides in counties without a hospital that administered rt-PA to at least 2.4% of ischemic stroke patients, although distinguishing transferred patients is problematic within administrative datasets. Such national-based resource-utilization data is important for planning at the local and national level, especially for such initiatives as telemedicine, to reach underserved areas.
Quantifying the Value of Stroke Disability Outcomes
Authors: Hong Keun-Sik , Saver Jeffrey L.
Published: October 2009

Background and Purpose—

The modified Rankin Scale (mRS) categorizes poststroke disability among 7 broad, ordinal grades, but the interval distances between these levels are spaced along the disability spectrum have not been previously investigated.

Methods—

We used the person trade-off procedure developed by the World Health Organization Global Burden of Disease Project (WHO-GBDP) to generate disability weights (DWs) ranging from 0 (normal) to 1 (dead) for each of 7 mRS grades. The ratings of an international, 9-member panel of stroke experts were combined by a modified Delphi process.

Results—

DWs (95% CI) were 0 for mRS 0, 0.046 (0.004 to 0.088) for mRS 1, 0.212 (0.175 to 0.250) for mRS 2, 0.331 (0.292 to 0.371) for mRS 3, 0.652 (0.625 to 0.678) for mRS 4, 0.944 (0.873 to 1.015) for mRS 5, and 1.0 for mRS 6. DWs of adjacent mRS levels were significantly different (
P
<0.001 for all). Coefficients of variation showed a high degree of consensus for DWs among panel members. DWs placed each of the 5 intermediate mRS states in different disability class levels of the WHO-GBDP anchor conditions and identified natural clusters to use when reducing the mRS to fewer categories.

Conclusions—

Formal DW assignment confirms that the mRS is an ordered but unequally spaced scale. The availability of DWs for each mRS level now permits direct comparison of each poststroke outcome state with the outcomes of hundreds of other diseases in the WHO-GBDP and the expression of stroke burden in different populations by using the uniform metric of disability-adjusted life-years lost.
Diffusion Tensor Imaging, White Matter Lesions, the Corpus Callosum, and Gait in the Elderly
Authors: Bhadelia Refeeque A. , Price Lori Lyn , Tedesco Kurtis L. , Scott Tammy , Qiu Wei Qiao , Patz Samuel , Folstein Marshal , Rosenberg Irwin , Caplan Louis R. , Bergethon Peter
Published: October 2009

Background and Purpose—

Gait impairment is common in the elderly, especially those with stroke and white matter hyperintensities on conventional brain MRI. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is more sensitive to white matter damage than conventional MRI. The relationship between DTI measures and gait has not been previously evaluated. Our purpose was to investigate the relationship between the integrity of white matter in the corpus callosum as determined by DTI and quantitative measures of gait in the elderly.

Methods—

One hundred seventy-three participants of a community-dwelling elderly cohort had neurological and neuropsychological examinations and brain MRI. Gait function was measured by Tinetti gait (0 to 12), balance (0 to 16) and total (0 to 28) scores. DTI assessed fractional anisotropy in the genu and splenium of the corpus callosum. Conventional MRI was used to evaluate for brain infarcts and white matter hyperintensity volume.

Results—

Participants with abnormal gait had low fractional anisotropy in the genu of the corpus callosum but not the splenium. Multiple regressions analyses showed an independent association between these genu abnormalities and all 3 Tinetti scores (
P
<0.001). This association remained significant after adding MRI infarcts and white matter hyperintensity volume to the analysis.

Conclusions—

The independent association between quantitative measures of gait function and DTI findings shows that white matter integrity in the genu of corpus callosum is an important marker of gait in the elderly. DTI analyses of white matter tracts in the brain and spinal cord may improve knowledge about the pathophysiology of gait impairment and help target clinical interventions.
A Synchronic Justification for Aristotle's Commitment to Prime Matter
Authors: Scharle Margaret
Published: October 2009

The current debate over Aristotle's commitment to prime matter is centered on diachronic considerations found in his theory of substantial change. I argue that an appeal to this theory is not required in order to establish his commitment to the existence of prime matter. By drawing on Physics II.1's conception of what it is for an element to have a nature – that is, to have an inner source of movement and rest – I introduce a synchronic justification for the existence of prime matter. By trading on the relationship between the thing that has a source of change and the source it has, I show that something that has a source in itself cannot be identical with its source, and that a type of matter that has no nature of its own (a kind of prime matter) is required to block this identification at the level of the elements.
Delimiting Aristotle's Conception of Stasis in the Politics
Authors: Skultety Steven
Published: October 2009

Some scholars have claimed that Aristotle uses the word "stasis" to refer to any sort of conflict in the political realm, covering everything from civil-war to social rivalry. After developing an interpretation of Politics V.1-4, where Aristotle discusses the topic at length, I argue that he is in fact carefully delimiting the concept of stasis so that it applies only to civil-war and open sedition, showing how his analysis excludes partisan antipathy, legal disputes, and political competition. I conclude with some reflections on the significance of this position: by defining stasis narrowly, Aristotle not only offers a profound critique of Plato's theory of regime change, but adopts a position that allows his political philosophy to be relevant for modern theories requiring acceptance rather than rejection of conflict in the political realm.
The Stoic Ontology of Geometrical Limits
Authors: Ju Anna Eunyoung
Published: October 2009

Scholars have long recognised the interest of the Stoics' thought on geometrical limits, both as a specific topic in their physics and within the context of the school's ontological taxonomy. Unfortunately, insufficient textual evidence remains for us to reconstruct their discussion fully. The sources we do have on Stoic geometrical themes are highly polemical, tending to reveal a disagreement as to whether limit is to be understood as a mere concept, as a body or as an incorporeal. In my view, this disagreement held among the historical Stoics, rather than simply reflecting a doxographical divergence in transmission. This apparently Stoic disagreement has generated extensive debate, in which there is still no consensus as to a standard Stoic doctrine of limit. The evidence is thin, and little of it refers in detail to specific texts, especially from the school's founders. But in its overall features the evidence suggests that Posidonius and Cleomedes differed from their Stoic precursors on this topic. There are also grounds for believing that some degree of disagreement obtained between the early Stoics over the metaphysical status of shape. Assuming the Stoics did so disagree, the principal question in the scholarship on Stoic ontology is whether there were actually positions that might be called "standard" within Stoicism on the topic of limit. In attempting to answer this question, my discussion initially sets out to illuminate certain features of early Stoic thinking about limit, and then takes stock of the views offered by late Stoics, notably Posidonius and Cleomedes. Attention to Stoic arguments suggests that the school's founders developed two accounts of shape: on the one hand, as a thought-construct, and, on the other, as a body. In an attempt to resolve the crux bequeathed to them, the school's successors suggested that limits are incorporeal. While the authorship of this last notion cannot be securely identified on account of the absence of direct evidence, it may be traced back to Posidonius, and it went on to have subsequent influence on Stoic thinking, namely in Cleomedes' astronomy.
Sociological Theory, Discourse and the Cognitive Construction of Participation
Authors: O'Mahony Patrick
Published: October 2009

This essay examines the theoretical value of two pragmatic theories for the study of public participation, those of Habermas and of Boltanski and Thevenot, and then places these findings into the context of the systems sociology of Luhmann. The theoretical structure that emerges can be applied in analyzing social actors' constructions of public participation. Such constructions, along with their interactions and alignments, are taken to be pivotal, though neglected, components of participatory innovation. The essay offers a cognitive sociological methodology for analyzing these constructions and briefly considers its value for comparative research.
Biotechnologies and Communication: Participation for Democratic Processes
Authors: Pellegrini Giuseppe
Published: October 2009

The emergence of biotechnologies in the broader context of the so-called risk society requires consideration, comprehension and management of a series of social questions. This is necessary in order to justify decisions on potentially risky phenomena, and not only with accurate measurements or probabilistic calculations of the possible effects. Equally important are detailed examinations of the political and communicative processes able to represent and reflect upon the various sensitivities and attitudes of the actors involved.
Participation in Administrative Decision-Making: A Sequential Analysis of Announcement, Obections and Concluding Letter
Authors: Münte Peter
Published: October 2009

The essay summarizes results of a case study on participation in administrative decision-making on the release of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). This case study evolved from a research project on social positioning within communication between government officials and citizens in different legally driven participation procedures. The communication within the participatory component of the permitting procedure will be interpreted as a "communicative collision" between two parties: A public authority obliged to contribute to a legally constituted public order, and citizens who wish to discuss or negotiate the subject with authorities, or otherwise to "deconstruct" the knowledge base of the authority's decision-making.
Participation and Beyond: Dynamics of Social Positions in Participatory Discourse
Authors: Bora Alfons , Hausendorf Heiko
Published: October 2009

The article studies the characteristics of participatory governance on the level of micro-structures. The analysis of micro-structures allows for better understanding the strengths and weaknesses of participatory discourse. A detailed analysis of communicative structures in partici atory decision-making procedures provides insight into the process of social positioning. The rather strict legal framework in such procedures promotes both inclusive and exclusive dynamics in the process of communication. Participation per se does not guarantee an advance in democratic culture nor is it as such suited to cope with the "democratic deficit" often mentioned in scholarly and political debate. Against this empirical background the article explores new ways for democratic engagement, particularly in the governance of science and technology. In every case of participatory governance the precise function of participation should be clarified with respect to the particular procedure and with respect to the constitutional and legal framework. The competent authority should inform the public about the legal conditions underlying the case, for example in a local information forum. The implementation of "alternative" institutional forms for citizen participation in administrative decision-making should be prepared and accompanied by a precise scientific analysis of the function and structure of participation in the particular model.
The Role of Intention (Niyya) Under Saudi Arabian Hanbali Law
Authors: Saleh Nabil
Published: October 2009

On the authority of the Shari'a, the part intention (niyya) holds in religious matters ('ibādāt) is undisputed. However, a number of schools of thought have questioned its significance with respect to secular transactions (mu'āmalāt). The very first hadīth reported in the Compendium of Tradition, Sahih al-Bukhari says in substance: "Deeds are judged according to intention and every human being will have to take responsibility for what he intended". Sunni schools of law are divided with regard to the extent of application of that hadīth. Whilst Hanafī and Shāfī'ī schools interpret it narrowly to cover only religious matters, Hanbalī and Mālikī teachings extend it to mu'āmalāt. This article looks at intention and its possible relevance in matters concerning breach of contact, abuse of rights and the validity and construction of contract when governed by Saudi/Hanbalī law.
When EU Law Meets Arabic Law: Assessment of Anti-Corruption Law in Morocco and Some Proposed Amendments
Authors: Michael Bryane , Nouaydi Abdelaziz
Published: October 2009

This article reviews the present state of the adoption of anti-corruption legal provisions usually adopted in EU (or candidate) countries in Morocco. Morocco lags behind many countries in its adoption of anti-corruption legislation, and the recently established Central Agency of the Prevention of Corruption is unlikely to succeed in speeding up the adoption of these measures. English language translations of a number of Moroccan anticorruption legal instruments are presented and amendments to these legal instruments are recommended (based on international best practice) in order to increase the likely effectiveness of Moroccan law enforcement institutions in fighting corruption.
Evolution in the Canonical Sunni Hadith Body of Literature and the Concept of an Authentic Hadith During the Formative Period of Islamic ought as Based on Recent Western Scholarship
Authors: Duderija Adis
Published: October 2009

The aim of this article is to trace the development of the Hadith body of literature and the concept of an authentic Hadith as defined by the classical Islamic sciences ('ulum-ul-hadith) during the formative years of Islamic thought as based primarily on Western scholarship sources. The first part of the article will describe the semantico-contextual changes in the meaning of the term Hadith during the period under examination. The second part will present a brief chronological analysis of the development of the canonical Hadith literature and the concept of an authentic Hadith during the first four generations of Muslims. The progress of development of Hadith literature will, in particular, be traced in relation to the development of the concept of an authentic Hadith, as defined by the classical Hadith sciences.
The Perspective of Moral and Financial Rights of Intellectual Property in Islam
Authors: Melhem Basem , Haloosh Hitham , Mahafzah Qais Ali
Published: October 2009

During the Islamic era, Muslims were pioneers in preserving intellectual property rights. Nowadays, however, according to Halāl and Harām, Islamic scholars view intellectual property rights differently, depending on the perspective taken during consideration. As a consequence, one may question whether there is any basis for the concept 'intellectual property rights' in Islamic rules, values, or thoughts, and whether violation of such rights would constitute a sin, similar to violation of any other tangible property. This study on intellectual property rights presents diverging opinions encountered in Islam and concludes that issuing a verdict of Harām or Halāl would be unsuitable for the violation of intellectual property rights, which is a secular issue. The concept 'Intellectual Property' existed in Islam centuries ago in the dress of moral rights. While financial rights, on the other hand, are an arguable issue, intellectual property rights shall be protected and affected as well.
A Systematic Review and Empirical Analysis of the Relation Between Dose and Duration of Drug Action
Authors: Hughes Dyfrig A. , Aronson Jeffrey K.
Published: October 2009

There is a log‐linear relation between the dose and duration of action of drugs with single‐compartment pharmacokinetics and direct, reversible mechanisms of action. However, it has been suggested that this relation does not extend to drugs whose metabolites are active or slowly eliminated, drugs with saturable kinetics, and drugs with hit‐and‐run effects. The purpose of this study is to test this hypothesis and to quantify the relationship by way of a systematic review coupled to an empirical analysis. All issues of 4 clinical pharmacology journals from 1980 to 2005 are hand‐searched for articles that present pharmacodynamic response versus time curves for 4 or more different doses. Data on duration of action, dose, and area under the plasma concentration versus time curve from zero to infinity (AUC) are abstracted and analyzed by panel data regression modeling, with within‐study fixed effects. Duration of drug action is defined as the time during which a pharmacodynamic effect (or response) exceeds a nominal threshold. The generalized models of all observations from 33 publications, with duration of action as the dependent variable and the logarithm of the dose (or AUC) as the explanatory variable, yield significant log‐linear relationships. The regressions for individual studies are correctly specified in 27 cases; there are insufficient data for analysis in 10 studies, and a log‐linear specification is deemed inappropriate in 6. Analysis of published dose‐ranging studies shows that the duration of action of a drug is directly proportional to the logarithm of dose across a wide range of different drugs, extending a result that was previously documented for very few compounds.
Reciprocity in Intergenerational Support: A Comparison of Chinese and German Adult Daughters
Authors: Schwarz Beate , Trommsdorff Gisela , Gang Zheng  , Shaohua Shi
Published: October 2009

This study investigates how Chinese and German adult daughters evaluate the norm of reciprocity and the unbalanced exchange of support in relation to their aging parents. Women from rural and urban China ( n = 292) and from Germany ( n = 264) have participated in this study. Results show that for the German daughters, differently from rural Chinese daughters, perception of imbalance is strongly related to their intention to support their elderly parents. The results for the urban Chinese daughters are closer to those of the German sample than those of the rural Chinese daughters. The results are discussed in light of theoretical approaches to intergenerational relations taking into account the Confucian concept of filial piety and influences of social change.
“I Thought My Heart Would Burst”: The Role of Ultrasound Technology on Expectant Grandmotherhood
Authors: Harpel Tammy S. , Hertzog Jodie
Published: October 2009

Using both quantitative and qualitative data, this study investigates the role of ultrasound technology on feelings of attachment and emotions experienced by expectant grandmothers. A total of 109 expectant grandmothers complete the 84-question Web-based survey. A 12-item scale is used to assess the impact of ultrasound on attachment. As expected, participants who attend the ultrasound exam are more likely than those who merely see pictures or video to report that the ultrasound increased their feelings of attachment. In addition, the results suggest that there is a small but significant negative relationship between number of grandchildren and feelings of attachment. Content analysis of open-ended questions reveal that ultrasound technology is an exciting, bonding experience that makes the fetus more real and produces feelings of awe and pride. Results are discussed in terms of their similarity to those found among expectant mothers and fathers, as well as implications for medical protocol.
Cyclic Testing of 3 All-Inside Meniscal Repair Devices
Authors: Mehta Vishal M. , Terry Michael A.
Published: October 2009

Background

Despite the growing popularity of all-inside meniscal repair devices, concerns remain about their fixation strength. It is also unclear which of these devices have the most ideal biomechanical properties.

Purpose

To compare the biomechanical properties of 3 all-inside meniscal repair devices: the Meniscal Cinch, Ultra FAST-FIX, and MaxFire.

Study Design

Controlled laboratory study.

Methods

Twenty-seven human cadaveric menisci (3 groups of 9) were repaired using 3 different meniscal repair devices. The repaired menisci were then subjected to cyclic loading and load-to-failure testing. Gap formation and ultimate load to failure were measured.

Results

Six of the devices failed during cyclic testing, 4 in the MaxFire group (44%), 1 in the Ultra FAST-FIX group (11%), and 1 in the Meniscal Cinch group (11%). After 1 cycle, there was a trend toward larger gap formation in the MaxFire group (3.65 mm) compared with the Meniscal Cinch group (2.12 mm, P = .05). After 100 cycles, group differences were found in gap formation ( P = .03), with the MaxFire group exhibiting greater displacement (6.70 mm) than the Ultra FAST-FIX group (3.59 mm). After 500 cycles, group differences in gap formation (Meniscal Cinch, 5.94; Ultra FAST-FIX, 4.74 mm; Max Fire, 7.19 mm) did not reach statistical significance ( P = .20). A trend was found toward higher ultimate load to failure in the Ultra FAST-FIX (86.1 N) and Meniscal Cinch (85.3 N) groups compared with the MaxFire group (64.5 N, P = .06). Stiffness was also higher in the Ultra FAST-FIX (25.2 N/mm) and Meniscal Cinch (25.5 N/mm) groups than the MaxFire group (16.3 N/mm, P = .02).

Conclusion

The Meniscal Cinch and Ultra FAST-FIX devices have more desirable biomechanical properties than the MaxFire as demonstrated by higher stiffness and a lower failure rate during cyclic testing.

Clinical Relevance

The Meniscal Cinch and Ultra FAST-FIX devices may be more desirable implants for use during all-inside meniscal repair as they have superior biomechanical properties when compared with the MaxFire device.
Structural, Item, and Test Generalizability of the Psychopathy Checklist—Revised to Offenders With Intellectual Disabilities
Authors: Morrissey Catrin , Cooke David , Michie Christine , Hollin Clive , Hogue Todd , Lindsay William R. , Taylor John L.
Published: October 2009

The Psychopathy Checklist—Revised (PCL-R) is the most widely used measure of psychopathy in forensic clinical practice, but the generalizability of the measure to offenders with intellectual disabilities (ID) has not been clearly established. This study examined the structural equivalence and scalar equivalence of the PCL-R in a sample of 185 male offenders with ID in forensic mental health settings, as compared with a sample of 1,212 male prisoners without ID. Three models of the PCL-R’s factor structure were evaluated with confirmatory factor analysis. The 3-factor hierarchical model of psychopathy was found to be a good fit to the ID PCL-R data, whereas neither the 4-factor model nor the traditional 2-factor model fitted. There were no cross-group differences in the factor structure, providing evidence of structural equivalence. However, item response theory analyses indicated metric differences in the ratings of psychopathy symptoms between the ID group and the comparison prisoner group. This finding has potential implications for the interpretation of PCL-R scores obtained with people with ID in forensic psychiatric settings.
Relationship Between Attitudes and Indicators of Obesity for Midlife Women
Authors: Sudo Noriko , Degeneffe Dennis , Vue Houa , Merkle Emily , Kinsey Jean , Ghosh Koel , Reicks Marla
Published: October 2009

This study uses segmentation analyses to identify five distinct subgroups of U.S. midlife women ( n = 200) based on their prevailing attitudes toward food and its preparation and consumption. Mean age of the women is 46 years and they are mostly White (86%), highly educated, and employed. Attitude segments (clusters of women sharing similar attitudes) are a significant predictor of obesity indicators. Mean body mass index and percentage of body fat are lower for the “concerned about nutrition” attitude segment compared with the “guiltridden dieter” and “impulsive eater” attitude segments. Mean waist circumference is highest in “impulsive eater” compared with the “concerned about nutrition” segment. Those in the “busy cooking avoider” segment have a significantly higher energy intake compared with women in other attitude segments. Tailoring a weight management intervention according to attitude segments of midlife women may enhance effectiveness.
Photovoice: A Review of the Literature in Health and Public Health
Authors: Catalani Caricia , Minkler Meredith
Published: October 2009

Although a growing number of projects have been implemented using the community-based participatory research method known as photovoice, no known systematic review of the literature on this approach has been conducted to date. This review draws on the peer-reviewed literature on photovoice in public health and related disciplines conducted before January 2008 to determine (a) what defines the photovoice process, (b) the outcomes associated with photovoice, and (c) how the level of community participation is related to photovoice processes and outcomes. In all, 37 unduplicated articles were identified and reviewed using a descriptive coding scheme and Viswanathan et al.’s quality of participation tool. Findings reveal no relationship between group size and quality of participation but a direct relationship between the latter and project duration as well as with getting to action. More participatory projects also were associated with long-standing relationships between the community and outside researcher partners and an intensive training component. Although vague descriptions of project evaluation practices and a lack of consistent reporting precluded hard conclusions, 60% of projects reported an action component. Particularly among highly participatory projects, photovoice appears to contribute to an enhanced understanding of community assets and needs and to empowerment.
Burden and health-related quality of life of Spanish caregivers of persons with multiple sclerosis
Authors: Rivera-Navarro J. , Benito-León J. , Oreja-Guevara C. , Pardo J. , Bowakim Dib W. , Orts E. , Belló M. ,   Caregiver Quality of Life in Multiple Sclerosis (CAREQOL-MS) Study Group
Published: October 2009

Little information exists about caregivers of persons with multiple sclerosis (MS). Our aims were to describe the characteristics of a sample of caregivers of persons with MS, assess their perceived burden, health-related quality of life, and investigate factors influencing this burden. We studied 278 caregivers of persons with MS, recruited from a Spanish cross-sectional survey, measuring health-related quality of life by the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) and burden by the Zarit Caregiver Burden Interview. Of the caregivers, 56.8% were female and their mean age was 50.1 ± 12.6 years. Their main relationship with the person with MS was spouse/partner (52.9%) and son or daughter (25.9%). Caregiver General Health, Mental Health, Bodily Pain, and Role-emotional Functioning were the most affected dimensions on the SF-36. Multiple regression analysis showed that independent and significant predictors of burden were Role-emotional Functioning and Vitality dimensions SF-36 scores of caregivers, and the Expanded Disability Status Scale scores. The total adjusted variance explained by these variables (adjusted R2) was 0.512. Emotional factors and the disability of the person with MS were major predictors of burden. Psychological and social support should be considered to reduce caregiver burden.
‘I know how I feel’
Authors: Mitchell Wendy
Published: October 2009

UK government policy advocates involving children in decisions about their lives. However, disabled children are often marginalized and not consulted, especially those with learning and communication impairments. Drawing on an ongoing English Government funded longitudinal study exploring different groups of service users’ choices, this article demonstrates the important contribution that qualitative research methods, especially non-traditional methods, can procure when working with young people who are non-verbal or have limited speech. Working with young people with life-limiting conditions raises some specific challenges for researchers. Here, adapting project wide materials and research methods in order to gain some thematic continuity across different service user groups. Some of these considerations and challenges will be discussed, especially the development of non-verbal forms of communication (talking mats TM). Practical experiences, both positive and negative will be examined. The article concludes by considering some wider implications of using symbols based methods for future research and how these methods can be used across disciplines and by practitioners in their everyday work.
Novel PSEN1 Mutation in a Bulgarian Patient With Very Early-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease, Spastic Paraparesis, and Extrapyramidal Signs
Authors: Dintchov Traykov Latchezar , Mehrabian Shima , Van den Broeck Marleen , Radoslavova Raycheva Margarita , Cruts Marc , Kirilova Jordanova Albena , Van Broeckhoven Christine
Published: October 2009

We describe the phenotype of a Bulgarian early-onset Alzheimer’s disease (EOAD) family with 3 affected patients in 3 generations. In the proband, a novel L381V mutation in the presenilin1 (PSEN1) gene was identified. In this patient, the first symptoms were noticed at the age of 32 years and she died at the age of 37 years. The EOAD phenotype caused by the novel L381V mutation in the PSEN1 gene presented clinically, by a very early onset in the proband, rapid progression of dementia, spastic paraparesis, and extrapyramidal signs, as atypical clinical signs in Alzheimer’s disease patients.
Identification of a myeloid committed progenitor as the cancer-initiating cell in acute promyelocytic leukemia
Authors: Guibal Florence C. , Alberich-Jorda Meritxell , Hirai Hideyo , Ebralidze Alexander , Levantini Elena , Di Ruscio Annalisa , Zhang Pu , Santana-Lemos Barbara A. , Neuberg Donna , Wagers Amy J. , Rego Eduardo M. , Tenen Daniel G.
Published: October 2009

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is characterized by a block in differentiation and accumulation of promyelocytes in the bone marrow and blood. The majority of APL patients harbor the t(15:17) translocation leading to expression of the fusion protein promyelocytic-retinoic acid receptor α. Treatment with retinoic acid leads to degradation of promyelocytic-retinoic acid receptor α protein and disappearance of leukemic cells; however, 30% of APL patients relapse after treatment. One potential mechanism for relapse is the persistence of cancer “stem” cells in hematopoietic organs after treatment. Using a novel sorting strategy we developed to isolate murine myeloid cells at distinct stages of differentiation, we identified a population of committed myeloid cells (CD34+, c-kit+, FcγRIII/II+, Gr1int) that accumulates in the spleen and bone marrow in a murine model of APL. We observed that these cells are capable of efficiently generating leukemia in recipient mice, demonstrating that this population represents the APL cancer–initiating cell. These cells down-regulate the transcription factor CCAAT/enhancer binding protein α (C/EBPα) possibly through a methylation-dependent mechanism, indicating that C/EBPα deregulation contributes to transformation of APL cancer–initiating cells. Our findings provide further understanding of the biology of APL by demonstrating that a committed transformed progenitor can initiate and propagate the disease.
Human-induced pluripotent stem cells from blood cells of healthy donors and patients with acquired blood disorders
Authors: Ye Zhaohui , Zhan Huichun , Mali Prashant , Dowey Sarah , Williams Donna M. , Jang Yoon-Young , Dang Chi V. , Spivak Jerry L. , Moliterno Alison R. , Cheng Linzhao
Published: October 2009

Human induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells derived from somatic cells hold promise to develop novel patient-specific cell therapies and research models for inherited and acquired diseases. We and others previously reprogrammed human adherent cells, such as postnatal fibroblasts to iPS cells, which resemble adherent embryonic stem cells. Here we report derivation of iPS cells from postnatal human blood cells and the potential of these pluripotent cells for disease modeling. Multiple human iPS cell lines were generated from previously frozen cord blood or adult CD34+ cells of healthy donors, and could be redirected to hematopoietic differentiation. Multiple iPS cell lines were also generated from peripheral blood CD34+ cells of 2 patients with myeloproliferative disorders (MPDs) who acquired the JAK2-V617F somatic mutation in their blood cells. The MPD-derived iPS cells containing the mutation appeared normal in phenotypes, karyotype, and pluripotency. After directed hematopoietic differentiation, the MPD-iPS cell-derived hematopoietic progenitor (CD34+CD45+) cells showed the increased erythropoiesis and gene expression of specific genes, recapitulating features of the primary CD34+ cells of the corresponding patient from whom the iPS cells were derived. These iPS cells provide a renewable cell source and a prospective hematopoiesis model for investigating MPD pathogenesis.