bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Primary antiphospholipid syndrome in premenopausal women: low vitamin D, high fat mass and maintained bone mineral mass
Authors: Paupitz JA , Freire de Carvalho J. , Caparbo VF , Klack K. , Pereira RMR
Published: June 2010

The aim of this study was to analyze vitamin D levels and their association with bone mineral density and body composition in primary antiphospholipid syndrome. For this cross-sectional study 23 premenopausal women with primary antiphospholipid syndrome (Sapporo criteria) and 23 age- and race-matched healthy controls were enrolled. Demographic, anthropometric, clinical and laboratorial data were collected using clinical interview and chart review. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels, parathormone, calcium and 24-hour urinary calcium were evaluated in all subjects. Bone mineral density and body composition were studied by dual X-ray absorptiometry. The mean age of patients and controls was 33 years. Weight (75.61 [20.73] vs. 63.14 [7.34] kg, p = 0.009), body mass index (29.57 [7.17] vs. 25.35 [3.37] kg, p = 0.014) and caloric ingestion (2493 [1005.6] vs. 1990 [384.1] kcal/day, p = 0.03) were higher in PAPS than controls. All PAPS were under oral anticoagulant with INR within therapeutic range. Interestingly, biochemical bone parameters revealed lower levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [21.64 (11.26) vs. 28.59 (10.67) mg/dl, p = 0.039], serum calcium [9.04 (0.46) vs. 9.3 (0.46) mg/dl, p = 0.013] and 24-hour urinary calcium [106.55 (83.71) vs. 172.92 (119.05) mg/d, p = 0.027] in patients than in controls. Supporting these findings, parathormone levels were higher in primary antiphospholipid syndrome than in controls [64.82 (37.83) vs. 44.53 (19.62) pg/ml, p = 0.028]. The analysis of osteoporosis risk factors revealed that the two groups were comparable (p > 0.05). Lumbar spine, femoral neck, total femur and whole body bone mineral density were similar in both groups (p > 0.05). Higher fat mass [28.51 (12.93) vs. 20.01 (4.68) kg, p = 0.005] and higher percentage of fat [36.08 (7.37) vs. 31.23 (4.64)%, p = 0.010] were observed in PAPS in comparison with controls; although no difference was seen regarding lean mass. In summary, low vitamin D in primary antiphospholipid syndrome could be secondary to higher weight and fat mass herein observed most likely due to adipocyte sequestration. This weight gain may also justify the maintenance of bone mineral density even with altered biochemical bone parameters.
Understanding the Genetics of Intelligence
Authors: Johnson Wendy
Published: June 2010

Although the subject is controversial, identifying the specific genes that contribute to general cognitive ability (GCA) has seemed to have good prospects, at least among psychological traits. GCA is reliably and validly measured and strongly heritable, and it shows genetically mediated physiological associations and developmental stability. To date, however, results have been disappointing. Human height shows these measurement characteristics even more strongly than GCA, yet data have indicated that no individual gene has more than trivial effects and this is also true for corn oil. The potential for environmental trigger of genetic expression, long recognized in evolutionary and developmental genetics, as applied to these seemingly disparate traits, can help us to understand the apparent contradiction between the heritability of intelligence and other psychological traits and the difficulty of identifying specific genetic effects.
Cognitive Inhibition and Emotion Regulation in Depression
Authors: Joormann Jutta
Published: June 2010

In this article I propose that cognitive inhibition is a key mechanism in the regulation of emotion and that deficits in inhibition of negative material are related to increased risk for depression. Because negative mood yields activation of mood-congruent cognitions in working memory (WM), the ability to control the contents of WM could be crucial in differentiating people who recover easily from negative affect from those who initiate a vicious cycle of increasingly negative thinking and deepening sad mood. Depressed people and people at risk for depression have trouble preventing negative material from entering and remaining in WM, leading them to rehearse, or to ruminate about, negative content. Inhibition deficits may also interfere with reappraisal and the recall of mood-incongruent material, further hindering recovery from negative affect. This article provides a brief summary of findings that support these propositions and outlines implications for future research on the relation between inhibition and emotion regulation and its role in depression.
Attention, Distraction, and Cognitive Control Under Load
Authors: Lavie Nilli
Published: June 2010

The extent to which people can focus attention in the face of irrelevant distractions has been shown to critically depend on the level and type of information load involved in their current task. The ability to focus attention improves under task conditions of high perceptual load but deteriorates under conditions of high load on cognitive control processes such as working memory. I review recent research on the effects of load on visual awareness and brain activity, including changing effects over the life span, and I outline the consequences for distraction and inattention in daily life and in clinical populations.
Probing the Reverse Martensitic Transformation in Constrained Shape Memory Alloys via Electrical Resistance
Authors: Triantafyllou G. , Psarras G.C.
Published: June 2010

Variation of electrical resistance and resistivity is used in order to monitor the reverse martensitic transformation in shape memory alloy (SMA) wires and polymer matrix-SMA composites, under constrained conditions. Results indicate that the characteristic temperatures shift towards higher values with increasing pre-strain level. Structural changes and phase transformations can be followed via electrical resistivity. SMA composites exhibit a behavior analogous to SMA wires, although the temperature range of the reverse transformation appears to be more extensive and a higher data scattering is present, especially, in the low temperature region.
An Active-damping-compensated Magnetorheological Elastomer Adaptive Tuned Vibration Absorber
Authors: Xu Zhenbang , Gong Xinglong , Liao Guojiang , Chen Xianmin
Published: June 2010

This article presents the development of an active-damping-compensated magnetorheological elastomer (MRE) adaptive tuned vibration absorber (ATVA). The principle and the vibration attenuation performance of the proposed active-damping-compensated ATVA were theoretically analyzed. Based on the analysis, a prototype was designed and manufactured. Its dynamic properties and vibration attenuation performances were experimentally investigated. The experimental results demonstrated that the damping ratio of the prototype was significantly reduced by the active force. Consequently, its vibration attenuation capability was significantly improved compared with a conventional MRE ATVA.
Theory of Metamaterial Beams for Broadband Vibration Absorption
Authors: Sun Hongwei , Du Xingwen , Pai P.Frank
Published: June 2010

This article presents methods for modeling, analysis, and design of metamaterial beams for broadband vibration absorption/isolation. The proposed metamaterial beam consists of a uniform isotropic beam with many small spring-mass-damper subsystems integrated at separated locations along the beam to act as vibration absorbers. For a unit cell of an infinite metamaterial beam, governing equations are derived using the extended Hamilton principle. The existence of stopband is demonstrated using a model based on averaging material properties over a cell length and a model based on finite element modeling and the Bloch-Floquet theory for periodic structures. However, these two idealized models cannot be used for finite beams and/or elastic waves having short wavelengths. For finite metamaterial beams, a linear finite element method is used for detailed modeling and analysis. Both translational and rotational absorbers are considered. Because results show that rotational absorbers are not efficient, only translational absorbers are recommended for practical designs. The concepts of negative effective mass and stiffness and how the spring-mass-damper subsystems create a stopband (i.e., no elastic waves in this frequency range can propagate forward) are explained in detail. Numerical simulations reveal that the actual working mechanism of the proposed metamaterial beam is based on the concept of conventional mechanical vibration absorbers. It uses the incoming elastic wave in the beam to resonate the integrated spring-mass-damper absorbers to vibrate in their optical mode at frequencies close to but above their local resonance frequencies to create shear forces and bending moments to straighten the beam and stop the wave propagation. This concept can be easily extended to design a broadband absorber that works for elastic waves of short and long wavelengths. Numerical examples validate the concept and show that, for high-frequency waves, the structure’s boundary conditions do not have significant influence on the absorbers’ function. However, for absorption of low-frequency waves, the boundary conditions and resonant modes of the structure need to be considered in the design. With appropriate design calculations, finite discrete spring-mass-damper absorbers can be used, and hence expensive micro- or nanomanufacturing techniques are not needed for design and manufacturing of such metamaterial beams for broadband vibration absorption/isolation.
Risk Reduction for Substance Use and Trauma-Related Psychopathology in Adolescent Sexual Assault Victims: Findings From an Open Trial
Authors: Kmett Danielson Carla , McCart Michael R. , de Arellano Michael A. , Macdonald Alexandra , Doherty Lauren S. , Resnick Heidi S.
Published: June 2010

Limited attention has been paid to the development and evaluation of interventions that reduce risk for substance use, while also targeting trauma-related psychopathology among maltreated adolescents. Risk Reduction through Family Therapy (RRFT) is a multicomponent treatment that integrates principles and interventions from existing empirically supported treatments. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the feasibility of implementation and initial efficacy of RRFT through an open pilot trial involving a small sample (N = 10) of female adolescents (aged 13—17 years) who had experienced at least one memorable sexual assault in their lifetime. Measures of substance use and substance use risk factors (e.g., family functioning), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and depression symptoms were assessed pre- and posttreatment as well as at 3-month and 6-month posttreatment follow-up assessments. Results demonstrated reductions in multiple areas, including substance use and related risk factors, PTSD, and depression symptoms, which were maintained through follow-up. Clinical implications and future directions with this line of research are discussed.
Differences in parental perceptions of the socio-emotional development of underweight, overweight, and typically weighted children in a low-income sample
Authors: Henninger William R. , Luze Gayle J.
Published: June 2010

Overweight during early childhood has become a major concern in the US, especially as there has been an increase across races, socioeconomic class, and ages. Negative effects on children’s mental, physical, social, and emotional development related to overweight in childhood and adolescence have been identified. In addition, worldwide there are a significant number of children who are underweight. Underweight in childhood has been linked to mental, physical, social, and emotional deficits. This study compared caregivers’ ratings of their child’s socio-emotional development with children’s weight status (underweight, overweight, typically weighted). Data from the Early Head Start Research and Evaluation Project (EHSRE) pre-kindergarten follow-up study were used. Few differences were found for the weight groups; but one notable difference was with underweight children who showed negative socio-emotional outcomes for the following variables: answering people, having trouble sleeping, getting hurt often, and restlessness. In addition, caregivers of underweight children reported greater rates of depressive symptoms than caregivers of typically weighted children.
Do student nurses within an undergraduate child health programme feel that the curriculum prepares them to deal with the death of a child?
Authors: Carson Sheena
Published: June 2010

This article discusses the findings of a qualitative study undertaken within a university in the UK to investigate whether the curriculum prepares student nurses in an undergraduate children’s nursing programme to deal with a child’s death. The literature examined made it clear that end-of-life education remains inconsistent within nursing schools, particularly highlighting a deficit within children’s nursing, and leaving many students at a disadvantage when faced with a child’s death within the practice setting. The article concludes that acquiring the knowledge and skills to enable students to deal confidently with a child’s death may not be achievable within a classroom setting, however more could be done to address students’ concerns in dealing with such a significantly traumatic event. The recommendations are that death education needs to take a higher priority earlier on in the curriculum, and that students need to be provided with the opportunity to reflect on their experiences within small group discussions.
Does multidisciplinary assessment of long-term sickness absentees result in modification of sick-listing diagnoses?
Authors: Svedberg Pia , Salmi Peter , Hagberg Jan , Lundh Göran , Linder Jürgen , Alexanderson Kristina
Published: June 2010

Aims: The aim was to study whether sick-leave diagnoses of long-term sickness absentees were modified after a multidisciplinary assessment and if modifications differed with type of medical specialty of the latest physician to sick-list the patient. Methods: A sample of 635 long-term sickness absentees referred to a multidisciplinary assessment by Social Insurance Offices was included. Data were obtained through sickness certificates and medical records. Patients were examined by board-certified specialists in psychiatry, orthopaedic surgery, and rehabilitation medicine. Descriptive statistics were used. Results: The multidisciplinary assessment resulted in an increase from 1—2 to 2—3 diagnoses for most patients. Forty-five per cent of the male and 47% of the female patients had only somatic diagnoses at referral. After the multidisciplinary assessment these percentages were 20% and 29%, respectively. The rate of women and men given both psychiatric and somatic diagnoses increased from 30% at referral to about 55%. The shift from either only psychiatric or only somatic diagnoses to having these diagnoses in combination was associated with type of specialty of the physician who had sick-listed the patient. Conclusions: The study indicates that many patients on long-term sick-leave with unclear diagnoses may suffer from unrecognized, and therefore probably untreated, medical disorders and co-morbidity.
Technological spillovers from multinational presence
Authors: Gachino Geoffrey G.
Published: June 2010

This article undertakes a critical review of existing spillover analyses and proposes a unique analytical framework for examining technological spillovers in a manufacturing industry setting. The proposed framework overlaps three different literature strands: cluster and network dynamics, technological innovations and spillover literature. It enables to determine the extent to which multinational presence in a host country stimulates spillover occurrence to local firms as well as their nature. Using this framework, the kinds of spillovers and the channels through which they occur most can be equally determined – this is particularly relevant for policy intervention in a technically backward country. Finally, it allows determination of factors and conditions under which spillovers from multinationals occur.
Poverty alleviation and economic reforms in India
Authors: Siggel Eckhard
Published: June 2010

The article first surveys the debate about poverty measurement and recent poverty alleviation in India by focusing on the main contributions. The question of whether the economic reforms of the 1990s have accelerated or delayed poverty reduction, or possibly contributed to increased poverty, is addressed by using the state-level computations of the Human Development Index (HDI). It is shown that the HDI of the leading and lagging states converge and that the convergence accelerated in the 1990s. A functional relationship between the poverty index and the HDI is established and used to project the debated end-of-1990s poverty head count. The result confirms a slow-down in poverty reduction in the post-reform period.
Chronicle of a debt foretold
Authors: Biles James J.
Published: June 2010

In recent months, policymakers and the mainstream media have rediscovered Mexico’s tequila crisis (1994–95) and heralded purported similarities with the ongoing financial debacle in the United States. In principle, the rediscovery of the tequila crisis provides an opportunity to critically assess the causes, consequences and potential responses to the current predicament. In practice, however, vested political and economic interests have availed themselves of the tequila crisis to redefine its causes, elide responsibility for the collapse of the country’s financial system and portray Mexico’s FOBAPROA ( Fondo Bancario de Protección al Ahorro – Banking Fund to protect Savings) bailout as a model for the present circumstances. Mexico’s tequila crisis does, indeed, have much to teach us about the US financial crisis. However, the most valuable lessons are not found in revisionist histories. Rather, popular response in Mexico reveals the possibility of organising collectively to contest the government bailout of the financial system, resist efforts to shift liability for the crisis onto the working and the middle-class households and promote debt restructuring and forgiveness.
Respecting regional culture in an international multi-site study: a derived etic method
Authors: Shordike Anne , Hocking Clare , Pierce Doris , Wright-St. Clair Valerie , Vittayakorn Soisuda , Rattakorn Phuanjai , Bunrayong Wannipa
Published: June 2010

In order to look across three cultures at the meanings of celebratory food preparation for older women, researchers in Thailand, America and New Zealand collaboratively designed a derived etic method that respected each culture while allowing cultural comparison of food-related occupations. Anticipating differences in practices at each site, the inquiry broadly addressed who was involved, the tasks of preparing, sharing and offering food, and the physical and social contexts in which the tasks were performed. A seven-step process emerged with alternating collaborative action to design the study and advance analysis, undertake site-specific data collection and analysis of emic and later, conduct etic interpretation. Strategies to support collaboration, address issues relating to translation of data and analysis, and minimize domination of the western researchers are reported, along with critical examination of the method as enacted. Challenges and benefits of working as an international collaboration are identified.
A difficult negotiation: fieldwork relations with gatekeepers
Authors: Reeves Carla L.
Published: June 2010

This article explores the challenges the researcher faced when undertaking ethnographic fieldwork within a Probation Approved Premises. How access to research sites is achieved is increasingly being discussed, particularly in ethnographic accounts. These discussions often focus on the practical and ethical challenges of entering fieldwork sites. In contrast, how researchers leave study populations or sites is rarely explored, although perhaps as complex and sensitive to negotiate as access. This article reflects upon the practical, ethical and emotional dilemmas experienced by the author when conducting research with sex offenders and staff in a probation hostel. The focus of the article is on how access was gained and how the site and the people who took part in the research were left at the end of the fieldwork. Key issues include: formal and informal gatekeepers to study sites; participants and forms of data; rapport; attachment to researchers and; deciding when to end fieldwork. Issues of gender are alluded to in this article, but will not be focussed on as they will be dealt with in detail elsewhere. It is concluded that negotiating access is different to gaining entry to a research site, and that these negotiations include considerations of the relationship between the researcher, the research and the researched.
Personal narrative and the ethics of disclosure: a case study from elite sport
Authors: Mellick Mikel , Fleming Scott
Published: June 2010

In this article the ethics of disclosure through personal narrative are explored through a relatively benign autobiographical vignette concerning the background to a doctoral study on referee communication in rugby union football. It deals specifically with the referee’s encounters with three key ‘actors’: his mentor, a club coach, and a player (with a rich and therefore identifiable biography) who was ‘sin binned’ in a particular game. Through it, four substantive themes are explored: (i) the impracticality of voluntary informed consent; (ii) anonymity — and the possibilities for the errors of disclosed identities and mistaken identities; (iii) risk of harm; and (iv) violation of privacy.
Utilizing data from a lost sociological project: experiences, insights, promises
Authors: O'Connor Henrietta , Goodwin John
Published: June 2010

In 2000 data from a little known sociological study was ‘re-discovered’, stored in an attic office. The archived data comprised original interview schedules that documented the early work experiences of Leicester’s youth in the 1960s. Forty years on, the original respondents have been traced and re-interviewed as they make the transition from work to retirement. This article examines the complex methodological issues associated with reanalysing, tracing and reinterviewing respondents after such a considerable time lapse. We examine our methodological approach using the concept of qualitative longitudinal research (QLR) as a framework for understanding this process. We also reflect on the value of such longitudinal qualitative research. We conclude by drawing out some of the issues surrounding QLR and the implication of our experiences and insights for those who are now building such longitudinal datasets and the promise such data hold.
Challenges to improving end of life care of people with advanced dementia in the UK
Authors: Thuné-Boyle Ingela C.V. , Sampson Elizabeth L. , Jones Louise , King Michael , Lee Dan R. , Blanchard Martin R.
Published: June 2010

The end of life care received by patients with advanced dementia and their carers is of increasing importance as the incidence of dementia is set to rise in the next 30 years. Currently, inappropriate admissions to hospital are common in the UK and patients are less likely to be referred to palliative care services, receive less pain control but undergo more invasive interventions compared to their cognitively intact counterparts. Patients and families are seldom informed of the terminal nature of dementia and advance care planning discussions are rare. The aim of this study was to improve the understanding of end of life care needs for this patient group and their carers, and to use this information to devise an intervention to improve care. Qualitative data were obtained from relatives of 20 patients with advanced dementia admitted to an inner London teaching hospital acute National Health Service (NHS) Trust and 21 health care professionals involved in their care. Framework analysis was used to analyse the transcripts. The results showed that participants’ understanding of dementia and its likely progress was poor. Provision of information regarding the future was rare despite high information needs. Attitudes regarding end of life care were often driven by the participant’s illness awareness. These attitudes served to guide the decision making process and appear to be a major barrier to the provision of more appropriate care. Implications for patient care are discussed and suggestions for future interventions are made.
The dynamics of continuity and discontinuity for women caring for a spouse with dementia
Authors: Walters Alun H. , Oyebode Jan R. , Riley Gerard A.
Published: June 2010

This qualitative study explores spouse caregivers’ understanding of and responses to partners with dementia. Six wives who had been providing care to their husbands in the community for at least two years were interviewed. Transcripts were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) and four interconnected themes were proposed: same person or different; relational change; emotional responses to behaviours; and impact on day-to-day life. Participants’ sense of continuity with the past was suggested to influence each theme. The construct of continuity was proposed to be elastic, with both intra-psychic and inter-psychic factors impacting upon its elasticity. Broadly, a sense of continuity seemed to be associated with better adjustment to caregiving.
The Influence of Trauma on Women’s Empowerment within the Family-based Services Context
Authors: Burns Jager Kathleen , Carolan Marsha T.
Published: June 2010

Multigenerational crises of traumatic physical and sexual abuse are commonly noted in the histories of families referred for intensive family-based services. This qualitative inquiry centered on women’s participation in family-based therapy services in relation to their trauma histories. Sixteen women were interviewed using qualitative, feminist-informed methods. Women discussed how trauma experiences influence daily life, trust in community services and survival skills in relation to their participation in family-based systems of care. Thematic findings illustrate that facilitating a family empowerment process informed by a lens of trauma survival may enhance support for multi-stressed families by bridging obstacles and ending isolation. Implications for practice suggest that family-based services professionals address contextual obstacles and barriers that women experience.
Group Decision-making in Child Welfare and the Pursuit of Participation
Authors: Hitzler Sarah , Messmer Heinz
Published: June 2010

In institutional social work, decision-making is a core task that increasingly involves more than one professional as well as, frequently, the clients. Group decision-making is fundamentally different from individual decision-making in that it is an inherently social activity calling for the communicative competencies of those involved. In this article, we describe group decision-making procedures for a specific setting of German child welfare. Condensing our findings into an idealised model of decision-making, we attempt to show how communicative and interactive exigencies conflict with decision-making rationalities. We go on to discuss the consequences this conflict has on the participation of clients in the decision-making process, arguing that social workers are likely to address both rationales separately. We show that accordingly, participation in the interaction does not necessarily safeguard a partaking in the decision.
Review: The Diagnostic Accuracy of Dementia-Screening Instruments With an Administration Time of 10 to 45 Minutes for Use in Secondary Care: A Systematic Review
Authors: Appels Bregje A. , Scherder Erik
Published: June 2010

Early screening for dementia is crucial for identifying reversible causes as well as managing, counseling, and other therapeutic interventions. Many reviews have compared the suitability of very brief screening instruments for use in primary care, but reviews on more extensive instruments in secondary care are scarce. In addition, results on diagnostic accuracy are often biased due to methodological shortcomings, differences in the spectrum of patients or reporting. This systematic review reports the diagnostic accuracy of dementia-screening instruments with an administration time of 10 to 45 minutes, validated in secondary care, restricted to mild dementia and validation studies of ‘‘high quality.’’ Characteristics such as cognitive domains and reliability figures are also highlighted.
From array-based hybridization of Helicobacter pylori isolates to the complete genome sequence of an isolate associated with MALT lymphoma
Authors: Thiberge Jean-Michel , Boursaux-Eude Caroline , Lehours Philippe , Dillies Marie-Agnès , Creno Sophie , Coppée Jean-Yves , Rouy Zoé , Lajus Aurélie , Ma Laurence , Burucoa Christophe , Ruskoné-Foumestraux Anne , Courillon-Mallet Anne , De Reuse Hilde , Boneca Ivo Gomperts , Lamarque Dominique , Mégraud Francis , Delchier Jean-Charles , Médigue Claudine , Bouchier Christiane , Labigne Agnès , Raymond Josette
Published: June 2010

Background

elicobacter pylori infection is associated with several gastro-duodenal inflammatory diseases of various levels of severity. To determine whether certain combinations of genetic markers can be used to predict the clinical source of the infection, we analyzed well documented and geographically homogenous clinical isolates using a comparative genomics approach.

Results

A set of 254 H. pylori genes was used to perform array-based comparative genomic hybridization among 120 French H. pylori strains associated with chronic gastritis (n = 33), duodenal ulcers (n = 27), intestinal metaplasia (n = 17) or gastric extra-nodal marginal zone B-cell MALT lymphoma (n = 43). Hierarchical cluster analyses of the DNA hybridization values allowed us to identify a homogeneous subpopulation of strains that clustered exclusively with cag PAI minus MALT lymphoma isolates. The genome sequence of B38, a representative of this MALT lymphoma strain-cluster, was completed, fully annotated, and compared with the six previously released H. pylori genomes (i.e. J99, 26695, HPAG1, P12, G27 and Shi470). B38 has the smallest H. pylori genome described thus far (1,576,758 base pairs containing 1,528 CDSs); it contains the vacA s2m2 allele and lacks the genes encoding the major virulence factors (absence of cag PAI, bab B, bab C, sab B, and hom B). Comparative genomics led to the identification of very few sequences that are unique to the B38 strain (9 intact CDSs and 7 pseudogenes). Pair-wise genomic synteny comparisons between B38 and the 6 H. pylori sequenced genomes revealed an almost complete co-linearity, never seen before between the genomes of strain Shi470 (a Peruvian isolate) and B38.

Conclusion

These isolates are deprived of the main H. pylori virulence factors characterized previously, but are nonetheless associated with gastric neoplasia.
The inhibitory effect against collagen-induced arthritis by Schistosoma japonicum infection is infection stage-dependent
Authors: He YunKun , Li Jia , Zhuang WenJia , Yin Lan , Chen ChunXia , Li Jun , Chi FengLi , Bai YanShuang , Chen Xiao-Ping
Published: June 2010

Background

A long-term existing schistosome infection can aid in maintaining immuno-homeostasis, thus providing protection against various types of autoimmune diseases to the infected host. Such benefits have often been associated with acute or egg stage infection and with the egg-induced Th2 response. However, since schistosome infection undergoes different stages, each associated with a specific induction of Th responses, the requirements for the ability of the different stages of schistosome infection to protect against autoimmune disease has not been elucidated. The present study was designed to study whether different stages of schistosome infection offer unique protection in collagen-induced arthritis and its mechanisms.

Results

Arthritis susceptible strain DBA/1 male mice were infected withSchistosoma japonicumfor either 2 weeks resulting in early stage infection or for 7 weeks resulting in acute or egg stage infection. FollowingSchistosoma japonicuminfection, collagen II was administered to induce collagen-induced arthritis, an animal model for human rheumatoid arthritis. Infection bySchistosoma japonicumsignificantly reduced the severity and the incidence of experimental autoimmune collagen-induced arthritis. However, this beneficial effect can only be provided by a pre-established acute stage of infection but not by a pre-established early stage of the infection. The protection against collagen-induced arthritis correlated with reduced levels of anti-collagen II IgG, especially the subclass of IgG2a. Moreover, in protected mice increased levels of IL-4 were present at the time of collagen II injection together with sustained higher IL-4 levels during the course of arthritis development. In contrast, in unprotected mice minimal levels of IL-4 were present at the initial stage of collagen II challenge together with lack of IL-4 induction followingSchistosoma japonicuminfection.

Conclusion

The protective effect against collagen-induced arthritis provided bySchistosoma japonicuminfection is infection stage-dependent. Furthermore, the ability of schistosomiasis to negatively regulate the onset of collagen-induced arthritis is associated with a dominant as well as long-lasting Th2 response at the initiation and development of autoimmune joint and systemic inflammation.
The Role of T cell PPAR γ in mice with experimental inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: Guri Amir J , Mohapatra Saroj K , Horne William T , Hontecillas Raquel , Bassaganya-Riera Josep
Published: June 2010

Background

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPAR γ) is a nuclear receptor whose activation has been shown to modulate macrophage and T cell-mediated inflammation. The objective of this study was to investigate the mechanisms by which the deletion of PPAR γ in T cells modulates immune cell distribution and colonic gene expression and the severity of experimental IBD.

Methods

PPAR γ flfl; CD4 Cre+ (CD4cre) or Cre- (WT) mice were challenged with 2.5% dextran sodium sulfate in their drinking water for 0, 2, or 7 days. Mice were scored on disease severity both clinically and histopathologically. Flow cytometry was used to assess lymphocyte and macrophage populations in the blood, spleen, and mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN). Global gene expression in colonic mucosa was profiled using Affymetrix microarrays.

Results

The deficiency of PPAR γ in T cells accelerated the onset of disease and body weight loss. Examination of colon histopathology revealed significantly greater epithelial erosion, leukocyte infiltration, and mucosal thickening in the CD4cre mice on day 7. CD4cre mice had more CD8+ T cells than WT mice and fewer CD4+FoxP3+ regulatory T cells (Treg) and IL10+CD4+ T cells in blood and MLN, respectively. Transcriptomic profiling revealed around 3000 genes being transcriptionally altered as a result of DSS challenge in CD4cre mice. These included up-regulated mRNA expression of adhesion molecules, proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-1β, and suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS-3) on day 7. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) showed that the ribosome and Krebs cycle pathways were downregulated while the apoptosis pathway was upregulated in colons of mice lacking PPAR γ in T cells.

Conclusions

The expression of PPAR γ in T cells is involved in preventing gut inflammation by regulating colonic expression of adhesion molecules and inflammatory mediators at later stages of disease while favoring the recruitment of Treg to the mucosal inductive sites.
Symptoms and sources of Yersinia enterocolitica-infection: a case-control study
Authors: Huovinen Elisa , Sihvonen Leila M , Virtanen Mikko J , Haukka Kaisa , Siitonen Anja , Kuusi Markku
Published: June 2010

Background

Yersinia enterocolitica(YE) is the causative agent of yersiniosis. YE encompass strains of diverse pathogenicity: YE biotypes 1B and 2-5 are considered pathogenic, whereas biotype 1A is in general considered nonvirulent. Also YE-like species, which can sometimes be misidentified as YE, are considered nonvirulent.

Methods

In order to study differences in clinical picture caused by different YE types and their possible sources a case-control study was conducted in 2006. In this case-control study, 295 case-patients with YE or YE-like finding and their 758 controls responded to the questionnaire about symptoms and possible sources of infection.

Results

Strains of pathogenic YE bio/serotypes 3-4/O:3 or 2/O:9 were found in 18%, YE biotype 1A in 65% and YE -like strains of 17% of the patients. Patients infected with the strains of pathogenic YE bio/serotypes were younger and had fever more often than those with BT 1A who suffered more from vomiting. Symptoms of reactive arthritis were reported by 10% of pathogenic YE infections, 3% of YE BT 1A, and 0.3% of the controls. Eating or tasting raw or medium done pork was a significant risk factor for pathogenic YE bio/serotype infection (OR 6.6; 95% CI 1.7-24.9) as well as eating in a canteen (OR 3.5; 95% CI 1.6-7.9). Imported fruits and berries were associated with increased risk of YE BT 1A finding.

Conclusions

The symptoms of the patients with YE BT 1A differed from yersiniosis caused by the classic pathogenic YE bio/serotypes. In addition, the patients with YE BT 1A had more protracted gastrointestinal disorders and unspecific complaints. Small children were overrepresented in classic pathogenic bio/serotypes while in BT 1A or YE-like species were not found among children younger than two years. This suggests the lacking virulence of the BT 1A strains. We can not, however, rule out the possibility that some strains of genetically heterogeneous group of BT 1A may cause an illness.
The effect of accelerometer location on the classification of single-site forearm mechanomyograms
Authors: Alves Natasha , Sejdić Ervin , Sahota Bhupinder , Chau Tom
Published: June 2010

Background

Recently, pattern recognition methods have been deployed in the classification of multiple activation states from mechanomyogram (MMG) signals for the purpose of controlling switching interfaces. Given the propagative properties of MMG signals, it has been suggested that MMG classification should be robust to changes in sensor placement. Nonetheless, this purported robustness remains speculative to date. This study sought to quantify the change in classification accuracy, if any, when a classifier trained with MMG signals from the muscle belly, is subsequently tested with MMG signals from a nearby location.

Methods

An arrangement of 5 accelerometers was attached to the flexor carpi radialis muscle of 12 able-bodied participants; a reference accelerometer was located over the muscle belly, two peripheral accelerometers were positioned along the muscle's transverse axis and two more were aligned to the muscle's longitudinal axis. Participants performed three classes of muscle activity: wrist flexion, wrist extension and semi-pronation. A collection of time, frequency and time-frequency features were considered and reduced by genetic feature selection. The classifier, trained using features from the reference accelerometer, was tested with signals from the longitudinally and transversally displaced accelerometers.

Results

Classification degradation due to accelerometer displacement was significant for all participants, and showed no consistent trend with the direction of displacement. Further, the displaced accelerometer signals showed task-dependent de-correlations with respect to the reference accelerometer.

Conclusions

These results indicate that MMG signal features vary with spatial location and that accelerometer displacements of only 1-2 cm cause sufficient feature drift to significantly diminish classification accuracy. This finding emphasizes the importance of consistent sensor placement between MMG classifier training and deployment for accurate control of switching interfaces.
Gemcitabine intercellular diffusion mediated by gap junctions: new implications for cancer therapy
Authors: Cottin Sylvine , Ghani Karim , de Campos-Lima Pedro Otavio , Caruso Manuel
Published: June 2010

Background

Solid tumors are often poorly vascularized, with cells that can be 100 μm away from blood vessels. These distant cells get less oxygen and nutrients and are exposed to lower doses of chemotherapeutic agents. As gap junctions allow the passage of small molecules between cells, we tested the possibility that the chemotherapeutic agent gemcitabine can diffuse through gap junctions in solid tumors.

Results

We first showed with a dye transfer assay that the glioblastoma and the osteosarcoma cells used in this study have functional gap junctions. These cells were genetically engineered to express the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (TK), and induced a "bystander effect" as demonstrated by the killing of TK-negative cells in presence of the nucleoside analogue ganciclovir (GCV). The ability of gemcitabine to induce a similar bystander effect was then tested by mixing cells treated with 3 μM gemcitabine for 24 hours with untreated cells at different ratios. In all cell lines tested, bystander cells were killed with ratios containing as low as 5% treated cells, and this toxic effect was reduced in presence of α-glycyrrhetinic acid (AGA), a specific gap junction inhibitor. We also showed that a 2- or a 24-hour gemcitabine treatment was more efficient to inhibit the growth of spheroids with functional gap junctions as compared to the same treatment made in presence of AGA. Finally, after a 24-hour gemcitabine treatment, the cell viability in spheroids was reduced by 92% as opposed to 51% in presence of AGA.

Conclusion

These results indicate that gemcitabine-mediated toxicity can diffuse through gap junctions, and they suggest that gemcitabine treatment could be more efficient for treating solid tumors that display gap junctions. The presence of these cellular channels could be used to predict the responsiveness to this nucleoside analogue therapy.
Extracellular ATP and the P2X7receptor in astrocyte-mediated motor neuron death: implications for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Authors: Gandelman Mandi , Peluffo Hugo , Beckman Joseph S , Cassina Patricia , Barbeito Luis
Published: June 2010

Background

During pathology of the nervous system, increased extracellular ATP acts both as a cytotoxic factor and pro-inflammatory mediator through P2X7 receptors. In animal models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), astrocytes expressing superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1G93A) mutations display a neuroinflammatory phenotype and contribute to disease progression and motor neuron death. Here we studied the role of extracellular ATP acting through P2X7 receptors as an initiator of a neurotoxic phenotype that leads to astrocyte-mediated motor neuron death in non-transgenic and SOD1G93A astrocytes.

Methods

We evaluated motor neuron survival after co-culture with SOD1G93A or non-transgenic astrocytes pretreated with agents known to modulate ATP release or P2X7 receptor. We also characterized astrocyte proliferation and extracellular ATP degradation.

Results

Repeated stimulation by ATP or the P2X7-selective agonist BzATP caused astrocytes to become neurotoxic, inducing death of motor neurons. Involvement of P2X7 receptor was further confirmed by Brilliant blue G inhibition of ATP and BzATP effects. In SOD1G93A astrocyte cultures, pharmacological inhibition of P2X7 receptor or increased extracellular ATP degradation with the enzyme apyrase was sufficient to completely abolish their toxicity towards motor neurons. SOD1G93A astrocytes also displayed increased ATP-dependent proliferation and a basal increase in extracellular ATP degradation.

Conclusions

Here we found that P2X7 receptor activation in spinal cord astrocytes initiated a neurotoxic phenotype that leads to motor neuron death. Remarkably, the neurotoxic phenotype of SOD1G93A astrocytes depended upon basal activation the P2X7 receptor. Thus, pharmacological inhibition of P2X7 receptor might reduce neuroinflammation in ALS through astrocytes.
Bayes-LQAS: classifying the prevalence of global acute malnutrition
Authors: Olives Casey , Pagano Marcello
Published: June 2010

Lot Quality Assurance Sampling (LQAS) applications in health have generally relied on frequentist interpretations for statistical validity. Yet health professionals often seek statements about the probability distribution of unknown parameters to answer questions of interest. The frequentist paradigm does not pretend to yield such information, although a Bayesian formulation might. This is the source of an error made in a recent paper published in this journal. Many applications lend themselves to a Bayesian treatment, and would benefit from such considerations in their design. We discuss Bayes-LQAS (B-LQAS), which allows for incorporation of prior information into the LQAS classification procedure, and thus shows how to correct the aforementioned error. Further, we pay special attention to the formulation of Bayes Operating Characteristic Curves and the use of prior information to improve survey designs. As a motivating example, we discuss the classification of Global Acute Malnutrition prevalence and draw parallels between the Bayes and classical classifications schemes. We also illustrate the impact of informative and non-informative priors on the survey design. Results indicate that using a Bayesian approach allows the incorporation of expert information and/or historical data and is thus potentially a valuable tool for making accurate and precise classifications.
Multiplex Amplification Refractory Mutation System Polymerase Chain Reaction (ARMS-PCR) for diagnosis of natural infection with canine distemper virus
Authors: Chulakasian Songkhla , Lee Min-Shiuh , Wang Chi-Young , Chiou Shyan-Song , Lin Kuan-Hsun , Lin Fong-Yuan , Hsu Tien-Huan , Wong Min-Liang , Chang Tien-Jye , Hsu Wei-Li
Published: June 2010

Background

Canine distemper virus (CDV) is present worldwide and produces a lethal systemic infection of wild and domesticCanidae. Pre-existing antibodies acquired from vaccination or previous CDV infection might interfere the interpretation of a serologic diagnosis method. In addition, due to the high similarity of nucleic acid sequences between wild-type CDV and the new vaccine strain, current PCR derived methods cannot be applied for the definite confirmation of CD infection. Hence, it is worthy of developing a simple and rapid nucleotide-based assay for differentiation of wild-type CDV which is a cause of disease from attenuated CDVs after vaccination. High frequency variations have been found in the region spanning from the 3'-untranslated region (UTR) of the matrix (M) gene to the fusion (F) gene (designated M-F UTR) in a few CDV strains. To establish a differential diagnosis assay, an amplification refractory mutation analysis was established based on the highly variable region on M-F UTR and F regions.

Results

Sequences of frequent polymorphisms were found scattered throughout the M-F UTR region; the identity of nucleic acid between local strains and vaccine strains ranged from 82.5% to 93.8%. A track of AAA residue located 35 nucleotides downstream from F gene start codon highly conserved in three vaccine strains were replaced with TGC in the local strains; that severed as target sequences for deign of discrimination primers. The method established in the present study successfully differentiated seven Taiwanese CDV field isolates, all belonging to the Asia-1 lineage, from vaccine strains.

Conclusions

The method described herein would be useful for several clinical applications, such as confirmation of nature CDV infection, evaluation of vaccination status and verification of the circulating viral genotypes.