bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Inimputabilidade: estudo dos internos do Instituto Psiquiátrico Forense Maurício Cardoso
Authors: Gauer Gabriel Jose Chittó , Osório Fernanda Correa , Cataldo Neto Alfredo , Teixeira Letícia , Caum Mariane , Souza Taís Amaral da Costa , Valle Verônica , Cristófoli Vivian
Published: March 2008

INTRODUÇÃO: A pesquisa traçou um perfil dos internos inimputáveis do Instituto Psiquiátrico Forense Maurício Cardoso. MÉTODOS: Durante o período de abril a agosto de 2005, foram selecionados 617 sujeitos para inclusão no estudo. RESULTADOS: A análise dos dados revelou que os internos apresentam as seguintes características: idade média de 43,22 anos, sexo masculino (91,3%), profissão definida (73,2%), primeiro grau completo (74,6%), sem companheiro(a) (83,2%), crime contra a pessoa como delito gerador da inimputabilidade (62,1%), com antecedentes criminais (58,3%), prazo mínimo fixado na sentença de 1,76 anos, cumprindo medida de segurança detentiva (91,4%), média do tempo de internação de 9,33 anos, sob o regime de alta progressiva (81,5%), com internação prévia em outras instituições psiquiátricas (55,2%), sem cumprimento anterior de medida de segurança (83,3%), com o diagnóstico de esquizofrenia e outros transtornos psicóticos (61,4%). Os cruzamentos de variáveis que tiveram relevância estatística foram: dos internos com internação prévia, 61,9% possuíam antecedentes criminais, e quanto maior o nível de escolaridade do interno, menor o índice de reincidência. Evidenciou-se uma preponderância de internos com antecedentes criminais em pacientes com transtornos relacionados a substâncias (56,5%) e transtorno de personalidade (59,7%). Verificou-se que 60,8% daqueles que cometeram crimes contra a pessoa possuíam diagnóstico de transtornos relacionados ao álcool, estabelecendo uma relação entre criminalidade violenta e os transtornos de uso de substâncias. CONCLUSÕES: A partir da análise dos prontuários dos 617 internos do Instituto Psiquiátrico Forense Maurício Cardoso, o presente estudo procurou apresentar um mapa dos indivíduos considerados inimputáveis no Rio Grande do Sul.
Sintomas depressivos e eventos estressores em crianças e adolescentes no contexto de institucionalização
Authors: Wathier Josiane Lieberknecht , Dell'Aglio Débora Dalbosco
Published: March 2008

INTRODUÇÃO: O presente estudo verificou a manifestação de sintomas depressivos e a freqüência e o impacto de eventos estressores em crianças e adolescentes institucionalizados e não-institucionalizados. MÉTODO: Participaram 257 jovens de 7 a 16 anos de ambos os sexos, sendo que 130 residiam em abrigos de proteção e 127 moravam com suas famílias na região metropolitana de Porto Alegre. Todos os participantes freqüentavam da 1ª à 8ª série do ensino fundamental de escolas públicas localizadas em bairros de baixas condições socioeconômicas. Foram aplicados os instrumentos Children's Depression Inventory e o Inventário de Eventos Estressores na Infância e Adolescência. RESULTADOS: Foram encontradas médias mais altas no Children's Depression Inventory e no Inventário de Eventos Estressores na Infância e Adolescência no grupo institucionalizado, com diferença significativa. Os eventos mais freqüentes foram "ter que obedecer às ordens de seus pais" para o grupo da família e "ser levado para um abrigo" no outro grupo. Os eventos que apresentaram maior impacto foram "morte de um dos pais", "ser estuprado", "ser rejeitado pelos familiares" e "ser tocado sexualmente contra a vontade". Foram encontradas diferenças entre os sexos e entre os contextos no impacto atribuído aos eventos. Os adolescentes, independentemente dos contextos, apresentaram freqüência de eventos significativamente maior do que as crianças, o que não ocorreu quanto ao impacto. CONCLUSÃO: Os jovens abrigados apresentaram maior exposição a situações potenciais de risco, o que pode estar relacionado à maior manifestação de sintomas depressivos. A avaliação do impacto de um evento estressante, no entanto, não esteve correlacionada com o Children's Depression Inventory em nenhum dos contextos.
Síndrome de Kleine-Levin: caso clínico e dificuldades de diagnóstico
Authors: Lima Dênio , Zagalo-Cardoso José Antônio
Published: March 2008

Os autores descrevem a síndrome de Kleine-Levin e referem as dificuldades de seu diagnóstico. Apresentam um caso clínico de um rapaz de 16 anos de idade, que tiveram a ocasião de diagnosticar e de acompanhar e que, embora manifestando a trilogia clássica (hipersônia, hiperfagia e hipersexualidade), é ilustrativo dessas dificuldades sob várias formas clínicas. Discutem as causas e as conseqüências colocadas pelas dificuldades de diagnóstico, prestando uma atenção especial aos aspectos de diagnóstico diferencial.
Trial-Based Thought Record (TBTR): preliminary data on a strategy to deal with core beliefs by combining sentence reversion and the use of analogy with a judicial process
Authors: Oliveira Irismar Reis de
Published: March 2008

OBJECTIVE: To propose the Trial-Based Thought Record, a modified, 7-column thought record addressing core beliefs by sentence reversion and the analogy to a trial. METHOD: Clients (n = 30) participated in a simulation of a trial and exhibited shifts in their adherence to core beliefs and in the intensity of corresponding emotions after each step (investigation, prosecutor’ s plea, defense attorney’ s plea, prosecutor’ s second plea, defense attorney’ s second plea, and jury verdict) during a session. RESULTS: Significant mean reductions existed between percent values after investigation (taken as baseline) and defense attorney’ s plea (p < 0.001), and after the jury’ s verdict, either in beliefs (p < 0.001) or in intensity of emotions (p < 0.001). Significant differences also emerged between the defense attorney’ s first and second pleas (p = 0.009) and between the defense attorney’ s second plea and jury’ s verdict concerning core beliefs (p = 0.005) and emotions (p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: Trial-Based Thought Record may at least temporarily help patients constructively reduce attachment to negative core beliefs and corresponding emotions.
Adipose tissue loss in adjuvant arthritis is associated with a decrease in lipogenesis, but not with an increase in lipolysis
Authors: Martín A I , Castillero E , Granado M , López-Menduiña M , Villanúa M A , López-Calderón A
Published: March 2008

Adjuvant-induced arthritis is a model of rheumatoid arthritis that induces cachexia. In other cachectic situations, there is an increase in lipolysis resulting in a loss of adipose tissue mass. The aim of this work was to analyse the effect of chronic arthritis, induced by adjuvant injection, on white adipose tissue (WAT). For this purpose, rats were killed 10 days after adjuvant injection, when the first external symptoms appeared, on days 15 and 22 when the external signs of the illness reach their severest level. As arthritis decreases food intake, a pair-fed group was also included. Serum concentrations of insulin, leptin, adiponectin, glycerol and nitrites, as well as gene expression of leptin, adiponectin, hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL), fatty acid synthase (FAS), tumour necrosis factor α and zinc-α2-glycoprotein (ZAG) were determined. Arthritis decreased food intake between days 5 and 16, but not during the last 5 days of the experiment. There was a marked decrease in relative adipose tissue weight and in serum leptin and adiponectin as well as in their gene expression in WAT in arthritic rats. Arthritis decreased the gene expression of FAS in the WAT. However, none of these effects was found in pair-fed rats. Arthritis did not increase lipolysis, since arthritic rats have lower serum concentrations of glycerol, HSL mRNA in WAT, as well as liver ZAG mRNA than the pair-fed or control rats. These data suggest that in chronic arthritis the decrease in white adipose mass is secondary to a reduced adipose lipogenesis, and this effect is not mainly due to the decrease in food intake.
Protein kinase C α modulates liver X receptor α transactivation
Authors: Delvecchio Christopher J , Capone John P
Published: March 2008

Liver X receptor α (LXRα), an oxysterol-activated nuclear hormone receptor, regulates the expression of genes involved in lipid and cholesterol homeostasis and inflammation. We show here that transactivation by LXRα in monkey kidney COS-1 (Cos-1) cells is decreased by activation of the protein kinase C (PKC) signaling pathway. In transient co-transfection assays, phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) suppressed LXR-dependent transactivation of LXR-responsive reporter genes or the natural promoter of the human ATP-binding cassette (ABC), ABCA1 gene. The decrease in LXR transactivation after PMA treatment was also observed in human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 and human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cells. Moreover, endogenous LXR target genes, ABCA1 and sterol response element-binding protein-1c, were also decreased by PMA treatment in HEK293 cells as assessed by real-time PCR. The PMA-mediated decrease of LXR activity was blocked by the PKC inhibitor bisindolylmaleimide and mimicked by constitutively active PKCα. Nuclear extracts treated with PMA show no decrease in LXRα DNA binding as assessed by mobility shift and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays. Additionally, in vitro kinase assays demonstrate that PKCα can phosphorylate LXRα. Our findings reveal a mode of regulation of LXRα that may be relevant to disease conditions where aberrant PKC signaling is observed, such as diabetes.
Early blood pressure-independent cardiac changes in diabetic rats
Authors: Landau Daniel , Chayat Chen , Zucker Nili , Golomb Eli , Yagil Channa , Yagil Yoram , Segev Yael
Published: March 2008

Cardiac remodeling is a key event in both diabetic and hypertensive heart diseases. In the present study, we investigated early myocardial changes in an animal model, the male Sabra rat model (SBH/y) of salt-induced hypertension-rendered diabetic with streptozotocin. Control non-diabetic (C), diabetic (D), and D or C rats made hypertensive by salt loading (DS or CS) were studied after 6 weeks. M-mode echocardiography revealed that left ventricular internal dimension during diastole and systole were significantly increased in D and DS, but not in C or CS. Concurrently, we found in D and DS an increase in cardiac β-myosin heavy chain, atrial natriuretic peptide, skeletal α-actin mRNA, type III collagen, and transforming growth factor-β. Myocardial angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) mRNA levels were increased while ACE2 mRNA levels were decreased in both D and DS groups. Cardiac angiotensin-1 (AT1) receptor protein levels were unchanged but the levels of phosphorylated (p) ERK and Jun-NH2-protein kinase (JNK) were increased in D and DS. In conclusion, we detected early cardiac changes in diabetic rats that were unrelated to hypertension. The increase in ACE, the decrease in ACE2, and the increase in cardiac pERK and pJNK suggest an increase in free angiotensin II and AT1R signaling in the diabetic myocardium as a possible mechanism contributing to cardiac remodeling in diabetes.
Overall slope stability of prestressed geosynthetic-reinforced embankments on soft ground
Authors: Shukla S. K. , Kumar R.
Published: March 2008

This Technical Note presents the derivation of an expression for the factor of safety with respect to the overall slope stability of a prestressed geosynthetic-reinforced embankment resting on soft ground. A detailed parametric study is carried out to observe the effect on the factor of safety of prestressing the geosynthetic reinforcement. It is found that prestressing the geosynthetic reinforcement is more beneficial for soft ground than stiff ground when the foundation soil is much more shallow than the height of the embankment. If the mobilised tensile force is lower than the required value for overall slope stability, which is typical at the end of embankment construction, prestressing the geosynthetic proves to be effective in providing overall slope stability. Relatively steep side slopes of embankments can be provided by prestressing the geosynthetic reinforcement. The beneficial effect of prestressing is more significant for cohesionless embankment soil than for cohesive soil.
Compaction effects on strains within profiled thermoplastic pipes
Authors: Brachman R. W. I. , Moore I. D. , Munro S. M.
Published: March 2008

Results from laboratory tests are reported to establish how pipe deflections, strains and local bending are influenced by the selection of backfill soil and its placement for two profiled thermoplastic culverts. Lined-corrugated high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and poly vinyl chloride (PVC) pipes with a nominal inside diameter of 600 mm were tested in poorly graded sand and well-graded gravel backfills. The backfill was compacted using real compaction equipment and procedures, and then subjected to a maximum increase in vertical pressure of 200 kPa in a test cell that simulates deep burial. For the specific conditions tested, the largest deflections and strains were for the HDPE pipe when placed just above a rigid base and with uncompacted sand backfill placed below the springline, while local bending was greatest for the PVC pipe with well-compacted gravel backfill. A procedure is presented to account for the maximum local bending strain within a simplified design approach for profiled thermoplastic pipes using an empirical strain factor inferred from the measured results.
THE STUDENT STYLE QUESTIONNAIRE IN RELATION TO IMPROVED ACADEMIC SCORES IN KUWAITI MIDDLE-SCHOOL SCIENCE CLASSES
Authors: Al-Balhan Eisa M.
Published: March 2008

Changes in learning theory have precipitated changes in the way in which students and the learning process in general are viewed. Research has underscored the differences in student characteristics, especially between students whose temperament styles have been accounted for, and traditional student groups. Research was conducted using a Student Style Questionnaire (SSQ) with middle-school Kuwaiti children to discover the connection between students' temperament styles and academic performance in a science class. Groups of middle-school students who had received low first quarter grades and were enrolled in an after-school tutoring program were studied, with half of the students in a traditional tutoring program and the other half in an SSQ temperament style tutoring program. The results of this study showed that the students in the experimental group (M= 48.99) whose SSQ temperament was applied to learning performed better overall for the academic year than did the students in the control group (M= 45.30). Gender, school type, and residential living area were all analyzed within the experimental group and showed no significant results.
GENDER DIFFERENCES IN LATENCY AND DURATION OF EMOTIONAL EXPRESSION IN 7- THROUGH 13-MONTH-OLD INFANTS
Authors: Losonczy-Marshall Marta E.
Published: March 2008

A total of 82 infants aged 7 through 13 months were each presented with a randomized order of stimuli in a large descriptive study. All infants passed developmental screening tests (5-minute Apgar and Denver II; Apgar, 1953; Frankenburg & Dodds, 1990). Emotional expressions in response
to the stimuli were recorded by video. Male and female infants' responses to 5 social stimuli (82 × 5 = 410 observations) were analyzed. Latency was the time between the presentation of a stimulus and the beginning of a facial expression in response to that stimulus. Duration was
the time between the beginning of a facial expression and the end of that facial expression. Both latency and duration were measured in terms of time (seconds). Gender differences were found in latency: t = 2.41, p < .05, but not duration of emotional expression. Females had
shorter latency to emotional expression and longer duration of emotional expression than males.
Dynamic collapse of the upper respiratory tract: A review
Authors: Franklin S. H.
Published: March 2008

Dynamic collapse of the upper respiratory tract is a common cause of poor performance in athletic horses. Most commonly, airway obstruction occurs during strenuous exercise when the upper respiratory tract is exposed to high pressure swings. In horses undertaking submaximal exercise, the pressures may also be increased due to flexion of the neck. The nasopharynx and larynx are particularly prone to dynamic collapse and a number of different forms of upper airway obstruction are now recognised. However, due to the dynamic nature of the collapse a definitive diagnosis is often not possible from resting observations alone.
Mast cell tumours (mastocytosis) in the horse: A review of the literature and report of 11 cases
Authors: Mair T. S. , Krudewig C.
Published: March 2008

Mast cell tumours are uncommon tumours in horses, compared to some other species of domesticated animals. They are most frequently located in the skin, but they can also arise at other sites, including the upper respiratory tract and eye. Cytology or histopathology is required for diagnosis. Treatment options include surgical excision, laser ablation, cryotherapy, intralesional injection of corticosteroids or water, and radiotherapy. Malignant and systemic forms are very rare.
Ultrasound‐guided injections of the sacroiliac area in horses
Authors: Denoix J.‐M. , Jacquet S.
Published: March 2008

Sacroiliac lesions are commonly suspected in sport‐ and racehorses. Injection of the sacroiliac (SI) area can be performed for diagnostic purposes and/or for treatment of SI pain. Because of the deep location of the SI joint, blind injections may be unsafe. The purpose of this paper is to present how to perform ultrasonographic guided injection of the SI area using cranial and caudal approaches. With this technique drugs can be injected close to the SI joint and technical errors (needle implantation in the sciatic nerve, injection in the vertebral canal or in the rectum) can be avoided.
Longitudinal follow‐up of late‐onset Alzheimer disease families
Authors: Carney R.M. , Slifer M.A. , Lin P.I. , Gaskell P.C. , Scott W.K. , Potocky C.F. , Hulette C.M. , Welsh‐Bohmer K.A. , Schmechel D.E. , Vance J.M. , Pericak‐Vance M.A.
Published: March 2008

Historically, data for genetic studies are collected at one time point. However, for diseases with late onset or with complex phenotypes, such as Alzheimer disease (AD), restricting diagnosis to a single ascertainment contact may not be sufficient. Affection status may change over time and some initial diagnoses may be inconclusive. Follow‐up provides the opportunity to resolve these complications. However, to date, previous studies have not formally demonstrated that longitudinally re‐contacting families is practical or productive. To update data initially collected for linkage analysis of late‐onset Alzheimer disease (LOAD), we successfully re‐contacted 63 of 81 (78%) multiplex families (two to 17 years after ascertainment). Clinical status changed for 73 of the 230 (32%) non‐affected participants. Additionally, expanded family history identified 20 additional affected individuals to supplement the data set. Furthermore, fostering ongoing relationships with participating families helped recruit 101 affected participants into an autopsy and tissue donation program. Despite similar presentations, discordance between clinical diagnosis and neuropathologic diagnosis was observed in 28% of those with tissue diagnoses. Most of the families were successfully re‐contacted, and significant refinement and supplementation of the data was achieved. We concluded that serial contact with longitudinal evaluation of families has significant implications for genetic analyses. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Genetic influences on the broad spectrum of autism: Study of proband‐ascertained twins
Authors: Taniai Hiroko , Nishiyama Takeshi , Miyachi Taishi , Imaeda Masayuki , Sumi Satoshi
Published: March 2008

An investigation of genetic structures underlying autistic traits was performed with samples from twins for which at least one proband had been ascertained as having autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) in our catchment area. In order to adjust for recent concepts of autism, we employed criteria for the broad spectrum of disease and the childhood autism rating scale (CARS) for quantitative assessment. The CARS test was performed on 45 twin pairs (19 monozygotic, 26 dizygotic) detected with a regional routine screening system. The obtained CARS scores were subjected to structural equation modeling (SEM), incorporating sex differences for each causal influence ascertainment correction, using the Mx software. A best fitting model of causal influences on autistic traits measured continuously, incorporating additive genetic (A) and non‐shared environmental influences (E), was generated. With this AE model, the estimated heritability was 0.73 for males and 0.87 for females, based on the continuous CARS scores. There was no evidence for the existence of sex‐specific genetic influences. Autistic traits were highly heritable in twins with even broad spectrum of autism, corresponding to the results of early studies based on classical autism. Additive genetic factors were more influential in females than males. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Study of different h‐indices for groups of authors
Authors: Egghe L. , Rao I.K. Ravichandra
Published: March 2008

In this article, for any group of authors, we define three different h‐indices. First, there is the successive h‐index h2 based on the ranked list of authors and their h‐indices h1 as defined by Schubert (2007). Next, there is the h‐index hP based on the ranked list of authors and their number of publications. Finally, there is the h‐index hC based on the ranked list of authors and their number of citations. We present formulae for these three indices in Lotkaian informetrics from which it also follows that h2 < hp < hc. We give a concrete example of a group of 167 authors on the topic “optical flow estimation.” Besides these three h‐indices, we also calculate the two‐by‐two Spearman rank correlation coefficient and prove that these rankings are significantly related.
Order effect in relevance judgment
Authors: Xu Yunjie , Wang Dong
Published: March 2008

The order effect of relevance judgment refers to the different relevance perceptions of a document when it appears in different positions in a list. Although the order effect of relevance judgment has significant theoretical and practical implications, the extant literature is inconclusive regarding its existence and forming mechanisms. This study proposes a set of order effect forming mechanisms, including the learning effect, the subneed scheduling effect, and the cursoriness effect based on the conceptualization of dynamic relevance and the psychology of cognitive elaboration. Our empirical study indicates that in an interactive information retrieval setting, when a document list is reasonably long, order effects demonstrate a curvilinear pattern that conforms to the combined effect of the three mechanisms. Moreover, the curvilinear pattern of order effect could differ for documents of different relevance levels.
Privacy‐preserving top‐N recommendation on distributed data
Authors: Polat Huseyin , Du Wenliang
Published: March 2008

Traditional collaborative filtering (CF) systems perform filtering tasks on existing databases; however, data collected for recommendation purposes may split between different online vendors. To generate better predictions, offer richer recommendation services, enhance mutual advantages, and overcome problems caused by inadequate data and/or sparseness, e‐companies want to integrate their data. Due to privacy, legal, and financial reasons, however, they do not want to disclose their data to each other. Providing privacy measures is vital to accomplish distributed databased top‐N recommendation (TN), while preserving data holders' privacy. In this article, the authors present schemes for binary ratings‐based TN on distributed data (horizontally or vertically), and provide accurate referrals without greatly exposing data owners' privacy. Our schemes make it possible for online vendors, even competing companies, to collaborate and conduct TN with privacy, using the joint data while introducing reasonable overhead costs.
Low socioeconomic status is a poor prognostic factor for survival in stage I nonsmall cell lung cancer and is independent of surgical treatment, race, and marital status
Authors: Ou S.‐H. Ignatius , Zell Jason A. , Ziogas Argyrios , Anton‐Culver Hoda
Published: March 2008

BACKGROUND.

Racial minorities exhibit poor survival with nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that generally is attributed to low socioeconomic status (SES). In this study, the authors investigated the role of SES in this survival disparity among patients with stage I NSCLC.

METHODS.

A case‐only analysis was performed on California Cancer Registry (CCR) data (1989–2003). Univariate survival analyses were performed using the Kaplan‐Meier method. Multivariate survival analyses were performed using Cox proportional hazards ratios.

RESULTS.

In total, 19,702 incident cases of stage I NSCLC were analyzed. Low SES was identified more commonly in African‐American and Hispanic patients and was associated significantly with men, unmarried status, stage IB disease, squamous cell histology, poorly differentiated tumors, fewer surgical resections performed, and less overall treatment received. Reasons for no surgery were associated strongly with low SES and unmarried status but not with race. In multivariate analysis, each incremental improvement in SES quintile was associated with statistically significant decreases in the hazard ratios (HRs) for death (second SES quintile [SES2] vs SES1: HR, 0.91; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.85–0.98; SES3 vs SES1: HR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.84–0.97; SES4 vs SES1: HR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.77–0.89; SES5 vs SES1: HR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.72–0.84; Ptrend < .0001). African‐American or Hispanic race was not an independent poor prognostic factor for survival after adjustment for surgery, SES, and marital status.

CONCLUSIONS.

Low SES was an independent poor prognostic factor for survival in patients with stage I NSCLC and was independent of surgery, race, and marital status. Cancer 2008. © 2008 American Cancer Society.
Toward population‐based indicators of quality end‐of‐life care
Authors: Grunfeld Eva , Urquhart Robin , Mykhalovskiy Eric , Folkes Amy , Johnston Grace , Burge Frederick I. , Earle Craig C. , Dent Susan
Published: March 2008

BACKGROUND

Quality indicators (QIs) are tools designed to measure and improve quality of care. The objective of this study was to assess stakeholder acceptability of QIs of end‐of‐life (EOL) care that potentially were measurable from population‐based administrative health databases.

METHODS

After a literature review, the authors identified 19 candidate QIs that potentially were measurable through administrative databases. A modified Delphi methodology, consisting of multidisciplinary panels of cancer care health professionals in Nova Scotia and Ontario, was used to assess agreement on acceptable QIs of EOL care (n = 21 professionals; 2 panels per province). Focus group methodology was used to assess acceptability among patients with metastatic breast cancer (n = 16 patients; 2 groups per province) and bereaved family caregivers of women who had died of metastatic breast cancer (n = 8 caregivers; 1 group per province). All sessions were audiotaped, transcribed verbatim, and audited, and thematic analyses were conducted.

RESULTS

Through the Delphi panels, 10 QIs and 2 QI subsections were identified as acceptable indicators of quality EOL care, including those related to pain and symptom management, access to care, palliative care, and emergency room visits. When Delphi panelists did not agree, the principal reasons were patient preferences, variation in local resources, and benchmarking. In the focus groups, patients and family caregivers also highlighted the need to consider preferences and local resources when examining quality EOL care.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of this study should be considered when developing quality monitoring systems. QIs will be most useful when stakeholders perceive them as measuring quality care. Cancer 2008. © 2008 American Cancer Society.
Cardiac defects and results of cardiac surgery in 22q11.2 deletion syndrome
Authors: Carotti Adriano , Digilio Maria Cristina , Piacentini Gerardo , Saffirio Claudia , Di Donato Roberto M. , Marino Bruno
Published: March 2008

Specific types and subtypes of cardiac defects have been described in children with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome as well as in other genetic syndromes. The conotruncal heart defects occurring in patients with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome include tetralogy of Fallot, pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect, truncus arteriosus, interrupted aortic arch, isolated anomalies of the aortic arch, and ventricular septal defect. These conotruncal heart defects are frequently associated in this syndrome with additional cardiovascular anomalies of the aortic arch, pulmonary arteries, infundibular septum, and semilunar valves complicating cardiac anatomy and surgical treatment. In this review we describe the surgical anatomy, the operative treatment, and the prognostic results of the cardiac defects associated with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. According to the current literature, in patients with tetralogy of Fallot with/without pulmonary atresia and truncus arteriosus, in spite of the complex cardiac anatomy, the presence of 22q11.2 deletion syndrome does not worsen the surgical prognosis. On the contrary in children with pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect and probably in those with interrupted aortic arch the association with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome is probably a risk factor for the operative treatment. The complex cardiovascular anatomy in association with depressed immunological status, pulmonary vascular reactivity, neonatal hypocalcemia, bronchomalacia and broncospasm, laryngeal web, and tendency to airway bleeding must be considered at the time of diagnosis and surgical procedure. Specific diagnostic, surgical, and perioperative protocols should be applied in order to provide appropriate treatment and to reduce surgical mortality and morbidity. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. Dev Disabil Res Rev 2008;14:35–42.
Tenascin‐R and axon growth‐promoting molecules are up‐regulated in the regenerating visual pathway of the lizard (Gallotia galloti)
Authors: Lang Dirk M. , Monzon‐Mayor Maximina , del Mar Romero‐Aleman Maria , Yanes Carmen , Santos Elena , Pesheva Penka
Published: March 2008

It is currently unclear whether retinal ganglion cell (RGC) axon regeneration depends on down‐regulation of axon growth‐inhibitory proteins, and to what extent outgrowth‐promoting substrates contribute to RGC axon regeneration in reptiles. We performed an immunohistochemical study of the regulation of the axon growth‐inhibiting extracellular matrix molecules tenascin‐R and chondroitin sulphate proteoglycan (CSPG), the axon outgrowth‐promoting extracellular matrix proteins fibronectin and laminin, and the axonal tenascin‐R receptor protein F3/contactin during RGC axon regeneration in the lizard, Gallotia galloti. Tenascin‐R and CSPG were expressed in an extracellular matrix‐, oligodendrocyte/myelin‐ and neuron‐associated pattern and up‐regulated in the regenerating optic pathway. The expression pattern of tenascin‐R was not indicative of a role in channeling or restriction of re‐growing RGC axons. Up‐regulation of fibronectin, laminin, and F3/contactin occurred in spatiotemporal patterns corresponding to tenascin‐R expression. Moreover, we analyzed the influence of substrates containing tenascin‐R, fibronectin, and laminin on outgrowth of regenerating lizard RGC axons. In vitro regeneration of RGC axons was not inhibited by tenascin‐R, and further improved on mixed substrates containing tenascin‐R together with fibronectin or laminin. These results indicate that RGC axon regeneration in Gallotia galloti does not require down‐regulation of tenascin‐R or CSPG. Presence of tenascin‐R is insufficient to prevent RGC axon growth, and concomitant up‐regulation of axon growth‐promoting molecules like fibronectin and laminin may override the effects of neurite growth inhibitors on RGC axon regeneration. Up‐regulation of contactin in RGCs suggests that tenascin‐R may have an instructive function during axon regeneration in the lizard optic pathway. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol, 2008
Pseudoaneurysm of the breast after blunt trauma: Successful treatment with ultrasound‐guided compression
Authors: Al Hadidy Azmy M. , Al Najar Mahasen S. , Farah Ghassan R. , Tarawneh Emad S.
Published: March 2008

We present a case of breast pseudoaneurysm following a blunt trauma in a 58‐year‐old woman. Few cases of breast pseudoaneurysm have been reported in the literature, and most of these are related to previous interventional procedures. Pseudoaneurysm was suspected on real‐time sonography and confirmed with color Doppler and spectral wave analysis, which revealed a characteristic to‐and‐fro pattern. Unlike previously reported cases, treatmentwith ultrasound‐guided compression was successful. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound, 2008.
Reconstruction of corneal epithelium with cryopreserved corneal limbal stem cells in a goat model
Authors: Mi Shengli , Yang Xueyi , Zhao Qingmei , Qu Lei , Chen Shuming , M. Meek Keith , Dou Zhongying
Published: March 2008

We describe a procedure to construct an artificial corneal epithelium from cryopreserved limbal stem cells (LSCs) for corneal transplantation. The LSCs were separated from limbal tissue of male goats. The primary LSCs were identified by flow cytometry and were expanded. They were examined for stem cell‐relevant properties and cryopreserved in liquid nitrogen. Cryopreserved LSCs were thawed and then transplanted onto human amniotic membrane, framed on a nitrocellulose sheet, to construct corneal epithelium sheets. The artificial corneal epithelium was transplanted into the right eye of pathological models of total limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD). Then, the effects of reconstruction were evaluated by clinical observation and histological examination. Polymerase chain reaction analysis was used to detect the SRY gene. The data showed that transplantation of cryopreserved LSCs, like fresh LSCs, successfully reconstructed damaged goat corneal surface gradually, but the SRY gene expression from male goat cells could only be detected in the first 2 months after transplantation. The therapeutic effect of the transplantation may be associated with the inhibition of inflammation‐related angiogenesis after transplantation of cryopreserved LSCs. This study provides the first line of evidence that cryopreserved LSCs can be used for reconstruction of damaged corneas, presenting a remarkable potential source for transplantation in the treatment of corneal disorders. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 75: 1607–1616, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Integration of CREB and bHLH transcriptional signaling pathways through direct heterodimerization of the proteins: Role in muscle and testis development
Authors: Muir Tera , Wilson‐Rawls Jeanne , Stevens Jeffrey D. , Rawls Alan , Schweitzer Ronen , Kang ChulHee , Skinner Michael K.
Published: March 2008

The cAMP response element binding protein/activating transcription factor (CREB/ATF) family of transcription factors is hormone responsive and critical for nearly all mammalian cell types. The basic helix‐loop‐helix (bHLH) family of transcription factors is important during the development and differentiation of a wide variety of cell types. Independent studies of the role of the bHLH protein scleraxis in testicular Sertoli cells and paraxis in muscle development using yeast‐2‐hybrid screens provided the novel observation that bHLH proteins can directly interact with ATF/CREB family members. Analysis of the interactions demonstrated the helix‐loop‐helix domain of bHLH proteins directly interacts with the leucine zipper (ZIP) region of CREB2/ATF4 to form heterodimers. The direct bHLH–CREB2 binding interactions were supported using co‐immunoprecipitation of recombinant proteins. Structural analysis of bHLH and ATF4 heterodimer using previous crystal structures demonstrated the heterodimer likely involves the HLH and Zip domains and has the potential capacity to bind DNA. Transfection assays demonstrated CREB2/ATF4 over‐expression blocked stimulatory actions of scleraxis or paraxis. CREB1 inhibited MyoD induced myogenic conversion of C3H10T1/2 cells. CREB2/ATF4 and scleraxis are expressed throughout embryonic and postnatal testis development, with scleraxis specifically expressed in Sertoli cells. ATF4 and scleraxis null mutant mice both had similar adult testis phenotypes of reduced spermatogenic capacity. In summary, bHLH and CREB family members were found to directly heterodimerize and inhibit the actions of bHLH dimers on Sertoli cells and myogenic precursor cells. The observations suggest a mechanism for direct cross‐talk between cAMP induced and bHLH controlled cellular differentiation. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 75: 1637–1652, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Cyclin B synthesis and rapamycin‐sensitive regulation of protein synthesis during starfish oocyte meiotic divisions
Authors: Lapasset Laure , Pradet‐Balade Bérengère , Vergé Valérie , Lozano Jean‐Claude , Oulhen Nathalie , Cormier Patrick , Peaucellier Gérard
Published: March 2008

Translation of cyclin mRNAs represents an important event for proper meiotic maturation and post‐fertilization mitoses in many species. Translational control of cyclin B mRNA has been described to be achieved through two separate but related mechanisms: translational repression and polyadenylation. In this paper, we evaluated the contribution of global translational regulation by the cap‐dependent translation repressor 4E‐BP (eukaryotic initiation factor 4E‐binding protein) on the cyclin B protein synthesis during meiotic maturation of the starfish oocytes. We used the immunosupressant drug rapamycin, a strong inhibitor of cap‐dependent translation, to check for the involvement of this protein synthesis during this physiological process. Rapamycin was found to prevent dissociation of 4E‐BP from the initiation factor eIF4E and to suppress correlatively a burst of global protein synthesis occurring at the G2/M transition. The drug had no effect on first meiotic division but defects in meiotic spindle formation prevented second polar body emission, demonstrating that a rapamycin‐sensitive pathway is involved in this mechanism. While rapamycin affected the global protein synthesis, the drug did not alter neither the specific translation of cyclin B mRNA nor the expression of the Mos protein. The expression of these two proteins was correlated with the phosphorylation and the dissociation of the cytoplasmic polyadenylation element‐binding protein from eIF4E. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 75: 1617–1626, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Degree of conversion and mechanical properties studies of UDMA based materials for producing dental posts
Authors: Du Minhui , Zheng Ying
Published: March 2008

Nanocomposites are a relatively new material in producing fiber re‐enforced dental posts. The mechanical properties of nanocomposites, which strongly associate with the resin matrix, nanoparticles, and the interface between inorganic fillers and organic matrix, play an important role in determining the quality of dental posts. This work was to investigate the effect of degree of conversion (DC) and silanization of fillers on the mechanical properties of nanocomposties. Experimental Urethane dimethacrylate (UDMA) based dental composites containing unsilanized and silanized SiO2 filler and various amount of triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA) were prepared at the first step. The DC of composites at different ratios of UDMA/TEGDMA, cure temperature and cure time was measured by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The results showed that DC increases with the increase of TEGDMA content in resin matrix. Both increase of the cure temperature and cure time can cause the increase of DC. The incorporation of fillers, either silanized, or unsilanized filler, caused the decrease of DC. However, composites reinforced with silanized silica showed relatively lower DC, and DC decreased with the increase of silanized filler content. The effect of incorporation of fillers on the mechanical properties was investigated. Silanized silica can effectively improved the flexural strength and flexural modulus of material, and these properties increased with the increase of silica content. Thermomechanical analysis (DMA) provided the similar results to the static property measurements. SEM images of fracture surfaces of specimens from flexural testing revealed the surface morphology is strongly related to the quality of interface between inorganic fillers and organic matrix. POLYM. COMPOS., 2008. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers
Modeling of three‐dimensional flow and heat transfer in polystyrene foam extrusion dies
Authors: Choudhary Manoj K. , Kulkarni Jaydeep A.
Published: March 2008

A three‐dimensional mathematical model was developed to investigate the nonisothermal, non‐Newtonian polymer flow through the dies used in the polystyrene foam extrusion process. The model, based on the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code, Polyflow, allowed for the shear rate and temperature dependence of the shear viscosity of the blowing agent laden polystyrene melt. The model also accounted for viscous heating. The shear viscosity of the polystyrene‐blowing agent mixture was measured experimentally at several temperatures. The model was used to calculate pressure, flow, and temperature distributions in two different dies used for industrial‐scale extrusion of polystyrene foams. The article presents a selection of computed results to illustrate the effect of die design on uniformity of flow at the die exit, the overall pressure drop in the die, relative magnitudes of pressure drop in the land section versus the rest of the die, and temperature distribution in the die. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2008. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers.
2‐[(Diphenylphosphino)methyl]pyridine as ligand for iron‐based atom transfer radical polymerization
Authors: Xue Zhigang , Noh Seok Kyun , Lyoo Won Seok
Published: March 2008

2‐[(Diphenylphosphino)methyl]pyridine (DPPMP) was successfully used as a bidentate ligand in the iron‐mediated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of methyl methacrylate (MMA) with various initiators and solvents. The effect of the catalytic system on ATRP was studied systematically. Most of the polymerizations with DPPMP ligand were well controlled with a linear increase in the number‐average molecular weights (Mn) versus conversion and relatively low molecular weight distributions (Mw/Mn = 1.10–1.3) being observed throughout the reactions, and the measured molecular weights matched the predicted values. Initially added iron(III) bromide improved the controllability of the polymerization reactions in terms of molecular weight control. The ratio of ligand to metal influenced the controllability of ATRP system, and the optimum ratio was found to be 2:1. It was shown that ATRP of MMA with FeX2/DPPMP catalytic system (X = Cl, Br) initiated by 2‐bromopropionitrile (BPN) was controlled more effectively in toluene than in polar solvents. The rate of polymerization increased with increasing the polymerization temperature and the apparent activation energy was calculated to be 56.7 KJ mol−1. In addition, reverse ATRP of MMA was able to be successfully carried out using AIBN in toluene at 80 °C. Polymerization of styrene (St) was found to be controlled well by using the PEBr/FeBr2/DPPMP system in DMF at 110 °C. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 2922–2935, 2008
Fabrication of thermosensitive PCL‐PNIPAAm‐PCL triblock copolymeric micelles for drug delivery
Authors: Chang Cong , Wei Hua , Quan Chang‐Yun , Li Yong‐Yong , Liu Jia , Wang Zong‐Chun , Cheng Si‐Xue , Zhang Xian‐Zheng , Zhuo Ren‐Xi
Published: March 2008

A series of thermosensitive ABA type triblock poly(ε‐caprolactone)‐b‐poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide)‐b‐poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL‐PNIPAAm‐PCL) copolymers with different molecular weights were synthesized by the combination of ring opening polymerization and reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. The critical micelle concentrations (CMCs) of the resulted four triblock copolymers in aqueous solution were determined to be 33.8, 39.8, 35.5, and 41.7 mg/L, respectively, by fluorescence spectroscopy using pyrene as a fluorescence probe. Optical absorption measurements showed that the lower critical solution temperatures (LCSTs) of the copolymers were 35.8, 36.2, 35.2, and 36.2 °C, respectively, in distilled water, and 33.9, 34.2, 33.3, 34.6 °C, respectively, in PBS (pH = 6.8, I = 0.1). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed that the self‐assembled micelles exhibited a well‐defined spherical shape with diameter of around 100 nm. The drug‐loaded PCL‐PNIPAAm‐PCL micelles displayed thermosensitive controlled release behaviors. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 3048–3057, 2008
Predictors of mucoid Pseudomonas colonization in cystic fibrosis patients
Authors: Levy Hara , Kalish Leslie A. , Cannon Carolyn L. , García K. Christopher , Gerard Craig , Goldmann Don , Pier Gerald B. , Weiss Scott T. , Colin A.A.
Published: March 2008

Rationale

Chronic mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa within the airway in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients can determine prognosis. Understanding the risk factors of mucoid P. aeruginosa acquisition may change how we deliver care. This study aims to evaluate whether presence of risk factors reported to predict disease severity including gender, CFTR genotype, bacterial organisms in airway cultures, and serum levels of vitamins A and E, albumin, C‐reactive protein, alpha 1‐antitrypsin, and immunoglobulins increased the risk of mucoid P. aeruginosa acquisition.

Methods

Primary endpoint was age at first transition from negative to positive culture for mucoid P. aeruginosa. Cox proportional hazards regression with time‐dependent covariates examined development of mucoid P. aeruginosa infection and its association with longitudinally measured serum biomarkers, pulmonary function, and culture results for other organisms.

Results

Median ages at CF diagnosis and at first culture were 0.55 and 5.7 years, respectively. Median number of cultures/patient was 17. Of the 323 subjects, 150 developed mucoid P. aeruginosa during a median 8.1 years' follow‐up. In multivariate analysis, gender (relative hazard [RH] 0.55 for male vs. female, P = 0.001), number of DF508 alleles (RH 1.66 for 1 or 2 vs. 0, P = 0.04), FEV1 % (RH 1.16 for 10% decrease, P = 0.008), and most recent Staphylococcus aureus status (RH 0.24 for positive vs. negative, P < 0.0001) remained statistically significant.

Conclusion

Female gender, number of DF508 alleles, decreased lung function, and lack of S. aureus on recent sputum culture are important risk factors for early detection of mucoid P. aeruginosa. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2008; 43:463–471. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.