bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
MnSOD Overexpression Prevents Liver Mitochondrial DNA Depletion after an Alcohol Binge but Worsens This Effect after Prolonged Alcohol Consumption in Mice
Authors: Mansouri Abdellah , Tarhuni Arige , Larosche Isabelle , Reyl-Desmars Florence , Demeilliers Christine , Degoul Françoise , Nahon Pierre , Sutton Angela , Moreau Richard , Fromenty Bernard , Pessayre Dominique
Published: April 2011

Both acute and chronic alcohol consumption increase reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation and lipid peroxidation, whose products damage hepatic mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). To test whether manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) overexpression modulates acute and chronic alcohol-induced mtDNA lesions, transgenic MnSOD-overexpressing (TgMnSOD+++) mice and wild-type (WT) mice were treated by alcohol, either chronically (7 weeks in drinking water) or acutely (single intragastric dose of 5 g/kg). Acute alcohol administration increased mitochondrial ROS formation, decreased mitochondrial glutathione, depleted and damaged mtDNA, durably increased inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS) expression, plasma nitrites/nitrates and the nitration of tyrosine residues in complex V proteins and decreased complex V activity in WT mice. These effects were prevented in TgMnSOD+++ mice. In acutely alcoholized WT mice, mtDNA depletion was prevented by tempol, a superoxide scavenger, L-NAME and 1400W, two NOS inhibitors, or uric acid, a peroxynitrite scavenger. In contrast, chronic alcohol consumption decreased cytosolic glutathione and increased hepatic iron, lipid peroxidation products and respiratory complex I protein carbonyls only in ethanol-treated TgMnSOD+++ mice but not in WT mice. In chronic ethanol-fed TgMnSOD+++ mice, but not WT mice, mtDNA was damaged and depleted, and the iron chelator, deferoxamine (DFO), prevented this effect. In conclusion, MnSOD overexpression prevents mtDNA depletion after an acute alcohol binge but aggravates this effect after prolonged alcohol consumption, which selectively triggers iron accumulation in TgMnSOD+++ mice but not in WT mice. In the model of acute alcohol binge, the protective effects of MnSOD, tempol, NOS inhibitors and uric acid suggested a role of the superoxide anion reacting with NO to form mtDNA-damaging peroxynitrite. In the model of prolonged ethanol consumption, the protective effects of DFO suggested the role of iron reacting with hydrogen peroxide to form mtDNA-damaging hydroxyl radical.
Protective Role of HO-1 for Alcohol-Dependent Liver Damage
Authors: Nussler A.K. , Hao L. , Knobeloch D. , Yao P. , Nussler N.C. , Wang Z. , Liu L. , Ehnert S.
Published: April 2011

Background/Aims: Alcoholic liver disease is continuously increasing in developed countries being a leading cause of death worldwide. Chronic ethanol consumption induces oxidative stress by accumulation of reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) while reducing the cellular antioxidant defense. Induction of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) may protect primary human hepatocytes (hHeps) from such damage. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the potential of polyphenols to protect hHeps from ethanol-dependent oxidative damage. Methods: hHeps were isolated by collagenase perfusion. ROI and cellular glutathione (GSH) were measured by fluorescent-based assays. Cellular damage was determined by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage and staining for apoptosis and necrosis. Nuclear translocation of Nrf2 and HO-1 expression were analyzed by Western blot. Results: Ethanol and TGF-β rapidly increase ROI and reduce GSH in hHeps, causing apoptosis with a release of approximately 40% total LDH after 72 h. Similar to incubation with hemin preincubation and co-incubation of cells with nifedipine, verapamil and quercetin significantly reduce oxidative stress and resulting cellular damage, in a dose-dependent manner, by initiating nuclear translocation of Nrf2 which in turn induces HO-1 under the control of p38 and ERK. Blocking of HO-1 activity with ZNPP9 reverses the protective effect of all three substances. Conclusion: Our results suggest that increasing HO-1 activity in hHeps protects them from oxidative stress-dependent damage. As polyphenols have great potential to induce HO-1 expression, they may play an important role for future therapeutic strategies to protect liver from oxidative stress-dependent damage observed during chronic alcohol consumption.
HCV, HBV and Alcohol – the Dionysos Study
Authors: Bellentani S. , Scaglioni F. , Ciccia S. , Bedogni G. , Tiribelli C.
Published: April 2011

Population-based studies on the natural history of chronic viral liver disease that consider co-morbidity factors, such as alcohol or metabolic diseases, are lacking. We report here the contribution of ethanol intake and non-organ-specific autoantibodies (NOSA) to the course of chronic viral disease in the Dionysos cohort. As reported elsewhere, the Dionysos study was performed in two towns of Northern Italy, started in 1992 with 10 years of follow-up in 2002, and allowed us to quantify the burden of chronic liver disease in Northern Italy. We followed 139 subjects with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and 61 with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection for a median (IQR) time of 8.4 (1.0) and 8.3 (0.9) years, respectively. The incidence and remission rates of steatosis were 9.0 and 29.7 per 1,000 person-years in the HCV cohort and 4.0 and 30.4 per 1,000 person-years in the HBV cohort. Progression to cirrhosis and hepatocarcinoma was more common in the HCV than in the HBV cohort. In the HCV cohort, ethanol intake was an independent predictor of liver cirrhosis and of death rate in both cohorts. We found no association between baseline NOSA and 8.4-year mortality. We conclude that morbidity and mortality rate of HBV and HCV infection in the general population is lower than that reported in secondary care populations, blood donors, or clinical series, and that ethanol intake >30 g/day is the most important and evitable risk factor for cirrhosis and death in patients with chronic HCV or HBV infection.
Role of CYP2E1 in Ethanol-Induced Oxidant Stress, Fatty Liver and Hepatotoxicity
Authors: Cederbaum Arthur I.
Published: April 2011

Background/Aims: Several pathways contribute to mechanisms by which ethanol induces oxidant stress. While some studies support a role for cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1), others do not. There is a need to develop oral models of significant ethanol-induced liver injury and to evaluate the possible role of CYP2E1 in ethanol actions in such models. Methods: We evaluated chronic ethanol-induced liver injury, steatosis and oxidant stress in wild-type (WT) mice, CYP2E1 knockout (KO) mice and in humanized CYP2E1 knockin (KI) mice, where the human 2E1 was added back to mice deficient in the mouse 2E1. WT mice and CYP2E1 KO and KI mice (both provided by Dr. F. Gonzalez, NCI) were fed a high-fat Lieber-DeCarli liquid diet for 3 weeks; pair-fed controls received dextrose. Results: Ethanol produced fatty liver and oxidant stress in WT mice, but liver injury (transaminases, histopathology) was minimal. Ethanol-induced steatosis and oxidant stress were blunted in the KO mice (no liver injury) but restored in the KI mice. Significant liver injury was produced in the ethanol-fed KI mice with elevated transaminases and necrosis. This liver injury in the KI mice was associated with elevated oxidant stress and elevated levels of the human CYP2E1 compared to levels of the mouse 2E1 in WT mice. Activation of JNK was observed in the ethanol-fed KI mice compared to the other groups. Fatty liver in WT and KI mice was associated with lower levels of lipolytic PPAR-α. No such changes were found in the ethanol-fed KO mice. Conclusions: These results show that CYP2E1 plays a major role in ethanol-induced fatty liver and oxidant stress. Restoring CYP2E1 in the CYP2E1 KO mice restores ethanol-induced fatty liver and oxidant stress.
Pancreas – Non-Alcoholic Constituents and Their Effects
Authors: Gerloff Andreas , Feick Peter , Singer Manfred V.
Published: April 2011

Alcoholic beverages contain numerous non-alcoholic compounds that could have beneficial or pathological effects. For example, up to now in beer more than 2,000 and in wine more than 1,000 organic and inorganic constituents have been identified. Whereas the role of alcohol (ethanol) in the development of pancreatic diseases – in particular acute and chronic pancreatitis – has been intensively investigated, only little is known about the effects of non-alcoholic compounds in this context. Some of the non-alcoholic constituents have been shown to be biologically active, although discussions of the results in appropriate publications were often not performed with regard to their consumption as a mixture in alcoholic beverages. In this article we provide an overview about the newest data concerning the effect of non-alcoholic constituents of alcoholic beverages, especially of beer, on pancreatic secretion and their possible role in alcoholic pancreatitis. The data indicate that non-alcoholic constituents of beer stimulate pancreatic enzyme secretion in humans and rats, at least in part, by direct action on pancreatic acinar cells. However, there is accumulating evidence that non-alcoholic compounds of alcoholic beverages exert different effects on the pancreas. The effects and mechanisms of most single compounds and their combinations are still unknown and thus caution is required in attempting to draw firm conclusions on the effect of non-alcoholic compounds of alcoholic beverages on defining alcoholic etiology of pancreatitis.
Retinogeniculostriate Pathway Components Scale with Orbit Convergence Only in Primates and Not in Other Mammals
Authors: Heesy Christopher P. , Kamilar Jason M. , Willms Jonathan
Published: April 2011

Studies of the relative sizes of brain components in mammals suggest that areas responsible for sensory processing, including visual processing, are correlated with aspects of ecology, especially activity pattern. Some studies suggest that primate orbit convergence and binocular vision are correlated with the overall size of the brain as well as components of the visual pathway, such as the lateral geniculate nucleus. However, the question remains whether components of the visual pathway are correlated with orbit convergence and binocular visual field overlap in nonprimate mammals. Here, we examine the relationship between orbit convergence and the volumes of components of the visual pathway (optic tract, dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus and primary visual cortex). Data on orbit orientation are combined with those on overall brain volume as well as brain component volumes in a taxonomically diverse sample of mammals. Our results demonstrate that nonprimate mammals scale isometrically for component volumes along the visual pathway, whereas primates display negatively allometric relationships. However, only among primates is higher orbit convergence correlated with volumetrically larger lateral geniculate nuclei and visual cortices. Diurnal primates exhibit statistically larger visual pathway components when compared to nocturnal primates. Nonprimate mammals do not display activity pattern differences with the single exception of optic tract sizes. We conclude that binocular vision was a much stronger factor in the evolution of the visual system in primates than in other mammals.
Impact of Multidrug Resistance on Experimental Empyema by Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Giamarellos-Bourboulis Evangelos J. , Tzepi Ira , Tsovolou Irini , Spyridaki Aikaterini , Tsaganos Thomas , Vaki Ilia , Kotsaki Antigone , Polychronopoulos Vlasios
Published: April 2011

Background:Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a cause of infections of the lower respiratory tract among patients with chronic lung disorders. It is questionable whether virulence of this species may be influenced by multidrug resistance (MDR). Objectives: To define the impact of MDR in experimental lung infection. Methods: Experimental empyema was induced in rabbits by MDR (group A, n = 16) and by susceptible isolates (group B, n = 10). Pleural fluid was sampled for quantitative culture and estimation of cell apoptosis and of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) and malondialdehyde (MDA). Survival was recorded. Cytokine production was stimulated in U937 monocytes by samples of pleural fluid. Whole blood of rabbits was incubated with the isolates; induction of apoptosis was assessed. Results: Survival of group A was prolonged compared to group B. This was accompanied by lower bacterial counts of the inoculated pathogens in pleural fluid and in the lungs of group A compared with group B. Early apoptosis of neutrophils of pleural fluid of group A was lower compared with group B. Pleural fluid concentrations of TNFα and MDA did not differ between the groups. Cytokine production by U937 monocytes after stimulation with pleural fluid was greater in group B than in group A. The susceptible isolate induced apoptosis of neutrophils in vitro at a greater rate than the MDR isolate. Conclusions: Experimental empyema by susceptible P. aeruginosa is accompanied by greater mortality compared with MDR P. aeruginosa. This phenomenon may be attributed to the different growth pattern of the pathogens or to their interaction with the innate immune system.
Alcohol Abuse, Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Pancreatitis
Authors: Pandol Stephen J. , Gorelick Fred S. , Gerloff Andreas , Lugea Aurelia
Published: April 2011

Alcohol abuse is a common cause of both acute and chronic pancreatitis. There is a wide spectrum of pancreatic manifestations in heavy drinkers from no apparent disease in most individuals to acute inflammatory and necrotizing pancreatitis in a minority of individuals with some progressing to chronic pancreatitis characterized by replacement of the gland by fibrosis and chronic inflammation. Both smoking and African-American ethnicity are associated with increased risk of alcoholic pancreatitis. In this review we describe how our recent studies demonstrate that ethanol feeding in rodents causes oxidative stress in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of the digestive enzyme synthesizing acinar cell of the exocrine pancreas. This ER stress is attenuated by a robust unfolded protein response (UPR) involving X-box binding protein-1 (XBP1) in the acinar cell. When the UPR activation is prevented by genetic reduction in XBP1, ethanol feeding causes significant pathological responses in the pancreas. These results suggest that the reason most individuals who drink alcohol heavily do not get significant pancreatic disease is because the pancreas mounts an adaptive UPR to attenuate the ER stress that ethanol causes. We hypothesize that disease in the pancreas results when the UPR is insufficiently robust to alleviate the ER stress caused by alcohol abuse.
Different Ischemic Preconditioning Regimens Affecting Preservation Injury of Intestines
Authors: Varga Ján , Tóth Štefan , Staško Pavel , Bujdoš Martin , Veselá Jarmila , Jonecová Zuzana , Pomfy Mikuláš
Published: April 2011

Decreasing ischemia-reperfusion injury in intestinal transplantation is of paramount importance for improving graft recovery and function. This study explores the ability of two ischemic preconditioning (IPC) regimens to reduce preservation injury. Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 3 groups (n = 11 each). In the controls (group C), intestinal grafts were harvested and preserved. IPC was performed either through 4 cycles of mesenteric ischemia of 4 min each followed by 10 min of reperfusion (group BIPC) or 2 ischemic cycles of 12 min each followed by 10 min of reperfusion (group LIPC). Grafts were stored in histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate, and samples were taken 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, and 24 h after preservation. Preservation injury was scored using the Park/Chiu scale. Goblet cells (GC), enteroendocrine cells (EEC) and serotonin-producing EEC (SPEEC) were studied for evaluation of the graft conditions. Group C had the most advanced preservation injury followed by group BIPC. GC count was lowest in group C, followed by BIPC. Comparison between groups BIPC and LIPC showed superior parameters (preservation injury, GC, EEC, and SPEEC) in LIPC. In conclusion, an IPC regimen of 2 ischemic cycles of 12 min each followed by 10 min of reperfusion distinctly decreased the preservation injury of intestinal grafts compared with non-manipulated grafts.
Multiple Facets of NF-κB in the Heart
Authors: Gordon Joseph W. , Shaw James A. , Kirshenbaum Lorrie A.
Published: April 2011

The progression from cardiac injury to symptomatic heart failure has been intensely studied over the last decade, and is largely attributable to a loss of functional cardiac myocytes through necrosis, intrinsic and extrinsic apoptosis pathways and autophagy. Therefore, the molecular regulation of these cellular programs has been rigorously investigated in the hopes of identifying a potential cell target that could promote cell survival and/or inhibit cell death to avert, or at least prolong, the degeneration toward symptomatic heart failure. The nuclear factor (NF)-κB super family of transcription factors has been implicated in the regulation of immune cell maturation, cell survival, and inflammation in many cell types, including cardiac myocytes. Recent studies have shown that NF-κB is cardioprotective during acute hypoxia and reperfusion injury. However, prolonged activation of NF-κB appears to be detrimental and promotes heart failure by eliciting signals that trigger chronic inflammation through enhanced elaboration of cytokines including tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin-1, and interleukin-6, leading to endoplasmic reticulum stress responses and cell death. The underlying mechanisms that account for the multifaceted and differential outcomes of NF-κB on cardiac cell fate are presently unknown. Herein, we posit a novel paradigm in which the timing, duration of activation, and cellular context may explain mechanistically the differential outcomes of NF-κB signaling in the heart that may be essential for future development of novel therapeutic interventions designed to target NF-κB responses and heart failure following myocardial injury.
A New Clustering Approach on the Basis of Dynamical Neural Field
Authors: Jin Dequan , Peng Jigen , Li Bin
Published: April 2011

In this letter, we present a new hierarchical clustering approach based on the evolutionary process of Amari's dynamical neural field model. Dynamical neural field theory provides a theoretical framework macroscopically describing the activity of neuron ensemble. Based on it, our clustering approach is essentially close to the neurophysiological nature of perception. It is also computationally stable, insensitive to noise, flexible, and tractable for data with complex structure. Some examples are given to show the feasibility.
The Role of Planetary Waves in the Downward Influence of Stratospheric Final Warming Events
Authors: Sun Lantao , Robinson Walter A. , Chen Gang
Published: April 2011

Stratospheric final warming events are simulated in an idealized atmospheric model by imposing a winter-to-summer transition in radiative equilibrium temperature only in the stratosphere. Large ensembles of events are simulated with different strengths of topographic forcing. It is found that the dates of final warmings become earlier and their downward influence on the troposphere becomes stronger for greater topographic amplitudes. This result is similar to observed differences between the downward influence of the final warming in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. The mechanisms through which the final warming exerts its influence on the tropospheric circulation are investigated using a zonally symmetric model. It is found that lower-stratospheric wave driving induces a residual circulation that affects the tropospheric circulation. The stratosphere also affects the propagation of planetary waves in the upper troposphere, resulting in a burst of wave activity and a rapid deceleration of tropospheric zonal winds at the time of the final warming. These results highlight the important roles of planetary waves in the downward influence of the stratospheric final warming events.
β-Blockers for Infantile Hemangiomas: A Single-Institution Experience
Authors: Blatt Julie , Morrell Dean S. , Buck Scott , Zdanski Carlton , Gold Stuart , Stavas Joseph , Powell Cynthia , Burkhart Craig N.
Published: April 2011

Propranolol has become first-line therapy for the treatment of infantile hemangiomas in many centers. Of 302 children with hemangiomas seen at the University of North Carolina from 2008 through 2010, 15.6% were treated with oral propranolol alone, 5.6% with topical timolol (a propranolol derivative) alone, and 2.3% with both. The use of these agents increased over time from 7% of patients seen in 2008 to 54% of patients first seen in 2010. Starting doses of propranolol ranged from 0.25 to 1 mg/kg/d, with target doses of 1 to 4 mg/kg/d. Serious side effects, noted in 6/54 (10.9%) patients, included somnolence, bradycardia, hypotension, hypoglycemia, and mottling of extremities.The authors confirm the variation in use of propranolol for vascular lesions and extend experience with timolol. They suggest daily home monitoring of patients for the first 2 weeks of initiating or increasing doses. Frequent feeding of infants and young children on this drug is recommended.
Interprofessional Team Training in Pediatric Resuscitation: A Low-Cost, In Situ Simulation Program That Enhances Self-Efficacy Among Participants
Authors: van Schaik Sandrijn M. , Plant Jennifer , Diane Shelley , Tsang Lisa , O'Sullivan Patricia
Published: April 2011

Introduction. Simulation-based interprofessional team training is important to ensure high-quality, safe patient care, but several barriers exist, including diverging learning needs and schedules as well as limited available resources. Methods. The authors developed an in situ, simulation-based interprofessional team training program around pediatric emergencies for physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, and pharmacists at their institution and performed an analysis of the program’s impact on self-efficacy in resuscitation skills among pediatric residents and nurses. Results. The results showed that with a design based in best principles of team training and simulation education, interprofessional team training is feasible and sustainable. The program had a beneficial effect on self-efficacy in resuscitation skills among both residents and nurses at the authors’ institution and received widespread acceptance. Conclusions. A collaborative approach to design and implementation of interprofessional team training can lead to a sustainable program that serves both patient safety and training requirements set forth by professional organizations.
The problem and sociopolitical confusion of ‘technological neutrality’: The case of the Observatorio de Neutralidad Tecnológica in Spain
Authors: Romero Moñivas Jesús
Published: April 2011

This article analyses the concept of ‘technological neutrality’ and the sociopolitical confusion that derives from an incorrect use of the term, as in the case of the new Observatorio de Neutralidad Tecnológica. It begins by formulating the problem and then offers a brief historical review of the main contributions that the philosophy, sociology and history of technology have made towards refuting the principle of technological neutrality. It goes on to analyse the connection that exists between politics and technology insofar as this shapes the polis and society, and looks at the need to focus on a true philosophy and political sociology of technology. Lastly, it examines what meaning the concept of technological neutrality has for the Observatorio de Neutralidad Tecnológica, from which we can conclude that the term has been used in an incorrect and ambiguous way, and it makes a sociological and philosophical critique of the authors of the Observatorio’s reports. The main conclusion is that, on the one hand, the term should be modified and that, on the other, the Observatorio does not seem to make explicit the political philosophy underlying its approach, which leads to a series of theoretical difficulties that it is important to reconsider.
Sport and gender construction in the postcolonial context: Between East and West — the paradoxical effects of globalization
Authors: Ruffié Sébastien , Ferez Sylvain , Lauzanne Marie-Amelie , Dumont Jacques
Published: April 2011

This article examines the social uses of the body by the French of Tamil origin in the sports centres of Pondicherry (southern India). It reviews the ways in which the body participates in the development and expression of gender arrangements in a postcolonial context faced with globalization. An analysis of semi-structured interviews shows the extent to which the structure of gender relationships, although occurring in a specific community, is both affected by the logic of identity related to cultural affiliations and linked by more global imperatives to the symbolic relationships between the local area and the former motherland, Metropolitan France. Finally, it appears that far from stigmatizing evident gender positions, the organization of roles between the sexes follows a sociocultural rationale that leads couples to adopt strategies which accentuate the structure of gender. On returning to the country of origin, the play of gender opposition and complementarity thus enables the symbolic gender advantages achieved through emigration to be retained while at the same time avoiding the risk of social exclusion.
Social-emotional world: Mapping a continent
Authors: Scheff Thomas J
Published: April 2011

This article describes two basic aspects of the social-emotional world: degree of connectedness (solidarity/alienation) and six specific emotions. This field needs to be clarified, because of the use of vernacular words rather than clearly defined concepts. Two sets of definitions are proposed. The first involves conceptual and operational definitions of degree of connectedness. The second offers a preliminary taxonomy of six emotion concepts. The connectedness formulation establishes an alienation/solidarity axis with three points between complete solidarity and complete alienation. Studies of pluralistic ignorance and false consensus, drama theory and other applications fall somewhere in the middle of this axis. The emotions taxonomy can be a first step toward better understanding their role in social life and their relation to connectedness. The theory implied by these definitions can be viewed as a first step toward a map of the social-emotional world.
Thinking Goudge: Fatal child abuse and the problem of uncertainty
Authors: Cradock Gerald
Published: April 2011

The increased valuation of children’s lives characteristic of modern society emphasizes the problem of child abuse. Beginning in the 1960s, increased public awareness of child abuse led to increased attention to the professions concerned with child homicide. This attention has taken the form of inquiries into children’s deaths that historically concentrated on social work ‘error’. Recent inquiries have expanded their attention to other professions, particularly the medical and policing professions. Ontario’s Goudge Inquiry centred on paediatric forensic pathology but, rather than focusing concern on murdered children, considered the moral hazard of wrongful convictions stemming from an overzealous concern with child abuse. The inquiry thus raises the problem of what evidence is certain, and how this certainty is evaluated. In turn, this makes the risk of child abuse reflexive insofar as under conditions of uncertainty professional medical judgement contains reflexive risk conditions. Because of these reflexive conditions, professional willingness to engage in child protection is being undermined and therefore threatens to paralyse the larger child protection project.
Positioning Urban Teachers as Effective
Authors: Sosa Teresa , Gomez Kimberley
Published: April 2011

This article focuses on the accounts by teachers who are positioned and who position themselves as “effective.” It draws on the relational aspects of positioning theory with respect to a determination of how the “effective teacher” position necessarily positions students. Findings suggest that students are positioned as (a) individuals within a sociocultural context, (b) fully capable of academic achievement, and (c) responsible for their school success. The third position of students suggests the presence of a seemingly disjointed belief and understanding of students. This work moves beyond simplistic explanations of how this belief may reinforce a competitive and individualistic ideology, suggesting that the presence of seemingly disjointed beliefs and understandings are important to consider in relation to who holds those views, the purpose of such views, and the social context in which those views are advanced.
Live and Learn? Contradictions in Residential Patterns and School Demographics
Authors: Tarasawa Beth A.
Published: April 2011

Educational and sociological scholars frequently debate how racial dynamics between neighborhoods and their public schools can maintain or exacerbate educational inequality. Drawing on secondary data from the Georgia Department of Education, 2000 Census Bureau, and attendance boundaries for metro Atlanta public high schools, this study investigates the following: To what degree do Atlanta-area racial and ethnic segregation patterns in public secondary schools reflect those in residential catchment areas? I find that in areas with the greatest racial heterogeneity and the greatest potential for diversity in educational settings, the public schools least reflect the racial composition of the neighborhoods. These results can inform policy makers and administrators on neighborhood and school-level factors which have implications for minimizing ethnoracial differences in education.
Slavery in the Age of Emancipation: Victims and Rebels in Brazil’s Late 19th-Century Domestic Trade
Authors: Butler Kim D.
Published: April 2011

The trajectory from slavery to freedom is generally told in linear fashion, yet for thousands of Black people in the Americas, the last decades of slavery were a time of expanding bondage. In Brazil, an internal slave trade shifted over 200,000 people from struggling northeastern plantations to the south-central region, where commercial coffee agriculture was quickly becoming the nation’s principal export sector. Scholars are increasingly exploring the ways in which African descendants became agents of their own freedom in the Atlantic world, but such agency is less visible among the victims of domestic slave trades.
A Beautiful Mind
Authors: Jenkins Toby S.
Published: April 2011

In a field like hip-hop, where written and verbal communication are the two primary forms of work production, the mind or intellect of the artist should be viewed as the very thing responsible for success. However, unlike other writing-intense fields, the mind of hip-hop artists is often the least valued and least lauded trait. Hip-hop artists, whether they realize it or not, have more to offer. They are more than the things that they possess. They are writers. They are thinkers. This article examines intellectualism in hip-hop music—its presence, shortcomings, and ultimate value.
Impact of Experiences With Racism on African-Descent Persons’ Susceptibility to Stereotype Threat Within the United Kingdom
Authors: Gaines Stanley O. , Bagha Sonia , Barrie Musayeroh , Bhattacharjee Tanya , Boateng Yvette , Briggs Jennifer , Ghezai Haben , Gunnoo Krish , Hoque Sabeha , Merchant Dimple , Mehra Kiran , Noorkhan Nadiyah , Rodriques Leah
Published: April 2011

The present study examines the impact of experiences with individual, institutional, cultural, and collective racism on susceptibility to stereotype among African-descent persons within the United Kingdom ( n = 103). Results of hierarchical multiple regression analysis indicated that (contrary to hypotheses) experiences with individual, institutional, and cultural racism were not significantly or marginally related to susceptibility to stereotype threat when entered together in Model 1. However (consistent with hypotheses), experience with collective racism was a significant positive predictor of susceptibility to stereotype threat after controlling for the effects of experiences with individual, institutional, and cultural racism in Model 2. Moreover (and unexpectedly), once experience with collective racism was added, experience with cultural racism emerged as a marginal negative predictor of susceptibility to stereotype threat. Implications for the continuing relevance of Erving Goffman’s symbolic interactionist theory and construct of stigma, along with Claude Steele’s construct of stereotype threat, to the field of Black psychology is discussed.
The Relationship Between Familial Resemblance and Sexual Attraction
Authors: Lieberman Debra , Fessler Daniel M. T. , Smith Adam
Published: April 2011

Foundational principles of evolutionary theory predict that inbreeding avoidance mechanisms should exist in all species—including humans—in which close genetic relatives interact during periods of sexual maturity. Voluminous empirical evidence, derived from diverse taxa, supports this prediction. Despite such results, Fraley and Marks claim to provide evidence that humans are sexually attracted to close genetic relatives and that such attraction is held in check by cultural taboos. Here, the authors show that Fraley and Marks, in their search for an alternate explanation of inbreeding avoidance, misapply theoretical constructs from evolutionary biology and social psychology, leading to an incorrect interpretation of their results. The authors propose that Fraley and Marks’s central findings can be explained in ways consistent with existing evolutionary models of inbreeding avoidance. The authors conclude that appropriate application of relevant theory and stringent experimental design can generate fruitful investigations into sexual attraction, inbreeding avoidance, and incest taboos.
Prophylactic Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy Tube Placement in Treatment of Head and Neck Cancer
Authors: Locher Julie L. , Bonner James A. , Carroll William R. , Caudell Jimmy J. , Keith Jeanette N. , Kilgore Meredith L. , Ritchie Christine S. , Roth David L. , Tajeu Gabriel S. , Allison Jeroan J.
Published: April 2011

Background: Patients with head and neck cancers (HNCs) are at increased risk of experiencing malnutrition, which is associated with poor outcomes. Advances in the treatment of HNCs have resulted in improved outcomes that are associated with severe toxic oral side effects, placing patients at an even greater risk of malnutrition. Prophylactic placement of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tubes before treatment may be beneficial in patients with HNC, especially those undergoing more intense treatment regimens. PEG tube placement, however, is not without risks. Methods: A comprehensive review of the literature was conducted. Results: Systematic evidence assessing both the benefits and harm associated with prophylactic PEG tube placement in patients undergoing treatment for HNC is weak, and benefits and harm have not been established. Conclusions: More research is necessary to inform physician behavior on whether prophylactic PEG tube placement is warranted in the treatment of HNC.
Effects of Perioperative Synbiotic Treatment on Infectious Complications, Intestinal Integrity, and Fecal Flora and Organic Acids in Hepatic Surgery With or Without Cirrhosis
Authors: Usami Makoto , Miyoshi Makoto , Kanbara Yoshihiro , Aoyama Michiko , Sakaki Hiroe , Shuno Katsuhito , Hirata Kenrou , Takahashi Masanori , Ueno Kimihiko , Tabata Shouzou , Asahara Takashi , Nomoto Koji
Published: April 2011

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the effect of preoperative and postoperative synbiotic treatment in hepatectomy patients with or without liver cirrhosis. Methods: Sixty‐one patients with hepatic cancer were assigned randomly to receive either oral synbiotics that consisted of Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, and galactooligosaccharides or no synbiotics (control) preoperatively for 14 days and postoperatively for 11 days. Infectious complications, intestinal mucosal integrity as measured by serum diamine oxidase (DAO) activity, and fecal flora and organic acid concentrations were compared between synbiotic treatment (n = 32) and control (n = 29) groups. Results: Fecal flora culture and organic acid concentrations were changed after hepatectomy in both groups. The postsurgery decrease in DAO activity was less profound in the synbiotic‐treated group (P < .01) and was correlated negatively with serum interleukin 6 and C‐reactive protein concentrations (P < .001). Infectious complications occurred in 5 (17.2%) patients in the control group and no patients in the synbiotic‐treated group (P < .05). Conclusion: Perioperative synbiotic treatment attenuated the decrease in intestinal integrity and reduced the rate of infectious complications in patients with or without liver cirrhosis who underwent hepatic surgery.
Parenteral Nutrition Administration Leads to Specific Alterations in the Expression of Adipocytokines and Peroxisome Proliferator‐Activated Receptors in a Rat Model
Authors: Tazuke Yuko , Teitelbaum Daniel , Wasa Masafumi , Fukuzawa Masahiro , Iiboshi Yasuhiko , Fujimoto Jiro
Published: April 2011

Background: Similar to metabolic syndrome, parenteral nutrition (PN) administration has also been associated with biologic abnormalities of glucose and lipids. Such complications include hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, liver dysfunction, and hepatobiliary complications. Because metabolic syndrome has been associated with altered expression of adipocytokines, and peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptors (PPARs), the present study hypothesized that PN would also lead to alterations in adipocytokines and related gene abundances. Methods: Male Wister rats received either intravenous (IV) saline and chow (control) or PN. To determine the contribution of lipids to metabolic changes, the following 2 PN groups were studied: PN with IV lipid (PN+L) and PN without lipid (PN–L). Rats were studied after 7 days. Results: A marked increase in hepatic glycogen staining was found in the PN–L group, and conversely, a marked increase in hepatic lipid staining was observed in the PN+L group. Both PN groups demonstrated a 30% increase in serum adiponectin levels in comparison to controls. In the liver, ACDC mRNA expression significantly increased (10%–20%), while ADIPOR1 expression significantly declined in the PN groups compared with controls. PPAR expression significantly declined (10%–30%) in the PN+L group compared with controls. In contrast to metabolic syndrome, PN+L led to a decrease in tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin 6 levels in the liver. Conclusions: The study shows that PN led to specific alterations in the abundance of adipocytokines and PPARs. These changes give critical insight into many of the metabolic derangements in lipid metabolism, which patients may experience with PN.
Vitamin D Deficiency in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Authors: Ulitsky Alex , Ananthakrishnan Ashwin N. , Naik Amar , Skaros Sue , Zadvornova Yelena , Binion David G. , Issa Mazen
Published: April 2011

Background: Vitamin D deficiency is common in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence and predictors of vitamin D deficiency in an IBD cohort. It was hypothesized that vitamin D deficiency is associated with increased disease activity and lower health‐related quality of life (HRQOL). Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study. Harvey‐Bradshaw index and ulcerative colitis disease activity index were used to assess disease activity. Short Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire scores were used to assess HRQOL. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify independent predictors of vitamin D deficiency and its association with disease activity and HRQOL. Results: The study included 504 IBD patients (403 Crohn's disease [CD] and 101 ulcerative colitis [UC]) who had a mean disease duration of 15.5 years in CD patients and 10.9 years in UC patients; 49.8% were vitamin D deficient, with 10.9% having severe deficiency. Vitamin D deficiency was associated with older age (P = .004) and older age at diagnosis (P = .03). Vitamin D deficiency was associated with lower HRQOL (regression coefficient –2.21, 95% confidence interval [CI], –4.10 to –0.33) in CD but not UC (regression coefficient 0.41, 95% CI, –2.91 to 3.73). Vitamin D deficiency was also associated with increased disease activity in CD (regression coefficient 1.07, 95% CI, 0.43 to 1.71). Conclusions: Vitamin D deficiency is common in IBD and is independently associated with lower HRQOL and greater disease activity in CD. There is a need for prospective studies to assess this correlation and examine the impact of vitamin D supplementation on disease course.
Correlation Between Exposure to Phthalates and Concentrations of Malondialdehyde in Infants and Children Undergoing Cyclic Parenteral Nutrition
Authors: Kambia Nicolas , Dine Thierry , Gressier Bernard , Frimat Bruno , Cazin Jean‐Louis , Luyckx Michel , Brunet Claude , Michaud Laurent , Gottrand Frédéric
Published: April 2011

Background: Plasticizers such as di(2‐ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) are added to polyvinyl chloride (PVC) to confer flexibility. However, DEHP is associated with reproductive disorders in humans. Because of its noncovalent bond to the PVC matrix, this plasticizer tends to leach easily. Infants and children undergoing cyclic, long‐term parenteral nutrition (PN) could be particularly at risk of potential toxicity from DEHP due to regular exposure. Malondialdehyde (MDA) is one of the most commonly used markers of free radical activity. The purpose of this study was to investigate how long‐term exposure to phthalate affects the plasmatic rate of MDA. Methods: Studies were performed on 7 randomized infants and children on regular cyclic, long‐term PN, and the results were compared with those of 5 nontreated infants. The circulating concentrations of DEHP in children and infants during the PN therapy were measured by high‐performance liquid chromatography. The concentrations were assessed before and after the PN session. In the same way, plasma MDA concentrations were measured. Results: The circulating concentrations of DEHP before and after a 10‐ to 11‐hour cyclic PN treatment in 7 infants and children under regular perfusion ranged widely, showing a significant increase after the treatment among all the patients. The same phenomenon observed with the rate of MDA showed that the 2 events are closely dependent. Therefore, long‐term exposure to DEHP during cyclic PN raised plasma MDA levels, indicating increased oxidative stress. Conclusion: Long‐term exposure to DEHP during PN increased free radical activity in vivo.
Omega‐3–Enriched Lipid Emulsion for Liver Salvage in Parenteral Nutrition–Induced Cholestasis in the Adult Patient
Authors: Jurewitsch Brian , Gardiner Geoffrey , Naccarato Mark , Jeejeebhoy Khursheed N.
Published: April 2011

The intrahepatic cholestasis attributed to parenteral nutrition (PN) in the adult patient is relatively rare and usually occurs in patients receiving long‐term PN. This article reports the first case of an adult patient with cholestatic PN‐associated liver disease without sepsis who received almost all her nutrition requirements through PN. Administration of an ω‐3–enriched lipid emulsion added to the PN regimen reversed cholestasis and demonstrated histologic improvement on serial liver biopsy. The patient had failed to respond to other modalities of treatment for this condition and was deeply jaundiced. Liver biochemistry profiles returned to baseline, and follow‐up liver biopsy showed that cholestasis had resolved and that the only residual changes were mild portal inflammation with no histochemical or ultrastructural progression. The PN regimen for the patient was restored to provide total estimated energy requirements and remains the principle source of the patient's nutrition to date.
Efficacy of Tube Feeding in Binge‐Eating/Vomiting Patients
Authors: Rigaud Daniel Jacques , Brayer Véronique , Roblot Anne , Brindisi Marie‐Claude , Vergès Bruno
Published: April 2011

Background: In many binge‐eating/vomiting patients, abstinence could not be obtained from classical treatments. Since the authors showed that tube feeding (TF) reduced such episodes in anorexia nervosa (AN)–hospitalized patients, they carried out a randomized trial on the efficacy of TF plus cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) vs CBT alone in AN and bulimia nervosa adult outpatients. Methods: The authors randomly assigned 103 ambulatory patients to receive 16 sessions of CBT alone (n = 51) or CBT plus 2 months of TF (n = 52). The main goal was abstinence of binge‐eating/vomiting episodes. Other criteria were gains in fat‐free mass and muscle mass improvements in nutrition markers, and quality of life (SF‐36 Health Survey), depression (Beck Depression Inventory), and anxiety (Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale) scores. Evaluations were performed at 1, 2 (end of treatment), 5, 8, and 14 months (analysis of variance). Results: TF patients were rapidly and more frequently abstinent at the end of treatment (2 months) than the CBT patients: 81% vs 29% (P < .001). Fat‐free mass, biological markers, depressive state (−58% vs −26%), anxiety (−48% vs −15%), and quality of life (+42% vs +13%) were more improved in the TF group than in the CBT group (P < .05). One year later, more TF patients remained abstinent (68% vs 27%, P = .02); they were less anxious, were less depressed, and had better quality of life than the CBT patients (P < .05). Conclusion: TF combined with CBT offered better results than CBT alone.
Prediction of Parenteral Nutrition Osmolarity by Digital Refractometry
Authors: Chang Wei‐Kuo , Yeh Ming‐Kung
Published: April 2011

Background: Infusion of high‐osmolarity parenteral nutrition (PN) formulations into a peripheral vein will damage the vessel. In this study, the authors developed a refractometric method to predict PN formulation osmolarity for patients receiving PN. Methods: Nutrients in PN formulations were prepared for Brix value and osmolality measurement. Brix value and osmolality measurement of the dextrose, amino acids, and electrolytes were used to evaluate the limiting factor of PN osmolarity prediction. A best‐fit equation was generated to predict PN osmolarity (mOsm/L): 81.05 × Brix value – 116.33 (R 2 > 0.99). To validate the PN osmolarity prediction by these 4 equations, a total of 500 PN admixtures were tested. Results: The authors found strong linear relationships between the Brix values and the osmolality measurement of dextrose (R 2 = 0.97), amino acids (R 2 = 0.99), and electrolytes (R 2 > 0.96). When PN‐measured osmolality was between 600 and 900 mOsm/kg, approximately 43%, 29%, 43%, and 0% of the predicted osmolarity obtained by equations 1, 2, 3, and 4 were outside the acceptable 90% to 110% confidence interval range, respectively. When measured osmolality was between 900 and 1,500 mOsm/kg, 31%, 100%, 85%, and 15% of the predicted osmolarity by equations 1, 2, 3, and 4 were outside the acceptable 90% to 110% confidence interval range, respectively. Conclusions: The refractive method permits accurate PN osmolarity prediction and reasonable quality assurance before PN formulation administration.