bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Organizational Structure and Job Satisfaction in Public Health Nursing
Authors: Campbell Sara L. , Fowles Eileen R. , Weber B. Jan
Published: November 2004

Abstract  The purpose of this descriptive study was to describe the characteristics and relationship of organizational structure and job satisfaction in public health nursing. A significant relationship was found between organizational structure variables and job satisfaction for public health nurses employed in down state Illinois local health departments. The findings of this study suggest that work environments in which supervisors and subordinates consult together concerning job tasks and decisions, and in which individuals are involved with peers in decision making and task definition, are positively related to job satisfaction. This information will assist nurse administrators in development of work structures that support participative decision making and enhance job satisfaction, critical to retaining and attracting a well‐qualified public health nurse workforce.
Challenges facing adjuvants for cancer immunotherapy
Authors: Mesa Circe , Fernández Luis E
Published: November 2004

An adjuvant is defined as a product that increases or modulates the immune response against an antigen (Ag). Based on this general definition many authors have postulated that the ideal adjuvant should increase the potency of the immune response, while being non‐toxic and safe. Although dozens of different adjuvants have been shown to be effective in preclinical and clinical studies, only aluminium‐based salts (Alum) and squalene–oil–water emulsion (MF59) have been approved for human use. However, for the development of therapeutic vaccines to treat cancer patients, the prerequisites for an ideal cancer adjuvant differ from conventional adjuvants for many reasons. First, the patients that will receive the vaccines are immuno‐compromised because of, for example, impaired mechanisms of antigen presentation, non‐responsiveness of activated T cells and enhanced inhibition of self‐reactivity by regulatory T cells. Second, the tumour Ag are usually self‐derived and are, therefore, poorly immunogenic. Third, tumours develop escape mechanisms to avoid the immune system, such as tumour editing, low or non‐expression of MHC class I molecules or secretion of suppressive cytokines. Thus, adjuvants for cancer vaccines need to be more potent than for prophylactic vaccines and consequently may be more toxic and may even induce autoimmune reactions. In summary, the ideal cancer adjuvant should rescue and increase the immune response against tumours in immuno‐compromised patients, with acceptable profiles of toxicity and safety. The present review discusses the role of cancer adjuvants at the different phases of the generation of antitumour immunity following vaccination.
Role for NKG2‐A and NKG2‐C surface receptors in chronic CD4+ T‐cell responses
Authors: Ortega Consuelo , Romero Pilar , Palma Agustín , Orta Teresa , Peña José , García‐Vinuesa Amaya , Molina Ignacio J , Santamaría Manuel
Published: November 2004

The participation of CD94 and NKG2 gene family members in the function of NK cells and CD8+ cytolytic cells has recently been addressed in detail. However, the role that these molecules play in the key CD4+ regulatory cells remains largely unexplored. This study has examined the expression and regulation of CD94 and NKG2 genes in purified human peripheral CD4+ cells stimulated with several agents. We found a constitutive expression of NKG2‐E in CD94‐depleted resting peripheral CD4+ cells, whereas inductions of NKG2‐A and NKG2‐C required chronic cell activation and occurred after expression of CD94. We found that CD3‐mediated stimulation induces the expression of CD94 first by day 5 of culture, followed by NKG2‐A by day 15 and finally NKG2‐C, which is not detected until 20 days after repeated stimulation. This pattern of gene expression differs sharply from that observed in purified CD8+ T cells, where mRNA from all NKG2 gene family members are detected after 5 days of stimulation. Selective activation of TCR Vβ2‐bearing cells with toxic shock syndrome toxin‐1 superantigen reveals that mRNA induction of NKG2‐A and NKG2‐C genes is significantly influenced by the presence of cytokines (IL‐10 and TGF‐β) and by the restimulation of the cells. In addition, the occupancy of the CD94/NKG2‐A receptor expressed on these superantigen‐stimulated CD4+ T lymphocytes abrogates TNF‐α and IFN‐ γ production, whereas NKG2‐C enhances production of these cytokines. Taken together our results reveal strict gene regulatory mechanisms for CD94 and NKG2 gene expression on CD4+ cells that are different from those governing the expression of these same genes in CD8+ cells. The results suggest that these genes also participate in chronic CD4+ T‐cell responses.
Inflammatory pseudotumor of the spleen with EBV positivity: report of a case
Authors: Oz Puyan F. , Bilgi S. , Unlu E. , Yalcin O. , Altaner S. , Demir M. , Cakir B.
Published: November 2004

Inflammatory pseudotumor (IPT) of the spleen is a rare benign tumor with unknown etiology. It causes problems in the diagnosis because of mimicking some hematopoetic malignancies. Here we report the case of a 36‐yr‐old woman complaining of nausea and insomnia. Laboratory investigations were limited to increase of leukocyte and thrombocyte count. Ultrasonography and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging showed circumscribed solid lobulated mass, measuring about 6.5 cm in diameter, located in the dorsal region of the spleen. Splenectomy was performed with the differential diagnosis including hamartoma and lymphoma of the spleen. Histological examination of the sharply demarcated splenic mass consisted of myofibroblasts and admixture of inflammatory cells. Immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization were performed. IPT of the spleen was diagnosed. Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) was detected in the tumor by in situ hybridization. This rare entity is presented because of its clinical, radiological and pathological difficulties in the differential diagnosis.
Creativity in Communication: A Theoretical Framework for Collaborative Product Creation
Authors: Sonnenburg Stephan
Published: November 2004

Most creative acts occur in a collaborative context. Recent research contributions see the relevance of collaborative creativity but they lack a theoretical basis. What exactly is understood by collaborative creativity and above all, how it is examined, appears not to be the focus of well‐founded analyses. The key objective of this paper is to present a new model characterizing collaborative product creation. This model describes theoretical essence needed for any creative collaboration. As a result, the phenomenon of communication is crystallized as the driving force for collaborative creativity. The article is divided into three sections. First, the paper focuses on creative collaboration in previous creativity research. It is shown that a different understanding of collaborative creativity exists. Second, four dimensions of the new model are presented: type of communication, course of performance, working style and the relation between the nature of problems and the implication of solutions. Lastly, the relevance of the observations for future research and creativity management is discussed briefly.
Co‐operation in NPD: Coping with Different Learning Styles
Authors: Smulders Frido E.
Published: November 2004

This paper describes part of the results of a research project that focuses on the interface between new product development (NPD) and production. The following question is addressed: ‘What is the influence of the inherent differences in learning styles within NPD and within Production on the interactions between the respective participants?’ The dominant learning style in NPD‐processes is conceptual. Within production processes an operational learning style is dominant. Clashes occur when the learning style in‐use is opposite to the learning style required. For efficient interactions participants must be able to switch from one style to another depending on the issue at hand. Making the different learning styles explicit and learn people to change form one style to another might help. However, interactions between NPD and production frequently have the character of an intervention from one process to another. For interventions to be successful, the interventionist needs to have enough empathic insight in the character of the other process and in the learning behaviour of its participants. Providing internships on both sides together with adequate in‐house training programmes might support the development of empathic abilities like mutual understanding and respect.
Celosia argentea Linn. leaf extract improves wound healing in a rat burn wound model
Authors: Priya Kulasekaran S. , Arumugam Gnanamani , Rathinam Bhuvaneswari , Wells Alan , Babu Mary
Published: November 2004

Celosia argentea (CA) is used in traditional medicine for sores, ulcers, and skin eruptions. The present study was aimed at investigating the healing efficacy of CA extract in an ointment formulated (10 % w/w) as an alcohol extract of CA using a rat burn wound model. Wound closure occurred earlier in the treated rats (15 days vs. 30 in the untreated group; p < 0.05). Granulation tissue collected on every fifth day of healing showed an increase in collagen and hexosamine content at a faster rate in the treated wounds. This correlated with the accelerated wound closure observed in the treated groups. To probe the cellular basis of this effect, we investigated the effect of this extract on two major cellular responses; cell proliferation and cell motility, in two key cell lineages, fibroblasts and keratinocytes. CA was not toxic at concentrations of < 3 µg/ml in fibroblasts and < 30 µg/ml in keratinocytes. The alcohol extract promoted cell motility and proliferation of primary dermal fibroblasts at 0.1–1.0 µg/ml but did not alter these responses in primary keratinocytes. In an initial examination of molecular mechanisms, we found that the CA extract did not alter fibroblast and keratinocyte responses to the wound repair‐associated epidermal growth factor receptor ligands. In short, we demonstrate a salutary action of the CA extract on wound healing, and suggest that this may be due to mitogenic and motogenic promotion of dermal fibroblasts.
Approaches to improve angiogenesis in tissue‐engineered skin
Authors: Sahota Parbinder S. , Burn J. Lance , Brown Nicola J. , MacNeil Sheila
Published: November 2004

A problem with tissue‐engineered skin is clinical failure due to delays in vascularization. The aim of this study was to explore a number of simple strategies to improve angiogenesis/vascularization using a tissue‐engineered model of skin to which small vessel human dermal microvascular endothelial cells were added. For the majority of these studies, a modified Guirguis chamber was used, which allowed the investigation of several variables within the same experiment using the same human dermis; cell type, angiogenic growth factors, the influence of keratinocytes and fibroblasts, mechanical penetration of the human dermis, the site of endothelial cell addition, and the influence of hypoxia were all examined. A qualitative scoring system was used to assess the impact of these factors on the penetration of endothelial cells throughout the dermis. Similar results were achieved using freshly isolated small vessel human dermal microvascular endothelial cells or an endothelial cell line and a minimum cell seeding density was identified. Cell penetration was not influenced by the addition of angiogenic growth factors (vascular endothelial growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor); similarly, including epidermal keratinocytes or dermal fibroblasts did not encourage endothelial cell entry, and neither did mechanical introduction of holes throughout the dermis. Two factors were identified that significantly enhanced endothelial cell penetration into the dermis: hypoxia and the site of endothelial cell addition. Endothelial cells added from the papillary surface entered into the dermis much more effectively than when cells were added to the reticular surface of the dermis. We conclude that this model is valuable in improving our understanding of how to enhance vascularization of tissue‐engineered grafts.
Experimental induction of heterotopic bone in abdominal implants
Authors: Ascencio Daniel , Hernández‐Pando Rogelio , Barrios Jorge , Soriano Rosa Eugenia , Perez‐Guille Beatriz , Villegas Fernando , Sanz Cecilia Ridaura , López‐Corella Eduardo , Carrasco Daniel , F. Silvestre Frenk
Published: November 2004

Induction of bone tissue requires three elements: osteoprogenitor cells, osteoinductive factors, and a supporting extracellular matrix. In this study, we report on an experimental model in dogs of heterotopic bone tissue production, based on the integration of these osteo‐inductive factors into abdominal implants. The implants consist of either a type I collagen sponge wrapped with periosteum and omentum or a type I collagen sponge embedded with demineralized bone powder, platelet‐rich plasma, thrombin, and calcium chloride wrapped with omentum, with or without periosteum. Automated histomorphometric analysis showed an efficient production of trabecular bone, which corresponded to 50–70 % of the total tissue composition 4 months after implant formation. High expression of the osteoinductive cytokines transforming growth factor‐β and bone morphogenetic proteins‐2 and ‐4 was shown by immunohistochemistry in macrophages, endothelial cells from neoformed capillaries, osteoblasts, osteoclasts, and the mesenchymal tissue around the bone trabeculae. These approaches are novel and efficient surgical procedures to produce mature trabecular bone that could be used as a potential source of bone tissue for autotransplantation.
How Fundamental are Fundamental Values? Valuation Methods and their Impact on the Performance of German Venture Capitalists
Authors: Dittmann Ingolf , Maug Ernst , Kemper Johannes
Published: November 2004

This paper studies how the use of alternative valuation methodologies affects investment performance for a sample of 53 German venture capitalists. We measure investment performance by the amount of investments they need to write off and by the number of companies they take public. We find that a significant number of investment managers use discounted cash flow (DCF) techniques, but only a minority appears to use a discount rate related to the cost of capital. The majority applies DCF using subjective discount rates. We present evidence that the use of DCF is correlated with superior investment performance only if applied in conjunction with an objectifiable discount rate. Also, funds that invest with a longer horizon perform better. The use of multiples is not significantly correlated with investment performance. We conclude that a focus on fundamental values confers an advantage.
Political Uncertainty, Financial Crisis and Market Volatility
Authors: Mei Jianping , Guo Limin
Published: November 2004

This paper examines the impact of political uncertainty on financial crises using a panel of 22 emerging markets. By examining political election cycles, we find that eight out of nine of the financial crises happened during the periods of political election and transition. Using a combination of probit and switching regression analysis, we find that there is a significant relationship between political election and financial crisis after controlling for differences in economic and financial conditions. We observe increased market volatility during political election and transition periods. Our results suggest that political uncertainty could be a major contributing factor to financial crisis. Thus, politics does matter in emerging markets. Since the odds of financial crisis tend to be much larger during the political election periods, institutional investors should take that into account when making emerging market investment during those time periods.
Identification of genes in cassava that are differentially expressed during infection with Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. manihotis
Authors: SANTAELLA MARCELLA , SUÁREZ EDNA , LÓPEZ CAMILO , GONZÁLEZ CAROLINA , MOSQUERA GLORIA , RESTREPO SILVIA , TOHME JOE , BADILLO ALFREDO , VERDIER VALÉRIE
Published: November 2004

The cDNA‐amplified fragment length polymorphism approach was used to identify differentially expressed transcripts from cassava infected by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. manihotis (Xam). Approximately 3600 transcript‐derived fragments (TDFs) were screened of which 340 were isolated. The nucleotide sequences of 250 TDFs were analysed and assembled into contigs and singletons. The amino acid sequences of their predicted products were compared with entries in databases and 63 of these clones showed homology to known plant genes. Of these, 32 showed similarity to plant defence proteins. Fifty‐one TDFs corresponded to proteins of unknown function and 106 did not match any sequence in the public databases. Quantitative reverse transcription PCR was carried out with a selected set of gene transcripts that demonstrated an increase of expression during the infection. These results point out candidate genes that are associated with cassava resistance to Xam and reinforce the idea of a complex process occurring during this plant–pathogen interaction.
Using laser capture microdissection to study gene expression in early stages of giant cells induced by root‐knot nematodes
Authors: RAMSAY KERRY , WANG ZHAOHUI , JONES MICHAEL G. K.
Published: November 2004

Root‐knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) are economically important plant parasites that induce specific feeding cells called giant cells in host roots. Study of molecular events involved in induction and differentiation of giant cells has been limited because it is difficult to obtain pure cytoplasm specifically from the highly specialized cells. In this work, laser capture microdissection (LCM) was used to collect cytoplasmic contents from paraffin‐embedded sections of 4 day post‐inoculation giant cells in tomato roots. Total RNA was isolated from the sections, and used in RT‐PCR to investigate expression of cell cycle genes in giant cells. Two D‐type cyclin genes, LeCycD3;2 and LeCycD3;3, were expressed at higher levels in giant cells compared with other cell‐cycle‐related cyclin genes, suggesting that the induction of the G1 phase of the cell cycle may be triggered in response to stimulation by the infecting nematode. LCM provides a powerful new tool to study the molecular basis of host–pathogen interactions at the cellular or subcellular level.
The scurs locus in cattle maps to bovine chromosome 19
Authors: Asai M. , Berryere T. G. , Schmutz S. M.
Published: November 2004

Polled, or the absence of horns, is a desirable trait for many cattle breeders. However, the presence of scurs, which are small horn‐like structures that are not attached to the skull, can lower the value of an animal. The scurs trait has been reported as sex influenced. Using a genome scan with 162 autosomal microsatellite markers genotyped across three full‐sib families, the scurs locus was mapped near BMS2142 on cattle chromosome 19 (LOD = 4.21). To more precisely map scurs, the families from the initial analysis and three additional families were genotyped for 16 microsatellite markers and SNPs in three genes on chromosome 19. In this subsequent analysis, the scurs locus was mapped 4 cM distal of BMS2142 (LOD = 4.46) and 6 cM proximal to IDVGA46 (LOD = 2.56). ALOX12 and MFAP4 were the closest genes proximal and distal, respectively, to the scurs locus. Three microsatellite markers on the X chromosome were genotyped across these six families but were not linked to scurs, further demonstrating that this trait was not sex linked. Because the polled locus has been mapped to the centromeric end of chromosome 1 and scurs has now been mapped to chromosome 19, these two traits are not linked in Bos taurus.
FISH mapping and sequence analysis of 87 porcine BAC clones
Authors: Anistoroaei R. , Cirera S. , Jørgensen C. B. , Fredholm M. , Christensen K.
Published: November 2004

Ninety‐one bacterial artificial chromosomes (BAC) clones, selected effectively at random from our library, were used as probes for fluorescence in situ hybridization. Of these, 87 clones gave a specific signal in one, two or three different pair(s) of swine metaphase chromosomes. The ends of 35 BAC clones were sequenced in order to obtain information for comparative mapping. Fifteen of them gave useful comparative mapping information.
An association study using AFLP markers and application to a beef cattle breeding population
Authors: Tsuji S. , Itoh K. , Sasazaki S. , Mannen H. , Oyama K. , Shojo M. , Mukai F.
Published: November 2004

Using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) fingerprinting, selective genotyping was performed to determine if this method was effective for selecting superior breeding stock. Forty‐eight cows with extreme genetic merit for beef marbling score (BMS) were selected from a population of Japanese Black cattle (n = 4462), including 25 with the highest for predicted breeding value (PBV) and 23 with the lowest. Sixteen AFLP fragments were selected for further analysis based on fragment frequency differences between the high and low groups. A linear discriminant analysis using these AFLP fragments was applied in order to derive a discriminant function that classified the cows into high and low groups. Seven of the 16 fragments were included in the resulting function and the discriminant scores (general genetic values, GGV) of the 48 cows were calculated using the function. These cows were clearly separated into high and low groups by GGV with a correlation ratio of 0.91 (discriminative error of 2.1%). The same function was then applied to 121 additional cows that were randomly selected from the original population. A significant regression coefficient of GGV on BMS‐PBV (R2 = 0.45) was obtained, which indicates that the GGV can be used as a selection criterion for BMS in this population. These results suggest that AFLP fingerprinting can be used for animal breeding without identifying the underlying genes affecting the trait of interest.
Aberrant Fanconi anaemia protein profiles in acute myeloid leukaemia cells
Authors: Xie Yan , De Winter Johan P. , Waisfisz Quinten , Nieuwint Aggie W. M. , Scheper Rik J. , Arwert Fré , Hoatlin Maureen E. , Ossenkoppele Gert Jan , Schuurhuis Gerrit‐Jan , Joenje Hans
Published: November 2004

Fanconi anaemia (FA) is an autosomal recessive disease strongly predisposing to bone marrow failure and acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). Four FA genes, corresponding to complementation groups A, C, F and G, have been cloned, but the molecular functions of the corresponding proteins are unknown. The high risk of AML in FA patients suggests that the ‘FA pathway’ helps to prevent AML in non‐FA individuals. We examined 10 AML cell lines, as well as primary cells from 15 AML patients representing the French–American–British subclasses M1–M5a, for possible deficiencies in the ‘FA pathway’. Cellular lysates were analysed for the presence of the FA proteins FANCA, FANCC, FANCF and FANCG, as well as the complexes reported to be formed between these proteins, using immunoprecipitation and Western blot analysis. Aberrant protein profiles were observed in five of the 10 cell lines and in 11 of the 15 primary AML samples. Aberrations, that included absence or reduced presence of FA proteins and/or their complexes, were noted in the subclasses M1–M4, but not in M5a (n = 3). Our results suggest that a significant proportion of general AML is characterized by a disturbance of the ‘FA pathway’ that may represent an early event in the development of this type of leukaemia.
Expression of bcr–abl mRNA in individual chronic myelogenous leukaemia cells as determined by in situ amplification
Authors: Pachmann Katharina , Zhao Shourong , Schenk Thomas , Kantarjian Hagop , El‐Naggar Adel K. , Siciliano Michael J. , Guo Jie‐Qiang , Arlinghaus Ralph B. , Andreeff Michael
Published: November 2004

We present the results of a novel method developed for evaluation of in situ amplification, a molecular genetic method at the cellular level. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) was used to study bcr–abl transcript levels in individual cells from patients with chronic myelogenous leukaemia (CML). After hybridizing a fluorochrome‐labelled probe to the cell‐bound RT‐PCR product, bcr–abl mRNA‐positive cells were determined using image analysis. A dilution series of bcr–abl‐positive BV173 into normal cells showed a good correlation between expected and actual values. In 25 CML samples, the percentage of in situ PCR‐positive cells showed an excellent correlation with cytogenetic results (r = 0·94, P < 0·0001), interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) (r = 0·95, P = 0·001) and hypermetaphase FISH (r = 0·81, P < 0·001). The fluorescence intensity was higher in residual CML cells after interferon (IFN) treatment than in newly diagnosed patients (P = 0·004), and was highest in late‐stage CML resistant to IFN therapy and lowest in CML blast crisis (P = 0·001). Mean fluorescence values correlated with bcr–abl protein levels, as determined by Western blot analysis (r = 0·62). Laser scanning cytometry allowing automated analysis of large numbers of cells confirmed the results. Thus, fluorescence in situ PCR provides a novel and quantitative approach for monitoring tumour load and bcr–abl transcript levels in CML.
Maternal depressive symptoms and adherence to therapy in inner‐city children with Asthma
Authors: Reading Richard
Published: November 2004

.
 
Bartlet, S.J.,
Krishnan, J.A.,
Riekert, K.A.,
Butz, A.M.,
Malveaux, F.J. &
Rand, C.S.
(
2004
)

113
,
229
–
237
.

Context  Little is known about how depressive symptoms in mothers affects illness management in inner‐city children with asthma.

Objective  The goal was to determine how maternal depressive symptoms influence child medication adherence, impact of the child's asthma on the mother, and maternal attitudes and beliefs.

Methods  Baseline and 6‐month surveys were administered to 177 mothers of young minority children with asthma in inner‐city Baltimore, MD and Washington, DC. Medication adherence, disruptiveness of asthma, and select attitudes toward illness and asthma therapy were measured. Six‐month data (n = 158) were used to prospectively evaluate long‐term symptom control and emergency department use. Independent variables included asthma morbidity, age, depressive symptoms and other psychosocial data.

Results  No difference in child asthma morbidity was observed between mothers high and low in depressive symptoms. However, mothers with high depressive symptoms reported significantly more problems with their child using inhalers properly [odds ratio (OR) 5.0, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.3–18.9] and forgetting doses (OR 4.2, 95% CI 1.4–12.4). Depressive symptoms were also associated with greater emotional distress and interference with daily activities caused by the child's asthma, along with less confidence in asthma medications, ability to control asthma symptoms and self‐efficacy to cope with acute asthma episodes. In addition, depressed mothers reported less understanding about their child's medications and use (OR 7.7, 95% CI 1.7–35.9). Baseline asthma morbidity, maternal depression scores and family income were independently associated with asthma symptoms 6 months later, whereas medication adherence was not predictive of subsequent asthma morbidity or emergency department use.

Conclusions  Maternal depressive symptoms were not associated with child asthma morbidity but were associated with a constellation of beliefs and attitudes that may significantly influence adherence to asthma medications and illness management. Identifying and addressing poor psychological adjustment in mothers is important when developing a child's asthma treatment and may facilitate parent–provider communication, medication adherence and asthma management among inner‐city children.
Maternal depression, changing public assistance, food security, and child health status
Authors: Reading Richard
Published: November 2004

.
 
Casey, P.,
Goolsby, S.,
Berkowitz, S.,
Frank, D.,
Cook, J.,
Cutts, D.,
Black, M.M.,
Zaldivar, N.,
Levenson, S.,
Heeren, T. &
Meyers, A.
(
2004
)

113
,
298
–
304
.

Objective  To examine the association of positive report on a maternal depression screen (PDS) with loss or reduction of welfare support and foods stamps, household food insecurity, and child health measures among children aged 36 months at six urban hospitals and clinics.

Methods  A convenience sample of 5306 mothers, whose children < 36 months old were being seen in hospital general clinics or emergency departments (EDs) at medical centres in five states and Washington, DC, were interviewed from 1 January 2000 until 31 December 2001. Questions included items on sociodemographic characteristics, federal programme participation and changes in federal benefits, child health status rating, child's history of hospitalizations since birth, household food security status and a three‐question PDS. For a subsample interviewed in the ED, whether the child was admitted to the hospital that day was recorded.

Results  Positive maternal depression screen status was associated with loss or reduction of welfare support and food stamps, household food insecurity, fair/poor child health rating and history of child hospitalization since birth but not low child growth status measures or admission to the hospital at the time of ED visit. After controlling for study site, maternal race, education and insurance type as well as child low birthweight status, mothers with PDS were more likely to report fair/poor child health [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 1.58, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.33–1.88] and hospitalizations during the child's lifetime (AOR 1.20, 95% CI 1.03–1.39), compared with mothers without PDS. Controlling for the same variables, mothers with PDS were more likely to report decreased welfare support (AOR 1.52, 95% CI 1.03–2.25), to have lost food stamps (AOR 1.56, 95% CI 1.06–2.30), and reported more household food inseurity (AOR 2.69, 95% CI 2.33–3.11) than mothers without PDS.

Conclusion  Positive maternal depression screen status noted in paediatric clinical samples of infants and toddlers is associated with poorer reported child health status, household food insecurity, and loss of federal financial support and food stamps. Although the direction of effects cannot be determined in this cross‐sectional survey, child health providers and policy makers should be aware of the potential impact of maternal depression on child health in the context of welfare reform.
Dose‐dependent effects of endotoxins on allergen sensitization and challenge in the mouse
Authors: Delayre‐Orthez C. , De Blay F. , Frossard N. , Pons F.
Published: November 2004

Background
Levels of endotoxins greatly differ according to environmental settings.

Objective
To study the effect of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) at increasing doses (0.1–1000 ng) on allergen sensitization and challenge in the mouse.

Methods
Mice were sensitized systemically and challenged locally with ovalbumin (OVA) in the presence or absence of LPS. Inflammation was assessed by determining total and differential cell counts and T‐helper type 2 (Th)2 cytokine (IL‐4 and IL‐5) levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Total and OVA‐specific IgE levels were quantified in serum. Airway hyper‐responsiveness (AHR) was assessed by whole‐body barometric plethysmography.

Results
Administered prior to sensitization, LPS at 100 or 1000 ng dose‐dependently decreased allergen‐ induced total and OVA‐specific IgE, airway eosinophilia and Th2 cytokines in BALF, without changing AHR. Administered during OVA challenge, LPS at 1 ng (an infra‐clinical dose) or 100 ng (a dose triggering neutrophilia) enhanced airway eosinophilia, without affecting IgE levels or AHR.

Conclusion
Our data clearly demonstrate that exposure to LPS influences allergen‐induced IgE production and airway eosinophilia in a time and dose‐dependent manner, preventing IgE production and development of eosinophilia when administered during allergen sensitization at high doses, and inducing exacerbation of eosinophilia when administered upon allergen challenge at low doses, including infra‐clinical doses.
Expression of the apoptosis inhibitor Bcl‐2 in sputum eosinophils from children with acute asthma
Authors: El‐Gamal Y. , Heshmat N. , Mahran M. , El‐Gabbas Z.
Published: November 2004

Background
Apoptosis of eosinophils is of increasingly important value in modulating allergic airway inflammation in asthma. Our purpose was to investigate the degree of expression of the antiapoptotic B‐cell lymphoma/leukaemia‐2 (Bcl‐2) protein in sputum eosinophils during acute asthma exacerbation and its relationship with exacerbation severity.

Methods
Sputum was obtained from 33 asthmatic children and 15 healthy children as a control group. Patients were studied during an acute asthma exacerbation. They were classified according to the severity of exacerbation into mild, moderate and severe (n=11 for each). Patients with severe exacerbation were followed up until remission and another sputum sample was obtained. Number of sputum eosinophils was expressed as percentage of leucocytes. Bcl‐2 expression in sputum eosinophils was assessed by immunohistochemical staining techniques; the results were expressed as percentage of positively stained cells over total eosinophils.

Results
Sputum eosinophils and Bcl‐2+ eosinophils' percentages were significantly higher in patients with acute exacerbation than controls (P<0.01). Patients with severe exacerbation had significantly higher sputum Bcl‐2+ eosinophils' percentage than those with mild‐to‐moderate exacerbation (mean±SD=42.4±31.96% vs. 5.7±14.5%, P<0.01). A significant negative correlation was found between Bcl‐2+ eosinophils' percentage and peak expiratory flow rate % predicted (P<0.05). After remission, patients with severe exacerbation showed a significant decrease of Bcl‐2+ eosinophils' percentage (P<0.05).

Conclusion
Our findings suggest that Bcl‐2 prolongs survival and decreases apoptosis of airway eosinophils in asthma especially during exacerbation. Eosinophil apoptosis and Bcl‐2 represent a target for new and effective therapeutic strategies of asthma.
Induction of mast cell interactions with blood vessel wall components by direct contact with intact T cells or T cell membranes in vitro
Authors: Brill A. , Baram D. , Sela U. , Salamon P. , Mekori Y. A. , Hershkoviz R.
Published: November 2004

Background
Mast cells exert profound pleiotropic effects on immune cell reactions at inflammatory sites, where they are most likely influenced not only by the extracellular matrix (ECM) and inflammatory mediators but also by the proximity of activated T lymphocytes. We recently reported that activated T cells induce mast cell degranulation with the release of TNF‐α, and that this activation pathway is mediated by lymphocyte function‐associated antigen‐1 (LFA‐1)/intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 (ICAM‐1) binding.

Objective
To determine how this contact between the two cell types can modulate mast cell behaviour in an inflammatory milieu by examining the adhesion of mast cells to endothelial cells and ECM ligands in an integrin‐dependent manner.

Methods
Human mast cells (HMC‐1) were co‐cultured with resting or activated T cells followed by testing their adhesion to endothelial cell and ECM ligands, stromal derived factor‐1α (SDF‐1α)‐induced migration, and western blotting.

Results
Co‐culturing HMC‐1 with activated, but not with resting T cells resulted in marked stimulation of mast cell adhesion to vascular cell adhesion molecule‐1 and ICAM‐1 in a very late antigen‐4‐ and LFA‐1‐dependent fashion. In addition, activated T cells or T cell membranes promoted HMC‐1 adhesion to fibronectin (FN) and laminin. This effect was accompanied by the phosphorylation of extracellular regulated kinase and p38, but not of c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase. Importantly, the adhesive property of mast cells depended exclusively on the direct contact between the two cell types, since neither supernatants from activated T cells nor separation of the two cell populations with a porous membrane affected mast cell adhesion to FN. Furthermore, similar results were obtained when mast cells were incubated with purified membranes from activated T cells. These results suggest that, in addition to stimulating mast cell degranulation, the proximity of activated T lymphocytes to mast cells can mediate the adhesion of mast cell precursors to the endothelial ligands and ECM. Activated T cells also stimulated SDF‐1α‐induced mast cell migration.

Conclusion
This symbiotic relationship between the two types of immune cells may serve to direct mast cells to specific sites of inflammation where their effector functions are required.
Mast cell contribution to angiogenesis related to tumour progression
Authors: Ribatti D. , Crivellato E. , Roccaro A. M. , Ria R. , Vacca A.
Published: November 2004

Summary
The current wisdom is that tumours are endowed with an angiogenic capability and that their growth, invasion and metastasis are angiogenesis dependent. It is now well documented that neoplastic cells are influenced by their microenvironment and vice versa. The specific organ microenvironment determines the extent of cancer cell proliferation, angiogenesis, invasion and survival. Tumour cells are surrounded by an infiltrate of inflammatory cells, namely lymphocytes, neutrophils, macrophages and mast cells (MCs), which communicate via a complex network of intercellular signalling pathways, mediated by surface adhesion molecules, cytokines and their receptors. This review article summarizes: (i) the MC mediators involved in angiogenesis; (ii) the experimental evidence concerning the role played by MCs in angiogenesis; (iii) the list of solid and haematological tumours in which a close relationship between angiogenesis, tumour progression and MCs has been demonstrated; (iv) the circumstances in which MCs are a critical source of angiogenic factors in vivo, and in such cases, the signals that regulate their production and secretion that need to be determined as a prelude to the elaboration of new therapeutic strategies associated with MC presence and activation.
The diagnostic interpretation of basophil activation test in immediate allergic reactions to betalactams
Authors: Torres M. J. , Padial A. , Mayorga C. , Fernández T. , Sanchez‐Sabate E. , Cornejo‐García J. A. , Antúnez C. , Blanca M.
Published: November 2004

Background
Basophil activation by allergens, including drugs, has been used to determine sensitivity and to study IgE recognition and cross‐reactivity.

Objective
We sought to determine the sensitivity and specificity of a basophil activation test (Basotest) in patients with immediate allergic reactions to betalactams, with a later comparison between patients who were selective (those recognizing the culprit drug excluding benzylpenicillin (BP)) and cross‐reactors (those recognizing several penicillin determinants including BP).

Methods
Basotest to different haptens was performed in 70 patients with immediate allergic reactions to betalactams, classified into three groups: (A) skin test positive independently of CAP/RAST immunoassay value, (B) skin test negative and CAP/RAST positive, and (C) skin test and CAP/RAST negative but drug provocation test positive. Basotest was carried out by flow cytometry following the manufacturer's instructions using different betalactam determinants and results expressed as a stimulation index.

Results
Of the 70 patients, 34 (48.6%) were positive to Basotest (sensitivity: 48.6%), 31 (44.3%) to CAP/RAST and 46 (65.7%) to either one or the other. Considering the different groups, Basotest was positive in 50.9% of patients in Group A, 60% in Group B and 14.3% in Group C. The specificity was 91.3%. Positivity to the haptens was 28.6% to amoxicillin (AX), 21.7% to BP, 20% to benzylpenicilloyl‐poly‐l‐lysine, 12.5% to ampicillin and 2.2% to minor determinant mixture. In patients with cephalosporin reactions, Basotest to the culprit cephalosporin was positive in 77.7%. There were differences between the two reactor groups in the sensitivity of Basotest (selective to AX=50%, cross‐reactors=28.6%; χ2=10.809, P=0.004) and in the CAP/RAST (selective to AX=28.6%, cross‐reactors=61.9%; χ2=8.944, P=0.011).

Conclusions
The sensitivity of Basotest is similar to immunoassays (CAP/RAST). Sensitivity is improved when used in combination. Although further studies are required, Basotest results for cephalosporin allergy seem very promising. This technique does not help differentiate between selective reactors and cross‐reactors.
Does immune activation continue during an attack-free period in familial Mediterranean fever?
Authors: MUSABAK U , SENGUL A , OKTENLI C , PAY S , YESILOVA Z , KENAR L , SANISOGLU S Y , INAL A , TUZUN A , ERDIL A , BAGCI S
Published: November 2004

Although some information is available regarding immune activation in familial Mediterranean fever (FMF), little is known about either peripheral blood T cell activation marker expression or the T cell proliferative response to phytohaemagglutinin (PHA). In the present study, we aimed to investigate the percentages of peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets, T cell expression of cellular activation markers (CD25, CD69, HLA-DR), the T cell response to PHA and serum levels of soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) and interleukin (IL)-10 in patients with FMF. Forty patients with FMF were enrolled into the study. Control groups were sex- and age-matched and consisted of 20 healthy blood donors and 15 patients with inactive Behçet's disease. The patients with FMF in an attack period had higher levels of sIL-2R than those in an attack-free period, and also in comparison with both control groups. The levels of sIL-2R were also found to be higher in patients with FMF in an attack-free period than those in both control groups. The mean levels of IL-10 were found to be lower in patients with FMF in an attack-free period than those in an attack period and were also lower than those in the healthy controls. In an acute attack period, the absolute counts of CD3+HLA-DR+, CD4+CD69+, CD8+CD25+ and CD8+CD69+ T cells in peripheral blood samples were also higher than those in both control groups. Both the percentages and absolute counts of CD4+CD69+ T cells in peripheral blood samples of patients with FMF in an attack-free period were slightly but significantly higher than those in the healthy controls. In conclusion, our study indicates that the T cell system is abnormally activated in patients with FMF in both the attack and attack-free period and that decreased IL-10 levels may create a tendency to perpetuate subclinical immune activation in the attack-free period.
Low electric field enhanced chemotherapy can cure mice with CT-26 colon carcinoma and induce anti-tumour immunity
Authors: PLOTNIKOV A , FISHMAN D , TICHLER T , KORENSTEIN R , KEISARI Y
Published: November 2004

Low electric field cancer treatment − enhanced chemotherapy (LEFCT-EC) is a new anticancer treatment which utilizes a combination of chemotherapeutic agents and a low electric field. We investigated the antitumour effectiveness of this technique in a model of murine colon carcinoma (CT-26). The low electric field was applied to ∼ 65 mm3 intracutaneous tumours after intratumoral injection of 5FU, bleomycin or BCNU. We observed significant tumour size reduction and a prolongation of survival time. The complete cure of a significant fraction of animals treated by LEFCT-EC with 5FU (33%), bleomycin (51%) or BCNU (83%) was observed. Mice cured by LEFCT-EC developed resistance to a tumour challenge and their splenocytes had antitumour activity in vivo. Our results suggest that LEFCT-EC is an effective method for treatment of solid tumours.
Characterization of a population of small macrophages in induced sputum of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and healthy volunteers
Authors: FRANKENBERGER M , MENZEL M , BETZ R , KAßNER G , WEBER N , KOHLHÄUFL M , HÄUßINGER K , ZIEGLER-HEITBROCK L
Published: November 2004

The inflammatory process in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is active mainly in the airways, but little is known about the properties of the inflammatory cells in this compartment. We have studied leucocytes in induced sputum of COPD patients compared to controls in order to uncover what types of macrophages might be involved in the disease. Sputum induction was performed by inhalation of nebulized sodium chloride solution. Leucocytes were isolated and stained with specific monoclonal antibodies for analysis in flow cytometry. Flow cytometry analysis revealed that a major portion of CD14+ macrophages in COPD has lower forward scatter, i.e. they are small macrophages. While in control donors these small macrophages accounted for 6·9% of all macrophages, the percentage of these cells in COPD was 45·7%. CD14 and HLA-DR expression was high on these small sputum macrophages while the large sputum macrophages expressed only low levels of these surface molecules, both in control donors and COPD patients. Small sputum macrophages of both control donors and COPD patients showed higher levels of constitutive tumour necrosis factor (TNF) compared to the large macrophages. TNF was inducible by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) preferentially in the small sputum macrophages in the control donors but there was no further induction in COPD patients. These data show that the small sputum macrophages are a major macrophage population in COPD and that these cells exhibit features of highly active inflammatory cells and may therefore be instrumental in airway inflammation in COPD.
Cytokine and chemokine levels in systemic sclerosis: relationship with cutaneous and internal organ involvement
Authors: SCALA E , PALLOTTA S , FREZZOLINI A , ABENI D , BARBIERI C , SAMPOGNA F , DE PITÀ O , PUDDU P , PAGANELLI R , RUSSO G
Published: November 2004

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a connective tissue disorder characterized by excessive collagen deposition in the skin and internal organs. Several cytokines and chemokines have been implicated in the induction of fibrosis, but a definitive relationship between specific cytokines and organ involvement has not been established yet. Serum samples, PBMC and T cell lines (TCL) obtained from 54 patients affected by SSc and  20  healthy  donors  (HD)  were  examined  by  ELISA  for  Interferon-γ  (IFN-γ ),  interleukin  (IL)-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-18, Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, Tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, sCD30, Macrophage derived chemokine (MDC), Monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, Macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1α and Regulated on activation normal T-cell expressed and secreted (RANTES). In all the SSc serum samples, we found significantly increased levels of IL6, TNFα and MCP-1 but reduced amounts of γ-IFN and MDC. IL6, IL10, IL18, MIP-1α and TNFα measured in supernatants from PHA-stimulated PBMC and IL6, MCP-1 and RANTES in supernatants from stimulated TCL were also increased in patients. MDC was decreased in all the biological SSc sources studied. TGF-β1, IL10, and sCD30 were produced at a significantly lower level by SSc TCL. Serum IL6 and sCD30  levels  were  significantly  increased  in  dc-SSc  patients  compared  to  lc-SSc  as  were  levels  of MCP-1 produced by PBMC and IL10 from TCL. We observed a strict relationship between pulmonary fibrosis and IL10, MCP-1 (both from TCL) and serum IL6. Kidney involvement was related to serum MCP-1 levels and IL18 production from PBMC. Oesophageal involvement correlated with MDC production from PBMC and IL10 synthesis by TCL. We showed that IL-6, IL-10, MDC and MCP-1 are variably associated with internal organ involvement and allow the discrimination between limited and diffuse forms of the disease.