bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Molekulare (Früh)-Erkennung in der Hämatologie – Sinn oder Unsinn molekularer Analytik: Die Kunst der richtigen Wahl
Authors: Baerlocher Gabriela M. , Oppliger Leibundgut Elisabeth
Published: June 2010

Zahlreiche molekulare Marker haben in den letzten zehn Jahren im hämatologischen Alltag Einzug gehalten. Dadurch hat die Anzahl molekularer Abklärungen enorm zugenommen. Nicht selten ersetzen die molekularen Analysen andere Abklärungsmethoden, oder ergänzen sie. Molekulare Marker können ganz verschiedene Anforderungen erfüllen: Sie können zur Diagnosestellung beitragen, prognostischen Charakter aufweisen, prädiktiv sein für das Ansprechen auf eine bestimmte Therapie oder zum Monitoring des Therapieansprechens sowie zur Früherkennung eines Rezidivs oder einer Resistenz dienen. Nicht selten erfüllen molekulare Marker mehrere dieser Aspekte. Entscheidend ist es, zu wissen, wann welche Marker im klinischen Alltag sinnvoll sind.
Molekulare Früherkennung in der Gynäkologie – Hereditäres Mamma- und Ovarialkarzinom: Indikationen für genetische Beratung und Gentests
Authors: Bürki Nicole
Published: June 2010

Immer mehr Frauen erkranken bereits in jungen Jahren an einem Mamma- oder Ovarialkarzinom. Die GynäkologInnen und HausärztInnen sehen sich somit zunehmend mit der Frage konfrontiert, ob bei einer ihrer PatientInnen eine genetische Prädisposition dafür vorliegt oder nicht. Sie stellen die Weichen für eine genetische Beratung und tragen wesentlich zur Erfassung und Betreuung von HochrisikopatientInnen bei. In dieser Review wird die molekulare Basis des hereditären Mamma- und Ovarialkarzinoms mit Mutationen vorzugsweise im BRCA1 und BRCA2-Gen beschrieben und dabei die Problematik der unterschiedlich hohen Penetranz aufgezeigt. Es wird dargelegt, welche Aspekte der persönlichen Anamnese und der Familienanamnese in die Risikoeinschätzung für das Vorliegen einer Genmutation einfließen und wie diese erfolgt. Kriterien, nach denen eine Zuweisung zur genetischen Beratung indiziert ist, werden präsentiert. Zudem werden Themen aufgezeigt, die in der genetischen Beratung vor und nach einer Gentestung diskutiert werden sollten. Schlussendlich wird darauf eingegangen, welche Maßnahmen einer Frau mit nachgewiesener BRCA1 oder BRCA2-Mutation zur Reduktion ihres Karzinomrisikos angeboten werden können, nämlich: Früherkennung, Chemoprävention und prophylaktisch chirurgische Maßnahmen. Kurz wird auch auf die empfohlenen Screeningmaßnahmen bei einem Mann mit einer nachgewiesenen Mutation eingegangen.
Molekulare Früherkennung in der Nephrologie – genetische Tests als Wegweiser bei unklaren klinischen Situationen
Authors: Pasch Andreas
Published: June 2010

Die molekulare Früherkennung nimmt trotz einer steigenden Anzahl bekannter Ursachen monogenetischer Nierenerkrankungen in der täglichen nephrologischen Praxis bisher einen eher geringen Stellenwert ein. Bei der Beantwortung spezifischer Fragestellungen und als ergänzende Untersuchungsmethode jedoch kann sie dem Spezialisten wertvolle Informationen und Entscheidungshilfen geben. Der künftige Stellenwert der molekularen Früherkennung liegt vermutlich im Bereich des Erkennens von Risikokonstellationen polygenetisch vererbter Erkrankungen. Die Grundlagen für eine solche Diagnostik sind gegenwärtig allerdings noch nicht vorhanden.
Global climate response to anthropogenic aerosol indirect effects: Present day and year 2100
Authors: Chen Wei‐Ting , Nenes Athanasios , Liao Hong , Adams Peter J. , Li Jui‐Lin F. , Seinfeld John H.
Published: June 2010

Aerosol indirect effects (AIE) are a principal source of uncertainty in future climate predictions. The present study investigates the equilibrium response of the climate system to present‐day and future AIE using the general circulation model (GCM), Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) III. A diagnostic formulation correlating cloud droplet number concentration (Nc) with concentrations of aerosol soluble ions is developed as a basis for the calculation. Explicit dependence on Nc is introduced in the treatments of liquid‐phase stratiform clouds in GISS III. The model is able to reproduce the general patterns of present‐day cloud frequency, droplet size, and radiative balance observed by CloudSat, Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer, and Earth Radiation Budget Experiment. For perturbations of Nc from preindustrial to present day, a net AIE forcing of −1.67 W m−2 is estimated, with a global mean surface cooling of 1.12 K, precipitation reduction of 3.36%, a southward shift of the Intertropical Convergence Zone, and a hydrological sensitivity of +3.00% K−1. For estimated perturbations of Nc from present day to year 2100, a net AIE forcing of −0.58 W m−2, a surface cooling of 0.47 K, and a decrease in precipitation of 1.7% are predicted. Sensitivity calculations show that the assumption of a background minimum Nc value has more significant effects on AIE forcing in the future than on that in present day. When AIE‐related processes are included in the GCM, a decrease in stratiform precipitation is predicted over future greenhouse gas (GHG)‐induced warming scenario, as opposed to the predicted increase when only GHG and aerosol direct effects are considered.
Diurnal variation in summer monsoon precipitation during active and break periods over central India and southern Himalayan foothills
Authors: Singh Prasamsa , Nakamura Kenji
Published: June 2010

The diurnal variations of summer precipitation over central India and the southern Himalayan foothills are investigated using Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) data for July–August from 1998 to 2007. The TRMM precipitation radar (PR) and Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS) data are used to understand characteristics of precipitation. Daily data from TRMM/3B42 are used to determine active and break periods in central India on the basis of rainfall characteristics. Diurnal variation in rain rate, frequency of rain, conditional rain rate, storm height, and occurrence of convective rain is analyzed using TRMM/PR data (0.1° × 0.1° resolution). Diurnal variation in total lightning flashes is analyzed using TRMM/LIS data. The precipitation over central India during wet periods is characterized by a large amount of rainfall with a high frequency of rain and a secondary morning peak. The precipitation in dry periods is characterized by a strong diurnal variation with convective rainfall and enhanced electrical activity over central India. Characteristics of wet and dry periods over central India are generally supported over the southern Himalayan foothills.
Lunar red spots: Stratigraphic sequence and ages of domes and plains in the Hansteen and Helmet regions on the lunar nearside
Authors: Wagner R. , Head J. W. , Wolf U. , Neukum G.
Published: June 2010

Basaltic mare materials extruded between ∼ 4 Ga and ∼ 1.2 Ga ago and formed large expanses on the lunar nearside. In contrast to the maria, volcanic shields, domes, and cones also occur but cover only a small area of the total lunar surface. One specific type of dome is characterized (1) by steep slopes, (2) by a high albedo similar to lunar highlands, and (3) by a strong absorption in the ultraviolet. Because of this latter feature they appear spectrally red and therefore were termed red spots. Their morphology suggests that these domes were created by much more viscous, silica‐rich lava. Also, red spots which are believed to be possibly volcanic in origin are associated with light plains materials. In order to constrain the formation of these presumed volcanic features in context with the formation of the surrounding mare and highland materials, we carried out (1) geologic and morphologic mapping of high‐resolution Lunar Orbiter IV and Apollo 16 frames and (2) measurements of superimposed crater frequencies on geologic units in order to assess stratigraphy and geological history in the following two volcanic provinces in which red spots occur: (1) the Hansteen region, dominated by the dome Hansteen α (also known as the Arrowhead), and (2) the Helmet region, dominated by light plains, possibly of volcanic origin, such as the feature called the Helmet and Darney χ, and the southern Montes Riphaeus. In the Hansteen region, the dome Hansteen α postdates craters Billy (3.88 Ga) and Hansteen (3.87 Ga) but predates most of the mare materials (3.51 Ga). Cratering model ages of the dome range from 3.74 to 3.65 Ga, placing its major activity as extending into the late Imbrian. In the Helmet region, presumed highland volcanism associated with red spots started in the Nectarian with Darney χ (3.94 Ga). Cratering model ages measured on the Helmet light plains range from 3.8 to 2.08 Ga. The origin of these light plains and local resurfacing processes in this unit, however (highland volcanism or impact), remains an open question. Locally, younger processes of Eratosthenian or even Copernican age, such as emplacement of mare materials or mass wasting deposits, could be dated in the higher‐resolution Apollo 16 frame.
Influence of CO2 line profiles on radiative and radiative‐convective equilibrium states of the Venus lower atmosphere
Authors: Takagi M. , Suzuki K. , Sagawa H. , Baron P. , Mendrok J. , Kasai Y. , Matsuda Y.
Published: June 2010

Influence of CO2 line profiles on vertical temperature distributions in the radiative and radiative‐convective equilibria is examined in the Venus atmosphere. The CO2 opacity obtained by the Voigt (Lorentz) profile without the line cutoff is shown to be excessive since this opacity gives surface temperatures of about 860–1020 K in the radiative‐convective equilibrium. On the other hand, the opacity obtained by the extremely sub‐Lorentzian profiles of Pollack et al. (1993) and Tonkov et al. (1996) are underestimated; the surface temperature obtained with this opacity remains 600 K even in the radiative equilibrium. In this case, convection does not take place below the cloud layer because of the cloud opacity. It is also shown that Fukabori et al.'s (1986) and Meadows and Crisp's (1996) profiles, both of which have intermediate absorption coefficients, give temperature distributions close to the observed one in the radiative‐convective equilibrium. In these cases, the convection layer extends from the surface to 30–50 km altitudes. Then, the temperature distribution below the cloud layer is determined by a dry adiabatic lapse rate and the temperature near the cloud bottom. The surface temperature in the radiative‐convective equilibrium is strongly affected by the temperature near the cloud bottom in this situation. The detailed structure of the H2SO4 cloud must be taken into account to construct a realistic radiative transfer model.
Evaluation of ion collection area in Faraday probes
Authors: Brown Daniel L. , Gallimore Alec D.
Published: June 2010

A Faraday probe with three concentric rings was designed and fabricated to assess the effect of gap width and collector diameter in a systematic study of the diagnostic ion collection area. The nested Faraday probe consisted of two concentric collector rings and an outer guard ring, which enabled simultaneous current density measurements on the inner and outer collectors. Two versions of the outer collector were fabricated to create gaps of 0.5 and 1.5 mm between the rings. Distribution of current density in the plume of a low-power Hall thruster ion source was measured in azimuthal sweeps at constant radius from 8 to 20 thruster diameters downstream of the exit plane with variation in facility background pressure. A new analytical technique is proposed to account for ions collected in the gap between the Faraday probe collector and guard ring. This method is shown to exhibit excellent agreement between all nested Faraday probe configurations, and to reduce the magnitude of integrated ion beam current to levels consistent with Hall thruster performance analyses. The technique is further studied by varying the guard ring bias potential with a fixed collector bias potential, thereby controlling ion collection in the gap. Results are in agreement with predictions based on the proposed analytical technique. The method is applied to a past study comparing the measured ion current density profiles of two Faraday probe designs. These findings provide new insight into the nature of ion collection in Faraday probe diagnostics, and lead to improved accuracy with a significant reduction in measurement uncertainty.
Exciton localization in inhomogeneously broadened ZnO/MgxZn1−xO quantum wells
Authors: Ashrafi Almamun
Published: June 2010

Exciton localization in ZnO/MgxZn1−xO quantum wells (QWs) has been investigated systematically with various ZnO well widths for the fixed Mg0.23Zn0.77O barrier height. A strong exciton confinement is observed with an implicit dependence on the built-in electric field which is calculated to be 0.37 MV/cm. The exciton-phonon coupling strength varied significantly depending upon the degrees of exciton localization with the activation energy of 18–29 meV. The relaxation mechanism in ZnO/Mg0.23Zn0.77O QWs starts to dominate when the exciton localization energy is above the thermal energy, kBT. The band characteristics and strong exciton localization in ZnO/Mg0.23Zn0.77O QWs are attributed to the potential fluctuations associated with the inhomogeneous broadening, represented by the schematics.
Two modes behavior of vortex oscillations in spin-transfer nanocontacts subject to in-plane magnetic fields
Authors: Kuepferling Michaela , Serpico Claudio , Pufall Matthew , Rippard William , Wallis T. Mitchell , Imtiaz Atif , Krivosik Pavol , Pasquale Massimo , Kabos Pavel
Published: June 2010

Vortex oscillations induced by dc currents (Idc) through a metallic nanocontact subject to in-plane magnetic fields (Hext) are studied by measuring voltage power spectra. Two oscillations modes exist: at large Idc the oscillation frequency (fosc) is substantially insensitive to Hext, whereas at low Idc, fosc decreases with Hext increasing. At intermediate Idc the two modes coexist. This behavior is ascribed to the magnetic states of the device ferromagnetic layers: in the first mode vortices are formed in both layers while in the second mode one layer is in a vortex state while the other is in a quasiuniform state.
Compositional variation of nearly lattice-matched InAlGaN alloys for high electron mobility transistors
Authors: Lim T. , Aidam R. , Kirste L. , Waltereit P. , Quay R. , Müller S. , Ambacher O.
Published: June 2010

Quaternary InAlGaN semiconductors with AlN mole fractions between 40% and 81% and respective InN contents of 7% and 19% including InAlN as a ternary border case have been grown by plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy. The electron mobility in InAlGaN-based heterostructures increases with Ga concentration in the barrier up to 1460 cm2/V s at a sheet electron density of 1.9×1013 cm−2. An advanced spacer comprising an AlN/GaN/AlN triple-layer sequence is inserted between the GaN-buffer and the InAlGaN-barrier. Transistors with thin quaternary barrier show a large current density of 2.3 A/mm and an excellent transconductance of 675 mS/mm.
Response of estuarine wetlands to reinstatement of tidal flows
Authors: Howe Alice J. , Rodríguez José F. , Spencer Jennifer , MacFarlane Geoff R. , Saintilan Neil
Published: June 2010

The importance of estuarine wetlands to ecosystem services such as primary productivity and flood attenuation, as well as their function as habitat for threatened species has prompted efforts to restore tidal flows to degraded wetlands. We tracked the response of estuarine vegetation to tidal-flow reinstatement over 12 years (1995–2007) in a wetland of the Hunter estuary, Australia. This site provides important habitat for migratory shorebird species, which favour shallow tidal pools and saltmarsh over mangrove forest. Increased tidal flows following culvert removal reduced shorebird roost habitat by 17% because of mangrove encroachment on saltmarsh and shallow tidal pools. Saltmarsh occurred in areas with a spring tidal range <0.3 m, hydroperiod <1.0 and elevation >0.4 above the Australian height datum (mAHD), whereas mangrove occupied areas with spring tidal range >0.3 m, hydroperiod <0.45 and elevation <0.4 mAHD. By using these parameters, it is possible to exclude mangrove from saltmarsh areas and to establish saltmarsh at lower elevations in the tidal frame than would occur under natural conditions, effectively expanding saltmarsh area. These measures can be useful where landward migration of estuarine communities is restricted by infrastructure; however, they should not be considered a substitute for conservation of remnant saltmarsh or establishment of landward buffer zones.
The actin-myosin interface
Authors: Lorenz Michael , Holmes Kenneth C.
Published: June 2010

In order to understand the mechanism of muscle contraction at the atomic level, it is necessary to understand how myosin binds to actin in a reversible way. We have used a novel molecular dynamics technique constrained by an EM map of the actin-myosin complex at 13-Å resolution to obtain an atomic model of the strong-binding (rigor) actin-myosin interface. The constraining force resulting from the EM map during the molecular dynamics simulation was sufficient to convert the myosin head from the initial weak-binding state to the strong-binding (rigor) state. Our actin-myosin model suggests extensive contacts between actin and the myosin head (S1). S1 binds to two actin monomers. The contact surface between actin and S1 has increased dramatically compared with previous models. A number of loops in S1 and actin are involved in establishing the interface. Our model also suggests how the loop carrying the critical Arg 405 Glu mutation in S1 found in a familial cardiomyopathy might be functionally involved.
Response to David Kanin
Authors: Gagnon V.P. (Chip)
Published: June 2010

David Kanin's comment on my article “Yugoslavia in 1989 and after” indicates some fundamental misunderstandings of my argument in the article as well as in my book The Myth of Ethnic War.
Discursive democracy and the challenge of state building in divided societies: reckoning with symbolic capital in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Authors: Ivie Robert L. , Waters Timothy William
Published: June 2010

Current approaches to democratic state building place serious conceptual limits on policy options. A democratic future for Bosnia's people will require far more searching engagement with identity formation and its politicization than reform efforts have so far contemplated. Theories of discursive democracy illuminate how this might be possible. We deploy the discursive idea of symbolic capital to show how one might identify the lines along which people in Bosnia could constitute meaningful, internally legitimated political communities - or that would indicate the experiment was not worth attempting. Unless advocates of democratic state building can articulate, rather than assume, a sufficiency of common ground among the populations’ multiple, overlapping and conflicting identities, they may have to revert to the default of separate political communities.
EXPLAINING ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL TRANSFORMATIONS IN POST-SOVIET RUSSIA, UKRAINE AND BELARUS
Authors: Abbott Pamela , Wallace Claire
Published: June 2010

This paper looks at the impact of the economic collapse of the former Soviet Union on the lives of ordinary people in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus using qualitative as well as quantitative data. We argue that to understand the impact of the transformation it is necessary to take a sociological approach. To provide a framework for our analysis we use the Social Quality model which enables us to consider the recursive relation between agency and structure and social and systems integration. We draw upon a sample survey of 8,400 individuals carried out in 2001 together with qualitative interviews with a purposefully selected sample of individuals, health experts and focus groups conducted in 2002. The use of qualitative data enables us to look beyond classifying variables to experience. We conclude that the collapse has not only resulted in a decline in the material circumstances of households but also on social integration, social cohesion and the ability of people to take control over their own lives.
THE RACE EQUALITY DIRECTIVE
Authors: Woolfson Charles Alexander
Published: June 2010

This article examines the Race Equality Directive (RED) and its transposition in the context of a new European Union (EU) member state, Baltic Lithuania. Taking this post-communist society as a case study, it is suggested that while formal legislative compliance with the RED has been broadly attained, transposed anti-discrimination legislation and national policy implementation initiatives may not adequately take into account societal attitudes and norms. The historical legacy of Soviet times, the contemporary post-communist experience, and the current economic crisis have resulted in a fragile national identity and a propensity towards populist and even xenophobic responses to uncertainty. These factors are explored in terms of their potential for undermining the objectives of EU-derived legislation designed to promote racial and ethnic tolerance. The article concludes that while a ‘differentiated’ Europeanisation has not occurred in formal terms, the possibility exists of ‘differential’ Europeanisation emerging in post-communist new EU member states such as Lithuania.
CAN WE IDENTIFY INTERGENERATIONAL POLICY REGIMES IN EUROPE?
Authors: Saraceno Chiara , Keck Wolfgang
Published: June 2010

This paper examines whether it is possible to recognise specific patterns of institutionally regulated downward (towards children) and upward (towards the old) intergenerational obligations with regard to care and financial support, and to identify specific country profiles and clusters of countries in Europe. Based on the three-fold conceptualisation of familialism by default, supported familialism and de-familialisation, and using a complex set of indicators, we describe how countries, by means of policies, allocate intergenerational responsibilities between families and the state, also paying attention to their gender impact. The study includes all 27 EU countries and for the first time offers a comparative overview of a diversified set of policies with regard to both children and the old. It concludes that although specific policy profiles emerge with regard to the two sets of obligations, these do not always coincide. Furthermore, contrary to widespread opinion, supported familialism and de-familialisation are not always contrasting policy approaches. In some countries, they actually represent part of an integrated approach to public support of intergenerational obligations. Moreover, the gender impact of supported familialism may be different and even contrary, depending on the specific instrument. Finally, once the road of oversimplification is excluded, only one statistically sound cluster of countries emerges. It is, however, possible to detect groups of countries that are similar. These only partly overlap with prevalent welfare regime types.
A qualitative review of perception of change for male perpetrators of domestic abuse following abuser schema therapy (AST)
Authors: Smith Margaret Elizabeth
Published: June 2010

Introduction: Domestic abuse is known to have detrimental effects on all members of the family, yet it is often difficult for victims to leave. It is therefore important to research available intervention programmes for perpetrators who want to change their behaviour. Intervention programmes for perpetrators are informed by different theoretical and philosophical approaches, such as pro‐feminism, psychopathology or biopsychosocial theories. However, there is little consensus to the most effective intervention and there is a paucity of qualitative research on the perspectives of the perpetrators who attend the available therapies. Aim: The aim of this research was to discover the perceptions of change of 18 male, heterosexual perpetrators with female partners who self referred to a community‐based therapy service providing abuser schema therapy (AST). Method: A qualitative methodology was adopted using semi‐structured interviews on completion of therapy, and at three, six, nine and 12 months follow‐up. A content analysis was conducted and data was coded and mapped against a priori variables. Findings: The findings indicated that the four highest rated variables were: (1) a reduction of anger, (2) an increase in communication and assertiveness skills, (3) an increase in ability to think prior to behaviour, and (4) responsibility for personal power. The findings are discussed in relation to the perceived changes for perpetrators. Conclusions: In conclusion, this study seeks to contribute to the development of future effective interventions to reduce aggression within the home.
Single feature polymorphism detection using recombinant inbred line microarray expression data
Authors: Cui Xinping , You Na , Girke Thomas , Michelmore Richard , Van Deynze Allen
Published: June 2010

Motivation: The Affymetrix GeneChip® microarray is currently providing a high-density and economical platform for discovery of genetic polymorphisms. Microarray data for single feature polymorphism (SFP) detection in recombinant inbred lines (RILs) can capitalize on the high level of replication available for each locus in the RIL population. It was suggested that the binding affinities from all of the RILs would form a multimodal distribution for a SFP. This motivated us to estimate the binding affinities from the robust multi-array analysis (RMA) method and formulate the SFP detection problem as a hypothesis testing problem, i.e. testing whether the underlying distribution of the estimated binding affinity (EBA) values of a probe is unimodal or multimodal.

Results: We developed a bootstrap-based hypothesis testing procedure using the ‘dip’ statistic. Our simulation studies show that the proposed procedure can reach satisfactory detection power with false discovery rate controlled at a desired level and is robust to the unimodal distribution assumption, which facilitates wide application of the proposed procedure. Our analysis of the real data identified more than four times the SFPs compared to the previous studies, covering 96% of their findings. The constructed genetic map using the SFP markers predicted from our procedure shows over 99% concordance of the genetic orders of these markers with their known physical locations on the genome sequence.

Availability: The R package ‘dipSFP’ can be downloaded from http://sites.google.com/a/bioinformatics.ucr.edu/xinping-cui/home/software

Contact:  xinping.cui@ucr.edu

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
MSAProbs: multiple sequence alignment based on pair hidden Markov models and partition function posterior probabilities
Authors: Liu Yongchao , Schmidt Bertil , Maskell Douglas L.
Published: June 2010

Motivation: Multiple sequence alignment is of central importance to bioinformatics and computational biology. Although a large number of algorithms for computing a multiple sequence alignment have been designed, the efficient computation of highly accurate multiple alignments is still a challenge.

Results: We present MSAProbs, a new and practical multiple alignment algorithm for protein sequences. The design of MSAProbs is based on a combination of pair hidden Markov models and partition functions to calculate posterior probabilities. Furthermore, two critical bioinformatics techniques, namely weighted probabilistic consistency transformation and weighted profile–profile alignment, are incorporated to improve alignment accuracy. Assessed using the popular benchmarks: BAliBASE, PREFAB, SABmark and OXBENCH, MSAProbs achieves statistically significant accuracy improvements over the existing top performing aligners, including ClustalW, MAFFT, MUSCLE, ProbCons and Probalign. Furthermore, MSAProbs is optimized for multi-core CPUs by employing a multi-threaded design, leading to a competitive execution time compared to other aligners.

Availability: The source code of MSAProbs, written in C++, is freely and publicly available from http://msaprobs.sourceforge.net.

Contact:  liuy0039@ntu.edu.sg
Acetyl salicyclic acid (aspirin) improves synthesis of maspin and lowers incidence of metastasis in breast cancer patients
Authors: Bhattacharyya Mau , Girish Gannareddy V. , Ghosh Rajeshwary , Chakraborty Somashree , Sinha Asru K.
Published: June 2010

Maspin, a 42 kDa protein produced in normal breast cells, has been shown to inhibit the invasion and metastasis of breast cancer in an animal model. Ingestion of acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) by breast cancer patients has been reported to restore the systemic synthesis of maspin through the stimulation of systemic nitric oxide production. Studies were carried out to determine the effect of aspirin on the incidence of breast cancer metastasis, which is reported to occur in 50% of patients who have previously received chemotherapy, radiation, and/or surgery. Thirty‐five female patients (aged 41–65 years) with breast cancer who had previously received these therapies took one 75 mg/70 kg body weight enteric‐coated aspirin tablet every 24 h, after an adequate meal, for 3 years. Their plasma nitric oxide and maspin levels were measured. The occurrence of metastasis was ascertained monthly by a qualified oncologist, and confirmed, if necessary, by biopsy. Daily ingestion of aspirin by participants resulted in an increase in maspin levels from 0.95 ± 0.04 to 4.63 ± 0.05 nM after 24 h. These levels were maintained for 3 years. These studies suggest that daily ingestion of aspirin might significantly reduce the incidence of breast cancer metastasis in patients who have previously received anticancer therapies. (Cancer Sci 2010)
ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Analgesic efficacy of intracapsular and intra‐articular local anaesthesia for knee arthroplasty
Authors: Andersen L. Ø. , Husted H. , Kristensen B. B. , Otte K. S. , Gaarn‐Larsen L. , Kehlet H.
Published: June 2010

The optimal site for wound delivery of local anaesthetic after total knee arthroplasty is undetermined. Sixty patients having total knee arthroplasty received intra‐operative infiltration analgesia with ropivacaine 0.2% and were then were randomly assigned to receive either intracapsular or intra‐articular catheters with 20 ml ropivacaine 0.5% given at 6 h and again at 24 h, postoperatively. Analgesic efficacy was assessed for 3 h after each injection, using a visual analogue score, where 0 = no pain and 100 = worst pain. There was no statistically significant difference between groups. Maximum pain relief (median (IQR [range])) at rest observed in the 3 h after the 6 and 24 h postoperative injections was 17 (7–31 [0–80]) and 10 (4–27 [0–50]) p = 0.27 for 6–9 h; and 17 (7–33 [0–100]) and 13 (3–25 [0–72]) p = 0.28 for 24–27 h, for intracapsular and intra‐articular, respectively. Intracapsular local anaesthetic has similar analgesic efficacy to intra‐articular after total knee arthroplasty.
Brachial plexopathy as a complication of induced hypothermia following cardiac arrest
Authors: Hammell C. L. , Sulaiman L.
Published: June 2010

Induced hypothermia following cardiac arrest is a common treatment in the critical care unit. Topical cooling measures are easy to initiate and widely utilised. We report a case of brachial plexopathy occurring in association with topical cooling measures and discuss the diagnosis, management and avoidance of such complications.
National representation in the anaesthesia literature: a bibliometric analysis of highly cited anaesthesia journals*
Authors: Bould M. D. , Boet S. , Riem N. , Kasanda C. , Sossou A. , Bruppacher H. R.
Published: June 2010

While previous studies have investigated the country of origin of anaesthetic publications, they have generally used a medline computer search to identify original articles and have often excluded non‐English language articles. We undertook a hand‐search of journals in the Journal Citation Reports® using the subject category of Anesthesiology. We quantified the number of original articles, editorials, review articles, case reports and correspondence attributed to each country. We also calculated the proportion of articles of each type from countries of each national income category. We analysed 9684 articles published in 2007 and 2008. The United States published more original articles than any other country. High‐income countries published 89.2% of original articles, middle‐income countries 10.5%, and low‐income countries just 0.3%. There were more articles published by middle‐income countries during the study period than a decade earlier, notably from Turkey, China and India. We discuss barriers to publications from low‐income countries.
Autophagy and adaptive immunity
Authors: Crotzer Victoria L. , Blum Janice S.
Published: June 2010

Autophagy plays an important role in maintaining intracellular homeostasis by promoting the transit of cytoplasmic material, such as proteins, organelles and pathogens, for degradation within acidic organelles. Yet, in immune cells, autophagy pathways serve an additional role in facilitating intracellular surveillance for pathogens and changes in self. Autophagy pathways can modulate key steps in the development of innate and adaptive immunity. In terms of adaptive immunity, autophagy regulates the development and survival of lymphocytes as well as the modulation of antigen processing and presentation. Specialized forms of autophagy may be induced by some viral pathogens, providing a novel route for major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I antigen presentation and enhanced CD8+ T‐cell responses. Autophagy induction in target cells also increases their potential to serve as immunogens for dendritic cell cross‐presentation to CD8+ T cells. The requirement for autophagy in MHC class II presentation of cytoplasmic and nuclear antigens is well established, yet recent studies also point to a critical role for autophagy in modulating CD4+ T‐cell responses to phagocytosed pathogens. Autophagy pathways can also modulate the selection and survival of some CD4+ T cells in the thymus. However, much still remains to be learned mechanistically with respect to how autophagy and autophagy‐linked genes regulate pathogen recognition and antigen presentation, as well as the development and survival of immune cells.
Histopathological analysis of initial cellular response in TLR‐2 deficient mice experimentally infected by Leishmania (L.) amazonensis
Authors: Guerra Camila Silva , Macedo Silva Roger Magno , Carvalho Luís Otávio Pereira , Calabrese Kátia da Silva , Bozza Patrícia Torres , Côrte‐Real Suzana
Published: June 2010

Tegumentary leishmaniasis is an important public health problem in several countries. The capacity of the Leishmania species, at the initial moments of the infection, to invade and survive inside the host cells involves the interaction of surface molecules that are crucial in determining the evolution of the disease. Using C57BL/6 wild‐type and TLR‐2−/− mice infected with L. (L.) amazonensis, we demonstrated that TLR‐2−/− mice presented eosinophilic granuloma in the ear dermis, different from C57BL/6 wild‐type mice that presented a cellular profile characterized mainly by mononuclear cell infiltrates, besides neutrophils and eosinophils, during the two first week of infection. When the parasite load was evaluated, we found that the absence of TLR‐2 lead to a significant reduction of the infection in deficient mice, when compared with C57BL/6 mice which were more susceptible to the infection. Using TLR‐2 deficient mice, it was possible to show that the absence of this receptor determined the reduction of the parasite load and the recruitment of inflammatory cells during the two first weeks after L. (L.) amazonensis infection.
Establishment and characterization of a murine xenograft model of appendiceal mucinous adenocarcinoma
Authors: Mavanur Arun A. , Parimi Vamsi , O’Malley Mark , Nikiforova Marina , Bartlett David L. , Davison Jon M.
Published: June 2010

We describe the clinical, pathologic and molecular characteristics of a xenograft model of metastatic mucinous appendiceal adenocarcinoma. Tumours from patients with mucinous appendiceal neoplasms were implanted in nude mice and observed for evidence of intraperitoneal tumour growth. Morphologic and immunohistochemical features, temporal growth characteristics relative to controls, and loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at multiple chromosomal alleles were assessed in a successfully engrafted tumour. Two of seventeen implanted tumours successfully engrafted and only one mucinous adenocarcinoma propagated throughout the course of the study. The successful xenograft is morphologically similar to the original tumour, produces abundant extracellular mucin and exhibits non‐invasive growth on peritoneal surfaces. The temporal growth characteristics of the xenograft tumour relative to controls reveal that tumour burden can be followed indirectly by measuring the weight or abdominal girth of engrafted animals. The cytokeratin, mucin core protein, CDX2, Ki‐67 and p53 expression patterns are identical in the xenograft and resected tumour and are consistent with the expected pattern of protein expression for mucinous adenocarcinoma of the appendix. LOH was found in 1 of 10 informative chromosomal loci (chromosome 10p23) in xenograft tumour cells. Although we were unable to engraft a low‐grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm, the engrafted adenocarcinoma will be useful for future evaluation of novel therapeutic strategies directed at mucinous appendiceal adenocarcinoma and evaluation of strategies for treating widespread, bulky, mucinous peritoneal surface neoplasms. Xenograft tumour enrichment can facilitate molecular studies of appendiceal epithelial neoplasia.
Leisure‐time physical activities for community older people with chronic diseases
Authors: Lin Yen‐Chun , Huang Lian‐Hua , Yeh Mei Chang , Tai John Jen
Published: June 2010

Aims.  (1) To explore the types and three components (frequency, duration and caloric expenditure) of leisure‐time physical activity in community older people with chronic diseases. (2) To identify leisure‐time physical activity‐related factors in these community older people.

Background.  Previous research has focused primarily on measuring the actual physiological or psychological benefits of exercise or leisure‐time physical activity, little is known about the factors that determine the frequency, intensity and duration of exercise or leisure‐time physical activity. The identification of reliable predictors of the various components of leisure‐time physical activity will enable healthcare providers to intervene and change the patterns of leisure‐time physical activity in the sedentary older people more effectively.

Design.  A cross‐sectional design was used for this study.

Methods.  Participants were recruited from the Xinyi District in Taipei, Taiwan. A total of 206 older people were recruited and were asked to complete three questionnaires during a face‐to‐face interview with a researcher at the activity setting.

Results.  The results showed that walking leisurely was the most frequent leisure‐time physical activity for participants. The age, gender, living arrangement, affective feeling and environmental control were significant variables of leisure‐time physical activity.

Conclusions.  The study constructs accounted for moderate amounts of variance (22% for leisure‐time physical activity frequency, 27% for leisure‐time physical activity duration and 24% for leisure‐time physical activity caloric expenditure). This study also showed that different variables play different influential roles in the different components of LTPA.

Relevance to clinical practice.  An effective intervention strategy for improving leisure‐time physical activity of older people may involve tailoring the type, format, intensity, frequency and duration of a physical activity according to an individual’s needs. This study described some environmental barriers to LTPA and recommended an increase in the accessibility to LTPA areas.
Evaluation and economic impact analysis of different treatment options for ankle distortions in occupational accidents
Authors: Audenaert Amaryllis , Prims Jente , Reniers Genserik L.L. , Weyns Dirk , Mahieu Peter , Audenaert Emmanuel
Published: June 2010

Rationale, aims and objectives  Appropriate use of diagnostic and treatment modalities are essential for rational use of resources. The aim of this study is to evaluate the use of diagnostic modalities and different treatment options and their economic impacts following an acute ankle distortion resulting from an occupational accident. We evaluated the type‐of‐treatment impact on the victims' course of recovery as well as its impact on the associated accident costs. Research was carried out in Belgium.

Methods  An ankle distortion victims' database consisting of 200 cases of (Belgian) occupational accidents during the period 2005–2007 was analysed.

Results  Patients who were prescribed immobilization or the use of adjuvant support or physical therapy (118 cases) were not employed during a period of 37 days on average, with a mean total cost of 3140.14 Euros caused by the ankle sprain. Patients without any adjuvant therapy (82 cases) were characterized by an unemployment rate of 15 days on average, and a total cost of 1077.86 Euros. Cast immobilization, although its application is not supported by evidence‐based literature, was still applied in 36% of the population studied and resulted in the longest average absence of work of 42 days with an obvious significant increase in medical and total costs.

Conclusions  Our results show a high rate of inappropriate use of cast immobilizations for ankle distortions. From an economic point of view and for the same clinical endpoint (being full resumption of the occupational activities), simple conventional treatment, consisting of rest, ice, compression and elevation at diagnosis with allowance of early weight bearing in the further clinical course, leads to the quickest full resumption of activities in combination with the lowest medical costs, if compared with any other kind of treatment.
Breeding system and factors limiting fruit production in the nectarless orchid Broughtonia lindenii
Authors: Vale Á. , Rojas D. , Álvarez J. C. , Navarro L.
Published: June 2010

Low fruit set values in most orchids (especially epiphytic and tropical species) are normally thought to be the consequence of pollination constraints and limited resources. In particular, pollination constraints are modulated by pollinator visitation rates, pollinator visitation behaviour (promoting crossing or selfing), the type and number of pollinia deposited on stigmas (in the case of orchids with subequal pollinia) and the amount of pollen loaded per inflorescence. In order to assess to what extent these factors can affect fruit set in specific orchid–pollinator systems, the repercussions of some of these aspects on reproduction of Broughtonia lindenii were examined in a coastal population in western Cuba. The study focused on plant breeding system, importance of pollen load and type of pollinia on subsequent fruit and seed, limiting factors of seed production and interaction with pollinators. This species presents long‐lasting flowers that senesce after all forms of effective visit. Pollinator dependence for fruit production was demonstrated, while hand‐pollination experiments revealed self‐compatibility and inbreeding depression at seed level. More pollinia on stigmas enhance the proportion of well‐developed seeds. In contrast, the pollinia type used in pollination is not important for seed quality of fruits, suggesting that small pollinia are not rudimentary. Natural fruit set in two consecutive years was substantially affected by pollinator activity, and also by systematic depredatory activity of ants and a caterpillar. Considering that this orchid completely lacks nectar and that the local assemblage of pollinators and predators influenced its reproduction, a minor importance of resource constraints in this epiphyte (with long‐lasting reserve structures) is confirmed at least for a short time.
Estimation of genetic parameters for racing speed at different distances in young and adult Spanish Trotter horses using the random regression model
Authors: Gómez M.D. , Menendez‐Buxadera A. , Valera M. , Molina A.
Published: June 2010

A total of 71 522 records (from 3154 horses) with the times per kilometre (TPK), recorded in Spanish Trotter horses (individual races) from racing performances held from 1991 to 2007, were available for this study. The TPK values for the different age groups (young and adult horses) and different distances (1600–2700 m) were considered as different traits, and a bi character random regression model (RRM) was applied to estimate the (co)variance components throughout the trajectory of age groups and distances. The following effects were considered as fixed: the combination of hippodrome‐date of race (404 levels); sex of the animals (3 levels); type of start (2 levels) and a fixed regression of Legendre polynomials (order 2). Those considered as random effects were the random regression Legendre polynomial (order 1) for animals (9201 animals in the pedigree); the individual environment permanent (3154 animals with data) and the driver (n = 957 levels). The residual variance was considered as heterogeneous with two classes (ages). The heritability estimated by distance ranged from 0.12 to 0.34, with a different trajectory for the two age groups. Within each age group, the genetic correlations between adjacent distances were high (>0.90), but decreased when the differences between them were over 400 metres for both age groups. The genetic correlations for the same distance across the age groups ranged from 0.47 to 0.78. Accordingly, the analysed trait (TPK) can be considered as positive genetic correlated but as different traits along the trajectory of distance and age. Therefore, some re‐ranking should be expected in the breeding value of the horses at different characteristics of the racing. The use of RRM is recommended because it allows us to estimate the breeding value along the whole trajectory of race competition.
Characteristics and clinical outcomes of renal cell carcinoma in children: A single center experience
Authors: Baek Minki , Jung Jae Yong , Kim Jung Jun , Park Kwan Hyun , Ryu Dong Soo
Published: June 2010

The present study aimed to assess the clinicopathological characteristics and the prognosis of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in children. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 11 Korean children (7 boys and 4 girls) undergoing radical nephrectomy for RCC between September 1997 and January 2008 at our institution. Mean age at diagnosis was 12.7 years. The presenting clinical signs and symptoms included gross hematuria (55%), abdominal mass (45%) and abdominal pain (45%). Two (18%) of the cases were discovered incidentally. Five (45%) were conventional clear cell, four (36%) were papillary, one was a chromophobe and one was a translocation carcinoma. Seven children were T1N0M0, three were T2N0M0 and one child was T1N1M0. While one patient with T2 disease died of disease 89 months postoperatively, the remaining 10 patients, including a patient with regional nodal disease who received adjuvant immunochemotherapy, survived without evidence of recurrence at a mean follow‐up of 6.8 years. Our data suggest that the clinical presentation, pathological characteristics and clinical behavior of pediatric RCC are different from those of adult RCC.