bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How influenza’s neuraminidase promotes virulence and creates localized lung mucosa immunodeficiency
Authors: Bhatia Ajay , Kast Richard
Published: December 2006

Neuraminidase (NA) is an enzyme coded for by the genome of influenza critical for its pathogenicity and survival. Three currently accepted roles for this NA in promoting influenza virulence are: 1. NA cleaves newly formed virus particles from the host cell membrane. Without NA, newly formed virus would remain attached to the cell within which it was produced. 2. NA prevents newly released virus particles from aggregating to each other, preventing clumping that would reduce dissemination. 3. NA promotes viral penetration of sialic acid-rich mucin that bathes and protects respiratory epithelium through which the virus must spread and replicate. We outline here previous research evidence of two further, albeit hypothetical, functions of NA that together could cause disruption the mucosa-IgA axis, creating localized partial immunosuppressed state, enhancing both influenza infection itself and secondary bacterial pneumonia: 4. IgA provides primary immunoglobulin defense of mucosal surfaces. The hinge region of IgA is normally sialylated. IgA denuded of sialic acid is recognized, bound, and cleared by hepatic asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGPR). Thus, IgA exposed to free NA would be so denuded and have increased hepatic clearance. 5. NA removes sialic acid moieties from mucosa-residing gamma/delta T cells or IgA producing B cells. Previous work indicates desialylation of these lymphocytes' outer cell membrane results in altered homing, to bone marrow, away from mucosa. Currently marketed NA inhibitors oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza) are FDA approved in USA for influenza prophylaxis and treatment. These NA inhibitors lower incidence of secondary bacterial infection in cases where an influenza infection occurs despite their use. Moreover, they are ameliorative in patients with secondary bacterial infections treated with antibiotics, a benefit that surpasses the treatment of antibiotics alone. We interpret these last two points as indicating our ascription of localized immunosuppression to influenza's NA could be correct and lead to new treatments of infections generally.
Prins and C-PRINS: Promising tools for the physical mapping of the lupin genome
Authors: Kaczmarek Anna , Naganowska Barbara , Wolko Bogdan
Published: December 2006

Two molecular cytogenetics methods, PRINS (primed in situ DNA labeling) and C-PRINS (cycling PRINS), were optimized for the physical mapping of several types of DNA sequences on the mitotic chromosomes of the narrow-leafed lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L.). The fragment of the FokI element from Vicia faba was localised by indirect PRINS reaction. Two other sequences, fragments of the coding sequences of L. luteus and of L. angustifolius, were localised by indirect C-PRINS. These techniques are faster and more sensitive than FISH, and they allowed the mapping of short DNA fragments. The data obtained shows that both types of PRINS are valuable tools for chromosome identification in lupin.
Impending Landscapes of the Architextile City: An Interview with Dominique Perrault
Authors: Garcia Mark
Published: December 2006

The qualities of textiles for Dominique Perrault ‘represent a real expansion of the feeling of architecture’. Through the application of highly innovative meshes, Perrault has realised ‘synthetic landscapes’ that introduce an entirely new type of public space. Mark Garcia visited Perrault in his studio in Paris to discuss his work, his collaborations with manufacturers and ultimately his vision for applying textiles to ‘a more democratic, human and pleasurable’ type of urban space. The qualities of textiles for Dominique Perrault ‘represent a real expansion of the feeling of architecture’. Through the application of highly innovative meshes, Perrault has realised ‘synthetic landscapes’ that introduce an entirely new type of public space. Mark Garcia visited Perrault in his studio in Paris to discuss his work, his collaborations with manufacturers and ultimately his vision for applying textiles to ‘a more democratic, human and pleasurable’ type of urban space. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fumed silica activated subtilisin Carlsberg in hexane in a packed‐bed reactor
Authors: Pfromm Peter H. , Rezac Mary E. , Würges Kerstin , Czermak Peter
Published: November 2006

Enzymatic catalysis in organic solvents can enable applications, reactivities, and selectivities that are not accessible in water. The use of enzymes for catalysis in organic solvents has been somewhat hampered by their relatively low‐catalytic activity. A new preparation of the enzyme subtilisin Carlsberg (SC) with fumed silica as support (FS) has been developed. This preparation matches and sometimes exceeds the activity of some of the best reported preparations of the same enzyme for use in solvents. The usefulness of our preparation in a packed‐bed reactor is explored here. The catalytic characteristics of our preparation containing 5 wt % of enzyme/95 wt % FS in a packed‐bed reactor for a model transesterification in hexane is determined. Mass‐transfer limitations are explored, and a comparison to batch results is given. The activity of our preparation after prolonged storage as a packed bed is investigated. Our immobilized enzyme preparation may be a step towards more economical enzymatic catalysis in organic solvents. © 2006 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J 2007
A comparison of the catalytic partial oxidation of C1 to C16 normal paraffins
Authors: Panuccio G. J. , Dreyer B. J. , Schmidt L. D.
Published: November 2006

The catalytic partial oxidation (CPO) of C1 through C16 normal alkanes is examined on Pt and Rh‐coated α‐Al2O3 ceramic foam supports. New data for heavy liquid fuels (≥ C6) are combined with previously reported data for lighter hydrocarbons to explore the effects of reactant fuel molecular weight, catalyst metal, and support structure on the CPO of normal paraffins. These results show that, independent of catalyst metal and support geometry, fuel conversion and the total selectivity to olefin products increase with increasing chain length of the reacting fuel. Conversely, the selectivities of H2 and CO decrease with increasing molecular weight of the reacting fuel. Pt catalysts generate higher selectivities to ethylene and other olefins than Rh catalysts, but Rh is the better catalyst for synthesis gas (H2 + CO) production. Catalyst supports with lower internal surface area to volume ratio produce lower selectivities of H2 and CO and higher selectivities of H2O, ethylene, and other olefins than high surface area to volume catalysts. © 2006 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J 2007
Prediction of properties in homologous series with a shortcut QS2PR method
Authors: Cholakov Georgi St. , Stateva Roumiana P. , Shacham Mordechai , Brauner Neima
Published: November 2006

For prediction of properties of pure compounds in homologous series a shortcut version of the authors' QS2PR technique is introduced. The structure–structure relationship between a target compound and three predictive compounds from its homologous series is described in the short version with the number of carbon atoms and one easily calculated noncollinear molecular descriptor. This correlation provides predictions of high precision for properties of members of the homologous series, if property data for interpolation are available. It can also be used for short‐range extrapolation with precision similar to that of asymptotic relationships. The advantages of the proposed method over the existing methods are that with the structural correlation parameters it predicts all structure‐dependent properties of the target and enables estimation of its missing properties even if properties for only three predictive compounds are available. The method can also use as a descriptor the normal boiling temperature. © 2006 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J 2007
Is “war” essential for peace? A methodology for the psychoanalysis of conflict and prejudice
Authors: Maher Alice Lombardo
Published: November 2006

This paper presents the first year‐and‐a‐half of an ongoing internet research project, and suggests other projects. The projects are designed to address issues of conflict and prejudice by bringing dynamic constellations alive in the form of ongoing dialogues that provide safe arenas for the more direct expression of misinterpretations, fantasy distortions, and aggression. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Development and validation of the revised Cedars‐Sinai health‐related quality of life for rheumatoid arthritis instrument
Authors: Chiou C. F. , Sherbourne C. D. , Cornelio I. , Lubeck D. P. , Paulus H. E. , Dylan M. , Chang C. H. , Weisman M. H.
Published: November 2006

Objective

To improve accuracy and content coverage of the original 33‐item Cedars‐Sinai Health‐Related Quality of Life for Rheumatoid Arthritis Instrument (CSHQ‐RA).

Methods

A total of 312 RA patients from 55 sites were screened in a 24‐week trial. Patients completed an expanded 48‐item version of the CSHQ‐RA, Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 (MOS SF‐36), and Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) Disability Index at 5 visits. The revised CSHQ‐RA was created based on response frequencies and distributions, item‐to‐item correlation, factor and Rasch analysis, and input from experts. Psychometric evaluation included internal consistency, test–retest reliability, convergent and discriminant validity, and responsiveness. Minimum clinically important difference (MCID) was also measured.

Results

Response rates were 93% at baseline and 71% at 12 weeks. Eighty‐one percent of respondents at baseline were women, mean ± SD age was 52 ± 12 years, and mean ± SD duration of RA was 10.8 ± 10.4 years. The revised CSHQ‐RA included 36 items measuring 7 domains (4 original and 3 new). All Cronbach's alpha coefficients were >0.8, indicating good internal consistency. Test–retest reliability measured intraclass correlation coefficients, which ranged from 0.86 to 0.95. All 7 domains correlated significantly with the MOS SF‐36 and HAQ, indicating good convergent validity. Analysis of variance of disability group scores showed good discriminant validity (P < 0.0001). The MCIDs ranged from 6.2 for social well‐being to 14.8 for pain/discomfort.

Conclusion

The revised CSHQ‐RA was validated using a broader RA patient population. It captures 3 additional domains (social well‐being, pain/discomfort, and fatigue), which allow for measuring all important aspects of health‐related quality of life.
Effectiveness of behavioral graded activity in patients with osteoarthritis of the hip and/or knee: A randomized clinical trial
Authors: Veenhof Cindy , Köke Albère J. A. , Dekker Joost , Oostendorp Rob A. , Bijlsma Johannes W. J. , Van Tulder Maurits W. , Van Den Ende Cornelia H. M.
Published: November 2006

Objective

To determine the effectiveness of a behavioral graded activity program (BGA) compared with usual care (UC; exercise therapy and advice) according to the Dutch guidelines for physiotherapy in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip and/or knee. The BGA intervention is intended to increase activity in the long term and consists of an exercise program with booster sessions, using operant treatment principles.

Methods

We conducted a cluster randomized trial involving 200 patients with hip and/or knee OA. Primary outcome measures were pain (visual analog scale [VAS] and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index [WOMAC]), physical function (WOMAC), and patient global assessment, assessed at weeks 0, 13, 39, and 65. Secondary outcome measures comprised tiredness (VAS), patient‐oriented physical function (McMaster Toronto Arthritis Patient Preference Disability Questionnaire [MACTAR]), 5‐meter walking time, muscle strength, and range of motion. Data were analyzed according to intent‐to‐treat principle.

Results

Both treatments showed short‐term and long‐term beneficial within‐group effects. The mean differences between the 2 groups for pain and functional status were not statistically significant. Significant differences in favor of BGA were found for the MACTAR functional scale and 5‐meter walking test at week 65.

Conclusion

Because both interventions resulted in beneficial long‐term effects, the superiority of BGA over UC has not been demonstrated. Therefore, BGA seems to be an acceptable method to treat patients with hip and/or knee OA, with equivalent results compared with UC.
Stability of the patient acceptable symptomatic state over time in outcome criteria in ankylosing spondylitis
Authors: Tubach Florence , Pham Thao , Skomsvoll Johan F. , Mikkelsen Knut , BjØrneboe Olav , Ravaud Philippe , Dougados Maxime , Kvien Tore K.
Published: November 2006

Objective

The Patient Acceptable Symptomatic State (PASS) is the highest level of symptoms beyond which patients consider themselves well. It provides clinically meaningful information to interpret results from scales or questionnaires. Our goal was to determine the PASS in main outcome criteria when assessing patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and to evaluate whether the PASS is stable over time.

Methods

We used data from a randomized controlled trial of 330 patients with AS. The PASS was estimated at weeks 2, 6, and 12 for the following patient‐reported outcomes: global pain (measured on a visual analog scale [VAS]), nocturnal pain (VAS), patient's global assessment of disease activity (VAS), disease activity (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index [BASDAI]), and functional impairment (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index [BASFI]). We used an anchoring method based on patients answering yes or no to, “Is your current condition satisfactory, when you take your general functioning and your current pain into consideration?” The PASS was defined as the 75th percentile of the score for patients who considered their state satisfactory. All patients were considered together in the analysis.

Results

The values (95% confidence interval) of PASS were 33.5 (29.2–38.6) for pain, 28.0 (23.1–34.1) for night pain, 35.7 (31.3–41.1) for patient's global disease assessment, 31.4 (26.9–37.0) for BASFI, and 34.5 (30.9–38.9) for BASDAI. The PASS estimates were stable over time for all criteria during followup.

Conclusion

This study provides cutoff values for the PASS for the main outcome measures in AS and shows that PASS values are stable over time.
Impact of the diagnostic label of osteoarthritis on perceptions of disability and willingness to help a parent in African Americans and whites
Authors: Mingo Chivon A. , McIlvane Jessica M. , Haley William E.
Published: November 2006

Objective

Family members are central to arthritis care, but little is known about public perceptions of osteoarthritis (OA) and how cultural diversity affects these perceptions. We examined the effects of participant race and diagnostic label of OA on family members' perceptions and willingness to help a parent with OA.

Methods

A total of 105 young adult African American and 308 young adult white participants were randomly assigned to read 1 of 2 vignettes (OA label versus no label) describing an older mother with marked pain and disability. Effects for race and diagnostic label were examined.

Results

Participants who were told that the mother had OA were more likely to believe the mother's problems were due to illness, but were less likely to believe that better health care would improve her condition than participants not told a diagnosis. African Americans attributed less blame to the mother, showed less anger, more sympathy, and were more willing to help compared with whites.

Conclusion

The finding that the OA label leads to pessimism concerning the benefits of health care for a parent suggests a need for public education on the effectiveness of arthritis care. Race differences in perceptions of the parent and willingness to provide care are consistent with previous literature on race and family caregiving, and indicate that cultural values regarding family caregiving may be important in arthritis care. Family members could serve as important allies for elderly individuals with OA, and public health efforts should not just target older adults but should also provide information on arthritis care for families.
Patients' preferences for decision making and the feeling of being understood in the medical encounter among patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Ishikawa Hirono , Hashimoto Hideki , Yano Eiji
Published: November 2006

Objective

To examine how patients' preferences for decision making in the medical encounter affect the association between their participation style and the feeling of being understood by the physician.

Methods

The study group comprised 115 patients with rheumatoid arthritis who were under continuous care by 8 rheumatologists at a university‐affiliated rheumatology clinic in Tokyo, Japan. A questionnaire was distributed just after each encounter, in which patients' self‐reported participation in communication during the visit, preference for decision making, and the feeling of being understood were measured. The feeling of being understood was regressed on the participation style and preference for decision making after controlling for demographic and functional variables.

Results

Patient participation in visit communication was positively associated with the feeling of being understood. This relationship was moderated by patients' preference for decision making. Patients with higher preference for decision making were more likely to feel understood when they more actively participated in visit communication, whereas this relationship was weaker among those with lower preference for decision making.

Conclusion

Inviting patients to participate in visit communication may not always enhance the feeling of being understood by the physician when patients have less preference for autonomous decision making in the relationship with the physician. Exploring patients' preferences in the relationship would help physicians understand what the patient expects from visit communication and tailor their practice style to meet patients' needs.
Correlation between juvenile idiopathic arthritis activity and damage measures in early, advanced, and longstanding disease
Authors: Palmisani Elena , Solari Nicoletta , Magni‐manzoni Silvia , Pistorio Angela , Labò Elena , Panigada Serena , Martini Alberto , Ravelli Angelo
Published: November 2006

Objective

To compare the correlation between juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) measures of disease activity and damage in patients with early and late disease.

Methods

Three cohorts of patients with JIA disease duration ≤1 year (early disease, n = 70), 5–9.9 years (advanced disease, n = 114), and ≥10 years (longstanding disease, n = 39) were studied. Measures included physician's global assessment of overall disease activity (MD global), parent's global assessment of the child's well‐being (parent global) and pain (parent pain), joint counts, Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire (CHAQ), erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C‐reactive protein level, and Poznanski score of radiographic damage.

Results

In all cohorts, the MD global assessment was generally well correlated with the other variables, except the Poznanski score. The parent global assessment was correlated strongly with the parent pain assessment and moderately with the CHAQ irrespective of disease duration. Correlations between the CHAQ and the joint counts were low in early disease, moderate in advanced disease, and high to moderate in longstanding disease. Correlation between the CHAQ and the Poznanski score was low in early and advanced disease and moderate in longstanding disease. The Poznanski score was highly correlated with the number of joints with restricted motion in longstanding disease.

Conclusion

We found important differences in the level of correlation between JIA measures of activity and damage in patients with different lengths of disease duration. These findings have important implications for clinical trials because they indicate that the responsiveness of some variables and their correlation with other variables change as disease duration changes.
Self‐archiving and the Copyright Transfer Agreements of ISI‐ranked library and information science journals
Authors: Coleman Anita
Published: December 2006

A study of Thomson‐Scientific ISI ranked Library and Information Science (LIS) journals (n = 52) is reported. The study examined the stances of publishers as expressed in the Copyright Transfer Agreements (CTAs) of the journals toward self‐archiving, the practice of depositing digital copies of one's works in an Open Archives Initiative (OAI)‐compliant open access repository. Sixty‐two percent (32) do not make their CTAs available on the open Web; 38% (20) do. Of the 38% that do make CTAs available, two are open access journals. Of the 62% that do not have a publicly available CTA, 40% are silent about self‐archiving. Even among the 20 journal CTAs publicly available there is a high level of ambiguity. Closer examination augmented by publisher policy documents on copyright, self‐archiving, and instructions to authors reveals that only five, 10% of the ISI‐ranked LIS journals in the study, actually prohibit self‐archiving by publisher rule. Copyright is a moving target, but publishers appear to be acknowledging that copyright and open access can co‐exist in scholarly journal publishing. The ambivalence of LIS journal publishers provides unique opportunities to members of the community. Authors can self‐archive in open access archives. A society‐led, global scholarly communication consortium can engage in the strategic building of the LIS information commons. Aggregating OAI‐compliant archives and developing disciplinary‐specific library services for an LIS commons has the potential to increase the field's research impact and visibility. It may also ameliorate its own scholarly communication and publishing systems and serve as a model for others.
Reflections of the self: how self‐esteem determines decision framing and increases risk taking
Authors: McElroy Todd , Seta John J. , Waring Douglas A.
Published: November 2006

Historically, research examining the influence of individual personality factors on decision processing has been sparse. In this paper we investigate how one important individual aspect, self‐esteem, influences imposition and subsequent processing of ambiguously, negatively or positively framed decision tasks. We hypothesized that low self‐esteem individuals would impose a negative frame onto ambiguous decision problems and would be especially sensitive to negatively framed decision tasks. In Study 1 we utilized a self‐framing procedure and demonstrated that HSE participants were evenly divided in the hedonic valence they self‐imposed whereas LSE participants were more likely to self‐impose a negative frame. When these differences were accounted for, HSE and LSE participants were equivalent in risk seeking/avoiding choices. Study 2 used a risky‐choice framing task and found that LSE individuals were especially sensitive to the negative frame. Study 3, provided converging evidence and generalization of these findings to a reflection tasks involving money. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Implementation intentions and disengagement from a failing course of action
Authors: Henderson Marlone D. , Gollwitzer Peter M. , Oettingen Gabriele
Published: November 2006

We explored the consequences of forming implementation intentions that call for action (adjustment of chosen course of action) versus reflection (assessment of the appropriateness of chosen course of action) in situations that activate people's tendency to remain committed to failing courses of action. In Study 1, when negative experiences preceded failure, action and reflection implementation intention participants showed higher rates of disengagement than mere goal intention and no intention participants. However, when positive experiences preceded failure, only action implementation intention participants maintained this high disengagement rate. In Study 2, we observed that time pressure moderated the facilitating effects of action and reflection implementation intentions on disengagement when negative experiences preceded failure. Whereas the effect of action implementation intentions benefited from time pressure, the effect of reflection implementation intentions did not. The present studies construe disengagement as a self‐regulation process and highlight the benefits of implementation intentions as a self‐regulation tool. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Financial prospect relativity: context effects in financial decision‐making under risk
Authors: Vlaev Ivo , Chater Nick , Stewart Neil
Published: November 2006

We report three studies in which methodologies from psychophysics are adapted to investigate context effects on individual financial decision‐making under risk. The aim was to determine how the range and the rank of the options offered as saving amounts and levels of investment risk influence people's decisions about these variables. In the range manipulation, participants were presented with either a full range of choice options or a limited subset, while in the rank manipulation they were presented with a skewed set of feasible options. The results showed that choices are affected by the position of each option in the range and the rank of presented options, which suggests that judgments and choices are relative. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Duncan's k ‐Ratio Bayes Rule Approach to Multiple Comparisons: An Overview
Authors: Pennello Gene A.
Published: November 2006

An alternative to frequentist approaches to multiple comparisons is Duncan's k ‐ratio Bayes rule approach. The purpose of this paper is to compile key results on k ‐ratio Bayes rules for a number of multiple comparison problems that heretofore, have only been available in separate papers or doctoral dissertations. Among other problems, multiple comparisons for means in one‐way, two‐way, and treatments‐vs.‐control structures will be reviewed. In the k ‐ratio approach, the optimal joint rule for a multiple comparisons problem is derived under the assumptions of additive losses and prior exchangeability for the component comparisons. In the component loss function for a comparison, a balance is achieved between the decision losses due to Type I and Type II errors by assuming that their ratio is k. The component loss is also linear in the magnitude of the error. Under the assumption of additive losses, the joint Bayes rule for the component comparisons applies to each comparison the Bayes test for that comparison considered alone. That is, a comparisonwise approach is optimal. However, under prior exchangeability of the comparisons, the component test critical regions adapt to omnibus patterns in the data. For example, for a balanced one‐way array of normally distributed means, the Bayes critical t value for a difference between means is inversely related to the F ratio measuring heterogeneity among the means, resembling a continuous version of Fisher's F ‐protected least significant difference rule. For more complicated treatment structures, the Bayes critical t value for a difference depends intuitively on multiple F ratios and marginal difference(s) (if applicable), such that the critical t value warranted for the difference can range from being as conservative as that given by a familywise rule to actually being anti‐conservative relative to that given by the unadjusted 5%‐level Student's t test. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Analysis of Relation between Virologic Responses and Immunologic Responses, Patient's Factors in AIDS Clinical Trials Using – A Semiparametric Mixed‐Effects Model
Authors: Liang Hua , Zou Guohua
Published: November 2006

In this article we propose to use a semiparametric mixed‐effects model based on an exploratory analysis of clinical trial data for a study of the relation between virologic responses and immunologic markers such as CD4+ and CD8 counts, and host‐specific factors in AIDS clinical trials. The regression spline technique, used for inference for parameters in the model, reduces the unknown nonparametric components to parametric functions. It is simple and straightforward to implement the procedures using readily available software, and parameter inference can be developed from standard parametric models. We apply the model and the proposed method to an AIDS clinical study. Our findings indicate that viral load level is positively related to baseline viral load level, negatively related to CD4+ cell counts, but unrelated to CD8 cell counts and patient's age neither. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Accounting for Multiplicity in the Evaluation of “Signals” Obtained by Data Mining from Spontaneous Report Adverse Event Databases
Authors: Gould A. Lawrence
Published: November 2006

Surveillance of drug products in the marketplace continues after approval, to identify rare potential toxicities that are unlikely to have been observed in the clinical trials carried out before approval. This surveillance accumulates large numbers of spontaneous reports of adverse events along with other information in spontaneous report databases. Recently developed empirical Bayes and Bayes methods provide a way to summarize the data in these databases, including a quantitative measure of the strength of the reporting association between the drugs and the events. Determining which of the particular drug‐event associations, of which there may be many tens of thousands, are real reporting associations and which random noise presents a substantial problem of multiplicity because the resources available for medical and epidemiologic followup are limited. The issues are similar to those encountered with the evaluation of microarrays, but there are important differences. This report compares the application of a standard empirical Bayes approach with micorarray‐inspired methods for controlling the False Discovery Rate, and a new Bayesian method for the resolution of the multiplicity problem to a relatively small database containing about 48,000 reports. The Bayesian approach appears to have attractive diagnostic properties in addition to being easy to interpret and implement computationally. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Controlling the False Discovery Rate with Constraints: The Newman‐Keuls Test Revisited
Authors: Shaffer Juliet Popper
Published: November 2006

The Newman‐Keuls (NK) procedure for testing all pairwise comparisons among a set of treatment means, introduced by Newman (1939) and in a slightly different form by Keuls (1952) was proposed as a reasonable way to alleviate the inflation of error rates when a large number of means are compared. It was proposed before the concepts of different types of multiple error rates were introduced by Tukey (1952a, b; 1953). Although it was popular in the 1950s and 1960s, once control of the familywise error rate (FWER) was accepted generally as an appropriate criterion in multiple testing, and it was realized that the NK procedure does not control the FWER at the nominal level at which it is performed, the procedure gradually fell out of favor.

Recently, a more liberal criterion, control of the false discovery rate (FDR), has been proposed as more appropriate in some situations than FWER control. This paper notes that the NK procedure and a nonparametric extension controls the FWERwithin any set of homogeneous treatments. It proves that the extended procedure controls the FDR when there are well‐separated clusters of homogeneous means and between‐cluster test statistics are independent, and extensive simulation provides strong evidence that the original procedure controls the FDR under the same conditions and some dependent conditions when the clusters are not well‐separated. Thus, the test has two desirable error‐controlling properties, providing a compromise between FDR control with no subgroup FWER control and global FWER control.

Yekutieli (2002) developed an FDR‐controlling procedure for testing all pairwise differences among means, without any FWER‐controlling criteria when there is more than one cluster. The empirical example in Yekutieli's paper was used to compare the Benjamini‐Hochberg (1995) method with apparent FDR control in this context, Yekutieli's proposed method with proven FDR control, the Newman‐ Keuls method that controls FWER within equal clusters with apparent FDR control, and several methods that control FWER globally. The Newman‐Keuls is shown to be intermediate in number of rejections to the FWER‐controlling methods and the FDR‐controlling methods in this example, although it is not always more conservative than the other FDR‐controlling methods. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Intracoronary radiation therapy for multi‐drug resistant in‐stent restenosis: Initial clinical experience
Authors: Price Matthew J. , Giap Huan , Teirstein Paul S.
Published: November 2006

While randomized clinical trials have demonstrated the excellent efficacy of sirolimus‐eluting stents (SES) for de novo lesions, the optimal treatment for SES‐restenosis is not known. Management may include stand‐alone balloon angioplasty, repeat SES implantation, or placement of a drug‐eluting stent (DES) with an alternative antiproliferative agent (i.e., a paclitaxel‐eluting stent, PES). The appropriate management strategy for recurrent restenosis after PES implantation for SES restenosis is even less clear. We report the initial clinical experience with intracoronary radiation therapy (ICRT) for multi‐DES resistant restenosis. We performed ICRT in five patients with recurrent restenosis after treatment with both SES and PES. Over a median follow‐up of 256 days (range 75–489 days), one patient had a target lesion revascularization at 182 days and subsequently died at 483 days following the procedure. Our findings support the further study of this management approach. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Treatment of an Angio‐Seal™‐related vascular complication using the SilverHawk™ plaque excision system: A case report
Authors: Lee John H. , Biring Timinder S. , Gimelli Giorgio
Published: November 2006

The Angio‐Seal™ is a user‐friendly and safe arterial closure device increasingly used after percutaneous diagnostic and interventional procedures. Although it achieves rapid hemostasis and facilitates early patient mobilization, its use can be associated with vascular complications. A specific problem related to the device is protrusion of the collagen plug into the artery, causing either acute occlusion or symptomatic stenosis. When this occurs, treatment with balloon angioplasty alone is usually suboptimal, while stenting of the common femoral artery may be undesirable. In this report we describe a novel application of the SiverHawk™ plaque excision system to treat a highly eccentric stenosis at the site of a previously deployed Angio‐Seal. Since the device allows preferential cutting in the direction of the lesion and collagen plug debulking, it may be ideally suited to treat this complication without the need for stenting of the common femoral artery. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
First‐in‐human implantation of a fully bioabsorbable drug‐eluting stent: The BVS poly‐L‐lactic acid everolimus‐eluting coronary stent
Authors: Ormiston John A. , Webster Mark W.I. , Armstrong Guy
Published: November 2006

The first‐in‐human fully bioabsorbable drug‐eluting stent (BVS poly‐L‐lactic acid everolimus‐eluting coronary stent) implantation was performed at Auckland City Hospital, New Zealand as part of the ABSORB trial. There were no adverse events in‐hospital or by 1 month. A stent that supports the vessel when needed, delivers an antiproliferative drug then disappears has theoretical advantages with regard to CT and MRI compatibility, restored vessel vasomotion, and facilitated future percutaneous intervention or surgical grafting to the treated site. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Bleeding complications in patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing early invasive management can be reduced with radial access, smaller sheath sizes, and timely sheath removal
Authors: Cantor Warren J. , Mahaffey Kenneth W. , Huang Zhen , Das Pranab , Gulba Dietrich C. , Glezer Stanislav , Gallo Richard , Ducas John , Cohen Marc , Antman Elliott M. , Langer Anatoly , Kleiman Neal S. , White Harvey D. , Chisholm Robert J. , Harrington Robert A. , Ferguson James J. , Califf Robert M. , Goodman Shaun G.
Published: November 2006

Objectives: Our objective was to analyze the impact of arterial access site, sheath size, timing of sheath removal, and use of access site closure devices on high‐risk patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Background: In the SYNERGY trial, 9,978 patients with ACS were randomly assigned to receive enoxaparin or unfractionated heparin. Methods: This analysis includes 9,404 patients for whom sheath access information was obtained for the first PCI procedure or diagnostic catheterization. Comparisons of baseline, angiographic, and procedural characteristics were carried out according to access site and sheath size. Results: Overall, 9,404 (94%) patients underwent angiography at a median of 21 hr (25th and 75th percentiles: 5, 42) and 4,687 (50%) underwent PCI at a median of 23 hr (6,49) of enrollment. The access site was femoral for 94.9% of cases, radial for 4.4%, and brachial for 0.7%. Radial access was associated with fewer transfusions than femoral access (0.9% vs. 4.8%, P = 0.007). For femoral access, the rates of noncoronary artery bypass grafting (CABG)‐related TIMI major bleeding by sheath size was 1.5% for 4 or 5 French (Fr), 1.6% for 6 Fr, 3.3% for 7 Fr, and 3.8% for ≥ 8 Fr (P < 0.0001). After adjustment for baseline characteristics, femoral access site, larger sheath size, and delayed sheath removal were independent predictors of need for transfusion. Conclusions: Smaller sheaths, radial access, and timely sheath removal may mitigate the bleeding risk associated with potent antithrombotic/platelet therapy and early catheterization. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Determination of adequate coronary stent expansion using StentBoost, a novel fluoroscopic image processing technique
Authors: Mishell Jacob M. , Vakharia Kalpesh T. , Ports Thomas A. , Yeghiazarians Yerem , Michaels Andrew D.
Published: November 2006

Objective:

We tested the hypothesis that the use of motion‐corrected fluoroscopic images results in enhanced coronary stent visualization and improved detection of inadequate stent expansion.

Background:

Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) more accurately detects inadequate stent expansion when compared with coronary angiography. Stent under‐expansion is associated with stent restenosis and thrombosis. Developing a technique to improve fluoroscopic‐based assessment of stent expansion is desirable.

Methods:

We analyzed measurements of 48 coronary stents implanted in 30 patients using quantitative coronary angiography (QCA), IVUS, and StentBoost (SB), a novel fluoroscopic image processing technique. Correlations of stent diameter between the modalities were determined. Using established IVUS criteria for adequate stent deployment, we assessed the diagnostic test characteristics of SB to detect inadequate stent expansion.

Results:

Correlations of minimum stent diameter were highest between IVUS and SB (r = 0.75; P < 0.0001) when compared with QCA and IVUS (r = 0.65; P < 0.0001), and QCA and SB (r = 0.49; P = 0.0004). IVUS and SB demonstrated a small difference in minimum stent diameter, 0.043 mm (95% CI: 0.146–0.061 mm). The correlation between IVUS and SB was lower for vessels with intimal calcification (r = 0.57; P = 0.002) when compared with vessels with deeper calcification (r = 0.84; P < 0.0001). A SB minimum diameter of <2.5 mm predicted inadequate stent expansion by IVUS with 88% sensitivity, 70% specificity, and a positive likelihood ratio of 2.9.

Conclusions:

SB had superior correlations for stent expansion measured by IVUS when compared with QCA. A minimum stent diameter by SB measurement <2.5 mm is associated with inadequate stent expansion using IVUS criteria. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Clinical utility of coronary CT angiography: Coronary stenosis detection and prognosis in ambulatory patients
Authors: Lesser John R. , Flygenring Bjorn , Knickelbine Thomas , Hara Hidehiko , Henry Jason , Kalil Ayesha , Pelak Kimberly , Lindberg Jana , Pelzel Jamie , Schwartz Robert S.
Published: November 2006

Introduction: Multislice CT coronary angiography (MSCTA) accurately detects stenosis in patients undergoing coronary arteriography, but its accuracy in clinical outpatients is less certain. This study retrospectively analyzed MSCTA performance in a large outpatient cohort and examined 6‐month clinical follow‐up in those without invasive CA. Methods: Patients underwent MSCTA for clinical indications including symptoms or noninvasive results being either equivocal or suspected as incorrect by referring clinicians. Standard 16‐slice CT scanner techniques were used, and results were analyzed on the basis of both patient and vessel. Patients were treated medically or sent to invasive angiography on the basis of MSCTA results and judgment of referring clinicians. All invasive angiograms were analyzed using quantitative coronary angiography. Six‐month clinical follow‐up was determined in patients without CA. Results: One thousand fifty‐three consecutive patients were referred for MSCTA, resulting in 994 interpretable scans. Mean age was 58 ± 13 years, 55% were male, 50% had prior noninvasive testing, and 90% had symptoms. Invasive angiography was performed in 160 patients, with significant stenoses present in 69%. MSCTA demonstrated 87% and 89% accuracy by patient‐ and vessel‐based analysis, respectively, and was most accurate in the left main and right coronary arteries. Only two patients not referred for angiography had signficant stenosis in those undergoing 6‐month follow‐up. Conclusions: MSCTA accurately detects obstructive coronary stenosis in clinical patients with possible cardiac symptoms, and effectively triages them for invasive angiography. Negative results are highly accurate in ruling out obstructive disease. Six‐month prognosis is excellent in patients without significant disease determined by MSCT. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Use of the Amplatzer vascular occluder to occlude large venous vessels in adults and children with congenital heart disease: A case series
Authors: Hares Dominic Llewelyn , Tometzki Andrew J.P. , Martin, Robin
Published: November 2006

We describe the use of a new vascular occlusion device to embolize vessels whose flow is detrimental to cardiac function in a variety of clinical situations in both adults and children with congenital cardiac disease. Our series includes four cases in which we have successfully occluded large venous vessels, to produce a beneficial effect on oxygen saturations and cardiac function. There were no adverse events because of the devices in our series, which provides evidence that the Amplatzer vascular plug is a safe and effective method of embolizing large venous vessels. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Transfemoral venous access through inferior vena cava filters for interventions requiring large sheaths
Authors: Schoeffler Michael , Ringewald Jeremy , Schechter Eliot
Published: November 2006

The presence of a filter in the inferior vena cava (IVC) to prevent pulmonary embolism from lower extremity deep vein thrombosis has traditionally been a contraindication for venous catheterization from the femoral vein. Certain interventional procedures require femoral access and occasionally, patients with IVC filters require these procedures. The authors report two such patients, one with a Greenfield filter requiring balloon mitral valvuloplasty and one with a Trapease filter requiring atrial septostomy. These cases demonstrate the technical feasibility of interventions across vena cava filters. Based on this experience and a review of the literature we describe in detail the techniques that allowed the procedures to be performed safely and successfully. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Neuro‐embolic protection during percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty
Authors: Blake J.W.H. , Hanzel G.S. , O'Neill W.W.
Published: November 2006

This report describes the management of a patient with severe symptomatic mitral stenosis and a large mobile thrombus extending from the left atrial appendage that was resistant to warfarin therapy. Percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty was performed with cerebral protection using bilateral internal carotid artery filters to minimize the risk of embolic stroke. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Patient skin dose in cardiac interventional procedures: Conventional fluoroscopy versus pulsed fluoroscopy
Authors: Chida Koichi , Fuda Kenji , Saito Haruo , Takai Yoshihiro , Takahashi Shoki , Yamada Shogo , Kohzuki Masahiro , Zuguchi Masayuki
Published: November 2006

Objectives: To investigate whether pulsed fluoroscopy reduces a patient's exposure compared with the exposure owing to conventional (continuous) fluoroscopy, we simulated the skin radiation doses of patients at cardiac catheterization facilities with various X‐ray systems used in fluoroscopically guided intervention procedures. Background: Although many reports have noted that “pulsed fluoroscopy” provides important further reductions in radiation exposure, it has been determined that when comparing dose rates between different vendor systems, “pulsed fluoroscopy” does not reduce patients' exposure as compared with “conventional fluoroscopy”. Methods: We examined 13 X‐ray systems; 10 used pulsed fluoroscopy and three used conventional fluoroscopy. The entrance surface doses with fluoroscopy were compared for the 13 X‐ray systems by using acrylic plates (20‐cm thick) and a skin dose monitor. The X‐ray conditions used in the measurements were those normally used in the facilities performing percutaneous coronary intervention. Results: The average surface dose for systems from three different vendors producing conventional fluoroscopy systems was 23.93 ± 2.77 mGy/min vs. an average surface dose of 22.52 ± 4.50 mGy/min from five vendors of pulsed fluoroscopy systems (25, 30, and 50 pulses/sec) (P = 0.646). The average entrance surface dose was significantly (P < 0.0001) higher with conventional fluoroscopy and pulsed fluoroscopy at 25, 30, and 50 pulses/sec (23.05 ± 3.78 mGy/min) than with pulsed fluoroscopy at 15 pulses/sec (13.86 ± 3.22 mGy/min). Conclusions: Pulsed fluoroscopy did not in itself reduce radiation exposure. In general, the use of pulsed fluoroscopy at a pulse rate lower than 25 pulses/sec should reduce the skin dose in fluoroscopically guided intervention procedures. Nevertheless, some X‐ray systems are not designed to reduce the dose rate as the number of pulses per second is decreased. Physicians should be aware of the entrance surface dose of the X‐ray system that they use for cardiac IVR. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Hexagonal Supramolecular Architectures from Ferrocenium Cations Incorporating [Ni(mnt)2]− Columns: Structures and Properties of [Alkylferrocene][Ni(mnt)2]− Charge‐Transfer Complexes (mnt=maleonitriledithiolate)
Authors: Mochida Tomoyuki , Koinuma Takeo , Akasaka Takahiro , Sato Michiko , Nishio Yutaka , Kajita Koji , Mori Hatsumi
Published: November 2006

The crystal architecture, magnetic properties, and thermodynamic properties of [n‐butylferrocene][Ni(mnt)2] (1), [tert‐butylferrocene][Ni(mnt)2] (2), [1,1′‐diethylferrocene][Ni(mnt)2] (3), and [1,1′‐diisopropylferrocene][Ni(mnt)2] (4) were investigated (mnt=maleonitriledithiolate). These complexes exhibit a unique supramolecular structure in which the ferrocenium cations constitute honeycomb‐like assembled structures surrounding columns of the anions. For 1, the cations form a dimer through a very short intermolecular ferrocene–ferrocene distance of 3.28 Å, which mediates an antiferromagnetic interaction with a singlet–triplet energy gap of 5 K. First‐order phase transitions occur in 1–3 at 364, 361, and 350 K, respectively, accompanied by thermal hysteresis.