bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
'You can hear a lot through the walls': Noise formulations in neighbour complaints
Authors: Stokoe Elizabeth , Hepburn Alexa
Published: August 2005

In this article, we explore noise formulations as they are played out in two institutional contexts: neighbour dispute mediation and neighbours' calls to the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) helpline. The data were transcribed and analysed using a discursive psychological approach. Our interest was in the salience of 'noise' description in our data and its formulation as a participants' concern. We found that establishing legitimate complaints or accusations was done partly through establishing 'noise' as a non-normative breach of everyday neighbour or family activity. We examined the epistemic orientations of participants (including clients, callers, mediators and Child Protection Officers) in telling whatand howthey know about their neighbours' business, and the discursive strategies used to position the account-giver as disinterested, reasonable, irritated or concerned. Our contrasting materials provide an opportunity to explore the detailed ways in which descriptions of events, persons and sensory formulations are coordinated together to perform particularly delicate actions. Overall, we consider what an interactional approach can add to our understanding of 'noise' as a social phenomenon as well as to contemporary notions of neighbouring.
Moral logic and logical morality: Attributions of responsibility and blame in online discourse on veganism
Authors: Sneijder Petra , te Molder Hedwig F.M.
Published: August 2005

In this article we draw on the methods developed by conversation analysis and discursive psychology in order to examine how participants manage rules, fact and accountability in a specific ideological area. In particular, we focus on how participants in online discussions on veganism manage the problem posed by alleged health threats such as vitamin deficiency. We show how speakers systematically attribute responsibility for possible deficiencies to individual recipients rather than veganism. The analysis focuses on a conditional formulation that participants use in response to the recurrent question about supposed health problems in a vegan diet (for example: if you eat a varied diet, there shouldn't be any problems). This specific construction presents the absence of health problems as a predictable fact, depending on individual practices. The use of a script formulationtogether with a modal expressionenables participants to blend morality with logic, and thereby to indirectly attribute responsibility and blame to individual rule-followers. The modal construction (including qualifications as certainly, easilyand in my opinion) also allows speakers to display a concern for saying no more than they can be sure of, thus enhancing the trustworthiness of their accounts. It is suggested that this way of managing rules and accountability may also be found in and relevant for other (than) ideological domains.
Narrative reflexivity as a repair device for discounting 'cognitive distortions' in sex offender treatment
Authors: Auburn Timothy
Published: August 2005

The treatment of imprisoned sex offenders has been an established feature of the English prison system for several years. A core concept in such treatment has been 'cognitive distortion'. In this article, an argument was made for treating this concept as a social resource for those participating in treatment rather than as a pathological mental entity afflicting those being treated. An analysis of narratives produced by offenders of their crimes identified a particular device, which is labelled narrative reflexivity. This device shifted the focus of the narrative from the sequence of past events to the current context of the telling itself. The shape and features of this device were identified. Analysis also demonstrated that this device was utilized by offenders to monitor and discount cognitive distortions that could be attributed to them. This article concluded by briefly discussing the implications of this analysis for the practice of sex offender treatment.
Science shops: a kaleidoscope of science–society collaborations in Europe
Authors: Leydesdorff Loet , Ward Janelle
Published: August 2005

The science-shop model was initiated in the Netherlands in the 1970s. During the 1980s, the model spread throughout Europe, but without much coordination. The crucial idea behind the science shops involves a working relationship between knowledge-producing institutions like universities and citizen groups that need answers to relevant questions. More recently, the European Commission has funded a number of projects for taking stock of the results of science shops. Twenty-one in-depth case studies by seven science shops across Europe enable us to draw some conclusions about the variety of experiences in terms of differences among disciplines, nations, and formatsof the historical institutionalization. The functions of science shops in the mediation of normative concerns with analytical perspectives can further be specified.
Genetics, cyberspace and bioethics: why not a public engagement with ethics?
Authors: Miah Andy
Published: August 2005

The representation of science, medicine, and technology has been an emerging agenda item for cultural and media research in the last decade. In part, its importance arises out of a concern for the public understanding of science (PUoS), which has been a priority in governmental policy discussions. This paper discusses how the utilization of cyberspatial communities can address the challenge of developing a global engagement with science and ethics, by considering the case of genetic technology and the role of experts in public debate. It critically appraises the PUoS and suggests that a way of advancing its methodological assumptions is through developing a “Public Engagemen with Ethics.” On this basis, concerns about scientific journalism are more effectively contextualized and enhance the possibility of ensuring that non-experts are aware of the importance of any scientific innovation.
Cinematic representations of medical technologies in the Spanish official newsreel, 1943–1970
Authors: Medina-Doménech Rosa M. , Menéndez-Navarro Alfredo
Published: August 2005

NO-DO, the Spanish official newsreel produced by Franco's dictatorship (1939–1975), held a 30-year monopoly over audio-visual information in Spain from 1943 to 1975. This paper reports on an analysis of the coverage of medical technologies by the Spanish Cinematic Newsreel Service, NO-DO, from 1943 to 1970. The study focuses on the changing roles played by cultural representations of medical technologies deployed in NO-DO. Our analysis shows how these representations offered a new space for the legitimization of the regime and, more importantly, played a key role in the attempts to construct and enforce a hegemonic national identity after the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939). During the period of isolationist autocracy that ended in the mid-1950s, the images of medical technologies reinforced the idea of a self-sufficient “national space” and deepened the break with the historical past. Once the international isolation of the regime was overcome in the late 1950s and the 1960s, the representation of medical technologies contributed to establishing a Spanish national identity that mirrored the outside world, the foreign space. Finally, gender representations in NO-DO are also explored.
The Critical Path of Women Affected by Family Violence in Latin America
Authors: Sagot Montserrat
Published: August 2005

This research examined the critical path followed by women from 10 Latin American countries who suffer family violence. It identified the personal and social processes women experience as a result of their help-seeking actions and the kinds of responses found at local services. The study used an action-oriented qualitative methodology with a standard research protocol that was translated and adapted for the various ethnic groups. The results provided community actors with an understanding of the barriers women face in overcoming the obstacles, humiliation, and inadequate responses they encounter along their critical paths.
Immigrant Latinas’ Conceptualizations of Intimate Partner Violence
Authors: Adames Sandra Bibiana , Campbell Rebecca
Published: August 2005

This study was a qualitative investigation of the conceptualization of intimate partner violence (IPV) among immigrant Latinas. The research approach used was naturalistic inquiry: conducting research maintaining minimal interference with the phenomenon of interest. Findings revealed that the immigrant Latinas in this study were aware of the poor quality of intimate relationships in their community, were knowledgeable about IPV, and understood that IPV is an extensive problem in the immigrant Latino community. In addition, the women recognized gender disparities and other ecological factors as central issues affecting their intimate relationships and leading to IPV.
Relationships among residents' image, evaluation of the stay and post-purchase behaviour
Authors: Alcañiz Enrique Bigné , García Isabel Sánchez , Blas Silvia Sanz
Published: August 2005

Scholars have approached the analysis of the host community from a supply perspective rather than a demand one. This paper focuses on the study of residents when acting as tourists in their own region. In this sense, the present work aims to fill the gap existing in the literature about residents' tourist behaviour, analysing the influence of the image of their province on their evaluation of their travel experience and their future behaviour intentions. To accomplish this objective, a path analysis is carried out to test jointly the set of relationships among image, perceived quality, satisfaction, intention to return and willingness to recommend.
VFR: Is it really marginal? A financial consideration of French overseas travellers
Authors: Lee Gyehee , Morrison Alastair A. , Lheto Xinran You , Webb Jonathan , Reid Jerome
Published: August 2005

The economic contribution of the VFR (visiting friends and relatives) market to host destinations has been underestimated, largely due to a lack of accurate data and research on this segment. This underestimation seems to be linked to the noncommercial accommodation usage and assumed within-group homogeneity of VFR travellers. Using a large-scale national survey among French travellers visiting 17 different destination countries, this study aimed to re-evaluate the financial value of VFR travellers and test their within-group differences. The results of the study suggested a need to reconsider the stereotypical description of VFR travellers; a significant portion of the French VFR market seems to be more lucrative compared with other types of travellers. In addition, these high-spending VFR travellers differ sharply from the low-spending VFR visitors in terms of their expenditure patterns and trip-related behaviours. Implications for destination marketing are also provided.
A case study of nature-based tourists: Specialists versus generalists
Authors: Mehmetoglu Mehmet
Published: August 2005

Along with the rapid growth of tourism, different forms of tourism have emerged. Among these is nature-based tourism, which in fact is considered to be increasing more quickly than tourism as a whole. There is a general consensus that tourism marketers and planners need to obtain systematic knowledge about nature-based tourists. The literature suggests, however, that there may be different types of nature tourists depending on their degree of specialization. The aim of this study is to examine whether nature tourists can be clustered into two broad segments as specialists and generalists, and, if so, whether and how these two segments differ from each other. The necessary data were collected from 162 visitors at two nature-based attractions (wilderness centres) located in northern Norway. Using a single psychographic dimension (i.e. motivation) it was possible to classify the respondents into specialists and general- ists. The former travelled mainly for nature reasons, whereas the latter had reasons other than only nature for travelling. These two groups were subsequently compared on the basis of their socio-demographic and trip characteristics, travel motives and activities. The results indicated that specialist and generalist nature-based tourists differed significantly, principally in terms of nationality, trip purpose, trip length and travel motives.
Investigating the Production of University English in Mass Higher Education
Authors: Jones Ken , McLean Monica , Amigoni David , Kinsman Margaret
Published: August 2005

Two university English seminars were video-recorded to provide data for a pilot project investigating how English is produced or 'actualized' in teaching and learning encounters. The project is positioned within three contexts: national policy about higher education teaching; current research about higher education pedagogy; and, the history and politics of university English. The main aim of the article is to explicate a methodology that takes as its data actual moments of teaching, captured on video tape, and the teachers' commentary on them. It analyses these records with reference to theories about rhetoric.
The Architectural Review
Authors: Webster Helena
Published: August 2005

This article presents the results of an ethnographic research project that looked at architectural students' experiences of disciplinary acculturation. The research focused on the architectural review: a pedagogic event used for the assessment of students' design projects and commonly understood as a liberal celebration of student creativity. The research investigated the review from the viewpoint of those who experienced it, that is, the students and staff, thereby arriving at an understanding of its character and function beyond that declared in 'folklore' or reified in texts. The findings built a picture of the architectural review as an important symbolic ritual in which 'apprentices' (students) repeatedly present their habitus, a notion of identity that includes cognitive and embodied aspects, to their 'masters' (tutors) for legitimization. Far from being a celebration of student achievement, the review was experienced by the students as a frightening event in which staff used their power to coerce students into reproducing staff-centred constructions of architectural habitus. In light of the findings the continuing use of the architectural review is questioned.
Great Expectations
Authors: Smith Karen , Hopkins Chris
Published: August 2005

This article feeds into the discussion of transitional issues begun in Volume 2 of Arts and Humanities in Higher Education. It draws on research into A-level students' expectations of university English and how these compare to the experiences of first-year students, university lecturers and A-level teachers. The data presented are drawn from innovative focus group sessions which gave pre-higher education and first-year university students a range of exercises to encourage them to focus on their expectations and experiences of studying English. These data were supplemented with teacher and lecturer interviews. The article concentrates on students' expectations of independent study and the experience of reading. The findings show that there is a mismatch between student expectations and the realities of university study. It is hoped that the outcomes of this research will contribute to a more informed transition from school to university by informing students' expectations before they enter university.
Going to the Bathroom in Japan
Authors: Caesar Terry
Published: August 2005

This article discusses the dilemma of discipline in the classroom of a Japanese women's university, from the point of view of an American professor whose assumptions about one particular behavior, leaving class in order to go to the bathroom, differ from those of his students.
Girl, Repeatedly Interrupted
Authors: Ramsay J. Russell , Rostain Anthony L.
Published: August 2005

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most prevalent behavioral disorder among children in the United States. Although symptoms may remit over time for some individuals diagnosed with ADHD in childhood, a significant number continue to report clinically significant impairment into adolescence and adulthood. The specific difficulties encountered by adults with ADHD are just starting to be understood and studied. In particular, the long-standing difficulties encountered by females first identified with ADHD in adulthood have apparently been greatly underreported. The goal of this article is to discuss the case of a young woman, Amanda, who is first diagnosed with ADHD after encountering difficulties during her freshman year of college. Her case demonstrates the importance of an accurate diagnosis and the benefit of a course of cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy combined with standard pharmacotherapy for adult ADHD.
Simultaneous Treatment of Substance Abuse and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Authors: Davis Joanne L. , Davies Stephenie , Wright David C. , Falsetti Sherry , Roitzsch John C.
Published: August 2005

The type and timing of treatment for comorbid substance abuse and victimization has been debated in the past decade. Arguments have been made for simultaneous treatment and consecutive treatment of each difficulty. Current issues and a case study in which both problems are treated simultaneously are presented. The patient received inpatient detoxification, inpatient and outpatient group counseling following the 12-step program, and a cognitive-behavioral-oriented outpatient group in the substance treatment component. Multiple Channel Exposure Therapy (MCET), a 12-week manualized treatment developed to treat individuals suffering from both post-traumatic stress disorder and panic disorder, was implemented in the victimization component. At postassessment and at follow-up, the patient no longer met criteria for any pretreatment diagnoses, and her alcohol dependence was in remission. Clinical implications and recommendations for the treatment of substance abuse and victimization are discussed.
Ann
Authors: Stricklin-Parker Ericka , Schneider Barry A.
Published: August 2005

Aaron Beck’s cognitive therapy model has been used repeatedly to treat depression and anxiety. The case presented here is a 34-year-old female law student with an adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood. It is presented to illustrate a successful treatment outcome using cognitive interventions. Sessions by session summaries are offered to further demonstrate the specific treatment plan implemented and to serve as a learning tool for clinicians and students.
Ligand-specific glucocorticoid receptor activation in human platelets
Authors: Moraes Leonardo A. , Paul-Clark Mark J. , Rickman Alice , Flower Roderick J. , Goulding Nicolas J. , Perretti Mauro
Published: September 2005

Few studies have addressed the effects of classical anti-inflammatory glucocorticoids on platelet function. Here, we report for the first time that human platelets contain the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) as identified by a combination of biochemical and functional techniques. Ligand-binding studies revealed the presence of a high- and low-affinity binding site for [3H]-dexamethasone in platelets. The 2 GR ligands prednisolone and dexamethasone competed for [3H]-dexamethasone binding, as did the mineralocorticoid aldosterone. However, while prednisolone (1-10 μM) reduced adenosine diphosphate (ADP, 4 μM) and thromboxane A2 receptor agonist U46619 induced platelet aggregation (up to 75%), dexamethasone had no effect. The inhibition produced by prednisolone was reversed by preincubation with the GR antagonist mifepristone (10 μM; RU486), suggesting the functional importance of the ligand-receptor complex. In addition, prednisolone caused a marked (∼ 50%) reduction in thromboxane B2 levels, whereas dexamethasone was without effect. The apparently anomalous binding data were clarified by the fact that washed platelets (1) contained mineralocorticoid receptor and that (2) it was associated with GR. Taken together, our data suggest that platelet GR forms a heterodimeric complex with the mineralocorticoid receptor that is susceptible to differential activation by specific receptor ligands.
Autologous and allogeneic stem cell transplantations for poor-risk chronic lymphocytic leukemia
Authors: Gribben John G. , Zahrieh David , Stephans Katherine , Bartlett-Pandite Lini , Alyea Edwin P. , Fisher David C. , Freedman Arnold S. , Mauch Peter , Schlossman Robert , Sequist Lecia V. , Soiffer Robert J. , Marshall Blossom , Neuberg Donna , Ritz Jerome , Nadler Lee M.
Published: September 2005

We report here on the long-term follow-up on 162 patients with high-risk chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) who have undergone hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (SCT) at a single center from 1989 to 1999. Twenty-five patients with human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-matched sibling donors underwent T-cell-depleted allogeneic SCT, and 137 patients without HLA-matched sibling donors underwent autologous SCT. The 100-day mortality was 4% for both groups, but later morbidity and mortality were negatively affected on outcome. Progression-free survival was significantly longer following autologous than allogeneic SCT, but there was no difference in overall survival and no difference in the cumulative incidence of disease recurrence or deaths without recurrence between the 2 groups. At a median follow-up of 6.5 years there is no evidence of a plateau of progression-free survival. The majority of patients treated with donor lymphocyte infusions after relapse responded, demonstrating a significant graft-versus-leukemia effect in CLL. From these findings we have altered our approach for patients with high-risk CLL and are currently exploring the role of related and unrelated allogeneic SCT following reduced-intensity conditioning regimens.
−308GAandTNFBpolymorphisms in acute respiratory distress syndrome
Authors: Gong M. N. , Zhou W. , Williams P. L. , Thompson B. T. , Pothier L. , Boyce P. , Christiani D. C.
Published: August 2005

The−308GAandTNFB1/2 polymorphisms of the tumour necrosis factor genes have been associated with increased susceptibility to, and mortality in sepsis, although, prior studies are not consistent. Their role in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) has not been evaluated. The current authors hypothesised that the−308Aallele andTNFB22genotype would be associated with increased susceptibility to, and mortality in ARDS.

The above hypothesis was investigated in a nested case-control study of 441 Caucasian controls and 212 cases admitted to an intensive care unit with sepsis, trauma, aspiration or hyper-transfusions.

The−308AandTNFB1alleles were in linkage disequilibrium. These polymorphisms were not associated with ARDS susceptibility on crude analysis. On subgroup analyses, they were associated with either increased or decreased odds of developing ARDS depending on whether the clinical risk for ARDS results in direct or indirect pulmonary injury. The−308Aallele was associated with increased 60-day mortality in ARDS, with the strongest association found among younger patients. There was no association between theTNFBpolymorphism and ARDS mortality.

The −308GA, but not theTNFB12, polymorphism was associated with increased mortality in acute respiratory distress syndrome, but their association with acute respiratory distress syndrome susceptibility depended on the site of injury predisposing to acute respiratory distress syndrome.
The role of increased pulmonary blood flow in pulmonary arterial hypertension
Authors: van Albada M. E. , Schoemaker R. G. , Kemna M. S. , Cromme-Dijkhuis A. H. , van Veghel R. , Berger R. M. F.
Published: August 2005

Chronic increased pulmonary blood flow is considered a pre-requisite for the induction of advanced vascular lesions in pulmonary arterial hypertension in congenital heart defects. The aim of the present study was to characterise the effects of increased pulmonary flow induced by an aortocaval shunt in the monocrotaline rat model for pulmonary hypertension in terms of survival, haemodynamics, pathology and histology.

Male Wistar rats were injected with monocrotaline followed by the creation of an abdominal aortocaval shunt. Animals were sacrificed when displaying symptoms of weight loss or dyspnoea, 4–5 weeks after the creation of the shunt.

Echocardiography identified increased ventricular dimensions in shunted rats and right ventricular hypertrophy in monocrotaline-treated rats. At similar pulmonary artery pressures, shunted monocrotaline rats displayed higher morbidity and mortality, increased pulmonary-to-systemic artery pressure ratios and increased right ventricular hypertrophy compared with nonshunted monocrotaline rats. Histological assessment demonstrated increased number and diameter of pre-acinar pulmonary arteries. Intra-acinar vessel remodelling and occlusion occurred to a similar extent in shunted and nonshunted monocrotaline rats.

In conclusion, increased pulmonary blood flow in monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension is associated with increased morbidity, mortality, and unfavourable haemodynamic and cardiac effects. These effects could be attributed to more pronounced right heart failure rather than to altered intra-acinar pulmonary vessel remodelling.
Cost-effectiveness of isoniazid chemoprevention in close contacts
Authors: Diel R. , Nienhaus A. , Schaberg T.
Published: August 2005

The aim of the present study was to perform a cost-effectiveness analysis in young and middle-aged adults with latent tuberculosis (TB) infection in Germany.

A Markov model simulated the progression of 20- and 40-yr-old close contacts of active TB cases over 20 yrs. Health and economic outcomes of isoniazid (INH) chemopreventionversusno intervention were compared. The analysis determined the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio in terms of cost per quality-adjusted life year and the difference between numbers of TB cases and of TB-related deaths.

INH chemoprevention prevented 79% of expected TB cases in both age groups, and saved €9,482 and €9,142 in the lower and higher age groups, respectively, per case prevented. Quality-adjusted life expectancy was slightly extended by 8 days in the lower age group and 7 days in the higher age group, at a cost saving of €417 and €375, respectively, per person. Annual savings were €20,862 and €18,742 per 1,000 contacts, respectively. The number needed to be treated to prevent one TB case in the lower age group was 23 and 25 in the higher age group. The programme also prevented three TB-related deaths in the younger and two in the older cohort. The results are highly sensitive to treatment-cost assumptions.

In conclusion, isoniazid chemoprevention in Germany is a highly cost-effective approach for reducing the burden of tuberculosis in recently converted young and middle-aged adults.
Risk factors for rehospitalisation in COPD: role of health status, anxiety and depression
Authors: Gudmundsson G. , Gislason T. , Janson C. , Lindberg E. , Hallin R. , Ulrik C. S. , Brøndum E. , Nieminen M. M. , Aine T. , Bakke P.
Published: August 2005

The aim of the present study was to analyse the risk of rehospitalisation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and associated risk factors.

This prospective study included 416 patients from a university hospital in each of the five Nordic countries. Data included demographic information, spirometry, comorbidity and 12 month follow-up for 406 patients. The hospital anxiety and depression scale and St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) were applied to all patients.

The number of patients that had a re-admission within 12 months was 246 (60.6%). Patients that had a re-admission had lower lung function and health status. A low forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and health status were independent predictors for re-admission. Hazard ratio (HR; 95% CI) was 0.82 (0.74–0.90) per 10% increase of the predicted FEV1and 1.06 (1.02–1.10) per 4 units increase in total SGRQ score. The risk of rehospitalisation was also increased in subjects with anxiety (HR 1.76 (1.16–2.68)) and in subjects with low health status (total SGRQ score >60 units). When comparing the different subscales in the SGRQ, the closest relation between the risk of rehospitalisation was seen with the activity scale (HR 1.07 (1.03–1.11) per 4 unit increase).

In patients with low health status, anxiety is an important risk factor for rehospitalisation. This may be important for patient treatment and warrants further studies.
Does leptin play a cytokine-like role within the airways of COPD patients?
Authors: Bruno A. , Chanez P. , Chiappara G. , Siena L. , Giammanco S. , Gjomarkaj M. , Bonsignore G. , Bousquet J. , Vignola A. M.
Published: August 2005

The leptin-leptin receptor system might be up-regulated in the airways of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In bronchial biopsies obtained from normal subjects and smokers, with and without COPD, the present study examined leptin and leptin-receptor expression and their co-localisation in airway and inflammatory cells.

Combining immunohistochemistry with terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end-labelling techniques, apoptosis in airway and inflammatory cells and in leptin and leptin-receptor expressing cells was investigated. In the epithelial cells both leptin and leptin-receptor expression was higher in normal subjects than in smokers and COPD subjects. By contrast, in the sub-mucosa, leptin was over-expressed in COPD when compared with normal subjects and smokers. Leptin and its receptor were co-localised, mainly with activated T cells (CD45R0) and CD8+T lymphocytes.

In smokers, apoptosis was found in some inflammatory cells, whereas in COPD inflammatory cells, leptin and leptin-receptor positive cells were not apoptotic. Leptin expression was related to COPD severity and assessed using the Global initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease classification.

In conclusion, the present study shows an increased leptin expression in bronchial mucosa of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients, associated with airway inflammation and airflow obstruction.
Asthma self-management skills and the use of asthma education during pregnancy
Authors: Murphy V. E. , Gibson P. G. , Talbot P. I. , Kessell C. G. , Clifton V. L.
Published: August 2005

During pregnancy, patients with asthma are at risk of poor outcomes, particularly when asthma is poorly controlled. The aim of this study was to determine the level of asthma self-management skills and knowledge among pregnant subjects and describe the implementation of an asthma education programme delivered in an antenatal clinic setting.

Pregnant subjects with asthma were assessed by an asthma educator at 20 (n = 211) and 33 weeks gestation (n = 149). Lung function, symptoms, medication use, adherence, knowledge and inhaler technique were assessed. They were asked whether they had a written asthma action plan, or performed peak flow monitoring. Asthma was classified as mild, moderate or severe.

At the first visit with the asthma educator, 40% of females reported nonadherence to inhaled corticosteroids, inhaler technique was assessed as inadequate in 16% and 42% had inadequate medication knowledge. Peak flow monitoring was performed by 3% and 15% had a written action plan. There were significant improvements in all aspects of asthma self-management following education. In females with severe asthma, night symptoms and reliever medication use significantly decreased after education.

In conclusion, during pregnancy, patients with asthma have poor asthma knowledge and skills, and may benefit from self-management education as part of their obstetric care.
Physiological changes during symptom recovery from moderate exacerbations of COPD
Authors: Parker C. M. , Voduc N. , Aaron S. D. , Webb K. A. , O'Donnell D. E.
Published: August 2005

Acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive disease (AECOPD) are characterised by worsening dyspnoea that is variably prolonged. In this study, physiological changes during moderate AECOPD were examined and the factors associated with dyspnoea resolution over time were determined.

In total, 20 patients experiencing an AECOPD were evaluated within 72 h of initial worsening of symptoms (day 0) with pulmonary function testing, metabolic testing and symptom assessment using the dyspnoea domain of the Chronic Respiratory Disease Questionnaire (CRQ). Treatment was optimised and testing was repeated after 7, 14, 30 and 60 days.

At day 0, patients were very short of breath (CRQ-dyspnoea mean±sem2.4±0.3) and showed significant airflow obstruction (forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) 41±3% predicted) and lung hyperinflation (forced residual capacity (FRC) 164±7% pred). By day 60 CRQ-dyspnoea improved to 4.6±0.5 (some shortness of breath); FRC and residual volume decreased by 5 and 11%, respectively; inspiratory capacity (IC) and slow vital capacity increased by 18 and 17%, respectively; and FEV1increased by 18% with no change in FEV1/FVC. Total lung capacity did not change during AECOPD, and thus, changes in IC reliably reflected changes in end-expiratory lung volume.

In conclusion, moderate acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is characterised by worsening airflow obstruction and lung hyperinflation. Improvement of dyspnoea following acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was associated with reduction in lung hyperinflation and consequent increase in expiratory flow rates.
Dietary intake of flavonoids and asthma in adults
Authors: Garcia V. , Arts I. C. W. , Sterne J. A. C. , Thompson R. L. , Shaheen S. O.
Published: August 2005

Epidemiological studies have suggested that a high consumption of apples may protect against asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. This effect has been attributed to their high flavonoid content, but few studies have investigated the relationship between flavonoid intake and obstructive lung disease directly.

In a population-based, case-control study of 1,471 adults aged 16–50 yrs in London (UK), the present study examined whether dietary intake of catechins, flavonols and flavones was negatively associated with asthma, asthma severity and chronic sputum production. Asthma was defined by positive responses to a standard screening questionnaire in 1996 and information about usual diet was obtained by a food frequency questionnaire in 1997.

After controlling for potential confounders, dietary intake of these three flavonoid subclasses was not significantly associated with asthma, (odds ratio per quintile (95% confidence interval) = 0.94 (0.86–1.02); 1.00 (0.92–1.09); 0.98 (0.88 –1.08) for flavones, flavonols and total catechins, respectively) nor was it associated with asthma severity, or chronic sputum production.

In conclusion, no evidence was found for a protective effect of three major subclasses of dietary flavonoids on asthma. It is possible that other flavonoids or polyphenols present in apples may explain the protective effect of apples on obstructive lung disease.
Comorbidities and Charlson score in resected stage I nonsmall cell lung cancer
Authors: Moro-Sibilot D. , Aubert A. , Diab S. , Lantuejoul S. , Fourneret P. , Brambilla E. , Brambilla C. , Brichon P. Y.
Published: August 2005

Patients with nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have been shown to have a higher prevalence of comorbidity associated with age and tobacco consumption. The objective of the present study was to determine the impact of comorbidity on survival after surgery of stage I NSCLC.

In total, 588 consecutive patients operated on for a pathological stage I NSCLC between January 1, 1979 and December 31, 2003 were studied. Comorbidities were analysed individually. Overall comorbidity was assessed using the Charlson index of comorbidity (CCI). Survival data were collected for each patient from the date of operation, with a median duration of follow-up of 104 months. Survival analyses and Cox proportional hazards model analyses were used.

The mean age of patients was 62.7 yrs, and 529 (89%) patients were male. The distribution of overall comorbidity severity was as follows. CCI grade 0: 47.1%; grade 1–2: 43.7%; grade 3–4: 8.3%; and grade ≥5: 0.8%.

The 2, 3 and 5 yrs survival were 69, 62 and 50%, respectively. Multivariable analysis showed that T stage, age, a concomitant history of moderate-to-severe liver disease, a past history of cured cancer, cerebrovascular disease and CCI were independent predictors of survival (Hazard Ratio for CCI grade >2: 1.81; 95% confidence interval 1.25–2.63).

In conclusion, comorbidity has a significant impact on survival after surgical resection of patients with stage I nonsmall cell lung cancer. The use of a validated index of comorbidity in prognostic analyses of resected nonsmall cell lung cancer is recommended.
Leukotriene D4-induced hypoxaemia in asthma is mediated by the cys-leukotriene1receptor
Authors: Casas A. , Gómez F. P. , Dahlén B. , Roca J. , Barberà J. A. , Dahlén S-E. , Rodríguez-Roisin R.
Published: August 2005

Bronchoprovocation with cysteinyl-leukotrienes (LTs) induces airflow obstruction and gas exchange abnormalities, namely ventilation-perfusion ratio (V′A/Q′) imbalance. However, it is unknown which of the two different receptors for cysteinyl-LTs mediate theseV′A/Q′ disturbances.

In a double-blinded, crossover design, 10 patients with mild asthma were randomised to receive an oral single dose of the selective cysteinyl-LT1receptor antagonist montelukast (40 mg) or placebo before leukotriene (LT)D4inhalation challenge. Gas exchange, includingV′A/Q′ descriptors were measured at baseline, 3 h after montelukast/placebo pretreatment and 5, 15 and 45 min after the LTD4challenge.

Compared with montelukast, inhalation of LTD4induced a marked fall in forced expiratory volume in one second (mean±se33±2%) and profoundV′A/Q′ mismatching, reflected by a decreased arterial oxygen tension (from 100±4 to 75±3 mmHg) and an increased overall index ofV′A/Q′ heterogeneity dispersion of retention minus excretion inert gases corrected for dead space (from 4.9±1.2 to 8.4±1.1; normal≤3.0; dimensionless), 5 min after placebo. Following montelukast, LTD4produced no significant changes in any of the variables.

In conclusion, these findings point to the view that leukotriene D4-induced gas exchange disturbances and bronchoconstriction are both mediated by the cysteinyl-leukotriene1receptor.
A prediction rule for clinical diagnosis of severe acute respiratory syndrome
Authors: Ho P. L. , Chau P. H. , Yip P. S. F. , Ooi G. C. , Khong P. L. , Ho J. C. , Wong P. C. , Ko C. , Yan C. , Tsang K. W.
Published: August 2005

A prospective study was undertaken to identify clinical, radiographical, haematological and biochemical profiles of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) patients.

A prediction rule, which demarcates low from high risk patients for SARS in an outbreak situation was developed. A total of 295 patients with unexplained respiratory illnesses, admitted to Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China, in March to July 2003, were evaluated for clinical, radiological, haematological and alanine transaminase (ALT) data daily for 3 days after hospitalisation.

In total, 44 cases were subsequently confirmed to have SARS by RT-PCR (68.2%) and serology (100%). The scoring system of attributing 11, 10, 3, 3 and 3 points to the presence of independent risk factors, namely: epidemiological link, radiographical deterioration, myalgia, lymphopenia and elevated ALT respectively, generated high and low-risk (total score 11–30 and 0–10, respectively) groups for SARS. The sensitivity and specificity of this prediction rule in positively identifying a SARS patient were 97.7 and 81.3%, respectively. The positive and negative predictive values were 47.8 and 99.5%, respectively.

The prediction rule appears to be helpful in assessing suspected patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome at the bedside, and should be further validated in other severe acute respiratory syndrome cohorts.
Automation of gene assignments to metabolic pathways using high-throughput expression data
Authors: Popescu Liviu , Yona Golan
Published: August 2005

Background

Accurate assignment of genes to pathways is essential in order to understand the functional role of genes and to map the existing pathways in a given genome. Existing algorithms predict pathways by extrapolating experimental data in one organism to other organisms for which this data is not available. However, current systems classify all genes that belong to a specific EC family to all the pathways that contain the corresponding enzymatic reaction, and thus introduce ambiguity.

Results

Here we describe an algorithm for assignment of genes to cellular pathways that addresses this problem by selectively assigning specific genes to pathways. Our algorithm uses the set of experimentally elucidated metabolic pathways from MetaCyc, together with statistical models of enzyme families and expression data to assign genes to enzyme families and pathways by optimizing correlated co-expression, while minimizing conflicts due to shared assignments among pathways. Our algorithm also identifies alternative ("backup") genes and addresses the multi-domain nature of proteins.

We apply our model to assign genes to pathways in the Yeast genome and compare the results for genes that were assigned experimentally. Our assignments are consistent with the experimentally verified assignments and reflect characteristic properties of cellular pathways.

Conclusion

We present an algorithm for automatic assignment of genes to metabolic pathways. The algorithm utilizes expression data and reduces the ambiguity that characterizes assignments that are based only on EC numbers.
Reduction of the hand representation in the ipsilateral primary motor cortex following unilateral section of the corticospinal tract at cervical level in monkeys
Authors: Schmidlin Eric , Wannier Thierry , Bloch Jocelyne , Belhaj-Saif Abderraouf , Wyss Alexander F , Rouiller Eric M
Published: August 2005

Background

After sub-total hemi-section of cervical cord at level C7/C8 in monkeys, the ipsilesional hand exhibited a paralysis for a couple of weeks, followed by incomplete recovery of manual dexterity, reaching a plateau after 40–50 days. Recently, we demonstrated that the level of the plateau was related to the size of the lesion and that progressive plastic changes of the motor map in the contralesional motor cortex, particularly the hand representation, took place following a comparable time course. The goal of the present study was to assess, in three macaque monkeys, whether the hand representation in the ipsilesional primary motor cortex (M1) was also affected by the cervical hemi-section.

Results

Unexpectedly, based on the minor contribution of the ipsilesional hemisphere to the transected corticospinal (CS) tract, a considerable reduction of the hand representation was also observed in the ipsilesional M1. Mapping control experiments ruled out the possibility that changes of motor maps are due to variability of the intracortical microstimulation mapping technique. The extent of the size reduction of the hand area was nearly as large as in the contralesional hemisphere in two of the three monkeys. In the third monkey, it represented a reduction by a factor of half the change observed in the contralesional hemisphere. Although the hand representation was modified in the ipsilesional hemisphere, such changes were not correlated with a contribution of this hemisphere to the incomplete recovery of the manual dexterity for the hand affected by the lesion, as demonstrated by reversible inactivation experiments (in contrast to the contralesional hemisphere). Moreover, despite the size reduction of M1 hand area in the ipsilesional hemisphere, no deficit of manual dexterity for the hand opposite to the cervical hemi-section was detected.

Conclusion

After cervical hemi-section, the ipsilesional motor cortex exhibited substantial reduction of the hand representation, whose extent did not match the small number of axotomized CS neurons. We hypothesized that the paradoxical reduction of hand representation in the ipsilesional hemisphere is secondary to the changes taking place in the contralesional hemisphere, possibly corresponding to postural adjustments and/or re-establishing a balance between the two hemispheres.
Neuromagnetic brain responses to words from semantic sub- and supercategories
Authors: Assadollahi Ramin , Rockstroh Brigitte
Published: August 2005

Background

We explored spatio-temporal patterns of cortical activity evoked by written words from super-ordinate and sub-ordinate semantic categories and hoped to find a differential cortical and/or temporal distribution of the brain response depending on the level of the categories. Twenty-three subjects saw 360 words belonging to six sub-ordinate categories (mammals, birds, fish, fruit, flowers, trees) within two super-ordinate categories (fauna, flora). Visually evoked magnetic fields were determined from whole-head (148-sensor) magnetoencephalography and analyzed in the source space (Minimum Norm Estimate).

Results

Activity (MNE amplitudes) 100–150 ms after stimulus onset in the left occipito-temporal area distinguished super-ordinate categories, while later activity (300–550 ms) in the left temporal area distinguished the six sub-ordinate categories.

Conclusion

Our results document temporally and spatially distinct processing and representation of words according to their categorical information. If further studies can rule out possible confounds then our results may help constructing a theory about the internal structure of entries in the mental lexicon and its access.
Generation and analysis of 9792 EST sequences from cold acclimated oat, Avena sativa
Authors: Bräutigam Marcus , Lindlöf Angelica , Zakhrabekova Shakhira , Gharti-Chhetri Gokarna , Olsson Björn , Olsson Olof
Published: September 2005

Background

Oat is an important crop in North America and northern Europe. In Scandinavia, yields are limited by the fact that oat cannot be used as a winter crop. In order to develop such a crop, more knowledge about mechanisms of cold tolerance in oat is required.

Results

From an oat cDNA library 9792 single-pass EST sequences were obtained. The library was prepared from pooled RNA samples isolated from leaves of four-week old Avena sativa (oat) plants incubated at +4°C for 4, 8, 16 and 32 hours. Exclusion of sequences shorter than 100 bp resulted in 8508 high-quality ESTs with a mean length of 710.7 bp. Clustering and assembly identified a set of 2800 different transcripts denoted the Avena sativa cold induced UniGene set (AsCIUniGene set). Taking advantage of various tools and databases, putative functions were assigned to 1620 (58%) of these genes. Of the remaining 1180 unclassified sequences, 427 appeared to be oat-specific since they lacked any significant sequence similarity (Blast E values > 10-10) to any sequence available in the public databases. Of the 2800 UniGene sequences, 398 displayed significant homology (BlastX E values ≤ 10-10) to genes previously reported to be involved in cold stress related processes. 107 novel oat transcription factors were also identified, out of which 51 were similar to genes previously shown to be cold induced. The CBF transcription factors have a major role in regulating cold acclimation. Four oat CBF sequences were found, belonging to the monocot cluster of DREB family ERF/AP2 domain proteins. Finally in the total EST sequence data (5.3 Mbp) approximately 400 potential SSRs were found, a frequency similar to what has previously been identified in Arabidopsis ESTs.

Conclusion

The AsCIUniGene set will now be used to fabricate an oat biochip, to perform various expression studies with different oat cultivars incubated at varying temperatures, to generate molecular markers and provide tools for various genetic transformation experiments in oat. This will lead to a better understanding of the cellular biology of this important crop and will open up new ways to improve its agronomical properties.