bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Disparities in Access to Over-the-Counter Nicotine Replacement Products in New York City Pharmacies
Authors: Bernstein Steven L. , Cabral Lisa , Maantay Juliana , Peprah Dorothy , Lounsbury David , Maroko Andrew , Murphy Mary , Shelley Donna
Published: July 2009

Objectives. We surveyed the availability of tobacco products and nonprescription nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) in pharmacies in New York City, stratified by the race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status (SES) of the surrounding neighborhoods to determine whether disparities in availability existed.

Methods. Surveyors visited a random sample of retail pharmacies to record the availability of tobacco products and nonprescription NRT. We used census data and geographic information systems analysis to determine the SES of each neighborhood. We used logistic modeling to explore relations between SES and the availability of NRT and tobacco products.

Results. Of 646 pharmacies sampled, 90.8% sold NRT and 46.9% sold cigarettes. NRT and cigarettes were slightly more available in pharmacies in neighborhoods with a higher SES. NRT was more expensive in poorer neighborhoods.

Conclusions. Small disparities existed in access to nonprescription NRT and cigarettes. The model did not adequately account for cigarette access, because of availability from other retail outlets. These results may explain some of the excess prevalence of cigarette use in low-SES areas.
The Evolution and End of Art as Hegelian Tragedy
Authors: Martindale Colin , Locher Paul
Published: July 2009

Hegel argued that tragedy involves a conflict between two rules or laws that are both equally correct but cannot be reconciled. His idea can be applied to the high arts. To be considered as art, an artifact must communicate something and it must also be novel. Eventually, these laws will come into conflict. If novelty, unpredictability, or entropy must increase continually, eventually a point will be reached where they conflict with the necessity of communication. That is, entropy will be so great that art will be incomprehensible. When that point is reached the art form will become extinct. Evidence is presented showing that poetry is on the verge of extinction and that classical music, painting, and sculpture are already extinct. Art has come to its predestined end.
Notes on Colin Martindale's The Evolution and End of Art as Hegelian Tragedy
Authors: Martin Fred
Published: July 2009

To be considered as art, an artifact must communicate something, and it must also be novel … [But to remain novel] … novelty, unpredictability, or entropy must increase continually … eventually entropy will be so great that art will be incomprehensible … [and] the art form will become extinct (Martindale, 2009, p. 133).
Intraspecific Strategic Responses of African Elephants to Temporal Variation in Forage Quality
Authors: WOOLLEY LEIGH‐ANN , MILLSPAUGH JOSHUA J. , WOODS RAMI J. , VAN RENSBURG SAMANTHA JANSE , PAGE BRUCE R. , SLOTOW ROB
Published: July 2009

ABSTRACT  Mammalian herbivores adopt foraging strategies to optimize nutritional trade‐offs against restrictions imposed by body size, nutritional requirements, digestive anatomy, physiology, and the forage resource they exploit. Selective or generalist feeding strategies scale with body size across species. However, within species, where constraints should be most similar, responses to limitation have rarely been examined. We used African elephants (Loxodonta Africana) to test for changes in seasonal diet quality of individuals of differing body size and sex through measurement of fecal nitrogen and phosphorus. We measured physiological stress response of these age and sex classes to seasonal change by fecal glucocorticoid metabolite levels (i.e., stress hormones). Large body size increased tolerance to lower‐quality forage. Adult males and females exhibited divergent trends; females had higher diet quality than males, irrespective of body size. When limited by forage availability or quality during the dry season, diet quality declined across all body sizes, but weaned calves ingested a higher‐quality diet than larger‐bodied adults. On release from restriction during the wet season, weaned calf nitrogen concentrations were consistently high and stress hormone levels decreased, whereas adult female phosphorus levels were highest and less variable and stress hormone levels were unchanged. The ability to adjust forage quality is an important strategy used to ensure adequate nutritional intake according to body size limitations. Although body size is a key determining factor of dietary differences between adult elephants, foraging strategies are also driven by specific nutritional requirements, which may override the body size effects driving foraging decisions in some cases. The diversity of intraspecific response highlights ecologically segregated entities within a species and should be a concern for population management planning, particularly for threatened species. Fecal diet quality and stress hormone analysis could provide an early and sensitive indicator for monitoring age and sex class responses to resource restriction in high‐density elephant populations.
Effect of Guar Gum on Dough Stickiness and Staling in Chapatti-An Indian Unleavened Flat Bread
Authors: Ghodke Shalini Kishanrao
Published: July 2009

Chapatti, Indian unleavened flat bread made of whole-wheat flour, is traditionally prepared in households by hand sheeting of dough followed by baking on hot griddle and is consumed fresh. Investigations were made to study the effect of guar gum on whole wheat chapatti dough stickiness and its effect on staling of chapatti during storage. Guar gum was incorporated at various levels ranging between 0.25-1.0% w/w of whole wheat flour. Chapatti dough was prepared and evaluated for dough stickiness using Chen-Hoseney dough stickiness probe. Chapattis were prepared and monitored for staling parameters such as water soluble starch (WSS), moisture content, in vitro enzyme digestibility (IVED), extensibility and tear force, both when fresh and after storage for three days at room temperature (30±2 °C) and refrigerated temperature (4±1 °C). From the study it was observed that guar gum prevented staling in chapattis as was monitored through various parameters. Moisture, WSS, IVED content in guar gum incorporated chapatti was higher than the control chapatti. The force required to tear fresh chapattis was decreased with hydrocolloid addition however guar gum addition at 0.75% w/w of whole wheat flour gave the softest chapatti. Extensibility of stored chapatti was significantly decreased with storage, both at room and refrigeration temperature. However, refrigerated chapatti containing guar gum showed less loss in extensibility, up to a period of three days.
A Nonlinear Mixed Effects Model for Latent Variables
Authors: Harring Jeffrey R.
Published: July 2009

The nonlinear mixed effects model for continuous repeated measures data has become an increasingly popular and versatile tool for investigating nonlinear longitudinal change in observed variables. In practice, for each individual subject, multiple measurements are obtained on a single response variable over time or condition. This structure can be adapted to examine the change in latent variables rather than modeling change in manifest variables. This article considers a nonlinear mixed effects model for describing nonlinear change of a latent construct over time, where the latent construct of interest is measured by multiple indicators gathered at each measurement occasion. To accomplish this, the nonlinear mixed effects model is modified to include a measurement model that explicitly expresses the relationship of the observed variables to the latent constructs. A method for marginal maximum likelihood estimation of this model is presented and discussed. An example using education data is provided to illustrate the utility of the model.
Der Spielraum bei der Vermarktung von Waldleistungen ist eingeschränkt (Essay) | The scope for the commercialization of forest services is limited (essay)
Authors: Walther Hansruedi
Published: July 2009

A forest owner can only commercialize non-wood products and services within a tightly restricted market niche. On account of free access being permitted to the forest it is impossible to deny to third parties the consumption of many non-wood products and services: everybody has the right to be in the forest for recreation. As a result many non-wood services cannot be commercialized by the forest owner, or not exclusively.

What would seem unthinkable elsewhere on private property seems to be taken for granted in the forest: third parties may take products from the forest and even sell them without being the forest owners. For certain nonwood services or products, such as the installation of rope parks or for burial in the forest, the organizer must conclude an agreement with the forest owner or draw up a contract for servitude or benefit. In addition, for these activities a permit from the Forestry Department is necessary. On the other hand, for an itinerant school class or for the production of forest honey neither a binding regulation with the forest owner nor a permit from the Forestry service is necessary, provided that no constructions are erected in the forest. The only exclusive right which remains to the forest owner, besides the sale of his property, is the exploitation of his trees within the legal framework.
Le paiement des services des écosystèmes forestiers: inéluctable défi institutionnel? (Essai) | Payment of forest ecosystem services: an inescapable institutional challenge? (Essay)
Authors: Finger-Stich Andréa
Published: July 2009

The difficulty involved in applying the notion of payment for services provided by ecosystems is above all institutional. It consists in the negotiation of a common form of management which mobilizes the recipients of the services provided by an ecosystem to pay for its good management. The potentials, limits and risks associated with these forms of payment are put into perspective to emphasize the challenge that they represent in terms of institutional innovation.
Rapid Diagnosis of Malaria by Antigen Detection
Authors: Ahmed Mesbah Uddin , Hossain Md Akram , Shamsuzzaman AKM , Alam Md Murshed , Khan Abdul Hossain , Sumona Asma Azad , Alam Ahmed Nawsher , Ahmed Salma , Siddiqua Mahmuda
Published: July 2009

The study was conducted to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of Immunochromatographic test (ICT) for antigen, using microscopy as the "gold standard" method for diagnosis of malaria. A total of 98 clinically suspected malaria patients and another 30 age and sex-matched healthy controls were included in this study. Thick and thin films were also prepared and examined under microscope as well as Immunochromatographic test (ICT) was performed for malaria antigen. Sensitivity and specificity of ICT for antigen were 93.22% and 94.87% respectively. Keywords: Detection of malaria antigen, Immunochromatographic test   doi: 10.3329/bjmm.v3i1.2965 Bangladesh J Med Microbiol 2009; 03 (01): 14-16
Studies on Antibacterial Activity and Brine Shrimp Toxicity of Leaf Extract of Cassia grandis
Authors: Awal MA , Ashrafuzzaman Syed , Haque E Ekramul
Published: July 2009

Antibacterial activity and toxicity of ethanol extract of Cassia grandis leaves to Brine Shrimp was evaluated. Five Gram-positive and 4 Gram-negative bacteria, namely Sarcina lutea, Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus subtilis, Streptococcus ß-haemolyticus, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi and Klebsiella pneumoniae were tested using disc diffusion method. The extract was inactive at the concentration of 30 μg/disc but exhibited moderate to good activity at concentration of 200 μg/disc against the tested bacteria. In Brine Bhrimp lethality bioassay test, it was observed that LC50 value of the extract was 10.68 μg/ml. From these findings, it is indicative that C. grandis may be useful against microbial diseases. Key words: Antibacterial activity, Brine shrimp, Cassia grandis   doi: 10.3329/bjmm.v3i1.2966 Bangladesh J Med Microbiol 2009; 03 (01): 17-19
Prevalence of Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Transmission of HIV in Dhaka, Bangladesh
Authors: Shirin Tahmina , Rahman Saidur , Rabbi Fareha Jesmin , Kabir Md Humayun , Mamun KZ
Published: July 2009

The prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among patients attending out patients department of Skin and Venereal diseases of Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Dhaka and Shahid Sohrawardy Hospital, Dhaka was studied. A total of 230 patients were enrolled in the study during the period of July, 2006 to May, 2007. Urethral and endocervical swabs were collected from the participants for detection of Neisseria gonorrheae (by culture), Chlamydia trachomatis (by immunochromatoghraphy) and blood samples for the detection of Treponema pallidum antibody (by rapid plasma regain and Treponema pallidum haemagglutination assay), Herpes simplex virus type 2 antibody (both IgM and IgG by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay) and Human Immunodeficiency virus antibody (by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay). Socio-demographic data and data regarding high-risk sexual behavior were also collected. Out of 230 participants, 199 (86.5%) were positive for STDs pathogens studied, among them, 98 (42.6%) were infected with single pathogen and 101 (43.9%) were suffering from multiple infections. The prevalences of N. gonorrheae, C. trachomatis, T. pallidum, and HSV type 2 were 90 (39.1%), 110 (47.8%), 28 (12.2%) and 88 (38.2%) respectively. However, none of them were positive for HIV infection. Use of condom was significantly associated with protection of the participants against STDs. Keywords: Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, Treponema pallidum, Herpes simplex virus type-2, Human Immunodeficiency virus   doi: 10.3329/bjmm.v3i1.2968 Bangladesh J Med Microbiol 2009; 03 (01): 27-33
A Qualitative Study of the Impact of HIV/AIDS on Agricultural Households in Southeastern Uganda
Authors: Parker Dawn  C. , Jacobsen Kathryn  H. , Komwa Maction  K.
Published: July 2009

The HIV/AIDS pandemic threatens economic, social, and environmental sustainability throughout sub-Saharan Africa. This paper reports on a qualitative study exploring interrelationships between HIV/AIDS, labor availability, agricultural productivity, household resources, food consumption, and health status in rural southeastern Uganda. Respondents reported an increase in widow-and-orphan-headed households; labor shortages due to illness and caretaking; degradation of household resources from health-related expenses; loss of land tenure and assets following deaths, especially for widows and orphans; and changes in agricultural practices and productivity. Our study highlights a potential downward spiral of livelihood degradation for vulnerable households and suggests targeted interventions to improve sustainability.
Classification of 5-HT1A Receptor Ligands on the Basis of Their Binding Affinities by Using PSO-Adaboost-SVM
Authors: Cheng Zhengjun , Zhang Yuntao , Zhou Changhong , Zhang Wenjun , Gao Shibo
Published: July 2009

In the present work, the support vector machine (SVM) and Adaboost-SVM have been used to develop a classification model as a potential screening mechanism for a novel series of 5-HT1A selective ligands. Each compound is represented by calculated structural descriptors that encode topological features. The particle swarm optimization (PSO) and the stepwise multiple linear regression (Stepwise-MLR) methods have been used to search descriptor space and select the descriptors which are responsible for the inhibitory activity of these compounds. The model containing seven descriptors found by Adaboost-SVM, has showed better predictive capability than the other models. The total accuracy in prediction for the training and test set is 100.0% and 95.0% for PSO-Adaboost-SVM, 99.1% and 92.5% for PSO-SVM, 99.1% and 82.5% for Stepwise-MLR-Adaboost-SVM, 99.1% and 77.5% for Stepwise-MLR-SVM, respectively. The results indicate that Adaboost-SVM can be used as a useful modeling tool for QSAR studies.
The utility of FDG-PET for detecting multiple primary cancers in hypopharyngeal cancer patients
Authors: Ishibashi M. , Kurata S. , Uchiyama Y. , Tanaka N. , Abe T. , Kobayashi M. , Kaibara H. , Uchida M. , Nakashima T. , Fujita H. , Hayabuchi N. , Kaida H.
Published: July 2009

Aim: To examine the utility of 2'-[18F]-fluoro-2'-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) for detecting multiple primary cancers (MPC) in patients with hypopharyngeal cancer (HPC). Patients, methods: Seventy patients with HPC underwent FDGPET to determine the staging. Routine clinical examinations were carried out, including computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound (US), and oesophagealgastroduodenoscopy (EGDS). The detection rate of synchronous and metachronous cancer was calculated based on FDG-PET alone or FDG-PET combined with clinical routine examination. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive values (PPV), negative predictive values (NPV), and accuracy were used to diagnose oesophageal cancer using FDG-PET. Results: Of the 70 patients, 12 (17.1%) had 15 synchronous tumours, and 2 of the 58 remaining patients (3.4%) had metachronous tumours. Oesophageal cancer was discovered most frequently: superficial type (n = 6), advanced type (n = 4). On a per-patient basis, 11 of 12 patients (91.6%) were diagnosed with synchronous tumours, and on a per-lesion basis, 12 of 15 lesions (80.0%) were detected by FDG-PET. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, PPV, and NPV of FDG-PET regarding oesophageal cancer were 70%, 100%, 95.7%, 100%, and 95.2% respectively. Three of the six superficial types were positive on FDG-PET. Both of the metachronous tumour lesions were detected by FDG-PET. Conclusion: FDG-PET is useful for estimating the MPC in HPC patients. Since 3 of 10 synchronous oesophageal cancer were missed with PET alone, a combination with EGDS should be considered to exclude synchronous oesophageal cancer.
Cellular damage in vitro
Authors: Drechsel J. , Freudenberg R. , Runge R. , Wunderlich G. , Kotzerke J. , Wendisch M.
Published: July 2009

Aim: The cellular damage of ionising radiation depends on dose, physical radiation quality (e. g. LET) and intracellular radionuclide uptake. The influence of two beta emitters (188Re and 131I) on the thyroid cell line PC Cl3 was studied. Furthermore, we analysed the effect of intracellular accumulation. Methods: The thyroid cell line PC Cl3 was irradiated with 188Re-perrhenate or 131I-sodium iodide in presence or absence of perchlorate. The initial DNA-damage was measured in the comet assay as olive tail moment (OTM). The colony forming assay detects the clonogenic cell survival as surviving fraction. Additional the intracellular radionuclide uptake was quantified. Results: Dose response curves were established for irradiation with 188Re-perrhenate or 131I-iodine under various extra- and intracellular activity distribution conditions. In the presence of perchlorate DNA-damage and clonogenic cell survival for both radionuclides were comparable. In the absence of perchlorat radionuclide uptake of 1.39% (131I) and 4.14% (188Re) were measured causing twofold higher radiotoxicity. Although 131I uptake was lower than 188Re uptake the OTM values were higher und surviving fractions were lower. Conclusions: 131I, compared to 188Re, has lower mean beta energy and a higher LET, and therefore, it induced a higher DNA-damage even at lower intracellular uptake. An additional explanation for the higher radiotoxicity of 131I could be the higher dose exposition caused by crossfire through neighborhood cells.
Bilateral pedal edema in an HIV patient: Lopinavir/Ritonavir-containing treatment regimen as a potential cause?
Authors: Shihab Hasan M. , Lutwama Fred , Piloya Theresa , Castelnuovo Barbara , Kambugu Andrew D. , Colebunders Robert
Published: July 2009

A large number of patients are switched to second-line antiretroviral therapy, especially in resource limited settings. Lopinavir/Ritonavir is the main drug used in second-line treatment regimens. We describe a patient attending an HIV treatment centre in Kampala, Uganda, who presented with bilateral non-tender pitting inflammatory edema two weeks after switching to a Lopinavir/Ritonavir-containing second-line treatment regimen. The lack of an alternate explanation led us to suspect that Lopinavir/Ritonavir was potentially responsible for the edema.
Opinión de Profesores Titulares y Catedráticos de Universidad acerca de criterios y estándares para la acreditación del profesorado universitario
Authors: Sierra Juan Carlos , Buela-Casal Gualberto , Bermúdez Sánchez María Paz , Santos-Iglesias Pablo
Published: July 2009

Este estudio descriptivo analiza la importancia que Profesores Titulares de Universidad y Catedráticos de Universidad de España otorgan a distintos indicadores de evaluación docente, examinándose además las diferencias entre ambos cuerpos docentes. Una muestra representativa de 1.294 Profesores Titulares y Catedráticos de Universidad españoles respondieron a una encuesta enviada por correo electrónico. Los resultados señalan que los indicadores más valorados tienen que ver con la investigación y muestran escasas diferencias entre ambos cuerpos docentes, lo que supone una ventaja para la fiabilidad y objetividad del proceso de acreditación y concurso de acceso a los cuerpos de funcionarios docentes universitarios en España.
Descentralización de la actividad científica. El papel determinante de las regiones centrales: el caso de Madrid
Authors: Morillo Fernanda , De Filippo Daniela
Published: July 2009

En los últimos años se ha advertido una tendencia creciente a la descentralización regional en la producción científica de España, ya que Madrid está perdiendo gradualmente su papel dominante. Para analizar este proceso, en el presente estudio se plantean una serie de interrogantes como: ¿cuáles son las regiones que más aumentan su producción científica?, ¿qué importancia tiene la cooperación con Madrid en este crecimiento? Se estudia también si la colaboración con Madrid contribuye a mejorar el impacto y la visibilidad de las publicaciones. Para dar respuesta a estas cuestiones se analiza la producción española a través de las bases de datos internacionales del Web of Science (período 2001-2005). Los principales resultados obtenidos muestran que las regiones que más aumentaron su producción fueron la Comunidad Valenciana y Andalucía pero, proporcionalmente, el crecimiento más excepcional lo experimentó Castilla-La Mancha. Aunque la colaboración con Madrid es muy significativa, Cataluña también es un importante centro de atracción. Sin embargo, se ha detectado que la cooperación con Madrid mejora el impacto y la visibilidad especialmente en Medicina Clínica y que sigue siendo un polo importante de desarrollo científico cuyo apoyo a las regiones más pequeñas resulta fundamental.
Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor γ Agonist Down-Regulates IL-17 Expression in a Murine Model of Allergic Airway Inflammation
Authors: Park Seoung Ju , Lee Kyung Sun , Kim So Ri , Min Kyung Hoon , Choe Yeong Hun , Moon Hee , Chae Han Jung , Yoo Wan Hee , Lee Yong Chul
Published: July 2009

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) plays a critical role in the control of airway inflammation. Recently, IL-17 has been found to be implicated in many immune and inflammatory responses, including airway inflammation. However, no data are available concerning the effect of PPARγ on IL-17 production in airway inflammatory diseases. In this study, we used a mouse model of asthma to evaluate the effect of two PPARγ agonists, rosiglitazone or pioglitazone, on IL-17 expression in allergic airway disease. After OVA inhalation, mice developed the typical pathophysiological features of asthma, and the expression of IL-17 protein and mRNA in the lungs was increased. Administration of rosiglitazone or pioglitazone reduced the pathophysiological features of asthma and decreased the increased IL-17 protein and mRNA expression after OVA inhalation. In addition, the attenuating effect of PPARγ agonist on allergic airway inflammation and bronchial hyperresponsiveness is abrogated by coadministration of rIL-17. This study also showed that the inhibition of IL-17 activity with anti-IL-17 Ab remarkably reduced the increased numbers of inflammatory cells of the airways, airway hyperresponsiveness, and the increased levels of IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and OVA-specific IgE in serum. In addition, we found that administration of rosiglitazone or pioglitazone decreased the increased NF-κB activity and that a NF-κB inhibitor, BAY 11-7085, substantially reduced the increased IL-17 protein levels in the lung tissues after OVA inhalation. These findings suggest that the therapeutic effect of PPARγ in asthma is partly mediated by regulation of IL-17 expression via NF-κB pathway.
Nutritional status, body composition, and intestinal parasitism among the Mbyá‐Guaraní communities of Misiones, Argentina
Authors: Zonta M.L. , Oyhenart E.E. , Navone G.T.
Published: July 2009

Indigenous communities in Argentina represent socially and economically neglected populations. They are living in extreme poverty and environmental degradation conditions. New information about health status and socio‐environmental features is urgently needed to be applied in future sanitary policies. Present study describes the nutritional status, body composition, and intestinal parasitism among Mbyá‐Guaraní children from three communities in the Misiones Province. Anthropometric parameters were analized for 178 individuals (aged 1–14). Data were transformed to z‐scores using NHANES I and II. Stunting showed the greatest prevalence (44.9%). Children were found to have low arm circumference and low arm muscle area, although with tricipital skinfold value near to the reference. They also tend to have shorter than normal lower limbs. Fecal samples and anal brushes (for Enterobius vermicularis) were collected in 45 children (aged 1–13). Ritchie's sedimentation and Willis' flotation techniques were used to determine parasitoses. Ninety five percent of children were infected with at least one species and 81.4% were polyparasitized. The higher prevalences corresponded to Blastocystis hominis, hookworms (Ancylostoma duodenale/Necator americanus), and Entamoeba coli. Associations occurred between hookworms with B. hominis/E. coli and B. hominis with nonpathogenic amoebas. Thirty nine percent of the children with stunting presented B. hominis, Strongyloides, and hookworms. Our results indicate that this indigenous population is subjected to extreme poverty conditions and is one of the most marginalized in this country. Severe growth stunting and parasitic infection are still quite common among Mbyá children affecting about half of them along with significant changes in body composition and proportions. Am. J. Hum. Biol., 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Behavioral phenotype in the 9q subtelomeric deletion syndrome: A report about two adult patients
Authors: Verhoeven Willem M.A. , Kleefstra Tjitske , Egger Jos I.M.
Published: July 2009

The 9q Subtelomeric Deletion Syndrome (9qSTDS) is clinically characterized by mental retardation, childhood hypotonia, and facial dysmorphisms. Haploinsufficiency of the EHMT1 gene has been demonstrated to be responsible for its core phenotype. In a significant number of patients behavioral abnormalities like aggression, impulsivity, and chaotic behaviors are present as well as epileptic phenomena. Reports about the developmental, behavioral, and neuropsychiatric aspects of 9qSTDS are scarce and mostly limited to young patients only. In this report, the behavioral and neuropsychiatric characteristics of one male and one female middle‐aged patient are described in whom the genetic diagnosis, interstitial and telomeric 9q deletion, respectively, was established recently. In both patients a remarkable sleep disturbance, characterized by frequent awakenings and daytime sleepiness, was present as well as a prominent apathy syndrome. The observed motor signs such as rigid flexure of the arms and finger stereotypies persisted over a period of many years and could therefore not be viewed as symptoms of catatonia. It is concluded that the proposed behavioral phenotype of 9qSTDS comprises at least an erratic sleep pattern and an enduring severe apathy. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Extrastriatal dopaminergic dysfunction in tourette syndrome
Authors: Steeves Thomas D. L. , Ko Ji Hyun , Kideckel David M. , Rusjan Pablo , Houle Sylvain , Sandor Paul , Lang Anthony E. , Strafella Antonio P.
Published: July 2009

Objective

Tourette syndrome (TS) is a neuropsychiatric disorder presenting with tics and a constellation of nonmotor symptoms that includes attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, obsessive–compulsive disorder, and impulse control disorders. Accumulated evidence from pharmacological trials and postmortem analyses suggests that abnormalities of dopaminergic neurotransmission play a key role in the pathogenesis of TS. A substantial body of evidence has also accrued to implicate regions outside the striatum in the generation of tics.

Methods

We initiated an [11C]FLB 457 positron emission tomography study in conjunction with an amphetamine challenge to evaluate extrastriatal dopamine (DA) D2/D3 receptor binding and DA release in a group of treatment‐naive, adult TS patients compared with a group of age‐ and sex‐matched controls.

Results

At baseline, TS patients showed decreased [11C]FLB 457 binding potentials bilaterally in cortical and subcortical regions outside the striatum, including the cingulate gyrus, middle and superior temporal gyrus, occipital cortex, insula, and thalamus. Amphetamine challenge induced DA release in both control and TS subjects bilaterally in many cortical regions; however, in TS patients, regions of increased DA release were significantly more widespread and extended more anteriorly to involve anterior cingulate and medial frontal gyri. Conversely, and in contrast to healthy controls, no significant DA release was noted in the thalami of TS patients.

Interpretation

These abnormalities of dopaminergic function localize to brain regions previously implicated in TS and suggest a mechanism for the hyperexcitability of thalamocortical circuits that has been documented in the disorder. ANN NEUROL 2010;67:170–181
Motor imagery after stroke: Relating outcome to motor network connectivity
Authors: Sharma Nikhil , Baron Jean‐Claude , Rowe James B.
Published: July 2009

Objective

Neuroplasticity is essential for recovery after stroke and is the target for new stroke therapies. During recovery from subcortical motor stroke, brain activations associated with movement may appear normal despite residual functional impairment. This raises an important question: how far does recovery of motor performance depend on the processes that precede movement execution involving the premotor and prefrontal cortex, rather than recovery of the corticospinal system alone?

Methods

We examined stroke patients with functional magnetic resonance imaging while they either imagined or executed a finger‐thumb opposition sequence. In addition to classical analyses of regional activations, we studied neuroplasticity in terms of differential network connectivity using structural equation modeling. The study included 8 right‐handed patients who had suffered a left‐hemisphere subcortical ischemic stroke with paresis, and 13 age‐matched healthy controls.

Results

With good functional recovery, the regional activations had returned to normal in patients. However, connectivity within the extended motor network remained abnormal. These abnormalities were seen predominantly during motor imagery and correlated with motor performance.

Interpretation

Our results indicate that neuroplasticity can manifest itself as differences in connectivity among cortical areas remote from the infarct, rather than in the degree of regional activation. Connection strengths between nodes of the cortical motor network correlate with motor outcome. The altered organization of connectivity of the prefrontal areas may reflect the role of the prefrontal cortex in higher order planning of movement. Our results are relevant to the assessment and understanding of emerging physical and neurophysiological therapies for stroke rehabilitation. Ann Neurol 2009;66:604–616
Involuntary interpretation of social cues is compromised in autism spectrum disorders
Authors: Jellema Tjeerd , Lorteije Jeannette , van Rijn Sophie , van t' Wout Mascha , de Haan Edward , van Engeland Herman , Kemner Chantal
Published: July 2009

A new social distance judgment task was used to measure quantitatively the extent to which social cues are immediately and involuntary interpreted by typically developing (TD) individuals and by individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The task thus tapped into the ability to involuntary “pick up” the meaning of social cues. The cues tested were social attention and implied biological motion. Task performance of the ASD and TD groups was similarly affected by a perceptual low‐level illusion induced by physical characteristics of the stimuli. In contrast, a high‐level illusion induced by the implications of the social cues affected only the TD individuals; the ASD individuals remained unaffected (causing them to perform superior to TD controls). The results indicate that despite intact perceptual processing, the immediate involuntary interpretation of social cues can be compromised. We propose that this type of social cue understanding is a distinct process that should be differentiated from reflective social cue understanding and is specifically compromised in ASD. We discuss evidence for an underpinning neural substrate.
Designing sampling plans to capture rare objects
Authors: Zhang Hongmei
Published: July 2009

This article focuses on two‐phase sampling designs for a population with unknown number of rare objects. The first phase is used to estimate the number of rare or potentially rare objects in a population, and the second phase to design sampling plans to capture a certain number or a certain proportion of such type of objects. A hypergeometric‐binomial model is applied to infer the number of rare or potentially rare objects and Monte Carlo simulation based approaches are developed to calculate needed sample sizes. Simulations and real data applications are discussed. The Canadian Journal of Statistics 37: 417–434; 2009 © 2009 Statistical Society of Canada
Accelerated treatment using intensity‐modulated radiation therapy plus concurrent capecitabine for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: McIntosh Alyson , Hagspiel Klaus D. , Al‐Osaimi Abdullah M. , Northup Patrick , Caldwell Stephen , Berg Carl , Angle J. Fritz , Argo Curtis , Weiss Geoffrey , Rich Tyvin A.
Published: July 2009

BACKGROUND:

Patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have limited treatment options. In this study, the authors investigated the feasibility, toxicity, and efficacy associated with intensity‐modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and concurrent, chronomodulated capecitabine in the treatment of unresectable HCC.

METHODS:

Twenty patients underwent treatment planning for HCC confined to the liver with helical tomotherapy‐based IMRT. Fifty‐five percent of patients had Child‐Pugh Class A disease, and 45% of patients had Class B disease. Ninety‐five percent of patients were prescribed 50 gray (Gy) of radiotherapy to the planning target volume delivered in 20 fractions with concurrent, chronomodulated capecitabine. Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization preceded radiotherapy in 11 patients, and 9 patients received IMRT alone because of portal vein thrombosis, esophageal varices, or tumor size.

RESULTS:

The mean greatest tumor dimension was 9 cm (range, 1.3‐17.4 cm), the mean dose to normal liver was 22.6 Gy (range, 10‐29.2 Gy), and the average volume of liver that received >30 Gy (V30) was 27.2% (range, 12%‐43%). Eighteen patients (90%) completed the prescribed treatment of 50 Gy. There was no increase from baseline in acute or late toxicity greater than 2 grades. Partial response or disease stability was achieved at 3 months to 6 months after treatment in 15 of 16 patients (94%). The median survival (±standard deviation) for patients who had Child‐Pugh Class A and B disease was 22.5 ± 5.1 months and 8 ± 3.3 months, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS:

In this initial experience with accelerated IMRT plus capecitabine for patients who had large HCC lesions, the results demonstrated acceptable toxicity with promising local control. The relatively low acute and late toxicity observed with this program suggested that dose intensification can be incorporated into the treatment regimen if needed. Cancer 2009. © 2009 American Cancer Society.
A comparison of outcomes from treating hepatocellular carcinoma by hepatic artery embolization in patients younger or older than 70 years
Authors: Thornton Raymond H. , Covey Anne , Petre Elena N. , Riedel Elyn R. , Maluccio Mary A. , Sofocleous Constantinos T. , Brody Lynn A. , Getrajdman George I. , D'Angelica Michael , Fong Yuman , Brown Karen T.
Published: July 2009

BACKGROUND:

The objective of this study was to compare the morbidity, mortality, and survival of patients aged <70 years and aged ≥70 years who underwent hepatic arterial embolization (HAE) for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODS:

Between 1997 and 2007, 386 patients underwent HAE for HCC at a single center. Two hundred patients were aged <70 years (153 men; median age, 60 years), and 186 patients were aged ≥70 years (128 men; median age, 75 years). Patients underwent a total 965 embolization procedures (median, 2 procedures per patient). Patient demographics, morbidity, mortality, length of hospital stay, and survival were analyzed. Complications were categorized using Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, version 3.0 guidelines. Survival was calculated by using the Kaplan‐Meier method.

RESULTS:

There were no significant differences between younger and older groups in the incidence of infectious, hepatobiliary, renal, vascular, or miscellaneous complications (P ≥ .05); complication severity (P = .82); procedural mortality (P = .63); length of hospitalization (P = .55); intensive care unit admission (P = .64); or overall survival (P = .30). There were more cardiopulmonary complications in the older group (P = .04), but the association of age and likelihood of a cardiopulmonary complication lost significance after adjusting for the presence of more cardiovascular comorbidities in the older group (P = .08).

CONCLUSIONS:

Survival and mortality outcomes of HAE for the treatment of HCC were similar whether patients were aged <70 years or ≥70 years. Although patients aged ≥70 years with cardiovascular comorbidities more often had a cardiopulmonary complication, other morbidity measures, including complication severity, need for intensive care unit admission, and length of hospitalization, were similar between groups. Cancer 2009. © 2009 American Cancer Society.
Eating disorders: A basic emotion perspective
Authors: Fox John R. E. , Froom Kate
Published: July 2009

Recent research and theory have started to highlight how eating disorder symptoms are often used to regulate painful emotions. However, there has not been one study that has looked at the contributory effect of all the basic emotions onto disordered eating patterns. This study was designed to address this gap within the literature with a detailed examination of the five basic emotions (anger, sadness, disgust, fear and happiness) in relation to disordered eating patterns. This study used the Basic Emotions Scale and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale to explore levels of emotions within 53 female participants with disordered eating patterns who were recruited from the B‐EAT research database. The results showed strong correlations between disordered eating and the four negative emotions, but only anger and sadness were left as significant contributors to disordered eating within the regression analysis. These findings were discussed in relation to the literature, with particular reference being made to the new Schematic Propositional Analogical Associative Representation System for Eating Disorders (SPAARS‐ED) model. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Key Practitioner Message:

Anger and disgust appear to be pivotal emotions in eating disorders.
Eating disorders and multi‐level models of emotion: An integrated model
Authors: Fox John R. E. , Power Michael J.
Published: July 2009

This paper examines the relationship between emotions, depression and eating disorders. Initially, a review is undertaken of the current state of the research and clinical literature with regard to emotional factors in eating disorders. This literature is then integrated within a version of the multi‐level model of emotion proposed by Power and Dalgleish. The aim of this paper is to incorporate a basic emotions, multi‐modal perspective into developing a new emotions‐based model that offers a theoretical understanding of psychological mechanisms in eating disorders. Within the new Schematic Propositional Analogical Associative Representation System model applied to eating disorders, it is argued that the emotions of anger and disgust are of importance in eating disorders and that the eating disorder itself operates as an inhibitor of emotions within the self. It is hoped that the development of a multi‐levelled model of eating disorders will allow for the construction of number of specific testable hypotheses that are relevant to future research into the psychological treatment and understanding of eating disorders. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Key Practitioner Message:

The central importance of emotions in eating disorders, and these emotions can operate over a number of cognitive levels of processing.
Shame, pride and eating disorders
Authors: Goss Kenneth , Allan Steven
Published: July 2009

This paper explores shame and shame‐based responses in eating disorders. Research linking shame with eating disorders and the possible role of shame and pride in the onset and maintenance of eating disorders is reviewed. The experience of shame is likely to be complex, dynamic and variable. However, the key to identifying shame is often via the various coping strategies adopted, which in turn may form part of a maintenance cycle for eating disorder beliefs and behaviours. An outline model of shame and pride cycles in the main‐tenance of eating disorders is presented with clinical implications. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Key Practitioner Message:

Shame and pride need to be addressed in the assessment and treatment of eating disorders.
A qualitative exploration of the perception of emotions in anorexia nervosa: A basic emotion and developmental perspective
Authors: Fox John R. E.
Published: July 2009

Difficulties in emotional processing have long been regarded as a core difficulty within anorexia nervosa. Recent research and theory have started to highlight how eating disorder symptoms are often used to regulate painful emotions. However, there has been a lack of theoretical sophistication in how emotions have been considered within the eating disorders. This study was designed to use qualitative methodologies to address these inadequacies and provide a richer, more thorough account of emotions within anorexia nervosa. It used a grounded theory methodology to gather and analyse interview data from 11 participants who had a diagnosis of anorexia nervosa, being seen at a regional eating disorder service (both inpatient and day patient). The results highlighted two main overarching themes regarding the perception and management of emotions within anorexia nervosa: (1) development of poor meta‐emotional skills; and (2) perception and management of emotion in anorexia nervosa. These two categories comprised of a significant number of components from the qualitative analysis, including difficulties with anger, meta‐emotional skills and poverty of emotional environments while growing up. Once the data had been collected and analysed, links were made between the findings of this research and the current literature base. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Key Practitioner Message:

Practitoners needs to consider the importance of poor meta‐emotional skills within anorexia nervosa. These meta skills appears to be more complicated than the simplistic notion of alexithymia.

The routes to these difficulties in emotion appear to be drawn from a complicated developmental picture.

The role of anger needs to be considered more fully in the psychotherapeutic work with people with anorexia nervosa. This study's findings suggest that increasing levels of anger may play a role in increased eating disorder symptomatology, especially vomitting.
The validity and clinical utility of purging disorder
Authors: Keel Pamela K. , Striegel‐Moore Ruth H.
Published: July 2009

Objective

To review evidence of the validity and clinical utility of Purging Disorder and examine options for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders fifth edition (DSM‐V).

Method

Articles were identified by computerized and manual searches and reviewed to address five questions about Purging Disorder: Is there “ample” literature? Is the syndrome clearly defined? Can it be measured and diagnosed reliably? Can it be differentiated from other eating disorders? Is there evidence of syndrome validity?

Results

Although empirical classification and concurrent validity studies provide emerging support for the distinctiveness of Purging Disorder, questions remain about definition, diagnostic reliability in clinical settings, and clinical utility (i.e., prognostic validity).

Discussion

We discuss strengths and weaknesses associated with various options for the status of Purging Disorder in the DSM‐V ranging from making no changes from DSM‐IV to designating Purging Disorder a diagnosis on equal footing with Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa. © 2009 American Psychiatric Association. (Int J Eat Disord 2009)
Copper Complexes with Neutral N4 Tripodal Ligands: Influence of the Number of Nitrogen Donors on Their Structures, Properties, and Reactivity
Authors: Fujisawa Kiyoshi , Chiba Shingo , Miyashita Yoshitaro , Okamoto Ken‐ichi
Published: July 2009

Copper coordination complexes of the neutral tetradentate nitrogen‐containing ligands tris(3,5‐dimethylpyrazol‐1‐ylmethyl)amine (L0N4) and tris(3,5‐diisopropylpyrazol‐1‐ylmethyl)amine (L1N4), namely the copper(II) chlorido complexes [CuII(L0N4)Cl2] (1) and [CuII(L1N4)Cl2] (2), the copper(II) nitrato complexes [CuII(L0N4)(NO3)](NO3) (3) and [CuII(L1N4)(NO3)](NO3) (4), and the copper(II) sulfato complexes [CuII(L0N4)(SO4)] (5) and [CuII(L1N4)(SO4)] (6), and the copper(I) complexes [CuI(L0N4)](PF6) (7) and [CuI(L0N4)(PPh3)](ClO4) (8), have been systematically synthesized in order to investigate the influence of the number of nitrogen donors on their structures, properties, and reactivity. All copper(II) complexes were fully characterized by X‐ray crystallography and by IR/far‐IR, UV/Vis absorption, and ESR spectroscopy. Although the structure of 7 was not determined by X‐ray crystallography, this complex and the structurally characterized copper(I) triphenylphosphane complex 8 were fully characterized by IR/far‐IR and NMR spectroscopy. A comparison of the copper(II) complexes with two tris(pyrazol‐1‐ylmethyl)amine ligands with different bulkiness of the pyrazolyl rings has allowed us to evaluate the second coordination sphere effects of the ligands. Moreover, the structures and physicochemical properties of these complexes are compared with those of related complexes containing the neutral tridentate tris(pyrazolyl)methane ligand and the neutral bidentate bis(pyrazolyl)methane ligand. Finally, the relative stability of the copper(I) complexes is discussed. The influence of the number of nitrogen donors in copper complexes is observed from these systematic results.(© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2009)