bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Person—Environment (P—E) Fit Models and Psychological Well-Being Among Older Persons in Hong Kong
Authors: Phillips David R. , Cheng Kevin H. C. , Yeh Anthony G. O. , Siu Oi-Ling
Published: April 2009

Conceptualizations of person—environment (P—E) fit were examined in a range of residential environments in Hong Kong by comparing three P—E models: the congruence model, the priority model, and a modified version of a model from Massam (2002). The study aimed to identify how older people perceive their fit with their living environment in Hong Kong, a predominantly Chinese society. Older residents in old urban areas and new towns were compared on how they utilized and related to their environments. Three environmental domains (structural, informal, and formal) were used to assess the extent of P—E fit. A short version of WHOQoL (as a measure of psychological well-being, PWB) was used as the dependent variable in the regression model. Irrespective of demographic variables and location of residence, the congruence model provided the best account.
Internal and External Aesthetics of Housing Estates
Authors: da Luz Reis Antônio Tarcísio , Dias Lay Maria Cristina
Published: April 2009

This article focuses on internal and external aesthetic aspects in 12 housing estates, including terraced, row, detached and semidetached houses, and four-storey blocks of flats sold to low-income people by the public sector in the metropolitan region of Porto Alegre, Brazil. The image and appearance of housing estates and visual composition of buildings are investigated. Relationships between aesthetic aspects, resident attitudes and behavior concerning the housing environment, household characteristics and feelings about internal and external aesthetics of housing estates are further explored. Data were collected through questionnaires, structured interviews, physical measurements, observations of behavior, and physical traces. Data analysis was carried out qualitatively and quantitatively by means of nonparametric statistical tests. Results show, for example, that aspects associated with maintenance of dwelling facades dominate the explanations for positive external aesthetics evaluation, while aspects associated with maintenance and visual composition of facades lead the explanations for negative external aesthetics evaluation.
Nature Therapy: Thoughts About the Limitations of Practice
Authors: Berger Ronen
Published: April 2009

This article presents several issues that relate to the limitations of the innovative practice of nature therapy. Drawing on examples from practice, it separates physical and psychological limitations and suggests ways in which the limitations of a framework can be bypassed, turning weakness into strength.
Issue Importance as a Moderator of Framing Effects
Authors: Lecheler Sophie , de Vreese Claes , Slothuus Rune
Published: April 2009

A growing amount of research is devoted to the question of which individual and contextual variables enhance, limit, or obliterate news framing effects. However, the fundamental question whether framing effects vary depending on the issue at stake has not been addressed. Based on two experimental studies (total N = 1,821), this article investigates the extent to which framing effects differ in magnitude as well as process, depending on how important an issue is. The studies show that a high-importance issue yields no effects and a low-importance issue large effects. This moderating function of issue importance operates both at the contextual and at the individual levels. The implications for future framing effects research are discussed.
An Actor-Partner Interdependence Model of Irritations in Romantic Relationships
Authors: Theiss Jennifer A. , Knobloch Leanne K.
Published: April 2009

This study examined actor and partner effects of relationship characteristics on people's appraisals of irritations. Dating partners ( N = 135 dyads) reported on characteristics of their relationship once per week for 6 weeks. Results of the longitudinal study indicated that the severity of irritations was positively associated with one's own perceptions of relational uncertainty and interference from partners. In addition, a partner's relational uncertainty, severity of irritations, and directness of communication about irritations were positively associated with the severity of an actor's irritations after controlling for the actor's own perceptions of relationship characteristics. Our findings highlight the complex interdependence that exists between partners involved in courtship.
Guarding the “Guardians”
Authors: Ojo Emmanuel O.
Published: April 2009

Of all new states in Asia, Latin America, and Africa, Nigeria qualifies as one that has suffered recurring praetorianism. Nigeria was under firm military autocracy and absolutism for a longer period than civil rule. It is against this background that transitions from the military to civil rule in 1999 made the polity heave a sigh of relieve. However, the performance of the civil government is now a serious concern because of the system's inability to nurture and sustain democracy. Thus, this article reviews all previous coups and attempts an in-depth analysis of salient factors that may be a harbinger of democratic reversal. This paper infers that the performance of the state makes the military an alternative that is only waiting for another auspicious period to terminate the fledging democracy. The article calls for an increase in social spending if the so-called dividend of democracy will make Nigerians a catalyst for democracy.
Architecture, Urban Planning, and Political Authority in Ludwig I's Munich
Authors: Hagen Joshua
Published: April 2009

During the early nineteenth century, Bavarian King Ludwig I embarked on an ambitious building program aimed at transforming his capital city Munich into a material expression of his authority. Ludwig commissioned a series of museums, palaces, and monuments in an attempt to associate his reign with the greatness of ancient Greece and Renaissance Italy. Although Ludwig championed these projects as providing cultural enrichment for his subjects, political calculations played a paramount role. Ludwig's new Munich was framed around monumental buildings, squares, and boulevards meant to position the monarchy as an unassailable cultural and political authority.
Is Religiosity Related to Better Parenting?
Authors: Duriez Bart , Soenens Bart , Neyrinck Bart , Vansteenkiste Maarten
Published: April 2009

This study examines associations between parental religiosity and parenting in a sample of 482 mother—child and 453 father—child dyads. Parents complete a religiosity measure that allows disentangling the effects of being religious from the effects of the way in which people process religious contents (i.e., literal vs. symbolic). In addition, parent and adolescent reports of two parenting style (i.e., need support and regulation) and parental goal promotion dimensions (i.e., intrinsic vs. extrinsic and conservation vs. openness to change goal promotion) are gathered. Whereas parental religiosity is positively related to a tendency to promote conservation rather than openness to change goals, a symbolic religious cognitive style relates positively to need support and the promotion of intrinsic rather than extrinsic goals. Hence, whereas relations between parental religiosity as such and parenting are limited and not unequivocally positive, a symbolic religious cognitive style systematically relates to adaptive parenting styles and goals. Implications are discussed.
The effects of community-based rehabilitation on stroke patients in China: a single-blind, randomized controlled multicentre trial
Authors: JianJun Yu  , YongShan Hu  , Wu Yi , WenHua Chen  , YuLian Zhu  , Xiao Cui  , WeiBo Lu  , Qi Qi  , PeiYu Qu  , XiaoHua Shen
Published: April 2009

Objective: To evaluate the effects of community-based rehabilitation therapy on neurological function deficit in stroke patients.

Design: Prospective, single-blind, randomized controlled multicentre trial.

Setting: At home, in Shanghai, China.

Subjects: A total of 737 stroke patients in the community.

Intervention: The rehabilitation group received additional standardized community-based rehabilitation therapy at home for five months.

Main outcome measures: Patients were evaluated using the Clinical Neurological Function Deficit Scale before intervention and at the end of two and five months.

Results: Although both the rehabilitation group and the control group improved over time, the rehabilitation group showed a greater improvement in Clinical Neurological Function Deficit Scale scores. The differences between the groups were significant. After five months, the Clinical Neurological Function Deficit Scale scores of the cerebral infarction rehabilitation group improved by 6.77; the haemorrhage rehabilitation group by 7.99; the total rehabilitation group by 7.03. In comparison, the Clinical Neurological Function Deficit Scale scores of the cerebral infarction control group improved by 1.57; the haemorrhage control group by 5.34; the total control group by 2.43. This implies a difference in improvement of 5.2 in the cerebral infarction group, 2.65 in the haemorrhage group, and 4.6 in the total group in favour of the rehabilitation group between groups.

Conclusion: Standardized community-based rehabilitation therapy may help stroke patients to improve their neurological function.
An evaluation of two decision-making scales for children with life-limiting illnesses
Authors: Knapp C , Huang IC , Madden V , Vadaparampil S , Quinn G , Shenkman E
Published: April 2009

Purpose

Annually, about 500,000 children are coping with life-limiting illnesses. Many of these children could benefit from pediatric palliative care which provides supportive services. These services can also aid parents in decision making. In order to measure the effect of pediatric palliative care programs on decision making, a valid and reliable tool must be identified. This study aims to validate the psychometric properties of the Decisional Conflict Scale (DCS) and the COMRADE instruments for children with life-limiting illnesses.

Methods

Analyses were conducted using survey data collected from 266 parents whose Medicaid enrolled children have life-limiting illnesses.

Results

Results of the analyses suggest that the DCS has better psychometric properties for measuring decision making within the population of children with life-limiting illnesses than the COMRADE.

Conclusion

Pediatric palliative care programs should use the DCS to measure the effectiveness of services aimed at supporting families with high levels of decisional conflict.
Long-term anxiolytic and antidepressant-like behavioural effects of tiagabine, a selective GABA transporter-1 (GAT-1) inhibitor, coincide with a decrease in HPA system activity in C57BL/6 mice
Authors: Thoeringer CK , Erhardt A. , Sillaber I. , Mueller MB , Ohl F. , Holsboer F. , Keck ME
Published: April 2009

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) system plays a pivotal role in the pathophysiology of anxiety and mood disorders. This study was aimed to assess the anxiolytic and antidepressant-like properties of tiagabine, an inhibitor of the GABA transporter-1 (GAT-1), after acute and chronic administration in C57BL/6JOlaHsD mice with paroxetine as a positive control. In first experiments, the acute administration of tiagabine (7.5 mg/kg, orally [PO]) and paroxetine (10 mg/kg PO) induced anxiolytic effects in the elevated plus maze test and the modified hole board test and an antidepressant-like effect in the forced swim test. Chronic application of tiagabine (7.5 mg/kg PO) and paroxetine (10 mg/kg PO) for 22 days revealed an anxiolytic and antidepressant-like efficacy of tiagabine only. In a further experiment, we analysed the impact of chronic tiagabine versus paroxetine treatment on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) system regulation. GAT-1 blockade induced a setpoint-shift of the stress hormone system toward lower levels as indicated by decreased plasma corticosterone concentrations and attenuated gene expression levels of corticotropin-releasing factor in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus and of hippocampal steroid receptors. This data indicate that both acute and long-term anxiolytic and antidepressant-like properties of brain GAT-1 inhibition coincide with a reduction in HPA system activity in mice.
A Combined Technique for Distal Biceps Repair Using a Soft Tissue Button and Biotenodesis Interference Screw
Authors: Heinzelmann Andrew D. , Savoie Felix H. , Randall Ramsey J. , Field Larry D. , Mazzocca Augustus D.
Published: April 2009

Background

There are many techniques described to repair acute distal biceps tendon ruptures. The authors’ objective is to report the results of a single-incision technique using a combination of a soft tissue button and biotenodesis interference screw with accelerated rehabilitation.

Hypothesis

Dual fixation of a distal biceps rupture will allow for early return to function.

Study Design

Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods

From February 2004 to July 2007, 41 elbows in 40 patients had repair of an acute distal biceps tendon rupture (<6 weeks) through an anterior incision using a soft tissue button and interference screw combined technique. The patients were evaluated pre- and postoperatively with a physical examination, radiographs, and the Andrews-Carson elbow score. Nine patients were unavailable for follow-up. The remaining 31 patients (32 elbows) were contacted for a telephone interview at an average of 24 months postoperatively.

Results

The preoperative Andrews-Carson score averaged 168 and the postoperative Andrews-Carson score averaged 196 points at final clinical follow-up. There was a statistically significant difference between the pre- and postoperative Andrews-Carson scores (P < .001). One patient had heterotopic ossification associated with decreased pronation and supination. Two superficial radial nerve palsies completely resolved by final follow-up. The average postoperative time to resume normal activities or return to work was 6.5 weeks.

Conclusion

Repair of acute distal biceps tendon ruptures using a soft tissue button and interference screw technique through a limited anterior incision can allow for accelerated rehabilitation and early return to function.
Defining Democracy and the Terms of Engagement with the Postsocialist Polish State Insights from HIV/AIDS
Authors: Owczarzak Jill
Published: April 2009

This article explores the history of HIV activism in Poland from the socialist period through the early 1990s transformation as a means of examining the reconfiguration of rights, obligations, and responsibility as Poland redefined itself as a market democracy. Drawing on archival materials, in-depth qualitative interviews with current and former HIV activists, and participant observation at HIV prevention organizations in Warsaw, Poland, I sketch the ways in which the socialist system's failures to protect the health of its subjects led to the terms through which state-citizen engagement was defined in the postsocialist period. Uncertainties and anxieties surrounding who was responsible for protecting the health and well-being of citizens in the newly democratic Poland gave rise to a series of violent protests centered on HIV prevention and care for people living with HIV/AIDS. Resolution of these political and social crises involved defining democracy in postsocialist Poland through claims to moral authority, in alliance with the Catholic Church, and an obligation by multiple stakeholders to disseminate technical/scientific knowledge. By comparing the responses to the epidemic by diverse institutions, including the government, the Catholic Church, and the fledgling gay rights movement, this analysis reveals the ways in which democracy in postsocialist Poland tightly links science, democratic reform, and moral/ religious authority while at the same time excluding sexual minorities from engaging in political activism centered on rights to health and inclusion in the new democracy.
Getting Income Shares Right
Authors: Abu-Qarn Aamer S. , Abu-Bader Suleiman
Published: April 2009

This article presents estimates of the shares of inputs in income for countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, utilizing advanced panel data techniques. Its findings are as follows: A share of physical capital of over 0.50, as opposed to the conventional one third, is robust to several specifications of the production function; the organization's growth was driven mainly by accumulation of resources and not technological gains; and following the first oil shock, the share of physical capital dropped, whereas the share of human capital rose. Consequently, using the conventional shares may have led to overstating the severity of the post-1973 productivity slowdown.
Imagine: Using New Web Technologies in Demography
Authors: Devedžić Mirjana , Devedžić Vladan
Published: April 2009

This article explores potential benefits that professional demographers can have from using new web technologies in their activities and work. To this end, the article focuses on the users of these technologies, not on the technologies themselves. The technologies are explained only very briefly, and then the article emphasizes two demography-related case studies: demographic research and higher education in demography. The article uses the findings from a recent investigation on how these technologies are used in other scientific disciplines to argue for their more extensive use in demography.
Women's Initial Experience of Abnormal Papanicolaou Smear
Authors: Mitchell Susan , Hall Vincent P.
Published: April 2009

To discover the early subjective experience of women affected by abnormal Papanicolaou smear, a qualitative study was undertaken with 8 North Carolina women, 4 to 12 months postnotification of their first abnormal result. Data were analyzed via grounded theory methodology to identify a core theory that could guide interventions to improve follow-up for cancer prevention. This theoretical process is described as a labyrinth journey—an imperative healing process undertaken by all participants, who undertook the following tasks: evaluating peril, seeking refuge, obtaining information, and reframing their self-image. Women who also learned they were infected with the human papillomavirus faced a prolonged sense of threat to their sense of sexual well-being. Their additional tasks related to reevaluating their sexual self-image, and they continued to work on these reframing tasks throughout their 1st year's journey. Progress through the labyrinth depended upon emotional or spiritual support, nonjudgmental acceptance and access to accurate information.
Factor Structure of the Job-Related Tension Index Among Social Workers
Authors: Wooten Nikki R. , Fakunmoju Sunday B. , Kim HaeJung , LeFevre Ann L.
Published: April 2009

Objectives: Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to assess the factor structure of the 15-item Job-Related Tension Index (JRTI). Method: Data were derived from a larger cross-sectional study using a modified tailored design method to mail a self-administered survey to a random stratified sample of the National Association of Social Workers, Maryland Chapter. The 15-item four-factor structure described by Rogers, Li, and Ellis was tested. Results: CFA resulted in a 12-item three-factor structure with acceptable fit. JRTI internal consistency reliability was 0.87. Conclusion: Findings are preliminary but suggest the JRTI may be useful in examining job-related tension among social workers. Future research is needed to further develop the JRTI and establish its reliability, validity, and factor structure.
Employer Preferences for Résumés and Cover Letters
Authors: Schullery Nancy M. , Ickes Linda , Schullery Stephen E.
Published: April 2009

This article reports the results of a survey of employers' preferences for résumé style, résumé delivery method, and cover letters. Employers still widely prefer the standard chronological résumé, with only 3% desiring a scannable résumé. The vast majority of employers prefer electronic delivery, either by email (46%) or at the company's Web site (38%), with only 7% preferring a paper copy. Cover letters are preferred by a majority (56%). Preferences regarding résumé style and cover letters were independent of national (USA) vs. multinational geographic range, company size, type of industry, or respondent's job function. Smaller companies prefer résumé delivery by email, and human resources workers prefer delivery using the company's Web site.
Self-Surveillance by Adolescents and Young Adults Transitioning to Self-Management of a Chronic Genetic Disorder
Authors: Giarelli Ellen , Bernhardt Barbara A. , Pyeritz Reed E.
Published: April 2009

Adolescents and young adults with Marfan syndrome (MFS) use information from self-surveillance to manage their disorder. Thirty-seven male and female adolescents with MFS aged 14 to 21 years were interviewed. They identified 58 distinct self-surveillance behaviors that fell into four categories and multiple subcategories (SCs): tracking phenotype (SCs: physical appearance, physical fitness, medical problems, and other observations); tracking medical care (SCs: medical evaluations and treatments, and pharmacotherapy); tracking behavior (SCs: personal choices and social relations); and tracking emotions (SCs: positive emotional impact and negative emotional impact). The frequency and range of self-monitoring increased with the age of the child. On average, a child of 14 self-monitored from 1 to 3 times per day, whereas a person aged 21 might self-monitor many more times per day. The patient—parent—physician relationship is the context for teaching adolescents and young adults self-surveillance skills. Self-surveillance by patients is first-line symptom assessment and an adjunct to medical monitoring.
The Role of Community Health Workers (CHWs) in Health Promotion Research: Ethical Challenges and Practical Solutions
Authors: Terpstra Jennifer , Coleman Karen J. , Simon Gayle , Nebeker Camille
Published: April 2009

This article aims to describe the role of community health workers (CHWs) in health promotion research and address the challenges and ethical concerns associated with this research approach. A series of six focus groups are conducted with project managers and investigators (n = 5 to 11 per session) who have worked with CHWs in health promotion research. These focus groups are part of a larger study funded by the National Institutes of Health titled “Training in Research Ethics and Standards” (Project TRES). Participants are asked to describe their training needs for CHWs with respect to human subject protections as well as to identify associated challenges regarding research practice (i.e., recruitment, random assignment, protocol implementation, etc.). Findings reveal a number of challenges that investigators and project managers encounter when working with CHWs on research projects involving the community. These include characteristics inherent to CHWs such as education level and personal beliefs about their own community and its needs, institutional regulations regarding research practice, and problems inherent to research studies such as training materials and protocols that cannot account for the complexity of conducting research in community settings. Investigators should carefully consider the role that CHWs have in their communities before creating research programs that depend on the CHWs’ existing social networks and their propensity to be natural helpers. These strengths could lead to compromises in research requirements for random assignment, control groups, and fully informed consent.
Pass the Fruits and Vegetables! A Community—University—Industry Partnership Promotes Weight Loss in African American Women
Authors: Weerts Sally E. , Amoran Alma
Published: April 2009

This article describes a community—university—industry partnership to alleviate food insecurity while promoting weight loss. Twenty-one overweight African American women are randomly assigned to experimental or control groups. Each receives supermarket gift cards and brief health education monthly for 3 months. The experimental group buys fresh produce only, whereas the control group buys any groceries. Data on weight, body mass index (BMI), waist—hip circumferences, and dietary intake are collected at baseline and months 1 to 3. Nine (43%) have complete data. Quantitative data reveal that the experimental group have lost significantly more weight (-6, + 4 lbs), significantly reduced BMI (-1, + 0.7), and eat significantly more raw, fresh produce (1.29, 0.15 cups). A focus group held at month 4 is rich with the meanings of participating, eating “well,” and forming new habits. A nutrient-dense diet that is calorically balanced is the hallmark of health and well-being and may be related to weight loss in new ways. However, this diet is not always affordable by those most in need of it. The unexpected outcome of a statistical relationship among consuming raw, freshly prepared produce, weight loss, and BMI reduction within 3 months is not altogether explainable. There are obvious benefits, however, to these outcomes that support the continuing study of the phenomenon.
Stakeholder Attitudes Toward Influenza Vaccination Policy in the United States
Authors: Protzel Berman Pamela , Orenstein Walter A. , Hinman Alan R. , Gazmararian Julie
Published: April 2009

There is growing interest in simplifying recommendations to vaccinate Americans against influenza. The article discusses interviews with 35 stakeholders from the medical, public health, educational, insurance, and vaccine industry sectors to assess the potential for policy change, and discusses questions posed to the interviewees on current and future influenza vaccination policy and barriers to policy change. About 97% of respondents support the expansion of vaccination for all school-age children, and about 95% support universal vaccination, but there are reservations expressed by the respondents, despite the support for this policy change. Barriers to influenza vaccination recommendations include access, supply, confusing recommendations, and public perceptions. Barriers to universal vaccination include lack of infrastructure, cost, need for education, and vaccine supply. Issues concerning resources and education are challenges that impede policy change. The study findings can be useful to policy makers and practitioners for reviewing U.S. vaccination policy and changes to the policy.
Creating REAL MEN: Description of an Intervention to Reduce Drug Use, HIV Risk, and Rearrest Among Young Men Returning to Urban Communities From Jail
Authors: Daniels Jessie , Crum Martha , Ramaswamy Megha , Freudenberg Nicholas
Published: April 2009

This article describes the life circumstances and risk behaviors of 552 adolescent males returning home from jail. Most young men reported several sources of support in their lives and many had more tolerant views toward women and intimate relationships than portrayed in mainstream media. They also reported high levels of marijuana and alcohol use, risky sexual behavior, and prior arrests. Investigators designed the Returning Educated African American and Latino Men to Enriched Neighborhoods (REAL MEN) program, a jail and community program to reduce drug use, HIV risk, and rearrest. By helping participants examine alternative paths to manhood and consider racial/ethnic pride as a source of strength, REAL MEN addressed the assets of these young men as well as their challenges. Our findings suggest that interventions that emphasize the assets of these young men may be better able to engage them than programs that seek to impose adult values.
Preserving Cognition Through an Integrated Cognitive Stimulation and Training Program
Authors: Eckroth-Bucher Margie , Siberski James
Published: April 2009

Background: Cognitive decline leads to disability and increased health care expenditures. Methods: Effectiveness of an intervention to stimulate multiple cognitive domains was determined using a format combining traditional and computer-based activities (Integrated Cognitive Stimulation and Training Program), 45 minutes a day, 2 days a week, for 6 weeks. Nonimpaired, mildly, and moderately-impaired participants > age 65 (n = 32) were randomly allocated into a control or experimental group. Using a repeated measures design participants were tested again postintervention and at 8 weeks follow-up. Results: Statistically significant improvement on Dementia Rating Scale scores occurred for mildly and moderately impaired treatment participants (n = 15). Statistical significance was demonstrated on subscales of the WMS-III: Logical Memory I and Logical Memory II. Conclusion: Blending computer-based with traditional cognitive stimulation activities shows promise in preserving cognitive function in elders. Future studies to explore efficacy in larger, more diverse samples are needed.
Designing Leisure Products for People With Dementia: Developing ‘‘the Chitchatters’’ Game
Authors: van Rijn Helma , van Hoof Joost , Stappers Pieter Jan
Published: April 2009

Providing leisure to people with dementia is a serious challenge, for health care professionals and designers and engineers of products used for activity sessions. This article describes the design process of ‘‘the Chitchatters,’’ a leisure game for a group of people with dementia in day care centers. The game aims to stimulate social interaction among people with dementia. Different stakeholders, such as older adults with dementia, their relatives and care professionals were involved in the design process via qualitative research methods as participant observation and the use of probes. These methods were applied to give the design team insight into the experiential world of people with dementia. This article presents how design insights from practice and literature can be translated into a real design for a leisure product for group use by older people with dementia, and shows designers how to work with, and design for, special groups.
Clinical Testing of Ulnar Collateral Ligament Injuries of the Thumb
Authors: MALIK A. K. , MORRIS T. , CHOU D. , SORENE E. , TAYLOR E.
Published: April 2009

The diagnosis of complete tears of the ulnar collateral ligament of the thumb metacarpophalangeal (MP) joint depends on demonstration of excessive laxity of the ligament, but there is controversy on whether laxity greater than a certain cut-off value or laxity greater than the opposite thumb is the criterion for diagnosis. We examined 200 thumbs of 100 normal individuals in extension and in 30° of flexion. In 34% of subjects there was a difference of 10° or more between right and left thumbs in extension, and 12% had a difference of at least 15°. In flexion, 22% of thumbs differed by 10° or more and 3% by 15° or more. Comparison with the uninjured contralateral thumb is unreliable in many individuals. We recommend the lack of a definite end point on stress examination as indicating complete rupture of the ulnar collateral ligament.
Gfi1 integrates progenitor versus granulocytic transcriptional programming
Authors: Horman Shane R. , Velu Chinavenmeni S. , Chaubey Aditya , Bourdeau Tristan , Zhu Jinfang , Paul William E. , Gebelein Brian , Grimes H. Leighton
Published: April 2009

In patients with severe congenital neutropenia (SCN) and mice with growth factor independent-1 (Gfi1) loss of function, arrested myeloid progenitors accumulate, whereas terminal granulopoiesis is blocked. One might assume that Gfi-null progenitors accumulate because they lack the ability to differentiate. Instead, our data indicate that Gfi1 loss of function deregulates 2 separable transcriptional programs, one of which controls the accumulation and lineage specification of myeloid progenitors, but not terminal granulopoiesis. We demonstrate that Gfi1 directly represses HoxA9, Pbx1, and Meis1 during normal myelopoiesis. Gfi1−/− progenitors exhibit elevated levels of HoxA9, Pbx1 and Meis1, exaggerated HoxA9-Pbx1-Meis1 activity, and progenitor transformation in collaboration with oncogenic K-Ras. Limiting HoxA9 alleles corrects, in a dose-dependent manner, in vivo and in vitro phenotypes observed with loss of Gfi1 in myeloid progenitor cells but did not rescue Gfi1−/− blocked granulopoiesis. Thus, Gfi1 integrates 2 events during normal myeloid differentiation; the suppression of a HoxA9-Pbx1-Meis1 progenitor program and the induction of a granulopoietic transcription program.
The 15(S)-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid-induced angiogenesis requires Janus kinase 2-signal transducer and activator of transcription-5B–dependent expression of interleukin-8
Authors: Cheranov Sergey Y. , Wang Dong , Kundumani-Sridharan Venkatesh , Karpurapu Manjula , Zhang Qiuhua , Chava Koteswara R. , Rao Gadiparthi N.
Published: April 2009

To understand the molecular basis underlying 15(S)-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (15(S)-HETE)–induced angiogenesis, we have studied the role of the Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription (Jak-STAT) signaling. The 15(S)-HETE stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of Jak2 in a time-dependent manner in human retinal microvascular endothelial cells (HRMVECs). Inhibition of Jak2 activation via adenovirus-mediated expression of its dominant-negative mutant attenuated 15(S)-HETE–induced HRMVEC migration and tube formation and Matrigel plug angiogenesis. Similarly, 15(S)-HETE activated tyrosine phosphorylation of STAT-5B in a time-dependent manner. Dominant-negative mutant-mediated interference of STAT-5B activation suppressed 15(S)-HETE–induced HRMVEC migration and tube formation and Matrigel plug angiogenesis. The 15(S)-HETE induced interleukin-8 (IL-8) expression in Jak2-STAT-5B–dependent manner in HRMVECs. In addition, neutralizing anti–IL-8 antibodies reduced 15(S)-HETE–induced HRMVEC migration and tube formation and Matrigel plug angiogenesis. Cloning and Transfac analysis of IL-8 promoter revealed the presence of 1 putative STAT-binding sequence at −476 nt, and electrophoretic mobility shift assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis showed the binding of STAT-5B to this site in response to 15(S)-HETE. Mutational analysis showed that STAT binding site is essential for 15(S)-HETE–induced IL-8 promoter activity. Together, these observations suggest that 15(S)-HETE–induced angiogenesis requires Jak2-STAT-5B–dependent expression of IL-8.
Ligand of scavenger receptor class A indirectly induces maturation of human blood dendritic cells via production of tumor necrosis factor-α
Authors: Jin Jun-O , Park Hae-Young , Xu Qi , Park Joo-In , Zvyagintseva Tatyana , Stonik Valentin A. , Kwak Jong-Young
Published: April 2009

Dendritic cells (DCs) are the most potent antigen-presenting cells for naive T cells. In this study, scavenger receptor class A type I and type II (SR-A) were shown to be expressed by peripheral blood DCs (PBDCs) and monocyte-derived DCs (MDDCs). In addition, the binding of anti–SR-A antibody to these cells was lower in the presence of fucoidan, an SR-A agonist. Treatment of these DCs with fucoidan or anti–SR-A antibody markedly increased the surface expression of costimulatory molecules CD83 and major histocompatibility complex class II on the CD11chighCD123low myeloid subset of PBDCs. Furthermore, fucoidan-treated PBDCs produced tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) but not IL-12p70. In addition, fucoidan-induced maturation was eliminated by pretreatment with TNF-α–neutralizing antibody. Finally, interferon-γ secretion and T-cell proliferation were enhanced by coculture of T cells with fucoidan-matured PBDCs. Specific inhibitors of p38 MAPK and glycogen synthase kinase 3 suppressed TNF-α production and maturation of fucoidan-treated PBDCs. Moreover, MDDCs lacking SR-A failed to up-regulate CD83 expression, TNF-α production, and phosphorylation of p38 MAPK and glycogen synthase kinase 3-β in the presence of fucoidan. Taken together, these results suggest that ligation of SR-A leads to induction of TNF-α, which subsequently induces PBDC maturation, thereby leading to enhanced T-cell stimulatory capacity.
Analysis of human α globin gene mutations that impair binding to the α hemoglobin stabilizing protein
Authors: Yu Xiang , Mollan Todd L. , Butler Andrew , Gow Andrew J. , Olson John S. , Weiss Mitchell J.
Published: April 2009

Alpha hemoglobin stabilizing protein (AHSP) reversibly binds nascent α globin to maintain its native structure and facilitate its incorporation into hemoglobin A. Previous studies indicate that some naturally occurring human α globin mutations may destabilize the protein by inhibiting its interactions with AHSP. However, these mutations could also affect hemoglobin A production through AHSP-independent effects, including reduced binding to β globin. We analyzed 6 human α globin variants with altered AHSP contact surfaces. Alpha globin amino acid substitutions H103Y, H103R, F117S, and P119S impaired interactions with both AHSP and β globin. These mutations are destabilizing in biochemical assays and are associated with microcytosis and anemia in humans. By contrast, K99E and K99N α globins bind β globin normally but exhibit attenuated binding to AHSP. These mutations impair protein folding and expression in vitro and appear to be mildly destabilizing in vivo. In Escherichia coli and erythroid cells, α globin K99E stability is rescued on coexpression with AHSP mutants in which binding to the abnormal globin chain is restored. Our results better define the biochemical properties of some α globin variants and support the hypothesis that AHSP promotes α globin chain stability during human erythropoiesis.
GLOSSI: a method to assess the association of genetic loci-sets with complex diseases
Authors: Chai High-Seng , Sicotte Hugues , Bailey Kent R , Turner Stephen T , Asmann Yan W , Kocher Jean-Pierre A
Published: April 2009

Background

The developments of high-throughput genotyping technologies, which enable the simultaneous genotyping of hundreds of thousands of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) have the potential to increase the benefits of genetic epidemiology studies. Although the enhanced resolution of these platforms increases the chance of interrogating functional SNPs that are themselves causative or in linkage disequilibrium with causal SNPs, commonly used single SNP-association approaches suffer from serious multiple hypothesis testing problems and provide limited insights into combinations of loci that may contribute to complex diseases. Drawing inspiration from Gene Set Enrichment Analysis developed for gene expression data, we have developed a method, named GLOSSI (G ene-lo ci S et Analysi s), that integrates prior biological knowledge into the statistical analysis of genotyping data to test the association of a group of SNPs (loci-set) with complex disease phenotypes. The most significant loci-sets can be used to formulate hypotheses from a functional viewpoint that can be validated experimentally.

Results

In a simulation study, GLOSSI showed sufficient power to detect loci-sets with less than 10% of SNPs having moderate-to-large effect sizes and intermediate minor allele frequency values. When applied to a biological dataset where no single SNP-association was found in a previous study, GLOSSI was able to identify several loci-sets that are significantly related to blood pressure response to an antihypertensive drug.

Conclusion

GLOSSI is valuable for association of SNPs at multiple genetic loci with complex disease phenotypes. In contrast to methods based on the Kolmogorov-Smirnov statistic, the approach is parametric and only utilizes information from within the interrogated loci-set. It properly accounts for dependency among SNPs and allows the testing of loci-sets of any size.
Automics: an integrated platform for NMR-based metabonomics spectral processing and data analysis
Authors: Wang Tao , Shao Kang , Chu Qinying , Ren Yanfei , Mu Yiming , Qu Lijia , He Jie , Jin Changwen , Xia Bin
Published: April 2009

Background

Spectral processing and post-experimental data analysis are the major tasks in NMR-based metabonomics studies. While there are commercial and free licensed software tools available to assist these tasks, researchers usually have to use multiple software packages for their studies because software packages generally focus on specific tasks. It would be beneficial to have a highly integrated platform, in which these tasks can be completed within one package. Moreover, with open source architecture, newly proposed algorithms or methods for spectral processing and data analysis can be implemented much more easily and accessed freely by the public.

Results

In this paper, we report an open source software tool, Automics, which is specifically designed for NMR-based metabonomics studies. Automics is a highly integrated platform that provides functions covering almost all the stages of NMR-based metabonomics studies. Automics provides high throughput automatic modules with most recently proposed algorithms and powerful manual modules for 1D NMR spectral processing. In addition to spectral processing functions, powerful features for data organization, data pre-processing, and data analysis have been implemented. Nine statistical methods can be applied to analyses including: feature selection (Fisher's criterion), data reduction (PCA, LDA, ULDA), unsupervised clustering (K-Mean) and supervised regression and classification (PLS/PLS-DA, KNN, SIMCA, SVM). Moreover, Automics has a user-friendly graphical interface for visualizing NMR spectra and data analysis results. The functional ability of Automics is demonstrated with an analysis of a type 2 diabetes metabolic profile.

Conclusion

Automics facilitates high throughput 1D NMR spectral processing and high dimensional data analysis for NMR-based metabonomics applications. Using Automics, users can complete spectral processing and data analysis within one software package in most cases. Moreover, with its open source architecture, interested researchers can further develop and extend this software based on the existing infrastructure.
Modular evolution of glutathione peroxidase genes in association with different biochemical properties of their encoded proteins in invertebrate animals
Authors: Bae Young-An , Cai Guo-Bin , Kim Seon-Hee , Zo Young-Gun , Kong Yoon
Published: April 2009

Background

Phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidases (PHGPx), the most abundant isoforms of GPx families, interfere directly with hydroperoxidation of lipids. Biochemical properties of these proteins vary along with their donor organisms, which has complicated the phylogenetic classification of diverse PHGPx-like proteins. Despite efforts for comprehensive analyses, the evolutionary aspects of GPx genes in invertebrates remain largely unknown.

Results

We isolated GPx homologs via in silico screening of genomic and/or expressed sequence tag databases of eukaryotic organisms including protostomian species. Genes showing strong similarity to the mammalian PHGPx genes were commonly found in all genomes examined. GPx3- and GPx7-like genes were additionally detected from nematodes and platyhelminths, respectively. The overall distribution of the PHGPx-like proteins with different biochemical properties was biased across taxa; selenium- and glutathione (GSH)-dependent proteins were exclusively detected in platyhelminth and deuterostomian species, whereas selenium-independent and thioredoxin (Trx)-dependent enzymes were isolated in the other taxa. In comparison of genomic organization, the GSH-dependent PHGPx genes showed a conserved architectural pattern, while their Trx-dependent counterparts displayed complex exon-intron structures. A codon for the resolving Cys engaged in reductant binding was found to be substituted in a series of genes. Selection pressure to maintain the selenocysteine codon in GSH-dependent genes also appeared to be relaxed during their evolution. With the dichotomized fashion in genomic organizations, a highly polytomic topology of their phylogenetic trees implied that the GPx genes have multiple evolutionary intermediate forms.

Conclusion

Comparative analysis of invertebrate GPx genes provides informative evidence to support the modular pathways of GPx evolution, which have been accompanied with sporadic expansion/deletion and exon-intron remodeling. The differentiated enzymatic properties might be acquired by the evolutionary relaxation of selection pressure and/or biochemical adaptation to the acting environments. Our present study would be beneficial to get detailed insights into the complex GPx evolution, and to understand the molecular basis of the specialized physiological implications of this antioxidant system in their respective donor organisms.
Bi-directional interhemispheric inhibition during unimanual sustained contractions
Authors: Nelson Aimee J , Hoque Tasnuva , Gunraj Carolyn , Ni Zhen , Chen Robert
Published: April 2009

Background

The interaction between homologous muscle representations in the right and left primary motor cortex was studied using a paired-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) protocol known to evoke interhemispheric inhibition (IHI). The timecourse and magnitude of IHI was studied in fifteen healthy right-handed adults at several interstimulus intervals between the conditioning stimulus and test stimulus (6, 8, 10, 12, 30, 40, 50 ms). IHI was studied in the motor dominant to non-dominant direction and vice versa while the right or left hand was at rest, performing isometric contraction of the first dorsal interosseous (FDI) muscle, and isometric contraction of the FDI muscle in the context of holding a pen.

Results

Compared with rest, IHI was reduced at all ISIs during contraction of either type (with or without the context of pen). IHI was reduced bi-directionally without evidence of hemispheric dominance. Further, contraction of the hand contralateral to the conditioning and test pulse yielded similar reductions in IHI.

Conclusion

These data provide evidence for bi-directional reduction of IHI during unimanual contractions. During unimanual, sustained contractions of the hand, the contralateral and ipsilateral motor cortices demonstrate reduced inhibition. The data suggest that unimanual movement decreases inhibition bi-directionally across motor hemispheres and offer one explanation for the observation of ipsilateral M1 activity during hand movements.