bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Is PPARγ a Prospective Player in HIV‐1‐Associated Bone Disease?
Authors: Cotter Eoin J. , Mallon Patrick W. , Doran Peter P.
Published: March 2009

Currently infection with the human immunodeficiency virus‐1 (HIV‐1) is in most instances a chronic disease that can be controlled by effective antiretroviral therapy (ART). However, chronic use of ART has been associated with a number of toxicities; including significant reductions in bone mineral density (BMD) and disorders of the fat metabolism. The peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) transcription factor is vital for the development and maintenance of mature and developing adipocytes. Alterations in PPARγ expression have been implicated as a factor in the mechanism of HIV‐1‐associated lipodystrophy. Both reduced BMD and lipodystrophy have been well described as complications of HIV‐1 infection and treatment, and a question remains as to their interdependence. Interestingly, both adipocytes and osteoblasts are derived from a common precursor cell type; the mesenchymal stem cell. The possibility that dysregulation of PPARγ (and the subsequent effect on both osteoblastogenesis and adipogenesis) is a contributory factor in the lipid‐ and bone‐abnormalities observed in HIV‐1 infection and treatment has also been investigated. This review deals with the hypothesis that dysregulation of PPARγ may underpin the bone abnormalities associated with HIV‐1 infection, and treats the current knowledge and prospective developments, in our understanding of PPARγ involvement in HIV‐1‐associated bone disease.
Synthesis of Benzo[b]fluorenone Nuclei of Stealthins
Authors: Ghorai Sujit Kumar , De Saroj Ranjan , Karmakar Raju , Hazra Nirmal Kumar , Mal Dipakranjan
Published: March 2009

Two routes, one based on a Michael-initiated aldol condensation and the other on an intramoleculer carbonyl-ene reaction, have been found to be feasible for an entry to benzo[b]fluorenones. Reaction of 4,9-dimethoxybenz[f]indenone with nitromethane in the presence of DBU gave the corresponding Michael adduct, which afforded 2-methyl-5,10-dimethoxybenzo[b]fluorenone on reaction with methacrolein under a variety of basic conditions. Similarly, 2-methallyl-4,9-dimethoxybenz[f]indenone reacted with nitromethane to give the corresponding Michael adduct, Nef reaction of which furnished 3-formyl-2-methyl-4,9-dimethoxybenz[f]indanone. This underwent ene-cyclization under the influence of SnCl4. 5H2O, and yielded 2-methyl-5,10-dimethoxybenzo[b]fluorenone.
A Two‐Dimensional Landau‐Lifshitz Model in Studying Thin Film Micromagnetics
Authors: Li Jingna
Published: March 2009

The paper is concerned with a two‐dimensional Landau‐Lifshitz
equation which was first raised by A. DeSimone and F. Otto, and so fourth, when studying thin film micromagnetics. We get the existence of a local weak solution by approximating it with a higher‐order equation. Penalty approximation and semigroup theory are employed to deal with the higher‐order equation.
PPARδ Activity in Cardiovascular Diseases: A Potential Pharmacological Target
Authors: Tesse Angela , Andriantsitohaina Ramaroson , Ragot Thierry
Published: March 2009

Activation of peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptors (PPARs), and particularly of
PPARα and PPARγ, using selective agonists, is currently used in the treatment of metabolic diseases such as hypertriglyceridemia and type 2 diabetes mellitus. PPARα and PPARγ anti‐inflammatory, antiproliferative and antiangiogenic properties in cardiovascular cells were
extensively clarified in a variety of in vitro and in vivo models. In contrast, the role of PPARδ in cardiovascular system is poorly understood. Prostacyclin, the predominant prostanoid released by
vascular cells, is a putative endogenous agonist for PPARδ, but only recently PPARδ selective synthetic agonists were found, improving studies about the physiological and pathophysiological roles of PPARδ activation. Recent reports suggest that the PPARδ activation may play a pivotal role to
regulate inflammation, apoptosis, and cell proliferation, suggesting that this transcriptional factor could become an interesting pharmacological target to regulate cardiovascular cell apoptosis, proliferation, inflammation, and metabolism.
In Vitro Ultramorphological Assessment of Apoptosis Induced by Zerumbone on (HeLa )
Authors: Abdel Wahab Siddig Ibrahim , Abdul Ahmad Bustamam , Alzubairi Adel Sharaf , Mohamed Elhassan Manal , Mohan Syam
Published: March 2009

Zerumbone (ZER), a potential anticancer compound, isolated from the fresh rhizomes of Zingiber zerumbet. In this investigation, the cytotoxic properties of ZER were evaluated, on cancer cells of human cervix (HeLa), breast and ovary, and normal cells of Chinese Hamster ovary, using MTT assay. Apoptogenic effects of ZER on HeLa were studied using fluorescence microscopy (AO/PI double staining), scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM), and colorimetric assay of the apoptosis promoter enzyme, caspase‐3. The results of MTT assay showed that ZER has less effect on normal cells compared to cancer cells. The lowest IC50 of ZER was observed on HeLa cells. Cytological observations showed nuclear and chromatin condensation, cell shrinkage, multinucleation, abnormalities of mitochondrial cristae, membrane blebbing, holes, cytoplasmic extrusions and formation of apoptotic bodies as confirmed collectively by double staining of AO/PI, SEM and TEM. Statistical analysis (two‐tailed t‐test) of differential counting of 200 cells under fluorescence microscope revealed significant difference in apoptotic cells populations between treated and untreated HeLa cells. In addition, ZER has increased the cellular level of caspase‐3 on the treated HeLa cells. It could be concluded that ZER was able to produce distinctive morphological features of cell death that corresponds to apoptosis.
Synergism of Heat Shock Protein 90 and Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors in Synovial Sarcoma
Authors: Nguyen Anne , Su Le , Campbell Belinda , Poulin Neal M. , Nielsen Torsten O.
Published: March 2009

Current systemic therapies have little curative benefit for synovial sarcoma. Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors and the heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) inhibitor 17-AAG have recently been shown to inhibit synovial sarcoma in preclinical models. We tested combinations of 17-AAG with the HDAC inhibitor MS-275 for synergism by proliferation and apoptosis assays. The combination was found to be synergistic at multiple time points in two synovial sarcoma cell lines. Previous studies have shown that HDAC inhibitors not only induce cell death but also activate the survival pathway NF-κB, potentially limiting therapeutic benefit. As 17-AAG inhibits activators of NF-κB, we tested if 17-AAG synergizes with MS-275 through abrogating NF-κB activation. In our assays, adding 17-AAG blocks NF-κB activation by MS-275 and siRNA directed against histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3) recapitulates the effects of MS-275. Additionally, we find that the NF-κB inhibitor BAY 11-7085 synergizes with MS-275. We conclude that agents inhibiting NF-κB synergize with HDAC inhibitors against synovial sarcoma.
Games and Agents: Designing Intelligent Gameplay
Authors: Dignum F. , Westra J. , van Doesburg W. A. , Harbers M.
Published: March 2009

There is an attention shift within the gaming industry
toward more natural (long‐term) behavior of nonplaying characters (NPCs). Multiagent system research offers a promising technology to implement cognitive intelligent NPCs. However, the technologies used in game engines and multiagent platforms are not readily compatible due to some inherent differences of concerns. Where game engines focus on real‐time aspects and thus propagate efficiency and central control, multiagent platforms assume autonomy of the agents. Increased autonomy and intelligence may offer benefits for a more compelling gameplay and may even be necessary for serious games. However, it raises problems when current game design techniques are used to incorporate state‐of‐the‐art multiagent system technology. In this paper, we will focus on three specific problem areas that arise from this difference of view: synchronization, information representation, and communication. We argue that the current attempts for integration still fall short on some of these aspects. We show that to fully integrate intelligent agents in games, one should not only use a technical solution, but also a design methodology that is amenable to agents. The game design should be adjusted to incorporate the possibilities of agents early on in the process.
A Riemannian-Geometry Approach for Modeling and Control of Dynamics of Object Manipulation under Constraints
Authors: Arimoto Suguru , Yoshida Morio , Sekimoto Masahiro , Tahara Kenji
Published: March 2009

A Riemannian-geometry approach for modeling and control of dynamics of object manipulation under holonomic or non-holonomic constraints is presented. First, position/force hybrid control of an endeffector of a multijoint redundant (or nonredundant) robot under a holonomic constraint is reinterpreted in terms of “submersion” in Riemannian geometry. A force control signal constructed in the image space of the constraint gradient is regarded as a lifting (or pressing) in the direction orthogonal to the kernel space. By means of the Riemannian distance on the constraint submanifold, stability of position control under holonomic constraints is discussed. Second, modeling and control of two-dimensional object grasping by a pair of multijoint robot fingers are challenged, when the object is of arbitrary shape. It is shown that rolling contact constraints induce the Euler equation of motion, in which constraint forces appear as wrench vectors affecting the object. The Riemannian metric is introduced on a constraint submanifold characterized with arclength parameters. An explicit form of the quotient dynamics is expressed in the kernel space with accompaniment of a pair of first-order differential equations concerning the arclength parameters. An extension of Dirichlet-Lagrange's stability theorem to redundant systems under constraints is suggested by introducing a Morse-Lyapunov function.
Syncope and Risk of Sudden Death in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Spirito Paolo , Autore Camillo , Rapezzi Claudio , Bernabò Paola , Badagliacca Roberto , Maron Martin S. , Bongioanni Sergio , Coccolo Fabio , Estes N.A. Mark , Barillà Caterina S. , Biagini Elena , Quarta Giovanni , Conte Maria Rosa , Bruzzi Paolo , Maron Barry J.
Published: March 2009

Background—

The prognostic significance of syncope has not been investigated systematically in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and treatment strategies have been based largely on intuition and experience.

Methods and Results—

We assessed the relationship between syncope and sudden death in 1511 consecutive patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Unexplained (n=153) or neurally mediated (n=52) syncope occurred in 205 patients (14%). Over a 5.6±5.2-year follow-up, 74 patients died suddenly. Relative risk of sudden death was 1.78 (95% confidence interval 0.88 to 3.51,
P
=0.08) in patients with unexplained syncope and 0.91 (95% confidence interval 0.00 to 3.83,
P
=1.0) in those with neurally mediated syncope compared with patients without syncope. In multivariable analysis, the temporal proximity of unexplained syncope to initial patient evaluation was independently associated with risk of sudden death (
P
=0.006). Patients with unexplained syncope within 6 months before the initial evaluation showed a 5-fold increase in risk compared with patients without syncope (adjusted hazard ratio 4.89, 95% confidence interval 2.19 to 10.94), a relationship that was maintained throughout all age groups (<18, 18 to 39, and ≥40 years). Older patients (≥40 years of age) with remote episodes of syncope (>5 years before initial evaluation) did not show an increased risk of sudden death (adjusted hazard ratio 0.38, 95% confidence interval 0.05 to 2.74).

Conclusions—

In the present large cohort of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, unexplained syncope was a risk factor for sudden death. Patients with syncopal events that occurred in close temporal proximity to the initial evaluation showed a substantially higher risk of sudden death than patients without syncope. Older patients with remote syncopal events did not show an increased risk.
Relationship of Oxidized Phospholipids on Apolipoprotein B-100 Particles to Race/Ethnicity, Apolipoprotein(a) Isoform Size, and Cardiovascular Risk Factors
Authors: Tsimikas Sotirios , Clopton Paul , Brilakis Emmanouil S. , Marcovina Santica M. , Khera Amit , Miller Elizabeth R. , de Lemos James A. , Witztum Joseph L.
Published: March 2009

Background—

Elevated levels of oxidized phospholipids (OxPLs) on apolipoprotein B-100 particles (OxPL/apoB) are associated with cardiovascular disease and predict new cardiovascular events. Elevated lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] levels are a risk factor for cardiovascular disease in whites and also in blacks if they carry small apolipoprotein(a) [apo(a)] isoforms. The relationship of OxPL/apoB levels to race/ethnicity, cardiovascular risk factors, and apo(a) isoforms is not established.

Methods and Results—

OxPL/apoB levels were measured in 3481 subjects (1831 black, 1047 white, and 603 Hispanic subjects) in the Dallas Heart Study and correlated with age, sex, cardiovascular risk factors, and Lp(a) and apo(a) isoforms. Significant differences in OxPL/apoB levels were noted among racial/ethnic subgroups, with blacks having the highest levels compared with whites and Hispanics (
P
<0.001 for each comparison). OxPL/apoB levels generally did not correlate with age, sex, or risk factors. In the overall cohort, OxPL/apoB levels strongly correlated with Lp(a) (
r
=0.85,
P
<0.001), with the shape of the relationship demonstrating a “reverse L” shape for log-transformed values. The highest correlation was present in blacks, followed by whites and Hispanics; was dependent on apo(a) isoform size; and became progressively weaker with larger isoforms. The size of the major apo(a) isoform (number of kringle type IV repeats) was negatively associated with OxPL/apoB (
r
=−0.49,
P
<0.001) and Lp(a) (
r
=−0.61,
P
<0.001) regardless of racial/ethnic group. After adjustment for apo(a) isoform size, the relationship between OxPL/apoB and Lp(a) remained significant (
r
=0.67,
P
<0.001).

Conclusions—

OxPL/apoB levels vary according to race/ethnicity, are largely independent of cardiovascular risk factors, and are inversely associated with apo(a) isoform size. The association of OxPL with small apo(a) isoforms, in which a similar relationship is present among all racial/ethnic subgroups despite differences in Lp(a) levels, may be a key determinant of cardiovascular risk.
Plasma Fatty Acid Composition as a Predictor of Arterial Stiffness and Mortality
Authors: Anderson Simon G. , Sanders Thomas A.B. , Cruickshank J. Kennedy
Published: March 2009

Aortic stiffness predicts cardiovascular mortality and may be influenced by dietary fat composition. The hypothesis that plasma fat composition influences arterial stiffness and subsequent mortality was tested here in a prospective study. A total of 174 randomly sampled nondiabetic participants aged 45 to 74 years were recruited from local populations, stratified by ethnicity and gender, and followed up for mortality. Aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV), blood pressure, and fatty acid composition of plasma lipids were measured at baseline. PWV was associated with increased cardiovascular mortality and inversely related to the proportions of docosahexaenoic (ρ=−0.22;
P
=0.02) and arachidonic acids (ρ=−0.25;
P
<0.001) in plasma lipids. Principal component analyses identified a cluster characterized by higher proportions of palmitate, palmitoleic and oleic acid and lower proportions of linoleic, dihomo-γ linolenic, and arachidonic acids. This cluster was positively associated with PWV, central adiposity, smoking, and increased mortality (hazard ratio: 1.13; 95% CI: 1.01 to 1.27). A second cluster, with higher proportions of arachidonic, eicosapentaenoic, and docosahexaenoic and lower proportions of oleic, palmitic, and linoleic acid levels, was associated with lower PWV and systolic blood pressure but also decreased risk of mortality (hazard ratio: 0.57; 95% CI: 0.39 to 0.82), independent of PWV and blood pressure. These data suggest that plasma fatty acid profiles characterized by a higher proportion of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids are associated with decreased cardiovascular mortality, independent of the impact of aortic PWV. The results are consistent with an effect of dietary sources of n-3 long-chain polyunsaturates influencing arterial stiffness and mortality.
Compressive Strength Analysis for High Performance Fibers with Different Modulus in Tension and Compression
Authors: Leal A. Andres , Deitzel Joseph M. , Gillespie John W.
Published: March 2009

The assumption of equal tensile and compressive modulus necessary to determine single fiber axial compressive strength from the elastica loop test is relaxed by deriving a compressive strength equation based on the analysis of the flexural response of a fiber with different modulus in tension and compression. Previously determined tensile (E1t) and compressive (E1c ) modulus values for different high performance organic fibers with varying degrees of lateral molecular interactions are used to determine fiber compressive strength. The importance of using the bi-moduli equation becomes evident in the case of fibers that lack strong intermolecular interactions, since calculations done with the original loop test equation can result in an overestimation of the compressive strength on the order of 80%, as seen for the poly-(p-phenylene benzobisoxazole) fiber PBO. Kink band angles measured from looped fiber specimens are documented and correlated to the calculated compressive strength values.
Effect of Carbon Nanofibers on Mold Filling in a Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Molding System
Authors: Movva Siva , Gang Zhou  , Guerra Dante , Lee L. James
Published: March 2009

In this article, a new manufacturing method was used to prepare the hybrid composite, wherein carbon nanofibers were sprayed and bonded onto continuous fiber mats instead of pre-mixing them in the polymer resin. The effect of carbon nanofibers on the mold filling characteristics in a vacuum assisted resin transfer molding system was investigated. A simple one-dimensional flow model was used to correlate the permeability and porosity to the mold filling time. It was found that the dispersion and loading of the carbon nanofibers affected the permeability and porosity of the reinforcement system, and hence the mold filling time.
Prediction Using Panel Data Regression with Spatial Random Effects
Authors: Fingleton Bernard
Published: March 2009

This article considers some of the issues and difficulties relating to the use of spatial panel data regression in prediction, illustrated by the effects of mass immigration on wages and income levels in local authority areas of Great Britain. Motivated by contemporary urban economics theory, and using recent advances in spatial econometrics, the panel regression has wages dependent on employment density and the efficiency of the labor force. There are two types of spatial interaction, a spatial lag of wages and an autoregressive process for error components. The estimates suggest that increased employment densities will increase wage levels, but wages may fall if migrants are underqualified. This uncertainty highlights the fact that ex ante forecasting should be used with great caution as a basis for policy decisions.
`Being Regimented': Aspiration, Discipline and Identity Work in the British Parachute Regiment
Authors: Thornborrow Thomas , Brown Andrew D.
Published: March 2009

This paper analyses how the preferred self-conceptions of men in an elite military unit — the British Parachute Regiment — were disciplined by the organizationally based discursive resources on which they drew. The research contribution this paper makes is twofold. First, we argue that preferred self-conceptions (i.e. desired identities) are mechanisms for disciplining employees' identity work, and analyse how paratroopers were subject to, and constituted by, the discursive practices of the Regiment. Paratroopers' preferred conceptions of their selves were disciplined by understandings both of what it meant to be a paratrooper and of the institutional processes by which they were made. In talking about how the Regiment `manufactured' them, paratroopers provided insight on how the Regiment produced and reproduced the idealized identities to which they aspired. Second, to complement other understandings of identities, we suggest that people are often best characterized as `aspirants'. An aspirational identity is a story-type or template in which an individual construes him- or herself as one who is earnestly desirous of being a particular kind of person and self-consciously and consistently in pursuit of this objective. The recognition of subjectively construed identities as narrativized permits an appreciation of individuals as sophisticatedly agentic, while recognizing that their `choices' are made within frameworks of disciplinary power which both enable and restrict their scope for discursive manoeuvre.
Taking off the Heat: Narrative Sensemaking in Post-crisis Inquiry Reports
Authors: Boudes Thierry , Laroche Hervé
Published: March 2009

Crises represent moments when sensemaking fails. Official reports of post-crisis analyses re-establish patterns of sensemaking. Whereas scholars agree on the narrative basis of post-crisis sensemaking, the means by which meaning is recreated about the confusing events have not been fully investigated. To fill this gap, empirical data are drawn from the series of investigations that took place after the sudden and deadly heat wave that occurred in France during the summer of 2003. Introducing tools from narratology, this article analyses how these reports restore meaning by addressing the following questions: What happened? Was it foreseeable? and Who is responsible? The key narrative choices implied are mapped. A typology of crisis plots is proposed. Building on this typology, the article demonstrates that successive reports progressively built a focused, simplified story about the crisis. Methodological and practical implications for scholars and practitioners using inquiry reports for research and learning are also discussed.
Distributed Knowledge and Indeterminate Meaning: The Case of the Columbia Shuttle Flight
Authors: Dunbar Roger L. M. , Garud Raghu
Published: March 2009

We explore the processes that unfolded during NASA's ill-fated Columbia shuttle flight, as members of the mission team struggled to understand the significance of an unexpected foam-shedding event. It was difficult to categorize this event in real time, as two different criteria — a concern for safety and a concern for meeting schedules — were being used. Using in-depth data gathered on the Columbia shuttle flight, we describe the sensemaking processes that unfolded and discuss the implications for organizations.
End-of-life decisions in the UK involving medical practitioners
Authors: Seale C
Published: March 2009

This study estimates the frequency of different medical end-of-life decisions (ELDs) made in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2007–2008, comparing these with 2004. Postal survey was carried out with 8857 medical practitioners, of whom 3733 (42%) practitioners replied, with 2869 having attended a person who died in the previous year. The proportion of UK deaths involving (1) voluntary euthanasia (0.21%; CI: 0–0.52), (2) physician-assisted suicide (0.00%) and (3) ending of life without an explicit request from the patient (0.30%; CI: 0–0.60) is low. Better questions about ELDs showed both non-treatment decisions (21.8%; CI: 19.0–24.5) and double effect measures (17.1%; CI: 14.6–19.6) to be much less common than suggested in earlier estimates, rarely involving intent to end life or being judged to have shortened life by more than a day. Continuous deep sedation (16.5%; CI: 14.3–18.7) is relatively common in UK medical practice, particularly in hospitals, home care settings and with younger patients. Further findings about the distribution of ELDs across subgroups are also reported. Survey research in this area requires careful control over question wording if valid estimates and comparisons of the prevalence of ELDs are to be made. The high rate of sedation compared with other countries may be a cause for concern.
Changes in anticholinergic load from regular prescribed medications in palliative care as death approaches
Authors: Agar M , Currow D , Plummer J , Seidel R , Carnahan R , Abernethy AP
Published: March 2009

Although there is an understandable emphasis on the side effects of individual medications, the cumulative effects of medications have received little attention in palliative care prescribing. Anticholinergic load reflects a cumulative effect of medications that may account for several symptoms and adverse health outcomes frequently encountered in palliative care. A secondary analysis of 304 participants in a randomised controlled trial had their cholinergic load calculated using the Clinician-Rated Anticholinergic Scale (modified version) longitudinally as death approached from medication data collected prospectively by study nurses on each visit. Mean time from referral to death was 107 days, and mean 4.8 visits were conducted in which data were collected. Relationships to key factors were explored. Data showed that anticholinergic load rose as death approached because of increasing use of medications for symptom control. Symptoms significantly associated with increasing anticholinergic load included dry mouth and difficulty concentrating ( P < 0.05). There were also significant associations with increasing anticholinergic load and decreasing functional status (Australia-modified Karnofsky Performance Scale; and quality of life ( P < 0.05). This study has documented in detail the longitudinal anticholinergic load associated with medications used in a palliative care population between referral and death, demonstrating the biggest contributor to anticholinergic load in a palliative care population is from symptom-specific medications, which increased as death approached.
The malignant wound assessment tool: a validation study using a Delphi approach
Authors: Schulz V , Kozell K , Biondo PD , Stiles C , Tonkin K , Hagen NA
Published: March 2009

Malignant wounds, caused by the direct invasion of cancer into the skin, occur in cancer patients with primary skin tumours and as cutaneous metastasis in approximately 10% of patients with metastatic internal malignancies. Malignant wounds have a profound impact on patients, family members and health care providers. The assessment of the patient with malignant wounds can be complex and there is no widely accepted, consistent approach. Valid, descriptive survey research methods were used to develop the Malignant Wound Assessment Tool (MWAT). The authors developed two versions of the MWAT: a brief clinical version (MWAT-C) and a more detailed research version (MWAT-R). Domains include clinical wound features, physical effects and emotional and social impacts of the wound. The two tools underwent content and construct validity testing using a Delphi process. An international panel of professionals with clinical or research expertise related to malignant wounds was formed. Panelists participated in two rounds of review for each tool. Development and face validity testing of the MWAT-C and MWAT-R tools through the Delphi process have resulted in tools ready for clinical application and will support clinical and research activities to improve care for patients with this devastating condition.
Aggressive Behavior and Quality of Friendships
Authors: Fanti Kostas A. , Brookmeyer Kathryn A. , Henrich Christopher C. , Kuperminc Gabriel P.
Published: March 2009

The current study investigates linear and curvilinear associations between overt aggressive behavior and the adolescents’ reports of the quality of their friendships over time. Moderation by gender was also investigated. The sample consisted of 246 boys and 253 girls from the sixth and seventh grades of a large public middle school. Findings suggested a curvilinear association between aggression and friendship quality for boys such that nonaggressive and highly aggressive boys tended to perceive their relationships with friends more positively than did boys who exhibited moderate levels of overt aggression. In contrast, a negative linear association was found between aggression and friendship quality for girls. These findings provide evidence that the association between friendship quality and overt aggression is a complex phenomenon and point to the importance of examining gender differences and the curvilinear association between aggression and friendship quality.
Lysholm Score and Tegner Activity Level in Individuals with Normal Knees
Authors: Briggs Karen K. , Steadman J. Richard , Hay Connor J. , Hines Sophia L.
Published: March 2009

Background

The Lysholm score and Tegner activity scale are commonly used to document outcomes after arthroscopic knee surgery. These outcomes measurements are subjective in nature and evaluate performance and activity restrictions both before and after surgery, making them a valuable research tool when judging the effectiveness of surgical treatment.

Purpose

To establish a normal knee data set for the Lysholm and Tegner rating systems, as well as to show how these scores are affected by age and gender.

Study Design

Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods

A subjective questionnaire that included both the Lysholm score and Tegner activity grading scale was completed by 488 subjects in the community who considered their knee function normal. Any subject reporting a history of injury or surgery was excluded from the study. The average age was 41 years (range, 18-85), with 244 men and 244 women qualifying for statistical analysis.

Results

The average Lysholm score was 94 (range, 43-100), and the average Tegner activity level was 5.7 (range, 1-10). The Lysholm score and age demonstrated no correlation. The Tegner activity level was inversely correlated with age. The average Tegner activity level for men was 6.0, and the average activity scale for women was 5.4. There was no significant difference in the Lysholm score between men and women.

Conclusion

These data acquired from a normal, healthy population provide a standard point of reference for the injured or postsurgical knee. These data also serve as ideal tools when counseling patients about realistic expectations after surgery, based on age and gender.
Respiratory morbidities among working children of gem polishing industries, India
Authors: Tiwari RR , Saha A , Parikh JR
Published: March 2009

There are millions of working children worldwide. In gem polishing industry, exposure to occupational hazards of dust and chemicals used in polishing of gemstone may result in respiratory symptoms and respiratory disorders. The present study included 586 exposed and 569 comparison group subjects. Data was collected through personal interview, clinical examination, and chest radiography. The respiratory morbidity was diagnosed on the basis of clinical signs and symptoms and chest radiography. The study variables included age, sex, daily working hours, and duration of exposure. The mean age of the child laborers was 11.31 ± 5.34 years. Prevalence of respiratory morbidity was significantly high in the female child laborers. The other study variables namely age, duration of exposure, and daily working hours were found to be statistically non-significant. The prevalence of respiratory morbidity among child laborers of gem polishing industry in Jaipur was found to be 7%.
Asthma and chemical hypersensitivity: prevalence, etiology, and age of onset
Authors: Caress SM , Steinemann AC
Published: March 2009

This study investigates asthma’s national prevalence and potential overlap with chemical hypersensitivity. It also examines asthma’s etiology, age of onset, and demographic characteristics. Data were collected from a geographically weighted random sample of the continental U.S. (1058 cases), in four seasonal cohorts (2005–2006). The study found that 12.9% of the sample report asthma, 11.6% report chemical hypersensitivity, and 31.4% of those with asthma report chemical hypersensitivity. Among asthmatics, 38% report irritation from scented products, 37.2% report health problems from air fresheners, and 13.6% report their asthma was caused by toxic exposure. Asthma cases affected each racial/ethic group in roughly the same proportion, with nearly 50% classified as childhood onset.
Fluoride-induced thyroid dysfunction in rats: roles of dietary protein and calcium level
Authors: Wang H , Yang Z , Zhou B , Gao H , Yan X , Wang J
Published: March 2009

To assess the roles of dietary protein (Pr) and calcium (Ca) level associated with excessive fluoride (F) intake and the impact of dietary Pr, Ca, and F on thyroid function, 144 30-day-old Wistar albino rats were randomly allotted to six groups of 24 (female:male = 1:1). The six groups were fed (1) a normal control (NC) diet (17.92% Pr, 0.85% Ca = NC group); (2) the NC diet and high F (338 mg NaF [=150 mg F ion]/L in their drinking water = NC+F group); (3) low Pr and low Ca diet (10.01% Pr, 0.24% Ca = LPrLCa group); (4) low Pr and low Ca diet plus high F = LPrLCa+F group; (5) high Pr and low Ca diet plus high F (25.52% Pr, 0.25% Ca = HPrLCa+F group); and (6) low Pr and high Ca diet plus high F (10.60% Pr, 1.93% Ca = LPrHCa+F group). The areas of thyroid follicles were determined by Image-Proplus 5.1, and triiodothyronine (T3), free T3 (FT3), thyroxine (T4), and free T4 (FT4) levels in serum were measured by radioimmunoassay. The histopathological study revealed obviously flatted follicular epithelia cells and hyperplastic nodules, consisting of thyroid parafollicular cells that appeared by excessive F ingestion, on the 120th day. Pr or Ca supplementation reverses the F-induced damage in malnutrition. The serum T3, FT3, T4, and FT4 levels in the NC+F group were significantly decreased and significantly increased in the LPrLCa+F group. Thus, excessive F administration induces thyroid dysfunction in rats; dietary Pr and Ca level play key roles in F-induced thyroid dysfunction.
Evaluation of arsenic, cobalt, copper and manganese in biological Samples of Steel mill workers by electrothermal atomic absorption Spectrometry
Authors: Afridi HI , Kazi TG , Kazi NG , Jamali MK , Arain MB , Sirajuddin  , Kandhro GA , Shah AQ , Baig JA
Published: March 2009

The determination of trace and toxic elements in biological samples (blood, urine and scalp hair samples) of human beings is an important clinical test. The aim of our present study was to determine the concentration of arsenic (As), copper (Cu), cobalt (Co) and manganese (Mn), in biological samples of male production workers (PW) and quality control workers (QW) of steel mill, with aged 25–55 years, to assess the possible influence of environmental exposure. For comparison purpose, the same biological samples of unexposed healthy males of same age group were collected as control subjects. The determination of all elements in biological samples was carried out by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry, prior to microwave assisted acid digestion. The accuracy of the As, Cu, Co and Mn measurements was tested by simultaneously analyzing certified reference materials (CRMs) and for comparative purposes conventional wet acid digestion method was used on the same CRMs. No significant differences were observed between the analytical results and the certified values, using both methods (paired t-test at P > 0.05). The results indicate that concentrations of As, Cu, Co and Mn in all three biological samples of the exposed workers (QW and PW) were significantly higher than those of the controls. The possible correlation of these elements with the etiology of different physiological disorders is discussed. The results were also demonstrated the need of attention for improvements in workplace, ventilation and industrial hygiene practices.
Leisure Activities and Risk of Vascular Cognitive Impairment in Older Adults
Authors: Verghese Joe , Cuiling Wang  , Katz Mindy J. , Sanders Amy , Lipton Richard B.
Published: March 2009

``Vascular cognitive impairment'' refers to cognitive impairment caused or associated with vascular risk factors, and encompasses a cognitive spectrum ranging from mild cognitive impairment to dementia. We examined the association of leisure activity participation to risk of developing VCI in the Bronx aging study. Over 21 years, 71 of the 401 participants who were free of dementia or VCI at entry developed VCI (49 participants with VCI without dementia). We derived Cognitive and Physical Activity Scales based on frequency of leisure activity participation. A 1-point increase on the Cognitive, but not Physical Activity Scale, was associated with lower risk of VCI (hazard ratio 0.931, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.895-0.970) in Cox analysis. Participation in cognitive but not physical leisure activities is associated with lower risk of VCI with or without dementia. Prospective studies and clinical trials are needed to define the causal role of cognitive leisure activities in influencing vascular risk for cognitive decline.
Measuring Cognition in a Geriatric Outpatient Clinic: Rasch Analysis of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment
Authors: Koski Lisa , Xie Haiqun , Finch Lois
Published: March 2009

Objective: To evaluate the psychometric properties of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment as a quantitative measure of cognitive ability. Data analyzed: A total of 222 cases extracted from a clinical database (57-91 years) of patients screened for cognitive impairment in outpatient geriatric assessment clinics. Data collected: Demographic information and individual item responses to Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Results: Comparison of the data with a unidimensional Rasch model indicated that the total score obtained by summing across all items yields a reliable (0.75) quantitative estimate of global cognitive ability. All items fit the model and together spanned a range of difficulty from -3.75 to +2.88 logits. Items were assessed for differential item functioning across such patient characteristics as age, education, and language spoken. We provide a table for converting Montreal Cognitive Assessment total scores onto a linearly scaled score, with guidelines for interpreting changes in Montreal Cognitive Assessment score in terms of their statistical significance. Conclusions: The Montreal Cognitive Assessment can provide a reliable and valid quantitative estimate of cognitive ability in a geriatric cognitive disorders clinic setting.
Concentration of antibodies to extractable nuclear antigens and disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Agarwal S , Harper J , Kiely PDW
Published: March 2009

A hallmark of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is the production of autoantibodies directed against intracellular antigens. Antibodies to double stranded DNA (dsDNA) are most closely associated with the clinical manifestations of the condition and appear to have a direct role in pathogenesis. On the contrary, the relationship between disease activity in SLE and anti-extractable nuclear antigen (ENA) antibodies has not been well demonstrated. Despite this, commercial assays for the quantification of anti-ENA antibodies are now widely available, although their usefulness in clinical practice is not known. The aim of this study was to investigate whether there is an association between disease activity in SLE and concentrations of individual anti-ENA antibodies. A prospective 2-year study of 45 patients with SLE, known to be positive for at least one anti-ENA antibody, was performed. Disease activity was assessed using the SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI). Anti-ENA antibodies were quantified using a commercial antibody detection system. A total of 45 patients were studied over a 2-year period (median number of assessments 5, range 2–9). Of them 29 patients were positive for Ro, 8 for La, 9 for Sm and 27 for RNP antibodies. In the population as a whole, there was a weak relationship between peak SLEDAI score and anti-Sm concentration ( r = 0.57, NS), but no relation with the other anti-ENA antibodies. In a small number of patients, there appeared to be either a positive (Ro, Sm) or negative (La, Sm, RNP) association between ENA antibody concentration and disease activity over time; however, this was not apparent for the majority of individuals. These results show that in SLE, clinically significant changes in disease activity do not correlate well with concentrations of anti-ENA antibodies, either within the population as a whole or on an individual basis. Repeated quantitative measurement of anti-ENA antibodies does not therefore appear to provide useful additional information in assessing disease activity in SLE. The widespread application of commercial quantitative assays to routine clinical practice is not recommended.
Induction of autoimmunity in Brown Norway rats by oral and parenteral administration of sodium silicate
Authors: Al-Mogairen SM , Al-Arfaj AS , Meo SA ,   M Adam, Al-Hammad A , Gad El Rab MO
Published: March 2009

Silica and silicate may disturb immune function such as autoimmunity and tumour immunity. The main objective of this study was to examine the relation between sodium silicate and induction of autoimmunity in genetically susceptible rats. In this study, thirty Brown Norway rats were randomised into four treatment groups, the first and second group receiving 3 mg of sodium silicate (NaSiO4) (equivalent to 2 mg silica) in 0.2 mL of normal saline either per oral or subcutaneously, and the third and fourth group (control) receiving 0.2 mL of normal saline (0.9%) through the same corresponding route. A significant number of rats (80%) ( P < 0.05) which received sodium silicate by the subcutaneous route showed a high level of serum ANA compared with controls. In the oral, sodium silicate group showed high serum ANA in an insignificant number of rats. Other autoantibodies in both groups (anti-dsDNA, anti-Smith, anti-SSA, anti-SSB) showed gradual increased post exposure, but the numbers of rats with positive titres post exposure was statistically not significant. Silica exposure in rats appears to induce the development of autoimmunity. A longer duration post exposure to silicate seems to be associated with greater risks.
Mitral valve prolapse in young healthy individuals. An early index of autoimmunity?
Authors: Evangelopoulos ME , Toumanidis S , Sotou D , Evangelopoulos C , Mavrikakis M , Alevizaki M , Dimopoulos MA
Published: March 2009

Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is a benign valvular abnormality. However, an increased prevalence of MVP is reported in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and autoimmune thyroid disease. Our aim was to evaluate whether the presence of MVP in healthy individuals might indicate a premature index of subclinical autoimmune disorder. A total of 75 individuals with MVP and 44 individuals without MVP were identified by echocardiography. Serum samples were examined for various organ and non-organ specific autoantibodies. In all, 35 of the 75 individuals with MVP had at least one autoantibody. ANA were detected in 17/75 in MVP(+) versus 1/44 in the MVP(−), ( P < 0.05), and anti-ENA in 6/75 in the MVP(+) versus 0/44 in the control group, P = ns. In the MVP(+) group, thyroid autoantibodies, IgA and IgG RF were found at a statistically significant higher incidence, 16/75, 11/75 and 10/75 versus 1/44, 0/44 and 0/44 in the MVP(−)group, respectively ( P < 0.05). The levels of IgG anticardiolipin antibodies were significantly higher in the MVP(+) group, P < 0.05. The presence of organ and non-organ specific autoantibodies in young healthy MVP(+) individuals insinuate the presence of subclinical autoimmunity and might suggest that autoimmune mechanisms might be involved in its pathogenesis. A follow-up of these individuals might elucidate whether MVP constitutes an early index of autoimmunity.
Mycophenolate mofetil in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a prospective pharmacokinetic study
Authors: Roland M , Barbet C , Paintaud G , Magdelaine-Beuzelin C , Diot E , Halimi JM , Lebranchu Y , Nivet H , Büchler M
Published: March 2009

Few studies have assessed the pharmacokinetics of mycophenolic acid (MPA) in non-transplanted patients treated with mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), and little information is available concerning a concentration-effect relationship between the MPA area under the curve (AUC) and the immunological parameters in patients treated for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We evaluated the variations in pharmacokinetics for MPA in patients with SLE and the relationship between MPA-AUC and markers of disease activity. MPA blood concentrations were measured through enzyme-multiplied immunotechnique (T0, T30’, T1h, T2h, T3h and T4h) to determine the MPA AUC0–4h in patients treated with MMF since at least 4 weeks for SLE. Clinical examination, biochemical analyses and immunological analyses were performed on the same day. The relationship between MPA exposure and disease activity markers was assessed. A total of 20 patients were included in the study. The diagnosis of SLE had been made 87 ± 72 months before and patients had been treated with MMF for 31 ± 30 months. Mean dose of MMF on the day of the study was 1600 ± 447 mg/day. Mean MPA AUC0–4h was 28.4 ± 13.6 mg h/L, mean dose-normalised AUC0–4h was 35.5 ± 13.8 mg h/L and mean MPA C0 was 3.1 ± 2.2 mg/L. There was a high correlation between MPA AUC0–4h and MPA C0, ( r = 0.80; P < 0.001). AUC0–4h tended to be lower in patients who had low complement C3 concentration (<0.67 g/L) and low complement C4 concentration (<0.14 g/L). Moreover, there was a significant relationship between MPA trough levels and complement C4 concentrations ( P = 0.043). We confirmed high inter-individual variability of MPA AUC in patients treated with MMF for SLE. This suggests that MPA exposure may be unpredictable with a fixed MMF dose. There was a concentration-effect relationship between MPA exposure (C0) and immunological disease activity parameters.
Cellular therapy of systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Tyndall A
Published: March 2009

Immunoablation with autologous hematopoietic stem cell rescue has been used in over 1,300 autoimmune disease patients, around 150 with SLE. Some patients have experienced durable remissions with loss of autoantibodies, whereas others either did not respond or died as a result of the treatment. Prospective randomised trials are required and are being planned to establish the place for this potentailly curative strategy. Mesenchymal stem cells are in an exploratory phase for the treatment of acute autoimmune disease including SLE. The principle is that they home to inflammed tissue and exert an antiinflammatory paracrine effect.