bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Chronic Active Herpes Simplex Type 2 Encephalitis in an Asymptomatic Immunocompetent Child
Authors: Brown William D. , Bearer Elaine L. , Donahue John E.
Published: February 2010

A unique form of chronic, active, granulomatous herpes simplex type 2 encephalitis is described in an asymptomatic, immunocompetent 8-year-old girl who acquired the virus as a neonate. The extensive, bilateral cerebral parenchymal involvement was discovered incidentally. Diagnosis was confirmed by a combination of serial neuroimaging, brain biopsy, and quantitative polymerase chain reaction targeted to DNA sequences in the glycoprotein G gene, allowing differentiation between herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2. The clinical course over a 5-year period, treatment with intermittent intravenous steroids, and daily valacyclovir, diagnostic imaging, and laboratory studies are reviewed in detail. This form of herpes simplex virus type 2 encephalitis hasn’t been described previously and is significant because of its prolonged indolent course, absence of neurological findings or suggestive history, and benign behavior in this child, who is now 14 years old. The authors believe this entity can be unsuspected and underdiagnosed in the general pediatric population, especially in those with a prior maternal history of herpes simplex virus type 2 infection.
5q14.3 Deletion Manifesting as Mitochondrial Disease and Autism: Case Report
Authors: Ezugha Herbert , Goldenthal Michael , Valencia Ignacio , Anderson Carol E. , Legido Agustin , Marks Harold
Published: February 2010

Mitochondrial disorders are usually associated with defects of 1 or more of the 5 complexes (I to V) of the electron transport chain, or respiratory chain. Complex I and IV are the 2 most frequent abnormalities of the electron transport chain in humans. The authors report the case of a 12-year-old boy with dysmorphic facies, mental retardation, autism, epilepsy, and leg weakness. Buccal swab electron transport chain analysis revealed severe decrease in complex IV and mild reduction in complex I activity levels. Chromosomal microarray studies, using array-based comparative genomic hybridization, revealed a 1-Mb deletion in the 5q14.3 region. This case illustrates that this deletion can be associated with complex I and IV deficits, hence manifesting as a mitochondrial disease. It could be hypothesized that genes that either encode or regulate the expression and/or assembly of complex IV or I subunits are located within the deleted region of 5q14.3.
God’s Commandments and their Political Presence: Notes of a Tradition on the ‘Ground’ of Ethics
Authors: Ulrich Hans G.
Published: February 2010

The paper describes the biblical understanding of God’s commanded law in its indispensable political form, i.e. the law of God’s people. This is distinct from a confinement of God’s commandments to a moral code independent from that political context as it is present as the ‘political worship’ of God’s people.This worship has to be seen as the ground for ethics. From here follow consequences for human laws and legislation concerning human life forms. That disposition of theological ethics has been elaborated in a particular form by the Lutheran-Reformed tradition especially in its concepts of God’s twofold regiment and the estates.
Identification and validation of lupus nephritis cases using administrative data
Authors: Chibnik LB , Massarotti EM , Costenbader KH
Published: February 2010

Large administrative databases such as Medicaid billing databases could be used to study care and outcomes of lupus nephritis if these patients could be correctly identified from claims data. We aimed to develop and validate an algorithm for the correct identification of cases of lupus nephritis using ICD-9 billing codes. We used the Research Patient Data Resource query tool at our institution to identify patients with potential lupus nephritis. We compared four ICD-9 code based strategies, identifying patients seen between 2000 and 2007 with Medicaid medical insurance with greater than two claims for a diagnosis of SLE (ICD-9 code 710.0) and a combination of greater than two nephrologist visits and/or renal ICD-9 codes. We assessed performance using the positive predictive value. Two hundred and thirty four subjects were identified and medical records reviewed. Our third strategy, based on a combination of lupus and renal ICD-9 codes and nephrologist encounter claims, had the highest positive predictive value (88%) for the identification of patients with lupus nephritis. This strategy may offer a sound method of identifying patients with lupus nephritis for health services research in addition to serving as a model for using claims data as a way to better understand rare diseases such as lupus.
Pulse cyclophosphamide treatment for severe refractory cutaneous lupus erythematosus
Authors: Raptopoulou A. , Linardakis C. , Sidiropoulos P. , Kritikos HD , Boumpas DT
Published: February 2010

Cutaneous lupus erythematosus includes a variety of lupus erythematosus specific skin lesions that, in some cases, can be disfiguring and refractory to conventional therapy. This short report describes our experience in treating six patients with severe, refractory subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus with monthly cyclophosphamide pulses, followed by azathioprine as maintenance therapy. Significant clinical improvement of the subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus lesions was achieved in all patients, with four patients in complete remission and two in partial remission. Mean time to clinical response was 4.33 ± 1.36 months. Minor adverse events and no relapses were noted in a follow-up period of more than 3 years. Lupus (2010) 19, 744—747.
(Re)engaging marginalized groups through sport: The Homeless World Cup
Authors: Sherry Emma
Published: February 2010

Marginalized groups, such as those experiencing homelessness, are largely excluded from participation in, and the benefits provided by, sport programs and events. This study uses the case of the ‘Street Socceroos’, the Australian Homeless World Cup team, to argue that participation in sport can provide beneficial outcomes for participants, and through a process of (re)engagement, develop social capital. Drawing on interviews and observations with team members before and after the Homeless World Cup, this study found both intrinsic benefits of sport participation, and broader social capital outcomes. Although sport participation alone cannot account for these beneficial outcomes, this study demonstrates the role that sport programs can play in the (re-) engagement of marginalized people within the broader community.
Building a motor habitus: Physical education in the Portuguese Estado Novo
Authors: Domingos Nuno
Published: February 2010

The physical education model implemented by the Portuguese Estado Novo regime (1933—74), a specific adaptation of European models of physical education, aimed to train the ‘body’ and oversee the movements of athletes and students. This model intended to impose, through the action of state institutions, a practice that led to the creation of what is referred to in this article as an official motor habitus. Founded on an ideological basis, this state-controlled ideal type of bodily performance aspired ultimately to regulate all social phenomena that influence the production of sporting movements. Based on the works of the most relevant theoreticians of the Portuguese physical education model in this period, this article will analyse the ideological conception of an orthodox model of physical education that was a particular product of ‘state reasoning’.
Risks to health professionals from hazardous drugs in Japan: A pilot study of environmental and biological monitoring of occupational exposure to cyclophosphamide
Authors: Sugiura Shin-ichi , Asano Mika , Kinoshita Kuninori , Tanimura Manabu , Nabeshima Toshitaka
Published: February 2010

Purpose. In Japan, concerns exist regarding the dangers inherent when handling cytotoxic drugs, particularly drugs such as 5-FU, Thiotepa, Cytarabine, Tegaful, and Sizofiran which are contained in ampoules or vials, since nurses and medical doctors have been preparing these cytotoxic drugs in the open spaces of wards in the absence of appropriate garments and personal protective equipment. In addition, the administration tubes for these dangerous drugs have been exchanged at the patients’ bedside, typically in rooms shared by several patients. To gain insight into the severity of the occupational hazards posed by these practices, we conducted a pilot study of environmental and biological monitoring of occupational exposure to cyclophosphamide (CP).

Setting. At Nagoya University Hospital, Nagoya, Japan, in February 2006, two departments, A and B, were monitored with surface-wipe, and urine samples were analyzed using the Sessink method (exposure control, The Netherlands). Department A had a preparation room with biological safety cabinet (BSC) where the pharmacists prepare cytotoxic drugs. Department B did not have a BSC.

Results. Many areas of the treatment rooms were contaminated with CP. CP was detected on tables and telephone stands where cytotoxic drugs were not used as well as tables used to prepare cytotoxic drugs. Significant differences in CP concentrations were detected from the urine of two of the three nurses who cared for the same patients without gloves. The nurses rotated and inherited the patient who had the highest risk of contamination. CP was detected only once from the urine of the medical doctor who prepared CP. He was not wearing any PPE other than gloves. All of the pharmacists wearing PPE were free from contamination of CP.

Discussion. Regardless of the use of BSC, wards were contaminated with CP. The contamination may not occur due to the sealing used in CP containers and administration tubes when discarding them. CP was detected only once in the urine of a medical doctor who prepared CP by warming it. The cause may be inhalation of CP gas from the injector. The contamination of the nurses may be from dermal absorption because absorption continued even after the shift ended and the nurses left the facility. CP was not detected in pharmacists who followed the guidelines for preparation of CP. All of the medical staff should follow the guidelines when they handle CP.
Educational Inequality in the EU
Authors: Schlicht Raphaela , Stadelmann-Steffen Isabelle , Freitag Markus
Published: February 2010

Since the publication of the OECD’s Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), scholarly interest in analysing the effectiveness and performance of education policy has risen again. The present article follows this path and presents the first empirical evaluation of the influence of national education policies on educational inequality in the European Union member states. We examine whether the availability of preschool education, an all-day school tradition, tracking during secondary education, a large private school sector, average class size and education expenditures moderate the relationship between individual social background and educational success. As a main finding, our multi-level analyses show that education policy affects educational inequality very differently, an outcome that is most visible when comparing West European and post-communist countries.
EU Issue Voting: Asset or Liability?
Authors: de Vries Catherine E.
Published: February 2010

This study develops and tests arguments about how political parties’ electoral fortunes in national elections are influenced by voters’ preferences regarding the European Union (EU). To date, there is increasing evidence demonstrating the impact of EU issues on vote choice in national elections — a process commonly referred to as EU issue voting. Yet little is known about which parties actually gain or lose as a result of EU issue voting. Using a two-step hierarchical estimation procedure, I first estimate an individual-level model of vote choice estimating the impact of EU preferences for individual parties. The first stage of the analysis reveals that the extent of EU issue voting varies substantially among political parties. In the second stage, I utilize party characteristics to account for this variation across parties by using an estimated dependent variable model. The analysis demonstrates that the inter-party variation in EU issue voting is largely a function of two factors: parties’ intrinsic positioning regarding the EU and strategic considerations. The empirical analysis employs data from UK, Danish, Dutch and German elections between 1992 and 2002.
The European Economic and Monetary Union and Labour Market Reform
Authors: Bednarek-Sekunda Elżbieta , Jong-A-Pin Richard , de Haan Jakob
Published: February 2010

We examine whether the EMU has led to greater labour market flexibility, differentiating between reform that enhances the capacity of an economy to adjust to economic shocks and reform that aims to increase long-run output. Based on a panel model and using OECD data on labour market reforms for 27 OECD countries over the period 1994—2004, we find that the two types of labour market reform are driven by different variables. Most importantly, our results suggest that the EMU has had no effect on reform that enhances the economy’s capacity to adjust to shocks. Most of our evidence for reform that increases long-run output suggests that the EMU has not affected this type of reform either.
Emotional Intelligence, Leadership Style, and Perceived Leadership Effectiveness
Authors: Weinberger Lisa Ann
Published: February 2010

Effective leadership is critical for today’s rapidly changing organizations. Emotional intelligence has been identified by some as that crucial element needed for this effective leadership. Although the research is growing, there still remains a gap on the relationships that exist between emotional intelligence and leadership. The study outlined in this article explored the relationships between emotional intelligence, leadership style, and leadership effectiveness. One hundred fifty-one managers completed the MSCEIT, an ability-measuring instrument of emotional intelligence. Those managers’ direct reports were asked to complete the MLQ5x, on their perceptions of their managers’ leadership style and leadership effectiveness. The results showed that there are no relationships between a manager’s emotional intelligence and leadership style or the leader’s perceived effectiveness. Implications for human resource development theory and practice are discussed.
Feasibility of Single-Access Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy in Super-Super Obese Patients
Authors: Saber Alan A. , El-Ghazaly Tarek H.
Published: February 2010

Background: The sleeve gastrectomy procedure has been gaining popularity because of its simplicity and favorable outcomes. This study reports the experience with a single-access approach to laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy in super-super obese patients. Methods: Four super-super obese patients having a mean body mass index of 62.7 kg/m2 underwent single-access laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. The same perioperative protocol and operative techniques were implemented for all 4 patients. Results: A total of 4 single-access laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomies in super-super obese patients were successfully performed using this technique. Mean operating time was 126 minutes. One patient required the insertion of an additional trocar. There were no mortalities or postoperative complications noted. Most comorbidities either improved or resolved during a mean follow-up of 5.3 months. Conclusion: Single-access laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy in the super-super obese is safe, feasible, and reproducible.
Grain boundary engineering: An overview after 25 years
Authors: Randle V.
Published: February 2010

In 1984, ‘grain boundary design’, later known as ‘grain boundary engineering (GBE)’, was proposed. The central premise of GBE is that specific thermomechanical treatments, mainly on face centred cubic materials which readily form annealing twins, can be used to improve resistance to various forms of intergranular degradation such as corrosion, cracking or embrittlement. Engagement with the concept has accelerated in recent years. This overview charts the progress of GBE from its inception 25 years ago to the present day, including suggestions of key topics for ongoing or future research. These topics comprise confirmation of which boundaries are ‘special’ in terms of crystallography and properties, optimisation of processing regimes, new approaches to GBE in systems without annealing twinning and incorporation of connectivity metrics, especially in three dimensions.
Self-healing effect on worn surface of NiTi shape memory alloy
Authors: Abedini M. , Ghasemi H. M. , Nili Ahmadabadi M.
Published: February 2010

The effect of shape memory on the wear track recovery of a NiTi alloy after sliding tests at various temperatures was investigated. The surface profiles of the wear track were obtained before and after heating the worn samples to a temperature above its austenitic transformation finish temperature. The results showed that ∼28% of wear track area was recovered at 0°C wear testing temperature under a normal load of 80 N due to martensite–austenite transformation upon heating. The recovery reached to a value of ∼7% at a wear testing temperature of 25°C. The shape memory effect of the material was also characterised by three point bending tests at various testing temperatures. Comparison of shape memory effect in wear and bending tests showed that with increasing testing temperature, the amount of per cent recovery decreased and followed almost the same trend in both tests.
Exploring the evolutionary dynamics of plasmids: the Acinetobacter pan-plasmidome
Authors: Fondi Marco , Bacci Giovanni , Brilli Matteo , Papaleo Maria Cristiana , Mengoni Alessio , Vaneechoutte Mario , Dijkshoorn Lenie , Fani Renato
Published: February 2010

Background

Prokaryotic plasmids have a dual importance in the microbial world: first they have a great impact on the metabolic functions of the host cell, providing additional traits that can be accumulated in the cell without altering the gene content of the bacterial chromosome. Additionally and/or alternatively, from a genome perspective, plasmids can provide a basis for genomic rearrangements via homologous recombination and so they can facilitate the loss or acquisition of genes during these events, which eventually may lead to horizontal gene transfer (HGT). Given their importance for conferring adaptive traits to the host organisms, the interest in plasmid sequencing is growing and now many complete plasmid sequences are available online.

Results

By using the newly developed Blast2Network bioinformatic tool, a comparative analysis was performed on the plasmid and chromosome sequence data available for bacteria belonging to the genus Acinetobacter, an ubiquitous and clinically important group of γ-proteobacteria. Data obtained showed that, although most of the plasmids lack mobilization and transfer functions, they have probably a long history of rearrangements with other plasmids and with chromosomes. Indeed, traces of transfers between different species can be disclosed.

Conclusions

We show that, by combining plasmid and chromosome similarity, identity based, network analysis, an evolutionary scenario can be described even for highly mobile genetic elements that lack extensively shared genes. In particular we found that transposases and selective pressure for mercury resistance seem to have played a pivotal role in plasmid evolution in Acinetobacter genomes sequenced so far.
Microevolutionary dynamics of a macroevolutionary key innovation in a Lepidopteran herbivore
Authors: Heidel-Fischer Hanna M , Vogel Heiko , Heckel David G , Wheat Christopher W
Published: February 2010

Background

A molecular population genetics understanding is central to the study of ecological and evolutionary functional genomics. Population genetics identifies genetic variation and its distribution within and among populations, it reveals the demographic history of the populations studied, and can provide indirect insights into historical selection dynamics. Here we use this approach to examine the demographic and selective dynamics acting of a candidate gene involved in plant-insect interactions. Previous work documents the macroevolutionary and historical ecological importance of the nitrile-specifier protein (Nsp), which facilitated the host shift of Pieridae butterflies onto Brassicales host plants ~80 Myr ago.

Results

Here we assess the microevolutionary dynamics of the Nsp gene by studying the within and among-population variation at Nsp and reference genes in the butterfly Pieris rapae (Small Cabbage White). Nsp exhibits unexpectedly high amounts of amino acid polymorphism, unequally distributed across the gene. The vast majority of genetic variation exists within populations, with little to no genetic differentiation among four populations on two continents. A comparison of synonymous and nonsynonymous substitutions in 70 randomly chosen genes among P. rapae and its close relative Pieris brassicae (Large Cabbage White) finds Nsp to have a significantly relaxed functional constraint compared to housekeeping genes. We find strong evidence for a recent population expansion and no role for strong purifying or directional selection upon the Nsp gene.

Conclusions

The microevolutionary dynamics of the Nsp gene in P. rapae are dominated by recent population expansion and variation in functional constraint across the repeated domains of the Nsp gene. While the high amounts of amino acid diversity suggest there may be significant functional differences among allelic variants segregating within populations, indirect tests of selection could not conclusively identify a signature of historical selection. The importance of using this information for planning future studies of potential performance and fitness consequences of the observed variation is discussed.
TAF6δ orchestrates an apoptotic transcriptome profile and interacts functionally with p53
Authors: Wilhelm Emmanuelle , Kornete Mara , Targat Brice , Vigneault-Edwards Jimmy , Frontini Mattia , Tora Laszlo , Benecke Arndt , Bell Brendan
Published: February 2010

Background

TFIID is a multiprotein complex that plays a pivotal role in the regulation of RNA polymerase II (Pol II) transcription owing to its core promoter recognition and co-activator functions. TAF6 is a core TFIID subunit whose splice variants include the major TAF6α isoform that is ubiquitously expressed, and the inducible TAF6δ. In contrast to TAF6α, TAF6δ is a pro-apoptotic isoform with a 10 amino acid deletion in its histone fold domain that abolishes its interaction with TAF9. TAF6δ expression can dictate life versus death decisions of human cells.

Results

Here we define the impact of endogenous TAF6δ expression on the global transcriptome landscape. TAF6δ was found to orchestrate a transcription profile that included statistically significant enrichment of genes of apoptotic function. Interestingly, gene expression patterns controlled by TAF6δ share similarities with, but are not equivalent to, those reported to change following TAF9 and/or TAF9b depletion. Finally, because TAF6δ regulates certain p53 target genes, we tested and demonstrated a physical and functional interaction between TAF6δ and p53.

Conclusion

Together our data define a TAF6δ-driven apoptotic gene expression program and show crosstalk between the p53 and TAF6δ pathways.
Using genetic algorithms to optimise current and future health planning - the example of ambulance locations
Authors: Sasaki Satoshi , Comber Alexis J , Suzuki Hiroshi , Brunsdon Chris
Published: February 2010

Background

Ambulance response time is a crucial factor in patient survival. The number of emergency cases (EMS cases) requiring an ambulance is increasing due to changes in population demographics. This is decreasing ambulance response times to the emergency scene. This paper predicts EMS cases for 5-year intervals from 2020, to 2050 by correlating current EMS cases with demographic factors at the level of the census area and predicted population changes. It then applies a modified grouping genetic algorithm to compare current and future optimal locations and numbers of ambulances. Sets of potential locations were evaluated in terms of the (current and predicted) EMS case distances to those locations.

Results

Future EMS demands were predicted to increase by 2030 using the model (R2 = 0.71). The optimal locations of ambulances based on future EMS cases were compared with current locations and with optimal locations modelled on current EMS case data. Optimising the location of ambulance stations locations reduced the average response times by 57 seconds. Current and predicted future EMS demand at modelled locations were calculated and compared.

Conclusions

The reallocation of ambulances to optimal locations improved response times and could contribute to higher survival rates from life-threatening medical events. Modelling EMS case 'demand' over census areas allows the data to be correlated to population characteristics and optimal 'supply' locations to be identified. Comparing current and future optimal scenarios allows more nuanced planning decisions to be made. This is a generic methodology that could be used to provide evidence in support of public health planning and decision making.
Heartfelt Thanks to Punch for the Picture: Frederick Douglass and the Transnational Jokework of Slave Caricature
Authors: Chaney Michael A.
Published: February 2010

Chaney analyzes cartoons representing slaves and slavery from the British satirical periodical Punch, or the London Charivari to argue that African American readers such as Frederick Douglass engaged in an evolving role as readers, interpreters, and users of Punch's iconographic discourse—even when, after the outbreak of the Civil War, the political sensibilities of the British periodical were no longer sympathetic to the cause of abolition. Reading the ekphrastic relation between Punch cartoons of Shakespearean mock-ups of Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis and Douglass's citation of these images in various mid-nineteenth-century speeches, Chaney argues that this intertextual and transatlantic dialogue with Punch enabled Douglass to renegotiate inscriptions of racialization, authority, and iconic celebrity. Beyond the cartoons, key pieces of evidence utilized in the essay include humorous asides from Samuel Ringgold Ward during an 1853 address of the Congregational Union in England, Douglass's speech “The Proclamation and a Negro Army” (1863), and several of Douglass's statements about the racial and political value of his hair from various sources.
A Wayward Art: Battle-Pieces and Melville's Poetic Turn
Authors: Marrs Cody
Published: February 2010

Marrs's essay considers how Melville's Battle-Pieces and Aspects of the War (1866) provides an immanent account, or inside narrative, of the author's transition from novelist to poet. Focusing on the relation between his figurations of time and the structures of his verse, Marrs argues that Melville's turn to poetry originates not in a politico-aesthetic reversal or withdrawal—as some critics have argued—but rather in a revised understanding of historical change. In his experience of the Civil War, Melville comes to perceive history as an agent of destructive repetition. This altered historical sensibility, Marrs demonstrates, not only leads him to conjoin the South's rebellion to an extended series of upheavals, from the bloody coups of ancient Rome to the peasant rebellions of medieval France, but also stimulates the very form of his poetry, in which damaged rhymes, broken meters, and twisted syntax attempt to carry the weight of the war and its chronopolitical meanings. In Battle-Pieces, the war's historical significance becomes a matter of intense formal interest, as Melville connects the mechanics of his verse to an idea of aesthetic time according to which poetry's aleatory and self-determined temporality exceeds or escapes the force of historical necessity. What Melville creates in Battle-Pieces through this fusion of politics and aesthetics is nothing less than a novel lyric form, one whose strange capaciousness has everything to do with its refractions and rearrangements of historical time.
Double bromodomain protein BET-1 and MYST HATs establish and maintain stable cell fates inC. elegans
Authors: Shibata Yukimasa , Takeshita Hisako , Sasakawa Noriko , Sawa Hitoshi
Published: February 2010

The maintenance of cell fate is important for normal development and tissue homeostasis. Epigenetic mechanisms, including histone modifications, are likely to play crucial roles in cell-fate maintenance. However, in contrast to the established functions of histone methylation, which are mediated by the polycomb proteins, the roles of histone acetylation in cell-fate maintenance are poorly understood. Here, we show that the C. elegans acetylated-histone-binding protein BET-1 is required for the establishment and maintenance of stable fate in various lineages. In most bet-1 mutants, cells adopted the correct fate initially, but at later stages they often transformed into a different cell type. By expressing BET-1 at various times in development and examining the rescue of the Bet-1 phenotype, we showed that BET-1 functions both at the time of fate acquisition, to establish a stable fate, and at later stages, to maintain the established fate. Furthermore, the disruption of the MYST HATs perturbed the subnuclear localization of BET-1 and caused bet-1-like phenotypes, suggesting that BET-1 is recruited to its targets through acetylated histones. Our results therefore indicate that histone acetylation plays a crucial role in cell-fate maintenance.
Home telemonitoring for congestive heart failure: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Polisena Julie , Tran Khai , Cimon Karen , Hutton Brian , McGill Sarah , Palmer Krisan , Scott Richard E
Published: February 2010

We conducted a systematic review of the literature about home telemonitoring compared with usual care. An electronic literature search was conducted to identify studies of home telemonitoring use in congestive heart failure (CHF) patients. Twenty-one original studies on home telemonitoring for patients with CHF were included (3082 patients). A random effects model was used to compute treatment efficacy to measure the average effect of the intervention across all studies where the quantitative pooling of results was appropriate. Home telemonitoring reduced mortality (risk ratio = 0.64; 95% CI: 0.48–0.85) compared with usual care. Several studies suggested that home telemonitoring also helped to lower the number of hospitalizations and the use of other health services. Patient quality of life and satisfaction with home telemonitoring were similar or better than with usual care. More studies of higher methodological quality are required to give more precise information about the potential clinical effectiveness of home telehealth interventions.
Cost-effectiveness of a community-based obesity control programme
Authors: Joo Nam-Seok , Park Yong-Woo , Park Kyung-Hee , Kim Chan-Won , Kim Bom-Taeck
Published: February 2010

We evaluated two 12-week long community-based obesity control programmes in Korea. One was a visiting-type programme (V-type) ( n = 515) administered by a public health centre and the other was a remote-type programme (R-type) ( n = 410) utilizing an Internet website and mobile phones with a short message service. The total cost for the intention-to-treat subjects was US$116,993 in the V-type programme and $24,555 in the R-type programme. In the per-protocol subjects, 66% of V-type participants ( n = 117) achieved the target bodyweight reduction (5%) and 13% of R-type participants ( n = 15). In the per-protocol subjects, the cost per person was $227 (V-type) and $60 (R-type). The cost per person achieving the target weight reduction was $975 (V-type) and $1637 (R-type). The average amount that participants were willing to pay was $71 (V-type) and $21 (R-type). The cost-effectiveness of the visiting-type community-based, short-duration obesity control programme was higher than the remote-type programme.
Telephone-supported care coordination in an Australian veterans population: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Wootton Richard , Gramotnev Helen , Hailey David
Published: February 2010

An evaluation was undertaken on the effectiveness and efficiency of care coordination in delivering health services to Australian veterans with chronic or complex medical conditions requiring multidisciplinary care and who had moderate to high care needs. The veterans participated in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) supported by the Department of Veterans' Affairs. For evaluation of the RCT, information on cost of care and quality of life (QOL) was collected before the commencement of coordinated care and at follow-up after 12 months. Of 525 veterans who were recruited, 481 were surveyed at baseline (243 in the intervention group and 238 controls). At follow-up, 421 were surveyed (213 intervention and 208 controls). There were no significant differences between the coordinated care and control groups of veterans in costs of care or in QOL measurements using the SF-12 Health Survey and the EuroQol Group EQ-5D. These findings are consistent with those reported in earlier studies which suggest that benefits from care coordination programmes may take some time to emerge.
The h subunit of eIF3 promotes reinitiation competence during translation of mRNAs harboring upstream open reading frames
Authors: Roy Bijoyita , Vaughn Justin N. , Kim Byung-Hoon , Zhou Fujun , Gilchrist Michael A. , Von Arnim Albrecht G.
Published: February 2010

Upstream open reading frames (uORFs) are protein coding elements in the 5′ leader of messenger RNAs. uORFs generally inhibit translation of the main ORF because ribosomes that perform translation elongation suffer either permanent or conditional loss of reinitiation competence. After conditional loss, reinitiation competence may be regained by, at the minimum, reacquisition of a fresh methionyl-tRNA. The conserved h subunit of Arabidopsis eukaryotic initiation factor 3 (eIF3) mitigates the inhibitory effects of certain uORFs. Here, we define more precisely how this occurs, by combining gene expression data from mutated 5′ leaders of Arabidopsis AtbZip11 (At4g34590) and yeast GCN4 with a computational model of translation initiation in wild-type and eif3h mutant plants. Of the four phylogenetically conserved uORFs in AtbZip11, three are inhibitory to translation, while one is anti-inhibitory. The mutation in eIF3h has no major effect on uORF start codon recognition. Instead, eIF3h supports efficient reinitiation after uORF translation. Modeling suggested that the permanent loss of reinitiation competence during uORF translation occurs at a faster rate in the mutant than in the wild type. Thus, eIF3h ensures that a fraction of uORF-translating ribosomes retain their competence to resume scanning. Experiments using the yeast GCN4 leader provided no evidence that eIF3h fosters tRNA reaquisition. Together, these results attribute a specific molecular function in translation initiation to an individual eIF3 subunit in a multicellular eukaryote.
Prophylactic Antifungal Agents Used After Lung Transplantation
Authors: Marino Elizabeth , Gallagher Jason C
Published: February 2010

Objective:

To review the data supporting available antifungal agents and compare regimens utilized to prevent fungal infection in lung transplant recipients.

Data Sources:

Literature retrieval was accessed through MEDLINE (1950 through October 2009) and United Network for Organ Sharing online database (available data through October 2009), using the terms lung transplantation, prophylaxis, and fungal infection. In addition, reference citations from publications identified were reviewed.

Study Selection And Data Extraction:

All articles or related abstracts in English identified from the data sources above were evaluated. Literature including adult lung transplant recipients who received systemic antifungal prophylaxis to prevent invasive fungal infections (IFIs) was included in the review.

Data Synthesis:

IFIs after lung transplantation remain a common postoperative problem and are associated with high mortality. The lung is the most vulnerable solid organ to be transplanted, as it is the main organ responsible for gas exchange and therefore the high risk for pulmonary-related IFIs. It is most susceptible to developing an IFI, as it serves as a medium for organisms traveling from air to human tissue, potentially causing life-threatening infections. Such infections typically involve Candida and Aspergillus spp. and tend to occur within the first 12 months after transplant. Although there has been an increase in lung transplants performed over the past decade, no standard antifungal prophylactic regimen exists. Literature describing antifungals used to prevent IFI after transplant is scarce, which may be due to a lack of consistency in regimens used between transplant centers. Several regimens have been described utilizing different antifungal agents as both monotherapy and combination therapy. The majority of the literature reviewed here describes aerosolized amphotericin B formulations and azole antifungals demonstrating an overall decreased risk of fungal infection after lung transplantation. It has become the standard of practice to initiate some form of antifungal prophylaxis in these patients.

Conclusions:

The risk of fungal infection after lung transplant is multifactorial and optimal prophylactic regimens should include agents with adequate activity against the most pathogenic fungi.
Synthesis and structure of stable 1,2-diaryldisilyne
Authors: Sasamori Takahiro , Han Joon Soo , Hironaka Koji , Takagi Nozomi , Nagase Shigeru , Tokitoh Norihiro
Published: February 2010

A novel 1,2-diaryldisilyne, BbtSi≡SiBbt (Bbt = 2,6-bis[bis(trimethylsilyl)methyl]-4-[tris(trimethylsilyl)methyl]phenyl), was synthesized as a stable compound by reduction of the corresponding 1,2-dibromodisilene, Bbt(Br)Si=Si(Br)Bbt. The spectral and structural features of this first stable 1,2-diaryldisilyne are revealed, and the Si≡Si triple-bond character is evaluated with the aid of detailed theoretical calculations. The triple-bond characters of BbtSi≡SiBbt and BbtGe≡GeBbt are compared based on experimental and theoretical results.
Natural and engineered kallikrein inhibitors: an emerging pharmacopoeia
Authors: Swedberg Joakim E. , de Veer Simon J. , Harris Jonathan M.
Published: February 2010

The kallikreins and kallikrein-related peptidases are serine proteases that control a plethora of developmental and homeostatic phenomena, ranging from semen liquefaction to skin desquamation and blood pressure. The diversity of roles played by kallikreins has stimulated considerable interest in these enzymes from the perspective of diagnostics and drug design. Kallikreins already have well-established credentials as targets for therapeutic intervention and there is increasing appreciation of their potential both as biomarkers and as targets for inhibitor design. Here, we explore the current status of naturally occurring kallikrein protease-inhibitor complexes and illustrate how this knowledge can interface with strategies for rational re-engineering of bioscaffolds and design of small-molecule inhibitors.
Analysis of an engineered plasma kallikrein inhibitor and its effect on contact activation
Authors: Stoop A. Allart , Joshi Ravi V. , Eggers Christopher T. , Craik Charles S.
Published: February 2010

Engineering of protein-protein interactions is used to enhance the affinity or specificity of proteins, such as antibodies or protease inhibitors, for their targets. However, fully diversifying all residues in a protein-protein interface is often unfeasible. Therefore, we limited our phage library for the serine protease inhibitor ecotin by restricting it to only tetranomial diversity and then targeted all 20 amino acid residues involved in protein recognition. This resulted in a high-affinity and highly specific plasma kallikrein inhibitor, ecotin-Pkal. To validate this approach we dissected the energetic contributions of each wild type (wt) or mutated surface loop to the binding of either plasma kallikrein (PKal) or membrane-type serine protease 1. The analysis demonstrated that a mutation in one loop has opposing effects depending on the sequence of surrounding loops. This finding stresses the cooperative nature of loop-loop interactions and justifies targeting multiple loops with a limited diversity. In contrast to ecotin wt, the specific loop combination of ecotin-Pkal discriminates the subtle structural differences between the active enzymes, PKal and Factor XIIa, and their respective zymogen forms. We used ecotin-Pkal to specifically inhibit contact activation of human plasma at the level mediated by plasma kallikrein.
Combined analysis of survivin autoantibody and carcinoembryonic antigen biomarkers for improved detection of colorectal cancer
Authors: Chen Jinn-Shiun , Chen Kuei-Tien , Fan Wen-Chun , Yu Jau-Song , Chang Yu-Sun , Chan Err-Cheng
Published: February 2010

Background: Survivin is a member of the family of inhibitor of apoptosis proteins that is overexpressed in several human tumors. Previous studies have found that overexpression of survivin in cancer cells induces an antibody response.

Methods: We compared 232 serum samples from colorectal cancer (CRC) patients and 365 samples from healthy volunteers using an in vitro enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to evaluate the survivin autoantibody response in patients.

Results: The sensitivity of the anti-survivin response from patients with CRC was 56.9%, and the specificity was 64.1%. When a cut-off value of 5.0 ng/mL was chosen for carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in these same serum samples, the values for sensitivity and specificity were 40.9% and 86.6%, respectively. Combined detection using survivin autoantibodies and CEA produced better sensitivity (51.3%) and specificity (89.9%) compared to the sensitivity of CEA (40.9%) and the specificities of the individual markers (64.1% and 86.6%, respectively). The area under a receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.617 for survivin autoantibodies, 0.630 for CEA and 0.694 for both markers together.

Conclusions: A positive association between autoantibodies against survivin and preoperative CEA concentrations in sera of patients with CRCs was established. Our results suggest that analysis of both parameters would assist in screening patients with CRC.

Clin Chem Lab Med 2010;48:719–25.
Die Entscheidungswirkung von Normbeanstandungen des Bundesverfassungsgerichts
Authors: Bethge Herbert
Published: February 2010

Normbeanstandungen können sich auf Grund von Normenkontrollen vor allem des Bundesverfassungsgerichts ergeben. Hält das Bundesverfassungsgericht ein Gesetz für verfassungswidrig, muß es nicht zwangsläufig zu einer allgemeinverbindlichen Nichtigerklärung der betreffenden Vorschrift(en) kommen. Es sind auch andere Entscheidungen möglich, die nicht auf eine totale Kassation der Norm hinauslaufen. Namentlich kommt eine auf Normerhaltung gerichtete verfassungskonforme Auslegung in Betracht. Auch kann ein verfassungswidriges Gesetz zur Vermeidung eines rechtlichen Chaos vorübergehend aufrecht erhalten bleiben. Ebenso kann das Gericht den Gesetzgeber mittels eines »Appells« zur Neuregelung der Materie in Pflicht nehmen.
Die aktuelle Entscheidung Zwei auf einen Streich
Authors: Jäger Christian
Published: February 2010

Die hier zu besprechende BGH-Entscheidung hat alle Qualitäten, zu einem echten Examensklassiker zu werden, vereint sie doch Themen des Allgemeinen und Besonderen Teils des Strafrechts, die in ihrer Prüfungsrelevanz nicht hoch genug eingeschätzt werden können. Im Vordergrund stehen dabei Probleme des Rücktritts vom Versuch einerseits und Fragen der Abgrenzung von Tötung und Abtreibung andererseits. Darüber hinaus birgt der Fall aber noch zahlreiche – vom BGH nicht angesprochene – Rechtsfragen, die bei einer gutachtlichen Behandlung in der Fallbearbeitung keinesfalls übersehen werden dürften. Die folgende Darstellung enthält daher neben einer Fall- und Problemschilderung (A. und B.) auch eine klausurmäßige Lösung (C.)
Attentional Modulation of MT Neurons with Single or Multiple Stimuli in Their Receptive Fields
Authors: Lee Joonyeol , Maunsell John H. R.
Published: February 2010

Descriptions of how attention modulates neuronal responses suggest that the strength of its effects depends on stimulus conditions. Attention to an isolated stimulus in the receptive field of an individual neuron typically produces a moderate enhancement of the cell's response, but neuronal responses are often strongly modulated when attention is shifted between multiple stimuli that lie within the receptive field. However, previous reports have not compared these stimulus effects under equivalent conditions, so differences in task difficulty could have been responsible for much of the difference. Consequently, the quantitative effects of stimulus conditions have remained unknown, and it has not been possible to address the question of whether the differences that have been observed could be explained by a single mechanism. We measured the attentional modulation of the responses of 70 single neurons in area MT of two rhesus monkeys using a task designed to keep attention stable across different stimulus configurations. We found that attentional modulation was indeed much stronger when more than one stimulus was within the receptive field. Nevertheless, the broad range of attentional modulations seen across the different conditions could be readily explained by single mechanism. The neurophysiological data from all stimulus conditions were well fit by a model in which attention acts via a response normalization mechanism (Lee and Maunsell, 2009). Collectively, these results validate previous impressions of the effects of stimulus configuration on attentional modulation, and add support to hypothesis that attention modulation depends on a response normalization mechanism.
Heart-Type Fatty Acid Binding Protein Regulates Dopamine D2Receptor Function in Mouse Brain
Authors: Shioda Norifumi , Yamamoto Yui , Watanabe Masahiko , Binas Bert , Owada Yuji , Fukunaga Kohji
Published: February 2010

Fatty acid binding proteins (FABPs) are essential for energy production and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid-related signaling in the brain and other tissues. Of various FABPs, heart-type fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP, FABP3) is highly expressed in neurons of mature brain and plays a role in arachidonic acid incorporation into brain and heart cells. However, the precise function of H-FABP in brain remains unclear. We previously demonstrated that H-FABP is associated with the dopamine D2receptor long isoform (D2LR)in vitro. Here, we confirm that H-FABP binds to dopamine D2receptor (D2R) in brain extracts and colocalizes immunohistochemically with D2R in the dorsal striatum. We show that H-FABP is highly expressed in acetylcholinergic interneurons and terminals of glutamatergic neurons in the dorsal striatum of mouse brain but absent in dopamine neuron terminals and spines in the same region. H-FABP knock-out (KO) mice showed lower responsiveness to methamphetamine-induced sensitization and enhanced haloperidol-induced catalepsy compared with wild-type mice, indicative of D2R dysfunction. Consistent with the latter, aberrant increased acetylcholine (ACh) release and depolarization-induced glutamate (Glu) release were observed in the dorsal striatum of H-FABP KO mice. Furthermore, phosphorylation of CaMKII (Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II) and ERK (extracellular signal-regulated kinase) was significantly increased in the dorsal striatum. We confirmed elevated ERK phosphorylation following quinpirole-mediated D2R stimulation in H-FABP-overexpressing SHSY-5Y human neuroblastoma cells. Together, H-FABP is highly expressed in ACh interneurons and glutamatergic terminals, thereby regulating dopamine D2R function in the striatum.