bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of rituximab on clinical and laboratory features of antiphospholipid syndrome: a case report and a review of literature
Authors: Erre G.L. , Pardini S. , Faedda R. , Passiu G.
Published: December 2007

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by a hypercoagulable state related to persistently elevated levels of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL). Current treatment for APS is only partially effective and new therapies are strongly needed.

We report on a case of a 50 years old man with APS who suffered from recurrent thromboembolic episodes despite conventional anticoagulant treatment. Eight years after the first thrombotic manifestation he was diagnosed with a large B cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Treatment with CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone) plus rituximab was started with partial clinical remission of lymphoma and normalization of aPL levels with a three years follow-up period free of thrombotic episodes.

A review of the literature revealed that only 12 case reports on the use of rituximab in patients with primary, secondary and catastrophic APS have been published. Current knowledge clearly suggests the need for clinical trials to evaluate the effect of rituximab in the treatment of resistant APS. Lupus (2008) 17, 50—55.
A lesson learned through gaming
Authors: Kovalik Ludovic M. , Kovalik Doina L.
Published: December 2007

This article describes an educational card game the objective of which is to raise students' awareness of the need for clarity, structure, and organization in all everyday activities of humans. Although the game as such was played in freshman composition, therefore addressing the immediate needs of that particular class, the lesson learned through it can easily be generalized—and hence applied to everyday life.
It's COWANBUNGA time: Setting up shop in a foreign country
Authors: McKay Ruth B. , Chung Ed
Published: December 2007

What happens to business negotiations when culture gets in the way? Participants are about to find out. This game is an international negotiation simulation for the classroom. Participants learn, through role-playing and observation, how cross-cultural differences complicate international business negotiations. Students are formed into pairs of teams. Each pairing involves two teams that are negotiating to set up business in a foreign country. Each pairing has one team of managers of a company from one country, and one team of government officials from a different country. These countries exhibit significant cross-cultural differences. The negotiations are conducted in front of the class, so everyone can observe and learn from the experience. The number of pairings can vary depending on class size.
Onstage or behind the scenes? Relative learning benefits of simulation role-play and design
Authors: Druckman Daniel , Ebner Noam
Published: December 2007

In this article, the authors report the results of two experiments that explored hypotheses about the relative learning advantages of role-play and scenario design. The experiments were conducted with similar student populations in Australia and Israel. Using a matched-pairs design, participants were randomly assigned to design and role-play conditions. They worked on their tasks following an hour-long lecture on three negotiation concepts: alternatives, time pressure, and negotiating power. A lecture-only control group was implemented in the Australian experiment. In both experiments, designers, working “behind the scenes,” indicated better concept learning in the short run than their role-play counterparts performing “onstage,” as well as in comparison with the control group. They showed better understanding of the way the concepts are related and retained the learning gains over time. Moreover, the designers were at least as motivated as role-players and controls and, for the Israel participants, showed more motivation. The results, favoring designers, spread widely across the various questions, asked immediately after the experience and 1 week later: 86% of the answers given favored designers in terms of direction; 52% of these were statistically significant. Implications are discussed for explanatory mechanisms, programmatic research, and teaching/training approaches.
On Being Both With Us and Against Us: A Normative Conflict Model of Dissent in Social Groups
Authors: Packer Dominic J.
Published: December 2007

Although past research has demonstrated a positive relationship between collective identification and normative conformity, there may be circumstances in which strongly identified members do not conform but instead choose to challenge group norms. This article proposes a normative conflict model, which distinguishes between nonconformity due to dissent (challenging norms to change them) and nonconformity due to disengagement (distancing oneself from the group). The normative conflict model predicts that strongly identified members are likely to challenge group norms when they experience conflict between norms and important alternate standards for behavior, in particular when they perceive norms as being harmful to the group. Data in support of the model are reviewed, mechanisms by which external variables may influence dissent in social groups are elaborated, and the model is linked to contemporary perspectives on collective identity.
On the narrative of challenged assumptions
Authors: Benedict Cathy
Published: December 2007

This article explores the ways in which the construction of the narrative of music education was problematised through pre-service teachers' and an academic's engagement with a self-assessment project. While the self-assessment tasks afforded a place through which students were able to interrogate their personal construction of assessment and what it means to demonstrate knowings, larger concerns remained unaddressed and less documented. A key issue was the ways in which what had first been a seemingly “simple” qualitative design was overridden by larger philosophical and methodological concerns. What had seemed an obvious process of culling themes from narratives to document growth, development, and turning points soon disintegrated as the author realized the need to attend not only to which and what story to tell, but who had a say in telling the story, and how the story was to be told.
An exploratory study of the role of performance feedback and musical imagery in piano playing
Authors: Wöllner Clemens , Williamon Aaron
Published: December 2007

Musicians experience various forms of sensory feedback when practising and performing. By studying the extent to which musicians rely on such auditory, visual and kinaesthetic information, insight can be gained (albeit indirectly) into the content and strength of their mental imagery for the music they play. While in previous empirical research, impaired auditory feedback has not been shown to affect performance outcome, the significance of visual and kinaesthetic feedback is less well-understood. In the current study, performance feedback was systematically removed in a repeated measures (within-subjects) design. Eight skilled pianists performed from memory under a normal condition and under three further conditions without auditory, visual and kinaesthetic feedback, one of which included tapping along with the beat of an imagined performance. Differences and similarities in the expressive timing and intensity (dynamic) microstructure were analyzed and compared across conditions. Performance consistency in both timing and intensity profiles was highest for conditions with kinaesthetic feedback, even in the absence of auditory and visual feedback. The results are discussed in relation to their implications for mental imagery and mental practising.
Impact of September 11 on Refugees and Those Seeking Asylum
Authors: Piwowarczyk Linda A. , Keane Terence M.
Published: December 2007

September 11, 2001 profoundly affected the American public. We share the views of a cohort of refugees and those seeking asylum from the Boston Center for Refugee Health and Human Rights. Of the 63 individuals from 18 countries interviewed, many had concerns about their personal safety following September 11, as well as fears related to deportation, arrest, detention, imprisonment, discrimination, physical violence and the destruction of property, and war. Asylum seekers were more likely than refugees to have concerns about their safety before their departure and during flight, as well as fear deportation and arrest after September 11. In the wake of September 11, most common coping strategies utilized included prayer (77.8%), speaking with friends from their own social group (47.6%), family (44.4%), and belief in fate (42.9%).
Mental Distress and the Coping Strategies of Elderly Indian Immigrant Women
Authors: Acharya Manju P. , Northcott Herbert C.
Published: December 2007

This article explores how elderly English-speaking Indian immigrant women living in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada perceive and manage mental distress. With elders' consent, in-depth interviews were recorded, transcribed and transcripts were thematically analyzed. The findings suggest that these women believed that to lower the risk of mental distress it is critical for individuals to `maximize control over inner self' by `being busy.' The elder's busy behavior is framed within the Indian cultural and spiritual/faith matrix in dialogue with acculturation experiences in Canada. `Staying busy' allows these elders to use culture as a `moral medicine' to facilitate coping and adaptation.
Views on Depression among Patients Diagnosed as Depressed in a Poor Town on the Outskirts of São Paulo, Brazil
Authors: Martin Denise , De Jesus Mari Jair , Quirino José
Published: December 2007

Depression has important cultural and social components. Interviews with 16 women living in the poor and violent outskirts of São Paulo were analyzed to identify local concepts of depression. The interviews were conducted with women who were diagnosed with depression and patients in treatment at a primary care unit. For these women, depression was inextricably woven into their violent and downtrodden daily lives, as well as with other sources of suffering. The local community identified two types of depression: `true' and `false,' suggesting a concept enmeshed with morality.
Open Papers, Open Minds? Media Representations of Psychiatric De-institutionalization in Jamaica
Authors: Whitley Rob , Hickling Frederick W.
Published: December 2007

Little research has been conducted on media representations of psychiatric de-institutionalization in low-income countries. We set out to examine whether the Jamaican media takes a positive or negative orientation to psychiatric de-institutionalization, and which arguments and rhetorical devices are employed to support the media's position. This was done by the collection, review, and analysis of all stories related to psychiatric de-institutionalization published over a 26-month period from 2003 to 2005 by Jamaica's principal broadsheet newspaper. All of the stories were positive in orientation. Articles alluded to the therapeutic and economic benefits of de-institutionalization. To allay public fears, articles gave prominence to the views of senior psychiatric experts, quoted supporting statistics and international trends, and translated relevant research findings into lay language. Our results are contrary to most studies in high-income countries indicating negative media portrayals of mental illness and the mentally ill.
Translation, Validation and Cultural Aspects of Postpartum Depression Screening Scale in Brazilian Portuguese
Authors: Cantilino Amaury , Carvalho João Alberto , Maia Alessandra , Albuquerque Carlos , Cantilino Goretti , Botelho Sougey Everton
Published: December 2007

The aim of this study was to determine the validity and reliability of a Portuguese version of the Postpartum Depression Screening Scale (PDSS). A total of 120 new mothers completed the translated version of PDSS and later were interviewed using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders, our gold standard for clinical status. The best cut-off score for the Portuguese version was 102, with a sensibility of 94%, a specificity of 95%, a positive predictive value of 75% and a negative predictive value of 99%. Reliability, measured by the alpha coefficient of internal consistency, was .95. The PDSS is considered ready for use in the screening of Brazilian new mothers for postpartum depression.
Silent birds: metaphorical constructions of literacy and gender identity in women's talk
Authors: Zubair Shirin
Published: December 2007

Most prior research on figurative language has looked at the cognitive aspects of metaphoricity. The present research attempts at going beyond metaphor's cognitive impact and aims to view the social and discoursal aspects of metaphorical constructions in relation to people's identities and social realities. This article reports an analysis and discussion of figurative language used by Pakistani women while talking about their literacies and selfhood. The article makes two claims about figurative language: first, metaphorical constructions are cultural and therefore rooted in social practices and discourses; second, figurative expressions are common to everyday talk, constrain and enable thinking processes and construct social reality. Methodologically too, the article offers an interesting departure from the traditional studies of metaphor as the data cited are `incidental' and natural, rather than elicited or experimental; the researcher `s aim was not to study figurative language but it turned out to be ubiquitous in women's everyday talk. Hence, the present data strengthen Tannen's and Carter's work that creativity and figurative language are not exclusive to literary discourse but are part of everyday discourses.
The impact of marketization on higher education genres — the international student prospectus as a case in point
Authors: Askehave Inger
Published: December 2007

This article is a contribution to the existing debate about the marketization of higher education and offers a detailed study of the way the practices of marketization manifest themselves at the level of discourse in higher education. Taking its point of departure in Critical Discourse Analysis and using a text-driven procedure for genre analysis, the article describes and analyses the international student prospectus as an instance of a highly promotional genre which clearly reflects the values and forces of the free market. The article contains two analyses. The first analysis compares four instances of the international student prospectus genre from Finland, Scotland, Australia and Japan and tries to establish genre membership and genre characteristics by considering the overall text structure, and by looking for similarities in content and `rhetorical moves'. The second analysis is an in-depth analysis of the language use in the international student prospectus from the University of Stirling, Scotland. This analysis pays particular attention to the way the rhetorical moves and visual and lexico-grammatical features in the text are used to represent the two main participants in the text: the university and its (potential) students. Both analyses show that the student prospectus is trying to construct an image of the University of Stirling and its students which goes hand in hand with the new trend in higher education — namely that of offering innovative products to `demanding' clients on the look-out for the best possible `university experience'.
Social change and discursive change: analyzing conversationalization of media discourse in Taiwan
Authors: Kuo Sai-Hua
Published: December 2007

Adopting Fairclough's multidimensional approach, this corpus-based study explores discursive changes in current Taiwanese society, with a particular focus on conversationalization in printed media. Data were collected from three major newspapers catering to different readerships during three time periods. The analyzed linguistic features include noun phrases, Chinese four-character set expressions, mixing of local dialect(s), and slang. My analysis shows that over the past two decades there has been an increase of conversational features in all three newspapers. In addition, a cross-sectional comparison has revealed that soft news texts (e.g. entertainment news) include more conversational features than hard news texts (e.g. international news). It is also found that the newspaper which stresses local values and advocates an independent Taiwan identity tends to adopt more conversational features, particularly the mixing of Taiwanese in Mandarin news texts. Finally, I suggest that this trend of conversationalization in the Taiwanese press can be linked to substantive democratization and marketization of the Taiwanese society as well as the change and development of modern written Chinese.
Variation in transcription
Authors: Bucholtz Mary
Published: December 2007

The entextualization and recontextualization of speech via transcription is a fundamental methodology of discourse analysis. However, particularly for researchers concerned with sociopolitical issues in discourse, transcription is not a straightforward tool but a highly problematic yet necessary form of linguistic representation. Recent commentators have critiqued the inconsistency of researcher transcripts; by contrast, this article seeks to understand rather than remedy such variability, conceptualizing diversity in transcripts as a kind of linguistic variation. Examining four different types of variation in transcription practice — global format choices based on an analytic focus on content versus form, variation in the details of transcription format in reproducing one's own or others' transcripts, orthographic variation in a single transcript, and variation in translation — the article argues that although reflection about the transcription process cannot overcome the difficulties inherent in this methodology, it can allow scholars to be more attentive to their own transcription choices and their limitations and to make these explicit in their writing.
Commentary: transcript variations and the indexicality of transcribing practices
Authors: Mondada Lorenza
Published: December 2007

In this commentary, I consider variability as an ordinary and irremediable feature related to the indexicality not only of transcripts but first of all of transcribing. In this sense, it is not just a characteristic of transcripts as texts, which can be assessed in a kind of philological comparison comparing formal features of autonomous and fixed textual objects, but a characteristic of transcribing as a situated practice. Practices are irremediably indexical, reflexively tied to the context of their production and to the practical purposes of their accomplishment. Thus, a transcript is an evolving flexible object; it changes as the transcriber engages in listening and looking again at the tape, endlessly checking, revising, reformatting it. Transcribing relies in a fundamental way not only on the possibility of fixing the relevant details in a complex multilayered representation but also on the possibility of manipulating them, playing them again and again, at different paces, positions, fragments, while transcribing their finely tuned coordination, their synchronization, the fine articulation between different projections and sequential implicativenesses. These manipulations are one of the ways in which transcribing is accomplished as a situated practice.
Transcription — the extended directions of data histories: a response to M. Bucholtz's 'Variation in Transcription'
Authors: Slembrouck Stef
Published: December 2007

This response picks up on the four key points developed in `Variation in Transcription'. The focus is on how transcription practices are implicated in extended histories of data processing by arguing for a wider take on the `dyad' of researcher and represented voice. The article addresses the relevance of historically specific contexts of `hearing' and interpretative-analytical appropriation, the practical exigencies of publication and how these have shifted over time, the contemporary challenges posed by transcription-in-translation, as well as the affordances and constraints of past and current technologies.
Narrative, interaction, or both
Authors: Blommaert Jan
Published: December 2007

These comments focus on issues of genre in transcription formats. Bucholtz's paper takes conversation to be the a priori organizational genre of everyday talk, following a long line of interactional and conversational studies. Narrative, however, could as well be seen as an a priori genre for the organization of interaction, and many instances of talk would reflect polygeneric blending. This form of blending should be reflected in transcription practices, so that we can do justice to variation in talk by means of variation in transcription procedures.
Media Uses in Immigrant Families
Authors: Elias Nelly , Lemish Dafna
Published: December 2007

This study examines the roles of the different media — those in the host language, those in the mother tongue and those of the global media — in the lives of immigrant children and adolescents from the former Soviet Union in Israel, at a time when they are coping with complex and unique personal and social challenges as a result of the immigration process and the need to solidify a new identity. In addition, the study looks at the parents' role in their children's media choices and the roles fulfilled by the media in immigrant family conflicts and in bridging intergenerational gaps.
International Agenda-Building and Agenda-Setting
Authors: Kiousis Spiro , Xu Wu
Published: December 2007

To explore the influence of international public relations on US news media and public perceptions of foreign nations, this study used a triangulation of methods by comparing public relations counsel for foreign nations, media content and public opinion data in 1998 and 2002. The results indicate that while the relationship between public relations counsel and media coverage was minimal at the level of object and substantive attribute salience, noteworthy linkages were observed with affective attribute salience. In general, public relations counsel was associated with a decrease in the amount of negative news coverage. At the level of individual news stories, it was connected to increased positive valence in media content. For the dimensions of news coverage associated with public relations, media salience was related to public salience and attitudes regarding foreign nations. Theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed.
Mosquito transcriptome changes and filarial worm resistance in Armigeres subalbatus
Authors: Aliota Matthew T , Fuchs Jeremy F , Mayhew George F , Chen Cheng-Chen , Christensen Bruce M
Published: December 2007

Background

Armigeres subalbatusis a natural vector of the filarial wormBrugia pahangi, but it rapidly and proficiently killsBrugia malayimicrofilariae by melanotic encapsulation. BecauseB. malayiandB. pahangiare morphologically and biologically similar, theArmigeres-Brugiasystem serves as a valuable model for studying the resistance mechanisms in mosquito vectors. We have initiated transcriptome profiling studies inAr. subalbatusto identify molecular components involved inB. malayirefractoriness.

Results

These initial studies assessed the transcriptional response ofAr. subalbatustoB. malayiat 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hrs after an infective blood feed. In this investigation, we initiated the first holistic study conducted on the anti-filarial worm immune response in order to effectively explore the functional roles of immune-response genes following a natural exposure to the parasite. Studies assessing the transcriptional response revealed the involvement of unknown and conserved unknowns, cytoskeletal and structural components, and stress and immune responsive factors. The data show that the anti-filarial worm immune response byAr. subalbatusto be a highly complex, tissue-specific process involving varied effector responses working in concert with blood cell-mediated melanization.

Conclusion

This initial study provides a foundation and direction for future studies, which will more fully dissect the nature of the anti-filarial worm immune response in this mosquito-parasite system. The study also argues for continued studies with RNA generated from both hemocytes and whole bodies to fully expound the nature of the anti-filarial worm immune response.
Microarray-based method for detection of unknown genetic modifications
Authors: Tengs Torstein , Kristoffersen Anja B , Berdal Knut G , Thorstensen Tage , Butenko Melinka A , Nesvold Håvard , Holst-Jensen Arne
Published: December 2007

Background

Due to the increased use of genetic modifications in crop improvement, there is a need to develop effective methods for the detection of both known and unknown transgene constructs in plants. We have developed a strategy for detection and characterization of unknown genetic modifications and we present a proof of concept for this method using Arabidopsis thaliana and Oryza sativa (rice). The approach relies on direct hybridization of total genomic DNA to high density microarrays designed to have probes tiled throughout a set of reference sequences.

Results

We show that by using arrays with 25 basepair probes covering both strands of a set of 235 vectors (2 million basepairs) we can detect transgene sequences in transformed lines of A. thaliana and rice without prior knowledge about the transformation vectors or the T-DNA constructs used to generate the studied plants.

Conclusion

The approach should allow the user to detect the presence of transgene sequences and get sufficient information for further characterization of unknown genetic constructs in plants. The only requirements are access to a small amount of pure transgene plant material, that the genetic construct in question is above a certain size (here ≥ 140 basepairs) and that parts of the construct shows some degree of sequence similarity with published genetic elements.
Haemoglobin and haematocrit: the threefold conversion is also non valid for assessing anaemia in Plasmodium vivax malaria-endemic settings
Authors: Rodríguez-Morales Alfonso J , Sánchez Elia , Arria Melissa , Vargas Miguel , Piccolo Carmelina , Colina Rosa , Franco-Paredes Carlos
Published: December 2007

It has been recently reported that the standard threefold conversion from haematocrit to haemoglobin underestimates the prevalence of anaemia and low levels of haemoglobin in children living in areas endemic for Plasmodium falciparum malaria. The data presented herein describes the experience in a malaria-endemic zone in northeastern Venezuela (state of Sucre), where a similar bias between haematocrit and haemoglobin in patients with Plasmodium vivax infection was found. In summary, the relationship between haematocrit and haemoglobin needs to be specifically evaluated according to each particular region or epidemiological setting.
Induction of procalcitonin in liver transplant patients treated with anti-thymocyte globulin
Authors: Zazula Roman , Prucha Miroslav , Tyll Tomas , Kieslichova Eva
Published: December 2007

Introduction

The aim of this study was to compare the early postoperative kinetics of procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) serum levels in patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation (OLTx) with different immunosuppressive regimens.

Methods

PCT and CRP serum concentrations were measured in a group of 28 OLTx recipients before induction of anesthesia, at 4 and 8 hours following graft reperfusion, and daily until postoperative day 4. The same parameters were determined in 12 patients undergoing liver resection without conjunctive immunosuppressive therapy. Summary data are expressed as medians and ranges. Two-tailed nonparametric tests were performed and considered significant at p values of less than 0.05.

Results

The highest serum levels of PCT (median 3.0 ng/mL, minimum 1.4 ng/mL, maximum 13.9 ng/mL) were found in patients after OLTx without ATG therapy, on postoperative day 1. In patients with ATG administration, PCT levels were highly increased on postoperative day 1 (median 53.0 ng/mL, minimum 7.9 ng/mL, maximum 249.1 ng/mL). Thereafter, PCT values continuously decreased independently of further ATG administration in both groups of patients. No evidence of infection was present in either group. In 12 patients undergoing liver resection, peak serum PCT levels did not exceed 3.6 ng/mL. CRP serum levels in a group of patients with and without ATG therapy increased significantly on postoperative day 1, followed by a decrease. The highest levels of CRP were found in patients after liver resection on postoperative day 2 and decreased thereafter.

Conclusion

ATG administration to patients with OLTx is associated with an increase in serum PCT levels, with peak values on postoperative day 1, and this was in the absence of any evidence of infection. The results of this study indicate that ATG immunosuppressive therapy is a stimulus for the synthesis of PCT.
Quality of Life and Survival in the 2 Years After Surgery for Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Kenny Patricia M. , King Madeleine T. , Viney Rosalie C. , Boyer Michael J. , Pollicino Christine A. , McLean Jocelyn M. , Fulham Michael J. , McCaughan Brian C.
Published: December 2007

Purpose

Although surgery for early-stage non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is known to have a substantial impact on health-related quality of life (HRQOL), there are few published studies about HRQOL in the longer term. This article examines HRQOL and survival in the 2 years after surgery.

Patients and Methods

Patients with clinical stage I or II NSCLC (n = 173) completed HRQOL questionnaires before surgery, at discharge, 1 month after surgery, and then every 4 months for 2 years. HRQOL was measured with a generic cancer questionnaire (European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire [EORTC-QLQ] C30) and a lung cancer–specific questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-LC13). Data were analyzed to examine the impact of surgery and any subsequent therapy, and to describe the trajectories of those who remained disease free at 2 years and those with recurrent cancer diagnosed during follow-up.

Results

Disease recurred within 2 years for 36% of patients and 2-year survival was 65%. Surgery substantially reduced HRQOL across all dimensions except emotional functioning. HRQOL improved in the 2 years after surgery for patients without disease recurrence, although approximately half continued to experience symptoms and functional limitations. For those with recurrence within 2 years, there was some early postoperative recovery in HRQOL, with subsequent deterioration across most dimensions.

Conclusion

Surgery had a substantial impact on HRQOL, and although many disease-free survivors experienced recovery, some lived with long-term HRQOL impairment. HRQOL generally worsened with disease recurrence. The study results are important for informed decision making and ongoing supportive care for patients with operable NSCLC.
Outcome After Relapse Among Children With Standard-Risk Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: Children's Oncology Group Study CCG-1952
Authors: Malempati Suman , Gaynon Paul S. , Sather Harland , La Mei K. , Stork Linda C.
Published: December 2007

Purpose

The event-free survival (EFS) of children with standard-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia (SR-ALL) is now more than 80%. However, prognosis after relapse continues to be poor. We examined postrelapse outcomes of children initially treated on the Children's Cancer Group CCG-1952 study.

Patients and Methods

We evaluated outcomes after bone marrow (BM) relapse and isolated extramedullary (EM) relapse for 347 patients with SR-ALL (WBC < 50,000/μL; age, 1 to 9 years). The prognostic significance of several factors for EFS after relapse (EFS2) was assessed by Cox regression analysis. Stem-cell transplant (SCT) was compared with chemotherapy as salvage treatment.

Results

The mean ± SE times to isolated central nervous system relapse, BM relapse, and isolated testicular relapse were 23 ± 1 months (range, 1 to 88 months), 36 ± 1 months (range, 2 to 79 months), and 40 ± 2 months (range, 16 to 64 months), respectively. The estimated percent ± SE 3-year EFS2 and overall survival rates after BM relapse were 37% ± 4% and 46% ± 4%, respectively, and rates after isolated EM relapse were 57% ± 5% and 71% ± 5%, respectively. By multivariate analysis, we found the duration of first remission to be the most significant predictor of EFS2 for either BM relapse or isolated EM relapse. Outcome was equivalent with SCT or chemotherapy after early or late relapse of SR-ALL at any site.

Conclusion

Duration of first remission remains the most significant predictor of outcome after either BM or isolated EM relapse of SR-ALL. Prognosis after early BM relapse remains poor and is not improved with SCT in this cohort.
Is Failure to Meet Spiritual Needs Associated With Cancer Patients' Perceptions of Quality of Care and Their Satisfaction With Care?
Authors: Astrow Alan B. , Wexler Ann , Texeira Kenneth , He M. Kai , Sulmasy Daniel P.
Published: December 2007

Purpose

Few studies regarding patients' views about spirituality and health care have included patients with cancer who reside in the urban, northeastern United States. Even fewer have investigated the relationship between patients' spiritual needs and perceptions of quality and satisfaction with care.

Patients and Methods

Outpatients (N = 369) completed a questionnaire at the Saint Vincent's Comprehensive Cancer Center in New York, NY. The instrument included the Quality of End-of-Life Care and Satisfaction with Treatment quality-of-care scale and questions about spiritual and religious beliefs and needs.

Results

The participants' mean age was 58 years; 65% were female; 67% were white; 65% were college educated; and 32% had breast cancer. Forty-seven percent were Catholic; 19% were Jewish; 16% were Protestant; and 6% were atheist or agnostic. Sixty-six percent reported that they were spiritual but not religious. Only 29% attended religious services at least once per week. Seventy-three percent reported at least one spiritual need; 58% thought it appropriate for physicians to inquire about their spiritual needs. Eighteen percent reported that their spiritual needs were not being met. Only 6% reported that any staff members had inquired about their spiritual needs (0.9% of inquiries by physicians). Patients who reported that their spiritual needs were not being met gave lower ratings of the quality of care (P = .009) and reported lower satisfaction with care (P = .006).

Conclusion

Most patients had spiritual needs. A slight majority thought it appropriate to be asked about these needs, although fewer thought this compared with reports in other settings. Few had their spiritual needs addressed by the staff. Patients whose spiritual needs were not met reported lower ratings of quality and satisfaction with care.
High Numbers of Tumor-Associated Macrophages Have an Adverse Prognostic Value That Can Be Circumvented by Rituximab in Patients With Follicular Lymphoma Enrolled Onto the GELA-GOELAMS FL-2000 Trial
Authors: Canioni Danielle , Salles Gilles , Mounier Nicolas , Brousse Nicole , Keuppens Marie , Morchhauser Frank , Lamy Thierry , Sonet Anne , Rousselet Marie-Christine , Foussard Charles , Xerri Luc
Published: December 2007

Purpose

High amounts of intratumoral macrophages have been shown to correlate with poor prognosis in patients with follicular lymphoma (FL) treated with chemotherapy without rituximab. We tried to establish whether intratumoral macrophage count (MC) definitely is able to predict the outcome of FL patients in the rituximab era.

Patients and Methods

We analyzed immunohistochemical CD68 expression in 194 FL patients from the FL-2000 trial, randomly assigned to receive cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, etoposide, prednisolone, and interferon (CHVP-I) or rituximab plus CHVP-I. Immunohistochemistry was performed on paraffin sections using anti-CD68 KP1 antibody, and stained macrophages were scored on high-power field (hpf) in either intrafollicular (IF) or extrafollicular (EF) areas.

Results

For IF MC, the best cutoff point was estimated at 10 macrophages/hpf. Low IF MC was significantly associated with a better event-free survival (EFS; P = .011). However, this effect was observed only in the CHVP-I arm (P = .012) and not in the rituximab plus CHVP-I arm. Using a cutoff of 15 IF MC, we found no significant association with EFS. For EF MC, fewer than 22 macrophages/hpf were associated with better EFS in the CHVP-I arm (P = .02) but not in the rituximab plus CHVP-I arm.

Conclusion

These results show that MC can predict outcome of FL patients and that rituximab is able to circumvent the unfavorable outcome associated with high MC.
Endocrine Effects of Adjuvant Letrozole + Triptorelin Compared With Tamoxifen + Triptorelin in Premenopausal Patients With Early Breast Cancer
Authors: Rossi Emanuela , Morabito Alessandro , De Maio Ermelinda , Di Rella Francesca , Esposito Giuseppe , Gravina Adriano , Labonia Vincenzo , Landi Gabriella , Nuzzo Francesco , Pacilio Carmen , Piccirillo Maria Carmela , D'Aiuto Giuseppe , D'Aiuto Massimiliano , Rinaldo Massimo , Botti Gerardo , Gallo Ciro , Perrone Francesco , de Matteis Andrea
Published: December 2007

Purpose

To compare the endocrine effects of 6 months of adjuvant treatment with letrozole + triptorelin or tamoxifen + triptorelin in premenopausal patients with early breast cancer within an ongoing phase 3 trial (Hormonal Adjuvant Treatment Bone Effects study).

Patients and Methods

Prospectively collected hormonal data were available for 81 premenopausal women, of whom 30 were assigned to receive tamoxifen + triptorelin and 51 were assigned letrozole + triptorelin ± zoledronate. Serum 17-β-estradiol (E2), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), Δ4-androstenedione, testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate, progesterone, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and cortisol were measured at baseline and after 6 months of treatment. For each hormone, 6-month values were compared between treatment groups by the Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney exact test.

Results

Median age was 44 years for both groups of patients. Letrozole + triptorelin (± zoledronate) induced a stronger suppression of median E2 serum levels (P = .0008), LH levels (P = .0005), and cortisol serum levels (P < .0001) compared with tamoxifen + triptorelin. Median FSH serum levels were suppressed in both groups, but such suppression was lower among patients receiving letrozole, who showed significantly higher median FSH serum levels (P < .0001). No significant differences were observed for testosterone, progesterone, ACTH, androstenedione, and dehydroepiandrosterone between the two groups of patients.

Conclusion

Letrozole in combination with triptorelin induces a more intense estrogen suppression than tamoxifen + triptorelin in premenopausal patients with early breast cancer.
Poor Survival for US Pacific Islander Cancer Patients: Evidence From the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Database: 1991 to 2004
Authors: Goggins William B. , Wong Grace K.C.
Published: December 2007

Purpose

Although racial and ethnic differences in cancer survival in the United States have been studied extensively, little is known about cancer survival in US Pacific Islanders (PIs), a fast-growing and economically disadvantaged minority group.

Methods

Using data from the US National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registries, we compared cause-specific and all-cause survival for female breast, prostate, lung, colorectal, stomach and liver cancer for Native Hawaiians, Samoans, other PIs (including Tongans, Guamanians, and others), African Americans, and Native Americans with non-Hispanic whites using Cox proportional hazards models. Separate models were fitted adjusting for demographic factors only and demographic and disease severity variables.

Results

Among all groups, Samoans were the most likely to present with advanced disease and had the worst cause-specific survival for all sites considered. Samoans had particularly poor results (adjusted for demographic variables only) for female breast (relative risk [RR] = 3.05; 95% CI, 2.31 to 4.02), colorectal (RR = 1.82; 95% CI, 1.37 to 2.41) and prostate (RR = 4.82; 95% CI, 3.38 to 6.88) cancers. Native Hawaiians and other PIs also had significantly worse cause-specific survival than did non-Hispanic whites for most sites, but generally had better survival than African Americans or Native Americans.

Conclusion

Much of the survival disadvantage for PI groups appears to be a result of late diagnosis, and thus targeted interventions have much potential to reduce cancer mortality in this group. More research is needed to find explanations for the particularly poor cancer survival for Samoans in the United States.
Hybrid of Polyaniline/Iron Oxide Nanoparticles: Facile Preparation and Catalytic Application
Authors: Amaya Toru , Nishina Yumiko , Saio Daisuke , Hirao Toshikazu
Published: December 2007

The facile preparative method of iron oxide nanoparticles with polyaniline was developed by thermal reaction of Fe(acac)3. The efficient catalytic activity was demonstrated in the oxidative coupling of 2,6-di-t-butylphenol.
Spherical Mesoporous Silica Particles with Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles by an Aerosol-assisted Coassembly
Authors: Yamauchi Yusuke , Takeuchi Futoshi , Todoroki Shinichi , Sakka Yoshio , Inoue Satoru
Published: December 2007

Functionalized mesoporous silica particles having TiO2 nanoparticles are prepared by an aerosol-assisted coassembly. The obtained mesoporous silica microparticles possess a high surface area (>400 m2/g) and uniform mesopores of about 8 nm. A TEM image shows that the TiO2 nanoparticles aredistributed within the mesoporous silica particles.
Highly Active and Selective Nickel–Cerium(IV) Oxide Catalyst for Water–Gas Shift Reaction
Authors: Wang Luhui , Liu Yuan
Published: December 2007

Ni–CeO2 catalyst prepared by coprecipitation–nitric-acid-leaching method was highly active and selective for high-temperature water–gas shift reaction in reforming. TPR and XRD results suggested that the high activity for water–gas shift reaction was attributed to high amounts of Ni2+ ions incorporated into CeO2 lattice in the catalyst.
Controlled Photocatalytic Ability of Titanium Dioxide Particle by Coating with Nanoporous Silica
Authors: Kato Risa , Shimura Naoki , Ogawa Makoto
Published: December 2007

We have successfully deposited nanoporous silica layers on titania nanoparticles, commercial P25 (Degussa), by the reaction of P25 with aqueous mixture of TEOS (silica source) and CTA (porogen) and the subsequent calcination. The thickness of nanoporous silica layer was controlled by changing the added amount of TEOS.
Clustered CpG Sequences to Enhance Cytokine Secretion from Macrophages
Authors: Minari Jusaku , Shimada Naohiko , Sakurai Kazuo
Published: December 2007

CG sequences (CpG ODNs) can activate innate immune and thus be potentially useful for immune stimulants in therapeutic use. By hybridizing a CpG ODN having a (dA)40 tail with poly(dT), we prepared a DNA duplex that multiple CpG ODNs are hanging from the duplex. IL-12 cytokine secretion reached the maximum at the composition that two to four CpG ODNs in one duplex. These phenomena can be rationalized by an allosteric or cluster effect, and the present clustered CpG system is the simplest and most elucidating tool to investigate the cluster effect of CpG ODNs.
Molecular Assembly of BChl a Complexes onto ITO Electrode Using Synthetic Light-harvesting Model Polypeptides Bearing Spermine Derivative
Authors: Ochiai Tsuyoshi , Ota Mitsuhiro , Asaoka Takahide , Kato Tomoya , Osaka Shinichiro , Dewa Takehisa , Yamashita Keiji , Hashimoto Hideki , Nango Mamoru
Published: December 2007

1α-Helix hydrophobic polypeptide bearing spermine, which has similar amino acid sequences to the hydrophobic core in the native photosynthetic light-harvesting (LH) 1-α polypeptide from Rhodospirillum (Rsp.) rubrum, was synthesized. Interestingly, an enhanced photoelectric current was observed when BChl a complexes together with the LH1-α model polypeptide were assembled onto an ITO electrode.
Perspective—Professional Work: The Emergence of Collaborative Community
Authors: Adler Paul S. , Kwon Seok-Woo , Heckscher Charles
Published: December 2007

This paper traces the main lines of evolution of the organization of professional work. The argument is illustrated with material on the case of doctors and hospitals. While market and hierarchy principles have become progressively more salient in professional work, we argue that, in parallel, the community principle has been growing more influential, too. We further argue that professional community is mutating from a Gemeinschaft, craft guild form, via Gesellschaft forms, toward a new, collaborative form. This evolution, however, is a difficult one, and the outcome is uncertain. We identify some implications for future research.
Politicians and Prosecutorial Accountability in Hong Kong
Authors: McConville Mike
Published: December 2007

This article examines the role of the prosecutor in the common law system, with special reference to Hong Kong, and taking as its focus the decision not to initiate a criminal prosecution. Such decisions are the subject of repeated criticism by politicians and the media on the grounds of political and class bias protected by a non-transparent system of accountability. The prosecutor's decision is examined in the broader context of available grounds for challenge, including private prosecution and judicial review. It is argued that the very fact that these grounds of challenge are so limited has contributed to a culture of political interrogation that is both understandable and self-defeating. Political hearings, which may be intended to serve other purposes, have historically failed to get behind non-prosecution decisions, have rarely had any basis in fact and have been easily deflected by a robust refusal to answer key questions. It is argued that modern understandings of accountability require a different approach requiring the prosecutor to give reasons for non-prosecution decisions in defined classes of case to victims, their families and survivors, opening up for scrutiny broad policy issues which current practice has ignored and subjecting the prosecutor's office to a system of independent inspection.

The decision of whether or not to prosecute is a vital one. Vital for the suspect. Vital to the victim. Vital to the community. Great care must always be taken. A decision to prosecute should only be taken after the evidence and the surrounding factors, including those which are favourable to the suspect, have been carefully evaluated. An erroneous prosecution decision may erode public confidence in the criminal process.