bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
WOMEN, DIVORCE, AND ECONOMIC RISK
Authors: Arditti Joyce A.
Published: July 2010

This article examines the context of mothers' economic risk postdivorce. Data collected from 212 divorced custodial mothers and 225 divorced noncustodial fathers are used to illustrate income dynamics pre‐ and postdivorce as well as differences in income distribution between men and women. Findings confirm trends uncovered in other studies: Women's economic decline appears to be more pronounced than men's. Risk factors encompassed by various systemic levels are summarized and discussed as a context for understanding and intervention. Specific recommendations for policy are offered.
AN EVALUATION OF CHILD PROTECTION MEDIATION IN FIVE CALIFORNIA COURTS
Authors: Thoennes Nancy
Published: July 2010

This article presents the results of an evaluation of five California counties utilizing court‐based mediation services to process child maltreatment cases filed with the court. The programs employed a variety of different service delivery approaches and targeted cases at a variety of different stages of case processing. The results indicate that mediation is an effective method of resolving cases and may offer a number of benefits over adjudication, including more detailed treatment plans and fewer contested court hearings.
PARENTS BEYOND CONFLICT WORKSHOP
Authors: Baker‐Jackson Maxine , Orlando Megan G.
Published: July 2010

This article reviews a program designed in response to high‐conflict parents who have protracted family law cases and have been referred to dependency court due to child abuse allegations.
PARTIES' EVALUATIONS OF THEIR RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEIR MEDIATORS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN A COURT‐CONNECTED MEDIATION PROGRAM
Authors: Sullivan Bryce F. , Schwebel Andrew I. , Lind Jessica Shimberg
Published: July 2010

The Franklin County, Ohio, domestic court instituted a mediation program in 1989. An analysis was completed on data provided by a brief postmediation survey evaluating participants' mediation experiences. The data indicated that 63.3% of participants felt satisfied or very satisfied with the relationship they had with their mediators, and 51.6% of the participants thought they made progress in their mediation sessions. Multiple regression analyses were used to identify several factors associated with the parties' level of satisfaction with their mediator relationships and their assessment of progress in mediation. These analyses go beyond a descriptive reporting of the data and toward an exploration of the important antecedents of satisfaction and progress in divorce mediation. It is of interest to note that participants' gender and the cost of mediation were not related to the parties' assessments of progress and satisfaction.
EFFECTS OF SKILL‐BASED VERSUS INFORMATION‐BASED DIVORCE EDUCATION PROGRAMS ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND PARENTAL COMMUNICATION
Authors: Kramer Kevin M. , Arbuthnot Jack , Gordon Donald A. , Rousis Nicholas J. , Hoza Joann
Published: July 2010

This study used a pre‐ and postevaluation with a control group to compare the effectiveness of two divorce education programs: skill‐based Children in the Middle (CIM) and informationbased Children First in Divorce (CFD). Each treatment group consisted of approximately 125 divorcing parents mandated to attend divorce education in Florida. The control group consisted of 64 divorcing parents not mandated to attend divorce education in Alabama for lack of a program. Treatment and control parents lived in comparable cities with comparable demographics. Results indicate that CIM, not CFD, improved parental communication. Both CIM and CFD reduced child exposure to parental conflict. Neither program had effects on domestic violence, actual parental conflict, or child behavior problems. Across all groups, parents with greater divorce knowledge and communication skills experienced more reciprocal discussions with the other parent, less parental conflict, less domestic violence, and they exposed children to less conflict.
POSTDECREE LITIGATION Is Joint Custody to Blame?
Authors: Cohen Irene M.
Published: July 2010

The Joint Custody Symposium Project examined almost 600 court files in five judicial districts to investigate the common perception that joint custody contributes significantly to relitigation rates. Data indicated that joint custody as a factor accounted for only 10.8% of court returns. Financial concerns accounted for the majority of actions. Disputes over child custody appeared to be related to finances as well. Unfortunately, returns to court do not necessarily resolve the financial needs of divorced parents. The findings suggest that children may be used as pawns in court battles over money that are disguised as parenting concerns, as evidenced by the close relationship found between visitation or custody disputes and child support modification filings.
A MODEL FOR TELEPHONE MEDIATION
Authors: Coltri Laurie S. , Hunt E. Joan
Published: July 2010

A unique mediation service using the telephone to help parents resolve conflicts over visitation (“access”) is described. The program presented special advantages of low cost and high responsiveness to parents and their children and was designed to particularly benefit families that lacked the mobility or financial resources to participate in traditional face‐to‐face mediation. Because the service featured highly educated and experienced mediators and a child‐focused, principle‐based mediation approach, family members received reframing, refocusing, informative, and empathic assistance in understanding and dealing with their parenting disputes. Some 700 families and nearly 900 mediation cases were handled during the service's 19 months of operation, and some features of the families and the cases are described. Recommendations and directions for future research are included.
PRACTICE ISSUES, STRATEGIES, AND MODELS
Authors: Kruk Edward
Published: July 2010

A recent Canadian study begins to address the lacuna in family mediation process research identified by Kelly. This study generated important data previously not available on a broad range of issues and concerns regarding the process and practice of family mediation and the extent of variability of current family mediation practice. The study focused on where family mediators position themselves in relation to salient issues and debates in the field; the interventions, methods, procedures, techniques, and strategies they find most useful and effective in their work; and the theories that guide them in their practice and the models of practice that they use. This article reports the key findings of the study and begins to discuss the implications of the research for mediation practice and sociolegal policy.
EDUCANDO A LA FAMILIA LATINA
Authors: Zegarra Gretchen
Published: July 2010

This article addresses the issue of parent education programs and how they are currently unsuitable for the Latino community. It will discuss the current trend in existing programs, as well as problems that might arise in trying to serve a Latino clientele. In particular, this article looks at the Parents Apart program currently used in Massachusetts. It will explore some possible solutions and ideas for adapting it, as well as other parent education programs, to better serve the needs of the Latino community.
CUSTODY FOR CHILDREN AGE 5 AND YOUNGER
Authors: Whiteside Mary F.
Published: July 2010

The empirical literature concerning the developmental consequences of postdivorce custody arrangements for children age 5 and younger is summarized with a focus on implications for practitioners and researchers. A developmental‐ecological model is used to organize the review. Key variables include socioeconomic resources, mother‐child relationship, father‐child relationship, mothers' and fathers' adjustment, cooperation and conflict within the parental alliance, the extended family network, and the day care environment.
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE TO STUDY FAMILY ISSUES IN THE ARIZONA SUPERIOR COURT
Authors: O'Neil William J. , Schneider Barry C.
Published: July 2010

Justice 2002, a strategic agenda for the Arizona court system over the next five years, has the goal to build public trust confidence in the Arizona courts. A focus of Justice 2002 is the protection of children, families, and communities. One of the number of projects that have been initiated is the establishment of The Committee to Study Family Issues in the Superior Court (Committee). On October 22, 1997, Chief Justice Thomas A. Zlaket established the Committee and charged the members to: “[E]xamine the manner in which cases involving family issues, including cases involving minor children, presently are processed and determined in the Superior Court,… leading to improvement in the manner in which these cases are resolved in the court system; and report to the Arizona Judicial Council its findings and recommendations…” This article is a summarization of the Final Report presented to the Arizona Judicial Council (AJC) in December, 1998. The reader will find that the report is rather general. The Committee has functioned under the assumption that an implementation committee would be formed to work out the details, should the AJC choose to adopt the recommendation to establish a Family Court in Arizona.
PARENT EDUCATION IN THE DOMESTIC RELATIONS COURT
Authors: Thoennes Nancy , Pearson Jessica
Published: July 2010

This multisite assessment of five, court‐affiliated parent education programs incorporates information from 3,000 exit surveys by attendees, 602 telephone interviews with willing parents six months later, comparisons with 145 divorcing parents who did not attend a program, and reviews of court activity. Parents report high levels of satisfaction with the programs and credit them with helping to sensitize them to their children's needs and making visitation more successful and enjoyable. Although attendees report better compliance with divorce decrees, comparable proportions of parents in treatment and comparison groups report conflict over child custody and access, and a review of court files shows identical litigation patterns for both groups over a four‐year period of time.
MANDATORY MEDIATION OF CUSTODY IN THE FACE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Authors: Maxwell Jennifer P.
Published: July 2010

Mediation is frequently mandated as a first step for custody, visitation, and divorce cases. As a process that requires a balance of power between participants, mediation is not an appropriate method to resolve domestic violence disputes, a phenomenon that reflects profound disparities in power between the perpetrator and the victim. Of all marriages referred to court‐based divorce and custody/visitation mediation programs, 50% to 80% involve domestic violence. This raises very serious questions about mandatory mediation. This article considers the effects of domestic violence on the mediation process. It questions the use of mandatory mediation and suggests ways that mediators might recognize and respond to domestic violence.
THE SECOND ANNUAL MEYER ELKIN ADDRESS
Authors: Thomson George
Published: July 2010

A year ago, our journal had the opportunity to publish the inaugural Meyer Elkin Address by Jonah, Peter, and Marian Wright Edelman. This past summer, the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts was honored to have George Thomson speak at its conference in Vancouver, British Columbia. Thomson was presented with this honor for his hard work and dedication to family law in Canada and throughout the world. The Family and Conciliation Courts Review is honored to publish this speech by Thomson.

Described by his colleagues as a “miracle worker” and “superman”, Thomson has led a fascinating career that has followed several different paths. As an undergraduate student, Thomson attained a B.A. in philosophy and English from Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario. He remained at Queen's University and received an LL.B., then completed his formal education with an LL.M. from the University of California.

Thomson has had a diverse background in the legal field, serving as an educator, a judge, and a government official. From 1968 until 1971, he worked as both an associate professor and assistant dean at the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario. After his brief stint with the university, he was appointed judge of the Provincial Court for the Province of Ontario. Thomson held this position for five years before becoming an associate deputy minister of Community and Social Services, where he served as the head of the Children's Services Division.

In the 1980s, Thomson returned to the bench in the provincial court. Additionally, he was the director of education for the Law Society of Upper Canada. Most notably, however, Thomson chaired a provincial committee on social welfare reform. By 1989, Thomson had moved from the bench into governmental work. He briefly served as the deputy minister of citizenship for Ontario. He was then appointed the deputy minister of labor until 1992.

From 1992 until 1994, Thomson served as Ontario's deputy attorney general. He then became the deputy minister of justice and deputy attorney general of Canada. Most recently, Thomson has been a special advisor to the minister of justice and attorney general of Canada.

The following Meyer Elkin address was presented at the annual Convention of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts in Vancouver, Canada, in June 1999.
NATIONAL ATTITUDES REGARDING GENDER BIAS IN CHILD CUSTODY CASES
Authors: Dotterweich Douglas , McKinney Michael
Published: July 2010

Recent changes in family law have mandated equal treatment in child custody cases. Surveys of 4,579 attorneys and judges from four states, deemed to be nationally representative, were used to discover whether attorneys or judges perceive any favoritism toward mothers' or fathers' claims in the awarding of custody of children. Whereas attorneys, particularly males, perceive that mothers continue to be favored over fathers in custody cases, judges do not share this opinion.
PARENTS IN DISTRESS
Authors: Gallager Krista A.
Published: July 2010

State legislatures and courts continue to struggle with the issue of providing reunification services to mentally ill parents. Recent case law highlights the lack of uniformity among the states and the courts in establishing a standard for a state's duty to provide reunification services to mentally ill parents. This article examines how inconsistencies among the courts work against mentally ill parents in their pursuit of family reunification. Furthermore, the article discusses the inadequacies of servcies offered to mentally ill parents. The author argues that society and mentally ill parents benefit from imposing a duty on provide reunification services to mentally ill parents.
THE ART AND SCIENCE OF CHILD CUSTODY EVALUATIONS
Authors: Gould Jonathan W. , Stahl Philip M.
Published: July 2010

Should a child custody evaluation be a clinical tool informed by forensic methods and procedures or a forensic tool informed by clinical experience? The authors conclude that an evaluation requires a delicate blend of scientific thinking, clinical understanding, through observations, appropriate use of psychological tests, and self‐report measures and information from sufficient collateral sources. Evaluators must pay attention to internal biases and integrate them with the relevant literature. Finally, evaluators must remember that their evaluation and reports will be used by both the courts and the family in reaching a decision on behalf of the children.
YOUNG ADULTS' PERSPECTIVES ON DIVORCE Living Arrangements
Authors: Fabricius William V. , Hall Jeff A.
Published: July 2010

There is increasing consensus that the perspectives of children need to be taken into account in decisions made by divorcing parents and the courts and that young adults who have lived through their parents' divorces can be an important source of information about children's perspectives. In this study, the authors assessed the perspectives of 820 college adults from divorced families on the issue of children's living arrangements after divorce. Respondents wanted to have spent more time with their fathers as they were growing up, and the living arrangement they believed was best was living equal time with each parent. The living arrangements they had as children gave them generally little time with their fathers. Respondents reported that their fathers wanted more time with them but that their mothers generally did not want them to spend more time with their fathers.
THE WINDS OF CHANGE IN ADOPTIONS LAWS:Should Adoptees Have Access to Adoption Records?
Authors: Silverman Brett S.
Published: July 2010

The author focuses on the issues involving the unsealing of adoption records—allowing adoptees to discover who their birth parents are. He first examines the history of adoption and the development of adoption laws in the United States and then discusses currently enacted adoption statutes. Next, the author considers the benefits and disadvantages of unsealing adoption records to the birth parents, the adoptee, and the adoptive parents. He suggest a model law and offers an analysis of its advantages and problems. Through this proposal, the author hopes to assuage many of the problems existing in adoption laws now.
THE ALIENATED CHILD:A Reformulation of Parental Alienation Syndrome
Authors: Kelly Joan B. , Johnston Janet R.
Published: July 2010

In this article, controversies and problems with parental alienation syndrome are discussed. A reformulation focusing on the alienated child is proposed, and these children are clearly distinguished from other children who resist or refuse contact with a parent following separation or divorce for a variety of normal, expectable reasons, including estrangement. A systemic array of contributing factors are described that can create and/or consolidate alienation in children, including intense marital conflict, a humiliating separation, parental personalities and behaviors, protracted litigation, and professional mismanagement. These factors are understood in the context of the child's capacities and vulnerabilities.
EVIDENTIARY ISSUES WITH PARENTAL ALIENATION SYNDROME
Authors: Zirogiannis Lewis
Published: July 2010

Expert testimony on unsubstantiated social science syndromes such as the Parental Alienation Syndrome (PAS) has been increasingly admitted in courtrooms across the United States. This is a problem because a trier of fact is making a determination based on theories that are inaccurate or incorrect. To remedy this, the standards of admissibility for expert testimony must be heightened. The broad discretion given to trial judges in determining admissibility should be reevaluated and a new rule of evidence for social science testimony should be adopted.
USING THE EMPIRICAL LITERATURE TO GUIDE THE DEVELOPMENT OF PARENTING PLANS FOR YOUNG CHILDREN
Authors: Lamb Michael E. , Kelly Joan B.
Published: July 2010

Most infants form attachments to both of their parents at roughly the same age. These relationships are consolidated by continued interactions, ideally in a broad array of contexts, whether or not the parents live together. The mechanisms underlying the formation and consolidation of relationships with both parents appear to be similar, although most infants establish preferential relationship with the persons who take major responsibility for their care. When parents separate, children often experience distress, and their adjustment is adversely affected when the relationship with one of their parents is severed. This can be avoided by developing parenting plans that continue to ensure that children have regular interaction with both parents in a broad array of contexts. Overnight periods provide opportunities for many important interactions.
NEVER PAINT BY THE NUMBERS
Authors: Gould Jonathan W. , Stahl Philip M.
Published: July 2010

As the debate continues on ways of thinking about access between separated and never‐married parents and their very young children, the authors suggest a way that child custody evaluators can integrate this discussion into their evaluations. They conclude that evaluators must pay attention to family dynamics and all of the research when making specific recommendations to parents and the courts regarding the access and residential arrangements of very young children.
PROSPECTS FOR EXPANDED PARENT EDUCATION SERVICES FOR DIVORCING FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN
Authors: Cookston Jeffrey T. , Braver Sanford L. , Sandler Irwin , Genalo M. Toni
Published: July 2010

The factors influencing court readiness to implement programs for divorcing families that are evidence based (i.e., have received support as being effective in scientific trials) were examined in a stratified random sample of the 3, 140 U.S. counties. Represented in the final survey were 22 large, 58 medium‐sized, and 74 small counties with established divorcing parent education programs. For each court, a telephone interview was conducted with a key informant. Results indicate that 95% of counties report that implementing a lengthier, empirically validated program would be helpful to families, would find support from judges (80%), should be done in their county (74%), would find funding (73%), and was the responsibility of the court (69%). The two important barries to implementing longer evidence‐based programs are potential funding problems and parents' potentially low attendance.
FROM CHILDREN'S SHOES TO CHILDREN'S VOICES
Authors: Smart Carol
Published: July 2010

This article considers the sudden rush of enthusiam to hear children's voices in divorce proceedings in countries such as the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia, and elsewhere and points to the problems that are likely to occur if the family law system really does mean to treat children seriously. It argues that children give complex accounts that may not fit neatly into either adult or legal agendas. Notwithstanding the difficulties that flow from this development, it is argued that it is essential to include children's understandings in the formulation of future policy and practice.
FRAGMENTED COURTS AND CHILD PROTECTION CASES
Authors: Moran Judith D.
Published: July 2010

This article discusses the proposed implementation of a model court project that can serve as an alternative approach to adjudicating child abuse and neglect cases. The model project allows criminal child abuse cases to be processed with related civil proceeding in one court before one judge. This integrated approach can ensure more efficient case processing, more informed judicial decision making, and more effective delivery of services to children and families.
“RELATIONSHIPS MORE ENDURING”
Authors: Brown Laura S.
Published: July 2010

This article reviews the special legal challenges arising for children raised by lesbian and gay parents when those parents separate. The applicability of theTroxeldecision to those special issues is explored and recommendations made for the practice of psychologists who evaluate custody questions in these cases.
LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER PARENTS
Authors: Tye Marcus C.
Published: July 2010

Estimates are that there are between 1.2 and 3 million people who are in same‐gender partnered household relationships in the United States. Although there is less certainty about the number of parents among these couples and the number of single‐parent gay and lesbian families, all research shows that a growing number of gay and lesbian as well as bisexual and transgender individuals are choosing to be parents. A sound body of empirical literature has demonstrated that the sexual orientation of a parent is irrelevant in terms of a person's ability to parent and has no lasting effect on the psychological adjustment of the person's children. Nevertheless, a majority of states in the United States place considerable legal hurdles in the face of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals who would like to be parents, as do many countries around the world, and the social context of contemporary society creates a number of special issues that the forensic evaluator or psychologist may encounter when asked to make a custody, adoption, or other fitness to parent assessment with LGBT parents. This article presents an overview of these issues and moves beyond theory to provide specific recommendations for evaluators working with LGBT parents.
INDIVIDUAL AND COPARENTING DIFFERENCES BETWEEN DIVORCING AND UNMARRIED FATHERS
Authors: Insabella Glendessa M. , Williams Tamra , Pruett Marsha Kline
Published: July 2010

The current study examines differences in demographic characteristics, parental conflict, and nonresidential father involvement between divorcing and unmarried fathers with young children. Participants were 161 families (36 unmarried) with children aged 0 to 6 years, involved in a larger longitudinal study of separating and divorcing families. Baseline data were gathered from parenting plans, court databases, and parent reports. Results indicated that unmarried fathers were younger, more economically disadvantaged, less well educated, less likely to have their children living with them, and had less influence on decision making. Unmarried fathers reported more conflict regarding their attempts to be involved with their children in their day‐to‐day activities. Understanding these unique characteristics and dynamics will help to maximize effective services in the legal system for unmarried couples.
PARENTAL CONFLICT RESOLUTION
Authors: Neff Ron , Cooper Kat
Published: July 2010

Six‐, 12‐, and 15‐month follow‐up data are presented evaluating a program for high‐conflict parents. Funded by a grant from Health and Human Services, the program's content reflects an extensive review of research literature, including the relevant literature on personality disorders. Introduced in Phoenix, Arizona in October 1999, the program has served more than 1,000 families in several jurisdictions. Whereas other programs for entrenched, high‐conflict cases are typically time intensive, involving 2 to 6 months, this is a one‐time 4‐hour program. As such, the authors are heartened to report a suprisingly positive—and enduring—response from the parents.
FITTING THE FORUM TO THE FAMILY FUSS
Authors: Lande John , Herman Gregg
Published: July 2010

This article analyzes advantages and disadvantages of mediation, collaborative law, and cooperative law based on the parties' capabilities, attitudes about professional services, and assessments of and preferences about the risks of various procedures. Each of these procedures has virtues and there is great value in providing clients and practitioners with a choice of procedures. Under collaborative and cooperative law, lawyers and clients agree to focus exclusively on negotiation from the outset the case, typically using a problem‐solving process. Collaborative law involves a written “disqualification agreement” between all the parties and their lawyers under which lawyers are disqualified from representing parties in litigation if either party chooses to litigate. Cooperative law is similar but does not use the disqualification agreement. Because most communities do not have lawyers offering cooperative law, collaborative law groups should encourage at least some of their members to offer clients the option of cooperative law.
Effect of citrus pulp silage feeding on concentration of beta‐cryptoxanthin in plasma and milk of dairy cows
Authors: TANAKA Masahito , KAMIYA Yuko , SUZUKI Tomoyuki , NAKAI Yutaka
Published: July 2010

Citrus pulp is known to contain a functional molecule of beta‐cryptoxanthin which is one of the carotenoids showing anti‐oxidative capacity. Influences of citrus pulp silage feeding to dairy cows on beta‐cryptoxanthin concentration in plasma, other blood properties and milking performances were investigated. Four Holstein cows were fed total mixed ration (TMR) containing citrus pulp silage 20% dry matter (DM) for 2 weeks with free access to the TMR. Dry mater intake, milk production and milk components 2 weeks later were not altered compared with those of the control group without citrus pulp silage. Activities of aspartate aminotransferase, alanin aminotransferase and gamma‐glutamyltranspeptidase in plasma were not affected by feeding of citrus pulp silage. Concentrations of protein, albumin, sulfhydryl residue, ascorbic acid, thio‐barbituric acid reactive substance and urea nitrogen in plasma were also not altered by citrus pulp silage feeding. Concentration of beta‐cryptoxanthin in plasma was increased approximately 20‐fold compared with the control group (P < 0.05). Content of beta‐cryptxanthin in pooled milk fat fraction was also increased approximately three times compared with that of the control group. Feeding of TMR containing citrus pulp silage 15% DM for 30 days to eight dairy cows also increased plasma beta‐cryptoxanthin concentration 30‐fold compared with that before feeding.
Efficacy and Safety of Mirodenafil in Men Taking Antihypertensive Medications
Authors: Paick Jae-Seung , Kim Je Jong , Kim Sae Chul , Moon Ki Hak , Min Kweon Sik , Park Kwangsung , Suh Jun-Kyu , Yang Dae Yul
Published: July 2010

Introduction

Mirodenafil is a recently developed oral phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor, which was observed to significantly improve erectile function and was well tolerated in men with broad-spectrum erectile dysfunction (ED).

Aim

To investigate the efficacy and safety of mirodenafil treatment compared with placebo in men taking at least one antihypertensive medication.

Methods

A multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group, fixed-dose study was conducted with 109 subjects who were randomized to placebo or mirodenafil 100 mg for 12 weeks on an “as needed” basis.

Main Outcome Measures

The primary efficacy measures were the changes from baseline in sum of scores on International Index of Erectile Function-erectile function domain (IIEF-EF) questions 1 to 5 and 15 with treatment. The secondary efficacy measures included scores on IIEF question 3 and 4 (Q3 and Q4), all domain scores of IIEF, and Sexual Encounter Profile Question 2 and 3 (SEP2 and SEP3) along with responses to Global Assessment Question (GAQ) and Life Satisfaction Checklist (LSC). The safety assessments included laboratory tests, vital signs, 12-lead electrocardiogram recordings, and patients’ reporting of adverse events.

Results

The mirodenafil group showed significantly greater increase in IIEF-EF scores at 12 weeks compared with the placebo group (9.35 ± 6.86 vs. 2.66 ± 6.44, P <0.001). The mirodenafil group also demonstrated significantly greater improvement in scores of IIEF Q3 and Q4, other four domains of IIEF, SEP2, SEP3, and LSC along with percentages of patients responding positively to GAQ compared with the placebo group. During the study, no clinically significant changes were observed regarding blood pressure, heart rate, electrocardiographic findings, or laboratory values. Facial flushing and headache were the most common treatment-associated adverse events, which were mild or moderate in severity, resolving spontaneously.

Conclusions

Mirodenafil was effective and safe in men with ED concomitantly taking antihypertensive medications.
What is the meaning of palliative care in the Asia‐Pacific region?
Authors: O'CONNOR Margaret , O'BRIEN Anthony Paul , GRIFFITHS Debra , POON Edward , CHIN Jacqueline , PAYNE Sheila , NORDIN Rusli
Published: July 2010

This paper describes the preliminary work required to understand cultural differences in palliative care in the United Kingdom and three countries in the Asia‐Pacific region, in preparation for a cross‐country study. The study is intended to address cultural understandings of palliative care, the role of the family in end of life care, what constitutes good care and the ethical issues in each country. Suggestions are then made to shape the scope of the study and to be considered as outcomes to improve care of the dying in these countries. It is anticipated that the method used to achieve consensus on cross‐country palliative care issues will be both qualitative and quantitative. Identifying key priorities in the delivery and quality measures of palliative care will involve participants in focus groups, a Delphi survey and in the development of clinical indicators towards creating standards of palliative care common to the Asian Pacific region.
It Ain't Broke: The Past, Present, and Future of Venture Capital
Authors: Kaplan Steven N. , Lerner Josh
Published: July 2010

This article presents a selective history of the U.S. venture capital (VC) industry, a discussion of the current state of the market, and some predictions about where the market is going. There is no doubt that the U.S. venture capital industry has been very successful. The VC model has provided an efficient solution to a difficult problem—that of enabling people with promising ideas but often limited track records to raise capital from outside investors. A large fraction of IPOs, including many of the most successful, have been funded by venture capitalists, and the U.S. VC model has been copied around the world.

Armed with this historical perspective, the authors view with skepticism the recent claims that the VC model is broken. In the past, VC investments in companies have represented a remarkably constant 0.15% of the total value of the stock market; and commitments to VC funds, while more variable, have been consistently in the 0.10% to 0.20% range. Both of these percentages have continued to hold in recent years. And despite the relatively low number of IPOs, the returns to VC funds this decade have largely maintained their historical relationship to the overall stock market.

To be sure, VC investment and returns continue to be subject to boom‐and‐bust cycles. But if the recent period has most of the features of a bust, the authors view today's historically low level of commitments to U.S. VC funds as a fairly reliable indicator of relatively high expected returns for the 2009 and (probably) 2010 vintage years. Perhaps the most promising future role for venture capital, as the authors suggest in closing, is to increase the productivity of the corporate research and development function through various kinds of partnerships and outsourcing arrangements.
Genetic Testing for Familial Adenomatous Polyposis
Authors: BALLHAUSEN WOLFGANG G.
Published: July 2010

Abstract: Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP, Mendelian Inheritance in Man number *175100 [edited by Victor A. McKusick], accessible on line under http://www3.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/htbin‐post/Omim/dispmim?175100) is a dominantly inherited colorectal cancer predisposition syndrome. The designation Gardner Syndrome is used for phenotypic variants of FAP with additional extracolonic symptoms. After the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene was identified with the help of positional cloning strategies in 1991, it became evident that inactivation of this tumor suppressor is based on loss of carboxyterminal protein‐protein interaction domains. Identification of multiple molecular constituents binding to the distal half of the APC protein revealed its crucial involvement in wnt‐signaling. Because the spectrum of mutations is predominated by small insertions and deletions, nonsense‐, and splice‐site mutations, a prescreening procedure is employed for the identification of germinal mutations in FAP patients that relies on in vitro synthesis of APC gene products, an approach also known under the acronym PTT (protein truncation test). Absence of nonsense‐mediated mRNA decay of mutated APC transcripts allows the application of a cDNA‐based coupled in vitro transcription/translation reaction for exons 1 to 14. Examination of four overlapping fragments from genomic DNA of probands reveals stops in the large APC exon 15, encompassing more than 6500 base pairs. Using this procedure, mutations causing the disease will be identified in about 80% of FAP patients. In the other cases of clinically manifest FAP, evidence exists that reduction of the steady state level of APC protein as a result of transcriptional silencing or large genomic deletions could provide for the clinical phenotype. Although some genotype‐phenotype correlations have been described, exceptions from the rule have been reported, that is, for CHRPE. Modifier genes for the development of extracolonic manifestations are currently still enigmatic. Knowledge of such genes would essentially contribute to a better presymptomatic treatment of FAP patients.
Anatomical Organization of the Parahippocampal‐Hippocampal Network
Authors: WITTER MENNO P. , WOUTERLOOD FLORIS G. , NABER PIETERKE A. , VAN HAEFTEN THEO
Published: July 2010

Abstract: The anatomical organization of the parahipppocampal‐hippocampal network indicates that it consists of different parallel circuits. Considering the topographical distribution of sensory cortical inputs, the hypothesis is that the major parallel circuits carry functionally different information. These functionally different parallel routes reach different portions of the hippocampal network along the longitudinal axis of all fields as well as along the perpendicularly oriented transverse axis of CA1 and the subiculum. In the remaining fields of the hippocampal formation, that is, the dentate gyrus and CA2/CA3, separation along the transverse axis is not present. By contrast, here the functionally different pathways converge onto the same neuronal population. The entorhinal cortex holds a pivotal position among the cortices that make up the parahippocampal region. By way of the networks of the superficial and deep layers, it mediates, respectively, the input and output streams of the hippocampal formation. Moreover, the intrinsic entorhinal network, particularly the interconnections between the deep and superficial layers, may mediate the comparison of hippocampal input and output signals. As such, the entorhinal cortex may form part of a novelty detection network. In addition, the organization of the entorhinal‐hippocampal network may facilitate the holding of information. Finally, the terminal organization of the presubicular input to the medial entorhinal cortex indicates that the interactions between the deep and superficial entorhinal layers may be influenced by this input.
Evidence for Central Organization of Cardiovascular Rhythms
Authors: MONTANO NICOLA , PORTA ALBERTO , MALLIANI ALBERTO
Published: July 2010

Abstract: Spectral analysis of heart rate and arterial pressure variabilities is a powerful noninvasive tool that is increasingly used to infer alterations of cardiovascular autonomic regulation in a variety of physiological and pathophysiological conditions such as hypertension, myocardial infarction, and congestive heart failure. A most important methodological issue to properly interpret the results obtained by the spectral analysis of cardiovascular variability signals is represented by the attribution of neurophysiological correlates to these spectral components. In this regard, recent application of spectral techniques to the evaluation of the oscillatory properties of sympathetic efferent activity in animals as well as in humans offers a new approach to a better understanding of the relationship between cardiovascular oscillations and autonomic regulation. The data so far collected seem to suggest the presence of a centrally organized neural code, characterized by excitatory and inhibitory neural mechanisms subserving the genesis and the regulation of cardiovascular oscillations concerning the major variables of autonomic regulation.
Protection from Inflammation, Immunosuppression and Carcinogenesis Induced by UV Radiation in Mice by Topical Pycnogenol®¶
Authors: Sime Suzann , Reeve Vivienne E.
Published: July 2010

Pycnogenol® is a standardized extract of the bark of the French maritime pine, Pinus pinaster Ait., that has multiple biological effects, including antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory and anticarcinogenic properties. This study describes the effect of topical application of lotions containing Pycnogenol® to Skh:hr hairless mice undergoing minimally inflammatory daily exposures to solar‐simulated UV radiation (SSUV). We report that concentrations of Pycnogenol® of 0.05–0.2% applied to the irradiated dorsal skin immediately after exposure resulted in dose‐dependent reduction of the inflammatory sunburn reaction, measured as its edema component. When mice received three consecutive daily exposures of minimally edematous SSUV, their ability to raise a contact hypersensitivity (CHS) reaction was suppressed by 54%. Pycnogenol® lotions applied postirradiation reduced this immunosuppression to 22% (0.05% Pycnogenol®) and 13% (0.1 % Pycnogenol®). Furthermore, when CHS was suppressed by 71% with exogenous treatment with cis‐urocanic acid, the putative epidermal mediator of photoimmunosuppression, 0.2% Pycnogenol® lotion reduced the immunosuppression to 18%. Chronic exposure to SSUW on 5 days/week for 10 weeks induced skin tumors from 11 weeks in both control mice and in mice receiving daily applications of 0.05% Pycnogenol®, but tumor appearance was significantly delayed until 20 weeks in mice receiving 0.2% Pycnogenol®. Furthermore, whereas 100% of control mice had at least one tumor by 30 weeks, and mice treated with 0.05% Pycnogenol® by 33 weeks, the maximum tumor prevalence in mice treated with 0.2% Pycnogenol® was significantly reduced to 85%, with some mice remaining tumor free. Average tumor multiplicity was also significantly reduced by 0.2% Pycnogenol®, from 5.2 in control mice to 3.5 at 35 weeks. Thus, topical Pycnogenol® offered significant and dose‐dependent protection from SSUV induced acute inflammation, immunosuppression and carcinogenesis, when applied to the skin after daily irradiation. Pycnogenol®, therefore, in addition to its recognized health benefits in other organs, appears to have potential in providing photoprotection for humans in a complementary role with sunscreens, having demonstrable activity when applied to the skin after, rather than before, UV exposure.
Calculation of Singlet Oxygen Dose from Photosensitizer Fluorescence and Photobleaching During mTHPC Photodynamic Therapy of MLL Cells¶
Authors: Dysart Jonathan S. , Singh Gurmit , Patterson Michael S.
Published: July 2010

Predicting the therapeutic outcome of photodynamic therapy (PDT) requires knowledge of the amount of cytoxic species generated. An implicit approach to assessing PDT efficacy has been proposed where changes in photosensitizer (PS) fluorescence during treatment are used to predict treatment outcome. To investigate this,in vitroexperiments were performed in which Mat‐LyLu cells were incubated inmeta‐tetra(hydroxyphenyl)chlorin (mTHPC) and then irradiated with 652 nm light. PS concentration, fluence rate and oxygenation were independently controlled and monitored during the treatment. Fluorescence of mTHPC was monitored during treatment and, at selected fluence levels, cell viability was determined using a colony‐formation assay. Singlet oxygen dose was calculated using four different models and was compared with cell survival. For the dose metric based on singlet oxygen–mediated PS photobleaching, a universal relationship between cell survival and singlet oxygen dose was found for all treatment parameters. Analysis of the concentration dependence of bleaching suggests that the lifetime of singlet oxygen within the cell is 0.05–0.25 μs. Generation of about 9 × 108molecules of singlet oxygen per cell reduces the surviving fraction by 1/e.
A study of atypical APTT derivative curves on the ACL TOP coagulation analyser
Authors: SOLANO C. , ZERAFA P. , BIRD R.
Published: July 2010

Introduction:  The graphical representation of clotting data can provide useful information. A novel feature of the ACL TOP software allows display of clot reaction curves with superimposed first and second derivative curves. We noted atypical derivative plots associated with normal ‘S’‐shaped clot reaction curves in some abnormal activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT).

Methods:  We tested 179 citrate plasmas with four different APTT reagents on the ACL TOP. We documented the prevalence and utility of these APTT atypical derivative curves in these patients.

Results:  Ellagic acid APTT reagents commonly produce atypical derivative curves despite normal ‘S’‐shaped clot reaction curves. Occasionally, these atypical second derivative curves may cause incorrect APTT results. With silica activator APTT reagents, atypical derivative curves were associated with genuine coagulation abnormalities such as single factor deficiencies and lupus anticoagulants (LAs). To our knowledge, this novel finding has not been reported.

Conclusion:  Atypical derivative curves seen in ellagic acid APTTs are of limited diagnostic use because of the frequency with which they occur. This may be related to the need to optimize the data reduction utilized on the ACL TOP for these reagents. With silica activator APTTs, the presence of atypical derivative curves proved to be a very simple tool when troubleshooting unexpected abnormal APTT results, commonly predicting a factor deficiency or LA that would warrant further investigation. The cause of these aberrant derivative curves is probably related to abnormal thrombin generation in the APTT test and warrants further study.
Hyponatremia in Heart Failure: The Role of Arginine Vasopressin and Its Antagonism
Authors: Rosner Mitchell H. , Ronco Claudio
Published: July 2010

Congest Heart Fail.2010;16(4)(suppl 1):S7–S14.©2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Heart failure (HF) is associated with substantial cost, morbidity, and mortality. One of the common complications associated with HF, as well as with its treatment, is the development of hyponatremia. Hyponatremia is due to the nonosmotic release of arginine vasopressin (AVP) along with neurohormonal activation of the renin‐angiotensin‐aldosterone and sympathetic nervous systems. Hyponatremia in patients with HF is associated with poor outcomes and can limit the use of diuretic therapy. Given that AVP is the primary stimulus for the development of hyponatremia in these patients, therapies that target AVP action would seem a logical choice in the therapeutic regimen for HF. Drugs that antagonize the action of AVP at the vasopressin V2receptor, which is primarily responsible for water resorption in the kidney, are now available and have been studied in patients with HF. These drugs (termedvaptans) have been associated with improvements in serum sodium concentration, urine output, body weight, and mental functioning but have shown no long‐term mortality benefit in patients with HF. The role of vaptans in the HF armament will require further studies that center on the proper timing and indications for their use as well as their cost‐efficacy.
Use of BNP and Bioimpedance to Drive Therapy in Heart Failure Patients
Authors: Di Somma Salvatore , De Berardinis Benedetta , Bongiovanni Cristina , Marino Rossella , Ferri Enrico , Alfei Barbara
Published: July 2010

The aim of the study was to verify whether the bioimpedance vector analysis (BIVA) could be a valid methodology to assess the fluid overload, whether there was a correlation between brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and the fluid overload detected by BIVA, and whether this technique could be a valid guide in the management of the therapy in patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF). A total of 51 patients arriving to the emergency department of the University Hospital Sant’Andrea (Rome, Italy) from December 2008 to April 2009 were enrolled. Hydration state, BNP, and caval index were evaluated at admission in the emergency department, at 24 and 72 hours, and at discharge. Vascular pedicle width was evaluated at admission and at discharge. BIVA values were correlated with BNP levels. A follow‐up by phone at 3 months was performed. ADHF patients showed higher values of hydration state compared with controls. In ADHF patients, the difference between t 0 and t 72 BIVA mean values (P<.001) and between t 0 and discharge BIVA mean value (P<.0001) was statistically significant. Vascular pedicle width in ADHF patients showed a statistically significant difference (P<.0004) in compared with vascular pedicle width in controls. Congest Heart Fail. 2010;16(4)(suppl 1):S56–S61. ©2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.