bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Antimicrobial Resistance among Gram-Negative Bacilli Causing Infections in Intensive Care Unit Patients in the United States between 1993 and 2004
Authors: Lockhart Shawn R. , Abramson Murray A. , Beekmann Susan E. , Gallagher Gale , Riedel Stefan , Diekema Daniel J. , Quinn John P. , Doern Gary V.
Published: August 2007

During the 12-year period from 1993 to 2004, antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of 74,394 gram-negative bacillus isolates recovered from intensive care unit (ICU) patients in United States hospitals were determined by participating hospitals and collected in a central location. MICs for 12 different agents were determined using a standardized broth microdilution method. The 11 organisms most frequently isolated were
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
(22.2%),
Escherichia coli
(18.8%),
Klebsiella pneumoniae
(14.2%),
Enterobacter cloacae
(9.1%),
Acinetobacter
spp. (6.2%),
Serratia marcescens
(5.5%),
Enterobacter aerogenes
(4.4%),
Stenotrophomonas maltophilia
(4.3%),
Proteus mirabilis
(4.0%),
Klebsiella oxytoca
(2.7%), and
Citrobacter freundii
(2.0%). Specimen sources included the lower respiratory tract (52.1%), urine (17.3%), and blood (14.2%). Rates of resistance to many of the antibiotics tested remained stable during the 12-year study period. Carbapenems were the most active drugs tested against most of the bacterial species.
E. coli
and
P. mirabilis
remained susceptible to most of the drugs tested. Mean rates of resistance to 9 of the 12 drugs tested increased with
Acinetobacter
spp. Rates of resistance to ciprofloxacin increased over the study period for most species. Ceftazidime was the only agent to which a number of species (
Acinetobacter
spp.,
C. freundii
,
E. aerogenes
,
K. pneumoniae
,
P. aeruginosa
, and
S. marcescens
) became more susceptible. The prevalence of multidrug resistance, defined as resistance to at least one extended-spectrum cephalosporin, one aminoglycoside, and ciprofloxacin, increased substantially among ICU isolates of
Acinetobacter
spp.,
P. aeruginosa
,
K. pneumoniae
, and
E. cloacae
.
Neuroinvasion of Fluorescein-Positive Monocytes in Acute Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Infection
Authors: Clay Candice C. , Rodrigues Denise S. , Ho Yan S. , Fallert Beth A. , Janatpour Kim , Reinhart Todd A. , Esser Ursula
Published: August 2007

Monocytes and macrophages play a central role in the pathogenesis of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated dementia. They represent prominent targets for HIV infection and are thought to facilitate viral neuroinvasion and neuroinflammatory processes. However, many aspects regarding monocyte brain recruitment in HIV infection remain undefined. The nonhuman primate model of AIDS is uniquely suited for examination of the role of monocytes in the pathogenesis of AIDS-associated encephalitis. Nevertheless, an approach to monitor cell migration from peripheral blood into the central nervous system (CNS) in primates had been lacking. Here, upon autologous transfer of fluorescein dye-labeled leukocytes, we demonstrate the trafficking of dye-positive monocytes into the choroid plexus stromata and perivascular spaces in the cerebra of rhesus macaques acutely infected with simian immunodeficiency virus between days 12 and 14 postinfection (p.i.). Dye-positive cells that had migrated expressed the monocyte activation marker CD16 and the macrophage marker CD68. Monocyte neuroinvasion coincided with the presence of the virus in brain tissue and cerebrospinal fluid and with the induction of the proinflammatory mediators CXCL9/MIG and CCL2/MCP-1 in the CNS. Prior to neuroinfiltration, plasma viral load levels peaked on day 11 p.i. Furthermore, the numbers of peripheral blood monocytes rapidly increased between days 4 and 8 p.i., and circulating monocytes exhibited increased functional capacity to produce CCL2/MCP-1. Our findings demonstrate acute monocyte brain infiltration in an animal model of AIDS. Such studies facilitate future examinations of the migratory profile of CNS-homing monocytes, the role of monocytes in virus import into the brain, and the disruption of blood-cerebrospinal fluid and blood-brain barrier functions in primates.
Induction of Epitope-Specific Neutralizing Antibodies against West Nile Virus
Authors: Oliphant Theodore , Nybakken Grant E. , Austin S. Kyle , Xu Qing , Bramson Jonathan , Loeb Mark , Throsby Mark , Fremont Daved H. , Pierson Theodore C. , Diamond Michael S.
Published: August 2007

Previous studies have established that an epitope on the lateral ridge of domain III (DIII-lr) of West Nile virus (WNV) envelope (E) protein is recognized by strongly neutralizing type-specific antibodies. In contrast, an epitope against the fusion loop in domain II (DII-fl) is recognized by flavivirus cross-reactive antibodies with less neutralizing potential. Using gain- and loss-of-function E proteins and wild-type and variant WNV reporter virus particles, we evaluated the expression pattern and activity of antibodies against the DIII-lr and DII-fl epitopes in mouse and human serum after WNV infection. In mice, immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies to the DIII-lr epitope were detected at low levels at day 6 after infection. However, compared to IgG responses against other epitopes in DI and DII, which were readily detected at day 8, the development of IgG against DIII-lr epitope was delayed and did not appear consistently until day 15. This late time point is notable since almost all death after WNV infection in mice occurs by day 12. Nonetheless, at later time points, DIII-lr antibodies accumulated and comprised a significant fraction of the DIII-specific IgG response. In sera from infected humans, DIII-lr antibodies were detected at low levels and did not correlate with clinical outcome. In contrast, antibodies to the DII-fl were detected in all human serum samples and encompassed a significant percentage of the anti-E protein response. Our experiments suggest that the highly neutralizing DIII-lr IgG antibodies have little significant role in primary infection and that the antibody response of humans may be skewed toward the induction of cross-reactive, less-neutralizing antibodies.
A Heterologous DNA Prime-Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus Replicon Particle Boost Dengue Vaccine Regimen Affords Complete Protection from Virus Challenge in Cynomolgus Macaques
Authors: Chen Lan , Ewing Dan , Subramanian Hemavathy , Block Karla , Rayner Jonathan , Alterson Kimberly D. , Sedegah Martha , Hayes Curtis , Porter Kevin , Raviprakash Kanakatte
Published: August 2007

A candidate vaccine (D1ME-VRP) expressing dengue virus type 1 premembrane and envelope proteins in a Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) virus replicon particle (VRP) system was constructed and tested in conjunction with a plasmid DNA vaccine (D1ME-DNA) expressing identical dengue virus sequences. Cynomolgus macaques were vaccinated with three doses of DNA (DDD), three doses of VRP (VVV group), or a heterologous DNA prime-VRP boost regimen (DDV) using two doses of DNA vaccine and a third dose of VRP vaccine. Four weeks after the final immunization, the DDV group produced the highest dengue virus type 1-specific immunoglobulin G antibody responses and virus-neutralizing antibody titers. Moderate T-cell responses were demonstrated only in DDD- and DDV-vaccinated animals. When vaccinated animals were challenged with live virus, all vaccination regimens showed significant protection from viremia. DDV-immunized animals were completely protected from viremia (mean time of viremia = 0 days), whereas DDD- and VVV-vaccinated animals had mean times of viremia of 0.66 and 0.75 day, respectively, compared to 6.33 days for the control group of animals.
White Spot Syndrome Virus Proteins and Differentially Expressed Host Proteins Identified in Shrimp Epithelium by Shotgun Proteomics and Cleavable Isotope-Coded Affinity Tag
Authors: Wu Jinlu , Lin Qingsong , Lim Teck Kwang , Liu Tiefei , Hew Choy-Leong
Published: August 2007

Shrimp subcuticular epithelial cells are the initial and major targets of white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) infection. Proteomic studies of WSSV-infected subcuticular epithelium of
Penaeus monodon
were performed through two approaches, namely, subcellular fractionation coupled with shotgun proteomics to identify viral and host proteins and a quantitative time course proteomic analysis using cleavable isotope-coded affinity tags (cICATs) to identify differentially expressed cellular proteins. Peptides were analyzed by offline coupling of two-dimensional liquid chromatography with matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-tandem time of flight mass spectrometry. We identified 27, 20, and 4 WSSV proteins from cytosolic, nuclear, and membrane fractions, respectively. Twenty-eight unique WSSV proteins with high confidence (total ion confidence interval percentage [CI%], >95%) were observed, 11 of which are reported here for the first time, and 3 of these novel proteins were shown to be viral nonstructural proteins by Western blotting analysis. A first shrimp protein data set containing 1,999 peptides (ion score, ≥20) and 429 proteins (total ion score CI%, >95%) was constructed via shotgun proteomics. We also identified 10 down-regulated proteins and 2 up-regulated proteins from the shrimp epithelial lysate via cICAT analysis. This is the first comprehensive study of WSSV-infected epithelia by proteomics. The 11 novel viral proteins represent the latest addition to our knowledge of the WSSV proteome. Three proteomic data sets consisting of WSSV proteins, epithelial cellular proteins, and differentially expressed cellular proteins generated in the course of WSSV infection provide a new resource for further study of WSSV-shrimp interactions.
Production of Pseudoinfectious Yellow Fever Virus with a Two-Component Genome
Authors: Shustov Alexandr V. , Mason Peter W. , Frolov Ilya
Published: August 2007

Application of genetically modified, deficient-in-replication flaviviruses that are incapable of developing productive, spreading infection is a promising means of designing safe and effective vaccines. Here we describe a two-component genome yellow fever virus (YFV) replication system in which each of the genomes encodes complete sets of nonstructural proteins that form the replication complex but expresses either only capsid or prM/E instead of the entire structural polyprotein. Upon delivery to the same cell, these genomes produce together all of the viral structural proteins, and cells release a combination of virions with both types of genomes packaged into separate particles. In tissue culture, this modified YFV can be further passaged at an escalating scale by using a high multiplicity of infection (MOI). However, at a low MOI, only one of the genomes is delivered into the cells, and infection cannot spread. The replicating prM/E-encoding genome produces extracellular E protein in the form of secreted subviral particles that are known to be an effective immunogen. The presented strategy of developing viruses defective in replication might be applied to other flaviviruses, and these two-component genome viruses can be useful for diagnostic or vaccine applications, including the delivery and expression of heterologous genes. In addition, the achieved separation of the capsid-coding sequence and the cyclization signal in the YFV genome provides a new means for studying the mechanism of the flavivirus packaging process.
Reactivation of Expression from Quiescent Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Genomes in the Absence of Immediate-Early Protein ICP0
Authors: Preston Chris M.
Published: August 2007

Model systems have previously been developed in which herpes simplex virus (HSV) is retained in human fibroblasts in a nonreplicating state known as quiescence. The HSV type 1 (HSV-1) immediate-early (IE) protein ICP0, an important activator of gene expression, reactivates the quiescent genome and promotes the resumption of virus replication. Previous studies reported that infection with ICP0-null HSV-1 mutants fails to reactivate quiescent HSV, even when the mutant itself undergoes productive replication, leading to the hypothesis that quiescent genomes exist in a silent configuration in which they are shielded from
trans
-acting factors. I reinvestigated these findings, using HSV-1 mutants with lesions in the transcription activators VP16, ICP0, and ICP4 to establish quiescent infection at high efficiency. Superinfection with ICP0-null HSV-1 mutants at a low multiplicity of infection (MOI), so that individual plaques were formed, reactivated expression from the quiescent genome, demonstrating that the requirement for ICP0 is not absolute. The previously reported failure to observe reactivation by ICP0-null mutants was shown to be a consequence of either a low initial MOI or a high superinfecting MOI. Competition between viral genomes at the level of gene expression and virus replication, especially when ICP0 was absent, was demonstrated during reactivation and also during normal infection of human fibroblasts. The results show that the multiplicity-dependent phenotype of ICP0-null mutants limits the efficiency of reactivation at low MOIs and that competition between genomes occurs at high MOIs. The conclusion that quiescent HSV genomes are extensively silenced and intrinsically insensitive to
trans
-acting factors must be reevaluated.
Vaccines Based on Novel Adeno-Associated Virus Vectors Elicit Aberrant CD8+T-Cell Responses in Mice
Authors: Lin Jianping , Zhi Yan , Mays Lauren , Wilson James M.
Published: August 2007

We recently discovered an expanded family of adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) that show promise as improved gene therapy vectors. In this study we evaluated the potential of vectors based on several of these novel AAVs as vaccine carriers for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Gag. Studies with mice indicated that vectors based on AAV type 7 (AAV7), AAV8, and AAV9 demonstrate improved immunogenicity in terms of Gag CD8+T-cell and Gag antibody responses. The quality of these antigen-specific responses was evaluated in detail for AAV2/8 vectors and compared to results with an adenovirus vector expressing Gag (AdC7). AAV2/8 produced a vibrant CD8+T-cell effector response characterized by coexpression of gamma interferon and tumor necrosis factor alpha as well as in vivo cytolytic activity. No CD8+T-cell response generated by any of the AAVs was effectively boosted with AdC7, a result consistent with the finding of a relative lack of cells expressing interleukin-2 (IL-2) or a central memory phenotype at 3 months after the prime. The primary response to an AdC7 vaccine differed from that generated by AAVs in that the peak effector response evolved into populations of Gag-specific T cells expressing high levels of cytokines, including IL-2, and with effector memory and central memory phenotypes. A number of mechanisms could be considered to explain the aberrant activation of CD8+T cells by AAV, including insufficient inflammatory responses, CD4 help, and/or chronic antigen expression and T-cell exhaustion. Interestingly, the B-cell response to AAV-encoded Gag was quite vibrant and easily boosted with AdC7.
Nuclear Export of the Human Cytomegalovirus Tegument Protein pp65 Requires Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Activity and the Crm1 Exporter
Authors: Sanchez Veronica , Mahr Jeffrey A. , Orazio Nicole I. , Spector Deborah H.
Published: August 2007

We have previously shown that treatment of human cytomegalovirus-infected cells with the cyclin-dependent kinase (cdk) inhibitor roscovitine has significant effects on several stages of the virus life cycle depending on the time of addition (V. Sanchez, A. K. McElroy, J. Yen, S. Tamrakar, C. L. Clark, R. A. Schwartz, and D. H. Spector, J. Virol. 78:11219-11232, 2004; V. Sanchez and D. Spector, J. Virol. 80:5886-5896, 2006). In this report, we add to these findings by demonstrating alterations in the phosphorylation and localization of pp65 (UL83) in cells treated with roscovitine. We observed that inhibition of cdk activity causes the retention of pp65 within the nucleus at late times postinfection. At the same time, we observed a change in the phosphorylation pattern of the protein. Interestingly, mutation of potential cdk phosphorylation sites did not affect the ability of pp65 to localize to the nucleus or to relocalize to the cytoplasm late in infection. However, we found that the cytoplasmic accumulation of pp65 late in infection was sensitive to the Crm1 inhibitor leptomycin B.
SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF Ba2SmSbO6 NANOPARTICLES
Authors: VIJAYAKUMAR C. , PADMA KUMAR H. , THOMAS JIJIMON K. , SOLOMON SAM , NAIR S. U. K. , WARIAR P. R. S. , KOSHY J.
Published: August 2007

Nanoparticles of samarium barium antimonate ( Ba 2 SmSbO 6), a complex perovskite has been synthesized using an auto-ignition combustion process for the first time. The nanoparticles thus obtained have been characterized using X-ray diffraction, thermo-gravimetric analysis, differential thermal analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The XRD studies have shown that the as-prepared powder is phase pure Ba 2 SmSbO 6 and has a complex cubic perovskite ( A 2 BB ' O 6) crystalline structure with lattice constant a = 8.491 Å. The particle size of the as-prepared powder was in the range 20–50 nm. The nano crystals of Ba 2 SmSbO 6 synthesized by the combustion technique could be sintered to 97% of the theoretical density by heating at a temperature of 1550°C for 2 h. By the present combustion synthesis a phase pure Ba 2 SmSbO 6 nanopowder could be obtained by a single step process without the need of any calcination step.
A NUMERICAL STUDY ON THE MAGNETIC FLUID FLOW IN A CHANNEL SURROUNDING A PERMANENT MAGNET UNDER TEMPERATURE FIELD
Authors: LI X. L. , YAO K. L. , LIU Z. L.
Published: August 2007

It was investigated that the magnetic fluid which can be the carrier of magnetic particles or magnetic drug carrier particles (MDCP) flows surrounding a permanent magnet in a channel under the influence of high gradient magnetic field and the temperature difference between upper and lower boundaries of the channel. It is considered that the magnetization of the fluid varies linearly with temperature and magnetic field intensity. The numerical solution of above model is described by a coupled and nonlinear system of PDEs. Results indicate that the presence of magnetic and temperature fields appreciably influence the flow field; vortexes arise almost around the magnetic source and also appear near the upper left and lower right boundaries. The temperature, local skin friction coefficient and rate of heat transfer are all affected by the magnitude and position of the magnetic source, they fluctuate evidently near the high gradient magnetic field area.
INCLUSIVENESS MEASUREMENT OF RANDOM EVENTS USING ROUGH SET THEORY
Authors: TORABI H. , DAVVAZ B. , BEHBOODIAN J.
Published: August 2007

In some probabilistic problems, complete information about the probability model may not exist. In this article, we obtain a lower and upper probability for an arbitrary event by using rough set theory and then a measurement for inclusiveness of events is introduced.
STOCHASTIC DYNAMICS OF NETWORKS WITH SEMICLASSICAL EXCITATIONS
Authors: SHAFEE FARIEL
Published: August 2007

As artificial intelligence seems destined to go for devices at the nano-scale level involving quantized interactions, we investigate the changes brought forth by a transition of a dynamical classical neural system to a quantum one. First, we consider cases of interaction between neurons and with an external source, which are analytically tractable, and find relations for their average times of transition between different quantum states. We get simple relations between the average transition time and the effective potential in limits of resonance and small damping. Such potentials, with harmonic and/or damped behavior, may be quite important in nanoelectronic devices. We then present a network set up with interactions between nodes similar to classical biological-like action potentials with finite durations, and compare it with the classical integrate-and-fire neural network. As in the classical systems, we obtain from such networks dynamical behavior differing according to the type of static input. We have examined the role of the novel stochasticity introduced by the quantum potential which fuzzifies the logical links, in contrast to the system with the deterministic classical neural network. The dynamic quantum system also shows oscillations similar to biological systems. The average periodic behavior of the system, as found from simulations, agrees remarkably well with a simple formula with a single parameter to account for the intrinsic randomness of the system. Short-term retentivity of input memory is observed to be subtle but perceptible, and may be useful in designing devices with quantum networks that need a gradual auto-erasing facility, which too, being quasi-biological, may be a desirable feature in systems trying to mimic living neural systems.
EXPONENTIAL MEAN SQUARE STABILITY OF STOCHASTICALLY FORCED INVARIANT MANIFOLDS FOR NONLINEAR SDEs
Authors: RYASHKO L. B.
Published: August 2007

An exponential mean square stability for the invariant manifold [Formula: see text] of a nonlinear stochastic system is considered. The stability analysis is based on the [Formula: see text]-quadratic Lyapunov function technique. The local dynamics of the nonlinear system near manifold is described by the stochastic linear extension system. We propose a general notion of the projective stability (P-stability) and prove the following theorem. The smooth compact manifold [Formula: see text] is exponentially mean square stable if and only if the corresponding stochastic linear extension system is P-stable.
GENERAL CIRCUITS FOR INDIRECTING AND DISTRIBUTING MEASUREMENT IN QUANTUM COMPUTATION
Authors: GUPTA M. , PATHAK A. , SRIKANTH R. , PANIGRAHI K.
Published: August 2007

A question of theoretical and practical interest is how a quantum system may be measured indirectly by means of an ancilla that interacts with it, and furthermore, how a system of ancillas may be used to implement a coherent measurement of spatially separated qudits. We provide general circuits that can be used to implement such measurements. These circuits are relevant to quantum error correction, measurement-based quantum computation and Bell state discrimination across a quantum network involving multiple parties. The last mentioned problem is treated in detail. Our circuitry can also help to optimize the quantum communication complexity for performing measurements in distributed quantum computing.
DEVELOPMENT AND APPLICATION OF AN ELECTRONIC-MANUFACTURING SELECTION FRAMEWORK FOR SMEs
Authors: TAN BOON L. , BENNETT DAVID J.
Published: August 2007

With a wide diversity of available technologies, it is extremely problematic for SMEs to identify, plan, prioritize and use the correct strategy. Electronic-manufacturing has been evolving for some time, but currently an effective planning framework to assist managers with implementing electronic-manufacturing planning is still lacking. A framework, built around three elements: the Balanced Scorecard, Quality Function Deployment and Value Chain Analysis, is proposed here to assist SMEs in managing complexity in e-manufacturing planning. A case study, carried out in Singapore, demonstrates the practicality and utility of the framework in the context of a real business environment.
Effect of mesenteric vascular congestion on reflex control of renal blood flow
Authors: Hamza Shereen M. , Kaufman Susan
Published: August 2007

Portal hypertension initiates a splenorenal reflex, whereby increases in splenic afferent nerve activity and renal sympathetic nerve activity cause a decrease in renal blood flow (RBF). We postulated that mesenteric vascular congestion similarly compromises renal function through an intestinal-renal reflex. The portal vein was partially occluded in anesthetized rats, either rostral or caudal to the junction with the splenic vein. Portal venous pressure increased (6.5 ± 0.1 to 13.2 ± 0.1 mmHg; n = 78) and mesenteric venous outflow was equally obstructed in both cases. However, only rostral occlusion increased splenic venous pressure. Rostral occlusion caused a fall in RBF (−1.2 ± 0.2 ml/min; n = 9) that was attenuated by renal denervation (−0.5 ± 0.1 ml/min; n = 6), splenic denervation (−0.2 ± 0.1 ml/min; n = 11), celiac ganglionectomy (−0.3 ± 0.1 ml/min; n = 9), and splenectomy (−0.5 ± 0.1 ml/min; n = 6). Caudal occlusion induced a significantly smaller fall in RBF (−0.5 ± 0.1 ml/min; n = 9), which was not influenced by renal denervation (−0.2 ± 0.2 ml/min; n = 6), splenic denervation (−0.1 ± 0.1 ml/min; n = 7), celiac ganglionectomy (−0.1 ± 0.3 ml/min; n = 8), or splenectomy (−0.3 ± 0.1 ml/min; n = 7). Renal arterial conductance fell only in intact animals subjected to rostral occlusion (−0.007 ± 0.002 ml·min−1·mmHg−1). This was accompanied by increases in splenic afferent nerve activity (15.0 ± 3.5 to 32.6 ± 6.2 spikes/s; n = 7) and renal efferent nerve activity (32.7 ± 5.2 to 39.3 ± 6.0 spikes/s; n = 10). In animals subjected to caudal occlusion, there were no such changes in renal arterial conductance or splenic afferent/renal sympathetic nerve activity. We conclude that the portal hypertension-induced fall in RBF is initiated by increased splenic, but not mesenteric, venous pressure, i.e., we did not find evidence for intestinal-renal reflex control of the kidneys.
Polycystic kidney disease and renal injury repair: common pathways, fluid flow, and the function of polycystin-1
Authors: Weimbs Thomas
Published: August 2007

The root cause for most cases of autosomal-dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is mutations in the polycystin-1 (PC1) gene. While PC1 has been implicated in a perplexing variety of protein interactions and signaling pathways, what its normal function is and why its disruption leads to the proliferation of renal epithelial cells are unknown. Recent results suggest that PC1 is involved in mechanotransduction by primary cilia measuring the degree of luminal fluid flow. PC1 has also recently been shown to regulate the mTOR and signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT) 6 pathways. These two pathways are normally dormant in the healthy kidney but are activated in response to injury and appear to drive a proliferative repair response. This review develops the idea that a critical function of PC1 and primary cilia in the adult kidney may be to sense renal injury by detecting changes in luminal fluid flow and to trigger proliferation. Constitutive activation of these pathways in ADPKD would lead to the futile attempt to repair a nonexisting injury, resulting in cyst growth. The existence of many known cellular and molecular similarities between renal repair and ADPKD supports this model.
Changes in urinary bladder smooth muscle function in response to colonic inflammation
Authors: Noronha R. , Akbarali H. , Malykhina A. , Foreman R. D. , Greenwood-Van Meerveld Beverley
Published: August 2007

Visceral organ “cross talk” is suspected to contribute to multiorgan symptomatology found in conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome and interstitial cystitis. The goal of the present study was to investigate the short- and long-term effects of acute colitis on bladder detrusor muscle contractility. We hypothesized that inflammation of the colon leads to changes in bladder function via direct changes in detrusor smooth muscle contractility. In this study, colonic inflammation was induced in male rats via an enema of trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS) (50 mg/kg, 0.5 ml, 25% ethanol). Colitis was confirmed using gross morphology, histology, and measurements of myeloperoxidase activity. Saline enema-treated rats served as controls. Three, 15, and 30 days postenema treatment, bladder detrusor muscle contractility was investigated in response to electrical field stimulation (EFS), cholinergic agonism with carbachol (CCh), and KCl. During active colonic inflammation ( day 3 post-TNBS enema), the bladder detrusor muscle appeared normal and showed no significant inflammation. However, abnormalities in bladder detrusor muscle contractility occurred in response to EFS and CCh but not KCl. During and after recovery from colonic inflammation ( days 15 and 30 post-TNBS enema), changes in bladder detrusor muscle contractility in response to EFS and CCh returned to control levels. We found that a transient colonic inflammatory insult significantly attenuates the amplitude of bladder detrusor muscle contractions in vitro, at least in part, through changes in cholinergic innervation, which are reversible after recovery from the colitis.
The effect of oral contraceptives on the nitric oxide system and renal function
Authors: Cherney D. Z. I. , Scholey J. W. , Cattran D. C. , Kang A. K. , Zimpelmann J. , Kennedy C. , Lai V. , Burns K. D. , Miller J. A.
Published: August 2007

We have demonstrated that oral contraceptive (OC) users exhibit elevated angiotensin II levels and angiotensin II type 1 receptor expression, indicative of renin-angiotensin system (RAS) activation, yet the renal and systemic consequences are minimal, suggesting that there is increased vasodilatory activity, counteracting the effect of RAS activation. We hypothesized that the nitric oxide (NO) system would be upregulated in OC users and that this would be reflected by a blunted hemodynamic response to l-arginine infusion. All subjects were studied after a 7-day controlled sodium and protein diet. Inulin and para-aminohippurate clearance techniques were used to assess renal function. l-Arginine was infused at 100, 250, and 500 mg/kg, each over 30 min. Skin endothelial NO synthase mRNA expression was assessed by real-time PCR. While OC nonusers exhibited significant increases in effective renal plasma flow (670.8 ± 35.6 to 816.2 ± 59.7 ml·min−1·1.73 m−2) and glomerular filtration rate (133.4 ± 4.3 to 151.0 ± 5.7 ml·min−1·1.73 m−2, P = 0.04) and declines in renal vascular resistance (81.1 ± 6.1 to 63.5 ± 6.2 mmHg·ml−1·min, P = 0.001) at the lower l-arginine infusion rates, the responses in OC users were blunted. While l-arginine reduced mean arterial pressure at the 250 and 500 mg/kg doses in OC nonusers, OC users only exhibited a decrease in mean arterial pressure at the highest infusion rate. In contrast, tissue endothelial NO synthase mRNA levels were higher in the OC users ( P = 0.04). In summary, these findings suggest that the NO system is upregulated by OC use in young, healthy women. Increased activity of the NO pathway may modulate the hemodynamic effects of RAS activation in OC users.
Different Contributions of the Corpus Callosum and Cerebellum to Motor Coordination in Monkey
Authors: Soteropoulos Demetris S. , Baker Stuart N.
Published: August 2007

We investigated the different contribution of the corpus callosum (CC) and cerebellum to motor control in two macaque monkeys trained to perform a precision grip task with one or both hands. Recordings were made from antidromically identified CC cells and nearby unidentified neurons (UIDs) in the hand representation of the supplementary motor area (SMA) and compared with cells from the deep cerebellar nuclei (DCN). All cells showed their greatest modulation in activity (rate change locked to particular task event) during the movement epochs of the task (CC, 21.3 ± 22.2; UIDs, 36.2 ± 30.1 spike/s for contralateral trials; DCN, 63 ± 56.4 for ipsilateral trials; mean ± SD). Surprisingly, CC cells fired at very low basal rates compared with UIDs (3.9 ± 4.9 vs. 10 ± 9.1 spike/s) or DCN neurons (50.8 ± 23.8 spike/s). However, SMA cells had the greatest rate modulation to baseline ratio (CC: 12.1 ± 13.7; UID: 5.3 ± 5.4; DCN: 1.7 ± 2.0). This would allow them to code the timing of a behavioral event with better fidelity than DCN cells. A multivariate regression analysis between cell firing and EMG measured cells' representation of moment-by-moment modulations in muscle activity. CC neurons coded these real-time behavioral parameters significantly less well than the other cells types, using both linear and nonlinear models. Basal firing rate substantially constrains cell function. CC cells with low basal rates have restricted dynamic range for coding continuous parameters, but efficiently code the time of discrete behavioral events. DCN neurons with higher basal rates are better suited to control continuously variable parameters of movement.
Spatial and Cross-Modal Attention Alter Responses to Unattended Sensory Information in Early Visual and Auditory Human Cortex
Authors: Ciaramitaro Vivian M. , Buračas Giedrius T. , Boynton Geoffrey M.
Published: August 2007

Attending to a visual or auditory stimulus often requires irrelevant information to be filtered out, both within the modality attended and in other modalities. For example, attentively listening to a phone conversation can diminish our ability to detect visual events. We used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to examine brain responses to visual and auditory stimuli while subjects attended visual or auditory information. Although early cortical areas are traditionally considered unimodal, we found that brain responses to the same ignored information depended on the modality attended. In early visual area V1, responses to ignored visual stimuli were weaker when attending to another visual stimulus, compared with attending to an auditory stimulus. The opposite was true in more central visual area MT+, where responses to ignored visual stimuli were weaker when attending to an auditory stimulus. Furthermore, fMRI responses to the same ignored visual information depended on the location of the auditory stimulus, with stronger responses when the attended auditory stimulus shared the same side of space as the ignored visual stimulus. In early auditory cortex, responses to ignored auditory stimuli were weaker when attending a visual stimulus. A simple parameterization of our data can describe the effects of redirecting attention across space within the same modality (spatial attention) or across modalities (cross-modal attention), and the influence of spatial attention across modalities (cross-modal spatial attention). Our results suggest that the representation of unattended information depends on whether attention is directed to another stimulus in the same modality or the same region of space.
Assessment of Autofluorescence to Detect the Remineralization Capabilities of Sodium Fluoride, Monofluorophosphate and Non-Fluoride Dentifrices
Authors: Feng Y. , Yin W. , Hu D. , Zhang Y.P. , Ellwood R.P. , Pretty I.A.
Published: August 2007

The purpose of the study was to determine if longitudinal measurements of enamel autofluorescence (quantitative light-induced fluorescence, QLF) could detect differences in remineralization of early enamel caries on buccal surfaces of anterior teeth following supervised daily brushing with either sodium fluoride (NaF; 1,450 ppm F), sodium monofluorophosphate (MFP; 1,450 ppm F) dentifrices or a herbal, non-fluoride placebo dentifrice. The study was a pragmatic cluster-randomized controlled trial with schools as the unit of randomization. Twenty-one schools in Chengdu, China, comprised the clusters; 296 children with at least 1 visible white-spot lesion were examined using QLF at baseline and after 3 and 6 months. Each of the 21 clusters was randomly assigned 1 of the 3 dentifrices, and the childrenbrushed under supervision once per day for 2 min. The primary outcome measure was ΔQ (product of fluorescence loss and area) at a 5% threshold after 6 months of product use. A multi-level model was fitted to the data at the site level, taking into account the hierarchical structure with baseline ΔQ, age and sex as covariates. After 3 months there was a significant difference between the MFP group and placebo (p = 0.02) and after 6 months between the NaF group (p = 0.002), MFP group (p < 0.001) and the placebo. QLF methodology could detect, within 3- and 6-month periods of supervised brushing, a difference in remineralization between fluoride-containing and non-fluoride-containing dentifrices. Typically lesions in all 3 treatment groups demonstrated improvement. Groups receiving fluoride experienced a more rapid and more substantial remineralization than those in the placebo group.
Low-Fluoride Dentifrices with Reduced pH: Fluoride Concentration in Whole Saliva and Bioavailability
Authors: Olympio K.P.K. , Bardal P.A.P. , da S. Cardoso V.E. , Oliveira R.C. , de M. Bastos J.R. , Buzalaf M.A.R.
Published: August 2007

This double-blind study assessed the fluoride (F) concentration in whole saliva and F bioavailability after the use of low-F dentifrices with reduced pH. Whole saliva was collected from 10 volunteers after brushing with: experimental dentifrices (pH 5.5) 275, 550 and 1,100 ppm F; commercial 500 ppm F, pH 6.9 and a ‘gold standard’ 1,100 ppm F, pH 6.5. To analyze F bioavailability, 9 volunteers ingested weights of four dentifrices equivalent to 2 mg F: 1,500 ppm F/MFP/CaCO3, pH 9.5; 1,100 ppm F/NaF/silica, pH 5.5; 1,100 ppm F/NaF/silica, pH 7.0 and 1,100 ppm F/NaF/silica, pH 6.5 (‘gold standard’). Ductal saliva and urine were collected. F was analyzed by electrode. Data were tested using ANOVA and Tukey’s post hoc test (p < 0.05). The 550 ppm F/pH 5.5 dentifrice was similar to the ‘gold standard’ in its effect on whole saliva F concentration. The area under the curve of ductal saliva F concentration × time and urinary F excretion rates did not differ among the dentifrices. The results show that acidic low-F dentifrices are effective in increasing salivary F concentration and pH reduction does not seem to affect their F bioavailability.
Left Ventricular Functional Analysis Using 64-Slice Multidetector Row Computed Tomography: Comparison with Left Ventriculography and Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance
Authors: Wu Yen-Wen , Tadamura Eiji , Kanao Shotaro , Yamamuro Masaki , Okayama Satoshi , Ozasa Neiko , Toma Masanao , Kimura Takeshi , Kita Toru , Marui Akira , Komeda Masashi , Togashi Kaori
Published: August 2007

Objective: The progress in computed tomography (CT) has improved temporal resolution and shortened the acquisition time. We compared cardiac function using 64-slice CT with left ventriculography (LVG) and cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR). Methods: A head-to-head comparison between CT, LVG and CMR was performed in 41 patients. In global LV function, CMR served as the reference. Regional wall motion was compared in a 5-point scoring system. Results: CT had excellent intra- and interobserver reproducibility. Ejection fraction, end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes by CT were closely correlated with CMR (r = 0.95, 0.96 and 0.98, respectively), while LVG underestimated LV volumes (p < 0.01). The standard deviation of ejection fraction difference between CT and CMR was significantly lower than that between LVG and CMR (p = 0.0015). In regional function, there were good agreements of 94.8% (ĸ = 0.82) between CT and LVG and 94.5% (ĸ = 0.84) between CT and CMR. The intermethod agreements in mild hypokinesis using CT tended to be lower. Conclusion: An excellent correlation was observed between CT and CMR in the LV function over a wide range of heart rates. However, even though 64-slice CT tended to be less sensitive in detecting mild hypokinesis, it still showed excellent concordance in advanced regional abnormalities.
The Discovery of Salicylate Ototoxicity
Authors: Marchese-Ragona Rosario , Marioni Gino , Marson Piero , Martini Alessandro , Staffieri Alberto
Published: August 2007

Although the name of the discoverer of salicylate ototoxicity is still debated, most authors have quoted Müller and his 1877 report. To the best of our knowledge, the true discoverer of the transient ototoxicity of salicylate was the Italian chemist Cesare Bertagnini who reported this evidence in 1855 in the journal Il Nuovo Cimento.
Surgical Therapeutic Index of Tension-Free Vaginal Tape and Transobturator Tape for Stress Urinary Incontinence
Authors: Jeon Myung Jae , Chung Da Jung , Park Joo Hyun , Kim Sei Kwang , Kim Jae Wook , Bai Sang Wook
Published: August 2007

Background/Aims: The aim of this study was to obtain the surgical therapeutic index (STI) of tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) and transobturator tape (TOT) and compare it with the previously obtained result of Burch colposuspension. Methods: The study population consisted of 121 patients who were diagnosed as having stress urinary incontinence, underwent TVT or TOT between January 1, 2000 and June 30, 2005 and were followed up for at least 1 year. Patients with detrusor overactivity, urinary tract infection, intrinsic sphincter deficiency and pelvic organ prolapse more than stage II according to the POP-Q system were excluded. The cure and complication rates were investigated, and the STI (median percent cure rate/median percent complication rate) of each operation was calculated. Results: Of the 121 patients, 61 underwent TVT and 60 received TOT. Patient characteristics and the results of preoperative urodynamic studies showed no significant difference between the two groups. The STI of TOT (2.72, 4.08, 4.23, 5.29) was higher than that of Burch colposuspension (1.19, 2.27, 2.89, 3.53) and TVT (2.77, 3.69, 3.23, 3.17) irrespective of follow-up months (at 1, 3, 6, 12 months). Conclusion: TOT seems to be a more suitable surgical procedure for stress urinary incontinence with urethral hypermobility.
Competition Between Synaptic Depression and Facilitation in Attractor Neural Networks
Authors: Torres J. J. , Cortes J. M. , Marro J. , Kappen H. J.
Published: August 2007

We study the effect of competition between short-term synaptic depression and facilitation on the dynamic properties of attractor neural networks, using Monte Carlo simulation and a mean-field analysis. Depending on the balance of depression, facilitation, and the underlying noise, the network displays different behaviors, including associative memory and switching of activity between different attractors. We conclude that synaptic facilitation enhances the attractor instability in a way that (1) intensifies the system adaptability to external stimuli, which is in agreement with experiments, and (2) favors the retrieval of information with less error during short time intervals.
Distortion of Neural Signals by Spike Coding
Authors: Goldberg David H. , Andreou Andreas G.
Published: August 2007

Analog neural signals must be converted into spike trains for transmission over electrically leaky axons. This spike encoding and subsequent decoding leads to distortion. We quantify this distortion by deriving approximate expressions for the mean square error between the inputs and outputs of a spiking link. We use integrate-and-fire and Poisson encoders to convert naturalistic stimuli into spike trains and spike count and inter-spike interval decoders to generate reconstructions of the stimulus. The distortion expressions enable us to compare these spike coding schemes over a large parameter space. We verify that the integrate-and-fire encoder is more effective than the Poisson encoder. The disparity between the two encoders diminishes as the stimulus coefficient of variation (CV) increases, at which point, the variability attributed to the stimulus overwhelms the variability attributed to Poisson statistics. When the stimulus CV is small, the interspike interval decoder is superior, as the distortion resulting from spike count decoding is dominated by a term that is attributed to the discrete nature of the spike count. In this regime, additive noise has a greater impact on the interspike interval decoder than the spike count decoder. When the stimulus CV is large, the average signal excursion is much larger than the quantization step size, and spike count decoding is superior.
Culturally Sensitive Health Care and Counseling Psychology: An Overview
Authors: Herman Keith C. , Tucker Carolyn M. , Ferdinand Lisa A. , Mirsu-Paun Anca , Hasan Nadia T. , Beato Cristina
Published: August 2007

This article introduces the Major Contribution, which focuses on counseling psychologists' roles in addressing health disparities through culturally sensitive health care research and interventions. First, the authors provide a rationale for conducting research focused on culturally sensitive health care and then offer definitions of patient-centered culturally sensitive health care and related terms, drawing from both the health care and counseling psychology literatures. In addition, the authors address the broader question of how factors such as culturally sensitive health care influence health outcomes through an analysis of psychosocial mechanisms of health. Finally, the authors outline how counseling psychologists' expertise in a variety of areas can be applied to the medical field, and they briefly summarize progress that the field of counseling psychology has already made to this end.
Providing Patient-Centered Culturally Sensitive Health Care
Authors: Tucker Carolyn M. , Herman Keith C. , Ferdinand Lisa A. , Bailey Tamika R. , Lopez Manuel Thomas , Beato Cristina , Adams Diane , Cooper Leslie L.
Published: August 2007

This article describes the literature-based, testable, formative Patient-Centered Culturally Sensitive Health Care Model that explains the associations between patient-centered culturally sensitive health care, health-promoting treatment behaviors, and health outcomes and statuses. An intervention program based on the model and its foundational research are also described. In addition, the article summarizes research concerning the ongoing evaluation of the model and the intervention program as well as the development of pilot inventories to assess patient-centered culturally sensitive health care in community-based primary care clinics.
Counseling Psychology and Culturally Competent Health Care
Authors: Danish Steven J. , Forneris Tanya , Schaaf Kathryn Wilder
Published: August 2007

Addressing health care disparity and working toward a culturally sensitive and competent health care delivery system is a monumental task that calls for social and cultural change. As Herman and colleagues note in this issue, counseling psychologists have contributed greatly to the area of cultural competence and may be capable of taking on a number of roles that can lead to these changes. However, if counseling psychologists are to be part of the solution, they face a number of challenges. In this reaction article, the authors identify a number of issues related to the creation of a culturally sensitive health care system, including the definition of cultural competence, access to health care, the context of health care delivery, and reactions to the model of patient-centered cultural sensitive health care proposed by Tucker and colleagues in this issue.
Stereotypes and Racial Images —White, Black and Yellow—
Authors: Mayovich Minako Kurokawa
Published: August 2007

MUTUAL and self-perceptions of the racial images of the Whites, the Blacks and the Japanese Americans are studied among adult, college-student and school-children age-groups in California. For adults and college students, the Katz and Braly's adjective list was used, in which subjects were asked to choose five traits out of 84 to describe each racial group. Children were instructed to describe racial images in their own words.

The hypothesis that the Whites occupying the dominant position are endowed with positive traits and the minority groups with negative traits was only partially supported. Another hypothese concerning the minority acceptance of the negative image ascribed by the dominant group, which was true in the 1930's, was invaild in this study. The Whites were portrayed as materialistic and pleasure-loving; the Blacks were musical, aggressive and straightforward; and the Japanese, industrious, ambitious, loyal to family and quiet.
What Social Psychiatry Means To Me!
Authors: Bierer Joshua
Published: August 2007

There are many definitions of Social Psychiatry—I would like to express my own developing ideas on this subject.

Before doing this it might be wiser to enumerate the Beliefs and the Achievements of those, who have helped to create this world wide movement.
The Navajo Indian
Authors: Schoenfeld Lawrence S. , Miller Sheldon I.
Published: August 2007

This is a descriptive study of 348 new cases coming to the attention of the Mental Health team serving the Navajo Indian. Tribal affiliation, sex, marital status, age, type of schooling, religion, referral source, disposition, and primary diagnosis are presented and discussed.