bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A framework for sustainable marketing
Authors: Gordon Ross , Carrigan Marylyn , Hastings Gerard
Published: June 2011

This article examines how sustainable marketing could be achieved through the contribution of three existing marketing sub-disciplines; green marketing, social marketing and critical marketing. Green marketing facilitates the development and marketing of more sustainable products and services while introducing sustainability efforts into the core of the marketing process and business practice. Social marketing involves using the power of marketing to encourage sustainable behaviour among individuals, businesses and decision makers while also assessing the impact of current commercial marketing on sustainability. This links into the critical marketing paradigm which entails analyses of marketing theory, principles and techniques using a critical theory based approach. This analysis can help to guide regulation and control, development of marketing theory and practice, and to challenge the dominant institutions associated with marketing and the capitalist system, encouraging a marketing system in which sustainability is a key goal. The article concludes by offering a framework for sustainable marketing and a way forward for how this might be achieved.
Co-constructing the service experience: Exploring the role of customer emotion management
Authors: Tumbat Gülnur
Published: June 2011

This article introduces customer emotion management as an integral part of the service experience. By building primarily on Hochschild (1983), this study provides a deeper understanding of customers’ active emotional involvement and emotion display in extended service encounters. Using ethnography, this research demonstrates that customer emotion management is essential in understanding customer performance in co-construction of service experiences. The ethnographic findings challenge the assumption of a universally asymmetric emotional relationship between customers and service providers by providing evidence that customers also actively engage in emotion control.
The experiential meaning of service quality
Authors: Schembri Sharon , Sandberg Jörgen
Published: June 2011

Within dominant marketing approaches, service quality is conceptualized as a fixed set of static service dimensions such as reliability and responsiveness that reflect consumer expectations and/ or perceptions. As an alternative to the dominant approaches, the aim in this work is to identify and describe the consumer’s lived experience of service quality. Achieved through an interpretive approach the findings presented here demonstrate that the dimensions and attributes consumers’ use for evaluating service quality are based upon what service quality means to consumers and how consumers experience service quality in a particular services context. Moreover, the findings show that the experiential meaning of service quality varies and this theoretical contribution has important implications for improving service quality and future research on service quality.
Comparing Ideal Points Across Institutions and Time
Authors: Treier Shawn
Published: June 2011

Many spatial theories of policymaking in the context of a system of checks and balances require the estimation of ideal points which are comparable across institutions. This analysis evaluates comparisons between the president, Senate, and House. For applications which presume that legislators change their positions over time, the most commonly used estimates impose too many restrictions on the ideal points. I consider an alternative approach to creating a common scale by using interest groups (American Conservative Union [ACU] and Americans for Democratic Action [ADA]) as reference actors and incorporating “bridge votes,” roll calls on which the House and Senate vote on identical text. The analysis demonstrates this approach can produce comparable estimates across time and chamber.
The Constituency Motivations of Caucus Membership
Authors: Miler Kristina C.
Published: June 2011

The popularity of congressional caucuses is puzzling, given the dominance of political parties and rules that specifically limit caucuses’ resources. Yet modern caucuses offer legislators the unique advantage of complete discretion over their membership decisions, which allows legislators to tailor their memberships to their district. As a result, caucus membership is an important means of constituency representation. Using original data from the 108th Congress, this article examines the House caucus system and legislators’ membership in all 441caucuses. There is strong evidence that legislators’ decisions about caucus membership reflect their constituents even when controlling for party, committee, electoral security, and seniority. Legislators from heterogeneous districts belong to numerous caucuses, which allows them to represent the multiple interests in their constituency. In addition, legislators are more likely to belong to caucuses that address specific issues relevant to constituents.
Where You Live and Who You Know
Authors: Lyons Jeffrey
Published: June 2011

Do the social pressures individuals encounter from the political environments they reside in affect the stability of their partisanship? Are some citizens able to insulate themselves from such pressure through the composition of their discussion networks? While partisanship is widely regarded as stable, I consider whether it is influenced by such factors. I use panel data from the 1992-1996 and 2000-2004 American National Election Studies to address this, constructing a measure of partisan context at the county level. I find that those residing in a partisan minority county are more likely to change their party identification and that as the degree of incongruence rises, individuals become increasingly likely to change their identification across panel waves. These findings demonstrate the powerful effect of contextual social forces on an otherwise stable and enduring attachment such as partisanship and suggest that partisan socialization is a process that extends beyond an individual’s childhood.
The Causes and Consequences of Gubernatorial Endorsements
Authors: Vining Richard L. , Wilhelm Teena
Published: June 2011

Governors are generally the best-known figures in state politics. They have many roles, including service as political leaders in their states. One aspect of this role is the promotion of their favored policies and electoral candidates. We examine why governors endorse candidates for state-level office using data from partisan and nonpartisan state supreme court elections from 1999 to 2008. We examine both decisions to endorse and whether endorsements influence electoral results. Our findings indicate that a governor’s decision to endorse a candidate is the product of pragmatic considerations and executive resources. We also conclude that governors’ endorsements have a significant effect on electoral outcomes.
The Labor of Judging: Examining Administrative Law Judge Decisions
Authors: Taratoot Cole D. , Howard Robert M.
Published: June 2011

There has been significant scholarly research on judicial decision making and bureaucratic control but little research on bureaucrats who perform a judicial function, namely, administrative law judges. In this article, we analyze the influences on the decisions of administrative law judges (ALJs) from 1991 to 2006. Using ordered logit, we examine the influence of policy preference and hierarchical and political constraint. We find that ALJs are comparable to Federal District Court judges in that they use ideology in their rulings, are also subject to hierarchical control by higher courts, and that they are constrained by separation of powers influences.
The Politics of Belonging
Authors: Jacobson Robin Dale
Published: June 2011

This article explores how interest groups decide policy positions through case studies of three organizations’ shifting stances on the issue of immigration. In all three cases, the AFL-CIO, the Sierra Club, and the Christian Coalition, issue positions are signaling mechanisms central to the construction of an organizational identity. Leadership considers the message the stance on a policy issue sends to potential constituents and allies. Organizational agendas are one tool used by leaders to craft new narratives about what the group stands for, who the group represents, and who belongs. Key determinants of leaderships’ calculation over redrawing the boundaries of inclusion and representation and what signal an issue stance will convey includes organizational strength and a reading of a shifting political terrain. An evolutionary metaphor, instead of a rational actor model, is better suited to understand this critical component of interest group behavior, agenda setting.
Branched Endograft Repair of Mycotic Ascending Aortic Aneurysm Using the Snorkel Technique
Authors: Quinney Brenton Ellisor , Jordan William
Published: June 2011

Mycotic aneurysms are difficult clinical cases that can be approached by several methods. Debridement of infected tissue with in situ or extra-anatomic bypass is the traditional treatment. In poor operative candidates or reoperative cases, endovascular therapies can be an alternative. We present a 9-year-old with an ascending aortic mycotic aneurysm temporized with an endovascular repair as a bridge to definitive open surgery.
Azygous Collateral Thrombosis Presenting as Ureteric Colic
Authors: Smith Todd , Prasad Anoop , Lane Tristan , Franklin Ian
Published: June 2011

A 33 year old man presented to Accident and Emergency with haematuria and intermittent left loin pain radiating to the groin. On examination he had evidence of lower limb chronic venous insufficiency. Plain abdominal radiograph was unremarkable however computed tomography (CT) urogram and subsequent CT of thorax/abdomen/pelvis with contrast demonstrated azygous replacement of the inferior vena cava with an enlarged azygous vein and multiple enlarged veins in the abdomen and pelvis. A 5.7cm by 4.2cm low density lesion with surrounding inflammatory change was also visualised in the left para-aortic region. Ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging confirmed this as a thrombosed collateral of the aberrant venous web drainage. Lifelong anti-coagulation was commenced with symptomatic relief.
Superior Mesenteric Vein Aneurysm Rupture
Authors: Smith Travis J. , Morehouse Dan L.
Published: June 2011

Aneurysmal disease in the venous system is uncommon. The majority of venous aneurysms occur in peripheral vessels. Visceral venous aneurysms (VVA) are rare, the most common being portal mesenteric vein aneurysms. Because of their rare nature, limited information concerning the natural history, presentation, and management of VVA is known. Many VVA are asymptomatic; others cause mass effect or other complications. Rupture is a rare complication, occurring in only 2.2% of VVA. To date, only 17 descriptions of superior mesenteric vein (SMV) aneurysms have been reported. We report the first case of a ruptured SMV aneurysm.
Noninterruption of Warfarin Therapy is Safe and Does not Compromise Outcome in Patients Undergoing Endovenous Laser Therapy (EVLT)
Authors: Riesenman Paul J. , de Fritas Dorian J. , Konigsberg Steve G. , Kasirajan Karthikeshwar
Published: June 2011

Objective: To assess the need for cessation of oral anticoagulation with warfarin for patients undergoing endovenous laser therapy (EVLT). Methods: Between September 2004 and July 2010, 518 patients underwent 770 EVLT procedures on the lower extremity, at our institution. Of these patients, 5 underwent a total of 12 separate lower extremity EVLT procedures for the treatment of symptomatic reflux without interruption of warfarin therapy. Results: No bleeding complications were observed during the procedure or in early follow-up. None of the patients developed a deep venous thrombosis. Complete ablation of the target vessel was observed in all patients on follow-up Duplex ultrasounds at 1 and 8 weeks postintervention. Conclusion: Endovenous laser therapy can be safely performed and does not compromise target vessel ablation in patients receiving oral anticoagulation warfarin therapy. Warfarin therapy should not be routinely interrupted in patients undergoing this procedure.
Environmental Adult Learning and Transformation in Formal and Nonformal Settings
Authors: Bush-Gibson Brigette , Rinfret Sara R.
Published: June 2011

This manuscript identifies some of the challenges associated with environmental adult transformation (EAT) in formal and nonformal adult education settings. The authors argue that while environmental transformations are necessary to enhance global environmental sustainability, there are difficulties in achieving the necessary attitudinal and behavioral transformations that will eventually lead to global environmental action and stewardship. Drawing on their experiences as environmental educators, the authors analyze environmental adult learning and EAT in two U.S. settings——formal (universities) and nonformal (municipal/local government). The authors conclude that although environmental transformations are highly favored in order to enhance global environmental sustainability, transformations are not always clear-cut or achievable. Nonetheless, the authors find that the types of education practices in which formal and nonformal educators are engaged are both beneficial to environmental education as a whole and environmental adult education specifically.
Joining the Family: Experiences of Being and Becoming Ally Activists of LGBTQ People
Authors: Eichler Matthew A.
Published: June 2011

Issues surrounding the full-inclusion and rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people are at the forefront of many political discussions. People who are straight-identified ally activists of LGBTQ people have been a part of many movements that aim to improve the plight of LGBTQ people. This article explores the stories of three straight-identified ally activists as transformative learning experiences. Three individuals were selected from among a number of people interviewed because of their clarity and the variety of characteristics they represent. The study demonstrates the two-tiered nature of transformation necessary to becoming and being an ally activist. First, the individuals must become allies. Second, they must be moved to action in order to begin advocating for LGBTQ people.
Inquiry into Creative and Innovative Processes: An Experiential, Whole-Person Approach to Teaching Creativity
Authors: Netzer Dorit , Mangano Rowe Nancy
Published: June 2011

This article highlights the transformative nature of an online master’s level course titled, Inquiry into Creative and Innovative Processes. The authors emphasize the importance of whole-person, imaginative, and intuitive experiences in adult students’ unique, scholarly development. They describe their process of adapting intuitive inquiry, a transpersonal research method, as a supportive structure for this online course on creativity. A creative and innovative approach to teaching in itself, the course facilitated a flexible learning container, where students were guided toward integrating their academic learning and personal discovery in embodied and deeply conscious ways. Examples of students’ work and assessments demonstrated how they experienced meaningful and purposeful shifts in the ways they perceived and processed newly acquired knowledge. Students broadened and deepened their intuitive and rational ways of knowing in mindful, embodied, and creatively informed manner.
Introduction to Carbohydrate Counting
Authors: Butler Sarah
Published: June 2011

In the school setting, the school nurse facilitates and coordinates the team that implements the nutritional plan for students with diabetes. It is important that the school nurse is familiar with basic principles of medical nutrition therapy, glucose metabolism, carbohydrate counting, and insulin coverage for meals.
A Historical Review of Distance Vision Screening Eye Charts
Authors: Nottingham Chaplin P. Kay , Bradford Geoffrey E.
Published: June 2011

Vision screening protocol and equipment guidelines differ among schools across the United States. Budget cuts are forcing many school nurses to reevaluate their vision screening programs, as well as items in their vision screening toolboxes. School nurses tasked with inventorying those toolboxes to determine which items to toss, keep, or replace are oftentimes perplexed by the copious choices featured in vendor catalogs and websites. For school nurses who want their vision screening toolboxes to include eye charts, national and international eye chart design guidelines are available to help ensure selected eye charts are standardized. A national consensus policy exists that recommends specific eye charts. And, a large body of vision screening literature is available to help school nurses make informed decisions. Current documents suggest that LEA Symbols are appropriate for young children and Sloan Letters are a better choice than “Snellen” charts for older children.
All-Out War
Authors: Gramling Tim
Published: June 2011

About 19 million students attend U.S. higher education institutions. Institutions with a for-profit tax status educate 2 million of these students. Since the election of President Barack Obama in November 2008, media portrayals of for-profits have seen violent swings among neutral, positive, and even intensely negative views. Two sets of forces have been at work behind the scenes. First is the U.S. government, including the U.S. Senate, the U.S. Department of Education, and the U.S. Government Accountability Office. Second are the for-profit institutions themselves. This case study explores how these forces drove dramatic media coverage shifts in the first two years of the Obama administration.
Echocardiographic Findings in Fetuses With Vascular Lesions or Malformations
Authors: Gomien Susan , Keller Regina , Cnota James F. , Michelfelder Erik C.
Published: June 2011

Fetal vascular lesions or malformations such as sacrococcygeal teratomas, cervical teratomas, chorioangiomas, and vein of Galen aneurysms are associated with an increased risk of fetal death due to cardiac failure and hydrops. Large vascular lesions have the potential to result in increased cardiac output and volume overload on the fetal heart. As the heart compensates for the increasing blood flow, cardiovascular changes, demonstrable on fetal echocardiography, are likely to occur in the fetus. In the current era of fetal intervention and surgery, it is important to characterize these changes as a means of recognizing cardiac dysfunction and selecting patients for fetal intervention and management. This retrospective study characterizes the echocardiographic findings in fetuses with vascular lesions or malformations using 2D, color, and pulsed-wave Doppler imaging.
Role of Hydrocolonic Sonography in the Detection of Colonic Neoplastic Lesions
Authors: Caldeira Ana , Pereira Eduardo , Baldaque-Silva Francisco , Pereira Bruno , Sousa Rui , Tristan Jose , Banhudo Antonio
Published: June 2011

This article evaluates the role of hydrocolonic sonography in the study of colon neoplastic lesions in daily gastroenterology practice. Consecutive patients referred for optical colonoscopy were randomly and prospectively enrolled to hydrocolonic sonography. All patients went through hydrocolonic sonography (HS) before optical colonoscopy (OS). In total, 108 patients (57 men), with an average age of 68.9 years, participated in the study. Indications for colonoscopy were colorectal cancer screening (50.0%), unspecific abdominal symptoms (45.4%), and liver metastasis or suspicious lymph nodes (4.6%). Inspection of the entire colon was possible in 86.8% of patients by OC and 89.6% of patients by HS. Globally, the sensitivity and specificity of HS in polyp detection were 24.2% and 99.7%, respectively. For polyps >10 mm, hydrocolonic sonography achieved sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of 80.0%, 99.7%, 92.8%, and 99.5%, respectively. Optical colonoscopy detected 12 cancers, all identified with hydrocolonic sonography, showing a sensitivity and specificity of 100%. The technique was well tolerated by 94.3% of patients. Hydrocolonic sonography is feasible, safe, well tolerated, and inexpensive, allowing the detection of polyps larger than 10 mm and colon cancer with good accuracy in this study population. In the appropriate setting, it may be a complementary technique in the study of the colon.
Inflammation restraining effects of prostaglandin E2 on natural killer–dendritic cell (NK-DC) interaction are imprinted during DC maturation
Authors: Van Elssen Catharina H. M. J. , Vanderlocht Joris , Oth Tammy , Senden-Gijsbers Birgit L. M. G. , Germeraad Wilfred T. V. , Bos Gerard M. J.
Published: June 2011

Among prostaglandins (PGs), PGE2 is abundantly expressed in various malignancies and is probably one of many factors promoting tumor growth by inhibiting tumor immune surveillance. In the current study, we report on a novel mechanism by which PGE2 inhibits in vitro natural killer–dendritic cell (NK-DC) crosstalk and thereby innate and adaptive immune responses via its effect on NK-DC crosstalk. The presence of PGE2 during IFN-γ/membrane fraction of Klebsiella pneumoniae DC maturation inhibits the production of chemokines (CCL5, CCL19, and CXCL10) and cytokines (IL-12 and IL-18), which is cAMP-dependent and imprinted during DC maturation. As a consequence, these DCs fail to attract NK cells and show a decreased capacity to trigger NK cell IFN-γ production, which in turn leads to reduced T-helper 1 polarization. In addition, the presence of PGE2 during DC maturation impairs DC-mediated augmentation of NK-cell cytotoxicity. Opposed to their inhibitory effects on peripheral blood–derived NK cells, PGE2 matured DCs induce IL-22 secretion of inflammation constraining NKp44+ NK cells present in mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue. The inhibition of NK-DC interaction is a novel regulatory property of PGE2 that is of possible relevance in dampening immune responses in vivo.
An RNAi-based system for loss-of-function analysis identifies Raf1 as a crucial mediator of BCR-ABL–driven leukemogenesis
Authors: Albers Corinna , Illert Anna L. , Miething Cornelius , Leischner Hannes , Thiede Melanie , Peschel Christian , Duyster Justus
Published: June 2011

Genetic loss-of-function studies in murine tumor models have been essential in the analysis of downstream mediators of oncogenic transformation. Unfortunately, these studies are frequently limited by the availability of genetically modified mouse strains. Here we describe a versatile method allowing the efficient expression of an oncogene and simultaneous knockdown of targets of interest (TOI) from a single retroviral vector. Both oncogene and TOI-specific miR30-based shRNA are under the control of the strong viral long terminal repeat promoter, resulting in a single shared RNA transcript. Using this vector in a murine syngeneic BM transplantation model for BCR-ABL–induced chronic myeloid leukemia, we find that oncogene expression and target knockdown in primary hematopoietic cells with this vector is efficient both in vitro and in vivo, and demonstrate that Raf1, but not BRAF, modulates BCR-ABL–dependent ERK activation and transformation of hematopoietic cells. This expression system could facilitate genetic loss-of-function studies and allow the rapid validation of potential drug targets in a broad range of oncogene-driven murine tumor models.
Adult human circulating CD34−Lin−CD45−CD133− cells can differentiate into hematopoietic and endothelial cells
Authors: Ciraci Elisa , Della Bella Silvia , Salvucci Ombretta , Rofani Cristina , Segarra Marta , Bason Caterina , Molinari Agnese , Maric Dragan , Tosato Giovanna , Berardi Anna C.
Published: June 2011

A precise identification of adult human hemangioblast is still lacking. To identify circulating precursors having the developmental potential of the hemangioblast, we established a new ex vivo long-term culture model supporting the differentiation of both hematopoietic and endothelial cell lineages. We identified from peripheral blood a population lacking the expression of CD34, lineage markers, CD45 and CD133 (CD34−Lin−CD45−CD133− cells), endowed with the ability to differentiate after a 6-week culture into both hematopoietic and endothelial lineages. The bilineage potential of CD34−Lin−CD45−CD133− cells was determined at the single-cell level in vitro and was confirmed by transplantation into NOD/SCID mice. In vivo, CD34−Lin−CD45−CD133− cells showed the ability to reconstitute hematopoietic tissue and to generate functional endothelial cells that contribute to new vessel formation during tumor angiogenesis. Molecular characterization of CD34−Lin−CD45−CD133− cells unveiled a stem cell profile compatible with both hematopoietic and endothelial potentials, characterized by the expression of c-Kit and CXCR4 as well as EphB4, EphB2, and ephrinB2. Further molecular and functional characterization of CD34−Lin−CD45−CD133− cells will help dissect their physiologic role in blood and blood vessel maintenance and repair in adult life.
BCR-ABL suppresses autophagy through ATF5-mediated regulation of mTOR transcription
Authors: Sheng Zhi , Ma Leyuan , Sun Jiaoyuan E. , Zhu Lihua J. , Green Michael R.
Published: June 2011

The oncoprotein BCR-ABL transforms myeloid progenitor cells and is responsible for the development of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). In transformed cells, BCR-ABL suppresses apoptosis as well as autophagy, a catabolic process in which cellular components are degraded by the lysosomal machinery. The mechanism by which BCR-ABL suppresses autophagy is not known. Here we report that in both mouse and human BCR-ABL–transformed cells, activating transcription factor 5 (ATF5), a prosurvival factor, suppresses autophagy but does not affect apoptosis. We find that BCR-ABL, through PI3K/AKT/FOXO4 signaling, transcriptionally up-regulates ATF5 expression and that ATF5, in turn, stimulates transcription of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR; also called mechanistic target of rapamycin), a well-established master negative-regulator of autophagy. Previous studies have shown that the BCR-ABL inhibitor imatinib mesylate induces both apoptosis and autophagy, and that the resultant autophagy modulates the efficiency by which imatinib kills BCR-ABL–transformed cells. We demonstrate that imatinib-induced autophagy is because of inhibition of the BCR-ABL/PI3K/AKT/FOXO4/ATF5/mTOR pathway that we have identified in this study.
Unraveling the scissile bond: how ADAMTS13 recognizes and cleaves von Willebrand factor
Authors: Crawley James T. B. , de Groot Rens , Xiang Yaozu , Luken Brenda M. , Lane David A.
Published: June 2011

von Willebrand factor (VWF) is a large adhesive glycoprotein with established functions in hemostasis. It serves as a carrier for factor VIII and acts as a vascular damage sensor by attracting platelets to sites of vessel injury. VWF size is important for this latter function, with larger multimers being more hemostatically active. Functional imbalance in multimer size can variously cause microvascular thrombosis or bleeding. The regulation of VWF multimeric size and platelet-tethering function is carried out by ADAMTS13, a plasma metalloprotease that is constitutively active. Unusually, protease activity of ADAMTS13 is controlled not by natural inhibitors but by conformational changes in its substrate, which are induced when VWF is subject to elevated rheologic shear forces. This transforms VWF from a globular to an elongated protein. This conformational transformation unfolds the VWF A2 domain and reveals cryptic exosites as well as the scissile bond. To enable VWF proteolysis, ADAMTS13 makes multiple interactions that bring the protease to the substrate and position it to engage with the cleavage site as this becomes exposed by shear. This article reviews recent literature on the interaction between these 2 multidomain proteins and provides a summary model to explain proteolytic regulation of VWF by ADAMTS13.
Relationship between behavioural coping strategies and acceptance in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome: Elucidating targets of interventions
Authors: Rodero Baltasar , Casanueva Benigno , Luciano Juan V , Gili Margalida , Serrano-Blanco Antoni , García-Campayo Javier
Published: June 2011

Background

Previous research has found that acceptance of pain is more successful than cognitive coping variables for predicting adjustment to pain. This research has a limitation because measures of cognitive coping rely on observations and reports of thoughts or attempts to change thoughts rather than on overt behaviours. The purpose of the present study, therefore, is to compare the influence of acceptance measures and the influence of different behavioural coping strategies on the adjustment to chronic pain.

Methods

A sample of 167 individuals diagnosed with fibromyalgia syndrome completed the Chronic Pain Coping Inventory (CPCI) and the Chronic Pain Acceptance Questionnaire (CPAQ).

Results

Correlational analyses indicated that the acceptance variables were more related to distress and functioning than were behavioural coping variables. The average magnitudes of the coefficients for activity engagement and pain willingness (both subscales of pain acceptance) across the measures of distress and functioning were r = 0.42 and 0.25, respectively, meanwhile the average magnitude of the correlation between coping and functioning was r = 0.17. Regression analyses examined the independent, relative contributions of coping and acceptance to adjustment indicators and demonstrated that acceptance accounted for more variance than did coping variables. The variance contributed by acceptance scores ranged from 4.0 to 40%. The variance contributed by the coping variables ranged from 0 to 9%.

Conclusions

This study extends the findings of previous work in enhancing the adoption of acceptance-based interventions for maintaining accurate functioning in fibromyalgia patients.
Periostin: a promising target of therapeutical intervention for prostate cancer
Authors: Sun Chuanyu , Zhao Xiaojun , Xu Ke , Gong Jian , Liu Weiwei , Ding Weihong , Gou Yuancheng , Xia Guowei , Ding Qiang
Published: June 2011

Background

In our recent study, Periostin was up-regulated in prostate cancer(PCa) compared with benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) by proteomics analysis of prostate biopsies. We investigated the effect of sliencing Periostin by RNA interference (RNAi) on the proliferation and migration of PCa LNCap cell line.

Methods

All the prostate biopsies from PCa, BPH and BPH with local prostatic intraepithelial neoplasm(PIN) were analyzed by iTRAQ(Isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification) technology. Western blotting and immunohistochemical staining were used to verify Periostin expression in the tissues of PCa. Periostin expression in different PCa cell lines was determined by immunofluorescence staining, western blotting and reverse transcription PCR(RT-PCR). The LNCap cells with Periostin expression were used for transfecting shRNA-Periostin lentiviral particles. The efficancy of transfecting shRNA lentiviral particles was evaluated by immunofluorescence, western blotting and Real-time PCR. The effect of silencing Periostin expression by RNAi on proliferation of LNCap cells was determined by MTT assay and tumor xenografts. The tissue slices from theses xenografts were analyzed by hematoxylin and eosin(HE) staining. The expression of Periostin in the xenografts was deteminned by Immunohistochemical staining and western blotting. The migration of LNCap cells after silencing Periostin gene expression were analyzed in vitro.

Results

Periostin as the protein of interest was shown 9.12 fold up-regulation in PCa compared with BPH. The overexpression of Periostin in the stroma of PCa was confirmed by western blotting and immunohistochemical staining. Periostin was only expressed in PCa LNCap cell line. Our results indicated that the transfection ratio was more than 90%. As was expected, both the protein level and mRNA level of Periostin in the stably expressing shRNA-Periostin LNCap cells were significantly reduced. The stably expressing shRNA-Periostin LNCap cells growed slowly in vitro and in vivo. The tissues of xenografts as PCa were verificated by HE staining. Additionally, the weak positive Periostin expressed tumor cells could be seen in the tissues of 6 xenografts from the group of down-regulated Periostin LNCap cells which had a significant decrease of the amount of Periostin compared to the other two group. Furthermore, our results demonstrated that sliencing Periostin could inhibit migration of LNCap cells in vitro.

Conclusions

Our data indicates that Periostin as an up-regulated protein in PCa may be a promising target of therapeutical intervention for PCa in future.
Some extragradient methods for common solutions of generalized equilibrium problems and fixed points of nonexpansive mappings
Authors: Peng Jian-Wen
Published: June 2011

In this article, we introduce some new iterative schemes based on the extragradient method (and the hybrid method) for finding a common element of the set of solutions of a generalized equilibrium problem, and the set of fixed points of a family of infinitely nonexpansive mappings and the set of solutions of the variational inequality for a monotone, Lipschitz-continuous mapping in Hilbert spaces. We obtain some strong convergence theorems and weak convergence theorems. The results in this article generalize, improve, and unify some well-known convergence theorems in the literature.
An initial-boundary value problem for the one-dimensional non-classical heat equation in a slab
Authors: Salva Natalia Nieves , Tarzia Domingo Alberto , Villa Luis Tadeo
Published: June 2011

Nonlinear problems for the one-dimensional heat equation in a bounded and homogeneous medium with temperature data on the boundaries x = 0 and x = 1, and a uniform spatial heat source depending on the heat flux (or the temperature) on the boundary x = 0 are studied. Existence and uniqueness for the solution to non-classical heat conduction problems, under suitable assumptions on the data, are obtained. Comparisons results and asymptotic behavior for the solution for particular choices of the heat source, initial, and boundary data are also obtained. A generalization for non-classical moving boundary problems for the heat equation is also given.

2000 AMS Subject Classification: 35C15, 35K55, 45D05, 80A20, 35R35.
Cinnamon extract inhibits α-glucosidase activity and dampens postprandial glucose excursion in diabetic rats
Authors: Mohamed Sham Shihabudeen H , Hansi Priscilla D , Thirumurugan Kavitha
Published: June 2011

Background

α-glucosidase inhibitors regulate postprandial hyperglycemia (PPHG) by impeding the rate of carbohydrate digestion in the small intestine and thereby hampering the diet associated acute glucose excursion. PPHG is a major risk factor for diabetic vascular complications leading to disabilities and mortality in diabetics.Cinnamomum zeylanicum, a spice, has been used in traditional medicine for treating diabetes. In this study we have evaluated the α-glucosidase inhibitory potential of cinnamon extract to control postprandial blood glucose level in maltose, sucrose loaded STZ induced diabetic rats.

Methods

The methanol extract of cinnamon bark was prepared by Soxhlet extraction. Phytochemical analysis was performed to find the major class of compounds present in the extract. The inhibitory effect of cinnamon extract on yeast α-glucosidase and rat-intestinal α-glucosidase was determinedin vitroand the kinetics of enzyme inhibition was studied. Dialysis experiment was performed to find the nature of the inhibition. Normal male Albino wistar rats and STZ induced diabetic rats were treated with cinnamon extract to find the effect of cinnamon on postprandial hyperglycemia after carbohydrate loading.

Results

Phytochemical analysis of the methanol extract displayed the presence of tannins, flavonoids, glycosides, terpenoids, coumarins and anthraquinones.In vitrostudies had indicated dose-dependent inhibitory activity of cinnamon extract against yeast α-glucosidase with the IC50value of 5.83 μg/ml and mammalian α-glucosidase with IC50value of 670 μg/ml. Enzyme kinetics data fit to LB plot pointed out competitive mode of inhibition and the membrane dialysis experiment revealed reversible nature of inhibition.In vivoanimal experiments are indicative of ameliorated postprandial hyperglycemia as the oral intake of the cinnamon extract (300 mg/kg body wt.) significantly dampened the postprandial hyperglycemia by 78.2% and 52.0% in maltose and sucrose loaded STZ induced diabetic rats respectively, compared to the control. On the other hand, in rats that received glucose and cinnamon extract, postprandial hyperglycemia was not effectively suppressed, which indicates that the observed postprandial glycemic amelioration is majorly due to α-glucosidase inhibition.

Conclusions

The current study demonstrates one of the mechanisms in which cinnamon bark extract effectively inhibits α-glucosidase leading to suppression of postprandial hyperglycemia in STZ induced diabetic rats loaded with maltose, sucrose. This bark extract shows competitive, reversible inhibition on α-glucosidase enzyme. Cinnamon extract could be used as a potential nutraceutical agent for treating postprandial hyperglycemia. In future, specific inhibitor has to be isolated from the crude extract, characterized and therapeutically exploited.
Convergence of developmental mutants into a single tomato model system: 'Micro-Tom' as an effective toolkit for plant development research
Authors: Carvalho Rogério F , Campos Marcelo L , Pino Lilian E , Crestana Simone L , Zsögön Agustin , Lima Joni E , Benedito Vagner A , Peres Lázaro EP
Published: June 2011

Background

The tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) plant is both an economically important food crop and an ideal dicot model to investigate various physiological phenomena not possible in Arabidopsis thaliana. Due to the great diversity of tomato cultivars used by the research community, it is often difficult to reliably compare phenotypes. The lack of tomato developmental mutants in a single genetic background prevents the stacking of mutations to facilitate analysis of double and multiple mutants, often required for elucidating developmental pathways.

Results

We took advantage of the small size and rapid life cycle of the tomato cultivar Micro-Tom (MT) to create near-isogenic lines (NILs) by introgressing a suite of hormonal and photomorphogenetic mutations (altered sensitivity or endogenous levels of auxin, ethylene, abscisic acid, gibberellin, brassinosteroid, and light response) into this genetic background. To demonstrate the usefulness of this collection, we compared developmental traits between the produced NILs. All expected mutant phenotypes were expressed in the NILs. We also created NILs harboring the wild type alleles for dwarf, self-pruning and uniform fruit, which are mutations characteristic of MT. This amplified both the applications of the mutant collection presented here and of MT as a genetic model system.

Conclusions

The community resource presented here is a useful toolkit for plant research, particularly for future studies in plant development, which will require the simultaneous observation of the effect of various hormones, signaling pathways and crosstalk.
Periductal stromal sarcoma in a child: a case report
Authors: Masbah Ouafae , Lalya Issam , Mellas Nawfel , Bekkouch Iman , Allaoui Mohamed , Hassouni Khalid , Kebdani Tayeb , Regragui Asmaa , Benjaafar Noureddine , Elgueddari Brahim Khalil
Published: June 2011

Introduction

Periductal stromal sarcoma is an extremely rare malignant fibroepithelial tumor of the breast which is characterized by its biphasic histology with benign ductal elements and a sarcomatous stroma made of spindle cells and lacking phyllodes architecture. Its therapeutic management is based on wide surgery with free margins. Adjuvant therapies are not needed. Periductal stromal sarcoma may evolve into a phyllodes tumor with time, as well as a specific soft-tissue sarcoma. To the best of our knowledge, this tumor has never been described in a child.

Case presentation

A 14-year-old Arabic boy was presented to our hospital one year ago with a nodule of the right breast that was gradually increasing in size without signs of inflammation. The histological examination after lumpectomy revealed a periductal stromal sarcoma with free surgical margins. No adjuvant treatment was given. At 50 months of close follow-up, no recurrence was observed.

Conclusion

Periductal stromal sarcoma in a child is a very rare disease which has the same indolent behavior as it does in adults. Therefore, close follow-up is required.
Oxymatrine induces human pancreatic cancer PANC-1 cells apoptosis via regulating expression of Bcl-2 and IAP families, and releasing of cytochrome c
Authors: Ling Qi , Xu Xiao , Wei Xuyong , Wang Weibing , Zhou Bin , Wang Bei , Zheng Shusen
Published: June 2011

Background

Oxymatrine, an isolated extract from traditional Chinese herb Sophora Flavescens Ait, has been traditionally used for therapy of anti-hepatitis B virus, anti-inflammation and anti-anaphylaxis. The present study was to investigate the anti-cancer effect of oxymatrine on human pancreatic cancer PANC-1 cells, and its possible molecular mechanism.

Methods

The effect of oxymatrine on the viability and apoptosis was examined by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium and flow cytometry analysis. The expression of Bax, Bcl-2, Bcl-x (L/S), Bid, Bad, HIAP-1, HIAP-2, XIAP, NAIP, Livin and Survivin genes was accessed by RT-PCR. The levels of cytochrome c and caspase 3 protein were assessed by Western blotting.

Results

Oxymatrine inhibited cell viability and induced apoptosis of PANC-1 cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. This was accompanied by down-regulated expression of Livin and Survivin genes while the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio was upregulated. Furthermore, oxymatrine treatment led to the release of cytochrome c and activation of caspase-3 proteins.

Conclusion

Oxymatrine can induce apoptotic cell death of human pancreatic cancer, which might be attributed to the regulation of Bcl-2 and IAP families, release of mitochondrial cytochrome c and activation of caspase-3.
Editorial: Serine proteases, serpins, and neutropenia
Authors: Dale David C
Published: June 2011

Discussion on neutrophil dynamics and SERPIN B1 knockout mice.
Introduction to acceptance and commitment therapy
Authors: Webster Mark
Published: June 2011

Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is a descendant of cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT). The model draws techniques from a wide variety of sources and unites them within a philosophical and scientific framework to create a principle-driven therapy. Psychopathology is understood as a narrowing behavioural repertoire that develops over time through maladaptive strategies to cope with unwanted private events. The six core components of the therapy remain consistent across a wide range of clinical conditions. The approach combines processes of acceptance and mindfulness with those of commitment and behavioural change to produce increased psychological flexibility and an expanded behavioural repertoire. Since its introduction in 1999 an increasing number of trials show promising results for a wide range of conditions.
Service users' perceptions of quality of life measurement in psychiatry
Authors: Wallcraft Jan
Published: June 2011

This article describes the concept of quality of life (QoL) as applied to mental health. It also outlines relevant tools for measuring QoL, both generic and health-specific, and explains their approaches and purposes. These tools are intended to enable researchers to ask questions that are more patient-centred and psychosocial than traditional clinical measures for evaluating outcomes of treatment. However, a number of studies have criticised existing QoL tools in terms of their sensitivity to change and their relevance to mental health patients' concerns. Studies have shown that patients can give accurate self-reports even when ill. Given that government and professional policies favour effective service user involvement and routine outcome monitoring, more effort should be made to develop measures in partnership with service users, as this might better reflect individual priorities in assessment of quality of life.
The place of psychotherapy in modern psychiatric practice
Authors: Denman Chess
Published: June 2011

This article makes a case for training and developing psychotherapeutically competent consultant general psychiatrists. It describes what such psychiatrists should know and suggests that they should be able to prescribe psychotherapy rationally and assess its outcome. They should be able to deliver some psychological treatments themselves but, more importantly, they should be competent to apply psychotherapeutic knowledge and emotional literacy skills to their routine clinical practice. Possible CPD experiences are suggested to increase the competencies of existing consultant general psychiatrists.
Underuse of clozapine in treatment-resistant schizophrenia
Authors: Mistry Himanshu , Osborn David
Published: June 2011

Up to a third of patients with schizophrenia develop treatment resistance. Clozapine has been established as the most effective antipsychotic medication for treatment-resistant schizophrenia. However, it is significantly underutilised in this population. Possible reasons include clinicians' lack of experience with the drug and negative attitudes towards it. African-Caribbean patients are less likely to be treated with clozapine compared with their White counterparts and more likely to have treatment discontinued due to perceived risk of agranulocytosis. This paper discusses the current evidence relating to the underuse of clozapine and factors responsible for this.
Using clozapine in clinical practice
Authors: Mortimer Ann M.
Published: June 2011

Clozapine remains underutilised as the only antipsychotic for treatment-resistant schizophrenia, despite liberal National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidelines for its consideration. Bearing in mind its monitoring requirements and poor tolerability, suggestions are made for patients who fail to improve on other antipsychotic drugs. Clozapine may be offered to apparently unsuitable patients, although this is fraught with difficulty. A realistic appraisal of the alternatives is essential in this situation. Optimising plasma clozapine levels, alongside the use of rehabilitative interventions and adjuncts as necessary, will maximise efficacy, and there are numerous options to minimise side-effects. Clozapine requires a lengthier trial than other antipsychotics and discontinuation should be avoided if possible, as the results are generally very poor. Established successful clozapine treatment can induce substantial functional gains which accrue with time: patients are retained in treatment and relapse is prevented. Such optimal outcomes justify the initial effort expended by all.
Cross-cultural attitudes to help-seeking among individuals who
are suicidal: new perspective for policy-makers
Authors: Pitman Alexandra , Osborn David P. J.
Published: June 2011

World Mental Health Survey data demonstrate that a high proportion of people
who are suicidal receive no treatment and that, contrary to previous
assumptions, attitudes to treatment constitute greater barriers to
help-seeking than do stigma or structural/financial constraints. We explore
how suicide-prevention policy-makers might respond to Bruffaerts et
al's findings.