bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Constructions of Sexual Relationships
Authors: Stenner Paul H. D. , Bianchi Gabriel , Popper Miroslav , Supeková Marianna , Lukšík Ivan , Pujol Joan
Published: August 2006

Q methodology was applied to investigate the views of young people from Catalunia, England and Slovakia regarding sexual relationships and their health implications. The Q sorts of 188 16-18-year-olds from these three diverse European regions were reduced by Q factor analysis to six clear accounts. These accounts are presented in relation to three emergent themes: (a) traditionalism/liberalism; (b) locus of responsibility; and (c) the relationship between sex and love, and these discursive themes are discussed in relation to health-salient criteria such as awareness of sex-related risk and corresponding implications for conduct.
Mister In-between
Authors: de Visser Richard , Smith Jonathan A.
Published: August 2006

The study of young men’s health-related behaviour offers an opportunity to examine the links between masculine identity and social behaviour. This article presents a case study of a 19-year-old man living in London, who describes himself as different to his peers on several important dimensions, including his engagement in health-related behaviours. The case study demonstrates the importance of health-related social behaviours such as drinking, drug use, physical activity, sport and sexual behaviour in the construction of a masculine identity. This case study also reveals that the way in which men position themselves in relation to different discourses of masculinity can have important implications not only for their masculine identities, but also for their health-related behaviour.
Predictors of Unprotected Sex with Non-cohabitating Primary Partners among Sheltered and Low-income Housed Women in Los Angeles County
Authors: Tucker Joan S. , Wenzel Suzanne L. , Elliott Marc N. , Hambarsoomian Katrin
Published: August 2006

This study investigated associations of substance use, relationship abuse and HIV self-protective behavior with unprotected sex among 290 impoverished women with a non-cohabitating primary partner. Unprotected sex was associated with having a physically or psychologically abusive partner among low-income housed women, and having an abusive partner who also drank to intoxication among women living in shelters. Indicators of HIV self-protective behavior were associated with less frequent unprotected sex among sheltered women, even after accounting for abuse and substance use within the relationship. Results suggest the need for HIV-prevention interventions to address the problems of partner substance use and relationship abuse.
Effects of Quality of Life and Coping on Depression among Adults Living with HIV/AIDS
Authors: Gore-Felton Cheryl , Koopman Cheryl , Spiegel David , Vosvick Mark , Brondino Michael , Winningham April
Published: August 2006

This prospective study examined the effect of maladaptive coping strategies and psychological quality of life (QOL) on depression at two time points in a diverse sample of persons living with HIV/AIDS ( N = 85). The use of maladaptive coping strategies to deal with the stress of living with HIV/AIDS, particularly engaging in various kinds of avoidant behaviors, was significantly associated with greater depression at baseline and increased depression at three months. QOL was the single most important predictor of depression. In an effort to develop effective clinical methods aimed at decreasing depression among adults living with HIV, future studies need to focus on improving quality of life and increasing adaptive coping strategies associated with the stress of living with HIV/AIDS.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Authors: Hyland Michael E. , Sodergren Samantha C. , Lewith George T.
Published: August 2006

Fifty-three chronic fatigue syndrome patients treated at a complementary medical centre were assessed over 12 months. Measures included the Chalder Fatigue scale, the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) and positivity in illness (Silver Lining Questionnaire, SLQ). The SLQ measured at 6 and 9 months predicted ( p < .01) mental (but not physical) fatigue at 12 months independently of current mental fatigue, initial mental fatigue, duration since diagnosis and time between start of treatment and entry to the study. The GHQ did not predict fatigue at any time point. The results suggest that a caring therapeutic intervention increases positive interpretations of illness prior to improvements in mental fatigue, but that positivity does not play a causal role in the reduction of fatigue.
Religious Coping among Caregivers of Terminally Ill Cancer Patients
Authors: Pearce Michelle J. , Singer Jerome L. , Prigerson Holly G.
Published: August 2006

This study investigated the association between religious coping, mental health and the caring experience, as well as potential explanatory mechanisms, among 162 informal caregivers of terminally ill cancer patients. Regression analyses indicated that, controlling for socio-demographic variables, more use of positive religious coping strategies was associated with more burden, yet, also more satisfaction. In contrast, more use of negative religious coping strategies was related to more burden, poorer quality of life and less satisfaction, and correlated with an increased likelihood of Major Depressive Disorder and anxiety disorders. In a number of models, negative religious coping was related to outcomes through its relationship with social support, optimism and self-efficacy. Implications for research and healthcare are discussed.
A Narrative View of Art Therapy and Art Making by Women with Breast Cancer
Authors: Collie Kate , Bottorff Joan L. , Long Bonita C.
Published: August 2006

Art therapy (with an art therapist) and art making (without an art therapist) show promise as avenues for psychosocial support for women with breast cancer. The purpose of this study was to gain an in-depth understanding of how 17 women with breast cancer in Canada and the USA used art therapy and their own art making to address their psychosocial needs, focusing particularly on meaning making. Narrative analysis of interviews yielded four storylines: Art and Art Therapy as a Haven; Getting a Clearer View; Clearing the Way Emotionally; and Enhancing and Enlivening the Self. The storylines show existence being affirmed, confirmed and proclaimed through visual artistic expression and meaning making being achieved through physical acts of making.
Social Comparison Processes in Autobiographies of Adult Cancer Survivors
Authors: Bellizzi Keith M. , Blank Thomas O. , Oakes Claudia E.
Published: August 2006

Cancer survivors often compare their situations to other survivors’ situations. However, types of social comparison processes used and resulting outcomes are not clearly delineated. This study explores usage and consequences of three social comparison styles (downward, upward and parallel) of adult cancer survivors in free narratives, using content analysis of 30 autobiographical books by survivors ranging in age from 30-70 ( M = 54, SD = 10.04); 43 percent prostate cancer, 17 percent breast cancer and 40 percent other cancers. Overall, cancer survivors used more parallel comparisons than directional comparisons, followed by upward comparisons. Each type of comparison was associated with different kinds of positive and negative consequences.
Patients’ Experiences of Daily Living with a Pacemaker
Authors: Malm Dan , Hallberg Lillemor R.-M.
Published: August 2006

The purpose of this study was to examine patients’ experiences of daily living with a pacemaker. A total of 13 pacemaker patients (seven women) aged 22-82 (mean = 59.2) years were interviewed. The informants had had a pacemaker from 0.5 to 33 (mean 13.1) years. The grounded theory method was the basis for collection and analysis of the data. The results of the analysis of the semi-structured interviews showed that variations in ‘perceived social participation’ and ‘emotional state’, the two core categories, were related to four qualitatively different ways of experiencing daily living after pacemaker implantation.
What is Good Qualitative Research?
Authors: Meyrick Jane
Published: August 2006

Qualitative research has an enormous amount to contribute to the fields of health, medicine and public health but readers and reviewers from these fields have little understanding of how to judge its quality. Work to date accurately reflects the complexity of the theoretical debate required but may not meet the needs of practitioners attempting to apply qualitative work in reviews of evidence. This article describes a simple, practitioner-focused framework for assessing the rigour of qualitative research that attempts to be inclusive of a range of epistemological and ontological standpoints. An extensive review of the literature, contributions from expert groups and practitioners themselves lead to the generation of two core principles of quality: transparency and systematicity, elaborated to summarize the range of techniques commonly used, mirroring the flow of the research process. The complexities discovered are only summarized here. Finally, outstanding issues such as ‘how much transparency is enough?’, are flagged up.
Social Sharing of Emotion in Anticipation of Cardiac Surgery
Authors: Panagopoulou Efharis , Maes Stan , Rimé Bernard , Montgomery Anthony
Published: August 2006

This study examined associations between social sharing of emotions, social support and preoperative psychological distress. Social sharing was operationalized in terms of quantity and quality. Quantity of social sharing was measured daily using a diary method. Quality of social sharing was measured with the Quality of Sharing Inventory. Participants were 157 hospitalized Greek patients. Hierarchical regression analysis showed that controlling for distress on admission, quality of social sharing was negatively related to distress one day before surgery ( p < .01). No effects were found for quantity of social sharing. Results emphasize the importance of studying qualitative aspects of emotional disclosure.
Long-term outcome of social skills intervention based on interactive LEGO© play
Authors: Legoff Daniel B. , Sherman Michael
Published: August 2006

LEGO© building materials have been adapted as a therapeutic modality for increasing motivation to participate in social skills intervention, and providing a medium through which children with social and communication handicaps can effectively interact. A 3 year retrospective study of long-term outcome for autistic spectrum children participating in LEGO© therapy ( N = 60) compared Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale socialization domain (VABS–SD) and Gilliam Autism Rating Scale social interaction subscale (GARS–SI) scores preand post-treatment with a matched comparison sample ( N = 57) who received comparable non-LEGO© therapy. Although both groups made significant gains on the two outcome measures, LEGO© participants improved significantly more than the comparison subjects. Diagnosis and pre-treatment full-scale IQ scores did not predict outcome scores; however, Vineland adaptive behavior composite, Vineland communication domain, and verbal IQ all predicted outcome on the VABS–SD, especially for the LEGO© therapy group. Results are discussed in terms of implications for methods of social skills intervention for autistic spectrum disorders.
Theory of mind and central coherence in adults with high-functioning autism or Asperger syndrome
Authors: Beaumont Renae , Newcombe Peter
Published: August 2006

The study investigated theory of mind and central coherence abilities in adults with high-functioning autism (HFA) or Asperger syndrome (AS) using naturalistic tasks. Twenty adults with HFA/AS correctly answered significantly fewer theory of mind questions than 20 controls on a forced-choice response task. On a narrative task, there were no differences in the proportion of mental state words between the two groups, although the participants with HFA/AS were less inclined to provide explanations for characters' mental states. No between-group differences existed on the central coherence questions of the forced-choice response task, and the participants with HFA/AS included an equivalent proportion of explanations for non-mental state phenomena in their narratives as did controls.These results support the theory of mind deficit account of autism spectrum disorders, and suggest that difficulties in mental state attribution cannot be exclusively attributed to weak central coherence.
Recognition of schematic facial displays of emotion in parents of children with autism
Authors: Palermo Mark T. , Pasqualetti Patrizio , Barbati Giulia , Intelligente Fabio , Rossini Paolo Maria
Published: August 2006

Performance on an emotional labeling task in response to schematic facial patterns representing five basic emotions without the concurrent presentation of a verbal category was investigated in 40 parents of children with autism and 40 matched controls. ‘Autism fathers’ performed worse than ‘autism mothers’, who performed worse than controls in decoding displays representing sadness or disgust.This indicates the need to include facial expression decoding tasks in genetic research of autism. In addition, emotional expression interactions between parents and their children with autism, particularly through play, where affect and prosody are ‘physiologically’ exaggerated, may stimulate development of social competence. Future studies could benefit from a combination of stimuli including photographs and schematic drawings, with and without associated verbal categories. This may allow the subdivision of patients and relatives on the basis of the amount of information needed to understand and process social-emotionally relevant information.
The quality of life of young men with Asperger syndrome
Authors: Jennes-Coussens Marieke , Magill-Evans Joyce , Koning Cyndie
Published: August 2006

Factors influencing quality of life for persons with Asperger syndrome are not yet understood. Men, ages 18 to 21, completed the World Health Organization Quality Of Life measure, the Perceived Support Network Inventory, and a semi-structured interview. Asperger syndrome affects quality of life beyond the obvious social impact. The 12 men with Asperger syndrome reported a significantly lower social and physical quality of life than did the 13 men in the control group. Education, living arrangements, and number of friends were remarkably similar between groups. Those with Asperger syndrome had less positive employment experiences and showed more preference for solitary activities. Interventions need to be based on a holistic model.
A case study of the use of a structured teaching approach in adults with autism in a residential home in Greece
Authors: Siaperas Panagiotis , Beadle-Brown Julie
Published: August 2006

In November 2001, the Greek Society for the Protection of Autistic People (GSPAP) established the first residence for people with autism in Greece, following the guidelines of structured teaching and the TEACCH method with all 12 of the residents. Using interview questionnaires and systematic naturalistic observations, this case study explored the effectiveness of the training programme in the residence for the 12 adolescents and adults with autism, who had never received any other intervention or training.The instruments used for the evaluation were the Childhood Autism Rating Scale, the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales and structured observations. The categories evaluated were personal independence, social abilities and functional communication. After a period of 6 months the results showed significant progress in these three areas of functioning for all of the residents.The implications of the results in particular for further research and service development in Greece are discussed.
Quantitative assessment of autistic symptomatology in preschoolers
Authors: Pine Elyse , Luby Joan , Abbacchi Anna , Constantino John N.
Published: August 2006

Given a growing emphasis on early intervention for children with autism, valid quantitative tools for measuring treatment response are needed. The Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) is a brief (15–20 minute) quantitative measure of autistic traits in 4-to 18-year-olds, for which a version for 3-year-olds was recently developed. We obtained serial SRS measurements on 73 preschool children with ( n = 51) and without ( n = 22) autism spectrum conditions. Inter-rater reliability (mothers and teachers) and test–retest reliability were of the order of 0.75 (Pearson's r). There was substantial agreement between SRS scores and (1) the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Composite (Pearson's r = –0.86) and (2) scores for social impairment on the Autism Diagnostic Interview–Revised ( r = 0.63). Overall, quantitative autistic trait scores tended to improve over time in preschoolers, irrespective of treatment conditions. We conclude that it is possible to obtain reliable quantitative measurements of autistic social impairment in preschoolers, suitable for assessing treatment response.
Social attribution processes and comorbid psychiatric symptoms in children with Asperger syndrome
Authors: Meyer Jessica A. , Mundy Peter C. , Van Hecke Amy Vaughan , Durocher Jennifer Stella
Published: August 2006

The factors that place children with Asperger syndrome at risk for comorbid psychiatric symptoms, such as anxiety and depression, remain poorly understood. We investigated the possibility that the children's emotional and behavioral difficulties are associated with social information and attribution processing. Participants were children with either Asperger syndrome ( n = 31) or typical development ( n = 33).To assess social information and attribution processing, children responded to hypothetical social vignettes.They also completed self-report measures of social difficulties and psychological functioning. Their parents provided information on social competence and clinical presentation. Children with Asperger syndrome showed poor psychosocial adjustment, which was related to their social information and attribution processing patterns. Cognitive and social-cognitive abilities were associated with aspects of social information processing tendencies, but not with emotional and behavioral difficulties. Results suggest that the comorbid symptoms of children with Asperger syndrome may be associated with their social perception, understanding, and experience.
The Childhood Asperger Syndrome Test (CAST)
Authors: Williams Jo , Allison Carrie , Scott Fiona , Stott Carol , Bolton Patrick , Baron-Cohen Simon , Brayne Carol
Published: August 2006

The Childhood Asperger Syndrome Test (CAST) is a 37-item parental self-completion questionnaire to screen for autism spectrum conditions in research. Good test accuracy was demonstrated in studies with primary school aged children in mainstream schools. The aim of this study was to investigate the test–retest reliability of the CAST . Parents of 1000 children in years 1–6 in five mainstream primary schools in Cambridgeshire received the CAST. A second identical questionnaire was posted to respondents after approximately 2 weeks. Both mailings generated 136 responses. Agreement above and below a screening cut-point of 15 was investigated.The kappa statistic for agreement (< 15 versus ≥ 15) was 0.70, and 97 percent (95 percent CI: 93–99 percent) of children did not move across the cut-point of 15. The correlation between the two test scores was 0.83 (Spearman's rho).The CAST has shown good test–retest reliability, and now requires further investigation in a high-scoring sample.
Impact of workflow-integrated corollary orders on aminoglycoside monitoring in children
Authors: Abboud Patricia A. , Ancheta Rose , McKibben Michael , Jacobs Brian R. ,   Clinical Informatics Outcomes Research Group
Published: August 2006

Computerized provider order entry (CPOE) and clinical decision support improve medication prescribing safety in adults. However, effective therapy for children requires dosing based on circulating medication levels. We examined the introduction of a computerized corollary order for aminoglycoside blood level monitoring. The study was divided into baseline (BP) and corollary order (CP) periods. In the CP, we implemented a workflow-integrated reminder to order blood levels and presented this to the clinician during each aminoglycoside ordering session. Appropriate laboratory monitoring was 128/159 (80.5%) courses in the BP and 146/177 (82.5%) courses in the CP. Thus introduction of the order did not significantly improve laboratory monitoring rates, nor did it result in a reduction in the rate of either toxic or subtherapeutic levels. However, aminoglycoside corollary orders may have an important role in institutions where pharmacists are not actively involved in monitoring therapy.
Population access to hospital emergency departments and the impacts of health reform in New Zealand
Authors: Brabyn Lars , Beere Paul
Published: August 2006

In the current political climate of evidence-based research, GIS has emerged as a powerful research tool as it allows spatial and social health inequality to be explored efficiently. This article explores the impact health reforms had on geographical accessibility to hospital emergency department (ED) services in New Zealand from 1991 to 2001. Travel time was calculated using least-cost path analysis, which identified the shortest travel time from each census enumeration district through a road network to the nearest ED. This research found that the population further than 60 minutes from an ED has increased with some areas being affected more than others. Some of this increase is attributed to increases in population rather than the closing of hospitals. The findings will be discussed within the context of the health policy reform era and changes to health service provision.
When computers should remain computers: a qualitative look at the humanization of health care technology
Authors: Farzanfar Ramesh
Published: August 2006

This article describes users’ responses to human-like characteristics of two health promotion IVR systems. We conducted a qualitative evaluation of two systems that promoted physical activity and healthy dietary behavior respectively. Two themes that emerged dealt with favorable responses of the users to the machine’s intrinsic qualities of being insentient and non-judgmental, and the users’ precarious sensitivity to certain human-like characteristics of the systems, namely, the content of the scripts and the recorded human voice. The article suggests that design factors that are intended to enhance human-like characteristics of these applications elicit both positive and negative responses. Thus, even though many users enjoyed and appreciated the human-like performance of the machine, some who were more sensitive about their exercise or dietary behavior preferred a non-affective response by these systems, i.e. they preferred the system to behave like a ‘machine’ (without emotions) rather than a ‘person’.
Using neural networks and just nine patient-reportable factors of screen for AMI
Authors: Bulgiba A. M. , Fisher M. H.
Published: August 2006

The study investigated the effect of different input selections on the performance of artificial neural networks in screening for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in Malaysian patients complaining of chest pain. We used hospital data to create neural networks with four input selections and used these to diagnose AMI. A 10-fold cross-validation and committee approach was used. All the neural networks using various input selections outperformed a multiple logistic regression model, although the difference was not statistically significant. The neural networks achieved an area under the ROC curve of 0.792 using nine inputs, whereas multiple logistic regression achieved 0.739 using 64 inputs. Sensitivity levels of over 90 per cent were achieved using low output threshold levels. Specificity levels of over 90 per cent were achieved using threshold levels of 0.4-0.5. Thus neural networks can perform as well as multiple logistic regression models even when using far fewer inputs.
Clinical, information and business process modeling to promote development of safe and flexible software
Authors: Liaw Siaw-Teng , Deveny Elizabeth , Morrison Iain , Lewis Bryn
Published: August 2006

Using a factorial vignette survey and modeling methodology, we developed clinical and information models -incorporating evidence base, key concepts, relevant terms, decision-making and workflow needed to practice safely and effectively -to guide the development of an integrated rule-based knowledge module to support prescribing decisions in asthma. We identified workflows, decision-making factors, factor use, and clinician information requirements. The Unified Modeling Language (UML) and public domain software and knowledge engineering tools (e.g. Protégé) were used, with the Australian GP Data Model as the starting point for expressing information needs. A Web Services service-oriented architecture approach was adopted within which to express functional needs, and clinical processes and workflows were expressed in the Business Process Execution Language (BPEL). This formal analysis and modeling methodology to define and capture the process and logic of prescribing best practice in a reference implementation is fundamental to tackling deficiencies in prescribing decision support software.
Turning Swift Policy-making into Deadlock and Delay
Authors: Steunenberg Bernard
Published: August 2006

Most member states of the European Union (EU) have some difficulty in transposing EU directives. Despite the obligation to comply with EU law, member states are often slow to adopt national policies implementing directives. In this paper I analyse this problem by focusing on the coordination of transposition in the domestic policy arena. Coordination is approached as a game in which one or more higher-level players decide on policy when lower-level players are unable to make a decision. Based on the model developed in the paper, lower-level players sometimes appear to have discretion in shaping the policy transposing a directive. Furthermore, if a single player coordinates the transposition process, the implementing policy differs from the policy specified by the directive. However, a decisionmaking process with more than one higher-level player can result in deadlock, leading to a literal transposition of a directive. Moreover, deadlock between the deciding players may delay the transposition process. Both mechanisms are illustrated by two cases of decision-making on EU directives in The Netherlands: the cocoa and chocolate products directive and the laying hens directive. The analysis shows that the framework developed in this paper contributes to the understanding of transposition.
The Second-order Election Model in an Enlarged Europe
Authors: Koepke Jason R. , Ringe Nils
Published: August 2006

On 1 May 2004, the European Union (EU) welcomed its new member states from Central and Eastern Europe. This paper considers to what extent one of the most widely tested and supported theories of voting behavior in Western Europe, the second-order election model, applies in the enlarged EU. We test the model using election data from the new member states and find that voters do not cast protest votes against their incumbent national governments in second-order elec tions, that is, elections where voters believe little to be at stake. This finding contradicts one of the model's basic propositions and runs counter to the empirical reality in the old member states, with potentially significant implications for inter and intra-institutional politics in the EU.
Adjusting to the EMU
Authors: Sadeh Tal
Published: August 2006

This study argues that coordination of electoral cycles among European Union (EU) member states and greater similarity in the partisan bias of their governments would make their membership in the single currency easier and cheaper by harmonizing their fiscal policies and would thus contribute to the sustainability of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). This argument is supported by applying a two-step least squares regression analysis to a cross-section of 325 dyads among 26 European countries. The article adds to the debate on the sustainability of the EMU with wider country and criteria coverage than is available in most of the existing literature, and by considering endogenous optimal currency area criteria as well as political variables within a single framework. It also contributes by studying the effects of political variables on real exchange rates and by applying a methodology that corrects estimates for the endogeneity of variables.
Partisan Politics in Regional Redistribution
Authors: Kemmerling Achim , Bodenstein Thilo
Published: August 2006

The current debate on the role of regional politics in the Euro pean Union (EU) is dominated by approaches that focus upon either intergovernmental bargaining or multi-level govern ance. Because Structural Funds are the main EU-wide redis tributive policy, we propose to apply the traditional literature on partisan politics and national redistribution to the case of the EU. We use a new data set on both the distribution of Structural Funds across regions and the distribution of vote shares for different factions of the European Parliament. These data provide empirical details for some of the partisan competition that takes place at the regional level. Specifically, we show that the traditional left vs. right cleavage can have an impact on the size of regional transfers.
The European Social Model and the United States
Authors: Alber Jens
Published: August 2006

The notion of a European social model assumes that European societies have certain features in common that distinguish them from the United States. Analysing longitudinal data on the dimensions of state, economy and society three findings stand out: (1) for most indicators the range of variation within the European Union is bigger than the gap between Europe and the United States; (2) counter to the idea of policy convergence, differences in the developmental trajectories of countries with different institutional arrangements persist; (3) despite having extended welfare states similar to those of Continental European countries, Scandinavian nations have performed as well as the Anglo-Saxon countries in terms of employment and growth dynamics. Hence there are not only different social models in Europe but also different pathways to success.
The Book of Kings in Recent Research (Part II)
Authors: Avioz Michael
Published: August 2006

In the first part of my article ( CBR 4.1 [2005]), I surveyed the research conducted on various, diverse aspects of the book of Kings, starting in the early 1990s and until 2004. In this article, I will focus on research dealing with the characters appearing in the book of Kings, using this classification: kings, beginning with David; prophets, especially Elijah and Elisha; and women, including Jezebel, the widow of Zarephath, and Shunammite woman. The different studies represent current trends in Bible research today: rejection of the historical reliability of the narratives, on the one hand, and, on the other, its acceptance; male voices and female voices; and diachronic methods and synchronic methods. In addition, many scholars call for multi-disciplinary methodologies that combine, for example, literary and sociological methods.
Digital Imaging: Looking Toward the Future of Manuscript Research
Authors: Griffin Carl W.
Published: August 2006

While microfilm has been the standard medium for manuscript photography since the 1950s, digital imaging is beginning to revolutionize manuscript research by providing broader and lower-cost access to higher-quality manuscript images. New digital imaging technologies like “multi-spectral imaging” are also capable of improving the legibility of damaged texts far beyond that achievable with conventional film. The potential of these new technologies for manuscript research may be seen with digital imaging projects focusing on such important texts as the Codex Sinaiticus and the Herculaneum papyri. For all its advantages, digital imaging poses for us further technological and archival challenges.
James the Just in History and Tradition: Perspectives of Past and Present Scholarship (Part I)
Authors: Myllykoski Matti
Published: August 2006

James the Just, the brother of Jesus, is known from the New Testament as the chief apostle of the Torah-obedient Christians. Up to the last quarter of the twentieth century, Jewish Christianity was regarded as an unimportant branch of the early Christian movement. Correspondingly, there was remarkably little interest in James. However, in the past two decades, while early Christianity has been studied as a form of Judaism, the literature on James has grown considerably. Now some scholars tend to assume that James was a loyal follower of his brother right from the beginning, and that his leadership in the church was stronger than traditionally has been assumed. Fresh studies on Acts 15 and Galatians 2 have opened new questions about the Christian Judaism of James and social formation of the community which he led. Part II of this article, to be published in a later issue of Currents, will treat the rest of the James tradition—James's ritual purity, martyrdom and succession, and his role in the Gnostic writings and later Christian evidence. It will conclude with reflections concerning James and earliest Jewish-Christian theology.
The Law of Christ and the Law of Moses: Reflections on a Recent Trend in Interpretation
Authors: Wilson Todd A.
Published: August 2006

The expression “law of Christ” (Gal. 6.2) continues to bedevil interpreters of Galatians, not least because it seems entirely out of place in a letter otherwise devoted to distancing Christ from the law (cf. 5.4). While the phrase has traditionally been understood to refer to that which replaces the law of Moses, there has been a significant shift of opinion in recent years. Now many interpreters want to read the expression as a direct reference to the law of Moses. This essay traces the emergence of this recent trend, situates it within its broader exegetical and theological milieu and considers some of the main exegetical arguments used to support the reading. The essay then concludes with a few reflections on the implications of this interpretive trend for Pauline exegesis.
Pharmacological utility of melatonin in the treatment of septic shock: experimental and clinical evidence
Authors: Escames Germaine , Acuña-Castroviejo Darío , López Luis Carlos , Tan Dun-xian , Maldonado Maria Dolores , Sánchez-Hidalgo Marina , León Josefa , Reiter Russel J
Published: August 2006

Sepsis is a major cause of mortality in critically ill patients and develops as a result of the host response to infection. In recent years, important advances have been made in understanding the pathophysiology and treatment of sepsis. Mitochondria play a central role in the intracellular events associated with inflammation and septic shock. One of the current hypotheses for the molecular mechanisms of sepsis is that the enhanced nitric oxide (NO) production by mitochondrial nitric oxide synthase (mtNOS) leads to excessive peroxynitrite (ONOO−) production and protein nitration, impairing mitochondrial function. Despite the advances in understanding of its pathophysiology, therapy for septic shock remains largely symptomatic and supportive. Melatonin has well documented protective effects against the symptoms of severe sepsis/shock in both animals and in humans; its use for this condition significantly improves survival. Melatonin administration counteracts mtNOS induction and respiratory chain failure, restores cellular and mitochondrial redox status, and reduces proinflammatory cytokines. Melatonin clearly prevents multiple organ failure, circulatory failure, and mitochondrial damage in experimental sepsis, and reduces lipid peroxidation, indices of inflammation and mortality in septic human newborns. Considering these effects of melatonin and its virtual absence of toxicity, the use of melatonin (along with conventional therapy) to preserve mitochondrial bioenergetics as well as to limit inflammatory responses and oxidative damage should be seriously considered as a treatment option in both septic newborn and adult patients. This review summarizes the data that provides a rationale for using melatonin in septic shock patients.
Permeation of bioactive constituents from Arnica montana preparations through human skin in-vitro
Authors: Tekko I A , Bonner M C , Bowen R D , Williams A C
Published: August 2006

This study investigated and characterised transdermal permeation of bioactive agents from a topically applied Arnica montana tincture. Permeation experiments conducted over 48 h used polydimethylsiloxane (silastic) and human epidermal membranes mounted in Franz-type diffusion cells with a methanol-water (50:50 v/v) receptor fluid. A commercially available tincture of A. montana L. derived from dried Spanish flower heads was a donor solution. Further donor solutions prepared from this stock tincture concentrated the tincture constituents 1, 2 and 10 fold and its sesquiterpene lactones 10 fold. Permeants were assayed using a high-performance liquid chromatography method. Five components permeated through silastic membranes providing peaks with relative retention factors to an internal standard (santonin) of 0.28, 1.18, 1.45, 1.98 and 2.76, respectively. No permeant was detected within 12 h of applying the Arnica tincture onto human epidermal membranes. However, after 12 h, the first two of these components were detected. These were shown by Zimmermann reagent reaction to be sesquiterpene lactones and liquid chromatography/diode array detection/mass spectrometry indicated that these two permeants were 11,13-dihydrohelenalin (DH) analogues (methacrylate and tiglate esters). The same two components were also detected within 3 h of topical application of the 10-fold concentrated tincture and the concentrated sesquiterpene lactone extract.
Nanoparticles of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) loaded N-succinyl-chitosan (Suc-Chi) for cancer chemotherapy: preparation, characterization — in-vitro drug release and anti-tumour activity
Authors: Yan Chengyun , Chen Dawei , Gu Jiwei , Qin Jing
Published: August 2006

N-Succinyl-chitosan has favourable properties as a drug carrier, such as biocompatibility, low toxicity and long-term retention in the body. It is a good candidate for cancer chemotherapy as a polymeric drug carrier. This study describes the preparation and characterization of 5-fluorouracil-loaded N-succinyl-chitosan nanoparticles (5-FU-Suc-Chi/NP) by an emulsification solvent diffusion method. The influence of the initial 5-FU concentration on the nanoparticle characteristics and release behaviour in phosphate-buffered saline solution (PBS) was evaluated. The Suc-Chi nanoparticles had a particle diameter (Z-average) in the range 202∼273 nm and a negative zeta-potential (approx. −27 to −18 mV). The formulation with an initial 5-FU concentration of 1000 μg mL−1 provided the highest loading capacity (19%) and the highest extent of release (61% at 24 h). The 5-FU-Suc-Chi/NP showed good anti-tumour activity against Sarcoma 180 solid tumour and mild toxicity. According to the data obtained, this Suc-Chi-based nanotechnology opens new and interesting perspectives for cancer chemotherapy.
Preparation and evaluation of self-microemulsifying drug delivery systems (SMEDDS) containing atorvastatin
Authors: Shen HaiRong , Zhong MingKang
Published: August 2006

Atorvastatin is insoluble in aqueous solution and the bioavailability after oral administration is low. Self-microemulsifying drug delivery systems (SMEDDS) containing atorvastatin have been successfully prepared to improve its bioavailability. SMEDDS is a mixture of lipid, surfactant, and cosurfactant, which are emulsified in aqueous medium under gentle digestive motility in the gastrointestinal tract. Pseudo-ternary phase diagrams composed of various excipients were plotted. Droplet size, zeta-potential and long-term physical stability of the formulations were investigated. The release of atorvastatin from SMEDDS capsules was studied using the dialysis bag method in 0.1 m HCl and phosphate buffer (pH 7.4), compared with the release of atorvastatin from a conventional tablet. A pharmacokinetic study was performed in 6 beagle dogs after oral administration of 6 mg kg−1 atorvastatin. The bioavailability of atorvastatin SMEDDS capsules was significantly increased compared with that of the conventional tablet. SMEDDS capsules consisting of Labrafil, propylene glycol and Cremophor RH40 provided the greatest bioavailability. Our studies indicate that the use of SMEDDS for the delivery of atorvastatin can improve its bioavailability.
Effect of plasma lipid on pharmacokinetics of ciclosporin and its relationship with plasma prednisolone level in renal transplant patients
Authors: Sugioka Nobuyuki , Kokuhu Takatoshi , Okamoto Masahiko , Yoshimura Norio , Ito Yukako , Shibata Nobuhito , Takada Kanji
Published: August 2006

Ciclosporin (cyclosporine A, CyA) is a potent immunosuppressant used after organ transplantation. The pharmacokinetic properties of CyA vary widely and lipoproteins are the major complexing constituents for CyA in the plasma. Therefore, a change in lipoprotein level may influence the pharmacokinetic properties of CyA. Prednisolone (PSL) is concomitantly used with CyA as an immunosuppressant. After organ transplantation, hyperlipidaemia resulting from PSL therapy has been mostly observed and PSL increased the plasma lipoprotein level. Therefore, in this study, to obtain more useful information of the therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of CyA, the relationship between the plasma PSL level, plasma lipoprotein level and blood CyA level was investigated in detail. An open-label, non-randomized, retrospective study was performed. Data from 21 male and 11 female patients (age 11–65 years) who received a living-related renal transplantation from 2002 to 2004 were included. On postoperative days (PODs) 7, 14 and 28, the area under the plasma concentration-time curve until 9 h after 40 mg of PSL administration (AUCPSL400–9) correlated well with total cholesterol (T-cho) (r = 0.558, 0.768, 0.660, all P < 0.05) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (r = 0.688, P < 0.05; 0.835, P < 0.01; 0.508, P < 0.05), and correlated negatively with very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) (r = −0.486, P < 0.01; −0.776, P < 0.01; −0.967, P < 0.01). In addition, AUC until 9 h after CyA administration (AUCCyA0–9) also correlated with T-cho (r = 0.797, P < 0.01; 0.577, P < 0.05; 0.901, P < 0.01), HDL (r = 0.514, P < 0.05; 0.614, P < 0.05; 0.893, P < 0.01) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) (r = 0.906, P < 0.01; 0.573, P < 0.05; 0.537, P < 0.05), and there was a negative correlation with VLDL (r = −0.480, −0.630, −0.632, all P < 0.05). Moreover, AUCCyA0–9 correlated well with AUCPSL400–9 (r = 0.728, P < 0.01; 0.482, P < 0.05; 0.688, P < 0.05); namely, it was considered that the variety of plasma PSL concentrations influenced the pharmacokinetic properties of CyA through the change in lipoprotein levels. These results suggested that monitoring of the biochemical parameters of the plasma lipid and plasma PSL level might be useful for the TDM of CyA.
Site-specific accumulation of the cancer preventive dietary polyphenol ellagic acid in epithelial cells of the aerodigestive tract
Authors: Whitley Alexander C , Sweet Douglas H , Walle Thomas
Published: August 2006

Ellagic acid (EA), a polyphenol present in berries, has been demonstrated to prevent oesophageal and colon cancer in animals. To better understand the site-specificity of these effects, we studied the accumulation and transport of [14C]EA in rat aerodigestive epithelial cells in-vivo and in cultured human cells. When [14C]EA was administered to rats by gavage, a high content of EA was found in the oesophagus and small intestine at 0.5h after oral administration and in the colon at 12h, with very low amounts in plasma and peripheral tissues. Studies in human intestinal Caco-2 and human oesophageal HET-1A cells found very limited transcellular transport (Caco-2) of EA but high accumulation (Caco-2 and HET-1A) in the cells. In more detailed studies in the Caco-2 cells, accumulation of EA displayed ATP- and Na+-dependency. Multiple interventions permitted the exclusion of a number of transporters as mediators of this uptake. A dramatically reduced transport of EA at low pH (5.5) compared with high pH (7.4) suggested an important role for the negative charge of EA. This was supported by the organic anion transport inhibitors 4,4′-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2′-disulfonic acid and bromosulfophthalein. The latter produced as much as 78% inhibition at the 100 μm concentration. Finally, Caco-2 cells were shown to express organic anion transporter 4 (OAT4) mRNA, as was the human large intestine. EA appears to be accumulated along the aerodigestive tract using OATlike transporters, one of which might be OAT4.
Plasma profiles of lycopene after single oral and intravenous administrations in dogs
Authors: Vertzoni Maria , Valsami Georgia , Reppas Christos
Published: August 2006

The objectives of this study were to identify the factors limiting the absorption of purified lycopene after oral administration, and to comparatively assess plasma data sets after single oral and intravenous administrations in dogs to define the conditions for performing an absolute bioavailability study. Solubility of purified lycopene (all-trans, 93.5%) was determined in media simulating the conditions in the fasted and in the fed upper gastrointestinal lumen. After evaluating the plasma levels achieved following single administrations of purified lycopene powder to fasted and fed dogs at escalating doses (75–750 mg), a crossover study was performed in four fed female mongrel dogs at two phases. In phase I, one soft gelatine capsule (10 mg lycopene) with 500 mL milk was administered orally. In phase II, 500 mL milk was administered orally and 250 mL 5% dextrose containing 5mg lycopene in the form of a binary system with hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CyD) was administered intravenously over 3.5 h. In-vitro and preliminary canine studies confirmed that, after oral administration of lycopene in solid form, arrival of lycopene into the systemic circulation was limited by lymphatic transport and, in addition, if the administered dose was higher than approximately 2 mg, by intralumenal solubility. During the first 50 h after single administrations to fed dogs, lycopene plasma levels were lower after intravenous than after oral administration. This could have been related to capacity limited elimination of lycopene and/or route-dependent disposition kinetics. Estimation of the amount of lycopene reaching the systemic circulation after oral and after intravenous administration requires separate estimations of total body clearance of lycopene.