bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Linking Societal and Psychological Factors to Homicide Rates Across Nations
Authors: Lim Flora , Bond Michael Harris , Bond Mieko Kuchar
Published: August 2005

National rates of homicide vary dramatically and may provide a window into the societal dynamics and their socialized psychological reflections that generate violence. To develop a comprehensive theory of these dynamics, this study examined stable rates of homicide in 56 nations. A selection of societal-level variables was deployed in conjunction with psychological measures of citizen characteristics to predict homicide levels. Using blocked regression, and beginning with economic predictors, the authors discovered that homicide was most powerfully predicted by a linear equation combining societal measures of economic inequality, negative GNP per capita, and the negative sex ratio of men to women. Psychological measures of lower trust in one’s fellow citizens, belief in less social complexity, and preference for mates of higher status as opposed to love also predicted national homicide rates and were able to mediate the effects of the three societal variables on these national homicide rates. This study exemplifies the potential usefulness of combining societal and psychological measures in understanding national phenomena, suggesting plausible personality or social psychological factors characterizing a nation’s citizenry that are implicated in generating higher levels of any behavior, like homicide.
Ethnic Identity in Acculturation Research
Authors: Persky Irena , Birman Dina
Published: August 2005

This study explored the salience and predictive value of the identity dimension of acculturation among 351 Jewish refugees from the former Soviet Union in the United States. Whereas bidirectional acculturation models consider only two identities—ethnic identification with the culture of origin (Russian) and identification as a member of one’s new society (American)—this study broadens the examination of identity to include a third component—Jewish identity. Jewish identity was found to be the most salient of the three but predicted only one of the aspects of psychological adjustment—alienation. Findings underscore the need for the acculturation field to incorporate the possibility of more than two cultures into the explanatory framework and to examine the extent to which ethnocultural identities are contextually bound.
Capturing Gender-Based Microsegregation
Authors: Jerby Iris , Semyonov Moshe , Lewin-Epstein Noah
Published: August 2005

Comparative studies of occupational sex segregation have employed a variety of measures to estimate the extent of segregation across labor markets. In this article, the authors focus on two intrinsic limitations of the ratio index, which is derived from the log-linear framework: singularity for totally segregated occupations and sensitivity near the extremes. To capture the real essence of gender occupational segregation, it is necessary to examine rather detailed occupational categories. Such detailed occupational classification poses a problem for the ratio index since small occupations are more likely to be mono-gender occupations. The authors propose an alternative modified index that resolves both the singularity and the sensitivity problems by employing the “first-order approximation” of the logarithmic function. The modified index makes it possible to compute measures of microsegregation for detailed occupational categories. The advantages of the proposed index for comparative microsegregation analyses are illustrated and discussed.
Persistent Inequality? Answers From Hybrid Models for Longitudinal Data
Authors: Scott Marc A. , Handcock Mark S.
Published: August 2005

Many questions in social research must be evaluated over time. For example, in studies of intragenerational mobility, measuring opportunity for economic advancement requires longitudinal data. The authors develop and use a class of hybrid functional models to demonstrate how different models can lead to extremely different substantive conclusions. They provide guidelines for longitudinal data analyses in which variance partitions are central to the inquiry. In their analysis of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, the authors conclude that in a period of rising wage dispersion, the bulk of inequality is persistent over the life course. Their models provide support for the scenario in which wage inequality rises steadily while instability slowly diminishes over time. They obtain mild evidence of increased wage instability for somewhat older workers in the early 1990s, matching a recessionary trend. These findings contribute significantly to understanding wage inequality in United States over the past 25 years.
Glycosaminoglycans modulate C6 glioma cell adhesion to extracellular matrix components and alter cell proliferation and cell migration
Authors: Mendes de Aguiar Claudia Beatriz Nedel , Lobão-Soares Bruno , Alvarez-Silva Marcio , Trentin Andréa Gonçalves
Published: August 2005

Background

Adhesion to extracellular matrix (ECM) components has been implicated in the proliferative and invasive properties of tumor cells. We investigated the ability of C6 glioma cells to attach to ECM components in vitro and described the regulatory role of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) on their adhesion to the substrate, proliferation and migration.

Results

ECM proteins (type IV collagen, laminin and fibronectin) stimulate rat C6 glioma cell line adhesion in vitro, in a dose-dependent manner. The higher adhesion values were achieved with type IV collagen. Exogenous heparin or chondroitin sulfate impaired, in a dose-dependent manner the attachment of C6 glioma cell line to laminin and fibronectin, but not to type IV collagen. Dextran sulfate did not affect C6 adhesion to any ECM protein analyzed, indicating a specific role of GAGs in mediating glioma adhesion to laminin and fibronectin. GAGs and dextran sulfate did not induce C6 glioma detachment from any tested substrate suggesting specific effect in the initial step of cell adhesion. Furthermore, heparin and chondroitin sulfate impaired C6 cells proliferation on fibronectin, but not on type IV collagen or laminin. In contrast, both GAGs stimulate the glioma migration on laminin without effect on type IV collagen or fibronectin.

Conclusion

The results suggest that GAGs and proteoglycans regulate glioma cell adhesion to ECM proteins in specific manner leading to cell proliferation or cell migration, according to the ECM composition, thus modulating tumor cell properties.
The therapeutic effect of clinical trials: understanding placebo response rates in clinical trials – A secondary analysis
Authors: Walach Harald , Sadaghiani Catarina , Dehm Cornelia , Bierman Dick
Published: August 2005

Background and purpose

Placebo response rates in clinical trials vary considerably and are observed frequently. For new drugs it can be difficult to prove effectiveness superior to placebo. It is unclear what contributes to improvement in the placebo groups. We wanted to clarify, what elements of clinical trials determine placebo variability.

Methods

We analysed a representative sample of 141 published long-term trials (randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled; duration > 12 weeks) to find out what study characteristics predict placebo response rates in various diseases. Correlational and regression analyses with study characteristics and placebo response rates were carried out.

Results

We found a high and significant correlation between placebo and treatment response rate across diseases (r = .78; p < .001). A multiple regression model explained 79% of the variance in placebo variability (F = 59.7; p < 0.0001). Significant predictors are, among others, the duration of the study (beta = .31), the quality of the study (beta = .18), the fact whether a study is a prevention trial (beta = .44), whether dropouts have been documented (beta = -.20), or whether additional treatments have been documented (beta = -.17). Healing rates with placebo are lower in the following diagnoses; neoplasms (beta = -.21), nervous diseases (beta = -.10), substance abuse (beta = -.14). Without prevention trials the amount of variance explained is 42%.

Conclusion

Medication response rates and placebo response rates in clinical trials are highly correlated. Trial characteristics can explain some portion of the variance in placebo healing rates in RCTs. Placebo response in trials is only partially due to methodological artefacts and only partially dependent on the diagnoses treated.
Expression of G-protein inwardly rectifying potassium channels (GIRKs) in lung cancer cell lines
Authors: Plummer Howard K , Dhar Madhu S , Cekanova Maria , Schuller Hildegard M
Published: August 2005

Background

Previous data from our laboratory has indicated that there is a functional link between the β-adrenergic receptor signaling pathway and the G-protein inwardly rectifying potassium channel (GIRK1) in human breast cancer cell lines. We wanted to determine if GIRK channels were expressed in lung cancers and if a similar link exists in lung cancer.

Methods

GIRK1-4 expression and levels were determined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and real-time PCR. GIRK protein levels were determined by western blots and cell proliferation was determined by a 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) assay.

Results

GIRK1 mRNA was expressed in three of six small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cell lines, and either GIRK2, 3 or 4 mRNA expression was detected in all six SCLC cell lines. Treatment of NCI-H69 with β2-adrenergic antagonist ICI 118,551 (100 μM) daily for seven days led to slight decreases of GIRK1 mRNA expression levels. Treatment of NCI-H69 with the β-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol (10 μM) decreased growth rates in these cells. The GIRK inhibitor U50488H (2 μM) also inhibited proliferation, and this decrease was potentiated by isoproterenol. In the SCLC cell lines that demonstrated GIRK1 mRNA expression, we also saw GIRK1 protein expression. We feel these may be important regulatory pathways since no expression of mRNA of the GIRK channels (1 & 2) was found in hamster pulmonary neuroendocrine cells, a suggested cell of origin for SCLC, nor was GIRK1 or 2 expression found in human small airway epithelial cells. GIRK (1,2,3,4) mRNA expression was also seen in A549 adenocarcinoma and NCI-H727 carcinoid cell lines. GIRK1 mRNA expression was not found in tissue samples from adenocarcinoma or squamous cancer patients, nor was it found in NCI-H322 or NCI-H441 adenocarcinoma cell lines. GIRK (1,3,4) mRNA expression was seen in three squamous cell lines, GIRK2 was only expressed in one squamous cell line. However, GIRK1 protein expression was not seen in any non-SCLC cells.

Conclusion

We feel that this data may indicate that stimulation of GIRK1 or GIRK2 channels may be important in lung cancer. Stimulation of GIRK channels and β-adrenergic signaling may activate similar signaling pathways in both SCLC and breast cancer, but lead to different results.
Computational identification of residues that modulate voltage sensitivity of voltage-gated potassium channels
Authors: Li Bin , Gallin Warren J
Published: August 2005

Background

Studies of the structure-function relationship in proteins for which no 3D structure is available are often based on inspection of multiple sequence alignments. Many functionally important residues of proteins can be identified because they are conserved during evolution. However, residues that vary can also be critically important if their variation is responsible for diversity of protein function and improved phenotypes. If too few sequences are studied, the support for hypotheses on the role of a given residue will be weak, but analysis of large multiple alignments is too complex for simple inspection. When a large body of sequence and functional data are available for a protein family, mature data mining tools, such as machine learning, can be applied to extract information more easily, sensitively and reliably. We have undertaken such an analysis of voltage-gated potassium channels, a transmembrane protein family whose members play indispensable roles in electrically excitable cells.

Results

We applied different learning algorithms, combined in various implementations, to obtain a model that predicts the half activation voltage of a voltage-gated potassium channel based on its amino acid sequence. The best result was obtained with a k-nearest neighbor classifier combined with a wrapper algorithm for feature selection, producing a mean absolute error of prediction of 7.0 mV. The predictor was validated by permutation test and evaluation of independent experimental data. Feature selection identified a number of residues that are predicted to be involved in the voltage sensitive conformation changes; these residues are good target candidates for mutagenesis analysis.

Conclusion

Machine learning analysis can identify new testable hypotheses about the structure/function relationship in the voltage-gated potassium channel family. This approach should be applicable to any protein family if the number of training examples and the sequence diversity of the training set that are necessary for robust prediction are empirically validated. The predictor and datasets can be found at the VKCDB web site [1].
Handheld computers and the 21st century surgical team: a pilot study
Authors: Aziz Omer , Panesar Sukhmeet S , Netuveli Gopalakrishnan , Paraskeva Paraskevas , Sheikh Aziz , Darzi Ara
Published: August 2005

Background

The commercial development and expansion of mobile phone networks has led to the creation of devices combining mobile phones and personal digital assistants, which could prove invaluable in a clinical setting. This pilot study aimed to look at how one such device compared with the current pager system in facilitating inter-professional communication in a hospital clinical team.

Methods

The study looked at a heterogeneous team of doctors (n = 9) working in a busy surgical setting at St. Mary's Hospital in London and compared the use of a personal digital assistant with mobile phone and web-browsing facilities to the existing pager system. The primary feature of this device being compared to the conventional pager was its use as a mobile phone, but other features evaluated included the ability to access the internet, and reference data on the device. A crossover study was carried out for 6 weeks in 2004, with the team having access to the personal digital assistant every alternate week. The primary outcome measure for assessing efficiency of communication was the length of time it took for clinicians to respond to a call. We also sought to assess the ease of adoption of new technology by evaluating the perceptions of the team (n = 9) to personal digital assistants, by administering a questionnaire.

Results

Doctors equipped with a personal digital assistant rather than a pager, responded more quickly to a call and had a lower of failure to respond rate (RR: 0.44; 95%CI 0.20–0.93). Clinicians also found this technology easy to adopt as seen by a significant reduction in perceptions of nervousness to the technology over the six-week study period (mean (SD) week 1: 4.10 (SD 1.69) vs. mean (SD) week 6: 2.20 (1.99); p = 0.04).

Conclusion

The results of this pilot study show the possible effects of replacing the current hospital pager with a newer, more technologically advanced device, and suggest that a combined personal digital assistant and mobile phone device may improve communication between doctors. In the light of these encouraging preliminary findings, we propose a large-scale clinical trial of the use of these devices in facilitating inter-professional communication in a hospital setting.
Contemporary specificities of labour in the health care sector: introductory notes for discussion
Authors: Campos Francisco Eduardo , da Motta e Albuquerque Eduardo
Published: August 2005

Background

This paper combines the literature on public health, on economics of health and on economics of technological innovation to discuss the peculiarities of labour in the health care sector.

Method and framework

The starting point is the investigation of the economic peculiarities of medical care.

Results and discussions

This investigation leads to the identification of the prevalence of non-market forms of medical care in the countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Furthermore, the health care system has a distinctive characteristic from other economic sectors: it is the intersection between social welfare and innovation systems. The relationship between technological innovation and cost in the health care sector is surveyed. Finally, the Brazilian case is discussed as an example of a developing country.

Conclusion

The peculiarities of labour in the health care sector suggest the need to recognize the worth of sectoral labour and to cease to treat it separately. This process should take into account the rapid development of the health innovation system and one important consequence: the obsolescence of the acquired knowledge. One way to dignify labour is to implement continued education and training of health professions personnel.
Evidence that spontaneous reactivation of herpes virus does not occur in mice
Authors: Gebhardt Bryan M , Halford William P
Published: August 2005

Background

Some species, including humans and rabbits, exhibit periodic viral reactivation and shed infectious virus at the infected end organ. Mice may be an exception, because spontaneous shedding of infectious virus rarely, if ever, occurs. However, spontaneous molecular reactivation,i.e., the expression of a few viral genes and the synthesis of the viral glycoproteins coded for by these genes, has been reported. This finding has prompted the assumption that molecular reactivation is an indicator of reactivation and the production of infectious virus. The goal of this study was to differentiate between viral gene expression during latency and the episodic production of infectious virus in mice.

Results

Viral reactivation and infection were not seen in herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) latent ganglion graft recipient BALB/c scid or immunocompetent BALB/c mice, which survived the 65-day observation period with no evidence of viral infection although the immunocompetent mice developed cellular and humoral immunity to HSV-1. In contrast, BALB/c scid recipients of ganglia containing reactivating virus invariably developed a local and, subsequently, systemic viral infection and died within 14 days. Immunocompetent BALB/c mice that received ganglion grafts containing reactivating virus survived the infection and became immune to the virus. Trigeminal ganglia removed from scid and immunocompetent recipient graft sites 5, 14, and 28 days after transplantation contained latent virus and viable neurons.

Conclusion

The results suggest that, within the limits of detection of the experiments, spontaneous episodic production of immunogenic viral antigens but not of infectious virus occurs in mouse neural ganglia during latency.
Matrix attachment regions as targets for retroviral integration
Authors: Johnson Chassidy N , Levy Laura S
Published: August 2005

Background

The randomness of retroviral integration has been debated for many years. Recent evidence indicates that integration site selection is not random, and that it is influenced by both viral and cellular factors. To study the role of DNA structure in site selection, retroviral integration near matrix attachment regions (MARs) was analyzed for three different groups of retroviruses. The objective was to assess whether integration near MARs may be a factor for integration site selection.

Results

Results indicated that MLV, SL3-3 MuLV, HIV-1 and HTLV-1 integrate preferentially near MARs, specifically within 2-kilobases (kb). In addition, a preferential position and orientation relative to the adjacent MAR was observed for each virus. Further analysis of SL3-3 MuLV insertions in common integration sites (CISs) demonstrated a higher frequency of integration near MARs and an orientation preference that was not observed for integrations outside CISs.

Conclusion

These findings contribute to a growing body of evidence indicating that retroviral integration is not random, that MARs influence integration site selection for some retroviruses, and that integration near MARs may have a role in the insertional activation of oncogenes by gammaretroviruses.
Medication errors: a prospective cohort study of hand-written and computerised physician order entry in the intensive care unit
Authors: Shulman Rob , Singer Mervyn , Goldstone John , Bellingan Geoff
Published: August 2005

Introduction

The study aimed to compare the impact of computerised physician order entry (CPOE) without decision support with hand-written prescribing (HWP) on the frequency, type and outcome of medication errors (MEs) in the intensive care unit.

Methods

Details of MEs were collected before, and at several time points after, the change from HWP to CPOE. The study was conducted in a London teaching hospital's 22-bedded general ICU. The sampling periods were 28 weeks before and 2, 10, 25 and 37 weeks after introduction of CPOE. The unit pharmacist prospectively recorded details of MEs and the total number of drugs prescribed daily during the data collection periods, during the course of his normal chart review.

Results

The total proportion of MEs was significantly lower with CPOE (117 errors from 2429 prescriptions, 4.8%) than with HWP (69 errors from 1036 prescriptions, 6.7%) (p < 0.04). The proportion of errors reduced with time following the introduction of CPOE (p < 0.001). Two errors with CPOE led to patient harm requiring an increase in length of stay and, if administered, three prescriptions with CPOE could potentially have led to permanent harm or death. Differences in the types of error between systems were noted. There was a reduction in major/moderate patient outcomes with CPOE when non-intercepted and intercepted errors were combined (p = 0.01). The mean baseline APACHE II score did not differ significantly between the HWP and the CPOE periods (19.4 versus 20.0, respectively, p = 0.71).

Conclusion

Introduction of CPOE was associated with a reduction in the proportion of MEs and an improvement in the overall patient outcome score (if intercepted errors were included). Moderate and major errors, however, remain a significant concern with CPOE.
Use of Molecular Tumor Characteristics to Prioritize Mismatch Repair Gene Testing in Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Southey Melissa C. , Jenkins Mark A. , Mead Leeanne , Whitty Jonathan , Trivett Melanie , Tesoriero Andrea A. , Smith Letitia D. , Jennings Kim , Grubb Garry , Royce Simon G. , Walsh Michael D. , Barker Melissa A. , Young Joanne P. , Jass Jeremy R. , St John D. James B. , Macrae Finlay A. , Giles Graham G. , Hopper John L.
Published: August 2005

Purpose

The relationships between mismatch repair (MMR) protein expression, microsatellite instability (MSI), family history, and germline MMR gene mutation status have not been studied on a population basis.

Methods

We studied 131 unselected patients with colorectal cancer diagnosed younger than age 45 years. For the 105 available tumors, MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, and PMS2 protein expression using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and MSI were measured. Germline DNA was screened for hMLH1, hMSH2, hMSH6, and hPMS2 mutations for the following patients: all from families fulfilling the Amsterdam Criteria for hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC); all with tumors that were high MSI, low MSI, or that lacked expression of any MMR protein; and a random sample of 23 with MS-stable tumors expressing all MMR proteins.

Results

Germline mutations were found in 18 patients (nine hMLH1, four hMSH2, four hMSH6, and one hPMS2); all tumors exhibited loss of MMR protein expression, all but one were high MSI or low MSI, and nine were from a family fulfilling Amsterdam Criteria. Sensitivities of IHC testing, MSI (high or low), and Amsterdam Criteria for MMR gene mutation were 100%, 94%, and 50%, respectively. Corresponding positive predictive values were 69%, 50%, and 75%.

Conclusions

Tumor IHC analysis of four MMR proteins and MSI testing provide a highly sensitive strategy for identifying MMR gene mutation–carrying, early-onset colorectal cancer patients, half of whom would have been missed using Amsterdam Criteria alone. Tumor-based approaches for triaging early-onset colorectal cancer patients for MMR gene mutation testing, irrespective of family history, appear to be an efficient screening strategy for HNPCC.
Evidence for an Age Cutoff Greater Than 365 Days for Neuroblastoma Risk Group Stratification in the Children's Oncology Group
Authors: London W.B. , Castleberry R.P. , Matthay K.K. , Look A.T. , Seeger R.C. , Shimada H. , Thorner P. , Brodeur G. , Maris J.M. , Reynolds C.P. , Cohn S.L.
Published: August 2005

Purpose

In the Children's Oncology Group, risk group assignment for neuroblastoma is critical for therapeutic decisions, and patients are stratified by International Neuroblastoma Staging System stage, MYCN status, ploidy, Shimada histopathology, and diagnosis age. Age less than 365 days has been associated with favorable outcome, but recent studies suggest that older age cutoff may improve prognostic precision.

Methods

To identify the optimal age cutoff, we retrospectively analyzed data from the Pediatric Oncology Group biology study 9047 and Children's Cancer Group studies 321p1-p4, 3881, 3891, and B973 on 3,666 patients (1986 to 2001) with documented ages and follow-up data. Twenty-seven separate analyses, one for each different age cutoff (adjusting for MYCN and stage), tested age influence on outcome. The cutoff that maximized outcome difference between younger and older patients was selected.

Results

Thirty-seven percent of patients were younger than 365 days, and 64% were ≥ 365 days old (4-year event-free survival [EFS] rate ± SE: 83% ± 1% [n = 1,339] and 45% ± 1% [n = 2,327], respectively; P < .0001). Graphical analyses revealed the continuous nature of the prognostic contribution of age to outcome. The optimal 460-day cutoff we selected maximized the outcome difference between younger and older patients. Forty-three percent were younger than 460 days, and 57% were ≥ 460 days old (4-year EFS rate ± SE: 82% ± 1% [n = 1,589] and 42% ± 1% [n = 2,077], respectively; P < .0001). Using a 460-day cutoff (assuming stage 4, MYCN-amplified patients remain high-risk), 5% of patients (365 to 460 days: 4-year EFS 92% ± 3%; n = 135) fell into a lower risk group.

Conclusion

The prognostic contribution of age to outcome is continuous in nature. Within clinically relevant risk stratification, statistical support exists for an age cutoff of 460 days.
Patients' Perceptions of Quality of Care for Colorectal Cancer by Race, Ethnicity, and Language
Authors: Ayanian John Z. , Zaslavsky Alan M. , Guadagnoli Edward , Fuchs Charles S. , Yost Kathleen J. , Creech Cynthia M. , Cress Rosemary D. , O'Connor Lilia C. , West Dee W. , Wright William E.
Published: August 2005

Purpose

To identify opportunities for improving care, we evaluated patients' perceptions of the quality of their cancer care by race, ethnicity, and language.

Patients and Methods

We surveyed a population-based cohort of 1,067 patients with colorectal cancer in northern California approximately 9 months after diagnosis. Adjusting for clinical and demographic factors, mean problem scores were analyzed on a 100-point scale for six domains of care.

Results

Mean problem scores were highest for health information (47.8), followed by treatment information (32.3), psychosocial care (31.7), coordination of care (21.3), confidence in providers (13.1), and access to cancer care (12.7). In adjusted comparisons with white patients, African American patients reported more problems with coordination of care (difference, 9.8; P < .001), psychosocial care (difference, 7.2; P = .03), access to care (difference, 6.6; P = .03), and health information (difference, 12.5; P < .001). Asian/Pacific Islander patients reported more problems than did white patients with coordination of care (difference, 13.2; P < .001), access to care (difference, 15.5; P < .001), and health information (difference, 12.6; P = .004). Hispanic patients tended to report more problems with coordination of care (difference, 4.4; P = .06), access to care (difference, 5.8; P = .08), and treatment information (difference, 7.0; P = .06). Non–English-speaking white patients reported more problems than other white patients with coordination of care (difference, 21.9; P < .001), psychosocial care (difference, 16.1; P = .009), access to care (difference, 19.8; P = .003), and treatment information (difference, 17.8; P = .002). Non–English-speaking Hispanic patients reported more problems than other Hispanic patients with confidence in providers (difference, 16.9; P = .01).

Conclusion

Efforts to improve patients' experiences with cancer care should address disparities by race, ethnicity, and language, particularly in coordination of care, access to care, and the provision of relevant information.
Peer-Delivered Smoking Counseling for Childhood Cancer Survivors Increases Rate of Cessation: The Partnership for Health Study
Authors: Emmons Karen M. , Puleo Elaine , Park Elyse , Gritz Ellen R. , Butterfield Rita M. , Weeks Jane C. , Mertens Ann , Li Frederick P.
Published: August 2005

Purpose

Cancer survivors smoke at rates that are only slightly lower than the general population. This article reports on the final outcomes of Partnership for Health, a smoking cessation intervention for smokers in the Childhood Cancer Survivors Study (CCSS).

Methods

This study is a randomized control trial with follow-up at 8 and 12 months that involved smokers (n = 796) enrolled onto the CCSS cohort. Participants were randomly assigned to either a self-help or a peer-counseling program that included up to six telephone calls from a trained childhood cancer survivor, tailored and targeted materials, and free nicotine replacement therapy. The intervention was delivered by telephone and postal service mail.

Results

The quit rate was significantly higher in the counseling group compared with the self-help group at both the 8-month (16.8% v 8.5%; P < .01) and 12-month follow-ups (15% v 9%; P ≤ .01). Controlling for baseline self-efficacy and readiness to change, the intervention group was twice as likely to quit smoking, compared with the self-help group. Smoking cessation rate increased with an increase in the number of counseling calls. The cost of delivering the intervention was approximately $300 per participant. The incremental cost-effectiveness of the intervention compared with controls was $5,371 per additional quit.

Conclusion

Interventions to prevent future illnesses are of critical importance to childhood cancer survivors. The Partnership for Health intervention resulted in a doubling of smoking cessation quit rates. Because of the seriousness of smoking among childhood cancer survivors, this intervention model may be appropriate as a multicomponent treatment program for survivors who smoke.
Immunolocalization of ACE2 and AT2 Receptors in Rabbit Atherosclerotic Plaques
Authors: Zulli Anthony , Burrell Louise M. , Widdop Robert E. , Black M. Jane , Buxton Brian F. , Hare David L.
Published: August 2005

Evidence suggests that angiotensin type 2 receptor (AT2R) and angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) play a protective role in atherogenesis. These factors have not been identified in rabbit atherosclerotic plaques. Our goal was to localize ACE2 and AT2R in rabbit atherosclerotic tissues, and determine which cell types express these factors. New Zealand White rabbits were fed either a control diet or a 0.5% cholesterol diet ( n=8/group) for 12 weeks. Paraffin-fixed thoracic aorta were serially sectioned and processed for immunohistochemistry using commercially available antibodies to ACE2, AT2R, RAM 11 (to identify macrophages), and α smooth muscle cell actin (αSMC) to identify smooth muscle cells and myofibroblasts. AT2R immunoreactivity, but not ACE2 immunoreactivity, was clearly present in endothelia overlying normal wall. However, both AT2R and ACE2 immunoreactivity were clearly present in endothelia overlying neo-intima formation and atherosclerotic plaques. Within plaques, both AT2R and ACE2 immunoreactivity were observed in macrophages and αSMC actin-positive cells. Examination of serial sections showed that the majority of cells were both ACE2- and AT2R-positive. Macrophages and αSMC actin-positive cells produce ACE2 and the AT2R in atherosclerotic plaques. Determining a role for these factors in the control of atherosclerosis will require additional studies.
Patientennahe Bestimmung natriuretischer Peptide Near-patient testing of natriuretic peptides
Authors: Peetz Dirk , Hafner Gerd , Lackner Karl J.
Published: August 2005

Die B-Typ natriuretischen Peptide (BNP und NT-proBNP) haben sich in den letzten Jahren als neue, zuverlässige Labormarker der chronischen Herzinsuffizienz etabliert. Weitere in jüngster Zeit untersuchte Indikationsgebiete für BNP/NT-proBNP sind: Differentialdiagnose der akuten Dyspnoe, linksventrikuläre Hypertrophie, linksventrikuläre diastolische Dysfunktion, Vorhofflimmern, Herzklappenerkrankungen, die Therapiesteuerung bei Behandlung herzinsuffizienter Patienten sowie die Prognoseabschätzung bei Herzinsuffizienz und nach einem akuten Myokardinfarkt. Es existieren jedoch keine Daten, welche die Bestimmung von BNP- oder NT-proBNP unter speziellen Fragestellungen der patientennahen Testung untersuchen. In der vorliegenden Arbeit soll daher ein Überblick über die physiologischen und pathophysiologischen Grundlagen der Bestimmung natriuretischer Peptide, die analytischen Aspekte und verfügbaren Testsysteme sowie über vorhandene ökonomische Daten gegeben werden; diese sollen jeweils in Hinblick auf eine patientennahe Diagnostik beleuchtet werden.
Stellenwert der Autoimmundiagnostik bei Diabetes mellitus Autoimmune diagnostics in diabetes mellitus
Authors: Seissler Jochen , Scherbaum Werner A.
Published: August 2005

Der Typ-1-Diabetes entsteht durch eine progrediente Zerstörung der β-Zellen des Pankreas. Charakteristisch ist das Auftreten spezifischer Autoantikörper gegen Antigene der Inselzellen. Die Autoantikörper gegen Insulin (IAA), Glutaminsäure-Decarboxylase (GADA), Tyrosinphosphatase IA-2 (IA2-Ak) und die zytoplasmatischen Inselzellantikörper (ICA) können für die Differentialdiagnose des Typ-1-Diabetes genutzt werden, wenn klinische und metabolische Kriterien allein keine eindeutige Klassifizierung zulassen. Von besonderer Bedeutung ist die Autoimmundiagnostik bei Erwachsenen für die Differentialdiagnose zwischen einem Typ-1- und einem Typ-2-Diabetes, um die Diagnose eines LADA-Diabetes (latent autoimmune diabetes in adults) zu stellen.
Rekombinante Allergene für die Diagnose der Typ I-Allergie Recombinant allergens for diagnosis of type I allergy
Authors: Mothes Nadine , Valenta Rudolf , Spitzauer Susanne
Published: August 2005

Derzeit werden zur Diagnose der Typ I-Allergie Aller-genextrakte herangezogen, die zwar die auslösende Allergenquelle, nicht aber die für die Symptome (allergische Rhinokonjunktivitis, Asthma bronchiale) verantwortlichen allergenen Moleküle identifizieren können. Mit der Einführung von rekombinanten Allergenen durch die molekulare DNS-Technologie wurde es möglich, viele verschiedene Allergene aus Allergenquellen zu isolieren. Diese rekombinanten Moleküle können nun in in vitro-Tests im Sinne einer erweiterten Diagnostik (komponentenspezifische Diagnose) angewendet werden und erlauben dem Allergologen die Erstellung des individuellen IgE-Reaktionsprofils eines Patienten gegen die einzelnen Kom ponenten. Um die Durchführung von Tests mit einer Vielzahl verschiedener rekombinanter Allergene in der klinischen Praxis zu erleichtern, sind Tests in Erprobung, welche auf der Chiptechnologie basieren und die gleichzeitige Analyse mit bis zu 5.000 verschiedenen Allergenen oder Epitopen zulassen.

Die Einführung dieser rekombinanten Allergene in die klinische Praxis verbessert nicht nur die Kriterien für die Auswahl der Patienten in Bezug auf die spezifische Immuntherapie, sondern ermöglicht auch die Überprüfung der immunologischen Wirksamkeit der spezifischen Immuntherapie durch die Bestimmung von Allergen-spezifischen IgG-Antikörpern.

Neben ihrem diagnostischen Einsatz werden sowohl rekombinante Allergene als auch deren hypoallergene Derivate in Studien auf ihre klinische Effizienz als Vakzine getestet und zeigen auch hier bereits ihren Nutzen für die Immuntherapie der Typ I-Allergie.
Time‐Resolved Emission Spectra of Green Fluorescent Protein
Authors: Jaye Andrew A. , Stoner‐Ma Deborah , Matousek Pavel , Towrie Michael , Tonge Peter J. , Meech Stephen R.
Published: August 2005

The time‐resolved emission spectra of wild‐type green fluorescent protein (wtGFP) and the T203V GFP mutant have been recorded with picosecond time resolution, allowing the separate characterization of the two spectral components associated with the neutral and anionic forms of the GFP chromophore. Significantly, neither component shifts as a function of time. It is suggested that the absence of spectral shift is a result of highly restricted movement of the protein residues in the vicinity of the chromophore. The shapes of the separated spectra are discussed and their relative ratio analyzed in a steady‐state analysis.
Comparison of a partial life-cycle bioassay in artificial streams to a standard beaker bioassay to assess effects of metal mine effluent on Chironomus tentans
Authors: Hruska Kimberly A. , Dubé Monique G.
Published: August 2005

A novel, partial life-cycle bioassay using Chironomus tentans in artificial streams was developed for evaluating the effects of metal mine effluent. The utility of this bioassay was compared to an existing beaker life-cycle bioassay under laboratory conditions. Chironomus tentans larvae were exposed to 45% (v/v) treated metal mine effluent from day 11 through hatching of the second generation. Response patterns were consistent between the two bioassays for hatching success and time to emergence but inconsistent for other endpoints. Significant effects of effluent were obtained for growth, survival, number of adults emerged, and number of eggs per egg case in the artificial stream bioassay but not in the beaker bioassay. Conversely, significant effects on sex ratio and number of egg cases per female were observed in the beaker bioassay but not in the artificial stream bioassay. These differences are believed to be a consequence of the number of organisms per replicate used in each bioassay, which results in a difference in statistical power. As a result, higher coefficients of variation and effects sizes were observed in the beaker bioassay relative to the artificial stream bioassay for almost all endpoints. These results provide evidence that the bioassay in artificial streams can be an effective tool for evaluating the effects of metal mine effluent on life-cycle endpoints in C. tentans.
Influence of long contact times on sediment sorption kinetics of spiked chlorinated compounds
Authors: ten Hulscher Theodora E. M. , Vrind Bea A. , van den Heuvel Henny , van Noort Paul C. M. , Govers Harrie A. J.
Published: August 2005

The desorption kinetics of hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and 2,4,4′-trichlororbiphenyl (PCB 28) spiked to a field sediment were studied using a gas-purge technique. A contact time of up to 1,461 d was used to assess long-term changes in desorption kinetics. Purge-induced desorption experiments lasted from 300 to more than 4,000 h. Fast-, slow-, and very-slow-desorbing fractions could be distinguished. The desorption patterns changed with contact time from mainly fast- and slow-desorbing fractions toward the domination of slow- and very-slow-desorbing fractions. The desorption pattern for HCB after a contact time of 1,461 d became comparable to previously reported desorption patterns observed for in situ contaminants. An additional spike of HCB, PCB 28, 2,4,6-trichlorobiphenyl, and 2,2′,4,5′-tetrachlorobiphenyl applied to the sediment purged for more than 4,000 h showed that very slow sites were accessible for these compounds within a few hours. Only very small fast-desorbing fractions could be detected after a contact time of just 48 h. These results indicate that domination of very slow desorption is caused not only by long contact times but, perhaps, also by the accessibility of specific sites within the sediment matrix.
Characterization of the estrogenicity of Swiss midland rivers using a recombinant yeast bioassay and plasma vitellogenin concentrations in feral male brown trout
Authors: Vermeirssen Etiënne L. M. , Burki Richard , Joris Caroline , Peter Armin , Segner Helmut , Suter Marc J.-E , Burkhardt-Holm Patricia
Published: August 2005

In our study, we aim to characterize the estrogenicity of 18 independent rivers that receive effluent from sewage treatment works. During the winter and summer of 2003, we collected multiple water samples and measured environmental estrogens with an in vitro yeast-based reporter gene assay; estrogenicity was expressed as ng 17β-estradiol equivalents (EEQ) per L of water. Estradiol equivalents values in winter ranged from 0.3 to 2.0 ng/L and, in summer, from 0.4 to 7.0 ng/L. Winter and summer EEQ values were not correlated with each other or with the dilution factor of the effluent in the river. Variation in EEQ values was large and correlated from winter to summer. Part of this variation in estrogenicity is explained by water flow rates; variation is larger at reduced flow rates. We measured plasma vitellogenin concentrations in immature male brown trout. At five sites, vitellogenin concentrations exceeded 1 μg/ml; however, at the majority of the sites, plasma vitellogenin concentrations were below 0.5 μg/ml. Our data indicate that the exposure of brown trout to environmental estrogens in Swiss midland rivers is low. However, some sites show reoccurring higher EEQ values and, at some sites, plasma vitellogenin concentrations in male fish clearly are elevated.
Vegetated agricultural drainage ditches for the mitigation of pyrethroid-associated runoff
Authors: Bennett Erin R. , Moore Matthew T. , Cooper Charles M. , Smith Sammie , Shields F. Douglas , Drouillard Ken G. , Schulz Ralf
Published: August 2005

Drainage ditches are indispensable components of the agricultural production landscape. A benefit of these ditches is contaminant mitigation of agricultural storm runoff. This study determined bifenthrin and lambda-cyhalothrin (two pyrethroid insecticides) partitioning and retention in ditch water, sediment, and plant material as well as estimated necessary ditch length required for effective mitigation. A controlled-release runoff simulation was conducted on a 650-m vegetated drainage ditch in the Mississippi Delta, USA. Bifenthrin and lambda-cyhalothrin were released into the ditch in a water-sediment slurry. Samples of water, sediment, and plants were collected and analyzed for pyrethroid concentrations. Three hours following runoff initiation, inlet bifenthrin and lambda-cyhalothrin water concentrations ranged from 666 and 374 μg/L, respectively, to 7.24 and 5.23 μg/L at 200 m downstream. No chemical residues were detected at the 400-m sampling site. A similar trend was observed throughout the first 7 d of the study where water concentrations were elevated at the front end of the ditch (0–25 m) and greatly reduced by the 400-m sampling site. Regression formulas predicted that bifenthrin and lambda-cyhalothrin concentrations in ditch water were reduced to 0.1% of the initial value within 280 m. Mass balance calculations determined that ditch plants were the major sink and/or sorption site responsible for the rapid aqueous pyrethroid dissipation. By incorporating vegetated drainage ditches into a watershed management program, agriculture can continue to decrease potential non-point source threats to downstream aquatic receiving systems. Overall results of this study illustrate that aquatic macrophytes play an important role in the retention and distribution of pyrethroids in vegetated agricultural drainage ditches.
A teleost in vitro reporter gene assay to screen for agonists of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors
Authors: Liu Gele , Moon Thomas W. , Metcalfe Chris D. , Lee Lucy E. J. , Trudeau Vance L.
Published: August 2005

Several contaminants detected in aquatic ecosystems are agonists of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs). Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors interact with the retinoid × receptor (RXR) to activate the transcription of genes that control a variety of physiological functions. We cloned and sequenced partial cDNA fragments of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) PPARα and PPARβ from rainbow trout (rt) gill-W1 cells, a cell line derived from rainbow trout gills; predicted amino acid identities are 77% and 82% compared with their respective human homologs and 83 to 88% and 91 to 98% identical to fish homologs. A reporter gene assay was developed by transfecting rt-gill-W1 cells with a reporter gene construct containing the peroxisome proliferator response element (PPRE) of the rat liver 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase B (TB) gene, which drives luciferase expression. Agonists of both PPARα (WY14,643 and gemfibrozil) and PPARβ (bezafibrate) induced luciferase activity, while rosiglitazone, a PPARγ agonist, was not effective. The fibrate drug, bezafibrate increased luciferase activity in a dose-dependent manner, but addition of 50 nM 9-cis-retinoic acid to the transfected rt-gill-W1 cell culture maximized the sensitivity of the assay so that bezafibrate could be detected at concentrations as low as 6 nM. Extracts from treated domestic wastewater containing fibrate drugs induced luciferase activity in the transfected gill cells. This in vitro reporter gene assay shows promise as a rapid and sensitive technique for screening environmental samples for PPAR-active substances.
Acute enantioselective toxicity of fipronil and its desulfinyl photoproduct to Ceriodaphnia dubia
Authors: Konwick Brad J. , Fisk Aaron T. , Garrison Arthur W. , Avants Jimmy K. , Black Marsha C.
Published: August 2005

Fipronil is a phenylpyrazole insecticide increasingly used in applications such as rice culture, turf grass management, and residential pest control, with a high probability to contaminate aquatic environments. As a chiral pesticide, fipronil is released to the environment as a racemic mixture (equal amounts of optical isomers called enantiomers). Enantiomers can have different toxicological and biological activity; however, information on these differences, which is necessary for accurate risk assessment of chiral pesticides, is limited. Here we examine the acute toxicity of fipronil enantiomers, the racemate, and its photoproduct (desulfinyl fipronil) to Ceriodaphnia dubia. The 48-h median lethal concentration (LC50) values based on measured concentrations of each compound indicate the (+) enantiomer (LC50 = 10.3 ± 1.1 μg/L, mean ± standard error [SE]) was significantly more toxic to C. dubia than either the (−) enantiomer (LC50 = 31.9 ± 2.2 μg/L) or racemate (LC50 = 17.7 ±1.3 μg/L). To account for any potential loss of fipronil through photolysis, tests were performed under light (fluorescent) and dark exposure conditions, and no significant differences in toxicity were observed. Desulfinyl fipronil, the major photodegradation product, which is not chiral, was detected at <1% of each parent compound in test solutions after 48 h. Separate toxicity tests with desulfinyl fipronil found a >20-fold higher LC50 (355 ± 9.3 μg/L) compared to the fipronil racemate, suggesting lower adverse effects to C. dubia as a result of fipronil photolysis. The present results suggest selection of the (−) enantiomer in fipronil production for lower impacts to C. dubia; however, the consistency and relevancy of fipronil's enantiomer-specific activity at both acute and chronic levels of concern to additional target and nontarget species needs further consideration.