bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
HISTOCHEMICAL DEMONSTRATION OF SPECIFIC PHOSPHATASES OF THE LIVER PRESERVED IN HYPERTONIC SUCROSE SOLUTION
Authors: KRUS STEFAN , ANDRADE ZILTON A. , BARKA TIBOR
Published: April 2011

The observation of Holt that the storage of formalin fixed tissues in sucrose-gum acacia solution preserves acid phosphatase activity was confirmed. The same was found for 5-nucleotidase. Adenosinetriphosphatase activity is present after storage both in formalin and in sucrose-gum acacia solution. However, the staining for acid phosphatase activity after preservation in sucrose and for adenosinetriphosphatase activity after preservation in formalin and in sucrose solution revealed artefacts decreasing the usefulness of this procedure for routine application.
A STUDY OF MUCINS IN TISSUE SECTIONS USING THE FLUORESCENT ANTIBODY TECHNIQUE. I. THE PREPARATION AND SPECIFICITY OF BOVINE SUBMAXILLARY GLAND MUCIN ANTIBODY
Authors: KENT SIDNEY P.
Published: April 2011

Mucin was extracted from bovine submaxillary glands and purified using a modification of the Sevag procedure. Antibodies to the mucin were produced in rabbits. The antibodies were labeled with fluorescein and used to demonstrate bovine submaxillary gland mucin in routine paraffin sections of formalin fixed tissues. The fluorescent labeled antibody did not react with the submaxillary gland of the pig, dog, mouse, rat, rabbit and human or with other mucin-containing organs of cattle. This indicated that the antibodies are organ specific, as well as species specific. The results of the study further suggest that epithelial mucins from other tissues may also stimulate antibodies with high specificity. This possibility is being explored.
THE BASIS FOR THE HISTOCHEMICAL DETECTION OF GLYCOGEN
Authors: KUGLER J. H. , WILKINSON W. J. C.
Published: April 2011

The formation de novo of desmoglycogen and lyoglycogen from glucose has been studied in liver slices by chemical and histochemical techniques. lnvestigations of the condition of the mitochondria in the tissue slices throughout the incubation period gave an indication of the viability of the tissue. Thus, when the mitochondria had disappeared the tissue was no longer viable and glycogenolysis exceeded glycogen synthesis. From a comparison of the level of lyoglycogen in the tissue and the histochemical picture it is concluded that only the acid soluble or lyoglycogen is demonstrated by present histochemical methods.
STUDIES ON ACID PHOSPHATASES. II. CHROMATOGRAPHIC SEPARATION OF ACID PHOSPHATASES OF RAT LIVER
Authors: BARKA TIBOR
Published: April 2011

The separation of soluble acid phosphatases of rat liver by anion exchange chromatography and some characteristics of the fractions obtained were described.

1) Chromatogram on N1,N-diethyl-aminoethyl- (DEAE) cellulose gave 3 acid phosphatase peaks if the liver homogenate was prepared with distilled water.

2) Using a sample prepared with Triton X-100 four peaks were separated.

3) The effect of Triton X-100 is to solubilize an acid phosphatase fraction. The detergent did not alter the chromatogram if it was added to the distilled water sample.

4) All the four enzymes have a pH optimum around pH 4.5. Fraction #4 retains about 75% of its maximal activity at pH 3.0.

5) The four enzyme fractions hydrolyzed adenylic acid and α-naphthyl phosphate at about the same rate and approximately 1.5 times faster than β-glycerophosphate. All the 4 fractions hydrolyzed p-nitrophenylphosphate at a considerably higher rate than β-glycerophosphate. Fraction #1 was especially active towards p-nitrophenylphosphate. The dissociation constants with the four substrates were determined.

6) Fraction #1, which represented about 65% of the total activity, was further purified on carboxymethyl cellulose.

7) The four acid phosphatase fractions differed electrophoretically (using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis) and according to the effect of inhibitors.

The observations are reconcilable with the assumption that the four chromatographic fractions represent molecular varieties of the acid phosphatase.
AN EVALUATION OF THE BARRNETT AND SELIGMAN PROCEDURE WHEN USED TO DETERMINE CHANGES IN THE RATIO OF NUCLEAR PROTEIN-BOUND DISULFIDE TO SULFHYDRYL GROUPS DURING MITOSIS
Authors: HYDE B. B.
Published: April 2011

Using a modification of the Barrnett and Seligman histochemical procedure, the proportion of protein-bound S—S/SH Was measured in the chromatin of onion root tip cells at three different stages of mitosis as well as in the nucleolus. Inconsistencies between experiments led to studies of the nature of the histochemical reaction before and after sections were reduced in thioglycolate. Different fixatives and ribonuclease were tested for their effects on the outcome of the reaction.

Some deviation from the change in S—S/SH ratio during mitosis found after ethanol-acetic fixation occurs in material fixed in lO% trichloroacetic acid, 5% acetic acid and saturated HgCl2. Ribonuclease treatment was found to increase significantly SH stain in the nucleolus, but not significantly in the resting nucleus, metaphase, or telophase chromatin. The possibility that nucleic acids may modify the SH reaction after 5% acetic acid fixation is raised. Further, the data are interpreted to indicate that saturated HgCl2 as well as the histochemical reaction itself makes disulfide bonds stainable in the absence of reduction.

After fixation in standard ethanol-acetic acid mixtures the S—S/SH ratio is highest at interphase, lowest at telophase, and intermediate at metaphase.
HISTOCHEMICAL STUDIES ON THE INTRACELLULAR LOCALIZATION OF ACID DEOXYRIBONUCLEASE
Authors: VORBRODT A.
Published: April 2011

The effects of various methods of fixation and of different incubation media on staining patterns given by acid deoxyribonuclease (DN-ase II) activity in rat and mouse tissues were studied.

It is concluded that the best results are obtained by use of frozen sections after fixation of tissue in cold formol-calcium. The incubation medium we suggest differs from the original one of Aronson et al. (3) in its higher pH (5.9), lower lead concentration (2 mM) and the lower concentration of highly polymerized deoxyribonucleic acid. The less polymerized DNA appears more suitable for histochemical purposes.

The localization of DN-ase II in both lysosomes and nuclei of different cells is described. Tumor cells are characterized by low enzyme activity.

On the basis of differential effects of sulfate ions, two kinds of DN-ase. II, one in the lysosomes and the other in the nuclei, are postulated.

The specificity of the reaction and possible roles of DN-ase II in cell metabolism are discussed.
MICROSPECTROPHOTOMETRIC MEASUREMENTS OF DEOXYRIBONUCLEIC ACID IN FEULGEN-STAINED NUCLEI OF THE ANTERIOR PITUITARY CELLS
Authors: MILLHOUSE EDWARD W.
Published: April 2011

Cytophotometric measurements were made of Feulgen stained nuclei of the anterior pituitary cells. A somewhat wider variation in the nuclear deoxyribonucleic acid content of the anterior pituitary cells was observed than had been reported previously in other photometric studies. In comparison to the measurements of the liver nuclei which were used as a reference base, only a few pituitary cells indicated any degree of polyploidy.

Three possible explanations of these results are proposed: (1) the variations may have resulted from certain technical inaccuracies of the one wavelength method; (2) this may have been a case of aneuploidy; and (3) these findings may be the result of slight variations in the deoxyribonucleic acid content per nucleus of the different pituitary cells.

It is believed that the data supported the deoxyribonucleic acid constancy hypothesis, but the possibility of slight variations in nuclear deoxyribonucleic acid content of the different functional pituitary cells should be considered.
HISTOLOGY AND CYTOCHEMISTRY OF HUMAN SKIN. XXIII. THE DISTRIBUTION OF CYTOCHROME OXIDASE
Authors: MONTAGNA WILLIAM , YUN JEUNG SOON
Published: April 2011

1. Cytochrome oxidase activity is clearly demonstrated in the skin with the new method of Burstone.

2. In the epidermis, there is moderate enzyme activity throughout the malpighian layer. In hair follicles, regardless of their states of activity, the pilary canal is strongly reactive, but the lower parts are not. The sebaceous glands and the entire length of the eccrine sweat glands are intensely reactive. In contrast, apocrine glands show reactivity in the secretory cells but not in the duct. The corpuscles of Meissner and the myelinated nerves that emerge from them are moderately reactive.

3. The distribution of cytochrome oxidase in the skin suggests that the enzyme is associated with the mitochondria.
High throughput MLVA-16 typing for Brucella based on the microfluidics technology
Authors: De Santis Riccardo , Ciammaruconi Andrea , Faggioni Giovanni , Fillo Silvia , Gentile Bernardina , Di Giannatale Elisabetta , Ancora Massimo , Lista Florigio
Published: April 2011

Background

Brucellosis, a zoonosis caused by the genus Brucella, has been eradicated in Northern Europe, Australia, the USA and Canada, but remains endemic in most areas of the world. The strain and biovar typing of Brucella field samples isolated in outbreaks is useful for tracing back source of infection and may be crucial for discriminating naturally occurring outbreaks versus bioterrorist events, being Brucella a potential biological warfare agent. In the last years MLVA-16 has been described for Brucella spp. genotyping. The MLVA band profiles may be resolved by different techniques i.e. the manual agarose gels, the capillary electrophoresis sequencing systems or the microfluidic Lab-on-Chip electrophoresis. In this paper we described a high throughput system of MLVA-16 typing for Brucella spp. by using of the microfluidics technology.

Results

The Caliper LabChip 90 equipment was evaluated for MLVA-16 typing of sixty-three Brucella samples. Furthermore, in order to validate the system, DNA samples previously resolved by sequencing system and Agilent technology, were de novo genotyped. The comparison of the MLVA typing data obtained by the Caliper equipment and those previously obtained by the other analysis methods showed a good correlation. However the outputs were not accurate as the Caliper DNA fragment sizes showed discrepancies compared with real data and a conversion table from observed to expected data was created.

Conclusion

In this paper we described the MLVA-16 using a rapid, sophisticated microfluidics technology for detection of amplification product sizes. The comparison of the MLVA typing data produced by Caliper LabChip 90 system with the data obtained by different techniques showed a general concordance of the results. Furthermore this platform represents a significant improvement in terms of handling, data acquiring, computational efficiency and rapidity, allowing to perform the strain genotyping in a time equal to one sixth respect to other microfluidics systems as e.g. the Agilent 2100 bioanalyzer.

Finally, this platform can be considered a valid alternative to standard genotyping techniques, particularly useful dealing with a large number of samples in short time. These data confirmed that this technology represents a significative advancement in high-throughput accurate Brucella genotyping.
Higher number of Helicobacter pylori CagA EPIYA C phosphorylation sites increases the risk of gastric cancer, but not duodenal ulcer
Authors: Batista Sérgio A , Rocha Gifone A , Rocha Andreia MC , Saraiva Ivan EB , Cabral Mônica MDA , Oliveira Rodrigo C , Queiroz Dulciene MM
Published: April 2011

Background

Helicobacter pyloriinfection is one of the most common infections worldwide and is associated with gastric cancer and peptic ulcer. Bacterial virulence factors such as CagA have been shown to increase the risk of both diseases. Studies have suggested a causal role for CagA EPIYA polymorphisms in gastric carcinogenesis, and it has been shown to be geographically diverse. We studied associations betweenH. pyloriCagA EPIYA patterns and gastric cancer and duodenal ulcer, in an ethnically admixed Western population from Brazil. CagA EPIYA was determined by PCR and confirmed by sequencing. A total of 436 patients were included, being 188 with gastric cancer, 112 with duodenal ulcer and 136 with gastritis.

Results

The number of EPIYA C segments was significantly associated with the increased risk of gastric carcinoma (OR = 3.08, 95% CI = 1.74 to 5.45, p < 10-3) even after adjustment for age and gender. Higher number of EPIYA C segments was also associated with gastric atrophy (p = 0.04) and intestinal metaplasia (p = 0.007). Furthermore, patients infected bycagA strains possessing more than one EPIYA C segment showed decreased serum levels of pepsinogen I in comparison with those infected by strains containing one or less EPIYA C repeat. Otherwise, the number of EPIYA C segments did not associate with duodenal ulcer.

Conclusions

Our results demonstrate that infection withH. pyloristrains harbouring more than one CagA EPIYA C motif was clearly associated with gastric cancer, but not with duodenal ulcer.

Higher number of EPIYA C segments was also associated with gastric precancerous lesions as demonstrated by histological gastric atrophic and metaplastic changes and decreased serum levels of pepsinogen I.
Sankara Nethralaya Diabetic Retinopathy Epidemiology and Molecular Genetic Study (SN--DREAMS III): Study design and research methodology
Authors: Saumya Pal Swakshyar , Raman Rajiv , Ganesan Suganeswari , Sahu Chinmaya , Sharma Tarun
Published: April 2011

Background

To describe the methodology of the Sankara Nethralaya Diabetic Retinopathy Epidemiology and Molecular Genetic Study III, an ongoing epidemiological study to estimate the prevalence of Diabetes and Diabetic Retinopathy in rural population of Kanchipuram and Thiravallur districts of Tamil Nadu, India and to elucidate the clinical, anthropometric, biochemical and genetic risk factors associated with diabetic retinopathy in this rural population.

Methods

Sankara Nethralaya Diabetic Retinopathy Epidemiology and Molecular Genetic Study III will be a mobile van based epidemiological study; 11,760 participants aged ≥ 40 years will be recruited from the study areas. Eligible subjects will undergo blood sugar estimation to diagnose Diabetes. Oral Glucose Tolerance Test will be done to conform diabetes. All subjects with diabetes will undergo complete information of knowledge, aptitude and practice of diabetes and diabetic retinopathy, Diet questionnaire, demographic data, socioeconomic status, physical activity, anthropometric measurements, and risk of sleep apnoea. A detailed medical and ocular history, a comprehensive eye examination including refraction, slit lamp biomicroscopy examination, indirect ophthalmoscopy, slit lamp biomicroscopy, digital stereo fundus photography and ultrasound of eye will be done in the mobile van. Blood will be collected for biochemical investigations including blood hemoglobin, glycosylated hemoglobin, lipid profile, urea and creatinine, genetic study. Urine will be collected for microalbuminuria. All fundus photographs will be graded at base hospital. Participants who need treatment will be sent to the base hospital. A computerized database is created for the records.

Conclusion

The study is expected to provide an estimate of the prevalence of Diabetes and Diabetic Retinopathy and also a better understanding of the genetic, anthropometric and socio-economic risk factors associated with Diabetic Retinopathy in a Rural South Indian population.
Social support and antenatal depression in extended and nuclear family environments in Turkey: a cross-sectional survey
Authors: Senturk Vesile , Abas Melanie , Berksun Oguz , Stewart Robert
Published: April 2011

Background

Social support is strongly implicated in the aetiology of perinatal mental disorder: particularly the quality of the marital and family environment. Family structures are important under-researched potential modifiers. Turkey offers particular advantages for research in this area because of long-standing coexistence of Western and Middle Eastern family structures. We aimed to investigate associations between the quality of key relationships and depression in women in their third trimester of pregnancy, and the extent to which these associations were modified by family structure.

Method

Women attending antenatal clinics in their third trimester were recruited from urban and rural settings in Ankara. A nuclear family structure was defined as a wife and husband living alone or with their children in the same household, whereas a traditional/extended family structure was defined if another adult was living with the married couple in the same household. Depression was ascertained using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and social support was assessed by the Close Person Questionnaire with respect to the husband, mother and mother-in-law. Social support was compared between participants with/without case-level depression on the EPDS in linear regression models adjusted for relevant covariates, then stratified by nuclear/traditional family structure.

Results

Of 772 women approached, 751 (97.3%) participated and 730 (94.6%) had sufficient data for this analysis. Prevalence of case-level depression was 33.1% and this was associated with lower social support from all three family members but not with traditional/nuclear family structure. The association between depression and lower emotional support from the husband was significantly stronger in traditional compared to nuclear family environments.

Conclusions

Lower quality of relationships between key family members was strongly associated with third trimester depression. Family structure modified the association but, contrary to expectations, spousal emotional support was a stronger correlate of antenatal depression in traditional rather than nuclear family settings. Previous psychiatric history was not formally ascertained and the temporal relationship between mood state and social support needs to be clarified.
Secondary structure of protamine in sperm nuclei: an infrared spectroscopy study
Authors: Roque Alicia , Ponte Inma , Suau Pedro
Published: April 2011

Background

Protamines are small basic proteins that condense the DNA in mature spermatozoa. Typical protamines are of simple composition and very arginine-rich, usually in the range of 60-80%. Arginine residues are distributed in a number of stretches separated by neutral amino acids. We have used Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) to gain access for the first time to the secondary structure of protamines in sperm nuclei. This technique is particularly well suited to the study of DNA-bound protamine in whole nuclei since it is not affected by turbidity.

Results

We show that DNA -bound salmon (salmine) and squid protamines contain α-helix, β-turns and a proportion of other structures not stabilized by intramolecular hydrogen bonding. No β-sheet was observed. In salmine, the α-helix amounted to ~20%, while in squid protamine it reached ~40%. In contrast, the structure not stabilized by intermolecular hydrogen bonding was more abundant in salmine (~40%) than in squid protamine (~20%). Both protamines contained ~40% β-turns. The different helical potential of salmine and squid protamine was confirmed by structure predictions and CD in the presence of trifluoroethanol.

Conclusion

DNA-bound protamine in sperm nuclei contains large amounts of defined secondary structure stabilized by intramolecular hydrogen bonding. Both salmine and squid protamine contain similar amounts of β-turns, but differ in the proportions of α-helix and non-hydrogen bonded conformations. In spite of the large differences in the proportions of secondary structure motifs between salmon and squid protamines, they appear to be equally efficient in promoting tight hexagonal packing of the DNA molecules in sperm nuclei.
Are herders protected by their herds? An experimental analysis of zooprophylaxis against the malaria vector Anopheles arabiensis
Authors: Tirados Iňaki , Gibson Gabriella , Young Stephen , Torr Stephen J
Published: April 2011

Background

The number of Anopheles arabiensis (Diptera: Culicidae) and Anopheles pharoensis caught by human and cattle baits was investigated experimentally in the Arba Minch district of southern Ethiopia to determine if attraction to humans, indoors or outdoors, was affected by the presence or absence of cattle.

Methods

Field studies were made of the effect of a surrounding ring (10 m radius) of 20 cattle on the numbers of mosquitoes collected by human-baited sampling methods (i) inside or (ii) outside a hut.

Results

The numbers of An. arabiensis caught outdoors by a human landing catch (HLC) with or without a ring of cattle were not significantly different (2 × 2 Latin square comparisons: means = 24.8 and 37.2 mosquitoes/night, respectively; n = 12, P > 0.22, Tukey HSD), whereas, the numbers of An. pharoensis caught were significantly reduced (44%) by a ring of cattle (4.9 vs. 8.7; n = 12, P < 0.05). The catch of An. arabiensis in human-baited traps (HBT) was 25 times greater than in cattle-baited traps (CBT) (34.0 vs. 1.3, n = 24; P < 0.001) whereas, for An. pharoensis there was no significant difference. Furthermore, HBT and CBT catches were unaffected by a ring of cattle (4 × 4 Latin square comparison) for either An. arabiensis (n = 48; P > 0.999) or An. pharoensis (n = 48, P > 0.870). The HLC catches indoors vs. outdoors were not significantly different for either An. arabiensis or An. pharoensis (n = 12, P > 0.969), but for An. arabiensis only, the indoor catch was reduced significantly by 49% when the hut was surrounded by cattle (Tukey HSD, n = 12, P > 0.01).

Conclusions

Outdoors, a preponderance of cattle (20:1, cattle:humans) does not provide any material zooprophylactic effect against biting by An. arabiensis. For a human indoors, the presence of cattle outdoors nearly halved the catch. Unfortunately, this level of reduction would not have an appreciable impact on malaria incidence in an area with typically > 1 infective bite/person/night. For An. pharoensis, cattle significantly reduced the human catch indoors and outdoors, but still only by about half. These results suggest that even for traditional pastoralist communities of East Africa, the presence of large numbers of cattle does not confer effective zooprophylaxis against malaria transmitted by An. arabiensis or An. pharoensis.
Thermal, dielectrical and mechanical response of α and β-poly(vinilydene fluoride)/Co-MgO nanocomposites
Authors: Paleo Antonio José , Martínez-Boubeta Carlos , Balcells Lluís , Costa Carlos Miguel , Sencadas Vitor , Lanceros-Mendez Senentxu
Published: April 2011

Nanocomposites of the self-forming core-shell Co-MgO nanoparticles, which were of approximately 100 nm in diameter, and poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) polymer have been prepared. When the polymer is crystallized in the α-phase, the introduction of the nanoparticles leads to nucleation of the γ-phase of PVDF, increasing also the melting temperature of the polymer. With the introduction of the Co-MgO particles, the dielectric constant of the material slightly increases and the storage modulus decreases with respect to the values obtained for the pure polymer.
Adverse events associated with acupuncture: three multicentre randomized controlled trials of 1968 cases in China
Authors: Zhao Ling , Zhang Fu-wen , Li Ying , Wu Xi , Zheng Hui , Cheng Lin-hao , Liang Fan-rong
Published: April 2011

Background

In order to evaluate the safety of acupuncture in China objectively, we investigated the adverse events associated with acupuncture based on three multicentre randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to assess the safety of acupuncture, identifying the common types of acupuncture adverse events, and analysing the related risk factors for their occurrence.

Methods

This observational study included patients who received acupuncture from three multicentre RCTs respectively for migraine, functional dyspepsia and Bell's palsy. The 1968 patients and their acupuncturists documented adverse events associated with acupuncture after treatment. We collected data about adverse events due to acupuncture treatment from their case report forms. We analysed the incidence and details of the adverse effects, and studied the risk factors for acupuncture adverse events with non-conditional logistic regression analysis.

Results

Among the 1968 patients, 74 patients (3.76%) suffered at least one adverse event throughout the treatment period. We did not observe the occurrence of serious adverse events. 73 patients with adverse events recovered within 2 weeks through effective treatment such as physiotherapy or self-treatment. A total of 3 patients withdrew because of adverse events. There were 9 types of adverse events related to acupuncture, including subcutaneous haematoma, bleeding, skin bruising and needle site pain. Subcutaneous haematoma and haemorrhage in the needling points were the most common adverse events. Age and gender were related to the occurrence of acupuncture adverse events. The older the patients were, the higher the risk of adverse events was. In addition, male patients had slightly higher risk of an adverse event than female patients.

Conclusions

Acupuncture is a safe therapy with low risk of adverse events in clinical practice. The risk factors for adverse events (AEs) were related to the patients' gender and age and the local anatomical structure of the acupoints. AEs could be reduced and mitigated by improving the medical environment, ensuring a high technical level of the acupuncture practitioners and establishing a good relationship of mutual trust between doctor and patient.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00599586, NCT00599677, NCT00608660
Mums 4 Mums: structured telephone peer-support for women experiencing postnatal depression. Pilot and exploratory RCT of its clinical and cost effectiveness
Authors: Caramlau Isabela , Barlow Jane , Sembi Sukhdev , McKenzie-McHarg Kirstie , McCabe Chris
Published: April 2011

Background

Postnatal depression (PND) can be experienced by 13% of women who give birth, and such women often exhibit disabling symptoms, which can have a negative effect on the mother and infant relationship, with significant consequences in terms of the child's later capacity for affect regulation. Research has shown that providing support to mothers experiencing PND can help reduce their depressive symptoms and improve their coping strategies. The Mums4Mums study aims to evaluate the impact of telephone peer-support for women experiencing PND.

Methods/Design

The study design adopts the MRC framework for the development and evaluation of complex interventions. Health visitors in Warwickshire and Coventry Primary Care Trusts are screening potential participants at the 8-week postnatal check using either the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS > = 10) or the three Whooley questions recommended by NICE (http://guidance.nice.org.uk/CG45). The Mums4Mums telephone support intervention is being delivered by trained peer-supporters over a period of four months. The primary outcome is depressive symptomatology as measured by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Secondary outcomes include mother-child interaction, dyadic adjustment, parenting sense of competence scale, and self-efficacy. Maternal perceptions of the telephone peer-support are being assessed using semi-structured interviews following the completion of the intervention.

Discussion

The proposed study will develop current innovative work in peer-led support interventions and telecare by applying existing expertise to a new domain (i.e. PND), testing the feasibility of a peer-led telephone intervention for mothers living with PND, and developing the relationship between the lay and clinical communities. The intervention will potentially benefit a significant number of patients and support a future application for a larger study to undertake a full evaluation of the clinical and cost effectiveness of telephone based peer-support for PND.

Trial registration

ISRCTN:ISRCTN91450073. The study has received a major funding grant from National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) (UK) - Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB) programme (ref: PB-PG-0407-13232).
Quantitative maps of genetic interactions in yeast - Comparative evaluation and integrative analysis
Authors: Lindén Rolf O , Eronen Ville-Pekka , Aittokallio Tero
Published: April 2011

Background

High-throughput genetic screening approaches have enabled systematic means to study how interactions among gene mutations contribute to quantitative fitness phenotypes, with the aim of providing insights into the functional wiring diagrams of genetic interaction networks on a global scale. However, it is poorly known how well these quantitative interaction measurements agree across the screening approaches, which hinders their integrated use toward improving the coverage and quality of the genetic interaction maps in yeast and other organisms.

Results

Using large-scale data matrices from epistatic miniarray profiling (E-MAP), genetic interaction mapping (GIM), and synthetic genetic array (SGA) approaches, we carried out here a systematic comparative evaluation among these quantitative maps of genetic interactions in yeast. The relatively low association between the original interaction measurements or their customized scores could be improved using a matrix-based modelling framework, which enables the use of single- and double-mutant fitness estimates and measurements, respectively, when scoring genetic interactions. Toward an integrative analysis, we show how the detections from the different screening approaches can be combined to suggest novel positive and negative interactions which are complementary to those obtained using any single screening approach alone. The matrix approximation procedure has been made available to support the design and analysis of the future screening studies.

Conclusions

We have shown here that even if the correlation between the currently available quantitative genetic interaction maps in yeast is relatively low, their comparability can be improved by means of our computational matrix approximation procedure, which will enable integrative analysis and detection of a wider spectrum of genetic interactions using data from the complementary screening approaches.
Soluble interleukin-18 receptor complex is a novel biomarker in rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Takei Satoko , Hoshino Tomoaki , Matsunaga Kazuko , Sakazaki Yuki , Sawada Masanori , Oda Hanako , Takenaka Shin-ichi , Imaoka Haruki , Kinoshita Takashi , Honda Seiyo , Ida Hiroaki , Fukuda Taka-aki , Aizawa Hisamichi
Published: April 2011

Introduction

There has been no report in the literature of a soluble form of interleukin (IL)-18 receptor α (IL-18Rα). In this study, we evaluated the levels and characteristics of soluble IL-18Rα (sIL-18Rα) in the sera of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and compared these results to control populations.

Methods

The sIL-18Rα complex was isolated from pooled human blood serum using an anti-IL-18Rα monoclonal antibody affinity column. The purified sIL-18Rα was then examined using Western blot analysis and used in experiments to evaluate the effects on an IL-18-responsive natural killer (NK) human cell line, NK0. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was developed, and sera from 145 patients with RA, 6 patients with adult-onset Still's disease, 31 patients with osteoarthritis (OA), 39 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and 67 controls were tested, along with levels of immunoglobulin M, rheumatoid factor, anticyclic citrullinated peptide antibody, IL-18, IL-13 and interferon (IFN)-γ. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC-AUC) analysis was used to evaluate the diagnostic utility of the sIL-18Rα complex.

Results

The isolated sIL-18Rα complex can be associated with IL-18 and the soluble form of the IL-18Rβ chain. The sIL-18Rα complex bound to the surface to the NK0 cell line, antagonized the stimulatory effects of IL-18 and IL-2 on the NK0 cell line and inhibited IFN-γ production by the cells. The serum levels of sIL-18Rα complex in RA (186.0 ± 33.5 ng/mL,n= 145) and adult-onset Still's disease (98.2 ± 8.9 ng/mL,n= 6) were significantly (P< 0.001) higher than those in the healthy controls (52.3 ± 8.5 ng/mL,n= 67), OA (38.6 ± 5.4 ng/mL,n= 31), SLE (44.6 ± 3.2 ng/mL,n= 39). The serum level of sIL-18Rα complex was not significantly different between RA and adult-onset Still's disease patients. The serum levels of IL-18, IL-13 and IFN-γ in the RA patients were significantly (P< 0.01) higher than in OA and SLE patients as well as healthy controls. ROC-AUC analysis of the serum concentration of sIL-18Rα indicated that it was significantly diagnostic of RA. Moreover, a tumor necrosis factor inhibitor, etanercept, significantly (P< 0.0001) decreased levels of sIL-18Rα in the sera of 29 RA patients 6 months after treatment.

Conclusions

The sIL-18Rα complex could be a potentially useful biomarker for the diagnosis of RA.
Balanced massive transfusion ratios in multiple injury patients with traumatic brain injury
Authors: Peiniger Sigune , Nienaber Ulrike , Lefering Rolf , Braun Maximilian , Wafaisade Arasch , Wutzler Sebastian , Borgmann Matthew , Spinella Philip C , Maegele Marc ,   the Trauma Registry of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Unfallchirurgie (TR-DGU)
Published: April 2011

Introduction

Retrospective studies have demonstrated a potential survival benefit from transfusion strategies using an early and more balanced ratio between fresh frozen plasma (FFP) concentration and packed red blood cell (pRBC) transfusions in patients with acute traumatic coagulopathy requiring massive transfusions. These results have mostly been derived from non-head-injured patients. The aim of the present study was to analyze whether a regime using a high FFP:pRBC transfusion ratio (FFP:pRBC ratio >1:2) would be associated with a similar survival benefit in severely injured patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) (Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) score, head ≥3) as demonstrated for patients without TBI requiring massive transfusion (≥10 U of pRBCs).

Methods

A retrospective analysis of severely injured patients from the Trauma Registry of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Unfallchirurgie (TR-DGU) was conducted. Inclusion criteria were primary admission, age ≥16 years, severe injury (Injury Severity Score (ISS) ≥16) and massive transfusion (≥10 U of pRBCs) from emergency room to intensive care unit (ICU). Patients were subdivided into patients with TBI (AIS score, head ≥3) and patients without TBI (AIS score, head <3), as well as according to the transfusion ratio they had received: high FFP:pRBC ratio (FFP:pRBC ratio >1:2) and low FFP:pRBC ratio (FFP:pRBC ratio ≤1:2). In addition, morbidity and mortality between the two groups were compared.

Results

A total of 1,250 data sets of severely injured patients from the TR-DGU between 2002 and 2008 were analyzed. The mean patient age was 42 years, the majority of patients were male (72.3%), the mean ISS was 41.7 points (±15.4 SD) and the principal mechanism of injury was blunt force trauma (90%). Mortality was statistically lower in the high FFP:pRBC ratio groups versus the low FFP:pRBC ratio groups, regardless of the presence or absence of TBI and across all time points studied (P < 0.001). The frequency of sepsis and multiple organ failure did not differ among groups, except for sepsis in patients with TBI who received a high FFP:pRBC ratio transfusion. Other secondary end points such as ventilator-free days, length of stay in the ICU and overall in-hospital length of stay differed significantly between the two study groups, but not when only data for survivors were analyzed.

Conclusions

These results add more detailed knowledge to the concept of a high FFP:pRBC ratio during early aggressive resuscitation, including massive transfusion, to decrease mortality in severely injured patients both with and without accompanying TBI. Future research should be conducted with a larger number of patients to prove these results in a prospective study.
Cathepsin X cleavage of the β2 integrin regulates talin-binding and LFA-1 affinity in T cells
Authors: Jevnikar Zala , Obermajer Nataša , Doljak Bojan , Turk Samo , Gobec Stanislav , Švajger Urban , Hailfinger Stephan , Thome Margot , Kos Janko
Published: April 2011

T cell migration, essential for immune surveillance and response, is mediated by the integrin LFA-1. CatX, a cysteine carboxypeptidase, is involved in the regulation of T cell migration by interaction with LFA-1. We show that sequential cleavage of C-terminal amino acids from the β2 cytoplasmic tail of LFA-1, by CatX, enhances binding of the adaptor protein talin to LFA-1 and triggers formation of the latter's high-affinity form. As shown by SPR analysis of peptides constituting the truncated β2 tail, the cleavage of three C-terminal amino acids by CatX resulted in a 1.6-fold increase of talin binding. Removal of one more amino acid resulted in a 2.5-fold increase over the intact tail. CatX cleavage increased talin-binding affinity to the MD but not the MP talin-binding site on the β2 tail. This was shown by molecular modeling of the β2 tail/talin F3 complex to be a result of conformational changes affecting primarily the distal-binding site. Analysis of LFA-1 by conformation-specific mAb showed that CatX modulates LFA-1 affinity, promoting formation of high-affinity from intermediate-affinity LFA-1 but not the initial activation of LFA-1 from a bent to extended form. CatX post-translational modifications may thus represent a mechanism of LFA-1 fine-tuning that enables the trafficking of T cells.
Visualizing Sovereignty in the Time of Biometric Sensors
Authors: Rickard Jolene
Published: April 2011

Multiple expressions of sovereignty beyond a narrow legal interpretation are discussed through the artwork of contemporary Iroquois artists, G. Peter Jemison (Seneca), Alan Michelson (Mohawk), Samuel Thomas (Cayuga), and Marie Watt (Seneca). Michelson's installation at the Massena homeland security border checkpoint between the United States, Canada, and the Mohawk Nation, titled The Third Bank of the River, draws on the Guswentah or Two Row Wampum underscoring the problematic yet ongoing assertion of Haudenosaunee sovereignty. A link is made between the work of these artists and the 2008 Courtney Hunt film, Frozen River, based on the cultural and political understanding of the Two Row Wampum. The Guswentah is discussed as a demonstration of sovereignty and is historicized through Cayuga chief Deskaheh's call for the recognition of Haudenosaunee sovereignty at the League of Nations in Geneva, in 1923, John Mohawk's 1978 Basic Call to Consciousness, and more recently, Taiaiake Alfred's 1999 Peace, Power, Righteousness. These artists demonstrate the critical role they play in the ongoing formation of sovereignty as a visual or aesthetic issue in conjunction with its historic legal positioning.
Mechanisms and Impacts of Gender Peer Effects at School
Authors: Lavy Victor , Schlosser Analía
Published: April 2011

We present in this paper evidence about the effects and mechanisms of gender peer effects in elementary, middle, and high schools. For identification, we rely on idiosyncratic variations in gender composition across adjacent cohorts within the same schools. We find that an increase in the proportion of girls improves boys and girls' cognitive outcomes. These academic gains are mediated through lower levels of classroom disruption and violence, improved inter-student and student-teacher relationships, and lessened teachers' fatigue. We find no effect on individual behavior, which suggests that the positive effects of girls on classroom environment are mostly due to compositional change. (JEL I21, J16)
Peers, Neighborhoods, and Immigrant Student Achievement: Evidence from a Placement Policy
Authors: Åslund Olof , Edin Per-Anders , Fredriksson Peter , Grönqvist Hans
Published: April 2011

We examine to what extent immigrant school performance is affected by the characteristics of the neighborhoods that they grow up in. We address this issue using a refugee place ment policy that provides exogenous variation in the initial place of residence in Sweden. The main result is that school performance is increasing in the number of highly educated adults sharing the subject's ethnicity. A standard deviation increase in the fraction of high-educated in the assigned neighborhood raises compulsory school GPA by 0.8 percentile ranks. Particularly for disadvantaged groups, there are also long-run effects on educational attainment. (JEL I21, J15, R23)
Schooling and the Vietnam-Era GI Bill: Evidence from the Draft Lottery
Authors: Angrist Joshua D , Chen Stacey H
Published: April 2011

Draft-lottery estimates of the causal effects of Vietnam-era military service using 2000 census data show marked schooling gains for veterans. We argue that these gains can be attributed to Vietnam veterans' use of the GI Bill rather than draft avoidance behavior. At the same time, draft lottery estimates of the earnings consequences of Vietnam-era service are close to zero in 2000. The earnings and schooling results can be reconciled by a flattening of the age-earnings profile in middle age and a modest economic return to the schooling subsidized by the GI Bill. Other long-run consequences of Vietnam-era service include increases in migration and public sector employment. (JEL H52, I22, I23, J24, J31, J45)
A study of longer-time stability of plasma free metanephrines
Authors: Ross H Alec , Lenders Jacques W M , Sweep Fred C G J
Published: April 2011

Background

Previous stability studies of plasma free metanephrines do not extend beyond one month. For retrospective evaluation and documentation purposes, knowledge of stability for more prolonged storage periods is required.

Methods

A panel of seven plasma samples was aliquoted and stored at −20 and −80°C. Aliquots were thawed and assayed by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection at regular intervals during three years. A final set was assayed after five years at −80°C. Results were evaluated by repeated-measures analysis of variance.

Results

After a stable period of over one year, an upward trend for plasma free metanephrine and a downward trend for normetanephrine was observed. For both analytes, measurement results were parallel between samples during the study. Concentrations in samples stored at −20°C did not differ from those stored at −80°C.

Conclusions

Storage at either −20 or −80°C must be considered as safe for at least one year. The residual variation with respect to time of the concentrations of metanephrines was identical in all of the samples assayed and almost did not exceed previously determined within-run variation. This suggests that between-assay variability is the cause of the overall trends and not sample deterioration. Moreover, between-assay variability manifesting itself as drift or trend remained within the range of earlier observed between-assay variation. Despite this, the assay for plasma metanephrines remains capable of detecting catecholamine overproduction in plasma samples that have been stored for prolonged periods of time.
The effect of PACS on the practice of orthopaedic surgeons
Authors: Fridell Kent , Aspelin Peter , Felländer-Tsai Li , Lundberg Nina
Published: April 2011

When new information and communication technologies are implemented there are organizational effects. Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS) have been implemented not only within radiology but also within the orthopaedic context. We studied the impact of PACS on the work practice and professional role of orthopaedic surgeons in relation to radiologists. Qualitative interviews were performed with 15 surgeons at two hospitals. The interviews were transcribed, analysed and then coded using grounded theory. Three main categories were defined: professional role, diagnostic practice and technology used. There was a shift in orthopaedics from a single to a mixed profession, and from a relatively static practice in interpreting images to a more flexible practice, where every orthopaedic surgeon could view and access images from anywhere at any time, including three-dimensional imaging. It was easier for surgeons to see and interpret the images, and their diagnostic skills became accessible to everyone. The use of PACS also improved the dialogue with patients, according to the respondents. This was necessary in order to explain the treatment options for the patient or the details of the disease. PACS therefore acts as an information and communications technology and users required new knowledge and skills.
Electronic follow-up of facial lacerations in the emergency department
Authors: Walker Tom W M , O'Connor Norma , Byrne Sinead , McCann Patrick J , Kerin Michael J
Published: April 2011

It is often difficult for emergency department staff to follow up the primary closure of simple facial lacerations. This is important to allow closure of the feedback loop. Consecutive patients who were sutured by a single operator using the same technique were asked to send a photograph of the laceration six months and 12 months afterwards. The patients had Internet access and a digital camera, or a mobile phone with a camera. They were given a leaflet with the details of the email address or mobile number to send the picture to. A reminder telephone call was made to each patient at six months and 12 months, and the email address or mobile number to send the picture to was given again. In each telephone call patients were asked to grade the healing on a 5-point scale from 1 = very happy to 5 = very unhappy. At 13 months all patients were re-contacted and reminded again. Fifty patients were included in the study (33 males). The cause of injury was sport in 17 patients, assault in 18 and accidents in 15. At six months, 23 patients stated that they were happy and 27 were very happy with the scar. The mean score was 1.5. At 12 and 13 months, four patients were happy and 46 very happy. The mean score was 1.1. Twenty-four patients said they would use a computer/camera to send in the follow-up image, and 26 patients had a mobile phone with a camera and said they would use that. Despite the reminders, no patients sent a photograph. The results provide no evidence to support the use of photographs sent by email or text message for the follow-up of facial lacerations sutured in the emergency department.
Telemonitoring in chronic obstructive airway disease and adult patients with cystic fibrosis
Authors: Jarad Nabil A , Sund Zoe M
Published: April 2011

We compared the use of telemonitoring in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and adult patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). Seventy patients (51 CF and 19 COPD) were enrolled in two studies of six months' duration. Patients used a personal data assistant (PDA) attached to a spirometer to score symptoms and to perform daily spirometry. Criteria for diagnosis of exacerbations of COPD and CF were pre-defined. When exacerbations were detected, patients were offered treatment according to a pre-designed protocol. Thirty-two (63%) CF patients and one (5%) COPD patient withdrew from the studies due to lack of adherence to daily recording. For those who remained in the study, COPD patients recorded more study days (139) than CF patients (113), P = 0.03. The median number of exacerbations detected during the study was greater in COPD than in CF patients, although this was not significant. The median number of device-detected exacerbations in the COPD group was significantly greater than in the CF group, P = 0.024. When compared to a parallel period in the previous year, the number of hospitalisations for COPD exacerbations was reduced, whereas the number of intravenous antibiotics in CF patients did not differ. Adherence to telemonitoring was much greater for COPD than CF patients and the results appear to be more favourable for COPD patients than for CF patients.