bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dimensions, antecedents, and consequences of workaholism: a conceptual integration and extension
Authors: Ng Thomas W. H. , Sorensen Kelly L. , Feldman Daniel C.
Published: November 2006

While the concept of workaholism has received a good deal of attention in the popular press, theoretical and empirical research have lagged behind. In part, the lack of a formal, agreed upon definition of the construct and its dimensions has hampered research on this topic. The purpose of this review is to offer a cohesive definition of workaholism, discuss its underlying dimensions, and identify its key antecedents and consequences. Measurement issues, directions for future research, and implications for management practice are discussed as well. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Biodegradable Injectable In Situ Depot‐Forming Drug Delivery Systems
Authors: Chitkara Deepak , Shikanov Ariella , Kumar Neeraj , Domb Abraham J.
Published: November 2006

Summary: The scope of drug‐delivery systems has expanded significantly in recent years providing new ways to deliver life saving therapeutics to patients. The development of new injectable drug‐delivery systems has provided new vistas and opened up unexplored horizons in the field of science, particularly in controlled drug delivery since these systems possess unique advantages over traditional ones, which include ease of application, and localized and prolonged drug delivery. In the past few years, an increasing number of such systems has been reported in the literature for various biomedical applications, including drug delivery, cell encapsulation, and tissue repair. These are injectable fluids that can be introduced into the body in a minimally invasive manner prior to solidifying or gelling within the desired site. For this purpose both natural (chitosan, alginates) as well as synthetic polymers (PEGylated polyesters, ricinoleic acid‐based polymers) have been utilized. These systems have been explored widely for the delivery of various therapeutic agents ranging for anti‐neoplastic agents like paclitaxel to proteins and peptides such as insulin, almost covering every segment of the pharmaceutical field. This manuscript focuses on the recent advancements in the area of in situ forming biodegradable polymeric drug‐delivery systems.

SEM of P(SA:RA) 3:7 specimen after 24 h in the aqueous phase, outer layer (reprinted with permission from ref.34, copyright 2005 American Chemical Society).

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SEM of P(SA:RA) 3:7 specimen after 24 h in the aqueous phase, outer layer (reprinted with permission from ref.34, copyright 2005 American Chemical Society).
Stimuli‐Responsive Hydrogels Based on Polysaccharides Incorporated with Thermo‐Responsive Polymers as Novel Biomaterials
Authors: Prabaharan Mani , Mano João F.
Published: November 2006

Summary: In recent years, intelligent hydrogels which can change their swelling behavior and other properties in response to environmental stimuli such as temperature, pH, solvent composition and electric fields, have attracted great interest. The hydrogels based on polysaccharides incorporated with thermo‐responsive polymers have shown unique properties such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, and biological functions in addition to the stimuli‐responsive characters. These “smart” hydrogels exhibit single or multiple stimuli‐responsive characters which could be used in biomedical applications, including controlled drug delivery, bioengineering or tissue engineering. This review focuses on the recent developments and future trends dealing with stimuli‐responsive hydrogels based on grafting/blending of polysaccharides such as chitosan, alginate, cellulose, dextran and their derivatives with thermo‐sensitive polymers. This review also screens the current applications of these hydrogels in the fields of drug delivery, tissue engineering and wound healing.

Synthesis scheme for the SA/PNIPAAm semi‐IPN hydrogel.

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Synthesis scheme for the SA/PNIPAAm semi‐IPN hydrogel.
Co‐occurrence of depression and delinquency in personality types
Authors: Akse Joyce , Hale Bill , Engels Rutger , Raaijmakers Quinten , Meeus Wim
Published: November 2006

Although the co‐occurrence between adolescent depression and delinquency has been well‐studied, the nature of the longitudinal associations is not yet clear. To clarify this we examined whether personality type is a moderator in the longitudinal co‐occurrence of depression and delinquency. A total of 338 young and middle adolescents completed questionnaires about depression, delinquency and personality in 3 yearly waves of the CONflict And Management Of RElationships (CONAMORE). We found that the stable overcontrollers showed the highest mean level on depression and that the stable undercontrollers showed the highest mean level on delinquency. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the longitudinal co‐occurrence between depression and delinquency was best described by means of a stability model, in which personality type membership proved to be an important moderator. The three personality types differed significantly on the rank‐order stability of both depression and delinquency. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An investigation of the effects of endometriosis on the proteome of human eutopic endometrium: A heterogeneous tissue with a complex disease
Authors: Fowler Paul A. , Tattum Jenny , Bhattacharya Siladitya , Klonisch Thomas , Hombach‐Klonisch Sabine , Gazvani Rafet , Lea Richard G. , Miller Iain , Simpson William G. , Cash Phillip
Published: November 2006

The pathogenesis of endometriosis includes the proliferation of heterogeneous endometrial cells and their invasion into ectopic sites within the peritoneal cavity. This may be due to abnormalities of the eutopic endometrium itself, predisposing the cells to survive and implant ectopically. We investigated the applicability of 2‐DE gels and peptide mass mapping to identify candidate endometrial proteins with a role in endometriosis. Despite the heterogeneous nature of endometrium, our results show that combining the analysis of 2‐DE gels and peptide mass mapping yields consistent data. We identified dysregulated proteins in women with endometriosis which included: (i) molecular chaperones including heat shock protein 90 and annexin A2, (ii) proteins involved in cellular redox state, such as peroxiredoxin 2, (iii) proteins involved in protein and DNA formation/breakdown, including ribonucleoside‐diphosphate reductase, prohibitin and prolyl 4‐hydroxylase, and (iv) secreted proteins, such as apolipoprotein A1. These proteins have functions which suggest that they could play a role in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. This study demonstrated that 2‐DE gel analysis and mass spectroscopic protein identification are suitable for the identification of proteins with candidate associations with endometriosis. These techniques should be used on a larger scale to identify endometriosis‐related proteins, thus improving the understanding of this complex disease.
Microfabrication of freestanding porous silicon particles containing spectral barcodes
Authors: Meade Shawn O. , Sailor Michael J.
Published: November 2006

A method to microfabricate micron‐scale freestanding porous silicon photonic crystal particles is described. An electrochemically prepared film of porous silicon on a crystalline silicon substrate is patterned with an SU8‐25 photoresist, and the unmasked porous silicon is removed with a chlorine plasma reactive ion etch. Porous microparticles are then removed from the substrate by electropolishing. Scanning electron microscopy and microscopic reflection spectroscopy are used to characterize the geometry and optical properties of the freestanding particles. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Inhibitory effect of Panax notoginseng on nitric oxide synthase, cyclo‐oxygenase‐2 and neutrophil functions
Authors: Jin Un‐Ho , Park Soon‐Gi , Suh Seok‐Jong , Kim June‐Ki , Kim Dong‐Soo , Moon Sung‐Kwon , Lee Young‐Choon , Park Won‐Hwan , Kim Cheorl‐Ho
Published: November 2006

A water extract of Panax notoginseng Buck F.H. Chen. (Arialiaceae) root (PN) is being used as a therapeutic agent to stop haemorrhages and as a tonic to promote health in Korean and Chinese medicine. The pharmacokinetic profiles of PN have not been accurately investigated. The preliminary aim was to elucidate the pharmacokinetic features of PN. First, the prevention of neutrophil functions was assessed. PN inhibited neutrophil functions, including degranulation, superoxide generation and leukotriene B4 production, without any effect on 5‐lipoxygenase activity. PN reduced nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin (PG)E2 production in mouse peritoneal macrophages stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) while no influence on the activity of inducible NO synthase (iNOS), cyclo‐oxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) or cyclo‐oxygenase‐1 (COX‐1) was observed. PN significantly reduced mouse paw oedema induced by carrageenan. The results indicate that PN exerts antiinflammatory effects related to the inhibition of neutrophil functions and NO and PGE2 production, which could be due to a decreased expression of iNOS and COX‐2. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Antidermatophytic triterpenoids from Syzygium jambos (L.) Alston (Myrtaceae)
Authors: Kuiate Jules‐Roger , Mouokeu Simplice , Wabo Hypolyte K. , Tane Pierre
Published: November 2006

Chemical investigation of the EtOAc extract of the stem bark of Syzygium jambos (L.) Alston (Myrtaceae) afforded a number of known triterpenes such as friedelin, β‐amyrin acetate, betulinic acid and lupeol. Friedelin was submitted to a Baeyer‐Villiger oxidation, and was also reduced with LiAlH4 to give the known friedelolactone and friedelanol, respectively. These compounds were identified by comparison of NMR spectral data with those from the literature. The EtOAc extract and the isolated compounds were tested for their antidermatophytic activity against three dermatophyte species: Microsporum audouinii, Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Trichophyton soudanense, commonly found in Cameroon. Betulinic acid and friedelolactone were the most active compounds, and the most sensitive fungi were Trichophyton soudanense and Trichophyton mentagrophytes. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Vasorelaxant effect of stilbenes from rhizome extract of rhubarb (Rheum undulatum) on the contractility of rat aorta
Authors: Yoo Mi Young , Oh Kwang‐Seok , Lee Jung Won , Seo Ho Won , Yon Gyu Hwan , Kwon Dae Young , Kim Young Sup , Ryu Shi Yong , Lee Byung Ho
Published: November 2006

The vascular relaxant effect of the rhizome extract of Rheum undulatum was evaluated with isolated rat thoracic aorta preparations. The methanol extract of the rhizome induced a concentration‐dependent relaxation of aortic preparations precontracted with 0.3 µm phenylephrine (EC50 value: 5.8 µg/mL). The activity‐guided fractionation of the extract led to the isolation of seven hydroxystilbene components as active principles, i.e. piceatannol, resveratrol, desoxyrhapontigenin, rhapontigenin, piceid, rhaponticin and ε‐viniferin. Of these, piceatannol, a tetrahydroxystilbene, exhibited the most potent vascular relaxant effect in rat aortic preparations (EC50 value 2.4 µm). The vasorelaxant effect of piceatannol on endothelium‐intact aorta rings was diminished completely by the removal of functional endothelium or by pretreatment of the aortic tissues with NG‐nitro‐l‐arginine methyl ester. These results suggest that piceatannol may be the major mediator responsible for the vasorelaxing properties of the rhizome extract of Rheum undulatum and the vasorelaxant effects of the piceatannol may be mediated via endothelium‐dependent nitric oxide signaling pathway. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Antimicrobial activity of volatile components and various extracts of the red alga Jania rubens
Authors: Karabay‐Yavasoglu N. Ulku , Sukatar Atakan , Ozdemir Guven , Horzum Zerrin
Published: November 2006

The methanol, dichloromethane, hexane, chloroform and volatile oil extracts of the red alga Jania rubens were tested in vitro for their antimicrobial activity (five Gram‐positive, four Gram‐negative bacteria and Candida albicans ATCC 10239). GC‐MS analysis of the volatile components of J. rubens identified 40 compounds which constituted 77.53% of the total. The volatile components of J. rubens consisted of n‐docosane (6.35%), n‐eicosane (5.77%) and n‐tetratriacontane (5.58%) as major components. The methanol and chloroform extracts (4 mg/disc) showed more potent antimicrobial activity than the hexane and dichloromethane extracts and the volatile oil of J. rubens. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Herbal modulation of drug bioavailability: enhancement of rifampicin levels in plasma by herbal products and a flavonoid glycoside derived fromCuminum cyminum
Authors: Sachin B. S. , Sharma S. C. , Sethi S. , Tasduq S. A. , Tikoo M. K. , Tikoo A. K. , Satti N. K. , Gupta B. D. , Suri K. A. , Johri R. K. , Qazi G. N.
Published: November 2006

The bioavailability of rifampicin (RIF) in a fixed dose combination (FDC) used for the treatment of tuberculosis remains an area of clinical concern and several pharmaceutical alternatives are being explored to overcome this problem. The present study presents a pharmacological approach in which the bioavailability of a drug may be modulated by utilizing the herb–drug synergism. The pharmacokinetic interaction of some herbal products and a pure molecule isolated fromCuminum cyminumwith RIF is shown in this paper. An aqueous extract derived from cumin seeds produced a significant enhancement of RIF levels in rat plasma. This activity was found to be due to a flavonoid glycoside, 3′,5–dihydroxyflavone 7‐O‐β‐d‐galacturonide4′‐O‐β‐d‐glucopyranoside (CC‐I). CC‐I enhanced theCmaxby 35% andAUCby 53% of RIF. The altered bioavailability profile of RIF could be attributed to a permeation enhancing effect of this glycoside. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
In Vitro antimicrobial activity of Zingiber cassumunar (Plai) oil and a 5% Plai oil gel
Authors: Pithayanukul P. , Tubprasert J. , Wuthi‐Udomlert M.
Published: November 2006

The essential oil of Zingiber cassumunar (Plai oil) exhibits antimicrobial activity against a wide range of Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria, dermatophytes and yeasts. Dermatophytes were found to be the most susceptible microorganisms followed by yeasts, whereas bacteria were the least susceptible. The mean diameter of the inhibition zone determined by the disc diffusion screening method increased with increasing Plai oil concentration between 6.25 and 50 vol %. The minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) determined by the broth macrodilution method ranged from 0.62 to 2.5 vol % for Plai oil and from 52 to 79 mg/mL for the 5 wt % Plai oil gel, whereas the minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) ranged from 0.31 to 1.25 vol % for Plai oil and from 13.8 to 39.5 mg/mL for the 5% Plai oil gel. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Towards Unified Compound Screening Strategies: A Critical Evaluation of Error Sources in Experimental and Virtual High‐Throughput Screening
Authors: Parker Christian N. , Bajorath Jürgen
Published: November 2006

This contribution focuses on an assessment of errors in experimental and virtual screening. Sources of errors in high‐throughput screening can be classified as logistic, measurement‐related, or strategic. Biological assays formatted for high throughput are generally susceptible to small but systematic errors arising from a variety of sources, and the correction of such errors often requires the application of advanced data analysis methods. For virtual screening, chemical space design and molecular similarity analysis play crucial roles and similarity‐based methods also have principal limitations, as discussed herein. In addition, the relative performance of computational screening methods, regardless of their specific features, generally displays strong compound class dependence. However, given their opportunities and limitations, experimental and computational screening can be carried out in a highly complementary manner and integrated screening strategies are thought to have significant potential in pharmaceutical research.
Integrating packet‐level FEC with data carousels for reliable content delivery in satellite broadcast/multicast systems
Authors: Chipeta M. , Karaliopoulos M. , Fan L. , Evans B. G.
Published: November 2006

One key aspect of digital multimedia broadcasting is the reliable point‐to‐multipoint distribution of content. Since the capacity and energy constraints in wireless environments do not favour the provision of a return channel for user feedback, the use of partial reliability techniques is often the only realistic option for the reliable transport layer design. In this paper, we focus on the two main reliable transport mechanisms in unidirectional, point‐to‐multipoint systems, namely packet‐level forward error correction (FEC) and data carousels. We approach them as building components of an integrated scheme and investigate its performanceviaanalytical means. Our analysis demonstrates that the network responsiveness, expressed by the average content access time, is optimized for certain packet‐level FEC redundancy values. This is clearly different from setting FEC without considering the data carousel dimension, where the FEC redundancy is determined from the probability of recovering the whole fileversusFEC overhead trade‐off curves. We describe design alternatives for both scheme components, such as different FEC code types, rules for assigning FEC redundancy per carousel item, and ways to retrieve items from the data carousel, and evaluate their impact on the performance of the scheme. Our results suggest that the superposition of FEC on data carousels mitigates the otherwise significant impact of the data item retrieval technique on performance, at least for close‐to‐optimal FEC settings. On the contrary, the careful selection of FEC code and FEC redundancy assignment rule for data carousel items results in performance gains of up to 11 and 18% for the average content access time and FEC overhead, respectively, depending on the item demand and length distributions. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cross‐layer control of adaptive coding and modulation for satellite Internet multimedia
Authors: Fairhurst Gorry , Berioli Matteo , Renker Gerrit
Published: November 2006

Cross‐layer engineering is an emerging research area, enabled by advances in software‐defined systems and the development of advanced physical‐layer waveforms. This paper describes how cross‐layer mechanisms can be effectively introduced in the design of next‐generation adaptive satellite systems to support Internet Protocol (IP)‐based multimedia. It describes a set of signalling methods that facilitate cross‐layer interaction and assesses key architectural issues in cross‐layer design. The paper includes analytical, simulation and evaluation data for a set of novel techniques based on the UDP‐Lite transport protocol and the Adaptive Coding and Modulation (ACM) provided by DVB‐S2. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Evaluation of P‐POSSUM and CR‐POSSUM Scores in Patients with Colorectal Cancer Undergoing Resection
Authors: Tez Mesut , Yoldaş Ömer , Gocmen Erdal , Külah Bahadır , Koc Mahmut
Published: November 2006

Introduction

The aim of this study was to evaluate the predictive accuracy of P‐POSSUM and CR‐POSSUM models on patients undergoing colorectal resection.

Methods

P‐POSSUM and CR‐POSSUM predictor equations for mortality were applied retrospectively to 321 patients who had undergone colorectal resection for cancer. P‐POSSUM and CR‐POSSUM scores were validated by assessing their calibration and discrimination. Calibration was assessed using the Hosmer‐Lemeshow goodness‐of‐fit test and the corresponding calibration curves. Evaluation of the discriminative capability of both models was performed using receiver‐operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.

Results

Overall, 22 deaths were observed. CR‐POSSUM predicted 25 deaths (χ2 = 12.20, P = 0.13), and P‐POSSUM predicted 29 deaths (χ2 =18.85, P = 0.002). ROC curves analysis revealed that CR‐POSSUM has reasonable discriminatory power for mortality.

Conclusions

These data suggest that CR‐POSSUM may provide a better estimate of the risk of mortality for patients who undergoing colorectal resection.
Usefulness of the Bilateral Anterior Rectus Abdominis Sheath Turnover Flap Method for Early Fascial Closure in Patients Requiring Open Abdominal Management
Authors: Kushimoto Shigeki , Yamamoto Yasuhiro , Aiboshi Junichi , Ogawa Futoshi , Koido Yuichi , Yoshida Ryusuke , Kawai Makato
Published: November 2006

Background

Many patients requiring conventional open abdominal management need a postoperative intermediate period with a large ventral hernia. This situation, in which the granulated abdominal contents are covered only with a skin graft, carry with it a high risk of enterocutaneous fistula, and the patients ultimately require late‐stage abdominal wall reconstruction. Early abdominal wall reconstruction in noncandidates for standard fascial closure has received little attention. In this study we used bilateral anterior rectus abdominis sheath turnover flaps for early fascial closure which, to date, has not been evaluated as a technique for early fascial closure.

Methods

Eleven trauma and 18 nontrauma cases requiring open abdominal management over a 7‐year period were reviewed. Bilateral anterior rectus abdominis sheath turnover flaps were created by longitudinal incisions along the lateral edge of the anterior rectus sheath, which were mobilized medially and approximated. The skin was closed primarily.

Results

Twelve nontrauma and eight trauma patients survived. No enteric fistula or abdominal abscess occurred. Anterior rectus sheath turnover flaps were used in nine of the 18 nontrauma and two of the 11 trauma patients, all of whom were unsuitable for standard fascial closure of prolonged visceral edema; the respective mean intervals from initial laparotomy to fascial closure were 9.4 and 18 days. Of the 11 patients with flaps, ten survived without fascial dehiscence or herniation (maximum follow‐up: 65 months).

Conclusions

Early fascial closure using the anterior rectus abdominis sheath turnover flap may reduce the need for skin grafting and subsequent abdominal wall reconstruction. This approach can be considered as an alternative technique in the early management of patients with open abdomen.
In vivo measurement of the redox state
Authors: Praticò Domenico
Published: November 2006

As part of an aerobic life, we oxidize a large pool of biomolecules to obtain chemical energy. During this process, several intermediates are formed; some are chemically unstable and are referred to as free radicals (FR). FR tend to react quickly with their surrounding biological environment; depending on the nature of the molecule attacked, different reactions can occur, i.e., lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation, or DNA oxidation products. As aerobic life has evolved, antioxidant defense systems against FR have developed. When an imbalance between production of FR (oxidants) and defese systems against them (antioxidants) happens, a situation of oxidative stress occurs. This can lead to irreversible biochemical changes, with subsequent tissue damage and disease. Establishing the involvement of FR in the pathogenesis of a disease has been difficult because of the lack of sensitie and specific methodology to detect them. No ideal biomarkers for in vivo FR‐induced damage are available as yet. However, some reliable indices of FR formation are now available, and in some pathologic conditions, evidence is accumulating to show that FR damage might play a functional role. The task for the near future will be to try to simplify the analytical methodology and elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the formation, disposition, and kinetics of FR marker molecules.
n‐3 fatty acids: Antiatherosclerotic effects
Authors: De Caterina Raffaele , Zampolli Antonella
Published: November 2006

The low incidence of cardiovascular disease associated epidemiologically with high consumption of food rich in n‐3 fatty acids suggests the possibility that part of the beneficial cardiovascular effects of these natural substances may be due to a reduction of atherosclerosis. This has been recently confirmed in autoptic data and in at least one prospective trial evaluating the progression of coronary atherosclerosis in humans. This paper reviews published literature on n‐3 fatty acids and atherosclerosis in animal models and in humans and in vitro experimental data yielding suport to the hypothesis of antiatherosclerotic effects of these substances.
The effect of n−3 fatty acids on coronary atherosclerosis: Results from SCIMO, an angiographic study, background and implications
Authors: von Schacky C. , Baumann K. , Angerer P.
Published: November 2006

According to the model of “response to injury”, the arterial endothelium is occasionally injured in hyperlipidemia, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and in other states known as risk factors. The ensuing inflammatory response is modulated by cytokines and growth factors, among them platelet‐derived growth factor (PDGF), and monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 (MCP‐1). In two independent studies, we demonstrated that mRNA levels for PDGF‐A and‐B and for MCP‐1 are reduced after ingestion of n−3 fatty acids by human volunteers. This reduction persists after monocyte stimulation/differentiation by adherence. Moreover, the reduction is brought about only by dietary n−3 fatty acids and not by other calsses of unsaturated fatty acids (n−6 or n−9). This appears to be one major mechanism of action of reduced progression/increased regression of establihed coronary artery disease by ingestion of 1.5 g/d n−3 fatty acids, as assessed by coronary angiography in a randomized placebo‐controlled double‐blind intervention study in 223 patients. The study was conducted according to “Good Clinical Practice”, comprehensive rules regulating investigations with pharmaceutical compounds. Together, our investigations lend support to the importance of PDGF‐A, PDGF‐B, and MCP‐1 in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, and the beneficial role of n−3 fatty acids therein.
Efficacy of n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids after myocardial infarction: Results of GISSI‐prevenzione trial
Authors: Marchioli Roberto , Schweiger Carlo , Tavazzi Luigi , Valagussa Franco
Published: November 2006

Gruppo Italiano per lo Studio della Sopravvivenza nell'Infarto Miocardio (GISSI)‐Prevenzione was conceived as a population, pragmatic trial on patients with recent myocardial infarctions conducted in the framework of the Italian public health system. In GISSI‐Prevenzione, patients were invited to follow Mediterranean dietary habits, and were treated with up‐to‐date preventive pharmacological interventions. Long‐term n‐3 PUFA (1 g daily) but not vitamin E (300 mg daily), was beneficial for death and for combined death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and stroke. All the benefit, however, was attributable to the decrease in risk for overall, cardiovascular, cardiac, coronary, and sudden death.

At variance with the orientation of a scientific scenario largely dominated by the “cholesterol‐heart hypothesis”, GISSI‐Prevenzione results indicate n‐3 PUFA (virtually devoid of any cholesterol‐lowering effect) as a relevant pharmacological treatment for secondary prevention after myocardial infarction.

As to the relevance and comparability of GISSI‐Prevenzione results, up to 5.7 lives could be saved every 1000 patients with previous myocardial infarction treated with n‐3 PUFA (1 g daily) per year. Such a result is comparable to that observed in the Long‐Term Intervention with Pravastatin in Ischaemic Disease (LIPID) trial, where 5.2 lives could be saved per 1000 hypercholesterolemic, coronary heart disease patients treated with pravastatin for 1 yr.

The choice of a relatively low‐dose regimen (1‐g capsule daily) more acceptable for long‐term treatment in a population of patients following Mediterranean dietary habits, and the pattern of effects seen in GISSI‐Prevenzione (namely, reduction of overall mortality with no decrease in the rate of nonfatal myocardial infarction) all strongly suggest that n‐3 PUFA treatment should be considered a recommended new component of secondary prevention. The importance of this combined/additive effect is further suggested by the analyses of the interplay between diet and n‐3 PUFA: There is an interesting direct correlation between size of the effect and “correctness” of background diets. It can be anticipated that a conceptual barrier must be overcome: A “dietary drug” should be added to “dietary advice”, which remains fundamental to allow this statement to become true in clinical practice.
n−3 Polyunsaturated fatty acids and cardiovascular diseases: To whom, how much, preparations
Authors: Nordøy Arne , Marchioli Roberto , Arnesen Harald , Videbæk Jørgen
Published: November 2006

An expert round table discussion on the relationship between intake of n−3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) mainly of marine sources and coronary heart disease at the 34th Annual Scientific Meeting of European Society for Clinical Investigation came to the following conclusions:

Consumption of 1–2 fish meals/wk is associated with reduced coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality.

Patients who have experienced myocardial infarction have decreased risk of total, cardiovascular, coronary, and sudden death by drug treatment with 1 g/d of ethylesters of n−3 PUFA, mainly as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). The effect is present irrespective of high or low traditional fish intake or simultaneous intake of other drugs for secondary CHD prevention, n−3 PUFA may also be given as fatty fish or triglyceride concentrates.

Patients who have experienced coronary artery bypass surgery with venous grafts may reduce graft occlusion rates by administration of 4 g/d of n−3 PUFA.

Patients with moderate hypertension may reduce blood pressure by administration of 4 g/d of n−3 PUFA.

After heart transplantation, 4 g/d of n−3 PUFA may protect against development of hypertension.

Patients with dyslipidemia and or postprandial hyperlipemia may reduce their coronary risk profile by administration of 1–4 g/d of marine n−3 PUFA. The combination with statins seems to be a potent alternative in these patients.

There is growing evidence that daily intake of up to 1 energy % of nutrients from plant n−3 PUFA (α‐linolenic acid) may decrease the risk for myocardial infarction and death in patients with CHD. This paper summarizes the conclusions of an expert panel on the relationship between n−3 PUFA and CHD. The objectives for the experts were to formulate scientifically sound conclusions on the effects of fish in the diet and the administration of marine n−3 PUFA, mainly eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20∶5n−3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22∶6n−3), and eventually of plant n−3 PUFA, α‐linolenic acid (ALA, 18∶3n−3), on primary and secondary prevention of CHD. Fish in the diet should be considered as part of a healthy diet low in saturated fats for everybody, whereas additional administration of n−3 PUFA concentrates could be given to specific groups of patients. This workshop was organized on the basis of questions sent to the participants beforehand, on brief introductions by the participants, and finally on discussion and analysis by a group of ∼40 international scientists in the fields of nutrition, cardiology, epidemiology, lipidology, and thrombosis.
Tolerance and incorporation of a high‐dose eicosapentaenoic acid diester emulsion by patients with pancreatic cancer cachexia
Authors: Barber Matthew D. , Fearon Kenneth C. H.
Published: November 2006

Chemotherapy and radiotherapy offer little benefit to patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) has anticancer effects both in vitro and in animal models. The dose of EPA that can be administered to cancer patients has previously been limited by the low purity of available preparations and the tolerability of large capsules. A high‐purity preparation of EPA as a 20% oil‐in‐water diester emulsion allowed a small study of the tolerance, incorporation, and effects of EPA in high doses in five patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. Patients underwent assessment at baseline and every 4 wk thereafter. All patients managed to tolerate a dose providing 18 g EPA per day, with doses between 9 and 27 g daily being taken for at least a month. Dosage was limited by a sensation of fullness, cramping abdominal pain, steatorrhea, and nausea. All such symptoms were controlled by dose reduction or pancreatic enzyme supplements. No other adverse effects attributable to the trial agent were observed. Plasma phospholipid EPA content increased from around 1% at baseline to 10% at 4 wk and 20% at 8 wk. Incorporation of EPA into red blood cell phospholipids reached levels of around 10%. The present study has shown that a novel, high‐purity, EPA diester emulsion can be tolerated at a dose providing around 18 g EPA per day with side‐effects being easily controlled. The acceptibility of large doses of oral EPA should allow larger controlled clinical studies into potential anticancer effects of EPA.
Oxidative stability of low density lipoproteins and vitamin E levels increase in maternal blood during normal pregnancy
Authors: De Vriese S. R. , Dhont M. , Christophe A. B.
Published: November 2006

In 24 healthy pregnant women, parameters related to the oxidative stability of low density lipoproteins (LDL) were determined at three times during pregnancy and shortly after delivery. The fatty acid composition of plasma phospholipids (PL) and the plasma concentrations of vitamin E, vitamin A, and β‐carotene were assessed in the same samples. Total triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol, LDL‐cholesterol, and high density lipoprotein (HDL)‐cholesterol concentrations were also determined. The length of the lag phase of isolated LDL challenged with Cu2+ ions significantly increased with the progression of pregnancy. The oxidation rate and the amount of conjugated dienes formed increased and reached a maximum at 29–37 wk of pregnancy. Total TG, cholesterol, and LDL‐cholesterol reached a maximum in the third trimester of pregnancy. β‐Carotene remained stable, vitamin A decreased, and vitamin E significantly increased throughout pregnancy. Vitamin E plasma concentration correlated positively with the length of the lag phase. The increased levels of vitamin E could contribute to the higher resistance of LDL toward oxidation with progressing gestation, measured by the prolonged lag phase. Furthermore, vitamin E plasma levels correlated positively with TG concentration but not with LDL‐cholesterol. The level of polyunsaturated fatty acids in PL decreased with the progression of pregnancy. No correlation was found between the fatty acid composition of plasma PL, nor with the cholesterol concentration, and the parameters studied related to the oxidative stability of LDL. The major finding of this study is the increased oxidative resistance of LDL with progressing gestation.
A new diacylgalactolipid containing 4Z‐16∶1 from the marine cyanobacterium Oscillatoria sp
Authors: Son Byeng Wha , Kim Jung Chul , Choi Hong Dae
Published: November 2006

A new diacylgalactolipid was isolated from the marine cyanobacterium Oscillatoria sp., and the structure was elucidated as (2S)‐3‐O‐β‐d‐galactopyranosyl‐1‐O‐(9Z,12Z‐octadecadienoyl)‐2‐O‐(4Z‐hexadecenoyl)glycerol by enzymatic partial hydrolysis using lipase and physicochemical evidence, which included determining the double bond position in the hexadecenoic acid moiety.
β‐Oxidation of conjugated linoleic acid isomers and linoleic acid in rats
Authors: Sergiel Jean‐Pierre , Chardigny Jean‐Michel , Sébédio Jean‐Louis , Berdeaux Olivier , Juaneda Pierre , Loreau Olivier , Pasquis Bruno , Noel Jean‐Pierre
Published: November 2006

To assess the oxidative metabolism of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) isomers, rats were force‐fed 1.5–2.6 MBq of [1‐14C]‐linoleic acid (9c,12c‐18∶2),‐rumenic acid (9c,11t‐18∶2), or‐10trans, 12cis‐18∶2 (10t, 12c‐18∶2), and 14CO2 production was monitored for 24 h. The animals were then necropsied and the radioactivity determined in different tissues. Both CLA isomers were oxidized significantly more than linoleic acid. Moreover, less radioactivity was recovered in most tissues after CLA intake than after linoleic acid intake. The substantial oxidation of CLA isomers must be considered when assessing the putative health benefits of CLA supplements.
Dietary α‐linolenic acid lowers postprandial lipid levels with increase of eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acid contents in rat hepatic membrane
Authors: Kim Hye‐Kyeong , Choi Haymie
Published: November 2006

This study was designed to examine the effects of dietary n−3 and n−6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) on postprandial lipid levels and fatty acid composition of hepatic membranes. Male Sprague‐Dawley rats were trained for a 3−h feeding protocol and fed one of five semipurified diets: one fat‐free diet or one of four diets supplemented with 10% (by weight) each of corn oil, beef tallow, perilla oil, and fish oil. Two separate experiments were performed, 4‐wk long‐term and 4‐d short‐term feeding models, to compare the effects of feeding periods. Postprandial plasma lipid was affected by dietary fats. Triacylglycerol (TG) and total cholesterol levels were decreased in rats fed perilla oil and fish oil diets compared with corn oil and beef tallow diets. Hepatic TG and total cholesterol levels were also reduced by fish oil and perilla oil diets. Fatty acid composition of hepatic microsomal fraction reflected dietary fatty acids and their metabolic conversion. The major fatty acids of rats fed the beef tallow diet were palmitic, stearic, and oleic. Similarly, linoleic acid (LA) and arachidonic acid in the corn oil group, α‐linolenic acid (ALA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) in the perilla oil group, and palmitic acid and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in the fish oil group were detected in high proportions. Both long‐ and short‐term feeding experiments showed similar results. In addition, microsomal DHA content was negatively correlated with plasma lipid levels. Hepatic lipid levels were also negatively correlated with EPA and DHA contents. These results suggest that n−3 ALA has more of a hypolipidemic effect than n−6 LA and that the hypolipidemic effect of n−3 PUFA may be partly related to the increase of EPA and DHA in hepatic membrane.
Identification of novel nonmethylene‐interrupted fatty acids, 7E,13E‐20∶2, 7E,13E,17Z‐20∶3, 9E,15E,19Z‐22∶3, and 4Z,9E,15E,19Z‐22∶4, in ophiuroidea (Brittle star) lipids
Authors: Sato Daisuke , Ando Yasuhiro , Tsujimoto Ryo , Kawasaki Ken‐ichi
Published: November 2006

Fatty acids of Ophiuroidea (brittle star) Ophiura sarsi have been investigated by gas‐liquid chromatography (GLC). About 2–13% of four unidentified fatty acids were found in total fatty acids from a sample caught at a depth of 1,100 m. Structural analyses were undertaken after partial hydrogenation of their concentrates with hydrazine hydrate and subsequent isolation of the monoenoate products by argentation thin‐layer chromatography. The structures of the unidentified fatty acids were determined as 7E,13E‐eicosadienoic (20∶2), 7E,13E,17Z‐eicosatrienoic (20∶3), 9E,15E,19Z‐docosatrienoic (22∶3), and 4Z,9E,15E,19Z‐docosatetraenoic (22∶4) acids by gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry of dimethyl disulfide adducts and GLC of the monoenoates on a polar column. These fatty acids belong to a family of nonmethylene‐interrupted (NMI) polyunsaturated fatty acids frequently observed in marine invertebrates and conifer seeds. As far as the authors know, however, these NMI fatty acid types with mixed geometry of ethylenic bonds have not been reported previously.
Dehydroepiandrosterone alters phospholipid profiles in Zucker rat muscle tissue
Authors: Abadie Jude M. , Malcom Gray T. , Porter Johnny R. , Svec Frank
Published: November 2006

Insulin‐resistant muscle tissue contains low proportions of arachidonic acid (AA), and increased proportions of muscle AA correlate with improved insulin sensitivity. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and AA, like the thiazolidinedione drugs that decrease insulin resistance (IR), are peroxisome proliferators. Long‐chain fatty acids (FA) have been named the “one true” endogenous ligand for activating the peroxisome proliferator‐activator receptor (PPAR), and DHEA has been named a “good candidate” as a naturally occurring indirect activator of PPAR. This study was conducted to determine DHEA's effects on lipid profiles of skeletal and cardiac muscle in lean and obese Zucker rats (ZR), a model of IR, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and obesity. We hypothesize that DHEA may alter long‐chain FA profiles in muscle tissue of obese rats such that they more closely resemble that of the lean. In our experiments we employed a DHEA and a pair‐fed (PF) group (n=6) for 12 lean and 12 obese ZR. For 30 d, the diet of the two DHEA groups was supplemented with 0.6% DHEA; PF groups were given the average daily calories consumed by their corresponding treatment group. Hearts and gastrocnemius muscles were assayed for phospholipid (PL), free FA, and triglyceride (TG) FA profiles. The proportion of PL AA was significantly greater in both muscle types of lean compared to obese rats. Hearts from both DHEA groups had greater PL proportions of AA and less oleic (18∶1) acid than their PF controls. Likewise, 18∶1 proportions were significantly lower in the gastrocnemius; however, AA proportions were not significantly different. Similar phenotypic profile differences were observed in the TG fraction of both muscle types. There were no DHEA‐related TG FA profile alterations.
CITIZENSHIP, NATIONHOOD, AND MASCULINITY IN THE AFFAIR OF THE HANOVERIAN SOLDIER, 1756
Authors: McCORMACK MATTHEW
Published: November 2006

This article explores mid-Georgian debates about the nature of citizenship by focusing on a key political scandal that has hitherto been overlooked by modern historians. In 1756, one of the many Hanoverian soldiers who were stationed in England was arrested for theft in Maidstone. The subsequent efforts to release him on the part of his military superiors and the British government created a political controversy that highlighted issues such as legal liberty, the abuse of executive power, home defence policy, and the moral state of the nation. In particular, this article argues that the furore gave weight to contemporary calls to reform the militia, not so much for instrumental military reasons, but for the supposed social and political benefits of an organization that relied upon the patriotic zeal and masculine virtue of the indigenous citizen. This article is therefore a contribution to the new cultural histories of politics that emphasize the roles of nation and gender in conceptions of citizenship, and argues that the Seven Years War was in this respect a moment of crucial importance.
CHRISTIANITY AS AN ARM OF EMPIRE: THE AMBIGUOUS CASE OF INDIA UNDER THE COMPANY, c. 1813–1858
Authors: COPLAND IAN
Published: November 2006

For many years it was widely assumed that there was a close connection between the rapid expansion of European imperial power and acquisition of territory overseas during the nineteenth century, particularly in Asia and Africa, and the congruent Protestant Christian missionary project to save the ‘heathens’ of these places by persuading them to embrace the ‘redeeming’ message of the Gospels. Over the past several decades, however, the thesis that empire-building and Christian evangelizing were mutually supportive activities has come under sustained attack from a group of British historians led by Brian Stanley and Andrew Porter – to the point where the Stanley–Porter revisionist line now occupies centre-stage. This article shows that, contrary to the dominant consensus, the relationship between church – in the form of the missionary societies – and state – in the shape of the English East India Company, initially cool, gradually warmed as the two parties came to realize that they had a common interest in providing ‘civilizing’ Western education to the Indian elites. Indeed it provocatively suggests that the colonial state might well, in time, have given its endorsement and even its support to the spread of Christianity had not the Mutiny intervened in 1857. However the analysis of the benefits generated by this South Asian partnership finds, paradoxically, that it undermined the Company’s authority, and may well have deterred many Indians from converting to Christianity – which had come to be widely seen as a privileged and imperialist religion.
RELIGION AND SCIENCE IN LATE NINETEENTH-CENTURY BRITISH EGYPTOLOGY
Authors: GANGE DAVID
Published: November 2006

The late nineteenth century is generally considered to be the period of Egyptology’s development into a scientific discipline. The names of Egyptologists of the last decades of the century, including William Flinders Petrie, are associated with scientific technique and objective interpretation as well as colonialist agendas. This article’s thesis is that rapid developments in scientific technique were largely driven by spiritual objectives rather than any other ideologies. Egypt – after being derided and ignored during the mid-century – became of great significance to the British when spectacular finds suggested that Egyptology might offer conclusive evidence against Darwinism and the higher criticism while proving events of the Old Testament to be historically true. Other groups used ancient Egypt – professing Darwin, Spencer, and Huxley as inspirations – but the teleologies they invariably produced owe more to spiritualism than to scientific naturalism, blurring boundaries between science, the occult, and religion. In terms of popularity traditional Christian approaches to ancient Egypt eclipsed all rivals, every major practising Egyptologist of the 1880s employing them and publications receiving large, demonstrably enthusiastic, audiences. Support for biblical Egyptologists demonstrates that, in Egyptology, the fin de siècle enjoyed a little-noticed but widely supported revival of Old-Testament-based Christianity amidst a flowering of diverse beliefs.
RAMBLING AND MANLY IDENTITY IN DERBYSHIRE’S DARK PEAK, 1880s–1920s
Authors: TEBBUTT MELANIE
Published: November 2006

This article explores how walking in a particular type of terrain, the moorland area of north Derbyshire known as the Dark Peak, contributed to a localized sense of place which was framed by regional and national discourses and also testified to broader social and cultural uncertainties strongly shaped by gender and class. The punishing physical values of such wild upland areas offered challenges of stoicism, hardiness and endurance which were central to late-nineteenth century ideals of manliness, as masculinity was increasingly defined by forms of sporting activity which encouraged character-building battles against nature. Sensibility is not readily associated with this robust discourse of adventure. The ‘wild’ outdoors, so easily seen as an extension of the public, masculine world was, however, of far greater complexity. More than a focus for physical activity and trespass ‘battles’, it was a place where emotion and the elating intimacy of open space gave expression to needs which also intimate the masculine anxieties of the era.
THE PRO-AXIS UNDERGROUND IN IRELAND, 1939–1942
Authors: DOUGLAS R. M.
Published: November 2006

During the first half of the Second World War, a network of secretive ultra-right movements emerged in Ireland for the purpose of assisting the Axis cause. These groups had little contact with fascist organizations overseas, but rather were indigenous expressions of discontent with the perceived failure of Irish liberal democracy to address the country’s political and economic problems. Numerically weak, poorly led, and ideologically unsophisticated, the pro-Axis underground made little progress in its subversive activities and was kept in check by the security services. Nonetheless, evidence suggests that a considerable number of Irishmen and women on both sides of the Border shared its underlying objective of aligning Ireland with what they regarded as an emerging post-democratic world order.