bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Information extraction challenges in managing unstructured data
Authors: Doan AnHai , Naughton Jeffrey F. , Ramakrishnan Raghu , Baid Akanksha , Chai Xiaoyong , Chen Fei , Chen Ting , Chu Eric , DeRose Pedro , Gao Byron , Gokhale Chaitanya , Huang Jiansheng , Shen Warren , Vuong Ba-Quy
Published: April 2009

Over the past few years, we have been trying to build an end-to-end system at Wisconsin to manage unstructured data, using extraction, integration, and user interaction. This paper describes the key information extraction (IE) challenges that we have run into, and sketches our solutions. We discuss in particular developing a declarative IE language, optimizing for this language, generating IE provenance, incorporating user feedback into the IE process, developing a novel wiki-based user interface for feedback, best-effort IE, pushing IE into RDBMSs, and more. Our work suggests that IE in managing unstructured data can open up many interesting research challenges, and that these challenges can greatly benefit from the wealth of work on managing structured data that has been carried out by the database community.
Purple SOX extraction management system
Authors: Bohannon Philip , Merugu Srujana , Yu Cong , Agarwal Vipul , DeRose Pedro , Iyer Arun , Jain Ankur , Kakade Vinay , Muralidharan Mridul , Ramakrishnan Raghu , Shen Warren
Published: April 2009

We describe the Purple SOX (PSOX) EMS, a prototype Extraction Management System currently being built at Yahoo!. The goal of the PSOX EMS is to manage a large number of sophisticated extraction pipelines across different application domains, at the web scale and with minimum human involvement. Three key value propositions are described:
extensibility
, the ability to swap in and out extraction operators;
explainability
, the ability to track the provenance of extraction results; and
social feedback support
, the facility for gathering and reconciling multiple, potentially conflicting sources.
Domain adaptation of information extraction models
Authors: Gupta Rahul , Sarawagi Sunita
Published: April 2009

Domain adaptation refers to the process of adapting an extraction model trained in one domain to another related domain with only unlabeled data. We present a brief survey of existing methods of retraining models to best exploit labeled data from a related domain. These approaches that involve expensive model retraining are not practical when a large number of new domains have to be handled in an operational setting. We describe our approach for adapting record extraction models that exploits the regularity within a domain to jointly label records without retraining any model.
The YAGO-NAGA approach to knowledge discovery
Authors: Kasneci Gjergji , Ramanath Maya , Suchanek Fabian , Weikum Gerhard
Published: April 2009

This paper gives an overview on the YAGO-NAGA approach to information extraction for building a conveniently searchable, large-scale, highly accurate knowledge base of common facts. YAGO harvests infoboxes and category names of Wikipedia for facts about individual entities, and it reconciles these with the taxonomic backbone of WordNet in order to ensure that all entities have proper classes and the class system is consistent. Currently, the YAGO knowledge base contains about 19 million instances of binary relations for about 1.95 million entities. Based on intensive sampling, its accuracy is estimated to be above 95 percent. The paper presents the architecture of the YAGO extractor toolkit, its distinctive approach to consistency checking, its provisions for maintenance and further growth, and the query engine for YAGO, coined NAGA. It also discusses ongoing work on extensions towards integrating fact candidates extracted from natural-language text sources.
Web-scale extraction of structured data
Authors: Cafarella Michael J. , Madhavan Jayant , Halevy Alon
Published: April 2009

A long-standing goal of Web research has been to construct a unified Web knowledge base. Information extraction techniques have shown good results on Web inputs, but even most domain-independent ones are not appropriate for Web-scale operation. In this paper we describe three recent extraction systems that can be operated on the entire Web (two of which come from Google Research). The TextRunner system focuses on raw natural language text, the WebTables system focuses on HTML-embedded tables, and the deep-web surfacing system focuses on "hidden" databases. The domain, expressiveness, and accuracy of extracted data can depend strongly on its source extractor; we describe differences in the characteristics of data produced by the three extractors. Finally, we discuss a series of unique data applications (some of which have already been prototyped) that are enabled by aggregating extractedWeb information.
On Query Algebras for Probabilistic Databases
Authors: Koch Christoph
Published: April 2009

This article proposes a core query algebra for probabilistic databases. In essence, this core is part of the query languages of most probabilistic database systems proposed so far, but is sometimes hidden in complex language definitions. We give a formal definition of the algebra and illustrate it by examples. We then survey the current state of knowledge regarding the expressive power and complexity of this core.
First workshop on transforming and weaving ontologies in model driven engineering (TWOMDE 2008)
Authors: Parreiras Fernando Silva , Pan Jeff Z , Assmann Uwe , Herinksson Jakob
Published: April 2009

The First International Workshop on Transforming and Weaving Ontologies in Model Driven Engineering (TWOMDE 2008), affiliated with the 11th International Conference on Model Driven Engineering Languages and Systems (MoD-ELS2008), brought together researchers and practitioners from the modeling community with experience or interest in MDE and in Knowledge Representation to discuss about: (1) how the scientific and technical results around ontologies, ontology languages and their corresponding reasoning technologies can be used fruitfully in MDE; (2) the role of ontologies in supporting model transformation; (3) and how ontologies can improve designing domain specific languages.
Is America Fragmenting?
Authors: Fischer Claude S. , Mattson Greggor
Published: April 2009

The view that America is fragmenting is popular among both pundits and academics and may well be endemic to American culture. We review claims that between 1970 and 2005 American society fragmented along lines of cultural politics, social class, immigration, race, or lifestyle. Taking the twentieth century as historical context, we weigh evidence for both main variants of the fragmentation thesis—that there is an increasing divide between two Americas, or that America is fragmenting into a variety of “little worlds that touch but do not interpenetrate.” We find a well-documented, widening gap in social class, whether measured by education or income. We also find that political elites and activists are demonstrably more polarized in 2005 than they were in 1970; this gap's effect on the electorate is debatable, however. Caveats aside, there is little evidence for increasing fragmentation of America along lines of race, ethnicity, or immigration status. American cultural tastes increasingly cluster into distinct lifeways, but there is little evidence about what effects, if any, this development has. The loudest claims of fragmentation, those concerning value issues, are based on the most contested evidence, but the widening gap between Americans by income and education—which receives less popular attention—is substantial and serious.
Income Inequality and Social Dysfunction
Authors: Wilkinson Richard G. , Pickett Kate E.
Published: April 2009

Population health tends to be better in societies where income is more equally distributed. Recent evidence suggests that many other social problems, including mental illness, violence, imprisonment, lack of trust, teenage births, obesity, drug abuse, and poor educational performance of schoolchildren, are also more common in more unequal societies. Differences in the prevalence of ill health and social problems between more and less equal societies seem to be large and to extend to the vast majority of the population. Rather than referencing all the literature, this paper attempts to show which interpretations of these relationships are consistent with the research evidence. After discussing their more important and illuminating characteristics, we conclude that these relationships are likely to reflect a sensitivity of health and social problems to the scale of social stratification and status competition, underpinned by societal differences in material inequality.
Men, Masculinity, and Manhood Acts
Authors: Schrock Douglas , Schwalbe Michael
Published: April 2009

In the 1980s research on men shifted from studying the “male sex role” and masculinity as a singular trait to studying how men enact diverse masculinities. This research has examined men's behavior as gendered beings in many contexts, from intimate relationships to the workplace to global politics. We consider the strengths and weaknesses of the multiple masculinities approach, proposing that further insights into the social construction of gender and the dynamics of male domination can be gained by focusing analytic attention on manhood acts and how they elicit deference from others. We interpret the literature in terms of what it tells us about how males learn to perform manhood acts, about how and why such acts vary, and about how manhood acts reproduce gender inequality. We end with suggestions for further research on the practices and processes through which males construct the category “men” and themselves as its members.
Societal Responses to Terrorist Attacks
Authors: Spilerman Seymour , Stecklov Guy
Published: April 2009

Terrorist attacks in the United States and in Western Europe have been rare, and public awareness of the terrorist menace has largely been molded by a few horrific events. In contrast, other countries have experienced chronic terrorism, with attacks on buses, restaurants, coffee shops, and retail establishments. In this review, we assess the impact of terrorism on civilian society in the United States, Northern Ireland, and Israel. We examine the psychological effects, the adaptations made by individuals to enhance their safety, and the consequent adjustments made by institutional actors and by commercial establishments to ensure continued economic viability. We review the various theories of societal adjustments to exogenous shocks and point out that a very different formulation is required for the case of chronic terrorism than for the societal experience of a one-time attack.
Nonhumans in Social Interaction
Authors: Cerulo Karen A.
Published: April 2009

Sociological analyses of social interaction have been primarily directed toward human-to-human exchange. Recently, some have begun to actively question that stance. Challenges are found in new theoretical ideas and in empirical study—experimental, field, and survey data on people's attitudes and behaviors toward nonhumans. Such developments are leading many scholars to carve out a more central role for animals, objects, images, and both memories and projections of the self and others in the study of social interaction. In this article, I review these innovative ideas, pursuing four specific tasks. First, I briefly review the theoretical grounds that eliminated nonhumans from studies of social interaction. Next, I present new theories and empirical studies that construct a role for nonhumans in social interaction. Third, I review surveys that document popular perceptions of human/nonhuman interaction. I conclude by proposing some conceptual guidelines that might bring nonhumans into our contemporary analytic frames.
The Structural and Biochemical Foundations of Thiamin Biosynthesis
Authors: Jurgenson Christopher T. , Begley Tadhg P. , Ealick Steven E.
Published: April 2009

Thiamin is synthesized by most prokaryotes and by eukaryotes such as yeast and plants. In all cases, the thiazole and pyrimidine moieties are synthesized in separate branches of the pathway and coupled to form thiamin phosphate. A final phosphorylation gives thiamin pyrophosphate, the active form of the cofactor. Over the past decade or so, biochemical and structural studies have elucidated most of the details of the thiamin biosynthetic pathway in bacteria. Formation of the thiazole requires six gene products, and formation of the pyrimidine requires two. In contrast, details of the thiamin biosynthetic pathway in yeast are only just beginning to emerge. Only one gene product is required for the biosynthesis of the thiazole and one for the biosynthesis of the pyrimidine. Thiamin can also be transported into the cell and can be salvaged through several routes. In addition, two thiamin degrading enzymes have been characterized, one of which is linked to a novel salvage pathway.
Effect of ATP-sensitive potassium channel agonists on sympathetic hyperinnervation in postinfarcted rat hearts
Authors: Kang Chih-Sen , Chen Chien-Chang , Lin Chih-Chan , Chang Nen-Chung , Lee Tsung-Ming
Published: April 2009

Although the acute administration of ATP-sensitive potassium (KATP) channel agonists provides a neuroprotection, it is unclear whether similar benefits are found by modulating sympathetic innervation in chronic settings after myocardial infarction. We assessed whether KATP channel agonists can attenuate the sprouting of cardiac sympathetic nerves after infarction. Male Wistar rats after ligating coronary artery were randomized to either saline, nicorandil, pinacidil, glibenclamide, or a combination of 1) nicorandil and glibenclamide or 2) pinacidil and glibenclamide for 4 wk. To elucidate the role of mitochondrial KATP channels in modulating nerve growth factor, 5-hydroxydecanoate was assessed in an in vitro model. The measurement of myocardial norepinephrine levels revealed a significant elevation in saline-treated infarcted rats compared with sham-operated rats, consistent with excessive sympathetic innervation. Excessive sympathetic innervation was blunted after giving the rats either nicorandil or pinacidil, compared with saline, as assessed by the immunohistochemical analysis of tyrosine hydroxylase, growth associated protein-43, and neurofilament and Western blot analysis and real-time quantitative RT-PCR of nerve growth factor. The arrhythmic scores during programmed stimulation in the saline- or glibenclamide-treated infarcted rats were significantly higher than those of rats treated with KATP channel agonists. In contrast, the beneficial effects of nicorandil and pinacidil were abolished by administering either glibenclamide or 5-hydroxydecanoate. The sympathetic hyperinnervation after infarction is attenuated by the activation of mitochondrial KATP channels. The chronic use of mitochondrial KATP channel agonists after infarction may attenuate the arrhythmogenic response to programmed electrical stimulation.
The contribution of Ca2+ signaling and Ca2+ sensitivity to the regulation of airway smooth muscle contraction is different in rats and mice
Authors: Bai Yan , Sanderson Michael J.
Published: April 2009

To determine the relative contributions of Ca2+ signaling and Ca2+ sensitivity to the contractility of airway smooth muscle cells (SMCs), we compared the contractile responses of mouse and rat airways with the lung slice technique. Airway contraction was measured by monitoring changes in airway lumen area with phase-contrast microscopy, whereas changes in intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) of the SMCs were recorded with laser scanning microscopy. In mice and rats, methacholine (MCh) or serotonin induced concentration-dependent airway contraction and Ca2+ oscillations in the SMCs. However, rat airways demonstrated greater contraction compared with mice, in response to agonist-induced Ca2+ oscillations of a similar frequency. Because this indicates that rat airway SMCs have a higher Ca2+ sensitivity compared with mice, we examined Ca2+ sensitivity with Ca2+-permeabilized airway SMCs in which the [Ca2+]i was experimentally controlled. In the absence of agonists, high [Ca2+]i induced a sustained contraction in rat airways but only a transient contraction in mouse airways. This sustained contraction of rat airways was relaxed by Y-23672, a Rho kinase inhibitor, but not affected by GF-109203X, a PKC inhibitor. The subsequent exposure of Ca2+-permeabilized airway SMCs, with high [Ca2+]i, to MCh elicited a further contraction of rat airways and initiated a sustained contraction of mouse airways, without changing the [Ca2+]i of the SMCs. Collectively, these results indicate that airway SMCs of rats have a substantially higher innate Ca2+ sensitivity than mice and that this strongly influences the transduction of the frequency of Ca2+ oscillations into the contractility of airway SMCs.
Francisella tularensisdirectly interacts with the endothelium and recruits neutrophils with a blunted inflammatory phenotype
Authors: Moreland Jessica G. , Hook Jessica S. , Bailey Gail , Ulland Tyler , Nauseef William M.
Published: April 2009

Francisella tularensis, the causative agent of tularemia, is a highly virulent organism, especially when exposure occurs by inhalation. Recent data suggest that Francisella interacts directly with alveolar epithelial cells. Although F. tularensis causes septicemia and can live extracellularly in a murine infection model, there is little information about the role of the vascular endothelium in the host response. We hypothesized that F. tularensis would interact with pulmonary endothelial cells as a prerequisite to the clinically observed recruitment of neutrophils to the lung. Using an in vitro Transwell model system, we studied interactions between F. tularensis live vaccine strain ( Ft LVS) and a pulmonary microvascular endothelial cell (PMVEC) monolayer. Organisms invaded the endothelium and were visualized within individual endothelial cells by confocal microscopy. Although these bacteria-endothelial cell interactions did not elicit production of the proinflammatory chemokines, polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) were stimulated to transmigrate across the endothelium in response to Ft LVS. Moreover, transendothelial migration altered the phenotype of recruited PMN; i.e., the capacity of these PMN to activate NADPH oxidase and release elastase in response to subsequent stimulation was reduced compared with PMN that traversed PMVEC in response to Streptococcus pneumoniae. The blunting of PMN responsiveness required PMN transendothelial migration but did not require PMN uptake of Ft LVS, was not dependent on the presence of serum-derived factors, and was not reproduced by Ft LVS-conditioned medium. We speculate that the capacity of Ft LVS-stimulated PMVEC to support transendothelial migration of PMN without triggering release of IL-8 and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 and to suppress the responsiveness of transmigrated PMN to subsequent stimulation could contribute to the dramatic virulence during inhalational challenge with Francisella.
Free Vibration Analysis of Rectangular Orthotropic Membranes in Large Deflection
Authors: Zhou-Lian Zheng , Chang-Jiang Liu , Xiao-Ting He , Shan-Lin Chen
Published: April 2009

This paper reviewed the research on the vibration of orthotropic membrane, which commonly applied in the membrane structural engineering. We applied the large deflection theory of membrane to derive the governing vibration equations of orthotropic membrane, solved it, and obtained the power series formula of nonlinear vibration frequency of rectangular membrane with four edges fixed. The paper gave the computational example and compared the two results from the large deflection theory and the small one, respectively. Results obtained from this paper provide some theoretical foundation for the measurement of pretension by frequency method; meanwhile, the results provide some theoretical foundation for the research of nonlinear vibration of membrane structures and the response solving of membrane structures under dynamic loads.
The Theory of Conceptual Fields
Authors: Vergnaud Gérard
Published: April 2009

The theory of conceptual fields is a developmental theory. It has two aims: (1) to describe and analyse the progressive complexity, on a long- and medium-term basis, of the mathematical competences that students develop inside and outside school, and (2) to establish better connections between the operational form of knowledge, which consists in action in the physical and social world, and the predicative form of knowledge, which consists in the linguistic and symbolic expressions of this knowledge. As it deals with the progressive complexity of knowledge, the conceptual field framework is also useful to help teachers organize didactic situations and interventions, depending on both the epistemology of mathematics and a better understanding of the conceptualizing process of students.
The Challenge of Formative Assessment in Mathematics Education: Children’s Minds, Teachers’ Minds
Authors: Ginsburg Herbert P.
Published: April 2009

The developmental psychology of mathematical thinking and the clinical interview method can make major contributions to education by transforming the process of formative assessment – the attempt to use information concerning student performance, knowledge, learning potential, and motivation to inform instruction. The clinical interview is a powerful method for learning about students’ underlying cognitive competence. Cognitive developmental theory is essential because assessment is only as ‘valid’ as the ideas on which it is based. Yet current theories of developmental trajectories need to be supplemented by consideration of obstacles that the student must overcome. These involve the mathematics, instructional materials and the teacher.
Hemostatic Efficacy of Ankaferd Blood Stopper® in a Swine Bleeding Model
Authors: Bilgili Hasan , Kosar Ali , Kurt Mevlut , Onal Ibrahim K. , Goker Hakan , Captug Ozge , Shorbagi Ali , Turgut Mehmet , Kekilli Murat , Kurt Ozlem Kar , Kirazli Serafettin , Aksu Salih , Haznedaroglu Ibrahim C.
Published: April 2009

Objective: The purpose of this study was to show the hemostatic effect of spray, solution and tampon forms of Ankaferd Blood Stopper® (ABS), a unique medicinal plant extract historically used as a hemostatic agent in Turkish folklore medicine, in a porcine bleeding model. Materials and Methods: Two 1-year-old pigs were used as bleeding models for superficial and deep skin lacerations, grade II liver and spleen injuries, grade II saphenous vein injury and grade IV saphenous artery injury. Spray, solution or tampon forms of ABS were applied after continuing bleeding was confirmed. The primary outcome was time to hemostasis. Volume of blood loss was not measured. The pigs were euthanized at the end of the experiment. Results: Spray or direct application of ABS solution resulted in instant control of bleeding in superficial and deep skin lacerations as well as puncture wounds of the liver. A 40-second application of ABS tampon was sufficient to stop bleeding of skin lacerations, while 1.5- and 3.5-min applications were used to control hemorrhage from the saphenous vein and artery, respectively. No rebleeding was observed once hemostasis was achieved. However, repeated applications of ABS solution and tampon were only temporarily effective in the hemostasis of spleen injury. Conclusions: The data showed that ABS was an effective hemostatic agent for superficial and deep skin lacerations and minor/moderate trauma injuries in a porcine bleeding model.
Prevalence of Gallstones in Patients with Chronic Myelocytic Leukemia
Authors: Ates Fehmi , Erkurt Mehmet Ali , Karincaoglu Melih , Aladag Murat , Aydogdu İsmet
Published: April 2009

Objective: The aim of the present case-control study was to determine whether or not the prevalence of gallbladder stones (GBS) was increased in patients with chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML) and to investigate clinical and laboratory characteristics of CML patients with GBS. Subjects and Methods: This study included 56 patients with CML and 55 sex- and age-matched healthy controls. All participants underwent abdominal ultrasonography and the main clinical and laboratory characteristics were recorded. Results: Gallbladder stones were detected in 13 (23.6%) patients with CML and in 3 (5.4%) control individuals (p < 0.05). The mean follow-up period of CML patients after diagnosis was 54.6 months, range 3–120 months. Hemoglobin levels were higher in the control group than in CML patients. However, total bilirubin, unconjugated bilirubin, lactate dehydrogenase levels, leukocyte and thrombocyte counts, frequency of splenomegaly and hepatomegaly were higher in the CML than in the control group (p < 0.05). Other clinical and laboratory values were not significantly different between the groups. CML patients with and without GBS were also compared for clinical and laboratory values. Age and follow-up period of CML patients after diagnosis were higher in the CML patients with GBS (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Higher prevalence of GBS in CML patients than in healthy controls was detected. We suggest that CML may increase the frequency of GBS, apart from other well-known risk factors. This risk is probably related to increased unconjugated bilirubin, which determines hemolysis, older age and long follow-up period of CML patients after diagnosis.
Recurrent Caries at Crown Margins: Making a Decision on Treatment
Authors: Alomari Qasem , Al-Saiegh Fatima , Qudeimat Muawia , Omar Ridwaan
Published: April 2009

Objective: To evaluate dentists’ treatment choices for a crowned tooth with varying degrees of recurrent caries. Materials and Methods: A total of 158 dentists participated in the study. A paper patient case (PPC) depicting a radiograph showing varying degrees of recurrent caries at the crown margin was used: PPC1 = small carious lesion away from crown margin; PPC2 = small carious lesion at crown margin; PPC3 = small carious lesion at crown margin extending onto the root, and PPC4 = large carious lesion at the margin; PPC5–PPC8 had the same carious conditions as PPC1–PPC4, respectively, but the teeth were non-vital. Participants were asked to indicate their choice of treatment from a list of options for each PPC. Crown removal tendency was computed after dichotomization of the responses for the different cases for each participant. Demographic information, educational background and practice characteristics were collected. Descriptive statistics, logistic regression analysis and paired-sample t test were used to analyse the data at a statistically significant level of p < 0.05. Results: For PPC1 and PPC5, most of the participants recommended management without crown removal (p < 0.05). For PPC6, there was wide disagreement about management (p = 0.81). For all other PPCs, the majority of participants chose to remove the crown before making a treatment decision (p < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that the size of the lesion, vitality of the tooth, participants’ age as well as the undergraduate training background of dentists were factors that affected treatment decisions. Conclusion: The data showed a lack of agreement among dentists regarding the management of recurrent caries around crown margins. Size of the lesion, vitality of the tooth, educational training and experience appeared to be the main factors that affected their decisions.
Periprosthetic Fractures of the Femur after Hip and Knee Replacement
Authors: Pospula Wieslaw , Abu Noor Tarek
Published: April 2009

Objective: To present the clinical and radiological results of treatment of periprosthetic fractures of the femur after hip and knee replacements. Subjects and Methods: Thirty-four patients (8 males and 26 females) with 34 fractures of the femur complicating hip and knee replacements are the subjects of this report. In 21 cases, the fracture affected the femur after hip replacement, and in 13 cases after knee replacement. Fractures around the hip replacement were classified according to Vancouver classification, and those around the knee replacement were classified according to Rorabeck. Location of fracture was defined as metaphyseal or diaphyseal. Arbitrary classification of fracture union was used. Fractures were considered to be either united or to have delayed union, after radiology. Conservative treatment and different methods of fixation were used. Clinical correlations between location of fracture and outcome were analyzed. Results: All 21 metaphyseal fractures after hip and knee replacements united. Eight diaphyseal fractures (6 after hip replacement and 2 after knee replacement) united. Five diaphyseal fractures after hip replacement had delayed union, and 4 fractures united after bone graft. In 1 case, fracture did not unite, the treatment was discontinued and the patient was lost to follow-up. Conclusion: Our data show that metaphyseal fractures, regardless of type of implant, had better healing potential and did not require additional surgery. Diaphyseal fractures of the femoral shaft around the stem of femoral component of the hip or knee prosthesis required a bone graft and had less favorable outcomes. Women were more frequently affected by periprosthetic femoral fractures.
Perception of the Educational Environment by Medical Students Undergoing a Curricular Transition in Kuwait
Authors: Bouhaimed Manal , Thalib Lukman , Doi Suhail A.R.
Published: April 2009

Objective: The aim of this study was to measure the students’ perceptions of the educational environment in a medical school undergoing curricular transition from a traditional to a problem-based learning (PBL) program in the academic year 2006–2007. Materials and Methods: The Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure (DREEM) was used to evaluate perception of the educational environment. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to identify the factors related to educational environment perception that differ between students following a traditional curriculum to those following a PBL program at Kuwait University Medical School. Results: Mean DREEM score was 53%. When students moved from the traditional curriculum to the PBL system, Academic Self-Perception deteriorated, while Perception of Atmosphere improved. Academic Self-Perception deteriorated because conventional strategies of learning were perceived as no longer useful, while Perception of Atmosphere improved because of increased relevance of the studies. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that curricular changes require careful planning and thinking, with particular attention upon how they influence the educational climate. When new teaching strategies are introduced, new factors that may lead students to develop an adverse perception of their educational environment may be introduced as well. Identification of such factors can lead to an improved educational outcome.
Clinical Pharmacokinetics of Gentamicin
Authors: Al-Lanqawi Yousef , Capps Philip , Abudlmalek Kefaya , Al-Anezi Khalid , Thusu Anail , Sharma Prem
Published: April 2009

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to: (1) derive equations for estimating gentamicin clearance (Clgent) and volume of distribution (Vd) based on the local population attending Al-Amiri Hospital, Kuwait; (2) independently evaluate these equations by comparison with other published methods in their predictive ability to estimate Clgent and Vd. Materials and Methods: Clgent and Vd were calculated in 47 patients (group 1) using the Sawchuk-Zaske method. Regression analysis was used to derive a correlation between creatinine clearance (Clcr) and Clgent, Vd and actual body weight (ABW). Based on actual Clgent and Vd values, the predictive ability of the estimated parameters from the regression equations was validated and compared with 4 published methods using mean error (ME), i.e. bias, and mean squared error (MSE) and root mean squared error (RMSE), i.e. precision. All equations were also evaluated in an independent second group (group 2) of 23 patients. Results: The mean ± SD values of Clgent and Vd were 4.0 ± 1.8 l·h–1 and 16.8 ± 6.7 liters, respectively. The derived equations were: Clgent = (0.760) (Clcr) + 1.117 (r = 0.701) and Vd = (0.165) (ABW) + 5.604 (r = 0.532). In comparison to the 4 published methods, the derived equations were less biased (ME = 0.00) and more precise (MSE = 1.68, RMSE = 1.02) in predicting Clgent (p < 0.05), and less biased (ME = –0.01) with no difference in precision (MSE = 36.22, RMSE = 4.59) in predicting Vd (p > 0.05). This precision was confirmed in the second group of 23 patients, where the derived equations were less biased (ME = –0.1) and more precise (MSE = 3.22, RMSE = 1.48) in predicting Clgent (p < 0.05), whilst no difference was found for prediction of Vd (p > 0.05). Conclusion: The equations developed in this study provided a reliable estimation of Clgent and Vd. It is planned to use them at Kuwait Hospitals to help provide more individualized patient dosing information to physicians.
Urinary Methylmalonic Acid in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Celik Turgay , Kardesoglu Ejder , Iyisoy Atila , Ozcan Omer , Kilic Selim , Yaman Halil
Published: April 2009

Objective: To investigate urinary methylmalonic acid (uMMA) levels and their relationship with markers of myocyte necrosis and inflammation in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Subjects and Methods: The study participants consisted of 80 consecutive patients with AMI and 72 age- and sex-matched consecutive controls. Of the patients, 38 had ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and 42 had non-ST segment elevation. All patients with STEMI underwent fibrinolytic therapy. Routine laboratory tests included troponin-I, creatinine phosphokinase MB (CK-MB), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), vitamin B12, folate, homocysteine and methylmalonic acid analyses. uMMA measurements were made by a spectrophotometric method. Results: uMMA levels were significantly higher in patients with AMI than in controls (10.1 vs. 5.2 mmol/mol creatinine, p < 0.001) and higher in patients with anterior MI compared to those with non-anterior MI (18.9 vs. 8.7 mmol/mol creatinine, p < 0.001). In addition, uMMA levels were significantly higher in patients without successful reperfusion compared to those with successful reperfusion. In patients with STEMI, a strong positive association was found between urinary MMA and plasma hs-CRP levels (r = 0.81, p < 0.001), symptom duration (r = 0.91, p < 0.001) and wall motion score (r = 0.60, p = 0.006). More importantly, a strong positive association was observed between uMMA and the size of myocardial infarction in patients without successful reperfusion (for CK-MB r = 0.81, p = 0.013; for wall motion score r = 0.82, p = 0.012). Conclusion: uMMA levels were elevated in patients with AMI and, as such, may be a candidate biochemical indicator of larger infarct size and enhanced inflammation in patients with AMI.
Quantitative Analysis of Oxyresveratrol Content in Artocarpus lakoocha and ‘Puag-Haad’
Authors: Maneechai Suthira , Likhitwitayawuid Kittisak , Sritularak Boonchoo , Palanuvej Chanida , Ruangrungsi Nijsiri , Sirisa-ard Panee
Published: April 2009

Objective: To develop a thin-layer chromatography (TLC) densitometric method for the determination of oxyresveratrol content in Artocarpuslakoocha heartwood and in the traditional drug ‘Puag-Haad’. Materials and Methods: Sample solution of A. lakoocha heartwood was prepared by Soxhlet extraction of the plant material in ethanol, whereas the Puag-Haad solution was obtained by dissolving the drug in methanol. Analysis of each sample solution was performed on a Silica gel 60 F254 TLC plate (20 × 10 cm) with methylene chloride/methanol (85:15) as the mobile phase. After development, the TLC plate was examined with a TLC scanner in the absorbance mode at 254 nm. The newly developed analytical method was validated using an authentic sample of oxyresveratrol previously isolated from A. lakoocha heartwood, and was used to analyze the oxyresveratrol content in samples of A. lakoocha heartwood and the traditional drug Puag-Haad. Results: A sensitive and reliable TLC densitometric method was successfully developed. The method was validated in terms of accuracy (99.11–102.60%) and precision (1.66–4.23% coefficient of variation). The limits of detection and quantitation were 15.6 and 52 ng/spot, respectively. The amounts of oxyresveratrol in 3 samples of A. lakoocha heartwood collected from its natural habitat were 49.0–182.3 mg/g, whereas those in 11 commercial samples were in the range of 23.4–69.6 mg/g. The oxyresveratrol contents in 2 samples of traditional drug Puag-Haad were 780.1 and 837.5 mg/g. Conclusion: The TLC densitometric method developed in this study is a simple, convenient, sensitive and reliable procedure. It was an effective analytical tool for the evaluation of oxyresveratrol content in both A. lakoocha heartwood and the traditional drug Puag-Haad.
Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Breast Infection Mimicking Pyogenic Abscesses in Kuwait
Authors: Al-Roomi Ebtehal , Jamal Wafaa , Al-Mosawi Ahmad , Rotimi Vincent O.
Published: April 2009

Objective: To present 2 cases of primary breast abscesses caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis mimicking pyogenic abscesses in healthy young females. Clinical Presentation and Intervention: Two young non-lactating Indonesian and Indian women, aged 27 and 29 years old, respectively, presented with breast abscesses caused by M.tuberculosis. The breasts presented as huge, swollen, hot, tender masses with a discharge at the subareolar site. Surgical drainage revealed deep abscess with copious amount of pus, samples of which were positive for acid-fast bacilli (AFB) and later confirmed as M.tuberculosis by positive cultures in Becton Dickinson BBL Migit and BACTEC 12B media. The initial therapies with clindamycin were changed to 4 anti-tuberculous drugs as soon as the smears showed the presence of AFB. The patients were discharged a week later, but both were lost to follow-up. Conclusion: Mammary tuberculosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of breast lesion, especially in patients from endemic areas.
Skin Biopsies Demonstrate Site-Specific Endothelial Activation in Mouse Models of Sepsis
Authors: Shapiro Nathan I. , Yano Kiichiro , Sorasaki Midori , Fischer Chris , Shih Shou-Ching , Aird William C.
Published: April 2009

Background/Aims: Skin biopsies allow for direct phenotyping of the endothelium in clinical settings. Objectives: We hypothesize that in murine sepsis endothelial activation is manifested by changes in protein and mRNA expression in skin biopsies, and that such alterations differ from other organs. Methods: In two mouse models of sepsis [endotoxemia and cecal ligation puncture (CLP)], we measured circulating levels of endothelial biomarkers, quantitated mRNA expression of activation markers and assayed for protein expression using immunohistochemistry. Results: Endotoxemic mice demonstrated increased circulating levels of sE-selectin, sICAM-1, sVCAM-1 and sP-selectin at 24 h, while CLP was associated with increased levels of sE-selectin alone. In real-time PCR, mRNA levels for P-selectin, ICAM-1 and PAI-1 were increased in skin from endotoxemic mice. In CLP, mRNA levels for P-selectin, ICAM-1, E-selectin and PAI-1 were elevated, while VCAM-1 expression was reduced in skin. Most, but not all of these changes correlated with alterations in immunohistochemical staining. Expression patterns in skin differed from those in brain, heart, and lung. Conclusions: Skin biopsies demonstrated endothelial cell activation during sepsis. The expression patterns differed by type of sepsis model and between vascular beds of skin, brain, heart, and lung, providing a foundation for identifying skin microvascular-bed-specific molecule signatures.
Local VEGF Administration Enhances Healing of Colonic Anastomoses in a Rabbit Model
Authors: Ishii M. , Tanaka E. , Imaizumi T. , Sugio Y. , Sekka T. , Tanaka M. , Yasuda M. , Fukuyama N. , Shinozaki Y. , Hyodo K. , Tanioka K. , Mochizuki R. , Kawai T. , Mori H. , Makuuchi H.
Published: April 2009

Background/Aims: Many studies report the role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in wound healing, but few describe local VEGF administration to the digestive tract. Leakage from colonic anastomoses, including those due to ischemia, represents a major complication causing increased mortality and morbidity. Angiogenesis is crucial to anastomotic healing and restoration of blood supply, and VEGF is a potent angiogenic factor showing improved healing in various models of reconstruction and anastomosis. Here, we examine the effects of local VEGF-A165 administration on postoperative rabbit colon anastomosis. Methods: Two colotomies per animal were made in the sinistral colon on opposite sides of the mesentery. Randomly assigned VEGF (10 μg/0.1 ml) or saline (0.1 ml) was injected into the muscularis propria on both sides of each colonic anastomosis before closing the access laparotomy using single-layer sutures. On postoperative days 3, 4 and 7, the bursting pressure of partially healed anastomoses was measured. On postoperative day 4, anastomotic tissues were examined for the following: hydroxyproline; histopathologically for inflammatory infiltrate and tissue organization and immunohistochemically for capillary proliferation and density; vessel density of midzone collaterals around anastomoses by microangiography. Results: Compared to saline, VEGF administration significantly improved bursting pressure (p = 0.014, paired t test) and increased hydroxyproline (p = 0.027, paired t test) on postoperative day 4. Inflammatory cell infiltration and fibroblast proliferation were prominent, and submucosal capillary vascular counts were significantly higher for VEGF. Conclusions: Administration of VEGF to colonic anastomosis accelerates wound healing and strengthens the anastomosis by increased angiogenesis.
N-Acetylcysteine Prevents Deleterious Effects of Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury on Healing of Colonic Anastomosis in Rats
Authors: Kabali B. , Girgin S. , Gedik E. , Ozturk H. , Kale E. , Buyukbayram H.
Published: April 2009

This study was designed to determine the effects of intraperitoneally or orally administered N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on wound healing following resection and anastomosis of a colon segment with ischemia/reperfusion injury. Forty female Spraque-Dawley rats were randomly allocated to one of four groups containing 10 rats each: (1) normal resection plus anastomosis; (2) ischemia/reperfusion plus resection plus anastomosis; (3) ischemia/reperfusion plus resection plus anastomosis plus intraperitoneal NAC; (4) ischemia/reperfusion plus resection plus anastomosis plus oral NAC. Group comparison showed that the anastomosis bursting pressure was significantly higher in group 3 than in the other groups. The mean tissue hydroxyproline concentration in the anastomotic tissue was significantly lower in group 2 than in the other groups. The collagen deposition was significantly increased on day 7 in groups 3 and 4 compared to the other groups. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that NAC significantly prevents the effects of reperfusion injury on colonic anastomoses in a rat model.
Effects of Chloroquine on Release of Mediators from Mast Cells
Authors: Green Karen B. , Lim Henry W.
Published: April 2009

This study was designed to investigate the effect of chloroquine (CQ) on the release of preformed and generated mediators from rat serosal mast cells ( > 90% pure). CQ alone (10–1,000 µg/ml) induced the release of preformed mediators, while stimulation with calcium ionophore A23187 of CQ-treated cells resulted in suppressed releases of both preformed and generated (particularly prostaglandin D2) mediators. These effects were calcium-independent and reversible. Whether these results partly explain the efficacy of CQ in the treatment of mast cell-mediated dermatoses remains to be further investigated.
Biological and Pharmacological Modulations of Fibroblast Functions
Authors: Heckmann Marc , Krieg Thomas
Published: April 2009

During recent years, considerable progress in the field of connective-tissue research has brought about detailed information on the behaviour of fibroblastic cells under culture conditions and in in vivo situations. Well-characterized biological functions of fibroblasts include cell migration, cell attachment, cell proliferation and biosynthesis as well as degradation of multiple connective-tissue components. An exact control of these functions is essential in physiological processes of tissue development and repair, while, on the other hand, fibrotic diseases or poor wound healing are associated with functional deviances of fibroblasts. Therefore, the modulation of fibroblast functions has become the focus of ongoing research aiming to expand the pathophysiological understanding and therapeutic options in connective-tissue diseases. Discussing scientific approaches to investigate various fibroblast functions, this review surveys biological and pharmacological factors which affect the behaviour of fibroblasts.
Transcutaneous Collection of Theophylline: Constancy and Linearity of Skin Permeability
Authors: Conner Dale P. , Almirez Ramona G. , Rhyne Patricia , Zamani Kaveh , Bolden Brenda J. , Peck Carl C.
Published: April 2009

Transcutaneous chemical collection is a novel method for noninvasive collection and measurement of body exposure to chemicals using a transcutaneous collection device (TCD) consisting of a circular adhesive-tape-encased saline-activated carbon-aquagel patch. The objectives of this study were to determine (1) the time-course of skin permeability change after the placement of a TCD on the skin, and (2) the relationship between the amount of theophylline collected in a TCD and the amount of theophylline in the body as expressed by the area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC). Skin permeability changes were determined by emplacing TCDs (24/monkey) on the chests and abdomens of female rhesus monkeys (12 studies in 4 monkeys) at 48, 24, 6, 3 and 1 h prior to dosing with aminophylline (10 mg/kg of theophylline, i.v.) over 30 min. Several blood samples were collected, and TCDs were removed at 24 h post-dose; samples were assayed for theophylline by HPLC. The apparent permeability coefficients (Kp) increased following TCD placement reaching 90% of maximum by 17 h. The relationship between the amount of theophylline collected in the device (Q) and amount in the body over time was determined by emplacing TCDs on rhesus monkeys (8 studies in 4 monkeys) 24 h prior to administration of 10 mg/kg of theophylline. Qs from the TCDs removed at 0.17,0.5,1, 3, 6 and 24 h were linearly related to the plasma AUC according to the relationship: Q = (A × Kp) × AUC, where A is the area of gel in contact with the skin for each TCD.
Nonimmunosuppressive Ciclosporin H Inhibits the Growth and DNA Synthesis of Cultured Normal Human Epidermal Keratinocytes
Authors: Ramirez-Bosca Ana , Kanitakis Jean , Haftek Marek , Faure Michel , Castells-Rodellas Antonio , Thivolet Jean
Published: April 2009

Ciclosporin H (CsH) is an epimer (11-D-N-methyl-L-valine) of ciclosporin A (CsA) devoid of immunosuppressive properties. The known antiproliferative effect of CsA on epidermal keratinocytes (EK) grown in vitro prompted us to study the effect of CsH (at the doses of 0.5, 1, 3.5 and 5 µg/ml) on the growth and DNA synthesis (5-bromo-2’-deoxy-uridine incorporation). CsH was observed to reduce both the number and DNA synthesis of EK in a statistically significant manner at the dosage of 5 µg/ml after 24, 48 and 72 h in culture. These results show that the immunosuppressive properties of the ciclosporins (Cs) are dissociated from the antiproliferative ones on EK and highlight the interest of further in vivo studies that may lead to therapeutic applications of Cs in hyperproliferative epidermal diseases requiring no immunosuppression.