bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Looking back, going forward: reflecting on research into the SME internationalisation process
Authors: McAuley Andrew
Published: July 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the past decade's research into small‐ and medium‐sized enterprises, internationalisation 1999‐2009 and compare the findings to a previous review 1989‐1998 to see if research directions suggested then have been followed or not.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents observations from a content analysis of papers fitting key criteria and comparing conceptual, empirical and methodological approaches.

Findings

Progress has been made in some areas, for example, global and cross‐cultural coverage, multi‐sector and multi‐method approaches but in other ways there is more work to be done, for example, relevance to policy makers and longitudinal studies.

Research limitations/implications

This work evaluates the contribution of relevant work 1999‐2009 and once again sets challenges for future research directions.

Practical implications

The review provides a research agenda for the future.

Originality/value

The value is in the reflective nature of the approach to the topic and in attempting to highlight success and failure from the literature in the last ten years.
Entrepreneurship and the early American clock industry
Authors: Grinder Brian , Pascal Vincent J. , Schwartz Robert G.
Published: July 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the development of the early American clock industry as an entrepreneurial endeavor and to focus on the innovative marketing and financing practices that helped transform the industry during the first half of the nineteenth century.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses the historical method to identify the critical factors that allowed the clock industry to expand. Primary sources were consulted whenever they were available, and a survey of the existing clock literature was conducted.

Findings

The nineteenth century New England clock industry provides a rich field of exploration into the entrepreneurial practices of the early American Republic and provides us with many insights that are applicable to the modern entrepreneur. The clock makers and peddlers who moved clock making from a backwater cottage industry to a modern international industry are examples of entrepreneurship at its best. From a marketing perspective, the clockmakers made use of the existing peddler system in order to create a market for their products. From a financial perspective, the clockmakers innovated when a ready source of capital was unavailable and made extensive use of credit.

Practical implications

This paper points out the importance of viewing entrepreneurship from a historical perspective. Furthermore, it finds that successful clock entrepreneurs understand the usefulness of connections, recognize traps to be avoided (such as the “Cottage Industry Syndrome”), and resolve to be persistent and optimistic in the face of adversity.

Originality/value

This is the first study of the early American clock industry to consider the entrepreneurial aspects that contributed to its successful transformation into an international industry.
Value co‐creation and resource based perspectives for strategic sourcing
Authors: Dobrzykowski David D. , Tran Oanh , Tarafdar Monideepa
Published: July 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop and illustrate a theoretically grounded framework capable of strategic guidance in making sourcing decisions.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on literature review and secondary data from the US operation of 7‐Eleven, a large international retailer, this study develops and supports a framework for understanding and undertaking business process sourcing decisions. The framework considers internal core competencies, as well as the role of external actors in value creation, in analyzing sourcing decisions for business processes.

Findings

Case analysis reveals that a firm's successful sourcing decisions can be explained by resource based view (RBV) and value co‐creation theories. RBV is shown to provide an internal view of the firm considering its core competencies, while value co‐creation illuminates the external perspective considering the role of customers when making sourcing decisions. Further, these theories can be decomposed and simplified, thereby providing scholars with new theoretical insights for this phenomenon and practitioners with a decision‐making tool for undertaking sourcing decisions.

Originality/value

This paper explains in granular detail how effective outsourcing decisions can be made. It employs a rarely considered perspective by combining nascent literature from the value co‐creation stream with established beliefs about RBV core competencies to make three contributions. First, it shows how sourcing decisions can be explained not only by the RBV perspective but also by the value co‐creation view. Second, in considering the role of value co‐creation with the customer, it introduces the perspective of the customer as a decision‐making consideration for sourcing. Third, it provides practitioners with a sourcing decision‐making tool.
Protection of minority shareholders after the New Company Law: 26 case studies
Authors: Wei‐qi Cheng
Published: July 2010

Purpose

The paper aims to discuss the amended provisions relating to protection of minority shareholders (PMS) in the newly amended Chinese Company Law and evaluate whether it adequately protects the interests of minority shareholders.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 26 cases will be examined by discussing the characteristics of the relevant parties involved, specifically plaintiffs, defendants, their lawyers, judges and also the grounds of complaint. A comparison will be made between the cases decided by following the first Company Law (1994) and the cases decided in accordance with the newly amended Company Law (2006).

Findings

The findings indicate that the amended Company Law has removed certain drawbacks in PMS present in the first Company Law (1994) but the New Company Law can protect interests of minority shareholders only to a certain extent. Further amendments are still needed.

Originality/value

This is one of the first studies to actually examine the implementation of PMS‐related provisions in the newly amended Company Law.
Strategic invasion: response of the voluntary nonprofit to strategic processes
Authors: Sharp Ziva , Brock David M.
Published: July 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the encounter between the voluntary nonprofit organization (VNPO) and the strategic process in order to study how these organizations may harness strategic processes in a way that somehow does not threaten their cultures and social mission.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper adopts an exploratory case study approach.

Findings

The case study identifies a set of complex, multi‐faceted behaviors that serve a dual role, functioning simultaneously as both inhibitors and enablers of the strategic process. As a framework for future research, the paper proposes a two‐dimensional scheme which models the scope and mode of organizational behavior in a strategic process. The case study indicates that VNPOs may tend to adopt what is classified as a “sectional‐organic” pattern of response. This pattern of response balances the organization's needs for continuity and change, enabling the execution of the process in a manner compatible with the specific organizational characteristics of the VNPO.

Originality/value

Previous studies of strategic processes in the VNPO have reported resistance and partial, stunted processes, stemming from the organization's need to protect its mission‐oriented identity from the threats posed by a strategic process. However, the results of this case study, in which the subject organization managed to successfully develop an effective strategic plan, suggest that the behavior pattern of the VNPO in a strategic process may not be strictly defensive.
Biological traits of rare males in the population ofCarassius gibelio(Actinopterygii: Cyprinidae) from Lake Pamvotis (north‐west Greece)
Authors: Liasko R. , Liousia V. , Vrazeli P. , Papiggioti O. , Chortatou R. , Abatzopoulos Th. J. , Leonardos I. D.
Published: July 2010

The gynogenetic population of Prussian carpCarassius gibelioin Lake Pamvotis (north‐west Greece) included a small percentage of males (2–3%). Cytogenetic analysis revealed heterogeneity of the population at the ploidy level: all females were triploid (modal chromosome number 156–162 chromosomes) while the males were either triploid (modal number 156–158 chromosomes) or tetraploid (modal number 200–214 chromosomes). Morphometric analysis revealed significant differences in body shape among these three groups. The males were more slender than females, while the triploid males could be discriminated from the tetraploid by the morphology of their caudal peduncle. The males attained a significantly lower asymptotic standard length (LS) (25·04 cm) than females (29·75 cm) and had lower exponentbof theLSand mass relationship. Under laboratory conditions, intraspecific crossings ofC. gibeliomales with females could give viable all‐female offspring; in comparison with goldfishCarassius auratusmales, the fertility of theC. gibeliomales was generally reduced but remained highly variable among individuals.
Development of urological cancers in renal transplant recipients: 30‐year experience at the Frankfurt Transplant Center
Authors: Tsaur Igor , Karalis Athanasios , Probst Michael , Blaheta Roman A. , Scheuermann Ernst‐Heinrich , Gossmann Jan , Kachel Heinz‐Georg , Hauser Ingeborg A. , Jonas Dietger , Obermüller Nicholas
Published: July 2010

Fatal post‐transplant malignancies with a high proportion of genitourinary neoplasms represent a serious long‐term challenge. With continuous improvement of the allograft and patient survival, cancer development after renal transplantation may soon turn to the leading morbidity cause. In a retrospective single‐center study of 1990 renal transplant recipients between November 1979 and November 2009, records of patients with urological neoplasms including epidemiological, clinical and survival parameters were accessed. Sixty‐six de novo urological malignancies in 58 recipients were recorded in the study period, being most common after skin cancers (15.6% of enregistered tumors). From these, 29 were renal cell cancers, including five neoplasms of transplanted kidney, 24 transitional cell carcinomas, 11 prostate carcinomas, and two germ cell carcinomas with incidence rates of 1.5%, 1.2%, 0.9% and 0.2%, respectively. The patient follow up was virtually complete. Tumor‐related death was found in 44% of cases. By multivariate analysis, no influence of either duration of dialysis, mode or duration of immunosuppression, gender or age at transplantation on overall patient survival could be demonstrated. This study, documenting a 30‐year single center experience, emphasizes the increased risk for urological neoplasms occuring after renal transplantation. Screening strategies for urological cancers should be optimized. (Cancer Sci 2010; 101: 2430–2435)
Alcohol policy in South Africa: a review of policy development processes between 1994 and 2009
Authors: Parry Charles D. H.
Published: July 2010

Background Implementation of effective policies to reduce harmful alcohol consumption requires both a good understanding of the policy development process and which strategies are likely to work.

Aims To contribute to this understanding by reviewing four specific policy development initiatives that have taken place in South Africa between 1994 and 2009: restrictions on alcohol advertising and counter‐advertising, regulation of retail sales of alcohol, alcohol taxation and controls on alcohol packaging.

Methods Material was drawn from a record of meetings and conferences held between 1994 and 2009 and a database of reports, newspaper clippings and policy documentation.

Findings When the policy process resulted in a concrete outcome there was always a clear recognition of the problem and policy alternatives, but success was more likely if there was an alignment of ‘political’ forces and/or when there was a determined bureaucracy. The impact of the other factors such as the media, community mobilization, non‐governmental organizations (NGOs), the liquor industry and research are also discussed. Future avenues for policy research are identified, including the need for more systematic studies that give greater consideration to economic factors.

Conclusions Alcohol policy development in South Africa takes place in a piecemeal fashion and is the product of various competing influences. Having a comprehensive national alcohol strategy cutting across different sectors may be a better way for other developing countries to proceed.
Behavioral economic analysis of cue‐elicited craving for alcohol
Authors: MacKillop James , O'Hagen Sean , Lisman Stephen A. , Murphy James G. , Ray Lara A. , Tidey Jennifer W. , McGeary John E. , Monti Peter M.
Published: July 2010

Aims  Craving as a motivational determinant of drug use remains controversial because of ambiguous empirical findings. A behavioral economic approach may clarify the nature of craving, theorizing that subjective craving functionally reflects an acute increase in a drug's value. The current study tested this hypothesis via a multidimensional assessment of alcohol demand over the course of an alcohol cue reactivity procedure.

Design  One‐way within‐subjects design.

Setting  Human laboratory environment.

Participants  Heavy drinkers (n = 92) underwent exposures to neutral (water) cues followed by personalized alcohol cues.

Assessments  Participants were assessed for craving, alcohol demand, affect, and salivation following each exposure.

Findings  Alcohol versus neutral cues significantly increased craving and multiple behavioral economic measures of the relative value of alcohol, including alcohol consumption under conditions of zero cost (intensity), maximum expenditure on alcohol (Omax), persistence in drinking to higher prices (breakpoint) and proportionate price insensitivity (normalized Pmax). Craving was significantly correlated with demand measures at levels ranging from 0.21–0.43.

Conclusions  These findings support the potential utility of a behavioral economic approach to understanding the role of environmental stimuli in alcohol‐related decision making. Specifically, they suggest that the behavioral economic indices of demand may provide complementary motivational information that is related to though not entirely redundant with measures of subjective craving.
A safety grading scale to support dose escalation and define stopping rules for healthy subject first‐entry‐into‐man studies
Authors: Sibille Michel , Patat Alain , Caplain Henri , Donazzolo Yves
Published: July 2010

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT

• After the TGN1412 incident in London, the European authorities reinforced the safety requirements for first‐entry‐into‐man (FIM) studies. Their recommendations on risk management included a risk minimization strategy based on clearly defined stopping rules. However to date, there are no approved grading scales for clinical adverse events or safety findings to support dose escalation and to define stopping rules in order to mitigate the risks for healthy subjects participating in FIM trials.

WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS

• This paper proposes standardized methods for the grading of safety data (adverse events, laboratory tests, electrocardiogram and vital sign findings) based on relevant criteria. The proposed grading scale provides support both for dose escalation and the design of stopping rules. The derived safety thresholds are applicable at either an individual subject level or at a cohort level, and are specifically adapted to young male healthy subjects, who represent the majority of the subjects participating in FIM trials.

AIM

To propose a relevant grading scale for clinical adverse events or laboratory results, electrocardiogram (ECG) and vital sign findings supporting both dose escalation and stopping decisions in first‐entry‐into‐man (FIM) studies conducted in young healthy subjects.

METHODS

A three‐level scale was used for the proposed grading system. The grading is directly derived from the observed severity of discontinuous variables, as are most of clinical adverse events. A ‘combined method’ based on normal ranges and spontaneous variation is suggested for grading the findings which are continuous variables mainly numerical in nature. One grade, at the subject level, and one algorithm, at the cohort level, support the proposed decision rules. This work was managed by a Club Phase I working group.

RESULTS

Examples of grade 1, 2 and 3 limits are given for the most frequent clinical adverse events and laboratory tests, ECG and vital sign findings. When available, the proposed NIH and FDA limits are also provided. The safety recommendation is to use the grade 2 at least as an alert for caution and the grade 3 as a maximum for stopping, applying the algorithm at the cohort level.

CONCLUSIONS

This paper proposes a safety grading system based on relevant criteria which might be used by investigators and sponsors to support and rationalize dose escalation decisions in healthy young subject FIM studies. These proposals are designed not to be a guideline but some ‘points to consider’ helping the dose escalation process. This paper supports the recent reinforcement of the safety requirements for FIM studies by European authorities.
Atenolol blunts blood pressure increase during dynamic resistance exercise in hypertensives
Authors: Gomides Ricardo S. , Costa Luiz A. R. , Souza Dinoélia R. , Queiroz Andréia C. C. , Fernandes João R. C. , Ortega Kátia C. , Junior Décio Mion , Tinucci Taís , Forjaz Cláudia L. M.
Published: July 2010

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT

• Dynamic resistance exercise promotes a sizeable increase in blood pressure during its execution in non medicated hypertensives.

WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS

• Atenolol not only decreases blood pressure level but also mitigates the increase of blood pressure during dynamic resistance exercise in hypertensive patients. An increase in blood pressure during resistance exercise might be at least in part attributed to an increase in cardiac output.

AIMS

This study was conducted to determine whether atenolol was able to decrease BP level and mitigate BP increase during dynamic resistance exercise performed at three different intensities in hypertensives.

METHODS

Ten essential hypertensives (systolic/diastolic BP between 140/90 and 160/105 mmHg) were blindly studied after 6 weeks of placebo and atenolol. In each phase, volunteers executed, in a random order, three protocols of knee‐extension exercises to fatigue: (i) one set at 100% of 1 RM; (ii) three sets at 80% of 1 RM; and (iii) three sets at 40% of 1 RM. Intra‐arterial radial blood pressure was measured throughout the protocols.

RESULTS

Atenolol decreased systolic BP maximum values achieved during the three exercise protocols (100% = 186 ± 4 vs. 215 ± 7, 80% = 224 ± 7 vs. 247 ± 9 and 40% = 223 ± 7 vs. 252 ± 16 mmHg, P < 0.05). Atenolol also mitigated an increase in systolic BP in the first set of exercises (100% =+38 ± 5 vs.+54 ± 9; 80% =+68 ± 11 vs. +84 ± 13 and 40% =+69 ± 7 vs.+84 ± 14, mmHg, P < 0.05). Atenolol decreased diastolic BP values and mitigated its increase during exercise performed at 100% of 1 RM (126 ± 6 vs. 145 ± 6 and +41 ± 6 vs.+52 ± 6, mmHg, P < 0.05), but not at the other exercise intensities.

CONCLUSIONS

Atenolol was effective in both reducing systolic BP maximum values and mitigating BP increase during resistance exercise performed at different intensities in hypertensive subjects.
Simvastatin prevents inflammation‐induced aortic stiffening and endothelial dysfunction
Authors: Wallace Sharon M. L. , Mäki‐Petäjä Kaisa M. , Cheriyan Joseph , Davidson Edward H. , Cherry Lynne , McEniery Carmel M. , Sattar Naveed , Wilkinson Ian B. , Kharbanda Rajesh K.
Published: July 2010

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT

• Both acute and chronic inflammation are associated with aortic stiffening and endothelial dysfunction.

• Statins have been shown to reduce inflammation and arterial stiffening and to improve endothelial function in patients with chronic inflammation.

• In a model of acute‐inflammation, statins have been shown to prevent endothelial dysfunction, but the effect on aortic stiffening is unknown.

WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS

• This study demonstrates, for the first time, that pre‐treatment with simvastatin prevents inflammation‐induced aortic stiffening, as well as endothelial dysfunction, in a cohort of healthy individuals.

• It also shows that simvastatin prevents the inflammation‐induced reduction in concentrations of apolipoprotein A‐I.

AIMS

The aim of this study was to determine whether simvastatin would protect against inflammation‐induced aortic stiffening and endothelial dysfunction.

METHODS

Aortic pulse wave velocity (aPWV) and flow‐mediated dilatation (FMD) were assessed three times, at baseline, after a 14 day administration of simvastatin or placebo and 8 h after Salmonella typhi vaccination in 50 healthy subjects.

RESULTS

Following vaccination there was a significant increase in aPWV in the placebo group (5.80 ± 0.87 vs. 6.21 ± 0.97 m s−1, 95% CI 0.19, 0.62, P= 0.002) but not the simvastatin group (5.68 ± 0.73 vs. 5.72 ± 0.74 m s−1, 95% CI −0.19, 0.27, P= 0.9; P= 0.016 for comparison). Whereas FMD response was reduced in the placebo group (6.77 ± 4.10 vs. 5.27 ± 2.88%, 95% CI −2.49, −0.52, P= 0.02) but not in the simvastatin group (7.07 ± 4.37 vs. 7.17 ± 9.94%, 95% CI −1.1, 1.3. P= 0.9, P < 0.001 for comparison). There was no difference in the systemic inflammatory response between groups following vaccination. However, there was a significant reduction in serum apolipoprotein A‐I (Apo A‐I) in the placebo, but not in the simvastatin, group.

CONCLUSIONS

Simvastatin prevents vaccination‐induced aortic stiffening and endothelial dysfunction. This protective mechanism may be due to preservation of the Apo A‐I lipid fraction, rather than pleiotropic anti‐inflammatory effects of statins.
MultipleMycobacteriumantigens induce interferon-γ production from sarcoidosis peripheral blood mononuclear cells
Authors: Carlisle J , Evans W , Hajizadeh R , Nadaf M , Shepherd B , Ott R D , Richter K , Drake W
Published: July 2010

Studies of sarcoidosis immunology have noted oligoclonal T cell populations, suggesting cell-mediated immunity that is antigen-specific. Sarcoidosis immunology and pathology are most similar to mycobacterial infections. Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in mice and humans reflects T helper 1 (Th1) immune responses to multiple cell wall and secreted antigens. We investigated if the oligoclonal immune response in individual sarcoidosis subjects could be elicited by multiple secreted mycobacterial antigens by performing ex vivo enzyme-linked immunospot assay (ELISPOT) on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 30 sarcoidosis, 26 purified protein derivative negative (PPD–) control and 10 latent tuberculosis subjects (PPD+) to assess Th1 responses to mycobacterial superoxide dismutase A (sodA), catalase-peroxidase (katG) and early secreted antigenic target protein (ESAT-6). A significant difference was noted among the sarcoidosis and PPD– control subjects to ESAT-6 [12 of 30 versus one of 26 (P = 0·0014)], katG [nine of 30 versus none of 26 (P = 0·002)] and sodA [12 of 30 versus none of 26 (P = 0·002)]. There was no significant difference between sarcoidosis and PPD+ subjects. Twelve sarcoidosis subjects recognized two or more mycobacterial proteins, as well as multiple distinct epitopes within individual proteins. One sarcoidosis subject on whom we collected bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and PBMC had no recognition of mycobacterial antigens using PBMC, but BAL fluid demonstrated strong Th1 immune responses to ESAT-6 and katG. Individual sarcoidosis subjects recognized not only multiple mycobacterial proteins, but multiple distinct peptides within a specific protein, thus demonstrating that multiple mycobacterial epitopes elicit the Th1 immune response observed. Immune responses by sarcoidosis T cells to mycobacterial proteins may have an important role in sarcoidosis pathogenesis.
Unique activation status of peripheral blood mononuclear cells at acute phase of Kawasaki disease
Authors: Ikeda K , Yamaguchi K , Tanaka T , Mizuno Y , Hijikata A , Ohara O , Takada H , Kusuhara K , Hara T
Published: July 2010

Although Kawasaki disease (KD) is characterized by a marked activation of the immune system with elevations of serum proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines at acute phase, the major sources for these chemical mediators remain controversial. We analysed the activation status of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) by flow cytometry, DNA microarray and quantitative reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction. The proportions of CD69+ cells in both natural killer cells and γδT cells at acute-phase KD were significantly higher than those at convalescent-phase KD. Microarray analysis revealed that five genes such as NAIP, IPAF, S100A9, FCGR1A and GCA up-regulated in acute-phase KD and the pathways involved in acute phase KD were related closely to the innate immune system. The relative expression levels of damage-associated molecular pattern molecule (DAMP) (S100A9 and S100A12) genes in PBMCs at acute-phase KD were significantly higher than those at convalescent-phase KD, while those of TNFA, IL1B and IL6 genes were not significantly different between KD patients and healthy controls. Intracellular production of tumour necrosis factor-α, interlaukin-10 and interferon-γ in PBMCs was not observed in KD patients. The present data have indicated that PBMCs showed a unique activation status with high expression of DAMP genes but low expression of proinflammatory cytokine genes, and that the innate immune system appears to play a role in the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of KD.
An α-galactosylceramide C20:2 N-acyl variant enhances anti-inflammatory and regulatory T cell-independent responses that prevent type 1 diabetes
Authors: Ly D , Tohn R , Rubin B , Blumenfeld H , Besra G S , Veerapen N , Porcelli S A , Delovitch T L
Published: July 2010

Protection from type 1 diabetes (T1D), a T helper type 1 (Th1)-mediated disease, is achievable in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice by treatment with α-galactosylceramide (α-GalCer) glycolipids that stimulate CD1d-restricted invariant natural killer T (iNK T) cells. While we have reported previously that the C20:2 N-acyl variant of α-GalCer elicits a Th2-biased cytokine response and protects NOD mice from T1D more effectively than a form of α-GalCer that induces mixed Th1 and Th2 responses, it remained to determine whether this protection is accompanied by heightened anti-inflammatory responses. We show that treatment of NOD mice with C20:2 diminished the activation of ‘inflammatory’ interleukin (IL)-12 producing CD11chighCD8+ myeloid dendritic cells (mDCs) and augmented the function of ‘tolerogenic’ DCs more effectively than treatment with the prototypical iNKT cell activator KRN7000 (α-GalCer C26:0) that induces Th1- and Th2-type responses. These findings correlate with a reduced capacity of C20:2 to sustain the early transactivation of T, B and NK cells. They may also explain our observation that C20:2 activated iNK T cells depend less than KRN7000 activated iNK T cells upon regulation by regulatory T cells for cytokine secretion and protection from T1D. The enhanced anti-inflammatory properties of C20:2 relative to KRN7000 suggest that C20:2 should be evaluated further as a drug to induce iNK T cell-mediated protection from T1D in humans.
Immune response toPlasmodium vivaxhas a potential to reduce malaria severity
Authors: Chuangchaiya S , Jangpatarapongsa K , Chootong P , Sirichaisinthop J , Sattabongkot J , Pattanapanyasat K , Chotivanich K , Troye-Blomberg M , Cui L , Udomsangpetch R
Published: July 2010

Plasmodium falciparum infection causes transient immunosuppression during the parasitaemic stage. However, the immune response during simultaneous infections with both P. vivax and P. falciparum has been investigated rarely. In particular, it is not clear whether the host's immune response to malaria will be different when infected with a single or mixed malaria species. Phenotypes of T cells from mixed P. vivax–P. falciparum (PV-PF) infection were characterized by flow cytometry, and anti-malarial antibodies in the plasma were determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We found the percentage of CD3+δ2+-T cell receptor (TCR) T cells in the acute-mixed PV-PF infection and single P. vivax infection three times higher than in the single P. falciparum infection. This implied that P. vivax might lead to the host immune response to the production of effector T killer cells. During the parasitaemic stage, the mixed PV-PF infection had the highest number of plasma antibodies against both P. vivax and P. falciparum. Interestingly, plasma from the group of single P. vivax or P. falciparum malaria infections had both anti-P. vivax and anti-P. falciparum antibodies. In addition, antigenic cross-reactivity of P. vivax or P. falciparum resulting in antibodies against both malaria species was shown in the supernatant of lymphocyte cultures cross-stimulated with either antigen of P. vivax or P. falciparum. The role of δ2 ± TCR T cells and the antibodies against both species during acute mixed malaria infection could have an impact on the immunity to malaria infection.
T cell activation profiles in different granulomatous interstitial lung diseases – a role for CD8+CD28null cells?
Authors: Heron M , Claessen A M E , Grutters J C , Van Den Bosch J M M
Published: July 2010

Lymphocytes play a crucial role in lung inflammation. Different interstitial lung diseases may show distinct lymphocyte activation profiles. The aim of this study was to examine the expression of a variety of activation markers on T lymphocyte subsets from blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of patients with different granulomatous interstitial lung diseases and healthy controls. Bronchoalveolar lavage cells and blood cells from 23 sarcoidosis patients, seven patients with hypersensitivity pneumonitis and 24 healthy controls were analysed. Lymphocyte activation status was determined by flow cytometry. Lymphocytes were stained with antibodies against CD3, CD4, CD8, CD25, CD28, CD69, very late antigen-1 (VLA)-1, VLA-4 and human leucocyte antigen D-related (HLA-DR). In general, CD28, CD69 and VLA-1 expression on BALF CD4+ lymphocytes and HLA-DR expression on BALF CD8+ lymphocytes was different in patients with hypersensitivity pneumonitis and sarcoidosis patients with parenchymal involvement. This BALF lymphocyte phenotype correlated with carbon monoxide diffusing lung capacity (Dlco) values across interstitial lung diseases (ILD) (r2 = 0·48, P = 0·0002). In sarcoidosis patients, CD8+CD28null blood lymphocytes correlated with lower Dlco values (r = −0·66, P = 0·004), chronic BALF lymphocyte activation phenotype (r2 = 0·65, P < 0·0001), radiographic staging (stage I versus stage II and higher, P = 0·006) and with the need for corticosteroid treatment (P = 0·001). Higher expression of CD69, VLA-1 and HLA-DR and lower expression of CD28 on BALF lymphocytes suggests prolonged stimulation and chronic lymphocyte activation in patients with ILD. In sarcoidosis, blood CD8+CD28null cells might be a new biomarker for disease severity but needs further investigation.
Decreased expression of Fli-1 in bone marrow-derived haematopoietic cells significantly affects disease development in Murphy Roths Large/lymphoproliferation (MRL/lpr) mice
Authors: Molano I , Mathenia J , Ruiz P , Gilkeson G S , Zhang X K
Published: July 2010

The transcription factor Fli-1 is implicated in the pathogenesis of both murine and human lupus. Decreased expression of Fli-1 in heterozygous (Fli-1+/−) Murphy Roths Large (MRL)/lpr mice resulted in significantly lower kidney pathological scores and markedly increased survival. In this study, bone marrow (BM) transplantation was used to investigate the role of decreased expression of Fli-1 in haematopoietic versus non-haematopoietic cell lineages in autoimmune disease development. Wild-type (WT) MRL/lpr that received BM from Fli-1+/− MRL/lpr mice had statistically significantly lower autoantibodies, less proteinuria, reduced renal disease and prolonged survival compared to WT MRL/lpr mice that received BM from WT MRL/lpr mice. Although not statistically significant, Fli-1+/− MRL/lpr mice that received BM from WT MRL/lpr mice also had lower autoantibodies and improved survival compared to WT MRL/lpr mice that received BM from WT MRL/lpr mice. Our data indicate that expression of Fli-1 in haematopoietic cell lineages has a significant effect on disease development in MRL/lpr mice.
Benefits, costs and reactivity of inducible defences: an experimental test with rotifers
Authors: ARÁNGUIZ‐ACUÑA ADRIANA , RAMOS‐JILIBERTO RODRIGO , SARMA NANDINI , SARMA S.S.S. , BUSTAMANTE RAMIRO O. , TOLEDO VERÓNICA
Published: July 2010

1. A key aspect of the ecology and evolution of adaptive prey responses to predator risk is the timing by which the former develop a defensive trait in response to inducing signals released by the latter. This property, called reactivity, has been shown to affect population stability and persistence.

2. Theoretically, the minimal predator density required by prey to exhibit induced defences is expected to increase with the effectiveness of the defence and decrease with its cost. Likewise, the time required for the prey population to exhibit an induced defence is expected to increase together with cost.

3. The freshwater rotifers Brachionus calyciflorus and B. havanaensis and their predator Asplanchna brightwelli were used to test the hypothesis that prey species exhibiting defences that offer a larger fitness benefit and lower fitness cost are more reactive to predator signals, in terms of requiring shorter exposure time and lower signal concentration to trigger a morphological defence reaction.

4. Our results showed that both prey species exhibited costly and effective defences after induction by predator infochemicals. Faster reactions were observed at higher levels of predator cues. Nevertheless, the observed relationship between reactivity and benefit/cost of defences did not agree with our expectations.

5. To our knowledge, this is the first study in which the timing of induction of morphological defences is experimentally assessed over a gradient of risk signals. We propose new research directions to disentangle the mechanisms and project the consequences of prey decisions at the morphological level.
Host‐plant finding and recognition by visual and olfactory floral cues in an oligolectic bee
Authors: Burger Hannah , Dötterl Stefan , Ayasse Manfred
Published: July 2010

1. Bees use floral cues, such as odour, colour, size and shape, to discriminate and recognize flowers. The interplay between visual and olfactory cues in social as well as in solitary bee species is poorly understood.

2. In this study we tested the host finding and recognition behaviour in a specialized (oligolectic) bee species,Hoplitis adunca(Megachilidae), which collects pollen exclusively on flowers ofEchium(Boraginaceae) species. We determined the importance of visual (especially floral colour) and olfactory cues ofEchium vulgareflowers in host‐plant finding and recognition, as well as in the discrimination of non‐host plants (Anchusa officinalis), by foraging‐naïve and ‐experiencedH. aduncafemales.

3. Our investigations showed that the interplay between visual and olfactory cues ofE. vulgareflowers is essential for host‐plant finding and recognition byH. aduncafemales. The finding suggests that the blue colour of the flowers attracts the bees, while the olfactory cues, which areEchium‐specific, are used by the bees to recognize their host plant and discriminate it from non‐host plants.

4. Our results show that different modalities of floral cues need to be studied in a combined approach in order to understand the communication in bee–flower interactions and the cues used by bees to find and recognize their host‐plants.
Obesity and obesity‐related secondary conditions in adolescents with intellectual/developmental disabilities
Authors: Rimmer J. H. , Yamaki K. , Lowry B. M. Davis , Wang E. , Vogel L. C.
Published: July 2010

Background  To explore the prevalence of obesity and related secondary conditions associated with obesity in adolescents with intellectual/developmental disabilities (IDD).

Methods  In total, 461 parents of adolescents with IDD (M = 14.9 year, SD = 1.9) across 49 US states completed a web‐based survey containing questions related to their child's health status, including body weight and existing health conditions. Results were compared with published data for youth without disabilities.

Results  Adolescents with autism and Down syndrome were two to three times more likely to be obese than adolescents in the general population. Secondary health conditions were higher in obese adolescents with IDD compared with healthy weight adolescents with IDD including high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, diabetes, depression, fatigue, liver or gallbladder problems, low self‐esteem, preoccupation with weight, early maturation and pressure sores.

Conclusion  Obesity is as much of a health problem in youth with IDD as it is among youth without disabilities and, in certain disability groups, is a significantly greater health problem. Obese youth with IDD have a high number of obesity‐related secondary conditions predisposing them to greater health problems as they transition into adulthood. Federal and local initiatives to reduce obesity among youth in the general population must recognise the need for interventions that are also relevant (i.e. accessible and effective) for youth with IDD.
Rapid increase in myocardial infarction risk following diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis amongst patients diagnosed between 1995 and 2006
Authors: Holmqvist M. E. , Wedrén S. , Jacobsson L. T. H. , Klareskog L. , Nyberg F. , Rantapää‐Dahlqvist S. , Alfredsson L. , Askling J.
Published: July 2010

Abstract.  Holmqvist ME, Wedrén S, Jacobsson LTH, Klareskog L, Nyberg F, Rantapää‐Dahlqvist S, Alfredsson L, Askling J (Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm; Karolinska Institutet/Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm; Malmö University Hospital, Malmö; AstraZeneca R&D, Mölndal; and Umeå University Hospital, Umeå, Sweden) Rapid increase in myocardial infarction risk following diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis amongst patients diagnosed between 1995 and 2006. J Intern Med 2010; 268: 578–585.

The risk of ischaemic heart disease (IHD), and in particular myocardial infarction (MI), is increased amongst patients with established rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Few studies have included contemporary patients with RA. We recently reported that the risk of IHD is not elevated before the onset of RA symptoms. However, when, in relation to RA diagnosis, the risk is increased is unknown.

Objective.  To assess the risk of MI and other IHD events amongst patients diagnosed with RA during the last decade and within 18 months following RA symptom onset, compared to the general population, by time since RA diagnosis, year of RA diagnosis and by rheumatoid factor (RF) status.

Methods and patients.  A Swedish inception cohort of RA (n = 7469) diagnosed between 1995 and 2006 and a matched general population comparator cohort (n = 37 024), was identified and linked to national registers of morbidity and mortality from IHD. Relative risks (RRs) of MI and other IHD events were estimated using Cox regression.

Results.  During follow‐up, 233 patients with RA and 701 controls developed a first MI, corresponding to an overall RR of MI of 1.6 (95% confidence interval 1.4, 1.9). Increased risks of MI were already detected within 1–4 years following RA diagnosis, as well as in patients diagnosed with RA during the last 5 years, in RF‐negative patients and for transmural as well as nontransmural MIs.

Conclusions.  MI risk increases rapidly following RA diagnosis, suggesting the importance of additional mechanisms other than atherosclerosis. The elevated short‐term risk is present amongst patients diagnosed in recent years, underscoring the importance of MI prevention from the time of RA diagnosis.
Iron abundances from optical Fe iii absorption lines in B-type stellar spectra
Authors: Thompson H. M. A. , Keenan F. P. , Dufton P. L. , Trundle C. , Ryans R. S. I. , Crowther P. A.
Published: July 2010

The role of optical Fe iii absorption lines in B-type stars as iron abundance diagnostics is considered. To date, ultraviolet Fe lines have been widely used in B-type stars, although line blending can severely hinder their diagnostic power. Using optical spectra, covering a wavelength range ∼3560–9200 Å, a sample of Galactic B-type main-sequence and supergiant stars of spectral types B0.5 to B7 are investigated. A comparison of the observed Fe iii spectra of supergiants, and those predicted from the model atmosphere codes tlusty[plane-parallel, non-local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE)], with spectra generated using synspec (LTE), and cmfgen (spherical, non-LTE), reveal that non-LTE effects appear small. In addition, a sample of main-sequence and supergiant objects, observed with the Fiber-fed Extended Range Optical Spectrograph (FEROS), reveal LTE abundance estimates consistent with the Galactic environment and previous optical studies. Based on the present study, we list a number of Fe iii transitions which we recommend for estimating the iron abundance from early B-type stellar spectra.
Detection of tracheal malpositioning of nasogastric tubes using endotracheal cuff pressure measurement
Authors: Fuchs J. , Schummer C. , Giesser J. , Bayer O. , Schummer W.
Published: July 2010

Background:  Insertion of a gastric tube (GT) in anaesthetized, paralyzed and intubated patients may be difficult. Tracheobronchial malposition of a GT may result in deleterious consequences. The purpose of this study was to determine the reliability of tracheal cuff pressure measurement to detect endobronchial malposition of GTs. We compared this new method with the measurement of exhaled CO2 through the GT.

Methods:  Thirty patients under general anesthesia and orotracheal intubation were analysed. First, the cuff pressure of the low‐volume endotracheal tube (ET; ID 7.0–8.5 mm) was increased to 40 cmH2O. Then, in a randomized fashion, the GT (18 Charrière) was inserted consecutively into the trachea and oesophagus or vice versa. Cuff pressure was monitored continuously while advancing the GT. Furthermore, a capnograph was connected to the gastric tube and the aspirated PCO2 was monitored.

Results:  Advancement of the gastric tube into the oesophagus increased ET cuff pressure by 1 ± 1 cmH2O, while endotracheal placement of the GT increased cuff pressure by 28 ± 8 cmH2O (P < 0.001). Using an increase of >10 cmH2O in cuff pressure detected endotracheal malpositioning of the GT with 100% sensitivity and specificity. In 28 out of 30 cases, PCO2 increased by more than 2.6 kPa. Thus, the PCO2 approach failed to detect tracheal malpositioning in two cases resulting in a sensitivity of 93.3%.

Conclusions:  In intubated patients, cuff pressure measurement during insertion of a gastric tube is a new, simple and reliable bedside method to detect endotracheal malpositioning of a GT.
Obstetric anesthesia for the obese and morbidly obese patient: an ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of treatment
Authors: SOENS MIEKE A. , BIRNBACH DAVID J. , RANASINGHE JAYANTHIE S. , VAN ZUNDERT ANDRÉ
Published: July 2010

Background: The incidence of obesity has been dramatically increasing across the globe. Anesthesiologists, are increasingly faced with the care for these patients. Obesity in the pregnant woman is associated with a broad spectrum of problems, including dramatically increased risk for cesarean delivery, diabetes, hypertension and pre‐eclampsia. A thorough understanding of the physiology, associated conditions and morbidity, available options for anesthesia and possible complications is therefore important for today's anesthesiologist.

Methods: This is a personal review in which different aspects of obesity in the pregnant woman, that are relevant to the anesthesiologist, are discussed. An overview of maternal and fetal morbidity and physiologic changes associated with pregnancy and obesity is provided and different options for labor analgesia, the anesthetic management for cesarean delivery and potential post‐partum complications are discussed in detail.

Results and conclusion: The anesthetic management of the morbidly obese parturient is associated with special hazards. The risk for difficult or failed intubation is exceedingly high. The early placement of an epidural or intrathecal catheter may overcome the need for general anesthesia, however, the high initial failure rate necessitates critical block assessment and catheter replacement when indicated.
New insights into the pathophysiology of postoperative cognitive dysfunction
Authors: KRENK L. , RASMUSSEN L. S. , KEHLET H.
Published: July 2010

There is evidence that postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is a significant problem after major surgery, but the pathophysiology has not been fully elucidated. The interpretation of available studies is difficult due to differences in neuropsychological test batteries as well as the lack of appropriate controls. Furthermore, there are no internationally accepted criteria for defining POCD. This article aims to provide an update of current knowledge of the pathogenesis of POCD with a focus on perioperative pathophysiology and possible benefits achieved from an enhanced postoperative recovery using a fast‐track methodology. It is concluded that the pathogenesis of POCD is multifactorial and future studies should focus on evaluating the role of postoperative sleep disturbances, inflammatory stress responses, pain and environmental factors. Potential prophylactic intervention may include minimal invasive surgery, multi‐modal non‐opioid pain management and pharmacological manipulation of the inflammatory response and sleep architecture.
Immediate and delayed life history effects caused by food deprivation early in life in a short‐lived lizard
Authors: MUGABO M. , MARQUIS O. , PERRET S. , LE GALLIARD J. F.
Published: July 2010

Detailed studies of the mechanisms driving life history effects of food availability are of prime importance to understand the evolution of phenotypic plasticity and the capacity of organisms to produce better adapted phenotypes. Food availability may influence life history trajectories through three nonexclusive mechanisms: (i) immediate and long‐lasting effects on individual quality, and indirect delayed effects on (ii) intracohort and (iii) intercohort interactions. Using the common lizard (Zootoca vivipara), we tested whether a food deprivation during the two‐first months of life influence life history (growth, survival, reproduction) and performance traits (immunocompetence, locomotor performances) until adulthood. We investigated the underlying mechanisms and their possible interactions by manipulating jointly food availability in a birth cohort and in cohorts of older conspecifics. Food deprivation had direct immediate negative effects on growth but positive long‐lasting effects on immunocompetence. Food deprivation had also indirect delayed effects on growth, body size, early survival and reproduction mediated by an interaction between its direct effects on individual quality and its delayed effects on the intensity of intercohort social interactions combined with density dependence on body size. These results demonstrate that interactions between direct and socially mediated effects of past environments influence life history evolution in size‐structured and stage‐structured populations.