bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Postoperative Administration of the Analgesic Tramadol, but Not the Selective Cyclooxygenase-2 Inhibitor Parecoxib, Abolishes Postoperative Hyperalgesia in a New Model of Postoperative Pain in Rats
Authors: Kamerman Peter , Koller Anthony , Loram Lisa
Published: July 2007

Background/Aims: Using a new animal model of postoperative pain we recently developed, we investigated whether the selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor pare-coxib sodium, and the analgesic tramadol hydrochloride, attenuated mechanical primary hyperalgesia induced by minor surgery on the rat tail. Methods: For surgery, rats were anesthetized with isoflurane, a 20-mm-long incision was made through the skin and fascia of their tails, and the wound was sutured. Immediately after surgery, rats were injected intraperitoneally with parecoxib sodium (10 or 20 mg·kg–1), tramadol hydrochloride (10 mg·kg–1), or sterile saline (0.1 ml·kg–1). Hyperalgesia was assessed by measuring rats’ response latencies to a blunt noxious mechanical stimulus (4 N) applied to their tails. Nociceptive testing was performed before surgery and 90 min after surgery. Results: Hyperalgesia was present in all saline-injected animals within 90 min of surgery. This hyperalgesia was not attenuated by postoperative injection of parecoxib. However, administration of tramadol completely prevented the development of postoperative hyperalgesia. Conclusion: We have shown that the hyperalgesia in our model of postoperative pain is responsive to treatment with the analgesic tramadol, but it is not responsive to the selective COX-2 inhibitor parecoxib at the doses we used.
Phenylacetic Acid and Arterial Vascular Properties in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease Stage 5 on Hemodialysis Therapy
Authors: Scholze Alexandra , Jankowski Vera , Henning Lars , Haass Wiltrud , Wittstock Antje , Suvd-Erdene Sukhbaatar , Zidek Walter , Tepel Martin , Jankowski Joachim
Published: July 2007

Background: Phenylacetic acid (PAA) is a recently described uremic toxin that inhibits inducible nitric oxide synthase expression and plasma membrane calcium ATPase and may therefore also be involved in remodeling of arteries. Such vascular effects have not been evaluated yet in patients with chronic kidney disease stage 5. Method: We prospectively measured the plasma concentrations of PAA using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy in 50 patients with chronic kidney disease stage 5 (37 men, 13 women) on maintenance hemodialysis. Arterial vascular properties were quantified by the reflective index obtained from digital photoplethysmography. Results: During the hemodialysis session the plasma PAA concentration was reduced from 3.38 ± 0.24 mmol/l (mean ± SEM; median, 2.85 mmol/l; interquartile range, 2.02–4.52 mmol/l) to 2.25 ± 0.11 mmol/l (median, 2.06 mmol/l; interquartile range, 1.62–2.86 mmol/l; n = 50; p < 0.001). There was a significant correlation between the PAA concentration and the reflective index before the start of the hemodialysis session. Conclusion: The study demonstrates an association of PAA and arterial vascular properties in patients with chronic kidney disease stage 5.
Treatment of Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis in Neutropenic Patients by Additional Bronchoscopic Amphotericin B Instillation
Authors: Winkler J. , Müller U. , Nenoff P. , Seyfarth H.-J. , Vogtmann M. , Borte G. , Pönisch W. , Kahn T. , Wirtz H. , Schauer J. , Hoheisel G.
Published: July 2007

Background: Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) remains a life-threatening condition despite systemic antifungal therapy. Objectives: This retrospective analysis investigated whether additional bronchoscopic instillation of amphotericin B (amB) would improve efficacy of antifungal treatment in patients with haematological malignancies suffering from IPA. Methods: Twenty patients (40.6 ± 14.2 years, 14 male) with preceding chemotherapy, bone marrow or stem cell transplantation complicated by severe IPA who did not respond sufficiently to systemic antifungal therapy were additionally treated by repeated bronchoscopic instillations of amB solution (91 instillations, on average 4.6 ± 2.2 instillations per patient over a period of 24.1 ± 21.0 days). Therapeutic response to this combined treatment regimen was monitored by chest X-ray and CT scan. Results: The mean infiltration sizes during systemic antifungal therapy alone (mean duration 11.9 ± 9.9 days) did not change significantly. However, after additional bronchoscopic instillation of amB solution infiltration sizes were reduced significantly (p < 0.05). A total resolution of infiltrates was seen in 3 and a partial reduction in 13 of 20 patients. Mean duration of total antifungal treatment was 50.1 ± 24.0 days. The mean follow-up period was 34.1 ± 31.2 months. The IPA-related mortality rate was 18.8% (3 of 16 patients). Conclusions: Additional bronchoscopic instillation of amB may improve the efficacy of systemic antifungal therapy in patients with haematological malignancies complicated by severe IPA. Bronchoscopic instillation of amB should be considered as an additional treatment option in cases with IPA unresponsive to systemic therapy.
Bone Mineral Density in Children with Non-Cystic Fibrosis Bronchiectasis
Authors: Guran Tulay , Turan Serap , Karadag Bulent , Ersu Refika , Karakoc Fazilet , Bereket Abdullah , Dagli Elif
Published: July 2007

Background: Bronchiectasis presents as a common sequela of several chronic pulmonary diseases. Bone mineral density (BMD) is generally decreased in children with cystic fibrosis (CF). Although children with non-CF bronchiectasis have similar risk factors for osteopenia/osteoporosis, data on BMD in this group of patients are lacking. Objective: To evaluate BMD in children with non-CF bronchiectasis. Methods: In this study, we evaluated BMD of the radius and tibia in 32 children (17 girls) with non-CF bronchiectasis and in 23 healthy controls matched for age, sex and pubertal stage by quantitative ultrasound (speed of sound). Daily calcium intake and pulmonary function tests and data about steroid use were noted. Results: Mean age was 12.5 ± 4.6 years. Six children (18%) had moderate-to-severe lung disease (FEV1 <60% predicted). All except 2 children (94%) were receiving inhaled steroids. There was no significant difference in BMD (expressed as z-score) of the radius and tibia between the patient and control groups (tibia z-scores: –0.1 ± 0.9 vs. –0.8 ± 0.8 and radius z-scores –1.3 ± 1.4 vs. –1.0 ± 0.9 in bronchiectasis patients and controls, respectively, p > 0.05). However, more children with non-CF bronchiectasis had osteopenia (z-scores between –1 and –2 SD) and osteoporosis (z-score ≤2 SD) compared to the control group (62 vs. 30%, p = 0.019). There was a significant correlation between age and radius z-scores (r = –0.365, p = 0.04). There was no correlation between BMD and severity of lung illness, calcium intake or cumulative steroid doses. Conclusion: Osteopenia is more common in children with non-CF bronchiectasis compared to controls and the risk of osteoporosis and osteopenia increases with age.
Presence of NGAL/MMP-9 complexes in human abdominal aortic aneurysms
Authors: Zhu Chaoyong , Silveira Angela , Hemdahl Anne-Louise , Hamsten Anders , Hedin Ulf , Swedenborg Jesper , Folkesson Maggie , Kazil Monsur , Eriksson Per
Published: July 2007

It has been suggested that the intraluminal thrombus of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) predisposes for AAA enlargement and rupture.The growth of theAAA is dependent on proteolytic degradation of elastin. Here, we analysed whether the neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is expressed within the thrombus and the aneurysm wall. NGAL can bind to metalloproteinase- 9 (MMP-9) and inhibit its degradation,thereby preserving enzymatic activity. Biopsies were obtained from thrombus- free and thrombus-covered aneurysm wall and the intraluminal thrombus from patients undergoing elective surgery for AAA. Immunohistochemistry and real-time PCR were used to study NGAL and MMP-9 expression. Immunoprecipitation, gel zymography,Western blot and ELISA were used to detect and quantify NGAL/MMP-9 complexes. NGAL was detected in the thrombus, the interface between the thrombus and the underlying wall and in the wall itself.Double staining showed that neutrophils are the major source of NGAL expression. Immunoprecipitation of MMP-9 with antibody against NGAL showed that complexes of NGAL and active MMP-9 were present in thrombus, the interface fluid and the aneurysm wall.Western blot analyses using non-reducing conditions and gel zymography demonstrated that high-molecular-weight complexes of NGAL/MMP-9 were present within the different regions.The concentration of the NGAL/MMP-9 complex was highest in the luminal part of the thrombus. In conclusion, NGAL in complex with activated MMP-9 is present in AAA wall and thrombus. Neutrophil-derived NGAL could enhance the proteolytic activity associated with AAA, but the importance of this mechanism for aneurysm growth remains to be shown.
Association of specific haplotypes of GAS6 gene with stroke
Authors: Obach Víctor , de Frutos Pablo García , Chamorro Ángel , Muñoz Xavier , Hurtado Begoña , Sala Núria
Published: July 2007

The product of the growth arrest-specific gene 6 (GAS6),a ligand for tyrosine kinase receptors, is a vitamin K-dependent protein, structurally related to anticoagulant protein S. Gas6-deficient mice are protected against thrombosis, demonstrating the importance of this protein in the cardiovascular system. In a preliminary study on GAS6 polymorphisms and atherothrombotic disease we found an association between the AA genotype of the c.834+7G>A GAS6 polymorphism and stroke. In order to further explore this association by considering GAS6 haplotypes and the main stroke subtypes,457 patients with ischemic stroke, 199 with hemorrhagic stroke and 150 asymptomatic controls were genotyped for eight GAS6 polymorphisms and other genetic markers in the same genome region. Association was measured by logistic regression analysis.The THESIAS program was used to measure linkage disequilibrium and haplotype frequencies. In univariate analysis, the GAS6 c.834+7AA genotype was found associated with decreased risk for stroke (OR: 0.59; 95%CI: 0.37–0.93).After adjustment for vascular risk factors, association was maintained when stroke subtypes affecting the microvasculature such as lacunar stroke and deep haemorrhage, were grouped together (OR: 0.44; 95%CI: 0.21–0.90). Furthermore, haplotype analysis revealed that association was even stronger when the c.834+7A allele was present in a specific haplotype (CACA) of four GAS6 polymorphisms. From these results we conclude that the A allele of the GAS6 c.834+7G>A polymorphism and more specifically, the CACA haplotype, is less prevalent in patients with stroke, suggesting a protective role for stroke of this haplotype.
Down-regulation of activated factor XIII by polymorphonuclear granulocyte proteases within fibrin clot
Authors: Bagoly Zsuzsa , Haramura Gizella , Muszbek László
Published: July 2007

Activated clotting factors are down-regulated by two major mechanisms which involve protease inhibitors or proteolytic degradation. To date, no down-regulating mechanism for activated factor XIII (FXIIIa) has been demonstrated. As the hemostatic plug contains polymorphonuclear granulocytes (PMNs) rich in proteolytic enzymes, we tested if these proteases are released in fibrin clots, and become involved in the down-regulation of FXIIIa.The supernatant of stimulated granulocytes proteolytically degraded and inactivated FXIIIa. In the fibrin clot formed from fibrinogen solution elastase, cathepsin G and matrix metalloprotease-9 (MMP-9) were released from granulocytes without any external stimulus. PMN proteases released in fibrin clot exerted a fibrinolytic effect and almost completely de-graded both FXIII subunits.The elastase inhibitor, ONO 5046, partially inhibited the proteolytic degradation of FXIII in PMNsupplemented fibrin clots. Cathepsin G and MMP-9 inhibitors provided less protection; in these cases intermediate split products accumulated.The proteolytic degradation of FXIII by PMNs was also significant when the clot was made from whole plasma. The main plasma protease inhibitor, α1-antitrypsin, provided only partial protection. In the fibrin clot which contained α1-antitrypsin FXIIIa was degraded by PMN proteases significantly faster than cross-linked fibrin.The results suggest that the degradation of FXIII subunits by the concerted action of PMN proteases released within the clot represents a novel mechanism for the down-regulation of FXIIIa.
Regulation of hyaluronan synthesis by vasodilatory prostaglandins
Authors: Schrör Karsten , Fischer Jens
Published: July 2007

Hyaluronan (HA) is a macromolecular polysaccharide of the vascular extracellular matrix that confers both structural functions as well as signalling activity. HA is involved in a wide variety of biological processes, such as tissue morphogenesis, malignant growth and metastasis, wound healing and angiogenesis. In atherosclerosis, HA associates with leukocytes and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) and is involved in vascular remodelling. HA is synthesized at the plasma membrane by three HAsynthase isoforms (HAS1–3). Human VSMC upregulate HAS1 and HAS2 in response to prostaglandins via Gs-coupled prostaglandin receptor subtypes IP and EP2. This review discusses the regulation of HA-synthesis by prostaglandins and the evidence for a central role of cyclooxygenase-2/PGE2 in regulation of HAsynthesis during atherogenesis.
Thrombin generation in plasma of healthy adults and children: Chromogenic versus fluorogenic thrombogram analysis
Authors: Devreese Katrien , Wijns Walter , Combes Isabelle , Vankerckhoven Soetkin , Hoylaerts Marc
Published: July 2007

Coagulation tests and coagulation factor assays have been complemented recently with experimental tests to measure the total amount of thrombin formed.We have presently analyzed thrombin generation of healthy adult and paediatric plasma samples via a fluorogenic and a chromogenic method.The chromogenic method was performed on the fully automated Behring Coagulation System® (BCS®) and fluorogenic assays via Calibrated Automated Thrombography ® (CAT),after coagulation induction by various tissue factor (TF) concentrations.Sample distribution and variability were analyzed for the four main coagulation parameters, derived via computerized curve analysis in each method. Results for both methods were correlated.At the recommended TF concentration (300 pM), thrombin generation via BCS was less variable than via CAT (1–6 pM), but at comparable TF concentrations (1–6 pM), the CAT sensitivity was higher than that of BCS. Inhibition of intrinsic coagulation with the anti-factor VIII antibody BO2C11 revealed that the BCS detected extrinsic coagulation exclusively, at all TF concentrations tested. In contrast, at low TF concentrations (1 and 2.5 pM), via CAT, intrinsic coagulation pathway amplification was measured. At standardizedTF concentrations (300 pM in BCS vs. 2.5 pM in CAT), different reference values between adults and children were found, for all parameters, except Tmax. In adult samples, the best correlation between both methods was observed for ETPCAT versus ETPBCS and for Peak heightCAT versus CmaxBCS, when thrombin generation was exclusively extrinsic (300 pM in BCS vs. 6 pM in CAT). In conclusion, differential thrombin generation characteristics in BCS and CAT are relevant for their clinical applicability.
JAM Family and Related Proteins in Leukocyte Migration (Vestweber Series)
Authors: Bradfield Paul F. , Nourshargh Sussan , Aurrand-Lions Michel , Imhof Beat A.
Published: July 2007

Exploring the role of junctional adhesion molecules (JAMs) has proven to be varied and controversial. The purpose of this review is to discuss the new and exciting roles of these IgSF molecules and how they have evolved to contribute to diverse functions from development to inflammation. In particular, recent research has focused on JAM subfamily members JAM-A, -B, and -C with newly described roles in leukocyte trafficking during inflammation and angiogenesis. However, research on all JAM family members has demonstrated recurring themes with striking similarities in the many diverse processes they are now known to regulate.
Leptin Induces C-Reactive Protein Expression in Vascular Endothelial Cells
Authors: Singh Prachi , Hoffmann Michal , Wolk Robert , Shamsuzzaman Abu S.M. , Somers Virend K.
Published: July 2007

Objective—

There is increasing evidence of an association between leptin and increased cardiovascular risk. Higher leptin levels are associated with increased levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), which itself elicits proatherogenic effects in the vascular endothelium. We tested the hypothesis that leptin induces CRP expression in human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAECs).

Methods and Results—

We confirmed the presence of both long and short isoforms of the leptin receptor in cultured HCAECs. Leptin but not IFNαA/D nor tumor necrosis factor (TNF) α, induced expression of CRP. A dose dependent increase of CRP mRNA and protein was observed with increasing concentration of leptin (0 to 400 ng/mL). This increased CRP expression was attenuated in the presence of anti-leptin receptor antibodies and also by inhibition of ERK1/2 by PD98059 (20 to 40 μmol/L). Time (0 to 60 minutes) and leptin concentration (0 to 200 ng/mL)-dependence of ERK1/2 phosphorylation were evident in response to leptin treatment. Leptin also elicited ROS generation. Inhibition of ROS by catalase (200 μg/mL) prevented ERK1/2 phosphorylation and CRP mRNA transcription.

Conclusion—

Leptin induces CRP expression in HCAECs via activation of the leptin receptor, increased ROS production, and phosphorylation of ERK1/2. These studies suggest a mechanism for the proatherogenic effects of leptin.
Increased Protein Nitration Burden in the Atherosclerotic Lesions and Plasma of Apolipoprotein A-I–Deficient Mice
Authors: Parastatidis Ioannis , Thomson Leonor , Fries Diana M. , Moore Ryan E. , Tohyama Junichiro , Fu Xiaoming , Hazen Stanley L. , Heijnen Harry F.G. , Dennehy Michelle K. , Liebler Daniel C. , Rader Daniel J. , Ischiropoulos Harry
Published: July 2007

Apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I), the major protein constituent within high-density lipoprotein (HDL), has been associated with antiatherogenic protection by mechanisms that include reverse cholesterol transport and antiinflammatory functions. To evaluate the proposed protective function of apoA-I, proteins modified by nitrating oxidants were evaluated in the aortic tissue and plasma of mice lacking the low-density lipoprotein receptor and apobec (LA) and LA mice with genetic deletion of apoA-I (LA–apoA-I
−/−
). The levels of nitrated proteins in aortic tissue quantified by liquid chromatography with online electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC/ESI/MS/MS) were 6-fold higher in the LA–apoA-I
−/−
as compared with the LA mice. The quantitative analyses were corroborated by immunohistochemical and high-resolution immunoelectron microscopic evaluation of the lesions, which revealed abundant staining for nitrated proteins in the aortic root lesions of LA–apoA-I
−/−
as compared with the LA mice. Proteomic approaches based on affinity enrichment and site-specific adduct mapping identified unique specific protein targets for nitration in the plasma of LA–apoA-I
−/−
that were not present in the plasma of LA mice. In particular the nitration of fibrinogen was shown to accelerate fibrin clot formation. Another consequence of the augmented levels of nitrated proteins was the induction of humoral responses documented by the increased circulating immunoglobulins that recognize nitrotyrosine in LA–apoA-I
−/−
as compared with the LA mice. These data collectively support a protective function of apoA-I diminishing the burden of nitrative oxidants in these mice models of atherosclerosis.
A New Endoluminal, Flow-Disrupting Device for Treatment of Saccular Aneurysms
Authors: Kallmes David F. , Ding Yong Hong , Dai Daying , Kadirvel Ramanathan , Lewis Debra A. , Cloft Harry J.
Published: July 2007

Background and Purpose—

We report a preclinical study of a new endoluminal device for aneurysm occlusion to test the hypothesis that the device, even without use of intrasaccular coil placement, could occlude saccular aneurysms without causing substantial parent artery compromise or compromise of adjacent, small branch arteries.

Methods—

The Pipeline Neuroendovascular Device (Pipeline NED; Chestnut Medical Technologies, Inc) is a braided, tubular, bimetallic endoluminal implant aimed at occlusion of saccular aneurysms through flow disruption along the aneurysm neck. The device was implanted across the necks of 17 elastase-induced aneurysms in the New Zealand white rabbit model and followed for 1 month (n=6), 3 months (n=5), and 6 months (n=6). In each subject, a second device was implanted in the abdominal aorta to cover the origins of lumbar arteries. Aneurysm occlusion rates by angiography (grade 1, complete occlusion; grade 2, near-complete occlusion; and grade 3, incomplete occlusion) were documented. Percent area stenosis of the parent arteries was calculated. Presence of distal emboli in the downstream vessels in the parent artery and branch artery stenosis or occlusion was noted.

Results—

Grades 1, 2, and 3 occlusion rates were noted in 9 (53%), 6 (35%), and 2 (12%) of 17 aneurysms, respectively, indicating an 88% rate of complete or near complete occlusion. No cases of branch artery occlusion or distal emboli in the downstream vessels of the parent artery, specifically the subclavian artery, were seen. Parent artery compromise from neointimal hyperplasia was minimal in most cases.

Conclusions—

The Pipeline NED is a trackable, bio- and hemocompatible device able to occlude saccular aneurysms with preservation of the parent artery and small, adjacent branch vessels.
Exotericism after Lessing: The Enduring Influence of F. H. Jacobi on Leo Strauss
Authors: Altman William
Published: July 2007

This study shows that despite the fact that Leo Strauss published little about Jacobi, the misunderstood thinker about whom he wrote his doctoral dissertation exercised a crucial influence on what is often thought to be Strauss's most enduring achievement: his rediscovery of exotericism. A consideration of several of Strauss's writings that do mention Jacobi but remained unpublished at the time of his death—in particular his studies on Moses Mendelssohn, who was Jacobi's principal target in the Pantheismusstreit—reveal that Strauss considered Jacobi to be an exoteric writer. Appropriately enough, it is only a Straussian-style reading of Strauss's claims that exotericism lapsed after Lessing's death that reveals Jacobi's influence between the lines. Some consideration is given to the question of why Strauss wrote about Jacobi in this secretive way.
Terrorism as a War Crime
Authors: Jodoin Sébastien
Published: July 2007

International humanitarian law (IHL) defines terrorism in a prima facie apolitical manner as acts or threats of violence committed by either States or non-States against certain non-combatants with the primary purpose of terrorizing them. It thus leaves some space for the use of violence by parties to a conflict, all the while holding them to respect certain fundamental principles. This distinctive brand of moral pragmatism is ideally suited to meeting the normative and moral challenge of terrorism and could prove useful to international efforts geared toward the suppression of terrorism through its influence over discourse and through direct prosecutions of the war crime of terrorism. To be effective though, certain limitations tied to the use of IHL must be overcome, relating notably to its scope of application. As the primary purpose of IHL is the limitation of chaos and human suffering, it has the potential to address the anarchy and anguish caused by terrorism.
Why Do Corrupt Governments Maintain Public Support?
Authors: Manzetti Luigi , Wilson Carole J.
Published: July 2007

This article addresses an issue often neglected by the current literature on political corruption: Why do citizens support corrupt governments? The authors argue that people in countries where government institutions are weak and patron-client relationships strong are more likely to support a corrupt leader from whom they expect to receive tangible benefits. Using a cross-national analysis of citizens in 14 countries, the authors find statistical evidence consistent with the hypothesis, which also complements some of the recent works on clientelism and institutional development. This has important implications for scholars and practitioners working on accountability and good governance issues because its shows that as long as corrupt leaders can satisfy their clientelistic networks by manipulating government resources, they are likely to retain political support. This, in turn, questions the assumption that a few administrative reforms can weed out corruption in countries where formal and informal institutions provide opportunities for this phenomenon to thrive.
Lopinavir/Ritonavir Pharmacokinetic Profile: Impact of Sex and Other Covariates Following a Change From Twice‐Daily to Once‐Daily Therapy
Authors: Ofotokun Ighovwerha , Chuck Susan K. , Binongo Jose N. , Palau Mauricio , Lennox Jeffrey L. , Acosta Edward P.
Published: July 2007

The aim of this study was to determine the impact of sex on the pharmacokinetics of lopinavir/ritonavir. Interaction between lopinavir/ritonavir and tenofovir was also evaluated. Steady‐state plasma samples were obtained from virologically suppressed HIV‐infected patients on lopinavir/ritonavir 800/200‐mg soft gel capsule taken once daily. Drug assays were performed by high‐performance liquid chromatography. Pharmacokinetic parameters estimated by noncompartmental method were reported as 90% confidence intervals (CIs) about the geometric mean ratio (GMR). There were 9 males and 11 females. No sex differences were observed in lopinavir/ritonavir pharmacokinetics profile. The GMRsex (women compared with men) for lopinavir area under the concentration‐time curve (AUC24), maximum concentration (Cmax), and minimum concentration (Cmin) was 0.95 (90% CI, 0.70–1.29), 0.88 (90% CI, 0.67–1.15), and 1.27 (90% CI, 0.60–2.66), respectively. Similarly, the GMRsex for ritonavir AUC24, Cmax, and Cmin was 0.84 (90% CI, 0.57–1.24), 0.79 (90% CI, 0.50–1.22), and 1.02 (90% CI, 0.58–1.80), respectively. Tenofovir coadministration led to a reduction in lopinavir/ritonavir plasma exposure, giving a lopinavir GMRtenofovir for Cmax of 0.72 (90% CI, 0.57–0.93) and AUC24 of 0.74 (90% CI, 0.56–0.98), respectively. No difference in lopinavir/ritonavir plasma concentrations between sexes was demonstrated in this study. However, tenofovir coadministration lowered lopinavir/ritonavir plasma exposure.
Mesna as a Nonvitamin Intervention to Lower Plasma Total Homocysteine Concentration: Implications for Assessment of the Homocysteine Theory of Atherosclerosis
Authors: Urquhart Bradley L. , Freeman David J. , Spence J. David , House Andrew A.
Published: July 2007

Elevated plasma total homocysteine is independently associated with atherosclerosis. Recent randomized trials show that vitamins lower total homocysteine but do not prevent cardiovascular events, suggesting the need for nonvitamin therapies to evaluate whether a causative relationship exists. Mesna (sodium 2‐mercaptoethanesulfonate) is a thiol‐containing drug capable of liberating homocysteine bound by disulfide bonds to proteins, facilitating its excretion. The effect of oral mesna on total homocysteine has not been evaluated and was the objective of this study. Eleven healthy volunteers received vehicle or 10 mg/kg mesna in random order, after which serial blood and urine samples were collected over 4 hours. Plasma total homocysteine decreased by 24.2% (P < .0001) following mesna. Urinary homocysteine excretion was significantly greater with mesna (3.9 ± 2.4 μmol) compared to vehicle (0.4 ± 0.1 μmol), P < .01. Oral mesna decreases plasma total homocysteine and is a potential nonvitamin treatment for assessing the homocysteine theory of atherosclerosis.
The Gas Lighting Controversy
Authors: Fressoz Jean-Baptiste
Published: July 2007

Is the “risk society” exclusively postmodern? This article addresses this question by examining the controversy on gas lighting in nineteenth-century Paris and London. Unlike other technologies of that time, gas light was established in the central social spaces of urban life: in opera houses and theaters, in arcades and boulevards, and in reading rooms and cafés. In all these spaces, gas brought about the insecurity of sudden darkness, the noxious vapors of chemical industries, and the risk of explosion. In the end, the debate centered on a huge gasholder built in the fashionable Paris neighborhood of Faubourg-Poissonnière. To assess the risks, French and English experts used contrasting methods, founded on different “cultures of objectivity.” The article concludes by assessing their heuristics and the overall impact of the public controversy and the regulation it entailed on the construction of a safer gas lighting system.
The Age of Noise
Authors: Payer Peter
Published: July 2007

During the second half of the nineteenth century, a heightened sensitivity to noise arose in European cities. In a context of expanding industrialization and urbanization, medical journals and leading newspapers published extensive articles on the changing acoustic conditions of cities. Neurologists and ear specialists increasingly were confronted with the physical effects of noise pollution, and civic officials and sanitary inspectors noted a marked increase of noise-related complaints. Engineers, architects, and urban planners searched for ways to reduce the din, and conferences on sanitary regulations and health management put noise and how to avoid it on their agendas. This study highlights the social background of this movement in Vienna. It describes the radically changed soundscape in a fast-growing metropolis and examines the heightened discourse on noise among the middle classes between 1870 and 1914. By analyzing the reactions to noise—for example, the ways in which noise-abatement campaigns were received by the public—this article shows that attitudes to noise were fundamentally ambivalent. Noise thus appears as a complex phenomenon that can illumine social and economic conflicts, cultural criticism, and questions of urban development. The strategies employed to cope with noise pollution turn out to be a consistent part of a specific cultural perception that helped to transform and regulate public space according to middle-class concepts.
The Construction of the Modern City and the Management of Water Resources in Italy, 1880—1920
Authors: Serneri Simone Neri
Published: July 2007

This article examines how industrialization and demographic growth influenced the exploitation and management of water resources in Italian cities, during a crucial period of modernization of the urban system. First, it focuses on the functional crisis that growing demands for domestic and industrial use posed to traditional water collection and drainage methods. Second, it provides an analysis of the construction of new networks for urban water supply and removal and shows that changes to infrastructure were driven not only by hygienic concerns but also by the functional reorganization of the urban system. Finally, I argue that water management deeply transformed the ecology of the emerging modern city, since it resulted in the creation of a unitary and mechanized water circuit, in new forms of soil and water pollution, and in relations between cities and the territorial water system.
Chaos and Contamination
Authors: Closmann Charles E.
Published: July 2007

This study explores the effects of economic upheaval on water quality in the Hamburg region during the early 1920s. Drawing upon internal memoranda, newspaper reports, and minutes of the Hamburg City Council, this essay demonstrates that economic change and upheaval increased certain kinds of wastewater in the river Elbe, while undermining the ability of municipal experts to shield local water supplies from pollution. It also shows that prevailing definitions of pollution—which focused on the threats of waterborne pathogens—diverted attention from the kinds of industrial and agricultural wastes that made water taste bad, without immediately making people sick. Accordingly, the improvement of drinking water supplies only became a priority in the mid-1920s, when economic and political stability enabled cities in the region to construct new water works. Finally, I suggest that a class-based approach to the German inflation oversimplifies the question of who won and who lost during this chaotic period: almost all residents of the region confronted degraded water in one form or another.
Physical Child Harm and Bullying-Related Behaviors
Authors: Dussich John P. J. , Maekoya Chie
Published: July 2007

School bullying is a major social problem in most countries and is especially of concern to school administrators and teachers. The typical place in which bullying occurs is at school. For this reason, school administrators and teachers are often held responsible for its occurrence, prevention, and management. However, in spite of concerted efforts to prevent this problem, bullying continues to plague most schools. Previous research and this study suggest that the etiology of bullying is more directly related to conditions at home rather than to conditions at school. Thus, the authors have hypothesized that bullying is associated with physically harming children in their homes and the coping responses that result from this physical harm. This research surveyed a sample of 852 university students in Japan, South Africa, and the United States. The findings suggest there are significant relationships between physical child harm and three types of bullying related behaviors: offending, being victimized, and offending plus being victimized. Using social coping theory, this research suggests that the manner in which physically harmed children cope with their early victimization has a bearing on their subsequent involvement with bullying-related behaviors.
Collateral Gains From the Military? A Cross-National Analysis of the Armed Forces–Crime Relationship
Authors: Sun Ivan Y. , Sung Hung-En , Chu Doris C.
Published: July 2007

Research has repeatedly showed that males aged between 16 and 24 years old account for a disproportionately large volume of crime. Armed forces are major employers of young males in their crime-prone ages and thus could play an essential role in crime prevention. The military is a highly structured and regimented total institution in which rigid behavioral norms and very close monitoring are imposed both on soldiers and on officers. Using data from 65 countries for the period of 1995 to 1999, this study assesses the crime-reduction function of the military by testing the influence of the relative size of the armed forces and the existence of conscription on national rates of homicide. The findings show that the size of the military and the existence of conscription are significantly related to homicide rates. Implications for future research are discussed.
Rational Choice and Environmental Deterrence in the Retention of Mandated Drug Abuse Treatment Clients
Authors: Sung Hung-En , Richter Linda
Published: July 2007

Length of treatment stay is consistently associated with positive posttreatment outcomes in the rehabilitation of drug-abusing offenders. However, past retention research centered on the examination of individual-level determinants to the exclusion of environmental predictors. In this study, the authors propose a rational choice framework in which treatment retention is viewed as a decision-making process that involves calculation of costs and benefits of remaining in treatment. Environmental factors not directly related to the treatment process are theorized to either reward or punish the course of action taken by each treatment client. Retention data from 1,984 drug-abusing felons diverted for long-term residential treatment were analyzed to test the hypotheses that criminal sanctions against drug offenses, violence in local drug markets, and lack of legitimate job opportunities act as deterrents against premature termination of treatment. Results corroborated the criminal sanction and unemployment hypotheses, but not the violence hypothesis. These findings highlight the necessity of reinforcing perceptions of arrest risks and job prospects during treatment. The study concludes with some clinical recommendations.
Examining the Impact of Mixing Child Molesters and Rapists in Group-Based Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment for Sexual Offenders
Authors: Harkins Leigh , Beech Anthony R.
Published: July 2007

This study examines the relationship between recidivism rates, therapeutic climate, and composition of offenders in group-based cognitive-behavioral treatment (CBT) for sexual offenders. The Group Environment Scale (GES) is employed to measure social climate. The GES is administered to 73 male sexual offenders in groups of those who only victimized adults or children (five groups) or men who both victimized adults and those who victimized children (five groups). Group environment is not found to differ significantly as a function of group composition. Group member's ratings on the GES are in the medium to high range, indicating a generally positive group environment. Although the group environment overall does not differ between groups, groups do differ significantly in terms of expressiveness. There are no differences in recidivism rates between groups as a function of group composition. The results are discussed in the light of mixing child molesters and rapists in group-based CBT.
Modus Operandi and Situational Aspects in Adolescent Sexual Offenses Against Children
Authors: Leclerc Benoit , Beauregard Eric , Proulx Jean
Published: July 2007

The relationship between situational factors and the modus operandi of 103 adolescents involved in sexual offenses against children (12 years old or younger) is analyzed. Situational factors taken into account in this study are the location of the crime, the offender—victim relationship, and the presence of deviant sexual fantasies involving the victim prior to the offense. Modus operandi strategies were measured on the basis of participants' responses to Kaufman's Modus Operandi Questionnaire. Results indicate that modus operandi strategies are influenced by situational factors and that the offender's home, when no one else is home, is likely to be the place and the situation for adolescent offenders to adopt manipulative strategies. Suggestions are made regarding future modus operandi studies.
Using the Violence Risk Appraisal Guide (VRAG) to Predict In-Prison Aggressive Behavior in a Swiss Offender Population
Authors: Endrass Jérôme , Rossegger Astrid , Frischknecht Andreas , Noll Thomas , Urbaniok Frank
Published: July 2007

The present study is a first-time evaluation of the Violence Risk Appraisal Guide's (VRAG) predictive quality for institutional violence in a German-speaking country. The VRAG was assessed for 106 violent and sexual offenders based on their files. Violent infractions during imprisonment were evaluated using the files of the state penitentiary. Results show in accordance with previous studies only a moderate effect between VRAG scores and institutional misconduct. However, these findings were only significant for participants with a sex crime as index offense. In the study, the VRAG was unable to predict verbal and physical violence by violent offenders. The implications of these findings for institutional risk management and the future development of intramural detection of participants at risk in the German-speaking part of Europe are discussed.
Pervasive Developmental Disorders and Criminal Behaviour
Authors: Mouridsen Svend Erik , Rich Bente , Isager Torben , Nedergaard Niels Jørgen
Published: July 2007

The prevalence and pattern of criminal behaviour in a population of 313 former child psychiatric in-patients with pervasive developmental disorders were studied. The patients were divided into three subgroups and compared with 933 matched controls from the general population. Age at follow-up was between 25 years and 59 years. An account of convictions in the nationwide Danish Register of Criminality was used as a measure of criminal behaviour. Among 113 cases with childhood autism, .9% had been convicted. In atypical autism ( n = 86) and Asperger's syndrome ( n = 114) the percentages were 8.1% and 18.4%, respectively. The corresponding rate of convictions in the comparison groups was 18.9%, 14.7%, and 19.6% respectively. Particular attention is given to arson in Asperger's syndrome ( p = .0009).
Effectiveness of Sex Offender Treatment for Psychopathic Sexual Offenders
Authors: Doren Dennis M. , Yates Pamela M.
Published: July 2007

Meta-analyses have suggested that sexual offender treatment (SOT) completion is associated with lowered sexual recidivism rates for convicted sexual offenders. The paucity of properly designed studies allows for the alternative explanation of less recidivism among treated samples as reflecting that lower risk offenders disproportionately self-select into treatment. A test of the “self-selection explanation” can occur by investigating treatment effect on known high-risk offenders. Psychopathy correlates with increased sexual recidivism risk, such that an exploration of the SOT effect on psychopathic offenders could clarify the accuracy of the self-selection hypothesis. Additionally, the debated degree to which psychopaths are treatable might obtain clarification by a research review. This article examines empirical findings concerning the effectiveness of SOT for psychopathic sexual offenders. Ten studies were found to meet the minimal quality standards used, stemming from only four data sources. Shortcomings of existing research precluded clear conclusions, though trends in the data are delineated.
Friendship and Organizational Analysis
Authors: Grey Christopher , Sturdy Andrew
Published: July 2007

Recent developments in organizational analysis have done much to fill out the dry, textbook image of rational, formal structures. Yet on one of the commonest kinds of organizational experience—friendship—organizational analysis has remained virtually silent. By contrast, within the wider social science literature some writers have recently accorded greater importance to friendship as a social phenomenon. This article suggests that organizational analysis would be well served by doing the same. To this end, the article explores what this might entail and identifies some of the issues that it could illuminate, both empirically and theoretically. In particular, it presents friendship as a folk concept, which recognizes the situational variability of its form, experience, and connectedness with other forms of relationship. In doing so, the article will help define and open up a focus for future research into friendship and organizational analysis.
Gurus and Indian Epistemologies
Authors: Pio Edwina
Published: July 2007

This article intertwines pedagogy and Indian epistemologies by offering the use of parables in the education of management consultants, particularly those seeking to work in India. Through the presentation of a field report in the form of parables constructed from lived-in and lived-through consultancy assignments, this article highlights the labor-intensive textile sector of India that employs approximately 35 million people. The parables are presented in a format that can be utilized to understand and unpack the complexity of India that is a far cry from the glossy images of India's expanding IT prowess. The article argues for the need to develop consultants who, in grappling with knowledge and action, can move beyond Western templates in management consulting.
An Empirical Test of the Modified C Index and SII, O*NET, and DHOC Occupational Code Classifications
Authors: Dik Bryan J. , Hu Ryan S. C. , Hansen Jo-Ida C.
Published: July 2007

The present study investigated new approaches for assessing Holland's congruence hypothesis by (a) developing and applying four sets of decision rules for assigning Holland codes of varying lengths for purposes of computing Eggerth and Andrew's modified C index; (b) testing the modified C index computed using these four approaches against Brown and Gore's C index; and (c) comparing the validity of SII, O*NET, and DHOC taxonomies for assigning Holland codes to work environments. Results obtained from an archived sample of 239 employed young adults suggested that the modified C index performed as well as, but not better than, the standard C index. The SII was associated with larger mean congruence scores and stronger congruence-satisfaction relations than was the O*NET, which in turn was associated with larger mean congruence scores and stronger congruence-satisfaction relations than was the DHOC. Implications for research and practice related to Holland-type congruence are discussed.
The Effects of Message Framing on College Students' Career Decision Making
Authors: Tansley Denny P. , Jome LaRae M. , Haase Richard F. , Martens Matthew P.
Published: July 2007

Social cognitive career theory posits that verbal persuasion can affect individuals' career self-efficacy, outcome expectations, goals and/or intentions, and behaviors. Prospect theory holds that negatively framed messages can have a powerful effect on people's cognitions related to adopting particular behaviors in situations of uncertainty. Drawing from these two theories, this study explored the effect that persuasive messages have on college students' career decision-making cognitions and behaviors. Results indicated that written persuasive messages enhanced college students' career decision-making outcome expectations, intentions, and behaviors. How the message was framed (whether gain or loss framed) did not differentially affect students' career cognitions, yet students in the loss-framed condition engaged in more career-related behaviors in the week following the message than students in the gain-framed condition.
Evaluation of Computer-Assisted Career Guidance in Middle and Secondary Education Settings: Status, Obstacles, and Suggestions
Authors: Fowkes Kristyn M. , McWhirter Ellen Hawley
Published: July 2007

This article critiques existing research on outcomes associated with the use of computer-assisted career guidance systems (CACGS) by middle and secondary student populations. Although widely used, CACGS have been subjected to relatively little empirical outcome research. Limitations identified in the existing CACGS literature include a focus on user satisfaction rather than career-related gains; failure to examine potential differential effects of CACGS associated with gender, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status; and reliance on small convenience samples. Obstacles to conducting outcome research in middle and secondary school settings are presented, including a lack of model for CACGS evaluation, rapid changes in technology, and the flexible nature of system usage. Recommendations for future outcome research with CACGS are presented for system developers and individual researchers.
Peacekeepers, Masculinities, and Sexual Exploitation
Authors: Higate Paul
Published: July 2007

My aim in this article is to analyze a set of gendered power relations played out in two postconflict settings. Based on interviews with peacekeepers and others, I argue that sexual exploitation of local women by male peacekeepers continues to be documented. I then turn to scholarly considerations of peacekeeper sexual exploitation, some of which accord excessive explanatory power to a crude form of military masculinity. This is underlined by similarly exploitative activities perpetrated by humanitarian workers and so-called “sex tourists.” In conclusion, I argue that a form of exploitative social masculinities shaped by socioeconomic structure, impunity, and privilege offers a more appropriate way to capture the activities of some male peacekeepers during peacekeeping missions. Finally, in underlining the conflation of military masculinities with exploitation, I pose the question of how to explain those military men who do not exploit local women while deployed on missions.