bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nongenomic Effects of Aldosterone on Renal Protein Expressions of pEGFR and pERK1/2 in Rat Kidney
Authors: Sinphitukkul Kittisak , Eiam-Ong Somchit , Manotham Krissanapong , Eiam-Ong Somchai
Published: December 2010

Background: In vitro studies have demonstrated that aldosterone elicits nongenomic actions by enhancing protein expressions of phosphorylated epidermal growth factor receptor (pEGFR) and phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 (pERK1/2). There are no available in vivo investigations regarding this action of aldosterone on renal pEGFR-pERK1/2 protein expressions. Methods: Male Wistar rats received normal saline solution, low-dose (LA: 150 µg/kg BW) or high-dose aldosterone (HA: 500 µg/kg BW) by intraperitoneal injection. After 30 min, protein abundances and localizations of renal pEGFR and pERK1/2 were determined by Western blot and immunohistochemistry. Results: Plasma aldosterone levels were increased in LA and HA groups (p < 0.001). Aldosterone enhanced renal pEGFR and pERK1/2 protein abundances (p < 0.001). HA showed a greater stimulation on pEGFR immunoreactivity than LA in the glomerulus, vasa recta, and thin limb of Henle’s loop in the inner medulla area. LA provided more reactivity of pERK1/2 in the thick ascending limb of Henle’s loop, outer medullary collecting duct, and proximal straight tubule, whereas HA illustrated more pERK1/2 activation in the glomerulus, peritubular capillary, and inner medulla region. Conclusion: This is the first in vivo study which demonstrates that aldosterone, via the nongenomic pathway, could elevate pEGFR and pERK1/2 protein abundances and expressions in the rat kidney. These results indicate that aldosterone induces phosphorylation of EGFR upstream of ERK1/2.
Serum Uric Acid Is Inversely Related to Acute Ischemic Stroke Morbidity in Hemodialysis Patients
Authors: Chen Yuemei , Ding Xiaoqiang , Teng Jie , Zou Jianzhou , Zhong Yihong , Fang Yi , Liu Zhonghua , Xu Shaowei , Wang Yimei , Shen Bo
Published: December 2010

Aim: Elevated serum uric acid (sUA) is usually associated with a high occurrence of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) in the general population. The aim of this study is to evaluate the role of sUA in AIS among hemodialysis (HD) patients. Methods: We followed up the occurrence of AIS in 226 HD patients for 18 months from January 2009 to June 2010. The parameters included demographic characteristics, duration of HD, sUA, serum albumin, and other parameters. Logistic regression was performed to evaluate the function of SUC levels in the occurrence of AIS. Results: A total of 43 patients suffered from AIS. By univariate logistic regression analysis an inverse association was observed in sUA level with the risk of AIS (p = 0.005), but the significance of this inverse association was attenuated while adjusted for age, gender and pulse pressure (PP) (p = 0.029), and even weakened while adjusted for age, gender, PP and diabetes nephropathy (DN) (p = 0.065), and finally abolished after adjustment for age, gender, PP, DN, hsCRP and pre-albumin. Conclusion: This study indicates an inverse association between sUC and the occurrence of AIS in HD patients. Demographic characteristics and malnutrition-microinflammation syndrome seem to play a significant role in this association.
Hemodynamic Changes in the Prefrontal Cortex during Digit Span Task: A Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Study
Authors: Kaneko Hitoshi , Yoshikawa Toru , Nomura Kenji , Ito Hiroyuki , Yamauchi Hoshiko , Ogura Masayoshi , Honjo Shuji
Published: December 2010

Background/Aims: In this study, we examined changes in the concentrations of oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin (oxy- and deoxy-Hb, respectively) in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) during the digit span task by using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Methods: The digit span task consists of the digit span forward and backward tasks. The tasks were performed by 22 healthy undergraduate students who participated in this study. Differences in the mean concentrations of oxy-Hb and deoxy-Hb between the baseline and task intervals were evaluated. Results: In digit span backward, oxy-Hb was significantly higher during the task interval than during the baseline. Further, deoxy-Hb was significantly lower during the task interval than during the baseline in both digit span forward and digit span backward. Digit span forward performance was significantly higher for the right-PFC-dominant group than for the left-PFC-dominant group. Conclusion: These results suggest that the digit span backward task is more demanding and requires greater activation of the prefrontal cortex than the digit span forward task. Our NIRS findings suggest that the digit span backward task involves executive functioning.
Prolactin and Cortisol Responses to Acute Intravenous Clomipramine Challenge in Patients with Mania, Depression and Healthy Controls: Evidence for Reduced Serotonergic Responsivity
Authors: Lykouras L. , Markianos M. , Hatzimanolis Y.
Published: December 2010

Serotonergic dysregulation has been shown to be involved in the pathophysiology of unipolar and bipolar depression. Neuroendocrine challenge tests have been extensively used to investigate serotonin functioning in the brain. Although the role of serotonin has received a great deal of attention using neuroendocrine challenge paradigms, little effort has been made to explore the role of serotonin in mania. We assessed serotonergic neuroendocrine responsivity in patients with depression (n = 22), mania (n = 11) and 15 healthy controls by measuring the prolactin (PRL) and cortisol responses to i.v. clomipramine (CMI) and searched for possible differences among the groups. Blunted PRL responses to CMI in manic and depressed patients compared to healthy controls were found. The response to CMI disclosed similar results for the 2 patient groups. No significant differences were found among the 3 subject groups in the cortisol response to CMI. The blunted PRL responses to CMI in patients with mania and depression suggest that serotonergic functioning in mania and depression is similarly impaired, at least at the level of hypothalamus-hypophysis.
A prospective study of an aggressive warfarin dosing algorithm to reach and maintain INR 2 to 3 after heart valve surgery
Authors: Kim Yang-Ki , Carter Donna , Schulman Sam , Meijer Karina
Published: December 2010

Good anticoagulation control in patients during the first months after heart valve surgery is important to prevent thrombotic complications. This is difficult to achieve, partly because the sensitivity to warfarin decreases progressively during approximately three months after valve surgery. A recently developed, simple but aggressive algorithm might improve anticoagulation control in this patient group. It was the objective of this study to evaluate the level of anticoagulation control when a specialised anticoagulation clinic changed from empirical dosing to the use of this new algorithm. In a before-and-after design, a cohort of consecutive patients managed with a new, aggressive dosing algorithm (‘Algorithm cohort’) was compared to a ‘Retrospective cohort’ of similar patients dosed empirically. Primary endpoint was individual time in therapeutic range (ITTR) during the first three months of warfarin therapy. Secondary endpoints included proportion of extreme International Normalised Ratio (INR) results, thrombotic and bleeding complications. Ninety-eight patients were included in the Algorithm cohort, 94 of whom were warfarin-naïve. Two hundred patients were included in the Retrospective cohort. Mean ITTR was 60.1% in the Algorithm cohort versus 48.7% in the Retrospective cohort (p <0.001). Patients in the Algorithm cohort spent 0.5% of time at an INR >5, versus 0.2 % in the Retrospective cohort. There was no major bleeding in either cohort; one patient in each cohort had a thrombotic complication. We demonstrate an improvement of the level of anticoagulation control with the use of a condition-specific, aggressive algorithm, as compared to standard dosing, in patients after heart valve surgery.
High-shear- and-thrombin-inducible platelet adhesion and aggregation in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention
Authors: Eslam Roza Badr , Reiter Nina , Kaider Alexandra , Lang Irene , Panzer Simon
Published: December 2010

Thrombin-generation and activation of platelets during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) play a key role for early thrombotic events. Heparin and bivalirudin are approved anticoagulants for PCI. We examined the specific effects of these anticoagulants on platelet adhesion and aggregation under high shear conditions, and the presence of excess thrombin. To simulate in vivo conditions that may precipitate a bleeding/thrombotic event, we added thrombin in vitro to blood samples from 89 stable patients who had been randomly assigned to receive heparin or bivalirudin for elective PCI and examined thrombininducible platelet adhesion and aggregation under high shear conditions. Platelet adhesion increased by 10% of baseline with heparin, but decreased by 20% with bivalirudin (p=0.0047). Thrombin-inducible platelet adhesion and size of aggregates was equally inhibited by heparin and bivalirudin. Thus, under high shear conditions and excessive thrombin generation as they occur in atherosclerotic vascular compartments and acute vascular syndromes, heparin and bivalirudin inhibit thrombin-induced platelet adhesion and aggregation to a similar extent, while they have opposite effects on platelet adhesion in the absence of thrombin.

This study was part of the doctorial thesis of NR at the Department of Blood Group Serology and Transfusion Medicine.
The natural tissue plasminogen activator inhibitor neuroserpin and acute ischaemic stroke outcome
Authors: Sobrino Tomás , Miranda Elena , Brea David , Ossa Natalia Pérez de la , Blanco Miguel , Pérez Juan , Dorado Laura , Castellanos Mar , Lomas David , Moro Maria , Dávalos Antoni , Rodríguez-González Raquel , Millán Mónica , Castillo José
Published: December 2010

Neuroserpin is a brain-derived natural inhibitor of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) that has shown neuroprotective effects in animal models of brain ischaemia. Our aim was to investigate the association of neuroserpin levels in blood with functional outcome in patients with acute ischaemic stroke. Due to the potential effect of tPA treatment interfering on neuroserpin levels, we studied two different cohorts: 129 patients not treated with tPA and 80 patients treated with intravenous tPA within 3 hours (h) from symptoms onset. Neuroserpin levels were measured by ELISA. Good functional outcome at three months was defined as Rankin scale score ≤2. In the two cohorts, serum neuroserpin levels on admission were significantly higher than at 24 h, 72 h and in healthy subjects. In non tPA-treated patients, neuroserpin levels decrease at 24 h, but not levels at baseline, were associated with good outcome (for each quartile decrease, adjusted odds ratio [OR] 15.0; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.5 to 66). In the tPA-treated cohort, high neuroserpin levels before tPA bolus had the stronger effect on favourable outcome (for each quartile, OR 13.5; 95%CI, 3.9 to 47). Furthermore, for each quartile in neuroserpin levels before tPA bolus there was a 80% (95%CI, 48 to 92) reduction in the probability of subsequent parenchymal haematoma. In summary, high serum neuroserpin levels before intravenous tPA and neuroserpin levels decrease at 24 h after ischaemic stroke, independently of tPA treatment, are associated with good functional outcome. These findings support the concept that neuroserpin might play an important role during cerebral ischaemia.
Autologous Cardiomyotissue Implantation Promotes Myocardial Regeneration, Decreases Infarct Size, and Improves Left Ventricular Function
Authors: Wykrzykowska Joanna J. , Rosinberg Audrey , Lee Seung U. , Voisine Pierre , Wu Guifu , Appelbaum Evan , Boodhwani Munir , Sellke Frank W. , Laham Roger J.
Published: December 2010

Background—

Cell therapy for myocardial infarction (MI) may be limited by poor cell survival and lack of transdifferentiation. We report a novel technique of implanting whole autologous myocardial tissue from preserved myocardial regions into infarcted regions.

Methods and Results—

Fourteen rats were used to optimize cardiomyotissue size with peritoneal wall implantation (300 μm identified as optimal size). Thirty-nine pigs were used to investigate cardiomyotissue implantation in MI induced by left anterior descending balloon occlusion (10 animals died; male-to-female transplantation for tracking with in situ hybridization for Y chromosome, n=4 [2 donors and 2 MI animals]; acute MI implantation cohort at 1 hour, n=13; and healed MI implantation at 2 weeks, n=12). Assessment included echocardiography, magnetic resonance imaging, hemodynamics, triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining, and histological and molecular analyses. Tracking studies demonstrated viable implants with donor cells interspersed in the adjacent myocardium with gap junctions and desmosomes. In the acute MI cohort, treated animals compared with controls had improved perfusion by magnetic resonance imaging (1.2±0.01 versus 0.86±0.05;P<0.01), decreased MI size (magnetic resonance imaging: left ventricle, 2.2±0.5% versus 5.4±1.5%,P=0.04; triphenyltetrazolium chloride: anterior wall, 10.3±4.6% versus 28.9±5.8%,P<0.03), and improved contractility (dP/dt, 1235±215 versus 817±817;P<0.05). In the healed MI cohort, treated animals had less decline in ejection fraction between 2 and 4 week assessment (−3±4% versus −13±−4%;P<0.05), less decline in ±dP/dt, and smaller MI (triphenyltetrazolium chloride, 21±11% versus 3±8%;P=0.006) than control animals. Infarcts in the treated animals contained more mdr-1+cells and fewer c-kit+cells with a trend for decreased expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and increased expression of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2.

Conclusion—

Autologous cardiomyotissue implanted in an MI area remains viable, exhibits electromechanical coupling, decreases infarct size, and improves left ventricular function.
Relative Merits of Left Ventricular Dyssynchrony, Left Ventricular Lead Position, and Myocardial Scar to Predict Long-Term Survival of Ischemic Heart Failure Patients Undergoing Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy
Authors: Delgado Victoria , van Bommel Rutger J. , Bertini Matteo , Borleffs C. Jan Willem , Marsan Nina Ajmone , Ng Arnold C.T. , Nucifora Gaetano , van de Veire Nico R.L. , Ypenburg Claudia , Boersma Eric , Holman Eduard R. , Schalij Martin J. , Bax Jeroen J.
Published: December 2010

Background—

The relative merits of left ventricular (LV) dyssynchrony, LV lead position, and myocardial scar to predict long-term outcome after cardiac resynchronization therapy remain unknown and were evaluated in the present study.

Methods and Results—

In 397 ischemic heart failure patients, 2-dimensional speckle tracking imaging was performed, with comprehensive assessment of LV radial dyssynchrony, identification of the segment with latest mechanical activation, and detection of myocardial scar in the segment where the LV lead was positioned. For LV dyssynchrony, a cutoff value of 130 milliseconds was used. Segments with <16.5% radial strain in the region of the LV pacing lead were considered to have extensive myocardial scar (>50% transmurality, validated in a subgroup with contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging). The LV lead position was derived from chest x-ray. Long-term follow-up included all-cause mortality and hospitalizations for heart failure. Mean baseline LV radial dyssynchrony was 133±98 milliseconds. In 271 patients (68%), the LV lead was placed at the latest activated segment (concordant LV lead position), and the mean value of peak radial strain at the targeted segment was 18.9±12.6%. Larger LV radial dyssynchrony at baseline was an independent predictor of superior long-term survival (hazard ratio, 0.995;
P
=0.001), whereas a discordant LV lead position (hazard ratio, 2.086;
P
=0.001) and myocardial scar in the segment targeted by the LV lead (hazard ratio, 2.913;
P
<0.001) were independent predictors of worse outcome. Addition of these 3 parameters yielded incremental prognostic value over the combination of clinical parameters.

Conclusions—

Baseline LV radial dyssynchrony, discordant LV lead position, and myocardial scar in the region of the LV pacing lead were independent determinants of long-term prognosis in ischemic heart failure patients treated with cardiac resynchronization therapy. Larger baseline LV dyssynchrony predicted superior long-term survival, whereas discordant LV lead position and myocardial scar predicted worse outcome.
Trends in Out-of-Hospital Deaths Due to Coronary Heart Disease in Sweden (1991 to 2006)
Authors: Dudas Kerstin , Lappas Georg , Stewart Simon , Rosengren Annika
Published: December 2010

Background—

Case fatality associated with a first coronary event is often underestimated when only those who survive to reach a hospital are considered. Few studies have examined long-term trends in case fatality associated with a major coronary event that occurs out of the hospital.

Methods and Results—

Record linkage documented all case subjects 35 to 84 years of age in Sweden during 1991 to 2006 with a first major coronary event (out-of-hospital coronary death or hospitalization for acute myocardial infarction). Of the 384 597 cases identified, 111 319 (28.9%) died out of the hospital, and another 36 552 (9.5%) died in the hospital or within 28 days of hospitalization. From 1991 to 2006, out-of hospital deaths as a proportion of all major coronary events declined from 30.5% to 25.6% (adjusted mean annual decrease 2.2%, 95% confidence interval 2.1% to 2.4%), however, with a larger decline in 28-day case fatality in hospitalized cases (adjusted mean annual decrease 5.8%, 95% confidence interval 5.5% to 6.0%). As a result of the faster decline in in-hospital deaths, the relative contribution of out-of-hospital deaths to overall case fatality increased, particularly among younger individuals (eg, among those 35 to 54 years of age, no more than 10.8% of all deaths occurred in hospitalized cases during 2003–2006). Although female sex (odds ratio 0.85, 95% confidence interval 0.83 to 0.87) and older age (odds ratio 0.972, 95% confidence interval 0.971 to 0.974 per year) were associated with lower risk for initial out-of-hospital death, each successive calendar year was associated with increased risk (odds ratio 1.041, 95% confidence interval 1.038 to 1.044).

Conclusions—

The great majority of all fatal coronary events occur outside the hospital, and this proportion is increasing, particularly among younger individuals.
Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Inhibitors Improve Heart Function and Prevent Fibrosis in Cardiomyopathy Caused by Mutation in Lamin A/C Gene
Authors: Wu Wei , Muchir Antoine , Shan Jian , Bonne Gisèle , Worman Howard J.
Published: December 2010

Background—

Mutations in the lamin A/C gene,
LMNA
, can cause dilated cardiomyopathy. We have shown abnormal activation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and the c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) branches of the mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling cascade in hearts from
Lmna
H222P/H222P
mice that develop dilated cardiomyopathy. We recently showed that partial inhibition of ERK and JNK signaling before the onset of cardiomyopathy in
Lmna
H222P/H222P
mice prevented the development of left ventricle dilatation and decreased cardiac ejection fraction at a time when they occurred in untreated mice.

Methods and Results—

To determine whether pharmacological inhibitors of ERK and JNK signaling could be clinically useful to treat cardiomyopathy caused by
LMNA
mutation, we administered them to
Lmna
H222P/H222P
mice after they developed left ventricular dilatation and decreased ejection fraction.
Lmna
H222P/H222P
mice were treated with ERK and JNK signaling inhibitors from 16 to 20 or, in pilot experiments, 19 to 24 weeks of age. The inhibitors blocked increased expression of RNAs encoding natriuretic peptide precursors and proteins involved in sarcomere architecture that occurred in placebo-treated mice. Echocardiography and histological analysis demonstrated that treatment prevented left ventricular end-systolic dilatation, increased ejection fraction, and decreased myocardial fibrosis.

Conclusion—

Inhibitors of ERK and JNK signaling could potentially be used to treat humans with cardiomyopathy caused by
LMNA
mutations.
Secondary Prevention After Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery
Authors: Williams Judson B. , DeLong Elizabeth R. , Peterson Eric D. , Dokholyan Rachel S. , Ou Fang-Shu , Ferguson T. Bruce
Published: December 2010

Background—

Despite evidence supporting the use of aspirin, β-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, and lipid-lowering therapies in eligible patients, adoption of these secondary prevention measures after coronary artery bypass grafting has been inconsistent. We sought to rigorously test on a national scale whether low-intensity continuous quality improvement interventions can be used to speed secondary prevention adherence after coronary artery bypass grafting.

Methods and Results—

A total of 458 hospitals participating in the Society of Thoracic Surgeons National Cardiac Database and treating 361 328 patients undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass grafting were randomized to either a control or an intervention group. The intervention group received continuous quality improvement materials designed to influence the prescription of the secondary prevention medications at discharge. The primary outcome measure was discharge prescription rates of the targeted secondary prevention medications at intervention versus control sites, assessed by measuring preintervention and postintervention site differences. Prerandomization treatment patterns and baseline data were similar in the control (n=234) and treatment (n=224) groups. Individual medication use and composite adherence increased over 24 months in both groups, with a markedly more rapid rate of adherence uptake among the intervention hospitals and a statistically significant therapy hazard ratio in the intervention versus control group for all 4 secondary prevention medications.

Conclusions—

Provider-led, low-intensity continuous quality improvement efforts can improve the adoption of care processes into national practice within the context of a medical specialty society infrastructure. The findings of the present trial have led to the incorporation of study outcome metrics into a medical society rating system for ongoing quality improvement.
High Dietary Protein Exacerbates Hypertension and Renal Damage in Dahl SS Rats by Increasing Infiltrating Immune Cells in the Kidney
Authors: De Miguel Carmen , Lund Hayley , Mattson David L.
Published: December 2010

The present study evaluated the influence and mechanism of action of dietary protein intake in Dahl SS hypertension and renal disease. Rats were fed isocaloric diets with low (6%), normal (18%), or high (30%) amounts of protein and 0.4% NaCl from 5 to 12 weeks of age; the NaCl content of the diets was then increased to 4.0% NaCl from 12 to 15 weeks of age. Rats fed the high-protein diet developed the highest mean arterial blood pressure and urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio when fed the 4.0% NaCl diet (153±7 mm Hg and 8.0±2.4, respectively) compared to rats fed normal protein (132±3 mm Hg, 1.2±0.3) or low-protein (132±6 mm Hg, 0.3±0.1) diets. Significantly greater numbers of infiltrating T lymphocytes were observed in kidneys of SS rats fed the high-protein diet (18.9±3×10
5
cells) than in rats fed the low-protein diet (9.1±3×10
5
cells). Furthermore, treatment of SS rats fed the high-protein diet with the immunosuppressant agent mycophenolate mofetil (20 mg/kg per day, ip) significantly reduced the number of infiltrating T cells in the kidneys (from 18.9±2.7 to 10.6±2.0×10
5
cells) while decreasing blood pressure (from 133±3 to 113±4 mm Hg) and the albumin/creatinine ratio (from 10.9±2.3 to 5.4±1.2). These results demonstrate that restriction of protein intake protects the Dahl SS rats from hypertension and kidney disease and indicates that infiltrating immune cells play a pathological role in Dahl SS rats fed a high-protein diet. Moreover, the results show that hypertension in Dahl SS rats is sensitive to both NaCl and protein intake.
Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase–Activated Protein Kinase 2 in Angiotensin II–Induced Inflammation and Hypertension
Authors: Ebrahimian Talin , Li Melissa Wei , Lemarié Catherine A. , Simeone Stefania M.C. , Pagano Patrick J. , Gaestel Matthias , Paradis Pierre , Wassmann Sven , Schiffrin Ernesto L.
Published: December 2010

Vascular oxidative stress and inflammation play an important role in angiotensin II–induced hypertension, and mitogen-activated protein kinases participate in these processes. We questioned whether mitogen-activated protein kinase–activated protein kinase 2 (MK2), a downstream target of p38 mitogen–activated protein kinase, is involved in angiotensin II–induced vascular responses. In vivo experiments were performed in wild-type and
Mk2
knockout mice infused intravenously with angiotensin II. Angiotensin II induced a 30 mm Hg increase in mean blood pressure in wild-type that was delayed in
Mk2
knockout mice. Angiotensin II increased superoxide production and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 in blood vessels of wild-type but not in
Mk2
knockout mice.
Mk2
knockdown by small interfering RNA in mouse mesenteric vascular smooth muscle cells caused a 42% reduction in MK2 protein and blunted the angiotensin II–induced 40% increase of MK2 expression.
Mk2
knockdown blunted angiotensin II–induced doubling of intracellular adhesion molecule-1 expression, 2.4-fold increase of nuclear p65, and 1.4-fold increase in Ets-1.
Mk2
knockdown abrogated the angiotensin II–induced 4.7-fold and 1.3-fold increase of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 mRNA and protein. Angiotensin II enhanced reactive oxygen species levels (by 29%) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase activity (by 48%), both abolished by
Mk2
knockdown. Reduction of MK2 blocked angiotensin II–induced p47phox translocation to the membrane, associated with a 53% enhanced catalase expression. Angiotensin II–induced increase of MK2 was prevented by the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase inhibitor Nox2ds-tat.
Mk2
small interfering RNA prevented the angiotensin II–induced 30% increase of proliferation. In conclusion, MK2 plays a critical role in angiotensin II signaling, leading to hypertension, oxidative stress via activation of p47phox and inhibition of antioxidants, and vascular inflammation and proliferation.
Dysfunction of the Cholinergic Anti-Inflammatory Pathway Mediates Organ Damage in Hypertension
Authors: Li Dong-Jie , Evans Roger G. , Yang Zhong-Wei , Song Shu-Wei , Wang Pei , Ma Xiu-Juan , Liu Chong , Xi Tao , Su Ding-Feng , Shen Fu-Ming
Published: December 2010

Inflammatory responses are associated with the genesis and progression of end-organ damage (EOD) in hypertension. A role for the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR) in inflammation has recently been identified. We tested the hypothesis that α7nAChR dysfunction contributes to hypertensive EOD. In both spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and rats with abdominal aorta coarctation–induced hypertension, atropine-induced tachycardia was blunted compared with normotensive controls. Both models of hypertension were associated with deficits in expression of the vesicular acetylcholine transporter and the α7nAChR in cardiovascular tissues. In hypertension induced by abdominal aorta coarctation, deficits in aortic vesicular acetylcholine transporter and α7nAChR were present both above and below the coarctation site, indicating that they were independent of the level of arterial pressure itself. Hypertension in 40-week-old SHRs was associated with cardiac and aortic hypertrophy. Morphological abnormalities consistent with EOD, along with elevated tissue levels of proinflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, and interleukin-6) were observed in the heart, kidney, and aorta. Chronic treatment of SHRs with the α7nAChR agonist PNU-282987 relieved EOD and inhibited tissue levels of proinflammatory cytokines and activation of nuclear factor κB. Greater serum levels of proinflammatory cytokines and more severe damage in the heart, aorta, and kidney were seen in α7nAChR
−/−
mice subjected to 2-kidney-1-clip surgery than in wild-type mice. A deficit in the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway appears to contribute to the pathogenesis of EOD in models of hypertension of varying etiology. This pathway may provide a new target for preventing cardiovascular disease resulting from hypertension.
Transiency in Urban Schools
Authors: Nevárez-La Torre Aida A.
Published: December 2010

Many urban classrooms are facing an influx of students who are transient, part of migrant families who decide to reside in cities and large urban centers looking for financial stability and better educational opportunities for their children. This represents a different challenge for English as a second language, bilingual, and mainstream teachers who might not be equipped to work with English language learners (ELLs) who have a transient background and speak a language for which few instructional resources exist. Reviewing the scholarly literature, the author investigates salient issues of providing quality education for the sons and daughters of migrant workers, who before residing in urban areas experienced a nomad lifestyle while working migrant jobs. The author also poses some of the promising practices that have been suggested by academicians and practitioners to address the many challenges of educating highly mobile ELLs.
Living Doubled-Up
Authors: Hallett Ronald E.
Published: December 2010

Homeless youth face many barriers that limit success in the educational process. Subgroups of homeless youth frequently experience the educational process differently depending upon their residential context. Recent years witness the federal government’s expanding the definition of homelessness to include youth living doubled-up. This residential formation involves multiple families forced to live together as a result of economic crises. Although the largest subgroup of the homeless youth population, they are the least studied. This 7-month multiple case study of 4 adolescents living in Los Angeles uses data gathered from interviews, observations, and document analysis to explore how this residential context shapes educational participation. In particular, the division of labor and presence of a head of household influence how youth participated in school. Findings suggest (a) families have multiple ways of arranging doubled-up residences, and, (b) how the families structure the doubled-up residences influences educational participation.
Exploring Teachers’ Racial Attitudes in a Racially Transitioning Society
Authors: Frankenberg Erica
Published: December 2010

The growing diversity of America’s public school enrollment makes it essential that all teachers be prepared for teaching students from diverse backgrounds. This paper explores the racial attitudes of teachers, specifically probing whether, and if so how, they may differ across schools of different student racial contexts. In particular, this paper compares how diverse or segregated schools, conceptualized in three different ways, may impact teachers’ racial attitudes and awareness. Teachers’ racial attitudes may influence teacher behavior towards students of different racial backgrounds, and relate to other aspects of professional behavior and decision-making. School racial context, particularly racial stability, was found to be an important predictor of teachers’ racial attitudes. This paper illuminates important patterns to consider and study further as the racial composition continues to become more diverse and school racial contexts become more complex in terms of composition, stability, and in relation to district composition.
Civil service pay reforms in Africa
Authors: Olowu Dele
Published: December 2010

African civil services have been subjected to perpetual rounds of reforms that have in many cases aggravated problems because the core issue of how to pay for quality civil service on a sustained basis has not been given the much-deserved emphasis. Many African countries have lost the capacity to pay for a high quality civil service due in part to the poverty of their economies, the structure of politics and administration, globalization, and wrong-headed reform programmes. A few countries in the region have adopted a strategic performance management approach to civil service reform that aligns the diversity of reform efforts in the public service. This strategy focuses attention on performance and productivity, the attraction and retention of skilled staff and senior management who in turn oversee a new culture of accountable use of resources for results. All of these are core to improving pay and the quantity, quality and performance of the civil service and the state in the region.

Points for practitioners

New proposals for civil service reform and civil service pay are made after contrasting failed and more successful approaches. These follow a discussion of the key human resource dilemmas presently confronting most of the African civil services.
Redefining political-administrative relationships in South Africa
Authors: Cameron Robert
Published: December 2010

This article is an overview of shifting political—administrative relationships in South Africa, with particular reference to growing politicization (partisan control of the bureaucracy). Studies of politicization of public services are important because political involvement in management has often led to negative effects on service delivery. The article sets out a theoretical framework for political—administrative relationships, examining the growing politicization of public services, the impact of New Public Management (NPM) and political—administrative relationships in developing countries. It then looks at political—administrative relationships in South Africa, including the apartheid history, the development of a new framework in the democratic South Africa and politicization in the staffing of the public service. It examines three functional areas — the decentralization of powers, contract appointments and performance management — and discusses the implications of this changing framework for service delivery. The methodology consisted of interviews with a number of senior government officials, including three current directors-general and a former Minister for the Public Service and Administration, an analysis of government legislation, Public Service Commission (PSC) data including surveys, unpublished data of the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA), policy papers of the African National Congress (ANC) and an Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) study of political involvement in bureaucracies. The article concludes that growing politicization of the public service has contributed to poor service delivery, and that the South African government needs to place greater emphasis on merit as the basis for appointments and promotions.

Points for practitioners

This article is useful for professionals working in public management and administration because it looks at the following debates and issues, which have practical implications: frameworks for understanding political—administrative relationships in the public service; the impact of the politicization of staff in the public service; and how merit-based appointment can improve government effectiveness. The article also offers lessons to developing countries wishing to create more professional public services.
Comparative public administration and Africa
Authors: Jreisat Jamil
Published: December 2010

The objectives of this article are to (1) define the contributions of the Comparative Public Administration to knowledge of governance, management of public services, and national development; (2) assess the relevance of these contributions to the African experience; (3) examine how comparative research, despite certain limitations, had steered public administration out of its ethnocentric and provincial mode of analysis into a wider global horizon of search and discovery; and (4) examine the relevance of development administration concepts to practice in Africa, particularly during the formative phase of post-colonial experience. The article offers suggestions for change strategies.

Points for practitioners

Comparing public administration practices of a country with those of other countries, with past performance, or with benchmarks is vital for administrative improvement and for developing reform strategies. Administrative knowledge, derived through cross-cultural comparative analysis, provides a broader horizon for the practitioner of management and better understanding of the larger context of governance. Also, comparison provides the practitioner with significant insights into policies and actions that work and those that do not work at the local, national, and global levels.
Effect of short carbon fiber surface treatment on composite properties
Authors: Mahta Sadegh Vishkaei  , Mohamad Amran Mohd Salleh  , Yunus Robiah , Dayang Radhiah Awang Biak  , Danafar Firoozeh , Mirjalili Fatemeh
Published: December 2010

The effects of whiskerized carbon fibers (WCF) embedded as filler into polymer matrix were investigated. In this respect, composites consisting of pure polypropylene and also carbon fiber (CF)/polypropylene (PP) was fabricated and compared. Polypropylene matrix was reinforced with 2% concentration of WCF and prepared by a melt-mixing method. The tensile test indicated that the addition of 2% WCF enhanced the tensile strength and Young’s modulus by 38.1% and 28.2%, respectively. Besides that, the elongation was decreased for that sample. Dynamic mechanical analysis showed an increase of 39.2% in the stiffness of the WCF/PP composite and an improvement in the storage modulus. The tan δ for the sample was also smaller than unfilled PP and CF/PP composites. Furthermore, thermogravimetric analyses in an inert atmosphere showed a shift of temperature to the higher temperature with the addition of fillers.
Investigations on the development of the permeability properties of binary blended concrete with nano-SiO2 particles
Authors: Alireza Naji Givi  , Suraya Abdul Rashid  , Aziz Farah Nora A. , Mohamad Amran Mohd Salleh
Published: December 2010

Water permeability of cement-based concrete has been recognized as a critical intrinsic property highly affecting the durability of reinforced concrete. An experimental study was done, designed to examine the water permeability and setting time of Portland cement mortar with nano-SiO2 admixed at 0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2 wt% of cement. The percentage, velocity, and coefficient of water absorption tests results showed that the incorporation of nano-SiO2 particles improved the water penetration resistance of the binary-blended concrete. Such improvements were especially significant when using 2 wt% of nano-SiO2. The experimental results revealed that the admixing of nano-SiO2 particles not only led to denser cement mortar but also changed the morphology of cement hydration products. Mechanisms were proposed to explain the physicochemical changes induced by the nano-SiO2 particles and the specific surface area of them is demonstrated as one of the key factors. Considering the higher strength and durability is promising their use in binary-blended concrete.
Dielectric enhancement in cadmium sulfide—poly(methacrylic acid-ethylene glycol dimethacrylic acid) nanocomposite through interfacial interaction
Authors: Nur Hadi , Rismana Eriawan , Endud Salasiah
Published: December 2010

Dielectrical property on poly(methacrylic acid-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) [P(MAA-EDMA)] attached with nanosized CdS particles have been studied. The attachment of CdS nanoparticles alters the dielectric property of CdS-P(MAA-EDMA) samples. By addition of a certain amount of CdS nanoparticles, the dielectric constant at room temperature and 100 Hz of the CdS-P(MAA-EDMA) is enhanced by ca. 500 times, which is attributed to the interfacial interaction of CdS nanoparticles with polymer surface. The large value of dielectric constant is due to interfacial space charge polarization.
Emotional Relationships in Mothers and Infants
Authors: Bornstein Marc H. , Putnick Diane L. , Suwalsky Joan T. D. , Venuti Paola , de Falco Simona , de Galperín Celia Zingman , Gini Motti , Tichovolsky Marianne Heslington
Published: December 2010

This study uses country and regional contrasts to examine culture-common and community-specific variation in mother-infant emotional relationships. Altogether, 220 Argentine, Italian, and U.S. American mothers and their daughters and sons, living in rural and metropolitan settings, were observed at home at infant age 5 months. Both variable- and person-centered perspectives of dyadic emotional relationships were analyzed. Supporting the notion that adequate emotional relationships are a critical and culture-common characteristic of human infant development, across all samples most dyads scored in the adaptive range in terms of emotional relationships. Giving evidence of community-specific characteristics, Italian mothers were more sensitive, and Italian infants more responsive, than Argentine and U.S. mothers and infants; in addition, rural mothers were more intrusive than metropolitan mothers and rural dyads more likely than expected to be classified as midrange in emotional relationships and less likely to be classified as high in emotional relationships. Adaptive emotional relationships appear to be a culture-common characteristic of mother-infant dyads near the beginning of life, but this relational construct is moderated by a community-specific (country and regional) context.
Should I Use a Classroom Microphone?
Authors: Salvador Karen
Published: December 2010

Music teachers in all specialties seem to struggle with voice problems. Although little research has been done specifically regarding music teachers, teachers in general are known to be at risk for developing voice disorders that can lead to difficulty teaching or even to leaving the profession. In an attempt to prevent this, some teachers have adopted use of a microphone in the classroom. However, many teachers use a microphone (or refuse to use a microphone) with little awareness of the impact this could have on their voices or on the classroom climate. This article presents a literature-based exploration of the pros and cons of using a microphone in the music classroom, illustrated by a case study of one choir teacher.
The National Standards for Music Education
Authors: Frederickson Matthew L.
Published: December 2010

The opportunity for individualized instruction in the college studio allows the studio teacher to be a strong influence on the development of music students. The private studio can be an arena for standards implementation, bringing all aspects of a comprehensive music education to fruition. The college studio teacher is often the only teacher who has individual, one-on-one experience with students throughout their undergraduate careers, and the convictions and teaching style of this studio professor could influence a novice music educator. College music studios, therefore, offer a look at the extent to which and how students are given opportunities to make these connections and to develop thinking about the importance of a comprehensive approach to their own musical development. If the goal of studio teaching is to develop musicianship and to foster lifelong pursuit of musical knowledge and understanding, then instructors might benefit from a standards-based teaching philosophy. Such a philosophy has the potential to revolutionize how future students view a complete music education. In this article, the author examines options for integrating each of the National Standards for Music Education into the private lesson studio.
Introducing Creativity in the Ensemble Setting
Authors: Norris Charles E.
Published: December 2010

This article explores realistic ways with which ensemble conductors can facilitate the conceptual acquisition of their students via creative activities. Creativity, as included in the National Standards, is presented through the “eyes” of comprehensive musicianship.
Belfast Intonation and Speaker Gender
Authors: Lowry Orla
Published: December 2010

Literature on the Belfast dialect of English typically describes it as one that is characterized by a rise-plateau nuclear pattern in declaratives. Informal listening suggests, however, that a falling nuclear pattern is employed in several instances, and its use appears to be gender related, in that it is found more frequently in female speech. A production study is carried out to discover the frequency of production of falling nuclear patterns in male and female speakers, and a perception test on Belfast speakers provides evidence that the use of falling nuclear pattern creates impressions of expressivity, emotional engagement, enthusiasm, and commitment to establishing effective interaction with the participant in the speech event.
To Split or to Not Split
Authors: Perales-Escudero Moisés D.
Published: December 2010

This article reviews the history of the proscription of the English split infinitive and presents a corpus-based investigation of its present usage and distribution across registers in American English. Using archival research, the article traces the history of the proscription and offers historical examples of its use. Contrary to popular belief, the historical review of prescriptive sources reveals not a Latin origin for the proscription but a German one. Thus, an ideology of Teutonic kinship seems to have at least partially driven the proscription of the split infinitive. Latin-based proscriptions seemed not to have existed in written form, or if they did, they did not survive. The Corpus of Contemporary American English (COCA) was used to investigate the presence of multiword lexical items including the split infinitive. Combinations of “ to + adverb” were identified in the different COCA registers. Distinct bigrams and trigrams emerge in the different registers of the COCA, but it does not seem to be the case that oral registers, where the force of the proscription would be less strong, influence the emergence of split infinitive patterns in written registers. The results are discussed within the framework of prescriptivist ideology, grammaticalization, and idiomaticity.
The Science of Pronominal Usage
Authors: Grund Peter
Published: December 2010

This article explores the variation between he and it in coreference to inanimate entities (such as mercury, sulfur, and salt). Using alchemical texts from the fifteenth century as material, the article demonstrates that there was much more variation in pronominal reference in this period than has previously been shown. Of the possible explanations suggested by previous research, the earlier grammatical gender system and transference from Latin do not seem to play a role, while pronoun clustering and pronominal reanalysis appear to influence the quantitative distribution. The scale of individuation used by Siemund and Stenroos to explain similar usage is shown not to be a straightforward predictor. Other factors such as personification and perceived similarities between animate and inanimate entities may affect the degree of perceived individuation. The choice of he over she seems to be influenced by pronominal reanalysis and straightforward personification in some cases. In other instances, it is speculated that the he usage reflects (stereotypical) gender conceptions in the Middle Ages.