bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Life and death in party city
Authors: Kingstone Heidi
Published: December 2007

An experienced international correspondent, Kingstone returns from Afghanistan to report on the problems of the media there: “Neither the Government nor the public understands what freedom of the press means… The idea that it is the responsibility of the fledgling media to hold the Government accountable for its actions and also for the media to be held accountable for what it writes is unfathomable. Afghan journalists are intimidated and are vulnerable in ways that Western journalists can only imagine, so the independence, freedom and diversity are extremely fragile concepts.” And she concludes: “If Afghanistan’s journalism is to flourish – and it’s a big if – among the issues it has to look at are convincing the police and other law enforcement bodies that the media is something to be protected, not muzzled or manipulated… The Government has to improve its strategic communications and resist the temptation to blame the messenger. A credible public broadcaster needs to emerge, the funding and manipulation of media from abroad decreased, and a solid advertising market to emerge on the back of a flourishing private sector. In an insecure situation, the media faces a similar challenge to almost anyone and anything else in this country – simply to survive.”
The Socialist Past and Postsocialist Urban Identity in Central and Eastern Europe
Authors: Young Craig , Kaczmarek Sylvia
Published: December 2007

Cities in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) are creating new urban identities under conditions of postsocialist transformation, Europeanization and globalization. Discourses about postsocialist urban identity frequently attempt to `Europeanize' these cities' identity and to obscure elements of the `unwanted past', particularly the socialist, Soviet and Russian pasts. However, those pasts can return to disrupt dominant narratives of postsocialist urban identity. This article analyses how the past of socialism and relationships with Russia and the Soviet Union are treated in the construction of new urban identities in postsocialist CEE, particularly in the case of Łódź, Poland. After outlining the treatment of the socialist past in Polish society and politics, the article analyses the contested construction of a new identity for Łódź. The analysis focuses on the construction of a past multicultural `European' `Golden Age' for the city to create a new identity for it, and how that identity is contested and disrupted by the re-emergence of the city's socialist past and the history of its relations with Russia and the Soviet Union.The article concludes by outlining the broader implications of the case-study for the understanding of postsocialist urban identity formation.
Social Networks in High-Technology Local Economies
Authors: Waters Rupert , Lawton Smith Helen
Published: December 2007

The clustering of innovative industry both demands and creates a highly skilled local labour market. The growth of this agglomeration of labour, it has been argued, benefits both individuals and firms by providing the opportunity for matching labour demand with labour supply,which is crucial to sustaining innovation. Additionally, mobility within the local labour market is argued to be of collective benefit as the movement of the highly skilled within the cluster is a key mechanism for technology transfer and fostering of interfirm links. Social networks (social capital) are argued in the literature to be the medium by which these activities are facilitated and the development of which is key to innovation-based local economic development. This is exemplified by SiliconValley.To examine the universality of these assumptions, this article explores the development of social networks among scientists and engineers in the high-technology local economies of Oxfordshire and Cambridgeshire. Drawing on the results of a postal survey of the engineers, physicists and chemists in the local labour markets of these regions carried out between November 2000 and March 2001, the article considers the networking behaviour of the highly skilled, focusing on the composition and spatial reach of their networks. It concludes that the importance of local networks should not be overstated on the basis that there are distinct differences within two seemingly similar locations and within the professional associations.
Resurgent South Asia
Authors: Agarwal Manmohan
Published: December 2007

This article analyses the performance of the South Asian economies in the context of the evolution of the world economy. Recent years have seen considerable liberalisation of trade and capital flows in practically all countries, particularly developing countries. Trade has, consequently, expanded and developing countries are relying more on private flows than on aid to finance their balance of payments deficits. The performance of most developing countries has suffered since the oil price rises in 1974–77. Asian countries are an exception to this as they have grown rapidly. Growth rates in South Asian countries, after lagging behind those in East Asia, now seem to be catching up. Savings and investment rates have been increasing, as also exports. India, among the South Asian countries, is most likely to maintain a rapid growth rate. Manufactured goods feature more prominently in its economic structure and exports, and manufactures tend to show more dynamism. Also, the rapid growth of exports of commercial services, which have been growing particularly rapidly in the world economy, augurs well for the future.
Insurgency and the State in India
Authors: Tharu Shamuel
Published: December 2007

Securitisation has been the method of choice for non-realist international relations theorists, especially those seeking to understand state responses to terrorism. It has proved effective in discerning various types of actors and the manner in which they respond, legitimise and confer legitimacy on anti-terrorist activity. Securitisation, however, has been unable to address two crucial aspects of the legitimising process. First, it has been unable to negotiate with the fact that in most states (even liberal democratic ones) ‘emergency’ legislation is written into the normal legal structure, hence removing the requirement for securitisation. Second, and following from the first, securitisation actually occurs in many cases without the direct reference to existential threats. Using the Indian state's responses to the Naxalite and Khalistan movements, this article argues for a re-evaluation of the nature of the state and security, if securitisation is to maintain its conceptual coherence and operationalisability.
Well-developed Financial Intermediary Sector Promotes Stock Market Development
Authors: Yartey Charles Amo
Published: December 2007

This article explores the interaction between a kingdom on the Himalayan frontier and colonial rule. Drawing on recent anthropological research regarding the local expression of political sovereignty through 'government by deity’ (devta ka raj), it aims to reinterpret the actions taken by Bashahr’s ruling class in relation to their colonial superiors. As British interests in modernisation and forestry challenged the rulers’ power base, the latter devised alternative methods in order to retain their authority. The increasing contestation of power in the latter half of the nineteenth century gradually polarised the kingdom’s ruling strata between those advocating accommodation to British rule and those bent on retaining their independence. The culmination of this process saw a transformed kingship in early twentieth–century Bashahr.
Internet Infidelity: A Case of Intimacy With Detachment
Authors: Millner Vaughn S.
Published: December 2007

Internet infidelity provides a new challenge to couples seeking to establish and maintain both emotional and physical intimacy. The selected case demonstrates one male marital partner's struggle with intimacy and emotional expression as well as his exploration into the world of cybersex and infidelity. Implications for therapeutic interventions are discussed.
African American Grandparent Caregivers: Stresses and Implications for Counselors
Authors: Kelch-Oliver Karia
Published: December 2007

Many grandparents today have the responsibility of caring for their grandchildren. Although caregiving grandparents come from all racial groups and social classes, single African American grandparents from urban, low-income households are represented at a higher rate than any other racial or ethnic group. As the number of grandparent-headed households continues to increase in society, so do their stressors, and the need to understand these families' experiences becomes more significant. The purpose of this article is to explore the experiences and stresses affecting African American grandparents who are the primary caregivers of their grandchildren. First, a general description of grandparent-headed families (GHF) is presented, followed by a brief history and discussion of the factors leading to GHF. Current research in the kinship care literature on GHF is reviewed. In conclusion, the author discusses research and clinical implications for family counselors working with these families.
Perceived Parental Acculturation Behaviors and Control as Predictors of Subjective Well-Being in Arab American College Students
Authors: Henry Hani M. , Stiles William B. , Biran Mia W. , Hinkle Steve
Published: December 2007

This article reports the relations of the well-being of college students whose parents immigrated to America from Arab countries with their perceptions of their parents'(a) acculturation behaviors (i.e., openness to the American culture and preservation of the Arab culture) and (b) control. Results indicate that the perceived acculturation behaviors interacted with perceived parental control to predict students' subjective well-being. An expected positive association between parental openness to American culture and students' well-being is attenuated among students with autonomy-granting (low-control) parents. Conversely, a positive association between parental preservation of the Arabic culture and well-being is stronger among students with autonomy-granting parents.
Retelling the Story of Couple and Family Counseling
Authors: Blume Thomas W.
Published: December 2007

The dominant story of family therapy, handed down since the 1970s, described brave, creative, action-oriented individuals struggling against repressive tradition to change families' lives. This dramatic story once drew positive responses from professionals and clients but now seems anachronistic as family counseling has become an accepted part of the community. Contemporary practice emphasizes continuity, caring, connection, and diversity in goals and methods. A collaborative retelling of the authors'professional identity story offers couple and family counselors an opportunity to discover new ideas and rediscover collaborative approaches with deep historical roots.
Transformative Aspects of Genogram Work: Perceptions and Experiences of Graduate Students in a Counseling Training Program
Authors: Lim Soh-Leong
Published: December 2007

This study, involving both phenomenological interviews and a survey questionnaire, was designed to gain an in-depth understanding of the “genogram as process.” With a particular focus on the transformative aspects of genogram work, this study examined the experiences and perceptions of eight graduate students as they constructed and presented their genograms in a counseling program. Qualitative analysis of the data involved themes reflecting personal and professional growth, as well as transformations in students' relationships with their family-of-origin. The experience of self in the generational history and legacy of one's family provided a rich context for experiential and transformational learning. In this study, students experienced genogram work as contributing to their development and effectiveness as counselors and highly endorsed such work in counselor training.
Are Demographics Important for Forgiveness?
Authors: Orathinkal Jose , Vansteenwegen Alfons , Burggraeve Roger
Published: December 2007

The current study primarily investigates the effect of age, gender, education, employment status, number of children, and number of years in marriage on forgiveness of first-married and remarried adults. When corrected for marital status (p < .005) and gender (p < .002), there is a significant main effect of number of children on forgiveness. There are also significant main effects of gender on forgiveness when corrected for education (p < .04), number of children (p < .003), and length of marriage (p < .01). Women's forgiveness is found to be significantly higher than men (p < .005, one-tailed, d = .20). Number of children (r = .092, p < .05) and educational attainment of women (r = .098, p < .05) also indicated a significant positive association with forgiveness.
Out-of-Field Teachers and Student Achievement
Authors: Dee Thomas S. , Cohodes Sarah R.
Published: December 2007

This study examines whether subject-specific teacher certification and academic degrees are related to teacher quality. The research design exploits contemporaneous, within-student comparisons made possible by a unique feature of the National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988 (NELS:88). Specifically, NELS:88 contains subject-specific outcomes for eighth-grade students in two subjects as well as data on their teachers for those subjects. The analysis of these data indicates that assignment to a subject-certified teacher is associated with higher test scores. However, these gains appear to be concentrated in social studies and mathematics. Furthermore, the authors also find that subject-certified teachers are not more effective at promoting the intellectual engagement of their students but are more likely to have negative opinions of a given student's performance.
Intensive Remedial Identity Work: Responses to Workplace Bullying Trauma and Stigmatization
Authors: Lutgen-Sandvik Pamela
Published: December 2007

This study investigates the phenomenon of intensive remedial identity work by exploring responses to the trauma and stigma of adult bullying at work. It analyses the narratives of 20 workers who reported being bullied at work, in which they talk about persistent emotional abuse and their shifting, intensifying identity work in response. The following specific questions are explored: (a) what threats to identity does workplace bullying trigger?; (b) what are the types and remedial goals of identity work?; (c) what is the processual nature of this identity work? Analysis resulted in seven inter-related types of identity work: first-and second-level stabilizing, sensemaking, reconciling, repairing, grieving and restructuring. Each of these was associated with specific identity threats and a constellation of remedial goals. Comparative analysis among self-narratives suggested that identity work occurred in three approximate phases associated with abuse onset, escalation and cessation. Findings extend understanding of intensive remedial identity work in the face of persistently traumatic and stigmatizing organizational experiences.
Managing Identity: Identity Work, Personal Predicaments and Structural Circumstances
Authors: Watson Tony J.
Published: December 2007

Social science research can play a valuable role in enabling people to understand how their personal predicaments relate to the broader structures and historical circumstances in which they arise. This was argued by Wright Mills (1970, originally 1959) with his concept of the sociological imagination, a notion of considerable relevance to the identity issues which arise in relation to organizational involvement. Using a rare combination of ethnographic, autobiographical and interview research material, a close examination is made of two managers' identity work and the part played in this by their involvement in one specific organization in particular structural and historical circumstances. In the course of carrying out this study the concept of `identity work' has been developed and refined. This incorporates a clear analytical distinction between internal personal `self-identities' and external discursive `social-identities' with social-identities being seen as a link or bridge between socially available discourses and self-identities. `Managerial identities' take their place among the multiplicity of social-identities to which any particular manager may relate in both their `inward facing' and their `outward facing' identity work.
Rational Expectations or Heuristics?
Authors: Lago Ignacio
Published: December 2007

The process of formation of electoral expectations in proportional representation systems is analysed in this article. Contrary to Duvergerian or electoral coordination theories, by using survey and in-depth elite interview data from Spain in the 1970s and 1980s, it is shown that strategic voting depends on heuristics (i.e. extrapolations from the previous election) rather than on rational expectations. The main implication is that strategic voting is possible in large districts.
Dominant Party Systems and Electoral Volatility in Africa
Authors: Bogaards Matthijs
Published: December 2007

In a recent publication in this journal, Mozaffar and Scarritt claim to have found a puzzling combination of low fragmentation and high volatility in African party systems. However, if we look at national party systems rather than Africa-wide averages, include regime type as a variable and specify dominance, we find three different constellations: dominant party systems with relatively low volatility, non-dominant and pulverized party systems with high volatility and dominant authoritarian party systems with high volatility. The real surprise is that dominant parties in authoritarian regimes have higher electoral instability than dominant parties in democracies. The analyis is based on data from 78 elections in 20 African countries with at least three consecutive multiparty elections.
Redefining accountability in health care: managing the plurality of medical interests
Authors: Sorensen Roslyn , Iedema Rick
Published: December 2007

Conflict in health service delivery is common. It is often attributed to disputes between clinicians and patients or their families about treatment decisions and is particularly common in intensive care units (ICUs), in the form of `futility disputes' between families and medical clinicians about decisions to terminate the active treatment of a dying family member. More common, but less prominent in the literature, is conflict within the medical profession about patient care goals and treatment. We contend that managing the plurality of medical interests is essential in achieving a more managed and positive experience for patients and families of the care they receive, and for achieving standards of quality and resource use. From an ethnographic study undertaken in a large ICU in Sydney, Australia, we found that the knowledge and practice differences of multiple medical decision-makers generated conflict, inconsistency of practice and subjectivity of decision-making that impeded coherent clinical decision-making and integrated patient care planning, coordination and care review. Improving patients' and families' experience of care requires medical clinicians and medical managers to accept responsibility for institutionalizing effective communication and decision-making processes within clinical networks and between clinical and managerial domains. Thus, strategies to improve patient care will need to extend beyond the medical profession to incorporate administrative management. We conclude that restructuring communication and decision-making processes is imperative to achieve clinical accountability in the workplace and systems accountability in the organization.
How does the nation become pluralist?
Authors: Winter Elke
Published: December 2007

This article proposes a sociological framework for the constitution of pluralism within the nation state. Revisiting Max Weber's concept of social closure in light of recent scholarship in ethnic relations, the approach developed in this article first emphasizes the constitution of groups within majority/minority relations. It shows that processes of racialization and ethnicization are at the heart of social relations. Second, it argues that nations are constituted in inter- and intra-national relations of conflict and power. This allows one to deconstruct the civic/ethnic dichotomy without losing the theoretical value of these concepts. Rather than being cultural properties, civic and ethnic forms of nationalism allude to different positions of power held by groups and nations in their respective constitutive contexts. Finally, normative pluralism is defined as being produced through conflict and struggle between the dominant group and various minorities. The article examines the relations between different national imaginations and diverse types of pluralism (e.g. multinationalism and multiculturalism). It also accounts for the intersections between different types of pluralism.
Proteomics analysis of Hodgkin lymphoma: identification of new players involved in the cross-talk between HRS cells and infiltrating lymphocytes
Authors: Ma Yue , Visser Lydia , Roelofsen Han , de Vries Marcel , Diepstra Arjan , van Imhoff Gustaaf , van der Wal Tineke , Luinge Marjan , Alvarez-Llamas Gloria , Vos Hans , Poppema Sibrand , Vonk Roel , van den Berg Anke
Published: December 2007

Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg (HRS) cells in Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) secrete factors that interact with inflammatory background cells and may serve as biomarkers for disease activity. To detect new proteins related to pathogenesis, we analyzed the secretome of HRS cells. Proteins in cell culture supernatant of 4 HL cell lines were identified using 1DGE followed by in-gel trypsin digestion and LC-MS/MS. In total, 1290 proteins, including 368 secreted proteins, were identified. Functional grouping of secreted proteins revealed 37 proteins involved in immune response. Sixteen of the 37 proteins (ie, ALCAM, Cathepsin C, Cathepsin S, CD100, CD150, CD26, CD44, CD63, CD71, Fractal-kine, IL1R2, IL25, IP-10, MIF, RANTES, and TARC) were validated in HL cell lines and patient material using immunohistochemistry and/or ELISA. Expression of all 16 proteins was confirmed in HL cell lines, and 15 were also confirmed in HL tissues. Seven proteins (ALCAM, cathepsin S, CD26, CD44, IL1R2, MIF, and TARC) revealed significantly elevated levels in patient plasma compared with healthy controls. Proteomics analyses of HL cell line supernatant allowed detection of new secreted proteins, which may add to our insights in the interaction between HRS cells and infiltrating lymphocytes and in some instances might serve as biomarkers.
Horizontal gene transfer and nucleotide compositional anomaly in large DNA viruses
Authors: Monier Adam , Claverie Jean-Michel , Ogata Hiroyuki
Published: December 2007

Background

DNA viruses have a wide range of genome sizes (5 kb up to 1.2 Mb, compared to 0.16 Mb to 1.5 Mb for obligate parasitic bacteria) that do not correlate with their virulence or the taxonomic distribution of their hosts. The reasons for such large variation are unclear. According to the traditional view of viruses as gifted "gene pickpockets", large viral genome sizes could originate from numerous gene acquisitions from their hosts. We investigated this hypothesis by studying 67 large DNA viruses with genome sizes larger than 150 kb, including the recently characterized giant mimivirus. Given that horizontally transferred DNA often have anomalous nucleotide compositions differing from the rest of the genome, we conducted a detailed analysis of the inter- and intra-genome compositional properties of these viruses. We then interpreted their compositional heterogeneity in terms of possible causes, including strand asymmetry, gene function/expression, and horizontal transfer.

Results

We first show that the global nucleotide composition and nucleotide word usage of viral genomes are species-specific and distinct from those of their hosts. Next, we identified compositionally anomalous (cA) genes in viral genomes, using a method based on Bayesian inference. The proportion of cA genes is highly variable across viruses and does not exhibit a significant correlation with genome size. The vast majority of the cA genes were of unknown function, lacking homologs in the databases. For genes with known homologs, we found a substantial enrichment of cA genes in specific functional classes for some of the viruses. No significant association was found between cA genes and compositional strand asymmetry. A possible exogenous origin for a small fraction of the cA genes could be confirmed by phylogenetic reconstruction.

Conclusion

At odds with the traditional dogma, our results argue against frequent genetic transfers to large DNA viruses from their modern hosts. The large genome sizes of these viruses are not simply explained by an increased propensity to acquire foreign genes. This study also confirms that the anomalous nucleotide compositions of the cA genes is sometimes linked to particular biological functions or expression patterns, possibly leading to an overestimation of recent horizontal gene transfers.
A nanoplex PCR assay for the rapid detection of vancomycin and bifunctional aminoglycoside resistance genes in Enterococcus species
Authors: Yean Chan Yean , Yin Lee Su , Lalitha Pattabhiraman , Ravichandran Manickam
Published: December 2007

Background

Enterococci have emerged as a significant cause of nosocomial infections in many parts of the world over the last decade. The most common enterococci strains present in clinical isolates are E. faecalis and E. faecium which have acquired resistant to either gentamicin or vancomycin. The conventional culture test takes 2–5 days to yield complete information of the organism and its antibiotic sensitivity pattern. Hence our present study was focused on developing a nanoplex PCR assay for the rapid detection of vancomycin and bifunctional aminoglycoside resistant enterococci (V-BiA-RE). This assay simultaneously detects 8 genes namely 16S rRNA of Enterococcus genus, ddl of E. faecalis and E. faecium, aac A-aph D that encodes high level gentamicin resistance (HLGR), multilevel vancomycin resistant genotypes such as van A, van B, van C and van D and one internal control gene.

Results

Unique and specific primer pairs were designed to amplify the 8 genes. The specificity of the primers was confirmed by DNA sequencing of the nanoplex PCR products and BLAST analysis. The sensitivity and specificity of V-BiA-RE nanoplex PCR assay was evaluated against the conventional culture method. The analytical sensitivity of the assay was found to be 1 ng at the DNA level while the analytical specificity was evaluated with 43 reference enterococci and non-enterococcal strains and was found to be 100%. The diagnostic accuracy was determined using 159 clinical specimens, which showed that 97% of the clinical isolates belonged to E. faecalis, of which 26% showed the HLGR genotype, but none were vancomycin resistant. The presence of an internal control in the V-BiA-RE nanoplex PCR assay helped us to rule out false negative cases.

Conclusion

The nanoplex PCR assay is robust and can give results within 4 hours about the 8 genes that are essential for the identification of the most common Enterococcus spp. and their antibiotic sensitivity pattern. The PCR assay developed in this study can be used as an effective surveillance tool to study the prevalence of enterococci and their antibiotic resistance pattern in hospitals and farm animals.
Trends in influenza vaccination coverage rates in Germany over five seasons from 2001 to 2006
Authors: Holm Majbrit V , Blank Patricia R , Szucs Thomas D
Published: December 2007

Background

To assess influenza vaccination coverage from 2001 to 2006 in Germany, to understand drivers and barriers to vaccination and to identify vaccination intentions for season 2006/07.

Methods

9,990 telephone-based household surveys from age 14 were conducted between 2001 and 2006. Essentially, the same questionnaire was used in all seasons.

Results

The influenza vaccination coverage rate reached 32.5% in 2005/06. In the elderly (≥60 years), the vaccination rate reached 58.9% in 2005/06. In those aged 65 years and older, it was 63.4%. Perceiving influenza as a serious illness was the most frequent reason for getting vaccinated. Thirteen percent of those vaccinated in 2005/06 indicated the threat of avian flu as a reason. The main reason for not getting vaccinated was thinking about it without putting it into practice. The major encouraging factor to vaccination was a recommendation by the family doctor. 49.6% of the respondents intend to get vaccinated against influenza in season 2006/07.

Conclusion

Increasing vaccination rates were observed from 2001 to 2006 in Germany. The threat of avian influenza and the extended reimbursement programs may have contributed to the recent increase.
Coordinate up-regulation of TMEM97 and cholesterol biosynthesis genes in normal ovarian surface epithelial cells treated with progesterone: implications for pathogenesis of ovarian cancer
Authors: Wilcox Cathy B , Feddes Grace O , Willett-Brozick Joan E , Hsu Lih-Ching , DeLoia Julie A , Baysal Bora E
Published: December 2007

Background

Ovarian cancer (OvCa) most often derives from ovarian surface epithelial (OSE) cells. Several lines of evidence strongly suggest that increased exposure to progesterone (P4) protects women against developing OvCa. However, the underlying mechanisms of this protection are incompletely understood.

Methods

To determine downstream gene targets of P4, we established short term in vitro cultures of non-neoplastic OSE cells from six subjects, exposed the cells to P4 (10-6 M) for five days and performed transcriptional profiling with oligonucleotide microarrays containing over 22,000 transcripts.

Results

We identified concordant but modest gene expression changes in cholesterol/lipid homeostasis genes in three of six samples (responders), whereas the other three samples (non-responders) showed no expressional response to P4. The most up-regulated gene was TMEM97 which encodes a transmembrane protein of unknown function (MAC30). Analyses of outlier transcripts, whose expression levels changed most significantly upon P4 exposure, uncovered coordinate up-regulation of 14 cholesterol biosynthesis enzymes, insulin-induced gene 1, low density lipoprotein receptor, ABCG1, endothelial lipase, stearoyl- CoA and fatty acid desaturases, long-chain fatty-acyl elongase, and down-regulation of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein and ABCC6. Highly correlated tissue-specific expression patterns of TMEM97 and the cholesterol biosynthesis genes were confirmed by analysis of the GNF Atlas 2 universal gene expression database. Real-time quantitative RT-PCR analyses revealed 2.4-fold suppression of the TMEM97 gene expression in short-term cultures of OvCa relative to the normal OSE cells.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that a co-regulated transcript network of cholesterol/lipid homeostasis genes and TMEM97 are downstream targets of P4 in normal OSE cells and that TMEM97 plays a role in cholesterol and lipid metabolism. The P4-induced alterations in cholesterol and lipid metabolism in OSE cells might play a role in conferring protection against OvCa.
Group cognitive behavior therapy for Japanese patients with social anxiety disorder: preliminary outcomes and their predictors
Authors: Chen Junwen , Nakano Yumi , Ietzugu Tetsuji , Ogawa Sei , Funayama Tadashi , Watanabe Norio , Noda Yumiko , Furukawa Toshi A
Published: December 2007

Background

A number of studies have provided strong evidence for the use of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) in the treatment of social anxiety disorder (SAD). However, all of the previous reports were from Europe and North America and it is unknown whether Western psychological therapies are effective for SAD in non-Western cultures. The present pilot study aimed to evaluate CBT program for SAD which was originally developed for Western patients, among Japanese patients.

Methods

Fifty-seven outpatients who participated in group CBT for SAD were evaluated using eight self-reported and one clinician-administered questionnaires to measure various aspects of SAD symptomatology at the beginning and at the end of the program. Pre- and post-treatment scores were compared and the magnitude of treatment effect was quantified as well based once on the intention-to-treat (ITT) and once among the completers only. We also examined baseline predictors of the CBT outcomes.

Results

Seven patients (12%) did not complete the program. For the ITT sample, the percentage of reduction was 20% to 30% and the pre to post treatment effect sizes ranged from 0.37 to 1.01. Among the completers, the respective figures were 20% to 33% and 0.41 to 1.19. We found no significant pretreatment predictor of the outcomes.

Conclusion

Group CBT for SAD is acceptable and can bring about a similar degree of symptom reduction among Japanese patients with SAD as among Western patients.
GADD153 expression does not necessarily correlate with changes in culture behavior of hybridoma cells
Authors: Mallory Matthew , Chartrand Kevin , Gauthier Eric R
Published: December 2007

Background

The acute sensitivity of some hybridoma cell lines to culture-related stresses severely limits their productivity. Recent developments in the characterization of the stress signals modulating the cellular phenotype revealed that the pro-apoptotic transcription factor Gadd153 could be used as a marker to facilitate the optimization of mammalian cell cultures. In this report, we analyzed the expression of Gadd153 in Sp2/0-Ag14 murine hybridoma cells grown in stationary batch culture and subjected to two different culture optimization paradigms: L-glutamine supplementation and ectopic expression of Bcl-xL, an anti-apoptotic gene.

Results

The expression of Gadd153 was found to increase in Sp2/0-Ag14 cells in a manner which coincided with the decline in cell viability. L-glutamine supplementation prolonged Sp2/0-Ag14 cell survival and greatly suppressed Gadd153 expression both at the mRNA and protein level. However, Gadd153 levels remained low after L-glutamine supplementation even as cell viability declined. Bcl-xL overexpression also extended Sp2/0-Ag14 cell viability, initially delayed the induction of Gadd153, but did not prevent the increase in Gadd153 protein levels during the later phase of the culture, when cell viability was declining. Interestingly, L-glutamine supplementation prevented Gadd153 up-regulation in cells ectopically expressing Bcl-xL, but had no effect on cell viability.

Conclusion

This study highlights important limitations to the use of Gadd153 as an indicator of cell stress in hybridoma cells.
Physicians' migration in Europe: an overview of the current situation
Authors: García-Pérez Miguel A , Amaya Carlos , Otero Ángel
Published: December 2007

Background

The migration of medical professionals as a result of the expansion of the European Union is cause for concern. But there is a significant lack of information available about this phenomenon.

Methods

Search of secondary databases about the presence of european doctors working abroad, through two search engines in the Internet (Google and Pubmed) and a survey of professional organisations and regulators in countries of the European Union.

Results

The United Kingdom has more foreign doctors than all other European countries for which figures are available (Ireland, France, Germany, Norway, Portugal, Italy, Austria and Poland). Some 74,031 foreign doctors are registered in the UK, 30.94% of the total. European countries with the highest percentage of doctors working abroad are Ireland (47.5%, or 10,065 doctors) and Malta (23.1%, 376 doctors). The data obtained from Norway, France and Germany do not indicate an increase in the migration of professionals from countries recently incorporated into the EU.

Conclusion

There is significant mobility and heterogeneous distribution of doctors within the EEA and it should be cause for concern among health care authorities. However, there is no evidence about a possible increase in this phenomenon after the recent expansion of the EU.
Malaria incidence and efficacy of intermittent preventive treatment in infants (IPTi)
Authors: Kobbe Robin , Adjei Samuel , Kreuzberg Christina , Kreuels Benno , Thompson Benedicta , Thompson Peter A , Marks Florian , Busch Wibke , Tosun Meral , Schreiber Nadine , Opoku Ernest , Adjei Ohene , Meyer Christian G , May Juergen
Published: December 2007

Background

Intermittent preventive antimalarial treatment in infants (IPTi) is currently evaluated as a malaria control strategy. Among the factors influencing the extent of protection that is provided by IPTi are the transmission intensity, seasonality, drug resistance patterns, and the schedule of IPTi administrations. The aim of this study was to determine how far the protective efficacy of IPTi depends on spatio-temporal variations of the prevailing incidence of malaria.

Methods

One thousand seventy infants were enrolled in a registered controlled trial on the efficacy of IPTi with sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) in the Ashanti Region, Ghana, West Africa (ClinicalTrial.gov: NCT00206739). Stratification for the village of residence and the month of birth of study participants demonstrated that the malaria incidence was dependent on spatial (range of incidence rates in different villages 0.6–2.0 episodes/year) and temporal (range of incidence rates in children of different birth months 0.8–1.2 episodes/year) factors. The range of spatio-temporal variation allowed ecological analyses of the correlation between malaria incidence rates, anti-Plasmodium falciparum lysate IgG antibody levels and protective efficacies provided by IPTi.

Results

Protective efficacy of the first SP administration was positively correlated with malaria incidences in children living in a distinct village or born in a distinct month (R2 0.48, p < 0.04 and R2 0.63, p < 0.003, respectively). Corresponding trends were seen after the second and third study drug administration. Accordingly, IgG levels against parasite lysate increased with malaria incidence. This correlation was stronger in children who received IPTi, indicating an effect modification of the intervention.

Conclusion

The spatial and temporal variations of malaria incidences in a geographically and meteorologically homogeneous study area exemplify the need for close monitoring of local incidence rates in all types of intervention studies. The increase of the protective efficacy of IPTi with malaria incidences may be relevant for IPTi implementation strategies and, possibly, for other malaria control measures.
Rapid, widespread transduction of the murine myocardium using self-complementary Adeno-associated virus
Authors: Andino Lourdes M , Conlon Thomas J , Porvasnik Stacy L , Boye Sanford L , Hauswirth William W , Lewin Alfred S
Published: December 2007

Adeno-associated virus (AAV) has shown great promise as a gene transfer vector. However, the incubation time needed to attain significant levels of gene expression is often too long for some clinical applications. Self-complementary AAV (scAAV) enters the cell as double stranded DNA, eliminating the step of second-strand synthesis, proven to be the rate-limiting step for gene expression of single-stranded AAV (ssAAV). The aim of this study was to compare the efficiency of these two types of AAV vectors in the murine myocardium. Four day old CD-1 mice were injected with either of the two AAV constructs, both expressing GFP and packaged into the AAV1 capsid. The animals were held for 4, 6, 11 or 21 days, after which they were euthanized and their hearts were excised. Serial sections of the myocardial tissue were used for real-time PCR quantification of AAV genome copies and for confocal microscopy. Although we observed similar numbers of AAV genomes at each of the different time points present in both the scAAV and the ssAAV infected hearts, microscopic analysis showed expression of GFP as early as 4 days in animals injected with the scAAV, while little or no expression was observed with the ssAAV constructs until day 11. AAV transduction of murine myocardium is therefore significantly enhanced using scAAV constructs.
An epigenetic vaccine model active in the prevention and treatment of melanoma
Authors: Khan A Nazmul H , Magner William J , Tomasi Thomas B
Published: December 2007

Background

Numerous immune genes are epigenetically silenced in tumor cells and agents such as histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi), which reverse these effects, could potentially be used to develop therapeutic vaccines. The conversion of cancer cells to antigen presenting cells (APCs) by HDACi treatment could potentially provide an additional pathway, together with cross-presentation of tumor antigens by host APCs, to establish tumor immunity.

Methods

HDACi-treated B16 melanoma cells were used in a murine vaccine model, lymphocyte subset depletion, ELISpot and Cytotoxicity assays were employed to evaluate immunity. Antigen presentation assays, vaccination with isolated apoptotic preparations and tumorigenesis in MHC-deficient mice and radiation chimeras were performed to elucidate the mechanisms of vaccine-induced immunity.

Results

HDACi treatment enhanced the expression of MHC class II, CD40 and B7-1/2 on B16 cells and vaccination with HDACi-treated melanoma cells elicited tumor specific immunity in both prevention and treatment models. Cytotoxic and IFN-γ-producing cells were identified in splenocytes and CD4+, CD8+ T cells and NK cells were all involved in the induction of immunity. Apoptotic cells derived from HDACi treatments, but not H2O2, significantly enhanced the effectiveness of the vaccine. HDACi-treated B16 cells become APCs in vitro and studies in chimeras defective in cross presentation demonstrate direct presentation in vivo and short-term but not memory responses and long-term immunity.

Conclusion

The efficacy of this vaccine derives mainly from cross-presentation which is enhanced by HDACi-induced apoptosis. Additionally, epigenetic activation of immune genes may contribute to direct antigen presentation by tumor cells. Epigenetically altered cancer cells should be further explored as a vaccine strategy.
Agreement between physicians and parents in rating functional ability of children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis
Authors: Palmisani Elena , Solari Nicoletta , Pistorio Angela , Ruperto Nicolino , Malattia Clara , Viola Stefania , Buoncompagni Antonella , Loy Anna , Martini Alberto , Ravelli Angelo
Published: December 2007

Objective

To investigate concordance between physicians and parents in rating the degree of functional ability of children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).

Methods

The attending physician and a parent were asked to rate independently the level of physical functioning of 155 patients with disease duration ≥ 5 years on a 6-point scale ranging from 1 = no disability (i.e. the child can do without difficulty all activities that children of his/her age can do) to 6 = severe disability (i.e. all activities are difficult for the child). At study visit, measures of JIA activity and damage were assessed. Agreement was evaluated with weighted kappa (<0.40 = poor agreement; 0.41–0.60 = moderate agreement; 0.61–0.80 = substantial agreement; >0.80 excellent agreement). Physician/parent evaluations were divided in 3 groups: 1) concordance; 2) parent over-rating = parent assessment over-rated relative to physician assessment; 3) physician over-rating = physician assessment over-rated relative to parent assessment. Factors affecting concordance/discordance were evaluated by means of Kruskal-Wallis or Chi-square/Fisher exact test.

Results

Concordance, parent over-rating and physician over-rating were observed in 107 (69%), 29 (18.7%) and 19 (12.3%) evaluations, respectively. Kappa value was 0.69. Parent over-rating was associated with greater intensity of pain (p = 0.01) and higher Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire (C-HAQ) score (p = 0.004), whereas physician over-rating was associated with more severe joint disease (p = 0.04 to <0.001), higher C-reactive protein (p = 0.03) higher frequency of Steinbrocker functional class = II (p < 0.001), and greater articular damage, as measured with the Juvenile Arthritis Damage Index (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Physicians and parents revealed fair concordance in rating functional ability of children with JIA. Parent over-rating was associated with greater child's pain and worse C-HAQ score, whereas physician over-rating was associated with greater severity of joint inflammation and damage.
Regulator of G-protein signalling 2 mRNA is differentially expressed in mammary epithelial subpopulations and over-expressed in the majority of breast cancers
Authors: Smalley Matthew J , Iravani Marjan , Leao Maria , Grigoriadis Anita , Kendrick Howard , Dexter Tim , Fenwick Kerry , Regan Joseph L , Britt Kara , McDonald Sarah , Lord Christopher J , MacKay Alan , Ashworth Alan
Published: December 2007

Introduction

To understand which signalling pathways become deregulated in breast cancer, it is necessary to identify functionally significant gene expression patterns in the stem, progenitor, transit amplifying and differentiated cells of the mammary epithelium. We have previously used the markers 33A10, CD24 and Sca-1 to identify mouse mammary epithelial cell subpopulations. We now investigate the relationship between cells expressing these markers and use gene expression microarray analysis to identify genes differentially expressed in the cell populations.

Methods

Freshly isolated primary mouse mammary epithelial cells were separated on the basis of staining with the 33A10 antibody and an α-Sca-1 antibody. The populations identified were profiled using gene expression microarray analysis. Gene expression patterns were confirmed on normal mouse and human mammary epithelial subpopulations and were examined in a panel of breast cancer samples and cell lines.

Results

Analysis of the separated populations demonstrated that Sca-1- 33A10High stained cells were estrogen receptor α (Esr1)- luminal epithelial cells, whereas Sca-1+ 33A10Low/- stained cells were a mix of nonepithelial cells and Esr1+ epithelial cells. Analysis of the gene expression data identified the gene Rgs2 (regulator of G-protein signalling 2) as being highly expressed in the Sca-1- 33A10Low/- population, which included myoepithelial/basal cells. RGS2 has previously been described as a regulator of angiotensin II receptor signalling. Gene expression analysis by quantitative real-time RT-PCR of cells separated on the basis of CD24 and Sca-1 expression confirmed that Rgs2 was more highly expressed in mouse myoepithelial/basal mammary cells than luminal cells. This expression pattern was conserved in normal human breast cells. Functional analysis demonstrated RGS2 to be a modulator of oxytocin receptor signalling. The potential significance of RGS2 expression in breast cancer was demonstrated by semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis, data mining and quantitative real-time RT-PCR approaches, which showed that RGS2 was expressed in the majority of solid breast cancers at much higher levels than in normal human mammary cells.

Conclusion

Molecular analysis of prospectively isolated mammary epithelial cells identified RGS2 as a modulator of oxytocin receptor signalling, which is highly expressed in the myoepithelial cells. The RGS2 gene, but not the oxytocin receptor, was also shown to be over-expressed in the majority of breast cancers, identifying the product of this gene, or the pathway(s) it regulates, as potentially significant therapeutic targets.
Determining promoter location based on DNA structure first-principles calculations
Authors: Goñi J Ramon , Pérez Alberto , Torrents David , Orozco Modesto
Published: December 2007

A new method for the prediction of promoter regions based on atomic molecular dynamics simulations of small oligonucleotides has been developed. The method works independently of gene structure conservation and orthology and of the presence of detectable sequence features. Results obtained with our method confirm the existence of a hidden physical code that modulates genome expression.