bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Confirmatory factor analysis of a short form of the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations
Authors: Cohan Sharon L. , Jang Kerry L. , Stein Murray B.
Published: November 2005

The 48‐item Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS) was designed to assess three dimensions (task‐oriented, emotional, and avoidant) of self‐reported responses to stressful circumstances, but results from factor analyses suggest four factors. The present research used confirmatory factor analysis to verify the four‐factor structure for the 21‐item CISS short form in samples of 1,628 undergraduate students and 390 community‐dwelling adults. Factors corresponding to task‐oriented and emotional scales were orthogonal and were well defined by their seven constituent items. The avoidant scale was split into two three‐item parcels that describe specific avoidance behaviors (contact a friend and treat oneself) rather than broad response categories. In the undergraduate sample, depression and anxiety correlated negatively with the task‐oriented scale and positively with the emotional scale. In the community sample, the emotional scale was positively correlated with neuroticism and negatively correlated with extroversion and agreeableness, whereas the task‐oriented scale was negatively correlated with neuroticism and positively correlated with extroversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness. It was concluded that the task‐oriented and emotional scales have potential as measures of two types of responses to routine stressors. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol 62: 273–283, 2006.
Phenotypic accommodation: adaptive innovation due to developmental plasticity
Authors: West‐Eberhard Mary Jane
Published: November 2005

Phenotypic accommodation is adaptive adjustment, without genetic change, of variable aspects of the phenotype following a novel input during development. Phenotypic accommodation can facilitate the evolution of novel morphology by alleviating the negative effects of change, and by giving a head start to adaptive evolution in a new direction. Whether induced by a mutation or a novel environmental factor, innovative morphological form comes from ancestral developmental responses, not from the novel inducing factor itself. Phenotypic accommodation is the result of adaptive developmental responses, so the novel morphologies that result are not “random” variants, but to some degree reflect past functionality. Phenotypic accommodation is the first step in a process of Darwinian adaptive evolution, or evolution by natural selection, where fitness differences among genetically variable developmental variants cause phenotype‐frequency change due to gene‐frequency change.J. Exp. Zool. (Mol. Dev. Evol.) 304B, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Quantitative measurement of hepatitis B virus DNA in different areas of hepatic lobules in patients with chronic hepatitis B
Authors: Mishiro Tomoko , Hamamoto Sachiko , Furuta Koichiro , Ishimura Norihisa , Rumi M.A.K. , Miyake Tatsuya , Sato Shuichi , Ishihara Shunji , Adachi Kyoichi , Kinoshita Yoshikazu
Published: November 2005

Liver histology in chronic hepatitis B is marked by inflammatory infiltration involving the peripheral zones. The cause of such cellular infiltration remains unknown. The aim of the present study was to investigate the amounts of intrahepatic hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA separately in the peripheral and central zones, using laser capture microdissection coupled with real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Fourteen patients with chronic hepatitis B were included in the study. Liver biopsy samples were taken and hepatocytes were microdissected separately from peripheral and central zones. DNA was extracted from hepatocytes in each zone and evaluated the amounts of HBV‐DNA. Immunohistochemical study for hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) was also performed. The amounts of total intrahepatic HBV‐DNA in patients positive for hepatitis Be antigen (HBeAg) were greater than those in HBeAg‐negative patients. There was no difference in HBV‐DNA between the peripheral and central zones. Immunohistochemistry also showed that HBcAg‐positive cells were distributed homogeneously in the hepatic lobules. In patients with peripherally predominant HBV‐DNA, the serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level was lower than in patients with centrally predominant HBV‐DNA. HBV‐DNA was distributed homogeneously in the hepatic lobules. In patients with lower amounts of HBV‐DNA in the peripheral zone, the serum ALT level tended to be higher than in other patients. J. Med. Virol. 78:37–43, 2006. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, inc.
Genotype, phylogenetic analysis, and transmission pattern of occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in families of asymptomatic HBsAg carriers
Authors: Datta Sibnarayan , Banerjee Arup , Chandra Partha K. , Chowdhury Abhijit , Chakravarty Runu
Published: November 2005

Occult hepatitis B is defined by the presence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in the serum in absence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). Studies were conducted to screen for occult HBV infection among family members of HBV carriers, incidentally detected positive for HBV infection with a view to assess the pattern of virus transmission among them. Nested PCR assay, employing independent sets of primers to surface and core genes, was used for detection of HBV DNA in serum samples from 28 index cases with asymptomatic HBV infection, and in serum samples from 72 HBsAg negative/anti‐HBc positive family members. HBV DNA was detected in 15 HBsAg negative family members of 10 HBsAg positive index patients and was studied in detail. Direct sequencing of S gene region of 25 isolates (10 index cases and 15 contacts) and phylogenetic analysis with data base sequences revealed that genotypes A, C, and D and subtype adw2, adr, and ayw3 were present among them. Evidence of transmission from outside family sources was found in addition to intrafamilial transmission among individuals with occult infection. Mutations in the major hydrophilic loop (MHL) of the S gene region were also detected, including the ‘vaccine escape’ mutation G145R in three cases. Although majority of the occult infection was associated with low viral load, 3/15 (20%) cases were with higher viral load and potential infectivity. These cases are especially notable in diagnostic, blood banking, and transplantation services. J. Med. Virol. 78:53–59, 2006. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, inc.
Virological outcomes in patients infected chronically with hepatitis B virus genotype A in comparison with genotypes B and C
Authors: Kobayashi Mariko , Akuta Norio , Suzuki Fumitaka , Suzuki Yoshiyuki , Arase Yasuji , Ikeda Kenji , Hosaka Tetsuya , Saitoh Satoshi , Kobayashi Masahiro , Someya Takashi , Sato Junko , Watabiki Sachiyo , Miyakawa Yuzo , Kumada Hiromitsu
Published: November 2005

In a single hospital in Tokyo, the 87 patients infected persistently with hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotype A, the 413 with B, and the 3,389 with C were compared for virological outcome. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was cleared from the serum in 12% (3/26), 2% (2/112), and 3% (23/826) of patients with genotypes A, B, and C, respectively, at 5 years of follow‐up (P = 0.0395). Hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) was cleared from serum more frequently in patients with genotype B than those with A or C (78% [32/41] vs. 58% [11/19] or 45% [251/562], P = 0.00001) at 5 years. Of the 45 individuals infected with genotype A and followed for 3 years or longer, HBeAg was more frequent (16% [3/19] vs. 73% [19/26], P = 0.0002) and levels of HBV DNA higher (median <2.6 [range: <2.6–5.6] vs. >7.6 [<2.6–>7.6] log copies/ml, P = 0.001) in the 26 patients with biopsy‐proven chronic hepatitis than the 19 asymptomatic carriers. Among the 26 hepatitis patients infected with HBV genotype A, decreases in HBV DNA were less frequent (20% [1/5] vs. 93% [13/14] or 86% [6/7], P = 0.0095) and increases in serum levels of hyaluronic acid ≥10 ng/ml commoner (80% [4/5] vs. 14% [2/14] or 14% [1/7], P = 0.017) in the patients who kept HBeAg than in those who seroconverted or who remained HBeAg‐negative. In conclusion, patients persistently infected with HBV genotype A fare better than those with genotype B or C. However, high levels of HBV DNA continue in those in whom HBeAg persists along with fibrosis in the liver. J. Med. Virol. 78:60–67, 2006. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, inc.
Acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis epidemic caused by coxsackievirus A24 variants in Korea during 2002–2003
Authors: Park Kwisung , Lee Kangbum , Lee Jiwon , Yeo Sanggu , Lee Sunhwa , Cheon Doo‐sung , Choi Wooyoung , Ahn Jungbae , Kim Sunghan , Jee Youngmee
Published: November 2005

A variant of coxsackievirus A24 (CA24v) is one of the agents causing acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis. There was an epidemic of acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis caused by CA24v in Korea from 2002 to 2003. Seventy‐one strains of CA24v were isolated from 159 conjunctival specimens (45%). Most of the patients were school children under the age of 20. The epidemic began in the first week of August in 2002, and spread extensively, with a peak in the third week of September. CA24v strains were also isolated from conjunctival specimens in 2003. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) was performed and sequencing of the 340 bp fragment of the VP1 region of the viruses. Sequencing data were multiple‐aligned using CLUSTAL W (version 1.81). Phylogenetic trees were plotted using TreeView (version 1.6.6). Homologies ranged from 97.7%–100%, depending on geographical regions: from 99.4%–100% in 2002 and 98.4%–100% in 2003. A phylogenetic tree based on the nucleotide sequence homologies formed clusters depending on years rather than on geographical regions. Identities (98%–100%) were found among the Korean CA24v strains, and there was 85%–90% homology between these and the prototype strain. J. Med. Virol. 78:91–97, 2006. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, inc.
Enterovirus meningitis in Brazil, 1998–2003
Authors: dos Santos Gina P.L. , Skraba Irene , Oliveira Denise , Lima Ana A.F. , de Melo Maria Mabel M. , Kmetzsch Claudete I. , da Costa Eliane V. , da Silva Edson E.
Published: November 2005

Acute viral infections of the central nervous system (CNS) such as acute flaccid paralysis, meningitis, and encephalitis, are responsible for a high morbidity, particularly in children. Non‐Polio enteroviruses (NPEV) are known to be responsible for over 80% of viral meningitis in which the etiologic agent is identified. In the present study, we show the frequency of enterovirus meningitis in Brazil from December 1998 to December 2003. Enterovirus were isolated from 162 (15.8%), of a total of 1,022 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens analyzed. Echovirus 30 was identified in 139 of these isolates (139/162–85.2%). Other identified enteroviruses were: Coxsackievirus B5 (3.7%), Echovirus 13 (3.7%), Echovirus 18 (3%), Echovirus 6 (1.2%), Echovirus 25 (1.2%), Echovirus 1 (0.6%), and Echovirus 4 (0.6%). Patients's age ranged from 28 days to 68 years old. The most frequent symptoms were fever (77%), headache (69.5%), vomiting (71.3%), neck stiffness (41.3%), convulsion (7.1%), and diarrhea (3.7%). Although, the majority of the patients recovered without any complication or permanent squeal, five deaths occurred. Throughout the surveillance period, five viral meningitis outbreaks were confirmed: four in the Southern Brazil and one in the Northeast Brazil. Echovirus 30 was responsible for four out of the five outbreaks while Echovirus 13 caused the fifth one. Besides the outbreaks, 734 sporadic cases were also identified during the study period and 59 of these were positive for virus isolation (8%). Echovirus 30 accounted for 70% of the isolates. Our results showed that Echovirus 30 was the most prevalent etiological agent of viral meningitis in Brazil, causing both outbreaks and sporadic cases. J. Med. Virol. 78:98–104, 2006. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, inc.
Seroepidemiology of hepatitis A, B, C, and E viruses infection among preschool children in Taiwan
Authors: Lin Jye‐Bin , Lin Ding‐Bang , Chen Shiuan‐Chih , Chen Pao‐San , Chen Wen‐Kang
Published: November 2005

Taiwan was a hyperendemic area for hepatitis A and B viruses (HAV and HBV) infection before late 1980s. To study the seroprevalence of hepatitis A, B, C, and E viruses (HCV and HEV) infection among preschool children in Taiwan, a community‐based survey was carried out in 54 kindergartens in 10 urban areas, 10 rural areas, and 2 aboriginal areas randomly selected through stratified sampling. Serum specimens of 2,538 preschool children were screened for the hepatitis A, C, and E antibodies by a commercially available enzyme immunoassay and for HBV markers by radioimmunoassay methods. The multivariate‐adjusted odd ratios (OR) with their 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated through the multiple logistic regression analysis. Females had a statistically significantly higher HAV seroprevalence than males. The seroprevalence of HCV infection increased significantly with age. The larger the sibship size, the higher the seroprevalence of HBV infection. Aboriginal children had a significantly higher seroprevalence of HBV and HEV infection and lower seroprevalence of HCV infection than non‐aboriginal children. A significantly higher seroprevalence of HBV infection was found in rural children than urban children. There was no significant association between serostatus of HAV and HEV infection and between serostatus of HBV and HCV infection among preschool children in Taiwan. The poor environmental and hygienic conditions in the aboriginal areas might play a role in infection with HBV and HEV. J. Med. Virol. 78:18–23, 2006. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, inc.
Altered knee kinematics in ACL‐deficient non‐copers: A comparison using dynamic MRI
Authors: Barrance Peter J. , Williams Glenn N. , Snyder‐Mackler Lynn , Buchanan Thomas S.
Published: November 2005

Kinematics measured during a short arc quadriceps knee extension exercise were compared in the knees of functionally unstable ACL‐deficient patients, these patients' uninjured knees, and uninjured control subjects' knees. Cine phase contrast dynamic magnetic resonance imaging, in combination with a model‐based tracking algorithm developed by the authors, was used to measure tibiofemoral kinematics as the subjects performed the active, supine posture knee extension exercise in the terminal 30 degrees of motion. Two determinants of tibiofemoral motion were measured: anterior/posterior location of the tibia relative to the femur, and axial rotation of the tibia relative to the femur. We hypothesized that more anterior tibial positioning, as well as differences in axial tibial rotation patterns, would be observed in ACL‐deficient (ACL‐D) knees when compared to uninjured knees. Multifactor ANOVA analyses were used to determine the dependence of the kinematic variables on (i) side (injured vs. uninjured, matched by subject in the control group), (ii) flexion angle measured at five‐degree increments, and (iii) subject group (ACL‐injured vs. control). Statistically significant anterior translation and external tibial rotation (screw home motion) accompanying knee extension were found. The ACL‐D knees of the injured group exhibited significantly more anterior tibial positioning than the uninjured knees of these subjects (average difference over extension range = 3.4 ± 2.8 mm, p < 0.01 at all angles compared), as well as the matched knees of the control subjects. There was a significant effect of interaction between side and subject group on A/P tibial position. We did not find significant differences in external tibial rotation associated with ACL deficiency. The changes to active joint kinematics documented in this entirely noninvasive study may contribute to cartilage degradation in ACL‐D knees, and encourage more extensive investigations using similar methodology in the future. © 2005 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res
Composition and transport properties of human ankle and knee cartilage
Authors: Fetter Nicole L. , Leddy Holly A. , Guilak Farshid , Nunley James A.
Published: November 2005

The incidence of osteoarthritis is significantly higher in the knee as compared to the ankle, suggesting that differences in the properties of cartilage from these joints may contribute to the development of osteoarthritis. As an avascular tissue, articular cartilage depends primarily upon diffusion for molecular transport. The goal of this study was to determine if differences in the structure and composition between ankle and knee cartilage were also reflected as differences in solute transport properties. The diffusion coefficient and partition coefficient of a 70‐kDa dextran molecule were measured in human ankle and knee articular cartilage using fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) and were compared to the proteoglycan, collagen, water, and DNA contents within each zone. The mean partition coefficient was significantly lower in the ankle compared to the knee (0.010 ± 0.002 vs. 0.022 ± 0.003, p < 0.01), but no differences in the diffusion coefficients were observed (34.6 ± 0.9 µm2s−1 vs. 35.4 ± 2.4 µm2s−1, p = 0.70). Ankle cartilage exhibited higher proteoglycan content as well as a trend toward lower water content, suggesting that ankle cartilage has a smaller effective pore size than knee cartilage. These findings suggest that differences in the composition of ankle and knee cartilage contribute to a difference in the partition coefficient. The results of this study provide further support for the hypothesis that the transport properties of cartilage may play a role in the differences in the incidence of osteoarthritis in these joints by altering the effective concentration of growth factors and cytokines to which chondrocytes are exposed. © 2005 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res
Differences in polymeric proteins among grains in spring wheat spikes
Authors: Andersson A , Oscarson P , Prieto‐Linde ML , Johansson E
Published: November 2005

A uniform amount and size distribution of polymeric proteins within grains in a spike might determine the stability of wheat quality. Two cultivars were grown to maturity in solution culture in a climate chamber. Nitrogen (N) in the form of nitrate was added daily and replaced with 15N before harvest. Plants were harvested during grain development. Protein composition and relationships of labelled N in grains from different spikelets within the spike were determined. Higher percentages of large unextractable polymeric proteins (%‐LUPP) and total unextractable polymeric proteins (%‐TUPP) were found in the lower‐ and uppermost spikelets in the spike compared with the middle ones for cv. WL, but not for cv. Sport. Both cultivars showed variations in the percentage of large unextractable monomeric proteins (%‐LUMP) and total SDS‐extractable protein (Tote) in the spikelets within the spike. The amount of total SDS‐unextractable protein (Totu) did not vary for either of the cultivars. The spikelets within the spike showing high and low %‐LUMP and Tote at maturity showed a similar behaviour shortly after flowering in cv. WL, but not in cv. Sport. The N concentration of SDS and sonicated extracts varied along the spikelets of the spike for both cultivars. The atom‐% excess 15N decreased in cv. Sport SDS‐extractable and ‐unextractable proteins and cv. WL albumins + globulins, gliadins and glutenins from grains at different spikelet positions along the spike. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry
Diagnostic radiology and nuclear medicine
Authors: Castillo Ernesto , Lawler Leo P.
Published: November 2005

The diagnosis and accurate staging of esophageal adenocarcinoma remains one of the greatest challenges for non‐invasive imaging techniques. All modalities have limitations and require a rational application of combined tools in order to assess the extent of loco‐regional tumor and distant metastatic disease. The fundamental role remains defining organ‐confined disease and mapping non‐organ confined disease. Endoscopic ultrasound combined with multislice computed tomography (CT) is the mainstay of morphologic loco‐regional staging. In recent years, functional metabolic 2‐[fluorine‐18]fluoro‐2‐deoxy‐D‐glucose (FDG)–positron emission tomography (PET) has emerged as a particularly useful adjunct to detect occult metastatic disease, to predict response to neoadjuvant therapy and to document recurrent disease. The current imaging algorithm and new developments in imaging assessment will be reviewed. J. Surg. Oncol. 2005;92:191–202. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Bangladesh: partnership or posture in aid for development?
Authors: Green Lara , Curtis Donald
Published: November 2005

Government‐donor relations in Bangladesh are shaped by a history of donor dependence and reaction against it. Sustained growth, substantial social sector achievements and a growing proportion of the investment budget serviced from national resources now gives the government confidence and increasing room for manoeuvre. But many in Bangladesh see donor pressure for public sector reform as a sign of low government ownership and a loss of sovereignty in economic management. Donor policies can be seen as a result of ‘group think’ at the top level of agencies, leading to the perception that donors are ‘ganging up’ on the government. Each donor, at implementation level, tends to demand compliance, leaving little room for local interpretation of needs. On the government side the centre—perceiving itself to be weak and subject to sustained criticism—tries to keep a hold on funds and programmes, leaving little room for manoeuvre or discretion on the part of programme‐level officers. The resultant tension between the government and the donor community underlies aid management relationships and stands in contrast to the language of partnership that donors these days propose. This article reviews the concerns of Bangladesh government officials managing aid in regard to donor practices, particularly the difficulties that they perceive in donor conditionality; and donors' seemingly poor appreciation of the government's systems, priorities and limited capacity. Donor perspectives on the other hand are conditioned by the ever‐changing value imperatives of aid as well as the ever‐present need to disburse. Experience with the Local Consultative Group, a donor side initiative to build partnership, illustrates the theme. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Aid management in Cambodia: breaking out of a low ownership trap
Authors: Hubbard Michael
Published: November 2005

Three main observations are made in this article. First, aid administration costs are not regarded as a major problem by government aid recipients in Cambodia. Second, resource availability appears to be the underlying, pressing issue which may substantially determine skill retention, capacity and hence ownership in a government department. This is suggested by the greater ownership exhibited by well‐resourced government departments. Third, reform of aid management practices which focuses on improving continuity of resourcing (e.g. longer term commitments), and joint working with government are likely to be more important than attempts to reduce administrative costs of aid. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Mozambique: the costs of ‘owning’ aid
Authors: Batley Richard
Published: November 2005

Mozambique has only recently emerged from a long civil war, the national political process remains uncertain and the government apparatus is weak. Since its origin as an independent state, the country has been heavily aid‐dependent, but the donor community has come to regard Mozambique as a positive case with a government that is receptive of new policies. In the name of increasing local ownership and of reducing the costs or burdens of dealing with multiple donors, most bilateral donors are seeking to channel more of their aid directly through government into sector and national budgets, instead of bypassing government through donor‐led projects. However, this article argues that the immediate effect may be neither to reduce the costs of aid nor to increase the ownership of government. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Why does aid management in Samoa succeed? a note
Authors: Delay Simon
Published: November 2005

This note is derived from a study of burdens imposed by aid management in three South Pacific islands; Fiji, Samoa and Vanuatu. It suggests that aid management in Samoa is unusually successful in the region owing to the involvement of high‐level leadership in aid coordination and the capacity and stability of key staff. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
On twinning: the impact of naming an EU accession programme on the effective implementation of its projects
Authors: O'Connor Steven , Kowalski Robert
Published: November 2005

The introduction of the Twinning instrument as its principal institution‐building mechanism in countries applying to join the European Union saw the appearance of a vocabulary very much at divergence with the language associated with other ‘Technical Assistance’ programmes. The arbitrary and connotational character of this heavily metaphorical terminology has differentiated Twinning from other programmes in the minds of those involved in the programme. At the same time, however, it has also resulted in a measure of ambiguity and confusion among project ‘partners’—principally over their roles and responsibilities. This problem could be overcome by targeting any one of the three points in Peirce's semiotic model: by changing the signs of twinning; by re‐attuning the users' interpretants; or by bringing the object, the Twinning programme itself, closer to how the signs of twinning are actually perceived and understood. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Human breast epithelial stem cells and their regulation
Authors: Kalirai Helen , Clarke Robert B
Published: November 2005

This review summarizes the current evidence for the existence of human breast stem cells and the pathways involved in their regulation, and discusses how the disruption of these pathways may result in the generation of a population of cells with the capacity for unlimited self‐renewal. Relevant data from mouse model systems are also discussed where appropriate. By understanding the molecular pathways that regulate self‐renewal of normal mammary stem cells, it may be possible to target the activation of these pathways in breast tumours. Copyright © 2005 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Deregulation of the hedgehog signalling pathway: a possible role for the PTCH and SUFU genes in human rhabdomyoma and rhabdomyosarcoma development
Authors: Tostar Ulrica , Malm Carl Johan , Meis‐Kindblom Jeanne M , Kindblom Lars‐Gunnar , Toftgård Rune , Undén Anne Birgitte
Published: November 2005

The naevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome (NBCCS) is caused by mutations in the hedgehog receptor PTCH gene. It is characterized by developmental defects and a predisposition to the development of certain tumours, such as basal cell carcinoma, medulloblastoma and meningioma, and potentially fetal rhabdomyomas and embryonal rhabdomyosarcomas. This study aimed to analyse PTCH status in an NBCCS patient with fetal rhabdomyoma and to investigate whether deregulation of hedgehog signalling, as shown by altered expression of hedgehog pathway components and/or genetic imbalances, is a general finding in sporadic rhabdomyomas and rhabdomyosarcomas. The NBCCS patient had a novel PTCH germ‐line mutation, 1370insT, and developed a fetal rhabdomyoma that harboured a 30 bp in‐frame deletion in the second allele resulting in homozygous inactivation of PTCH. Sporadic rhabdomyomas and rhabdomyosarcomas showed overexpression of PTCH (43/43) and GLI1 (41/43) mRNA, as determined by in situ hybridization, indicating ongoing active hedgehog signalling. Immunohistochemical staining revealed a subgroup of fetal rhabdomyomas and embryonal rhabdomyosarcomas (12/34) lacking PTCH immunoreactivity. Four of nine informative fetal rhabdomyomas and embryonal rhabdomyosarcomas showed loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in the PTCH region with two of these (one fetal rhabdomyoma and one embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma) also showing LOH in the SUFU region. These findings suggest that haploinsufficiency for the two tumour suppressor genes PTCH and SUFU, which are both active in the same signalling pathway, may be important for tumour development. Based on our results we propose that the pathogenesis of rhabdomyoblastic tumours, particularly fetal rhabdomyomas and embryonal rhabdomyosarcomas, involves deregulation of the hedgehog signalling pathway. Copyright © 2005 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Assessment of quality of life and relevant factors in elderly diabetic patients in the Shanghai community
Authors: Tang Wen‐Lu , Wang Yong‐Ming , Du Wen‐Min , Cheng Neng‐Neng , Chen Bin‐Yan
Published: November 2005

Purpose

The study was to assess the quality of life (QOL) of the elderly diabetes mellitus (DM) in Shanghai community and to screen the possible risk factors.

Methods

A total of 951 patients with elderly DM and 1007 elderly subjects with normal glucose tolerance from the same community as control group were enrolled in the study. A door‐to‐door retrospectively epidemiological survey was used to collect data of QOL, demographic, and diabetic information. The SF‐36 instrument (Chinese edition) was used to assess QOL. Multiple stepwise linear regression analysis was also used to identify possible risk factors of QOL in elder DM.

Results

In subjects with elderly DM, the general assessment of perceived health was worse, compared with the normal elderly people; the mean score of multi‐item dimensions assessment had been decreased, the lowest and highest scores of which on SF‐36, respectively, were general health and body pain (ranged from 42.08 to 77.00). Based on the multiple stepwise regression analysis, 23 risk factors entered 9 multiple regressive models (9 dependent variables of which stand for the scores of 8 dimensions and the total score on SF‐36) with different amount ultimately. Within the 13 risk factors that affect QOL of the elderly diabetic patients, the negative correlated factors were gender, age, payment ability of medical treatment, tumor, level of fasting plasma glucose (FPG), medicines purchasing channels, diabetic microvascular complications, diabetic macrovascular complications, acute complications, while the positive correlated factors were occupation, income, exercises, knowledge of DM. The multiple correlation coefficient square (R2) represented the above 13 risk factors had a totally 30.5% impact on the entire QOL.

Conclusions

QOL of elderly DM population had significantly been decreased; QOL of the elderly patients in Shanghai community had many risk factors, which on one hand stated the complexity of elderly DM, and on the other hand gave us many useful and practical methods to improve QOL of elderly DM. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
FDA drug prescribing warnings: is the black box half empty or half full?
Authors: Wagner Anita K. , Chan K. Arnold , Dashevsky Inna , Raebel Marsha A. , Andrade Susan E. , Lafata Jennifer Elston , Davis Robert L. , Gurwitz Jerry H. , Soumerai Stephen B. , Platt Richard
Published: November 2005

Purpose

Black box warnings (BBWs) are the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) strongest labeling requirements for high‐risk medicines. It is unknown how frequently physicians prescribe BBW drugs and whether they do so in compliance with the warnings. The purpose of the present study was to assess the frequency of use of BBW medications in ambulatory care and prescribing compliance with BBW recommendations.

Methods

This retrospective study used automated claims data of 929 958 enrollees in 10 geographically diverse health plans in the United States to estimate frequency of use in ambulatory care of 216 BBW drugs/drug groups between 1/1/99 and 31/6/01. We assessed dispensing compliance with the BBW requirements for selected drugs.

Results

During a 30‐month period, more than 40% of enrollees received at least one medication that carried a BBW that could potentially apply to them. We found few instances of prescribing during pregnancy of BBW drugs absolutely contra‐indicated in pregnancy. There was almost no co‐prescribing of contra‐indicated drugs with the two QT‐interval‐prolonging BBW drugs evaluated. Most non‐compliance occurred with recommendations for baseline laboratory monitoring (49.6% of all therapy initiations that should have been accompanied by baseline laboratory monitoring were not).

Conclusions

Many individuals receive drugs considered to carry the potential for serious risk. For some of these drugs, use is largely consistent with their BBW, while for others it is not. Since it will not be possible to avoid certain drug‐ associated risks, it will be important to develop effective methods to use BBWs and other methods to minimize risks. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Human serum albumin adsorption on poly[(glycidyl methacrylate)‐co‐(methyl methacrylate)] beads modified with a spacer‐arm‐attached L‐histidine ligand
Authors: Bayramoǧlu Gülay , Şenel Ayşegül Ülkü , Yalçın Emine , Arica M. Yakup
Published: November 2005

Poly(GMA/MMA) beads were synthesized from glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) and methyl methacrylate (MMA) in the presence of a cross‐linker (i.e. ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate) (EGDMA) via suspension polymerization. The epoxy groups of the poly(GMA/MMA) beads were converted into amino groups with either ammonia or 1,6‐diaminohexane (i.e. spacer‐arm). An L‐histidine ligand was then covalently immobilized on the aminated (poly(GMA/MMA)‐AH) and/or the spacer‐arm attached (poly(GMA/MMA)‐SAH) beads using glutaric dialdehyde as a coupling agent. Both affinity adsorbents were used in human serum albumin (HSA) adsorption/desorption studies under defined pH, ionic strength or temperature conditions in a batch reactor. The spacer‐arm attached affinity adsorbent resulted in an increase in the adsorption capacity to HSA when compared to the aminated counterpart (i.e. poly(GMA/MMA)‐AH). The maximum adsorption capacities of the affinity adsorbents were found to be significantly high, i.e. 43.7 and 80.2 mg g−1 (of the beads), while the affinity constants, evaluated by the Langmuir model, were 3.96 × 10−7 and 9.53 × 10−7 mol L−1 for poly(GMA/MMA)‐AH and poly(GMA/MMA)‐SAH, respectively. The adsorption capacities of the affinity adsorbents were decreased for HSA by increasing the ionic strength, adjusted with NaCl. The adsorption kinetics of HSA were analysed by using pseudo‐first and pseudo‐second‐order equations. The second‐order equation fitted well with the experimental data. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry
Effects of alcoholic solvents on the conductivity of tosylate‐doped poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT‐OTs)
Authors: Kim Tae Young , Kim Jong Eun , Suh Kwang S
Published: November 2005

The effects of alcoholic solvents on the charge transport properties of tosylate‐doped poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT‐OTs) are investigated. The use of different alcoholic solvents in the oxidative chemical polymerization of 3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) with iron(III)‐p‐tosylate led to a change in the electrical conductivity of PEDOT‐OTs. For example, PEDOT‐OTs prepared from methanol shows a conductivity of 20.1 S cm−1 which is enhanced by a factor of 200 as compared to PEDOT‐OTs prepared from hexanol. The variation of charge transport properties on the use of different alcoholic solvents is consistent with the data recorded by UV‐visible and electrospin resonance (ESR) measurements. From XPS experiments, the PEDOT‐OTs samples prepared from different alcoholic solvents were found to have almost the same doping level, suggesting that the number of charge carriers is not responsible for the change in conductivity. Supported by XRD results, it was found that the use of alcoholic solvents with shorter chain length induces more efficient packing of PEDOT chains. It is proposed that the alcoholic solvents associated with the counter ion of PEDOT via hydrogen bonding give rise to a change in the molecular ordering of PEDOT chains during the polymerization step, hence enhancing or depressing the inter‐chain hopping rate of the resulting PEDOT‐OTs. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry
Electron beam processing of nylon 6 and hydrogenated nitrile rubber (HNBR) blends: 1. Development of high strength heat‐ and oil‐resistant thermoplastic elastomers
Authors: Das PK , Ambatkar SU , Sarma KSS , Sabharwal S , Banerji MS
Published: November 2005

The effects of electron beam irradiation on the morphology, mechanical properties and heat and hot oil resistance of a thermoplastic elastomeric blend of 50/50 nylon 6 and HNBR rubber were investigated. The morphology of the blend was studied by scanning electron microscopy, with special reference to the effects of processing via injection moulding and the radiation dose. Irradiation of extruded pellets at low doses and subsequent injection moulding improved the blend morphology, thereby enhancing the mechanical properties. The tensile strength of the blend increased with radiation dose. The irradiated blends had excellent hot oil resistance and the tensile strength of the blends did not change much after ageing at 150 °C for 72 h. Incorporation of 10 phr SRF black to the blend greatly improved the tension set property. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry
Support and training needs of cancer support group leaders: a review
Authors: Price Melanie , Butow Phyllis , Kirsten Laura
Published: November 2005

This review focuses on the support and training needs of cancer support group leaders. With an increasing popularity of support groups and growing evidence of the crucial role of group leaders in positive patient outcomes, there is an imperative to identify ways of promoting these outcomes and preventing leader burnout, an issue contributing to the demise of some support groups. Despite this, there is a paucity of research in this area. Available research data clearly illustrates that both professional and peer support group leaders recognise their need for better support, training and information. One study of health professionals identified a need for more advanced skills involved in group processes and specific issues such as dealing with the death of members. Specific leader behaviours, in particular active intervention in group interactions and supportive care, have also been associated with improved patient quality of life. To date, there is no clear evidence as to how best to achieve and support these effective group leader skills. While many cancer societies and other associations provide introductory training and information kits about ‘how to start a support group,’ no advanced training or support interventions are available. Further research is needed to provide an evidence base for group leader training and to evaluate the impact of such training on both leader and patient outcomes. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Intrinsic unstructuredness and abundance of PEST motifs in eukaryotic proteomes
Authors: Singh Gajinder Pal , Ganapathi Mythily , Sandhu Kuljeet Singh , Dash Debasis
Published: November 2005

The study of unfolded protein regions has gained importance because of their prevalence and important roles in various cellular functions. These regions have characteristically high net charge and low hydrophobicity. The amino acid sequence determines the intrinsic unstructuredness of a region and, therefore, efforts are ongoing to delineate the sequence motifs, which might contribute to protein disorder. We find that PEST motifs are enriched in the characterized disordered regions as compared with globular ones. Analysis of representative PDB chains revealed very few structures containing PEST sequences and the majority of them lacked regular secondary structure. A proteome‐wide study in completely sequenced eukaryotes with predicted unfolded and folded proteins shows that PEST proteins make up a large fraction of unfolded dataset as compared with the folded proteins. Our data also reveal the prevalence of PEST proteins in eukaryotic proteomes (∼25%). Functional classification of the PEST‐containing proteins shows an over‐ and under‐representation in proteins involved in regulation and metabolism, respectively. Furthermore, our analysis shows that predicted PEST regions do not exhibit any preference to be localized in the C terminals of proteins, as reported earlier. Proteins 2006. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Characterizing the conformational ensemble of monomeric polyglutamine
Authors: Wang Xiaoling , Vitalis Andreas , Wyczalkowski Matthew A. , Pappu Rohit V.
Published: November 2005

Studies of synthetic polyglutamine peptides in vitro have established that polyglutamine peptides aggregate via a classic nucleation and growth mechanism. Chen and colleagues [Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2002;99:11884–11889] have found that monomeric polyglutamine, which is a disordered statistical coil in solution, is the critical nucleus for aggregation. Therefore, nucleation of β‐sheet–rich aggregates requires an initial disorder to order transition, which is a highly unfavorable thermodynamic reaction. The questions of interest to us are as follows: What are the statistical fluctuations that drive β‐sheet formation in monomeric polyglutamine? How do these fluctuations vary with chain length? And why is this process thermodynamically unfavorable, that is, why is monomeric polyglutamine disordered? To answer these questions we use multiple molecular dynamics simulations to provide quantitative characterization of conformational ensembles for two short polyglutamine peptides. We find that the ensemble for polyglutamine is indeed disordered. However, the disorder is inherently different from that of denatured proteins and the average compactness and magnitude of conformational fluctuations increase with chain length. Most importantly, the effective concentration of sidechain primary amides around backbone units is inherently high and peptide units are solvated either by hydrogen bonds to sidechains or surrounding water molecules. Due to the multiplicity of backbone solvation modes the probability associated with any specific backbone conformation is small, resulting in a conformational entropy bottleneck which makes β‐sheet formation in monomeric polyglutamine thermodynamically unfavorable. Proteins 2006. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Energetics and stability of transmembrane helix packing: A replica‐exchange simulation with a knowledge‐based membrane potential
Authors: Chen Zhong , Xu Ying
Published: November 2005

The energetics and stability of the packing of transmembrane helices were investigated by Monte Carlo simulations with the replica‐exchange method. The helices were modeled with a united atom representation, and the CHARMM19 force field was employed. Based on known experimental structures of membrane proteins, an implicit knowledge‐based potential was developed to describe the helix–membrane interactions at the residue level, whose validity was tested through prediction of the orientations when single helices were inserted into a membrane. Two systems were studied in this article, namely the glycophorin A dimer, and helices A and B of Bacteriorhodopsin. For the glycophorin A dimer, the most stable structure (0.5 Å away from the experimental structure) is mainly stabilized by the favorable helix–helix interactions, and has the most population regardless of the helix–membrane interaction. However, for helices A and B of Bacteriorhodopsin, it was found that the packing determined by helix–helix interactions is nonspecific, and a native‐like structure (0.2 Å from the experimental one) can be identified from several structural analogs as the most stable one only after applying the membrane potential. Our results suggest that the contribution from the helix–membrane interaction could be critical in the correct packing of transmembrane helices in the membrane. Proteins 2006. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Pharmacokinetic measurements of IDN 5390 using electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry: structure characterization and quantification in dog plasma
Authors: Song Liguo , Prey Joshua D. , Xue Jun , Kanter Peter , Manzotti Carla , Bombardelli Ezio , Morazzoni Paulo , Pendyala Lakshmi
Published: November 2005

In this report, electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI‐MS/MS) for a pharmacokinetic study of IDN 5390, a novel C‐seco taxane derivative, which is under preclinical evaluation, has been investigated. Our results showed that IDN 5390 and other taxanes including paclitaxel and IDN 5109 could ionize well in not only positive‐, but also in negative‐ion mode. Under collision‐induced dissociation (CID) conditions, these compounds could fragment into similar M‐ (molecular), T‐ (taxane ring) and S‐ (side chain) series ions. In positive‐ion ESI, the formation of both T‐ and S‐series ions involved the breaking of the C‐13 ester bond. In negative‐ion ESI, however, while the formation mechanism of S‐series ions remained the same, the breaking of the C‐1′ carboxylic ester bond resulted in T‐series ions. At optimum collision energy (CE) values, M‐, T‐ and S‐series ions of IDN 5390 in both positive‐ and negative‐ion ESI‐MS/MS spectra had good intensity. This phenomenon makes both positive‐ and negative‐ion ESI‐MS/MS good methods for IDN 5390 metabolite structural characterization, i.e. to reveal the location of modification groups in IDN 5390 metabolites versus IDN 5390 either on the side chain or the taxane ring. A liquid chromatography (LC)/ESI‐MS/MS method using the multiple‐reaction monitoring (MRM) technique was thereafter developed to quantify IDN 5390 in dog plasma using paclitaxel as internal standard. The method was validated using a concentration range between 5 and 1000 ng/mL and had a limit of detection of 1 ng/mL. The inter‐day %CV (%coefficient of variation) of the calibration standards ranged between 4.36 and 9.64%, the intra‐day %CV of the calibration standards between 0.61 and 13.44%, and the mean % accuracy of the quality control samples at the low, middle and high end of the concentration curves were 12.5, 6.8 and 9.6%, respectively. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Satellite rural communications: telephony and narrowband networks
Authors: Conte Roberto
Published: November 2005

Rural communications are important for large and developing countries, and telecommunications systems have been implemented depending upon the available technology at the time. Rural users do not generate the same amount of revenue as urban users do, thus lowering incentives for rural telecommunications investment with service to those regions delayed as long as possible. Voice and data communications are essential to the economic development of a region, and it has been shown that traffic increases rapidly as soon as the service is available. Satellite‐based digital networks provide efficient long‐distance service to rural communities at lower cost than similar land‐based wired networks with acceptable quality. Small earth stations along with Wireless Local Loops can provide both local and long‐distance service efficiently and at low cost, offering digital multimedia services on a global scale. This paper focuses on the description of different narrowband technologies used to service rural communities, namely basic telephone and low‐bit‐rate data (<64 kbps) applications through the use of satellite and terrestrial wireless systems. A basic network economic planning description is presented, and important parameters such as satellite network size, topology and multiple access are identified in order to improve the process of effective and cost‐efficient rural communications network design. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.