bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Religion, social mobility and education in Scotland
Authors: Paterson Lindsay , Iannelli Cristina
Published: August 2006

The relationship among religion, education and social mobility in Scotland is analysed statistically using the Scottish Household Survey of 2001. The large sample size allows much greater statistical power for this purpose than any previous source, and thus allows a more reliable assessment of claims that the stratifying effect of religion in Scotland may have declined. The questions investigated are as follows. What are the religious differences in the distributions of class origins and class destinations, in the movement between these (absolute mobility), and in the association of these (relative mobility, or social fluidity)? Do changes in social fluidity across cohorts vary among people with different religious affiliation? Are there religious differences in the association of origins and education, in the association of education and destinations, or in the role of education in social fluidity, and do any of these vary over cohorts? The conclusions are that, in younger cohorts, there is no religious difference in social status, and that in older cohorts Catholics are generally of lower status than Protestants and the non‐religious. Social fluidity does not, however, vary among religious groups, even for older cohorts, and does not change over time. The reason for convergence in social status of religious groups over time is probably the equalizing of educational attainment among the groups: there is no evidence for any of the cohorts that the labour‐market rewards to education differ by religion.
Gender, technology and jobs
Authors: Brynin Malcolm
Published: August 2006

Men have traditionally gained more than women from access to technologies at work which bring prestige, job security, more satisfying work and higher pay. Typically female jobs have centred on technologies, if they have at all, which tend towards routine and possibly deskilled work. Typing is a prime example. It is possible that this is changing through computerization, which is extensive but also equally distributed by gender. Does the wage premium, which use of a computer has been found to confer on users, benefit women sufficiently to suggest some sort of equalization through technology, or possibly even a female advantage? This is tested using data from four European countries. There is no across‐the‐board benefit from the use of computers. For both men and women it depends on the nature of their occupation. Some, more routine usages of computers are associated with a negative outcome. However, this occupational balance itself varies by gender.
Ethnicity and culture: thinking about ‘police ethnicity’
Authors: Holdaway Simon , O'Neill Megan
Published: August 2006

Research about the development of ethnic identifications within contexts of employment has been neglected, not least by proponents of ‘new ethnicities’. Drawing on evidence from a two year study of Black Police Associations in the constabularies of England and Wales, this paper is concerned with the construction and sustaining of a particular notion of ethnicity, related to police employment. Black Police Association members have claimed a distinct experience of police employment related directly to their being ‘black’ and, therefore, an essentialism forming a boundary marking them off from white officers. ‘Police ethnicity’, however, is a strategic notion that is somewhat fragile and exclusive. The consequences of BPA definitions of being a black officer are explored. The paper ends with a consideration of the wider, intellectual consequences of researching ethnicity within employment.
Towards an analytical theory of social change: the case of China1
Authors: Liu Serena
Published: August 2006

Lockwood argues that contradiction between the core institutional order and the material substructure of a society gives rise to potential social relationships which constitute a threat to the existing institutional order and may lead to change in the type of the society. Parkin, in particular, has advocated the application of the idea to the study of socialist societies. However, the situation of socialist China opposes Lockwood's view in that the new social relationships arising from the changing economic system do not pose a threat to the existing political system. Moreover, Lockwood underdevelops the connection between human action and social structure and does not theorize the mechanism linking system weakness and social change. This article formulates an alternative perspective by building on Giddens's structuration theory and Mouzelis's work on sociological theory. The theoretical framework is applied to China to give a flavour of how social change can be studied.
Hierarchy and the mechanism of fibril formation in ADan peptides
Authors: Surolia Ira , Reddy G. Bhanuprakash , Sinha Sharmistha
Published: August 2006

Familial Danish dementia is a neurodegenerative disease which is a consequence of alterations in the BRI gene. The pathological signatures of the disease are cerebral amyloidolysis, parenchymal protein deposits and neuronal degeneration. Synthetic Danish dementia (ADan) peptides are capable of forming fibrillar assemblies in vitro at pH 4.8. However, the morphology of the aggregates formed depends greatly on the form of the peptides (oxidized or reduced). In addition to long slender assemblies (2–5 nm in diameter and several micrometers in length) we report ring‐like or annular masses (8–9 nm in diameter and 1–2 mm in perimeter) in the case of the oxidized form of the peptides. The reduced forms mainly aggregate to produce granular heaps. The biophysical and kinetic characterization of the process of aggregation was carried out using different spectroscopic and imaging techniques. Neurotoxicity assays performed on both the forms reveal that the toxicity bears proportionality with the aggregate size.
Nitric oxide serves as an endogenous regulator of neuronal adenosine A1 receptor expression
Authors: Jhaveri Krishna A. , Toth Linda A. , Sekino Yuko , Ramkumar Vickram
Published: August 2006

Nitric oxide (NO) radicals are produced during normal cellular function, after tissue injury, and in response to immune system activation during infection. The transformation of NO to peroxynitrite is essential for mediating some of its physiological and/or cytotoxic actions. As the expression of the adenosine A1 receptor (A1AR) is regulated by oxidative stress, we evaluated the role of NO in the regulation of A1AR expression, a G protein‐coupled receptor involved in cytoprotection in the central nervous system. Administration of the NO donor, S‐nitrosylpenicillamine (SNAP), to pheochromocytoma 12 (PC12) cells increased A1AR protein in a time‐ and dose‐dependent manner, with maximal induction observed with 20 µm SNAP at 24 h. The response to SNAP was attenuated by the NO scavenger 2‐(4‐carboxyphenyl)‐4,4,5,5‐tetramethylimidazoline‐1‐oxyl‐3 oxide (C‐PTIO), and by the inhibition of nuclear factor‐κB (NF‐κB), implicating this transcription factor in the regulatory process. In addition SNAP also increased the degradation of Inhibitory κB‐α (IκB‐α), a marker of NF‐κB activation. Furthermore, the induction of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) by lipopolysaccharide increased A1AR in PC12 cells and in mice, whereas the inhibition of NOS activity suppressed this response. We conclude that NO, via the activation of NF‐κB, serves as an endogenous regulator of A1AR, and speculate that the induction of the A1AR could counteract the cytotoxicity of NO.
Regulation of alpha‐synuclein expression in alcohol‐preferring and ‐non preferring rats
Authors: Liang Tiebing , Carr Lucinda G.
Published: August 2006

The α‐synuclein (Snca) gene is expressed at higher levels in alcohol‐naïve, inbred alcohol‐preferring (iP) rats than in alcohol‐non preferring (iNP) rats. Snca modulates dopamine transmission and the dopamineregic system, which play a role in mediating the rewarding properties of alcohol consumption. Thus, understanding regulation of Snca gene expression could provide insight into the relationship of Snca and alcohol consumption. To study regulation of rat Snca expression, 1912 bp of the iP and iNP 5′‐regions were cloned and sequenced. 5′‐rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE), primer extension and RT‐PCR mapped three transcription start site clusters (clusters TSS1, TSS2 and TSS3), suggesting that the Snca proximal promoter region has a complex architecture. This proximal promoter region has three TATA‐less core promoters containing SP1 binding sites, initiator elements and downstream core promoter elements, which are often located in such promoters. Snca‐luc constructs transiently transfected into SK‐N‐SH neuroblastoma cells showed that the region from − 1912 to − 1746 contained a strong core promoter, and that the entire approximately 2 kb region had significant promoter activity. Five polymorphisms identified between the iP and iNP in the proximal promoter region did not influence differential expression between the strains. In contrast, a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at + 679 in the 3′‐untranslated region (UTR) resulted in a 1.3‐fold longer half‐life of iP mRNA compared with iNP mRNA, which is consistent with the differential expression observed between the iP and iNP strains. These results suggest that regulation of rat Snca gene expression is complex and may contribute to alcohol preference in the iP rats.
Noncompensation in peptide/receptor gene expression and distinct behavioral phenotypes in VIP‐ and PACAP‐deficient mice
Authors: Girard Beatrice A. , Lelievre Vincent , Braas Karen M. , Razinia Tannaz , Vizzard Margaret A. , Ioffe Yevgeniya , Meskini Rajaa El , Ronnett Gabriele V. , Waschek James A. ,   Victor May
Published: August 2006

Pituitary adenylate cyclase‐activating polypeptide (PACAP) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) are closely related neurotrophic peptides of the secretin/glucagon family. The two peptides are derived from a common ancestral gene and share many functional attributes in neuronal development/regeneration which occur not only from overlapping receptor subtype signaling but also through common mechanisms regulating their expression. Although PACAP or VIP null mice have been generated for study, it is unclear whether the expression of the complementary peptide or their receptor systems are altered in a compensatory manner during nervous system development. By radioimmunoassay and quantitative PCR measurements, we first show that PACAP and VIP have very different temporal patterns of expression in developing postnatal mouse brain. In wild‐type animals, PACAP transcript and peptide levels increased rapidly 2‐ and 5‐fold, respectively, within 1 week of age. These levels at 1 week of age were maintained through adulthood. VIP transcript and peptide levels, by contrast, increased 25‐ and 50‐fold, respectively, over a later time course. In parallel studies of development, there were no apparent compensatory increases in brain VIP expression in the PACAP knockout animals, PACAP expression in the VIP‐deficient animals, or receptor mRNA levels in either genotype. To the contrary, there was evidence for developmental delays in the expression of peptide and receptor transcripts in the knockout animals. A series of behavioral and neurological tests demonstrated differences between the knockout genotypes, revealing some functional distinctions between the two genes. These results suggest that the PACAP and VIP have evolved to possess distinct biological activities and intimate that the respective knockout phenotypes represent deficits unmitigated by the actions of the complementary related peptide.
Neural stem cells from mouse forebrain are contained in a population distinct from the ‘side population’
Authors: Mouthon Marc‐André , Fouchet Pierre , Mathieu Céline , Sii‐Felice Karine , Etienne Olivier , Lages Céline Silva , Boussin François D.
Published: August 2006

Developing and adult forebrains contain neural stem cells (NSCs) but no marker is available to highly purify them. When analysed by flow cytometry, stem cells from various tissues are enriched in a ‘side population’ (SP) characterized by the exclusion of the fluorescent dye Hoechst 33342. Here, we characterize the SP in embryonic, neonatal and adult forebrains, as well as in neurosphere cultures and we have determined whether this SP could be a source of enriched NSCs. By using specific inhibitors, we found that the SP from embryonic forebrain results from the activity of the ABCG2 transporter, a characteristic of other stem cells, whereas the SP from adult forebrain probably results from the ABCB1 transporter. SP cells from embryonic and adult forebrains, however, expressed a range of cell surface markers more consistent with a haematopoietic/endothelial origin than with a neural origin; NSC markers were mostly expressed on cells outside the SP (in the main population, MP). Moreover, assays for NSC growth in vitro showed that SP cells from embryonic and adult forebrains did not generate NSC‐derived colonies, whereas the MP did. We thus conclude that NSCs from developing and adult forebrains are not contained in the SP contrary to stem cells from other tissues.
MacMARCKS interacts with the metabotropic glutamate receptor type 7 and modulates G protein‐mediated constitutive inhibition of calcium channels
Authors: Bertaso Federica , Lill Yoriko , Airas José M. , Espeut Julien , Blahos Jaroslav , Bockaert Joël , Fagni Laurent , Betz Heinrich , El Far Oussama
Published: August 2006

We have previously shown that the interaction of Ca2+/calmodulin with the metabotropic glutamate receptor type 7 (mGluR7) promotes the G‐protein‐mediated inhibition of voltage‐sensitive Ca2+ channels (VSCCs) seen upon agonist activation. Here, we performed a yeast two‐hybrid screen of a new‐born rat brain cDNA library using the cytoplasmic C‐terminal tail of mGluR7 as bait and identified macrophage myristoylated alanine‐rich c‐kinase substrate (MacMARCKS) as a binding protein. The interaction was confirmed in vitro and in vivo by pull‐down assays, immunoprecipitation, and colocalization of mGluR7 and MacMARCKS in transfected HEK293 cells and cultured cerebellar granule cells. Binding of MacMARCKS to mGluR7 was antagonized by Ca2+/calmodulin. In neurons, cotransfection of MacMARCKS with mGluR7, but not mGluR7 mutants unable to bind MacMARCKS, reduced the G‐protein‐mediated tonic inhibition of VSCCs in the absence of mGluR7 agonist. These results suggest that competitive interactions of Ca2+/calmodulin and MacMARCKS with mGluR7 control the tonic inhibition of VSCCs by G‐proteins.
Growth hormone releasing peptide‐6 acts as a survival factor in glutamate‐induced excitotoxicity
Authors: Delgado‐Rubín de Célix Arancha , Chowen Julie A. , Argente Jesús , Frago Laura M.
Published: August 2006

Chronic systemic treatment given to adult male rats with growth hormone releasing peptide‐6, an agonist of the ghrelin receptor, increases insulin‐like growth factor I levels in various brain regions, including the hypothalamus and cerebellum. Furthermore, intracellular signalling cascades normally associated with anti‐apoptotic actions are activated in the same areas and are coincident with decreased basal cell death. Because abnormally high concentrations of glutamate can lead to overexcitation of neurones leading to cell damage and/or death, we investigated whether administration of growth hormone releasing peptide‐6 attenuates monosodium glutamate‐induced apoptosis in the rat hypothalamus and cerebellum. Glutamate increased activation of caspase 9 followed by cleavage of caspase 7, which in turn fragmented poly(ADP‐ribose) polymerase, terminating in cell death in both the hypothalamus and cerebellum. Growth hormone releasing peptide‐6 reversed glutamate‐induced cell death by decreasing activation of caspases 9 and 7 and poly(ADP‐ribose) polymerase fragmentation. These results provide a better understanding of the neuroprotective role of growth hormone secretagogues and the mechanisms involved.
The cell adhesion molecule neuroplastin‐65 inhibits hippocampal long‐term potentiation via a mitogen‐activated protein kinase p38‐dependent reduction in surface expression of GluR1‐containing glutamate receptors
Authors: Empson Ruth M. , Buckby Lucy E. , Kraus Michaela , Bates Katharine J. , Crompton Mark R. , Gundelfinger Eckart D. , Beesley Philip W.
Published: August 2006

Neuroplastin‐65 is a brain‐specific, synapse‐enriched member of the immunoglobulin (Ig) superfamily of cell adhesion molecules. Previous studies highlighted the importance of neuroplastin‐65 for long‐term potentiation (LTP), but the mechanism was unclear. Here, we show how neuroplastin‐65 activation of mitogen‐activated protein kinase p38 (p38MAPK) modified synapse strength by altering surface glutamate receptor expression. Organotypic hippocampal slice cultures treated with the complete extracellular fragment of neuroplastin‐65 (FcIg1‐3) sustained an increase in the phosphorylation of p38MAPK and an inability to induce LTP at hippocampal synapses. The LTP block was reversed by application of the p38MAPK inhibitor SB202190, suggesting that p38MAPK activation occurred downstream of neuroplastin‐65 binding and upstream of the loss of LTP. Further investigation revealed that the mechanism underlying neuroplastin‐65‐dependent prevention of LTP was a p38MAPK‐dependent acceleration of the loss of surface‐exposed glutamate receptor subunits that was reversed by pretreatment with the p38MAPK inhibitor SB202190. Our results indicate that neuroplastin‐65 binding and associated stimulation of p38MAPK activity are upstream of a mechanism to control surface glutamate receptor expression and thereby influence plasticity at excitatory hippocampal synapses.
Molecular basis of neuroendocrine cell type‐specific expression of the chromogranin B gene: crucial role of the transcription factors CREB, AP‐2, Egr‐1 and Sp1
Authors: Mahapatra Nitish R. , Mahata Manjula , Ghosh Sajalendu , Gayen Jiaur R. , O'Connor Daniel T. , Mahata Sushil K.
Published: August 2006

The molecular basis of neuroendocrine‐specific expression of chromogranin B gene (Chgb) has remained elusive. Utilizing wild‐type and mutant Chgb promoter/luciferase reporter constructs, this study established a crucial role for the cAMP response element (CRE) box at −102/−95 bp in endocrine [rat pheochromocytoma (chromaffin) cell line (PC12) and rat pituitary somatotrope cell line (GC)] and neuronal [rat dorsal root ganglion/mouse neuroblastoma hybrid cell line (F‐11), cortical and hippocampal primary neurons] cells. Additionally, G/C‐rich domains at −134/−127, −125/−117 and −115/−110 bp played especially important roles for endocrine‐specific expression of the Chgb gene. Co‐transfection of expression plasmids for CREB, activator protein‐2 (transcription factor) (AP‐2), early growth response protein (transcription factor) (Egr‐1) or specificity protein 1 (transcription factor) (Sp1) with the Chgb promoter constructs trans‐activated expression of the Chgb gene. Nuclear extracts from either PC12 or F‐11 cells formed specific complexes with the Chgb (−110/−87 bp) (CRE) oligonucleotide, which were either supershifted or disrupted by anti‐CREB antibodies. In addition PC12 nuclear extracts also formed a specific complex with a Chgb (−140/−104‐bp) oligonucleotide containing three G/C‐rich regions, which was dose‐dependently disrupted by anti‐AP‐2, anti‐Egr‐1 or anti‐Sp1 antibodies; indeed, any one of these three antibodies completely abolished the complex, suggesting that all three factors bind the region simultaneously, at least in vitro. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays documented the binding of the transcription factors CREB, AP‐2, Egr‐1 and Sp1 to the chromosomal Chgb gene promoter in vivo in PC12 cells within the context of chromatin. We conclude that the neuroendocrine‐specific expression of Chgb is mediated by the CRE and G/C boxes in cis and the transcription factors CREB, AP‐2, Egr‐1 and Sp1 in trans.
The anxiety‐like phenotype of 5‐HT1A receptor null mice is associated with genetic background‐specific perturbations in the prefrontal cortex GABA–glutamate system
Authors: Bruening S. , Oh E. , Hetzenauer A. , Escobar‐Alvarez S. , Westphalen R. I. , Hemmings H. C. , Singewald N. , Shippenberg T. , Toth M.
Published: August 2006

A deficit in the serotonin 5‐HT1A receptor has been found in panic and post‐traumatic stress disorders, and genetic inactivation of the receptor results in an anxiety‐like phenotype in mice on both the C57Bl6 and Swiss–Webster genetic backgrounds. Anxiety is associated with increased neuronal activity in the prefrontal cortex and here we describe changes in glutamate and GABA uptake of C57Bl6 receptor null mice. Although these alterations were not present in Swiss–Webster null mice, we have previously reported reductions in GABAA receptor expression in these but not in C57Bl6 null mice. This demonstrates that inactivation of the 5‐HT1A receptor elicits different and genetic background‐dependent perturbations in the prefrontal cortex GABA/glutamate system. These perturbations can result in a change in the balance between excitation and inhibition, and indeed both C57Bl6 and Swiss–Webster null mice show signs of increased neuronal excitability. Because neuronal activity in the prefrontal cortex controls the extent of response to anxiogenic stimuli, the genetic background‐specific perturbations in glutamate and GABA neurotransmission in C57Bl6 and Swiss–Webster 5‐HT1A receptor null mice may contribute to their shared anxiety phenotype. Our study shows that multiple strains of genetically altered mice could help us to understand the common and individual features of anxiety.
Uracil nucleotides stimulate human neural precursor cell proliferation and dopaminergic differentiation: involvement of MEK/ERK signalling
Authors: Milosevic Javorina , Brandt Annett , Roemuss Ute , Arnold Antje , Wegner Florian , Schwarz Sigrid C. , Storch Alexander , Zimmermann Herbert , Schwarz Johannes
Published: August 2006

Isolation and propagation of neural stem cells derived from human brain tissue uniquely enables the study of human neurogenesisin vitro. In addition,ex vivo‐expanded human neural stem/precursor cells (NPCs) may offer novel therapeutic strategies. We investigated the effects of extracellular nucleotides on the proliferation and differentiation of human mesencephalic neural stem/precursor cells (hmNPCs). When combined with the mitogens epidermal growth factor and fibroblast growth factor 2, UTP (1 µm) boosted proliferation of hmNPCs as shown by increased expression of the proliferation marker proliferating cell nuclear antigen (330%). UTP‐induced proliferation was abrogated by the preferential P2Y receptor blocker pyridoxal phosphate‐6‐azophenyl‐2′,4′‐disulphonic acid (PPADS). UTP also stimulated dopaminergic differentiation. Treatment with UTP (100 µm) increased the number of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)‐positive cells and TH protein by 267 and 319% respectively. UTP‐stimulated dopaminergic differentiation of hmNPCs was blocked by the P2 receptor antagonists suramin (10 µm) and PPADS (100 µm). In addition, UDP (1 µm) enhanced TH protein expression by 194%. During differentiation, treatment with UTP stimulated the extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK) pathway. Both ERK1/2 phosphorylation and dopaminergic differentiation were inhibited by U0126, a selective ERK kinase inhibitor, as well as by suramin. When other P2 receptor agonists (ATP, ADP and adenosine 5′‐O‐(2‐thiophosphate) (ADPβS); all 100 µm) were applied, both proliferation and dopaminergic differentiation of NPCs were compromised. We conclude that uracil nucleotides exert specific P2 receptor‐mediated effects on midbrain‐derived human NPCs, and may be used to enhance both proliferation and dopaminergic differentiation.
Glutamate‐stimulated ATP release from spinal cord astrocytes is potentiated by substance P
Authors: Werry Eryn L. , Liu Guo Jun , Bennett Max R.
Published: August 2006

ATP has recently emerged as a key molecule mediating pathological pain. The aim of this study was to examine whether spinal cord astrocytes could be a source of ATP in response to the nociceptive neurotransmitters glutamate and substance P. Glutamate stimulated ATP release from these astrocytes and this release was greatly potentiated by substance P, even though substance P alone did not elicit ATP release. Substance P also potentiated glutamate‐induced inward currents, but did not cause such currents alone. When glutamate was applied alone it acted exclusively through α‐amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methylisoxazole‐4‐proprionate receptors to stimulate Ca2+ influx‐dependent ATP release. However, when substance P was co‐applied with glutamate, ATP release could be elicited by activation of NMDA and metabotropic glutamate receptors. Activation of neurokinin receptor subtypes, protein kinase C and phospholipases A2, C and D were needed for substance P to bring about its effects. These results suggest that astrocytes may be a major source of ATP in the spinal cord on activation of nerve fibres that release substance P and glutamate.
Independence/dependence – a contradictory relationship? Life with a chronic illness
Authors: Delmar Charlotte , Bøje Trine , Dylmer Dorrit , Forup Lisbeth , Jakobsen Christina , Møller Majbritt , Sønder Hanne , Pedersen Birthe D.
Published: August 2006

This study shows that self‐responsibility and self‐control are meaningful values in the activities and decisions of everyday life. Dignity and being respected as an individual are closely connected to being able to manage on one's own and being independent of others’ help. The study also shows that including other people into one's life situation can be an important sign of self‐management. However, the critical interpretation shows that it is the view of the human being which determines whether help from others and self‐managing on one's own can be combined. With a relational view of the human being, i.e. the basic condition that people always enter into relations of dependence, there is no contradiction between independence and dependence. In contrast, an individualist, liberalist view of the human being promotes an attitude of blaming oneself with the potential for feelings of inadequacy and guilt. The study also shows that seeking out treatment in the alternative medical sector maintain a form of continued self‐control and self‐responsibility. The study concludes that the nurse must work to qualify her/his sensory‐based, situationally determined attentiveness and her/his view of the human being, which will include directing her/his attention towards the patient's view of the human being, values and ways of relating to oneself and to one's choices. The research design is qualitative and takes a phenomenological‐hermeneutic approach. The data are based on interviews with 18 chronically ill patients, divided into three groups of six patients diagnosed with ‘type I’ diabetes, colitis ulcerosa and patients with coronary occlusion in the rehabilitation phase. Regardless of the diagnosis, the objective of the interview study was to highlight themes in the patients’ views of health and illness related to their chronic condition and the significance of these views have for their mastery of everyday life. The research method is inspired by Paul Ricoeur.
Well‐being of 12‐year‐old children related to interpersonal relations, health habits and mental distress
Authors: Lindberg Lene , Swanberg Inga
Published: August 2006

Aim:  The main purpose was to examine if interpersonal relations, mental distress, somatic symptoms and health behaviours could be protective or risk factors for the subjective well‐being of 12‐year‐old school children.

Methods:  After ethical and parental permission a questionnaire was completed by 807 pupils in the sixth grade of 18 randomised schools in seven rural and urban districts in the north‐west area of Stockholm. The questionnaire was a modified version of the WHO Health Behaviour in School‐Ages Children Study and the Youth Self‐Report Questionnaire. Well‐being was measured by the question, ‘How are you these days'? Measures of protective or risk factors were relations to parents, teacher/schoolwork and peers, eating and safety habits, somatic symptoms, anxious/depressed and aggressiveness.

Results:  Logistic regressions were performed with well‐being as dependent variable before and after adjustment for gender, which was the only significant background factor. Finally, a multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted with gender and the six significantly related predictors as independent variables. In the multiple model, relations to teacher/school and peers, eating habits, anxious/depressed and somatic symptoms were associated with well‐being and yielded significant odds ratios.

Conclusions:  Relations to teacher/school, relations to peers and good eating habits could be protective factors for subjective well‐being, while somatic and anxious/depressed symptoms may be risk factors for ill‐being. This indicates an increased need for interpersonal relations and mental health‐oriented, promotive interventions in schools.
Nursing advocacy: how is it defined by patients and nurses, what does it involve and how is it experienced?
Authors: Vaartio Heli , Leino‐Kilpi Helena , Salanterä Sanna , Suominen Tarja
Published: August 2006

The study's rationale:  Advocacy is an integral part of nursing. However, there is a scarcity of empirical evidence on nursing advocacy process and most of that evidence concerns nurses’ views on the care of certain vulnerable patient groups in acute care settings. Before nursing practice can truly adopt advocacy as an inherent and natural part of nursing, a clearer understanding is needed of how it is defined and what activities are needed to accomplish advocacy.

Aims and objectives:  The aim was to describe the way that nursing advocacy is defined, the activities through which nursing advocacy is accomplished and the way that nursing advocacy is experienced by patients and nurses.

Methodological design and justification:  Based on a qualitative approach, the study was limited to adult patients experiencing procedural pain in somatic care. Interviews were conducted in a convenience sample of patients (n = 22) and nurses (n = 21) from four medical and four surgical wards in Finland. A qualitative content analysis of the tape‐recorded data was then carried out.

Ethical issues and approval:  The appropriate ethical principles were followed. All the participants gave their informed consent and formal approval for conducting the research was obtained according to national and local directives.

Results:  Nursing advocacy seems to integrate aspects of individuality, professionalism and experiences of empowering, exceptional care. It is not a single event, but a process of analysing, counselling, responding, shielding and whistleblowing activities in clinical nursing practice.

Conclusions:  In nursing practice the abstract concept of nursing advocacy finds expression in voicing responsiveness, which integrates an acknowledged professional responsibility for and active involvement in supporting patients’ needs and wishes.
Expressing and responding to pain and stoicism in home‐care nurse–patient interactions
Authors: Spiers Judith
Published: August 2006

Addressing pain and suffering are critical issues for home‐care nurses. Pain is frequently experienced by people living at home with chronic illnesses, as well as acutely ill people discharged early from hospitals. The purpose of this qualitative ethology study was to explore and describe the interactions and experiences expressing and responding to pain in home‐care nurse–patient interactions. A qualitative video ethology design was appropriate to inductively describe micropatterns of communicative behaviour in natural settings. Ten home‐care nurse–patient dyads were videotaped over multiple visits. Data consisted of 31 videotaped visits (over 19 hours) and accompanying participant interviews. Recursive and cyclical qualitative analysis was used to describe the patterns of communication with which stoicism or endurance of pain and suffering was supported or challenged. Dominant patterns of interaction were concerned with: negotiating appropriate forms of stoicism; negotiating ways to express, understand and measure pain and suffering; and dealing with intractable or inflicted pain. The methodology of this study allows an in‐depth view of typical nurse–patient interactions. It explores the subtle communicative expertise of nurses by investigating the types of communication used in nursing encounters and by explicating behavioural patterns of expressing and responding to suffering. Observational research of interaction‐as‐it‐occurs must continue to better understand how nurses and patients co‐construct personal identities of suffering and stoicism.
Health‐related quality of life in women patients with borderline personality disorder
Authors: Perseius Kent‐Inge , Andersson Eva , Åsberg Marie , Samuelsson Mats
Published: August 2006

Objectives:  The aims of the study were to: (i) test the reliability of a health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) instrument [Swedish Health‐Related Quality of Life Survey (SWED‐QUAL)] on women patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD); (ii) compare their HRQOL to a normal population group comparable in age; and (iii) test for subgroup differences in HRQOL considering psychiatric DSM axis‐I comorbidity.

Method:  The study was conducted in connection to a randomized, controlled trial of psychotherapy for women BPD patients. Seventy‐five women with BPD diagnosis were administered the SWED‐QUAL. Statistic reliability was evaluated with inter‐item correlations, total‐item correlations and internal consistency criterions. The BPD patients’ SWED‐QUAL results were compared with data extracted from a published study and subgroup differences due to axis‐I comorbidity were analysed.

Results and conclusions:  SWED‐QUAL could be considered as an instrument with acceptable reliability when assessing HRQOL in BPD patients. The BPD patients suffered significant impairments in HRQOL overall health dimensions compared to normal population. There were no subgroup differences due to axis‐I comorbidity, which indicate that BPD in itself might be a predictor of substantial HRQOL impairment.
Parents with first time major depression: perceptions of social support for themselves and their children
Authors: Skärsäter Ingela
Published: August 2006

The aim of this study was to ascertain the perceptions of parents, with first time major depression, regarding the social support for themselves and their children. Eighteen parents, with children under the age of 19, were interviewed on admission to an inpatient unit and of these 16 were followed up 1 year later. In addition, the severity of parents’ depression and their functional status was measured. The results showed that although the parents did regain their mental health and functional capacity to a certain extent, they nevertheless remained in a vulnerable position, increasing the strain on the whole family. The parents’ and their children's social support was low and came mostly from outside the family. The parents were worried about their children, due to problems related to the depressive episode as well as ordinary teenage rebellion. Important questions concerned practical problems such as whether there was someone to take care of the children if the parent is incapable of doing so. There were also concerns pertaining to how the changed family situation might interfere with the child's natural development or whether depression was a question of heredity. This highlights the need to investigate the importance of social support for the family as a whole when one of them suffers from depression. There is a need for improved treatment of parental depression to reduce symptoms such as decreased functional status that may impair parenting. The study also emphasises the need for healthcare practitioners to assess multiple aspects of social support so that care planning will target all relevant domains.
Long‐term follow up of a physical therapy programme for patients with fibromyalgia syndrome
Authors: Hävermark Anne‐Marie , Langius‐Eklöf Ann
Published: August 2006

The purpose of this study was to evaluate, in a long‐term perspective, the impact of a physical therapy‐based educational programme on patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). The programme includes information about the syndrome, information about pain and muscle physiology, training in warm water, stretching, body awareness therapy and relaxation in groups of 15 patients twice weekly, 2 hours during 10 weeks. A total of 240 patients with FMS participated in the study before and immediately after the programme and at a follow up with a mean of 35 months after the programme. Health status as measured with the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire was answered by the patients at all three measurement points. Questionnaires concerning self‐care, self‐motivation and sense of coherence (SOC) were distributed at the follow up. The results showed a significant improvement on several symptoms when comparing before and after the programme, and at the time of follow up the patients’ rated well‐being was still improved. The results also showed that the patients’ pretreatment perception of symptoms, well‐being and SOC are predictors to the perception of general health at the follow up of a physical therapy programme. The conclusion is that a physical therapy programme for patients with FMS may have a positive impact on patients’ general well‐being but not on other symptoms.
Health behaviour and sense of coherence among pupils aged 14–15
Authors: Myrin Britta , Lagerström Monica
Published: August 2006

Aim:  The overall aim of the study was to investigate if there was a relationship between health behaviour and sense of coherence (SOC) in pupils aged 14–15. A specific aim was to investigate if socioeconomic areas and sex could be related to health behaviour and SOC of these pupils.

Method:  A cross‐sectional study was conducted in a sample of pupils in grade eight selected from primary schools in Stockholm city with regard to socioeconomic area. The final sample of the study was 383: 196 girls and 187 boys. Two questionnaires, the Health Profile Scale measuring health behaviour and the Sense of Coherence Scale were used to collect data.

Results:  Of the total group, girls had a significantly lower SOC mean score compared to boys. There were differences in health behaviour related to both SOC and sex. In comparison with boys, the girls showed a lower SOC in several health behaviours, e.g. breakfast, dinner, alcohol and bed‐going habits. The pupils in the high socioeconomic area showed a low SOC score in several health behaviours.

Conclusion:  The findings in this study were that girls aged 14–15 had a lower SOC mean score compared to boys. The girls showed a lower SOC score related to several health behaviours. There were no significant differences in the SOC mean scores between the two socioeconomic areas.
An analysis of psychosocial theories of ageing and their relevance to practical gerontological nursing in Sweden
Authors: Wadensten Barbro
Published: August 2006

Background: Theories exist to challenge current practice, create new approaches to practice and remodel the structure of rules and principles. One question is whether nurses could find in psychosocial theories of ageing a theoretical foundation on which to base support of older people in their ageing process.

Aim: The aim of the present paper was to analyse five psychosocial theories of ageing and to discover what they could mean for gerontological nursing in Sweden.

Method: A literature search was conducted to find original works. Research questions inspired by Fawcett's framework guided the analysis.

Findings: Psychosocial theories of ageing cover different aspects of the ageing process, but do not address crucial issues regarding the attitudes and structure of good nursing care. These theories provide no clear guidance on how to care for older people and how to support them in their ageing process. However, the analysis did show that the theories contain underlying values that influence society and staff as regards their views on the ageing process and how care of older people should be carried out. Nursing interventions to support ageing will be quite different depending on the theoretical perspective taken by nurses.

Conclusions: There is a need to translate the ageing theories into guidelines, so that staff in gerontological care will have tools to use in practice irrespective of which theoretical perspective they choose to use in care. This could also promote care that is tailored to each individual older person.
Family suffering related to war experiences: an interpretative synopsis review of the literature from a caring science perspective
Authors: Isovaara Sten , Arman Maria , Rehnsfeldt Arne
Published: August 2006

The aim of this study was to conduct a synopsis review of findings from families’ experiences related to combat and war events and to interpret these findings from the perspective of theories of suffering. The method used in the study was a synopsis review of 12 articles dealing with family suffering related to war or combat experiences and an interpretation of the articles from a caring science perspective. Findings from the synopsis review were that the dominant part of the articles viewed suffering in general and post‐traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) in particular from a medical, psychiatric or psychologically behaviouristic perspective. PTSD and other distress‐related conditions were mainly described in terms of their symptoms and dealt with in terms of pathology. The interpretation of the articles from a caring science perspective generated three significant themes: first, interdependence as a spiritual dimension of dependence, secondly, familial communion as sharing moral and spiritual values and thirdly, familial suffering visualized by compassion. The study's conclusion is that, from a caring science perspective, the appearance of family suffering should be comprehended in terms of expressed compassion and that any disturbance within familial communion is likely to have an emotional impact on all of the family members, as a result of their interdependence.
An E‐mail for Your Thoughts
Authors: Mehta Sunil , Chalhoub Nevyne
Published: August 2006

Engaging adolescents is one of many challenges facing Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services today. However, taking advantage of the technology available can bring professionals a step closer to their patients by providing an alternative means of interaction. In this article we explore the use of e‐mail as a method of engaging adolescents. The advantages and disadvantages of e‐mailing patients are discussed along with recommendations for its safe use.
A Comparison of Selected Osteopathic Treatment and Relaxation for Tension‐Type Headaches
Authors: Anderson Rosemary E. , Seniscal Caryn
Published: August 2006

Objective.—The objective of this study was to compare the effects of osteopathic treatment and progressive muscular relaxation (PMR) exercises on patients with tension‐type headache (TTH).

Background.—Relaxation is generally accepted as a treatment for TTH. Osteopathy is considered by some practitioners to be useful for headache management but there is limited scientific evidence regarding the effectiveness. This study compares relaxation and relaxation plus selected osteopathic techniques in the treatment of people with TTH.

Design.—This was a single‐blind, randomized, clinical study using an experimental design. Twenty‐nine patients with TTH according to the International Headache Classification Subcommittee, 2004, were recruited for this study and randomly placed in either a control or experimental group. Both groups practiced PMR exercises at home while the experimental group also received 3 osteopathic treatments.

Method.—All participants recorded headache frequency and intensity in a headache diary (HD) for 2 weeks pretreatment, and continued recording during the treatment period until reassessment for a total of 6 to 7 weeks. All tests of significance were set at P≤ .05.

Results.—Twenty‐six people completed the study. Results indicated that the number of Headache Free Days Per Week was significantly improved (P= .016) in the experimental group. Two other measures, the Headache Degree of Improvement (P= .075) and the HD rating (P= .059), which combine headache frequency and intensity, did not meet our criteria for statistical significance but both scores are <.10 indicating a trend toward improvement in the experimental group that is clinically significant. The HD Rating also showed that the experimental group improved 57.5%, while the control group improved 15.6%. The intensity of headache did not show a significant improvement (P= .264).

Conclusion.—The people in this study who did relaxation exercises and received 3 osteopathy treatments had significantly more days per week without headache than those who did only relaxation exercises.
Popular Sweetner Sucralose as a Migraine Trigger
Authors: Patel Rajendrakumar M. , Sarma Rakesh , Grimsley Edwin
Published: August 2006

Sucralose (trichlorogalactosucrose, or better known as Splenda) is an artificial sweetener from native sucrose that was approved by the FDA on April 1, 1998 (April Fool's Day). This observation of a potential causal relationship between sucralose and migraines may be important for physicians to remember this can be a possible trigger during dietary history taking. Identifying further triggers for migraine headaches, in this case sucralose, may help alleviate some of the cost burden (through expensive medical therapy or missed work opportunity) as well as provide relief to migraineurs.
Occipital Neuralgia as an Isolated Symptom of C2 Myelitis
Authors: Nikakis Panayiotis , Koutsis Georgios , Potagas Constantin , Mandellos Dimitrios , Sfagos Constantinos
Published: August 2006

Occipital neuralgia has been attributed to lesions at a peripheral nerve or radicular level. On rare occasions, it has been associated with cervical cord lesions. We report a 55‐year‐old woman who presented with an isolated occipital neuralgia and was found on further investigation to have a restricted, isolated myelitis at C2 level. This represents the second reported case of occipital neuralgia due to C2 myelitis and should alert clinicians to considering cervical MRI in patients with occipital neuralgia.
Paucity of studies to support that abnormal coagulation test results predict bleeding in the setting of invasive procedures: an evidence‐based review
Authors: Segal Jodi B. , Dzik Walter H. ,   Transfusion Medicine/Hemostasis Clinical Trials Network
Published: August 2006

BACKGROUND: The literature was systematically reviewed to determine whether a prolonged prothrombin time or elevated international normalized ratio predicts bleeding during invasive diagnostic procedures.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: MEDLINE and CENTRAL were searched through August 2004, with no language restriction, and reference lists were reviewed. For inclusion, articles must have reported on bleeding in more than five patients with abnormal test results undergoing diagnostic procedures.

RESULTS: One trial and 24 observational studies were included. In 2 studies of bronchoscopy, the bleeding rates were similar among those with normal and abnormal tests, with wide confidence intervals (CIs) around the risk differences. During central vein cannulation (3 studies), bleeding rates among those with abnormal tests was unlikely to exceed 2.3 percent. The largest of 3 studies of arteriography found equivalent bleeding rates in patients with and without abnormal tests (risk difference, 0%; 95% CI, −3% to 2%). In the 3 studies of liver biopsy with plugging, bleeding rates were 0, 4, and 5 percent with the upper bounds of the CI as high as 17 percent. In the largest study of transjugular biopsy, the bleeding rate was 1.5 percent (95% CI, 0.3%‐4%) in patients with abnormal tests. The highest bleeding rate in the 3 studies of percutaneous liver biopsy was 5.3 percent (95% CI, 1%‐13%), similar to the rate in patients with normal test results.

CONCLUSION: There is insufficient evidence to conclude that abnormal test results predict bleeding. Randomized controlled trials should be performed to provide stronger evidence for clinical decision making regarding preprocedure transfusion.