bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Psychopathic Traits and Risk of Criminal Recidivism in Offenders with and without Mental Disorders
Authors: Stadtland Cornelis , Kleindienst Nikolaus , Kröner Carolin , Eidt Matthias , Nedopil Norbert
Published: February 2012

The aim of this study was to compare the long-term predictive validity of the PCL-R for offenders with severe mental disorders, substance abuse and personality disorders and for offenders without mental disorders. The sample consisted of 262 perpetrators who were assessed for their criminal responsibilities. The PCL-R was assessed retrospectively from file data. Participants were prospectively followed-up for an average observation period of 58.6 months (range –138 months), with the first entry into the official criminal records of the National Conviction Registry serving as the endpoint. PCL-R scores were significantly different between the three diagnostic groups. The highest PCL-R scores were found in offenders with personality disorders and/or substance abuse. In all three groups the PCL-R predicted violent, but not non-violent reoffenses with moderate predictive validity. The PCL-R is therefore a moderately strong predictor for violent reoffenses in offenders with mental disorders, personality disorders and/or substance abuse and for those offenders without mental disorders, but failed to predict non-violent criminal recidivism.
Verbal Intelligence and Criminal Offending Among Men With Schizophrenia
Authors: Eriksson Åsa , Hodgins Sheilagh , Tengström Anders
Published: February 2012

There are well-documented associations between low verbal IQ and criminal offending and between low verbal IQ and early-onset persistent offending among males in the general population. This study was designed to test whether similar associations could be observed in a sample of 219 men with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. The participants were recruited at discharge from forensic and general psychiatric hospitals in four sites in Canada, Finland, Germany and Sweden. In the weeks preceding discharge, information was collected from participants, family members, staff, and official records. The results demonstrated that low verbal IQ was not associated with the risk of criminal offending, nor with the numbers of offences, but with the age at first non-violent offence. Low verbal IQ was associated with lengthy stays in hospital that may have limited further criminal offending.
Patient Preferences for Psychiatric Advance Directives
Authors: Swartz MarvinS. , Swanson JeffreyW. , Van Dorn RichardA. , Elbogen EricB. , Shumway Martha
Published: February 2012

Limited research has examined patients' preferences for psychiatric advance directives (PADs). This study examines the preferences and interest in PADs among patients with severe mental illness. Participants in a randomized controlled trial of PAD facilitation versus usual care were interviewed about their preferences and interest in PADs. Preferences scores were estimated and compared among patients wishing to complete types of PADs. The large majority of participants indicating an interest in a PAD that included a healthcare power of attorney gave greatest importance to enabling surrogate decision making and continuity of care during crises, a minority who expressed interest in a stand-alone advance instruction for mental health treatment or no PAD at all gave highest priority to avoiding unwanted treatment. Persons with severe mental illness have diverse interests in PADs. Most patients give high priority to improving surrogate decision making and continuity of care with PADs.
Antisocial Personality Disorder and the Malingering of Psychiatric Disorder: A Study of Criminal Defendants
Authors: Kucharski L.Thomas , Falkenbach DianaM. , Egan ShannonS. , Duncan Scott
Published: February 2012

Criminal defendants with antisocial personality disorder (APD), those with a personality disorder other than APD (OPD) and those without a personality disorder (NoPD) were compared on validated measures of malingering. The APD group scored significantly higher on the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory- 2(MMPI-2) F, Fp, and F-K scales and the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) Negative Impression Scale. A greater proportion of those in the APD group exceeded accepted cutoff scores on the Structured Interview of Reported Symptoms (SIRS) scale. While this finding supports the DSM-IV association between APD and malingering, the predictive utility of APD in discriminating malingerers from honest responders was poor, with many with APD not attempting to malinger and those without APD presenting potentially malingered profiles.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy for the Treatment of Stalking Offenders
Authors: Rosenfeld Barry , Galietta Michele , Ivanoff André , Garcia-Mansilla Alexandra , Martinez Ricardo , Fava Joanna , Fineran Virginia , Green Debbie
Published: February 2012

The need for effective mental health interventions for specific offender populations has become clear in recent decades. In particular, individuals who engage in stalking and harassment have increasingly attracted the attention of the public and mental health and criminal justice professionals, however no evidence-based treatment currently exists for this population. We adapted Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) for the treatment of this offender group, in part because of the high prevalence of personality disorders. This study describes the application of a 6-month treatment program to a sample of 29 individuals, 14 of whom completed treatment. Treated offenders were significantly less likely to re-offend with another stalking offense (0 of 14) compared to treatment drop-outs (26.7%) or to published recidivism data (47%). Measures intended to help determine the nature of changes revealed increased thought suppression, but are qualified by the high degree of defensive responding. These preliminary data suggest that DBT holds promise for reducing stalking behaviors and warrants further study.
Aggression Management in an Adolescent Forensic Unit
Authors: Kaltiala-Heino Riittakerttu , Berg Johanna , Selander Maarit , Työläjärvi Marja , Kahila Kristina
Published: February 2012

The present study aimed at describing and evaluating the effectiveness of a comprehensive aggression management program in an adolescent forensic unit. Six-month trends in figures for aggressive behaviors against staff, and rates and characteristics of physical interventions to control aggression were studied over 2 years using irregularity reports from the study unit, and structured forms filled in by the nursing staff immediately after each event. Events of verbal and physical aggression decreased as the implementation of the aggression management program stabilised. Physical interventions became shorter over time. Injuries to the staff became less frequent. A systematic and comprehensive aggression management program allows improvement of aggression management without increasing use of coercion. As the use of coercion decreases, the staff injuries decrease.
Broadband and subwavelength terahertz modulators using tunable plasmonic crystals with semiconductor rods
Authors: Vasić Borislav , Gajić Radoš
Published: February 2012

We theoretically investigate terahertz modulators based on tunable two-dimensional plasmonic crystals with semiconductor rods. When the electric field is normal to the rods, the localized surface plasmon resonances appear at terahertz frequencies. The tuning of the resonances is achieved by a modulation of free charge carrier concentration in the rods. This leads to the spectral shifts of the resonances and modulated transmissions. The resonances are below the Bragg photonic band gap leading to the subwavelength thickness of the modulators. Due to the plasmonic nature of the resonances, their spectral shifts are much larger than the shifts of the Bragg photonic band gaps. This enables the design of broadband terahertz modulators with faster modulation and lower power consumption than in the modulation of the Bragg photonic band gaps. In order to achieve modulation of photonic band gaps for both polarizations at the same time, it is possible to overlap the photonic band gap due to localized surface plasmon resonances when the electric field is normal to the rods and the photonic band gap due to negative effective permittivity when the electric field is parallel to the rods.
CytoSaddleSum: a functional enrichment analysis plugin for Cytoscape based on sum-of-weights scores
Authors: Stojmirović Aleksandar , Bliskovsky Alexander , Yu Yi-Kuo
Published: February 2012

Summary:  CytoSaddleSum provides Cytoscape users with access to the functionality of SaddleSum, a functional enrichment tool based on sum-of-weight scores. It operates by querying SaddleSum locally (using the standalone version) or remotely (through an HTTP request to a web server). The functional enrichment results are shown as a term relationship network, where nodes represent terms and edges show term relationships. Furthermore, query results are written as Cytoscape attributes allowing easy saving, retrieval and integration into network-based data analysis workflows.

Availability:  www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/CBBresearch/Yu/downloads.html The source code is placed in Public Domain.

Contact:  yyu@ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Supplementary information:  Supplementary materials are available at Bioinformatics online.
Hybrid Repair of Thoracic and Thoracoabdominal Aortic Aneurysms (Mega Aortic Syndrome) with Lupiae Technique
Authors: Esposito Giampiero , Cappabianca Giangiuseppe , Contegiacomo Gaetano , Labriola Giuseppe , Gallo Nunzio , Labriola Cataldo
Published: February 2012

Objective

Several techniques have been described for the treatment of thoracic and thoracoabdominal aneurysms in patients with mega aortic syndrome (MAS), but the incidence of stroke, spinal cord injury, and endoleaks remains high. We present the midterm results of a new hybrid, multistep technique to treat patients with MAS.

Methods

From November 2005 to January 2011, 80 patients with MAS underwent hybrid repair of thoracic and thoracoabdominal aneurysms with the Lupiae technique. Forty-six patients presented with chronic aortic aneurysms, and 34 patients who had undergone aortic arch debranching with the Lupiae graft for acute aortic dissection presented with an expanding false lumen into the residual aorta. Sixty patients underwent ascending aorta and arch replacement with a Gelweave Lupiae prosthesis plus epiaortic vessel debranching (thoracic Lupiae procedure). Fourteen patients underwent a thoracic Lupiae procedure plus partial visceral debranching (celiac trunk and superior mesenteric artery) through a mini-laparotomy. Six patients underwent a thoracic Lupiae procedure plus a complete visceral debranching (celiac trunk, superior mesenteric artery, and renal arteries) with the implant of a second Lupiae prosthesis to replace the abdominal aorta. After the surgical steps, all the surviving patients underwent an endovascular procedure to implant multiple stent grafts to exclude the residual segment of diseased aorta.

Results

In-hospital mortality was 8.4%, and the incidence of temporary renal failure was 5.2%. None of the patients had a stroke or a spinal cord injury, and none of the patients presented endoleaks immediately following the procedure or during the follow-up computed tomography scans. No deaths occurred during the 6-year follow-up after the hybrid procedure.

Conclusions

These preliminary results showed that the Lupiae technique is a safe and effective option for the treatment of patients with MAS. Indeed, the Lupiae technique achieves complete exclusion of thoracic and thoracoabdominal aneurysms with a low risk of paraplegia and endoleaks.
Chest Wall Resection and Reconstruction a True Thoracoscopic Approach
Authors: Abicht Travis O. , de Hoyos Alberto L.
Published: February 2012

We set out to perform resection of a chest wall mass with subsequent reconstruction using a pure thoracoscopic approach. Using video-assisted thoracic surgery via a three-incision approach, we successfully removed an 8.5 × 3.5–cm specimen en bloc. We then reconstructed the chest wall with 2-mm polytetrafluoroethylene. A total thoracoscopic approach to chest wall resection and reconstruction represent an additional option in this area of thoracic surgery. This approach avoids some of the drawbacks of more invasive procedures. This report outlines a totally thoracoscopic approach that we feel represents a safe and viable option for patients requiring chest wall resection and reconstruction.
Graded Compression and Power Doppler Ultrasonography Versus Endoscopy to Assess Paediatric Crohn Disease Activity Pre‐ and Posttreatment
Authors: Thomson Mike , Rao Prithviraj , Berger Les , Rawat David
Published: February 2012

Objective:

The aim of this study was to assess whether power Doppler ultrasound (PDU) can serve as a reliable replacement for endoscopy in follow‐up assessment of disease activity in children with Crohn disease.

Methods:

Nineteen children (13 boys), median age 14.8 (5.4–15.8) years, with macroscopically diagnosed Crohn disease were included in the study. Clinical parameters, histological evaluation, and graded PDU assessments were undertaken in all patients at diagnosis and following their initial treatment. Discriminant analysis was used to build predictive models from the PDU data for the histological evaluation.

Results:

The median Pediatric Crohn's Disease Activity Index (PCDAI) was 31.5 (15.5–42.0) at diagnosis. All clinical and ultrasonographic parameters and the histological evaluation showed an improvement between pre‐ versus posttreatment results; 1‐way analysis of variance showed a significant difference because of treatment (P < 0.005) for all variables apart from the superior mesenteric artery flow (SMA); paired sample t tests indicated that these differences were statistically significant (P < 0.001), with the exception of SMA (P = 0.178). There was a statistically significant correlation (P < 0.001) between the platelet count and the bowel wall stratification (STRAT). Significant correlation was also observed between the histology findings and the mean mucosal, transmural, and segmental flow (MFL) and STRAT and between platelets and both MFL and small bowel thickening (SBT) (P < 0.01 in all cases). There was a statistically significant correlation (P < 0.05) between C‐reactive protein and MFL and between histology and SBT, MFL, and STRAT. Discriminant analysis using discriminating factors SBT, STRAT, and MFL could assign 84.6% of cases to the correct classification of “no/mild inflammation” or “medium/severe inflammation.”

Conclusions:

Results obtained using power Doppler ultrasonography and endoscopy showed statistically significant correlations. Power Doppler sonography, in the hands of an experienced examiner, can be used for follow‐up assessment of disease activity in children with Crohn disease.
Chinese Children With Chronic Intrahepatic Cholestasis and High γ‐Glutamyl Transpeptidase
Authors: Fang Ling‐Juan , Wang Xiao‐Hong , Knisely A.S. , Yu Hui , Lu Yi , Liu Li‐Yan , Wang Jian‐She
Published: February 2012

Objective:

The aims of the present study was to study the significance of ABCB4 mutations in mainland Chinese children with chronic intrahepatic cholestasis and to correlate genetic findings with clinical features and response to ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) therapy.

Methods:

Thirteen patients with chronic intrahepatic cholestasis and elevated serum γ‐glutamyl transpeptidase activity of unknown cause were enrolled in a single pediatric center. All of the encoding exons and flanking areas of ABCB4 were sequenced. Available liver biopsy specimens were immunostained for multidrug resistance protein 3. The clinical features, biochemical parameters, and responses to therapy were compared with patients with or without ABCB4 mutation(s).

Results:

Six different ABCB4 mutations were identified in 3 patients; each patient was a compound heterozygote. Apart from c.139C>T (p.R47X), all were novel, including c.344+2_+3insT, c.1376A>G (p.D459G), c.1745G>A (p.R582Q), c.2077_2078delC (p.P693HfsX698), and c.3825_3826delA (p.M1276WfsX1308). Absent or reduced multidrug resistance protein 3 canalicular immunostaining was demonstrated in patients with ABCB4 mutations. Serum total bile acid levels were higher in patients with ABCB4 mutations than in patients without ABCB4 mutations (352.5 ± 97.0 vs 55.9 ± 50.4 μmol/L, P = 7.32E‐05). There was no difference in other biochemical parameters between patients with and without ABCB4 mutations. After oral UDCA administration in 3 patients with ABCB4 mutations, pruritus disappeared, growth improved, spleen size decreased, and platelet counts increased. In the 10 patients without ABCB4 mutations, an inconsistent response to UDCA therapy was observed.

Conclusions:

In mainland Chinese children, some cases of chronic intrahepatic cholestasis with high γ‐glutamyl transpeptidase could be attributed to ABCB4 mutations. UDCA administration partially improved clinical symptoms and liver function.
Hosts of the Plio-Pleistocene past reflect modern-day coral vulnerability
Authors: van Woesik Robert , Franklin Erik C. , O'Leary Jennifer , McClanahan Tim R. , Klaus James S. , Budd Ann F.
Published: February 2012

The risk of global extinction of reef-building coral species is increasing. We evaluated extinction risk using a biological trait-based resiliency index that was compared with Caribbean extinction during the Plio-Pleistocene, and with extinction risk determined by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Through the Plio-Pleistocene, the Caribbean supported more diverse coral assemblages than today and shared considerable overlap with contemporary Indo-Pacific reefs. A clear association was found between extant Plio-Pleistocene coral genera and our positive resilience scores. Regional extinction in the past and vulnerability in the present suggests that
Pocillopora, Stylophora
and foliose
Pavona
are among the most susceptible taxa to local and regional isolation. These same taxa were among the most abundant corals in the Caribbean Pliocene. Therefore, a widespread distribution did not equate with immunity to regional extinction. The strong relationship between past and present vulnerability suggests that regional extinction events are trait-based and not merely random episodes. We found several inconsistencies between our data and the IUCN scores, which suggest a need to critically re-examine what constitutes coral vulnerability.
Abiotic stress responses promote Potato virus A infection in Nicotiana benthamiana
Authors: SUNTIO TAINA , MÄKINEN KRISTIINA
Published: February 2012

The effect of abiotic stress responses on Potato virus A (PVA; genus Potyvirus) infection was studied. Salt, osmotic and wounding stress all increased PVA gene expression in infected Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. According to the literature, an early response to these stresses is an elevation in cytosolic Ca2+ concentration. The infiltration of 0.1 m CaCl2 into the infected leaf area enhanced the translation of PVA RNA, and this Ca2+‐induced effect was more profound than that induced solely by osmotic stress. The inhibition of voltage‐gated Ca2+ channels within the plasma membrane abolished the Ca2+ effect, suggesting that Ca2+ had to be transported into the cytosol to affect viral gene expression. This was also supported by a reduced wounding effect in the presence of the Ca2+‐chelating agent ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid (EGTA). In the absence of viral replication, the intense synthesis of viral proteins in response to Ca2+ was transient. However, a Ca2+ pulse administered at the onset of wild‐type PVA infection enhanced the progress of infection within the locally infected leaf, and the virus appeared earlier in the systemic leaves than in the control plants. This suggests that the cellular environment was thoroughly modified by the Ca2+ pulse to support viral infection. One message of this study is that the sensing of abiotic stress, which leads to cellular responses, probably via Ca2+ signalling, associated with enhanced virus infection, may lead to higher field crop losses. Therefore, the effect of abiotic stress on plant viral infection warrants further analysis.
Imaging the Kristineberg mining area with two perpendicular magnetotelluric profiles in the Skellefte Ore District, northern Sweden
Authors: de los Ángeles García Juanatey María , Hübert Juliane , Tryggvason Ari , Pedersen Laust B.
Published: February 2012

New magnetotelluric (MT) data from two perpendicular profiles in the Kristineberg area, northern Sweden, were analysed and modelled. In the Skellefte Ore District, the Kristineberg volcanic hosted massive sulphide (VHMS) deposit mine is one of the largest and deepest (1250 m). Seventeen broadband magnetotelluric stations were installed along two existing seismic reflection lines. The profiles were 6 and 12 km long with 500 m and 1 km site spacing, respectively. The obtained MT transfer functions in the period range of 0.0015–200 s are of fairly good quality. Detailed strike and dimensionality analysis reveal consistent but period dependent, strike directions, indicating a change in the geoelectrical strike with depth. From the two‐dimensional inversion of the determinant of the impedance tensor, two stable conductivity models with good data fit were obtained. The addition of seismic reflection information from the co‐located survey, improved the data fit of one of them. Extensive sensitivity analyses helped to delineate the well resolved regions of the models and to determine the position of pronounced boundaries. The results are in good agreement with previous studies, especially regarding the presence of a deep conductor interpreted as a structural basement to the district. They also reveal with more detail the configuration of the main geological units of the Skellefte Ore District, especially of the ore bearing volcanic rocks and the embedded alteration zones.
Climate change and multitrophic interactions in soil: the primacy of plants and functional domains
Authors: Chakraborty Sukumar , Pangga Ireneo B. , Roper Margaret M.
Published: February 2012

Soil multitrophic interactions transfer energy from plants as the predominant primary producer to communities of organisms that occupy different positions in the food chain and are linked by multiple ecological networks, which is the soil food web. Soil food web sequesters carbon, cycles nutrients, maintains soil health to suppress pathogens, helps plants tolerate abiotic and biotic stress, and maintains ecosystem resilience and sustainability. Understanding the influence of climate change on soil multitrophic interactions is necessary to maintain these essential ecosystem services. But summarising this influence is a daunting task due to a paucity of knowledge and a lack of clarity on the ecological networks that constitute these interactions. The scant literature is fragmented along disciplinary lines, often reporting inconsistent findings that are context and scale‐dependent. We argue for the differentiation of soil multitrophic interactions along functional and spatial domains to capture cross‐disciplinary knowledge and mechanistically link all ecological networks to reproduce full functionalities of the soil food web. Distinct from litter mediated interactions in detritosphere or elsewhere in the soil, the proposed ‘pathogen suppression’ and ‘stress tolerance’ interactions operate in the rhizosphere. A review of the literature suggests that climate change will influence the relative importance, frequency and composition of functional groups, their trophic interactions and processes controlling these interactions. Specific climate change factors generally have a beneficial influence on pathogen suppression and stress tolerance, but findings on the overall soil food web are inconsistent due to a high level of uncertainty. In addition to an overall improvement in the understanding of soil multitrophic interactions using empirical and modelling approaches, we recommend linking biodiversity to function, understanding influence of combinations of climatic factors on multitrophic interactions and the evolutionary ecology of multitrophic interactions in a changing climate as areas that deserve most attention.
Nutritional composition and antioxidant activity in hazelnut shells from US‐grown cultivars
Authors: Xu Yixiang , Sismour Edward N. , Parry John , Hanna Milford A. , Li Haiwen
Published: February 2012

The hard shell of a hazelnut is a major waste of the hazelnut industry. The chemical composition, phenolic compounds (total phenolics, tannins and condensed tannins), antioxidant activity (DPPH and ABTS free‐radical scavenging assays), and the relationships between phenolic compounds and antioxidant activities of the hazelnut shells from twelve US grown cultivars were investigated to for potential commercial development. Crude fibre accounted for over 85% of total carbohydrate. The shells contained high concentrations of phenolic compounds. Concentrations of phenolic constituents and ABTS•+ ‐scavenging capacities were significantly higher (P > 0.05) in the Oregon cultivars than their Nebraska counterparts. There were significant positive correlations between ABTS•+ scavenging capacities and the phenolic compounds, whereas DPPH• ‐scavenging capacity demonstrated a weak negative correlation with ABTS•+ scavenging capacity and the phenolics. The results suggest that hazelnut hard shell may serve as a potential source of natural antioxidants for food applications.
Understanding spasticity from patients’ perspectives over time
Authors: Bhimani Rozina H. , McAlpine Cynthia Peden , Henly Susan J.
Published: February 2012

bhimani r.h., mc alpine c.p. & henly s.j. (2012) Understanding spasticity from patients’ perspectives over time. Journal of Advanced Nursing68(11), 2504–2514.

Aim.  The purpose of this paper was to report patients’ understanding and perceptions of personal spasticity experiences over time.

Background.  Spasticity is an unpleasant and poorly understood experience associated with upper motor neuron disease.

Design.  An original qualitative study was conducted in 2008–2009.

Method.  Content analysis was used to extract meaning from the responses of 23 patients to semi‐structured interviews during 7 days of acute rehabilitation for neurological diseases associated with spasticity.

Findings.  Patients used words reflecting muscle tone and spasms to describe spasticity.

Themes reflecting the spasticity experience over time were Ambiguous Experiences, Navigating Symptom Experience, Wounded Self, and Unending Journey.

Conclusion.  Spasticity as experienced is complex, involving a wide range of unusual sensations sensitive to stressors in everyday life. Clinical evaluation of spasticity should include patient reports. Knowledge about patient word choice used to describe spasticity can enhance communication with healthcare providers.
Guidelines on timing in replacing peripheral intravenous catheters
Authors: Ho Ken HM , Cheung Daphne SK
Published: February 2012

Aims.  To design clinical guidelines on timing for replacing peripheral intravenous catheters, in an attempt to decrease complications and lower related expenditures.

Background.  Intravenous therapy is a common intervention for patients in hospitals and some other clinical settings. However, the currently available international and local guidelines have come under criticism. There is a need to develop evidence‐based guidelines to benefit patients as well as to save on the resources of healthcare systems.

Design.  A discursive paper.

Methods.  The evidence‐based health care of Dawes et al. (BioMed Central Medical Education5, 2005, 1) was adopted to guide the development of this guideline. Cochrane Library Database was searched with four keywords: (1) Intravenous, (2) Infusion, (3) Infection, and (4) Timing, which identified one systematic review. Guideline on timing for replacing peripheral intravenous catheters was proposed based on the systematic review. Further recommendation for application in clinical settings and quality management are given. An algorithm on the replacement of peripheral intravenous catheters was included.

Conclusion.  Clinically indicated replacement was suggested over routine replacement because the former results in lower healthcare expenditures without involving any extra risks of complications.

Relevance to clinical practice.  These guidelines are simple and easy to follow in a clinical environment. An algorithm is given to enhance the usage of these guidelines by clinicians.
Measuring depression in schizophrenia with questionnaires
Authors: SCHOLES B. , MARTIN C. R.
Published: February 2012

Accessible summary

This paper considers several theories about how depression presents alongside schizophrenia and what challenges there are in separating the two conditions through assessment.

The analysis highlights the outcome of failure to identify and correctly treat depression in those who have schizophrenia and makes recommendations for the use of assessment for depression as a standard aspect of care.

The findings from this review reveal that the Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia is a reliable and valid instrument that nurses or other healthcare professionals may use for assessing depression in those who have schizophrenia.

This paper considers the issue of the measurement of depression with those who have a primary diagnosis of schizophrenia. Originally the concept of depression as a core aspect of schizophrenia was raised by Bleuler and that affective disorders are associated with psychosis raised by Kraepelin. The construct of depression within the context of schizophrenia as a distinct condition that constitutes an apparent shift from the individual's usual cognitive style, affect and functioning, is an observation that has been relatively recently highlighted. In individuals with a primary diagnosis of schizophrenia comorbid depression can be a factor in risk of suicide, impaired level of functioning, and higher rates of relapse or rehospitalization. The assessment of depression in this population creates many challenges in relation to the differentiation of this condition within the complex presentation of schizophrenia. The depression literature may refer to: (i) depressed affect; (ii) depression as a symptom isolated from the wider signs of depressive illness; and (iii) depression as a syndrome with all the facets required for a formal diagnosis. This review considers the literature in relation to the measurement of depression in people with a primary diagnosis of schizophrenia and assesses the psychometric properties of those measures with this population.
Concentration‐guided ribavirin dosing with darbepoetin support and peg‐IFN alfa‐2a for treatment of hepatitis C recurrence after liver transplantation
Authors: Ackefors M. , Gjertsen H. , Wernerson A. , Weiland O.
Published: February 2012

Summary.  Relapse of hepatitis C virus infection after liver transplantation is universal. Standard‐of‐care (SOC) treatment for relapse offers less satisfactory treatment response than in nontransplanted patients. Tolerance for treatment is suboptimal and withdrawals owing to adverse events induced by treatment frequent. To improve tolerance for SOC, and ribavirin (RBV) in particular, concentration‐guided RBV dosing calculated by a formula taking renal function and weight into consideration was utilized. A serum RBV concentration of 10 μm was set as the goal. All patients were given maintenance darbepoetin therapy from 2 weeks prior to initiation of treatment. In total, 21 patients with a mean age of 52 (range 25–64) years were included. The mean RBV concentration at week 4 was 10.2 and 7.36 μm in genotype 1/4 and non‐1/4 patients, respectively, and 11.7 and 9.42 at week 12. The mean haemoglobin drop was 25 g/L vs 21 g/L in the genotype 1/4 and non‐1/4 group, respectively, a nonsignificant difference. With this treatment approach, 80–90% of patients could be kept adherent to treatment. Sustained viral response was achieved 8/16 (50%) with low‐grade fibrosis (fibrosis stage ≤ 2) vs in none of five patients with advanced fibrosis (Fibrosis stage 3 and 4), P < 0.05. We conclude that a treatment algorithm utilizing concentration‐guided RBV dosing during darbepoetin maintenance therapy substantially improves tolerance and allows high adherence to a SOC treatment schedule, and that therapy needs to be initiated before advanced fibrosis is developed.
A synthetic Escherichia coli system identifies a conserved origin tethering factor in Actinobacteria
Authors: Donovan Catriona , Sieger Boris , Krämer Reinhard , Bramkamp Marc
Published: February 2012

In eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells the establishment and maintenance of cell polarity is essential for numerous biological processes. In some bacterial species, the chromosome origins have been identified as molecular markers of cell polarity and polar chromosome anchoring factors have been identified, for example in Caulobacter crescentus. Although speculated, polar chromosome tethering factors have not been identified for Actinobacteria, to date. Here, using a minimal synthetic Escherichia coli system, biochemical and in vivo experiments, we provide evidence that Corynebacterium glutamicum cells tether the chromosome origins at the cell poles through direct physical interactions between the ParB–parS chromosomal centromere and the apical growth determinant DivIVA. The interaction between ParB and DivIVA proteins was also shown for other members of the Actinobacteria phylum, including Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Streptomyces coelicolor.
Cytokinesis of Trypanosoma brucei bloodstream forms depends on expression of adenylyl cyclases of the ESAG4 or ESAG4‐like subfamily
Authors: Salmon Didier , Bachmaier Sabine , Krumbholz Carsten , Kador Markus , Gossmann Jasmin A. , Uzureau Pierrick , Pays Etienne , Boshart Michael
Published: February 2012

Antigenic variation of the parasite Trypanosoma brucei operates by monoallelic expression of a variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) from a collection of multiple telomeric expression sites (ESs). Each of these ESs harbours a long polycistronic transcription unit containing several expression site‐associated genes (ESAGs). ESAG4 copies encode bloodstream stage‐specific adenylyl cyclases (AC) and belong to a larger gene family of around 80 members, the majority of which, termed genes related to ESAG4 (GRESAG4s), are not encoded in ESs and are expressed constitutively in the life cycle. Here we report that ablation of ESAG4 from the active ES did not affect parasite growth, neither in culture nor upon rodent infection, and did not significantly change total AC activity. In contrast, inducible RNAi‐mediated knock‐down of an AC subfamily that includes ESAG4 and two ESAG4‐like GRESAG4 (ESAG4L) genes, decreased total AC activity and induced a lethal phenotype linked to impaired cytokinesis. In the Δesag4 line compensatory upregulation of apparently functionally redundant ESAG4L genes was observed, suggesting that the ESAG4/ESAG4L‐subfamily ACs are involved in the control of cell division. How deregulated adenylyl cyclases or cAMP might impair cytokinesis is discussed.
The PTSNtr system globally regulates ATP‐dependent transporters in Rhizobium leguminosarum
Authors: Prell J. , Mulley G. , Haufe F. , White J. P. , Williams A. , Karunakaran R. , Downie J. A. , Poole P. S.
Published: February 2012

Mutation of ptsP encoding EINtr of the PTSNtr system in Rhizobium leguminosarum strain Rlv3841 caused a pleiotropic phenotype as observed with many bacteria. The mutant formed dry colonies and grew poorly on organic nitrogen or dicarboxylates. Most strikingly the ptsP mutant had low activity of a broad range of ATP‐dependent ABC transporters. This lack of activation, which occurred post‐translationally, may explain many of the pleiotropic effects. In contrast proton‐coupled transport systems were not inhibited in a ptsP mutant. Regulation by PtsP also involves two copies of ptsN that code for EIIANtr, resulting in a phosphorylation cascade. As in Escherichia coli, the Rlv3841 PTSNtr system also regulates K+ homeostasis by transcriptional activation of the high‐affinity ATP‐dependent K+ transporter KdpABC. This involves direct interaction of a two‐component sensor regulator pair KdpDE with unphosphorylated EIIANtr. Critically, ptsP mutants, which cannot phosphorylate PtsN1 or PtsN2, had a fully activated KdpABC transporter. This is the opposite pattern from that observed with ABC transporters which apparently require phosphorylation of PtsN. These results suggest that ATP‐dependent transport might be regulated via PTSNtr responding to the cellular energy charge. ABC transport may be inactivated at low energy charge, conserving ATP for essential processes including K+ homeostasis.
Colonization of soft wheat following infection of the stem base by Fusarium culmorum and translocation of deoxynivalenol to the head
Authors: Covarelli L. , Beccari G. , Steed A. , Nicholson P.
Published: February 2012

Following inoculation of the base of soft wheat seedlings with Fusarium culmorum, disease symptoms typical of crown rot developed at the stem base and extended up to the third node by plant maturity. Fungus was isolated from all tissues exhibiting symptoms but not from symptomless tissues. Histopathological analysis revealed that the fungus was present mainly in the parenchymatic cells of the stem base and colonized the tissues via apoplastic and symplastic pathways. Host response in advance of pathogen colonization was observed. At maturity, plants were divided into sections from the inoculated area to the head. Heads were also separated into grain, rachis and chaff components. Colonization by the fungus was assessed by isolation from surface‐sterilized segments and quantified by real‐time PCR. Disease symptoms and the fungus were detected up to the third node, while deoxynivalenol (DON) was present in all stem segments and heads. Within the head, the DON concentration was higher in the rachis than in the chaff and grain components. These results demonstrate that F. culmorum can extensively colonize stem tissues but not reach the head by the time of plant maturity. In contrast, DON was detected in tissues beyond those colonized by the fungus, translocating to the head where, although accumulating mainly in the rachis, significant quantities accumulated in the grain. These findings indicate that there is a potential threat of contamination of grain with DON where severe crown rot is present in a crop.
Social influences on morphine conditioned place preference in adolescent mice
Authors: Cole Shannon L. , Hofford Rebecca S. , Evert Daniel J. , Wellman Paul J. , Eitan Shoshana
Published: February 2012

Social/peer influences are among the strongest predictors of adolescent drug use. However, this important subject does not get much attention in pre‐clinical studies. We recently observed that exposure to different social partners modulates morphine locomotor sensitization. Sensitivity to the hyper‐locomotor response of drugs of abuse is a predictor of sensitivity to other drug‐induced behaviors. Thus, this study examined how exposure to different social partners affected the rewarding properties of morphine. All animals were group‐housed four per cage in one of two conditions referred to as ‘only’ and ‘cage‐mates’. In the mixed treatment condition, morphine‐ and saline‐treated mice were housed together. These groups are referred to as ‘morphine cage‐mates’ and ‘saline cage‐mates’, respectively. In the separated treatment conditions, all mice in the cage received morphine (i.e. ‘morphine only’) or saline (i.e. ‘saline only’), and cages were visually separated from each other. All animals were subsequently individually tested for the acquisition of morphine conditioned place preference (CPP) following one conditioning session with 10, 20 or 40 mg/kg morphine or saline. As expected, one conditioning session established morphine CPP in the morphine only animals, but not in the saline only animals. Notably, morphine CPP was not acquired by the morphine cage‐mate animals. Additionally, 40 mg/kg morphine was sufficient to establish morphine CPP in the saline cage‐mate animals. These results indicate that social environment has an effect on the rewarding properties of morphine. It suggests that exposure to different peers can alter the abuse potential of opioids and potentially other illicit drugs.
Functional neuroimaging study in identical twin pairs discordant for regular cigarette smoking
Authors: Lessov‐Schlaggar Christina N. , Lepore Rebecca L. , Kristjansson Sean D. , Schlaggar Bradley L. , Barnes Kelly Anne , Petersen Steven E. , Madden Pamela A. F. , Heath Andrew C. , Barch Deanna M.
Published: February 2012

Despite the tremendous public health and financial burden of cigarette smoking, relatively little is understood about brain mechanisms that subserve smoking behavior. This study investigated the effect of lifetime regular smoking on brain processing in a reward guessing task using functional magnetic resonance imaging and a co‐twin control study design in monozygotic (MZ) twin pairs that maximally controls for genetic and family background factors. Young adult (24–34 years) MZ female twin pairs (n = 15 pairs), discordant for regular smoking defined using Centers for Disease Control criteria as having smoked ≥100 cigarettes in their lifetime, were recruited from an ongoing genetic epidemiological longitudinal study of substance use and psychopathology. We applied hypothesis‐driven region of interest (ROI) and whole‐brain analyses to investigate the effect of regular smoking on reward processing. Reduced response to reward and punishment in regular compared with never‐regular smokers was seen in hypothesis‐driven ROI analysis of bilateral ventral striatum. Whole‐brain analysis identified bilateral reward‐processing regions that showed activation differences in response to winning or losing money but no effect of regular smoking; and frontal/parietal regions, predominantly in the right hemisphere, that showed robust effect of regular smoking but no effect of winning or losing money. Altogether, using a study design that maximally controls for group differences, we found that regular smoking had modest effects on striatal reward processing regions but robust effects on cognitive control/attentional systems.
Clinical potential of DAS181 for treatment of parainfluenza‐3 infections in transplant recipients
Authors: Guzmán‐Suarez B.B. , Buckley M.W. , Gilmore E.T. , Vocca E. , Moss R. , Marty F.M. , Sanders R. , Baden L.R. , Wurtman D. , Issa N.C. , Fang F. , Koo S.
Published: February 2012

Parainfluenza virus (PIV) infections can cause serious respiratory infections and death in immunocompromised patients. No antiviral agents have proven efficacy against PIV, and therapy generally consists of supportive care. DAS181, a novel sialidase fusion protein that temporarily disables airway epithelial PIV receptors by enzymatic removal of sialic acid moieties, has been shown to inhibit infection with PIV strains in vitro and in an animal model. We describe here the clinical course of 2 immunocompromised patients with PIV‐3 infection, one with a history of lung transplantation and the other neutropenic after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for multiple myeloma. Both patients had substantial clinical improvement in respiratory and systemic symptoms after a 5‐day DAS181 treatment course, although the clinical improvement in the autologous stem cell transplantation patient also paralleled neutrophil engraftment.
Evaluation of the Antiviral Activity of Extracts from Plants Grown in the Qinling Region of China Against Infection by Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV)
Authors: Jing Bingnian , Ma Zhiqing , Feng Juntao , Liang Hongyan , Li Chen , Zhang Xing
Published: February 2012

To investigate their antiviral potential, extracts from 126 plants grown in the Qinling region of China belonging to 103 plant species of 36 families were evaluated for antiviral activity against Tobacco mosaic virus. The activity of each plant extract on infection and replication was determined by local lesion and leaf‐disc methods. Extracts from nine species [Lactuca tatarica (Linn.) C. A. Mey, Rubus flosculosus Focke, Thermopsis lanceolata R. Br, Cotinus coggygria Scop Pulsatilla chinensis (Bunge) Regel, Thlaspi rvense Linn, Rodgersia podophylla A. Gray, Achnatherum splendens (Trin.) Nevski and Rhodiola eurycarpa (Frod.) S. H. Fu] strongly inhibited both infection and viral replication.
Long‐Term‐Release GnRH Agonists Postpone Puberty in Domestic Cats
Authors: Risso A , Corrada Y , Barbeito C , Diaz JD , Gobello C
Published: February 2012

Contents

The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of deslorelin acetate implants on domestic queen puberty postponement. Thirty, 114.4 ± 12.7 days old, 1.5 ± 0.1 kg prepubertal crossbred female cats were included in this study. The animals were kept under a positive photoperiod and randomly assigned to deslorelin acetate 4.7 mg SC implants (n = 15) or to a non‐treated control group (n = 15). The queens were followed up daily and weighed weekly until puberty. Vaginal cytology was also carried out three times a week. Puberty was diagnosed by the presence of the typical oestrous behaviour and vaginal cytology findings. At puberty, ovariectomy was performed and the gonads grossly described. Age (281.2 ± 21.6 vs 177.8 ± 10.8; p < 0.01) but not weight (2.6 ± 0.1 vs 2.5 ± 0.1; p > 0.1) at puberty differed between the deslorelin and control groups, respectively. One deslorelin‐treated female showed an oestrous response and another showed clinical signs of pyometra after the implants. Deslorelin‐treated ovaries appeared small, while control gonads were normal. It was concluded that long‐term‐release deslorelin, administered at approximately 50% adult body weight, postponed feline puberty without altering growing rate.
Do miners (Manorina spp.) affect bird assemblages in continuous savanna woodlands in north‐eastern Australia?
Authors: KUTT A. S. , VANDERDUYS E. P. , PERRY J. J. , PERKINS G. C.
Published: February 2012

Overabundant native species can have a significant cascading effect on other components of wildlife, and those that deplete other species, often promoted by anthropogenic change to vegetation cover and habitat, are called reverse keystone species. Birds in the genus Manorina are widely reported as being such species, and in highly disturbed or fragmented environments, and some intact environments, noisy miners Manorina melanocephala can have a strong negative effect on small passerine species via hyper‐aggressive mobbing. The tropical savannas of northern Australia consist of largely unmodified woodlands, and two species of Manorina occur naturally in this region: the noisy miner and the yellow‐throated miner Manorina flavigula. Therefore, what effect do these species have on bird assemblage in predominantly continuous habitats, relative to other typical determinants of avifauna assemblage such as vegetation structure? We used data collected from bird surveys at 511 sites across northern Queensland (179 noisy miner M. melanocephala sites, 332 yellow‐throated miner M. flavigula sites) between 1998 and 2010. We examined the variation in bird composition at each site due to increasing abundance of Manorina spp. using uni‐ and multivariate techniques. We found total bird richness was significantly lower in sites where noisy and yellow‐throated miner abundances were highest, and passerine species seemed most affected. For species, 45 species varied significantly in abundance with increasing miner numbers, and the overall effect of yellow‐throated miners on other birds seemed more pronounced. However, vegetation structure was generally an equal or more important predictor of avifauna richness and abundance. We conclude that despite the superficially intact nature of northern Australian woodlands, pastoral intensification or poor land management might create disturbances that facilitate increases in the abundance of Manorina, causing localized overabundance and a compounding negative effect on other native bird species.