bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Enhancing medication adherence in people with schizophrenia: An international programme of research
Authors: Gray Richard , White Jacquie , Schulz Michael , Abderhalden Christoph 
Published: January 2010

ABSTRACTThis paper describes the development of an adherence therapy intervention in schizophrenia and synthesizes the results to date of a collaborative international programme of research. Sticking to treatment is essential to control symptoms and prevent relapse, but as with other long‐term conditions, medication adherence is poor. Adherence therapy seeks to facilitate a process of shared decision making, where both parties work towards agreed goals. Central is the theory that when patients make shared choices with a professional they are more likely to stick with them because they are personally owned and meaningful. The results of adherence therapy trials that seek to test this theory are mixed. Outcomes of trials might have been be affected by the point in the patient's illness cycle when therapy was delivered and by sampling bias. Authors of trials of medication management and alliance training packages that aim to equip mental health workers with adherence therapy competencies show considerable promise in improving clinical outcomes. Helping patients manage their medication is central to the work of mental health nurses. We argue that the potential benefits to patients are such that there is sufficient evidence to recommend that all mental health nurses receive medication management training.
Efficacy and safety of sitagliptin monotherapy compared with voglibose in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes: a randomized, double‐blind trial
Authors: Iwamoto Y. , Tajima N. , Kadowaki T. , Nonaka K. , Taniguchi T. , Nishii M. , Arjona Ferreira J. C. , Amatruda J. M. 
Published: January 2010

Objective: To compare the efficacy and safety of sitagliptin (a dipeptidyl peptidase‐4 inhibitor) and voglibose (an α‐glucosidase inhibitor) monotherapy in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes who have inadequate glycaemic control (HbA1c ≥6.5% and <10.0%) on diet and exercise. Methods: In a multi‐center, randomized, double‐blind, parallel‐group study, 319 patients were randomized (1:1) to 12‐week treatment with sitagliptin 50 mg once daily or voglibose 0.2 mg thrice daily before meals. The primary analysis assessed whether sitagliptin was non‐inferior to voglibose in lowering HbA1c. Results: After 12 weeks, sitagliptin was non‐inferior to voglibose for HbA1c‐lowering efficacy. Furthermore, sitagliptin was superior to voglibose, providing significantly greater reductions in HbA1c from baseline [least squares mean changes in HbA1c [95% confidence intervals (CI)] = −0.7% (−0.8 to −0.6) and −0.3% (−0.4 to −0.2), respectively; between‐group difference = −0.4% (−0.5 to −0.3), p < 0.001]. Sitagliptin was also superior to voglibose on other key efficacy endpoints, including change from baseline in 2‐h postmeal glucose (−2.8 mmol/l vs. −1.8 mmol/l, p < 0.001) and fasting plasma glucose (−1.1 mmol/l vs. −0.5 mmol/l, p < 0.001). After 12 weeks, the incidences of clinical adverse experiences (AEs), drug‐related AEs and gastrointestinal AEs in the sitagliptin group (48.5, 10.4 and 18.4%, respectively) were significantly (p < 0.05) lower than those in the voglibose group (64.7, 26.3 and 34.6%, respectively). The incidences of hypoglycaemia, serious AEs and discontinuations due to AEs were low and similar in both groups. Conclusions: In Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes, once‐daily sitagliptin monotherapy showed greater efficacy and better tolerability than thrice‐daily voglibose over 12 weeks.
A population model evaluating the costs and benefits associated with different oral treatment strategies in people with type 2 diabetes
Authors: McEwan P. , Evans M. , Bergenheim K. 
Published: January 2010

Aim: The attainment of near‐normal glycaemia is an important feature in reducing complications in people with type 2 diabetes. Current treatment pathways advocate a failure‐driven therapy algorithm for blood‐glucose lowering that leads to the sequential addition of therapies. The addition and combination of multiple blood‐glucose lowering agents may be associated with significant side effects, such as weight gain and hypoglycaemia, resulting in a detrimental quality of life. The objective of this study is to quantify the overall costs and quality‐adjusted life years (QALY) associated with therapy escalation via oral only treatment strategies with different adverse event profiles as a function of target HbA1c achievement. Methods: A previously published model was adapted to run as a non‐terminating simulation model. The model is designed to evaluate the cost utility of treatment strategies in a population of type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. Model outputs include incidence of micro‐ and macrovascular complications, hypoglycaemia and diabetes‐specific and all‐cause mortality. Results: The total number of vascular events predicted by the model varied little across the four treatment strategies because of the glycaemic profile associated with each therapy strategy being similar. The strategy with sequential addition of thiazolidinediones (TZDs) and sulphonylureas (SUs) to metformin (MF) was associated with greatest predicted hypoglycaemia burden. The addition of SU and dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP‐4) inhibitors to MF was associated with the highest estimated QALYs. Conclusions: A treatment strategy involving the sequential addition of SU and TZD to first‐line MF therapy is associated with the lowest cost and lowest gain across a population, whereas addition of TZD and SU sequentially to first‐line MF therapy resulted in the highest cost and incrementally less QALY gain when compared with treatment strategies involving the addition of a DPP‐4 inhibitor and SU to first‐line MF (irrespective of the treatment sequence) that were associated with both less cost and greatest QALY gain.
The Impossibility of Natural Knowledge of God in T.F. Torrance's Reformulated Natural Theology
Authors: McMAKEN W. TRAVIS 
Published: January 2010

AbstractT.F. Torrance's work on the relation of theology and science has been met with skepticism from other students of Karl Barth. One recent example of this has come from Paul Molnar. Molnar argues a number of ‘Barthian’ points against Torrance, but has failed to penetrate to the heart of Torrance's vision. Of central import is whether Torrance countenances any possibility of natural knowledge of God. I will argue that he does not. If one understands Torrance's rejection of natural knowledge of God, and approaches his reformulated natural theology in this light, Molnar's criticisms of, and concerns about, Torrance's position can be set aside.
Isolation of a new class of cysteine–glycine–proline‐rich beta‐proteins (beta‐keratins) and their expression in snake epidermis
Authors: Dalla Valle Luisa , Nardi Alessia , Alibardi Lorenzo 
Published: January 2010

AbstractScales of snakes contain hard proteins (beta‐keratins), now referred to as keratin‐associated beta‐proteins. In the present study we report the isolation, sequencing, and expression of a new group of these proteins from snake epidermis, designated cysteine–glycine–proline‐rich proteins. One deduced protein from expressed mRNAs contains 128 amino acids (12.5 kDa) with a theoretical pI at 7.95, containing 10.2% cysteine and 15.6% glycine. The sequences of two more snake cysteine–proline‐rich proteins have been identified from genomic DNA. In situ hybridization shows that the messengers for these proteins are present in the suprabasal and early differentiating beta‐cells of the renewing scale epidermis. The present study shows that snake scales, as previously seen in scales of lizards, contain cysteine‐rich beta‐proteins in addition to glycine‐rich beta‐proteins. These keratin‐associated beta‐proteins mix with intermediate filament keratins (alpha‐keratins) to produce the resistant corneous layer of snake scales. The specific proportion of these two subfamilies of proteins in different scales can determine various degrees of hardness in scales.
MKK6 binds and regulates expression of Parkinson’s disease‐related protein LRRK2
Authors: Hsu Cindy H. , Chan Diane , Greggio Elisa , Saha Shamol , Guillily Maria D. , Ferree Andrew , Raghavan Kesav , Shen Grace C. , Segal Lilach , Ryu Hoon , Cookson Mark R. , Wolozin Benjamin 
Published: January 2010

J. Neurochem. (2010) 112, 1593–1604.AbstractMutations in leucine‐rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) are prevalent causes of late‐onset Parkinson’s disease. Here, we show that LRRK2 binds to MAPK kinases (MKK) 3, 6, and 7, and that LRRK2 is able to phosphorylate MKK3, 6 and 7. Over‐expression of LRRK2 and MKK6 increased the steady state levels of each protein beyond that observed with over‐expression of either protein alone. Co‐expression increased levels of MKK6 in the membrane more than in the cytoplasm. The increased expression of LRRK2 and MKK6 requires MKK6 activity. The disease‐linked LRRK2 mutations, G2019S, R1441C and I2020T, enhance binding of LRRK2 to MKK6. This interaction was further supported by in vivo studies in C. elegans. RNAi knockdown in C. elegans of the endogenous orthologs for MKK6 or p38, sek‐1 and pmk‐1, abolishes LRRK2‐mediated protection against mitochondrial stress. These results were confirmed by deletion of sek‐1 in C. elegans. These data demonstrate that MKKs and LRRK2 function in similar biological pathways, and support a role for LRRK2 in modulating the cellular stress response.
An examination of αB‐crystallin as a modifier of SOD1 aggregate pathology and toxicity in models of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Authors: Karch Celeste M. , Borchelt David R. 
Published: January 2010

J. Neurochem. (2010) 113, 1092–1100.AbstractAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a progressively paralytic neurodegenerative disease that can be caused by mutations in Cu,Zn‐superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1). Transgenic mice that over‐express mutant SOD1 develop paralysis and accumulate aggregates of mutant protein in the brainstem and spinal cord. The present study uses a cell culture model to demonstrate αB‐crystallin is capable of reducing aggregation of mutant SOD1. To test the role of αB‐crystallin in modulating SOD1 aggregation in vivo, αB‐crystallin deficient mice were bred to mice expressing two different SOD1 mutants (G37R and L126Z). Although completely eliminating αB‐crystallin reduced the interval to disease endstage by 20–30 days in mice expressing either mutant, there were no detectable changes in the levels of sedimentable, SOD1 aggregates in the spinal cord of symptomatic mice. Because αB‐crystallin is most abundantly expressed in muscle, we expected that the loss of this chaperone would leave this tissue vulnerable to mutant SOD1 aggregation. However, there was no evidence of mutant SOD1 aggregation in the muscle of mice lacking αB‐crystallin. Our findings indicate that a significant perturbation to the protein homeostasis network of muscle is not sufficient to induce the aggregation of misfolded mutant SOD1. These outcomes have implications regarding the role of chaperones in modulating the tissue specific accumulations of misfolded SOD1.
Joining the benefits: Combining epileptic seizure prediction methods
Authors: Feldwisch‐Drentrup Hinnerk , Schelter Björn , Jachan Michael , Nawrath Jakob , Timmer Jens , Schulze‐Bonhage Andreas 
Published: January 2010

SummaryPurpose:  In recent years, a variety of methods developed in the field of linear and nonlinear time series analysis have been used to obtain reliable predictions of epileptic seizures. Because individual methods for seizure prediction so far have shown statistical significance but insufficient performance for clinical applications, we investigated possible improvements by combining algorithms capturing different aspects of electroencephalogram (EEG) dynamics.Methods:  We applied the mean phase coherence and the dynamic similarity index to long‐term continuous intracranial EEG data. The predictive performance of both methods was assessed and statistically evaluated separately, as well as by using logical “AND” and “OR” combinations.Results:  Used independently, either method resulted in a statistically significant prediction performance in only a few patients. Particularly the “AND” combination led to improved prediction performances, leading to an increase in sensitivity and/or specificity. For a maximum false prediction rate of 0.15/h, the mean sensitivity improved from about 25% for the individual methods to 43.2% for the “AND” and to 35.2% for the “OR” combination.Discussion:  This study shows that combinations of prediction methods are promising new approaches to enhance seizure prediction performance considerably. It allows merging the individual benefits of prediction methods in a complementary manner. Because either sensitivity or specificity of seizure prediction methods can be improved depending on the needs of the desired clinical application, the combination opens a new window for future use in a clinical setting.
Meeting risk with resilience: high daily life reward experience preserves mental health
Authors: Geschwind N. , Peeters F. , Jacobs N. , Delespaul P. , Derom C. , Thiery E. , van Os J. , Wichers M. 
Published: January 2010

Geschwind N, Peeters F, Jacobs N, Delespaul P, Derom C, Thiery E, van Os J, Wichers M. Meeting risk with resilience: high daily life reward experience preserves mental health.Objective:  To examine prospectively whether high reward experience (the ability to generate positive affect boosts from pleasurable daily events) protects against affective symptoms and whether environmental or genetic risk factors moderate protective effects.Method:  At baseline, 498 female twins participated in an experience sampling study measuring reward experience in daily life. They also completed questionnaires on childhood adversity and recent stressful life events (SLE). Affective symptoms were measured at baseline and at four follow‐ups using SCL‐90 anxiety and depression subscales. Co‐twin affective symptoms were used as indicators of genetic risk.Results:  Baseline reward experience did not predict follow‐up affective symptoms, regardless of level of genetic risk. However, high reward experience was associated with reduced future affective symptoms after previous exposure to childhood adversity or recent SLE.Conclusion:  High daily life reward experience increases resilience after environmental adversity; modification of reward experience may constitute a novel area of therapeutic intervention.
The effect of short dental trauma lecture on knowledge of high‐risk population: an intervention study of 336 young adults
Authors: Levin Liran , Jeffet Uziel , Zadik Yehuda 
Published: January 2010

Abstract –  Aim: The purpose of this interventional study was to evaluate the effect of a short dental trauma lecture on knowledge of first‐aid management of dental avulsion among high‐risk population.Methods: A total of 336 army recruits were randomly assigned to two groups. To evaluate the level of knowledge, we used a structured questionnaire, adapted from Andersson et al. (Dent Traumatol, 22, 2006, 57) and translated to Hebrew. The control group (n = 137) answered the questionnaire. The intervention group (n = 199) received a 60‐min slides lecture by a (military) dental practitioner, regarding general concepts of body injuries, facial and oral injuries and practise first‐aid management of these injuries. The intervention group filled the same questionnaire following this lecture.Results: General knowledge of emergency treatment of injuries to other parts of the body was rather good for all participants; however, the level of knowledge was significantly higher in the intervention group (P < 0.05). General knowledge regarding tooth and avulsion was quite disappointing in the control group but was significantly higher in the intervention group (P < 0.001). The same was observed when interpreting the results regarding special knowledge of avulsion first‐aid management: How to clean the tooth before replantation, extra‐alveolar time and storage method and medium (P < 0.001).Conclusions: The present study revealed excellent results following a short dental trauma instruction lecture. As raising the public awareness on the subject of dealing with dental trauma is important for the prognosis of the tooth, this way of improving knowledge to high‐risk populations should be further examined in long‐term studies.
Construction of Recombinant Attenuated
Salmonella enterica
Serovar Typhimurium Vaccine Vector Strains for Safety in Newborn and Infant Mice
Authors: Gunn Bronwyn M. , Wanda Soo-Young , Burshell Dana , Wang Caihong , Curtiss Roy 
Published: January 2010

ABSTRACT

Recombinant bacterial vaccines must be safe, efficacious, and well tolerated, especially when administered to newborns and infants to prevent diseases of early childhood. Many means of attenuation have been shown to render vaccine strains susceptible to host defenses or unable to colonize lymphoid tissue effectively, thus decreasing their immunogenicity. We have constructed recombinant attenuated
Salmonella
vaccine strains that display high levels of attenuation while retaining the ability to induce high levels of immunogenicity and are well tolerated in high doses when administered to infant mice as young as 24 h old. The strains contain three means of regulated delayed attenuation, as well as a constellation of additional mutations that aid in enhancing safety, regulate antigen expression, and reduce disease symptoms commonly associated with
Salmonella
infection. The vaccine strains are well tolerated when orally administered to infant mice 24 h old at doses as high as 3.5 × 10
8
CFU.
Comparison of Recombinant Proteins fromSchistosoma japonicumfor Schistosomiasis Diagnosis
Authors: Jin Ya-mei , Lu Ke , Zhou Wei-Fang , Fu Zhi-Qiang , Liu Jin-Ming , Shi Yao-Jun , Li Hao , Lin Jiao-Jiao 
Published: January 2010

ABSTRACTThe most important animal reservoirs ofSchistosoma japonicumin China are bovines. Diagnosis and control of bovine schistosomiasis is critical for reducing the prevalence of the disease. We screened defined diagnostic antigens that have the potential to increase the sensitivity and specificity of serological assays and to distinguish between active and prior infections. Five recombinant proteins with the potential to be diagnostic antigens were compared to the native soluble egg antigen preparation by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We evaluated the potentials of the recombinant proteins for discriminating active from prior infections, as well as the therapeutic efficacy of the established ELISA technique.
Comparison of Polyurethane Foam to Nylon Flocked Swabs for Collection of Secretions from the Anterior Nares in Performance of a Rapid Influenza Virus Antigen Test in a Pediatric Emergency Department
Authors: Scansen Kimberly A. , Bonsu Bema K. , Stoner Erin , Mack Kathy , Salamon Douglas , Leber Amy , Marcon Mario J. 
Published: January 2010

ABSTRACT

Rapid antigen testing of upper respiratory secretions collected with various swab types is often utilized for laboratory diagnoses of influenza virus infection. There are limited data on the effects of swab composition on test performance. This study compared the performance of the Quidel QuickVue Influenza A+B test on secretions from the anterior nares when a polyurethane foam swab was used for collection to that when a nylon flocked swab was used for collection. One hundred subjects who presented to a pediatric emergency department with symptoms suggestive of an influenza virus infection were recruited for the study. Foam and flocked swabs of the anterior nares were obtained from separate nares of each subject before a posterior nasopharyngeal swab was collected and placed into viral transport medium. The QuickVue test was performed directly on each swab type, and the results were compared to the results of reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR), direct fluorescent antibody (DFA) test, and viral culture performed on the transport medium. RT-PCR alone and DFA combined with culture were utilized as separate gold standards. There were 56 cases of influenza detected by RT-PCR; the QuickVue test was positive for 40 foam and 30 flocked swabs, for sensitivities of 71% and 54%, respectively (
P
= 0.01). Similarly, there were 49 influenza cases detected by DFA and/or culture; the QuickVue test was positive for 38 foam and 30 flocked swabs, for sensitivities of 78% and 61%, respectively (
P
= 0.13). This study suggests that polyurethane foam swabs perform better than nylon flocked swabs for the collection of secretions from anterior nares in the Quidel QuickVue Influenza A+B test.
Rapid Identification and Discrimination of
Brucella
Isolates by Use of Real-Time PCR and High-Resolution Melt Analysis
Authors: Winchell Jonas M. , Wolff Bernard J. , Tiller Rebekah , Bowen Michael D. , Hoffmaster Alex R. 
Published: January 2010

ABSTRACT

Definitive identification of
Brucella
species remains a challenge due to the high degree of genetic homology shared within the genus. We report the development of a molecular technique which utilizes real-time PCR followed by high-resolution melt (HRM) curve analysis to reliably type members of this genus. Using a panel of seven primer sets, we tested 153
Brucella
spp. isolates with >99% accuracy compared to traditional techniques. This assay provides a useful diagnostic tool that can rapidly type
Brucella
isolates and has the potential to detect novel species. This approach may also prove helpful for clinical, epidemiological and veterinary investigations.
No Increase in Hepatitis B Virus (HBV)-Specific CD8+T Cells in Patients with HIV-1-HBV Coinfections following HBV-Active Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy
Authors: Crane Megan , Sirivichayakul Sunee , Chang J. Judy , Avihingsanon Anchalee , Ubolyam Sasiwimol , Buranapraditkun Supranee , Thantiworasit Pattarawat , Wightman Fiona , Locarnini Stephen , Matthews Gail , Dore Gregory J. , Ruxrungtham Kiat , Lewin Sharon R. 
Published: January 2010

ABSTRACTFollowing treatment of hepatitis B virus (HBV) monoinfection, HBV-specific T-cell responses increase significantly; however, little is known about the recovery of HBV-specific T-cell responses following HBV-active highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in HIV-HBV coinfected patients. HIV-HBV coinfected patients who were treatment naïve and initiating HBV-active HAART were recruited as part of a prospective cohort study in Thailand and followed for 48 weeks (n= 24). Production of gamma interferon (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) in both HBV- and HIV-specific CD8+T cells was quantified using intracellular cytokine staining on whole blood. Following HBV-active HAART, the median (interquartile range) log decline from week 0 to week 48 for HBV DNA was 5.8 log (range, 3.4 to 6.7) IU/ml, and for HIV RNA it was 3.1 (range, 2.9 to 3.5) log copies/ml (P< 0.001 for both). The frequency of HIV Gag-specific CD8+T-cell responses significantly decreased (IFN-γ,P< 0.001; TNF-α,P= 0.05). In contrast, there was no significant change in the frequency (IFN-γ,P= 0.21; TNF-α,P= 0.61; and IFN-γ and TNF-α,P= 0.11) or magnitude (IFN-γ,P= 0.13; TNF-α,P= 0.13; and IFN-γ and TNF-α,P= 0.13) of HBV-specific CD8+T-cell responses over 48 weeks of HBV-active HAART. Of the 14 individuals who were HBV e antigen (HBeAg) positive, 5/14 (36%) lost HBeAg during the 48 weeks of follow-up. HBV-specific CD8+T cells were detected in 4/5 (80%) of patients prior to HBeAg loss. Results from this study show no sustained change in the HBV-specific CD8+T-cell response following HBV-active HAART. These findings may have implications for the duration of treatment of HBV in HIV-HBV coinfected patients, particularly in HBeAg-positive disease.