bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Concept of Crime in the Afghan Criminal Justice System: The Paradox between Secular, Tradition and Islamic Law: A Viewpoint of an International Practitioner
Authors: Tawfik Ahmed Hamdy 
Published: October 2009

AbstractIn modern Afghanistan, one major problem with which legal scholars struggle is identification of the concept of crime. While crime is identified and defined in the Afghani Secular Penal Code of 1976, as well in Islamic Law (Shari'ah), jurisprudence of the courts and traditions take precedence in the everyday lives of Afghanis. Court's jurisprudence and the traditional dispute-resolution system are deemed to be a product of Islamic jurisprudence, notwithstanding that, in some cases, they represent an erroneous interpretation and application of Shari'ah as this article will examine. This article focuses on the concept of crime in Islamic law and analyses the court's jurisprudence and traditional system, which are widely applied throughout different parts of Afghanistan, and seeks to identify their relationship between Islamic and secular laws and whether they are consistent with Islamic Shari'ah.
The Disunity of Islamic Criminal Law and the Modern Role of Ijtihād
Authors: Bantekas Ilias 
Published: October 2009

AbstractIslamic law, and criminal law in particular, have been closed since its heyday of legal scholarship to external influences and new theoretical arguments and constructs. This, it is argued, is due to the lack of enlightened and revered scholarship that will enhance Islamic law and which is currently unavailable. This situation is unlike early and classical Islam where legal argumentation flourished and Islamic scholarship was generally open to external currents and philosophical ideas. Despite these limitations Islamic criminal law has not coalesced to shield itself from foreign elements, but instead lacks a single voice not only in practice but also in its theoretical bases among Muslim nations. We cannot therefore speak of 'an' Islamic criminal law nor can Muslims continue to ignore the beneficial role of ijtihād that should be utilised at least as a forum for discussion about bridging classic Islamic criminal law with contemporary Muslim needs. Many contemporary issues in Islamic criminal law are evidently based on prejudice, culture and less on a coherent understanding of Islamic theology itself. Islam possesses a plethora of outstanding legal scholars that should be allowed to contribute to an ijtihādī scholarly 'revolution'.
Overview of Islamic Law
Authors: Alarefi Abdullah Saad 
Published: October 2009

AbstractIslamic law is known as the Shari'ah, which means the path to follow God's law. The Shari'ah controls, rules and regulates all public and private behaviour. Shari'ah law does not exclude any knowledge from other sources and is viewed by the Muslim world as a vehicle to solve all problems – civil, criminal and international. The article offers a brief insight into Islamic law and provides a full understanding of the nature of Islamic law and its jurisprudential and legal concepts.
African States and Participation in Deep Seabed Mining: Problems and Prospects
Authors: Egede Edwin 
Published: October 2009

AbstractThe Law of the Sea Convention requires that effective participation of developing States Parties in activities in the deep seabed beyond national jurisdiction (the Area) should be promoted having due regard to their special interests and needs (especially those of landlocked and geographically disadvantaged states). This article examines the difficulties in actual, direct and effective participation by African states in deep seabed mining and possible co-operative endeavours that African states may embark upon to overcome some of these constraints in order to advance the prospects of their actual, direct and effective participation in deep seabed mining.
Differential Effects of 17β-Estradiol and of Synthetic Progestins on Aldosterone-Salt–Induced Kidney Disease
Authors: Arias-Loza Paula-Anahi , Muehlfelder Melanie , Elmore Susan A. , Maronpot Robert , Hu Kai , Blode Hartmut , Hegele-Hartung Christa , Fritzemeier Karl Heinrich , Ertl Georg , Pelzer Theo 
Published: October 2009

Elevated mineralocorticoid levels and female sex hormones have been shown to confer opposing effects on renal injury, but their combined effects are still unknown. Objective: Identify the function of estrogens and of different synthetic progestins on aldosterone salt–mediated renal disease. Methods: The role of 17β-estradiol, medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), and drospirenone during renal injury was studied in Wistar rats subjected to uni-nephrectomy plus aldosterone salt treatment. Results: Aldo-salt treatment of intact, ovariectomized, and estradiol-treated female rats resulted in remnant kidney hypertrophy without structural damage. Co-treatment with MPA, but not with drospirenone, increased kidney hypertrophy, fluid turnover, sodium retention, and potassium excretion. Medroxyprogesterone acetate also caused glomerular, vascular, tubular, and interstitial lesions that were accompanied by increased blood pressure and enhanced NADPH oxidase (p67phox) and sodium channel (α-ENaC) expression. Drospirenone, a progestin with anti-mineralocorticoid function, and spironolactone prevented kidney hypertrophy, hypertension, and sodium retention. Drospirenone and spironolactone also increased renal angiotensin II type 2 receptor expression and relieved aldosterone-induced suppression of serum angiotensin II levels. Conclusion: The choice of specific synthetic progestins has profound implications on the development of kidney injury and renal gene expression under conditions of elevated aldosterone serum levels and salt intake.
A Comparative Analysis of 7.0-Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Histology Measurements of Knee Articular Cartilage in a Canine Posterolateral Knee Injury Model
Authors: Pepin Scott R. , Griffith Chad J. , Wijdicks Coen A. , Goerke Ute , McNulty Margaret A. , Parker Josh B. , Carlson Cathy S. , Ellermann Jutta , LaPrade Robert F. 
Published: October 2009

Background There has recently been increased interest in the use of 7.0-T magnetic resonance imaging for evaluating articular cartilage degeneration and quantifying the progression of osteoarthritis. Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate articular cartilage cross-sectional area and maximum thickness in the medial compartment of intact and destabilized canine knees using 7.0-T magnetic resonance images and compare these results with those obtained from the corresponding histologic sections. Study Design Controlled laboratory study. Methods Five canines had a surgically created unilateral grade III posterolateral knee injury that was followed for 6 months before euthanasia. The opposite, noninjured knee was used as a control. At necropsy, 3-dimensional gradient echo images of the medial tibial plateau of both knees were obtained using a 7.0-T magnetic resonance imaging scanner. Articular cartilage area and maximum thickness in this site were digitally measured on the magnetic resonance images. The proximal tibias were processed for routine histologic analysis with hematoxylin and eosin staining. Articular cartilage area and maximum thickness were measured in histologic sections corresponding to the sites of the magnetic resonance slices. Results The magnetic resonance imaging results revealed an increase in articular cartilage area and maximum thickness in surgical knees compared with control knees in all specimens; these changes were significant for both parameters (P <.05 for area; P<.01 for thickness). The average increase in area was 14.8% and the average increase in maximum thickness was 15.1%. The histologic results revealed an average increase in area of 27.4% (P <.05) and an average increase in maximum thickness of 33.0% (P 5 .06). Correlation analysis between the magnetic resonance imaging and histology data revealed that the area values were significantly correlated (P <.01), but the values for thickness obtained from magnetic resonance imaging were not significantly different from the histology sections (P > 1). Conclusion These results demonstrate that 7.0-T magnetic resonance imaging provides an alternative method to histology to evaluate early osteoarthritic changes in articular cartilage in a canine model by detecting increases in articular cartilage area. Clinical Relevance The noninvasive nature of 7.0-T magnetic resonance imaging will allow for in vivo monitoring of osteoarthritis progression and intervention in animal models and humans for osteoarthritis.
Knee-to-Ankle Mosaicplasty for the Treatment of Osteochondral Lesions of the Ankle Joint
Authors: Valderrabano Victor , Leumann André , Rasch Helmut , Egelhof Thomas , Hintermann Beat , Pagenstert Geert 
Published: October 2009

Background Osteochondral lesions are frequently seen in athletes after ankle injuries. At this time, osteochondral autologous transplantation (OATS, mosaicplasty) is the only surgical treatment that replaces the entire osteochondral unit in symptomatic lesions. Purpose To evaluate the clinical and radiological midterm to long-term outcome of ankles treated with knee-to-ankle mosaicplasty. Study Design Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods Clinical evaluation consisted of patient satisfaction, pain evaluation (visual analog scale [VAS]), American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle score, sports activity score, range of motion, the radiological evaluation of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and single photon emission computed tomography–computed tomography (SPECT-CT) analysis of both the ankle and the knee joint. Results Twelve of 21 patients (mean age, 43 years; male, 8; female, 4) were available for latest follow-up (mean, 72 months). At follow-up, patients reported a satisfaction rate of good to excellent in 92% (n 5 11) and poor in 8% (n 5 1). The average VAS pain score was 3.9 (preoperative, 5.9; P 5 .02), AOFAS ankle score significantly increased from 45.9 to 80.2 points (P< .0001), sports activity score remained significantly decreased with 1.25 (preinjury level, 2.3; P 5 .035), and ankle dorsiflexion was significantly reduced (P 5 .003). Knee pain was reported in 6 patients (50%). Radiologically, recurrent lesions were found in 10 of 10 cases (100%) and some degree of cartilage degeneration and discontinuity of the subchondral bone plate in 100%. Conclusion Indications for mosaicplasty with a plug transfer from the knee to the talus must be considered carefully, as at midterm, moderate outcome and considerable donor-site morbidity may be found.
Epidemiologic study on survival of chronic myeloid leukemia and Ph+ acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients with BCR-ABL T315I mutation
Authors: Nicolini Franck E. , Mauro Michael J. , Martinelli Giovanni , Kim Dong-Wook , Soverini Simona , Müller Martin C. , Hochhaus Andreas , Cortes Jorge , Chuah Charles , Dufva Inge H. , Apperley Jane F. , Yagasaki Fumiharu , Pearson Jay D. , Peter Senaka , Sanz Rodriguez Cesar , Preudhomme Claude , Giles Francis , Goldman John M. , Zhou Wei 
Published: October 2009

Abstract
The BCR–ABL T315I mutation represents a major mechanism of resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). The objectives of this retrospective observational study were to estimate overall and progression-free survival for chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic-phase (CP), accelerated-phase (AP), or blastic-phase (BP) and Philadelphia chromosome—positive (Ph)+ acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients with T315I mutation. Medical records of 222 patients from 9 countries were reviewed; data were analyzed using log-rank tests and Cox proportional hazard models. Median age at T315I mutation detection was 54 years; 57% cases were men. Median time between TKI treatment initiation and T315I mutation detection was 29.2, 15.4, 5.8, and 9.1 months, respectively, for CP, AP, BP, and Ph+ ALL patients. After T315I mutation detection, second-generation TKIs were used in 56% of cases, hydroxyurea in 39%, imatinib in 35%, cytarabine in 26%, MK-0457 in 11%, stem cell transplantation in 17%, and interferon-α in 6% of cases. Median overall survival from T315I mutation detection was 22.4, 28.4, 4.0, and 4.9 months, and median progression-free survival was 11.5, 22.2, 1.8, and 2.5 months, respectively, for CP, AP, BP, and Ph+ ALL patients. These results confirm that survival of patients harboring a T315I mutation is dependent on disease phase at the time of mutation detection.
House dust mite induces direct airway inflammationin vivo: implications for future disease therapy?
Authors: De Alba J. , Raemdonck K. , Dekkak A. , Collins M. , Wong S. , Nials A. T. , Knowles R. G. , Belvisi M. G. , Birrell M. A. 
Published: October 2009

House dust mite (HDM) is the major source of allergen in house dust and is strongly associated with the development of asthma. HDM can evoke a direct, nonallergic inflammatory reactionin vitro. We aimed to determine whether this apparent nonallergic, inflammatory response can be observed in a more complexin vivosetting.Vehicle, AlumTMor HDM (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus5 μg,i.p.with Alum) sensitised Brown-Norway rats were challenged intratracheally with vehicle (saline), HDM (Der p10 μg) or heat-inactivated HDM on day 21. Lung function changes and the associated inflammatory response were evaluated.Tissue and bronchoalveolar lavage from AlumTMsensitisedDer pchallenged animals exhibited strong eosinophilia and neutrophilia associated with an early release of pro-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-13 and 1β, eotaxin and thymus and activation-regulated chemokine). This response was not attenuated by removal of HDM-associated protease activity. Interestingly, the vehicle sensitised group (no AlumTM) lacked this inflammatory response.HDM allergen evokes nonallergic airways inflammation with an inflammatory profile similar to that of the asthmatic airway. This response, independent of the protease activity of the HDM extract, appeared to be linked to prior administration of the adjuvant AlumTMand the subsequent increase in total immunoglobulin E. This finding could have important implications in the development of future asthma therapies.
Abdominal volume contribution to tidal volume as an early indicator of respiratory impairment in Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Authors: Lo Mauro A. , D'Angelo M. G. , Romei M. , Motta F. , Colombo D. , Comi G. P. , Pedotti A. , Marchi E. , Turconi A. C. , Bresolin N. , Aliverti A. 
Published: October 2009

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is characterised by progressive loss of muscular strength that leads to an increasingly restrictive pulmonary syndrome. However, it is still not clear whether this determines alterations in the breathing pattern.We studied: 66 DMD patients at different stages of the disease (mean±semage 12.6±0.6 yrs, range 5–22 yrs of age), subdivided into four groups according to age; and 21 age-matched healthy male controls. Spirometry, lung volumes and nocturnal oxygen saturation were measured in all DMD patients. Ventilatory pattern and chest wall volume variations were assessed by optoelectronic plethysmography during spontaneous breathing both in seated and supine positions.Whilst in a seated position, no significant differences were found between patients and controls or between different age groups. In the supine position, the average contribution of abdominal volume change (ΔVAB) to tidal volume progressively decreased with age (p<0.001). The patients who showed nocturnal hypoxaemia showed significantly lower ΔVAB.In conclusion, chest wall motion during spontaneous breathing in awake conditions and in supine position is an important indicator of the degree of respiratory muscle impairment in DMD. ΔVABis not only an important marker of the progression of the disease but is also an early indicator of nocturnal hypoxaemia.
Profiling hospital performance to monitor the quality of care: the case of COPD
Authors: Agabiti N. , Belleudi V. , Davoli M. , Forastiere F. , Faustini A. , Pistelli R. , Fusco D. , Perucci C. A. 
Published: October 2009

Comparative outcomes data are widely used to monitor quality of care in the cardiovascular area; little is available in the respiratory field. We applied validated methods to compare hospital outcomes for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbation.From the hospital information system, we selected all hospital admissions for COPD exacerbation in Rome (for 2001–2005). Vital status within 30 days was obtained from the municipality mortality register. Each hospital was compared to a pool of hospitals with the lowest adjusted mortality rate (the benchmark). Age, sex and several potential clinical predictors were covariates in logistic regression analysis.12,756 exacerbated COPD patients were analysed (mean age 74 yrs, 71% males). Diabetes, hypertension, ischaemic heart disease, heart failure and arrhythmia were the most common coexisting conditions. The average crude mortality in the benchmark group was 3.8%; in the remaining population it was 7.5% (range 5.2–17.2%). In comparison with the benchmark, the relative risk of 30-day mortality varied widely across the hospitals (range 1.5–5.9%).A large variability in 30-day mortality after COPD exacerbation exists even considering patients’ characteristics. Although these results do not detect mechanisms related to worse outcomes, they may be useful to stimulate providers to revision and improvement of COPD care management.
Cigarette smoke induces CXCL8 production by human neutrophilsviaactivation of TLR9 receptor
Authors: Mortaz E. , Adcock I.M. , Ito K. , Kraneveld A.D. , Nijkamp F.P. , Folkerts G. 
Published: October 2009

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major health problem and cigarette smoke is the main risk factor for the development of COPD. The characteristic changes in airway morphology, inflammatory cell infiltration and mediator expression in COPD may result from direct effects of cigarette smoke on airway cells. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are key elements in pathogen recognition by the host immune system. Although TLRs have been intensely studied in innate immunity and infection, their critical role in noninfectious challenges has only recently emerged.Here we investigate whether cigarette smoke induces TLR9 signalling in human neutrophils. Human neutrophils were isolated from buffy coat and exposed to cigarette smoke extract. The production of CXC chemokine ligand (CXCL)8 was measured as a functional readout and the role of TLR9 signalling was investigated. Cigarette smoke extract induced CXCL8 releaseviaTLR9 activation in neutrophils, which was confirmed in TLR9 stably transfected human embryonic kidney 293 cells. Moreover, cigarette smoke extract upregulated the expression of TLR9 and the upregulated expression was suppressed byN-acetylcysteine.TLR9 mediates cigarette smoke-induced release of CXCL8 and this may contribute to the accumulation of neutrophils and inflammation within the airways of smokers.
Effect of p38 MAPK inhibition on corticosteroid suppression of cytokine release in severe asthma
Authors: Bhavsar P. , Khorasani N. , Hew M. , Johnson M. , Chung K. F. 
Published: October 2009

Patients with severe asthma respond less well to corticosteroids than those with non-severe asthma. Increased p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation in alveolar macrophages (AMs) from severe asthma patients has been associated with a reduced inhibition of cytokine release by dexamethasone.We determined whether p38 MAPK inhibitors would modulate corticosteroid suppression of cytokine release from AMs and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).PBMCs were isolated from venous blood and AMs by bronchoalveolar lavage in severe and non-severe asthma patients. PBMCs and AMs were exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) with and without the p38 MAPK inhibitor, SD282, or dexamethasone. We determined the concentration-dependent effects of another p38 MAPK inhibitor, GW-A, on dexamethasone-induced inhibition of interleukin (IL)-8 release from PBMCs. Cytokines were assayed using an ELISA-based method.SD282 (10−7 M), with dexamethasone (10−6 M), caused a greater inhibition of release of IL-1β, IL-6, macrophage inflammatory protein-1α and IL-10, than with dexamethasone alone in AMs from severe and non-severe asthma. At 10−9and 10−10 M, GW-A, that had no direct effects, increased the inhibitory activity of dexamethasone (10−8and 10−6 M) on LPS-induced IL-8 release in PBMCs from severe asthma.Corticosteroid insensitivity in severe asthma patients may be improved by inhibitors of p38 MAPK.
Alveolar fibroblasts in acute lung injury: biological behaviour and clinical relevance
Authors: Quesnel C. , Nardelli L. , Piednoir P. , Leçon V. , Marchal-Somme J. , Lasocki S. , Bouadma L. , Philip I. , Soler P. , Crestani B. , Dehoux M. 
Published: October 2009

Although fibroblasts are key cells in the lung repair/fibrosis process, their characteristics are poorly studied in acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The aims of our study were to: 1) determine the biological behaviour of alveolar fibroblasts during ALI; and 2) to evaluate the clinical relevance of positive alveolar fibroblast culture from patients with ALI/ARDS.Cells were cultured from bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) obtained from 68 critically ill, ventilated patients: ALI n = 17; ARDS n = 31; and ventilated controls n = 20. Patients were followed for 28 days and clinical data was recorded. We studied proliferation, migration and collagen-1 synthesis capacities of fibroblasts.Cells expressing fibroblast markers were cultured from BAL obtained in six (35%) ALI patients and six (19%) ARDS patients, but never from ventilated controls. Alveolar fibroblasts exhibited a persistent activated phenotype with enhanced migratory and collagen-1 production capacities, with hyporesponsiveness to prostaglandin E2compared to normal lung fibroblasts (p≤0.04). Positive fibroblast culture was associated with both an increased collagen-1 concentration and monocyte/macrophage percentage in BAL fluid (p≤0.01), and with a reduced duration of mechanical ventilation (p<0.001).We conclude that activated alveolar fibroblasts can be cultured either in ALI or ARDS and that their presence might reflect the initiation of the organising phase of ALI.
Diffuse alveolar haemorrhage: factors associated with in-hospital and long-term mortality
Authors: de Prost N. , Parrot A. , Picard C. , Ancel P-Y. , Mayaud C. , Fartoukh M. , Cadranel J. 
Published: October 2009

Diffuse alveolar haemorrhage (DAH) is a feature of several immune and nonimmune disorders. Reported prognosis is poor, with in-hospital mortality ranging from 20% to 100%. Early identification of prognostic factors may be useful in the initiation of appropriate treatment.We retrospectively analysed the charts of all patients referred to a university hospital for DAH between 1980 and 2008. Variables associated with in-hospital and long-term mortality were determined using a logistic regression model and the Kaplan–Meier method, respectively. Immunosuppressed patients were excluded.Overall, 97 patients were included in the study. In-hospital mortality was 24.7%. Factors associated with in-hospital mortality were shock (OR 77.5, 95% CI 8.9–677.2), glomerular filtration rate <60 mL·min−1(OR 11.2, 95% CI 1.8–68.4) and plasmatic lactate dehydrogenase level more than twice the normal value (OR 12.1, 95% CI 1.7–84.3). Mortality among discharged patients was 16.4% with a median follow-up duration of 34 months. Factors associated with increased long-term mortality in univariate analysis were age over 60 yrs (p = 0.026), cardiovascular comorbidity (p = 0.027) and end-stage renal failure with dependence on haemodialysis (p = 0.026).Patients with immune and nonimmune DAH had similar outcomes. Early outcome depended on nonpulmonary organ failures. Conversely, late outcome was related to age, cardiac comorbidities and the need for haemodialysis.