bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Self-Concept in Adult Children of Schizophrenic Parents: an Exploratory Study
Authors: Manjula M. , Raguram A. 
Published: August 2009

Background: Much of the work on children of schizophrenic parents has primarily focused on the risk of developing various kinds of psychiatric disorders, behavioural problems and cognitive vulnerability factors. There has been inadequate attention given to children without a clinical diagnosis and particularly the adult offspring of schizophrenic parents. It would be worthwhile to study the wellness or otherwise of these children, especially in terms of the self-concept of these individuals. Aim: To study the impact of parental mental illness on the self-concept of adult children. Method: Thirty subjects who had one parent diagnosed as suffering from schizophrenia formed the study group, and 30 subjects, matched on age and gender with the study group, formed the control group. Subjects were assessed using a socio-demographic and clinical data sheet and a self-concept scale. Results: The results showed that the study group had significantly poorer self-concept compared to the control group. The current clinical status of the parents had an impact on the family self-esteem of the children. Subjects who were above 10 years of age at the onset of the parental mental illness had a poorer self-concept, as compared to those who were below 10 years at the onset of illness in their parents. Conclusions: The results provide evidence for poor self-concept in adult children of schizophrenic parents compared to children of normal parents.
Development and Validation of a Self-Reported Questionnaire On Users’ Opinions About Schizophrenia: a Participatory Research
Authors: Magliano Lorenza , Fiorillo Andrea , Del Vecchio Heidegret , Malangone Claudio , De Rosa Corrado , Bachelet Carla , Cesari Giampiero , D'Ambrogio Rosa , Fulgosi Cigala Francesca , Veltro Franco , Zanus Paola , Pioli Rosaria , Maj Mario 
Published: August 2009

Background: Although users’ involvement in mental health research has repeatedly been acknowledged as having a positive influence on research quality, this rarely happens. Aims: To develop and validate a Questionnaire on Users’ Opinions (QOU) about schizophrenia, in close collaboration with 279 persons affected by this disorder. Methods: A preliminary list of items concerning the opinions of users with schizophrenia regarding causes, treatments and psychosocial consequences of the disorder was developed by 38 users with schizophrenia and 40 professionals who attended a workshop. Psychometric properties of the QOU were tested on 241 users with schizophrenia, 149 of whom were randomly assigned to a test—retest study and 92 to a face-validity study. Content and construct validity were explored in the whole sample. Results: The final version of the QOU contains: (1) 24 items on the psychosocial consequences of schizophrenia, grouped into six subscales, whose Cronbach’s alpha ranged between 0.55 and 0.74; (2) five multiple choice items on the Italian psychiatric law; (3) 12 open questions; and (4) four yes/no skipping items. Items’ reliability, measured by Cohen’s kappa coefficient, ranged between 0.55 and 0.92. Conclusion: This questionnaire may be useful to assess patients’ beliefs about schizophrenia and to target psychosocial interventions for this mental disorder.
Validation of the Armenian Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (Ces-D) Among Ethnic Armenians in Lebanon
Authors: Kazarian Shahe S. 
Published: August 2009

Background: The aim of this paper is to report on the Armenian version of the 20-item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (Armenian CES-D) and its validity and reliability when administered to a community sample of ethnic Armenians in Lebanon. Method: A total of 172 participants completed the Armenian CES-D Scale, the Mood Rating Scale, the Armenian Psychological Well-Being Scale and the General Family Functioning Scale. The factor structure and internal consistency of the Armenian CES-D and its correlation with the remaining measures were evaluated. Results: Two factors correlating r = 0.34 with each other were obtained. The depression factor comprised 16 psychological, somatic and interpersonal expressions of depressive symptoms and correlated r = 0.97 with Armenian CES-D scores. The well-being factor comprised four positive expressions of affect and correlated r = 0.34 with Armenian CES-D scores. Depression scores correlated r = —0.39 with psychological well-being scores, r = —0.34 with mood ratings and r = —0.23 with family functioning scores; the comparable correlations for well-being scores were r = —0.46, r = —0.41, and r = —0.33, respectively. Conclusions: The Armenian CES-D is likely measuring two distinct aspects of mental health, depression and well-being, and the depression factor may be as adequate in measuring the Armenian depressed mind as the 20-item Armenian CES-D Scale.
International adoption and child protection in Guatemala
Authors: McCreery Bunkers Kelley , Groza Victor , Lauer Daniel P. 
Published: August 2009

English Guatemala’s culture and history as well as its role as a major sending country for intercountry adoption are used as a context for discussing how intercountry adoption has influenced and affected the child protection system. A model for child protection development is offered. French La culture et l’histoire du Guatemala, aussi bien que son rôle en tant qu’important pays pourvoyeur d’enfants destinés à l’adoption internationale, sont utilisés comme contexte pour discuter la question de savoir en quoi ces données ont influencé et ont affecté le système de protection de l’enfance. Un modèle pour le développement de la protection de l’enfance est proposé. Spanish La cultura de Guatemala y su historia, así como su papel como el país de mayores envíos para la adopción entre países, es utilizada como contexto para discutir cómo es que ha influido y afectado el sistema de protección infantil. Se propone un modelo para el desarrollo de la protección infantil.
A Medical Nutrition Therapy Program Improves Perinatal Outcomes in Mexican Pregnant Women With Gestational Diabetes and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Perichart-Perera Otilia , Balas-Nakash Margie , Parra-Covarrubias Adalberto , Rodriguez-Cano Ameyalli , Ramirez-Torres Aurora , Ortega-González Carlos , Vadillo-Ortega Felipe 
Published: August 2009

Diabetes in pregnancy is a major public health problem in Mexico. Nutrition therapy is an important component of treatment. Intensive nutrition intervention has not been implemented for Mexican pregnant women with diabetes. Its effect on different types of diabetes mellitus has not been studied. Purpose The authors assessed the effect of a medical nutrition therapy (MNT) program on perinatal complications in Mexico City. Methods Quasi-experimental design with a historical control. Women were assigned to a MNT program (n = 88) and were followed up with every 2 weeks until delivery (2004-2007). The control group (n = 86) was selected from medical charts (2001-2003) and the same inclusion criteria were used. In each group, 55% of women had type 2 diabetes mellitus and 45% had gestational diabetes. The MNT program included a moderate intake of carbohydrate (40%-45% of total energy) and reduction in energy intake, capillary glucose self-monitoring, and education. The control group received usual hospital routine care. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, chi-square, and multivariate logistic regression (OR, 95% CI) as indicated. Results Women in the MNT program had a lower risk of preeclampsia, fewer maternal hospitalization, and neonatal deaths in both types of diabetes. Low birth weight was less frequent only in women with gestational diabetes receiving MNT, while neonatal intensive care unit admissions were lower only in women with type 2 diabetes. Conclusions An intensive MNT program, including counseling, education, and capillary glucose self-monitoring, has a positive effect over preeclampsia, maternal hospitalization, and neonatal death in women with diabetes in pregnancy. MNT guidelines should be implemented in Mexican health care facilities treating diabetes in pregnancy.
Chromosome looping at the human α-globin locus is mediated via the major upstream regulatory element (HS −40)
Authors: Vernimmen Douglas , Marques-Kranc Fatima , Sharpe Jacqueline A. , Sloane-Stanley Jacqueline A. , Wood William G. , Wallace Helen A. C. , Smith Andrew J. H. , Higgs Douglas R. 
Published: August 2009

Abstract
Previous studies in the mouse have shown that high levels of α-globin gene expression in late erythropoiesis depend on long-range, physical interactions between remote upstream regulatory elements and the globin promoters. Using quantitative chromosome conformation capture (q3C), we have now analyzed all interactions between 4 such elements lying 10 to 50 kb upstream of the human α cluster and their interactions with the α-globin promoter. All of these elements interact with the α-globin gene in an erythroid-specific manner. These results were confirmed in a mouse model of human α globin expression in which the human cluster replaces the mouse cluster in situ (humanized mouse). We have also shown that expression and all of the long-range interactions depend largely on just one of these elements; removal of the previously characterized major regulatory element (called HS −40) results in loss of all the interactions and α-globin expression. Reinsertion of this element at an ectopic location restores both expression and the intralocus interactions. In contrast to other more complex systems involving multiple upstream elements and promoters, analysis of the human α-globin cluster during erythropoiesis provides a simple and tractable model to understand the mechanisms underlying long-range gene regulation.
Dysfunctional expansion of hematopoietic stem cells and block of myeloid differentiation in lethal sepsis
Authors: Rodriguez Sonia , Chora Angelo , Goumnerov Boyan , Mumaw Christen , Goebel W. Scott , Fernandez Luis , Baydoun Hasan , HogenEsch Harm , Dombkowski David M. , Karlewicz Carol A. , Rice Susan , Rahme Laurence G. , Carlesso Nadia 
Published: August 2009

AbstractSevere sepsis is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. High mortality rates in sepsis are frequently associated with neutropenia. Despite the central role of neutrophils in innate immunity, the mechanisms causing neutropenia during sepsis remain elusive. Here, we show that neutropenia is caused in part by apoptosis and is sustained by a block of hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) differentiation. Using a sepsis murine model, we found that the human opportunistic bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa caused neutrophil depletion and expansion of the HSC pool in the bone marrow. “Septic” HSCs were significantly impaired in competitive repopulation assays and defective in generating common myeloid progenitors and granulocyte-monocyte progenitors, resulting in lower rates of myeloid differentiation in vitro and in vivo. Delayed myeloid-neutrophil differentiation was further mapped using a lysozyme–green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter mouse. Pseudomonas's lipopolysaccharide was necessary and sufficient to induce myelosuppresion and required intact TLR4 signaling. Our results establish a previously unrecognized link between HSC regulation and host response in severe sepsis and demonstrate a novel role for TLR4.
Mechanisms underlying neutrophil-mediated monocyte recruitment
Authors: Soehnlein Oliver , Lindbom Lennart , Weber Christian 
Published: August 2009

AbstractExtravasation of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) to the site of inflammation precedes a second wave of emigrating monocytes. That these events are causally connected has been established a long time ago. However, we are now just beginning to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying this cellular switch, which has become even more complex considering the emergence of monocyte subsets, which are affected differently by signals generated from PMNs. PMN granule proteins induce adhesion as well as emigration of inflammatory monocytes to the site of inflammation involving β2-integrins and formyl-peptide receptors. Furthermore, modification of the chemokine network by PMNs and their granule proteins creates a milieu favoring extravasation of inflammatory monocytes. Finally, emigrated PMNs rapidly undergo apoptosis, leading to the discharge of lysophosphatidylcholine, which attracts monocytes via G2A receptors. The net effect of these mechanisms is the accumulation of inflammatory monocytes, thus promoting proinflammatory events, such as release of inflammation-sustaining cytokines and reactive oxygen species. As targeting PMNs without causing serious side effects seems futile, it may be more promising to aim at interfering with subsequent PMN-driven proinflammatory events.
CD43 processing and nuclear translocation of CD43 cytoplasmic tail are required for cell homeostasis
Authors: Seo Wooseok , Ziltener Hermann J. 
Published: August 2009

AbstractThe sialomucin CD43 is highly expressed on most hematopoietic cells. In this study, we show that the CD43 ectodomain is shed from murine granulocytes, mast cells, and T cells, but not from macrophages. To study the significance of CD43 shedding, we constructed 2 CD43/34 chimeras in which the CD43 membrane-proximal or transmembrane domain was swapped with the corresponding domain from CD34 that is not shed from cells. Viability of cells that normally shed CD43 was negatively affected when forced to express either of the 2 CD43/34 chimeras, but toxicity was reduced when cells coexpressed wild-type CD43. The CD43 cytoplasmic tail (CD43ct) was found to translocate into the nucleus, and inhibition of either its nuclear translocation or its release by γ-secretase was proapoptotic. Involvement of CD43 in regulation of apoptosis is consistent with our findings that CD43ct was modified by small ubiquitin-like modifier-1 and was colocalized with promyelocytic nuclear bodies. CD43-deficient cells exhibited reduced levels of promyelocytic nuclear bodies and had increased sensitivity to apoptosis induced by growth factor withdrawal or T-regulatory cell suppression. Taken together, our data indicate an essential function of CD43 processing and nuclear localization of CD43ct in cell homeostasis and apoptosis.
How I treat mycosis fungoides and Sézary syndrome
Authors: Prince H. Miles , Whittaker Sean , Hoppe Richard T. 
Published: August 2009

AbstractThe most common subtypes of primary cutaneous T-cell lymphomas are mycosis fungoides (MF) and Sézary syndrome (SS). The majority of patients have indolent disease; and given the incurable nature of MF/SS, management should focus on improving symptoms and cosmesis while limiting toxicity. Management of MF/SS should use a “stage-based” approach; treatment of early-stage disease (IA-IIA) typically involves skin directed therapies that include topical corticosteroids, phototherapy (psoralen plus ultraviolet A radiation or ultraviolet B radiation), topical chemotherapy, topical or systemic bexarotene, and radiotherapy. Systemic approaches are used for recalcitrant early-stage disease, advanced-stage disease (IIB-IV), and transformed disease and include retinoids, such as bexarotene, interferon-α, histone deacetylase inhibitors, the fusion toxin denileukin diftitox, systemic chemotherapy including transplantation, and extracorporeal photopheresis. Examples of drugs under active investigation include new histone deacetylase inhibitors, forodesine, monoclonal antibodies, proteasome inhibitors, and immunomodulatory agents, such as lenalidomide. It is appropriate to consider patients for novel agents within clinical trials if they have failed front-line therapy and before chemotherapy is used.
The angiogenic factor midkine is regulated by dexamethasone and retinoic acid during alveolarization and in alveolar epithelial cells
Authors: Zhang Huayan , Garber Samuel J , Cui Zheng , Foley Joseph P , Mohan Gopi S , Jobanputra Minesh , Kaplan Feige , Sweezey Neil B , Gonzales Linda W , Savani Rashmin C 
Published: August 2009

Abstract

Background
A precise balance exists between the actions of endogenous glucocorticoids (GC) and retinoids to promote normal lung development, in particular during alveolarization. The mechanisms controlling this balance are largely unknown, but recent evidence suggests that midkine (MK), a retinoic acid-regulated, pro-angiogenic growth factor, may function as a critical regulator. The purpose of this study was to examine regulation of MK by GC and RA during postnatal alveolar formation in rats.

Methods
Newborn rats were treated with dexamethasone (DEX) and/or all-trans-retinoic acid (RA) during the first two weeks of life. Lung morphology was assessed by light microscopy and radial alveolar counts. MK mRNA and protein expression in response to different treatment were determined by Northern and Western blots. In addition, MK protein expression in cultured human alveolar type 2-like cells treated with DEX and RA was also determined.

Results
Lung histology confirmed that DEX treatment inhibited and RA treatment stimulated alveolar formation, whereas concurrent administration of RA with DEX prevented the DEX effects. During normal development, MK expression was maximal during the period of alveolarization from postnatal day 5 (PN5) to PN15. DEX treatment of rat pups decreased, and RA treatment increased lung MK expression, whereas concurrent DEX+RA treatment prevented the DEX-induced decrease in MK expression. Using human alveolar type 2 (AT2)-like cells differentiated in culture, we confirmed that DEX and cAMP decreased, and RA increased MK expression.

Conclusion
We conclude that MK is expressed by AT2 cells, and is differentially regulated by corticosteroid and retinoid treatment in a manner consistent with hormonal effects on alveolarization during postnatal lung development.
The ordering of expression among a few genes can provide simple cancer biomarkers and signal BRCA1 mutations
Authors: Lin Xue , Afsari Bahman , Marchionni Luigi , Cope Leslie , Parmigiani Giovanni , Naiman Daniel , Geman Donald 
Published: August 2009

AbstractBackgroundA major challenge in computational biology is to extract knowledge about the genetic nature of disease from high-throughput data. However, an important obstacle to both biological understanding and clinical applications is the "black box" nature of the decision rules provided by most machine learning approaches, which usually involve many genes combined in a highly complex fashion. Achieving biologically relevant results argues for a different strategy. A promising alternative is to base prediction entirely upon the relative expression ordering of a small number of genes.ResultsWe present a three-gene version of "relative expression analysis" (RXA), a rigorous and systematic comparison with earlier approaches in a variety of cancer studies, a clinically relevant application to predicting germline BRCA1 mutations in breast cancer and a cross-study validation for predicting ER status. In the BRCA1 study,RXAyields high accuracy with a simple decision rule: in tumors carrying mutations, the expression of a "reference gene" falls between the expression of two differentially expressed genes,PPP1CBandRNF14. An analysis of the protein-protein interactions among the triplet of genes andBRCA1 suggests that the classifier has a biological foundation.ConclusionRXAhas the potential to identify genomic "marker interactions" with plausible biological interpretation and direct clinical applicability. It provides a general framework for understanding the roles of the genes involved in decision rules, as illustrated for the difficult and clinically relevant problem of identifyingBRCA1 mutation carriers.
Structure-based substrate screening for an enzyme
Authors: Xu Tao , Zhang Lujia , Wang Xuedong , Wei Dongzhi , Li Tianbi 
Published: August 2009

Abstract

Background
Nowadays, more and more novel enzymes can be easily found in the whole enzyme pool with the rapid development of genetic operation. However, experimental work for substrate screening of a new enzyme is laborious, time consuming and costly. On the other hand, many computational methods have been widely used in lead screening of drug design. Seeing that the ligand-target protein system in drug design and the substrate-enzyme system in enzyme applications share the similar molecular recognition mechanism, we aim to fulfill the goal of substrate screening by in silico means in the present study.

Results
A computer-aided substrate screening (CASS) system which was based on the enzyme structure was designed and employed successfully to help screen substrates of Candida antarctica lipase B (CALB). In this system, restricted molecular docking which was derived from the mechanism of the enzyme was applied to predict the energetically favorable poses of substrate-enzyme complexes. Thereafter, substrate conformation, distance between the oxygen atom of the alcohol part of the ester (in some compounds, this oxygen atom was replaced by nitrogen atom of the amine part of acid amine or sulfur atom of the thioester) and the hydrogen atom of imidazole of His224, distance between the carbon atom of the carbonyl group of the compound and the oxygen atom of hydroxyl group of Ser105 were used sequentially as the criteria to screen the binding poses. 223 out of 233 compounds were identified correctly for the enzyme by this screening system. Such high accuracy guaranteed the feasibility and reliability of the CASS system.

Conclusion
The idea of computer-aided substrate screening is a creative combination of computational skills and enzymology. Although the case studied in this paper is tentative, high accuracy of the CASS system sheds light on the field of computer-aided substrate screening.
The innate immune and systemic response in honey bees to a bacterial pathogen, Paenibacillus larvae
Authors: Chan Queenie WT , Melathopoulos Andony P , Pernal Stephen F , Foster Leonard J 
Published: August 2009

Abstract

Background
There is a major paradox in our understanding of honey bee immunity: the high population density in a bee colony implies a high rate of disease transmission among individuals, yet bees are predicted to express only two-thirds as many immunity genes as solitary insects, e.g., mosquito or fruit fly. This suggests that the immune response in bees is subdued in favor of social immunity, yet some specific immune factors are up-regulated in response to infection. To explore the response to infection more broadly, we employ mass spectrometry-based proteomics in a quantitative analysis of honey bee larvae infected with the bacterium Paenibacillus larvae. Newly-eclosed bee larvae, in the second stage of their life cycle, are susceptible to this infection, but become progressively more resistant with age. We used this host-pathogen system to probe not only the role of the immune system in responding to a highly evolved infection, but also what other mechanisms might be employed in response to infection.

Results
Using quantitative proteomics, we compared the hemolymph (insect blood) of five-day old healthy and infected honey bee larvae and found a strong up-regulation of some metabolic enzymes and chaperones, while royal jelly (food) and energy storage proteins were down-regulated. We also observed increased levels of the immune factors prophenoloxidase (proPO), lysozyme and the antimicrobial peptide hymenoptaecin. Furthermore, mass spectrometry evidence suggests that healthy larvae have significant levels of catalytically inactive proPO in the hemolymph that is proteolytically activated upon infection. Phenoloxidase (PO) enzyme activity was undetectable in one or two-day-old larvae and increased dramatically thereafter, paralleling very closely the age-related ability of larvae to resist infection.

Conclusion
We propose a model for the host response to infection where energy stores and metabolic enzymes are regulated in concert with direct defensive measures, such as the massive enhancement of PO activity.