bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Health professionals’ perceptions of sexual assault management
Authors: Jancey Jonine , Meuleners Lynn , Phillips Maureen 
Published: May 2011

Objective: To explore health professionals’ perceptions of sexual assault management practices and identify issues related to these practices across Western Australia (WA). Design: A two-round electronic Delphi study was undertaken with health professionals (medical doctors, registered nurses, social workers and managers). Setting: Healthcare settings (emergency departments and community health centres) located in metropolitan Perth and rural WA. Methods: Snowball sampling methodology was used to recruit 27 participants. The first round questionnaire asked about perceptions of sexual assault management practices in WA and how to improve them. The round two questionnaire asked panellists their agreement to the identified issues and to prioritize solutions to the problems. Results: Out of the 14 issues identified, three issues gained 100 per cent agreement: limited services/resources in regional areas of WA; a shortage of culturally appropriate services; and the treatment of victims/survivors of sexual assault within the legal system. The main solutions included: a detailed manual providing clear guidelines; a flow chart detailing forensic data collection; improved services to support sexual assault cases; and a multi-sectorial management approach to sexual assault. Conclusions: There is a need for a comprehensive management approach to sexual assault which includes clear prescriptive guidelines; workforce training and development; equitable access to services; and community education. Sexual assault is a serious public health issue. The adoption of a multilevel approach will support change and improve health outcomes for this group.
Digital technology, diabetes and culturally and linguistically diverse communities: A case study with elderly women from the Vietnamese community
Authors: O’Mara Ben , Gill Gurjeet K , Babacan Hurriyet , Donahoo Daniel 
Published: May 2011

Objective: To report the processes and outcomes of a case study on digital technology, diabetes and culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities. Design: The qualitative study was based on a literature review, consultations and testing of a framework through workshops and an interactive information session. Setting: Consultations, workshops and an information session conducted in western regions of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Method: A framework was designed to address the needs of CALD community members to self-manage chronic conditions using innovative digital technology strategies. This was based on the literature review and 20 consultations held with representatives from health service providers and community organizations. The framework was tested with the assistance of the Quang Minh Buddhist Temple through consultations, workshops and an interactive information session about diabetes, YouTube and digital video cameras, in which 38 elderly women from the Vietnamese community participated. A descriptive and thematic analysis of participant feedback was conducted to determine lessons for future practice. Results: Participant feedback indicated that the information session achieved its goal of raising awareness of ways to use and access diabetes information using digital technology. However, participants noted areas for enhancement and improvement, including more focused and targeted engagement with peer-led techniques, the digital proficiency of participants and digital technology preferences based on age and cultural background. Conclusion: Digital technology was used to improve diabetes awareness information with elderly Vietnamese women, demonstrating the potential for application with others from CALD communities. However, there are continuing challenges in this approach, indicating the need for nuanced community engagement strategies that consider cultural context and familiarity with different kinds of digital technology.
Traumatic Shoulder Instability Involving Anterior, Inferior, and Posterior Labral Injury
Authors: Mazzocca Augustus D. , Cote Mark P. , Solovyova Olga , Rizvi Syed H.H. , Mostofi Amir , Arciero Robert A. 
Published: May 2011

Background Traumatic labral tears involving the anterior, inferior, and posterior aspects of the glenoid fossa represent a unique subpopulation of shoulder instability. Purpose This study was undertaken to evaluate prospectively the clinical results of patients who underwent arthroscopic repair of 270° labral tears. Study Design Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods This was a prospective outcomes analysis of patients who underwent arthroscopic stabilization of a 270° labral tear. Inclusion criteria included patients with traumatic injury and primarily anteroinferior instability but several had posterior instability as well. Imaging revealed extensive labral injury in all patients. Indications for repair included symptomatic instability, 2+ anterior-inferior and posterior-inferior load-shift testing, and arthroscopic confirmation of labral lesions that extended anteriorly, inferiorly, and with extension to the midglenoid posteriorly. Exclusion criteria were SLAP (superior labrum anterior and posterior) lesions, revisions, and nontraumatic injuries. All patients underwent an arthroscopic repair utilizing modern suture anchor technique. Outcome measures included preoperative and postoperative Rowe, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES), Simple Shoulder Test (SST), and Constant Murley scores. The Western Ontario Shoulder Instability Index (WOSI) and the Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE) scores were collected postoperatively. Failure was defined as any days missed from sport activity or work due to an instability event. Results Twenty-three 270° labral repairs were performed in 21 patients by a single surgeon. Twenty shoulders in 19 patients (92%) were followed for a mean of 28 months (range, 14-47 months) postoperatively. The mean preoperative and postoperative outcome scores showed statistically significant improvements ( P ≤ .001): Rowe (59 to 92), ASES (76 to 93), SST (9 to 11), and Constant scores (73 to 95). The mean SANE score was 91 of 100 and the mean WOSI score was 302. Three of the 20 shoulders (in 19 patients) had subsequent episodes of instability for a failure rate of 15%. One required a second procedure for continued instability for a revision rate of 5%. Two patients developed adhesive capsulitis postoperatively of which one required an arthroscopic arthrolysis. Conclusion Arthroscopic repair of these extensive labral injuries involving 270° of the glenoid fossa was an effective surgical treatment and restored mechanical stability of the shoulder. The arthroscopic approach allowed for complete visualization and repair of all labral pathology.
Notch restricts lymphatic vessel sprouting induced by vascular endothelial growth factor
Authors: Zheng Wei , Tammela Tuomas , Yamamoto Masahiro , Anisimov Andrey , Holopainen Tanja , Kaijalainen Seppo , Karpanen Terhi , Lehti Kaisa , Ylä-Herttuala Seppo , Alitalo Kari 
Published: May 2011

Abstract
Notch signaling plays a central role in cell-fate determination, and its role in lateral inhibition in angiogenic sprouting is well established. However, the role of Notch signaling in lymphangiogenesis, the growth of lymphatic vessels, is poorly understood. Here we demonstrate Notch pathway activity in lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs), as well as induction of delta-like ligand 4 (Dll4) and Notch target genes on stimulation with VEGF or VEGF-C. Suppression of Notch signaling by a soluble form of Dll4 (Dll4-Fc) synergized with VEGF in inducing LEC sprouting in 3-dimensional (3D) fibrin gel assays. Expression of Dll4-Fc in adult mouse ears promoted lymphangiogenesis, which was augmented by coexpressing VEGF. Lymphangiogenesis triggered by Notch inhibition was suppressed by a monoclonal VEGFR-2 Ab as well as soluble VEGF and VEGF-C/VEGF-D ligand traps. LECs transduced with Dll4 preferentially adopted the tip cell position over nontransduced cells in 3D sprouting assays, suggesting an analogous role for Dll4/Notch in lymphatic and blood vessel sprouting. These results indicate that the Notch pathway controls lymphatic endothelial quiescence, and explain why LECs are poorly responsive to VEGF compared with VEGF-C. Understanding the role of the Notch pathway in lymphangiogenesis provides further insight for the therapeutic manipulation of the lymphatic vessels.
Langerhans cells regulate cutaneous injury by licensing CD8 effector cells recruited to the skin
Authors: Bennett Clare L. , Fallah-Arani Farnaz , Conlan Thomas , Trouillet Celine , Goold Hugh , Chorro Laurent , Flutter Barry , Means Terry K. , Geissmann Frédéric , Chakraverty Ronjon 
Published: May 2011

Abstract
Langerhans cells (LCs) are a distinct population of dendritic cells that form a contiguous network in the epidermis of the skin. Although LCs possess many of the properties of highly proficient dendritic cells, recent studies have indicated that they are not necessary to initiate cutaneous immunity. In this study, we used a tractable model of cutaneous GVHD, induced by topical application of a Toll-like receptor agonist, to explore the role of LCs in the development of tissue injury. By adapting this model to permit inducible and selective depletion of host LCs, we found that GVHD was significantly reduced when LCs were absent. However, LCs were not required either for CD8 T-cell activation within the draining lymph node or subsequent homing of effector cells to the epidermis. Instead, we found that LCs were necessary for inducing transcription of IFN-γ and other key effector molecules by donor CD8 cells in the epidermis, indicating that they license CD8 cells to induce epithelial injury. These data demonstrate a novel regulatory role for epidermal LCs during the effector phase of an inflammatory immune response in the skin.
The spectrin-based membrane skeleton stabilizes mouse megakaryocyte membrane systems and is essential for proplatelet and platelet formation
Authors: Patel-Hett Sunita , Wang Hongbei , Begonja Antonija J. , Thon Jonathan N. , Alden Eva C. , Wandersee Nancy J. , An Xiuli , Mohandas Narla , Hartwig John H. , Italiano Joseph E. 
Published: May 2011

AbstractMegakaryocytes generate platelets by remodeling their cytoplasm first into proplatelets and then into preplatelets, which undergo fission to generate platelets. Although the functions of microtubules and actin during platelet biogenesis have been defined, the role of the spectrin cytoskeleton is unknown. We investigated the function of the spectrin-based membrane skeleton in proplatelet and platelet production in murine megakaryocytes. Electron microscopy revealed that, like circulating platelets, proplatelets have a dense membrane skeleton, the main fibrous component of which is spectrin. Unlike other cells, megakaryocytes and their progeny express both erythroid and nonerythroid spectrins. Assembly of spectrin into tetramers is required for invaginated membrane system maturation and proplatelet extension, because expression of a spectrin tetramer–disrupting construct in megakaryocytes inhibits both processes. Incorporation of this spectrin-disrupting fragment into a novel permeabilized proplatelet system rapidly destabilizes proplatelets, causing blebbing and swelling. Spectrin tetramers also stabilize the “barbell shapes” of the penultimate stage in platelet production, because addition of the tetramer-disrupting construct converts these barbell shapes to spheres, demonstrating that membrane skeletal continuity maintains the elongated, pre-fission shape. The results of this study provide evidence for a role for spectrin in different steps of megakaryocyte development through its participation in the formation of invaginated membranes and in the maintenance of proplatelet structure.
Predictive factors, microbiology and outcome of patients with parapneumonic effusion
Authors: Falguera M. , Carratalà J. , Bielsa S. , García-Vidal C. , Ruiz-González A. , Chica I. , Gudiol F. , Porcel J.M. 
Published: May 2011

We aimed to determine the incidence, clinical consequences and microbiological findings related to the presence of pleural effusion in community-acquired pneumonia, and to identify predictive factors for empyema/complicated parapneumonic effusion.We analysed 4,715 consecutive patients with community-acquired pneumonia from two acute care hospitals. Patients were classified into three groups: no pleural effusion, uncomplicated parapneumonic effusion and empyema/complicated parapneumonic effusion.A total of 882 (19%) patients had radiological evidence of pleural fluid, of whom 261 (30%) met criteria for empyema/complicated parapneumonic effusion. The most important event related to the presence of uncomplicated parapneumonic effusion was a longer hospital stay. Relevant clinical and microbiological consequences were associated with empyema/complicated parapneumonic effusion. Five independent baseline characteristics could predict the development of empyema/complicated parapneumonic effusion: age <60 yrs (p=0.012), alcoholism (p=0.002), pleuritic pain (p=0.002), tachycardia >100 beats·min−1(p=0.006) and leukocytosis >15,000 mm−3(p<0.001). A higher incidence of anaerobes and Gram-positive cocci was found in this subgroup of patients.We conclude that only the development of empyema/complicated parapneumonic effusion carried relevant consequences; this condition should be suspected in the presence of some baseline characteristics and managed by using antimicrobials active against Gram-positive cocci and anaerobes.
Matrix metalloproteinases in acute lung injury: mediators of injury and drivers of repair
Authors: Davey A. , McAuley D.F. , O'Kane C.M. 
Published: May 2011

Acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) comprise a spectrum of acute inflammatory pulmonary oedema resulting in refractory hypoxaemia in the absence of an underlying cardiogenic cause. There are multiple pulmonary and extrapulmonary causes and ALI/ARDS patients are a clinically heterogeneous group with associated high morbidity and mortality.Inflammatory injury to the alveolar epithelial and endothelial capillary membrane is a central event in the pathogenesis of ALI/ARDS, and involves degradation of the basement membrane. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have been implicated in a wide variety of pulmonary pathologies and are capable of degrading all components of the extracellular matrix including the basement membrane and key non-matrix mediators of lung injury such as chemokines and cell surface receptors.While many studies implicate MMPs in the injurious process, there are significant gaps in our knowledge of the role of specific proteases at different phases of injury and repair. This article examines the role of MMPs in injury and repair of the alveolar epithelial–endothelial capillary barrier and discusses the potential for MMP modulation in the prevention and treatment of ALI. The need for further mechanistic andin vivostudies to inform appropriate subsequent clinical trials of MMP modulation will be highlighted.
Effect of a nicotine-free inhalator as part of a smoking-cessation programme
Authors: Caponnetto P. , Cibella F. , Mancuso S. , Campagna D. , Arcidiacono G. , Polosa R. 
Published: May 2011

Smoking-cessation drugs are inadequate at addressing the behavioural component of tobacco dependence. Nicotine-free inhalators are plastic devices that may provide a coping mechanism for conditioned smoking by replacing some of the rituals associated with smoking gestures. This study assessed the effect of using a nicotine-free inhalator to improve success in a cessation programme.At baseline, 120 smokers attending a smoking-cessation programme were assessed for their sociodemographic factors, smoking history, depression, physical and behavioural dependence, and motivation. Participants were randomly assigned to two groups, nicotine-free inhalator group (PAIPO; Echos Srl, Milan, Italy)versusreference group.For the whole sample, no significant difference was found in quit rates at 24 weeks between the PAIPO group and the reference group. However, the quit rate in the PAIPO group (66.7%) was more than three-fold higher than the reference group (19.2%) for those individuals with high Glover–Nilsson Smoking Behavioural Questionnaire (GN-SBQ) scores at baseline. The results of the logistic model analysis indicate that a high GN-SBQ score is a strong independent predictor for successful quitting at 24 weeks (OR 8.88; 95% CI 2.08–37.94) in the PAIPO group.Nicotine-free inhalators may be beneficial when used in the context of smoking-cessation interventions, particularly for those smokers for whom handling and manipulation of their cigarettes plays an important part in the ritual of smoking.
Role of Rho kinase isoforms in murine allergic airway responses
Authors: Zhu M. , Liu P-Y. , Kasahara D.I. , Williams A.S. , Verbout N.G. , Halayko A.J. , Fedulov A. , Shoji T. , Williams E.S. , Noma K. , Shore S.A. , Liao J.K. 
Published: May 2011

Inhibition of Rho-associated coiled-coil forming kinases (ROCKs) reduces allergic airway responses in mice. The purpose of this study was to determine the roles of the two ROCK isoforms, ROCK1 and ROCK2, in these responses.Wildtype (WT) mice and heterozygous ROCK1 and ROCK2 knockout mice (ROCK1+/-and ROCK2+/-, respectively) were sensitised and challenged with ovalbumin. ROCK expression and activation were assessed by western blotting. Airway responsiveness was measured by forced oscillation. Bronchoalveolar lavage was performed and the lungs were fixed for histological assessment.Compared with WT mice, ROCK1 and ROCK2 expression were 50% lower in lungs of ROCK1+/-and ROCK2+/-mice, respectively, without changes in the other isoform. In WT lungs, ROCK activation increased after ovalbumin challenge and was sustained for several hours. This activation was reduced in ROCK1+/-and ROCK2+/-lungs. Airway responsiveness was comparable in WT, ROCK1+/-, and ROCK2+/-mice challenged with PBS. Ovalbumin challenge caused airway hyperresponsiveness in WT, but not ROCK1+/-or ROCK2+/-mice. Lavage eosinophils and goblet cell hyperplasia were significantly reduced in ovalbumin-challenged ROCK1+/-and ROCK2+/-versusWT mice. Ovalbumin-induced changes in lavage interleukin-13, interleukin-5 and lymphocytes were also reduced in ROCK1+/-mice.In conclusion, both ROCK1 and ROCK2 are important in regulating allergic airway responses.
Residue propensities, discrimination and binding site prediction of adenine and guanine phosphates
Authors: Firoz Ahmad , Malik Adeel , Joplin Karl H , Ahmad Zulfiqar , Jha Vivekanand , Ahmad Shandar 
Published: May 2011

Abstract

Background
Adenine and guanine phosphates are involved in a number of biological processes such as cell signaling, metabolism and enzymatic cofactor functions. Binding sites in proteins for these ligands are often detected by looking for a previously known motif by alignment based search. This is likely to miss those where a similar binding site has not been previously characterized and when the binding sites do not follow the rule described by predefined motif. Also, it is intriguing how proteins select between adenine and guanine derivative with high specificity.

Results
Residue preferences for AMP, GMP, ADP, GDP, ATP and GTP have been investigated in details with additional comparison with cyclic variants cAMP and cGMP. We also attempt to predict residues interacting with these nucleotides using information derived from local sequence and evolutionary profiles. Results indicate that subtle differences exist between single residue preferences for specific nucleotides and taking neighbor environment and evolutionary context into account, successful models of their binding site prediction can be developed.

Conclusion
In this work, we explore how single amino acid propensities for these nucleotides play a role in the affinity and specificity of this set of nucleotides. This is expected to be helpful in identifying novel binding sites for adenine and guanine phosphates, especially when a known binding motif is not detectable.
Learning sparse models for a dynamic Bayesian network classifier of protein secondary structure
Authors: Aydin Zafer , Singh Ajit , Bilmes Jeff , Noble William S 
Published: May 2011

AbstractBackgroundProtein secondary structure prediction provides insight into protein function and is a valuable preliminary step for predicting the 3D structure of a protein. Dynamic Bayesian networks (DBNs) and support vector machines (SVMs) have been shown to provide state-of-the-art performance in secondary structure prediction. As the size of the protein database grows, it becomes feasible to use a richer model in an effort to capture subtle correlations among the amino acids and the predicted labels. In this context, it is beneficial to derive sparse models that discourage over-fitting and provide biological insight.ResultsIn this paper, we first show that we are able to obtain accurate secondary structure predictions. Our per-residue accuracy on a well established and difficult benchmark (CB513) is 80.3%, which is comparable to the state-of-the-art evaluated on this dataset. We then introduce an algorithm for sparsifying the parameters of a DBN. Using this algorithm, we can automatically remove up to 70-95% of the parameters of a DBN while maintaining the same level of predictive accuracy on the SD576 set. At 90% sparsity, we are able to compute predictions three times faster than a fully dense model evaluated on the SD576 set. We also demonstrate, using simulated data, that the algorithm is able to recover true sparse structures with high accuracy, and using real data, that the sparse model identifies known correlation structure (local and non-local) related to different classes of secondary structure elements.ConclusionsWe present a secondary structure prediction method that employs dynamic Bayesian networks and support vector machines. We also introduce an algorithm for sparsifying the parameters of the dynamic Bayesian network. The sparsification approach yields a significant speed-up in generating predictions, and we demonstrate that the amino acid correlations identified by the algorithm correspond to several known features of protein secondary structure. Datasets and source code used in this study are available athttp://noble.gs.washington.edu/proj/pssp.
MK801 attenuates secondary injury in a mouse experimental compression model of spinal cord trauma
Authors: Esposito Emanuela , Paterniti Irene , Mazzon Emanuela , Genovese Tiziana , Galuppo Maria , Meli Rosaria , Bramanti Placido , Cuzzocrea Salvatore 
Published: May 2011

Abstract

Background
Glutamergic excitotoxicity has been shown to play a deleterious role in the pathophysiology of spinal cord injury (SCI). The aim of this study was to investigate the neuroprotective effect of dizocilpine maleate, MK801 (2 mg/Kg, 30 min and 6 hours after injury) in a mice model of SCI. The spinal cord trauma was induced by the application of vascular clips to the dura via a four-level T5-T8 laminectomy.

Results
Spinal cord injury in mice resulted in severe trauma characterized by edema, neutrophil infiltration and apoptosis. In this study we clearly demonstrated that administration of MK801 attenuated all inflammatory parameters. In fact 24 hours after injury, the degree of spinal cord inflammation and tissue injury (evaluated as histological score), infiltration of neutrophils, NF-κB activation, iNOS, cytokines levels (TNF-α and IL-1β), neurotrophin expression were markedly reduced by MK801 treatment. Moreover, in a separate set of experiments, we have demonstrated that MK801 treatment significantly improved the recovery of locomotory function.

Conclusions
Blockade of NMDA by MK801 lends support to the potential importance of NMDA antagonists as therapeutic agents in the treatment of acute spinal cord injury.