bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sociology and Studies of Gender, Caregiving, and Inequality
Authors: Oliker Stacey 
Published: November 2011

AbstractThis review focuses on scholarship that illuminates the ties between gendered care and persistent gender inequality. After an overview of work on gender and care across the disciplines, it examines sociologies of care and suggests how sociology might further enrich research and theory in this area. I explore the areas of work–family intersection, state care policy, and the organization of paid care work. I argue that the sociology of caregiving needs to better understand institutional effects on care and the interactions that transmit and resist them, organizational influences on paid care work, and how care policies relate to gender equality.
Problem‐Solving Courts: Theory and Practice
Authors: Castellano Ursula 
Published: November 2011

AbstractProblem‐solving courts (PSCs) are a popular and fast‐growing alternative to the usual way of handling criminal cases. In place of the adversarial process, they provide court‐supervised treatment to certain groups of offenders by addressing the underlying causes of criminal behavior. They take on a variety of forms including drug courts, mental health courts, domestic violence courts, veterans’ courts, and homeless courts. PSCs, as relatively new innovations in the criminal justice system, are still evolving in scope and in practice. This article then attempts to synthesize what we know about these specialty dockets. To do so, this article (1) explores the origins and developments of PSCs as well as highlights their defining characteristics; (2) examines the theoretical approaches and empirical findings of contemporary research on problem‐solving courts; (3) critically discusses whether this new approach to old problems compromises core judicial principles; and (4) suggests directions for further research to better understand the cautionary promise of problem‐solving justice.
Suppressor of cytokine signal 3 and IL28 genetic variation predict the viral response to peginterferon and ribavirin
Authors: Miyaaki Hisamitsu , Ichikawa Tatsuki , Yatsuhashi Hiroshi , Taura Naota , Miuma Satoshi , Usui Tetsuya , Mori Sayaka , Kamihira Shimeru , Tanaka Yasuhito , Mizokami Masashi , Nakao Kazuhiko 
Published: November 2011

Aim:  The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship among the expression of suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS 3) in the liver, the SNPs in the IL28B locus, and the outcome of interferon therapy.Methods:  Prior to interferon treatment, we immunostained 67 liver specimens from chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients who were receiving peginterferon alpha‐2b/ribavirin therapy for suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3), and compared the expression of SOCS3, IL28 polymorphisms and other clinical factors between the patients and compared their eventual outcomes.Results:  Significant differences between the low SOCS3 group and high SOCS3 group were found in age, as well as in the platelet, transaminase, gamma‐glutamyl transpeptidase levels. The incidence of high SOCS3 was not significantly different between subjects with the TT genotype and the TG genotype (TT : TG = 71%:29%, P = 0.250). In a multivariate analysis, age (≥65 years old) (odds ratio 0.221 [0.120–0.966], P = 0.045), IL28B gene (genotype TT) (odds ratio 5.422 [1.254–23.617], P = 0.024) and SOCS3 (high) (odds ratio 0.308 [0.104–0.948], P = 0.040) were significant predictors of the interferon response. In patients with the TT genotype, those with low SOCS3 immunostaining showed a high sustained virological response (69%), while the sustained virological rate was low (27%) in the patients with high SOCS3 immunostaining.Conclusions:  Using a combination of the SOCS3 immunostained area in the liver and the expression of IL28B single nucleotide polymorphisms might be a useful predictor of hepatitis C virus clearance by interferon therapy.
Novel scoring system as a useful model to predict the outcome of patients with acute liver failure: Application to indication criteria for liver transplantation
Authors: Naiki Takafumi , Nakayama Nobuaki , Mochida Satoshi , Oketani Makoto , Takikawa Yasuhiro , Suzuki Kazuyuki , Tada Shin‐ichiro , Ichida Takafumi , Moriwaki Hisataka , Tsubouchi Hirohito ,   the Intractable Hepato‐Biliary Disease Study Group supported by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare of Japan
Published: November 2011

Aim:  In Japan, the indication for liver transplantation in patients with acute liver failure (ALF) is currently determined according to the guideline published in 1996. However, its predictive accuracy has fallen in recent patients. Thus, we attempted to establish a new guideline.Methods:  The subjects were 1096 ALF patients enrolled in a nationwide survey. All patients showed a prothrombin time <40% of the standardized value and grade II or more severe hepatic encephalopathy. A multiple logistic regression analysis and receiver operating characteristic analysis were performed in 698 patients seen between 1998 and 2003 to identify significant parameters determining the outcome of patients. The extracted parameters were graded as numerical scores. An established scoring system was validated in patients seen between 2004 and 2008.Results:  Six parameters were identified and graded as 0, 1 and/or 2; the interval between disease onset and development of hepatic encephalopathy, prothrombin time, serum total bilirubin concentration, the ratio of direct to total bilirubin concentration, peripheral platelet count and the presence of liver atrophy. When the prognosis of the patients with total score of 5 or more was judged as “death”, the predictive accuracy was 0.80 with sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value greater than 0.70. The values were similarly high in patients for validation.Conclusion:  Novel scoring system for predicting the outcome of ALF patients may be useful to determine the indication of liver transplantation, since the system showed high predictive accuracy even after validation.
Molecular Dissection of an Outbreak of Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae Reveals Intergenus KPC Carbapenemase Transmission through a Promiscuous Plasmid
Authors: Mathers Amy J. , Cox Heather L. , Kitchel Brandon , Bonatti Hugo , Brassinga Ann Karen C. , Carroll Joanne , Scheld W. Michael , Hazen Kevin C. , Sifri Costi D. 
Published: November 2011

ABSTRACT

Carbapenem-resistant
Enterobacteriaceae
(CRE) have emerged as major causes of health care-associated infections worldwide. This diverse collection of organisms with various resistance mechanisms is associated with increased lengths of hospitalization, costs of care, morbidity, and mortality. The global spread of CRE has largely been attributed to dissemination of a dominant strain of
Klebsiella pneumoniae
producing a serine β-lactamase, termed
K. pneumoniae
carbapenemase (KPC). Here we report an outbreak of KPC-producing CRE infections in which the degree of horizontal transmission between strains and species of a promiscuous plasmid is unprecedented. Sixteen isolates, comprising 11 unique strains, 6 species, and 4 genera of bacteria, were obtained from 14 patients over the first 8 months of the outbreak. Of the 11 unique strains, 9 harbored the same highly promiscuous plasmid carrying the KPC gene
bla
KPC
. The remaining strains harbored distinct
bla
KPC
plasmids, one of which was carried in a strain of
Klebsiella oxytoca
coisolated from the index patient and the other generated from transposition of the
bla
KPC
element Tn
4401
. All isolates could be genetically traced to the index patient. Molecular epidemiological investigation of the outbreak was aided by the adaptation of nested arbitrary PCR (ARB-PCR) for rapid plasmid identification. This detailed molecular genetic analysis, combined with traditional epidemiological investigation, provides insights into the highly fluid dynamics of drug resistance transmission during the outbreak.

IMPORTANCE
The ease of horizontal transmission of carbapenemase resistance plasmids across strains, species, and genera of bacteria observed in this study has several important public health and epidemiological implications. First, it has the potential to promote dissemination of carbapenem resistance to new populations of
Enterobacteriaceae
, including organisms of low virulence, leading to the establishment of reservoirs of carbapenem resistance genes in patients and/or the environment and of high virulence, raising the specter of untreatable community-associated infections. Second, recognition of plasmid-mediated outbreaks, such as those described here, is problematic because analysis of resistance plasmids from clinical isolates is laborious and technically challenging. Adaptation of nested arbitrary PCR (ARB-PCR) to investigate the plasmid outbreak facilitated our investigation, and the method may be broadly applicable to other outbreaks due to other conserved mobile genetic elements. Whether infection control measures that focus on preventing transmission of drug-resistant clones are effective in controlling dissemination of these elements is unknown.
Child malnutrition and recurrent flooding in rural eastern India: a community-based survey
Authors: Rodriguez-Llanes Jose Manuel , Ranjan-Dash Shisir , Degomme Olivier , Mukhopadhyay Alok , Guha-Sapir Debarati 
Published: November 2011

ObjectivesThis study aims to improve the understanding of the relationship between exposure to floods and malnutrition in children aged 6–59 months in rural India. Research has focused exclusively on Bangladeshi children, and few controlled epidemiological studies are available.MethodA community-based cross-sectional study of child nutritional status was carried out in 14 flooded and 18 non-flooded villages of Jagatsinghpur district (Orissa) within one month of the September 2008 floods, and similarly affected by flooding in August 2006. Face-to-face interviews were conducted in 757 households in the flooded villages and 816 in the non-flooded communities. Data used in this study were from those households with children aged 6–59 months. In total, 191 and 161 children were measured, respectively. The association between various malnutrition indicators and the exposure to floods was assessed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression.ResultsAdjusted analyses revealed that children in flooded households were more likely stunted compared with those in non-flooded ones (adjusted prevalence ratio 1.60; 95% CI 1.05 to 2.44). The prevalence of underweight was also higher in children living in the flooded communities (adjusted prevalence ratio 1.86; 95% CI 1.04 to 3.30). Further analyses found that the 26–36-month flooded cohort, thus those children younger than 1 year during the precedent flood in August 2006, attained the largest difference in levels of stunting compared with the unexposed group of the same age.ConclusionExposure to floods is associated with long-term malnutrition in these rural communities of Orissa, India. Children exposed to floods during their first year of life presented higher levels of chronic malnutrition. Long-term malnutrition prevention programmes after floods should be implemented in flood-prone areas.
Epidemiology of syphilis-related hospitalisations in Spain between 1997 and 2006: a retrospective study
Authors: García-García Laura , Ariza-Megía M Carmen , González-Escalada Alba , Álvaro-Meca Alejandro , Gil-deMiguel Ángel , Gil-Prieto Ruth 
Published: November 2011

ObjectiveIn order to illustrate the important public health impact of syphilis, which is a preventable infection, the epidemiology of syphilis-related hospitalisations in Spain was studied over a 10-year period.MethodsA retrospective study was conducted using the National Epidemiological Surveillance System for Hospital Data (Minimum Data Set). All hospitalisations due to syphilis infection in any diagnostic position (ICD-9-CM 090–097) between 1997 and 2006 were analysed, according to the Spanish version of the International Classification of Diseases, ninth revision (ICD-9-CM).ResultsThere were 9556 hospitalisations associated with syphilis in Spain. The hospitalisation rate was 2.33 per 100 000 population, the mortality rate was 0.07 per 100 000 population and the lethality was 3.17%. The hospitalisation rate increased significantly after 2000 and was higher in men.ConclusionSyphilis remains a major public health problem because of both potential complications and its close association with HIV infection. It is necessary to promote early diagnosis, ensure treatment in patients with syphilis and emphasise health promotion and prevention programmes.
Republished review: Triglycerides and atherogenic dyslipidaemia: extending treatment beyond statins in the high-risk cardiovascular patient
Authors: Watts Gerald F , Karpe Fredrik 
Published: November 2011

ABSTRACT
Although statins significantly decrease the incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD), residual CVD risk remains high. This may partly be due to uncorrected atherogenic dyslipidaemia. The driving force behind atherogenic dyslipidaemia is hypertriglyceridaemia, which results from hepatic oversecretion and/or hypocatabolism of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins, and is typical of type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Persistent atherogenic dyslipidaemia in patients treated with a statin according to low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol goals may be corrected with niacin, fibrates or n–3 fatty acids. Clinical trial evidence to inform best practice is limited, but new data support adding fenofibrate to a statin. A consistent feature of fibrate clinical trials is the specific benefit of these agents in dyslipidaemic patients and the improvement in diabetic retinopathy with fenofibrate. Ongoing clinical trials may provide good evidence for adding niacin to a statin. Low-dose n–3 fatty acids could be used routinely after a myocardial infarction, but the value of higher doses of n-3 fatty acids in reducing CVD risk remains to be demonstrated.
Emerging Supplements in Sports
Authors: Mason Bryan C. , Lavallee Mark E. 
Published: November 2011

Context: Nutritional supplements advertised as ergogenic are commonly used by athletes at all levels. Health care professionals have an opportunity and responsibility to counsel athletes concerning the safety and efficacy of supplements on the market. Evidence Acquisition: An Internet search of common fitness and bodybuilding sites was performed to identify supplement promotions. A search of MEDLINE (2000–August, 2011) was performed using the most commonly identified supplements, including glutamine, choline, methoxyisoflavone, quercetin, zinc/magnesium aspartate, and nitric oxide. The search terms supplement, ergogenic aid, and performance were also used. Results: Six common and newer supplements were identified, including glutamine, choline, methoxyisoflavone, quercetin, zinc/magnesium aspartate, and nitric oxide. Conclusions: Controlled studies have not determined the effects of these supplements on performance in athletes. Scientific evidence is not available to support the use of these supplements for performance enhancement.
Megakaryocyte-specific RhoA deficiency causes macrothrombocytopenia and defective platelet activation in hemostasis and thrombosis
Authors: Pleines Irina , Hagedorn Ina , Gupta Shuchi , May Frauke , Chakarova Lidija , van Hengel Jolanda , Offermanns Stefan , Krohne Georg , Kleinschnitz Christoph , Brakebusch Cord , Nieswandt Bernhard 
Published: November 2011

AbstractVascular injury initiates rapid platelet activation that is critical for hemostasis, but it also may cause thrombotic diseases, such as myocardial infarction or ischemic stroke. Reorganizations of the platelet cytoskeleton are crucial for platelet shape change and secretion and are thought to involve activation of the small GTPase RhoA. In this study, we analyzed the in vitro and in vivo consequences of megakaryocyte- and platelet-specific RhoA gene deletion in mice. We found a pronounced macrothrombocytopenia in RhoA-deficient mice, with platelet counts of approximately half that of wild-type controls. The mutant cells displayed an altered shape but only a moderately reduced life span. Shape change of RhoA-deficient platelets in response to G13-coupled agonists was abolished, and it was impaired in response to Gq stimulation. Similarly, RhoA was required for efficient secretion of α and dense granules downstream of G13 and Gq. Furthermore, RhoA was essential for integrin-mediated clot retraction but not for actomyosin rearrangements and spreading of activated platelets on fibrinogen. In vivo, RhoA deficiency resulted in markedly prolonged tail bleeding times but also significant protection in different models of arterial thrombosis and in a model of ischemic stroke. Together, these results establish RhoA as an important regulator of platelet function in thrombosis and hemostasis.
Differential expression of CD300a/c on human TH1 and TH17 cells
Authors: Simhadri Venkateswara R , Mariano John L , Zhou Qing , DeBell Karen E , Borrego Francisco 
Published: November 2011

AbstractBackgroundHuman memory CD4+T cells can be either CD300a/c+or CD300a/c-and subsequent analyses showed that CD4+effector memory T (TEM) cells are mostly CD300a/c+, whereas CD4+central memory T (TCM) cells have similar frequencies of CD300a/c+and CD300a/c-cells.ResultsExtensive phenotypical and functional characterization showed that in both TCMand TEMcells, the CD300a/c+subset contained a higher number of TH1 (IFN-γ producing) cells. Alternatively, TH17 (IL-17a producing) cells tend to be CD300a/c-, especially in the TEMsubset. Further characterization of the IL-17a+cells showed that cells that produce only this cytokine are mostly CD300a/c-, while cells that produce IL-17a in combination with other cytokines, especially IFN-γ, are mostly CD300a/c+, indicating that the expression of this receptor is associated with cells that produce IFN-γ. Co-ligation of the TCR and CD300a/c in CD4+T cells inhibited Ca2+mobilization evoked by TCR ligation alone and modulated IFN-γ production on TH1 polarized cells.ConclusionWe conclude that the CD300a/c receptors are differentially expressed on human TH1 and TH17 cells and that their ligation is capable of modulating TCR mediated signals.
Modifications of the metabolic pathways of lipid and triacylglycerol production in microalgae
Authors: Yu Wei-Luen , Ansari William , Schoepp Nathan G , Hannon Michael J , Mayfield Stephen P , Burkart Michael D 
Published: November 2011

Abstract
Microalgae have presented themselves as a strong candidate to replace diminishing oil reserves as a source of lipids for biofuels. Here we describe successful modifications of terrestrial plant lipid content which increase overall lipid production or shift the balance of lipid production towards lipid varieties more useful for biofuel production. Our discussion ranges from the biosynthetic pathways and rate limiting steps of triacylglycerol formation to enzymes required for the formation of triacylglycerol containing exotic lipids. Secondarily, we discuss techniques for genetic engineering and modification of various microalgae which can be combined with insights gained from research in higher plants to aid in the creation of production strains of microalgae.
High-fat meal effect on LDL, HDL, and VLDL particle size and number in the Genetics of Lipid-Lowering drugs and diet network (GOLDN): an interventional study
Authors: Wojczynski Mary K , Glasser Stephen P , Oberman Albert , Kabagambe Edmond K , Hopkins Paul N , Tsai Michael Y , Straka Robert J , Ordovas Jose M , Arnett Donna K 
Published: November 2011

Abstract

Background
Postprandial lipemia (PPL) is likely a risk factor for cardiovascular disease but these changes have not been well described and characterized in a large cohort. We assessed acute changes in the size and concentration of total and subclasses of LDL, HDL, and VLDL particles in response to a high-fat meal. Participants (n = 1048) from the Genetics of Lipid-Lowering Drugs and Diet Network (GOLDN) Study who ingested a high-fat meal were included in this analysis. Lipids were measured at 0 hr (fasting), 3.5 hr, and 6 hr after a standardized fat meal. Particle size distributions were determined using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Analyses were stratified by baseline triglycerides (normal vs. elevated) and gender. The effect of PPL on changes in lipoprotein subclasses was assessed using repeated measures ANOVA.

Results
Postprandially, LDL-C, HDL-C, VLDL-C, and triglycerides increased regardless of baseline triglyceride status, with the largest increases in VLDL-C and TG; however, those with elevated triglycerides demonstrated larger magnitude of response. Total LDL particle number decreased over the 6-hour time interval, mostly from a decrease in the number of small LDL particles. Similarly, total VLDL particle number decreased due to reductions in medium and small VLDL particles. Large VLDL particles and chylomicrons demonstrated the largest increase in concentration. HDL particles demonstrated minimal overall changes in total particle number.

Conclusions
We have characterized the changes in LDL and VLDL particle number, and their subclass patterns following a high-fat meal.
The contribution of activated astrocytes to Aβ production: Implications for Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis
Authors: Zhao Jie , O'Connor Tracy , Vassar Robert 
Published: November 2011

Abstract

Background
β-Amyloid (Aβ) plays a central role in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis. Neurons are major sources of Aβ in the brain. However, astrocytes outnumber neurons by at least five-fold. Thus, even a small level of astrocytic Aβ production could make a significant contribution to Aβ burden in AD. Moreover, activated astrocytes may increase Aβ generation. β-Site APP cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) cleavage of amyloid precursor protein (APP) initiates Aβ production. Here, we explored whether pro-inflammatory cytokines or Aβ42 would increase astrocytic levels of BACE1, APP, and β-secretase processing, implying a feed-forward mechanism of astrocytic Aβ production.

Methods
Mouse primary astrocytes were treated with combinations of LPS, TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-1β and analyzed by immunoblot and ELISA for endogenous BACE1, APP, and secreted Aβ40 levels. Inhibition of JAK and iNOS signaling in TNF-α+IFN-γ-stimulated astrocytes was also analyzed. In addition, C57BL/6J or Tg2576 mouse astrocytes were treated with oligomeric or fibrillar Aβ42 and analyzed by immunoblot for levels of BACE1, APP, and APPsβsw. Astrocytic BACE1 and APP mRNA levels were measured by TaqMan RT-PCR.

Results
TNF-α+IFN-γ stimulation significantly increased levels of astrocytic BACE1, APP, and secreted Aβ40. BACE1 and APP elevations were post-transcriptional at early time-points, but became transcriptional with longer TNF-α+IFN-γ treatment. Despite a ~4-fold increase in astrocytic BACE1 protein level following TNF-α+IFN-γ stimulation, BACE1 mRNA level was significantly decreased suggesting a post-transcriptional mechanism. Inhibition of iNOS and JAK did not reduce TNF-α+IFN-γ-stimulated elevation of astrocytic BACE1, APP, and Aβ40, except that JAK inhibition blocked the APP increase. Finally, oligomeric and fibrillar Aβ42 dramatically increased levels of astrocytic BACE1, APP, and APPsβsw through transcriptional mechanisms, at least in part.

Conclusions
Cytokines including TNF-α+IFN-γ increase levels of endogenous BACE1, APP, and Aβ and stimulate amyloidogenic APP processing in astrocytes. Oligomeric and fibrillar Aβ42 also increase levels of astrocytic BACE1, APP, and β-secretase processing. Together, our results suggest a cytokine- and Aβ42-driven feed-forward mechanism that promotes astrocytic Aβ production. Given that astrocytes greatly outnumber neurons, activated astrocytes may represent significant sources of Aβ during neuroinflammation in AD.