bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The contribution of research to the development of a national cannabis policy in Australia
Authors: Hall Wayne D. 
Published: April 2008

ABSTRACTAims To describe the formulation of a National Cannabis Strategy in Australia in 2006 and discuss the contribution that research evidence has made to its development.Methods A description of trends in cannabis use in Australia and policy responses to it from the early 1970s to the present, with an analysis of the evidence and arguments that have been used to support competing policies towards cannabis use.Results In 1977 an Australian Senate Committee recommended that a national cannabis policy should be developed that removed criminal penalties for personal possession and use. The arguments for the recommendation echoed those used to support similar earlier recommendations made in Canada, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States in the late 1960s and early 1970s. They were reiterated by a National Cannabis Task Force in 1994, but a national cannabis strategy was not developed until 2006. By default, the strategy supported continued prohibition on the production and sale of cannabis, and left penalties for cannabis use to state governments. It advocated public education campaigns to discourage young people, especially those at high risk, from initiating cannabis use, and to reduce the progression to regular use among young people who had used cannabis. It also supported efforts to reduce the availability of cannabis and to improve treatment for problem cannabis users. The research evidence which was cited as motivating the development of a national cannabis policy was epidemiological data on rising rates of use among young people, and emerging evidence from longitudinal studies in Australian and New Zealand that some adolescent cannabis users experienced harm as a result of their use.Conclusions The impact that research evidence has had on Australian cannabis policy over the past three decades has, as in many comparable countries, been constrained by the limited policy options under consideration, and by the fact that interpretation of the evidence has been contested by advocates of the limited policy options under debate.
Low identification of alcohol use disorders in general practice in England
Authors: Cheeta Survjit , Drummond Colin , Oyefeso Adenekan , Phillips Tom , Deluca Paolo , Perryman Katherine , Coulton Simon 
Published: April 2008

ABSTRACTAims  The prevalence of alcohol use disorders (AUDs) in the United Kingdom is estimated at 25%, and primary care has been identified as the first line of treatment for this population. However, there is a paucity of evidence regarding the current rates of identification of AUDs in primary care. The aim of the present study was to compare the observed rates of AUDs in general practice with expected rates, which are based on general population prevalence rates of AUDs.Design, participants and measurements  Epidemiological data on individuals aged 16–64 years with an AUD was obtained from the General Practice Research Database. General population prevalence rates of AUDs were obtained from the Psychiatric Morbidity Survey. χ2 tests and identification ratios were used to analyse the data.Results  There was a significant relationship between type of AUD and identification (χ2 = 1466.89, P < 0.001), and general practitioners were poorer at identifying harmful/hazardous drinkers when compared with dependent drinkers. No gender differences in the identification of hazardous/harmful drinking were found, but female dependent drinkers were significantly more likely to be identified than males (identification ratio 0.07; 95% confidence interval 0.06–0.07). The identification of AUDs was significantly lower for the 16–24‐year age group compared with all other age groups.Conclusion  Despite attempts at targeting hazardous/harmful drinkers for brief interventions in primary care, the present findings suggest that this group are still under‐identified. Furthermore, this under‐identification is even more apparent in men and in young people who have high general population prevalence rates for AUDs. In conclusion, increasing identification rates could be incorporated into brief intervention strategies in primary care.
Probing the slope of cluster mass profile with gravitational Einstein rings: application to Abell 1689
Authors: Tu H. , Limousin M. , Fort B. , Shu C. G. , Sygnet J. F. , Jullo E. , Kneib J. P. , Richard J. 
Published: April 2008

Abstract
The strong lensing modelling of gravitational ‘rings’ formed around massive galaxies is sensitive to the amplitude of the external shear and convergence produced by nearby mass condensations. In current wide-field surveys, it is now possible to find out a large number of rings, typically 10 gravitational rings per square degree. We propose here, to systematically study gravitational rings around galaxy clusters to probe the cluster mass profile beyond the cluster strong lensing regions. For cluster of galaxies with multiple arc systems, we show that rings found at various distances from the cluster centre can improve the modelling by constraining the slope of the cluster mass profile. We outline the principle of the method with simple numerical simulations and we apply it to three rings discovered recently in Abell 1689. In particular, the lens modelling of the three rings confirms that the cluster is bimodal, and favours a slope of the mass profile steeper than isothermal at a cluster radius ∼300 kpc. These results are compared with previous lens modelling of Abell 1689 including weak lensing analysis. Because of the difficulty arising from the complex mass distribution in Abell 1689, we argue that the ring method will be better implemented on simpler and relaxed clusters.
Reevaluating the incidence of pervasive developmental disorders: Impact of elevated rates of detection through implementation of an integrated system of screening in Toyota, Japan
Authors: Kawamura Yuichi , Takahashi Osamu , Ishii Takashi 
Published: April 2008

Aim:  Although recent epidemiological studies on the pervasive development disorders (PDD) appear to be reporting higher rates of incidence than previously believed, great variation in the reported figures suggests a need for review of the methodology involved. As such, a survey on the incidence of PDD was conducted and compared with data from a previous survey to examine the effects of screening and diagnostic methodology on incidence.Methods:  The incidence of pervasive developmental disorders was surveyed in all children (12 589) born between January 1994 and December 1996 in Toyota, Japan.Results:  Incidence was 1.81% and the ratio of boys to girls was 2.80. Definitive diagnoses were made between 13 months and 7 years 2 months, the average age at diagnosis being 3 years 4 months. Among the cases of PDD, children with normal or borderline intelligence amounted to 66.4%, mild mental retardation (MR) 17.5%, moderate MR 10.3% and severe MR 5.8%.Conclusion:  An approximately 11‐fold increase was noted in prevalence of PDD compared to a previous survey two decades ago, and two main factors were believed to account for this apparent sharp increase. First, inclusion of high‐functioning subjects detected during infancy, and second, higher rates of diagnosis resulting from an integrated process of screening.
No predictors of antidepressant patient response to milnacipran were obtained using the three‐factor structures of the Montgomery and Åsberg Depression Rating Scale in Japanese patients with major depressive disorders
Authors: Higuchi Hisashi , Sato Kazuhiro , Yoshida Keizo , Takahashi Hitoshi , Kamata Mitsuhiro , Otani Koichi , Yamaguchi Noboru 
Published: April 2008

Aims:  Milnacipran, a new specific serotonin and norepinephrine re‐uptake inhibitor, is as effective as tricyclic antidepressants. Symptomatological predictors of antidepressant response to milnacipran have not been studied until now.Methods:  This study included 101 Japanese patients who fulfilled the DSM‐IV criteria for the diagnosis of major depressive disorders and whose score on the Montgomery and Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) was ≥21. Eighty‐three patients were finally included. Patients with a pretreatment MADRS score ≥31 points were defined as severe (n = 28), and the rest as non‐severe (n = 55). The three‐factor model of MADRS was used for analysis; the first factor was defined by three items, the second factor was defined by four items and the third factor was defined by three items representing dysphoria, retardation, and vegetative symptoms, respectively. Milnacipran was administered twice daily for 6 weeks. The initial dose was 50 mg/day; after a week it was increased to 100 mg/day.Results:  No significant difference was observed in the mean score of first factor, second factor and third factor at pretreatment time between responders and non‐responders in both severe and non‐severe patients.Conclusions:  No predictor of antidepressant response to milnacipran was obtained using the three‐factor structures of the MADRS in Japanese patients with major depressive disorders.
Reward pathways in Parkinson's disease: Clinical and theoretical implications
Authors: Torta Diana M. E. , Castelli Lorys 
Published: April 2008

Aims:  The mesolimbic and mesocortical circuits are particularly involved in reward‐related behavior in humans. Because these systems may be in some way altered in Parkinson's disease (PD), it is likely that some psychiatric manifestations of PD, such as hedonistic homeostatic dysregulation and pathological gambling, as well as impulsive decision making, may be ascribed to their involvement. The aim of the current article was to review recent literature on this topic in order to analyze whether these disturbances share a common ground and whether actual theoretical frameworks on addiction prove a useful tool for their interpretation.Methods:  Data were identified on searches of MEDLINE/PubMed databases from relevant articles published up until March 2007.Results:  All clinical manifestations (hedonistic homeostatic dysregulation, pathological gambling and impulsive decision making) seem to share a common multifaceted ground in which factors related to antiparkinsonian therapy, premorbid personality and progression of disease interact. Theoretical interpretations and conclusions drawn from experimental studies may help to shed light on the underlying pathological mechanisms.Conclusions:  Further studies are needed to analyze why, despite a common ground, only some patients develop those neuropsychiatric complications described here.
Reliability and validity of the Pervasive Developmental Disorders Assessment System
Authors: Kurita Hiroshi , Koyama Tomonori , Inoue Kanna 
Published: April 2008

Aim:  To test the reliability and validity of the Pervasive Developmental Disorders Assessment System (PDDAS), a Japanese semistructured interview system.Methods:  The PDDAS, consisting of 91 items including 12 major items corresponding to 12 items in criterion A of DSM‐IV autistic disorder criteria, 36 items on autistic symptoms and three Asperger's disorder (AS) screening items for diagnosing pervasive developmental disorders (PDD) and their subtypes and 40 items for other information including early development and past/family histories, was administered to mothers of 77 PDD children and 64 non‐PDD children.Results:  The PDDAS had satisfactory interrater reliability (ranges of κ, r and raw agreement rate were 0.69–1.00 in 76 items, 1.00 in 11 items and 0.91–1.00 in four κ un‐calculable items, respectively). Thirty‐three of the 36 items and all of the 12 major items scored significantly higher in the PDD than non‐PDD groups to show satisfactory discriminant validity. PDDAS and consensus DSM‐IV diagnoses agreed in the 77 children in PDD diagnosis and disagreed in only two children in subtype diagnoses of autistic disorder and PDD not otherwise specified.Conclusions:  The PDDAS, which takes 1.5 h to administer, seems to have clinical and research utility, although further investigation is necessary.
Rapid detection of JMH antibodies with recombinant Sema7A (CD108) protein and the particle gel immunoassay
Authors: Seltsam Axel , Agaylan Ashraf , Grueger Daniela , Meyer Oliver , Blasczyk Rainer , Salama Abdulgabar 
Published: April 2008

BACKGROUND: At present, identification of antibodies against the high‐prevalence JMH antigen is difficult and limited to reference laboratories having panels of rare red blood cell (RBC) specimens in stock. Here, a novel method is described for detection of anti‐JMH with particles coated with recombinant semaphorin 7A (Sema7A, CD108), the protein that carries the JMH blood group antigens.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Recombinant Sema7A protein was generated and coupled onto superparamagnetic particles coated with streptavidin. The coated particles were tested in the presence of different serum and plasma samples (11 anti‐JMH, 20 other antibodies, and 50 samples from nonimmunized blood donors) with the particle gel immunoassay and flow cytometry.RESULTS: Sema7A‐coated particles reacted with all 11 samples containing anti‐JMH, but not with samples lacking anti‐JMH. In addition, the anti‐JMH agglutination scores were higher with Sema7A‐coated particles than with JMH‐positive RBCs in all cases.CONCLUSION: Recombinant blood group proteins have the potential to replace RBCs as antigen carriers for identification of certain RBC alloantibodies.
Efficacy and safety of cefovecin for the treatment of urinary tract infections in cats
Authors: Passmore C. A. , Sherington J. , Stegemann M. R. 
Published: April 2008

Objectives:To determine the efficacy and safety of cefovecin (Convenia®; Pfizer Animal Health) in the treatment of urinary tract infections in cats.Method:A multi‐centre, masked, randomised study was conducted in cats presenting with clinical signs indicative of urinary tract infections. Cephalexin (Rilexine®; Virbac) administered orally twice daily at 15 mg/kg bodyweight for 14 days was compared with a single subcutaneous injection of cefovecin in cats. The primary efficacy parameter assessed was bacterial elimination of the pretreatment uropathogen.Results:Four hundred and thirty‐four cats were screened for urinary tract infections. One hundred and eighty‐five cats were treated with either cefovecin (n=124) or cephalexin (n=61). Ninety‐seven cats (22·2 per cent) had confirmed bacteriuria and 82 cats were included in efficacy analysis.Escherichia coliwas eliminated in 76·7 per cent (23 of 30) of cefovecin‐treated cats compared with 62·5 per cent (10 of 16) of cephalexin‐treated cats. Cefovecin demonstrated statistical non‐inferiority compared with cephalexin for bacterial elimination. There were no suspected adverse drug reactions attributable to treatment with cefovecin or cephalexin.ClinicalSignificance:Cefovecin was demonstrated to be an effective and safe treatment for urinary tract infections.
Singlet Oxygen Reacts with 2′,7′‐Dichlorodihydrofluorescein and Contributes to the Formation of 2′,7′‐Dichlorofluorescein
Authors: Daghastanli Nasser A. , Itri Rosangela , Baptista Mauricio S. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractThere are controversial reports in the literature concerning the reactivity of singlet oxygen (1O2) with the redox probe 2′,7′‐dichlorodihydrofluorescein (DCFH). By carefully preparing solutions in which 1O2 is quantitatively generated in the presence of DCFH, we were able to show that the formation rate of the fluorescent molecule derived from DCFH oxidation, which is 2′,7′‐dichlorofluorescein (DCF), increases in D2O and decreases in sodium azide, proving the direct role of 1O2 in this process. We have also prepared solutions in which either 1O2 or dication (MB•2+) and semi‐reduced (MB•) radicals of the sensitizer and subsequently super‐oxide radical (O2•−) are generated. The absence of any effect of SOD and catalase ruled out the DCFH oxidation by O2•−, indicating that both 1O2 and MB•2+ react with DCFH. Although the formation of DCF was 1 order of magnitude larger in the presence of MB•2+ than in the presence of 1O2, considering the rate of spontaneous decays of these species in aqueous solution, we were able to conclude that the reactivity of 1O2 with DCFH is actually larger than that of MB•2+. We conclude that DCFH can continue to be used as a probe to monitor general redox misbalance induced in biologic systems by oxidizing radicals and 1O2.
Functional Expression, Targeting and Ca2+ Signaling of a Mouse Melanopsin‐eYFP Fusion Protein in a Retinal Pigment Epithelium Cell Line†
Authors: Giesbers Maikel E. , Shirzad‐Wasei Nazhat , Bosman Giel J. C. G. M. , De Grip Willem J. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractMelanopsin, first discovered in Xenopus melanophores, is now established as a functional sensory photopigment of the intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells. These ganglion cells drive circadian rhythm and pupillary adjustments through projection to the brain. Melanopsin shares structural similarities with all known opsins. Comprehensive characterization of melanopsin with respect to its spectral properties, photochemical cascade and signaling partners requires a suitable recombinant system and high expression levels. This combination has not yet been described. To address this issue, we have expressed recombinant mouse melanopsin in several cell lines. Using enhanced yellow fluorescent protein (eYFP) as a visualization tag, expression was observed in all cell lines. Confocal microscopy revealed that melanopsin was properly routed to the plasma membrane only in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)‐derived D407 cells and in human embryonic kidney (HEK) cells. Further, we performed intracellular calcium measurements in order to probe the melanopsin signaling activity of this fusion protein. Transfected cells were loaded with the calcium indicator Fura2‐AM. Upon illumination, an immediate but transient calcium response was observed in HEK as well as in D407 cells, while mock‐transfected cells showed no calcium response under identical conditions. Supplementation with 11‐cis retinal or all‐trans retinal enhanced the response. After prolonged illumination the cells became desensitized. Thus, RPE‐derived cells expressing recombinant melanopsin may constitute a suitable system for the study of the structural and functional characteristics of melanopsin.
Kinetic Properties of Hexameric Tyrosinase from the Crustacean Palinurus elephas†
Authors: Brack Antje , Hellmann Nadja , Decker Heinz 
Published: April 2008

AbstractTyrosinases catalyze hydroxylation of monophenols to o‐diphenols and their subsequent oxidation to o‐quinones, whereas catecholoxidases catalyze only the latter reaction. Both enzymes occur in all organisms and are Type 3 copper proteins that perform the first steps of melanin formation. In arthropods, they play an essential role in the sclerotization of the exoskeleton. Very few phenoloxidases are characterized structurally or kinetically and the existence of an actual tyrosinase activity has not been demonstrated in most cases. Here we present for the first time a complete kinetic characterization of a tyrosinase from a crustacean (Palinurus elephas) including the influence of inhibitors. In contrast to most tyrosinases which are monomeric or dimeric, this tyrosinase occurs as a hexamer. However, the data did not indicate cooperativity in steady‐state kinetics for the two substrates used, the monophenol tyramine and the diphenol dopamine. Mimosine as well as phenylthiourea (PTU) inhibited both monophenolhydroxylase and diphenoloxidase activity. Inhibition by mimosine was competitive, whereas PTU was a noncompetitive inhibitor. Furthermore, for the diphenolase activity substrate inhibition was observed, which was apparently abolished by adding PTU. These observations lead to the hypothesis that a secondary, allosteric binding site exists, which binds dopamine and PTU and reduces the catalytic activity.
Activity of Pradofloxacin against
Porphyromonas
and
Prevotella
spp. Implicated in Periodontal Disease in Dogs: Susceptibility Test Data from a European Multicenter Study
Authors: Stephan Bernd , Greife Heinrich A. , Pridmore Andrew , Silley Peter 
Published: April 2008

ABSTRACT

Collaborating veterinarians from five European countries collected subgingival bacterial samples from dogs exhibiting clinical periodontal disease. Sterile endodontic paper points were used for collection of the samples, which were transported to a central laboratory for susceptibility testing. Anaerobic bacteria were isolated and
Porphyromonas
and
Prevotella
isolates identified to the species level; susceptibility to pradofloxacin and metronidazole was determined using the CLSI agar dilution methodology. A total of 630 isolates, 310 of
Porphyromonas
spp. and 320 of
Prevotella
spp., were isolated. Pradofloxacin MIC data for all isolates were in the range of ≤0.016 to 1 μg/ml, the overall MIC
50
was 0.062, and the overall MIC
90
was 0.25 μg/ml. There were no differences in activity against
Porphyromonas
and
Prevotella
isolates or in the pradofloxacin susceptibility distributions from the different European countries. All isolates were within the wild-type distribution and were fully susceptible to pradofloxacin. Metronidazole was also highly active against these strains: 316 of 320
Prevotella
strains (98.8%) and 309 of 310
Porphyromonas
strains (99.7%) were susceptible (MICs of ≤8 μg/ml). However, three
Prevotella
strains had intermediate metronidazole susceptibility (MICs of 16 μg/ml), while one
Prevotella
and one
Porphyromonas
strain were metronidazole resistant (MICs of 128 and 256 μg/ml, respectively). Pradofloxacin, a novel broad-spectrum fluoroquinolone, demonstrates a high degree of antianaerobic activity against strains isolated from clinical cases of periodontal disease and shows activity against metronidazole-resistant isolates. The broad-spectrum activity of pradofloxacin makes it a suitable candidate for the treatment of periodontal disease in dogs.
Susceptibility of
Chlamydia trachomatis
to the Excipient Hydroxyethyl Cellulose: pH and Concentration Dependence of Antimicrobial Activity
Authors: Sater Ali A. Abdul , Ojcius David M. , Meyer Matthew P. 
Published: April 2008

ABSTRACT

Hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) is used as a neutral excipient in microbicides used against sexually transmitted pathogens. However, HEC inhibits the infection of cervical epithelial cells by
Chlamydia trachomatis
at pH 5 in a concentration-dependent manner. At pH 7, infection is inversely dependent on the concentration of HEC, possibly due to pH-dependent calcium sequestration.