bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The External Limitations to Democracy
Authors: Rouanet Sérgio Paulo 
Published: October 2008

AbstractThis paper claims that what needs reinventing is not democracy as an ideal model, but rather the prevailing reality in terms of a set of obstacles hindering the realization of this model. Democracy can only be adapted to the new realities of the world if these realities are also transformed in such a way as to make it possible for democracy to properly function. The absence of norms on an international scale is manifested by a de facto hegemonic power accruing to certain states. This paper attempts a philosophical description of this situation through the difference between globalization, that tends to reduce all individual difference, and universalization, pluralist as its purposes can only be attained through a rationality of communication. Their respective actors are also different, as well as the different models provided for the evolution of the UN system.
African Women: Inventing New Forms of Solidarity
Authors: Boni Tanella 
Published: October 2008

AbstractIn contemporary African cultures women are going beyond domestic areas and getting involved in public affairs. They are acting in the social sphere. They are taking an active part in campaigns during the election process. Although in contemporary Africa these new ways of participating in public affairs are still closely associated with the religious domain, women are a major factor of social change in today's Africa.
Heritage, Culture and Democracy in Mexico
Authors: López Morales Gloria 
Published: October 2008

AbstractThis short paper deals with the difficult articulation of a diverse cultural heritage within a society and the democratic forms of assuring its social cohesion. Special attention is paid to the links between immaterial culture and the environment that transforms it into a structural element of social cohesion. Culture is seen as a ‘mould' which shapes a shared behaviour, and democracy can be conceived as a system made up of elements of a cultural nature that go as far as implying safeguarding pluralism, respect and tolerance of all kinds of difference. This is the case with those countries where the structures of the modern state are in the process of disappearing and being redefined in new forms, whose essential feature is acceptance of cultural diversity. If we conceive democracy in terms of heritage and in terms of non-exclusion of cultures dominated by a dominant culture, then it results that Mexico has not experienced true democracy - either in the past or nowadays.
Optimal Harmony, Mutual Enrichment and Strangification
Authors: Shen Vincent 
Published: October 2008

AbstractThis paper studies the relation between modern democracy and Chinese cultural patterns. It introducing the concept of ‘Multiple Others' to explain how the classical concept of harmony can help integrating cultural and social differences within a social body, thus allowing social cohesion to integrate diversity. The main classical concepts of ren, li, and yi are analyzed in both Confucianism and Daoism, and compared to the concepts of recognition and dialogue developed by modern political theorists like Ch. Taylor and J. Habermas.
Menin regulates the function of hematopoietic stem cells and lymphoid progenitors
Authors: Maillard Ivan , Chen Ya-Xiong , Friedman Ann , Yang Yuqing , Tubbs Anthony T. , Shestova Olga , Pear Warren S. , Hua Xianxin 
Published: October 2008

Abstract
Men1 is a tumor suppressor gene mutated in endocrine neoplasms. Besides its endocrine role, the Men1 gene product menin interacts with the mixed lineage leukemia (MLL) protein, a histone H3 lysine 4 methyltransferase. Although menin and MLL fusion proteins cooperate to activate Homeobox (Hox) gene expression during transformation, little is known about the normal hematopoietic functions of menin. Here, we studied hematopoiesis after Men1 ablation. Menin loss modestly impaired blood neutrophil, lymphocyte, and platelet counts. Without hematopoietic stress, multilineage and myelo-erythroid bone marrow progenitor numbers were preserved, while B lymphoid progenitors were decreased. In contrast, competitive transplantation revealed a marked functional defect of long-term hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) in the absence of menin, despite normal initial homing of progenitors to the bone marrow. HoxA9 gene expression was only modestly decreased in menin-deficient HSCs. These observations reveal a novel and essential role for menin in HSC homeostasis that was most apparent during situations of hematopoietic recovery, suggesting that menin regulates molecular pathways that are essential during the adaptive HSC response to stress.
Degradation of soluble VEGF receptor-1 by MMP-7 allows VEGF access to endothelial cells
Authors: Ito Ta-Kashi , Ishii Genichiro , Saito Seiji , Yano Keiichi , Hoshino Ayuko , Suzuki Tasuku , Ochiai Atsushi 
Published: October 2008

AbstractVascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling in endothelial cells serves a critical role in physiologic and pathologic angiogenesis. Endothelial cells secrete soluble VEGF receptor-1 (sVEGFR-1/sFlt-1), an endogenous VEGF inhibitor that sequesters VEGF and blocks its access to VEGF receptors. This raises the question of how VEGF passes through this endogenous VEGF trap to reach its membrane receptors on endothelial cells, a step required for VEGF-driven angiogenesis. Here, we show that matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7) degrades human sVEGFR-1, which increases VEGF bioavailability around the endothelial cells. Using a tube formation assay, migration assay, and coimmunoprecipitation assay with human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), we show that the degradation of sVEGFR-1 by MMP-7 liberates the VEGF165 isoform from sVEGFR-1. The presence of MMP-7 abrogates the inhibitory effect of sVEGFR-1 on VEGF-induced phosphorylation of VEGF receptor-2 on HUVECs. These data suggest that VEGF escapes the sequestration by endothelial sVEGFR-1 and promotes angiogenesis in the presence of MMP-7.
Inhalation of vasoactive intestinal peptide in pulmonary hypertension
Authors: Leuchte H. H. , Baezner C. , Baumgartner R. A. , Bevec D. , Bacher G. , Neurohr C. , Behr J. 
Published: October 2008

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) leads to an increased right ventricular workload, cardiac failure and death. In idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) the vasodilating vasoactive intestinal peptide (aviptadil) is deficient. The aim of the present study was to test the acute effects on haemodynamics and blood gases, and the safety, of a single dose of inhaled aviptadil in chronic PH.A total of 20 patients with PH (PAH in nine, PH in lung disease in eight and chronic thromboembolic PH in three) inhaled a single 100-µg dose of aviptadil during right-heart catheterisation. Haemodynamics and blood gases were measured.Aviptadil aerosol caused a small and temporary but significant selective pulmonary vasodilation, an improved stroke volume and mixed venous oxygen saturation. Overall, six patients experienced a pulmonary vascular resistance reduction of >20%. In patients with significant lung disease, aviptadil tended to improve oxygenation.The pulmonary vasodilating effect of aviptadil aerosol was modest and short-lived, did not cause any side-effects and led to a reduced workload of the right ventricle without affecting systemic blood pressure. Aviptadil inhalation tended to improve oxygenation in patients with significant lung disease. Further studies are needed to evaluate the full therapeutic potential of aviptadil aerosol, including higher doses and chronic treatment.
Lung cancer gene associated with COPD: triple whammy or possible confounding effect?
Authors: Young R. P. , Hopkins R. J. , Hay B. A. , Epton M. J. , Black P. N. , Gamble G. D. 
Published: October 2008

Recently, several large genome-wide association studies have identified a putative “lung cancer” locus in the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit genes (nAChR) on 15q25. However, these findings may be confounded by the presence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which is also strongly associated with smoking exposure and lung cancer. This is likely as the prevalence of COPD in lung cancer cohorts is as much as two-fold greater than that reported in smoking control populations (50versus 20%).The present authors compared the genotype frequencies of the most strongly associated single nucleotide polymorphism (rs16969968) in the α5 subunit of the nAChR gene cluster between three matched smoking cohorts.The AA genotype was found to be more frequent and was seen in 437 (16%) lung cancer cases and 445 (14%) COPD cases compared with 475 (9%) healthy smoking controls. More importantly, when 429 lung cancer cases were divided according to spirometry results (performed within 3 months of diagnosis, prior to surgery and in the absence of effusions or collapse), the AA genotype was present in 19 and 11% of cases with and without COPD, respectively.These findings suggest that the association between the α5 subunit nicotinic acetylcholine receptor single nucleotide polymorphism and lung cancer may, in part, be confounded by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Assessment of the pharmacokinetics and dynamics of two combination regimens of fosmidomycin-clindamycin in patients with acute uncomplicated falciparum malaria
Authors: Ruangweerayut Ronnatrai , Looareesuwan Sornchai , Hutchinson David , Chauemung Anurak , Banmairuroi Vick , Na-Bangchang Kesara 
Published: October 2008

Abstract

Background
This study investigated the pharmacokinetics of fosmidomycin when given in combination with clindamycin at two dosage regimens in patients with acute uncomplicated falciparum malaria.

Methods
A total of 70 patients with acute uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria who fulfilled the enrolment criteria were recruited in the pharmacokinetic study. Patients were treated with two different dosage regimens of fosmidomycin in combination with clindamycin as follows:
Group I: fosmidomycin (900 mg) and clindamycin (300 mg) every 6 hours for 3 days (n = 25); and Group II: fosmidomycin (1,800 mg) and clindamycin (600 mg) every 12 hours for 3 days (n = 54).

Results
Both regimens were well tolerated with no serious adverse events. The 28-day cure rates for Group I and Group II were 91.3 and 89.7%, respectively. Steady-state plasma concentrations of fosmidomycin and clindamycin were attained at about 24 hr after the first dose. The pharmacokinetics of both fosmidomycin and clindamycin analysed by model-independent and model-dependent approaches were generally in broad agreement. There were marked differences in the pharmacokinetic profiles of fosmidomycin and clindamycin when given as two different combination regimens. In general, most of the dose-dependent pharmacokinetic parameters (model-independent Cmax: 3.74 vs 2.41 μg/ml; Cmax-ss: 2.80 vs 2.08 μg/ml; Cmax-min-ss: 2.03 vs 0.71 μg/ml; AUC: 23.31 vs 10.63 μg.hr/ml (median values) were significantly higher in patients who received the high dose regimen (Group II). However, Cmin-ss was lower in this group (0.80 vs 1.37 μg/ml), resulting in significantly higher fluctuations in the plasma concentrations of both fosmidomycin and clindamycin following multiple dosing (110.0 vs 41.9%). Other pharmacokinetic parameters, notably total clearance (CL/F), apparent volume of distribution (V/F, Vz/F) and elimination half-life (t1/2z, t1/2e) were also significantly different between the two dosage regimens. In addition, the dose-dependent pharmacokinetics of both fosmidomycin and clindamycin tended to be lower in patients with recrudescence responses in both groups.

Conclusion
The findings may suggest that dosing frequency and duration have a significant impact on outcome. The combination of fosmidomycin (900 mg) and clindamycin (300–600 mg) administered every six hours for a minimum of five days would constitute the lowest dose regimen with the shortest duration of treatment and which could result in a cure rate greater than 95%.
"Sequencing-grade" screening for BRCA1 variants by oligo-arrays
Authors: Monaco Alessandro , Menolascina Filippo , Zhao Yingdong , Tommasi Stefania , Sabatino Marianna , Fasano Ross , Paradiso Angelo , Marincola Francesco M , Wang Ena 
Published: October 2008

Abstract
The need for fast, efficient, and less costly means to screen genetic variants associated with disease predisposition led us to develop an oligo-nucleotide array-based process for gene-specific single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping. This cost-effective, high-throughput strategy has high sensitivity and the same degree of accuracy as direct sequencing, the current gold standard for genetic screening. We used the BRCA1 breast and ovarian cancer predisposing gene model for the validation of the accuracy and efficiency of our strategy. This process could detect point mutations, insertions or deletions of any length, of known and unknown variants even in heterozygous conditions without affecting sensitivity and specificity. The system could be applied to other disorders and can also be custom-designed to include a number of genes related to specific clinical conditions. This system is particularly useful for the screening of long genomic regions with relatively infrequent but clinically relevant variants, while drastically cutting time and costs in comparison to high-throughput sequencing.
Intellectual disability co-occurring with schizophrenia and other psychiatric illness: population-based study
Authors: Morgan Vera A. , Leonard Helen , Bourke Jenny , Jablensky Assen 
Published: October 2008

BackgroundThe epidemiology of intellectual disability co-occurring with schizophrenia and other psychiatric illness is poorly understood. The separation of mental health from intellectual disability services has led to a serious underestimation of the prevalence of dual diagnosis, with clinicians ill-equipped to treat affected individuals.AimsTo estimate the prevalence of dual diagnosis and describe its clinical profile.MethodThe Western Australian population-based psychiatric and intellectual disability registers were cross-linked (totaln=245 749).ResultsOverall, 31.7% of people with an intellectual disability had a psychiatric disorder; 1.8% of people with a psychiatric illness had an intellectual disability. Schizophrenia, but not bipolar disorder and unipolar depression, was greatly overrepresented among individuals with a dual diagnosis: depending on birth cohort, 3.7–5.2% of those with intellectual disability had co-occurring schizophrenia. Pervasive developmental disorder was identified through the Intellectual Disability Register and is therefore limited to individuals with intellectual impairment. None the less, pervasive developmental disorder was more common among people with a dual diagnosis than among individuals with intellectual disability alone. Down syndrome was much less prevalent among individuals with a dual diagnosis despite being the most predominant cause of intellectual disability. Individuals with a dual diagnosis had higher mortality rates and were more disabled than those with psychiatric illness alone.ConclusionsThe facility to combine records across administrative jurisdictions has enhanced our understanding of the epidemiology of dual diagnosis, its clinical manifestations and aetiological implications. In particular, our results are suggestive of a common pathogenesis in intellectual disability co-occurring with schizophrenia.
Severity of depression and risk for subsequent dementia: cohort studies in China and the UK
Authors: Chen Ruoling , Hu Zhi , Wei Li , Qin Xia , McCracken Cherie , Copeland John R. 
Published: October 2008

BackgroundDepression and dementia often exist concurrently. The associations of depressive syndromes and severity of depression with incident dementia have been little studied.AimsTo determine the effects of depressive syndromes and cases of depression on the risk of incident dementia.MethodParticipants in China and the UK aged ⩾565 years without dementia were interviewed using the Geriatric Mental State interview and re-interviewed 1 year later in 1254 Chinese, and 2 and 4 years later in 3341 and 2157 British participants respectively (Ageing in Liverpool Project Health Aspects: part of the Medical Research Council – Cognitive Function and Ageing study).ResultsIncident dementia was associated with only the most severe depressive syndromes in both Chinese and British participants. The risk of dementia increased, not in the less severe cases of depression but in the most severe cases. The multiple adjusted hazard ratio (HR)=5.44 (95% CI 1.67–17.8) for Chinese participants at 1-year follow-up, and HR=2.47 (95% CI 1.25–4.89) and HR=2.62 (95% CI 1.18–5.80) for British participants at 2- and 4-year follow-up respectively. The effect was greater in younger participants.ConclusionsOnly the most severe syndromes and cases of depression are a risk factor for dementia.
Associations between childhood trauma, bullying and psychotic symptoms among a school-based adolescent sample
Authors: Kelleher Ian , Harley Michelle , Lynch Fionnuala , Arseneault Louise , Fitzpatrick Carol , Cannon Mary 
Published: October 2008

BackgroundChildren and adolescents who report psychotic symptoms appear to be at increased risk for psychotic disorders in adulthood – a putative ‘symptomatic’ high-risk group. However, little research has investigated whether those in this high-risk population have increased rates of exposure to traumatic events in childhood, as seen in patients who have a psychotic illness.AimsTo examine whether adolescents with psychotic symptoms have an increased rate of traumatic experiences.MethodPsychiatric interviews were carried out with 211 adolescents aged between 12 and 15 years and their parents as part of a population-based study. The interview enquired about a number of early traumatic events including physical and sexual abuse, exposure to domestic violence and bullying.ResultsFourteen adolescents (6.6% of those interviewed) reported experiencing at least one psychotic symptom. Adolescents who reported psychotic symptoms were significantly more likely to have been physically abused in childhood, to have been exposed to domestic violence and to be identified as a bully/victim (that is, both a perpetrator and victim of bullying) than those who did not report such symptoms. These findings were not confounded by comorbid psychiatric illness or family history of psychiatric history.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that childhood trauma may increase the risk of psychotic experiences. The characteristics of bully/victims deserve further study.
Alcohol-related dementia: a 21st-century silent epidemic?
Authors: Gupta Susham , Warner James 
Published: October 2008

SummaryEvidence suggests a J-shaped relationship between alcohol consumption and cognitive impairment and other health indicators, with low levels of consumption having better outcomes than abstention or moderate to heavy drinking. Most research to date has focused on the protective effects of drinking small amounts of alcohol. As alcohol consumption is escalating rapidly in many countries, the current cohort of young and middle-aged people may face an upsurge of alcohol-related dementia. The dangers of heavy drinking and its effect on cognition require further attention.
Patient information on schizophrenia on the internet
Authors: Kalk Nicola J. , Pothier David D. 
Published: October 2008

Aims and MethodsThe internet is an important source of mental health information. Given variable literacy levels in the general public, patient information websites need to be easily readable to prevent misunderstanding and consequent misinformation about mental health problems being propagated. the aim was to ascertain the readability of websites containing patient information about schizophrenia. Twenty websites containing patient information about schizophrenia generated by Google® were analysed for Flesch Reading Ease and Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level.ResultsAccording to standardised Flesch Reading Ease classification, 40% of the selected sites were classified as very difficult, 55% as difficult and 5% as fairly difficult. None were considered easy to read. There was a negative correlation of 70.798 (P < 0.001) between Flesch Reading Ease and Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level, which demonstrates the reliability of these results.Clinical ImplicationsEasily accessed schizophrenia information websites do not score highly for readability. Those that produce websites should bear readability in mind when writing them in order to construct more readable sites. Ideally, these should be accredited by recognised organisations that evaluate readability. Clinicians should assess website information for readability before recommending them to patients or carers.
Therapeutic assessment based on cognitive–analytic therapy for young people presenting with self-harm: pilot study
Authors: Kraupl-Taylor Dennis Ougrin , Ng Audrey V. , Low James 
Published: October 2008

Aims and MethodAdolescents presenting with self-harm have poor adherence to community follow-up. Poor adherence is a principal obstacle to treatment delivery and is associated with poor psychosocial outcomes. Therapeutic assessment is a novel method of assessing adolescents with self-harm. We compared therapeutic assessment with assessment as usual in a pilot study of 38 adolescents referred for psychosocial assessment following self-harm.ResultsSignificantly more adolescents assessed with therapeutic assessment than with usual assessment attended the first community follow-up appointment (75% v. 40%, χ2=3.89, P < 0.05) and engaged with services (62% v. 30% χ2=4.49, P < 0.05).Clinical ImplicationsYoung people assessed using therapeutic assessment may be more likely to engage with community follow-up. A therapeutic intervention at the time of the initial assessment might be necessary to enable future therapeutic work.
Destigmatising schizophrenia: does changing terminology reduce negative attitudes?
Authors: Kingdon David , Vincent Selvarej , Vincent Sylvia , Kinoshita Yoshihiro , Turkington Douglas 
Published: October 2008

Aims and MethodHealth promotion campaigns using current terminology have had limited success in reducing stigma to schizophrenia. Terminology and subgroups based on historical precedent, clinical experience and psychosocial research have been developed to provide an alternative to existing terminology, and the attitudes to schizophrenia and alternative terminology of a sample of medical students (n=241) were compared.ResultsOverall attitudes were significantly less negative with the alternatives. the students were less negative about the potential for recovery in relation to all the subgroups than for schizophrenia. Concerns about dangerousness were also less prominent with the exception of the drug-related group.Clinical ImplicationsSubgroups and alternative terminology should be further explored in programmes to destigmatise schizophrenia.
Implementing the Short-Term Assessment of Risk and Treatability (START) in a forensic mental health service
Authors: Doyle Michael , Lewis Geraint , Brisbane Moya 
Published: October 2008

Aims and MethodTo evaluate the practical utility and face validity of a new risk assessment guideline, the Short-Term Assessment of Risk and Treatability (START), within a forensic mental health service. Staff attended training and subsequently used the START to assess and formulate risk. Staff then completed an evaluation questionnaire about their experiences of using the START.ResultsThe study proved useful in evaluating the practical utility and face validity of the START. the START demonstrated both good practical utility and face validity. Areas of difficulty in completing the START were identified and areas for developing the START were highlighted.Clinical ImplicationsThe service subsequently implemented a revised version of the START into routine practice. the results of the pilot study suggest that the START can usefully assist in structuring risk judgements in practice.