bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Organic thin film transistors with ink-jet printed metal nanoparticle electrodes of a reduced channel length by laser ablation
Authors: Kim Dongjo , Jeong Sunho , Moon Jooho , Han Sewoon , Chung Jaewon 
Published: August 2007

The authors have demonstrated organic thin film transistors (OTFTs) based on the ink-jet printed electrodes in which a reduced channel length is accomplished by laser ablation. Laser ablation on the dried silver nanoparticle electrode formed by ink-jet printing effectively shortened the channel length down to 5μm, which is difficult to achieve by ink-jet printing alone. Reducing the channel length using this hybrid technique also allows them to observe the contact resistance effect in the OTFTs, which involves the printed silver nanoparticle electrode of a lower work function with respect to the ionization energy of the organic semiconductor.
At the request of the authors and editor, this article is being retracted effective 8 February 2008.
GM3 synthase gene is a novel biomarker for histological classification and drug sensitivity against epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors in non‐small cell lung cancer
Authors: Noguchi Mariko , Suzuki Tomoko , Kabayama Kazuya , Takahashi Hiroki , Chiba Hirofumi , Shiratori Masanori , Abe Shosaku , Watanabe Atsushi , Satoh Masaaki , Hasegawa Tadashi , Tagami Seiichi , Ishii Atsushi , Saitoh Masaki , Kaneko Masanori , Iseki Ken , Igarashi Yasuyuki , Inokuchi Jin‐ichi 
Published: August 2007

Expression of gangliosides and alterations in their composition have been observed during cell proliferation and differentiation and in certain cell cycle phases, brain development and cancer malignancy. To investigate the characteristics of GM3 synthase, SAT‐I mRNA and ganglioside GM3 expression levels in lung cancer, we examined the expression levels of SAT‐I mRNA as well as GM3 in 40 tumor tissues surgically removed from non‐small cell lung cancer patients. Adenocarcinoma tissues expressed SAT‐I mRNA levels that were significantly higher than those of squamous and other carcinomas (P < 0.0001). Moreover, the SAT‐I mRNA levels were high in the bronchioalveolar carcinoma subtype and low in the solid and mucin subtypes of adenocarcinomas (P = 0.049, 0.049 and 0.013, respectively). To clarify the relationship between SAT‐I mRNA and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)‐tyrosine kinase (TK) inhibitor sensitivity, we carried out drug sensitivity tests for the EGFR‐TK inhibitors gefitinib and AG1478 using eight adenocarcinoma cell lines expressing no EGFR mutations. The IC50 values for gefitinib and AG1478 decreased dramatically with increasing SAT‐I mRNA levels (R2 = 0.81 and 0.59, respectively), representing a wide range of drug sensitivities among adenocarcinoma cell lines. To explore a possible mechanism of how GM3 could enhance the sensitivity to EGFR‐TK inhibitors, the SAT‐I gene was introduced stably into a GM3‐negative clone of murine 3LL lung cancer cells to produce GM3‐reconstituted clones. We found an increase in EGFR protein levels and gefitinib sensitivity in GM3‐reconstituted cells, suggesting the involvement of GM3 in the turnover of EGFR protein. Therefore, it is highly expected that, by measuring the expression levels of SAT‐I mRNA in lung biopsy samples from non‐small cell lung cancer patients, enhanced pathological identification and individualized chemotherapeutic strategies can be established for the appropriate use of EGFR‐TK inhibitors. (Cancer Sci 2007; 98: 1625–1632)
What I Would Most Like to Know ‐ How can Addiction Occur with other than Drug Involvements?
Authors: Peele Stanton 
Published: August 2007

SummaryAn increasing recognition of the possibility of addiction with regard to activities other than drug use seems to call for a re‐evaluation of key strands of thought about the nature of addiction, namely its relationship to the biological substratum and the relevance of cultural and individual interpretation of experience in addiction.
The Severity of Alcohol Dependence Questionnaire (SADQ) in a Sample of Irish Problem Drinkers
Authors: Meehan John P. , Webb Marcus G. T. , Unwin Antony R. 
Published: August 2007

SummaryValidation of the Severity of Alcohol Dependence Questionnaire (SADQ) was attempted in a sample of 102 Irish problem drinkers. Analysis of questionnaire responses showed reasonable accord with the findings of the designers of the SADQ, suggesting that the questionnaire is a useful and valid instrument for the investigation of alcoholics. The findings gave qualified support for the concept of the alcohol dependence syndrome. Maximum agreement with a findings gave qualified support for the concept of the alcohol dependence syndrome. Maximum agreement with a clinician's rating of moderate and severe dependence was achieved at a cut‐off score of 30 on the SADQ. Results also suggested it might be possible to use the SADQ to distinguish between minimal and mild to moderate dependence.
Some Observations on the Wernicke Korsakoff Syndrome in Australia
Authors: Price John , Kerr Ray 
Published: August 2007

SummaryThe high incidence of the Wernicke‐Korsakoff syndrome in Australia is described. Examination of patients with this syndrome in a Queensland mental hospital reveals an excess of those who had undergone partial gastrectomy and excesses of single males and widowers. There was a relative deficit of females within this diagnostic category. Although there are reasons for relating the high incidence of the Wernicke‐Korsakoff syndrome to high rates of beer consumption, it is concluded that these do not explain the situtation adequately and that life‐stly factors are likely to be of greater importance.
The Haemolysis Resistance Test (HRT) in Chronic Excessive Drinkers: A Pilot Study
Authors: Negrete J. C. , Hosein E. A. , Lee H. , Goehlert U. 
Published: August 2007

SummaryA detailed description is given of an assay to test osmotic fragility of erythrocytes in the absence and presence of ethanol (HRT). Samples from alcohol treated rats, and from alcoholic human subjects, showed fragility curves which responded to ethanol in vitro significantly differently when compared to their respective controls. The results with human samples appear to be independent of age, sex, recent abstinence from ethanol, degree of liver dysfunction, and serum cholesterol levels. At this pilot study, the HRT shows a positive predictive accuracy of 76.2 per cent and a negative one of 73 per cent.
The Collectivity of Drinking Cultures: A Theory of the Distribution of Alcohol Consumption.*
Authors: Skog Ole‐Jørgen 
Published: August 2007

SummaryIn this paper it is argued that Ledermann's so‐called single‐distribution theory is not based on substantial hypotheses about human drinking behaviour, and that it therefore fails to explain anything. An alternative theory of the distribution of alcohol consumption is outlined. The theory is founded on two basic hypotheses about human drinking behaviour. The theory is tested against survey data from different countries, and it is concluded that a strong collective components exists in human drinking habits. As a main rule, the population tends to move in concert up and down the scale of consumption.
Inter‐expert agreement of seven criteria in causality assessment of adverse drug reactions
Authors: Arimone Yannick , Miremont‐Salamé Ghada , Haramburu Françoise , Molimard Mathieu , Moore Nicholas , Fourrier‐Réglat Annie , Bégaud Bernard 
Published: August 2007

What is already known about this subject • In pharmacovigilance, many methods have been proposed for causality assessment of adverse drug reactions.• Expert judgement is commonly used to evaluate the causal relationship between a drug treatment and the occurrence of an adverse event. This form of judgement relies either explicitly or implicitly on causality criteria. What this study adds • Our study compares the judgements of five senior experts using global introspection about drug causation and seven causality criteria on a random set of putative adverse drug reactions.• Even if previous publications have shown poor agreement between experts using global introspection, few have compared judgements of well trained pharmacologists, familiar with using a standardized causality assessment method.AimsTo evaluate agreement between five senior experts when assessing seven causality criteria and the probability of drug causation.MethodsA sample of 31 adverse event‐drug pairs was constituted. For each pair, five experts separately assessed (i) the probability of drug causation, which was secondarily divided into seven causality levels: ruled out (0–0.05), unlikely (0.06–0.25), doubtful (0.26–0.45), indeterminate (0.46–0.55), plausible (0.56–0.75), likely (0.76–0.95), and certain (0.96–1); and (ii) seven causality criteria. To test discrepancies between experts, the kappa index was used.ResultsThe agreement of the five experts was very poor (kappa = 0.05) for the probability of drug causation. Among the seven levels of causality, only ‘doubtful’ showed a significant rate of agreement (kappa = 0.32, P < 0.001). For all criteria, the kappa index was significant except for the item ‘risk(s) factor(s)’ (kappa = 0.09). Agreement between experts was good (0.64, P < 0.001) only for the criterion ‘reaction at site of application or toxic plasma concentration of the drug or validated test’. However, the rate of agreement with kappa indices of the causality criteria ranged from 0.12 to 0.38.ConclusionsThis study confirms that in the absence of an operational procedure, agreement between experts is low. This should be considered when designing a causality assessment method. In particular, criteria inducing a low level of agreement should have their weight reduced.
Overview of model‐building strategies in population PK/PD analyses: 2002–2004 literature survey
Authors: Dartois C. , Brendel K. , Comets E. , Laffont C. M. , Laveille C. , Tranchand B. , Mentré F. , Lemenuel‐Diot A. , Girard P. 
Published: August 2007

What is already known about this subject • The reviews already published on population pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) analyses have focused on theory and have presented some clinical applications, evaluated validation practices in limited circumstances, defined the interest and sometimes the complexity of this approach in drug development or proposed a list of relevant articles.• None of them has exhaustively evaluated published analyses and more precisely the model‐building steps.• In view of the statistical complexity of population PK/PD methodology, more attention is required to how models are built and how they are reported in the literature. What this study adds • With a strict methodology and by establishing a standardized tool, this survey provides an exhaustive, objective and up‐to‐date review of model‐building practices.• It reveals deficiencies in information reporting in most articles and the genuine need for guidance in publishing.• An initial, minimal list of items is suggested, which can be used by authors and reviewers in pharmacology journals.• The value of published peer‐reviewed papers could be greatly improved if authors were to address the suggested list of items systematically.AimsA descriptive survey of published population pharmacokinetic and/or pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) analyses from 2002 to 2004 was conducted and an evaluation made of how model building was performed and reported.MethodsWe selected 324 articles in Pubmed using defined keywords. A data abstraction form (DAF) was then built comprising two parts: general characteristics including article identification, context of the analysis, description of clinical studies from which the data arose, and model building, including description of the processes of modelling. The papers were examined by two readers, who extracted the relevant information and transmitted it directly to a MySQL database, from which descriptive statistical analysis was performed.ResultsMost published papers concerned patients with severe pathology and therapeutic classes suffering from narrow therapeutic index and/or high PK/PD variability. Most of the time, modelling was performed for descriptive purposes, with rich rather than sparse data and using NONMEM software. PK and PD models were rarely complex (one or two compartments for PK; Emax for PD models). Covariate testing was frequently performed and essentially based on the likelihood ratio test. Based on a minimal list of items that should systematically be found in a population PK–PD analysis, it was found that only 39% and 8.5% of the PK and PD analyses, respectively, published from 2002 to 2004 provided sufficient detail to support the model‐building methodology.ConclusionsThis survey allowed an efficient description of recent published population analyses, but also revealed deficiencies in reporting information on model building.
Exposure–response analysis reveals that clinically important toxicity difference can exist between bioequivalent carbamazepine tablets
Authors: Tothfalusi Laszlo , Speidl Szilvia , Endrenyi Laszlo 
Published: August 2007

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT • The occurrence of central nervous system‐related adverse effects has been apparently related to the absorption rate of carbamazepine (CBZ).• However, the differing absorption rate metrics of four carbamazepine formulations in a bioequivalence study were unclearly associated with the incidence of adverse effects. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS • The relationship between the incidence of most neurological adverse effects and the absorption rate of CBZ was quantitatively established.• A mixed‐effect PK–PD model demonstrated the rapid development of acute tolerance to these effects.• Characterization of PD and PK–PD sensitivities showed that clinically significant differences in toxicity can exist between bioequivalent CBZ formulations.AIMSTo assess whether, using the current regulatory criteria, therapeutically important differences can exist between bioequivalent carbamazepine (CBZ) tablets. A secondary goal was to demonstrate quantitatively the relationship between the risk of neurological adverse effects to orally ingested CBZ and the rate of absorption.METHODSResults of a bioequivalence study by Olling et al. (Biopharm Drug Dispos 1999; 20: 19–28) were reanalysed. Following an exploratory data analysis step, a mixed‐effect pharmacokinetic–pharmacodynamic (PK–PD) model was built to describe the dependence of adverse events on the CBZ concentration.RESULTSRapid development of tolerance was demonstrated for most neurological adverse effects, with a characteristic half‐life of 02.29 h and an initial EC50 of 2.33 mg l−1. The resulting tolerance PK–PD model was characterized further using the tools and terminology of sensitivity analysis. It was demonstrated that the maximum concentration (Cmax) exhibits poor PK and PD sensitivities, and that clinically significant differences can exist between formulations which otherwise comply with the bioequivalence requirements. In contrast, another PK metric, the partial AUC, was a much better marker of the early neurological adverse events observable during the absorption phase of the drug.CONCLUSIONSIn clinical and regulatory considerations, the development of acute tolerance for adverse effects of CBZ must be taken into account. Partial AUC reflects more sensitively the risk of adverse events than Cmax. Instead of the current trend of tightening of the bioequivalence criteria for narrow therapeutic index drugs, the use of alternative, more sensitive PK metrics is proposed.
Communication skills in child protection: how do social workers talk to parents?
Authors: Forrester Donald , Kershaw Sophie , Moss Helen , Hughes Laura 
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACTCommunication skills are fundamental to social work practice, yet there is little research on the skills that workers have or how they use them. This study analyses 24 taped interviews between social workers and an actor playing a parent (a ‘simulated client’). Two child protection scenarios with different levels of seriousness were used. On average, social workers asked many closed questions and often raised concerns. They used few reflections and rarely identified positives. In all but one interview, social workers were rated as achieving clarity over issues of concern; however, they tended to demonstrate low levels of empathy. The responses of the simulated client were rated for resistance and information disclosure. The factor that most strongly influenced simulated client responses was empathy. Empathic social workers created less resistance and increased the amount of information disclosed by clients. This was not associated with failure to identify and discuss concerns. Empathy, therefore, appears to be central to good social work communication in child protection situations. Given the comparatively low level of empathy expressed by most participants, development of skills in maintaining empathic communication while raising child protection concerns appears a priority. Practical, theoretical and training implications are discussed.
Evaluation of pre‐hospital trauma triage criteria: a prospective study at a Danish level I trauma centre
Authors: Kann S. H. , Hougaard K. , Christensen E. F. 
Published: August 2007

Background:  The aim of the present study was to evaluate the precision of our trauma triage protocol [based on the American College of Surgeons, Committee on Trauma (ACS COT)] in identifying severely injured defined as an injury severity score (ISS) > 15. Our hypothesis was that isolated mechanism‐of‐injury criteria were responsible for a significant over‐triage leading to over‐use of our trauma team.Methods:  Design: A prospective cohort study. Setting: A level I trauma centre, Aarhus, Denmark. Patients and participants: Among all injured patients admitted during a 6‐month period in 2003 we identified severely injured. During the study period, trauma team activations were consecutively registered and triage criteria were prospectively collected. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, over‐triage and under‐triage were calculated.Results:  Out of 15,162 patients in the emergency department, 848 injured patients were included and 59 (7%) were severely injured. We had 242 trauma team activations with 54 (22%) severely injured. Sensitivity was 92%, specificity 76%, giving an over‐triage of 24% and an under‐triage of 8%. The positive predictive value was 22%. Among 60 patients with mechanism‐of‐injury as the only criterion, five were severely injured in contrast to 12 out of 20 patients with mechanism‐of‐injury combined with physiological and/or anatomical criteria.Conclusion:  The positive predictive value of our triage protocol was low, only 22%. This was mainly as a result of a significant over‐triage from isolated mechanism‐of‐injury criteria. We recommend revision of the triage protocol and reallocation of our trauma team resources.
A study of blood glucose in paediatric laparoscopy
Authors: Dave N. , Khan M. A. H. , Halbe A. R. , Kadam P. P. , Oak S. N. , Parelkar S. V. 
Published: August 2007

Background:  There are few studies on stress responses to laparoscopic surgery in children. This study was conducted to assess the blood glucose levels in children undergoing laparoscopy. We also studied the effect of two different intravenous (i.v.) solutions on blood glucose in open and laparoscopic procedures.Methods:  One hundred and twenty healthy children, aged 2–12 years, undergoing either open or laparoscopic surgery, were randomized to receive either dextrose normal saline (DS) or Ringer’s lactate peri‐operatively (RL). All patients had blood glucose measurements performed immediately after induction but prior to the i.v. infusion of any fluid. Blood glucose was again measured 1 h after induction in the open cases and 1 h after insufflation in the laparoscopy cases.Results:  In the groups, baseline blood glucose values were comparable. In all groups, blood glucose concentrations increased from the immediate post‐induction (baseline) values. When RL was infused, the 1‐h blood glucose was higher in the laparoscopy group as compared with the open group. However, when DS was infused the difference between the 1‐h blood glucose in the open and laparoscopic procedures was not statistically significant. In the laparoscopy group, the 1‐h blood glucose value was significantly higher in the patients receiving dextrose solution.Conclusion:  Laparoscopic procedures in children are associated with a rise in blood glucose levels similar to open surgery. The hyperglycaemic response was more pronounced when dextrose‐containing solutions were infused peri‐operatively.
Effect of 3 g of intravenous paracetamol on post‐operative analgesia, platelet function and liver enzymes in patients undergoing tonsillectomy under local anaesthesia
Authors: Silvanto M. , Munsterhjelm E. , Savolainen S. , Tiainen P. , Niemi T. , Ylikorkala O. , Scheinin H. , Olkkola K. T. 
Published: August 2007

Background:  Paracetamol is often given as an adjunctive analgesic to reduce opioid‐related adverse effects but its optimal dose is unknown. We studied the analgesic effect and safety of a single 3‐g intravenous (i.v.) dose of paracetamol in adults.Methods:  One hundred and seven patients undergoing tonsillectomy under local anaesthesia were randomly allocated to receive i.v. 3 g of paracetamol, 75 mg of diclofenac or placebo prior to surgery. The consumption of post‐operative morphine using a patient‐controlled analgesia‐device was quantified for 6 h. Platelet aggregation and the concentrations of paracetamol, liver aminotransferases, glutathione transferase alpha 1‐1 (GSTA1‐1) and thromboxane B2 were measured.Results:  During the first hours after surgery, both paracetamol and diclofenac reduced (P < 0.05) the consumption of morphine but had no effect thereafter. The values for the 6‐h cumulative consumption of morphine in patients given paracetamol (18.7 ± 13.8 mg), diclofenac (16.1 ± 9.9 mg) and placebo (22.0 ± 12.1 mg) did not differ. Paracetamol had no effect on platelet aggregation, which was impaired only by diclofenac in response to arachidonic acid (P < 0.005). Both paracetamol (P < 0.01) and diclofenac (P < 0.005) inhibited the release of thromboxane B2 at 1 h but they did not affect serum aminotransferase and GSTA1‐1 levels. One patient given paracetamol displayed a transient increase in GSTA1‐1 and liver aminotransferases.Conclusion:  During the initial hours after tonsillectomy, the administration of 3 g of i.v. paracetamol and 75 mg of diclofenac reduced the consumption of morphine. Both drugs also reduced the release of thromboxane B2 from activated platelets but only diclofenac had a negative effect on platelet aggregation. In sensitive individuals, large doses of paracetamol may disturb the hepatocellular integrity. We do not recommend the use of i.v. doses of paracetamol higher than 1 g.