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HE
Terms modified by HE Selected AbstractsInvolvement of Transcription Factor HNF3, in the Effect of o -Aminoazotoluene on Glucocorticoid Induction of Tyrosine Aminotransferase in Mice Sensitive to its Hepatocarcinogenic ActionMOLECULAR CARCINOGENESIS, Issue 1 2001Konstantin Y. Kropachev Abstract In the rodent liver, hepatocarcinogens inhibit the glucocorticoid induction of several liver-specific genes, including tyrosine aminotransferase (TAT). A distinct positive correlation exists in mice between the extent of inhibition of TAT induction after acute administration of o -aminoazotoluene (OAT) and the frequency of liver tumors after chronic exposure to the carcinogen. To elucidate the mechanism of the carcinogenic action, the effects of OAT on the DNA-binding activity of several transcription factors participating in the glucocorticoid regulation of TAT gene expression were studied. The experimental inbred male mice were sensitive (A/He and SWR/J, tumor induction frequency of 75,100%, TAT induction inhibition of 35,50%) and resistant (CC57BR/Mv and AKR/J, 0,6% and 10,15%, respectively) to OAT. Gel retardation experiments showed that hepatocyte nuclear factor 3 (HNF3), DNA-binding activity was strongly reduced in nuclear extracts from the livers of OAT-treated A/He and SWR/J mice but only slightly reduced in CC57Br/Mv and AKR/J mice. The DNA-binding activities of Ets, AP1 family members, and GME binding proteins were unaffected. HNF3, DNA-binding activity was reduced by 1 h after OAT administration and remained low for 1 mo, as did inhibition of TAT induction in the liver. These results suggested that the inhibitory effect of OAT on the glucocorticoid induction of TAT is mediated by reduced HNF3, DNA-binding activity. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Genetic control of resistance to hepatocarcinogenesis by the mouse Hpcr3 locus,HEPATOLOGY, Issue 2 2008Giacomo Manenti The genome of the BALB/c mouse strain provides alleles that dominantly inhibit hepatocellular tumor development in F1 crosses with the highly hepatocarcinogenesis-susceptible C3H/He strain. Genome-wide linkage analysis using a 1536,single-nucleotide polymorphism array in a (C3H/He × BALB/c)F2 intercross population treated with urethane to induce hepatocellular tumor development revealed a locus with a major role in the resistance to hepatocarcinogenesis. This locus, designated hepatocarcinogen resistance 3 (Hpcr3) and mapping to central chromosome 15, showed a linkage at LOD score = 16.52 and accounted for 40% of the phenotypical variance. The BALB/c-derived allele at Hpcr3 reduced tumor-occupied area of the liver up to 25-fold, in a semidominant way. Additional minor loci were mapped to chromosomes 1, 10, and 18. A gene expression profile of normal adult mouse liver showed a significant association with susceptibility of BALB/c, C3H/He, and F1 mice to hepatocarcinogenesis and identified the genes expressed in the Hpcr3 locus region; moreover, this analysis implicated the E2F1 pathway in the modulation of the phenotype susceptibility to hepatocarcinogenesis. Conclusion: These findings, indicating the complex genetics of dominant resistance to hepatocarcinogenesis, represent a step toward the identification of the genes underlying this phenotype. (HEPATOLOGY 2008;48:617,623.) [source] ,Chimeric' Grafts Assembled from Multiple Allodisparate Donors Enjoy Enhanced Transplant SurvivalAMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 3 2009D. R. Saban Certain components of a graft that provoke alloimmunity may not be vital for graft function or critical as targets of rejection. Corneal transplantation is an example of this, because graft epithelium plays a role in allosensitization, whereas corneal graft endothelium,which shares the same alloantigens,is the critical target in allorejection. In this study, we found that exploiting this biology by replacing donor epithelium of an allograft with an allodisparate third-party epithelium yields a marked enhancement in transplant survival. Such ,chimeric' allografts consisted of a C3H/He (H-2k) corneal epithelium over a C57BL/6 (H-2b) epithelial-denuded cornea (or v.v.) and orthotopically placed on BALB/c (H-2d) hosts. Conventional corneal allografts (C3H/He or C57BL/6) or isografts (BALB/c) were also transplanted on BALB/c hosts. Alloreactive T-cell frequencies (CD4+ interferon [IFN]-,+) primed to the graft endothelium were strongly diminished in chimeric hosts relative to conventionally allografted hosts. This was corroborated by a decreased T-cell infiltration (p = 0.03) and a marked enhancement of allograft survival (p = 0.001). Our results represent the first successful demonstration of chimeric tissue, epithelial-denuded allograft plus third-party allodisparate epithelium, in the promotion of allograft survival. Moreover, chimeric grafting can be readily performed clinically, whereby corneal allograft rejection remains a significant problem particularly in inflamed graft beds. [source] Immunity against mouse thymus-leukemia antigen (TL) protects against development of lymphomas induced by a chemical carcinogen, N -butyl- N -nitrosoureaCANCER SCIENCE, Issue 11 2004Kunio Tsujimura Mouse thymus-leukemia antigens (TL) are aberrantly expressed on T lymphomas in C57BL/6 (B6) and C3H/He (C3H) mice, while they are not expressed on normal T lymphocytes in these strains. When N -butyl- N -nitrosourea (NBU), a chemical carcinogen, was administered orally to B6 and C3H strains, lymphoma development was slower than in T3b -TL gene-transduced counterpart strains expressing TL ubiquitously as self-antigens, suggesting that anti-TL immunity may play a protective role. In addition, the development of lymphomas was slightly slower in C3H than in B6, which seems to be in accordance with the results of skin graft experiments indicating that both cellular and humoral immunities against TL were stronger in C3H than B6 mice. The interesting finding that B lymphomas derived from a T3b -TL transgenic strain (C3H background) expressing a very high level of TL were rejected in C3H, but not in H-2Kb transgenic mice (C3H background), raises the possibility that TL-specific effector T cell populations are eliminated and/or anergized to a certain extent by interacting with H-2Kb molecules. [source] Fate of epiphytes on phorophytes with different architectural characteristics along the perturbation gradient of Sabal mexicana forests in Veracruz, MexicoJOURNAL OF VEGETATION SCIENCE, Issue 1 2010A. Aguirre Abstract Question: Vascular epiphytes and hemiepiphytes (E/HE) in neotropical forests account for a large fraction of plant richness, but little is known of how the interplay between phorophyte architectural characteristics and habitat perturbation affect communities of E/HE. Location: Sabal mexicana forests in a coastal area of Veracruz, Mexico. Methods: We compared communities of E/HE on phorophytes with different architectural characteristics , the palm S. mexicana and non-palm phorophytes , in three environments: conserved sites, perturbed sites and small regenerated forest fragments. We combined traditional (abundance, species richness, similarity and complementarity indices) and more recent (phylogenetic diversity) metrics to describe the communities of E/HE. Results: Overall, we recorded 924 E/HE individuals (nine families, 16 genera and 21 species). The abundance and species richness of E/HE was higher on palms than on non-palm phorophytes. Abundance-based complementarities between phorophytes and sites were high. We detected clear changes in community structure of E/HE with habitat perturbation, but there were no effects on the phylogenetic diversity of the E/HE community. Palm phorophytes hosted a more phylogenetically diverse community of E/HE than did non-palm phorophytes. Conclusions: Palm phorophytes are key elements supporting the conservation of resilient communities of E/HE in S. mexicana forest. Habitat fragmentation has a strong effect on the structure of the E/HE community in S. mexicana forests. Ferns are the group of epiphytes most severely affected by habitat perturbation, but we detected no significant effect on the phylogenetic diversity of the community. [source] Morphological and immunohistochemical studies on cleft palates induced by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo- p -dioxin in miceCONGENITAL ANOMALIES, Issue 2 2008Kumiko Fujiwara ABSTRACT Morphological and immunohistological examinations were performed to reveal the mechanisms of cleft palate induction by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo- p -dioxin (TCDD). ICR strain mice 8,10 weeks of age were used in the study. TCDD was administered in olive oil on gestation day (GD) 12.5 with gastric tubes at 40 ,g/kg. From GD 13.5 to 16.5, palates were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), hematoxyline,eosin (HE) staining, and immunohistochemical staining of FGFR1/2, TGF-,3, MSX1 and LHX8. In the control group, both of the palatal shelves began elevating on GD 14.0 and finished within 6 h. After the elevation, all of the shelves had completely fused with each other on GD 14.5. In the TCDD-treated group, palatal shelves elevated 1 day later than in the control group. However, all palates had elevated by GD 15.0. After the elevation, the shelves contacted each other and fused; however, they were separated on GD16.0. HE staining showed that medial edge epithelium (MEE) was thinner in the TCDD group than in the control group. MEE observed under a high magnification (×2500) exhibited filopodia-like filaments and the cells were bulged in the control group. In contrast, in the TCDD group, no filaments were observed and the cells were flat with unclear boundaries. Immunohistologically, there were no characteristic findings except for FGFR1. FGFR1 was not expressed in the TCDD group after the fusion phase (GD 14.5). TCDD induces many morphological and molecular changes to MEE cells and causes cleft palates. [source] Occurrence and prognosis of hand eczema in the car industry: results from the PACO follow-up study (PACO II)CONTACT DERMATITIS, Issue 6 2008Christian J. Apfelbacher Background:, Only a few epidemiological studies on hand eczema (HE) in the metalworking industry have been conducted, and no study has attempted a long-term follow-up. Objectives:, In the Prospective Audi Cohort (PACO) II follow-up study, we aimed to estimate burden and prognosis of HE in a car industry setting (follow-up > 10 years). Patients/Methods:, Eligible participants were individuals who had been examined in the original PACO study (1990,1998) and had been followed through until the end of their apprenticeship (n = 1909). Participants were interviewed and underwent dermatological examination. An exposure assessment was carried out according to a pre-defined algorithm. Results:, The follow-up rate was 78.3% (1494/1909). Mean follow-up time was 13.3 [standard deviation 1.3] years. The period prevalence of HE in the follow-up period was 21.0% [95% confidence interval (CI) 19.0,23.1%], yielding a cumulative incidence of 29.3% (95% CI 26.9,31.6%) in the entire study period. HE persisted after the end of apprenticeship in 40.0% (95% CI 33.3,46.7%) of subjects who had had HE during apprenticeship (n = 205). 18.0% (95% CI 15.9,20.1%) developed HE in the follow-up period (n = 1289). Conclusions:, Around 30% of subjects were affected by HE at least once during the study period. HE persisted in 40% of the participants affected during apprenticeship. [source] Management of chronic hand eczemaCONTACT DERMATITIS, Issue 4 2007Thomas L. Diepgen Hand eczema (HE) is one of the most frequent skin diseases and has often a chronically relapsing course with a poor prognosis resulting in a high social and economic impact for the individual and the society. In this article, we highlight the results of an expert workshop on the ,management of severe chronic hand eczema' with the focus on the epidemiology, the burden of severe HE, its classification and diagnostic procedures, and the current status of treatment options according to an evidence-based approach (randomized controlled clinical trials, RCTs). We conclude that despite the abundance of topical and systemic treatment options, disease management in patients with severe chronic HE is frequently inadequate. There is a strong need for RCTs of existing and new treatment options based on clearly diagnosed subtypes of HE and its severity. [source] FC03.1 Experience from joint occupational health/dermatology clinicsCONTACT DERMATITIS, Issue 3 2004Yat Wing Wong Background:, A monthly consultant led occupational health/dermatology clinic was started in 1999 providing rapid access to staff with suspected occupational skin disease including natural rubber latex (NRL) allergy and teaching for the occupational health staff. Objectives:, To evaluate the characteristics and outcome of staff attending this clinic and to assess patient satisfaction. Methods:, A retrospective case note survey was performed from staff attending the clinic from 1999 to 2002. A questionnaire was sent to them >3 months following consultation. Results:, A total of 116 patients were identified (12 male, 104 female), and 85 (73%) were nurses. 77 (66%) patients were referred with hand eczema (HE). Of the 45 patients referred with adverse reactions or exacerbation of hand dermatitis following the use of latex gloves, only 4 had positive prick tests and were considered to have NRL allergy. Patients with significant HE or occupational exacerbation of HE were referred for patch testing (n = 36). Of the remainder, most could be discharged after a single visit. 49/95 (52%) questionnaires were returned, 34/45 (76%) patients found the consultation useful. As a separate study, the data recorded within the patch test clinic looking at health care workers (HCW) referred both from this clinic and from other sources was analysed. This showed relevant positive patch tests in 16/49 (33%) patients. In 55/99 (56%), an occupational cause was likely. Conclusion:, Occupational skin disease in HCW is common, attendance at the clinic was beneficial and a single visit was sufficient in most cases. [source] Mouse toxicity of Anabaena flos-aquae from Lake Dianchi, ChinaENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY, Issue 1 2009Xiaojie Pan Abstract Some species of the genera Anabaena can produce various kinds of cyanotoxins, which may pose risks to environment and human health. Anabaena has frequently been observed in eutrophic freshwater of China in recent years, but its toxicity has been reported only in a few studies. In the present study, the toxicity of an Anabaena flos-aquae strain isolated from Lake Dianchi was investigated. Acute toxicity testing was performed by mouse bioassay using crude extracts from the lyophilized cultures. The mice exposed to crude extracts showed visible symptoms of toxicity and died within 10,24 h of the injection. Serum biochemical parameters were evaluated by the use of commercial diagnostic kits. Significant alterations were found in the serum biochemical parameters: alkaline phosphatase (AKP), ,-glutamyl transpeptidase (,-GT), aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine amino transferase (ALT), AST/ALT ratio, total protein content, albumin content, albumin/globulin (A/G) ratio, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (Ssr), and total antioxidative capacity (T-AOC). Histopathological observations were carried out with hematoxylin and eosin (HE) stain under light microscope. Severe lesions were seen in the livers, kidneys, and lungs of the mice injected with crude extracts. The alterations of biochemical parameters were in a dose-dependent manner, and the severities of histological lesions were in the same manner. Based on biochemical and histological studies, this research firstly shows the presence of toxin-producing Anabaena species in Lake Dianchi and the toxic effects of its crude extracts on mammals. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol, 2009. [source] Lifelong Learning within HE in The NetherlandsEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF EDUCATION, Issue 3 2009MARJA VAN DEN DUNGEN First page of article [source] Progressive dementia caused by Hashimoto's encephalopathy , report of two casesEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY, Issue 10 2004J. Spiegel Dementia induced by Hashimoto's encephalopathy (HE) seems to be a rare condition. We report on two patients, who revealed a syndrome consisting of a rapid progressive dementia with myocloni. In both patients, the detection of antithyroid antibodies enabled the diagnosis of HE. The symptoms receded completely during a high-dose glucocorticoid therapy. In patients with rapidly progressive dementia or with dementia of unknown origin, HE should be considered. [source] Properties of the hatching enzyme from Xenopus laevisFEBS JOURNAL, Issue 18 2001Ting-Jun Fan Using an anti-(glutathione S -transferase,UVS.2 cDNA) Ig and uterine egg vitelline envelope (UEVE) protein of Xenopus laevis as probes, the hatching enzyme (HE) from Xenopus was solubilized in hatching medium and purified by gel-filtration and ion-exchange chromatography, and characterized in terms of its molecular mass and enzymatic properties. The hatching medium solubilized the UEVE and contained molecules reactive to the anti-(GST UVS.2) Ig against Xenopus HE. It was found that the HE had a molecular mass of 60 kDa, and often preparations also contained a 40-kDa form. The 60-kDa HE had a high hydrolytic and UEVE-solubilizing activity, and its activities against Boc-Leu-Gly-Arg-7-amino-4-methylcoumarin (-NH-Mec) and UEVE were inhibited by anti-(GST UVS.2) Ig in a dose-dependent manner. The 60-kDa form was easily autodigested into a 40-kDa form. The 40-kDa molecule alone had no detectable UEVE-solubilizing activity, even it still had high hydrolytic activity. It probably represents the main protease domain of the 60-kDa form after loss of two CUB repeats during autodigestion or digestion. The autodigestion of the 60-kDa molecule into 40-kDa molecule is probably a congenital behavior for successfully dissolving the embryo envelope during the hatching process. The two molecules may play different roles at different stages of the hatching process, during which they co-ordinate with each other to achieve complete solubilization of the embryo envelope, similar to the high and low choriolytic enzymes in medaka (Oryzias latipes). Their hydrolytic activity against Boc-Leu-Gly-Arg-NH-Mec was optimal at pH of 7.4, and with an apparent Km value of 200 µmol·L,1 at 30 °C. The HE is very sensitive to trypsin-specific inhibitors such as leupeptin, (4-amidino-phenyl)methane sulfonyl fluoride, diisopropyl fluorophosphate (DFP) and N -,-tosyl- l -lysylchloromethane (Tos-Lys-CH2Cl), indicates that it is a trypsin-type protease. The results on EDTA and some metal ions, combined with the occurrence of a astacin family metalloprotease-specific ,HExHxxGFxHE' sequence in the deduced HE amino-acid sequence, indicates that this HE is a Zn2+ metalloprotease. [source] Genetic diversity and migration patterns of the aquatic macrophyte Potamogeton malaianus in a potamo-lacustrine systemFRESHWATER BIOLOGY, Issue 6 2009YUANYUAN CHEN Summary 1.,Previously, the Yangtze River connected thousands of shallow lakes which together formed a potamo-lacustrine system capable of sustaining a rich variety of submerged macrophytes. 2.,Potamogeton malaianus is one of the dominant submerged macrophytes in many lakes of this area. Genetic variation and population structure of P. malaianus populations from ten lakes in the potamo-lacustrine system were assessed using inter-simple sequence repeat markers. 3.,Twelve primer combinations produced a total of 166 unambiguous bands of which 117 (70.5%) were polymorphic. Potamogeton malaianus exhibited a moderate level of population genetic diversity (PP = 70.5%, HE = 0.163 and I = 0.255), as compared with that of plants in the same habitat and range. The main factors responsible for this moderate value were the plant's mixed breeding system (both sexual and asexual) and the hydrological connectivity among habitats. 4.,F statistics, calculated using different approaches, consistently revealed a moderate genetic differentiation among populations, contributing about 20% of total genetic diversity. An estimate of gene flow (using FST) suggested that gene flow played a more important role than genetic drift in the current population genetic structure of P. malaianus (Nm = 1.131). 5.,The genetic diversity of P. malaianus did not increase downstream. A high level of linkage,disequilibrium at the whole population level suggested that metapopulation processes may affect genetic structure. The migration pattern of P. malaianus was best explained by a two-dimensional stepping stone model, indicating that bird-mediated dispersal could greatly influence gene movements among lakes. [source] The bile acid receptor TGR5 (Gpbar-1) acts as a neurosteroid receptor in brainGLIA, Issue 15 2010Verena Keitel Abstract TGR5 (Gpbar-1) is a membrane-bound bile acid receptor in the gastrointestinal tract and immune cells with pleiotropic actions. As shown in the present study, TGR5 is also expressed in astrocytes and neurons. Here, TGR5 may act as a neurosteroid receptor, which is activated by nanomolar concentrations of 5,-pregnan-3,-ol-20-one and micromolar concentrations of 5,-pregnan-3,-17,-21-triol-20-one and 5,-pregnan-3,-ol-20-one (allopregnanolone). TGR5 stimulation in astrocytes and neurons is coupled to adenylate cyclase activation, elevation of intracellular Ca2+ and the generation of reactive oxygen species. In cultured rat astrocytes, TGR5 mRNA is downregulated in the presence of neurosteroids and ammonia already at concentrations of 0.5 mmol L,1. Furthermore, TGR5 protein levels are significantly reduced in isolated rat astrocytes after incubation with ammonia. A marked downregulation of TGR5 mRNA is also found in cerebral cortex from cirrhotic patients dying with hepatic encephalopathy (HE) when compared with brains from noncirrhotic control subjects. It is concluded that TGR5 is a novel neurosteroid receptor in brain with implications for the pathogenesis of HE. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Inhibition of glutamine transport into mitochondria protects astrocytes from ammonia toxicityGLIA, Issue 8 2007V. B. R. Pichili Abstract Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a major neurological complication that occurs in the setting of severe liver failure. Ammonia is a key neurotoxin implicated in this condition, and astrocytes are the principal neural cells histopathologically and functionally affected. Although the mechanism by which ammonia causes astrocyte dysfunction is incompletely understood, glutamine, a by-product of ammonia metabolism, has been strongly implicated in many of the deleterious effects of ammonia on astrocytes. Inhibiting mitochondrial glutamine hydrolysis in astrocytes mitigates many of the toxic effects of ammonia, suggesting the involvement of mitochondrial glutamine metabolism in the mechanism of ammonia neurotoxicity. To determine whether mitochondriaare indeed the organelle where glutamine exerts its toxic effects, we examined the effect of L -histidine, an inhibitor of mitochondrial glutamine transport, on ammonia-mediated astrocyte defects. Treatment of cultured astrocytes with L -histidine completely blocked or significantly attenuated ammonia-induced reactive oxygen species production, cell swelling, mitochondrial permeability transition, and loss of ATP. These findings implicate mitochondrial glutamine transport in the mechanism of ammonia neurotoxicity. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Non-pecuniary returns to higher education: the effect on smoking intensity in the UKHEALTH ECONOMICS, Issue 8 2010Massimiliano Bratti Abstract This paper investigates whether higher education (HE) produces non-pecuniary returns via a reduction in the intensity of consumption of health-damaging substances. In particular, it focuses on current smoking intensity of the British individuals sampled in the 29-year follow-up survey of the 1970 British Cohort Study. We estimate endogenous dummy ordinal response models for cigarette consumption and show that HE is endogenous with respect to smoking intensity and that even when endogeneity is accounted for, HE is found to have a strong negative effect on smoking intensity. Moreover, pecuniary channels, such as occupation and income, mediate only a minor part of the effect of HE. Our results are robust to modelling individual self-selection into current smoking participation (at age 29) and to estimating a dynamic model in which past smoking levels affect current smoking levels. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] The education and training needs of health librarians,the generalist versus specialist dilemmaHEALTH INFORMATION & LIBRARIES JOURNAL, Issue 3 2007Tatjana Petrinic Aims and objectives:, The aims of the study were to examine whether and how librarians with a generalist background can transfer to roles demanding more expert knowledge in the health sector. The objectives were (i) to compare the education and training needs of health librarians with science degrees with the education and training needs of health librarians with arts and humanities degrees; (ii) to compare the education and training needs of librarians working in the National Health Service (NHS) sector with the education and training needs of librarians working for the health sector but within higher education. Methods:, Face-to-face interviews with 16 librarians, a convenience sample of librarians working in the Thames Valley NHS region. Results:, The main findings confirmed that structured continuing professional development (CPD) is required to meet the rapidly changing needs in the health sector. The emphasis ought to be on teaching skills, outreach work, marketing and promotion, research skills and methods, subject knowledge and terminology, and management skills. Library school curricula do not appear to meet the demands of medical library posts. A first degree in scientific subjects is advantageous in the early stages of a career but diminishes with continuing training and experience. There is no evidence of a significant difference in training needs and provision between the librarians in NHS posts as opposed to those in higher education (HE) posts. Conclusions:, The conclusions suggest that library schools need to update their programmes to include teaching skills, advanced search skills, project management skills, research methods, with more practical exercises. Particular attention should be given to librarians with a first degree in non-scientific subjects in terms of time allocated for CPD, quality of training and access to reliable mentorship. [source] Pharmacology and safety of glycerol phenylbutyrate in healthy adults and adults with cirrhosis,,HEPATOLOGY, Issue 6 2010Brendan M. McGuire Phenylbutyric acid (PBA), which is approved for treatment of urea cycle disorders (UCDs) as sodium phenylbutyrate (NaPBA), mediates waste nitrogen excretion via combination of PBA-derived phenylacetic acid with glutamine to form phenylactylglutamine (PAGN) that is excreted in urine. Glycerol phenylbutyrate (GPB), a liquid triglyceride pro-drug of PBA, containing no sodium and having favorable palatability, is being studied for treatment of hepatic encephalopathy (HE). In vitro and clinical studies have been performed to assess GPB digestion, safety, and pharmacology in healthy adults and individuals with cirrhosis. GPB hydrolysis was measured in vitro by way of pH titration. Twenty-four healthy adults underwent single-dose administration of GPB and NaPBA and eight healthy adults and 24 cirrhotic subjects underwent single-day and multiple-day dosing of GPB, with metabolites measured in blood and urine. Simulations were performed to assess GPB dosing at higher levels. GPB was hydrolyzed by human pancreatic triglyceride lipase, pancreatic lipase-related protein 2, and carboxyl-ester lipase. Clinical safety was satisfactory. Compared with NaPBA, peak metabolite blood levels with GPB occurred later and were lower; urinary PAGN excretion was similar but took longer. Steady state was achieved within 4 days for both NaPBA and GPB; intact GPB was not detected in blood or urine. Cirrhotic subjects converted GPB to PAGN similarly to healthy adults. Simulations suggest that GPB can be administered safely to cirrhotic subjects at levels equivalent to the highest approved NaPBA dose for UCDs. Conclusion: GPB exhibits delayed release characteristics, presumably reflecting gradual PBA release by pancreatic lipases, and is well tolerated in adults with cirrhosis, suggesting that further clinical testing for HE is warranted. (HEPATOLOGY 2010;) [source] Quantitative T1 mapping of hepatic encephalopathy using magnetic resonance imagingHEPATOLOGY, Issue 5 2003Nadim Joni Shah M.D. Changes are shown in the spin-lattice (T1) relaxation time caused by the putative deposition of manganese in various brain regions of hepatic encephalopathy (HE) patients using a novel and fast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) method for quantitative relaxation time mapping. A new method, T1 mapping with partial inversion recovery (TAPIR), was used to obtain a series of T1 -weighted images to produce T1 maps. Imaging of 15 control subjects and 11 patients was performed on a 1.5T MRI scanner. The measurement time per patient with this technique, including adjustments, was ,5 minutes. Regions of interest in the globus pallidus, the caudate nucleus, the posterior and anterior limbs of the internal capsule, the putamen, the frontal and occipital white matter, the white matter of the corona radiata, the occipital visual and frontal cortices, and the thalamus were interactively defined in the left hemisphere and analyzed with respect to their T1 values. T1 changes in the brains of HE patients can be determined quantitatively with TAPIR in short, clinically relevant measurement times. Significant correlations between the change in T1 and HE severity have been shown in the globus pallidus, the caudate nucleus, and the posterior limb of the internal capsule. No significant correlation of T1 with grade of HE was found in the putamen, frontal white matter, white matter of the corona radiata, white matter in the occipital lobe, the anterior limb of the internal capsule, visual cortex, thalamus, or frontal cortex. In conclusion, these measurements show that T1 mapping is feasible in short, clinically relevant acquisition times. [source] False Uniqueness: the Self-Perception of New Entrants to Higher Education in the UK and Its Implications for Access , a Pilot Study1HIGHER EDUCATION QUARTERLY, Issue 1 2007Andy Thorpe A central tenet of contemporary education policy relates to the desire to extend higher education (HE) provision to less advantaged groups (,widening participation'). Our paper contends that a key behavioural obstacle to widening participation lies in the erroneous belief that persists among potential entrants from disadvantaged backgrounds as to their capabilities of succeeding within the HE environment , a perception that serves to deflate application/recruitment rates from such groupings. We test this ,false uniqueness' thesis using a sample of 127 new UK undergraduates, finding that students drawn from lower social class backgrounds consistently underestimated their abilities vis-à-vis the overall cohort. [source] Are There Economic Incentives for Non-Traditional Students to Enter HE?HIGHER EDUCATION QUARTERLY, Issue 1 2007The Labour Market as a Barrier to Widening Participation The expansion of higher education (HE) in the UK has disproportionately benefited young people from relatively rich families: the gap between rich and poor in terms of participation in HE having widened since the 1970s. We explore a neglected possible cause of this class difference: that the labour market fails to provide sufficient incentives for potential entrants from less advantaged backgrounds to enter HE. Most studies of the rewards from participating in HE in the UK suggest that the rates of returns are sufficiently high to provide clear economic incentives to participate. However, until recently, most studies generated estimates of the average rate of return to graduation, which could overestimate returns to marginal entrants, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds. In this review we examine the methodological problems faced by more targeted studies of the rates of return to graduation and review their key findings concerning the economic returns to non-traditional entrants. [source] Student Finance and Widening Participation in the British Isles: Common Problems, Different SolutionsHIGHER EDUCATION QUARTERLY, Issue 4 2006Nick Adnett Across the British Isles there are common forces encouraging an expansion of higher education (HE) while constraining the ability and willingness of governments to finance it. We examine the nature of these forces and conclude that together they are likely to lead over time to the general taxpayer funding a declining share of HE costs. While there are some potential efficiency and social equity benefits from reforms of student finance motivated by switching more of the costs towards students and their parents, the likely impact of these reforms on widening participation is unclear. We examine the current student finance systems in the British Isles and assess whether or not a system based upon income-contingent student loans, means-tested grants and targeted bursaries can deliver both the desired expansion and widening access. [source] Changing Research Perspectives on the Management of Higher Education: Can Research Permeate the Activities of Manager-Academics?HIGHER EDUCATION QUARTERLY, Issue 3 2006Rosemary Deem The paper considers whether, and if so how, research evidence can permeate the world of higher education (HE) management in publicly funded institutions. The paper explores the author's experience of two recent research projects (1998,2000 and 2004) on aspects of managing UK HE institutions and issues arising from the preparation of the HE element of a third study of leadership and public service change agendas in education and health during 2004. Despite the topicality in education and other public services of debates about evidence-based practice, there is little indication that this debate has permeated HE management qua management. The paper utilises Bourdieu's work on academics and social and cultural capital to explore why manager-academics may resist taking the findings of research seriously in relation to their own work. It is suggested that, where there is reluctance to learn from research, this may reflect the changing nature of HE, the status of HE research as an academic field and form of academic capital and the relative paucity until recently of training in management for most UK manager-academics. [source] Higher Education in Germany: a Case of ,Uneven' Expansion?HIGHER EDUCATION QUARTERLY, Issue 3 2005Hubert Ertl This paper investigates the expansion of student numbers in higher education (HE) in Germany. The quantitative sources indicate a constant increase in student numbers in the 1990s, but show that this growth was uneven and differentiated. The paper discusses a number of factors that influenced the increases in student numbers since the early 1990s, including the opening up and restructuring of HE in eastern Germany, and the strong increases in female participation and in the number of international students. Growth has been particularly significant in certain subject areas, as well as at Fachhochschulen and at private HE institutions. Current developments regarding the introduction of tuition fees and changing structures regarding access to HE are outlined, and their impact on the future expansion of HE is discussed. [source] Bursaries and Student Success: a Study of Students from Low-Income Groups at Two Institutions in the South WestHIGHER EDUCATION QUARTERLY, Issue 2 2005Sue Hatt This article draws on quantitative and qualitative data from two institutions to compare the student experience of those with and without bursary awards. Using the student life cycle model, the article examines the ways in which bursaries impact on the student experience before they enter the institution, in the early weeks of their studies and as they progress through their programmes. At these two institutions, students with bursaries were more likely to be retained and to perform well during the first year than those without bursaries. The study found that bursaries can ease financial pressures during their transition to higher education (HE) and that institution-specific bursaries can affect students' perceptions of an institution and their commitment to succeed. After 2006, those institutions wishing to charge variable fees will be required to provide bursary support for low-income students. The findings from this article suggest that HE providers should consider the timing of the bursary payments and the implicit message the bursary sends to applicants if they want to ensure that their bursaries have a positive impact on the student experience. [source] Performance Indicators and Widening Participation in UK Higher EducationHIGHER EDUCATION QUARTERLY, Issue 1 2005Geoff Pugh We investigate the relationship between the widening participation performance indicators adopted in UK higher education (HE) and the government's objective of increasing overall HE participation rates. We critically assess the development of performance monitoring in HE and identify weaknesses in the current performance indicators from the perspective of the main stakeholders. We suggest the development of internal indicators and benchmarks by HE institutions together with extensions to the current national performance indicators that could improve their usefulness. [source] Collaboration with the Community to Widen Participation: ,Partners' without Power or Absent ,Friends'?HIGHER EDUCATION QUARTERLY, Issue 2-3 2004Kim SlackArticle first published online: 9 DEC 200 Current discourse around widening participation emphasises the importance of partnership and collaboration. For example, the Learning Skills Council and government policy all cite the need to adopt collaborative approaches to assist with widening participation and student progression. In 1998 the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) called for proposals for higher education institutions to build partnerships to widen participation. Successful partnership bids were subsequently funded for a period of one year initially and extended up to three years in total. One of the aims of the partnerships as outlined by the HEFCE was to address uneven rates of demand for higher education amongst certain socio-economic groups by working in collaboration with other organisations. This article focuses on one aspect of an evaluative research project examining collaboration resulting from the HEFCE initiative: the involvement of communities in developing partnerships. It examines their initial involvement and the extent to which they were then incorporated into ongoing partnerships and decision-making. Factors that mitigate against community involvement are discussed. It is concluded that although organizational and institutional links can be highly beneficial to realizing the objective of a widened base of involvement in HE there may be a sense in which the role of communities is either neglected, or worse, omitted. [source] Private Higher Education and Diversity: An Exploratory SurveyHIGHER EDUCATION QUARTERLY, Issue 4 2001Pedro Teixeira In this preliminary review, the authors analyse the effects of privatisation on diversity in higher education (HE) systems by exploring the consequences of the establishment of HE Institutions by non-public organisations. The rising importance of privatisation in Europe (Western and transitional economies), Latin America, and Southeast Asia is analysed. Then follows detailed examinations of private-sector HE in countries representative of all these geographical areas to determine how far privatisation has stimulated diversity. The preliminary results indicate that in each case the private sub-sector has promoted limited and partial diversification. In general, though, the more recent private establishments, created to satisfy increasing demand for HE, have nonetheless focused predominately on teaching, have undertaken little, or no, research and appear to be of lower quality than the older institutions. The private sub-sector is characterised mostly by its low-risk behaviour, and a concentration on low-cost and/or safer initiatives. Public authorities must share at least a partial responsibility for some of the negative side effects of the development of private higher education. [source] Markers of ,Authentic Place'?HIGHER EDUCATION QUARTERLY, Issue 2 2001Awards, Qualifications in the Analysis of Higher Education Systems, The Significance of Degrees Although the power to award degrees lies at the heart of the concept of a university, neither it nor degrees themselves have attracted much scholarly attention. The paper contends that award-conferment provides an interface of major importance between higher education and its environment; and that the awards themselves can serve as rich and informative (yet often coded) indicators of the relationship between the two. For awards to be seen in this way, the paper argues, two conditions are required: the conceptual independence of awards in their own right has to be recognised as entities distinct from courses of study; and instrumentalist views have to be sufficiently prevalent to make it meaningful to treat an award as specifying a set of purposes and intended outcomes (that is to say, as an ,end'potentially achievable by various ,means'). These conditions, it is suggested, only tend to arise in particular social circumstances, specifically those of mass higher education. Having illustrated these points by considering certain changes of usage in the terms used for higher education awards (degree, qualification, etc), the paper concludes with a tentative sketch of a framework by which to analyse the various ways in which awards might contribute to the workings of HE as a system. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||