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This chapter focuses on the issues faced by Muslims in the United States. The American Muslim experience, like that of Christians and Jews before them, reflects struggles of faith and identity (integration versus assimilation), political participation, institution building, and acculturation. American Muslims have faced the challenge of constructing an American identity that incorporates faith and values within America's melting pot or, more recently, its multicultural society.

Hintergrund: Kernspintomographisch konnen Stenosen der Arteria carotis interna (ACI) gemas einer modifizierten Klassifikation, die auf histologischen Kriterien der American Heart Association (AHA) beruht, in verschiedene Plaquetypen (I-VIII) eingeteilt werden. Plaquetyp IV-V und VI werden aufgrund histologischer Untersuchungen als instabile Plaques angesehen. Ziel unserer Studie war die Evaluation der klinischen Relevanz des modifizierten Klassifikationsschemas zur Detektion rupturgefahrdeter ACI-Stenosen mittels Magnetresonanztomographie (MRT). Methoden: 85 Patienten (29 Frauen) mit einem lokalen Stenosegrad ≥70% der ACI wurden kernspintomographisch (1.5 Tesla, Siemens Symphony, Deutschland) mit bilateralen Karotis-Oberflachenspulen (PACC-SS15, Machnet, Niederlande) untersucht. Es wurden T1-, T2, Time-of-Flight (TOF) und protonengewichtete (PD)- Aufnahmen angefertigt. Die Schichtdicke fur die TOF-Aufnahmen betrug 1mm, fur die T1-, T2 und PD-Aufnahmen jeweils 2mm. Die Bilder wurden von zwei Neuroradiologen gemas der modifzierten AHA-Klassifikation verblindet ausgewertet. Ergebnisse: 35 Patienten wiesen eine kurzlich symptomatisch gewordene Stenose auf, 50 Patienten waren asymptomatisch. 7 Patienten wurden aufgrund unzureichender Bildqualitat ausgeschlossen. Bei symptomatischen Patienten fanden sich im Vergleich zu asymptomatischen Patienten Plaquetyp IV-V und VI signifikant haufiger (51,4% vs. 22% und 20% vs. 4%; P

Introduction La transplantation renale est le traitement de choix de l’insuffisance renale terminale pour vascularite a ANCA (VAA). Patients et methodes Nous avons etudie les caracteristiques et le devenir des 15 patients transplantes renaux pour VVA dans notre centre durant les 20 dernieres annees. Ces cas ont ete recherches a l’aide du logiciel Cristal, tenu par l’Agence de la biomedecine. Notre etude est ainsi retrospective, monocentrique, descriptive et analytique. Resultats La vascularite etait de type granulomatose avec polyangeite (GPA) dans 80 % des cas, polyangeite microscopique (PAM) dans 13,3 % des cas et granulomatose avec polyangeite (EGPA) chez un seul patient. Tous les patients etaient en remission clinique le jour de la transplantation. La mediane de suivi des patients etait de 102,51 (3,02–219,75) mois. La reprise de fonction renale etait immediate dans 60 % des cas. Le DFG moyen a 1, 3 et 6 mois et a 1 an post-greffe puis a l’arret du suivi etait successivement de 53,27 (± 15,37) ; 50,63 (± 12,4) ; 52,83 (± 14,14) ; 52,69 (± 17,06) et 48,62 (± 24,18) mL/min/1,73 m2. La survie du greffon renal a 1 et 5 ans etait de 100 % et 88,89 % et celle des patients a 100 % a 1 an et 90 % a 5 ans. La rechute est survenue chez trois patients, tous atteints de GPA soit 20 % de rechutes. Elle etait renale chez deux patients et pneumorenal chez le troisieme. La reponse au traitement a permis une remission complete dans tous les cas. La positivite des ANCA en pre-transplantation ne semblait pas correlee au risque de rechute. Discussion Dans notre etude, le devenir des patients ayant eu une transplantation renale pour VAA etait tres satisfaisante avec une survie greffon et patient similaire a celles des transplantes pour d’autres nephropathies. Le risque de rechute chez ces patients est modere avec une excellente reponse au traitement des rechutes. Conclusion La TR demeure le traitement de choix de l’IRCT sur VAA chez des patients en remission clinique, independamment de leur statut ANCA avec une bonne tolerance des traitements immunosuppresseurs puissants utilises en TR.

Indagine sulla pratica degli esami per la diagnosi precoce dei tumori della mammella nella popolazione femminile

Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate cardiovascular risk in hypertensive patients receiving double therapy with false and true nonresponder hypertension. Methods The occurrence of fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular events was evaluated in 730 patients receiving double therapy with uncontrolled clinic blood pressure. Two hundred and seventy had false nonresponder hypertension (clinic blood pressure ≥ 140 or 90 mmHg and daytime blood pressure

We have previously explored the functional role of the tachykinin substance P (SP) in the mediation of opioid-dependent antinociception and now describe the formulation, synthesis, and initial pharmacological characterization of a hybrid chimeric molecule, designated MSP9, containing the mu opioid receptor (MOR) agonist morphine covalently attached through a succinic acid linker to the SP receptor (SPR) agonist domain SP3-11.Pharmacological characterization of MSP9, administered by the intramuscular route, was achieved in naive and morphine-tolerant male rats utilizing the tail-flick test.MSP9 produced significant antinociceptive responses across a wide concentration range and displayed an atypical bell-shaped analgesic dose response relationship with peak effect of 40+/-10% reached at 0.2 mg/kg. The antinociceptive responses achieved by very low concentrations of MSP9 were not obtained by administration of equivalent low doses of morphine, suggesting that kinetic and dynamic parameters may contribute to its unusual analgesic properties. Importantly, MSP9 produces a strong antinociceptive response when administered to morphine-tolerant rats, suggesting a significant activation of kappa and/or delta receptors (KORs and DORs, respectively) in the presence of functionally down regulated MORs.Analyses employing selective, blood brain barrier (BBB) permeable, opioid and SP antagonists administered alone or in combination, indicate an obligate requirement for coincident activation of populations of CNS opioid and SP receptors. These combined data suggest that MSP9 activates multiple opioid- and SPR-expressing systems functionally linked to CNS analgesic responses, designating this class of hybrid chimeric molecules as prime candidates for therapeutic development for a wide range of clinical indications.

We evaluated the relevance of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) monitoring with quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction in 42 consecutive HCMV positive liver transplant patients, and we analyzed the factors that determined the treatment of the first episode of HCMV DNAemia. No patients received anti-HCMV prophylaxis. HCMV infection monitoring was assessed every 2 weeks until day 90 and thereafter at every 3 to 4 weeks until day 180. HCMV infection was detected among 27 patients (64%, ie, 92/380 samples). Of these, 12 had their first HCMV DNAemia treated with IV gancyclovir (group I), whereas the other 15 patients were not treated (group II). Immunosuppressive treatment was not modified in cases of HCMV DNAemia. The median time between transplantation to the first CMV DNAemia was 37 days in group I and 52 days in group II (NS). Median HCMV viral load, whatever the treatment group and whatever the time of DNAemia, was 3 log copies/mL (0.48 to 5.80). Median HCMV viral load of the first positive DNAemia was 3.45 log copies/mL (1.69 to 5.80) in group I and 2.70 log copies/mL (1.15 to 3.94) in group II (P = .01). Even though liver enzymes were increased in almost all patients presenting with HCMV infection, comparison of liver-enzyme levels and hematological parameters between the two groups at first HCMV viremia showed that alkaline phosphatase levels were significantly higher (P = .0011) and hemoglobin levels were significantly lower in group I patients (P = .0443). The only factor that predicted treatment for the first episode of HCMV DNAemia was an alkaline phosphatase level >150 UI/mL at the time of the first HCMV reactivation [odds ratio 20 (1.96 to 203.3); P = .01].

Systemic B-cell depletion and clinical remission of the systemic effects of cryoglobulins have been achieved in hepatitis C virus-positive immunocompetent patients with rituximab, a human/mouse chimeric monoclonal antibody that specifically reacts with the CD20 antigen. Thus, this provides a rationale for the use of rituximab for type III cryoglobulin-related graft dysfunction in renal-transplant patients. Seven patients, of whom five were hepatitis C positive, developed renal function impairment long after transplantation, as well as de novo nephrotic syndrome (n = 5), severe hypertension (n = 5), nephritic syndrome (n = 1), and increased serum creatinine (n = 1). This type III cryoglobulinemia was associated with membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis and with thrombi within the glomeruli in one case. In addition to their baseline standard immunosuppressive medications, the patients were given weekly rituximab infusions: 375 mg/m2 for 2 weeks in four cases, for 3 weeks in one case, and for 4 weeks in two cases. This treatment resulted in a dramatic improvement in all renal parameters, particularly a sustained remission of nephrotic syndrome in three cases, the disappearance of nephritic syndrome in one patient, and improved nephrotic syndrome in two cases, as well as a sustained clearance of cryoglobulins in six cases. However, it also resulted in severe infectious complications in two cases. We concluded that rituximab therapy is effective in cryoglobulin-related renal dysfunction in renal transplant patients but, due to chronic immunosuppression, this may be achieved at the expense of infectious complications.

Background After renal transplantation, the prevalence of BK virus (BKV) viruria, viremia, and nephritis (BKVAN) has been estimated at 30%, 13%, and 8%, respectively. Patients and Methods The aim of this prospective study was to assess the occurrence of BKV DNAemia during the first year after renal transplantation and to determine the prevalence of BKVAN, in the absence of immunosuppression alteration, following positive BKV DNA. BKV DNAemia was assessed systematically in 104 renal transplant patients on postoperative days 60, 90, 135, 180, 270, and 360. Results Of the 104 patients, 7 (6.7%) presented with at least 1 episode of BKV DNAemia. Those with positive BKV DNAemia had a cumulative steroid dose administered from days 0 to 7 which was higher than those without BKV DNAemia (2.13 ± 0.6 vs 1.6 ± 0.4; P = .024). The first BKV DNAemia occurred at 170 (30–460) days posttransplantation. Of the 7 patients who experienced at least 1 BKV DNAemia, 3 had 1 occurrence, but the other 4 had repeated occurrences. These 4 patients developed overt BKVAN at 1 (2 cases) to 2 weeks (2 cases) after the first occurrence of BKV DNAemia. These 4 patients were withdrawn from mycophenolate mofetil, which was in all cases replaced by leflunomide. With a follow-up ranging from 14 to 24 months after the first episode of BKV DNAemia, patient and graft survivals were both 100%. Current serum creatinine ranges from 97 to 173 μmol/L for those who had only 1 episode of BKV DNAemia, and from 144 to 240 μmol/L for those who had overt BKVAN. Conclusion Although BKV DNAemia is a rare event after renal transplantation, it is often associated with BKVAN, which may be treated successfully by the alleviation of immunosuppression and leflunomide therapies.

Background The independent prognostic value of blood pressure (BP) variability in treated hypertension is not yet clear. We investigated the relationship between BP variability, evaluated by noninvasive monitoring, and cardiovascular outcome in treated hypertensive patients. Methods The occurrence of fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular events was evaluated in 1472 treated patients. Subjects with the standard deviation of daytime or night-time systolic BP below or above the median of the population were classified as having low or high BP variability. Specifically, 738 and 734 patients had low and high daytime BP variability, respectively, and 739 and 733 subjects had low and high night-time BP variability, respectively. Results During follow-up (4.88 ± 2.9 years, range 0.2–11.6 years) there were 119 events. The event rates per 100 patient-years in subjects with low and high BP variability according to daytime BP were 1.18 and 2.01, respectively, and in those with low and high BP variability according to night-time BP were 1.2 and 2.05, respectively. Event-free survival was significantly different between the low and high BP variability groups (P = .006 for both daytime and night-time BP). However, after adjustment for other covariates in a Cox multivariate analysis, the adverse prognostic relevance of high BP variability was no longer detectable, whereas age, smoking habit, LDL cholesterol, diabetes, previous events, LV hypertrophy, and daytime or night-time systolic BP resulted independent predictors of risk. Conclusions Increased BP variability is associated with higher incidence of cardiovascular events, but also with other relevant prognostic factors. Indeed, in multivariate analysis the possible adverse prognostic impact of BP variability is no longer evident. Thus, in treated hypertension, BP variability evaluated by noninvasive monitoring is not an independent predictor of outcome.

Contains fulltext : 50711.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Closed access) In many preterm infants, a characteristic pattern of fluid and electrolyte homeostasis occurs during the 1st week of life, consisting of three phases: prediuretic, diuretic, and postdiuretic. In this study, we evaluated the possible role of aquaporin-2 (AQP2) in renal concentrating ability and correlated it with other markers of the renal function in healthy preterm infants. Daily urine and spot blood samples were collected from 9 healthy preterm (32 +/- 1 weeks) infants at postnatal ages 1, 3, and 7 days. Urine and serum osmolality, creatinine, electrolytes, and AQP2 excretion were measured. All infants showed a significant (about 7%) weight loss on day 3 associated with a more than threefold increase in urine output without a significant change in fluid intake (diuretic phase). The creatinine clearance increased on day 3, indicating an increase in glomerular filtration rate. Interestingly, on day 3, the level of total excreted AQP2 (pmol/h) was significantly higher when compared to day 1 and day 7, and the same tendency was observed for urine osmolality. To conclude, the observed increase in urine osmolality and creatinine clearance during the diuretic phase, paralleled by an increase in total AQP2 excretion, suggests that AQP2 can contribute to the urinary concentrating ability early in postnatal life.

Background: K-ras mutations are a key step in colorectal cancer progression. Such mutations have been widely studied in case series from Western countries but there are few data on the rate and spectrum of mutations in tumors from countries where the epidemiological features of the disease are different. Patients and methods: Tumor samples from 182 Iranian colorectal cancer patients (170 sporadic cases and 12 HNPCC cases) were screened for K-ras mutations at codons 12, 13 and 61 by sequencing analysis. The cases were also characterized for microsatellite instability at mononucleotide repeats by PCR and fragment analysis, and classified according to microsatellite instability status. The frequency and the spectrum of K-ras mutations were compared with those observed in a series of colorectal cancer patients from Italy. Results: K-ras mutations were observed in 68/182 (37.4%) cases. Mutation frequencies were similar in HNPCC-associated, sporadic MSI-H and sporadic microsatellite-stable (MSS) tumors. However, the G13D substitution was more frequent in HNPCC (3/ 4, 75%) and sporadic MSI- H (7/11, 63.6%) tumors compared to sporadic MSS tumors (11/ 53, 20.4%) (P < 0.01). Comparison of mutations in the two series from Iran and Italy showed a significantly higher frequency of G13D among Italian patients. Conclusions: While the frequency of K-ras mutations could be similar, the mutational spectrum could be differentially influenced by genetic and environmental factors.

I materiali ceramici trasparenti vengono studiati per le loro potenzialità in campo ottico dagli anni 50. Un settore in forte crescita per i ceramici trasparenti è rappresentato dai laser allo stato solido dove sono usati come sorgente di radiazioni laser

The concomitant use of calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) with mTOR inhibitors, that is, either sirolimus (SRL) or everolimus (ERL), in de novo renal transplant patients is still debated. Prescription of full doses of cyclosporine A (CsA) with either SRL or ERL in that population leads to impaired renal function and hyperlipidemia compared with a regimen using mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) with CsA. The current data for the use of SRL doses, ranging from 0.5 to 2 mg/d, or SRL troughs ranging from 8 to 12 ng/mL with conventional doses of tacrolimus, are associated with reduced renal function, higher blood pressure, and an increase in serum lipids compared with MMF/tacrolimus therapy.

The responses of my colleagues provide a good representation of the extraordinarily diverse views of Islam, Muslims, and Muslim politics that exist today. Like it or not, we are stuck with the phrase moderate Muslim. Yet, as I read our comments, I keep thinking that for too many, non-Muslims and Muslims alike, moderate means someone “like us.” Thus, moderate is equated with progressive or liberal Muslims but excludes conservatives or traditionalists. Ariel Cohen, in his identification of several moderate Muslims, mentions Amina Wadud’s leading of a mixed-gender Friday prayer. This underscores the problem with moderate, especially when the concept is juxtaposed with extremist. If a woman leading an official prayer service were a criterion for moderate, then many Christian and Jewish groups, denominations, and their leaders (e.g., the recently deceased Pope John Paul II) would fail the test and not be moderates. But they certainly would not be extremists either. Should we, then, add such other litmus tests as position on birth control, abortion, and gay rights? If we go down this road, I wonder how Jews and Christians would react to Muslim countries or Muslim experts and political commentators who attempted to set the definition of a moderate Jew or a moderate Catholic, with the implication that all others were extremists. If, as some non- Muslims have done with regard to Islam, Muslims established institutes and think tanks to define, monitor, or implement their notions of moderate Jew or moderate Christian, how long would it be before they would be accused of being anti-Semitic or anti-Catholic? Would we define a moderate Jew vs. an extremist Jew as one who rejects scriptural justification for claims to Israel, rejects the logic and creation of settlements by religiously motivated Jews, possesses an enlightened understanding of the origins of Judaism and of the Hebrew scriptures; rejects all those biblical passages in which God commands acts of violence and warfare; and eschews any mixing of their faith with politics in Israel, with the support of fundamentalist or religious nationalist groups, schools, or settlements?

Correctional staff knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of incarcerated juveniles' mental health needs, including suicide prevention, have not been studied empirically. This study measured juvenile correctional officers' knowledge and attitudes regarding suicide risk factors and mental health and substance abuse issues through administration of the Mental Health Knowledge and Attitude Test (MHKAT) before and after a staff training on suicide prevention. Seventy-six participants completed the pre- and post-training MHKAT. They demonstrated significant improvement in knowledge of and attitudes toward mental health treatment of incarcerated youth as reflected by higher post-training MHKAT scores. Findings suggest that correctional staff are receptive to increasing knowledge of critical mental health issues. Studies of the retention and implementation of this new knowledge by direct care staff over time and the optimal type and frequency of new staff training and continuing education are indicated.

Objective The aim of our study was to identify independent factors that might predict anemia at 6 months' (M6) and 12 (M12) months' posttransplantation. Postrenal transplant anemia was defined as a hemoglobin (Hb) level below 13 g/dL for men, and below 12 g/dL for women. We included 99 renal transplants performed in our department in 2001, for whom the graft was still functioning at 1 year. Results Anemia was observed in 78%, 35.5%, and 25% on day (D) 0, and at M6, and M12, respectively. Iron deficiency was observed in 14% of patients at D0, and 13% at M12. During the postoperative period, 59.8% of patients received at least one blood transfusion, whereas 37% of patients were prescribed recombinant erythropoietin (rEpo) therapy within the first few months posttransplantation. By multivariate analysis the independent predictive factors for anemia at M6 were rEpo therapy at D0, initial nephropathy, posttransplantation rEpo therapy, hematocrit at M3, platelets at D7 and sirolimus therapy. The independent predictive factors for anemia at M12 were rEpo therapy at D0 and platelets at D7, delayed graft function (DGF), serum creatinine, and creatinine clearance at M12, and Hb level at M6 were also checked. Conclusion The prevalence of anemia is 25% at M12; DGF, renal function at M12, and anemia at M6 were independent risk factors of anemia at M12.

The aim of our retrospective study was to assess the long-term evolution of lymphocyte subsets after two modes of administration of anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) after renal transplantation. Methods. Before 1993, patients (group I, n = 93) received fixed doses of RATG (1 mg/kg per day) for 8 consecutive days. Thereafter, RATG was either continued at the same dose for 15 days, in cases of delayed graft function, or was infused every other day at the same dose until the serum creatinine level became

Major questions are whether mothers infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 (HIV-1) transmit the virus through breast milk and the magnitude of the additional transmission risk. The demonstration of a dose-response effect is an epidemiological method to demonstrate causality. Thus, a study was carried out by the Italian Register for HIV Infection in Children on 961 children of known infection status. Duration of breast-feeding was considered as the level of exposure in 168 ever breast-fed children. Results showed that duration of practice significantly increased the risk of transmission. The adjusted infection odds ratio for one day of breast- versus exclusive formula-feeding was 1.19 with narrow confidence limits (1.10-1.28). In a second study by the Register on 556 children of known infection status and derived prospectively, an infection odds ratio of 2.55 (confidence interval: 1.03-6.37) was calculated in breast- versus exclusively formula-fed children. Several lines of evidence, including the above-mentioned data from the Italian Register for HIV Infection in Children, showed a contribution of breast-feeding to mother-to-child HIV-1 transmission. Thus, this practice is now discouraged in HIV-1 infected mothers living in industrialized societies where formula feeding is practical and attainable. Mode of feeding was known in 2183 children enrolled in the Register and born to HIV-1 infected mothers since 1981. It could be observed that feeding habits of at-risk infants changed in Italy in the middle 1980s, when a large majority of subjects was identified at birth.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Chromatin-derived acidic peptides (ACPs) have been shown to acutely modulate hypothalamic catecholamine release. To investigate whether this effect is mediated through membrane polysialylated neural-cell adhesion molecule (PSA-N-CAM), we pretreated rat hypothalamic synaptosomes with neuraminidase enzyme, which partially cleaves sialic acid residues from N-CAM, and perfused them with ACP-1 (Asp-Asp-Ser-Asp-Glu-Glu-Asn) or a more lipophilic derivative, ACP-2 ([Ala-Ile-Ser-Pro]-Asp-Asp-Ser-Asp-Glu-Glu-Asn). We have found that neuraminidase completely abolish the inhibitory effect of ACP-1 on dopamine release, while the inhibitory activity of ACP-1 on norepinephrine release is partially lost. On the other hand, ACP-2 inhibition of dopamine release is not modified by neuraminidase pretreatment.

Transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) have contrasting effects on cell cycle regulation in thyroid cells and TGF-beta 1 induces a dramatic decrease in IGF-I-induced cell proliferation. The aim of the present study was to investigate the molecular mechanism of cross-talk between TGF-beta 1 and IGF-I in FRTL-5 cells. TGF-beta 1 affected IGF-I-stimulated insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1) tyrosine phosphorylation and its association with Grb2 protein. Moreover, TGF-beta 1 decreased the IGF-I-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of the adaptor protein CrkII and its association with the IGF-I receptor. These results were accompanied by TGF-beta 1 inhibition of IGF-I-stimulated mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphorylation and activation. Conversely, TGF-beta 1 did not alter IGF-I-stimulated IRS-1-associated phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activity, IGF-I-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of Shc, and its binding to Grb2. Taken together, these findings provide a molecular basis for the growth-inhibitory action of TGF-beta 1 on the IGF-I-induced mitogenic effect.

Objective To determine the lifetime history of suicide attempts in incarcerated youths and psychological factors related to suicidal and self-mutilative behaviors during incarceration. Method A 25% systematic random sample chart review of adolescents admitted to a juvenile correctional facility yielded a sample of 289 adolescents. Seventy-eight of these adolescents were clinically referred for psychiatric assessment. Suicidal behavior was assessed with the Spectrum of Suicidal Behavior Scale and self-mutilation with the Functional Assessment of Self-Mutilation. Results Of the 289 adolescents, 12.4% reported a prior suicide attempt. Almost 60% of these attempts were made using violent methods (e.g., cutting). Of the 78 clinically referred subjects, 30% reported suicidal ideation/behavior and 30% reported self-mutilative behavior while incarcerated. Suicidal clinically referred adolescents reported more depression, anxiety, and anger than nonsuicidal youths. Adolescents who reported self-mutilative behavior had higher anxiety, anger, and substance use than non-self-mutilative adolescents. Conclusions Results suggest that incarcerated adolescents have higher rates of suicide attempts and use more violent methods of attempt than adolescents in the general population. Furthermore, incarcerated clinically referred suicidal and self-mutilative youths report more severe affective symptoms than their nonsuicidal and non-self-mutilative counterparts, suggesting a need for mental health treatment. J. Am. Acad. Child Adolesc. Psychiatry , 2003, 42(7):762-769.

Naturally occurring mutations in insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) have previously been implicated in impaired insulin action. We now report a novel mutation in IRS-1 with substitution of Arg for Thr608 that was identified in a patient with type 2 diabetes mellitus. We detected the T608R mutation in 1 of 136 chromosomes from diabetic patients and in 0 of 120 chromosomes from nondiabetic controls, suggesting that this is a rare IRS-1 variant. Conservation of Thr608 in human, monkey, rat, mouse, and chicken IRS-1 sequences is consistent with a crucial function for this residue. Moreover, Thr608 is located near the YMXM motif containing Tyr612 that is important for binding and activation of phosphoinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase). To investigate whether the T608R mutation impairs insulin signaling, we transiently transfected NIH-3T3IR cells with hemagglutinin-tagged wild-type or T608R mutant IRS-1 constructs. Recombinant IRS-1 immunoprecipitated from transfected cells treated with or without insulin was subjected to immunoblotting for the p85 regulatory subunit of PI 3-kinase as well as a PI 3-kinase assay. As expected, in control cells transfected with wild-type IRS-1, insulin stimulation caused an increase in p85 coimmunoprecipitated with IRS-1 as well as a 10-fold increase in IRS-1-associated PI 3-kinase activity. Interestingly, when cells transfected with IRS1-T608R were stimulated with insulin, both the amount of p85 coimmunoprecipitated with IRS1-T608R as well as the associated PI 3-kinase activity were approximately 50% less than those observed with wild-type IRS-1. Moreover, in rat adipose cells, overexpression of IRS1-T608R resulted in significantly less translocation of GLUT4 to the cell surface than comparable overexpression of wild-type IRS-1. We conclude that a naturally occurring substitution of Arg for Thr608 in IRS-1 is a rare human mutation that may contribute to insulin resistance by impairing metabolic signaling through PI 3-kinase-dependent pathways.

Publisher Summary This chapter explores the cognitive factors that play a major role in an adolescent's life. Maladaptive cognitive processes frequently play an important role in suicidal behavior. Hopelessness is the cognitive state that often accompanies depression and has been found to be prominent in many adolescents who attempt suicide. Maladaptive cognitive coping strategies, such as wishful thinking, may also contribute to suicidal behavior and need to be addressed in psychotherapy to prevent or understand a suicide attempt. Results of research examining coping in suicidal adolescents reveal less effective coping in this population. Researchers evaluate the construct of coping from different theoretical perspectives, as well as utilize different measures of coping in studies. Although this makes it difficult to draw substantive conclusions, studies that employ global measures of coping, cognitive coping, generally reveal that adolescent suicide attempters tend to use maladoptive and passive coping strategies. Attitudes and skills that enable a person to find solutions to a problem constitute the process characteristics of problem solving.

Publisher Summary The purpose of this chapter is to discuss the behavioral factor that takes place among adolescents such as impulsive and aggressive behavior. Mood state and cognitions tend to be the focus of most clinical evaluations of adolescent suicide attempters. However, behavior disturbance is also very common in this group of adolescents. Impulsivity is a construct that has received a moderate amount of attention in the adolescent suicide literature. Most research conducted within the past 10 years generally reveals a relationship between impulsivity and suicidality. Impulse control may be an important variable in preventing the risk of suicidal behavior. Impulsive and aggressive behavior often co-occur, which can make it difficult to determine which behavior plays the more important role in suicidal behavior. The relationship between impulsivity and suicidality remained significant after controlling for degree of violence. However, this relationship was no longer significant when aggressive feelings and aggressive conduct were partialled out of the analyses. Thus, in some adolescents, aggressive tendencies may play a stronger role than impulsivity in suicide risk. Anger is a common mood state among adolescents who attempt suicide. Aggressive behavior often accompanies this angry affect.

Conflict and dialogue are frequently seen as the alternatives in relations between Islam and the West. In the months following the destruction of the World Trade Center by terrorists on it September 2001, conflict visions received much attention. The words of Muslims like Usama bin Ladin, who proclaim the necessity of violent conflict with the West, gained high visibility and were regularly repeated in the global mass media. Those Muslim voices advocating violent jihad were frequently matched by continuing Western pronouncements of a “clash of civilizations.”

Composite bioceramic materials could find use in a wide range of biomedical applications; however, their processing technologies are quite complex or not sufficiently developed. In order to eliminate deleterious influences of powder inhomogeneities and to reduce the machining time of final components, a novel procedure for multiphase powders using wet pretreatment and direct forming of green bodies having the desired geometries was studied. During the experimental work alumina, yttria-stabilized zirconia, and their mixtures were used. The forming of discs and femoral heads was done by pressure casting of aqueous suspensions of powders. The measurements of physical, mechanical and tribological properties of sintered samples were performed; the results obtained showed the effectiveness of the process since the property values approached those of similar materials actually on the market, while requiring less machining labour.