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Research paper thumbnail of Strategies for counterresistance: Toward sociotransformative constructivism and learning to teach science for diversity and for understanding

Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 1998

This article reports on two types of resistance by preservice science teachers: resistance to ide... more This article reports on two types of resistance by preservice science teachers: resistance to ideological change and resistance to pedagogical change. The former has to do with the feelings of disbelief, defensiveness, guilt, and shame that Anglo-European preservice teachers ...

Research paper thumbnail of Individual Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Drugs and Other Risk Factors for Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding and Perforation

Epidemiology, 1997

We conducted a nested case-control study of 1,377 cases of upper gastrointestinal bleeding or per... more We conducted a nested case-control study of 1,377 cases of upper gastrointestinal bleeding or perforation (UGIB) and 10,000 controls to evaluate the association of individual nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), utilization characteristics, and other risk factors for these conditions. Age was the strongest risk factor for UGIB. Male gender, history of complicated peptide ulcer disease, and current use of steroids were also risk factors for UGIB. The adjusted odds ratio (OR) for current NSAID use was 4.3 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 3.7-5.0]. The ORs for current NSAID use were similar for fatal cases and for the gastric, duodenal, prepyloric, and multiple sites of lesion, but the OR was substantially increased for perforations (OR = 16.9;95% CI = 9.1-31.5). Women age 80 years and older experienced the greater effect of NSAID use. Current users of multiple NSAIDs and recent switchers showed ORs of 9.0 and 6.2, respectively. Ibuprofen showed the lowest OR and diflunisal, the highest. ORs for low, medium, and high NSAID daily dose were 2.9, 4.2, and 5.8, respectively. This trend was present among new, short-term, and long-term users. Simultaneous use of multiple NSAIDs as well as use of a single individual NSAID at high doses greatly increases the risk of complicated peptic ulcer disease.

Research paper thumbnail of One-year follow-up of newly diagnosed irritable bowel syndrome patients

Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 1999

Research paper thumbnail of Schemata, Distributions and Graphical Models in Evolutionary Optimization

Journal of Heuristics, 1999

In this paper the optimization of additively decomposed discrete functions is investigated. For t... more In this paper the optimization of additively decomposed discrete functions is investigated. For these functions genetic algorithms have exhibited a poor performance. First the schema theory of genetic algorithms is reformulated in probability theory terms. A schema de nes the structure of a marginal distribution. Then the conceptual algorithm BEDA is introduced. BEDA uses a Boltzmann distribution to generate search points. From BEDA a new algorithm, FDA, is derived. FDA uses a factorization of the distribution. The factorization captures the structure of the given function. The factorization problem is closely connected to the theory of conditional independence graphs. For the test functions considered, the performance of FDA -in number of generations till convergence -is similar to that of a genetic algorithm for the OneMax function. This result is theoretically explained.

Research paper thumbnail of Acute and clinically relevant drug-induced liver injury: a population based case-control study

British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 2004

To provide quantitative information about the absolute and relative risks of acute and clinically... more To provide quantitative information about the absolute and relative risks of acute and clinically relevant drug-induced liver injury.

Research paper thumbnail of Genome-wide scan for linkage to schizophrenia in a Spanish-origin cohort from Costa Rica

American Journal of Medical Genetics, 2002

Genetic isolates have been useful cohorts in which to search for genes underlying disorders of un... more Genetic isolates have been useful cohorts in which to search for genes underlying disorders of unknown pathology. One such cohort is thought to exist in the Central Valley of Costa Rica surrounding the city of San Jose. Previous investigators identified a rare dominant gene for hereditary deafness in this population, and a suggestive linkage of severe bipolar psychosis has been reported in another study. Ninety-nine families with at least one pair of siblings affected with schizophrenia or a schizophrenia-spectrum diagnosis had clinical evaluations and DNA collected for genotyping. The Marshfield Medical Research Foundation (NHLBI) Mammalian Genotyping Service performed all genotyping using 404 short-tandem repeat polymorphic markers (STRPs) spaced on average 10 cM apart. Data were analyzed using the nonparametric program, GeneHunterPlus. The population structure was investigated using the STRUCT program. No region was found with genome-wide significance for linkage. Using a phenotype of schizophrenia plus schizoaffective disorder, the highest maximum likelihood score (MLS) observed was 1.78 (P < 0.004) at 176.6 cM from pter on chromosome 5q, an area previously implicated by some other groups. In addition, five regions on chromosomes 1p, 2p, 2q, 14p, and 8p had MLSs above 1.0. All other regions produced scores below 1.0. Population genetic analysis reveals no evidence for population substructure, for admixture with other populations, such as Amerindians, or for inbreeding in the parental generation. The latter casts some doubt on this population being an isolate, although there was evidence of inbreeding among the offspring. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Research paper thumbnail of Risk of upper gastrointestinal ulcer bleeding associated with selective cyclo-oxygenase-2 inhibitors, traditional non-aspirin non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, aspirin and combinations

Gut, 2006

The risks and benefits of coxibs, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and aspirin tre... more The risks and benefits of coxibs, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and aspirin treatment are under intense debate. To determine the risk of peptic ulcer upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) associated with the use of coxibs, traditional NSAIDs, aspirin or combinations of these drugs in clinical practice. A hospital-based, case-control study in the general community of patients from the National Health System in Spain. The study included 2777 consecutive patients with endoscopy-proved major UGIB because of the peptic lesions and 5532 controls matched by age, hospital and month of admission. Adjusted relative risk (adj RR) of UGIB determined by conditional logistic regression analysis is provided. Use of non-aspirin-NSAIDs increased the risk of UGIB (adj RR 5.3; 95% confidence interval (CI) 4.5 to 6.2). Among non-aspirin-NSAIDs, aceclofenac (adj RR 3.1; 95% CI 2.3 to 4.2) had the lowest RR, whereas ketorolac (adj RR 14.4; 95% CI 5.2 to 39.9) had the highest. Rofecoxib treatment increased the risk of UGIB (adj RR 2.1; 95% CI 1.1 to 4.0), whereas celecoxib, paracetamol or concomitant use of a proton pump inhibitor with an NSAID presented no increased risk. Non-aspirin antiplatelet treatment (clopidogrel/ticlopidine) had a similar risk of UGIB (adj RR 2.8; 95% CI 1.9 to 4.2) to cardioprotective aspirin at a dose of 100 mg/day (adj RR 2.7; 95% CI 2.0 to 3.6) or anticoagulants (adj RR 2.8; 95% CI 2.1 to 3.7). An apparent interaction was found between low-dose aspirin and use of non-aspirin-NSAIDs, coxibs or thienopyridines, which increased further the risk of UGIB in a similar way. Coxib use presents a lower RR of UGIB than non-selective NSAIDs. However, when combined with low-dose aspirin, the differences between non-selective NSAIDs and coxibs tend to disappear. Treatment with either non-aspirin antiplatelet or cardioprotective aspirin has a similar risk of UGIB.

Research paper thumbnail of Hormone replacement therapy and risk of venous thromboembolism: population based case-control study

Maturitas, 1997

Objective To assess the risk of venous thromboembolism in women using hormone replacement therapy... more Objective To assess the risk of venous thromboembolism in women using hormone replacement therapy by study design, characteristics of the therapy and venous thromboembolism, and clinical background. Design Systematic review and meta-analysis. Data sources Medline. Studies reviewed Eight observational studies and nine randomised controlled trials. Inclusion criteria Studies on hormone replacement therapy that reported venous thromboembolism. Review measures Homogeneity between studies was analysed using χ 2 and I 2 statistics. Overall risk of venous thromboembolism was assessed from a fixed effects or random effects model. Results Meta-analysis of observational studies showed that oral oestrogen but not transdermal oestrogen increased the risk of venous thromboembolism. Compared with non-users of oestrogen, the odds ratio of first time venous thromboembolism in current users of oral oestrogen was 2.5 (95% confidence interval 1.9 to 3.4) and in current users of transdermal oestrogen was 1.2 (0.9 to 1.7). Past users of oral oestrogen had a similar risk of venous thromboembolism to never users. The risk of venous thromboembolism in women using oral oestrogen was higher in the first year of treatment (4.0, 2.9 to 5.7) compared with treatment for more than one year (2.

Research paper thumbnail of Cyclooxygenase-selective inhibition of prostanoid formation: transducing biochemical selectivity into clinical read-outs

Journal of Clinical Investigation, 2001

Research paper thumbnail of The dangerous discourse of invisibility: A critique of the National Research Council's national science education standards

Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 1997

In this critical review essay, I argue that the National Research Council&amp;amp;amp;#x27;s ... more In this critical review essay, I argue that the National Research Council&amp;amp;amp;#x27;s (NRC) 1996 National science education standards uses a discourse of invisibility to lay out its massive reform for science education in the United States. This invisibility discourse dangerously compromises the ...

Research paper thumbnail of Strategies for counterresistance: Toward sociotransformative constructivism and learning to teach science for diversity and for understanding

Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 1998

This article reports on two types of resistance by preservice science teachers: resistance to ide... more This article reports on two types of resistance by preservice science teachers: resistance to ideological change and resistance to pedagogical change. The former has to do with the feelings of disbelief, defensiveness, guilt, and shame that Anglo-European preservice teachers ...

Research paper thumbnail of Individual Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Drugs and Other Risk Factors for Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding and Perforation

Epidemiology, 1997

We conducted a nested case-control study of 1,377 cases of upper gastrointestinal bleeding or per... more We conducted a nested case-control study of 1,377 cases of upper gastrointestinal bleeding or perforation (UGIB) and 10,000 controls to evaluate the association of individual nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), utilization characteristics, and other risk factors for these conditions. Age was the strongest risk factor for UGIB. Male gender, history of complicated peptide ulcer disease, and current use of steroids were also risk factors for UGIB. The adjusted odds ratio (OR) for current NSAID use was 4.3 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 3.7-5.0]. The ORs for current NSAID use were similar for fatal cases and for the gastric, duodenal, prepyloric, and multiple sites of lesion, but the OR was substantially increased for perforations (OR = 16.9;95% CI = 9.1-31.5). Women age 80 years and older experienced the greater effect of NSAID use. Current users of multiple NSAIDs and recent switchers showed ORs of 9.0 and 6.2, respectively. Ibuprofen showed the lowest OR and diflunisal, the highest. ORs for low, medium, and high NSAID daily dose were 2.9, 4.2, and 5.8, respectively. This trend was present among new, short-term, and long-term users. Simultaneous use of multiple NSAIDs as well as use of a single individual NSAID at high doses greatly increases the risk of complicated peptic ulcer disease.

Research paper thumbnail of One-year follow-up of newly diagnosed irritable bowel syndrome patients

Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 1999

Research paper thumbnail of Schemata, Distributions and Graphical Models in Evolutionary Optimization

Journal of Heuristics, 1999

In this paper the optimization of additively decomposed discrete functions is investigated. For t... more In this paper the optimization of additively decomposed discrete functions is investigated. For these functions genetic algorithms have exhibited a poor performance. First the schema theory of genetic algorithms is reformulated in probability theory terms. A schema de nes the structure of a marginal distribution. Then the conceptual algorithm BEDA is introduced. BEDA uses a Boltzmann distribution to generate search points. From BEDA a new algorithm, FDA, is derived. FDA uses a factorization of the distribution. The factorization captures the structure of the given function. The factorization problem is closely connected to the theory of conditional independence graphs. For the test functions considered, the performance of FDA -in number of generations till convergence -is similar to that of a genetic algorithm for the OneMax function. This result is theoretically explained.

Research paper thumbnail of Acute and clinically relevant drug-induced liver injury: a population based case-control study

British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 2004

To provide quantitative information about the absolute and relative risks of acute and clinically... more To provide quantitative information about the absolute and relative risks of acute and clinically relevant drug-induced liver injury.

Research paper thumbnail of Genome-wide scan for linkage to schizophrenia in a Spanish-origin cohort from Costa Rica

American Journal of Medical Genetics, 2002

Genetic isolates have been useful cohorts in which to search for genes underlying disorders of un... more Genetic isolates have been useful cohorts in which to search for genes underlying disorders of unknown pathology. One such cohort is thought to exist in the Central Valley of Costa Rica surrounding the city of San Jose. Previous investigators identified a rare dominant gene for hereditary deafness in this population, and a suggestive linkage of severe bipolar psychosis has been reported in another study. Ninety-nine families with at least one pair of siblings affected with schizophrenia or a schizophrenia-spectrum diagnosis had clinical evaluations and DNA collected for genotyping. The Marshfield Medical Research Foundation (NHLBI) Mammalian Genotyping Service performed all genotyping using 404 short-tandem repeat polymorphic markers (STRPs) spaced on average 10 cM apart. Data were analyzed using the nonparametric program, GeneHunterPlus. The population structure was investigated using the STRUCT program. No region was found with genome-wide significance for linkage. Using a phenotype of schizophrenia plus schizoaffective disorder, the highest maximum likelihood score (MLS) observed was 1.78 (P < 0.004) at 176.6 cM from pter on chromosome 5q, an area previously implicated by some other groups. In addition, five regions on chromosomes 1p, 2p, 2q, 14p, and 8p had MLSs above 1.0. All other regions produced scores below 1.0. Population genetic analysis reveals no evidence for population substructure, for admixture with other populations, such as Amerindians, or for inbreeding in the parental generation. The latter casts some doubt on this population being an isolate, although there was evidence of inbreeding among the offspring. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Research paper thumbnail of Risk of upper gastrointestinal ulcer bleeding associated with selective cyclo-oxygenase-2 inhibitors, traditional non-aspirin non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, aspirin and combinations

Gut, 2006

The risks and benefits of coxibs, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and aspirin tre... more The risks and benefits of coxibs, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and aspirin treatment are under intense debate. To determine the risk of peptic ulcer upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) associated with the use of coxibs, traditional NSAIDs, aspirin or combinations of these drugs in clinical practice. A hospital-based, case-control study in the general community of patients from the National Health System in Spain. The study included 2777 consecutive patients with endoscopy-proved major UGIB because of the peptic lesions and 5532 controls matched by age, hospital and month of admission. Adjusted relative risk (adj RR) of UGIB determined by conditional logistic regression analysis is provided. Use of non-aspirin-NSAIDs increased the risk of UGIB (adj RR 5.3; 95% confidence interval (CI) 4.5 to 6.2). Among non-aspirin-NSAIDs, aceclofenac (adj RR 3.1; 95% CI 2.3 to 4.2) had the lowest RR, whereas ketorolac (adj RR 14.4; 95% CI 5.2 to 39.9) had the highest. Rofecoxib treatment increased the risk of UGIB (adj RR 2.1; 95% CI 1.1 to 4.0), whereas celecoxib, paracetamol or concomitant use of a proton pump inhibitor with an NSAID presented no increased risk. Non-aspirin antiplatelet treatment (clopidogrel/ticlopidine) had a similar risk of UGIB (adj RR 2.8; 95% CI 1.9 to 4.2) to cardioprotective aspirin at a dose of 100 mg/day (adj RR 2.7; 95% CI 2.0 to 3.6) or anticoagulants (adj RR 2.8; 95% CI 2.1 to 3.7). An apparent interaction was found between low-dose aspirin and use of non-aspirin-NSAIDs, coxibs or thienopyridines, which increased further the risk of UGIB in a similar way. Coxib use presents a lower RR of UGIB than non-selective NSAIDs. However, when combined with low-dose aspirin, the differences between non-selective NSAIDs and coxibs tend to disappear. Treatment with either non-aspirin antiplatelet or cardioprotective aspirin has a similar risk of UGIB.

Research paper thumbnail of Hormone replacement therapy and risk of venous thromboembolism: population based case-control study

Maturitas, 1997

Objective To assess the risk of venous thromboembolism in women using hormone replacement therapy... more Objective To assess the risk of venous thromboembolism in women using hormone replacement therapy by study design, characteristics of the therapy and venous thromboembolism, and clinical background. Design Systematic review and meta-analysis. Data sources Medline. Studies reviewed Eight observational studies and nine randomised controlled trials. Inclusion criteria Studies on hormone replacement therapy that reported venous thromboembolism. Review measures Homogeneity between studies was analysed using χ 2 and I 2 statistics. Overall risk of venous thromboembolism was assessed from a fixed effects or random effects model. Results Meta-analysis of observational studies showed that oral oestrogen but not transdermal oestrogen increased the risk of venous thromboembolism. Compared with non-users of oestrogen, the odds ratio of first time venous thromboembolism in current users of oral oestrogen was 2.5 (95% confidence interval 1.9 to 3.4) and in current users of transdermal oestrogen was 1.2 (0.9 to 1.7). Past users of oral oestrogen had a similar risk of venous thromboembolism to never users. The risk of venous thromboembolism in women using oral oestrogen was higher in the first year of treatment (4.0, 2.9 to 5.7) compared with treatment for more than one year (2.

Research paper thumbnail of Cyclooxygenase-selective inhibition of prostanoid formation: transducing biochemical selectivity into clinical read-outs

Journal of Clinical Investigation, 2001

Research paper thumbnail of The dangerous discourse of invisibility: A critique of the National Research Council's national science education standards

Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 1997

In this critical review essay, I argue that the National Research Council&amp;amp;amp;#x27;s ... more In this critical review essay, I argue that the National Research Council&amp;amp;amp;#x27;s (NRC) 1996 National science education standards uses a discourse of invisibility to lay out its massive reform for science education in the United States. This invisibility discourse dangerously compromises the ...