bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Microleakage along Glassix glass fibre posts cemented with three different materials assessed using a fluid transport system
Authors: Rogić‐Barbić M. , Šegović S. , Pezelj‐Ribarić S. , Borčić J. , Jukić S. , Anić I.
Published: March 2006

Aim  To evaluate the microleakage along Glassix fibre posts cemented with three different materials.

Methodology  The root canals of maxillary central incisor teeth were filled and restored with Glassix posts (Harald Nordin sa, Chailly/Montreux, Switzerland) cemented with either a zinc‐phosphate Harvard cement (Richter & Hoffmann, Harvard Dental GmbH, Berlin, Germany), Fuji PLUS cement (GC Corporation, Tokyo, Japan) or Variolink II cement (Vivadent, Schaan, Lichtenstein) in three groups of 15 canals each. Twenty unrestored canals served as a control group, 10 filled with gutta‐percha and sealer (negative control group), the remaining 10 with gutta‐percha only (positive control group). Coronal microleakage was evaluated using a fluid transport system. The movement of an air bubble in a capillary glass tube connected to the apex of the experimental root section was measured over 5‐min periods. Measurements were performed four times for each specimen and the mean values recorded. anova and Duncan's test were performed.

Results  The positive control group had the highest values of microleakage. Amongst experimental groups, the highest values of microleakage occurred in the group with the posts cemented with Harvard cement, followed by Fuji PLUS and Variolink II cements. Groups with Fuji PLUS, Variolink II and the negative control group had significantly (P < 0.00001) less microleakage compared with the Harvard cement group and the positive control group.

Conclusion  Canals with Glassix posts cemented with Variolink II and Fuji PLUS cement had the least leakage when assessed using a fluid transport system.
Consequences of and strategies to deal with residual post‐treatment root canal infection
Authors: Wu M.‐K. , Dummer P. M. H. , Wesselink P. R.
Published: March 2006

Bacterial sampling of prepared root canals is used to determine the presence and character of the remaining microbiota. However, it is likely that current sampling techniques only identify organisms in the main branches of the root canal system whereas it is unlikely that they can sample areas beyond the apical end‐point of preparation and filling, or in lateral canals, canal extensions, apical ramifications, isthmuses and within dentinal tubules. Thus, it may be impossible by current techniques to identify residual post‐treatment root canal infection. In histologic observations of root apices, bacteria have been found in inaccessible inter‐canal isthmuses and accessory canals often in the form of biofilms. There is no in vivo evidence to support the assumption that these bacteria can be entombed effectively in the canal system by the root filling and thus be rendered harmless. As a consequence of this residual root infection, post‐treatment apical periodontitis, which may be radiographically undetectable, may persist or develop as a defence mechanism to prevent the systemic spread of bacteria and/or their byproducts to other sites of the body. Histologic observation of root apices with surrounding bone removed from either patients or human cadavers has demonstrated that post‐treatment apical periodontitis is associated with 50–90% of root filled human teeth. Thus, if the objective of root canal treatment is to eliminate apical periodontitis at a histological level, current treatment procedures are inadequate. It is essential that our knowledge of the local and systemic consequences of both residual post‐treatment root infection and post‐treatment apical periodontitis be improved. The continued development of treatments that can effectively eliminate root infection is therefore a priority in clinical endodontic research. Post‐treatment disease following root canal treatment is most often associated with poor quality procedures that do not remove intra‐canal infection; this scenario can be corrected via a nonsurgical approach. However, infection remaining in the inaccessible apical areas, extraradicular infection including apically extruded dentine debris with bacteria present in dentinal tubules, true radicular cysts, and foreign body reactions require a surgical intervention.
Quality of life of rural menopausal women in response to a customized exercise programme
Authors: Villaverde‐Gutiérrez Carmen , Araújo Eliane , Cruz Francisco , Roa Jose María , Barbosa Wellington , Ruíz‐Villaverde Gonzalo
Published: March 2006

Aim.  This paper reports a study examining the effects of physical exercise on the quality of life of menopausal women.

Background.  People who perform no type of physical activity have poorer physical and mental health. Despite the well‐documented benefits of exercise, ageing women remain largely sedentary, and interventions designed to help them to maintain exercise programmes may prove particularly valuable. Measures should focus on increasing women's confidence so that they can overcome barriers to exercise. Conflicting results have been reported in intervention studies to promote exercise in postmenopausal women.

Methods.  Forty‐eight menopausal women aged 55–72 years were recruited at a primary care centre as voluntary participants in a quasi‐experimental study. They were randomly assigned to one of two groups: control (n = 24) and experimental (n = 24). The experimental group participated in a 12‐month programme of cardiorespiratory, stretching, muscle‐strengthening and relaxation exercises carried out during two fully supervised exercise sessions per week (total of 3 hours weekly). Health‐related quality of life was assessed by using the Quality of Life Profile for Chronically Ill Patients, a generic questionnaire widely used in epidemiological and clinical studies to measure well‐being and function, incorporating as an optional module the Kupperman Index of Menopausal Symptomatology.

Results.  There was a statistically significant improvement in the health‐related quality of life of the experimental group, whereas the health‐related quality of life of the control group significantly worsened. Menopausal symptoms also significantly improved in the experimental group and significantly worsened in the control group over the 12‐month study period.

Conclusions.  A customized exercise programme is valuable for improving the health‐related quality of life of menopausal women.
Positive and negative outcomes from values and beliefs held by healthcare clinician and non‐clinician managers
Authors: Carney Marie
Published: March 2006

Aim. The aim of this paper is to present the values and beliefs of clinicians and non‐clinicians working in not‐for‐profit healthcare organizations, and the positive and negative outcomes of holding such values.

Background. Ethical values are part of the essence of healthcare management and delivery. Although studies have identified what some of those values are, few studies have been undertaken to identify if the values and beliefs held are ethical, and what the outcomes, positive and negative, to holding such values are.

Methods. This study was undertaken in 60 of the 65 acute care hospitals in the Republic of Ireland, and in eight regional health boards during 2001. The study population included all accessible professional clinician and non‐clinician department heads. The sample size was 862 and the valid response rate was 42%. Research findings from questions requiring qualitative responses are presented and are part of a wider study. Responses were subjected to content analysis.

Results. Eleven key values identified are excellence in care delivery, positive value system, managerial receptiveness and non‐receptiveness, organizational dependability and lack of dependability, peer cohesion and lack of peer cohesion, equity in care delivery, personal contribution to the organization and personal importance. Findings also demonstrated positive and negative outcomes for the organization, patients and staff as a result of the values held.

Conclusions. Findings show that healthcare clinicians and non‐clinicians demonstrated a range of values in the delivery of health care, some of which have not been identified before. Should professionals now reconsider the values required in the delivery of health care? The most widely perceived values held by both groups were similar, although clinicians perceived that non‐clinicians did not hold the same ethical values and beliefs as they did, and vice‐versa, demonstrating a lack of trust in each other's moral and ethical value system.
The experiences of loneliness, depression, and social support of Turkish patients with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis and their caregivers
Authors: Asti Turkinaz , Kara Magfiret , Ipek Gulay , Erci Behice
Published: March 2006

Aim.  The aim of the study was to examine the relationship between loneliness, depression and social support of Turkish patients with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis and their caregivers.

Background.  By altering the lifestyle of the patient and family or caregiver, chronic illness and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis can create loneliness and depression. Perceived social support may facilitate coping with illness.

Design.  Descriptive corelational design was used.

Methods.  Data were collected by using the UCLA loneliness scale, the Beck's depression scale and the perceived social support from family and friends scales and demographic data form.

Results.  A total of 130 subjects including 65 patients with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis and 65 caregivers took part in this study. The mean ages of the patients and caregivers were similar (44·69 ± 17·22 and 43·90 ± 8·52 years respectively). Scores of loneliness and depression were below cut‐off scores in both groups. However, scores of the loneliness of patients were higher than that of the caregivers. Perceived social support from family and friend were above cut‐off scores in both groups and it was different for patients and caregivers.

Conclusion.  The results of this study indicate that Turkish patients with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis and their caregivers did not experience loneliness and depression.

Relevance to clinical practice.  Results of the study suggest that the nurses need to be aware of patients’ and caregivers’ psychological reactions to continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis, which may be expressed in feelings of loneliness and depression, and employ social support resources for patients with peritoneal dialysis and caregivers to cope with their illness and to adapt lifestyle changes.
A study of nurses’ inferences of patients’ physical pain
Authors: Wilson Benita , McSherry Wilfred
Published: March 2006

Aim.  The aim of this study was to establish if postregistration education and clinical experience influence nurses’ inferences of patients’ physical pain.

Background.  Pain is a complex, subjective phenomenon making it an experience that is elusive and difficult to define. Evaluation of an individual's pain is the product of a dynamic, interactive process that frequently results in ineffective pain management. Educating nurses should address the deficit, however the clinical environment is thought to be most influential in the acquisition of knowledge.

Design.  A series of vignettes was used to consider nurses’ inferences of physical pain for six hypothetical patients; these were employed within a self‐administered questionnaire that also addressed lifestyle factors of patients in pain, general attitudes and beliefs about pain management and general knowledge of pain control.

Method.  One hundred questionnaires were distributed; 86 nurses returned the questionnaire giving a response rate of 86%. Following selection of the sample 72 nurses participated in the study: 35 hospice/oncology nurses (specialist) and 37 district nurses (general). Data analysis was carried out using SPSS and qualitative analysis of the written responses.

Results.  The specialist nurses tended to infer lower levels of physical pain than the general nurses when considering the patients in the vignettes.

Conclusion.  Education and clinical experience influence nurses’ knowledge, attitudes and beliefs about pain. However, it would appear that the specialist nurses’ working environment and knowledge base engenders a practice theory divide, resulting in desensitization to patients’ physical pain.

Relevance to clinical practice.  It is suggested that the specialist nurses use defence mechanisms to protect them from the conflict that arises from working within the clinical environment. These cognitive strategies have the potential to ease cognitive dissonance for the nurse, but may increase patient suffering.
The acquisition and exercise of nephrology nursing expertise: a grounded theory study
Authors: Bonner Ann , Greenwood Jennifer
Published: March 2006

Aims and objectives.  This purpose of this study was to describe the process of expertise acquisition in nephrology nursing practice.

Background.  It has been recognized for a number of decades that experts, compared with other practitioners in a number of professions and occupations, are the most knowledgeable and effective, in terms of both the quantity and quality of output. Studies relating to expertise have been undertaken in a range of nursing contexts and specialties; to date, however, none have been undertaken which focus on nephrology nursing.

Design.  This study, using grounded theory methodology, took place in one renal unit in New South Wales, Australia and involved six non‐expert and 11 expert nurses.

Methods.  Simultaneous data collection and analysis took place using participant observation, semi‐structured interviews and review of nursing documentation.

Findings.  The study revealed a three‐stage skills‐acquisitive process that was identified as non‐expert, experienced non‐expert and expert stages. Each stage was typified by four characteristics, which altered during the acquisitive process; these were knowledge, experience, skill and focus.

Conclusion.  This was the first study to explore nephrology nursing expertise and uncovered new aspects of expertise not documented in the literature and it also made explicit other areas, which had only been previously implied.

Relevance to clinical practice.  Of significance to nursing, the exercise of expertise is a function of the recognition of expertise by others and it includes the blurring of the normal boundaries of professional practice.
The incidence of pressure ulcers in surgical patients: a sample hospital in Turkey
Authors: Karadag Mevlüde , Gümüskaya Necla
Published: March 2006

Aim.  This research was conducted for the purpose of determining the incidence of surgery‐related pressure ulcer formation.

Background.  Patients undergoing surgery are prone to develop pressure ulcers during surgery. Pressure ulcer incidence in surgery population is reported between 3·5% and 29·5%. Some of these factors that occur during surgery are being under pressure for a long time, remaining wet, and metabolic and circulatory changes related to the surgery and anaesthesia.

Design.  The research was conducted as a prospective‐analytic‐descriptive study with 84 patients who agreed to participate in the study and who were 20 years old or older, having elective surgery, having a surgical procedure lasting two or more hours under general anaesthesia, and who had no risk for pressure ulcer development before surgery according to the Braden Pressure Ulcer Risk Assessment Scale. Research data were obtained using a Data Collection Form that has places for pre‐, intra‐ and postoperative factors that may be related to surgery‐related pressure ulcer development; a Body Mass Index Data Form and the Braden Pressure Ulcer Risk Assessment Scale. The Braden Pressure Ulcer Risk Assessment Scale was used to determine that patients had no risk for pressure ulcer development pre‐ and postoperatively and it was used for the purpose of establishing the patients risk status and areas at risk. Patients were monitored for pressure ulcers until the sixth postoperative day and risk status and areas at risk were determined. Data obtained in the research were analysed using percentage, chi‐squared, McNemar and Cohen's Kappa tests for reliability between dependent groups.

Results.  At the conclusion of the research, the findings obtained showed that 54·8% of the patients (n = 46) were observed to have Stage 1 pressure ulcers. A total of 41·3% of the patients had pressure ulcers in more than one region and 56·5% of these were of the erythema type. During the six‐day postoperative monitoring, 97·9% of the pressure ulcers were observed in the first three days.

Conclusion.  The study made clear that surgery‐related pressure ulcers are an important problem.

Relevance to clinical practice.  (i) Determining the incidence of pressure ulcers during surgery in Turkey; (ii) For nurses to be able to prevent surgery‐related pressure ulcers, it is necessary for them to direct their care by knowing factors that have a role in the development of pressure ulcers during surgery therefore this study will be to call Turkish nurse's attention to pressure ulcers during surgery.
A new family and genus of acalypterate flies from the Neotropical region, with a phylogenetic analysis of Carnoidea family relationships (Diptera, Schizophora)
Authors: Buck Matthias
Published: March 2006

Abstract.  The acalypterate family Inbiomyiidae fam.n. (Diptera, Carnoidea) is described for the newly discovered Neotropical genus Inbiomyiagen.n. with its type species I. mcalpineorumsp.n. from Costa Rica. The genus ranges from Guatemala south to French Guiana and Bolivia and includes a total of fourteen undescribed species, ten of which will be described formally in a separate paper. Inbiomyia is distinctive, with characteristic, extremely shortened head with nonfunctional ptilinum and reduced chaetotaxy, shortened first flagellomere with very elongate, dorsoapically inserted arista, proboscis with largely separate labellar lobes that point in different directions, mid tibia lacking apicoventral bristle, unusual fusion of male sternites 5–7, reduced male sternite 8, elongate surstyluslike ventral epandrial lobes, cerci absent in both sexes, extremely truncate female genitalia, and large, extremely flattened eggs. The larva of Inbiomyia and its biology are unknown. Inbiomyia occurs mostly in primary lowland rain forest and often is associated with the decaying foliage of fallen trees. Inbiomyiidae belong in the superfamily Carnoidea. The previously doubtful monophyly of the Carnoidea is accepted tentatively on the basis of newly established synapomorphies of the male genitalia. Family level relationships of the Carnoidea are analysed quantitatively for the first time based on a matrix of fifty‐eight morphological characters. The putative sister group relationship of Inbiomyiidae to the monotypic Australasian family Australimyzidae is supported by several synapomorphies, mostly from the male and female postabdomen. Family status for the Australimyzidae is confirmed, rejecting previous claims of a sister group relationship (or synonymy) with the Carnidae. The analysis also leads to revised hypotheses of the relationships of Cryptochetidae and Acartophthalmidae, and the paraphyly of ‘Tethinidae’ with regard to Canacidae, suspected by previous authors, is confirmed.
Excess copper effect on growth, chloroplast ultrastructure, oxygen‐evolution activity and chlorophyll fluorescence in Glycine max cell suspensions
Authors: Bernal María , Ramiro María Victoria , Cases Rafael , Picorel Rafael , Yruela Inmaculada
Published: March 2006

The influence of excess copper on soybean photosynthetic cell suspensions was investigated. The cell suspensions grew well in the presence of 5–20 µM CuSO4 and developed tolerance to even higher levels of CuSO4 (i.e. up to 50 µM), indicating that copper was not toxic to the cells at that high concentrations. Cu‐adapted cell suspensions grew faster than the control in limiting light conditions and had higher content of chlorophyll per dry weight of cells. Copper was accumulated within the cells, and this event was accompanied by (1) increased oxygen evolution activity; (2) increased number of chloroplasts per cell, smaller chloroplasts, increased thylakoid stacking and grana size; (3) higher fluorescence emission of photosystem II antenna complexes and (4) stimulation of plastocyanin protein synthesis compared with untreated cells. Microanalysis of cross‐sections revealed an increase of copper content in chloroplasts as well as vacuole, cytoplasm and cell wall in Cu‐adapted cells. No antagonist interaction between copper and iron uptake took place in these cell suspensions. On the other hand, copper at subtoxic concentrations stimulated oxygen evolution activity in thylakoids from control cells, but this event did not take place in those from Cu‐adapted ones. Furthermore, the loss of activity by copper inhibitory action at toxic concentrations was two‐fold slower in thylakoids from Cu‐adapted cells compared with the control ones. The data strongly indicate that copper plays a specific positive role on photosynthesis and stimulates the growth and the oxygen evolution activity in soybean cell suspensions.
Molecular cloning, characterization and heterologous expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae of a mevalonate diphosphate decarboxylase cDNA from Ginkgo biloba
Authors: Pang Yongzhen , Shen Guo‐an , Bergès Thierry , Cardier Helene , Wu Weisheng , Sun Xiaofen , Tang Kexuan
Published: March 2006

Mevalonate diphosphate decarboxylase (MVD; EC4.1.1.33) catalyses the conversion of mevalonate diphosphate to isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP), which is a key skeleton for numerous functionally important secondary metabolites. A full‐length cDNA of MVD was isolated from Ginkgo biloba (designated as GbMVD) using rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). GbMVD was 1958 bp with poly(A) tailing and contained a 1290‐bp open reading frame encoding a 430‐amino acid protein. The deduced GbMVD protein had a deduced molecular weight of about 48 kDa and isoelectric point of 5.83, and it showed high similarity to MVDs from other species. The 3D‐structure modelling showed that the 3D model of GbMVD had a similar P loop as that of yeast. Phylogenetic tree analysis revealed that GbMVD shared the same ancestor with MVDs from other species, and it had a closer relationship with those from plant species. Southern blot analysis indicated that GbMVD might belong to a small multigene family. Transcript accumulation analysis revealed that GbMVD was transcribed in root, stem and leaf tissues. Functional complementation of GbMVD in an MVD‐deficient Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain MN19‐34 (erg19ts) confirmed that GbMVD mediated the conversion of mevalonate diphosphate to IPP and that it is a functional gene.
PhyA and cry1 act redundantly to regulate gibberellin levels during de‐etiolation in blue light
Authors: Foo Eloise , Platten J. Damien , Weller James L. , Reid James B.
Published: March 2006

In pea (Pisum sativum L.) seedlings, both phytochrome A (phyA) and cryptochrome 1 (cry1) are required for the rapid inhibition of elongation in response to transfer from dark to blue light. The reduction in stem elongation upon blue light exposure is accompanied by a rapid reduction in the level of bioactive gibberellin A1 (GA1) in the shoot, and mutant studies indicate that this process is redundantly regulated by phyA and cry1. The reduction in GA1 levels under blue light may be mediated by phyA and cry1 in part through increased conversion of GA1 to the inactive catabolite GA8. Changes in the transcript level of key GA metabolism genes appear to play an important role in this process. Under blue light, both phyA and cry1 are required to suppress the transcript level of PsGA3ox1, which regulates the conversion of GA20 to GA1. PhyA and cry1 also contribute to upregulation of PsGA2ox2 transcript level under blue light, which encodes a GA 2‐oxidase that converts GA1 to inactive GA8. In addition to changes in GA levels, phyA and/or cry1 may also regulate changes in GA responsiveness, an important mechanism for regulating long‐term stem elongation in the light.
Diffusion‐weighted magnetic resonance imaging of white matter in bipolar disorder: a pilot study
Authors: Regenold William T , D'Agostino Christopher A , Ramesh Narayanan , Hasnain Mehrul , Roys Steven , Gullapalli Rao P
Published: March 2006

Objective:  Diffusion‐weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has shown increased sensitivity in detecting brain white matter disease compared to traditional T2‐weighted MRI. Diffusion‐weighted imaging (DWI) can quantitatively assess the microstructural integrity of white matter using the average apparent diffusion coefficient (ADCav), a measure of the extent to which water molecules move freely within tissue. On the basis of numerous studies suggesting white matter disease in bipolar patients, particularly patients with more severe illness, this study aimed to test the utility of DWI in assessing the white matter integrity of bipolar patients with severe illness.

Methods:  The existing MRI scans of eight bipolar patients and eight age‐matched controls with neurological illness were examined retrospectively. ADCav values for pixels within white matter regions of interest (ROIs) were calculated and used to plot ADCav frequency histograms for each ROI. Mean ADCav values for the two groups were then compared by ANCOVA.

Results:  The bipolar mean ADCav (0.855 ± 0.051 × 10−3 mm2/s) for combined white matter ROIs significantly exceeded that of controls (0.799 ± 0.046 × 10−3 mm2/s), while covarying for age (F = 4.47, df = 3, p = 0.025).

Conclusions:  This is the first report of an elevated ADCav in the white matter of a group of patients with bipolar disorder. In this group of patients with severe illness, increased white matter ADCav suggests microstructural changes consistent with decreased white matter integrity. DWI may be an additional, useful tool to assess white matter abnormalities in bipolar disorder.
Early onset bipolar disorder: possible linkage to chromosome 9q34
Authors: Faraone Stephen V , Lasky‐Su Jessica , Glatt Stephen J , Eerdewegh Paul Van , Tsuang Ming T
Published: March 2006

Objectives: Bipolar disorder (BD) is characterized by manic and depressive states that onset at various times in life. Research shows that early onset forms of BD are associated with a stronger genetic loading for the illness. We hypothesized that using age at onset to look at subsets of BD families in a genetic linkage analysis would prove useful in separating etiologically homogeneous BD sub‐groups and subsequently identifying genetic susceptibility regions.

Methods: We used the wave‐I National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Genetics Initiative BD sample, which includes 540 individuals from 97 families with BD, in an ordered‐subsets linkage analysis with age at onset of mania as the subset‐identifying covariate. This analysis was performed using GENEHUNTER‐PLUS followed by the ordered‐subsets analysis program. This program generates empirical p‐values for the subset with the largest LOD score to determine whether this value was significantly higher than the baseline LOD score using all families.

Results: Three chromosomal regions resulted in LOD scores above 2.0: 2.21 (6q25), 3.21 (9q34), and 2.16 (20q11). The largest increase in LOD score was observed on chromosome 9q34 between markers D9S290 and D9S915 in the subset of 58 families that had mania onset before age 20. Families with a minimal mania onset less than 20 years had a significantly greater number of psychiatric comorbidities (p = 0.02) and a marginal increase in depressive symptoms (p = 0.10).

Conclusions: Further investigation into chromosomal region 9q34 is necessary to determine whether this region may harbor a gene specific to families with a minimal age at onset of less than 20.
Inositol deficiency diet and lithium effects
Authors: Shaldubina Alona , Stahl Ziva , Furszpan Mariala , Regenold William T , Shapiro Joseph , Belmaker Robert H , Bersudsky Yuly
Published: March 2006

Objectives:  A major hypothesis explaining the therapeutic effect of lithium (Li) in mania is depletion of inositol via inhibition of inositol monophosphatase. However, inositol is also present in the diet. Restriction of dietary inositol could theoretically enhance the effects of Li.

Methods:  We used dietary inositol restriction in animal studies and also devised a palatable diet for humans that is 90% free of inositol.

Results:  Dietary inositol restriction significantly augmented the inositol‐reducing effect of Li in rat frontal cortex. Li reduced inositol levels by 4.7%, inositol‐deficient diet by 5.1%, and Li plus inositol‐deficient diet by 10.8%. However, feeding with the inositol‐deficient diet did not enhance the behavioral effect of Li in the Li‐pilocarpine seizure model. Fifteen patients participated in an open clinical study of the inositol‐deficient diet: six rapid cycling bipolar patients responding inadequately to Li or valproate in different phases of illness; two Li‐treated bipolar outpatients with residual symptomatology, and seven inpatient Li‐treated bipolar patients in non‐responding acute mania. The diet had a major effect in reducing the severity of affective disorder in 10 of the patients within the first 7–14 days of treatment.

Conclusion:  These results suggest that dietary inositol restriction may be useful in some bipolar patients, but controlled replication is necessary.
Comorbidity of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in juvenile bipolar disorder
Authors: Jaideep T , Janardhan Reddy YC , Srinath S
Published: March 2006

Objective:  There is some evidence to suggest that attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and juvenile bipolar disorder could be related. This is based on studies of comorbidity and some preliminary family study data. However, doubts continue to be raised about the relationship between the two disorders. This study examined the comorbidity of disruptive behavior disorders (DBD) that include ADHD, oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and conduct disorder (CD) in juvenile bipolar disorder.

Method:  Seventy‐three subjects with onset of bipolar disorder at age 18 years or younger were evaluated using structured interviews (Missouri Assessment of Genetics Interview for Children, Structured Clinical Interview for DSM‐IV Axis I disorders – Clinician Version, and Operational Criteria Checklist for Psychotic Disorders version 3.4). Information was collected from subjects as well as from their parents. Patients with comorbid DBD were compared with patients without DBD.

Results:  Ten subjects (14%) had one or more comorbid DBD. ADHD, CD, and ODD were present in three (4%), two (3%), and eight (11%) subjects, respectively. Those with DBD had earlier onset of bipolar disorder and spent more time ill compared to those without DBD.

Conclusions:  The rates of comorbid DBD in juvenile bipolar disorder are low. The study does not support a definite relationship between ADHD and juvenile bipolar disorder. Higher rates reported previously may be due to differing methods of subject ascertainment. Samples recruited from community and general psychiatric settings may help to clarify the relationship between bipolar disorder and ADHD.
Inositol augmentation of lithium or valproate for bipolar depression
Authors: Eden Evins A , Demopulos Christina , Yovel Iftah , Culhane Melissa , Ogutha Jacqueline , Grandin Louisa D , Nierenberg Andrew A , Sachs Gary S
Published: March 2006

Objective:  Despite promising new therapies, bipolar depression remains difficult to treat. Up to half of patients do not respond adequately to currently approved treatments. This study evaluated the efficacy of adjunctive inositol for bipolar depression.

Methods:  Seventeen participants with DSM‐IV criteria for bipolar depression and a 17‐item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD) ≥15 on proven therapeutic levels of lithium or valproate for >2 weeks were randomized to receive double‐blind inositol or placebo for 6 weeks. At the end of double‐blind treatment, subjects were eligible for an 8‐week open‐label trial of inositol.

Results:  Response was defined a priori as >50% reduction in the HRSD and a Clinical Global Impression of 1–2. Four of nine subjects (44%) on inositol and zero of eight subjects on placebo met response criteria (p = 0.053). There was no difference between groups in the average change score for the HRSD or Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS). Response to inositol was highly variable. Of nine subjects randomized to inositol, two had >50% worsening in HRSD scores at the end of treatment, three had no change and four had >50% improvement. Those who had worsening in depressive symptoms on inositol had significantly higher scores at baseline on the YMRS total score and irritability, disruptive/aggressive behavior and unkempt appearance items.

Conclusions:  There was a trend for more subjects on inositol to show improvement in bipolar depression symptoms, but, on average, inositol was not more effective than placebo as an adjunct for bipolar depression. Baseline levels of anger or hostility may be predictive of clinical response to inositol.
Unique donor‐suitability issues
Authors: Reik R. A. , Burch J. W. , Vassallo R. R. , Trainor L.
Published: March 2006

On occasion, there arise questions or situations involving blood‐donor eligibility determination, which are not adequately addressed by the existing regulations and standards. In such instances, even the most experienced blood collector may be uncertain regarding the best course of action and unable to find adequate guidance in the standard blood banking references, regulations and literature. In order to examine this area in greater depth, the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB) sponsored a short topic session on ‘Unique Donor Suitability Issues’ at their 2004 annual meeting. The invited speakers were four seasoned physician medical directors, with a combined experience of over 40 years in blood collection at both regional and national levels. They were tasked with identifying and researching problematic areas in donor‐suitability determination, and suggesting an overall approach to dealing with such issues. They determined that three of the most problematic areas of eligibility evaluation included donors with: (1) disabilities, (2) disorders of haemostasis, and (3) trans‐sexual, homosexual and other unusual gender‐related issues. Each of these topics was presented in a 10‐min lecture, followed by an open format consisting of audience participation and panel discussion by the speakers. The session was additionally enhanced by a representative of the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) who participated as a member of the audience. This review presents the contents of the short topic session in an expanded form.
Fluorescence quencher improves scansystem™ for rapid bacterial detection
Authors: Schmidt M. , Hourfar M. K. , Wahl A. , Nicol S.‐B. , Montag T. , Roth W. K. , Seifried E.
Published: March 2006

Background and Objectives  The optimized scansystem™ could detect contaminated platelet products within 24 h. However, the system's sensitivity was reduced by a high fluorescence background even in sterile samples, which led to the necessity of a well‐trained staff for confirmation of microscope results.

Materials and Methods  A new protocol of the optimized scansystem™ with the addition of a fluorescence quencher was evaluated. Pool platelet concentrates contaminated with five transfusion‐relevant bacterial strains were tested in a blind study.

Results  In conjunction with new analysis software, the new quenching dye was able to reduce significantly unspecific background fluorescence. Sensitivity was best for Bacillus cereus and Escherichia coli (3 CFU/ml).

Discussion  The application of a fluorescence quencher enables automated discrimination of positive and negative test results in 60% of all analysed samples.
Expression of Cyclooxygenase‐1 and ‐2 in the Porcine Endometrium during the Oestrous Cycle and Early Pregnancy
Authors: Blitek A , Waclawik A , Kaczmarek MM , Stadejek T , Pejsak Z , Ziecik AJ
Published: March 2006

Contents

Cyclooxygenase (COX) is the rate‐limiting enzyme that catalyses the initial step in prostaglandins (PGs) production. In the present studies, endometrial COX‐1 and COX‐2 expression throughout the oestrous cycle and early pregnancy was analysed in pigs using real‐time reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR), Western blot and immunohistochemistry. There were no changes in messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein expression for COX‐1 in cyclic pigs. In pregnant animals, mRNA levels of this enzyme increased on days 22–25 (p < 0.001). However, no upregulation of COX‐1 protein was detected. Quantification of COX‐2 mRNA expression during the oestrous cycle revealed significant increases on days 10–12 and 14 (p < 0.001 and p < 0.01 vs days 2–4, respectively). Protein levels were also increased on day 14 when compared with days 2–12 and 18–20 after oestrus. In pregnant animals, the patterns of both COX‐2 mRNA and protein expression were similar. Messenger RNA levels were higher on days 16 and 22–25 (p < 0.01 vs day 10). Moreover, the protein content tended to increase on days 16 and 22–25. COX‐1 and COX‐2 were localized in the luminal and glandular epithelium as well as in the uterine stroma. In contrast to COX‐1, a positive immunostaining reaction for COX‐2 was detected only on days 12–16 after ovulation and on days 14–16 of pregnancy. In conclusion, these results indicate specific patterns of COX‐1 and COX‐2 expression in the porcine endometrium throughout the oestrous cycle and early pregnancy. COX‐2 rather than COX‐1 seems to be the primary enzyme responsible for modulated PGs production at the time of luteolysis in cyclic and during implantation in pregnant animals.
A Urethrorectal Fistula due to Prostatic Abscess Associated with Urolithiasis in a Dog
Authors: Agut A , Lucas X , Castro A , De Membiela F , Soler M , Belda E
Published: March 2006

Contents

An 8‐year‐old, entire male crossbreed dog had a 2‐day history of abdominal pain and straining to urinate and defecate. A diagnosis of urolithiasis with urinary retention, and probable prostatitis was made. The dog was treated with fluids and enrofloxacin. Five days later, ultrasonography of the prostate showed two hypoechoic areas compatible with abscesses. Twelve hours later, the patient started to urinate from the rectum during micturition and urethrorectal fistula was diagnosed. The omentalization of the prostatic abscesses and castration were performed and calculi were removed. The urethrorectal fistula was treated conservatively with an indwelling urinary catheter, a low residue diet and antibiotics. The dog recovered uneventfully without recurrence of the fistula.
Psychosocial impact among the public of the severe acute respiratory syndrome epidemic in Taiwan
Authors: KO CHIH‐HUNG , YEN CHENG‐FANG , YEN JU‐YU , YANG MING‐JEN
Published: March 2006

Abstract  During the 2003 outbreak, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) spread to more than 30 countries. Not only did it cause severe health problems but it also imposed a great psychological impact on the public. SARS emerged in Taiwan during April 2003. This study investigates the psychosocial impact and the associated factors of depression of the SARS epidemic in Taiwan when the epidemic had just been controlled. A total of 1552 respondents were recruited in the study by random selection from the telephone book. Demographic data, SARS experience, self‐perceived health state, neighborhood relationships, and depression were surveyed by telephone interviewing. Respondents were grouped as ‘impacted group’ and ‘non‐impacted group’ according to whether they or their friends and family had been quarantined, or suspected of being infected. The psychosocial impact and associated factors were compared between the two groups. The ‘impacted group’ had higher depressive levels, poorer neighborhood relationships, poorer self‐perceived health, and a higher economic impact than the ‘non‐impacted group’. The poorer self‐perceived health and economic impact factors were associated with depression. The neighborhood relationship factor was negatively associated with depression for the ‘impacted group’, but not for the ‘non‐impacted group’. The ‘impacted group’ had experienced greater psychosocial impact possibly due to the SARS impact, the economic downturn, poor self‐perceived health conditions, and decreased social support systems. An appropriate mental health intervention to improve the self‐perceived health condition, to provide instrumental and psychological support for the ‘impacted group’, and to decrease the stigmatization and discrimination from the public could have buffered the psychological impact from this epidemic disaster.
Neural substrates of emotional habituation: A PET study using film stimuli
Authors: HATTA NAOKI , NISHIKAWA TAKASHI , IKEJIRI YOSHITAKA , TOKUNAGA HIROMASA , MASAKI YOSHIHIRO , UEMA TAKESHI , KAZUI HIROAKI , DORONBEKOV TALANT K. , OGINO ATSUSHI , MIYOSHI NORIKO , TANII HISASHI , TANAKA TOSHIHISA , OKU NAOHIKO , TAKEDA MASATOSHI
Published: March 2006

Abstract  While external stimuli are given repeatedly, the level of emotional response gradually decreases. This study aims to reveal the neural substrates of such emotional habituation. Fifteen healthy male volunteers were examined using [15O]‐H2O‐PET scanning. Subjects were required to watch two film clips, a horror scene (emotional task) and a calm scene (non‐emotional task). Each film clip was repeatedly presented six times during 12 PET scans. The regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in the first two scans of each task was compared with that in the last two scans. On the emotional task, the right retrosplenial cortex (Brodmann's areas 30 and 23) was activated during the former scans, and the bilateral occipital cortices (BA19 and 37) were activated during the latter scans. As for the non‐emotional task, the bilateral occipital cortices (BA19 and 37) were activated during the first two scans, and the bilateral prefrontal cortices (BA10) were activated during the last two scans. The activated cerebral region by emotional experience reciprocally transferred from the paralimbic region (the retrosplenial cortex) to the neocortical region (the bilateral occipital cortices) as the experience was repeated. This finding is consistent with the theory that the process of emotional habituation is promoted by the process of conceptualization.
A naturalistic comparison of two right unilateral electroconvulsive therapy dosing protocols: 2‐3X seizure threshold versus fixed high‐dose
Authors: WARD WARREN K. , LUSH PAMELA , KELLY MARILYN , FROST AARON D. J.
Published: March 2006

Abstract The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes associated with two differing right unilateral (RUL) electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) dosing protocols: 2‐3X seizure threshold (2‐3X ST) and fixed high dose (FHD) at 353 mC. A retrospective chart review was performed to compare patient outcomes during the implementation of two different dosing protocols: 2‐3X ST from October 2000 to May 2001 and FHD from June 2001 to February 2002. A total of 56 patients received ECT under the 2‐3X ST protocol, and 46 received ECT under the FHD protocol. In total, 13.6% of patients receiving ECT according to the 2‐3X ST protocol received more than 12 ECT, whereas none of the FHD group received more than 12 ECT. The mean number of ECT per treatment course reduced significantly from 7.6 to 5.7 following the switch from the 2‐3X ST protocol to the FHD protocol. There were no significant differences between the two groups in the incidence of adverse cognitive effects. ECT practitioners adhered to the 2‐3X ST protocol for only 51.8% of ECT courses, with protocol adherence improving to 87% following introduction of the FHD protocol. Although this naturalistic retrospective chart survey had significant methodological limitations, it found that practitioners are more likely to correctly adhere to a fixed dose protocol, therefore, increasing its ‘real world’ effectiveness in comparison to titrated suprathreshold dosing techniques. The FHD protocol was associated with shorter courses of ECT than the 2‐3X ST protocol, with no significant difference between the two protocols in clinically discernable adverse cognitive effects.
Residual strength prediction of multiple cracked stiffened panels
Authors: LABEAS G. , DIAMANTAKOS J.
Published: March 2006

Prediction of the coalescence of adjacent cracks is critical for residual strength estimation of structures under multiple site damage conditions. A methodology successfully developed for the case of crack link‐up prediction of un‐stiffened plates, is extended for the case of typical cracked stiffened aircraft panels. The proposed link‐up criterion is based on the change in the magnitudes of elastic and plastic strain energies of the stiffened panel, before and after the cracks coalesce. The strain energy magnitudes of interest are calculated using non‐linear elastic–plastic finite‐element analysis. For the application and verification of the method, experimental results from the open literature are used. Residual strength values calculated by the proposed methodology are in good agreement with the experimental results. The present criterion provides superior results when compared to the existing and commonly applied link‐up criteria.
Post‐natal development of the porcine microbiota composition and activities
Authors: Konstantinov Sergey R. , Awati Ajay A. , Williams Barbara A. , Miller Bevis G. , Jones Philip , Stokes Christopher R. , Akkermans Antoon D. L. , Smidt Hauke , De Vos Willem M.
Published: March 2006

The current study describes the development of the porcine microbiota and its metabolic activities during the neonatal and weaning period. Using 16S rRNA‐based approaches, we first analysed the ileal and colonic microbiota of neonatal piglets at days 2, 5 and 12 after birth. To further investigate the effect of weaning at 3 weeks of age, 19‐day‐old piglets (n = 64) were randomly allocated into two groups. Half of the piglets remained with their sows throughout the study, while the remaining piglets were weaned. As revealed by sequence analysis of 16S rRNA gene amplicons, the samples of 2‐day‐old piglets harboured a consortium of bacteria related to Escherichia coli, Shigella flexneri, Lactobacillus sobrius, Lactobacillus reuteri and Lactobacillus acidophilus. Moreover, species‐specific real‐time polymerase chain reaction assays unveiled that L. sobrius and L. reuteri predominated in the ileal samples of the neonatal and unweaned piglets with population levels up to 7 × 108 cells per gram of lumen content. Following weaning, however, these two lactobacilli were detected at significantly lower levels (< 103) in the ileal samples. Furthermore, a shift in composition and metabolic activities of the predominant microbiota, and emergence of clostridia and E. coli, were encountered in the intestinal samples of the piglets after the early post‐weaning period.
Speed‐up Technique for a Local Automatic Colour Equalization Model
Authors: Artusi A. , Gatta C. , Marini D. , Purgathofer W. , Rizzi A.
Published: March 2006

In this paper we propose a speed‐up technique for a local automatic colour equalization operator derived from a model of the human vision system. This method is characterized by local and global filtering effects, that simultaneously achieve different equalization tasks e.g. performing colour and lightness constancy, realizing dynamic image data driven stretching, controlling the contrast. We describe a way to quickly create a filtering mapping function to perform the global component of the mapping. This method is based on singular value decomposition (SVD) applied to sampled and filtered points in the input image. Then, the local information is added computing the basic algorithm on a neighbourhood of each input pixel. A slight quality loss is the price that we have to pay for a speed‐up of more than two orders of magnitude of the basic algorithm. We present the results on several images and discuss the efficiency and the drawbacks of the speed‐up technique.