bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Site and type of mutations in the factor VIII gene in patients and carriers of haemophilia A
Authors: Theophilus B. D. M. , Enayat M. S. , Williams M. D. , Hill F. G. H.
Published: September 2010

Haemophilia A is an X‐linked bleeding disorder caused by reduced or absent FVIII (FVIII) protein caused by mutations in the FVIII gene. We have used Southern blotting and chemical mismatch analysis (CMA) to identify the mutations causing haemophilia A in 59 local or referred patients or carriers of haemophilia A. Southern blot analysis of 87 families with FVIII : C < 5% identified 31 as positive for the intron 22 inversion. Analysis of 19 of the inversion‐negative families and a further nine families with mild or moderate haemophilia A by CMA resulted in the identification of a heterogeneous spectrum of mutations in the FVIII gene comprising 21 single base‐pair substitutions and nine deletions. Seventeen of the base‐pair substitutions are missense, two nonsense, and two are splice‐site mutations. Two patients were found to have compound mutations with two mutations identified on a single X chromosome. Six of the point mutations and six of the deletions have not been reported previously in the haemophilia A mutation database. Unusually, a missense mutation, as well as deletion and splice‐site mutations, was found to be associated with exon‐skipping events.
Factor VIII inhibitors: role of von Willebrand factor on the uptake of factor VIII by dendritic cells
Authors: KAVERI S. V. , DASGUPTA S. , ANDRE S. , NAVARRETE A.‐M. , REPESSÉ Y. , WOOTLA B. , LACROIX‐DESMAZES S.
Published: September 2010

Summary  In patients with haemophilia A, factor VIII (FVIII) therapy leads to the development of anti‐FVIII alloantibodies that inhibit FVIII pro‐coagulant activity, in up to 25% of the cases. At a time when efficient viral screening procedures are at place, development of inhibitors poses the greatest threat to haemophilia A patients. Various risk factors, both patient and product‐related, are responsible for the development of inhibitory antibodies. The role of FVIII‐specific CD4+ T lymphocytes in the initiation of the humoral immune response to exogenous FVIII has been well. In view of their capacity to stimulate naïve T cells, dendritic cells (DCs) play a central role in the initiation of the primary immune response. Thus, in the context of a primary alloimmunization against FVIII, i.e. when FVIII‐specific B lymphocytes are not there to take up FVIII from the circulation and to serve as antigen presenting cells (APCs), DCs are the only cell type that internalize FVIII, leading to activation of FVIII‐specific CD4+ T lymphocytes. von Willebrand factor (VWF) present in plasma‐derived FVIII therapeutic concentrates, is known to act as a chaperone molecule for procoagulant FVIII. In addition to its role in reducing the ‘antigenicity’ of FVIII, the role of VWF in the reduction of the ‘immunogenicity’ of therapeutic FVIII in patients with haemophilia A has also been suggested. We have recently demonstrated that VWF protects FVIII from being endocytosed by human DCs and subsequently being presented to FVIII‐specific T cells. We propose that VWF may reduce the immunogenicity of FVIII by preventing, upstream from the activation of immune effectors, the entry of FVIII in professional antigen presenting cells.
Immune tolerance induction with mycophenolate‐mofetil in two children with haemophilia B and inhibitor
Authors: KLARMANN D. , MARTINEZ Saguer I. , FUNK M. B. , KNOEFLER R. , VON HENTIG N. , HELLER C. , KREUZ W.
Published: September 2010

Summary.  Immune tolerance induction (ITI) in haemophilia B patients with inhibitor should be carefully considered because of the relatively poor (25%) overall success rate and the high risk of complications. ITI in combination with an immunosuppressive treatment was started in two children with haemophilia B with factor IX (FIX) inhibitor. To avoid anaphylactic reactions and inhibitor boost, the FIX replacement therapy was stopped and patients received a treatment with recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa). After disappearance of FIX inhibitor, a combination of mycophenolate‐mofetil (MMF), dexamethasone (DEXA) and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and a high dose FIX replacement therapy was started. Immune tolerance could be induced in patient 2, whereas eradication of FIX inhibitor was incomplete in patient 1. Both patients benefited from the immune suppressive treatment and FIX replacement therapy was tolerated without any allergic complications. Neither development of a nephrotic syndrome nor a severe bleeding episode was observed. Strategies to induce tolerance in haemophilia B patients with inhibitors need to be explored in a systematic way. Given the low frequency of disease and even lower incidence of inhibitors, prospective randomized studies may not be possible. International registry‐based retrospective and prospective data collection could play the key role in the study of the outcome variables in ITI for haemophilia B.
Desmopressin in inherited disorders of platelet function
Authors: COPPOLA A. , DI MINNO G.
Published: September 2010

Summary. Following the first clinical use in haemophilia and von Willebrand disease in 1977, the synthetic analogue of vasopressin 1‐deamino‐8‐d‐arginine vasopressin (DDAVP, desmopressin) was successfully employed for the management of a series of bleeding disorders, including congenital and acquired defects of platelet function. In this setting, few haemostatic approaches are available and, in particular for severe bleeding and major invasive procedures, the transfusion of platelet concentrates is the first‐choice treatment. Therefore, DDAVP was (and remains) an attractive therapeutic alternative, being well tolerated, cost‐saving, administrable at home (by the intranasal or subcutaneous concentrated formulations) and, in particular, enabling the avoidance of blood product exposition and the related risks (allergic reactions, transfusion transmitted infections). Despite three decades of clinical use, cellular mechanisms of haemostatic effects of DDAVP in platelet defects remain poorly known and the excellent results reported in some case series have not been strengthened by rigorous clinical trials, hampered by the rarity and the heterogeneity of these disorders. However, clinical experience more than evidence‐based medicine reserved an established place to DDAVP in the management of inherited platelet disorders. This review will focus the available clinical data and the open issues of DDAVP in this setting.
Desmopressin: an historical introduction
Authors: MANNUCCI P. M.
Published: September 2010

Summary.  This review summarizes the steps that led to the development of desmopressin as a hemostatic agent. This drug has broadened the panel of pharmacological agents that can be used to treat or prevent bleeding in patients with mild hemophilia and von Willebrand disease.
α2‐Antiplasmin and its deficiency: fibrinolysis out of balance
Authors: CARPENTER S. L. , MATHEW P.
Published: September 2010

Summary.  Fibrinolysis serves an important role in the process of coagulation, ensuring that clots that are formed in response to injury resolve after the injured tissue is repaired. Fibrinolysis occurs because the protein plasminogen is converted to the active serine protease plasmin by its activating molecules (primarily tissue plasminogen activator). One of the inhibitors of fibrinolysis is α2‐antiplasmin, which acts as the primary inhibitor of plasmin(ogen). Congenital deficiency of α2‐antiplasmin causes a rare bleeding disorder because of increased fibrinolysis. Despite the rare nature of this disorder, understanding of the actions of α2‐antiplasmin and the results of its deficiency has provided the opportunity for better understanding of the fibrinolytic system in both how it affects the risk of bleeding and its impact on other bodily systems. Here, we review the history of the discovery of α2‐antiplasmin, our understanding of its genetics and function, and our current knowledge of its congenital deficiency. We also discuss some of the current avenues of investigation into its impact on other diseases and physiological states.
Prognostic relevance of tumour cell‐associated uPAR expression in invasive ductal breast carcinoma
Authors: Kotzsch Matthias , Bernt Katharina , Friedrich Katrin , Luther Elvira , Albrecht Sybille , Gatzweiler Axel , Magdolen Viktor , Baretton Gustavo , Zietz Christian , Luther Thomas
Published: September 2010

Kotzsch M, Bernt K, Friedrich K, Luther E, Albrecht S, Gatzweiler A, Magdolen V, Baretton G, Zietz C & Luther T (2010) Histopathology 57, 461–471 Prognostic relevance of tumour cell‐associated uPAR expression in invasive ductal breast carcinoma

Aims:  The urokinase‐type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) is a key molecule for pericellular proteolysis in tumour cell invasion and metastasis. The aim was to evaluate the prognostic impact of uPAR in invasive breast cancer dependent on which cell types within the tumour express uPAR.

Methods and results:  uPAR expression was analysed by immunohistochemistry in 270 tumour tissue specimens of invasive ductal breast carcinomas using tissue microarrays. For evaluation of uPAR immunoexpression we used the epitope‐mapped, uPAR domain II‐specific monoclonal antibody IID7. High uPAR score values in both tumour cells (uPAR‐Tc) and stromal cells were significantly related to high tumour grade (G3), and inversely correlated with oestrogen receptor status. On multivariate analysis, high uPAR‐Tc values contributed independent prognostic information for disease‐free survival (hazard ratio 1.93, P = 0.007) when adjusted for prognostically relevant clinicopathological parameters, whereas uPAR expression in stromal cells was not related to prognosis. In addition, elevated uPAR‐Tc values were found to be prognostic indicators in clinically relevant subgroups of patients with invasive breast cancer.

Conclusions:  In invasive breast cancer uPAR expression in invasive carcinoma cells, but not in stromal cells, has a significant impact on patients’ prognosis, and contributes to a more aggressive tumour phenotype.
Reading Between the Spikes of the Hypothalamic Neural Code
Authors: Bhumbra G. S. , Dyball R. E. J.
Published: September 2010

Reading the spike coding of hypothalamic neurones presents a considerable challenge because they exhibit highly irregular firing patterns. Electrophysiologists working in the motor and sensory systems, in which neurones fire more regularly, have devised satisfactory methods to describe the firing of cells, although the statistical assumptions that underlie the methods do not apply to hypothalamic neurones. Measurement of neural activity is nevertheless vital to characterise the activity of neuroendocrine cells. It has thus become necessary to develop methods suitable for the analysis of the highly irregular spike discharge patterns of both spontaneous and stimulus‐evoked firing of hypothalamic neurones. We review techniques used to meet this challenge and demonstrate their considerable capacity to address important physiological questions. We also introduce a novel approach for valid statistical estimation of the information conveyed by the response of a single neurone to a periodic stimulus. The approach demonstrated significant diurnal rhythms of synaptic connectivity between hypothalamic nuclei.
Identification of a genetic lineage within Xanthomonas arboricola pv. juglandis as the causal agent of vertical oozing canker of Persian (English) walnut in France
Authors: Hajri A. , Meyer D. , Delort F. , Guillaumès J. , Brin C. , Manceau C.
Published: September 2010

A new bacterial disease of Persian (English) walnut (Juglans regia) has been observed in France. This disease, called vertical oozing canker (VOC), is characterized by vertical cankers on trunks and branches of affected walnut trees with oozing exudates. To determine the aetiology of the disease, a study was carried out in 79 walnut orchards and nurseries located in southeastern and southwestern France. Bacterial analysis from diseased samples yielded 36 strains identified as Xanthomonas arboricola and 32 strains identified as Brenneria nigrifluens on the basis of biochemical tests. The causal agent of VOC was identified as X. arboricola by pathogenicity tests on walnut. Fluorescent amplified fragment length polymorphism (F‐AFLP) was carried out on 36 strains of X. arboricola collected in this study, 24 strains of X. arboricola pv. juglandis isolated from walnut blight symptoms and one strain of X. arboricola pv. corylina included as an outgroup. Based on cluster analysis of F‐AFLP data, most X. arboricola strains responsible for main VOC outbreaks showed a high degree of similarity, forming a cluster clearly separate from strains of X. arboricola pv. juglandis isolated from walnut blight symptoms. It is suggested that VOC is caused by a distinct genetic lineage within the pathovar juglandis of X. arboricola that is also able to cause classical bacterial blight symptoms on walnut leaves and fruits.
Alluvial fan and wetland interactions: evidence of seasonal slope wetlands from the Silurian of south central Wales, UK
Authors: HILLIER ROBERT D. , WATERS RICHARD A. , MARRIOTT SUSAN B. , DAVIES JEREMY R.
Published: September 2010

Distal environs of the Ludlow‐age Trichrug Formation from south central Wales (UK) detail deposition on the outer fringe of an ephemeral debris flow‐dominated alluvial fan. Debrites and subordinate sheetflood deposits are interbedded with sporadic thin sandstone‐dominated heterolithic units deposited in shallow, ephemeral ponds in the axial valley. The latter slope wetland system fringed the permeable alluvial fan deposits, being maintained by streamflow, precipitation and ground water recharge. A prolonged high water table is indicated by low chroma intervals interpreted as the result of gleying. A variety of redoximorphic indicators, including colour mottling and ferricrete concretions, are evidence of iron mobilization and concentration associated with a seasonally fluctuating water table. The slope wetlands were colonized periodically by Skolithos‐generating organisms, most likely to have been arthropods. The widespread occurrence of redoximorphic indicators and ferricrete contrasts markedly with calcrete Vertisols in penecontemporaneous continental deposits (Lower Old Red Sandstone) of the region. It is likely that the alluvial fan‐toe area was the site of a wetland depression, which maintained a high, though fluctuating, water table. In contrast the alluvial channel reaches of the surrounding drainage network were significantly better drained, with floodplains prone to wetting and drying and Vertisol palaeopedogenesis.
A questionnaire to measure health practitioners’ attitudes to partnership in medicine taking: LATCon II
Authors: Knapp Peter , Raynor David K. , Thistlethwaite Jill E. , Jones Marc B.
Published: September 2010

Objectives  To revise and improve an existing scale to measure health practitioners’ attitudes to partnership in medicine taking and to ascertain the views of medical students, nursing students and pre‐registration pharmacists on concordance.

Background  The traditional model of the practitioner‐patient interaction incorporates a practitioner‐centred approach, focusing on the disease rather than the patient. The philosophy of ‘concordance’ (or ‘partnership in medicine‐taking’) puts the patient at the centre of the interaction, with the patient interacting reciprocally with the practitioner. The Leeds Attitude to Concordance (LATCon) scale was developed in 2001 to assess practitioners’ and patients’ attitudes to concordance. However, thinking on concordance has developed since then and the present study aimed to revise the scale to ensure that it reflected current thinking and also to increase its reliability and validity.

Design  A pool of potential items was developed and sent to three subject experts for opinion. An attitudinal Likert scale of 31 items was developed. Its completion was followed by statistical item reduction to 20 items. The shorter scale was completed by the same participants 4–6 weeks later.

Setting and participants  The study was set in a university in the UK. Participants were 183 medical students, nursing students, and pre‐registration pharmacists.

Results and discussion  The study derived a 20 item scale, including five negatively‐worded items, with good levels of internal and test‐retest reliability. Factor analysis suggested five main factors. A statistically significant difference in attitudes was found between student nurses and medical students, and student nurses and pre‐registration pharmacists, with student nurses being more in agreement with the concordant approach. Overall, participants were in agreement with the concordant approach to medicine taking.

The UK National Health Service advocates partnership in medical care and is encouraging both practitioners and patients to work to introduce this. There is increased awareness of the patients’ perspective by practitioners, but its impact on their practice remains unclear. Education and skills teaching must continue for the benefits of a concordant approach to be seen. The LATCon scale could play a useful role in education and training, and in research assessing the movement towards the new approach.
Transmission of triple‐class, drug‐resistant HIV‐1 in Australia
Authors: Tong W. W. Y. , McAllister J. , White P. A. , Kelleher A. D. , Carr A.
Published: September 2010

We report the first two cases of transmitted triple‐class, drug‐resistant HIV‐1 in Australia. Baseline testing of a newly diagnosed man showed four reverse transcriptase resistance mutations (affecting two drug classes) and six protease resistance mutations. A source patient was identified, and a likely second case newly infected 1 year later, suggesting sequential transmission. This raises therapeutic implications for the individual patients, as well as public health concerns.
Reduction of falls and osteoporotic fractures: Plain vitamin D or D‐hormone analogs?
Authors: Schacht Erich
Published: September 2010

Falling in old age has disastrous consequences. Falls break bones, self‐esteem and activity. Fractures are also the relevant outcome of osteoporosis. D‐hormone (1,25[OH]2D; calcitriol), and its receptor (VDR) play an important role in muscle development. Older age is significantly associated with decreased VDR expression in human skeletal muscle tissue. A positive correlation was found between femoral muscle power and function and D‐hormone serum levels in the elderly. These results suggest that the age‐related increase of falls seemed in part to be explained by a decrease of VDR and of D‐hormone. A significant decrease in the fall rate after 3 years treatment with 0.5 μg calcitriol daily in osteopenic women without vitamin D deficiency has been described. Alfacalcidol, an advantageous pro‐drug of calcitriol, has demonstrated the reduction of falls by 50–70% in elderly women and men with normal vitamin D levels in serum and who have taken more than 500 mg of daily calcium from diet or had a creatinine clearance of less than 65 mL/min. A meta‐analysis of the potential effects of plain vitamin D and D‐hormones was published. Subgroup analyses have proven the clear advantage of D‐hormones. In addition, three recently published confirmative clinical studies in elderly people with or without previous osteoporotic fractures have shown that neither an annual injection of 300 000 IU of plain vitamin D nor the combination of daily orally given vitamin D (800 IU) with calcium (1 g) is able to reduce falls or any kind of fractures. New meta‐analyses with D‐hormones have proven the reduction of vertebral and non‐vertebral fractures in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis. The rationale of the advantage of D‐hormones is that these drugs act without metabolic activation in the kidney which results in higher concentrations at the target organs and in local expression of VDR. Plain vitamin D seemed to be active only in vitamin D deficient patients with normal kidney function.
Effects of long‐term exercise class on prevention of falls in community‐dwelling elderly: Kahoku longitudinal aging study
Authors: Fujisawa Michiko , Ishine Masayuki , Okumiya Kiyohito , Nishinaga Masanori , Doi Yoshinori , Ozawa Toshio , Matsubayashi Kozo
Published: September 2010

Background:  We intended to compare the effect on preventing falls between the subjects participating and not participating in exercise classes over 8 years of follow up in all the community‐dwelling elderly in Kahoku Town, Kochi Prefecture, Japan.

Methods:  We compared falling state both in 1993 and 2001 between 119 participants (male : female ratio, 51:68; mean age, 72.5 years) in exercise class during the 8‐year period from 1993–2001, and 878 non‐participants (M : F ratio, 243:635; mean age, 73.4 years). We assessed the long‐term effects of participating in exercise classes on preventing falls via multivariate, longitudinal analysis.

Results:  Only participation in both the 1993–1995 period and 1996–2001 one was a significantly independent contributing factor for prevention of falls even after the adjustment for age, sex, activities of daily living, depression scale and presence/absence of oral drugs (odds ratio, 0.20; P = 0.007). Although it failed to reach significance in this study, recent and continuing exercise was supposed to be effective for prevention of falls.

Conclusion:  Unlike a short program, long‐continuing exercise is effective in preventing falls of community‐dwelling elderly for a long time after the adjustment of age, activities of daily living, depression and other confounding variables.
Different changes of bone mineral density and nutritional status after hospitalization between vascular dementia and Alzheimer's disease in elderly female patients
Authors: Suzuki Atsuko , Fukuo Keisuke , Yasuda Osamu , Taniguchi Kazuhisa , Kitano Shoichi , Ogihara Toshio
Published: September 2010

Background:  Bone fractures strongly influence morbidity and mortality in elderly patients with dementia. The goal of this study was to examine whether difference in the type of dementia affects changes of bone mineral density (BMD) during hospitalization with rehabilitation programs.

Methods:  Ninety‐four Japanese elderly female patients were enrolled. BMD, Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores, and levels of serum albumin, calcium‐related factors and urinary calcium excretion were measured.

Results:  Multivariable analyses indicated that serum albumin levels and MMSE scores were positively correlated with changes in BMD after 2 years hospitalization. Significant reduction of BMD levels after hospitalization were observed in patients with severe dementia (MMSE scores, <10) or with severe malnutrition (serum albumin, <2.0). We next classified our subjects into three groups according to the 4th edn of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual criteria: non‐dementia (ND), Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD). Although there were no significant differences in age and physical activities among the groups; the levels of BMD were maintained in AD as well as ND but not in VaD. Notably, calcium excretion levels were significantly decreased after hospitalization in AD as well as ND but not in VaD. Serum 25(OH)D levels were also restored in AD but not in VaD. In addition, the nutritional status significantly improved in AD but not in VaD.

Conclusion:  The levels of BMD were maintained and the nutritional status was improved in AD but not in VaD for 2 years hospitalization with rehabilitation programs. These results suggest that different programs including nutritional support may be necessary for maintaining BMD levels in VaD as compared with AD during hospitalization.
Flagellar sensillum patterns in Nyssoninae and Philanthinae wasps (Hymenoptera, Sphecidae)
Authors: ÅGREN LENNART
Published: September 2010

Morphology and distributional patterns of antenna1 sensilla were compared between four species in three genera of Sphecidae. Sensilla placodea have plates that are raised to resemble low domes in Argogorytes mystaceus and A. fargei or low pegs in Bembix rostrata and Cerceris rybyensis. Sensilla basiconica occur in both sexes of Bembix and Cerceris, but, similarly to Apidae (s. laf.), only in females of Argogorytes. The antennae of the two species of Argogorytes differ primarily in being larger in A. mysfaceus, thus permitting space for more sensilla. In Bembix rostrata, the male antennae are adapted to function as ‘gripping’ organs.
Implications of different DCCT‐aligned HbA1c methods on GMS clinical indicators
Authors: Twomey P. J. , Rayman G. , Pledger D. R.
Published: September 2010

Background  In 2003, a new General Medical Services (GMS) contract was agreed between UK general practitioners and the Department of Health. The three diabetes codes DM5–DM7 require glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) testing and comprise 30 points in total, with 27 points being related to target glycaemic control. We compared two routinely used Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT)‐aligned HbA1c methods to determine if different HbA1c methods could lead to postcode treatment to target across the UK.

Methods  A total of 164 specimens were randomly selected from diabetic patients attending the Diabetes Centre at the Ipswich Hospital. Samples were analysed on both a DCA 2000®+ Analyser and a Variant II analyser.

Results  Despite a mean difference of only 6.5% between the two methods, 32 (19.5%) and 63 (38.4%) patient samples had an HbA1c ≤ 7.4% with the Variant II analyser and DCA 2000®+ Analyser, respectively. Thus, the two methods differed according to the DM6 GMS target by 31 patients, or 18.9% of the total number of patients in this study. The difference between the two methods was statistically significant with P < 10−09 (McNemar's test).

Conclusions  DCCT‐alignment has improved the transferability of HbA1c values; however, it is not perfect. It is important that the limitations of current DCCT‐aligned HbA1c methods are understood by health‐care professionals and policy makers, as these may have important financial and clinical implications.
Prevalence and associations of psychological distress in young adults with Type 1 diabetes
Authors: Hislop A. L. , Fegan P. G. , Schlaeppi M. J. , Duck M. , Yeap B. B.
Published: September 2010

Aims  To determine the prevalence of psychological distress in young adults with Type 1 diabetes and to explore associated factors.

Methods  Ninety‐two participants with Type 1 diabetes (46 male, 46 female) attending a young adult clinic completed two psychological self‐report assessments; the Centre for Epidemiological Studies–Depression Scale (CES‐D) and Adult Self‐Report Scale (ASR). The mean age was 21.6 ± 2.8 years (sd) and mean duration of diabetes was 9.3 ± 5.4 years. A questionnaire identified the method of insulin delivery, the frequency of blood glucose monitoring and hypoglycaemia requiring third‐party assistance. HbA1c was measured.

Results  Of the participants, 35.2% reported depressive symptoms (CES‐D ≥ 16), 23.1% indicating severe depressive symptoms (CES‐D ≥ 24), and 32.2, 40.4 and 35.5% of participants reported significant distress (ASR ≥ 60) on the ASR total problem scales, ASR internalizing and ASR externalizing scores, respectively. Mean HbA1c levels were higher in participants with depressive symptoms compared with those with normal scores (CES‐D ≥ 16, HbA1c= 9.4% vs. CES‐D < 16, HbA1c= 8.4%, P = 0.01). Factors associated with psychological distress included use of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) (P = 0.02) and increased frequency of hypoglycaemic episodes (P = 0.03). CSII users had higher CES‐D (21.3 vs. 11.9, P = 0.001) and ASR‐Total (59.7 vs. 53.0, P = 0.02) scores than non‐CSII users.

Conclusions   Approximately one‐third of young adults with Type 1 diabetes experience psychological distress, which is associated with poorer glycaemic control. Psychological distress was related to frequency of hypoglycaemic episodes and method of insulin administration, with significantly greater distress being observed in those using CSII. These findings support inclusion of a psychologist in the diabetes team.
The association of genetic variants in Krüppel‐like factor 11 and Type 2 diabetes in the Japanese population
Authors: Tanahashi T. , Shinohara K. , Keshavarz P. , Yamaguchi Y. , Miyawaki K. , Kunika K. , Moritani M. , Nakamura N. , Yoshikawa T. , Shiota H. , Inoue H. , Itakura M.
Published: September 2010

Aims  Krüppel‐like factor 11 (KLF11) is a transcriptional factor of the zinc finger domain family that regulates the expression of insulin. In North European populations, its common functional variant Q62R (rs35927125) is a strong genetic factor for Type 2 diabetes (P = 0.00033, odds ratio for G allele = 1.29, 95% CI 1.12–1.49). We examined the contribution of KLF11 variants to the susceptibility to Type 2 diabetes in a Japanese population.

Methods  By re‐sequencing Japanese individuals (n = 24, partly 96), we screened all four exons, exon/intron boundaries and flanking regions of KLF11. Verified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped in 731 initial samples (369 control and 362 case subjects). Subsequently, we tested for association in 1087 samples (524 control and 563 case subjects), which were collected in different districts of Japan from the initial samples.

Results  We identified eight variants, including a novel A/C variant on intron 3, but no mis‐sense mutations. In an association study, we failed to find any significant result of SNPs (minor allele frequency 8.2–46.2%) after correcting for multiple testing. Similarly, no haplotypes were associated with Type 2 diabetes. It is notable that the G allele in rs35927125 was completely absent in 1818 Japanese individuals.

Conclusions  Genetic variants in KLF11 are unlikely to have a major effect of Type 2 diabetes in the Japanese population, although they were significantly associated in North European populations. These observations might help to determine the role of KLF11 variants in Type 2 diabetes in different populations.
Diabetic retinopathy is associated with an increased incidence of cardiovascular events in Type 2 diabetic patients
Authors: Targher G. , Bertolini L. , Zenari L. , Lippi G. , Pichiri I. , Zoppini G. , Muggeo M. , Arcaro G.
Published: September 2010

Aims  We investigated the association of diabetic retinopathy with the risk of incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) events in a large cohort of Type 2 diabetic adults.

Methods  Our study cohort comprised 2103 Type 2 diabetic outpatients who were free of diagnosed CVD at baseline. Retinal findings were classified based on fundoscopy (by a single ophthalmologist) to categories of no retinopathy, non‐proliferative retinopathy and proliferative/laser‐treated retinopathy. Outcomes measures were incident CVD events (i.e. non‐fatal myocardial infarction, non‐fatal ischaemic stroke, coronary revascularization procedures or cardiovascular death).

Results  During approximately 7 years of follow‐up, 406 participants subsequently developed incident CVD events, whereas 1697 participants remained free of diagnosed CVD. After adjustment for age, body mass index, waist circumference, smoking, lipids, glycated haemoglobin, diabetes duration and medications use, patients with non‐proliferative or proliferative/laser‐treated retinopathy had a greater risk (P < 0.001 for all) of incident CVD events than those without retinopathy [hazard ratio 1.61 (95% confidence interval 1.2–2.6) and 3.75 (2.0–7.4) for men, and 1.67 (1.3–2.8) and 3.81 (2.2–7.3) for women, respectively]. After additional adjustment for hypertension and advanced nephropathy (defined as overt proteinuria and/or estimated glomerular filtration rate ≤ 60 ml/min/1.73 m2), the risk of incident CVD remained markedly increased in those with proliferative/laser‐treated retinopathy [hazard ratio 2.08 (1.02–3.7) for men and 2.41 (1.05–3.9) for women], but not in those with non‐proliferative retinopathy.

Conclusions  Diabetic retinopathy (especially in its more advanced stages) is associated with an increased CVD incidence independent of other known cardiovascular risk factors.
Unrecognized glucose intolerance is not associated with depression. Screening for Impaired Glucose Tolerance study 3 (SIGT 3)
Authors: Rhee M. K. , Musselman D. , Ziemer D. C. , Vaccarino V. , Kolm P. , Weintraub W. S. , Caudle J. M. , Varughese R. M. , Irving J. M. , Phillips L. S.
Published: September 2010

Aims  To understand the metabolic and temporal links in the relationship between diabetes and depression, we determined the association between depressive symptoms and unrecognized glucose intolerance.

Methods  In a cross‐sectional study, 1047 subjects without known diabetes were screened for diabetes or pre‐diabetes using the oral glucose tolerance test and for depressive symptoms using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ).

Results  Mean age was 48 years, body mass index 30 kg/m2; 63% were female, 54% black, 11% previously treated for depression and 10% currently treated; 5% had diabetes and 34% pre‐diabetes. Median PHQ score was 2 (interquartile range 0–5). Depressive symptoms did not increase with worsening glucose tolerance, after adjusting for age, sex, ethnicity, body mass index, family history, exercise, education and depression treatment.

Conclusions  There is no association between depressive symptoms and unrecognized glucose intolerance. However, it remains possible that diagnosed diabetes, with its attendant health concerns, management issues, and/or biological changes, may be a risk for subsequent development of depression. Thus, patients with newly diagnosed diabetes should be counselled appropriately and monitored for the development of depression.
Variation in abundance of Norwegian spring‐spawning herring (Clupea harengus, Clupeidae) throughout the 20th century and the influence of climatic fluctuations
Authors: Toresen R. , Østvedt O.J.
Published: September 2010

A long‐term (1907–98) virtual population analysis (VPA) was made for Norwegian spring‐spawning herring (NSSH), which is a huge pelagic fish stock in the north‐east Atlantic. It shows that this herring stock has had large fluctuations during the last century; these fluctuations have mainly been determined by variations in the temperature of the inflowing water masses to the region. The spawning stock biomass (SSB) increased from a rather low level in the early years of this century and reached a high level of around 14 million tons by 1930. The spawning stock biomass then decreased to a level of around 10 million tons by 1940, but increased again to a record high level of 16 million tons by 1945. The stock then started to decrease and during the next 20‐year period fell to a level of less than 50 000 tons by the late 1960s. Through the 1970s and 1980s, the stock slowly recovered and after the recruitment of strong year classes in 1983 and 1990–1992 the stock recovered to a spawning stock biomass of about 10 million tons. The long‐term fluctuation in spawning stock biomass is caused by variations in the survival of recruits. It is found that the long‐term changes in spawning stock abundance are highly correlated with the long‐term variations in the mean annual temperature of the inflowing Atlantic water masses (through the Kola section) into the north‐east Atlantic region. The recruitment is positively correlated with the average temperature in the Kola section in the winter months, January–April, which indicates that environmental factors govern the large‐scale fluctuations in production for this herring stock.
Estimating collateral mortality from towed fishing gear
Authors: Broadhurst Matt K. , Suuronen Petri , Hulme Alex
Published: September 2010

More than 50% of the world's total marine catch (approximately 81 million tonnes) is harvested using towed fishing gears (i.e. Danish seines, dredges and otter and beam trawls). As for all methods, the total fishing mortality of these gears comprises the reported (landed) and unreported catch and other unaccounted, collateral deaths due to (i) avoiding, (ii) escaping, (iii) dropping out of the gear during fishing, (iv) discarding from the vessel, (v) ghost fishing of lost gear, (vi) habitat destruction or subsequent (vii) predation and (viii) infection from any of the above. The inherent poor selectivity of many towed gears, combined with their broad spatial deployment, means that there is considerable potential for cumulative effects of (i)–(viii) listed above on total fishing mortality, and subsequent wide‐scale negative impacts on stocks of important species. In this paper, we develop a strategy for minimizing this unwanted exploitation by reviewing all the primary literature studies that have estimated collateral, unaccounted fishing mortalities and identifying the key causal factors. We located more than 80 relevant published studies (between 1890 and early 2006) that quantified the mortalities of more than 120 species of escaping (26 papers) or discarded (62 papers) bivalves, cephalopods, crustaceans, echinoderms, elasmobranches, reptiles, teleosts and miscellaneous organisms. Seven of these studies also included the estimates of mortalities caused by dropping out of gears, predation and infection [(iii), (vii) and (viii) listed above]. Owing to several key biological (physiology, size and catch volume and composition), environmental (temperature, hypoxia, sea state and availability of light) and technical (gear design, tow duration and speed) factors, catch‐and‐escape or catch‐and‐discarding mechanisms were identified to evoke cumulative negative effects on the health of most organisms. We propose that because the mortalities of discards typically are much greater than escapees, the primary focus of efforts to mitigate unaccounted fishing mortalities should concentrate on the rapid, passive, size and species selection of non‐target organisms from the anterior sections of towed gears during fishing. Once maximum selection has been achieved and demonstrated to cause few mortalities, efforts should be made to modify other operational and/or post‐capture handling procedures that address the key causal factors listed above.
Omnidirectional multibeam sonar monitoring: applications in fisheries science
Authors: Brehmer Patrice , Lafont Thierry , Georgakarakos Stratis , Josse Erwan , Gerlotto François , Collet Christophe
Published: September 2010

Data exploitation, acquired by medium‐frequency omnidirectional multibeam sonar, enables original studies in fisheries research but is seldom used despite the fact that such equipment is found on most fishing vessels and a number of research vessels. This is the only system for real‐time monitoring of fish schools within a horizontal omnidirectional plane about a vessel or a buoy. Between 1996 and 2001, we used two standard omnidirectional sonars and developed new methodologies for exploiting their specific acoustic data according to two main sampling schemes: ‘prospecting’, including fishing and searching operations, and ‘drifting’, as with an instrumental buoy system or aboard a stationary vessel. We present a complete method for continuous data acquisition from aboard a research vessel or commercial boat, with automated data extraction by picture analysis and a data processing method. Two cases of data analysis are considered: the first on a school‐by‐school basis, the ‘single school’ mode; the second taking into account all fish schools detected within the sonar sampling volume, the ‘cluster’ mode. Elementary sonar information is divided into five categories that comprise 24 survey and sonar parameters and 55 school, cluster and fisher behaviour descriptors. We review the applications of these categories and discuss perspectives for their use in fisheries science. If the sonar system enables the evaluation of the effects of vessel avoidance on fish school biomass assessment, no accurate abundance estimate can be provided by a simple sonar echo‐integration process. Omnidirectional sonar data can be used to analyse collectively the fish schools’ swimming speed, kinematics in terms of diffusion and migration, aggregative dynamics as school splitting and merging indexes, spatial characteristics of clusters such as school density, 2D structure and fisher behaviour. The prospect of integrating such data into a fish school database, including multifrequency echo‐sounder and lateral multibeam (3D) sonar data combined with a species recognition method, will enable a complete view of fish school behaviour and consequently the adoption of accurate fisheries management methods.
The Development of Core Cognitive Skills in Autism: A 3‐Year Prospective Study
Authors: Pellicano Elizabeth
Published: September 2010

This longitudinal study tested the veracity of one candidate multiple‐deficits account of autism by assessing 37 children with autism (M age = 67.9 months) and 31 typical children (M age = 65.2 months) on tasks tapping components of theory of mind (ToM), executive function (EF), and central coherence (CC) at intake and again 3 years later. As a group, children with autism showed poor false‐belief attribution, planning ability, and set‐shifting, together with enhanced local processing at both time points. At an individual level, however, the profile was far from universal at either intake or follow‐up. Moreover, autistic children demonstrated significant changes over time in ToM and EF, but not CC, over the 3‐year period. The challenges these findings pose for a multiple‐deficits account are discussed.
Interracial and Intraracial Contact, School‐Level Diversity, and Change in Racial Identity Status Among African American Adolescents
Authors: Yip Tiffany , Seaton Eleanor K. , Sellers Robert M.
Published: September 2010

Among 224 African American adolescents (mean age = 14), the associations between interracial and intraracial contact and school‐level diversity on changes in racial identity over a 3‐year period were examined. Youths were determined to be diffused, foreclosed, moratorium, or achieved, and change or stability in identity status was examined. Contact with Black students, Black friends, and White friends predicted change in identity status. Furthermore, in racially diverse schools, having more Black friends was associated with identity stability. Students reporting low contact with Black students in racially diverse schools were more likely to report identity change if they had few Black friends. In students reporting high contact with Blacks in predominantly White schools, their identity was less likely to change for students with fewer White friends.
Child Care and the Development of Behavior Problems Among Economically Disadvantaged Children in Middle Childhood
Authors: Votruba‐Drzal Elizabeth , Coley Rebekah Levine , Maldonado‐Carreño Carolina , Li‐Grining Christine P. , Chase‐Lansdale P. Lindsay
Published: September 2010

Research examining the longer term influences of child care on children’s development has expanded in recent years, but few studies have considered low‐income children’s experiences in community care arrangements. Using data from the Three‐City Study (N = 349), the present investigation examines the influences of child care quality, extent and type on low‐income children’s development of behavior problems during middle childhood (7–11 years old). Higher levels of child care quality were linked to moderate reductions in externalizing behavior problems. High‐quality child care was especially protective against the development of behavior problems for boys and African American children. Child care type and the extent of care that children experienced were generally unrelated to behavior problems in middle childhood.
Children’s Classroom Engagement and School Readiness Gains in Prekindergarten
Authors: Chien Nina C. , Howes Carollee , Burchinal Margaret , Pianta Robert C. , Ritchie Sharon , Bryant Donna M. , Clifford Richard M. , Early Diane M. , Barbarin Oscar A.
Published: September 2010

Child engagement in prekindergarten classrooms was examined using 2,751 children (mean age = 4.62) enrolled in public prekindergarten programs that were part of the Multi‐State Study of Pre‐Kindergarten and the State‐Wide Early Education Programs Study. Latent class analysis was used to classify children into 4 profiles of classroom engagement:free play, individual instruction, group instruction,andscaffolded learning.Free playchildren exhibited smaller gains across the prekindergarten year on indicators of language/literacy and mathematics compared to other children.Individual instructionchildren made greater gains than other children on the Woodcock Johnson Applied Problems. Poor children in theindividual instructionprofile fared better than nonpoor children in that profile; in all other snapshot profiles, poor children fared worse than nonpoor children.
Early Elementary School Adjustment of Maltreated Children in Foster Care: The Roles of Inhibitory Control and Caregiver Involvement
Authors: Pears Katherine C. , Fisher Philip A. , Bruce Jacqueline , Kim Hyoun K. , Yoerger Karen
Published: September 2010

In this study, 85 maltreated foster children and 56 nonmaltreated community children (M age = 3–6 years) were assessed across kindergarten and first grade to examine the hypothesis that inhibitory control and caregiver involvement mediate associations between a history of maltreatment and foster placement and early school adjustment. Specifically, academic and social‐emotional competence were evaluated. The maltreated foster children performed more poorly in academic and social‐emotional competence. Inhibitory control fully mediated the association of maltreatment and foster placement with academic competence, whereas inhibitory control and caregiver involvement mediated their association with social‐emotional competence. The results suggest that inhibitory control and caregiver involvement might be promising targets for school readiness interventions for foster preschoolers.
Tropaeolaceae: 678. TROPAEOLUM AUSTROPURPUREUM
Authors: Watson John , Flores Ana
Published: September 2010

Tropaeolum austropurpureum (J.M. Watson & A.R. Flores) J.M. Watson & A.R. Flores, stat. nov., based on Tropaeolum hookerianum Barnéoud subsp. austropurpureum J.M. Watson & A.R. Flores, is described, and the new rank is published. Details of the discovery, ecology, and possible evolution of this species are discussed. Instructions for its cultivation are given.
Tropaeolaceae: 684. TROPAEOLUM POLYPHYLLUM
Authors: Rix Martyn
Published: September 2010

Tropaeolum polyphyllum Cav. is illustrated and described. The history of its discovery and its distribution are given; its propagation and cultivation are discussed.
A numerical study of tournament structure and seeding policy for the soccer World Cup Finals
Authors: Scarf P. A. , Yusof M. M.
Published: September 2010

Tournament outcome uncertainty depends on: the design of the tournament; and the relative strengths of the competitors – the competitive balance. A tournament design comprises the arrangement of the individual matches, which we call the tournament structure, the seeding policy and the progression rules. In this paper, we investigate the effect of seeding policy for various tournament structures, while taking account of competitive balance. Our methodology uses tournament outcome uncertainty to consider the effect of seeding policy and other design changes. The tournament outcome uncertainty is measured using the tournament outcome characteristic which is the probability Pq,R that a team in the top 100q pre‐tournament rank percentile progresses forward from round R, for all q and R. We use Monte Carlo simulation to calculate the values of this metric. We find that, in general, seeding favours stronger competitors, but that the degree of favouritism varies with the type of seeding. Reseeding after each round favours the strong to the greatest extent. The ideas in the paper are illustrated using the soccer World Cup Finals tournament.