bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multiple‐Regime Spatial Price Transmission with an Application to Maize Markets in Southern Africa
Authors: Myers Robert J. , Jayne T.S.
Published: December 2011

Conventional threshold models of price transmission allow for different speeds of adjustment to equilibria depending on the magnitude of price differentials between markets. However, these models typically assume only one underlying long‐run equilibrium price relationship. In this article we develop a framework for allowing multiple equilibria and multiple speeds of adjustment with regime separation depending on the magnitude of trade flows between regions, rather than the magnitude of price differentials. Applying this framework to maize price transmission between South Africa and Zambia shows no transmission during periods of high imports, when the government was heavily involved in maize importation, but stronger transmission during periods of low imports when the government was not importing.
DHRS7c, a novel cardiomyocyte‐expressed gene that is down‐regulated by adrenergic stimulation and in heart failure
Authors: Lu Bo , Tigchelaar Wardit , Ruifrok Willem P.T. , van Gilst Wiek H. , de Boer Rudolf A. , Silljé Herman H.W.
Published: December 2011

Aims

Although cardiac diseases account for the highest mortality and morbidity rates in Western society, there is still a considerable gap in our knowledge of genes that contribute to cardiac (dys)function. Here we screened for gene expression profiles correlated to heart failure.

Methods and results

By expression profiling we identified a novel gene, termed DHRS7c, which was significantly down‐regulated by adrenergic stimulation and in heart failure models. Dhrs7c is a short chain dehydrogenase/reductase (SDR) and is localized to the endo/sarcoplasmic reticulum. Dhrs7c is strongly conserved in vertebrates, and mRNA and protein expression levels were highest in heart and skeletal muscle followed by skin, but were not detectable in other organs. In vitro, both α‐ and β‐adrenergic stimulation repressed Dhrs7c expression in neonatal cardiomyocytes and this could be mimicked by the direct activation of protein kinase C and adenylate cyclase, the respective intracellular targets of these hormones. In contrast, endothelin‐1, which also provoked strong hypertrophy development in vitro, did not repress Dhrs7c expression. The latter suggests adrenergic specificity and indicates that down‐regulation is not a prerequisite for hypertrophy development. In vivo adrenergic stimulation could also down‐regulate Dhrs7c expression. Finally, we confirmed that expression was also down‐regulated in two different models of failure and, importantly, also in biopsies from human heart failure patients.

Conclusion

Our results show that the expression of Dhrs7c, a novel endo/sarcoplasmic reticulum‐localized SDR, is inversely correlated with adrenergic stimulation and heart failure development.
Construction of an Integrated Positive Youth Development Conceptual Framework for the Prevention of the Use of Psychotropic Drugs among Adolescents
Authors: Lee Tak Yan
Published: December 2011

This is a theoretical paper with an aim to construct an integrated conceptual framework for the prevention of adolescents' use and abuse of psychotropic drugs. This paper first reports the subjective reasons for adolescents' drug use and abuse in Hong Kong and reviews the theoretical underpinnings. Theories of drug use and abuse, including neurological, pharmacological, genetic predisposition, psychological, and sociological theories, were reviewed. It provides a critical re-examination of crucial factors that support the construction of a conceptual framework for primary prevention of adolescents' drug use and abuse building on, with minor revision, the model of victimization and substance abuse among women presented by Logan et al. This revised model provides a comprehensive and coherent framework synthesized from theories of drug abuse. This paper then provides empirical support for integrating a positive youth development perspective in the revised model. It further explains how the 15 empirically sound constructs identified by Catalano et al. and used in a positive youth development program, the Project P.A.T.H.S., relate generally to the components of the revised model to formulate an integrated positive youth development conceptual framework for primary prevention of adolescent drug use. Theoretical and practical implications as well as limitations and recommendations are discussed.
Extreme climatic events and vegetation: the role of stabilizing processes
Authors: Lloret Francisco , Escudero Adrian , Iriondo José María , Martínez‐Vilalta Jordi , Valladares Fernando
Published: December 2011

Current climatic trends involve both increasing temperatures and climatic variability, with extreme events becoming more frequent. Increasing concern on extreme climatic events has triggered research on vegetation shifts. However, evidences of vegetation shifts resulting from these events are still relatively rare. Empirical evidence supports the existence of stabilizing processes minimizing and counteracting the effects of these events, reinforcing community resilience. We propose a demographic framework to understand this inertia to change based on the balance between adult mortality induced by the event and enhanced recruitment or adult survival after the event. The stabilizing processes potentially contributing to this compensation include attenuation of the adult mortality caused by the event, due to site quality variability, to tolerance, phenotypic variability, and plasticity at population level, and to facilitative interactions. Mortality compensation may also occur by increasing future survival due to beneficial effect on growth and survival of the new conditions derived from global warming and increased climatic variability, to lowered competition resulting from reduced density in affected stands, or to antagonistic release when pathogens or predators are vulnerable to the event or the ongoing climatic conditions. Finally, mortality compensation may appear by enhanced recruitment due to release of competition with established vegetation, for instance as a consequence of gap openings after event‐caused mortality, or to the new conditions, which may be more favorable for seedling establishment, or to enhanced mutualistic interactions (pollination, dispersal). There are important challenges imposed by the need of long‐term studies, but a research agenda focused on potentially stabilizing processes is well suited to understand the variety of responses, including lack of sudden changes and community inertia that are frequently observed in vegetation under extreme events. This understanding is crucial for the establishment of sound management strategies and actions addressed to improve ecosystem resilience under climate change scenarios.
Future wood productivity ofPinus radiatainNewZealand under expected climatic changes
Authors: Kirschbaum Miko U. F. , Watt Michael S. , Tait Andrew , Ausseil Anne‐Gaelle E.
Published: December 2011

The physiologically based growth modelCenWwas used to simulate wood‐productivity responses ofPinus radiataforests to climate change inNewZealand. The model was tested under current climatic conditions against a comprehensive set of observations from growth plots located throughout the country. Climate change simulations were based on monthly climate change fields of 12GCMs forced by theSRESB1, A1B and A2 emission scenarios for 2040 and 2090. Simulations used either constant or increasingCO2concentrations corresponding to the different emission scenarios. With constantCO2, there were only slight growth responses to climate change across the country as a whole. More specifically, there were slight growth reductions in the warmer north but gains in the cooler south, especially at higher altitudes. For sites whereP. radiatais currently grown, and across the full suite ofGCMs and emission scenarios, changes in wood productivity averaged +3% for both 2040 and 2090. When increasingCO2concentration was also included, responses of wood productivity were generally positive, with average increases of 19% by 2040 and 37% by 2090. These responses varied regionally, ranging from relatively minor changes in the north of the country to very significant increases in the south, where the beneficial effect of increasingCO2combined with the beneficial effect of increasing temperatures. These relatively large responses toCO2depend on maintenance of the current adequate fertility levels in most commercial plantations. Productivity enhancements came at the expense of some soil‐carbon losses. Average losses for the country were simulated to average 3.5% under constantCO2and 1.5% with increasingCO2concentration. Again, there were regional differences, with larger losses for regions with lesser growth enhancements, and lesser reductions in regions where greater productivity enhancements could partly balance the effect of faster decomposition activity.
Molecular characterization of heterochromatin proteins 1a and 1b from the silkworm, Bombyx mori
Authors: Mitsunobu H. , Izumi M. , Mon H. , Tatsuke T. , Lee J. M. , Kusakabe T.
Published: December 2011

Heterochromatin protein 1s (HP1s) are nonhistone chromosomal proteins that play a direct role in the formation and maintenance of heterochromatin structure. Similarly to Caenorhabditis elegans, silkworms possess holocentric chromosomes, in which diffused kinetochores extend along the length of each chromosome. We have isolated two silkworm HP1 homologues, BmHP1a and BmHP1b. Cytological analysis showed a unique localization of BmHP1s during cell division, in which these proteins first appear to dissociate from the chromosomes, but then return to enclose the chromosomes during metaphase. BmHP1s formed homo‐ and hetero‐dimers and interacted with BmSu(var)3–9, which is a methyltransferase for histone H3 lysine 9 (H3K9). We further showed, using a silkworm cell‐based reporter system, that BmHP1b had higher transcriptional repression activity than BmHP1a, whereas BmHP1a interacted more strongly with BmSu(var)3–9 than did BmHP1b. These results suggest that silkworm HP1a and HP1b may play different roles in heterochromatin formation in holocentric silkworm chromosomes.
Using the Precede–Proceed Model of Health Program Planning in breast cancer nursing research
Authors: Tramm Ralph , McCarthy Alexandra , Yates Patsy
Published: December 2011

tramm r., mccarthy a. & yates p. (2011) Using the Precede–Proceed Model of Health Program Planning in breast cancer nursing research. Journal of Advanced Nursing68(6), 1870–1880.

Aim.  In this article, we discuss the use of the Precede–Proceed model when investigating health promotion options for breast cancer survivors.

Background.  Adherence to recommended health behaviours can optimize well‐being after cancer treatment. Guided by the Precede–Proceed approach, we studied the behaviours of breast cancer survivors in our health service area.

Data sources.  The interview data from the cohort of breast cancer survivors are used in this article to illustrate the use of Precede–Proceed in this nursing research context. Interview data were collected from June to December 2009. We also searched Medline, CINAHL, PsychInfo and PsychExtra up to 2010 for relevant literature in the English language to interrogate the data from other theoretical perspectives.

Discussion.  The Precede–Proceed model is theoretically complex. The deductive analytic process guided by the model usefully explained some of the health behaviours of cancer survivors, although it could not explicate many other findings. A complementary inductive approach to the analysis and subsequent interpretation by way of Uncertainty in Illness Theory and other psychosocial perspectives provided a comprehensive account of the qualitative data that resulted in contextually relevant recommendations for nursing practice.

Implications for nursing.  Nursing researchers using Precede–Proceed should maintain theoretical flexibility when interpreting qualitative data. Perspectives not embedded in the model might need to be considered to ensure that the data are analysed in a contextually relevant way.

Conclusion.  Precede–Proceed provides a robust framework for nursing researchers investigating health promotion in cancer survivors; however, additional theoretical lenses to those embedded in the model can enhance data interpretation.
Care closer to home for children and young people who are ill: developing and testing a model of service delivery and organization
Authors: Parker Gillian , Spiers Gemma , Cusworth Linda , Birks Yvonne , Gridley Kate , Mukherjee Suzanne
Published: December 2011

parker g., spiers g., cusworth l., birks y., gridley k. & mukherjee s. (2012) Care closer to home for children and young people who are ill: developing and testing a model of service delivery and organization. Journal of Advanced Nursing68(9), 2034–2046.

Aims.  To report findings of a national survey of care closer to home services for children and young people and a typology based on these findings.

Background.  Providing care closer to home for children is a policy and practice aspiration internationally. While the main model of such services is children’s community nursing, other models have also developed. Past research has proposed a relatively static typology of services, determined by where they are based, whether they are generic or specialist and whether they provide short‐ or longer‐term input. As services develop, however, this typology needs further elaboration.

Methods.  A two‐stage national survey of all primary care and hospital trusts in England, in mid‐2008.

Results.  In all, 67% of trusts responded to the screening questionnaire and 75% of relevant services to the main stage questionnaire. Thirteen distinct types of services were identified initially. Cluster analysis of delivery and organization characteristics then identified a three‐model typology: hospital‐based, condition‐specific services (36%); children’s community nurses and other community services (45%) and other (mainly therapy‐based) services (19%). The models differed in staffing, costs, functions, type of care provided and geographical coverage. Only a third of nurses in teams were paediatric‐trained.

Conclusion.  Care closer to home services are an established part of care for children and young people who are ill. They deal with complex and technical care and can prevent or reduce the length of acute hospital admission. Lack of readily available information about caseloads, case mix and costs may hamper their further development.
Learning Disability Liaison Nursing Services in south‐east Scotland: a mixed‐methods impact and outcome study
Authors: Brown M. , MacArthur J. , McKechanie A. , Mack S. , Hayes M. , Fletcher J.
Published: December 2011

Background  There have been significant concerns about the care and treatment of people with intellectual disabilities (ID) when attending general hospitals, which have led to inquiries that highlight service and systems failures. One response has been the development of Learning Disability Liaison Nursing (LDLN) Services across the UK that aim to ensure that additional, specialist support is available for patients, their carers and general healthcare professionals.

Methods  A mixed‐methods study to investigate the impact of LDLN Services across four Scottish NHS boards was undertaken. In total, 323 referrals made over 18 months were analysed along with qualitative data drawn from interviews and focus groups with a sample of 85 participants including patients with ID (n = 5), carers (n = 16), primary care healthcare professionals (n = 39) and general hospital professionals (n = 19) and learning disability liaison nurses (n = 6).

Results  The referral patterns to the four liaison nursing services closely matched the known health needs of adults with ID, with common admissions being due to neurological, respiratory and gastrointestinal issues. The LDLN role was seen to be complex and impacted on three key areas: (i) clinical patient care; (ii) education and practice development; and (iii) strategic organisational developments. Specific patient outcomes were linked to issues relating to capacity and consent to treatment, fostering person‐centred adjustments to care, augmenting communication and the liaison nurses acting as positive role models and ambassadors for people with ID.

Conclusions  The LDLN Services were valued by stakeholders by achieving person‐centred outcomes. With their expert knowledge and skills, the liaison nurses had an important role in developing effective systems and processes within general hospital settings. The outcomes highlight the importance of supporting and promoting LDLN Services and the challenges in delivering the multifaceted elements of the role. There is a need to take account of the complex and multidimensional nature of the LDLN role and the possible tensions between achieving clinical outcomes, education and practice developments and organisational strategic initiatives.
Biogeographical patterns in the diet of an opportunistic predator: the red fox Vulpes vulpes in the Iberian Peninsula
Authors: Díaz‐Ruiz Francisco , Delibes‐Mateos Miguel , García‐Moreno José Luis , María López‐Martín José , Ferreira Catarina , Ferreras Pablo
Published: December 2011

Biogeographical diversity is central to the trophic ecology of predators. Understanding the biogeographical trophic patterns of generalist predators, such as the red fox Vulpes vulpes, is particularly challenging because of their wide distributions, broad trophic spectra and high ecological plasticity, which often generate conflicts with humans.

We reviewed 55 studies from the Iberian Peninsula concerning the diet of the red fox to describe its trophic patterns from a biogeographical perspective.

We considered the frequency of occurrence of seven food groups and characterized each study site according to environmental variables. We tested relationships between geographical variables and each food group independently, and assessed the consumption of lagomorphs in relation to the other food groups. We also tested the relationships between trophic diversity, the main food groups, latitude and altitude, and finally investigated changes in the consumption of all food groups in relation to habitat type and seasonality.

We found a latitudinal pattern in the diet of the red fox, which was characterized by a greater consumption of lagomorphs and invertebrates in southern areas, and a higher intake of small mammals and fruits/seeds in northern regions. Additionally, the consumption of invertebrates increased from east to west, while fruit/seed consumption increased from west to east. Consumption of lagomorphs decreased, and of small mammals increased, with altitude. Trophic diversity was not associated with geographical variables. The intake of lagomorphs and small mammals was greatest in Mediterranean scrub and forest, respectively. Reptiles and invertebrates were consumed mostly during summer; fruits/seeds in autumn.

Iberian red foxes show variation in their feeding habits associated with environmental variables, which are in turn associated with the availability of their main prey. Foxes select rabbits where they are abundant, and feed on small mammals and fruits/seeds where lagomorphs are scarce.
Staphylococcus aureus leucocidin ED contributes to systemic infection by targeting neutrophils and promoting bacterial growth in vivo
Authors: Alonzo III Francis , Benson Meredith A. , Chen John , Novick Richard P. , Shopsin Bo , Torres Victor J.
Published: December 2011

Bloodstream infection with Staphylococcus aureus is common and can be fatal. However, virulence factors that contribute to lethality in S. aureus bloodstream infection are poorly defined. We discovered that LukED, a commonly overlooked leucotoxin, is critical for S. aureus bloodstream infection in mice. We also determined that LukED promotes S. aureus replication in vivo by directly killing phagocytes recruited to sites of haematogenously seeded tissue. Furthermore, we established that murine neutrophils are the primary target of LukED, as the greater virulence of wild‐type S. aureus compared with a lukED mutant was abrogated by depleting neutrophils. The in vivo toxicity of LukED towards murine phagocytes is unique among S. aureus leucotoxins, implying its crucial role in pathogenesis. Moreover, the tropism of LukED for murine phagocytes highlights the utility of murine models to study LukED pathobiology, including development and testing of strategies to inhibit toxin activity and control bacterial infection.
The presence of pepsin in the lung and its relationship to pathologic gastro‐esophageal reflux
Authors: Rosen R. , Johnston N. , Hart K. , Khatwa U. , Nurko S.
Published: December 2011

Background  Pepsin has been proposed as a biomarker of reflux‐related lung disease. The goal of this study was to determine (i) if there is a higher reflux burden as measured by pH‐MII in patients that are pepsin positive in the lung, and (ii) the sensitivity of pepsin in predicting pathologic reflux by pH, MII, and EGD.

Methods  We recruited children between the ages of 1–21 with chronic cough or asthma undergoing bronchoscopy, esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), and multichannel intraluminal impedance (pH‐MII) probe placement. The reflux profiles were compared between those patients who were pepsin positive and negative; proportions were compared using Chi‐squared analyses and means were compared using t‐testing.

Key Results  Only the mean number of non‐acid reflux events was associated with pepsin positivity (0.04). The sensitivity and specificity of pepsin in predicting pathologic reflux by pH‐MII or EGD was 57% and 65%, respectively. The positive predictive value of pepsin in predicting pathologic reflux by pH, MII or EGD was 50% (11/22), and the negative predictive value was 71% (20/28). There was a significantly higher mean LLMI in patients who were pepsin positive compared with pepsin negative patients (81 ± 54 vs 47 ± 26, P = 0.001).

Conclusions & Inferences  Lung pepsin cannot predict pathologic reflux in the esophagus, but its correlation with lung inflammation suggests that pepsin may be an important biomarker for reflux‐related lung disease.
Recent advances in Schistosoma genomics
Authors: MOURÃO M. M. , GRUNAU C. , LoVERDE P. T. , JONES M. K. , OLIVEIRA G.
Published: December 2011

Schistosome research has entered the genomic era with the publications reporting the Schistosoma mansoni and Schistosoma japonicum genomes. Schistosome genomics is motivated by the need for new control tools. However, much can also be learned about the biology of Schistosoma, which is a tractable experimental model. In this article, we review the recent achievements in the field of schistosome research and discuss future perspectives on genomics and how it can be integrated in a usable format, on the genetic mapping and how it has improved the genome assembly and provided new research approaches, on how epigenetics provides interesting insights into the biology of the species and on new functional genomics tools that will contribute to the understanding of the function of genes, many of which are parasite‐ or taxon specific.
A survey to assess transfusion medicine education needs for clinicians
Authors: Arinsburg S. A. , Skerrett D. L. , Friedman M. T. , Cushing M. M.
Published: December 2011

Objective: To evaluate the baseline knowledge of attending clinicians, residents and medical students in transfusion medicine (TM) at our institution in order to develop specialty‐specific lectures.

Background: Physicians often receive minimal training in TM. Transfusion practices vary widely among individual physicians and across institutions. This variation leads to increased and unnecessary risk to patients and elevated costs for hospitals – problems that may be addressed through TM education.

Methods: An electronic self‐administered survey was developed and administered to attending physicians, house staff and third and fourth year medical students at four hospitals. The survey consisted of 3 sections including background demographics, 14 knowledge assessment (KA) questions and opinions on educational needs.

Results: Two hundred and twenty‐five surveys were received from physicians and medical students, of which 189 were completed and analysed. The overall mean score on the KA section was 31·4 ± 18·3% (4·4 ± 2·6 of 14 questions) correct. Significantly stronger performance was noted in the following categories: participants in the specialties pathology or hematology (adult and pediatric), all fellows and participants who report greater than 5 h of formal TM education in the past 5 years. The majority of participants believed that additional training in TM was needed for themselves as well as other physicians at all training levels.

Conclusions: Additional training in TM would be beneficial to and welcomed by physicians in all training levels in all specialties. Innovative specialty‐specific educational programmes need to be developed and tested to ensure efficacy and durability.
In vitro antiplasmodial activity and cytotoxicity of extracts and fractions of Vitex madiensis, medicinal plant of Gabon
Authors: Ondo J. P. , Lekana‐Douki J. B. , Bongui J. B. , Zang Edou E. S. , Zatra R. , Toure‐Ndouo F. S. , Elomri A. , Lebibi J. , Seguin E.
Published: December 2011

Vitex madiensis Oliv. (Lamiaceae) is traditionally used to treat malaria symptoms in Haut‐Ogooué, Gabon. Leaves and stem barks extracts were obtained using dichloromethane (CH2Cl2), ethyl acetate (EtOAc) and methanol (MeOH) as extraction solvents and fractionated on silica gel column. The in vitro antiplasmodial activity of CH2Cl2, EtOAc and MeOH extracts and fractions was evaluated against the chloroquine‐resistant FCB strain and field isolates of Plasmodium falciparum using the DELI test. The cytotoxicity of the extracts was tested on MRC‐5 and THP1 cells using the tetrazolium salt MTT colorimetric assay, and the selectivity index (SI) of each extract was calculated. CH2Cl2 extract, the EA1 fraction from EtOAc extract of stem barks and cyclohexane (Lcycl), dichloromethane (LDM) and butanol (Lbut) fractions from MeOH/H2O extract of leaves exhibited the highest in vitro antiplasmodial activity on FCB strain and field isolates (IC50 from 0.53 to 4.87 μg/ml) with high selectivity index (of 20.15–1800). These data support the use of V. madiensis in malaria treatment along with continued investigations within traditional medicines in the search of new antimalarial agents. The EA1, C6H12 and CH2Cl2 fractions could be selected for future investigation or/and for the treatment of malaria symptoms after standardization.
Comparative effect of pre‐coseasonal and continuous grass sublingual immunotherapy in children
Authors: Stelmach I. , Kaluzińska‐Parzyszek I. , Jerzynska J. , Stelmach P. , Stelmach W. , Majak P.
Published: December 2011

To cite this article: Stelmach I, Kaluzińska‐Parzyszek I, Jerzynska J, Stelmach P, Stelmach W, Majak P. Comparative effect of pre‐coseasonal and continuous grass sublingual immunotherapy in children. Allergy 2012; 67: 312–320.

Background:  One of the most important aspects of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) is the regimen of administration. The aim of the study was to compare the efficacy and the safety of SLIT given pre‐coseasonally (starting before the pollen season and continuing until the end of it) and continuously (all year round, independent of the pollen season) in children allergic to grass pollen.

Methods:  Sixty children aged 6–18, sensitive only to grass pollen, with rhinitis (20 patients had concomitant asthma) participated in the 2‐year prospective, randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial.

Results:  Both pre‐coseasonal and continuous SLIT were associated with a substantial reduction in the combined symptoms/medication score when compared with placebo; there were no significant differences between the regimens (mean difference: 18.1 ± 12.4, P > 0.05). Similar changes were observed in the total symptoms score. Pre‐coseasonal therapy, compared with continuous, was more effective in the reduction of nasal symptoms (mean difference: −18.0 ± 2.5, P = 0.006). We did not observe significant differences in medication, ocular, and asthma scores between the regimens. We did not observe changes in morning PEF, FEV1, and PD20 in any of the three groups nor between the groups throughout the study. We showed a significant decrease in FeNO level comparable in both active groups. There were no differences between groups in the induction of CD4CD25Foxp3‐positive cells in peripheral blood during the study.

Conclusion:  Both protocols were effective compared with placebo and showed similar decreases for combined symptoms/medication score and all secondary endpoints, with the exception of nasal symptoms that were lower in the pre‐coseasonal group.
Resection for hepatocellular carcinoma: Is it justifiable to restrict this to the American Association for the Study of the Liver/Barcelona Clinic for Liver Cancer criteria?
Authors: Chow Pierce Kah‐Hoe
Published: December 2011

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an important cancer worldwide. The main curative treatment modality is surgical resection although only a minority of afflicted patients are amendable because of poor liver function reserve or extensive disease at the time of diagnosis. The selection criteria for surgical resection, however, are variable and frequently appear to be center‐specific. Further, they are influenced by rapidly evolving data on the outcomes of surgical resection and other emerging modalities of treatment. Recently, two major international practice guidelines on the management of HCC were published at about the same time, namely those of the American Association for the Study of the Liver (AASLD), and of the Asia‐Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver (APASL). These two practice guidelines differ significantly in philosophy and practice with regards to surgical resection. In fact, they reflect the two extremes of a spectrum of existing consensus opinions. The AASLD Guidelines have evolved from the guidelines of the Barcelona Clinic for Liver Cancer (BCLC), and are significantly more conservative with regard to surgical resection compared with the APASL Guidelines. The scientific basis for these major differences in criteria with regard to surgical resection for HCC is reviewed here, particularly with regard to the situation in the Asia‐Pacific region where HCC is especially common.
Asian consensus report on functional dyspepsia
Authors: Miwa Hiroto , Ghoshal Uday Chand , Fock Kwong Ming , Gonlachanvit Sutep , Gwee Kok‐Ann , Ang Tiing‐Leong , Chang Full‐Young , Hongo Michio , Hou Xiaohua , Kachintorn Udom , Ke Meiyun , Lai Kwok‐Hung , Lee Kwang Jae , Lu Ching‐Liang , Mahadeva Sanjiv , Miura Soichiro , Park Hyojin , Rhee Poong‐Lyul , Sugano Kentaro , Vilaichone Ratha‐korn , Wong Benjamin C Y , Bak Young‐Tae
Published: December 2011

Background and Aim:  Environmental factors such as food, lifestyle and prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection are widely different in Asian countries compared with the West, and physiological functions and genetic factors of Asians may also be different from those of Westerners. Establishing an Asian consensus for functional dyspepsia is crucial in order to attract attention to such data from Asian countries, to articulate the experience and views of Asian experts, and to provide a relevant guide on management of functional dyspepsia for primary care physicians working in Asia.

Methods:  Consensus team members were selected from Asian experts and consensus development was carried out by using a modified Delphi method. Consensus teams collected published papers on functional dyspepsia especially from Asia and developed candidate consensus statements based on the generated clinical questions. At the first face‐to‐face meeting, each statement was reviewed and e‐mail voting was done twice. At the second face‐to‐face meeting, final voting on each statement was done using a keypad voting system. A grade of evidence and strength of recommendation were applied to each statement according to the method of the GRADE Working Group.

Results:  Twenty‐nine consensus statements were finalized, including seven for definition and diagnosis, five for epidemiology, nine for pathophysiology, and eight for management. Algorithms for diagnosis and management of functional dyspepsia were added.

Conclusions:  This consensus developed by Asian experts shows distinctive features of functional dyspepsia in Asia and will provide a guide to the diagnosis and management of functional dyspepsia for Asian primary care physicians.
Quantitative pulmonary imaging using computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: WASHKO GEORGE R. , PARRAGA GRACE , COXSON HARVEY O.
Published: December 2011

Measurements of lung function, including spirometry and body plethesmography, are easy to perform and are the current clinical standard for assessing disease severity. However, these lung functional techniques do not adequately explain the observed variability in clinical manifestations of disease and offer little insight into the relationship of lung structure and function. Lung imaging and the image‐based assessment of lung disease has matured to the extent that it is common for clinical, epidemiologic and genetic investigation to have a component dedicated to image analysis. There are several exciting imaging modalities currently being used for the non‐invasive study of lung anatomy and function. In this review, we will focus on two of them; X‐ray computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. Following a brief introduction of each method, we detail some of the most recent work being done to characterize smoking‐related lung disease and the clinical applications of such knowledge.
The landscape of services for drug users in Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Authors: MORRISON CHRIS , KURNIASIH YACINTA , BARTON GREG
Published: December 2011

Introduction and Aims.

Drug use has increased rapidly in Indonesia since the late 1990s. The formal drug treatment sector has grown within the bounds of available government funding; however, there is also a substantial informal sector which provides a range of services for current and former users. While information regarding the former is available from the provincial and national governments, there are few sources that detail the latter. The aim of the current study, therefore, is to document the drug treatment services in one Indonesian city, Yogyakarta.

Design and Methods.

This qualitative study utilised nine key informant interviews with drug treatment workers from nine government and non‐government treatment services. Transcripts were analysed thematically.

Results.

There exists a patchwork of enthusiastic yet under‐resourced non‐government services that complement the government rehabilitation and withdrawal programs in Yogyakarta. The focus of most such services is on abstinence (including several faith‐based residential rehabilitation programs); however, some harm reduction programs have emerged in recent years. Under‐utilisation is a feature of many non‐government services, and all respondents acknowledged a significant gap in service coordination.

Discussion and Conclusions.

Yogyakarta has a drug treatment sector in which most major treatment types are represented, and there appears to be potential for growth within many organisations. Nevertheless, the number and reach of the services are limited by a lack of resources and collaboration, and there are substantial cultural barriers to improving inter‐organisational coordination. This study suggests that Yogyakarta and greater Indonesia may benefit from greater service coordination facilitated by local government.[Morrison C, Kurniasih Y, Barton G. The landscape of services for drug users in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Drug Alcohol Rev 2012;31:95–100]
Early childhood experiences, parenting and the process of drug dependency among young people in Tehran, Iran
Authors: MIRLASHARI JILA , DEMIRKOL APO , SALSALI MAHVASH , RAFIEY HASSAN , JAHANBANI JAHANFAR
Published: December 2011

Introduction and Aims. Substance abuse has become a major public health problem in Iran. The process of developing an addiction is complex and multifaceted. Early childhood experiences are thought to be one of the important determinants of addictive behaviour. The aim of this qualitative study is to explore the early childhood experiences, especially the experiences within the immediate family, of current substance‐using young adults in Iran.

Design and Methods. The study is qualitative in nature. In‐depth interviews were conducted with 15 young men and women who were either in treatment for their addiction or were active drug users at the time of the interviews. Moreover, four interviews have been conducted with family members of participants.

Results. The majority of the participants experienced traumatic events during childhood and came from dysfunctional families. There appears to be a significant disconnect between these individuals and their families. An obedience‐instilling parenting style and parents' knowledge and attitude toward drug using and prevention were also identified as important determinants of substance use.

Discussion and Conclusions. The results of this research point out the need for early interventions for at‐risk families as well as at‐risk individuals.[Mirlashari J, Demirkol A, Salsali M, Rafiey H, Jahanbani J. Early childhood experiences, parenting and the process of drug dependency among young people in Tehran, Iran. Drug Alcohol Rev 2012;31:461–468]
Neighbourhood matters: Perceptions of neighbourhood cohesiveness and associations with alcohol, cannabis and tobacco use
Authors: LIN EN‐YI , WITTEN KAREN , CASSWELL SALLY , YOU RU QUAN
Published: December 2011

Introduction and Aims. To examine relationships between perceived neighbourhood cohesion and alcohol, tobacco and cannabis consumption in New Zealand.

Design and Methods. A two‐level random intercept regression model was used to examine the extent to which perception of neighbourhood cohesion (at the individual and area level) was associated with the frequency of substance (alcohol, tobacco and cannabis) consumption, after controlling for demographics and deprivation. This study is based on data from two national Health Behaviours Surveys (Drugs and Alcohol) conducted in 2003 and 2004 in New Zealand. Data were collected by computer‐assisted telephone interviewing with two complementary computer‐assisted cellphone interviewing samples. The combined sample consists of 6346 men and 8411 women (n = 14 757) distributed across 1572 census area units.

Results. Perception of neighbourhood cohesion was significantly associated with the level of alcohol, tobacco and cannabis consumption. Individuals who perceived their neighbourhood as more cohesive had higher annual frequency of alcohol consumption but lower consumption on a typical drinking occasion. Higher perceived neighbourhood cohesion was also associated with a decrease in the probability of tobacco and cannabis use and of the amounts consumed. Area‐level analysis suggested that aggregate census area unit‐level neighbourhood cohesion exerted a significant additional contextual effect on the frequency of tobacco and cannabis consumption over and above individual perceptions of neighbourhood cohesiveness.

Discussion and Conclusions. This study provides empirical evidence that perceptions of the neighbourhood social environment are associated with people's substance consumption patterns. Increasing residents' sense of neighbourhood cohesion might prove a promising way to decrease health‐damaging consumption behaviours. [Lin E‐Y, Witten K, Casswell S, You RQ. Neighbourhood matters: Perceptions of neighbourhood cohesiveness and associations with alcohol, cannabis and tobacco use. Drug Alcohol Rev 2012;31:402–412]
Demand‐Side Challenges to Poverty Monitoring and Assessment Systems: Illustrations from Tanzania
Authors: Shaffer Paul
Published: December 2011

Over the past decade, considerable attention and resources have been directed at Poverty Monitoring and Assessment Systems (PMASs), a core problem being the limited demand for, and use of, the data they generate. This article discusses the sources of these demand‐side problems and explores the difficulties in trying to address them via PMAS‐related processes, arguing that both institutional factors and design features have contributed to the disappointing performance of these systems. Incentive structures within the public sector in particular have made for an extremely unfavourable environment, and institutional problems have been compounded by questionable design features resulting from faulty analysis, flawed assumptions and conflicting views as to the objectives of ‘poverty monitoring’. Tanzania's PMAS experience is used to illustrate the argument.
Skin hardening effect in patients with polymorphic light eruption: Comparison of UVB hardening in hospital with a novel home UV‐hardening device
Authors: Franken S.M. , Genders R.E. , de Gruijl F.R. , Rustemeyer T. , Pavel S.
Published: December 2011

Background  An effective prophylactic treatment of patients with polymorphic light eruption (PLE) consists of repeated low, gradually increasing exposures to UVB radiation. This so‐called UV(B) hardening induces better tolerance of the skin to sunlight.

Objective  SunshowerMedical company (Amsterdam) has developed an UV (B) source that can be used during taking shower. The low UV fluence of this apparatus makes it an interesting device for UV hardening. In a group of PLE patients, we compared the effectiveness of the irradiation with SunshowerMedical at home with that of the UVB treatment in the hospital.

Methods  The PLE patients were randomized for one of the treatments. The hospital treatment consisted of irradiations with broad‐band UVB (Waldmann 85/UV21 lamps) twice a week during 6 weeks. The home UV‐device was used each day with the maximal irradiation time of 6 min. The outcome assessment was based on the information obtained from patients’ dermatological quality of life (DLQI) questionnaires, the ability of both phototherapies to reduce the provocation reaction and from the patients’ evaluation of the long‐term benefits of their phototherapies.

Results  Sixteen patients completed treatment with SunshowerMedical and thirteen completed treatment in hospital. Both types of phototherapy were effective. There was a highly significant improvement in DLQI with either treatment. In most cases, the hardening reduced or even completely suppressed clinical UV provocation of PLE. The patients using SunshowerMedical at home were, however, much more content with the treatment procedure than the patients visiting the dermatological units.

Conclusions  Both treatments were equally effective in the induction of skin tolerance to sunlight in PLE patients. However, the home treatment was much better accepted than the treatment in the hospital.
Increased gene expression of Toll‐like receptor 4 on peripheral blood mononuclear cells in patients with psoriasis
Authors: Garcia–Rodriguez S. , Arias–Santiago S. , Perandrés–López R. , Castellote L. , Zumaquero E. , Navarro P. , Buendía‐Eisman A. , Ruiz J.‐C. , Orgaz‐Molina J. , Sancho J. , Zubiaur M.
Published: December 2011

Background  A role for the innate immune system in driving the autoimmune T cell cascade in psoriasis has been proposed. Toll‐like receptors‐(TLR)‐2 and ‐4 play a role in inflammation, atherosclerosis, and their specific role in psoriasis remains unclear.

Objective  To evaluate TLR2 and TLR4 gene expression levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from psoriatic patients.

Methods  Changes in TLR2/4 gene expressions were evaluated using quantitative real‐time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, from twenty‐one patients with severe psoriasis, and analysed whether there was any correlation with cytokine plasma levels (T‐helper 0‐, T‐helper 1‐, T‐helper 2‐ or regulatory T cells‐type), or Calprotectin and with S100A8 and S100A9 gene expression levels. Eleven non‐psoriatic healthy controls were analysed.

Results  A clear increase in TLR4 gene expression was observed (3.84 ± 0.93, n = 21) together with a moderate increase in TLR2 expression (1.522 ± 0.31, n = 21). Both TLR4 and TLR2 gene expressions were significantly augmented in psoriatic patients compared with controls (all P < 0.001). Correlations between TLR2 and S100A9 gene expressions (r = 0.5145, P = 0.0170, n = 21); and between TLR2 expression and plasma interleukin‐2 (r = 0.5667, P = 0.0074); interleukin‐4 (r = 0.4766, P = 0.0289), interleukin‐10 (r = 0.4355, P = 0.0484) and interleukin‐13 (r = 0.4603, P = 0.0358), were found. When patients with atheroma plaque were considered (n = 7), both TLR4 (3.47 ± 0.99, P = 0.0156) and TLR2 (1.63 ± 0.31, P = 0.0156) expressions were significantly increased vs. controls and correlated with plasma TNF‐α (r = 0.8929, P = 0.0123, in both cases).

Conclusion  Differential TLR4/2 gene expressions on psoriatic peripheral blood mononuclear cells and correlations with regulatory and/or proinflammatory cytokines and/or damage‐associated molecular pattern molecule S100A9 emphasize innate immune response role in psoriasis.
Monitoring in the presence of species misidentification: the case of theEurasian lynx in theAlps
Authors: Molinari‐Jobin A. , Kéry M. , Marboutin E. , Molinari P. , Koren I. , Fuxjäger C. , Breitenmoser‐Würsten C. , Wölfl S. , Fasel M. , Kos I. , Wölfl M. , Breitenmoser U.
Published: December 2011

Inferring the distribution and abundance of a species from field records must deal with false‐negative and false‐positive errors. False‐negative errors occur if a species present goes undetected, while false‐positive errors are typically a consequence of species misidentification. False‐positive observations in studies of rare species may cause an overestimation of the distribution or abundance of the species and distort trend indices. We illustrate this issue with the monitoring of theEurasian lynx in theAlps. We developed a three‐level classification of field records according to their reliability as inferred from whether they were validated or not. The first category (C1) represents ‘hard fact’ data (e.g. dead lynx); the second category (C2) includes confirmed data (e.g. tracks verified by an expert); and the third category (C3) are unconfirmed data (e.g. any kind of direct visual observation). For lynx, which is a comparatively well‐known species in theAlps, we use site‐occupancy modelling to estimate its distribution and show that the inferred lynx distribution is highly sensitive to presence sign category: it is larger if based onC3 records compared with the more reliableC1 andC2 records. We believe that the reason for this is a fairly high frequency of false‐positive errors amongC3 records. This suggests that distribution records for many lesser‐known species may be similarly unreliable, because they are mostly or exclusively based on unconfirmed and thus soft data. Nevertheless, such soft data form a considerable part of species assessments as presented, for example in theInternationalUnion forConservation ofNatureRedList. However,C3 records can often not be discarded because they may be the only information available. When inferring the distribution of rare carnivores, especially for species with an expanding or shrinking range, we recommend a rigorous discrimination between fully reliable and un‐ or only partly reliable data, in order to identify possible methodological problems in the distribution maps related to false‐positive records.