bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of plant size, leaf herbivory, local competition and fruit production on survival, growth and future reproduction of a neotropical herb
Authors: Horvitz Carol C. , Schemske Douglas W.
Published: March 2003

1 The effects of natural variation in herbivory, local competition, plant size, and fruit production on next year’s growth, survival and inflorescence production of individuals in natural populations of Calathea ovandensis were estimated during 5 years.

2 For each year, we estimated path coefficients (by standardized multiple regression analysis) for the direct effects of predictor variables on demographic rates. Separate analyses were performed for each life‐history stage: seedlings, juveniles, pre‐reproductives and reproductives, for a total of 55 analyses. Emergent patterns for stages were evaluated (Fisher’s combined probability test) by combining years. To determine significance of effects in single years, we calculated table‐wide probabilities for each stage across multiple years (Bonferroni sequential test). Emergent patterns for years were also evaluated (Fisher’s combined probability test) by combining stages.

3 Survival of seedlings was positively affected by plant size and negatively affected by local competition. Survival of juveniles was positively affected by plant size, but not by other factors. Survival of large stages was not generally affected by any of the factors.

4 Relative growth rates of all stages were negatively affected by plant size; larger plants grew more slowly than smaller plants. Additionally, growth rate of juveniles was negatively affected by local competition, whereas growth rate of reproductives was positively affected by reproduction.

5 Next year’s inflorescence production was positively affected by plant size for both pre‐reproductive and reproductive stages. For reproductives, it was additionally positively affected by current fruit production.

6 Analysis of differences among years showed that herbivory negatively affected both survival and growth in 1985, but not in other years, whereas local competition negatively affected survival in 1983 and growth in 1984.

7 Effects of biotic interactions varied among stages and through time. The large effects of competition on seedlings and juveniles was as expected, but the small effect of herbivory on small plants was surprising as was the striking temporal variation in its effect and its impact on large plants.
Are trade‐offs in allocation pattern and root morphology related to species abundance? A congeneric comparison between rare and common species in the south‐western Australian flora
Authors: Poot Pieter , Lambers Hans
Published: March 2003

Many narrowly endemic species are restricted to distinctive edaphic environments. The adaptations that make these species successful in their restricted habitat may incur a cost, and decrease their success in more common habitats. We compared growth, biomass allocation and root morphology of two narrowly endemic Hakea species (Proteaceae) of Mediterranean south‐western Australia with those of five more widespread congeners, in a glasshouse study. The rare Hakea species occur in endangered winter‐wet shrublands that grow on skeletal (0–20 cm deep) soils overlying massive ironstone rock, whereas their common congeners occur nearby on deeper wetland and non‐wetland soils.

The ironstone endemics differed consistently from their widespread congeners in some important root characteristics. During early development they allocated relatively more biomass to their roots, and had a higher specific root length due to a lower average root diameter and a lower root mass density. Therefore, when compared at the same plant mass, the ironstone endemics had a considerably greater total root length.

The ironstone endemics also favoured root growth in deeper layers of the substrate: they invested up to 64% of their root mass in the bottom 10 cm of 40‐cm‐deep pots, vs. 35% for common species. Only in the ironstone endemics did the extension of the main root axis continue at the same rate after reaching the bottom of the pot.

We suggest that the observed differences are the consequence of evolutionary trade‐offs, and represent specializations of the endemic species to increase the chances of getting access to water before the onset of severe summer drought in these habitats. However, while adaptive in a shallow‐soil habitat, these traits may reduce success on deeper soils by compromising both below‐ground and above‐ground competitive abilities.
Overlapping resource use in three Great Basin species: implications for community invasibility and vegetation dynamics
Authors: Booth Mary S. , Caldwell Martyn M. , Stark John M.
Published: March 2003

In the Great Basin of the western United States of America, the invasive annual grass Bromus tectorum has extensively replaced native shrub and bunchgrass communities, but the native bunchgrass Elymus elymoides has been reported to suppress Bromus. Curlew Valley, a site in Northern Utah, provides a model community to test the effects of particular species on invasion by examining competitive relationships among Elymus, Bromus and the native shrub Artemisia tridentata.

The site contains Bromus/Elymus, Elymus/Artemisia and monodominant Elymus stands. Transect data indicate that Elymus suppresses Bromus disproportionately relative to its above‐ground cover. Artemisia seedlings recruit in Elymus stands but rarely in the presence of Bromus. This relationship might be explained by competition between the two grasses involving a different resource or occurring in a different season to that between each grass and Artemisia.

Time reflectometry data collected in monodominant patches indicated that in spring, soil moisture use by Bromus is rapid, whereas depletion under Elymus and Artemisia is more moderate. Artemisia seedlings may therefore encounter a similar moisture environment in monodominant or mixed perennial stands. However, efficient autumn soil moisture use by Elymus may help suppress Bromus.

In competition plots, target Artemisia grown with Bromus were stunted relative to those grown with Elymus, despite equivalent above‐ground biomass of the two grasses. Competition for nitrogen in spring and autumn, assessed with 15N tracer, appears to be secondary to moisture availability in determining competitive outcomes.

Elymus physiology and function appear to play an important role in determining the composition of communities in Curlew Valley, by maintaining zones free of Bromus where Artemisia can recruit.
Evidence‐based psychiatric practice: doctrine or trap?
Authors: Berk Michael , Mmed(psych) . , Ff(psych)sa . , Janet Miles Leigh , Mmed(psych) .
Published: March 2003

Medical practice has rapidly shifted towards an ‘evidence‐based’ approach. While there are acknowledged clear benefits to this, a number of pitfalls are frequently not appreciated. Perhaps the most important limitation is the extent to which the current body of data is inadequate for many common clinical decisions. Algorithms risk being developed, frequently by third parties, without acknowledgement of these limitations and with substantial implications for clinical independence and the quality of patient care. This paper discusses potential problems of the evidence‐based approach and suggests possible guidelines for the management of clinical decisions given the limitations of data‐based guidelines.
Evidence‐based medicine: the need for a new definition
Authors: Buetow S. , Kenealy T.
Published: March 2003

Evidence is defined by its ability to establish or support conclusions. Evidence‐based medicine (EBM) equates evidence with scientific evidence and views factors such as clinical expertise as important in moving from evidence to action. In contrast, we suggest that EBM should acknowledge multiple dimensions of evidence including scientific evidence, theoretic evidence, practical evidence, expert evidence, judicial evidence and ethics‐based evidence. What EBM loses by not acknowledging these dimensions as evidence is the ability, among other things, to make and defend judgements based on understandings that complement science and are no less important than those science can offer. We argue for a new definition of EBM that, without forced accommodation or unacceptable compromise, acknowledges dimensions of evidence produced within and outside science.
Understanding patients’ views of a surgical outpatient clinic
Authors: Frcs Alison Waghorn , Frcp Martin McKee
Published: March 2003

For many people, the outpatient clinic is the first point of contact with a hospital. As clinical management moves from the in‐patient setting, it is taking on a much greater importance. Yet there are still many gaps in our knowledge about how those who interact with it, whether as staff or patients, view it. This study sought to describe patients’ perceptions and to explore some of the socio‐demographic characteristics associated with these differing perceptions. The study took place in a district general hospital in southern England. A questionnaire seeking the experiences and views of patients was developed. After piloting, it was administered to patients attending surgical outpatient clinics. The results were supplemented by those of a study of times that the same patients waited to be seen and the duration of their consultations. We found that 288 patients attended the clinics of four consultant general surgeons in a week chosen to be typical of those throughout the year and, of these, 188 (76%) returned questionnaires. As far as could be ascertained, responders did not differ from non‐responders. New patients only were asked about the time they had waited for an appointment and 32% felt that this had been excessive. Young patients were more likely to feel that the wait had been too long. Patients were more likely to overestimate the time that they waited than to underestimate it and 27% thought the time spent with the doctor had been too short. The perception of inadequate time was greatest among those attending clinics where the actual time available was least. Of the patients, 30% had questions they would have liked to have asked but did not, 32% of patients would definitely have liked a leaflet explaining their treatment, 44% of patients were very satisfied with how they were treated by the doctor and 3% were dissatisfied. Non‐white patients tended to be less satisfied with both the overall attendance and the length of consultation, although the actual times spent with doctors were the same for both groups. Seventy‐eight per cent of patients had no preference for being seen by a male or female doctor. Those expressing a preference tended to prefer a doctor of their own sex. We found that while many patients are satisfied with the outpatient experience, there are several issues that require attention. Patient’s perceptions are often as important as more objective measures in determining whether an attendance is considered satisfactory.
Depth of understanding and excellence of practice: the question of wholeness and problem‐based learning
Authors: Margetson D. B.
Published: March 2003

The paper evaluates the importance of conceptions underlying practices in medicine and in medical education. It uses a study of anaesthetists’ approaches to practice, and of lectures in problem‐based learning, to illustrate the influence of a conception of ‘applying knowledge in, or to, practice’ and of its apparently serious limitations reflected in practice. A brief background to the pervasiveness of the conception is given, together with discussion of an alternative, and arguably better, conception and its realization in rigorous problem‐based learning in contrast to transitional, semi‐problem‐based learning.
Continuous training as a key to increase the accuracy of administrative data
Authors: Lorenzoni Luca , Cas Roberto Da , Aparo Ugo Luigi
Published: March 2003

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of a program of training, education and awareness on the accuracy of the data collected from hospital discharge abstracts. Four random samples of hospital discharge abstracts relating to four different periods were studied. The evaluation of the impact of systematic training and education activities was performed by checking the quality of abstracting information from the medical records. The analysis was carried out at the Istituto Dermopatico dell'Immacolata, a research hospital (335 beds) in Rome, Italy, which specializes in dermatology, plastic and vascular surgery. Error rates in discharge abstracts were subdivided into six categories: selection of the wrong principal diagnosis (type A); low specificity of the principal diagnosis (type B); incomplete reporting of secondary diagnoses (type C); selection of the wrong principal procedure (type D); low specificity of the principal procedure (type E); incomplete reporting of procedures (type F). A specific rate for errors modifying classification in diagnosis related groups (DRG) was then estimated and the effect of re‐abstracting on the case‐mix index evaluated. Error types A, B, C, E and F dropped from 8.5% to 2%, 15.8 to 4.9, 31.8 to 13.1, 4.1 to 0.3 and 22 to 2.6%, respectively. Error type D was 0.7 both in the first (the baseline) and fourth periods of analysis. All differences in error types were statistically significant. In 1999 8.3% of cases were assigned to a different DRG after re‐abstracting as compared with 24.3% in the third quarter of 1994, 23.8% in the first quarter of 1995 and 5.5% in September–October 1997. Continuous training and feedback of information to departments have shown to be successful in improving the quality of abstracting information at patient level from the medical record. These positive results were facilitated by the introduction of a prospective payment system to finance inpatient hospital activity. The effort to increase administrative data quality at hospital level facilitates the use of those data sets for internal quality management activities.
What issues are raised by evaluating problem‐based undergraduate medical curricula? Making healthy connections across the literature
Authors: Maudsley Gillian
Published: March 2003

There have been various waves and ripples of undergraduate medical curricular reform over recent decades. Such programme‐wide innovation can attract exceptional suspicion and scrutiny about its worth, fuelled by adverse reactions to change. It also raises expectations of what programme evaluation can reveal about the experience, achievements and ‘added value’ of the medical students or doctors. Problem‐based undergraduate medical curricula are expected, for example, to fulfil elusive ‘true’ (outcome) descriptors of educational quality. The aim here was to explore the rationale, approach and challenges for undergraduate medical programme evaluation, particularly for problem‐based curricula. The main focus was on internal, formative evaluation: Why undertake educational evaluation? What is the evaluative context of problem‐based learning? What philosophy has guided programme evaluation of innovative undergraduate medical curricula? What can educational, health care and other evaluation frameworks offer? What can be learned from examples of published accounts of problem‐based undergraduate medical programme evaluation? Where to from here? Ideally, evaluators of medical education should be explicit about their rationale, highlight local curricular context and special features, balance process‐measures with outcome‐measures (including unplanned outcomes), and be eclectic in methods. ‘Healthier links’ with the health care evaluation and educational evaluation literature could be beneficial. It remains to be seen, however, whether the medical educational changes that the General Medical Council's Tomorrow's Doctors triggered in the United Kingdom will stimulate important advances in educational evaluation.
Family physicians’ and general practitioners’ approaches to drug management of diabetic hypertension in primary care
Authors: PhD Khalid A.J. Al Khaja , PhD Reginald P. Sequeira , FAMS Vijay S. Mathur MD D.Phil , MBBCh. Awatif H.H. Damanhori , FRCS Abdul Wahab M. Abdul Wahab
Published: March 2003

Rationale, aims and objectives To compare the pharmacotherapeutic approaches
to diabetic hypertension of family physicians (FPs) and general practitioners (GPs).
Methods A retrospective prescription‐based study was conducted in 15 out of
a total of 20 health centres, involving 115 primary care physicians – 77 FPs
and 38 GPs, representing 74% of the primary care physicians of Bahrain. Prescriptions
were collected during May and June 2000 to comprise a study population of 1266 diabetic‐hypertensive
patients. Results As monotherapy, angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
(37.9%) and β‐blockers (38.3%) were the most commonly prescribed
classes of antihypertensives by FPs and GPs, respectively. Calcium channel blockers
(CCBs) were ranked third by both categories of physicians. For two‐drug combinations,
a β‐blocker and an ACE inhibitor was the combination of choice for both physician
categories. Patients managed by the FPs were more likely to receive a β‐blocker–CCB
combination (17.4 vs. 14.9%) or a diuretic–ACE inhibitor combination
(16.7 vs. 11.4%) and less likely to receive a β‐blocker–diuretic
combination (11.8 vs. 16.7%) than those managed by the GPs. The proportion
of patients receiving antihypertensive combinations was 40.6 and 38.5% for
FPs and GPs, respectively. While the GPs prescribed CCB as a monotherapy to the elderly
most often, the FPs choice was a β‐blocker. Diuretics were less preferred by
both FPs and GPs. β‐Blocker–ACE inhibitor was again the most preferred
combination of both FPs and GPs. FPs prescribed CCB–β‐blocker combinations
more often than GPs (P = 0.01), whereas CCB–ACE inhibitor combinations
were less preferred (P = 0.09). A trend towards excessive use of short‐acting
nifedipine as monotherapy for elderly patients, both by FPs and by GPs, was noticed.
Glibenclamide, alone or in combination with metformin, was the foremost antidiabetic
drug prescribed by FPs and GPs. Middle‐aged (45–64 years) patients seen by
GPs were more likely to receive glibenclamide than those treated by FPs (P
= 0.001) and less likely to receive gliclazide (P = 0.01). Combinations of a β‐blocker with either glibenclamide or insulin were prescribed considerably more often by GPs.

Conclusions Within the same practice setting, a substantial difference was observed between FPs and GPs in terms of preference for different classes of drugs in the management of diabetic hypertension. The compliance of both FPs and GPs was suboptimal; overall, the compliance of the FPs was closer to the recommended guidelines, however. Educational programmes should specifically address these inadequacies in order to improve the quality of health care.
Impact of group structure and process on multidisciplinary evidence‐based guideline development: an observational study
Authors: Pagliari Claudia , Grimshaw Jeremy
Published: March 2003

Rationale, aims and objectives This paper presents selected results from
a study investigating the impact of small group processes on the development of clinical
practice guidelines by multidisciplinary panels. Observations of one panel developing
a guideline for primary care over several months are reported here. Methods Non‐participant
observation with content analy‐sis of transcripts aided by field notes. Results Bales’s
interaction process analysis was used to categorize interactions in terms of their
task‐oriented or socioemotional qualities. This revealed a well‐functioning, task‐oriented
group characterized by predominantly positive social behaviours. However, a breakdown
of dialogue by speaker indicated a marked effect of professional role and status
on the level of contribution to group discussions. This, and marked changes in panel
composition across meetings, has implications for the multidisciplinarity of decision‐making
in such groups and hence for the acceptance and implementation of their outputs.
Conclusions These findings are likely to generalize to other health care settings in view of the growing emphasis on multidisciplinary decision‐making and the clear status hierarchies inherent within the medical and allied fields.
On the buzzword approach to policy formation
Authors: Loughlin Michael
Published: March 2003

This article draws attention to an absurd feature of contemporary political life that significantly affects health service policy and calls for an urgent explanation. Policies are formed by a process that privileges rhetoric over reality, producing policies that are ‘operationalized’ first and only ‘conceptualized’ at a later date. Two influential articles on clinical governance illustrate this phenomenon perfectly. Lack of clarity about its true meaning and nature is a key feature of clinical governance. The lack of clarity allows policy‐makers to shift responsibility for the problems of the health service onto the workforce, who are required to interpret the deliberately vague and platitudinous statements of management in order to implement the policy. But management, through the creation of monitoring agencies, reserves the right to determine whether the policy has been correctly interpreted, thus retaining power without responsibility. Government and senior management have abandoned the communicative function of language, eschewing reasoned debate (as characterized by the use of evidence and structured argument), instead employing language exclusively for the purposes of control and manipulation. Those of us still concerned that the future of our essential services should be determined by open and reasonable debate need to discuss urgently how to explain and respond to this appalling situation.
In vitro inhibition of epithelial cell invasion by Aeromonashydrophila Vibrio species by fish Aeromonas hydrophila major adhesin
Authors: Fang  , Ling  , Tan  , Ge  , Sin
Published: March 2003

A virulent strain of Aeromonas hydrophila (PPD 134/91) was obtained from the Primary Production Department, Singapore. Its major adhesin was isolated and purified by potassium thiocyanate extraction and Bio‐Gel P‐100 gel filtration. The ability of the protein in peak 1, termed major adhesin, to inhibit bacteria from adhering to and invading host cells was studied in vitro using epithelioma papillosum cells of carp (EPC). Results showed that a concentration of 10 μg ml–1 of this major adhesin could competitively inhibit 28% of A. hydrophila PPD 134/91 from invading EPC cells in vitro. When the concentration was increased to 40 μg ml–1, the major adhesin significantly cross‐inhibited nine other virulent or weakly virulent strains of A. hydrophila. In addition, the major adhesin significantly inhibited not only another bacterial strain from the same family, Aeromonas sobria, but also strains of Vibrio spp. tested. Therefore, we suggest that the major adhesin of this virulent A. hydrophila strain has the potential to be used as a vaccine against the heterogeneous Aeromonas and Vibrio species.
Ocular lesions associated with attachment of the parasitic copepod Ommatokoita elongata (Grant) to corneas of Greenland sharks, Somniosus microcephalus (Bloch & Schneider)
Authors: Borucinska J. D. , Benz G. W. , Whiteley H. E.
Published: March 2003

The eyes from six Greenland sharks, Somniosus microcephalus (Bloch & Schneider), infected with the parasitic copepod Ommatokoita elongata (Grant) were collected in the Arctic waters of Victor Bay, North‐west Territories, Canada, for study. Transformed adult female copepods, one per eye, were firmly attached to the corneas by an anchoring structure (i.e. the bulla) and each bulla was associated with an opaque area on the cornea. Two eyes additionally had one O. elongata copepodid attached to the cornea via frontal filaments with bullas which were each associated with a small corneal opacity. In addition to opacities associated with copepods at the time of collection, there were several randomly distributed, small, round‐to‐irregular, full‐thickness corneal opacities which were not associated with copepods. Two unfixed eye lenses grossly examined in the field were normal in appearance. Histologically, corneal epithelial ulceration and heterophilic keratitis, disruption, mineralization, and detachment of Bowman's membrane, thinning, disorganization, mineralization and fibrosis of the corneal substantia propria, and focal thinning and mineralization of Descement's membrane were observed. Mild heterophilic and mononuclear anterior uveitis was also present. Based on the present observations, it is concluded that parasitism by O. elongata could lead to severe vision impairment (possibly including blindness) in Greenland sharks. However, the otherwise healthy appearance of the infected sharks studied and the information contained in the literature suggests that O. elongata infections do not significantly debilitate the hosts.
Some observations on Babesiosoma bettencourti (França, 1908) n. comb. (syns. Haemogregarina bettencourti França, 1908; Desseria bettencourti Siddall, 1995) from eels, Anguilla anguilla L., in Portugal
Authors: Cruz C. , Davies A. J.
Published: March 2003

The stages of a babesiosome were recorded from the erythrocytes of 73 out of 591 European eels, Anguilla anguilla L., captured in six rivers in northern and central Portugal during the period from January 1988 to July 1994. The prevalence, intensity and seasonality of the infection were recorded. Parasites were mostly intraerythrocytic in stained blood films. Unidivided and cruciform meronts, merozoites and gamonts were identified, and the meront stage was the most common. Mixed infections, in which the babesiosome coexisted with Trypanosoma granulosum Laveran & Mesnil, 1902, were present in 72 out of the 591 eels. In captive fish kept for up to 6 months, fluctuations in the levels of infection with the babesiosome were noted. The babesiosome existed in a similar geographical location, in what was presumed to be the same host and in the same host cell type as a parasite described earlier as Haemogregarina bettencourti. Furthermore, the gamonts of the babesiosome and the haemogregarine overlapped in morphometric description. Although H. bettencourti was recently assigned to the genus Desseria, a nomenclatural correction is proposed: a new combination, Babesiosoma bettencourti (França, 1908) (syns. Haemogregarina bettencourti França, 1908; Desseria bettencourti Siddall, 1995) in the European eel, Anguilla anguilla L. The definitive host of B. bettencourti is unknown.
Peroxidase activity as a measure of neutrophil populations in inflammatory peritoneal exudates of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum)
Authors: Afonso A. , Oliveira C. , Ellis A. E. , Silva M. T.
Published: March 2003

A quantitative peroxidase assay using tetramethylbenzidine was applied to exudates from peritoneal cavities of rainbow trout which had been inflamed by intraperitoneal injection of Yersinia ruckeri. Most of the peroxidase activity was cell‐associated, with values for extracellular peroxidase below 5% of total peroxidase. No free peroxidase activity was detected in resting cavities. The kinetics of neutrophil numbers and peroxidase activity in peritoneal exudates during the 6 days of inflammation studied followed identical patterns, with a correlation coefficient of 0.996. This shows that the peroxidase assay can be used as an indirect, quantitative evaluation of neutrophil responses during peritoneal inflammation.
Varracalbmi: a new bacterial panophthalmitis in farmed Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L.
Authors: Valheim M , Håstein T , Myhr E. , Speilberg L. , Ferguson H W.
Published: March 2003

The present authors report the first description of a bacterial disease, Varracalbmi, recorded sporadically among seawater‐reared Atlantic salmon in northern Norway between 1989 and early 1992. The causative organism, a Gram‐negative, non‐motile, capsule‐forming, oxidase‐positive and facultatively anaerobic rod, has not previously been described. The mean water temperatures during the outbreaks varied from 2.5 to 8 °C. The disease was characterized by haemorrhagic and necrotizing pyogranulomatous inflammation which targeted the eye and resulted in panophthalmitis. Accompanying lesions included deep dermal ulcerations, necrotizing and haemorrhagic pyogranulomatous lesions in the visceral organs, and necrosis of the pseudobranch. The proposed name of the disease, Varracalbmi, is the Lappish name for ‘bloody eye’.
The effect of temperature and salinity on the settlement and survival of copepodids of Lepeophtheirus salmonis (Krøyer, 1837) on Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L.
Authors: Tucker C S , Sommerville C , Wootten R
Published: March 2003

The effects of temperature and salinity on the settlement, subsequent survival and development of the copepodids of Lepeophtheirus salmonis on Atlantic salmon were investigated experimentally. There was a significantly greater settlement and survival of copepodids at 10 days post‐infection (dpi) at 12 °C compared with at 7 °C at a constant salinity of 34‰. Development of L. salmonis was also more rapid at 12 °C. Settlement was significantly greater at a salinity of 34‰ than at 24‰. In one experiment, survival at 10 dpi was significantly greater at 34‰; however, a second experiment found that there was no significant difference between the two saline levels. This may have been because of a rise in water temperature for 2 dpi, which appears to have overridden the effect of low salinity. Development of L. salmonis was more rapid at 34‰. Copepodids settled on all of the external surfaces of the salmon, although the proportion on different surfaces varied between experiments. The gills, particularly at low temperatures, the body surface, and the pectoral and dorsal fins were especially favoured.
In vitro neutralization by monoclonal antibodies against yellow grouper nervous necrosis virus (YGNNV) and immunolocalization of virus infection in yellow grouper, Epinephelus awoara (Temminck & Schlegel)
Authors: Lai Y‐S , Chiu H‐C , Murali S , Guo I‐C , Chen S‐C , Fang K , Chang C‐Y
Published: March 2003

Mouse monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were produced by using yellow grouper nervous necrosis virus (YGNNV) as an immunogen, isolated from infected yellow grouper, Epinephelus awoara (Temminck & Schlegel), and propagated in GB cells. In enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), 43 hybridoma clones secreting MAbs strongly reacted with the purified virus. Ten of them showed a higher neutralization index (NI) value between 6.5 and 4.5 (log10 NI) than the other 33 MAbs against YGNNV infection in cell culture. All 10 MAbs belonged to the IgG isotype with a κ light chain and recognized the 42 kDa coat protein of YGNNV by Western blot analysis. Immunohistochemical results demonstrated that the viral signals co‐located with pathological lesions observed in retina, brain and spinal cord. These results indicate that the MAbs are useful for confirmative diagnosis of YGNNV infection.
Improved recapture rate of vaccinated sea‐ranched Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L.
Authors: Buchmann K , Larsen J L , Therkildsen B
Published: March 2003

Vaccination of sea‐ranched Atlantic salmon was conducted in order to investigate if immuno‐prophylactic measures could improve their survival. Fish were either vaccinated by bath or injection. A total of 66 000 fish were reared in fresh water at a hatchery on the island of Bornholm and at the presmolt stage were separated in three groups each comprising of 22 000 fish. One group was vaccinated intraperitoneally with a polyvalent vaccine (containing killed Vibrio anguillarum serotype O1 and O2, Yersinia ruckeri and Aeromonas salmonicida). A second group was bath vaccinated with the corresponding vaccine‐components and the third group was used as a non‐vaccinated control. One month after vaccination these groups were allocated to three separate net‐pens located 500 m from the coastline of the island. After 4 months in the net‐pens, 1000 fish from each cage were tagged with Carlin‐tags below the dorsal fin. The fish were then released for a migration period in the Baltic Sea. Following a sea period of 40 months (45 months post‐vaccination), the recapture rates of the groups were calculated from the returned tags from fishermen. Recapture of the injection vaccinated group was significantly higher (25%) compared with the bath vaccinated fish (14.7%) and the control group (16.8%).
A pharmacokinetic study of flumequine in sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax (L.), after a single intravascular injection
Authors: Rigos G , Tyrpenou A , Nengas I , Alexis M
Published: March 2003

The pharmacokinetic properties of flumequine following a single intravascular injection (10 mg kg–1 fish) were studied in sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax (L.), 120 g held at 18 °C. The absorption half life (t1/2α) and the elimination half life (t1/2β) of the drug were calculated to be 1.05 and 10.71 h, respectively. Tissue penetration of flumequine seemed to be moderate because both the apparent volume of distribution of the drug at steady‐state (Vd(ss)) and the extensive apparent volume of the central compartment (Vc) were found to be small (1.51 and 0.626 L kg–1). The mean residence time (MRT) was short (09.73 h) and the total clearance (CLT) of the drug was rapid (0.156 L kg–1 h–1).
The epidemiology of the sea lice, Caligus elongatus Nordmann, in marine aquaculture of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., in Scotland
Authors: Revie C W , Gettinby G , Treasurer J W , Rae G H
Published: March 2003

Although Caligus elongatus is one of two major species of sea lice that parasitize farmed salmon, its epidemiology has not been extensively studied. In this communication, the abundances of the adult stage of C. elongatus in salmon populations from 33 farms in the West of Scotland between 1997 and 2000 have been analysed for evidence of seasonal and annual patterns. The findings indicate that the pattern of C. elongatus is remarkably consistent from year to year, and directly opposed to that reported for Lepeophtheirus salmonis, the other major caligid species. In particular, adult infestations rapidly increase from the start of July each year, and are more prevalent on salmon in the first year of production than the second year. Treatment is seen to have an effect on levels of infestation but it is not clear why this species should have significantly lower levels of abundance in the second year of production. There is also evidence that fallowing has no effect on abundance. Strategic management programmes for the control of sea lice on salmon farms, which are increasingly effective in controlling L. salmonis, may also have to give greater consideration to C. elongatus.
Haemoglobin and oxygen transport of the West Australian dhufish, Glaucosoma hebraicum Richardson, and other species
Authors: Stephens F J , Cleary J J , Jenkins G , Jones B , Raidal S R , Thomas J B
Published: March 2003

To better understand the possible role of deoxygenation of haemoglobin in the pathogenesis of exophthalmos in the West Australian dhufish, Glaucosoma hebraicum Richardson, some oxygen transport properties of haemoglobin from this species were determined and compared with haemoglobin from black bream, Acanthopagrus butcheri (Munro), snapper, Pagrus auratus (Bloch & Schneider) and King George whiting, Sillaginodes punctata (Cuvier). Dhufish had a single haemoglobin with a pronounced Root effect. Snapper and black bream blood had six and five types of haemoglobin, respectively. The magnitude of the Root effect of haemoglobins in the haemolysate was demonstrated by comparing oxygenation and total deoxygenation at pH 8 with relative deoxygenation at pH 6.9. Dhufish haemoglobin demonstrated a large Root effect, with the Root effect of King George whiting, snapper and black bream being of lesser magnitude. Deoxygenation of all haemolysates was more pronounced in the presence of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Seasonal changes in haematological parameters and ATP content of dhufish blood were not evident. The Root effect is discussed in the context of its possible role in oxygen supply to the retina and adaptation to the fish's habitat and the environment.
Analysis of exotoxins produced by atypical isolates of Aeromonas salmonicida, by enzymatic and serological methods
Authors: Gudmundsdóttir B K , Hvanndal Í , Björnsdóttir B , Wagner U
Published: March 2003

In this study, exotoxins produced by 62 Aeromonas salmonicida strains and the bacterium Haemophilus piscium were analysed. Enzymatic assays, zymograms and serological detection were used to monitor secretion by bacterial strains of the previously described exotoxins P1, GCAT and AsaP1 and also the extracellular P2 metallo‐gelatinase and a serine caseinase, which is different from the P1 protease and has not yet been characterized. Based on the results, the strains were divided into five groups. One comprised the type strains for A. salmonicida ssp. masoucida, H. piscium and 36% of the atypical isolates, and another, a type strain for A. salmonicida ssp. smithia together with 14% of the atypical isolates. A second type strain of A. salmonicida ssp. smithia was grouped with 8% of the atypical isolates. The largest group contained the type strains for A. salmonicida ssp. achromogenes and 38% of the atypical isolates. The type strains for A. salmonicida ssp. salmonicida were in the last group with all the four typical strains and 4% of the atypical isolates. The combination of zymogram and serological detection used is recommended as the most reliable method for characterizing A. salmonicida strains according to their exotoxin secretion.
Susceptibility of cultured juveniles of several marine fish to the sevenband grouper nervous necrosis virus
Authors: Tanaka S , Kuriyama I , Nakai T , Miyazaki T
Published: March 2003

Piscine nodaviruses (betanodaviruses) have been tentatively divided into four genotypes (SJNNV, RGNNV, TPNNV and BFNNV) and it is suggested that host specificity is different among these genotypes. In the present study, a betanodavirus [sevenband grouper nervous necrosis virus (SGNNV)] belonging to the redspotted grouper nervous necrosis virus (RGNNV) genotype, to which most betanodaviruses from warm water fish are identified, was evaluated for its pathogenicity to hatchery‐reared juveniles of several marine fish species. When challenged with the virus by a bath method (105.1 TCID50 mL−1), sevenband grouper, Epinephelus septemfasciatus, Japanese flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus, and tiger puffer, Takifugu rubripes, displayed behavioural abnormalities and mortalities with distinct histopathological signs of viral nervous necrosis and heavily immunostained cells were observed in the central nervous tissues and retina. Bath‐challenged rock fish, Sebastiscus marmoratus, and a hybrid of sevenband grouper and kelp grouper, E. moara, did not display any behavioural abnormality or mortality during the experimental period, although many fish showed slight signs of viral infection in nerve cells. Kelp grouper and red sea bream, Pagrus major, showed no behavioural abnormality, mortality or immunohistopathological changes after the virus challenge. These results are, in part, consistent with the natural host range of RGNNV, indicating the complexity in the host specificity of betanodaviruses.
A trial of lactase in the management of infant colic
Authors: Kearney  , Malone  , Hayes  , Cole  , Hyland
Published: March 2003

Objective: To investigate transient lactose intolerance as a factor in the aetiology of infant colic.

Design: We undertook a randomized, double‐blind, crossover trial of lactase and placebo drops added to milk formula to determine whether this method of reducing lactose intake affected infant colic.

Subjects: Infants with colic were referred from clinics in keeping with Wessel's modified criteria.

Interventions: Infants were randomly allocated to add either lactase or placebo drops to their formula feeds for 1 week, followed by 2 days ‘wash out’. The addition was changed for the second week so that subjects served as their own control. The formulas were kept refrigerated for 24 h before ingestion. The parents kept a diary of their baby's crying time.

Results: Thirteen babies completed the trial, of whom nine were boys. The mean birth weight was 3.7 kg (8.2 lb). Colic symptoms began in less than 1 month in 12 of the babies. The effect of the lactase was to reduce crying time by 1.14 h per day (CI 0.23–2.05). The reduction in crying time was significant (
t=2.75, d.f.=11, P=0.019).
Conclusion: Transient lactose intolerance may have a role in the aetiology of infant colic. Lactase drops require prior incubation with milk formula to be effective. The response to lactase in this study supports ‘colic’, i.e. spasm of the large intestine as a factor in these infants’ discomfort.
Development of a screening tool for assessing risk of undernutrition in patients in the community
Authors: Ward  , Close  , Little  , Boorman  , Perkins  , Coles  , Edington
Published: March 2003

Background: This study was undertaken to develop a simple tool for assessing risk of undernutrition for use by the primary health care team.

Methods: We devised a list of 25 questions that might be predictive of nutritional risk. Community nurses administered the questions, which required only yes/no answers, to 507 patients in their care. Within 4 days a dietitian carried out a full nutritional assessment. Discriminant analysis was used to determine which questions were predictive of nutritional risk as assessed by a dietitian. Multiple regression analysis was used to derive a simple equation to assign weightings to those questions.

Results: Five hundred and seven patients completed the study. Nine questions were found to be associated with nutritional risk as assessed by a dietitian. The final tool, which has three categories of scores: 0–6=not at risk; 7–16=possible/probable risk; 517=malnourished, has a positive predictive value of 94.6% and a negative predictive value of 81.1%.

Conclusion: This simple tool can be used to assess risk of undernutrition in patients in primary care, to increase awareness of the importance of nutrition in patients in the community and to ensure that patients are given appropriate dietary advice and/or referred to a dietitian.
An assessment of the diets of people with rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Goff L. M. , Barasi M.
Published: March 2003

Background: A proportion of people with rheumatoid arthritis use diet as a form of therapy for their condition. This study aimed to investigate the specific actions these people take with regard to diet and the nutrient composition of these specialized diets. The effects that these habits have on nutritional status have also been discussed.

Methods: An ex‐post facto study was completed with subjects being recruited from an arthritis self‐help group by means of a postal questionnaire. Fifty‐four subjects responded to the questionnaire and 25 of these went on to complete a 3‐day diet diary. These subjects were divided into two study groups: those who believed that diet had some effect on their condition or symptoms and those who believed it had no effect.

Results: Food avoidance and supplementation were the most common dietary habits reported by people with rheumatoid arthritis, with 50% of respondents reporting supplementation and 67% food avoidance. The nutrient intakes of the two study groups differed significantly, with the ‘diet‐believers’ generally having a more nutrient‐dense, well‐balanced, healthier diet than the group who did not believe diet had any effect.

Conclusion: There is much concern regarding nutritional guidelines for people with rheumatoid arthritis. Individuals who have an interest in diet and nutrition and believe it affects their condition appear to have a more nutrient‐dense, well‐balanced, healthier diet than those who do not have any such belief.
Sugar profiles of cultured dairy products in the UK
Authors: O'Brien J.
Published: March 2003

Background: Manufacturers provide little detailed information concerning the sugars content of the ever‐increasing range of cultured dairy products in the UK. Information about lactose and free galactose would be of value to consumers and those giving dietary advice.

Methods: Sucrose, lactose, glucose, galactose and fructose were measured in a total of 96 cultured dairy products on the UK market using AOAC official methods for enzymatic analysis of sugars.

Results: The study confirmed that most lactic acid fermentations result in a decrease in lactose content and an increase in free galactose. Mean values for lactose were as follows: live yoghurts (plain), 3.67%; live yoghurts (with fruit/flavoured), 3.29%; fermented buttermilk, 5.86%; Greek‐style yoghurts (cow's milk), 3.21%; drinking yoghurts, 2.54%; yoghurts (with fruit, low fat), 3.61%; yoghurts (with fruit, full‐fat), 3.57%; sheep's milk yoghurts (plain), 2.21%. Mean values for free galactose were increased compared with unfermented milk: live yoghurts (plain), 1.01%; live yoghurts (with fruit/flavoured), 0.75%; fermented buttermilk, 0.02%; Greek‐style yoghurts (Cow's milk), 0.91%; drinking yoghurts, 0.51%; yoghurts (with fruit, low‐fat), 0.91%; yoghurts (with fruit, full‐fat), 0.72%; sheep's milk yoghurts (plain), 1.24%. In individual products, the concentration ranges of galactose and lactose were 0–1.97% and 1.57–6.18%, respectively.

Conclusion: The values reported for free galactose are considerably lower than those reported in the UK food composition tables and may reflect the large number of new products entering the market since the tables were published.
Developing a tool for health professionals involved in producing and evaluating nutrition education leaflets
Authors: Perkins L.
Published: March 2003

Introduction Nutrition education leaflets are widely used by dietitians and many dietitians are also involved in their production. However, there does not appear to be a suitable tool to assist health professionals to produce or evaluate nutrition education leaflets. There are Guidelines available that are either specifically concerned with nutrition but for all educational materials or specifically for use with leaflets, but not necessarily to do with nutrition. The aim of this study was to develop a tool suitable to assist health professionals when producing and evaluating nutrition education leaflets.

Methods Patients and dietitians were surveyed by self‐completion questionnaire to determine their opinions of the importance of various criteria which might be applied to nutrition education leaflets were.

Results The research revealed significant differences in the opinions of dietitians and patients for seven of 11 criteria.

Conclusion The evaluation tool developed was based on the patients’ ranking of all the criteria. Its reliability was assessed amongst a group of dietitians in Dorset but its wider use and acceptability should be looked at. The tool is likely to be appropriate as a checklist for health professionals producing new nutrition education leaflets or as a framework for evaluating existing nutrition education leaflets.
Promotion of dietary carbohydrate as an approach to weight maintenance after initial weight loss: a pilot study
Authors: Kirk T. , Crombie N. , Cursiter M.
Published: March 2003

Aim To test a novel approach to weight management based on positive advice to eat more carbohydrate‐rich foods.

Methods Twenty‐nine overweight/mildly obese male and female volunteers were recruited. For a 2‐week period they were required to replace one main meal each day with a serving of breakfast cereal. This was followed by 4 weeks eating adlib on a high‐carbohydrate regime. Each subject, who acted as his/her own control, kept a 3‐day unweighed food diary at baseline, 2 weeks and 6 weeks. Anthropometric measurements were made at each stage.

Results Twenty‐two subjects completed the study. Mean weight loss at 2 weeks was 2.0 kg, a statistically significant reduction, which was maintained at 6 weeks. Significant changes in mean energy intake (− 2.29 MJ day–1), in percentage energy from carbohydrate (+ 8%) and from fat (– 11%) were observed after 2 weeks, and remained significant at the end of the study.

Conclusions The results of this pilot study show that replacing a main meal with breakfast cereal led to moderate weight loss, and a follow‐up high‐carbohydrate phase enabled weight loss to be sustained. We suggest that this regime has potential for further investigation and that promotion of carbohydrate‐rich foods should be part of public health messages for weight control.