bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clients’ perceptions of support received from health visitors during home visits
Authors: Plews Caroline , Bryar Rosamund , Closs Jose
Published: June 2005

Aims and objectives.  The current study sought to identify how many mothers from 149 visits carried out by seven health visitors identified support as a feature of the visit, whether this type of support was unique to the health visitor and what support meant to them. These responses were then compared with the taxonomies of social support from the social support literature.

Background.  Some studies of client perceptions describe support as an element of home visits by health visitors. However, the importance, relevance and impact on the client of this support are not described in detail. Social support theory suggests that there are tangible benefits to people's well‐being and their ability to cope with various challenges that may arise from individuals’ perceptions of receiving support.

Design.  Qualitative study using semistructured interviews.

Methods.  Seven volunteer health visitors recruited 149 women into the study.

These clients were interviewed by the researcher, usually within one week of the home visit by their health visitor. The discussions were audio‐taped and the resulting transcripts analysed using content analysis.

Findings.  Thirty‐seven women identified receiving support which they said was only available from the health visitor. The relevance of this support to the mother and the impact on her well‐being varied within the group suggesting differing perceptions of support by clients according to their personal situation. There was a correspondence between the descriptions of support given by the women and the taxonomies of social support from the social support literature.

Conclusion.  For some interactions between clients and their health visitors the existing theory of social support may provide an explanation of how health visitors contribute to clients’ perceived ability to cope and well‐being.

Relevance to clinical practice.  Social support may be defined as a possible outcome of health visiting. This concept will have use within educational programmes to demonstrate to students how health visiting can have an impact on clients’ well‐being. Similarly, the concept could be used to investigate and record health visiting practice.
Radical prostatectomy: men's experiences and postoperative needs
Authors: Burt Jean , Caelli Kate , Moore Katherine , Anderson Melissa
Published: June 2005

Aims and objectives.  This study sought to explore men's experiences after radical prostatectomy and whether they perceived their preoperative teaching adequately prepared them for postoperative recovery. Tape‐recorded telephone and face‐to‐face interviews were conducted at days 2, 7 and 21, and 3 and 12 months postdischarge.

Background.  Although verbal and written instruction about postoperative expectations and care are provided routinely before radical prostatectomy, patients express concern about a lack of preparation in managing urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction.

Design.  This qualitative descriptive study explored in‐depth men's experiences during the year following their surgery.

Methods.  Multiple, tape‐recorded, semistructured telephone interviews were conducted with 17 participants and a single, in‐depth, face‐to‐face interview was conducted 12 months postoperatively with a subset of five men selected for their reflective and descriptive abilities.

Results.  Although participants received comprehensive written and verbal information preoperatively, it was not sufficient to foster their management of all postoperative sequelae. Telephone follow‐up, used as a data collection strategy, was helpful in fostering adjustment after surgery and relieved anxiety caused by side effects of surgery and unanswered questions.

Conclusions.  Pre‐ and postoperative teaching needs to make allowances for the impact of stress on the recall and processing of information. Written information in itself is not adequate to answer necessary questions and provide reassurance. Follow‐up telephone support is recommended as a way of fostering adjustment after surgery.

Relevance to clinical practice.  This study shows that: (i) Written information in itself is not adequate to answer necessary questions and provide reassurance, (ii) Nurses need to be prepared, both educationally and psychologically, to observe non‐verbal cues and to address questions and concerns that are rarely voiced in ways that indicate their significance to the person and (iii) Men may not speak about sexuality issues in ways that accurately reflect the extent of their worry and/or distress about erectile dysfunction.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a phenomenological study of patients’ experiences
Authors: Barnett Margaret
Published: June 2005

Aim.  The purpose of this study is to explore the experience of living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease by investigating the subjective phenomenon as described by the patient.

Background.  Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is now recognized as one of the most common chronic respiratory diseases in the United Kingdom, with a high prevalence of morbidity and mortality. As the disease progresses, symptoms increase which gradually influence all aspects of the lives of those affected by it.

Method.  A phenomenological approach was identified as the most appropriate method to gain an understanding of living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The data were obtained from 10 participants using unstructured interviews to capture detailed experiences verbatim. Analysis, based on the framework of Diekelmann et al. (The NLN Criteria for Appraisal of Baccalaureate Programs: A Critical Hermeneutic Analysis, NLN Press, New York, 1989), was employed to interpret the data and determine shared themes that evolved during the course of the research.

Results.  The data revealed valuable insights, from a patient's perspective, into the impact chronic obstructive pulmonary disease had on their daily lives. The accounts obtained from participants, many of who had severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, illustrate the detrimental effects of this debilitating disease. Breathlessness was identified as the most troublesome symptom leading to anxiety, panic and fear. Participants also described feeling frustrated and tired because of their breathlessness, which led to loss of social activity. This also resulted in a loss of their role within the family including loss of intimacy in personal relationships. Despite this, half of the participants felt they had a fairly good quality of life.

Conclusion.  The use of phenomenology as a research methodology fulfilled the aim of gaining a greater understanding of the experiences of living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It provided valuable insights into how patients view the overall impact and their subsequent degree of coping with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease from day to day.

Relevance to clinical practice.  Whilst there is no cure for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and medical interventions have limited effect, health professionals can do much to improve patient's symptoms and experiences of living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease by listening to how their symptoms affect them and adapting coping strategies. It is hoped that the themes revealed in this study generate additional understanding and insight for future innovative practice.
Drug errors, qualitative research and some reflections on ethics
Authors: Armitage Gerry
Published: June 2005

Aims and objectives.  Observational methods as part of a qualitative approach have been specifically employed in the study of drug error and have undeniable strengths. This position paper will examine some recent research raising a number of ethical, and tangentially, methodological issues concerning the qualitative study of drug errors within United Kingdom National Health Service hospitals. Reflections on the views and ethical conduct of other qualitative researchers are provided to contextualize the discussion.

Background.  The impact of a drug error, and any resultant adverse event can be significant. The human and financial costs are considerable. Establishing an accurate estimation of the frequency of adverse event and reporting rates has been difficult; additionally, methodological weaknesses in medical error research have sometimes caused further difficulties. Unsurprisingly, observational studies and for that matter, a whole range of other methods are now being considered in the quest to establish both understanding and predictability in relation to medical error.

Relevance to clinical practice.  It is argued here that any participants in medical error research should be treated in a way that takes account of the prevailing culture of health care and, in the United Kingdom, the current ethos of government policy on medical error. This requires gaining informed consent, promoting transparency in method, and providing the opportunity for participants to learn. Effective error researchers can clearly increase the available knowledge in this critical area but ethical considerations and their chosen methods should show an appropriate level of respect for their participants. Carefully implemented qualitative approaches can help realize such respect.
Pegylated interferon‐alpha 2b–ribavirin combination in Egyptian patients with genotype 4 chronic hepatitis
Authors: Derbala M. , Amer A. , Bener A. , Lopez A. C. , Omar M. , El Ghannam M.
Published: June 2005

Summary.  Egypt has a high prevalence rate of hepatitis C (HCV) infection and as much as 90% is genotype 4. Response to interferon (IFN) varies with viral genotype and degree of fibrosis. Genotype 4 is poorly sensitive to standard IFN and IFN–ribavirin combination. We evaluated pegylated interferon (PEG‐IFN)‐α2b in our patients. Sixty‐one patients with compensated chronic HCV genotype 4 were enrolled in two groups: group A (31 patients) received IFN‐α2b 3 MU three times per week and group B (30 patients) received 1.5 μg/kg PEG‐IFN‐α2b once weekly. Ribavirin was added to each regimen in a dose of 800–1200 mg based on body weight. Patients were followed up for 24 weeks to assess the sustained response (SR). End‐of‐treatment response (ETR) was achieved in 11 of 31 patients (35.48%) in group A, and 13 of 30 patients (43.33%) in group B (P < 0.05). Only eight patients in group A and 10 in group (B) achieved a sustained virological response (25.8 and 33.3%, respectively) (P < 0.05). By computing ETR, SR or relapse and pretreatment baseline data (pretreatment, viral load, alanine transaminases, necroinflammatory and hepatic fibrosis), both inter‐ and intragroup, no significant correlations could be detected. In terms of safety and tolerability, PEG‐IFN‐α2b and IFN‐α2b were comparable. In spite of mild insignificant increase in ETR and SR with the pegylated form, the poor response of genotype 4 in Egypt (genotype 4a) to different forms of IFNs may be related to an intrinsic resistance to the direct antiviral effect of IFN.
Changing of hepatitis C virus genotype patterns in France at the beginning of the third millenium: The GEMHEP GenoCII Study
Authors: Payan C. , Roudot‐Thoraval F. , Marcellin P. , Bled N. , Duverlie G. , Fouchard‐Hubert I. , Trimoulet P. , Couzigou P. , Cointe D. , Chaput C. , Henquell C. , Abergel A. , Pawlotsky J. M. , Hezode C. , Coudé M. , Blanchi A. , Alain S. , Loustaud‐Ratti V. , Chevallier P. , Trepo C. , Gerolami V. , Portal I. , Halfon P. , Bourlière M. , Bogard M. , Plouvier E. , Laffont C. , Agius G. , Silvain C. , Brodard V. , Thiefin G. , Buffet‐Janvresse C. , Riachi G. , Grattard F. , Bourlet T. , Stoll‐Keller F. , Doffoel M. , Izopet J. , Barange K. , Martinot‐Peignoux M. , Branger M. , Rosenberg A. , Sogni P. , Chaix M. L. , Pol S. , Thibault V. , Opolon P. , Charrois A. , Serfaty L. , Fouqueray B. , Grange J. D. , Lefrère J. J. , Lunel‐Fabiani F.
Published: June 2005

Summary.  This cross‐sectional study aimed to investigate, during a short period between 2000 and 2001, in a large population of patients with chronic hepatitis C, the epidemiological characteristics of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes in France. Data from 26 referral centres, corresponding to 1769 patients with chronic hepatitis C were collected consecutively during a 6‐month period. HCV genotyping in the 5′‐non‐coding region (NCR) was performed in each center using the line probe assay (LiPA, in 63% of cases), sequencing (25%) or primer‐specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (12%). HCV genotypes 1a, 1b, 2, 3, 4, 5, non‐subtyped 1 and mixed infection were found in 18, 27, 9, 21, 9, 3, 11 and 1% of our population, respectively. HCV genotype distribution was associated with gender, age, source and duration of infection, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, cirrhosis, alcohol consumption, hepatitis B virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) coinfection. In multivariate analysis, only the source of infection was the independent factor significantly associated with genotype (P = 0.0001). In conclusion, this study shows a changing pattern of HCV genotypes in France, with i.v. drug abuse as the major risk factor, an increase of genotype 4, and to a lesser extent 1a and 5, and a decrease of genotypes 1b and 2. The modification of the HCV genotype pattern in France in the next 10 years may require new therapeutic strategies, and further survey studies.
Efficacy of lamivudine re‐treatment for relapsed patients after an initial lamivudine therapy in HBeAg‐positive chronic hepatitis B
Authors: Shin J. W. , Park N. H. , Park J. H. , Park J. H. , Jeong I. D. , Bang S‐J. , Joo K. R. , Kim D. H.
Published: June 2005

Summary.  The efficacy of lamivudine re‐treatment in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients who relapse after HBeAg seroconversion with lamivudine has not been investigated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of lamivudine re‐treatment in relapsed patients. Among 192 patients who had achieved HBeAg seroconversion with lamivudine at a dose of 100 mg/day, 121 patients discontinued lamivudine. Relapse occurred in 49 patients (40.5%). Thirty‐three relapsed patients received lamivudine re‐treatment for at least 6 months. The mean duration of lamivudine re‐treatment was 16 months and the follow‐up period was 8.9 months. HBeAg seroconversion was achieved in 23 patients (69.7%). The cumulative HBeAg seroconversion rates at 5, 9, and 12 months were 60, 64, and 67%, respectively. The mean time to HBeAg seroconversion in lamivudine re‐treatment was shorter than that in the initial therapy (4.7 months vs. 9.7 months). Viral breakthrough occurred in six (18.2%) patients. All patients with viral breakthrough were accompanied by elevation of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels. Among 15 patients who discontinued lamivudine re‐treatment after HBeAg seroconversion, relapse occurred in six patients (40%). All relapses occurred within 9 months after the discontinuation of lamivudine re‐treatment. In conclusion, lamivudine re‐treatment in relapsed patients after initial lamivudine therapy had a higher response rate and shorter duration to HBeAg seroconversion than during the initial therapy. However, HBeAg seroconversion induced by lamivudine re‐treatment was not durable.
Viral dynamics during tenofovir therapy in patients infected with lamivudine‐resistant hepatitis B virus mutants
Authors: van der Eijk A. A. , Hansen B. E. , Niesters H. G. M. , Janssen H. L. A. , van de Ende M. , Schalm S. W. , de Man R. A.
Published: June 2005

Summary.  Tenofovir, an antihuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV) drug, has activity against lamivudine‐resistant hepatitis B virus (HBV) mutants. To describe the efficacy of tenofovir in patients with lamivudine‐resistant hepatitis B we applied two investigative approaches based on mathematical models of viral dynamics: the individual nonlinear fitting and the mixed‐effect group fitting approaches.

Eleven chronic HBV patients on lamivudine for a median of 176 weeks (range: 72–382) with YMDD mutation‐related HBV‐DNA breakthrough received ‘add‐on’ tenofovir 300 mg once‐daily, while maintaining their existing therapy. Sequential sera were taken at day 1 (t = 0 and t = 8 h), days 2, 4, 7, 10, 14, 21, 28 and every 4 weeks thereafter, and HBV‐DNA levels were assessed using a validated quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay.

Median baseline log HBV‐DNA was 8.62 (range: 6.48–9.76 log HBV‐DNA). Tenofovir treatment resulted in a mean (±SD) log HBV‐DNA decline of 1.37 ± 0.51 in the first phase, 2.54 ± 0.91 after 4 weeks, and 4.95 ± 0.90 log HBV‐DNA after 24 weeks. The median effectiveness of blocking viral replication in the individual fit model was 93% (range: 73–99) for η = 0 and 93% (range: 59–99) for η = 1. There was only a small difference between the efficacy parameter ‘ɛ’ of the individual nonlinear fitting and mixed‐effect group fitting on the biphasic exponential model.

These data show that tenofovir has good efficacy in blocking viral replication in HBV patients with lamivudine‐induced drug‐resistant HBV mutants, but effectiveness varies greatly among individuals. Both models can be used to describe viral decay during tenofovir therapy.
Relationship between temporary inhibition and structure of disulfide‐linkage analogs of marinostatin, a natural ester‐linked protein protease inhibitor
Authors: Taniguchi M. , Kamei K. , Kanaori K. , Koyama T. , Yasui T. , Takano R. , Harada S. , Tajima K. , Imada C. , Hara S.
Published: June 2005

Abstract:  A 12‐residue marinostatin [MST(1–12): 1FATMRYPSDSDE12] which contains two ester linkages of Thr3–Asp9 and Ser8–Asp11 strongly inhibits subtilisin. In order to study the relationship between the inhibitory activity, structure, and stability of MST, MST analogs were prepared by changing ester linkages to a disulfide linkages. The analogs without the disulfide linkage between 3 and 9 positions lost their inhibitory activity. The Ki value of 1SS(C3–C9) (1FACMRYPSCSDE12), which has a single disulfide linkage of Cys3–Cys9 was comparable with those of MST(1–12) and MST‐2SS (1FACMRYPCCSCE12), a doubly linked analog of Cys3–Cys9 and Cys8–Cys11. However, 1SS(C3–C9) and MST‐2SS showed temporary inhibition, but not MST(1–12): These analogs were inactivated after incubation with subtilisin for 30 min, and were specifically hydrolyzed at the reactive site. 1H NMR study showed that 1SS(C3–C9) has two conformations, which contain a cis‐ (70%) or trans‐ (30%) Pro residue, while MST‐2SS as well as MST(1–12) takes a single conformation containing only a cis‐Pro residue. Hydrogen–deuterium exchange rate of the Arg5 (P1′) NH proton of the MST analogs was about 100 times faster than that of MST(1–12). These results indicate that the linkage between the positions 8 and 11 plays a role for fixing the cis‐conformation of the Pro7 residue, and that the linkage between 3 and 9 is indispensable for the inhibition, but not enough for stable protease‐inhibitor complex.
Normal Anatomical Imaging of the Thorax in Three Dogs: Computed Tomography and Macroscopic Cross Sections with Vascular Injection
Authors: Rivero M. A. , Ramírez J. A. , Vázquez J. M. , Gil F. , Ramírez G. , Arencibia A.
Published: June 2005

The purpose of this study was to provide a new reference for interpretation of the normal anatomy of the canine thorax as imaged using computed tomography (CT). Three mature dogs, all mixed breed males, were used for this study. The dogs were sedated, anaesthetized and maintained in sternal recumbency. CT study from the first to the thirteen thoracic vertebra was performed with a TOSHIBA 600HQ scanner (third generation equipment). Dogs were killed and vascular‐injection technique was performed: red latex and blue latex filled vascular system. Injected dogs were frozen and sectioned with an electric bandsaw, the cuts matched as closely as possible to the CT images. The CT images from this study are intended as a reference for clinical CT imaging studies of the thoracic cavity of the dog and for interpreting lesions of the thorax and associated structures.
Testicular Dynamics in Syrian Hamsters Exposed to Both Short Photoperiod and Low Ambient Temperature
Authors: Sato T. , Tachiwana T. , Takata K. , Tay T. W. , Ishii M. , Nakamura R. , Kimura S. , Kanai Y. , Kurohmaru M. , Hayashi Y.
Published: June 2005

The object of this study was to determine the details of morphological dynamics of spermatogenesis in Syrian hamsters exposed to both short photoperiod and low ambient temperature. Eight‐week‐old male hamsters, kept in a long photoperiod (14 h L, 10 h D), were transferred to a short photoperiod (6 h L, 18 h D) and kept there for 13 weeks to induce testicular regression. Some hamsters were then transferred from the room at 23°C to that at 5°C (5°C group). Remaining hamsters were continuously kept at 23°C (23°C group). Thereafter, the morphology was examined. As a result, it took only 8 weeks until spermatogenesis recovered in the 23°C group. However, it was not until 20 weeks that spermatogenesis was recognized in the 5°C group. As the regulation of seasonal testicular activity is characterized by coordinated shifts in the relationships among mitosis, meiosis, and apoptosis, the changes in the proliferative and apoptotic activities were examined. Although no significant difference in proliferative activity of spermatogonia between the 5°C and the 23°C groups was confirmed, a notable increase in the rate of apoptosis was observed in the 5°C group. Furthermore, this increase was more salient during the hibernation period. These findings suggest that both cold ambient temperature and hibernation caused the delay of testicular recrudescence and this delay arose from the increase of apoptotic activity but not the change in proliferative activity in spermatogonia in the 5°C group.
Postnatal Development of the Secretory Activity of the Goat Subcommissural Organ. A Reissner's Fibre and Angiotensin II Immunohistochemical Study
Authors: Castañeyra‐Martín M. , Carmona‐Calero E. M. , Pérez‐González H. , Martínez‐Peña y Valenzuela I. , Ormazabal‐Ramos C. , Pérez‐Garcia C. G. , Marrero‐Gordillo N. , Trujillano‐Dorado A. , González‐Marrero I. , Castañeyra‐Perdomo A.
Published: June 2005

Subcommissural organ (SCO) secretory activity of the goat (variations of Capra hircus, that live in arid conditions) was examined during the postnatal development, using specific antibodies against the Reissner's fibre (AFRU) and angiotensin II (AAGII). The SCO was strongly stained with the anti‐glycoproteins that form the Reissner's fibre and lightly marked with the anti‐angiotensin II. The AFRU‐immunoreactivity (ir) was found in the ependymal and hypendymal cells and in the ventricular and peripheral secretory routes of the goat SCO. The amount AFRU increases at 6 months and decreases at adult age. In contrast, the anti‐angiotensin II‐ir was mainly found in the adult age, not being practically observed at one postnatal month. The AAGII‐ir was mainly found in ependymal cells in which AFRU‐ir was downregulated. In addition, we detected the presence of double immunostained for AFRU and AAGII in ependymocytes of the pre‐commissural and subcommissural parts. In conclusion the present results may suggest a functional interrelation between AAGII and the secretory activity of the SCO of this kind of goat.
A Systematic Study of Brain Base Arteries in the Wild Boar (Sus scrofa scrofa)
Authors: Oliveira J. C. D. , Campos R.
Published: June 2005

This study aimed at describing and systematizing the arteries of the base of the brain of the wild boar (Sus scrofa scrofa). Thirty‐three heads were used, of which 30 were injected with latex, and three with acrylic dental resin through the common carotid arteries. The brain carotid artery arose from the rostral epidural rete mirabile, and divided into a rostral and a caudal branch. The rostral branch gave off the middle cerebral artery and then continued as rostral cerebral artery. The latter branched into lateral rhinal, internal ethmoidal and medial rhinal arteries. The rostral cerebral artery joined its contralateral homologue, becoming the single rostral inter‐hemispheric artery. The caudal branch emitted the caudal cerebral artery and the tectal arteries, and then fused with the branch of the opposite antimere, joining the basilar artery. The rostral cerebellar arteries derived from this point. The basilar artery originated from the anastomosis between the arteries derived from the caudal epidural rete mirabile of each antimere. The basilar artery extended rostrally, giving off as main collateral branch the caudal cerebellar artery. The basilar artery presented a significant decrease in diameter before joining the caudal branches of the brain carotid arteries. The cerebral arterial circle was rostrally and caudally closed.
The Canine Right Caudal and Accessory Lobe Pulmonary Veins: Revised Anatomical Description, Clinical Relevance, and Embryological Implications
Authors: Holt D. E. , Cole S. G. , Anderson R. B. , Miscelis R. R. , Bridges C. R.
Published: June 2005

Necropsy dissections were performed on nine dogs to provide an anatomical description of the right caudal and accessory lobe pulmonary veins. In all dogs, the pulmonary vein from the right caudal lung lobe initially paralleled the right caudal lung lobe bronchus, running cranially, medially, and ventrally. It diverged from the bronchus at the level of the pulmonary artery and bronchus of the accessory lung lobe. At this point, the pulmonary vein from the right caudal lung lobe coursed dorsal to the pulmonary artery and bronchus of the accessory lung lobe. Medial to the bronchus of the accessory lung lobe, it received the pulmonary vein from the accessory lung lobe on its ventral surface. Within the pericardium, this common venous trunk merged with the caudal aspect of the left atrium either with or immediately adjacent to the left caudal lobe pulmonary vein. These findings were corroborated during surgical dissection to achieve isolation of the heart in five dogs as part of an experimental study on intravascular gene delivery to the heart. These anatomical findings are relevant to clinical and experimental surgery and raise interesting questions about the embryological development of pulmonary veins in the dog.
Slag, steel and swamp: Perceptions of restoration of an urban coastal saltmarsh
Authors: Gill Nicholas
Published: June 2005

A community group, in conjunction with local government and industry, has been working on aquatic and terrestrial restoration at a Wollongong saltmarsh, previously diminished in size and degraded by harbour reclamation and an urban rubbish tip. Students evaluate restoration progress to date and devise some interesting potential directions.
Mean latitudinal range sizes of bird assemblages in six Neotropical forest chronosequences
Authors: Dunn Robert R. , Romdal Tom S.
Published: June 2005

Aim The geographical range size frequency distributions of animal and plant assemblages are among the most important factors affecting large‐scale patterns of diversity. Nonetheless, the relationship between habitat type and the range size distributions of species forming assemblages remains poorly understood. We examined how the mean latitudinal range sizes of species in Neotropical bird species assemblages shift during forest clearance and subsequent regeneration. We tested the hypothesis that bird species assemblages in early successional habitats tend to have larger latitudinal ranges than those in more mature forests.

Location We considered breeding bird chronosequence data from six Neotropical forests.

Results Breeding bird assemblages were found to have the species with the largest average latitudinal range sizes in cleared areas, intermediate in young secondary forests and smallest in old secondary and mature forests. Similar differences were also found when we compared congeners differing in their successional preferences. Sizes of regional ranges (within the Neotropics) did not, however, differ consistently among successional stages. The larger latitudinal (but not regional) ranges of early successional species was as a result in part of the tendency of early successional species to have ranges that extend beyond the Neotropical forest biome.

Conclusions Our analysis of chronosequences suggests that as early successional habitats mature, a consistent shift from large‐ranged species towards more small ranged species occurs. Even relatively old secondary forests have bird species with larger average ranges than mature forests. As a consequence, conservation of secondary forests alone will miss many of the species most at risk of extinction and most unlikely to be conserved in other locations or biomes.
A triple mutation in the second transmembrane domain of mouse dopamine transporter markedly decreases sensitivity to cocaine and methylphenidate
Authors: Chen Rong , Han Dawn D. , Gu Howard H.
Published: June 2005

Previously, we reported that Phe105 in transmembrane domain 2 of the mouse dopamine transporter (DAT) is crucial for high‐affinity cocaine binding. In the current study, we investigated whether other residues surrounding Phe105 also affect the potency of cocaine inhibition. After three rounds of sequential random mutagenesis at these residues, we found a triple mutant (L104V, F105C and A109V) of mouse DAT that retained over 50% uptake activity and was 69‐fold less sensitive to cocaine inhibition when compared with the wild‐type mouse DAT. The triple mutation also resulted in a 47‐fold decrease in sensitivity to methylphenidate inhibition, suggesting that the binding sites for cocaine and methylphenidate may overlap. In contrast, the inhibition of dopamine uptake by amphetamine or methamphetamine was not significantly changed by the mutations, suggesting that the binding sites for the amphetamines differ from those for cocaine and methylphenidate. Such functional but cocaine‐insensitive DAT mutants can be used to generate a knock‐in mouse line to study the role of DAT in cocaine addiction.
Comparative evaluation of positron emission tomography radiotracers for imaging the norepinephrine transporter: (S,S) and (R,R) enantiomers of reboxetine analogs ([11C]methylreboxetine, 3‐Cl‐[11C]methylreboxetine and [18F]fluororeboxetine), (R)‐[11C]nisoxetine, [11C]oxaprotiline and [11C]lortalamine
Authors: Ding Yu‐Shin , Lin Kuo‐Shyan , Logan Jean , Benveniste Helene , Carter Pauline
Published: June 2005

We have synthesized and evaluated several new ligands for imaging the norepinephrine transporter (NET) system in baboons with positron emission tomography (PET). Ligands possessing high brain penetration, high affinity and selectivity, appropriate lipophilicity (log P = 1.0–3.5), high plasma free fraction and reasonable stability in plasma were selected for further studies. Based on our characterization studies in baboons, including 11C‐labeled (R)‐nisoxetine (Nis), oxaprotiline (Oxap), lortalamine (Lort) and new analogs of methylreboxetine (MRB), in conjunction with our earlier evaluation of 11C and 18F derivatives of reboxetine, MRB and their individual (R,R) and (S,S) enantiomers, we have identified the superiority of (S,S)‐[11C]MRB and the suitability of MRB analogs [(S,S)‐[11C]MRB > (S,S)‐[11C]3‐Cl‐MRB > (S,S)‐[18F]fluororeboxetine] as potential NET ligands for PET. In contrast, Nis, Oxap and Lort displayed high uptake in striatum (higher than in thalamus). The use of these ligands is further limited by high non‐specific binding and relatively low specific signal, as is characteristic of many earlier NET ligands. Thus, to our knowledge (S,S)‐[11C]MRB remains by far the most promising NET ligand for PET studies.
Acute up‐regulation of glutamate uptake mediated by mGluR5a in reactive astrocytes
Authors: Vermeiren Céline , Najimi Mustapha , Vanhoutte Nicolas , Tilleux Sébastien , De Hemptinne Isabelle , Maloteaux Jean‐Marie , Hermans Emmanuel
Published: June 2005

Excitatory transmission in the CNS necessitates the existence of dynamic controls of the glutamate uptake achieved by astrocytes, both in physiological conditions and under pathological circumstances characterized by gliosis. In this context, this study was aimed at evaluating the involvement of group I metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluR) in the regulation of glutamate transport in a model of rat astrocytes undergoing in vitro activation using a cocktail of growth factors (G5 supplement). The vast majority of the cells were found to take up aspartate, mainly through the glutamate/aspartate transporter (GLAST), and at least 60% expressed functional mGluR5a. When exposed for 15 s to the selective group I mGluR agonist (S)‐3,5‐dihydroxyphenylglycine, reactive astrocytes showed a significant increase in their capacity to take up aspartate. This effect was confirmed at the single‐cell level, since activation of mGluRs significantly increased the initial slope of aspartate‐dependent Na+ entry associated with the activity of glutamate transporters. This up‐regulation was inhibited by an antagonist of mGluR5 and, more importantly, was sensitive to a specific glutamate transporter 1 (GLT‐1) blocker. The acute influence of mGluR5 on aspartate uptake was phospholipase C‐ and protein kinase C‐dependent, and was mimicked by phorbol esters. We conclude that mGluR5a contributes to a dynamic control of GLT‐1 function in activated astrocytes, acting as a glial sensor of the extracellular glutamate concentration in order to acutely regulate the excitatory transmission.
Colonization and population growth of Yellow‐legged Gull Larus cachinnans in southeastern Poland: causes and influence on native species
Authors: SKÓRKA PIOTR , D. WÓJCIK JOANNA , MARTYKA RAFAŁ
Published: June 2005

The Yellow‐legged Gull Larus cachinnans was first recorded in Poland in the 1980s. We analysed the probable factors responsible for its successful colonization of new areas. We also expected that such a large species should affect populations of other colonial waterbirds. We studied the breeding and feeding ecology in the largest inland colony of the Yellow‐legged Gull in Poland, located in a sedimentation basin near Tarnów (southeastern Poland). The first breeding pair was recorded in 1992 and the population reached 177 pairs in 2001. The population growth rate in this colony, of about 58% per year, fits an exponential model. Nine localities with breeding pairs have been found recently in southern Poland and we now estimate the total population size to be 200–250 pairs. The large clutch size, and high hatching and breeding success in the Tarnów colony suggest that food was plentiful. Food items were frequently found at the nests. Fish, mainly Carp Cyprinus carpio, were the predominant food items delivered to chicks; however, there was more refuse brought to nests during the incubation stage. Immigration probably caused the growth of the colony studied, although our calculations have shown that natal productivity alone is sufficient to maintain this population. The study showed that the growing population of Yellow‐legged Gull might cause considerable reduction in the population sizes of some of the native waterbird species.
Post‐migratory care of young by Crab Plovers Dromas ardeola
Authors: DE SANCTIS AUGUSTO , BIDDAU LUCA , FASOLA MAURO
Published: June 2005

The Crab Plover Dromas ardeola is the only waterbird species known to provision offspring well after the post‐reproductive migration and through overwintering. A few previous quantitative studies have reported inconclusively that juveniles begged rarely, and also indiscriminately at other juveniles. Here, we describe the feeding behaviour of adult and juvenile Crab Plovers during the first part of the wintering period. Juveniles begged frequently for food, always toward adults, and obtained 0.1 prey items/min from them. Begging birds obtained the largest prey items of those captured by the adults. When foraging alone, juveniles captured prey at the same rate as adults, but captured smaller crabs. The feeding success of adults was not altered by the presence of the begging juvenile. Juveniles depended partly on adults during the first part of the overwintering period, but were almost independent towards the end. Crab Plovers may adopt such unusually prolonged care because they need to abandon their breeding areas quickly, when environmental conditions are extreme. Large numbers of Crab Plovers overwinter in a few areas, now subject to human alteration. Isolated adults may forage on other areas such as narrow and disturbed shores, but juveniles may require wide beaches, suitable for group foraging, that should be considered as key areas for the recruitment of juveniles into the population.
Wintering behaviour and spatial ecology of Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticolain western France
Authors: DURIEZ OLIVIER , FRITZ HERVÉ , SAID SONIA , FERRAND YVES
Published: June 2005

The spatial ecology of wintering Eurasian WoodcocksScolopax rusticolawas investigated to determine whether hunting‐free forest reserves offer adequate protection to all individuals. The analysis of movements performed by 65 radiotagged Woodcocks during three consecutive winters in Brittany revealed the existence of three types of individual strategies. During daylight hours, 34% of birds remained in a unique core area (of 1.1 ha) during January and February while 18% used several core areas successively (never came back to a previously used core) and 48% alternated between several core areas (exploratory movements around several core areas visited several times). Alternating diurnal strategies seemed to result from a lower abundance of food (earthworms), whereas this was not the case in the unique core‐use strategy. The successive core‐use strategy was considered as a subset of the ‘unique’ strategy, for which birds were forced to change sites because of a lower abundance of food after depletion. During the night, 62% of birds showed alternative core‐use whereas 33% lived in a unique core and the ‘successive’ strategy was almost absent. As food abundance was similar in the night cores used by birds under each strategy, we discuss the reasons for the nocturnal strategies in relation to individual differences in territoriality or the ability to detect predators. Both diurnal and nocturnal strategies led most of the birds to leave the reserve, and the important use of bocage and hedges by day (by 39% of birds) and meadows at night (83% of birds used meadows on more than 70% of nights), around the protected forest, call for their inclusion in management plans around reserves.
Behaviour, home‐range size and habitat use by male Great Bittern Botaurus stellaris in Britain
Authors: GILBERT GILLIAN , TYLER GLEN , SMITH KEN W.
Published: June 2005

This paper describes the first use of radiotracking to follow closely the secretive Great Bittern Botaurus stellaris, and to quantify its reedbed habitat preferences at a fine scale. Eight males were tracked at two sites in Britain, at which they were mainly resident through the winter. Their median home‐range sizes were 14.6, 19.3 and 33.1 ha during the booming, moult and winter periods, respectively, and home‐ranges were, on average, composed of 30% open pools and 48% reedbed edge (of 30 m width). Great Bitterns were most often active in reed with 20 cm water depth within the 30‐m reed edge next to water, whereas areas of reedbed near scrub or further from the water's edge were avoided. Reed edge adjacent to open pools was preferred over that adjacent to channels and ditches. These results provide a basis for conservation recommendations on the quantity and composition of reedbed habitat and provide the scientific basis for a national programme of reedbed rehabilitation and restoration.
Annual and seasonal trends in the use of garden feeders by birds in winter
Authors: CHAMBERLAIN DAN E. , VICKERY JULIET A. , GLUE DAVID E. , ROBINSON ROBERT A. , CONWAY GREG J. , WOODBURN RICHARD J. W. , CANNON ANDREW R.
Published: June 2005

Provision of bird food in gardens is a common activity that may provide an alternative food source to birds in winter. Long‐term survey data recording the weekly presence of all bird species using garden feeders in the winter were analysed to see if there was any evidence of trends in feeder use between 1970 and 2000 and whether these trends were correlated with breeding bird population trends. Of 41 species analysed, 21 showed significant increases in occurrence at garden feeders between 1970 and 2000. Many of these increases were evident only in the last 10 years. Several species showed significant positive correlations between trends in winter garden use and trends in relative population size in the previous breeding season. This was especially the case for species with population change (either increase or decrease) of the greatest magnitude. There was no evidence that seasonal shifts in garden feeder use were associated with population change in any species. Temperature was an important predictor of garden use but could not explain the year‐to‐year trends. However, as the number of feeding stations had increased over time the response of birds to the greater food availability in gardens may have been responsible for the widespread increases in occurrence of several species.
Can increased niche opportunities and release from enemies explain the success of introduced Yellowhammer populations in New Zealand?
Authors: MACLEOD CATRIONA J. , DUNCAN RICHARD P. , PARISH DAVID M. B. , WRATTEN STEPHEN D. , HUBBARD STEPHEN F.
Published: June 2005

Some introduced species succeed spectacularly, becoming far more abundant in their introduced than in their native range. ‘Increased niche opportunities’ and ‘release from enemy regulation’ are two hypotheses that have been advanced to explain the enhanced performance of introduced species in their new environments. Using an introduced bird species, the Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella, which was first released in New Zealand in 1862, as a model, we tested some predictions based on these hypotheses. By quantifying habitat availability and quality, and measuring nest predation rates, we investigated whether increased niche opportunities or release from nest predation could explain the higher density of the Yellowhammer in New Zealand farmland, compared to farmland in their native Britain. Yellowhammer territory densities were over three times higher in New Zealand (0.40 territories per ha) than in comparable British farmland (0.12 territories per ha), and Yellowhammer densities remained significantly higher in New Zealand, after accounting for differences in habitat availability. The density and diversity of invertebrates, a key food resource for nestling Yellowhammers, was significantly lower in New Zealand than in Britain. Hence, these aspects of niche availability and quality cannot explain the higher density of Yellowhammers in New Zealand. Nest predation rates in New Zealand were similar to those in Britain, suggesting that release from nest predation also could not account for the higher density of Yellowhammers in New Zealand. Differences in winter survival, due to differences in winter food supply or the severity of the winter climate, along with release from other types of ‘enemy’ regulation are possible alternative explanations.
Change in the post‐discharge destinations from a senile dementia therapy ward in Japan: the second report
Authors: NAKAGAWA Yasushi , TSURUTA Ryunosuke , SAKURAI Osamu , MIYAZAKI Miho , TSUKAMOTO Shinobu , NAKAGAWA Chiyuki , HARANO Mutsuo , YUZURIHA Takefumi , MONJI Akira , YAMASHITA Norifumi , NOHTOMI Akito
Published: June 2005

Background:  The new long‐term care insurance (LTCI) system, known as Kaigo‐Hoken, was implemented in April 2000. We previously reported a change in the type of destination after discharge from a senile dementia therapy ward (named the Midori ward) following implementation of the LTCI system at Fukuoka Prefectural Onga Hospital during the period from 1 April 1999 to 31 March 2001 in Psychogeriatrics (2003; 3: 104–108). We subsequently investigated the type of destination after discharge from the Midori ward at Fukuoka Prefectural Onga Hospital during the period from 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2002.

Methods:  We used data from a total of 320 discharged inpatients with dementia who fulfilled the criteria according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition (DSM‐IV) for dementia of the Alzheimer's type, vascular dementia and other types of dementia. We compared the period from 1 April 1999 to 31 March 2000 before the LTCI implementation and the periods from 1 April 2000 to 31 March 2001 and 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2002 after the LTCI implementation. The type of destination after discharge and the place of origin of the inpatients before admission were classified into one of the following groups: (i) nursing home or geriatric care facility group; (ii) hospitalization group; (iii) home group; and (iv) death group.

Results:  No significant change was evident when the subjects’ post‐discharge destinations were compared or when the subjects’ pre‐admission residences and post‐discharge destinations were compared. These results were similar to our previous report which appeared in Psychogeriatrics (2003; 3: 104–108).

Conclusion:  While the LTCI system has become more widely used, it is still necessary to analyze each case and provide the care that encourages people with dementia in senile dementia therapy wards to return to their homes under the LTCI system.
Can Transient Ischaemic Attacks and Classical Migraine Always be Distinguished?
Authors: Peatfield R. C.
Published: June 2005

SYNOPSIS

Although it has long been appreciated that migrainous aura symptoms can occur without headache, it is less well known that headache often follows apparently embolic transient ischaemic attacks. It is suggested that these two diagnoses may originate with similar, if not identical, mechanisms, and that a predisposition to spreading depression may underly those clinical features usually considered characteristic of migraine.
Cognitive Therapy and Relaxation Training in Muscle Contraction Headache: Efficacy and Cost‐Effectiveness
Authors: Attanasio Virginia , Andrasik Frank , Blanchard Edward B.
Published: June 2005

SYNOPSIS

The purpose of this study was first, to examine the efficacy of adding a cognitive therapy component to traditional relaxation training; and second, to examine the feasibility and cost‐effectiveness of administering these treatments in a largely self‐ad‐ministered format for headache patients. Twenty‐five muscle contraction headache sufferers were assigned to one of three treatment conditions, which provided either relaxation training alone or relaxation training in combination with cognitive therapy. Procedures were delivered utilizing either a therapist‐ad‐ministered office‐based format, or a largely self‐administered format designed to provide significantly less therapist contact than the office‐based procedure. At one‐month post‐treatment, patients in all 3 conditions exhibited significant decreases in headache activity, with no significant differences between the groups, although then appeared to be a slight advantage for the cognitive groups and for groups with increased therapist contact. Patients in all 3 groups evidenced significantly greater use of relaxation and cognitive strategies at post‐treatment, with the combined treatment groups showing slightly greater use of the latter. Additionally, all 3 groups decreased their use of traditional medical strategies. There were no significant differences in cost‐effectiveness among the 3 groups. However, overall this study suggests that largely self‐administered treatments can result in significant improvements in headache, while substantially reducing the total amount of therapist contact.