bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Control of ear emergence time by chromosome 3A of wheat
Authors: Miura H. , Nakagawa M. , Worland A. J.
Published: March 2003

Chromosome 3A of wheat is known to carry earliness per se genes. To determine the number of genes and their arm location, ear emergence time under a controlled environment was nvestigated using ditelosomic lines and homozygous recombinant substitution lines developed between chromosome 3A homologues from (Timstein) and (Chinese Spring) (CS) in a CS genetic background. Because the ear emergence distribution was discontinuous and two separate modes were produced, the 86 recombinant lines could be divided into 21 lines as the early ‘Timstein’3A type and 65 lines as the late CS type. This agrees with the 1:3 independent segregation of two genes both located on chromosome 3A. Therefore, two hypotheses can be proposed, either CS(‘Timstein’ 3A) carries two genes and both are necessary to give early ear emergence, or one gene for early ear emergence is present on (Timstein) 3A, but a suppressor is on CS 3A. The behaviour of ditelosomic 3AL and 3AS lines, with an ear emergence time identical to that of CS, suggested that one gene is located on the long arm and the other is on the short arm.
Assessment of genetic diversity among selected groundnut germplasm. I: RAPD analysis
Authors: Dwivedi S. L. , Gurtu S. , Chandra S. , Yuejin W. , Nigam S. N.
Published: March 2003

Assessment of genetic diversity in a crop species is prerequisite to its improvement. The use of germplasm with distinct DNA profiles will help to generate genetically diversified breeding populations. The aims of the present experiment were to study molecular diversity among selected groundnut accessions and identify those with distinct DNA profiles for mapping and genetic enhancement. Twenty‐six accessions and eight primers of a 10‐mer were selected for random amplified polymorphic DNA assay. The genetic similarity (Sij) ranged from 59.0% to 98.8%, with an average of 86.2%. Both multidimensional scaling and unweighted pair‐group method with arithmetic averages (UPGMA) dendrograms revealed the existence of five distinct clusters. However, this classification could not be related to known biological information about the accessions falling into different clusters. Some accessions with diverse DNA profiles (ICG 1448, 7101, and 1471, and ICGV 99006 and 99014) were identified for mapping and genetic enhancement in groundnut.
An efficient method for evaluating black walnut for resistance to walnut anthracnose in field plots and the identification of resistant genotypes
Authors: Woeste K. E. , Beineke W. F.
Published: March 2003

Black walnut is native to the eastern USA and prized for its high‐quality timber. Walnut anthracnose, the most important foliar disease of black walnut, is caused by Gnomonia leptostyla. There is no germplasm available that is resistant to the disease. Ramets of 42 black walnut clones, comprising about one‐third of the Midwestern USA black walnut timber breeding stock, were rated for susceptibility to walnut anthracnose from 1974 to 1982. Significant differences in susceptibility were identified among clones. A method of truncation selection was able to identify the most resistant clones in less time and with a smaller commitment of resources than methods based on means. Truncation selection permitted the identification of the most susceptible clones even in years when the severity of anthracnose was low.
Protein Synthesis during Maturation of Bovine Oocytes, Effect of Epidermal Growth Factor
Authors: Goff Ak , Yang Z , Cortvrindt R , Smitz J , Miron P
Published: March 2003

The objective of this study was to determine whether epidermal growth factor (EGF) affected protein synthesis in oocytes during maturation. Initially, the effect of EGF on oocyte maturation was examined to ensure that there was a beneficial effect of EGF in the protein‐free maturation medium used in these studies. Results showed that the presence of EGF during maturation significantly enhanced cleavage rate and development to the blastocyst stage. Development after maturation in the presence of EGF was similar to that seen in medium containing serum, luteinizing hormone, follicle‐stimulating hormone and estradiol. Protein synthesis was examined in immature oocytes and after 16 or 24 h maturation. Oocytes from each group were labelled by incubation for 4 h with 35S‐methionine, the proteins were then separated by two‐dimensional sodium dodecyl sulphate‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Between 400 and 500 proteins could be separated using this method and marked changes in protein synthesis was observed during maturation. Changes in eight different proteins were observed when protein patterns from oocytes matured for 16 h with and without EGF were compared. These results suggest that EGF plays a physiological role in oocyte maturation and identification of the proteins induced by EGF could be important for improving our understanding of oocyte maturation in vitro.
The Effect of Pasture Nitrate Concentration and Concentrate Intake after Turnout on Embryo Growth and Viability in the Lactating Dairy Cow
Authors: Laven RA , Biggadike HJ , Allison RD
Published: March 2003

Contents

This study investigated the effects on embryo growth and survival rate of feeding heavily‐fertilised spring grass, containing high levels of quickly‐degradable nitrogen, to pregnant cows. Forty‐eight lactating Holstein cows between 2 and 8 weeks pregnant were turned‐out, after a one‐week transition period onto high‐ or low‐nitrate pasture and fed a high‐ or low‐concentrate supplement. Cows grazing the High nitrate pasture had significantly higher milk and plasma urea concentrations than cows grazing the Control pasture, while cows which were fed less concentrate had a notably higher plasma ammonia. However, there was no evidence that an increased quickly‐degradable nitrogen (QDN) intake from pasture affected embryo survival or growth from 20 days onwards. This suggests that the impact of turnout on fertility mainly affects ovulation, fertilisation and/or the early embryo.
Semen Characteristics and Plasma Levels of Testosterone after Bilateral Vasectomy in Bucks
Authors: Batista M , Prats N , Calero P , González F , Cabrera F , Medrano A , Gracia A
Published: March 2003

Contents

The effects of bilateral vasectomy on the seminal characteristics were assessed in six bucks of the Canarian breed. In addition, we tried to establish the effects of vasectomy on the plasmatic concentrations of testosterone and the libido of the bucks. Semen samples were collected once a week from 8 weeks before to 16 weeks after vasectomy; blood samples were collected prior to vasectomy, and then at once and 1 week after vasectomy and every 2 weeks from the week 4 to the end of the experiment. One week after the vasectomy, ejaculated spermatozoa were non‐motile and the percentage of live spermatozoa was below 5% in all vasectomized males; in addition, the total number of cells/ejaculate was 3100 × 106 and 30 × 106 spermatozoa in the control and vasectomized males, respectively. Our results suggest that the vasectomized males may be used as oestrus detectors, without risks of accidental fecundating, only 1 week after vasectomy. Before vasectomy, no significant differences were observed in plasma levels of testosterone between the vasectomized and control males (5.4 ± 1.2 and 3.9 ± 1.4 ng/ml, respectively); from 4 to 12 weeks after vasectomy, a marked decrease in the testosterone concentration in all males (vasectomized and control bucks) was observed. From 12 weeks after vasectomy until the end of the experiment, four of the vasectomized males and the control males recovered their normal libido. The results suggest that vasectomy did not exert a remarkable effect on the steroidogenic functionality of the testicle.
Survey of aggressive incidents experienced by community mental health staff
Authors: Fry Anne J. , O'Riordan Declan , Turner Melissa , Mills Katherine L.
Published: March 2003

ABSTRACT:

The phenomenon of aggression experienced by community mental health staff is explored in the present study. Qualitative and quantitative data were elicited in a self‐report questionnaire completed by 92 community mental health workers from a metropolitan Area Health Service. Findings indicate that 96% of community mental health workers experienced some form of aggression in the course of their work, 25% felt that their life had been threatened and 7% sustained physical injuries. Issues in need of attention are the normalization of aggression and subsequent lack of incident reporting, and the appropriateness of staff safety training for community mental health settings.
Seasonal stratification and mixing in a recently flooded mining void in tropical Australia
Authors: Boland K. T. , Padovan A. V.
Published: March 2003

Enterprise Pit Lake is a water‐filled mining void located in Australia’s wet/dry tropics south of Darwin in the Northern Territory (13°49.6′S, 131°49.8′E). In the mid‐1990s, the void was rapidly filled by the artificial diversion of the nearby Pine Creek watercourse. Profile data and surface water quality data were collected in the lake on a monthly basis from November 1998 to October 1999. Analysis of this data showed that Enterprise Pit Lake was strongly stratified for most of the year with deep mixing occurring once during the middle of the cool, dry season (August, 1999). The relatively small volume of its epilimnion and its low productivity allowed significant oxygen concentrations to remain in the hypolimnion of the lake when it was strongly stratified. Low pH values in a layer of water with a depth of approximately 35 m and located in the lake’s hypolimnion might be associated with several factors, including enhanced sulphide oxidation on the walls of the pit in this region.
A role for the architectural transcription factors HMGI(Y) in cytokine gene transcription in T cells
Authors: Shannon MF , Himes SR , Attema J
Published: March 2003

The ability of CD4+ T helper (Th) cells to differentiate into two phenotypes distinguished by their cytokine profile is a major determinant of the type of immune response elicited by bacterial, viral or parasitic infections. The development of Th1 cells is associated with delayed‐type hypersensitivity and cell‐mediated immune responses while Th2 responses are associated with humoral immunity and allergic inflammation. While these phenotypes exist at the extremes of the immune response and are associated with pathological conditions, there is an enormous plasticity that allows reversibility and the development of a wide array of cytokine profiles. There has been considerable interest in determining the signals and transcription factors that govern the differential production of the Th1 and Th2 cytokines. There are now several candidate transcription factors that may play a role in skewing the cytokine profile in a distinct direction. Because of the plasticity of the system, these transcription factors must be able to respond to environmental signals in a very subtle manner and not simply be on/off switches for expression of the cytokine genes. The architectural transcription factor high mobility group (HMG) I(Y) is a modulator of the function of many of the transcription factors that control cytokine gene transcription. HMGI(Y) appears to play either a positive or negative role depending on the cytokine promoter and its ratio to other transcription factors. It is proposed that HMGI(Y) may have a role in regulating the production of cytokines in favour of a given immune response.
Carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester‐based proliferative assays for assessment of T cell function in the diagnostic laboratory
Authors: Fulcher DA , Wong SWJ
Published: March 2003

Immune deficiency diseases are often accompanied by abnormalities in one or both arms of the specific immune system. Impairment can often be detected as a decrease in the number of T or B lymphocytes or their products in the circulation, but questions are often asked as to the functional capabilities of T lymphocytes in patients with recurrent infections. Function of T cells has traditionally been measured by their uptake of [3H]‐ thymidine following stimulation with antigen or mitogen in vitro. However, the ability of carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester (CFSE) to label lymphocytes intracellularly and track their mitotic activity by progressive two‐fold reduction in fluorescence intensity prompted an alternative methodology based on flow cytometry, an approach which has the advantage of allowing specific gating on particular T cell subsets and simultaneous assessment of activation markers. This method was therefore evaluated for T cell responses to mitogen and antigen. Phytohaemagglutinin‐induced blast transformation of CFSE‐labelled T cells was reflected by an increase in forward and orthogonal light scatter and a progressive two‐fold decrease in CFSE fluorescence intensity. These changes allowed the derivation of various measures of mitotic activity, which correlated well with [3H]‐thymidine uptake. Patients with T cell functional deficiencies showed impairment in their responses by both assays, whereas the CFSE‐based assay demonstrated that impaired blastogenesis was not simply due to depressed T cell numbers. Concomitant measurement of the activation markers CD69 and CD25 showed that CD69 was rapidly expressed on non‐mitotic cells and that this expression was progressively diluted with subsequent rounds of cell division. In contrast, CD25 expression was unaffected by cell cycle, but was expressed in proportion to the PHA dose. Antigen‐specific responsiveness to Candida was also assessed using a CFSE‐based assay. Initial gating on the relatively minor population of T cells that underwent blast transformation demonstrated progressive twofold dilutions of CFSE intensity in responsive cells. These normal Candida responses, found in patients who had recovered from Candida infection, contrasted with those who had not been infected with Candida or who had chronic recurrent infection, in whom neither blast transformation nor significant mitosis could be detected. Again, there was good correlation with [3H]‐thymidine uptake. The CFSE‐based assays are equivalent to traditional measures of mitogen‐ and antigen‐specific T cell responsiveness in the diagnostic laboratory and have significant advantages in terms of decreased labour intensiveness, avoidance of radioactivity, the ability to gate on a specific population of lymphocytes and the concomitant measurement of activation markers.
An overview of cancer immunotherapy
Authors: Davis Ian D
Published: March 2003

The survival of patients with cancer has improved steadily but incrementally over the last century, with the advent of effective anticancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy. However, the majority of patients with metastatic disease will not be cured by these measures and will eventually die of their disease. New and more effective methods of treating these patients are required urgently. The immune system is a potent force for rejecting transplanted organs or microbial pathogens, but effective spontaneous immunologically induced cancer remissions are very rare. In recent years, much has been discovered about the mechanisms by which the immune system recognizes and responds to cancers. The specific antigens involved have now been defined in many cases. Improved adjuvants are available. Means by which cancer cells overcome immunological attack can be exploited and overcome. Most importantly, the immunological control mechanisms responsible for initiating and maintaining an effective immune response are now much better understood. It is now possible to manipulate immunological effector cells or antigen‐presenting cells ex vivo in order to induce an effective antitumour response. At the same time, it is possible to recruit other aspects of the immune system, both specific (e.g. antibody responses) and innate (natural killer cells and granulocytes).
Genetic ‘budget’ of viruses and the cost to the infected host: A theory on the relationship between the genetic capacity of viruses, immune evasion, persistence and disease
Authors: Chaston Timothy B , Lidbury Brett A
Published: March 2003

The nature of the pathogen–host relationship is recognized as being a dynamic coevolutionary process where the immune system has required ongoing adaptation and improvement to combat infection. Under survival pressure from sophisticated immune responses, adaptive processes for microbes, including viruses, have manifested as immune evasion strategies. This paper proposes a theory that virus immune evasion can be broadly classified into ‘acquisition’ or ‘erroneous replication’ strategies. Acquisition strategies are characteristic of large genome dsDNA viruses, which (i) replicate in the cell nucleus; (ii) have acquired host genes that can be used to directly manipulate responses to infection; (iii) are often latent for the lifetime of the host; and (iv) have little or no serious impact on health. Alternatively, erroneous replication strategies are characteristic of small genome RNA viruses, which are recognized as being the cause of many serious diseases in humans. It is proposed that this propensity for disease is due to the cytoplasmic site of replication and truncated temporal relationship with the host, which has limited or removed the evolutionary opportunity for RNA viruses to have acquired host genes. This has resulted in RNA viruses relying on error‐prone replication strategies which, while allowing survival and persistence, are more likely to lead to disease due to the lack of direct viral control over potentially host‐deleterious inflammatory and immune responses to infection.
T‐cell survival and the role of cytokines
Authors: Sprent Jonathan
Published: March 2003

Typical T cells are long‐lived resting cells. Despite their quiescent appearance, there is increasing evidence that T cells are subjected to continuous stimulation through contact with various stimuli, notably by self peptide/MHC complexes and cytokines. These stimuli keep T cells alive and also cause intermittent entry into cell cycle.
Expression of cell surface adhesion molecules by peripheral blood eosinophils during Trichostrongylus colubriformis infection in sheep
Authors: Stevenson LM , Colditz IG , LeJambre LF
Published: March 2003

The effect of infection of sheep with the gastrointestinal nematode parasite Trichostrongylus colubriformis on expression of adhesion molecules CD11a, CD11b, CD11c, CD18, CD44, CD49d and CD62L by peripheral blood eosinophils was examined by flow cytometry. Initially, to establish the sensitivity of adhesion molecules to inflammatory signals, eosinophil‐rich exudates were elicited in non‐lactating mammary glands of immune sheep by infusion of 50 μg of soluble antigen extract from T. colubriformis third stage larvae. Eosinophils comprised 40.8% of mammary leucocytes and 4.5% of peripheral blood leucocytes. In comparison with blood, the percentage of eosinophils expressing CD18 increased and the percentage expressing CD62L decreased in exudates and the mean fluorescent intensity, an indicator of receptor number per cell, for CD11a and CD49d also decreased on exudate eosinophils. Peripheral blood eosinophils were examined over 8 weeks during trickle infection of immune sheep with infective or irradiated third stage larvae of T. colubriformis. During the last 3 weeks of infection, CD11a staining decreased in infected sheep and CD44 staining decreased in sheep receiving either infective or irradiated larvae. Other surface markers did not change. The results indicate that systemic changes in expression of adhesion molecules by eosinophils occur during T. colubriformis infection in sheep.
Molecular and immunological characterization of Mycobacterium avium 65 kDa heat shock protein (Hsp65)
Authors: Nagabhushanam Vijaya , Praszkier Judyta , Cheers Christina
Published: March 2003

The heat shock protein Hsp65 has been characterized previously in several mycobacterial species. This is the first report of the complete sequence of the coding region of the Mycobacterium avium homologue. The sequence was highly homologous to the Hsp65 of other mycobacterial species, as well as being related closely to the murine and human homologues. Recombinant Hsp65 (rHsp65) was expressed in Escherichia coli to high levels and the recombinant protein tested for its immunogenicity in a murine model of M. avium infection. Although mice infected with M. avium produced antibodies that reacted with rHsp65, they showed low proliferative T‐cell responses and no cytokine production in response to the same antigen. However, immunization with rHsp65 in the adjuvant dimethydioctadecylammonium bromide (DDA), induced T cells that responded to native Hsp65 with proliferation and IFN‐γ production, indicating that the recombinant and native forms of the protein were antigenically similar. Therefore, the findings indicate that Hsp65 is not a dominant T‐cell antigen during M. avium infection.
Can MHC class II genes mediate resistance to type 1 diabetes?
Authors: Price Patricia , Cheong Karey YM , Boodhoo Alvin , Witt Campbell S , McCann Vincent , Christiansen Frank T , Allcock Richard JN
Published: March 2003

Numerous studies have associated carriage of HLA‐DRB1∗1501, DQA1∗0102 and DQB1∗0602 (DR15, DQ6) with dominant resistance to type 1 diabetes and have concluded that one or more of the component HLA class II molecules mediate this effect. Mechanisms for MHC class II‐mediated resistance to diabetes have been proposed from studies of transgenic mice, usually using the diabetes‐prone non‐obese diabetic (NOD) strain. However, these studies have not reached any consensus on a plausible mechanism. In this study we question why the role of central MHC genes in resistance to diabetes has not been addressed, as the central MHC carries markers of susceptibility to diabetes in linkage disequilibrium with several genes with known or putative immunoregulatory functions. To illustrate the type of studies required to address this issue, we selected diabetes patients and control subjects for carriage of HLA‐DR15 and the C allele at position +738 in the inhibitor of kappa B‐like gene (IKBL). These alleles mark the 7.1 haplotype (HLA‐A3, B7, IKBL738∗C, DR15, DQ6). HLA‐DR15 was the most effective marker of resistance, but an effect may be evident with IKBL738∗C in a larger study. Moreover, carriage of the entire haplotype was particularly rare in patients. The best explanation for this is that the critical gene lies between IKBL and HLA‐DRB1, and is more closely linked to HLA‐DRB1. Candidate genes at the centromeric end of the central MHC are reviewed, highlighting the need for further study.
Route of administration of chimeric BPV1 VLP determines the character of the induced immune responses
Authors: Liu Xiao Song , Liu Wen Jun , Zhao Kong Nan , Liu Yue Hua , Leggatt Graham , Frazer Ian H
Published: March 2003

To examine the mucosal immune response to papillomavirus virus‐like particles (PV‐VLP), mice were immunized with VLP intrarectally (i.r.), intravaginally (i.va.) or intramuscularly (i.m.) without adjuvant. PV‐VLP were assembled with chimeric BPV‐1 L1 proteins incorporating sequence from HIV‐1 gp120, either the V3 loop or a shorter peptide incorporating a known CTL epitope (HIVP18I10). Antibody specific for BPV‐1 VLP and P18 peptide was detected in serum following i.m., but not i.r. or i.va. immunization. Denatured VLP induced a much reduced immune response when compared with native VLP. Immune responses following mucosal administration of VLP were generally weaker than following systemic administration. VLP specific IgA was higher in intestine washes following i.r. than i.va. immunization, and higher in vaginal washes following i.m. than i.r. or i.va. immunization. No differences in specific antibody responses were seen between animals immunized with BPV‐1 P18 VLP or with BPV‐1 V3 VLP. Cytotoxic T lymphocyte precursors specific for the P18 CTL epitope were recovered from the spleen following i.m., i.va. or i.r. immunization with P18 VLP, and were similarly detected in Peyer's patches following i.m. or i.r. immunization. Thus, mucosal or systemic immunization with PV VLP induces mucosal CTL responses and this may be important for vaccines for mucosal infection with human papillomaviruses and for other viruses.
Intrinsic in vitro abnormalities in dendritic cell generation caused by non‐MHC non‐obese diabetic genes
Authors: Prasad Simon J , Goodnow Christopher C
Published: March 2003

Genes outside the MHC create a general susceptibility to autoimmunity in non‐obese diabetic (NOD) mice. In this study, we describe marked differences in dendritic cell generation, in vitro, caused by non‐MHC NOD genes. Bone marrow cells from NOD.H‐2k mice cultured in vitro with GM‐CSF and IL‐4 generated a reduced yield of dendritic cells when compared to bone marrow cells from B10.H‐2k mice. This was due to failure to pass through successive rounds of cell division and elevated levels of apoptosis in NOD.H‐2k precursor cells. This aberrant response to GM‐CSF and IL‐4 was unique to the NOD.H‐2k background when compared to bone marrow cells from other H‐2k congenic strains, and coculture experiments showed that it was cell‐autonomous. Overall, the results described in this study demonstrate a striking effect of non‐MHC NOD genes on dendritic cell generation from myeloid precursors derived from the NOD.H‐2k strain. These results identify a useful genetic model to explore the regulation of dendritic cell formation. Conceivably, the dysregulation of the dendritic cell system described here may contribute to the generalized defects in self‐tolerance in the NOD strain.
A combined bioinformatic approach oriented to the analysis and design of peptides with high affinity to MHC class I molecules
Authors: Del Carpio Carlos A , Hennig Tabea , Fickel Simonetta , Yoshimori Atsushi
Published: March 2003

We report on a new method to compute the antigenic degree of peptides from available experimental data on peptide binding affinity to class I MHC molecules. The methodology is a combination of two strategies at different levels of information. The first, at the primary structure level, consists in expressing the peptides binding activity as a profile of amino acid contributions, amino acid similarity being accounted for by their characteristic physicochemical properties and their position within the sequence. The higher level of the strategy is based on a meticulous analysis of the contact interface of the peptides with the cleft constituting the receptor region of a particular class I MHC molecule. Interaction interfaces are inferred by docking the peptide onto the receptor groove of the MHC molecule; evaluation of the affinity of the peptide to the receptor is then performed by analysis of the electrostatic and hydrophobic energies on points of the interaction interface. The result is a robust system for analysis of peptide affinity to class I MHC molecules since while the first analysis dictates the composition of active sequences at the amino acid level, the second translates this information to the atomic level, where the molecular interaction can be analyzed in terms of the intrinsic interatomic forces and energies. Evaluation results for the methodology are encouraging since high affinity peptides are reflected by high scores at both levels of information, and are proportionally lower for peptides of medium and lower affinity for which interaction surfaces show relatively lower electrostatic complementarity and hydrophobic correlation than for the former.
Characterization of immune responses during infection with Mycobacterium avium strains 100, 101 and the recently sequenced 104
Authors: Saunders Bernadette M , Dane Alison , Briscoe Helen , Britton Warwick J
Published: March 2003

Mycobacterium avium strain 104 was chosen as the M. avium isolate to sequence, as it is virulent to humans, stable and readily transfectable. As this strain has not been widely studied we sought to investigate the pattern of 104 infection in mice. Bacterial growth and the immune response generated were compared with infection with the low virulence M. avium strain 100, and the high virulence common laboratory strain, 101. Mycobacterium avium strains 104 and 101 grew progressively within mice, while strain 100 was gradually cleared. Strains 104 and 101 induced strong T cell activation and spleen cell cultures produced similar levels of IFN‐γ. In mice infected with strain 100 no significant T cell activation or IFN‐γ production was measured. Further, mice infected with strain 104 or 101 also displayed comparable inflammatory responses and similar granuloma formation, while only minimal inflammation was seen in mice infected with strain 100. Strains 101 and 104 also grew in a similar fashion in bone‐marrow‐derived macrophages and induced significant levels of TNF and nitric oxide. Thus infection with M. avium strain 104 induced an immunological response comparable to M. avium strain 101 and, with the availability of its sequence, should be a useful tool for designing new vaccines or drugs therapies to treat the increasing incidence of M. avium infection in humans.
Life control and health in view of qualitative and quantitative research
Authors: Häggman‐Laitila Arja , Pietilä Anna‐Maija
Published: March 2003

Häggman‐Laitila A, Pietilä A.‐M. International Journal of Nursing Practice 1998; 4: 103–112

Life control and health in view of qualitative and quantitative research

In this paper the experiences of life control and health of Finnish people are described and compared by reference to two studies with different methodologies. The goal of the qualitative study was to describe and understand the human being’s health as an individual way of existence on the basis of life descriptions. The qualitative data were gathered through thematic interviews (n=60, men and women, aged 30–50 years). The data were analyzed with the grounded theory method. The analysis showed life control to be a core category that characterizes health experiences. On the basis of the analysis, the content of concept of life control was defined to describe the data. The goal of the quantitative study was to produce information on life control among young males, their health, health behaviour, experiences of stress and life situations as well as the associations between these dimensions. The definition of life control was based on Antonovsky’s theory of sense of coherence and on the study of Söderqvist and Bäckman1. The quantitative data were gathered with questionnaires from 2500 men (response rate 60%). The data were processed using cross‐tabulation and multivariate data analysis (discriminant analysis).

The connections between life control and health were obvious in both studies. To a certain extent the results were parallel, but there were also some differences which are discussed here as a starting point for developing further the research on life control and health in the nursing science context.
Can the Neuman Systems Model be adapted to the Malaysian nursing context?
Authors: RN Nafsiah Shamsudin
Published: March 2003

Nursing in Malaysia is still developing as a profession. Issues such as using nursing conceptual models or frameworks in the delivery of nursing care have not been addressed by the majority of nurses. One reason for this has been the level of education and preparation of nurses, while another reason lies with the origins of existing nursing conceptual models. Most nursing conceptual models have their origins in North America. Their utility by nurses of different cultures and academic preparations might not be appropriate. Nursing is a social activity, an interaction between the nurse and the patient. It is carried out in a social environment within a particular culture. Conceptual models developed in one culture might not be readily implanted into another culture. This paper discusses how a conceptual model developed in North America; that is, the Neuman Systems Model, can be adapted into the Malaysian nursing context.
Sociodemographic factors of families related to postnatal depressive symptoms of mothers
Authors: Tammentie Tarja , Tarkka Marja‐Terttu , Åstedt‐Kurki Päivi , Paavilainen Eija
Published: March 2003

Postnatal depression in mothers is commonplace as it affects 10–15% of recent mothers. Postnatal depression is still an under‐diagnosed illness and if unidentified, is often left untreated. If left untreated, the depression can have an adverse effect not only on the mother, but also on the child's development and on the well‐being of the whole family. The aim of this survey was to investigate the prevalence of postnatal depressive symptoms among Finnish mothers and to ascertain the relationship with sociodemographic factors in mothers. A sample of 1000 families at 2 months postnatal was studied by mailing the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale to mothers and a questionnaire on demographic characteristics to mothers and fathers. The response rate was 39%. The data were examined by means of frequency and percentage distributions. Connections were examined using Spearman correlation coefficient and analysis of variance. In all, 373 mothers and 314 fathers took part in the study. Fifty‐five (13%) mothers had depressive symptoms. Results show that the number of pregnancies, deliveries or children, the mode of delivery or the mother's age were not associated with depressive symptoms. However, mothers who had depressive symptoms had fewer years of education, shorter duration of breast‐feeding and were more dissatisfied with family life compared with mothers who exhibited no depressive symptomatology. The families of mothers with depressive symptoms had also experienced more problems and changes having a profound impact on the family compared with other mothers.
Further psychometric testing of the Dutch Care Dependency Scale on two different patient groups
Authors: Dijkstra Ate , Tiesinga Lucas J , Goossen William TF , Dassen Theo WN
Published: March 2003

The Care Dependency Scale (CDS) is an instrument for assessing functional care demands of psychogeriatric nursing home patients. The purpose of this study was to examine whether the CDS can be used on institutionalized elderly people other than psychogeriatric nursing home patients. Therefore, data were gathered on two different populations: residential home patients and somatic (high care) nursing home patients. Psychometric evaluations of the CDS were carried out for each population separately. These data offer additional support for the reliability of the scale in terms of internal consistency and inter‐item correlation. The measures among separate groups of nurses show fair to moderate agreement. The criterion‐related validity of the instrument was investigated by studying the relationship between the CDS and four other instruments. One of the main outcomes of the study is that the CDS can be used appropriately in residential home practice and in somatic nursing home practice.
Serum matrix metalloproteinase‐1 in patients with chronic viral hepatitis
Authors: Murawaki Yoshikazu , Ikuta Yujito , Idobe Youko , Kawasaki Hironaka
Published: March 2003

Background and Aims: Previously we found that serum matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)‐1 activity decreased with progression of chronic liver disease. Our objectives in the present study were to observe the change in the serum MMP‐1 protein concentration using recently developed specific enzyme immunoassays for MMP‐1 and MMP‐1 complexed with tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP)‐1 and to elucidate the clinical usefulness of the serum MMP‐1 test in chronic viral hepatitis. We measured the serum concentrations of MMP‐1 and MMP‐1/TIMP‐1 complex using these immunoassays in 64 patients with histologically characterized chronic viral hepatitis.

Results: Serum MMP‐1 concentration was inversely related to the histological severity of chronic hepatitis (P < 0.0001). It was closely associated with the histological degree of periportal necrosis (P < 0.0001), intralobular necrosis (P < 0.005), portal inflammation (P < 0.0001) and liver fibrosis (P < 0.05). The serum concentration of MMP‐1/TIMP‐1 complex was also related to the histological severity of chronic hepatitis (P < 0.0001). It was associated with the degree of portal inflammation (P < 0.05), but not with the degree of periportal necrosis, intralobular necrosis or liver fibrosis. As serum MMP‐1 level was closely associated with the histological degree of necroinflammation, we examined the ability of the serum MMP‐1 test to differentiate active and inactive forms of hepatitis with a receiver operating curve. The results were compared with those of serum procollagen type III N‐peptide (PIIINP) test. We found that the serum MMP‐1 test was superior to the serum PIIINP test in assessing liver necroinflammation.

Conclusions: In addition to the previously reported changes in enzyme activity, MMP‐1 proteins in serum decreased during histological progression of chronic hepatitis. The serum MMP‐1 test may be useful clinically to differentiate active and inactive types of hepatitis in patients with chronic viral hepatitis.
Histological analysis of gastritis and Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with early gastric cancer: A case‐control study
Authors: Fukuda Shinsaku , Tanaka Masanori , Soma Yasushi , Shimoyama Tadashi , Mikami Tatsuya , Crabtree Jean E , Saito Hiroshi , Munakata Akihiro , Yoshida Yutaka
Published: March 2003

Background and Aims

Infection with Helicobacter pylori is associated with an increased risk of gastric adenocarcinoma. However, most patients with H. pylori infection will not develop gastric cancer. The aims of the present study were to examine which histological features, including H. pylori infection, would increase the risk of gastric cancer using a case‐control study.

Methods

Three gastric biopsy specimens were taken from 72 patients with early gastric cancer and 72 age‐ and sex‐matched control subjects. The grade of gastritis was examined according to the updated Sydney System. The presence of H. pylori infection was determined by serology and histology. Odds ratio (OR) of developing gastric cancer was calculated for H. pylori positivity and histological features using conditional logistic regression. For patients with H. pylori infection, histological features in cancer patients and control subjects were compared.

Results

The OR of the presence of mononuclear cell infiltration in the corpus and intestinal metaplasia in the angulus were significantly elevated. The grade of mononuclear cell infiltration in the corpus and antrum was significantly higher in both types of cancer patients than controls. Glandular atrophy and intestinal metaplasia were increased in patients with intestinal‐type cancer in the angulus and antrum. Bacterial density in the corpus and polymorphonuclear cell infiltration in the antrum were increased in patients with diffuse‐type cancer.

Conclusions

Severe chronic gastritis induced by H. pylori infection seems to be associated with diffuse‐type gastric cancer. Glandular atrophy and intestinal metaplasia, which occur in gastric mucosa with chronic inflammation, are significantly associated with intestinal‐type cancer.
Role of hiatus hernia and gastric mucosal atrophy in the development of reflux esophagitis in the elderly
Authors: Amano Kazutoshi , Adachi Kyoichi , Katsube Tomoko , Watanabe Makoto , Kinoshita Yoshikazu
Published: March 2003

Background and Aims: The pathogenetic mechanism responsible for the increased prevalence of reflux esophagitis in the elderly remains controversial. The aim of this study was to determine if an increased occurrence of hiatus hernia (HH) and/or a lower rate of gastric mucosal atrophy (GMA) are the main causes of the increased prevalence of reflux esophagitis in elderly patients.

Methods: The prevalence of HH, GMA, and reflux esophagitis was investigated by reviewing the endoscopic films of 2788 consecutive patients examined during a 3‐year period.

Results: The prevalence of esophagitis in males was higher than in females (11.6%vs 7.6%, P < 0.0005). The prevalence of reflux esophagitis and HH was found to increase with age in females, but not in male patients. The prevalence of reflux esophagitis in hernia‐positive patients also increased with age in women, but not in men. Age, male gender, presence of HH, and closed‐type of GMA were significant risk factors for the prevalence of esophagitis (P = 0.0001, 0.0229, < 0.0001, < 0.0001, respectively). In addition, the risk ratios of HH and low‐grade GMA for reflux esophagitis increased with age, and this tendency was higher in female patients than in males.

Conclusions: Aging, male gender, HH and closed‐type GMA are most likely the risk factors of endoscopically proven reflux esophagitis in Japanese patients.
Investigation of the extent of gastric metaplasia in the duodenal bulb by using methylene blue staining
Authors: Chang Chun‐Chao , Pan Shiann , Lien Gi‐Shih , Chen Sheng‐Hsuan , Cheng Chien‐Jui , Liu Jean‐Dean , Cheng Yeong‐Shan , Suk Fat‐Moon
Published: March 2003

Background and Aims: The existence of gastric metaplasia (GM) of the duodenal mucosa has been considered to be highly related to the recurrence of duodenal ulcers (DU). The aims of this study are to evaluate the usefulness of methylene blue staining in the detection of GM, and to clarify the relationship between GM and the deformity of the duodenal bulb.

Methods: Fifteen patients with healed DU and four patients with symptoms of dyspepsia without evidence of ulcers were enrolled into this endoscopic study. During each endoscopy, methylene blue was sprayed evenly on the duodenal bulb, and biopsies were taken from blue‐stained and unstained areas. The existence and extent of GM were assessed histologically and grossly. The correlation between duodenal bulb deformity and the extent of GM was also studied.

Results: The mean score of methylene blue non‐staining (MBNS) was 0, 1.30 ± 0.15, and 3.00 ± 0.00 in group A (non‐ulcer patients), group B (patients with healed DU and with normal‐shaped bulb) and C (patients with healed DU and with deformed duodenal bulb), respectively; showing significant differences among the groups (P < 0.05 in each). Both the existence and the grading of GM were higher in unstained specimens than in blue‐stained specimens (100 vs 16.6%, P < 0.0001 and 3.62 ± 0.09 vs 0.19 ± 0.06, P < 0.001, respectively).

Conclusions: Methylene blue non‐staining can be applied to investigate the existence and extent of GM in the duodenal bulb accurately. The incidence of GM in the duodenal bulb was higher in patients with healed ulcers than in non‐ulcer patients. Patients with deformed duodenal bulbs have a higher extent of GM than those without deformed duodenal bulbs.
Protective effect of rebamipide on indomethacin‐induced intestinal damage in rats
Authors: Mizoguchi Hiroyuki , Ogawa Yoshihiro , Kanatsu Kenji , Tanaka Akiko , Kato Shinichi , Takeuchi Koji
Published: March 2003

Background and Aim: We evaluated the effect of rebamipide (2‐(4‐chlorobenzoylamino)‐3‐[2(1H)‐quinolinon‐4‐yl] propionic acid), a novel anti‐ulcer drug, on indomethacin‐induced small intestinal lesions in rats.

Methods: The animals were administered indomethacin (10 mg/kg, s.c.), and they were killed 24 h later. Rebamipide (30–300 mg/kg) was administered p.o. twice, 30 min before, and 6 h after indomethacin.

Results: Indomethacin caused hemorrhagic lesions in the rat small intestine, accompanied by an increase in enterobacterial translocation, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activities, as well as thiobarbituric acid (TBA) reactants, and these changes were significantly prevented by the supplementation with 16,16‐dimethyl prostaglandin E2 (dmPGE2; 10 μg/kg, i.v.) or the pretreatment of animals with the antibiotic ampicillin. Treatment of the animals with rebamipide dose‐dependently prevented the development of intestinal lesions, and this effect was mimicked by i.v. administration of superoxide dismutase (SOD: 3000 U/kg) + catalase (CAT: 5000 U/kg). The protection by rebamipide was accompanied by a significant suppression of the increase in both MPO and iNOS activities, and a complete inhibition of the increase in TBA reactants, while SOD + CAT significantly inhibited the increase of MPO activity and TBA reactants, but not iNOS activity. The bacterial translocation following indomethacin was also significantly decreased by either rebamipide or SOD + CAT.

Conclusion: These results confirmed the importance of enterobacteria and iNOS/NO in the pathogenesis of indomethacin‐induced small intestinal lesions, and suggested that rebamipide prevents the development of these lesions, probably by its radical scavenging action.
Autoimmune hepatitis in Singapore: A rare syndrome affecting middle‐aged women
Authors: Lee Yin Mei , Teo Eng Kiong , Ng Tay Meng , Khor Christopher , Fock Kwong Ming
Published: March 2003

Background and Aim: The prevalence of autoimmune hepatitis in Singapore is unknown. Over a period of 7 years, 24 cases were diagnosed in a district general hospital in Singapore (Toa Payoh Hospital) by using the scoring system proposed by the International Autoimmune Hepatitis Group in 1993. The aims of our study were to determine the prevalence of autoimmune hepatitis in Singapore, and to investigate the characteristics and prognosis in the mainly Chinese population.

Methods: The case records of all 24 patients were reviewed, and the following parameters were recorded: age at presentation, sex, symptoms and signs at presentation, past exposure to hepatotoxic drugs, alcohol intake, blood transfusion laboratory and histological tests used to determine autoimmune hepatitis, response to treatment, complications, and survival.

Results: The mean age of patients was 57 years old. There was a female–male ratio of 11:1. Forty‐two percent of the patients were cirrhotic at presentation. The prevalence of autoimmune hepatitis was four per 100 000, with no significant difference between Chinese, Malay and Indian patients (Odds ratio of 0.38 by the chi‐squared test). Eighty‐nine percent of the patients responded to treatment with the induction of prednisolone, but the relapse rate was 61%. Treatment failure occurred in one patient. The mortality rate during the 7 years of follow up was 21%, and all were caused by complications of cirrhosis. The survival at 5 years was 71%, with a standard error of 0.13.

Conclusion: Autoimmune hepatitis in Singapore is mainly a disease in older women. The response to steroid treatment is good, with a 5‐year survival rate of 71%.