bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Methods to assess impaired post‐prandial metabolism and the impact for early detection of cardiovascular disease risk
Authors: Su J. W. , Nzekwu M.‐M. U. , Cabezas M. C. , Redgrave T. , Proctor S. D.
Published: June 2009

Post‐prandial lipaemia has emerged as a key contributor to cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and progression. Specifically, delayed clearance of chylomicrons (CM) and their remnants increase the delivery of triglyceride and cholesteryl ester to the vessel wall and can accelerate the progression of atherosclerosis, which may be particularly pertinent to individuals with insulin resistance and/or obesity. As the number of studies linking post‐prandial metabolism and chronic disease increases, interest has grown in the use of parameters reflecting CM metabolism as a possible indicator of early CVD risk. This, in turn has raised the question of what method might be most appropriate to detect CM and their remnants in plasma accurately. However, the handful of techniques able to measure CM metabolism (triglyceride‐rich lipoprotein fractions; remnant‐lipoprotein cholesterol; retinyl esters, CM‐like emulsion; sodium dodecyl sulphate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis; immunoblotting, enzyme‐linked immunoabsorbent assays; C13 breath test; capillary finger prick) differ in their specificity, cost and applicability in research and in the clinical setting. In this review, we explore the scientific and clinical implications of CM methodology to better understand early risk assessment of CVD. We raise ongoing issues of the need to appreciate differential separation of very low‐density lipoprotein and CM fractions, as well as to identify the technical basis for imprecision between assays for apolipoprotein B48. We also highlight emerging issues with respect to the practicality of measuring post‐prandial metabolism in large clinical studies and offer opinions on the appropriateness of existing techniques in this field.
Serum hepcidin concentration in chronic haemodialysis patients: associations and effects of dialysis, iron and erythropoietin therapy
Authors: Weiss G. , Theurl I. , Eder S. , Koppelstaetter C. , Kurz K. , Sonnweber T. , Kobold U. , Mayer G.
Published: June 2009

Background  Hepcidin, a liver‐derived peptide induced by iron overload and inflammation, is a major regulator of iron homeostasis. As hepcidin decreases gastrointestinal iron absorption and recirculation from monocytes, over‐expression is associated with the development of anaemia.

Methods  We studied the associations between circulating hepcidin levels and various laboratory parameters related to anaemia and/or inflammation in 20 patients on chronic haemodialysis. Furthermore, we determined the impact of dialysis and iron and/or erythropoietin (rhEpo) supplementation therapy on hepcidin serum concentrations. The patients were withheld from iron and rhEpo for 2 weeks before study entry. Hepcidin was measured by liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS); serum iron and haematological parameters, cytokines and pro‐hepcidin by commercially available enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) or standard automated methods.

Results  While hepcidin levels at baseline were not correlated to pro‐hepcidin, interleukin‐6 or transforming growth factor‐beta concentrations, we found significant associations with reticulocyte count (r = −0·55; P = 0·015), serum iron (r = 0·7; P = 0·004) and ferritin levels (r = 0·63; P = 0·004) and transferrin saturation (r = 0·69, P = 0·001). Dialysis using either a high or a low flux biocompatible dialyser resulted in a significant decrease of hepcidin concentrations, which returned to pre‐dialysis values before the next dialysis session. When studying the effects of anaemia treatment, we observed a significant reduction of hepcidin levels following administration of rhEpo but not iron.

Conclusions  Hepcidin levels in stable haemodialysis patients appear to reflect systemic iron load, but not inflammation. Due to the negative association between reticulocyte counts and hepcidin, the reduction of circulating hepcidin concentrations by dialysis and/or rhEpo treatment may positively affect erythropoiesis.
Choline supplementation reduces oxidative stress in mouse model of allergic airway disease
Authors: Mehta A. K. , Arora N. , Gaur S. N. , Singh B. P.
Published: June 2009

Background  Asthma is a multi‐factorial inflammatory disease associated with increased oxidative stress and altered antioxidant defences. We have evaluated the effect of choline on oxidative stress in a mouse model of airway disease.

Materials and methods  Balb/c mice were sensitised with 100 μg of ovalbumin on days 0 and 14, and challenged with aerosolized ovalbumin on days 25–27. Mice were administered 1 mg kg–1 of choline via oral gavage or intranasal route on days 14–27. Mice were also administered 100 mg kg–1 of α‐lipoic acid as standard antioxidant. Total cell counts, eosinophils and eosinophil peroxidase (EPO) activity were determined in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), lipid peroxidation and isoprostanes levels were measured in BAL fluid. IL‐13 and tumour necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α) levels were also measured in BAL fluid and spleen cell culture supernatant. Nuclear factor κB (NFκB) p65 protein expression was measured after last ovalbumin challenge in nuclear and cytosolic extracts of lungs.

Results  Compared with ovalbumin‐challenged mice, choline and α‐lipoic acid treated mice had significantly reduced eosinophilic infiltration and EPO activity in BAL fluid. Choline and α‐lipoic acid treatment reduced ROS production and isoprostanes level significantly in BAL fluid and thus suppressed oxidative stress. Choline and α‐lipoic acid administration by either route decreased lipid peroxidation levels and down regulated NFκB activity. Further, choline and/or α‐lipoic acid treatment suppressed TNF‐α level significantly as compared with that of ovalbumin‐challenged mice.

Conclusions  Choline administration reduces oxidative stress possibly by modulating the redox status of the cell and inhibits inflammatory response in a mouse model.
New multivariate tests for phylogenetic signal and trait correlations applied to ecophysiological phenotypes of nine Manglietia species
Authors: Zheng Li , Ives Anthony R. , Garland Theodore , Larget Bret R. , Yu Yang , Cao Kunfang
Published: June 2009

1.
 Phylogenetic signal – the similarity in trait values among phylogenetically related species – is pervasive for most types of traits in most organisms. Traits can often be categorized a priori into groups based on the level of biological organization, functional relations, developmental origins, or genetic underpinnings. Traits within such groups are often expected to be correlated and hence show similar levels of phylogenetic signal.

2.  We developed multivariate statistical methods to test for phylogenetic signal in groups of traits while also incorporating estimates of trait measurement error (including within‐species variation) that can obscure phylogenetic signal. Simultaneously, these methods produce estimates of correlations between traits that are corrected for phylogenetic relationships among species.

3.
 We applied these methods to data for 13 morphological and physiological traits gathered in a common‐garden study of nine species of Manglietia (Magnoliaceae). The 13 traits fell into four groups: three traits involved photosynthesis [maximum net photosynthesis (Amax), light saturation point (LSP), light compensation point]; three described leaf morphology (thickness of leaves, palisade tissue, sponge tissue); four related to plant growth (basal stem diameter, crown volume, leaf area, relative growth rate); and three measured thermal tolerance [critical temperature (Tch), peak temperature (Tmax), temperature of half‐inactivation (T50)]. We also constructed a molecular phylogeny for these species from 219 AFLP markers via maximum likelihood estimation under the assumption of sequential binary changes in DNA sequences.

4.
 Of the 13 traits, only two photosynthesis traits (Amax and LSP) exhibited statistically detectable phylogenetic signal (P < 0·05) when analysed separately, whether using previously published univariate tests or our new univariate tests that incorporate measurement error. In contrast, multivariate analyses of the four trait groups, estimating simultaneously the phylogenetic signal for all traits and the correlations between traits, revealed a statistically significant phylogenetic signal for two of the four groups (photosynthesis and plant growth), comprising seven traits in total.

5.  Our results demonstrate that even when the number of species in a comparative study is small, resulting in low power for univariate tests, phylogenetic signal can nonetheless be detected with multivariate tests that incorporate measurement error. Furthermore, our simulations show that the joint estimation of phylogenetic signal and trait correlations can lead to better (less biased and more precise) estimates of both.
Functional trait variation and sampling strategies in species‐rich plant communities
Authors: Baraloto Christopher , Timothy Paine C. E. , Patiño Sandra , Bonal Damien , Hérault Bruno , Chave Jerome
Published: June 2009

1.  Despite considerable interest in the application of plant functional traits to questions of community assembly and ecosystem structure and function, there is no consensus on the appropriateness of sampling designs to obtain plot‐level estimates in diverse plant communities.

2.
 We measured 10 plant functional traits describing leaf and stem morphology and ecophysiology for all trees in nine 1‐ha plots in terra firme lowland tropical rain forests of French Guiana (N = 4709).

3.  We calculated, by simulation, the mean and variance in trait values for each plot and each trait expected under seven sampling methods and a range of sampling intensities. Simulated sampling methods included a variety of spatial designs, as well as the application of existing data base values to all individuals of a given species.

4.  For each trait in each plot, we defined a performance index for each sampling design as the proportion of resampling events that resulted in observed means within 5% of the true plot mean, and observed variance within 20% of the true plot variance.

5.  The relative performance of sampling designs was consistent for estimations of means and variances. Data base use had consistently poor performance for most traits across all plots, whereas sampling one individual per species per plot resulted in relatively high performance. We found few differences among different spatial sampling strategies; however, for a given strategy, increased intensity of sampling resulted in markedly improved accuracy in estimates of trait mean and variance.

6.  We also calculated the financial cost of each sampling design based on data from our ‘every individual per plot’ strategy and estimated the sampling and botanical effort required. The relative performance of designs was strongly positively correlated with relative financial cost, suggesting that sampling investment returns are relatively constant.

7.  Our results suggest that trait sampling for many objectives in species‐rich plant communities may require the considerable effort of sampling at least one individual of each species in each plot, and that investment in complete sampling, though great, may be worthwhile for at least some traits.
Adapt or disperse: understanding species persistence in a changing world
Authors: BERG MATTY P. , KIERS E. TOBY , DRIESSEN GERARD , Van Der HEIJDEN MARCEL , KOOI BOB W. , KUENEN FRANS , LIEFTING MAARTJE , VERHOEF HERMAN A. , ELLERS JACINTHA
Published: June 2009

The majority of studies on environmental change focus on the response of single species and neglect fundamental biotic interactions, such as mutualism, competition, predation, and parasitism, which complicate patterns of species persistence. Under global warming, disruption of community interactions can arise when species differ in their sensitivity to rising temperature, leading to mismatched phenologies and/or dispersal patterns. To study species persistence under global climate change, it is critical to consider the ecology and evolution of multispecies interactions; however, the sheer number of potential interactions makes a full study of all interactions unfeasible. One mechanistic approach to solving the problem of complicated community context to global change is to (i) define strategy groups of species based on life‐history traits, trophic position, or location in the ecosystem, (ii) identify species involved in key interactions within these groups, and (iii) determine from the interactions of these key species which traits to study in order to understand the response to global warming. We review the importance of multispecies interactions looking at two trait categories: thermal sensitivity of metabolic rate and associated life‐history traits and dispersal traits of species. A survey of published literature shows pronounced and consistent differences among trophic groups in thermal sensitivity of life‐history traits and in dispersal distances. Our approach increases the feasibility of unraveling such a large and diverse set of community interactions, with the ultimate goal of improving our understanding of community responses to global warming.
Thrombin generation and bleeding in haemophilia A
Authors: BRUMMEL‐ZIEDINS K. E. , WHELIHAN M. F. , GISSEL M. , MANN K. G. , RIVARD G. E.
Published: June 2009

Summary.  Haemophilia A displays phenotypic heterogeneity with respect to clinical severity. The aim of this study was to determine if tissue factor (TF)‐initiated thrombin generation profiles in whole blood in the presence of corn trypsin inhibitor (CTI) are predictive of bleeding risk in haemophilia A. We studied factor(F) VIII deficient individuals (11 mild, 4 moderate and 12 severe) with a well‐characterized 5‐year bleeding history that included haemarthrosis, soft tissue haematoma and annual FVIII concentrate usage. This clinical information was used to generate a bleeding score. The bleeding scores (range 0–32) were separated into three groups (bleeding score groupings: 0, 0 and ≤9.6, >9.6), with the higher bleeding tendency having a higher score. Whole blood collected by phlebotomy and contact pathway suppressed by 100 μg mL−1 CTI was stimulated to react by the addition of 5 pm TF. Reactions were quenched at 20 min by inhibitors. Thrombin generation, determined by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay for thrombin–antithrombin was evaluated in terms of clot time (CT), maximum level (MaxL) and maximum rate (MaxR) and compared to the bleeding score. Data are shown as the mean±SD. MaxL was significantly different (P < 0.001) between the groups: 504 ± 114, 315 ± 117 and 194 ± 91 nm; with higher thrombin concentrations in the groups with lower bleeding scores. MaxR was higher in the groups with a lower bleeding score; 97 ± 51, 86 ± 60 and 39 ± 16 nm min−1 (P = 0.09). No significant difference was detected in CT among the groups, 5.6 ± 1.3, 4.7 ± 0.7 and 5.6 ± 1.3 min. Our empirical study in CTI‐inhibited whole blood shows that the MaxL of thrombin generation appears to correlate with the bleeding phenotype of haemophilia A.
Elimination capacity of a TSE‐model agent in the manufacturing process of Alphanate®/Fanhdi®, a human factor VIII/VWF complex concentrate
Authors: DIEZ J. M. , CABALLERO S. , BELDA F. J. , OTEGUI M. , GAJARDO R. , JORQUERA J. I.
Published: June 2009

Summary.  The variant Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease (vCJD) is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE), mainly present in the UK and is associated with the ingestion of bovine products affected with bovine spongiform encephalopathy. Manufacturers of biological products must investigate the ability of their production processes to remove TSE agents. We studied the purification steps in the manufacturing process of two FVIII/VWF concentrates (Alphanate® and Fanhdi®) in their ability to eliminate an experimental TSE‐model agent. Hamster scrapie strain 263K brain‐derived materials were spiked into samples of the solutions taken before various stages during its production: 3.5% polyethylene glycol (PEG) precipitation, heparin affinity chromatography and saline precipitation/final filtrations. PEG precipitation and affinity chromatography were studied both as isolated and combined steps. TSE agent removal was determined using a laboratory scale model representative of the industrial manufacturing process. The prion protein (PrPSc) was measured with Western blot and TSE infectivity was measured with bioassay. Western blot results were in agreement with those obtained by bioassay, showing a significant removal capacity in the production process: 3.21–3.43 log10 for the PEG precipitation; about 3.45 log10 for the affinity chromatography; and around 2.0 log10 for the saline precipitation plus final filtrations. PEG precipitation and heparin affinity chromatography were demonstrated to be two complementary TSE‐model agent removal mechanisms with total removal being the sum of the two. An overall reduction factor of around 8 log10 can be deduced. The tests from the production process of FVIII/VWF complex concentrates have demonstrated their potential for eliminating TSE agents.
The function of CCR3 on mouse bone marrow‐derived mast cells in vitro
Authors: Collington Sarah J. , Westwick John , Williams Timothy J. , Weller Charlotte L.
Published: June 2009

The mechanisms governing the population of tissues by mast cells are not fully understood, but several studies using human mast cells have suggested that expression of the chemokine receptor CCR3 and migration to its ligands may be important. In CCR3‐deficient mice, a change in mast cell tissue distribution in the airways following allergen challenge was reported compared with wild‐type mice. In addition, there is evidence that CCR3 is important in mast cell maturation in mouse. In this study, bone marrow‐derived mast cells (BMMCs) were cultured and CCR3 expression and the migratory response to CCR3 ligands were characterized. In addition, BMMCs were cultured from wild‐type and CCR3‐deficient mice and their phenotype and migratory responses were compared. CCR3 messenger RNA was detectable in BMMCs, but this was not significantly increased after activation by immunoglobulin E (IgE). CCR3 protein was not detected on BMMCs during maturation and expression could not be enhanced after IgE activation. Resting and IgE‐activated immature and mature BMMCs did not migrate in response to the CCR3 ligands eotaxin‐1 and eotaxin‐2. Comparing wild‐type and CCR3‐deficient BMMCs, there were no differences in mast cell phenotype or ability to migrate to the mast cell chemoattractants leukotriene B4 and stem cell factor. The results of this study show that CCR3 may not mediate mast cell migration in mouse BMMCs in vitro. These observations need to be considered in relation to the findings of CCR3 deficiency on mast cells in vivo.
Identification of leucocyte surface protein interactions by high‐throughput screening with multivalent reagents
Authors: Jiang Lei , Neil Barclay A.
Published: June 2009

We describe a high‐throughput screening system to detect interactions between leucocyte surface proteins, taking into account that these interactions are usually of very low affinity. The method involves producing the extracellular regions of leucocyte proteins with tags so that they can be bound to nanoparticles to provide an avid reagent to screen over an array of 36 similar proteins immobilized using the Proteon™ XPR36 with detection by surface plasmon resonance. The system was tested using established interactions that could be detected without spurious binding. The ability to detect new interactions was shown by identifying a new interaction between carcinoembryonic antigen‐related cell adhesion molecule 1 and carcinoembryonic antigen‐related cell adhesion molecule 8.
Classifying movement behaviour in relation to environmental conditions using hidden Markov models
Authors: Patterson Toby A. , Basson Marinelle , Bravington Mark V. , Gunn John S.
Published: June 2009

1.
 Linking the movement and behaviour of animals to their environment is a central problem in ecology. Through the use of electronic tagging and tracking (ETT), collection of in situ data from free‐roaming animals is now commonplace, yet statistical approaches enabling direct relation of movement observations to environmental conditions are still in development.

2.  In this study, we examine the hidden Markov model (HMM) for behavioural analysis of tracking data. HMMs allow for prediction of latent behavioural states while directly accounting for the serial dependence prevalent in ETT data. Updating the probability of behavioural switches with tag or remote‐sensing data provides a statistical method that links environmental data to behaviour in a direct and integrated manner.

3.  It is important to assess the reliability of state categorization over the range of time‐series lengths typically collected from field instruments and when movement behaviours are similar between movement states. Simulation with varying lengths of times series data and contrast between average movements within each state was used to test the HMMs ability to estimate movement parameters.

4.
 To demonstrate the methods in a realistic setting, the HMMs were used to categorize resident and migratory phases and the relationship between movement behaviour and ocean temperature using electronic tagging data from southern bluefin tuna (Thunnus maccoyii). Diagnostic tools to evaluate the suitability of different models and inferential methods for investigating differences in behaviour between individuals are also demonstrated.
Habitat and roe deer fawn vulnerability to red fox predation
Authors: Panzacchi M. , Linnell J. D. C. , Odden M. , Odden J. , Andersen R.
Published: June 2009

1.  Notwithstanding the growing amount of literature emphasizing the link between habitat, life‐history traits and behaviour, few empirical studies investigated the combined effect of these parameters on individual predation risk. We investigated direct and indirect consequences of habitat composition at multiple spatial scales on predation risk by red foxes on 151 radio‐monitored roe deer fawns. We hypothesized that the higher resource availability in fragmented agricultural areas increased predation risk because of: (i) shorter prey movements, which may increase predictability; (ii) larger litter size and faster growth rates, which may increase detectability in species adopting a hiding neonatal anti‐predator strategy. The sharing of risky habitat among littermates was expected to promote whole‐litter losses as a result of predation.

2.  The landscape‐scale availability of agricultural areas negatively affected pre‐weaning movements, but did not influence growth rates or litter size. Predation risk was best described by the interplay between movements and fine‐scale habitat fragmentation: a higher mobility increased the encounter rate and predation risk in highly fragmented home ranges, while it reduced predation risk in forest‐dominated areas with clumped resources because of decreased predictability. This is one of the first demonstrations that movement patterns can be an efficient anti‐predator strategy when adjusted to local conditions.

3.  In accordance with previous studies documenting the existence of family effects (i.e. non‐independence among siblings) in survival, littermates survived or died together more often than expected by chance. In addition, our study specifically demonstrated the occurrence of behaviourally mediated family effects in predation risk: after a fox killed one fawn the probability of a sibling being killed within a few days rose from 20% to 47%, likely because of the win‐stay strategy (i.e. return to a previously rewarding site) adopted by the predator. Hence, the predator’s hunting strategy has the potential to raise fawn mortality disproportionately to predator abundance.

4.  There is increasing evidence that fawns inhabiting highly productive predator‐free habitats are granted lifetime fitness benefits; these potential advantages, however, can be cancelled out when predation risk increases in the very same high‐productivity areas, which might thus turn into attractive sinks.
Reduced post‐operative neutrophil activation in liver transplant recipients suffering from post‐hepatitic cirrhosis
Authors: Jüttner Björn , Younes Alan , Weißig Annette , Ahrens Jörg , Becker Thomas , Scheinichen Dirk
Published: June 2009

Abstract:  Background:  It has been supposed that liver transplant recipients with hepatitis C virus infection have a higher incidence of infectious complications after transplantation. This study was designed to investigate whether neutrophil function is immediately affected by liver transplantation.

Methods:  Biochemical values, plasma levels of myeloperoxidase (MPO), hydrogen peroxide production of neutrophils and neutrophil–platelet complexes were analyzed in 32 patients who underwent liver transplantation and 20 healthy volunteers.

Results:  MPO levels were significantly increased 24 h after reperfusion. In post‐hepatitic patients levels were significantly lower three d up to one wk post‐transplant than in patients due to other liver diseases. One wk post‐operatively the respiratory burst activity following N‐formyl‐methionyl‐leucylphenylalanine (fMLP) or (tumor necrosis factor‐α) TNF‐α/fMLP stimulation was depressed in post‐hepatitic recipients. Respiratory burst stimulated with phorbol 12‐myristate 13‐acetate in these patients was increased one wk after transplantation. One d after transplantation the neutrophil–platelet complexes decreased significantly throughout the post‐operative period.

Conclusions:  The results of this study suggest a reduced post‐operative neutrophil activation in liver transplant recipients suffering from post‐hepatitic cirrhosis compared to cirrhosis due to other causes. We hypothesized that neutrophil dysfunction in those patients depends on the underlying disease with an increased susceptibility to bacterial or fungal infections.
Pancreas transplant and incidental Meckel’s diverticulum: not always a straightforward decision
Authors: Light Timothy D. , Light Jimmy A.
Published: June 2009

Abstract:  Introduction:  Unexpected intraoperative findings are not rare in surgical practice. Meckel’s diverticulum with a mass is one such example. There are only two previously reported cases of Meckel’s in transplantation, and neither involved pancreas transplant.

Results and discussion:  We present a case report of novel surgical technique using a Meckel’s diverticulectomy site for the duodeno‐enterostomy to managing the exocrine secretions of the transplanted pancreas. We also discuss management of Meckel’s diverticulum. The patient tolerated the procedure without complication, and continues to have normal renal and pancreatic function without any gastrointestinal (GI) complaints. The excised Meckel’s diverticulum contained both gastric and pancreatic tissue.

Conclusion:  Although uncertainty about the best management practices exists in the general surgery patient population, given the potential complications that may arise from Meckel’s diverticulum, in transplant patients the Meckel’s should be removed when encountered. The point of excision can safely be incorporated into other intestinal anastomoses.
People’s attitude toward xenotransplantation: affective reactions and the influence of the evaluation context
Authors: Rubaltelli Enrico , Burra Patrizia , Canova Daniele , Germani Giacomo , Tomat Silvia , Ancona Ermanno , Cozzi Emanuele , Rumiati Rino
Published: June 2009

Abstract:  Background:  One of the major issues in transplantation is to find a strategy to overcome the scarcity of human organs. One of the interventions under investigation is represented by xenotransplantation. The present study aimed to understand the role of psychological factors on people’s perception of xenotransplantation. In particular, we tested a condition in which different alternatives (e.g., human vs. pig donors) are presented together allowing people to compare among them (joint evaluation) and two conditions in which people are presented with only one of the two alternatives and cannot compare them (separate evaluation).

Methods:  The study was conducted with three different groups of participants: patients waiting for liver transplantation (N = 31 in joint evaluation and N = 30 in each of the two separate evaluation conditions); students (N = 30 in join evaluation and N = 30 in each of the two separate evaluation conditions); and healthy adults (N = 30 in joint evaluation and N = 30 in each of the two separate evaluation conditions). Participants were presented with hypothetical scenarios and asked how good (or bad) were their feelings toward one or two types of donor (e.g., human and pig).

Results:  Patients showed a skeptical attitude toward xenotransplantation both when it was evaluated together with the human donor (P < 0.01) or when it was evaluated separately (P < 0.01). Differently, when asked to evaluate each donor separately healthy adults and students showed similar affective reactions toward the two alternatives (human organ and xenograft).

Conclusions:  The present study demonstrates that the evaluation context may increase the impact of affective reactions and reduce healthy people’s ability to use information on the potential benefit of a novel biomedical technology. Regardless of the evaluation context, patients always rely on affective reactions and show an overall preference for the human organ.
Native pancreatic α‐cell adaptation in streptozotocin‐induced diabetic primates: importance for pig islet xenotransplantation
Authors: Dufrane Denis , Maillart Jean‐François , Aouassar Najima , Goebbels Rose‐Marie , Guiot Yves , Gianello Pierre
Published: June 2009

Abstract:  Background:  Metabolic compatibility between donor and recipient species is an important matter for pig islet xenotransplantation. Glucagon is a key hormone for the function of pig islets as well as control of hypoglycemia in the recipients of the islets. Because a discrepancy exists in the composition of glucagon cells of pig and human/primate islets, the present study was designed to determine the role of native recipient glucagon cells in the treatment of diabetes by islet transplantation in a “pig‐to‐primate” model.

Methods:  Streptozotocin‐treated (50 mg/kg) monkeys (n = 12, follow‐up of 6 to 231 days) were compared with non‐diabetic animals (n = 5; follow‐up, 180 days). Metabolic [fasting and intravenous glucose tolerance tests (IVGTTs) for serum levels of glucose, insulin, glucagon] and morphologic (endocrine volume density and cell mass for insulin and glucagon) were compared between non‐diabetic and diabetic animals. Six additional diabetic primates were given transplants of 15 000 adult pig islet equivalents without immunosuppression to monitor glucose, glucagon, insulin, and porcine C‐peptide levels until 48 h after transplantation.

Results:  Elevated fasting blood glucose, pathologic IVGTT, destruction of 95% of β‐cell mass, and glycosylated hemoglobin (>13%) were assessed in diabetic monkeys. The serum glucagon levels and glucagon cell mass correlated significantly with diabetes time course of diabetes (R = 0.940, p = 0.005; R = 0.663, p = 0.019, respectively). A mean increase of 89% in glucagon cell mass was observed for primates suffering from diabetes >53 days. No response of glucagon secretion was observed for diabetic animals during IVGTT, because no increase of serum insulin levels followed glucose loading. Blood glucose levels dropped after pig islet xenografts in diabetic primates. This reduction was maintained by an insulin level >20 μU/ml over the period of time of xenograft function (porcine C‐peptide >0.1 ng/ml). A total restoration of native primate glucagon sensitivity to insulin was found after pig islets xenotransplantation as revealed by a reduction of 80% of the glucagon level. When graft dysfunction (>24 h post‐transplantation), the insulin level dropped and glucagon levels rose again (>50 pg/ml).

Conclusions:  Native glucagon cells provide morphologic and functional plasticity to diabetes. Adult pig islet xenotransplantation can restore the sensitivity of primate glucagon to insulin but cannot protect the diabetic recipient against hypoglycemia.
Evidence‐Based Medicine in Canine Reproduction: Quality of Current Available Literature
Authors: Arlt S , Dicty V , Heuwieser W
Published: June 2009

Contents

The objective of this study was to evaluate the quality of published literature on reproduction in dogs. A systematic search in online databases revealed 287 papers that met the inclusion criteria. For evaluation a questionnaire comprising 40 criteria regarding materials and methodology, study design, statistics, presentation and information content, applicability and conclusions was developed. In a pre‐test including seven independent scientists the applicability and explanatory power of the questionnaire and its results were validated. Out of 287 publications evaluated, 90 (31.4%) were classified as clinical trials. The remaining 197 publications were case reports or contained information based on personal experience. Not a single meta‐analysis was found. Sixty (66.7%) of the 90 clinical trials included a control group. Randomization was conducted in 23 and blinding in eight articles respectively. In total five articles were determined as randomized, controlled and blinded clinical trials. Information content of the publications was variable concerning details on included animals, type or dosage of used remedies or conducted interventions. For example, in 99.7% of the articles, the exact number of animals was given, but in 79.8%, housing and feeding of the animals were not described. Statistical procedures of clinical trials were determined adequate in 55.6%. However, the data of 67.9% of the articles were evaluated to be not sufficient to draw valid conclusions. This study revealed evidence of deficits in the field of canine reproduction. The demand for more high quality clinical research is obvious. Requisite for the further implementation of the evidence‐based veterinary medicine is an improvement of the quantity and the quality of well‐designed, conducted and reported clinical trials. The practitioner should always assess the quality of information before implementing results into practice to provide best available care for the animals.
Pediatric laryngoscopes and intubation aids old and new
Authors: DOHERTY JANE S. , FROOM STEPHEN R. , GILDERSLEVE CHRISTOPHER D.
Published: June 2009

This review summarizes the evolution of the pediatric laryngoscope using some of the established landmarks in the history of anesthesia. Children were rarely intubated before 1940 though the subsequent 30 years saw a proliferation of pediatric laryngoscopes in part driven by the developments in pediatric anesthesia and surgery, manufacturing techniques and materials and a change in airway management philosophy exemplified by Jackson Rees’s argument against the notion that intubation was to be avoided in children. A perspective on the present day describes the modifications to popular straight and curved blade laryngoscopes and the development of new devices that enhance direct visualization of the larynx. There are an ever‐increasing number of laryngoscope devices that assist in indirect visualization of the larynx such as rigid optical stylets and flexible fiber‐optic scopes. Images from many of these devices may be enhanced by digital camera or real‐time video technology. The prospect of future laryngoscope development is glimpsed in the arrival of light emitting diode light source technology and questions remain regarding the consequences of equipment disposability and at the fidelity of disposable equipment manufacture.
Stridor is not a scientifically valid outcome measure for assessing airway injury
Authors: HOLZKI JOSEF , LASCHAT MICHAEL , PUDER CHRISTIAN
Published: June 2009

Since about a decade cuffed intubation is becoming more popular in pediatric anesthesia. Studies supporting cuffed intubation compared cuffed and uncuffed intubation by using stridor as main outcome measure after extubation. No differentiations were made between benign (oedema) and severe (ulceration of mucosa) lesions. Stridor was considered to represent all relevant injuries. Far reaching conclusions for daily practice were drawn from these studies. Pediatric endoscopists and – ENT‐surgeons with extensive experience in this field have warned against this opinion because significant injury of the airway is not always accompanied by stridor! The symptom of stridor might develop weeks and months after injury when silent ulcerations of the mucosa retract to significant stenosis. Only endoscopy can evidently detect all airway injuries. Studies describing airway injury by endoscopic control are urgently needed to find the best way of preventing airway injury by intubation.
Pediatric airway foreign body retrieval: surgical and anesthetic perspectives
Authors: ZUR KAREN B. , LITMAN RONALD S.
Published: June 2009

Airway foreign body aspiration most commonly occurs in young children and is associated with a high rate of airway distress, morbidity, and mortality. The presenting symptoms of foreign body aspiration range from none to severe airway obstruction, and may often be innocuous and nonspecific. In the absence of a choking or aspiration event, the diagnosis may be delayed for weeks to months and contribute to worsening lung disease. Radiography and high resolution CT scan may contribute to the eventual diagnosis. Bronchoscopy is used to confirm the diagnosis and retrieve the object. The safest method of removing an airway foreign body is by utilizing general anesthesia. Communication between anesthesiologist and surgeon is essential for optimal outcome. The choice between maintenance of spontaneous and controlled ventilation is often based on personal preference and does not appear to affect the outcome of the procedure. Complications are related to the actual obstruction and to the retrieval of the impacted object. The localized inflammation and irritation that result from the impacted object can lead to bronchitis, tracheitis, atelectasis, and pneumonia.
Who should obtain written consent for magnetic resonance imaging under general anesthesia?
Authors: WELLESLEY HUGO , CHONG WUI K , SEGAR PHILIP
Published: June 2009

Consent for magnetic resonance imaging under anesthesia in children is complex – it does not fit the usual model of consent for invasive procedures and requires the collaboration of multiple specialists from different disciplines. This article discusses the issues surrounding consent for this procedure, sets out four essential elements of the consent process, and proposes that, of the specialists involved, the referring clinician is best placed to discuss the options with parents and obtain written consent.
Natriuretic peptides: linking heart and adipose tissue in obesity and related conditions – a systematic review
Authors: Beleigoli A. M. R. , Diniz M. F. H. S. , Ribeiro A. L. P.
Published: June 2009

The objective of this study was to investigate the association between natriuretic peptides, obesity and related comorbidities. A systematic review of the English language literature from 1996 to 2008 was performed with Pubmed/MEDLINE and the ISI Web of Knowledge. ‘Natriuretic peptides’, ‘atrial natriuretic factor’, ‘brain natriuretic peptide’, ‘obesity’, ‘body mass index’, ‘lipolysis’ and ‘adipose tissue’ were used as Mesh terms. We also conducted a handle search among the references of the original articles selected. Finally, seventy‐five studies were considered eligible for inclusion in the review. Natriuretic peptides are widely known as body homeostasis regulators. Recently, their action as lipolytic agents has been identified. Obese patients, especially those with hypertension and metabolic risk factors, have reduced plasma levels of natriuretic peptides. Whether this precedes or follows obesity and its complications remains undefined. The lipolytic effect of natriuretic peptides indicates that they may be involved in the pathophysiology of obesity. In general, studies with obese patients support paradoxical reduced levels of natriuretic peptides. However, the selection of subjects and classification of obesity and heart failure varied among the reviewed studies, rendering comparison unreliable.
Modeling Risk Allocation in Privately Financed Infrastructure Projects Using Fuzzy Logic
Authors: Jin Xiao‐Hua , Doloi Hemanta
Published: June 2009

Abstract: Risk allocation (RA) plays a critical role in privately financed infrastructure projects. Project performance is contingent on whether the adopted RA strategy is efficient. However, no mechanism was specifically designed to facilitate the risk allocation decision‐making (RADM) process. Two theoretical frameworks based on the transaction cost economics (TCE) theory and on both the TCE and the resource‐based view (RBV) of organizational capability, respectively, were thus adopted in this article. As conventional modeling techniques are not suitable for modeling RADM processes, which involve ambiguous and qualitative information, fuzzy inference systems (FISs) were developed, illustrated, and evaluated to model these frameworks. An industry‐wide survey and rounds of expert consultation were conducted to collect data and generate fuzzy rules. It was found that both FISs are capable of reliably explaining the RADM process. In particular, the FIS based on both the TCE and the RBV theories performed more accurately and thus is more suitable for forecasting efficient risk allocation strategy.
Conceptual Framework for Modeling Dynamic Paths from Natural Language Expressions
Authors: Hornsby Kathleen Stewart , Li Naicong
Published: June 2009

Text documents frequently contain descriptions of different kinds of movements by individual persons, groups, animals, vehicles, or other moving objects. Comprehending and modeling the semantics of movement is an area of interest for geographic information science. In this article, we show how text documents that contain movement verbs can be analyzed for deriving representations of movement ordynamic paths. A conceptual framework is presented that provides the foundations necessary for deriving dynamic paths automatically from natural language descriptions and representing these dynamic paths in an information system, such as a geographic information system. In this research, a linguistic analysis of dynamic paths is presented and linked to a spatiotemporal representation of paths. We show how movement descriptions in text can be mapped to a set of elemental components includingsource, destination, route, direction, distance, start time, end time, andduration. Together, this set of path components captures the spatiotemporal characteristics of the path of a moving object as described using natural language. A systematic examination of these components builds a foundation for understanding more complex scenarios involving discourse (composed of consecutive sentences). Additional aspects reflecting important semantics about the movement characteristics of objects and discussed here are the shape of the path and granularity of modeling.
Investigating Hologram‐Based Route Planning
Authors: Fuhrmann Sven , Komogortsev Oleg , Tamir Dan
Published: June 2009

It is often assumed that three‐dimensional topographic maps provide more effective route planning, navigation, orientation, and way‐finding results than traditional two‐dimensional representations. The research reported here investigates whether three‐dimensional spatial mappings provide better support for route planning than two‐dimensional representations. In a set of experiments performed as part of this research, human subjects were randomly shown either a two‐ or three‐dimensional hologram of San Francisco and were asked to plan a bicycling route between an origin and a destination point. In a second task, participants used these holograms to identify the highest elevation point in the displayed area. The eye‐movements of the participants, throughout the process of looking at the geospatial holograms and executing the tasks, were recorded. The eye‐tracking metrics analysis indicates with a high statistical level of confidence that three‐dimensional holographic maps enable more efficient route planning. In addition, the research group is developing a new algorithm to analyze the differences between participant‐selected routes and a set of “good routes.” The algorithm employs techniques used to represent the boundary of objects and methods for assessing the difference between objects in modern digital image recognition, image registration, and image alignment applications. The overall goal is to create a theoretical framework for investigating and quantifying route planning effectiveness.
A Network Perspective on Spatial Data Infrastructures: Application to the Sub‐national SDI of Flanders (Belgium)
Authors: Vandenbroucke Danny , Crompvoets Joep , Vancauwenberghe Glenn , Dessers Ezra , Van Orshoven Jos
Published: June 2009

In order to provide a basis for quantitative and qualitative assessment of SDI‐performance, a clear definition and a theoretical framework for SDI are needed. From the various definitions and frameworks of SDI available in the literature, the productional and the geographic information process perspective were selected, combined and extended. From the productional perspective, SDI‐development is a dynamic process in which suppliers and users of spatial data interact to add value to the data by using them in applications and processes. The geographic information process perspective incorporates the “information acquisition – delivery – usage” chain. The extension proposed in this article leads to a network perspective on SDI. The nature of this perspective is described for the Flemish SDI. Its applicability to characterise and underpin the assessment of SDI is tested using a Social Network Analysis (SNA) focusing on the network structure parameters “density”, “distance” and “centrality”. The SNA confirms the applicability, usability and extensibility of the network perspective to characterize the SDI, to describe the data flows between stakeholders and to analyse the behaviour of the different (types) of stakeholders within the network. We conclude that SNA should likely be complemented by an impact analysis of different SDI setups on business processes which will provide a good basis for a holistic SDI‐performance assessment.
Performing Buddhist Modernity: The Lumbini Festival, Tokyo 1925
Authors: SNODGRASS JUDITH
Published: June 2009

This paper looks at the 1920s Tokyo transformation of hanamatsuri (the celebration of the Buddha's birthday) from a local observance to a mass public spectacle. The Lumbini Festival was a performance of Buddhist modernity orchestrated to promote links between Japan and Asia and present Japan as leader of Asia. The Lumbini Festival appeared in 1925, the same year as did the Young East, an English language journal published in Tokyo to promote the trans‐Asian Buddhist fellowship. Neither was a state initiative, but both nevertheless contributed to the formation and naturalisation of links between Japan and its Asian neighbours and the development of the Japanese empire. The Lumbini festival naturalised Buddhist brotherhood in Tokyo; the Young East, by reporting it through Asia and the West, promoted ideas of their shared Buddhist heritage, and of a Buddhist basis for social reform and Asian modernity.