bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Relationship between Survival and the Extent of the Resection in Patients with Supratentorial Malignant Gliomas
Authors: Quigley Matthew R. , Maroon Joseph C.
Published: April 2011

Current neurosurgical opinion favors the radical surgical removal of supratentorial gliomas, when feasible, in the belief that this optimizes patient survival. Although bolstered by the results of some early investigators, the efficacy of this approach remains debatable. Therefore, we undertook a review of the English language literature of the past 30 years for a series of surgically treated malignant gliomas. Twenty reports comprising 5691 patients were identified. Only 4 found the extent of the surgical resection related to survival. In 2 of these, it followed age, histological findings, and performance status in importance. The 2 other studies did not rank the prognostic variables at all. On closer inspection, however, there does appear to be a subgroup of young patients with favorable histological findings and good performance status for whom surgery is beneficial. Future reporting of surgical results of patients with gliomas will require stratification by the known prognostic variables of age. histological findings, and performance status to characterize better this subgroup for whom surgery is beneficial.
Percutaneous Drainage and Serial Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Diagnosis of Symptomatic Posttraumatic Syringomyelia: Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Levy Robert , Rosenblatt Szymon , Russell Eric
Published: April 2011

A patient with high cervical tetraplegia with new-onset headaches and posttraumatic syringomyelia is presented. Percutaneous drainage of the syrinx resulted in a resolution of the headaches and collapse of the syrinx on follow-up magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The return of the symptoms correlated with the re-expansion of the syrinx on MRI. The patient underwent syringopleural shunting with persistent resolution of the symptoms and collapse of the syrinx on MRI. The value of percutaneous drainage and serial MRI to determine the clinical significance of posttraumatic syringomyelia is discussed.
Screening for Unruptured Familial Intracranial Aneurysms: Subarachnoid Hemorrhage 2 Years after Angiography Negative for Aneurysms
Authors: Schievink Wouter I. , Limburg Martien , Dreissen Rob J. J. , Peeters Frans L. M. , ter Berg Hans W. M.
Published: April 2011

The screening of asymptomatic individuals in families with intracranial aneurysms has been advocated to detect unruptured aneurysms before a major hemorrhage occurs. We report a 39-year-old male member of a large Dutch family, with a documented history of intracranial aneurysms, who suffered a subarachnoid hemorrhage 2 years after cerebral digital subtraction angiography using intravenously administered contrast medium showed no abnormalities. Conventional arteriography demonstrated three intracranial aneurysms measuring 3 × 3 mm. Potential alternative screening procedures are discussed.
Traumatic Aneurysm of the Posterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery: Case Report
Authors: Morard M. , de Tribolet N.
Published: April 2011

We report a case of a traumatic aneurysm of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery caused by an occipital fracture. The necessity to suspect a vascular traumatic lesion when an unusual subarachnoid hemorrhage is seen on the computed tomographic scan in a case of trauma is stressed.
Malignant Carcinoid Tumor Metastatic to the Dura Mater Simulating a Meningioma
Authors: Huang Peter S. , Oz Mustafa
Published: April 2011

A 50-year-old man, transferred from another hospital, was admitted because of adult onset seizures. Nine months earlier, he had undergone an esophagogastrectomy; the lesion was confirmed to be a carcinoid tumor. Laboratory tests, chest x-rays, and electrocardiogram were normal. A second liver and spleen scan was performed. A computed tomographic scan revealed a well-circumscribed homogeneous enhancement of a lesion in the left frontal superficial area. On the 10th day. the patient underwent a left frontal parietal craniotomy. Postoperatively, he manifested no residual neurological deficits and was discharged on the 6th postoperative day. A week later, he was readmitted for treatment of aphasia and right hemiparesis; he was treated and discharged. The patient survived 16 more months. The occurrence of central nervous system metastasis from carcinoid tumor is rare. This tumor resembled, in many respects, a parasagittal meningioma. Radiological findings on the computed tomographic scan were typical of these tumors. This patient was diagnosed as having metastatic disease just 9 months after the diagnosis of the primary tumor and 13 months from the onset of any symptoms. This is a short period of time compared with that reported in other cases.
Management of Athletic Injuries of the Cervical Spine and Spinal Cord
Authors: Bailes Julian E. , Hadley Mark N. , Quigley Matthew R. , Sonntag Volker K.H. , Cerullo Leonard J.
Published: April 2011

Injuries to the cervical spine among athletes present inherent difficulties, especially in advising for return to contact sports. Experience with the acute care of 63 patients who sustained cervical spine injuries while participating in organized sporting events is analyzed. Forty-five patients had permanent injury to the vertebral colum n and/or spinal cord, while 18 suffered only transient spinal cord symptoms. Football mishaps accounted for the highest number of injuries, followed by wrestling and gymnastics. Twelve patients had complete spinal cord injury, 14 patients had incomplete spinal cord injury, and 19 patients had injury to the vertebral column alone. The majority of the spinal cord lesions occurred at the C4 and C5 levels, while bony injuries of C4 through C6 predominated. Twenty-five patients required surgical stabilization, and 20 were treated with orthosis only. There was no instance of associated systemic injuries, and hospital complications were few. The mean time of hospitalization was 19.1 days for injured patients and 3.0 days for patients with transient symptoms. A classification was developed to assist in the management of these patients: Type 1 athletic injuries to the cervical spine are those that cause neurological injury; patients with Type 1 injuries are not allowed to participate in contact, competitive sporting events. Type 2 injuries consist of transient neurological deficits without radiological evidence of abnormalities; these injuries usually do not prohibit further participation in contact sports unless they become repetitive. Type 3 injuries are those that cause radiological abnormality alone; these represent a heterogeneous group. The athlete with fractures involving a significant structural portion of the vertebral column, ligament instability, spinal cord contusion, or congenital cervical stenosis, is advised not to return to contact sports. Other radiological abnormalities, such as compromise of the ligaments, congenital fusion, degenerative disease, and herniated cervical disc require individual consideration. The rationale for treatment and advising for participation in sports are discussed. We believe that this classification of sports injuries offers clinicians a framework within which to make rational judgments and recommendations in the management of athletes with cervical spine injuries.
Pediatric Pituitary Tumors
Authors: Haddad Souheil F. , VanGilder John C. , Menezes Arnold H.
Published: April 2011

This retrospective review of pediatric patients with pituitary tumors causing onset of symptoms by 17 years of age was done to define their pathological distribution, clinical presentation, treatment, and prognosis. Eighteen patients were evaluated and treated from 1979 to 1989. Five had Cushing's disease and 13 had prolactin-secreting tumors. The mean age at the onset of symptoms was 14.7 years, with a range of 7 to 17 years. The mean follow-up period was 4.6 years, and the series consisted of 15 girls and 3 boys. Four of the 5 patients with tumors secreting adrenocorticotropic hormone were girls. The five patients exhibited obesity, hypertension, and growth retardation. The mean age of this group of patients at diagnosis was 12.2 years, and all had intrasellar lesions removed by the transsphenoidal approach. Adenoma was documented in 4 cases by histopathology. There was complete resolution of the endocrinological and clinical abnormalities in each case. The group of patients with prolactinomas comprised 11 girls and 2 boys, and their mean age at diagnosis was 15.7 years. The girls exhibited either primary or secondary amenorrhea. Seven had macroadenomas and 4 had microadenomas. Nine of the 11 girls underwent transsphenoidal resection, and surgery failed in 6, based on hormonal or radiological data. The two boys had suprasellar tumor extension and required multiple surgical procedures plus radiation therapy for control of the tumor mass.
Noninvasive Intraoperative Monitoring of Motor Evoked Potentials under Propofol Anesthesia: Effects of Spinal Surgery on the Amplitude and Latency of Motor Evoked Potentials
Authors: Jellinek David , Jewkes Doreen , Symon Lindsay
Published: April 2011

We present the results of intraoperative monitoring of motor evoked potentials from 34 patients undergoing spinal surgery under total anesthesia with intravenously administered propofol. intraoperative recording was performed with transcranial electrical stimulation. Two groups of patients were studied: 1) a control population of 26 patients undergoing lumbar discectomy for prolapsed intervertebral disc, all of whom had normal preoperative motor conduction; and 2) a population of 8 patients undergoing neurosurgical procedures for spinal tumor (5 patients) and spinal arteriovenous malformation (3 patients), all of whom had abnormal preoperative neurological signs and abnormal preoperative motor conduction. In the first group, electromyographic responses were recorded intraoperatively either from the 2nd dorsal interosseous muscle of the hand (5 patients) or from the 1st dorsal interosseous muscle of the foot (21 patients). In the second group, responses were recorded intraoperatively either from the 1st dorsal interosseous muscle of the foot (7 patients) or from the anterior tibial muscle (1 patient). Intraoperative monitoring of motor function was successful in 88.5% of the patients in the control group. Propofol anesthesia caused a reduction in response amplitude to 7% of baseline values obtained from conscious relaxed subjects. Intraoperative monitoring was successful in 87% of the patients in the pathological group. We observed significant changes in both amplitude (>50%) and/or onset latency (>3 ms) from the intraoperative baseline that indicated cither improvement (3 patients) or deterioration (2 patients) in motor conduction within minutes of surgical maneuvers anticipated to alter spinal cord function. Only permanent complete loss of intraoperative motor conduction (1 patient) correlated with a significant change in the postoperative neurological state. We conclude 1) that changes in latency as well as amplitude are useful evaluation criteria of intraoperative motor evoked potentials, and 2) that even in the presence of significant intraoperative deterioration in motor conduction, subsequent recovery of motor conduction toward baseline values during anesthesia is a favorable prognostic sign.
“One-and-a-Half” Syndrome after a Resection of a Midline Cerebellar Astrocytoma: Case Report and Discussion of the Literature
Authors: Newton Herbert B. , Miner Michael E.
Published: April 2011

This report describes a rare complication after the resection of a tumor of the posterior fossa, the “one-and-a-half” syndrome. The one-and-a-half syndrome is a disturbance of horizontal eye movements in which patients have lateral gaze palsy in one direction and internuclear ophthalmoplegia in the other direction. The patient was a 54-year-old woman who developed headaches, diplopia, and blurred vision over 6 months. Computed tomographic scans and magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated an enhancing, mixed density, midline mass of the cerebellum. After a resection of the mass, an anaplastic astrocytoma, the patient complained of more severe diplopia and facial weakness. An examination disclosed a left one-and-a-half syndrome, left peripheral facial paralysis, dysarthria, dysphagia, mild left hemiparesis, dysmetria of the left upper limb, and truncal ataxia. The brain stem showed no abnormalities on postoperative computed tomographic scans. After 4 months of follow-up, the one-and-a-half syndrome had not improved, even though other signs had improved or resolved. This syndrome is caused by damage to structures within the pontine tegmentum: the medial longitudinal fasciculus, the ipsilateral paramedian pontine reticular formation, or the ipsilateral abducens nucleus. Multiple sclerosis and brain stem infarctionn are the most common causes of the one-and-a-half syndrome. Less frequently, it is caused by primary and metastatic tumors of the brain stem and cerebellum. Rarely, the one-and-a-half syndrome can develop postoperatively after the removal of tumors of the posterior fossa. The mechanism of pontine tegmental injury remains unknown.
An Adjustable Ventriculoscope Guide for Use with Stereotactic Frames
Authors: Frank Edmund
Published: April 2011

A ventriculoscope guide intended for use with stereotactic frames is described. This guide allows the ventriculoscope to be moved freely and then fixed rigidly into position without readjustment of the stereotactic frame. This design address requirements for extremely strong fixation of the ventriculoscope, adaptability to most stereotactic systems, and minimal damage to the brain tissue traversed by the ventriculoscope.
Intracranial Infection after Missile Injuries to the Brain: Report of 30 Cases from the Lebanese Conflict
Authors: Taha Jamal M. , Haddad Fuad S. , Brown Jeffrey A.
Published: April 2011

This study reviews the features of 30 intracranial infections complicating 600 penetrating head injuries from missiles in patients treated at the American University of Beirut Medical Center between 1981 and 1988. The follow-up period ranged from 1 month to 7 years (mean, 2.5 years). Sixteen patients had a brain abscess, 9 had cerebritis, 2 had an infected intracerebral hematoma, and 5 had meningitis. Infection developed 4 days to 7 years after the initial debridement. The infecting organisms were Gram positive in 11 patients (36%), Gram negative in 12 (40%), and a combination of Gram positive and Gram negative in 2 (7%). Twenty-four patients (80%) had wound dehiscence or cerebrospinal fluid leakage at the time the infection appeared. There was a 76% correlation between the organisms cultured from the dehisced scalp wound and the brain. Twenty-three patients had intracranial retention of bone. Infection developed in 16 of the 30 patients (70%) around bone fragments, in 4 around a metallic fragment, in 2 around absorbable gelatin sponge, and in 3 along the missile tract; 2 had an infected intracerebral hematoma, and 3 had meningitis. At least one of the following risk factors was present in each patient: extensive brain injury, coma, trajectory through an air sinus, cerebrospinal fluid fistula, inadequate initial debridement, or incomplete dural closure. The incidence of intracranial infection in patients with postoperative retention of bone was 4% in the absence of scalp wound dehiscence, compared with 84.6% when wound dehiscence was present. Ten patients (43%) still retained a bone fragment measuring less than 1 cm after excision of a brain abscess or treatment of cerebritis or meningitis. None developed a recurrent infection. The authors conclude that a bone fragment measuring less than 1 cm that is retained after treatment of intracranial infection caused by a missile injury to the brain does not have to be removed when there is not wound dehiscence or leakage of cerebrospinal fluid.
Special article
Authors: Ray Charles D.
Published: April 2011

Neurosurgeons may derive as much as 62% of their professional income from and perform proportionately as large a number of procedures on the lumbar spine. Publications in neurosurgical journals, presentations at national and international neurosurgical meetings, and participation in organized neurosurgical symposia are, however, relatively sparse in this area of activity. It appears, therefore, that the lumbar spine must have minimal academic interest to neurosurgeons, as compared with the surgical areas where they have clinical domain, i.e., the brain and spinal cord. In that this clear discrepancy between what they do (their source of income) and what they talk about and publish is apparently not well known to neurosurgeons or their professional society directors, this paper is presented as objective, awakening evidence. The potential impact on future patient draw, professional prowess, and income, which may result from a continuation of this wide gap, is also discussed.
Spinal Cord Stimulation Electrode Design: Prospective, Randomized, Controlled Trial Comparing Percutaneous and Laminectomy Electrodes—Part I: Technical Outcomes
Authors: North Richard B. , Kidd David H. , Olin John C. , Sieracki Jeffrey M.
Published: April 2011

OBJECTIVE

The clinical use of spinal cord stimulation for treatment of chronic intractable pain has been increasingly successful because of recent technical improvements, particularly the development of multiple-contact electrodes supported by programmable implanted pulse generators. Contemporary electrodes can be placed percutaneously in some cases and require a limited laminectomy in other cases.

METHODS

We performed a prospective, randomized, controlled trial comparing two prototypical electrode designs, using a computerized system that allows direct patient interaction and quantitative measurements. A series of 24 patients with chronic lumbosacral pain syndromes first underwent testing with percutaneous four-contact electrodes and then underwent implantation, at the same spinal level, of one of two different electrode configurations; 12 patients received a new percutaneous four-contact electrode of the same design and 12 received an insulated four-contact array, which was implanted via laminectomy.

RESULTS

The insulated array performed significantly (P = 0.0005–0.0047) better than the temporary percutaneous electrode for the same patients, according to all three measures tested (ratings of paresthesia coverage of pain, coverage calculated from patient drawings, and amplitudes), at the “usage” amplitude for the three standard bipoles examined. The insulated array also performed significantly (P = 0.0000–0.026) better than the permanent percutaneous electrode in terms of coverage ratings and amplitude requirements. Low back coverage ratings were significantly better for the insulated array than for the temporary percutaneous electrode, and scaled amplitudes necessary for low back coverage were significantly better for the permanent percutaneous electrode than for the temporary electrode. In comparison with the percutaneous temporary electrode, at subjectively identical stimulation intensities, the permanent insulated array required significantly lower amplitude.

CONCLUSION

We can immediately infer from these technical data that the use of an insulated array, in comparison with a percutaneous electrode, would double battery life. Extended follow-up monitoring will be required to assess the extent to which the technical advantages we observed for the insulated array might be associated with improved clinical outcomes.
Oxidative Stress Survival in a Clinical Saccharomyces cerevisiae Isolate Is Influenced by a Major Quantitative Trait Nucleotide
Authors: Diezmann Stephanie , Dietrich Fred S
Published: April 2011

One of the major challenges in characterizing eukaryotic genetic diversity is the mapping of phenotypes that are the cumulative effect of multiple alleles. We have investigated tolerance of oxidative stress in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a trait showing phenotypic variation in the population. Initial crosses identified that this is a quantitative trait. Microorganisms experience oxidative stress in many environments, including during infection of higher eukaryotes. Natural variation in oxidative stress tolerance is an important aspect of response to oxidative stress exerted by the human immune system and an important trait in microbial pathogens. A clinical isolate of the usually benign yeast S. cerevisiae was found to survive oxidative stress significantly better than the laboratory strain. We investigated the genetic basis of increased peroxide survival by crossing those strains, phenotyping 1500 segregants, and genotyping of high-survival segregants by hybridization of bulk and single segregant DNA to microarrays. This effort has led to the identification of an allele of the transcription factor Rds2 as contributing to stress response. Rds2 has not previously been associated with the survival of oxidative stress. The identification of its role in the oxidative stress response here is an example of a specific trait that appears to be beneficial to Saccharomyces cerevisiae when growing as a pathogen. Understanding the role of this fungal-specific transcription factor in pathogenicity will be important in deciphering how fungi infect and colonize the human host and could eventually lead to a novel drug target.
Coexpressed D1- and D2-Like Dopamine Receptors Antagonistically Modulate Acetylcholine Release in Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Allen Andrew T , Maher Kathryn N , Wani Khursheed A , Betts Katherine E , Chase Daniel L
Published: April 2011

Dopamine acts through two classes of G protein-coupled receptor (D1-like and D2-like) to modulate neuron activity in the brain. While subtypes of D1- and D2-like receptors are coexpressed in many neurons of the mammalian brain, it is unclear how signaling by these coexpressed receptors interacts to modulate the activity of the neuron in which they are expressed. D1- and D2-like dopamine receptors are also coexpressed in the cholinergic ventral-cord motor neurons of Caenorhabditis elegans. To begin to understand how coexpressed dopamine receptors interact to modulate neuron activity, we performed a genetic screen in C. elegans and isolated mutants defective in dopamine response. These mutants were also defective in behaviors mediated by endogenous dopamine signaling, including basal slowing and swimming-induced paralysis. We used transgene rescue experiments to show that defects in these dopamine-specific behaviors were caused by abnormal signaling in the cholinergic motor neurons. To investigate the interaction between the D1- and D2-like receptors specifically in these cholinergic motor neurons, we measured the sensitivity of dopamine-signaling mutants and transgenic animals to the acetylcholinesterase inhibitor aldicarb. We found that D2 signaling inhibited acetylcholine release from the cholinergic motor neurons while D1 signaling stimulated release from these same cells. Thus, coexpressed D1- and D2-like dopamine receptors act antagonistically in vivo to modulate acetylcholine release from the cholinergic motor neurons of C. elegans.
Predicting Genetic Values: A Kernel-Based Best Linear Unbiased Prediction With Genomic Data
Authors: Ober Ulrike , Erbe Malena , Long Nanye , Porcu Emilio , Schlather Martin , Simianer Henner
Published: April 2011

Genomic data provide a valuable source of information for modeling covariance structures, allowing a more accurate prediction of total genetic values (GVs). We apply the kriging concept, originally developed in the geostatistical context for predictions in the low-dimensional space, to the high-dimensional space spanned by genomic single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) vectors and study its properties in different gene-action scenarios. Two different kriging methods [“universal kriging” (UK) and “simple kriging” (SK)] are presented. As a novelty, we suggest use of the family of Matérn covariance functions to model the covariance structure of SNP vectors. A genomic best linear unbiased prediction (GBLUP) is applied as a reference method. The three approaches are compared in a whole-genome simulation study considering additive, additive-dominance, and epistatic gene-action models. Predictive performance is measured in terms of correlation between true and predicted GVs and average true GVs of the individuals ranked best by prediction. We show that UK outperforms GBLUP in the presence of dominance and epistatic effects. In a limiting case, it is shown that the genomic covariance structure proposed by VanRaden (2008) can be considered as a covariance function with corresponding quadratic variogram. We also prove theoretically that if a specific linear relationship exists between covariance matrices for two linear mixed models, the GVs resulting from BLUP are linked by a scaling factor. Finally, the relation of kriging to other models is discussed and further options for modeling the covariance structure, which might be more appropriate in the genomic context, are suggested.
Dynamics of a Plant RNA Virus Intracellular Accumulation: Stamping Machine vs. Geometric Replication
Authors: Martínez Fernando , Sardanyés Josep , Elena Santiago F , Daròs José-Antonio
Published: April 2011

The tremendous evolutionary potential of RNA viruses allows them to thrive despite host defense mechanisms and endows them with properties such as emergence, host switching, and virulence. The frequency of mutant viruses after an infectious process results from the interplay between the error rate of the viral replicase, from purifying mechanisms acting after transcription on aberrant RNAs, and from the amplification dynamics of virus RNA positive (+) and negative (–) strands. Two extreme scenarios describing viral RNA amplification are the geometric growth, in which each RNA strand serves as template for the synthesis of complementary strands with the same efficiency, and the stamping machine, where a strand is reiteratively used as template to synthesize multiple copies of the complementary. The resulting mutation frequencies are completely different, being geometric growth largely more mutagenic than stamping machine. In this work we evaluate the contribution of geometric growth and stamping machine to the overall genome amplification of the plant (+)-strand RNA virus turnip mosaic virus (TuMV). By means of transfection experiments of Nicotiana benthamiana protoplasts with a TuMV cDNA infectious clone and by using strand-specific quantitative real-time PCR, we determined the amplification dynamics of viral (+) and (–) RNA during a single-cell infectious process. A mathematical model describing the amplification of each viral strand was fitted to the data. Analyses of the model parameters showed that TuMV (+) and (–) RNA amplification occurs through a mixed strategy with ∼93% of genomes produced via stamping machine and only ∼7% resulting from geometric growth.
Association of Genetic Loci With Glucose Levels in Childhood and Adolescence
Authors: Barker Adam , Sharp Stephen J. , Timpson Nicholas J. , Bouatia-Naji Nabila , Warrington Nicole M. , Kanoni Stavroula , Beilin Lawrence J. , Brage Soren , Deloukas Panos , Evans David M. , Grontved Anders , Hassanali Neelam , Lawlor Deborah A. , Lecoeur Cecile , Loos Ruth J.F. , Lye Stephen J. , McCarthy Mark I. , Mori Trevor A. , Ndiaye Ndeye Coumba , Newnham John P. , Ntalla Ioanna , Pennell Craig E. , St Pourcain Beate , Prokopenko Inga , Ring Susan M. , Sattar Naveed , Visvikis-Siest Sophie , Dedoussis George V. , Palmer Lyle J. , Froguel Philippe , Smith George Davey , Ekelund Ulf , Wareham Nicholas J. , Langenberg Claudia
Published: April 2011

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether associations of common genetic variants recently identified for fasting glucose or insulin levels in nondiabetic adults are detectable in healthy children and adolescents.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

A total of 16 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with fasting glucose were genotyped in six studies of children and adolescents of European origin, including over 6,000 boys and girls aged 9–16 years. We performed meta-analyses to test associations of individual SNPs and a weighted risk score of the 16 loci with fasting glucose.

RESULTS

Nine loci were associated with glucose levels in healthy children and adolescents, with four of these associations reported in previous studies and five reported here for the first time (GLIS3, PROX1, SLC2A2, ADCY5, and CRY2). Effect sizes were similar to those in adults, suggesting age-independent effects of these fasting glucose loci. Children and adolescents carrying glucose-raising alleles of G6PC2, MTNR1B, GCK, and GLIS3 also showed reduced β-cell function, as indicated by homeostasis model assessment of β-cell function. Analysis using a weighted risk score showed an increase [β (95% CI)] in fasting glucose level of 0.026 mmol/L (0.021–0.031) for each unit increase in the score.

CONCLUSIONS

Novel fasting glucose loci identified in genome-wide association studies of adults are associated with altered fasting glucose levels in healthy children and adolescents with effect sizes comparable to adults. In nondiabetic adults, fasting glucose changes little over time, and our results suggest that age-independent effects of fasting glucose loci contribute to long-term interindividual differences in glucose levels from childhood onwards.
Vitamin D Deficiency Is Associated With Retinopathy in Children and Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Kaur Harleen , Donaghue Kim C. , Chan Albert K. , Benitez-Aguirre Paul , Hing Stephen , Lloyd Margaret , Cusumano Janine , Pryke Alison , Craig Maria E.
Published: April 2011

OBJECTIVE

To examine the hypothesis that vitamin D deficiency (VDD) is associated with an increased prevalence of microvascular complications in young people with type 1 diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

In a cross-sectional study of 517 patients, 25-hydroxyvitamin D was measured. Retinopathy was assessed by 7-field stereoscopic retinal photography, peripheral neuropathy by thermal and vibration threshold testing, and microalbuminuria by albumin excretion rate or albumin-to-creatinine ratio.

RESULTS

Retinopathy prevalence was higher in cases with VDD versus sufficiency (18 vs. 9%, P = 0.02); deficiency was not associated with microalbuminuria or neuropathy. In logistic regression, retinopathy was associated with VDD (odds ratio 2.12 [95% CI 1.03–4.33]), diabetes duration (1.13, 1.05–1.23), and HbA1c (1.24, 1.02–1.50).

CONCLUSIONS

VDD is associated with an increased prevalence of retinopathy in young people with type 1 diabetes. The inflammatory and angiogenic effects of VDD may contribute to early retinal vascular damage; however, further investigations are warranted.
A sequential approach using genetic and morphological analyses to test species status: The case of United States federally endangered Agalinis acuta (Orobanchaceae)
Authors: Pettengill James B. , Neel Maile C.
Published: April 2011

• Premise of the study: Given that inaccurate taxonomy can have negative consequences for species of conservation concern and result in erroneous conclusions regarding macroecological patterns, efficient methods for resolving taxonomic uncertainty are essential. The primary objective of this study was to assess the evolutionary distinctiveness of the federally endangered plant species Agalinis acuta (Orobanchaceae) to ensure it represents a distinct taxon warranting protection under the United States Endangered Species Act.

• Methods: We describe and implement a sequential approach that begins with the most restrictive criteria of genealogical exclusivity within which we first conducted a phylogenetic analysis based on six chloroplast DNA loci assayed from multiple representatives of five putative species. Because of the possibility that incomplete lineage sorting is responsible for the lack of genealogical exclusivity among A. acuta individuals, we then conducted intensive population level analyses based on 21 microsatellite loci and 61 morphological traits.

• Key results: The distinctiveness of A. acuta from Agalinis decemloba and Agalinis tenella was not supported under the genealogical species concept. The results from the analyses of microsatellite loci and morphological characters evaluated under alternative species concepts also did not support the distinctiveness of A. acuta from A. decemloba.

• Conclusions: Through this successive approach, we found insufficient evidence to support the evolutionary distinctiveness of the listed taxon A. acuta. We recommend that it be synonymized under A. decemloba and also conclude that the taxon that would now include A. acuta is deserving of protection under the Endangered Species Act.
Les cadres sociaux de l'animation en centres de loisirs en France
Authors: Camus Jérôme
Published: April 2011

Résumé Malgré le « flou » qui entoure les pratiques des animateurs dits « volontaires », l’enquête par observation et entretiens réalisée dans deux centres de loisirs permet de mettre en évidence une grande stabilité des façons de faire. Les processus de régulation implicites dont elles résultent procèdent d’un ajustement des pratiques ordinaires d’agents présentant des propriétés sociales relativement homogènes aux cadres d’interaction propres aux institutions d’accueil. La juvénilité cultivée des encadrants peut alors s’employer et retrouver les oppositions qui, gisant dans la pratique, constituent la mémoire du poste.
L'expérience du stagiaire en travail social : le point de vue situé de l'activité
Authors: Mezzena Sylvie
Published: April 2011

Résumé Notre réflexion sur l’expérience des stagiaires s’inscrit dans un questionnement plus large consacré à la construction de la professionnalité des travailleurs sociaux selon une perspective immanente. À partir du point de vue de l’analyse de l’activité, nous souhaitons saisir de quoi est faite l’expérience des stagiaires dans la formation professionnelle en travail social de niveau bachelor. Après une présentation du dispositif de formation pratique du bachelor en travail social, nous poserons quelques jalons sur l’analyse de l’activité. Nous discuterons ensuite l’expérience du stage dans la formation pratique. Nous nous appuierons sur notre observation des étudiants en stage et sur leurs témoignages recueillis durant notre pratique de formatrice lors de l’accompagnement de la formation pratique. Nous finirons par la présentation de la perspective immanente adoptée dans nos recherches pour l’étude de la construction de la professionnalité des travailleurs sociaux.
De la scientificité du travail social. Quelles recherches pour quels savoirs ?
Authors: Rullac Stéphane
Published: April 2011

Résumé La recherche dans le champ du travail social se développe enfin en France et pose inévitablement la question de la nature du savoir produit, ainsi que celle du cadre de son rattachement épistémologique et institutionnel. C’est ainsi que la scientificité du travail social est questionnée, contestée ou revendiquée, selon les jeux acteurs qui se mobilisent, débattent et s’affrontent. Ces enjeux méthodologiques se cristallisent autour d’enjeux relatifs à une lutte entre les champs des sciences sociales et celui du travail social, dans le cadre d’une réactivation de la dichotomie entre savoir universel théorique et savoir situé pratique. C’est dans ce contexte que le développement d’une science du travail social se décompose en trois modalités de recherche : « sur », « en » et « pour » le travail social.
A REVISION OF THE NEW WORLD AND PACIFICPHTHITIAENDERLEIN (DIPTERA; SPHAEROCERIDAE; LIMOSININAE), INCLUDINGKIMOSINAROHÁčEK, NEW SYNONYM ANDAUBERTINIARICHARDS, NEW SYNONYM
Authors: Marshall S.A. , Smith I.P.
Published: April 2011

The non-Palaearctic species of the genusPhthitiaEnderlein are revised, including descriptions of 30 species, of which 19 are described as new by the first author:P.antillensis,P.bicalyx,P.cercipilus,P.mulroneyi,P.digiseta,P.digistylus,P.lineasterna,P.lobocercus,P.luteocercus,P.luteofrons,P.megocula,P.merida,P.nigrifacies,P.notthomasi,P.obunca,P.occimosa,P.ovicercus,P.quadricercus, andP.spinicalyx. The generaKimosinaRoháček andAubertiniaRichards are newly placed in synonymy withPhthitia, and the following new combinations are given for species previously inKimosina:Phthitia chilenica(Duda),P.antipoda(Roháček),P.rennelli(Harrison),P.thomasi(Harrison),P.empirica(Hutton),P.levigena(Spuler),P.plumosula(Rondani),P.spinosa(Collin),P.pappi(Roháček),P.glabrescens(Villeneuve),P.ciliata(Duda),P.longisetosa(Dahl),P.sicana(Munari),P.soikai(Munari), andArchicollinella dolichoptera(Richards).Phthitia sanctaehelenae(Richards) is given as a new combination forAubertinia sanctaehelenaeRichards.Limosina phycophilaRichards is a new junior synonym ofArchicollinella caerulea(Duda). A key, illustrations, descriptions of adults, distribution maps, and a phylogeny are provided for all New World and Pacific species. The puparium ofP.empiricais described. A lectotype is designated forP.chilenica.
Towards improved silage quality – A review
Authors: Charmley E.
Published: April 2011

Silage quality, as with all forages, is governed by the maturity of the crop at harvest. However, fermentation in the silo further influences nutritive value of silage by reducing voluntary intake and utilization of digestible nutrients. Silage research up to the present time has focussed on closing the gap between feeding value of the original crop and that of the resulting silage. This review focuses on the advances made towards closing that gap, and explores the possibility that in the future ensiling can become a tool for actually increasing the feeding value of forages. Following a section defining silage quality, the relationships between silage fermentation quality and voluntary intake and between silage fermentation and protein and energy utilization will be examined, with emphasis placed on measures to minimize the negative effects of fermentation on animal production. Recent literature is reviewed, which suggests that many factors previously thought to reduce silage intake, such as pH, lactic acid and dry matter (DM), have, in fact, only a casual relationship with intake. Concentrations of fermentation acids do not seem closely related to silage intake; however, they are critical in determining the balance of volatile fatty acids (VFA) produced in the rumen. This in turn, affects the non-glucogenic ratio and can influence milk and body composition in productive livestock. While rumen ammonia is often implicated in reducing silage intake, protein solubility may be more the causal agent than ammonia per se. Protein solubility is also a major factor in reducing the efficiency of silage protein utilization. Methods to reduce protein solubility in silages are discussed. Methods shown to improve silage feeding value include effective wilting and rapid acidification, either by direct acidification or the use of inoculants. Their widespread adoption has undoubtedly contributed to improvements in animal production from silages in recent years. Key words: Silage, feeding value, voluntary food intake, fermentation, ruminant
Feeding value of immature safflower forage for dry ewes
Authors: Stanford K. , Wallins G. L. , Lees B. M. , Mündel H. -H.
Published: April 2011

An in situ study compared mature, frost-damaged safflower to full-bloom safflower and mid-bloom alfalfa-grass hay, with the full-bloom safflower and alfalfa-grass hay also used in a ewe (n = 40) feeding study. Feed refusals were higher (P < 0.05) for ewes fed the safflower, but feed conversion efficiency was improved (P < 0.05) for the safflower-fed sheep. Ewes were bred shortly after the 9-wk feeding trial and the proportion of ewes lambing was higher (P < 0.05) in the safflower-fed ewes. Sheep were able to utilise the safflower forage as thorough chewing of spines likely prevented mouth ulceration and the ewes selectively consumed the most nutrient-dense parts of the forage. Key words: Safflower forage, sheep, fertility
Effect of space and floor material on the behaviour of farmed blue foxes
Authors: Korhonen H. T. , Niemelä P. , Jauhiainen L.
Published: April 2011

Effects of space and floor material on the behaviour of blue foxes were evaluated in the following groups: (1) small wire-mesh cages (50 cm long × 105 wide cm × 70 cm high; W50); (2) medium wire-mesh cages (120 cm long × 105 cm wide × 70 cm high; W120); (3) wire-mesh floored pens (5 m long × 3m wide × 1.8 m high:W500); and (4) earthen floored pens (5 m long × 3 m wide × 1.8 m high; E500). Activity and locomotion were lowest in W50 foxes and tended to increase with increasing cage size. Floor material had only a slight effect on activity and stereotypies. Locomotion was higher in E500 than in W500 foxes. Locomotor stereotypy increased with increasing cage size, and was higher in W500 than in E500 foxes. Significant periodic changes were found in several behavioural variables. Activity was concentrated most and least frequently between 8 and 16 h and 0 and 8 h, respectively. The same tendency was found for sitting, standing, locomotion and activity. Digging was noted only in E500 foxes, averaging 15 min/24 h, and being most common between 16 and 24 h. Key words: Alopex lagopus, cage size, floor type, housing conditions, ethogram
Omega-3 enriched eggs: The influence of dietary α-linolenic fatty acid source on egg production and composition
Authors: Ayerza Ricardo , Coates Wayne
Published: April 2011

A study was conducted to assess the effect of replacing chia with flaxseed as a source of α-linolenic acid in laying hen feed. Five diets, identified as T0 through T4, containing 0-0, 7-3, 9-5, 11.5-2.5 and 14-0% whole chia seed and whole flaxseed, respectively, were fed to 240 White Shaver laying hens, at 60 wk of age. No difference (P > 0.05) in egg production, egg weight, yolk weight and albumen weight were found among treatments. Total ω-3 acid percentage was higher (P < 0.05) in the yolks from the hens fed the α-linolenic acid-enriched diets, than in those fed the control diet. Of the three treatments that had any combination of chia and flaxseed comprising 14% of the diet, T2 yielded a lower (P < 0.05) ω-3 content in the yolk, than did T3 and T4. A taste panel found no difference (P > 0.05) in flavor or off-flavor among treatments; however, panel preferences were lower for eggs produced by hens fed the highest level of flaxseed (T2). This study showed no advantages to replacing chia with flaxseed to produce ω-3 enriched eggs. Greater availability of flaxseed, however, might make it more attractive in some markets. Key words: Eggs, chia, flaxseed, omega-3 fatty acid
Effect of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and environmental temperatures on feed intake, digesta flow and nutrient digestion in sheep
Authors: Li B. T. , Okine E. K. , Christopherson R. J.
Published: April 2011

Three experiments were conducted to test the hypothesis that vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) infused into the gastric artery and exposure to a low temperature will increase feed intake, duodenal flow and amino acid supply to the small intestine of sheep, both effects as a result of increased ruminal outflow. A total of eight sheep (55 ± 2.7 kg) with rumen and duodenal cannulae and eight sheep without digestive cannulae were provided with continuous access to a diet of alfalfa pellets. Water and salt licks were accessible 24 h d-1. Two infusion treatments, VIP (1 nmol min-1) solution or a saline control (0.9% NaCl solution) were given through a left gastric-artery catheter for 10 min each hour for the first 3 h after feeding each day for 3 to 4 consecutive days in a crossover arrangement during experimental periods. Sheep were exposed to 1 ± 2°C in exp.1, to a thermoneutral (21 ± 2°C) environment in exp. 3 and to both thermoneutral (21 ± 1.5°C) and cold environments (1 ± 2°C) in exp. 2. These studies demonstrated that a VIP infusion of short duration did not increase dry matter intake (DMI) (P > 0.05) and did not influence duodenal passage of DM, OM, CP, amino acids (AA) or bacterial protein (P > 0.05). The exposure of animals to a cold environment stimulated (P < 0.05) intake of DM, OM and AA and duodenal passage of DM, OM, AA and microbial protein. There was an interaction (P < 0.05) between VIP and environmental temperature such that VIP improved duodenal AA passage in the thermoneutral, but not in the cold, environment. The data suggest that short-term VIP treatment does not induce a change in feed intake when sheep have access to feed for 24 h d-1. Cold environmental temperature stimulates significant increases in feed intake and passage of protein and AA into the small intestine of sheep fed ad libitum, such that there was enrichment of intestinal supply of AA relative to digestible organic matter. Key words: Sheep, vasoactive intestinal peptide, feed intake, environmental temperature
Effects of grain supplementation on methane production of grazing steers using the sulphur (SF6) tracer gas technique
Authors: Boadi D. A. , Wittenberg K. M. , McCaughey W.
Published: April 2011

The objective of the study was to examine the effect of supplemental grain on methane (CH4) production of grazing steers. Eight beef steers (344.6 ± 6.4 kg) were assigned to legume-grass pasture (C; n = 4) or legume-grass pasture plusa rolled barley supplement (S; n = 4). In a completely randomized design with repeated measures, CH4 output was measured for two 24-h periods, using the SF6 tracer gas technique as steers entered (IN) and exited (OUT) paddocks. Two, 4 and 4 kg of rolled-barley grain was fed daily to S steersduring the EARLY, MID and LATE periods of the grazing season, respectively. Supplementation reduced forage dry matter intake (DMI) by 11% (P = 0.03) and increased total organic matter intake (TOMI) by 14% (P = 0.001). Daily CH4 production was similar for C and S steers (P > 0.05). Methane production, increased (P < 0.05) from 256 L d-1 in the EARLY period to 364 L d-1 at the MID and 342 L d-1 at the LATE period. Energy lost as CH4, % total gross energy intake (TGEI) ranged from 4.7 to 8.4% (mean 6.5 ± 0.3%) during the grazing season, and there was no difference between S (6.4 ± 0.6%) and C (6.7 ± 0.6%) steers (P = 0.71). Methane production declined with grazing on high-quality forages; steers on EARLY pastures had 44% and 29% lower (P < 0.05) energy loss as CH4 than animals on MID and LATE pastures, respectively. There was also a 54% lower CH4 loss when animals entered new paddocks relative to those exiting the paddocks (P < 0.05). It can be concluded that the effects of supplementation on CH4 production were marginal in grazing steers. The study suggests that pasture quality plays a major role in the extent to which CH4 production can be reduced with grain supplementation in grazing animals. Key words: Methane, grazing steers, grain supplementation, pasture quality
Sources of variation influencing the use of real-time ultrasound to predict intramuscular fat in live beef cattle
Authors: Chambaz A. , Dufey P. -A. , Kreuzer M. , Gresham J.
Published: April 2011

A total of 123 steers of six European breeds (Angus, Simmental, Charolais, Limousin, Blonde d'Aquitaine, Piedmontese) were used (i) to evaluate the precision of the ultrasound-predicted intramuscular fat (USIMF) and its sources of variation using the current Pie QUIP technology and (ii) to develop improved models for predicting USIMF. Steers were slaughtered when they reached the target value of 3.5% USIMF. Hide samples were obtained 3 d before slaughter by shot-biopsy. After slaughter, a sample of the longissimus muscle was used to determine actual chemical intramuscular fat (EEIMF), collagen content and solubility. Among the variables available during a chute-side scanning session, hide thickness and ultrasound subcutaneous fat thickness at the 12th and 13th ribs were shown to be significantly correlated with EEIMF. These two variables were selected as possible independent variables to evaluate the construction of new models. The model with the best fit included USIMF, hide thickness and liveweight and had a standard error of prediction of 0.96%, which is similar to other published technologies. Breed group and collagen-related traits did not influence USIMF estimation. Finally, the revised Pie QUIP technology should be considered as one technology of choice to predict EEIMFcontent in live animals. Key words: Beef, cattle, ultrasound, intramuscular fat, hide thickness, collagen