bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Immunohistochemical analysis of nm23 protein in transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder
Authors: SHIINA H. , IGAWA M. , URAKAMI S. , SHIRAKAWA H. , ISHIBE T.
Published: March 2014

Objectives To elucidate the clinical significance of the nm23 gene product in transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder.

Patients and methods The immunoreactivity of nm23 protein and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) were evaluated in paraffin‐embedded tumour samples obtained from 74 patients with TCC of the bladder who underwent total cystectomy between 1981 and 1993 and compared with the histological findings and clinical outcome.

Results The immunoreactivity of nm23 protein was positive near basement membrane in normal transitional epithelium and superficial TCCs; it could also be positive at the invasive front of TCCs. The immunoreactivity of nm23 protein in TCCs was significantly higher than that in normal transitional epithelium and correlated significantly with the expression of PCNA and with histological grade. Similarly, immunoreactivity was significantly higher in invasive TCCs than in superficial TCCs; however, there was no significant difference between superficial TCCs and normal transitional epithelium. Immunoreactivity of nm23 protein was not associated with the early development of metastasis after radical surgery or with a favorable clinical outcome.

Conclusion Immunoreactivity of nm23 protein appeared to be associated with the proliferation and progression of TCC of the bladder. The potential role of nm23 as a suppressor of the metastatic activity of tumours was less prominent, partly because of mutations of nm23 in TCCs of the bladder.
Determinants of treatment‐seeking behaviour for urinary symptoms in older men
Authors: MACFARLANE G.J. , SAGNIER P‐P. , RICHARD F. , TEILLAC P. , BOTTO H. , BOYLE P.
Published: March 2014

Objective To determine the factors associated with seeking treatment for urinary symptoms among older men in a European population.

Subjects and methods A community survey involving a representative nationwide sample of 2011 French men aged between 50 and 80 years was performed and information collected using an interviewer‐administered questionnaire.

Results Visiting a doctor for urinary symptoms was associated with the perceived bothersomeness of urinary symptoms, in addition to and independently of the level of symptom severity. It was also associated with higher socio‐economic class. Many partners of men with urinary symptoms were unaware of their condition.

Conclusions This study emphasizes the importance of including the perception of bother associated with urinary symptoms in addition to urinary severity and provides information useful for inclusion in education programmes on urinary symptoms.
Development of nerves containing nitric oxide synthase in the human male urogenital organs
Authors: DIXON J.S. , JEN P.Y.P.
Published: March 2014

Objective To determine the spatial and temporal distribution of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in the urogenital organs of a series of human male fetuses, using an immunohistochemical technique.

Material and methods Thirteen pre‐natal specimens ranging in gestational age from 13 to 30 weeks were acquired following abortion or miscarriage. The distribution of NOS, which catalyses the production of nitric oxide (NO), was revealed using an indirect immunolabelling technique and compared with the overall innervation of each specimen visualized using the general nerve‐marker protein gene product 9.5 (PGP).

Results At 13 weeks of gestation the majority of nerves supplying the developing prostate gland expressed NOS while similar nerves formed a very minor proportion of the total innervation to the urinary bladder and intramural ureters. With increasing gestational age, NOS‐containing nerves became more numerous in the lower urinary tract, the majority occurring at the bladder neck and around the prostatic urethra. In contrast, NOS‐containing nerves were not detected in the muscle coat of the vas deferens and seminal vesicle until 23 weeks of gestation and at 30 weeks still only formed a small proportion of the intramuscular nerves. From 23 weeks onwards NOS‐containing nerves were present occasionally in the dense subepithelial nerve plexuses which developed in the bladder, prostate, vas deferens and seminal vesicle. Also from 23 weeks onwards, many of the epithelial cells lining the vas deferens, seminal vesicle and ejaculatory ducts showed immunoreactivity to NOS but no immunoreactivity was observed in the epithelial lining of the urinary bladder and the intramural ureters.

Conclusion Based on the comparative density of NOS‐containing nerves and the difference in their temporal development among the various urogenital organs it is apparent that NO plays an increasingly important role in the autonomic control of the lower urinary tract during fetal development but that its involvement in the functional control of the vas deferens and seminal vesicle is relatively minor before birth.
Regional variations in the neural control of the female pig urethra
Authors: BRIDGEWATER M. , DAVIES J.R. , BRADING A.F.
Published: March 2014

Objective To establish the regional variation, if any, in the distribution of sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves within the urethra of the female pig and to correlate this with regional variations in the response of the smooth muscle to sympathetic and parasympathetic nerve stimulation and the application of phenylephrine and carbachol.

Materials and methods Female pig urethras were obtained from a local abattoir. Serial sections were cut from the proximal, middle and distal regions of the urethra and stained using tyrosine hydroxylase immunohistochemistry and acetylcholinesterase histochemistry for the demonstration of sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves, respectively. Strips of smooth muscle dissected from the same regions of the urethra were also mounted in organ baths to record isometric tension. Responses to nerve stimulation and α‐adrenoceptor and muscarinic receptor activation were recorded.

Results Tyrosine hydroxylase‐ and acetylcholinesterasepositive staining was demonstrated throughout the urethra. However, the density of sympathetic innervation was greatest in those strips dissected from the distal urethra, whilst the parasympathetic innervation was uniform throughout the length. Strips of urethral smooth muscle mounted for tension recording generated spontaneous tone. Smooth muscle dissected from the proximal urethra developed the greatest tone, whilst strips from the distal urethra generated significantly less. Responses to nerve stimulation were complex; sympathetic nerve stimulation elicited frequency‐dependent contraction in all strips, but the response was most pronounced in the distal strips where tone was low. Conversely, parasympathetic nerve stimulation elicited the greatest contractile response from the proximal urethral strips. In all strips, but in particular those dissected from the proximal urethra, the contractile responses were attenuated by the occurrence of a non‐adrenergic, non‐cholinergic (NANC), non‐nitrergic relaxation as stimulation frequency was increased. Phenylephrine and carbachol also produced concentration‐dependent contraction of all urethral strips. Like the nerve‐mediated responses, contraction in response to phenylephrine was most pronounced in the distal urethral strips whilst the response to carbachol was most pronounced in the proximal urethral strips.

Conclusions The results demonstrated a regional variation in the distribution of sympathetic nerves within the urethra of the female pig which would appear to be mirrored not only in the responsiveness of the tissue to sympathetic nerve stimulation but also in its response to α‐adrenoceptor stimulation. In contrast, although no regional variation in the distribution of parasympathetic nerves could be demonstrated histologically, responses to nerve stimulation and the muscarinic agonist carbachol were most pronounced in the proximal urethral strips.
Bladder and erectile dysfunction before and after rectal surgery for cancer
Authors: LEVECKIS J. , BOUCHER N.R. , PARYS B.T. , REED M.W.R. , SHORTHOUSE A.J. , ANDERSON J.B.
Published: March 2014

Objective To establish the incidence of bladder and erectile dysfunction after rectal surgery for cancer.

Patients and methods Twenty patients (16 men and four women, median age 66 years, range 36–78) with carcinoma of the rectum were prospectively studied immediately before and 4 months after operation by clinical assessment, uroflowmetry and video‐cystometrography. All patients were catheterized routinely at the time of surgery. Those experiencing voiding difficulties after catheter removal were managed by intermittent self‐catheterization or an indwelling urethral catheter.

Results Before surgery, only six patients had completely normal bladder function and 13 of the 16 men were at least partially potent. Eight of the 19 patients who eventually had surgery developed identifiable bladder dysfunction, of whom three had urodynamic evidence of complete bladder denervation. Three men who were potent before became impotent after surgery.

Conclusions Bladder and erectile dysfunction are recognized complications of radical rectal surgery, although there is significant variation in the reported risk; much of this variability is related to the retrospective nature of most previous studies. This study demonstrates the importance of prospective urodynamic evaluation and confirms that the small but significant risk of permanent bladder dysfunction is likely to be related to pelvic nerve injury at the time of surgery.
Free Immigration and Welfare Access: The Swedish Experience
Authors: Ruist Joakim
Published: March 2014

With the expansion of the European Union from 15 to 25 member countries in 2004, fears of migrants’ excessive welfare use led 14 of the 15 older member countries to impose restrictions on the access of citizens of the new member countries – the A10 countries – to their welfare systems. Sweden was the only exception. This paper evaluates the net contribution of post‐enlargement A10 immigrants to Swedish public finances in 2007. On average, A10 immigrants generate less public revenue than the population on average, but they also cost less. The net result is a zero or small positive net contribution. In particular, A10 immigrants do not benefit more from basic social welfare than the population on average. The discounted net contribution over the A10 immigrants’ lifetimes may be positive or negative depending, for example, on their income assimilation rates and on future real interest rates.
Response of Tax Credit Claims to Tax Enforcement: Evidence from a Quasi‐Experiment in Chile
Authors: Agostini Claudio A. , Martínez A. Claudia
Published: March 2014

Diesel in Chile receives different tax treatments depending on its use. If diesel is used in industrial activities, the diesel taxes paid can be fully used as a credit against VAT, but if it is used in freight or public transportation – basically trucks and buses – only a fraction of diesel taxes paid can be claimed as a tax credit for VAT payments. As a result of this different tax treatment, firms have incentives to use ‘tax‐exempted’ diesel in activities requiring ‘non‐tax‐exempted’ diesel. This tax wedge therefore generates an opportunity for tax evasion, especially for firms with multiple economic activities, one of them being transport. In this paper, we analyse the impact of a tax enforcement programme implemented by the Chilean Internal Revenue Service (IRS), where letters requiring information about diesel purchases and use and vehicle ownership were sent to around 200 firms in 2003. Using different empirical strategies to consider the non‐randomness of the selection of firms, the empirical results show consistently that firms receiving a letter decreased their diesel tax credits by around 10 per cent.
The Determinants of the Volatility of Fiscal Policy Discretion
Authors: Agnello Luca , Sousa Ricardo M.
Published: March 2014

This paper investigates the determinants of the volatility of fiscal policy discretion. Using a linear dynamic panel data model for 113 countries from 1980 to 2006 and a system‐GMM estimator, we find that an increase in the number of episodes of government crisis, less democracy and presidentialist systems raise the volatility of the discretionary component of fiscal policy. Additionally, we show that countries with larger populations and less flexible exchange rate systems are more insured against uncertainty about the conduct of fiscal policy. Our results are robust to various regional dummy variables, different subsets of countries and the presence of high inflation and crisis episodes.
Piper viridescens sp. nov. (Piperaceae) from Thailand
Authors: Suwanphakdee C. , Chantaranothai P.
Published: March 2014

Piper viridescens sp. nov. is proposed based on material from northern Thailand. The new species is described and illustrated, resulting from a revision of the genus in Thailand. The new species is most closely related to P. boehmeriifolium (Miq.) C. DC. A table comparing diagnostic features of P. viridescens, P. boehmeriifolium and P. retrofractum is provided.
Microwave Dielectric Properties of Novel Glass‐Free Low‐Firing Li2CeO3 Ceramics
Authors: Tseng Ching‐Fang , Lin Po‐An
Published: March 2014

Novel glass–free low temperature firing microwave dielectric ceramics Li2CeO3 with high Q prepared through a conventional solid‐state reaction method had been investigated. All the specimens in this paper have sintering temperature lower than 750°C. XRD studies revealed single cubic phase. The microwave dielectric properties were correlated with the sintering conditions. At 720°C/4 h, Li2CeO3 ceramics possessed the excellent microwave dielectric properties of εr = 15.8, Q × f = 143 700 (GHz), and τf  = −123 ppm/°C. Li2CeO3 ceramics could be excellent candidates for glass‐free low‐temperature co‐fired ceramics substrates.
Structural Characterization and Optical Properties of Perovskite ZnZrO3 Nanoparticles
Authors: Zhu Xinhua , Zhou Jun , Zhu Jianmin , Liu Zhiguo , Li Yangyang , Al‐Kassab Talaat
Published: March 2014

Perovskite ZnZrO3 nanoparticles were synthesized by hydrothermal method, and their microstructures and optical properties were characterized. The crystallinity, phase formation, morphology and composition of the as‐synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), high‐resolutiontransmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and energy‐dispersive X‐ray (EDX) spectroscopy analysis, respectively. TEM images demonstrated that the average particle size of the ZnZrO3 powders was increased with increasing the Zn/Zr molar ratios in the precursors, and more large ZnZrO3 particles with cubic morphology were observed at high Zn/Zr molar ratios. In addition, the phase structures of the ZnZrO3 particles were also evolved from a cubic to tetragonal perovskite phase, as revealed by XRD and SAED patterns. HRTEM images demonstrate that surface structures of the ZnZrO3 powders synthesized at high Zn/Zr molar ratios, are composed of corners bound by the {100} mini‐facets, and the surface steps lying on the {100} planes are frequently observed, whereas the (101) facet isoccasionally observed. The formation of such a rough surface structure is understood from the periodic bond chain theory. Quantitative EDX analyses demonstrated that the atomic concentrations (at.%) of Zn:Zr:O in the particles were 20.70:21.07:58.23, as close to the composition of ZnZrO3. In the optical spectra, a significant red shift of the absorption edges (for the ZnZrO3 nanopowders) from UV to visible region (from 394 to 417 nm) was observed as increasing the Zn/Zr molar ratios in the precursors, which corresponds to that the band gap energies of the ZnZrO3 nanopowders can be continuously tuned from 3.15 to 2.97 eV. This opens an easy way to tune the band gap energies of the ZnZrO3 nanopowders.
Thermal Properties of (Zr,TM)B2 Solid Solutions with TM = Hf, Nb, W, Ti, and Y
Authors: McClane Devon L. , Fahrenholtz William G. , Hilmas Gregory E.
Published: March 2014

The thermal properties were investigated for hot‐pressed zirconium diboride—transition‐metal boride solid solutions. The transition‐metal additives included hafnium, niobium, tungsten, titanium, and yttrium. The nominal additions were equivalent to 3 at.% of each metal with respect to zirconium. Powders were hot‐pressed to nearly full density at 2150°C using 0.5 wt% carbon as a sintering aid. Thermal diffusivity was measured using the laser flash method. Thermal conductivity was calculated from the thermal diffusivity results using temperature‐dependent values for density and heat capacity. At 25°C, the thermal conductivity ranged from 88 to 34 W·(m·K)−1 for specimens with various additives. Electrical resistivity measurements and the Wiedemann–Franz law were used to calculate the electron contribution of the thermal conductivity and revealed that thermal conductivity was dominated by the electron contribution. The decrease in thermal conductivity correlated with a decrease in unit cell volume, indicating that lattice strain may affect both phonon and electron transport in ZrB2.
High Piezoelectric Longitudinal Coefficients in Sol–gel PZT Thin Film Multilayers
Authors: Balma Davide , Mazzalai Andrea , Chidambaram Nachiappan , Sandu Cosmin S. , Neels Antonia , Dommann Alex , Hess Peter , Binz Dieter , Muralt Paul
Published: March 2014

A five‐layer stack of lead zirconate titanate (PZT) thin films with Pt electrodes was fabricated for potential applications in nanoactuator systems. The 1 μm thick PZT films were deposited by a sol–gel technique, the platinum electrodes by sputtering. The PZT films were crack‐free, in spite of the use of silicon as a substrate, suggesting an increased toughness of the metal–ceramic composite. For piezoelectric characterization, the intermediate electrodes were liberated by successive etching of the PZT and Pt layers, obtaining a functional three‐ layer stack. A total thickness change of 5.2 nm was achieved with 10 V, measured by double beam laser interferometry. The small signal response was obtained as 0.49 nm/V. Finite element simulations were made to account for the thickness change in the substrate due to the transverse piezoelectric effect. The average response corresponds to an average d33,f of 120 pm/V. The multiple annealed buried layers show clearly a better performance with up to 175 pm/V. It is concluded that the electrode interfaces in the interior exhibit higher qualities, as supported by transmission electron microscopy, and that the multiple anneals were beneficial for PZT thin film quality.
How do skilled and less‐skilled spellers write text messages? A longitudinal study
Authors: Bernicot J. , Goumi A. , Bert‐Erboul A. , Volckaert‐Legrier O.
Published: March 2014

The link between students' spelling level and their text‐messaging practice gives rise to numerous questions from teachers, parents and the media. A corpus of 4524 text messages produced in daily‐life situations by students in sixth and seventh grade (n = 19, 11–12 years of age) was compiled. None of the participants had ever owned or used a mobile phone before the start of the study; their text messages were collected monthly over the course of a year. The comparison between the group with mobile phones and the control group without mobile phones (n = 30) showed no difference between the level of traditional writing at the beginning of the text‐message collection and during the collection. The results showed that the correlation between the level of traditional spelling and the density of textisms was dependent upon the type of textisms (consistent/breaking with traditional code), the type of spelling (usage‐based/rule‐based), the grades in French class and the duration of text‐messaging practice. On the whole, students who were skilled or less skilled in traditional writing at the beginning of the text‐message collection remained respectively skilled or less skilled throughout the year, despite their text‐messaging use (density and type of textisms). The discussion of this study's academic implications tends towards a complementarity between traditional writing and text messaging.
A Comparison of Four Frailty Models
Authors: Malmstrom Theodore K. , Miller Douglas K. , Morley John E.
Published: March 2014

Objectives

To determine how well the interview‐based, clinic‐friendly International Academy of Nutrition and Aging (FRAIL) frailty scale predicts future disability and mortality in the African American Health (AAH) cohort compared with the clinic‐friendly Study of Osteoporotic Fractures (SOF) frailty scale, the phenotype‐based Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS) frailty scale, and the comprehensive Frailty Index (FI).

Design

Longitudinal cohort study.

Setting

Metropolitan St. Louis, Missouri.

Participants

African American Health is a population‐based panel study of African Americans (baseline age 49–65) from St. Louis, Missouri. Participants completed in‐home assessments at baseline (N = 998) and 3‐ (n = 853) and 9‐ (n = 582) year follow‐up.

Measurements

Outcomes included activity of daily living (ADL) and instrumental ADL difficulties at 3 and 9 years and 9‐year mortality. Frailty measures included the FRAIL, SOF, and CHS scales and the FI.

Results

The FRAIL, SOF, CHS, and FI measures predicted new 3‐ and 9‐year disability, and the FRAIL and FI scales predicted 9‐year mortality. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) contrasts showed that the FRAIL scale performed as well as (9‐year disability and mortality) or better than (3‐year disability) the CHS and SOF scales and the FI better than the FRAIL, CHS, and SOF scales for all outcomes except the FRAIL and CHS scales for 9‐year ADL difficulties. The CHS and SOF scales were equivalent for all outcomes in ROC contrasts.

Conclusion

Overall the FI and the FRAIL scale exhibited the strongest predictive validity for disability and mortality in AAH. The best prediction tool to identify frail individuals at risk of disability and mortality may be one that includes a comorbidity measure. The FRAIL scale includes a comorbidity item and is a brief interview‐based measure that is easy to administer, score, and interpret. The FRAIL scale has demonstrated validity and may prove to be a valuable scale for use by clinicians.
Dysphagia in Old‐Old Women: Prevalence as Determined According to Self‐Report and the 3‐Ounce Water Swallowing Test
Authors: González‐Fernández Marlís , Humbert Ianessa , Winegrad Heather , Cappola Anne R. , Fried Linda P.
Published: March 2014

Objectives

To determine whether symptoms and clinical signs of swallowing dysfunction could be easily identified in community‐dwelling elderly adults and to examine the association between self‐report and direct observation of symptoms and signs of swallowing dysfunction.

Design

Physiological substudy conducted as a home visit within an observational cohort study.

Setting

Baltimore City and County, Maryland.

Participants

Community‐dwelling elderly women without history of dysphagia or neurological disease aged 85 to 94 enrolled in the Women's Health and Aging Study II (N = 47).

Measurements

Three trials of the 3‐ounce water swallowing test, swallowing function questionnaire, and frailty status.

Results

Thirty‐four (72%) subjects demonstrated swallowing dysfunction in at least one swallowing trial and 16 (34%) in all three trials. The most common signs of dysfunction were throat clear and wet voice. Conversely, participants reported few symptoms of dysphagia on a swallowing function questionnaire. The most common symptom, reported by approximately 15% of participants, was the sensation of the food going “down the wrong way,” 8.5% or fewer participants reported other symptoms.

Conclusion

Signs of swallowing dysfunction were present in a large majority of community‐dwelling old‐old women, but they were largely unrecognized and reported. Formal evaluation of swallowing function in community‐dwelling elderly adults is necessary to determine the clinical consequences of these findings.
Systematic Review of the Use of Online Questionnaires of Older Adults
Authors: Remillard Meegan L. , Mazor Kathleen M. , Cutrona Sarah L. , Gurwitz Jerry H. , Tjia Jennifer
Published: March 2014

Objectives

To describe methodological approaches to population targeting and sampling and to summarize limitations of Internet‐based questionnaires in older adults.

Design

Systematic literature review.

Setting

Studies using online questionnaires in older adult populations.

Participants

English‐language articles using search terms for geriatric, age 65 and over, Internet survey, online survey, Internet questionnaire, and online questionnaire in PubMed and EBSCO host between 1984 and July 2012. Inclusion criteria were study population mean age 65 and older and use of an online questionnaire for research. Review of 336 abstracts yielded 14 articles for full review by two investigators; 11 articles met inclusion criteria.

Measurements

Articles were extracted for study design and setting, participant characteristics, recruitment strategy, country, and study limitations.

Results

Eleven articles were published after 2001. Studies had populations with a mean age of 65 to 78, included descriptive and analytical designs, and were conducted in the United States, Australia, and Japan. Recruiting methods varied widely from paper fliers and personal e‐mails to use of consumer marketing panels. Investigator‐reported study limitations included the use of small convenience samples and limited generalizability.

Conclusion

Online questionnaires are a feasible method of surveying older adults in some geographic regions and for some subsets of older adults, but limited Internet access constrains recruiting methods and often limits study generalizability.
Aerobic Exercise and Weight Loss Reduce Vascular Markers of Inflammation and Improve Insulin Sensitivity in Obese Women
Authors: Ryan Alice S. , Ge Shealinna , Blumenthal Jacob B. , Serra Monica C. , Prior Steven J. , Goldberg Andrew P.
Published: March 2014

Objectives

To examine the relationships between plasma and tissue markers of systemic and vascular inflammation and obesity and insulin resistance and determine the effects of aerobic exercise training plus weight loss (AEX+WL) and weight loss (WL) alone on these biomarkers.

Design

Prospective controlled study.

Setting

Veterans Affairs Medical Center and University research setting.

Participants

Overweight and obese sedentary postmenopausal women (N = 77).

Interventions

Six months, 3 d/wk AEX+WL (n = 37) or WL (n = 40).

Measurements

Total‐body dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry, abdominal computed tomography, hyperinsulinemic‐euglycemic clamps (a criterion standard method of assessing insulin sensitivity), adipose tissue biopsies (n = 28), and blood for homeostasis model assessment—insulin resistance, and soluble forms of intracellular adhesion molecule 1 (sICAM‐1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (sVCAM‐1), C‐reactive protein (CRP), and serum amyloid A (SAA).

Results

Body weight (P < .001), percentage of fat (P < .001), visceral fat (P < .005), triglyceride levels (P < .001), and systolic blood pressure decreased comparably after WL and AEX+WL (P = .04). Maximal oxygen consumption increased 16% after AEX+WL (P < .001). Insulin resistance decreased in both groups (P = .005). Glucose utilization according to the clamp increased 10% (P = .04) with AEX+WL and 8% with WL (P = .07). AEX+WL decreased CRP by 29% (P < .001) and WL by 21% (P = .02). SAA levels decreased twice as much after AEX+WL (−19%, P = .02) as after WL (−9%, P = .08). Plasma sICAM‐1 and sVCAM‐1 levels did not change, but women with the greatest reduction in plasma sICAM‐1 levels had the greatest reductions in fasting glucose (P = .02), insulin (P = .02), and insulin resistance (P = .004). Gluteal ICAM messenger ribonucleic acid levels decreased 27% after AEX+WL (P = .02) and did not change after WL.

Conclusion

Obesity and insulin resistance worsen markers of systemic and vascular inflammation. A reduction in plasma sICAM‐1 is important to improve insulin sensitivity. CRP, SAA, and tissue ICAM decrease with exercise and weight loss, suggesting that exercise training is a necessary component of lifestyle modification in obese postmenopausal women.
Comparison of indirect and direct blood pressure measurements in baboons during ketamine anaesthesia
Authors: Yeung Kristen R. , Lind Joanne M. , Heffernan Scott J. , Sunderland Neroli , Hennessy Annemarie , Makris Angela
Published: March 2014

Background

The aim of this study was to assess agreement between different methods of blood pressure measurement in anaesthetised baboons.

Methods

Systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBPandDBP) were measured in anaesthetised baboons using intra‐arterial radiotelemetry, automated oscillometry and mercury sphygmomanometry. Correlation between the different methods was assessed.

Results

The correlation between intra‐arterial radiotelemetry and automated oscillometry was 0.9 (P < 0.001) forSBPand 0.9 (P < 0.001) forDBP. Between‐method differences were −4.4 ± 7.2 mm Hg forSBPand −3.4 ± 7.1 mm Hg forDBP. For automated oscillometry vs. mercury sphygmomanometry, correlation was 0.4 for bothSBP(P < 0.001) andDBP(P < 0.001). Between‐method differences were 7.9 ± 12.7 mm Hg forSBPand 7.3 ± 12.6 mm Hg forDBP.

Conclusions

Our study demonstrates that automated oscillometry may be an appropriate alternative to telemetry for measuring blood pressure in anaesthetised baboons.
Neurocognitive predictors of performance‐based functional capacity in bipolar disorder
Authors: Allen Daniel N. , Bello Danielle T. , Thaler Nicholas S.
Published: March 2014

Neurocognitive impairment can predict functional capacity in individuals with bipolar disorder, though little research has examined whether different neurocognitive domains impact specific types of tasks. This study examined the relationship between several neurocognitive variables and the UCSD Performance‐Based Skills Assessment (UPSA; Patterson et al., 2011) to identify the domains and tests that best predict the performance across the subscales. Forty‐seven euthymic participants who were diagnosed with either Bipolar I or Bipolar II were recruited and assessed on a battery of neuropsychological measures and the UPSA. Correlational and regression analyses were run to identify neurocognitive predictors of UPSA subscales. Per the literature, verbal learning and memory and executive function composites were first examined. Verbal learning and memory predicted the Communication subscale and Total score variables above and beyond the estimated FSIQ and symptom rating scales. In a secondary exploratory analysis, the Benton Judgment of Line Orientation subtest predicted the Finance subscale while the California Verbal Learning Test predicted the UPSA total score. Verbal learning and memory emerged as the strongest predictor of functional capacity, suggesting that this domain should be investigated in future mediational and longitudinal studies with the UPSA.
Recent advances towards tuberculosis control: vaccines and biomarkers
Authors: Weiner J. , Kaufmann S. H. E.
Published: March 2014

Of all infectious diseases, tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the most important causes of morbidity and mortality. Recent advances in understanding the biology of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection and the immune response of the infected host have led to the development of several new vaccines, a number of which are already undergoing clinical trials. These include pre‐exposure prime vaccines, which could replace bacille Calmette–Guérin (BCG), and pre‐exposure booster vaccines given in addition to BCG. Infants are the target population of these two types of vaccines. In addition, several postexposure vaccines given during adolescence or adult life, in addition to BCG as a priming vaccine during infancy, are undergoing clinical testing. Therapeutic vaccines are currently being assessed for their potential to cure active TB as an adjunct to chemotherapy. BCG replacement vaccines are viable recombinant BCG or double‐deletion mutants of Mtb. All booster vaccines are composed of one or several antigens, either expressed by viral vectors or formulated with adjuvants. Therapeutic vaccines are killed mycobacterial preparations. Finally, multivariate biomarkers and biosignatures are being generated from high‐throughput data with the aim of providing better diagnostic tools to specifically determine TB progression. Here, we provide a technical overview of these recent developments as well of the relevant computational approaches and highlight the obstacles that still need to be overcome.
Clinical complications of urinary catheters caused by crystalline biofilms: something needs to be done
Authors: Stickler D. J.
Published: March 2014

This review is largely based on a previous paper published in the journal Spinal Cord. The care of many patients undergoing long‐term bladder catheterization is complicated by encrustation and blockage of their Foley catheters. This problem stems from infection by urease‐producing bacteria, particularly Proteus mirabilis. These organisms colonize the catheter forming an extensive biofilm; they also generate ammonia from urea, thus elevating the pH of urine. As the pH rises, crystals of calcium and magnesium phosphates precipitate in the urine and in the catheter biofilm. The continued development of this crystalline biofilm blocks the flow of urine through the catheter. Urine then either leaks along the outside of the catheter and the patient becomes incontinent or is retained causing painful distension of the bladder and reflux of urine to the kidneys. The process of crystal deposition can also initiate stone formation. Most patients suffering from recurrent catheter encrustation develop bladder stones. P. mirabilis establishes stable residence in these stones and is extremely difficult to eliminate from the catheterized urinary tract by antibiotic therapy. If blocked catheters are not identified and changed, serious symptomatic episodes of pyelonephritis, septicaemia and endotoxic shock can result. All types of Foley catheters including silver‐ or nitrofurazone‐coated devices are vulnerable to this problem. In this review, the ways in which biofilm formation on Foley catheters is initiated by P. mirabilis will be described. The implications of understanding these mechanisms for the development of an encrustation‐resistant catheter will be discussed. Finally, the way forward for the prevention and control of this problem will be considered.
The path of malaria vaccine development: challenges and perspectives
Authors: Arama C. , Troye‐Blomberg M.
Published: March 2014

Malaria is a life‐threatening disease caused by parasites of the Plasmodium genus. In many parts of the world, the parasites have developed resistance to a number of antimalarial agents. Key interventions to control malaria include prompt and effective treatment with artemisinin‐based combination therapies, use of insecticidal nets by individuals at risk and active research into malaria vaccines. Protection against malaria through vaccination was demonstrated more than 30 years ago when individuals were vaccinated via repeated bites by Plasmodium falciparum‐infected and irradiated but still metabolically active mosquitoes. However, vaccination with high doses of irradiated sporozoites injected into humans has long been considered impractical. Yet, following recent success using whole‐organism vaccines, the approach has received renewed interest; it was recently reported that repeated injections of irradiated sporozoites increased protection in 80 vaccinated individuals. Other approaches include subunit malaria vaccines, such as the current leading candidate RTS,S (consisting of fusion between a portion of the P. falciparum‐derived circumsporozoite protein and the hepatitis B surface antigen), which has been demonstrated to induce reasonably good protection. Although results have been encouraging, the level of protection is generally considered to be too low to achieve eradication of malaria. There is great interest in developing new and better formulations and stable delivery systems to improve immunogenicity. In this review, we will discuss recent strategies to develop efficient malaria vaccines.
A review of bacterial cellulose-based drug delivery systems: their biochemistry, current approaches and future prospects
Authors: Abeer Muhammad Mustafa , Mohd Amin Mohd Cairul Iqbal , Martin Claire
Published: March 2014

Objectives

The field of pharmaceutical technology is expanding rapidly because of the increasing number of drug delivery options. Successful drug delivery is influenced by multiple factors, one of which is the appropriate identification of materials for research and engineering of new drug delivery systems. Bacterial cellulose (BC) is one such biopolymer that fulfils the criteria for consideration as a drug delivery material.

Key findings

BC showed versatility in terms of its potential for in-situ modulation, chemical modification after synthesis and application in the biomedical field, thus expanding the current, more limited view of BC and facilitating the investigation of its potential for application in drug delivery.

Cellulose, which is widely available in nature, has numerous applications. One of the applications is that of BC in the pharmaceutical and biomedical fields, where it has been primarily applied for transdermal formulations to improve clinical outcomes. This review takes a multidisciplinary approach to consideration of the feasibility and potential benefits of BC in the development of other drug delivery systems for various routes of administration.
Treating canine atopic dermatitis with unsaturated fatty acids: the role of mast cells and potential mechanisms of action
Authors: Schumann J. , Basiouni S. , Gück T. , Fuhrmann H.
Published: March 2014

Canine atopic dermatitis (CAD) is an inflammatory skin disorder that is characterized by pruritus and associated cutaneous changes. Treatment interventions include allergen avoidance, allergen‐specific immunotherapy as well as a symptomatic therapy using glucocorticoids and antihistamines. In addition, a dietary intervention using polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) has been shown to alleviate symptoms in some dogs. Although the beneficial effects of PUFA in the treatment of CAD have been known for several years, their mode of action remains unclear. This review discusses the evidential basis of the therapeutic use of dietary PUFA in the treatment of CAD. Particular emphasis will be placed on the role of cutaneous mast cells. In addition, recent evidence from in vitro studies on the regulation of mast cell exocytosis will be used to build a mechanistic model of the active principle of PUFA. It is proposed that dietary PUFA are integrated into mast cell membranes resulting in a reorganization of membrane microdomains. This may then be accompanied by functional changes of membrane‐associated proteins such as the phospholipases D (PLD), enzymes having an important impact on mast cell exocytosis processes.
Congenital lymphangiomatosis and an enteric duplication cyst in a young dog
Authors: Oui H. , Lamm C. , Stiver S. , Williams B. , Kwon S. Y. , Bae Y. , Jeon S. , Park S. , Min J. J. , Choi J.
Published: March 2014

A two‐year‐old female poodle with abdominal distention was diagnosed with concurrent enteric duplication cyst and lymphangiomatosis. Both lesions were shown as cystic structures, but some characteristic features of enteric duplication cyst were identified including a thick cyst wall and shared blood supply with the duodenum. Although it was challenging to discriminate between the types of cyst based on diagnostic imaging, this report describes the characteristics of each type of lesion using several different imaging modalities.
Overdeterminacy and Endogenous Cycles: Trygve Haavelmo's Business Cycle Model
Authors: Anundsen André K. , Krogh Tord S. , Nymoen Ragnar , Vislie Jon
Published: March 2014

The econometrician Trygve Haavelmo pursued a research programme in macroeconomic theory that was highly original for its time. We present his macro model for an economy with deregulated financial markets and a policy determined interest rate path. Disequilibria arise in the interface between asset markets and the real economy. A mismatch between the marginal return to capital and investors' required rate generates endogenous switching between recession and full employment regimes. Haavelmo regarded the ‘switching mechanism’ as a substitute for liquidity constraints, and together with his ideas of price dynamics, there is a clear Keynesian and Wicksellian influence on his macroeconomic theorizing.
Hfq reduces envelope stress by controlling expression of envelope‐localized proteins and protein complexes in enteropathogenic Escherichia coli
Authors: Vogt Stefanie L. , Raivio Tracy L.
Published: March 2014

Gram‐negative bacteria possess several envelope stress responses that detect and respond to damage to this critical cellular compartment. The σE envelope stress response senses the misfolding of outer membrane proteins (OMPs), while the Cpx two‐component system is believed to detect the misfolding of periplasmic and inner membrane proteins. Recent studies in several Gram‐negative organisms found that deletion of hfq, encoding a small RNA chaperone protein, activates the σE envelope stress response. In this study, we assessed the effects of deleting hfq upon activity of the σE and Cpx responses in non‐pathogenic and enteropathogenic (EPEC) strains of Escherichia coli. We found that the σE response was activated in Δhfq mutants of all E. coli strains tested, resulting from the misregulation of OMPs. The Cpx response was activated by loss of hfq in EPEC, but not in E. coli K‐12. Cpx pathway activation resulted in part from overexpression of the bundle‐forming pilus (BFP) in EPEC Δhfq. We found that Hfq repressed expression of the BFP via PerA, a master regulator of virulence in EPEC. This study shows that Hfq has a more extensive role in regulating the expression of envelope proteins and horizontally acquired virulence genes in E. coli than previously recognized.
Disaster preparedness among vulnerable older adults with chronic diseases: Results from a cross‐sectional study in Incheon, Korea
Authors: Kang Kyunghee
Published: March 2014

About 80% of older adults have at least one chronic condition that makes them more vulnerable than healthy people during a disaster. This study examined the association of general health status and chronic disease status, respectively, with disaster preparedness among vulnerable older adults with chronic diseases. The 165 participants (100 females, 65 male) comprising the study population were taking a health course for chronic disease management at a public health center in Incheon, Korea from March to April 2012. A relatively small percentage of households had a complete set of disaster preparedness supplies, an emergency evacuation plan, and a three‐day supply of medications. Respondents with multiple chronic diseases were generally more likely to have a three‐day supply of medications in comparison with their healthier counterparts. To improve preparedness among vulnerable older adults, a “bottom up” assessment of directly canvassing the views of older people is necessary and should be transferred into practical conditions of disaster preparedness.
Disaster preparedness and response: Challenges for Australian public health nurses – A literature review
Authors: Rokkas Philippa , Cornell Victoria , Steenkamp Malinda
Published: March 2014

To date,Australia has not had to respond to a nationwide catastrophic event. However, over the past decade, heat waves, bushfires, cyclones, and floods have significantly challengedAustralia's disaster preparedness and the surge capacity of local and regional health systems. Given that disaster events are predicted to increase in impact and frequency, the health workforce needs to be prepared for and able to respond effectively to a disaster. To be effective, nurses must be clear regarding their role in a disaster and be able to articulate the value and relevance of this role to communities and the professionals they work with. Since almost all disasters will exert some impact on public health, it is expedient to prepare the public health nursing workforce withinAustralia. This paper highlights issues currently facing disaster nursing and focuses on the challenges forAustralian public health nurses responding to and preparing for disasters withinAustralia. The paper specifically addresses public health nurses' awareness regarding their roles in disaster preparation and response, given their unique skills and central position in public health.
Lysosomal cholesterol accumulation: driver on the road to inflammation during atherosclerosis and non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis
Authors: Hendrikx T. , Walenbergh S. M. A. , Hofker M. H. , Shiri‐Sverdlov R.
Published: March 2014

Many studies show an association between the accumulation of cholesterol inside lysosomes and the progression towards inflammatory disease states that are closely related to obesity. While in the past, the knowledge regarding lysosomal cholesterol accumulation was limited to its association with plaque severity during atherosclerosis, recently, a growing body of evidence indicates a causal link between lysosomal cholesterol accumulation and inflammation. These findings make lysosomal cholesterol accumulation an important target for intervention in metabolic diseases that are characterized by the presence of an inflammatory response. In this review, we aim to show the importance of cholesterol trapping inside lysosomes to the development of inflammation by focusing upon cardiovascular disease and non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in particular. We summarize current data supporting the hypothesis that lysosomal cholesterol accumulation plays a key role in the development of inflammation during atherosclerosis and NASH. In addition, potential mechanisms by which disturbed lysosomal function can trigger the inflammatory response, the challenges in improving cholesterol trafficking in macrophages and recent successful research directions will be discussed.
Life cycles, plasticity and palaeoecology in temnospondyl amphibians
Authors: Schoch Rainer R.
Published: March 2014

In the largest early tetrapod clade, the temnospondyls, ontogenies were diverse and quite distinct from the life cycles of extant amphibians. Three well‐studied clades exemplify the diversity of these long‐extinct ontogenies, here analysed with respect to their bearing on developmental plasticity, reaction norms and evolution. Sclerocephalus readily adjusted by means of developmental evolution to different lake environments. In addition, plasticity (reaction norm) played a significant role, apparent both morphologically and by altered developmental traits. Size increase and extension of the ontogenetic trajectory gave larger predators, a phenomenon also found in the dissorophoid Micromelerpeton. Whereas Sclerocephalus was throughout preying on the same fishes, Micromelerpeton was able to fit into different trophic levels. In the branchiosaurid Apateon, a biphasic life cycle was established, with metamorphosis producing a terrestrial morph in some species; truncation of the ontogenetic trajectory gave a sexually mature larva as an alternative morph (neoteny). Plasticity was high in the larval morphs, permitting neotenes to live as filter feeders or small carnivores. Fine‐tuning of development permitted Apateon populations to adjust to specific lake properties and readily change from a filter‐feeding to carnivorous mode of life. In the nonmetamorphosing Triassic Gerrothorax, morphology was extremely conserved, but histology reveals much plasticity at the microscopical level, correlating with fluctuating salinity and water energy. In responding to environmental fluctuations by enhanced plasticity, the studied temnospondyls managed to populate lakes inhabitable to other tetrapods and fishes.