bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Severely reduced sexual reproduction in northern populations of a clonal plant, Decodonverticillatus (Lythraceae)
Authors: Dorken Marcel E. , Eckert Christoper G.
Published: March 2003

In flowering plants the balance between sexual and clonal, asexual reproduction can vary widely. We quantified variation in sexual reproduction in a tristylous, clonal, aquatic plant, Decodon verticillatus, and investigated the role of ecological and genetic factors in causing this variation.

 We surveyed components of sexual fertility and vegetative growth in 28 populations distributed along a 500‐km latitudinal transect in New England, USA. Northerly populations tend to be monomorphic (M) for style length, and probably therefore have reduced sexual reproduction compared with southerly, trimorphic (T) populations.

 Compared with T populations (n = 10), M populations (n = 18) exhibited large reductions for all components of sexual reproduction, including flower production, pollen deposition, pollen tube growth, fertilization, fruit set and seeds per fruit. Seven M populations produced no seed at all, and the other 11 very little (mean = 24 vs. 1139 seeds per plant in trimorphic populations). Clonal propagation was also greatly reduced in M populations.

 A survey of three polymorphic allozyme loci detected only single, usually heterozygous, genotypes in 15 M populations, whereas all T populations were genotypically diverse. The other three M populations contained three or fewer genotypes and one always predominated. Sexual recruitment is therefore extremely rare.

 Comparison of the sexual fertility of M and T populations in a concurrent common glasshouse experiment with our field data revealed that reduced sexual performance in northern M populations is principally due to genetic factors, but is also caused by ecological factors that covary with latitude.

 This abrupt shift away from sexual reproduction in populations at the northern periphery of the geographical range in D. verticillatus may greatly limit their evolutionary potential and restrict further northward expansion.
Alternative successional pathways in the Amazon Basin
Authors: Mesquita Rita C.G. , Ickes Kalan , Ganade Gislene , Williamson G. Bruce
Published: March 2003

Successional pathways were evaluated in two Amazonian secondary forest communities with different land‐use histories. Sites which had been clearcut without subsequent use were dominated after 6–10 years by the pioneer genus Cecropia (Moraceae), whereas those used for pasture before abandonment were dominated by the pioneer genus Vismia (Clusiaceae).

 There were 58 plant families and 300 species identified in Cecropia stands but only 43 families and 147 species were identified in Vismia stands. There were 77 species in common (Sorensen similarity = 0.34).

 Differences in species number and composition of recruiting individuals between stand types were significant and were a function of the dominant pioneer genus, stem density, distance from primary forest, and land‐use history. Regeneration under Vismia canopy was dominated by small Vismia individuals (25% of plants < 2 cm basal diameter), whereas regeneration under Cecropia canopy was more diverse and did not include a single young Cecropia.

 The number of regenerating plants in both secondary stand types dropped off sharply with distance (5, 25, 50, and 100 m) from primary forest, suggesting that seed dispersal was limiting plant recruitment. Species richness also declined with distance and could be explained by the decline in plant density. Species richness in Cecropia stands increased linearly with plant density, but in Vismia stands the richness increase with density was a decelerating function.

 For the central Amazon, secondary succession involves a more rapid return of primary forest species if deforestation is not followed by use as pasture before abandonment.
Extreme flooding events on the Rhine and the survival and distribution of riparian plant species
Authors: Vervuren P. J. A. , Blom C. W. P. M. , De Kroon H.
Published: March 2003

Summer floods whose severity is affected by flooding duration, submergence depth and underwater light availability, have a large impact on the zonation of riparian plant species.

We analysed the range and variability of these flooding components in the River Rhine and quantified their effects on the ability of Arrhenatherum elatius, Achillea millefolium, Rumex acetosa and Rumex crispus, to survive periods of submergence under experimental conditions.

Survival characteristics were used to model species’ lower distribution boundaries for extreme and average floods and were compared with the current field distribution. Different light conditions were simulated by implementing three scenarios of suspended load.

Extreme deep Rhine floods are characterized by very low median light transmission levels (i.e. below 0.5%). The largest survival responses in the experiment were observed at such low levels (0.4–3.5 µmol m−2 s−1). Strong effects of light were found in R. crispus and A. millefolium, but responses were weaker in A. elatius and R. acetosa. Submergence depth also affected survival, but not as strongly as light.

For the flood intolerant species (A. millefolium and A. elatius) the average flood was predicted to have little effect on field distributions under normal light conditions. However, their actual field distributions in 2000 corresponded to the predicted lower boundaries in the extreme years. This suggests that extreme years determine the distributions of these species for many years. The suspended load scenarios significantly modified the predicted lower boundaries in both extreme and average years, implying that plant lower distribution limits may be significantly shifted upwards or downwards depending on the suspended load of the river system.

The predicted lower boundaries of the intermediately tolerant R. acetosa and the highly tolerant R. crispus for both extreme and average years were below the actual field distribution in 2000. This suggests that their current distribution is only partly influenced by major flood disturbances and that other factors, either proximate or historical, may play a prominent role.
EDITORIAL: Why should we report adverse incidents?
Authors: Leape Lucian L.
Published: March 2003

Three papers in this issue of the Journal illustrate the challenges of measuring and reporting therapeutic mishaps. Using a broad definition of ‘adverse incidents’ that embraces injuries (including death) from any cause, drug errors, unexpected events (e.g. convulsions) or findings (e.g. Hb8gm/dl), and worrisome indicators (e.g. LOS5 days), Stanhope et al. (1998) found 196 incidents identified from 500 consecutive deliveries in two obstetric units. While many (most?) of these ‘incidents’ were not actual injuries, the fact that 39% of patients had something other than a perfectly smooth course is very disturbing. It is an unpleasant reminder that, even in 1996, the most normal of biological events, childbirth, is still fraught with hazard. Also disturbing, but less surprising, is their finding that of incidents that were discoverable on later record review only 23% were reported (as required) when they occurred. In their search for explanations for non‐reporting by survey of the staffs of these same two units, Vincent et al. (1998) found that one‐third of physicians did not know how to find the list of reportable incidents and 15% did not know how to file a report. No single reason for non‐reporting among 12 reasons suggested by the investigators was accepted by a majority of respondents, suggesting that the problem is multi‐factorial or, more probably, denial of reality by the respondents. The authors also note the role of perceived lack of necessity and concern about disciplinary action as factors in non‐reporting.
Reductionism in medicine: some thoughts on medical education from the clinical front line
Authors: Welsby Philip D. , (ed) .
Published: March 2003

In clinical medicine, a balance needs to be struck between reductionism (the view that a system can be fully understood in terms of its isolated parts) and holistic complexity appreciation (the view that the whole may not be discernible from knowledge of its parts). Reductionism, which currently is associated with renaming of old well‐established ideas, minimizes the reality of complexity in patients with several diagnoses. Holistic complexity appreciation on the other hand may encourage unscientific assessments. A balance between the two needs to be maintained if the needs of students and patients are to coincide.
Implementing and sustaining evidence‐based clinical practice in Australia: the Evidence Based Clinical Practice Research Initiative
Authors: Phillips Paddy A. , Kelly Sonya , Best Jack
Published: March 2003

Evidence‐based medicine is a process by which clinicians translate clinical information needs into answerable questions, track down answers to those needs as efficiently and effectively as possible using the best evidence available, apply the information to patients and evaluate their performance. Implementing evidence‐based medicine is fragmented and variable. The National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia has implemented a research program to determine successful strategies for implementation and sustaining of evidence‐based clinical practice. In addition this research program will help to answer whether evidence‐based practice improves patient outcomes. This paper describes this program and other strategies that improve the application of evidence‐based practice in clinical settings.
Decision analysis in evidence‐based decision making
Authors: Tavakoli Manouche , Davies Huw Talfryn Oakley , Thomson Richard
Published: March 2003

Many real world decisions have to be made on a limited evidence base, and clinical decisions are at best problematic. We explored some of the reasons why decision making in health care is so complex, and examined how decision analytic techniques might contribute to problem structuring and to implementation of evidence‐based practice. We argued that decision analysis could, to some extent, overcome complexity of decision making by a clear structuring of the problem and a formal analysis of the implications of different decisions. Decision‐analytic techniques can guide the management of individual patients or can be used to address policy questions about the use of treatment for groups of patients. However, decision analysis is not without its criticisms, e.g. problems are narrowly defined, replacing judgement and dehumanizing care, neglect of process utility and lack of primary data to develop decision analytic models. The development of evidence‐based guidelines is a key component of the UK Government’s quality strategy led by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE). However, the guidelines approach may lead to conflict when assessments of the effectiveness of interventions for individuals (whether or not supported by a formal decision analysis) conflict with the recommendations made by NICE for cost and clinical effectiveness for aggregate groups of patients. Decision analysis may or may not help with this but if guidelines are derived from a decision analysis, then the implications of patient preferences should be made clearer. However, decision analysis‐derived guidelines will make general recommendations that may not be appropriate for all individuals. Nonetheless, decision analysis does make such implications explicit and propose that the guidelines should be supported by some mechanism for determining individual patient preferences. It will now need to consider whether some of NICE resources should be directed beyond evidence‐based guidelines into decision analysis‐derived guidelines and into decision analytical techniques to provide support for clinical and cost effective decision making within the patient‐clinician encounter.
Measuring the quality of clinical audit projects
Authors: Millard Andrew D.
Published: March 2003

The aim of the study was to develop and pilot a scale measuring the quality of audit projects through audit project reports. Statements about clinical audit projects were selected from existing instruments assessing the quality of clinical audit projects to form a Likert scale. Audit facilitators based in Scottish health boards and trusts piloted the scale. The participants were known to have over 2 years of experience of supporting clinical audit. The response at first test was 11 of 14 and at the second test 27 of 46. Audit facilitators tested the draft scale by expressing their strength of agreement or disagreement with each statement for three reports. Validity and reliability were assessed by test – re‐test, item – total, and total – global indicator correlation. Of the 20 statements, 15 had satisfactory correlation with scale totals. Scale totals had good correlation with global indicators. Test – re‐test correlation was modest.

The wide range of responses means further research is needed to measure the consistency of audit facilitators' interpretations, perhaps comparing a trained group with an untrained group.

There may be a need for a separate scale for reaudits. Educational impact is distinct from project impact generally. It may be more meaningful to treat the selection of projects and aims, methodology and impact separately as subscales and take a project profiling approach rather than attempting to produce a global quality index.
Clinical practice guidelines: when the tool becomes the rule
Authors: Long Michael J.
Published: March 2003

This work provides a critical examination of the use of clinical practice guidelines to measure individual performance. The problems inherent in using a measure of central tendency derived from a distribution of individual performances are addressed, as is the translation of the collectively determined guidelines into a measurement instrument. It is suggested that every process on the distribution of processes used to determine the guideline must be considered equally legitimate representations of the process in question. It is further suggested that to accept as a standard of quality, a particular process simply because there is a minimum of variation between providers, is to ignore the importance of the linkage between process and outcome. The importance of an independent measure of quality based on outcomes is further emphasized by highlighting the tautological nature of analyses that include an input measure, such as nursing hours, in both the dependent variable and the list of independent variables. It is recommended that individual performance be evaluated within the tolerances of the distribution from which they were derived and not be held to some measure of central tendency of that distribution. The alternative is to use the measure of central tendency with plus or minus limits such as one, or more, standard deviations.
Using imprecise probabilities to address the questions of inference and decision in randomized clinical trials
Authors: Gurrin Lyle C. , Sly Peter D. , Burton Paul R.
Published: March 2003

Randomized controlled clinical trials play an important role in the development of new medical therapies. There is, however, an ethical issue surrounding the use of randomized treatment allocation when the patient is suffering from a life threatening condition and requires immediate treatment. Such patients can only benefit from the treatment they actually receive and not from the alternative therapy, even if it ultimately proves to be superior. We discuss a novel new way to analyse data from such clinical trials based on the use of the recently developed theory of imprecise probabilities. This work draws an explicit distinction between the related but nevertheless distinct questions ofinferenceanddecisionin clinical trials. The traditional question of scientific interest asks ‘Which treatment offers the greater chance of success?’ and is the primary reason for conducting the clinical trial. The question of decision concerns the welfare of the patients in the clinical trial, asking whether the accumulated evidence favours one treatment over the other to such an extent that the next patient should decline randomization and instead express a preference for one treatment. Consideration of the decision question within the framework of imprecise probabilities leads to a mathematical definition of equipoise and a method for governing the randomization protocol of a clinical trial. This paper describes in detail the protocol for the conduct of clinical trials based on this new method of analysis, which is illustrated in a retrospective analysis of data from a clinical trial comparing the anti‐emetic drugs ondansetron and droperidol in the treatment of postoperative nausea and vomiting. The proposed methodology is compared quantitatively using computer simulation studies with conventional clinical trial designs and is shown to maintain high statistical power with reduced sample sizes, at the expense of a high type I error rate that we argue is irrelevant in some specific circumstances. Particular emphasis is placed on describing the type of medical conditions and treatment comparisons where the new methodology is expected to provide the greatest benefit.
An evaluation of a domiciliary respite service for younger people with dementia
Authors: Parahoo Kader , Campbell Audrey , Scoltock Carol
Published: March 2003

Rationale, aims and objectives There is a lack of respite services designed specifically for younger people with dementia. There is also a dearth of studies on the evaluation of domiciliary respite services for carers of people with dementia in general. This paper reports on the evaluation of a domiciliary respite service for carers of younger people with dementia, in one area in Northern Ireland, provided by a local branch of the Alzheimer's Society.

Methods Using a qualitative approach, eight carers and their families were interviewed in their own homes about their views and expectations of the service, the benefits and problems they experienced, and other issues of relevance to them.

Results Overall, they reported great satisfaction with the service. The way they used, and benefited from, the service differed for individuals. Most of them, however, gained respite in the form of help with bathing and dressing the person with dementia. Carers reported that they did not engage in social or recreational activities during the period of respite. Instead they used the respite time to catch up with household chores and shopping.

Discussion and conclusions The benefits and concerns can only be understood from the perspectives of carers and in the context of their needs, values, beliefs and traditions. The insight gained can be used to inform future provision of services for this population.
Can safety assurance procedures in the food industry be used to evaluate a medical screening programme? The application of the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point system to an antenatal serum screening programme for Down's syndrome. Stage 1: identifying significant hazards
Authors: Derrington M. Clare , Glencross Janet D. , Draper Elizabeth S. , Hsu Ronald T. , Kurinczuk Jennifer J.
Published: March 2003

Rationale, aims and objectives Routine review of the Leicestershire district antenatal screening programme for Down's syndrome was carried out by its steering group. This raised suspicions that there were problems with the delivery of the programme. The steering group commissioned a project to adapt the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) system, as used in the food industry, to investigate this. The HACCP system is a systematic qualitative approach to problem identification and solution taken from the perspective of the production workers. This paper presents the first stage of the process, the hazard analysis.

Methods Preliminary work comprised the preparation and verification of a flow diagram of the screening programme. Data about problems (termed hazards) perceived by Leicestershire health care staff delivering the screening programme were collected by observation, interview and telephone. The problems reported were categorized and assessed to identify those of sufficient importance in terms of their consequences or frequency of occurrence to merit the development of control measures. Hazards relating to operational issues were categorized according to the section of the programme to which they related.

Results and conclusions A total of 16 categories of hazard were identified. In addition, nine groups of hazards constituting barriers to delivery of the screening programme as a whole were identified. The HACCP process made these hazards explicit. The first stage of the HACCP system proved a useful tool to identify problems experienced delivering a Down's serum screening programme and to assess which were sufficiently serious to require the development of control measures.
In vitro secretion of metallo‐protease (200 kDa) by the pathogenic piscine haemoflagellate, Cryptobia salmositica Katz, and stimulation of protease production by collagen
Authors: Zuo  , Woo
Published: March 2003

Cryptobia salmositica cultured in minimum essential medium secreted metallo‐protease, and a significantly higher amount of the protease was found in media supplemented with either type I or type IV collagen. The enhancement of the protease secretion by type I collagen was dose‐dependent. Using haemoglobin (substrate) SDS‐PAGE, the secreted protease was detected as a single clear band (about 200 kDa). The 200 kDa metallo‐protease was also detected on the C. salmositica surface membrane and the amount was increased by incubating the parasite with collagen. Collagen as a specific substrate may enhance the role of the C. salmositica metallo‐protease in the disease process in infected fish.
Prophylactic effect of β(1,3)‐D‐glucan (laminaran) against experimental Aeromonas salmonicida and Vibrio salmonicida infections
Authors: Dalmo R. A. , Martinsen B. , Horsberg T. E. , Ramstad A. , Syvertsen C. , Seljelid R. , Ingebrigtsen K.
Published: March 2003

Immersion and intraperitoneal vaccination are the two most common and successful methods for vaccination of fish (Holm & Júrgensen 1987; Lillehaug 1989). Effective vaccines and the improvement of environmental conditions have dramatically reduced the amount of antibiotics used in aquaculture in Norway from 48.5 t in 1987 to 1.03 t in 1996. Nevertheless, the labour intensive process of vaccination and the often undesirable side‐effects of the adjuvants incorporated in injectable vaccines (Anderson 1992; Mulvey, Landolt & Busch 1995; Midtlyng, Reitan, Speilberg 1996), have resulted in a search for alternative approaches to achieve immune stimulation. Hence. there is growing interest in the development of immunomodulators that do not cause or have only minor unwanted effects on the host and preferably can be given as a feed additive. It is widely acknowledged that the beneficial (or in some instances undesirable) effects of immunomodulators such as b‐glucans and bacterial products in an infection are mainly a result of their stimulatory effects on macrophages (Johnston 1978; Chung & Secombes 1988; Júrgensen, Lunde & Robertsen 1993).
Infection of the epaulette shark, Hemiscyllium ocellatum (Bonnaterre), by the nematode parasite Proleptus australis Bayliss (Spirurida: Physalopteridae)
Authors: Heupel M. R. , Bennett M. B.
Published: March 2003

Seventy‐two epaulette sharks, Hemiscyllium ocellatum (Bonnaterre), were infected with the nematode parasite Proleptus australis Bayliss, 1933. The parasite population was overdispersed. Infection intensity ranged from 3 to 1002 worms per fish stomach, and there was a positive correlation between shark length and number of parasites present. The majority of worms were attached to the stomach wall, and scanning electron microscopy and histological examination showed that worms penetrated the stomach lining. Worms were observed within the lamina propria of the stomach and occasionally penetrated the muscularis mucosa. Little to no inflammatory or cellular immune reaction to the presence of the parasites was observed, except in one case where a worm was being degraded by a host tissue response. There was a large amount of connective tissue proliferation as a result of nematode attachment, but no obvious effects on the overall health of the sharks were seen. Three sharks were also found to be infected by the cestode Callitetrarhynchus sp.
Field investigations of amoebic gill disease in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., in Tasmania
Authors: Clark A. , Nowak B F.
Published: March 2003

Amoebic gill disease (AGD) is the most serious health problem in Atlantic salmon cultured in Tasmania. Our field investigation examined prevalence of AGD during 2 years, every year for up to 7 months after transfer to sea water. The relationship between environmental factors and AGD prevalence was determined. Additionally, effects of adding levamisole to freshwater baths were investigated in a field trial. AGD was recorded on all farms, except for farm A, which did not move salmon from a brackish site to a full‐salinity site during the study. The prevalence showed a bimodal distribution with the first larger peak in summer (usually in January) and the second smaller peak in autumn (between March and May). During both years the prevalence of AGD was significantly greater in January than any other month. Sampling month and the interaction between farm and month had a statistically significant effect on AGD prevalence. AGD was recorded at a minimum temperature of 10.6 °C and minimum salinity of 7.2 ppt. There was a positive relationship between the time since the freshwater bath and the prevalence of AGD for the first 30 days after the bath, with a dramatic increase in the AGD prevalence about 3 weeks after the bath. After 30 days, there was no statistically significant relationship between AGD prevalence and days since the last bath, except for the second bath. The addition of levamisole to the freshwater bath did not significantly increase the time between treatments. The relationship between diagnosis on the basis of gross signs and histological diagnosis was significant, however, the gross diagnosis was unreliable within the lower range, with 31.8% false negatives and 15.9% false positives and kappa value of 0.2742.
Pathology of experimental amoebic gill disease in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., and the effect of pre‐maintenance of fish in sea water on the infection
Authors: Zilberg D , Munday B L
Published: March 2003

Atlantic salmon were exposed to amoebic gill disease (AGD) immediately following their acclimatization to sea water (group 1), or following a 2 week period of maintenance in sea water (group 2). Three fish from each group were sampled on days 0, 1, 2, 4, 7, 14 and 28 post‐infection. Characteristic gill lesions began to occur between days 2 and 4, and dramatically increased by day 7. The number of gill lesions on fish from group 2 was significantly higher than on fish from group 1 on days 7 and 14 (P<0.001), but the two groups did not differ in any other parameter. Histologically, Paramoeba sp., the aetiological agent of AGD, could be seen on the gills of fish as soon as 1 day post‐exposure, attached to healthy‐appearing gills. Gill pathology in the form of hyperplasia and lamellar fusion followed shortly. AGD infection was accompanied by a significant increase in the number of gill mucous cells (P=0.002). Different methods for the diagnosis of AGD are discussed.
Guidelines for species descriptions of diplomonad flagellates from fish
Authors: Poynton S L , Sterud E
Published: March 2003

Diplomonad flagellates are common commensals of the digestive tract, and less common pathogenic parasites occurring in the digestive tract and systemically in numerous fish species. Many aspects of infections are poorly understood, including host‐flagellate specificity, geographic ranges, and pathogenicity of different species. Much confusion is attributable to inadequate determination of genus and species. Although older literature reports Hexamita, Octomitus and Spironucleus from fish, recent studies confirm only Spironucleus. To address this problem, we describe ultrastructural features of trophozoites permitting reliable identification to genus and species, and techniques for their elucidation. Pioneering work by Brugerolle and colleagues established that genera can be distinguished by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). We now demonstrate that at the species level, surface ornamentations (especially at the posterior end of the body), and the pattern of bands of microtubules accompanying the flagellar pocket (in transverse section through the middle of the body), are of particular taxonomic value. Both scanning and TEM are essential for robust species descriptions and type material must be deposited in a recognized reference collection. Taxonomic studies are enhanced by in vitro culture, with tolerance and optimum for different conditions providing important supplementary information. Molecular characterization of fish diplomonads is in its infancy.
Bioencapsulation of five forms of erythromycin by adult Artemia salina (L.)
Authors: Cook M A , Rust M B
Published: March 2003

Uptake of five chemical forms of erythromycin by adult Artemia salina (L.) (erythromycin phosphate – EP, erythromycin stearate – ES, erythromycin estolate – EE, erythromycin hydrate – EH and crystalline erythromycin – CE) was investigated in two trials. In each trial, final erythromycin concentration in Artemia tissue and survival after a 12‐h bioencapsulation period were determined. In the first trial, Artemia tissue concentration after a 12‐h bioencapsulation period was significantly (P < 0.05) affected by erythromycin form with ES (68.5 ± 3.3 μg mL−1, mean ± SEM) ≈ EH (61.2 ± 3.4 μg mL−1) > CE (37.1 ± 10.7 μg mL−1) > EP (16.4 ± 7.7 μg mL−1) > control. In trial 2, Artemia tissue concentration was also significantly (P < 0.05) affected by erythromycin form with EE (111.4 ± 9.6 μg mL−1) > CE (89.1 ± 1.7 μg mL−1) > ES (78.9 ± 1.6 μg mL−1) > EP (33.4 ± 5.2 μg mL−1) > control. Survival was significantly affected by erythromycin form in trial 1 with EP=control (100 ± 0.0%) > ES (74.4 ± 2.0%) > CE (32.2 ± 0.3%) > EH (8.8 ± 4.4%). In trial 2, survival was also significantly affected by erythromycin form with EP=control (100 ± 0.0%) > ES (67.1 ±3.7%) > CE (52.5 ± 7.7%) > EE (5.0 ± 2.5%). Based on both uptake and survival, EP and ES appear to be appropriate compounds for bioencapsulation of erythromycin using live adult Artemia.
Identification of Mycobacterium spp. isolated from snakehead, Channa striata (Fowler), and Siamese fighting fish, Betta splendens (Regan), using polymerase chain reaction–reverse cross blot hybridization (PCR–RCBH)
Authors: Puttinaowarat S , Thompson K D , Kolk A , Adams A
Published: March 2003

A variety of methods have been used to identify Mycobacterium spp. isolated from snakehead and Siamese fighting fish, including biochemistry, mycolic acid profiles and antibody‐based methods. However, these methods are unable to differentiate between different species of Mycobacterium. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by reverse cross blot hybridization (RCBH) was adapted in this study to speciate aquatic mycobacteria. The method was highly specific for Mycobacterium spp. and identified the bacteria to species level with a detection limit of 100 fg DNA, equivalent to 20 mycobacteria. Twenty‐nine isolates previously collected and cultured from Siamese fighting fish (10 isolates) and snakehead (19 isolates) during outbreaks of mycobacteriosis were analysed using PCR–RCBH. Six of the Siamese fighting fish isolates and nine of the snakehead isolates were identified as Mycobacterium fortuitum, while the remainder were classified as M. marinum. Notably, two isolates recovered from snakehead and Siamese fighting fish, previously identified as M. poriferae and M. piscicida, respectively, were confirmed to be M. fortuitum.
Use of probiotics to control furunculosis in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum)
Authors: Irianto A , Austin B
Published: March 2003

Aerobic heterotrophic bacteria were isolated from the intestinal contents of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar, rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, and turbot, Scophthalmus maximus, on tryptone soya agar and De Man Rogosa and Sharpe agar, of which 11 of 177 (6% of the total) of the isolates were antagonistic to Aeromonas salmonicida. Four of these cultures, which were identified tentatively as A. hydrophila, Vibrio fluvialis, Carnobacterium sp. and an unidentified Gram‐positive coccus, were beneficial to fish when fed singly or as an equi‐mixture. Feed supplemented with the putative probiotics indicated survival of the organisms in the gastrointestinal tract for 7 days. Feeding with the probiotics for 7 and 14 days led to better survival following challenge with A. salmonicida. There was no indication of serum or mucus antibodies to A. salmonicida, but there was an increased number of erythrocytes, macrophages, lymphocytes and leucocytes, and enhanced lysozyme activity in the fish.
Bryozoans as hosts for Tetracapsula bryosalmonae, the PKX organism
Authors: Okamura B , Wood T S
Published: March 2003

Freshwater bryozoans have recently been identified as hosts of Tetracapsula bryosalmonae, the causative agent of proliferative kidney disease (PKD). To gain insight as to which bryozoans are consistently important hosts for T. bryosalmonae, we present the results of a broad scale survey of bryozoans in European and North American sites upstream from PKD outbreaks in feral, stocked and farmed salmonids. The bryozoan genera most commonly found in association with disease outbreaks are Fredericella and Plumatella, and the most common species are F. sultana (Blumenbach), F. indica Annandale, and P. emarginata Allman. The prevalence of mature sac stages of T. bryosalmonae was very low. Our survey data together with knowledge of bryozoan life cycles and the ecology of PKD allow inferences concerning unknown aspects of the life cycle of T. bryosalmonae.
Experimental oral transmission of largemouth bass virus
Authors: Woodland J E , Brunner C J , Noyes A D , Grizzle J M
Published: March 2003

Largemouth bass virus (LMBV) is a recently discovered iridovirus that causes a fatal disease of largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides (Lacepède). Fish can become infected by waterborne LMBV, but oral transmission of this virus has not been demonstrated previously. Largemouth bass were gavaged with guppies, Poecilia reticulata Peters, which had been injected with LMBV, and then sampled periodically during a 7‐week observation period. The dose of LMBV averaged 105.6 tissue culture infectious doses – 50% cytopathic endpoint (TCID50) per largemouth bass. Five of 24 largemouth bass exposed to LMBV became infected with the virus, but none of the fish had clinical signs typical of LMBV disease. Virus titres in largemouth bass were highest in swim bladder (105.5–9.5 TCID50 g−1) and were 105.2 TCID50 g−1 or lower in cutaneous mucus, head kidney, trunk kidney, spleen, gonad and intestine. These results indicate that LMBV can be transmitted orally to largemouth bass, but further study is needed to determine the factors affecting pathogenicity of the virus.
Effect of fish density and number of infectious fish on the survival of rainbow trout fry, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), during epidemics of infectious pancreatic necrosis
Authors: Bebak‐Williams J , McAllister P E , Smith G , Boston R
Published: March 2003

Two laboratory studies compared the effect of fish density and number of infectious fish on characteristics of survival of rainbow trout fry during controlled epidemics of infectious pancreatic necrosis (IPN). Analyses of hazard functions and survivor functions were used to determine whether peak death rate, time at which the peak death rate occurred and probability of survival to the end of the experiment were associated with fish density and number of infectious fish added (i.e. pathogen concentration). When number of infectious fish was low and fish density increased, the peak death rate increased, time of the peak death rate decreased and the probability of survival to the end of the experiment decreased. When number of infectious fish was high, the effect of density diminished. Loglogistic regression of survival data revealed that fish density, number of infectious fish and interaction between these two variables significantly affected time to death from IPN (P < 0.01).
Evidence‐based practice: are dietitians willing and able?
Authors: Taylor M. A.
Published: March 2003

Aim: To investigate the extent of involvement by dietitians in publication in peer‐reviewed journals, and their willingness and self‐perceived ability to undertake work to evaluate their practice and other barriers to this.
Methods: A questionnaire was compiled and distributed at the Diamond Jubilee Conference of the British Dietetic Association (BDA) 1996.
Results: One hundred and eighty‐three questionnaires were returned (37%). Respondents worked in several locations (47% hospital, 27% community, 15% hospital and community) and represented a range of grades (basic 5%, senior 55%, chief and manager 33%). Thirteen per cent of respondents were first author of a paper. Thirty‐two per cent of respondents had been involved in publication of a paper or abstract. ‘Publishers’ had been qualified significantly longer than ‘non‐publishers’ (P< 0.001). The majority of respondents agreed with statements suggesting that a dietitian should undertake research but ‘non‐publishers’ were significantly more likely to agree with statements suggesting that they lacked confidence in their ability (P< 0.001). Time was viewed as a constraint but ‘publishers’ agreed significantly (P< 0.001) less often with the statement that ‘they felt they couldn’t use time for planning a project instead of seeing patients’. Funding was perceived as a barrier by some respondents.
Conclusion: Dietitians must increase the evidence‐base of their practice in the NHS. This study suggests that they are willing, but not all perceive themselves as able because of perceived skill‐level and time constraints. Suggestions are made to address these barriers.
Food, health and eating among single homeless and marginalized people in London
Authors: Evans N. S. , Dowler E. A.
Published: March 2003

Background: ‘Single homeless’ people are marginalized and largely dependent on voluntary sector organizations for food. The assessment of dietary quality in such groups is particularly difficult, but information is essential in order to improve provision. The aim of this study was to investigate dietary patterns and food sources of day centre and soup run users.

Methods: A simple food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and 24‐h dietary recall were completed on 423 participants (348 males and 75 females) through opportunistic sampling. ‘Rough sleepers’ made up 25% of the sample population, hostel dwellers 19%; other people classed as ‘homeless’ were in squats/bed and breakfast (B & B)/on a friend's floor (12%). Forty‐three per cent of the sample had a flat or bedsit but were using day centres and soup runs because of financial difficulties. The age range was 15–76 years with a median of 34.

Results: Only 28% ate vegetables daily; 60% seldom ate fruit, salad, fruit juice or wholemeal products. For men and women diets were high in saturated fat and nonmilk extrinsic sugar. Intakes of nonstarch polysaccharide, vitamins A, C, E, selenium, potassium and zinc were low. In addition, women had low intakes of protein, iron, folic acid, calcium, iodine and magnesium. Seventy per cent said they wanted to improve their diet.

Conclusion: The survey showed that the majority of people using day centres and soup runs do not meet current dietary recommendations. This was a reflection of the foods provided and policies to support the work of day centres and soup runs need to address the quality of food available.
A14. Nutritional screening of the elderly residing in the community
Authors: Chapman L. A.
Published: March 2003

Background Malnutrition in the elderly is common, but is often unrecognized (
Lennard‐Jones, 1992). Health and Social Services (HSS) use a Comprehensive Needs Assessment (CNA) form to identify the needs of the elderly, who are no longer able to look after themselves. ’Nutritional Needs’ is the only nutritional aspect of the CAN form, but does not identify subjects that need nutritional support or to be referred to the Dietitian. From 1 August 1997 to 31 January 1998, HSS used a Nutritional Screening Checklist (NSCL) to identify those at risk of malnutrition. Elderly people assessed at high or moderate risk of malnutrition were referred to a Community Dietitian

Aims The aims of the study was to evaluate the use of the NSCL in nutritional screening.

Methods In this study, the CNA (n = 46) forms were checked to examine whether the NSCL indicated that an individual was at nutritional risk. Those elderly people identified by NSCL at low risk of malnutrition were visited to determine if they should have been referred to a Dietitian for nutritional intervention

Results The results shown in the table illustrate the number and percentage of subjects in each category (age‐adjusted standard) of BMI in the low risk group.

Of the 15 subjects identified by the NSCL at low risk of malnutrition on assessment by anthropometry, dietary history and a questionnaire, 6 (43%) subjects had dietary intakes less than the EAR ( DoH, 1992), were found to be underweight according to the age‐need of nutritional intervention by the Dietitian.

Conclusion It was concluded that the NSCL is not a valid tool to identify elderly people in Northern Ireland at nutritional risk.
A19. A study to determine actual consumption, awareness of health benefits and factors influencing fruit and vegetable consumption in first‐year undergraduate students
Authors: Williams J.
Published: March 2003

Background Research has revealed that there is a key role for fruit and vegetables in a healthy diet. However, adult consumers in the UK fall short of the
WHO (1990) Recommendations of ’five portions’ (400g) a day. The precursors of nutritionally related adult diseases such as CHD, Stroke and Cancer are frequently established during childhood and adolescents (
Horwarth, 1991).

Aims The aim of this study was to gain an insight into student attitudes, beliefs and the factors influencing fruit and vegetable consumption.

Methods In order to achieve this it was necessary to construct a questionnaire including a variety of styles of questions on food frequency, knowledge, attitudes and students’ background.

Results The results show that less than 20% of the students studied achieved the
WHO (1990) recommendations. Out of the students studied, 90% of the students were aware of health benefits to consuming fruit and vegetables. However 54% of the students underestimated how much fruit and vegetables were recommended to produce benefits. Intakes for 46% of the students studied had reduced since coming to University, whereas 33% had managed to maintain what they consumed at home.

In the study fruit and vegetable intake was not associated with price, perceived as something for girls only, cooking skills, suitability of fruit as a snack food, taste preferences and availability. Health benefits and fruit and vegetables consumption at home prior to coming to University were significant factors associated with intake.

There was no significant relationship between intake of fruit and vegetables with personal income, course of study, frequency of visits to the shops and gender. However there was a significant relationship between consumption and where in the country they had come from. Those coming from the south of the country consumed more than their counterparts coming from the north.

Conclusions The results suggest that students leaving home to cater for themselves are strongly influenced by practices at home. There was also a significant difference in intake between students coming from the south than the north, this is supported by
Anderson et al. (1994)
and
MAFF (1996). The findings are important when considering students as targets for Health Promotion Campaigns as though they no longer live at home they continue to be influenced by practices established at home.
The dietary beliefs and attitudes of women who have had a low‐birthweight baby: a retrospective preconception study
Authors: Bussell G. , Marlow N.
Published: March 2003

Background and aims A poor diet in the preconception period is believed to lead to an increased chance of the subsequent baby being born with a low birth weight (LBW) and in particular symmetrically growth retarded (where both the head and the body are proportionately small). The aim of this study was to determine whether a woman’s diet, social background and attitude towards diet has any bearing on the incidence of LBW.

Method A questionnaire was administered to 31 mothers who had had a LBW baby and 29 age‐matched controls who had normal birthweight babies (NBW) in order to discover whether there were differences between their diets and beliefs and attitudes to healthy eating.

Results The LBW group were significantly more likely to have lost weight prior to conception (3–6 months before) while the NBW mothers were more likely to have gained weight prior to conception. The LBW group were more likely to have had a previous LBW baby. Only 9% of mothers changed their diet in anticipation of pregnancy with only 7% of mothers having taken folic acid prior to conception (although most of the questionnaires were administered prior to the folic acid campaign).

Conclusion and recommendations The majority of mothers welcomed more information on nutrition in relation to preconception care and indicated that booklets would be the most appreciated form of receiving this information. This may encourage mothers to make appropriate changes to their diet before conception, including taking folic acid. It is proposed that a nationwide booklet be made widely available to all women of reproductive age which highlights the important preconception points.
Knowledge of pancreatic enzyme supplementation in adult cystic fibrosis (CF) patients
Authors: Basketter H. M. , Sharples L. , Bilton D.
Published: March 2003

Background In up to 90% of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), pancreatic insufficiency necessitates the use of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy. But there are concerns about the self‐administration of inappropriate high doses of enzymes.

Aims This study was designed to assess knowledge in adult CF patients, to determine when enzymes were taken and whether patients were able to adjust the dose of enzymes with snacks and meals of varying fat content.

Methods Sixty‐five adult CF patients, 15–50 years of age, were sent a 10‐item confidential questionnaire and asked to record details of their own supplement use – the type of enzyme preparation, total daily intake, number and timing of enzymes with average meals and snacks and number they would take with specified meals and snacks of varying fat content. Questionnaires were returned by 50 patients.

Results Patients are advised to take enzymes just before and during eating. Eighty‐four per cent were taking enzymes before food, but only 46% were taking enzymes at more than one time, either before, during or after eating. The daily enzyme dose ranged from 1000 to 29 117 units lipase kg–1 day–1. Median value 5333 units lipase kg–1 day–1. There was no significant difference between patient reported dose and hospital records for meals and snacks, indicating the accuracy of information obtained for the notes. Patients were given examples of three meals and three snacks with varying fat contents and asked how many enzymes they would take with each. Over one‐third of patients (37%) made no variation; 16% varied the amount for both meals and snacks, 12% varied enzymes for meals but not for snacks and 35% varied enzymes for snacks but not meals. On the basis of each patient’s baseline dose for the lowest fat meal, a comparison was made between dietitian and patient estimate of the appropriate dose for higher fat meals and snacks. In general, the estimates by dietitians were higher.

Conclusion Patients were failing to vary the number of enzymes with meals and snacks of varying fat content. It is evident that there is a need for continuing nutrition education in this adult CF population to ensure appropriate doses of enzymes are taken.