bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of music intervention on physiological stress response and anxiety level of mechanically ventilated patients in China: a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Han Lin , Li Ji P , Sit Janet W H , Chung Loretta , Jiao Zuo Y , Ma Wei G
Published: March 2010

Aim.  To examine the effects of music intervention on the physiological stress response and the anxiety level among mechanically ventilated patients in intensive care unit.

Background.  Despite the fact that previous studies have found music interventions to be effective in stress and anxiety reduction, effects of music on the Chinese population are inconclusive and warranted systematic study to evaluate its effect fully for a different Asian culture.

Design.  A randomised placebo‐controlled trial.

Methods.  A total of 137 patients receiving mechanical ventilation were randomly assigned to either music listening group, headphone group or control group. Outcome measures included the Chinese version of Spielberger State‐Trait Anxiety Scale and physiological parameters (heart rate, respiratory rate, saturation of oxygen and blood pressure).

Results.  Comparison of mean differences (pretest score–posttest score) showed significant differences in heart rate, respiratory rate, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure as well as the Chinese version of Spielberger State‐Trait Anxiety Scale, but not in SaO2 among the three groups (ranging from p < 0·001 to p = 0·007), of which greater mean differences were found in music listening group. A significant reduction in physiological stress response (heart rate and respiratory rate) over time was found in music listening group (p < 0·001 for both variables) and a significant increase in heart rate and respiratory rate over time in control group (p < 0·001 and p = 0·032), with no significant change over time in headphone group. Within group pretest–posttest comparison of the Chinese version of Spielberger State‐Trait Anxiety Scale demonstrated a significant reduction in anxiety for the music listening group (p < 0·001) and headphone group (p < 0·001) but not the control group.

Conclusions.  Our findings confirm that short‐term therapeutic effects of music listening results in substantial reduction in physiological stress responses arising from anxiety in mechanically ventilated patients.

Relevance to clinical practice.  Music as a non‐pharmacological nursing intervention can be used as complementary adjunct in the care of patients with low‐energy states who tire easily, such as those requiring mechanical ventilator support.
Attitudes toward and education about complementary and alternative medicine among adult patients with depression in Taiwan
Authors: Hsu Mei‐Chi , Moyle Wendy , Creedy Debra , Venturato Lorraine , Ouyang Wen‐Chen , Sun Gwo‐Ching
Published: March 2010

Aims.  To investigate patients’ attitudes toward complementary and alternative medicine, the education nurses provided about complementary and alternative medicine for treating depression and to test whether such education mediates the effect of complementary and alternative medicine use and attitudes toward complementary and alternative medicine.

Background.  Although we know that attitudes influence behaviour, very few studies simultaneously explore the relationship between attitudes, education and complementary and alternative medicine use.

Design.  Survey.

Methods.  This study was conducted as part of a larger survey, using face‐to‐face survey interviews with 206 adult patients aged 50 years or over and hospitalised in conventional hospitals in Taiwan for treatment of depression. The attitudes toward complementary and alternative medicine and patient education about complementary and alternative medicine instruments were specially developed for the study.

Results.  Participants expressed slightly favourable attitudes toward complementary and alternative medicine. Many participants (50%) expressed that they were willing to try any potential treatment for depression. They believed that complementary and alternative medicine helped them to feel better and to live a happier life. However, 66·5% of participants reported that they had inadequate knowledge of complementary and alternative medicine. Participants with a higher monthly income, longer depression duration and religious beliefs hold more positive attitudes toward complementary and alternative medicine. Most participants were not satisfied with the education they received about complementary and alternative medicine. Patient education about complementary and alternative medicine was found to be a mediator for the use of complementary and alternative medicine.

Conclusion.  Patient education from nurses may predict patients’ attitudes toward complementary and alternative medicine. Continuing nursing education is needed to enable nurses to respond knowledgeably to concerns patients may have about complementary and alternative medicine and treatment options.

Relevance to clinical practice.  This study highlights the potential role of patient education about complementary and alternative medicine as an effective way of adjusting patients’ attitudes toward complementary and alternative medicine and to link both patients’ preferences for complementary and alternative medicine and health professionals’ concerns about the proper use of complementary and alternative medicine for depression management and adverse drug interactions.
The effect of Chinese food therapy on community dwelling Chinese hypertensive patients with Yin‐deficiency
Authors: Shen CuiZhen , Pang Samantha Mei‐Che , Kwong Enid Wai‐Yung , Cheng ZhiQing
Published: March 2010

Objectives.  The objectives of this study are to evaluate the effectiveness of Chinese food therapy in correcting the Yin‐deficiency and to examine its impact on the patients’ quality of life and hypertension control.

Background.  Epidemiological studies have shown 14–50% of people with hypertension have Yin‐deficiency. Whether restoring the Yin–Yang balance by means of Chinese food therapy can help to better manage patients with hypertension has yet to be examined.

Design.  Two groups randomised controlled trial.

Methods.  Eighty‐five hypertensive patients recruited from two community health service centre were divided into two groups. The intervention group (n = 48) received specific dietary instructions and corresponding management of their antihypertensive medication if indicated and brief health education, whilst the control group (n = 37) received routine support involving only brief health education. Data were collected at baseline, after intervention at four, eight, 12 and 16 weeks follow‐up. Comparisons were made to examine the effects of Chinese food therapy on Yin‐deficiency symptoms, blood pressure and quality of life of hypertensive patients.

Results.  The intervention group had reduction in the numbers of antihypertensive medication taken as well as improvement in most of the Yin‐deficiency symptoms after 12 weeks of Chinese food therapy and mean scores of several SF‐36 dimensions were higher than that of in the control group after 12 and 16 weeks follow‐up. Significant difference was found in systolic blood pressure in the intervention group when it was compared from baseline to after four and eight weeks respectively.

Conclusion.  Chinese Food Therapy can restore body constitution with Yin–Yang imbalance and may potentially improve hypertensive patients’ quality of life. It is also beneficial in controlling blood pressure in hypertensive patients.

Relevance to clinical practice.  Chinese food therapy may become a complementary therapy in health care and it should be a component of nursing education and health education.
Chinese medicine: its role and application in the institutionalised older people
Authors: Wong Eliza Lai Yi , Lam Jasmine Kwok Man , Griffiths Sian , Chung Vincent , Yeoh Eng Kiong
Published: March 2010

Aims.  The aim of the study was to explore the need for and application of Chinese medicine services and factors which impact on the accessibility of Chinese medicine among the institutionalised older people.

Background.  Although complementary and alternative medicine is widely used by older Chinese both in Hong Kong and elsewhere, little is known about its use by the institutionalised older people. This study breaks new ground by exploring how Chinese medicine, the most popular form of complementary and alternative medicine used by older people, is used and accessed by the institutionalised older people in Hong Kong.

Design.  Qualitative method.

Methods.  Semi‐structured interviews were conducted in 2007 with 18 older individuals aged between 63–93 and living in three long‐term care facilities in Hong Kong.

Results.  Three main categories emerged from the data: (1) the role of Chinese medicine in the care of the aged; (2) barriers to the use of Chinese medicine in residences; and (3) factors facilitating the accessibility of Chinese medicine services in residences. Most of the older individuals interviewed claimed that Chinese medicine played a crucial role in their self‐health management. The availability of Chinese medicine depended crucially on the support of the health care system, individual institutions and nursing staff.

Conclusions.  The value of Chinese medicine in the care of the institutionalised older people was highlighted. Chinese medicine as a complement to western medicine was perceived as an important component of self‐health management. Attitudes towards the use of Chinese medicine in nursing homes therefore need to be reviewed and developed further in accordance with the health strategy policy.

Relevance to clinical practice.  This research focuses on the role of complementary and alternative medicine in health care for the institutionalised older people. It provides health practitioners, researchers and policy makers with an additional perspective in the provision of quality client‐centred care for older people living in long‐term care.
Therapist effects in randomised controlled trials: what to do about them
Authors: Walters Stephen J
Published: March 2010

Aims and objectives. The aim of this study is to describe and compare three statistical methods to allow for therapist effects in individually randomised controlled trials.

Background. In an individually randomised controlled trial where the intervention is delivered by a health professional it seems likely that the effectiveness of the intervention, independent of any treatment effect, could depend on the skill of the health professional delivering it. This leads to a potential clustering of the outcomes for the patients being treated by the same health professional.

Design. Retrospective statistical analysis of outcomes from four example randomised controlled trial datasets with potential clustering by health professional.

Methods. Three methods to allow for clustering are described: cluster level analysis; random effects models and marginal models. These models were fitted to continuous outcome data from four example randomised controlled trial datasets with potential clustering by health professional.

Results. The cluster level models produced the widest confidence intervals. Little difference was found between the estimates of the regression coefficients for the treatment effect and confidence intervals between the individual patient level models for the datasets. The conclusions reached for each dataset match those published in the original papers. The intracluster correlation coefficient ranged from <0·001–0·04 for the outcomes, which shows only minor levels of clustering within the datasets.

Conclusions. The models, which use individual level data are to be preferred. Treatment coefficients from these models have different interpretations. The choice of model should depend on the scientific question being asked.

Relevance to clinical practice. We recommend that researchers should be aware of any potential clustering, by health professional, in their randomised controlled trial and use appropriate methods to account for this clustering in the statistical analysis of the data.
Use of complementary and alternative medicine by patients with arthritis
Authors: Ünsal Ayla , Gözüm Sebahat
Published: March 2010

Aims and objectives.  The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine use in patients with arthritis, the types of complementary and alternative medicine used, pertinent socio‐demographic factors associated with complementary and alternative medicine use and its perceived efficacy.

Background.  Arthritis is a major health issue, and the use of complementary and alternative medicine among patients with arthritis is common.

Design.  This is a descriptive cross‐sectional study.

Methods.  Data were obtained from 250 patients with arthritis at the physiotherapy and immunology clinics Atatürk University Hospital in eastern Turkey between May–July 2005 using a questionnaire developed specifically for this study. The instrument included questions on socio‐demographic information, disease specifics and complementary and alternative medicine usage.

Results.  Seventy‐six per cent of participants reported use of at least one form of complementary and alternative medicine in the previous year. Complementary and alternative medicine users and non‐users were not significantly different in most socio‐demographic characteristics including age, gender, marital status and education level with the exception of economic status. We categorised treatment into six complementary and alternative medicine categories: 62·6% of patients used thermal therapies; 41·5% used oral herbal therapies; 40·5% used hot therapies; 32·6% used externally applied (skin) therapies; 28·4% used massage and 12·6% used cold therapies. All forms of complementary and alternative medicine except thermal and oral herbal therapies were perceived as very effective by more than half of study participants.

Conclusions.  Complementary and alternative medicine therapy is widely used by patients with arthritis and has perceived beneficial effects.

Relevance to clinical practice.  It is important for nurses and other health care professionals to be knowledgeable about the use of complementary and alternative medicine therapies when providing care to patients with arthritis because of possible interactions with other treatments, delays in seeking care and the potential for poor quality products. It is also essential for health professionals to discuss treatment options with patients and to monitor treatment efficacy.
Population demography influences climatic niche evolution: evidence from diploid American Hordeum species (Poaceae)
Authors: JAKOB SABINE S. , HEIBL CHRISTOPH , RÖDDER DENNIS , BLATTNER FRANK R.
Published: March 2010

In this study, we explore the interplay of population demography with the evolution of ecological niches during or after speciation in Hordeum. While large populations maintain a high level of standing genetic diversity, gene flow and recombination buffers against fast alterations in ecological adaptation. Small populations harbour lower allele diversity but can more easily shift to new niches if they initially survive under changed conditions. Thus, large populations should be more conservative regarding niche changes in comparison to small populations. We used environmental niche modelling together with phylogenetic, phylogeographic and population genetic analyses to infer the correlation of population demography with changes in ecological niche dimensions in 12 diploid Hordeum species from the New World, forming four monophyletic groups. Our analyses found both shifts and conservatism in distinct niche dimensions within and among clades. Speciation due to vicariance resulted in three species with no pronounced climate niche differences, while species originating due to long‐distance dispersals or otherwise encountering genetic bottlenecks mostly revealed climate niche shifts. Niche convergence among clades indicates a niche‐filling pattern during the last 2 million years in South American Hordeum. We provide evidence that species, which did not encounter population reductions mainly showed ecoclimatic niche conservatism, while major niche shifts occurred in species which have undergone population bottlenecks. Our data allow the conclusion that population demography influences adaptation and niche shifts or conservatism in South American Hordeum species.
Effect of the immunosuppressants on hepatocyte cells proliferation and apoptosis during liver regeneration after hepatectomy – molecular studies
Authors: Tannuri Uenis , Tannuri Ana Cristina A. , Coelho Maria Cecília M. , Mello Evandro S. , Dos Santos Neide Aparecida S. R.
Published: March 2010

Abstract:  The regeneration and remodeling of the transplanted liver is the result of hepatocyte proliferation and apoptosis (programmed cell death). The purpose of this study was to verify the influence of immunosuppressants on the expression levels of genes: IL‐6 (regulator of hepatocyte proliferation), pro‐apoptotic (Bak and Bax) and anti‐apoptotic (Bcl‐Xl and Bcl‐2). 36 newborn suckling rats (age 5–7 days, weight 6–10 g) were divided into four groups: hepatectomy, hepatectomy plus methylprednisolone, hepatectomy plus CsA and hepatectomy plus Tac. The same experiments were performed in 24 weaning rats (age 21–23 days, weight 30–50 g). The animals were killed one day after the hepatectomy and the remnant livers were analyzed. The livers of all animals exhibited histological changes of liver regeneration. The immunosuppressants did not promote any alteration on IL‐6 gene expression levels. Methylprednisolone and CsA increased the expression levels of Bak gene in newborn rats. However, methylprednisolone and Tac promoted increased expression levels of Bcl‐2 in all groups. We hypothesize that these effects explain the efficacy of these drugs on the treatment of acute and chronic liver rejection as the expression of Bcl‐2 in cholangiocytes is decreased as a consequence of bile duct lesions.
Fludarabine based reduced intensity conditioning regimens in children undergoing allogeneic stem cell transplantation for severe aplastic anemia
Authors: George Biju , Mathews Vikram , Viswabandya Auro , Kavitha M. L. , Srivastava Alok , Chandy Mammen
Published: March 2010

Abstract:  Fourteen children with a median age of 9.8 yr with SAA (10 males, four females) underwent related HLA identical allogeneic stem cell transplantation using Flu, Cy ± ATG between 2004 and 2006. GVHD prophylaxis consisted of cyclosporine ± mini methotrexate. Graft source included PBSCs (seven) or BM (seven). One patient expired <7 days post‐transplant, while 12 (85.7%) patients engrafted with median neutrophil and platelet engraftment times of 13.8 and 14.5 days each. One patient had primary graft failure and expired on Day +27. Acute GVHD was seen in 25% of evaluable patients while limited chronic GVHD was seen in 33%. At a mean follow‐up of 18 months, 12 patients (85.7%) are alive and well. Compared with a historical cohort of 12 children transplanted using Cy/ATG, there was faster engraftment (13.8 vs. 16.4 days; p = 0.002) with lower rejection rates (7.1 vs. 36.3%; p = 0.133) and improved event free (85.7 vs. 54.5%; p = 0.177) and overall survival (85.7 vs. 63.6%; p = 0.350). Flu with Cy ± ATG reduces rejection and improves overall and event free survival in children with aplastic anemia.
Spongiform encephalopathy following allogeneic cord blood transplant
Authors: O’Brien Dennis , Klopfenstein Kathryn , Gross Thomas G. , Baker Peter , Termuhlen Amanda
Published: March 2010

Abstract:  A 6 year old boy developed a fatal, rapidly progressive encephalopathy 5 months after a matched unrelated cord blood transplant. Autopsy findings revealed spongiform changes in his brain. The clinical course of this child's illness had many findings consistent with that of a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE). Pre‐mortem and post‐mortem studies failed to definitively determine an etiology. Spongiform encephalopathies include the TSEs and mitochondrial encephalopathies. Both should be considered in a post‐hematopoietic stem cell transplant patient who develops a progressive encephalopathy when more common etiologies are not found.
Testing host‐associated differentiation in a quasi‐endophage and a parthenogen on native trees
Authors: DICKEY A. M. , MEDINA R. F.
Published: March 2010

Host‐associated differentiation (HAD) is the formation of genetically divergent host‐associated sub‐populations. Evidence of HAD has been reported for multiple insect herbivores to date, but published studies testing more than one herbivore for any given host‐plant species pair is limited to herbivores on goldenrods. This limits the number of pair‐wise comparisons that can be made about insect life‐history traits that might facilitate or inhibit host‐race development in general. Two traits previously proposed to facilitate HAD include endophagy and parthenogenesis. We tested for HAD in two herbivores, a quasi‐endophagous caterpillar and a parthenogenetic aphid, feeding on two closely related species of hickories. We found that the quasi‐endophage is panmictic, whereas the parthenogen exhibits HAD on their sympatric host plants, pecan and water hickory, at a geographic mesoscale. This is an important first step in the characterization of HAD in multiple insect herbivores using North American hickories, a host‐plant system with many shared parthenogens.
Evolution of specialization in a spatially continuous environment
Authors: DÉBARRE F. , GANDON S.
Published: March 2010

We study the evolution of specialization in a spatially continuous (one‐dimensional) environment divided into two habitats; we use a general trade‐off function relating fitnesses in the two habitats and illustrate our results with two classical trade‐off functions. We show that the population can either reach an intermediate value of the trait and be moderately adapted to both habitats (1 generalist), or split into two locally adapted subpopulations (2 specialists). We recover the qualitative results obtained with simpler metapopulation models with island migration: the evolutionary outcome depends on the concavity of the trade‐off, on the proportion of each habitat and on migration. Our quantitative prediction on migration, however, depends on isolation by distance. Our spatially explicit model may thus be particularly useful to describe the evolutionary dynamics of specialization in, perhaps, more realistic ecological scenarios.
Di(n‐butyl) Phthalate Induces Vimentin Filaments Disruption in Rat Sertoli Cells: A Possible Relation with Spermatogenic Cell Apoptosis
Authors: Alam M. S. , Ohsako S. , Tay T. W. , Tsunekawa N. , Kanai Y. , Kurohmaru M.
Published: March 2010

With 3 figures

Phthalate esters have been extensively used as a plasticizer of synthetic polymers. Previous studies have revealed that some phthalate esters including di(n‐butyl) phthalate (DBP) induce spermatogenic cell apoptosis, although its mechanism is not yet clear. The present study describes that disruption of Sertoli cell vimentin filaments by DBP administration may relate to spermatogenic cell apoptosis. The present histopathological study revealed that a single oral administration of 500 mg/kg DBP caused progressive detachment and displacement of spermatogenic cells away from the seminiferous epithelium and sloughing of them into the lumen. Degenerative spermatogenic cells characterized by chromatin condensation were frequently observed in DBP‐treated rats. Ultrastructurally, the degenerative spermatogenic cells were separated from their neighbours, and a collapse of Sertoli cell vimentin filaments was recognized in DBP‐treated rats. Sertoli cell cultures showed the increased number and size of vacuoles in their cytoplasm. In agreement with the in vivo experiment, vimentin filaments clearly showed a gradual collapse in DBP‐exposed Sertoli cells in vitro. These in vivo and in vitro experiments indicate that DBP‐induced collapse of Sertoli cell vimentin filaments may lead to detachment of spermatogenic cells, and then detached cells may undergo apoptosis because of loss of the support and nurture provided by Sertoli cells.
Potential damage costs of Diabrotica virgifera virgifera infestation in Europe – the ‘no control’ scenario
Authors: Wesseler J. , Fall E. H.
Published: March 2010

The Western Corn Rootworm (WCR or Dvv., Diabrotica virgifera virgifera Le Conte) was first detected in Europe in the early nineties in Serbia. Since then the beetle has spread to more than 15 European countries. We assess the potential damage costs of the invasive species Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte (Dvv.) in Europe under a ‘no control’ scenario. While previous studies considered benefits and costs at country level, this study explicitly investigates the external benefits of control in one country for other countries. The assessment considers the spatial and temporal aspects of invasion considering a number of scenarios developed together with experts. The results indicate enormous economic benefits can be gained by controlling further spread of Dvv. The economic benefits of control range between 143 million Euro in the best case and 1739 million Euro in the worst case scenario. The most likely scenario results in average annual economic benefits of 472 million Euro. Even in countries that do not face high damage costs control can be justified as this will reduce the speed of spread of the WCR and generate a positive externality for other regions with higher damage costs.
Childhood and adolescent orofacial granulomatosis is strongly associated with Crohn's disease and responds to intralesional corticosteroids
Authors: Tuxen Alana J , Orchard David
Published: March 2010

We present seven cases of orofacial granulomatosis occurring in paediatric patients aged 6–16 years. All patients were investigated for Crohn's disease and a strong association was found. All patients were treated with intralesional corticosteroid injections with excellent clinical responses. We review the literature and discuss the epidemiological association between childhood orofacial granulomatosis and Crohn's disease, as well as various treatment options, and propose a treatment protocol that was efficacious and well tolerated in all our patients.
Effect of inflammation on positive margins of basal cell carcinomas
Authors: Macpherson Neil , Lamrock Edwina , Watt Geoff
Published: March 2010

Background/Objectives:  The use of preparations such as imiquimod in the treatment of basal cell carcinoma is well accepted. Imiquimod induces interferon‐α, other cytokines, antigen‐presenting cells and innate immunity, against tumour cells. The current study investigated whether the inflammation induced from a surgical procedure could have a similar effect on removing residual tumour after an excision.

Method:  A retrospective audit was carried out on basal cell carcinoma removed in the Dermatology Clinic of the Royal Newcastle Centre in 2007. The end‐point focussed on the features of those tumours which initially had a positive margin, but were found to have no remaining tumour on subsequent excision.

Result:  A linear regression was carried out, revealing two significant predictors of outcome. These were the location of the basal cell carcinoma excision and the excision type. Punch biopsies and excisional biopsy had a greater number of histopathologically negative wider excisions despite initial positive margins. Facial lesions had a greater number of negative wider excisions.

Conclusion:  The study has shown the majority of negative re‐excisions were from lesions on the head which had had an initial surgical procedure. However, the evidence is not strong enough to advocate a protocol for dealing with positive margins. A larger sample size that encompassed all three factors that affect outcome, that is, the location of lesion, type of lesion and type of excision carried out, would be required in order to make a more definitive statement on protocol change for treatment of basal cell carcinoma.
Attenuation of store‐operated Ca2+ entry and enhanced expression of TRPC channels in caudal artery smooth muscle from Type 2 diabetic Goto‐Kakizaki rats
Authors: Mita Mitsuo , Ito Kazushi , Taira Kengo , Nakagawa Jun‐ichi , Walsh Michael P , Shoji Masaru
Published: March 2010

1. Previously, we found that Ca2+ entry from the extracellular space via α1‐adrenoceptor‐activated, Ca2+‐permeable channels, but not voltage‐gated Ca2+ channels, is impaired in endothelium‐denuded caudal artery smooth muscle from Type 2 diabetic Goto‐Kakizaki (GK) rats. In the present study, we investigated the impairment of Ca2+ entry mechanisms via Ca2+‐permeable channels from the extracellular space in response to α1‐adrenoceptor stimulation (cirazoline) in endothelium‐denuded caudal artey strips isolated from GK rats.

2. The contraction of caudal artery strips from GK rats in response to the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+‐ATPase inhibitor cyclopiazonic acid (10 μmol/L), which causes depletion of Ca2+ stores and subsequent store‐operated Ca2+ (SOC) entry, was significantly depressed compared with that of Wistar rats (maximal force 0.023 ± 0.004 vs 0.058 ± 0.005 mN/mg tissue wet weight, respectively). These results suggest that receptor‐activated Ca2+ entry through SOC channels is impaired in caudal artery smooth muscle in GK rats.

3. The classic transient receptor potential (TRPC) channels, which constitute SOC and receptor‐operated cation channels, play an important role in Ca2+ regulation. Therefore, we investigated the mRNA and protein expression of TRPC channels in caudal artery smooth muscle from Wistar and GK rats using reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction and immunoblotting.

4. Expression of TRPC1, TRPC3 and TRPC6 mRNA and protein was found in Wistar rats. However, in GK rats, in addition to the expression of these TRPC channels, mRNA and protein expression of TRPC4 was found. The expression of TRPC1 and TRPC6, but not TRPC3, was increased approximately twofold in GK rats compared with Wistar rats.

5. These results suggest that changes in TRPC channel expression may be responsible, in part, for the dysfunction of receptor‐mediated Ca2+ entry in caudal artery smooth muscle of GK rats.
Linear regression analysis for comparing two measurers or methods of measurement: But which regression?
Authors: Ludbrook John
Published: March 2010

1. There are two reasons for wanting to compare measurers or methods of measurement. One is to calibrate one method or measurer against another; the other is to detect bias. Fixed bias is present when one method gives higher (or lower) values across the whole range of measurement. Proportional bias is present when one method gives values that diverge progressively from those of the other.

2. Linear regression analysis is a popular method for comparing methods of measurement, but the familiar ordinary least squares (OLS) method is rarely acceptable. The OLS method requires that the x values are fixed by the design of the study, whereas it is usual that both y and x values are free to vary and are subject to error. In this case, special regression techniques must be used.

3. Clinical chemists favour techniques such as major axis regression (‘Deming’s method’), the Passing–Bablok method or the bivariate least median squares method. Other disciplines, such as allometry, astronomy, biology, econometrics, fisheries research, genetics, geology, physics and sports science, have their own preferences.

4. Many Monte Carlo simulations have been performed to try to decide which technique is best, but the results are almost uninterpretable.

5. I suggest that pharmacologists and physiologists should use ordinary least products regression analysis (geometric mean regression, reduced major axis regression): it is versatile, can be used for calibration or to detect bias and can be executed by hand‐held calculator or by using the loss function in popular, general‐purpose, statistical software.
High‐density lipoproteins, platelets and the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis
Authors: Nofer Jerzy‐Roch , Brodde Martin F , Kehrel Beate E
Published: March 2010

1. Prospective and interventional studies demonstrate an inverse relationship between plasma high‐density lipoprotein (HDL)–cholesterol and the incidence of coronary artery disease. Although the atheroprotective effects of HDL are usually attributed to the reverse cholesterol transport, in which HDL shuttles cholesterol from cells in the arterial wall to the liver, other mechanisms are also under investigation.

2. Platelets are involved in both the initiation and progression of atherosclerotic lesions. In addition, the formation of thrombi over ruptured atherosclerotic plaques results in the narrowing or complete occlusion of coronary arteries. Current experimental evidence suggests that HDL may exert antiplatelet effects and thereby counteract the development of atherothrombotic vascular disease.

3. In vitro studies show that HDL inhibits agonist‐stimulated platelet aggregation, fibrinogen binding, granule secretion and liberation of thromboxane A2. Inhibitory effects of HDL are mediated, in part, by scavenger receptor type B1 and/or the apolipoprotein E receptor apoER2/LRP8 and are linked to the induction of intracellular signalling cascades encompassing stimulation of protein kinase C, cytoplasmatic alkalization and generation of nitric oxide.

4. Populational studies demonstrate that there is an inverse association between plasma HDL levels and recurrent venous thromboembolism. In addition, HDL–cholesterol has been identified as an independent predictor of acute platelet thrombus formation. The administration of reconstituted HDL particles in humans attenuates ex vivo platelet activation.

5. The present review summarizes recent advances in understanding HDL–platelet interactions and discusses the potential use of HDL‐like particles in the therapy of thrombosis.
Emodin attenuates acute rejection of liver allografts by inhibiting hepatocellular apoptosis and modulating the Th1/Th2 balance in rats
Authors: Lin Sheng‐Zhang , Chen Kang‐Jie , Tong Hong‐Fei , Jing He , Li Hong , Zheng Shu‐Sen
Published: March 2010

1. In the present study, we investigated the immunosuppressive effects and mechanisms of action of emodin on acute graft rejection following liver transplantation in a rat model of orthotopic liver transplantation.

2. Rats were divided into three groups: Group A, syngenic control (Brown Norway‐to‐Brown Norway); Group B, acute rejection group (Lewis‐to‐Brown Norway); and Group C, emodin‐treated group (Lewis‐to‐Brown Norway treated with 50 mg/kg emodin, 50 mg/kg.d, injected intraperitoneally once a day from days 1 to 5 posttransplantation). The survival time of the recipients in each group was recorded. Histopathological changes in the liver, hepatocellular apoptosis, serum concentrations of interleukin (IL)‐2, interferon (IFN)‐γ and IL‐4 and their expression in liver tissue were determined.

3. Emodin treatment prolonged liver allograft survival time from 10.9 days in Group B to 25.6 days in Group C. The rejection activity index (calculated according to the Banff Schema) in Groups A, B and C was 1.29 ± 0.47, 7.58 ± 0.85 and 4.72 ± 0.79, respectively (P < 0.01 for Groups A and B vs Group C), whereas the apoptosis index in the three groups was 15.51 ± 1.47, 39.50 ± 1.65 and 16.72 ± 1.73, respectively (P < 0.01 for Groups A and C vs Group B). Serum levels of IL‐2 and IFN‐γ were higher, whereas levels of IL‐4 were lower, in the acute rejection group (Group B) than in the emodin‐treated group (Group C; P < 0.05). Changes in the expression of these cytokines in transplanted liver tissue were consistent with changes in serum concentrations.

4. In conclusion, emodin effectively suppresses acute graft rejection in vivo to prolong the survival of recipient rats. The mechanism underlying this effect may be associated with the prevention of hepatocyte apoptosis and with a changing in the balance of Th1/Th2 cytokines towards Th2.
Comparison of propofol versus propofol‐ketamine combination for sedation during spinal anesthesia in children: randomized clinical trial of efficacy and safety
Authors: SINGH RABINDER , BATRA YATINDRA K. , BHARTI NEERJA , PANDA NIDHI B.
Published: March 2010

Objectives:  This study was designed to compare the efficacy and safety of propofol vs propofol‐ketamine combination for sedation during pediatric spinal anesthesia.

Methods:  Forty children, aged 3–8 undergoing spinal anesthesia for lower abdominal surgeries were included. Participants were randomly assigned into two groups. Group 1 received propofol bolus of 2 mg·kg−1 followed by an infusion of 4 mg·kg−1·h−1. Group 2 received a combination of 1.6 mg·kg−1 propofol and 0.4 mg·kg−1 ketamine followed by an infusion of 3.2 mg·kg−1·h−1 and 0.8 mg·kg−1·h−1, respectively. The infusion rate was titrated to keep the child sedated at University of Michigan Sedation Score of 3. The heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate and oxygen saturation were recorded every 5 min. The episodes of spontaneous body movements and requirement of supplemental sedation were recorded. The postoperative recovery was assessed by modified Aldrette score.

Results:  Seventeen patients in group 1 and four patients in group 2 (P < 0.001) required extra boluses of study drug to prevent movements during lumbar puncture. Four patients experienced respiratory depression and three airway obstruction in group 1 when compared to one patient each in group 2 (P < 0.05). The recovery time was similar in both groups. None of the patient had postoperative nausea/vomiting or psychomimetic reactions.

Conclusions:  Propofol‐ketamine combination provided better quality of sedation with lesser complications than propofol alone and thus can be a good option for sedation during spinal anesthesia in children.
Complications during rapid sequence induction of general anesthesia in children: a benchmark study
Authors: GENCORELLI FRANK J. , FIELDS RYAN G. , LITMAN RONALD S.
Published: March 2010

Objectives:  Determine incidence of complications such as difficult or failed intubation, hypoxemia, hypotension, and bradycardia in children undergoing rapid sequence intubation (RSI) in a pediatric anesthesia department in a tertiary care children’s hospital.

Aim:  To establish a benchmark to be used by other institutions and nonanesthesiologists performing RSI in children.

Background:  RSI is being increasingly performed in the nonoperating room setting by nonanesthesiologists. No published studies exist to establish a benchmark of intubation success or failure and complications in this patient population.

Methods/Materials:  Retrospective cohort analysis of children aged 3–12 undergoing RSI from 2001 to 2006.

Results:  One thousand seventy children underwent RSI from 2001 to 2006. Twenty (1.9%) developed moderate hypoxemia (SpO2 80–89%), 18 (1.7%) demonstrated severe hypoxemia (SpO2 < 80%), 5 (0.5%) developed bradycardia (heart rate <60), and 8 (0.8%) developed hypotension (systolic blood pressure <70 mmHg). One patient had emesis of gastric contents but no evidence of pulmonary aspiration or hypoxemia. Eighteen (1.7%) children were noted to be difficult to intubate and required more than one intubation attempt. All were eventually intubated without significant complications. Patients between 10 and 19 kg had a higher incidence of severe hypoxemia when compared with older children (P < 0.001). There was no association between choice of muscle relaxant and any complication.

Conclusions:  In our cohort of 1070 children who underwent RSI, difficult intubation was encountered in 1.7% and transient oxyhemoglobin desaturation occurred in 3.6%. Severe hypoxemia was more likely in children <20 kg. There were no children who could not be intubated, and there were no long‐term or permanent complications.
Ironing out the wrinkles in the rare biosphere through improved OTU clustering
Authors: Huse Susan M. , Welch David Mark , Morrison Hilary G. , Sogin Mitchell L.
Published: March 2010

Deep sequencing of PCR amplicon libraries facilitates the detection of low‐abundance populations in environmental DNA surveys of complex microbial communities. At the same time, deep sequencing can lead to overestimates of microbial diversity through the generation of low‐frequency, error‐prone reads. Even with sequencing error rates below 0.005 per nucleotide position, the common method of generating operational taxonomic units (OTUs) by multiple sequence alignment and complete‐linkage clustering significantly increases the number of predicted OTUs and inflates richness estimates. We show that a 2% single‐linkage preclustering methodology followed by an average‐linkage clustering based on pairwise alignments more accurately predicts expected OTUs in both single and pooled template preparations of known taxonomic composition. This new clustering method can reduce the OTU richness in environmental samples by as much as 30–60% but does not reduce the fraction of OTUs in long‐tailed rank abundance curves that defines the rare biosphere.
SHOULD WE GET MARRIED? THE EFFECT OF PARENTS' MARRIAGE ON OUT‐OF‐WEDLOCK CHILDREN
Authors: LIU SHIRLEY H. , HEILAND FRANK
Published: March 2010

Using a representative sample of children all born to unwed parents drawn from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study and a potential outcome approach to account for self‐selection into marriage, we investigate whether marriage after childbearing has a causal effect on early child development. Comparing children with similar background characteristics and parental mate‐selection patterns who differ only in terms of whether their parents marry after childbirth, we find that marriage after childbirth significantly increases a child's early cognitive performance but there is no evidence that it affects child asthma risk or behavioral outcomes. (JEL J12, J13, C3)
RGB Photoelasticity: Review and Improvements
Authors: Ajovalasit A. , Petrucci G. , Scafidi M.
Published: March 2010

Abstract:  This paper considers the main developments of RGB photoelasticity with reference to the maximum measurable retardation. In this paper, a new procedure based on the standard error function evaluated on a subset of the calibration array is also proposed and experimentally tested. The experiments show that the filament lamp makes it possible to find retardations until approximately 4 fringe orders while the fluorescent lamp makes it possible to determine higher fringe orders (12 fringe orders in this paper) owing to the discrete spectrum of the source. The paper shows that, by using the incandescent lamp, the primary limiting factor is the lack of modulation of the R, G and B signals whereas, by using the fluorescent lamp, the limitation of the maximum fringe order derives mainly from the gradient of the fringes and the procedure of search of the retardation.
An improved segmentation approach for planar surfaces from unstructured 3D point clouds
Authors: Awwad Tarek M. , Zhu Qing , Du Zhiqiang , Zhang Yeting
Published: March 2010

The extraction of object features from massive unstructured point clouds with different local densities, especially in the presence of random noisy points, is not a trivial task even if that feature is a planar surface. Segmentation is the most important step in the feature extraction process. In practice, most segmentation approaches use geometrical information to segment the 3D point cloud. The features generally include the position of each point (X, Y and Z), locally estimated surface normals and residuals of best fitting surfaces; however, these features could be affected by noisy points and in consequence directly affect the segmentation results. Therefore, massive unstructured and noisy point clouds also lead to bad segmentation (over‐segmentation, under‐segmentation or no segmentation). While the RANSAC (random sample consensus) algorithm is effective in the presence of noise and outliers, it has two significant disadvantages, namely, its efficiency and the fact that the plane detected by RANSAC may not necessarily belong to the same object surface; that is, spurious surfaces may appear, especially in the case of parallel‐gradual planar surfaces such as stairs. The innovative idea proposed in this paper is a modification for the RANSAC algorithm called Seq‐NV‐RANSAC. This algorithm checks the normal vector (NV) between the existing point clouds and the hypothesised RANSAC plane, which is created by three random points, under an intuitive threshold value. After extracting the first plane, this process is repeated sequentially (Seq) and automatically, until no planar surfaces can be extracted from the remaining points under the existing threshold value. This prevents the extraction of spurious surfaces, brings an improvement in quality to the computed attributes and increases the degree of automation of surface extraction. Thus the best fit is achieved for the real existing surfaces.
Edgar Hynes Thompson: a collection of centenary reminiscences
Authors: Atkinson K. B.
Published: March 2010

The idea for this collection of memories of E. H. Thompson began as a suggestion to potential contributors for anything from “a couple of sentences to a couple of paragraphs”. Both their willingness to write and the length of some contributions show how influential Thompson has been in the lives of so many of his colleagues and students. Contributors include two past‐presidents of the International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing and six past‐presidents of the Photogrammetric Society. Three longer essays are published as separate contributions to this feature.
Edgar Hynes Thompson: aerial triangulation and ISP Commission III
Authors: Proctor D. W.
Published: March 2010

This author worked with E. H. Thompson in several different contexts in the course of his military and civilian career, notably in developing Thompson’s ideas about analytical aerial triangulation into a production system at the Ordnance Survey and later as a lecturer under Thompson at University College London and as Secretary of ISP Commission III when Thompson was Commission President. This essay thus stands as a separate contribution from a close colleague.
Edgar Hynes Thompson: respect and admiration
Authors: Ackermann F.
Published: March 2010

This author, a leader of European developments in photogrammetry and especially in aerial triangulation, writes of his respect and admiration for E. H. Thompson and of their increasingly close relationship over a number of years before Thompson’s early death in 1976.
Living at the Edge: Local versus Positional Factors in the Long‐Term Population Dynamics of an Endangered Orchid
Authors: GARCÍA MARÍA B. , GOÑI DANIEL , GUZMÁN DAVID
Published: March 2010

Abstract:  Populations at the margin of geographic ranges of distribution have been considered more vulnerable than central ones, but recent reviews have caste doubt on this generalization. We examined the reproductive and demographic performance of a rare Euroasiatic orchid (Cypripedium calceolus) at its southwesterly range limit and compared our findings with those of previous studies of nine central populations at the center of the orchid's range. We sought to test the central‐marginal model and to evaluate factors involved in long‐term performance of forest Eurosiberian species with peripheral populations in southern European mountains. We characterized (structure, temporal fluctuations, herbivory, reproductive success, and recruitment at different habitats) four Pyrenean populations of C. calceolus of different sizes (5–3500 ramets) and monitored three of them for up to 13 years. Two quantitative stochastic models (count data and matrix models) were used to assess population trends and viability and the effect of herbivory. Contrary to expectations, and despite the negative effect of sporadic events of herbivory, the peripheral populations we studied (except the smallest one) performed similarly or better than populations occurring in central part of the species’ range in terms of reproductive success and population growth rates. Landscape changes over the last 50 years suggest that natural reforestation could be involved in the success of this plant at its southern limit. Forest expansion in the mountain regions of southern Europe may provide new opportunities for plants with geographic distributions centered mainly at higher latitudes and give some hope for their recovery in future scenarios dominated by biodiversity loss.