bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Choanal Atresia: Embryologic Analysis and Evolution of Treatment, a 30‐Year Experience
Authors: Hengerer Arthur S. , Brickman Todd M. , Jeyakumar Anita
Published: April 2008

Objectives: Choanal atresia (CA) is a congenital obstruction of the posterior nasal apertures. Multiple surgical techniques have been proposed to repair the atresia. The purpose of this study is to review the basic science and embryology of CA with emphasis on the senior author's extensive experience, and refinement of the treatment of CA. In addition, we will review the outcomes after surgical correction of pediatric patients with CA.

Patients and Methods: Retrospective review of 73 pediatric patients. Demographic information was recorded, including type of CA, concomitant medical problems, surgical method, and date of last follow‐up by the surgeon.

Results: Our series show a 1.6:1 ratio of unilateral atresia to bilateral atresia. The incidence in males and females is statistically equal. High‐arched palate and cross‐bite deformities are particularly present if the patients undergo the transpalatal approach in the first year of life. The senior author has evolved to favoring the endoscopic approach, having a minimal long‐term complication rate, and low stenosis rate (12%).

Conclusions: The first repair of choanal atresia is the one most likely to succeed. The nasal endoscopic technique is the favored technique. It has the advantages of a low restenosis rate, does not violate the palate, and does not cause the cross‐bite and palate arch deformities seen in the transpalatal technique.
An Antimicrobial Peptide Modulates Epithelial Responses to Bacterial Products
Authors: Vonk Marcel J. , Hiemstra Pieter S. , Grote Jan J.
Published: April 2008

Introduction: Changes in the respiratory epithelium and chronic and recurrent infections are thought to play a central role in the pathogenesis of otitis media and sinusitis. The airway epithelium is the primary defense system of the respiratory tract. Bacterial cell membrane components like lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and lipoteichoic acid (LTA) can affect the mucociliary clearance function of the respiratory epithelium. P60.4‐Ac is a synthetic antimicrobial peptide based on the structure of the cathelicidin LL‐37 that neutralizes the pro‐inflammatory activity of LPS and LTA.

Materials and Methods: Normal respiratory sinus epithelium was cultured at the air liquid interface. The cells were incubated with LPS or LTA in the presence or absence of P60.4‐Ac.

Results: P60.4‐Ac neutralized the LPS‐ and LTA‐ induced effect on air‐liquid interface cultured epithelial cells. P60.4‐Ac significantly inhibited the increase in the epithelial layer caused by LPS or LTA.

Conclusion: These data demonstrate that P60.4‐Ac might be of clinical benefit in the management of otitis media with effusion and sinusitis.
Histologic Changes in Eustachian Tube Mucosa of Rats After Exposure to Gastric Reflux
Authors: Yazici Zahide Mine , Sari Murat , Uneri Cuneyd , Midi Ahmet , Tugtepe Halil
Published: April 2008

Objective: Reflux is thought to be a risk factor for middle ear disease, but the mechanism underlying this relationship is unclear. In this study, we evaluated the effects of reflux on the eustachian tube (ET) mucosa.

Materials and Methods: Twenty‐two healthy 150 to 220 g Wistar rats with normal middle ears were used. The animals were divided into three groups according to exposure time: 1‐, 3‐, and 12‐week exposures. Four rats were used as a control group. An experimental model of gastroesophageal reflux was induced under general anesthesia. After exposure, the animals were sacrificed, and cross sections of the ETs were prepared. The histologic changes in the ET mucosa were observed under a light microscope.

Results: The density of goblet cells, numbers of lymphocytes, polymorphonuclear leukocytes, and eosinophils, subepithelial edema, subepithelial vasodilatation, subepithelial gland formation, and intraepithelial gland formation were compared among the groups. The goblet cell density and numbers of lymphocytes and polymorphonuclear leukocytes were significantly higher in the three exposure groups compared with the control group.

Conclusion: Nasopharyngeal exposure to experimental reflux alters the ET mucosa histopathology, which suggests that gastroesophageal reflux has a role in ET dysfunction.
Effects of Endolymphatic Sac Drainage With Steroids for Intractable Ménière's Disease: A Long‐Term Follow‐Up and Randomized Controlled Study
Authors: Kitahara Tadashi , Kubo Takeshi , Okumura Shin‐ichi , Kitahara Masaaki
Published: April 2008

Objective: Ménière's disease is a common inner ear disease with an incidence of 15 to 50 per 100,000 population. Since Ménière's disease is thought to be triggered by an immune insult to the inner ear, we examined intraendolymphatic sac application of steroids as a new therapeutic strategy for intractable Ménière's disease.

Study Design: Prospective randomized controlled study.

Methods: Between 1996 and 2005, we enrolled and assigned 197 intractable Ménière's patients to three groups in a randomized controlled trial: Group I (G‐I)— patients who underwent endolymphatic sac drainage and steroid‐instillation; Group II (G‐II)—those who underwent endolymphatic sac drainage without steroid‐instillation; and Group III (G‐III)—those who declined endolymphatic sac drainage. Definitive spells and hearing in all three groups were determined for 2 to 7 years after treatment.

Results: According to the 1995 American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery (AAO‐HNS) criteria, 2‐year results demonstrated that vertigo was completely controlled in 88.0% of patients in G‐I (n = 100), 85.1% of patients in G‐II (n = 47), and 8.0% in G‐III (n = 50). Statistically, G‐I = G‐II>G‐III. Hearing was improved in 49.0% of patients in G‐I, 31.9% in G‐II, and 6.0% in G‐III (G‐I>G‐II>G‐III). Results after 7 years showed that vertigo was completely controlled in 78.8% of patients in G‐I, 79.2% in G‐II, and 25.0% in G‐III (G‐I = G‐II>G‐III). Hearing improved in 36.5% of patients in G‐I, 8.3% in G‐II, and 0.0% in G‐III (G‐I>G‐II = G‐III).

Conclusions: From non‐surgical observation in G‐III for at least 7 years after treatment, steroids instilled into endolymphatic sac in G‐I patients significantly improved hearing in intractable Ménière's patients, more so than endolymphatic sac drainage without steroids in G‐II patients.
Role of Planned Postchemoradiotherapy Selective Neck Dissection in the Multimodality Management of Head and Neck Cancer
Authors: Nouraei S A. Reza , Upile Tahwinder , Al‐Yaghchi Chadwan , Lei Mary , Sandhu Guri S. , Stewart Simon , Clarke Peter M. , Sandison Ann
Published: April 2008

Objective/Hypothesis: To assess the oncologic efficacy and functional outcome of selective postchemoradiotherapy neck dissection for stage IV head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Methods: Retrospective review of patients with N2–3 cervical metastases at presentation who underwent planned neck dissection after complete biopsy‐proven clearance of primary site mucosal disease with chemoradiotherapy between 2000 and 2006.

Results: There were 31 males and 10 females. The average age at presentation was 57 ± 9 years. The oropharynx was the most common primary site (n = 23; 56%). Forty‐nine hemineck dissections were performed, including six bilateral and two revision procedures. Sixteen (39%) patients had residual viable postchemoradiotherapy neck disease. Patient weight did not deteriorate after neck dissection (P > .4). Two patients had persistently worsened postoperative swallowing. Ten patients required shoulder physiotherapy, of whom eight were treated with conservative measures. Five‐year hemineck disease control and disease‐specific survival rates were 92% and 64%, respectively. Presence of viable postchemoradiotherapy neck disease was the only independent predictor of regional control (P < .001; hazard ratio 0.00; 0.00–0.40) and disease‐specific survival (P < .02; hazard ratio 0.23; 0.04–0.55). Surgery was twice more likely to confer therapeutic benefit than to cause a significant, albeit in most cases, transitory, complication.

Conclusions: Neck dissection is a safe and effective procedure and a necessary component of the multimodality management of all head and neck cancer patients with N2–3 disease. It should be performed soon after satisfactory demonstration of primary site disease clearance. Universal deployment of radical surgery appears unnecessary and should, when possible, be abandoned in favor of more selective procedures to lessen morbidity.
A quick guide to video-tracking birds
Authors: Bluff Lucas A , Rutz Christian
Published: April 2008

Video tracking is a powerful new tool for studying natural undisturbed behaviour in a wide range of birds, mammals and reptiles. Using integrated animal-borne video tags, video footage and positional data are recorded simultaneously from wild free-ranging animals. At the analysis stage, video scenes are linked to radio fixes, yielding an animal's eye view of resource use and social interactions along a known movement trajectory. Here, we provide a brief description of our basic equipment and field techniques to enable other researchers to start their own video-tracking studies.
The carotid rete and artiodactyl success
Authors: Mitchell G , Lust A
Published: April 2008

Since the Eocene, the diversity of artiodactyls has increased while that of perissodactyls has decreased. Reasons given for this contrasting pattern are that the evolution of a ruminant digestive tract and improved locomotion in artiodactyls were adaptively advantageous in the highly seasonal post-Eocene climate. We suggest that evolution of a carotid rete, a structure highly developed in artiodactyls but absent in perissodactyls, was at least as important. The rete confers an ability to regulate brain temperature independently of body temperature. The net effect is that in hot ambient conditions artiodactyls are able to conserve energy and water, and in cold ambient conditions they are able to conserve body temperature. In perissodactyls, brain and body temperature change in parallel and thermoregulation requires abundant food and water to warm/cool the body. Consequently, perissodactyls occupy habitats of low seasonality and rich in food and water, such as tropical forests. Conversely, the increased thermoregulatory flexibility of artiodactyls has facilitated invasion of new adaptive zones ranging from the Arctic Circle to deserts and tropical savannahs.
Subcritical flutter in the acoustics of friction
Authors: Kirillov O.N
Published: April 2008

Linearized models of elastic bodies of revolution, spinning about their symmetrical axes, possess the eigenfrequency plots with respect to the rotational speed, which form a mesh with double semi-simple eigenfrequencies at the nodes. At contact with friction pads, the rotating continua, such as the singing wine glass or the squealing disc brake, start to vibrate owing to the subcritical flutter instability. In this paper, a sensitivity analysis of the spectral mesh is developed for the explicit predicting the onset of instability. The key role of the indefinite damping and non-conservative positional forces is clarified in the development and localization of the subcritical flutter. An analysis of a non-self-adjoint boundary-eigenvalue problem for a rotating circular string, constrained by a stationary load system, shows that the instability scenarios, revealed in the general two-dimensional case, are typical also in more complicated finite-dimensional and distributed systems.
You are what your mother eats: evidence for maternal preconception diet influencing foetal sex in humans
Authors: Mathews Fiona , Johnson Paul J , Neil Andrew
Published: April 2008

Facultative adjustment of sex ratios by mothers occurs in some animals, and has been linked to resource availability. In mammals, the search for consistent patterns is complicated by variations in mating systems, social hierarchies and litter sizes. Humans have low fecundity, high maternal investment and a potentially high differential between the numbers of offspring produced by sons and daughters: these conditions should favour the evolution of facultative sex ratio variation. Yet little is known of natural mechanisms of sex allocation in humans. Here, using data from 740 British women who were unaware of their foetus's gender, we show that foetal sex is associated with maternal diet at conception. Fifty six per cent of women in the highest third of preconceptional energy intake bore boys, compared with 45% in the lowest third. Intakes during pregnancy were not associated with sex, suggesting that the foetus does not manipulate maternal diet. Our results support hypotheses predicting investment in costly male offspring when resources are plentiful. Dietary changes may therefore explain the falling proportion of male births in industrialized countries. The results are relevant to the current debate about the artificial selection of offspring sex in fertility treatment and commercial ‘gender clinics’.
Is it necessary to assume an apartheid-like social structure in Early Anglo-Saxon England?
Authors: Pattison John E
Published: April 2008

It has recently been argued that there was an apartheid-like social structure operating in Early Anglo-Saxon England. This was proposed in order to explain the relatively high degree of similarity between Germanic-speaking areas of northwest Europe and England. Opinions vary as to whether there was a substantial Germanic invasion or only a relatively small number arrived in Britain during this period. Contrary to the assumption of limited intermarriage made in the apartheid simulation, there is evidence that significant mixing of the British and Germanic peoples occurred, and that the early law codes, such as that of King Ine of Wessex, could have deliberately encouraged such mixing. More importantly, the simulation did not take into account any northwest European immigration that arrived both before and after the Early Anglo-Saxon period. In view of the uncertainty of the places of origin of the various Germanic peoples, and their numbers and dates of arrival, the present study adopts an alternative approach to estimate the percentage of indigenous Britons in the current British population. It was found unnecessary to introduce any special social structure among the diverse Anglo-Saxon people in order to account for the estimates of northwest European intrusion into the British population.
Quantitative real‐time PCR primer design, cDNA amplification and sequence analysis from 22 genes mainly associated with lipid metabolism in Pekin (Anas platyrhynchos) and Muscovy (Cairina moschata) ducks
Authors: Hérault F. , Robert E. , Diot C.
Published: April 2008

Few genomic tools are available in ducks. To produce some new resources, we have designed Pekin (Anas platyrhynchos) and Muscovy (Cairina moschata) duck‐specific primers for 22 genes involved mainly in lipid metabolism, and to a lesser extent in carbohydrate metabolism and other functions. Primers were designed according to duck sequences when available and otherwise from the corresponding conserved regions in chicken and human sequences. These primers allowed quantitative RT‐PCR amplification of RNA from Pekin and Muscovy ducks. Amplified cDNA products from both species were sequenced and were found to be very similar to chicken sequences (about 94%). This work provides additional genomic resources and polymorphism information for some genes in duck species and represents a first step towards gene expression analyses in Pekin and Muscovy ducks.
Quadruple rescue therapy for Helicobacter pylori infection after two treatment failures
Authors: Hsu P. I. , Wu D. C. , Chen A. , Peng N. J. , Tseng H. H. , Tsay F. W. , Lo G. H. , Lu C. Y. , Yu F. J. , Lai K. H.
Published: April 2008

Background  A standard third‐line therapy for Helicobacter pylori infection is lacking, and antimicrobial sensitivity data for patients who failed eradication therapy are often unavailable in clinical practice. We therefore designed the prospective study to assess the efficacy of levofloxacin, amoxicillin, bismuth and rabeprazole quadruple therapy as a third‐line treatment for H. pylori infection.

Patients and methods  From September 2005 to August 2007, 37 consecutive H. pylori‐infected patients who had failed standard first‐line and second‐line treatments underwent a 10‐day quadruple therapy comprising rabeprazole (20 mg b.i.d.), bismuth subcitrate (300 mg q.d.s.), amoxicillin (500 mg q.d.s.) and levofloxacin (500 mg o.d.). Follow‐up endoscopy with rapid urease test, histological examination and culture was performed at 6 weeks after the end of treatment to evaluate the response to therapy.

Results  Helicobacter pylori was successfully eradicated in 31 out of 37 patients (84% by both intention‐to‐treat analysis and per‐protocol analysis). All patients complied with the eradication therapies, and only seven patients (19%) complained of mild‐to‐moderate adverse events. Amoxicillin‐ and levofloxacin‐resistant strains were observed in 17% and 22% of the patients, respectively. There were no significant differences between H. pylori eradication rates and antibiotic resistances.

Conclusions  The 10‐day levofloxacin‐ and amoxicillin‐based quadruple therapy is well tolerated and achieves a high eradication rate as a third‐line empirical treatment for H. pylori infection.
Dental anomalies and associated factors in 2‐ to 5‐year‐old Brazilian children
Authors: KRAMER PAULO FLORIANI , FELDENS CARLOS ALBERTO , FERREIRA SIMONE HELENA , SPIGUEL MÔNICA HERMANN , FELDENS ELIANE GERSON
Published: April 2008

Background.  Dental anomalies in primary teeth may lead to functional and aesthetic disorders, and their recognition contributes to early diagnosis and long‐term treatment planning.

Objective.  This study investigated the prevalence of dental anomalies in primary dentition and associated factors in Brazilian preschoolers.

Methods.  The study population of this cross‐sectional study comprised 1260 2‐ to 5‐year‐old children from public nurseries in Canoas, southern Brazil. Dental anomalies were recorded by five trained examiners according to Kreiborg criteria; classification included double teeth, hypodontia, supernumerary, and microdontia.

Results.  Dental anomalies as a group were found in 2.5% of children, although no significant difference occurred between genders and races. All the anomalies were observed in the anterior region, with no significant differences between the arches. However, supernumerary teeth were significantly more frequent among the non‐white racial group (Fisher; P = 0.025) and double teeth on the lower arch (McNemar; P = 0.020). Individual anomaly frequencies were: double teeth, 1.3%; hypodontia, 0.6%; supernumerary, 0.3%; and microdontia, 0.3%.

Conclusions.  The frequency of primary dentition anomalies as a group was greater than that reported in other populations; the findings of this study provide a clear vision of the distribution of this oral condition and may well contribute to early detection and treatment planning.
Vaccination against hydatidosis using a defined recombinant antigen
Authors: LIGHTOWLERS M. W. , LAWRENCE S. B. , GAUCI C. G. , YOUNG J. , RALSTON M. J. , MAAS D. , HEATH D. D.
Published: April 2008

Echinococcus granulosus is the causative agent of hydatid disease in humans and animals. Natural transmission of the parasite occurs between dogs as definitive hosts and animal intermediate hosts. There is an urgent need for improved methods to control the parasite's transmission. Here we describe the development of a vaccine based on a cloned recombinant antigen from the parasite egg (oncosphere). Sheep vaccinated with the antigen, designated EG95, are protected (mean 96–98%) against hydatidosis developing from an experimental challenge infection with E. granulosus eggs. The vaccine will provide a valuable new tool to aid in control of transmission of this important human pathogen. It also has the potential to prevent hydatid disease directly through vaccination of humans.
Regulation of leaf photosynthetic rate correlating with leaf carbohydrate status and activation state of Rubisco under a variety of photosynthetic source/sink balances
Authors: Kasai Minobu
Published: April 2008

There is evidence suggesting that in plants changes in the photosynthetic source/sink balance are an important factor that regulates leaf photosynthetic rate through affects on the leaf carbohydrate status. However, to resolve the regulatory mechanism of leaf photosynthetic rate associated with photosynthetic source/sink balance, information, particularly on mutual relationships of experimental data that are linked with a variety of photosynthetic source/sink balances, seems to be still limited. Thus, a variety of manipulations altering the plant source/sink ratio were carried out with soybean plants, and the mutual relationships of various characteristics such as leaf photosynthetic rate, carbohydrate content and the source/sink ratio were analyzed in manipulated and non‐manipulated control plants. The manipulations were removal of one‐half or all pods, removal of one‐third or two‐third leaves, and shading of one‐third or one‐half leaves with soybean plants grown for 8 weeks under 10 h light (24°C) and 14 h darkness (17°C). It was shown that there were significant negative correlations between source/sink ratio (dry weight ratio of attached leaves to other all organs) and leaf photosynthetic rate; source/sink ratio and activation ratio (percentage of initial activity to total activity) of Rubisco in leaf extract; leaf carbohydrate (sucrose or starch) content and photosynthetic rate; carbohydrate (sucrose or starch) content and activation ratio of Rubisco; amount of protein‐bound ribulose‐1,5‐bisphosphate (RuBP) in leaf extract and leaf photosynthetic rate; and the amount of protein‐bound RuBP and activation ratio of Rubisco. In addition, there were significant positive correlations between source/sink ratio and leaf carbohydrate (sucrose or starch) content; source/sink ratio and the amount of protein‐bound RuBP; carbohydrate (sucrose or starch) content and amount of protein‐bound RuBP and the activation ratio of Rubisco and leaf photosynthetic rate. The plant water content, leaf chlorophyll and Rubisco contents were not affected significantly by the manipulations. There is a previous report in Arabidopsis thaliana that the amount of protein‐bound RuBP in leaf extract correlates negatively with the activation ratio of Rubisco in the leaf extract. Therefore, the results obtained from the manipulation experiments indicate that there is a regulatory mechanism for the leaf photosynthetic rate that correlates negatively with leaf carbohydrate (sucrose and starch) status and positively with the activation state of Rubisco under a variety of photosynthetic source/sink balances.
Ecophysiological Association and Balance among some Grassland Communities of Jhansi ‐ India
Authors: Gupta J. N.
Published: April 2008

Ecophysiological balance among four available prominent grassland communities (dominated with 1. Heteropogon contortus, 2. Eremopogon foveolatus, 3. Sporobolus diander, 4. Themeda quadrivalvis besides the prominency of Desmostachya bipinnata in all the communities) were studied by analysing their biomass structure, production and rate of litter decomposition of component taxa. These communities have different pattern of management and utilization aspect. Jhansi is geographically situated at 78°35’ E long, and 25°27’ N lat. about 275 MSL; and its climate is of tropical monsoonic. The soil at all the sites were sandy and sand percentage ranges between 59–80%. The thorough analysis reveal that in tropical monsoonic climatic situation the biomass production reached at potential level in wet situation (July‐September with moderate temperature 32°C) which gradually drops and thus reached poor biomass production under cold dry situation during February. The rhythmic situation for the presence of potential aboveground production m−2 was recorded in the month of April in site IV and May in site I. Apparently poor aboveground production in the month of January in site II and December in site III was due to dormant situation of the species during this period. Similar observations recorded with litter availability. It is significant to narrate that litter decomposition rate reached from 82–99% indicating its pattern of utilization as an automatic system of green manuring.
Physical Properties and Rice Yield as Related to Organic Amendments and Depth of Mixing
Authors: Bhadoria P. B. S.
Published: April 2008

Field experiments were conducted at the farmers field wherein Rice husk, FYM, Neem cake and Saw dust were incorporated with in the soil at 5 and 20 cm depth. The results indicates that incorporation of organic amendments have reduced the bulk density and retained higher moisture at 1/3 bar than control. As a consequence root penetration and grain yield increased considerably. The percentage increase in grain yield over control was about 30 percent under neem cake treatments.
Effect of Incorporation and Unincorporation of Azolla Biofertilizer on the Grain Yield of Rice
Authors: Subramani S. , Kannaiyan S.
Published: April 2008

Azolla pinnata R. Brown was used as a biofertilizer for rice crop in early and late wet seasons of 1985–86. Azolla as dual crop with rice increased the grain yield significantly over uninoculated control. Incorporation of Azolla increased the yield components and grain yield higher than leaving Azolla on water surface without incorporation. Azolla incorporation with 90 kg nitrogen/ha recorded the highest plant height, tiller numbers/ hill, panicles/m2 and 1000 grain weight and grain yield of rice.
Effect of Bitter Lupin Extract on Growth and Yield of Different Crops
Authors: Kahnt G. , Hijazi L. A.
Published: April 2008

Lupin extract is a mixture of alkaloids, mineral salts and carbohydrates taken out in mechanical debittering of lupines by a process developed by Mittex AG. The possibility of using this extract as growth regulator, sprayed in quantities up to 60 kg/ha, or as fertilizer, dosage up to 500 kg/ha, was studied. Two years (1985, 1986) experiments have shown that if factors like plant physiological stage, N fertilization, and weather were harmonized extract spraying worked as growth regulator yielding increases of 4, 8, 18 and 23% in winter wheat, maize, soybean and potatoes, respectively. Potato yield in organic farming was even increased up to 33%. Yield increases from 6 to 38% were also registered in carrots, onion and Chinese cabbage. Application of extract as fertilizer gave still higher increases reaching as high as 17, 43 and 57 % in winter wheat, maize and cabbage, respectively. 250 kg/ha soil application of extract reduced the N fertilizer input from 180 kg/ha to 90 kg/ha along with 20 % increase in chinese cabbage yield.
Accumulated Heat Units and Phenology Relationships in Wheat as Influenced by Planting Dates under Late Sown Conditions
Authors: Rajput R. P. , Deshmukh M. R. , Paradkar V. K.
Published: April 2008

The field experiments were carried out at College of Agriculture Farm Rewa and Regional Agricultural Research Station, Kuthulia on Vertic haplurtalfs Soils, during rabi 1981–82, to study the influence of planting dates on Phenology and heat unit relationships under late sown conditions. The wheat cultivar sonalika was planted on 15 Dec., 23 Dec., 31 Dec. 1981 and 7th Jan. 82 at R.A.R.S., Kuthulia and on 16 Dec., 23 Dec., 30 Dec. 1981 and 6 Jan. 82 at College of Agriculture Farm. The results indicated that the requirement of accumulated heat units decreased with delayed planting. Besides growing degree days a unit incorporated the bright sunshine hours is also utilized (H.T.U.). A phenothermal index was also introduced (the AHU per growth day). It was nearly constant irrespective of planting dates and sites. The heat use efficiency decreased from 16.29 to 12.56 × 10−3 q/ha/GDD in case of D1 to D4 respectively. A regression for predicting the maturity date for wheat crop using heat units accumulated upto flowering initiation for the Vindhyan region of Central India is developed.
Productivity of Rainfed Sorghum — A Physiological Analysis
Authors: Devi D. Durga , Sundaram K. M. , Natarajaratnam N.
Published: April 2008

A field experiment was conducted to study the varietal variability of productivity in sorghum under rainfed conditions. Six varieties viz., TNS 24, TNS 27, CO 20, CO 19, CO 24 and K3 were utilized in this study. Among these varieties TNS 24, CO 19 and TNS 27 were found to be tolerant to drought situations while K 3, CO 20 and CO 24 were susceptible. The classification was mainly based on the yield data. Highest leaf area was observed in tolerant varieties, The reduction in leaf area at the harvest stage was also minimal (6.8%) in the tolerant varieties. LAD and CGR also showed higher values in the tolerant varieties. The dry matter accumulation was higher in the tolerant varieties. The yield improvement in the tolerant genotypes is mainly due to the increased dry matter accumulation while harvest index is not related to yield in the varieties studied.
Quality of life of the community‐based patients with mild cognitive impairment
Authors: Muangpaisan Weerasak , Assantachai Prasert , Intalapaporn Somboon , Pisansalakij Doojpratana
Published: April 2008

Aim:  To determine quality of life (QOL) in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) compared to normal subjects and to investigate the impact of demographic factors on QOL.

Methods:  There were 122 participants aged 50 and over, diagnosed with MCI (n = 85) or normal (n = 37) recruited from a community‐based setting in Bangkok. The Thai version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL‐BREF‐THAI) was used to assess the QOL in the subjects.

Results:  The MCI patients had significantly lower psychological QOL compared to normal subjects. The MCI patients with low education had poorer total QOL scores, and patients with poor financial status had poorer psychological QOL scores and total QOL scores. The MCI patients who lived alone had poorer social relationship QOL. There were correlations between the Thai version of Geriatric Depression Scale (TGDS) and physical QOL, TGDS and psychological QOL, and TGDS and total QOL scores. The depression subscale of the Neuropsychiatric Inventory had negative correlation with physical and psychological QOL.

Conclusion:  The MCI patients had poorer psychological QOL than normal subjects. Low education, poor financial status, living alone and depressive symptoms had an influence on the quality of life.
Self‐reported assessment of intraoral prostheses among patients attending the prosthodontic department in a dental institute in India
Authors: Shigli Kamal , Hebbal Mamata , Angadi Gangadhar Shivappa
Published: April 2008

Aim:  This study was conducted to provide a patient assessment of intraoral prostheses among subjects who reported to the Department of Prosthodontics, Institute of Dental Sciences, Belgaum.

Methods:  A nine‐item self‐designed closed‐ended questionnaire was recorded followed by a clinical examination. Patients who reported in a period of 2 months and had at least one prosthesis with a duration of usage of at least 1 month were included for the study. Collected data was statistically analyzed using the χ2‐test at a significance level of P < 0.05.

Results:  The questionnaire was answered by 125 patients, 72 completely edentulous and 53 partially edentulous, with age ranging 16–84 years (mean age, 54.13 ± 17 years). There was a wide variation in the duration of usage of prostheses, ranging 3 months to 27 years. Statistically, a highly significant difference was found between age and duration of prostheses (χ2 = 77.29, P < 0.001), between the type of prostheses being used with age and opinion with existing prostheses. When opinion regarding existing prostheses was compared with sex, age and duration of prostheses being used, a statistically significant difference was found between opinion with existing prostheses and age, sex and duration of prostheses. Of the patients, 49.6% complained of loss of function, 14.4% of loose prostheses and 7.2% reported pain with the existing prostheses.

Conclusion:  Loss of function was the most common complaint with the existing prostheses among complete denture wearers. As the majority of the patients using fixed prostheses had no complaint with the prostheses, attention should be paid to preservation of natural teeth.
Ciprofloxacin induces mutagenesis to antibiotic resistance independent of UmuC in Streptococcus uberis
Authors: Varhimo Emilia , Savijoki Kirsi , Jefremoff Hanna , Jalava Jari , Sukura Antti , Varmanen Pekka
Published: April 2008

Streptococcus uberis is an environmental bovine mastitis pathogen capable of UV‐inducible SOS mutagenesis. Bacterial SOS systems can be induced by several chemicals including also antibiotics used in clinical practice. Here, we have studied the effect of ciprofloxacin, a fluoroquinolone antibiotic and known inducer of SOS, on mutations leading to antibiotic resistance in S. uberis. Mutation frequencies and spectra were compared in a wild‐type S. uberis strain and its ΔumuC derivative. The results revealed that concentrations of ciprofloxacin corresponding to 0.3–0.5× minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) induce mutagenesis independent of UmuC. Partial sequencing of the rpoB gene of individual rifampin‐resistant clones from wild‐type and ΔumuC strains revealed a similar but complex pattern of point mutations including transitions, transversions and deletions/insertions. It was previously shown that UV induces mainly transition‐type mutations and UmuC is essential for the process. Thus, the results presented here demonstrate that S. uberis employs distinct mechanisms for ciprofloxacin and UV‐induced mutagenesis, which is a striking difference to Escherichia coli SOS model.
Short‐term β‐adrenergic regulation of leptin, adiponectin and interleukin‐6 secretion in vivo in lean and obese subjects
Authors: Goossens G. H. , Jocken J. W. E. , Van Baak M. A. , Jansen E. H. J. M. , Saris W. H. M. , Blaak E. E.
Published: April 2008

Aim:  Adipose tissue and skeletal muscle are endocrine organs, secreting substances that have been implicated in obesity‐related disorders. This study examined short‐term β‐adrenergic regulation of circulating leptin, adiponectin and interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) concentrations and secretion from abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue and muscle (IL‐6) in vivo in lean and obese subjects.

Methods:  Systemic concentrations and net fluxes of leptin, adiponectin and IL‐6 across abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue and forearm skeletal muscle (IL‐6) were assessed before and during β‐adrenergic stimulation (intravenous isoprenaline infusion) in 13 lean and 10 obese men.

Results:  Basal circulating leptin concentrations were higher in the obese (p < 0.001), while circulating adiponectin (p = 0.45) and IL‐6 concentrations (p = 0.41) were not different between groups. β‐Adrenergic stimulation decreased leptin concentrations in both groups (p < 0.01), but did not reduce net abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue leptin release. Increased leptin clearance and/or decreased leptin secretion from other fat depots may explain the reduction in leptin concentrations. Adiponectin concentrations remained unchanged during β‐adrenergic stimulation in both groups. β‐Adrenergic stimulation increased IL‐6 concentration, which was more pronounced in the obese (p = 0.01 vs. lean). This cannot be explained by increased IL‐6 release per unit abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue and muscle but might be because of the increased fat mass and fat‐free mass at whole‐body level.

Conclusions:  Short‐term β‐adrenergic stimulation decreases leptin concentrations, which cannot be explained by reduced net leptin release from abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue, while it elevates IL‐6 concentration partly by increased release from this fat depot and muscle. Finally, β‐adrenergic stimulation has no short‐term regulatory role in adiponectin secretion.
Rebaudioside A directly stimulates insulin secretion from pancreatic beta cells: a glucose‐dependent action via inhibition of ATP‐sensitive K+‐channels*
Authors: Abudula R. , Matchkov V. V. , Jeppesen P. B. , Nilsson H. , Aalkjær C. , Hermansen K.
Published: April 2008

Recently, we showed that rebaudioside A potently stimulates the insulin secretion from isolated mouse islets in a dose‐, glucose‐ and Ca2+‐dependent manner. Little is known about the mechanisms underlying the insulinotropic action of rebaudioside A. The aim of this study was to define the signalling system by which, rebaudioside A acts. Isolated mouse islets were used in the cAMP[125I] scintillation proximity assay to measure total cAMP level, and in a luminometric method to measure intracellular ATP and ADP concentrations. Conventional and permeabilized whole‐cell configuration of the patch‐clamp technique was used to verify the effect of rebaudioside A on ATP‐sensitive K+‐channels from dispersed single β cells from isolated mouse islets. Insulin was measured by radioimmunoassay from insulinoma MIN6 cells. In the presence of 16.7 mM glucose, the addition of the maximally effective concentration of rebaudioside A (10−9 M) increased the ATP/ADP ratio significantly, while it did not change the intracellular cAMP level. Rebaudioside A (10−9 M) and stevioside (10−6 M) reduced the ATP‐sensitive potassium channel (KATP) conductance in a glucose‐dependent manner. Moreover, rebaudioside A stimulated the insulin secretion from MIN6 cells in a dose‐ and glucose‐dependent manner. In conclusion, the insulinotropic effect of rebaudioside A is mediated via inhibition of ATP‐sensitive K+‐channels and requires the presence of high glucose. The inhibition of ATP‐sensitive K+‐channels is probably induced by changes in the ATP/ADP ratio. The results indicate that rebaudioside A may offer a distinct therapeutic advantage over sulphonylureas because of less risk of causing hypoglycaemia.
Glycaemic control among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in seven European countries: findings from the Real‐Life Effectiveness and Care Patterns of Diabetes Management (RECAP‐DM) study
Authors: Guisasola F. Álvarez , Mavros P. , Nocea G. , Alemao E. , Alexander C. M. , Yin D.
Published: April 2008

Objective:  This study was undertaken to assess glycaemic control as well as changes in glycaemic control over time in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) who added a sulphonylurea (SU) or thiazolidinedione (TZD) to their metformin monotherapy in typical treatment settings within seven European countries.

Methods:  An observational, cross‐sectional multicentre study with retrospective medical chart review was conducted in Finland, France, Germany, Norway, Poland, Spain and UK. T2DM patients who added a SU or a TZD to metformin monotherapy between January 2001 and January 2006 (i.e. index date) and who had ≥1 haemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) measurement within 12 months before the visit date, which occurred from June 2006 to February 2007, were included in the study. Demographic and clinical data were collected from medical records. The main study outcome measure was the proportion of patients with adequate glycaemic control (defined according to the International Diabetes Federation as HbA1C < 6.5%) using the most recent HbA1C measurement before the visit date. In addition, patients were grouped based upon the interval from the index date to the most recent HbA1C measurement to evaluate goal attainment and treatment changes over time.

Findings:  In this European cohort of 2023 T2DM patients on metformin and either an SU or a TZD (mean age = 60.4 years), 25.5% of patients had adequate glycaemic control. The average HbA1C level was 7.2% after a mean of 2.6 years of treatment with combination oral antihyperglycaemic agent (AHA) therapy. Among the patients (n = 227) with most recent HbA1C measurement within 1 year after first adding an SU or a TZD, 27% had adequate glycaemic control (HbA1C < 6.5%), with a mean (s.d.) HbA1C of 7.1% (1.0); 1.3% of these patients were using some type of insulin therapy. Among the patients (n = 176) with most recent HbA1C measurement occurring ≥5 years after adding an SU or a TZD, 20% had adequate glycaemic control, with a mean (s.d.) HbA1C of 7.4% (1.17), and 29.6% of these patients were using insulin. Overall, patients with (vs. without) adequate glycaemic control had significantly (p < 0.05) lower HbA1C levels (7.6 vs. 8.2%) at the time of adding an SU or a TZD to ongoing metformin monotherapy, were less likely to report a history of macrovascular complications (20 vs. 26%) and were more often engaged in physical activity three to five times a week (29 vs. 23%).

Conclusions:  Approximately one quarter of European out‐patients with T2DM had adequate glycaemic control after a mean of 2.6 years following initiation of combination AHA therapy. Overall glycaemic control modestly declined over time, even though more patients were being treated with insulin. These findings highlight the progressive nature of the disease and need for more effective disease management/therapeutic alternatives.
Cost‐effectiveness of sitagliptin‐based treatment regimens in European patients with type 2 diabetes and haemoglobin A1c above target on metformin monotherapy
Authors: Schwarz B. , Gouveia M. , Chen J. , Nocea G. , Jameson K. , Cook J. , Krishnarajah G. , Alemao E. , Yin D. , Sintonen H.
Published: April 2008

Objective:  Sitagliptin is a novel oral incretin enhancer that acts by inhibiting the dipeptidyl peptidase 4 enzyme and is indicated in Europe as a treatment adjunct to metformin (MF), sulphonylurea (SU), MF plus SU and diet and exercise, in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus. The objective of the current analysis was to evaluate the cost‐effectiveness of adding sitagliptin to the regimens of patients with haemoglobin A1c (HbA1C) above the International Diabetes Federation goal (6.5%) while on MF in six European countries: Austria, Finland, Portugal, Scotland (United Kingdom), Spain and Sweden.

Methods:  A discrete event simulation model, which employed the United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS) Outcomes Model risk equations for predicting risks of diabetes‐related complication, was used. Lifetime costs and benefits were projected for alternative treatment strategies of adding sitagliptin, compared with adding rosiglitazone or a SU to MF in patients not at HbA1C goal on MF monotherapy. Changes in HbA1C as well as side effects associated with these different treatment strategies were based on clinical trial data. Mean baseline values from local epidemiologic studies involving patients with type 2 diabetes not at HbA1C goal on MF monotherapy were included in the current analysis. Costs of medications, side effects and direct costs of diabetes‐related complications were based on country‐specific data. UKPDS‐based disutility weights associated with diabetes complications were incorporated. Disutilities associated with medication side effects were based on published data. All future costs and benefits were discounted according to local guidelines on cost‐effectiveness analysis. One‐way sensitivity analyses were conducted by varying key input parameters.

Findings:  The discounted incremental cost‐effectiveness ratios (ICER) associated with the addition of sitagliptin to MF, compared with adding rosiglitazone, in the different countries analysed ranged from treatment with sitagliptin being dominant (cost saving with improved health outcome) to its being cost‐effective [€4,766 per quality‐adjusted life year (QALY)]. Treatment with sitagliptin added to MF was cost‐effective compared with adding a SU, with discounted ICER values ranging from €5949/QALY to €20 350/QALY across countries. Sensitivity analyses showed that these results were robust to changes in input parameters, including clinical efficacy, costs and utility weights for both diabetes‐related complications and hypoglycaemia.

Conclusions:  Compared with adding rosiglitazone or a SU to MF, adding sitagliptin to MF is projected to be either cost saving or cost‐effective for patients with type 2 diabetes who are not at HbA1C goal on MF.
The effect of the availability of inhaled insulin on glycaemic control in patients with Type 2 diabetes failing on oral therapy: the evaluation of Exubera® as a therapeutic option on insulin initiation and improvement in glycaemic control in clinical practice (EXPERIENCE) trial
Authors: Del Prato S. , Blonde L. , Martinez L. , Göke B. , Woo V. , Millward A. , Gomis R. , Canovatchel B. , Strack T. , Lawrence D. , Freemantle N. ,   on behalf of the EXPERIENCE Trial Team
Published: April 2008

Aim  To examine the impact of inhaled human insulin (Exubera®, EXU) on patient or physician willingness to adopt insulin after oral glucose‐lowering agent failure.

Methods  During a randomized controlled trial in primary, secondary and tertiary care in Europe and North America, 739 patients using ≥ 2 oral glucose‐lowering agents with glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) ≥ 8.0% were assigned to two treatment groups: Group 1 (standard care with the option of EXU) or Group 2 (standard care only). Standard care included adjusting oral therapy (optimizing current regimen or adding/omitting agents) and/or initiating subcutaneous (s.c.) insulin. The primary endpoint was difference in HbA1c between randomized groups at 26 weeks. Secondary outcomes included differences in the rate of uptake of insulin therapy, proportion achieving satisfactory glycaemic control, treatment satisfaction and safety outcomes.

Results  At baseline, insulin was initiated by more [odds ratio 6.0; 95% confidence interval (CI) 4.2 to 8.8; P < 0.0001] patients in Group 1 (86.2%; 76.7% EXU plus 9.5% s.c.) than Group 2 (50.7%; s.c. insulin only). At 26 weeks, mean (sd) changes in HbA1c from baseline were –2.0% (1.2%) and –1.7% (1.3%) in Groups 1 and 2, respectively, a difference of –0.2% (95% CI: –0.1% to –0.4%; P = 0.004). In Group 1, 45% of patients achieved an HbA1c≤ 7.0% by 26 weeks compared with 39% in Group 2 (P = 0.02).

Conclusion  The availability of EXU may increase initiation of insulin, thereby contributing to improved overall glycaemic control in patients with Type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled on two or more oral glucose‐lowering agents.
Immigrants, Morality and Neoliberalism
Authors: Bagchi Amiya Kumar
Published: April 2008

This article critiques the liberal and state‐centred view of morality and governance as applied to immigrants. It argues that the alternative perspective provided by some moral philosophers and political theorists can be combined with analysis of the current global economic and political order to outline a framework for protecting the welfare and human rights of the immigrants. It also argues that this framework brings out the commonality of interests of workers in host countries and immigrants in re‐empowering the state to provide for the comprehensive social security that the neoliberal state has trashed.
Are Central Bank Preferences Asymmetric? A Comment
Authors: Minford Patrick , Srinivasan Naveen
Published: April 2008

A recent paper by Ruge‐Murcia (2004) on asymmetric central bank objectives provides a new perspective on the policy roots of inflation in developed economies. More precisely, the paper demonstrates that if the distribution of the supply shocks is normal, then the reduced‐form solution for inflation implies a positive (or negative) relation between average inflation and the variance of shocks. We argue that the evidence offered in support of this hypothesis suffers from lack of identification because Phillips curve nonlinearity combined with quadratic central bank preferences yield the same reduced‐form solution for inflation. If so, estimating reduced form for inflation will not be able to discriminate between these models. Yet they have quite different implications for policy. Other, structural, evidence is needed.
MUSLIM HETERODOXY, PERSIAN MURTADDUN AND JESUIT MISSIONARIES AT THE COURT OF KING AKBAR (1580–1605)
Authors: DIDIER HUGUES
Published: April 2008

The Jesuit mission to the Court of the Great Moguls Akbar (1542–1605) and Jahângîr (1605–1627) stands in need of a fresh examination in the context of an encounter between Muslims and Christians; not least because it manifests certain unusual characteristics.