bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pre‐operative sildenafil and pulmonary endothelial‐related complications following cardiopulmonary bypass: a randomised trial in children undergoing cardiac surgery*
Authors: Vassalos A. , Peng E. , Young D. , Walker S. , Pollock J. , MacArthur K. , Lyall F. , Danton M. H. D.
Published: April 2011

In a randomised trial, we compared the effects of oral sildenafil (0.5 mg.kg−1) and placebo, administered the day before cardiac surgery, in 24 children. In sildenafil vs placebo patients, pre‐cardiopulmonary bypass median (IQR [range]) cyclic‐guanosine‐monophosphate was not significantly different (29.9 (2.1–208.1 [0.5–391.5]) vs 5.2 (0.3–54.6 [0–628.9]) pmol.ml−1, respectively). Post‐cardiopulmonary bypass, nitrate/nitrite levels were also not significantly different (0.7 (0–8.0 [0–142.8]) vs 0 (0–2.7 [0–52.7]) μM, respectively). Postoperatively, mean (SD) pulmonary vascular resistance (2.64 (2.28) vs 1.90 (1.12) WU.m−2, respectively and oxygenation index (5.29 (4.60) vs 3.38 (2.54), respectively) remained unchanged, whilst oxygen delivery (57.18 (21.24) vs 74.13 (35.46) ml.min−1.m−2, respectively) and bi‐ventricular systolic function (left ventricle 3.78 (0.94) vs 4.55 (1.08) cm.s−1, respectively; p = 0.002; right ventricle 6.93 (1.47) vs 8.09 (2.25) cm.s−1, respectively; p < 0.001) were significantly reduced in the sildenafil group. In this trial, pre‐operative sildenafil did not affect postoperative pulmonary vascular resistance. There was, however, a negative impact on ventricular function and oxygenation.
Function of the activated protein C (APC) autolysis loop in activated FVIII inactivation
Authors: Cramer Thomas J. , Gale Andrew J.
Published: April 2011

Activated protein C (APC) binds to its substrates activated factor V (FVa) and activated factor VIII (FVIIIa) with a basic exosite that consists of loops 37, 60, 70 and the autolysis loop. These loops have a high density of basic residues, resulting in a positive charge on the surface of APC. Many of these residues are important in the interaction of APC with FVa and FVIIIa. The current study focused on the function of the autolysis loop in the interaction with FVIIIa. This loop was previously shown to interact with FVa, and it inhibits APC inactivation by plasma serpins. Charged residues of the autolysis loop were individually mutated to alanine and the activity of these mutants was assessed in functional FVIIIa inactivation assays. The autolysis loop was functionally important for FVIIIa inactivation. Mutation of R306, K311 and R314 each resulted in significantly reduced FVIIIa inactivation. The inactivating cleavages of FVIIIa at R336 and R562 were affected equally by the mutations. Protein S and FV stimulated cleavage at R562 more than cleavage at R336, independent of mutations in the autolysis loop. Together, these results confirmed that the autolysis loop plays a significant role as part of the basic exosite on APC in the interaction with FVIIIa.
Oral rush desensitization to egg: efficacy and safety
Authors: García Rodríguez R. , Urra J. M. , Feo‐Brito F. , Galindo P. A. , Borja J. , Gómez E. , Lara P. , Guerra F.
Published: April 2011

Background
Current management of egg allergy relies on egg elimination from the diet. It does not protect patients from reactions after accidental ingestion of the food and it has a negative influence on quality of life. To solve these problems, some desensitization protocols have been described that are safe and effective, but only one study of a rush regimen for egg with a small patient sample has been published.

Objective
To evaluate the safety, efficacy and immunologic effects of an oral rush desensitization protocol for immediate egg allergy.

Methods
Subjects aged 5 years or older with symptomatic IgE‐mediated allergy to hen's egg underwent a 5‐day oral tolerance induction regimen and were subsequently maintained on a regular egg intake. The variables studied were the reactions that occurred during the induction regimen and follow‐up and the duration of desensitization. Prick test weal size and egg white‐specific IgE and IgG concentrations were monitored.

Results
Twenty‐three patients between 5 and 17 years of age entered the protocol. Twenty (86.9%) achieved the daily intake of a whole cooked egg, 14 of them within the scheduled 5 days. One abandoned the protocol and two were changed to a slower regimen because of repeated reactions. Allergic reactions were frequent but in general were mild. No severe reactions occurred. During follow‐up of at least 6 months, egg was well tolerated by all patients. Compared with baseline, skin prick test weal size and egg white‐sIgE levels had fallen at 3 months, although the differences were only significant at 6 months.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance
The rush protocol described is useful and safe for achieving tolerance to egg within a few days but it should always be performed in a highly supervised setting. A high proportion of patients allergic to egg can effectively be desensitized using the described schedule, with the advantage of shortening the time to become protected from reactions after inadvertent ingestion of egg, with no increase in the risk compared with the earlier reported slower protocols.

Cite this as: R. García Rodríguez, J. M. Urra, F. Feo‐Brito, P. A. Galindo, J. Borja, E, Gómez, P. Lara and F. Guerra, Clinical & Experimental Allergy, 2011 (41) 1289–1296.
Revascularization by percutaneous transluminal angioplasty improved abruptly deteriorated ischaemic symptoms in cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa
Authors: Osada S. , Akiyama M. , Takasaki M. , Takagawa S. , Nakazawa K. , Murata S. , Sawada Y. , Kawana S.
Published: April 2011

We report a patient with cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa, who had a 3-year history of recurrent leg and foot ulcers. Symptoms of ischaemia in the left foot, including severe pain, coldness, paraesthesia and violaceous discoloration, deteriorated abruptly, because of complete occlusion of the left anterior tibial artery. The occluded segment was revascularized by percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, resulting in a dramatic improvement in the ischaemic symptoms.
Salt diapirs without well defined boundaries – a feasibility study of semi‐automatic detection
Authors: Berthelot Angélique , Solberg Anne H. S. , Morisbak Erlend , Gelius Leiv‐J
Published: April 2011

Prestack depth imaging of seismic data in complex areas such as salt structures requires extensive velocity model updating. In many cases, salt boundaries can be difficult to identify due to lack of seismic reflectivity. Traditional amplitude based segmentation methods do not properly tackle this problem, resulting in extensive manual editing. This paper presents a selection of seismic attributes that can reveal texture differences between the salt diapirs and the surrounding geology as opposed to amplitude‐sensitive attributes that are used in case of well defined boundaries. The approach consists of first extracting selected texture attributes, then using these attributes to train a classifier to estimate the probability that each pixel in the data set belongs to one of the following classes: near‐horizontal layering, highly‐dipping areas and the inside of the salt that appears more like a low amplitude area with small variations in texture. To find the border between the inside of the salt and the highly‐dipping surroundings, the posterior probability of the class salt is input to a graph‐cut algorithm that produces a smooth, continuous border. An in‐line seismic section and a timeslice from a 3D North Sea data set were employed to test the proposed approach. Comparisons between the automatically segmented salt contours and the corresponding contours as provided by an experienced interpreter showed a high degree of similarity.
Mechanical compaction and ultrasonic velocity of sands with different texture and mineralogical composition
Authors: Fawad Manzar , Mondol Nazmul Haque , Jahren Jens , Bjørlykke Knut
Published: April 2011

This study presents the results of experimental compaction while measuring ultrasonic velocities of sands with different grain size, shape, sorting and mineralogy. Uniaxial mechanical compaction tests up to a maximum of 50 MPa effective stress were performed on 29 dry sand aggregates derived from eight different sands to measure the rock properties.

A good agreement was found between the Gassmann saturated bulk moduli of dry and brine saturated tests of selected sands. Sand samples with poor sorting showed low initial porosity while sands with high grain angularity had high initial porosity. The sand compaction tests showed that at a given stress well‐sorted, coarse‐grained sands were more compressible and had higher velocities (Vp and Vs) than fine‐grained sands when the mineralogy was similar. This can be attributed to grain crushing, where coarser grains lead to high compressibility and large grain‐to‐grain contact areas result in high velocities. At medium to high stresses the angular coarse to medium grained sands (both sorted sands and un‐sorted whole sands) showed high compaction and velocities (Vp and Vs). The small grain‐to‐grain contact areas promote higher deformation at grain contacts, more crushing and increased porosity loss resulting in high velocities. Compaction and velocities (Vp and Vs) increased with decreasing sorting in sands. However, at the same porosity, the velocities in whole sands were slightly lower than in the well‐sorted sands indicating the presence of loose smaller grains in‐between the framework grains. Quartz‐poor sands (containing less than 55% quartz) showed higher velocities (Vp and Vs) compared to that of quartz‐rich sands. This could be the result of sintering and enlargement of grain contacts of ductile mineral grains in the quartz‐poor sands increasing the effective bulk and shear stiffness. Tests both from wet measurements and Gassmann brine substitution showed a decreasing Vp/Vs ratio with increasing effective stress. The quartz‐rich sands separated out towards the higher side of the Vp/Vs range.

The Gassmann brine substituted Vp and Vs plotted against effective stress provide a measure of the expected velocity range to be found in these and similar sands during mechanical compaction. Deviations of actual well log data from experimental data may indicate uplift, the presence of hydrocarbon, overpressure and/or cementation. Data from this study may help to model velocity‐depth trends and to improve the characterization of reservoir sands from well log data in a low temperature (<80–100o C) zone where compaction of sands is mostly mechanical.
Marine electromagnetic inverse solution appraisal and uncertainty using model‐derived basis functions and sparse geometric sampling
Authors: Tompkins Michael J. , Fernández Martínez Juan Luis , Fernández Muñiz Zulima
Published: April 2011

We summarize, for marine electromagnetic inverse problems, a newly developed inverse solution appraisal and non‐linear uncertainty estimation method based on parameter reduction techniques and efficient posterior model space sampling. This method uses model compression methods to decorrelate parameters in an inverse solution and represent all feasible posterior models as linear combinations of a small number of model‐derived basis vectors and corresponding coefficients. This allows us to reduce the posterior sampling problem by orders of magnitude. We further contract this reduced‐dimensional posterior space by confining all acceptable models to a set of bounds mapped from our original parameter space. As a final step to increase efficiency, we implement a geometric sampling scheme that we use to approximate our restricted posterior by generating feasible models on adaptive, optimally‐sparse grids. The sampled equi‐feasible models are accepted according to a data misfit threshold and constitute an optimally‐sparse representation of the restricted posterior model space. Although very efficient, our method imposes a bias in the posterior space by truncating the basis expansion during the model reduction step. To investigate this, we compare two types of fast and scalable bases, the discrete cosine transform and singular value decomposition. We demonstrate that while the choice of base does influence the type of models sampled and the model rejection rates, the posterior statistics are generally compatible between the methods providing confidence in the uncertainty estimations. For the marine electromagnetic problem, we show that a representative ensemble of equivalent inverse solutions can be generated for realistically‐sized inverse problems and that solution appraisal and uncertainty inference follow directly from ensemble statistics.
Seismic prediction of geological structures ahead of the tunnel using tunnel surface waves
Authors: Jetschny Stefan , Bohlen Thomas , Kurzmann André
Published: April 2011

In order to keep up with the economic and safety demands of modern tunnel construction projects, especially in urban areas, there is a need to detect safety threats in real time while the construction is advancing. Tunnel prediction methods accompanying the drilling process can help to correlate and update a priori information on expected geological structures with their actual spatial location or even existence ahead of the tunnel face. We recently presented a seismic prediction approach using tunnel surface waves, which has already proven its potential during field surveys. However, common tunnel seismic data interpretation, regardless of the prediction method, requires human interaction. Either a specially trained field technician have to be present at the construction site or the data has to be uploaded to an office for further interpretation. In this work we present a simple but stable approach to automatically detect major geological structures ahead of the tunnel face. We focus on the accurate determination of the distance of fault zones or lithological boundaries from the tunnel face without any a priori information. By 3D seismic finite difference modelling we simulated a synthetic tunnel seismic survey that includes typical features encountered in tunnel construction. The developed prediction sequence was tested on these data and later successfully applied to two different tunnel data sets acquired at the Gotthard Base Tunnel (Switzerland) and during the construction of the ‘Neuer Schlüchterner Tunnel’ close to Fulda (Germany).
Three dominant‐negative mutations in factor XI‐deficient patients
Authors: DAI L. , RANGARAJAN S. , MITCHELL M.
Published: April 2011

Summary. Factor XI (FXI) deficiency results from genetic defects of theF11gene and is generally considered to be inherited in an autosomal recessive manner. However, the homodimeric structure of FXI allows, in some cases, the dominant‐negative transmission of the disease. The aim of this study was to characterize novel missense mutations in three unrelated patients and verify the dominant‐negative effects of these mutations on the secretion of wild‐type FXI protein by expression studies. TheF11gene was PCR amplified, from genomic DNA extracted from peripheral blood, and sequenced on an ABI 3100 Genetic Analyzer. Human wild‐type FXI and FXI mutants were expressed in BHK570 cells using Lipofectamin transfection reagents. Conditioned media and cell lysates were collected for the measurement of luciferase activity, FXI antigen and Western blot analysis. DNA sequencing revealed three novel missense F11 mutations; c.127G>A in exon 3 (Ala43Thr), c.723C>G in exon 7 (Phe241Leu) and c.1207G>A in exon 11 (Val403Met).In vitroexpression studies showed that the mutation Ala43Thr, Phe241Leu or Val403Met remarkably decreased the extracellular secretion of mutant FXI, rather than reducing synthesis of the mutant proteins. Cotransfection of wild‐type FXI with mutant FXI constructs indicated that the mutation Ala43Thr, Phe241Leu or Val403Met reduced the secretion of wild‐type FXI by 75.9%, 68.6% or 71.4%, respectively. Our study suggests that dominant‐negative mutations in FXI‐deficient patients of non‐Ashkenazi Jewish origin may be more prevalent than thought, resulting from FXI’s unique dimeric structure.
Postoperative paraneoplastic factor VIII auto‐antibodies in patients with solid tumours
Authors: REITTER S. , KNOEBL P. , PABINGER I. , LECHNER K.
Published: April 2011

Summary.  Paraneoplastic FVIII antibodies may occur concurrent with the diagnosis or at various times after diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Between 2002 and 2009, we observed two patients with acquired haemophilia A due to an FVIII auto‐antibody, which appeared 4 and 5 months after uncomplicated cancer surgery. We aimed to evaluate if such an association of cancer surgery and FVIII antibody formation has been observed previously. We retrieved all published case reports of cancer‐associated FVIII auto‐antibodies from PubMed for the period 1950–2010. The search in the literature revealed 13 patients in whom a FVIII inhibitor developed after uncomplicated surgery for cancer and a bleeding‐free time interval of up to 6 months; 11/15 patients had abdominal cancers (five colon cancer, four pancreatic cancer, gastric cancer and choledochus carcinoma one each). The median time period between surgery and antibody detection was 3 months (1 week–6 months). In most cases, the antibody titre was low (median: 14 BU mL−1, range: 1.7–64 BU mL−1). Immunosuppressive treatment was successful in most of the cases – nine of the treated patients reached a sustained CR of the antibody after a median time of 3 months. Postoperative paraneoplastic FVIII inhibitors may be regarded as a special, not yet recognized subgroup of acquired FVIII antibodies. They share some characteristics with postpartum FVIII inhibitors with regard to the latency period between the triggering event and the appearance of the antibody, and between the usually low antibody titres and their good response to immunosuppressive treatment.
Ethical challenges in nursing emergency practice
Authors: Langeland Kari , Sørlie Venke
Published: April 2011

Aim. The aim of this study is to illuminate nurses’ experiences of being in ethically difficult situations in an emergency ward.

Background. Nurses working in emergency practice are frequently faced with ethical issues and challenges in their work. Many studies have been conducted concerning ethical challenges, but no empirical studies related to ethics in emergency wards in Norway have been carried out.

Design. A qualitative interview study was conducted.

Method. Five registered nurses were interviewed about their experiences in an emergency ward in a hospital in Norway. The concept of ethically difficult situations was not defined that the question was left open for the respondents themselves to define what they experienced as ethically difficult. A phenomenological hermeneutical method was used.

Results. The most salient point revealed by the study is the enormous difficulty associated with the prioritisation of tasks and the attendant sense of responsibility which this entailed, particularly in the case of nurses in charge. The narratives reveal the vulnerability of the nurses in ethically challenging situations.

Conclusions. Despite the pressure of responsibility for their patients, the nurses enjoy a sense of satisfaction in their work. Those recognising the ethical dimension in their own professional practice are unable to hide behind others and thus evade their share of the responsibility.

Relevance to clinical practice. Nurses with similar experiences may find the results credible recognising the descriptions or interpretations and seeing them in relation to similar situations. Nurses working on medical and surgical wards, in nursing homes and community care may also feel a great responsibility, difficulties in prioritising and a lack of time for the patients.
Exploring young people’s expectations and experiences of discussing sexual and relationship health with professionals in a children’s hospital
Authors: Sanders Caroline , Pritchard Erica , Bray Lucy , McKenna Jacqueline
Published: April 2011

Aim and objective. The purpose of this study was to explore young people’s expectations and experiences of discussing sexual and relationship health with healthcare professionals whilst attending or having been admitted to an acute children’s hospital.

Background. Sexual health and teenage pregnancy are topics of debate in the context of public health. Programmes that provide sexual and relationship education to young people are often delivered in education and/or community health settings. However, a significant proportion of young people access acute health services, yet the literature on acute service providers opportunistically providing sexual and relationship advice to young people is limited.

Design. Survey.

Methods. One hundred young people attending either an outpatient appointment or being discharged following an in‐patient episode on a hospital ward were approached to complete a questionnaire. Discussion of the questionnaire findings was undertaken with a group of eight young people, which enriched the interpretation and provided clarity of the findings.

Results. The topic of sexual and relationship health was important to young people. Although young people infrequently sought advice when in acute settings, they wanted to know there was a choice to discuss these issues with healthcare professionals in the hospital. Young people suggested that professionals needed to have a level of sensitivity and confidence to be able to initiate sexual and relationship discussions with young people.

Conclusion. The information from the questionnaires and the discussion group highlighted that young people feel they need to know there is an option to discuss sexual and relationship health whilst attending or being admitted to an acute children’s hospital. By giving young people a choice to participate or decline in dialogues about sexual and relationship health, a degree of empowerment and level of respect can be encouraged between young people and healthcare professionals.

Relevance to clinical practice. Healthcare professionals need to be mindful of opportunities to engage young people in maximising their health and well‐being, this includes providing them with a choice to discuss sexual and relationship health issues in any health setting.
The performance of phylogenetic algorithms in estimating haplotype genealogies with migration
Authors: SALZBURGER WALTER , EWING GREG B. , Von HAESELER ARNDT
Published: April 2011

Genealogies estimated from haplotypic genetic data play a prominent role in various biological disciplines in general and in phylogenetics, population genetics and phylogeography in particular. Several software packages have specifically been developed for the purpose of reconstructing genealogies from closely related, and hence, highly similar haplotype sequence data. Here, we use simulated data sets to test the performance of traditional phylogenetic algorithms, neighbour‐joining, maximum parsimony and maximum likelihood in estimating genealogies from nonrecombining haplotypic genetic data. We demonstrate that these methods are suitable for constructing genealogies from sets of closely related DNA sequences with or without migration. As genealogies based on phylogenetic reconstructions are fully resolved, but not necessarily bifurcating, and without reticulations, these approaches outperform widespread ‘network’ constructing methods. In our simulations of coalescent scenarios involving panmictic, symmetric and asymmetric migration, we found that phylogenetic reconstruction methods performed well, while the statistical parsimony approach as implemented in TCS performed poorly. Overall, parsimony as implemented in the PHYLIP package performed slightly better than other methods. We further point out that we are not making the case that widespread ‘network’ constructing methods are bad, but that traditional phylogenetic tree finding methods are applicable to haplotypic data and exhibit reasonable performance with respect to accuracy and robustness. We also discuss some of the problems of converting a tree to a haplotype genealogy, in particular that it is nonunique.
Seroepidemiology of varicella‐zoster virus and reliability of varicella history in Turkish children, adolescents and adults
Authors: Koturoglu Guldane , Kurugol Zafer , Turkoglu Ebru
Published: April 2011

Koturoglu G, Kurugol Z, Turkoglu E. Seroepidemiology of varicella‐zoster virus and reliability of varicella history in Turkish children, adolescents and adults. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2011; 25: 388–393.

This study aimed to assess the age specific varicella‐zoster virus (VZV) seroprevalence in Izmir, Turkey and to determine the reliability of a history of varicella to detect susceptible children, adolescents and adults. A questionnaire, including previous history of varicella, was completed for each participant and, in 590 of them, VZV‐specific IgG was measured using an ELISA test. Overall, 28.5% of individuals were seronegative for VZV. By 5 years of age, only 25.5% of children were seropositive for VZV. Among adolescents and young adults, 18.8% and 11.7% were seronegative, respectively. The negative predictive value was 57.8%, decreasing with age (81.9% in children, 34.5% in adolescents and 8.3% in adults). In conclusion, a negative history of varicella is not a reliable predictor of varicella antibody status in adolescents and young adults. Serological testing before immunisation will be logical, rather than presumptive vaccination, for adolescents and adults with negative history of varicella.
Carbonate pseudotachylytes: evidence for seismic faulting along carbonate faults
Authors: Viganò Alfio , Tumiati Simone , Recchia Sandro , Martin Silvana , Marelli Marcello , Rigon Riccardo
Published: April 2011

Terra Nova, 23, 187–194, 2011

The Canalone Porta fault, developed within dolomitic and marly limestones in the Grigna Massif (Southern Alps, Italy), shows two types of reddish veins: one parallel to the principal slip plane (fault‐veins) and the other intruding the fault host rock (injection‐veins). The veins have a dominant carbonate composition and show a microtexture with millimetre‐sized clasts embedded in a fine‐grained matrix. This matrix is composed of micrometre‐sized globular clusters of micrometre‐ to nanometre‐sized calcite and dolomite crystals, bound together by K‐bearing aluminosilicate glass. Field and petrological data suggest that this carbonate‐rich matrix represents an undercooled melt‐bearing assemblage produced at T ≈ 700 °C and P ≈ 0.1–0.2 GPa. The Canalone Porta veins are therefore carbonate pseudotachylytes, i.e. the friction‐induced melting product of carbonate rocks. Herein, we discuss the scarcity of these rocks in general and criteria to find and recognize them along relatively deep fault zones.
Punch planting, flame weeding and delayed sowing to reduce intra‐row weeds in row crops
Authors: RASMUSSEN J , HENRIKSEN C B , GRIEPENTROG H W , NIELSEN J
Published: April 2011

Rasmussen J, Henriksen CB, Griepentrog HW & Nielsen J (2011). Punch planting, flame weeding and delayed sowing to reduce intra‐row weeds in row crops. Weed Research51, 489–498.

Punch planting has recently been suggested as a technique to reduce intra‐row weeds in organically grown row crops. The technique is to punch holes in the ground and seeds are then inserted, with a minimum of soil disturbance outside the hole. Two series of experiments with a tractor‐mounted prototype of a dibber drill (MK III) are presented. In the first series, three crop establishment procedures were compared over 2 years at five different sowing dates in sugar beet and direct‐sown onion. The crop establishment procedures were as follows: (i) normal sowing and mechanical control of weeds in the stale seedbed (N), (ii) N + pre‐emergence flame weeding (N + F) and (iii) punch planting and flame weeding to control weeds in the seedbed prior to crop emergence (P + F). The difference between N and N + F treatments quantifies the effect of pre‐emergence flame weeding, and the difference between N + F and P + F quantifies the effect of punch planting. Punch planting reduced the average intra‐row weed density by 37% in onion but had no main effect in sugar beet. In the second series of experiments in carrot, which compared the N + F and the P + F treatments only, punch planting reduced the average intra‐row weed density by 34%. Pre‐emergence flame weeding reduced the average weed density by 59% in onion and by 47% in sugar beet. Delayed sowing without pre‐emergence flame weeding only reduced weed emergence in 1 of 2 years, whereas delayed sowing had a more pronounced effect in flame‐weeded (N + F) and punch‐planted plots (P + F). In sugar beet and onion, there were complex interactions between crop establishment procedure, year and delayed sowing, which are partly explained by weather conditions and species‐specific germination patterns. It was concluded that technical improvements to the dibber drill (MK III) are required to take advantage of punch planting to reduce intra‐row weed densities.
Attitudes and beliefs of South African medical students toward organ transplantation
Authors: Sobnach Sanju , Borkum Megan , Millar Alastair J. W. , Hoffman Ross , Muller Elmi , McCurdie Fiona , Kahn Delawir
Published: April 2011

Sobnach S, Borkum M, Millar AJW, Hoffman R, Muller E, McCurdie F, Kahn D. Attitudes and beliefs of South African medical students toward organ transplantation.  Clin Transplant 2011 DOI: 10.1111/j.1399‐0012.2011.01449.x.  © 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

Abstract:  The aim of this study was to assess and analyse the attitudes and beliefs of medical students regarding organ donation, procurement, and transplantation. Medical students at the University of Cape Town were prospectively surveyed using a self‐administered questionnaire. There were 346 study participants; the mean age was 21 (range 18–33) yr, 38% were male and 62% was female. Only 8% of respondents were registered donors; clinical and white students constituted the majority of this group. Of the 315 “non‐donors,” the main reason for not donating was “I have not really thought about organ donation” (59%). Most students (91%) would accept an artificial organ; and 87% and 52% of students would accept human and animal organs respectively. Muslim students (11%, p < 0.05) and those who believe in an after‐life or reincarnation (18%, p = 0.00) were less willing to accept human or animal organs. About 95% of respondents stated that they would like to learn more about transplantation and would keep information about it in their practice but only 18% of respondents knew where to find information for potential donors and recipients. Most students have a favorable attitude toward organ transplantation; religion and belief systems impact on willingness to receive organs.
Differential major histocompatibility complex class I chain‐related A allele associations with skin and joint manifestations of psoriatic disease
Authors: Pollock R. , Chandran V. , Barrett J. , Eder L. , Pellett F. , Yao C. , Lino M. , Shanmugarajah S. , Farewell V. T. , Gladman D. D.
Published: April 2011

About 30% of patients with psoriasis have psoriatic arthritis (PsA), an inflammatory arthritis that can affect both axial and peripheral joints. Major histocompatibility complex class I chain‐related A (MICA) alleles have previously been shown to be associated with PsA; however it is unclear whether there is a differential association of MICA alleles with skin and joint manifestations of PsA. Here, we describe a case‐control study that aims to validate previously reported MICA allele associations with PsA and determine whether MICA alleles differentiate patients with PsA from those with psoriasis without PsA. Two hundred forty‐nine unrelated Caucasian PsA patients, 243 psoriasis patients without arthritis, and 248 healthy controls were genotyped for 55 MICA alleles using PCR–SSP, and for human leucocyte antigen (HLA)‐B and HLA‐C alleles by PCR–SSO reverse line blot. Allele frequencies were calculated and logistic regressions were performed, adjusting for HLA‐B and HLA‐C alleles previously shown to be associated with psoriasis and/or PsA. Several MICA alleles were associated with psoriatic disease, PsA, and psoriasis compared with controls, and PsA compared with psoriasis in univariate analyses. Haplotype analysis showed evidence of strong linkage disequilibrium (LD) between PsA and psoriasis risk alleles of HLA‐C, HLA‐B, and MICA. After adjusting for significant HLA‐B and HLA‐C alleles in multivariate analyses, MICA*016 remained significantly associated with psoriasis [odds ratio (OR) = 5.5, P = 0.008]. MICA*00801 homozygosity was associated with susceptibility to PsA when compared with patients with psoriasis alone (OR = 2.26, P = 0.009). We conclude that most MICA allele associations with psoriasis and PsA are dependent on LD with HLA‐B and HLA‐C risk alleles. Independent of HLA, only MICA*016 influences the risk of developing psoriasis without arthritis, and homozygosity for MICA*00801 increases the risk of developing PsA in patients with psoriasis.
Aspergillus endocarditis in lung transplant recipients: case report and literature review
Authors: Lázaro M. , Ramos A. , Ussetti P. , Asensio A. , Laporta R. , Muñez E. , Sánchez‐Romero I. , Tejerina E. , Burgos R. , Moñivas V. , Varela A.
Published: April 2011

M. Lázaro, A. Ramos, P. Ussetti, A. Asensio, R. Laporta, E. Muñez, I. Sánchez‐Romero, E. Tejerina, R. Burgos, V. Moñivas, A. Varela. Aspergillus endocarditis in lung transplant recipients: case report and literature review. Transpl Infect Dis 2011: 13: 186–191. All rights reserved

Abstract: We present a case of endocarditis caused by Aspergillus in a lung transplant (LT) patient and review 6 previously reported cases. All cases were caused by Aspergillus fumigatus. Five patients (71%) were transplanted due to cystic fibrosis. None of the patients had any previously known valvular heart disease. The time that elapsed between LT surgery and the diagnosis of Aspergillus endocarditis was 8±6 months. Large peripheral emboli were observed in 6 patients (85%); blood cultures were negative in all. Transthoracic echocardiography did not detect the presence of vegetations in 3 patients (43%); the vegetations measured >1.5 cm in all cases. Five patients (71%) died from disseminated disease. Both survivors underwent combined therapy with antifungal drugs and surgical treatment.
Histochemical screening, metabolite profiling and expression analysis reveal Rosaceae roots as the site of flavan‐3‐ol biosynthesis
Authors: Hoffmann T. , Friedlhuber R. , Steinhauser C. , Tittel I. , Skowranek K. , Schwab W. , Fischer T. C.
Published: April 2011

Histochemical screening of 30 Rosaceae genera representing all classic subfamilies demonstrated flavan‐3‐ols (catechins) as general secondary metabolites in roots of Rosaceae. Semi‐quantitative LC‐MS analyses confirmed the presence of catechin, epicatechin and various dimeric flavan‐3‐ols (also representing higher polymeric proanthocyanidins) as prominent polyphenols in root tips of Fragaria (strawberry), Malus (apple), Rosa (rose), Pyrus (pear) and Prunus (plum). Distinct patterns of flavan‐3‐ol distribution at the cellular level were found in strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) and apple (Malus × domestica) root tips. The calyptras (root caps) showed the most prominent flavan‐3‐ol staining for these two genera. Border cells of Fragaria and Malus, as first demonstrated here for Rosaceae, were also found to contain flavan‐3‐ols. Transcript analyses with cDNA demonstrated root expression of known flavonoid genes expressed in the respective fruits and leaves. Primarily, this proves in situ biosynthesis of flavan‐3‐ols in these roots. Knowledge of the distinct cellular distribution patterns and their in situ biosynthesis in roots provides a basis for analysis of the functional roles of Rosaceae root flavan‐3‐ols.
Paramuricea clavata (Anthozoa, Octocorallia) loss in the Marine Protected Area of Tavolara (Sardinia, Italy) due to a mass mortality event
Authors: Huete‐Stauffer Carla , Vielmini Ilaria , Palma Marco , Navone Augusto , Panzalis Pier , Vezzulli Luigi , Misic Cristina , Cerrano Carlo
Published: April 2011

Recent studies highlight an increase in the frequency and intensity of marine mass mortalities of several species over the past 30–40 years, mainly in tropical and temperate areas. In the Mediterranean Sea these episodes particularly affect benthic suspension feeders, such as sponges and cnidarians. The main objective of this work was to document the loss of one of the main Mediterranean seascapes, Paramuricea clavata forests at the Marine Protected Area of Tavolara Punta Coda Cavallo, Sardinia (Italy), during the summer of 2008. Data regarding colony height, density, level of damage, and microbiological community were collected at two sites. Such parameters help us understand how mass mortality mechanisms act on this ecosystem engineer. We identified a change in size class distribution following a mass mortality that leaves mainly small colonies with a decrease in habitat complexity. Several tests on water chemistry demonstrate that the mortality event was not caused by local contamination. Moreover, microbiological tests on potential pathogenic agents suggest that bacteria belonging to the genus Vibrio are present as an opportunistic and not an etiological cause of P. clavata mortality events. Possible restoration approaches are discussed.
Latitudinal range shifts in Australian flying‐foxes: A re‐evaluation
Authors: ROBERTS BILLIE J. , CATTERALL CARLA P. , EBY PEGGY , KANOWSKI JOHN
Published: April 2011

Recent range shifts towards higher latitudes have been reported for many animals and plants in the northern hemisphere, and are commonly attributed to changes in climate. Relatively little is known about such changes in the southern hemisphere, although it has been suggested that latitudinal distributions of the fruit‐batsPteropus alectoandPteropus poliocephaluschanged during the 20th century in response to climate change in eastern Australia. However, historical changes in these species distributions have not been examined systematically. In this study we obtained historical locality records from a wide range of sources (including banding and museum records, government wildlife databases and unpublished records), and filtered them for reliability and spatial accuracy. The latitudinal distribution of each species was compared between eight time‐periods (1843–1920, 1921–1950, five 10‐year intervals between 1950 and 2000, and 2001–2007), using analyses of both the filtered point data (P. alecto870 records,P. poliocephalus2506) and presence/absence data within 50 × 50 km grid cells. The results do not support the hypothesis that either species range is shifting in a manner driven by climate change. First, neither the northern or southern range limits ofP. poliocephalus(Mackay, Queensland and Melbourne, Victoria respectively) changed over time. Second,P. alecto's range limit extended southward by 1168 km (approximately 10.5 degrees latitude) during the twentieth century (from approximately Rockhampton, Queensland to Sydney, New South Wales). Within this zone of southward expansion (25–29°S), the percentage of total records that wereP. alectoincreased from 8% prior to 1950 to 49% in the early 2000s, and local count data showed that its abundance increased from several hundred to more than 10 000 individuals at specific roost sites, as range expansion progressed.Pteropus alectoexpanded southward at about 100 km/decade, compared with the 10–26 km/decade rate of isotherm change, and analyses of historical weather data show that the species consequently moved into recently‐colder regions than it had previously occupied. Neither climate change nor habitat change could provide simple explanations to explainP. alecto's observed rapid range shift. More generally, climate change should not be uncritically inferred as a primary driver of species range shifts without careful quantitative analyses.
Effects of a short fire‐return interval on resources and assemblage structure of birds in a tropical savanna
Authors: VALENTINE LEONIE E. , SCHWARZKOPF LIN , JOHNSON CHRISTOPHER N.
Published: April 2011

Fire frequency is a key land management issue, particularly in tropical savannas where fire is widely used and fire recurrence times are often short. We used an extended Before‐After‐Control‐Impact design to examine the impacts of repeated wet‐season burning for weed control on bird assemblages in a tropical savanna in north Queensland, Australia. Experimentally replicated fire treatments (unburnt, singularly bunt, twice burnt), in two habitats (riparian and adjacent open woodland), were surveyed over 3 years (1 year before the second burn, 1 year post the second burn, 2 years post the second burn) to examine responses of birds to a rapid recurrence of fire. Following the second burn, species richness and overall bird abundance were lower in the twice‐burnt sites than either the unburnt or singularly burnt sites. Feeding group composition varied across year of survey, but within each year, feeding guilds grouped according to fire treatment. In particular, abundance of frugivores and insectivores was lower in twice‐burnt sites, probably because of the decline of a native shrub that produces fleshy fruits, Carissa ovata. Although broader climatic variability may ultimately determine overall bird assemblages, our results show that a short fire‐return interval will substantially influence bird responses at a local scale. Considering that fire is frequently used as a land management tool, our results emphasize the importance of determining appropriate fire‐free intervals.
Airborne laser scanning for vegetation structure quantification in a south east Australian scrubby forest‐woodland
Authors: JENKINS ROSS B.
Published: April 2011

Airborne laser scanning (ALS) has the potential to capture a range vegetation structural metrics, but most studies have focussed on conifer or mixed conifer‐deciduous cool‐temperate or boreal forests. This study focuses on a warm‐temperate eucalypt forest, where two epochs of ALS data, captured approximately 2 years apart, were compared with plot and transect field data collected after the second ALS epoch. Linear regression was used to compare metrics from field and ALS data, and Student's t‐tests were used to compare metrics from the two ALS epochs. Statistically significant relationships were found for tree height (R2 = 0.915; SE = 2.08 m; P < 0.01) and canopy cover (R2 = 0.508; SE = 16.4%; P < 0.01). Foliage projective cover was also significantly correlated (R2 = 0.916; SE = 4.5%; P < 0.01) at a 10‐m stratification, but not at the typically computed 2‐m stratification, because of the presence of a tall scrubby understorey. Statistically significant values were also obtained from ALS data captured 2 years earlier, although correlation was not as strong, most likely because of the greater interval between fieldwork and ALS capture. Importantly, significant agreement was found for all metrics when the two ALS epochs were compared, suggesting that the metrics are robust.
A clinical and radiological comparison of sigmoid diverticulitis episodes 1 and 2
Authors: Gervaz P. , Platon A. , Widmer L. , Ambrosetti P. , Poletti P.‐A.
Published: April 2011

Aim  After an initial uncomplicated attack, sigmoid diverticulitis may recur, but the morphological characteristics of recurrent diverticulitis have not been investigated. We compared the clinical and radiological severity, the respective location and clinical outcome of the first two episodes of sigmoid diverticulitis.

Method  We reviewed the charts of 60 patients [median age 61 (range 31–90) years] who were admitted initially for a first episode of uncomplicated left colonic diverticulitis, and who were eventually readmitted for a second episode, both being documented by abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan.

Results  The median delay between the two episodes was 19 (3–97) months. Six (10%) patients developed a second complicated episode of diverticulitis [Hinchey II (n = 2), CT‐guided percutaneous drainage; Hinchey III (n = 3), emergency Hartmann’s operation; colovesical fistula (n = 1), elective sigmoid resection]. Fifty‐four (90%) patients were admitted for a second episode of uncomplicated diverticulitis. In this group, the duration of hospital stay [11 (4–22) vs 10 (1–39) days, P = 0.28], serum levels of C‐reactive protein [131 (31–350) vs 112 (22–333) mm, P = 0.62] and CT scan‐based severity score [3 (1–6) vs 3 (0–7) points, P = 0.07] were similar between the two episodes. In 19 out of 54 (35%) patients with simple recurrent diverticulitis, although disease severity was similar, the disease topography differed and recurrence involved another segment of the left colon.

Conclusion  The majority of patients who develop recurrence do so in a similar mode and location. However, 10% develop complicated diverticulitis and in 35% of patients recurrent diverticulitis occurs at a different location.
Bridging the gap between the other and me: the functional role of motor resonance and action effects in infants’ imitation
Authors: Paulus Markus , Hunnius Sabine , Vissers Marlies , Bekkering Harold
Published: April 2011

This paper investigates a two‐stage model of infants’ imitative learning from observed actions and their effects. According to this model, the observation of another person’s action activates the corresponding motor code in the infants’ motor repertoire (i.e. leads to motor resonance). The second process guiding imitative behavior results from the observed action effects. If the modeled action is followed by a salient action effect, the representation of this effect (i.e. perceptual code) will be associated with the activated motor code. If the infant later aims to obtain the same effect, the corresponding motor program will be activated and the model’s action will therefore be imitated. Accordingly, the model assumes that for the imitation of novel actions the modeled action needs to elicit sufficient motor resonance and must be followed by a salient action effect. Using the head touch imitation paradigm, we tested these two assumptions derived from the model. To this end, we manipulated whether the actions demonstrated to the infants were or were not in the motor repertoire, i.e. elicited stronger or less strong motor resonance, and whether they were followed by salient action effects or not. The results were in line with the proposed two‐stage model of infants’ imitative learning and suggest that motor resonance is necessary, but not sufficient for infants’ imitative learning from others’ actions and their effects.
Long‐term changes in prevalence of overweight and obesity in Czech 7‐year‐old children: evaluation of different cut‐off criteria of childhood obesity
Authors: Kunešová M. , Vignerová J. , Pařízková J. , Procházka B. , Braunerová R. , Riedlová J. , Zamrazilová H. , Hill M. , Bláha P. , Šteflová A.
Published: April 2011

The objective of this paper was an evaluation of change in prevalence of overweight and obesity in Czech children, and a comparison of cut‐off points for body mass index references from the Czech Republic (CzR), International Obesity Task Force and WHO. The authors conducted a survey in 7‐year‐old children, and compared data from 1951, 1981, 1991, 2001 and 2008 (WHO cut‐offs). 2008 data were evaluated according to different cut‐offs. Results showed that since 1951 in boys, overweight prevalence increased from 13.0% in 1951 to 26.8% in 2001, in girls from 10.9% to 22.9%. Obesity increased in boys from 1.7% to 8.3%, in girls from 1.7% to 6.9%. From 2001 to 2008 obesity in boys increased; obesity in girls and overweight in both genders decreased. In 2008 cohort the following values were found: overweight and obesity: CzR criteria, percentage was lowest (14.8% boys and 11.1% girls); WHO criteria, highest prevalence (23.5% boys and 19.5% girls); obesity: lowest ratio International Obesity Task Force criteria (4.4% boys, 3.3% girls), highest ratio boys WHO criteria (10.0%), girls CzR criteria (5.0%). Overweight and obesity prevalence increased in 7‐year‐old Czech children since 1951; since 2001 prevalence is plateauing with exception of boys. Using different body mass index references resulted in marked differences in overweight and obesity prevalence.