bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predictors of healthy behaviour in long‐term survivors of childhood cancer
Authors: Lee Ya‐Ling , Santacroce Sheila Judge , Sadler Lois
Published: October 2007

Aim.  The objective of this study was to examine the factors contributing to healthy behaviour in young adult long‐term survivors of childhood cancer.

Background.  Young adult childhood cancer survivors can adopt more healthy behaviour than the general population as a way to minimize the adverse consequences, that is, late effects of cancer and its treatment. Knowledge about the predictors of healthy behaviour in childhood cancer survivors can help providers assist young adult survivors with minimizing late effects.

Design and methods.  A cross‐sectional correlational design and convenience sampling were used. Data were collected by mailed survey. Study measures included an investigator‐developed demographic and disease form, the Mishel Uncertainty in Illness Scale‐Community, the Post‐traumatic Stress Disorder Index and the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile II. Fifty‐one per cent (N = 46) of eligible survivors responded to the survey. Data from 45 participants were used in the analyses.

Results.  43·3% of variance in healthy behaviour was explained by a model that included uncertainty (β = −0·37, p = 0·007), post‐traumatic stress symptoms (β = −0·10, p = −0·44), interactions with primary care providers (β = 0·33, p = 0·01) and a history of special educational assistance (β = −0·23, p = 0·06).

Conclusion.  Young adult childhood cancer survivors who have higher levels of uncertainty, higher levels of symptoms of post‐traumatic stress, lower frequency of primary healthcare interaction and poorer cognitive resources were more likely to report lower levels of healthy behaviour.

Relevance to clinical practice.  The findings can guide the clinical assessment of young adult survivors with regard to their health behaviours and needs they may have for education and supportive care. Findings also help inform the design of health promotion interventions for this specific group of cancer survivors.
Communication between patients with chronic kidney disease and nurses about managing pain in the acute hospital setting
Authors: Manias Elizabeth , Williams Allison
Published: October 2007

Aim.  The aim of this paper is to examine communication between patients with chronic kidney disease and nurses about managing pain in the acute hospital setting.

Background.  While pain often accompanies chronic kidney disease, little is known about managing pain in actual clinical practice.

Design.  A single group, non‐comparative design was used.

Methods.  Research methods included observations and interviews to examine pain communication in all five adult renal units in the state of Victoria, Australia. A thematic approach was used to analyse the data.

Results.  Observations and interviews were carried out with 14 nurses and 53 patients and 103 incidents of pain communication occurred during observations. Three themes were identified: complexity of pain, knowledge about pain management and contextual characteristics of the renal units. The nature of the patients’ pain and effects of analgesics on the body shaped the complexity of pain in chronic kidney disease. Various causes of pain contributed to difficulties in management. Patients had acute pain from surgical procedures, in particular, phantom limb pain. They also had chronic pain arising from leg cramps, restless leg syndrome, and muscle and bone pain. Knowledge about pain management comprised the use of written resources about analgesics and information exchange among health professionals. Contextual characteristics involved the perceived urgency of pain communication and environmental stressors.

Conclusions.  The findings emphasize the need to capture dynamic processes of pain management in patients with chronic kidney disease to facilitate understandings about complex communication needs of this vulnerable group.

Relevance to clinical practice.  Specific analgesic and non‐pharmacological guidelines for patients with chronic kidney disease should be developed and made available in practice to facilitate effective pain management. Change champions of renal units are needed to support nurses in dedicating specified time for communicating with patients about managing pain.
Diabetes: a cross‐cultural interview study of immigrants from Somalia
Authors: Wallin Anne‐Marie , Löfvander Monica , Ahlström Gerd
Published: October 2007

Aim.  To describe how diabetic immigrants from Somalia experience everyday life in Sweden and how they manage diabetes‐related problems, with inclusion of a gender perspective.

Background.  To treat and care for minority populations successfully, healthcare staff in Sweden must thoroughly understand the illness experiences of different ethnic groups. However, no studies have so far been reported that focus on immigrants from Somalia with diabetes.

Design.  Descriptive, qualitative interview study with 19 diabetic adults born in Somalia and now living in Sweden.

Method.  Cross‐cultural interviews with the aid of an interpreter. The transcribed interviews were subjected to qualitative latent content analysis, resulting in sub‐themes and themes.

Results.  Four themes emerged: experience of distress in everyday life; everyday life continues as before; comprehensibility gives a feeling of control; and being compliant. A major finding was the variation in how the participants managed the fasting month of Ramadan. Several participants fasted and did not see the diabetes as an obstacle, others did see it as an obstacle or indicated that fasting was not compulsory for a sick person.

Conclusions.  This study provides healthcare staff with information about how a minority group experience and manage diabetes. The results indicate the importance of considering cultural background, as well as religious traditions such as Ramadan, in diabetes care. They also indicate that men and women differ in their reaction to diabetes and that care should be adapted to this.

Relevance for clinical practice.  It is important to develop evidence‐based guidelines for diabetes care in ethnic groups that are fasting during Ramadan to prevent complications and promote relevant self‐care. Further, the prescribed dietary advice must be culturally appropriate.
Immunoreactivity to Neurofilaments in the Rodent Anterior Pituitary is Associated with the Expression of α1A Protein Subunits of Voltage‐Gated Ca2+ Channels
Authors: Fiordelisio T. , Jiménez N. , Baba S. , Shiba K. , Hernández‐Cruz A.
Published: October 2007

We recently reported that rodent anterior pituitary (AP) cells (with the exception of corticotrophs and melanotrophs) express neuronal markers, including 68‐kDa neurofilaments (NF68) in an oestrogen‐dependent manner. The functional significance of neurofilament (NF) expression in the AP is unknown, but recent data in myelinated nerve fibres from NF‐null mice suggest that NFs can regulate ion channel function. Because Ca2+ influx through voltage‐gated Ca2+ channels is required for hormone secretion in AP cells, and oestrogen regulates the expression of Ca2+ channels in AP cells, the present study examined the expression of α1 subunits of voltage gated Ca2+ channels in relation to that of NF68. Using quantitative immunofluorescence, we demonstrate that α1C and α1D subunits are abundantly expressed in female AP cells, α1A subunits are moderately expressed, and α1G and α1B subunits are expressed at the lowest levels. Double‐immunostaining showed that NF68 expression is not correlated with that of α1C, α1D or α1B. Expression of α1G and NF68 appear to be mutually exclusive from each other. Moreover, α1A subunit and NF68 expression are significantly correlated and α1A immunoreactivity is sexually dimorphic (i.e. low in males and high in females) and its levels of expression vary during the oestrous cycle, similar to NF68. Finally, ω‐agatoxin IVA, a specific blocker of P/Q type Ca2+ currents that are a result of the activity of α1A subunits, inhibited to a greater extent spontaneous [Ca2+]i fluctuations in AP cells from females in oestrous and dioestrous, whereas cells from females in pro‐oestrous and males were less affected by this toxin. These results suggest a preferential participation of P/Q‐type Ca2+ channels and hence α1A subunits, in regulating spontaneous Ca2+ transients in AP cells under conditions where the proportion of NF68‐expressing cells is high. It remains to be determined whether the expression of NF68 affects that of α1A Ca2+ channel subunits or vice versa.
The Genetic Basis for the Timing of Human Puberty
Authors: Banerjee I. , Clayton P.
Published: October 2007

Puberty is a complex, coordinated biological process with multiple levels of regulation. Epidemiological observations suggest that the timing of pubertal events is a heritable trait, although environmental factors can modulate such genetic influence. The study of pathological states of early and late puberty has provided valuable insight into those genes that regulate gonadotrophin‐releasing hormone (GnRH) activity. The development of pulsatile release of GnRH secretion mediated through kisspeptin‐1 activation of G‐protein coupled receptor‐54 appears to be a central event at the onset and during progression of puberty. Stimulating and restraining influences (e.g. in the form of glutamatergic and GABAergic neuronal inputs) are likely to influence the timing of this process. The study of extreme variants of ‘normality’, such as constitutional delay of growth and puberty and early puberty, may lead to the recognition of additional genes and pathways that can modulate both the timing of pubertal onset and its tempo.
Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein Expression and Pregnenolone Synthesis in Rat Astrocyte Cultures
Authors: Karri S. , Dertien J. S. , Stocco D. M. , Syapin P. J.
Published: October 2007

Neurosteroids are steroids synthesised by brain cells. The molecular mechanism of neurosteroidogenesis from cholesterol has not yet been revealed. We studied the potential role of the steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) protein in neurosterodogenesis by using rat brain astrocytes. The novelty of the study is that regulation of StAR is described in primary cultures from embryonic mesencephalon and cerebellum regions of the brain. Dibutyryl cyclic AMP (dbcAMP) treatment increased StAR protein expression in astrocyte cultures. This was observed in immunoblots of mitochondrial fractions and by immunocytochemistry. Dual‐labelling showed that the cyclic AMP‐induced increase in StAR immunofluorescence was localised to mitochondria. In addition, mitochondrial cytochrome P450‐side chain cleavage enzyme was demonstrated with a specific antibody, indicating the potential for pregnenolone production in these cells. Radioimmunoassay on ether‐extracted conditioned media of control and dbcAMP treated cells demonstrated pregnenolone production by mesencephalic and cerebellar astrocyte cultures. Furthermore, 24‐h pregnenolone levels, in the presence of inhibitors of further pregnenolone metabolism, were significantly increased by dbcAMP exposure. A murineStARpromoter–luciferase fusion plasmid was activated by dbcAMP in transiently transfected mesencephalic and cerebellar astrocytes. These novel results indicate that cyclic AMP signalling can regulate StAR expression and pregnenolone production in brain astrocytes, and provide additional insight into the role of StAR in neurosteroidogenesis.
14‐3‐3 Proteins Within the Hypothalamic‐Neurohypophyseal System of the Osmotically Stressed Rat: Transcriptomic and Proteomic Studies
Authors: Gouraud S. S. , Yao S. T. , Heesom K. J. , Paton J. F. R. , Murphy D.
Published: October 2007

The hypothalamic‐neurohypophyseal system (HNS) mediates neuroendocrine responses to dehydration through the actions of the antidiuretic hormone vasopressin (VP) and the natriuetic peptide oxytocin (OT). VP and OT are synthesised as separate prepropeptide precursors in the cell bodies of magnocellular neurones in the hypothalamic supraoptic nucleus (SON) and paraventricular nucleus, the axons of which innervate the posterior pituitary gland (PP). Dehydration evokes a massive release of both peptides into the circulation, and this is accompanied by a function‐related remodelling of the HNS. Microarray studies on mRNAs differentially expressed in the SON revealed that transcripts encoding the Ywhag and Ywhaz isoforms of the 14‐3‐3 family of regulatory proteins, are increased in the rat SON by 3 days of water deprivation; findings that we have confirmed by the real‐time polymerase chain reaction. Because there is no necessary proportionality between transcript and protein abundance, we next examined Ywhag and Ywhaz translation products throughout the HNS in parallel with 14‐3‐3 post‐translational modification, which is known to be an important determinant of functional activity. Both proteins are robustly expressed in the SON in VP‐ and OT‐containing neurones, but the abundance of neither changes with dehydration. However, the total level of Ywhaz protein is increased in the neurointermediate lobe of the pituitary (NIL, which includes the PP), in parallel with a basic post‐translationally modified isoform, suggesting transport from the cell bodies of the SON of newly‐synthesised protein and changes in its activity. The level of an acidic, probably phosphorylated, Ywhag isoform is down‐regulated in the SON by dehydration, although total levels are unchanged. Finally, based on the presence of a phosphorylated 14‐3‐3 binding motif, we have identified a 14‐3‐3 binding partner, proteasome subunit, beta type 7, in the NIL. Thus, we suggest that, through complex transcriptional, and post‐translational processes, 14‐3‐3 proteins are involved in the regulation or mediation of HNS plasticity following dehydration.
Effect of the Glucocorticoid Receptor Antagonist Org 34850 on Basal and Stress‐Induced Corticosterone Secretion
Authors: Spiga F. , Harrison L. R. , Wood S. A. , Atkinson H. C. , MacSweeney C. P. , Thomson F. , Craighead M. , Grassie M. , Lightman S. L.
Published: October 2007

The activity of the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal (HPA) axis is characterised both by an ultradian pulsatile pattern of glucocorticoid secretion and an endogenous diurnal rhythm. Glucocorticoid feedback plays a major role in regulating HPA axis activity and this mechanism occurs via two different receptors: mineralocorticoid (MR) and glucocorticoid receptors (GR). In the present study, the effects of both acute and subchronic treatment with the GR antagonist Org 34850 on basal and stress‐induced HPA axis activity in male rats were evaluated. To investigate the effect of Org 34850 on basal diurnal corticosterone rhythm over the 24‐h cycle, an automated blood sampling system collected samples every 10 min. Acute injection of Org 34850 (10 mg/kg, s.c.) did not affect basal or stress‐induced corticosterone secretion, but was able to antagonise the inhibitory effect of the glucocorticoid agonist methylprednisolone on stress‐induced corticosterone secretion. However, 5 days of treatment with Org 34850 (10 mg/kg, s.c., two times a day), compared to rats treated with vehicle (5% mulgofen in 0.9% saline, 1 ml/kg, s.c.), increased corticosterone secretion over the 24‐h cycle and resulted in changes in the pulsatile pattern of hormone release, but had no significant effect on adrenocorticotrophic hormone secretion or on stress‐induced corticosterone secretion. Subchronic treatment with Org 34850 did not alter GR mRNA expression in the hippocampus, paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus or anterior‐pituitary, or MR mRNA expression in the hippocampus. Our data suggest that a prolonged blockade of GRs is required to increase basal HPA axis activity. The changes observed here with ORG 34850 are consistent with inhibition of GR‐mediated negative feedback of the HPA axis. In light of the evidence showing an involvement of dysfunctional HPA axis in the pathophysiology of depression, Org 34850 could be a potential treatment for mood disorders.
Granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor dosing in pegylated interferon alpha‐induced neutropenia and its impact on outcome of anti‐HCV therapy*
Authors: Koirala J. , Gandotra S. D. , Rao S. , Sangwan G. , Mushtaq A. , Htwe T. H. , Adamski A. , Blessman D. , Khardori N. M.
Published: October 2007

Summary. Many patients with chronic hepatitis C (HCV) infection undergoing treatment with pegylated interferon‐alpha (PEG‐IFN‐alpha) and ribavirin develop neutropenia requiring dose reduction or granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor (G‐CSF) supplement. We analysed the database of patients who completed treatment for chronic HCV infection between 2003 and 2006. Patients with absolute neutrophil counts below 1000 cells/μL were initiated on G‐CSF (G‐CSF group) while a matching group of patients who received anti‐HCV treatment without developing neutropenia were used as a control group (non‐G‐CSF group). Patients on the G‐CSF arm were divided into two subgroups based on the timing of G‐CSF administration relative to PEG‐IFN‐alpha administration. Of the 163 patients with HCV infection, 30 patients received G‐CSF, most of who were maintained on 300 μg of G‐CSF once a week. Administration of G‐CSF 2 days before or after each dose of PEG‐IFN‐alpha did not make a significant difference in the neutrophil counts. In the G‐CSF arm, 23 of 30 patients (77%) had undetectable end‐of‐treatment viral response which was comparable with 27 of 30 in the control group (90%;P = 0.17). There was no statistically significant difference in the sustained viral response between the two groups (61%vs76%,P = 0.18). In most patients PEG‐IFN‐alpha induced neutropenia improved with a once‐a‐week dose of G‐CSF with a comparable virological outcome. Timing of G‐CSF administration did not make any significant impact on the patient's neutrophil counts but was better tolerated when given 2 days apart from PEG‐IFN‐alpha.
AvianClockgene polymorphism: evidence for a latitudinal cline in allele frequencies
Authors: JOHNSEN A. , FIDLER A. E. , KUHN S. , CARTER K. L. , HOFFMANN A. , BARR I. R. , BIARD C. , CHARMANTIER A. , EENS M. , KORSTEN P. , SIITARI H. , TOMIUK J. , KEMPENAERS B.
Published: October 2007

In comparison with most animal behaviours, circadian rhythms have a well‐characterized molecular genetic basis. Detailed studies of circadian clock genes in ‘model’ organisms provide a foundation for interpreting the functional and evolutionary significance of polymorphic circadian clock genes found within free‐living animal populations. Here, we describe allelic variation in a region of the avianClockorthologue which encodes a functionally significant polyglutamine repeat (ClkpolyQcds), within free‐living populations of two passerine birds, the migratory bluethroat (Luscinia svecica) and the predominantly nonmigratory blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus). MultipleClkpolyQcds alleles were found within populations of both species (bluethroat: 12 populations, 7 alleles; blue tit: 14 populations, 9 alleles). Some populations of both species were differentiated at theClkpolyQcds locus as measured byFSTandRSTvalues. Among the blue tit, but not bluethroat populations, we found evidence of latitudinal clines in (i) meanClkpolyQcds repeat length, and (ii) the proportions of threeClkpolyQcds genotype groupings. Parallel analyses of microsatellite allele frequencies, which are considered to reflect selectively neutral processes, indicate that interpopulation allele frequency variation at theClkpolyQcds and microsatellite loci does not reflect the same underlying demographic processes. The possibility that the observed interpopulationClkpolyQcds allele frequency variation is, at least in part, maintained by selection for microevolutionary adaptation to photoperiodic parameters correlated with latitude warrants further study.
Adaptation to environmental pH: integrating the Rim101 and calcineurin signal transduction pathways
Authors: Kullas Amy L. , Martin Samuel J. , Davis Dana
Published: October 2007

The ability to appropriately respond to environmental conditions is critical for the survival of simple microbes and for development of complex multicellular organisms. Sensing and responding to a given environmental condition requires the integration of numerous signals through one or more signal transduction pathways. This leads to changes in gene expression, and potentially post‐translational modifications, that favour growth in the given environment. In the fungus Candida albicans, an important opportunistic pathogen, environmental pH has profound effects on morphology and proper adaptation to extracellular pH is critical for pathogenesis. Here, we demonstrate that the Rim101/PacC pH‐sensing pathway acts in parallel to Crz1, via calcineurin, to adapt to alkaline pH. We also show that the Rim101 pathway acts in parallel to Crz2, independent of calcineurin, to adapt to high lithium concentrations and to repress filamentation at acidic pH. Our studies also revealed a novel requirement for Crz1, Crz2 and calcineurin for growth at acidic pH. From these studies, we propose that the Crz1 homologue Crz2 is calcineurin‐independent, but like Crz1, acts in parallel to promote specific Rim101‐dependent processes. These results establish and begin to dissect the complex interactions between important signal transduction pathways in C. albicans, which are critical for virulence.
The d‐xylose reductase of Hypocrea jecorina is the major aldose reductase in pentose and d‐galactose catabolism and necessary for β‐galactosidase and cellulase induction by lactose
Authors: Seiboth Bernhard , Gamauf Christian , Pail Manuela , Hartl Lukas , Kubicek Christian P.
Published: October 2007

The Hypocrea jecorinad‐xylose reductase encoding gene xyl1 shows low basal transcript levels, and is induced by d‐xylose, l‐arabinose and l‐arabinitol and, to a lesser extent, by lactose, d‐galactose, galactitol and xylitol. The recombinantly expressed XYL1 catalyzes the NADPH‐dependent reduction of the pentoses d‐xylose and l‐arabinose and the hexose d‐galactose. Deletion of xyl1 slightly reduces growth on all carbon sources, but a significant decrease is found on d‐xylose, l‐arabinose and d‐galactose. Similar to pentose degradation, XYL1 reduces d‐galactose to galactitol in a recently identified second d‐galactose pathway. Strains impaired in both d‐galactose pathways are almost unable to grow on d‐galactose. Δxyl1 strains show reduced growth on lactose and are impaired in β‐galactosidase expression and induction of the major cellobiohydrolase gene cbh1. A strain deleted in the cellulase regulator XYR1 is even more severely impaired in growth and β‐galactosidase expression on lactose, and does not produce any cbh1 transcript at all. In this strain, only a low basal level of xyl1 transcription is found on lactose. Galactitol, but not d‐galactose is able to induce xyl1 transcription in a XYR1‐independent manner. Our results show that the role of the H. jecorina XYL1 is not restricted to d‐xylose catabolism and demonstrates its importance for induction of cellulases and β‐galactosidases.
A new HLA‐B*15 variant – B*9507
Authors: Hammond L. , Street J. , Johnson J. , Pepperall J. , Darke C.
Published: October 2007

The human leukocyte antigen‐B*15 variant B*9507 is similar to B*1505 (B62) but with substitutions of A>C at position 463 and G>C at position 477 in exon 3. This results in a single amino acid change of serine to arginine (AGC>CGC) at codon 131 and a silent substitution (GCG>GCC – conserved alanine) at codon 135.
A novel HLA‐DRB1 allele, DRB1*0832, identified by sequence‐based typing method
Authors: Dang C.‐W. , Chu C.‐C. , Liu T. Y.‐C. , Lin M. , Lee Y.‐J.
Published: October 2007

Human leukocyte antigen‐DRB1*0832 may have arisen by gene conversion from a DRB1*080302 backbone, leading to amino acid changes at codons 26, 28, 30, 32, 37, and 38.
A simple and inexpensive technique of upper abdominal wall retraction in pediatric liver surgery and transplantation
Authors: Wang Shih‐Ho , Concejero Allan M , Chen Chao‐Long , Wang Chih‐Chi , Lin Chih‐Che , Liu Yeuh‐Wei , Yang Chin‐Hsiang , Yong Chee‐Chien
Published: October 2007

Abstract:  In majority of centers, pediatric liver surgery and transplantation involves a team of four at any given time: the surgeon, the first and second assistants, and the instrument nurse. This creates considerable crowding around both operative field and operating table. Mechanical devices have been occasionally employed to solve this problem, but most table‐mounted devices are designed for adult patients. Based on our experience with pediatric living donor liver transplantation, we developed a simple, safe, and inexpensive method of upper abdominal wall retraction to facilitate surgical exposure and avoid over‐crowding in the sterile field. The key points of this technique are the use of the Mercedes incision for liver transplantation or right subcostal incision with upper abdominal midline extension for hepatic resection and an adult‐designed Kent retractor. A pediatric‐designed Kent retractor is expensive, unnecessary, and may even cause complications as rib fractures and nerve paralysis. We used this technique in 142 consecutive pediatric living donor liver transplants and 16 major hepatectomies in children without any complication resulting from the exposure. The presented technique is simple, safe, reliable, and inexpensive. It can be used in pediatric liver surgery, as well as general pediatric upper abdominal operations.
Occurrence of the wattle wilt pathogen, Ceratocystis albifundus on native South African trees
Authors: Roux J. , Heath R. N. , Labuschagne L. , Nkuekam G. K. , Wingfield M. J.
Published: October 2007

Ceratocystis albifundus causes the disease known as wattle wilt of non‐native Acacia mearnsii trees in South Africa, Uganda and Kenya. Infection results in rapid wilt and death of susceptible trees and stem cankers on more tolerant trees. It has been suggested that C. albifundus is indigenous to southern Africa, possibly having spread from native Protea spp. to non‐native A. mearnsii and A. decurrens trees. Although C. albifundus has been collected from Protea spp., these reports are based on limited records for which only aged herbarium specimens exist. During surveys of wound‐infecting fungi on native tree species in South Africa, a fungus resembling C. albifundus was collected from Protea gaguedi, Acacia caffra, Burkea africana, Combretum molle, C. zeyheri, Faurea saligna, Ochna pulchra, Ozoroa paniculosa and Terminalia sericea. The identity of the fungus was confirmed as C. albifundus, using comparisons of DNA sequence data for the ITS and 5.8S gene of the rRNA operon. In pathogenicity trials, lesions were produced on C. molle and A. caffra, with some trees beginning to die at the termination of the experiment. This study represents the first report of C. albifundus from native tree species in South Africa and provides unequivocal evidence that the fungus occurs naturally on native Protea spp. The wide host range of C. albifundus, as well as its abundance on these indigenous hosts lends further support to the view that it is a native African pathogen.
An isolated population of Heterobasidion abietinum on Abies pinsapo in Spain
Authors: Sánchez M. E. , Luchi N. , Jiménez J. J. , De Vita P. , Sánchez J. E. , Trapero A. , Capretti P.
Published: October 2007

Abies pinsapo, a fir endemic to a small area in southernmost Spain, is frequently attacked in natural stands by Heterobasidion root rot. To identify the Heterobasidion species causing the disease, pure cultures of the fungus were isolated from symptomatic trees in five localities in Sierra de las Nieves Natural Park and identified by pairing tests. In addition, genets of the fungus were identified in two pure stands of A. pinsapo. All the Heterobasidion specimens collected belonged to the species Heterobasidion abietinum. The largest genet found was 57 m long, and had colonized 10 trees. The large size of the main genets implied that H. abietinum had spread via root contacts from old infections generated before the establishment of the Sierra de las Nieves National Park in 1989. Exceptionally dry summers in the last 20 years may have weakened A. pinsapo and favoured spread of the disease.
Fibroleiomyoma in Elephant Uterus
Authors: Sapundzhiev E. , Pupaki D. , Zahariev P. , Georgiev G. , Ivanov I.
Published: October 2007

The result of the histological diagnosis from postmortal investigation of the Indian elephant (Elephas maximus) uterus structure is presented in the current study. The rare anatomical finding showed altered nodular part from the uterus wall. Through conventional and histochemical staining neoplasmatic formations were determined and diagnosis Fibroleiomyoma was established, which should not be accepted as the prime cause for the animal's death.
Lumbar Spinal ‘Juxtaarticular’ Cyst in a Gordon Setter
Authors: Bley T. , Lang J. , Jaggy A. , Tomek A. , Forterre F.
Published: October 2007

An 11‐year‐old Gordon setter bitch was presented with a history of progressive weakness in the right hind limb associated with pain in the lumbar spine. Neurological deficits consisted of ataxia, monoparesis, muscle atrophy and spontaneous over‐knuckling of the affected limb. A large ‘juxtaarticular’ cyst located in a right dorsolateral position of the intervertebral foramen at L3–L4 was diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging. The cyst was removed through a modified laminectomy. The dog recovered quickly and returned to the owners 4 days after surgery with slight neurological symptoms. During the follow‐up examination 2 and 6 months later, the Setter showed normal gait and neurological examination.
Occurrence and Pattern of Long Bone Fractures in Growing Dogs with Normal and Osteopenic Bones
Authors: Kumar K. , Mogha I. V. , Aithal H. P. , Kinjavdekar P. , Amarpal  , Singh G. R. , Pawde A. M. , Kushwaha R. B.
Published: October 2007

A retrospective study was undertaken to record the occurrence and pattern of long bone fractures, and the efficacy of Intramedullary (IM) Steinmann pin fixing in growing dogs. All the records of growing dogs during a 10‐year‐period were screened to record the cause of trauma, the age and sex of the animal, the bone involved, the type and location of the fracture, the status of fixation, alignment, maintenance of fixation and fracture healing. The results were analysed and comparisons were made between growing dogs with normal and osteopenic bones. Among the 310 cases of fractures recorded, the bones were osteopenic in 91 cases (29%). Minor trauma was the principal cause of fracture in dogs with osteopenia (25%), and indigenous breeds were most commonly affected (38%). Fractures in dogs with osteopenic bones were most commonly recorded in the age group of 2–4 months (53%), whereas fractures in normal dogs were almost equally distributed between 2 and 8 months of age. Male dogs were affected significantly more often in both groups. In osteopenic bones, most fractures were recorded in the femur (56%), and they were distributed equally along the length of the bone. Whereas in normal bones, fractures were almost equally distributed in radius/ulna, femur and tibia, and were more often recorded at the middle and distal third of long bones. Oblique fractures were most common in both groups; however, comminuted fractures were more frequent in normal bones, whereas incomplete fractures were more common in osteopenic bones. Ninety‐nine fracture cases treated with IM pinning (66 normal, 33 osteopenic) were evaluated for the status of fracture reduction and healing. In a majority of the cases (61%) with osteopenic bones, the diameter of the pin was relatively smaller than the diameter of the medullary cavity (<70–75%), whereas in 68% of the cases in normal bones the pin diameter was optimum. The status of fracture fixing was satisfactory to good in significantly more osteonormal (59%) than osteopenic dogs (42%). Fracture healing, however, was satisfactory in significantly more cases with osteopenic than normal bones. The appearance of callus was relatively early and the amount of bridging callus was relatively large in greater number of osteopenic bone fractures. Mal‐union and non‐union were recorded more often in osteopenic cases than in normal cases. However, the incidence of bone shortening and osteomyelitis was significantly higher in normal bones than in osteopenic bones.
Simultaneous Detection of Brachyspira hyodysenteriae, Brachyspira pilosicoli and Lawsonia intracellularis in Porcine Faeces and Tissue Samples by Multiplex‐PCR
Authors: Nathues H. , Oliveira C. J. B. , Wurm M. , Grosse Beilage E. , Givisiez P. E. N.
Published: October 2007

Diarrhoea in growing and finishing pigs is usually caused by infectious agents and laboratory diagnosis is a prerequisite for efficient therapy. Cultivation of Brachyspira hyodysenteriae or Brachyspira pilosicoli and detection of Lawsonia intracellularis by means of immunofluorescence tests (IFT) are time‐consuming and in some cases lack sensitivity. A multiplex‐PCR was designed to detect simultaneously these three pathogens in faeces and tissue samples, allowing the differential diagnosis of dysentery, intestinal spirochaetosis and proliferative enteropathy. Detection limits for B. hyodysenteriae, B. pilosicoli and L. intracellularis were 104, 102 and 103 copies respectively. Agreement between multiplex‐PCR and nested‐PCR or cultivation was considered substantial to almost perfect. Agreement between multiplex‐PCR and IFT in detecting L. intracellularis was only moderate, which was probably related to false‐positive results given by IFT. The multiplex‐PCR described herein is a valuable tool for the rapid and simultaneous detection of three different pathogens in porcine samples causing enteric diseases.
Somatic Cell Count in Milk of Selenium‐supplemented Dairy Cows after an Intramammary Challenge with Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Kruze J. , Ceballos A. , Stryhn H. , Mella A. , Matamoros R. , Contreras P. A. , Leyan V. , Wittwer F.
Published: October 2007

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of selenium (Se) supplementation on milk somatic cell count (SCC) in dairy cows. Twelve multiparous Holstein–Friesian cows were fed a diet containing a suboptimal Se concentration (<0.05 ppm, dry basis) starting 2 months before calving. Supplemented cows (n = 6) received a single s.c. injection of barium selenate (1 ml/50 kg BW) 45 days prior to calving, whereas control group was kept unsupplemented. Twenty weeks after calving, two mammary quarters (right side) of each cow were challenged with 205 000 cfu/ml of Staphylococcus aureus (strain Newbould 305). Blood was collected bi‐weekly until day 150 of lactation for the analysis of blood glutathione peroxidase (GPx1; EC 1.11.1.9) activity. To re‐isolate the challenging pathogen and to evaluate SCC, aseptic milk samples were collected daily starting on the day of challenge, and finishing 7 days after inoculation. Unsupplemented cows had a lower activity of GPx1 through the experiment (P < 0.001). Natural log SCC (lnSCC) was higher in unsupplemented than Se‐supplemented cows (P = 0.04), showing evidence of significance after 5 days. Selenium supplementation of dairy cows fed a diet containing a suboptimal Se concentration, resulted in higher blood activity of GPx1, and lower mean lnSCC after an intramammary challenge with Staph. aureus.
THYROID SURGERY IN THE TROPICS
Authors: Watters David A. K , Wall Jack
Published: October 2007

In the tropics thyroid surgery is carried out either by general surgeons or ear, nose and throat surgeons and there are few places with a subspecialist endocrine or head and neck surgeon. The aim of this review is to determine the pattern of thyroid pathology, surgery and surgical outcomes in the tropics. A review of thyroid surgery in tropical regions was carried out based on published articles in English in Medline (1965–2004). The findings are also discussed in the light of the authors’ own experience of thyroid disease and thyroid surgery in four continents. The pattern of thyroid pathology varies in the tropics, particularly in regions where endemic goitre is common. Endemic goitre usually regresses with iodine therapy. There is a rising incidence of thyroid autoimmune disease, particularly Graves’ disease and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, probably related to an environmental immunological stimulus associated with development. Surgery is indicated for the same reasons as in the developed countries: thyrotoxicosis (more often in the absence of radioactive iodine therapy), solitary thyroid nodule and multinodular or malignant goitre. However, a preoperative cytological diagnosis will only be available in important centres where there is a pathologist. Malignancy appears more prevalent in nodules and goitres in the tropics than in the developed countries, perhaps because patients with malignancy are more likely to be referred to a surgeon. Nonetheless, the evidence suggests that thyroid surgery can be carried out safely with a minimum of complications even in remote mission hospitals with limited facilities for investigation. Standards can be set in terms of surgical outcomes; for example, mortality (0%), permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) injury (<2%), re‐exploration for haematoma(<2%), permanent hypocalcaemia (<5%) and wound infection (2.5%). The choice of operation depends on the local pathology and the likelihood of being able to obtain lifelong thyroxine. Total thyroidectomy should be avoided whenever possible if thyroxine supplies are unreliable. Advanced thyroid cancer presents a therapeutic challenge and some cases will be unresectable. The management options are limited by the resources available. Similar surgical outcomes should be able to be achieved no matter where the surgery is carried out.
EFFICACY OF SURGERY IN THE MANAGEMENT OF OBESITY‐RELATED TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS
Authors: Gan Susan S. H. , Talbot Michael L. , Jorgensen John O.
Published: October 2007

Background:  It is estimated that up to 80% of persons with diabetes mellitus type 2 are overweight and in these patients it is recognized that effective weight control can lead to improvement or even resolution of their diabetes (Colagiuri et al.). All currently carried out operations for morbid obesity have been shown to improve diabetes, but there appears to be a variable response to surgery depending on several surgical and patient factors.

Methods:  In this prospective review, we analysed the change in the diabetic status in 72 patients undergoing three different bariatric procedures in a single institution over 30 months. A review of the published work comparing the efficacy of the various procedures in achieving improvement or resolution of diabetes was also carried out and correlated to our findings.

Results:  At an average follow up of 13 months, 50% of patients who had placement of laparoscopic adjustable gastric band had an improvement or resolution of their diabetes, compared with 95% of patients who had had laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy or Roux‐en‐Y gastric bypass. Two of 12 (17%) laparoscopic adjustable gastric band patients had normal blood glucose levels off all diabetic medications compared with 7 of 21 (33%) laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy and 27 of 39 (69%) Roux‐en‐Y gastric bypass patients. There was no significant association between the amount of weight lost and the return to euglycaemia.

Conclusion:  Direct comparison has shown a significant difference in the effects of different forms of bariatric surgery on type 2 diabetes, this is in keeping with evidence that surgery can lead to improvement in diabetes additional to that obtained by weight loss alone.
ORAL COMPLICATIONS AFTER LINGUAL MUCOSAL GRAFT HARVEST FOR URETHROPLASTY
Authors: Kumar Abhay , Goyal Neeraj K. , Das Suren K. , Trivedi Sameer , Dwivedi Udai S. , Singh Pratap B.
Published: October 2007

Background:  The aim of this study was to assess the complications at donor site after lingual mucosal graft harvesting for urethroplasty.

Methods:  From March 2006 to December 2006, 30 patients of anterior urethral stricture underwent lingual mucosal graft urethroplasty. The site of the harvest graft was lateral mucosal lining of the tongue. Donor site complications, that is, pain, slurring of speech, pain during speech, salivatory changes and difficulty in protrusion of tongue were noted.

Results:  The mean (range) age of patients was 36.2 years (22–52 years). The mean (range) stricture length was 8.4 cm (4.8–16 cm) and graft length was 8.5 cm (4.2–16.2 cm). Mean duration of follow up was 3.8 months. At the first postoperative day, 90% of the patients experienced pain at donor site and 20% had slurring of speech. Pain was mild to discomforting in 80% and distressing to horrible in 13% of the patients. By third postoperative day, two‐thirds were pain free, one‐thirds had mild pain only and none had slurring of speech. By day 6 of surgery, all patients were pain free. Six per cent of the patients reported numbness over ventral aspect of anterior half of tongue, which persisted in the first follow up and subsided by second follow up. There was no bleeding, haematoma or infection at donor site. All patients were able to resume oral fluid within 24 h, eat soft solid diet in 48–72 h and return to normal diet after 4–5 days of surgery. No patient complained of difficulty in opening the mouth, salivation disturbances, perioral numbness or difficulty in protrusion of tongue. No long‐term functional or aesthetic complications were reported.

Conclusion:  Lingual mucosal graft harvesting is feasible, provides a long graft, is easy to carry out and is the least morbid procedure.
ENDOVASCULAR GRAFTING OF THE THORACIC AORTA, AN EVOLVING THERAPY: TEN‐YEAR EXPERIENCE IN A SINGLE CENTRE
Authors: Sandroussi Charbel , Waltham Matthew , Hughes Clifford F. , May James , Harris John P. , Stephen Michael S. , White Geoffrey H.
Published: October 2007

Background:  Surgical therapy for the thoracic aorta carries a high morbidity and mortality. Endovascular therapy for aneurysms and its adaptation to the thoracic aorta over the past 10 years is an exciting advance. This is a retrospective review of endovascular grafting of the thoracic aorta during the past decade at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and the outcomes achieved over this period.

Methods:  A retrospective review of all patients at our institution who underwent endovascular grafting of the thoracic aorta between March 1995 and March 2005 was carried out. Data were analysed using Stata version 8.0 (Stata corporation, College Station, TX, USA).

Results:  Sixty‐five patients underwent endovascular stent grafting of the thoracic aorta. The indications were degenerative aneurysm (31), Stanford type B dissection (23) both acute (12) and chronic (11), traumatic transection (9) and penetrating ulcer (2). There were no conversions to open repair. Twenty‐two patients required additional procedures, six of which were unplanned. The median age was 65 (range 18–85), 68% of patients were men. The median procedure time was 115 min (range 55–240 min). Mean hospital stay was 9.8 ± 7.3 days and high dependency/intensive care unit stay 1.5 ± 3.2 days. Thirty‐day mortality was 0 in 41 for elective cases (one patient (2.5%) died 37 days post‐procedure) and 12% (3 of 25) for emergency cases. Complications occurred in 20 of 41 (49%) elective cases and 14 of 24 (58%) emergency cases within the first 30 days. The most frequent major complications were neurological including paraplegia (transient 2 of 65, permanent (2 of 65)) and stroke (4 of 65). Other complications included endoleak (12 of 65), acute renal failure (1 of 65), and brachial artery false aneurysm (1 of 65). The mean length of follow up was 22.5 months (range, 1–97 months). Six patients required further endovascular procedures for persistent endoleak or ongoing perfusion of chronic dissection. Late deaths (>30 days) related to the endovascular treatment occurred in two patients (3%).

Conclusion:  Endovascular grafting of the thoracic aorta is an evolution in the treatment of thoracic aortic pathology. The results of elective endovascular grafts were acceptable. Emergency procedures had a higher incidence of complications and death. Improvement in graft technology, design and deployment are required.
SECOND OPINIONS IN REMOTE SURGICAL PRACTICE USING EMAIL AND DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY
Authors: Stutchfield Ben M. , Jagilly Rooney , Tulloh Bruce R.
Published: October 2007

Background:  Email offers the opportunity to improve communication between surgeons across the world. This experimental study aimed to assess the feasibility of obtaining clinical opinions by email and digital photography in remote surgical practice.

Methods:  Over a 3‐week period, all adult general surgical cases with a visual component to their condition admitted to a remote developing‐world hospital were invited to participate. Clinical details and digital images were emailed to a UK general surgeon who consulted specialist colleagues if required and emailed back a suggested diagnosis and management plan, rating the confidence with which these were made on a five‐point scale. The concordance between diagnoses and management plans from each centre were rated by three independent general surgeons.

Results:  In this prospective study of 32 patients, 56% of diagnoses and 78% of management plans were made by the UK surgeons with ‘high’ or ‘total’ confidence. Causes of low diagnostic confidence included vague swellings and low‐resolution X‐ray images. Diagnostic and management concordance between centres was adjudged ‘high’ or ‘total’ in 88 and 43% of cases, respectively.

Conclusion:  Obtaining second opinions using email and digital photography is feasible in adult general surgery, but its efficacy is limited in cases where image resolution or non‐visual clues are important.
Small‐conductance Cl– channels contribute to volume regulation and phagocytosis in microglia
Authors: Ducharme Guillaume , Newell Evan W. , Pinto Crystal , Schlichter Lyanne C.
Published: October 2007

The shape and volume of microglia (brain immune cells) change when they activate during brain inflammation and become migratory and phagocytic. Swollen rat microglia express a large Cl– current (IClswell), whose biophysical properties and functional roles are poorly understood and whose molecular identity is unknown. We constructed a fingerprint of useful biophysical properties for comparison with IClswell in other cell types and with cloned Cl– channels. The microglial IClswell was rapidly activated by cell swelling but not by voltage, and showed no time‐dependence during voltage‐clamp steps. Like IClswell in many cell types, the halide selectivity sequence was I– > Br– > Cl– > F–. However, it differed in lacking inactivation, even at +100 mV with high extracellular Mg2+, and in having a much lower single‐channel conductance: 1–3 pS. Based on these fundamental differences, the microglia channel is apparently a different gene product than the more common intermediate‐conductance IClswell. Microglia express several candidate genes, with relative mRNA expression levels of: CLIC1 > ClC3 > ICln ≥ ClC2 > Best2 > Best1 ≥ Best3 > Best4. Using a pharmacological toolbox, we show that all drugs that reduced the microglia current (NPPB, IAA‐94, flufenamic acid and DIOA) increased the resting cell volume in isotonic solution and inhibited the regulatory volume decrease that followed cell swelling in hypotonic solution. Both channel blockers tested (NPPB and flufenamic acid) dose‐dependently inhibited microglia phagocytosis of E. coli bacteria. Because IClswell is involved in microglia functions that involve shape and volume changes, it is potentially important for controlling their ability to migrate to damage sites and phagocytose dead cells and debris.