bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A multilocation clinical trial in lactating dairy cows affected with clinical mastitis to compare the efficacy of treatment with intramammary infusions of a lincomycin/neomycin combination with an ampicillin/cloxacillin combination
Authors: Deluyker  , Chester  , Van Oye
Published: March 2003

A study was conducted to compare the efficacy in lactating dairy cows of intramammary infusions in quarters affected with clinical mastitis between a formulation containing 330 mg lincomycin and 100 mg neomycin in a 10‐mL aqueous solution (LINCOCIN® FORTE S, Pharmacia & Upjohn) and a formulation containing 75 mg ampicillin and 200 mg cloxacillin in an oil suspension (AMPICLOX™, Pfizer Animal Health).

This study was designed as a multicentre clinical trial involving investigators in France, Germany and Belgium and carried out according to the European Commission guidelines on Good Clinical Practices. Cows in the herds were monitored for clinical mastitis. When evidence of clinical mastitis was detected in a single quarter, a pretherapy milk sample was collected from the affected quarter. After milk sampling, the cow was assigned to one of the two treatment groups at random and treated with an intramammary infusion of one syringe of either LINCOCIN® FORTE S or AMPICLOX™ for three successive milkings in the mastitic quarter. At 4–5, 13–15 and 20–22 days after first infusion, the veterinarian returned to the farm to conduct a clinical examination and collect milk samples from the affected quarter. Milk samples were cultured for the presence of mastitis organisms and somatic cell count (SCC) was measured.

Following a 10‐month study period, 256 cases were enrolled in the study. A total of 232 and 189 cases were analysed for clinical cure and for clinical‐plus‐bacteriological cure, respectively. The proportions of cases cured clinically and cured clinically‐plus‐bacteriologically were compared between the two treatment groups. Somatic cell count differences between treatment groups were also tested. The clinical cure rate for LINCOCIN® FORTE S (62.5%) was significantly better than for AMPICLOX™ (51.8%) (P = 0.035). The clinical‐plus‐bacteriological cure rate was also significantly better for LINCOCIN® FORTE S (38.1%) than for AMPICLOX™ (21.7%) (P = 0.005). Among bacteriologically cured cases, the SCC declined in both treatment groups but the SCC was significantly higher for the AMPICLOX™ group than for the LINCOCIN® FORTE S group (P = 0.036).

In conclusion, clinical cure rate, clinical‐plus‐bacteriological cure rate, and SCC level were significantly better with LINCOCIN® FORTE S than for AMPICLOX™.
Diclazuril in the horse: its identification and detection and preliminary pharmacokinetics
Authors: Dirlkolu  , Lehner  , Nattrass  , Bentz  , Woods  , Carter  , Karpiesiuk  , Jacobs  , Boyles  , Harkins  , Granstrom  , Tobin
Published: March 2003

Abstract here
Bioavailability and disposition of sodium and procaine penicillin G (benzylpenicillin) administered orally with milk to calves
Authors: Musser J. M. B. , Anderson K. L.
Published: March 2003

Eighteen 1‐week‐old Holstein calves were randomly assigned to one of three groups: (a) sodium penicillin G administered intravenously, (b) sodium penicillin G administered orally, or (c) procaine penicillin G administered orally. All calves were dosed with penicillin G at 4.0 mg/kg BW. At 5 weeks of age, the calves were dosed again. Blood samples were taken serially for 24 h after both dosings. Plasma was assayed for penicillin G by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). For i.v. administration, the area under the concentration–time curve (AUC), 7456 and 5508 ng/mL h, and systemic clearance, 0.54 and 0.73 L/kg h, were significantly different (P < 0.05) at 1 and 5 weeks of age, respectively. There were no significant differences between orally administered sodium and procaine penicillin G within the same age groups. Following oral (p.o.) administration, there were significant differences (P < 0.01) at 1 and 5 weeks of age in the AUC, 760 and 409 ng/mL h, terminal half‐life, 2.1 and 1.6 h, time of maximum concentration (TMAX), 3.0 and 2.3 h, and maximum plasma concentration (CMAX), 85 and 58 ng/mL, respectively. Bioavailability was 10.2 and 7.4% at 1 and 5 weeks, respectively.
Bioavailability of transdermal methimazole in a pluronic lecithin organogel (PLO) in healthy cats
Authors: HOFFMAN S. B. , YODER A. R. , TREPANIER L. A.
Published: March 2003

Hoffman, S. B., Yoder, A. R., Trepanier, L. A. Bioavailability of transdermal methimazole in a pluronic lecithin organogel (PLO) in healthy cats. J. vet. Pharmacol. Therap.25, 189–193.

The antithyroid drug methimazole is widely used for the medical management of feline hyperthyroidism. Recently, custom veterinary pharmacies have offered methimazole in a transdermal gel containing pluronic and lecithin (PLO), with anecdotal evidence of efficacy. The purpose of this study was to determine the bioavailability, relative to i.v. and oral routes of administration, of transdermal methimazole in a PLO gel in cats. Six healthy adult cats were assigned to receive 5 mg of methimazole by the i.v., oral, or transdermal routes, in a randomized triple crossover protocol with 1 week washout between doses. Blood samples were taken for high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) determination of serum methimazole, at 0, 5, 15, 30, 60 min, and 2, 4, 6, 12 and 24 h after dosing. Methimazole absorption following transdermal administration was poor and variable, with only two of six cats achieving detectable serum methimazole concentrations at any time point following transdermal administration. Area under the concentration–time curve (AUC), maximum concentration (Cmax), and absolute bioavailability were all significantly lower for the transdermal route (0.39 ± 0.63 μg h/mL, 0.05 ± 0.09 μg/mL, and 11.4 ± 18.7%, respectively) than for either i.v. (7.96 ± 4.38 μg h/mL, 3.34 ± 2.00 μg/mL, 100%) or oral routes (2.94 ± 1.24 μg h/mL, 0.51 ± 0.15 μg/mL, 40.4 ± 8.1%). The results of this study indicate generally low to undetectable bioavailability of methimazole in a lecithin/pluronic gel given as a single transdermal dose to healthy cats, although one individual cat did achieve nearly 100% transdermal bioavailability relative to the oral route.
Predictive value of aminotransferase and hepatitis B virus DNA levels on response to interferon therapy for chronic hepatitis B
Authors: Lok A. S. F. , Ghany M. G. , Watson G. , Ayola B.
Published: March 2003

In a previously reported randomized controlled trial of interferon‐α (IFN‐α) for chronic hepatitis B, we found a significant difference in response between Chinese adults with elevated vs normal pretreatment aminotransferase (ALT) levels. The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA levels and response to IFN therapy. HBV DNA levels in residual stored sera from patients who participated in the above trial were quantified by a branched DNA (bDNA) assay. Nominal logistic regression was used to estimate the probability of response to IFN treatment as a function of pretreatment ALT and/or HBV DNA levels. We found a significant (P<0.01) correlation between the HBV DNA levels at midtreatment and response to IFN therapy. Response was achieved in 53% of patients who had undetectable HBV DNA levels at midtreatment but in only 17% of those who remained HBV DNA positive (P<0.01). In contrast, the probabilities of response for patients with baseline HBV DNA levels over the range 10 to 10000 million equivalents (MEq)ml–1 were almost identical. We also found a significant correlation between the pretreatment ALT levels and response to IFN therapy. The probabilities of response for patients with pretreatment ALT levels of 500 and 100IUl–1 were higher than for patients with normal ALT levels by two and onefold, respectively. Our findings may help to improve the cost‐effectiveness of IFN therapy for chronic hepatitis B by guiding the selection of patients for therapy and in optimizing the duration of treatment for the individual patient.
A comparative trial of two surface subunit recombinant hepatitis B vaccines vs a surface and PreS subunit vaccine for immunization of healthy adults
Authors: Eyigün C. P. , Yilmaz S. , Gül C. , Sengül A. , Hacibektasoglu A. , Van Thiel D. H.
Published: March 2003

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is the leading cause of chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis in Turkey. The prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positivity in Turkey is 5 to 10%. HBV is almost completely preventable with the use of hepatitis B vaccines. The most commonly used vaccine is that which contains the predominant viral surface (S) polypeptide. It elicits protective antibodies in greater than 90% of healthy subjects. A vaccine containing the PreS1 and PreS2 antigenic domains has recently been reported as being more efficient in achieving successful immunization in individuals who have not previously responded to the isolated S‐antigen vaccine. In this study, the efficacy of a S and PreS‐containing vaccine was compared with that of two different standard isolated S‐antigen‐containing vaccines in terms of the immunization protection produced against HBV in normal healthy adults who had not previously been immunized. Seventy‐six young adults (aged 17–22) were randomly assigned to receive 1ml (20μg) of either one of two standard S‐subunit recombinant hepatitis B vaccines (Engerix B, or Hepavax) or the combined S and PreS subunit vaccine (Gen Hevac B) intramuscularly in the deltoid muscle at 0, 1 and 2 months. Hepatitis B surface antigen antibody titres were measured at 1, 2 and 12 months. A titre ≥10IUml–1 was considered to be protective. All subjects receiving the two standard isolated S‐antigen‐containing vaccines responded to the vaccination with reasonable antibody titres. One‐half to two‐thirds of those vaccinated developed high antibody titres (>100IUml–1). In contrast, 9% of those receiving the combined PreS1 and PreS2 plus S antigens failed to respond, as demonstrated by antibody titres below the level considered to be protective. The mean titres at 12 months were 107±12IUml–1 (Engerix B), 102±12IUml–1 (Gen Hevac B) and 117±12IUml–1 (Hepavax Gene). Hence, no important difference in term of response to vaccination was found between the two different types of vaccines. As recombinant S‐subunit vaccines are less expensive than those that combine S and PreS antigens, it is suggested that, when immunizing normal healthy adults, a standard isolated S‐antigen‐containing vaccine should be used.
Evidence for the genetic basis of non‐response in mice
Authors: Waters J. A.
Published: March 2003

In the murine model the immune response to both the hepatitis B envelope and nucleocapsid antigens are linked to the MHC class II haplotype but they are independently restricted. Although in a human outbred population non‐response is less likely, the host genetic environment may be important in determining the level of response to vaccine and inclusion of antigens apart from the S antigen may improve protection. The inclusion of HBcAg in vaccine remains controversial since, despite its high immunogenicity, the Th‐cell response to this antigen may have a role in the down regulation of the immune response to HBV so promoting persistence.
Consensus statement on the role of hepatitis A vaccination in patients with chronic liver disease
Authors: Cooksley W.G.E.
Published: March 2003

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is a ubiquitous, easily transmitted virus that can cause severe hepatitis, particularly in the adult population. Improvements in sanitation and hygiene in the developing world have led to a decline in immunity against HAV. A growing number of adults are now susceptible to infection, with those who have not been vaccinated against hepatitis B virus (HBV) being at risk of dual infection and potentially more severe illness. The symposium, “The role of hepatitis vaccination in patients with chronic liver disease”, provided the opportunity to develop a consensus statement. It was concluded that patients with non‐viral chronic liver disease (CLD) and certain groups with HBV infection can develop more severe disease in the event of HAV infection. It was identified that patients with CLD should be targeted for hepatitis A vaccination as soon as CLD is diagnosed.
An efficient extraction method from blood clots for studies requiring both host and viral DNA
Authors: Basuni  , Butterworth  , Cooksley  , Locarnini  , Carman
Published: March 2003

The clot from blood is usually discarded after the collection of serum. Yet, it contains nucleated white blood cells and substantial serum. Here, we have compared four methods to enable quick and efficient extraction of human genomic and viral DNA from clotted blood. Two of these methods, a phenol‐based in‐house method and Tripure isolation reagent, only achieved a low polymerase chain reaction (PCR) yield. In contrast, the QIAamp blood kit and the High Pure Viral Nucleic Acid kit were equally efficient, with similar sensitivity to serum for extraction of viral DNA.
HVR1 quasispecies analysis from a long‐term culture of hepatitis C virus in Hep G2 derived cells grown in a haemodialysis cartridge
Authors: Clarysse C. , Lin L. , Crabbé T. , Van Pelt J. F. , Cammack N. , Yap S. H.
Published: March 2003

Studies on the in vitro hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are hampered by the lack of an appropriate system to culture permissive cells to be continuously infected with HCV. Trypsinization required for cell passage can lead to possible temporary loss of permissiveness for infection, whereas refreshment of the medium can result in loss of infectious particles necessary for perpetuation of the infection; it is therefore very difficult to maintain a continuous HCV infection in cell cultures. A new infection method was designed and evaluated in order to prevent these unfavourable circumstances. A cell line derived from the human hepatoblastoma cell line Hep G2 was grown in the extracapillary space of a haemodialysis cartridge, in the presence of a HCV‐positive inoculum, while the culture medium was recirculated through the intracapillary space, supplying the cells with nutrients and oxygen. HCV RNA could continuously be detected in the cells up to 77 days of culture. Sequence analysis of the HCV hypervariable region 1 (HVR1) revealed that 56% and 75%, respectively, of the clones obtained from the cells at day 20 and 40 after start of the infection were different from the clones obtained from the original inoculum and that certain nucleotide positions in this region were more susceptible to mutations, leading to an alteration in amino acid sequence. As none of these sequences were present in the clones from the inoculum, it is suggested that new HCV quasispecies have emerged as a result of viral replication in the hepatocytes in vitro. This system seems a valuable tool for the in vitro evaluation of antiviral drugs.
Historical features are poor predictors of liver fibrosis in Canadian patients with chronic hepatitis C
Authors: Myers R. P. , Hilsden R. J. , Lee S. S.
Published: March 2003

The progression of fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C infection (HCV) is related to host factors including age, gender and alcohol consumption. Due to the morbidity and potential mortality of liver biopsy, a noninvasive method of assessing hepatic fibrosis is needed. The aim of this study was to assess the utility of historical features in predicting fibrosis using published rates of fibrosis progression. The charts of 239 untreated patients with HCV were reviewed; patients who had a liver biopsy and whose duration of infection could be estimated (n=106) were categorized according to gender, age at infection (≤ or > 40 years) and peak alcohol consumption (< or ≥ 50 g/day). Estimates of fibrosis were calculated using the product of the interval between infection and biopsy and published rates of fibrosis progression. Estimates were compared with liver biopsies staged according to the Metavir system (F0–F4; F0=no fibrosis; F4= cirrhosis). The mean age of patients was 42 ± 8 years, 61% were male and 36% consumed > 50 g of alcohol daily. The mean duration of infection was 19 ± 9 years (range, 1–40) and ALT was elevated > 1.5 times upper normal in 63%. When patients were classified into those with mild (F0–F2) and severe (F3–F4) fibrosis, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of an estimate of mild fibrosis was 60%, 55%, 78% and 34%, respectively. An estimate of severe fibrosis had a sensitivity of 55%, specificity of 60%, positive predictive value of 34% and negative predictive value of 78%. Agreement between fibrosis estimates and actual histological stages was poor (kappa = 0.13, P=0.08). The prediction of hepatic fibrosis in HCV infection using historical features and published rates of fibrosis progression is poor in a Canadian clinical practice setting. Alternate noninvasive methods of predicting hepatic fibrosis are needed.
Two years of lamivudine therapy in anti‐HBe‐positive patients with chronic hepatitis B
Authors: Buti M. , Cotrina M. , Jardi R. , De Castro E. Cruz , Rodriguez‐Frias F. , Sánchez‐Avila F. , Esteban R. , Guardia J.
Published: March 2003

There is no standard therapy for patients with anti‐HBe‐positive chronic hepatitis B. The aims of this study were to analyse the efficacy of lamivudine therapy for two years in these patients and to study the sequence variations in the precore and polymerase hepatitis B virus (HBV) regions in relation to therapy. Sixteen patients with chronic anti‐HBe‐positive hepatitis were treated with lamivudine (100 mg) once daily for 2 years. Levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), HBV‐DNA and HBsAg were monitored during therapy. The polymerase and precore genes were amplified by polymerase chain reaction and their products were sequenced directly. Thirteen of 16 patients (81%) had a virological and biochemical response after 1 year of therapy and 11 (69%) maintained the complete response after 2 years of lamivudine therapy. Among the three patients without initial virological or biochemical response at year 1, prolonging therapy to 2 years was not associated with an increase in the response. YMDD variants were detected in 19% of cases in the first year and in 44% in the second year: YVDD being the most frequent mutations detected during year 1 and YIDD during year 2 of therapy. YMDD variants were found in 7–27% of cases with complete response depending on the duration of therapy. Our results show that prolonging lamivudine therapy is safe, well tolerated and maintains viral inhibition in anti‐HBe‐positive patients. However, its efficacy tends to decrease overtime and it is associated with an increase in YMDD variants, even in some cases, of complete response.
Expression of hepatitis B virus X protein is closely correlated with the high periportal inflammatory activity of liver diseases
Authors: Jin Y. M. , Yun C. , Park C. , Wang H.‐J. , Cho H.
Published: March 2003

Hepatitis B virus X (HBx) protein is a multifunctional protein that exerts dual activity on cell proliferation and death. Although HBx is thought to be a major determinant that leads to hepatocellular carcinoma, its pathophysiological role in humans remains to be established. Attempts have been made to evaluate the role of HBx in liver specimens derived from patients with chronic B viral hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Among 25 paired liver specimens of hepatocellular carcinoma and corresponding nontumour liver tissues, HBx mRNA was hardly detected and was significantly lower than other HBV transcripts. An immunohistochemical study demonstrated that expression of HBx protein was also lower than other HBV gene products. Interestingly, however, expression of HBx protein changed with the progression of chronic hepatitis. HBx was expressed in 5.0% of patients with chronic hepatitis without cirrhosis but increased to 44.8% in chronic hepatitis with cirrhosis. In contrast, only one (3.7%) of 27 hepatocellular carcinomas showed HBx positivity whereas 29.6% of surrounding nontumour tissues was still HBx‐positive. These results suggest that HBx may play a major role at the promotion stage of carcinogenesis. Noticeably, HBx‐positive cells were preferentially localized in the periportal region of chronic hepatitis or periphery of cirrhotic nodules where high necroinflammatory activity was accompanied. We found a positive correlation between HBx expression and periportal inflammatory activity (P < 0.001). Thus, HBx may potentiate cell destruction and regeneration of liver that provide an opportunity for the accumulation of genetic mutations, which contribute to multistep hepatocarcinogenesis.
Concurrence of hepatitis B surface antibodies and surface antigen: implications for postvaccination control of health care workers
Authors: Zaaijer H. L. , Lelie P. N. , Vandenbroucke‐Grauls C. M. J. E. , Koot M.
Published: March 2003

Among 1081 persons testing positive for hepatitis B surface antigen, 106 (10%) tested positive for antibodies to surface antigen (anti‐HBs) in the same blood sample. Thirty of these persons were studied in detail: seven tested positive for hepatitis B e‐antigen, nine were apparently healthy blood donors, and in 14 chronic infection could be demonstrated in follow‐up samples. Frozen samples of 14 persons were available for additional quantitative anti‐HBs testing using another anti‐HBs assay: three showed no anti‐HBs reactivity, seven showed borderline anti‐HBs levels (1–5 IU/L), and anti‐HBs titres ranged from 23 to 66 IU/L in four HBsAg‐positive persons, including an apparently healthy blood donor. Thus, after hepatitis B vaccination of medical personnel, presence of anti‐HBs may erroneously suggest immunity, while in fact chronic infection with hepatitis B virus is present.
Replication of hepatitis B in HBsAg‐positive siblings
Authors: Tai Dar‐in , Lo Sing Kai , Kuo Chung‐Huang , Du Jeng‐Ming , Chen Chiu‐Jung , Hung Ching‐Shu , Chu Chia‐Ming
Published: March 2003

Persistent hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication is important for progression of chronic liver diseases. To understand whether there is a trend of HBV replication in siblings or not, 1850 relatives of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were examined prospectively for liver function test, viral markers and HBV DNA. The prevalence of HBsAg in the parents', siblings', children's and grandchildren's generations were 43.4%, 57.2%, 35.5% and 32.1%, respectively. The prevalence of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) in sibling's generation (mean age 44.4 years) was 19%, which is higher than that of asymptomatic HBsAg carriers. For siblings in the children's generation, the prevalence of HBeAg in hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carriers declined from 40% in the eldest siblings to 19% in the youngest siblings. In 75 families clustered with three or more HBsAg carrier siblings, the mean age for seven families of which all siblings remained HBeAg + was younger, whereas the mean age for 35 families of which all siblings had cleared HBeAg was older. For the remaining 33 families, in only 10 families had the older siblings cleared the HBeAg earlier than the younger siblings. Twenty families showed that younger siblings cleared the HBeAg earlier than the older or middle siblings. We concluded that HBV replication in HCC relatives cannot be explained by familial tendency alone. A significant number of younger siblings appeared to have a shorter HBV replication phase than their older siblings. The possible role of this in maternal–fetal transmission is discussed.
Risk of hepatitis A infection following travel
Authors: Ciccozzi M. , Tosti M. E. , Gallo G. , Ragni P. , Zotti C. , Lopalco P. , Ara G. , Sangalli M. , Balocchini E. , Szklo A. S. , Mele A.
Published: March 2003

summary. Travel to endemic areas is one of the most frequently reported risk factors for infection with the hepatitis A virus (HAV). We evaluated the association between HAV infection and travel, by area of destination.

We conducted a case–control study on all cases of HAV infection reported to the Italian National Surveillance System for Acute Viral Hepatitis in the period 1996–2000.

The study population consisted of 9695 persons with HAV infection (cases) and 2590 with HBV infection (controls). The risk of acquiring HAV was highest for travel to Asia, Africa and Latin America [Odds Ratio=9.30 (95%CI=6.71–12.9)]; a three‐fold statistically significant excess of risk was found for travel to southern Italy (OR=3.03) and to the Mediterranean Area and Eastern Europe (OR=3.15). Travel was implicated in 28% of the cases of HAV infection. When stratifying the analysis by area of residence (northern and central Italy vs southern Italy and the Islands), the above‐mentioned risks were confirmed only for those residing in northern and central Italy, with no significant risk for those residing in southern Italy and the Islands.

Travel to areas endemic for HAV infection constitutes a considerable risk. Our results highlight the importance of developing health policies for improving environmental and hygienic conditions, as well as the prevention of certain eating habits. Vaccination before travelling to a medium or high endemic area could be a safe and effective means of preventing travel‐related HAV infection.
Comparative effects of adefovir and selected nucleoside inhibitors of hepatitis B virus DNA polymerase on mitochondrial DNA in liver and skeletal muscle cells
Authors: Birkus G. , Gibbs C. S. , Cihlar T.
Published: March 2003

summary. Adefovir is a potent nucleotide analog inhibitor of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA polymerase. Its oral prodrug adefovir dipivoxil has been approved for the treatment of chronic HBV infection. In this study, adefovir was characterized for its in vitro effects on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) synthesis and compared with the nucleoside analogues lamivudine (3TC), fialuridine (FIAU), and zalcitabine (ddC). No substantial changes in mtDNA content were detected in human hepatoblastoma HepG2 cells and normal human skeletal muscle cells following a 9‐day treatment with 0.3–30 μm adefovir, concentrations up to 500‐fold higher than the peak serum levels in patients treated with adefovir dipivoxil. Similarly, mtDNA was unchanged in both cell types following treatment with 3TC. In contrast, 30–55% and > 90% reductions in mtDNA were observed following incubation with 30 μm FIAU and ddC, respectively. The effects of FIAU on mtDNA became more pronounced following prolonged 18‐day treatment of skeletal muscle cells while the effects of other drugs remained unchanged.
Press responses to the presence of free‐living Wild Boar (Sus scrofa) in southern England
Authors: Goulding M. J. , Roper T. J.
Published: March 2003

Wildlife management and conservation programmes are likely to attract media attention, especially when the programmes in question involve large mammals. The present study surveyed the response of the press (national and local newspapers, and magazines) to the existence of two populations of free‐living Wild Boar (Sus scrofa) that established in southern England in the early 1990s, following the escape of animals from captivity. One‐hundred and seven target articles from 46 different titles were searched for references to 18 separate issues related to topics such as agricultural damage, risk to humans and ecological impact. The presence of free‐living Wild Boar in the English countryside attracted predominantly negative press coverage: the issues most frequently raised by newspaper and magazine articles were that the animals constitute a danger to the public, damage agricultural crops, predate livestock and transmit disease. A minority of articles argued that the animals should be conserved, mainly on the grounds that they could be hunted for meat. There was relatively little coverage of environmental issues, and what there was tended to focus on detrimental effects of Wild Boar on native flora and fauna. We conclude that management and conservation programmes involving large, allegedly dangerous mammals are likely to encounter an adverse press reaction. This is something that the organizers of such programmes may need to take into account when predicting public attitudes.
Susceptibility of mosquitoes in central Taiwan to natural infections of Dirofilaria immitis
Authors: Lai C. ‐H. , Tung K. ‐C. , Ooi H. ‐K. , Wang J. ‐S.
Published: March 2003

From October 1997 to September 1998, 3085 Culex quinquefasciatus (Say) (Diptera: Culicidae), 584 Cx. tritaeniorhynchus (Giles) (Diptera: Culicidae), 392 Cx. annulus (Theobald) (Diptera: Culicidae), 374 Aedes albopictus (Skuse) (Diptera: Culicidae) and 102 Armigeres subalbatus (Coquillet) (Diptera: Culicidae) were collected and examined for Dirofilaria immitis (Leidy) (Spirurida: Filariidae) infection. However, only Cx. quinquefasciatus and Ae. albopictus were infected, with a prevalence of 4.28% and 3.74%, respectively. The intensity of D. immitis found in Ae. albopictus (3.43 larvae/mosquito) was higher than that found in Cx. quinquefasciatus (2.89 larvae/mosquito). After being fed with canine blood containing 7500 microfilariae (mf) per mL, Cx. quinquefasciatus ingested approximately two times as many mf as Ae. albopictus (mean of 31.73 in comparison to 16.47). However, almost three times as many third‐stage infective larvae developed in Ae. albopictus as in Cx. quinquefasciatus (mean of 3.25 as compared with 1.10), with a vector efficiency index (VEI) of 19.73 and 3.47, respectively. The results showed that Cx. quinquefasciatus and Ae. albopictus served as natural vectors of D. immitis in central Taiwan. Although Ae. albopictus was more efficient for heartworm transmission, Cx. quinquefasciatus may play a more prominent role on the transmission of dirofilariasis in central Taiwan.
Spatial pattern of abundance of the mosquito, Ochlerotatus albifasciatus, in relation to habitat characteristics
Authors: Gleiser R. M. , Schelotto G. , Gorla D. E.
Published: March 2003

Abstract Ochlerotatus albifasciatus (Macquart) (Diptera: Culicidae) is the main vector of the western equine encephalomyelitis (WEE) virus and potentially of other arboviruses in Argentina. Surges of adult population abundance during the rainy season are a nuisance, affecting milk and beef production. Larvae develop in short periods in shallow temporary ground pools on fresh or brackish water. Although adults seem to disperse long distances from larval habitats, little is known about their habitat preferences. This work studied factors affecting the spatial pattern of adult Oc. albifasciatus abundance.

Adult mosquitoes were collected using CDC miniature light traps baited with CO2 at 28 sites located to the south of Mar Chiquita Lagoon, from November 1997 to April 1998. Each site was typified according to its predominating vegetation cover, potential breeding site occurrence, land slope and cattle density. The spatial and temporal patterns of abundance suggested that Oc. albifasciatus prefers prairies and natural grasslands subject to periodic flooding vs. woodland and farm land. A discriminant function based on the proximity to potential larval habitats, distance to woodland and land slope accurately classified 95% of the data categorized as having an average high (>500 mosquitoes) or low (<500 mosquitoes) abundance, and was validated using six sites located away from the study area. An analysis of the temporal variation of mosquito abundance highlighted the influence of the dynamics of the larval habitats on adult mosquito abundance.
Distribution and phenology of ixodid ticks in southern Zambia
Authors: Speybroeck N. , Madder M. , Van Den Bossche P. , Mtambo J. , Berkvens N. , Chaka G. , Mulumba M. , Brandt J. , Tirry L. , Berkvens D.
Published: March 2003

Abstract Distribution data for epidemiologically important ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) in the Southern Province of Zambia, one of the main cattle areas of the country, are presented. Boophilus microplus (Canestrini) was not recorded in southern Zambia, whereas Boophilus decoloratus (Koch) is present throughout the area. New distribution patterns for less economically important ixodid ticks are also discussed. Southern Zambia is a transition zone because it is the most northern area in Africa where mixed Rhipicephalus appendiculatus Neumann and Rhipicephalus zambeziensis Walker, Norval & Corwin populations were reported. Although a second generation of adult R. appendiculatus/R. zambeziensis was encountered, simulations indicated that this phenomenon is very rare in southern Zambia, mainly because of the colder temperatures during the early dry season and lower rainfall. These simulations were supported by a development trial under experimental conditions. Tick body size measurements showed that southern Zambian ticks are larger than eastern Zambian R. appendiculatus. It is hypothesized that body size is related to diapausing intensity in this species. The epidemiological consequences are that a different approach to control Theileria parva (Theiler) (Piroplasmida: Theileriidae) and other tick‐borne diseases is needed in southern Zambia, compared to the one adopted in eastern Zambia.
Expectations and opinions of pregnant women about medical students being involved in care at the time of delivery
Authors: Nicum Rupal , Karoo Richard
Published: March 2003

Information was collected from pregnant women about their knowledge of and previous experience with medical students; their opinions towards medical students being involved at the time of delivery and the socio‐economic and religious influences on these. The format of the study was a self‐administered questionnaire survey. The setting was a teaching hospital in the UK. In total, 118 pregnant women aged between 15 and 46 years, with a gestational age of 18–42 weeks were surveyed. Factors which significantly influenced acceptance of medical students were found to be previous number of children (P = <0·001) and religious beliefs of the pregnant women (P = 0·002). Only 51·4% of antenatal women knew that a `medical student' is a doctor in training and most assumed that the role of the student at the time of delivery required very few clinical skills. Only 13·6% knew that medical students could deliver a baby under supervision. Of the 118 subjects, 95·4% thought that student participation at the time of delivery was a worthwhile learning experience; however, only 74·6% were actually willing for a student to be involved. In conclusion, pregnant women appear to have made their decisions about medical student participation by balancing personal needs with a sense of responsibility to help in the education of others. The results suggest that patients need more information about medical students, including an explanation of the term `medical student' and an outline of the role they play during the intrapartum period.
Self and tutor evaluations in problem‐based learning tutorials: is there a relationship?
Authors: Das Mandira , Mpofu  , Dunn  , Lanphear
Published: March 2003

It is now recognized that acquiring specific skills in self‐evaluation helps students in a more general appraisal of their overall performance. Self‐ and peer‐evaluation skills are essential prerequisites for the success of every doctor in maintaining professional competence. In the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS) of the United Arab Emirates, problem‐based learning (PBL) is instituted in the first year. Self‐evaluation by students and tutor rating of students' performances are an integral part of the PBL tutorials. This has provided the opportunity to conduct a systematic study of the role of self‐evaluation by students as distinct from the tutor evaluation of students in the PBL tutorials for five themes. The study sample included all preparatory year (first‐year) students who joined the FMHS in 1994 and 1995. A total number of 64 students participated, of whom 17 (26%) were male and 47 (74%) female. Mean self‐evaluation scores were high throughout the module and did not follow any trend from theme one to theme five. While self and tutor scores were similar, male student self‐evaluation scores were higher than for female students on overall scores. The sharing of assessment reports between students and tutors has been perceived to be a useful tool for the students' development of the skills of analysis, differentiation and critical appraisal.
Planning and producing an educational videotape on the cervical screening programme in Wales
Authors: Elwyn Glyn Jones , Smail Simon A
Published: March 2003

Planning and producing an instructional videotape for health care workers require attention to educational principles but also depend on project management skills. The paper describes an approach to the planning and production of a programme on the cervical screening service in Wales that used focus groups to obtain information about needs assessment and developmental testing. Learning objectives need to be married with content accuracy and policy consensus, often difficult to achieve for health care areas such as cervical screening. For these reasons, effective and close liaison is required between sponsor, content experts, scriptwriter, producer and director.
Grade predictions for school‐leaving examinations: do they predict anything?
Authors: Richardson P H , Winder B , Briggs K , Tydeman C
Published: March 2003

The attributes of 721 medical students admitted to the United Medical and Dental Schools (UMDS) of Guy's and St Thomas' Hospitals, London, UK between the years 1991 and 1994 were examined to determine the relationship between A‐level grade predictions (as completed on each student's UCAS form by their school/college at the time of their application to the school) and subsequent assessments of their academic ability and performance. Predicted A‐level grades were found to be significantly, if weakly, correlated with the rating of academic ability made at interview by the UMDS interviewing panel. They were not however, related to the grades obtained by students in the A‐level examination itself. Further, while success at pre‐clinical examinations was predicted by obtained A‐level grades, it showed no relationship with the predicted grades. In contrast, the interview‐based rating of the applicant's academic potential was significantly predictive of subsequent A level and, to a lesser extent, pre‐clinical examination performance. It is concluded that predicted A‐level grades may not offer a valid method of assessing the academic potential of applicants for medical school.
Attitudes of medical faculty physicians about taking occupational history
Authors: Çimrin  , Sevinc  , Kundak  , Ellidokuz  , Itil
Published: March 2003

Objectives

To evaluate occupational history taking, as a detailed occupational history is the most effective means for proper diagnosis of occupational illness.

Methods

In order to determine the attitudes of 66 physicians working in Dokuz Eylül Medical Faculty Hospital about taking occupational history, 269 patient records were examined.

Results

It was detected that 43·9% of physicians took no occupational history from any of their patients. Occupational history was obtained from 81·8% of the patients in clinics where standard examination forms were in regular use.

Conclusion

We found that physicians were not in the habit of taking occupational histories.
Evaluating assessment: the missing link?
Authors: Fowell  , Southgate  , Bligh
Published: March 2003

Background

Methods chosen for assessment and the manner in which they are applied are so intimately associated with how individuals learn that developing appropriate assessment strategies is a key part of effective curriculum development.

The assessment cycle

We describe a four‐stage assessment cycle identifying important steps in assessment. Each step is described in detail, stressing its key aspects, including: the need for clear assessment policy and strategy, the importance of assessment blueprints in planning assessment, the need for effective feedback when presenting results, and the essential, but often overlooked, need to evaluate the assessment process itself.

Evaluating assessment

This final evaluation stage is the most important part of the assessment cycle and can be divided into four levels. The first level includes evaluating each question in the assessment, the second level is concerned with establishing validity and reliability, the third level centres on the assessment process and review of assessments by external examiners and the fourth level involves evaluation over several assessments.

Relating assessment to the curriculum

This long‐term evaluation should examine whether existing assessments are congruent with the curriculum and relate to all facets of the students' learning experiences. This is particularly important in a curriculum where the learning outcomes of student‐centred learning are emphasized. Changes in the assessment of postgraduate trainees and increasing emphasis on peer review of clinicians will raise the profile of these outcomes in undergraduate education.
The ghost of hybrids past: fixation of arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) mitochondrial DNA in an introgressed population of lake trout (S. namaycush)
Authors: WILSON CHRIS C. , BERNATCHEZ LOUIS
Published: March 2003

Complete fixation of arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) was observed in a southern Québec population of lake trout (S. namaycush). This introgressed population otherwise appeared to be normal with regard to lake trout morphology and three species‐diagnostic microsatellite loci. Arctic charr do not occur in the area, suggesting that the hybridization event was prehistoric. Of several possible hypotheses, the most plausible explanation for this aberrant population is that hybridization occurredin situsoon after deglaciation, with repeated backcrossing of hybrids with lake trout. Fixation ofS. alpinusmtDNA in the population may have occurred either by chance (drift) or selection, although indirect evidence and data from similarly introgressed brook trout (S. fontinalis) populations in the region suggest that selection favouring theS. alpinusmitochondrial type and/or associated nuclear genes may have been involved.
High‐resolution DNA fingerprinting of parthenogenetic root‐knot nematodes using AFLP analysis
Authors: SEMBLAT J. P. , WAJNBERG E. , DALMASSO A. , ABAD P. , CASTAGNONE‐SERENO P.
Published: March 2003

Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis has been used to characterize 15 root‐knot nematode populations belonging to the three parthenogenetic species Meloidogyne arenaria, M. incognita and M. javanica. Sixteen primer combinations were used to generate AFLP patterns, with a total number of amplified fragments ranging from 872 to 1087, depending on the population tested. Two kinds of polymorphic DNA fragments could be distinguished: bands amplified in a single genotype, and bands polymorphic between genotypes (i.e. amplified in not all but at least two genotypes). Based on presence/absence of amplified bands and pairwise similarity values, all the populations tested were clustered according to their specific status. Significant intraspecific variation was revealed by AFLP, with DNA fragments polymorphic among populations within each of the three species tested. M. arenaria appeared as the most variable species, while M. javanica was the least polymorphic. Within each specific cluster, no general correlation could be found between genomic similarity and geographical origin of the populations. The results reported here showed the ability of the AFLP procedure to generate markers useful for genetic analysis in root‐knot nematodes.
Distribution of chloroplast DNA diversity within and among populations in gynodioecious Beta vulgaris ssp. maritima (Chenopodiaceae)
Authors: FORCIOLI D. , SAUMITOU‐LAPRADE P. , VALERO M. , VERNET P. , CUGUEN J.
Published: March 2003

With the recent technical advances in molecular biology, chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) has become a marker used for the study of cytoplasmic differentiation of natural populations of plants. As chloroplasts are maternally inherited in most plant species, the seed component of gene flow is thus made accessible. We present here a study of cpDNA polymorphism within the maritima subspecies of the gynodioecious Beta vulgaris in which we try to assess the impact of such a reproductive system on seed flow. One hundred and eighty‐eight wild beets were sampled from 20 hermaphroditic and 20 gynodioecious (i.e. containing both hermaphroditic and female plants) populations from the Atlantic coast of Europe. cpDNA variability in these populations was characterized with a rapid restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) method. Eight cpDNA haplotypes were found. Strong differentiation among populations was observed (FST = 0.43) and was consistent with isolation by distance, although most of the cpDNA haplotypes were ubiquitous. Gynodioecy seems to affect the distribution of cpDNA diversity: gynodioecious populations of Beta vulgaris ssp. maritima contained a greater number of cpDNA types but were less differentiated among themselves than hermaphroditic ones.
PCR–restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analyses reveal both extensive clonality and local genetic differences in Candidaalbicans
Authors: Xu Jianping , Mitchell Thomas G. , Vilgalys Rytas
Published: March 2003

Using a polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR–RFLP) method to obtain genotypes for the diploid pathogenic yeast, Candidaalbicans, we analysed 204 C. albicans isolates from three populations of the Duke University community: two from clinical sources [one from patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the other from patients without HIV infection], and the third from healthy student volunteers. The results indicated: (i) extensive evidence for clonality within and between populations of C. albicans; and (ii) greater genotypic and gene diversities in the nonclinical population than those derived from clinical specimens, regardless of HIV status. The two clinical populations were genetically more similar to each other than either was to the population consisting of isolates from healthy people. Within each population sample there was a general lack of heterozygotes, and random associations of alleles within and between loci were found in less than 50% of the loci or pairs of loci. These findings were consistent between the two sets of samples analysed: those including all isolates and those including only clone‐corrected isolates. Possible mechanisms are presented to explain the observed patterns of genetic variation within and between C. albicans populations.
Comparison of homology and linkage of random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers between individual trees of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.)
Authors: Hurme P. , Savolainen O.
Published: March 2003

Segregation, homology and linkage of 33 random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers were studied in three trees [P304, E1101 and F1 (cross P315 × E1101)] of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.). Markers were selected on the basis of a RAPD map constructed earlier for F1. Markers from three linkage groups were studied in P304 and E1101. In both P304 and E1101, 14 markers (42%) were heterozygous. Segregation deviating from 1:1 was found for three markers in P304 and one marker in E1101. With the restriction pattern test, two out of the 33 loci studied (6%) were found to be not homologous to the corresponding fragment in F1. Both of these loci were heterozygous, and they were not linked to any markers, which confirmed their nonhomology. Homologous heterozygous markers segregating 1:1 were mostly linked with similar order in P304 and E1101 as in F1. The results suggest that it might be necessary to verify the homology of comigrating fragments before using them even across individuals. It will often be desirable to use other codominant markers together with RAPDs.