bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lesbians’ attitudes and beliefs regarding overweight and weight reduction
Authors: Roberts Susan J , Stuart‐Shor Eileen M , Oppenheimer Rachel A
Published: June 2010

Aim and objective.  This article presents data on attitudes and beliefs about overweight/weight reduction in lesbians. The project was developed to have information on which to base future culturally sensitive interventions to reduce cardiovascular risk in lesbians.

Background.  Lesbians have been found to have high rates of obesity/overweight and to be more accepting of it. Researchers have hypothesised that this is attributed to different attitudes towards body weight and shape in lesbians than heterosexuals. Little is known about acceptable ways to intervene to decrease cardiovascular risk in lesbians in view of these attitudes.

Design.  Women over 21 who self‐identified as lesbian and reported one or more cardiovascular risk factors were recruited from medical providers and community resources. Twenty‐five women participated in five focus groups that explored practices, attitudes and beliefs about cardiovascular risk and culturally acceptable strategies to reduce cardiovascular risk in lesbians.

Method.  Demographic and risk factor information was collected from focus group members by questionnaire. Focus groups were audiotaped and transcribed. Investigators reviewed the transcripts and identified, coded and categorised data to begin to identify emergent themes.

Results.  Lesbian participants with risk factors for cardiovascular risk expressed concern about the health consequences of weight but want a focus on their general health rather than exclusively on the BMI. There is not homogeneity in attitudes and beliefs about weight and overweight among lesbians, and generational differences were found. Minority stress, anxiety and depression and homophobia were major factors in health behaviours and barriers to changing unhealthy behaviours.

Relevance to clinical practice.  Lesbian participants with risk factors for cardiovascular disease were eager to be involved in individual and group culturally sensitive programs that focus on improved health and well being. Recommended interventions include lesbian specific multidimensional group interventions that could deal with the multiple factors involved in causing and maintaining the behaviours.
Multi‐institutional study of barriers to research utilisation and evidence‐based practice among hospital nurses
Authors: Brown Caroline E , Ecoff Laurie , Kim Son C , Wickline Mary A , Rose Barbara , Klimpel Kathy , Glaser Dale
Published: June 2010

Aims.  The study aims were to explore the relationships between perceived barriers to research use and the implementation of evidence‐based practice among hospital nurses and to investigate the barriers as predictors of implementation of evidence‐based practice.

Background.  Evidence‐based practice is critical in improving healthcare quality. Although barriers to research use have been extensively studied, little is known about the relationships between the barriers and the implementation of evidence‐based practice in nursing.

Design.  Cross‐sectional study.

Method.  Data were collected between December 2006–January 2007 for this cross‐sectional study using computerised Evidence‐Based Practice Questionnaire and BARRIERS surveys. A convenience sample (n = 1301) of nurses from four hospitals in southern California, USA, participated. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were performed for each of the three dependent variables: practice, attitude and knowledge/skills associated with evidence‐based practice. BARRIERS subscales were used as predictor variables.

Results.  The perceived barriers to research use predicted only 2·7, 2·4 and 4·5% of practice, attitude and knowledge/skills associated with evidence‐based practice.

Conclusions.  It was unexpected that the barriers to research use predicted such small fractions of practice, attitude and knowledge/skills associated with evidence‐based practice. The barriers appear to have minimal influence over the implementation of evidence‐based practice for most hospital nurses.

Relevance to clinical practice.  In implementing evidence‐based practice, the focus on barriers to research use among general nursing staff may be misplaced. Further studies are needed to identify the predictors of evidence‐based practice and to identify the subset of nurses who are most amenable to adopting evidence‐based practice.
Functional constipation: implications for nursing interventions
Authors: Zhou Lirong , Lin Zheng , Lin Lin , Wang Meifeng , Zhang Hongjie
Published: June 2010

Aims.  To verify the correlation between anorectal function and psychological conditions of depression/anxiety in patients with functional constipation. The aim of this study is to explore why people with depression/anxiety have higher incidence of functional constipation and recommend innovative interventions to advance patient care of functional constipation.

Design.  A prospective correlational design.

Methods.  Anorectal manometry was performed on functional constipation patients (n = 70) through the Medtronic Synectics PC Polygraf, while the psychological condition was tested by Self‐Rating Anxiety Scale and Self‐Rating Depression Scale. Twenty normal controls were also studied.

Results.  Compared with controls, (1) functional constipation patients displayed higher squeezing pressure, defaecation thresholds and maximal volume of tolerance (p < 0·01), and there was no significant difference in anorectal resting pressure, defaecating pressure, minimum relaxation volume and first sensation (p > 0·05). (2) Functional constipation patients showed higher depression/anxiety scores (p < 0·01). (3) The anorectal squeezing pressure was negatively correlated with anxiety and depression scores, while the first sensation and maximal volume of tolerance was positively correlated with depression score (p < 0·05).

Conclusions.  Abnormal anorectal function correlates to depression/anxiety levels indicating that depression/anxiety may contributes to functional constipation. The possible pathology is via brain‐gut axis.

Relevance to clinical practice.  The study indicates that nurses should pay attention to the patients’ psychological needs, especially to those interested in seeing the physician and doing unnecessary examinations repeatedly to find any organic disease. Integrated nursing intervention should be applied to improve patients’ psychological adaptation and boost the functional constipation therapeutic effect.
Spatial genetic structure in an understorey dioecious fig species: the roles of seed rain, seed and pollen‐mediated gene flow, and local selection
Authors: Zhou Hui‐Ping , Chen Jin
Published: June 2010

1. The spatial genetic structure (SGS) of a plant population is mainly determined by gene flow via seed and pollen, various natural selection pressures and spatial patterns of existing plants. However, the role of those factors in shaping SGS requires further investigation.

2. We studied the relative importance of those factors in shaping the SGS of an understorey dioecious fig species (Ficus cyrtophylla). Spatial patterns of existing individuals and microhabitat were surveyed, patterns of seed rain were investigated, seed dispersers were observed in the field, and the gene flow and SGS of a focal population were determined.

3. Three mid‐sized bulbul (Pycnonotus spp.) species were the primary dispersers of Ficus cyrtophylla fruits. All the age cohorts exhibited clumped patterns with a decreasing trend from seeds to seedlings, saplings and adults. Seed rain occurred in a non‐random pattern with high clumping in moderately lit microhabitats. The observed pattern suggests disperser preferences for those microhabitats resulting in higher seed deposition.

4. Seeds and pollen of F. cyrtophylla were widely dispersed (ranging from 9 m to 2.75 km and 10 m to 3 km, respectively). About two‐thirds of seeds and half of the pollen grains were locally dispersed (≤ 250 m) within the focal population.

5. Significant positive autocorrelations occurred at a local scale (≤10 m) in seeds and seedlings but not in saplings and adults. The SGS pattern disappeared when we reduced the sample size of seedlings to that for the saplings, which suggests that demographic thinning effects (e.g. density‐dependent predation and competition) on spatial distribution may lead to the loss of SGS through transitions from seedlings to saplings and adults.

6. Synthesis. Although F. cyrtophylla seeds and pollen were widely dispersed, the significant SGS present in seedlings probably resulted from clumped seed dispersal due to dispersers’ behaviour and high seedfall beneath parent trees. The loss of SGS in sapling and adult life stages is probably caused by demographic selection effects during recruitment. Our study emphasizes the different roles of dispersal and local selection in shaping SGS of plant populations.
Testing the growth limitation hypothesis for subarctic Scots pine
Authors: Susiluoto Sanna , Hilasvuori Emmi , Berninger Frank
Published: June 2010

1. We tested if tree line trees are sink or resource limited by comparing the reactions in Scots pine trees (Pinus sylvestris L.) to changes in resource availability (through nutrient addition and defoliation), and in sink strength (through debudding) in north‐eastern Finland.

2. Height extension growth increased by over 200% and shoot extension growth by 27%, as a result of nutrient addition, whereas changes in radial increment were smaller and not statistically significant.

3. Although in defoliated trees height and shoot extension were not significantly affected, defoliated trees decreased their radial growth by 50%.

4. Branch extension growth of the remaining buds was increased due to debudding treatment by 47%, but there were no changes in radial increment.

5. Non‐structural carbohydrate concentrations in twigs, however, remained relatively constant in all treatments.

6. There were no statistically significant changes in carbon isotope ratio due to any of the treatments, indicating that the manipulation treatments did not modify tree water relations.

7. Synthesis. Our results do not support the growth limitation theory for tree line trees and suggest that resource limitations might be more important.
Is the test result correct? A questionnaire study of blood collection practices in primary health care
Authors: Söderberg Johan , Wallin Olof , Grankvist Kjell , Brulin Christine
Published: June 2010

Rationale, aims and objectives  Venous blood tests are important for clinical decision making. Most errors in blood testing are due to human errors before the blood samples reach the laboratory. The present study was designed to investigate venous blood sampling (VBS) practices in primary health care centres (PHCs) compared with clinical laboratory staff.

Method  A cross‐sectional survey of 70 PHCs and two clinical laboratories is conducted. All staff responsible for VBS (317 respondents, response rate 94%) completed a questionnaire on VBS practices.

Results  Instructions for VBS were not followed in the surveyed PHCs. For example, only 54% reported that they always identified the patient by using name/Swedish identification number and only 5% reported that they always used photo‐ID, the two preferred means for patient identification. Only 12% reported that they always released venous stasis as soon as possible. Fewer PHC staff than clinical laboratory staff reported correct VBS practices. For example, 54% of the PHC staff reported that they always identified the patient by name and Swedish identification number, as compared with 95% of the clinical laboratory staff (P < 0.001). Documented VBS routines and re‐education in VBS were not clearly associated with reported correct VBS practices.

Conclusions  In the surveyed PHCs, there are clinically important risks for misidentification of patients and erroneous test results, with consequences for the diagnosis and treatment of patients. Quality interventions, aimed at improving VBS practices, are needed to ensure patient safety.
GP preferences for information systems: conjoint analysis of speed, reliability, access and users
Authors: Wyatt Jeremy C. , Batley Richard P. , Keen Justin
Published: June 2010

Rationale, aims and objective  To elicit the preferences and trade‐offs of UK general practitioners about key features of health information systems, to help inform the design of such systems in future.

Methods  A stated choice study to uncover implicit preferences based on a binary choice between scenarios presented in random order.

Participants  were all 303 general practice members of the UK Internet service provider, Medix who were approached by email to participate. The main outcome measure was the number of seconds delay in system response that general practitioners were willing to trade off for each key system feature: the reliability of the system, the sites from which the system could be accessed and which staff are able to view patient data.

Results  Doctors valued speed of response most in information systems but would be prepared to wait 28 seconds to access a system in exchange for improved reliability from 95% to 99%, a further 2 seconds for an improvement to 99.9% and 27 seconds for access to data from anywhere including their own home compared with one place in a single health care premises. However, they would require a system that was 14 seconds faster to compensate for allowing social care as well as National Health Service staff to read patient data.

Conclusions  These results provide important new evidence about which system characteristics doctors value highly, and hence which characteristics designers need to focus on when large scale health information systems are planned.
Contemporary management of pulmonary embolism: the answers to ten questions
Authors: Bounameaux H.
Published: June 2010

Abstract.  Bounameaux H (Division of Angiology and Hemostasis, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospitals of Geneva and Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland). Contemporary management of pulmonary embolism: the answers to ten questions (Review). J Intern Med 2010; 268: 218–231.

Pulmonary embolism (PE) cannot be diagnosed solely on a clinical basis, because of the lack of sensitivity and specificity of clinical signs and symptoms. Pulmonary angiography is invasive and resource demanding. Because the prevalence of PE is relatively low (20% or less) amongst individuals who are clinically suspected of having the disease, submitting all of them to imaging (multi‐detector CT angiography or ventilation/perfusion lung scintigraphy) would not be cost‐effective. Therefore, diagnostic algorithms have been developed that include clinical probability assessment and D‐dimer measurement to select the patients who require noninvasive imaging. Once the diagnosis is suspected or confirmed, therapy must be started to avoid potentially fatal recurrence. Treatment starts for an initial 3‐month period with a 5‐day course of parenteral unfractionated or low‐molecular‐weight heparin or fondaparinux overlapping with and followed by oral vitamin K antagonists monitored to maintain an international normalized ratio of 2–3. This initial period of 3 months may then be followed by a long‐term secondary prevention period in patients who experience an idiopathic thromboembolic event and are at low risk of bleeding. New oral anticoagulants that do require patient monitoring and might exhibit a more favourable benefit–risk balance are currently under extensive clinical testing and might change the situation in the near future. A critical appraisal of the contemporary management of suspected PE is given in this overview with the discussion of 10 practical questions.
The prevalence of temporomandibular disorder signs in people with mental retardation
Authors: GURBUZ O. , KURSOGLU P. , ALATAS G. , ALTINBAS K.
Published: June 2010

Summary  The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of temporomandibular disorder (TMD) signs and tooth wear levels in a group of hospitalised patients with mental retardation (MR). A total of 118 patients with MR and 104 mentally healthy individuals (control) were included in this study. The groups consisted of equal numbers of male and female patients. TMD signs were evaluated according to the Research Diagnostic Criteria to assess the limitation in maximum mouth opening, the alterations in the mouth opening pathway and temporomandibular joint sounds. In addition, tooth wear was recorded. The frequency of at least one sign of TMD observed in patients with MR (79·7%) was significantly higher than in controls (69·2%) (P = 0.03). In addition, 43.2% of the patients with MR had more than one sign of TMD compared with 28.8% of the control group (P = 0·02). Prevalence of each sign exhibited in the MR and control groups was as follows: limitation in mouth opening, 24·6% vs. 13·5% (P = 0·02); deviation, 18·6% vs. 26·9% (P = 0·001); deflection, 29·7% vs. 10·6% (P = 0·001); TMJ sounds, 46·6% vs. 41·1% (P = 0·43); bilateral joint sounds 28·8% vs. 16·3% (P = 0·05) respectively. Prevalences of TMD signs were not different between genders in both groups (P > 0·05). Severe tooth wear was evident in 43·2% of the patients with MR compared with 20·6% of the controls (P = 0·001). In conclusion, patients with MR seem to be more prone to having TMD signs compared with the control population.
Fit of zirconia fixed partial denture: a systematic review
Authors: ABDUO J. , LYONS K. , SWAIN M.
Published: June 2010

Summary  The aim of this study is to review all the published literature investigating the accuracy of fit of zirconia fixed partial dentures (FPD). A comprehensive electronic search was performed through PubMed (MEDLINE) using Boolean operators to combine the following key words: ‘zirconia,’‘margin,’‘FPD,’‘internal,’‘fit,’‘gap,’‘fitting surface,’‘bridge’ and ‘fixed prosthesis.’ The search was limited to articles written in English, published up to January 2010. In addition, a manual search was also conducted through articles and reference lists retrieved from the electronic search and peer‐reviewed journals. A total of 115 articles were retrieved and only 15 met the specified inclusion criteria for the review. Twelve of these articles were in vitro and three of them were in vivo. The selected articles had assessed marginal and/or internal fit of zirconia FPDs against the effect of various parameters that were computer‐aided design and computer‐aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) and CAM systems, post‐sintered and pre‐sintered milling, framework configuration, span length, veneer application and ageing. Conclusions: CAD/CAM, post‐sintered milling, straight configuration and shorter span frameworks provided superior results than CAM, pre‐sintered milling, curved configuration and longer span frameworks. Veneering zirconia frameworks caused deterioration in fit, while ageing of zirconia had no implications on the fit. Further studies are needed to determine the clinical significance of the differences in the accuracy reported in this review.
Bet v 1 and its homologous food allergen Api g 1 stimulate dendritic cells from birch pollen‐allergic individuals to induce different Th‐cell polarization
Authors: Smole U. , Wagner S. , Balazs N. , Radauer C. , Bublin M. , Allmaier G. , Hoffmann‐Sommergruber K. , Breiteneder H.
Published: June 2010

To cite this article: Smole U, Wagner S, Balazs N, Radauer C, Bublin M, Allmaier G, Hoffmann‐Sommergruber K, Breiteneder H. Bet v 1 and its homologous food allergen Api g 1 stimulate dendritic cells from birch pollen‐allergic individuals to induce different Th‐cell polarization. Allergy 2010; 65: 1388–1396.

Background:  Bet v 1 is the most relevant sensitizing protein for birch pollen (BP)‐allergic individuals. Its homologues from plant foods are mainly involved in allergic reactions caused by IgE cross reactivity. We aimed to evaluate the polarizing effect of dendritic cells (DCs) pulsed with Bet v 1, Mal d 1, Api g 1 or Dau c 1 on Th‐cell responses.

Methods:  Immature DCs were generated from peripheral blood monocytes of BP‐allergic and healthy donors by culture with GM‐CSF and IL‐4 and subsequently pulsed with allergens in combination with maturation factors. Cell surface markers were analysed by FACS. Mature DCs were co‐cultured with autologous Th cells and T‐cell proliferation and cytokine profiles were determined.

Results:  In co‐culture, mature allergen‐pulsed DCs induced autologous Th cells of BP‐allergic donors to proliferate significantly more than those of healthy individuals. Exposure of DCs from BP‐allergic donors to Bet v 1 resulted in a robust Th2 skewing with significantly higher quantities of IL‐5 and elevated IL‐13 compared to maturation factors. In contrast, Api g 1‐primed DCs from BP allergics significantly enhanced the production of the Th1 cytokine IFN‐γ and significantly down‐regulated IL‐13 compared to maturation factors. In healthy donors, no significant cytokine production could be detected.

Conclusion:  Bet v 1 in contrast to homologous food allergens seems to possess distinct molecular features that enable it to condition DCs from BP‐allergic donors to induce allergen‐specific T‐cell proliferation and Th2 polarization.
RESEARCH PAPER: Multiple Sexual Ornamentation Signals Male Quality and Predicts Female Preference in Minnows
Authors: Kekäläinen Jukka , Valkama Hannele , Huuskonen Hannu , Taskinen Jouni
Published: June 2010

Sexual ornamentation often consists of multiple components. Different sexual signals may indicate different aspects of mate quality or reflect quality in different time scales. On the other hand, same signals can have a dual function and are used both in male–male competition and courtship. Many fish species are capable of rapidly altering their colouration (ephemeral colour changes), but this capability is usually ignored in sexual selection studies. Here, we used experimentally manipulated social environments to study the ephemeral colour changes in multicomponent sexual signals of male minnows (Phoxinus phoxinus) during male–male competition and female choice. We found that the dominant males courted the females more actively and had redder and/or darker skin colouration than the subordinate males. Furthermore, darkness difference between subordinate and dominant males increased in the presence of female, which suggests that the male–male competition may increase the honesty of signalling and thus facilitate female choice. In support of this hypothesis, females had a strong behavioural preference towards the more colourful males, which may indicate female choice. As colourful males often had a higher social status than paler individuals, it is possible that females base their preference on male status, not only the colouration per se. In any case, our results suggest that sexual ornamentation of male minnows may signal status, courting activity and superior quality of the males and that these signals may have a dual function in both male–male competition and female choice. Females preferred different ornamental traits (dark and red colour patterns) relatively equally, indicating that mate choice is based on multiple cues.
In vitro susceptibility of filamentous fungi to itraconazole, voriconazole and posaconazole by Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute reference method and E‐test
Authors: Kondori N. , Svensson E. , Mattsby‐Baltzer I.
Published: June 2010

The use of anti‐fungal agents has increased dramatically in recent years and new drugs have been developed. Several methods are available for determinations of their specific biological activities, i.e. the standard method for minimum inhibitory concentration‐determination is described in M‐38 [Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute document M‐38 (CLSI M‐38)]. However, alternative methods, such as the E‐test, are currently available in Mycology laboratories. The susceptibilities of clinical isolates of Aspergillus spp. (n = 29), Fusarium spp. (n = 5), zygomycetes (n = 21) and Schizophyllum (n = 1) were determined for itraconazole, voriconazole and posaconazole, using the CLSI M‐38‐A broth dilution method and also by the E‐test. A good overall agreement (83.7%) between the two methods for all drugs and organisms was observed. Analyses of voriconazole showed a better agreement (93%) between the methods than posaconazole and itraconazole (85% and 74% respectively). Aspergillus spp. were the most susceptible fungi to the anti‐fungal agents tested in this study. Posaconazole was the most active drug against filamentous fungi in vitro, followed by itraconazole and voriconazole. The latter (voriconazole) demonstrated no significant in vitro activity against zygomycetes.
Do abandoned nests of leaf‐cutting ants enhance plant recruitment in the Atlantic Forest?
Authors: BIEBER ANA GABRIELA D. , OLIVEIRA MARCONDES A. , WIRTH RAINER , TABARELLI MARCELO , LEAL INARA R.
Published: June 2010

The role played by abandoned nests of leaf‐cutting ants (Attaspp.) as a small‐scale disturbance regime that affects plant recruitment, species coexistence and forest regeneration remains poorly investigated. Here we examine whether abandoned nests ofAtta cephalotesserve as regeneration niches and operate as particular plant recruitment habitats, favouring forest regeneration after ant activities cease and leading to the establishment of taxonomically/ecologically distinct plant assemblages. Soil properties, canopy openness, light availability and regenerating plant assemblages were evaluated across 18 nests and adjacent control plots in a large remnant of Atlantic Forest in north‐east Brazil from December 2004 to December 2005. Surprisingly, nests and control plots exhibited very similar light environments irrespective of nest age, but nest soils exhibited substantial reductions in carbon content (1.45 ± 0.24vs.1.79 ± 0.13%) and organic matter (2.50 ± 0.41vs.3.08 ± 0.23%), and proved to be much more resistant to penetration (30.57 ± 6.08vs.39.48 ± 7.53 mm). Functional signature of regenerating plant assemblages exhibited little variation across both habitat types, as they were dominated by pioneer, small‐seeded and vertebrate‐dispersed species. However, abandoned nests exhibited less dense, impoverished and more homogeneous regenerating plant assemblages at local and landscape scale; they clearly lacked nest‐dependent plant species and represented floristic subsets of the flora inhabiting the undisturbed forest. This recruitment bottleneck was transient in the long term because nest‐related effects ameliorated in older nests. Our results suggest that, unlike treefall gaps, abandoned nests represent temporary (relatively long‐lasting) islands of unsuitable substrate that reduce plant recruitment, retard forest regeneration, and fail in providing a special regeneration niche able to promote species coexistence and plant diversity.
Neutron diffraction measurements of residual stresses around a crack tip developed under variable‐amplitude fatigue loadings
Authors: LEE S. Y. , ROGGE R. B. , CHOO H. , LIAW P. K.
Published: June 2010

The spatially resolved neutron‐diffraction residual stress mappings were performed on five compact‐tension (CT) specimens subjected to various variable‐amplitude fatigue loadings (e.g. overload, underload and their mixed loads) during fatigue crack propagation. Three principal residual‐stress components (i.e. longitudinal, transverse and normal stresses) were measured as a function of the distance from the crack tip along the crack‐propagation direction. The shape of respective crack tips on the five CT specimens was examined using scanning electron microscope. The results show the distinct residual‐stress fields near the crack tip and significant changes in the crack‐tip geometry for five different loading cases. It is thought that the combined effects of the changes in the residual‐stress state and crack‐tip geometry seem to be a key factor to account for the observed transient crack‐growth phenomena.
α‐Synuclein mediates alterations in membrane conductance: a potential role for α‐synuclein oligomers in cell vulnerability
Authors: Feng Li Rebekah , Federoff Howard J. , Vicini Stefano , Maguire‐Zeiss Kathleen A.
Published: June 2010

α‐Synuclein has been linked to the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease and other synucleinopathies through its propensity to form toxic oligomers. The exact mechanism for oligomeric synuclein‐directed cell vulnerability has not been fully elucidated, but one hypothesis portends the formation of synuclein‐containing pores within cell membranes leading to leak channel‐mediated calcium influx and subsequent cell death. Here we demonstrate synuclein‐induced formation of sodium dodecyl sulfate‐stable oligomers, intracellular synuclein‐positive aggregates, alterations in membrane conductance reminiscent of leak channels and subsequent cytotoxicity in a dopaminergic‐like cell line. Furthermore we demonstrate that the synuclein‐induced membrane conductance changes are blocked by direct extracellular application of an anti‐synuclein antibody. The work presented here confirms that synuclein overexpression leads to membrane conductance changes and demonstrates for the first time through antibody‐blocking studies that synuclein plays a direct role in the formation of leak channels.
Rotating spatial harvests and fishing effort displacement: a comment on Game et al. (2009)
Authors: Kaplan David M. , Hart Deborah R. , Botsford Louis W.
Published: June 2010

Ecology Letters (2010) 13: E10–E12

Game et al. (2009) explored using rapid rotational fishing for increasing herbivore biomass. Their results depend crucially on the assumption that fishing effort that was in closures disappears, rather than shifting elsewhere. If effort shifts, rapid rotation has no effects, but previous age‐structured analyses show benefits of longer period rotation that are robust to effort displacement.
The index lesion and focal therapy: an analysis of the pathological characteristics of prostate cancer
Authors: Bott Simon R.J. , Ahmed Hashim U. , Hindley Richard G. , Abdul‐Rahman Ahmad , Freeman Alex , Emberton Mark
Published: June 2010

OBJECTIVE

To determine the pathological characteristics of radical prostatectomy specimens with respect to index and secondary lesions.

METHODS

A total of 100 consecutive radical prostatectomy specimens examined at a single hospital were assessed. Patients undergoing salvage prostatectomy or those who had received neoadjuvant hormonal manipulation were excluded. Preoperative data and the number, volume and Gleason grade of each tumour focus were recorded. Criteria used to define a clinically significant lesion were tumour volume ≥0.5 mL and/or Gleason pattern 4 or 5 and/or extra‐capsular disease.

RESULTS

Overall, 374 foci were examined. The median number of tumours per patient was 3.5 (range 1–15). The overall median tumour volume was 1.4 mL (range 0.1–18.2), the median volume of the largest (index) tumour was 0.95 mL (range 0.1–18.2) and the median volume of the largest secondary tumour was 0.2 mL (range 0.05–1.7). There were no patients in whom the index lesion was insignificant and secondary tumours were significant (by grade or extra‐capsular disease). Seventy‐seven fulfilled the clinical parameters of low‐to‐intermediate‐risk disease. If focal therapy can be delivered with the aim of ablating all clinically significant disease, with untreated areas harbouring no cancer or clinically insignificant disease, between 58.5 and 67.5% might have been suitable for such a strategy.

CONCLUSIONS

The proportion of men with low‐to‐intermediate‐risk prostate cancer who may potentially be suitable for a focal therapy approach is unknown. The key question is whether the volume of individual lesions points to clinically significant cancer and whether ablation of these lesions alone would lead to cancer control. This research question is currently undergoing evaluation within a prospective clinical trial.
Impact of sorafenib on health‐related quality of life in Japanese patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma: a prospective evaluation
Authors: Miyake Hideaki , Kurahashi Toshifumi , Yamanaka Kazuki , Kondo Yutaka , Takenaka Atsushi , Inoue Taka‐aki , Fujisawa Masato
Published: June 2010

Study Type – Therapy (case series) Level of Evidence 4

OBJECTIVE

To characterize the impact of sorafenib treatment on health‐related quality of life (HRQL) in Japanese patients with mRCC.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We performed a prospective observational study including 85 consecutive patients undergoing radical nephrectomy who were diagnosed as having mRCC refractory to cytokine therapy and subsequently treated with sorafenib for at least 3 months. HRQL in these patients was assessed using the Medical Outcomes Study 36‐Item Short Form (SF‐36).

RESULTS

Before treatment all eight scores in the 85 patients were significantly inferior to those in the age‐matched control population in Japan. Three months after sorafenib treatment, one score (mental health) in the 85 patients was significantly higher than what it was before treatment. Three scores (body pain, role limitations because of emotional problems, mental health) in patients who had some degree of tumour shrinkage were significantly better than those in the remaining patients, while there were no significant differences in all but one score (social function) between patients with and without severe AEs. Furthermore, there were no significant differences in any scores 3, 6 and 12 months after sorafenib treatment in 26 patients who could be followed for at least 12 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite non‐randomized study including a comparatively small number of patients, the findings of the present study suggest that sorafenib treatment may not impair HRQL in patients with mRCC, and HRQL in patients receiving sorafenib is likely to be affected by the efficacy rather than AEs during treatment.
The impact of family history on pathological and clinical outcomes in non‐syndromic clear cell renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Tollefson Matthew K. , Boorjian Stephen A. , Lohse Christine M. , Blute Michael L. , Leibovich Bradley C.
Published: June 2010

Study Type – Prognosis (case series) Level of Evidence 4

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the impact of family history on pathological and clinical outcomes after surgery for clear‐cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) in patients with non‐syndromic disease.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We reviewed 2677 patients treated with radical nephrectomy or nephron‐sparing surgery for non‐cystic ccRCC between 1970 and 2004 to identify patients with a family history of ccRCC. Patients with von Hippel–Lindau, tuberous sclerosis, or Birt–Hogg–Dube syndrome were excluded from analysis. Demographics and clinico‐pathological outcomes were compared to patients with ccRCC without a family history of kidney cancer using chi‐squared and Fisher’s exact tests. Postoperative cancer‐specific survival was estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method.

RESULTS

We identified 42 patients (1.6%) with a family history of ccRCC who were treated for non‐cystic ccRCC, with a median follow‐up of 4.7 years (range 1–34). Demographics and tumour characteristics, including tumour stage and grade, were similar between the two groups. Patients with a family history of ccRCC were more likely to have bilateral tumours (11.9 vs 2.2%, P= 0.003). Nevertheless, cancer‐specific survival rates for patients with and without a family history of ccRCC were similar at 5 years (75.7 vs 71.1%) and 10 years (53.9 vs 62.2%).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with a family history of ccRCC have pathological and clinical outcomes similar to patients with sporadic ccRCC. The increased incidence of bilateral tumours associated with a family history of ccRCC provides further evidence to support a nephron‐sparing surgical approach when feasible.
Racial variation in the pattern and quality of care for prostate cancer in the USA: mind the gap
Authors: Barocas Daniel A. , Penson David F.
Published: June 2010

This is a comment moderated paper. Please go to http://www.bjuicommentary.com for further details.

OBJECTIVE

To review the literature on racial variation in the pattern of care (PoC) and quality of care (QoC) for prostate cancer, as there are known racial disparities in the incidence and outcomes of prostate cancer. While there are some biological explanations for these differences, they do not completely explain the variation. Differences in the appropriateness and QoC delivered to men of different racial groups may contribute to disparities in outcome.

METHODS

We searched the USA National Library of Medicine PubMed system for articles pertaining to quality indicators in prostate cancer and racial disparities in QoC for prostate cancer.

RESULTS

While standards for appropriate treatment are not clearly defined, racial variation in the PoC has been reported in several studies, suggesting that African‐American men may receive less aggressive treatment. There are validated QoC indicators in prostate cancer, and researchers have begun to evaluate racial variation in adherence to these quality indicators. Further quality comparisons, particularly in structural measures, may need to be performed to fully evaluate differences in QoC.

CONCLUSIONS

There is mounting evidence for racial variation in the PoC and QoC for prostate cancer, which may contribute to observed differences in outcome. While some of the sources of racial variation in quality and outcome have been identified through the development of evidence‐based guidelines and validated quality indicators, opportunities exist to identify, study and attempt to resolve other components of the quality gap.
East versus West: contrasts in phenological patterns?
Authors: Askeyev O. V. , Sparks T. H. , Askeyev I. V. , Tishin D. V. , Tryjanowski P.
Published: June 2010

Aim  To examine whether change in the timing of a large number of phenological events and their response to temperature differs between trophic levels during the period 1988–2008.

Location  In the vicinity of Kazan, Tatarstan Republic, Russia (55°45′ N, 49°08′ E).

Methods  Observations of the dates of first events of 22 plant phases, 8 insect phases, 3 herpetofauna phases and 26 migrant bird phases were examined using regression to assess changes over time and response to temperature. Differences between trophic levels were assessed using ANOVA.

Results  In comparison to studies from western Europe, relatively few phenological series (15) revealed a significant advance over time, but a much larger number (37), including all the herpetofauna and nearly all the plants, showed a response to temperature. Trends in birds were, on average, twice as great as those for plants, but plants had a significantly greater temperature response. Over the study period local temperatures had not risen significantly but some phenological change was still evident.

Main conclusions  Phenological change has been less marked in the eastern edge of Europe than in western and central Europe. This is compatible with a lack of significant local warming during the study period. A large number of species show strong responses to temperature so will be expected to advance if/when local temperatures do increase. In contrast to results from elsewhere in Europe, early events were not the most temperature responsive, suggesting local adaptation preventing precocious behaviour and the consequent dangers of sub‐zero temperatures.
Psychological research in educational technology in China
Authors: Liu Ru‐De
Published: June 2010

Information and communication technology (ICT) has increasingly been bringing about significant changes in education in an ongoing process. The educational reform is not a mere technological issue but rather is based on an empirical grounding in a psychological research approach to learning and instruction. This paper introduces the research work on the application of ICT in education from the psychological perspective in China in the past three decades. The introduction focuses on four important issues with systemic theoretical thinking based on continuous empirical research and innovative practices. The first is dialectic constructivism which has offered some dialectic explanation for knowledge, learning and teaching, and balanced various contradictory aspects of learning and teaching. The second is theoretical thinking and instructional practice about the principles of learning environment design which emphasises learners' higher‐order thinking, deep understanding, collaboration and self‐regulated learning. The third is a model for the effectiveness and conditions of Computer‐Assisted Instruction. The fourth is a framework for the integration of ICT and education and a zigzag training model for teacher training for integration.
A Shape Descriptor for 3D Objects Based on Rotational Symmetry
Authors: Martinek M. , Grosso R. , Greiner G.
Published: June 2010

The ability to extract spatial features from 3D objects is essential for applications such as shape matching and object classification. However, designing an effective feature vector which is invariant with respect to rotation, translation and scaling is a challenging task and is often solved by normalization techniques such as PCA, which can give rise to poor object alignment. In this paper, we introduce a novel method to extract robust and invariant 3D features based on rotational symmetry. By applying a rotation‐variant similarity function on two instances of the same 3D object, we can define an autocorrelation on the object in the space of rotations. We use a special representation of the SO(3) and determine significant rotation axes for an object by means of optimization techniques. By sampling the similarity function via rotations around these axes, we obtain robust and invariant features, which are descriptive for the underlying geometry. The resulting feature vector cannot only be used to characterize an object with respect to rotational symmetry but also to define a distance between 3D models. Because the features are compact and pre‐computable, our method is suitable to perform similarity searches in large 3D databases.
Creating and Animating Subject‐Specific Anatomical Models
Authors: Gilles B. , Revéret L. , Pai D. K.
Published: June 2010

Creating and animating subject‐specific anatomical models is traditionally a difficult process involving medical image segmentation, geometric corrections and the manual definition of kinematic parameters. In this paper, we introduce a novel template morphing algorithm that facilitates three‐dimensional modelling and parameterization of skeletons. Target data can be either medical images or surfaces of the whole skeleton. We incorporate prior knowledge about bone shape, the feasible skeleton pose and the morphological variability in the population. This allows for noise reduction, bone separation and the transfer, from the template, of anatomical and kinematical information not present in the input data. Our approach treats both local and global deformations in successive regularization steps: smooth elastic deformations are represented by an as‐rigid‐as‐possible displacement field between the reference and current configuration of the template, whereas global and discontinuous displacements are estimated through a projection onto a statistical shape model and a new joint pose optimization scheme with joint limits.
Estimation of the characteristics of a Lévy process observed at arbitrary frequency
Authors: Kappus Johanna , Reiß Markus
Published: June 2010

A Lévy process is observed at time points of distance Δ until time T. We construct an estimator of the Lévy–Khinchine characteristics of the process and derive optimal rates of convergence simultaneously in T and Δ. Thereby, we encompass the usual low‐ and high‐frequency assumptions and also obtain asymptotics in the mid‐frequency regime.
Nitric oxide is involved in phosphorus deficiency‐induced cluster‐root development and citrate exudation in white lupin
Authors: Wang B. L. , Tang X. Y. , Cheng L. Y. , Zhang A. Z. , Zhang W. H. , Zhang F. S. , Liu J. Q. , Cao Y. , Allan D. L. , Vance C. P. , Shen J. B.
Published: June 2010

Commentary p879
The anatomical and functional relationship between the P3 and autonomic components of the orienting response
Authors: Nieuwenhuis Sander , De Geus Eco J. , Aston‐Jones Gary
Published: June 2010

Many psychophysiologists have noted the striking similarities between the antecedent conditions for the P3 component of the event‐related potential and the orienting response: both are typically elicited by salient, unexpected, novel, task‐relevant, and other motivationally significant stimuli. Although the close coupling of the P3 and orienting response has been well documented, the neural basis and functional role of this relationship is still poorly understood. Here we propose that the simultaneous occurrence of the P3 and autonomic components of the orienting response reflects the co‐activation of the locus coeruleus‐norepinephrine system and the peripheral sympathetic nervous system by their common major afferent: the rostral ventrolateral medulla, a key sympathoexcitatory region. A comparison of the functional significance of the locus coeruleus‐norepinephrine system and the peripheral sympathetic nervous system suggests that the P3 and orienting response reflect complementary cognitive and physical contributions to the mobilization for action following motivationally significant stimuli.
Biochemical and histopathological alterations in TAR DNA‐binding protein‐43 after acute ischemic stroke in rats
Authors: Kanazawa Masato , Kakita Akiyoshi , Igarashi Hironaka , Takahashi Tetsuya , Kawamura Kunio , Takahashi Hitoshi , Nakada Tsutomu , Nishizawa Masatoyo , Shimohata Takayoshi
Published: June 2010

J. Neurochem. (2011) 116, 957–965.

Nuclear factor TAR DNA‐binding protein‐43 (TDP‐43) is considered to play roles in pathogenesis of human neurodegenerative diseases, so‐called TDP‐43 proteinopathy, via its proteolytic cleavage, abnormal phosphorylation, subcellular redistribution, and insolubilization generating TDP‐43‐positive neuronal intracellular inclusions. The purpose of this study was to elucidate biochemical and histopathological alternations in TDP‐43 specific to acute ischemic stroke. Adult male rats were subjected to a 90‐min middle cerebral artery occlusion. We examined the proteolytic cleavage, phosphorylation, subcellular localization, and solubility of TDP‐43 by immunoblottings and histopathological examinations using the ischemic and sham‐operated cortex. The level of full‐length TDP‐43 (43 kDa) decreased and that of the 25‐kDa C‐terminal fragment increased after acute ischemic stroke, which can be explained by proteolytic cleavage of TDP‐43. Cytoplasmic redistribution and altered nuclear distribution of TDP‐43 was observed after acute ischemic stroke, whereas abnormal phosphorylation and insolubilization of TDP‐43 as well as formation of intracellular inclusions were not observed. Ischemic neurons with the cytoplasmic redistribution of TDP‐43 expressed ubiquitin and activated caspase 3 and were terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase‐mediated uridine 5′‐triphosphate‐biotin nick end labeling‐positive. In conclusion, biochemical and histopathological alterations in TDP‐43 were identified in rats after acute ischemic stroke, although there was very less similarity between TDP‐43 alterations observed in acute ischemic stroke and those observed in TDP‐43 proteinopathy.