bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Psychosocial treatments for bipolar disorder: cost‐effectiveness, mediating mechanisms, and future directions
Authors: Miklowitz David J , Scott Jan
Published: June 2009

Objectives:  Randomized trials of adjunctive psychotherapy for bipolar disorder are reviewed, in tandem with discussion of cost‐effectiveness, mediating mechanisms, and moderators of effects.

Methods:  Systematic searches of the MEDLINE and PSYCHLIT databases yielded 19 randomized controlled trials of individual family and group therapies. Outcome variables included time to recovery, relapse or recurrence, symptom severity, medication adherence, and psychosocial functioning.

Results:  Meta‐analyses consistently show that disorder‐specific psychotherapies [cognitive‐behavioral therapy (CBT), interpersonal, family, and group] augment mood stabilizers in reducing rates of relapse (OR = 0.57; 95% CI: 0.39–0.82) over 1–2 years. Specific mediating mechanisms include, but are not limited to, increasing medication adherence, teaching self‐monitoring and early intervention with emergent episodes, and enhancing interpersonal functioning and family communication. All therapies have strengths and weaknesses. One group psychoeducation trial, demonstrated effect sizes for recurrence that are at least equivalent to individual therapies, but findings await replication. Family interventions have been successfully administered in both single and multi‐family formats, but no studies report the comparative cost‐effectiveness of these formats. The best‐studied psychotherapy modality, CBT, can have beneficial effects on depression, but findings are inconsistent across studies and vary with sample characteristics and comparison treatments.

Conclusions:  Adjunctive psychotherapies can be cost‐effective when weighed against observed reductions in recurrence, hospitalization and functional impairments. Future trials need to (i) clarify which populations are most likely to benefit from which strategies; (ii) identify putative mechanisms of action; (iii) systematically evaluate costs, benefits, and generalizability; and (iv) record adverse effects. The application of psychosocial interventions to young‐onset populations deserves further study.
Identifying and treating cognitive impairment in bipolar disorder
Authors: Goldberg Joseph F , Roy Chengappa KN
Published: June 2009

Objectives: The presence of cognitive deficits has become increasingly appreciated across all phases of bipolar disorder. The present review sought to identify domains of cognitive dysfunction, methods of assessment, discrimination of iatrogenic from illness‐specific etiologies, and pharmacologic strategies to manage cognitive problems in patients with bipolar disorder.

Methods: A selective literature review was performed focusing on studies of descriptive phenomenology and pharmacologic intervention (favoring randomized comparisons when existent but open trials or case reports when not) involving cognition in bipolar disorder populations, healthy volunteers, or other clinical populations. Identification was made of (i) practical strategies for clinical assessment and management of cognitive complaints, (ii) limitations of existing intervention studies, and (iii) recommendations for the design and direction of future research.

Results: Cognitive deficits involving attention, executive function, and verbal memory are evident across all phases of bipolar disorder. Most existing treatment studies involve nonbipolar populations, prompting caution when extrapolating outcomes to individuals with bipolar disorder. Differentiating medication‐ from illness‐induced cognitive dysfunction requires comprehensive assessment with an appreciation for the cognitive domains most affected by specific medications. No current pharmacotherapies substantially improve cognition in bipolar disorder, although preliminary findings suggest some potential value for adjunctive stimulants such as modafinil and novel experimental agents.

Conclusions: Circumscribed cognitive deficits may be both iatrogenic and intrinsic to bipolar disorder. Optimal management hinges on a knowledge of illness‐specific cognitive domains as well as of the beneficial or adverse cognitive profiles of common psychotropic medications.
Mycosphaerellaceae and Teratosphaeriaceae associated with Eucalyptus leaf diseases and stem cankers in Uruguay
Authors: Pérez C. A. , Wingfield M. J. , Altier N. A. , Blanchette R. A.
Published: June 2009

Mycosphaerella leaf diseases represent one of the most important impediments to Eucalyptus plantation forestry. Yet they have been afforded little attention in Uruguay where these trees are an important resource for a growing pulp industry. The objective of this study was to identify species of Mycosphaerellaceae and Teratosphaeriaceae resulting from surveys in all major Eucalyptus growing areas of the country. Species identification was based on morphological characteristics and DNA sequence comparisons for the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) region of the rDNA operon. A total of ten Mycosphaerellaceae and Teratosphaeriaceae were found associated with leaf spots and stem cankers on Eucalyptus. Of these, Mycosphaerella aurantia, M. heimii, M. lateralis, M. scytalidii, Pseudocercospora norchiensis, Teratosphaeria ohnowa and T. pluritubularis are newly recorded in Uruguay. This is also the first report of M. aurantia occurring outside of Australia, and the first record of P. norchiensis and T. pluritubularis in South America. New hosts were identified for Kirramyces gauchensis, M. aurantia, M. marksii, M. lateralis, M. scytalidii, P. norchiensis, T. molleriana, T. ohnowa and T. pluritubularis. Interestingly K. gauchensis, which has been known only as a stem pathogen, was isolated from leaf spots on E. maidenii and E. tereticornis. The large number of Mycosphaerellaceae and Teratosphaeriaceae occurring in Uruguay is disturbing and raises concerns regarding the introduction of new pathogens that could threaten not only Eucalyptus plantations but also native forests.
Impact of armillaria root disease and the effect of thinning in a late‐rotation Pinus radiata plantation
Authors: Hood I. A. , Kimberley M. O.
Published: June 2009

In a search for alternative methods for managing armillaria root disease in Pinus radiata plantations in New Zealand, a thinning trial was established in a 1985 planted stand infested by Armillaria novae‐zelandiae. The incidence of chronic (non‐lethal) infection rose significantly following a first thinning at age 7 years that provided additional inoculum in the form of colonized stumps. However, this effect diminished before age 19 years when the small stumps had decomposed and, contrary to expectations, a further increase in infection did not follow a second thinning at age 13.5 years, despite a high incidence of larger colonized second thinning stumps. Apparently the increased vigour and associated resistance in the released older trees was sufficient to counter any increase in inoculum potential following treatment. It therefore now appears that thinning may not be detrimental to the final crop volume in contemporary diseased second‐rotation plantations. However, this treatment furnishes no disease control benefit, and should still be deployed judiciously in heavily infested stands. There was a small, but significant reduction in volume growth on the more severely infected trees during the first 13 years in this trial, but on the larger trees later in the rotation at age 19 years there was no difference in stem volume between infection severity categories. A previous assessment based only on the earlier data therefore overestimates the impact of Armillaria in present and future pine plantations in New Zealand. Nevertheless, its widespread distribution and its demonstrated pathogenicity indicate that forest owners should be conscious of the presence of Armillaria during plantation management.
Interactions between Melamspora larici‐epitea pathotypes and the mycoparasite Sphaerellopsis filum from willow rusts
Authors: Pei M. H. , Ruiz C. , Hunter T. , Bayon C.
Published: June 2009

Five pathotypes of the willow rust Melamspora larici‐epitea were inoculated with 12 isolates of Sphaerellopsis filum derived from Melampsora species/forms occurring on willows. On average, 20.5% uredinial pustules produced S. filum pycnidia and rust spore production was reduced by 38.4% on leaf discs inoculated with S. filum. Some rust isolates were more readily infected by S. filum than others while some S. filum isolates caused higher levels of infections than other S. filum isolates. In general, the suppressive effects of these S. filum isolates on rust spore production were similar on the majority of rust pathotypes tested. There appeared to be a positive link between the rust pustule area and the rate of infection by S. filum. Sphaerellopsis filum inoculum densities were positively correlated with the reduction in rust spore production but not with the number of rust pustules. Implications from the results were discussed in relation to the deployment of S. filum in biological control of willow rust in willow mixture plantations which harbour more diverse rust pathotypes compared with monocultures.
Fine root condition relates to visible crown damage in Norway spruce in acidified soils
Authors: Konôpka B. , Lukac M.
Published: June 2009

Allochthonous Norway spruce stands in the Kysucké Beskydy Mts. (north‐western Slovakia) have been exposed to substantial acid deposition in the recent past and grow in acidified soil conditions with mean pH of about 4.0 in the topsoil. We selected 90 spruce trees representing 30 triplets of different crown status: healthy, stressed and declining to assess the relationship between crown and fine root status. Sequential coring and in‐growth bags were applied to each triplet to investigate fine root mass and growth in the soil depths of 0–10 and 10–20 cm. Fine root quantity (biomass and necromass), turnover (production over standing stock), morphological features (specific root length, root tip density) and chemical properties (Ca:Al molar ratio) were compared among the abovementioned health status categories. Living fine root biomass decreased with increasing stress, while the ratio of dead to living biomass increased. Annual fine root production decreased and specific root length increased in stressed trees when compared to healthy or declining trees, a situation which may be related to the position of trees in the canopy (healthy and declining – dominant, stressed – co‐dominant). The Ca:Al ratio decreased with increasing crown damage, indicating a decreased ability to filter out aluminium. In conclusion, fine root status appears to be linked to visible crown damage and can be used as a tree health indicator.
Distribution and gradient analysis of Ink disease in chestnut forests
Authors: Vannini A. , Natili G. , Anselmi N. , Montaghi A. , Vettraino A. M.
Published: June 2009

Distribution and gradient analysis of Ink disease caused by Phytophthora cambivora were studied over a 2 years period in a chestnut forest in Italy. Ink disease incidence, severity and tree mortality increased during the period over the studied chestnut forest. Disease descriptors and landform datasets were analysed by Geographic Information System software and displayed as a multilayer thematic map. Indices of dispersion and empirical dispersion models were used to study spatial distribution of disease in the investigated area. Semivariograms were used to interpolate spatial data and to map Ink disease. A logical spatial dependence of the studied variables was found. Ink disease occurred preferentially along natural drainages routes where multicyclic inoculum build up was likely to occur. A negative relationship was found between Ink disease incidence, severity and tree mortality with respect to distance from the drainage.
Bacteria as food had no effect on fecundity during domestication of the fruit fly, Bactrocera tryoni
Authors: Meats A. , Streamer K. , Gilchrist A. S.
Published: June 2009

Adult Bactrocera tryoni from different generations of domestication were given various diets to determine whether either or both the bacteria Klebsiella oxytoca and Klebsiella pneumoniae could provide a source of proteinaceous material sufficient to allow the female flies to produce mature oocytes and eggs or alternatively, whether the bacteria could act as a beneficial supplementary food when given in addition to the usual laboratory proteinaceous food that consisted of a paste of sucrose and yeast autolysate. Overall, there was no evidence from any generation studied that female flies could produce eggs or mature oocytes on a bacterial diet above the levels attained with access to culture medium without bacteria. Similarly, there was no evidence that bacterial supplementation to a diet that included a paste of sucrose and yeast autolysate was more beneficial than when the paste was the sole source of proteinaceous food. There was an increase in mature oocytes per female with the number of generations of culture but the extent of increase was greater when sugar/yeast paste was included in the diet. There was no evidence that mixtures of either bacterium species in nutrient broth or the broth itself was attractive to female B. tryoni over a distance of a few centimetres when the tested flies were caged at low density but flies of later generations did feed when offered either type of food at very close range.
Mating behaviour and evidence for sex‐specific pheromones in Hedypathes betulinus (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Lamiinae)
Authors: Fonseca M. G. , Zarbin P. H. G.
Published: June 2009

The mating behaviour and evidence for sex‐specific pheromones of the main pest of green mate, Ilex paraguariensis, of the southern region of Brazil, Hedypathes betulinus (Klug, 1825) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Lamiinae), were studied in the laboratory. The mating sequence of H. betulinus includes: female approaching the male, antennal contact, male mounting the female and start of copulation. This mating sequence provided support for our hypothesis that recognition of males by females may be mediated by a male‐produced pheromone and males recognize females by contact pheromones. The behavioural responses in an olfactometer of male and female H. betulinus to volatiles released by male and female conspecifics confirmed the presence of a male‐produced sex pheromone. This finding suggests that visual cues are not primary in eliciting a sexual response from females. Three male‐specific compounds were detected in the chromatographic analysis, providing chemical support to the behavioural data. Males did not respond to dead‐washed females but 70% of males attempted to mate with dead‐washed extract‐treated females, suggesting that extracts contained contact pheromones. Based on these results, a male‐produced sex pheromone and a female‐produced contact pheromone should be essential in the communication system of H. betulinus.
Analysis on the spectra and level of wide‐compatibility conferred by three neutral alleles in inter‐subspecific hybrids of rice (Oryza sativa L.) using near isogenic lines
Authors: Wang G. W. , Cai H. Y. , Xu Y. , Yang S. H. , He Y. Q.
Published: June 2009

Wide‐compatibility varieties are a special class of rice germplasm that is able to produce fertile hybrids when crossed to either indica or japonica subspecies. Previous studies determined the f5 allele from ‘Dular’ (f5‐Du), f6 allele from ‘Dular’ (f6‐Du) and S5 allele from ‘02428’ (S5‐08) as neutral alleles conferring wide‐compatibility. However, the possible extent of the effect of the three neutral alleles has not been fully characterized because of the narrow range of the tester varieties used and the highly complex differentiation in Asian cultivated rice. In this study, we further developed the five near‐isogenic lines with higher recovery rates of the recurrent parent genome, and testcrossed to 14 japonica varieties, which have been widely used in rice breeding programmes in China. The results clearly revealed that all three neutral alleles exhibited substantial effects on spikelet fertility in most of the indica–japonica testcrosses, which indicated that these hybrid sterility loci have been extensively differentiated between indica and japonica varieties. The magnitudes of effects on spikelet fertility averaged over various crosses seem to be similar among the three neutral alleles, with f5‐Du, f6‐Du and S5‐08 alleles increasing spikelet fertility by 15.09%, 13.99% and 14.25%, respectively. The testcrosses involving f5‐Du allele generally showed much smaller variation in pollen fertility than others. The pyramiding lines with two neutral alleles showed a wider spectrum and a higher level of wide compatibility than others, whereas most of the increases in hybrid fertility couldn’t be simply explained by additive effects, suggesting the very complexity of wide compatibility and hybrid sterility. The indica–japonica hybrids involving restorer lines as one of their parents showed much higher pollen fertility (almost normal) and also higher spikelet fertility. The implications of the findings in rice breeding programmes are also discussed.
QTL analysis of yield‐related traits in sunflower under different water treatments
Authors: Poormohammad Kiani S. , Maury P. , Nouri L. , Ykhlef N. , Grieu P. , Sarrafi A.
Published: June 2009

A set of sunflower recombinant inbred lines (RILs) was used to study agronomical traits under greenhouse and field conditions each with two water treatments and three replications. The difference among RILs was significant for all the traits studied in all conditions; and water treatment × RILs interaction was also observed for most of the traits in both field and greenhouse conditions. Because of the low rate of drought stress, this part of field data are not informative. Several quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were identified for yield‐related traits with the percentage of phenotypic variance explained by QTLs (R2) ranging from 4% to 40%. Several QTLs for grain yield per plant (GYP) under four water treatments were identified on different linkage groups, among which two were specific to a single treatment (GYPN.4.1, GYPI.7.1). Three QTLs for GYP were overlapped with several QTLs for drought‐adaptative traits detected in our previous study (Poormohammad Kiani et al. 2007b). The whole results do highlight interesting genomic regions for marker‐based breeding programmes for drought tolerance in sunflower.
Association mapping of straighthead disorder induced by arsenic in Oryza sativa
Authors: Agrama H. A. , Yan W. G.
Published: June 2009

Straighthead is a physiological disorder in rice (Oryza sativa L.) resulting in sterile florets, poorly developed panicles and yield loss. Because of its sporadic nature and unidentified causes for the disorder, molecular marker assisted selection is essential for resistance improvement in breeding programmes. To take advantage of recent advances in gene‐mapping technology, we executed a genome‐wide association mapping to identify genetic regions associated with straighthead disorder using 547 accessions of germplasm from the USDA rice core collection. Straighthead was evaluated in arsenic treated soil and genotyping was conducted with 75 molecular markers covering the entire rice genome about every 25 cM. A mixed‐linear model approach combining the principal component assignments with kinship estimates proved to be particularly promising for association mapping. The extent of linkage disequilibrium was described among the markers. Six markers were found to be significantly associated with straighthead, explaining 35% of the total phenotypic variation. However, only two SSR markers, RM413 and RM277 on chromosome 5 and 12, respectively, have a significant association with low rating indicating straighthead resistance. Confirmation of the marker‐straighthead association using segregating populations is necessary before marker‐assisted selection can be applied.
QTL mapping for agronomic and fibre traits using two interspecific chromosome substitution lines of Upland cotton
Authors: Luan M. , Guo X. , Zhang Y. , Yao J. , Chen W.
Published: June 2009

CS‐B14Sh and CS‐B22Sh are cotton interspecific chromosome substitution (CS)‐B lines, in which a pair of short arms of chromosome 14 and chromosome 22 were introgressed from Gossypium barbadense doubled‐haploid line 3‐79 with the background of Gossypium hirsutum line TM‐1, respectively. These two CS‐B lines were crossed with TM‐1, and segregating progenies (F2 and F2:3, respectively) were obtained. Phenotypic data of lint yield, yield‐related traits and fibre‐quality traits were collected from two trials. In the cross CS‐B14SH X TM‐1, QTL for boll weight (BW), lint percentage (LP), fibre upper half mean length (UHML), micronaire reading (MIC), and fibre breaking tensile strength (STR) were repeatedly detected. Alleles from 3‐79 decreased BW and MIC, but increased UHML and STR. In the cross CS‐B22Sh X TM‐1, QTL for BW, LP, UHML, MIC, STR, fibre elongation (EL),seed weight(SW), node of first fruiting branch (NFB) and fibre uniformity index (UI) were repeatedly detected, and alleles from 3‐79 decreased UHML, UI and STR, but increased NFB, SW, MIC and EL. QTL clusters were found in both populations.
Micropropagation of self‐rooting juvenile clones by secondary somatic embryogenesis in Hevea brasiliensis
Authors: Hua Y. W. , Huang T. D. , Huang H. S.
Published: June 2009

With 2 figures and 5 tables

Micropropagation of self‐rooting juvenile clones in Hevea brasiliensis was established for two clones CATAS 7‐33‐97 and CATAS 88‐13 through the following three steps: induction of primary embryos, embryo multiplication by secondary somatic embryogenesis in three successive cycles from a single culture of primary embryo and plant regeneration. The embryo multiplication coefficients of the two clones increased in the first cycle and reached the maximum in the second and the third cycle at the same rate. Significant effects of origins of embryo fragments and calcium on secondary embryogenesis were detected, the highest ratios of the regenerated embryos to primary embryos appeared, when embryo fragments close to the base of embryos were used and incubated in Murashige and Skoog (MS)‐based callogenesis medium with 6.0 mm CaCl2 for CATAS 88‐13 and 9.0 mm CaCl2 for CATAS 7‐33‐97. The highest rates of plant conversion were produced on MS‐based plant regeneration medium with 4.5 and 9.0 μm 2,4‐D for CATAS 7‐33‐97 (85.0%) and 13.5 μm for CATAS 88‐13 (75.0%), being higher than other reports (60%). Finally, the application of this system was discussed.
Rapamycin prevents Concanavalin A‐induced liver injury by inhibiting lymphocyte activation
Authors: Zhang Yuanqing , Xiao Xiang , Li Xianchang , Wei Haiming
Published: June 2009

Background and Aims:  Liver injury induced by Concanavalin A (Con A) is often used as a model to study the pathophysiology of immune mediated liver injury. Rapamycin (Rapa) is an effective immunosuppressant widely used for preventing immune activation and transplant rejection. However, the effect of Rapa on liver injury caused by Con A has not been carefully examined. In the present study, we examined the effect of Rapa on liver injury caused by Con A.

Methods:  Mice received intraperitoneal Rapa injection before Con A intravenous administration. The liver injury was examined by measuring serum transaminase and pathology, and the level of cytokines was detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Results:  In the present study, we examined the effect of Rapa on liver injury after Con A injection in mice. We found that the treatment of mice with Rapa protected the liver from Con A‐induced injury. Pretreatment with Rapa dramatically ameliorated Con A‐induced mortality. This protection was associated with reduced transaminase levels in the blood and further confirmed by liver histology. ELISA showed that Rapa suppressed pro‐inflammatory cytokines IFN‐γ and TNF‐α production as compared with the untreated controls. Furthermore, intrahepatic lymphocyte proliferation was significantly inhibited.

Conclusion:  These findings suggested that Rapa has the therapeutic potential for treatment of immune‐mediated liver injury in the clinic.
Fluorofenidone attenuates collagen I and transforming growth factor‐β1 expression through a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase‐dependent way in NRK‐52E cells
Authors: PENG ZHANG‐ZHE , HU GAO‐YUN , SHEN HONG , WANG LING , NING WANG‐BIN , XIE YAN‐YUN , WANG NA‐SUI , LI BING‐XIN , TANG YI‐TING , TAO LI‐JIAN
Published: June 2009

Aim:  Fluorofenidone (1‐(3‐fluorophenyl)‐5‐methyl‐2‐(1H)‐pyridone) is a novel pyridone agent. The aim of the present study is to investigate the effects of fluorofenidone on angiotensin (Ang)II‐induced fibrosis and the involved molecular mechanism in rat proximal tubular epithelial cells.

Methods:  NRK‐52E cells, a rat proximal tubular epithelial cell line, were incubated with medium containing AngII, with or without nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase inhibitor diphenylene iodonium (DPI), losartan, fluorofenidone (2, 4 and 8 mmol/L) and pirfenidone (8 mmol/L) for 24 h. Cells in the serum‐free medium were controls. The expression of three subunits of NADPH oxidase, including p47phox, Nox‐4 and p22phox, were determined by real‐time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT–PCR) and western blot. NADPH oxidase activity was measured directly by superoxide dismutase (SOD) inhibitable cytochrome C reduction assay. The generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was measured by dichlorofluorescein fluorescence analysis. The mRNA and protein expression of collagen I and transforming growth factor (TGF)‐β1 were determined by real‐time RT–PCR and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay.

Results:  Fluorofenidone significantly inhibited TGF‐β1 and collagen I expression upregulation induced by AngII or TGF‐β1 respectively. Moreover, fluorofenidone greatly reduced the elevation of expression and activity of NADPH oxidase and inhibited ROS generation induced by AngII in rat proximal tubular epithelial cells. These responses were also attenuated by DPI, losartan, and pirfenidone.

Conclusion:  Fluorofenidone acted as an anti‐oxidative and anti‐fibrotic agent through the mechanisms of blocking NADPH oxidase‐dependent oxidative stress and inhibiting TGF‐β1 expression in rat proximal tubular epithelial cells.
Lead exposure and its association with pubertal development in school‐age Egyptian children: Pilot study
Authors: Tomoum Hoda Yahya , Mostafa Gehan Ahmed , Ismail Nanees Ahmed , Ahmed Samah Mohammed
Published: June 2009

Background:  The aim of the present study was to determine blood lead levels in a group of Egyptian school‐age children and assess its relationship to pubertal development.

Methods:  Forty‐one children were recruited from high‐ and low‐pollution areas in Cairo, Egypt. Sexual maturation was evaluated using Tanner score. Measurements of blood lead and serum levels of follicle stimulation hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol in girls and testosterone in boys were performed for included subjects.

Results:  A total of 51.2% of children had high blood lead levels (≥10 µg/dL). Boys with high lead levels had delayed pubertal maturation compared to those with low lead levels. Breast staging of sexual maturation was significantly delayed in girls with high lead levels. FSH and LH were significantly reduced in children of both sexes, and testosterone levels were reduced in boys with high lead.

Conclusion:  These findings consolidate the cumulative medical evidence of the deleterious effect of high lead levels on pubertal development, possibly through the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis.
Association between falls and high‐risk medication use in hospitalized Asian elderly patients
Authors: Mamun Kaysar , Lim Jimmy KH
Published: June 2009

Aim:  Most studies looking at the relation between medication use and fall among the hospitalized elderly patients, were done in Western countries. So, a study was planned to investigate the role of medications in causing falls in hospitalized Asian elderly patients.

Methods:  Case note review was done for all patients age 65 years and above, who fell at least once during their hospital stay over a 12‐month period. Information obtained from the case notes included: (i) demographic information; (ii) Modified Morse Fall scale; (iii) circumstances and time of fall; and (iv) medication use. From the hospital admission database, an age‐ and sex‐matched control group was selected for comparison.

Results:  Over the 12‐month study period, 298 patients met the study criteria. Average age of the patients was 75.8 years, 60.4% were male and 84.9% were Chinese. Multivariate analysis showed that fallers had longer lengths of stay and were more likely to have a history of falls. Fallers were also more likely to be taking hypnotics, cough preparations and anti‐platelets, but less likely to be taking paracetamol. Fallers were on fewer medications.

Conclusion:  Elderly hospitalized patients on hypnotic drugs, cough preparations and anti‐platelets were more likely to fall. Appropriate usage of analgesics, especially paracetamol, to relieve pain may reduce falls.
Association of plasma sex hormone levels with functional decline in elderly men and women
Authors: Fukai Shiho , Akishita Masahiro , Yamada Shizuru , Hama Tatsuya , Ogawa Sumito , Iijima Katsuya , Eto Masato , Kozaki Koichi , Toba Kenji , Ouchi Yasuyoshi
Published: June 2009

Aim:  We aimed to determine whether plasma sex hormone levels are associated with activities of daily living (ADL), cognition, depression and vitality in elderly individuals with functional decline.

Methods:  Two hundred and eight consecutive persons 70 years or older (108 men and 100 women; mean ± standard deviation, 81 ± 7 years) with a chronic stable condition, receiving long‐term care at a long‐term care facilities located in Nagano Prefecture, Japan, were enrolled. Plasma total testosterone, free testosterone (only in men), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), DHEA sulfate (DHEA‐S) and estradiol levels were determined in the morning after an overnight fast. Comprehensive geriatric assessment was performed including basic ADL by Barthel Index, instrumental ADL, cognitive function by Hasegawa Dementia Scale – Revised, mood by Geriatric Depression Scale and ADL‐related vitality by Vitality Index.

Results:  Simple regression analysis showed that, in men, plasma total and free testosterone levels were associated with basic ADL (R = 0.292 and R = 0.282), instrumental ADL (R = 0.261 and R = 0.408), cognitive function (R = 0.393 and R = 0.553) and vitality (R = 0.246 and R = 0.396), while DHEA(‐S) was associated with cognitive function, and estradiol with cognitive function as well as vitality. In women, the only significant correlation was between DHEA(‐S) and basic ADL. Adjustment for age and nutritional markers did not influence the associations of plasma sex hormone levels with functional scores except for that of free testosterone with Barthel Index.

Conclusion:  These results suggest that sex hormones have sex‐specific associations with physical and neuropsychiatric functions in elderly individuals, and that endogenous testosterone is related to global function in elderly men.
Road traffic accidents and the elderly
Authors: Abou‐Raya Suzan , ElMeguid Leila Abd
Published: June 2009

Aim:  To identify and evaluate the causes and characteristics of road traffic accidents (RTA) and to analyze injury patterns in elderly road traffic victims in order to apply appropriate measures for the prevention of RTA in the elderly.

Methods:  Two hundred and fifty‐eight elderly road traffic victims admitted to the Emergency and Traumatology Departments of our institution were enrolled. Complete data about the circumstances surrounding the accident, mechanism of injury, specific injury, comorbid conditions and drug history were recorded. All subjects underwent a physical and mental function examination.

Results:  The majority of road traffic victims were pedestrians. Most elderly pedestrian accidents were due to falls. Accidents by elderly car drivers occurred frequently at intersections. Craniocerebral and extremity injuries formed the majority of the injuries in pedestrian and cyclist victims whereas chest injuries were commoner in car accident victims. Medical problems and medication usage was common among RTA victims.

Conclusion:  The fragility of elderly car occupants and pedestrians should be taken into consideration and strategies aimed at the road‐user safety including periodic medical screening, improvement of road structure and facilities, and the improved design of motor vehicles should be implemented.
Family relationships of self‐care‐dependent older people and institutionalized rate to nursing homes
Authors: Kodama Hiroko , Izumo Yuji , Takahashi Ryutaro , Suda Yuko , Kudo Hisashi , Kudo Hideaki , Miyamoto Masao , Sasaki Hidetada
Published: June 2009

Background:  The government recommends home care for self‐care‐dependent older people in order to suppress care expenditure. Family relationships between primary caregivers and self‐care‐dependent older people might be one of the factors influencing the institutionalized rate.

Method:  We investigated family relationships between primary caregivers and self‐care‐dependent older people at home in the rural town of Oodate, Akita Prefecture, and the urban district of Katsushika, Tokyo, in 2003. One thousand and thirty‐six primary caregivers completed the questionnaire and entered the present study. Two years later, we prospectively followed how the family relationship between them influenced the institutionalized rate in 2005. Finally, 556 primary caregivers completed the questionnaire in 2005.

Results:  The institutionalized rate of subjects with poor family relationships (31%) was significantly higher than that of subjects with good family relationships (12%).

Conclusion:  Good or poor family relationships were significantly related to psychological strains and might determine the institutionalized rate in nursing homes.
The influence of the environment and corrosion on the structural integrity of aircraft materials
Authors: RUSSO S. , SHARP P. K. , DHAMARI R. , MILLS T. B. , HINTON B. R. W. , CLARK G. , SHANKAR K.
Published: June 2009

Fatigue results of 11/2 dog‐bone jointed specimens manufactured from 7075‐T6 aluminium alloy indicated that the application of corrosion preventative compounds (CPCs) at the faying surfaces slightly decreased the log mean fatigue life at 144 MPa, while the effect was not statistically significant at the higher stress level (210 MPa). The addition of the CPC also reduced fretting corrosion at the faying surfaces and shifted the fatigue initiation sites closer to the edge of fastener holes. Scatter in fatigue life was found to be associated with the location and size of the intermetallics at the initiation site. The presence of corrosion in the bores of the countersunk fastener holes reduced the fatigue life by up to one order of magnitude. Fatigue test results for dog‐bone specimens manufactured from 7075‐T651 and 2024‐T351 aluminium alloys indicated that the presence of exfoliation corrosion reduced the fatigue life under dry conditions, with a greater reduction under humid conditions. The application of a CPC to the corroded region eliminated the influence humidity had on fatigue life.
Probabilistic sensitivity analysis in life‐prediction of an α+β titanium alloy
Authors: JHA S. K. , MILLWATER H. R. , LARSEN J. M.
Published: June 2009

Probabilistic sensitivities using the score function method are developed for a lifing analysis of an α+β titanium alloy in a round bar under axial fatigue load. Sensitivities with respect to the statistical inputs of the crack initiation size (a), and Paris crack growth intercept (C) and exponent (m) are developed with consideration of the correlation between C and m. The sensitivities are obtained using a single Monte Carlo sampling analysis and do not involve finite difference approximations. The sensitivities indicate the importance of the random variable input parameters on the mean life and standard deviation of life and can be used as a basis for determining constructive data collection efforts. For this example, the crack growth intercept (C) is the dominant variable that affects mean‐life and standard deviation of life, indicating that improved confidence in the results can be obtained most efficiently by improving the statistical characterization of C.
High cycle thermo‐mechanical fatigue: Damage operator approach
Authors: NAGODE M. , HACK M. , FAJDIGA M.
Published: June 2009

The stress‐life approach is standardized and widely accepted for determining fatigue damage under stress‐controlled high cycle fatigue (HCF) loading. It was first extended to non‐isothermal cases by introducing an equivalent temperature approach (ETA). The paper presents its extension, that is, the damage operator approach (DOA), enabling online continuous damage calculation for isothermal and non‐isothermal loading with mean stress correction. The cycle closure point, cycle equivalent temperature, threshold temperature and separate rainflow counting, obligatory for the ETA, are not necessary for the DOA any more. Both approaches are equivalent for the second and subsequent runs of block loading if temperature is constant. However, for non‐isothermal cases the DOA is within the worst‐ and the best‐case scenarios of the ETA. The approaches are compared with the simple stress history and several thermo‐mechanical fatigue (TMF) cycle types.
A micromechanical model for small fatigue crack growth: an approach based on two threshold conditions
Authors: VALLELLANO C. , VÁZQUEZ J. , NAVARRO A. , DOMÍNGUEZ J.
Published: June 2009

This paper presents a micromechanical description of small fatigue crack growth based on the successive blocking of the monotonic plastic zone (MPZ) and cyclic plastic zone (CPZ) of a crack at microstructural barriers such as grain boundaries and phase limits. This allows two different fatigue crack growth thresholds to be established, one of which, the maximum‐controlled fatigue threshold, is dependent on the ability of MPZ to overcome successive material barriers and the other, the range‐controlled fatigue threshold, is associated with the ability of CPZ to overcome such barriers as well. The proposed model connects in a natural manner with recent advances in fatigue mechanics relying on the use of two parameters, Kmax and ΔK, approaches to describe crack propagation process.
Analysis of ductile tearing using a local approach to fracture
Authors: TAKTAK R. , BENSEDDIQ N. , IMAD A.
Published: June 2009

In this paper, the Rice and Tracey (RT) model based on growth of cavities is verified in order to describe the ductile tearing in stainless steel 12Ni6Cr and aluminium alloy. Experimentally, central crack panel and compact tension specimens were tested. The comparison of the experimental results with the classical RT model shows that this model cannot make a good prediction using J−Δa curve. On the basis of fitting procedure and numerical simulations, we have proposed a modification of this model by introducing corrective coefficients to improve the classical RT model. The proposed model, although very simple, is able to approximate with good accuracy the experimental results and that the approximation is, as expected, better than using the RT approach directly.
Stability analysis and experimental verification for optimum notch configuration in chevron‐notched round bar specimens
Authors: RAY K. K. , VEERABABU A. , SARKAR R.
Published: June 2009

In some earlier communications [Ray and Poddar, FFEMS, 27 (2004), Sarkar and Ray, FFEMS, 31 (2008)], a methodology to estimate the minimum normalized stress intensity factor for chevron‐notched round bar (CVNRB) specimens has been outlined. The primary aim of this report is to theoretically analyse stable crack propagation in CVNRB specimens in order to estimate conservative fracture toughness value associated with this specimen geometry. The theoretical analyses have been substantiated using fracture toughness tests on CVNRB specimens of steel having initial normalized notch lengths (α0) between 0.2 and 0.5. The major inferences drawn from this investigation are: (1) the optimum notch geometry in CVNRB specimens corresponds to 0.2 < α0 < 0.3 for the maximum stable crack extension, and (2) the estimated fracture toughness of the steel using CVNRB specimens indicates minimum KICV at α0= 0.29 in good agreement with the theoretical analyses.
Motor reserve and novel area recruitment: amplitude and spatial characteristics of compensation in Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Palmer Samantha J. , Ng Bernard , Abugharbieh Rafeef , Eigenraam Lisette , McKeown Martin J.
Published: June 2009

Motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (PD) do not appear until the majority of dopaminergic cells in the substantia nigra pars compacta are lost, suggesting significant redundancy or compensation in the motor systems affected by PD. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we examined whether compensation in PD is manifested by changes in amplitude and/or spatial extent of activity within normal networks (active motor reserve) and/or newly recruited regions [novel area recruitment (NAR)]. Ten PD subjects off and on medication and 10 age‐matched controls performed a visually guided sinusoidal force task at 0.25, 0.5 and 0.75 Hz. Regression was used to determine the combination of regions where activation amplitude scaled linearly with movement speed in controls. We then determined the activation of PD subjects in this network, as well as the corresponding PD network. To measure the spatial variance of activation, we used an invariant spatial feature approach. Control subjects monotonically increased activity within striato‐thalamo‐cortical and cerebello‐thalamo‐cortical regions with increasing movement speed. In PD subjects, the activity of this network at low speeds was similar to that in controls at higher speeds. Additionally, PD subjects off medication demonstrated NARs of the bilateral cerebellum and primary motor cortex, which were incompletely normalized by levodopa. Our results suggest that PD subjects tap into motor reserve, increase the spatial extent of activation and demonstrate NAR to maintain near‐normal motor output.
Suppression of hippocampal cell proliferation by short‐term stimulant drug administration in adult rats
Authors: Kochman Linda J. , Fornal Casimir A. , Jacobs Barry L.
Published: June 2009

Sleep loss is known to potently suppress adult hippocampal cell proliferation and neurogenesis. Whether sleep suppression following acute administration of stimulant drugs also decreases hippocampal cell proliferation is not known. The present study examined the effect of three mechanistically distinct stimulants (caffeine, methamphetamine and modafinil) on cell proliferation. To maximize sleep suppression, these drugs were administered to rats (three i.p. injections, once every 4 h) during their sleep period (i.e. 12‐h light phase). At the end of the light phase, 5‐bromo‐2′‐deoxyuridine (200 mg/kg, i.p.) was injected and animals were killed 2 h later. Polygraphic recordings and locomotor activity measurements confirmed the wake‐promoting and sleep‐suppressing actions of each treatment. Results indicate that caffeine (20 mg/kg), methamphetamine (1.5 mg/kg) and modafinil (300 mg/kg) differentially suppressed sleep (45–91%) and selectively reduced cell proliferation in the hilus (12–44%), these results being significant for both caffeine and modafinil. When the same experiment was repeated in the dark (active) phase, the suppressant effect on hippocampal cell proliferation was either absent or greatly attenuated. In a further experiment, the effect of acute modafinil treatment in the light phase was shown to persist for 3 weeks after BrdU administration. We hypothesize that the differential effect of the stimulant drugs in the light vs. dark phase is attributable primarily to sleep suppression in the light. As abuse of stimulant drugs invariably leads to disrupted sleep in humans, our results suggest that they may, at least in part, decrease hippocampal neurogenesis via sleep loss and thereby adversely affect hippocampal‐dependent processes.
Involvement of hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus non‐N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate receptors in the pressor response to noradrenaline microinjected into the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis of unanesthetized rats
Authors: Crestani Carlos C. , Busnardo Cristiane , Tavares Rodrigo F. , Alves Fernando H. F. , Correa Fernando M. A.
Published: June 2009

Microinjection of noradrenaline into the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BST) has been reported to cause a pressor response in unanesthetized rats, which was shown to be mediated by acute vasopressin release into the systemic circulation. In the present study we verified the involvement of magnocellular neurons of the hypothalamic paraventricular (PVN) or supraoptic (SON) nuclei and the local neurotransmitter involved in the pressor response to noradrenaline microinjection into the BST. The PVN pretreatment with the non‐selective neurotransmission blocker CoCl2 (1 nmol/100 nL) inhibited the noradrenaline‐evoked pressor response. However, responses were not affected by SON treatment with CoCl2. Further experiments were carried out to test if glutamatergic neurotransmission in the PVN mediates the pressor response evoked by noradrenaline microinjection into the BST. Pretreatment of the PVN with the selective N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist LY235959 (2 nmol/100 nL) did not affect the noradrenaline‐evoked pressor response. However, PVN pretreatment with the selective non‐NMDA receptor antagonist NBQX (2 nmol/100 nL) significantly reduced the pressor response to noradrenaline microinjection into the BST. In conclusion, our results suggest that pressor responses to noradrenaline microinjection into the BST are mediated by PVN magnocellular neurons without involvement of SON neurons. They also suggest that a glutamatergic neurotransmission through non‐NMDA glutamate receptors in the PVN mediates the response.
Input‐specific plasticity ofN‐methyl‐d‐aspartate receptor‐mediated synaptic responses in neonatal rat motoneurons
Authors: Shanthanelson Monicca , Arvanian Victor L. , Mendell Lorne M.
Published: June 2009

Lumbar motoneurons can be activated monosynaptically by two glutamatergic synaptic inputs: the segmental dorsal root (DR) and the descending ventrolateral funiculus (VLF). To determine whether theirN‐methyl‐d‐aspartate (NMDA) receptors are independent, we used (5R,10S)‐(+)‐5‐methyl‐10,11‐dihydro‐5H‐dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepten‐5,10‐imine‐hydrogen‐maleate (MK‐801), known to induce a use‐dependent irreversible block of NMDA receptors (NMDARs). In the presence of MK‐801 (in bath) and non‐NMDA antagonists (in bath, to isolate NMDARs pharmacologically), we first stimulated the DR. After MK‐801 blockade of DR synaptic input, the VLF was stimulated. Its response was found to be not significantly different from its control value, suggesting that the DR stimulus activated very few, if any, receptors also activated by VLF stimulation. Similar findings were obtained if the stimulation order was reversed. Both inputs also elicited a polysynaptic NMDAR‐mediated response. Evoking the DR polysynaptic response in the presence of MK‐801 eliminated the corresponding VLF response; the reverse did not occur. Surprisingly, when MK‐801 was washed from the bath, both the DR and the VLF responses could recover, although the recovery of the DR monosynaptic and polysynaptic responses was reliably greater than those associated with the VLF. Recovery was prevented if extrasynaptic receptors were activated by bath‐applied NMDA in the presence of MK‐801, consistent with the possibility that recovery was due to movement of extrasynaptic receptors into parts of the membrane accessible to transmitter released by DR and VLF stimulation. These novel findings suggest that segmental glutamatergic inputs to motoneurons are more susceptible to plastic changes than those from central nervous system white matter inputs at this developmental stage.