bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optimisation of hepatocellular carcinoma surveillance in patients with viral hepatitis: a quality improvement study
Authors: Kennedy N. A. , Rodgers A. , Altus R. , McCormick R. , Wundke R. , Wigg A. J.
Published: April 2013

Background

Surveillance for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with 6‐monthly ultrasound is a standard of care for higher‐risk patients with viral hepatitis. Adherence to screening guidelines is an important quality indicator in hepatology, but multiple studies have demonstrated poor HCC surveillance practices in real‐world settings.

Aims

The aim of this project was to audit and then optimise HCC surveillance of viral hepatitis patients, who fulfilled criteria for screening, associated with a large tertiary hospital.

Methods: 

Clinical practice improvement principles were utilised. A baseline audit of 22 consecutive viral hepatitis patients was performed. Major barriers preventing adequate surveillance were identified and three interventions to improve adherence to guidelines were introduced. These included: improved doctor education, system redesign and improved patient education. The effects of interventions were measured by serial random audits of patients. A final audit occurred over 3 years after the initial baseline audit.

Results

At baseline, 46% and 0% of patients had appropriate surveillance performed during the prior 6 months (one surveillance cycle) and 2 years (four surveillance cycles) respectively. Three years after initiation of these strategies, a final audit revealed 92% (vs 46% at baseline) and 64% (vs 0% at baseline) of patients had appropriate HCC surveillance performed during the preceding 6 months and 2 years intervals respectively (P < 0.001 in each case).

Conclusions

Simple and low‐cost interventions can considerably improve the clinical effectiveness of HCC screening programmes in real world settings. Clinical practice improvement principles appear to be a valid methodology for achieving this positive change.
Managing the generalised tonic–clonic seizure and preventing progress to status epilepticus: a stepwise approach
Authors: Dionisio S. , Brown H. , Boyle R. , Blum S.
Published: April 2013

Seizures are a commonly encountered medical problem. Seizure protocols have been shown to be effective by avoiding inappropriate over‐ and undertreatment, but are not presently utilised in many centres inAustralia. We outline a stepwise approach to effective seizure management based on timely investigation and escalating treatment with an appropriate choice of medications. Because large‐scale clinical trials are lacking, we base our approach on the underlying seizure pathophysiology and the pharmacological properties of the available drugs. Early management consists of finding and correcting possible reversible causes and ensuring patient safety. With ongoing seizure length, spontaneous resolution becomes unlikely, necessitating administration of anti‐epileptic drugs. Benzodiazepines are the agents of first choice, with a preference of short‐acting drugs. With ongoing seizures, other agents (i.e. valproate, levetiracetam, phenobarbitone, phenytoin) are utilised. Refractory status epilepticus requires aggressive treatment in an intensive care setting. Novel approaches and agents, including ketamine, topiramate, lacosamide, pregabalin and intravenous immunoglobulins, are discussed. We provide our own recently developed hospital protocol as a guide. This protocol relies on a time‐based four‐step escalating approach to seizure management, ranging from supportive management of the initial simple seizure to the use of multiple agents for established status epilepticus.
Clinical and laboratory characteristics of 19 patients with Churg–Strauss syndrome from a single South Australian centre
Authors: Whyte A. F. , Smith W. B. , Sinkar S. N. , Kette F. E. , Hissaria P.
Published: April 2013

Background

Churg–Strauss syndrome (CSS) is a rare, idiopathic systemic vasculitis. There is emerging evidence of an association between the presence or absence of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) and clinical phenotype. Thromboembolism is an increasingly recognised complication of the disease.

Aims

Given the paucity of Australian data, the aim of this study was to examine the clinical and laboratory features of CSS in a single Australian centre.

Methods

We performed a retrospective review of all patients who fulfilled the American College of Rheumatology classification criteria for CSS managed at the Department of Immunology, Royal Adelaide Hospital between 2002 and 2008.

Results

Nineteen patients were included. All patients had asthma and most had upper airway involvement. Peripheral nerve, musculoskeletal, gastrointestinal and cutaneous involvement was common. Renal and cardiac involvement was uncommon in this series. Histological confirmation was obtained in 15 patients (78.9%). Ten patients (52.6%) were ANCA+, and these were more likely to have musculoskeletal involvement, such as arthralgia or myalgia (odds ratio 57, P = 0.005). Thrombosis was a feature at diagnosis in six patients (31.6%); two of these recurred with relapse. Sixteen patients (84.2%) were followed up; five died, and mean survival was 8.9 years.

Conclusions

This is the first Australian study to focus on CSS. Our results demonstrate similar presentation and prognosis of CSS to previous descriptions; however, we noted that musculoskeletal involvement was more common in ANCA+ patients. In our series, thrombosis was a significant complication and we suggest that thromboprophylaxis may be warranted.
Relation Between Size, Colour and Spore Liberation from Rice Blast Lesions
Authors: Dhua Urmila
Published: April 2013

Substantial variation was observed in the liberation of spores from lesions of the same size but differing in colour. Most spores were liberated from purple grey lesions followed by yellow purple grey, yellow brown grey, brown grey, and brown lesions of the same size. The total number of spores liberated increased with lesion size in a colour series but the highest spore density was observed from 3 mm2 lesions coloured purple grey, yellow brown grey and from 5–6 mm2 lesions coloured yellow purple grey, brown grey. The big broad blast lesions, excluding purple grey, had transparent centres which were devoid of spores.

Der Zusammenhang zwischen Größe, Farbe und Sporenfreilassung von Reis‐Blast‐Läsionen

Beobachtet wurden beachtlich große Unterschiede in der Sporenfreilassung von Läsionen, die die gleiche Größe aber andere Farben hatten. Die meisten Sporen wurden von purpurgrauen Läsionen freigelassen, dann in der Reihenfolge gelb‐purpurgraue, gelb‐braungraue, braungraue und braune Läsionen der gleichen Größe. Innerhalb einer Farbreihe vergrößert sich die gesamte Anzahl von freigelassenen Sporen mit Läsionengröße, die höchste Sporenanzahl aber wurde bei 3 mm2 purpurgrauen und gelb‐braungrauen, bzw. bei 5‐6 mm2 gelb‐purpurgrauen und braungrauen Läsionen beobachtet. Die großen, breiten Blastläsionen, ausgenommen die purpurgrauen, hatten durchsichtige Zentren, die frei von Sporen waren.
Duration of Fungicidal Effect Following Injection of Apple Trees with Fosetyl‐Al
Authors: Long P. G. , Miller S. A. , Davis L. K.
Published: April 2013

Injection of 4 g a.i. of fosetyl‐Al into 10‐year‐old apple trees in the growing season gave fungicidal effects in both unlignified xylem tissue and phloem/cortical tissue of the shoots and trunk base within three days. These fungicidal effects persisted for at least 15 months.

Phytotoxicity, manifested as browning of the lignified xylem, was found in trees injected in November, May and August but was most severe in August injected trees where there were also extensive lesions in the bark tissues.

Bioassay of mature fruit indicated fungicidal effects up to 15 months after tree injection but residue levels were below permitted tolerance levels for avocados — a crop for which use of fosetyl‐Al is registered in Australia.

Dauer des Fungizideffekts von Forestyl‐Al nach der Injektion in Apfelbäumen

Innerhalb von 3 Tagen nach einer Einspritzung von 4 g a.i. Fosetyl‐Al konnte eine fungizide Wirkung in nichtholzigem Xylem‐ und Phloem‐/Rindenzellengewebe der Schößlinge und des Stammfußes in 10 Jahre alten Apfelbäumen festgestellt werden. Diese fungiziden Wirkungen hielten mindestens 15 Monate an.

Phytotoxität, die sich als eine Braunfärbung des holzigen Xylems äußerte, wurde in Bäumen beobachtet, die im November, Mai und August behandelt worden waren. Diese Erscheinung war am gravierendsten bei Bäumen, die im August behandelt waren, wo ausgedehnte Läsionen auch im Rindengewebe festzustellen waren.

Ein Bioassay von reifen Früchten zeigte, daß eine fungizide Wirkung bis zu 15 Monate nach der Behandlung festgestellt werden konnte. Nach einer Analyse der Rückstände in den Früchten wurden Werte ermittelt, die niedriger als die zugelassenen Werte für Avocado waren. In Australien ist eine Anwendung von Fosetyl‐Al bei Avocados zugelassen.
The Effect of Addition to Field Soil of Inoculum of Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici on Take‐All of Wheat
Authors: Cotterill P. J. , Aram K. Srvasith Amp
Published: April 2013

In 1986, axenically‐colonized inoculum of Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici was incorporated with wheat seed at a field site in Western Australia. This resulted in a significant enhancement of the infectivity of the soil and of take‐all in a wheat crop sown on the site the following year. Variability of data was also reduced markedly. It is proposed that this inoculation technique may be suitable for take‐all experiments on sites which have low levels of field inoculum or where this is unevenly distributed.

Der Einfluß der Beimischung eines künstlichen Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici‐Inokulums zu Feldböden auf die Schwarzbeinigkeit beim Weizen

Im Jahre 1986 wurde ein axenisches Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici‐Inokulum mit Weizensamen zusammengemischt und auf einer Feldversuchsfläche in Westaustralien ausgesät. Die Auswirkung dieser Maßnahme war eine erhöhte Infektivität des Bodens und ein höherer Schwarz‐beinigkeitsbefall in einem Weizenbestand, der ein Jahr später auf dieser Versuchsfläche ausgesät wurde. Schwankende Ergebnisse wurden auch deutlich reduziert. Es wird vorgeschlagen, daß diese Inokulationsmethode dort Anwendung findet, wo das natürliche Inokulum nur ein niedriges Niveau hat oder wo es ungleichmäßig im Feld verteilt ist.
Antifungal and Antibacterial Activity of Acrophialophora levis Samson and Tariq Mahmood
Authors: TURHAN GÜLAY , GROSSMANN F.
Published: April 2013

In studies conducted to gain information on the antagonistic potential of Acrophialophora levis, an isolate obtained from the rhizosphere of olive trees in Aegean Region (Turkey) was assayed in vitro for its antibiotic activity against 16 important soil‐borne plant pathogenic fungi belonging to Mastigomycotina, Ascomycotina, Basidiomycotina and Deuteromycotina, and six bacteria by using the streak method. The results of this study clearly demonstrated that A levis exhibited an antagonistic activity against all of the test fungi and three of the test bacteria through antibiosis.

As evidenced by the respective zones of inhibition, Botrytis cinerea and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum proved to be extremely susceptible; Pythium debaryanum, Rhizoctonia solani and Phytophthora capsici appeared to be the most resistant among the fungi tested.

Among the test bacteria, Cory neb acterium michiganense pv. michiganense, Bacillus subtilis and Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria showed some sensitivity to the antibiotic effect of this antagonist.

Antagonistische Wirksamkeit von Acrophialophora levis Samson and Tariq Mahmood

In Untersuchungen, die Aufschluß über das antagonistische Potential von Acrophialophora levis in vitro geben sollten, wurde ein Isolat, das aus der Rhizosphäre von Olivenbäumen in der ägäischen Region (Türkei) gewonnen worden war, auf seine antibiotische Wirkung gegenüber 16 bodenbürtigen phytopathogenen Pilzen aus den Gruppen der Mastigomycotina, Ascomycotina, Basidiomycotina und Deuterornycotina sowie gegenüber sechs Bakterien‐Arten geprüft. Dabei konnte nachgewiesen werden, daß A. levis eine antagonistische Wirkung auf aile Testpilze und auf drei der Testbakterien ausübt,

Gemessen an der Breite der Hemmzonen, erwiesen sich Botrytis cinerea und Sclerotinia sclerotiorum als besonders empfindlich; dagegen waren Pythium debaryanum, Rhizoctonia solani und Phytophthora capsici die widerstandsfähigsten unter den geprüften Pilzen. Von den Testbakterien ließen Corynebacterium michiganense pv. michiganense, Bacillus subtilis und Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria eine gewisse Sensitivitat gegenüber der antibiotischen Wirkung des Antagonisten erkennen.
Taxonomie bekannter und neuer Ceratocystis‐Arten an Eiche (Quercus robur L.) Institut für Pflanzenschutz im Forst der Biologischen Bundesanstalt für Land‐ und Forstwirtschaft Braunschweig
Authors: Kowalski T. , Butin H.
Published: April 2013

Taxonomy of known and new species of Ceratocystis from oak (Quercus robur L.)

A description is given of six species of the ascomycetous genus Ceratocystis isolated from Quercus robur L. in Poland. Two of these — Ceratocystis grandicarpa sp. nov. and C. prolifera sp. nov. — are described as new species based on the characteristics of their ascospores, ascocarps and conidial states in culture; Ceratocystis introcitrina Olchow. & Reid, C. moniliformis (Hedge.) C. Moreau, C. piceae (Münch) Bakshi and C. stenoceras (Robak) C. Moreau were isolated more or less frequently from oak xylem.

Es wird die Beschreibung von sechs Ceratocystis‐hrten gegeben, die in Polen aus dem Holz stehender Stieleichen isoliert worden sind. Neben den bekannten Formen von Ceratocystis introcitrina Olchow. & Reid, C. moniliformis (Hedge.) C. Moreau, C. piceae (Münch) Bakshi und C. stenoceras (Robak) C. Moreau werden Ceratocystis grandicarpa sp. nov. und C. proliféra sp. nov. als neue Arten vorgestellt.
A Scale of Reaction Types of Groundnut to Puccinia arachidis Speg.
Authors: Savary S. , Rao P. V. Subba , Zadoks J. C.
Published: April 2013

A scale of reaction types of groundnut to Puccinia arachidis Speg. is proposed based on observations of infected leaves taken from the field. A variety of reaction types was described and ranked in two ways, according to ontogenic development and to host susceptibility. The reaction types thus described were grouped into few classes, and the resulting scale was compared with the widely‐used scales of cereal rusts. The application of the proposed typological scale for a quick, qualitative assessment of groundnut varieties for rust resistance is discussed.

Eine Reaktionstypskala für Erdnüsse gegen Puccimia arachidis Speg.

Vorgeschlagen wird eine Reaktionstypskala für Erdnüsse gegen Puccinia arachidis Speg., die sich auf Beobachtungen von feldgesammelten, infizierten Blättern stützt. Eine Vielfalt von Reaktionstypen wurde beschrieben und nach zwei Gesichtspunkten eingeordnet, nach der ontogenischen Entwicklung und der Wirtsanfälligkeit. Die so beschriebene Reaktionstypen wurden in einigen Klassen zusammengestellt und die daraus gebildete Skala mit der breitangewandten Getreiderostskala verglichen. Diskutiert wird die Anwendung dieser vorgeschlagenen typologischen Skala für eine schnelle, qualitative Beurteilung der Rostresistenz von Erdnußsorten.
Induced Accessibility and Inaccessibility of Barley Cells in Seedling Leaves Inoculated with Two Leaf Rust Species
Authors: Niks R. E.
Published: April 2013

Primary seedling leaves of two barley lines inoculated first with the pathogenic Puccinia hordei and 24 h later with the nonpathogenic P. recondita f. sp. recondita were screened for cells attacked by both rust fungus species. Cells in which P. hordei had formed a haustorium were hardly or not at all able to prevent formation of a haustorium by P. recondita.

There was little evidence for diffusion of this induced accessibility to surrounding tissue. Comparison of the maturity degrees of the haustoria of the two species in the same cell suggests an induction of accessibility about or at the moment of cell wall penetration by P. hordei.

Observations on leaves first inoculated with P. recondita and 24 h later with P. hordei led to the conclusion that cells in which P. recondita had failed to form a haustorium could still be infected by P. hordei. There was no evidence for induction of inaccessibility in such a cell as the result of an earlier attack by the non‐pathogenic fungus.

Induzierte Zugänglichkeit und Nichtzugänglichkeit von Zellen in Gerstesämlingsblätter, die mit zwei Blattrostspezies inokuliert wurden

Untersucht wurden die Primärsämlingsblätter von zwei Gestenlinien, die zuerst mit dem Pathogen Puccinia hordei und 24 Stunden später mit dem Nichtpathogen P. recondita f. sp recondita inokuliert worden waren, um festzustellen, ob Zellen durch beide Rostpilzspezies befallen worden waren. Festgestellt wurde, daß Zellen, in denen sich ein P. hordei‐Haustorium gebildet hat, kaum in der Lage waren, die Haustoriumbildung von P. recondita zu unterdrücken.

Es gab wenig Hinweise dafür, daß diese induzierte Zugänglichkeit sich im umgebenden Gewebe ausbreitete. Ein Vergleich des Reifegrades der Haustorien der zwei Spezies in einer Zelle deutete darauf hin, daß eine Auslösung der Zugänglichkeit zur Zeit der Zellwandpenetration durch P. hordei stattfand.

Beobachtungen an Blättern, die zuerst mit P. recondita und 24 Std. später mit P. hordei inokuliert worden waren, zeigten, daß in Zellen, wo eine P. recondita‐Haustoriumbildung gescheitert war, eine P. hordei‐Infektion noch möglich war. Keine Hinweise deuteten auf einer Auslösung einer Unzugänglichkeit dieser Zellen hin, die durch den Infektionsversuch des nichtpathogenen Pilzes zurückzuführen wäre.
Nitrofurans as Possible Plant Chemotherapeutants for the Control of Foot Rot of Soybean Caused by Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc.
Authors: Deb P. R. , Dutta B. K.
Published: April 2013

Among the three nitrofurans tested Furazolidone completely inhibited the in vitro growth of Sclerotium rolfsii, even at 100 μg/ml. Nitrofurantoin affected complete inhibition of mycelial growth only at 1000 μg/ml while nitrofurazone was not toxic even at even at 1000 μg/ml. Sclerotial germination was inhibited by the three nitrofurans. Mild chlorosis developed in the margin of soybean leaves following 24 h of root dip treatment with nitrofurazone. Foliar application of the nitrofurans drastically reduced the fungal and bacterial population in the soybean rhizosphere, whereas actinomycete population was found to be increased significantly. All the three nitrofurans reduced disease severity: but only furazolidone increased the yield.

Nitrofurane als mögliche Pflanzenchemotherapeuten bei der Bekämpfung von Sclerotium rolfsii‐Fußfäule der Sojabohne

Von den drei getesteten Nitrofuranen wurde das in vitro Wachstum von Sclerotium rolfsii schon bei 100 μg/ml Furazolidon völlig unterdrückt. Dagegen wurde das Myzelwachstum erst bei 1000 μg/ml Nitrofurantoin ganz gehemmt und Nitrofurazon zeigte noch keine Toxität bei 1000 μg/ml. Die Sklerotienkeimung wurde bei allen drei Nitrofuranen gehemmt. Nach einer 24stündigen Wurzeltauchbehandlung mit Nitrofurazon entwickelten sich mittlere Chlorose an den Rändern von Sojabohnenblättern. Eine Blattapplikation der Nitrofurane verursachte eine drastische Reduzierung der pilzlichen und bakteriellen Population der Sojabohnenrhizosphäre, dagegen wurde eine signifikante Erhöhung der Actinomycetenpopulation beobachtet. Alle drei Nitrofurane reduzierten die Befallsstärke, eine Ertragserhöhung wurde jedoch nur nach einer Furazolidonbehandlung ermittelt.
Antagonistic Effect in vitro of Erwinia uredovora LMG 2678 Against Some Other Bacteria
Authors: Vantomme R. , Mergaert J. , Verdonck L. , De Ley J.
Published: April 2013

The bacteria Erwinia uredovora strain LMG 2678, selected for its antagonistic effect towards the fire blight pathogen Erwinia amylovora, was tested against other erwinias and several members of other phytopathogenic bacterial species. The antagonism appears to be caused by an extracellular, water‐soluble, thermostable factor of unknown nature. All erwinias from the amylovora group, causing wilt or necrotic diseases, were very susceptible. Xanthomonads and agrobacteria were also sensitive, whereas most pseudomonads and all Grampositive phytopathogens tested were resistant. The in vitro inhibitory effect of Erwinia uredovora LMG 2678 could be used as an additional test to differentiate some subspecies of soft rot erwinias.

Die in vitro antagonistische Wirkung von Erwinia uredovora LMG 2678 auf einige Bakterienarten

Untersucht wurde der Einfluß des Bakteriums Erwinia uredovora LMG 2678, das aufgrund seiner Wirkung gegen den Feuerbranderreger E. amylovora ausgewählt worden war, auf andere Erwinia‐Arten und einige Vertreter anderen phytopathogener Bakterien‐Spezies. Der Antagonismus scheint auf einem extrazellulären, wasserlöslichen, thermostabilen Faktor mit unbekannter Natur zu basieren. Alle Erwinias aus der Amylovora‐Gruppe, die Welke‐ oder nekrotische Krankheiten verursachen, waren sehr empfindlich. Ebenfalls zeigten sich die Xanthomonaden und Agrobakterien als empfindlich, die Mehrzahl der Pseudomonaden und alle getesteten Gram‐positiven Phytopathogene dagegen erwiesen sich als unempfindlich. Die in vitro hemmende Wirkung von E. uredovora LMG 2678 könnte als zusätzlicher Test benutzt werden, um einige Subspezies von Weichfäule‐Erwinias differenzieren zu können.
Biological mechanisms of early childhood caries
Authors: Seow W. Kim
Published: April 2013

Abstract—

The present paper reviews biological issues in early childhood caries (ECC) in light of the current understanding of the field. Despite the general global decline in dental caries in the past decades, ECC has become a significant problem in many developing countries and some minority communities in western industrialized nations. Like other types of caries, ECC is caused by mutans streptococci that ferment dietary carbohydrates to produce acid attacks on susceptible teeth over a period of time. However, while the general etiology of ECC appears similar to that of other types of caries, the predisposing factors are still unclear. The biology of ECC may be modified by several factors unique to young children, related to the implantation of cariogenic bacteria, immaturity of the host defense systems, as well as behavioral patterns associated with feeding and oral hygiene in early childhood.
Response to Reisine & Douglass: Psychosocial and behavioral issues in early childhood caries
Authors: Milgrom P.
Published: April 2013

Abstract—

The behaviors that are fundamental in early childhood caries are those that initiate and maintain the conditions for transmission of the cariogenic bacteria and block prevention of the disease in the presence of an unfavorable diet. These behaviors have not been the focus of interdisciplinary research involving clinicians, microbiologists, pharmacologists, and behavioral scientists. The current “health promotion product” is not selling. The problem is the “product”, not the potential buyer. Evidence suggests that positive interactions with the dental care system do lead to mothers taking preventive steps. However, dentist's attitudes, knowledge, skills and experience with babies and toddlers are deficient. Primary prevention of early childhood caries will fail unless it begins in the prenatal period and addresses the health of both mother and child.
Early childhood caries — a synopsis
Authors: Davies George N.
Published: April 2013

Abstract—

All the papers presented at the conference are reviewed and comparisons are made with past beliefs on the topic. Early childhood caries (ECC) is a serious public health problem in disadvantaged communities in both developing and industrialized countries in which under‐nutrition is common. ECC involves the maxillary primary incisors within months after their eruption and spreads rapidly to involve other primary teeth. The early implantation of mutans streptococci, the use of a feeding bottle containing sugary solutions and prolonged breast‐feeding, especially at night, are important predisposing factors. Attention is drawn to the need for more research into the factors which determine the resistance of the enamel and particularly the elucidation of the relationship established in several countries between early enamel caries, enamel hypoplasia, and perinatal under‐ or malnutrition. Primary preventive measures should be applied during the ante‐ and immediate post‐natal periods. Secondary preventive measures include the use of chemotherapeutic agents such as fluoride, and antimicrobials. The most appropriate tertiary preventive measure is the atraumatic restorative technique (ART). Broadly based committees should be established by governments to address the issues of caries risk in young children. Parents and all personnel involved in infant health and welfare should be shown how to recognize early signs of the condition, as well as to promote early intervention and referral.
Early childhood caries: a positive beginning
Authors: Tinanoff Norman , Kaste Linda M. , Corbin Stephen B.
Published: April 2013

Abstract—

Early childhood caries (ECC) is among the most prevalent health problems of low‐income infants and toddlers, yet little attention and few resources have been allocated to understanding this disease. Since dental caries in infants and toddlers cannot be exclusively ascribed to feeding practices, other concepts regarding its etiology and prevention need to be examined. Furthermore, the establishment of evidence‐based policies regarding this basic health problem is critical for the dissemination of consistent standards of care to health care providers and government agencies. To accomplish these objectives, the scientific community, organizations concerned with children's health and the political process need to be energized to find resources and energy to solve this public health challenge.
Welfare Systems as Emigration Factor: Evidence from the New Accession States
Authors: Kureková Lucia
Published: April 2013

This article analyzes the role of welfare systems in shaping migration patterns in central and eastern Europe. It argues that states have played a crucial role in affecting migration by creating and widening opportunities for potential and actual migrants through welfare system policies. This explains whyCEEcountries where social spending figures have been lower, unemployment benefit schemes less extensive and where labour market mismatches remained unaddressed, experienced greater out‐migration. The article contributes to our understanding of how sending countries’ institutional factors affect out‐migration by investigating the role of sending states’ institutions.
European Union–India Trade Negotiations: One Step Forward, One Back?
Authors: Khorana Sangeeta , Garcia Maria
Published: April 2013

This article contributes to debates on the proliferation of bilateral free trade agreements (FTAs), by analysing novel empirical material: the EU–India FTA negotiations, which have attracted little academic scrutiny. By elaborating on the underlying negotiating interests and strategies of the EU and India, the article examines the significance of overarching interests in ongoing negotiations and articulates the defensive and offensive interests of both parties. It presents a vision of the controversial and milieu‐shaping interests at stake, which offer an alternative theoretical explanation for the pursuit of FTAs, and highlights possible outcome scenarios.
Indirect Effects of Eurosceptic Messages on Citizen Attitudes toward Domestic Politics
Authors: Abbarno Aaron J. , Zapryanova Galina M.
Published: April 2013

Does criticism of theEuropeanUnion (EU) by elites cultivate support for democratic values among ordinary citizens? All Eurosceptic messages are critical ofEuropean integration; they do not all vilify similar aspects of theEuropeanUnion. This article proposes a framing model of the effects of Euroscepticism on citizens' domestic political attitudes.EUcritiques that are framed in terms of ‘democratic deficit’ lead citizens to consider which political values are desirable in democratic society and may promote support for liberal democratic norms among citizens exposed to these messages.Eurosceptic rhetoric is built into framing experiments that vary the content ofEU‐critical messages. Subjects in theUnitedKingdom andBulgaria are randomly exposed to a ‘cultural threat’ or ‘democratic deficit’ criticism of theEU. Both Eurosceptic frames reduce support for integration, but subjects exposed to the ‘deficit frame’ more strongly embrace liberal democratic values. Under certain conditions, Euroscepticism may carry benefits for representative democracy.
The ‘Mitrailleuse Effect’: The EEAS as an Interstitial Organization and the Dynamics of Innovation in Diplomacy
Authors: Bátora Jozef
Published: April 2013

This article argues that the European External Action Service (EEAS) could be conceptualized as an interstitial organization – that is, an organization emerging in interstices between various organizational fields and recombining physical, informational, financial, legal and legitimacy resources stemming from organizations belonging to these different organizational fields. This interstitial status creates a situation in which there are different and sometimes conflicting organizational principles and practices introduced within the organization of the EEAS and different and sometimes conflicting sets of expectations in relation to the Service from actors within the organization as well as from outside. Based on empirical data collected in interviews with EEAS officials and study of official documents in 2011 and 2012, the article documents the interstitial nature of the EEAS. In broader terms, the emergence of the EEAS hence provides a fertile ground for studying patterns of institutional innovation in organizational fields via the establishment of interstitial organizations.
Melatonin reverses tunicamycin‐induced endoplasmic reticulum stress in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells and improves cytotoxic response to doxorubicin by increasing CHOP and decreasing Survivin
Authors: Fan Lulu , Sun Guoping , Ma Tai , Zhong Fei , Lei Yu , Li Xiaoqiu , Wei Wei
Published: April 2013

Chemoresistance in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is associated with multiple cellular responses to environmental stresses, such as nutrient deprivation and hypoxia. Nevertheless, whether ER stress resulting from nutrient deprivation and tumor hypoxia contributes to drug resistance remains unclear. Melatonin increased the efficacy of chemotherapeutic drugs in hepatocellular carcinoma in our previous studies. However, the effects of melatonin on endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress‐induced resistance to chemotherapeutic agents in HCC have not been tested. The effect of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response during resistance of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells against doxorubicin was investigated in this study. Pretreatment of HepG2 and SMMC‐7721 cells (two human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines) with tunicamycin, an ER stress inducer, drastically decreased the rate of apoptosis generated by doxorubicin. Interestingly, co‐pretreatment with tunicamycin and melatonin significantly increased apoptosis induced by doxorubicin. Simultaneously, the expression of phosphorylated AKT (p‐AKT) was elevated in HepG2 and SMMC‐7721 cells given tunicamycin but reduced in the presence of melatonin. Furthermore, consistent with inhibition of AKT activation by using the PI3K inhibitor LY294002, melatonin elevated the levels of CHOP (C/EBP‐homologous protein) and reduced the levels of Survivin (a member of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein family)suggesting that inhibition of the PI3K/AKT pathway by melatonin‐reversed ER stress‐induced resistance to doxorubicin in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells. These results demonstrate that melatonin attenuates ER stress‐induced resistance to doxorubicin in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells by down‐regulating the PI3K/AKT pathway, increasing the levels of CHOP and decreasing the levels of Survivin.
Working with Transcripts: An Abridged Review of Issues in Transcription
Authors: Jenks Christopher Joseph
Published: April 2013

This paper provides an abbreviated review of the theories and practices that are related to transcribing spoken discourse. The review identifies four keys areas of transcription, discusses why they are important to all investigations of spoken discourse analysis, and considers the practical implications of carrying out transcript‐based research. The four areas of transcription discussed in this review are organized into the following sections: theoretical issues, representation, transcription software, and transcription ethics. The aim in providing this review is to argue that while there is no monolithic way of transcribing spoken discourse, the theories and practices that underpin and shape transcription work are highly complex, inherently problematic, and therefore should not be taken for granted.
South African critical care nurses' views on end‐of‐life decision‐making and practices
Authors: Langley Gayle , Schmollgruber Shelley , Fulbrook Paul , Albarran John W , Latour Jos M
Published: April 2013

Background

Care of patients at the end‐of‐life (EOL) may be influenced by the experiences, attitudes and beliefs of nurses involved in their direct care.

Aim

To investigate South African critical care nurses' experiences and perceptions of EOL care.

Design

Cross‐sectional survey.

Methods

South African critical care nurses completed a modified version of the ‘VENICE’ survey tool. Data were collected concerning: attitudes towards EOL care; involvement in EOL decision‐making; and beliefs about EOL practices.

Results

Of 149 surveys distributed, 100 were returned (response rate 67%). Seventy‐six percent stated that they had had direct involvement in EOL care of patients, but a minority (29%) had participated in EOL decision‐making processes. Whilst most nurses (86%) were committed to family involvement in EOL decisions, less than two thirds (62%) reported this as routine practice. When withdrawing treatment, around half (54%) of the respondents indicated they would decrease the inspired oxygen level to room air, and the majority (84%) recommended giving effective pain relief. Continued nutritional support (84%) and hydration (85%) were advocated, with most nurses (62%) indicating that they were against keeping patients deeply sedated. Most respondents (68%) felt patients should remain in intensive care at the end of life, with the majority (72%) supporting open‐visiting, no restriction on number of family members visiting (70%), and the practising of religious or traditional cultural EOL rituals (93%).

Conclusions

The involvement of Johannesburg critical nurses in EOL care discussions and decisions is infrequent despite their participation in care delivery and definite views about the process.

Relevance to clinical practice

Use of formal guidelines and education is recommended to increase the nurses' involvement in and their confidence in participating in EOL decisions. Educators, managers, senior nurses and other members of the multi‐disciplinary team should collaborate to enable critical care nurses to become more involved in EOL care.
Links between obesity, diabetes and ethnic disparities in breast cancer among Hispanic populations
Authors: Lopez R. , Agullo P. , Lakshmanaswamy R.
Published: April 2013

Breast cancer is the most prevalent malignancy in women worldwide and is a growing concern due to rising incidence and ongoing ethnic disparities in both incidence and mortality. A number of factors likely contribute to these trends including rising rates of obesity and diabetes across the globe and differences in genetic predisposition. Here, we emphasize Hispanic populations and summarize what is currently known about obesity, diabetes and individual genetic predisposition as they relate to ethnic disparities in breast cancer incidence and mortality. In addition, we discuss potential contributions to breast cancer aetiology from molecular mechanisms associated with obesity and diabetes including dyslipidemia, hyperglycaemia, hyperinsulinaemia, endocrine dysfunction and inflammation. We propose that unique differences in diet and lifestyle coupled with individual genetic predisposition and endocrine/immune dysfunction explain most of the ethnic disparities seen in breast cancer incidence and mortality.
Microarray Analysis in Cardiac Arrhythmias: A New Perspective?
Authors: MORIC‐JANISZEWSKA EWA , HIBNER GRZEGORZ
Published: April 2013

The opportunity to distinguish an accurate set of genes associated with multigenic diseases such as cardiomyopathies or cardiac arrhythmias was very limited before the genomic era. Numerous methods of measuring RNA abundance exist, including northern blotting, multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and quantitative real‐time reverse transcriptase‐PCR. However, these techniques might be used to assess the expression levels of only 10–50 genes at time. Today, DNA microarrays provide us with opportunity to simultaneously analyze tens of thousands of genes, giving a remarkable possibility to investigate the genomic contribution to cardiovascular diseases. A particular tissue at any stage of health or disease may be used to generate a genomic profile. Microarray techniques are already used in infectious diseases, oncology, and pharmacology to facilitate clinicians, risk‐stratify patients, as well as to predict and assess therapeutic responses to drugs. In this paper, we describe recent advances in the use of various types of microarray technique in the diagnosis of arrhythmogenic heart disease. We also highlight other strategies and methods of differential gene typing comparing with pros and cons of microarray analysis.
Clinical Identifiers for Detecting Underlying Closed Cervical Fractures
Authors: Cook Chad E. , Sizer Phillip S. , Isaacs Robert E. , Wright Alexis
Published: April 2013

Background

Although uncommon, closed cervical fractures (CCFs) may present in orthopedic clinical settings despite previous workup. The objective of this study was to describe the characteristics associated with missed CCF.

Methods

The study was a retrospective database exploration of a cohort of subjects within a department of surgery with cervical pain. The sample consisted of 162 patients seen for a surgical consult for a number of cervical conditions. The examination time frame represented a clinical examination and imaging confirmation of diagnosis after an original initial visit by another provider. Descriptive and diagnostic accuracy values including sensitivity/specificity and positive/negative likelihood ratios (LR+/LR−) were calculated for each targeted variable. Clustered analyses were calculated using the patient history and situational characteristics.

Results

Eleven patients in the sample were diagnosed with CCF (6.7%). Six variables were significantly associated with a missed CCF. Using these six variables, it was found that failure to exhibit a condition of 2 of the 6 variables (1 or fewer) was the strongest in ruling out the condition (LR− = 0.0; post‐test probability with a negative finding = 0%), whereas a finding of 4 of 6 was the most diagnostic for ruling in the condition (LR+ = 32; post‐test probability with a positive finding = 70%).

Conclusions

The findings in this sample suggest that select patient history or situational factors are still useful even after initial examination and clinicians must stay vigilant because CCFs may be missed during emergent care screens.
Effectiveness of FISK, an Invasiveness Screening Tool for Non‐Native Freshwater Fishes, to Perform Risk Identification Assessments in the Iberian Peninsula
Authors: Almeida David , Ribeiro Filipe , Leunda Pedro M. , Vilizzi Lorenzo , Copp Gordon H.
Published: April 2013

Risk assessments are crucial for identifying and mitigating impacts from biological invasions. The Fish Invasiveness Scoring Kit (FISK) is a risk identification (screening) tool for freshwater fishes consisting of two subject areas: biogeography/history and biology/ecology. According to the outcomes, species can be classified under particular risk categories. The aim of this study was to apply FISK to the Iberian Peninsula, a Mediterranean climate region highly important for freshwater fish conservation due to a high level of endemism. In total, 89 fish species were assessed by three independent assessors. Results from receiver operating characteristic analysis showed that FISK can discriminate reliably between noninvasive and invasive fishes for Iberia, with a threshold of 20.25, similar to those obtained in several regions around the world. Based on mean scores, no species was categorized as “low risk,” 50 species as “medium risk,” 17 as “moderately high risk,” 11 as “high risk,” and 11 as “very high risk.” The highest scoring species was goldfish Carassius auratus. Mean certainty in response was above the category “mostly certain,” ranging from tinfoil barb Barbonymus schwanenfeldii with the lowest certainty to eastern mosquitofish Gambusia holbrooki with the highest level. Pair‐wise comparison showed significant differences between one assessor and the other two on mean certainty, with these two assessors showing a high coincidence rate for the species categorization. Overall, the results suggest that FISK is a useful and viable tool for assessing risks posed by non‐native fish in the Iberian Peninsula and contributes to a “watch list” in this region.
Risk Assessment Can Be a Game‐Changing Information Technology—But Too Often It Isn't
Authors: Goble Robert , Bier Vicki M.
Published: April 2013

The printing press was a game‐changing information technology. Risk assessment could be also. At present, risk assessments are commonly used as one‐time decision aids: they provide justification for a particular decision, and afterwards usually sit on a shelf. However, when viewed as information technologies, their potential uses are much broader. Risk assessments: (1) are repositories of structured information and a medium for communication; (2) embody evaluative structures for setting priorities; (3) can preserve information over time and permit asynchronous communication, thus encouraging learning and adaptation; and (4) explicitly address uncertain futures. Moreover, because of their “what‐if” capabilities, risk assessments can serve as a platform for constructive discussion among parties that hold different values. The evolution of risk assessment in the nuclear industry shows how such attributes have been used to lower core‐melt risks substantially through improved templates for maintenance and more effective coordination with regulators (although risk assessment has been less commonly used in improving emergency‐response capabilities). The end result of this evolution in the nuclear industry has been the development of “living” risk assessments that are updated more or less in real time to answer even routine operational questions. Similar but untapped opportunities abound for the use of living risk assessments to reduce risks in small operational decisions as well as large policy decisions in other areas of hazard management. They can also help improve understanding of and communication about risks, and future risk assessment and management. Realization of these opportunities will require significant changes in incentives and active promotion by the risk analytic community.
Welfare Compensation for Unemployment in the Great Recession
Authors: Salgado Mariña Fernández , Figari Francesco , Sutherland Holly , Tumino Alberto
Published: April 2013

This paper analyzes the extent to which tax‐benefit systems provide an automatic stabilization of income for those who became unemployed at the onset of the Great Recession. The focus of the analysis is on the compensation for earnings lost due to unemployment which is channeled through the welfare systems to this group of people who are clearly vulnerable to the recession's adverse effects. In order to assess the impact of unemployment on household income, counterfactual scenarios are simulated by using EUROMOD, the EU‐wide microsimulation model, integrated with information from the EU‐LFS data. This paper provides evidence on the differing degrees of relative and absolute resilience of the household incomes of the new unemployed. These arise from the variations in the protection offered by the national tax‐benefit systems and from the personal and household circumstances of those most recently at risk of unemployment in the countries considered.
The functional MICA‐129 polymorphism is associated with skin but not joint manifestations of psoriatic disease independently of HLA‐B and HLA‐C
Authors: Pollock R. A. , Chandran V. , Pellett F. J. , Thavaneswaran A. , Eder L. , Barrett J. , Rahman P. , Farewell V. , Gladman D. D.
Published: April 2013

A methionine/valine polymorphism at amino acid 129 of the major histocompatibility complex class I chain‐related gene A (MICA‐129) categorizes alleles into strong and weak binders of the natural killer (NK) and T‐cell receptor NKG2D. We investigated whether MICA‐129 is differentially associated with skin and joint manifestations of psoriatic disease (PsD) independently of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)‐C and HLA‐B in patients and controls from Toronto and St. John's. The MICA‐129 methionine (Met) allele, particularly Met/Met homozygosity, was strongly associated with both cutaneous psoriasis (PsC) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) independently of HLA‐B and HLA‐C in Toronto patients, and was also associated with PsA in St. John's patients, but with no additional effect of Met/Met homozygosity. No association remained after adjustment for HLA alleles in St. John's patients. MICA‐129 was not associated with PsA when compared with PsC. We conclude that MICA‐129 is a marker of skin manifestations of PsD that is independent of HLA class I in Toronto patients.