bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Metabolic factors contributing to altered Ca2+ regulation in skeletal muscle fatigue
Authors: Steele D. S. , Duke A. M.
Published: August 2003

Aim: Skeletal muscle fatigue is characterized by a failure to maintain force production or power output during intense exercise. Many recent studies on isolated fibres have used brief repetitive tetanic contractions to mimic fatigue resulting from intensive exercise and to investigate the underlying cellular mechanisms. Such studies have shown that characteristic changes in Ca2+ regulation occur during fatiguing stimulation. This includes prolongation of the ‘Ca2+‐tails’ which follow each period of tetanic stimulation and a progressive rise in resting [Ca2+]. More importantly, the final stage of fatigue is associated with a rapid decrease in tetanic [Ca2+]i and force. These fatigue‐induced changes in sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ regulation are temporally associated with alterations in the intracellular levels of phosphate metabolites and a causal relationship has often been proposed. The aim of this review is to evaluate the evidence linking changes in the levels of phosphate metabolites and altered Ca2+ regulation during fatigue.

Results: The following current hypotheses will be discussed: (1) the early changes in Ca2+ regulation reflect alterations in the intracellular levels of phosphate metabolites, (2) inhibition of the SR Ca2+ release mechanism (e.g. caused by ATP depletion and increased [Mg2+]) contributes to the decrease in tetanic [Ca2+]i during the final stages of fatigue and (iii) delayed entry of inorganic phosphate ions (Pi) into the SR, followed by precipitation of calcium phosphate (Ca–Pi), can explain the fatigue‐induced decrease in tetanic [Ca2+]i.

Conclusion: There is strong evidence that changes in phosphate metabolite levels contribute to early changes in SR Ca2+ regulation during fatigue and that inhibition of the SR Ca2+ release mechanism can partially explain the rapid decrease in tetanic [Ca2+]i during the final stages of fatigue. While precipitation of Ca–Pi may occur within the SR during fatigue, there is currently insufficient evidence to establish whether this contributes to the late decline in tetanic [Ca2+]i.
Association between fatigue and failure to preserve cerebral energy turnover during prolonged exercise
Authors: Nybo L. , Møller K. , Pedersen B. K. , Nielsen B. , Secher N. H.
Published: August 2003

Aim: This study evaluated if the fatigue and apathy arising during exercise with hypoglycaemia could relate to a lowering of the cerebral metabolic rates of glucose and oxygen.

Methods and results: Six males completed 3 h of cycling with or without glucose supplementation in random order. Cerebral blood flow, metabolism and interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) release were evaluated with the Kety–Schmidt technique. Blood glucose was maintained during the glucose trial, while it decreased from 5.2 ± 0.1 to 2.9 ± 0.3 mmol L−1 (mean ± SE) after 180 min of exercise in the placebo trial with a concomitant increase in perceived exertion (P < 0.05). During hypoglycaemia, the cerebral glucose uptake was reduced from 0.34 ± 0.05 to 0.28 ± 0.04 μmol g−1 min−1, while the cerebral uptake of β‐hydroxybutyrate increased to 5 ± 1 pmol g−1 min−1 (P < 0.05). The reduced glucose uptake was accompanied by a lowering of the cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen from 1.84 ± 0.19 mmol g−1 min−1 during exercise with glucose supplementation to 1.60 ± 0.16 mmol g−1 min−1 during hypoglycaemia (P < 0.05). In addition, the cerebral IL‐6 release was reduced from 0.4 ± 0.1 to 0.0 ± 0.1 pg g−1 min−1 (P < 0.05).

Conclusions: Exercise‐induced hypoglycaemia limits the cerebral uptake of glucose, exacerbates exercise, reduces the cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen and attenuates the release of IL‐6 from the brain.
Effects of eccentric treadmill running on mouse soleus: degeneration/regeneration studied with Myf‐5 and MyoD probes
Authors: Armand A.‐S. , Launay T. , Gaspera B. Della , Charbonnier F. , Gallien C. L. , Chanoine C.
Published: August 2003

Abstract  Aim: 

The aim of this report is to show that eccentric exercise under well‐controlled conditions is an alternative model, to chemical and mechanical analyses, and analyse the process of degeneration/regeneration in mouse soleus.

Methods:  For this, mice were submitted to a single bout of eccentric exercise on a treadmill down a 14° decline for 150 min and the soleus muscle was analysed at different times following exercise by histology and in situ hybridization in comparison with cardiotoxin‐injured muscles.

Results:  We analyse the regenerative process by detection of the accumulation of transcripts coding for the two myogenic regulatory factors, Myf‐5 and MyoD, which are good markers of the activated satellite cells. From 24 h post‐exercise (P‐E), clusters of mononucleated Myf‐5/MyoD‐positive cells were detected. Their number increased up to 96 h P‐E when young MyoD‐positive myotubes with central nuclei began to appear. From 96 to 168 h P‐E the number of myotubes increased, about 10‐fold, the new myotubes representing 58% of the muscle cells (168 h P‐E).

Conclusion:  These results show that this protocol of eccentric exercise is able to induce a drastic degeneration/regeneration process in the soleus muscle. This offers the opportunity to perform biochemical and molecular analyses of a process of regeneration without muscle environment defects. The advantages of this model are discussed in the context of fundamental and therapeutical perspectives.
Physiology and biophysics of hemi‐gap‐junctional channels expressed in Xenopus oocytes
Authors: Ebihara L.
Published: August 2003

Gap junctional channels are intercellular channels that allow the passage of ions and other small molecules less than about 1 kD in size between neighbouring cells. They are composed of two oligomeric protein subunits called connexons or hemichannels which reside in the plasma membrane of closely opposed cells. Several recent studies suggest that unpaired connexons may be active on the non‐junctional plasma membrane of cells.

Here I present a short overview of the properties of connexon channels expressed in Xenopus oocytes.
Gap junction hemichannels in astrocytes of the CNS
Authors: Sáez J. C. , Contreras J. E. , Bukauskas F. F. , Retamal M. A. , Bennett M. V. L.
Published: August 2003

Connexins are protein subunits that oligomerize into hexamers called connexons, gap junction hemichannels or just hemichannels. Because some gap junction channels are permeable to negatively and/or positively charged molecules up to ∼ 1kDa in size, it was thought that hemichannels should not open to the extracellular space. A growing amount of evidence indicates that opening of hemichannels does occur under both physiological and pathological conditions in astrocytes and other cell types. Electrophysiological studies indicate that hemichannels have a low open probability under physiological conditions but may have a much higher open probability under certain pathological conditions. Some of the physiological behaviours of astrocytes that have been attributed to gap junctions may, in fact, be mediated by hemichannels. Hemichannels constituted of Cx43, the main connexin expressed by astrocytes, are permeable to small physiologically significant molecules, such as ATP, NAD+ and glutamate, and may mediate paracrine as well as autocrine signalling. Hemichannels tend to be closed by negative membrane potentials, high concentrations of extracellular Ca2+ and intracellular H+ ions, gap junction blockers and protein phosphorylation. Hemichannels tend to be opened by positive membrane potentials and low extracellular Ca2+, and possibly by as yet unidentified cytoplasmic signalling molecules. Exacerbated hemichannel opening occurs in metabolically inhibited cells, including cortical astrocytes, which contributes to the loss of chemical gradients across the plasma membrane and speeds cell death.
Gap junctional hemichannels in the heart
Authors: John S. , Cesario D. , Weiss J. N.
Published: August 2003

Upon contacting each other, cells form gap junctions, in which each cell contributes half of the channel linking their cytoplasms, enabling them to share their metabolome up to a molecular weight of 1000. Each hemichannel (or connexon) is randomly inserted into the plasma membrane and then migrates to the site of cell‐to‐cell contact before pairing with the neighbouring cell's hemichannel to form a communicating conduit. This review summarizes the evidence for hemichannels in heart ventricular myocytes. Morphological findings are summarized describing how hemichannels are inserted into the plasma membrane. Once in the plasma membrane, hemichannels can be functionally detected electrophysiologically or by dye uptake assays. Each technique reveals specific aspects of hemichannel function. Using dye uptake studies, it is possible to investigate the biological regulation of hemichannels in vivo. Evidence is summarized which indicates that hemichannels are normally kept closed in the presence of normal extracellular Ca because they are phosphorylated at residues in the C‐terminus regulated by the MAPK signalling pathway. When hemichannels are dephosphorylated, the channels open and allow dye uptake into the cells, as well as potentially deleterious ion exchange. Biological stresses, such as hyperosmolarity and metabolic inhibition, open hemichannels by this mechanism through activating phosphatases. The resulting ion fluxes may have important roles in heart physiology and pathophysiology.
Do connexin 43 gap‐junctional hemichannels activate and cause cell damage during ATP depletion of renal‐tubule cells?
Authors: Vergara L. , Bao X. , Bello‐Reuss E. , Reuss L.
Published: August 2003

Abstract
We review our evidence in favour of the hypothesis that gap‐junctional hemichannels (GJH) are activated by depletion of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in human renal proximal tubule cells in primary culture (hPT cells). Undocked GJH permit fluxes of ions and hydrophilic molecules up to 1 kDa, and thus their opening can cause alterations of cell composition conducive to cell damage.

We show that hPT cells express connexin 43 (Cx43) (at the mRNA and protein levels) and that the protein is expressed on the plasma membrane. Moderate levels of pharmacological depletion of ATP increased plasma‐membrane permeability, as shown by loading with the hydrophilic dye 5/6 carboxyfluorescein (CF, 376 Da) and other low‐molecular weight dyes, but not with fluorescein‐labelled dextran (>1500 Da). Roles for endocytosis and activation of purinergic‐receptor channels were experimentally ruled out. Moderate ATP depletion also caused necrosis, assessed by cell permeabilization to propidium iodide. Prolonged exposure to gadolinium reduced both the dye loading and the necrosis induced by ATP depletion, i.e. it protected the cells. Cx43 overexpressed in insect cells, purified to homogeneity and reconstituted in proteoliposomes formed hemichannels that are activated by dephosphorylation of Ser368, a residue in a protein‐kinase‐C consensus phosphorylation sequence near the end of the C‐terminal domain.

Conclusions: (1) ATP depletion of hPT cells induces a Gd3+‐sensitive permeability of the plasma membrane to hydrophilic dyes with a cut‐off size consistent with Cx43 GJH. (2) ATP depletion also increases the percentage of necrotic cells, an effect also reduced by Gd3+. (3) The experiments with purified Cx43 reconstituted in liposomes suggest that dephosphorylation of Ser368 is sufficient to activate GJH, although other mechanisms may be involved in some cells.
Review article: the data supporting a role for aminosalicylates in the chemoprevention of colorectal cancer in patients with inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: Eaden J.
Published: August 2003

The chemoprevention of colorectal cancer (CRC) with long‐term sulfasalazine and 5‐aminosalicyclic acid (5‐ASA) treatment has been demonstrated through epidemiological and experimental studies, in patients with ulcerative colitis. In a large case‐controlled study, there was a trend for long‐term nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory consumption to be protective against CRC in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) (OR, 0.84). Sulfasalazine treatment over a 3‐month period was shown to be protective (OR, 0.38), independently of disease activity. A longer‐term study of sulfasalazine also revealed a relationship with treatment compliance, where 3% of compliant patients developed CRC compared with 31% of the noncompliers. Treatment with 5‐ASA was associated with an increase in apoptosis, a decrease in proliferation of colorectal mucosa and has been shown to lower the rate of spontaneous mutation.

In a retrospective, matched case‐control study conducted in the UK, 102 patients with ulcerative colitis and CRC were matched with ulcerative colitis patients without CRC. Incidence was correlated to treatment protocols, family history and other risk factors. Mesalazine was the only treatment to be associated with a statistically significant reduction in the risk of developing cancer. Even after adjusting for variables, mesalazine at doses > 1.2 g / day reduced the risk of cancer by 81% (P = 0.006). Frequent visits to the clinician were also associated with a protective effect.
Soil structure and pedotransfer functions
Authors: Pachepsky Y.A. , Rawls W.J.
Published: August 2003

Accurate estimates of soil hydraulic properties from other soil characteristics using pedotransfer functions (PTFs) are in demand in many applications, and soil structural characteristics are natural candidates for improving PTFs. Soil survey provides mostly categorical data about soil structure. Many available characteristics such as bulk density, aggregate distribution, and penetration resistance reflect not only structural but also other soil properties. Our objective here is to provoke a discussion of the value of structural information in modelling water transport in soils. Two case studies are presented. Data from the US National Pedon Characterization database are used to estimate soil water retention from categorical field‐determined structural and textural classes. Regression‐tree estimates have the same accuracy as those from textural class as determined in the laboratory. Grade of structure appears to be a strong predictor of water retention at −33 kPa and −1500 kPa. Data from the UNSODA database are used to compare field and laboratory soil water retention. The field‐measured retention is significantly less than that measured in the laboratory for soils with a sand content of less than 50%. This could be explained by Rieu and Sposito's theory of scaling in soil structure. Our results suggest a close relationship between structure observed at the soil horizon scale and structure at finer scales affecting water retention of soil clods. Finally we indicate research needs, including (i) quantitative characterization of the field soil structure, (ii) an across‐scale modelling of soil structure to use fine‐scale data for coarse‐scale PTFs, (iii) the need to understand the effects of soil structure on the performance of various methods available to measure soil hydraulic properties, and (iv) further studies of ways to use soil–landscape relationships to estimate variations of soil hydraulic properties across large areas of land.
Soil crusting and infiltration on steep slopes in northern Thailand
Authors: Janeau J.L. , Bricquet J.P. , Planchon O. , Valentin C.
Published: August 2003

Predicting the rate at which rain infiltrates on steep slopes is very uncertain. There is no consistent information in the literature. We have therefore related infiltrability to slope gradient under field conditions by experimenting on a gravelly loamy soil occupying the upper half of a cultivated convex hill in northern Thailand. Fifteen 1 m × 1 m plots with slope gradients ranging from 16 to 63% were established, and simulated rain was allowed to fall on them at controlled rates and for fixed times. We obtained the following results. The surface fell 0.4–7.2 mm due to compaction and soil loss. The proportions of crust (0–40%) and embedded gravel (10–60%), the runoff coefficient (0.05–0.78 mm mm−1), the mean sediment concentrations (0–5.6 g l−1), and soil detachment (10–313 g m−2) were more pronounced on the gentle slopes than on the steep ones. The steady final infiltration rate (1–107 mm hour−1) increased sharply with increasing slope gradient. Microaggregates tended to behave like sand and become tightly packed on gentle slopes (packing crust). These results suggest that the vertical component of kinetic energy, which is greater on gentle slopes, has a dominant role. Nevertheless, the differences in compaction and in sediment concentration could not be ascribed to the vertical component of kinetic energy alone. On steep slopes the horizontal component of the kinetic energy is transformed into shear stress, hampering the development of crusts so that water can still infiltrate. On steeper slopes, the water film was thinner, thereby limiting the role of splash. We conclude that the relationship between slope gradient and infiltrability depends on the nature of the soil and must be examined in the light of surface crusting processes.
Estimation of nitrate retention in a Ferralsol by a transient‐flow method
Authors: Duwig C. , Becquer T. , Charlet L. , Clothier B.E.
Published: August 2003

Anion retention is important in highly weathered soils that contain large amounts of iron and aluminium oxides with surfaces of variable charge. Sorption mechanisms retard anionic solute transfer through these soils. We determined the retardation factor for nitrate in highly weathered Ferralsols from New Caledonia from dynamic experiments using a transient‐flow method, and we evaluated the effect of soil solution concentration and organic matter content. A simple method with sectionable tubes was used to determine the nitrate isotherm during non‐steady‐state water flow under unsaturated conditions. The topsoil retarded the movement of nitrate, and the sorption followed a linear isotherm. In subsoils, retardation factors were larger and increased from 1.15 to 2.05 at soil pH as the NO3–‐N concentration of the input solution decreased from 71.43 to 0.35 mm, indicative of a non‐linear isotherm. Positive surface charge sites were considered to be of two types: one with strong affinity for nitrate at small concentrations and one with weak affinity for adsorption of nitrate at larger concentrations. This type of isotherm with high‐ and low‐energy sites is similar to those found for oxyanions and heavy metals. The related anion exchange capacity was larger than that usually observed in soils of variable charge. Not all exchange sites were detected with our method, and some sites were obviously not available for nitrate retention.
Effect of the initial soil water saturation on the behaviour of a mixed LNAPL and heavy metal contaminated glaciofluvial deposit
Authors: Dubé J.‐S. , Winiarski T. , Galvez‐Cloutier R.
Published: August 2003

Soil contamination by mixtures of petroleum hydrocarbons and heavy metals is common in urban and industrial localities. Interactions between these contaminants have an impact on the mobility and the management of contamination. We have characterized the modifications to the transport of heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn) in soil induced by residual light non‐aqueous phase liquid (LNAPL) for two conditions of trapping. Experiments on the elution of tracers and heavy metals in columns of soil were performed with a glaciofluvial material as the soil. Tracer experiments were modelled with the mobile–immobile (MIM) system of partial differential equations. The experiments were designed to compare water flow and metal transport in LNAPL‐contaminated soil with a control set. Residual LNAPL was trapped in water‐saturated and dry soil to ensure preferential wettability of soil surfaces, namely either water‐wet or LNAPL‐wet.

In water‐wet soil columns, LNAPL decreased water flow by two orders of magnitude and increased the fraction of immobile water. Solute residence times (SRTs) suggested that heavy metals resided mainly in mobile water where the reaction time was sufficient to reach steady‐state retention. The SRTs also indicated that a fraction of the heavy metal flux diffused to the immobile water where its retention was limited by diffusion. Retention of heavy metals was significantly greater than in the control columns. In LNAPL‐wet soil columns, the obstruction of small pores and surface coating by residual LNAPL significantly decreased the attenuation capacity of the soil by decreasing the diffusion of heavy metals to immobile water and surface sites. Evidently, the individual behaviour of heavy metals can be significantly modified by non‐miscible organic contaminants. These modifications can have important implications for risk evaluation, contamination management and in situ remediation of soil that is contaminated by mixtures of petroleum hydrocarbons and heavy metals.
Surface analysis of soil material by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy
Authors: Gerin P.A. , Genet M.J. , Herbillon A.J. , Delvaux B.
Published: August 2003

The surface composition of particles present in the fine earth (< 2 mm) of 50 soil horizons differing in composition and pedogenetic origin (13 soil profiles) was analysed by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to assess the capability and limitations of this technique and to gain better knowledge of the soil samples. The surfaces were systematically enriched in carbon, sometimes up to 1000 times, indicating that the soil particle surfaces are coated with organic substances, even in horizons where the bulk organic content is less than 0.1 g kg−1. The distribution of carbon in the various oxidation states was 0.569 ± 0.008 C[0], 0.275 ± 0.004 C[+1], 0.089 ± 0.003 C[+2]and 0.066 ± 0.002 C[+3]for most horizons (mean ± standard error, 69 data). Only Andosol surface horizons systematically had surface organic matter in a more oxidized state. After correcting the results for the presence of organic coatings, we found that Si was generally depleted and Al enriched at the surface of soil particles, while Fe was either depleted or enriched depending on the sample considered. However, the coating of the coarser soil particles by the finer ones and their differential composition explained this observation and limits the interest of XPS for characterizing the surface enrichment of inorganic elements in crude soil samples. These limitations should be considered when interpreting XPS results in future work. Nevertheless, XPS can analyse the adsorbed organic matter and its functional composition of carbon without the need for any chemical or physical extraction that might alter the structure and composition of the organic molecules.
Roles of immunoglobulin‐like loops of junctional cell adhesion molecule 4; involvement in the subcellular localization and the cell adhesion
Authors: Tajima Makiko , Hirabayashi Susumu , Yao Ikuko , Shirasawa Madoka , Osuga Junichi , Ishibashi Shun , Fujita Toshiro , Hata Yutaka
Published: August 2003

Background:  Membrane‐associated guanylate kinase with inverted domain structure‐1 (MAGI‐1) is a scaffolding protein at tight junctions (TJs). We have recently identified junctional adhesion molecule 4 (JAM4) as a MAGI‐1‐interacting protein. JAM4 belongs to the immunoglobulin superfamily and mediates Ca2+‐independent adhesion. In this study, we examined the subcellular localization of JAM4 in various tissues and the involvement of JAM4 in the localization of MAGI‐1. Moreover, we investigated into roles of immunoglobulin‐like loops (Ig‐loops) of JAM4.

Results:  JAM4 was localized at TJs but also on apical membranes of epithelial cells in jejunum, ileum, and renal proximal tubules. In Madine Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells, the localization of JAM4 at TJs depended on the first Ig‐loop and did not require the MAGI‐1‐interacting region. JAM4 determined the subcellular localization of MAGI‐1 in MDCK cells. In ileum, however, MAGI‐1 was localized at TJs where JAM4 was not detected. Both of Ig‐loops were necessary for homophilic interactions, but cis interactions depended on the first Ig‐loop.

Conclusion:  JAM4 may be primarily targeted to apical membranes, and subsequently recruited to TJs through the first Ig‐loop–mediated molecular interaction. JAM4 determines the localization of MAGI‐1 in MDCK cells, but the in vivo localization of MAGI‐1 does not necessarily depend on JAM4.
An overview of the World Health Organization's (WHO) policies concerning health libraries and documentation centres*
Authors: RUFF BERYL
Published: August 2003

The work of WHO in assisting the development of information resources of member states at national and regional levels is outlined. WHO policies emphasize the role of the library in providing access to information and the crucial importance of quality of library service in terms of effectiveness. The objectives of the WHO Health Literature Services Programme are discussed. Importance is assigned to locally produced health literature and fugitive health literature, for example, reports by government departments, research institutions and faculties of medicine in individual countries. Strategies developed in liaison with WHO and its member states place emphasis on networks for resource sharing and on co‐operative planning. National focal point libraries play a major role in this strategy. Some examples of back‐up services that can be provided for developing countries are cited. Training activities to strengthen health library manpower in developing countries have a high priority and WHO policy is encapsulated in the theme of 5 ICML Medical Libraries: One World: resources, co‐operation, services.
A patients' education programme in diabetes mellitus: the library's role
Authors: MIAH M. FARID HOSSAIN
Published: August 2003

Education of the patient has been generally accepted as a vitally important component of the management of diabetic patients. Without it effective control of diabetes cannot be ensured. The Bangladesh Institute of Research and Rehabilitation in Diabetes, Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders (BIRDEM) has initiated a patients' education programme to educate all its diabetic patients and a sound curriculum has been developed. The BIRDEM library is helping to make this a success by maintaining a vital link between the educators and the learners.
Computerization in a housebound library service
Authors: RYDER JULIE
Published: August 2003

This article discusses the service implications for the Westminster Leisure Services Home Library Service when it was automated as part of the City's computerization programme. Westminster's Home Library Service visits 900 readers every 3 weeks and operates as a branch library with its own staff, providing books, music, spoken‐word tapes, periodicals and jigsaws. The system chosen for Westminster was GEAC, which has provided the Home Library Service with comprehensive cataloguing data and an efficient reservation facility. It has considerable flexibility and has met the special needs of this service, particularly relating to freedom from overdues, a long loan period and the large numbers of items borrowed. Until recently a manual record of loans was kept on date labels. Now a newly installed software facility retains details of material loaned to each reader. Other potential developments for housebound library services in a computerized scheme might include details of reading interests as well as local information.
Fund raising for libraries: a case study*
Authors: DORAN BEATRICE M.
Published: August 2003

The present economic climate is forcing medical librarians to look at supplementary sources of income and actively to seek funds on behalf of their libraries outside their institutions. This paper looks at fund raising for medical libraries and describes the fund‐raising activities of the Friends of the Library at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
The implications of Project 2000 for nursing libraries*
Authors: THOMPSON CHRISTINE , BULLIMORE ALAN
Published: August 2003

Drawing on their experience as a demonstration district for Project 2000 the authors discuss the implications of the changes to nurse education for nursing libraries and the services which they provide. A survey of library usage patterns under the ‘new’ curriculum is also described.
New American medical libraries: report of a study tour
Authors: DORAN BEATRICE M.
Published: August 2003

Descriptions highlighting the design and range of services of modern American libraries are given. Five medical school libraries and the National of Medicine are discussed.
Reader activity in a multidisciplinary health sciences library: a case study at St George's Library
Authors: GOVE SUSAN , GILBERT SUSAN , YEOH JEAN
Published: August 2003

This paper reports on a survey of user activity in a London teaching hospital with a multidisciplinary health sciences library. Library users were asked to complete a simple survey form on each visit to the library over a week long period. Information was required to help establish a formula for funding. The user survey examined reasons for visiting the library, frequency of visits, length of visit and also asked for comments and suggestions. Finally there is discussion regarding the effectiveness of the survey in terms of the practical framework utilized and of the gains obtained.
Nurses — their information needs and use of libraries: the views of some librarians⋆
Authors: WAKEHAM MAURICE
Published: August 2003

An overview of the information needs of nurses is followed by a description of the findings of the Information Seeking Behaviour of Nurses Project. A brief comparison is made with the perceptions that librarians have of nurses' information‐seeking activity followed by a more detailed discussion of the ways that librarians consider that nurses' use of libraries could be improved. It is concluded that library provision and use can be improved only by co‐operation between nurses, students, educators, librarians and managers.
Developing multidisciplinary library services in trust hospitals: a case study at the City Hospitals Sunderland NHS Trust
Authors: CHILDS S. M.
Published: August 2003

This paper describes an example of good practice in the establishment of multidisciplinary library services at a Trust hospital. In 1995, City Hospitals Sunderland NHS Trust commissioned a survey to determine their needs for library services for all staff. The results of the survey and the recommendations are described. The Trust's further actions are briefly noted. This case study is set into the wider context of the need for well‐resourced library and information services within the NHS. The constraints under which such developments operate are listed.
The prevalence and treatment needs of symptoms and signs of temporomandibular disorders among young adult males
Authors: Nassif N. J. , Al‐Salleeh F. , Al‐Admawi M.
Published: August 2003

Summary  A temporomandibular disorder (TMD) screening history and screening examination was performed on 523 young adult males. The screening forms were similar to those TMD forms developed and formulated under the auspices of the American College of Prosthodontists. In turn, the substance of the latter forms was initially derived from the recommendations of the President's TMD Conference of the American Dental Association, with 62 eminent researchers, educators and clinicians as participants. Each subject was given a TMD self‐administered screening history form to complete, formatted in a check – the block format. It included all items considered to be classic TMD symptoms. The screening examination was performed extraorally and included (i) range of jaw movement, (ii) digital palpation of selected masticatory muscles and palpation over the pre‐auricular temporomandibula joint (TMJ) area and (iii) digital palpation for TMJ sounds during jaw movement. The subjects were categorized into the following four categories: 0 = no symptoms/signs, 1 = insignificant moderate symptoms and/or signs, 2 = significant moderate symptoms and/or signs, and 3 = severe symptoms and/or signs. The overall results showed that 75% of the subjects had TMD symptoms and/or signs. There were 6·9% in category 1, 51·4% in category 2, and 16·7% in category 3. It was recommended that subjects in category 2 and 3 should have a comprehensive TMD evaluation, in order to further identify the recommended need for TMD Therapy.
Insomnia related to postmenopausal syndrome and hormone replacement therapy: sleep laboratory studies on baseline differences between patients and controls and double‐blind, placebo‐controlled investigations on the effects of a novel estrogen–progestogen combination (Climodien®, Lafamme®) versus estrogen alone
Authors: Saletu‐Zyhlarz Gerda , Anderer Peter , Gruber Georg , Mandl Magdalena , Gruber Doris , Metka Markus , Huber Johannes , Oettel Michael , Gräser Thomas , Abu‐Bakr Manal Hassan , Grätzhofer Elisabeth , Saletu Bernd
Published: August 2003

Differences in sleep and awakening quality between 51 insomniac postmenopausal syndrome patients and normal controls were evaluated. In a subsequent double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, comparative, randomized, three‐arm trial (Climodien 2/3 = estradiol valerate 2 mg + the progestogen dienogest 3 mg = regimen A, estradiol valerate 2 mg = regimen EV, and placebo = regimen P), the effects of 2 months of hormone replacement therapy were investigated, followed by a 2‐month open‐label phase in which all patients received Climodien® 2/2 (EV 2 mg + dienogest 2 mg = regimen A*). Polysomnography at baseline demonstrated significantly deteriorated sleep initiation and maintenance, increased S1 and decreased S2 in patients. Subjective sleep and awakening quality, well‐being, morning drive, wakefulness, memory and reaction time performance were deteriorated too. Treatment with both regimen A and regimen EV induced a moderate, although nonsignificant, improvement in the primary efficacy variable wakefulness during the total sleep period compared with baseline, while under placebo no changes occurred. Secondary efficacy variables concerning sleep initiation and maintenance, and sleep architecture showed similar findings. The apnea and apnea–hypopnea indices improved significantly under regimen A, compared with both baseline and placebo. Subjective sleep and awakening quality improved significantly after regimen A and EV compared with baseline, with the drug‐induced changes being superior to those induced by placebo. In the open‐label phase, subjective sleep quality improved further, significantly in the former regimen A group. Awakening quality, somatic complaints and morning thymopsyche did not yield any significant findings. Concerning morning noopsychic performance, memory improved significantly after regimen A compared with baseline, fine motor activity after regimen EV. Reaction time performance increased with all three compounds. In conclusion, Climodien significantly improved subjective sleep quality, the apnea and apnea–hypopnea indices of insomniac postmenopausal syndrome patients, while it only marginally improved variables concerning objective sleep and awakening quality.
Neurobehavioural performance effects of daytime melatonin and temazepam administration
Authors: Rogers Naomi L. , Kennaway David J. , Dawson Drew
Published: August 2003

Exogenous melatonin is a potential treatment for circadian disruption and insomnia. Hence, it is important to determine and quantify neurobehavioural performance effects associated with its use. The present study compared neurobehavioural performance following administration of melatonin and the benzodiazepine temazepam, using a within‐subjects design. Following a training day, 16 healthy, young subjects (six males, 10 females; mean age ± SEM, 21.4 ± 6 years) participated in a 3‐day protocol. After sleeping overnight in the laboratory, subjects completed a battery of tests at hourly intervals between 08:00 and 11:00 hours and at two hourly intervals between 13:00 and 17:00 hours. The neurobehavioural performance tasks included: unpredictable tracking, spatial memory, vigilance and logical reasoning. Subjective sleepiness was measured at hourly intervals using a visual analogue scale. At 12:00 h subjects were administered a capsule containing 5 mg melatonin, 10 mg temazepam or placebo, in a randomized, double‐blind crossover fashion. A significant drug × time interaction was evident on the unpredictable tracking, spatial memory and vigilance tasks (P < 0.05). Greater changes in performance were evident following temazepam administration than melatonin administration, relative to placebo. Administration of melatonin or temazepam significantly elevated subjective sleepiness levels, relative to placebo (P ≤ 0.05). The present findings demonstrate that melatonin administration induces a smaller deficit in performance on a range of neurobehavioural tasks than temazepam. Given melatonin's soporific and chronobiotic properties, these results suggest that melatonin may be preferable to benzodiazepines in the management of circadian and sleep disorders.
Phlebotomus (Adlerius) halepensis vector competence for Leishmania major and Le. tropica
Authors: Sádlová J. , Hajmová M. , Volf P.
Published: August 2003

Abstract.  In Eurasia, phlebotomine sandflies of the subgenus Adlerius (Diptera: Psychodidae) comprise about 20 known species. Some are suspected vectors of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) and at least one species has been implicated as a vector of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL). We tested Phlebotomus (Adlerius) halepensis Theodor (Jordan strain) for CL vector competence, compared with three standard vectors: Phlebotomus (Phlebotomus) duboscqi N‐L. from Senegal, Phlebotomus (Paraphlebotomus) sergenti Parrot from Turkey and the Neotropical Lutzomyia longipalpis (L. & N) (Jacobina strain). Sandfly females were membrane‐fed on amastigote suspensions of Leishmania major Y. & S. and Le. tropica (Wright) (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae) and examined for parasite development 3, 6 and 10 days post‐infection.

Phlebotomus halepensis showed high susceptibility to both leishmanias, supporting typical suprapylarian parasite development similar to the other vectors. Phlebotomus halepensis infection rates were ∼90% for Le. major and ∼80% for Le. tropica, with high parasite densities. Development of infections was relatively fast, colonizing the thoracic midgut by 6 days post‐bloodmeal in every case and reaching the stomodeal valve in >80% of flies. In late‐stage infections, 10 days post‐bloodmeal, nearly all P. halepensis females had cardia and stomodeal valve filled with very high numbers of parasites and some Le. tropica‐infected females had promastigotes in the pharynx and proboscis.

Host choice experiments in the laboratory showed that P. halepensis females fed readily on rat or rabbit and preferred the human forearm. In view of its vector competence and partial anthropophily, we infer that P. halepensis is a potential vector of cutaneous as well as visceral leishmaniases.
Attempted mechanical transmission of lumpy skin disease virus by biting insects
Authors: Chihota C. M. , Rennie L. F. , Kitching R. P. , Mellor P. S.
Published: August 2003

Abstract.  The mosquitoes Anopheles stephensi Liston and Culex quinquefasciatus Say (Diptera: Culicidae), the stable fly Stomoxys calcitrans Linnaeus (Diptera: Muscidae) and the biting midge Culicoides nubeculosus Meigen (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) were allowed to feed on either lumpy skin disease (LSD) infected animals or through a membrane on a bloodmeal containing lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV). These arthropods were then allowed to refeed on susceptible cattle at various intervals after the infective feed. Virus was detected in the insects by polymerase chain reaction immediately after feeding and at sufficiently high titre to enable transmission to occur. However, no transmission of virus from infected to susceptible animals by An. stephensi, S. calcitrans, C. nubeculosus and Cx. quinquefasciatus was observed.
Species identification of Hypoderma affecting domestic and wild ruminants by morphological and molecular characterization
Authors: Otranto D. , Colwell D. D. , Traversa D. , Stevens J. R.
Published: August 2003

Abstract.  Cuticular structures and the sequence of the cytochrome oxidase I gene were compared for Hypoderma bovis (Linnaeus), Hypoderma lineatum (De Villers), Hypoderma actaeon Brauer, Hypoderma diana Brauer and Hypoderma tarandi (Linnaeus) (Diptera, Oestridae). Third‐stage larvae of each species were examined by scanning electron microscopy revealing differences among species in the pattern and morphology of spines on the cephalic and thoracic segments, by spine patterns on the tenth abdominal segment, and by morphology of the spiracular plates. The morphological approach was supported by the molecular characterization of the most variable region of the cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene of these species, which was amplified by polymerase chain reaction and analysed. Amplicons were digested with the unique restriction enzyme, BfaI, providing diagnostic profiles able to simultaneously differentiate all Hypoderma species examined. These findings confirm the utility of morphological characters for differentiating the most common Hypoderma larvae and reconfirm the power of the COI gene for studying insect identification and systematics.
Sampling Rhodnius neglectus in Mauritia flexuosa palm trees: a field study in the Brazilian savanna
Authors: Gurgel‐Gonçalves R. , Palma A. R. T. , Menezes M. N. A. , Leite R. N. , Cuba C. A. C.
Published: August 2003

Abstract.  Two sampling methods (manual capture and live‐baited adhesive traps) were compared for collecting the bug Rhodnius neglectus Lent (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae) from palm trees, Mauritia flexuosa L. (Arecaceae), in the savanna of Brasília DF. R. neglectus was found in 19/50 (38%) of palm trees sampled. The detection rate was much higher by visual inspection and manual capture (18/50 = 36%) than by our trapping method (5/50 = 10%), although one tree was found to be positive by trapping but not by manual capture. Bugs collected manually were mostly (146/154 = 95%) found among the dead organic material in palm crowns. In combination, these sampling techniques are useful for quick detection of triatomine bug infestation in palm trees, especially in areas of high ecological value where the palms should not be cut and dissected, but arboreal Rhodnius are suspected to transmit enzootic Trypanosoma cruzi that might represent a risk of causing human cases of Chagas disease.
Mos10 (Vps60) is required for normal filament maturation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Köhler Julia R.
Published: August 2003

Early pseudohyphal growth of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is well described, and is known to be subject to a complex web of developmental regulation. In maturing filaments, young cells differ significantly from their pseudohyphal progenitors, in their shape, and in their timing and direction of cell division. The changes that occur during filament maturation result in round and oval cells surrounding and covering the pseudohyphal filament. In a screen for mutants that affect this process, a vacuolar protein sorting gene, MOS10 (VPS60), and a gene encoding an α subunit of the proteasome core, PRE9, were isolated. Characterization of the mos10/mos10 phenotype showed that the process of filament maturation is regulated differently from early filamentous growth, and that the requirement for Mos10 is limited to the maturation stage of pseudohyphal development. The mos10/mos10 phenotype is unlikely to be an unspecific effect of disruption of endocytosis or vacuolar protein sorting, because it is not recapitulated by mutants in other genes required for these processes. Disruption of homologues of MOS10, which act as components of the ESCRT‐III complex in targeting proteins for vacuolar degradation, results in abnormal early pseudohyphal growth, not in the filament maturation defect seen in mos10/mos10. Thus, Mos10 may function in targeting of specific cargo proteins for degradation, under conditions particular to maturing filaments.
Overexpression of a human and a fungal ABC transporter similarly suppresses the differentiation defects of a fungal peroxisomal mutant but introduces pleiotropic cellular effects
Authors: Boisnard Stéphanie , Zickler Denise , Picard Marguerite , Berteaux‐Lecellier Véronique
Published: August 2003

Among the peroxisome membrane proteins, some are required for peroxisome biogenesis (e.g. PEX2) while others are not, e.g. ABC (ATP‐binding cassette) transporters. Unexpectedly, overproduction of the peroxisomal ABC transporter PMP70 was found to be able to restore peroxisome biogenesis in mammalian pex2 mutant cell lines. In the filamentous fungus Podospora anserina, pex2 mutations not only impair peroxisome biogenesis but also cause a precise cell differentiation defect. Here, we show that both defects are partially suppressed by expression of the human cDNA encoding PMP70. In addition, PMP70 expression causes new developmental defects, different from those induced by pex2 mutations. We also show that overexpression of the P. anserina pABC1 gene, which encodes a peroxisomal ABC transporter, leads to similar effects. Taken together, our results demonstrate that: (i) the genetic relationship between PEX2 and PMP70, initially observed in mammals, has been conserved through evolution; (ii) the cell differentiation defect observed in the P. anserina pex2 mutants is indeed linked to impairment in peroxisome biogenesis; and (iii) unexpected detrimental cellular defects result from overproduction of peroxisomal ABC transporters.
The CtsR regulator of Listeria monocytogenes contains a variant glycine repeat region that affects piezotolerance, stress resistance, motility and virulence
Authors: Karatzas Kimon A. G. , Wouters Jeroen A. , Gahan Cormac G. M. , Hill Colin , Abee Tjakko , Bennik Marjon H. J.
Published: August 2003

A spontaneous high hydrostatic pressure (HHP)‐tolerant mutant of Listeria monocytogenes ScottA, named AK01, was isolated previously. This mutant was immotile and showed increased resistance to heat, acid and H2O2 compared with the wild type (wt) (Karatzas, K.A.G. and Bennik, M.H.J. 2002 Appl Environ Microbiol 68: 3183–3189). In this study, we conclusively linked the increased HHP and stress tolerance of strain AK01 to a single codon deletion in ctsR (class three stress gene repressor) in a region encoding a highly conserved glycine repeat. CtsR negatively regulates the expression of the clp genes, including clpP, clpE and the clpC operon (encompassing ctsR itself), which belong to the class III heat shock genes. Allelic replacement of the ctsR gene in the wt background with the mutant ctsR gene, designated ctsRΔGly, rendered mutants with phenotypes and protein expression profiles identical to those of strain AK01. The expression levels of CtsR, ClpC and ClpP proteins were significantly higher in ctsRΔGly mutants than in the wt strain, indicative of the CtsRΔGly protein being inactive. Further evidence that the CtsRΔGly protein lacks its repressor function came from the finding that the Clp proteins in the mutant were not further induced upon heat shock, and that HHP tolerance of a ctsR deletion strain was as high as that of a ctsRΔGly mutant. The high HHP tolerance possibly results from the increased expression of the clp genes in the absence of (active) CtsR repressor. Importantly, the strains expressing CtsRΔGly show significantly attenuated virulence compared with the wt strain; however, no indication of disregulation of PrfA in the mutant strains was found. Our data highlight an important regulatory role of the glycine‐rich region of CtsR in stress resistance and virulence.