bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The applicability of WHODAS 2.0 in adolescents in China
Authors: Hu Liping , Zang Yu‐Li , Li Na
Published: July 2012

Aims and objectives.  This study was designed to examine the applicability of World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS 2.0) in adolescents in China for internal consistency and factorial validity.

Background.  The conceptualisation of impairments, activity limitation and participation restriction as disability underpins WHODAS 2.0. Available evidence is mainly about the use of WHODAS 2.0 in adults with little attention to adolescents.

Design.  Survey design.

Methods.  A total 314 adolescent inpatients were recruited using a purposive sampling strategy and self‐measured with a range of scales related to puberty development, family function, 36‐item WHODAS 2.0, extended version of Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (Ext‐SDQ). The same amount of junior high school student data was randomly selected to facilitate the model invariance examination through confirmatory factor analysis with the assistance of amos 19 and spss 19.

Results.  Adolescents (mean, 14·07; SD, 2·866) varied greatly in demography, health conditions, body mass index, puberty development, family function, disability and difficulties as well as prosocial status. After the removal of the item on sexual activity, the internal consistency for the 35‐item WHODAS is satisfactory, overall and dimensional. The six‐factor WHODAS model was found to be a good model fit, moderately correlated with the overall difficulty measured by the 20‐item four‐factor SDQ, with the ability to differentiate the group of adolescent inpatients and junior high school students.

Conclusion.  The 35‐item WHODAS is useful with adolescents with satisfactory internal reliability and factorial validity.

Relevance to clinical practice.  This study supports the use of 35‐item WHODAS in adolescents with or without health conditions in school and hospital settings, which paves the way for a better understanding about and health service delivery to adolescents during the transition from childhood to adulthood.
Contractile responses of isolated equine digital arteries under hypoxic or hyperoxic conditionsin vitro: role of reactive oxygen species and Rho kinase
Authors: BORER K. E. , BAILEY S. R. , HARRIS P. A. , ELLIOTT J.
Published: July 2012

The underlying pathophysiological triggers for equine acute laminitis are unknown, although digital vasoconstriction, ischaemia, hypoxia and reperfusion injury may be involved. The contractile responses of isolated equine digital arteries (EDAs), harvested from the hindlimbs of normal horsespostmortemat an abattoir, were studied acutely (up to 3 h) under hyperoxic (95% oxygen, 5% CO2) and hypoxic (95% nitrogen, 5% CO2) conditions in organ baths. Phenylephrine (PHE; 10−6 m), 5‐hydroxytryptamine (5‐HT; 10−7 m) and high potassium (K+; 118 mm) caused contraction in EDAs which was significantly (P < 0.0001) enhanced under hypoxic conditions. In contrast, contraction stimulated by 9,11‐dideoxy‐9α,11α‐epoxymethanoprostaglandin F2α(U44069; 3 × 10−8 m) was not significantly enhanced by hypoxia (P = 0.75). Hypoxia‐enhanced contraction in response to K+was greater (P < 0.03) in vessels with a functional endothelium than in vessels in which the endothelium was removed by rubbing. Fasudil (10−6to 10−5 m), a Rho kinase inhibitor, and apocynin (10−3to 3 × 10−3 m), an NADPH oxidase inhibitor, significantly (P ≤ 0.05) inhibited hypoxia‐enhanced contraction in response to PHE and 5‐HT. In conclusion, hypoxia‐enhanced contraction occurred in EDAs. This appears to be partially mediated by reactive oxygen species produced by NAPDH oxidase, which activate Rho kinase to increase calcium sensitisation and enhance smooth muscle contraction.
Hepatitis C therapy in non‐genotype 1 patients: the near future
Authors: Wartelle‐Bladou C. , Le Folgoc G. , Bourlière M. , Lecomte L.
Published: July 2012

Summary.  Worldwide, 50–70 million subjects are infected with an hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6. In these patients, the combination of PEG‐INF‐α and ribavirin remains the currently approved standard‐of‐care treatment. The identification of different potential therapeutic targets in the HCV life cycle has led to the development of both direct antiviral agents (DAAs) and reagents targeting host functions essential for viral replication. DAAs comprise so far first‐generation, second‐wave and second‐generation NS3/4A protease inhibitors (PIs), nucleos(t)ide (NIs) and non‐nucleoside inhibitors of the NS5B RNA polymerase and NS5A complex inhibitors. The main host‐protein‐directed antiviral agents are cyclophilin inhibitors and silibinin. Whereas the launch of first‐generation PIs was a major landmark in the management of genotype 1 (GT‐1)‐infected patients, these drugs are inactive in most non‐GT‐1‐infected patients. Several of these and other drugs have now reached phase II and even phase III clinical stage development. The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the clinical results recently reported for the treatment for non‐GT‐1 HCV infection with a focus on the most promising new compounds and combinations.
Noninvasive estimation of fibrosis progression overtime using the FIB‐4 index in chronic hepatitis C
Authors: Tamaki N. , Kurosaki M. , Tanaka K. , Suzuki Y. , Hoshioka Y. , Kato T. , Yasui Y. , Hosokawa T. , Ueda K. , Tsuchiya K. , Nakanishi H. , Itakura J. , Asahina Y. , Izumi N.
Published: July 2012

Summary.  The FIB‐4 index is a simple formula to predict liver fibrosis based on the standard biochemical values (AST, ALT and platelet count) and age. We here investigated the utility of the index for noninvasive prediction of progression in liver fibrosis. The time‐course alteration in the liver fibrosis stage between paired liver biopsies and the FIB‐4 index was examined in 314 patients with chronic hepatitis C. The average interval between liver biopsies was 4.9 years. The cases that showed a time‐course improvement in the fibrosis stage exhibited a decrease in the FIB‐4 index, and those that showed deterioration in the fibrosis stage exhibited an increase in the FIB‐4 index with a significant correlation (P < 0.001). Increase in the ΔFIB‐4 index per year was an independent predictive factor for the progression in liver fibrosis with an odds ratio of 3.90 (P = 0.03). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the ΔFIB‐4 index/year for the prediction of advancement to cirrhosis was 0.910. Using a cut‐off value of the ΔFIB‐4 index/year <0.4 or ≥0.4, the cumulative incidence of fibrosis progression to cirrhosis at 5 and 10 years was 34% and 59%, respectively in patients with the ΔFIB‐4 index/year ≥0.4, whereas it was 0% and 3% in those with the ΔFIB‐4 index/year <0.4 (P < 0.001). In conclusion, measurement of the time‐course changes in the FIB‐4 index is useful for the noninvasive and real‐time estimation of the progression in liver fibrosis.
Internal anal sphincter relaxation associated with bisacodyl‐induced colonic high amplitude propagating contractions in children with constipation: a colo‐anal reflex?
Authors: Rodriguez L. , Siddiqui A. , Nurko S.
Published: July 2012

Background  Describe the association of internal anal sphincter (IAS) relaxation with colonic high‐ amplitude peristaltic contractions (HAPCs).

Methods  Retrospective review of colon manometry tracings of children with constipation to determine the IAS relaxation characteristics associated with HAPC’s (HAPC‐IASR) events and compare them to the those seen during the performance of the anorectal manometry (ARMRAIR) events.

Key Results  A total of 70 HAPC‐ IASRs were observed in 15 patients, 65 after bisacodyl, two during fasting and three after a meal. In 64% of events, the IAS relaxation started when the HAPC reached left colon and in 36% as proximal as the hepatic flexure. High‐ amplitude peristaltic contraction propagation seems to be important in HAPC‐IASR characteristics; those propagating distal to sigmoid colon demonstrated larger and longer IAS relaxation as well as lower residual pressure, but equivalent resting pressure compared with HAPC’s ending proximal to sigmoid colon. Although IAS resting pressure was comparable for ARM‐RAIRs and HAPC‐IASRs, the duration and magnitude of anal relaxation was higher, and the anal residual pressure was lower in HAPC‐IASRs.

Conclusions & Inferences  We demonstrated that IAS relaxation in constipated children is associated with HAPCs migrating in the proximal and distal colon; in most cases, starting when peristalsis is migrating through left colon and in an important proportion while migrating proximally. We also demonstrated that HAPC‐IASRs are different from ARM‐RAIRs suggesting a neurally mediated reflex. Finally, the IAS relaxation characteristics are highly dependent on the degree of propagation of HAPCs, which could have important implications in the understanding of defecation disorders.
The effect of aspirin and smoking on urinary excretion profiles of lactulose and mannitol in young women: toward a dynamic, aspirin augmented, test of gut mucosal permeability
Authors: Sequeira I. R. , Lentle R. G. , Kruger M. C. , Hurst R. D.
Published: July 2012

Background  We explored the temporal dynamics of the lactulose mannitol test and the influence of a single dose of aspirin.

Methods  Twenty healthy female volunteers each received 600 mg aspirin or placebo in random sequence and were subsequently dosed with 10 g lactulose and 5 g mannitol, their urine collected every half hour for 6 h.

Key Results  The lactulose:mannitol ratios (LMR) of urine samples collected over the entire 6‐h period were significantly higher than those collected in the first 3 h. Greater quantities of mannitol were excreted over the first than the subsequent 3 h. A similar pattern of temporal variation in mannitol excretion was found in smokers and non‐smokers and was maintained following administration of a single 600 mg dose of aspirin. The rates at which lactulose was excreted were relatively constant over the entire 6 h period of collection, but mean levels were increased over the entire 6 h following the administration of aspirin. The effect of aspirin did not differ significantly between smokers and non‐smokers.

Conclusions & Inferences  While the LMR test is sufficiently sensitive to reproducibly detect the increase in intestinal permeability resulting from a single 600 mg oral dose of aspirin, the temporal patterns of excretion of mannitol and lactulose differ both in the presence and absence of aspirin. Hence, variation in sampling period and in method of dosage are likely to influence the result and it is preferable to examine the patterns of absorption of component sugars separately with due regard to the method of dosage.
Review of Self‐reported Physical Activity Assessments for Pregnancy: Summary of the Evidence for Validity and Reliability
Authors: Evenson Kelly R. , Chasan‐Taber Lisa , Symons Downs Danielle , Pearce Emily E.
Published: July 2012

Background:  Epidemiological studies and surveillance systems of pregnant women often rely on collection of physical activity through self‐report. This systematic review identified and summarised self‐reported physical activity assessments with evidence for validity and reliability among pregnant women.

Methods:  Peer‐reviewed articles published through 2011 were included if they assessed validity and/or reliability of an interviewer‐ or self‐administered physical activity questionnaire or diary among pregnant women.

Results:  We identified 15 studies, including 12 studies that assessed questionnaires and 4 studies that assessed diaries, conducted in Australia, Finland, Norway, the UK, the US and Vietnam. For questionnaires, 92% (11/12) assessed mode, all assessed frequency and/or duration and 58% (7/12) collected information on perceived intensity. All but one study (92%) assessed validity of the questionnaires. Questionnaires compared with objective measures (accelerometers, pedometers) ranged from slight to fair agreement, while comparison with other self‐reported measures ranged from substantial to almost perfect agreement. Five studies (42%) assessed test–retest reliability of the questionnaires, ranging from substantial to almost perfect agreement. The four studies on diaries were all assessed for validity against objective measures, ranging from slight to substantial agreement.

Conclusions:  Selection of valid and reliable physical activity measures that collect information on dose (type, frequency, duration, intensity) is recommended to increase precision and accuracy in detecting associations of physical activity with maternal and fetal outcomes.
Salt stress aggravates boron toxicity symptoms in banana leaves by impairing guttation
Authors: SHAPIRA OR , ISRAELI YAIR , SHANI URI , SCHWARTZ AMNON
Published: July 2012

Boron (B) is known to accumulate in the leaf margins of different plant species, arguably a passive consequence of enhanced transpiration at the ends of the vascular system. However, transpiration rate is not the only factor affecting ion distribution. We examine an alternative hypothesis, suggesting the participation of the leaf bundle sheath in controlling radial water and solute transport from the xylem to the mesophyll in analogy to the root endodermis. In banana, excess B that remains confined to the vascular system is effectively disposed of via dissolution in the guttation fluid; therefore, impairing guttation should aggravate B damage to the leaf margins. Banana plants were subjected to increasing B concentrations. Guttation rates were manipulated by imposing a moderate osmotic stress. Guttation fluid was collected and analysed continuously. The distribution of ions across the lamina was determined. Impairing guttation indeed led to increased B damage to the leaf margins. The kinetics of ion concentration in guttation samples revealed major differences between ion species, corresponding to their distribution in the lamina dry matter. We provide evidence that the distribution pattern of B and other ions across banana leaves depends on active filtration of the transpiration stream and on guttation.
Histone H2B monoubiquitination is required to reach maximal transcript levels of circadian clock genes in Arabidopsis
Authors: Himanen Kristiina , Woloszynska Magdalena , Boccardi Tommaso M. , De Groeve Steven , Nelissen Hilde , Bruno Leonardo , Vuylsteke Marnik , Van Lijsebettens Mieke
Published: July 2012

Previously, we identified HISTONE MONOUBIQUITINATION1 (HUB1) as an unconventional ubiquitin E3 ligase that is not involved in protein degradation but in the histone H2B modification that is implicated in transcriptional activation in plants. HUB1‐mediated regulation of gene expression played a role in periodic and inducible processes such as the cell cycle, dormancy, flowering time and defense responses. Here, we determined the effects of the hub1‐1 mutation on expression of a set of diurnally induced circadian clock genes identified from a comparative microarray analysis between the hub1‐1 mutant and an HUB1 over‐expression line. The hub1‐1 mutation reduced the amplitudes of a number of induced clock gene expression peaks, as well as the HUB1‐mediated histone H2BUb and H3K4Me3 marks associated with the coding regions, suggesting a role for HUB1 in facilitating transcriptional elongation in plants. Furthermore, double mutants between hub1‐1 and elongata (elo) showed an embryo‐lethal phenotype, indicating a synergistic genetic interaction. The double mutant embryos arrested at the torpedo stage, implying that together histone ubiquitination and acetylation marks are essential to activate expression of target genes in multiple pathways.
A RAD52‐like single‐stranded DNA binding protein affects mitochondrial DNA repair by recombination
Authors: Janicka Sabina , Kühn Kristina , Le Ret Monique , Bonnard Geraldine , Imbault Patrice , Augustyniak Halina , Gualberto José M.
Published: July 2012

The plant mitochondrial DNA‐binding protein ODB1 was identified from a mitochondrial extract after DNA‐affinity purification. ODB1 (organellar DNA‐binding protein 1) co‐purified with WHY2, a mitochondrial member of the WHIRLY family of plant‐specific proteins involved in the repair of organellar DNA. The Arabidopsis thaliana ODB1 gene is identical to RAD52‐1, which encodes a protein functioning in homologous recombination in the nucleus but additionally localizing to mitochondria. We confirmed the mitochondrial localization of ODB1 by in vitro and in vivo import assays, as well as by immunodetection on Arabidopsis subcellular fractions. In mitochondria, WHY2 and ODB1 were found in large nucleo‐protein complexes. Both proteins co‐immunoprecipitated in a DNA‐dependent manner. In vitro assays confirmed DNA binding by ODB1 and showed that the protein has higher affinity for single‐stranded than for double‐stranded DNA. ODB1 showed no sequence specificity in vitro. In vivo, DNA co‐immunoprecipitation indicated that ODB1 binds sequences throughout the mitochondrial genome. ODB1 promoted annealing of complementary DNA sequences, suggesting a RAD52‐like function as a recombination mediator. Arabidopsis odb1 mutants were morphologically indistinguishable from the wild‐type, but following DNA damage by genotoxic stress, they showed reduced mitochondrial homologous recombination activity. Under the same conditions, the odb1 mutants showed an increase in illegitimate repair bypasses generated by microhomology‐mediated recombination. These observations identify ODB1 as a further component of homologous recombination‐dependent DNA repair in plant mitochondria.
The association between contact sensitization and atopic disease by linkage of a clinical database and a nationwide patient registry
Authors: Thyssen J. P. , Johansen J. D. , Linneberg A. , Menné T. , Engkilde K.
Published: July 2012

Background

Experimental studies have shown that individuals with atopic dermatitis are likely to have suppressed contact sensitivity secondary to their disease whereas some clinical and epidemiological studies have shown that individuals with atopic dermatitis might have a higher prevalence of contact sensitization than controls. The objective was to study the association between contact sensitization and, respectively, atopic dermatitis and asthma using clinical databases.

Methods

Record linkage of two different registers was performed: (i) a tertiary hospital register of dermatitis patient's patch tested for contact sensitivity and (ii) the Danish National Patient Register containing nationwide hospital discharge diagnoses and outpatient contacts.

Results

An inverse association was found between contact sensitization and, respectively, presumed severe atopic dermatitis (OR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.61–0.81) and asthma (OR, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.42–0.90) when linkage was performed. Inverse associations were found for all groups of chemicals and metals except for sensitization to fragrances and topical drugs where positive associations were identified. A significant positive association between fragrance sensitization and presumed mild–moderate atopic dermatitis was also found when data from hospital register only were used, suggesting an overall higher prevalence of fragrance sensitization in patients with atopic dermatitis.

Conclusions

Our findings support that patients with severe atopic dermatitis and asthma have an overall lower prevalence of contact sensitization when compared with controls, whereas mild‐to‐moderate disease does not suppress contact sensitization. The prevalence of contact sensitization to fragrance chemicals was higher in patients with atopic dermatitis. Patients should be instructed to avoid scented moisturizers and products containing highly sensitizing substances.
Local free light chain expression is increased in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps
Authors: Groot Kormelink T. , Calus L. , De Ruyck N. , Holtappels G. , Bachert C. , Redegeld F. A. , Gevaert P.
Published: July 2012

Background

Free light chain (FLC) concentrations are demonstrated to be increased in different inflammatory disorders and are proposed to mediate mast cell–dependent immune responses. A role for mast cells is suggested in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP), which is characterized by a local Th2 inflammatory response. However, clear mast cell–activating factors are not always apparent. In this study, the presence of FLCs in CRS patients with or without nasal polyps (CRSw/sNP) was investigated and the effect of different treatments on FLC expression was analyzed.

Methods

Nasal tissue, nasal secretion, and serum of control patients, patients with CRSwNP, and CRSsNP were analyzed for the presence of kappa and lambda FLC. The expression of FLCs in nasal polyp tissue was investigated using immunohistochemistry. In addition, FLC was measured in serum and nasal secretion of nasal polyp patients treated with methylprednisolone, doxycycline, anti‐IL‐5, or placebo.

Results

Free light chain concentrations were increased in nasal secretion and mucosal tissue homogenates in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis, and this effect was most prominent in CRSwNP patients. Immunohistochemical analysis confirmed the increased FLC concentrations in nasal polyp tissue. In CRSwNP patients, treatment with methylprednisolone or anti‐IL‐5 resulted in the reduction in systemic or local FLC concentrations, respectively.

Conclusion

The presence of FLC in CRSwNP and CRSsNP suggests a possible role in mediating the local immune reaction in the paranasal cavities. Furthermore, the decrease in local FLCs after treatment with anti‐IL‐5 presumes that IL‐5 creates an environment that favors FLC production.
Biological and genetic determinants of atopy are predictors of immediate‐type allergy to betalactams, in Spain
Authors: Cornejo‐García J. A. , Guéant‐Rodriguez R.‐M. , Torres M. J. , Blanca‐Lopez N. , Tramoy D. , Romano A. , Blanca M. , Guéant J.‐L.
Published: July 2012

Background

Betalactam (BL) immediate‐type allergy is influenced by environmental and genetic determinants, as illustrated by differences in worldwide prevalence and ethnicity from a same area and by associations with genes related to atopy.

Aims

To evaluate the association of atopy with BL allergy.

Materials and methods

We measured specific Immunoglobulin E (IgE) against prevalent allergens and genetic predictors of atopy, IL13, IL4, IL4RA, IL4, and TNFA, in 340 patients and 340 controls from South of Spain.

Results

Total IgE and IgE against mites were at higher concentration in patients. Patients with high total IgE and IgE against prevalent allergens had a slower decrease in BL IgE than nonatopic patients. IL4RA I50V and Q551R were associated with IgE against prevalent allergens and total IgE, respectively, and were also predictors of BL allergy.

Conclusion

Interacting determinants of atopy, total IgE, IgE against prevalent allergens, and IL4RA polymorphisms, contribute to the high prevalence of BL allergy in South of Spain.
A novel HLA‐DRB1*12 allele, DRB1*12:16:02, identified by sequence‐based typing
Authors: Lim A. H. , Song S. N. , Shin G. S. , Lee S. A. , Kim M. H.
Published: July 2012

The novel allele DRB1*12:16:02 allele showed two single nucleotide differences with HLA‐DRB1*12:16:01 at nucleotides 303 G>C and 321 C>T in exon 2.
Mitochondrial D‐loop analysis reveals low diversity in Mangalica pigs and their relationship to historical specimens
Authors: Molnár J. , Tóth G. , Stéger V. , Zsolnai A. , Jánosi A. , Mohr A. , Szántó‐Egész R. , Tóth P. , Micsinai A. , Rátky J. , Marincs F.
Published: July 2012

The genetic relationship between 195 Mangalica and 79 non‐Mangalica pigs was studied using mitochondrial D‐loop SNP genotyping. Altogether, 35 polymorphic sites and 27 haplotypes were identified. Of the haplotypes, eight and 16 are Mangalica and non‐Mangalica specific, respectively, while three contain both Mangalica and non‐Mangalica individuals. Genetic distance values and phylogenetic analysis indicate that Mangalica individuals are very closely related, and five haplotypes represent approximately 92% of the Mangalica pigs involved in the study, thus determining the major maternal lineages. In contrast to previous microsatellite studies, individuals of Mangalica could not be distinguished as three separate breeds using mtDNA genotyping. Comparing modern and archaeological mtDNA sequences revealed that present day Mangalica is related to pigs that lived in the Carpathian basin where postulated ancestors of Mangalica also lived. This is the first DNA‐based genetic evidence to support the described breeding history of Mangalica.
Poor correlation between tuberculin skin tests and interferon‐γ assays in close contacts of patients with multidrug‐resistant tuberculosis
Authors: JO KYUNG‐WOOK , JEON KYEONGMAN , KANG YOUNG AE , KOH WON‐JUNG , KIM KYUNG CHAN , KIM YEE HYUNG , YOO KWANG HA , LEE SEUNG HEON , YIM JAE‐JOON , CHOI SANG BONG , CHOI WON‐IL , CHOI JAE CHOL , HWANG YONG IL , SHIM TAE SUN
Published: July 2012

Background and Objective:  The results of tuberculin skin tests (TST) and QuantiFERON TB‐Gold In‐Tube (QFT‐GIT) assays were compared in close contacts of patients with multidrug‐resistant tuberculosis (MDR‐TB).

Methods:  Close contacts of patients with bacteriologically confirmed MDR‐TB (n = 101) were assessed. Most contacts were members of the households of patients, and 79 (78.2%) had received Bacille Calmette‐Guerin (BCG) vaccination. Samples from each contact were tested using the TST and the QFT‐GIT assay on the same day, and the concordance between these results was assessed using kappa (κ) coefficients.

Results:  Forty‐eight subjects (47.5%) showed positive responses on TST, using a 10‐mm induration cut‐off, and 54 (53.5%) were positive for the QFT‐GIT assay. Of the 48 individuals who were TST positive, 34 (70.8%) were positive for the QFT‐GIT assay. Of the 53 subjects who were TST negative, 33 (62.5%) were negative for the QFT‐GIT assay. The overall agreement between the two tests (κ coefficient) was 0.33. The κ coefficient was higher in the 22 subjects who had not received BCG vaccination (κ = 0.48) than in the 79 subjects who had received BCG vaccination (κ = 0.29).

Conclusion:  The TST and QFT‐GIT assays showed poor correlation in close contacts of patients with MDR‐TB, especially those contacts who had received BCG vaccination.
An unusual new paracolletine bee, Leioproctus (Ottocolletes) muelleri subgen. & sp. nov. (Hymenoptera: Colletidae): with notes on nesting biology and in‐burrow nest guarding by macrocephalic males
Authors: Houston Terry F , Maynard Glynn V
Published: July 2012

Leioproctus muelleri sp. nov. is described from south‐western Australia, and a new subgenus, Ottocolletes, is established to contain it. The species is remarkable for the relatively enormous head and mandibles of its males. Both sexes were encountered at nesting sites in a dry, winter‐wet depression where pollen‐laden females were observed entering holes in the ground and males flew close to the ground surface. Four nests in which females were constructing and provisioning cells were occupied also by single males. Patrolling males stopped frequently to inspect burrow entrances and occasionally entered but usually backed out quickly apparently repelled by occupant males. Skirmishes observed and photographed at nest entrances revealed that fighting males grasp their opponent's head in their mandibles. Male macrocephaly in this species almost certainly is associated with mate‐guarding or progeny‐guarding behaviour. Observations are presented also on nest architecture, pollen provisions and dormant larvae that survive inundation of the nesting area during winter.
Feasibility of minimally invasive radical prostatectomy in prostate cancer patients with high prostate‐specific antigen: Feasibility and 1‐year outcomes
Authors: Do Minh , Ragavan Narasimhan , Dietel Anja , Liatsikos Evangelos , Anderson Chris , McNeill Alan , Stolzenburg Jens‐Uwe
Published: July 2012

Objectives:  Urologists are cautious to offer minimally invasive radical prostatectomy in prostate cancer patients with high prostate‐specific antigen (and therefore anticipated to have locally advanced or metastatic disease) because of concerns regarding lack of complete cure after minimally invasive radical prostatectomy and of worsening of continence if adjuvant radiotherapy is used.

Methods:  A retrospective review of our institutional database was carried out to identify patients with PSA ≥20 ng/mL who underwent minimally invasive radical prostatectomy between January 2002 and October 2010. Intraoperative, pathological, functional and short‐term oncological outcomes were assessed.

Results:  Overall, 233 patients met study criteria and were included in the analysis. The median prostate‐specific antigen and prostate size were 28.5 ng/mL and 47 mL, respectively. Intraoperative complications were the following: rectal injury (0.86%) and blood transfusion (1.7%). Early postoperative complications included prolonged (>6 days) catheterization (9.4%), hematoma (4.7%), deep venous thrombosis (0.86%) and lymphocele (5.1%). Late postoperative complications included cerebrovascular accident (0.4%) and anastomotic stricture (0.8%). Pathology revealed poorly differentiated cancer in 48.9%, pT3/pT4 disease in 55.8%, positive margins in 28.3% and lymph node disease in 20.2% of the cases. Adverse pathological findings were more frequent in patients with prostate‐specific antigen >40 ng/mL and (or) in those with locally advanced disease (pT3/pT4). In 62.2% of the cases, adjuvant radiotherapy was used. At 1‐year follow up, 80% of patients did not show evidence of biochemical recurrence and 98.8% of them had good recovery of continence.

Conclusion:  Minimally invasive radical prostatectomy might represent a reasonable option in prostate cancer patients with high prostate‐specific antigen as a part of a multimodality treatment approach.
Role of routine transurethral biopsy and isolated upper tract cytology after intravesical treatment of high‐grade non‐muscle invasive bladder cancer
Authors: Lightfoot Andrew J , Rosevear Henry M , Nepple Kenneth G , O'Donnell Michael A
Published: July 2012

Objectives:  To investigate whether random bladder, and prostatic urethral biopsies and individual upper tract cytologies (restaging) provide useful clinical information in addition to cystoscopy and bladder cytology in assessing initial intravesical therapy response for high‐grade non‐muscle invasive bladder cancer.

Methods:  We retrospectively reviewed records of all patients who underwent restaging at our institution after treatment for high‐grade non‐muscle invasive bladder cancer (Ta, T1 and Tis) between January 2000 and October 2009. A total of 78 patients undergoing 116 consecutive restagings were included. The presence of intravesical cancer at restaging was assessed by cystoscopy, bladder wash cytology and random bladder biopsies, whereas ureteral and prostatic urethral disease was determined using upper tract barbotage cytology and prostatic urethral biopsies.

Results:  Indication for intravesical treatment was carcinoma in situ in 86, high‐grade T1 in 16 and high‐grade Ta in 14 cases. A total of 48 patients had primary disease and 68 had recurrence. Overall, 59 of 116 (50.9%) restagings showed positive bladder or prostatic biopsy and/or a positive cytology localized to the upper tract. Of the total number of recurrences, 12.9% (15 of 116) showed a negative cystoscopy and negative bladder cytology, and would have been missed on routine surveillance. A total of 23 of 116 (19.8%) restagings showed evidence of prostatic urethral and or ureteral disease.

Conclusion:  Roughly 25% of high‐grade non‐muscle invasive bladder cancer early recurrences after induction intravesical therapy would go unnoticed without the addition of random and directed prostate biopsies, and isolated upper tract cytologies to standard cystoscopy and bladder cytology.
Relationship between near‐infrared spectroscopy, and subcutaneous fat and muscle thickness measured by ultrasonography in Japanese community‐dwelling elderly
Authors: Yoshimatsu Tatsuki , Yoshida Daisuke , Shimada Hiroyuki , Komatsu Taiki , Harada Atsushi , Suzuki Takao
Published: July 2012

Aim:  Near‐infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) allows estimation of the percentage of body fat (%BF) regardless of the patient's posture; thus, it is useful for assessment of elderly patients with severe decline of basic activity who cannot hold a standing position. However, the accuracy by which the near‐infrared light emitted from NIRS reflects subcutaneous tissue is unknown. The aim of this study was to assess how correctly NIRS reflects the subcutaneous fat and muscle thickness derived from ultrasonography in community‐dwelling elderly.

Methods:  A total of 93 community‐dwelling older adults aged 65 years and older were enrolled in this study (mean 75.8 years, 6.7 SD). Participants were assessed according to optical density (OD) measurements by NIRS, subcutaneous fat and muscle thickness by ultrasonography, and muscle strength. Pearson's correlation coefficients were calculated for each sex. Stepwise multiple regression analysis was used to identify factors that contributed to OD for each sex.

Results:  OD measured at the forearm and thigh were significantly correlated with subcutaneous fat thickness. In stepwise multiple regression analyses, subcutaneous fat thickness was found to be a significant determinant of OD in men (forearm β = −0.37, P = 0.01; thigh β = −0.63, P < 0.001) and women (forearm β = −0.50, P < 0.001; thigh: β = −0.52, P < 0.001).

Conclusions:  These results suggest that NIRS can appropriately estimate fat‐free mass. By adding other variables to OD as the predictive variable, skeletal muscle mass might be estimated in the elderly population. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2013; 13: 351–357.
Self‐reported oral complaints in older mentally ill patients
Authors: Kossioni Anastassia E , Kossionis George E , Polychronopoulou Argy
Published: July 2012

Aim:  The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of self‐reported oral complaints in older hospitalized mentally ill patients and relate them to the primary psychiatric diagnosis.

Methods:  A total of 89 older hospitalized psychiatric patients consented to participate in the study, and were interviewed and clinically examined. The medical data were obtained from the hospital's medical records.

Results:  The mean age of the patients was 73 years (range 59–94 years). A total of 54% suffered from psychotic disorders, 26% from dementia and 20% from mood disorders. The most common oral complaint was xerostomia (45%), followed by dysgeusia (28%), oral malodor (26%), pain when chewing (25%), burning mouth (23%), chewing difficulties (12%) and sialorrhoea (2%). The prevalence of burning mouth, dysgeusia and oral malodor differed significantly among psychiatric diagnoses and was increased in patients with mood disorders. A close association was recorded between burning mouth, dysgeusia, xerostomia and oral malodor complaints. Stepwise logistic regression showed that the use of antidepressants and burning mouth complaints were significantly associated with mood disorders.

Conclusions:  An increased prevalence of oral complaints was recorded in the elderly psychiatric patients with mood disorders. Those patients should be systematically evaluated and managed for oral complaints, and particularly for burning mouth. The close association between burning mouth complaints and mood disorders requires further investigation to clarify the potential diagnostic value of the symptom for mood disorders. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2013; 13: 358–364.
Ocular manifestations of a metastatic adenocarcinoma in a horse
Authors: Matheis Franziska L. , Birkmann Katharina , Ruetten Maja , Pot Simon A. , Spiess Bernhard M.
Published: July 2012

A 10‐year‐old German Warmblood gelding was referred to the Equine Department of the Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Switzerland, for an iris mass OD, lethargy, intermittent fever, and coughing. Ophthalmic examination revealed a 7 × 9 mm raised, fleshy, whitish to pinkish, vascularized iris mass at the 2 o`clock position OD. Fundic examination showed multifocal round, brown to black, slightly raised lesions with indistinct margins and a surrounding hyperreflective zone OU. Physical examination revealed a temperature of 39.2 °C, sinus tachycardia, preputial and ventral edema, and an enlarged right mandibular lymph node. Results of a complete blood count and plasma biochemical profile showed mild anemia, leukocytosis, and thrombocytopenia. Severe splenopathy, moderate splenomegaly, and severe pulmonary pathology with nodules and large areas of consolidated lung parenchyma were observed on abdominal ultrasound and thoracic radiographs, respectively. Fine needle aspirates of the enlarged mandibular lymph node showed malignant epithelial neoplastic cells. The horse was euthanized because of the poor prognosis and subsequently underwent postmortem examination. Macroscopic necropsy and histopathology revealed an adenocarcinoma of suspected pulmonary origin with involvement of eyes, heart, liver, kidneys, spleen, diaphragm, skeletal muscles, mandibular, pulmonary, and internal iliac lymph nodes. Metastatic adenocarcinoma should be considered as a differential diagnosis in horses with iris masses, multifocal chorioretinal infiltrates, and clinical signs that conform to a paraneoplastic syndrome.
The Nocebo Effect of Informed Consent
Authors: Cohen Shlomo
Published: July 2012

The nocebo effect, the mirror‐phenomenon to the placebo effect, is when the expectation of a negative outcome precipitates the corresponding symptom or leads to its exacerbation. One of the basic ethical duties in health care is to obtain informed consent from patients before treatment; however, the disclosure of information regarding potential complications or side effects that this involves may precipitate a nocebo effect. While dilemmas between the principles of respect for patient autonomy and of nonmaleficence are recognized in medical ethics, there has not yet been an ethical discussion focused on the potential dilemma raised by the nocebo effect of informed consent (NEIC). This dilemma is especially pernicious, since it involves a direct causality of harm by the caregiver that is unparalleled by other potential harmful effects of information disclosure. This paper articulates the dilemma of the NEIC and offers a seminal ethical analysis.
INTEGRATING PLANNING, EXECUTION, AND LEARNING TO IMPROVE PLAN EXECUTION
Authors: Jiménez Sergio , Fernández Fernando , Borrajo Daniel
Published: July 2012

Algorithms for planning under uncertainty require accurate action models that explicitly capture the uncertainty of the environment. Unfortunately, obtaining these models is usually complex. In environments with uncertainty, actions may produce countless outcomes and hence, specifying them and their probability is a hard task. As a consequence, when implementing agents with planning capabilities, practitioners frequently opt for architectures that interleave classical planning and execution monitoring following a replanning when failure paradigm. Though this approach is more practical, it may produce fragile plans that need continuous replanning episodes or even worse, that result in execution dead‐ends. In this paper, we propose a new architecture to relieve these shortcomings. The architecture is based on the integration of a relational learning component and the traditional planning and execution monitoring components. The new component allows the architecture to learn probabilistic rules of the success of actions from the execution of plans and to automatically upgrade the planning model with these rules. The upgraded models can be used by any classical planner that handles metric functions or, alternatively, by any probabilistic planner. This architecture proposal is designed to integrate off‐the‐shelf interchangeable planning and learning components so it can profit from the last advances in both fields without modifying the architecture.
GRAVITY AND SPATIAL STRUCTURE: THE CASE OF INTERSTATE MIGRATION IN MEXICO*
Authors: Peeters Ludo
Published: July 2012

ABSTRACTThe estimation of gravity models of internal (aggregate) place‐to‐place migration is plagued with endogeneity (omitted‐variable) biases if the unobserved effects of spatial structure are not accounted for. To address this econometric problem, this paper presents a more general specification of the gravity model, which allows for (bilateral) parameter heterogeneity across individual migration paths—along with (unilateral) origin‐ and destination‐specific effects. The resultant “three‐way fixed‐effects” (3FE) model is applied for an analysis of interstate migration in Mexico based on cross‐sectional data. To overcome parameter‐dimensionality problems (due to limited or incomplete information), the 3FE model is estimated using the Generalized Maximum Entropy (GME) estimator. The empirical implications of this new modeling strategy are illustrated by contrasting the 3FE‐GME estimates with those for the traditional and two‐way fixed‐effects (2FE) models. The former are far more plausible and intuitively interpretable than their traditional and 2FE counterparts, with parameter estimates changing in expected directions. The (average) effect of the migrant stock is markedly smaller than usually estimated, providing a more realistic measure of network‐induced migration. Migration outflows from centrally located origins have significantly steeper distance decay. Path‐specific distance effects exhibit directional asymmetries and spatial similarities.
Nevus oligemicus: a case series
Authors: Batalla A. , Flórez Á. , Posada C. , De la Torre C.
Published: July 2012

Background  Nevus oligemicus is a functional nevus caused by vasoconstriction of the cutaneous deep vascular plexus, and vasodilatation of vessels of the superficial dermis due to abnormal responses of adrenergic receptors. To the best of our knowledge, only 14 cases in 8 articles were reported in the revised indexed literature.

Case report  We present five cases of nevus oligemicus in two males and in three female patients. Common characteristics in all patients were overweight and sedentary habits.

Discussion  Nevus oligemicus is an uncommon condition characterized by livid and cyanotic patches with localized hypothermia as the key‐diagnostic sign. It has been suggested that this entity is probably underdiagnosed, as it is asymptomatic and remains stable in its evolution.
Educational Justice: Closing Gaps or Paying Debts?
Authors: Schouten Gina
Published: July 2012

abstract

The question of our educational obligations to disadvantaged students has typically been conceptualized using the language of achievement gaps: how and to what extent should we ameliorate gaps between students in terms of their attainment of certain valuable outcomes that are correlated with education? Recently, some have argued that the language of achievement gaps is misconceived and problematic, and that we should instead conceptualize our obligations to students as an education debt that is owed to certain disadvantaged students as descendants of historic and structural injustices. Underlying this argument is a deeper conviction that the moral requirement to bring about a fair patterned distribution of educational outcomes is constrained by an obligation to rectify historical injustices. By conceptualizing the issue as a debt, rather than a gap (the argument goes), we can keep the priority of historical obligations squarely on the table. In this article, I defend the conceptual framework of achievement gaps in primary and secondary education by arguing that patterned principles of educational justice are not constrained by any claims and obligations that arise in virtue of historic injustices.
Evidence, models, conservation programs and limits to management
Authors: Nichols J. D.
Published: July 2012

Read the Feature Paper: Unexpected outcomes of invasive predator control: the importance of evaluating conservation management actions

Other Commentaries on this paper: Unexpected outcomes of invasive predator control

Response from the authors: Integrating research, monitoring and management into an adaptive management framework to achieve effective conservation outcomes
An evaluation of the monolingual fallacy in Oman
Authors: Ismail Arfan
Published: July 2012

The monolingual fallacy is defined here as the idea that the teaching of a second language, L2, should entirely be through L2. The paper examines students' and teachers' perceptions of the fallacy at a higher education college in Oman. Foundation and first year students in the undergraduate degree programme (N = 370) together with their teachers (N = 25) were questioned over their perceptions of the use of Arabic, L1, in the English language, L2, classroom. Using Phillipson's concept of linguistic imperialism, LI, as the theoretical foundation, the students' perceptions were analysed. Results suggest a widespread belief in the monolingual fallacy, though this is often due more to elements of a colonised consciousness rather than any set agenda by English speaking nations.
Not wrong, yet not quite right: Spanish ESL students' use of gerundial and infinitival complementation
Authors: Martinez‐Garcia Maria Teresa , Wulff Stefanie
Published: July 2012

This study presents a contrastive analysis of gerundial and infinitival complementation produced by Spanish and German ESL learners and English native speakers. An analysis of more than 1,100 attestations of the target constructions obtained from theInternational Corpus of Learner Englishreveals that (i) advanced learners' construction choices are not necessarily ungrammatical, yet often non‐idiomatic, and (ii) German learners are overall more attuned to native‐like choices than Spanish learners. A preliminary case study suggests that Spanish ESL teaching materials may benefit from incorporating results of corpus‐based analyses of authentic language such as the present one. The present study seeks to close the gap between learner language research and ESL teaching materials, and to raise awareness about the gradual nature of second language proficiency.

Este estudio presenta un análisis contrastivo del uso de completivas de gerundio e infinitivo producidas por parte de estudiantes españoles y alemanes de inglés como lengua extranjera, así como hablantes nativos de esta lengua. Un análisis de más de 1.100 ejemplos de las estructuras estudiadas obtenidos a partir del Corpus Internacional de Estudiantes de Inglés revela que (i) las construcciones utilizadas por los estudiantes más avanzados no son necesariamente agramaticales, aunque a menudo no sean idiomáticas, y (ii) los estudiantes alemanes son, en general, más sensibles a las opciones nativas que los estudiantes españoles. Un estudio preliminar sugiere que los materiales didácticos para la enseñanza de inglés para los hablantes nativos de español podrían beneficiarse de los resultados obtenidos mediante el análisis de la lengua en uso que se encuentra en un corpus, como el actual. El presente artículo tiene por objeto cerrar la brecha entre la investigación de la lengua empleada por los estudiantes y los materiales didácticos para la enseñanza de inglés como lengua extranjera, y así crear conciencia sobre el carácter gradual del aprendizaje de una segunda lengua.