bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identification of quantitative trait loci affecting resistance to gastrointestinal parasites in a double backcross population of Red Maasai and Dorper sheep
Authors: Silva M. V. B. , Sonstegard T. S. , Hanotte O. , Mugambi J. M. , Garcia J. F. , Nagda S. , Gibson J. P. , Iraqi F. A. , McClintock A. E. , Kemp S. J. , Boettcher P. J. , Malek M. , Van Tassell C. P. , Baker R. L.
Published: April 2011

A genome‐wide scan for quantitative trait loci (QTL) affecting gastrointestinal nematode resistance in sheep was completed using a double backcross population derived from Red Maasai and Dorper ewes bred to F1 rams. This design provided an opportunity to map potentially unique genetic variation associated with a parasite‐tolerant breed like Red Maasai, a breed developed to survive East African grazing conditions. Parasite indicator phenotypes (blood packed cell volume – PCV and faecal egg count – FEC) were collected on a weekly basis from 1064 lambs during a single 3‐month post‐weaning grazing challenge on infected pastures. The averages of last measurements for FEC (AVFEC) and PCV (AVPCV), along with decline in PCV from challenge start to end (PCVD), were used to select lambs (N = 371) for genotyping that represented the tails (10% threshold) of the phenotypic distributions. Marker genotypes for 172 microsatellite loci covering 25 of 26 autosomes (1560.7 cm) were scored and corrected by Genoprob prior to qxpak analysis that included Box–Cox transformed AVFEC and arcsine transformed PCV statistics. Significant QTL for AVFEC and AVPCV were detected on four chromosomes, and this included a novel AVFEC QTL on chromosome 6 that would have remained undetected without Box–Cox transformation methods. The most significant P‐values for AVFEC, AVPCV and PCVD overlapped the same marker interval on chromosome 22, suggesting the potential for a single causative mutation, which remains unknown. In all cases, the favourable QTL allele was always contributed from Red Maasai, providing support for the idea that future marker‐assisted selection for genetic improvement of production in East Africa will rely on markers in linkage disequilibrium with these QTL.
Scuba diving is possible and safe for patients with haemophilia
Authors: SCHVED J. F. , DE HARO M. , DRAPEAU M. , SCHVED M.
Published: April 2011

Summary.  For a long time, physical activities have been contraindicated in haemophiliacs or were restricted to few activities. Sports are nowadays advocated for haemophiliacs. Although various lists of physical activities have been proposed, scuba diving is never mentioned. Thus, with a group of haemophilic volunteers, a study was launched on whether, with strict medical follow‐up, scuba diving could be allowed for patients with haemophilia. All the participants followed a training program including theory and assessment. In 6 years, a total of 517 dives were performed by 20 patients with congenital bleeding disorders. Nine were under prophylaxis for haemophilia, and nine received on‐demand treatment. Two patients had type I von Willebrand’s disease. Among the 20 patients, 12 made 12–153 dives, whereas six made eight dives each. No incident was noted during or after the dives. Thus, scuba diving can be authorized for PWH, if they have none of the specific medical contraindications for diving and if they have received medical training allowing them to manage their disease themselves.
Clinical pharmacological study of a plasma‐derived factor VIIa and factor X mixture (MC710) in haemophilia patients with inhibitors – Phase I trial
Authors: SHIRAHATA A. , FUKUTAKE K. , MIMAYA J. , TAKAMATSU J. , SHIMA M. , HANABUSA H. , TAKEDANI H. , TAKASHIMA Y. , MATSUSHITA T. , TAWA A. , HIGASA S. , TAKATA N. , SAKAI M. , KAWAKAMI K. , OHASHI Y. , SAITO H.
Published: April 2011

Summary.  MC710, a combined product of plasma‐derived activated factor VII (FVIIa) and factor X (FX) at a protein weight ratio of 1:10, is a novel bypassing agent for haemostasis in haemophilia patients with inhibitors. In this study, pharmacokinetic (PK), pharmacodynamic (PD) parameters and safety of single doses of MC710 were investigated in 11 male haemophilia patients with inhibitors in a non‐bleeding state. This was a multi‐centre, open‐labelled, non‐randomized, active controlled crossover, dose‐escalation study of five doses (20–120 μg kg−1 of FVIIa) with re‐administration of different MC710 dosages to the same subjects. The active controls were NovoSeven (120 μg kg−1) and/or FEIBA (50 and 75 U kg−1) which were used to compare PD parameters. The area under the curve (AUC) and maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) of MC710 active ingredients increased dose‐dependently within the range of 20 and 120 μg kg−1. After administration of MC710, activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) was dose‐dependently improved and prothrombin time (PT) was shortened to approximately 6 s at 10 min, and APTT improvement and PT shortening effects were maintained until 12 h after administration of MC710 at all doses. No serious or severe adverse event was observed after administration of MC710; furthermore, several diagnostic marker values and those changes did not indicate any signs of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). These results suggest that MC710 would have haemostatic potential equal to or greater than NovoSeven and FEIBA and was be tolerable when given at doses up to 120 μg kg−1.
Quality of end‐of‐life care for non‐cancer patients in a non‐acute hospital
Authors: Woo Jean , Lo Raymond , Cheng Joanna OY , Wong Florens , Mak Benise
Published: April 2011

Aims and objectives.  Few surveys have been carried out documenting the quality of life for non‐cancer patients in general district hospitals reaching the final trajectory towards death. We carried out a survey of 80 patients facing the final stages of their chronic illness as well as their carers and hospital staff.

Background.  With increasing life expectancy, a large majority of patients are older, where palliative care principles for patients with cancer are equally applicable. Few surveys have been carried out documenting the quality of life for non‐cancer patients in general district hospitals reaching the final trajectory towards death in terms of patients’ and carers’ perspective, compared with the more extensive literature for patients with cancer.

Design.  Survey.

Methods.  Assessment tools include symptom check list, geriatric depression scale, Chinese Death Anxiety Inventory and the McGill Quality of Life Questionnaire for patients; SF‐12 and the Chinese cost of care index for informal carers; and the Chinese Maslach Bumout and Death Anxiety Inventories for hospital staff.

Results.  Lower‐limb weakness (92·5%), fatigue (86·2%), oedema (85%), dysphagia (58·2%) and pain (48·8%) were the most common symptoms in this group of patients. The mean Chinese Caregiver Stress Index score was 45·93 (SD 6·45) (maximum score = 80). For staff, the mean SF‐12 physical component score was lower than the Hong Kong population average.

Conclusion.  The findings suggest that there is room for improvement in the quality of end‐of‐life care.

Relevance to clinical practice.  Patients in the final stages of many chronic illnesses have high prevalence of symptoms comparable to those of patients with cancer. Raising awareness and improving training for all health care professionals, formulating guidelines and care pathways and incorporating quality of care as key performance indicators are measures to improve the quality of end‐of‐life care.
Phase analysis identifies compound heterozygous deletions of the PARK2 gene in patients with early‐onset Parkinson disease
Authors: Kim S Y , Seong M W , Jeon B S , Kim S Y , Ko H S , Kim J Y , Park S S
Published: April 2011

Kim SY, Seong MW, Jeon BS, Kim SY, Ko HS, Kim JY, Park SS. Phase analysis identifies compound heterozygous deletions of the PARK2 gene in patients with early‐onset Parkinson disease.

Exon rearrangements and point mutations are common in PARK2, the most important causative gene of autosomal recessive early‐onset Parkinson disease (EOPD). However, gene dosage analysis alone cannot conclusively determine the phase of exon rearrangements and the incidence of molecularly confirmed parkin‐type EOPD may be underestimated. To fully characterize the mutation spectrum, we performed sequencing and gene dosage analyses of SNCA, PARK2, PINK1, and PARK7 in 114 unrelated EOPD patients with onset age ≤40 years. Mutational phase of exon rearrangements was determined by reverse‐transcriptase PCR (RT‐PCR) and sequence analysis using a patient's own RNA. Fourteen different PARK2 mutations (3 point mutations plus 11 exon rearrangements) were identified in 18 patients, comprising 1 homozygote (0.9%), 13 compound heterozygotes (11.4%), 3 single heterozygotes (2.6%), and 1 with unknown phase (0.9%). By phase determination, more than 80% (5 of 6) of patients with apparently contiguous multi‐exon deletions and 30% (5 of 18) of all PARK2 mutation carriers were additionally diagnosed as compound heterozygotes, respectively. This study shows that compound heterozygous mutations constituted a significant portion of patients with apparently contiguous multi‐exon deletions. Phase determination is a prerequisite to molecular diagnosis for autosomal recessive EOPD, especially in subjects with PARK2 exon rearrangements.
Xenotransplantation: from the lab to the clinic
Authors: Schuurman Henk‐Jan
Published: April 2011

Schuurman H‐J. Xenotransplantation: from the lab to the clinic. Clin Transplant 2011: 25: E415–E421. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

Abstract:  This manuscript presents a summary of the Symposium “Xenotransplantation, from the Lab to the Clinic,” held at the XXIII International Congress of The Transplantation Society, August 2010. This Symposium was timely in view of recent developments in translational research in the field, and the initiation of clinical trials after a thorough review by regulatory authorities and scientific experts. Three experts presented an update on the status of preclinical research with the perspective of moving forward to clinical trials; first data from clinical trials using encapsulated porcine islet cells; and the regulatory aspects for clinical application of a xenotransplantation product.
Prevalence of post‐traumatic stress disorder among children and adolescents who survive road traffic crashes: A systematic review of the international literature
Authors: Mehta Suneela , Ameratunga Shanthi N
Published: April 2011

While road traffic crashes are known to have a significant impact in terms of deaths and hospitalisations, quantifying the burden of psychological sequelae is more challenging. This systematic review critically evaluates published studies designed to estimate the prevalence of post‐traumatic stress disorder among children and adolescents who have survived a road crash. Most studies have focused on injured school‐aged children and adolescents, and estimate the occurrence of this condition to be between 12% and 46% in the first 4 months following crash involvement and between 13% and 25% 4–12 months following the crash. The relatively high prevalence of post‐traumatic stress disorder following one of the commonest causes of injury underscores the need for greater vigilance and active management to mitigate the adverse consequences on the health and development of young crash survivors. The findings also emphasise the important role that child health professionals must play in promoting strategies that prevent road traffic crashes.
ROLE OF NARROW BAND IMAGING IN BARRETT'S ESOPHAGUS
Authors: SINGH RAJVINDER , NORDEEN NAZREE , SHANMUGANATHAN GANESANATHAN , THURAIRAJAH PREM HARICHANDER , BHAT YASSER MAQBOOL
Published: April 2011

The present recommended strategy for detection of dysplasia and cancer in Barrett's esophagus is by randomly carrying out four quadrant biopsies every 2 cm. This approach is however prone to sampling error. Narrow band imaging has been routinely available for clinical use for more than half a decade now. This review will focus on the available data to date on the role of narrow band imaging in the detection and characterization of specialized intestinal metaplasia, high grade dysplasia and intramucosal cancer in Barrett's esophagus.
WEST MEETS EAST: PRELIMINARY RESULTS OF NARROW BAND IMAGING WITH OPTICAL MAGNIFICATION IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF COLORECTAL LESIONS: A MULTICENTER AUSTRALIAN STUDY USING THE MODIFIED SANO'S CLASSIFICATION
Authors: SINGH RAJVINDER , NORDEEN NAZREE , CHEN YI MEI SWEE LIN , KAFFES ARTHUR , TAM WILLIAM , SAITO YUTAKA
Published: April 2011

Introduction:  Narrow band imaging with optical magnification (NBI‐Z) enables mucosal morphology to be assessed in real time by using light with narrowed band width and magnification of up to 115×.

Methods:  Colorectal lesions detected were assessed with NBI‐Z. Histology was predicted using the modified Sano's classification based on capillary network patterns (cn); type I: absent cn (hyperplastic polyp), type II: cn present, surrounding mucosal glands (adenoma), type IIIa: high density cn with tortuosity and lack of uniformity (intramucosal cancer) and type IIIb: nearly avascular cn (invasive cancer). Each lesion was also graded with a confidence level (low/high). High‐definition videos (mean 28.2 s; range 12–55) of each lesion assessed with NBI‐Z were then taken. This was followed by polypectomy, endoscopic or surgical resection. NBI‐Z diagnosis was compared with the final histopathology. To test for interobserver agreement, an endoscopist blinded to the video acquisition process/histology was invited to grade the videos.

Results:  A total of 50 lesions (2 assessors: 100 studies), with an average size of 8.4 mm (range 3–30), in 32 patients were assessed. Twenty were hyperplastic, 25 adenomas, 2 intramucosal and 3 invasive cancers of which 19 were located in the right and 31 in the left colon. The overall accuracy of NBI‐Z in predicting histology was 90%, which increased to 95% (88/93) when lesions were predicted with high confidence. The sensitivity (Sn), specificity (Sp), positive (PPV) and negative predictive values (NPV) in differentiating neoplastic from non‐neoplastic lesions with high confidence were 98%, 89%, 93% and 97%, respectively, while the Sn, Sp, PPV and NPV in predicting endoscopic resectability (type II, IIIa vs type I, IIIb) was 100%, 90%, 93% and 100%, respectively. The interobserver agreement between both assessors (κ value) was substantial at 0.89.

Conclusions:  Using confidence levels, NBI‐Z permits prediction of colorectal neoplasia with high accuracies and might allow prompt decisions to be made if a lesion should be left in situ, resected and discarded or biopsied. This approach might lead to substantial time and cost savings and could potentially reduce complications associated with polypectomy and endoscopic resections.
ENDOSCOPIC FINDINGS UNDER NARROW BAND IMAGING COLONOSCOPY IN ULCERATIVE COLITIS
Authors: ESAKI MOTOHIRO , KUBOKURA NAOYA , KUDO TETSUJI , MATSUMOTO TAKAYUKI
Published: April 2011

Narrow band imaging (NBI) depicts distinct intramucosal vascular network and pit pattern without any use of dye technique. It is thus suggested that NBI can be used for the assessment of severity in inflammatory bowel diseases, especially in ulcerative colitis (UC). In the active UC, NBI colonoscopy depicts friability as a black area. In the inflamed granular mucosa, crypt openings and villous structure become evident through the procedure. In the inactive UC, there are two types of mucosal vascular pattern; one being composed of deep, green vessels and superficial, black vessels, and the other lacking in superficial vessels. With used of a magnifying instrument, the mildly active mucosa can be classified into the mucosa with obvious crypt openings and that with villous structure. Mucosal vascular pattern in the inactive mucosa is shown as a honeycomb‐like structure or irregular, tortuous structure under magnifying NBI observation. Furthermore, such NBI findings show close correlations with histologic findings including crypt distortion, goblet cell depletion and basal plasmacytosis. Therefore, NBI colonoscopy might be of value for the precise assessment of histologic severity in mildly active and inactive UC.
THE CLINICAL EFFICACY AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVE OF NARROW BAND IMAGING FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF COLORECTAL NEOPLASM
Authors: CHIU HAN‐MO , WANG HSIU‐PO , WU MING‐SHIANG , LIN JAW‐TOWN
Published: April 2011

Growing body of evidences have shown that narrow band imaging (NBI) can be the adjunct tool of colonoscopy for real time or optical histological assessment with high accuracy and largely replaces the role of chromoendoscopy. In spite of the advantages, there are still several issues that remain to be elucidated: detectability of neoplastic lesions, diagnosis of malignant transformation, evaluation of invasion depth for cancerous lesion, morphological diagnosis and interobserver agreement. Endoscopists should be aware of the advantage, current evidence and the limitation of narrow band imaging and apply it appropriately for their clinical practice.
THE USEFULNESS OF NBI MAGNIFICATION ON DIAGNOSIS OF SUPERFICIAL ESOPHAGEAL SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA
Authors: KAWAHARA YOSHIRO , UEDO NORIYA , FUJISHIRO MITSUHIRO , GODA KEN‐ICHI , HIRASAWA DAI , LEE JUN HAENG , MIYAHARA RYOJI , MORITA YOSHINORI , SINGH RAJVINDER , TAKEUCHI MANABU , WANG SHUFANG , YAO TAKASHI
Published: April 2011

Reported herein is the case of a 80‐year‐old man who had small squamous cell carcinoma in the esophagus. The lesion was initially detected as a irregular reddish elevated and flat area depicted by non‐magnified white light endoscopy and observed as a brownish area with the narrow‐band imaging system (NBI).

The depth of elevated and depressed area in the lesion was predicted to be LSM to MM due to Inoue's classification of morphologic change of intrapapillary capillary loop (IPCL) under magnified NBI observation. The depth of another flat area was not able to predicted by Inoue's classification, and we used Arima's classification. We predicted the depth of invasion to be MM to SM1.by this classification. Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) was carried out for the lesion. As a result, the endoscopic diagnosis completely accorded with pathological diagnosis. We could diagnose correctly by adding Arima's classification to Inoue's classification.
LATE BLEEDING AFTER EUS‐GUIDED TRANSJEJUNAL DRAINAGE OF A PANCREATIC PSEUDOCYST IN A ROUX‐EN‐Y PATIENT
Authors: ITOI TAKAO , ITOKAWA FUMIHIDE , SOFUNI ATSUSHI , UMEDA JUNKO , TSUCHIYA TAKAYOSHI
Published: April 2011

Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS)‐guided transgastric and transduodenal drainage of a pancreatic pseudocyst (PP) has become a standard and safe procedure for nonsurgical treatment. However, there are only four reports on transjejunal drainage of PP in a patient with or without altered anatomy. Herein, we report a case of EUS‐guided transjejunal PP drainage in a patient with previous Roux‐en‐Y reconstruction. A 58‐year‐old man, who had previously undergone total gastrectomy with Roux‐en‐Y, was admitted to another hospital because of fever, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. Computed tomography showed a 22 cm PP. Then, EUS‐guided transjejunal PP drainage was carried out. Twenty‐three days after the procedure and 3 days after the patient started eating, the hematemesis was seen. Emergency endoscopy showed bleeding around a transjejunal fistula. A 6‐Fr nasocystic catheter was placed into the cyst again for lavage and hemostasis as tamponade. After 1 more month, a computed tomography scan showed complete resolution of the PP with the stent still in place.
CURRENT ROLE OF RADIAL AND CURVED‐LINEAR ARRAYED EUS SCOPES FOR DIAGNOSIS OF PANCREATIC ABNORMALITIES IN JAPAN
Authors: IRISAWA ATSUSHI
Published: April 2011

To elucidate the current status of radial and curved‐linear arrayed endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS), the author conducted a survey using a questionnaire at different institutions to assess the following. 1. Number of EUS procedures conducted annually for pancreatic malignancies. 2. Role of radial arrayed EUS for pancreatic abnormalities. 3. Role of curved‐linear arrayed EUS for pancreatic abnormalities. 4. Indication of EUS‐guided fine‐needle aspiration biopsy (EUS‐FNA) for pancreatic abnormalities. 5. Percentage of EUS‐FNA among the cases carried out with EUS for pancreatic abnormalities. 6. Experience of EUS with contrast harmonic echo for pancreatic malignancies and its indications. 7. Experience of elastography on EUS for pancreatic abnormalities. In Japan, although usage of curved‐linear arrayed EUS has become popular for both EUS‐FNA and for screening, radial EUS is widely used for diagnosing pancreatic abnormalities. Endosonographers must understand the respective advantages and disadvantages of EUS devices and carry out EUS procedures appropriately.
A global census of nitrogenase diversity
Authors: Gaby John Christian , Buckley Daniel H.
Published: April 2011

The global diversity of nitrogen‐fixing microorganisms was assessed through construction and analysis of an aligned database of 16 989 nifH sequences. We conclude that the diversity of diazotrophs is still poorly described and that many organisms remain to be discovered. Our analyses indicate that diversity is not distributed evenly across phylogenetic groups or across environments and that some of the most diverse assemblages and environments remain the most poorly characterized. The majority of OTUs were rare, falling in the long tail of the frequency distribution. The most dominant OTUs fell into either the Cyanobacteria or the α, β, and γ Proteobacteria, and five of these dominant OTUs do not have any representatives cultivated in isolation. Soils contained the greatest diversity of nifH sequences of all of the environments surveyed. Cluster III, which is dominated by nifH sequences from obligate anaerobes, was found to contain the greatest diversity of all nifH lineages and is also the group for which diversity is the least sampled. Our findings provide context for ongoing efforts to explore diazotroph diversity, indicating specific groups and environments that remain poorly characterized.
The effects of image‐based concept mapping on the learning outcomes and cognitive processes of mobile learners
Authors: Yen Jung‐Chuan , Lee Chun‐Yi , Chen I‐Jung
Published: April 2011

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of different teaching strategies (text‐based concept mapping vs. image‐based concept mapping) on the learning outcomes and cognitive processes of mobile learners. Eighty‐six college freshmen enrolled in the “Local Area Network Planning and Implementation” course taught by the first author participated in the research. This study randomly selected one class as the experimental group and the other as the control group. Students in the experimental group used image‐based concept mapping to finish assigned tasks and those in the control group used text‐based concept mapping to complete the same tasks. Quantitative analysis combined with qualitative analysis was used to examine the learning outcomes and cognitive levels of the students, as defined by the revised Bloom's taxonomy. The results showed that (1) there was no significant difference in students' learning achievements, (2) the group using image‐based concept mapping showed higher level than the text‐based group in the dimension of understanding and creating and (3) the image‐based concept mapping strategy was more complete and diverse than the text‐based concept mapping strategy.

Practitioner notes

What is already known about this topic

Concept mapping is one of the famous chart‐based learning strategies to enable formalization and analysis of the process of learning in science education.

The dual coding predicts that if pupils are offered the same conceptual material in a concept map format, versus a more normal, non‐graphic format, the concept mapping approach would lead to better memorization of the material.

Many concept mapping studies indicated that students who study from concept maps have better learning performance in comparison to students who study isomorphic text representations.

What this paper adds

This study attempts to use image‐based concept mapping as a novel mobile learning teaching strategy to conquer the problems of fragmented and scattered knowledge structures in e‐learners.

This study investigated the effects of different teaching strategies (text‐based concept mapping vs. image‐based concept mapping) on the learning outcomes of mobile learners.

This study was examined the effects of different teaching strategies (text‐based concept mapping vs. image‐based concept mapping) on the cognitive processes of mobile learners.

Implications for practice and/or policy

Students in the group using image‐based concept mapping performed better than the group using text‐based concept mapping on the cognitive level of understanding and creating.

Learners in the group using image‐based concept mapping exhibited more complete and diverse map structures than those in the group using text‐based concept mapping.

The teaching strategy of image‐based concept mapping could potentially assist students in learning meaningfully in the context of mobile learning
Life satisfaction among rural Chinese grandparents: the roles of intergenerational family relationship and support exchange with grandchildren
Authors: Xu Ling , Chi Iris
Published: April 2011

Xu L, Chi I. Life satisfaction among rural Chinese grandparents: the roles of intergenerational family relationship and support exchange with grandchildren

Int J Soc Welfare 2011: 20: S148–S159 © 2011 The Author(s), International Journal of Social Welfare © 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd and the International Journal of Social Welfare.

In this study, we examined how the life satisfaction of rural Chinese grandparents is affected by their intergenerational family relationship and support exchange with grandchildren. The study sample consisted of 9,704 grandparents aged 60 and older from the 2000 “Sample Survey on Aged Population in Urban/Rural China.” Demographic variables, including health variables, support exchange with children, intergenerational family relationship, and support exchange with grandchildren, were entered hierarchically into four regression models to examine the effects of these variables on grandparents' life satisfaction. Results showed that rural grandparents who perceive their children as filial or their family as harmonious, or who receive instrumental support as well as less monetary support from their grandchildren, are more likely to have higher levels of life satisfaction. In addition, rural grandparents who are older, experience lower levels of financial strain, have better health, provide instrumental support to children, and receive greater monetary support from their children, are more likely to report higher levels of life satisfaction.
Dopamine release from serotonergic nerve fibers is reduced in L‐DOPA‐induced dyskinesia
Authors: Nevalainen Nina , af Bjerkén Sara , Lundblad Martin , Gerhardt Greg A. , Strömberg Ingrid
Published: April 2011

J. Neurochem. (2011) 10.1111/j.1471‐4159.2011.07292.x

l‐DOPA is the most commonly used treatment for symptomatic control in patients with Parkinson’s disease. Unfortunately, most patients develop severe side‐effects, such as dyskinesia, upon chronic l‐DOPA treatment. The patophysiology of dyskinesia is unclear; however, involvement of serotonergic nerve fibers in converting l‐DOPA to dopamine has been suggested. Therefore, potassium‐evoked dopamine release was studied after local application of l‐DOPA in the striata of normal, dopamine‐ and dopamine/serotonin‐lesioned l‐DOPA naïve, and dopamine‐denervated chronically l‐DOPA‐treated dyskinetic rats using in vivo chronoamperometry. The results revealed that local l‐DOPA administration into normal and intact hemisphere of dopamine‐lesioned l‐DOPA naïve animals significantly increased the potassium‐evoked dopamine release. l‐DOPA application also increased the dopamine peak amplitude in the dopamine‐depleted l‐DOPA naïve striatum, although these dopamine levels were several‐folds lower than in the normal striatum, whereas no increased dopamine release was found in the dopamine/serotonin‐denervated striatum. In dyskinetic animals, local l‐DOPA application did not affect the dopamine release, resulting in significantly attenuated dopamine levels compared with those measured in l‐DOPA naïve dopamine‐denervated striatum. To conclude, l‐DOPA is most likely converted to dopamine in serotonergic nerve fibers in the dopamine‐depleted striatum, but the dopamine release is several‐fold lower than in normal striatum. Furthermore, l‐DOPA loading does not increase the dopamine release in dyskinetic animals as found in l‐DOPA naïve animals, despite similar density of serotonergic innervation. Thus, the dopamine overflow produced from the serotonergic nerve fibers appears not to be the major cause of dyskinetic behavior.
Microdialysis and mass spectrometric monitoring of dopamine and enkephalins in the globus pallidus reveal reciprocal interactions that regulate movement
Authors: Mabrouk Omar S. , Li Qiang , Song Peng , Kennedy Robert T.
Published: April 2011

J. Neurochem. (2011) 10.1111/j.1471‐4159.2011.07293.x

Pallidal dopamine, GABA and the endogenous opioid peptides enkephalins have independently been shown to be important controllers of sensorimotor processes. Using in vivo microdialysis coupled to liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry and a behavioral assay, we explored the interaction between these three neurotransmitters in the rat globus pallidus. Amphetamine (3 mg/kg i.p.) evoked an increase in dopamine, GABA and methionine/leucine enkephalin. Local perfusion of the dopamine D1 receptor antagonist SCH 23390 (100 μM) fully prevented amphetamine stimulated enkephalin and GABA release in the globus pallidus and greatly suppressed hyperlocomotion. In contrast, the dopamine D2 receptor antagonist raclopride (100 μM) had only minimal effects suggesting a greater role for pallidal D1 over D2 receptors in the regulation of movement. Under basal conditions, opioid receptor blockade by naloxone perfusion (10 μM) in the globus pallidus stimulated GABA and inhibited dopamine release. Amphetamine‐stimulated dopamine release and locomotor activation were attenuated by naloxone perfusion with no effect on GABA. These findings demonstrate a functional relationship between pallidal dopamine, GABA and enkephalin systems in the control of locomotor behavior under basal and stimulated conditions. Moreover, these findings demonstrate the usefulness of liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry as an analytical tool when coupled to in vivo microdialysis.
Improved safety for young whole blood donors with new selection criteria for total estimated blood volume
Authors: Eder Anne F. , Dy Beth A. , Kennedy Jean M. , Perez Jaime , Demaris Patricia , Procaccio Anthony , Benjamin Richard J.
Published: April 2011

BACKGROUND: Young age, first‐time donation status, and estimated blood volume (EBV) are leading determinants of syncopal complications after whole blood donation. We evaluated a multifaceted safety initiative and more restrictive selection criteria for whole blood donation by individuals younger than 19 years.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Measures introduced over 2 years addressed donor education, drive environment and supervision, and new eligibility criteria for EBV of 3.5 L or more based on height, weight, and sex for individuals younger than 19 years. Presyncopal and syncopal reactions after whole blood donation during the school year in the baseline, transitional (2008), and full implementation (2009) periods were evaluated.

RESULTS: Young donors (16‐ to 18‐years‐olds) gave 754,402 and 710,922 whole blood donations in the 2008 and 2009 school years accounting for 16% of the total collections in both 9‐month study periods. The new selection criteria were associated with a significant reduction in the reaction rates among 16‐ to 18‐year‐olds. Sixteen‐year‐old donors had the greatest decrease in 2009 compared to baseline for presyncopal reactions (10.5% vs. 7.3%; odds ratio [OR], 0.67; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.65‐0.69) and syncope (43.1 vs. 37.1 per 10,000 donations; OR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.77‐0.96). Donor subgroup analysis by sex, age, and donation status demonstrated that age‐related differences in reaction rates were eliminated in 2009.

CONCLUSION: The safety initiative with new selection criteria for EBV led to decreased complications among donors 16 to 18 years old, such that the risk for 16‐year‐olds was no longer different from that observed for 19‐year‐olds in the analysis stratified by age, sex, and donation status.
Gyrodiniellum shiwhaense n. gen., n. sp., A New Planktonic Heterotrophic Dinoflagellate from the Coastal Waters of Western Korea: Morphology and Ribosomal DNA Gene Sequence
Authors: KANG NAM SEON , JEONG HAE JIN , MOESTRUP ØJVIND , PARK TAE GYU
Published: April 2011

ABSTRACT. The heterotrophic dinoflagellate Gyrodiniellum shiwhaense n. gen., n. sp. is described from live cells and from cells prepared for light, scanning electron, and transmission electron microscopy. Also, sequences of the small subunit (SSU) and large subunit (LSU) of rDNA have been analyzed. The episome is conical, while the hyposome is ellipsoid. Cells are covered with polygonal amphiesmal vesicles arranged in 16 horizontal rows. Unlike other Gyrodinium‐like dinoflagellates, the apical end of the cell shows a loop‐shaped row of five elongate amphiesmal vesicles. The cingulum is displaced by 0.3–0.5 × cell length. Cells that were feeding on the dinoflagellate Amphidinium carterae Hulburt were 9.1–21.6 μm long and 6.6–15.7 μm wide. Cells of G. shiwhaense contain nematocysts, trichocysts, a peduncle, and pusule systems, but they lack chloroplasts. The SSU rDNA sequence is >3% different from that of the six most closely related species: Warnowia sp. (FJ947040), Lepidodinium viride Watanabe, Suda, Inouye, Sawaguchi & Chihara, Gymnodinium aureolum (Hulburt) Hansen, Gymnodinium catenatum Graham, Nematodinium sp. (FJ947039), and Gymnodinium sp. MUCC284 (AF022196), while the LSU rDNA is 11–12% different from that of Warnowia sp., G. aureolum, and Nematodinium sp. (FJ947041). The phylogenetic trees show that the species belongs in the Gymnodinium sensu stricto clade. However, in contrast to Gymnodinium spp., cells lack nuclear envelope chambers and a nuclear fibrous connective. Unlike Polykrikos spp., cells of which possess a taeniocyst–nematocyst complex, G. shiwhaense has nematocysts but lacks taeniocysts. It differs from Paragymnodinium shiwhaense Kang, Jeong, Moestrup & Shin by possessing nematocysts with stylets and filaments. Gyrodiniellum shiwhaense n. gen., n. sp. furthermore lacks ocelloids, in contrast to Warnowia spp., Nematodinium spp., and Proterythropsis spp. Based on morphological and molecular data, we suggest that the taxon represents a new species within a new genus.
Increased perinatal intracranial pressure and brainstem dysfunction predict early puberty in boys with myelomeningocele
Authors: Proos Lemm A , Tuvemo Torsten , Ahlsten Gunnar , Gustafsson Jan , Dahl Margareta
Published: April 2011

Background: Children with myelomeningocele (MMC) run an increased risk of developing early or precocious puberty (E/PP).

Aim: To identify risk factors for E/PP in boys with MMC.

Methods: Boys born between 1970 and 1992, treated for MMC at the University Children’s Hospital, Uppsala, were identified. Thirty‐eight boys were eligible to be included. Medical records were examined retrospectively. Early puberty was defined as pubertal signs before the age of 10 years and 2 months. Precocious puberty was defined as the appearance of these signs before 9 years of age. Increased intracranial pressure perinatally was defined as wide sutures, bulging fontanelles and increased/increasing head circumference at birth and/or during the first week after birth. Early brainstem dysfunction was defined as severe and persistent feeding and respiratory problems before the age of 3 months despite proper control of the hydrocephalus.

Results: Of the 38 boys, 8 (21%) had E/PP, which was strongly associated with increased intracranial pressure perinatally and also with early brainstem dysfunction. Multivariate regression analysis showed early brainstem dysfunction to have the highest explanatory value regarding the occurrence of early puberty.

Conclusion: Increased intracranial pressure perinatally and brainstem dysfunction early in life are strong predictors of E/PP in boys with MMC.
And Justice for All: Our Research Participants Considered as Valued Stakeholders
Authors: Wright Thomas A.
Published: April 2011

Management scholars have suggested that our research is lacking in both relevance and meaning. In this article, I argue that a primary reason for this lack of relevance and meaning is the failure of our research to be responsive to all potential research stakeholders. Adopting the committed-to-participant research perspective, I offer suggestions for how both journal editors and organizational researchers can meaningfully include our research participants as valued stakeholders of the research process.
Climbing the Higher Mountain: The Challenges of Multilevel, Multisource, and Longitudinal Research Designs
Authors: Kulik Carol T.
Published: April 2011

Management researchers are being encouraged to collect multilevel, multisource, and longitudinal (MML) data. In this essay, I identify the barriers that researchers might encounter in gaining university ethics committee approval for MML designs and the challenges researchers face when conducting MML research in organizations. I offer suggestions to overcome these challenges. I further discuss some long-term consequences of MML designs for researchers' relationships with organizations and the progress of the management field as a whole.
Neocortex in early mammals and its subsequent variations
Authors: Kaas Jon H.
Published: April 2011

Neocortex is an important part of the mammalian brain that is quite different from its homologue of the dorsal cortex in the reptilian brain. Whereas dorsal cortex is small, thin, and composed of a single layer of neurons, neocortex is thick and has six layers, while being variable across species in size, number of functional areas, and architectonic differentiation. Early mammals had little neocortex, with perhaps 20 areas of poor structural differentiation. Many extant mammals continue to have small brains with little neocortex, but they often have sensory specializations reflected in the organization of sensory areas in neocortex. In primates, neocortex is variously enlarged and characterized by structural and other specializations, including those of cortical networks devoted to vision and visuomotor processing. In humans, neocortex occupies 80% of the volume of the brain, where as many as 200 areas may exist.
Significance of the insula for the evolution of human awareness of feelings from the body
Authors: (Bud) Craig A. D.
Published: April 2011

An ascending sensory pathway that underlies feelings from the body, such as cooling or toothache, terminates in the posterior insula. Considerable evidence suggests that this activity is rerepresented and integrated first in the mid‐insula and then in the anterior insula. Activation in the anterior insula correlates directly with subjective feelings from the body and, strikingly, with all emotional feelings. These findings appear to signify a posterior‐to‐anterior sequence of increasingly homeostatically efficient representations that integrate all salient neural activity, culminating in network nodes in the right and left anterior insulae that may be organized asymmetrically in an opponent fashion. The anterior insula has appropriate characteristics to support the proposal that it engenders a cinemascopic model of human awareness and subjectivity. This review presents the author's views regarding the principles of organization of this system and discusses a possible sequence for its evolution, as well as particular issues of historical interest.
Manatee vibrissae: evidence for a “lateral line” function
Authors: Reep Roger L. , Gaspard Joseph C. , Sarko Diana , Rice Frank L. , Mann David A. , Bauer Gordon B.
Published: April 2011

Aquatic mammals use vibrissae to detect hydrodynamic stimuli over a range from 5 to 150 Hz, similar to the range detected by lateral line systems in fishes and amphibians. Manatees possess ∼5,300 vibrissae distributed over the body, innervated by ∼209,000 axons. This extensive innervation devoted to vibrissae follicles is reflected in enlarged, elaborate somatosensory regions of the gracile, cuneate, and Bischoff's brain‐stem nuclei, ventrobasal thalamus, and presumptive somatosensory cortex. Our preliminary psychophysical testing indicates that in Florida and Antillean manatees the Weber fraction for detection thresholds for grating textures ranges from 0.025 to 0.14. At the lower end of this range, sensitivity is comparable to human index finger thresholds. For hydrodynamic stimuli of 5–150 Hz, detection threshold levels for manatees using facial or postfacial vibrissae were substantially lower than those reported for harbor seals and similar to reports of sensitivity for the lateral line systems of some fish. Our findings suggest that the facial and postfacial vibrissae are used to detect hydrodynamic stimuli, whereas only the facial vibrissae are used for direct contact investigation.
A night in the life of a rat: vibrissal mechanics and tactile exploration
Authors: Hartmann Mitra J. Z.
Published: April 2011

The rat vibrissal (whisker) system is an increasingly important model for the study of the sense of touch. This paper describes recent results obtained from high‐speed videography of rat exploratory behavior and from modeling studies of vibrissal biomechanics. We review several features of vibrissal touch, including the mechanics of contact versus noncontact whisking, the coordination between head and whisker movements, and the use of information obtained from the whiskers to detect, localize, and extract the spatial properties of objects. This work highlights the idea that mechanics are critical to an understanding of sensory systems and describes some new tools to monitor the spatiotemporal patterns of whisker–object contact during natural tactile exploratory behavior.
Taking advantage of behavioral changes during development and training to assess sensory coding mechanisms
Authors: Sarro Emma C. , Rosen Merri J. , Sanes Dan H.
Published: April 2011

The relationship between behavioral and neural performance has been explored in adult animals, but rarely during the developmental period when perceptual abilities emerge. We used these naturally occurring changes in auditory perception to evaluate underlying encoding mechanisms. Performance of juvenile and adult gerbils on an amplitude modulation (AM) detection task was compared with response properties from auditory cortex of age‐matched animals. When tested with an identical behavioral procedure, juveniles display poorer AM detection thresholds than adults. Two neurometric analyses indicate that the most sensitive juvenile and adult neurons have equivalent AM thresholds. However, a pooling neurometric revealed that adult cortex encodes smaller AM depths. By each measure, neural sensitivity was superior to psychometric thresholds. However, juvenile training improved adult behavioral thresholds, such that they verged on the best sensitivity of adult neurons. Thus, periods of training may allow an animal to use the encoded information already present in cortex.
Preventive effects of Mycobacterium vaccae on HIV‐associated tuberculosis: A systematic review
Authors: Chen Qunfei , Yang Xiaoyan , Li Youping , He Xiangyu , Ma Xiaoxiao , Ma Longbing , Guo Ziheng , Li Ling
Published: April 2011

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Mycobacterium vaccae (M.vaccae, MV) for prevention of HIV‐associated tuberculosis (TB).

Methods MEDLINE, Embase, Biosis, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, SCI, CBM, VIP, and CNKI were searched for relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non‐randomized controlled trials (NRCTs). The GRADE approach was used for quality assessment. Data were analyzed using RevMan 5.0 software. Results were described or pooled using relative risks (RRs) for binary outcomes with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results Seven studies were included, and the methodological quality assessment found there was a risk of methodological bias. The evidence quality of the critical endpoint was moderate. The incidence of definite TB was (33/1006 vs. 52/1007, P = 0.03). The levels of IFN‐γ response to M. vaccae sonicate (MVS) in MV recipients increased compared to baseline or control groups after three or five doses. MV recipients’ level of lymphocyte proliferation assays (LPAs) in response to MVS was higher than that of the saline group after a five‐dose series (RR = 2.49, 95% CI 1.40 to 4.41, P = 0.002). Compared to hepatitis B vaccine (HBV) recipients, LPAs to MVS were not significantly different in the MV group vs. saline group, or vs. HBV, after a three‐dose series (RR and 95% CI were 0.20 (−0.03 to 0.44) and 1.13 (0.26 to 4.91), respectively). Changes in CD4+ cell count and HIV viral load after immunization were not statistically significant. MV immunization had no systematic adverse effects.

Conclusion The current evidence indicates that MV is safe and well‐tolerated. It appears to prevent HIV‐infected patients with CD4+≥ 200/mm3 from contracting TB by enhancing their immunogenicity. Yet, because of the relatively low quality of the available evidence, well‐designed and ‐conducted RCTs are needed.
Patient Safety Research in China: A Literature Review
Authors: Nie Yanli , Li Yulin , Ning Jianping , Hou Yingli , Huang Yan , Zhang Mingming
Published: April 2011

Objective A number of articles on patient safety have been published in Chinese‐language journals in last decade. However, until now there have been no studies of their overall quality or contribution to current thinking. This study explored the themes and designs of studies on patient safety published in Chinese‐language journals.

Method We searched the major Chinese databases, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM) and Chinese Journals Full‐text Database (CNKI), for Chinese‐language patient safety research papers published between January 2001 and December 2010. We analyzed the articles’ publication years, research themes, author affiliations, and research methodologies. Quality and statistical methods were only appraised based on study design type.

Results In the decade studied, a total of 6,336 articles were included. 2008 saw the greatest number of patient safety articles published in China (865). There were 11 journals which each published at least 55 relevant articles over 10 years. The most popular topic of patient safety studies was nosocomial infection (5,182/81.79%). Non‐comparative studies accounted for the majority of the literature (4,390/ 69.3%); of these, most were case series (4,080/92.94%). Comparative studies accounted for only 2.6% of the studies found (167). Most of the first authors of included articles worked at hospitals (5,193), many in nursing departments (2,044).

Conclusions There was no change trend in the number of articles on patient safety research published in Chinese in the past 10 years. Most articles described non‐comparative studies, which lack rigorous designs. More methodologically rigorous designs are needed to improve the overall quality of patient safety research in China.