bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effects of allowance of deferred herbage and concentrate supplementation when offered to ewe lambs, and system of allocation when offered to ewes in late gestation, on animal performance
Authors: Keady T. W. J. , Hanrahan J. P.
Published: April 2010

The effects of allowance of extended (deferred) grazed herbage (AEGH) and herbage allocation management (HAM) were studied in ewe lambs (248) and late‐gestation ewes (152), respectively, on commercial farms in south‐east Ireland in 2005–06. In Experiment 1, which consisted of four treatments, the effects of AEGH (0·75, 1·25 and 1·75 kg DM per head daily) and concentrate supplementation (0·5 kg per head daily with the 0·75 kg DM herbage allowance) on lamb performance during the extended grazing (16 December to 3 March) and subsequent grazing (4 March to 11 August) seasons were evaluated. Increasing AEGH increased herbage intake linearly (P < 0·001) and live weight (P < 0·001) at the end of extended grazing and the subsequent grazing season. In Experiment 2, single‐ and twin‐bearing ewes were allocated to either a conventional (single‐ and twin‐bearing ewes grazed separately) or leader–follower system (twin‐ and single‐bearing ewes, as leaders and followers respectively) of HAM from 30 January to 24 March. The same quantities of herbage were offered daily for each system. System of HAM affected ewe condition score at lambing but did not alter (P > 0·05) subsequent lamb birth or weaning weights. It is concluded that increasing AEGH to ewe lambs increased liveweight gain during extended grazing and resulted in heavier animals in mid August of the subsequent grazing season. For ewe lambs each 1 kg concentrate DM had the same feed value as 2·4 kg DM AEGH. Use of a leader–follower system for ewes in late pregnancy did not alter lamb birth weight or subsequent performance.
Effect of mucosal and systemic immunization with virus‐like particles of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus in mice
Authors: Lu Baojing , Huang Yi , Huang Li , Li Bao , Zheng Zhenhua , Chen Ze , Chen Jianjun , Hu Qinxue , Wang Hanzhong
Published: April 2010

Nasal administration has emerged as a promising and attractive route for vaccination, especially for the prophylaxis of respiratory diseases. Our previous studies have shown that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS‐CoV) virus‐like particles (VLPs) can be assembled using a recombinant baculovirus (rBV) expression system and such VLPs induce specific humoral and cellular immune responses in mice after subcutaneous injection. Here, we investigated mucosal immune responses to SARS‐CoV VLPs in a mouse model. Mice were immunized in parallel, intraperitoneally or intranasally, with VLPs alone or with VLPs plus cytosine–phosphate–guanosine (CpG). Immune responses, including the production of SARS‐CoV‐specific serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) and secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA), were determined in mucosal secretions and tissues. Both immunizations induced SARS‐CoV‐specific IgG, although the levels of IgG in groups immunized via the intraperitoneal (i.p.) route were higher. sIgA was detected in saliva in groups immunized intranasally but not in groups immunized intraperitoneally. CpG had an adjuvant effect on IgA production in genital tract washes when administered intranasally but only affected IgA production in faeces samples when administered intraperitoneally. In addition, IgA was also detected in mucosal tissues from the lung and intestine, while CpG induced an increased level of IgA in the intestine. Most importantly, neutralization antibodies were detected in sera after i.p. and intranasal (i.n.) immunizations. Secretions in genital tract washes from the i.n. group also showed neutralization activity. Furthermore, VLPs that were administered intraperitoneally elicited cellular immune responses as demonstrated by enzyme‐linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assay analyses. In summary, our study indicates that mucosal immunization with rBV SARS‐CoV VLPs represent an effective means for eliciting protective systemic and mucosal immune responses against SARS‐CoV, providing important information for vaccine design.
Suppression of human anti‐porcine natural killer cell xenogeneic responses by combinations of monoclonal antibodies specific to CD2 and NKG2D and extracellular signal‐regulated kinase kinase inhibitor
Authors: Kim Tae‐Jin , Kim Nayoung , Kim Eun‐Ok , Choi Jong‐Rip , Bluestone Jeffrey A. , Lee Kyung‐Mi
Published: April 2010

Natural killer (NK) cells can destroy xenogeneic tissues by antibody‐dependent cell cytotoxicity (ADCC) and direct lysis. Unlike ADCC, activating interactions between human NK receptors and their cognate ligands in pigs are not fully elucidated. We set up this study to identify human NK activating receptors recognizing porcine cells isolated from distinct organs, e.g., aorta, cornea and liver, and to provide a molecular basis for effective immunosuppressive regimens. Among the array of NK receptors tested, NKp46, 2B4, CD49d, CD48, CD2 and NKG2D, only CD2 and NKG2D were shown to be involved in both cytotoxicity and cytokine (interferon‐γ and tumour necrosis factor‐α) production against porcine targets. Simultaneous blocking of CD2 and NKG2D by combining its monoclonal antibodies further suppressed xenogeneic NK responses. Moreover, addition of a suboptimal dose of PD98059, an extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK) kinase inhibitor, to those cells maximally reduced NK cytotoxicity, suggesting that ERK plays an important role in NK‐mediated xenoreactivity. These impairments in NK cells were tightly associated with defective intracellular calcium mobilization and the subsequent degranulation process. Therefore, our data demonstrate a distinct role of CD2 and NKG2D on human NK cells in recognizing porcine grafts and further provide a potentially efficacious combinational regimen using anti‐CD2 and anti‐NKG2D monoclonal antibodies with PD98059 in a pig‐to‐human transplantation model.
Histamine‐treated dendritic cells improve recruitment of type 2 CD8 T cells in the lungs of allergic mice
Authors: Amaral Maria M. , Alvarez Carolina , Langellotti Cecilia , Geffner Jorge , Vermeulen Mónica
Published: April 2010

Histamine controls the function of dendritic cells (DCs). It appears to be required for the normal development of DCs. It also induces the chemotaxis of immature DCs and promotes the differentiation of CD4+ T cells into cells with a T helper type 2 (Th2) profile. Moreover, we have recently shown that histamine stimulates both the uptake and the cross‐presentation of antigens by DCs, supporting the theory that histamine promotes activation of CD8+ T cells during the development of allergic pathologies. Here, we investigated whether the course of an allergic response, in a well‐defined model of ovalbumin (OVA)‐induced allergic airway inflammation, could be modulated by intratracheal injection of OVA‐pulsed DCs previously treated with histamine (DCHISs). Compared with control DCs, DCHISs induced: (i) greater recruitment of CD8+ T cells in the lung, (ii) greater stimulation of the production of interleukin (IL)‐5 by lung CD8+ T cells, and (iii) increased recruitment of CD11c/CD8 double‐positive DCs in the lungs of allergic mice. Moreover, mice treated with DCHISs showed increased levels of serum‐specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies directed to OVA, and a higher proportion of eosinophils in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) compared with mice treated with OVA‐pulsed control DCs. Our results support the notion that histamine, by acting on DCs, increases the severity of allergic processes.
Photochemical approaches to T‐cell activation
Authors: Huse Morgan
Published: April 2010

Despite decades of intensive research, T‐cell activation has remained mysterious because of both the dizzying diversity of antigen recognition and the speed and comprehensiveness of the T‐cell‐receptor signalling network. Further progress will require new approaches and reagents that provide added levels of control. Photochemistry allows specific biochemical processes to be controlled with light and is well suited to mechanistic studies in complex cellular environments. In recent years, several laboratories have adopted approaches based on photoreactive peptide‐major histocompatibility complex reagents in order to study T‐cell activation and function with high precision. Here, I review these efforts and outline future directions for this exciting area of research.
Relations between dental and somatic pain in children
Authors: PERETZ BENJAMIN , SARNAT HAIM
Published: April 2010

International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry 2010; 20: 201–206

Purpose.  To study relations between somatic and dental pain complaints among children who attend a university pediatric dental clinic.

Methods.  Forty‐seven boys, 32 girls aged 4–13 years (mean age 8.41 ± 2.29 years) participated in the study. Demographic information was obtained from the parents. Children were asked if they had experienced any dental pain during the previous week, the time of day the dental pain had appeared, and their actions when pain had been felt. Then, children were asked to complete a Pain Rating Scale for subjective evaluation of pain regarding various potentially painful organs.

Results.  The majority of the children suffered headaches, stomachaches, and leg pains, regularly. The younger children, aged 4–7 years, significantly reported more ear and stomach pains than the older group, aged 8–13. Significantly, more children who suffered from dental pain also reported more stomachaches. Firstborn and second children had significantly less current dental pain, compared with third children or more.

Conclusions.  The results of our study suggest that children with dental pain suffer more often of stomachaches than children without dental pain. This may occur because these children are possibly more anxious about a potential treatment.
Hippocampal Microinfusion of Oxytocin Attenuates the Behavioural Response to Stress by Means of Dynamic Interplay with the Glucocorticoid‐Catecholamine Responses
Authors: Cohen H. , Kaplan Z. , Kozlovsky N. , Gidron Y. , Matar M. A. , Zohar J.
Published: April 2010

The neurohypophysial hormone oxytocin acts as a central nervous system neurotransmitter/neuromodulator. We evaluated the effects of oxytocin on behavioural responses to stress, as well as associated biophysiological responses, in a controlled, prospective animal model. The long‐term effects of exogenous oxytocin microinjected to the hippocampus of male rats were assessed. Animals were exposed to predator scent stress and treated 1 h or 7 days later with oxytocin or vehicle. Behaviours were assessed with the elevated plus‐maze and acoustic startle response tests, 7 days after microinjection and freezing behaviour upon exposure to a trauma‐related cue on day 8. These data served for classification into behavioural response groups. Trauma cue response, circulating corticosterone and oxytocin, hippocampal expression of glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid receptors, and oxytocin receptor mRNA levels were assessed. The interplay between oxytocin, corticosterone and norepinephrine was assessed. Microinfusion of oxytocin both immediately after predator scent stress exposure or 7 days later, after exposure to trauma cue significantly reduced the prevalence rates of extreme responders and reduced trauma cue freezing responses. Post‐exposure treatment with oxytocin significantly corrected the corticosterone stress response, decreased glucocorticoid receptor expression and increased mineralocorticoid receptor expression in the hippocampus compared to vehicle treatment. High‐dose corticosterone administration together with norepinephrine caused release of plasma oxytocin and hippocampal oxytocin receptor. Oxytocin is actively involved in the neurobiological response to predator scent stress processes and thus warrants further study as a potential therapeutic avenue for the treatment of anxiety‐related disorders.
Recovery from Disrupted Ultradian Glucocorticoid Rhythmicity Reveals a Dissociation Between Hormonal and Behavioural Stress Responsiveness
Authors: Sarabdjitsingh R. A. , Spiga F. , Oitzl M. S. , Kershaw Y. , Meijer O. C. , Lightman S. L. , De Kloet E. R.
Published: April 2010

Ultradian release of glucocorticoids is thought to be essential for homeostasis and health. Furthermore, deviation from this pulsatile release pattern is considered to compromise resilience to stress‐related disease, even after hormone levels have normalised. In the present study, we investigate how constant exposure to different concentrations of corticosterone affects diurnal and ultradian pulsatility. The rate of recovery in pulsatile hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal (HPA) activity after withdrawal of exogenous corticosterone is also examined. Finally, the behavioural and neuroendocrine responsiveness to an audiogenic stressor is studied. Adrenally intact male rats were subcutaneously implanted with vehicle, 40% or 100% corticosterone pellets for 7 days. The continuous release of corticosterone from these implants abolished diurnal and ultradian corticosterone variation, as measured with high‐frequency automated blood sampling. Pellet removal on post‐surgery day 8 allowed rapid recovery of endogenous rhythms in animals previously exposed to daily average concentrations (40%) but not after exposure to high concentrations (100%) of corticosterone. Behavioural and neuroendocrine responsiveness to stress was distinctly different between the treatment groups. Audiogenic stimulation 1 day after pellet removal resulted in a similar corticosterone response in animals previously exposed to 40% corticosterone or vehicle. The 40% pellet group, however, showed less and shorter behavioural activity (i.e. locomotion, risk assessment) to noise stress compared to 100% corticosterone and vehicle‐treated animals. In conclusion, unlike the animals impanted with 100% corticosterone, we find that basal HPA axis activity in the 40% group, which had mean daily levels of circulating corticosterone in the physiological range, rapidly reverts to the characteristic pulsatile pattern of corticosterone secretion. Upon reinstatement of the ultradian rhythm, and despite the fact that these animals did not differ from controls in their response to noise stress, they did show substantial changes in their behavioural response to stress.
Prevalence of insomnia among Chinese adults in Hong Kong: a population‐based study
Authors: WONG WING S. , FIELDING RICHARD
Published: April 2010

Prevalence estimates of insomnia in western general populations are well documented, but population‐based epidemiological data on insomnia in Chinese adults are scarce. The aims of the present study were to determine the prevalence of insomnia in the general population of Hong Kong, compare components of sleep disturbances and lifestyle factors stratified by sex, and identify risk factors for insomnia. Using a population‐based cross‐sectional design, a total of 5001 Chinese adults aged ≥18 years completed a telephone interview on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and measures of quality of life (QoL) indexed by Medical Outcomes Study 12‐item Short‐Form Health Survey (SF12), lifestyle and sociodemographic details. Insomnia was defined by a PSQI global score >5. The resultant weighted prevalence of insomnia was 39.4%, equivalent to 2.2 million affected adults in Hong Kong. Women reported significantly poorer component and global sleep quality (all P < 0.05). Fully adjusted stepwise regression analyses identified non‐full‐time employment status, existing long‐term health problems, alcohol consumption four to seven times per week, higher HADS scores, poor mental health component of QoL and low self‐perceived health were associated significantly with insomnia (all P < 0.05). Our results suggest that insomnia is highly prevalent among Hong Kong Chinese adults and is associated with frequent use of alcohol, poor mental health and QoL.
Pathophysiology and therapy of pruritus in allergic and atopic diseases
Authors: Buddenkotte J. , Steinhoff M.
Published: April 2010

To cite this article:Buddenkotte J, Steinhoff M. Pathophysiology and therapy of pruritus in allergic and atopic diseases.Allergy2010;65: 805–821.

Pruritus (itch) is a major characteristic and one of the most debiliating symptoms in allergic and atopic diseases andthediagnostic hallmark of atopic dermatitis. Pruritus is regularly defined as an unpleasant sensation provoking the desire to scratch. Although we achieved rather good knowledge about certain inducers of itch such as neuropeptides, amines, μ‐opioids, cytokines and proteases, for example, less is known about the pathophysiological specifities among the different diseases, and the therapeutic consequences which may derive thereoff. This review dissects the role of mediators, receptors and itch inhibitors on peripheral nerve endings, dorsal root ganglia, the spinal cord and the CNS leading to the amplification or – vice versa – suppression of pruritus. As the treatment of pruritus in allergic and atopic skin disease is still not satisfactory, knowing these pathways and mechanisms may lead to novel therapeutic approaches against this frequently encountered skin symptom.
The impact of concomitant rhinitis on asthma‐related quality of life and asthma control
Authors: Vandenplas O. , Dramaix M. , Joos G. , Louis R. , Michils A. , Verleden G. , Vincken W. , Vints A.‐M. , Herbots E. , Bachert C.
Published: April 2010

To cite this article: Vandenplas O, Dramaix M, Joos G, Louis R, Michils A, Verleden G, Vincken W, Vints A‐M, Herbots E, Bachert C. The impact of concomitant rhinitis on asthma‐related quality of life and asthma control. Allergy 2010; 65: 1290–1297.

Background:  Characterizing the interactions between the upper and lower airways is important for the management of asthma. This study aimed at assessing the specific impact of concomitant rhinitis on asthma‐related quality of life (QOL) and asthma control.

Methods:  A cross‐sectional, observational survey was conducted among 1173 patients with asthma (aged 12–45) recruited by general practitioners and chest physicians. AR was defined by self‐reported rhinitis symptoms and previously documented sensitization to inhalant allergens. The primary outcomes were (1) asthma control assessed by the Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ) and (2) asthma‐specific QOL evaluated through the Mini Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (mAQLQ).

Results:  AR was present in 73.9% of the population with asthma and nonallergic rhinitis (NAR) in 13.6%. AR and NAR were associated with an increased risk of uncontrolled asthma (i.e. ACQ score > 1.5) with adjusted odds ratios (OR) of 2.00 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.35–2.97) and 1.77 (95%CI: 1.09–2.89), respectively. Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that AR and NAR had a modest, although significant, negative impact on the global mAQLQ score (beta coefficient: −0.293, standard error [SE]: 0.063 and beta coefficient: −0.221, SE: 0.080, P < 0.001, respectively), even after adjustment for the level of asthma control and demographic characteristics.

Conclusion:  This survey provides direct evidence that AR and NAR are associated with an incremental adverse impact on the disease‐specific QOL of patients with asthma and the level of asthma control. Further investigations are required to determine whether appropriate treatment of rhinitis would efficiently reduce asthma morbidity.
Linking divergent selection on vegetative traits to environmental variation and phenotypic diversification in the Iberian columbines (Aquilegia)
Authors: ALCÁNTARA J. M. , BASTIDA J. M. , REY P. J.
Published: April 2010

Divergent selection is a key in the ecological theory of adaptive radiation. Most evidence on its causes and consequences relies on studies of pairs of populations or closely related taxa. However, adaptive radiation involves multiple taxa adapted to different environmental factors. We propose an operational definition of divergent selection to explore the continuum between divergent and convergent selection in multiple populations and taxa, and its links with environmental variation and phenotypic and taxonomic differentiation. We apply this approach to explore phenotypic differentiation of vegetative traits between 15 populations of four taxa of Iberian columbines (Gen.Aquilegia). Differences in soil rockiness impose divergent selection on inflorescence height and the number of flowers per inflorescence, likely affecting the processes of phenotypic and, in the case of inflorescence height, taxonomic diversification between taxa. Elevational variation imposes divergent selection on the number of leaves; however, the current pattern of divergent selection on this trait seems related to ecotypic differentiation within taxa but not to their taxonomic diversification.
Sexual dimorphism in primate aerobic capacity: a phylogenetic test
Authors: LINDENFORS P. , REVELL L. J. , NUNN C. L.
Published: April 2010

Male intrasexual competition should favour increased male physical prowess. This should in turn result in greater aerobic capacity in males than in females (i.e. sexual dimorphism) and a correlation between sexual dimorphism in aerobic capacity and the strength of sexual selection among species. However, physiological scaling laws predict that aerobic capacity should be lower per unit body mass in larger than in smaller animals, potentially reducing or reversing the sex difference and its association with measures of sexual selection. We used measures of haematocrit and red blood cell (RBC) counts from 45 species of primates to test four predictions related to sexual selection and body mass: (i) on average, males should have higher aerobic capacity than females, (ii) aerobic capacity should be higher in adult than juvenile males, (iii) aerobic capacity should increase with increasing sexual selection, but also that (iv) measures of aerobic capacity should co‐vary negatively with body mass. For the first two predictions, we used a phylogenetic pairedt‐test developed for this study. We found support for predictions (i) and (ii). For prediction (iii), however, we found a negative correlation between the degree of sexual selection and aerobic capacity, which was opposite to our prediction. Prediction (iv) was generally supported. We also investigated whether substrate use, basal metabolic rate and agility influenced physiological measures of oxygen transport, but we found only weak evidence for a correlation between RBC count and agility.
The Evolutionary Decoupling of Behavioral and Color Cues in a Multicomponent Signal in Two Sceloporus Lizards
Authors: Quinn Vanessa S. , Hews Diana K.
Published: April 2010

The study of multicomponent signals in the context of social systems has generated interesting results demonstrating that complex signals are used in many communication systems. The multicomponent signal in the majority of Sceloporus lizards consists of a color signal (blue abdominal coloration) and the behavioral display of the color signal (fullshow behavior). In a small number of species, males have lost the color signal. We staged outdoor trials between conspecific males in two closely related Sceloporus lizards that differ in the presence of blue abdominal coloration. In the species with the evolutionary loss of blue abdominal coloration (Sceloporus virgatus), fullshow behavior is present but reduced compared with that of the species with male abdominal coloration (Sceloporus undulatus consobrinus). In comparison, the mean rates of other behaviors that do not display abdominal skin (push‐up, head‐bob) did not differ between these species. We also found that S. virgatus males were more likely to show a neutral response following the first fullshow during the 60‐min trial. While, S. u. consobrinus males were more likely to respond to the first fullshow with an aggressive response. Thus, in this case, the color signal and the behavioral signal are evolutionarily decoupled because in S. virgatus the loss of the color signal is not coincident with the loss of the behavioral signal.
Methotrexate is a safe and effective treatment for paediatric discoid (nummular) eczema: A case series of 25 children
Authors: Roberts Hugh , Orchard David
Published: April 2010

We present a case series of 25 paediatric patients with refractory discoid eczema treated with methotrexate. Patients were commenced on either 5 mg or 10 mg of methotrexate per week. Sixteen patients (64%) completely cleared their eczema after an average of 10.5 months of methotrexate therapy. A further three patients (12%) have responded well and are almost clear at the time of writing. Methotrexate was well tolerated by the majority of patients and no serious adverse events were observed. Methotrexate should be considered in moderate to severe paediatric discoid eczema that has failed to respond to conventional therapies.
Implementation and effectiveness of the first community lifestyle intervention programme to prevent Type 2 diabetes in Greece. The DE‐PLAN study
Authors: Makrilakis K. , Liatis S. , Grammatikou S. , Perrea D. , Katsilambros N.
Published: April 2010

Diabet. Med. 27, 459–465 (2010)

Aims  To report our experience of implementing the first community‐based lifestyle intervention programme to detect high‐risk individuals and prevent the development of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in a general population sample in Athens, Greece (the DE‐PLAN Study).

Methods  The Finnish Type 2 Diabetes Risk Score (FINDRISC) questionnaire was distributed to 7900 people at workplaces and primary‐care centres. High‐risk individuals were invited to receive an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and, after excluding persons with diabetes, to participate in a 1‐year intervention programme, based on bimonthly sessions with a dietitian.

Results  Three thousand, two hundred and forty questionnaires were returned; 620 high‐risk individuals were identified and 191 agreed to participate. Recruitment from workplaces was the most successful strategy for identifying high‐risk persons, enrolling and maintaining them throughout the study. The 125 participants who fully completed the programme (66 did not return for a second OGTT) lost on average 1.0 ± 4.7 kg (P = 0.022). Higher adherence to the intervention sessions resulted in more significant weight loss (1.1 ± 4.8 vs. 0.6 ± 4.6 kg for low adherence). Persons with impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and/or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) at baseline lost more weight than those with normal glucose tolerance (1.5 ± 4.8 vs. −0.2 ± 4.5 kg). The percentage of people with any type of dysglycaemia (IFG/IGT) was lower after the intervention (68.0% at baseline vs. 53.6% 1 year later, P = 0.009); 5.6% developed diabetes.

Conclusions  The implementation of a lifestyle intervention programme to prevent T2DM in the community is practical and feasible, accompanied by favourable lifestyle changes. Recruitment from workplaces was the most successful strategy.
Pregnancy‐induced sight‐threatening diabetic retinopathy in women with Type 1 diabetes
Authors: Vestgaard M. , Ringholm L. , Laugesen C. S. , Rasmussen K. L. , Damm P. , Mathiesen E. R.
Published: April 2010

Diabet. Med. 27, 431–435 (2010)

Aims  To determine the progression of diabetic retinopathy in pregnant women with diabetes offered tight glycaemic and blood pressure control.

Methods  A prospective study of 102 (87%) out of 117 consecutive pregnant women with Type 1 diabetes for median 16 years (range 1–36) and HbA1c 6.7% (4.9–10.8) in early pregnancy. Fundus photography was performed at 8 and 27 weeks. Retinopathy was classified in five stages. Diabetic macular oedema was classified as present in a mild form or as clinically significant macular oedema (CSMO). Progression was defined as at least one stage of deterioration of retinopathy and/or development of macular oedema in at least one eye. Sight‐threatening progression was defined as loss of visual acuity ≥ 0.2 on Snellen’s chart or laser treatment performed during pregnancy due to proliferative retinopathy or CSMO.

Results  Diabetic retinopathy was present at inclusion in at least one eye in 64 (63%) women and proliferative retinopathy and macular oedema were present in nine and 16 women, respectively. Progression of retinopathy occurred in 28 (27%) women. Sight‐threatening progression occurred in six women; in three, visual acuity deteriorated and four required laser treatment. Sight‐threatening progression was associated with presence of macular oedema (P = 0.007), impaired visual acuity (P = 0.03) and higher blood pressure (P = 0.016) in early pregnancy, but not with HbA1c, decline in HbA1c, or prevalence of severe hypoglycaemia.

Conclusions  Loss of visual acuity and the need for laser treatment during diabetic pregnancy remain clinical problems associated with presence of macular oedema, visual impairment and higher blood pressure in early pregnancy.
Prevalence and risk factors of overweight and obesity among children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities
Authors: Maïano C.
Published: April 2010

Recent literature reviews showed that overweight and obesity represent a major health threat in adults with intellectual disability (ID). However, the current evidence around the prevalence and risk factors associated with overweight and obesity in children and adolescents with ID remains unclear. The objective of this article was thus to review the available English‐ and French‐language studies examining the prevalence and risk factors associated with overweight and obesity in youths with ID. Ten studies providing original data on this topic were identified and included in this review. Results demonstrated that (i) overweight and obesity represent a significant secondary health problem in youths with ID; and (ii) obesity risk significantly increases with age. Considering all of the limitations of the reviewed studies (i.e. heterogeneity in sample size and in overweight and obesity classification criteria; lack of comparison group; restrictive number of risk factors examined, etc.), these findings remain preliminary and highlight the need for future research in this area.
ON THE ROAD TO PARADIS: NEW INSIGHTS FROM AMS DATES AND STABLE ISOTOPES AT LE DÉHUS, GUERNSEY, AND THE CHANNEL ISLANDS MIDDLE NEOLITHIC
Authors: SCHULTING RICK J. , SEBIRE HEATHER , ROBB JOHN E.
Published: April 2010

We here report the results of a programme of AMS dating and stable isotope analysis on human remains from the chambered tomb of Le Déhus, Guernsey. An early use‐phase in the range 4100–3900 BC is indicated, confirming the monument's attribution to the Middle Neolithic II as defined in western France. Late Neolithic burial activity is also identified. Stable carbon isotope measurements provide little or no evidence for the consumption of marine foods, although stable nitrogen isotope values are unusually high. These results are situated in the wider context of Neolithic mortuary monuments of the Channel Islands and Normandy.
EFNS guidelines on the pharmacological treatment of neuropathic pain: 2010 revision
Authors: Attal N. , Cruccu G. , Baron R. , Haanpää M. , Hansson P. , Jensen T. S. , Nurmikko T.
Published: April 2010

Background and objectives:  This second European Federation of Neurological Societies Task Force aimed at updating the existing evidence about the pharmacological treatment of neuropathic pain since 2005.

Methods:  Studies were identified using the Cochrane Database and Medline. Trials were classified according to the aetiological condition. All class I and II randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were assessed; lower class studies were considered only in conditions that had no top‐level studies. Treatments administered using repeated or single administrations were considered, provided they are feasible in an outpatient setting.

Results:  Most large RCTs included patients with diabetic polyneuropathies and post‐herpetic neuralgia, while an increasing number of smaller studies explored other conditions. Drugs generally have similar efficacy in various conditions, except in trigeminal neuralgia, chronic radiculopathy and HIV neuropathy, with level A evidence in support of tricyclic antidepressants (TCA), pregabalin, gabapentin, tramadol and opioids (in various conditions), duloxetine, venlafaxine, topical lidocaine and capsaicin patches (in restricted conditions). Combination therapy appears useful for TCA‐gabapentin and gabapentin‐opioids (level A).

Conclusions:  There are still too few large‐scale comparative studies. For future trials, we recommend to assess comorbidities, quality of life, symptoms and signs with standardized tools and attempt to better define responder profiles to specific drug treatments.
The Nuts and Bolts of Risk Assessment: When the Clinical and Actuarial Conflict
Authors: ANSBRO MARIA
Published: April 2010

Abstract: The aim of this research was to examine the thought processes that practitioners follow when they are conducting risk assessments. Weighing up the probability that an individual will inflict harm requires the practitioner to apply clinical and actuarial approaches, and integrate static and dynamic information. This is a complex and inexact task, and one that has been found lacking in reviews of serious further offences. This research focused on a small, atypical subgroup of risk assessments; those where the actuarial information is at odds with the clinical judgment. The results indicated that practitioners are more likely to override actuarial information that indicates a low risk of harm rather than a high one, confirming the existence of the ‘precautionary principle’. The research also produced some important messages for practice, particularly a reluctance to reduce sexual offenders' risk of harm even when evidence of all types was compelling, and conversely, a willingness to reduce non‐sexual offenders' risk on the basis of only flimsy dynamic evidence, and counter to actuarial pointers. The research concludes that a more sophisticated understanding of the evidence around dynamic factors would enhance assessments.
Public Participation in Post‐Fordist Urban Green Space Governance: The Case of Community Gardens in Berlin
Authors: ROSOL MARIT
Published: April 2010

This article examines citizen participation in the governance of contemporary urban green space. Rather than exploring normative questions of ideal forms of participatory democracy, it focuses on changing roles and relationships between local state and non‐state actors in order to identify and explain the changing nature of participation. I argue that neoliberal urban restructuring has changed the conditions for participation and thus participation itself in fundamental ways and that we need an account of changes in statehood and governance in order to capture this conceptually. Based on the case of community gardens in Berlin, the article discusses the extent to which this changed relationship is expressed by current citizen participation as well as the potential and problems that result from it. My empirical results show the emergence of a new political acceptance of autonomously organized projects and active citizen participation in urban green space governance. The central argument of this article is that this new acceptance can be conceptualized as an expression of the neoliberalization of cities. Nevertheless, this neoliberal strategy at the same time leads to complex and contradictory outcomes and the resulting benefits are also acknowledged.

Cet article examine la participation citoyenne dans la gouvernance de l'espace vert urbain contemporain. Plutôt que de s'attacher aux aspects normatifs de formes idéales de démocratie participative, il s'intéresse au changement dans les rôles et les relations entre les acteurs locaux gouvernementaux et non gouvernementaux, afin de repérer et d'expliquer la nature évolutive de la participation. La restructuration urbaine néolibérale a modifié, de manière fondamentale, les conditions de la participation et, par conséquent, la participation elle‐même. Le restituer sur le plan conceptuel implique de décrire les changements dans la nature de l'État et la gouvernance. S'appuyant sur le cas des jardins communautaires berlinois, l'article analyse la mesure dans laquelle cette relation évolutive s'exprime dans la participation actuelle des habitants, ainsi que le potentiel et les problèmes qui en découlent. Les résultats empiriques montrent l'émergence d'une nouvelle acceptation politique à l'égard de projets organisés de façon autonome et d'une participation citoyenne active dans la gouvernance de l'espace vert urbain. Selon l'argument central de cet article, cette nouvelle acceptation peut être conceptualisée comme un mode d'expression de la néolibéralisation des villes. Néanmoins, cette stratégie néolibérale conduit parallèlement à des décisions à la fois complexes et contradictoires, et les avantages qui en résultent sont également reconnus.
Responsibilities of Criminal Justice Officials
Authors: BROWNLEE KIMBERLEY
Published: April 2010

abstract

In recent years, political philosophers have hotly debated whether ordinary citizens have a general pro tanto moral obligation to follow the law. Contemporary philosophers have had less to say about the same question when applied to public officials. In this paper, I consider the latter question in the morally complex context of criminal justice. I argue that criminal justice officials have no general pro tanto moral obligation to adhere to the legal dictates and lawful rules of their offices. My claim diverges not only from the commonsense view about such officials, but also from the positions standardly taken in legal theory and political science debates, which presume there is some general obligation that must arise from legal norms and be reconciled with political realities. I defend my claim by highlighting the conceptual gap between the rigid, generalised, codified rules that define a criminal justice office and the special moral responsibilities of the various moral roles that may underpin that office (such as guard, guardian, healer, educator, mediator, counsellor, advocate, and carer). After addressing four objections to my view, I consider specific contexts in which criminal justice officials are obligated not to adhere to the demands of their offices. Amongst other things, the arguments advanced in this paper raise questions about both the distribution of formal discretion in the criminal justice system and the normative validity of some of the offices that presently exist in criminal justice systems.
Imaging selective vulnerability in the developing nervous system
Authors: Ferriero Donna M. , Miller Steven P.
Published: April 2010

Why do cells in the central nervous system respond differently to different stressors and why is this response so age‐dependent? In the immature brain, there are regions of selective vulnerability that are predictable and depend on the age when the insult occurs and the severity of the insult. This damage is both region and cell population specific. Vulnerable cell populations include the subplate neurons and oligodendrocyte precursors early in development and the neurons closer to the end of human gestation. Mechanisms of injury include excitotoxicity, oxidative stress and inflammation as well as accelerated apoptosis. Advanced imaging techniques have shown us particular patterns of injury according to age at insult. These changes seen in the newborn at the time of injury on magnetic resonance imaging correlate well with the neurodevelopmental outcome. New questions about how the injury evolves and how the newborn brain adapts and repairs itself have emerged as we now know that injury in the newborn brain can evolve over days and weeks, rather than hours. The ability to follow these processes has allowed us to investigate the role of repair in attenuating the injury. Neurogenesis and angiogenesis exist in response to ischemic injury and can be enhanced by processes that are known to protect the brain. The injury response in the developing brain is a complex process that evolves over time and is amenable to repair.
Effect of environmental exposure to lead and tobacco smoke on inattentive and hyperactive symptoms and neurocognitive performance in children
Authors: Cho Soo‐Churl , Kim Boong‐Nyun , Hong Yun‐Chul , Shin Min‐Sup , Yoo Hee Jeong , Kim Jae‐Won , Bhang Soo‐Young , Cho In Hee , Kim Hyo‐Won
Published: April 2010

Background:  The present study assessed the association between blood lead and urinary cotinine levels and inattentive and hyperactive symptoms and neurocognitive performance in children.

Methods:  A total of 667 children (age range 8–11) were recruited from nine schools in five Korean cities. The teachers and parents completed the Korean version of the Attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder Rating Scales (K‐ARS), and the children performed neurocognitive tests. Blood lead and urinary cotinine levels were then measured.

Results:  The inattentive, hyperactive, and total scores of the teacher‐rated K‐ARS were positively associated with blood lead level, and the results of the continuous performance test (CPT), Stroop Color–Word Test, and Children’s Color Trails Test were inversely associated with urinary cotinine level when controlled for age, gender, father’s educational level, maternal IQ, child’s IQ, residential area, birth weight, and cotinine (for lead) or lead (for cotinine). The association between blood lead level and commission errors score on the CPT disappeared when the effect of urinary cotinine level was controlled.

Conclusions:  These findings indicate that environmental exposure to tobacco smoke in children is associated with poor neurocognitive performance, and low levels of lead are associated with inattention and hyperactivity symptoms.
Hydraulic redistribution of soil water by roots affects whole‐stand evapotranspiration and net ecosystem carbon exchange
Authors: Domec Jean‐Christophe , King John S. , Noormets Asko , Treasure Emrys , Gavazzi Michael J. , Sun Ge , McNulty Steven G.
Published: April 2010

Commentary p 3
What adjustments, if any, do UK optometrists make to the subjective refraction result prior to prescribing?
Authors: Howell‐Duffy Chris , Umar Ghazwa , Ruparelia Neel , Elliott David B.
Published: April 2010

Aim:  To determine whether UK optometrists routinely prescribe the subjective refraction result, or whether adjustments are made to aid patient comfort and adaptation.

Method:  A questionnaire was distributed by post and via the internet to UK optometrists. It incorporated eight case scenarios that included information regarding a patient’s age, symptoms, habitual refractive correction, subjective refraction and any other pertinent clinical information. For each case, they were asked to indicate what refractive correction they would prescribe.

Results:  A total of 426 questionnaires were completed. In three cases with asymptomatic patients with negligible changes in visual acuity, about 45% of respondents indicated that they would prescribe the subjective refraction result and about 40% would prescribe the habitual correction. In a further case involving a 75 year‐old asymptomatic patient, 55% prescribed the habitual correction. In two cases with large cylinder power changes, about 40% of respondents indicated they would partially prescribe the cylinder power. However, there was a large variation in the suggested modification of sphere powers to accompany the partial cylinder changes.

Conclusion:  A large sample of UK optometrists indicated that they would prescribe the subjective refraction result regardless of patient age, symptoms and difference between habitual correction and subjective refraction. Optometrists who partially prescribe, employ a wide variety of techniques including some that conflict with conventional teaching.
Fluorescein leakage of the optic disc: time course in primary open‐angle glaucoma
Authors: Plange Niklas , Kaup Marion , Doehmen Benjamin , Remky Andreas , Arend Kay Oliver
Published: April 2010

Purpose:  To identify and quantify the time course of fluorescein leakage of the optic nerve head in primary open‐angle glaucoma (POAG) and controls.

Methods:  Twenty patients with POAG (aged 58 ± 10 years) and 14 controls (aged 51 ± 12 years, p = 0.07) were included in a prospective study. Fluorescein leakage of the optic disc was quantified using digital image analysis. A new leakage ratio (fluorescence of the optic disc divided by fluorescence of the surrounding retina) was defined and fluorescein leakage was quantified at 7–8, 9–10, 11–12, and 13–14 min after injection of 2.5 cc sodium fluorescein (10%).

Results:  The fluorescein leakage exhibited a significantly different time course with higher leakage ratio values in POAG compared to controls (7–8 min: 1.24 ± 0.32 vs 1.16 ± 0.12; 9–10 min: 1.37 ± 0.37 vs 1.19 ± 0.1; 11–12 min: 1.38 ± 0.36 vs 1.24 ± 0.13; 13–14 min: 1.44 ± 0.36 vs 1.27 ± 0.13; p = 0.004). The change in optic disc fluorescence from 7–8 min to 9–10 min was significantly higher in POAG compared to controls (0.13 ± 0.09 vs 0.03 ± 0.07; p = 0.002).

Conclusion:  The time course of fluorescein leakage is significantly different in POAG compared to controls. This might reflect damage of the optic disc vasculature related to increased vascular permeability.
Relationship between Clinical Conditions and Use of Veterans Affairs Health Care among Medicare‐Enrolled Veterans
Authors: Petersen Laura A. , Byrne Margaret M. , Daw Christina N. , Hasche Jennifer , Reis Brian , Pietz Kenneth
Published: April 2010

Objective. To determine how reliance on Veterans Affairs (VA) for medical care among veterans enrolled in Medicare is affected by medical conditions, access, and patient characteristics.

Data Sources/Study Setting. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Study Design. We examined reliance on the VA for inpatient, outpatient, and overall medical care among all VA users in fiscal years 2003 and 2004 who were also enrolled in Medicare. We calculated the marginal effects of patient factors on VA reliance using fractional logistic regression; we also analyzed overall VA reliance separately for under‐65 and age‐65+ groups. The primary focus of this analysis was the relationship between aggregated condition categories (ACCs), which represent medical conditions, and reliance on the VA.

Principal Findings. Mean VA reliance was significantly higher in the under‐65 population than in the age‐65+ group (0.800 versus 0.531). Lower differential distance to the VA, and higher VA‐determined priority for health care, predicted higher VA reliance. Most individual ACCs were negatively associated with VA reliance, though substance abuse and mental health disorders were significantly associated with increased reliance on VA care. Conditions of the eyes and ears/nose/throat had positive marginal effect on VA reliance for the under 65, while diabetes was positive for age 65+. Among inpatients, veterans with ACCs for mental health conditions, eye conditions, amputations, or infectious and parasitic conditions had higher likelihood of a VA hospitalization than inpatients without these conditions.

Conclusions. Many dually enrolled Veterans use both Medicare and VA health care. Age, accessibility, and priority level for VA services have a clear relationship with VA reliance. Because dual use is common, coordination of care among health care settings for such patients should be a policy priority.