bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical and molecular features of familial and sporadic cases of von Hippel‐Lindau disease from Mexico
Authors: Chacon‐Camacho Oscar F , Rodriguez‐Dennen Fernando , Camacho‐Molina Alejandra , Rasmussen Astrid , Alonso‐Vilatela Elisa , Zenteno Juan C
Published: February 2010

Abstract

Background:  von Hippel‐Lindau disease (VHL) is an uncommon autosomal dominant condition predisposing to the development of tumours in a variety of body organs and caused by germline mutations in VHL, a tumour suppressor gene located on 3p. Up to 60% of VHL patients show ocular involvement with retinal hemangioblastoma being the most common observed lesion. In this study, we describe the clinical and genetic characteristics of two familial and one apparently non‐familial case of VHL ascertained at our institution.

Methods:  Clinical evaluation included ophthalmologic examination and imaging exams for tumours identification; molecular analysis consisted of PCR amplification of the complete VHL gene coding sequence (three exons) and automated nucleotide sequencing.

Results:  A total of eight affected subjects were demonstrated to carry a causative mutation in VHL. Affected subjects from family #1 had a c.245G > C change, predicting a p.R82P substitution, affected individuals from family #2 were shown to have a c.266T > C change, leading to a p.L89P missense substitution, whereas the apparently non‐familial case had a c.298‐299insA mutation. One subject from family #2 was a non‐penetrant carrier. No ocular anomalies were found in two adult affected subjects carrying the p.L89P mutation.

Conclusion:  Considerable interfamilial and intrafamilial clinical variability as well as one instance of non penetrance were recorded in these VHL disease cases. Three different mutations were demonstrated, including the c.298‐299insA one base insertion, which has been previously described in two unrelated families from our country. Although additional studies are needed, our data suggest that this insertion could be a ‘founder’ mutation.
Comparison of visual field sensitivities between the Medmont automated perimeter and the Humphrey field analyser
Authors: Landers John , Sharma Alok , Goldberg Ivan , Graham Stuart L
Published: February 2010

Background:  Two commonly used perimeters in Australia and in many parts of Asia are the Humphrey field analyser II (HFA) and the Medmont automated perimeter (MAP). Each device maps the incremental light threshold of the visual field and describes the sensitivity at each point in ‘decibels’ (dB); however, these values are not interchangeable between devices. This study was designed to compare directly the sensitivity values of HFA and MAP visual fields.

Methods:  Sixty‐three subjects who had suspected glaucoma, ocular hypertension or glaucoma, or were normal controls were recruited selectively. One eye from each patient was tested with the MAP and HFA in random order on the same day. Corresponding points between the two tests were identified and their sensitivities were compared.

Results:  Sensitivities between MAP and HFA were strongly correlated (r2 = 0.45; P < 0.0001), with the relationship between them being described by the linear equation: MAP = 0.75*(HFA) − 0.87. On average, across the entire field MAP sensitivities were 7.4 dB (standard deviation 4.6 dB) lower than HFA. However, this relationship was modified by eccentricity and field sensitivity loss.

Conclusion:  Visual field sensitivities for MAP and HFA may be related by a linear relationship. Theoretical and clinical predictions that this difference may be on average approximately 5 dB have been confirmed.
What causes changes in plant litter quality and quantity as consequence of grazing in the Patagonian Monte: Plant cover reduction or changes in species composition?
Authors: CAMPANELLA MARÍA VICTORIA , BISIGATO ALEJANDRO JORGE
Published: February 2010

In Patagonian Monte, as in other arid ecosystems, grazing has triggered changes in vegetation and soil such as plant cover reduction, changes in species composition and soil nutrient losses. Several mechanisms were proposed interconnecting these changes, but evidence supporting them is very scarce. On the basis of published data concerning plant cover by species along grazing gradients and leaf litter production of dominant species, we estimated the effects of grazing on a – quality (N, soluble phenolics and lignin concentrations) and b – quantity (leaf litterfall (LLF) and inputs of nitrogen, soluble phenolics and lignin to the soil) of leaf litter in the Patagonian Monte, discriminating the effect of plant cover reduction from that of species composition. We also evaluated the relationship between senesced leaves traits and the response of species to grazing (i.e. their relative change in plant cover). Grazing causes a reduction in LLF and in the inputs of nitrogen, soluble phenolics and lignin to the soil. In the case of LLF, this reduction was not only a result of the decrease in plant cover but also due to changes in species composition. In contrast, our results showed that the reduction in nitrogen, soluble phenolics and lignin inputs to the soil by LLF is only a consequence of plant cover reduction. Additionally, litter quality was affected through increasing concentration of N and secondary compounds (soluble phenolics and lignin). N and soluble phenolics concentration on senesced leaves were positively related to the response of species to grazing, suggesting that other factors instead of N are relevant to sheep foraging decisions.
Fire tolerance of perennial grass tussocks in a savanna woodland
Authors: SCOTT KENNETH A. , SETTERFIELD SAMANTHA A. , DOUGLAS MICHAEL M. , ANDERSEN ALAN N.
Published: February 2010

Grass populations in tropical savannas are highly resilient in relation to different fire regimes, but the mechanisms conferring such resilience have been poorly studied. Here we examine one such mechanism, high adult survival during fire, for three perennial grass species in an Australian savanna: Eriachne triseta Nees ex Steud, Eriachne avenacea R.Br and Chrysopogon latifolius S.T.Blake. The study examined survivorship after 3 years, at plots subject to experimental fire regimes (experiencing 0, 1, 2 or 3 fires over the study period) at the Territory Wildlife Park near Darwin in the Northern Territory, Australia. Mean survivorship was 79.9%, 64.3% and 62.0% for E. avenacea, E. triseta and C. latifolius respectively. For the two species of Eriachne, mean survivorship was highest (E. avenacea, 94.6%; E. triseta, 77.1%) in unburnt plots, whereas survivorship of C. latifolius was highest (71.7%) under highest fire frequency. However, variation in survivorship among fire regime treatments was not statistically significant for any of the study species. This negligible difference in survivorship among regimes points to fire tolerance (sprouting ability) as an important mechanism contributing to the resilience and persistence of perennial grasses in these savannas.
The social elite: Habitat heterogeneity, complexity and quality in granite inselbergs influence patterns of aggregation in Egernia striolata (Lygosominae: Scincidae)
Authors: MICHAEL DAMIAN R. , CUNNINGHAM ROSS B. , LINDENMAYER DAVID B.
Published: February 2010

Habitat heterogeneity, structural complexity and habitat quality are key features of the environment that drive species' distribution and patterns of biological organization. Traditionally, pattern‐based studies have focused on faunal responses to biological systems. However, the influence of non‐biological environments such as insular rock outcrops on patterns of vertebrate distribution is conceivably as important, but has received less attention. Granite inselbergs are a naturally heterogeneous and spatially‐limited habitat. As such, they provide an opportunity for investigating whether environmental attributes influence social behaviour in animals that use these kinds of habitat, particularly lizards that are well adapted to saxicoline environments. We applied ecological theory to investigate the influence of habitat heterogeneity, structural complexity and habitat quality on patterns of home‐site occupancy in the crevice skink Egernia striolata (Lygosominea: Scincidae) from insular granite outcrops located within fragmented agricultural landscapes. We compared home‐site occupancy among solitary juveniles, solitary adults and lizard aggregations. We found significant differences in home‐site occupancy between aggregations and solitary lizard outcrop attributes measured at multiple spatial scales. The probability of a home‐site being occupied by an aggregation increased where large rock masses were present, on northern aspects near the core of the outcrop and in structurally variegated landscapes. Significantly more aggregations occupied home‐sites surrounded by high boulder cover and crevice microhabitat. We provide evidence that geophysical attributes of granite inselbergs and landscape context can influence patterns of lizard aggregation. Thus, we clearly document the environmental correlations of variability in sociality among subpopulations of Egernia striolata.
Modelling fallen branch volumes in a temperate eucalypt woodland: implications for large senescent trees and benchmark loads of coarse woody debris
Authors: KILLEY PAUL , MCELHINNY CHRIS , RAYNER IAN , WOOD JEFF
Published: February 2010

Fallen branches are a substantial component of coarse woody debris and a key ecological resource. The depletion of stocks of coarse woody debris since European settlement has contributed to the degradation of Australian grassy box woodlands, including the loss of biodiversity. Restoration options for remnant woodlands include the augmentation of coarse woody debris stocks. However, the extensive modification of grassy box woodlands has left few reference sites for establishing benchmarks to guide such restoration. In this paper we demonstrate a method for predicting fallen branch debris loads in the absence of reference sites, using data from a yellow box–red gum woodland. Our methodology is in two stages: first, the total volume of branch debris under individual trees was modelled; and second, these models were applied to groups of trees to predict stand‐level loads of fallen branch debris. Although the models were developed for yellow box–red gum woodlands, the methodology would be applicable to other communities that lack reference sites. Predicted benchmark loads of fallen branch debris for yellow box–red gum woodland were between 7.0 m3 ha−1 and 11.9 m3 ha−1. Large senescing trees contributed the bulk of fallen branch debris. Model predictions indicated a 100‐cm diameter at breast height (dbh) tree was 10 times more likely to produce debris than a 50‐cm dbh tree, and if debris was present a 100‐cm dbh tree produced approximately 10 times the volume of branch debris produced by a 50‐cm dbh tree. These results highlight the importance of large senescing trees for the production of fallen branch debris and support the keystone role of large trees within remnant woodlands, and the need to conserve these structures. Our results also support the active management of regrowth woodland stands to facilitate the progression of individual trees to maturity and senescence. In particular, thinning of regrowth stands may promote the growth of retained trees, ensuring they contribute to fallen branch debris stocks with a minimum time lag.
Early non‐specific modulation of corticospinal excitability during action observation
Authors: Lepage Jean‐François , Tremblay Sara , Théoret Hugo
Published: February 2010

Activity of the primary motor cortex (M1) during action observation is thought to reflect motor resonance. Here, we conducted three studies using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)‐induced motor‐evoked potentials (MEPs) of the first dorsal interosseus muscle (FDI) during action observation to determine: (i) the time course of M1 corticospinal excitability during the observation of a simple finger movement; (ii) the specificity of M1 modulation in terms of type of movement and muscle; and (iii) the relationship between M1 activity and measures of empathy and autistic traits. In a first study, we administered single‐pulse TMS at 30‐ms intervals during the observation of simple finger movements. Results showed enhanced corticospinal excitability occurring between 60 and 90 ms after movement onset. In a second experiment, TMS‐induced MEPs were recorded from the FDI and abductor digiti minimi muscles while pulses were delivered 90 ms after movement onset during observation of simple finger movement and dot movement. Increased corticospinal excitability was restricted to finger movement and was present in both muscles. Finally, in an exploratory experiment, single‐pulse TMS was administered at 30, 90 and 150 ms after movement onset, and participants were asked to complete the Empathy Quotient (EQ) and the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ). Correlational analysis revealed a significant link between motor facilitation at 90 ms and the EQ and AQ scores. These results suggest that corticospinal excitability modulation seen at M1 during action observation is the result of a rapid and crude automatic process, which may be related to social functioning.
Widespread hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenocortical axis‐relevant and mood‐relevant effects of chronic fluoxetine treatment on glucocorticoid receptor gene expression in mice
Authors: Heydendael Willem , Jacobson Lauren
Published: February 2010

Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) have been used to treat melancholic depression, which has been associated with elevated hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenocortical (HPA) axis activity, whereas patients suffering from atypical depression, which is often associated with decreased HPA axis activity, show preferential responsiveness to monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). We previously reported drug‐specific effects of the TCA imipramine and the MAOI phenelzine on HPA axis‐relevant endpoints in mice that may explain differential antidepressant responses in melancholic vs. atypical depression. However, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are reported to be effective in both melancholic and atypical depression. We therefore hypothesized that SSRIs would share HPA axis‐related effects with either TCAs or MAOIs. To test this hypothesis, we measured HPA axis‐relevant gene expression in male C57BL/6 mice treated for 5 weeks with 10 mg/kg/day fluoxetine. To control for potential fluoxetine‐induced changes in glucocorticoid secretion, mice were adrenalectomized and given fixed levels of glucocorticoids. Fluoxetine decreased glucocorticoid receptor (GR) gene expression in the prefrontal cortex, amygdala, locus coeruleus and dorsal raphé nucleus, and increased locus coeruleus tyrosine hydroxylase and dorsal raphé nucleus tryptophan hydroxylase‐2 (TPH2) gene expression. These results resembled those that we previously reported for MAOI treatment, but included decreases in GR and increases in TPH2 gene expression in the dorsal raphé nucleus that were induced by TCAs but not MAOIs. Correlating with inhibitory effects on central amygdala GR gene expression, fluoxetine also decreased amygdala corticotropin‐releasing hormone gene expression, an effect not previously observed with MAOIs or TCAs. These actions may be relevant to the efficacy of SSRIs in treating a range of depression and anxiety disorders.
Characterization of the neurogenesis quiescent zone in the rodent brain: Effects of age and exercise
Authors: Gil‐Mohapel Joana , Simpson Jessica M. , Titterness Andrea K. , Christie Brian R.
Published: February 2010

Although it is accepted that new neurons continue to be generated in the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) throughout adulthood, it has recently become apparent that this process is not homogeneous, and that a small region of the DG lacks neurogenesis. Here, we show that the relative area of this neurogenesis quiescent zone (NQZ) did not vary after the peak in hippocampal postnatal neurogenesis and until animals reached adulthood, although the ratio between its actual volume and the total volume of the DG doubled during this time. However, we were able to identify a few mitotic cells that reside within this subregion in early adolescent rats. Furthermore, these cells can be activated, and 1 week of voluntary exercise was enough to significantly increase the number of mitotic cells within the NQZ of adolescent rats. There was, however, no corresponding increase in the number of new neurons in this subregion of the DG, suggesting that some factor necessary to allow these cells to develop into a mature phenotype is missing. Moreover, the same intervention was ineffective in increasing either proliferation or neurogenesis in older adult rats. Surprisingly, we found no evidence for the existence of an NQZ in the mouse DG, suggesting that the neurogenic process in these two rodent species is differently regulated. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the existence of the NQZ in the rat DG might shed light on the processes that regulate adult neurogenesis and its modulation by factors such as aging and exercise.
Investigation of a complex plant extract for mild to moderate erectile dysfunction in a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, parallel‐arm study
Authors: Ledda Andrea , Belcaro Gianni , Cesarone Maria R. , Dugall Mark , Schönlau Frank
Published: February 2010

Study Type – Therapy (RCT) Level of Evidence 1b

OBJECTIVE

To assess the effects of a complex plant extract (Prelox®, a formulation of pine bark extract and l‐arginine aspartate; Horphag Research UK Ltd, London, UK) on erectile dysfunction (ED) in men, as sexual desire typically persists in ageing men, while their erectile and endothelial function gradually declines.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In this double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study we assessed the effects of Prelox in 124 patients (aged 30–50 years) with moderate ED over an investigational period of 6 months. The International Index Of Erectile Function (IIEF) was used to quantify changes in sexual function.

RESULTS

The erectile domain of the IIEF (questions 1–5 plus 15) improved with Prelox from a baseline mean (sd) score of 15.2 (6.6) to 25.2 (2.1) after 3 months and 27.1 (2.1) after 6 months of treatment. In the placebo group there was an increase from a baseline score of 15.1 (7.0) to 19.1 (3.0) and 19.0 (3.1) after 3 and 6 months, respectively. The effects with Prelox were statistically significant compared with placebo (P < 0.05). Mean (sd) total plasma testosterone levels increased significantly from 15.9 (2.3) to 18.9 (2.6) nmol/L (P < 0.05) after 6 months with Prelox, compared to an increase from 16.9 (2.4) to 17.3 (2.3) nmol/L in the placebo group.

CONCLUSION

This study shows that Prelox is effective for improving erectile function, and that this effect persists on continuous therapy for up to 6 months. Moreover, there is some evidence that erectile function continues to improve the longer the therapy is used.
Risk of bladder tumours after childhood cancer: The British Childhood Cancer Survivor Study
Authors: Frobisher Clare , Gurung Pratik M.S. , Leiper Alison , Reulen Raoul C. , Winter David L. , Taylor Aliki J. , Lancashire Emma R. , Woodhouse Christopher R.J. , Hawkins Michael M.
Published: February 2010

Study Type – Prognosis (population‐based cohort study) Level of Evidence 2b

OBJECTIVES

To estimate the risk of a second primary tumour (SPT) of the bladder in a cohort of childhood cancer survivors, investigate factors associated with a bladder SPT developing, and compare the risk observed with that expected from the general population.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The analysis included 17 981 individuals diagnosed with childhood cancer, between 1940 and 1991 in Britain, and surviving for ≥5 years. Ascertainment of a bladder SPT was primarily through the National Health Service Central Registers (NHSCR).

RESULTS

From the NHSCR, 17 bladder SPTs were ascertained; this corresponded to four times (95% confidence interval 2.5–6.4) the expected number of bladder tumours. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) varied significantly (P < 0.05) by first primary tumour (FPT) type, follow‐up period, attained age and chemotherapy. The highest SIRs were in those: with heritable retinoblastoma (31.4); treated with chemotherapy (12.0); 0–9 years of follow‐up (10.8); and aged 0–19 years (9.3). The absolute excess risk (AER) for a bladder SPT was 3.7 cases/100 000 survivors per year. The AER varied significantly by FPT type, follow‐up period, attained age and gender. The highest AERs were in those: diagnosed with heritable retinoblastoma (34.0); 20–29 years of follow‐up (14.2); aged 40–49 years (13.0); and male (5.8). Using multivariable Cox regression, FPT and chemotherapy were significantly associated with the risk of a bladder SPT developing. By the age of 55 years, 0.4% of survivors developed a bladder SPT.

CONCLUSION

Although the absolute risk of a bladder tumour within childhood cancer survivors was low, the risk was four times that expected from the general population. Specific groups, e.g. survivors of heritable retinoblastoma and those treated with chemotherapy, were at the highest risk.
A 10‐year follow‐up after transurethral resection of the prostate, contact laser prostatectomy and electrovaporization in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia; long‐term results of a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Hoekstra Robert J. , Van Melick Harm H.E. , Kok Esther T. , Ruud Bosch J.L.H.
Published: February 2010

Study Type – Therapy (RCT) Level of Evidence 1b

OBJECTIVE

To compare long‐term results of transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), contact laser prostatectomy (CLP) and electrovaporization of the prostate (EVAP) in men with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) suggestive of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between 1996 and 2001, a prospective, randomized controlled trial was conducted in 150 men with LUTS suggestive of BPH, who had a prostate volume of 20–65 mL and a Schäfer’s obstruction grade of ≥2. Outcome variables were the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), Quality of Life (QoL) question, Symptom Problem Index (SPI), BPH Impact Index (BII), maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax), prostate volume, prostate specific antigen (PSA) level, morbidity and mortality. In 2008 we carried out a long‐term follow‐up in these patients. Long‐term values were compared with preoperative values for each treatment group (Wilcoxon signed‐rank test), differences among groups were analysed (Kruskal–Wallis test) and actuarial failure‐rates of the interventions were determined (Kaplan‐Meier analysis).

RESULTS

Although we could account for 91% of the initial participants in 2008, 66 (44%) patients (29 TURP, 20 CLP and 17 EVAP) were available for follow‐up measurements after a mean (range) of 10.1(6.9–12.7) years Among the three treatment groups, there were no significant differences in IPSS, QoL, SPI, BII, Qmax, PSA level and prostate volume. The IPSS, QoL, SPI and BII were still improved (P < 0.05) from values before treatment for all treatments. Only in the TURP group were the long‐term results of Qmax still improved (P < 0.05). The mortality rate was comparable among the treatments. The 10‐year actuarial failure rates (95% confidence interval) were 0.11 (0.03–0.20), 0.22 (0.10–0.35) and 0.23 (0.11–0.35) for TURP, CLP and EVAP, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

After a mean follow‐up of 10.1 years, there were similar and durable improvements in IPSS, QoL, SPI and BII for patients with LUTS suggestive of BPH after TURP, CLP and EVAP. Between the treatment groups there were no statistically significant differences in Qmax, PSA levels and prostate volume at any time during the follow‐up. However, only patients treated with TURP showed minimal durable improvements in Qmax. There was no statistically significant difference in success rate and mortality rate among the three treatments.
Anti‐Politics as Political Strategy: Neoliberalism and Transfrontier Conservation in Southern Africa
Authors: Büscher Bram
Published: February 2010

Studies on conservation and development often point out that interventions rely on anti‐political manoeuvring to acquire legitimacy and support. Recent ‘aidnography’, in particular, has done much to expand and add nuance to our understanding of the complex, micro‐ (anti‐)politics at work in conservation and development interventions. In doing this, however, aidnography seems to have led the focus away from two crucial, broader issues related to conservation and development interventions: how they are regulated through the wider, neoliberal political economy, and how this fuels and obscures (global) inequality. Drawing on empirical research on a transfrontier conservation and development intervention in Southern Africa, this article argues that the differential workings of anti‐politics in practice warrant a renewed appreciation and a more explicit political operationalization of the concept. This is done by re‐emphasizing anti‐politics as an essential political strategy within conservation and development interventions and as an intrinsic element of the wider political economy of neoliberalism.
Diffuse Authority in the Beedi Commodity Chain: Naxalite and State Governance in Tribal Telangana, India
Authors: Suykens Bert
Published: February 2010

Although the Naxalite (Maoist) influence in India stretches from the north of Bihar to the south of Andhra Pradesh, their impact on the political economy of the Indian countryside — and specifically the tribal livelihood economy — remains understudied. This article examines how resource access is mediated in areas where both the state and the Naxalites hold some degree of public authority, using as a case study the trade in tendu leaves, used to make beedi cigarettes. This low‐profile, lootable resource provides the single most important source of income both for the tribals in North Telangana (during the summer season), and for the Maoists. The article presents a commodity chain framework, adapted to the concerns of multiple public authorities, to throw light on the linkages both between tribal procurement and Naxalite taxation and between government and Naxalite authority. The author argues that in a situation of long‐term conflict, relatively stable joint extraction regimes can be organized, by which all parties can benefit from multiple authority over certain resources.
Customary Tenure and Reciprocal Grazing Arrangements in Eastern Ethiopia
Authors: Beyene Fekadu
Published: February 2010

This article examines how customary tenure provides a basis for reciprocal access arrangements and facilitates access to grazing resources in order to adapt to changing conditions. A critical review of the literature on the range ecology and institutions of resource governance guides the overall analysis, while empirical results from three case studies show that internal social relationships and kinship structures still remain important determining factors in facilitating access to the grazing commons. Many forms of institutional arrangements exist, providing different kinds of incentives. For instance, trading of grazing rights at household level provides an important safety‐net for poor pastoral and agropastoral herders, in spite of fears regarding negative externalities for de facto co‐owners of the commons. Evidence from the three studied districts reveals that the influence of resource attributes on institutional choice favours flexibility rather than supporting the axiom of the conventional property rights theory, which considers greater exclusivity to be a natural response to scarcity. Institutions supporting reciprocal grazing relations are characterized by negotiability and by an ambiguity of rights: clan rules facilitating reciprocal grazing are not based on maximization of benefits from own grazing commons, but rather on maximization of security of use rights through investing in relations with others.
Gastrointestinal targets of appetite regulation in humans
Authors: Delzenne N. , Blundell J. , Brouns F. , Cunningham K. , De Graaf K. , Erkner A. , Lluch A. , Mars M. , Peters H. P. F. , Westerterp‐Plantenga M.
Published: February 2010

The aim of this paper is to describe and discuss relevant aspects of the assessment of physiological functions – and related biomarkers – implicated in the regulation of appetite in humans. A short introduction provides the background and the present state of biomarker research as related to satiety and appetite. The main focus of the paper is on the gastrointestinal tract and its functions and biomarkers related to appetite for which sufficient data are available in human studies. The first section describes how gastric emptying, stomach distension and gut motility influence appetite; the second part describes how selected gastrointestinal peptides are involved in the control of satiety and appetite (ghrelin, cholecystokinin, glucagon‐like peptide, peptide tyrosin‐tyrosin) and can be used as potential biomarkers. For both sections, methodological aspects (adequacy, accuracy and limitation of the methods) are described. The last section focuses on new developments in techniques and methods for the assessment of physiological targets involved in appetite regulation (including brain imaging, interesting new experimental approaches, targets and markers). The conclusion estimates the relevance of selected biomarkers as representative markers of appetite regulation, in view of the current state of the art.
Intergovernmental grants in Russia
Authors: Jarocińska Elena
Published: February 2010

Two hypotheses about the determinants of Russian intergovernmental grants are tested. According to the first hypothesis, federal transfers to regions correlate with recent voting behaviour of regional electorates. The second hypothesis states that transfers are higher in regions with politically powerful governors. I find a strong confirmation for the first hypothesis and no evidence for the second hypothesis for the years 1995–99. This result is robust across specifications. However, in the years 2000–2004 electoral variables show no effect on transfers. The only significant political variable is Putin’s visits to regions.
What do Russians think about transition?1
Authors: Denisova Irina , Eller Markus , Zhuravskaya Ekaterina
Published: February 2010

We use data from the 2006 round of the Russian Longitudinal Monitoring Survey to describe perceptions of the Russian population about the transition process and the role of the state compared with that of free markets. We find that about one‐half of the Russian population is disappointed with transition and a large majority is in favour of high state regulation and state provision of goods and services. High demand for government regulation and increased state intervention coexists with a low level of trust in government institutions and recognition of high and rising levels of corruption. The findings are consistent with the theory developed by Aghion et al. (2009). In an environment with poor social capital, private business imposes negative externalities on the society and society chooses to demand more state regulation and tolerate corruption to reduce these externalities. We also find that individual perceptions of social capital and corruption co‐vary with the demand for regulation, as predicted by the theory.
Does labour supply respond to a flat tax?
Authors: Duncan Denvil , Peter Klara Sabirianova
Published: February 2010

We exploit the exogenous change in marginal tax rates created by the Russian flat tax reform of 2001 to identify the effect of taxes on the labour supply of men and women. We apply a weighted difference‐in‐difference regression approach and instrumental variables to estimate labour supply functions using a panel dataset. The mean regression results indicate that the tax reform led to a statistically significant increase in hours of work for men but had no effect on work hours for women. However, we find a positive response to tax changes in both tails of the female work hour distribution. We also find that the reform increased the probability of finding a job among both men and women. Despite significant variation in individual responses, the aggregate labour supply elasticities are trivial. This suggests that reform‐induced changes in labour supply are an unlikely explanation for the amplified personal income tax revenues that followed the reform.
Reflection, Objectivity, and the Love of God, A Passage from Merleau‐Ponty's Phenomenology of Perception
Authors: Berman Michael
Published: February 2010

Merleau‐Ponty's Phenomenology of Perception (1945) essentially aims at debunking the myth of objectivity. The Phenomenology takes the entire Western tradition to task over its reliance on the objective attitude, showing how this attitude structures the architectonics of idealism and empiricism. These philosophies share the same presuppositions: their metaphysics and epistemologies are inherently dualistic. The problematics that stem from this objectivism have informed the Western understanding of God. This essay undertakes an examination of one of the more extended treatments of God in Merleau‐Ponty's magnum opus. The aim is not to justify or critique the objective attitude per se, but to show some of its radical implications for theology after Descartes. The passage of focus is on pages 358–9 in the English translation of the Phenomenology. The attempt here is to bring some of the research on Merleau‐Ponty into dialogue with the philosophy of religion, and is a tentative step in a larger project of looking at the role of God in Merleau‐Ponty's corpus.
The Courage to Create: The Role of Artistic and Spiritual Activities in Prisons
Authors: PARKES ROSE , BILBY CHARLOTTE
Published: February 2010

Abstract: Artistic and spiritual activities should be considered as important elements in varied and diverse responses to offenders' needs: they value humanity and seek well‐being. This article examines the role of interventions delivered to prisoners that do not fit within the categories of psychology, education or training (for example, pastimes such as visual and performance arts, meditation and yoga), and maps an alternative terrain to traditional concepts of rehabilitation and treatment. Whilst acknowledging the need to evidence effectiveness in order to satisfy policy makers, victims, and the wider public, we explore the constraints of quantifying the impact of these activities.
Diagnostic accuracy of noninvasive polymerase chain reaction testing for the determination of fetal rhesus C, c and E status in early pregnancy
Authors: Gutensohn K , Müller SP , Thomann K , Stein W , Suren A , Körtge‐Jung S , Schlüter G , Legler TJ
Published: February 2010

Please cite this paper as: Gutensohn K, Müller S, Thomann K, Stein W, Suren A, Körtge‐Jung S, Schlüter G, Legler T. Diagnostic accuracy of noninvasive polymerase chain reaction testing for the determination of fetal rhesus C, c and E status in early pregnancy. BJOG 2010; DOI: 10.1111/j.1471‐0528.2010.02518.x.

Objective  The aim of the study was to determine the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of noninvasive tests for the fetal rhesus CcEc (RHCE) alleles C, c and E in early pregnancy.

Design  A prospective clinical trial was carried out to evaluate diagnostic accuracy.

Setting  Women were recruited at four centres specialising in prenatal diagnosis. Peripheral blood and amniotic fluid samples were obtained and sent to a single laboratory for analysis.

Sample  A total of 233 tests (46 for C, 87 for c and 100 for E) were performed on 181 specimens obtained from pregnant women at weeks 12 to 28 (median week 16) of gestation.

Methods  Following automated extraction of fetal DNA from maternal plasma, two different real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) protocols were used for the detection of the C, c and E alleles of RHCE. The results of the PCR were compared with genotyping results for the amniotic fluid.

Main outcome measures  Failure rate, sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were the main outcome measures.

Results  Unequivocal results were obtained for all specimens. With the first PCR protocol, the sensitivity was 100% for C, 38% for c and 59% for E. In contrast, with the second protocol, the sensitivity for C, c and E was 100%. The specificity for all assays was found to be between 99% and 100%.

Conclusions  A highly accurate protocol has been identified for the detection of fetal RHCE alleles in maternal plasma in early pregnancy. This noninvasive approach can be considered as a useful test in the management of pregnancies with anti‐c, anti‐E or anti‐C alloimmunisation.
Half a century of succession in a temperate oakwood: from species‐rich community to mesic forest
Authors: Hédl Radim , Kopecký Martin , Komárek Josef
Published: February 2010

Aim  Lowland woodlands in Europe went through dramatic changes in management in the past century. This article investigates the influence of two key factors, abandonment of coppicing and increased pressure of ungulates, in thermophilous oakwoods. We focused on three interconnected topics: (1) Has the assumed successional trend lead to impoverishment of the vegetation assemblages? (2) Has it resulted in vegetation homogenization? (3) Are the thermophilous oakwoods loosing their original character?

Location  Czech Republic, Central Europe.

Methods  The vegetation in 46 semi‐permanent plots was recorded three times: firstly, shortly after the abandonment of coppicing (1953) and then, after four to six decades of secondary succession and strong game impact (1992 and 2006). Overall trends and changes in species spectra were analysed.

Results  There is a marked successional shift towards species‐poorer communities growing in cooler, moister and nutrient‐richer conditions. The change was significantly different in parts affected and unaffected by high numbers of ungulates yet only for herbs, not the woody species. However, observed change in species composition was not accompanied by significant homogenization process that is the general process reported from elsewhere. A sharp decline in plant species typical for thermophilous woodland communities and in endangered species indicates that the original character of the woodland has been gradually lost.

Main conclusions  Thermophilous oakwoods have been largely replaced by mesic forests. Lowland oakwoods in continental parts of Europe historically depended on active management, which kept the understorey conditions light and warm. Successional processes in the 20th century caused a critical loss of species diversity at various spatial levels. However, artificially high numbers of ungulates, which otherwise have a negative impact, probably held up succession, so that the changes may still be reversible.
Range size, taxon age and hotspots of neoendemism in the California flora
Authors: Kraft Nathan J. B. , Baldwin Bruce G. , Ackerly David D.
Published: February 2010

Aim  Sustaining biological diversity requires the protection of the ecological, evolutionary and landscape‐level processes that generate it. Here, we identify areas of high neoendemism in a global diversity hotspot, the California flora, using range size data and molecular‐based estimates of taxon age.

Location  California, USA.

Methods  We compiled distribution and range size data for all plant taxa endemic to California and internal transcribed spacer (ITS)‐based age estimates for 337 putative neoendemics (15% of the endemic flora). This information was combined to identify areas in the state with high proportions of young and restricted‐range taxa. We overlaid the distribution of neoendemic hotspots on maps of currently protected lands and also explored correlations between our diversity measures and climate.

Results  The central coast of California, the Sierra Nevada and the San Bernardino Range contained endemics with the most restricted distributions on average, while areas in the Desert and Great Basin provinces found within the state were composed of the youngest neoendemics on average. Diversity measures that took age and range size into account shifted the estimate of highest endemic diversity in the state towards the Desert and Great Basin regions relative to simple counts of endemic species richness. Our diversity measures were poorly correlated with climate and topographic heterogeneity.

Main conclusions  Substantial portions of California with high levels of plant neoendemism fall outside of protected lands, indicating that additional action will be needed to preserve the geographic areas apparently associated with high rates of plant diversification. The neoendemic flora of the deserts appears particularly young in our analyses, which may reflect the relatively recent origin of desert environments within the state.
Robust methods for detecting a small island effect
Authors: Dengler Jürgen
Published: February 2010

Aim  The small island effect (SIE), i.e. the hypothesis that species richness below a certain threshold area varies independently of island size, has become a widely accepted part of the theory of island biogeography. However, there are doubts whether the findings of SIEs were based on appropriate methods. The aim of this study was thus to provide a statistically sound methodology for the detection of SIEs and to show this by re‐analysing data in which an SIE has recently been claimed (Sfenthourakis & Triantis, 2009, Diversity and Distributions, 15, 131–140).

Location  Ninety islands of the Aegean Sea (Greece).

Methods  First, I reviewed publications on SIEs and evaluated their methodology. Then, I fitted different species–area models to the published data of area (A) and species richness (S) of terrestrial isopods (Oniscidea), with log A as predictor and both S (logarithm function) and log S (power function) as response variables: (i) linear; (ii) quadratic; (iii) cubic; (iv) breakpoint with zero slope to the left (SIE model); (v) breakpoint with zero slope to the right; (vi) two‐slope model. I used non‐linear regression with R2adj., AICc and BIC as goodness‐of‐fit measures.

Results  Many different methods have been applied for detecting SIEs, all of them with serious shortcomings. Contrary to the claim of the original study, no SIE occurs in this particular dataset as the two‐slope variants performed better than the SIE variants for both the logarithm and power functions.

Main conclusions  For the unambiguous detection of SIEs, one needs to (i) include islands with no species; (ii) compare all relevant models; and (iii) account for different model complexities. As none of the reviewed SIE studies met all these criteria, their findings are dubious and SIEs may be less common than reported. Thus, conservation‐related predictions based on the assumption of SIEs may be unreliable.
Gender differences in the cardiovascular effects of sex hormones
Authors: Vitale Cristiana , Fini Massimo , Speziale Giuseppe , Chierchia Sergio
Published: February 2010

Over the last decade, compelling evidence supports the idea that the different impact of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and the differences in vascular biology in men and women may be, at least in part, related to the cardiovascular and metabolic effects of sex steroid hormones. Indeed, androgens and oestrogens influence a multitude of vascular biological processes and their cardiovascular effects are multifaceted. While in women the effects of androgens mainly depend upon oestrogens’ levels and, ultimately, upon the estradiol/testosterone ratio, the effects of androgens in men mostly relate to their aromatization into oestrogens. Oestrogens exert potential beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system in both sexes. In women, the effect of oestrogens, alone or in association with progestins, has been widely investigated, but data obtained from older patient populations have lead the medical community and the general public to misleading conclusions. Growing evidence supports the ‘timing hypothesis’, which suggests that oestrogen/hormone replacement therapy may increase CVD risk if started late after menopause, but produce beneficial cardiovascular effects in younger postmenopausal women. Because in men adequate interventional studies with testosterone are lacking, specific investigations should be performed.
Surgical subcision as a cost‐effective and minimally invasive treatment for axillary osmidrosis
Authors: Liu Qingyang , Zhou Quanhong , Song Yeguang , Yang Songlin , Zheng Jianghong , Ding Zhi
Published: February 2010

Background  Axillary osmidrosis, characterized by unpleasant odor and occasional staining of clothing, is a personal discomfort and social impairment for people who suffer from it. Various types of surgical procedures involving instrumented‐assisted tools (lasers, ultrasonic, endoscope, and others) have shown relatively positive results; however, for patients in developing countries, especially in China, these treatments are inconvenient and cost‐ineffective.

Objective  To introduce a minimal incision surgical procedure with skin flap treatment that removes the apocrine sweat glands in the subcutaneous tissue through a 1‐cm‐long incision without instrument‐assisted tools.

Method  From July 2005 to October of 2007, 108 patients (68 women and 40 men) were treated with the minimal incision and cost‐effective surgical treatment by manual excision. A 1‐cm‐long incision is made in the axillary crease. Subcutaneous tissue and glands were removed with scissors through this incision. This procedure is repeated throughout the entire axilla until the axilla has essentially become a super‐thin flap.

Result  Malodor elimination was good in 206 out of 215 axillae (95.8%) treated, fair in nine (4.2%), and poor in zero (0%). The resulting scar is small and virtually invisible because it is only 1‐cm long and located in the axillary crease.

Conclusion  Treatment of axillary osmidrosis by manual excision through a 1‐cm incision is a convenient, efficient, cost‐effective, and relatively safe technique that results in high patient satisfaction and benefits patients and surgeons in developing countries.

Axillary osmidrosis, a non‐life‐threatening condition characterized by unpleasant odor and occasional staining of clothing, is an annoying problem, particularly in Asian societies. For many people who suffer from this problem, this condition is a personal discomfort, a social impairment, and discourages patients from enjoying social or personal activities, especially young women. They are usually embarrassed by the smell during their daily activities and communication with other people.
Sodium L‐ascorbyl‐2‐phosphate 5% lotion for the treatment of acne vulgaris: a randomized, double‐blind, controlled trial
Authors: Woolery‐Lloyd Heather , Baumann Leslie , Ikeno Hiroshi
Published: February 2010

Background  Antioxidants are becoming increasingly important in the treatment of skin disease. In addition to their known anti‐inflammatory effects, antioxidants may act to prevent the oxidation of sebum which has been proposed to be comedogenic in acne patients. Sodium L‐ascorbyl‐2‐phosphate (APS) is a stable vitamin C derivative and highly effective antioxidant that has demonstrated efficacy in acne in open label studies.

Objective  To evaluate the efficacy and safety of APS 5% lotion for the treatment of acne in a blinded controlled study.

Methods  A total of 50 subjects were randomized in a double‐blind controlled trial to receive APS 5% lotion or vehicle for 12 weeks. Evaluation included an Investigator’s Global Assessment Score, a Subjects’ Global Assessment Score, lesion counts, cutaneous tolerability, and adverse events.

Results  APS 5% lotion demonstrated statistically significant improvement when compared to vehicle in all of the parameters measured. The adverse event frequency and cutaneous tolerability profile for APS 5% lotion were similar to vehicle.

Limitations  Adjunctive topical or oral agents and their impact on acne were not studied in this trial.

Conclusions  This study demonstrates that 5% sodium L‐ascorbyl‐2‐phosphate is efficacious as monotherapy for the treatment of acne. APS 5% lotion offers a novel addition to our current acne armamentarium.