bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Furosemide‐induced changes in plasma and blood volume of camels (Camelus dromedarius)
Authors: ALI B.H. , ALHADRAMI G.A. , BASHIR A.K.
Published: November 2003

This work examines the effect of treatment of camels with furosemide (1 or 2 mg/kg, intravenously) on blood volume (BV), plasma volume (PV) and the plasma concentrations of total solids (PTS), plasma total protein (PTP) haemaglobin (Hb) and haematocrit (PCV). The cumulative urine produced during the 4 h following furosemide administration (2 mg/kg) averaged 22.2 mL/kg, compared to 2.3 mL/kg in controls. None of the above parameters were significantly changed by furosemide treatment at either dose.

In another experiment, the effect of the two doses of furosemide on the sequential changes on some of the above parameters was investigated at 5, 10, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, 105, 120 and 240 min after the drug administration.

On the whole, there were no significant changes in any of the measured parameters, except for small but statistically significant increases in the PCV and Hb at 30 and 45 min post treatment.

It is concluded that, despite the marked diuresis following furosemide administration, the camel appears to be able to maintain its bodily fluid haemostasis.
Development and characterization of an equine behaviour chamber and the effects of amitraz and detomidine on spontaneous locomotor activity
Authors: Harkins J. D. , Queiroz‐Neto A. , Mundy G. D. , West D. , Tobin T.
Published: November 2003

This report describes the development of a behaviour chamber and the validation of the chamber to measure locomotor activity of a horse. Locomotor activity was detected by four Mini‐beam sensors and recorded on a data logger every 5 min for 22 h. Horses were more active during daytime than in the evening, which was at least partially related to human activity in their surroundings. To validate the ability of the chambers to detect changes in activity, fentanyl citrate and xylazine HCl, agents well‐characterized as a stimulant and a depressant, respectively, were administered to five horses. Fentanyl citrate (0.016 mg/kg) significantly increased locomotor activity which persisted for 30 min. Xylazine HCl (1 mg/kg) significantly reduced locomotor activity for 90 min. Amitraz produced a dose‐dependent decrease in locomotor activity, lasting 75 min for the 0.05 mg/kg dose, 120 min for the 0.10 mg/kg dose, and 180 min for the 0.15 mg/kg dose. In a separate experiment, yohimbine administration immediately reversed the sedative effect of amitraz. This suggests there is a similarity in the mode of action of amitraz, xylazine and detomidine, as yohimbine acts primarily by blocking central α 2 ‐adrenoceptors that are stimulated by agents like xylazine. There was also a significant decrease in locomotor activity following injection of detomidine (0.02, 0.04 and 0.08 mg/kg) for 1.5, 3.5 and 5.0 h, respectively. The locomotor chamber is a useful, sensitive and highly reproducible tool for measuring spontaneous locomotor activity in the horse, which allows investigators to determine an agent’s average time of onset, duration and intensity of effect on movement.
Drugs in salmonid aquaculture – A review
Authors: Burka J. F. , Hammell K. L. , Horsberg T. E. , Johnson G. R. , Rainnie D. J. , Speare D. J.
Published: November 2003

In contrast to mammalian therapeutics, the use of pharmaceutical substances is rather limited in fish. It is basically restricted to anaesthetic agents and anti‐infective agents for parasitic and microbial diseases. Anaesthetic agents are used primarily in fish farm and laboratory settings to provide analgesia and immobilization of fish for minor procedures. The anti‐infective agents are used for controlling disease and the choice of drug depends on efficacy, ease of application, human safety, target animal safety including stress to the fish, environmental impact, regulatory approval, costs, and implications for marketing the fish. In this article, the major drugs used in salmonids in North America and Europe will be reviewed and some insight into future directions for drug development and use for the salmonid industry will be introduced. The mechanisms of action, pharmacokinetics, side effects, and uses of the drugs are emphasized.
Cardiopulmonary effects of clonidine, diazepam and the peripheral α2 adrenoceptor agonist ST‐91 in conscious sheep
Authors: CELLY C.S. , McDONELL W.N. , BLACK W.D. , YOUNG S.S.
Published: November 2003

The cardiopulmonary effects of the intravenous administration of clonidine (15 μg/kg), ST‐91 (30 μg/kg) and diazepam (0.4 mg/kg) were compared in five healthy sheep using a randomized cross‐over design, to determine whether the hypoxaemic effects of α2 adrenoceptor agonists are due to sedation, or to peripheral α2 adrenoceptor stimulation. All three drugs significantly lowered arterial oxygen tension (PaO2) levels within 2 min of their administration; however, clonidine and ST‐91 produced long lasting and severe hypoxaemia with mean PaO2 levels of ≈40 mm Hg and 50 mm Hg (5.3 kPa and 6.6 kPa), respectively. The fall in PaO2 was considerably less with diazepam (63 mm Hg or 8.4 kPa at 2 min) and by 15 min the values did not differ from placebo treated animals. None of the drugs increased arterial carbon dioxide tension (PaCO2) levels when compared to saline treatment and the acid base variables did not show any significant change. A significant increase was recorded in the packed cell volume of the ST‐91 treated group throughout the study. Within 2 min of their administration, all drugs caused a significant increase in mean arterial pressure (MAP) as compared to the placebo treated group. The MAP remained significantly increased for 5 and 60 min after clonidine and ST‐91 treatment, respectively. The study shows that ST‐91 and clonidine produce a greater degree of hypoxaemia than occurs with diazepam sedation, and that the hypoxaemic effect of α2 adrenoceptor agonists in sheep are mainly mediated by peripheral α2 adrenoceptors.
Pharmacokinetics of enrofloxacin in the red pacu (Colossoma brachypomum) after intramuscular, oral and bath administration
Authors: LEWBART G. , VADEN S. , DEEN J. , MANAUGH C. , WHITT D. , DOI A. , SMITH T. , FLAMMER K.
Published: November 2003

The intramuscular (i.m.), oral (p.o.), and bath immersion disposition of enrofloxacin were evaluated following administration to a cultured population of red pacu. The half‐life for enrofloxacin following i.m. administration was 28.9 h, considerably longer than values calculated for other animals such as dogs, birds, rabbits, and tortoises. The 4 h maximum concentration (Cmax) of 1.64 μg/mL following a single 5.0 mg/kg dosing easily exceeds the in vitro minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for 20 bacterial organisms known to infect fish. At 48 h post i.m. administration, the mean plasma enrofloxacin concentration was well above the MIC for most gram‐negative fish pathogens. The gavage method of oral enrofloxacin administration produced a Cmax of 0.94 μg/mL at 6–8 h. This Cmax was well above the reported in vitro MIC. A bath immersion concentration of 2.5 mg/L for 5 h was used in this study. The Cmax of 0.17 μg/mL was noted on the 2 hour post‐treatment plasma sample. Plasma concentrations of enrofloxacin exceeded published in vitro MIC’s for most fish bacterial pathogens 72 h after treatment was concluded. Ciprofloxacin, an active metabolite of enrofloxacin, was detected and measured after all methods of drug administration. It is possible and practical to obtain therapeutic blood concentrations of enrofloxacin in the red pacu using p.o., i.m., and bath immersion administration. The i.m. route is the most predictable and results in the highest plasma concentrations of the drug.
Pharmacokinetics of ceftiofur and metabolites after single intravenous and intramuscular administration and multiple intramuscular administrations of ceftiofur sodium to sheep
Authors: Craigmill A. L. , Brown S. A. , Wetzlich S. E. , Gustafson C. R. , Arndt T. S.
Published: November 2003

Twenty‐four sheep (38.0–54.1 kg body wt) were allocated into four treatment groups and dosed with ceftiofur sodium at 1.1 mg ceftiofur free acid equivalents (CFAE)/kg or 2.2 CFAE/kg using a complete two‐route (intravenous, i.v.; intramuscular, i.m.), two‐period crossover design, with a two‐week washout between injections. After another two‐week washout period, 12 sheep were selected and dosed with ceftiofur sodium i.m. for five consecutive days at either 1.1 or 2.2 mg CFAE/kg. After all injections, blood samples were obtained serially for determination of serum concentrations of ceftiofur and metabolites. The terminal phase half‐lives derived from the last 3–5 concentration‐time points were 350 and 292 min (harmonic means) after i.v. doses of 1.1 and 2.2 mg/kg, respectively, and 389 and 459 min after i.m. doses of 1.1 and 2.2 mg/kg, respectively. The i.m. bioavailability of ceftiofur sodium in sheep was 100%, and the area under the curve from time 0 to the limit of quantitation (AUC0–LOQ) was dose‐proportional from 1.1–2.2 mg CFAE/kg body wt in sheep. After 5 daily i.m. doses of ceftiofur sodium at either 1.1 or 2.2 mg CFAE/kg there was minimal accumulation of drug in serum as assessed by the observed maximum serum concentration (Cmax), and serum concentrations were dose‐proportional after the multiple dosing regimen.
Plasma pharmacokinetics of ranitidine HCl in adult horses
Authors: HOLLAND P. S. , RUOFF W. W. , BRUMBAUGH G. W. , BROWN S. A.
Published: November 2003

Plasma pharmacokinetics of ranitidine HCl were investigated after intravenous (i.v.) and oral (p.o.) administration of 2.2 mg/kg drug to six healthy adult horses. Concentrations of ranitidine were determined using normal‐phase, high‐performance liquid chromatography. Plasma concentrations of ranitidine HCl declined from a mean of 5175 ng/mL at 5 min to 37 ng/mL at 720 min after i.v. administration. A three‐exponent equation, Cp= A1· e–k1t+ A2· e–k2t+ A3· e–k3t, best described data for all horses. Mean values for model‐independent values calculated from the last quantifiable time point were: apparent volume of distribution (Vdss) = 1.07 L/kg; area under the curve (AUC) = 231,000 ng · min/mL; area under the moment curve (AUMC) = 26,900,000 ng · min2/mL; mean residence time (MRT) = 113 min; and clearance (Cl) = 9.8 mL/min.kg. Following p.o. administration, a two‐exponent equation, Cp= A1· e–k1t+ A2· e–k2t, best described the data for five horses; data for the remaining horse were best described by a three‐exponent equation. Mean values of pharmacokinetic values from the p.o. study include: AUC= 59,900 ng · min/mL; AUMC= 10,600,000 ng · min2/mL; mean absorption time (MAT) = 58.9 min; Tmax= 99.2 min; Cmax= 237 ng/mL; and F= 27%.
Pharmacokinetics of ampicillin and sulfadimidine in pigs infected experimentally with Streptococcus suum
Authors: YUAN Z.‐H. , MIAO X.‐Q. , YIN Y.‐H.
Published: November 2003

Twenty‐three hybrid pigs (23 ± 3 kg body wt) were assigned to three groups to investigate the pharmacokinetics of ampicillin (APC, 10 mg/kg) administered intravenously (i.v.) and intramuscularly (i.m.), and sulfadimidine (SDM, 50 mg/kg) administered intravenously as a bolus injection. In the first series of experiments the animals remained healthy. Subsequently, the pigs were infected with Streptococcus suum by subcutaneous (s.c.) inoculation and the experiments were repeated. The total apparent distribution volume of APC given intravenously was increased from 0.512 ± 0.026 L/kg in uninfected pigs to 0.68 ± 0.06 L/kg (P < 0.01) in infected pigs, whereas there were no significant changes in the same parameter for SDM (P > 0.05). The clearance of APC was increased markedly from 0.52 ± 0.07 L/kg/h in uninfected pigs to 0.62 ± 0.10 L/kg/h in infected pigs. In contrast, SDM clearance was decreased markedly from 0.023 ± 0.003 L/kg/h to 0.017 ± 0.003 L/kg/h (P < 0.05). As a result, the biological half‐lives of the drugs were altered to varying degrees in infected pigs. The half‐life of SDM was increased from 15.0 ± 3.0 h in uninfected pigs to 20 ± 7h in infected pigs (P < 0.05), but differences in APC half‐lives between uninfected and infected animals were not observed (P > 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in pharmacokinetic parameters of APC administered by intramuscular injection between the healthy and the diseased status, although its half‐life was shortened from 0.76 ± 0.22 h in the healthy to 0.57 ± 0.23 h in the diseased. The results suggest that blood concentrations of APC and SDM are affected differently by the same disease due to its specific effects on their distribution and elimination.
Multiple route and dose pharmacokinetics of enrofloxacin in juvenile Atlantic salmon
Authors: STOFFREGEN D. A. , WOOSTER G. A. , BUSTOS P. S. , BOWSER P. R. , BABISH J. G.
Published: November 2003

The fluoroquinolone antibacterial family is a relatively recent group of bactericidal compounds, generally characterized by efficacy against a wide spectrum of bacterial organisms and exhibiting minimal adverse effects in treated patients. The fluoroquinolones are widely prescribed in both human and veterinary medicine, though in veterinary medicine in the USA there are currently only two approved compounds, enrofloxacin (Baytril®, Bayer Animal Health, Shawnee Mission, KS) and sarafloxacin (SaraFlox®, Abbott Laboratories, North Chicago, IL), both with limited species and disease label approvals. Currently, there are no approved fluoroquinolone antibacterials to treat bacterial infectious diseases in cultured fish species. Enrofloxacin was administered to juvenile Atlantic salmon as a single bolus via intraarterial (i.a.), intraperitoneal (i.p.), intramuscular (i.m.), or oral gavage routes of administration. The drug was administered via the first three routes to achieve a dose of 10 mg/kg, and via oral gavage to achieve both 10 (p.o.‐10) and 5 (p.o.‐5) mg/kg doses. Two‐compartment model kinetics were observed with elimination of half‐lives (t1/2) of 130.6, 34.32, 84.98, 105.11, and 48.24 h, area under the drug concentration‐time curves (AUC) of 84.3, 75.31, 55.61, 41.68, and 38.81 μg·h/mL, and bioavailabilities (F) of 100, 89.34, 65.97, 49.44, and 46.04% (i.a., i.p., i.m., p.o.‐10, p.o.‐5, respectively). All administration routes at 10 mg/kg were found to yield comparable drug concentration–time curves for multiple tissue, indicating no distinct advantage of using one route over another from a kinetics perspective. Finally, the 5 mg/kg dose (p.o.‐5) yielded comparable multiple tissue drug concentration–time curves to the 10 mg/kg dose (p.o.‐10), providing pharmacokinetic evidence to justify therapeutic efficacy trials with the lower dose.
Prevalence of hepatitis G virus in hepatitis C virus (HCV)‐infected patients and in HCV‐contaminated intravenous immunoglobulin products
Authors: Farshid M. , Mitchell F. , Biswas R. , Ndimbie O. K. , Ding M.
Published: November 2003

Summary. Hepatitis GB virus C/hepatitis G virus (HGV) is an RNA virus, which appears to be transmitted by parenteral exposure to contaminated blood and blood products, and may be associated with clinical hepatitis in humans. The prevalence of HGV was investigated in hepatitis C virus (HCV)‐infected patients, and (HCV)‐contaminated immune globulin intravenous products (IGIV). manufactured prior to the introduction of viral inactivation processing, and in recipients of these lots. Nested primers, specific for the 5′ non‐coding region of HGV, were designed and used to test 100 chronic HCV patients. 10 HCV RNA‐positive IGIV lots and 36 of the recipients of these products. Hepatitis G virus specificity of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products was confirmed by sequencing a number of the amplified products and comparing the results with the published prototype sequence for HGV RNA. HGV RNA was detected in 23 of the 100 (23%) HCV‐infected patients. The level of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was lower in HCV‐HGV coinfected patients than those with HCV infection alone. Hence, the severity of HCV infections is not influenced by HGV. Two of the 10 (20%) IGIV lots tested positive for HGV RNA; however, none of the serum samples from recipients of IGIV contained detectable HGV RNA although many were infected with HCV. This suggests that the transmission of HGV RNA from IGIV to the recipients is less efficient than that seen for HCV.
Recombinant interferon‐α therapy for acute hepatitis B: a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial
Authors: Tassopoulos N. C. , Koutelou M. G. , Polychronaki H. , Paraloglou‐Ioannides M. , Hadziyannis S. J.
Published: November 2003

Summary. In spite of the availability of hepatitis B vaccine, acute hepatitis B continues to be a worldwide problem for which no specific therapy is available. We investigated the safety and the effectiveness of recombinant interferon‐α2b (rIFN‐α2b) in the treatment of acute hepatitis B by determining overall severity and duration of symptoms, time required to clear viral antigens and hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA, and titre of antibodies to hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAb), 24 weeks after the onset of therapy. One hundred patients were randomly assigned to treatment with either 3 million units (MU) (n= 34) or 10 MU (n= 33) rIFN‐α2b or to placebo (n= 33), three times weekly for 3 weeks. Follow‐up was for 24 weeks. A significantly shorter duration of the symptoms and signs of acute hepatitis was observed in patients who received 3 MU rIFN‐α2b compared with those who received 10 MU rIFN‐α2b or placebo. Twenty‐one weeks post‐therapy, patients treated with 10MU rIFN‐α2b showed a significantly higher geometric mean HBsAb titre than those treated with placebo (85.1 vs 35.5 IU1‐1, P < 0.05), rIFN‐α2b administration was well tolerated even in jaundiced patients. No serious side‐effects were observed necessitating reduction in dose or discontinuation of the drug. The effect of rIFN‐α2b on transition of HBV infection to chronicity could not be evaluated in this trial because such an unfavourable course was not seen in any of the treated or the control patients. In conclusion, rIFN‐α2b was safe in acute hepatitis B, and at low dose was found to ameliorate symptoms and to shorten significantly the duration of illness.
Transmission of hepatitis C virus to infants of human immunodeficiency virus‐negative intravenous drug‐using mothers: rate of infection and assessment of risk factors for transmission
Authors: Spencer J. D. , Latt N. , Beeby P. J. , Collins E. , Saunders J. B. , McCaughan G. W. , Cossart Y. E.
Published: November 2003

Summary.The risk of perinatal transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) from a cohort of 95 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)‐negative intravenous drug users (IVDU) is described, 89 of whom were positive for antibodies to HCV (anti‐HCV). Infection, defined as the presence of HCV RNA in a serum sample collected from an infant at any time during follow‐up, was detected in six of 63 (9.5%) infants born to HCV antibody‐positive viraemic mothers. No mother who was HCV RNA negative at delivery transmitted HCV to her infant. Hepatitis C virus antibodies became undetectable in uninfected infants by 15 months, but persisted in all HCV‐infected infants throughout follow‐up. An abnormal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level was observed on at least one occasion in all HCV‐infected infants and in six occasions in uninfected infants. Two of the six HCV‐infected infants became HCV RNA negative during follow‐up by 27 and 29 months. Both of these infants had a large ALT elevation (mean peak ALT 398 U1‐1) at around 12 months of age. Analysis of a range of potential risk factors revealed that maternal HCV RNA load was important in predicting transmission, but suggested that other factors play a role in perinatal transmission from mother to child. No difference was found between mothers who transmitted HCV to their infants and those who did not for HCV genotype, duration of drug use, duration of methadone use, methadone dose, history of alcohol abuse, past hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, mode of delivery, maternal and gestational age, birth weight and incidence of breast‐feeding. Mothers who transmitted HCV to their infants had a longer duration between membrane rupture and delivery than the mothers who did not transmit (P= 0.03). HCV RNA was not detected in breast milk and colostrum samples from 38 viraemic mothers, including two who transmitted HCV to their infant.
Education in primary care psychiatry: research‐based audit
Authors: Singleton A J , Smith F R
Published: November 2003

This paper describes some of the difficulties faced by the KCGP Mental Health Education Fellows in designing an educational initiative to enhance the recognition and management of psychiatric illness in general practice. The initiative was evaluated using a consensus technique over six meetings which took place between 1993 and 1995. The results of the exercise illustrated the value of utilizing a validated instrument in identifying mental health problems, but when employed without support created disillusionment and a lack of confidence in the learner. However, when the instrument was applied as part of a wide educational process examining current practice, learners were stimulated to examine and change their behaviour by synthesizing newly acquired knowledge with their own previous clinical experience.
Applicants to medical school: the value of predicted school leaving grades
Authors: Lumb Andrew B , Vail Andy
Published: November 2003

Among school leavers applying to study medicine in the United Kingdom a majority offer General Certificate of Education, Advanced Level (A‐level) examinations as part of the assessment of academic ability. At the time of application, up to 9 months before completing A‐level studies, schools are requested to predict the final grades likely to be achieved by the applicant. A total of 5054 A‐level predictions from 1661 applicants to a single medical school were compared with the results achieved. Predicted and achieved grades were both high with 93% of predicted grades being A or B. Over half the predictions were correct, with 41% of predictions above achieved grades and only 7% below achieved grade. Independent and selective schools predicted higher grades than comprehensive schools and sixth form colleges, and their pupils were more likely to achieve the entrance requirements. A‐level predictions for medical school applicants are a strong predictor of achievement and should continue to be regarded as a useful part of the selection process.
Teaching medical students about the appropriateness of social and sexual contact between doctors and their patients: evaluation of a programme
Authors: Coverdale J H , Turbott S H
Published: November 2003

The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of an educational intervention on medical students' attitudes toward social and sexual contact with patients by doctors from three medical specialties (general practice, obstetrics/gynaecology and psychiatry). Medical students from two consecutive fifth year classes at one medical school participated in one 3 hour session that included instruction on the standards of the profession that prohibit doctor–patient sexual contact. Students were assigned to either intervention groups or control groups and responded to an anonymous questionnaire (overall response rate 66·8% ; n=141). As many as 14·5% of control group students thought it was (sometimes or usually) appropriate for general practitioners to date their own patients and at least 3% thought it appropriate for members of any of these three medical specialties to engage in sexual contact with their own patients. However, there were no significant differences in attitudes toward hugging, dating or sexual contact with current patients between those who had attended the seminar and the control groups. The session significantly influenced attitudes regarding obstetrician/gynaecologists and psychiatrists hugging and having sexual contact with former patients. These findings are discussed in relation to a need for expansion of such instruction.
The Hampshire Depression Project: development and piloting of clinical practice guidelines and education about depression in primary health care
Authors: Stevens L , Kinmonth A‐L , Peveler R , Thompson C
Published: November 2003

This paper describes the development and piloting of a comprehensive educational programme about recognition and management of depressive illness in primary care. Full evaluation of the effectiveness of the programme is currently underway in a randomized controlled trial, the Hampshire Depression Project (HDP), involving 56 general practices. The programme consists of clinical practice guidelines, practice‐based seminars and follow‐up sessions. Each part of the programme has been designed to be flexible, clinically oriented and relevant to all members of the multidisciplinary primary care team. The pilot study established the need for a systematic approach to the access of practices and practice teams, and the organization and process of the seminars. Application of this approach was associated with excellent attendance in the main programme.
Problem‐based learning: measurable outcomes
Authors: Thomas Roger E
Published: November 2003

Problem‐based learning (PBL) could potentially contribute to four key objectives in the education of doctors. (1) Motivating learning. Three studies show that students studying PBL problems choose fewer topics to study than those identified by the faculty, but one study of a critical care rotation showed that students were motivated to learn over a wider range of basic science topics than had been included in the basic science curriculum. (2) Developing clinical reasoning. One study compared methods of solving problems in PBL and conventional track curricula and suggested that PBL students work backwards from clinical information to theory, while conventional curriculum students tend to reason forward from theory. One study showed that computer searches provide knowledge for helping solve some PBL problems, and another study showed that specific knowledge in emergency medicine correlated with test scores. (3) Structuring knowledge in clinical contexts. A few studies show that PBL students perform less well on basic science examinations but better on clinical examinations. Educational outcomes, however, have been assessed quantitatively mainly by the U.S. National Boards of Medical Examiners Examinations or by clinical examinations with small samples. Only one study includes a power computation to assess type II error. There are no studies that examine how much variance occurs between PBL programmes in their curricular methods and outcomes. (4) Developing self‐learning skills. PBL students use a much wider range and number of resources than conventional track students. There is only one study comparing the knowledge of doctors trained by PBL and conventional curricula after the doctors have been in practice for a substantial number of years, and no studies of patient outcomes. Patient outcomes need to be assessed with randomized controlled trials, and sample sizes should be determined by power computations to avoid Type II error. Four possible methods of improving PBL would be to derive national and internationally accepted PBL curricula; to organize internationally accepted and psychometrically validated methods of evaluation; to develop attitudes among students and tutors to facilitate co‐operative PBL teamwork; and to teach group process diagnostic skills.
Identifying core skills for the medical curriculum
Authors: Bax N D S , Godfrey J
Published: November 2003

A survey was undertaken at the University of Sheffield Medical School to identify clinical and other professional skills which are required on graduation and to assess whether and when these skills have been acquired. The purpose of the survey was to identify core practical skills, defined as skills which the majority of clinical firms require and which, in addition, were used by the majority of Pre‐registration house officers (PRHOs). The survey was conducted by questionnaires which were circulated to the following four sample groups (number in sample: % response rate): (1) consultants in clinical firms taking undergraduates and post‐graduates from Sheffield Medical School (63: 75%); (2) house officers starting their pre‐registration year (118: 52%); (3) house officers ending their pre‐registration year (120: 43%); and (4) undergraduates starting their final year (110: 65%). The questionnaire contained a stimulus list of 31 clinical and four personal skills with an opportunity for respondents to list other skills they felt to be important. Of the 35 skills listed on the questionnaire, 26 were identified as core practical skills. Fifteen of the core skills had been acquired by the majority of students by the time they graduated, 13 of which were acquired prior to the final undergraduate year. Core skills not acquired as an undergraduate were acquired as a PRHO. The survey acted as a quality control mechanism for teaching at both undergraduate and post graduate levels and provided the basis of a medical school core of practical skills on the basic medical education continuum.
The still video camera: a suitable and convenient method of demonstrating post mortem findings
Authors: Hunt N C A , James D S , Bull A D
Published: November 2003

The post mortem demonstration continues to play an important role in medical education at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. However, for a variety of reasons its format needs to be adaptable in order to maximize the educational benefit and increasingly to comply with legislation. We have developed a method of demonstration based upon a still video camera system which we have found is acceptable to our students and overcomes some of the problems associated with other formats. In this paper we describe the system itself, compare it with other systems, discuss its potential applications and present the results of a questionnaire‐based survey of the first groups of medical students to be taught in this way. These results confirm that the technique is popular with students and that it appears to be a useful teaching modality worthy of further development.
Clinical skills training: developing objective assessment instruments
Authors: O'Connor H M , McGraw R C
Published: November 2003

The purpose of this study was to develop objective assessment instruments for use in psychomotor skill training and to test the instruments for interobserver reliability. Two checklist style instruments, one for suturing and one for endotracheal intubation, were developed through a process of review of standard texts, consultation with local experts and field testing. Following development they were used by paired examiners in an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) setting to test the instruments for interobserver reliability. A total of 88 final year medical students were recruited from the five Ontario medical schools to participate as examinees. The checklists worked well within the practical constraints of a 10 minute OSCE station and demonstrated a high level of interobserver reliability with Kappa scores of 0·65 for the suturing checklist and 0·71 for the intubation checklist. Furthermore, the Kappa scores for individual checklist items served to identify items which demonstrated poor interobserver reliability and thus highlighted them for review.
Testing models of female reproductive migratory behaviour and population structure in the Caribbean hawksbill turtle, Eretmochelys imbricata, with mtDNA sequences
Authors: BASS A. L. , GOOD D. A. , BJORNDAL K. A. , RICHARDSON J. I. , HILLIS Z.‐M. , HORROCKS J. A. , BOWEN B. W.
Published: November 2003

Information on the reproductive behaviour and population structure of female hawksbill turtles, Eretmochelys imbricata, is necessary to define conservation priorities for this highly endangered species. Two hypotheses to explain female nest site choice, natal homing and social facilitation, were tested by analysing mtDNA control region sequences of 103 individuals from seven nesting colonies in the Caribbean and western Atlantic. Under the social facilitation model, newly mature females follow older females to a nesting location, and subsequently use this site for future nesting. This model generates an expectation that female lineages will be homogenized among regional nesting colonies. Contrary to expectations of the social facilitation model, mtDNA lineages were highly structured among western Atlantic nesting colonies. These analyses identified at least 6 female breeding stocks in the Caribbean and western Atlantic and support a natal homing model for recruitment of breeding females. Reproductive populations are effectively isolated over ecological time scales, and recovery plans for this species should include protection at the level of individual nesting colonies.
Migration and evolution of lesser long‐nosed bats Leptonycteris curasoae, inferred from mitochondrial DNA
Authors: WILKINSON G. S. , FLEMING T. H.
Published: November 2003

We used sequence variation within 297 bp of control region mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) amplified from 53 lesser long‐nosed bats, Leptonycteris curasoae (Phyllostomidae: Glossophaginae) captured at 13 locations in south‐western United States and Mexico and one site in Venezuela to infer population structure and possible migration routes of this endangered nectar‐ and fruit‐eating species. Phylogenetic analysis using maximum parsimony and UPGMA confirmed species and subspecies distinctions within Leptonycteris and revealed two clades exhibiting 3% sequence divergence within the Mexican subspecies, L. c. yerbabuenae. Even though many roosts contained L. c. yerbabuenae from both clades, weak population structure was detected both by a correlation between genetic differentiation, Fstr and geographical distance and by a cladistic estimate of the number of migration events required to align bat sequences with geographical location on maximum parsimony, as compared to random, trees. Three results suggest that L. c. yerbabuenae are more likely to migrate between sites along the Pacific coast of Mexico or along the foothills of the Sierra Madre Occidental than between these regions. (1) Seventeen of 20 bats which shared an identical sequence were captured up to 1800 km apart but within the same putative migration corridor. (2) Residuals from a regression of Fst on distance were greater between than within these regions. (3) Fewer migration events were required to align bats with these two groups than expected from random assignment. We recommend analysing independent genetic data and monitoring bat visitation to roost sites during migration to confirm these postulated movements.
Distinguishing between primary and secondary intergradation among morphologically differentiated populations of Anolis marmoratus
Authors: SCHNEIDER C. J.
Published: November 2003

Distinguishing between primary and secondary intergradation among differentiated populations, and the relative importance of drift and selection, are persistent problems in evolutionary biology. An historical perspective on population interactions can provide insight into the nature of contacts, and thus help resolve these questions. Continuously distributed populations of Anolis marmoratus from the island of Basse Terre in the Guadeloupean archipelago of the Lesser Antilles show a striking degree of geographic variation in morphology. Initial surveys of mtDNA variation from throughout the Guadeloupean Archipelago revealed one case where levels of sequence difference and phylogenetic relationships of alleles from morphologically differentiated populations from the east coast of Basse Terre were consistent with primary intergradation. In this paper, I examine the genetic population structure of a series of populations spanning this north‐south cline in morphological variation to test the hypothesis of primary intergradation. Sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome‐b gene from 50 individuals representing five populations spanning the cline were obtained and fourteen unique haplotypes (differing by 2% or less) were detected. Patterns of nucleotide substitution among haplotypes do not deviate from neutral expectation indicating no effect of selection at the level of mtDNA sequences. Estimates of population structure and gene flow were made using both summary statistics for nucleotide diversity (Nat) and cladistic methods. The results are sensitive to the choice of gene flow model, and this is discussed in detail. Mitochondrial variation in the northern populations may not be at equilibrium, and the phylogeny of alleles is consistent with a recent increase in effective population size. Estimates of nucleotide diversity, gene flow, and the phylogenetic relationships of haplotypes indicate that the southern‐most population (representing the extreme of morphological variation along this cline) has been relatively isolated from populations to the north and has experienced a reduced effective population size. The apparent clinal variation between the southern population and the others may therefore reflect secondary contact and introgression rather than primary intergradation.
Genotypic diversity revealed by allozymes and oligonucleotide DNA fingerprinting in French populations of the aquatic macrophyte Sparganium erectum
Authors: PIQUOT Y. , SAUMITOU‐LAPRADE P. , PETIT D. , VERNET P. , EPPLEN J. T.
Published: November 2003

The vast majority of perennial plants reproduce sexually and vegetatively at the same time. This may lead to important variation among clonal plant populations in their amount of genotypic diversity. In order to verify this assumption, we compare the clonal diversity of 10 natural populations of the aquatic clonal macrophyte Sparganium erectum in France. Diversity was quantified by DNA fingerprinting and allozyme electrophoresis for a sample of 10 shoots per population. Two DNA probes (CA)3 and (TAA)6TA, were selected among 10 synthetic oligonucleotide probes containing simple repeat motifs. Both allozymes and DNA fingerprints revealed different amounts of diversity among populations. Five populations consist of a single genotype, whereas two populations were genetically highly diverse. In four of the monomorphic populations, absence of fingerprints diversity was combined with uniformly heterozygous allozyme loci, suggesting that each population was composed of a single clone. In the highly diverse populations, the level of clonal diversity combined with the allele segregation of the two allozyme loci Lap and Est suggests frequent seedling recruitment. The origin of new genotypes remains unclear but the absence of widespread genotypes together with the discrete distribution of Sparganium erectum populations implies that new genotypes are locally produced through sexual reproduction.
DNA RFLPs at a highly polymorphic locus distinguish European and African subspecies of the honey bee Apis mellifera L. and suggest geographical origins of New World honey bees
Authors: MCMICHAEL M. , HALL H. G.
Published: November 2003

A highly polymorphic locus in the honey bee, Apis mellifera L., was detected with genomic probe pB178. Eighty‐five alleles, consisting of MspI and DdeI RFLPs, were found among the Old and New World bees tested. Forty‐one MspI and 43 DdeI restriction fragment patterns, or variants, were identified. Variants and alleles were discontinuously distributed in Old World European and African subspecies. Principal coordinate analysis of the genetic distances between the alleles resulted in the identification of three distinct groups corresponding to three groups of honey bee races with historically different geographical distributions: east European A. m. ligustica and A. m. caucasica; west European A. m. mellifera; and South African A. m. scutellata. The clustering of alleles into these groups is consistent with previous honey bee phylogeographic studies, employing other nuclear and mitochondrial DNA markers, which in part support the evolutionary history of the honey bee hypothesized by Ruttner based on morphometric and allozyme data. The majority of alleles in bees from the USA grouped with those found in east European bees, while other alleles grouped with alleles found in A. m. mellifera. While the majority of the alleles in neotropical bees grouped with or were identical to African alleles, other alleles grouped with alleles found in A. m. mellifera, A. m. ligustica, and A. m. caucasica. Clues to the ancestry of neotropical bees may be found in the identification of alleles that were identical or more similar to alleles found in South African and west European bees; evidence for west European ancestry has been suggested using other taxonomic characters that were not unique to west European bees. Both west European and African alleles were found in individual neotropical colonies, which may indicate that honey bee subspecies which evolved allopatrically have hybridized in the human‐assisted extension of their original geographical ranges.
RAPD analysis reveals low genetic variability in the endangered light‐footed clapper rail
Authors: Nusser J. A. , Goto R. M. , Ledig D. B. , Fleischer R. C. , Miller M. M.
Published: November 2003

Numbers of light‐footed clapper rails Rallus longirostris levipes, an endangered bird inhabiting southern California salt marshes, have substantially declined from historic levels. RAPD (randomly amplified polymorphic DNA) analysis was employed to assess the genetic variability within and among four of the largest remaining light‐footed clapper rail populations. A single, larger population of the endangered Yuma clapper rail Rallus longirostris yumanensis was used for comparison.

A total of 325 RAPD primers were tested on DNA from a subset of five clapper rails composed of a single representative for each of the four light‐footed clapper rail populations and a representative for the single Yuma clapper rail population. Of the 1338 amplified bands (loci) surveyed in these five representative birds, approximately 1% were polymorphic, indicating the level of differentiation across all loci is quite low. Nine primers yielding these 16 polymorphic bands were used to analyse 48 individuals from five populations. Five of these bands were polymorphic in both subspecies, six were polymorphic only within the light‐footed clapper rails, and five were polymorphic only within the Yuma clapper rail samples. Considering the few bands that were polymorphic among the light‐footed clapper rail populations, a surprisingly high level of population differentiation (GST= 0.28) was found. This is in accord with the results of AMOVA analyses which show that a fairly high percentage of the limited variability among the rails is due to either differences between subspecies or differences between the light‐footed rail populations. Because inbreeding depression is suspected and overall genetic distances between populations are low, movement of light‐footed clapper rails from larger populations into smaller ones might be considered as a management strategy. Employing RAPDs as one of a series of assays is useful in revealing the population structure of genetically depauperate species.
Mating structure and nestmate relatedness in a communal bee, Andrena jacobi (Hymenoptera, Andrenidae), using microsatellites
Authors: Paxton R. J. , Thorén P. A. , Tengö J. , Estoup A. , Pamilo P.
Published: November 2003

Complex eusocial insect societies are generally matrifilial, suggesting kin selection has been of importance in their development. For simpler social systems, factors favouring their existence, in particular kin selection, have rarely been studied. Communal nesting is one of these simple social organizations, and is found in a diversity of insect species. To examine whether kin selection may play a role in the evolution and maintenance of communality, we estimated genetic relatedness of nestmate females of the facultatively communal bee, Andrena jacobi. Microsatellite loci were developed for this species and used to analyse individuals from two populations. Loci were variable, they were in heterozygote deficit and showed positive inbreeding coefficients. This may arise from nonrandom mating; previous observations (Paxton & Tengö 1996) indicate that a large proportion of females mate intranidally with nestmate males in their natal nests before first emerging. Nestmate relatedness was low, no different from zero for all loci in one population and for three of four loci in the other population. The large number of nestmates sharing a common nest (up to 594) may explain the low relatedness estimates, although relatedness was also independent of the number of females sharing a nest. Lack of inclusive fitness payoffs could constrain social evolution in this communal species.
RAPD marker estimation of genetic structure among isolated northern leopard frog populations in the south‐western USA
Authors: Kimberling D. N. , Ferreira A. R. , Shuster S. M. , Keim P.
Published: November 2003

Amphibians in the south‐western United States are currently experiencing population declines. Causal explanations for these population changes as well as the implementation of sound management practices requires an understanding of the genetic structure of natural amphibian populations. To this end, we estimated genetic differences within and among seven isolated populations of northern leopard frogs, Rana pipiens, from Arizona and southern Utah using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analyses. Fourteen arbitrarily designed primers detected 38 polymorphic loci in 85 individual frogs. Three types of population structure were observed in this study. (i) Two populations showed low genetic diversity (D= 0.10 and 0.04) and may have been established by relatively recent events. (ii) Two were not genetically distinct and exhibited a high degree of within‐population diversity (D= 0.35). The possibility of gene flow between these populations is high due to their geographical proximity and their shared genetic structure. (iii) Three populations were genetically distinct from each other and the other populations, and exhibited intermediate within‐population variation (D= 0.19, 0.17, 0.14). Genetic distances among the seven populations ranged from 0.00 to 0.20, suggesting that some of these leopard frog populations are genetically distinct. Although based on relatively small samples, these data suggest that leopard frog populations in the south‐west are likely to represent unique genetic entities worthy of conservation. The management implications of these results are that isolated leopard frog populations should be evaluated on an individual basis to best preserve them.
Chloroplast DNA phylogeography of the argan tree of Morocco
Authors: El Mousadik A. , Petit R. J.
Published: November 2003

Polymorphisms in the chloroplast genome of the argan tree (Sapotaceae), an endemic species of south‐western Morocco, have been detected by restriction site studies of PCR‐amplified fragments. A total of 12 chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) and two mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) fragments were amplified and digested with a single restriction enzyme (HinfI). Polymorphisms were identified in six of the cpDNA fragments, whereas no mtDNA polymorphisms were detected in a survey of 95 individuals from 19 populations encompassing most of the natural range of the species. The cpDNA polymorphisms allowed the identification of 11 haplotypes. Two lineages, one in the south‐east and the other in the north‐west, divide the range of the argan tree into two distinct areas. The level of genetic differentiation measured at the haplotype level (GSTc= 0.60) (i.e. with unordered haplotypes) was smaller than when phylogenetic relationships were taken into account (NSTc= 0.71–0.74) (ordered haplotypes), indicating that population history must be considered in the study of the geographical distribution of cpDNA lineages in this species. If contrasted with the level of nuclear genetic differentiation measured in a previous study with isozymes (GSTn= 0.25), the results indicate a relatively high level of gene flow by seeds, or conversely a relatively low level of gene flow by pollen, as compared with other tree species. Goats and camels could have played an important role in disseminating the fruits of this tree.