bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The impact of the impact evaluation: Evaluation of the HIV/AIDS Women's Project 1998
Authors: Price Pam , Leane Katherine
Published: August 2009

The HIV/AIDS Women's Project (Women's Health Statewide) was established under the auspices of Women's Health Statewide and is supported by a reference group which meets monthly to oversee the work of the Project. The role of the Project is to enhance the health and wellbeing of HIV-positive women and their families in South Australia. In 1998 a consultant was employed to review the role and effectivness of this Project in the HIV/AIDS sector. The evaluation soon evolved beyond its review and evaluation roles, identifying the complex work of the Project and broadening the understanding of women's perspectives in the context of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in South Australia. This paper explores the evaluation process and comments on the effects that participation in the review process has had on both HIV-positive women who participated in the evaluation and on the future work of the Project.
Researching Health and Homelessness: Methodological Challenges for Researchers Working with a Vulnerable, Hard to Reach, Transient Population
Authors: Booth Sue
Published: August 2009

The purpose of this paper is to outline some methodological considerations for researchers working with vulnerable, transient, hard-to-reach populations. The research has been developed from reflecting on planning a study to examine the food and nutrition issues for homeless young people in inner city Adelaide. Homelessness is discussed as an example, however, many of the points are transferable to other 'hidden' or hard-to-reach populations. This applies particularly to those whose lives can be characterised by stigmatisation and powerlessness, for example, people with mental illness, sex workers, drug users/dealers, or transsexuals; that is, many groups which are relatively 'invisible' on a daily basis.
Evaluation of Outreach Community Health Care to Insecurely Housed Sydney Men
Authors: L. Basser Margaret
Published: August 2009

A community health outreach service was piloted among older homeless Sydney men in 1997/98 from Darlinghurst Community Health Centre, responding to an observed disparity between their high health needs and low use of community health care. The project tried to improve their access to community health services, their health and quality of life by allocating a project worker who built referral networks, assisted the men and advocated for them with other agencies. From the impact evaluation, the conclusion could be drawn that the men's access to community services improved, but whether lasting benefits were delivered by the interventions remained ambiguous. Referrals of homeless men from GPs and hospitals to the health centre increased in the year following the pilot, despite the absence of a project worker for most of that time. The project was guided by an inter-sectoral advisory committee, whose deliberations altered the evaluation questions, the interpretation of findings and recommendations. Reflection on this process led to some lessons about working with committees. The pilot project has contributed to the current planning in South Eastern Sydney Area Health Service to address homeless people's health care issues by highlighting some of the issues and viable responses to them.
Regional Health Development Partnerships
Authors: King Rosie , Bentley Michael , Murray Charlie , Baum Fran
Published: August 2009

This paper outlines a project funded by the World Health Organization (WHO) in the Hills Mallee Southern Region of rural South Australia. The project involves trialling guidelines produced by the WHO to assist regional health services to develop and support partnerships for health development with community groups and organisations. The guidelines suggest the following steps: identifying what Health Development Structures exist in their region by making an inventory of community groups and organisations in their area; analysing them for potential collaboration; and building sustainable alliances for health promotion and joint action on broader health issues. Six hundred community groups and organisations were identified and from the responses an inventory summarising the activities of 228 groups has been prepared. Seventy five percent of these groups and organisations consider that their activities relate to health and 28% have worked with a health service, although few had participated in 'joint projects' with the formal health sector. Detailed case studies were conducted with five groups from which a set of principles for partnership development was established.
Quality Health Information: A Report on a Quality Health Information Development and Provision Project in Women's Health
Authors: Dearn Liz , Ferlazzo Chris
Published: August 2009

There is much discussion about quality information in the primary health care sector but despite the plethora of health information available to consumers, information provision processes and tools for determining the quality of health information are generally not available. This project report first makes visible the framework and processes within which quality telephone health information is provided for consumers by this statewide women's health organisation. Second, it reports on the development of a quality resources package which aims to enhance access to quality health information by consumers. The project provides some benchmarks for quality information processes for providers and producers of information as well as making quality information available for consumers.
Self-serve' Fixed Needle and Syringe Exchange Models: Are they Addressing Client Needs?
Authors: Bennett Gabrielle
Published: August 2009

The AIDS Prevention Program (APP) of the Inner South Community Health Service (ISCHS) has a long history of effectiveness and innovation at both the local level and in the broader environment. One component of the Service's approach to continuous quality improvement has been a review of the fixed Needle and Syringe Exchange Program (NSEP) operating from the Prahran site of the ISCHS. This paper outlines briefly the APP, describes the review process itself, and discusses recommendations arising from the review.
Guest Editorial: Health Promotion Evaluation
Authors: Swerissen Hal
Published: August 2009

Health promotion has changed significantly over the past twenty years. From its origins based on relatively simple models of individual behaviour change it has evolved to incorporate complex models involving multi causal influences. Interventions have developed from single method, single risk factor to integrated, multi factorial approaches. Similarly, from initial exploratory intervention trials, longer term government sponsored health promotion programs have evolved. Significant dedicated agencies and programs with continuing responsibilities for health promotion are now common.
Understanding the Impact of a Community-led HIV Prevention Program in South Africa: Context, Conceptual Framework and Methodology
Authors: Campbell Catherine , Williams Brian
Published: August 2009

In this paper we provide an account of our multi-dimensional evaluation of a community led HIV-prevention program in the southern African mining community of Carletonville. The Mothusimpilo Project has three pillars: peer education and condom distribution, syndromic management of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and stakeholder mobilisation. Substantial efforts are being made to evaluate the impact of the intervention and in this paper we outline the theoretical rationale, research design and some preliminary results of the evaluation. The first section provides the setting for the evaluation work, viz an intervention which seeks to contextualise traditional biomedical and behavioural approaches to HIV-transmission within their broader community and social contexts. In the second section we outline the theoretical assumptions underlying the evaluation (which has both 'outcome evaluation' and 'process evaluation' components). In particular, we discuss the way in which the concepts of identity, empowerment and social capital are used to understand the processes involved in health-enhancing behaviour change. In the third section we describe our multi-disciplinary evaluation methodology and present some preliminary findings from our on-going evaluation study. One important goal of our evaluation research is to demonstrate the extent to which community level factors serve to assist or hinder the project in achieving its goals. In this way we hope to contribute to understandings of the role of community participation in influencing the outcomes of community-based health promotional projects.
What's Different about Evaluating Health Promotion?
Authors: R.Crisp Beth
Published: August 2009

This paper explores the question of whether the evaluation of health promotion efforts differs from evaluating treatment interventions. It is concluded that although the tasks of the evaluator may be similar, inherent differences in program philosophies and intervention strategies may result in differential approaches to evaluation.
COMPARI: Insights from a Three Year Community Based Alcohol Harm Reduction Project
Authors: Midford Richard , Boots Kevin
Published: August 2009

COMPARI (Community Mobilisation for the Prevention of Alcohol-Related Injury) was a demonstration project, designed to show that alcohol related injury could be reduced by mobilising a community to take an active role in changing individual drinking behaviour and the environmental factors that influence drinking behaviour. The project operated in the small Western Australian regional city of Geraldton from January 1992 to February 1995. Although there were initial difficulties in gaining support at the local level, the project team developed a strong local network, contributed to the community's capacity to deal with alcohol problems and demonstrated the benefits of a community harm prevention approach by initiating a number of high profile activities that generated broad community support. In total, COMPARI undertook twenty-two major component projects over three years. The nature of these individual projects and the implementation and evaluation strategies employed by the COMPARI team are outlined. The mistakes, successes and lessons learned from the intervention are presented. Four major conclusions have been drawn from the project. These concern project initiation, project strategies, project impact and outcomes, and the evaluation methodology. The COMPARI project did have a considerable impact on the way alcohol issues were dealt with within the Geraldton community. On completion of the demonstration phase, the project was valued by its host community to the extent that it received local funding and evolved into the major alcohol and drug service provider for the city and the surrounding region.
Health Promotion: Evaluation Issues
Authors: Harvey David
Published: August 2009

The paper argues that the principles and theories of learning and behaviour change are integral to the success of health promotion programs. Four major principles associated with successful health promotion programs are introduced. The principles concern being sure about the reasons for embarking on health promotion programs, the importance of theory-based credibility, being clear about differences in forms of evaluations available to program leaders, and the importance of significant persons in achieving and maintaining program gains. Seven questions which should be asked of any proposed health promotion program are then outlined. They include asking how the principles of learning are to be incorporated in the program, how the need for change and the means of achieving change are to be communicated to the target groups, and how infrastructure needs within the target groups will be able to ensure maintenance of the changed behaviours once the program itself is finished.
A System for Program Evaluation in Community Health
Authors: Gleeson Deborah , Boston Vera
Published: August 2009

There are many benefits to be gained from the systematic evaluation of health promotion programs in community health centres. Program evaluation and documentation encourages organisational learning as well as directly improving the quality of programs. The documentation of program evaluations also enables review of the range of programs provided, which can inform the overall organisational planning process. Busy, over-stretched community health staff, however, often see program evaluation as an unnecessary luxury. Organisational evaluation requirements are often perceived as adding to the paperwork burden without having direct benefits for clients, staff or the organisation. North Yarra Community Health has developed a systematic process for evaluating all health promotion programs undertaken by staff. The process consists of evaluation guidelines and forms, which are part of a health promotion resource kit, a process for reporting and accountability through a Programs and Services Committee with representatives from the Board of Management, and a system for filing of program documentation. This paper describes the process, some of the barriers encountered, and how these barriers were overcome.
Cognitive control in media multitaskers
Authors: Ophir Eyal , Nass Clifford , Wagner Anthony D.
Published: August 2009

Chronic media multitasking is quickly becoming ubiquitous, although processing multiple incoming streams of information is considered a challenge for human cognition. A series of experiments addressed whether there are systematic differences in information processing styles between chronically heavy and light media multitaskers. A trait media multitasking index was developed to identify groups of heavy and light media multitaskers. These two groups were then compared along established cognitive control dimensions. Results showed that heavy media multitaskers are more susceptible to interference from irrelevant environmental stimuli and from irrelevant representations in memory. This led to the surprising result that heavy media multitaskers performed worse on a test of task-switching ability, likely due to reduced ability to filter out interference from the irrelevant task set. These results demonstrate that media multitasking, a rapidly growing societal trend, is associated with a distinct approach to fundamental information processing.
Altered Na
+
transport after an intracellular α-subunit deletion reveals strict external sequential release of Na
+
from the Na/K pump
Authors: Yaragatupalli Siddhartha , Olivera J. Fernando , Gatto Craig , Artigas Pablo
Published: August 2009

The Na/K pump actively exports 3 Na
+
in exchange for 2 K
+
across the plasmalemma of animal cells. As in other P-type ATPases, pump function is more effective when the relative affinity for transported ions is altered as the ion binding sites alternate between opposite sides of the membrane. Deletion of the five C-terminal residues from the α-subunit diminishes internal Na
+
(Na
i
+
) affinity ≈25-fold [Morth et al. (2007)
Nature
450:1043–1049]. Because external Na
+
(Na
o
+
) binding is voltage-dependent, we studied the reactions involving this process by using two-electrode and inside-out patch voltage clamp in normal and truncated (ΔKESYY) Xenopus-α1 pumps expressed in oocytes. We observed that ΔKESYY (
i
) decreased both Na
o
+
and Na
i
+
apparent affinities in the absence of K
o
+
, and (
ii
) did not affect apparent Na
o
+
affinity at high K
o
+
. These results support a model of strict sequential external release of Na
+
ions, where the Na
+
-exclusive site releases Na
+
before the sites shared with K
+
and the ΔKESYY deletion only reduces Na
o
+
affinity at the shared sites. Moreover, at nonsaturating K
o
+
, ΔKESYY induced an inward flow of Na
+
through Na/K pumps at negative potentials. Guanidinium
+
can also permeate truncated pumps, whereas N-methyl-D-glucamine cannot. Because guanidinium
o
+
can also traverse normal Na/K pumps in the absence of both Na
o
+
and K
o
+
and can also inhibit Na/K pump currents in a Na
+
-like voltage-dependent manner, we conclude that the normal pathway transited by the first externally released Na
+
is large enough to accommodate guanidinium
+
.
The estrogen receptor-α-induced microRNA signature regulates itself and its transcriptional response
Authors: Castellano Leandro , Giamas Georgios , Jacob Jimmy , Coombes R. Charles , Lucchesi Walter , Thiruchelvam Paul , Barton Geraint , Jiao Long R. , Wait Robin , Waxman Jonathan , Hannon Gregory J. , Stebbing Justin
Published: August 2009

Following estrogenic activation, the estrogen receptor-α (ERα) directly regulates the transcription of target genes via DNA binding. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) modulated by ERα have the potential to fine tune these regulatory systems and also provide an alternate mechanism that could impact on estrogen-dependent developmental and pathological systems. Through a microarray approach, we identify the subset of microRNAs (miRNAs) modulated by ERα, which include upregulation of miRNAs derived from the processing of the paralogous primary transcripts (pri-) mir-17–92 and mir-106a-363. Characterization of the mir-17–92 locus confirms that the ERα target protein c-MYC binds its promoter in an estrogen-dependent manner. We observe that levels of pri-mir-17–92 increase earlier than the mature miRNAs derived from it, implicating precursor cleavage modulation after transcription. Pri-mir-17–92 is immediately cleaved by DROSHA to pre-miR-18a, indicating that its regulation occurs during the formation of the mature molecule from the precursor. The clinical implications of this novel regulatory system were confirmed by demonstrating that pre-miR-18a was significantly upregulated in ERα-positive compared to ERα-negative breast cancers. Mechanistically, miRNAs derived from these paralogous pri-miRNAs (miR-18a, miR-19b, and miR-20b) target and downregulate ERα, while a subset of pri-miRNA-derived miRNAs inhibit protein translation of the ERα transcriptional p160 coactivator, AIB1. Therefore, different subsets of miRNAs identified act as part of a negative autoregulatory feedback loop. We propose that ERα, c-MYC, and miRNA transcriptional programs invoke a sophisticated network of interactions able to provide the wide range of coordinated cellular responses to estrogen.
Changes in transcript abundance relating to colony collapse disorder in honey bees (
Apis mellifera
)
Authors: Johnson Reed M. , Evans Jay D. , Robinson Gene E. , Berenbaum May R.
Published: August 2009

Colony collapse disorder (CCD) is a mysterious disappearance of honey bees that has beset beekeepers in the United States since late 2006. Pathogens and other environmental stresses, including pesticides, have been linked to CCD, but a causal relationship has not yet been demonstrated. Because the gut acts as a primary interface between the honey bee and its environment as a site of entry for pathogens and toxins, we used whole-genome microarrays to compare gene expression between guts of bees from CCD colonies originating on both the east and west coasts of the United States and guts of bees from healthy colonies sampled before the emergence of CCD. Considerable variation in gene expression was associated with the geographical origin of bees, but a consensus list of 65 transcripts was identified as potential markers for CCD status. Overall, elevated expression of pesticide response genes was not observed. Genes involved in immune response showed no clear trend in expression pattern despite the increased prevalence of viruses and other pathogens in CCD colonies. Microarray analysis revealed unusual ribosomal RNA fragments that were conspicuously more abundant in the guts of CCD bees. The presence of these fragments may be a possible consequence of picorna-like viral infection, including deformed wing virus and Israeli acute paralysis virus, and may be related to arrested translation. Ribosomal fragment abundance and presence of multiple viruses may prove to be useful diagnostic markers for colonies afflicted with CCD.
Spatial decisions and cognitive strategies of monkeys and humans based on abstract spatial stimuli in rotation test
Authors: Nekovarova Tereza , Nedvidek Jan , Klement Daniel , Bures Jan
Published: August 2009

We showed previously that macaque monkeys (
Macaca mulatta
) could orient in real space using abstract visual stimuli presented on a computer screen. They made correct choices according to both spatial stimuli (designed as an abstract representation of a real space) and nonspatial stimuli (pictures lacking any inner configuration information). However, we suggested that there were differences in processing spatial and nonspatial stimuli. In the present experiment we show that monkeys could also use as a cue abstract spatial stimuli rotated with respect to the real response space. We studied the ability of monkeys to decode abstract spatial information provided in one spatial frame (computer screen) and to perform spatial choices in another spatial frame (touch panel separated from the screen). We analyzed how the monkeys were affected by the type of training, whether they perceived the stimuli as “spatial” or “nonspatial,” and which cues they used to decode them. We compared humans to monkeys in a similar test to find out which cognitive strategy they used and whether they perceive spatial stimuli in the same way. We demonstrated that there were two possible strategies to solve the task, simple “fitting” ignoring rotations and “remapping,” when the stimulus was represented as an “abstract space” per se.
Gender differences in financial risk aversion and career choices are affected by testosterone
Authors: Sapienza Paola , Zingales Luigi , Maestripieri Dario
Published: August 2009

Women are generally more risk averse than men. We investigated whether between- and within-gender variation in financial risk aversion was accounted for by variation in salivary concentrations of testosterone and in markers of prenatal testosterone exposure in a sample of >500 MBA students. Higher levels of circulating testosterone were associated with lower risk aversion among women, but not among men. At comparably low concentrations of salivary testosterone, however, the gender difference in risk aversion disappeared, suggesting that testosterone has nonlinear effects on risk aversion regardless of gender. A similar relationship between risk aversion and testosterone was also found using markers of prenatal testosterone exposure. Finally, both testosterone levels and risk aversion predicted career choices after graduation: Individuals high in testosterone and low in risk aversion were more likely to choose risky careers in finance. These results suggest that testosterone has both organizational and activational effects on risk-sensitive financial decisions and long-term career choices.
Predormancy omnivory in European cave bears evidenced by a dental microwear analysis of
Ursus spelaeus
from Goyet, Belgium
Authors: Peigné Stéphane , Goillot Cyrielle , Germonpré Mietje , Blondel Cécile , Bignon Olivier , Merceron Gildas
Published: August 2009

Previous morphological and isotopic studies indicate that Late Pleistocene cave bear (
Ursus spelaeus
) diet ranged from mostly vegetarian to omnivory or even carnivory. However, such analyses do not provide information on seasonal diets, and only provide an average record of diet. A dental microwear analysis of 43 young and adult individuals demonstrate that, during the predormancy period, cave bears from Goyet (Late Pleistocene, Belgium) were not strictly herbivorous, but had a mixed diet composed of hard items (e.g., possibly bone), invertebrates (e.g., insects), meat (ungulates, small vertebrates), and/or plant matter (hard mast, seeds, herbaceous vegetations, and fruits). Therefore, our results indicate that cave bears at Goyet were generalist omnivores during the predormancy period, which is consistent with current data on the dietary ecology of extant bears during this season. These data also raise questions about the ecological role and causes of the extinction of cave bears.
Antiestrogen-resistant subclones of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells are derived from a common monoclonal drug-resistant progenitor
Authors: Coser Kathryn R. , Wittner Ben S. , Rosenthal Noël F. , Collins Sabrina C. , Melas Antonia , Smith Shannon L. , Mahoney Crystal J. , Shioda Keiko , Isselbacher Kurt J. , Ramaswamy Sridhar , Shioda Toshi
Published: August 2009

Emergence of antiestrogen-resistant cells in MCF-7 cells during suppression of estrogen signaling is a widely accepted model of acquired breast cancer resistance to endocrine therapy. To obtain insight into the genomic basis of endocrine therapy resistance, we characterized MCF-7 monoclonal sublines that survived 21-day exposure to tamoxifen (T-series sublines) or fulvestrant (F-series sublines) and sublines unselected by drugs (U-series). All T/F-sublines were resistant to the cytocidal effects of both tamoxifen and fulvestrant. However, their responses to the cytostatic effects of fulvestrant varied greatly, and their remarkably diversified morphology showed no correlation with drug resistance. mRNA expression profiles of the U-sublines differed significantly from those of the T/F-sublines, whose transcriptomal responsiveness to fulvestrant was largely lost. A set of genes strongly expressed in the U-sublines successfully predicted metastasis-free survival of breast cancer patients. Most T/F-sublines shared highly homogeneous genomic DNA aberration patterns that were distinct from those of the U-sublines. Genomic DNA of the U-sublines harbored many aberrations that were not found in the T/F-sublines. These results suggest that the T/F-sublines are derived from a common monoclonal progenitor that lost transcriptomal responsiveness to antiestrogens as a consequence of genetic abnormalities many population doublings ago, not from the antiestrogen-sensitive cells in the same culture during the exposure to antiestrogens. Thus, the apparent acquisition of antiestrogen resistance by MCF-7 cells reflects selection of preexisting drug-resistant subpopulations without involving changes in individual cells. Our results suggest the importance of clonal selection in endocrine therapy resistance of breast cancer.
Claudin-16 and claudin-19 interaction is required for their assembly into tight junctions and for renal reabsorption of magnesium
Authors: Hou Jianghui , Renigunta Aparna , Gomes Antonio S. , Hou Mingli , Paul David L. , Waldegger Siegfried , Goodenough Daniel A.
Published: August 2009

Claudins are tight junction integral membrane proteins that are key regulators of the paracellular pathway. Defects in claudin-16 (CLDN16) and CLDN19 function result in the inherited human renal disorder familial hypomagnesemia with hypercalciuria and nephrocalcinosis (FHHNC). Previous studies showed that siRNA knockdown of CLDN16 in mice results in a mouse model for FHHNC. Here, we show that CLDN19-siRNA mice also developed the FHHNC symptoms of chronic renal wasting of magnesium and calcium together with defective renal salt handling. siRNA knockdown of CLDN19 caused a loss of CLDN16 from tight junctions in the thick ascending limb (TAL) without a decrease in CLDN16 expression level, whereas siRNA knockdown of CLDN16 produced a similar effect on CLDN19. In both mouse lines, CLDN10, CLDN18, occludin, and ZO-1, normal constituents of TAL tight junctions, remained correctly localized. CLDN16- and CLDN19-depleted tight junctions had normal barrier function but defective ion selectivity. These data, together with yeast two-hybrid binding studies, indicate that a heteromeric CLDN16 and CLDN19 interaction was required for assembling them into the tight junction structure and generating cation-selective paracellular channels.
Vascular effects of a low-carbohydrate high-protein diet
Authors: Foo Shi Yin , Heller Eric R. , Wykrzykowska Joanna , Sullivan Christopher J. , Manning-Tobin Jennifer J. , Moore Kathryn J. , Gerszten Robert E. , Rosenzweig Anthony
Published: August 2009

The cardiovascular complications of obesity have prompted interest in dietary interventions to reduce weight, including low-carbohydrate diets that are generally high in protein and fat. However, little is known about the long-term effects of these diets on vascular health. We examined the cardiovascular effects of a low-carbohydrate, high-protein diet (LCHP) in the ApoE
−/−
mouse model of atherosclerosis and in a model of ischemia-induced neovascularization. Mice on a LCHP were compared with mice maintained on either the standard chow diet (SC) or the Western diet (WD) which contains comparable fat and cholesterol to the LCHP. LCHP-fed mice developed more aortic atherosclerosis and had an impaired ability to generate new vessels in response to tissue ischemia. These changes were not explained by alterations in serum cholesterol, inflammatory mediators or infiltrates, or oxidative stress. The LCHP diet substantially reduced the number of bone marrow and peripheral blood endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), a marker of vascular regenerative capacity. EPCs from mice on a LCHP diet also manifest lower levels of activated (phosphorylated) Akt, a serine-threonine kinase important in EPC mobilization, proliferation, and survival. Taken together, these data demonstrate that in animal models LCHP diets have adverse vascular effects not reflected in serum markers and that nonlipid macronutrients can modulate vascular progenitor cells and pathophysiology.
Redistribution pattern of fetal liver circulation in intrauterine growth restriction
Authors: EBBING CATHRINE , RASMUSSEN SVEIN , GODFREY KEITH M. , HANSON MARK A. , KISERUD TORVID
Published: August 2009

Objective. Fetal liver blood supply is an important determinant of fetal growth and adaptation. Most fetal liver blood supply is from the umbilical vein, but the portal vein contributes 14–20% and studies of low‐risk pregnancies suggest the splanchnic arteries are also involved in the homeostasis of fetal liver perfusion. Here we determine the circulatory pattern of the fetal liver in intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). Design. Cross‐sectional study. Population. Thirty‐one IUGR fetuses (estimated fetal weight <5th centile). Methods. Pulsatility index (PI) measurements of the umbilical, middle cerebral, splenic, hepatic, and superior mesenteric arteries were compared with a reference population and related to umbilical venous flow, umbilico‐caval pressure gradient (assessed by ductus venosus peak velocity) and venous distribution within the liver (assessed by flow velocity in the left portal vein). Results. Thirteen of 31 IUGR fetuses had umbilical artery PI > 97.5 centile and 13 showed a middle cerebral artery brain‐sparing pattern (PI Z‐score < − 2). In IUGR, umbilical venous flow was lower and less umbilical blood was distributed to the right liver lobe, while the umbilico‐caval pressure gradient was kept normal. The hepatic and splenic arteries, but not the superior mesenteric artery, had low PI compared with the reference population. Conclusions. IUGR fetuses with increased or normal umbilical artery PI maintained venous perfusion pressure to the liver while distributing less umbilical blood to the right liver lobe. They showed regional splanchnic arterial redistribution with low splenic and hepatic artery PI, implying increased portal venous flow and direct arterial contribution to hepatic perfusion, respectively.
Maternal deaths in Finland: Focus on placental abruption
Authors: TIKKANEN MINNA , GISSLER MIKA , METSÄRANTA MARJO , LUUKKAALA TIINA , HIILESMAA VILHO , ANDERSSON STURE , YLIKORKALA OLAVI , PAAVONEN JORMA , NUUTILA MIKA
Published: August 2009

Objective. To study placental abruption‐associated maternal deaths out of all maternal deaths in Finland. Design. Register‐based study. Setting. The Finnish Medical Birth Register (MBR), the Hospital Discharge Register (HDR), and the Cause‐of‐Death Register data during 1972–2005. Methods. The maternal deaths were identified by linking data from the MBR, the HDR, and the Cause‐of‐Death Register. The clinical data were collected from the case records and death certificates. Main outcome measures. Cause‐specific maternal death with special reference to placental abruption. Results. During the study period, a total of 2,104,436 live births and 117 direct maternal deaths (caused by a disease or its management unique to the pregnancy) occurred in Finland. The direct maternal mortality ratio (MMR) was 5.6 per 100,000 live births. The two leading causes were thromboembolism (24.0%) and hemorrhage (22.3%) representing almost half of all maternal deaths. Altogether 7,735 placental abruptions were identified with three maternal deaths giving a case fatality rate of 0.4 per 1,000 cases. The MMR (38.8 per 100,000) was nearly seven times higher than the overall MMR (5.7 per 100,000) (p = 0.010). Conclusion. The direct MMR in Finland is at the level generally seen in Western Europe. The main causes to maternal death are thromboembolism and obstetric hemorrhage. Deaths to placental abruption are rare, but still seven times higher than the overall MMR.
Cesarean section rates among health professionals in Finland, 1990–2006
Authors: HEMMINKI ELINA , KLEMETTI REIJA , GISSLER MIKA
Published: August 2009

Objective. The purpose of this paper is to establish whether health professionals in Finland have cesarean sections more or less often than other women of a similar educational background. Design. Register‐based study (Finnish birth register). Setting. Finland 1990–2006. Population. Singleton births, for midwives (3,009 births), nurses (101,199), and physicians (7,642). Teachers (n = 23,454) were chosen as controls for midwives and nurses, and other white collar workers (n = 124,606) were chosen as controls for physicians. Methods. Cesarean section rates were studied for all births and for first births only. The odds ratios for mode of delivery were calculated using logistic regression, adjusting for age, parity, marital status and smoking, and in an additional analysis, also adjusting for post‐term birth and birth weight. Main outcome measures. Mode of delivery. Results. During the time period studied, the overall cesarean section rate in Finland was 15%. The studied groups had similar rates of cesarean section. When adjusting for background characteristics, midwives and nurses had marginally lower cesarean section rates than teachers, and physicians had lower rates than other white collar workers. In the case of first births, similar differences were found. Instrumental deliveries were somewhat lower among midwives as compared to teachers, and among physicians as compared to other white collar workers. Conclusions. Our results suggest that Finnish physicians may prefer vaginal delivery and have relatively conservative opinions about cesarean sections. This may be an important explanation of the relatively low, compared to international rates, and stable cesarean section rates in Finland.
Self-RNA–antimicrobial peptide complexes activate human dendritic cells through TLR7 and TLR8
Authors: Ganguly Dipyaman , Chamilos Georgios , Lande Roberto , Gregorio Josh , Meller Stephan , Facchinetti Valeria , Homey Bernhard , Barrat Franck J. , Zal Tomasz , Gilliet Michel
Published: August 2009

Dendritic cell (DC) responses to extracellular self-DNA and self-RNA are prevented by the endosomal seclusion of nucleic acid–recognizing Toll-like receptors (TLRs). In psoriasis, however, plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs) sense self-DNA that is transported to endosomal TLR9 upon forming a complex with the antimicrobial peptide LL37. Whether LL37 also interacts with extracellular self-RNA and how this may contribute to DC activation in psoriasis is not known. Here, we report that LL37 can bind self-RNA released by dying cells, protect it from extracellular degradation, and transport it into endosomal compartments of DCs. In pDC, self-RNA–LL37 complexes activate TLR7 and, like self-DNA–LL37 complexes, trigger the secretion of IFN-α without inducing maturation or the production of IL-6 and TNF-α. In contrast to self-DNA–LL37 complexes, self-RNA–LL37 complexes also trigger the activation of classical myeloid DCs (mDCs). This occurs through TLR8 and leads to the production of TNF-α and IL-6, and the differentiation of mDCs into mature DCs. We also found that self-RNA–LL37 complexes are present in psoriatic skin lesions and are associated with mature mDCs in vivo. Our results demonstrate that the cationic antimicrobial peptide LL37 converts self-RNA into a trigger of TLR7 and TLR8 in human DCs, and provide new insights into the mechanism that drives the auto-inflammatory responses in psoriasis.
Response to comment on ‘MeSH-up: effective MeSH text classification for improved document retrieval’
Authors: Trieschnigg Dolf , Pezik Piotr , Lee Vivian , de Jong Franciska , Kraaij Wessel , Rebholz-Schuhmann Dietrich
Published: August 2009

Contact:  trieschn@ewi.utwente.nl; dolf@trieschnigg.nl

As developers and primary users of MTI and MetaMap, Névéol et al. made a number of interesting comments on our recent publication in Bioinformatics. However, some of the results and conclusions found in the reply seem premature and lack proper clarification.
A Follow‐Up Study on the Efficacy of the Homeopathic Remedy Arsenicum album in Volunteers Living in High Risk Arsenic Contaminated Areas
Authors: Khuda-Bukhsh Anisur Rahman , Roy-Karmakar Susanta , Banerjee Antara , Banerjee Pathikrit , Pathak Surajit , Biswas Surjyo Jyoti , Haque Saiful , Das Debarsi , Boujedaini Naoual , Belon Philippe
Published: August 2009

In continuation of our short‐term pilot studies reported earlier, results on certain toxicity biomarkers in volunteers who continued to take the potentized Arsenicum album 200C till 2 years are presented. Out of some 130 “verum”‐fed volunteers of pilot study, 96 continued to take the remedy till 6 months, 65 till 1 year and 15 among them continued till 2 years. They provided samples of their urine and blood at 6 months, 1 year and finally at 2 years. None out of 17 who received “placebo” turned up for providing blood or urine at these longer intervals. Standard methodologies were used for determination of arsenic content in blood and urine, and for measurement of toxicity biomarkers like acid and alkaline phosphatases, alanine and aspartate amino transferases, lipid peroxidation and reduced glutathione and anti‐nuclear antibody titers. Most of the volunteers reported status quo maintained after the improvement they achieved within the first 3 months of homeopathic treatment, in respect of their general health and spirit, and appetite and sleep. A few with skin symptoms and burning sensation, however, improved further. This was supported by the data of toxicity biomarkers, levels of all of which remained fairly within normal range. Therefore, administration of Arsenicum album 200C considerably ameliorates symptoms of arsenic toxicity on a long‐term basis, and can be recommended for interim use, particularly in high risk remote villages lacking modern medical and arsenic free drinking water facilities. Similar studies by others are encouraged.
Behaviour of resampling methods under different weighting schemes, measures and variable resampling strengths
Authors: Kopuchian Cecilia , Ramírez Martín J.
Published: August 2009

We compared general behaviour trends of resampling methods (bootstrap, bootstrap with Poisson distribution, jackknife, and jackknife with symmetric resampling) and different ways to summarize the results for resampling (absolute frequency, F, and frequency difference, GC′) for real data sets under variable resampling strengths in three weighting schemes. We propose an equivalence between bootstrap and jackknife in order to make bootstrap variable across different resampling strengths. Specifically, for each method we evaluated the number of spurious groups (groups not present in the strict consensus of the unaltered data set), of real groups, and of inconsistencies in ranking of groups under variable resampling strengths. We found that GC′ always generated more spurious groups and recovered more groups than F. Bootstrap methods generated more spurious groups than jackknife methods; and jackknife is the method that recovered more real groups. We consistently obtained a higher proportion of spurious groups for GC′ than for F; and for bootstrap than for jackknife. Finally, we evaluated the ranking of groups under variable resampling strengths qualitatively in the trajectories of “support” against resampling strength, and quantitatively with Kendall coefficient values. We found fewer ranking inconsistencies for GC′ than for F, and for bootstrap than for jackknife.

© The Willi Hennig Society 2009.
Identification of probiotic lactobacilli used for animal feeds on the basis of 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequence
Authors: Higuchi Wataru , Muramatsu Mineo , Dohmae Soshi , Takano Tomomi , Isobe Hirokazu , Yabe Shizuka , Da Shi , Baranovich Tatiana , Yamamoto Tatsuo
Published: August 2009

The use of probiotics such as Lactobacillus in animal feeds has gained popularity in recent years. In this study the 16S rRNA gene sequence of L. acidophilus in two commercial agents which have been used in animal feeds, LAB‐MOS and Ghenisson 22, was determined. Phylogenetic tree analysis revealed that the two agents, strain MNFLM01 in LAB‐MOS and strain GAL‐2 in Ghenisson 22, belonged to L. rhamnosus (a member of the L. casei group) and L. johnsonii (a member of the L. acidophilus group), respectively. Biochemical tests assigned the two as L. rhamnosus and ambiguously as L. acidophilus. The data suggest that 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis provides more accurate identification of Lactobacillus species than biochemical tests and would allow quality assurance of relevant commercial products. The 16S rRNA gene sequences of strains MNFLM01 and GAL‐2 determined in this study have been submitted to the DDBJ/EMBL/GenBank accession numbers under accession numbers AB288235 and AB295648, respectively.
Analysis of peripheral blood lymphocyte phenotypes and Th1/Th2 cytokines profile in the systemic immune responses of Helicobacter pylori infected individuals
Authors: Kayhan Basak , Arasli Mehmet , Eren Haci , Aydemir Selim , Kayhan Burcak , Aktas Elif , Tekin Ishak
Published: August 2009

H. pylori elicits specific humoral and cellular immune responses in the mucosal immune system. However, the type and extent of T lymphocyte response in the systemic immune system is not clear for H. pylori positive patients. In this study, peripheral blood T lymphocyte phenotypes and serum Th1/Th2 based cytokines of 32 H. pylori positive patients were analyzed and compared to those of healthy controls. While αβ TCR+ lymphocytes and their phenotype analysis were not significantly different to those of healthy controls, the percentage of pan γδ TCR+ lymphocytes was up to 2.4 times greater in the H. pylori positive group then in healthy controls. Furthermore, significant increases in IL‐10 concentrations in serum samples of H. pylori patients indicated that their immune systems had switched toward a Th2 type immune response. The correlation between phenotype and type of T cell response in the peripheral blood during H. pylori infection is discussed.
Antimicrobial and anti‐inflammatory activity of five Taxandria fragrans oils in vitro
Authors: Hammer Katherine A. , Carson Christine F. , Dunstan Janet A. , Hale Jasmine , Lehmann Heidi , Robinson Christopher J. , Prescott Susan L. , Riley Thomas V.
Published: August 2009

The antimicrobial activity of five samples of Taxandria fragrans essential oil was evaluated against a range of Gram‐positive (n= 26) and Gram‐negative bacteria (n= 39) and yeasts (n= 10). The majority of organisms were inhibited and/or killed at concentrations ranging from 0.06–4.0% v/v. Geometric means of MIC were lowest for oil Z (0.77% v/v), followed by oils X (0.86%), C (1.12%), A (1.23%) and B (1.24%). Despite differences in susceptibility data between oils, oils A and X did not differ when tested at 2% v/v in a time kill assay against Staphylococcus aureus. Cytotoxicity assays using peripheral blood mononuclear cells demonstrated that T. fragrans oil was cytotoxic at 0.004% v/v but not at 0.002%. Exposure to one or more of the oils at concentrations of ≤0.002% v/v resulted in a dose responsive reduction in the production of proinflammatory cytokines IL‐6 and TNF‐α, regulatory cytokine IL‐10, Th1 cytokine IFN‐γ and Th2 cytokines IL‐5 and IL‐13 by PHA stimulated mononuclear cells. Oil B inhibited the production of all cytokines except IL‐10, oil X inhibited TNF‐α, IL‐6 and IL‐10, oil A inhibited TNF‐α and IL‐6, oil C inhibited IL‐5 and IL‐6 and oil Z inhibited IL‐13 only. IL‐6 production was significantly inhibited by the most oils (A, B, C and X), followed by TNF‐α (oils A, B and X). In conclusion, T. fragrans oil showed both antimicrobial and anti‐inflammatory activity in vitro, however, the clinical relevance of this remains to be determined.
Interaction between cFLIPL and Itch, a ubiquitin ligase, is obstructed in Trypanosoma cruzi‐infected human cells
Authors: Murata Eri , Hashimoto Muneaki , Aoki Takashi
Published: August 2009

Death receptor‐mediated host cell apoptosis, a defense strategy for elimination by the immune system of parasite‐infected cells, is inhibited by Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas' disease. It has previously been reported by us that, in infected cells, T. cruzi upregulates and exploits cFLIPL, a mammalian inhibitor of death receptor signaling. Here it is shown that ubiquitination of cFLIPL, leading to proteasomal degradation, is inhibited in parasite‐infected cells. The extent of expression of Itch, a protein thought to be an ubiquitin ligase for cFLIPL, was found to be equivalent in T. cruzi‐infected and in uninfected cells. However, co‐immunoprecipitation analysis showed that the interaction between cFLIPL and Itch is strongly inhibited in T. cruzi‐infected cells. This unique parasite strategy, which has not been reported in any other pathogen‐infected cells, may allow the host cell to accumulate cFLIPL, eventually resulting in the inhibition of apoptosis of T. cruzi‐infected cells.
Some aspects of the biology of the stargazer mountain catfish, Amphilius uranoscopus (pfeffer); (Siluriformes: Amphiliidae) indigenous to Kenya streams
Authors: Ngugi Charles C. , Manyala Julius O. , Njiru Murithi , Mlewa Chrisestom M.
Published: August 2009

A study on some biological parameters of the mountain catfish, Amphilius uranoscopus Pfeffer 1889 (Silurifomes: Amphiliidae), was carried out in the Thego stream on the slopes of Mount Kenya from February to December 2002. Physical and chemical profiles of the Thego show that the water quality parameters is typical of high altitude streams with temperatures rarely exceeding 18°C, DO ranging from 7.9 to 8.2 mg l−1 and relatively high conductivity (97–137 μS cm−1) typical of perturbed lotic environments. A total of 1010 fish were caught by an electro‐fisher, with sizes ranging between 8 and 24 cm fork length. The population structure had a unimodal distribution with maxima at 14–16 cm. The length–weight relationship showed relatively narrow range in the slope ranging from 2.61 in April to 2.98 in February 2002, thereby suggesting isometric growth pattern. The fitted growth pattern of A. uranoscopus showed an asymptotic length (L∞) of 28.5 cm and a growth curvature (K) of 0.56 year−1 resulting in an estimated natural mortality coefficient (M) of 0.90 year−1. The Fulton’s condition factor (K) was also relatively stable with a peak in April (0.92 ± 0.21) and lowest value in June (0.86 ± 0.10). As A. uranoscopus is not under commercial exploitation, the seemingly depressed population is possibly attributed to the introduced exotic rainbow trout that heavily predates on the species and environmental perturbations arising from changes in land use. The implications of such changes on A. uranoscopus are discussed.