bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
High‐dose rabeprazole–amoxicillin dual therapy and rabeprazole triple therapy with amoxicillin and levofloxacin for 2 weeks as first and second line rescue therapies for Helicobacter pylori treatment failures
Authors: Goh K.‐L. , Manikam J. , Qua C.‐S.
Published: March 2012

Background

H. pylori eradication failures are difficult to treat and rescue therapies often consist of complex treatment regimens.

Aim

To determine an effective and practical rescue therapeutic strategy for H. pylori treatment failures using two consecutive regimens: first rescue therapy ‐ rabeprazole 20 mg t.d.s. and amoxicillin 1 g t.d.s. for 2 weeks and for failures a further second rescue therapy ‐ rabeprazole 20 mg b.d., levofloxacin 500 mg b.d., amoxicillin 1 g b.d. for a further 2 weeks.

Methods

Consecutive patients who failed the proton pump inhibitor (PPI) 1‐week triple therapy were recruited for the study. H. pylori status was determined by a C13 urea breath test.

Results

One hundred and forty‐nine patients received the first rescue therapy. Seven were not compliant to medication/defaulted follow‐up. Eradication success‐ first rescue therapy: per protocol (PP) analysis‐107/142 (75.4%) (95% CI (68.3–82.4%) and intention to treat (ITT) analysis‐107/149 (71.8%) 95% CI (64.6–79.0%). Thirty‐one of 35 patients who failed the first rescue therapy received the second rescue therapy. All were compliant with medications. Eradication success‐ PP and ITT was 28/31 (90.3%) 95% CI (74.2–98.0%). The cumulative eradication rate using both rescue therapies: PP analysis‐ 135/138 (97.8%) 95% CI: (93.8–99.6%), ITT analysis‐ 135/149 (90.6%) 95% CI: (84.7–94.8%).

Conclusions

A 2‐week high dose PPI‐amoxicillin dual therapy followed by a PPI‐amoxicillin‐levofloxacin triple therapy were highly successful in achieving eradication in H. pylori treatment failures.
Understanding parental engagement with child welfare services: an integrated model
Authors: Platt Dendy
Published: March 2012

This paper takes an ecological approach to understanding engagement of parents with services when children may be at risk of abuse/maltreatment. Gaining parental cooperation is a fundamental factor affecting social work interventions, treatment and decision‐making. Based on a review of current literature, the paper adapts the Multifactor Offender Readiness Model to the child welfare context, using insights from other theoretical and empirical work. Parental engagement with child welfare services is portrayed as having behavioural, attitudinal and relationship components, and is determined by internal (service user) and external (policy, programme and worker) factors.
Parental resistance and social worker skills: towards a theory of motivational social work
Authors: Forrester Donald , Westlake David , Glynn Georgia
Published: March 2012

Parental resistance is a ubiquitous feature of child and family social work, yet there has been limited research or theoretical work directed at the issue. This paper identifies social and individual reasons why parents may be resistant. Five principle causes of parental resistance are discussed, namely social structure and disadvantage, the context of child protection work, parental resistance to change, denial or minimization of abuse or neglect and the behaviour of the social worker. It is argued that motivational interviewing (MI) provides particularly useful skills and concepts for firstly reducing the social worker contribution to resistance and secondly minimizing the resistance related to other reasons for resistance. Key adaptations required in the strategic aims of MI if it is to be used in child protection work are identified and discussed, the most important of which is maintaining a focus on the child's welfare and safety. It is concluded that MI offers an opportunity to improve practice by increasing parental engagement and to make a contribution to social work theory by combining an attention to both broader social structure and the micro‐skills required in social work interviews.
Pituitary carcinomas and aggressive pituitary tumours: merits and pitfalls of temozolomide treatment
Authors: Raverot Gérald , Castinetti Frédéric , Jouanneau Emmanuel , Morange Isabelle , Figarella‐Branger Dominique , Dufour Henry , Trouillas Jacqueline , Brue Thierry
Published: March 2012

Pituitary carcinomas are rare, accounting for about 0·2% of all pituitary tumours. They represent a challenge to clinical practice in both diagnosis and treatment. They may present initially as typical pituitary adenomas, with a delayed appearance of aggressive signs, or as aggressive tumours from the outset. Predicting the pituitary tumour behaviour remains difficult: increased mitotic, Ki‐67 and P53 indices might be associated with tumour aggression. The treatment of pituitary carcinomas and aggressive pituitary tumours includes surgery, adjuvant medical treatment, external beam radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Until recently, the treatment of pituitary carcinomas was mainly palliative and did not seem to increase overall survival. Recent case reports have detailed the successful use of temozolomide, an orally administered alkylating agent used to treat malignant gliomas, in the management of pituitary carcinomas and aggressive pituitary tumours. The outcome of treatment might depend on the expression of
O
6
‐methylguanine‐DNA methyltransferase (MGMT), a DNA repair enzyme that potentially interferes with drug efficacy. This review describes the clinical presentation and response to temozolomide in 44 patients with pituitary carcinomas or aggressive pituitary tumours reported in the literature. The results suggest that temozolomide should be considered a drug of major importance in the therapeutic algorithm of aggressive pituitary tumours and pituitary carcinomas. Because of the inconsistency of published data, MGMT expression should probably not be taken as a reason to deny these patients the potential benefit of temozolomide treatment, taking into account the paucity of other available treatments.
Stimulation of NO and N2O emissions from soils by SO2 deposition
Authors: Cai Zucong , Zhang Jinbo , Zhu Tongbin , Cheng Yi
Published: March 2012

Sulfur dioxide (SO2) in the atmosphere has been demonstrated to have many adverse impacts on the environment and human health. In this study, deposition of SO2 ranging from 9.0 to 127.8 mg kg−1 with an average of 35.7 mg S kg−1 was found to substantially stimulate NO and N2O emissions from soils in the humid subtropical areas of Hainan, Fujian, Jiangxi, and Yunnan provinces of China under field conditions. Laboratory tests indicated that the stimulations were mediated biologically as the effects were not observed in sterilized soils. Acidification of soil resulting from SO2 deposition was not responsible for the stimulated NO and N2O emissions alone as the stimulation did not occur by acidifying soil with HNO3 treatment. By using the 15N tracing method, we found that the N2O emissions stimulated by SO2 deposition were from either denitrification, heterotrophic nitrification or both, but not from autotrophic nitrification. Therefore, atmospheric SO2 deposition would most likely stimulate NO and N2O emissions in acidic soils in which heterotrophic nitrification dominates NO and N2O production and waterlogged soils in which denitrification dominates NO and N2O production.
Towards an integrated global framework to assess the impacts of land use and management change on soil carbon: current capability and future vision
Authors: Smith Pete , Davies Christian A. , Ogle Stephen , Zanchi Giuliana , Bellarby Jessica , Bird Neil , Boddey Robert M. , McNamara Niall P. , Powlson David , Cowie Annette , van Noordwijk Meine , Davis Sarah C. , Richter Daniel DE B. , Kryzanowski Len , van Wijk Mark T. , Stuart Judith , Kirton Akira , Eggar Duncan , Newton‐Cross Geraldine , Adhya Tapan K. , Braimoh Ademola K.
Published: March 2012

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Tier 1 methodologies commonly underpin project‐scale carbon accounting for changes in land use and management and are used in frameworks for Life Cycle Assessment and carbon footprinting of food and energy crops. These methodologies were intended for use at large spatial scales. This can introduce error in predictions at finer spatial scales. There is an urgent need for development and implementation of higher tier methodologies that can be applied at fine spatial scales (e.g. farm/project/plantation) for food and bioenergy crop greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting to facilitate decision making in the land‐based sectors. Higher tier methods have been defined by IPCC and must be well evaluated and operate across a range of domains (e.g. climate region, soil type, crop type, topography), and must account for land use transitions and management changes being implemented. Furthermore, the data required to calibrate and drive the models used at higher tiers need to be available and applicable at fine spatial resolution, covering the meteorological, soil, cropping system and management domains, with quantified uncertainties. Testing the reliability of the models will require data either from sites with repeated measurements or from chronosequences. We review current global capability for estimating changes in soil carbon at fine spatial scales and present a vision for a framework capable of quantifying land use change and management impacts on soil carbon, which could be used for addressing issues such as bioenergy and biofuel sustainability, food security, forest protection, and direct/indirect impacts of land use change. The aim of this framework is to provide a globally accepted standard of carbon measurement and modelling appropriate for GHG accounting that could be applied at project to national scales (allowing outputs to be scaled up to a country level), to address the impacts of land use and land management change on soil carbon.
Use of acupuncture in the management of chronic haemophilia pain
Authors: LAMBING A. , KOHN‐CONVERSE B. , HANAGAVADI S. , VARMA V.
Published: March 2012

Summary.  Persons with haemophilia experience persistent pain resulting in chronic arthritic symptoms. The older person with haemophilia who did not benefit from primary prophylaxis are particularly at risk for persistent pain in multiple target joints as a result of repeated joint bleeding with delayed treatment received. The National Pain Study, Ref. [11] identified over 700 persons with haemophilia who rated daily persistent pain as 4.22/10 (SD ± 2.05) using a visual analogue scale. The study suggests that persons are continually seeking additional resources to relieve pain. This study seeks to identify: (i) effects of acupuncture use for persons with haemophilia who experience persistent joint pain as a result of repeated haemarthrosis and (ii) document no reported increased bleeding risk as a result of acupuncture use. End points include the subjects reported perception of reduction in pain via the 10‐point visual analogue pain scale and bleeding. Nine subjects participated in the study, some who received a factor replacement to 15% correction and others who did not receive factor prior to any acupuncture sessions totaling 14 acupuncture treatments. No one of the subjects experienced bleeding or bruising. Six of the nine subjects reported an improvement in pain scores by at least 50%. Seven of the nine quality of life (QOL) domains within the QOL SF‐36 questionnaire improved, suggesting a perception by subjects of improvement. This study suggests that acupuncture therapy can be a safe additional modality for pain management therapies in persons with haemophilia, although larger randomized studies are needed for further validation.
Comparison of the transcriptional profiles of head and body lice
Authors: Olds B. P. , Coates B. S. , Steele L. D. , Sun W. , Agunbiade T. A. , Yoon K. S. , Strycharz J. P. , Lee S. H. , Paige K. N. , Clark J. M. , Pittendrigh B. R.
Published: March 2012

Head and body lice are both blood‐feeding parasites of humans although only the body louse is a potent disease vector. In spite of numerous morphological and life history differences, head and body lice have recently been hypothesized to be ecotypes of the same species. We took a comparative genomics approach to measure nucleotide diversity by comparing expressed sequence tag data sets from head and body lice. A total of 10 771 body louse and 10 770 head louse transcripts were predicted from a combined assembly of Roche 454 and Illumina sequenced cDNAs from whole body tissues collected at all life stages and during pesticide exposure and bacterial infection treatments. Illumina reads mapped to the 10 775 draft body louse gene models from the whole genome assembly predicted nine presence/absence differences, but PCR confirmation resulted in a single gene difference. Read per million base pair estimates indicated that 14 genes showed significant differential expression between head and body lice under our treatment conditions. One novel microRNA was predicted in both lice species and 99% of the 544 transcripts from Candidatus riesia indicate that they share the same endosymbiont. Overall, few differences exist, which supports the hypothesis that these two organisms are ecotypes of the same species.
Detection and quantification of mast cell, vascular endothelial growth factor, and microvessel density in human inflammatory periapical cysts and granulomas
Authors: Fonseca‐Silva T. , Santos C. C. O. , Alves L. R. , Dias L. C. , Brito‐Júnior M. , De Paula A. M. B. , Guimarães A. L. S.
Published: March 2012

Fonseca‐Silva T, Santos CCO, Alves LR, Dias LC, Brito‐Júnior M, De Paula AMB, Guimarães ALS Detection and quantification of mast cell, vascular endothelial growth factor, and microvessel density in human inflammatory periapical cysts and granulomas. International Endodontic Journal, 45, 859–864, 2012.

Aim  To identify and quantify mast cell (MC), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression and microvessel density (MVD) in human periapical cysts and granulomas.

Methodology  Archived samples of cysts (n = 40) and granulomas (n = 28) were sectioned and stained with toluidine blue. MCs were identified and counted. Immunohistochemical reactions were employed to evaluate the tissue expression of VEGF and vessels. MVD was estimated by determining the areas of tissue labelled with CD31 antibody. The data were analysed using the Mann–Whitney test (P < 0.05).

Results  MCs were observed in the peripheral regions of both lesion types, whilst VEGF and MVD were distributed in the stroma. The presence of MCs was higher in cysts than in granulomas (P < 0.05). VEGF and MVD expression were similar in these lesions.

Conclusions  The highest number of MCs was observed in cysts. Moreover, the identification of VEGF and MVD was consistent with the immune mechanisms involved in the lesions.
Quantitative molecular and culture analyses of bacterial elimination in oval‐shaped root canals by a single‐file instrumentation technique
Authors: Alves F. R. F. , Rôças I. N. , Almeida B. M. , Neves M. A. S. , Zoffoli J. , Siqueira J. F.
Published: March 2012

Alves FRF, Rôças IN, Almeida BM, Neves MAS, Zoffoli J, Siqueira JF Jr. Quantitative molecular and culture analyses of bacterial elimination in oval‐shaped root canals by a single‐file instrumentation technique. International Endodontic Journal, 45, 871–877, 2012.

Aim  Bacterial reduction in oval‐shaped root canals by a single‐instrument technique was compared ex vivo with a conventional nickel–titanium rotary technique. Data obtained from two quantification methods, quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and culture, were also compared.

Methodology  Oval‐shaped canals of extracted teeth contaminated with Enterococcus faecalis were instrumented using either a single Reciproc instrument or the BioRaCe instrument series. Bacteriological samples were taken before (S1) and after instrumentation (S2). Bacterial quantification was performed using qPCR and culture.

Results  Intragroup analysis showed that both protocols promoted a highly significant bacterial reduction (P < 0.001). Intergroup analysis (S2 samples) showed no significant differences between the two instrumentation systems (P > 0.05). As for the quantification methods, qPCR revealed significantly higher counts of E. faecalis in S1 than culture (P < 0.05), but no significant differences occurred for S2 (P > 0.05).

Conclusion  The single‐file technique was comparable with the conventional technique in oval‐shaped canals provided the width of apical preparation, volume of irrigants and duration of irrigation are kept similar. No significant difference was observed for qPCR and culture in post‐instrumentation samples, indicating that both methods can be reliably used for studies of antibacterial effectiveness.
Mass transfer evaluation of ultrasonic osmotic dehydration of cherry tomatoes in sucrose and salt solutions
Authors: Li Hui , Zhao Cuiping , Guo Yunhan , An Kejing , Ding Shenghua , Wang Zhengfu
Published: March 2012

In order to elaborate dehydration and osmotic equilibrium characteristics of cherry tomatoes and to analyse the applicability of Peleg model in prediction of equilibrium moisture content and the methodology of Crank’s solution to Fick’s diffusion law in calculation of effective diffusivity, cherry tomatoes were osmotically treated in ternary solution (water, sucrose and NaCl) with or without ultrasound at 30 °C. Results indicated that, a time cumulative effect of ultrasound occurred about 30 min for water loss (WL), while for sugar gain it happened after 45 min, which made the dehydration efficiency index best at the ultrasonic power of 150 W for 40 min. As a function of salt content, the equilibrium WL followed well the first order exponential decay model, and the equilibrium salt content followed well the second order polynomial. A great relative error (29.13%) between the practical determination and the predicted value indicated that Peleg model was not suitable for prediction of equilibrium moisture content. A great truncation error (865%) occurred when moisture effective diffusivity (6.66 × 10−9 m2 s−1) was calculated with Crank’s solution to Fick’s diffusion law by letting n = 1 as compared to that (0.77 × 10−9 m2 s−1) by letting n = 100.
Prebiotic effects of fermentable carbohydrate polymers may be modulated by faecal bulking of non‐fermentable polysaccharides in the large bowel of rats
Authors: Monro John A. , Paturi Gunaranjan , Butts Christine A. , Young Wayne , De Guzman Cloe Erika , McLachlan Andrew , Roy Nicole C. , Ansell Juliet
Published: March 2012

This study investigated the impact of supplementary fermentable polysaccharides inulin (a prebiotic) and barley β‐glucan on the large bowel, when consumed against a background high or low intake of mixed non‐starch polysaccharide. Rats were fed for 28 days with diets containing high (15%) and low (5%) background dietary fibre (BDF; cellulose plus sugar beet fibre), with or without 5% supplementary fermentable fibre (SFF; inulin or barley β‐glucan). High‐BDF diets unsupplemented with inulin or barley β‐glucan caused greater improvement than supplemented low‐BDF diets in several parameters linked to gut health: they increased colonic Bifidobacterium spp., butyric acid concentration in the caecum, and colonic crypt depth more than inulin and barley β‐glucan. For these parameters, inulin and barley β‐glucan added little to the effects of the high‐BDF diet alone. Furthermore, by allowing for dilution due to the greater faecal bulk induced by the mixed fibre compared with inulin or barley β‐glucan, the total quantity of butyric acid in the colon of BDF‐fed rats was greatly amplified. Interpretation of the effects of prebiotics in diets containing dietary fibre requires concurrent analysis of the multiple effects of non‐fermentable bulk.
Variant Carvajal syndrome with additional dental anomalies
Authors: BARBER SOPHY , DAY PETER , JUDGE MARY , TOOLE EDELL O’ , FAYLE STEPHEN
Published: March 2012

International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry 2012; 22: 390–396

Background  This paper aims to review the case of a girl who presented with a number of dental anomalies, in addition to unusual skin, nail and hair conditions. Tragically an undiagnosed cardiomyopathy caused unexpected sudden death. The case is discussed with reference to a number of dermatological and oral conditions which were considered as possible diagnoses.

Case Report  AW had been under long term dental care for prepubertal periodontitis, premature root resorption of primary teeth, soft tissue and dental anomalies, and angular cheilitis. Separately she had also been seen by several dermatologists with respect to palmar plantar keratosis, striae keratoderma, wiry hair and abnormal finger nails. Tragically the patient suffered a sudden unexpected death and the subsequent post mortem identified an undiagnosed dilated cardiomyopathy.

Conclusion  The most likely diagnosis is that this case is a variant of Carvajal Syndrome with additional dental anomalies. To date we have been unable to identify mutations in the desoplakin gene. We aim to emphasise the importance of recognising these dental and dermatological signs when they present together as a potential risk factor for cardiac abnormalities.
Moving in three dimensions: effects of structural complexity on occurrence and activity of insectivorous bats in managed forest stands
Authors: Jung Kirsten , Kaiser Sonja , Böhm Stefan , Nieschulze Jens , Kalko Elisabeth K. V.
Published: March 2012

1. Forest management determines to a large degree the three‐dimensional arrangement of the vegetation in production forest systems and hence has an essential influence on habitat quality for wildlife. We investigated the effects of forest structure on occurrence, activity and species composition of European bats, an ecologically important group of vertebrates known to be affected by the physical clutter of vegetation.

2. Species composition and activity of bats were assessed with acoustic monitoring on 50 one‐hectare experimental plots in a biosphere reserve in Germany. Three‐dimensional forest structure was assessed by Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR), and a set of 20 mathematically derived and fine‐grained structural parameters with a minimum of collinearity was used for a quantitative description of the vegetation structure.

3. Occurrence and activity of bats were positively associated with the structural parameters canopy height, standard deviation of the canopy surface roughness and edge fraction, indicating older forest stands with patches of different vegetation heights. In addition, species composition in differently managed forest stands was significantly influenced by the relative proportion of structural parameters. Species of one functional group, sharing similar adaptations in wing morphology and foraging strategy, showed similar associations with three‐dimensional structural parameters. In addition, we found species‐specific structural parameter associations explaining the occurrence and activity levels of individual species in differently managed production forest types.

4. Synthesis and applications. High‐resolution LiDAR data are an important tool to assess structural habitat suitability for bat species. Our data revealed that bat occurrence and activity increases with structural heterogeneity in managed forest stands. Given, that bats provide an essential ecosystem service through top‐down control of herbivorous insects, increasing stand structural heterogeneity through management practices (e.g. selective harvesting) is a very effective strategy to assure vital ecosystem functioning in production forest systems.
Nonadditive indirect effects of group genetic diversity on larval viability in Drosophila melanogaster imply key role of maternal decision‐making
Authors: SALTZ JULIA B. , ALICUBEN EVAN T. , GRUBMAN JESSICA , HARKENRIDER MATTHEW , MEGOWAN NICHELLE , NUZHDIN SERGEY V.
Published: March 2012

Genetic variation can have important consequences for populations: high population genetic diversity is typically associated with ecological success. Some mechanisms that account for these benefits assume that local social groups with high genetic diversity are more successful than low‐diversity groups. At the same time, active decision‐making by individuals can influence group genetic diversity. Here, we examine how maternal decisions that determine group genetic diversity influence the viability of Drosophila melanogaster larvae. Our groups contained wild‐type larvae, whose genetic diversity we manipulated, and genetically marked ‘tester’ larvae, whose genotype and frequency were identical in all trials. We measured wild‐type and tester viability for each group. Surprisingly, the viability of wild‐type larvae was neither augmented nor reduced when group genetic diversity was altered. However, the viability of the tester genotype was substantially depressed in large, high‐diversity groups. Further, not all high‐diversity groups produced this effect: certain combinations of wild‐type genotypes were deleterious to tester viability, while other groups of the same diversity—but containing different wild‐type genotypes—were not deleterious. These deleterious combinations of wild‐type genotypes could not be predicted by observing the performance of the same tester and wild‐type genotypes in low‐diversity groups. Taken together, these results suggest that nonadditive interactions among genotypes, rather than genetic diversity per se, account for between‐group differences in viability in D. melanogaster and that predicting the consequences of genetic diversity at the population level may not be straightforward.
Attitudes of pregnant women towards collection of biological specimens during pregnancy and at birth
Authors: Nechuta Sarah , Mudd Lanay M. , Elliott Michael R. , Lepkowski James M. , Paneth Nigel ,   the Michigan Alliance for the National Children's Study
Published: March 2012

Nechuta S, Mudd LM, Elliott MR, Lepkowski JM, Paneth N, the Michigan Alliance for the National Children's Study. Attitudes of pregnant women towards collection of biological specimens during pregnancy and at birth. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2012; 26: 272–275.

Epidemiological investigations of maternal and child health may involve the collection of biological specimens, including cord blood and the placenta; however, the attitudes of pregnant women towards participation in the collection of biological specimens have been studied rarely. We evaluated attitudes towards collection and storage of biological specimens, and determined whether attitudes differed by maternal characteristics, in a cross‐sectional study of pregnant women residing in Kent County, Michigan. Women were interviewed at their first visit for prenatal care between April and October 2006 (n = 311). Willingness to participate was highest for maternal blood collection (72%), followed by storage of biological specimens (68%), placenta collection (64%), and cord blood collection (63%). About one‐quarter of women (25–28% by procedure) would not participate even if compensated. Hispanic ethnicity was associated with unwillingness to participate in maternal blood collection (OR = 2.16 [95% CI 1.15, 4.04]). Primiparity was associated with unwillingness to participate in cord blood collection (OR = 1.72 [95% CI 1.23, 2.42]). Among women willing to participate, Hispanic women were less likely to require compensation; while higher educated, married and primiparous women were more likely to require compensation. In conclusion, while many pregnant women were willing to participate in biological specimen collection, some women were more resistant, in particular Hispanic and primiparous women. Targeting these groups of women for enhanced recruitment efforts may improve overall participation rates and the representativeness of participants in future studies of maternal and child health.
Neutrophil gelatinase‐associated lipocalin as an early biomarker of acute kidney injury in liver transplantation
Authors: Jeong Tae‐Dong , Kim Sollip , Lee Woochang , Song Gi‐Won , Kim Young‐Kug , Chun Sail , Lee Sung‐Gyu , Min Won‐Ki
Published: March 2012

Background

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication and a significant prognostic factor of long‐term outcome in patients undergoing liver transplantation. We evaluated the utility of urine and plasma neutrophil gelatinase‐associated lipocalin (NGAL) concentrations as biomarkers of AKI during and after liver transplantation.

Materials and methods

We prospectively enrolled 19 adult patients who underwent living‐related liver transplantation (LRLT). Serial blood and urine samples were collected at baseline and at 2, 4, 10, 16, 24, 30, 40, and 48 h after reperfusion, and their concentrations of NGAL were measured, with urinary NGAL corrected by urinary creatinine concentration to compensate for urine output. AKI was defined by Risk‐Injury‐Failure‐Loss‐End‐stage kidney disease (RIFLE) criteria as a ≥50% increase in serum creatinine from baseline.

Results

Eleven of 19 patients were diagnosed with AKI according to RIFLE criteria. Urinary NGAL/urine creatinine ratio increased immediately after reperfusion and peaked four h later and preceded a ≥50% elevation in serum Cr by 19.0 h (p = 0.001). Plasma NGAL also tended to be elevated 13.0 h earlier than serum creatinine (p = 0.075).

Conclusions

The urinary NGAL/urine creatinine ratio may be an early biomarker of AKI in adult patients undergoing LRLT.
Measuring the effects of sevoflurane on electroencephalogram using sample entropy
Authors: SHALBAF R. , BEHNAM H. , SLEIGH J. , VOSS L.
Published: March 2012

Background

Monitoring the effect of anesthetic drugs on the neural system is a major ongoing challenge for anesthetists. During the past few years, several electroencephalogram (EEG)‐based methods such as the response entropy (RE) as implemented in theDatex‐OhmedaM‐EntropyModule have been proposed. In this paper, sample entropy is used to quantify the predictability ofEEGseries, which could provide an index to show the effect of sevoflurane anesthesia. The dose–response relation of sample entropy is compared with that ofRE.

Methods

EEGdata from 21 subjects is collected during the induction of general anesthesia with sevoflurane. The sample entropy is applied to theEEGrecording. Pharmacokinetic‐pharmacodynamic modeling and prediction probability statistic are used to evaluate the efficiency of sample entropy in comparison withRE.

Results

Both methods track the gross changes inEEG, especially the occurrence of burst‐suppression pattern at high doses of anesthetics. However, our method produces faster reaction to transients inEEGduring the induction of anesthesia as indicated from the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic modeled parameters and analysis around the point of loss of consciousness. Also, sample entropy correlated more closely with effect‐site sevoflurane concentration than theRE. In addition, our proposed method exhibits greater resistance to noise in theEEGsignals.

Conclusion

The results demonstrate that sample entropy can estimate the sevoflurane drug effect on theEEGmore effectively than the commercialREindex with a stronger noise resistance.
Ultrasound‐guided block of the axillary nerve: a case series of potential clinical applications
Authors: ROTHE C. , LUND J. , JENSTRUP M. T. , LUNDSTRØM L. H. , LANGE K. H. W.
Published: March 2012

The specific blocking of the axillary nerve has never been investigated clinically. We present four cases illustrating potential applications of the axillary nerve block in the perioperative setting and discuss possible directions for future research in this area. The axillary nerve blocks were all performed using a newly developed in‐plane ultrasound‐guided technique. In one patient undergoing arthroscopic shoulder surgery, we used the axillary nerve block as the only analgesic combined with propofol sedation and spontaneous breathing. Chronic shoulder pain was eliminated after the axillary nerve block in two patients. The pain score after arthroscopic shoulder surgery in these two patients remained low until termination of the nerve block. In a fourth patient, severe post‐operative pain after osteosynthesis of a displaced proximal humerus fracture was almost eliminated after performing an axillary nerve block. These findings warrant larger clinical trials that investigate the pain‐mediating role of the axillary nerve in the perioperative setting.
Comparative cytogenetics between the speciesPassiflora edulisandPassiflora cacaoensis
Authors: Viana A. J. C. , Souza M. M.
Published: March 2012

Passiflora edulisSims is the most economically important species of the genusPassiflora. A new species was described recently,Passiflora cacaoensisBernacci & Souza, which displayed morphologic characteristics very similar toP. edulis. Due to the need for delimitation of the two species, karyomorphological and banding analyses were carried out. Both species have 2n = 18, with the same karyotype formula 16 m + 2sm. There was variation between the species regarding the location of satellites and the width of chromosome pairs 2, 4 and 8. C banding revealed the presence of constitutive heterochromatin in the centromeric and telomeric regions of all chromosomes in both species. However, only inP. cacaoensisdid chromosomes 3 and 9 have a large quantity of heterochromatin. Fluorochrome banding revealed CMA+bands only in the satellites, but no DAPI+bands. Fluorescencein situhybridisation (FISH) showed that inP. cacaoensisthe rDNA 5S probe is located in a single site in the subterminal position of the long arm of chromosome 5. However, for the rDNA 45S probe, two sites were detected in terminal positions of the long arms of chromosome 7, with a bigger and stronger signal, and of chromosome 9. According to the asymmetry index and the quantity of heterochromatin,P. cacaoensisis a more basal species thanP. edulis. The cytogenetic data indicate thatP. cacaoensisis closely related toP. edulis, but is a different species.
Influence of vermicompost and cucumber cultivar on population growth of Aphis gossypii Glover
Authors: Razmjou J. , Vorburger C. , Mohammadi M. , Hassanpour M.
Published: March 2012

The melon aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover (Hem., Aphididae), is one of the most important pests of cucumber throughout the world. This aphid has a short generation time and high fecundity that result in an enormous reproductive potential, especially in cucumber‐growing greenhouses. Vermicomposts, which are produced by exploiting interactions between earthworms and microorganisms, may enhance plant growth and plant resistance against some pests and disease. In this study, the effects of vermicompost and cucumber cultivar (Cucumis sativus L.) on infestation levels with A. gossypii were evaluated. We conducted a factorial experiment with two cucumber cultivars (Royal and Storm) and five concentrations of vermicompost in the soil, including 0% (control), 10%, 20%, 30% and 50%, employing a randomized complete block design with four replicates. The experiment was conducted in a growth chamber at 25 ± 2°C, 65 ± 10% RH and a photoperiod of 14 L: 10 D h. The number of aphids was counted 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, 15, 18 and 21 days after infestation of cucumber seedlings by aphids. We found that in all vermicompost‐amended treatments, aphid numbers were lower than when plants were grown in soil without any vermicompost. The highest and lowest aphid counts occurred in the control treatment on cucumbers of the Royal cultivar and in the 30% and 50% vermicompost treatments on the storm cultivar, respectively. Overall, our study showed that the application of vermicompost has a high potential for reducing A. gossypii populations in cucumber cultures.
Nuclear translocation of FGF8 and its implication to induce Sprouty2
Authors: Suzuki Ayumu , Harada Hidekiyo , Nakamura Harukazu
Published: March 2012

Fibroblast growth factor 8 (FGF8) functions as a local organizing signal for the tectum and cerebellum. FGF8 activates Ras‐ERK signaling pathway to induce cerebellar development. We paid attention to the difference in the expression pattern of the molecules that are induced by FGF8 in the mid‐hind brain region during normal development and after FGF8 misexpression; some are expressed in the area corresponding to the ERK activation domain but the others are expressed corresponding to the Fgf8 expression domain. Since some of the FGF family members are localized in the nucleus, we wondered if FGF8 could localize in the nuclei and function in the nucleus. We first show that in cultured NIH3T3 cells transfected FGF8b could localize in the nucleus. Transfected FGF8b could also localize in the nucleus of the cells in the chick neural tube. In mouse embryonic neural tube, we detected endogenous FGF8 in the nuclei. Implantation of an FGF8b‐soaked bead showed that exogenous FGF8b could be translocated to the nuclei in the isthmus. Furthermore, signal‐peptide‐deletion mutant of FGF8b mainly localized in the nuclei, and induced Sprouty2 without activating ERK in the mesencephalon. Signal‐peptide‐deletion mutant of FGF8b could not induce Pax2 expression. Taken together, we concluded that FGF8b could be translocated to the nuclei, and that the nuclear FGF8 could function as transcriptional regulator to induce Sprouty2 in the isthmus.
Positional information in neural map development: Lessons from the olfactory system
Authors: Imai Takeshi
Published: March 2012

Positional information is fundamental in development. Although molecular gradients are thought to represent positional information in various systems, the molecular logic used to interpret these gradients remains controversial. In the nervous system, sensory maps are formed in the brain based on gradients of axon guidance molecules. However, it remains unclear how axons find their targets based on relative, not absolute, expression levels of axon guidance receptors. No model solely based on axon–target interactions explains this point. Recent studies in the olfactory system suggested that the neural map formation requires axon–axon interactions, which is known as axon sorting. This review discusses how axon–axon and axon–target interactions interpret molecular gradients and determine the axonal projection sites in neural map formation.
Suprapubic versus transurethral bladder drainage after radical prostatectomy: Impact on patient discomfort
Authors: Orikasa Seiichi , Kanbe Koichi , Shirai Shuichi , Shintaku Ichiro , Kurosu Seiichi
Published: March 2012

We evaluated the feasibility and the benefits of total prostatectomy with suprapubic cystostomy drainage instead of a urethral Foley catheter. Of 65 consecutive total retropubic prostatectomies, 42 were carried out with the suprapubic cystostomy, and 23 with the urethral Foley catheter. Patients were asked postoperatively to complete a 5‐cm visual analog scale on pain intensity related to the catheter and to urination after catheter removal. No problem related to cystostomy per se was observed. In the cystostomy group, over 85% and 69% of men perceived no urinary symptoms during catherization and no painful urination after catheter removal, respectively; whereas in the Foley group, 91% and 65% perceived those symptoms (P < 0.001 and P < 0.01, respectively). These findings suggest that urethral catheter‐free prostatectomy is a good alternative to that with a urethral Foley catheter, and it gives patients an improved quality of early postoperative life.
Post‐fire resprouting responses of native and exotic grasses from Cumberland Plain Woodland (Sydney, Australia) under elevated carbon dioxide
Authors: TOOTH IFEANNA M. , LEISHMAN MICHELLE R.
Published: March 2012

This study investigated the effect of elevated CO2 on the post‐fire resprouting response of a grassland system of perennial grass species of Cumberland Plain Woodland. Plants were grown in mixtures in natural soil in mesocosms, each containing three exotic grasses (Nassella neesiana, Chloris gayana, Eragrostis curvula) and three native grasses (Themeda australis, Microlaena stipoides, Chloris ventricosa) under elevated (700 ppm) and ambient (385 ppm) CO2 conditions. Resprouting response after fire at the community‐ and species‐level was assessed. There was no difference in community‐level biomass between CO2 treatments; however, exotic species made up a larger proportion of the community biomass under all treatments. There were species‐level responses to elevated CO2 but no significant interactions found between CO2 and burning or plant status. Two exotic grasses (N. neesiana and E. curvula, a C3 and a C4 species respectively), and one native grass (M. stipoides, a C3 species) significantly increased in biomass, and a native C4 grass (C. ventricosa) significantly decreased in biomass under elevated CO2. These results suggest that although overall productivity of this community may not change with increases in CO2 and fire frequency, the community composition may alter due to differential species responses.
An optical method of measuring anisotropic deformation and necking in material testing
Authors: ZANGANEH M. , TAI Y. H. , YATES J. R.
Published: March 2012

The mechanical properties of structural engineering materials are often highly anisotropic, particularly in wrought products. Characterisation of the material behaviour and the identification of the fracture and damage parameters of structural metals require load‐displacement data from smooth and notched tensile tests. Modern optical methods, such as 3D digital image correlation (DIC), enable full field displacement data to be collected. However, the measurement of diametral contraction in round tensile specimens is not straightforward for anisotropic materials. In this paper a method for measuring diametral contractions simultaneously in two orthogonal directions using a standard 3D DIC system in conjunction with an edge detection algorithm is described. The results show that deformation anisotropy can be readily quantified through these orthogonal diametral displacements.
The marine cyanobacterium Crocosphaera watsonii WH8501 synthesizes the compatible solute trehalose by a laterally acquired OtsAB fusion protein
Authors: Pade Nadin , Compaoré Justine , Klähn Stephan , Stal Lucas J. , Hagemann Martin
Published: March 2012

Compatible solutes are small organic molecules that are involved in the acclimation to various stresses such as temperature and salinity. Marine or moderate halotolerant cyanobacteria accumulate glucosylglycerol, while cyanobacteria with low salt tolerance (freshwater strains) usually accumulate sucrose or trehalose as the main compatible solutes. The screening of the genome of the marine, unicellular N2‐fixing cyanobacterium Crocosphaera watsonii WH8501 revealed that instead of genes for glucosylglycerol biosynthesis, a fusion protein for the synthesis of trehalose was found that displayed similarities to trehalose‐phosphate‐synthase and ‐phosphatase (OtsAB pathway) from enterobacteria. Accordingly, cells of Crocosphaera showed salt‐stimulated expression of the otsAB gene as well as a salt‐dependent trehalose accumulation. The biochemical characterization of recombinant full‐length OtsAB and truncated OtsB versions revealed that the otsAB gene in Crocosphaera encodes for an active trehalose‐phosphate‐synthase/phosphatase fusion protein. Genes coding for such proteins were not found in the genomes of other cyanobacteria but were present in many other, non‐related marine bacteria, suggesting that otsAB might have been acquired by lateral gene transfer into the Crocosphaera genome.
Sigmoid diverticulitis in 2011: many questions; few answers
Authors: Ambrosetti P. , Gervaz P. , Fossung‐Wiblishauser A.
Published: March 2012

Aim  Patients were studied after a first episode of acute left‐colonic diverticulitis for the initial and later evolution of the disease with the aim of defining evidence‐based indications for elective surgery.

Method  Relevant data from prospective studies were retrieved from a MEDLINE search of English language articles.

Results  Young male patients (≤ 50 years of age) had a higher risk of CT‐graded severe diverticulitis. After medical treatment of the first episode, the incidence of complications was highest for young patients with CT‐graded severe diverticulitis and lowest for older patients with CT‐graded moderate diverticulitis. Recurrence in the form of diffuse peritonitis was rare. CT grading of initial diverticulitis seemed to be a predictor of recurrence, whereas the role of age was less clear. A family history of diverticulitis might be predictive of recurrence.

Conclusion  CT grading of acute diverticulitis helps to predict poor outcome after medical treatment of a first episode. Elective surgical resection should be proposed to patients with residual symptoms who do not respond to conservative treatment. Additional research is needed to clarify the role of a genetic predisposition in the development of diverticulitis in young adults.
Liraglutide in oral antidiabetic drug combination therapy
Authors: Garber A. J.
Published: March 2012

The glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1) receptor agonist liraglutide is indicated as an add‐on to oral antidiabetic drug regimens in subjects with type 2 diabetes. Herein, the results of clinical trials assessing the efficacy, safety and tolerability of liraglutide when used in combination with either one or two oral antidiabetic therapies are summarised, then contrasted with the effects of exenatide and dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP‐4) inhibitors. GLP‐1 receptor agonists lead to effective glycaemic control when used as combination therapy with either one or two oral antidiabetic agents, and may confer overall benefits in weight loss and blood pressure in some subjects. These agents are well tolerated; the most commonly reported adverse effect is mild‐to‐moderate gastrointestinal symptoms, which are usually transient. Rates of hypoglycaemia in these trials were low, although higher rates were noted when combined with a sulphonylurea. While further study will be required, GLP‐1 receptor agonists may offer important advantages over other diabetic therapies, including DPP‐4 inhibitors.
Liraglutide: from clinical trials to clinical practice
Authors: Gough S. C. L.
Published: March 2012

Liraglutide, a once‐daily glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonist, is approved for use as monotherapy in the USA and Japan (but not in Europe or Canada) and in combination with selected oral agents (all regions) for the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes. Guidance from local advisory bodies is emerging on the most appropriate place for liraglutide in the treatment pathway. It is apparent from its phase 3 clinical trial programme that liraglutide provides superior glycaemic control compared with that achieved with other antidiabetic agents used early in the treatment pathway (e.g. glimepiride and sitagliptin). Key additional benefits include a low incidence of hypoglycaemia and clinically relevant weight loss, although these benefits may be ameliorated by concomitant sulphonylurea (SU) treatment and, in the case of hypoglycaemia, reduction of the SU dose may be necessary. Overall, the profile of liraglutide is similar and, in some aspects, superior to twice‐daily exenatide. The implementation of liraglutide therapy is straightforward, with simple dose titration from the starting dose of 0.6 to 1.2 mg/day after 1 week; some patients may benefit from additional titration to 1.8 mg/day. Treatment is self‐administered by subcutaneous injection. This contrasts with other agents used early in the treatment pathway, but clinical data suggest patients' overall treatment satisfaction with liraglutide is similar (1.2 mg) or better (1.8 mg) than that with sitagliptin despite differing administration methods. Some patients may experience nausea when initiating liraglutide treatment, but the titration regimen is designed to improve tolerability and clinical data indicate nausea is transient.