bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The spatial behaviour of spike patches in the feline gastroduodenal junction in vitro
Authors: Lammers  , Slack  , Stephen  , Pozzan
Published: March 2003

In the isolated feline gastroduodenal region, the spatial propagation of slow waves and of individual spikes was reconstructed. Recordings were performed simultaneously from 240 extracellular electrodes positioned on the serosal surface across the junction. Results from nine experiments (22 slow waves) showed that the slow wave never propagated across the gastroduodenal region and that this block was due to the presence of a zone of quiescence caudal to the pylorus. In contrast, spikes (n=155) were able to propagate into the quiescent zone, either from the antrum (15.4%) or from the duodenum (34.0%) and occasionally, were able to propagate from one organ to the other (10.9%). However, in all cases, spike conduction was self‐limited and activated a local area termed a ‘patch’. The length of the patches located in the gastroduodenal region was significantly longer than in the rest of the duodenum (20.2 mm ± 9.7 vs. 9.5 mm ± 3.2; P < 0.001) indicating a possible enhancement of spike propagation in this region. In conclusion, in spite of the total conduction block for slow waves, individual spikes are able to propagate across the gastroduodenal region, albeit in self‐limited areas or ‘patches’. These spike patches could form the building blocks for gastroduodenal coordination.
Motilin receptor density in inflamed and noninflamed tissue in rabbit TNBS‐induced colitis
Authors: Depoortere I. , Van Assche G. , Peeters T. L.
Published: March 2003

Trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid (TNBS)‐induced colitis decreases the contractile response of the rabbit colon to motilin, and inflammation may increase plasma motilin levels. We studied whether the decreased contractility could be due to a down‐regulation of motilin receptors, caused by increased plasma motilin levels. As this would affect all tissues, uninflamed sites were studied as well. Colitis was induced by different doses (100–150 mg kg−1) of TNBS. In the colon, the TNBS dose‐dependent decrease of the contractile response towards motilin was reflected in a decrease in motilin receptor density. In contrast, in the antrum, receptors were upregulated by 150 mg kg−1 TNBS, while central motilin receptors in the cerebellum were not affected. Plasma motilin levels were not influenced by inflammation, although the motilin content and mRNA expression in the duodenal and jejunal mucosa, but not in the colon, was significantly increased. The opposite was true for interleukin‐1β and interleukin receptor antagonist mRNA expression. We conclude that the decreased motilin contractility in rabbit colitis is due to a downregulation of motilin receptors in the colon, but this is not caused by chronic hormonal stimulation.
Role of vagal innervation on intragastric distribution and emptying of liquid and semisolid meals in conscious pigs
Authors: Blat S. , Guérin S. , Chauvin A. , Bobillier E. , Le Cloirec J. , Bourguet P. , Malbert C. H.
Published: March 2003

The role of vagal innervation on emptying patterns and intragastric distributions of liquid and semisolid meals is still controversial. We aimed to record these features after dorsal, ventral and truncal vagotomies, using external gamma scintigraphy in conscious pigs in which the dorsal vagus specifically innervates the proximal stomach. Imaging of the stomach was performed for all experimental situations and before surgery using 99mTc‐labelled glucose and porridge meals. Emptying of liquids was faster after dorsal vagotomy, whereas it was unchanged after ventral and truncal vagotomies (T1/2=57 ± 8.5, 31 ± 14.4, 54 ± 9.1 and 42 ± 14.9 min for intact, dorsal, ventral and truncal vagotomies, respectively). On the other hand, truncal vagotomy significantly reduced the emptying rate of semisolids whereas dorsal and ventral vagotomies had no significant effect (T1/2=96 ± 7.2, 113 ± 8.1, 75 ± 9.9 and 260 ± 56.6 min for intact, dorsal, ventral and truncal vagotomies). Morphological analysis of the gastric shape confirmed an overdistended proximal stomach after truncal vagotomy only. For semisolids, proximal stomach emptying followed the same emptying pattern as the entire stomach, irrespective of the surgical procedure. We concluded that the proximal stomach is the main control for the emptying of liquids and semisolids. The vagal control of overall gastric emptying for semisolids is probably identical to that modulating the intragastric distribution of the meal.
Colorectal transport during defecation in patients with lesions of the sacral spinal cord
Authors: Krogh K. , Olsen N. , Christensen P. , Madsen J. L. , Laurberg S.
Published: March 2003

Abstract Normal defecation involves reflexes between the colorectum and sacral spinal cord. Lesions of the conus medullaris or cauda equina interrupt such reflex arches and cause constipation. The aim of the study was to compare colorectal transport during defecation in patients with sacral spinal cord lesions and healthy volunteers. Ten patients with sacral spinal cord lesions (six men and four women, age 21–57 y, median=36) and 16 healthy volunteers (10 men and six women, age 22–42 y, median=30) took one or two doses of 111In‐labelled polystyrene pellets perorally to mark colorectal contents. Abdominal scintigraphy was performed before and after defecation. Total colorectal emptying and segmental antegrade or retrograde transport was computed. Median colorectal emptying during normal defecation was 81% of the rectosigmoid (range: 53% of the rectosigmoid to complete emptying of the rectosigmoid and 40% of the descending colon) in healthy volunteers and 27% of the rectosigmoid (range: 0–44% of the rectosigmoid) in patients with conal/cauda equina lesions (P < 0.001). Median antegrade transport was 82% (control group) vs 27% (patients) of the rectosigmoid (P < 0.001), 38% vs 4% of the descending colon (P < 0.02), 13% vs 1% of the transverse colon (P=0.28), and 4% vs 2% of the caecum/ascending colon (P=0.76). It is concluded that damage to reflex arches between the colorectum and the sacral spinal cord significantly reduces emptying of the rectosigmoid and descending colon during defecation.
Efficacy of alosetron in irritable bowel syndrome: a meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Cremonini F. , Delgado‐Aros S. , Camilleri M.
Published: March 2003

Abstract The 5HT3 receptor antagonist alosetron has been tested in several trials on irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients. The aim of the present meta‐analysis was to determine its effect on adequate relief of pain or global improvement of symptoms in IBS patients. Six large, multicentre, randomized, placebo‐controlled trials fulfilled pre‐set criteria for high quality and were included in the meta‐analysis; 1762 patients were randomized to alosetron treatment and 1356 to placebo. Seventy‐five per cent of the patients experienced diarrhoea‐predominant IBS and 93% were females. The pooled odds ratio for adequate relief of pain or global symptoms improvement was 1.81 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.57–2.10). The average number of patients needed to treat with alosetron for one patient to achieve improvement over placebo treatment was seven (95% CI 5.74–9.43). The present analysis shows that alosetron 1 mg b.i.d. positively impacts global symptoms, and pain and discomfort in non‐constipated IBS female patients. One in four patients treated with alosetron may develop constipation. The efficacy of alosetron is unclear in male patients.
Histology and platinum content of sensory ganglia and sural nerves in patients treated with cisplatin and carboplatin: an autopsy study
Authors: Krarup‐Hansen  , Rietz  , Krarup  , Heydorn  , Rørth  , Schmalbruch
Published: March 2003

Cisplatin is a valuable antineoplastic drug which as a dose‐limiting side‐effect causes sensory neuropathy, and which therefore is often combined with less neurotoxic carboplatin. It has not been possible to reproduce cisplatin neuropathy in experimental animals, and the neurotoxic mechanism in man is disputed. We investigated post‐mortem material from 12 patients and 15 control subjects. Half of the fibres with diameters of ≥9 μm, or more than 15% of all fibres (P<0.02), had disappeared in the sural nerves of patients. Signs of axonal regeneration were lacking. The dorsal root ganglia D12 and L2 of some but not of all patients contained necrotic neurons and nodules of Nageotte. The mean volume of the somata was reduced by 18% (P<0.03). A relation between cumulated doses, treatment free interval and changes in nerve or ganglia was not found. The platinum content was high in all tissues except in the spinal cord when the patient had died shortly after treatment, and it decreased with increasing interval, least so in liver, sensory ganglia and sural nerves. The results support the hypothesis that cisplatin neuropathy is a neuroneopathy rather than a dying‐back axonopathy.
NCAM, vimentin and neonatal myosin heavy chain expression in human muscle diseases
Authors: Winter  , Bornemann
Published: March 2003

The intermediate filament protein vimentin, the neonatal isoform of the myosin heavy chain gene (MHCn), and the neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) are developmentally and/or neurally regulated molecules that reappear transiently after the induction of necrosis, or denervation. Immunostaining using antibodies against these molecules helps to identify regenerating and/or denervated muscle fibres even if they are not recognized by conventional staining procedures. This study examined the expression of vimentin, MHCn, and NCAM using immunohistochemistry in 82 biopsy specimens from muscular dystrophies, inflammatory myopathies, and neurogenic atrophies. Anti‐vimentin labelled significantly more fibres than anti‐MHCn staining in the inflammatory myopathies (P<0.03) but not in the muscular dystrophies (P=0.58) and neurogenic atrophies (P=0.58). The fraction of NCAM+ fibres was always more elevated than vimentin+ or MHCn+ fibres. In the necrotizing myopathies, most NCAM+ fibres were regenerating ones (co‐expressing vimentin). In neurogenic atrophies, half the NCAM+ fibres were regenerating and half of them were NCAM+/vimentin− and thus were considered to be denervated. Taken together, anti‐vimentin staining detects a broader spectrum of regenerating fibres than anti‐MHCn, at least in the inflammatory myopathies. The number of anti‐NCAM labelled fibres in the necrotizing myopathies is similar, but not identical, to the number of regenerating fibres. Co‐staining with anti‐vimentin (or anti‐MHCn) and anti‐NCAM identifies a subset of fibres that is considered to be denervated.
β‐Amyloid deposition and neurofibrillary tangle formation in the olfactory bulb in ageing and Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Kovács  , Cairns  , Lantos
Published: March 2003

Impaired olfaction, hyposmia or anosmia are part of the clinical phenotype in neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer’s disease (AD). It has been proposed that the most severely affected areas are interconnected with the central olfactory system in contrast to the relative sparing of other sensory areas which lack olfactory connections. The pathology of the first synaptic relay in the olfactory pathway, the olfactory bulb (OB), has been studied in AD, but the results have been inconsistent. In order to define more fully the pathology of the OB, we analysed 15 AD and 15 control cases, using amyloid and tau immunohistochemistry on serial sections. This study demonstrates for the first time that all layers of the OB are severely affected in AD and in normal ageing. The principal effector cells of the OB, the mitral cells, developed neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) both in AD and in controls. All the cases, with the exception of two of the controls, contained NFTs. Amyloid immunoreactivity was detected in diffuse, primitive, classical and compact deposits in AD, while five control cases contained mainly diffuse deposits. We did not find a correlation between amyloid deposition and NFT formation. Among the control cases, two contained neither amyloid nor NFTs, eight had NFTs but no amyloid and only five had both NFTs and amyloid. All the AD cases had NFT and amyloid deposition. Our data suggest that the earlier pathology in the OB is NFT formation and more than ten NFTs/section is compatible with 93.3% diagnostic accuracy for AD.
Staging of multiple sclerosis (MS) lesions: pathology of the time frame of MS
Authors: Van Der Valk P. , De Groot C. J. A.
Published: March 2003

Several processes take place during an attack of demyelination in multiple sclerosis (MS). The timing of these various processes, and thus of the attack in its entirety, is important if therapeutic stratagies are to be planned. Attempts have been made to introduce and investigate variables relevant to timing the disease processes, leading to staging systems for MS. Here, the terminology and the various parameters used are reviewed, including inflammatory cells, glial cells, axonal loss and myelin staining; then the different systems are compared, including the system put forward by Bö and Trapp, our own modification of that, the Brück and Lassmann system and the recent consensus reached at a Vienna meeting. It is concluded that an ideal staging system does not yet exist, and that, more than anything else, the material dictates the choice for a staging system. The terminology of the Vienna consensus could be used as a reference to facilitate international comparison.
Vascular endothelial growth factor expression in oligodendrogliomas: a correlative study withSainte‐Anne malignancy grade, growth fractionand patient survival
Authors: Varlet P. , Guillamo J. S. , Nataf F. , Koziak M. , Beuvon F. ,   C. Fallet, Daumas‐Duport C.
Published: March 2003

Microangiogenesis is a delayed but crucial event in the malignant progression of oligodendrogliomas. Accord‐ingly, in the new Sainte‐Anne grading system of oligodendrogliomas, endothelial hyperplasia and contrast enhancement, both being indicators of microangiogenesis, are key criteria for the distinction of grade A from grade B tumours. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent angiogenic factor: a strong correlation between VEGF expression, Sainte‐Anne malignancy grade and patient outcome might thus be expected. In order to assess this hypothesis, VEGF immunostaining was performed in a series of 34 oligodendrogliomas that included 11 grade B and 23 grade A, of which nine became grade B during the study period (mean clinical and imaging follow‐up: 41 months). VEGF expression correlated strongly with Sainte‐Anne tumour grade (P < 0.001), and inversely with patient survival (P < 0.001) and recurrence‐free survival (P = 0.002). One hundred per cent of grade B but only 17% of grade A were VEGF‐positive. By contrast, the MIB‐1 labelling index did not correlate with VEGF expression, total survival or recurrence‐free survival. In accordance with the grading system, this study showed that, in oligodendrogliomas, VEGF expression and microangiogenesis are progression‐related phenomena that confer on these tumours a growth advantage by presumably reducing hypoxia‐induced apoptotic cell death. These findings might have important implications in the future for the indication and timing of anti‐angiogenic therapies.
Blood–brain barrier disruption in simian immunodeficiency virus encephalitis
Authors: Luabeya M. ‐K. , Dallasta L. M. , Achim C. L. , Pauza C. D. , Hamilton R. L.
Published: March 2003

Infected monocyte‐derived macrophages (MDM) are thought by some investigators to play a central role in the neuropathogenesis of human immunodeficiency virus encephalitis (HIVE). It was recently proposed that these cells gain access to the central nervous system (CNS) through disruptions in blood–brain barrier (BBB) tight junctions, which occur in HIVE in association with accumulation of activated, HIV‐1‐infected, perivascular macrophages and serum protein extravasation (Am J Pathol 1999, 155: 1915–27). The present study tested this hypothesis in basal ganglia tissue from simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)‐infected macaques with encephalitis by examining vessels for immunohistochemical alterations in the tight junction‐associated proteins, occludin and zonula occludens‐1 (ZO‐1). Compared to non‐infected macaques and SIV‐infected macaques without encephalitis, cerebral vessels from macaques with SIVE showed fragmentation and decreased immunoreactivity for both tight junction proteins. These alterations were associated with accumulation of perivascular macrophages and aberrant occludin and ZO‐1 immunoreactivity within these cells. In addition, perivascular extravasation of fibrinogen, a plasma protein, and a change from a strong linear staining pattern to a more irregular pattern of glucose transporter isoform‐1 (GLUT‐1), a metabolic BBB marker, were observed in regions with vascular tight junction protein alterations. These findings demonstrate that tight junction disruption occurs in SIVE in association with perivascular macrophage accumulation. While it cannot be ascertained from these studies whether such changes precede macrophage infiltration, or are secondary to the chronic presence of macrophages around cerebral vessels, disruptions in BBB integrity could serve as portals for additional accumulation of perivascular macrophages in SIVE.
Traumatic axonal injury: practical issues for diagnosis in medicolegal cases
Authors: Geddes J. F. , Whitwell H. L. , Graham D. I.
Published: March 2003

In the 25 years or so after the first clinicopathological descriptions of diffuse axonal injury (DAI), the criterion for diagnosing recent traumatic white matter damage was the identification of swollen axons (‘bulbs’) on routine or silver stains, in the appropriate clinical setting. In the last decade, however, experimental work has given us greater understanding of the cellular events initiated by trauma to axons, and this in turn has led to the adoption of immunocytochemical methods to detect markers of axonal damage in both routine and experimental work. These methods have shown that traumatic axonal injury (TAI) is much more common than previously realized, and that what was originally described as DAI occupies only the most severe end of a spectrum of diffuse trauma‐induced brain injury. They have also revealed a whole field of previously unrecognized white matter pathology, in which axons are diffusely damaged by processes other than head injury; this in turn has led to some terminological confusion in the literature. Neuropathologists are often asked to assess head injuries in a forensic setting: the diagnostic challenge is to sort out whether the axonal damage detected in a brain is indeed traumatic, and if so, to decide what – if anything – can be inferred from it. The lack of correlation between well‐documented histories and neuropathological findings means that in the interpretation of assault cases at least, a diagnosis of ‘TAI’ or ‘DAI’ is likely to be of limited use for medicolegal purposes
Lysosomal storage results in impaired survival but normal neurite outgrowth in dorsal root ganglion neurones from a mouse model of Sandhoff disease
Authors: Sango K. , Yamanaka S. , Ajiki K. , Tokashiki A. , Watabe K.
Published: March 2003

Sandhoff disease is a heritable lysosomal storage disease resulting from impaired degradation of GM2 ganglioside and related substrates. A mouse model of Sandhoff disease created by gene targeting displays progressive neurological manifestations, similar to patients with the disease. In the present in vivo and in vitro studies, we examined morphological and functional abnormalities of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurones in Sandhoff disease mice at an asymptomatic stage (approximately 1 month of age). Light microscopic studies with Nissl staining and immunocytochemistry suggested extensive intracytoplasmic storage of GM2 ganglioside in the Sandhoff mouse DRG neurones. These findings were consistent with the results of electron microscopy, in which a huge number of pleomorphic inclusion bodies immunoreactive for GM2 ganglioside were present in the cytoplasm of the neurones. The inclusion bodies were also identified in satellite cells and Schwann cells in the Sandhoff mouse DRG. The survival ratios of DRG neurones after 1, 2, 4 and 6 days in culture were significantly lower in the Sandhoff mice than in the age‐matched heterozygous mice. The ratio of neurite‐bearing cells on poly‐l‐lysine‐coated dishes after 2 days in culture was also lower by approximately 10% in the Sandhoff mice compared to the heterozygotes, but additional coating of laminin onto poly‐l‐lysine dramatically enhanced the neurite extension from the neurones in both groups of mice. These results indicate that accumulation of GM2 ganglioside in DRG neurones impairs the capability of the neurones to survive in vitro, although viable neurones from the Sandhoff mice in culture can regenerate neurites nearly as well as unaffected neurones.
Transcription factors c‐Jun/activator protein‐1 and nuclear factor‐kappa B in oxidative stress response in mitochondrial diseases
Authors: Filosto M. , Tonin P. , Vattemi G. , Savio C. , Rizzuto N. , Tomelleri G.
Published: March 2003

M. Filosto, P. Tonin, G. Vattemi, C. Savio, N. Rizzuto and G. Tomelleri (2003) Neuropathology and Applied Neurobiology 29, 52–59

 Transcription factors c‐Jun/activator protein‐1 and nuclear factor‐kappa B in oxidative stress response in mitochondrial diseases

Mitochondrial dysfunction leads to oxygen free radical (ROS) generation with consequent oxidative stress and cellular damage. Recently, activation of the cellular antioxidant system and apoptosis were demonstrated in skeletal muscle fibres from patients with mitochondrial diseases, but the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. Hydrogen peroxide, a by‐product of ROS generation, is a chemical inducer of gene expression able to activate apoptosis and to promote the antioxidant response through the activation of nuclear factor‐kappa B (NF‐κB) and activator protein‐1 (AP‐1) transcription factor. Using immunohistochemistry and confocal microscopy, we evaluated the expression of NF‐κB and AP‐1 in muscle biopsies from patients with mitochondrial disease. In addition, we examined the expression of factors involved in their activation, such as NF‐κB inducing kinase (NIK) and phosphorylated Jun‐N‐terminal kinase (p‐JNK). Most fibres with respiratory chain dysfunction displayed nuclear staining for activated c‐Jun/AP‐1, but not for NF‐κB. The same fibres reacted for p‐JNK. Only some ragged red fibres immunoreacted for NIK. These data suggest that AP‐1 is involved in the oxidative stress response in muscle fibres from patients with mitochondrial disease.
The status and prospects for conservation of the Mongolian saiga Saiga tatarica mongolica
Authors: Lushchekina Anna A. , Dulamtseren S. , Amgalan L. , Neronov Valery M.
Published: March 2003

Data are presented on the changes in distribution and abundance of the Mongolian saiga Saiga tatarica mongolica in the last few decades, based on an analysis of the literature and the authors' field observations. The subspecies has suffered a considerable decline in its range because of hunting and competition with domesticated stock. In 1997 a survey was made of almost all the known range, which consists of two disjunct areas and covers a total of 2200 sq km. A total of 609 animals was recorded and analysis of the census results suggests that c. 1300 saiga remain in total. The authors recommend strengthening the nature reserve established in 1993 in the Shargyn Gobi, and creating several sanctuaries outside this area, where Mongolian saiga from the main remaining population could be reintroduced. These measures would enhance prospects for the survival of this endemic subspecies of the semideserts of western Mongolia.
Extant populations of endemic partulids on Tahiti, French Polynesia
Authors: Coote Trevor , Loeve Eric , Meyer Jean-Yves , Clarke Dave
Published: March 2003

The current distribution of endemic partulid snails on Tahiti in French Polynesia reflects the danger of ignoring expert advice and introducing an alien species into a fragile island ecosystem. The endemic tree-snail fauna of the island now faces extinction. Although the extinction of the native species of Partula (Partulidae; Polynesian tree snails) on Moorea in French Polynesia is well known in the world of conservation biology, losses on other Pacific islands are less well described. This paper presents an update on the status of partulid snail populations on Tahiti in the light of fieldwork undertaken between 1995 and 1997. Native snails still exist in good numbers in two areas, at opposite ends of the island. In other areas, sightings of single or a few individuals indicate remnant populations now on the edge of extinction. Efforts to protect these populations and others in French Polynesia are being planned in collaboration with local government authorities.
Elephants in Addo Elephant National Park, South Africa: reconstruction of the population's history
Authors: Whitehouse Anna. M. , Hall-Martin Anthony. J.
Published: March 2003

The history of the Addo elephant population in South Africa, from the creation of the Addo Elephant National Park (AENP) in 1931 to the present (every elephant currently living within the park is known), was reconstructed. Photographic records were used as a primary source of historical evidence, in conjunction with all documentation on the population. Elephants can be identified in photographs taken throughout their life by study of the facial wrinkle patterns and blood vessel patterns in their ears. These characteristics are unique for each elephant and do not change during the individual's life. The life histories of individual elephants were traced: dates of birth and death were estimated and, wherever possible, the identity of the individual's mother was ascertained. An annual register of elephants living within the population, from 1931 to the present, was compiled, and maternal family trees constructed. Preliminary demographic analyses for the period 1976–98 are presented. The quantity and quality of photographs taken during these years enabled thorough investigation of the life histories of all elephants. Prior to 1976, insufficient photographs were available to provide reliable data on the exact birth dates and mothers' identities for every calf born. However, data on annual recruitment and mortality are considered sufficiently reliable for use in analyses of the population's growth and recovery.
Amphibians and reptiles of the Dominican Republic: species of special concern
Authors: Powell Robert , Ottenwalder José A. , Incháustegui Sixto J. , Henderson Robert W. , Glor Richard E.
Published: March 2003

The Dominican Republic faces multiple threats to biodiversity. A list of native species of amphibians and reptiles (excluding sea turtles) is presented. Some may have become extinct recently, substantial populations of others have been extirpated, some have greatly reduced numbers, and others appear to be rare or have restricted ranges. Most of the 13 taxa listed are relatively large, vulnerable to human exploitation or introduced predators, and/or have limited distributions and specific habitat requirements. To be listed, evidence must exist that: (1) populations are dwindling, (2) the range is shrinking, or (3) a species must be vulnerable to exploitation and historically rare. Two iguanas (Cyclura cornuta, C. ricordii), two turtles (Trachemys decorata, T. stejnegeri vicina), and one crocodilian (Crocodylus acutus) have been exploited extensively and have long been recognized as threatened or endangered. The ranges of Cyclura ricordii and T. decorata are very localized and the previously widespread ranges of the others have shrunk or become fragmented. A toad (Bufo fluviaticus), a large galliwasp (Celestus anelpistus), and a snake (Alsophis melanichnus) have not been collected recently. Only a few specimens of another galliwasp (C. carraui) and a dwarf gecko (Sphaerodactylus cochranae) have been taken recently. In addition, extensive portions of the habitats of these species have been severely altered. Three other snakes (Alsophis anomalus, laltris agyrtes, I. dorsalis) are rare and may never have been common. Their size and habits render them vulnerable to predation by the introduced mongoose and to decimation by humans who fear and dislike them.
Threats to the maleo Macrocephalon maleo and recommendations for its conservation
Authors: Baker Gillian C. , Butchart Stuart H. M.
Published: March 2003

The maleo Macrocephalon maleo (Megapodiidae; Galliformes) is a megapode, endemic to Sulawesi, Indonesia, that lays its eggs communally in geothermally or solar-heated soil. The majority of maleo nesting grounds are threatened to some degree and over one-third of known sites have been abandoned. Maleos are severely threatened by habitat degradation and uncontrolled egg-collecting. Hunting of adult birds is also contributing to their decline in some areas. Conservation measures implemented so far have not been sufficiently effective in preventing maleo population declines. In order to safeguard the maleo from further declines we recommend that the laws protecting the maleo and its habitat be strengthened as a matter of urgency and that long-term community conservation and environmental awareness projects be implemented. To achieve these goals we advocate the formation of a collaborative network of international NGOs, Indonesian conservationists, government departments and local communities.
Health considerations of the rehabilitation of illegally traded houbara bustards Chlamydotis undulata macqueenii in the Middle East
Authors: Bailey Tom , Silvanose Christu-Das , Naldo Jesus , Combreau Olivier , Launay Frederic , Wernery Ulrich , Kinne Joerg , Gough Richard , Manvell Ruth
Published: March 2003

There is a large illegal trade in trapped houbara bustards Chlamydotis undulata macqueenii, which are smuggled into the Middle East for falconry. Mortality is high and is associated with poor transport conditions, malnutrition, overcrowding and exposure to multiple infectious diseases, in particular aspergillosis, avian pox and paramyxovirus type 1 virus. Other pathogens include Salmonella sp., Pseudomoims sp., Trichomonas sp., intestinal endoparasites, avian leucosis, reovirus, adeno-virus, paramyxovirus type 2 and Chlamydia sp. Various regional initiatives have been initiated to confiscate and rehabilitate illegally trapped birds. This paper reviews the causes of morbidity and mortality seen in illegally traded houbara bustards and provides health recommendations for those involved in rehabilitation.
Conservation issues and priorities in the Mikea Forest of south-west Madagascar
Authors: Seddon Nathalie , Tobias Joe , Yount James W. , Ramanampamonjy Julien Rémi , Butchart Stuart , Randrianizahana Hiarinirina
Published: March 2003

The dry forests constitute one of the most distinct, yet least protected, ecosystems in Madagascar, an island renowned for high levels of endemism. They have generally been considered one of the most intact of Madagascar's climax vegetation types and accordingly have received little conservation effort. In particular, the Mikea Forest, a unique area between the Mangoky and Fiherenana rivers, currently receives negligible formal protection. It contains remarkably diverse plant and reptile assemblages, including several taxa that are found nowhere else, plus the only populations of two threatened bird species: the subdesert mesite Monias benschi and long-tailed ground-roller Uratelornis chimaera. From satellite imagery we estimate that primary forest cover declined by 15.6 per cent from 1962 to 1999, and that the rate of deforestation has increased from 0.35 per cent per annum in 1962–94 to 0.93 per cent per annum over the past 5 years. The most important factors underlying this process are slash-and-burn maize cultivation in the northern Mikea Forest and charcoal production at its southern fringe. Given these alarming circumstances, we suggest that combinations of conservation measures are required to safeguard the biological diversity of the area. Specifically, we recommend the establishment of a large protected area to the north of Manombo, a co-ordinated network of community-based conservation areas throughout the Mikea Forest, development projects to improve agriculture, and a regional research and education centre.
Casual factors underlying the dramatic decline of the Sumatran orang-utan
Authors: Robertson J. M. Yarrow , van Schaik Carel P.
Published: March 2003

The Sumatran orang-utan is in dramatic decline, including the population in its main stronghold, the Leuser Ecosystem, in Sumatra, Indonesia (C. P. van Schaiket al.(2001)Oryx35, 14–25). The major threats to the survival of Sumatran orang-utans are identified as habitat loss (mainly from conversion to oil palm plantations), habitat degradation and habitat fragmentation. The immediate causes of this are identified as weak compliance with regulations and laws; weak law enforcement and the weak legal environment. Corruption is identified as the ultimate causal factor underlying these three immediate causal factors, along with a frontier mentality and bureaucratic constraints. Together, they have resulted in the destruction of prime orang-utan habitat. Several political actions are recommended to improve the effectiveness of habitat conservation for the orang-utan and several technical challenges are to be overcome once the policy context is right. The most crucial problem to solve is the lack of regular funds for enforcement operations and establishing a new system of enforcement that is effective. In addition, the Gunung Leuser National Park needs to be redesigned by enlarging it to cover all high biodiversity areas within the Leuser Ecosystem. Moreover, habitat corridors between important forest tracts need to be re-established.
Dramatic decline in orang-utan numbers in the Leuser Ecosystem, Northern Sumatra
Authors: van Schaik Carel P. , Monk Kathryn A. , Robertson J. M. Yarrow
Published: March 2003

The Leuser Ecosystem, northern Sumatra, Indonesia, contains the world's largest orang-utan Pongo pygmaeus population. We examine the consequences of the recent wave of forest conversion, and legal and illegal logging, on orang-utan numbers in the Leuser Ecosystem. We review density variation inside the Leuser Ecosystem and its causes, and the consequences of selective logging, exhaustive logging and clear-felling for habitat conversion on orang-utan densities. The analysis of the orang-utan's decline is based on information on forest loss, logging intensity, and the delineation of logging concessions and legal changes in land use status. The results indicate a very rapid decline, by c. 45 per cent, from c.. 12,000 in early 1993, over a 6- to 7-year period. During 1998 and 1999, losses occurred at a rate of about 1000 orang-utans per year. At this rate, further losses in the near future are expected to put the survival of Leuser's orang-utans in serious doubt.
Conservation of Zino's petrelPterodroma madeirain the archipelago of Madeira
Authors: Zino Francis , Oliveira Paulo , King Susan , Buckle Alan , Biscoito Manuel , Neves H. Costa , Vasconcelos Amilcar
Published: March 2003

Birds restricted to islands are susceptible to extinction, and burrow or ground-nesting birds are particularly vulnerable to introduced mammalian predators. Human intervention has also played a vital part. Birds have been used as a source of food, and in more recent times the rarer species have suffered from specimen and egg collection. The island of Madeira and its resident species, which include the endemic Zino's petrel or Madeira freiraPterodroma madeira, are no exception. From subfossil evidence, this bird was once abundant. It was first recorded in 1903, and was already limited to the high central mountain massif of Madeira. By the middle of the century it was considered extinct, but a relict population was rediscovered in 1969. By 1985, all known breeding attempts were disrupted by introduced rats, to the extent that no young fledged. In 1986 the Freira Conservation Project was founded with the aim of increasing the population of Zino's petrel, by controlling rats and human interference, the principal perceived threats to the species. This control was extended to cats after the disaster of 1991, in which a cat(s) managed to get onto one of the breeding ledges and kill 10 adult birds. The results of these efforts have been positive and the small colony is making a slow, but steady recovery. To maintain this success, a conservation strategy for the future is suggested.
Conservation of the coniferous forests of Lebanon: past, present and future prospects
Authors: Talhouk S. N. , Zurayk R. , Khuri S.
Published: March 2003

Coniferous forests are an important component of the Lebanese landscape. Ten species of conifers in five genera are found as wild populations in Lebanon: Cilician fir Abies cilicica, cedar of Lebanon Cedrus libani, Mediterranean Cyprus Cupressus sempervirens, Syrian juniper Juniperus drupacea, Grecian juniper J. excelsa, willdenow J. foetidissima, prickly juniper J. oxycedrus, Calabrian pine Pinus brutia, Aleppo pine P. halepensis and stone pine P. pinea. Although none of these species are seriously threatened in a global context, they exist in Lebanon mostly as fragmented and degraded populations, and their habitats are under great pressure from urbanization and associated development. Conservation efforts in Lebanon have concentrated mainly on the cedar of Lebanon, with two cedar of Lebanon forests protected as Nature Reserves. Large areas of forest, coniferous and otherwise, remain unprotected. In this review, the need for an integrated approach to conservation of the coniferous landscape of Lebanon and the importance of the participation of local communities in this process are emphasized.
Hot under the collar: the failure of radio-collars on black rhinocerosDiceros bicornis
Authors: Alibhai Sky K. , Jewell Zoë C.
Published: March 2003

Radio-collaring is widely used as a monitoring tool in the conservation of the black rhinocerosDiceros bicornis. We examined rates and causes of radio-transmitter collar failure on black rhino in the Sinamatella Intensive Protection Zone (IPZ), Zimbabwe, between September 1993 and February 2000. Two collar designs, hose and strap, were fitted on immobilized rhinos in four main collaring operations. Eighty nine collars were monitored: 28 hose and 61 strap. Within 12 months of placement, all hose collars had failed. Of the strap collars, 73 per cent of those on males and 44 per cent on females had failed within 12 months. Failure rates were significantly higher in males for both collar types. For strap collars older males had higher failure rates than younger males. There was some evidence of a higher failure rate of strap collars during the wet season. Thirteen per cent of strap and 4 per cent of hose collars were removed because of poor transmission; 15 per cent of strap collars were removed because of injury. The implications of collar failure rates and the use of radio-collaring as a routine protection and /or monitoring strategy are discussed.
Threats to the Critically Endangered endemic Bermudian skink Eumeces longirostris
Authors: Davenport John , Hills Jeremy , Glasspool Anne , Ward Jack
Published: March 2003

The Bermudian rock lizard or skink Eumeces longirostris is categorized as Critically Endangered on the 2000 IUCN Red List. Skinks are vulnerable to habitat loss, introduction of non-native species and mortality caused by discarded bottles and cans that act as selfbaiting traps. This study describes the population characteristics of the Bermudian skink on two islands of the Bermudian archipelago: Nonsuch and Southampton islands. Nonsuch Island is a nature reserve but has populations of introduced lizards of the genus Anolis, lizard-eating birds and (a new finding) the cane toad Bufo marinus. Southampton Island is relatively isolated and has no introduced species. The skink population on Nonsuch Island was not investigated in detail, but appears to be small, localized to human habitation (where cover and food scraps are available) and dominated by large, old (some possibly >27 years) animals that exhibit high mutilation rates. Breeding occurs, but survival to adulthood appears poor. All of neighbouring Southampton Island was intensively trapped, with traps placed at the intersections of a 10-m grid. The population was estimated by mark–recapture trials to be c. 400 adults and juveniles; hatchlings are insectivorous and not susceptible to trapping. The population on Southampton Island is currently the largest known on Bermuda and appears to be viable; sustained isolation from predators and people is essential to its maintenance.
Ethnic‐specific predictors of prenatal care utilisation in Hawaii
Authors: Kogan Michael D. , Alexander Greg R. , Mor Joanne M. , Kieffer Edith C.
Published: March 2003

The state of Hawaii has had near‐universal health insurance coverage for the last 20 years. Its highly diverse population offers the opportunity for a unique, natural experiment in the United States on the examination of social differences in health care utilisation when financial barriers are removed. Therefore, the objective of this study is to examine predictors of prenatal care utilisation patterns in the four major ethnic groups in Hawaii. The data used in this study are the 1979–92 Hawaii livebirth vital record files. A total of 165301 singleton livebirths to Hawaii‐resident mothers of Caucasian, native Hawaiian, Japanese or Filipino ancestry were selected. Despite near‐universal health care coverage in Hawaii, a surprising number of women did not adequately utilise prenatal care, with large differences between groups. Multivariate analyses indicated that similar maternal socio‐demographic factors were associated with prenatal care use in each ethnic group. Social variation continues to exist among all ethnic groups even in the presence of universal access to care. These data emphasise the need to address the distinct cultural needs of populations for providing health services, and further challenge the assumption that removal of financial barriers will ensure a high level of prenatal care use.
Maternal smoking affects fetal growth more in the male fetus
Authors: Zarén Birgitta , Lindmark Gunilla , Bakketeig Leiv
Published: March 2003

This study investigated the association between maternal cigarette smoking and fetal growth, evaluated by longitudinal ultrasound examinations and by neonatal anthropometric measurements. The investigation was carried out in a healthy population of affluent Scandinavian women, parity l and 2, who were selected consecutively and prospectively, and with term, normal pregnancies. Three hundred and six non‐smoking, 242 light‐smoking and 308 heavy‐smoking mothers and their newborns were examined. Ultrasound measurements were performed in pregnancy weeks 17, 25, 33 and 37. Biparietal diameter (BPD), mean abdominal diameter (MAD) and femur length were recorded.

The negative effect on fetal growth from maternal smoking was found to affect the male fetus proportionally more than the female. Boys born to heavy‐smoking mothers had a weight reduction of 8.2% and a lower fat accretion (as measured by subscapular skinfold) of 12%, whereas girls had a weight and fat reduction of 4.8% and 2% respectively. In boys (but not girls) born to smokers, head circumference was significantly smaller, also reflected by significantly smaller mean BPD measurements recorded from pregnancy week 18 onwards. The MAD measurements became successively more negatively affected in the second half of pregnancy in both males and females. A greater intrauterine growth velocity and a different hormonal milieu are suggested as possible explanations of the greater male susceptibility.
The importance of preterm births for peri‐ and neonatal mortality in rural Malawi
Authors: Kulmala T. , Vaahtera M. , Ndekha M. , Koivisto A‐M. , Cullinan T. , Salin M‐L. , Ashorn P.
Published: March 2003

Peri‐ and neonatal mortality remain high in developing countries, especially in sub‐Saharan Africa. In the present study, we quantified and identified the most important predictors of early mortality in rural Malawi. Data were obtained from a community‐based cohort of 795 pregnant women and their 813 fetuses, followed prospectively from mid‐pregnancy. In this group, peri‐ and neonatal mortality rates were 65.3 deaths per 1000 births and 37.0 deaths per 1000 live births respectively. When controlled for month of birth, maternal age and selected socio‐economic variables, preterm birth was the strongest independent predictor of both peri‐ and neonatal mortality (adjusted odds ratios 9.6 for perinatal and 11.0 for neonatal mortality; 95% confidence intervals: [4.4, 21.0] and [3.7, 32.7] respectively). Weaker risk factors for mortality included a maternal history of stillbirth and abnormal delivery. Preterm delivery was associated with primiparity and peripheral malaria parasitaemia of the mother, and it accounted for 65% of the population‐attributable risk for perinatal and 68% of the neonatal mortality. Successful intervention programmes to reduce peri‐ and neonatal mortality in Malawi have to include strategies to predict and prevent prematurity.
Testing a sociomedical model for preterm delivery
Authors: Misra Dawn P. , O'Campo Patricia , Strobino Donna
Published: March 2003

The study purpose was to contribute to the development of a model for preterm birth that brings together social, psychosocial and biomedical factors. The three research questions were: (a) Which social and psychosocial factors influence the risk of preterm delivery? (b) Are the effects of social and psychosocial factors independent? (c) Do the biomedical factors identified and measured here explain the effect of social and psychosocial factors? The sample comprised 739 low‐income black non‐Hispanic women. Interviews were conducted after delivery, and medical records were abstracted. Nearly a quarter of the women delivered preterm (23.5%). Two social factors strongly predicted risk of preterm delivery: inadequacy of time and money for non‐essentials. The effect of both was stronger than expected from each alone and was partially mediated by psychosocial factors. Several psychosocial factors also predicted preterm delivery risk but only stress and locus of control were independent predictors. With the inclusion of biomedical factors, stress (OR = 1.86, P = 0.005) and locus of control (OR = 1.75, P = 0.007) continued to be strongly associated with preterm delivery. The effect of inadequate resources for non‐essentials was no longer significant, suggesting mediation. These strong effects of social and psychosocial factors should be examined in future studies.
Rehospitalisation for neonatal jaundice: risk factors and outcomes
Authors: Geiger Ann M. , Petitti Diana B. , Yao Janis F. F.
Published: March 2003

This case–control study sought to determine whether rehospitalisation for jaundice in newborns is associated with the length of hospital stay after birth and to identify risk factors for and outcomes of rehospitalisation for jaundice. It was carried out among women who delivered a normal, term infant vaginally at any of 10 medical centres from 1992 to 1994. Cases were infants rehospitalised with jaundice within 14 days of birth. Controls were randomly selected from normal, term infants delivered vaginally but not rehospitalised within 90 days of birth. Maternal medical records for pregnancy, labour and delivery care, records for all the birth hospitalisations, and rehospitalisations for the cases were abstracted. The length of birth hospitalisation did not differ between case and control infants, whether length was measured as a categorical variable or as a continuous measure (median = 22.8 h for cases and 23.3 h for controls,P= 0.931). Rehospitalisation for jaundice was associated with race/ethnicity, primiparity, preterm birth, breast feeding and suspicion of jaundice during the birth hospitalisation. None of the rehospitalised infants died, were diagnosed with kernicterus or required resuscitation. Attention to risks associated with jaundice rehospitalisation might reduce this undesirable, but not commonly severe, outcome.