bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Stress and the Theory of Planned Behavior: Understanding Healthy and Unhealthy Eating Intentions
Authors: Louis Winnifred R. , Chan Marc K.‐H. , Greenbaum Seth
Published: February 2009

Unhealthy and healthy eating intentions are predicted in a sample of 154 university students by the theory of planned behavior variables, in interaction with life stress. Specifically, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control (PBC) are shown to interact with life stress in relation to intentions to eat unhealthy foods, such that at high stress, the effects of subjective norms and PBC are attenuated. Implications are discussed for studies involving the planned behavior model and the study of life stress and unhealthy eating, for the theory of planned behavior more broadly, as well as for interventions targeting university students' eating intentions.
Effects of surface topography and chemistry of Rumex obtusifolius leaves on the attachment of the beetle Gastrophysa viridula
Authors: Gorb Elena , Gorb Stanislav
Published: February 2009

Broad‐leaved dock, Rumex obtusifolius L. (Polygonaceae), is the main host plant of the green dock beetle, Gastrophysa viridula Degeer (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). Adult beetles are able to attach and walk on leaves of this plant. Leaf surface is rather uneven, because of irregularly shaped prominent epidermal cells with a maximum height of about 9 µm. The surface is covered with a smooth epicuticular wax layer having relatively low free surface energy (FSE). The aim of this study was to measure beetle attachment force applying a ‘centrifugal technique’ on adult insects on the leaf surface and other substrates, in order to understand the effect of surface architecture and its physicochemical properties on insect attachment. We compared forces on an adaxial leaf surface with forces on a smooth silanized glass plate having low FSE, and on a polishing paper having slightly lower FSE and similar surface roughness (asperities’ size = 9 µm). Smooth plate made of normal untreated clean glass with high FSE was used as a reference substrate. On the leaf surface and the polishing paper, attachment forces were lower compared to both glass samples. There was no significant difference between force values on leaves and the polishing paper, but on both glass surfaces they were significantly higher than on the other substrates. Hydrophobicity alone explains a decrease in attachment force of the beetle, but when combined with roughness the decrease in force is four times greater.
Sampling a weighted pest complex: caterpillars in North Korean cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) crops
Authors: Hamilton A. J. , Waters E. K. , Kim H. J. , Pak W. S. , Furlong M. J.
Published: February 2009

The lepidopteran pests Plutella xylostella L. (Plutellidae) and Pieris rapae L. (Pieridae: Pierini) are responsible for major yield losses of cabbage, Brassica oleracea L. (Brassicaceae), in North Korea. Preliminary integrated pest management (IPM) programmes using economic thresholds (ETs) to schedule insecticide applications have proved promising and have demonstrated marked increases in yield compared to standard farming practice, which relies heavily on synthetic insecticides. To use ETs effectively on a routine basis, farmers need efficient yet sufficiently precise methods of surveying crops for pests. Here we construct and validate binomial sequential sampling plans for the two‐species pest complex and for P. rapae alone. The recommended plans would be practical to implement, demanding maximum sample sizes below 50 plants, and proved very slightly conservative with respect to classifying the population relative to the ET (i.e., they were slightly more likely to suggest control at the ET than not).
Experimental evidence for male biased flight‐to‐light behavior in two moth species
Authors: Altermatt Florian , Baumeyer Adrian , Ebert Dieter
Published: February 2009

Many studies report a greater abundance of male than female moths in light trap catches. The finding was interpreted as evidence for male‐biased attraction to light, but alternatives could not be ruled out. For example, it is not known, how much the sex ratio in the catches deviates from the natural sex ratio. To overcome these limitations, we experimentally tested the flight‐to‐light behavior of two moth species,Yponomeuta cagnagella(Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutidae) andLigdia adustata(Denis and Schiffermüller) (Lepidoptera: Geometridae), under standardized conditions in an enclosed environment. In our test, we controlled the sex ratio, age, and population size. We recorded the moths caught in the trap and those that remained outside. Depending on the species, between 27 and 72% of all moths were caught in the light trap. We found that male moths were significantly and about 1.6 times more frequently attracted to the light than female moths. Our results were consistent for both species and hold good on the level of populations. We experimentally supported the general observation of a sexual dimorphism in the flight‐to‐light behavior of moths. Possible functional explanations include different flight activities of males and females or differences in the perception of light between males and females. Our experimental demonstration of a sexual dimorphism in the flight‐to‐light behavior of moths together with the common observation of an overrepresentation of males in light traps and other artificial light sources has implications for population and conservation biology.
Some like it hot! Rapid climate change promotes changes in distribution ranges of Nezara viridula and Nezara antennata in Japan
Authors: Tougou Daisuke , Musolin Dmitry L. , Fujisaki Kenji
Published: February 2009

We compared past and current limits of the distribution range of the southern green stink bug, Nezara viridula (L.) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae), in central Japan. In the early 1960s, the northern limit of the range was in Wakayama Prefecture and was limited by a +5 °C isothermal line for the mean January temperature. In 2006–2007, a new survey demonstrated that this northern limit had shifted northwards by 85 km (i.e., at a mean rate of 19.0 km per decade). The shift was most likely promoted by milder winter conditions. The mean January to February temperature in the region was 1.03–1.91 °C higher in 1998–2007 than in 1960–1969. The number of cold days (with the mean temperature below +5 °C) also significantly decreased, while the annual lowest temperature significantly increased. Nezara viridula was found mostly close to those locations where (i) the mean January temperature exceeded +5 °C, (ii) the mean number of cold days did not exceed 26 in January to February, and (iii) where the mean annual lowest temperature did not drop below –3.0 °C. The general linear model shows that the mean January temperature and number of cold days are the most important factors controlling the northern limit of distribution of N. viridula. All the climatic data suggest that over the last 45 years, environmental conditions have become more favourable for overwintering of N. viridula at many locations in central Japan. This has probably promoted the northward spread of the species, representing a direct response to climate warming. A sympatrically distributed congeneric, Nezara antennata Scott, seems to respond to the warming by a retreat from the ocean coast towards cooler elevated habitats, which might be a complex response to elevated temperature and interspecific mating with N. viridula. It is suggested that the range changes in both species will continue in response to further climate change.
Does artificial selection on diapause incidence cause correlational changes in other life‐history traits? Case study in a spider mite population
Authors: Ito Katsura
Published: February 2009

Theoretical studies suggest that the timing of entering hibernation by arthropods has large effects on long‐term fitness, incurring strong selection pressure on diapause attributes every year. On the other hand, diapause attributes are often genetically correlated with other important life‐history traits such as fecundity or development time. To understand the evolutionary process of life cycle formation, there is a need to investigate not only diapause attributes themselves but also their genetic association with other life‐history traits. The Kanzawa spider mite, Tetranychus kanzawai Kishida (Acari: Tetranychidae), is a small herbivore that lives on the undersurface of host plant leaves. This mite has been investigated for the mode of inheritance of diapause attributes, but scarcely for genetic correlations with other life‐history traits. Here, I investigated whether diapause proneness, measured as the proportion of diapausing females under short‐day conditions, is genetically correlated with fecundity or development time under long‐day conditions using artificial selection experiments. Diapause incidence responded to the selection for both increasing and decreasing directions, suggesting that high genetic variance in diapause proneness is maintained in the study population. However, the change in proportion of diapausing females during the selection period was not associated with responses in fecundity or development time. These results suggest that diapause proneness and other life‐history traits have different genetic backgrounds, and thus diapause proneness may freely evolve without being constrained by changes in other life‐history traits.
Competencies in implant therapy for the dental graduate. Appropriate educational methods
Authors: Sanz M. , Saphira L.
Published: February 2009

Modern dental education should have in on one hand the necessary education and training to make modern dentists capable of implementing population and individual preventive strategies, and on the other make them competent to satisfy current public demands to most patients. Amongst the restorative procedures most demanded by patients implant therapy has reached a clear pre‐dominance. Although specialists have traditionally rendered this therapeutic procedure, in simple cases there is seldom need for extensive surgical procedures and therefore there is a clear need to introduce these studies in modern dental curricula. To facilitate the harmonisation and convergence of dental education in Europe, the Association for Dental Education in Europe and DentEd have defined a set of competencies for the graduating dentist in the EU. Using the same framework, we herein define the agreed competencies in implant dentistry, within the different domains, for both the undergraduate and the postgraduate student. Within a context of a competence‐based curriculum implant dentistry should be taught as part of the major and supportive competencies described with a strong emphasis on inter‐disciplinarity and integration.
Assessment of knowledge and competencies related to implant dentistry in undergraduate and postgraduate university education
Authors: Mattheos N. , Ucer C. , Van de Velde T. , Nattestad A.
Published: February 2009

Learning in academic settings is strongly related to the way the students are tested or examined. Assessment therefore must be integrated in the curriculum design, coordinated and should reflect the learning outcomes of the education. Assessment within the field of implant dentistry must fulfil four major objectives: complete and direct the learning process with feedback (formative), ensure that students are adequately prepared (summative), assess attitudes and skills such as critical thinking, reflection and self‐assessment ability, and supply continuous feedback to teachers on curricular content and impact. Different assessment methods should be used to assess different levels of competencies throughout the curriculum. Various forms of written or oral assessment methodologies are applicable at earlier stages in the curriculum. At intermediate levels, interactive assessment methods, such as patient simulations (paper based or virtual) and more could encourage the necessary synthesis of several disciplines and aspects of the theoretical knowledge. At higher levels of competence, documentation of clinical proficiency by means of reflective portfolios and diaries is an appropriate assessment method with both formative and summative potential. The highest level of competence requires performance assessment using structured, objective, clinical criteria. The group strongly encourages the use of reflective forms of assessment methods which engage the students in a process of self‐appraisal, identification of individual learning needs and self‐directed learning. The ultimate goal of this would be to allow the student to develop a lifelong learning attitude.
A survey on undergraduate implant dentistry education in Europe
Authors: De Bruyn H. , Koole S. , Mattheos N. , Lang N. P.
Published: February 2009

Introduction:  The aim of the survey was to assess the status of implant dentistry education and addressed various aspects related to competence level, practical implementation and barriers for further development in the field.

Materials and methods:  An e‐mail survey was performed amongst 73 opinion leaders from 18 European countries invited to the Association for Dental Education in Europe (ADEE) workshop on implant dentistry.

Results:  Forty‐nine surveys were returned (67%) and it was found that theoretical and pre‐clinical courses to an average of 36 h are given to undergraduates; 70% reported that students assist or treat patients with prosthetics; 53% reported that students assist with surgery and only 5% is operating patients. In 23% of the schools optional undergraduate courses are available and 90% offer postgraduate training. Barriers for including prosthetics and surgery are lack of time, funding or staff. Partial restorations, including surgery, in the posterior regions may be provided by dentists after attendance at additional courses but complex treatments should be limited to specialists.

Conclusion:  This survey confirms that implant dentistry is part of the undergraduate curriculum, albeit with a disparity in time. Whereas implant dentistry is an important part of clinical practice, coverage in the curriculum is limited and when compared with 10 years ago, even stagnating. Priorities within the curriculum should be evaluated depending on demands and treatment needs of the population. To optimise education, learning guidelines should be developed, based on the expected competencies for practicing dentists. Undergraduate education may start the process that must continue through all levels of education, including the postgraduate level.
An outline of competencies and the appropriate postgraduate educational pathways in implant dentistry
Authors: Donos N. , Mardas N. , Buser D
Published: February 2009

The use of dental implants has become a widely accepted and well‐documented treatment option offering to both patients and dentists an alternative to traditional treatment modalities and at the same time opening a brand new area in dental postgraduate education. As such, it is necessary to define the competencies that the graduate student/dentist will need at the different levels of clinical practice in Implant Dentistry and the educational pathways that are required to convey those competencies in a structured manner. The present position paper provides an initial suggestion for the knowledge, skills and behaviour necessary for a graduate student to practice implant dentistry at the different levels of clinical complexity. An outline of the necessary competencies and structure of various levels of postgraduate university courses is provided together with different educational approaches to support them. The present paper should be evaluated as a platform for discussion for future development of postgraduate curricula in implant dentistry rather than a manual on how to design and operate such curricula.
Reporting of participant compliance in randomized controlled trials of nutrition supplements during pregnancy
Authors: Kehoe Sarah H. , Chheda Purvi S. , Sahariah Sirazul A. , Baird Janis , Fall Caroline H.D.
Published: February 2009

Randomized controlled trials (RCT) are widely considered to be the gold standard for demonstrating intervention effects. Adequacy of reporting of participant compliance in RCTs affects the interpretation of study results. Our aims were two‐fold: first, to assess the adequacy of reporting of participant compliance in RCTs investigating the effect of maternal nutritional supplements on infant outcomes; and second, to examine authors' adherence to the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) guidelines on participant flow. Papers reporting trials of nutritional supplementation during pregnancy, and published after revision of the CONSORT recommendations, were identified using a search of medical databases. Two researchers systematically reviewed the papers to assess the reporting of participant compliance according to specified criteria, and the presentation of participant flow data recommended in the CONSORT guidelines. The literature search identified 58 papers. Almost a third (n = 18) did not describe how participant compliance was assessed. Nearly half of the papers (n = 27) failed to report participant compliance numerically (absolute numbers or percentage) and differences in compliance data between treatment arms were not reported in 52% of papers (n = 28). The majority (83%) gave no information on whether the study protocol included any researcher input aimed at maximizing compliance. In addition to inadequate reporting of compliance, two of the CONSORT requirements (eligibility criteria and numbers discontinuing the intervention) were inadequately reported in 69% and 60% of papers, respectively. We conclude that participant compliance in nutrition trials is frequently inadequately reported. ‘False negative’ results from RCTs with poor compliance could wrongly influence policy and inhibit further research concerned with nutritional supplementation for women of child‐bearing age. We suggest that changes to the CONSORT guidelines may improve RCT reporting.
Lumen Gentium: The Unfinished Business
Authors: Lakeland Paul
Published: February 2009

Using Lumen gentium as a focus, what can we say about the unfinished business of renewal? How does it work, and how must we read Lumen gentium in order to grasp “what remains to be done”? We consider four issues, each of them in dialogue with one of four theologians who reached their 60th birthday in 1964, the year Lumen gentium was completed. Bernard Lonergan helps us come to terms with the historically conditioned nature of Lumen gentium itself. Karl Rahner points the way towards a better grasp of Lumen gentium's discussion of the place of other religions in the economy of salvation. John Courtney Murray's influence on the Council fathers is a case study in the importance of the local church. And Yves Congar's willingness to rethink his own positions testifies to the importance of not making Lumen gentium into unchanging truth. Overall, the unfinished business of the document on the Church is to learn to treat it, in Lonergan's words, as “not premisses but data.”
Church and Culture: Protestant and Catholic Modernities
Authors: Carroll Anthony J.
Published: February 2009

This article reviews the church and culture relationship developed inGaudium et SpesandLumen Gentiumand proposes a Catholic account of modernity as a way in which the contemporary mission of the church in today's culture can be creatively and faithfully carried forward. After an initial outlining of the definitions of church and culture proposed by the Vatican documents, I then go on to position my proposal of a Catholic modernity in relation to some important current accounts of the church and culture relationship that tend towards a rejection of secular culture. I argue that Protestant accounts of modernity have dominated in philosophical and sociological theories and draw on my previous work on Max Weber to illustrate the significance of this for developing a Catholic account of modernity. I conclude by sketching some of the important issues which would need to be addressed in formulating a systematic account of a Catholic modernity.
Karl Rahner in Context
Authors: Hypher Paul
Published: February 2009

Karl Rahner's theology is essentially spiritual and pastoral. His theology arose from his experience as a Jesuit, living at the heart of the traumas of twentieth-century Europe and, at the same time, interpreting the new academic insights in Church history and the early Fathers, scholasticism and modern philosophy, within the framework of the Church's traditional teaching.
A New Liturgical Hermeneutic: Christian Maturation by Developmental Steps
Authors: Leachman James
Published: February 2009

In this paper I first survey several paradigms of liturgical renewal that respond to the mandate of the Second Vatican Council and I restate a suggestion made in 2007 for a new model of liturgical study, ‘Appreciating the Liturgy’. This new model encourages a deeper appreciation of the current liturgy and is offered that the Church may better discern the way forward in the renewal of the liturgy. Then, following a brief presentation of the liturgical hermeneutic taught at the Pontifical Institute of Liturgy and a practical example of analysing a prayer with this method, I conclude by showing how the ‘Appreciating the Liturgy’ model has helped to reveal a liturgical hermeneutic heretofore overlooked, that of Christian maturation by developmental steps.

The method which Daniel McCarthy and I have developed and used here can validly be applied to other liturgical sources, yet this paper's conclusions, based on the analysis of a newly-composed oration in one of the renewed texts (editiones typicae) resulting from the Second Vatican Council and the Constitution on the Liturgy, suggest that Christian maturation was a real concern of those taking part in the Council.
After the Council: Transformations in the Shape of Moral Theology and ‘the Church to Come’
Authors: Mannion Gerard
Published: February 2009

This paper seeks to explore the impact that the Council had upon moral theology, and vice versa, along with some of the main debates and methodological questions that have preoccupied Catholic ethicists since. Seeking to chart both that, as well as how, moral theology was transformed, four key points arise. First, the emergence, even prior to the council of a more participatory approach to moral theology. Second, the retrieval of an understanding of the provisionality of much moral teaching. Third, an appreciation of the circular relationship between ethics and ecclesiology. Fourth, the ‘work to be done’ in relation to continuing disagreements over method and the ‘yearning for continuity’ that emerged in reaction to the transformations in moral theology and indeed the Council in general. We close with consideration of constructive proposals for the future concerning whether and how Catholics might live with difference and indeed with less certitude, reminding ourselves that morality is not a precise and exact science, as if any such thing exists.
How Should We Remember Vatican II?
Authors: Sweeney James
Published: February 2009

What happened at Vatican II and the significance of its decisions is strongly contested in the Church today. There is a struggle over the memory of the Council. It is suggested that two hermeneutics are in use, continuity versus discontinuity. On the one hand, it is said that privileging the ‘event’ of the Council as the interpretative key for reading its documents leads to an ideological distortion and introduces discontinuity with tradition. On the other hand, it is held that the continuity thesis plays down the real changes the Council introduced and, while unexceptional as a theological principle, it is being deployed as a polemical ideology, restricting necessary change. This article distinguishes between theological principle and experience in relation to continuity/discontinuity. It argues that the event of the Council is to be found as much in its effects in the Church at large as what took place in Rome. It analyses the phenomenology of change at both levels and concludes that the tensions between the need for continuity and the impulses of discontinuity need to be recognised and worked with rather than repressed.
Functional interplay between viral and cellular SR proteins in control of post‐transcriptional gene regulation
Authors: Lai Ming‐Chih , Peng Tsui‐Yi , Tarn Woan‐Yuh
Published: February 2009

Viruses take advantage of cellular machineries to facilitate their gene expression in the host. SR proteins, a superfamily of cellular precursor mRNA splicing factors, contain a domain consisting of repetitive arginine/serine dipeptides, termed the RS domain. The authentic RS domain or variants can also be found in some virus‐encoded proteins. Viral proteins may act through their own RS domain or through interaction with cellular SR proteins to facilitate viral gene expression. Numerous lines of evidence indicate that cellular SR proteins are important for regulation of viral RNA splicing and participate in other steps of post‐transcriptional viral gene expression control. Moreover, viral infection may alter the expression levels or modify the phosphorylation status of cellular SR proteins and thus perturb cellular precursor mRNA splicing. We review our current understanding of the interplay between virus and host in post‐transcriptional regulation of gene expression via RS domain‐containing proteins.
Human anti‐ErbB2 immunoagents – immunoRNases and compact antibodies
Authors: De Lorenzo Claudia , D’Alessio Giuseppe
Published: February 2009

Immunotherapy, based on mAbs specifically directed against cancer cells, is considered a precious strategy in the fight against cancer because of its selectivity and lack of multidrug resistant effects. However, there are obstacles to the complete success of current immunotherapy such as immune responses to nonhuman or even humanized antibodies and the large size of the antibodies, which hinders their diffusion into bulky tumors. Fully human, small immunoagents, capable of inhibiting tumor growth may overcome these problems and provide safe, highly selective and effective antitumor drugs. An attractive target for immunotherapy is ErbB2, a transmembrane tyrosine kinase receptor, overexpressed on tumor cells of different origin, with a key role in the development of malignancy. An anti‐ErbB2 humanized monoclonal (Herceptin®) is currently used with success for breast cancer therapy; however, it can engender cardiotoxicity and a high proportion of breast cancer patients are resistant to Herceptin® treatment. Anti‐ErbB2 immunoagents of human origin, with potentially no or very low immunogenicity have been engineered to assemble ‘compact’, i.e. reduced size, antibodies, one consisting of a human single‐chain antibody fragment (scFv) fused to a human RNase to construct an immunoRNase and the other made up of two human scFv molecules fused to the Fc region of a human IgG1. By choosing a human antibody fragment as the immune moiety and a human RNase as the effector moiety, an immunoRNase would be both nonimmunogenic and nontoxic, as it becomes toxic only when the scFv promotes its internalization by target cells. The alternative strategy of compact antibodies was aimed at producing therapeutic agents with an increased half‐life, prolonged tumor retention and the ability to recruit host effector functions. Moreover, the bivalency of compact antibodies can be exploited to construct bispecific antibodies, as well as for other therapeutic applications.
Mouse RS21‐C6 is a mammalian 2′‐deoxycytidine 5′‐triphosphate pyrophosphohydrolase that prefers 5‐iodocytosine
Authors: Nonaka Mari , Tsuchimoto Daisuke , Sakumi Kunihiko , Nakabeppu Yusaku
Published: February 2009

Free nucleotides in living cells play important roles in a variety of biological reactions, and often undergo chemical modifications of their base moieties. As modified nucleotides may have deleterious effects on cells, they must be eliminated from intracellular nucleotide pools. We have performed a screen for ITP‐binding proteins because ITP is a deaminated product of ATP, the most abundant nucleotide, and identified RS21‐C6 protein, which bound not only ITP but also ATP. Purified, recombinant RS21‐C6 hydrolyzed several canonical nucleoside triphosphates to the corresponding nucleoside monophosphates. The pyrophosphohydrolase activity of RS21‐C6 showed a preference for deoxynucleoside triphosphates and cytosine bases. The kcat/Km (s−1·m−1) values were 3.11 × 104, 4.49 × 103 and 1.87 × 103 for dCTP, dATP and dTTP, respectively, and RS21‐C6 did not hydrolyze dGTP. Of the base‐modified nucleotides analyzed, 5‐I‐dCTP showed an eightfold higher kcat/Km value compared with that of its corresponding unmodified nucleotide, dCTP. RS21‐C6 is expressed in both proliferating and non‐proliferating cells, and is localized to the cytoplasm. These results show that RS21‐C6 produces dCMP, an upstream precursor for the de novo synthesis of dTTP, by hydrolyzing canonical dCTP. Moreover, RS21‐C6 may also prevent inappropriate DNA methylation, DNA replication blocking or mutagenesis by hydrolyzing modified dCTP.
Erectile Dysfunction in Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Malavige Lasantha S. , Levy Jonathan C.
Published: February 2009

Introduction

Type 2 diabetes is reaching pandemic levels and young-onset type 2 diabetes is becoming increasingly common. Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common and distressing complication of diabetes. The pathophysiology and management of diabetic ED is significantly different to nondiabetic ED.

Aim

To provide an update on the epidemiology, risk factors, pathophysiology, and management of diabetic ED.

Method

Literature for this review was obtained from Medline and Embase searches and from relevant text books.

Main Outcome Measures

A comprehensive review on epidemiology, risk factors, pathophysiolgy, and management of diabetic ED.

Results

Large differences in the reported prevalence of ED from 35% to 90% among diabetic men could be due to differences in methodology and population characteristics. Advancing age, duration of diabetes, poor glycaemic control, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, sedentary lifestyle, smoking, and presence of other diabetic complications have been shown to be associated with diabetic ED in cross-sectional studies. Diabetic ED is multifactorial in aetiology and is more severe and more resistant to treatment compared with nondiabetic ED. Optimized glycaemic control, management of associated comorbidities and lifestyle modifications are essential in all patients. Psychosexual and relationship counseling would be beneficial for men with such coexisting problems. Hypogonadism, commonly found in diabetes, may need identification and treatment. Maximal doses of phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors are often needed. Transurethral prostaglandins, intracavenorsal injections, vacuum devices, and penile implants are the available therapeutic options for nonresponders to PDE5 inhibitors and for whom PDE5 inhibitors are contraindicated. Premature ejaculation and reduced libido are conditions commonly associated with diabetic ED and should be identified and treated.

Conclusions

Aetiology of diabetic ED is multifactorial although the relative significance of these factors are not clear. A holistic approach is needed in the management of diabetic ED.
Ten Years of Phosphodiesterase Type 5 Inhibitors in Spinal Cord Injured Patients
Authors: Lombardi Giuseppe , Macchiarella Angelo , Cecconi Filippo , Del Popolo Giulio
Published: February 2009

Introduction

The majority of men with spinal cord injury (SCI) require chronic treatment for erectile dysfunction (ED), but most of them, prior to taking phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors, stopped therapy due to side-effects or low compliance rate.

Aim

Analysis of literature on oral PDE5 inhibitors in individuals with SCI and ED in order to evaluate how much their release changed the management of ED in SCI subjects and what remains to be seen of their potential or limits.

Main Outcome Measures

Questionnaires on sexual function.

Methods

18 internationally published clinical studies that enrolled SCI males treated with at least one of the PDE5 inhibitors were analyzed.

Results

The small numbers of papers with large and diverse outcome measures did not consent a meta-analysis of treatment results. 705 used sildenafil, 305 vardenafil and 224 tadalafil. Median age was less than 40 years. Only 1 study excluded tetraplegic individuals. For measures of ED evaluated, 11 out of 13 studies reported a significant statistical improvement with PDE5 inhibitors versus placebo or erectile baseline (P < 0.01, or p < 0.005). The most frequent predicable factor for the therapeutic success of PDE5 inhibitors was upper motoneuron lesion. Statistical impact on ejaculation success rates was shown in at least one paper for all PDE5 inhibitors (p < 0.05). Overall, 15 patients, (7 using sildenafil), discontinued the therapies due to drawbacks. Only 1 sildenafil study reported a follow-up maximum of 24 months.

Conclusions

Literature suggests that all oral PDE5 inhibitors represent a safe and effective treatment option for ED caused by SCI. Further research is needed on head-to-head comparative trials and SCI patient preference for these drugs; their impact on ejaculation and orgasm function, their early use after SCI for increasing the recovery rate of a spontaneous erection, and their effectiveness and tolerability in the long-term are still to be investigated.
Hypoprolactinemia: A New Clinical Syndrome in Patients with Sexual Dysfunction
Authors: Corona Giovanni , Mannucci Edoardo , Jannini Emmanuele A. , Lotti Francesco , Ricca Valdo , Monami Matteo , Boddi Valentina , Bandini Elisa , Balercia Giancarlo , Forti Gianni , Maggi Mario
Published: February 2009

Introduction

The physiological role of prolactin (PRL) in male sexual behavior is poorly understood. Conversely, the association between PRL pathological elevation in both reproductive and sexual behavior is well defined.

Aim

The aim of the present study is to assess the correlates of normal PRL (PRL < 735 mU/L or 35 ng/mL), in male subjects consulting for sexual dysfunction.

Methods

A consecutive series of 2,531 (mean age 52.0 ± 12.9 years) subjects was investigated. Patients were interviewed using the structured interview on erectile dysfunction (SIEDY), a 13-item tool for the assessment of erectile dysfunction (ED)-related morbidities. Middlesex Hospital Questionnaire was used for the evaluation of psychological symptoms.

Main Outcome Measures

Several hormonal (testosterone, thyroid stimulation hormone, and PRL) and biochemical parameters (glycemia and lipid profile) were studied, along with penile Doppler ultrasound (PDU) and SIEDY items.

Results

After adjustment for confounders anxiety symptoms decreased across PRL quartiles (I: <113 mU/L or 5 ng/mL; II: 113–156 mU/L or 5.1–7 ng/mL; III: 157–229 mU/L or 7.1–11 ng/mL; IV: 229–734 mU/L or 11.1–34.9 ng/mL). Patients in the lowest PRL quartile showed a higher risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS; odds ratio [OR] = 1.74 [1.01–2.99], P < 0.05), arteriogenic ED (peak systolic velocity at PDU < 35 cm/sec; OR = 1.43 [1.01–2.03], P < 0.05), and premature ejaculation (PE; OR = 1.38 [1.02–1.85]; P < 0.05). Conversely, comparing subjects with PRL-secreting pituitary adenomas (N = 13) with matched controls, no significant difference was observed, except for a higher prevalence of hypoactive sexual desire in hyperprolactinemia.

Conclusions

Our findings demonstrate that, in subjects consulting for sexual dysfunction, PRL in the lowest quartile levels are associated with MetS and arteriogenic ED, as well as with PE and anxiety symptoms. Further studies are advisable in order to confirm our preliminary results in different populations.
Is Hyperlipidemia or its Treatment Associated with Erectile Dysfunction?: Results from the Boston Area Community Health (BACH) Survey
Authors: Hall Susan A. , Kupelian Varant , Rosen Raymond C. , Travison Thomas G. , Link Carol L. , Miner Martin M. , Ganz Peter , McKinlay John B.
Published: February 2009

Introduction

Studies and reports suggest that both hyperlipidemia and its pharmacologic treatment may lead to an increased risk of erectile dysfunction (ED).

Aims

Our objectives were to examine the association between (i) treated hyperlipidemia and ED; and (ii) untreated hyperlipidemia and ED.

Methods

Data from 1,899 men aged 30–79 were used from the Boston Area Community Health Survey of community-dwelling residents of Boston, MA, collected during 2002–2005 using an in-person interview, self-administered questionnaires, and a venous blood draw.

Main Outcome Measures

ED was measured using the short form International Index of Erectile Function. A case of treated hyperlipidemia was defined by use of anti-lipemics in the past month, while untreated hyperlipidemia was serum total cholesterol ≥240 milligrams per deciliter with no anti-lipemic use. We estimated associations using odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) from multivariate logistic regression.

Results

Men with treated hyperlipidemia were older, had more comorbidities, and used more medications compared with men with untreated hyperlipidemia or no hyperlipidemia. In multivariate models stratified by age and the presence of diabetes and/or cardiovascular disease (CVD), we saw no association between hyperlipidemia drug treatment and ED, except among younger men (<55) who had diabetes and/or CVD, where a strong association with an imprecise CI was observed (OR = 10.39, 95% CI: 3.25, 33.20). There was no significant positive association between untreated hyperlipidemia and ED in any multivariate model.

Conclusion

Lipid-lowering medications may be associated with ED among some men. The well-established benefits of lipid-lowering therapy should always be weighed against potential adverse effects.
Leaf Chemical and Optical Properties of Metrosideros polymorpha Across Environmental Gradients in Hawaii
Authors: Martin Roberta E. , Asner Gregory P.
Published: February 2009

Leaf chemical, biophysical, and optical properties were measured in 13 populations of Metrosideros polymorpha across gradients of soil fertility and climate in Hawaii. Climate (predominantly temperature) caused large changes in specific leaf area (SLA) and SLA‐linked traits, including nitrogen (N) and pigment contents, as did conditions of highest soil fertility on 20 ky old substrates. When averaged by site, chemical constituent ratios containing chlorophyll (Car/Chl, Chl/N) varied more across climate than substrate gradients, while the Chl a/b ratio was similarly influenced by climate and substrate. Variations in Chl a/b ratios and SLA were similar to those found previously in a common garden of M. polymorpha taken from our climate gradient, suggesting strong genetic control over these traits. Optical reflectance indices related to photosynthetic function were closely correlated to pigment changes, varying three times more in response to climate than across substrate ages. Combined, our results suggest that variation in leaf structure, composition, and function of M. polymorpha is a result of genetic and phenotypic adaptation to environmental differences, and that these variations are greater in response to climate (especially temperature) than to soil fertility.
Molecular mechanisms of heavy metal tolerance and evolution in invertebrates
Authors: Janssens Thierry K. S. , Roelofs Dick , Van Straalen Nico M.
Published: February 2009

Following the genomics revolution, our knowledge of the molecular mechanisms underlying defenses against stress has been greatly expanded. Under strong selective pressure many animals may evolve an enhanced stress tolerance. This can be achieved by altering the structure of proteins (through mutations in the coding regions of genes) or by altering the amount of protein (through changes in transcriptional regulation). The latter type of evolution can be achieved by substitutions in the promoter of the gene of interest (cis‐regulatory change) or by altering the structure or amount of transcriptional regulator proteins (trans‐regulatory change). The metallothionein system is one of the best studied stress response systems in the context of heavy metals. Metallothionein expression is assumed to be regulated by metal transcription factor 1 (MTF‐1); however, up to now the involvement of MTF‐1 has only been proven for some vertebrates and Drosophila. Data on invertebrates such as nematodes and earthworms suggest that other mechanisms of metallothionein induction may be present. A detailed study of Cd tolerance was done for a species of soil‐living springtail, Orchesella cincta. The metallothionein gene of this species is overexpressed in metal‐exposed field populations. Analysis of the metallothionein promoter has demonstrated extensive polymorphisms that have a functional significance, as shown in bioreporter assays. In a study comparing 20 different populations, the frequency of a high‐expresser promoter allele was positively correlated with the concentration of metals in soil, especially Cd. The springtail study shows that cis‐regulatory change of genes involved in the cellular stress response may contribute to evolution of metal tolerance.
Does the grasshopper Chorthippus brunneus adapt to metal polluted habitats? A study of glutathione‐dependent enzymes in grasshopper nymphs
Authors: Augustyniak Maria , Babczynska Agnieszka , Augustyniak Michal
Published: February 2009

Glutathione contents and activity of glutathione‐dependent enzymes in the body of insects inhabiting polluted areas depend on toxin kind, concentration and exposure time. Enzymatic response may be modified by gender, age, developmental stage and state of nutrition. Also, chronic exposure to metals in the environment may cause the selection of individuals resistant to some environmental toxins. To assess the degree of adaptation of Chorthippus brunneus to metal‐polluted habitats, we measured glutathione contents and the activity of selected glutathione‐dependent enzymes in the offspring of aging mothers which differed in time and intensity of exposure to metals in their habitats. We tested whether differences represent temporal shifts in tolerance range or were genetically preserved and inherited by future generations. We investigated insects from three populations. Two live in heavily metal‐burdened areas, exposed to metals for 170 (Szopienice) or 50 years (Olkusz) and the third inhabits an unpolluted reference site (Pilica). The most important findings were age‐by‐site interactions for all biochemical analyses. Nymphs from Szopienice had lower glutathione contents and lower glutathione‐dependent enzyme activity in comparison with nymphs from the reference site. This was especially distinct in nymphs hatched from eggs laid by young females. The offspring of aging females from Olkusz, in terms of glutathione contents and glutathione reductase activities, revealed similar patterns to those from the reference site. For the remaining parameters, enzyme activity patterns in nymphs from Olkusz were similar to those of nymphs from Szopienice.
Evaluation of growth and reproduction as indicators of soil metal toxicity to the Collembolan, Sinella curviseta
Authors: Xu Jie , Ke Xin , Krogh Paul Henning , Wang Yin , Luo Yong‐Ming , Song Jing
Published: February 2009

Laboratory studies evaluated the sensitivity of Sinella curviseta Brook (Collembola: Entomobryidae) to selected heavy metals (Cu, Pb and Zn). Survival, reproduction and growth of S. curviseta were determined in a 4‐week exposure test in an agricultural soil amended with metals to concentrations of 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600 and 3200 mg/kg. Results showed reduction in adult survival and reproductive failure at the highest concentrations (3200 mg/kg) of Cu and Zn. EC50 reproduction values for Cu and Zn were approximately 442 and 2760 mg/kg, respectively. Application of Pb at all levels resulted in large numbers of progeny and no significant mortality compared to controls. Adult growth rate decreased for all metal treatments compared to the controls, suggesting that metals affect S. curviseta metabolism and result in slower growth. We showed that reproduction is a slightly more sensitive parameter than growth. Since a growth test needs fewer juveniles and takes less time than a reproduction test, we conclude that the two parameters are complementary and could be used for a better ecotoxicological evaluation of contaminant levels. However, relative growth and reproduction sensitivities should be tested with more chemicals before a growth test is accepted as a faster sublethal test than a reproduction test.
Host plant selection of Chrysolina clathrata (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) from Mpumalanga, South Africa
Authors: Boyd Robert S. , Davis Micheal A. , Wall Michael A. , Balkwill Kevin
Published: February 2009

Hyperaccumulated elements such as Ni may defend plants against some natural enemies whereas other enemies may circumvent this defense. The Ni hyperaccumulator Berkheya coddii Roessler (Asteraceae) is a host plant species for Chrysolina clathrata (Clark), which suffers no apparent harm by consuming its leaf tissue. Beetle specimens collected from B. coddii had a whole body Ni concentration of 260 μg/g dry weight, despite consuming leaf material containing 15 100 μg Ni/g. Two experiments were conducted with adults of this beetle species: a no‐choice experiment and a choice experiment. In the no‐choice experiment we offered beetles foliage of one of four species of Berkheya: B. coddii, B. rehmannii Thell. var. rogersiana Thell., B. echinacea (Harv.) O. Hoffm. ex Burtt Davey, and B. insignis (Harv.) Thell. The two former species are Ni hyperaccumulators (defined as having leaf Ni concentration > 1 000 μg/g) whereas the latter have low Ni levels (< 200 μg/g) in their leaves. Masses of beetles were monitored for 6 days. Choice experiments used growing stem tips from the same Berkheya species, placed into Petri dishes with five Chrysolina beetles in each, and the amount of feeding damage caused on each of the four species was recorded. Beetles in the no‐choice experiment gained mass when offered B. coddii, maintained mass on leaves of the other Ni hyperaccumulator (B. rehmannii var. rogersiana), and lost mass when offered non‐hyperaccumulator leaves. In the choice test, beetles strongly preferred B. coddii to other Berkheya species. We conclude that C. clathrata may be host‐specific on B. coddii.
Cadmium regulation by Lasius niger: A contribution to understanding high metal levels in ants
Authors: Grześ Irena M.
Published: February 2009

Ants (Formicinae, Hymenoptera) are considered efficient accumulators of Zn and Cd. In this study the relationship between Cd concentrations in soil and in Lasius niger workers was assessed for 20 colonies located along a gradient of Cd pollution. As soil Cd concentration increased from 1 to 8 mg/kg, ant body Cd concentration increased rapidly to about 40 mg/kg, and remained stable at this level, through a progressive increase of soil Cd concentration from 8 to 21 mg/kg. The phase of rapid increase confirms the high ability of L. niger for Cd accumulation, while the stabilization of Cd body concentration indicates either increasing elimination rate or decreasing rate of uptake. Therefore it can be concluded that Lasius niger has a high ability to accumulate Cd, but simultaneously an ability for Cd regulation was detected.