bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Profiles of pain after day surgery: patients’ experiences of three different operation types
Authors: Coll Anne Marie , Ameen Jamal
Published: January 2006

Aim.  The aim of this paper is to examine the pain profile of three types of day surgery operation and undertake a comparative analysis of the intensity and duration of pain over a consecutive 4‐day period.

Background.  Although studies on pain after day surgery have figured prominently, evidence is limited as to what intensity and duration of pain should be regarded as unacceptable, and how it varies for different operation types.

Methods.  A prospective postal survey (n = 785) was undertaken during a 12‐month period in 1998/1999 involving three day surgery units in three different areas in England and Wales and based on three commonly performed operation types: hernia repair, varicose vein surgery and laparoscopic sterilization. A visual analogue scale was used to measure the intensity of pain experienced over a 4‐day consecutive time period. Analysis of variance was used to explore statistically significant differences between levels of pain for the operation types.

Results.  On the day of surgery and even on the third postoperative day, high levels of severe pain (>50 mm on a Visual Analogue Scale) were experienced. Pain levels differed across different operation types. On the day of surgery, more patients undergoing laparoscopic sterilization experienced severe pain. By the third postoperative day, more of those who had been operated on for hernia repair, followed by varicose vein surgery and laparoscopic sterilization, continued to experience severe pain.

Conclusion.  A large number of patients experienced severe levels of pain after day surgery. This could have resulted from a lack of knowledge about the assessment and management of pain, in which nurses play an important role. This study has highlighted that different pain trajectories are associated with different operation types, and this has important implications for the preoperative and postoperative preparation of day surgery patients as well as the role of nurses in the overall success of the day surgery process.
Caring for patients living with AIDS: knowledge, attitude and global level of comfort
Authors: Oyeyemi Adetoyeje , Oyeyemi Bashir , Bello Ibraheem
Published: January 2006

Aims.  This paper reports a study that aimed to determine Nigerian nurses’ knowledge, attitudes and overall level of comfort in giving nursing care to acquired immune deficiency syndrome patients; determine the relationship between these variables; and identify the sociodemographic variables that influence nurses’ attitudes and how comfortable they are giving nursing care to patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome.

Background.  There is little information on sub‐Saharan African nurses’ knowledge, attitude and feeling of comfort in providing care to patients living with acquired immune deficiency syndrome.

Methods.  Two hundred and seventy‐seven nurses in two teaching hospitals and two general hospitals in Nigeria were surveyed in 2003. The survey questionnaire had two parts. Part I elicited demographic information and information on previous encounters with acquired immune deficiency syndrome patients and Part II consisted of three subscales assessing knowledge, attitude and level of comfort administering certain nursing procedures to acquired immune deficiency syndrome patients.

Results.  Respondents demonstrated low levels of knowledge and poor attitudes towards people with acquired immune deficiency syndrome. Attitudes appeared to be influenced by the nurse's speciality, rank, prior education and experience with patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome. The responding nurses showed low levels of comfort in giving care to patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome.

Conclusions.  The findings suggest that Nigerian nurses will hesitate to care for patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome, and that there is potential for avoidance behaviour towards them. Periodic continuing education and curriculum enhancement to include clinical clerkship, structured experience, guided discussion on ethical scenarios and attitude exploration are suggested in order to achieve and maintain adequate knowledge and a positive attitude. University‐based professional and postprofessional nursing education, which could enhance acquisition of a broad knowledge base, therefore represents the future direction.
Consulting the oracle: ten lessons from using the Delphi technique in nursing research
Authors: Keeney Sinead , Hasson Felicity , McKenna Hugh
Published: January 2006

Aim.  The aim of this paper was to provide insight into the Delphi technique by outlining our personal experiences during its use over a 10‐year period in a variety of applications.

Background.  As a means of achieving consensus on an issue, the Delphi research method has become widely used in healthcare research generally and nursing research in particular. The literature on this technique is expanding, mainly addressing what it is and how it should be used. However, there is still much confusion and uncertainty surrounding it, particularly about issues such as modifications, consensus, anonymity, definition of experts, how ‘experts’ are selected and how non‐respondents are pursued.

Discussion.  This issues that arise when planning and carrying out a Delphi study include the definition of consensus; the issue of anonymity vs. quasi‐anonymity for participants; how to estimate the time needed to collect the data, analyse each ‘round’, feed back results to participants, and gain their responses to this feedback; how to define and select the ‘experts’ who will be asked to participate; how to enhance response rates; and how many ‘rounds’ to conduct.

Conclusion.  Many challenges and questions are raised when using the Delphi technique, but there is no doubt that it is an important method for achieving consensus on issues where none previously existed. Researchers need to adapt the method to suit their particular study.
Nutrition of the critically ill patient and effects of implementing a nutritional support algorithm in ICU
Authors: Wøien Hilde , Bjørk Ida Torunn
Published: January 2006

Aim.  To test whether a feeding algorithm could improve the nutritional support of intensive care patients.

Background.  Numerous factors may impede delivery of both enteral and parenteral nutrition to patients in the intensive care unit. Often there is a discrepancy between what is prescribed and actual delivery of nutrients. The purpose of this study was to test the effect of a nutritional support algorithm in an intensive care unit mainly by using the enteral route and if necessary by combining enteral and parenteral nutrition.

Methods.  In this prospective study, nutritional data were collected from routinely fed critically ill patients (controls, n = 21) during the first three days following admission to the intensive care unit. A nutritional support algorithm was then implemented and nutritional data were collected from critically ill patients who participated in this intervention (intervention group, n = 21). Data collected included the total amount of calories prescribed vs. received, onset of delivery of enteral nutrition, enteral vs. parenteral nutrition, and the use and size of enteral feeding tubes.

Results.  Patients in the intervention group were both prescribed and actually received significantly larger amounts of nutrients than patients in the control group. They also received a larger proportion of their nutrients in the form of enteral nutrition. In addition, the nutritional support algorithm led to greater consistency in nursing practices with respect to aspiration of gastric content and rate of increment in enteral feeding.

Conclusion.  The study confirms that a nutritional support algorithm improved the delivery of nutrients to critically ill patients. The algorithm was most effective with respect to the delivery of enteral nutrition. The effect was primarily because of early and more rapid increment in the delivery of enteral nutrition administered by nurses based on improved physician orders. The combination of enteral and parenteral nutrition may contribute to meeting adequate nutritional requirements.

Relevance to clinical practice.  By using a nutritional algorithm focused on enteral nutrition, but including parenteral nutrition as a supplement, it is possible to improve the delivery of clinical nutrition in the intensive care unit patients.
Chest drain removal pain and its management: a literature review
Authors: Bruce Elizabeth A , Howard Richard F , Franck Linda S
Published: January 2006

Aims and objectives.  The purpose of this review was to analyse critically the published research on chest drain removal pain and its management. The findings of descriptive and non‐pharmacological intervention studies were summarized and studies of analgesic efficacy were critiqued in depth.

Background.  The removal of a chest drain is a painful and frightening experience, particularly for children. However, there is limited research regarding the amount of pain experienced or effectiveness of analgesia for this procedure.

Results.  Fourteen studies were reviewed, including five descriptive studies; three studies of non‐pharmacological interventions; and six randomized controlled trials of morphine, local anaesthetics and Entonox. The search revealed only two paediatric studies. Many of the studies had design limitations or were poorly reported. The majority of studies indicated that patients experienced moderate to severe pain during chest drain removal, even when morphine or local anaesthetics were given.

Conclusions.  Morphine alone does not provide satisfactory analgesia for chest drain removal pain. Non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs, local anaesthetics and inhalation agents may have a role to play in providing more effective analgesia for this procedure.

Relevance to clinical practice.  Analgesic protocols for the management of painful procedures such as chest drain removal are unsatisfactory and practice in this area should be revised. More research is needed to determine the efficacy of drugs other than morphine, particularly Entonox and to investigate multi‐modal techniques of management further.
Caring in nursing: investigating the meaning of caring from the perspective of cancer patients in Beijing, China1
Authors: Liu Jun‐E , Mok Esther , Wong Thomas
Published: January 2006

Aims.  The aims of the study were to develop an understanding of caring in nursing from the perspective of cancer patients and attempt to identify the concept of caring in the Chinese cultural context.

Background.  Caring as a concept remains elusive, the acceptable definitions of the term care have not been reached. The expressions, processes and patterns of caring vary among cultures, but there is a lack of Chinese culture‐based study about caring in nursing.

Methods.  A qualitative research design was used and 20 cancer patients were interviewed using a semi‐structured interview guide. A qualitative content analysis was used to identify themes in the data.

Results.  Three themes emerged from the data, which suggested that caring is delivering care in an holistic way: nurses’ caring attitudes and their professional responsibility for providing emotional support, nurses’ professional knowledge and their professional responsibility for providing informational support and nurses’ professional skills and their professional responsibility for providing practical support. The caring behaviour of nurses as perceived by cancer patients involved the provision of emotional, informational, and practical support and help based on patients’ needs. A model of caring in nursing was formulated.

Conclusions.  Caring in nursing as perceived by cancer patients involves nurses having qualified professional knowledge, attitudes and skills in oncology and providing the informational, emotional and practical supports and help required by cancer patients.

Relevance to clinical practice.  Caring is manifested in nursing actions through nurse–patient communication process. Patients have their inner expectation for nurses’ caring behaviour and attitudes and nurses’ performance of caring or uncaring behaviour has a direct influence on the feelings of patients. It is necessary for all nurses to continue improving their oncology professional knowledge, attitudes and skills as well as their abilities of offering informational, emotional and practical support and help for their cancer patients.
Structured reminiscence: an intervention to decrease depression and increase self‐transcendence in older women
Authors: Stinson Cynthia Kellam , Kirk Edythe
Published: January 2006

Aims/objectives. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of group reminiscing on depression and self‐transcendence of older women residing in an assisted living facility in southeast Texas. There were two major objectives for this study. One objective was to determine if depression decreased in older women after structured reminiscence group sessions held twice weekly for a six‐week period. A second objective was to determine if self‐transcendence increased after structured reminiscence group sessions held twice weekly for a six‐week period.

Background. Reminiscence has been studied to determine its impact on a variety of conditions including but not limited to depression, self‐esteem, fatigue, isolation, socialization, well‐being, language acquisition and cognitive functioning. This review of research specifically focused on reminiscence, depression, self‐transcendence and older people.

Design/methods. Two groups were assessed at baseline, three and six weeks to answer the research questions. A sample of 24 women between the ages of 72 and 96 years were randomly assigned to either a reminiscence (experimental) group or the activity (control) group of the facility. Pearson'srwas used to determine the magnitude of the relationship between subjects’ responses on the Geriatric Depression Scale and the Self‐Transcendence Scale. A mixed design analysis of variance (anova) was used to determine if there was a difference between the experimental and control groups on scores of the Geriatric Depression Scale and the Self‐Transcendence Scale at baseline, three and six weeks.

Conclusions. Data revealed a non‐significant decrease in depression and increase in self‐transcendence in the reminiscence group at the completion of six weeks, indicating a trend toward a positive result with reminiscence group sessions. The study also revealed an inverse relationship between depression and self‐transcendence. These findings underscore the importance of screening older people for depression.

Relevance to clinical practice. One of the primary modalities used for the treatment of depression in elderly women is medication. Antidepressant medications lead to harmful side effects without alleviating the underlying depression. For these reasons, there is a need to research alternative therapies for treatment of depression in the older female. Reminiscence offers a possible intervention for treatment of depression in older women.
Understanding the roles of online meetings in a net‐based course
Authors: Berge O. , Fjuk A.
Published: January 2006

Abstract It is argued elsewhere that online learning environments constitute new conditions for carrying out collaborative learning activities. This article explores the roles of a series of online meetings in such an environment. The online meetings are arranged as part of a net‐based course on object‐oriented programming, and constitute a recurring shared experience for the participants throughout the semester. Through an activity theoretical analysis, we find that the meetings mediate the learners' actions towards the construction and maintenance of a community of practice. Our finding has implications for the standardization of digital learning resources. This is an issue that will challenge designers of research‐oriented learning environments, should they attempt to move their systems into wider adoption. We suggest that an awareness of the internal systemic connections among the components of the course design we studied is of importance when considering redesign, with respect to the reuse and standardization of learning resources.
Exploring a technology‐facilitated solution to cater for advanced students in large undergraduate classes
Authors: Oliver R.
Published: January 2006

Abstract
Often with large classes of students it is difficult to cater for individual needs. Large classes hold many students, some of whom may be under‐prepared for the course they are taking and some who will already have a high degree of familiarity with much of the planned content and learning outcomes. In catering for the diversity of students, teachers often teach to the lowest common denominator, catering for the former, but failing to provide a challenging and fulfilling learning programme for the latter. This paper describes a project undertaken in an Australian university where students enrolled in a large class were provided with the opportunity and incentive to undertake a technology‐facilitated individual authentic learning project in place of the more structured coursework pathway. The purpose of the activity was to enable advanced students to extend their learning through an independent project. An inquiry was undertaken to explore the effectiveness of such an approach as a means to cater for diversity in the cohort and to investigate the factors influencing the learning outcomes that were achieved.
Developing an effective support system for inquiry learning in a Web‐based environment
Authors: Pedaste M. , Sarapuu T.
Published: January 2006

Abstract
Sixty‐five teams of basic and secondary school students solved problem‐solving tasks during a virtual hike in a Web‐based inquiry‐learning simulation ‘Hiking Across Estonia’. This environment provided learners with all necessary background information for problem‐solving and tools for carrying out experiments. There were 25 tasks in certain order about ecological and environmental issues. The teams were clustered according to the data about participants, the results of the pre‐ and post‐test, and their achievement in problem‐solving tasks of the virtual hike. Only two out of five clusters were regarded as effective in solving problems and analysing tables, graphs, figures, and photos. The others had difficulties in forming contextual or task and process awareness. A support system for increasing the effectiveness of inquiry learning and enhancing their development of analytical skills was developed on the basis of the strategies that the members of five clusters had used in solving the problems, their achievement in solving the tasks during the virtual hike and in the pre‐ and post‐test, and the personal data about the teams. The support system contained different notes before solving the problems and changed sequence of the tasks on the virtual hike for some clusters. The usage of this system was evaluated in a second study with 60 teams. The comparison of two studies demonstrated significant effectiveness of the support system to both general problem‐solving ability and analytical skills. The characteristics of each cluster and the influence of the support system are discussed in this paper.
Synergies and barriers with electronic verbatim notes (eVerNotes): note taking and report writing with eVerNotes
Authors: Palaigeorgiou G.E. , Despotakis T.D. , Demetriadis S. , Tsoukalas I.A.
Published: January 2006

AbstractAs the quantity and the quality of electronic publishing grow and students become more computer literate, electronic verbatim note‐taking acquires a more determinative role in the process of composing reports using multiple sources. Many prior applications that supported note taking failed to satisfy the students' study models. We developed eVerNotes, an application that facilitates verbatim note‐taking and enables the creation of multiple notes' associations through an intermediate hierarchical structure. We conducted three qualitative studies, two long‐term with realistic time constraints and objectives and one in a laboratory, in order to identify obstacles for eVerNotes' acceptance, and to analyse synergies that develop through extended usage of the application. Although the overwhelming majority of students provided positive evaluations of the tool's utility, the results underscored that eVerNotes was not used by several participants because of their incompatible preconceived expectations and earlier experiences, the extra effort imposed on their study model by the application and students' loose commitment with the products of the study process. On the other hand, students who were willing to negotiate their study model exploited eVerNotes' functions and praised its contribution to improving their comprehension and the studying process. Our results constitute a positive indication for the viability of applications that support electronic verbatim note‐taking.
The transition to school: adaptation in young children with and without intellectual disability
Authors: McIntyre L. L. , Blacher J. , Baker B. L.
Published: January 2006

Background  Previous research has highlighted the importance of the transition to school for young children and their families. A child's successful adaptation to school is likely influenced by a number of factors, including academic, social, emotional, behavioural and cognitive competencies. Children with intellectual disability (ID) may be at heightened risk for early school difficulties, in part due to their deficits in cognitive and adaptive behaviours.

Methods  Factors associated with the adaptive transition to school in young children with (n = 24) and without (n = 43) ID were examined. Adaptive transitions were defined as having few teacher‐reported problem behaviours and positive student–teacher relationships. Child self‐regulatory skills and both parent‐ and teacher‐reported social skills were evaluated to determine if they predicted positive adaptation in school for 5‐ to 6‐year‐old children. Data were gathered from child assessments, parent reports on standardized measures, direct observations of delay of gratification tasks and teacher reports on standardized measures.

Results  Children with ID had significantly more teacher‐reported problem behaviour, poorer overall student–teacher relationships, fewer parent‐ and teacher‐reported social skills and fewer self‐regulation skills than typically developing children. Self‐regulation at child age 36 months (latency to touch a desired toy) was significantly related to adaptation to school, as were parent and teacher reports of social skills. Social skills significantly predicted adaptation to school, even after accounting for the effects of child IQ and adaptive behaviour.

Conclusions  Children with ID had less positive early school experiences, as indicated by multiple indices of adaptation to school. Fostering early social skills may be an important target for increasing the positive adaptation to school for young children, especially those with ID.
Young people with intellectual disabilities attending mainstream and segregated schooling: perceived stigma, social comparison and future aspirations
Authors: Cooney G. , Jahoda A. , Gumley A. , Knott F.
Published: January 2006

Background  Mainstream schooling is a key policy in the promotion of social inclusion of young people with learning disabilities. Yet there is limited evidence about the school experience of young people about to leave mainstream as compared with segregated education, and how it impacts on their relative view of self and future aspirations.

Methods  Sixty young people with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities in their final year of secondary school participated in this study. Twenty‐eight individuals came from mainstream schools and 32 attended segregated school. They completed a series of self‐report measures on perceptions of stigma, social comparison to a more disabled and non‐disabled peer and the likelihood involved in attaining their future goals.

Results  The majority of participants from both groups reported experiencing stigmatized treatment in the local area where they lived. The mainstream group reported significant additional stigma at school. In terms of social comparisons, both groups compared themselves positively with a more disabled peer and with a non‐disabled peer. While the mainstream pupils had more ambitious work‐related aspirations, both groups felt it equally likely that they would attain their future goals. Although the participants from segregated schools came from significantly more deprived areas and had lower scores on tests of cognitive functioning, neither of these factors appeared to have an impact on their experience of stigma, social comparisons or future aspirations.

Conclusions  Irrespective of schooling environment, the young people appeared to be able to cope with the threats to their identities and retained a sense of optimism about their future. Nevertheless, negative treatment reported by the children was a serious source of concern and there is a need for schools to promote the emotional well‐being of pupils with intellectual disabilities.
Temperament and social behaviour at home and school among typically developing children and children with an intellectually disability
Authors: Zion E. , Jenvey V. B.
Published: January 2006

Background  There has been limited research on differences in temperament between typically developing children and children with an intellectual disability (ID). Individual differences have generally been neglected in previous investigations of children with an ID. The present research investigated differences in temperament and social behaviour between typically developing children and children with an ID, in both home and school settings.

Methods  Participants were 100 children (M = 10.7 years, SD = 0.88) from both regular and special education schools. Temperament was measured using the Emotionality, Activity, Sociability (EAS) Temperament Survey for Children (parental and teacher ratings), while social behaviour was measured using the School Social Behaviour Scales, Second Edition (SSBS‐2) and the Home and Community Social Behaviour Scales (HCSBS).

Results  There were minimal significant differences in temperament between the regular and special education groups. Children who attended regular schools had a significantly higher level of social competence and significantly lower level of antisocial behaviour both at home and school, when compared with children who attended special schools.

Conclusions  The difference in social behaviour between children attending regular and special schools was attributed to the difference in intellectual ability of the two groups, as well as contextual influences of regular or special school environments.
Reading skills and phonological awareness acquisition in Down syndrome
Authors: Verucci L. , Menghini D. , Vicari S.
Published: January 2006

Background  Although reading abilities play a fundamental role in the acquisition of personal autonomy, up until now studies investigating these abilities in Down syndrome (DS) are aimed at defining educational or rehability acquisition. However, studies describing the relationship between reading and phonological awareness in individuals with DS by comparing them to typically developing children often report contradictory results. The aim of this study is to explore reading and phonological awareness skills in a group of participants with DS.

Methods  We administered reading and phonological processing ability tests to 17 DS individuals and to 17 reading‐age‐matched typically developing children.

Results  Concerning reading abilities, participants with DS were impaired on non‐word reading and on interpreting accuracy of non‐homographic homophones. Their passage comprehension was also limited. Comparable ability was reported in the two groups on irregular word reading and passage reading tasks. Regarding phonological awareness ability, individuals with DS showed lower performances on several tasks, such as rhyming, deletion and syllable segmentation.

Conclusions  People with DS show particular failure on non‐word reading, a task where correct decoding is only partially influenced by lexical access or semantic context. Correct non‐word reading mainly requires the use of the grapheme–phoneme conversion process. This process is based on the efficiency of phonological awareness abilities, which are partly impaired in people with DS. The rehabilitative implications of these findings are discussed.
The outcome of a preventive dental care programme on the prevalence of localized aggressive periodontitis in Down’s syndrome individuals
Authors: Zigmond M. , Stabholz A. , Shapira J. , Bachrach G. , Chaushu G. , Becker A. , Yefenof E. , Merrick J. , Chaushu S.
Published: January 2006

Background  Periodontal disease in Down’s syndrome (DS) individuals develops earlier and is more rapid and extensive than in age‐matched normal individuals. The present study evaluated a group of DS patients, who had been participating in a 10‐year preventive dental programme, for the impact of the programme on their periodontal status.

Methods  Thirty DS patients (mean age 23.3 ± 4 years) were compared with 28 age‐matched healthy controls (mean age 22.8 ± 5 years). The hygiene level, gingival condition and periodontal status (periodontal probing depth, clinical attachment level and radiographic alveolar bone loss) were determined.

Results  In spite of similar oral hygiene and gingival measures, DS patients, as opposed to the control ones, had a severe periodontal disease. The prevalence, extent and severity of periodontitis in the DS group were significantly greater than in the control group. The teeth most commonly and severely affected were the lower central incisors and the upper first molars. DS patients lost significantly more teeth due to periodontitis.

Conclusions  The clinical and radiographic picture found in the present DS group is characteristic of localized aggressive periodontitis. Within the limitations of this study, it seems that the preventive dental programme had no effect on periodontal destruction progression of localized aggressive periodontitis in DS individuals and that impaired oral hygiene plays a relatively minor role in the pathogenesis of this disease. Future controlled studies are needed to assess the effectiveness of different preventive dental programmes in preventing the progression of periodontitis in DS patients.
Male parentage in army ants
Authors: KRONAUER DANIEL J. C. , SCHÖNING CASPAR , BOOMSMA JACOBUS J.
Published: January 2006

In most social insects workers do not mate, but have retained the ability to produce haploid eggs that can develop into viable male offspring. Under what circumstances this reproductive potential is realized and how the ensuing worker–queen conflict over male production is resolved, is an area of active research in insect sociobiology. Here we present microsatellite data for 176 males from eight colonies of the African army ant Dorylus (Anomma) molestus. Comparison with worker genotypes and inferred queen genotypes from the same colonies show that workers do not or at best very rarely reproduce in the presence of the queen. Queens of D. (A.) molestus are known to be highly multiply mated. This implies that workers are on average more closely related to queen sons than to other workers’ sons, so that our results are consistent with predictions from inclusive fitness theory. It remains unknown, however, whether worker sterility is maintained by active worker policing or by self‐restraint.
Rad52 depletion in Candida albicans triggers both the DNA‐damage checkpoint and filamentation accompanied by but independent of expression of hypha‐specific genes
Authors: Andaluz Encarnación , Ciudad Toni , Gómez‐Raja Jonathan , Calderone Richard , Larriba Germán
Published: January 2006

We have analysed the effect of RAD52 deletion in several aspects of the cell biology of Candida albicans. Cultures of rad52Δ strains exhibited slow growth and contained abundant cells with a filamentous morphology. Filamentation with polarization of actin patches was accompanied by the induction of the hypha‐specific genes (HSG) ECE1, HWP1 and HGC1. However, filament formation occurred in the absence of the transcription factors Efg1 and Cph1, even though disruption of EFG1 prevented expression of HSG. Therefore, expression of HSG genes accompanies but is dispensable for rad52Δ filamentation. However, deletion of adenylate cyclase severely impaired filamentation, this effect being largely reverted by the addition of exogenous cAMP. Filaments resembled elongated pseudohyphae, but some of them looked like true hyphae. Following depletion of Rad52, many cells arrested at the G2/M phase of the cell cycle with a single nucleus suggesting the early induction of the DNA‐damage checkpoint. Filaments formed later, preferentially from G2/M cells. The filamentation process was accompanied by the uncoupling of several landmark events of the cell cycle and was partially dependent on the action of the cell cycle modulator Swe1. Hyphae were still induced by serum, but a large number of rad52 cells myceliated in G2/M.
PspB and PspC of Yersinia enterocolitica are dual function proteins: regulators and effectors of the phage‐shock‐protein response
Authors: Maxson Michelle E. , Darwin Andrew J.
Published: January 2006

The phage‐shock‐protein (Psp) stress‐response system is conserved in many bacteria and has been linked to important phenotypes in Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica and also Yersinia enterocolitica, where it is essential for virulence. It is activated by specific extracytoplasmic stress events such as the mislocalization of secretin proteins. From studies of the Psp system in E. coli, the cytoplasmic membrane proteins PspB and PspC have only been proposed to act as positive regulators of psp gene expression. However, in this study we show that PspB and PspC of Y. enterocolitica are dual function proteins, acting both as regulators and effectors of the Psp system. Consistent with the current model, they positively control psp gene expression in response to diverse inducing cues. PspB and PspC must work together to achieve this regulatory function, and bacterial two‐hybrid (BACTH) analysis demonstrated a specific interaction between them, which was confirmed by in vivo cross‐linking. We also show that PspB and PspC play a second role in supporting growth when a secretin protein is overexpressed. This function is independent from their role as regulators of psp gene expression. Furthermore, whereas PspB and PspC must work together for their regulatory function, they can apparently act independently to support growth during secretin production. This study expands the current understanding of the roles played by PspB and PspC, and demonstrates that they cannot be considered only as positive regulators of psp gene expression in Y. enterocolitica.
Distension technique influences the relationship between colonic and rectal hypersensitivity in irritable bowel syndrome
Authors: Ng C. , Malcolm A. , Hansen R. , Kellow J. E.
Published: January 2006

Abstract  In irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), it remains unclear whether rectal hypersensitivity is a ‘marker’ of colonic hypersensitivity. Our aim was to examine the relation between colonic and rectal sensitivity in IBS patients, comprising phasic and ramp distension techniques. Twenty IBS patients and 12 healthy subjects (N) underwent stepwise ramp and random phasic barostat distensions in the colon and rectum in random order. The sensory threshold pressure (ramp distension) and the visual analogue scale score (VAS, phasic distension), for pain and non‐pain, were recorded. Colonic thresholds were lower, and VAS scores were generally higher, for pain and non‐pain sensitivities in IBS compared to N. Rectal thresholds were lower, and VAS scores were higher, for pain but not for non‐pain, in IBS compared to N. In IBS, for phasic distension, there was good correlation between the colon and rectum for non‐pain (e.g. at 16 mmHg, r = 0.59, P = 0.006) and pain (r = 0.60, P = 0.006) sensitivities. In contrast, there was no significant correlation between the colon and rectum for ramp distension. In conclusion, colonic and rectal sensitivity in IBS are correlated in response to phasic but not ramp barostat distensions. The rectum serves as a legitimate ‘window’ for evaluating colonic hypersensitivity in IBS, provided that phasic distensions are employed.
Somatostatin receptor subtypes mediate contractility on human colonic smooth muscle cells
Authors: Corleto V. D. , Severi C. , Romano G. , Tattoli I. , Weber H. C. , Stridsberg M. , Rindi G. , Campanini N. , Tomassoni F. , Pagotto U. , Coy D. H. , Jensen R. T. , Delle Fave G.
Published: January 2006

Abstract  This study demonstrates the expression of functional somatostatin receptor (sstr) subtypes in human circular and longitudinal colonic smooth muscle cells (SMC). Native somatostatin (SS) and sstr subtype‐specific analogues were used to characterize the sstr subtypes present in both cell types by contraction/relaxation studies. Qualitative and quantitative mRNA analysis and immunohistochemistry of sstr subtypes were also carried out. sstr subtype 2 mRNA was expressed in circular SMC, and various levels of subtypes 1, 2 and 3 mRNA were expressed in longitudinal colonic SMC. Native SS and each subtype‐specific analogue exerted a modest, but significant, contraction, although inhibition of carbachol‐induced contraction (relaxation) was the main effect on SMC from both layers. CH‐288, a sstr subtype 1‐specific analogue, and octreotide, a sstr subtype 2‐specific analogue, were the most effective relaxant analogues on longitudinal and circular SMC, respectively. sstr subtypes display a distinct expression pattern on human colonic SMC; on circular SMC, subtype 2 is the only sstr, whereas sstr subtypes 1, 2 and 3 are expressed on human SMC isolated from the longitudinal layer. The contractile effects of SS are mediated through sstr subtype 2 and sstr subtype 1 on circular and longitudinal human colonic SMC, respectively.
Do parasitoid preferences for different host species match virulence?
Authors: Dubuffet Aurore , Álvarez Clara Isabel Rodríguez , Drezen Jean‐Michel , Van Alphen Jacques J. M. , Poirié Marylene
Published: January 2006

Abstract.  Leptopilina boulardi is a parasitoid wasp specialist of Drosophila larvae of the melanogaster subgroup. In Mediterranean areas, natural populations are highly virulent against their main host Drosophila melanogaster. In Congo, populations are less virulent against D. melanogaster but are able to develop successfully inside the tropical African species Drosophila yakuba. Host preferences are compared between two laboratory isofemale lines of L. boulardi, obtained from populations of Congo and Tunisia, respectively, and differing in virulence levels against D. melanogaster and D. yakuba. Host selection is studied by offering female parasitoids a choice between larvae of the two host species. In agreement with optimal foraging models, the line highly virulent against D. melanogaster shows a clear preference for this host species. The other line, less virulent against D. melanogaster but more virulent against D. yakuba, prefers to oviposit on D. yakuba. Such preferences can be observed after a period of host‐patch exploitation only, suggesting that experience plays an important role in the host‐selection process. These results evidence the existence of intraspecific variability in preference between two host species in L. boulardi, a major requisite in theoretical models of parasite specialization by the host. They also sustain the hypothesis that intraspecific variation in parasitoid preferences between host species might mirror intraspecific variation in virulence.
Correlates of health‐related quality of life in women with severe facial blemishes
Authors: Balkrishnan Rajesh , McMichael Amy J. , Hu Judy Y. , Camacho Fabian T. , Shew Katherine R. , Bouloc Anne , Rapp Stephen R. , Feldman Steven R.
Published: January 2006

Background  Facial appearance plays a large role in self‐perception and interaction with others. Visible facial skin lesions are a common condition.

Purpose  This study assessed factors associated with health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) in women with visible facial skin lesions.

Methods  The study included 73 women with one or more of the following conditions: acne, dermatosis papulosis, hypopigmentation, lentigenes, melasma, rosacea, vascular proliferations and other facial scars. The Skindex‐16 was used as a measure of HRQOL. Fear of negative evaluation (FNE) was assessed to determine whether self‐perception characteristics relate to HRQOL.

Results  There were strong correlations in both bivariate and multivariate analyses among increased FNE, heightened perception of QOL without the facial condition and lower overall HRQOL (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively). There were no differences in HRQOL by type of facial condition, as well as no effects of the area covered by the condition on HRQOL. Interestingly, women not using foundations represented only 10% of the study population and had better HRQOL than women who did use foundations.

Conclusions  Severe facial blemishes of any cause have a significant impact on women's QOL, and the effect of these lesions is mediated in part by psychological characteristics related to self‐perception and self‐presentation.
Proteomics and low‐temperature studies: bridging the gap between gene expression and metabolism
Authors: Renaut Jenny , Hausman Jean‐Francois , Wisniewski Michael E.
Published: January 2006

Exposure of plants to low, non‐freezing temperatures results in genetically programmed changes in the physiology and biochemistry of plants that are critical for low‐temperature survival. While genomic and transcript‐profiling studies have provided a wealth of information about the process of cold acclimation, there is growing recognition that the abundance of mRNA transcripts is not always representative of cognate protein levels and that mechanisms of post‐translational regulation must also play an important role. Recent advances in proteomic technologies have greatly increased the utility of studying global changes in proteins and significantly increased the efficiency and reliability of bidimensional gel electrophoresis (2DE). This has been accompanied by advances in mass spectrometry (MS) and in protein‐sequence databases used in the identification of separated proteins. Although encumbered with its own constraints, proteomics has become a powerful method used to study the relationship between gene expression (transcriptomics) and metabolism (metabolomics). New techniques in gel‐based approaches, such as difference gel electrophoresis (DIGE), are now available to provide both qualitative and quantitative data about the differential expression of proteins. Following 2DE separation and analysis, selected spots are usually subjected to tryptic digestion and identified using electrospray ionization, matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization‐time of flight‐MS and/or tandem MS. In this review, the advantages of the DIGE technique over existing 2DE techniques will be presented, and the utility of 2DE techniques in low‐temperature studies as a complement to transcriptomics, genomics and metabolomics will be discussed. Examples of proteomic studies utilizing different tissues or subcellular compartments in response to cold will also be presented.
Profiling lipid changes in plant response to low temperatures
Authors: Wang Xuemin , Li Weiqi , Li Maoyin , Welti Ruth
Published: January 2006

Changes in membrane lipid composition play multiple roles in plant adaptation and survival in the face of chilling and freezing damage. An electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI‐MS/MS)‐based approach has been used to quantitatively profile membrane lipid molecular species in plant response to low temperatures. This method involves the direct infusion of unfractionated lipid extracts into a mass spectrometer in the precursor and neutral loss scanning modes to identify and quantify lipid species. The profiling analysis reveals significant and distinct lipid changes during cold acclimation and freezing. Comparative profiling of wildtype and mutants provides information about the metabolic and cellular functions of specific phospholipase D genes and enzymes.
Arabidopsis transcription factors regulating cold acclimation
Authors: Van Buskirk Heather A. , Thomashow Michael F.
Published: January 2006

Many plants, including Arabidopsis, increase in freezing tolerance in response to low non‐freezing temperatures, a phenomenon known as cold acclimation. A fundamental goal of cold acclimation research is to identify genes that have roles in this increase in freezing tolerance. In recent years, it has been established that the expression of hundreds of genes is altered in response to low temperature and that some of these cold‐responsive genes contribute to freezing tolerance. The CBF transcription factors were the first transcriptional activators demonstrated to have a role in controlling the expression of cold‐responsive genes with a role in cold acclimation. Here, we review what is known about the CBF cold‐response pathway, including several recent developments, and we discuss emerging evidence in support of several additional transcription factors having roles in freezing tolerance pathways.
Photostasis and cold acclimation: sensing low temperature through photosynthesis
Authors: Ensminger Ingo , Busch Florian , Huner Norman P. A.
Published: January 2006

Photosynthesis is a highly integrated and regulated process which is highly sensitive to any change in environmental conditions, because it needs to balance the light energy absorbed by the photosystems with the energy consumed by metabolic sinks of the plant. Low temperatures exacerbate an imbalance between the source of energy and the metabolic sink, thus requiring adjustments of photosynthesis to maintain the balance of energy flow. Photosynthesis itself functions as a sensor of this imbalance through the redox state of photosynthetic electron‐transport components and regulates photophysical, photochemical and metabolic processes in the chloroplast. Recent progress has been made in understanding how plants sense the low temperature signal. It is clear that photosynthesis interacts with other processes during cold acclimation involving crosstalk between photosynthetic redox, cold acclimation and sugar‐signalling pathways to regulate plant acclimation to low temperatures.
Effect of ovariectomy andad libitumfeeding on body composition, thyroid status, ghrelin and leptin plasma concentrations in female dogs*
Authors: Jeusette I. , Daminet S. , Nguyen P. , Shibata H. , Saito M. , Honjoh T. , Istasse L. , Diez M.
Published: January 2006

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of ovariectomy (i) andad libitumfeeding (ii) on energy intake, body weight (BW), body composition, thyroid status, leptin and ghrelin plasma concentrations. Four young adult female Beagle dogs were fed a maintenance diet for 6 weeks prior to ovariectomy, then 6 months after. Food allowance was adjusted in order to maintain optimal BW. Then, a diet slightly higher in energy concentration was fedad libitumfor 4 months. The maintenance diet was then fedad libitumfor one additional month. The maintenance of optimal BW after ovariectomy required a significant decrease in energy allowance. No increase in fat mass was observed. Ghrelin concentration remained unchanged. During the first month ofad libitumfeeding, plasma ghrelin concentration and energy intake increased, then they decreased. Mean BW, plasma leptin, thyrotropin (TSH), total triiodothyronine (TT3) and total thyroxine (TT4) concentrations significantly increased over the study. The BW increase was exclusively due to an increase in body fat. In conclusion, energy allowance should be strictly controlled in spayed female dogs. The results suggest that in dogs, thyroid hormones, leptin and ghrelin concentrations change in response to a positive energy balance in an attempt to limit weight gain. However, the significant weight gain shows that this goal was not achieved.