bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Real‐time RT‐PCR analysis of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) arabinogalactan‐protein and arabinogalactan‐protein‐like genes
Authors: Yang Suk‐Hwan , Wang Hongyan , Sathyan Pratheesh , Stasolla Claudio , Loopstra Carol A.
Published: May 2005

Arabinogalactan‐proteins (AGPs) are a class of large hydroxyproline‐rich glycoproteins (HGRPs) found in almost all plant species, and have been implicated in various plant growth and developmental processes including xylogenesis. A total of six AGP‐like genes or gene families have been cloned from differentiating pine xylem. In this study, seven different members of the ptaAGP5 gene family with between 54% and 73% similarity at the amino acid level were newly identified. Gene‐specific primers were designed and relative transcript levels of 11 loblolly pine AGP and AGP‐like genes were examined using real‐time reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) analysis. Expression was examined in different tissues: earlywood and latewood; xylem from two populations; drought‐stressed and well‐watered roots; compression, opposite and vertical wood; and in vitro cultured cells induced for lignification. The different loblolly pine AGP and AGP‐like genes showed varying expression patterns under the different conditions, suggesting different functions for each loblolly pine AGP. The results from this study also suggest that some AGPs are associated with xylogenesis, but not with lignification, and that different xylem AGPs probably have different functions.
Arsenate‐induced phytochelatins in white lupin: influence of phosphate status
Authors: Vázquez Reina Saúl , Esteban Elvira , Goldsbrough Peter
Published: May 2005

White lupin (Lupinus albus L.) is adapted to environments of low pH and low available phosphorus through the development of proteoid roots. The high‐affinity phosphate/arsenate uptake system is much less sensitive to downregulation by phosphate in white lupin than in other plants. Arsenate is a phosphate analogue and its toxicity to plants is intimately linked to phosphate nutrition. The synthesis of phytochelatins (PCs) has been proposed as a detoxification mechanism for arsenic (As) in plants. The aim of this research was to study PC production by lupin plants in response to As, and the impact of the arsenate–phosphate interaction on PC production. PCs were the most abundant thiols in white lupin under high As exposure, reaching levels higher than in other plants tested. Together, glutathione (GSH) and PCs were able to complex the majority of As in shoots, while an additional PC‐independent mechanism might function in roots. P deficiency increased As concentrations in plant tissues, causing an increase in PC accumulation and an increase in the average size of PCs. A direct relationship was observed between PC concentrations and the level of stress caused by As, i.e. the degree of growth inhibition in plants. This study suggests a key role for PCs and GSH in As detoxification by white lupin, especially in shoots. PC analysis may be useful as an early indicator of As exposure and as a tool to assess the degree of As stress of plants, even under P deficiency.
Effects of water deficit on the activity of nitrate reductase and content of sugars, nitrate and free amino acids in the leaves and roots of sunflower and white lupin plants growing under two nutrient supply regimes
Authors: Correia Maria João , Fonseca Filomena , Azedo‐Silva João , Dias Celeste , David Maria Manuela , Barrote Isabel , Osório Maria Leonor , Osório Júlio
Published: May 2005

The effects of soil drying on the activity of nitrate reductase (NR; EC 1.6.6.6) were studied in Helianthus annuus L. and non‐nodulated Lupinus albus L. plants growing under two nutrient supply regimes. NR activity was assessed in leaf and root extracts by measuring the activity of the unphosphorylated active form (NRact), the maximal extractable activity (NRmax) and the activation state. To obtain an insight into potential signalling compounds, nitrate, free amino acids and soluble sugars were also quantified. In both species, foliar NRact and NRmax were negatively affected by soil drying and a decreased supply of nutrients, the observed changes in NR activity being linearly correlated with the depletion of nitrate. Similar results were obtained in the roots of sunflower. Conversely, in white lupin roots, NRmax was found to be independent of tissue nitrate concentration. Regardless of the species and organ, the activation state of the enzyme was unaffected by the nutrient supply regime. In well‐watered sunflower roots, only about 50% of the existing NR was unphosphorylated, but the activation state increased significantly in response to drought. In contrast, lupin roots always exhibited NR activation state values close to 80%, or even higher. At the leaf level, the NR activation state was hardly changed in response to soil drying. The observed changes in the concentrations of soluble sugars and free amino acids are discussed in terms of their possible contribution to the variations in NR activity.
Interaction between Medicago truncatula lines and Sinorhizobium meliloti strains for symbiotic efficiency and nodule antioxidant activities
Authors: Mhadhbi Haythem , Jebara Moez , Limam Férid , Huguet Thierry , Aouani Mohamed Elarbi
Published: May 2005

The relationships between symbiotic performance and nodular antioxidant enzymes were studied for the associations between three Medicago truncatula lines and three Sinorhizobium meliloti strains. The results showed that the variability in symbiotic efficiency was dependent on the bacterial partner, host plant and their interaction. The contribution of each factor to the total amount of variance differed with the measured parameter. The aerial biomass production and nitrogen‐fixing capacity were affected similarly by the three factors, whereas root and nodule biomass and catalase (CAT, E.C. 1.11.1.6), guaiacol peroxidase (POX, E.C. 1.11.1.7) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX, E.C. 1.11.1.11) antioxidant activities were mainly influenced by the M. truncatula line. The nodule number was dependent on the bacterial strain, and superoxide dismutase (SOD, E.C. 1.15.1.1) was dependent mainly on the plant–rhizobium interaction. A highly significant correlation was found between nitrogen‐fixing activity, shoot biomass production, total nodule protein content and catalase activity. The other nodular antioxidant enzymes were differentially expressed between associations and showed no clear correlation with symbiotic efficiency.
Abscisic acid accumulation and cadmium tolerance in rice seedlings
Authors: Hsu Yi Ting , Kao Ching Huei
Published: May 2005

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) seeds were soaked for 18 h in distilled water in the absence (–PBZ) or presence (+PBZ, a triazole) of 100 mg l−1 paclobutrazol and then air dried. These air‐dried seeds were germinated in the dark and then cultivated in a Phytotron. Twelve‐day‐old –PBZ and +PBZ seedlings were treated or not with CdCl2. Cd toxicity was judged by the decrease in biomass production, decrease in chlorophyll and protein content, increase in NH4+ content and induction of oxidative stress. The results indicated that PBZ applied to seeds was able to protect rice seedlings from Cd toxicity. On treatment with CdCl2, the abscisic acid (ABA) content increased in +PBZ leaves, but not in –PBZ leaves. The decrease in the transpiration rate of –PBZ seedlings by CdCl2 was less than that of +PBZ seedlings. Exogenous application of the ABA biosynthesis inhibitor, fluridone (Flu), reduced ABA accumulation, increased the transpiration rate and Cd content, and decreased the Cd tolerance of +PBZ seedlings. The effects of Flu on the Cd toxicity, transpiration rate and Cd content were reversed by the application of ABA. It seems that the PBZ‐induced Cd tolerance of rice seedlings is mediated through an accumulation of ABA.
Interaction between phosphate starvation signalling and hexokinase‐independent sugar sensing in Arabidopsis leaves
Authors: Müller Renate , Nilsson Lena , Nielsen Linda Kærgaard , Hamborg Nielsen Tom
Published: May 2005

Expression of selected genes in relation to phosphate (Pi) starvation and sugar sensing was studied in leaves of Arabidopsis. Excised leaf segments with different P status were supplied with combinations of Pi and sugars. Sugar‐inducible genes, encoding β‐amylase (β‐AMY) and chalcone synthase (CHS), were also induced by P deficiency, and were more strongly regulated by sugars when leaf segments originated from P‐starved plants. Furthermore, transcript levels of the P‐starvation‐inducible genes ACP5 (encoding an acid phosphatase), RNS1 (encoding a ribonuclease), and IPS1 (unknown function) increased in response to exogenously applied sugars. Supply of Pi to the leaf segments reversed both P‐starvation‐induced and sugar‐induced gene expression. These interactions reveal a close relationship between P and sugar sensing. To differentiate between hexokinase‐dependent and hexokinase‐independent sugar sensing the effect of the glucose analogue 2‐deoxyglucose and gene expression in the hexokinase‐1 deficient mutant, gin2‐1, were studied. Both β‐AMY and CHS were induced by supplying sucrose to excised leaves but not by 2‐deoxyglucose, confirming that these genes are regulated by hexokinase‐independent sugar sensing. In the gin2‐1 mutant both β‐AMY and CHS responded clearly to P starvation excluding that hexokinase‐1 mediates the response to P. Similarly, the P‐responding genes, IPS1 and RNS1 were repressed by addition of Pi also in the gin2‐1 mutant. In conclusion, several phosphate starvation‐induced genes are also sugar‐induced and hexokinase‐independent sugar sensing in Arabidopsis is strongly intensified by phosphate starvation.
Ethylene modulates the susceptibility of the root for nodulation in actinorhizal Discaria trinervis
Authors: Valverde Claudio , Wall Luis Gabriel
Published: May 2005

Ethylene is produced by plants in response to a wide variety of environmental signals and mediates several developmental processes in higher plants. We investigated whether ethylene has a regulatory function in nodulation in the actinorhizal symbiosis between Discaria trinervis and Frankia BCU110501. Roots of axenic D. trinervis seedlings showed aberrant growth and reduced elongation rate in the presence of ethylene donors [i.e. 2‐aminocyclopropane carboxylic acid (ACC) and 2‐chloroethylphosphonic acid (CEPA)] in growth pouches. By contrast, inhibitors of ethylene synthesis (aminoethoxyvinylglycine, AVG) or perception (Ag+) did not modify root growth. This indicates that the development of D. trinervis roots is sensitive to elevated ethylene levels in the absence of symbiotic Frankia. The drastic response to higher ethylene levels did not result in a systemic impairment of root nodule development. Nodulation occurred in seedlings inoculated with Frankia BCU110501 in the presence of ethylene donors or inhibitors. Overall, the ability of the seedlings to shut down nodule formation in the younger portions of the root (i.e. to autoregulate nodulation) was not significantly impaired by a modification of endogenous ethylene levels. In contrast, we detected subtle changes in the nodulation pattern of the taproots. As a result of exposing the roots to CEPA, less nodules developed in older portions of the taproot. In line with this observation, AVG or Ag+ caused the opposite effect, i.e. a slight increase in nodulation of the mature regions of the taproot. These results suggest that ethylene is involved in modulating the susceptibility for nodulation of the basal portion of D. trinervis seedling roots.
Interruption of agitation of platelet concentrates: effects on in vitro parameters
Authors: Van Der Meer P. F. , Gulliksson H. , AuBuchon J. P. , Prowse C. , Richter E. , De Wildt‐Eggen J. ,   for the Biomedical Excellence for Safer Transfusion (BEST) Collaborative
Published: May 2005

Background and Objectives  When platelet concentrates (PCs) are shipped from one centre to another, they may remain unagitated for a considerable period of time. It was therefore our aim to study the effects of interruption of agitation on the in vitro parameters of PCs stored in platelet additive solutions.

Materials and Methods  In this multicentre study, PCs were prepared either by apheresis or from pooled buffy coats, paired to minimize donor‐dependent differences, and aliquoted into 3 units with a ‘low concentration’ (≈ 1 × 109 platelets/ml; groups A, B and C) and 3 units with a ‘high concentration’ (≈ 2 × 109 platelets/ml; groups D, E and F). The final composition of the storage medium was 30% plasma and 70% additive solution in all PCs. Either PASIIIM or Composol was used as the additive solution. Agitation was interrupted for 2 days (between days 3 and 5, groups A and D), or for 4 days (between days 1 and 5, groups B and E), and continuous agitation served as the reference (groups C and F). A number of in vitro parameters were used for testing on days 1, 5 and 7.

Results  On day 7, reference units C and F in PASIIIM had significantly higher pH values than the study units in PASIIIM, but all retained a pH of > 6·5 at 37 °C. Hypotonic shock response (HSR) results were significantly lower in the high concentration/4‐day interruption group (E) than in the other groups. The low‐concentration groups in PASIIIM, with agitation interrupted for either 2 days (group A) or 4 days (group B), did not have HSR values significantly different from the respective references. Study groups A, B, D and E in Composol, a solution lacking phosphate, had a pH of ≈ 6·5 on day 7, which was significantly lower than that of the references and of the corresponding units in PASIIIM. The pH values were > 7·0 in reference groups C and F in Composol, not significantly different from those in PASIIIM. HSR values were also significantly lower in the Composol study groups. On the other hand, the reference Composol groups showed results similar to units in PASIIIM.

Conclusions  PCs in PASIIIM additive solution with a platelet concentration of ≈ 1 × 109/ml can sustain 4 days without agitation. Phosphate may be of importance in maintaining good in vitro characteristics during interruption of agitation.
International collaborative study to evaluate a candidate reference preparation to define an appropriate specified limit of anti‐D in intravenous immunoglobulin products
Authors: Thorpe S. J. , Fox B. , Heath A. , Dolman C. , Virata M. L. , Yu M. W. , Thorpe R.
Published: May 2005

Background and Objectives  The aim of the study was to evaluate a lyophilized intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) preparation containing anti‐D (02/228; nominal reciprocal titre of 8) for its suitability to define the maximum limit of anti‐D in IVIG products when used in a proposed reference method of direct haemagglutination of papain‐treated erythrocytes, in an international collaborative study.

Materials and Methods  Twenty laboratories tested 02/228 along with a negative control IVIG preparation and four IVIG samples containing different levels of anti‐D. Nineteen laboratories performed direct haemagglutination methodology using papain‐treated erythrocytes; five of these laboratories and one additional laboratory performed their in‐house haemagglutination methodology (all indirect antiglobulin tests).

Results  The mode titre of 02/228, obtained by using the proposed reference method, was 8 (62·5% of tests). However, there was wide variation in haemagglutination titres between laboratories for three of the four samples. Correcting the titres of the samples relative to those of the proposed reference preparation reduced the interlaboratory variability and increased the frequency of the mode titres in three out of four samples. The indirect antiglobulin tests also showed wide interlaboratory variability and were less sensitive than the direct method in four laboratories. Eleven of the 14 laboratories that expressed an opinion considered that the level of anti‐D in 02/228 was appropriate to define a specified limit.

Conclusions  Our results demonstrate the necessity of using a reference preparation to define the maximum level of anti‐D in IVIG products and ensure sufficient sensitivity in haemagglutination testing methodology. On the basis of these results, members of the European Pharmacopoeia Expert Group 6B recommended revision of the appropriate monograph to include this new specification and test. The Food and Drug Administration in the USA intends to adopt the same maximal specification defined by the reference preparation and to recommend the same test for the safety of IVIG products. Preparations 02/228 and 02/226 were also established by the World Health Organization as International Reference Reagents to standardize haemagglutination testing for anti‐D in normal IVIG products.
Blood group genotype analysis for the quality improvement of reagent test red blood cells
Authors: Hult A. , Hellberg Å. , Wester E. S. , Olausson P. , Storry J. R. , Olsson M. L.
Published: May 2005

Background and Objectives  Reagent red blood cells (RBCs) for antibody detection should express certain important antigens as a double dose, that is, the donors must be homozygous for the corresponding alleles. Traditionally, dose is determined by serological typing and known allele frequencies. However, RHD zygosity cannot be predicted serologically owing to the absence of an antithetical antigen, and FY zygosity is confounded by two variant haplotypes, FY*0 and FY*X. Furthermore, lack of reagents hampers our ability to type for some clinically important antigen pairs such as Doa/Dob.

Materials and Methods  Genomic DNA was isolated from reagent RBC samples. Established, validated methods were used to determine the RHD, FY, and DO genotypes.

Results  Three of 52 D+ samples gave results that differed from the predicted genotype: two presumed R1R1 samples and an R2R2 sample were shown to be R1r′ and R2r″, respectively. Five of 59 samples that were from presumed homozygotes for either FY*A or FY*B were heterozygous, together with either FY*X (three samples) or FY*0 (two samples). Seventy‐five samples tested for DO were DO*A/A (n = 14), DO*A/B (n = 39), or DO*B/B (n = 22).

Conclusions  The results show that serologically determined RhD and Duffy phenotypes of reagent RBCs are unreliable and that antigens we thought were represented as a double dose were single dose. The addition of Dombrock genotyping provides information which is useful in antibody identification. We conclude that selected genotype analyses are a valuable quality assurance measure to ensure that reagent RBCs comply with national and international recommendations for test sensitivity.
The Abantuphenotype in the ABO blood group system is due to a splice‐site mutation in a hybrid between a newO1‐like allelic lineage and theA2allele
Authors: Hosseini‐Maaf B. , Smart E. , Chester M. A. , Olsson M. L.
Published: May 2005

Background and Objectives Many phenotypic variations in the expression of blood group A have been explained by variations in gene structure, but unresolved samples are frequently encountered in the reference laboratory. Among ABO subgroups, Abantuhas the highest frequency in a specified population. The molecular basis of this phenotype is now described.

Materials and Methods Blood from Black donors phenotyped as Abantuwas subjected to genomicABOscreening and direct sequencing of polymerase chain reaction (PCR)‐amplifiedABOexons 1–7 and introns 2–6. Total RNA was extracted andABOcDNA was synthesized by reverse transcription (RT)–PCR. Control material comprised Black South African, Swedish, Jordanian and Brazilian blood samples with common phenotypes.

Results GenomicABOtyping indicated the presence of anA2allele in each Abantudonor, in combination with anOallele. No previously reported mutations associated with weak A or B expression were found. Direct sequencing indicated the commonA2sequence with a single nucleotide deletion (AGGT>AGT) at the exon 4/intron 4 junction, predicted either to disrupt the reading frame (resulting in a premature stop codon) or to cause erroneous splicing (resulting in the exclusion of exon 4 from the mRNA).OmRNA, but no transcripts from theAbantuallele, could be detected. Surprisingly, the splice‐site mutation was also found in ≈ 5% ofOalleles in Black South Africans, but not in other blood donors, or in non‐O1alleles. Utilizing intron polymorphisms, theAbantuallele was shown to be a recombination between a new allelic lineage (O1bantu) andA2, with a cross‐over region near exon 5.

Conclusion The Abantuphenotype is caused by anO1bantu–A2hybrid at theABOlocus.
Perioperative stimulation of erythropoiesis with intravenous iron and erythropoietin reduces transfusion requirements in patients with hip fracture. A prospective observational study
Authors: García‐Erce J. A. , Cuenca J. , Muñoz M. , Izuel M. , Martínez A. A. , Herrera A. , Solano V. M. , Martínez F.
Published: May 2005

Background and Objectives  Patients undergoing surgery for hip fracture (HF) often receive perioperative allogeneic blood transfusions (ABT) to avoid anaemia. However, concerns about the adverse effects of ABT have prompted the review of transfusion practice and the search for a safer treatment of perioperative anaemia.

Materials and Methods  We prospectively investigated the effect of a blood‐saving protocol of perioperative iron sucrose (3 × 200 mg/48 h, intravenously) plus erythropoietin (1 × 40 000 IU, subcutaneously) if admission haemoglobin level < 130 g/l, on transfusion requirements and postoperative morbid‐mortality in patients with HF (group 2; n= 83). A parallel series of 41 HF patients admitted to another surgical unit within the same hospital served as the control group (group 1). Perioperative blood samples were taken for haematimetric, iron metabolism and inflammatory parameter determination.

Results  This blood‐saving protocol reduced the number of transfused patients (P < 0·001), the number of transfused units (P < 0·0001), increased the reticulocyte count and improved iron metabolism. In addition, the blood‐saving protocol also reduced the rate of postoperative infections (P = 0·016), but not the 30‐day mortality rate or the mean length of hospital stay.

Conclusions  The blood‐saving protocol implemented seems to reduce ABT requirements in patients with HF, and is associated with a lower postoperative morbidity. The possible mechanisms involved in these effects are discussed.
Human platelet antigen genotyping by using sequence‐specific primers and the particle gel agglutination assay
Authors: Meyer O. , Abou‐Chaker K. , Heymann G. , Bombard S. , Kiesewetter H. , Salama A.
Published: May 2005

Background and Objectives  Polymerase chain reaction using sequence‐specific primers (PCR–SSP) is currently the most widely used technique for human platelet antigen (HPA) genotyping. Here, we describe a novel particle gel‐agglutination technique for simplified visualization of the amplified products.

Materials and Methods  Biotinylated primers were used to amplify HPA‐1, ‐2, ‐3, ‐4, ‐5, ‐6, and ‐15, and the PCR products were incubated with streptavidin particles. Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)‐labelled primers [amplifying a fragment of the human growth hormone (HGH) gene] and anti‐FITC‐coated particles were used as internal controls. Agglutination of the particles in or on top of the gel indicated specific amplification. A total of 100 samples from blood donors was tested by using this new technique and a standard PCR–SSP protocol.

Results  The use of biotinylated sequence‐specific primers resulted in PCR products that agglutinated streptavidin particles, and the FITC‐labelled HGH primers led to agglutination of anti‐FITC‐coated particles. Negative reactions were clearly distinguishable from positive reactions. The results of the particle gel agglutination method were in concordance with those of the electrophoretic visualization in all cases tested.

Conclusions  The new particle agglutination method is reliable and easy to use.
Does washing swabs increase the efficiency of red cell recovery by cell salvage in aortic surgery?
Authors: Haynes S. L. , Bennett J. R. , Torella F. , McCollum C. N.
Published: May 2005

Background and Objectives  We investigated the contribution of swab washing to the efficiency of red cell recovery by intraoperative cell salvage (ICS) in 10 patients undergoing elective aortic aneurysm repair.

Materials and Methods  Volumes and haemoglobin (Hb) concentrations were recorded in the blood recovered by direct suction and from washed swabs, both before and after processing with a Haemonetics Cell Saver 5.

Results  The mean ± standard deviation (SD) estimated blood loss was 991 ± 403 ml, resulting in a mean ± SD salvaged RBC volume of 380 ± 124 ml. The median [interquartile (IQR) range] Hb collected from suction was 84·9 (61·8–131·4) g, of which 50·1 (45–71·5) g was returned to the patient after processing, a median yield of 68 (49–77)%. The swab wash produced a median (IQR) Hb of 39·4 (28·4–64·9) g, of which 26·2 (16·8–31) g was reinfused, a 67 (33–98)% yield. Swab wash thus contributed with a median (IQR) of 31 (24–39)% of the total RBC recovery.

Conclusions  Washing swabs improves the efficiency of red cell recovery by ICS.
White blood cell fragments in platelet concentrates prepared by the platelet‐rich plasma or buffy‐coat methods
Authors: Dijkstra‐Tiekstra M. J. , Van Der Schoot C. E. , Pietersz R. N. I. , Reesink H. W.
Published: May 2005

Background and Objectives  White blood cell (WBC) fragments in platelet concentrates (PCs) may induce allo‐immunization in the recipient.

Materials and Methods  As the level of WBC fragments can differ between PCs produced using different methods, we compared PCs prepared by using the buffy‐coat method (BC‐PCs) in plasma or platelet additive solution (Composol) and PCs prepared using the platelet‐rich plasma method (PRP‐PCs).

Results  Post‐filtration results revealed identical levels of WBC, but significantly higher CD62p expression and a significantly lower amount of total DNA, cell‐free DNA and number of WBC fragments (0·6 vs. 4·2 WBC equivalents/µl) in PRP‐PCs than in BC‐PCs in either plasma or Composol.

Conclusions  The number of WBC fragments is significantly higher in BC‐PCs than in PRP‐PCs.
Application of bovine microsatellite markers on Saola (Pseudoryx nghetinhensis)
Authors: Nguyen T.T. , Ménétrey F. , Genini S. , Nguyen V.L. , Vögeli P. , Nguyen B.X. , Stranzinger G.
Published: May 2005

The aim of the present study was to assess the applicability of bovine microsatellite markers on Saola (Pseudoryx nghetinhensis). A total of 127 microsatellite markers were tested on a male and a young female Saola. An efficient amplification was observed for 123 markers (96.8%), 73 markers (59.3%) were polymorphic. Four loci (BM2304, BMS1928, BMS779 and ILSTS006) on cattle chromosomes 1, 4, 7 and 8, respectively, failed to amplify in Saola. Two cattle Y‐chromosome‐specific microsatellite markers (INRA126 and BM861) were successfully amplified from both sexes in Saola. However, two additional markers (INRA124 and INRA189) on Y‐chromosome failed to amplify in the female animal. These results show that most of the bovine microsatellite markers are applicable in Saola and therefore they can be used to study the phylogenetic relationships and the genetic diversity of the Saola population.
A note on ENDOG: a computer program for analysing pedigree information
Authors: Gutiérrez J.P. , Goyache F.
Published: May 2005

The aim of this note is to describe the program endog (v.3.0). The program handles pedigree information to conduct several demographic and genetic analyses including: (a) the individual inbreeding and average relatedness coefficients; (b) effective population size; (c) parameters characterizing the concentration of both gene and individuals origin such as the effective number of founders and ancestors, the effective number of founder herds; (d) F statistics and paired genetic distances for each subpopulation under study; (e) descriptors of the genetic importance of the herds in a population and (f) generation intervals. The program will help breeders and researchers to monitor the changes in genetic variability and population structure with limited costs of preparing datasets. The program, user's guide and example file can be downloaded free of charge from the World Wide Web at http://www.ucm.es/info/prodanim/Endog30.zip.
Conservation of genetic diversity in the Japanese Black cattle population by the construction of partially isolated lines
Authors: Honda T. , Nomura T. , Mukai F.
Published: May 2005

In the Japanese Black cattle population, five genetically divergent subpopulations have played important roles as suppliers of breeding stocks to the entire breed. We supposed a situation where five lines were constructed from each of the five subpopulations, and applied to this set of lines a management plan to conserve genetic diversity. Assuming that the male migration pattern among the lines followed the island model, we assessed the optimum male migration rate and required male numbers in each line, satisfying the following three conditions simultaneously: (i) the rate of inbreeding in each line was below 0.01 per generation; (ii) at least 97% of the initial genetic diversity was preserved after 10 generations; and (iii) more than 50% of the genes in an initial line were retained in the line after 10 generations. We found that approximately one breeding male should be selected per year and one breeding male should be exchanged among the lines per generation in each line to satisfy these three conditions. Numerical analysis with the migration rates actually observed among the five subpopulations demonstrated that the initial genetic differentiation among the lines was rapidly decayed by an asymmetrical migration pattern. For a successful plan, migration among lines should be strictly managed.
Exclusion of the acyl CoA:diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 gene (DGAT1) as a candidate for a fatty acid composition QTL on porcine chromosome 4
Authors: Mercadé A. , Sánchez A. , Folch J.M.
Published: May 2005

DGAT1 is a microsomal enzyme that catalyses the final step in triglycerides synthesis. DGAT1‐deficient mice are viable, lean, fertile and resistant to diet induced obesity. We have previously identified a quantitative trait loci (QTL) on chromosome 4 that affects fatty acid composition in an F2 cross between Iberian × Landrace. The human DGAT1 gene is located on chromosome 8q24.3, this region aligns to porcine chromosome 4, making the pig DGAT1 gene a suggestive positional candidate gene for the QTL. In this study, we sequenced 1679 bp of the mRNA from animals of five pig breeds (Iberian, Landrace, Large White, Piétrian and Meishan) to identify genetic variants. One of the polymorphisms found creates a polymorphic HinfI restriction site and it was genotyped by PCR‐RFLP in these five pig breeds. Allele A was not found in the analysed Iberian and Landrace populations, whereas Meishan population presents the highest frequency (35%). The DGAT1 gene was located by radiation hybrid mapping to the porcine chromosome 4, outside the confidence interval for the fatty acid composition QTL and excludes it as a positional candidate gene.
Delirium is associated with poor rehabilitation outcome in elderly patients treated for femoral neck fractures
Authors: Olofsson Birgitta , Lundström Maria , Borssén Bengt , Nyberg Lars , Gustafson Yngve
Published: May 2005

The aim of this study was to describe risk factors for delirium and the impact of delirium on the rehabilitation outcome for patients operated for femoral neck fractures. Sixty‐one patients, aged 70 years or older, consecutively admitted to the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Umeå University Hospital, Sweden for femoral neck fractures were assessed and interviewed during hospitalization and at follow up 4 months after surgery. Delirium occurred in 38 (62%) patients and those who developed delirium were more often demented and/or depressed. Patients with delirium were longer hospitalized and they were more dependent in their activity of daily living (ADL) on discharge and after 4 months. They had poorer psychological well‐being and more medical complications than the nondelirious. A large proportion of the patients who developed delirium did not regain their previous walking ability and could not return to their prefracture living accommodation. Delirium after hip fracture surgery is very common especially among patients with dementia or depression. This study shows that delirium has a serious impact on the rehabilitation outcome from both short‐ and long‐term perspectives. Because delirium can be prevented and treated, it is important to improve the care of elderly patients with hip fractures.
Assessing health‐related quality of life in adolescents: some psychometric properties of the first Norwegian version of KINDL®
Authors: Helseth Sølvi , Lund Thorleif
Published: May 2005

The study presented in this paper is part of a larger Norwegian investigation among adolescents, where the overall aim is to develop methods to promote their quality of life (QoL), to discover risk factors or threats to adolescents’ well‐being, and finally to prevent the negative effects of such factors. An adequate generic health‐related quality of life (HR‐QoL) measure is therefore needed. However, only a limited number of well validated instruments that measure HR‐QoL in adolescents exist, and to date only a few has been translated into Norwegian. The purpose of this study was therefore to examine some psychometric properties of the first Norwegian version of a simple, generic, German HR‐QoL questionnaire for adolescents, KINDL®. The instrument consists of 24‐items, distributed in six subscales, which correspond to six domains of adolescents’ HR‐QoL. Based on a sample of 239 healthy adolescents, the internal consistency reliability is satisfactory for both the total scale and the subscales of ‘Self‐esteem and Family’, fairly good for the ‘Emotional’ subscale, but lower for the subscales ‘Physical’, ‘Friends’ and ‘School’. Factor analyses, which concerns construct validity, yielded interpretable solutions. The factor solutions at item level were interpreted to be in line with the original subscales, while factor analysis at subscale level indicated that a common QoL core is involved. To conclude, the Norwegian version of KINDL® appears, in general, to be a psychometrically acceptable method of measuring HR‐QoL in healthy adolescents. However, the α‐values of some of the subscales are not optimal, and these scales should be used with caution in research and profession. Still KINDL®‐N is considered suitable for screening purposes in the public health area and especially within school‐health care.
Family caregivers’ subjective experiences of satisfaction in dementia care: aspects of burden, subjective health and sense of coherence
Authors: Andrén Signe , Elmståhl Sölve
Published: May 2005

Family caregivers experience both positive and negative reactions in caregiving situations. There has been considerably less published about the positive aspects, however. The general aim of this study was to explore a previously developed instrument to study rewards gained by caregivers and to determine the factors associated with satisfaction in family members caring for patients with dementia living at home. The study group consisted of 153 such family members. Standardized interview schedules exploring different background characteristics, and instruments for assessment of the degree of dementia in the patients and the caregivers’ total burden and degree of satisfaction were used. Factorial analysis of the Caregiver's Assessment of Satisfactions Index was performed and it became more specific for conditions of dementia when it was reduced. Stressors as measured by the Caregiver Burden scale and satisfaction can coexist and assess different aspects of the caregiver's situation. The caregiver can perceive both moderate burden and great satisfaction at the same time, and further studies may help to broaden our understanding of how we can reduce the degree of burden whilst increasing the sense of satisfaction.
Descriptions of pain in elderly patients following orthopaedic surgery
Authors: Bergh Ingrid , Gunnarsson Magnus , Allwood Jens , Odén Anders , Sjöström Björn , Steen Bertil
Published: May 2005

The aims of this study were to investigate what words elderly patients, who had undergone hip surgery, used to describe their experience of pain in spoken language and to compare these words with those used in the Short‐Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF‐MPQ) and Pain‐O‐Meter (POM). The study was carried out at two orthopaedic and two geriatric clinical departments at a large university hospital in Sweden. Altogether, 60 patients (mean age =77) who had undergone orthopaedic surgery took part in the study. A face‐to‐face interview was conducted with each patient on the second day after the operation. This was divided into two parts, one tape‐recorded and semi‐structured in character and one structured interview. The results show that a majority of the elderly patients who participated in this study verbally stated pain and spontaneously used a majority of the words found in the SF‐MPQ and in the POM. The patients also used a number of additional words not found in the SF‐MPQ or the POM. Among those patients who did not use any of the words in the SF‐MPQ and the POM, the use of the three additional words ‘stel’ (stiff), ‘hemsk’ (awful) and ‘räd(d)(sla)’ (afraid/fear) were especially marked. The patients also combined the words with a negation to describe what pain was not. To achieve a more balanced and nuanced description of the patient's pain and to make it easier for the patients to talk about their pain, there is a need for access to a set of predefined words that describe pain from a more multidimensional perspective than just intensity. If the elderly patient is allowed, and finds it necessary, to use his/her own words to describe what pain is but also to describe what pain is not, by combining the words with a negation, then the risk of the patient being forced to choose words that do not fully correspond to their pain can be reduced. If so, pain scales such as the SF‐MPQ and the POM can create a communicative bridge between the elderly patient and health care professionals in the pain evaluation process.
Applicability of the Nursing Interventions Classification to describe nursing
Authors: Thoroddsen Asta
Published: May 2005

The aim of this survey was to test the applicability of the Nursing Interventions Classification (NIC) system for use in a future nursing information system for documenting nursing in an electronic patient record in Iceland. Also, the aim was to test the translation of NIC into Icelandic. In order to be applicable to nursing NIC needs to be sensitive enough to describe the work nurses do, differentiate between specialities in nursing, and be understandable to nurses. A sample of 198 nurses was asked to identify how often they used each of 433 NIC nursing interventions. Of the 36 most frequently used interventions half are within the physiological domain. Core nursing interventions were different between specialities, e.g. Analgesic Administration had a high mean score in surgical nursing, and Health Education in primary health care. anova for the 27 classes in NIC showed significant differences (p < 0.01) by all nursing specialities except one, Crisis Management. A Tukey post hoc test showed how nursing specialities were reflected differently in the NIC domains, e.g. medical/surgical nursing in the Physiological: Basic Domain, but psychiatric nursing in the Behavioural Domain. Factor analysis of classes in NIC show good resemblance with the domains in NIC and the structure of the classification is strongly supported, except the Safety Domain. The results from this study indicate that nurses in the sample consider NIC to be applicable to describe nursing. The language is a powerful tool and is central in reflecting nursing practice as well as supporting the construct of knowledge. The translation of NIC to Icelandic is one step in many in preparing nurses to use a standardized language which can also be used in an electronic patient record.
Parathyroid scintigraphy during hypocalcaemia in primary hyperparathyroidism
Authors: Øgard Christina G. , Vestergaard Henrik , Thomsen Jørn B. , Jakobsen Henrik , Almdal Thomas , Nielsen Steen L.
Published: May 2005

Background:  Minimally invasive parathyroid surgery in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) demands high imaging accuracy. By increasing blood flow to the parathyroid adenoma before injection of a perfusion marker, we intended to improve the parathyroid scintigraphy. We have named the technique stimulated parathyroid scintigraphy (SPS).

Methods:  Twenty minutes after injection of 100 MBq 99mTc‐pertechnetate a thyroid scintigram was performed in 25 patients with PHPT. During the thyroid scintigraphy sodium citrate was infused which lowered plasma calcium by a mean of 14 ± 1·3%. Then 700 MBq 99mTc‐sestamibi was injected and another scintigram of the neck was obtained. Perchlorate was given at the end of the sestamibi scintigram to increase the wash‐out of 99mTc‐pertechnetate from the thyroid gland, and after 2 h a delayed scintigram was obtained. A subtraction of the thyroid scintigram from the initial sestamibi scintigram was performed. The results of SPS and a conventional 99mTc‐sestamibi dual‐phase parathyroid scintigraphy were compared with the operative findings. In nine patients the parathyroid adenoma was also localized with ultrasound and the flow pattern before and after citrate infusion was visualized with Doppler technique.

Results:  Eighty‐eight per cent of the adenomas were localized correctly with the SPS technique compared with 62% at the conventional parathyroid scintigraphy. Tissue perfusion of the nine adenomas increased after citrate infusion.

Conclusions:  SPS has a high accuracy and it is easy to perform. If only subtraction SPS is performed the whole examination can be completed within an hour, which is acceptable for same day surgery.
Detection of chronic rejection by quantitative ventilation scintigrams in lung‐transplanted patients: a pilot study
Authors: Johansson Åke , Moonen Michaela , Enocson Alexandra , Mårtensson Gunnar , Bake Björn
Published: May 2005

The suspicion of chronic rejection [bronchiolithis obliterans syndrome (BOS)] is usually based on deteriorating forced expired volume in 1 s. It is however, desirable to develop more sensitive methods as increased anti‐inflammatory therapy is thought to stop progression of the rejection. The aim of the present study was to develop quantitative tools based on ventilation scintigrams, to diagnose BOS. Sixteen double‐lung‐transplanted patients participated, six developing BOS and 10 who did not develop BOS. They were investigated with planar posterior–anterior 99mTc‐Technegas (Tetley Manufacturing Ltd, Sydney, Australia) ventilation scintigraphy at baseline, 6 months to 1 year post‐transplantation, and at a follow‐up examination 3–4‐year post‐transplant or in the BOS patients close to the time of the diagnosis. An automatic region of interest (ROI) was drawn on each lung in the scintigraphic image at baseline and also applied to the follow‐up investigation. The area inside the ROI was subdivided into stripes 10·8 mm high and squares 10·8 × 10·8 mm wide. Corresponding stripes and squares in baseline and follow‐up were analysed regarding differences in relative retention. The results show that the square analysis is superior. Applying chosen cut‐off values for square element differences, 6/6 right and 5/6 left BOS lungs were identified and one left and one right lung of patients not developing BOS were misclassified. We conclude that the square element difference appears to be a promising method to diagnose BOS.
Primary Angioplasty in a Patient with Dextrocardia
Authors: JAUHAR RAJIV , GIANOS EUGENIA , BAQAI KASHIFUDDIN , ROETHEL MARIE , KAPLAN BARRY M.
Published: May 2005

Dextrocardia is a rare anomaly affecting 0.01% of newborns. We report on a case of a 60‐year‐old female with mirror‐image dextrocardia who presented with an acute myocardial infarction and underwent primary angioplasty of the left circumflex artery. A review of the literature and technical challenges of the case will be addressed.
Recovery of Left Ventricular Systolic Function after Left Anterior Descending Coronary Artery Stenting
Authors: AGIRBASLI MEHMET , GULER NIYAZI
Published: May 2005

Our objective was to determine the factors affecting recovery of left ventricular (LV) contractility and myocardial perfusion after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We selected 60 consecutive patients who underwent successful left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) stenting. The mean stent diameter and length were 3.37 ± 0.47 mm and 17.4 ± 6 mm, respectively. Supporting a functional impact of successful PCI, myocardial perfusion and LV ejection fraction (LVEF) improved at 6 ± 3 months after the procedure (48.8 ± 11.6% vs 52.5 ± 11.5%, P = 0.05). Patient related factors such as diabetes mellitus, presentation with acute coronary syndrome, and age did not seem to affect LVEF change after the procedure. On univariate analysis, the change in LVEF after PCI was only related to the stent diameter. The increase in LVEF was higher in patients who received a stent >3 mm in diameter (P = 0.041). There was a weak but statistically positive correlation between the stent diameter and the LVEF change after the procedure (R = 0.267, P = 0.049). Other procedure related factors such as multivessel PCI or stent length did not affect the percent ejection fraction change after stenting.
Use of Stents to Maintain Atrial Defects and Fontan Fenestrations in Congenital Heart Disease
Authors: BAR‐COHEN YANIV , PERRY STAN B. , KEANE JOHN F. , LOCK JAMES E.
Published: May 2005

Maintaining patent atrial septal communications or fenestrations can be vital in conditions requiring adequate decompression of the atria or Fontan baffle. We have recently deployed stents for this purpose, and the aim of this retrospective analysis is to describe our experience. All 26 patients undergoing such stent placement were retrospectively studied and for neonates with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) and patients with Fontan fenestrations, their data were compared to controls undergoing transseptal static balloon dilation during the same time period. All 7 stented neonates with HLHS survived to their Norwood procedure and 57% survived to hospital discharge, similar to those who had static balloon dilation. Complications occurred in both HLHS groups but transient complete heart block was only seen in the control group, which also had larger balloons used (10.3 mm vs 7 mm, P = 0.002). The success rate for patients undergoing stent placement in Fontan fenestrations was 64% compared to 76% with dilation alone. Complications were seen in 64% of the Fontan stented group compared to 39% for controls. There were 5 other patients with complex lesions (3 of whom were on the Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenator) in whom stent placement successfully maintained atrial communication patency. Atrial septal stent placement in neonates with HLHS with restrictive defects is effective and appears at least as safe as static balloon dilation. On the other hand, initial fenestration stent placement is indicated only after extracardiac Fontan procedures in which the previous fenestration location cannot be found.
Coronary Artery Stent Thrombosis Associated with Heparin‐Induced Thrombocytopenia: Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: GALLAGHER MICHAEL J. , AJLUNI STEVEN C. , ALMANY STEVEN L.
Published: May 2005

The diagnosis of an acute coronary syndrome associated with heparin‐induced thrombocytopenia is an increasingly recognized complication of heparin exposure. We describe a case of an acute myocardial infarction 2 weeks after elective aortobifemoral bypass surgery, subsequent subacute coronary artery stent thrombosis, and the treatment strategies available.