bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Molluscan diversity caught by trawling fisheries: a case study in southern Portugal
Authors: MALAQUIAS M. A. E. , BENTES L. , ERZINI K. , BORGES T. C.
Published: January 2006

Abstract  The effects of commercial trawling on the malacological communities (except for the Cephalopoda) were examined, based on a study undertaken between 1996 and 2000 on the continental shelf and slope of southern Portugal. More than 50% of species caught by trawling in southern Portugal were discarded, with molluscs representing about 19%. Forty‐four species of molluscs (15 bivalves, 28 gastropods and one polyplacophoran) were identified from the discarded specimens. Crustacean trawlers accounted for 34 molluscs species, and fish trawlers for 24. Twenty species were only caught by the crustacean trawl, compared with 10 species by the fish trawl, and 14 species were common to both trawls. The bivalve Venus nux Gmelin was the most numerous species discarded in the fish trawl, accounting for 42.0% of the total number of individuals, followed by the gastropods Ampulla priamus (Meuschen) (7.8%) and Ranella olearium (L.) (7.3%). In the crustacean trawl, the most numerous species discarded were the bivalve Anadara diluvii (Lamarck) (19.4%), the gastropod Calliostoma granulatum (Born) (15.5%), and the bivalve V. nux (15.1%). The third most discarded species from fish trawls in Algarve waters, the gastropod species R. olearium, is a species listed in Annex II of the Bern Convention. The difficulties of managing the real impact of fisheries on the molluscan populations and in defining a conservation strategy are discussed.
Are the exploitation pressures on the Nile perch fisheries resources of Lake Victoria a cause for concern?
Authors: MATSUISHI T. , MUHOOZI L. , MKUMBO O. , BUDEBA Y. , NJIRU M. , ASILA A. , OTHINA A. , COWX I. G.
Published: January 2006

Abstract  Lake Victoria is one of the African Great Lakes, and an important source of affordable protein food in the form of fish. It provides employment, income, and export earnings to the riparian communities. Despite this importance there are major concerns about the status and exploitation of the fisheries. This study assesses if current extraction rates/yield of Nile perch, Lates niloticus (L.), from Lake Victoria are sustainable for the foreseeable future. The paper reviews trends in catch and effort in the Nile perch fishery and models the expected scenarios using ECOPATH. The fishery exhibits, classic indicators of intensive fishing, erring towards overexploitation, including: (i) decline in total estimated catch of Nile perch in recent years from the peaks in the 1990s. This is coupled with a shift in contribution of catches from higher trophic level species (Nile perch) to lower trophic level (dagaa) species. (ii) Three major trends in the fishing effort are evident: (a) almost doubling of the number of fishers and fishing boats between 1990 and 2000, and the even greater expansion between 2000 and 2002; (b) a large scale increase in the number of gears operational in the lake; and (c) the propensity for use of ‘illegal’ gears. (iii) Catch‐per‐unit‐effort has declined from about 80 to 45 kg per boat day. (iv) Predictive modelling (ECOSIM) of the future of the Nile perch fisheries under a scenario of increased fishing effort suggests that the fisheries are unsustainable and will decline in the long term. It appears that the Nile perch stocks in the three riparian countries are under intense fishing pressure, and unless concerted action is taken, the potential for degradation of the resources is prevalent. In view of the importance of these fisheries, it is recommended that a precautionary approach to further intens‐ification of the fisheries is adopted until such time empirical evidence shows that the fisheries are capable of further expansion and intensification. The main options for management are devolvement of responsibilities for the fisheries to the communities, enforcement of existing regulations, improved monitoring and data collection processes, reducing post‐harvest losses and increasing the value of the products to the export market.
The archaeal Hjm helicase has recQ‐like functions, and may be involved in repair of stalled replication fork
Authors: Fujikane Ryosuke , Shinagawa Hideo , Ishino Yoshizumi
Published: January 2006

The archaeal Hjm is a structure‐specific DNA helicase, which was originally identified in the hyperthermophilic archaeon, Pyrococcus furiosus, by in vitro screening for Holliday junction migration activity. Further biochemical analyses of the Hjm protein from P. furiosus showed that this protein preferably binds to fork‐related Y‐structured DNAs and unwinds their double‐stranded regions in vitro, just like the E. coli RecQ protein. Furthermore, genetic analyses showed that Hjm produced in E. coli cells partially complemented the defect of functions of RecQ in a recQ mutant E. coli strain. These results suggest that Hjm may be a functional counterpart of RecQ in Archaea, in which it is necessary for the maintenance of genome integrity, although the amino acid sequences are not conserved. The functional interaction of Hjm with PCNA for its helicase activity further suggests that the Hjm works at stalled replication forks, as a member of the reconstituted replisomes to restart replication.
Patients’ perceptions of the concept of the quality of care in the psychiatric setting: a phenomenographic study
Authors: Schröder Agneta , Ahlström Gerd , Larsson Bodil Wilde
Published: January 2006

Aim.  The aim was to describe how patients perceived the concept of quality of care in psychiatric care.

Background.  It is important to include patients’ experiences in defining quality of care and in the development of instruments measuring quality of psychiatric care, as patients have unique information. But only a limited number of studies have directly involved patients.

Design.  It was a qualitative interview study with 20 adult in and outpatients from psychiatric care.

Method.  A phenomenographic approach was used for the analysis of the interviews.

Results.  The results showed that quality of care was perceived as a positive concept, namely as ‘good’ quality of care. The normative component was striking. Five descriptive categories emerged: The patient's dignity is respected; The patient's sense of security with regard to care; The patient's participation in the care; The patient's recovery; and The patient's care environment. Two conceptions emerged that had not emerged explicitly in earlier studies of quality of care: Being helped to reduce the shame and Being looked upon as like anyone else.

Conclusions.  The findings emphasize the importance of the interpersonal relationship between patients and staff. There is a need for further exploration of central aspects of quality in psychiatric care.

Relevance to clinical practice.  It is important that the knowledge about how patients perceived the quality of care in psychiatric care is included in the planning and evaluation of care. The guidelines should designate quality of care from the patient perspective as the goal of interventions.
Consultation with children in hospital: children, parents’ and nurses’ perspectives
Authors: Coyne Imelda
Published: January 2006

Aims and objectives.  To explore children's, parents’ and nurses’ views on participation in care in the healthcare setting.

Background.  Children have a right to be consulted and involved in their care.

Design.  The grounded theory method was used and data were collected through in‐depth interviews, questionnaires and observation. Sample consisted of 11 children, 10 parents and 12 nurses from four paediatric wards in two hospitals in England.

Results.  Parents felt that children should be involved in the decision‐making process thereby enhancing and promoting children's self‐esteem and positive self‐regard, which would consequently enhance their overall welfare. Likewise, children expressed the need for consultation and information so that they could understand their illness; be involved in their care, and prepare themselves for procedures. However, children's own opinions and views were underused and they had varying experiences of being consulted about their care and treatment. Nurses appeared to hold varying and discrepant views on the involvement of children in decisions and for some nurses, the child's involvement seemed to be dependent on the child's cognitive maturity and being defined as a rational subject.

Conclusion.  Health professionals’ communication behaviour may reflect recognition of children's cognitive abilities rather than their competence to understand. The fact that children's nurses appeared to make decisions about involving children in decision making in the absence of a reliable framework was a significant finding and highlights a real problem in the current climate.

Relevance to clinical practice.  Nurses faced with workforce pressures may encounter considerable challenges to facilitating children's involvement in decisions about their care. Hence it is imperative that nurses’ examine the basis of their decisions and use more explicit criteria for determining children's involvement.
Development of a measure to assess the impact of epilepsy on people with an intellectual disability: the Glasgow Epilepsy Outcome Scale – Client version (GEOS‐C)
Authors: Watkins J. , Espie C. A. , Curtice L. , Mantala K. , Corp A. , Foley J.
Published: January 2006

Background  Epilepsy is common in people with intellectual disability, yet clinicians and researchers seldom obtain information directly from the client. The development and preliminary validation of a novel measure for use with people with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities is described.

Methods  Focus group methods (6 groups; 24 participants) identified issues of concern, and qualitative analysis (NUD*IST) was applied to derive items and themes for a draft scale. Psychometric scale development techniques were then used in a pilot study and subsequent field‐testing to investigate validity and reliability (n = 46).

Results  A total of 148 issues of concern was reduced initially to 52 and then to 42 items using these methods. The derived scale comprised sub‐scales reflecting (1) concerns about having seizures; (2) about injury; (3) about issues during; and (4) after seizures; (5) about medication; (6) about what people think; and (7) about daily life. Cronbach α for the Glasgow Epilepsy Outcome Scale – Client version (GEOS‐C) was 0.92, and ranged from 0.64–0.81 for the sub‐scales. Relatively weak associations (r ≤ 0.40), between client and family carer, staff carer or clinician views, suggests that proxy reports are not good predictors of how people with epilepsy themselves are feeling. Preliminary validation suggests that the GEOS‐C can discriminate on variables of clinical importance.

Conclusions  The GEOS‐C complements existing GEOS measures, can be completed in 5–15 min depending upon the level of support required, and may provide a valuable clinical and research tool. Further validational work and appraisal of sensitivity are required.
The response to challenging behaviour by care staff: emotional responses, attributions of cause and observations of practice
Authors: Bailey B. A. , Hare D. J. , Hatton C. , Limb K.
Published: January 2006

Background  Previous studies have attempted to apply Weiner's attributional model of helping behaviour to care staff who work with service users with intellectual disabilities and challenging behaviours by using studies based on vignettes. The aims of the current study were to investigate the application of Weiner's model to ‘real’ service users with intellectual disabilities and challenging behaviours and to observe the care staff's actual responses to challenging behaviours displayed by service users. Also, to compare care staff attributions, emotions, optimism, willingness to help and observed helping behaviours for self‐injurious behaviours in comparison to other forms of challenging behaviours.

Method  A total of 27 care staff completed two sets of measures, one set regarding a self‐injurious behaviour and the other regarding other forms of challenging behaviour. An additional 16 staff completed one set of measures. The measures focused on care staff attributions, emotions, optimism and willingness to help. Also, 16 of the care staff were observed interacting with the service users to collect data regarding their responses to challenging behaviours.

Results  For both self‐injurious behaviours and other forms of challenging behaviour, associations were found between the care staff internal, stable and uncontrollable attribution scores and care staff negative emotion scores. However, no associations were found between the care staff levels of emotion, optimism and willingness to help. Some associations were found between the care staff levels of willingness to help and observed helping behaviours. There were significant differences between the care staff attribution scores with higher scores being obtained for uncontrollable and stable attributions for other forms of challenging behaviours. No significant differences were found between the care staff emotions, optimism, willingness to help and observed helping behaviours.

Conclusions  The results did not provide support for Weiner's attributional model of helping behaviour. However, a preliminary model of negative care staff behaviour was derived from the exploratory analyses completed. This model proposes that there are associations between internal, stable and uncontrollable attributions and negative emotions in care staff and also between negative emotions and negative behaviours displayed by care staff in response to the actions of service users.
Outcome in adult life for people with Williams syndrome – results from a survey of 239 families
Authors: Howlin P. , Udwin O.
Published: January 2006

Background  Although there has been considerable research into the genotype and phenotype of Williams syndrome, there have been relatively few studies of long‐term prognosis. As a preliminary to a more detailed investigation of adults with Williams syndrome, a parental questionnaire was distributed to members of the UK Williams Syndrome Foundation, focusing on areas of skill and difficulties in adult life.

Method  A postal questionnaire was distributed to all members of the UK Williams Syndrome Foundation who had a son or daughter aged 18 years or over. The questionnaire covered issues related to the physical and mental health of the adults with Williams syndrome, together with questions about educational and employment status, self‐help and independence skills.

Results  Out of a total of 290 questionnaires distributed, 239 were returned (82% response rate). The data highlighted the continuing high rates of physical problems in this group and apparent increases in rates of mental health problems with age. Parents also expressed their concerns about the lack of adequate support and care. Educational and employment attainments were generally low and self‐help skills were relatively poor.

Discussion  The findings highlight the need for far better understanding of conditions such as Williams syndrome among professionals working in adult services and the need for more adequate support from educational, health and social services.
Axes of differentiation in the bower‐building cichlids of Lake Malawi
Authors: KIDD MICHAEL R. , KIDD CELESTE E. , KOCHER THOMAS D.
Published: January 2006

The 500–1000 cichlid species endemic to Lake Malawi constitute one of the most rapid and extensive radiations of vertebrates known. There is a growing debate over the role natural and sexual selection have played in creating this remarkable assemblage of species. Phylogenetic analysis of the Lake Malawi species flock has been confounded by the lack of appropriate morphological characters and an exceptional rate of speciation, which has allowed ancestral molecular polymorphisms to persist within species. To overcome this problem we used amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) to reconstruct the evolution of species within three genera of Lake Malawi sand‐dwelling cichlids that construct elaborate male display platforms, or bowers. Sister taxa with distinct bower morphologies, and that exist in discrete leks separated by only 1–2 m of depth, are divergent in both sexually selected and ecological traits. Our phylogeny suggests that the forces of sexual and ecological selection are intertwined during the speciation of this group and that specific bower characteristics and trophic morphologies have evolved repeatedly. These results suggest that trophic morphology and bower form may be inappropriate characters for delineating taxonomic lineages. Specifically the morphological characters used to describe the genera Lethrinops and Tramitichromis do not define monophyletic clades. Using a combination of behavioural and genetic characters, we were able to identify several cryptic cichlid species on a single beach, which suggests that sand dweller species richness has been severely underestimated.
Lrrk2 R1441 substitution and progressive supranuclear palsy
Authors: Ross O. A. , Whittle A. J. , Cobb S. A. , Hulihan M. M. , Lincoln S. J. , Toft M. , Farrer M. J. , Dickson D. W.
Published: January 2006

Mutation of the LRRK2 gene has been associated with autosomal dominant parkinsonism. An R1441C pathogenic substitution was identified in Family D, a large Western Nebraskan kindred, with four members demonstrating pleomorphic pathology at autopsy. One member of this family displayed tau pathology suggestive of progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). To evaluate the influence of mutation at the R1441 residue in this disorder we screened a series of 242 pathologically confirmed PSP cases. No evidence was found for the presence of a mutation at this codon in our series. These data would suggest that this Lrrk2 variant does not contribute in susceptibility to PSP.
Metabolic signalling in defence and stress: the central roles of soluble redox couples
Authors: NOCTOR GRAHAM
Published: January 2006

Plant growth and development are driven by electron transfer reactions. Modifications of redox components are both monitored and induced by cells, and are integral to responses to environmental change. Key redox compounds in the soluble phase of the cell are NAD†, NADP, glutathione and ascorbate – all of which interact strongly with reactive oxygen. This review takes an integrated view of the NAD(P)‐glutathione‐ascorbate network. These compounds are considered not as one‐dimensional ‘reductants’ or ‘antioxidants’ but as redox couples that can act together to condition cellular redox tone or that can act independently to transmit specific information that tunes signalling pathways. Emphasis is placed on recent developments highlighting the complexity of redox‐dependent defence reactions, and the importance of interactions between the reduction state of soluble redox couples and their concentration in mediating dynamic signalling in response to stress. Signalling roles are assessed within the context of interactions with reactive oxygen, phytohormones and calcium, and the biochemical reactions through which redox couples could be sensed are discussed.
Molecular mechanisms for the release of chemokines from human leukemic mast cell line (HMC)‐1 cells activated by SCF and TNF‐α: roles of ERK, p38 MAPK, and NF‐κB
Authors: Wong C. K. , Tsang C. M. , Ip W. K. , Lam C. W. K.
Published: January 2006

Background: Mast cells play pivotal roles in IgE‐mediated airway inflammation and other mast cell‐mediated inflammation by activation and chemoattraction of inflammatory cells.

Objective: We investigated the intracellular signaling mechanisms regulating chemokine release from human mast cell line‐1 (HMC‐1) cells activated by stem cell factor (SCF) or tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α.

Methods: Chemokine gene expressions were assessed by reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction, while the releases of chemokines were determined by flow cytometry or enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). To elucidate the intracellular signal transduction regulating the chemokine expression, phosphorylated‐extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK), phosphorylated‐p38 mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) and nuclear translocated nuclear factor (NF)‐κB‐DNA binding were quantitatively assessed by ELISA.

Results: Either SCF or TNF‐αcould induce release from HMC‐1 cells of interleukin (IL)‐8, monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)‐1, regulated upon activation normal T‐cell expressed and secreted (RANTES), and I‐309, while SCF and TNF‐αinduced release of macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)‐1βand interferon‐γ‐inducible protein‐10 (IP‐10), respectively. Using various selective inhibitors for signaling molecules, we found that the inductions of IL‐8, MCP‐1, and I‐309 were mediated by either SCF‐activated ERK or TNF‐α‐activated p38 MAPK, while the induction of IP‐10 by TNF‐αwas mediated by both activated p38 MAPK and NF‐κB. The induction of RANTES by SCF or TNF‐αwas mediated by ERK and NF‐κB, respectively, and SCF induced MIP‐1βrelease was mediated by ERK.

Conclusion: The above results therefore elucidated the different intracellular signaling pathways regulating the release of different chemokines from SCF and TNF‐α‐activated mast cells, thereby shedding light for the immunopathological mechanisms of mast cell‐mediated diseases.
Identification of oleosins as major allergens in sesame seed allergic patients
Authors: Leduc V. , Moneret‐Vautrin D. A. , Tzen J. T. C. , Morisset M. , Guerin L. , Kanny G.
Published: January 2006

Background:  The prevalence of sesame allergy is increasing in European countries. Cases of severe allergy lack any evidence of specific immunoglobulin (Ig)Es by prick tests and CAPSystem‐FEIA. The reasons for this negativity are unknown.

Methods:  In 32 patients displaying immediate symptoms such as anaphylactic shock, asthma, urticaria, angioedema, sesame allergy was diagnosed by double‐blind placebo‐controlled food challenge (DBPCFC) or convincing clinical history. However, 10 patients had negative prick tests and CapSystem‐FEIA. The specificity of IgEs was further investigated by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), isoelectrofocalisation (IEF)‐blotting, and sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS‐PAGE) blotting using total sesame extracts and purified fraction of oil bodies. Monospecific rabbit antibodies directed to two oleosin isoforms (15 and 17 kDa) were used.

Results:  By ELISA, white sesame seed extract allowed the detection of higher levels of IgE than brown sesame extract. In all sera, numerous bands binding IgEs were detected by IEF or SDS‐PAGE. In reducing conditions, two bands (15–17 kDa), could be separated from 2S albumin. Oleosins, present in oil bodies fractions, were recognized by IgEs from all sera.

Conclusion:  Oleosins are major allergens of sesame seeds and may be relevant to severe anaphylaxis. Falsely negative prick tests could be due to the lack of oleosins in presently available extracts, or to the fact that epitopes might be buried in the inner molecule. Detection tests currently used to identify sesame allergens based on sesame vicillins or other storage proteins could be insufficient for the detection of sesame seed contamination. Oleosins have been named Ses i 4 (17 kDa) and Ses i 5 (15 kDa), in accordance with the IUIS Nomenclature Committee.
No trade-off between learning ability and parasitoid resistance in Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Kolss M. , Kraaijeveld A. R. , Mery F. , Kawecki T. J.
Published: January 2006

Learning ability and immunity to parasites are linked at the physiological level in several insect species. The aim of this work was to investigate the relationship between learning and immunity at an evolutionary level. We tested whether selection for improved learning ability in Drosophila melanogaster led to changes in parasitoid resistance as a correlated response. Similarly, we assayed whether selection for better parasitoid resistance led to a change in learning ability. There was no significant difference between selected and control lines in either case; the estimated confidence intervals for the differences indicate that a trade-off relationship is unlikely.
Collaboration and referral practices of general practitioners and community mental health workers in rural and remote Australia
Authors: Lockhart Chris
Published: January 2006

Objective:  To assess an important part of Australia's National Mental Health Strategy by examining the collaboration and referral practices between general practitioners and community mental health workers in rural and remote areas.

Design:  Semistructured interviews.

Setting:  Rural and remote health service region in Australia.

Participants:  In total, 31 general practitioners and 14 mental health workers.

Results:  Meaningful collaboration and referral practices between general practitioners and mental health workers are prevented by contradictory and ambiguous definitions involving professional roles and mental health. A pattern of negative collaboration was further magnified by the rural and remote context.

Conclusion:  The implementation of Australia's National Mental Health Strategy faces serious problems in rural and remote area due to the negative collaboration and referral practices between general practitioners and mental health workers.
Primary medical care workforce enumeration in rural and remote areas of Australia: Time for a new approach?
Authors: Pegram Robert W. , Humphreys John S. , Calcino Gordon
Published: January 2006

The rural and remote primary medical workforce continues to struggle to meet community needs. This paper looks at the strengths and weaknesses of the various datasets used to measure workforce. The analysis concludes that no current data set adequately describes workforce from a community need perspective. In particular, activity based data sets based on claims data do not capture issues such as service mix or the importance of issues outside activity collections, such as time on call. The paper calls for a new approach to workforce measurement based on a community needs model.
Outcome of cirrhotic patients undergoing cholecystectomy: Applying Bayesian analysis in gastroenterology
Authors: Da Silveira Eduardo BV
Published: January 2006

Background and Aim:  Cholelithiasis is a common finding in patients with cirrhosis. Previous studies showed that open cholecystectomy (OC) carries a high risk of postoperative complications and deaths in cirrhotic patients. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) has significantly decreased hospital stay and postoperative morbidity in non‐cirrhotic patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of cirrhotic patients after LC and OC in a tertiary center.

Methods:  The outcomes of 33 cirrhotic patients matched by age and sex to 66 non‐cirrhotic controls who underwent cholecystectomy were assessed using Bayesian analysis. Both non‐informative and informative priors were used to calculate posterior distributions for parameters under investigation.

Results:  Twenty‐four (72%) cirrhotic patients had LC and 9 (27%) OC. A similar percentage of patients in the control group underwent LC (78%) and OC (21%). Emergent cholecystectomy was not different between cirrhotic and controls (95% credible interval [CrI]−0.35, 0.02). Mean blood loss, duration of surgery and conversion rate was not different between cirrhotic and controls, but cirrhotic patients had a longer length of hospital stay than controls (CrI 0.88, 4.71). Cirrhotic patients undergoing LC had lower volume of blood loss (CrI −363.85 mL, −49.28 mL), shorter duration of surgery (CrI −79.82 min, −19.74 min), lower amount of intravenous fluid during surgery (CrI −1532.9 mL, −495.4 mL) and shorter hospital stay (CrI −11.14 days, −1.20 days) than cirrhotic patients undergoing OC. Child–Pugh class B class and admission diagnosis of biliary pancreatitis were associated with a longer hospital stay.

Conclusion:  Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a safe and effective alternative to OC in Child–Pugh class A and B cirrhotic patients undergoing elective or emergent cholecystectomy. Although outcomes of cirrhotic patients undergoing LC and OC in a tertiary center are not different, LC is associated with less intraoperative bleeding, shorter duration of surgery and fewer days of in‐hospital care.
Clinical significance of human kallikrein 10 gene expression in colorectal cancer and gastric cancer
Authors: Feng Bo , Xu Wei‐Bin , Zheng Min‐Hua , Ma Jun‐Jun , Cai Qu , Zhang Yi , Ji Jun , Lu Ai‐Guo , Qu Ying , Li Jian‐Wen , Wang Ming‐Liang , Hu Wei‐Guo , Liu Bing‐Ya , Zhu Zheng‐Gang
Published: January 2006

Background and Aim:  Recent evidence suggests that the human kallikrein 10 (KLK10) gene is differentially regulated in endocrine‐related tumors and has potential as diagnostic and/or prognostic marker; however, KLK10 expression has never been investigated in gastrointestinal cancers. The aims of this study were to demonstrate expression and single nucleotide polymorphisms of KLK10 in colorectal cancer (CRC) and gastric cancer (GC), and to correlate the relative KLK10 expression level with clinicopathological factors of CRC and GC.

Methods:  Between March 2004 and January 2005, 63 patients with histologically confirmed CRC and 36 with GC were recruited into the study. Using quantitative real‐time (qRT) RT–PCR and Western blot, KLK10 expression in tumor and non‐tumor colorectal and gastric tissues was determined at the mRNA and protein levels. KLK10 protein was localized by immunohistochemistry. The KLK10 genomic DNA from 16 cases of paired normal/cancerous colorectal tissues was PCR‐amplified and examined for single nucleotide polymorphisms by direct sequencing.

Results:  KLK10 mRNA expression was detected by qRT in 61 of 63 (96.8%) CRC specimens and in all GC specimens. KLK10 expression was much higher in tumor tissue than in the corresponding normal mucosal tissue at the mRNA and protein levels (P < 0.01). The KLK10 mRNA expression level significantly correlated with lymphatic invasion (P = 0.034) and clinical stage of CRC (P = 0.025). The KLK10 mRNA expression level significantly correlated with the depth of GC invasion (P = 0.018), clinical stage (P = 0.045), patient sex (P = 0.027) and Lauren type of gastric cancer (P = 0.028). No mutations or polymorphisms were detected in exon 1, 2 and 5 of KLK10 gene in CRC. Single nucleotide polymorphisms were identified in codon 50 of exon 3, GCC (alanine) to TCC (serine). The genetic changes of exon 4 were located at codon 106 [GGC (glysine) to GGA (glysine)], codon 112 [ACG (threonine) to ACC (threonine)], codon 141 [CTA (leucine) to CTG (leucine)], and codon 149 [CCG (proline) to CTG (leucine)]. All were identical in tumor and corresponding normal tissue DNA from the same individuals.

Conclusion:  KLK10 expression is up‐regulated in CRC and GC and higher expression of KLK10 closely correlates with advanced disease stage, which predicts a poorer prognosis; however, further follow‐up study is needed.
Phase II study of gemcitabine and cisplatin in advanced biliary tract cancer
Authors: Park Byung Kyu , Kim Yoon Jae , Park Jeong Youp , Bang Seungmin , Park Seung Woo , Chung Jae Bock , Kim Kyung Sik , Choi Jin‐Sub , Lee Woo Jung , Song Si Young
Published: January 2006

Background:  The aim of this phase II study was to determine the efficacy of gemcitabine plus cisplatin chemotherapy in patients with advanced biliary tract cancer.

Methods:  Eligibility criteria included histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma with measurable tumor in the biliary tract that was unresectable and either locally advanced or metastatic. Patients received a combination of gemcitabine (1000 mg/m2 intravenously [IV] on days 1, 8, and 15) and cisplatin (75 mg/m2 IV on day 1). Cycles were repeated every 28 days. Objective tumor response rates and toxicities were evaluated according to World Health Organization criteria.

Results:  Twenty‐seven patients were enrolled in the study and a total of 120 cycles of chemotherapy were administrated. Objective partial response was observed in nine (33.3%) patients, while stable disease was found in seven (25.9%) patients. The median survival time was 10.0 months and the 1‐year survival rate was 36%. Median time to disease progression was 5.6 months. The most common grade 3–4 toxicities were leukopenia (25.9%), anemia (29.6%), thrombocytopenia (22.2%), and vomiting (18.5%). Only one patient was hospitalized for chemotherapy‐related complications.

Conclusion:  Gemcitabine and cisplatin combination chemotherapy is an effective, safe, and well‐tolerated regimen for the treatment of advanced biliary tract cancer.
Increasing trend of acute hepatitis A in north India: Need for identification of high‐risk population for vaccination
Authors: Hussain Zahid , Das Bhudev C , Husain Syed A , Murthy Nandagudi S , Kar Premashis
Published: January 2006

Background and Aims:  Hepatitis A (HAV) is endemic in India and most of the population is infected asymptomatically in early childhood with lifelong immunity. Because of altered epidemiology and decreasing endemicity, the pattern of acute HAV infection is changing from asymptomatic childhood infection to an increased incidence of symptomatic disease in the 18–40 age group. The aims of the present study were to assess whether the proportion of adults with acute HAV infection has been increasing over the years and to analyze the seroprevalence of immunoglobulin G (IgG) anti‐HAV antibodies in young adults above the age of 15 years as well as in cases of chronic liver disease.

Methods:  Sera collected from 3495 patients with acute (1932) and chronic (1563) liver disease attending the Medical Outpatient Department of Lok Nayak Hospital during the previous five years (1999–2003) were tested for various serological markers of acute (HBsAg, HBcIgM, anti‐HCV, HEV‐IgM, and HAV‐IgM) and chronic (HBsAg, HBcIgG, HBeAg, and anti‐HCV) hepatitis. In addition, 500 normal healthy attendants of the patients above the age of 15 years were tested for IgG anti‐HAV as controls.

Results:  Of 1932 patients with acute viral hepatitis, 221 (11.4%) were positive for immunoglobulin M (IgM) anti‐HAV. The patients who were IgM anti‐HAV negative included hepatitis B (321 patients), C (39 patients), E (507 patients) and unclassified (844 patients). Although the frequency of HAV infection among children had increased (10.6% to 22.0%) in the 5‐year period, the frequency of HAV infection among adults had also increased (3.4% to 12.3%) during the same period. A total of 300 patients with chronic liver diseases that were etiologically related to hepatitis B (169), C (73) or dual infection (10) and alcoholic liver injury (48) were tested for the presence of IgG anti‐HAV antibody; 98% (294/300) were positive for the antibody.

Conclusions:  Although universal vaccination against HAV is not currently indicated, selective vaccination of the high‐risk population, based on their serological evidence of HAV antibody, would be a rational and cost‐effective approach.
Fine structure of neuronal and glial processes in neuropathology
Authors: Hirano Asao , Llena Josefina
Published: January 2006

The cells of the nervous system are characterized by their well‐formed cell processes and by cell‐to‐cell relationships that they form. The neuron reveals essentially cylindrical processes, which form synaptic junctions. On the other hand, the peripheral parts of the glial cells are mainly sheet‐like in nature. Thus, the oligodendroglial cell elaborates many sheet‐like processes, each of which forms a segment of the myelin sheath. Unique cell junction, transverse bands are present at the interface of oligodendroglial processes and the axon. Finally, the astrocytes also form elaborate sheet‐like processes, which separate most of the CNS from the mesodermal tissue as well as surrounding certain neuronal surfaces, including synapses. Punctate adhesions, gap junctions and other adhesive devices are present between astrocytic processes. Defects or anomalies in the neuronal and glial cell processes characterize numerous pathological conditions.
Histopathological and immunohistochemical study of the enteric innervations among various types of aganglionoses including isolated and syndromic Hirschsprung disease
Authors: Matsuda Hadzki , Hirato Junko , Kuroiwa Minoru , Nakazato Yoichi
Published: January 2006

We investigated enteric innervations in 15 isolated and five syndromic cases of Hirschsprung disease (HSCR) with immunohistochemistry for the S100 protein (S100), class III α‐tubulin (TUJ1), peripherin, neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) and CD34. The number of neurites per smooth muscle unit of the circular muscle layer (CML) was counted in the longitudinal sections. TUJ1 was the best marker to detect whole neuritic networks of the enteric nervous system. There were differences in the innervation patterns between isolated rectosigmoid aganglionosis (RS) and long segment aganglionosis (LS) including total colonic aganglionosis and extensive aganglionosis. In the aganglionic bowel (AGB) of LS, no nerve fibers innervated smooth muscle units in the CML in the area from the small bowel to the terminal descending colon. In the rectosigmoid region of every type of isolated HSCR, we observed transmural nerve fibers forming meshworks in the CML with TUJ1 and S100 antibodies. In RS, the neurites running parallel with smooth muscle cells gradually decreased in number in the distal portion. However, in the rectosigmoid AGB in LS, those neurites were absent and most neurites perpendicularly crossed the CML. Hypertrophic nerve trunks (HNT) in the submucous and myenteric plexuses were observed more frequently in the rectosigmoid region than in the rostral portion. Based on these data, it is suggested that the neuritic meshworks in the CML of the rectosigmoid AGB might derive from not only the sacral plexus, via HNT, but also intrinsic neurons in the oligoganglionic bowel. All of the syndromic HSCR were RS. In the AGB of RS with Down syndrome, the distribution of neurite meshworks in the CML is markedly reduced. In the AGB of RS with mental retardation suspected of having Mowat–Wilson syndrome, the density of intramuscular innervation was comparatively higher. In the rostral portion to the AGB of syndromic HSCR, myenteric ganglia were clearly small in size, and more numerous per smooth muscle unit with scarce internodal strands. These dysplastic features fall under neither hyperganglionosis nor hypoganglionosis classifications. We considered that syndromic HSCR might occur on the basis of a dysplastic enteric nervous system caused by genetic alteration.
A pediatric patient with a mediastinal mass and pulmonary embolus
Authors: BURGOYNE LAURA L. , ANGHELESCU DORALINA L. , TAMBURRO ROBERT F. , DE ARMENDI ALBERTO J.
Published: January 2006

When anesthetizing a patient with an anterior mediastinal mass, sudden hypoxaemia and cardiovascular collapse may result from compression of a large airway or vascular structure in the mediastinum. We report the case of a pediatric cancer patient with an anterior mediastinal mass, who developed sudden and fatal hypoxaemia and cardiovascular collapse in the hours following sedation. A massive pulmonary thromboembolism was diagnosed at autopsy. We suggest that pulmonary embolism should be considered in the differential diagnosis when a patient with a mediastinal mass develops perioperative hypoxaemia, cardiovascular collapse, or both.
Hospital nurse administrators in Japan: a feminist dimensional analysis
Authors: Brandi C. L. , Naito A.
Published: January 2006

Background: Nursing administration research is scarce in Japan during a time when health care is rapidly reforming and baccalaureate and graduate nursing programmes are rapidly developing. Additionally, nursing administration content relies heavily on Western and non‐nursing theories, some of which have been criticized for male bias.

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to present key findings from a qualitative study that explored the perspectives or viewpoints of 16 Japanese senior female nurse administrators in hospitals in order to learn what was happening in their working situations and how they were managing.

Design and methods: This feminist study used dimensional analysis strategies for data collection and analysis. Semi‐structured, tape‐recorded interviews were conducted by both researchers in Japanese, transcribed into Japanese, and translated into English.

Results and discussion: The resulting explanatory matrix portrayed a story of 16 nurse administrators, most of whom were able successfully to enact a management role in a context of role ambiguity that was congruent with their relational values and beliefs. Important conditions influencing value‐based role enactment included organization mission and purpose, organization structure, nurse–doctor relationships, participant‐supervisor relationships, and personal attributes. Many participants were able to overcome barriers in these categories using strategies of tempered radicalism and consequently made positive organizational changes.

Conclusions: Advanced formal education, better organizational support, and a raised consciousness among nurses that views nurses and midwives as equal partners with other professionals will enable Japanese nurse administrators to help advance patient‐centred care and nursing development and empowerment.
The relationship between the quality of cooperative learning, students’ goal preferences, and perceptions of contextual factors in the classroom
Authors: HIJZEN DAPHNE , BOEKAERTS MONIQUE , VEDDER PAUL
Published: January 2006

This study examined relationships between the quality of cooperative learning (CL) and students’ goal preferences and perceptions of contextual factors in the classroom. Subjects were 1,920 students in secondary vocational schools. The study focused on four different types of goals: social support, belongingness, mastery, and superiority goals. It was found that social support goals had the strongest relation with the quality of CL. Further we found that the quality of CL was best predicted by a combination of social support goals, evaluations of the extent that students were taught cooperation skills, perception of teacher monitoring behavior, and the availability of academic and emotional peer support. Female students’ preferences for mastery and social goals were stronger than those of male students, whereas male students had a stronger preference for superiority goals. Program type functioned as a moderator variable within the relation of students’ superiority/ individuality goals and the quality of CL.
The relationship between viewing US‐produced television programs and intentions to drink alcohol among a group of Norwegian adolescents
Authors: THOMSEN STEVEN R. , REKVE DAG
Published: January 2006

The aim of this study was to examine the influence of exposure to US‐produced television programs and family rules prohibiting alcohol use on the development of normative beliefs, expectancies, and intentions to drink alcohol in the next 12 months among a group of Norwegian adolescents who reported that they had not previously consumed alcohol. Data were collected via a survey administered to 622 eighth and ninth graders enrolled at ten junior highs in southeastern Norway. To examine these relationships we tested the fit of a structural equation model which was based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (Ajzen, 1988). Data from the non‐drinkers (n= 392, 63% of the respondents) were used. To control for the influence of peer drinking on behavioral intentions, our model was tested under two group conditions: (1) those subjects reporting that they have no friends who drink alcohol and (2) those subjects reporting that they have one or more friends who drink. The findings indicate that the influence of TV exposure was a significant predictor (directly) of normative beliefs, expectancies (indirectly) and intentions to drink (both directly and indirectly) only for those subjects who reported having no friends who drink. For the group with non‐drinking friends, family rules constrain intentions only indirectly by influencing normative beliefs. For those with friends who drink, however, family rules have a direct (inverse) effect on intentions. It is concluded that exposure to US‐produced television programs functions as a limited knowledge source only for those subjects who had little or no personal experience with alcohol while the presence of family rules have limited impact on behavioral intentions.
Episodic chasing in pathological gamblers using the Iowa gambling task
Authors: LINNET JAKOB , RØJSKJÆR STEFFEN , NYGAARD JØRGEN , MAHER BRENDAN A.
Published: January 2006

“Chasing ones losses” is a key symptom among pathological gamblers (PGs). This study focuses on quantitative differences in episodic chasing (i.e., sequences of disadvantageous decisions within a single gambling session) between PGs and non‐pathological gamblers (NPGs). We compared 61 PGs and 39 NPGs on the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) and the Zuckerman Sensation Seeking Scale (SSS). The PGs showed significantly more chasing and had significantly poorer decision‐making strategies than NPGs, particularly among males (F= 4.52, p < 0.05). Random players were significantly less sensation seeking than advantageous and disadvantageous (i.e., chasing) players, but there was no interaction with group or gender. The results suggest that quantifiable within‐session gambling behavior holds important implications for detecting underlying vulnerabilities to gambling pathology.
CONSTRAINED OPTIMIZATION WITH RESPECT TO STOCHASTIC DOMINANCE: APPLICATION TO PORTFOLIO INSURANCE
Authors: El Karoui Nicole , Meziou Asma
Published: January 2006

We are concerned with a classic portfolio optimization problem where the admissible strategies must dominate a floor process on every intermediate date (American guarantee). We transform the problem into a martingale, whose aim is to dominate an obstacle, or equivalently its Snell envelope. The optimization is performed with respect to the concave stochastic ordering on the terminal value, so that we do not impose any explicit specification of the agent's utility function. A key tool is the representation of the supermartingale obstacle in terms of a running supremum process. This is illustrated within the paper by an explicit example based on the geometric Brownian motion.
Trade, Wage Inequalities and Disparities between Countries: The Technology Connection
Authors: DURANTON GILLES
Published: January 2006

ABSTRACT
This paper takes seriously the idea that international trade has played an important role in explaining both some convergence between developed economies as well as rising inequalities at the personal level. Previous studies used traditional trade theory as a reference framework. The empirical consensus is now that differences in factor endowment explain at best a small fraction of rising wage inequalities. This argument, by contrast, builds on labor specialization and increasing returns. Deeper economic integration allows trade in differentiated intermediate goods and primary tasks, thus transforming local increasing returns into global increasing returns. This pushes towards geographical equalization. At the same time, deeper integration also increases the size of the pool of available skilled workers. This may lead them to a‘technological secession’as it makes more skill‐demanding technologies more profitable. Technological secession in turn fosters wage inequalities at the personal level.