bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influence of Insulin in the Ventromedial Hypothalamus on Pancreatic Glucagon Secretion In Vivo
Authors: Paranjape Sachin A. , Chan Owen , Zhu Wanling , Horblitt Adam M. , McNay Ewan C. , Cresswell James A. , Bogan Jonathan S. , McCrimmon Rory J. , Sherwin Robert S.
Published: March 2010

OBJECTIVE

Insulin released by the β-cell is thought to act locally to regulate glucagon secretion. The possibility that insulin might also act centrally to modulate islet glucagon secretion has received little attention.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Initially the counterregulatory response to identical hypoglycemia was compared during intravenous insulin and phloridzin infusion in awake chronically catheterized nondiabetic rats. To explore whether the disparate glucagon responses seen were in part due to changes in ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) exposure to insulin, bilateral guide cannulas were inserted to the level of the VMH and 8 days later rats received a VMH microinjection of either 1) anti-insulin affibody, 2) control affibody, 3) artificial extracellular fluid, 4) insulin (50 μU), 5) insulin receptor antagonist (S961), or 6) anti-insulin affibody plus a γ-aminobutyric acid A (GABAA) receptor agonist muscimol, prior to a hypoglycemic clamp or under baseline conditions.

RESULTS

As expected, insulin-induced hypoglycemia produced a threefold increase in plasma glucagon. However, the glucagon response was fourfold to fivefold greater when circulating insulin did not increase, despite equivalent hypoglycemia and C-peptide suppression. In contrast, epinephrine responses were not altered. The phloridzin-hypoglycemia induced glucagon increase was attenuated (40%) by VMH insulin microinjection. Conversely, local VMH blockade of insulin amplified glucagon twofold to threefold during insulin-induced hypoglycemia. Furthermore, local blockade of basal insulin levels or insulin receptors within the VMH caused an immediate twofold increase in fasting glucagon levels that was prevented by coinjection to the VMH of a GABAA receptor agonist.

CONCLUSIONS

Together, these data suggest that insulin's inhibitory effect on α-cell glucagon release is in part mediated at the level of the VMH under both normoglycemic and hypoglycemic conditions.
Transcription Factor 7-Like 2 (TCF7L2) Polymorphism and Hyperglycemia in an Adult Italian Population-Based Cohort
Authors: Gambino Roberto , Bo Simona , Gentile Luigi , Musso Giovanni , Pagano Gianfranco , Cavallo-Perin Paolo , Cassader Maurizio
Published: March 2010

OBJECTIVE

To assess whether TCF7L2 polymorphism has a role in the deterioration of glycemic control.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Metabolic variables were evaluated at baseline and after 6-year follow-up in 1,480 Caucasian subjects from a population-based cohort.

RESULTS

At baseline, T-allele carriers showed significantly lower BMI and homeostasis model assessment for β-cell function (HOMA-B) values and higher fasting glycemia and diabetes prevalence. At follow-up, fasting glucose and HOMA-B index were increased and reduced, respectively, in carriers of the T-allele. Incident impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and incident diabetes were 5.7, 10.7, 16.9% and 1.6, 1.7, 3.0% in the CC, CT, and TT genotypes, respectively. In a multiple logistic regression model, the association between incident IFG and the T-allele was significant (odds ratio [OR] 2.08 [95% CI 1.35–3.20] and 3.56 [2.11–5.98] in CT and TT genotypes, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

The T-allele of TCF7L2 rs7903146 polymorphism was independently associated with increasing fasting glucose values toward hyperglycemia in the follow-up.
Long-Term Metformin Use Is Associated With Decreased Risk of Breast Cancer
Authors: Bodmer Michael , Meier Christian , Krähenbühl Stephan , Jick Susan S. , Meier Christoph R.
Published: March 2010

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate whether use of oral hypoglycemic agents is associated with an altered breast cancer risk in women.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Using the U.K.-based General Practice Research Database, we conducted a nested case-control analysis among 22,621 female users of oral antidiabetes drugs with type 2 diabetes. We evaluated whether they had an altered risk of breast cancer in relation to use of various types of oral hypoglycemic agents. Case and control patients with a recorded diagnosis of type 2 diabetes were matched on age, calendar time, and general practice, and the multivariate conditional logistic regression analyses were further adjusted for use of oral antidiabetes drugs, insulin, estrogens, smoking BMI, diabetes duration, and HbA1c (A1C).

RESULTS

We identified 305 case patients with a recorded incident diagnosis of breast cancer. The mean ± SD age was 67.5 ± 10.5 years at the time of the cancer diagnosis. Long-term use of ≥40 prescriptions (>5 years) of metformin, based on 17 exposed case patients and 120 exposed control patients, was associated with an adjusted odds ratio of 0.44 (95% CI 0.24–0.82) for developing breast cancer compared with no use of metformin. Neither short-term metformin use nor use of sulfonylureas or other antidiabetes drugs was associated with a materially altered risk for breast cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

A decreased risk of breast cancer was observed in female patients with type 2 diabetes using metformin on a long-term basis.
Skin-derived precursors differentiating into dopaminergic neuronal cells in the brains of Parkinson disease model rats
Authors: Higashida Tetsuhiro , Jitsuki Susumu , Kubo Atsuhiko , Mitsushima Dai , Kamiya Yoshinori , Kanno Hiroshi
Published: March 2010

Object

In the authors' previous study, they observed that amino acids 157–171 of von Hippel-Lindau protein (VHL peptide) induced neuronal differentiation of skin-derived precursors. They also noted that transplantation of these differentiated cells into the striata of a Parkinson disease (PD) rat model reduced apomorphine-induced rotations. In the present study, they investigated if these cells produce dopamine in the striatum.

Methods

Skin-derived precursors were differentiated into neurons using VHL peptide and transplanted into the striata of a PD model of rats. Four weeks after transplantation, a probe was inserted into rat striata and extracellular dopamine was extracted by microdialysis. Dopamine levels were measured by high-pressure liquid chromatography. Brain sections were assessed by immunohistochemical analysis for the presence of tyrosine hydroxylase and dopamine transporter.

Results

Increased dopamine levels in the striata of the rats were observed after transplantation (p < 0.01), and these were correlated with a reduction in the number of apomorphine-induced rotations (p < 0.05). Skin-derived precursors observed along the tract of transplantation were positive for tyrosine hydroxylase and dopamine transporter.

Conclusions

This study suggests that transplantation of skin-derived precursors, differentiated into neuronal cells using VHL peptide, can improve PD-like symptoms by enabling production of dopamine in the striata in a PD model of rats.
Regional vascular relationships to the foramen ovale: an anatomical study with application to approaches to the external skull base with an emphasis on transcutaneous procedures for the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia
Authors: Tubbs R. Shane , Dixon Joshua , Loukas Marios , Cohen-Gadol Aaron A.
Published: March 2010

Object

The foramen ovale and its neighboring vascular structures may be seen via external approaches to the skull base. More commonly, however, transcutaneous approaches to the foramen ovale are performed. Although complications with this latter technique are uncommon, studies of the distances to the surrounding extracranial vascular structures are lacking in the literature. The present study aimed to elucidate such anatomical relationships.

Methods

Twenty adult cadavers (40 sides) underwent dissection of the region surrounding the foramen ovale at the external skull base. Measurements between the external surface of the foramen ovale and surrounding vascular structures were made.

Results

From the nearest aspect of the undersurface of the foramen ovale, the authors found that the mean distances to the middle meningeal artery, maxillary artery, superior bulb of the internal jugular vein, and internal carotid artery at its entrance to and exit from the carotid canal were 3, 19, 20, 9, and 12 mm, respectively. Distances tended to be shorter in females, but this did not reach statistical significance. On the basis of these data, the authors also determined a safe zone while approaching the undersurface of the foramen ovale.

Conclusions

Additional knowledge of the neurovascular relationships surrounding the foramen ovale may be useful to the neurosurgeon and may help decrease the potential for complications.
A Clustering Approach to Segmenting Users of Internet-based Risk Calculators
Authors: Downs J. S. , Padman R. , Harle C. A.
Published: March 2010

Background: Risk calculators are widely available Internet applications that deliver quantitative health risk estimates to consumers. Although these tools are known to have varying effects on risk perceptions, little is known about who will be more likely to accept objective risk estimates.

Objective: To identify clusters of online health consumers that help explain variation in individual improvement in risk perceptions from web-based quantitative disease risk information.

Methods: A secondary analysis was performed on data collected in a field experiment that measured people’s pre-diabetes risk perceptions before and after visiting a realistic health promotion website that provided quantitative risk information. K-means clustering was performed on numerous candidate variable sets, and the different segmentations were evaluated based on between-cluster variation in risk perception improvement.

Results: Variation in responses to risk information was best explained by clustering on pre-intervention absolute pre-diabetes risk perceptions and an objective estimate of personal risk. Members of a high-risk overesti-mater cluster showed large improvements in their risk perceptions, but clusters of both moderate-risk and high-risk underestimaters were much more muted in improving their optimistically biased perceptions.

Conclusions: Cluster analysis provided a unique approach for segmenting health consumers and predicting their acceptance of quantitative disease risk information. These clusters suggest that health consumers were very responsive to good news, but tended not to incorporate bad news into their self-perceptions much. These findings help to quantify variation among online health consumers and may inform the targeted marketing of and improvements to risk communication tools on the Internet.
Motivational Interviewing (Patient-centered Counseling) to Address Childhood Obesity
Authors: Schwartz Robert P.
Published: March 2010

CME EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES

1.

Discuss the utility and power of using open-ended questions and reflective listening in interactions with patients.

2.

Demonstrate the use of the elicit-provide-elicit tool.

3.

Outline the use of the importance and confidence scale in assessing motivation and readiness to change behavior.
Metabolic and Respiratory Comorbidities of Childhood Obesity
Authors: Fennoy Ilene
Published: March 2010

CME EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES

1.

Discuss the comorbidities commonly encountered in childhood obesity.

2.

Review the evaluations suggested for the comorbidities associated with childhood obesity.

3.

Evaluate management suggestions for each of the comorbidities discussed.
Translation Control: A Multifaceted Regulator of Inflammatory Response
Authors: Mazumder Barsanjit , Li Xiaoxia , Barik Sailen
Published: March 2010

A robust innate immune response is essential to the protection of all vertebrates from infection, but it often comes with the price tag of acute inflammation. If unchecked, a runaway inflammatory response can cause significant tissue damage, resulting in myriad disorders, such as dermatitis, toxic shock, cardiovascular disease, acute pelvic and arthritic inflammatory diseases, and various infections. To prevent such pathologies, cells have evolved mechanisms to rapidly and specifically shut off these beneficial inflammatory activities before they become detrimental. Our review of recent literature, including our own work, reveals that the most dominant and common mechanism is translational silencing, in which specific regulatory proteins or complexes are recruited to cis-acting RNA structures in the untranslated regions of single or multiple mRNAs that code for the inflammatory protein(s). Enhancement of the silencing function may constitute a novel pharmacological approach to prevent immunity-related inflammation.
Amyand’s Hernia in a Child with Permanent Neonatal Diabetes Due to Pancreatic Agenesis
Authors: Giannattasio Alessandro , Campus Riccardo , Muraca Monica , Lucigrai Giorgio , Michelazzi Alberto , Eljerbi Etayeb Mahmud , Lorini Renata , d'Annunzio Giuseppe
Published: March 2010

Acute or perforated appendicitis within inguinal hernia is rarely encountered and it is known as Amyand’s hernia. We report on the first case occurring in a 4-year-old boy affected by permanent neonatal diabetes mellitus due to pancreatic agenesis, an extremely rare condition. The initial suspicion of inguinal hernia was confirmed by ultrasound examination of the right inguinal region which revealed omental layers inside a swollen inguinal canal; this finding and the clinical presentation allowed a prompt and appropriate surgical management. The careful evaluation of this patient and early recognition of this unique presentation of appendicitis allowed trans-hernial appendectomy and immediate herniorrhaphy. Ultrasonography played a pivotal role to reach the correct diagnosis and to start a prompt treatment.
Autologous Adipocyte Graft in Endoscopic Treatment of Vesico-Renal Reflux in Children: A Preliminary Study
Authors: Lacreuse Isabelle , Moog Raphael , Kadoch Vanessa , Fischbach Michel , Poli Merol Marile-laurence , Becmeur François
Published: March 2010

No bulking agent is ideal for endoscopically treating vesico-renal reflux in children. Many teams have tried to find a safe and efficient material, ideally an autologous material. We describe here a protocol for the use of autologous viable fat in the treatment of primary vesico-renal reflux in children aged from 3 to 15 years. Fat harvesting was done from the medial side of the thigh by manual aspiration. Samples were centrifuged to purify the graft from blood and lipid. Lastly fat was injected beneath the pathologic ureter by a conventional endoscopic technique. A voiding cystourethrography (VCUG) closed the procedure. Follow-up included renal ultrasonography the day after surgery, and one and three months later. A VCUG was performed systematically at three months and, in cases of acute pyelonephritis, during the survey. Sixty-four children with 94 refluxing units were treated by autologous fat injection with a follow-up from 6 to 40 months. At the end of the procedure, we systematically obtained a very good increase in height of the pathologic meatus and VCUG was normal in all cases. None presented with an obstruction during the follow-up period. Two children presented with an acute pyelonephritis before the third month. At three months, VCUG was not realized in 14 cases (22%) because the parents refused the procedure. One of those children presented with an acute pyelonephritis five months after endoscopic treatment. VCUG was normal for 17 of 50 children (34%), and showed a real improvement for 19 other children (38%). Three children had a surgical reimplantation because of the persistence of an unchanged high-grade vesico-renal reflux; histological examination found viable adipocytes on sections of the distal pathologic ureter. Clinically, 11 children (17%) presented with an acute pyelonephritis after treatment at a mean follow-up time of 10 months. These preliminary findings led us to modify the technique in order to improve our results. Our first concern is feasibility and safety of this technique, regardless of the use of other synthetic bulking agents the innocuousness of which is uncertain.
An Unusual Cause of Intestinal Obstruction in an Adolescent: A Case Report
Authors: Yeung Victor Hip Wo , Chao Nicholas Sik-Yin , Leung Michael Wai-Yip , Kwok Wing-Kin
Published: March 2010

A 15-year-old boy presented with intestinal obstruction two weeks following a blunt abdominal trauma. He had progressive bilious vomiting without abdominal distension or peritonitis. The contrast computed tomography (CT) scan of the abdomen provided the definitive diagnosis: there was an obstructing duodenal hematoma, which might have been slowly progressing or have arisen from secondary hemorrhage after the initial injury. The boy remained stable over a ten-day period of conservative treatment, and his obstructive symptoms and signs were resolved completely. A follow-up CT scan of the abdomen (16 days after admission) showed an almost complete resolution of the hematoma. Delayed duodenal hematoma causing intestinal obstruction has been reported rarely in previous literature. Occasionally a significant secondary hemorrhage resulting in intestinal obstruction can become life threatening. Clinical follow-up is paramount after initial recovery. Although conservative treatment suffices in most cases, the surgeon should be wary of the need for definitive surgical intervention if there is evidence of ongoing acute hemorrhage or of the obstructing hematoma failing to resolve. Laparoscopic drainage of the hematoma provides optimistic results for patients failing conservative management.
Elements of Algebraic Geometry and the Positive Theory of Partially Commutative Groups
Authors: Casals-Ruiz Montserrat , Kazachkov Ilya V.
Published: March 2010

The first main result of the paper is a criterion for a partially commutative group 𝔾 to be a domain. It allows us to reduce the study of algebraic sets over 𝔾 to the study of irreducible algebraic sets, and reduce the elementary theory of 𝔾 (of a coordinate group over 𝔾) to the elementary theories of the direct factors of 𝔾 (to the elementary theory of coordinate groups of irreducible algebraic sets).

Then we establish normal forms for quantifier-free formulas over a non-abelian directly indecomposable partially commutative group ℍ. Analogously to the case of free groups, we introduce the notion of a generalised equation and prove that the positive theory of ℍ has quantifier elimination and that arbitrary first-order formulas lift from ℍ to ℍ * F, where F is a free group of finite rank. As a consequence, the positive theory of an arbitrary partially commutative group is decidable.
On Locally Uniformly Rotund Renormings in C(K) Spaces
Authors: Martínez J. F. , Moltó A. , Orihuela J. , Troyanski S.
Published: March 2010

A characterization of the Banach spaces of type C(K) that admit an equivalent locally uniformly rotund norm is obtained, and a method to apply it to concrete spaces is developed. As an application the existence of such renorming is deduced when K is a Namioka–Phelps compact or for some particular class of Rosenthal compacta, results which were originally proved with ad hoc methods.
„Gleichwertigkeit der Lebensverhältnisse” und Wirkungskräfte der Raumstrukturierung
Authors: Brake Klaus
Published: March 2010

Systematic changes in spatial structuring are eroding the habitual relationship between the place-based economy and low mobility. Sparsely settled areas with a new quality in the enlarged area of the Federal Republic of Germany and patterns of depopulation in the course of demographic change as well as an affinity to the urbanity of the knowledge economy are reinforcing unequal spatial development. This puts the traditional treatment of areas with low dynamics or sparse settlement massively into question and calls for a re-examination of expectations of justice.

A re-interpretation of “equivalent living conditions” must allow a treatment of more strongly differentiated conditions, which promises sustainable functioning spatial structures. The promise of appropriate working and living conditions for everyone where he is growing up must be substituted by his enablement to lead a life in keeping with the times, possibly elsewhere (equality of chances). For a participation in working life adapted activities must also promoted in areas with low dynamics or sparse settlement.

Instead of redistribution a self-responsible enablement is more strongly emphasised, but not as a relinquishment of common development and responsibility. Challenges and tasks (basic conditions/approaches) aim at an “infrastructure of enablement”, as far as feasible spatial roles, comprehensive communication, orientation (education) and co-operation are concerned.

The article advocates a reality-oriented and insofar future-oriented treatment of unequal living conditions instead of normative invocations. In view of a fundamentally more strongly segregating spatial structure, the tendentially uninhabited areas should remain less a taboo than be an incitement for new differentiation-, co-operation- or cohesion concepts, in order to meet also the fiction of “catching up in development” or factual “passive redevelopment”.
Anmerkungen zum Argument der Verantwortungsgemeinschaft
Authors: Zimmermann Horst
Published: March 2010

Policy and practice perspective
Standortverlagerungen des Lebensmitteleinzelhandels und ihre Folgen für die Nahversorgung
Authors: Baumgarten Marcus , Zehner Klaus
Published: March 2010

Policy and practice perspective
Fat‐Soluble Bioactives, Fatty Acid Profile and Radical Scavenging Activity of Semecarpus anacardium Seed Oil
Authors: Ramadan Mohamed Fawzy , Kinni S. G. , Seshagiri M. , Mörsel Jörg‐Thomas
Published: March 2010

Semecarpus anacardium (family Anacardiaceae) has many applications in the Ayurvedic and Siddha systems of medicine in India. Detailed knowledge on the composition of S. anacardium oil, in consideration of potential utilization, is of major importance. In this investigation, column chromatography, gas chromatography, thin layer chromatography and liquid chromatography techniques were performed to analyze lipid classes, fatty acids and fat‐soluble bioactives of S. anacardium crude seed oil. The amount of neutral lipids in the crude seed oil was the highest, followed by glycolipids and phospholipids, respectively. Linoleic followed by palmitic and oleic were the major fatty acids. The ratio of unsaturated fatty acids to saturated fatty acids was higher in neutral lipid classes than in the polar lipids. The main sterol compounds were β‐sitosterol, campesterol and stigmasterol. δ‐Tocopherol followed by β‐tocopherol were the main tocopherols. When S. anacardium seed oil and extra virgin olive oil were compared for their radical scavenging activity toward 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl radical and galvinoxyl radical (by electron spin resonance spectrometry), S. anacardium seed oil exhibited a stronger RSA.
Global Upper Ordovician correlation by means of δ13C chemostratigraphy: implications of the discovery of the Guttenberg δ13C excursion (GICE) in Malaysia
Authors: BERGSTRÖM STIG M. , AGEMATSU SACHIKO , SCHMITZ BIRGER
Published: March 2010

Apart from a single study of the early Katian δ13C chemostratigraphy in two regions in China, no investigations of the Sandbian and Katian chemostratigraphy have been published from anywhere in Asia. A recent study of the conodont biostratigraphy of the classical Ordovician succession on Langkawi Islands, peninsular Malaysia, showed the presence there of strata coeval with those having the Guttenberg Carbon Excursion (GICE) on the Yangtze Platform. In an effort to establish for the first time the presence of this widespread δ13C excursion in southern Asia, a series of samples from the upper part of the Kaki Bukit Formation was isotopically analysed. This resulted in the discovery of a conspicuous δ13C excursion with peak values of ~ 2 ‰ above the baseline values. The excursion is located just above theBaltoniodus alobatusSubzone and near the level of the first appearance ofHamarodus europaeus, hence the same stratigraphic position as the GICE on the Yangtze Platform. Using the GICE, the Malaysian study interval is closely correlated with the GICE intervals at three localities representing an approximately 23 000 km long transect from Malaysia across Baltoscandia to central North America. This shows the usefulness of δ13C chemostratigraphy to clarify previously obscure stratigraphic relationships between geographically very widely separated localities.
The Reformation of Hell? Protestant and Catholic Infernalisms in England,c.1560–1640
Authors: MARSHALL PETER
Published: March 2010

Despite a recent expansion of interest in the social history of death, there has been little scholarly examination of the impact of the Protestant Reformation on perceptions of and discourses about hell. Scholars who have addressed the issue tend to conclude that Protestant and Catholic hells differed little from each other in the Elizabethan and early Stuart periods. This article undertakes a comparative analysis of printed English-language sources, and finds significant disparities on questions such as the location of hell and the nature of hell-fire. It argues that such divergences were polemically driven, but none the less contributed to the so-called ‘decline of hell’.
Can swell increase the number of freak waves in a wind sea?
Authors: GRAMSTAD ODIN , TRULSEN KARSTEN
Published: March 2010

The effect of a swell on the statistical distribution of a directional short-wave field is investigated. Starting from Zakharov's spectral formulation, we derive a new modified nonlinear Schrödinger equation appropriate for the nonlinear evolution of a narrow-banded spectrum of short waves influenced by a swell. The swell-modified equation is solved analytically to yield an extended version of the result of Longuet-Higgins & Stewart (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 8, no. 4, 1960, pp. 565–583) for the modulation of a short wave riding on a longer wave. Numerical Monte Carlo simulations of the long-term evolution of a spectrum of short waves in the presence of a monochromatic swell are employed to extract statistical distributions of freak waves among the short waves. We find evidence that a realistic short-crested wind sea can on average experience a small increase in freak wave probability because of a swell provided the swell is not orthogonal to the wind waves. For orthogonal swell and wind waves we find evidence that there is almost no significant change in the probability of freak waves in the wind sea. If the short waves are unrealistically long crested, such that the Benjamin–Feir index serves as indicator for freak waves (Gramstad & Trulsen, J. Fluid Mech., vol. 582, 2007, pp. 463–472), it appears that the swell has much smaller relative influence on the probability of freak waves than in the short-crested case.
Heart rate and blood pressure effects during caloric vestibular testing
Authors: Kasbekar A V , Baguley D M , Knight R , Gomersall P , Parker R , Lloyd S W K , Butler K , Dutka D P
Published: March 2010

Objectives:

To determine whether the caloric vestibular test causes significant changes in heart rate and mean arterial blood pressure.

Materials and methods:

Changes in heart rate and mean arterial blood pressure before and after caloric irrigation were compared with the degree of nystagmus (as measured by maximum slow phase velocity) and the patient's subjective dizziness (scored from 0 to 10). A cardiologist reviewed each patient's heart rate and mean arterial blood pressure changes. Patients' anxiety levels were also assessed.

Results:

Eighteen patients were recruited. There were no adverse events in any patient. There were no overall significant differences between the heart rate and mean arterial pressure before and after each irrigation. There was a significant correlation between the maximum slow phase velocity and patients' subjective dizziness scores.

Conclusion:

Heart rate and mean arterial blood pressure are not significantly influenced by the caloric vestibular test. This preliminary study will enable patients with stable cardiovascular disease to be recruited for further risk determination.
Techniques for early diagnosis and management of cervicofacial necrotising fasciitis
Authors: Lee J W , Immerman S B , Morris L G T
Published: March 2010

Background:

Cervicofacial necrotising fasciitis carries high rates of morbidity and mortality, and is not often initially suspected due to its rarity and misleadingly innocuous presentation. We propose an algorithm for the timely diagnosis and management of cervicofacial necrotising fasciitis.

Methods:

Retrospective review of seven patients ultimately diagnosed with cervicofacial necrotising fasciitis.

Results:

In these seven patients, common presenting symptoms included sore throat, fever and neck pain. On initial examination and imaging, only three had obvious findings. One patient's diagnosis was facilitated via a bedside cut-down procedure. Six patients underwent surgical debridement. Four required tracheotomy, and five wounds closed via secondary intention. There were two deaths.

Conclusion:

The severity of cervical necrotising fasciitis and its rapid spread necessitate early diagnosis and timely surgical management. The presentation often appears benign. A high index of clinical suspicion should be maintained in cases of neck cellulitis with nonspecific clinical findings, especially in diabetic or otherwise immunocompromised patients. A normal computed tomography scan does not rule out necrotising fasciitis. A cut-down procedure may be critical to early diagnosis in some cases.
The Soccer-Fun project
Authors: ACHTEN PETER
Published: March 2010

In the Soccer-Fun, students program the brains of football players in a functional language. Soccer-Fun has been developed for an introductory course in functional programming at the Radboud University Nijmegen, The Netherlands. We have used Soccer-Fun in teaching during the past four years. We have also experience in using Soccer-Fun for pupils in secondary education. Soccer-Fun is stimulating because it is about a well-known problem domain. It engages students to problem solving with functional programming because it allows them to compete at several disciplines: the best performing football team becomes the champion of a tournament; the best written code is awarded with a prize; students are judged on the algorithms used. This enables every student to participate and perform at her favorite skill. Soccer-Fun is implemented in Clean and uses its GUI toolkit Object I/O for rendering. It can be implemented in any functional programming language that supports some kind of windowing toolkit.
Historical and current distribution, population size and possible migration routes of the Blue Swallow Hirundo atrocaerulea in Africa
Authors: EVANS STEVEN W. , BOUWMAN H.
Published: March 2010

The Blue Swallow Hirundo atrocaerulea is restricted to sub-Saharan Africa, its population size previously estimated at fewer than 1,500 pairs, and is classified as Vulnerable. A better understanding of its current distributional range, population size, protection status and migration routes would improve our ability to conserve the species and the grassland and wetland habitat on which it depends. We now estimate that the Blue Swallow population in the 1850s may have numbered between 1,560 and 2,300 pairs. Based on an assessment of available data, we now estimate the total current Blue Swallow population at 1,006 pairs or 2,012 individuals, an estimated 36–56% decline over the last 150 years. There may be three separate Blue Swallow sub-populations and seven separate migratory routes between their breeding and non-breeding grounds. The Blue Swallow’s range in South Africa and Swaziland has contracted by 74%. The majority of Blue Swallows occupy unprotected areas on their non-breeding grounds in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and Kenya. The Blue Swallow population in Africa will continue to decline unless the causes of reduction in Blue Swallow habitat quantity and quality can be stopped and sufficient and additional habitat set aside to sustain viable Blue Swallow populations throughout their range.
Population viability analysis and conservation of Chinese Grouse Bonasa sewerzowi in Lianhuashan Nature Reserve, north-west China
Authors: LU NAN , SUN YUE-HUA
Published: March 2010

Chinese Grouse Bonasa sewerzowi is threatened by human activity, especially during the breeding season, in the Lianhuashan Mountains, Gansu Province, north-western China. We conducted a series of simulations on the viability of this population using the computer program VORTEX. The simulations suggested that the population had an extinction probability of 17% in 100 years using data gathered from current field work. Sensitivity analysis revealed that the predicted population trend was most sensitive to chick mortality, offspring per female per year, and adult male mortality. The first two parameters are correlated with human activity such as nest loss due to egg collecting by local people. When we set initial population size to the same size as carrying capacity, 2,500 individuals would constitute a minimum viable population (MVP). This would require a forest area of about 3,780 ha, which is smaller than the size of the Lianhuashan reserve, but the current population does not constitute an MVP due to the small initial population size. Furthermore, we found that if chick mortality declined by 5% or the number of offspring produced per female increased by 5% (i.e. reducing nest loss) under the current situation, local reserve size and current population would constitute an MVP. Therefore, the most practical and simple conservation management tool would be to increase the breeding success of Chinese Grouse, especially by limiting human activity during the incubation period.
Neuropsychological deficits associated with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
Authors: LIBON DAVID J. , SCHWARTZMAN ROBERT J. , EPPIG JOEL , WAMBACH DENENE , BRAHIN ERIC , LEE PETERLIN B. , ALEXANDER GUILLERMO , KALANURIA ATUL
Published: March 2010

We sought to elucidate the existence of neuropsychological subtypes in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). One hundred thirty seven patients with CRPS were administered tests that assess executive control, naming/lexical retrieval, and declarative memory. A 2-step cluster analysis that does not require any a priori specification regarding the number of clusters, classified patients into three groups. Group 1 obtained scores that were in the average range on all tests (n = 48; normal CRSP group). Group 2 (n = 58; dysexecutive CRSP group) presented with mild impairment or statistically low average test performance on working memory/verbal fluency tests. Group 3 (n = 31; global CRSP group) produced scores in the statistically low average/borderline range on all tests with particularly reduced scores on naming/declarative memory tests. Between-group analyses found that the CRPS group 1 obtained higher scores than CRPS groups 2 and 3 on all tests. However, groups 2 and 3 were equally impaired on executive tests. CRPS group 3 was impaired on tests of naming/memory tests compared to the other groups. Significant neuropsychological deficits are present in 65% of patients, with many patients presenting with elements of a dysexecutive syndrome and some patients presenting with global cognitive impairment. (JINS, 2010, 16, 566–573.)
Carbon cost of plant nitrogen acquisition: A mechanistic, globally applicable model of plant nitrogen uptake, retranslocation, and fixation
Authors: Fisher J. B. , Sitch S. , Malhi Y. , Fisher R. A. , Huntingford C. , Tan S.‐Y.
Published: March 2010

Nitrogen (N) generally limits plant growth and controls biosphere responses to climate change. We introduce a new mathematical model of plant N acquisition, called Fixation and Uptake of Nitrogen (FUN), based on active and passive soil N uptake, leaf N retranslocation, and biological N fixation. This model is unified under the theoretical framework of carbon (C) cost economics, or resource optimization. FUN specifies C allocated to N acquisition as well as remaining C for growth, or N‐limitation to growth. We test the model with data from a wide range of sites (observed versus predicted N uptake r2 is 0.89, and RMSE is 0.003 kg N m−2·yr−1). Four model tests are performed: (1) fixers versus nonfixers under primary succession; (2) response to N fertilization; (3) response to CO2 fertilization; and (4) changes in vegetation C from potential soil N trajectories for five DGVMs (HYLAND, LPJ, ORCHIDEE, SDGVM, and TRIFFID) under four IPCC scenarios. Nonfixers surpass the productivity of fixers after ∼150–180 years in this scenario. FUN replicates the N uptake response in the experimental N fertilization from a modeled N fertilization. However, FUN cannot replicate the N uptake response in the experimental CO2 fertilization from a modeled CO2 fertilization; nonetheless, the correct response is obtained when differences in root biomass are included. Finally, N‐limitation decreases biomass by 50 Pg C on average globally for the DGVMs. We propose this model as being suitable for inclusion in the new generation of Earth system models that aim to describe the global N cycle.
Midlatitude summer nighttime anomaly of the ionospheric electron density observed by FORMOSAT‐3/COSMIC
Authors: Lin C. H. , Liu C. H. , Liu J. Y. , Chen C. H. , Burns A. G. , Wang W.
Published: March 2010

This paper presents monthly variations of the midlatitude summer nighttime anomaly (MSNA) of the ionosphere for the first time by global observations of the FORMOSAT‐3/COSMIC (F3/C) mission. The anomaly is characterized by the greater nighttime (1800 LT ∼ 0200 LT) ionospheric electron density than during daytime (0800 ∼ 1800 LT) at middle latitudes during months around June and December solstices. The anomaly shown during December solstice was known as the Weddell Sea Anomaly (WSA) occurring around the Antarctica and nearby the Pacific Ocean. This paper demonstrates that the WSA‐like feature also exists in the Northern Hemisphere and is most prominent near the Northeast Asia, Europe/Africa, and Central Pacific longitudes around June solstice. In both hemispheres, the anomalies with similar electron density characteristics and variations caused by the similar mechanism prompts us to name this phenomenon the MSNA. The monthly F3/C observations indicate that the anomaly appears as the most prominent structure of the global ionosphere around midnight hours.
Chemical state estimation for the middle atmosphere by four‐dimensional variational data assimilation: System configuration
Authors: Elbern H. , Schwinger J. , Botchorishvili R.
Published: March 2010

A novel stratospheric chemical data assimilation system has been developed and applied to Environmental Satellite Michelson Interferometer for Passive Atmospheric Sounding (ENVISAT/MIPAS) data, aiming to combine the sophistication of the four‐dimensional variational (4D‐var) technique with flow‐dependent covariance modeling and also to improve numerical performance. The system is tailored for operational stratospheric chemistry state monitoring. The atmospheric model of the assimilation system includes a state‐of‐the‐art stratospheric chemistry transport module along with its adjoint and the German weather service's global meteorological forecast model, providing meteorological parameters. Both models share the same grid and same advection time step, to ensure dynamic consistency without spatial and temporal interpolation errors. A notable numerical efficiency gain is obtained through an icosahedral grid. As a novel feature in stratospheric variational data assimilation a special focus was placed on an optimal spatial exploitation of satellite data by dynamic formulation of the forecast error covariance matrix, providing potential vorticity controlled anisotropic and inhomogeneous influence radii. In this first part of the study the design and numerical features of the data assimilation system is presented, along with analyses of two case studies and a posteriori validation. Assimilated data include retrievals of O3, CH4, N2O, NO2, HNO3, and water vapor. The analyses are compared with independent observations provided by Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment II (SAGE II) and Halogen Occultation Experiment (HALOE) retrievals. It was found that there are marked improvements for both analyses and assimilation based forecasts when compared with control model runs without any data ingestion.
Changes in soil water dynamics due to variation in precipitation and temperature: An ecohydrological analysis in a tallgrass prairie
Authors: Bell Jesse E. , Sherry Rebecca , Luo Yiqi
Published: March 2010

There is considerable evidence that future global climate change will increase temperature and alter precipitation regime. To better understand how these factors will influence soil water dynamics, it is imperative to use multifactorial experiments. A 1 year “pulse” experiment, with 4°C warming and a doubling in precipitation, was performed to evaluate the changes in soil moisture dynamics. Frequency distribution analyses of soil moisture and soil temperature were used to explore the consequences of climate change on ecohydrological processes at different soil depths. There was a decrease in soil moisture frequency from 0 to 120 cm in both warming and warming with increased precipitation experiments. Different soil depths had similar patterns of change in soil moisture and soil temperature frequency. Additionally, we correlated evapotranspiration and soil moisture to look at changes in evapotranspiration from the wilting point (Ew) to maximum evapotranspiration (Emax). These results revealed a shift in the slope and position of Ew to Emax with experimental warming. Our results showed that the soil moisture dynamics and the ecohydrology were changed by different global climate change scenarios. Understanding the effects of global warming on soil moisture dynamics will be critical for predicting changes in ecosystem level processes.
Structural basis of wedging the Golgi membrane by FAPP pleckstrin homology domains
Authors: Lenoir Marc , Coskun Ünal , Grzybek Michal , Cao Xinwang , Buschhorn Sabine B , James Jonathan , Simons Kai , Overduin Michael
Published: March 2010

The mechanisms underlying Golgi targeting and vesiculation are unknown, although the responsible phosphatidylinositol 4‐phosphate (PtdIns(4)P) ligand and four‐phosphate‐adaptor protein (FAPP) modules have been defined. The micelle‐bound structure of the FAPP1 pleckstrin homology domain reveals how its prominent wedge independently tubulates Golgi membranes by leaflet penetration. Mutations compromising the exposed hydrophobicity of full‐length FAPP2 abolish lipid monolayer binding and compression. The trafficking process begins with an electrostatic approach, phosphoinositide sampling and perpendicular penetration. Extensive protein contacts with PtdIns(4)P and neighbouring phospholipids reshape the bilayer and initiate tubulation through a conserved wedge with features shared by diverse protein modules.
C-terminal domain phosphorylation of ERK3 controlled by Cdk1 and Cdc14 regulates its stability in mitosis
Authors: Tanguay Pierre-Luc , Rodier Geneviève , Meloche Sylvain
Published: March 2010

ERK3 (extracellular-signal-regulated kinase 3) is an atypical MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) that is suggested to play a role in cell-cycle progression and cellular differentiation. However, it is not known whether the function of ERK3 is regulated during the cell cycle. In the present paper, we report that ERK3 is stoichiometrically hyperphosphorylated during entry into mitosis and is dephosphorylated at the M→G1 transition. The phosphorylation of ERK3 is associated with the accumulation of the protein in mitosis. In vitro phosphorylation of a series of ERK3-deletion mutants by mitotic cell extracts revealed that phosphorylation is confined to the unique C-terminal extension of the protein. Using MS analysis, we identified four novel phosphorylation sites, Ser684, Ser688, Thr698 and Ser705, located at the extreme C-terminus of ERK3. All four sites are followed by a proline residue. We have shown that purified cyclin B-Cdk1 (cyclindependent kinase 1) phosphorylates these sites in vitro and demonstrate that Cdk1 acts as a major Thr698 kinase in vivo. Reciprocally, we found that the phosphatases Cdc14A and Cdc14B (Cdc is cell-division cycle) bind to ERK3 and reverse its C-terminal phosphorylation in mitosis. Importantly, alanine substitution of the four C-terminal phosphorylation sites markedly decreased the half-life of ERK3 in mitosis, thereby linking phosphorylation to the stabilization of the kinase. The results of the present study identify a novel regulatory mechanism of ERK3 that operates in a cell-cycle-dependent manner.
Le syndrome d’apnée hypopnée
obstructive du sommeil
Authors: Sorel Olivier , Garcia Robert , Fauquet Roure Coralie , Fleury Bernard , Petelle Boris , Viencent Gerard , Meyer Bernard
Published: March 2010

Le syndrome d’apnées hypopnées obstructives du sommeil (SAHOS) est caractérisé par la
répétition d’occlusions pharyngées complètes (apnée) ou incomplètes (hypopnées). Les
conséquences multiviscérales du SAHOS sont aujourd’hui mieux connues. Aux côtés des
troubles de la vigilance diurnes qui furent les premiers identifiés, se sont rangées les complications
cardio-vasculaires, l’hypertension artérielle systémique se plaçant au premier rang
d’entre elles, mais aussi rénales ou même, plus récemment hépatiques.
Le SAHOS est dû à une obturation des voies aériennes supérieures, résultat d’un déséquilibre
entre la force de succion respiratoire et la compensation des muscles dilatateurs pharyngés.
Le diagnostic positif est établi grâce à un examen polygraphique nocturne qui définit les
caractéristiques et la sévérité de la maladie.
La ventilation en pression positive continue (VPPC) s’est progressivement imposée comme
le traitement de référence de cette maladie.
Moins contraignante que la VPPC, l’orthèse d’avancée mandibulaire permet de réduire de
façon mécanique les résistances aériennes grâce à l’élargissement pharyngé au niveau rétrobasilingual
et vélaire.
La chirurgie d’avancée maxillo-mandibulaire est la seule solution chirurgicale réellement
efficace. Elle doit être réservée à des patients symptomatiques refusant la VPPC ou l’orthèse.
C’est dans le cadre d’une consultation pluridisciplinaire que l’orientation thérapeutique
est prise. L’orthodontiste a son rôle à jouer dans les protocoles chirurgico-orthodontiques
mais aussi dans l’indication, la pose et le suivi des orthèses d’avancée mandibulaire.
L’orthodontiste
face aux maladies professionnelles
Authors: Matern Olivier , Mathis Rémy , Raymond Jean-Louis
Published: March 2010

La bonne compréhension de la nature, des mécanismes et de la prévalence des maladies
professionnelles est indispensable à la mise en oeuvre de certaines mesures préventives. À partir
d’une revue détaillée de la littérature et d’une enquête réalisée au sein de la profession, cet
article a pour but non seulement de faire le point sur les risques et maladies pouvant être liés
à notre exercice, mais aussi de souligner tout l’intérêt de l’application de mesures préventives
adéquates. Notre enquête a montré que 71 % des orthodontistes sondés déclarent avoir souffert
et/ou souffrir d’un trouble en rapport avec l’exercice de leur profession, et parmi eux, les
troubles musculo-squelettiques semblent être les plus fréquents. Outre ces troubles, le risque
professionnel le plus sérieux impliqué par la pratique de l’Orthopédie Dento-Faciale semble
être lié à l’usage de résines acryliques et composites pouvant provoquer des réactions d’hypersensibilité
après contact dermique, et nous ne pouvons que rappeler les mesures préventives
indispensables que sont le port de gants, masques et lunettes de protection.