bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gender‐specific effect of smoking on upper tract urothelial carcinoma outcomes
Authors: Rink Michael , Xylinas Evanguelos , Trinh Quoc‐Dien , Lotan Yair , Margulis Vitaly , Raman Jay D. , Fisch Margit , Lee Richard K. , Chun Felix K. , Abdennabi Joual , Seitz Christian , Pycha Armin , Zlotta Alexandre R. , Karakiewicz Pierre I. , Babjuk Marko , Scherr Douglas S. , Shariat Shahrokh F. ,   Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma Collaboration (UTUCC)
Published: March 2013

Objective

To evaluate the gender‐specific differential effects of smoking habits and cumulative smoking exposure on outcomes in patients with upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) treated with radical nephroureterectomy (RNU).

Patients and Methods

A total of 864 consecutive patients, comprising 553 (64%) men and 311 (36%) women, from five international institutions underwent RNU without neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Smoking history included smoking status (current, former or never), quantity of cigarettes per day (CPD), smoking duration in years and years since smoking cessation. Cumulative smoking exposure was categorized as light short‐term (≤19 CPD and ≤19.9 years), moderate (all combinations except light short‐term and heavy long‐term), and heavy long‐term (≥20 CPD and ≥20 years).

Uni‐ and multivariable competing risk regression models were used to assess the associations with outcomes.

Results

Overall, 244 (28.2%), 297 (34.4%) and 323 (37.4%) patients were never, former and current smokers, respectively.

There were no differences in smoking status, quantity and duration between the genders.

In female ever smokers, 30 (9.6%), 121 (38.9%) and 67 (21.5%) were light short‐term, moderate and heavy long‐term smokers, respectively. Compared with men, female current smokers were more likely to experience disease recurrence in univariable analysis (P = 0.013).

In heavy long‐term smokers, female gender was significantly associated with disease recurrence (hazard ratio [HR] 1.7; P = 0.03) and cancer‐specific mortality (HR 2.0; P = 0.009) in multivariable analysis that adjusted for standard clinico‐pathological features.

In female patients only, smoking quantity, duration and cumulative exposure were associated with disease recurrence and cancer‐specific mortality on multivariable analyses (P ≤ 0.025).

Conclusions

The impact of smoking on UTUC outcomes after RNU is gender‐specific.

Females who are current and heavy long‐term smokers experience worse outcomes than their male counterparts.

Further research is needed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the gender‐specific differential effect of smoking on UTUC outcomes.
Impact of the European Randomized Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer (ERSPC) on prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) testing by Dutch general practitioners
Authors: Van der Meer Saskia , Kollen Boudewijn J. , Hirdes Willem H. , Steffens Martijn G. , Hoekstra‐Weebers Josette E.H.M. , Nijman Rien M. , Blanker Marco H.
Published: March 2013

Objective

To determine the impact of the European Randomized Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer (ERSPC) publication in 2009 on prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) level testing by Dutch general practitioners (GPs) in men aged ≥40 years.

Materials and Methods

Retrospective study with a Dutch insurance company database (containing PSA test claims) and a large district hospital‐laboratory database (containing PSA‐test results).

The difference in primary PSA‐testing rate as well as follow‐up testing before and after the ERSPC was tested using the chi‐square test with statistical significance at P < 0.05.

Results

Decline in PSA tests 4 months after ERSPC publication, especially for men aged ≥60 years.

Primary testing as well as follow‐up testing decreased, both for PSA levels of <4 ng/mL as well as for PSA levels of 4–10 ng/mL.

Follow‐up testing after a PSA level result of >10 ng/mL moderately increased (P = 0.171).

Referral to a urologist after a PSA level result of >4 ng/mL decreased slightly after the ERSPC publication (P = 0.044).

Conclusions

After the ERSPC publication primary PSA testing as well as follow‐up testing decreased.

Follow‐up testing seemed not to be adequate after an abnormal PSA result. The reasons for this remain unclear.
A GPR18‐based signalling system regulates IOP in murine eye
Authors: Caldwell Meggie D. , Hu Sherry Shu‐Jung , Viswanathan Suresh , Bradshaw Heather , Kelly Melanie EM , Straiker Alex
Published: March 2013

Background and Purpose

GPR18 is a recently deorphaned lipid receptor that is activated by the endogenous lipid N‐arachidonoyl glycine (NAGly) as well the behaviourally inactive atypical cannabinoid, abnormal cannabidiol (Abn‐CBD). The presence and/or function of any GPR18‐based ocular signalling system remain essentially unstudied. The objectives of this research are: (i) to determine the disposition of GPR18 receptors and ligands in anterior murine eye, (ii) examine the effect of GPR18 activation on intraocular pressure (IOP) in a murine model, including knockout mice for CB1, CB2 and GPR55.

Experimental Approach

IOP was measured in mice following topical application of Abn‐CBD, NAGly or the GPR55/GPR18 agonist O‐1602, alone or with injection of the GPR18 antagonist, O‐1918. GPR18 protein localization was assessed with immunohistochemistry. Endocannabinoids were measured using LC/MS‐MS.

Key Results

GPR18 protein was expressed most prominently in the ciliary epithelium and the corneal epithelium and, interestingly, in the trabecular meshwork. The GPR18 ligand, NAGly, was also detected in mouse eye at a level comparable to that seen in the brain. Abn‐CBD and NAGly, but not O‐1602, significantly reduced IOP in all mice tested. The antagonist, O‐1918, blocked the effects of Abn‐CBD and NAGly.

Conclusions and Implications

We present evidence for a functional GPR18‐based signalling system in the murine anterior eye, including receptors and ligands. GPR18 agonists, Abn‐CBD and NAGly, reduce IOP independently of CB1, CB2 or GPR55. These findings suggest that GPR18 may serve as a desirable target for the development of novel ocular hypotensive medications.

Linked Articles

This article is part of a themed section on Cannabinoids. To view the other articles in this section visit http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bph.2013.169.issue‐4 & http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bph.2012.167.issue‐8
Does Aluminium Bind to Histidine? An NMR Investigation of Amyloid β12 and Amyloid β16 Fragments
Authors: Narayan Priya , Krishnarjuna Bankala , Vishwanathan Vinaya , Jagadeesh Kumar Dasappa , Babu Sudhir , Ramanathan Krishna Venkatachala , Easwaran Kalpathy Ramaier Katchap , Nagendra Holenarasipur GunduRao , Raghothama Srinivasarao
Published: March 2013

Aluminium and zinc are known to be the major triggering agents for aggregation of amyloid peptides leading to plaque formation in Alzheimer's disease. While zinc binding to histidine in Aβ (amyloid β) fragments has been implicated as responsible for aggregation, not much information is available on the interaction of aluminium with histidine. In the NMR study of the N‐terminal Aβ fragments, DAEFRHDSGYEV (Aβ12) and DAEFRHDSGYEVHHQK (Aβ16) presented here, the interactions of the fragments with aluminium have been investigated. Significant chemical shifts were observed for few residues near the C‐terminus when aluminium chloride was titrated with Aβ12 and Aβ16 peptides. Surprisingly, it is nonhistidine residues which seem to be involved in aluminium binding. Based on NMR constrained structure obtained by molecular modelling, aluminium‐binding pockets in Aβ12 were around charged residues such as Asp, Glu. The results are discussed in terms of native structure propagation, and the relevance of histidine residues in the sequences for metal‐binding interactions. We expect that the study of such short amyloid peptide fragments will not only provide clues for plaque formation in aggregated conditions but also facilitate design of potential drugs for these targets.
Update on the Child's Challenging Behaviour Scale following evaluation using Rasch analysis
Authors: Bourke‐Taylor H. M. , Pallant J. F. , Law M.
Published: March 2013

Background

The Child's Challenging Behaviour Scale (CCBS) was designed to measure a mother's rating of her child's challenging behaviours. The CCBS was initially developed for mothers of school‐aged children with developmental disability and has previously been shown to have good psychometric properties using classical test theory techniques. The aim of this study was to use Rasch analysis to fully evaluate all aspects of the scale, including response format, item fit, dimensionality and targeting.

Methods

The sample consisted of 152 mothers of a school‐aged child (aged 5–18 years) with a disability. Mothers were recruited via websites and mail‐out newsletters through not‐for‐profit organizations that supported families with disabilities. Respondents completed a survey which included the 11 items of the CCBS. Rasch analysis was conducted on these responses using the RUMM2030 package.

Results

Rasch analysis of the CCBS revealed serious threshold disordering for nine of the 11 items, suggesting problems with the 5‐point response format used for the scale. The neutral midpoint of the response format was subsequently removed to create a 4‐point scale. High levels of local dependency were detected among two pairs of items, resulting in the removal of two items (item 7 and item 1). The final nine‐item version of the scale (CCBS Version 2) was unidimensional, well targeted, showed good fit to the Rasch model, and strong internal consistency.

Conclusions

To achieve fit to the Rasch model it was necessary to make two modifications to the CCBS scale. The resulting nine‐item scale with a 4‐point response format showed excellent psychometric properties, supporting its internal validity.
Community‐based healthcare costs for children born low birthweight, preterm and/or small for gestational age: data from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children
Authors: Westrupp E. M. , Lucas N. , Mensah F. K. , Gold L. , Wake M. , Nicholson J. M
Published: March 2013

Aim

Children born low birthweight, preterm and/or small for gestational age (SGA) sustain substantially increased costs for hospital‐based health care and additional educational support in the first few years of life. This is the first study internationally to investigate costs beyond hospital care, to community‐based health care and prescription medicines across early and middle childhood with actual cost data, and to examine these costs according to the severity of perinatal risk.

Method

In the prospective Longitudinal Study of Australian Children, we followed two cohorts of children from age of 0 to 5 years (no increased perinatal risk, n = 3973; mild risk, n = 442; and moderate‐to‐high risk, n = 297), and from age of 4 to 9 years (no increased perinatal risk, n = 3629; mild risk, n = 465; and moderate‐to‐high risk, n = 361). Children were defined as mild risk if born 32–36 weeks, with birthweight 1500–2499 g, and/or SGA (<5–9th percentile), and moderate‐to‐high risk if born <32 weeks, birthweight <1500 g and/or extremely SGA (<5th percentile). Federal government expenditure (2011 $AUD) on healthcare attendances and prescription medication from birth to 9 years were calculated via data linkage to the Australian Medicare records.

Results

Mean costs per child were A$362 higher (95% CI $156; 568) from 0 to 5 years and A$306 higher (95% CI $137; 475) from 4 to 9 years, for children with any compared with no increased perinatal risk (P < 0.001). At the population level, an additional A$32m was spent per year for children 0–9 years with any relative to no increased perinatal risk.

Conclusions

Perinatal risk is a major public health issue conferring considerable additional expense to community‐based health care, most marked in the first year of life but persisting up to at least 10 years. Even without additionally considering burden, these findings add to the urgency of identifying effective mechanisms to reduce perinatal risk across its full spectrum.
Resisting your good intentions: substance‐misusing parents and early intervention to support and monitor children in need
Authors: Barnard Marina , Bain Carole
Published: March 2013

Children from substance‐misusing families face elevated risks in growing up well and safe. Early intervention is an opportunity for local authorities to offer support and keep a watching brief on children's welfare. However, the basis upon which agencies voluntarily engage with families in advance of major problems becoming evident is far from straightforward. This qualitative pilot study in Scotland followed professional decision‐making over 6 months (n = 20 professionals) with a small number of families (n = 6) defined as in need of supportive intervention. This support was allied with an intention to monitor the family situation, which, in these data, appeared to affect the willingness of families to engage with services. As services sought to increase their voluntary oversight, sometimes by threatening escalating involvement, so families by various means appeared to resist it. Successful early intervention is reliant on voluntary family participation and thus requires close attention to means of positive and motivated parental engagement to disarm resistance.
Opsismodysplasia: implications of mutations in the developmental gene INPPL1
Authors: Chai ECC , Singaraja RR
Published: March 2013

Whole‐genome analysis reveals that mutations in inositol polyphosphate phosphatase‐like 1 cause opsismodysplasia

Below et al. (2013)

American Journal of Human Genetics, 92(1): 137–143.

Exome sequencing identifies INPPL1 mutations as a cause of opsismodysplasia

Huber et al. (2013)

American Journal of Human Genetics, 92(1): 144–149.
Acral hemosideric lymphatic malformation
Authors: Wang Lei , Gao Tianwen , Wang Gang
Published: March 2013

Background

Cutaneous lymphatic malformations represent a group of heterogeneous diseases caused by developmental defects of lymphatic system.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to report the clinical, histopathological and immunohistochemical features of a distinctive lymphatic malformation.

Methods

Twelve patients with similar clinical and histopathological features were included in this study. Immunohistochemical staining of CD31, D2‐40, Prox1 and Wilms tumor 1 (WT‐1) were performed on all lesions.

Results

All cases were either congenital lesions or developed during the first 2 years of life. All presented as red to brown papules or nodules on acral sites. Histopathologically, the lesions consisted of a dermal proliferation of flat or slit‐like vessels lined with a single layer of endothelial cells. Hemosiderin or extravascular red blood cells were present in all cases. The constituent vessels expressed CD31, D2‐40 and Prox1 and lacked expression of WT‐1.

Conclusion

On the basis of the clinical, histopathological and immunohistochemical findings, our cases represent a unique type of lymphatic malformation that we believe is distinct from previously reported vascular proliferations. We propose the name of acral hemosideric lymphatic malformation for this entity.
Diagnostic terminology for urinary cytology reports including the new subcategories ‘atypical urothelial cells of undetermined significance’ (AUC‐US) and ‘cannot exclude high grade’ (AUC‐H)
Authors: Piaton E. , Decaussin‐Petrucci M. , Mege‐Lechevallier F. , Advenier A.‐S. , Devonec M. , Ruffion A.
Published: March 2013

Objective

We studied whether atypical, non‐superficial urothelial cells (AUC) could be separated into new subcategories including AUC ‘of undetermined significance’ (AUC‐US) and ‘cannot exclude high grade’’ (AUC‐H) in order to help to standardize urine cytopathology reports, as it is widely accepted in the Bethesda system for gynaecological cytopathology.

Methods

We investigated whether AUC‐US and AUC‐H, defined by distinctive cytological criteria, might be separated with statistical significance according to actual diagnosis and follow‐up data. A series of 534 cyto‐histological comparisons taken in 139 patients, including 221 AUC at various steps of their clinical history was studied. There were 513 (96.1%) postcystoscopy and 469 (87.8%) ThinPrep® liquid‐based specimens (95.9% and 89.1% of AUC cases, respectively). Patients viewed between 1999 and 2011 had histological control in a 0‐ to 6‐months delay and were followed‐up during an additional 5.9 ± 9.2 (0‐ to 56‐) months period.

Results

The 221 AUC represented 0.8–2% of the specimens viewed during the study period. Among AUC‐H cases, 70 out of 185 (37.8%) matched with high‐grade lesions, compared with 3 of 38 (8.3%) of AUC‐US cases (P = 0.0003). Conservatively treated patients with AUC‐H more frequently developed high‐grade lesions than those with AUC‐US (54.1% versus 16.7%, P = 0.0007) with a 17.6‐months mean delay. Nuclear hyperchromasia, a nuclear to cytoplasm (N/C) ratio > 0.7 and the combination of both were the more informative diagnostic criteria, all with P < 0.01.

Conclusion

We conclude that the new subcategories could help to standardize urine cytopathology reports and contribute to the patient's management, provided it is validated by multicentric studies.
Validation of the Focus on the Outcomes of Communication under Six outcome measure
Authors: Thomas‐Stonell Nancy , Oddson Bruce , Robertson Bernadette , Rosenbaum Peter
Published: March 2013

Aim

The aim of this study was to establish the construct validity of the Focus on the Outcomes of Communication Under Six (FOCUS©),a tool designed to measure changes in communication skills in preschool children.

Method

Participating families' children (n=97; 68 males, 29 females; mean age 2y 8mo; SD 1.04y, range 10mo–4y 11mo) were recruited through eight Canadian organizations. The children were on a waiting list for speech and language intervention. Parents completed the Ages and Stages Questionnaire – Social/Emotional (ASQ‐SE) and the FOCUS three times: at assessment and at the start and end of treatment. A second sample (n=28; 16 males 12 females) was recruited from another organization to correlate the FOCUS scores with speech, intelligibility and language measures. Second sample participants ranged in age from 3 years 1 month to 4 years 9 months (mean 3y 11mo; SD 0.41y). At the start and end of treatment, children were videotaped to obtain speech and language samples. Parents and speech–language pathologists (SLPs) independently completed the FOCUS tool. SLPs who were blind to the pre/post order of the videotapes analysed the samples.

Results

The FOCUS measured significantly more change (p<0.01) during treatment than during the waiting list period. It demonstrated both convergent and discriminant validity against the ASQ‐SE. The FOCUS change corresponded to change measured by a combination of clinical speech and language measures (κ=0.31, p<0.05).

Conclusion

The FOCUS shows strong construct validity as a change‐detecting instrument.
Psychometric properties of the Greek version of the Toronto Composite Empathy Scale in Greek dental students
Authors: Tsiantou D. , Lazaridou D. , Coolidge T. , Arapostathis K. N. , Kotsanos N.
Published: March 2013

Introduction

Empathy levels of health practitioners are related to patient satisfaction and treatment outcomes. The Toronto Composite Empathy Scale (TCES) was recently developed to assess cognitive and emotional empathy levels in both professional and personal spheres, and tested in an English‐speaking sample of dental students. The aim of this study was to examine the psychometrics of the Greek version of the TCES.

Materials and Methods

The TCES was translated into Greek and administered to all of the dental students at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. A random subset of students completed the questionnaire twice for test–retest analysis.

Results

Nearly all (96.5%) of the students completed the questionnaire. The internal consistencies of each of the four subscales were generally acceptable (Cronbach's alphas: 0.676–0.805), and the scale showed good discriminant and convergent validities (r's for discriminant validity: 0.217 and 0.103; r's for convergent validity: 0.595 and 0.700). Test–retest reliabilities ranged from 0.478 to 0.779. After eliminating items that fell on both cognitive and emotional factors, a rotated factor analysis indicated that the items loaded on two cognitive and three emotional factors.

Discussion

Our results indicate that the Greek version of the TCES has good psychometric properties. The factor analysis indicates that the emotional and cognitive aspects of empathy are distinct, supporting the need to address both aspects in studies of empathy.

Conclusions

The Greek version of the TCES is a reliable and valid tool for the measurement of cognitive and emotional empathy, in both professional and personal life, in Greek dental students.
A dietary polyphenol resveratrol acts to provide neuroprotection in recurrent stroke models by regulating AMPK and SIRT1 signaling, thereby reducing energy requirements during ischemia
Authors: Wang Li‐Mei , Wang Yong‐Jiu , Cui Min , Luo Wen‐Juan , Wang Xiao‐Ji , Barber Philip A. , Chen Zhe‐Yu
Published: March 2013

Polyphenol resveratrol (RSV) has been associated with Silent Information Regulator T1 (SIRT1) and AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) metabolic stress sensors and probably responds to the intracellular energy status. Our aim here was to investigate the neuroprotective effects of RSV and its association with SIRT1 and AMPK signaling in recurrent ischemia models. In this study, elderly male Wistar rats received a combination of two mild transient middle cerebral artery occlusions (tMCAOs) as an in vivo recurrent ischemic model. Primary cultured cortical neuronal cells subjected to combined oxygen–glucose deprivation (OGD) were used as an in vitro recurrent ischemic model. RSV administration significantly reduced infarct volumes, improved behavioral deficits and protected neuronal cells from cell death in recurrent ischemic stroke models in vivo and in vitro. RSV treatments significantly increased the intracellular NAD+/NADH ratio, AMPK and SIRT1 activities, decreased energy assumption and restored cell energy ATP level. SIRT1 and AMPK inhibitors and specific small interfering RNA (siRNA) for SIRT1 and AMPK significantly abrogated the neuroprotection induced by RSV. AMPK‐siRNA and inhibitor decreased SIRT1 activities; however, SIRT1‐siRNA and inhibitor had no impact on phospho‐AMPK (p‐AMPK) levels. These results indicated that the neuroprotective effects of RSV increased the intracellular NAD+/NADH ratio as well as AMPK and SIRT1 activities, thereby reducing energy ATP requirements during ischemia. SIRT1 is a downstream target of p‐AMPK signaling induced by RSV in the recurrent ischemic stroke model.
Stress, Behaviour and Immunity in Wild‐Caught Wintering Great Tits (Parus major)
Authors: Krams Indrikis , Vrublevska Jolanta , Cirule Dina , Kivleniece Inese , Krama Tatjana , Rantala Markus J , Kaasik Ants , Hõrak Peeter , Sepp Tuul
Published: March 2013

The associations between behaviour, stress and immune responses are most likely a result of common integration through the neuroendocrine system. Here, we describe associations between behaviour and immunity in great tits, Parus major. Wild‐caught birds were brought into captivity, and their immune function was assessed on the basis of antibody production to a novel Brucella abortus antigen and of heterophil/lymphocyte (H/L) ratio, which is also a haematological marker of stress. Two behavioural traits were evaluated: tolerance to captive conditions on the basis of damage inflicted to tail feathers and propensity to produce alarm calls at release. The birds that had highest H/L ratios at capture inflicted the maximum extent of tail damage during the week spent in captivity and produced lowest antibody titres against a novel antigen, which indicates a strong covariation between the tolerance of captivity, perceived stress and immune responsiveness. Propensity to produce alarm calls was lower in birds who tolerated captivity better. Structural equation modelling proposed the existence of an underlying latent variable affecting all the measured traits and causing the correlations between traits. Our study indicates that connections between behaviour and immunity can be easily detected in wild animals.
The Effect of Demand for Shares on the Timing and Underpricing of Seasoned Equity Offers
Authors: Intintoli Vincent J. , Jategaonkar Shrikant P. , Kahle Kathleen M.
Published: March 2013

Despite high levels of asymmetry of information, firms that issue seasoned equity offerings (SEOs) within a year of their initial public offering (IPO) (follow‐on SEOs) are able to offer shares at a lower discount as compared to more mature firms. We provide evidence that this seeming contradiction can be explained by a very high degree of demand for the follow‐on offering. We find that the likelihood of issuing a follow‐on SEO is significantly related to the level of institutional demand and that discounts are lower for follow‐on SEOs in which institutional demand is high. We also consider the joint effect of cash holdings and follow‐on SEOs on discounts since firms that have recently gone public tend to hold high levels of cash. Underpricing is higher for firms with elevated preoffer levels of cash, which is consistent with market timing predictions. However, this relation is mitigated for both follow‐on SEOs and issues that also have high share demand.
Towards an improved understanding of angler tourism in northern Australia
Authors: Greiner R. , Franklin D. C. , Gregg D.
Published: March 2013

A human dimensions investigation into tourist anglers in a coastal recreational fishing hotspot in northern Australia is presented. Tourist anglers target one species, javelin grunter, Pomadasys kaakan (Cuvier), raising concerns about the sustainability of the fishery. Data from a survey of 427 tourist angling parties that fished in the coastal water off Karumba (Queensland) were analysed. Exploratory factor analysis was performed on angler target species and motivation for fishing to establish a typology of fishing intentions, with fishing for food found to be the principal factor. Anglers with high fishing for food factor scores were more consumptive, lower spending (per day) and more averse to any potential measures that might reduce legal possession (creel) limits or impose a cost of fishing. It was concluded that a combination of tourism and fisheries management interventions is required to safeguard Karumba's iconic javelin grunter fishery into the future. Diversification of tourist activity options can reduce the tourism industry's current reliance on high‐consumptive tourist anglers and increase the destination's appeal to non‐fishing tourists and low‐consumptive anglers. Modification of angler behaviour can be achieved through reduced possession limits for javelin grunter and possibly other target species, improved monitoring and law enforcement efforts, and targeted education and information.
Do triploid Salmo trutta stocked into a chalk stream in the spring prey on wild Salmo salar smolts?
Authors: Riley W. D. , Davison P. I. , Ives M. J. , Maxwell D. L.
Published: March 2013

The predation impact of recently stocked triploid brown trout, Salmo trutta L., on migrating wild Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., smolts was investigated in two field‐based experiments. The first experiment employed a unique experimental facility to monitor 57 wild S. salar smolts through an enclosure containing a known density of stocked S. trutta to determine a predation rate. None of these smolts were preyed upon by the stocked S. trutta. The second experiment investigated the diet of free‐ranging stocked triploid S. trutta in a chalk stream during the spring. Although at least 6% of the free‐ranging stocked triploid S. trutta became piscivorous on Phoxinus phoxinus (L.), the results suggest that large, recently stocked, triploid S. trutta with a high condition factor do not represent a predation threat to wild S. salar smolts. However, it is recommended that a precautionary approach is maintained and the findings are not generalised until further investigation permits explicit management advice to be developed, and that the stocking of large triploid S. trutta is avoided before May/ June (regional variations to apply) each calendar year, where this can reasonably be achieved.
Resource‐based determinants of range sizes of forest vascular plants in Germany
Authors: Pannek Angela , Ewald Jörg , Diekmann Martin
Published: March 2013

Aim

To examining whether niche breadth, niche position and a compound measure of the two variables help to explain the range sizes of forest vascular plants.

Locations

Deciduous forests in two regions of Germany, the Weser–Elbe region and Bavarian Alps.

Methods

We compiled range size data for vascular plant species (30 in the Weser–Elbe region, 35 in the Bavarian Alps) on regional, national and continental scales by determining the area of occupancy (number of occupied grid cells) in both regions, Germany and Eurasia. Estimates of realized niche breadth and niche position (ecological optimum) for soil pH and light were based on measurements in 46 sites for all species. Frequency distributions of pH values on regional and national scales served to calculate the ‘available niche breadth’, i.e. niche breadth values corrected for the different availabilities of pH values in the region and country.

Results

Regional range size in the Weser–Elbe region increased with increasing niche breadth for both soil pH and light and with decreasing pH niche position. pH niche breadth was positively correlated to national range size in the Weser–Elbe region and to Eurasian range size in the Bavarian Alps. In the latter region, all other relationships with range size were (partly marginally) non‐significant. Available niche breadth was generally more closely related to the regional and national distribution of species in both regions than either niche breadth or position alone.

Main conclusions

Niche breadth and position performed well as predictors of range size only for soil pH and in the Weser–Elbe region, which shows more homogeneous environmental conditions than the Bavarian Alps. If the frequencies of different ranges of pH values can be quantified, the calculation of available niche breadth for soil pH appears to be a promising approach for assessing the possible effects of niche variables on the range sizes of species.
Potential hydraulic efficiency in angiosperm trees increases with growth‐site temperature but has no trade‐off with mechanical strength
Authors: Zhang Shi‐Bao , Cao Kun‐Fang , Fan Ze‐Xin , Zhang Jiao‐Lin
Published: March 2013

Aim

Xylem structures are closely related to a tree's hydraulic efficiency and mechanical stability, both of which affect the life history and ecological strategy of a species. Although mechanical strength and hydraulic capacity can be shaped by the environment, no such associations between hydraulic efficiency and climatic variables have been reported across a wide range of tree species.

Location

Yunnan, south‐west China.

Methods

We compiled a data set for vessel density, vessel diameter (D), potential hydraulic conductivity (Kp), wood density (WD), modulus of rupture (MOR) and modulus of elasticity (MOE) from 316 angiosperm tree species. Our objective was to examine the correlations among xylem traits and climatic variables. We hypothesized that both hydraulic efficiency and mechanical strength would vary along climatic gradients, but that a trade‐off would occur between them.

Results

All xylem traits varied significantly across species, but the magnitudes of variation were greater for vessel traits than for mechanical properties. Values for Kp and D increased with mean annual temperature (MAT) in both evergreen and deciduous trees, but they were significantly correlated with aridity index (AI) in evergreen species only. Both WD and MOR were significantly correlated with MAT only in evergreen trees. MOR decreased with increasing AI in the evergreens, but not in deciduous trees. These findings indicated that xylem development in evergreens is more sensitive to environmental changes than in deciduous trees. However, stem hydraulic traits are independent of mechanical properties.

Main conclusions

Consistent with our hypothesis, both hydraulic efficiency and mechanical strength of angiosperm trees are influenced by the environment, with temperature having a more important effect on hydraulic efficiency than precipitation. However, no trade‐off exists between efficiency and strength. This absence of a link is explained because angiosperms have xylem tissue that specifically functions in either mechanical strength or water transport.
Loading and activation of DNA replicative helicases: the key step of initiation of DNA replication
Authors: Li Yan , Araki Hiroyuki
Published: March 2013

Evolution has led to diversification of all living organisms from a common ancestor. Consequently, all living organisms use a common method to duplicate their genetic information and thus pass on their inherited traits to their offspring. To duplicate chromosomal DNA, double‐stranded DNA must first be unwound by helicase, which is loaded to replication origins and activated during the DNA replication initiation step. In this review, we discuss the common features of, and differences in, replicative helicases between prokaryotes and eukaryotes.
An overlooked complication of hemodialysis: Hoarseness
Authors: Zumrutdal Aysegul
Published: March 2013

In hemodialysis patients, some degree of transient hoarseness may occur at the end of the dialysis, and it may be a wearisome, recurrent, and severe state for some hemodialysis patients. However, to date, it has not been a well‐defined complication of hemodialysis. The aim of this study was to state this complication and to throw light on it. Four hundred fifty‐nine hemodialysis patients were questioned about any change in voice quality during hemodialysis. The patients who had this complaint (n = 70) were included in the study, and the group of patients who suffered hoarseness (subgroup 1: severe, subgroup 2: moderate, subgroup 3: mild) were compared with each other and with the control group, which did not suffer hoarseness (n = 51). Hoarseness was found in 15.2% of the hemodialysis patients. The duration of their hoarseness was minumum 1 to maximum 24 hours. In the control group, coronary artery disease (P = 0.056), congestive heart failure (P = 0.049), autonomic neuropathy (P = 0.001), severe intradialytic hypotensive attacks (P = 0.000), heart valve abnormalities (P = 0.000), and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (P = 0.000) were significantly lower than in hoarseness group. Older age (P = 0.024), coronary artery disease (P = 0.014), autonomic neuropathy (P = 0.011), and intradialytic hypotensive attacks (P = 0.0001), were associated with severe and moderate hoarseness. In the comparison of % change for systolic and diastolic blood pressure between the hoarseness subgroups, diastolic blood pressure change was not different (P = 0.521), but systolic blood pressure change was statistically lower in mild group than moderate (P = 0.033) and severe subgroup (P = 0.029). Dialysis‐induced hypotension may be the main contributor of transient hoarseness. Especially elderly and cardiovascularly compromised patients, who are vulnerable to rapid changes in volume status may experience it to serious extent and this complication may be mediated by autonomic nervous control related with volume depletion.
Hidden in taxonomy: Batesian mimicry by a syrphid fly towards a Patagonian bumblebee
Authors: Polidori Carlo , Nieves‐Aldrey José L. , Gilbert Francis , Rotheray Graham E.
Published: March 2013

Batesian mimicry has been repeatedly reported in syrphid flies (Diptera: Syrphidae), with noxious Hymenoptera identified as the models, including bumblebees (Hymenoptera: Aculeata). Despite the number of detailed studies of bumblebee mimics from the Holarctic, only minimal biological and ecological information is available for the same phenomenon in most other biogeographical regions.

Here, we analyse in detail a case of Batesian mimicry by the syrphid fly Aneriophora aureorufa Philippi towards the bumblebee Bombus dahlbomii Guérin from Patagonia, a relationship only briefly noted previously in taxonomic studies. A. aureorufa possesses strikingly similar red tawny colouration to the highly hairy body of its model, and somewhat resembles it also in size. Cluster analysis suggests that the mimicry is more pronounced towards larger rather than smaller bumblebee workers.

The mimicry is visually very good, but there was no evidence of a behavioural component. Foraging activity of both species seems to be largely restricted to the endemic plant Eucryphia cordifolia. The time spent on flowers was much higher in syrphid flies than in B. dahlbomii and other pollinators, and the time spent between flower visits largely overlapped between all the tested species.

The endemic distribution, the apparent plant specialisation, and the invasion of alien bumblebees, make B. dahlbomii and A. aureorufa potentially threatened in some parts of the austral American forests, a priority conservation area.
Wages and skills utilization: effect of broad skills and generic skills on wages in Singapore
Authors: Ramos Catherine R. , Ng Michael Chi Man , Sung Johnny , Loke Fiona
Published: March 2013

Many people go for training to upgrade their skills which is hoped to pave the way for better pay. But what are the kinds of skills that really affect wages? Employers have emphasized the value of generic skills such as interpersonal and communication skills, teamwork and problem solving. Does possession of these skills translate to at least the same or better wages as compared with having broad skills represented by educational qualifications and job‐related training? This paper, arising from the research project on the Skills Utilisation in Singapore, aims to answer which skills can have more influence on wages and which job‐related training in terms of training duration can have more impact on wages. Using ordinal logistic regression, our findings show that educational qualification and initial training time can influence wages as well as utilization of leadership, planning and problem‐solving skills.
Neonatal macrophages express elevated levels of interleukin‐27 that oppose immune responses
Authors: Kraft Jennifer D. , Horzempa Joseph , Davis Celestia , Jung Joo‐Yong , Peña Maria Marjorette O. , Robinson Cory M.
Published: March 2013

Microbial infections are a major cause of infant mortality worldwide because of impaired immune defences in this population. The nature of this work was to further understand the mechanistic limitations of the neonatal and infant immune response. Interleukin‐27 (IL‐27) is a heterodimeric cytokine of the IL‐12 family that is produced primarily by antigen‐presenting cells and is immunosuppressive toward a variety of immune cell types. We show that IL‐27 gene expression is elevated in cord blood‐derived macrophages relative to macrophages originating from healthy adults. We also evaluated the duration over which elevated IL‐27 gene expression may impact immune responses in mice. Age‐dependent analysis of IL‐27 gene expression indicated that levels of IL‐27 remained significantly elevated throughout infancy and then declined in adult mice. Flow cytometric analysis of intracellular cytokine‐stained splenocytes further confirmed these results. Interleukin‐27 may be induced during pregnancy to contribute to the immunosuppressive environment at the fetal–maternal interface because we demonstrate dose‐responsive gene expression to progesterone in macrophages. Neutralization of IL‐27 in neonatal macrophages improved the ability of these cells to limit bacterial replication. Moreover, neutralization of IL‐27 during incubation with the Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette–Guérin vaccine augmented the level of interferon‐γ elicited from allogeneic CD4+ T lymphocytes. This suggests that blocking IL‐27 during vaccination and infection may improve immune responses in newborn and infant populations. Furthermore, mice will be a suitable model system to further address these possibilities.
Epidemiological and clinical features of human coronavirus infections among different subsets of patients
Authors: Cabeça Tatiane K. , Granato Celso , Bellei Nancy
Published: March 2013

Background

Epidemiological and clinical data of human coronaviruses (HCoVs) infections are restricted to span 1–3 years at most. We conducted a comprehensive 9‐year study on HCoVs by analyzing 1137 respiratory samples from four subsets of patients (asymptomatic, general community, with comorbidities, and hospitalized) in São Paulo, Brazil.

Methods

A pan‐coronavirus RT‐PCR screening assay was performed, followed by species‐specific real‐time RT‐PCR monoplex assays.

Results

Human coronaviruses were detected in 88 of 1137 (7.7%) of the samples. The most frequently detected HCoV species were NL63 (50.0%) and OC43 (27.3%). Patients with comorbidities presented the highest risk of acquiring coronavirus infection (odds ratio = 4.17; 95% confidence interval = 1.9–9.3), and children with heart diseases revealed a significant HCoV infection presence. Dyspnea was more associated with HCoV‐229E infections (66.6%), and cyanosis was reported only in HCoV‐OC43 infections. There were interseasonal differences in the detection frequencies, with HCoV‐229E being predominant in the year 2004 (61.5%) and HCoV‐NL63 (70.8%) in 2008.

Conclusions

Our data provide a novel insight into the epidemiology and clinical knowledge of HCoVs among different subsets of patients, revealing that these viruses may cause more than mild respiratory tract disease.
Application of a reverse dot blot DNA–DNA hydridization method to quantify host‐feeding tendencies of two sibling species in the Anopheles gambiae complex
Authors: FRITZ M. L. , MILLER J. R. , BAYOH M. N. , VULULE J. M. , LANDGRAF J. R. , WALKER E. D.
Published: March 2013

A DNA–DNA hybridization method, reverse dot blot analysis (RDBA), was used to identify Anopheles gambiae s.s. and Anopheles arabiensis (Diptera: Culicidae) hosts. Of 299 blood‐fed and semi‐gravid An. gambiae s.l. collected from Kisian, Kenya, 244 individuals were identifiable to species; of these, 69.5% were An. arabiensis and 29.5% were An. gambiae s.s. Host identifications with RDBA were comparable with those of conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by direct sequencing of amplicons of the vertebrate mitochondrial cytochrome b gene. Of the 174 amplicon‐producing samples used to compare these two methods, 147 were identifiable by direct sequencing and 139 of these were identifiable by RDBA. Anopheles arabiensis bloodmeals were mostly (94.6%) bovine in origin, whereas An. gambiae s.s. fed upon humans more than 91.8% of the time. Tests by RDBA detected that two of 112 An. arabiensis contained blood from more than one host species, whereas PCR and direct sequencing did not. Recent use of insecticide‐treated bednets in Kisian is likely to have caused the shift in the dominant vector species from An. gambiae s.s. to An. arabiensis. Reverse dot blot analysis provides an opportunity to study changes in host‐feeding by members of the An. gambiae complex in response to the broadening distribution of vector control measures targeting host‐selection behaviours.
Identification of the variables associated with pain during transrectal ultrasonography‐guided prostate biopsy in the era of periprostatic nerve block: the role of transrectal probe configuration
Authors: Moussa Ayman S. , El‐Shafei Ahmed , Diaz Ed , Gao Tianming , Zaytoun Osama M. , Fareed Khaled , Ulchaker James C. , Jones J. Stephen
Published: March 2013

What's known on the subject? and What does the study add?

Currently, peri‐prostatic nerve block (PPNB) is the most effective method to reduce pain during TRUS biopsy. Although the advance in PPNB allowed a better tolerability of the procedure by most of patients, a minority of men still find the procedure unacceptably painful.

We found in this study that the probe design and the needle guide affect pain encountered during different steps of TRUS guided PBx.

Objective

To identify the different factors that are associated with pain perceived during transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS)‐guided prostate biopsy (PBx), with special focus on the role of transrectal probe configuration.

Patients and Methods

We analysed prospective data on 1114 patients undergoing TRUS‐guided PBx at our institute from January 2007 to August 2010.

Patients completed questionnaires based on a 10‐point visual analogue pain scale related to the consecutive steps of PBx: probe insertion, application of periprostatic nerve block (PPNB) and the obtaining of PBx cores.

The variables of interest were age, prostate volume, DRE findings, number of previous biopsies, probe type and the number of retrieved cores.

All variables were correlated to pain scores using multivariate regression analysis.

Results

At the probe insertion step, end‐fire probes were more painful than side‐fire probes.

The Siemens G50TM with metal, short plastic and long plastic needle guides (Siemens, Munich, Germany) had higher pain scores than the B&K probe (Bruel & Kjaer Medical, Copenhagen, Denmark; P = 0.09, 0.008 and 0.003, respectively).

For pain at the PPNB application step, all G50TM guide subtypes and the Sonoline Prima probe (Siemens) had higher pain scores than the B&K probe, but this only reached statistical significance for the G50TM probe with short plastic guide (P = 0.03).

On obtaining PBx cores, all G50TM subtypes had higher pain scores when compared with the B&K probe (P = 0.59, 0.38 and 0.69, respectively).

Conclusions

The probe design and needle guide affect pain during each step of TRUS‐guided PBx.

Both the B&K and Sonoline Prima probes caused less pain when compared with the G50TM probe, regardless of needle guide.
Diagnosing Epidermolysis Bullosa Type and Subtype in Infancy Using Immunofluorescence Microscopy: The Stanford Experience
Authors: Berk David R. , Jazayeri Leila , Marinkovich M. Peter , Sundram Uma N. , Bruckner Anna L.
Published: March 2013

The natural history of inherited epidermolysis bullosa (EB) varies significantly across subtypes. When confronted with an infant suspected to have EB, rapidly determining the type and subtype is critical in counselling families accurately about the infant's diagnosis and prognosis. Although transmission electron microscopy (TEM) has been considered the criterion standard for EB diagnosis, immunofluorescence microscopy (IFM) using monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to EB‐specific basement membrane zone proteins has several advantages, but few studies have evaluated the diagnostic utility of IFM. We sought to evaluate the clinical utility of IFM using an expanded panel of EB‐specific mAbs. This was a retrospective review of pathology reports from infants younger < 1 year old with suspected EB primarily analyzed with IFM by the Stanford Dermatopathology service. Seventy‐seven cases were identified for analysis, of which 20 were suboptimal for IFM analysis. Fifty‐five cases were diagnosed with EB and classified as follows: EB simplex (n = 5), junctional EB (n = 31), dystrophic EB (n = 19). TEM was available in 36 of 55 cases (65%). IFM with an expanded panel of EB‐specific mAbs should be considered the first‐line diagnostic test to evaluate infants with clinically suspected EB.