bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinicopathological features of gastric mucosa associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphomas: high grade transformation and comparison with diffuse large B cell lymphomas without MALT lymphoma features
Authors: Yoshino Tadashi , Omonishi Kunihiro , Kobayashi Keita , Mannami Tomohiko , Okada Hiroyuki , Mizuno Motowo , Yamadori Ichiro , Kondo Eisaku , Akagi Tadaatsu
Published: July 2002

Aims—To investigate the clinicopathological differences among gastric low grade MALT lymphomas (low MALT), large B cell lymphomas with low grade components (secondary high grade MALT lymphomas, high MALT), and diffuse large B cell lymphomas without low grade features (primary high grade MALT lymphomas, DLL).

Methods—Clinicopathological and morphological characters of 126 gastric lymphoma cases were studied: 82 cases of low MALT lymphoma including 40 that were surgically resected, 17 cases of high MALT lymphoma including 13 surgically resected, and 27 cases of DLL including 12 surgically resected.

Results—Age ranges were as follows: low MALT lymphoma, 34 to 85 years (mean 59.9); high MALT lymphoma, 53 to 88 years (mean 68.5); DLL, 29 to 83 years (mean 62.3). The average age for low and high MALT lymphomas was significantly different (p < 0.05), but there were no differences in other comparisons. There was a female predominance of low MALT lymphoma patients (female to male ratio, 47/35), while for high MALT patients the ratio was almost even (8/9), and for DLL patients there was a male predominance (11/16). Examination of surgically resected material showed that MALT lymphomas had a wider distribution in the gastric wall than DLL.

Conclusions—The findings suggest that at least some of the high grade gastric lymphomas, especially in patients younger than the fifth decade, do not originate from high grade transformation of low MALT lymphomas. It seems to take about one decade at least for high grade transformation of low MALT lymphomas.
Clinical value of anaerobic blood culture: a retrospective analysis of positive patient episodes
Authors: James Peter A , Al-Shafi Khalid M
Published: July 2002

Aim—To investigate the clinical value of anaerobic blood culture.

Methods—Blood culture bottles (n = 25 185) submitted for culture over a two year period were reviewed.

Results—The bottles yielded 1992 positive patient episodes, a positive rate of 14.4/1000 hospital admissions. Significantly more isolations were obtained from aerobic than from anaerobic bottles. Twelve of the 38 anaerobic episodes were detected in aerobic bottles. Clinical management was influenced in one of 24 patients whose cultures yielded anaerobes from anaerobic bottles only. For a further six patients it was unlikely that the result had any effect on clinical management.

Conclusions—If aerobic bottles were substituted for the anaerobic bottles, detection of positive patient episodes would increase by at least 6%. A higher yield would be achieved by using two aerobic bottles for routine culture and using anaerobic bottles only for patients where anaerobic culture may influence clinical management.
Co-expression inHelicobacter pyloriof cagA and non-opsonic neutrophil activation enhances the association with peptic ulcer disease
Authors: Danielsson D , Farmery S M , Blomberg B , Perry S , Rautelin H , Crabtree J E
Published: July 2002

Aims—To investigate the association of cagA positivity and non-opsonic neutrophil activation capacity in wild-type Helicobacter pylori strains with peptic ulcer disease or chronic gastritis only.

Methods—Helicobacter pyloriwere isolated from antral biopsies of 53 consecutive patients with chronic antral gastritis, of whom 24 had peptic ulcer disease endoscopically. The presence of cagA, a marker for the cag pathogenicity island, was determined by polymerase chain reaction with specific oligonucleotide primers, and non-opsonic neutrophil activation capacity by luminol enhanced chemiluminescence.

Results—The cagA gene was present in 39 of 53 (73.6%) strains, 20 of which (83.3%) were from the 24 patients with peptic ulcer disease and 19 (65.5%) from the 29 patients with chronic gastritis only. Non-opsonic neutrophil activation was found in 29 (54.7%) strains, 16 of which (66.7%) were from patients with peptic ulcer disease, and 13 (44.8%) from those with chronic gastritis. Non-opsonic neutrophil activation was found more frequently in cagA+than cagA−strains (59% v 42.9%). Whereas four of the 14 cagA−strains and eight of the 24 non-opsonic neutrophil activation negative strains were from patients with peptic ulcer disease, only two of 24 (8.3%) peptic ulcer disease strains expressed neither cagA nor non-opsonic neutrophil activation. The cagA gene and non-opsonic neutrophil activation capacity were co-expressed in 14 of 24 (58.3%) strains from patients with peptic ulcer disease, and in nine of 29 (31%) strains from individuals with chronic gastritis.

Conclusions—Positivity for cagA and non-opsonic neutrophil activation occur independently in wild-typeH pyloristrains. However, co-expression of the two markers enhanced the prediction of peptic ulcer disease.
Examination of large intestine resection specimens
Authors: Burroughs S H , Williams G T
Published: July 2002

Macroscopic examination of large intestinal resection specimens by the surgical pathologist provides important diagnostic and prognostic information. This review summarises current recommended protocols and evidence based guidelines for gross description, dissection, and histological block selection in both neoplastic and non-neoplastic colorectal disease. Specific lesions discussed include colorectal cancer, polypectomies and polyposis syndromes, and inflammatory bowel disease. Microscopic examination is briefly described, with emphasis on certain pitfalls that might be encountered in routine practice. A section covering special techniques for the investigation of occult bleeding is included. J Clin Pathol(J Clin Pathol 2000;53:344–349)
Developing a culturally relevant bioethics for Asian people
Authors: Tai Michael Cheng-tek , Lin Chung Seng
Published: July 2002

Because of cultural differences between East and West, any attempt at outright adaptation of Western ideas in Asia will undoubtly encounter problems, if not rejection. Transferring an idea from one place to another is just like transplanting an organ from a donor to a recipient—rejection is to be expected. Human cultures respond to new ideas from different value systems in very much the same way.

Recently, biomedical ethics has received much attention in Asia. Fundamental advances in medicine have motivated medical scientists to look at the ethical issues arising from this progress. Will the principles upheld by the bioethicists in the West meet the challenge in Asia? This article argues that Asian bioethicists must develop a bioethics responding to their own cultural contexts. If Western principles are adopted, then they must be re-interpreted and even modified, if necessary, in light of Asian beliefs.
The humanities in medical education: context, outcomes and structures: Figure 1
Authors: Macnaughton Jane
Published: July 2002

There is now a context for teaching humanities in undergraduate medical education via special study modules (SSMs). This paper discusses the instrumental and non-instrumental role of the humanities in the education of doctors. Three courses are then described and compared. The most successful of the three is a SSM which had the following characteristics: it was voluntary, it was an integral part of the curriculum, and it was examinable.
Research and Evaluation of the Exeter Health Care Arts Project
Authors: Scher Peter , Senior Peter
Published: July 2002

An arts project was initiated at the newly rebuilt district hospital in the city of Exeter in south west England. This paper describes an independent research evaluation project covering the period from its inception in 1992. The findings include both qualitative and economic aspects and were compared with the authors' wider experience of similar projects. For the first time the responses of clinical staff about the effects of art on the healing process, on therapeutic benefit and on morale are independently assessed. The results provide data and new insights into the interactions of patients, staff and visitors with the arts in the hospital environment. The conclusions offer important guidance for other arts projects and for researchers to develop the methodology in further studies, providing feedback for clinical staff, designers, artists, managers, and policy makers.
Some medical syndromes encountered in nineteenth-century French literature
Authors: Platts Margaret M
Published: July 2002

The medical content of a hundred selected French novels written between 1815 and 1914 has been examined. These books reflect contemporary public interest in medicine and disease. By means of translated quotations, the spectrum of diseases common at the time, including conditions nowadays rarely or never observed, such as smallpox and diphtheria, are graphically described, along with the effects of treatment of syphilis with mercury and the ravages of tuberculosis including lupus vulgaris. Some diseases which were not understood in the nineteenth century such as cretinism due to iodine deficiency may be recognised by the modern reader while other illnesses, convincingly described, are now unidentifiable. In the novels one can trace the transition from the humoral theory of disease to modern diagnoses and the advent of surgery and its complications. These extracts complement textbooks of the history of medicine by third-party depiction of the observed impact of disease upon the individual.
Cancers in concrete workers: results of a cohort study of 33 668 workers
Authors: Knutsson Anders , Damber Lena , Järvholm Bengt
Published: July 2002

OBJECTIVES

To study cancer morbidity patterns in concrete workers.

METHODS

A cohort of 33 503 concrete workers was enrolled in the study from 1971–86. The average duration of follow up was 19.4 years (582 225 person-years). The workers' cancer morbidity was compared with the morbidity of the general population.

RESULTS

A total of 3572 incident cancers were observed. Significantly increased standardised incidence ratios (SIRs) were found for all malignant neoplasms (SIR 107; 95% confidence interval (95%CI) 103 to 110), cancer of the lip (SIR 179; 95%CI 134 to 234), cancer of the stomach (SIR 139; 95%CI 122 to 158), cancer of the lung (SIR 125; 95%CI 114 to 137), and cancer of the prostate (SIR 108; 95%CI 101 to 116). Reduced risk was found for cancer of the large intestine (SIR 80; 95%CI 69 to 93) and cancer of the testis (SIR 50; 95%CI 26 to 87). Smoking was more prevalent among the concrete workers than in the general population (50%v35%).

CONCLUSION

The study has shown a slightly increased overall risk of cancer among concrete workers. The increased risk of lung cancer could entirely be due to differences in smoking habits between concrete workers and the general population. There is a possibility that the smoking also has contributed to the increased risks of stomach cancer and lip cancer, but occupational factors may have contributed to these cancer sites.
Prevalence of airway symptoms among hairdressers in Bergen, Norway
Authors: Hollund B E , Moen B E , Lygre S H , Florvaag E , Omenaas E
Published: July 2002

OBJECTIVE

To assess respiratory symptoms among hairdressers in Norway.

METHODS

The study was based on a questionnaire sent to 100 hairdressers (91% responding) and 95 office workers (84% responding). The questionnaire sought information about allergy, respiratory symptoms in the past year, and symptoms after exposures to different types of pollutants, working conditions, and smoking habits. A population based control group was established because the hairdressers and office workers differed in age and smoking habits.

RESULTS

The prevalence of respiratory symptoms in the past year did not differ significantly between hairdressers and office workers after adjusting for age, atopy, and smoking. The hairdressers over 40 years of age reported significantly more symptoms—such as wheezing and breathlessness—in the past year than the office workers of the same age. Compared with the population based control group, both hairdressers younger than 30 and those over 40 reported more symptoms—such as breathlessness in the past year. The oldest hairdressers reported such symptoms as wheezing and breathlessness more often than did the younger hairdressers. These differences in breathlessness were significant after adjusting for smoking and wheezing. The same trend was not found among the office workers. The hairdressers reported significantly more wheezing, breathlessness, runny eyes, and blocked or runny nose from exposure to hair dyes, permanent oils, bleaching powder, and other chemicals used in a hairdressing salon, compared with the office workers. Prevalence of symptoms during exposure to other types of generel pollutants was similar in the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Hairdressers are exposed to low levels of various irritating chemicals every day. The prevalences of acute symptoms related to the exposure of hairdressers to hairdressing chemicals are very high. Hairdressers, especially the oldest hairdressers, have more asthma-like symptoms than the control groups.
Work environment and neck and shoulder pain: the influence of exposure time. Results from a population based case-control study
Authors: Fredriksson K , Alfredsson L , Ahlberg G , Josephson M , Kilbom Å , Wigaeus Hjelm E , Wiktorin C , Vingård E
Published: July 2002

Objectives: To study associations between long term and short term exposure to different work environmental conditions and the incidence of neck or shoulder pain. The results were obtained as part of the MUSIC-Norrtälje study, which is a population based case-control study conducted in Sweden in 1993–7.

Methods: The cases were people from the study base who sought medical care or treatment for neck or shoulder pain. Information on physical and psychosocial conditions in the work environment, currently and 5 years ago, and lifestyle factors, was obtained by self administered questionnaires from 310 cases and 1277 randomly selected referents.

Results: Associations between both physical and psychosocial exposures in the work environment and seeking care for neck or shoulder pain were found. The risk patterns differed for the sexes, and risk ratios exceeding 1.5 were more often found among women than among men. Generally, subjects who had experienced a recent increase of exposure were more likely (relative risk (RR) 2.1–3.7) to seek care than those who had been exposed long term (RR 1.5–1.8). Among women, an increased amount of visual display terminal (VDT) work, work above shoulder level, and reduced opportunities to acquire new knowledge, and among men, an increased amount of seated work were associated with neck or shoulder pain. This might indicate short induction periods for neck or shoulder pain for these exposures. However, for repetitive work with the hands and hindrance at work among women, and possibly also local vibrations among men, the induction periods seem to be longer. Interactive effects between factors, both at work and in the family, were found, but only among women.

Conclusions: Associations between some exposures in the work environment and seeking care for neck or shoulder pain were found. The high RRs for short term exposure might indicate that for many factors the induction period for neck or shoulder pain is short.
Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis
Authors: Allroggen Holger , Abbott Richard J
Published: July 2002

Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis is a challenging condition because of its variability of clinical symptoms and signs. It is very often unrecognised at initial presentation. All age groups can be affected. Large sinuses such as the superior sagittal sinus are most frequently involved. Extensive collateral circulation within the cerebral venous system allows for a significant degree of compensation in the early stages of thrombus formation. Systemic inflammatory diseases and inherited as well as acquired coagulation disorders are frequent causes, although in up to 30% of cases no underlying cause can be identified. The oral contraceptive pill appears to be an important additional risk factor. The spectrum of clinical presentations ranges from headache with papilloedema to focal deficit, seizures and coma. Magnetic resonance imaging with venography is the investigation of choice; computed tomography alone will miss a significant number of cases. It has now been conclusively shown that intravenous heparin is the first-line treatment for cerebral venous sinus thrombosis because of its efficacy, safety and feasability. Local thrombolysis may be indicated in cases of deterioration, despite adequate heparinisation. This should be followed by oral anticoagulation for 3-6 months. The prognosis of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis is generally favourable. A high index of clinical suspicion is needed to diagnose this uncommon condition so that appropriate treatment can be initiated.
Chest pain, enzymes and hypothyroidism
Authors: Strachan S R , Afolabi O , Brown N , Gray D
Published: July 2002

Hypothyroidism is a common disorder and when presenting with classical symptoms and signs is easy to recognise. However, hypothyroidism may present in a manner suggestive of an acute myocardial infarction with an elevated creatine kinase and electrocardiographic abnormalities. We report a case of severe hypothyroidism presenting as a cardiac event whose symptoms and signs dispersed following treatment with thyroxine.
Multiple coronary aneurysms in a patient with neurofibromatosis type 1: case report and intravascular ultrasound of aneurysm
Authors: Trevelyan J , Been M , Patel R
Published: July 2002

A 54 year old woman with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1) was found to have multiple coronary aneurysms. Intraoperative intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) revealed severe coronary disease proximal to the aneurysm that had not been apparent angiographically. An IVUS picture of one of the giant coronary aneurysms is also shown. The vascular manifestations of neurofibromatosis and the causes of coronary aneurysms are reviewed.
Aortitis as a manifestation of myelodysplastic syndrome
Authors: Lopez F F , Vaidyan P B , Mega A E , Schiffman F J
Published: July 2002

Aortitis is the inflammation of the wall of the aorta and can occur from an infection or autoimmune disease. Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is characterised by abnormal haematopoiesis and a dysfunctional immune system. Autoimmune manifestations have been described in MDS. Here a case of a patient with aortitis and MDS is presented and discussed. All possible aetiologies were ruled out. The patient’s symptoms resolved after she received steroids.
Parkinson’s disease and anxiety
Authors: Walsh K , Bennett G
Published: July 2002

There has been a recent surge of interest in the subject of anxiety in patients with Parkinson’s disease. Up to 40% of patients with Parkinson’s disease experience clinically significant anxiety. This anxiety may be a psychological reaction to the stress of the illness or may be related to the neurochemical changes of the disease itself. Antiparkinsonian drugs may have a role in the pathogenesis of the anxiety. The anxiety disorders in Parkinson’s disease patients appear to be clustered in the panic disorder, phobic disorder, and generalised anxiety disorder areas. The degree of comorbidity between anxiety and depression in patients with Parkinson’s disease is in excess of that found in patients without the disease and anxiety in combination with depression may represent a specific depressive subtype in Parkinson’s disease. As yet, there is no trial evidence as to the treatment of anxiety in patients with Parkinson’s disease.
A study of bone densitometry in patients with complex regional pain syndrome after stroke
Authors: Kumar V , Kalita J , Gujral R B , Sharma V P , Misra U K
Published: July 2002

INTRODUCTION

This study was undertaken to evaluate the bone mineral density (BMD) in patients with complex regional pain syndrome type-I (CRPS-I) after stroke, and to correlate it with various clinical and neurophysiological parameters.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Twenty patients with CRPS-I after stroke were included and a detailed neurological evaluation was carried out. The severity of CRPS-I was graded on the basis of shoulder hand syndrome score. All the patients underwent bone mineral densitometry of paralysed and non-paralysed forearm by dual energy x ray absorptiometry. The BMD of paralysed forearm was also compared with that of age matched healthy controls. Neurophysiological tests included sympathetic skin response in both upper and lower limbs and median somatosensory evoked potentials.

RESULTS

The mean age of patients was 57.2 (45–75) years and eight were females. Eight patients had severe weakness and 12 had moderate weakness of grade 2 on the hemiplegic side. There was significant reduction in BMD in the patients compared with controls (p<0.01). The bone density reduction correlated well with duration of illness (r = −0.673, p<0.01), shoulder hand syndrome score (r = −0.804, p<0.01), and Canadian neurological scale score (r = −0.738 p<0.01). Sympathetic skin response was not recordable bilaterally in all patients. Median somatosensory evoked potentials were not recordable in seven out of 20 patients who also had higher grade of CRPS-I.

CONCLUSION

Our results show significant reduction of BMD in patients with CRPS-I after stroke. The reduction in BMD correlates with the severity of shoulder hand syndrome score, degree of weakness, duration of hemiplegia, and the severity of stroke.
Hyperekplexia in neonates
Authors: Praveen V , Patole S K , Whitehall J S
Published: July 2002

Hyperekplexia (startle disease) is a rare non-epileptic disorder characterised by an exaggerated persistent startle reaction to unexpected auditory, somatosensory and visual stimuli, generalised muscular rigidity, and nocturnal myoclonus. The genetic basis is a mutation usually of the arginine residue 271 leading to neuronal hyperexcitability by impairing glycinergic inhibition. Hyperekplexia is usually familial, most often autosomal dominant with complete penetrance and variable expression. It can present in fetal life as abnormal intrauterine movements, or later at any time from the neonatal period to adulthood. Early manifestations include abnormal responses to unexpected auditory, visual, and somatosensory stimuli such as sustained tonic spasm, exaggerated startle response, and fetal posture with clenched fists and anxious stare. The tonic spasms may mimic generalised tonic seizures, leading to apnoea and death. Consistent generalised flexor spasm in response to tapping of the nasal bridge (without habituation) is the clinical hallmark of hyperekplexia. Electroencephalography may show fast spikes initially during the tonic spasms, followed by slowing of background activity with eventual flattening corresponding to the phase of apnoea bradycardia and cyanosis. Electromyography shows a characteristic almost permanent muscular activity with periods of electrical quietness. Nerve conduction velocity is normal. No specific computed tomography findings have been reported yet. Clonazepam, a gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor agonist, is the treatment of choice for hypertonia and apnoeic episodes. It, however, may not influence the degree of stiffness significantly. A simple manoeuvre like forced flexion of the head and legs towards the trunk is known to be life saving when prolonged stiffness impedes respiration.
Imaging of the pulmonary manifestations of systemic disease
Authors: Rockall A G , Rickards D , Shaw P J
Published: July 2002

Lung involvement in systemic disease may be a manifestation of the underlying pathological process, may be a complication of the underlying disease or may be related to the treatment. Lung pathology is dominant in certain diseases, such as in Wegener's granulomatosis, but may be only rarely present, for example in Henoch-Schönlein purpura. However, lung involvement has a profound effect on prognosis and may be challenging to accurately diagnose. In some patients, bronchoalveolar lavage and tissue diagnosis with transbronchial or percutaneous biopsy is not possible, due to the poor clinical state of the patient.
New aspects of human trichinellosis: the impact of new Trichinella species
Authors: Bruschi F , Murrell K D
Published: July 2002

Trichinellosis is a re-emerging zoonosis and more clinical awareness is needed. In particular, the description of new Trichinella species such as T papuae and T murrelli and the occurrence of human cases caused by T pseudospiralis, until very recently thought to occur only in animals, requires changes in our handling of clinical trichinellosis, because existing knowledge is based mostly on cases due to classical T spiralis infection. The aim of the present review is to integrate the experiences derived from different outbreaks around the world, caused by different Trichinella species, in order to provide a more comprehensive approach to diagnosis and treatment.
Aortic root abscess presenting as unstable angina due to extrinsic compression of the left coronary artery
Authors: Clarke N R A , Forfar J C
Published: July 2002

Coronary ischaemia in acute endocarditis is usually due to pre-existing coronary disease or occasionally as a result of embolism from vegetations. A 68 year old man with known mixed aortic valve disease presented with a four week history of progressive exertional angina, which became unstable. He was apyrexial with no peripheral signs of endocarditis. Three sets of blood cultures were negative. Transthoracic echocardiography with suboptimal windows confirmed moderate mixed aortic valve disease. Marked reversible ST segment depression with angina recurred at rest. Aortography showed severe aortic regurgitation with a distorted aortic root. Coronary angiography showed severe proximal narrowing of the left anterior descending and circumflex arteries with an unusual long and tapering contour. Emergency surgery revealed a large anterior aortic root abscess which had destroyed the left and right coronary cusps. Aortic root abscess and other rare causes of extrinsic coronary compression are discussed.
Non-infectious pulmonary complications after bone marrow transplantation
Authors: Khurshid I , Anderson L C
Published: July 2002

Bone marrow transplantation (BMT) is a successful and recognised treatment option for patients with a number of haematological and non-haematological malignant and non-malignant conditions. Pulmonary complications both infectious and non-infectious are common after BMT. Multiple factors are thought to contribute to pulmonary complications, including the type and duration of immunological defects produced by the underlying disease and treatment, the development of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), and the conditioning regimens employed. These complications are classified as early or late, depending on whether they occur before or after 100 days from transplantation. Early non-infectious pulmonary complications typically include pulmonary oedema, upper airway complications, diffuse alveolar haemorrhage, cytolytic thrombi, and pleural effusion. Bronchiolitis obliterans, veno-occlusive disease, and secondary malignancies occur late after BMT. Idiopathic pneumonia syndrome, GVHD, and radiation induced lung injury can occur in early or late period after BMT.
Progressive cardiomyopathy as manifestation of mitochondrial disease
Authors: Nan D N , Fernández-Ayala M , Infante J , Matorras P , González-Macías J
Published: July 2002

Cardiomyopathies are a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of cardiac diseases in which the myocardium is primarily involved. Mitochondrial DNA point mutations have been identified in a broad spectrum of mitochondrial disorders, which are associated with neurological diseases. However, they also have been reported in patients with cardiomyopathy, either alone or as part of a multisystem disorder. A patient who presented with severe heart failure and was diagnosed as having a mitochondrial A3243G mutation is described.
Development of the health and economic consequences of smoking interactive model
Authors: Orme Michelle E , Hogue Susan L , Kennedy Lisa M , Paine Abigail C , Godfrey Christine
Published: July 2002

OBJECTIVE

To describe the health and economic consequences of smoking model, a user friendly, web based tool, designed to estimate the health and economic outcomes associated with smoking and the benefits of smoking cessation.

RESULTS

An overview of the development of the model equations and user interface is given, and data from the UK are presented as an example of the model outputs. These results show that a typical smoking cessation strategy costs approximately £1200 per life year saved and £22 000 per death averted.

CONCLUSIONS

The model successfully captures the complexity required to model smoking behaviour and associated mortality, morbidity, and health care costs. Furthermore, the interface provides the results in a simple and flexible way so as to be useful to a variety of audiences and to simulate a variety of smoking cessation methods.
Examining the effects of tobacco treatment policies on smoking rates and smoking related deaths using theSimSmokecomputer simulation model
Authors: Levy D T , Friend K
Published: July 2002

Objectives: To develop a simulation model to predict the effects of different smoking treatment policies on quit rates, smoking rates, and smoking attributable deaths.

Methods: We first develop a decision theoretic model of quitting behaviour, which incorporates the decision to quit and the choice of treatment. A model of policies to cover the costs of different combinations of treatments and to require health care provider intervention is then incorporated into the quit model. The policy model allows for the smoker to substitute between treatments and for policies to reduce treatment effectiveness. TheSimSmokecomputer simulation model is then used to examine policy effects on smoking rates and smoking attributable deaths.

Results: The model of quit behaviour predicts a population quit rate of 4.3% in 1993, which subsequently falls and then increases in recent years to 4.5%. The policy model suggests a 25% increase in quit rates from a policy that mandates brief interventions and the coverage of all proven treatments. Smaller effects are predicted from policies that mandate more restricted coverage of treatments, especially those limited to behavioural treatment. These policies translate into small reductions in the smoking rate at first, but increase to as much as a 5% reduction in smoking rates. They also lead to substantial savings in lives.

Conclusions: Tobacco treatment policies, especially those with broad and flexible coverage, have the potential to increase smoking cessation substantially and decrease smoking rates in the short term, with fairly immediate reductions in deaths.
Formation of appressoria by two species of lepidopteran-pathogenic Entomophthorales
Authors: Hajek Ann E , Filotas Melanie J , Ewing Debbie C
Published: July 2002

Fungal pathogens frequently form appressoria, specialized hyphal swellings on the surfaces of hosts. Production of appressoria by two entomophthoralean species that infect lepidopteran larvae, Entomophaga maimaiga Humber, Shimazu & Soper and Furia gastropachae (Raciborski) Filotas, Hajek & Humber, was investigated in vitro 68 h after conidial discharge. Entomophaga maimaiga appressoria were elongate, irregularly swollen structures located adjacent to the conidium or at the ends of short germ tubes. The highest percentages of appressoria were formed on hard surfaces such as polystyrene (21.5 ± 4.6%) and mylar (22.2 ± 4.3%). Nutrients or chemical stimuli were not required for appressorial formation but could stimulate growth as germ tubes. The contribution of surface hydrophobicity to appressorium formation was questionable; while appressoria were formed on hydrophobic surfaces, they were also formed to a lesser extent on glass, which is hydrophilic. When conidia of F. gastropachae were exposed to similar substrates and conditions, appressoria were never made, supporting the hypothesis that stimuli for appressorium formation can be species specific.Key words: appressorium, entomopathogenic fungi, infection process, Entomophthorales.
The shape of the trade-off function between reproduction and future performance inPlantago majorandPlantago rugelii
Authors: Reekie Edward G , Budge Sonya , Baltzer Jennifer L
Published: July 2002

There is a paucity of data describing the nature of the trade-off function between reproduction and future performance. Most studies implicitly assume it is a linear function such that allocation of resources to reproduction results in a proportional decline in future survival and reproduction. We reanalyse data from a field experiment with half-sib families of Plantago major L. that suggests this relationship is in fact curvilinear. Low levels of reproductive investment had relatively little impact on future performance and higher levels of investment had a larger impact. To explain this curvilinear pattern, we conducted an experiment to examine the effect of incremental increases in reproductive investment on rates of resource uptake in P. major and Plantago rugelii Decne. Results suggest that, because of differences in the resource requirements of vegetative versus reproductive tissues, reproduction will have little effect on growth, providing that the limiting resources are required in greater quantities for vegetative as compared with reproductive tissues. These results are in accord with a curvilinear trade-off function between reproduction and future performance and provide an explanation for the maintenance of sexual reproduction in species where seed production may contribute minimally to fitness in the short term.Key words: reproductive cost, resource allocation, life-history theory, nitrogen uptake, reproductive photosynthesis, Plantago major, Plantago rugelii.
Lodgepole pine/Labrador tea type communities of western Canada
Authors: Strong W L
Published: July 2002

Lodgepole pine/Labrador tea (Pinus contorta Dougl. ex Loud. var. latifolia/Ledum groenlandicum Oeder) relevés were classified and characterized based on data from archival sources (n = 428). Eleven forest communities were recognized and were distinguished by the relative dominance of Sphagnum, Cladina and Cladonia, Lycopodium, Vaccinium species, or feathermosses. Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP was the common secondary successional species. Most paired-community comparisons were nonoverlapping in ordination space, although intermingling sometimes occurred along interfaces. Lodgepole pine/Labrador tea stands occurred on upland sites within the borealcordilleran ecoclimatic transition zone along the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains from southwestern Alberta to the southern Yukon Territory. Nine communities had mesic to subhygric moisture and submesotrophic to mesotrophic nutrient regimes. The exceptions were a Pinus contorta/Ledum groenlandicum/Sphagnum (wetter sites) and a Pinus contorta/Ledum groenlandicum/Cladina mitis (drier sites) community. An inverse correlation occurred between latitudinal location and elevation of occurrence (r = 0.56, P < 0.001, n = 403) with a northward decline of 65 m/100 km. The concept of a "type community" is proposed for formally documenting the composition of plant communities and optimizing the comparability of different types. Eight of the recognized communities fulfilled the proposed criteria for a type community and two were considered provisional types.Key words: vegetation classification, Pinus contorta, Ledum groenlandicum, type community.
Influence of eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) forests on aquatic invertebrate assemblages in headwater streams
Authors: Snyder Craig D , Young John A , Lemarié David P , Smith David R
Published: July 2002

We conducted a comparative study in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area to determine the potential long-term impacts of hemlock forest decline on stream benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages. Hemlock forests throughout eastern North America have been declining because of the hemlock woolly adelgid, an exotic insect pest. We found aquatic invertebrate community structure to be strongly correlated with forest composition. Streams draining hemlock forests supported significantly more total taxa than streams draining mixed hardwood forests, and over 8% of the taxa were strongly associated with hemlock. In addition, invertebrate taxa were more evenly distributed (i.e., higher Simpson's evenness values) in hemlock-drained streams. In contrast, the number of rare species and total densities were significantly lower in streams draining hemlock, suggesting that diversity differences observed between forest types were not related to stochastic factors associated with sampling and that streams draining mixed hardwood forests may be more productive. Analysis of stream habitat data indicated that streams draining hemlock forests had more stable thermal and hydrologic regimes. Our findings suggest that hemlock decline may result in long-term changes in headwater ecosystems leading to reductions in both within-stream (i.e., alpha) and park-wide (i.e., gamma) benthic community diversity.
Bovine lactoferrin and lactoferricin derived from milk: production and applications
Authors: Tomita M , Wakabayashi H , Yamauchi K , Teraguchi S , Hayasawa H
Published: July 2002

Bovine lactoferrin is produced on an industrial scale from cheese whey or skim milk. The safety of purified lactoferrin has been confirmed from the results of a reverse mutation test using bacteria, a 13-week oral repeated-dose toxicity study in rats, and clinical studies. In order to apply active lactoferrin to various products, a process for its pasteurization was developed. Subsequently, lactoferrin has been used in a wide variety of products since it was first added to infant formula in 1986. A pepsin hydrolysate of lactoferrin is also used in infant formula. This hydrolysate contains a potent antimicrobial peptide named lactoferricin that is derived from the lactoferrin molecule by pepsin digestion. Semilarge-scale purification of lactoferricin can be performed by hydrophobic interaction chromatography. Lactoferricin also exhibits several biological actions and appears to be the functional domain of lactoferrin. Recent studies have demonstrated that oral administration of lactoferrin or lactoferricin exerts a host-protective effect in various animals and in humans. The results of these studies strongly suggest that the effects of oral lactoferrin are mediated by modulation of the immune system. Further elucidation of the clinical efficacy and mechanism of action of lactoferrin will increase the value of lactoferrin-containing products.Key words: bovine, lactoferrin, lactoferricin.
Observation and analysis (synthesis) of X-ray spectrum originated from electron capture of low-energy, highly charged Xeq+ (q = 2643) ions in single collisions with Ar atom
Authors: Vasilyev A A , Tawara H , Richard P , Safronova U I
Published: July 2002

X-rays have been observed in collisions of low-energy (keV/u), highly charged Xeq+ (q = 2643) ions with neutral Ar atoms. These X-rays are understood to be produced through electron capture by highly charged projectile ions from target atoms, the electrons then cascade down to the ground state. It is clearly noted that the most intense X-ray peaks correspond to M-shell  N-shell transitions with different numbers of M-shell vacancies and that X-ray intensities decrease significantly toward high energies near the ionization limit. This observation indicates that the direct transition of an electron captured in a highly excited state to M-shell vacancies is negligibly small. To obtain a better understanding of X-ray production mechanisms, we tried to synthesize the expected X-ray spectrum and compare that with the observed spectrum. The synthesized spectra were found to reproduce the observed spectra reasonably well.

PACS Nos: 32.30Rj, 32.70Cs, 32.80Rm, 34.70+e
Nonstatistical fluctuations of target fragments emitted in high-energy nucleusnucleus collisions
Authors: Abd-Allah N N
Published: July 2002

Analysis of target-fragmented "black" particles in nuclear emulsion from high-energy relativistic interactions initiated by 28Si at 4.5 A GeV/c is investigated. The number of slowly emitted particles from the struck target nucleus is considered as a measure of the degree of excitation of the residual nucleus. This number shows a constant critical value, with the degree of the impact parameter or the degree of excitation. The target evaporation particles of nucleusnucleus interaction reveal the existence of nonstatistical fluctuations in the azimuthal plane of the interaction. The asymmetry or nonstatistical fluctuations, while found to be independent of projectile mass or incident energy, are dependent on the excitation energy of the target nucleus. A multiparticle correlation is observed between created particles as well as target fragments. This assumes production of clusters. These clusters seem to be formed during the decoloring process.

PACS No.: 25.70Mn
Tree canopy displacement at forest gap edges
Authors: Muth Christine C , Bazzaz F A
Published: July 2002

Although plants are sessile organisms, they can forage for resources and avoid neighbors by growing towards areas with high resource availability and reduced competition. Apparently because of this morphological flexibility, tree canopies are rarely positioned directly above their stem bases and are often displaced. To determine if contrasts in light availability lead to the development of canopy displacement, we investigated the responses of tree canopies to the heterogeneous light environments at the edges of six experimental gaps. Canopies and trunks of gap edge trees were mapped, and their spatial distributions were analyzed. We found that tree canopies were displaced towards gap centers. The magnitude and precision of canopy displacement were greater for subcanopy trees than for canopy trees. The magnitude and precision of canopy displacement were generally greater for earlier successional trees and hardwoods than for later successional trees and conifers. Canopy depth was significantly greater on gap-facing sides of trees than on forest-facing sides of trees. Thus, trees along gap edges foraged for light by occupying both horizontal and vertical gap space. This morphological flexibility has implications for individual plant success, as well as forest structure and dynamics.
Altered coronary and cardiac adrenergic response in the failing hamster heart: role of cyclooxygenase derivatives
Authors: Brousseau Danica , Desjardins Jean-François , Jasmin Gaëtan , Dumont Louis
Published: July 2002

Although the influence of the adrenergic system has been studied in the presence of heart failure, controversies still exist. Since cyclooxygenase derivatives appear to modulate coronary and cardiac adaptation in the failing heart, we hypothesized that cyclooxygenase derivatives may participate in the altered adrenergic responses in this situation. Isolated hearts from cardiomyopathic (UM-X7.1 subline) and normal hamsters, aged >240 days, were utilized. Coronary and cardiac response to α1-, β1-, and β2-adrenergic stimulations was observed before and after pretreatment with indomethacin, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor. Reduction of coronary flow elicited by α1-adrenergic stimulation was unchanged in the presence of heart failure, while β1- and β2-induced vasodilatations were reduced. Inotropic response to α1 and β1 stimulations were also reduced in failing hearts, while β2-adrenergic action was unchanged. Pretreatment with indomethacin exacerbated coronary flow reduction observed with α1 stimulation in failing hearts only. β2-induced coronary vasodilatation and inotropic response to α1 and β2 stimulations were impaired similarly in the presence of indomethacin in normal and failing hearts. The results suggest a complex interaction between adrenergic and cyclooxygenase activation.Key words: adrenergic, cyclooxygenase, heart failure, coronary flow, cardiac dynamics.
Nutritional condition and survival of red foxes with sarcoptic mange
Authors: Newman Tabetha J , Baker Philip J , Harris Stephen
Published: July 2002

We aimed to compare body condition, urine profiles, and survival times between red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) that were infected with sarcoptic mange and others that were uninfected. First we compared the relative body mass, chest girth, fat reserves, and urinary urea nitrogen:creatinine (UN:C) ratios of red foxes in three infection classes: uninfected, class I (no hyperkeratotic mange), and class II (hyperkeratotic mange present). Infected foxes had lower relative body mass and lower fat reserves than uninfected foxes. Both fat reserves and urinary UN:C data suggested that class II infection was more severe than class I infection. Urinary UN:C in class II foxes was significantly higher than in uninfected and class I foxes, indicating accelerated muscle catabolism in class II foxes. Elevated urinary UN:C has never been recorded in wild canids, indicating that these animals had been subjected to a period of prolonged starvation or chronic undernourishment. We also estimated the survival time of foxes once infected with mange from capturemarkrecapture data. Twenty-five foxes were caught at an early stage of infection and had a known date of death. Although some were treated once with ivermectin they did not recover, and their survival time was no longer than that of untreated infected foxes. Untreated infected adults survived for up to 271 days after capture, which is longer than previously suggested. Overall, the survival time of infected foxes was roughly one-fifth of that of uninfected foxes (matched by age and sex).
QUANTUM STOCHASTIC ANALYSIS VIA WHITE NOISE OPERATORS IN WEIGHTED FOCK SPACE
Authors: CHUNG DONG MYUNG , JI UN CIG , OBATA NOBUAKI
Published: July 2002

White noise theory allows to formulate quantum white noises explicitly as elemental quantum stochastic processes. A traditional quantum stochastic differential equation of Itô type is brought into a normal-ordered white noise differential equation driven by lower powers of quantum white noises. The class of normal-ordered white noise differential equations covers quantum stochastic differential equations with highly singular noises such as higher powers or higher order derivatives of quantum white noises, which are far beyond the traditional Itô theory. For a general normal-ordered white noise differential equation unique existence of a solution is proved in the sense of white noise distribution. Its regularity properties are investigated by means of weighted Fock spaces interpolating spaces of white noise distributions and associated characterization theorems for S-transform and for operator symbols.
DISORDERED GROUND STATES OF CLASSICAL LATTICE MODELS
Authors: RADIN CHARLES
Published: July 2002

We use strictly ergodic dynamical systems to describe two methods for constructing short range interactions of classical statistical mechanics models with unique ground states and unusual properties of disorder; in particular, these ground states can be mixing under translations (and therefore have purely continuous spectrum), and can have positive entropy. Because of the uniqueness of the ground state the disorder is not of the usual type associated with local degeneracy.
The Born–Oppenheimer Approximation: Straight-Up and with a Twist
Authors: Herrin J. , Howland J. S.
Published: July 2002

The problem of calculating asymptotic series for low-lying eigennvalues of Schrödinger operators is solved for two classes of such operators. For both models, a version of the Born–Oppenheimer Approximation is proven. The first model considered is the family [Formula: see text] in L2(ℝ,ℋ) where H(x):ℋ→ℋ has a simple eigenvalue less than zero. The second model considered is a more specific family ℍε=-ε4Δ+H(r,ω) in [Formula: see text] where the eigenprojection P(ω) of [Formula: see text] is associated with a non-trivial, or "twisted," fibre bundle. The main tools are a pair of theorems that allow asymptotic series for eigenvalues to be corrected term by term when a family of operators is perturbed.