bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical significance of DJ‐1 as a secretory molecule: retrospective study of DJ‐1 expression at mRNA and protein levels in ductal carcinoma of the breast
Authors: Tsuchiya Benio , Iwaya Keiichi , Kohno Norio , Kawate Takahiko , Akahoshi Tohru , Matsubara Osamu , Mukai Kiyoshi
Published: March 2012

Tsuchiya B, Iwaya K, Kohno N, Kawate T, Akahoshi T, Matsubara O & Mukai K  (2012) Histopathology 61, 69–77

Clinical significance of DJ‐1 as a secretory molecule: retrospective study of DJ‐1 expression at mRNA and protein levels in ductal carcinoma of the breast

Aims:  DJ‐1 is a molecule secreted into serum by some breast cancer cells. However, little is known about the clinical significance of the DJ‐1 expression.

Methods and results:  Expression of DJ‐1 protein was examined by immunohistochemistry, and expression of DJ‐1 mRNA was detected using in‐situ hybridization in 273 invasive ductal carcinomas (IDCs) and 41 ductal carcinomas in situ (DCISs) of the breast, and also in breast cancer cell lines. Breast cancer cells were examined for their secretion of DJ‐1 using immunoblot analysis. By immunohistochemistry DJ‐1 protein expression was lower than adjacent non‐cancerous epithelium in 6 (14.6%) of the 41 DCISs and 146 (53%) of the 273 IDCs, even although all 314 carcinomas retained expression of DJ‐1 mRNA, which was higher than that in adjacent non‐cancerous epithelium in 220 cases (70%). Patients with IDC whose cancer cells showed low expression of DJ‐1 protein had significantly shorter disease‐free survival (P = 0.0152) and overall survival (P = 0.0196) than those whose cancer cells retained DJ‐1 expression. MDA‐MB‐231 cells, which secreted DJ‐1, showed low expression of DJ‐1 protein.

Conclusions:  Low expression of DJ‐1 protein with high expression of its mRNA, which may reflect a secretory expression pattern, is predictive of poor outcome in patients with IDC.
Neuropilin‐2 expression in cancer
Authors: Jubb Adrian M , Sa Susan M , Ratti Navneet , Strickland Laura A , Schmidt Maike , Callahan Christopher A , Koeppen Hartmut
Published: March 2012

Jubb A M, Sa S M, Ratti N, Strickland L A, Schmidt M, Callahan C A & Koeppen H  (2012) Histopathology 61, 340–349

Neuropilin‐2 expression in cancer

Aims:  Neuropilin‐2 is a coreceptor for vascular endothelial growth factor family members. Blockade of neuropilin‐2 is able to suppress lymphogenous metastasis in preclinical models. The aim of this study was to validate a protocol for the evaluation of neuropilin‐2 protein expression in situ, by comparison with in‐situ hybridization, western blotting, and mRNA expression levels.

Methods and results:  Immunohistochemistry was performed on normal human tissues, and whole sections for 79 primary non‐small‐cell lung carcinomas, 65 primary breast carcinomas, 79 primary colorectal cancers, and 52 metastases. Neuropilin‐2 expression was observed in lymphatic and blood vessels from all normal and malignant tissues examined. In addition, 32% of primary non‐small‐cell lung carcinomas, 15% of primary breast carcinomas and 22% of primary colorectal cancers showed tumour cell expression. Fifty‐five primary and nine secondary malignant melanomas were also examined for neuropilin‐2 expression by in‐situ hybridization. All showed vascular expression, and 85% of primary malignant melanomas showed tumour cell expression.

Conclusions:  In the majority of lung, breast and colorectal cancers, the effects of anti‐neuropilin‐2 are likely to be restricted to the vasculature. These results will assist in pharmacokinetic evaluations, tolerability assessments and the choice of setting to evaluate the activity of anti‐neuropilin‐2 therapies.
High nuclear poly‐(ADP‐ribose)‐polymerase expression is prognostic of improved survival in pancreatic cancer
Authors: Klauschen Frederick , von Winterfeld Moritz , Stenzinger Albrecht , Sinn Bruno V , Budczies Jan , Kamphues Carsten , Bahra Marcus , Wittschieber Daniel , Weichert Wilco , Striefler Jana , Riess Hanno , Dietel Manfred , Denkert Carsten
Published: March 2012

Klauschen F, von Winterfeld M, Stenzinger A, Sinn B V, Budczies J, Kamphues C, Bahra M, Wittschieber D, Weichert W, Striefler J, Riess H, Dietel M & Denkert C  (2012) Histopathology 61, 409–416

High nuclear poly‐(ADP‐ribose)‐polymerase expression is prognostic of improved survival in pancreatic cancer

Aims:  Poly‐(ADP‐ribose)‐polymerases (PARPs) act as post‐translational modifiers of proteins that are mainly involved in the DNA repair machinery, and have recently been shown to be predictive of pathologically complete remission after chemotherapy in breast cancer. In the pancreas, PARP expression has so far only been studied in inflammatory conditions. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the relevance of PARP in pancreatic cancer.

Methods and results:  Cytoplasmic and nuclear PARP expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry in a population‐based cohort of 178 adenocarcinomas of the pancreas and correlated with clinicopathological parameters. We found that low‐level nuclear expression of PARP is associated with a poor prognosis (median survival 9.6 versus 14.5 months, P = 0.004).

Conclusions:  Our analysis shows that nuclear PARP is an independent prognostic marker with respect to standard clinicopathological parameters. These results suggest that PARP should be further explored as a predictive factor with respect to conventional chemotherapy and concepts of PARP inhibitor therapy in pancreatic cancer.
Women’s perceptions and experiences of group cognitive behaviour therapy and other group interventions for postnatal depression: a qualitative synthesis
Authors: Scope Alison , Booth Andrew , Sutcliffe Paul
Published: March 2012

scope a., booth a. & sutcliffe p. (2012) Women’s perceptions and experiences of group cognitive behaviour therapy and other group interventions for postnatal depression: a qualitative synthesis. Journal of Advanced Nursing68(9), 1909–1919.

Aim.  This paper is a report of a systematic review that aimed to synthesize qualitative evidence relating to women’s perceptions and experiences of group cognitive behaviour therapy and other group interventions for postnatal depression.

Background.  Postnatal depression may occur in women following childbirth, resulting in a range of distressing symptoms such as sadness, fatigue, and feelings of inability to look after their baby. Women tend to prefer psychological interventions. However, access to individual psychological therapy is limited by cost, waiting times, and availability of therapists.

Data sources.  A comprehensive literature search was conducted in 17 major psychological, medical, health‐related and health economics electronic bibliographic databases.

Design.  A qualitative evidence synthesis was conducted using thematic synthesis.

Review methods.  Databases were searched from 1966–January 2008. A total of 116 full papers were screened against the inclusion criteria. Included papers were quality assessed. The original review protocol was restricted to evidence on group cognitive behaviour therapy. However, due to the paucity of evidence, the inclusion criteria were broadened to include other group interventions. A thematic synthesis was undertaken of the data extracted from the included papers.

Results.  Six studies were included. Specific benefits were that treatment enabled women to develop better relationships with their baby and understand postnatal depression. Negative aspects of treatment included difficulties in applying cognitive behavioural techniques, and unfavourable social comparisons with other group members.

Conclusions.  Women have contrasting perceptions and experiences of group treatment. This suggests that greater attention should be focused on identifying those most likely to benefit from these treatments in a group environment.
Do perceived high performance work systems influence the relationship between emotional labour, burnout and intention to leave? A study of Australian nurses
Authors: Bartram Timothy , Casimir Gian , Djurkovic Nick , Leggat Sandra G. , Stanton Pauline
Published: March 2012

bartram t., casimir g., djurkovic n., leggat s.g. & stanton p. (2012) Do perceived high performance work systems influence the relationship between emotional labour, burnout and intention to leave? A study of Australian nurses. Journal of Advanced Nursing68(7), 1567–1578.

Aims.  The purpose of this article was to explore the relationships between perceived high performance work systems, emotional labour, burnout and intention to leave among nurses in Australia.

Background.  Previous studies show that emotional labour and burnout are associated with an increase in intention to leave of nurses. There is evidence that high performance work systems are in association with a decrease in turnover. There are no previous studies that examine the relationship between high performance work systems and emotional labour.

Design.  A cross‐sectional, correlational survey.

Methods.  The study was conducted in Australia in 2008 with 183 nurses. Three hypotheses were tested with validated measures of emotional labour, burnout, intention to leave, and perceived high performance work systems. Principal component analysis was used to examine the structure of the measures. The mediation hypothesis was tested using Baron and Kenny’s procedure and the moderation hypothesis was tested using hierarchical regression and the product‐term.

Results.  Emotional labour is positively associated with both burnout and intention to leave. Burnout mediates the relationship between emotional labour and intention to leave. Perceived high performance work systems negatively moderates the relationship between emotional labour and burnout. Perceived high performance work systems not only reduces the strength of the negative effect of emotional labour on burnout but also has a unique negative effect on intention to leave.

Conclusion.  Ensuring effective human resource management practice through the implementation of high performance work systems may reduce the burnout associated with emotional labour. This may assist healthcare organizations to reduce nurse turnover.
Socialisation of new graduate nurses to practising nurses
Authors: Feng Rung‐Fen , Tsai Yun‐Fang
Published: March 2012

Aims.  The aim of this study was to explore the socialisation experiences of new graduate baccalaureate nurses to practising nurses.

Background.  How nurses contend with the stress of their professional role has been of interest to both researchers and healthcare administrators over the past 30 years. Work stress of clinical nurses comes mainly from organisational and professional factors. However, few studies have explored the professional and organisational socialisation experiences of new graduate nurses.

Design.  A qualitative descriptive approach was adopted.

Methods.  Participants were graduates of a baccalaureate nursing programme and employed full time at four medical centres in Taiwan, their first full‐time work experience. Data were collected through semi‐structured, open‐ended, in‐depth interviews, which were transcribed verbatim and analysed by content analysis. Three themes were identified: overwhelming chaos, learning by doing and being an insider.

Results.  Although the professional socialisation process was hard for the new graduate nurses, they needed much time to increase their knowledge and clinical skills to fulfil clinical needs. However, the hardest work was the organisational socialisation process, which involved fitting into the bureaucratic system, such as maintaining interpersonal relationships with colleagues and familiarising themselves with the ward rules and culture. Neophyte nurse participants were also frustrated by the conflict between professional and organisational values.

Conclusions.  The study findings show that the transition from new graduate nurse to practising nurse was stressful for these participants, particularly due to the clash between the professional value of patient‐oriented nursing care and the organisational value of task‐oriented nursing.

Relevance to clinical practice.  Senior clinical nurses can consider this study’s descriptions of new graduate nurses’ experiences to help them become insiders and provide quality care.
Factors influencing patients with stage 5 chronic kidney disease to opt for conservative management: a practitioner research study
Authors: Johnston Sheila , Noble Helen
Published: March 2012

Aims and objectives.  This study explored decision‐making experiences of patients with stage 5 chronic kidney disease when opting for conservative management of their renal failure.

Background.  Dialysis is an invasive treatment, and for some older patients, there is an associated treatment burden of dialysis‐related symptoms. An alternative choice is conservative management, but little is known about those who make this decision and how they are supported through the process.

Design.  Qualitative practitioner research study.

Method.  Data were generated from nine patients’ naturally occurring clinic consultations with a renal clinical nurse specialist between May 2010 – July 2010. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and findings fed back at three multi‐disciplinary meetings to check for relevance and resonance. Common themes were identified and codes applied.

Results.  Patients reported age and having to travel three times a week to hospital for dialysis as reasons not to opt for treatment. Others felt well without dialysis not wanting to upset the ‘status quo’ or to burden loved ones. Most felt equipped to make the decision following explanation and discussion with the clinical nurse specialist in the renal clinic.

Conclusions.  Patients opting for conservative management give numerous reasons for this including old age, travel limitations, feeling well without dialysis and not wanting to be a burden, but appear content with their decision. One‐to‐one discussions with the clinical nurse specialist appear helpful during the decision‐making process presenting an opportunity for advancing nursing roles in the chronic kidney disease service.

Relevance to clinical practice.  Understanding patients’ reasons for refusing dialysis assists in supporting until death. There is an opportunity for developing nursing practice to meet the multi‐faceted needs of this group.
Maternal Mood and Neuroendocrine Programming: Effects of Time of Exposure and Sex
Authors: Vedhara K. , Metcalfe C. , Brant H. , Crown A. , Northstone K. , Dawe K. , Lightman S. , Smith G. D.
Published: March 2012

Adverse exposures that influence growth in prenatal and early postnatal periods are considered to influence vulnerability to chronic diseases via their effects on the neuroendocrine system. In humans, the assessment of the underlying mechanisms has been restricted. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of adverse early‐life exposures, specifically maternal mood, on hypothlamic‐pituitary‐adrenal (HPA) axis, sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) responses to an acute physiological stressor. In addition, we conducted a preliminary examination into whether these effects varied by time of exposure and sex. One hundred and thity‐nine individuals (mean age 15.12 years) were recruited from the ALSPAC (Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children) birth cohort. Participants underwent the CO2 stress test and indices of the PNS, SNS and HPA axis were measured. Pre‐existing data on demographic and psychosocial factors of the mothers during pregnancy (18 and 32 weeks) and postnatally (8 weeks and 8 months) were extracted, as were participants’ clinical and demographic data at birth. Increases in both pre‐ and postnatal anxiety and depression were associated with greater SNS reactivity to the stressor and slower recovery, as well as blunted HPA axis responses. Programming effects on the SNS appeared to be restricted to male offspring only. No consistent relationships were evident for any of the measures of pre‐stress function. We have found preliminary evidence that both pre‐ and postnatal maternal anxiety and depression have sustained programming effects on the SNS and HPA axis. Effects on the SNS were restricted to male offspring.
Therapeutic efficacy of acotiamide in patients with functional dyspepsia based on enhanced postprandial gastric accommodation and emptying: randomized controlled study evaluation by real‐time ultrasonography
Authors: Kusunoki H. , Haruma K. , Manabe N. , Imamura H. , Kamada T. , Shiotani A. , Hata J. , Sugioka H. , Saito Y. , Kato H. , Tack J.
Published: March 2012

Background  Improvement in subjective symptoms has been reported in functional dyspepsia (FD) patients administered with acotiamide. Improvement was confirmed in meal‐related symptoms, such as postprandial fullness, upper abdominal bloating, and early satiety. We examined the mechanism underlying the effects of acotiamide on gastric accommodation reflex (GAR) and gastroduodenal motility in FD patients.

Methods  Thirty‐four FD patients (mean age, 40.4 years) were examined ultrasonographically before and after 14–18 days of acotiamide (100 mg t.i.d.) or placebo administration. To assess GAR, expansion rate in cross‐sectional area of the proximal stomach was measured after every 100‐mL ingestion, using a straw, of up to 400 mL of a liquid meal (consommé soup, 13.1 kcal; 400 mL) in a supine position. Next, we measured gastric emptying rate (GER), motility index (MI, antral contractions), and reflux index (RI, duodenogastric reflux) to assess gastroduodenal motility. Patients also completed a survey based on the seven‐point Likert scale both before and after drug administration.

Key Results  Of the 37 cases, 19 and 18 were administered with acotiamide and placebo A respectively, significant difference was observed in GAR between the acotiamide and placebo groups (21.7%vs 4.4%) after 400 mL ingestion. GER significantly accelerated after treatment in the acotiamide group (P = 0.012), no significant differences were observed in MI and RI between the two groups. Improvement rates were 35.3 and 11.8% for the acotiamide and placebo groups.

Conclusions & Inferences  Acotiamide significantly enhances GAR and GER in FD patients. Acotiamide may have therapeutic potential for FD patients.
An abietane diterpenoid is a potent activator of systemic acquired resistance
Authors: Chaturvedi Ratnesh , Venables Barney , Petros Robby A. , Nalam Vamsi , Li Maoyin , Wang Xuemin , Takemoto Larry J. , Shah Jyoti
Published: March 2012

Abietane diterpenoids are major constituents of conifer resins that have important industrial and medicinal applications. However, their function in plants is poorly understood. Here we show that dehydroabietinal (DA), an abietane diterpenoid, is an activator of systemic acquired resistance (SAR), which is an inducible defense mechanism that is activated in the distal, non‐colonized, organs of a plant that has experienced a local foliar infection. DA was purified as a SAR‐activating factor from vascular sap of Arabidopsis thaliana leaves treated with a SAR‐inducing microbe. Locally applied DA is translocated through the plant and systemically induces the accumulation of salicylic acid (SA), an important activator of defense, thus leading to enhanced resistance against subsequent infections. The NPR1 (NON‐EXPRESSOR OF PR GENES1), FMO1 (FLAVIN‐DEPENDENT MONOOXYGENASE1) and DIR1 (DEFECTIVE IN INDUCED RESISTANCE1) genes, which are critical for biologically induced SAR, are also required for the DA‐induced SAR, which is further enhanced by azelaic acid, a defense priming molecule. In response to the biological induction of SAR, DA in vascular sap is redistributed into a SAR‐inducing ‘signaling DA’ pool that is associated with a trypsin‐sensitive high molecular weight fraction, a finding that suggests that DA‐orchestrated SAR involves a vascular sap protein(s).
Immunological effects and tolerability of a new fast updosed immunologically enhanced subcutaneous immunotherapy formulation with optimized allergen/adjuvant ratio
Authors: Pfaar O. , Jung K. , Wolf H. , Decot E. , Kleine‐Tebbe J. , Klimek L. , Wüstenberg E.
Published: March 2012

Background

Subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) traditionally includes an updosing phase injecting increasing doses of allergen over a period of several weeks, followed by a maintenance phase. To establish shorter and more convenient updosing schedules, a fast updosed immunologically enhanced SCIT formulation has been developed by optimizing the allergen/adjuvant (aluminium hydroxide) ratio.

Methods

In a randomized, controlled, parallel‐group trial, patients with grass pollen induced rhinoconjunctivitis with/without asthma were treated with an immunologically enhanced SCIT formulation (AVANZ, ALK, Denmark). The trial included updosing with five injections (300, 600, 3000, 6000 and 15 000 SQ+) injected either in weekly interval (Group 1) or in 3–4 days interval (Group 2) followed by two maintenance injections (15 000 SQ+), approximately 10 weeks treatment. The immunological effects (primary endpoint) and tolerability (secondary endpoint) of the updosing schedules were evaluated.

Results

Four hundred patients were treated (Group 1: 201, Group 2: 199). In both groups, an immunological response with statistically significant increases in levels of IgE‐blocking factor, IgG4 and IgE (P < 0.001), was induced from baseline to end of trial. Most frequently reported adverse events were local injection site reactions such as injection site swellings (Group 1: 30% of patients, Group 2: 41% of patients). Other frequently reported adverse events included systemic reactions (Group 1: 21% of patients, Group 2: 33% of patients), primarily mild to moderate allergic rhinitis and urticaria.

Conclusions

Fast updosed immunologically enhanced SCIT with an optimized allergen/adjuvant ratio induced significant immunological effects and had an acceptable safety profile. Clinical efficacy will be investigated in future clinical trials.
Respiratory viral infections during the first 28 days after transplantation in pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients
Authors: Lee Ji Hyun , Jang Ja‐Hyun , Lee Soo Hyun , Kim Yae‐Jean , Yoo Keon Hee , Sung Ki‐Woong , Lee Nam Yong , Ki Chang‐Seok , Koo Hong Heo
Published: March 2012

Respiratory viruses (RVs) are a known cause of morbidity and mortality after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). In this retrospective study, we focused on the first 28 d after transplantation in pediatric HSCT recipients and showed that a multiplex PCR assay significantly increased RV detection compared with a viral culture method. Among 176 pediatric HSCT recipients, 84 with respiratory symptoms within one yr after HSCT were tested by viral culture or multiplex PCR. Within 28 d after HSCT, nine patients were infected with RVs; the incidence of a first episode of RV infection within 28 d after HSCT was 5.1%. Eight patients recovered without complications. However, one patient died of adenovirus (AdV) pneumonia with pulmonary hemorrhage; the mortality rate of RV infection within 28 d after HSCT was 0.57%.

In the nine patients with RV infection, five different types of RV were identified, either alone or with another RV. These were corona virus (CoV), rhinovirus (RhV) and respiratory syncytial virus combined with CoV; AdV combined with RhV; and parainfluenza virus. Viral culture detected only one case of RV infection, while multiplex PCR detected eight, suggesting that screening of respiratory infections using multiplex PCR is better than the conventional culture method.
Myositis due to the microsporidian Anncaliia (Brachiola) algerae in a lung transplant recipient
Authors: Field A.S. , Paik J.Y. , Stark D. , Qiu M.R. , Morey A. , Plit M.L. , Canning E.U. , Glanville A.R.
Published: March 2012

Microsporidia are obligate intracellular parasites, more closely related to fungi than protozoa on molecular phylogenetic analysis, and are known to be a rare cause of opportunistic infection in immune compromised patients including human immunodeficiency virus‐positive patients and solid organ transplant recipients. We report the first case to our knowledge of microsporidial myositis in a lung transplant recipient. He was 49 years old and had received a lung transplant in 2000 for cystic fibrosis. He presented in 2009 with fevers, chronic diarrhea, myalgia, and pancytopenia, and developed progressive weakness and neurological symptoms before his death 35 days after hospital admission. Multiple investigations, including stool culture, rectal biopsy, colonoscopy, cerebrospinal fluid examination, bone marrow biopsy, lung biopsy, and bronchoalveolar lavage, failed to reveal a definite cause for the patient's deterioration. The diagnosis of microsporidial infection was made on post‐mortem light microscopic examination of tissue sections of the tongue and deltoid muscle. Light microscopy diagnosed a microsporidial myositis, confirmed by transmission electron microscopy, which suggested that the organism was Brachiola species. The identity of the organism was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction as Brachiola algerae (recently renamed Anncaliia algerae). The case highlights the need to consider protozoal organisms in the differential diagnosis of myalgia and multisystemic infections in immune compromised patients.
Tubular and endothelial chimerism in renal allografts using fluorescence and chromogenic in situ hybridization (FISH, CISH) technology
Authors: Varga Zsuzsanna , Gaspert Ariana , Behnke Silvia , von Teichman Adriana , Fritzsche Florian , Fehr Thomas
Published: March 2012

The role of endothelial and tubular chimerism in renal allograft adaptation and rejection varies in different studies. We addressed the correlation between different clinico‐pathological settings and sex‐chromosomal endothelial and/or tubular chimerism in renal allografts. We examined the presence or absence of the X and Y chromosomes by fluorescence and chromogenic in situ hybridization (FISH, CISH) methodology on paraffin embedded kidney biopsies in 16 gender mismatched renal transplants (1 to 12 years post‐transplantation). Twelve patients were male, four female. Four groups were selected: (i) Vascular calcineurin inhibitor toxicity without rejection; (ii) T‐cell mediated vascular rejection; (iii) antibody mediated rejection; and (iv) C4d‐positivity in AB0‐incompatible transplants with or without rejection. Twelve non‐transplant kidney biopsies (8 female, 4 male) were used as controls. Tubular chimerism was detected more frequently (69%) than endothelial chimerism (12%) in renal transplants. One of 12 control patients had tubular and endothelial chimeric cells (8%). The Y chromosome occurred in 8/12 male recipients (67%) in tubular epithelial cells and in 5/12 male recipients (42%) in endothelial cells. Double X chromosomes were detected in 3/4 female recipients in tubular epithelium. Tubular chimerism occurred more often with endothelial chimerism and capillaritis without correlation with other parameters, such as rejection. Combined Y chromosomal tubular and lymphatic endothelial chimerism correlated with T‐cell mediated vascular rejection in two out of three patients (66%). Combined Y chromosomal tubular and peritubular capillary chimerism correlated with antibody mediated C4d+ rejection in one out of two patients (50%). Tubular and/or endothelial chimerism occur frequently in gender mismatched renal allografts and, when combined, this is associated with T‐cell mediated rejection.
Review of treatment of acute scaphoid fractures: R1
Authors: Hickey Ben , Hak Paul , Logan Andrew
Published: March 2012

Scaphoid fractures are common. Clinical suspicion and early diagnosis and treatment are vital in order to avoid complications such as avascular necrosis. The management of these fractures depends on fracture characteristics, specifically the degree of displacement. With consideration of patient factors, such as occupation, the treatment can be non‐operative or operative. There has been much debate in the recent literature regarding the best management of these fractures. The purpose of this review was to identify the current evidence for non‐operative and operative treatment. Undisplaced and minimally displaced fractures can be managed non‐operatively with a scaphoid cast. Surgical treatment is used for fractures with displacement of >1 mm.
Non‐word repetition in adolescents with specific language impairment (SLI)
Authors: Ebbels Susan H. , Dockrell Julie E. , van der Lely Heather K. J.
Published: March 2012

Abstract  Background: Non‐word repetition (NWR) difficulties are common, but not universal, among children with specific language impairment (SLI). However, older children and adolescents with SLI have rarely been studied. Studies disagree on the relationship between NWR difficulties and difficulties with other areas of language and literacy. There is also no consensus about the underlying reason for the difficulties (some) children with SLI have with NWR. Some scholars argue that difficulties with phonological short‐term memory or storage cause NWR and other language difficulties, whereas others argue that difficulties with NWR may be due more to difficulties with phonological representations.

Aims: To investigate NWR abilities and their relationship to other language and literacy abilities in a group of older children with SLI and typically developing controls. To investigate the relative effects of increasing phonological complexity and the number of syllables on the ability of the participants to repeat non‐words.

Methods & Procedures: An NWR test (The Test of Phonological Structure; TOPhS), which systematically varies phonological complexity, was administered to 15 participants with SLI (aged 11–15 years), 30 language and 15 age controls. Standardized language and literacy tests and a specific test of verb agreement and tense marking (Verb Agreement and Tense Test; VATT) were also administered.

Outcomes & Results: The participants with SLI showed a bimodal distribution: half achieved age‐appropriate NWR, while half scored significantly below language and age controls (d > 7). The two groups of participants with SLI (high versus low scorers) only differed in NWR (d > 5) and agreement (d > 3) and tense marking (d > 2.5), not on the standardized language and literacy measures administered. NWR was also highly correlated with verb agreement (r= 0.97) and tense marking (r= 0.89) among participants with SLI, but not among controls (r= 0.16 and 0.30 respectively). Phonological complexity was related to NWR accuracy, particularly among participants with SLI. The number of syllables had no independent effect on NWR performance for any group.

Conclusions & Implications: Some children with SLI (who have good NWR) have language difficulties unrelated to any of the factors underlying NWR. Others have a (probably additional) deficit which affects NWR and also leads to greater difficulties with verb agreement and tense marking. The results indicate that difficulties with this particular NWR test are more likely to be due to a deficit with phonology per se, rather than with phonological short‐term memory or storage.
Perioperative management of the morbidly obese adolescent with heart failure undergoing bariatric surgery
Authors: Maxwell Bryan G. , Ingrande Jerry , Rosenthal David N. , Ramamoorthy Chandra
Published: March 2012

The incidence and prevalence of adolescent obesity and adolescent heart failure are increasing, and anesthesiologists increasingly will encounter patients with both conditions. A greater understanding of the physiologic challenges of adolescent heart failure as they relate to the perioperative stressors of anesthesia and bariatric surgery is necessary to successfully manage the perioperative risks faced by this growing subpopulation. Here, we present a representative case of a morbidly obese adolescent with heart failure who underwent a laparoscopic bariatric operation and review the limited available literature on perioperative management in this age group. Specifically, we review evidence and offer recommendations related to preoperative evaluation, venous thromboembolism prophylaxis, positioning, induction, airway management, monitoring, anesthetic maintenance, ventilator management, and adverse effects of the pneumoperitoneum, rhabdomyolysis, and postoperative care.
Video multitracking of fish behaviour: a synthesis and future perspectives
Authors: Delcourt Johann , Denoël Mathieu , Ylieff Marc , Poncin Pascal
Published: March 2012

With the development of digital imaging techniques over the last decade, there are now new opportunities to study complex behavioural patterns in fish (e.g. schooling behaviour) and to track a very large number of individuals. These new technologies and methods provide valuable information to fundamental and applied science disciplines such as ethology, animal sociology, animal psychology, veterinary sciences, animal welfare sciences, statistical physics, pharmacology as well as neuro‐ and ecotoxicology. This paper presents a review of fish video multitracking techniques. It describes the possibilities of tracking individuals and groups at different scales, but also outlines the advantages and limitations of the detection methods. The problem of occlusions, during which errors of individual identifications are very frequent, is underlined. This paper summarizes different approaches to improving the quality of individual identification, notably by the development of three‐dimensional tracking, image analysis and probabilistic applications. Finally, implications for fish research and future directions are presented.
WEALTH, ASSET PORTFOLIO, MONEY DEMAND AND POLICY RULE
Authors: Sousa Ricardo M.
Published: March 2012

I look at the linkages between monetary policy and asset wealth using quarterly data for the USA. I show that a positive interest rate shock leads to a fall in aggregate wealth and an important change in portfolio composition: housing wealth gradually decreases, but the effects are very persistent; and financial wealth quickly shrinks, but the impact is short‐lived. I also find that the money market can be characterized as follows: (i) the money demand has a large interest elasticity and a small output elasticity; and (ii) the estimated monetary policy reaction function highlights the special focus given by the central bank to developments in monetary aggregates. These features call for an approach whereby monetary authorities put more emphasis on tracking wealth developments, in particular, given the asset portfolio rebalancing between money holdings and financial and/or housing assets.
Cooking Bolshevik: Anastas Mikoian and the Making of the Book about Delicious and Healthy Food
Authors: GEIST EDWARD
Published: March 2012

Both one of the most iconic cookbooks of all time and one of the strangest, the Kniga o vkusnoi i zdorovoi pishche became the culinary bible of the Soviet household during the mid‐twentieth century. The logical culmination of a decade of Soviet culinary evolution under the leadership of Anastas Mikoian, the original Book about Delicious and Healthy Food is a microcosm of Stalinist civilization that exemplifies the contradictory trends making up Soviet politics and culture in the late 1930s. Drawing on previously unexamined documents from the State Archive of the Russian Federation, Anastas Mikoian's personal papers retained in the Russian State Archive of Socio‐Political History, as well as published primary sources, this article seeks to contextualize the complex tale of the cookbook's origins in a broader narrative of the construction of the Soviet Union's official food culture under Mikoian's leadership during the 1930s.
Incidence and prevalence of Parkinson’s disease in Buenos Aires City, Argentina
Authors: Bauso D. J. , Tartari J. P. , Stefani C. V. , Rojas J. I. , Giunta D. H. , Cristiano E.
Published: March 2012

Background and purpose:  Epidemiologic studies of incidence and prevalence in Parkinson’s Disease (PD) show highly variable results. Despite the large number of studies performed worldwide during the last decades, little is known about its prevalence in South America and no incidence studies have been performed. The goal of this study is to assess the incidence and prevalence of PD in a health maintenance organization from Buenos Aires City, the capital city of Argentina.

Methods:  The population were all members of the ‘Plan de Salud, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires’, a large prepaid health medical organization in Buenos Aires. From 1 January 2003 to 31 December 2008 patients diagnosed with PD according to Brain Bank of London diagnostic criteria were identified retrospectively. Incidence density was calculated with 95% confidence interval.

Results:  Hundred and forty thousand people were followed for a total of 754 082 person‐years. A total of 239 incident cases of PD were identified. Crude incidence density was 31.2/100 000 person‐years. Prevalence was 394/100 000 in the population older than 40 years. Male to female ratio was 1.31.

Conclusions:  This is the first study in South America that estimates the incidence of PD. Our results are consistent with other studies from other regions using similar methodologies.
Cooperation and Capacity? Exploring the Sources and Limits of City‐Region Governance Partnerships
Authors: Nelles Jen
Published: March 2012

Scholarship abounds on the importance of city‐regions to regional and national prosperity, and to the wider global economy. But little is known about their capacity to function as effective, legitimate and robust policy actors. This article begins to address the important question of what determines the governance capacity of city‐regions by unpacking the concepts at the core of this research. It focuses on sources of horizontal capacity as a function of the strength of intermunicipal partnerships. Research suggests a variety of determinants of the strength of inter municipal partnerships, from rational choice to institutional perspectives. This article acknowledges the contribution of these approaches, but argues that none of the approaches presented to date can alone explain observed variations in the strength and capacity of city‐regional partnerships. Instead the article presents an alternative theoretical framework that reimagines and combines existing approaches, and introduces the concept of civic capital as a critical determinant of governance capacity.

De nombreux travaux de recherches soulignent combien les régions métropolitaines sont importantes pour la prospérité régionale et nationale, et pour l'économie mondiale en général. Pourtant, on en sait peu sur leur capacitéà opérer comme acteurs efficaces, légitimes et solides des politiques publiques. En revenant sur les concepts fondamentaux de ces études, l'article traite d'abord un point important: les facteurs déterminants de la capacité de gouvernance des régions métropolitaines. Il s'attache aux sources de capacité horizontale en fonction de la solidité des partenariats intercommunaux. Les études suggèrent tout un éventail de facteurs de cette solidité, allant du choix rationnel aux perspectives institutionnelles. Toutes les approches présentées à ce jour contribuent au débat général, mais aucune ne peut expliquer à elle seule les variations observées dans la solidité et la capacité des partenariats des régions métropolitaines. Un cadre théorique alternatif est présenté dans cet article, permettant de réimaginer et de combiner les approches existantes, tout en introduisant le concept de capital civique comme facteur essentiel de la capacité de gouvernance.
Pikaia gracilensWalcott, a stem‐group chordate from the Middle Cambrian of British Columbia
Authors: Morris Simon Conway , Caron Jean‐Bernard
Published: March 2012

The Middle CambrianPikaia gracilens(Walcott) has an iconic position as a Cambrian chordate, but until now no detailed description has been available. Here on the basis of the 114 available specimens we review its anatomy, confirm its place in the chordates and explore with varying degrees of confidence its relationships to both extant and extinct chordates and other deuterostomes. The body ofPikaiais fusiform, laterally compressed and possesses about 100 myomeres. The head is small, bilobed and bears two narrow tentacles. There is no evidence for eyes. Apart from a thin dorsal fin (without finrays) and a series of at least nine bilaterally arranged appendages with possible pharyngeal pores at the anterior end, there are no other external features. In addition to the musculature the internal anatomy includes an alimentary canal, the anterior of which forms a prominent lenticular unit that is almost invariably preserved in positive relief. The cavity is interpreted as pharyngeal, implying that the mouth itself was almost terminal. The posterior extension of the gut is unclear although the anus appears to have been terminal. The most prominent internal structure is a reflectively preserved unit, possibly hollow, termed here the dorsal organ. Although formerly interpreted as a notochord its position and size make this less likely. Its original function remains uncertain, but it could have formed a storage organ. Ventral to the dorsal organ a narrower strand of tissue is interpreted as representing the nerve chord and notochord. In addition to these structures, there is also evidence for a vascular system, including a ventral blood vessel.

The position ofPikaiain the chordates is largely based on the presence of sigmoidal myomeres, and the more tentative identification of a notochord. In many other respects,Pikaiadiffers from the expected nature of primitive chordates, especially as revealed in amphioxus and the Cambrian record (includingCathaymyrus,Haikouichthys,Metaspriggina,Myllokunmingia, andZhongxiniscus). Whilst the possibility thatPikaiais simply convergent on the chordates cannot be dismissed, we prefer to build a scenario that regardsPikaiaas the most stem‐ward of the chordates with links to the phylogenetically controversial yunnanozoans. This hypothesis has implications for the evolution of the myomeres, notochord and gills. Finally, the wealth of material ofPikaiaindicates that, although by definition there must be some sort of taphonomic imprint, the consistency of preservational details allows a reliable reconstruction of the anatomy and does not significantly erode phylogenetically relevant characters.
Fine‐scale group structure and demography of African savanna elephants recolonizing lands outside protected areas
Authors: Ahlering M. A. , Maldonado J. E. , Fleischer R. C. , Western David , Eggert L. S.
Published: March 2012

Aim Dispersal is a critical component of animal ecology that is poorly understood for most species. In particular, savanna elephants (Loxodonta africana) have been studied for decades in national parks across Africa, but little is known about their dispersal into new or unused habitats or their population dynamics in human‐dominated landscapes. We capitalized on a natural dispersal event of savanna elephants recolonizing communal land in southern Kenya to document their demographic characteristics and genetic relationships.

Location Rift Valley province of Kenya.

Methods We collected faecal samples and used genetic methods to identify individuals, estimate the sex ratio and evaluate the patterns of relatedness within the female groups and male aggregations. We also measured dung bolus circumference to assign age classes to individuals and estimate the age structure.

Results We identified 112 individuals with a sex ratio not different from one (1.32:1.00). The age structure was skewed towards younger elephants (71%), suggesting the potential for rapid growth from reproduction. We detected significantly higher kinship levels within female groups (R = 0.124 ± 0.023), suggesting that family groups colonized the site, but found little support for higher‐order genetic relationships among female groups. Males detected together were unrelated (R = 0.003 ± 0.030).

Main conclusions Our results suggest that highly social mammals, such as savanna elephants, disperse into unoccupied habitat as family groups and that a young demographic structure and a large number of males might be expected in establishing populations. These findings highlight the potential value of indirect, non‐invasive methods for assessing elephant herd and demographic characteristics when direct observations are difficult.
Environmental and topographic variables shape genetic structure and effective population sizes in the endangered Yosemite toad
Authors: Wang Ian J.
Published: March 2012

Aim  Describing the landscape variables that accurately reflect how environmental and topographic variations affect population connectivity and demography is a major goal of landscape genetics and conservation biology. However, few landscape genetics studies have quantified the relationships between landscape variables and effective population size (Ne), although Ne is a key conservation and population genetics parameter. In this study, I estimated genetic structure and effective population sizes in the Yosemite toad (Bufo canorus) and tested for associations with environmental and geographic variables.

Location  Yosemite National Park, California, USA.

Methods  I estimated FST, Dps and Ne using 10 microsatellite loci amplified from 781 individuals from 24 populations. I used three landscape variables (environmental variation, topography and slope) to generate geographic distance models and a series of regression analyses to identify the variables that contributed to genetic structure in this species. I also tested for correlations between Ne and a suite of variables, including geographic and genetic isolation, habitat suitability, elevation, temperature and precipitation.

Results  I found substantial variation in genetic distances between populations (FST = 0.004–0.396, Dps = 0.045–0.839) and in effective population sizes (Ne = 9–52). Environmental variation and slope played important roles in explaining variation in genetic distances, and precipitation variables were significantly correlated with Ne.

Main conclusions  These results show that environmental and topographic variables are both important for understanding population connectivity in B. canorus and provide some of the first evidence, in any species, for a link between environmental variables and effective population size.
Working memory and second language learning
Authors: Wen Zhisheng
Published: March 2012

This book introduces a principled approach to incorporating the construct of working memory (WM) into second language acquisition (SLA) research. Towards that end, I argue for an integrated framework of WM for SLA that draws on insights from established WM research in cognitive psychology as well as initial findings from SLA studies looking into the effects of WM. Within the framework, I also propose a set of general principles that serve as a basis for further studies probing the WM‐SLA nexus. Applying some tenets from this framework, I report on an empirical study investigating the differential effects of WM constructs on L2 task‐based speech planning and performance, culminating in forged links bridging WM components and their corresponding L2 speech performance measures. Further implications of this integrated framework of WM for SLA are also discussed in the context of “WM as foreign language aptitude”.