bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Embryological Basis for Germ Cell Chimerism in Mammals
Authors: Ohno S. , Gropp A.
Published: April 2008

That blood cell chimerism of dizygotic twins is accompanied by germ cell chimerism was suggested by previous demonstrations of the presence of female metaphase figures in the testis of males born twin to genetic females in cattle (Ohno et al., 1962) and the marmoset (Benirschke and Brownhill, 1963). The present findings in cattle on fetal triplets only 12 mm in crown-rump length furnishes the embryological basis for the observed phenomenon of germ cell chimerism. The liver of each triplet contained both male and female metaphase figures; cell chimerism was already established in all three. A histochemical test on alternate serial transverse sections revealed that alkaline-phosphatase-positive primordial germ cells were still in the middle of migration from the yolk sac to the developing gonadal ridges. A number of alkaline-phosphatase-positive cells were found within blood vessels, particularly within the venous sinusoids of the liver. They were interpreted to be primordial germ cells which had wandered into the blood stream.
Sex Chromosomes in the Domestic Fowl (Gallus domesticus), Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) and the Chinese Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)
Authors: Krishan A. , Shoffner R.N.
Published: April 2008

A small W-sex chromosome is described in the female karyotype of the domestic fowl (Gallus domesticus), turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) and pheasant (Phasianus colchicus). In the domestic fowl, the W-chromosome is a small unpaired, metacentric chromosome intermediate in size between the chromosomes of the ninth and the tenth pair. In the female turkey, the W is a sub-metacentric element with an arm ratio of about 1:2 and a size intermediate between that of the sixth and the seventh pairs. In the case of the female pheasant, the Wis an unpaired, sub-metacentric element with an arm ratio of approximately 1:2.4 and a size slightly larger than that of the seventh pair.
The multiple sex chromosome system of American leaf-nosed bats (Chiroptera, Phyllostomidae)
Authors: Hsu T.C. , Baker R.J. , Utakoji T.
Published: April 2008

Karyological examination of 26 species of bats from the family Phyllostomidae revealed two Y chromosomes (XY1Y2) in six species involving three genera. All females are of the XX constitution. Meiotic studies demonstrate the origin of the additional Y in Carollia to be the homolog of an autosome translocated to the X element. The origin of an additional Y in Artibeus is best explained as a separate event. In one species of Artibeus (A. turpis) a centric fusion of the two Y elements is emphatically suggested.
Familial translocation (3?—;G?q+) and nondisjunction of chromosome in group G in two unrelated families
Authors: Soukup Shirley W. , Passarge E. , Becroft D.M.O. , Shaw R.L. , Young L.G.
Published: April 2008

An apparently identical balanced translocation (3?–;G?q+) was observed in two unrelated families. The translocation in both kinships was ascertained through a propositus who had trisomy G Down’s syndrome in addition to the balanced translocation. Although the occurrence of these chromosome abnormalities in the same individuals could have been coincidental, other possible explanations were considered.
Familial extra centric bisatellited chromosome
Authors: Armendares S. , Buentello L. , Cuevas-Sosa A. , Cantú-Garza J.M.
Published: April 2008

We present a family with a normal chromosome complement plus a tiny centric fragment with satellites on both arms in some of the members in which the proband was a child with regular G1 trisomy plus the abnormal chromosome. The authors believe that a translocation between the short arms of two acrocentric chromosomes is the most plausible mechanism to explain the sequence of events.
Diploid-triploid chimerism in a bovine true hermaphrodite
Authors: Dunn H.O. , McEntee K. , Hansel W.
Published: April 2008

Chromosomal analyses of several tissues of a bovine true hermaphrodite revealed a diploid XX/triploid XXY chimerism. This is believed to be the first report of an established triploid cell line in Bos taurus. Only XX diploid or near diploid cells were seen in the first 300 metaphases from cultured peripheral blood, but a single 88, XXY metaphase was found when an additional 400 metaphases were scored. Three diploid XXY cells, analogous to human Klinefelter cells, and 221 diploid or near diploid XX cells were seen in 224 bone-marrow metaphases. Only the diploid XX cell line was observed in 200 metaphases from a skin specimen. The triploid cell line would have gone undetected if only 200 metaphases per culture of blood, skin and bone marrow had been examined. This finding illustrates the ease with which chimerism can be overlooked in some extreme cases. The triploid cell line was present in the kidneys, right prefemoral lymph node, uterus and gonads. The incidence of triploid cells was significantly higher in mesodermal tissues of the right side homolateral to the ovotestis and significantly higher in the testicular portion of the ovotestis (P < 0.001).
DNA synthesis in duplicate-type sex chromosomes of the Indian house shrew, Suncus murinus (Insectivora)
Authors: Rao S.R.V. , Sharma V.K. , Shah V.C.
Published: April 2008

Replication patterns of the duplicate-type sex chromosomes have been studied in bone-marrow cells in vivo and fetal cells in vitro of the Indian house shrew, Suncus murinus. The sex chromosomes start their replication along with the rest of the chromosomes in the early S but show asynchrony in the late S phase. The Y chromosome finishes its DNA synthesis earlier than the X chromosome and the autosomes in male bone-marrow and fetal cells. On the other hand, the X chromosomes in female cells behave differently in bone-marrow and fetal cells. One of the X’s replicates early in fetal cells. But there is no definite pattern in bone-marrow cells – the X chromosomes can replicate either early or late. The duplicate-type X chromosome of Suncus is unique among mammals in its replication; the pattern does not conform to the hypothesis that except 5% of the haploid complement residing in the X chromosome is functional. The correlation between genetic activity and late or early replication is discussed. It is proposed that heteropycnosis is merely a reflection of out-of-phase replication and not necessarily genetic inertness.
X-Trisomy in cattle with signs of familial disposition for meiotic disturbances
Authors: Rieck G.W. , Höhn H. , Herzog A.
Published: April 2008

For the first time a case of X-trisomy (XXX-gonosome aberration) in a Fleckvieh-heifer is reported. Cytogenetic examination of leukocytes and tissue cultures from the skin of this animal gave in 100% of the examined cells the karyotype 2N = 61, XXX. Except for a pronounced kyphosis of the lumbar column, there were no clinical symptoms. Sex organs and sexual function showed nothing peculiar. The teratogram from the father of the XXX-heifer showed genetical connections in the etiology of kyphosis. It seems also that in the family line an inherent genetical disposition to meiotic disturbances, in the sense of non-disjunction, exist because recently a case of an XXY-gonosome abnormality with bilateral testicle hypoplasia (bovine hypogonadism) was registered in the second generation of the father’s breed.
Pachytene analysis of human acrocentric chromosomes
Authors: Bordjadze V.K. , Prokofieva-Belgovskaya Alexandra A.
Published: April 2008

Analysis of pachytene chromosomes in testicular tissue of 11 subjects was conducted. A total of 158 acrocentric bivalents from group D and 50 from group G were studied. It was established that each of these five acrocentric bivalents showed a characteristic chromomere pattern, that is, number, size, shape, staining intensity, and tendency to aggregation versus disaggregation between adjacent or homologous chromomeres. Specificity of chromomere organization in acrocentric bivalents at the pachytene stage might provide a basis for their identification.
Meiosis in the Djungarian hamster
Authors: Pogosianz Helen E. , Brujako Emilia T.
Published: April 2008

Polyploid spermatocytes were found in air-dried meiotic preparations of 8 of 10 adult males of the Djungarian hamster (Phodopus sungorus campbelli Thomas). Most of them were tetraploid spermatocytes I or diploid spermatocytes II, but cells of higher ploidy have also been found. It is argued that polyploid spermatocytes are not artifacts and that the most probable cause of their formation is fusion of cells at pachytene and soon after metaphase I.
Sex-chromatin formation in pre-implantation rabbit embryos
Authors: Plotnick F. , Klinger H.P. , Kosseff A.L.
Published: April 2008

Sex-chromatin frequency and cell number were determined for 250 rabbit embryos recovered 58 to 136 h after fertilization and consisting each of about 40 to 23,000 cells. Of the 37 embryos recovered up to 83 h after fertilization, all but one, an exceptionally large embryo, were sex chromatin negative. Three of the 99 embryos recovered between 84 and 99 h after fertilization had sex-chromatin frequencies exceeding 10% Sex-chromatin frequency increased rapidly between 100 and 120 h post-fertilization, reaching a maximum (up to 87%) in some embryos at 114 to 136 h after fertilization. Nuclei containing sex chromatin were uniformly distributed throughout the embryos. The frequency of sex-chromatin bodies not located at the nuclear periphery increased more rapidly during development than did the frequency of peripheral sex chromatin. These observations agree in general with previous reports and with the expectation, based on the Lyon hypothesis, that up to a certain early stage in the development of female mammals both X chromosomes are isopycnotic and presumably genetically active.
Observations on human somatic chromosomes treated with hyaluronidase
Authors: Iino A.
Published: April 2008

By means of hyaluronidase (1 mg in 100 ml of distilled water), the spiral structure of human somatic chromsomes was studied in cultured leukocytes. The number of chromonemata forming a chromatid is two. The coiled chromonemata seem to exist embedded in the matrix. The chromonemata at the centromere and secondary constriction are, in general, slender and uncoiled. Satellited regions and secondary constrictions always appear to be single stranded.
The sex chromosomes of the Chinese hamster: constitutive heterochromatin deficient in repetitive DNA sequences
Authors: Arrighi F.E. , Hsu T.C. , Pathak S. , Sawada H.
Published: April 2008

Portions of constitutive heterochromatin of the Chinese hamster Cricetulus griseus, do not appear to contain a disproportionately high amount of repeated DNA sequences. These specific regions are the long arm of the X chromosome, the entire Y chromosome, and the centromeric region of chromosome 10. Other heterochromatic areas of the Chinese hamster chromosomes showed localization of repetitious DNA.
Nonrandom association between a specific autosome and the X chromosome in meiosis of the male mouse: possible consequence of the homologous centromeres’ separation
Authors: Forejt J.
Published: April 2008

A nonrandom association is described between chromosome No. 15, which is involved in the T(14;15)6Ca translocation, and the X chromosome in diakinesis/ metaphase I plates of the male mouse. The tight attachment of centromeric heterochromatin (CH) regions of chromosomes X and 15 is predominantly found in those primary spermatocytes in which the distance between the homologous CH regions of the No. 15s exceeds some critical value. The rule holds true for both T6 homozygotes (i.e., for those of their primary spermatocytes displaying two 15t univalents) and T6 heterozygotes (i.e., for translocation configurations “III + I” and certain types of “chain-of-four” quadrivalents). The tight X-15 CH association is highly specific, since out of 1540 primary spermatocytes of the T6 heterozygotes, only 3 showed the tight X-14 CH association. In contrast to the tight CH attachment, the frequency of loose X-15 chromosome association does not show dependence upon the centromere separation of the No. 15s. The nature of the described CH association remains to be clarified; for the present, it seems that the occurrence of a nucleolus organizer on the translocated chromosome 15t presumably plays a role in the causal mechanism of the loose X-15t CH association. Some circumstantial evidence indicates the adverse effect of the observed tight CH attachment on the course of spermatogenesis.
Sex-chromosome replication in blood cells of XX/XY chimeric marmosets
Authors: McLaren A.
Published: April 2008

A late-replicating X chromosome has been identified in XX blood cells from marmoset XX/XY blood chimeras of both sexes. The Y chromosome did not replicate late in XY cells from either sex.
Observations and a Model of Undertow over the Inner Continental Shelf
Authors: Lentz Steven J. , Fewings Melanie , Howd Peter , Fredericks Janet , Hathaway Kent
Published: April 2008

Onshore volume transport (Stokes drift) due to surface gravity waves propagating toward the beach can result in a compensating Eulerian offshore flow in the surf zone referred to as undertow. Observed offshore flows indicate that wave-driven undertow extends well offshore of the surf zone, over the inner shelves of Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, and North Carolina. Theoretical estimates of the wave-driven offshore transport from linear wave theory and observed wave characteristics account for 50% or more of the observed offshore transport variance in water depths between 5 and 12 m, and reproduce the observed dependence on wave height and water depth.

During weak winds, wave-driven cross-shelf velocity profiles over the inner shelf have maximum offshore flow (1–6 cm s−1) and vertical shear near the surface and weak flow and shear in the lower half of the water column. The observed offshore flow profiles do not resemble the parabolic profiles with maximum flow at middepth observed within the surf zone. Instead, the vertical structure is similar to the Stokes drift velocity profile but with the opposite direction. This vertical structure is consistent with a dynamical balance between the Coriolis force associated with the offshore flow and an along-shelf “Hasselmann wave stress” due to the influence of the earth’s rotation on surface gravity waves. The close agreement between the observed and modeled profiles provides compelling evidence for the importance of the Hasselmann wave stress in forcing oceanic flows. Summer profiles are more vertically sheared than either winter profiles or model profiles, for reasons that remain unclear.
Through a Glass Darkly: Consequences of a Politicized Past in Contemporary Turkey
Authors: Göçek Fatma Müge
Published: April 2008

The resolution of the three major political problems faced by the contemporary Turkish nation-state— namely, the massacres of the Armenians in the past, the treatment of the Kurds at present, and the contested partition of the island of Cyprus—has become increasingly urgent as these problems have started to impede Turkey's chances of joining the European Union and also of becoming more democratic. Yet, since the Turkish nation-state commences its own official historical narrative with either the Independence Struggle in 1919 or the subsequent establishment of the Republic of Turkey in 1923, it subsequently approaches these “Armenian, Kurdish, and Cyprus issues” as totally disparate and mutually independent, and in an ahistorical manner, resulting in increased entrenchment of the conflicts. The article argues that challenging the temporal boundaries of this Turkish official narrative by delving into its “prehistory,” namely, the period preceding 1919 or 1923, reveals not only the common origin of all of these issues but also a possible peaceful solution to them all as well as for a more democratic Turkey.
Transient Bilateral Oculomotor Palsy in Pseudotumor Cerebri
Authors: Thapa Rajoo , Mukherjee Swapan
Published: April 2008

Pseudotumor cerebri is a clinical condition marked by papilledema, normal cerebrospinal fluid composition, normal or small ventricles on radiography, and absence of an intracranial mass. In this condition, headache, tinnitus, dizziness, blurred vision, and diplopia are frequently observed. The cause is often unknown but can occur with certain drug ingestions or systemic inflammatory and metabolic diseases. The treatment is primarily focused on the correction of the underlying cause with measures to reduce the raised intracranial pressure. The most important complication is optic atrophy, which results in visual loss. The sixth cranial nerve is most commonly affected. The involvement of the third cranial nerve is distinctly unusual. The present report describes a unique case of bilateral oculomotor palsy with sparing of the papillary fibers. It resolved promptly on administration of acetazolamide.
African American Adolescent Perceptions of Vulnerability and Resilience to HIV
Authors: Glenn Betty L. , Wilson Kathleen P.
Published: April 2008

HIV/AIDS is growing at a disproportional rate among African American adolescents. This trend has occurred despite the fact that 89% of schools have educational programs on HIV/AIDS. Barriers to effective HIV prevention may be related to a failure to develop educational programs based on the cultural competencies of vulnerable populations such as adolescents who are at risk for HIV. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore African American adolescent perceptions of vulnerability and resilience to HIV/AIDS within a cultural competency paradigm. A group of 8 adolescents at an African American church participated in a focus group to discuss vulnerability and resilience to HIV. To facilitate discussion, the adolescents developed collages from pictures in African American magazines. Content analysis was used to identify themes. The themes revealed were confidence, safe social activities, innocence, image, music/drug culture, and peer pressure.
Exploring Implementation and Fidelity of Evidence-Based Behavioral Interventions for HIV Prevention: Lessons Learned From the Focus on Kids Diffusion Case Study
Authors: Galbraith Jennifer S. , Stanton Bonita , Boekeloo Bradley , King Winifred , Desmond Sharon , Howard Donna , Black Maureen M. , Carey James W.
Published: April 2008

Evidence-based interventions (EBIs) are used in public health to prevent HIV infection among youth and other groups. EBIs include core elements, features that are thought to be responsible for the efficacy of interventions. The authors evaluate experiences of organizations that adopted an HIV-prevention EBI, Focus on Kids (FOK), and their fidelity to the intervention's eight core elements. A cross-sectional telephone survey was administered to 34 staff members from organizations that had previously implemented FOK. Questions assessed how the organization adhered to, adapted, dropped, or altered the intervention. None of the organizations implemented all eight core elements. This study underscores the importance for HIV intervention researchers to clearly identify and describe core elements. More effort is needed to reflect the constraints practitioners face in nonresearch settings. To ensure intervention effectiveness, additional research and technical assistance are needed to help organizations implement HIV prevention EBIs with fidelity.
Drugs (including oxygen) in severe COPD
Authors: Albert P. , Calverley P. M. A.
Published: April 2008

Access to comprehensive guidelines on the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is now available, and several treatment goals of therapy have been identified from these guidelines, which have since been studied in clinical trials.

Drug therapy is a key component of an individual patient’s management plan, particularly in more severe disease. During the past few years, a number of new drug treatments have become available, although these are not always appropriately prescribed; this is particularly the case for oxygen.

For patients with a history of exacerbations, there is good evidence for the use of inhaled long-acting anticholinergic agents or combined inhaled steroids and long-acting β-agonists. Evidence for prophylactic antibiotics and antioxidant agents is lacking. Nutritional and calorie supplementation have not been shown to improve exercise capacity. Statins may improve outcomes in COPD, but prospective trials are needed to confirm this.

The evidence for the use of long-term oxygen therapy in hypoxaemic patients is robust. Ambulatory oxygen improves exercise capacity, but whether it is used appropriately is in doubt. Overall, short burst oxygen therapy does not offer a benefit and therefore cannot be recommended.
Supervised and induced sputum among patients with smear-negative pulmonary tuberculosis
Authors: Chang K. C. , Leung C. C. , Yew W. W. , Tam C. M.
Published: April 2008

Sputum culture is essential for monitoring drug resistance. Although sputum induction may optimise culture yield, better selection criteria and simpler algorithms are needed for countries with intermediate tuberculosis burdens.

From a cohort of 660 patients who registered for antituberculosis treatment in a government chest clinic from May 21, 2005 to February 28, 2007, 187 patients with pulmonary disease and a negative smear in two unsupervised sputum specimens were enrolled prospectively for collection of one specimen each of supervised and induced sputum in succession.

Among enrolled patients, induced sputum significantly improved ease of expectoration on a subjective five-point scale. Among 78 patients with culture-proven pulmonary tuberculosis, analysis of matched sputum culture results showed that: 1) induced sputum outperformed supervised sputum; 2) the second unsupervised sputum was significantly inferior to the first and redundant in the presence of the others; 3) adding one specimen each of supervised and induced sputum to two unsupervised specimens increased culture yield significantly; and 4) patients with either extent of disease less than right upper lobe or no respiratory symptoms were more likely to benefit.

In summary, it may be practical to collect a sample of unsupervised, supervised and induced sputum for smear-negative patients with extent of disease less than the right upper lobe, especially when respiratory symptoms are absent.
Development of new genomic microsatellite markers from robusta coffee (Coffea canephoraPierre ex A. Froehner) showing broad cross-species transferability and utility in genetic studies
Authors: Hendre Prasad Suresh , Phanindranath Regur , Annapurna V , Lalremruata Albert , Aggarwal Ramesh K
Published: April 2008

Background

Species-specific microsatellite markers are desirable for genetic studies and to harness the potential of MAS-based breeding for genetic improvement. Limited availability of such markers for coffee, one of the most important beverage tree crops, warrants newer efforts to develop additional microsatellite markers that can be effectively deployed in genetic analysis and coffee improvement programs. The present study aimed to develop new coffee-specific SSR markers and validate their utility in analysis of genetic diversity, individualization, linkage mapping, and transferability for use in other related taxa.

Results

A small-insert partial genomic library ofCoffea canephora, was probed for various SSR motifs following conventional approach of Southern hybridisation. Characterization of repeat positive clones revealed a very high abundance of DNRs (1/15 Kb) over TNRs (1/406 kb). The relative frequencies of different DNRs were found as AT >> AG > AC, whereas among TNRs, AGC was the most abundant repeat. The SSR positive sequences were used to design 58 primer pairs of which 44 pairs could be validated as single locus markers using a panel of arabica and robusta genotypes. The analysis revealed an average of 3.3 and 3.78 alleles and 0.49 and 0.62 PIC per marker for the tested arabicas and robustas, respectively. It also revealed a high cumulative PI over all the markers using both sib-based (10-6and 10-12for arabicas and robustas respectively) and unbiased corrected estimates (10-20and 10-43for arabicas and robustas respectively). The markers were tested for Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, linkage dis-equilibrium, and were successfully used to ascertain generic diversity/affinities in the tested germplasm (cultivated as well as species). Nine markers could be mapped on robusta linkage map. Importantly, the markers showed ~92% transferability across related species/genera of coffee.

Conclusion

The conventional approach of genomic library was successfully employed although with low efficiency to develop a set of 44 new genomic microsatellite markers of coffee. The characterization/validation of new markers demonstrated them to be highly informative, and useful for genetic studies namely, genetic diversity in coffee germplasm, individualization/bar-coding for germplasm protection, linkage mapping, taxonomic studies, and use as conserved orthologous sets across secondary genepool of coffee. Further, the relative frequency and distribution of different SSR motifs in coffee genome indicated coffee genome to be relatively poor in microsatellites compared to other plant species.
Human bite injuries in the oro-facial region at the Muhimbili National Hospital, Tanzania
Authors: Shubi Farrid M , Hamza Omar JM , Kalyanyama Boniphace M , Simon Elison NM
Published: April 2008

Background

Human bites in the maxillofacial region compromise function and aesthetics, resulting in social and psychological effects. There is paucity of information regarding human bite injuries in Tanzania. The aim of the study was to assess the occurrence, treatment modalities and prognosis of human bite injuries in the oro-facial region at the Muhimbili National Hospital Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Methods

In a prospective study the details of patients with human bite injuries in the oro-facial region who attended at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery of the Muhimbili National Hospital between January 2001 and December 2005 were recorded. Data included information on age, sex, site, duration of the injury at the time of reporting to hospital, reasons, details of treatment offered and outcome after treatment.

Results

A total of 33 patients, 13 males and 20 females aged between 12 and 49 years with human bite injuries in the oro-facial region were treated. Thirty patients presented with clean uninfected wounds while 3 had infected wounds. The most (45.5%) frequently affected site was the lower lip. Treatment offered included thorough surgical cleansing with adequate surgical debridement and primary suturing. Tetanus prophylaxis and a course of broad-spectrum antibiotics were given to all the patients. In 90% of the 30 patients who were treated by suturing, the healing was uneventful with only 10% experiencing wound infection or necrosis. Three patients who presented with wounds that had signs of infection were treated by surgical cleansing with debridement, antibiotics and daily dressing followed by delayed primary suturing.

Conclusion

Most of the human bite injuries in the oro-facial region were due to social conflicts. Although generally considered to be dirty or contaminated they could be successfully treated by surgical cleansing and primary suture with a favourable outcome. Management of such injuries often need multidisciplinary approach.
Treatment with pioglitazone induced significant, reversible mitral regurgitation
Authors: Dorkhan Mozhgan , Dencker Magnus , Frid Anders
Published: April 2008

There has in recent years been great concern about possible cardiac side effects of thiazolidinediones (TZDs). We present a case-report of a 60 year-old male who developed significant mitral regurgitation during six months treatment with pioglitazone in parallel with laboratory indications of fluid retention. Echocardiography six months after discontinuation of medication showed regression of mitral regurgitation and the laboratory parameters were also normalized. It is noteworthy that six months treatment with pioglitazone could induce significant valve dysfunction, which was reversible, and this underlines the importance of carefully monitoring patients when placing them on treatment with TZDs.
An uncommon presentation for a severe invasive infection due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus clone USA300 in Italy: a case report
Authors: Valentini Piero , Parisi Gabriella , Monaco Monica , Crea Francesca , Spanu Teresa , Ranno Orazio , Tronci Mirella , Pantosti Annalisa
Published: April 2008

Background

Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has been considered for many years a typical nosocomial pathogen. Recently MRSA has emerged as a frequent cause of infections in the community. More commonly, community-acquired (CA)-MRSA is a cause of infections of the skin and soft-tissues, but life-threatening infections such as necrotizing pneumonia and sepsis can occasionally occur.

Case presentation

This report describes an uncommon presentation of invasive CA-MRSA infection in an adolescent without known risk factors. The presentation was typical for bacterial meningitis, but the clinical findings also revealed necrotizing pneumonia. Following the development of deep venous thrombosis, the presence of an inherited trombophilic defect (factor V Leiden) was detected. The patient was successfully treated with an antibiotic combination including linezolid and with anticoagulant therapy. CA-MRSA was isolated from both cerebrospinal fluid and blood. The isolates were resistant to oxacillin and other beta-lactam antibiotics and susceptible to the other antibiotics tested including erythromycin. Molecular typing revealed that the strains contained the Panton-Valentine leukocidin genes and type IV SCCmec, and were ST8, spa type t008, and agr type 1. This genetic background is identical to that of the USA300 clone.

Conclusion

This report highlights that meningitis can be a new serious presentation of CA-MRSA infection. CA-MRSA strains with the genetic background of the USA300 clone are circulating in Italy and are able to cause severe infections.
The Reflux Disease Questionnaire: a measure for assessment of treatment response in clinical trials
Authors: Shaw Michael , Dent John , Beebe Timothy , Junghard Ola , Wiklund Ingela , Lind Tore , Johnsson Folke
Published: April 2008

Background

Critical needs for treatment trials in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) include assessing response to treatment, evaluating symptom severity, and translation of symptom questionnaires into multiple languages. We evaluated the previously validated Reflux Disease Questionnaire (RDQ) for internal consistency, reliability, responsiveness to change during treatment and the concordance between RDQ and specialty physician assessment of symptom severity, after translation into Swedish and Norwegian.

Methods

Performance of the RDQ after translation into Swedish and Norwegian was evaluated in 439 patients with presumed GERD in a randomized, double-blind trial of active treatment with a proton pump inhibitor.

Results

The responsiveness was excellent across three RDQ indicators. Mean change scores in patients on active treatment were large, also reflected in effect sizes that ranged from a low of 1.05 (dyspepsia) to a high of 2.05 (heartburn) and standardized response means 0.99 (dyspepsia) and 1.52 (heartburn). A good positive correlation between physician severity ratings and RDQ scale scores was seen. The internal consistency reliability using alpha coefficients of the scales, regardless of language, ranged from 0.67 to 0.89.

Conclusion

The results provide strong evidence that the RDQ is amenable to translation and represents a viable instrument for assessing response to treatment, and symptom severity.
Detained – what's my choice? Part 1: Discussion
Authors: Roberts Glenn , Dorkins Eluned , Wooldridge James , Hewis Elaine
Published: April 2008

Choice, responsibility, recovery and social inclusion are concepts guiding the ‘modernisation’ and redesign of psychiatric services. Each has its advocates and detractors, and at the deep end of mental health/psychiatric practice they all interact. In the context of severe mental health problems choice and social inclusion are often deeply compromised; they are additionally difficult to access when someone is detained and significant aspects of personal responsibility have been temporarily taken over by others. One view is that you cannot recover while others are in control. We disagree and believe that it is possible to work in a recovery-oriented way in all service settings. This series of articles represents a collaborative dialogue between providers and consumers of compulsory psychiatric services and expert commentators. We worked together, reflecting on the literature and our own professional and personal experience to better understand how choice can be worked with as a support for personal recovery even in circumstances of psychiatric detention. We were particularly interested to consider whether and how detention and compulsion could be routes to personal recovery. We offer both the process of our co-working and our specific findings as part of a continuing dialogue on these difficult issues.
How to implement a smoke-free policy
Authors: Cormac Irene , McNally Lisa
Published: April 2008

It takes courage, leadership and planning to successfully implement a smoke-free policy in mental health settings. The content of the policy is crucial in setting parameters for implementation. Management and clinicians should work closely together to develop and coordinate the implementation strategy, ensuring that resources are effectively used and deadlines are met. Key success factors are effective management at both central and local levels, as well as consultation with service users, carers and staff to gain support for the policy and obtain suggestions for improvement. Other important factors are advance planning, recruitment of experienced staff, effective communication and extensive training of staff in smoking cessation support. Local teams should develop appropriate procedures based on the policy. They should work closely with the central management team. The resources developed and obtained by local teams should be shared throughout the organisation and should be tailored to meet the needs of particular services.
Problem psychiatrists?
Authors: Margerison Neil
Published: April 2008

This article focuses mainly on issues regarding doctors' clinical
performance (capability) and behaviour (conduct), and is aimed at medical
managers who deal them. It covers identifying problems and how to manage
them, describes typical underpinning (disciplinary) frameworks and sets out
the role of the UK's National Clinical Assessment Service and other external
bodies in more serious cases.
Deliberate practice and CPD in psychiatry
Authors: Bhugra Dinesh
Published: April 2008

Deliberate practice (the seeking of situations in which one's skills are
challenged and thus improved) is key to the acquisition of clinical
expertise. This editorial outlines the philosophy of deliberate practice and
potential difficulties in making use of it in psychiatry.
Psychiatry and the arts: new interfaces?
Authors: Green Jonathan
Published: April 2008

I discuss the productive interface between psychiatry and the arts in the
20th century and ask whether such an interface is likely to remain as
vibrant into the 21st. I review how new models of mental functioning that
have an impact on current psychiatric practice have a wider cultural
relevance. This editorial looks forward to a series of articles in future
issues of APT which will explore some of these ideas in
more detail.
Smoking by people with mental illness and benefits of smoke-free mental health services
Authors: Campion Jonathan , Checinski Ken , Nurse Jo , McNeill Ann
Published: April 2008

Smoking is the largest single cause of preventable illness in the UK. Those with mental health problems smoke significantly more and are therefore at greater risk. The new Health Act (2006) will require mental health facilities in England to be completely smoke-free by 1st July 2008. This article reviews the current literature regarding how smoking affects both the physical and mental well-being of people with mental health problems. It also considers the effects of smoke-free policy in mental health settings.
Disability and treatment of specific mental and physical
disorders across the world
Authors: Ormel Johan , Petukhova Maria , Chatterji Somnath , Aguilar-Gaxiola Sergio , Alonso Jordi , Angermeyer Matthias C. , Bromet Evelyn J. , Burger Huibert , Demyttenaere Koen , de Girolamo Giovanni , Haro Josep Maria , Hwang Irving , Karam Elie , Kawakami Norito , Lépine Jean Pierre , Medina-Mora María Elena , Posada-Villa José , Sampson Nancy , Scott Kate , Üstün T. Bedirhan , Von Korff Michael , Williams David R. , Zhang Mingyuan , Kessler Ronald C.
Published: April 2008

Background

Advocates of expanded mental health treatment assert that mental
disorders are as disabling as physical disorders, but little evidence
supports this assertion.

Aims

To establish the disability and treatment of specific mental and physical
disorders in high-income and low- and middle-income countries.

Method

Community epidemiological surveys were administered in 15 countries
through the World Health Organization World Mental Health (WMH) Survey
Initiative.

Results

Respondents in both high-income and low- and middle-income countries
attributed higher disability to mental disorders than to the commonly
occurring physical disorders included in the surveys. This pattern held
for all disorders and also for treated disorders. Disaggregation showed
that the higher disability of mental than physical disorders was limited
to disability in social and personal role functioning, whereas disability
in productive role functioning was generally comparable for mental and
physical disorders.

Conclusions

Despite often higher disability, mental disorders are under-treated
compared with physical disorders in both high-income and in low- and
middle-income countries.
Prevalence of common mental disorders in general practice attendees across Europe
Authors: King Michael , Nazareth Irwin , Levy Gus , Walker Carl , Morris Richard , Weich Scott , Bellón-Saameño Juan Ángel , Moreno Berta , Švab Igor , Rotar Danica , Rifel J. , Maaroos Heidi-Ingrid , Aluoja Anu , Kalda Ruth , Neeleman Jan , Geerlings Mirjam I. , Xavier Miguel , de Almeida Manuel Caldas , Correa Bernardo , Torres-Gonzalez Francisco
Published: April 2008

Background

There is evidence that the prevalence of common mental disorders varies across Europe.

Aims

To compare prevalence of common mental disorders in general practice attendees in six European countries.

Method

Unselected attendees to general practices in the UK, Spain, Portugal, Slovenia, Estonia and The Netherlands were assessed for major depression, panic syndrome and other anxiety syndrome. Prevalence of DSM–IV major depression, other anxiety syndrome and panic syndrome was compared between the UK and other countries after taking account of differences in demographic factors and practice consultation rates.

Results

Prevalence was estimated in 2344 men and 4865 women. The highest prevalence for all disorders occurred in the UK and Spain, and lowest in Slovenia and The Netherlands. Men aged 30–50 and women aged 18–30 had the highest prevalence of major depression; men aged 40–60 had the highest prevalence of anxiety, and men and women aged 40–50 had the highest prevalence of panic syndrome. Demographic factors accounted for the variance between the UK and Spain but otherwise had little impact on the significance of observed country differences.

Conclusions

These results add to the evidence for real differences between European countries in prevalence of psychological disorders and show that the burden of care on general practitioners varies markedly between countries.
Predicting violent reconvictions using the HCR-20
Authors: Gray Nicola S. , Taylor John , Snowden Robert J.
Published: April 2008

Background

Risk assessment of future violent acts is of great importance for both public protection and care planning. Structured clinical assessments offer a method by which accurate assessments could be achieved.

Aims

To test the efficacy of the Historical, Clinical and Risk Management Scales (HCR–20) structured risk assessment scheme on a large sample of male forensic psychiatric patients discharged from medium secure units in the UK.

Method

In a pseudo-prospective study, 887 male patients were followed for at least 2 years. The HCR-20 was completed using only pre-discharge information, and violent and other offending behaviour post-discharge was obtained from official records.

Results

The HCR–20 total score was a good predictor of both violent and other offences following discharge. The historical and risk sub-scales were both able to predict offences, but the clinical sub-scale did not produce significant predictions. The predictive efficacy was highest for short periods (under 1 year) and showed a modest fall in efficacy over longer periods (5 years).

Conclusions

The results provide a strong evidence base that the HCR–20 is a good predictor of both violent and non-violent offending following release from medium secure units for male forensic psychiatric patients in the UK.
Using intervention trials in developmental psychiatry to
illuminate basic science
Authors: Green Jonathan , Dunn Graham
Published: April 2008

We discuss the nature of intervention in developmental psychiatry and the
implication of this for clinical trials. New ideas in the design of
randomised trials for complex interventions, along with recent statistical
advances in causal analysis, give such trials additional potential as a
means by which to study the basic science of complex developmental
disorders. The challenge for designers of trials is to model designs
effectively to make best use of these new opportunities. We give examples of
how this might be done and discuss implications for future trials designs in
the area.
Direct referrals from social services to community teams for older people with mental illness
Authors: Das Sujata , Bouman Walter P.
Published: April 2008

Aims and Method

The aim of the study was to evaluate the open referral system from social services to a community mental health team (CMHT) for older people. Referral letters from social services to the specialist team were reviewed, as were the case notes.

Results

Of the 40 referrals, 95% (n=38) were accepted by the CMHT. Only 15% (n=6) fulfilled the team's existing referral criteria. The majority of referrals (n=36, 90%) had details of the patient's mental health problems. None of the referrals with memory problems had a cognitive assessment. Of the 38 referrals accepted by the CMHT, 36 were found to be suffering from a mental illness. The open referral system from social services did not increase the total number of annual referrals.

Clinical Implications

Social services play an important role in identifying and referring older people with mental illness and ensure a potentially rapid referral route bypassing primary care. The practice of accepting direct referrals from social services should be encouraged and made an integral part of the referral system.
The quality of internet information on depression for lay people
Authors: Ferreira-Lay Phil , Miller Steve
Published: April 2008

Aims and Method

To examine the quality of information concerning depression available on the internet, identify factors associated with ‘good’ quality, and develop a simple-to-use instrument for assessing websites on depression. The Depression-Website Content Checklist was developed and compared with a previously validated, yet too complex, scale. Websites were assessed using both instruments.

Results

Good quality information is more likely to be found on websites provided by governmental, professional and charitable organisations. The differences we observed in the median scores for these websites using the Depression-Website Content Checklist are significant at the 0.05 level (Ctot; Mann–Whitney, U=24.00; P=0.013). The Depression-Website Content Checklist is a valid and reliable user-friendly tool.

Clinical Implications

Patients can be directed towards better quality information by diverting them to public and non-sponsored websites. Clinicians can use the Depression-Website Content Checklist to determine website quality.
Isolation and Partial Characterization of Four Fluorophores Formed by Nonenzymatic Browning of Methylglyoxal and Glutamine‐derived Ammonia
Authors: Niquet Celine , Pilard Serge , Mathiron David , Tessier Frederic J.
Published: April 2008

An aqueous solution of L‐glutamine (50 mmol/L) and methylglyoxal (100 mmol/L) was incubated at 120°C for 3 h in a 200 mmol/L phosphate buffer (pH 7.4). Four major fluorophores were revealed on the HPLC chromatogram. The same four fluorophores were obtained from the heating of a mixture of ammonia and methylglyoxal. After purification and concentration, they were structurally characterized by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI‐MS) using the high resolution and tandem mass spectrometry capabilities of a quadrupole time‐of‐flight MS. The accurate mass measurement of their [M+H]+ ions, the MS fragment patterns, and the presence of one to two nitrogen indicate the formation of fluorophores with molecular formulas of C7H7NO3, C8H9NO3, C12H14N2O4, and C12H14N2O5. These results show that, in an aqueous solution, free glutamine undergoes a rapid degradation, leading to the formation of ammonia which reacts with methylglyoxal to form fluorescent heterocyclic Maillard products.
Peroxyl Radicals Are Essential Reagents in the Oxidation Steps of the Maillard Reaction Leading to Generation of Advanced Glycation End Products
Authors: Spiteller Gerhard
Published: April 2008

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are incorporated in all membranes of mammalian and plant cells and are extremely sensitive to oxygen. This property is used in nature to respond to any changes in cell membrane structure. In the first step of a response, lipid hydroperoxide molecules are generated. An increasing impact switches the enzymatic reaction to a nonenzymatic one by generation of lipid peroxyl radicals, which attack sugars by oxidation. In the course of these reactions, hydrogen peroxyl radicals are generated, resembling lipid peroxyl radicals in their reactivity. The reactions induced by these radicals are not under genetic control, they attack nearly all types of biological molecules (such as proteins, lipids, and sugars), and are responsible for the deleterious cell alterations in aging and age‐related diseases (such as diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, or atherosclerosis) and probably also in autoimmune diseases, which involve sugars at the cell membranes. Lipid peroxidation processes are induced by heating fats, meat, and other nutritional products. The oxidation products generated by consumption of heated food cause damage of mammalian cells. The deleterious reactions can be partly reduced by consumption of plants and/or algae. These contain, among other well‐known antioxidants, furan fatty acids, which are important scavengers of peroxyl radicals.