bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Health commodities management system: priorities and challenges
Authors: Ibegbunam Innocent , McGill Deborah 
Published: September 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore opinions of health workers on priorities and challenges of the HIV/AIDS commodities management system in Abuja, Nigeria. The results from this research are to inform future guideline revisions on the management of these commodities, in order to produce the most efficient and cost‐effective approach.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative research was conducted from a social constructionist perspective. Purposive sampling was used to recruit 12 health workers, comprising pharmacists, laboratory scientists and logisticians involved in HIV/AIDS commodity management in Abuja, Nigeria. Views and experiences of these workers were explored on HIV/AIDS commodity management through in‐depth interviews, to ascertain challenges of the current system and needed interventions. The data were subjected to thematic content analysis.FindingsResults of the study include the need for coordinated and integrated health commodity management system, sustainable human resource and infrastructure development and an effective data management system to address current challenges.Research limitations/implicationsThe data collection approach did not provide an opportunity for idea exchange and review in a focused group and the number of respondents was limited to 12 due to time constraints. However, the respondents were experts in the field.Practical implicationsGovernment needs to commit financial resources to support of the health supply chain to ensure sustainability beyond donor support. Donors should change their strategy of “quick fix” approach to health supply chain challenges, as these often result in Government laxity in addressing public health needs.Originality/valueThe paper provides insight into areas on which the Government of Nigeria should focus attention in health supply chain strategy, which is currently perceived as not coordinated.
Gains from coordination in milkfed dairy in Punjab
Authors: Gupta Kanupriya , Roy Devesh 
Published: September 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide an assessment of benefits to farmers from vertical coordination in dairy. To analyze this, the authors first document the functioning of the cooperative (and changes thereof with increased competition). The paper also uses a field survey to quantify the benefits. In the process, the authors investigate the issue of selection/participation of farmers.Design/methodology/approachThis paper is largely based on a survey of households in two districts of Indian Punjab along with secondary data. Descriptive as well as regression analyses have been conducted to address the research questions.FindingsThe paper presents several key findings. First, the public sector enterprise has been dynamic as competition from private sector has brought favorable changes. There is also evidence of negative selection of farmers implying that those who join dairy cooperatives would have significantly inferior outcomes outside vis‐à‐vis the ones who actually are independent. No bias against farmers by their herd size and significant gains upon participation can explain the scaling up from the demand side. In other words many farmers would find it profitable to become members of the cooperative.Research limitations/implicationsAlthough the survey was extensive in measurement of costs by including variable and fixed costs of production, marketing as well as transaction costs, the data on fixed costs turned out to be noisy. Further, the analysis based on cross‐sectional data could not account for unobserved farmer level individual heterogeneity. Also, the outside option for the farmer in this paper is to be independent. It is possible that this could be integration with private sector, a case that the study does not cover.Social implicationsBenefits from coordination should motivate policies for promoting it. The finding that increased competition has fostered dynamism in the public sector has implications far beyond the case studied here.Originality/valueDespite the extensive system of cooperatives, there do not exist rigorous studies that assess the gains to farmers from this type of horizontal and vertical coordination. The extent of gains establishes a measure of foregone earnings since the supply chains in India remain uncoordinated.
Actinobacteria as essential symbionts in firebugs and cotton stainers (Hemiptera, Pyrrhocoridae)
Authors: Salem Hassan , Kreutzer Elisabeth , Sudakaran Sailendharan , Kaltenpoth Martin 
Published: September 2012

SummaryActinobacteria engage in defensive symbioses with several insect taxa, but reports of nutritional contributions to their hosts have been exceptionally rare. Cotton stainers (Dysdercus fasciatus) and red firebugs (Pyrrhocoris apterus) (both Hemiptera, Pyrrhocoridae) harbour the actinobacterial symbionts Coriobacterium glomerans and Gordonibacter sp. as well as Firmicutes (Clostridium sp. and Lactococcus sp.) and Proteobacteria (Klebsiella sp. and a Rickettsiales bacterium) in the M3 region of their mid‐gut. We combined experimental manipulation with community‐level analyses to elucidate the function of the gut symbionts in both pyrrhocorid species. Elimination of symbionts by egg‐surface sterilization resulted in significantly higher mortality and reduced growth rates, indicating that the microbial community plays an important role for host nutrition. Fitness of symbiont‐deprived bugs could be completely restored by re‐infection with the original microbiota, while reciprocal cross‐infections of microbial communities across both pyrrhocorid species only partially rescued fitness, demonstrating a high degree of host–symbiont specificity. Community‐level analyses by quantitative PCRs targeting the dominant bacterial strains allowed us to link the observed fitness effects to the abundance of the two actinobacterial symbionts. The nutritional mutualism with Actinobacteria may have enabled pyrrhocorid bugs to exploit Malvales seeds as a food source and thereby possibly allowed them to occupy and diversify in this ecological niche.
Vancomycin‐resistant enterococci in rooks (Corvus frugilegus) wintering throughout Europe
Authors: Oravcova Veronika , Ghosh Anuradha , Zurek Ludek , Bardon Jan , Guenther Sebastian , Cizek Alois , Literak Ivan 
Published: September 2012

SummaryThis study's aims were to assess the prevalence of, and to characterize, vancomycin‐resistant enterococci (VRE) from rooks (Corvus frugilegus) wintering in Europe during 2010/2011. Faeces samples were cultivated selectively for VRE and characterized. Pulsed‐field gel electrophoresis and multilocus sequence typing (MLST) were used to examine epidemiologic relationships of vanA‐containing VRE. The vanA‐carrying VRE were tested in vitro for mobility of vancomycin resistance traits. VRE were found in 62 (6%) of 1073 rook samples. Enterococcal species diversity comprised Enterococcus gallinarum (48 isolates), followed by E. faecium (9) and E. faecalis (5). Eight VRE harboured the vanA and ermB genes. Seven vanA‐carrying VRE originated from the Czech Republic and one from Germany. All vanA‐carrying VRE were identified as E. faecium. Based on MLST analysis, six vanA‐positive isolates were grouped as ST92 type, one isolate belonged to ST121, and the remaining one was described as a novel type ST671. Seven out of eight isolates were able to transfer the vancomycin resistance trait via filter mating with a transfer rate of 8.95 ± 3.25 × 10−7 transconjugants per donor. In conclusion, wintering rooks in some European countries may disseminate clinically important enterococci and pose a risk for environmental contamination.
Clone libraries and single cell genome amplification reveal extended diversity of uncultivated magnetotactic bacteria from marine and freshwater environments
Authors: Kolinko Sebastian , Wanner Gerhard , Katzmann Emanuel , Kiemer Felizitas , M. Fuchs Bernhard , Schüler Dirk 
Published: September 2012

SummaryMagnetotactic bacteria (MTB), which orient along the earth's magnetic field using magnetosomes, are ubiquitous and abundant in marine and freshwater environments. Previous phylogenetic analysis of diverseMTBhas been limited to few cultured species and the most abundant and conspicuous members of natural populations, which were assigned to various lineages of theProteobacteria, theNitrospiraephylum as well as the candidate divisionOP3. However, their known phylogenetic diversity still not matches the large morphological and ultrastructural variability of unculturedMTBfound in environmental communities. Here, we used analysis of 16S rRNAgene clone libraries in combination with microsorting and whole‐genome amplification to systematically address the entire diversity of unculturedMTBfrom two different habitats. This approach revealed extensive and novel diversity ofMTBwithin the freshwater and marine sediment samples. In total, single‐cell analysis identified eight different phylotypes, which were only partly represented in the clone libraries, and which could be unambiguously assigned to their respective morphotypes. IdentifiedMTBbelonged to theAlphaproteobacteria(seven species) and theNitrospiraephylum (two species). End‐sequencing of a small insert library created fromWGA‐derivedDNAof a novel conspicuous magnetotactic vibrio identified genes with highest similarity to two cultivatedMTBas well as to other phylogenetic groups. In conclusion, the combination of metagenomic cloning and single cell sorting represents a powerful approach to recover maximum bacterial diversity including low‐abundant magnetotactic phylotypes from environmental samples and also provides access to genomic analysis of uncultivatedMTB.
A type VI secretion system regulated by OmpR in Yersinia pseudotuberculosis functions to maintain intracellular pH homeostasis
Authors: Zhang Weipeng , Wang Yao , Song Yunhong , Wang Tietao , Xu Shengjuan , Peng Zhong , Lin Xiaoli , Zhang Lei , Shen Xihui 
Published: September 2012

SummaryType VI secretion systems (T6SSs) which widely distributed in Gram‐negative bacteria have been primarily studied in the context of cell interactions with eukaryotic hosts or other bacteria. We have recently identified a thermoregulated T6SS4 in the enteric pathogen Yersinia pseudotuberculosis. Here we report that OmpR directly binds to the promoter of T6SS4 operon and regulates its expression. Further, we observed that the OmpR‐regulated T6SS4 is essential for bacterial survival under acidic conditions and that its expression is induced by low pH. Moreover, we showed that T6SS4 plays a role in pumping H+ out of the cell to maintain intracellular pH homeostasis. The acid tolerance phenotype of T6SS4 is dependent on the ATPase activity of ClpV4, one of the components of T6SS4. These results not only uncover a novel strategy utilized by Y. pseudotuberculosis for acid resistance, but also reveal that T6SS, a bacteria secretion system known to be functional in protein transportation has an unexpected function in H+ extrusion under acid conditions.
Familial trichotillomania: role of genetic factors in the determination of subtypes
Authors: Alireza Ghaffari Nejad , Estilaee Fariborz , Sadeghi Mohammad M. 
Published: September 2012

ObjectivesTrichotillomania (TTM) is a psychiatric syndrome characterised by the inability to control repetitive hair pulling. Psychiatric data reveal that TTM is not usually prevalent among all family members of patients, and so far only one case of familial TTM has been reported.MethodsIn this study, we report a case of familial TTM that afflicted four sisters and discuss the importance of genetic factors in this disorder.ResultsThis report suggests that, similar to many other psychiatric disorders, TTM can be detected in other family members and that genetic factors not only have a significant role in the development of such disorders but also in determination of the disorder subtype. This report also shows that the comorbidities in one member of the family might predict the existence of comorbidities in other members. On the basis of response to medication.Conclusionthe authors suggest that a genetic disorder like polymorphism in serotonin receptors or dopamine can cause such a disorder.
Abnormalities in extracellular glycine and glutamate levels in the striatum of sandy mice
Authors: Kitaichi Yuji , Hashimoto Ryota , Inoue Takeshi , Abekawa Tomohiro , Kakuta Aya , Hattori Satoko , Koyama Tsukasa 
Published: September 2012

ObjectiveGlycine regulates glutamatergic neurotransmission, and several papers have reported the relationship between glycine and schizophrenia. The dysbindin-1 (DTNBP1: dystrobrevin-binding protein 1) gene is related to glutamatergic neurotransmission and has been found to be a strong candidate gene for schizophrenia. In this study, we clarified the relationship between dysbindin, glutamate, and glycine with in vivo microdialysis methods.MethodsWe measured extracellular glycine and glutamate levels in the striatum of sandy (sdy) mice using in vivo microdialysis methods. Sdy mice express no dysbindin protein owing to a deletion in the dysbindin-1 gene. In addition, we measured changes in those amino acids after methamphetamine (METH) administration.ResultsThe basal levels of extracellular glycine and glutamate in the striatum of sdy mice were elevated. These extracellular glutamate levels decreased gradually after METH administration and were not subsequently different from those of wild-type mice.ConclusionsThese results suggest that dysbindin might modulate glycine and glutamate release in vivo.
The dopamine transporter gene possibly affects personality traits in patients with early-onset major depressive disorder
Authors: Huang Chang-Chih , Lu Ru-Band , Shih Mei-Chen , Yen Che-Hung , Huang San-Yuan 
Published: September 2012

ObjectiveComorbid personality pathologies may affect the outcome of patients with major depression (MD). The dopamine transporter gene DAT1 (SLC6A3) has been suggested to play a role in both depression and specific personality traits. The aim of this study was to assess five polymorphisms of the DAT1 gene (rs2550948, rs2975226, rs6347, rs27072, and 3′-VNTR) to determine whether this gene influences personality traits in patients with MD or its subgroups.MethodsThe DAT1 polymorphisms were analysed in 463 unrelated Han Chinese MD patients. The personality traits, novelty seeking (NS), and harm avoidance (HA), were examined using the Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire. The patients were also divided into four clinical subgroups on the basis of differences in their sex (male or female) and age at disease onset (early or late).ResultsThere was no association between the DAT1 gene and either NS or HA in the total MD sample or in the sex-based subgroups. However, early-onset MD patients with the G/G genotype of rs2550948 and the T/T genotype of rs2975226 had lower NS scores than did patients with the other genotypes (pcorrected = 0.05 for rs2550948 and pcorrected = 0.005 for rs2975226).ConclusionOur study suggests that DAT1 promoter variants possibly influence specific personality traits in the early-onset subgroup of depressed patients in the Han Chinese population. Further prospective cohort studies are required to verify our preliminary finding and to confirm the effects of personality susceptibility on long-term disease outcomes.
The clinical use of quality-of-life scales in neurological disorders
Authors: Corallo Francesco , De Luca Rosaria , Leonardi Roberta , De Salvo Simona , Bramanti Placido , Marino Silvia 
Published: September 2012

ObjectiveQuality of life (QoL) is a growing issue in medicine, particularly in the
evaluation of rehabilitative care. The concept of QoL is included in and expands
the definition of health given by the WHO (World Health Organization) and
comprises complete physical, mental, and social well-being. It expresses the
degree of satisfaction in various areas as a result of the opportunities that
arise during one's lifetime despite the restrictions and impediments that life
itself puts forth. The last decade has exponentially increased the number of
studies on QoL, although they are still limited.MethodsWe performed a literature review on the QoL scales used in patients with
neurological disorders.ResultsRecent studies have shown the importance of QoL assessment because standard
treatments do not assess the treatment impact felt by the patient. In fact, by
understanding the impact of treatment on survival and QoL, one can make a clearer
interpretation of the health of the patient.ConclusionThis review has adopted an innovative holistic methodological approach, which
allowed a global evaluation of the comfort reported by the patients. The scales
applied in this study allowed to choose the most suitable therapeutic strategies
and programme individual therapeutic treatment.
Can low-dose propranolol induce a manic syndrome? Case report of an unexpected side effect
Authors: Shahrbabaki Mahin Eslami , Estilaee Fariborz , Shahrbabaki Amir Eslami 
Published: September 2012

ObjectivesPropranolol, the first discovered b-adrenergic receptor antagonist, has been prescribed by physicians in various fields for more than three decades. It has been applied for treating psychiatric disorders including schizophrenia, mania and anxiety disorders, as well as for controlling withdrawal symptoms or other side effects.MethodsWe describe the case of an 11-year-old boy with bipolar-I disorder comorbid with panic disorder who developed manic symptoms with a single dose of 10 mg of propranolol.Results and ConclusionAlthough depression is a better-known side effect of b-adrenergic antagonists, clinicians should take mania as a rare side effect into consideration as well.
Changes in the photoplethysmogram with tracheal intubation and remifentanil concentration
Authors: Wang X. , Chen X. , Ye S. , Feng Y. , Huang C. , Hou L. , Liu J. , Chen H. 
Published: September 2012

SummaryAutonomic sympathetic activation, for instance following noxious stimuli, decreases the size and flattens the shape of the photoplethysmographic peripheral pulse waveform. We report a simple measure of the waveform shape, the ratio of mean‐to‐peak wave amplitude, for measuring nociception level during general anaesthesia. Fifty participants, anaesthetised with propofol and remifentanil, were randomly allocated to one of three different remifentanil effect‐site concentrations (1, 3 and 5 ng.ml−1). Tracheal intubation increased the mean (SD) plethysmographic ratio from 0.38 (0.06) to 0.48 (0.04), p = 2.6 × 10−16. The mean (SD) ratios following intubation at remifentanil effect‐site concentrations of 1 ng.ml−1, 3 ng.ml−1 and 5 ng.ml−1, were 0.49 (0.03), 0.48 (0.03) and 0.45 (0.04), respectively. Remifentanil therefore suppressed changes in the mean‐to‐peak ratio caused by tracheal intubation (p = 0.006). The ratio of the mean‐to‐peak plethysmographic amplitude may represent a simple measure of the balance of autonomic sympathetic and parasympathetic activity under general anaesthesia, and its performance following intubation was significantly different from peak amplitude (p = 0.046).
A randomised crossover trial comparing a single‐use polyvinyl chloride laryngeal mask airway with a single‐use silicone laryngeal mask airway
Authors: Bell S. F. , Morris N. G. , Rao A. , Wilkes A. R. , Goodwin N. 
Published: September 2012

SummaryWe compared insertion rates of single‐use polyvinyl chloride laryngeal mask airways (LMAs) vs single‐use silicone LMAs in 72 anaesthetised patients. Both airways were produced by Flexicare Medical. Laryngeal mask airway insertion was successful on the first attempt in 68/72 (94%) polyvinyl chloride LMAs vs 64/72 (89%) silicone LMAs (p = 0.39). Overall insertion rates were 72/72 (100%) for the polyvinyl chloride LMAs and 71/72 (99%) for the silicone LMAs (p = 1.0). Mean (SD) insertion times were similar for polyvinyl chloride and silicone LMAs: 24.3 (5.1)s vs 24.8 (7.8)s (p = 0.64). Laryngeal mask airway position, as assessed using a fibrescope, was not different (p = 0.077). The median (IQR [range]) leak pressure was 16 (12–20 [6–30]) cmH2O for the polyvinyl LMA and 18 (13–22 [6–30]) cmH2O or the silicone LMA (p = 0.037). In conclusion, we did not find any important differences between polyvinyl chloride and silicone laryngeal mask airways.
Does JC virus have a role in the etiology and prognosis of Egyptian colorectal carcinoma?
Authors: Samaka Rehab M. , Abd El‐Wahed Moshira M. , Aiad Hayam A. , Kandil Mona A. , Al‐Sharaky Dalia R. 
Published: September 2012

John Cunningham virus (JCV) encodes an oncogenic T‐antigen, which is capable of interacting with key growth regulatory pathways. JCV definite role as causal agent of human cancer, still awaits final confirmation. The present study was conducted to assess the possible role of JCV in Egyptian colorectal carcinoma (CRC) and correlate the expression with the clinicopathological features and survival. JCV in situ hybridization (ISH) signals and large T antigen immunoreactivity were examined in 87 colonic specimens. Positive glandular JCV ISH signals were detected in 20%, 25% and 40% of normal, adenoma and CRC cases respectively. Stromal JCV ISH signals were identified in 26% of CRC cases and 5% of adenoma however, normal mucosa did not show stromal positivity with significant difference (p = 0.03). Glandular JCV expression was significantly associated with high grade (p = 0.03), high mitotic index (p=0.02) and low apoptotic index (p = 0.00). Positive stromal signals were significantly associated with low apoptosis (p = 0.00). No positive nuclear immunostaining of JCV large T antigen was detected in all specimens. JCV stromal expression was the 2nd most powerful indicator of short survival and bad prognosis (p = 0.03) in CRC patients. JCV might play an etiological role in CRC tumorogenesis and short survival in Egyptian CRC patients.
Reducing cardiovascular disease risk in type 2 diabetes: is the focus on glycaemia warranted?
Authors: Ferguson L. D. , Sattar N. 
Published: September 2012

AbstractCardiovascular disease remains a major source of morbidity and mortality in type 2 diabetes mellitus. This article examines the recent evidence from trials and related meta‐analyses on the effects of glycaemic control on cardiovascular disease (and, to a lesser extent, microvascular outcomes) in diabetes, and compares this with evidence accrued from blood pressure and statin trials. On the basis of such evidence, as well as pragmatic considerations, it is clear that clinicians should place stronger emphasis on lipid and blood pressure management to lessen cardiovascular risks. At the same time, cardiovascular disease benefits of glycaemia reduction appear less pronounced, with patient characteristics critically influencing risk to benefit ratio. Recent guidelines now reflect recent observations on glycaemic control (with relaxed targets in specific patient groups), whereas future guidelines should encourage physicians to prioritize lipid‐lowering and blood pressure management in patients with diabetes.