bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of long‐term castration on serum biochemistry in rhesus monkeys
Authors: Nagarajan P. , Arindkar S. , Singh S. , Majumdar S.S. 
Published: March 2013

AbstractBackgroundTesticular failure has an effect on normal physiology. To address this issue, an experimental non‐human primate model of long‐term castrated rhesus monkey was chosen for this study to evaluate the influence of castration on various biochemical parameters.MethodsNine castrated rhesus monkeys were evaluated for changes in body weight, serum testosterone, and serum biochemical parameters as compared to those in non‐castrated macaques.ResultsCastration caused statistically significant changes in body weight, biochemical analytes, and testosterone levels. Body weight and testosterone levels were decreased, and there were increase in alanine aminotransferase, cholesterol, serum bilirubin, phosphorous, alkaline phosphatase, urea and a decrease in serum protein, uric acid, creatinine, and triglycerides.ConclusionsThis study provided essential baseline information on biochemical variables due to the effect of castration associated with declining levels of testosterone, as data are not readily accessible from the existing body of scientific literature on non‐human primates.
Development process and psychometric testing of foot health assessment instrument
Authors: Stolt Minna , Suhonen Riitta , Puukka Pauli , Viitanen Matti , Voutilainen Päivi , Leino‐Kilpi Helena 
Published: March 2013

Aims and objectivesTo describe the development process of the foot health assessment instrument for the assessment of foot health in older people and to evaluate the psychometric properties of the foot health assessment instrument.BackgroundIn clinical nursing, assessment of foot health and recognition of foot problems in older people is fundamental for maintain older persons' independent functional ability. However, valid and reliable nurse‐administered foot health assessment instruments are lacking.DesignA cross‐sectional methodological design.MethodsThe foot health assessment instrument was developed in 2008–2011 based on a literature review and expertise in podiatry and nursing. Content validity was evaluated in four expert panels. Inter‐rater reliability between nurses' and researcher (MS) assessments was evaluated in the pilot test and in the empirical testing of the instrument with a sample of visiting home nurses. Inter‐rater reliability was calculated withCohen's kappa, internal consistency reliability was examined withCronbach's alpha coefficients and item analysis, and construct validity was evaluated by principal component analysis withVarimax rotation and confirmatory factor analysis.ResultsContent validity was guaranteed by the expert analyses. Inter‐rater reliability improved after pilot test. TheCronbach's alpha coefficient for the total foot health assessment instrument was satisfactory. Item‐to‐total correlations varied between but most of them were acceptable. Principal component analysis and confirmatory factor analysis supported the four component structure of the foot health assessment instrument.ConclusionsThe 23‐item foot health assessment instrument showed preliminary acceptable psychometric properties. However, further modifications and testing are needed to strengthen the psychometric properties of the foot health assessment instrument.Relevance to clinical practiceThe existence of a foot health assessment instrument and its application would considerably improve the assessment of foot health in daily nursing practice. The foot health assessment instrument developed in this study is short and easy to administer.
A narrative literature review of older people's cancer pain experience
Authors: Dunham Margaret , Ingleton Christine , Ryan Tony , Gott Merryn 
Published: March 2013

Aims and objectivesTo synthesise current evidence about the experience of older people with cancer pain and consider how exploration of this may inform clinical practice and research.BackgroundCancer is more prevalent in older age. Evidence suggests that older people's pain is generally under‐recognised and under treated. Pain is a significant concern for many people living and dying with cancer and may be of particular concern for older people who may have complex biopsychosocial needs. There is mounting evidence that older people and their families experience high level of unmet need generally and suboptimal pain in particular.DesignNarrative literature review.MethodA comprehensive search of five electronic databases was undertaken between the years 1996–2010 inclusive. Inclusion criteria were primary research papers relating older peoples' experiences of cancer pain, incorporating the verbal report or narrative account of experience of cancer.ResultsSeventeen papers met the criteria for inclusion in the review. Three major themes emerged from the literature: (1) emotional experience identified by older people with cancer pain, (2) effects of pain on life and living, and (3) how communication affects the experience or expression of cancer pain including subthemes of validating, trust and cultural effects on the communication of pain.ConclusionThere is limited research about older people's cancer pain from the perspective of the person experiencing the pain. This review highlights the need for further research into living and dying with cancer pain which incorporates the unique and individual experience of older people.Relevance to clinical practiceUnderstanding the complexity and nature of older people's cancer pain experience should inform appropriate effective care that improves quality of life and promotes independence and dignity. Culturally sensitive training in communication may enhance understanding of the needs of older people with cancer pain.
Developing complex interventions for nursing: a critical review of key guidelines
Authors: Corry Margarita , Clarke Mike , While Alison E , Lalor Joan 
Published: March 2013

Aims and objectivesTo identify the most comprehensive approach to developing complex interventions for nursing research and practice.BackgroundThe majority of research in nursing is descriptive and exploratory in nature. There is an increasing professional and political demand for nurses to develop and provide evidence to support their practices. Nurses need to explore current practice and develop and test interventions to provide the evidence required for safe practice.DesignA literature review using a systematic approach.MethodsThe review was carried out using four databases: CINAHL, PubMed, PsycINFO and BNI (2000–2011), and the search was limited to ‘brief interventions’ and complex intervention development (January 2000–September 2011). Included papers reported on guidelines for intervention development or ‘how’ an intervention was developed.ResultsSix papers reported on guidelines for developing interventions. There are many similarities between the guidelines with a similar pattern of guideline development in Europe and the USA. The only guideline reported to have been used in the development of interventions is the Medical Research Council framework (MRC) (A Framework for Developing and Evaluation of RCTs for Complex Interventions to Improve Health, 2000), with 9 of 14 papers that describe the development of an intervention reporting the use of this guideline. The other five papers did not mention the use of any guideline or framework.ConclusionsThe MRC (A Framework for Developing and Evaluation of RCTs for Complex Interventions to Improve Health, 2000) framework appears to be the most widely used guideline reported for developing complex interventions. Although the updated MRC (Developing and Evaluating Complex Interventions, 2008) framework adds considerably to the original MRC (A Framework for Developing and Evaluation of RCTs for Complex Interventions to Improve Health, 2000) framework, other guidelines contribute additional guidance which can inform the development of nursing interventions. These additional guidelines are presented in a model for developing complex interventions for nursing.Relevance to clinical practiceThe model will help nurses planning to develop nursing interventions as it provides additional and nursing‐specific guidance to the MRC (Developing and Evaluating Complex Interventions, 2008) framework for the development of complex interventions for nursing practice.
Urinary incontinence in Emirati women with diabetes mellitus type 2: prevalence, risk factors and impact on life
Authors: Bani‐issa Wegdan , Fakhry Randa , Al Momani Fida 
Published: March 2013

Aims and objectivesTo evaluate prevalence, risk factors for urinary incontinence and its impact on lives of Emirati women with diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2). Risk factors examined were age, parity, history of urinary tract infections, body mass index (BMI) and DM2 duration.BackgroundIncontinence is a known complication of DM2 with impact on women's lives. Less is known about incontinence problem among Emirati women with DM2.DesignA cross‐sectional survey design using probability sampling approach was employed to assess urinary incontinence in Emirati women with DM2.MethodsA total of 300 women with DM2, aged 20–65 years, were recruited from six healthcare centres. Data were collected over an 18‐month period. A standardised incontinence questionnaire was used to assess type and frequency of incontinence within the past 12 months. Presence of weekly incontinence was the main outcome.ResultsOf the 300 women, 188 (63%) reported any incontinence, of which 48% had at least weekly episode. Both stress (n = 154, 51·3%) and urge (n = 181, 60·3%) were reported by participants, with 48 (31·1%) reporting at least weekly stress and 85 (46·9%) expressing at least weekly urge incontinence. Diabetes duration was a significant risk factor for any, stress and urge incontinence followed by age for only any and stress incontinence. BMI was a risk factor for urge incontinence. Women perceived incontinence as bothersome, disturbing their social activities and daily prayers.ConclusionsThe prevalence of incontinence in Emirati women with DM2 is higher than that reported by women in other cultures. Risk factors identified were DM2 duration, age and obesity. Emirati women found incontinence to be a bothersome problem influencing their daily lives and prayers.Relevance to clinical practiceNurses in general practice should be alert to the incontinence problem by considering it as part of the routine diabetes evaluation of women, especially of those with longer duration of diabetes, obese and older. Cultural knowledge, sensitivity and individualised treatment plans need to be adopted by nurses working in the UAE to encourage the reporting of incontinence by Emirati Muslim women with DM2.
Symptom self‐management strategies in patients with non‐metastatic prostate cancer
Authors: Hsiao Chao‐Pin , Moore Ida M (Ki) , Insel Kathleen C , Merkle Carrie J 
Published: March 2013

Aims and objectivesTo explore the association between symptoms, symptom distress and symptom self‐management and to identify effective strategies of symptom self‐management in men with non‐metastatic prostate cancer following radical prostatectomy or radiation therapy.BackgroundMen receiving treatments for localised prostate cancer experience symptoms of urinary incontinence, urinary obstruction/irritation, bowel difficulties and sexual dysfunction. Understanding patients' symptom experiences and identifying strategies that they use to manage these symptoms are imperative for symptom management planning.DesignA descriptive, cross‐sectional study was conducted with a sample of 53 men, who were within three months of the initiation of their treatment.MethodsThe Symptom Indexes and the Strategy and Effectiveness of Symptom Self‐Management questionnaires were used to measure symptoms, symptom distress and symptom self‐management. Descriptive statistics, t‐tests, correlations and multiple regressions were used to analyse the data.ResultsSymptoms were significantly correlated with symptom‐related distress (r = 0·67, p < 0·01). Frequency of symptoms was significantly associated with symptom self‐management strategies for urinary (β = 0·50, p < 0·01), bowel (β = 0·71, p < 0·01) and sexual problems (β = 0·28, p = 0·05). The most effective strategies were as follows: pads and doing Kegel exercise for managing urinary problems, rest and endurance for bowel symptoms, and expressing feelings and finding alternative ways to express affection for management of sexual dysfunction.ConclusionsAssessing symptom self‐management among men with newly diagnosed prostate cancer can help healthcare providers develop strategies that will enhance health‐related quality of life.Relevance to clinical practiceResults provide information on effective strategies that patients with prostate cancer found to reduce their symptoms. The strategies used provide a foundation for developing and testing interventions for personalised symptom management.
Overexpression of Hippo pathway effector TAZ in tongue squamous cell carcinoma: correlation with clinicopathological features and patients' prognosis
Authors: Wei Zicheng , Wang Yanling , Li Zhongwu , Yuan Chunping , Zhang Wei , Wang Dongmiao , Ye Jinhai , Jiang Hongbin , Wu Yunong , Cheng Jie 
Published: March 2013

BackgroundTranscriptional coactivator with PDZ‐binding motif (TAZ) is a key downstream effector of Hippo signaling pathway involved in stem cell differentiation and organ development. Recently, its deregulation has been linked to initiation and progression of various cancers. The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression of TAZ in tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) and its prognostic value in predicting patients' outcomes.MethodsTAZ expression and localization in a panel of TSCC cell lines and human immortalized oral epithelial cell (HIOEC) were determined by real‐time RT‐PCR, western blotting, and immunofluorescence. In 52 TSCC tumor specimens with detailed clinical and follow‐up data, TAZ abundance was examined by immunohistochemistry and its associations with clinicopathological parameters, Ki‐67 expression and patients' survival were further assessed.ResultsTAZ mRNA and protein levels were significantly higher in TSCC cells and specimens than those in non‐cancerous cells and normal tongue mucosa. Overexpression of TAZ in TSCC was significantly associated with tumor size (P = 0.033), pathological grade (P = 0.026), clinical stage (P = 0.013), Ki‐67 expression (P = 0.0485), and reduced overall and disease‐free survival (Kaplan–Meier analysis, log‐rank test, P = 0.020, 0.019, respectively). Multivariate Cox regression analysis identified TAZ as an important independent predictor for survival of patients with TSCC [HR (hazard ratio), 4.351; 95% CI (95% confidence interval), 1.477–12.819; P = 0.008].ConclusionOur data indicate that aberrant TAZ overexpression is associated with key clinicopathological features and poor survival in TSCC. These results suggest that TAZ might play critical roles in tumorigenesis of TSCC and become a novel prognostic biomarker and potential therapeutic target for this malignancy.
Changes in Neuroticism Following Trauma Exposure
Authors: Ogle Christin M. , Rubin David C. , Siegler Ilene C. 
Published: March 2013

AbstractUsing longitudinal data, the present study examined change in midlife neuroticism following trauma exposure. Our primary analyses included 670 participants (Mage = 60.55; 65.22% male, 99.70% Caucasian) who completed the NEO Personality Inventory at ages 42 and 50 and reported their lifetime exposure to traumatic events approximately 10 years later. No differences in pre‐ and post‐trauma neuroticism scores were found among individuals who experienced all of their lifetime traumas in the interval between the personality assessments. Results were instead consistent with normative age‐related declines in neuroticism throughout adulthood. Furthermore, longitudinal changes in neuroticism scores did not differ between individuals with and without histories of midlife trauma exposure. Examination of change in neuroticism following life‐threatening traumas yielded a comparable pattern of results. Analysis of facet‐level scores largely replicated findings from the domain scores. Overall, our findings suggest that neuroticism does not reliably change following exposure to traumatic events in middle adulthood. Supplemental analyses indicated that individuals exposed to life‐threatening traumas in childhood or adolescence reported higher midlife neuroticism than individuals who experienced severe traumas in adulthood. Life‐threatening traumatic events encountered early in life may have a more pronounced impact on adulthood personality than recent traumatic events.
The epidemiology of arrhythmia in infants: A population‐based study
Authors: Turner Christian James , Wren Christopher 
Published: March 2013

AimCardiac arrhythmias are an important cause of morbidity in infants. Although the spectrum of types of arrhythmia has been reported, there has been no previous population‐based study of the incidence of arrhythmias in infancy. Our aim was to define the population incidence of arrhythmia in infants.MethodsWe based this study on the Northern Region of England with a resident population of 3.1 million and an annual live birth rate of 33 000. We identified all clinically significant arrhythmias in infants in 1991–2010 from the regional cardiac database. All diagnoses were based on analysis of the electrocardiogram. Infants with only the substrate for arrhythmia (such as QT prolongation or ventricular pre‐excitation) were excluded.ResultsIn 20 years, there were 662 698 live births. We identified 162 cases of newly diagnosed arrhythmia of which 22 had associated structural cardiovascular malformations. The incidence of arrhythmia was 24.4 per 100 000 live births. The most common arrhythmia was atrioventricular re‐entry tachycardia with an incidence of 16.3 per 100 000. Complete atrioventricular block and atrial flutter both occurred at 2.1 cases per 100 000 live births, and other arrhythmias were rare.ConclusionsThis study is the first to report a population incidence of arrhythmia in infants.
QTL Mapping of Downy Mildew Resistance in an Introgression Line Derived from Interspecific Hybridization Between Cucumber and Cucumis hystrix
Authors: Pang Xin , Zhou Xiaohui , Wan Hongjian , Chen Jinfeng 
Published: March 2013

AbstractDowny mildew (DM), caused by Pseudoperonospora cubensis (Berk. & M.A. Curtis) Rostovzev, is a worldwide major disease of cucumbers (Cucumis sativus L.). By screening 10 introgression lines (ILs) derived from interspecific hybridization between cucumber and the wild Cucumis, C. hystrix, through a whole plant assay, one introgression line (IL52) was identified with high DM‐resistance. IL52 was further used as a resistant parent to make an F2 population with ‘changchunmici’ (susceptible parent). The F2 population (300 plants) was investigated for DM‐yellowing, DM‐necrosis and DM‐resistance in the adult stage. A genetic map spanning 642.5 cM with 104 markers was constructed and used for QTL analysis from the population. Three QTL regions were identified on chromosome 5 and chromosome 6. By interval mapping analysis, two QTLs for DM‐resistance were determined on chromosome 5 (DM_5.1 and DM_5.2), which explained 17.9% and 14.2% of the variation, respectively. QTLs for DM‐yellowing were in the same regions as DM‐resistance. For DM‐necrosis, by interval mapping analysis, one QTL was determined on chromosome 5 (Necr_5.1) that explained 18.3% of the variation and one on chromosome 6 (Necr_6.1) that explained 13.9% of the variation. Our results indicated that the identification of molecular markers linked to the QTLs could be further applied for marker‐assisted selection (MAS) of downy mildew resistance in cucumber.
Identification of Fungal Species Associated with Cladode Spot of Prickly Pear and Their Sensitivity to Chitosan
Authors: Flores‐Flores Rosalba , Velázquez‐del Valle Miguel G. , León‐Rodriguez Renato , Flores‐Moctezuma Hilda E. , Hernández‐Lauzardo Ana N. 
Published: March 2013

AbstractMéxico is the most important producer of prickly pear (Opuntia ficus‐indica) in the world. There are several fungal diseases that can have a negative impact on their yields. In this study, there was a widespread fungal richness on cladodes spot of prickly pears from México. A total of 41 fungi isolates were obtained from cladodes spot; 11 of them were morphologically different. According to the pathogenicity test, seven isolates caused lesions on cladodes. The morphological and molecular identification evidenced the isolation of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Alternaria alternata, Fusarium lunatum, Curvularia lunata. All these species caused similar symptoms of circular cladodes spot. However, it is noticeable that some lesions showed perforation and detachment of affected tissues by Fusarium lunatum. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the Fusarium lunatum as phytopathogenic fungus of cladodes of prickly pear. The chitosan inhibited the mycelium growth in the seven isolates of phytopathogenic fungi. Chitosan applications diminished the disease incidence caused by C. gloeosporioies and F. lunatum in 40 and 100%, respectively. Likewise, the lesion severity index in cladodes decreased. There are no previous reports about the application of chitosan on cladodes of prickly pears for the control of phytopathogenic fungi. Therefore, this research could contribute to improve the strategies for the management of diseases in prickly pear.
Basolateral glycylsarcosine (Gly-Sar) transport in Caco-2 cell monolayers is pH dependent
Authors: Berthelsen Ragna , Nielsen Carsten Uhd , Brodin Birger 
Published: March 2013

Abstract

Objectives
Transepithelial di/tripeptide transport in enterocytes occurs via the apical proton-coupled peptide transporter, hPEPT1 (SLC15A1) and a basolateral peptide transporter, which has only been characterized functionally. In this study we examined the pH dependency, substrate uptake kinetics and substrate specificity of the transporter.

Methods
We studied the uptake of [14C]Gly-Sar from basolateral solution into Caco-2 cell monolayers grown for 17–22 days on permeable supports, at a range of basolateral pH values.

Key findings
Basolateral Gly-Sar uptake was pH dependent, with a maximal uptake rate at a basolateral pH of 5.5. Uptake of Gly-Sar decreased in the presence of the protonophore nigericin, indicating that the uptake was proton-coupled. The uptake was saturable, with a maximal flux (Vmax) of 408 ± 71, 307 ± 25 and 188 ± 19 pmol/cm2/min (mean ± S.E., n = 3) at basolateral pH 5.0, 6.0 and 7.4, respectively. The compounds Gly-Asp, Glu-Phe-Tyr, Gly-Glu-Gly, Gly-Phe-Gly, lidocaine and, to a smaller degree, para-aminohippuric acid were all shown to inhibit the basolateral uptake of Gly-Sar.

Conclusions
The study showed that basolateral Gly-Sar transport in the intestinal cell line Caco-2 is proton-coupled. The inhibitor profile indicated that the transporter has broad substrate specificity.