bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Supporting home care for the dying: an evaluation of healthcare professionals' perspectives of an individually tailored hospice at home service
Authors: Jack Barbara A , Baldry Catherine R , Groves Karen E , Whelan Alison , Sephton Janice , Gaunt Kathryn 
Published: April 2013

Aims and objectivesTo explore health care professionals' perspective of hospice at home service that has different components, individually tailored to meet the needs of patients.BackgroundOver 50% of adults diagnosed with a terminal illness and the majority of people who have cancer, prefer to be cared for and to die in their own home. Despite this, most deaths occur in hospital. Increasing the options available for patients, including their place of care and death is central to current UK policy initiatives. Hospice at home services aim to support patients to remain at home, yet there are wide variations in the design of services and delivery. A hospice at home service was developed to provide various components (accompanied transfer home, crisis intervention and hospice aides) that could be tailored to meet the individual needs of patients.DesignAn evaluation study.MethodsData were collected from 75 health care professionals. District nurses participated in one focus group (13) and 31 completed an electronic survey. Palliative care specialist nurses participated in a focus group (9). One hospital discharge co‐ordinator and two general practitioners participated in semi‐structured interviews and a further 19 general practitioners completed the electronic survey.ResultsHealth care professionals reported the impact and value of each of the components of the service, as helping to support patients to remain at home, by individually tailoring care. They also positively reported that support for family carers appeared to enable them to continue coping, rapid access to the service was suggested to contribute to faster hospital discharges and the crisis intervention service was identified as helping patients remain in their own home, where they wanted to be.ConclusionsHealth care professionals perceived that the additional individualised support provided by this service contributed to enabling patients to continue be cared for and to die at home in their place of choice.Relevance to clinical practiceThis service offers various components of a hospice at home service, enabling a tailor made package to meet individual and local area needs. Developing an individually tailored package of care appears to be able to meet specific needs.
Differences Between Aggressive and Non‐Aggressive Single Spore Lines of Leptosphaeria maculans in Cultural Characteristics and Phytotoxin Production
Authors: Koch E. , Badawy H. M. A. , Hoppe H. H. 
Published: April 2013

AbstractStems of oilseed rape (Brassica napus) bearing pseudothecia of Leptosphaeria maculans were collected in different parts of West Germany. From single ascospores of this material a total of 352 fungal lines were derived, tested on rape cotyledons and devided into 124 aggressive and 228 non‐aggressive pathotypes. The two groups could be distinguished by certain characteristics. On nutrient agar, aggressive strains grew more slowly. In liquid cultures, non‐aggressive types produced a yellow‐brown pigment whereas the culture filtrates of aggressive strains remained unpigmented. The culture filtrates of aggressive lines contained phytotoxic compounds which were identified as sirodesmins. These compounds were absent in culture filtrates of non‐aggressive pathotypes. The very close correlation between aggressiviness as a pathogen and the phytotoxin production indicates that phytotoxins of Leptosphaeria maculans could be involved in the disease development.ZusammenfassungUnterschiede zwischen aggressiven und nichtaggressiven Einzelsporlinien von Leptosphaeria maculaos in den Kulturcharakteristiken und der PhytotoxinproduktionRapsstengel (Brassica napus) mit Pseudothecien von Leptosphaeria maculans wurden in verschiedenen Teilen der Bundesrepublik gesammelt. Aus einzelnen Ascosporen dieses Materials wurden insgesamt 352 Pilzisolate hergestellt, an Rapskotyledonen getestet und in 124 aggressive und 228 nichaggressive Pathotypen unterteilt. Die beiden Gruppen unterschieden sich in bestimmten charakteristischen Eigenschaften voneinander. Auf Nährböden wuchsen die aggressiven Stämme langsamer. In Flüssigkulturen bildeten die nichtaggressiven Pathotypen gelb‐braune Pigmente, während die Kultur‐filtrate der aggressiven Stämme ungefärbt blieben. Die Kulturfiltrate der aggressiven Linien enthielten dagegen phytotoxische Verbindungen, die als Sirodesmine identifiziert wurden. Diese Verbindungen fehlten in den Kulturfiltraten der nichtaggressiven Pathotypen. Die sehr enge Korrelation zwischen der Aggressivität als Pathogen und der Toxinproduktion deutet darauf hin, daß die Phytotoxine von Leptosphaeria maculans an der Krankheitsentwicklung beteiligt sein könnten.
Comparison of Pathogenesis Related “b1” Protein Determination Obtained by ELISA and HPLC Techniques
Authors: Abad P. , Cardin L. , Poupet A. , Ponchet M. 
Published: April 2013

AbstractA comparison was done between HPLC and ELISA for quantitative determination of the PR‐b1 protein, the major pathogenesis related “b” protein (PR‐b), in both healthy and TMV infected Nicotiana tabacum cv. Xanthi nc leaves. The PR‐b1 protein antiserum, used for double antibody sandwich (DAS) Enzyme linked Immunosorbant Assay (ELISA), was sensitive enough to detect PR‐b1 and other PR‐b1 related proteins at concentrations as low as 250 pg/ml. Since N. tabacum cv. Xanthi nc PR‐b2 and PR‐b3 proteins were shown to be serologically closely related to PR‐b1 protein, the validity of determining PR‐b1 by DAS ELISA test had to be established. By comparing PR‐b1 protein levels in healthy and TMV infected plants, it was found that PR‐b2 and PR‐b3 interfered little with PR‐b1 estimations. A good correlation existed between PR‐b1 determinations by HPLC and ELISA.ZusammenfassungEin Vergleich der pathogenesegekoppelten “b1”‐Proteinbestimmung durch ELISA‐ und HPLC‐VerfahrenVerglichen wurden ELISA‐ und HPLC‐Verfahren bei der quantitativen Bestimmung des PR‐bl‐Proteins, ein bedeutendes pathogenesegekoppeltes “b1”‐Protein (PR‐b), in gesunden und TMV‐infizierten Nicotiana tabacum cv. Xanthi nc‐Blättern. Das PR‐bl‐Protein‐Antiserum, das beim Double Antibody Sandwich (DAS) enzymgekoppelte Immunosorbant Assay (ELISA) angewandt wurde, hatte eine Empfindlichkeit, die PR‐bl und andere PR‐bl verwandte Proteine bei Konzentrationen ab 250 pg/ml wahrnehmen konnte. Da die PR‐b2‐ und PR‐b3‐Proteine von N. tabacum cv. Xanthi nc serologisch eng mit dem PR‐bl‐Protein verwandt sind, wurde die Gültigkeit einer PR‐bl‐Bestimmung durch einen DAS ELISA‐Test erstmals festgestellt. Nach einem Vergleich der PR‐bl ‐Proteingehalte in gesunden bzw. TMV‐infizierten Pflanzen wurde ermittelt, daß PR‐b2 und PR‐b3 die PR‐bl‐Bestimmungen kaum beeinflussen. Eine gute Korrelation wurde zwischen den PR‐bl‐Bestimmungen nach HPLC‐ und ELISA‐Verfahren beobachtet.
Ultrastructure of Antagonism of Sclerotium cepivorum by Bacillus subtilis
Authors: Backhouse D. , Stewart A. 
Published: April 2013

AbstractUltrastructural changes in hyphae of Sclerotium cepivorum antagonized by Bacillus subtilis in culture were studied. At early stages, mitochondria became swollen, but retained their longitudinal orientation. Antagonized hyphae became more vacuolated than controls. Cell death followed rupture of hyphal walls and leakage of cytoplasm. The walls of many burst hyphae had abnormal ultrastructure. It is suggested that antibiotics of B. subtilis act on the fungal metabolism, rather than on membranes or cytoskeleton.ZusammenfassungUltrastruktur des Antagonismus von Sclerotium cepivorum durch Bacillus subtilisUntersucht wurden die ultrastrukturellen Änderungen in Sclerotium cepivorum‐Hyphen, die in Kultur durch Barillus subtilis antagonisiert waren. In früheren Stadien wurde eine Anschwellung der Mitochondrien beobachtet, diese aber ihre Längsorientierung beibehielten. Verglichen mit der Kontrolle entwickelten sich mehr Vakuolen in antagonisierten Hyphen. Hyphenwandbrüche und das Auslaufen von Cytoplasma verursachte Zelltod. Die Wände von aufgrissenen Hyphen besaßen häufig eine atypische Ultrastruktur. Es wird vorgeschlagen, daß die B. subtilis‐Antibiotika eher den pilzlichen Metabolismus als die Membrane oder das Cytoskelett beeinflussen.
Response to Seow: Biological mechanisms of early childhood caries
Authors: Bowen W. H. 
Published: April 2013

Abstract—For more than three decades, it has been recognized that dental caries is an infectious and transmissible disease in which diet plays a key role. Nevertheless, in treating patients with early childhood caries, scant attention is placed on exploring the source of infection and the prevalence of caries in other family members. Results from studies conducted in animals clearly show that the virulence of mutans streptococci can be enhanced by a highly cariogenic environment. For example, offspring from a highly caries‐active dam develop significantly more caries than pups from a low caries‐active dam. Considerable attention has been placed on the role of the nursing bottle in early childhood caries. Milk and some infant formulas do not promote caries and the role of the remainder of the diet has been largely ignored. The nursing bottle can effectively block salivary access to tooth surfaces, thereby increasing the cariogenicity of any food remaining in the mouth. Recent evidence shows that salivary gland function is impaired by iron deficiency and by prenatal exposure to lead. Clearly, early childhood caries is a complex disease that requires careful and extensive investigation.
Psychosocial and behavioral issues in early childhood caries
Authors: Reisine Susan , Douglass Joanna M. 
Published: April 2013

Abstract—Rampant caries in infants and young children has long been recognized as a clinical syndrome referred to by various names, including nursing caries, nursing bottle syndrome, night bottle mouth, and baby bottle tooth decay. The common theme among these terms is the perceived central role of inappropriate use of the baby bottle in the etiology and progression of carious lesions. Use of the baby bottle is not the only, and may not be the most important, factor in caries development. Because of questions about the role of the baby bottle in caries among young children, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently suggested that the term for this clinical syndrome be replaced with early childhood caries (ECC). The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the literature on the influence of psychosocial and behavioral factors in early childhood caries. Prevalence of caries and maxillary anterior decay varies greatly in developed and undeveloped countries and among socioeconomic groups in developed countries. However, relatively little is known about the onset and progression of the disease or the antecedents of ECC, such as high risk behaviors, cultural norms, health beliefs and attitudes, or health care delivery factors. Furthermore, studies that do exist are limited by small and possibly biased samples and a lack of clear case definition. Future research should aim to develop a clear case definition of ECC, differentiate patterns of caries and conduct community‐based epidemiological studies in order to obtain accurate estimates of the etiology and epidemiology of ECC in the general population, as well as in high risk groups.
Relationships between Leisure Participation and Quality of Life of People with Developmental Disabilities
Authors: Badia Marta , Orgaz María Begoña , Verdugo Miguel Á. , Ullán Ana M. , Martínez Magdalena 
Published: April 2013

BackgroundStudies of people with developmental disabilities suggest that participation in leisure activities might be a key factor for good quality of life. This study explores the relationships between objective and subjective quality of life and leisure participation of adults with developmental disabilities.Materials and MethodsA cross‐sectional design was used with a convenience sample of 125 people, aged 17–65, living in the community. Participants completed the subjective scale of Integral Quality Scale and the Leisure Assessment Inventory in the form of an individual interview. Staff completed the GENCAT Scale.ResultsNo relationship was found between objective quality of life and leisure participation. However, correlations between some leisure participation dimensions and specific subjective quality of life domains were observed. The results establish a predictive relationship between leisure participation and material, emotional, and physical well‐being. Personal and environmental variables analyzed were not found to have a moderating effect on the relationship between leisure participation and quality of life.ConclusionsThese findings indicate that some aspects of leisure participation may significantly contribute to enhancing the quality of life of young people and adults with developmental disabilities living in the community.
Geographical sampling bias in a large distributional database and its effects on species richness–environment models
Authors: Yang Wenjing , Ma Keping , Kreft Holger 
Published: April 2013

AbstractAimRecent advances in the availability of species distributional and high‐resolution environmental data have facilitated the investigation of species richness–environment relationships. However, even exhaustive distributional databases are prone to geographical sampling bias. We aim to quantify the inventory incompleteness of vascular plant data across 2377 Chinese counties and to test whether inventory incompleteness affects the analysis of richness–environment relationships and spatial predictions of species richness.LocationChina.MethodsWe used the most comprehensive database of Chinese vascular plants, which includes county‐level occurrences for 29,012 native species derived from 4,236,768 specimen and literature records. For each county, we computed smoothed species accumulation curves and used the mean slope of the last 10% of the curves as a proxy for inventory incompleteness. We created a series of data subsets with different levels of inventory incompleteness by excluding successively more under‐sampled counties from the full data set. We then applied spatial and non‐spatial regression models to each of these subsets to investigate relationships between the species richness of subsets and environmental factors, and to predict spatial patterns of vascular plant species richness in China.ResultsLog10‐transformed numbers of records and documented species were strongly correlated (r = 0.97). In total, 91% of Chinese counties were identified as under‐sampled. After controlling for inventory incompleteness, the overall explanatory power of environmental factors markedly increased, and the strongest predictor of species richness switched from elevational range to annual wet days. Environmental models calibrated with more complete inventories yielded better spatial predictions of species richness.Main conclusionsOur results indicate that inventory incompleteness strongly affects the explanatory power of environmental factors, the main determinants of species richness obtained from regression analyses, and the reliability of environment‐based spatial predictions of species richness. We conclude that even large distributional databases are prone to geographical sampling bias, with far‐reaching implications for the perception of and inferences about macroecological patterns.
Inhibition of the PI3K/AKT pathway potentiates cytotoxicity of EGFR kinase inhibitors in triple‐negative breast cancer cells
Authors: Yi Yong Weon , Hong Wooyoung , Kang Hyo Jin , Kim Hee Jeong , Zhao Wenjing , Wang Antai , Seong Yeon‐Sun , Bae Insoo 
Published: April 2013

AbstractTriple‐negative breast cancers (TNBCs) are known to be intrinsically resistant to inhibitors for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Until now, clinical trials for TNBCs using EGFR inhibitors (EGFRis) as single agents have yielded disappointing results. Here, we report that combinatorial treatment using EGFRis, such as gefitinib or erlotinib, with PI3K/AKT pathway inhibitors (PI3K/AKTis) demonstrated a synergistic, anti‐proliferative effect in cell lines of the basal‐like (BL) subtype, a subtype of TNBC. Western blot analysis revealed that the gefitinib/PI‐103 combination significantly reduced the level of both phospho‐AKT and phospho‐ERK in two susceptible BL subtype cell lines, SUM149PT and MDA‐MB‐468, whereas it had little or no effect on the level of phospho‐ERK in two non‐susceptible cell lines (HS578T and MDA‐MB‐231) of mesenchymal stem‐like (MSL) TNBC subtype. The gefitinib/PI‐103 combination also significantly induced caspase‐3/7‐mediated PARP cleavage and reduced two anti‐apoptotic proteins, XIAP and Bcl‐2 in the susceptible cell lines. In addition, the level of myeloid cell leukemia 1 (Mcl‐1) protein was markedly decreased by gefitinib/PI‐103 combination in the BL TNBC cells, but showed no significant change by this combination in MSL subtype cells. These results suggest that pharmacological inhibition of EGFR used in combination of PI3K/AKTis is a potential therapeutic approach to treat a subtype of TNBCs.
Saving the Euro at the Cost of Democracy?
Authors: Crum Ben 
Published: April 2013

AbstractThis article explores the implications of the financial crisis for the relationship between monetary integration and democratic government in the European Union (EU). As the crisis has exposed the original balance that economic and monetary union (EMU) sought to maintain between monetary integration and policy diversity to be unsustainable, the eurozone is put before the choice of one of three governance models: executive federalism, democratic federalization or EMU dissolution. Notably, these three governance models perfectly illustrate Dani Rodrik's ‘trilemma of the world economy’, which maintains that of the three goods – economic (and monetary) integration, the nation‐state and democratic politics – one will always have to give. In light of this, the article concludes that the present course towards executive federalism can be justified for preventing euro dissolution and recognizing the value of national self‐government. Nevertheless, it threatens to come at a democratic price. Hence, it is imperative to consider possible flanking measures that can mitigate this effect.
Imatinib, dasatinib and nilotinib: a review of adverse cutaneous reactions with emphasis on our clinical experience
Authors: Brazzelli V. , Grasso V. , Borroni G. 
Published: April 2013

AbstractIn the last years, several tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have been developed and approved for human cancer treatment. Imatinib mesylate was the first of this novel family of drugs that target cancer‐specific molecules and signalling pathways. The appearance of imatinib resistances led to the introduction of second‐generation TKIs with higher potency and selectivity, such as dasatinib and nilotinib. However, the range of activity of these agents is not simply directed at tumour cells. Patients and their clinicians are indeed frequently confronted with the cutaneous side‐effects associated with the employ of these drugs, which represent the most common non‐hematological adverse reactions. For this reason, a systematic dermatological survey of patients receiving these therapies is highly important, and an early and appropriate dermatological treatment is required. In this review, we analyse the clinical and pathological characteristics of the most commonly reported adverse skin events associated with first‐ and second‐generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors, with a particular emphasis on our clinical experience.
Effects of maternal nutrient restriction, intrauterine growth restriction, and glucocorticoid exposure on phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase‐1 expression in fetal baboon hepatocytes in vitro
Authors: Li Cun , Shu Zhen‐Ju , Lee Shuko , Gupta Madhulika B. , Jansson Thomas , Nathanielsz Peter W. , Kamat Amrita 
Published: April 2013

AbstractBackgroundThe objective of this study was to develop a cell culture system for fetal baboon hepatocytes and to test the hypotheses that (i) expression of the gluconeogenic enzyme phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase‐1 (PEPCK‐1) is upregulated in hepatocytes isolated from fetuses of nutrient‐restricted mothers (MNR) compared with ad libitum‐fed controls (CTR), and (ii) glucocorticoids stimulate PEPCK‐1 expression.MethodsHepatocytes from 0.9G CTR and MNR fetuses were isolated and cultured. PEPCK‐1 protein and mRNA levels in hepatocytes were determined by Western blot and quantitative PCR, respectively.ResultsFetuses of MNR mothers were intrauterine growth restricted (IUGR). Feasibility of culturing 0.9G fetal baboon hepatocytes was demonstrated. PEPCK‐1 protein levels were increased in hepatocytes isolated from IUGR fetuses, and PEPCK‐1 mRNA expression was stimulated by glucocorticoids in fetal hepatocytes.ConclusionsCultured fetal baboon hepatocytes that retain their in vivo phenotype provide powerful in vitro tools to investigate mechanisms that regulate normal and programmed hepatic function.
Ethanol induces TLR4/TLR2 association, triggering an inflammatory response in microglial cells
Authors: Fernandez‐Lizarbe Sara , Montesinos Jorge , Guerri Consuelo 
Published: April 2013

AbstractAlcohol consumption can induce brain damage, demyelination, and neuronal death, although the mechanisms are poorly understood. Toll‐like receptors are sensors of the innate immune system and their activation induces inflammatory processes. We have reported that ethanol activates and recruits Toll‐like receptor (TLR)4 receptors within the lipid rafts of glial cells, triggering the production of inflammatory mediators and causing neuroinflammation. Since TLR2 can also participate in the glial response and in the neuroinflammation, we investigate the effects of ethanol on TLR4/TLR2 responses. Here, we demonstrate that ethanol up‐regulates TLR4 and TLR2 expression in microglial cells, inducing the production of inflammatory mediators which triggers reactive oxygen species generation and neuronal apoptosis. Ethanol also promotes TLR4/TLR2 recruitment into lipid rafts‐caveolae, mimicking their activation by their ligands, lipopolysaccharide, and lipoteichoic acid (LTA). Immunoprecipitation and confocal microscopy studies reveal that ethanol induces a physical association between TLR2 and TLR4 receptors, suggesting the formation of heterodimers. Using microglia from either TLR2 or TLR4 knockout mice, we show that TLR2 potentiates the effects of ethanol on the TLR4 response reflected by the activation of MAPKs and inducible NO synthase. In summary, we provide evidence for a mechanism by which ethanol triggers TLR4/TLR2 association contributing to the neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration associated with alcohol abuse.