bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Predictors of severe outcomes associated with Clostridium difficile infection in patients with inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: Ananthakrishnan A. N. , Guzman‐Perez R. , Gainer V. , Cai T. , Churchill S. , Kohane I. , Plenge R. M. , Murphy S. 
Published: February 2012

SummaryBackgroundThe increasing incidence of Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) infection (CDI) among patients with inflammatory bowel disease is well recognised. However, most studies have focused on demonstrating that CDI is associated with adverse outcomes in IBD patients. Few have attempted to identify predictors of severe outcomes associated with CDI among IBD patients.AimTo identify clinical and laboratory factors that predict severe outcomes associated with CDI in IBD patients.MethodsFrom a multi‐institution EMR database, we identified all hospitalised patients with at least one diagnosis code for C. difficile from among those with a diagnosis of Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. Our primary outcome was time to total colectomy or death with follow‐up censored at 180 days after CDI. Cox proportional hazards models were used to identify predictors of the primary outcome from among demographic, disease‐related, laboratory and medication variables.ResultsA total of 294 patients with CDI‐IBD were included in our study. Of these, 58 patients (20%) met our primary outcome (45 deaths, 13 colectomy) at a median of 31 days. On multivariate analysis, serum albumin <3 g/dL (HR 5.75, 95% CI 1.34–24.56), haemoglobin below 9 g/dL (HR 5.29, 95% CI 1.58–17.69) and creatinine above 1.5 mg/dL (HR 1.98, 95% CI 1.04–3.79) were independent predictors of our primary outcome. Examining laboratory parameters as continuous variables or shortening our primary outcome to include events within 90 days yielded similar results.ConclusionSerum albumin below 3 g/dL, haemoglobin below 9 g/dL and serum creatinine above 1.5 mg/dL were independent predictors of severe outcomes in hospitalised IBD patients with Clostridium difficile infection.
Finding a VOICE for UK clinical pharmacology
Authors: Aronson Jeffrey K. 
Published: February 2012

At a James Black Conference held in Oxford on 20–22 June 2011, a group of senior clinical pharmacologists and their junior colleagues, other medical specialists, and pharmacists discussed an agenda for UK clinical pharmacology for the next 5 years, addressing the following broad questions. How should UK clinical pharmacology be further developed and delivered as a discipline in universities, the NHS, pharmaceutical companies, and regulatory authorities? How should teaching and training in UK clinical pharmacology and therapeutics be delivered and assessed? What topics should be priorities for research in UK academic clinical pharmacology? How should clinical pharmacology contribute to UK drugs policy? How should pharmacology and clinical pharmacology be further integrated, to the benefit of both? Numerous recommendations emerged, under the collective acronym VOICE, standing for Visibility, Outreach, Integration, Coverage and Emissaries.
Visibility
The visibility of the discipline needs to be increased. This could be done, for example, by increased activities in acute general medicine/toxicology, through activities of Medicines and Therapeutics Committees, participation in grand rounds, teaching and training, and monitoring therapeutic interventions, and by offering bolt‐on training for other specialists (for example, short courses, MSc courses, and training programmes).
Outreach
Methods of increasing outreach include roadshows in schools/medical schools, national special study modules, public education, press coverage, and social marketing.
Integration
Closer collaborations with pharmacologists, clinical pharmacists, other prescribers, and pharmaceutical companies (e.g. through joint training programmes) are desirable.
Coverage
Attention to neglected areas, such as general practice, paediatrics, obstetrics, geriatrics, anaesthetics, cancer, and immunology.
Emissaries
Trainees to spread the word.
An agenda for UK clinical pharmacology: The potential of the internet
Authors: Coleman Jamie J. , McDowell Sarah E. 
Published: February 2012

The internet and the World Wide Web have changed the ways that we function. As technologies grow and adapt, there is a huge potential for the internet to affect drug research and development, as well as many other aspects of clinical pharmacology. We review some of the areas of interest to date and discuss some of the potential areas in which internet‐based technology can be exploited.Information retrieval from the web by health‐care professionals is common, and bringing evidence‐based medicine to the bedside affects the care of patients.As a primary research tool the web can provide a vast array of information in generating new ideas or exploring previous research findings. This has facilitated systematic reviewing, for example. The content of the web has become a subject of research in its own right.The web is also widely used as a research facilitator, including enhancement of communication between collaborators, provision of online research tools (such as questionnaires, management of large scale multicentre trials, registration of clinical trials) and distribution of information.Problems include information overload, ignorance of early data that are not indexed in databases, difficulties in keeping web sites up to date and assessing the validity of information retrieved. Some web‐based activities are viewed with suspicion, including analysis by pharmaceutical companies of drug information to facilitate direct‐to‐consumer advertising of novel pharmaceuticals.Use of these technologies will continue to expand in often unexpected ways. Clinical pharmacologists must embrace internet technology and include it as a key priority in their research agenda.
Obtaining consensus about patient‐centred professionalism in community nursing: nominal group work activity with professionals and the public
Authors: Hutchings Hayley , Rapport Frances , Wright Sarah , Doel Marcus , Jones Aled 
Published: February 2012

hutchings h., rapport f., wright s., doel m. & jones a. (2012) Obtaining consensus about patient‐centred professionalism in community nursing: nominal group work activity with professionals and the public. Journal of Advanced Nursing68(11), 2429–2442.AbstractAim.  To report on the development of a ranked thematic list encompassing the positive and challenging exemplars of patient‐centred professionalism in community nursing.Background.  There has been little research exploring what ‘patient‐centred professionalism’ means to those working within the healthcare settings. Consensus methods, such as those developed through Nominal Group Work, can help establish the extent of agreement on a particular issue whilst overcoming some of the problems associated with group decision‐making.Design.  Mixed methods studying through consultation workshops.Method.  The study took place in South‐west Wales, UK between October 2009–September 2010. Thirty‐four participants consisting of community nurses (9), newly qualifying nurses (13), nursing stakeholders (6) and members of the public (6) took part in the study. An adapted Nominal Group Work approach was used in five individual consultation workshops: two with community nurses, one with newly qualifying nurses, one with stakeholders and one with members of the public followed by a mixed‐group Forum event.Results.  Each of the five workshops resulted in the production of approximately ten positive and ten challenging exemplars of patient‐centred professionalism. The thematization of these exemplars allowed the development of eight broad themes. The Forum event then provided a mechanism for ranking the importance of these themes. The patient, community nurse as a person and nursing ethos were ranked as the most important themes by study participants.Conclusions.  The adapted Nominal Group Work approach was a useful method to allow the development of a ranked thematic list that illustrated the important positive and challenging exemplars of patient‐centred professionalism in community nursing.
Health, lifestyle, belief and knowledge differences between two ethnic groups with specific reference to tobacco, diet and physical activity
Authors: Anthony Denis , Baggott Rob , Tanner Judith , Jones Kathryn , Evans Hala , Perkins Gill , Palmer Hilary ,   on behalf of the Community Interventions for Health (CIH) collaboration
Published: February 2012

anthony d., baggott r., tanner j., jones k., evans h., perkins g. & palmer h. (2012) Health, lifestyle, belief and knowledge differences between two ethnic groups with specific reference to tobacco, diet and physical activity. Journal of Advanced Nursing68(11), 2496–2503.AbstractAims.  To compare physical activity levels, body mass index, habitual diet, tobacco use and prevalence of non‐communicable disease between the two ethnic groups and to identify predictors for differences between groups.Background.  Tobacco use, poor diet and physical inactivity are major lifestyle risk factors for chronic cardiovascular diseases, certain cancers, diabetes and chronic lung diseases. There are higher risk and incidence of these diseases in some ethnic groups, for example Asians have higher incidence of diabetes.Design.  Cross sectional survey.Methods.  Cross sectional survey of Asians of Indian descent and white British adults conducted between October–December 2009. Main outcome variables were lifestyle behaviours and BMI. Self‐reported disease diagnosis was also collected. In a regression analysis, predictors of outcome variables were demographic variables and beliefs/attitudes/knowledge towards lifestyle behaviours.Results/Findings.  Body mass index, tobacco use and non‐communicable disease (except diabetes) were lower in Indians. Indians reported lower physical activity levels and greater salt use than Whites. Tobacco use was higher in Whites, but knowledge, attitudes and beliefs were similar between Whites and Indians.Conclusion.  Health risk behaviour and morbidity are different between the two ethnic groups. Gender, age, educational level, beliefs, attitudes and knowledge do not explain these differences. Health promotion that aims to improve knowledge will probably not work and innovative methods are needed to improve health in high risk groups.
Nutrition and prevalence of undernutrition assessed by different diagnostic criteria in nursing homes for elderly people
Authors: López‐Contreras M.‐J. , Torralba C. , Zamora S. , Pérez‐Llamas F. 
Published: February 2012

How to cite this article: López‐Contreras M.‐J., Torralba C., Zamora S. & Pérez‐Llamas F. (2012) Nutrition and prevalence of undernutrition assesed by different diagnostic criteria in nursing homes for elderly people. J Hum Nutr Diet. 25, 239–246AbstractBackground:  Undernutrition is the state produced by the intake of insufficient energy, macronutrients or micronutrients. The present study aimed to assess the prevalence of undernutrition using 10 different diagnostic criteria described in the literature and to assess its association with energy intake in an institutionalised elderly population.Methods:  The cross‐sectional study included 213 subjects, aged 65–96 years (135 women and 78 men), who lived in seven nursing homes in the province of Murcia, on the Mediterranean coast of Spain. Dietary intake and anthropometric and biochemical parameters were assessed, and 10 different diagnostic criteria, taken from studies of elderly subjects similar to our population, were applied.Results:  The mean dietary intakes appeared to cover the recommended dietary intake for a Spanish elderly population. However, only 58.2% of the studied subjects consumed 100% of the recommended dietary intake and 15.5% of the subjects had an energy intake below 80% of the recommended dietary intake. Depending on the criteria used for the diagnosis, the proportion of patients with undernutrition varied between 2% and 57%. When the relationship between undernourishment, as defined by the different methods and intake deficiency, was assessed, a statistically significant relationship was only found for five of the 10 diagnostic criteria assessed.Conclusions:  Research needs to focus on the development and evaluation of specific nutritional assessment tools for application to older people aiming to improve the detection of those suffering (or who are at risk of suffering) undernutrition.
Clustering and stability of functional lower gastrointestinal symptom after enteric infection
Authors: Thabane M. , Simunovic M. , Akhtar‐Danesh N. , Garg A. X. , Clark W. F. , Marshall J. K. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractBackground  Current diagnostic criteria for functional gut disorder are based on symptom clusters observed after sporadic onset. It remains unclear whether symptoms group similarly in functional disorders of postinfectious etiology. We utilized observational data from the Walkerton Health Study (WHS) to: (i) determine groupings of functional gastrointestinal symptoms among patients exposed to acute gastroenteritis (GE), and (ii) assess the stability of these symptoms grouping over time.Methods  WHS participants 16 years of age and older at the time of the outbreak were included, if they had completed a modified Talley’s Bowel Disease Questionnaire (BDQ) and responded ‘yes’ to a screening question as to whether they had experienced abdominal pain in the last 2 weeks. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) using tetrachoric correlations was undertaken to identify symptom constructs. Hierarchical cluster analysis using the k‐means method was used to create cluster groupings of patients based on these factors. Confirmatory factors analysis using responses to BDQ questionnaire administered at 4, 6, and 8 years after the outbreak was performed to assess stability of symptom domains over time.Key Results  A total of 773 participants were eligible for inclusion [62.2% female, mean age 43.1 years (SD = 16.9)]. Eighty‐four percent were exposed to acute GE during the outbreak. Two symptom groupings of abdominal pain with either diarrhea or constipation together explained 85.7% of the total variance. Cluster analysis identified four patients groupings based on these factors. These clusters could be qualitatively described as diarrhea‐ and constipation‐predominant, mixed bowel pattern, and no predominance of bowel movements abnormalities. Results of the confirmatory factor analysis validating symptom domains identified in Year 1 showed that the baseline model was acceptable at 4 and 6 years after the outbreak and approached acceptability at 8 years. Values of root mean square error of approximation were 0.071 (90% CI: 0.053, 0.089) at 4 and 0.071 (90% CI: 0.049, 0.092) at 6 years and 0.089 (90% CI: 0.065, 0.114) at 8 years.Conclusions & Inferences  The majority of subjects with postinfectious functional bowel disorders belong to groups with symptoms of abdominal pain and either diarrhea or constipation. These symptom groupings were stable across time.
Trans‐α‐xylosidase and trans‐β‐galactosidase activities, widespread in plants, modify and stabilize xyloglucan structures
Authors: Franková Lenka , Fry Stephen C. 
Published: February 2012

SummaryCell‐wall components are hydrolysed by numerous plant glycosidase and glycanase activities. We investigated whether plant enzymes also modify xyloglucan structures by transglycosidase activities. Diverse angiosperm extracts exhibited transglycosidase activities that progressively transferred single sugar residues between xyloglucan heptasaccharide (XXXG or its reduced form, XXXGol) molecules, at 16 μm and above, creating octa‐ to decasaccharides plus smaller products. We measured remarkably high transglycosylation:hydrolysis ratios under optimized conditions. To identify the transferred monosaccharide(s), we devised a dual‐labelling strategy in which a neutral radiolabelled oligosaccharide (donor substrate) reacted with an amino‐labelled non‐radioactive oligosaccharide (acceptor substrate), generating radioactive cationic products. For example, 37 μm [Xyl‐3H]XXXG plus 1 mm XXLG‐NH2 generated 3H‐labelled cations, demonstrating xylosyl transfer, which exceeded xylosyl hydrolysis 1.6‐ to 7.3‐fold, implying the presence of enzymes that favour transglycosylation. The transferred xylose residues remained α‐linked but were relatively resistant to hydrolysis by plant enzymes. Driselase digestion of the products released a trisaccharide (α‐[3H]xylosyl‐isoprimeverose), indicating that a new xyloglucan repeat unit had been formed. In similar assays, [Gal‐3H]XXLG and [Gal‐3H]XLLG (but not [Fuc‐3H]XXFG) yielded radioactive cations. Thus plants exhibit trans‐α‐xylosidase and trans‐β‐galactosidase (but not trans‐α‐fucosidase) activities that graft sugar residues from one xyloglucan oligosaccharide to another. Reconstructing xyloglucan oligosaccharides in this way may alter oligosaccharin activities or increase their longevity in vivo. Trans‐α‐xylosidase activity also transferred xylose residues from xyloglucan oligosaccharides to long‐chain hemicelluloses (xyloglucan, water‐soluble cellulose acetate, mixed‐linkage β‐glucan, glucomannan and arabinoxylan). With xyloglucan as acceptor substrate, such an activity potentially affects the polysaccharide’s suitability as a substrate for xyloglucan endotransglucosylase action and thereby modulates cell expansion. We conclude that certain proteins annotated as glycosidases can function as transglycosidases.
The Reproductive Behaviour of Aequidens paraguayensis (Pisces, Cichlidae)
Authors: Timms A. M. , Keenleyside M. H. A. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractThe reproductive behaviour of aquarium‐held Aequidens paraguayensis is described, with emphasis on a quantitative comparison of male‐female parental roles. It is a biparental species. Eggs, laid on leaf litter, are guarded and aerated for about 32 hours (25–27° C) and newly‐hatched young are orally brooded for several days. Both sexes performed all parental activities; ♀♀ did more fanning and mouthing of eggs, ♂♂ more oral churning of young initially. The combination of substrate and oral brooding of young by both parents is rare among New World cichlids and is of interest for the study of the evolution of parental behaviour in fishes.
Observations on Fighting Behaviour of Male Mice (Mus musculus L.)
Authors: Beilharz R. G. , Beilharz V. C. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractFighting behaviour of male mice was eompared in 8 wild, 2 unselected laboratory and 6 laboratory mice from a population bred from winners of fights. Behaviour was recorded when all 16 mice were allowed to fight in all possible pairs in a neutral test box, and when 5 selected mice fought in pairs in the home cages of one or the other.The occurrence of self‐grooming, tail rattle and squealing are discussed. Different occurrences of behaviour in the different strains are explained as a result of genetic selection responses.
Zur Bedeutung des Geruchssinnes beim Nahrungserwerb von Kröten (Amphibia, Anura, Bufonidae): Versuche mit der Kreuzkröte (Bufo calamita Laur.)
Authors: Hemmer Helmut , Schopp Gerhard 
Published: February 2012

AbstractThe influence of olfactory and visual prey stimuli on the feeding behaviour of toads was studied as well as their response to lasting olfactory cues. A further aim was to find simple methods for testing olfactory responsiveness in anurans. Subjects were 8 adult specimens of the European species Bufo calamita (natterjack) kept in captivity one year at least. The results point to the rôle of olfaction in these animals.
Relations entre territoire et comportement agressif chez Periophthalmus sobrinus Eggert (Pisces, Periophthalmidae) au Laboratoire et en milieu naturel
Authors: Brillet Charles 
Published: February 2012

AbstractThis study was carried out in the laboratory on experimental groups of adult Mudskippers of both sexes; also natural populations were observed in mangrove swamps along the west coast of Madagascar. This paper deals mainly with the various aggressive postures and their role in the establishment and defense territories, the variations of aggression in an experimental group and, in the field, according to the tide movements. The hierarchial organization in the group of Mudskippers, the emergence of displacement activities and vacuum activities, the structure and dimensions of territories have also been studied.
Variations dans la structure sociale du topi, Damaliscus korrigum Ogilby, au Pare National de l'Akagera, Rwanda
Authors: Monfort‐Braham Nicole 
Published: February 2012

AbstractNaturalistic observations were conducted over two years, on social structure, agonistic and sexual behaviour of Topi antelope (Damaliscus korrigum Ogilby) in Akagera National Park and Mutara Hunting Reserve, Rwanda. The species shows an adaptive social polymorphism. In densely populated savanna ♂♂ form arenas on territorial breeding grounds, with small and clustered territories where interactions are numerous, whereas in more wooded areas, territorial individuals and harems live on larger and more isolated claims.
Les rôles des colorations du Mandrill (Mandrillus sphinx)
Authors: Jouventin Pierre 
Published: February 2012

AbstractThrough field observations in Gabon, literature comparisons and experiments in captivity an attempt was made to assess the biological significance of the colourations of the Equatorial Forest Baboon. It appears that the various coloured body parts fulfil different functions, although the same pigments occur throughout: The posterior colouration of the leader has a signal function for the troup, the penial colouration has a dominance function, and the facial colourations have evolved through rivalry of adult ♂♂ for ♀♀ and food.
At least two indigenous species of the Bemisia tabaci complex are present in Brazil
Authors: Marubayashi J. M. , Yuki V. A. , Rocha K. C. G. , Mituti T. , Pelegrinotti F. M. , Ferreira F. Z. , Moura M. F. , Navas‐Castillo J. , Moriones E. , Pavan M. A. , Krause‐Sakate R. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractBemisia tabaci is one of the most important global agricultural insect pests, being a vector of emerging plant viruses such as begomoviruses and criniviruses that cause serious problems in many countries. Although knowledge of the genetic diversity of B. tabaci populations is important for controlling this pest and understanding viral epidemics, limited information is available on this pest in Brazil. A survey was conducted in different locations of São Paulo and Mato Grosso states, and the phylogenetic relationships of B. tabaci individuals from 43 populations sampled from different hosts were analysed based on partial mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase 1 gene (mtCOI) sequences. According to the recently proposed classification of the B. tabaci complex, which employs the 3.5% mtCOI sequence divergence threshold for species demarcation, most of the specimens collected were found to belong to the Middle East‐Asia Minor 1 species, which includes the invasive populations of the commonly known B biotype, within the Africa/Middle East/Asia Minor high‐level group. Three specimens collected from Solanun gilo and Ipomoea sp. were grouped together and could be classified in the New World species that includes the commonly known A biotype. However, six specimens collected from Euphorbia heterophylla, Xanthium cavanillesii and Glycine maxima could not be classified into any of the 28 previously proposed species, although according to the 11% mtCOI sequence divergence threshold, they belong to the New World high‐level group. These specimens were classified into a new recently proposed species named New World 2 that includes populations from Argentina. Middle East‐Asia Minor 1, New World and New World 2 were differentiated by RFLP analysis of the mtCOI gene using TaqI enzyme. Taq I analysis in silico also differentiates these from Mediterranean species, thus making this method a convenient tool to determine population dynamics, especially critical for monitoring the presence of this exotic pest in Brazil.