bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Glomeruloid peritoneal implants in ovarian serous borderline tumours – distinction between invasive and non‐invasive implants and pathogenesis
Authors: Lee Eung‐Seok , Leong Anthony S‐Y , Kim Insun S , Kim Young‐Sik , Lee Ju‐Han , Cho Hyun‐Yee 
Published: November 2009

Aims:  To determine whether or not the glomeruloid implants (GI) composed of papillary cores within clear spaces lined by mesothelial cells or tumour cells located in superficial or deep peritoneal tissue in ovarian serous borderline tumours (SBTs) are invasive.Methods and results:  We examined the differences in incidence, histological and immunohistochemical findings among three groups: 100 GI with mesothelial cells lining clear space (type I), 100 GI with tumour cells lining clear space (type II), and 100 invasive implants with clefts but no lining cells from 30 cases of SBT with peritoneal implants. The type I lesion had characteristics of non‐invasive implants with a tendency for smooth contours (100/100), superficial location (71/100), absence of desmoplasia (100/100) and absence of surrounding destructive invasion (100/100), In contrast, type II GI had irregular contours (67/100), deep location (93/100), presence of desmoplastic reaction (100/100) and presence of destructive invasion (12/100). Immunohistological studies suggested intermediate forms between the two types of lesions.Conclusions:  Type I GI are non‐invasive implants, whereas type II GI are invasive implants and it is important to evaluate the presence and nature of cells lining the clear space in determining whether implants associated with ovarian SBTs are invasive or not.
Tumour microvessel endothelial cell KIT and stem cell factor expression in human solid tumours
Authors: Sihto Harri , Tynninen Olli , Halonen Maija , Puputti Marjut , Karjalainen‐Lindsberg Marja‐Liisa , Kukko Heli , Joensuu Heikki 
Published: November 2009

Aims:  To assess KIT receptor tyrosine kinase and stem cell factor (SCF, KIT ligand) expression in tumour microvessel endothelial cells.Methods and results:  KIT and SCF expression were studied in 248 human tumours consisting of 15 different histological types using immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization for KIT messenger RNA. Moderate to strong intratumoral endothelial cell KIT expression was present in 11 of the 15 tumour types, and was most common in glioblastoma (58%), mixed embryonal carcinoma with teratoma (33%) and renal clear cell carcinoma (29%). Results of in situ hybridization were in line with those obtained with immunohistochemistry in the cases studied (n = 9). Marked SCF expression was uncommon in tumour endothelial cells, but frequent in perinecrotic tumour cells. Patients with glioblastoma with moderate to strong endothelial cell KIT expression had more favourable survival than those whose tumour showed little or no expression (P = 0.024). Glioblastoma patients whose tumour expressed SCF had an unfavourable outcome compared with those with tumour with weak or no expression (P = 0.034).Conclusions:  Intratumoral microvessels of several types of human malignant tumours express KIT. Tumour cell SCF expression and absence of marked endothelial cell KIT expression are novel adverse prognostic features in glioblastoma.
Automated image analysis for high‐throughput quantitative detection of ER and PR expression levels in large‐scale clinical studies: The TEAM Trial Experience
Authors: Faratian Dana , Kay Charlene , Robson Tammy , Campbell Fiona M , Grant Margaret , Rea Dan , Bartlett John M S 
Published: November 2009

Aims:  Routine immunohistochemistry is regarded as a semiquantitative method for the evaluation of in situ protein expression. Analysis of tissue biomarkers in large clinical trials is central to the development of novel targeted approaches to therapy, requires the analysis of tens of thousands of data points, and frequently makes use of high‐throughput analysis of tissue microarrays (TMAs). The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of image analysis for accurate and reproducible quantitative evaluation of biomarkers.Methods and results:  We showed, in 397 cases of breast cancer from the Phase III TEAM clinical trial, excellent correlations between semiautomated image analysis of TMAs and manual scoring of oestrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) levels (interclass correlation coefficients 0.93 and 0.96 respectively). Two or more TMA cores were excellently correlated with manual scores, and using more than three cores increased the number of cases available for analysis to >92%. TMAs are confirmed as representative of whole sections for immunohistochemical analysis of the tissue biomarkers ER and PR.Conclusions:  Semiautomated image analysis is appropriate for the analysis of tissue biomarkers within large clinical trials. These data provide support for the use of TMAs and image analysis in translational research.
The aggressiveness of urothelial carcinoma depends to a large extent on lymphovascular invasion – the prognostic contribution of related molecular markers
Authors: Afonso Julieta , Santos Lúcio Lara , Amaro Teresina , Lobo Francisco , Longatto‐Filho Adhemar 
Published: November 2009

Aims:  Bladder cancer is the second most common malignancy of the urogenital region. The majority of bladder cancer deaths occur as a consequence of metastatic disease. Blood vessel density (BVD), a surrogate marker for angiogenesis, has been shown to be predictive of progression and poor prognosis, as well as lymphatic vessel density (LVD). The aim of this study was to evaluate, in human urothelial bladder cancer (UBC), the clinical and prognostic significance of angiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis and lymphovascular invasion, assessed with the use of specific immunohistochemical markers.Methods and results:  Immunohistochemistry for CD31 (a blood vessel endothelial cell marker), D2‐40 (a lymphatic vessel endothelial cell marker), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)‐C and VEGF‐receptor 3 antibodies was performed in 83 patients with urothelial carcinoma who underwent radical cystectomy. The classic histopathological characteristics, associated with lymphovascular invasion and loco‐regional dissemination, had a negative influence on 5‐year overall survival (OS) rates. BVD and LVD were correlated with advanced and poorly differentiated UBC with lymphovascular invasion. Blood vessel invasion (BVI) by malignant emboli assessed by CD31 staining, and lymphatic vessel invasion (LVI) by isolated malignant cells assessed by D2‐40 staining significantly affected OS. VEGF‐C overexpression was correlated with both BVI and LVI by single malignant cells assessed by CD31 and D2‐40, respectively. BVI by malignant emboli assessed by CD31 staining remained as an independent prognostic factor.Conclusions:  Patients with UBC with embolic BVI assessed by CD31 and LVI by isolated malignant cells assessed by D2‐40 have a worse prognosis and may benefit from adjuvant therapies.
The role of vascular CXCR4 expression in colorectal carcinoma
Authors: Ingold Barbara , Schulz Stefan , Budczies Jan , Neumann Ulf , Ebert Matthias P A , Weichert Wilko , Röcken Christoph 
Published: November 2009

Aims:  The chemokine receptor CXCR4 plays a prominent role in the biology of many different tumours, promoting angiogenesis and metastasis. The impact of CXCR4 expression on tumour biology has been described in various gastrointestinal malignancies, but data on its in situ expression and clinicopathological correlations are sparse. Using a novel specific rabbit anti‐CXCR4 antibody, the aim was to assess CXCR4 expression immunohistochemically on tissue microarrays generated from 402 colorectal cancers (CRCs) and compare it with CXCL12 expression and various clinicopathological parameters.Methods and results:  CXCR4‐expressing tumour cells were observed in 31% of the cases, and expression correlated only with blood vessel invasion (P = 0.049). Furthermore, CXCR4 was found in tumour microvessels in 25% of CRCs. This pattern of CXCR4 expression correlated significantly with T‐ (P = 0.008), N‐ (P = 0.009), M‐ (P = 0.043), L‐ (P = 0.014) and V‐category (P = 0.043) as well as with International Union Against Cancer (UICC) stage (P = 0.001). Furthermore, in node negative CRCs, vascular CXCR4 expression was an independent adverse prognostic factor [hazard ratio 2.87 (1.31–6.29), P = 0.009]. No correlation with CXCL12 expression was found.Conclusions:  Our data provide evidence that CXCR4 plays an important role in tumour angiogenesis of CRC. Therefore, the CXCR4 pathway is a promising therapeutic target for anti‐angiogenic therapies in CRC.
Trematode infection causes malformations and population effects in a declining New Zealand fish
Authors: Kelly David W. , Thomas Harriet , Thieltges David W. , Poulin Robert , Tompkins Daniel M. 
Published: November 2009

Summary 1. Animal malformations engender wide public and scientific concern because of associated environmental health risks. This is highlighted by increased incidence of limb malformations in amphibians associated with trematode infections and disturbance. Malformations may signal new emerging disease threats, but whether the phenomenon is broadly applicable across taxa, or has population‐scale impacts, is unknown. 2. Malformations are widely reported in fish and, until now, have been attributed mainly to contaminants. We tested whether the trematode Telogaster opisthorchis caused severe malformations, leading to population effects, in Galaxias anomalus, a threatened New Zealand freshwater fish. 3. Experimental infection of larval fish caused increasing spinal malformation and mortality with infection intensity that closely matched field patterns. Field malformation frequency peaked in January (65%), before declining sharply in February (25%) and remaining low thereafter. 4. The peak occurred during a ‘critical window’ of larval development, with the decline coincident with a population crash, indicating that malformation was causing mortality in the field. 5. The occurrence of such critical developmental windows may explain why this mechanism of population impact has been overlooked. With global environmental stressors predicted to enhance trematode infections, our results show that parasite‐induced malformation, and its population‐scale impacts, could be more widespread than previously considered.
Silviculture enhances the recovery of overexploited mahogany Swietenia macrophylla
Authors: Verwer Caspar , Peña‐Claros Marielos , Van Der Staak Daniël , Ohlson‐Kiehn Kristen , Sterck Frank J. 
Published: November 2009

Summary

Big leaf mahogany Swietenia macrophylla is the most valuable timber species in the tropics but its future as a commercial timber species is at risk. This study evaluates whether recovery of overexploited mahogany populations is enhanced by actively managing the species and its surrounding forest. We assessed the effect of four different management interventions that varied in their intensities of harvesting and silvicultural treatments. We tested the hypothesis that intensive forest management stimulates population growth rates.
Data were gathered over a 4‐year period in the plots (326 ha) of the Long Term Silvicultural Research Program in Bolivia. Plants > 1·3 m tall were identified and monitored in the plots, while seedlings and saplings (< 1·3 m tall) were recorded and measured around 58 adult mahogany trees. Population growth rate was simulated using population matrices based on observed vital rates.
The application of silvicultural treatments only had an effect on seedling and sapling survival; survival being lowest in the unlogged forest and highest at intermediate levels of treatment application. Growth of larger trees tended to increase with management intensity, and was dependent on crown position and liana infestation. Removal of lianas and other competing trees had a positive effect on growth rates.
Model simulations suggested that the recovery of overexploited mahogany population is enhanced by the application of intermediate levels of silvicultural treatments. Recovery is dependent on the retention of large seed trees (> 70 cm diameter at 1·3 m height) that produce large numbers of seedlings. Harvesting simulations indicate that mahogany populations can only be sustainably harvested by increasing the cutting cycle length, reducing harvesting intensity and by maintaining optimal growing conditions.
Synthesis and applications. Mahogany is the most valuable timber species in the tropics, and its range has dramatically decreased mostly due to commercial harvesting. The results of simulation modelling based on field and experimental data suggest that overexploited populations are recovering and that sustainable harvesting will be possible in the future when cutting cycle length is increased, harvesting intensity is reduced and silvicultural treatments are applied regularly throughout the cutting cycle.
Increasing the utility of Indicator Species Analysis
Authors: Bakker Jonathan D. 
Published: November 2009

SummaryThe identification of species associated with or indicative of groups of samples is a common aspect of ecological research, including studies of environmental management. Indicator Species Analysis (ISA) permits statistically rigorous assessments of these indicator species, but its usage is currently restricted to simple designs.I describe three improvements that greatly increase the utility of ISA. First, exact permutation tests require that the correct exchangeable units be permuted; these exchangeable units may vary among factors. Secondly, the consistency of indicators can be assessed using meta‐analytic techniques to combine the results from multiple sites. Thirdly, while ISAs are classically conducted using abundance data, a simplified ISA can be conducted using binary (presence/absence) data.These improvements are illustrated by identifying indicators of grazing treatment (inside or outside exclosure) at three sites in a southwestern ponderosa pinePinus ponderosaforest. Most indicators were consistent among sites, and the number of significant indicators was reduced 37–40% by combining results from multiple sites. Species that occurred at multiple sites were more likely to be indicators than those present at a single site.Simplified ISAs produced very similar results to classical ISAs: both methods identified the same group as having the maximum Indicator Value in > 93% of tests. Compared to abundance data, however, the presence/absence data used in a simplified ISA are easily collected and efficiently published in data tables or appendices.Synthesis and applications. Meta‐analytic techniques and simplified Indicator Species Analyses can increase the ability to analyse new or previously published data, and permit rigorous assessments of the consistency of indicator status spatially or temporally. Other recommendations to improve the utility of ISA include identifying organisms to as fine a taxonomic resolution as possible, providing detailed descriptions of groups and typologies, ensuring adequate sample sizes within groups, reporting the sample size and frequency of all species in all groups, and publishing data for all species – whether or not they are significant indicators – to prevent publication bias in future meta‐analyses.
Assessing the long‐term contribution of nurse plants to restoration of Mediterranean forests through Markovian models
Authors: Siles G. , Rey P. J. , Alcántara J. M. , Ramírez J. M. 
Published: November 2009

Summary

Based on short‐term experimental data, facilitative interactions between woody plants (nurse‐recruit interactions) have been described as essential for the restoration of Mediterranean forests. However, the long‐term effects of nurse plants on vegetation dynamics are unknown. This study aims to project post‐fire vegetation dynamics from easily retrieved data, and to asses the long‐term contribution of nurse plants to forest restoration.
In an area burned 20 years ago, we compared post‐fire dynamics in three states of regeneration: pioneer scrubland; spontaneous pine regeneration stands; and late successional scrubland. For each regeneration state, we obtained an interaction matrix with the frequency of recruitment of a given species under the canopy of every other species in the community. These matrices provided the raw data to develop Markov chain models of community dynamics. We used sensitivity analyses to explore how small shifts in replacement probabilities between species (or between functional groups) may affect the similarity of the projected community to an undisturbed reference community.
Plots in the pioneer state had the lowest frequency of facilitative interactions. Matrix projection showed that, under the current frequency of facilitation, these pioneer scrublands would remain so in the long term. By contrast, the building state had the highest frequency of facilitation, and its projection suggested that it should reach a steady state very similar to the reference community. These results confirm that nurse facilitative effects are fundamental for a secondary successional trajectory of the post‐fire dynamics.
Sensitivities showed that secondary succession may be launched in the pioneer state by increasing the frequency of seedlings of tall shrubs, evergreen and deciduous trees under small shrubs.
Synthesis and applications. Our Markov chain successional model is an analytical tool which can be applied rapidly and easily to determine successional trajectories for forest restoration. It allows: (i) evaluation of post‐fire dynamics and identification of areas in need of intensive intervention (i.e. where secondary succession remains arrested leading to stasis in the pioneer state); (ii) assessment of the role of long‐term facilitative nurse effects on restoration; and (iii) identification of species‐pair combinations and functional nurse groups of value for further planting efforts.
Socioeconomic instability and the availability of health resources: their effects on infant mortality rates in Macau from 1957–2006
Authors: Chan Moon Fai , Ng Wai I , Van Iat Kio 
Published: November 2009

Aim. To investigate the effects of socioeconomic instability and the availability of health resources on infant mortality rate.Background. In 1960, the infant mortality rate was 46·3 infants per 1000 live births in Macau but by 2006 it had declined to 2·7 infants per 1000 live births.Design. A retrospective design collecting yearly data for the Macau covering the period from 1957–2006. The infant mortality rate was the dependent variable and demographics, socioeconomic status and health resources are three main explanatory variables to determine the mortality rate.Methods. Regression modelling.Results. Results show that higher birth (Beta = 0·029,p = 0·004) and unemployment rates (Beta = −0·120,p = 0·036) and more public expenditure on health (Beta = −0·282,p < 0·001) were significantly more likely to reduce the infant mortality rate.Conclusions. These results indicate that the socioeconomically disadvantaged are at a significantly higher risk for infant mortality. In contrast, more public expenditure on health resources significantly reduces the risk for infant mortality. This study provides further international evidence that suggests that improving aspects of the healthcare system may be one way to compensate for the negative effects of social inequalities on health outcomes.Relevance to clinical practice. The implication of these results is that more effort, particularly during economic downturns, should be put into removing the barriers that impede access to healthcare services and increasing preventive care for the population that currently has less access to health care in communities where there is a scarcity of medical resources. In addition, efforts should be made to expand and improve the coverage of prenatal and infant healthcare programmes to alleviate regional differences in the use of health care and improve the overall health status of infants in Macau.
Health care professionals’ perceptions of hospital‐based cardiac rehabilitation in mainland China: an exploratory study
Authors: Wang Wenru , Chair Sek Ying , Thompson David R , Twinn Sheila F 
Published: November 2009

Aim.  To explore Chinese health care professionals’ perceptions of cardiac rehabilitation for patients with coronary heart disease in mainland China.Background.  Coronary heart disease is a rapidly growing major health problem in mainland China and little is known about the current provision of rehabilitation for this population.Design.  A qualitative study.Methods.  Face‐to‐face interviews were conducted with 18 Chinese health care professionals. The interviews were tape‐recorded, transcribed and content analysis was used to identify categories.Results.  Content analysis of the data revealed three major categories: underdeveloped cardiac rehabilitation services, multiple obstacles to the establishment of a cardiac rehabilitation programme and a perceived need for professional guidance to patients.Conclusion.  The current situation of cardiac rehabilitation in hospitals of China is poor with multiple obstacles prohibiting the development of cardiac rehabilitation services in the country and this has resulted in high rates of recurrence of heart attacks, coronary risk factors going undetected and/or untreated and psychological distress being observed among Chinese coronary heart disease patients.Relevance to clinical practice.  The findings provide useful pointers for Chinese health professionals to explore ways of providing an effective, safe, convenient and culturally sensitive rehabilitation programme for Chinese patients with coronary heart disease.
Translation and back‐translation in qualitative nursing research: methodological review
Authors: Chen Hsiao‐Yu , Boore Jennifer RP 
Published: November 2009

Aims.  To examine the effects of the procedure of translation and the techniques used on the collection and interpretation of original language qualitative data for English presentation.Background.  Nursing and health research increasingly use qualitative research for a broadened perspective on practice and research. In numerous qualitative nursing research papers, data are collected in the original language (example Chinese) and the findings are presented in English. No standardised procedures exist for evaluating the influences of translation on the trustworthiness of qualitative data in nursing research.Design.  Translation and back‐translation related literature review was conducted.Methods.  This is a methodological review paper.Discussion.  This paper discusses the factors influencing the quality of translation including translator, back‐translation, culture and language. Additionally, the translation procedures reported in the literature and the author’s experiences are considered.Conclusions. The translation procedures described in qualitative nursing research can be summarised as:1 Verbatim transcription of the content in original language, and then analysis of content;2 Two bilingual translators are necessary to translate the emerged concepts and categories;3 Back translate is employed;4 An expert panel committee is involved in reaching final agreement on the translation.Relevance to clinical practice.  Development of the translation procedures could provide qualitative nursing researchers with a guide when collecting data in one language and presenting results in another language. In this way, the necessary rigour in qualitative nursing research could be achieved.