bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Risk Factors for Preoperative and Postoperative Delirium in Elderly Patients with Hip Fracture
Authors: Juliebø Vibeke , Bjøro Karen , Krogseth Maria , Skovlund Eva , Ranhoff Anette H. , Wyller Torgeir Bruun 
Published: July 2009

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate risk factors for preoperative and postoperative delirium.DESIGN: Prospective cohort study.SETTING: Departments of orthopedic surgery in two Norwegian hospitals.PARTICIPANTS: Three hundred sixty‐four patients with and without cognitive impairment, aged 65 and older.MEASUREMENTS: Patients were screened daily for delirium using the Confusion Assessment Method. Established risk factors and risk factors regarded as clinically important according to expert opinion were explored in univariate analyses. Variables associated with the outcomes (P<.05) were entered into multivariate logistic regression models.RESULTS: Delirium was present in 50 of 237 (21.1%) assessable patients preoperatively, whereas 68 of 187 (36.4%) patients developed delirium postoperatively (incident delirium). Multivariate logistic regression identified four risk factors for preoperative delirium: cognitive impairment (adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=4.7, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.9–11.3), indoor injury (AOR=3.6, 95% CI=1.1–12.2), fever (AOR=3.4, 95% CI=1.5–7.7), and preoperative waiting time (AOR=1.05, 95% CI=1.0–1.1 per hour). Cognitive impairment (AOR=2.9, 95% CI=1.4–6.2), indoor injury (AOR=2.9, 95% CI=1.1–6.3), and body mass index (BMI) less than 20.0 (AOR=2.9, 95% CI=1.3–6.7) were independent and statistically significant risk factors for postoperative delirium.CONCLUSION: Time from admission to operation is a risk factor for preoperative delirium, whereas low BMI is an important risk factor for postoperative delirium in hip fracture patients. Cognitive impairment and indoor injury are independent risk factors for preoperative and postoperative delirium.
RNA editing in human cancer: review
Authors: ŠKARDA JOZEF , AMARIGLIO NINETTE , RECHAVI GIDEON 
Published: July 2009

Notice of Retraction: ‘RNA editing in human cancer: review’ (APMIS 2009;117:551–7) The following article from APMIS, ‘RNA editing in human cancer: review’ by Jozef Skarda, Ninette Amariglio and Gideon Rechavi, published online (2 July 2009) in Wiley InterScience (http://www.interscience.wiley.com) and in Volume 117, Issue 8 (August 2009), has been retracted by agreement between the authors, the journal Editors‐in‐Chief E. Ralfkiær and B. Norrild and John Wiley & Sons A/S. The retraction has been agreed as a result of textual overlap with a paper published in the journal RNA Biology, ‘A‐to‐I RNA editing and cancer: from pathology to basic science’ by Angela Gallo and Silvia Galardi, published in Volume 5, Issue 3 (September 2008). Jozef Skarda takes full responsibility for the textual overlap.
Real‐time PCR with internal amplification control for detecting tuberculosis: method design and validation
Authors: FLORES E. , RODRÍGUEZ J. C. , GARCIA‐PACHÓN E. , SOTO J. L. , RUIZ M. , ESCRIBANO I. , ROYO G. 
Published: July 2009

Flores E, Rodríguez JC, Garcia‐Pachón E, Soto JL, Ruiz M, Escribano I, Royo G. Real‐time PCR with internal amplification control for detecting tuberculosis: method design and validation. APMIS 2009; 117: 592–7.Real‐time PCR has been a major development in the diagnosis of tuberculosis. However, most tests do not include an internal amplification control (IAC), which therefore limits it clinical application. In this study a new, easy to perform real‐time PCR test with IAC was designed and validated in clinical samples. The primers amplified a 163‐bp fragment of IS6110 of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and the IAC was designed with a fragment of a different microorganism (Chlamydia trachomatis). The interassay and intraassay variation of this test were very low (0.45–1.65% and 0.18–1.80%, respectively). The detection accuracy was validated in 50 samples (25 urine, 25 sputum) with different concentrations of M. tuberculosis, 18 clinical isolates of non‐tuberculous mycobacteria and 148 samples with clinical suspicion of pulmonary tuberculosis. The specificity was 100%. The detection limit of this PCR test without IAC was approximately 15 bacteria and with IAC approximately 32 bacteria. This real‐time PCR with IAC assay can improve the detection of M. tuberculosis and contribute to standardization of this diagnostic technique.
IL‐6, but not IL‐4, stimulates chemokinesis and TNF stimulates chemotaxis of tissue mast cells: involvement of both mitogen‐activated protein kinases and phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase signalling pathways
Authors: MISIAK‐TŁOCZEK ANNA , BRZEZIŃSKA‐BŁASZCZYK EWA 
Published: July 2009

Misiak‐Tłoczek A, Brzezińska‐Błaszczyk E. IL‐6, but not IL‐4, stimulates chemokinesis and TNF stimulates chemotaxis of tissue mast cells: Involvement of both mitogen‐activated protein kinases and phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase signalling pathways. APMIS 2009; 117: 558–67.An increase in the number of mast cells within tissues is observed in many pathophysiological conditions. Current data indicate that migration of mature mast cells might be one of the key mechanisms responsible for rapid local accumulation of these cells. Considering that interleukin (IL)‐6 and IL‐4, as well as tumour necrosis factor (TNF), influence mast cell activity in various ways, the purpose of the current study was to examine whether these cytokines function as rat peritoneal mast cell chemoattractants. We showed that IL‐4, in the concentration range from 10−6 to 10−3 ng/ml, did not induce a mast cell migratory response, even in the presence of laminin and fibronectin. Under the same experimental conditions, mast cells were shown to migrate in response to IL‐6 stimulation in the presence of laminin. The optimal concentration of IL‐6 for maximal migration of mast cells was 10−4 ng/ml (i.e. ∼5 nM). In comparison, the optimal concentration of TNF for maximal migration of mast cells was 5 × 10−5 ng/ml (i.e. ∼3 fM). IL‐6‐stimulated mast cell migration was the result of chemokinesis, whereas TNF‐induced migration was the result of chemotaxis. Mast cell migratory responses to IL‐6 and TNF were entirely blocked by specific anti‐IL‐6R and anti‐TNFR1 antibodies. We also documented that the migration response of mast cells to stimulation with IL‐6 and TNF was mediated through signal transduction pathways involving mitogen‐activated protein kinases and phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase. Taken together, our results indicate that IL‐6, as well as TNF, induces tissue mast cell migration. Thus, these proinflammatory cytokines can be responsible for mast cell accumulation at the site of diverse conditions accompanied by inflammation.
Organ and gestational age effects of maternal nutrient restriction on global methylation in fetal baboons
Authors: Unterberger A. , Szyf M. , Nathanielsz P.W. , Cox L.A. 
Published: July 2009

AbstractBackground  A sub‐optimal intrauterine environment alters the trajectory of fetal development with profound effects on life‐time health. Altered methylation, a proposed epigenetic mechanism responsible for these changes, has been studied in non‐primate species but not nonhuman primates. We tested the hypotheses that global methylation in fetal baboon demonstrates organ specificity, gestational age specificity, and changes with maternal nutritional status.Methods  We measured global DNA methylation in fetuses of control fed (CTR) and nutrient restricted mothers fed 70% of controls (MNR) for brain, kidney, liver and heart at 0.5 and 0.9 gestation (G).Results  We observed organ and gestation specific changes that were modified by maternal diet. Methylation in CTR fetuses was highest in frontal cortex and lowest in liver. MNR decreased methylation in 0.5G kidney and increased methylation in 0.9G kidney and frontal cortex.Conclusion  These results demonstrate a potential epigenetic mechanism whereby reduced maternal nutrition has long‐term programming effects on fetal organ development.
Wider spectrum of fruit traits in invasive than native floras may increase the vulnerability of oceanic islands to plant invasions
Authors: Kueffer Christoph , Kronauer Lilian , Edwards Peter J. 
Published: July 2009

Plant–animal mutualisms such as seed dispersal can play an important role in enabling some species to become invasive. For example, an introduced species could become invasive because birds prefer its fruits to those of native plants. To investigate this possibility, we compared various measures of fruit quality of 22 of the most common native and invasive woody species on the oceanic island Mahé (Seychelles, Indian Ocean).Individual measures of food quality tended to vary much more amongst invasive species than amongst native species; thus, whereas for particular traits the fruits of some invasive species had higher values than any native species, others had relatively low values. However, invasive species consistently produced fruits with a lower water content, resulting in a higher relative yield (i.e. dry pulp weight to total wet fruit weight ratio), and a higher energy content. The fruits of the most abundant invasive tree Cinnamomum verum (Lauraceae) were of particularly high nutritional quality, with individual berries containing 3.5 times more protein and 55 times more lipid than the median values of the native species.We suggest that our results may reflect a general tendency for island plants to produce fruits of low energy content, perhaps reflecting reduced competition for dispersal agents on isolated islands. In addition, we argue that inconsistent results on the relevance of fruit quality for plant invasions reported in the literature may be resolved by comparing the widths of trait spectra for native and alien floras rather than average values. Gaps in the native fruit trait spectrum may provide opportunities for particular invasive species, and weaken the resistance of regional floras to invasions. Such empty niche opportunities may occur for several reasons, including generally broader trait spectra in globally assembled alien than regional native floras (especially on oceanic islands), or the loss of native species due to human activities. More generally, a focus on trait variation rather than average trends may help to advance generalisation in invasion biology.
Cross‐site comparison of herbivore impact on nitrogen availability in grasslands: the role of plant nitrogen concentration
Authors: Bakker E. S. , Knops J. M. H. , Milchunas D. G , Ritchie M. E. , Olff H. 
Published: July 2009

Herbivores may influence the nitrogen (N) recycling rates and consequently increase or decrease the productivity of grasslands. Plant N concentration emerged as a critical parameter to explain herbivore effects from several conceptual models, which predict that herbivores decrease soil N availability when plant N concentration is low whereas they increase it when plant N concentration is high (Hobbs 1996, Ritchie et al. 1998, Pastor et al. 2006). However, a broader cross‐site comparison among published studies to test these predictions is hampered by the different methodologies used to measure soil N availability or a proxy thereof, and a lack of measurements of plant N concentration. Therefore it remains unclear whether these model predictions are generally valid across a range of grasslands.We tested whether there is a relationship between plant N concentration and herbivore impact on soil N availability (measured with resin bags) with a study of replicate 6–8 year old exclosures (with an unfenced control) of vertebrate herbivores (>1 kg) established at each of seven grassland sites in North America and Europe. Contrary to model predictions, we found a negative relationship between the effect of herbivores on resin bag soil N availability and plant N concentration. Our study confirms the importance of plant N concentration as a predictor of herbivore effect on soil N availability across grasslands, but contradicts the models. A possible explanation may be that the results represent a transient situation as the exclosures were relatively young whereas the models may refer to an equilibrium state. Simultaneous measurements of both plant N concentration and herbivore effect on soil N availability from more grassland sites, preferably with contrasting plant N concentrations and including exclosures of different ages, should resolve the contrast between model predictions and our field measurements.
Interactions between habitat quality and connectivity affect immigration but not abundance or population growth of the butterfly,Parnassius smintheus
Authors: Matter Stephen F. , Ezzeddine Maya , Duermit Elizabeth , Mashburn Jeffery , Hamilton Rebecca , Lucas Tiffany , Roland Jens 
Published: July 2009

Habitat geometry has been a primary focus in studies of spatially structured systems. Recent studies have indicated that a more comprehensive approach including habitat quality may be needed, however most previous studies have neglected potential interactions between quality and geometry. We investigated the effects of habitat quality for the butterflyParnassius smintheusamong a series of 17 sub‐populations. Specifically, we examined how habitat connectivity and local nectar flower density affect dispersal, and local population abundance and growth. We first determined which flower species were potentially important by examining nectar flower electivity and then quantified nectar flower density in meadows over a five year period (2003–2007). These data along with meadow connectivity were compared to local population statistics derived from mark–recapture over the same time period. The number of immigrants to a meadow increased as meadow connectivity increased, but showed no direct relationship with nectar flower density; however, there was a significant interaction between meadow connectivity and nectar flower density such that meadows with high connectivity and a high density of nectar flowers received the greatest number of immigrants. The number of emigrants from a meadow increased with increasing habitat quality and connectivity, but showed no interactive effect.The abundance of butterflies increased with meadow connectivity, but showed no relationship with habitat quality or any interactive effect. Separate experiments showed that access to nectar flowers significantly increased female reproductive output, but not lifespan. Despite the effects on immigration and reproductive output, local population growth rates also showed no relationship to nectar flower density. Our results indicate that habitat quality can be important for immigration in spatially structured populations; however, effects of habitat quality may not necessarily translate into higher abundance or population growth. Additionally, habitat quality should not be considered independently from habitat isolation, particularly if it directly affects dispersal. Preserving or augmenting habitat quality will do little to bolster immigration or colonization without adequate connectivity.
A Sticky Affair: Resin Collection by Bornean Stingless Bees
Authors: Leonhardt Sara Diana , Blüthgen Nico 
Published: July 2009

ABSTRACTPlant resins are used by stingless bees for nest construction and maintenance. To reveal factors that influence the bees' decision about where and when to collect resin, resin collection was studied in ten stingless bee species (Apidae, Meliponini) collecting resin at natural and artificially induced wounds of nine tree species in Borneo. Artificially induced wounds were found by bees within 1–2 d. The number of foragers at artificial wounds increased during the subsequent 5 d until resin secretion stopped or the resin hardened. At natural resin wounds, species identity and number of foragers remained constant during the observation period. Bees collected resin from some trees and ignored others. Agathis borneensis (Araucariaceae) was the most attractive resin source. The bees' visitation rate did not correlate significantly with resin wound size. Inter‐ and intraspecific aggression occurred at ten resin wounds. In Tetragonilla collina and Tetragonula melanocephala, we additionally recorded resin intake at colony entrances. The proportion of workers retuning with resin varied considerably between colonies. We observed attacks by ants at three of our eight focal colonies, which resulted in a significant increase in resin intake while the nest was under attack and until 1–2 d after the attack had stopped. The increase in resin collection triggered by ant attacks was even stronger than the increase following a manual destruction of the nest entrance tube.
Leaf Gas Exchange in Canopy Species of a Venezuelan Cloud Forest
Authors: Rada Fermín , García‐Núñez Carlos , Ataroff Michele 
Published: July 2009

ABSTRACTTropical cloud forests are considered humid ecosystems with frequent cloud cover down to the ground surface. However, seasonal variation in precipitation may induce short‐term water stress. For canopy leaves, this water stress may also be a consequence of large atmospheric vapor pressure deficits. The objective of this work was to study five canopy cloud forest species to determine if there are restrictions to leaf gas exchange as a consequence of seasonality in precipitation and to daily water deficit due to air evaporative demand mainly during maximum incoming radiation hours. Seasonal daily courses of microclimatic variables (air temperature, relative humidity, photosynthetic photon flux density) and plant responses (leaf water potential, stomatal conductance, CO2 assimilation rates, leaf nitrogen concentration) were measured at 2400 m asl in Monterrey, an intermontane valley of the Venezuelan Andes. A gradient in terms of responses to water stress conditions was observed between the species, with Clusia multiflora (a 46% reduction in stomatal conductance between seasons) as the most affected and Miconia resimoides (increased stomatal conductance) responding more favorably to slight water stress conditions. If we consider the limitations of water stress and/or light conditions on CO2 assimilation we may arrange the species into those in which water stress conditions have a greater impact on leaf carbon gain, those where light conditions are determinant and one in which both water stress and light conditions may affect leaf carbon assimilation.
Implications of Behavior and Gut Passage for Seed Dispersal Quality: The Case of Black and Gold Howler Monkeys
Authors: Bravo Susana P. 
Published: July 2009

ABSTRACTThe most generalized mechanism of seed dispersal in tropical and subtropical forests is dispersal by vertebrates. The pattern of seed dispersal and germination capacity of dispersed seeds can determine the seed disperser quality because both affect the postdispersal fate of dispersed seeds. Animals' behavior is an important determinant of seed deposition pattern. One of most abundant frugivores of Neotropical forests are howler monkeys Alouatta spp., so my aim was to evaluate the potential quality of Alouatta caraya as a seed disperser, obtaining details of: (1) seed deposition pattern, (2) behavioral context of defecations, and (3) germination capacity of dispersed seeds. During 2 years the seed shadow created by howlers and the behavioral context of depositions was examined in the Paraná flooded forest, and germination tests were conducted in the laboratory. Black and gold howler monkeys consumed fruits of five canopy trees, three understory trees, one shrub, and two vines. Howlers dispersed seeds in a complex pattern: 35 percent (337 scats) of scats were deposited individually, and 65 percent were deposited in big latrines associated with the main sleeping trees and in small latrines associated with secondary sleeping trees and confrontations at territory edges. From 261 dispersal distances recorded, 20 and 40 m were the mode, but 57 percent of distances were >50 m and 31 percent were >100 m. Germination speed increased significantly in ingested seeds of Banara arguta, Ocotea diospyrifolia and Eugenia punicifolia. The seed deposition pattern generated by A. caraya may produce a diversification of environmental conditions for dispersed seeds that should be considered in future evaluations.
Ethnic difference in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in inter‐East Asian populations: A systematic review and meta‐analysis focusing on gene polymorphism
Authors: TAKEUCHI Masakazu , OKAMOTO Kousuke , TAKAGI Tatsuya , ISHII Hitoshi 
Published: July 2009

AbstractBackground:  We previously reported that the fasting serum insulin level was significantly lower in Japanese patients than in Korean and Chinese patients, and showed evidence that a difference in the dietary component would be one of the most influential factors for the ethnic difference. However, it is well known that type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) results from the interaction between genetic predispositions and environmental risk factors. Therefore, we investigated ethnic differences by focusing on gene polymorphism, possibly related to T2DM in Japanese, Korean, and Chinese subjects.Methods:  Data sources included MEDLINE and EMBASE between January 2001 and October 2008. We conducted a search for articles containing minor allele frequency (MAF) in the gene polymorphisms of peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐γ (PPARG), inward‐rectifying potassium channel Kir6.2 (KCNJ11), Calpain 10 (CAPN10), and transcription factor 7‐like 2 (TCF7L2). The pooled odds ratio was calculated by using a fixed‐effects model with the Mantel–Haenszel method after confirming statistical evidence of homogeneity across the ethnicities using the Breslow–Day test.Results:  The Breslow–Day test revealed that there were no statistically significant differences between ethnicities in pooled odds ratios for the gene polymorphisms in PPARG (P = 0.828), KCNJ11 (P = 0.194), CAPN10 (P = 0.090), and TCF7L2 (P = 0.376). Also, pooled odds ratios of each gene polymorphism in East Asians were 0.645 for PPARG (P = 0.000), 1.168 for KCNJ11 (P = 0.000), 0.967 for CAPN10 (P = 0.759), and 1.386 for TCF7L2 (P = 0.000).Conclusion:  The results of this study and our previous studies suggest that behavioral and environmental risk factors have a more significant impact on ethnic difference in East Asian patients with T2DM compared with genetic predispositions.
Molecular methods for differentiating grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) and harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) scat
Authors: MASLAND E. D. P. , SWEEZY M. A. , ONO K. A. 
Published: June 2009

AbstractPinniped dietary information is crucial for understanding marine ecosystems; however, in the North Atlantic, grey and harbour seals haulout concomitantly and their faeces are visually indistinguishable. Therefore, we developed molecular methods to differentiate the species’ scat. PCR primers were created that amplify a portion of mitochondrial 16S ribosomal DNA in grey and harbour seals. The samples were amplified and the resulting products were digested using the restriction enzyme Tsp509I, producing diagnostic banding patterns. These tools provide a mechanism by which separate dietary analysis can be achieved for grey and harbour seals at mixed haulouts in New England.