bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Fluid compliance among patients having haemodialysis: can an educational programme make a difference?
Authors: Barnett Tony , Li Yoong Tang , Pinikahana Jaya , Si‐Yen Tan 
Published: August 2010

AbstractTitle.  Fluid compliance among patients having haemodialysis: can an educational programme make a difference? Aim.  This paper is a report of a study to examine the effectiveness of a patient education programme on fluid compliance as assessed by interdialytic weight gain, mean predialysis blood pressure and rate of fluid adherence.Background.  Patients with end stage renal disease who receive haemodialysis are often non‐compliant with their treatment regime, especially adherence to fluid restrictions.Method.  An exploratory study was conducted in 2004–05 using a quasi‐experimental, single group design to examine the effectiveness of patient education on fluid compliance in a dialysis centre located in a major teaching hospital in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Twenty‐six patients with an interdialytic weight gain of greater than 2·5 kg were identified as non‐compliant and recruited to the study. The intervention was carried out over a 2‐month period and included teaching and weekly reinforcement about diet, fluids and control of weight gain.Findings.  Patients’ mean interdialytic weight gain decreased following the educational intervention from 2·64 kg to 2·21 kg (P < 0·05) and adherence to fluid restrictions increased from 47% to 71% following the intervention. Predialysis mean blood pressure did not improve following the intervention, although the maximum recording for predialysis systolic pressure dropped from 220 mmHg to 161 mmHg. Whilst no statistically significant associations were detected between interdialytic weight gain and age, educational level, marital status or employment status, women demonstrated a greater decrease in mean interdialytic weight gain than men.Conclusion.  Nephrology nurses often have long‐term relationships with their patients and are ideally placed to provide ongoing education and encouragement, especially for those experiencing difficulties in adhering to fluid and dietary restrictions.
Chinese couples’ experiences during convalescence from a first heart attack: a focus group study
Authors: Wang Wenru , Thompson David R. , Chair Sek Y. , Twinn Sheila F. 
Published: August 2010

AbstractTitle.  Chinese couples’ experiences during convalescence from a first heart attack: a focus group study Aim.  This paper is a report of a study to explore Chinese patients’ and partners’ experiences during early convalescence from a first heart attack.Background.  There are important socio‐cultural differences between Chinese and western populations and comparatively little is known about the experiences of Chinese patients and partners living with a first heart attack.Method.  A qualitative study using focus groups was conducted in 2005 with 17 Chinese patients and their partners during convalescence from a first heart attack. The interviews were tape‐recorded and transcribed. Analysis was used to identify categories using established qualitative phenomenological techniques.Findings.  Content analysis of the data revealed five major categories: enduring uncertainty; coping with changes; experiencing emotional reactions; living with medications and needing professional help.Conclusion.  The experiences of Chinese patients and partners during early convalescence from a first heart attack are different from their western counterparts and are affected by cultural traditions. Findings from this study may provide useful pointers for health professionals to deliver culturally sensitive and appropriate support and education during early convalescence.
Older women nurses: health, ageing concerns and self‐care strategies
Authors: Gabrielle Sarah , Jackson Debra , Mannix Judy 
Published: August 2010

AbstractTitle.  Older women nurses: health, ageing concerns and self‐care strategies Aim.  This paper is a report of a study of the health and ageing concerns and self‐care strategies of older female Registered Nurses currently working in direct care‐giving roles in acute public hospitals and community facilities.Background.  Nursing is a rapidly ageing, and female‐dominated workforce. However, despite the ageing of the nursing workforce, little is known about the needs and health concerns of older nurses.Method.  A feminist perspective was used and 12 female Registered Nurses aged 40–60 years, employed in various acute hospital and community health settings in Australia took part in qualitative interviews in late 2004. Narratives were audio taped, transcribed and analysed thematically.Findings.  Two major themes were identified. The first theme –Aches and pains of ageing– had four subthemes: Neglecting self: ‘You don't think of yourself first’; Physical changes: ‘The body is wearing out’; Living with pain: ‘You just work around it’; and Tiredness: ‘I’m just tired all the time’. The second theme –Evolving lifestyles: works in progress – had three subthemes: The power of exercise: ‘I feel great…and I’m enjoying life’; Healthy eating: ‘Low fat, lots of fruit and veg, little processed food’; and Adapting to ageing: ‘I think it’s quite a good time of life’.Conclusion.  Further research is needed to explore the need for protective work practices and promoting healthy lifestyle practices for ageing nurses. Managers need to recognize the changing health needs of older clinical nurses and offer, for example, flexible rostering and tailored exercise programmes to promote their health.
Factors affecting the utilization of antenatal care in developing countries: systematic review of the literature
Authors: Simkhada Bibha , Teijlingen Edwin R. van , Porter Maureen , Simkhada Padam 
Published: August 2010

AbstractTitle.  Factors affecting the utilization of antenatal care in developing countries: systematic review of the literature. Aim.  This paper is a report of a systematic review to identify and analyse the main factors affecting the utilization of antenatal care in developing countries.Background.  Antenatal care is a key strategy for reducing maternal mortality, but millions of women in developing countries do not receive it.Data sources.  A range of electronic databases was searched for studies conducted in developing countries and published between 1990 and 2006. English‐language publications were searched using relevant keywords, and reference lists were hand‐searched.Review methods.  A systematic review was carried out and both quantitative and qualitative studies were included.Results.  Twenty‐eight papers were included in the review. Studies most commonly identified the following factors affecting antenatal care uptake: maternal education, husband’s education, marital status, availability, cost, household income, women’s employment, media exposure and having a history of obstetric complications. Cultural beliefs and ideas about pregnancy also had an influence on antenatal care use. Parity had a statistically significant negative effect on adequate attendance. Whilst women of higher parity tend to use antenatal care less, there is interaction with women’s age and religion. Only one study examined the effect of the quality of antenatal services on utilization. None identified an association between the utilization of such services and satisfaction with them.Conclusion.  More qualitative research is required to explore the effect of women’s satisfaction, autonomy and gender role in the decision‐making process. Adequate utilization of antenatal care cannot be achieved merely by establishing health centres; women’s overall (social, political and economic) status needs to be considered.
Movement behaviour within and beyond perceptual ranges in three small mammals: effects of matrix type and body mass
Authors: Prevedello Jayme Augusto , Forero‐Medina Germán , Vieira Marcus Vinícius 
Published: August 2010

Summary 1. For animal species inhabiting heterogeneous landscapes, the tortuosity of the dispersal path is a key determinant of the success in locating habitat patches. Path tortuosity within and beyond perceptual range must differ, and may be differently affected by intrinsic attributes of individuals and extrinsic environmental factors. Understanding how these factors interact to determine path tortuosity allows more accurate inference of successful movements between habitat patches. 2. We experimentally determined the effects of intrinsic (body mass and species identity) and extrinsic factors (distance to nearest forest fragment and matrix type) on the tortuosity of movements of three forest‐dwelling didelphid marsupials, in a fragmented landscape of the Atlantic Forest, Brazil. 3. A total of 202 individuals were captured in forest fragments and released in three unsuitable matrix types (mowed pasture, abandoned pasture and manioc plantation), carrying spool‐and‐line devices. 4. Twenty‐four models were formulated representing a priori hypotheses of major determinants of path tortuosity, grouped in three scenarios (only intrinsic factors, only extrinsic factors and models with combinations of both), and compared using a model selection approach. Models were tested separately for individuals released within the perceptual range of the species, and for individuals released beyond the perceptual range. 5. Matrix type strongly affected path tortuosity, with more obstructed matrix types hampering displacement of animals. Body mass was more important than species identity to determine path tortuosity, with larger animals moving more linearly. Increased distance to the fragment resulted in more tortuous paths, but actually reflects a threshold in perceptual range: linear paths within perceptual range, tortuous paths beyond. 6. The variables tested explained successfully path tortuosity, but only for animals released within the perceptual range. Other factors, such as wind intensity and direction of plantation rows, may be more important for individuals beyond their perceptual range. 7. Simplistic scenarios considering only intrinsic or extrinsic factors are inadequate to predict path tortuosity, and to infer dispersal success in heterogeneous landscapes. Perceptual range represents a fundamental threshold where the effects of matrix type, body mass and individual behaviour change drastically.
Hospitalisation rates for ambulatory care sensitive conditions for persons with and without an intellectual disability‐a population perspective
Authors: Balogh R. , Brownell M. , Ouellette‐Kuntz H. , Colantonio A. 
Published: August 2010

AbstractBackground  There is evidence that persons with an intellectual disability (ID) face barriers to primary care; however, this has not been extensively studied at the population level. Rates of hospitalisation for ambulatory care sensitive conditions are used as an indicator of access to, and quality of, primary care. The objective of the study was to compare hospitalisation rates for ambulatory care sensitive conditions between persons with and without an ID in a publicly insured population.Methods  Persons with an ID were identified among the general population of a Canadian province between 1999 and 2003. Using a list of conditions applicable to persons with an ID, rates of hospitalisations for ambulatory care sensitive conditions for persons with and without an ID were calculated and compared. Regression models were used to adjust for age, sex and place of residence. Hospitalisation rates for specific conditions were also compared, controlling for differences in disease prevalence where possible.Results  Persons with an ID were consistently hospitalised for ambulatory care sensitive conditions at a higher rate than persons without an ID. Between 1999 and 2003 the adjusted rate ratio (RR) was 6.1 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 5.6, 6.7]. Rate ratios were highest when comparing persons with, to persons without, an ID between the ages of 30–39 (RR = 13.1; 95% CI = 10.6, 16.2) and among urban area dwellers (RR = 7.0; 95% CI = 6.2, 7.9). Hospitalisation rates for epilepsy and schizophrenic disorders were, respectively, 54 and 15 times higher for persons with compared with persons without an ID. Rate ratios for diabetes and asthma remained significant after controlling for the population prevalence of these diseases.Conclusions  The large discrepancy in rates of hospitalisation between persons with and without an ID is an indicator of inadequate primary care for this vulnerable population. Decreasing the number of ambulatory care sensitive condition hospitalisations through specialised outpatient programmes for persons with an ID would potentially lead to better health, improved quality of life and cost savings. Future research should include potentially important factors such as disease severity, socio‐economic variables and measures of health service organisation in the analysis. International comparisons of ambulatory care sensitive condition hospitalisation rates could point to the benefits and limitations of the health service policy directions adopted by different countries.
Histopathological characteristics of eruption mesenchymal calcified hamartoma: two case reports
Authors: Onishi Tomoyuki , Sakashita Suguru , Ogawa Tomohiro , Ooshima Takashi 
Published: August 2010

AbstractOdontogenic calcified masses were present in the opercula of lower first molars that were delayed in eruption. The masses were relatively small, opaque, white in color with a smooth texture. Histopathological examinations revealed that they contained osteodentin, cementum, and pulp‐like components; however, not odontogenic epithelial cells or enameloid. Further, mesenchymal multinucleated giant cells and dysplastic dental matrices were observed in the connective tissues surrounding the masses. These clinical and histopathological findings disagree with the features of pericoronal odontogenic hamartoma lesions, including odontoma, ameloblastic fibroma, and ameloblastic fibro‐odontoma. Therefore, we propose to categorize this odontogenic mass as a new variety of hamartoma, eruption mesenchymal calcified hamartoma.
Upregulation of thymidine kinase activity compensates for loss of thymidylate synthase activity in Mycoplasma pneumoniae
Authors: Wang Liya , Hames Claudine , Schmidl Sebastian R. , Stülke Jörg 
Published: August 2010

SummaryThymidylate, an essential building block of DNA, is synthesized either from deoxyuridylate by thymidylate synthase (TS) or thymidine (dT) by thymidine kinase (TK). Thymidylate kinase (TMPK) phosphorylates dTMP to dTTP. Thymidine phosphorylase (TP) catalyses reversible phosphorolysis of dT. Using transposon mutagenesis M. pneumoniae TS gene (thyA/MPN320) was interrupted and requirement of these enzymes was studied. We found that TK activity and transcript levels and TP activity, but not TMPK or TS activity, are growth‐phase‐regulated, with induction at the exponential growth phase and a decline after the stationary phase. Inactivation of thyA results in upregulation of TK transcript and a 10‐fold increase in TK activity, reduced TMPK level and it had no effect on TP activity. The level of [3H]‐dT uptake and incorporation into DNA in the thyA mutant correlates with increases in TK activity, suggesting that dT uptake and metabolism is TK‐dependent and that upregulation of TK activity in the thyA mutant compensates for the lack of ThyA activity. [3H]‐dU uptake was low compared with dT, and incorporation of radioactivity into DNA in the thyA mutant indicates the presence of an alternative TS. Our results suggest that TK and TMPK are potential targets for the development of Mycoplasma‐specific antibiotics.
Proteobactin and a yersiniabactin‐related siderophore mediate iron acquisition in Proteus mirabilis
Authors: Himpsl Stephanie D. , Pearson Melanie M. , Arewång Carl J. , Nusca Tyler D. , Sherman David H. , Mobley Harry L. T. 
Published: August 2010

Summary Proteus mirabilis causes complicated urinary tract infections (UTIs). While the urinary tract is an iron‐limiting environment, iron acquisition remains poorly characterized for this uropathogen. Microarray analysis of P. mirabilis HI4320 cultured under iron limitation identified 45 significantly upregulated genes (P ≤  0.05) that represent 21 putative iron‐regulated systems. Two gene clusters, PMI0229‐0239 and PMI2596‐2605, encode putative siderophore systems. PMI0229‐0239 encodes a non‐ribosomal peptide synthetase‐independent siderophore system for producing a novel siderophore, proteobactin. PMI2596‐2605 are contained within the high‐pathogenicity island, originally described in Yersinia pestis, and encodes proteins with apparent homology and organization to those involved in yersiniabactin production and uptake. Cross‐feeding and biochemical analysis shows that P. mirabilis is unable to utilize or produce yersiniabactin, suggesting that this yersiniabactin‐related locus is functionally distinct. Only disruption of both systems resulted in an in vitro iron‐chelating defect; demonstrating production and iron‐chelating activity for both siderophores. These findings clearly show that proteobactin and the yersiniabactin‐related siderophore function as iron acquisition systems. Despite the activity of both siderophores, only mutants lacking the yersiniabactin‐related siderophore have reduced fitness in vivo. The fitness requirement for the yersiniabactin‐related siderophore during UTI shows, for the first time, the importance of siderophore production in vivo for P. mirabilis.
The TetR‐type transcriptional regulator FasR of Corynebacterium glutamicum controls genes of lipid synthesis during growth on acetate
Authors: Nickel Jens , Irzik Kristina , Van Ooyen Jan , Eggeling Lothar 
Published: August 2010

SummaryThe addition of fatty acids to either Escherichia coli or Bacillus subtilis elicits an elaborate cellular response of the lipid metabolism. We found that in Corynebacterium glutamicum the expression of accD1 encoding the β‐subunit of the essential acetyl‐CoA carboxylase is repressed in acetate‐grown cells without the addition of fatty acids. The TetR‐type transcriptional regulator NCgl2404, termed FasR, was identified and deleted. During growth on acetate, but not on glucose, 17 genes are differentially expressed in the deletion mutant, among them accD1, and fasA and fasB both encoding fatty acid synthases, which were upregulated. Determination of the 5′ ends of accD1, fasA, fasB and accBC together with the use of isolated FasR protein identified the FasR binding site, fasO, which is located within the accD1 and fasA transcript initiation site thus blocking transcription by RNA polymerase binding directly. The identified fasO motif is present in C. efficiens or C. diphtheriae, too, and it is actually similarly positioned in these bacteria within the 5′ ends of the accD1 and fasA transcripts, and a fasR orthologue is also present. The identification of the FasR‐fasO system in Corynebacteriaceae might indicate a conserved transcriptional control of the unique lipid synthesis in these mycolic acid‐containing bacteria.
Expression of cytokines and their regulation during amoebic liver abscess development
Authors: PACHECO‐YÉPEZ J. , GALVÁN‐MOROYOQUI J. M. , MEZA I. , TSUTSUMI V. , SHIBAYAMA M. 
Published: August 2010

SummaryAmoebic liver abscess (ALA) is the most important extraintestinal complication of Entamoeba histolytica infection. Amoebic liver abscess development causes severe destruction of the liver tissue concomitant with a strong inflammatory reaction. We analyse the in situ expression of TNF‐α, IFN‐γ, IL‐1β, 1L‐8 and IL‐10 at different stages of ALA development in a susceptible animal model. Results showed that after inoculation, neutrophils (PMN) and some macrophages infiltrated the liver and were positive for TNF‐α and IFN‐γ at the acute phase of amoeba infection. The presence of these cytokines was transient and decreased as tissue damage progressed. In contrast, IL‐1β and IL‐8 were detected mainly in neutrophils and macrophages from the periods of acute infection to subacute and chronic infection and decreased when granulomas were formed. The IL‐10 was expressed in PMN and mononuclear cells and only during a short period at the onset of acute infection. The qRT‐PCR of mRNA revealed a relationship with the expression of the cytokines in cells found in the ALA. Furthermore, our data suggest that IL‐10 does not regulate local production of these cytokines. Our results indicate that an exacerbated inflammatory milieu is established and contributes to liver tissue damage and probably supports the survival of the parasites.
Cocktail of gp63 and Hsp70 induces protection against Leishmania donovani in BALB/c mice
Authors: KAUR T. , SOBTI R. C. , KAUR S. 
Published: August 2010

SummaryThe 63‐ kDa antigen of Leishmania donovani is a membrane‐anchored matrix metalloprotease that has been shown to be involved in the infection process. We have shown that this antigen alone generates a Th1 type of protective response that is partial but when the animals are primed with the antigen along with the Hsp70, the level of protection is raised significantly, which is demonstrated by a considerable reduction in parasite load of immunized animals when compared to the infected controls. Delayed‐type hypersensitivity responses to leishmanin were measured as an index of cell‐mediated immune response and were found to be higher in immunized animals when compared to the infected controls, the maximum being in the animals immunized with cocktail of both the antigens. Maximum IgG2a and minimum IgG1 levels were observed in this group of animals. These animals also generated maximum levels of IFN‐γ and IL‐2 and minimum levels of IL‐4 and IL‐10 pointing towards the generation of a protective Th1 response and the suppression of the Th2 type of immune response.
A case–control study of the risk factors for canine juvenile‐onset generalized demodicosis in the USA
Authors: Plant Jon D. , Lund Elizabeth M. , Yang Mingyin 
Published: August 2010

AbstractCanine juvenile‐onset generalized demodicosis (JOGD) is a common skin disorder suspected to be associated with multiple risk factors, including breed predispositions. These risk factors have not been well documented in a large population. A retrospective case–control study was conducted by searching the electronic medical records of 1 189 906 dogs examined at 600 hospitals during 2006 in order to assess the risk factors associated with JOGD in the USA. Multivariate analyses were conducted using logistic regression to estimate the relative risk with the odds ratio for variables hypothesized to influence the risk for canine demodicosis. Breeds (odds ratio) found to have the greatest association with a diagnosis of JOGD were American Staffordshire terrier (35.6), Staffordshire bull terrier (17.1) and Chinese shar‐pei (7.2). Nonbreed risk factors (odds ratio) significantly associated with a diagnosis of JOGD were the diagnosis of pyoderma (5.5), coccidiosis (2.7) or hookworms (1.5), short coat (1.9) and nonenrolment in a preventative care wellness plan (1.5). Documenting these risk factors may help veterinarians to prioritize differential diagnoses and will aid in the design of prospective studies to elucidate the pathogenesis of demodicosis in dogs.