bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of medicinal and aromatic plants on rumen fermentation, protozoa population and methanogenesis in vitro
Authors: Bhatta R. , Baruah L. , Saravanan M. , Suresh K. P. , Sampath K. T. 
Published: March 2012

SummaryThe potential of tannins from 21 medicinal and aromatic plant leaves as antimethanogenic additives in ruminant feeds was investigated. The effect of tannin from these leaves on rumen fermentation parameters, protozoa population and methanogenesis was studied by incubating the samples [200 mg dry matter (DM)] without and with polyethylene glycol (PEG)‐6000 (400 mg DM) as a tannin binder during 24‐h incubation in the in vitro Hohenheim gas method. Based on the methane percentage estimated in the total gas produced, methane production in millilitre was calculated [methane volume (ml) = methane % × total gas produced (ml) in 24 h]. In the samples, crude protein and neutral detergent fibre (g/kg DM) ranged from 113 to 172 and from 352 to 444 respectively. The total phenol (TP; g/kg DM) content was highest in Terminalia chebula (274) followed by Hemigraphis colorata (71) and Sapindus laurifolia (51) respectively. In the remaining samples, it was <43 g/kg DM. Activity of tannins, as represented by the increase in gas volume on addition of PEG, ranged from 0 to 133%, with the highest being recorded in T. chebula. The per cent increase in methane on PEG addition was 0 for Ammi majus, Aristolochia indica, Cascabela thevetia, Ipomea nil and Lantana camara, illustrating that tannins present in these samples had no effect on methane concentration. The PEG addition increased the total protozoa count by >50% in A. indica and C. thevetica. One of the important findings of our study was that of the 21 samples screened, Entodinia population increased in 12 with PEG as compared to 7 where Holotricha increased, indicating higher susceptibility of Entodinia to tannin. There was no increase in the protozoa population with PEG when incubating Cardiospermum halicacabum, Clerodendrum inerme, Dioscorea floribunda, Nerium oleander and Selastras paniculatus, which strongly suggested that methane suppression recorded in these samples was not because of a defaunating effect of their tannins per se. The fermentation pattern reflected increased total volatile fatty acid (TVFA) concentration from 0 to 28.3% with PEG addition among the leaves. Our results confirmed further observations that methanogenesis in vitro is not essentially related to density of protozoa population. Secondly, medicinal and aromatic plants such as C. inerme, Gymnema sylvestre and Sapindus laurifolia containing tannins appear to have a potential to suppress in vitro methanogenesis.
Conservation of microsatellite regions across legume genera enhances marker repertoire and genetic diversity study in Phaseolus genotypes
Authors: Datta Subhojit , Kaashyap Mayank , Singh Pallavi , Gupta P. , Anjum K. Tuba , Mahfooz Sahil , Gupta Sanjeev 
Published: March 2012

With 1 figure and 1 tableAbstractTo study the conservation of microsatellite regions, a set of 137 microsatellite markers developed from Phaseolus, Cajanus, Lens and Cicer genera of Leguminosae family were tested for their transferability across 16 genotypes of Phaseolus belonging to diverse collections from South America and Asia. Considerable transferability was observed with markers derived from Cajanus (60%), Lens (46%) and Cicer (28%). Of the total 122 loci were amplified, 82 cross‐species polymorphic amplicons were obtained. Maximum number of alleles per marker was six (Cicer markers). Polymorphism information content values ranged from 0.12 to 0.96 with Cajanus, 0.13 to 0.74 with Lens and 0.30 to 0.93 with Cicer markers. Unweighted pair group method employing arithmetic averages cluster analysis of Phaseolus genotypes showed clear demarcation between the commercial cultivars falling in separate cluster with respect to their seed size and maturity. Transferability of genomic SSRs was different from that of expressed sequence tag‐derived genic microsatellite markers.
Exploring professionalism: The professional values of Australian occupational therapists
Authors: Aguilar Alejandra , Stupans Ieva , Scutter Sheila , King Sharron 
Published: March 2012

Background/aimThere has been limited research into the values of the Australian occupational therapy profession and as such, the values have not been made explicit. Explicit values provide insight into what professionalism means to a profession. They can be used by practitioners for self‐reflection purposes, shaping the future practice of individuals. Clear values can also enable the recognition and management of value conflicts between health professions. This study aimed to make a preliminary identification of the values of the profession, by exploring the professional values of 15 Australian occupational therapists.MethodsA naturalistic approach and constructivist paradigm guided this study. Purposive sampling was employed to identify Australian occupational therapists who could contribute rich information to the study. Data were collected through semi‐structured interviews that were recorded and analysed using an inductive data analysis method.ResultsThe professional values identified encompassed three main areas: the client and the client–therapist partnership; occupational therapy knowledge, skills and practice; and selfless values. The emerging values guided everyday practice, professional relationships and the responsibilities of being a professional.ConclusionThis study provides insight into the professional values of Australian occupational therapists and contributes to research orientated towards identifying the values of the profession. The results also contribute to the understanding of what professionalism means to the Australian occupational therapy profession.
Examining construct validity of a new naturalistic observational assessment of hand skills for preschool‐ and school‐age children
Authors: Chien Chi‐Wen , Brown Ted , McDonald Rachael 
Published: March 2012

Background/aimThe Assessment of Children's Hand Skills is a new assessment that utilises a naturalistic observational method to capture children's real‐life hand skill performance when engaged at various types of daily activities in everyday living contexts. The Assessment of Children's Hand Skills is designed for use with 2‐ to 12‐year‐old children with a range of disabilities or health conditions. The study aimed to investigate construct validity of the Assessment of Children's Hand Skills in Australian children.MethodsRasch analysis was used to examine internal construct validity of the Assessment of Children's Hand Skills in a mixed sample of 53 children with disabilities (including autism spectrum disorder, developmental/genetic disorders and physical disabilities) and 85 typically developing children. External construct validity was examined by correlating with three questionnaires evaluating daily living skills and hand skills.ResultsRasch goodness‐of‐fit analysis suggested that all 22 activity items and 19 of 20 hand skill items in the Assessment of Children's Hand Skills measured a single construct. The Assessment of Children's Hand Skills items were placed in a clinically meaningful hierarchy from easy to hard, and the difficulty range of the items also matched the majority of children with disabilities and typically developing preschool‐aged children. Moderate to high correlations (0.59 ≤ Spearman's ρ coefficients ≤ 0.89, P < 0.01) were found with the assessments of daily living and fine motor skills.ConclusionThis study provided preliminary evidence supporting the construct validity of the Assessment of Children's Hand Skills for its clinical application in assessing children's real‐life hand skill performance in Australian contexts.
Effectiveness of a community‐based health promotion program targeting people with hypertension and high cholesterol
Authors: Wu Meng‐Ping , Wu Shu‐Fang Vivienne , Wang Tsu‐Chi , Kao Mu‐Jung , Yang Wen‐Li 
Published: March 2012

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a community‐based health promotion program targeting people with hypertension and high cholesterol. A pre‐experimental study was conducted. A total of 60 residents were recruited to participate. Participants were assessed at baseline and at a 6 month follow up at a regional hospital in northern Taiwan. The questionnaires used for data collection consisted of an assessment of self‐efficacy, self‐care activities, health outcomes, and physical fitness. Several teaching resources were used, including a DVD, a self‐care booklet, group support (exercise and counseling sessions), and telephone follow up. A significant decrease in waist circumference (t = 2.20, P = 0.03) and high density lipoprotein‐cholesterol level (t = 4.71, P < 0.00) was found at follow up. Moreover, the level of physical fitness activity, and sit‐ups specifically (t = 3.10, P < 0.00), was increased. Participants also showed significant increases between baseline and 6 month follow up in their efficacy expectation score (t = −5.81, P < 0.00), outcome expectation scores (t = −4.76, P < 0.00) and self‐care behavior scores (t = −2.78, P = 0.007). The community‐based health promotion program is an effective means of helping people with hypertension and high cholesterol and should be instituted regularly and evaluated in clinical practice.
Histology‐specific long‐term trends in the incidence of ovarian cancer and borderline tumor in Japanese females: A population‐based study from 1983 to 2007 in Niigata
Authors: Yahata Tetsuro , Banzai Chiaki , Tanaka Kenichi ,   Niigata Gynecological Cancer Registry
Published: March 2012

AbstractAim:  The histology‐specific long‐term trends in the incidence of ovarian cancer and borderline tumors in Japanese women were examined, based on data from the population‐based cancer registry in Niigata, Japan.Material and Methods:  Data were obtained from the Niigata Gynecological Cancer Registry, which covered the entire female population in Niigata prefecture, Japan, during the period from 1983 to 2007.Results:  A total of 3134 females with epithelial ovarian cancer, including borderline tumor cases, were diagnosed between 1983 and 2007. The age‐standardized rates (ASRs) of both ovarian cancer and borderline tumors have steadily increased, with significant changes in ovarian cancer in all age groups, and borderline ovarian tumors in subjects aged <50. The ASRs of endometrioid adenocarcinoma showed a steady increasing trend, and those of clear cell and mucinous adenocarcinomas showed significant increasing trends in the total population. The ASRs of clear cell, mucinous, and endometrioid adenocarcinomas in the 50+ age group were significantly increased, especially the incidence of clear cell adenocarcinoma, which strikingly increased by approximately threefold from 1.2 (1983–1989) to 3.5 (2000–2007) per 100 000 females.Conclusion:  This prefecture‐wide study showed the practical trends in ovarian cancer and borderline tumors in Japanese females. The incidence of ovarian cancer has steadily increased, with significant increases in the incidence of clear cell and mucinous adenocarcinomas in the total population during the past two decades. Because of the poor response rate of these histological subtypes to platinum‐based regimens, novel treatment approaches should be adopted to improve the prognostic outcome in patients with ovarian cancer in Japan.
Argatroban therapy for heparin‐induced thrombocytopenia during pregnancy in a woman with hereditary antithrombin deficiency
Authors: Tanimura Kenji , Ebina Yashuhiko , Sonoyama Ayako , Morita Hiroki , Miyata Shigeki , Yamada Hideto 
Published: March 2012

AbstractA 33‐year‐old woman developed deep venous thrombosis at 7 gestational weeks (GW). Heparin‐induced thrombocytopenia was evident at 9 GW during unfractionated heparin infusion. Immediately, anticoagulation therapies together with antithrombin (AT) infusion were commenced with the use of argatroban from 9 GW, and fondaparinux was substituted for argatroban after 24 GW. The patient had hereditary AT deficiency type I determined by laboratory findings and results of genomic DNA analysis. The pregnancy ended in full‐term vaginal delivery of a healthy male without adverse effects of the anticoagulation therapies. This was the first report of a pregnant woman who developed heparin‐induced thrombocytopenia caused by heparin therapy for deep venous thrombosis due to AT deficiency.
Role of oxidative stress in preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction
Authors: Mert Ismail , Sargın Oruc Ayla , Yuksel Serdar , Cakar Esra Sukran , Buyukkagnıcı Umran , Karaer Abdullah , Danısman Nuri 
Published: March 2012

AbstractAim:  The aim of the present study was to evaluate the role of oxidative stress and DNA damage in preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR).Material and Methods:  Twenty‐four patients with preeclampsia, 20 patients with IUGR fetus and 37 healthy pregnant women were enrolled in the study. The total oxidant status (TOS) and antioxidant status (TAS) of plasma were measured using a novel automated colorimetric measurement method. Sister chromatid exchange (SCE) and micronuclei analysis were performed on peripheral blood lymphocytes of cases and controls.Results:  Women whose pregnancies were complicated with preeclampsia and IUGR had elevated levels of TOS and TAS when compared with healthy pregnant women (median TOS values: 9.73, 10.6 and 8.06, P = 0.001; median TAS values: 1. 77, 1.54 and 1.44, P < 0.001, respectively). The frequencies of SCE were only found to be increased in women with IUGR fetus compared with healthy pregnant women (8.81 vs 7.5, respectively, P = 0.02). Multivariable linear regression analysis for both TOS and TAS showed a significant relation between these variables and uric acid.Conclusion:  Increased oxidative stress and antioxidative defense mechanisms may contribute to disease processes both in preeclampsia and IUGR.
Decreased expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor and visfatin in the placental bed of pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia
Authors: Kim Seung‐Chul , Park Min Jung , Joo Bo‐Sun , Joo Jong‐Kil , Suh Dong‐Soo , Lee Kyu‐Sup 
Published: March 2012

AbstractAim:  The aim of the present study was to examine the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and visfatin in the third trimester placental bed of pregnancies with and without preeclampsia (PE).Material and Methods:  The study group consisted of placental bed biopsy tissues obtained from pregnancies with (n = 20) and without (n = 20) PE. The normotensive controls without PE were matched for gestational age at delivery with patients with PE. The expression of VEGF and visfatin in the placental bed tissues were evaluated using reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR), real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), immunohistochemistry and Western blot.Results:  There was no statistical difference between the PE group and the normotensive control group in age and body mass index (BMI). The expression of VEGF and visfatin was significantly decreased in the PE group compared with the normotensive control group (P < 0.05).Conclusion:  This study showed decreased expressions of VEGF and visfatin in the third trimester placental bed of pregnancies with PE compared with the normotensive controls. This result suggests that decreased expression of these angiogenic factors in placental bed may be associated with the pathogenesis of PE.
Pressure support ventilation vs spontaneous ventilation via ProSeal™ laryngeal mask airway in pediatric patients undergoing ambulatory surgery: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Lim Beatrice , Pawar Dilip , Ng Oriana 
Published: March 2012

SummaryAim:  To investigate the advantages of using pressure support ventilation (PSV) vs spontaneous ventilation via ProSeal™ laryngeal mask airway in children undergoing ambulatory surgery.Background:  In our ambulatory surgical unit, the use of unassisted spontaneous breathing via laryngeal mask airway is a common anesthetic technique during general anesthesia. However, this may be associated with inadequate ventilation. PSV is a ventilatory mode that is synchronized with the patient’s respiratory effort and may improve gaseous exchange under general anesthesia.Materials and methods:  After the approval from the ethics committee, a randomized controlled trial involving 24 pediatric patients was conducted in our ambulatory surgical unit. They were randomized into two groups, namely Group PSV (receiving PSV) and Group SV (unassisted spontaneous ventilation). Outcome measures included intraoperative respiratory and hemodynamic parameters as well as recovery room data.Results:  There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics between the two groups. Patients in Group PSV had lower ETCO2 (42.8 ± 5.8 vs 50.4 ± 4.0, P = 0.001) and higher expiratory tidal volume per kg bodyweight (8.3 ± 1.8 ml kg−1 vs 5.8 ± 0.8 ml kg−1, P = 0.001) compared with patients in Group SV. There were no significant differences in other respiratory and hemodynamic parameters or recovery room data between the two groups.Conclusion:  Pressure support ventilation via ProSeal™ laryngeal mask airway during general anesthesia improves ventilation in pediatric patients undergoing ambulatory surgery. However, this did not translate to a difference in clinical outcome among our study patients.
Cardioprotective effect of transcutaneous electric acupoint stimulation in the pediatric cardiac patients: a randomized controlled clinical trial
Authors: Ni Xinli , Xie Yaning , Wang Qiang , Zhong Haixing , Chen Min , Wang Feng , Xiong Lize 
Published: March 2012

SummaryBackground: Acupuncture pretreatment exerts neuroprotective and cardioprotective effects in animal models and in adult patients underwent cardiac surgery; however, data in pediatric patient are unavailable.Objective/Aim: To investigate the effects of transcutaneous electric acupoint stimulation (TEAS) on acute myocardial injury from pediatric open‐heart surgery.Methods: Children, aged 2–12 years, with congenital heart defects scheduled for surgical repair were enrolled. They were randomized to TEAS (administrated at bilateral P6 acupoint for 30 min after basal anesthesia) and control (an electrode was placed on the arm without stimulus) groups. The primary end point was serum cardiac troponin I (cTnI) over 24 h after aortic unclamping. Furthermore, clinical outcome and serum cytokine and C‐reactive protein concentrations were evaluated.Results: Seventy eligible children were analyzed, 36 in controls and 34 in TEAS group. Compared with controls, the mean cTnI levels were significantly lower in TEAS group at 8 h (P = 0.043) and 24 h (P = 0.046) after aortic unclamping. The duration of ventilation (P = 0.004) and length of ICU stay (P = 0.032) was significantly longer in controls than in TEAS group. There was a significant difference in the release of C‐reactive protein at 8 h (P = 0.039) between two groups, whereas the values for cytokines were not significant.Conclusion: Transcutaneous electric acupoint stimulation on the bilateral P6 acupoint is effective for attenuation myocardial injury in children undergoing cardiac surgery. The beneficial effects may be partially associated with reduction in cTnI and C‐reactive protein level in the early postoperative period.
A retrospective audit of anesthetic techniques and complications in children with mucopolysaccharidoses
Authors: Frawley Geoff , Fuenzalida Daniella , Donath Susan , Yaplito‐Lee Joy , Peters Heidi 
Published: March 2012

SummaryObjectives and aims: To document the incidence of difficult airway management and difficult intubation in the era of replacement therapy for Australian children with mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS).Background: Medical treatment for MPS has developed significantly since 1980’s with a large number of patients now being offered either bone marrow transplant or enzyme replacement. The impact of these therapies on the incidence of difficult airway management has not been adequately documented. Similarly, anesthesia techniques and airway devices have been developed, which are thought to have greatly increased the safety of managing these patients under anesthesia but their role in children with MPS has not been systematically described.Methods: A retrospective chart review of 17 patients with MPS who had received anesthetics at the Royal Children’s Hospital during the time frame January 1998–January 2011. The primary outcome was the incidence of difficult or failed intubation. Secondary outcomes were the relationship between the incidence of difficult intubation and treatment with enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) or bone marrow transplantation.Results: Seventeen patients received 141 anesthetics for 214 procedures. Difficult face mask ventilation occurred in 20 anesthetics (14.2%). Difficult intubation occurred in 40 anesthetics (25%). Failed intubation occurred in two cases (1.6%).The incidence of difficult intubation was 12% in MPS I, 35% MPS II, 86.7% in MPS VI, and 0% in MPS III and IV.Conclusions: Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation prior to 2 years of age reduces the incidence of difficult mask ventilation and difficult intubation in children with MPS I. ERT was initiated late in the clinical course of MPS II and VI and induced improvements in upper airway patency but did not reduce the incidence of difficult airway management.
Body mass constraints on feeding rates determine the consequences of predator loss
Authors: Schneider Florian Dirk , Scheu Stefan , Brose Ulrich 
Published: March 2012

Ecology Letters (2012) 15: 436–443AbstractUnderstanding effects of species loss in complex food webs with multiple trophic levels is complicated by the idiosyncrasy of the predator effects on lower trophic levels: direct and indirect effects intermingle and may increase, decrease or not affect ecosystem functioning. We introduce a reductionist approach explaining a predator’s trophic effect only by empirically well‐founded body‐mass constraints on abundance, diet breadth and feeding strength. We demonstrate that this mechanistic concept successfully explains the positive, negative and neutral net effects of predators on decomposers in a litter microcosm experiment. This approach offers a new perspective on the interplay of complex interactions within food webs and is easily extendable to include phylogenetic and other body‐mass independent traits. We anticipate that allometry will substantially improve our understanding of idiosyncratic predator effects in experiments and the consequences of predator loss in natural ecosystems.
Shifts in reproductive assurance strategies and inbreeding costs associated with habitat fragmentation in Central American mahogany
Authors: Breed Martin F. , Gardner Michael G. , Ottewell Kym M. , Navarro Carlos M. , Lowe Andrew J. 
Published: March 2012

Ecology Letters (2012) 15: 444–452AbstractThe influence of habitat fragmentation on mating patterns and progeny fitness in trees is critical for understanding the long‐term impact of contemporary landscape change on the sustainability of biodiversity. We examined the relationship between mating patterns, using microsatellites, and fitness of progeny, in a common garden trial, for the insect‐pollinated big‐leaf mahogany, Swietenia macrophylla King, sourced from forests and isolated trees in 16 populations across Central America. As expected, isolated trees had disrupted mating patterns and reduced fitness. However, for dry provenances, fitness was negatively related to correlated paternity, while for mesic provenances, fitness was correlated positively with outcrossing rate and negatively with correlated paternity. Poorer performance of mesic provenances is likely because of reduced effective pollen donor density due to poorer environmental suitability and greater disturbance history. Our results demonstrate a differential shift in reproductive assurance and inbreeding costs in mahogany, driven by exploitation history and contemporary landscape context.