bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
International practices in the provision of teratology information: a survey of international teratogen information programmes and comparisons with the North American model
Authors: Hancock Rebecca L. , Ungar Wendy J. , Einarson Adrienne , Koren Gideon 
Published: June 2010

AbstractRationale, aims and objectives  Teratology Information Services (TIS) provide health care professionals and the public with information regarding the safety and/or risk of exposures during pregnancy and lactation, mainly via telephone consultations. An international comparison of clinical practices at TIS has never been conducted. The survey objective was to compare international TIS to North American TIS, with an aim to identify strengths and challenges that can lead to service improvement.Methods  Twenty‐two international TIS were approached for participation during an international conference. TIS were surveyed on information in six categories: services, staffing, operations, data collection, knowledge transfer activities and additional information. Data were summarized using descriptive statistics. Statistical tests were conducted using SPSS®.Results  Sixteen TIS from 12 countries participated. Survey results were compared with previously reported results from a similar survey of North American TIS (16 US, two Canadian). TIS exist in a variety of departments and settings, but most commonly are in university hospitals. Pregnant women were the most commonly counselled group worldwide. International TIS spent significantly more time fielding inquiries regarding medications, while North American TIS had a wider variety of inquiry categories. All TIS could improve budget tracking.Conclusions  Overall, service practices and goals were similar, although international TIS conducted more follow‐up with service users than North American TIS. This report offers TIS the first ever opportunity to compare practices. Increased dialogue between TIS encourages sharing of best practices and improves the ability of these important public health programmes to support women and health care providers.
Evaluation of the dissemination and implementation of pressure ulcer guidelines in Dutch nursing homes
Authors: Meesterberends Esther , Halfens Ruud J.G. , Lohrmann Christa , Schols Jos M.G.A. , de Wit Rianne 
Published: June 2010

AbstractRationale, aims and objectives  Annual national prevalence surveys have been conducted in the Netherlands over the past 10 years and have revealed high prevalence rates in Dutch nursing homes. Pressure ulcer guideline implementation is one of the factors that can influence prevalence rates. Previous research has shown that these guidelines are often only partly implemented in Dutch nursing homes. Reasons for this lack of pressure ulcer guideline implementation are not known. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the current situation regarding pressure ulcer guideline dissemination and implementation in Dutch nursing homes.Methods  Semi‐structured interviews were conducted in eight nursing homes in the Netherlands from January till December 2008. In each nursing home, interviews were held with eight persons.Results  The implementation of pressure ulcer guidelines was lacking in some of the nursing homes. Risk assessment scales were often not used in practice, repositioning schemes were not always available and, when they were, they were often not used in practice. Knowledge about guideline recommendations was also lacking and pressure ulcer education was inadequate. Barriers to applying guideline recommendations in practice were mostly related to personnel and communication.Conclusions  The implementation of pressure ulcer guidelines does not seem to be successful in all nursing homes and needs more attention. Barriers mentioned by the interviewees in applying guideline recommendations need to be addressed. Providing adequate education for nursing home staff and increasing attention for pressure ulcer care can be the first steps in improving the implementation of pressure ulcer guidelines.
SerpinB2 deficiency modulates Th1/Th2 responses after schistosome infection
Authors: SCHRODER W. A. , GARDNER J. , LE T. T. , DUKE M. , BURKE M. L. , JONES M. K. , McMANUS D. P. , SUHRBIER A. 
Published: June 2010

SummarySerpinB2, also known as plasminogen activator inhibitor type‐2, is a major product of macrophages and is upregulated during many infections. Although SerpinB2 inhibits urokinase plasminogen activator in vitro, evidence that this represents its physiological role in vivo is not compelling. We have recently shown that SerpinB2−/− mice generate enhanced Th1 responses after immunization with a Th1 immunogen. Herein, we show that Schistosoma japonicum granulomas induced liver SerpinB2 mRNA expression by >600‐fold in wild‐type mice. In SerpinB2−/− mice, worm and egg burden, and granuloma number and volume were unaffected. However, granulomas in these mice were associated with reduced fibrosis (as determined by Sirius red staining and image analysis) and increased iNOS, IL‐6, IL‐10 and TNFα and decreased Arg 1 and IL‐13 mRNA expression. SerpinB2−/− mice immunized with soluble egg antigen (SEA) also showed reduced levels of SEA‐specific IgG1. SerpinB2 deficiency thus promoted certain Th1 and reduced certain Th2 responses in response to this Th2 immunogen.
Correlation between central venous oxygen saturation and oxygen delivery changes following fluid therapy
Authors: YAZIGI A. , ABOU‐ZEID H. , MADI‐JEBARA S. , HADDAD F. , HAYEK G. , JABBOUR K. 
Published: June 2010

Background: The rationale for using central venous oxygen saturation (ScvO2) in various clinical scenarios is that it reflects the balance between oxygen delivery (DO2) and demands. In this study, we evaluated the correlation between ScvO2 and DO2 changes (ΔDo2, ΔScvO2) in patients receiving fluid therapy following coronary surgery. We also correlated the changes of mean arterial pressure (ΔMAP) and central venous pressure (ΔCVP), with ΔDO2.Methods: Sixty consecutive sedated and mechanically ventilated adult patients, with cardiac index ≤2.3 L/min/m2 and a pulmonary artery occlusion pressure ≤12 mmHg following coronary surgery, were included. Concomitant hemodynamic parameters, arterial and venous blood gases were measured before (T0) and after (T1) administration of a 500 ml bolus of an isotonic crystalloid solution over 30 min. The correlations between ΔDO2 and ΔScvO2, ΔMAP or ΔCVP were evaluated by linear regression analysis and Pearson test.Results: Cardiac index (1.9±0.2 vs 2.3±0.5 ml/min/m2), MAP (83±11 vs 94±13mmHg) and CVP (5.7±3 vs 7.1±3 mmHg) were significantly higher at T1 compared with T0. The correlation of ΔDO2 with ΔScvO2 was positive, significant (r=0.41; P=0.004) and superior to its correlation with ΔMAP (r=0.30; P=0.01) or ΔCVP (r=0.03; P=0.78).Conclusion: A significant correlation between ScvO2 and DO2 changes was found in patients receiving fluid therapy following coronary surgery. ScvO2 could be used as an indicator to track DO2 and to guide volume loading.
Stable isotope signatures confirm carbon and nitrogen gain through ectomycorrhizas in the ghost orchid Epipogium aphyllum Swartz*
Authors: Liebel H. T. , Gebauer G. 
Published: June 2010

Abstract Epipogium aphyllum is a rare Eurasian achlorophyllous forest orchid known to associate with fungi that form ectomycorrhizas, while closely related orchids of warm humid climates depend on wood‐ or litter‐decomposer fungi. We conducted 13C and 15N stable isotope natural abundance analyses to identify the organic nutrient source of E. aphyllum from Central Norway. These data for orchid shoot tissues, in comparison to accompanying autotrophic plants, document C and N flow from ectomycorrhizal fungi to the orchid. DNA data from fungal pelotons in the orchid root cortex confirm the presence of Inocybe and Hebeloma, which are both fungi that form ectomycorrhizas. The enrichment factors for 13C and 15N of E. aphyllum are used to calculate a new overall average enrichment factor for mycoheterotrophic plants living in association with ectomycorrhizal fungi (ε13C ± 1 SD of 7.2 ± 1.6‰ and ε15N ± 1 SD of 12.8 ± 3.9‰). These can be used to estimate the fungal contribution to organic nutrient uptake by partially mycoheterotrophic plants where fully mycoheterotrophic plants are lacking. N concentrations in orchid tissue were unusually high and significantly higher than in accompanying autotrophic leaf samples. This may be caused by N gain of E. aphyllum from obligate ectomycorrhizal fungi. We show that E. aphyllum is an epiparasitic mycoheterotrophic orchid that depends on ectomycorrhizal Inocybe and Hebeloma to obtain C and N through a tripartite system linking mycoheterotrophic plants through fungi with forest trees.
Hepatitis E virus infection and fulminant hepatic failure during pregnancy
Authors: Jilani Nishat , Das Bhudev C , Husain Syed A , Baweja Usha K , Chattopadhya Debashish , Gupta Ram K , Sardana Sarita , Kar Premashis 
Published: June 2010

AbstractBackground and Aim:  Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection leading to fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) and high mortality is a common feature in Indian women during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. An altered status of hormones and immunity are observed during pregnancy but the actual cause of high mortality is still unknown. The present study was carried out to analyze CD3, CD4 and CD8 T cell counts and to assay the level of pregnancy‐related hormones such as estrogen, progesterone and β‐HCG in order to discover the role played by these factors.Methods:  One hundred patients (50 pregnant and 50 non‐pregnant women) with FHF and 150 pregnant healthy females without liver disease as controls were recruited for the study. Serological tests for all viral markers using ELISA kits and detection of HEV RNA by reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) were carried out in all cases. CD3, CD4 and CD8 T cell counts were analyzed by fluorescence activated cell sorter (FACS) while hormone assay was performed by commercially available RIA kits.Results:  Serologically (38/50; 76%) as well as by RT‐PCR (28/50; 56%), a significantly higher HEV positivity rate was found in pregnant FHF patients compared to non‐pregnant women (serologically 15/50; 30%; RT‐PCR 7/50; 14%). CD4 counts were lower (P < 0.05), while CD8 counts were higher (P < 0.05), and their ratio (CD4/CD8) in HEV positive pregnant FHF patients was significantly lower (P < 0.01) when compared to that of HEV negative pregnant FHF women or controls. Levels of estrogen, progesterone and β‐HCG were also found to be higher (P < 0.001) in HEV positive pregnant FHF patients when compared to HEV negative patients or controls. HEV infected pregnant FHF patients had a significantly higher mortality rate of 65.8% (25/38) compared to 23.5% (4/15) in HEV positive non‐pregnant women (P < 0.001).Conclusions:  Pregnancy appears to be a potential risk factor for viral replication and an extreme low immune status of Indian/Asian pregnant women. It is suggested that diminished cellular immunity (indicated by a decrease in CD4, an increase in CD8 cell counts and lowered CD4/CD8 cell ratio) and a high level of steroid hormones that influence viral replication/expression during pregnancy appear to be the plausible reasons for severity of the disease.
Peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor γ 2 mutation may cause a subset of ulcerative colitis
Authors: Aoyagi Yo , Nagata Satoru , Kudo Takahiro , Fujii Toru , Wada Mariko , Chiba Yukihide , Ohtsuka Yoshikazu , Yamashiro Yuichiro , Shimizu Toshiaki , Ohkusa Toshifumi 
Published: June 2010

AbstractAim:  Previous studies suggest the homeostasis between acquisition of tolerance to the indigenous microflora and protective immune responses appears to be disrupted in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Some experimental studies indicate peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor γ (PPARγ) has been implicated as a regulator of intestinal inflammatory responses. In addition, the toll‐like receptor (TLR)‐4 can regulate expression of PPARγ in colonic epithelial cells. We attempted to demonstrate whether the functional imbalance between TLRs and PPARγ could lead to the onset and some polymorphisms of those genes could contribute to susceptibility to IBD.Methods:  RT‐PCR analysis were performed to detect TLR4 and PPARγ mRNA associated with those of P65 of NFκB, TNFα, MyD88, NOD2/CARD15, TLR‐2,5,9, in the diseased colonic mucosa in ulcerative colitis (UC; n = 13) and Crohn's disease (CD; n = 7) compared with normal controls (n = 18). Consequently, we genotyped UC (n = 29) and CD (n = 10) compared with normal controls (n = 134) for the prevalence of suspicious mutations.Results:  In a subset of UC patients who were revealed to carry PPARγ Pro12Ala mutation later, impaired expression of normal PPARγ mRNA was noted in the diseased mucosa accompanied with upregulations of MyD88 TLR‐4, 5, 9, P65 and TNFα in mRNA levels. The prevalence of PPARγ Pro12Ala mutation was more frequently found in UC patients compared with CD patients and normal controls (P < 0.05).Conclusions:  These findings suggested that imbalances between TLRs and PPARγ in response to luminal bacteria could lead to colonic inflammation in some UC patients. Alternative explanations will be needed for the onset of the rest of UC and CD.
Capitalizing on Women's Social Capital? Women‐Targeted Microfinance in Bolivia
Authors: Maclean Kate 
Published: June 2010

ABSTRACTBoth social capital and microfinance are central to mainstream development interventions, and both are predicated on the need to recognize the importance of social factors in development. Microfinance institutions mobilize social capital in the form of a group guarantee, and aim to support the development of sustainable financial institutions and income generation. Women are targeted in part because of the effectiveness of their social capital as collateral. However, although social capital is assumed to support development and income generation, the precise dynamics involved in this are rarely explored. This article examines the construction of social capital and its relationship to income generation, based on a long‐term ethnographic study of village life in rural Bolivia and the microfinance institution operating there. The author examines the complexity and gendered contradictions implied in the way that social capital is generally viewed to support economic development. It is suggested that the way microfinance institutions use social capital to support sustainable financial institutions and income generation does not always reflect the way that women's networks support access to resources and ultimately, economic development.
Rapid assessment of postural instability in Parkinson’s disease (RAPID): a pilot study
Authors: Chong R. K. Y. , Morgan J. , Mehta S. H. , Pawlikowska I. , Hall P. , Ellis A. V. , Ibanez‐Wong A. D. , Miller G. M. , Baugh K. , Sethi K. 
Published: June 2010

Background:  The Fahn’s pull (or retropulsion) test is an item in the motor section of the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale, which is used almost exclusively to classify postural instability in Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, the test is hard to standardize and is often performed incorrectly, making it hard to interpret. Moreover, it may not be safe to administer in patients who experience pain in the shoulders, neck, trunk and/or lower extremities. Identifying and grading postural instability in PD without requiring a physical challenge would not only be useful for the clinician but would assist patients and caregivers in its recognition. We propose the use of the rapid assessment of postural instability in Parkinson’s disease (RAPID) questionnaire as a non‐physical assessment tool.Methods:  We determined the associations between the pull test and items on a risk‐assessment questionnaire that consisted of three parts: activities of daily living, fear of falling, and frequency of falling.Results:  Significant correlations were found between the pull test and the predictor variables, which ranged between 0.51 and 0.56 whilst the correlations amongst the predictor variables ranged between 0.58 and 0.70. The three parts of the questionnaire, when used in combination, produced a 96% sensitivity in the classification of postural instability.Conclusions:  The RAPID questionnaire can be used as an adjunct to the pull test or solely if the pull test is contraindicated. It may also be possible to administer the questionnaire via the telephone or Internet. It is hoped that the rapid identification of postural instability would lead to fewer falls.
The effect of deformation on permeability development in anhydrite and implications for caprock integrity during geological storage of CO2
Authors: HANGX S. J. T. , SPIERS C. J. , PEACH C. J. 
Published: June 2010

AbstractGeological storage of CO2 in depleted oil and gas reservoirs is one of the most promising options to reduce atmospheric CO2 concentrations. Of great importance to CO2 mitigation strategies is maintaining caprock integrity. Worldwide many current injection sites and potential storage sites are overlain by anhydrite‐bearing seal formations. However, little is known about the magnitude of the permeability change accompanying dilatation and failure of anhydrite under reservoir conditions. To this extent, we have performed triaxial compression experiments together with argon gas permeability measurements on Zechstein anhydrite, which caps many potential CO2 storage sites in the Netherlands. Our experiments were performed at room temperature at confining pressures of 3.5–25 MPa. We observed a transition from brittle to semi‐brittle behaviour over the experimental range, and peak strength could be described by a Mogi‐type failure envelope. Dynamic permeability measurements showed a change from ‘impermeable’ (<10−21 m2) to permeable (10−16 to 10−19 m2) as a result of mechanical damage. The onset of measurable permeability was associated with an increase in the rate of dilatation at low pressures (3.5–5 MPa), and with the turning point from compaction to dilatation in the volumetric versus axial strain curve at higher pressures (10–25 MPa). Sample permeability was largely controlled by the permeability of the shear faults developed. Static, postfailure permeability decreased with increasing effective mean stress. Our results demonstrated that caprock integrity will not be compromised by mechanical damage and permeability development. Geofluids (2010) 10, 369–387
Decline of flying and red squirrels in boreal forests revealed by long‐term diet analyses of avian predators
Authors: Selonen V. , Sulkava P. , Sulkava R. , Sulkava S. , Korpimäki E. 
Published: June 2010

AbstractConservation of species requires knowledge on population changes in time, but achieving such data in proper spatio‐temporal scales can often be difficult for rare and vulnerable species. We used long‐term (1950–2005) diet data of three avian predators (the nocturnal Ural and eagle owls and the diurnal goshawk) from four landscapes to study population changes of two forest‐dwelling species, the Siberian flying squirrel Pteromys volans and the red squirrel Sciurus vulgaris in Finland. We also determined the role of vulnerable flying squirrel in the diet of these predators. Both squirrel species were relatively rare in the diets of the three avian predators, with the exception of red squirrel in the diet of goshawks. The Siberian flying squirrel also appears to be a less important prey for avian predators than flying squirrel species (Glaucomys spp.) are in North American forest communities. Numbers of consumed flying squirrels, but not of red squirrels, increased as the abundances of voles increased in the diets of eagle and Ural owls, that is more flying squirrels were consumed during the good vole years than the poor ones. The declining trends in the diets of three avian predators appeared to be quite similar for both studied squirrel species, possibly indicating that the process behind the decline has been the same.
Toll‐like receptors 2 and 4 and the cryopyrin inflammasome in normal pregnancy and pre‐eclampsia
Authors: Xie F , Hu Y , Turvey SE , Magee LA , Brunham RM , Choi K‐C , Krajden M , Leung PCK , Money DM , Patrick DM , Thomas E , von Dadelszen P 
Published: June 2010

Objective  Pre‐eclampsia involves a maternal inflammatory response that differs from both normal pregnancy and normotensive intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). Our objective was to examine neutrophil Toll‐like receptor (TLR), cryopyrin, nuclear factor‐κB (NF‐κB) subunit and interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β), and inflammatory cytokine profiles in women with pre‐eclampsia or normotensive IUGR, as well as in normal pregnancy and non‐pregnancy controls.Design and method  A case–control study was performed. We examined the messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein expressions of TLR4 and TLR2, mRNA levels of cryopyrin, IL‐1β, NF‐κB subunits p50 and p65, as well as maternal serum inflammatory cytokine profiles (IL‐2, IL‐6, tumour necrosis factor‐α [TNF‐α], interferon‐γ [IFN‐γ] and IL‐10) in women with and without pre‐eclampsia using real‐time reverse transcription polymerase chain reactions, flow cytometry and multiplex immunoassays.Setting  A single tertiary maternity hospital in Vancouver, Canada.Population  Women with early‐onset pre‐eclampsia (<34 weeks of gestation, n = 25), women with late‐onset pre‐eclampsia (≥34+0 weeks of gestation, n = 25), women with normotensive IUGR (n = 25), women with normal pregnancy (n = 75) and non‐pregnancy (n = 25) controls.Results  Women with pre‐eclampsia (as a single combined group of early‐ and late‐onset, and particularly in women with early‐onset pre‐eclampsia) had increased TLR2 and TLR4 mRNA and protein expressions elevated cryopyrin, NF‐κB subunit, and IL‐1β mRNA expression, and TNF‐α:IL‐10 and IL‐6:IL‐10 ratios compared with other groups.Conclusions  These data suggest that TLRs and cryopyrin may modulate the innate immune response of the maternal syndrome of pre‐eclampsia, and might also trigger the differential inflammatory response existing between early onset pre‐eclampsia and normotensive IUGR.