bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Transvaginal repair of complex and complicated vesicovaginal fistulae
Authors: Singh Vishwajeet , Sinha Rahul J. , Sankhwar Satya N. , Sinha Seema M. , Vatsal Priti , Jain Vaishali 
Published: May 2011

AbstractObjectiveTo document the experience at a tertiary referral hospital in India with managing complex and complicated vesicovaginal fistulae (VVF) by the transvaginal route, and to document the complications and the long‐term outcome of the patients.MethodsThe medical records of 102 patients with complex or complicated VVF who underwent transvaginal surgical repair during 2000–2009 were reviewed retrospectively.ResultsThe mean age of the patients was 24 years and the mean duration of urinary incontinence was 3 years (range 6 months to 12 years). The patients were followed up for a median of 48 months. In total, 78 patients had obstetric fistulae, 20 patients had surgical (gynecologic) fistulae, and 4 patients had postradiation fistulae. The overall success rate for the transvaginal approach was 86.3%. Fourteen patients remained incontinent despite the surgical repair. Early failure of the repair was observed in 11.8% of the patients and delayed failure in 2.0%. Postoperative complications included stress urinary incontinence (9.8%), urge urinary incontinence (7.8%), dyspareunia (5.9%), and chronic labial pain (2.0%).ConclusionThe transvaginal approach to the repair of complex and complicated VVF gives good long‐term results with low complication rates.
Self‐reported oral health and hygiene habits, dental decay, and periodontal condition among pregnant European women
Authors: Martínez‐Beneyto Yolanda , Vera‐Delgado María V. , Pérez Leonor , Maurandi Antonio 
Published: May 2011

AbstractObjectiveTo investigate the relationship among self‐reported oral hygiene habits, dental decay, and periodontal condition among pregnant women.MethodIn a cross‐sectional study, a structured questionnaire and dental examination were used to assess pregnant women's knowledge of oral health and attitudes to oral hygiene, in addition to their dental and periodontal condition. Data were collected from 337 pregnant women living in Murcia in southeast Spain.ResultsThe questionnaire was completed by 337 women, 282 of whom also had an oral examination. More than 57% were in their first pregnancy, their mean age was 30 years, and most (80.1%) were Spanish with a medium‐high educational level. Most of the pregnant woman (84%) brushed their teeth 2 or 3 times a day, and a third (30.9%) used a mouthwash daily. The pregnant women who self‐reported having good or very good dental health had a lower level of active decay (P < 0.001) and a lower periodontal index (P < 0.001).ConclusionIn the present study, there was a significant correlation between a high level of self‐reported oral health in pregnant women and low levels of dental decay and low periodontal indexes.
Both obesity-prone and obesity-resistant rats present delayed cutaneous wound healing
Authors: Paulino do Nascimento Adriana , Monte-Alto-Costa Andréa 
Published: May 2011

Diet-induced overweight rats exhibit delayed cutaneous healing; however, when receiving an obesogenic diet, some rats are susceptible to developing the overweight phenotype, whereas others are resistant. We investigated cutaneous healing in diet-induced obesity (DIO)-prone and diet-resistant (DR) rats. Male rats were fed with a standard (control) or a high-saturated fat (30 % fat, w/w) diet for 20 weeks. Then, the experimental group was subdivided into DIO (n 17) and DR (n 16) groups. An excision lesion was made, and the animals were killed 7 or 14 d later. The average body weight was 29 and 25 % higher in the DIO group compared with the C and DR groups. Retroperitoneal fat was higher in the DIO group than in the control and DR groups (518 and 92 %) and was higher in the DR group than in the control group (223 %). The DIO group presented glucose intolerance, and both the DIO and DR groups presented delayed wound contraction (50 %) and re-epithelialisation (20 %). Compared with the DR group, the DIO group displayed higher amounts of inflammatory cells as well as higher levels of lipid peroxidation (P < 0·05). Myofibroblastic differentiation and vessel remodelling were delayed in both the DIO and DR groups. Nitrite levels were lower in the DIO group (340 % less) than in the DR group. TNF-α expression was increased in the DIO group (130 %) compared with the DR group. Our results showed that DIO as well as DR rats present delays in cutaneous wound healing, even though the DR group does not have an overweight phenotype.
Vitamin D, calcium and dairy intake, and risk of oesophageal adenocarcinoma and its precursor conditions
Authors: Mulholland Helen G. , Murray Liam J. , Anderson Lesley A. , Cantwell Marie M. 
Published: May 2011

Evidence is accumulating that vitamin D may be protective against carcinogenesis, although exceptions have been observed for some digestive tract neoplasms. The aim of the present study was to explore the association between dietary vitamin D and related nutrients and the risk of oesophageal adenocarcinoma and its precursor conditions, Barrett's oesophagus and reflux oesophagitis. In an all-Ireland case–control study conducted between March 2002 and July 2005, 218 oesophageal adenocarcinoma patients, 212 Barrett's oesophagus patients, 208 reflux oesophagitis patients and 252 population-based controls completed a 101-item FFQ, and provided lifestyle and demographic information. Multiple logistic regression analysis was applied to examine the association between dietary intake and disease risk. Oesophageal adenocarcinoma risk was significantly greater for individuals with the highest compared with the lowest tertile of vitamin D intake (OR 1·99, 95 % CI 1·03, 3·86;Pfor trend = 0·02). The direct association could not be attributed to a particular vitamin D food source. Vitamin D intake was unrelated to Barrett's oesophagus and reflux oesophagitis risk. No significant associations were observed for Ca or dairy intake and oesophageal adenocarcinoma, Barrett's oesophagus or reflux oesophagitis development. High vitamin D intake may increase oesophageal adenocarcinoma risk but is not related to reflux oesophagitis and Barrett's oesophagus. Ca and dairy product intake did not influence the development of these oesophageal lesions. These findings suggest that there may be population subgroups at an increased risk of oesophageal adenocarcinoma if advice to improve vitamin D intake from foods is implemented. Limited work has been conducted in this area, and further research is required.
Impact of early malnourishment on the chronic inflammatory response and its implications for the effect of indomethacin on Wistar rats
Authors: de Oliveira Assis Thiago , da Silva Teresinha Gonçalves , de Souza Franco Eryvelton , Rezende Leite Ana Catarina , de Moraes Silvia Regina Arruda , de Sousa Maia Maria Bernadete 
Published: May 2011

The objective of the present study was to investigate whether early undernutrition changes the chronic inflammatory response, so as to study its influence on pharmacological response to indomethacin. Rat offspring of dams fed from the first day of gestation to term or throughout the lactation period received a balanced diet (NN) or a basic regional diet (BRD) from northeast Brazil. According to their dams, the offspring were divided into three groups: NN; basic regional diet during gestation (BRD-g, undernourished during gestation); basic regional diet during gestation and lactation (BRD-gl, undernourished during gestation and lactation). At 2 months of age, Freund's adjuvant (0·2 ml) was inoculated into the plantar surface of the hind paw (day 0) of animals. All animals orally received saline (0·9 %) for 28 d. Another group of adult offspring was subjected to the same procedure as described above, but orally received indomethacin (2 mg/kg) instead of saline, and divided into three subgroups: NN treated with indomethacin (NNI); BRD-g treated with indomethacin (BRDI-g); BRD-gl treated with indomethacin (BRDI-gl). The hind paw volume was calculated on days 0 (initial paw volume), 7, 14 and 28. Hind paw swelling, blood albumin and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and leucocyte counts were evaluated as markers of inflammation. Reduced hind paw swelling and the blood levels of serum albumin and CRP were found in the BRD-g and BRD-gl offspring. However, no difference was found in the leucocyte count. Compared with their respective saline-treated groups (NN, BRD-g and BRD-gl), the anti-inflammatory effect of indomethacin was lower in the BRDI-g and BRDI-gl groups than in the NNI group. We conclude that early undernutrition attenuated the chronic inflammatory response and the anti-inflammatory effect of indomethacin.
Proline betaine and its biotransformation products in fasting urine samples are potential biomarkers of habitual citrus fruit consumption
Authors: Lloyd Amanda J. , Beckmann Manfred , Favé Gaëlle , Mathers John C. , Draper John 
Published: May 2011

The lack of robust measures of dietary exposure hinders a quantitative understanding of causal relationships between diet and health. Non-targeted metabolite fingerprinting was used to explore the relationships between citrus exposure in free-living human subjects, estimated by a FFQ, and the chemical content of urine. Volunteers (study 1,n12; study 2,n11) were classified into high-, medium- and low-frequency citrus consumption groups. Overnight and spot fasting urine samples were obtained after exposure to a standardised citrus-free evening meal. The urine samples were analysed by flow injection electrospray-ionisation MS followed by supervised multivariate data classification analysis to discover discriminatory features associated with the level of citrus exposure. Good separation of high and low citrus consumption classes was achieved. Deeper exploration of high-ranked explanatory mass signals revealed several correlated signals derived from proline betaine. Targeted analysis of the relative levels of proline betaine in both fasting and overnight urine samples demonstrated good correlation with FFQ exposure data. Acute exposure of volunteers to orange juice resulted in the appearance of proline betaine and several biotransformed products in postprandial urine samples. Biomarker validation showed sensitivities of 80·8–92·2 % and specificities of 74·2–94·1 % (false discovery rate-adjustedPvalues < 0·05) for elevated proline betaine in participants who reported high citrus consumption. Proline betaine biotransformation products displayed weaker quantitative relationships with habitual citrus exposure. Targeted screening for the presence of biotransformation products of hesperidin and narirutin, known to be abundant in oranges, revealed that they were relatively poor indicators of citrus exposure.
Long-term evolution of therootransposable element copy number in mutation accumulation lines ofDrosophila melanogaster
Authors: DÍAZ-GONZÁLEZ JULIA , VÁZQUEZ J. FERNANDO , ALBORNOZ JESÚS , DOMÍNGUEZ ANA 
Published: May 2011

SummaryThe rate of insertion of transposable elements (TEs) is a fundamental parameter to understand both their dynamics and role in the evolution of the eukaryotic genome. Nonetheless, direct estimates of insertion rates are scarce because transposition is in general a rare phenomenon. A great deal of our previous work on transposition was based on a set of long-term mutation accumulation (MA) lines ofDrosophila melanogasterstarted in 1987 (Oviedo lines), whereroowas found highly active, with a rate of insertion of 7×10−4insertions per element and generation, as compared with other 15 TE families that presented transposition rates around 10−5. Here, we study the evolution of therootransposition rate, byin situhybridization, after 60–75 additional generations of MA in two subsets of the Oviedo lines, O and O′, which had achieved average numbers ofrooinsertions of 77 and 84, respectively. In the O lines, insertions accumulated at a rate that remained constant (7×10−4insertions per element and generation); however, the subset of lines O′ showed a lower accumulation rate of 4×10−4insertions per element per generation, suggesting a regulation of transposition that depends on the number of elements. However, one of the O′ lines reached a number of 103 insertions, departing from the group mean by 4·6sd, and showing that it escapes regulation. Hence, ‘de novo’ mutations affecting the regulation of transposition are relatively common. These results are discussed in relation to the possible mechanisms of containment of TEs.
A Consumers’ International? The International Cooperative Alliance and Cooperative Internationalism, 1918–1939: A Nordic Perspective
Authors: Hilson Mary 
Published: May 2011

SummaryInterest in the history of consumer cooperation has grown in recent years, but the transnational dimensions of the movement, including the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA), remain under-researched. This paper examines the debates about the meanings of cooperation during the period 1918–1939, focusing on the Nordic countries as a case study within the ICA. The paper considers how cooperators drew on the legacy of the Rochdale Pioneers as the basis for a programmatic statement for the ICA, before turning to explore the implications of this for the ordinary members who shopped in the cooperative stores. Examination of these debates within the cooperative movement can, it is argued, illuminate our understandings of both the transnational politics of consumption, and the ambitions, limits, and practices of internationalism during the interwar years. Lastly, some attention is given to the role of cooperation in the emergence of a distinctive Nordic region.
Rule breaking and livelihood options in marine protected areas
Authors: PETERSON ANGELIE M. , STEAD SELINA M. 
Published: May 2011

SUMMARYTwo main drivers of global trends in noncompliance of marine protected areas regulations are food and income security. Declines in fish stocks have resulted in greater concerns for food security, especially in developing and coastal areas, and calls for environmental conservation are growing. Planning of marine protected areas has traditionally been based on biological and ecological data, only recently focusing on the human communities that are significantly dependent on coastal resources. The hypothesis that marine resource use is determined by socioeconomic factors (such as food security and income) and livelihood options was tested in two communities on the island of Rodrigues (Western Indian Ocean). As livelihood development can be a response to fisher displacement by protected areas, willingness towards alternative livelihood options and the differences in this between fisher demographic groups were also examined. Using semi-structured interviews, 72 fishers were surveyed on topics such as fishery and marine protected area (MPA) regulation noncompliance, current livelihoods and willingness to consider alternative livelihoods. Fishers believed Rodrigues fisheries suffer from high levels of noncompliance, owing mainly to a lack of livelihood alternatives and depleted stocks. Rodriguan fishers had low mobility, both within the fishery (for example gear types used and target species) and in movement to occupations outside the fishery. The fishers were generally willing to consider alternate livelihoods. Age was significantly correlated with overall willingness to consider alternative work, while gender and village were found to have a significant relationship with types of work that an individual was willing to consider. Policy makers and marine resource managers need to identify drivers of noncompliant behaviour and examine livelihood preferences at different scales (individual, within and between communities) prior to users being affected by MPA created displacement to more effectively address marine conservation and food security goals. The findings offer new empirical evidence to strengthen support for arguments that could be made by policy makers to demand more balanced consideration of the effects of MPAs on socioeconomic factors along with environmental considerations in communities highly dependent on access to the marine areas that will be affected by MPAs.
Representativeness of terrestrial ecosystems in Chile's protected area system
Authors: PLISCOFF PATRICIO , FUENTES-CASTILLO TARYN 
Published: May 2011

SUMMARYBecause protected areas are a major means of conservation, the extent to which ecosystems are represented under different protection regimes needs to be ascertained. A gap analysis approach was used to assess the representativeness of Chile's terrestrial ecosystems in differing kinds of protected areas. Terrestrial ecosystems were described in terms of potential vegetation, employing three protection scenarios. Scenario 1 was based exclusively on the Chilean National System of Protected Wild Areas (SNASPE). Scenario 2 included all types of public protected areas, namely SNASPE, nature sanctuaries and Ministry of National Heritage lands. Scenario 3 included all items in Scenario 2, but also included private protected areas and biodiversity priority sites. There is insufficient protection of terrestrial ecosystems under the Scenario 2. In addition to the low level of ecosystem protection provided by state protected areas (only 42 of the 127 terrestrial ecosystems had >10% of their area protected), 23 terrestrial ecosystems were identified as having no protection at the national level. Gaps in protection were concentrated in the North (both coastal and inland desertic scrub), Central (thorny scrub, thorny forests, sclerophyllous forests and deciduous coastal forests) and Austral (steppe ecosystems) regions of Chile. These gaps include ecosystems that are of global conservation importance.
Enhancing geomorphic and biologic functions and values on backshores and dunes of developed shores: a review of opportunities and constraints
Authors: NORDSTROM KARL F. , JACKSON NANCY L. , KRAUS NICHOLAS C. , KANA TIMOTHY W. , BEARCE RANDY , BOCAMAZO LYNN M. , YOUNG DONALD R. , DE BUTTS HARRY A. 
Published: May 2011

SUMMARYThis article identifies ways to overcome impediments to restoring natural features on developed shores where human-use functions are the dominant driving forces. Suggestions are made for (1) incorporating natural features and natural dynamism into beach nourishment projects; (2) addressing constraints in size and space; (3) reducing the impact of human actions and elements in the landscape; (4) integrating endangered species programmes; (5) overcoming impediments to implementing restoration projects; (6) conducting post-construction evaluations and actions; (7) obtaining public support; and (8) addressing regulatory issues. Beach nourishment projects can better mimic natural landforms, while protecting infrastructure and habitat, creating space for dunes, and providing sediment for dune building. Dunes can have more value as habitat if sub-environments representative of natural gradients are accommodated. Greater human effort will be required to maintain both dynamic and stable zones for habitat, and these zones may be restricted to smaller scales. Controls can be placed on human actions, such as raking the beach, driving on the beach, walking through the dune, emplacing more structures than necessary and introducing exotic vegetation for landscaping. Regulatory restrictions that now prevent environmentally friendly actions can be eased, and adaptive management and education programmes can be implemented.
Islamic Law (Shari'a) and the Jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court
Authors: BADAR MOHAMED ELEWA 
Published: May 2011

AbstractAlthough the International Criminal Court (ICC) has been mostly hailed as a victory, Islamic states still regard its application of international criminal-law norms with scepticism. The Rome Statute instructs the Court to apply general principles of law derived from national laws of legal systems of the world including the national laws of states that would normally exercise jurisdiction over the crime but, so far, the Court has relied purely upon Western inspiration and may fail to acquire the legitimacy to establish a universal system. Among the legal systems that are unjustifiably neglected by the ICC is the Islamic legal tradition. This paper argues that the principles of Islamic law are, for the most part, consistent with internationally recognized norms and standards, particularly those enshrined in the Rome Statute, and are on an equal footing with the common and Continental legal systems that are currently employed by the Court in the search for general principles of law.
Recognition of States: International Law or Realpolitik? The Practice of Recognition in the Wake of Kosovo, South Ossetia, and Abkhazia
Authors: RYNGAERT CEDRIC , SOBRIE SVEN 
Published: May 2011

AbstractThis article deals with the fundamental evolution that the process of state recognition has gone through during the past few decades. Whereas the recognition of new states used to be subject to a relatively concise and clear-cut normative framework consisting of factual criteria, the dissolution of Yugoslavia marked the introduction of a new set of moral norms used to determine whether or not an entity should be recognized as a state. This evolution gave rise to a high level of uncertainty, among both authors and the state community, as was painfully shown by the international discord during the crises in Kosovo and South Ossetia/Abkhazia. A renewed normative framework for recognition that integrates both factual and moral criteria is needed if the international community wants to prevent each claim to statehood becoming a threat to international stability.
Geographical gradient of mean age of dengue haemorrhagic fever patients in northern Thailand
Authors: NAGAO Y. , TAWATSIN A. , THAMMAPALO S. , THAVARA U. 
Published: May 2011

SUMMARYDengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) is caused by dengue virus transmitted byAedesmosquitoes; mean age of patients varies temporally and geographically. Variability in age of patients may be due to differences in transmission intensity or demographic structure. To compare these two hypotheses, the mean age of DHF patients from 90 districts in northern Thailand (1994–1996, 2002–2004) was regressed against (i)Aedesabundance or (ii) demographic variables (birthrate, average age) of the district. We also developed software to quantify direction and strength of geographical gradients of these variables. We found that, after adjusting for socioeconomics, climate, spatial autocorrelation, the mean age of patients was correlated only withAedesabundance. The geographical gradient of mean age of patients originated from entomological, climate, and socioeconomic gradients. Vector abundance was a stronger determinant of mean age of patients than demographic variables, in northern Thailand.