bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Safener responsiveness and multiple herbicide resistance in the weed black‐grass (Alopecurus myosuroides)
Authors: Cummins Ian , Bryant David N. , Edwards Robert 
Published: September 2009

SummarySafeners enhance the selectivity of graminicidal herbicides such as fenoxaprop ethyl in cereals, by increasing their rates of detoxification in the crop. While studying the selectivity of fenoxaprop ethyl in wheat, we determined that the safeners mefenpyr diethyl and fenchlorazole ethyl also enhanced herbicide tolerance in the competing weed black‐grass (Alopecurus myosuroides). Fenoxaprop ethyl was detoxified by conjugation with glutathione in both wheat and black‐grass, with the resulting metabolites processed to the respective cysteine derivatives, which were then N‐glycosylated. In black‐grass, these detoxification pathways were only slightly enhanced by safeners, suggesting that metabolism alone was unlikely to account for increased herbicide tolerance. Instead, it was determined that safening was associated with an accumulation of glutathione and hydroxymethylglutathione and enzymes with antioxidant functions including phi and lambda glutathione transferases, active as glutathione peroxidases and thiol transferases respectively. These safener‐induced changes closely mirrored those determined in two independent black‐grass populations that had acquired multiple herbicide resistance (MHR) in the field. In addition to enhanced glutathione metabolism, both safener treatment and MHR resulted in elevated levels of flavonoids in the foliage of black‐grass plants, notably flavone‐C‐glycosides and anthocyanins. Our results demonstrate that safening in a grass weed is associated with an inducible activation in antioxidant and secondary metabolism which mirrors the biochemical phenotype exhibited in plants that are resistant to multiple classes of herbicides.
Physical activity, fitness and fatness: relations to mortality, morbidity and disease risk factors. A systematic review
Authors: Fogelholm M. 
Published: September 2009

SummaryThe purpose of this systematic review was to study the relative health risks of poor cardio‐respiratory fitness (or physical inactivity) in normal‐weight people vs. obesity in individuals with good cardio‐respiratory fitness (or high physical activity). The core inclusion criteria were: publication year 1990 or later; adult participants; design prospective follow‐up, case–control or cross‐sectional; data on cardio‐respiratory fitness and/or physical activity; data on BMI (body mass index), waist circumference or body composition; outcome data on all‐cause mortality, cardiovascular disease mortality, cardiovascular disease incidence, type 2 diabetes or cardiovascular and type 2 diabetes risk factors. Thirty‐six publications filled the criteria for inclusion. The data indicate that the risk for all‐cause and cardiovascular mortality was lower in individuals with high BMI and good aerobic fitness, compared with individuals with normal BMI and poor fitness. In contrast, having high BMI even with high physical activity was a greater risk for the incidence of type 2 diabetes and the prevalence of cardiovascular and diabetes risk factors, compared with normal BMI with low physical activity. The conclusions of the present review may not be applicable to individuals with BMI > 35.
Feminist International Relations in Australia
Authors: Lee‐Koo Katrina 
Published: September 2009

I am convinced at every turn that the international is personal, and the personal is international too.1
Feminist International Relations (IR) scholarship has a small, but significant, presence in the Australian IR discipline. This presence, now over two decades old, has made important contributions to the re‐thinking of the agenda, methodology and ambitions of Australian IR. This article offers a guide to tracing the impact of feminist scholarship in the Australian IR discipline. It begins with an overview of feminist IR generally, and then moves to identify the work of Australian scholars in this field. It demonstrates the pioneering breadth and scope of this work and pays tribute to the scholars who broke down the traditional barriers of the discipline to reveal the identities, issues, and ways of thinking about world politics that had been previously unexplored. It doing so, it analyses feminist impact on the core of the discipline as well as its work on expanding the boundaries of IR. It will argue that, in Australia, feminist IR scholarship is often (though not exclusively) located within the pockets of scholarship committed to exploring critical approaches. However, this article also recognises that the discipline of International Relations in Australia has not always been welcoming of feminist insights and contributions. With this in mind, this article turns to the challenges and debates that face feminist IR both within the discipline and without, with a focus particularly on the dialogue between “critical feminism” and “mainstream International Relations”.
New Governance and the Case of Activation Policies: Comparing Experiences in Denmark and the Netherlands
Authors: Lindsay Colin , McQuaid Ronald W. 
Published: September 2009

AbstractThis article explores the importance of new forms of governance in active labour market policies (activation) in two countries: Denmark and the Netherlands. Drawing on research with key stakeholders in these countries, we analyse how new governance, and particularly processes of contracting‐out and localization, have found expression in recent reforms to activation. We conclude that localization and contracting‐out may have a future role to play in the development of more locally responsive and individually focused services. But both countries have encountered problems in promoting joined‐up services through local jobcentres, while contracting‐out has not always led to the tailored, individually focused services envisaged by policy‐makers. In both countries, there are also concerns that the restriction of the Public Employment Service to a ‘gatekeeping and signposting’ role will lead to inconsistencies in the quality of services, exposing the most disadvantaged to greater social risk.
Growth rate of human fingernails and toenails in healthy American young adults
Authors: Yaemsiri S , Hou N , Slining MM , He K 
Published: September 2009

AbstractBackground  Human nail clippings are increasingly used in epidemiological studies as biomarkers for assessing diet and environmental exposure to trace elements or other chemical compounds. However, little is known about the growth rate of human nails.Objective  To estimate the average growth rate of fingernails and toenails and examine factors that may influence nail growth rate.Methods  Twenty‐two healthy American young adults marked their nails close to the proximal nail fold with a provided nail file following a standardized protocol, and recorded the date and the distance from the proximal nail fold to the mark. One to three months later, participants recorded the date and distance from the proximal nail fold to the mark again. Nail growth rate was calculated based on recorded distance and time between the two measurements.Results  Average fingernail growth rate was faster than that of toenails (3.47 vs. 1.62 mm/month, P < 0.01). There was no significant difference between right and left fingernail/toenail growth rates. The little fingernail grew slower than other fingernails (P < 0.01); the great toenail grew faster than other toenails (P < 0.01). Younger age, male gender, and onychophagia were associated with faster nail growth rate; however, the differences were not statistically significant.Conclusion  Nail growth rates have increased compared with previous estimates conducted decades ago. Toenail clippings may reflect a long exposure time frame given the relatively slow growth rate.
Perceived Social Acceptance and Peer Intimacy Among Children with Disabilities in Regular Schools in Norway
Authors: Wendelborg Christian , Kvello Øyvind 
Published: September 2009

Background  The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between educational arrangements, social participation during leisure time and perceived social acceptance and peer intimacy among disabled children.Methods  Eighty‐five Norwegian children with disabilities, 11‐ to 13‐year old, and their parents, participated in this study. An empirical model was generated by means of structural equation modelling using lisrel.Results  The type and severity of the impairment has no direct effect on perceived social acceptance and peer intimacy, but an indirect effect because they influence educational arrangements, which in turn predict social participation in leisure time. Social participation in leisure time is the only variable with a direct effect on perceived social acceptance and peer intimacy.Conclusions  Educational arrangements may obstruct the opportunities of children with disabilities have for participating and interacting socially during leisure time and may further have a negative impact on their perceived social acceptance and peer intimacy.
An Evaluation of the Implementation of Hand Held Health Records with Adults with Learning Disabilities: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Turk Vicky , Burchell Sarah , Burrha Sukhjinder , Corney Roslyn , Elliott Sandra , Kerry Sally , Molloy Catherine , Painter Kerry 
Published: September 2009

Background Personal health records were implemented with adults with learning disabilities (AWLD) to try to improve their health‐care.Materials and Method Forty GP practices were randomized to the Personal Health Profile (PHP) implementation or control group. Two hundred and one AWLD were interviewed at baseline and 163 followed up after 12 months intervention (PHP group). AWLD and carers of AWLD were employed as research interviewers. AWLD were full research participants.Results Annual consultation rates in the intervention and control groups at baseline were low (2.3 and 2.6 visits respectively). A slightly greater increase occurred over the year in the intervention group 0.6 (−0.4 to 1.6) visits/year compared with controls. AWLD in PHP group reported more health problems at follow‐up 0.9 (0.0 to 1.8). AWLD liked their PHP (92%) but only 63% AWLD and 55% carers reported PHP usage. Carers had high turnover (34%).Conclusions No significant outcomes were achieved by the intervention.
Roles of General Practitioners in the Provision of Health Care Services for People with Intellectual Disabilities: A National Census in Taiwan
Authors: Lin Jin‐Ding , Hsu Shang‐Wei , Yen Chia‐Feng , Chou Ying‐Ting , Wu Chia‐Ling , Chu Cordia M. , Loh Ching‐Hui 
Published: September 2009

Aims  The aims of the present study were to explore the perceptions of general practitioners (GPs) in the provision of health care services for people with intellectual disabilities and to analyse GPs’ priorities in the delivery of health care services to this group of people in Taiwan.Methods  The study employed a cross‐sectional design and was conducted by a census method, the aim being to collect information from all GPs in Taiwan. A questionnaire was mailed out, between 10 April 2006 and 16 June 2006, and the responses provided by 331 GPs (response rate = 16) were included in the analysis.Results  The results showed that most of the respondents did not have sufficient experience to deal with patients with intellectual disabilities and lacked adequate knowledge about intellectual disabilities. Indeed, respondents expressed the need for on‐the‐job training in the field of intellectual disabilities and generally agreed that their role in providing health care services for people with intellectual disabilities was important. However, they were generally not satisfied with the achievements of their role on health care issues. The study highlighted that many issues need to be prioritized for people with intellectual disabilities in relation to policy planning at different health care stages (primary, secondary and tertiary health care). The results also revealed that those senior GPs with considerable experience in treating people with intellectual disabilities were more likely satisfied with their role in providing health care for this group of people.Conclusions  It is concluded that Taiwanese health and welfare authorities need to focus more carefully on issues concerning deficiencies in the training of GPs, and to employ appropriate strategies to address health care issues raised in the present study so as to improve the quality of care for people with intellectual disabilities.
The representation of healthcare end users’ perspectives by surrogates in healthcare decisions: a literature review
Authors: Shah Syed Ghulam Sarwar , Farrow Alexandra , Robinson Ian 
Published: September 2009

Background:  The representation of end users’ perspectives in healthcare decisions requires involvement of their surrogates when the end users, i.e. certain patients, elderly people, children and people with disabilities, are unable to present their views.Aims:  To review critical issues, and the advantages and disadvantages of involving surrogates in representing end users’ perspectives in healthcare decisions.Methods:  A systematic review of literature published in peer‐reviewed journals from 1990 to 2005.Results:  Findings show that surrogates are used widely in health care and that they are necessary to represent end users’ perspectives in healthcare decisions when the latter are unable to do so themselves. Critical issues in using surrogates include key ethical, social, cultural, legal and medico‐technological factors; ascertaining the best interest of end users; potential conflict of interest; possible biased decisions and the burden on surrogates. The key advantage of surrogate involvement in healthcare decisions is their ability to represent end users’ needs, values and wishes. The main disadvantages include potential discrepancies between the decisions and conclusions of surrogates and end users; the failure of surrogates to predict end users’ preferences accurately and the lack of certainty that useful information will be obtained through the surrogacy process.Conclusion:  This systematic review has revealed that the involvement of surrogates is an additional vital way to represent end users’ perspectives in healthcare decisions where for a range of reasons their opinions are unable to be effectively ascertained. However, because of the heterogeneity of surrogates and end users, the selection of appropriate surrogates and deploying surrogate decisions require particularly careful consideration of their value in individual cases; thus, subsequent decision‐making must be reviewed on a case‐to‐case basis to seek to ensure that the best interests, needs and wishes of the end user are fully and accurately represented.
Evidence that endogenous inosine and adenosine‐mediated hyperglycaemia during ischaemia–reperfusion through A3adenosine receptors
Authors: Cortés D. , Guinzberg R. , Villalobos‐Molina R. , Piña E. 
Published: September 2009

Summary1 The molecular mechanism underlying stress‐induced hyperglycemia has not been comprehensively clarified. Recently, we demonstrated in ischaemia‐reperfusion (I‐R) stress‐subjected liver that inosine and adenosine are mainly responsible for the hyperglycemia observed.2 We aimed to advance in the knowledge of the role of inosine plus adenosine as mediators of hepatic‐induced hyperglycemia detected after I‐R in lower limbs.3 Acute ischaemia was conducted in anesthetized rats by occluding downstream abdominal aorta and cava vein; then, reperfusion was allowed. Blood samples from hepatic or abdominal cava veins were taken throughout the experiments to measure glucose, inosine and adenosine. Antagonists to adenosine (AdoR) and adrenergic receptors (AdrR) were administered during ischaemia to analyze their effect on hepatic glucose release.4 Ischaemia up to 60 min produced minor increase of glucose and nucleosides blood values, but 5 min of ischaemia followed by 2‐ (or 10‐) min reperfusion increased glucose 23%, and those of inosine or adenosine by 100%. After 60 min of ischaemia and 10 min of reperfusion, glycemia rose 2‐fold and blood inosine and adenosine, 3.3‐ and 2.7‐fold, respectively. A linear positive correlation,r2, as high as 0.839 between glucose and either nucleoside blood values was calculated. The hyperglycemia response to I‐R decreased by 0, 25, 33, 45 and 100% after selective inhibition of A2BAdoR, A2AAdoR, a1BAdrR, A1AdoR, and A3AdoR, respectively.5 Inosine‐adenosine couple through activation of hepatic A3AdoR is the main signal for releasing glucose from liver glycogen and for promoting hyperglycemia following experimental injury of I‐R from lower limbs.
Helicobacter pylori Infection Significantly Increases Insulin Resistance in the Asymptomatic Japanese Population
Authors: Gunji Toshiaki , Matsuhashi Nobuyuki , Sato Hajime , Fujibayashi Kazutoshi , Okumura Mitsue , Sasabe Noriko , Urabe Akio 
Published: September 2009

AbstractBackground:  Helicobacter pylori infection has been shown to contribute to atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases. Insulin resistance is the pathophysiologic background of the clinical features of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases. We examined the association between H. pylori infection and insulin resistance in a large Japanese population.Materials and Methods:  Fifteen hundred ninety‐eight consecutive asymptomatic subjects that underwent a complete medical survey in our institute between May 2007 and July 2008 were recruited. Cases under medication for hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, hyperuricemia, or cardiovascular diseases were excluded from the study. Cases suffering from chronic renal or liver failure were also excluded. The homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA‐IR) score was used to quantitatively estimate insulin resistance. Visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissues (SAT) were measured by computed tomography. The association between H. pylori serostatus and HOMA‐IR score was investigated by multivariate regression analysis.Results:  A total of 988 men and 119 women were eventually eligible for this cross‐sectional survey. Helicobacter pylori seropositivity was significantly higher in 99 cases with insulin resistance (HOMA‐IR ≥2.5) compared with 1008 cases without insulin resistance (HOMA‐IR <2.5) (39.4 vs 28.7%, p = .027). There was a significant association between H. pylori serostatus and HOMA‐IR score by multiple linear regression analysis (coefficients = 0.152, 95% CI = 0.058–0.246, p = .001), after adjusting for sex, age, body mass index, waist girth, visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissues, smoking status, alcohol consumption, dietary habits, and physical activity.Conclusions:  Helicobacter pylori infection significantly and independently contributed to promoting insulin resistance in a large asymptomatic population.
Genetic Variation in a4GnT in Relation to Helicobacter pylori Serology and Gastric Cancer Risk
Authors: Zheng Zongli , Jia Yanbin , Hou Lifang , Persson Christina , Yeager Meredith , Lissowska Jolanta , Chanock Stephen J. , Blaser Martin , Chow Wong‐Ho , Ye Weimin 
Published: September 2009

AbstractBackground:  Helicobacter pylori, a known risk factor of gastric cancer, rarely colonize the deeper portion of normal gastric glands, where the mucus is rich in α‐1,4‐linked N‐acetylglucosamine capped O‐glycans, that strongly inhibit H. pylori growth in vitro.Materials and methods:  We investigated the association between genetic variation in the O‐glycan transferase encoding gene (a4GnT) and H. pylori infection and gastric cancer risk using a Polish population‐based case–control study (273 gastric cancer patients and 377 controls).Results:  A haplotype at the rs2622694–rs397266 locus was associated with H. pylori infection, with the A‐A haplotype associated with a higher risk compared with the most frequent G‐G haplotype (odds ratio 2.30; 95% confidence interval 1.35–3.92). The association remained significant after correction for multiple tests (global p value: nominal 0.002, empirical 0.045). Neither this haplotype nor the tagSNPs were associated with overall gastric cancer risk.Conclusion:  a4GnT genetic variation may be relevant to H. pylori infection, but not to gastric cancer risk.
Interaction of Helicobacter pylori with Genetic Variants in the MDM2 Promoter, is Associated with Gastric Cancer Susceptibility in Chinese Patients
Authors: Wang Xiaoyong , Yang Jing , Ho Bo , Yang Yang , Huang Zuhu , Zhang Zhihong , Zhang Guoxin 
Published: September 2009

AbstractBackground and Aims:  MDM2 is a major negative regulator of p53, and a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the MDM2 promoter region SNP309 (rs2279744) has been shown to increase the affinity of the transcriptional activator Sp1, resulting in elevated MDM2 transcription and expression in some cancers. The aim of this study was to determine whether SNP309 is associated with susceptibility to gastric cancer in Chinese patients.Methods:  Two hundred and sixty patients with gastric cancer and 260 healthy controls were genotyped for MDM2 SNP309 using the PCR‐RFLP method. Helicobacter pylori’s infection status was determined using a validated serology test.Results:  The healthy control group was found to be in Hard–Weinberg equilibrium at the polymorphic loci studied (χ2 = 3.63, p = 0.06). Multiple logistic regression analyses revealed that the risk of gastric cancer for SNP309 (G/G) was significantly increased when compared with T carriers (adjusted odds ratio (OR): 2.05, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.31–3.20). Further stratification analyses based on the recessive models reveal that a significantly increased risk of gastric cancer associated with the GG genotype was evident among subjects with H. pylori infection (adjusted OR: 2.52, 95% CI: 1.45–4.37), and noncardia gastric cancer patients (adjusted OR: 2.29, 95% CI: 1.41–3.71), compared with the T carriers. When stratified by histologic subtype of gastric cancer, the risk was also statistically significant. There was no significant difference in age at diagnosis among genotypes.Conclusions:  The MDM2 promoter SNP309 is associated with the presence of gastric cancer in Chinese patients especially those with H. pylori infection.
Helicobacter pylori Infection and Family History of Gastric Cancer Decrease Expression of FHIT Tumor Suppressor Gene in Gastric Mucosa of Dyspeptic Patients
Authors: Stec‐Michalska Krystyna , Peczek Lukasz , Michalski Blazej , Wisniewska‐Jarosinska Maria , Krakowiak Agnieszka , Nawrot Barbara 
Published: September 2009

AbstractBackground:  The expression of a fragile histidine triad (FHIT) protein is lost in stomach tumors. The study aimed at determining whether FHIT expression is affected by Helicobacter pylori infection, strain virulence (vacA and cagA genes) and histopathological changes in the gastric mucosa of patients with functional dyspepsia having first‐degree relatives with gastric cancer.Materials and Methods:  Eighty‐eight never‐smoking patients with functional dyspepsia were selected for the study, and 48 of them had first‐degree relatives with gastric cancer. Bacterial DNA amplification was used to identify H. pylori colonization. The level of FHIT gene expression was determined by qRT‐PCR (mRNA) and Western blot (FHIT protein) analyses.Results:  For patients having first‐degree relatives with gastric cancer FHIT expression was lower (mRNA by ca. 40–45% and protein by 30%) compared with the control patients (p < .05). H. pylori infection decreased the FHIT mRNA level by 10–35% and the protein level by 10–20%. Bacterial strain vacA(+)cagA(+) lowered FHIT mRNA by ca. 30–35% in the antrum samples of both groups and in corpus samples of patients with first‐degree relatives with gastric cancer (p < .05). The FHIT mRNA level was twice as high in control H. pylori‐negative patients with intestinal metaplasia, compared with those with non‐atrophic gastritis.Conclusions:  The decreased FHIT gene expression associated with hereditary factors and with H. pylori infection, especially with vacA(+)cagA(+)‐positive strains, may be related to gastric carcinoma development.