bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Design and validation of an instrument to measure nursing research culture: the Nursing Research Questionnaire (NRQ)
Authors: Corchon Silvia , Watson Roger , Arantzamendi Maria , Saracíbar Maribel 
Published: December 2009

Aim.  To describe the development of a self‐administered questionnaire to study the nursing research culture in a Spanish hospital.Background.  There is urgent need to promote nursing research in Spain. To do this, it is imperative to understand the Spanish nursing research culture. As no valid Spanish instrument was available, a new instrument called the Nursing Research Questionnaire was developed.Design.  A survey and psychometric approach.Methods.  The development and testing of the instrument had three phases which included: identification of concepts and questions; pilot work of the first draft of the tool; and a survey and further test of the instrument.Results.  The new instrument was a self‐administered questionnaire which contained 43 items divided into three main sections: nurses’ research capability; research related activity; and factors influencing research development. The pilot work and the survey results indicated adequate content and face validity of the tool. The internal consistencies of the tool for the four subscales ranged from 0·25–0·93, and the intraclass correlation coefficients in three subscales were over 0·70.Conclusions.  This paper describes the development of a self‐administered questionnaire to gather information about the nursing research culture in a Spanish hospital. After further refinement, its use will provide information that will contribute to the development of nursing research in Spain.Relevance to clinical practice.  The new instrument could be used to provide an understanding of the research culture among nurses in Spain, which will help to design targeted interventions to promote nursing research activity and improve the quality of nursing practice and patient care.
Innate IFN‐γ Production by Subsets of Natural Killer Cells, Natural Killer T Cells and γδ T Cells in Response to Dying Bacterial‐Infected Macrophages
Authors: Kubota K. 
Published: December 2009

AbstractInterferon‐γ (IFN‐γ) activation of macrophages is a crucial step in the early innate defence against bacterial infection. This innate IFN‐γ is thought to be produced mainly by natural killer (NK) cells through activation with interleukin (IL)‐12p70 secreted by macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs) that have sensed bacterial products. However, a number of reports have shown that bacterial stimuli are unable to induce macrophages and/or DCs to produce sufficient amounts of IL‐12p70 unless these cells are primed by IFN‐γ. It remains, therefore, unsettled how initial IFN‐γ is produced. In a previous study, we reported a novel IFN‐γ production pathway that was associated with cell death in macrophages caused by intracellular bacteria like Listeria monocytogenes (LM) and Shigella flexneri. In this study, we showed that cell death of bone‐marrow‐derived macrophage (BMM) cells following in vitro infection with Staphylococcus aureus (SA), an extracellular bacterium, can also stimulate this IFN‐γ production pathway. We also unequivocally demonstrated by using BMM cells from IL‐12‐deficient mice that the bacterial‐infected macrophage cell death‐mediated IFN‐γ production can occur without IL‐12 although the magnitude of the response is much smaller than that in the presence of IL‐12. The enhancing effect of IL‐12 on this response proved to be attributable to the negligible amounts (0.5∼1.5 pg/ml) of IL‐12p70 but not to the large amounts of IL‐12p40 that were both secreted by SA‐ and LM‐infected macrophages. Taken all together, we propose that macrophage cell death caused by bacteria may trigger the initial IFN‐γ production at an early stage of bacterial infection.
Many faces of graft‐versus‐host disease
Authors: Peñas Pablo F , Zaman Sarah 
Published: December 2009

ABSTRACTAllogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation is increasingly used in the treatment of malignant and non‐malignant disorders. Despite ongoing advances in the field, morbidity and mortality related to graft‐versus‐host disease remains a major barrier to its application. Graft‐versus‐host disease is a difficult‐to‐diagnose disease. Dermatologists are involved due to its diverse cutaneous expression. In order to appropriately diagnose, classify and treat this complex disease, knowledge of its expanding cutaneous expression is required. This review provides a synopsis of the clinical manifestations of acute, lichenoid and sclerodermatous phases of graft‐versus‐host disease with a look at the current evidence surrounding its differential diagnosis.
Trends in overweight and obesity in Swedish schoolchildren 1999–2005: has the epidemic reached a plateau?
Authors: Lissner L. , Sohlström A. , Sundblom E. , Sjöberg A. 
Published: December 2009

SummaryThe aim of this review is to synthesize published evidence on the most recent trends in overweight and obesity among Swedish children. Specifically, trends are reported among fourth graders (10–11 years) from six different municipalities between 1999 and 2005. Weights and heights in representative samples of children within each area were measured by school nurses as part of routine school health examinations. Standardized definitions of overweight, obesity and thinness were calculated by methods described by Cole et al. in 2000 and 2007. In Stockholm, obesity prevalence during academic years starting 1999 and 2003 decreased non‐significantly from 4.4% to 2.8% in girls, and increased non‐significantly from 3.2% to 3.8% among boys. In Gothenburg, comparing academic years starting 2000 and 2004, prevalence of overweight in girls decreased from 19.6% to 15.9% (P < 0.01) while thinness increased from 9.5% to 11.9% (P < 0.05); no significant changes were observed in boys. Finally, the Swedish National Institute of Public Health released figures from Karlstad, Umeå, Västerås and Ystad in 2003–2005 during which time no trends in prevalence could be clearly shown. The stabilized rates are probably a result of regional and local actions that have taken place in many sectors of society, rather than one specific measure or national political action.
Gene Expression in the Neuropeptide Y System During Ethanol Withdrawal Kindling in Rats
Authors: Olling Janne D. , Ulrichsen Jakob , Correll Mette , Woldbye David P.D. 
Published: December 2009

Background:  Multiple episodes of ethanol intoxication and withdrawal result in progressive, irreversible intensification of the withdrawal reaction, a process termed “ethanol withdrawal kindling.” Previous studies show that a single episode of chronic ethanol intoxication and withdrawal causes prominent changes in neuropeptide Y (NPY) and its receptors that have been implicated in regulating withdrawal hyperexcitability. This study for the first time examined the NPY system during ethanol withdrawal kindling.Methods:  Ethanol withdrawal kindling was studied in rats receiving 16 episodes of 2 days of chronic ethanol intoxication by intragastric intubations followed by 5 days withdrawal. The study included 6 groups: 4 multiple withdrawal episode (MW) groups [peak withdrawal plus (MW+)/minus (MW−) seizures, 3‐day (MW3d), and 1‐month (MW1mth) withdrawal], a single withdrawal episode group (SW), and an isocalorically fed control group. Gene expression of NPY and its receptors Y1, Y2, and Y5 was studied in the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) and CA3/CA1, as well as piriform cortex (PirCx), and neocortex (NeoCx).Results:  MW+/− as well as SW groups showed decreased NPY gene expression in all hippocampal areas compared with controls, but, in the DG and CA3, decreases were significantly smaller in the MW− group compared with the SW group. In the MW+/− and SW groups, Y1, Y2, and Y5 mRNA levels were decreased in most brain areas compared with controls; however, decreases in Y1 and Y5 mRNA were augmented in the MW+/− groups compared with the SW group. The MW+ group differed from the MW− group in the PirCx, where Y2 gene expression was significantly higher.Conclusion:  Multiple withdrawal episodes reversibly decreased NPY and NPY receptor mRNA levels at peak withdrawal, with smaller decreases in NPY mRNA levels and augmented decreases in Y1/Y5 mRNA levels compared with a SW episode. Multiple withdrawal‐induced seizures increased the Y2 mRNA levels in PirCx. These complex changes in NPY system gene expression could play a role in the ethanol withdrawal kindling process.
Phosphodiesterase Type 4 Inhibition Does Not Restore Ocular Dominance Plasticity in a Ferret Model of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
Authors: Krahe Thomas E. , Paul Arco P. , Medina Alexandre E. 
Published: December 2009

Background:  There is growing evidence that deficits in neuronal plasticity account for some of the neurological problems observed in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). Recently, we showed that early alcohol exposure results in a permanent impairment in visual cortex ocular dominance (OD) plasticity in a ferret model of FASD. This disruption can be reversed, however, by treating animals with a Phosphodiesterase (PDE) type 1 inhibitor long after the period of alcohol exposure.Aim:  Because the mammalian brain presents different types of PDE isoforms we tested here whether inhibition of PDE type 4 also ameliorates the effects of alcohol on OD plasticity.Material and Methods:  Ferrets received 3.5 g/Kg alcohol i.p. (25% in saline) or saline as control every other day between postnatal day (P) 10 to P30, which is roughly equivalent to the third trimester equivalent of human gestation. Following a prolonged alcohol‐free period (10 to 15 days), ferrets had the lid of the right eye sutured closed for 4 days and were examined for ocular dominance changes at the end of the period of deprivation.Results:  Using in vivo electrophysiology we show that inhibition of PDE4 by rolipram does not restore OD plasticity in alcohol‐treated ferrets.Conclusion:  This result suggests that contrary to PDE1, PDE4 inhibition does not play a role in the restoration of OD plasticity in the ferret model of FASD.
Feasibility of Using Interactive Voice Response to Monitor Daily Drinking, Moods, and Relationship Processes on a Daily Basis in Alcoholic Couples
Authors: Cranford James A. , Tennen Howard , Zucker Robert A. 
Published: December 2009

Background:  Daily process research on alcohol involvement has used paper‐and‐pencil and electronic data collection methods, but no studies have yet tested the feasibility of using Interactive Voice Response (IVR) technology to monitor drinking, affective, and social interactional processes among alcoholic (ALC) couples. This study tested the feasibility of using IVR with n = 54 ALC couples.Methods:  Participants were n = 54 couples (probands who met criteria for a past 1‐year alcohol use disorder and their partners) recruited from a substance abuse treatment center and the local community. Probands and their partners reported on their daily drinking, marital interactions, and moods once a day for 14 consecutive days using an IVR system. Probands and partners were on average 43.4 and 43.0 years old, respectively.Results:  Participants completed a total of 1,418 out of a possible 1,512 diary days for an overall compliance rate of 93.8%. ALC probands completed an average of 13.3 (1.0) diary reports, and partners completed an average of 13.2 (1.0) diary reports. On average, daily IVR calls lasted 7.8 (3.0) minutes for ALC probands and 7.6 (3.0) minutes for partners. Compliance was significantly lower on weekend days (Fridays and Saturdays) compared to other weekdays for probands and spouses. Although today’s intoxication predicted tomorrow’s noncompliance for probands but not spouses, the strongest predictor of proband’s compliance was their spouse’s compliance. Daily anxiety and marital conflict were associated with daily IVR nonresponse, which triggered automated reminder calls.Conclusions:  Findings supported that IVR is a useful method for collecting daily drinking, mood, and relationship process data from alcoholic couples. Probands’ compliance is strongly associated with their partners’ compliance, and automated IVR calls may facilitate compliance on high anxiety, high conflict days.
Revisiting Intragastric Ethanol Intubation as a Dependence Induction Method for Studies of Ethanol Reward and Motivation in Rats
Authors: Braconi Simone , Sidhpura Nimish , Aujla Harinder , Martin‐Fardon Rémi , Weiss Friedbert , Ciccocioppo Roberto 
Published: December 2009

Background:  The purpose of this study was to re‐examine intragastric ethanol intubation as a dependence induction method that effectively induces physical dependence upon ethanol over a short time period, is devoid of intrinsic stress artifacts, inexpensive, and easy to implement.Methods:  Male Wistar rats were subjected to ethanol dependence induction via intragastric ethanol intubation. Ethanol solution (final concentration 20%, made up in a dietary liquid vehicle consisting of powdered milk, sucrose, and water) was intubated 4 times per day, at 4‐hour intervals, for 6 consecutive days (for a total of 10 g/kg/day). The utility of this procedure was evaluated for inducing physical dependence, determined by daily and final withdrawal ratings. Anxiety‐like behavior associated with ethanol dependence history was examined using the elevated plus‐maze (EPM) test, conducted 5 days after ethanol withdrawal. To evaluate whether potential stress‐like effects of intragastric intubation per se produce lasting effects on behavior, experimentally naive rats were compared with vehicle‐intubated rats for anxiety‐like behavior on the EPM.Results:  Blood alcohol levels reached stable levels between 200 and 250 mg%, measured 1 hour after the second and third ethanol intubation on days 2, 4, and 6. Ethanol‐treated rats developed significant somatic withdrawal signs, recorded daily between 10 and 12 hours after the last ethanol administration. At 5 days postwithdrawal, ethanol‐treated rats showed significant anxiety‐like behavior, measured by decreased open arm time and open arm entries on the EPM, compared with vehicle controls. Additionally, ethanol postdependent rats showed decreased open arm time compared with experimentally naive rats. EPM performance did not differ between vehicle‐intubated and naive rats. No withdrawal seizures were observed and mortality rate was near zero.Conclusions:  These findings suggest that intragastric ethanol administration produces a behavioral profile consistent with ethanol dependence (i.e., significant withdrawal signs after termination of ethanol exposure and elevated anxiety‐like behavior persisting beyond completion of physical withdrawal), and that the intubation procedure itself does not produce lasting nonspecific anxiety‐like effects. Thus, under the conditions employed here, this procedure provides an effective tool for inducing and evaluating the consequences of ethanol dependence in animal models of ethanol reward and motivation.
Moderate Alcohol Consumption Aggravates High‐Fat Diet Induced Steatohepatitis in Rats
Authors: Wang Yan , Seitz Helmut K. , Wang Xiang‐Dong 
Published: December 2009

Background:  Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) develops in the absence of chronic and excessive alcohol consumption. However, it remains unknown whether moderate alcohol consumption aggravates liver inflammation in pre‐existing NASH condition.Methods:  Sprague‐Dawley rats were first fed ad libitum with Lieber‐DeCarli high‐fat diet (71% energy from fat) for 6 weeks to induce NASH, as demonstrated previously. Afterwards, these rats were continuously fed with high‐fat diet (HFD, 55% total energy from fat) or high fat plus alcohol diet (HFA, 55% energy from fat and 16% energy from alcohol) for an additional 4 weeks. Pathological lesions including fat accumulation and inflammatory foci in liver were examined and graded. Lipid peroxidation and apoptotic hepatocytes in the liver were assessed. The mRNA expressions of tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNFα) and TNF receptor 1 (TNF‐R1), Fas death receptor (Fas) and Fas ligant (FasL), IL‐1β and IL‐12 were determined by real‐time PCR. Protein levels of total and cleaved caspase‐3, CYP2E1, Bax, and Bcl‐2 were measured by western blotting.Results:  The number of hepatic inflammatory foci and apoptotic hepatocytes were significantly increased in rats fed with HFA as compared with those in HFD‐fed rats. The aggravated inflammatory response and cellular apoptosis mediated by HFA were associated with elevated mRNA expression of Fas/FasL and cleaved caspase‐3 protein. Although no significant differences were observed between HFD and HFA groups, the levels of lipid peroxidation, Bax and Bcl‐2 protein concentration, and mRNA levels of other inflammatory cytokines were significantly higher in these 2 groups than those in the control group.Conclusions:  These data suggest that even moderate alcohol consumption can cause more hepatic inflammation and cellular apoptosis in a pre‐existing NASH condition.
Activation of ethylene‐related genes in response to aphid feeding on resistant and susceptible melon and tomato plants
Authors: Anstead James , Samuel Preethi , Song Ning , Wu Chengjun , Thompson Gary A. , Goggin Fiona 
Published: December 2009

AbstractThe simple gaseous compound ethylene (ET) has long been recognized as a common component of plant responses to insect feeding and pathogen attack. However, it is presently uncertain whether it plays a role in host–plant resistance to piercing–sucking insects such as aphids. In these experiments, we investigated the expression of key ET‐associated genes in resistant and susceptible interactions in two model systems: the tomato‐Mi‐Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Thomas) (Hemiptera: Aphididae: Macrosiphini) system and the melon‐virus aphid transmission gene (Vat)‐Aphis gossypii Glover (Hemiptera: Aphididiae: Aphidini) system. We examined expression patterns of genes associated with ET synthesis, perception, signal transduction, and downstream response. When compared with control plants, plants infested with aphids showed marked differences in gene expression. In particular, ET signaling pathway genes and downstream response genes were highly upregulated in the resistant interaction between A. gossypii and Vat+, indicating ET may play a role in Vat‐mediated host–plant resistance. A key integrator between the ET and jasmonic acid pathways (Cm‐ERF1) showed the strongest response.
Economic Development, Social Identity and Community Empowerment in the Central and Western Amazon
Authors: DE SOUZA MELLO BICALHO ANA MARIA , HOEFLE SCOTT WILLIAM 
Published: December 2009

AbstractA multi‐dimensional and multi‐scalar perspective is used to contrast different experiences with community development involving new settlers, the historic riverine peasantry and Amerindians on and beyond the advancing frontier in the Brazilian Amazon. Local development is shown to occur only when a compromise is reached between the economic development of individual farmers, common social background and community political empowerment. However, the local development of communities does not necessarily result in regional development because contradictions present between political actors can cancel out gains in one dimension or scale vis‐à‐vis others and so frustrate wider processes.
Effect of Comorbidities and Medications on Left Ventricular Mass Regression After Bariatric Surgery
Authors: Syed Mohsin , Torosoff Mikhail , Rosati Carl , Alger Sharon , Fein Steven 
Published: December 2009

J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich). 2010;12:223–227. ©2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.Hypertension, diabetes, and obesity frequently coexist and significantly contribute to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Weight loss in obese individuals has been associated with improved blood pressure control and regression in left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy. The authors investigated the impact of comorbidity and medication on clinical and echocardiographic parameters after weight loss in obese patients. Serial echocardiography and clinical data were collected in 62 patients before bariatric surgery and after 6 months or 10% weight loss. Obese patients with diabetes or hypertension had higher baseline LV mass (LVM) (334±73 g in hypertension and diabetes vs 252±97 g in hypertension and 219±75 g in disease‐free patients, P=.003; P=.089for differences in LVM indexed by height), despite the lack of significant differences in body mass index or systolic blood pressure. There were no significant differences in baseline LVM or LVM index related to the medication used to treat hypertension. After weight loss, patients on β‐blocker therapy experienced the most significant LV hypertrophy regression (−76.5±79.1 g with β‐blockers, −17.8±43.7 g with diuretics, −4.5±46.6 g with angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers, and −23.1±50.9 g in not treated patients, overall P=.538; β‐blockers vs no therapy P<.005; P=.145 for differences in LVM index). Bariatric surgery, combined with a weight loss program, provide substantial weight and LVM reduction regardless of comorbidities or blood pressure changes. β‐Blocker therapy appears to be associated with the greatest LVM regression after weight loss.
Energy recovery from lipid extracted, transesterified and glycerol codigested microalgae biomass
Authors: EHIMEN EHIAZE A. , CONNAUGHTON SEAN , SUN ZHIFA , CARRINGTON GERRY C. 
Published: December 2009

AbstractThe production of methane (CH4) via the anaerobic digestion of microalgae biomass residues from the biodiesel production process has the potential to meet some of the energy requirements of the primary biomass to fuel conversion process. This paper investigates the practical CH4 yields achievable from the anaerobic conversion of the microalgae residues (as well as codigestion with glycerol) after biodiesel production using both the conventional and in situ transesterification methods. Results demonstrate that the type of lipid extraction solvent utilized in the conventional transesterification process could inhibit subsequent CH4 production. On the basis of actual CH4 production, a recoverable energy of 8.7–10.5 MJ kg−1 of dry microalgae biomass residue was obtained using the lipid extracted and transesterified microalgae samples. On codigesting the microalgae residues with glycerol, a 4–7% increase in CH4 production was observed.
Accuracy of AccessBio Immunoglobulin M and Total Antibody Rapid Immunochromatographic Assays for the Diagnosis of Acute Scrub Typhus Infection
Authors: Blacksell Stuart D. , Jenjaroen Kemajittra , Phetsouvanh Rattanaphone , Wuthiekanun Vanaporn , Day Nicholas P. J. , Newton Paul N. , Ching Wei-Mei 
Published: December 2009

ABSTRACT

Using archived samples, we assessed the diagnostic capacity of a rapid immunochromatographic test (ICT) for the detection of
Orientia tsutsugamushi
IgM and total antibodies to aid with the diagnosis of acute scrub typhus infection in febrile patients in Laos. The sensitivity and the specificity of the ICT for the detection of IgM were 96.8% (121/125 samples; 95% confidence interval [CI], 92.1 to 99.1%) and 93.3% (98/105 samples; 95% CI, 86.7 to 97.3%), respectively. For the detection of total antibodies, the sensitivity was 97.6% (122/125 samples; 95% CI, 93.1 to 99.5%), but the specificity was much lower, at 71.4% (75/105 samples; 95% CI, 61.8 to 79.8%).