bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Climate Change, Agriculture, and Poverty
Authors: Hertel Thomas W. , Rosch Stephanie D. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractEven though much has been written about climate change and poverty as distinct and complex problems, the link between them has received little attention. Understanding this link is vital for the formulation of effective policy responses to climate change. In this article the authors focus on agriculture as a primary means by which the impacts of climate change are transmitted to the poor and as a sector at the forefront of climate change mitigation efforts in developing countries. In so doing, they offer some important insights that may help shape future policies as well as ongoing research in this area.
Lyprinol reduces inflammation and improves lung function in a mouse model of allergic airways disease
Authors: Wood L. G. , Hazlewood L. C. , Foster P. S. , Hansbro P. M. 
Published: September 2010

SummaryBackground
Asthma is an inflammatory airway disease that is characterized by an influx of eosinophils to the lungs, mucus hypersecretion and T helper type 2 cytokine production. Recent dietary changes, including a decreased ω‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) intake, may have contributed to increased asthma rates and dietary supplementation with marine oil could have clinical benefits.Objective
To assess the effects of dietary supplementation with ω‐3 PUFAs on allergic inflammation and lung function using a mouse model of ovalbumin (OVA)‐induced allergic airway disease (AAD).Methods
BALB/c mice received a daily supplement of either fish oil (rich in ω‐3 PUFA) or lyprinol (a complex mixture of various marine lipids plus vitamin E and olive oil) before and during AAD. The effects of supplementation on AAD were assessed.Results
Lyprinol but not fish oil treatment reduced eosinophil influx into the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, the lung tissue surrounding the airways and the blood, decreased mucus hypersecretion in the lung and reduced airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR). The effects of lyprinol were not associated with changes in serum IgG1 or IgG2a, or the release of IL‐4, IL‐5, IL‐13 and IFN‐γ.Conclusions
Lyprinol suppresses the development of allergic inflammation and AHR in AAD. The therapeutic potential of dietary supplementation with lyprinol for asthma warrants further investigation. Cite this as: L. G. Wood, L. C. Hazlewood, P. S. Foster and P. M. Hansbro, Clinical & Experimental Allergy, 2010 (40) 1785–1793.
Body mass index is associated with leukotriene inflammation in asthmatics
Authors: Giouleka Paschalina , Papatheodorou Georgios , Lyberopoulos Panagiotis , Karakatsani Anna , Alchanatis Manos , Roussos Charis , Papiris Spyros , Loukides Stelios 
Published: September 2010

Eur J Clin Invest 2010; 41 (1): 30–38AbstractBackground  Obesity and asthma are characterized by the presence of inflammation. Leptin and adiponectin are circulating hormones produced by adipose tissue that regulate several metabolic and inflammatory functions. We aimed to determine whether obesity influences asthmatic inflammation as well as the contribution of leptin or/and adiponectin to a possible linkage between asthmatic and obesity‐related inflammation.Materials and methods  One hundred patients with asthma and 60 healthy controls were studied. Subjects who had a comorbid illness that could interfere with the proposed tests were excluded. All subjects were divided into three groups (normal range, pre‐obese, obese) according to the criteria of the current WHO international classification for body mass index (BMI). Possible associations between variables expressing airway inflammation, bronchial hyper‐responsiveness, systemic inflammation and obesity, as assessed by BMI, were evaluated. Leptin and adiponectin were also measured and were associated with asthma airway and systemic inflammatory variables to elucidate possible associations.Results  Obese patients had significant higher values of LTE4/creatinine in urine compared with pre‐obese and normal range ones. In a linear regression model, the only significant associations were those between BMI and LTE4/creatinine in urine. Using the same model, log leptin and log adiponectin presented positive and negative associations, respectively with LTE4/creatinine in urine. No other significant associations were observed in both patients and healthy subjects.Conclusions  In a selected cohort of asthmatic patients, obesity is significantly associated with increased urinary leukotriene levels. Alterations of leptin/adiponectin balance may be related to the presence of leukotriene inflammation in obese asthmatic patients.
Staffing, skill mix and the model of care
Authors: Duffield Christine , Roche Michael , Diers Donna , Catling‐Paull Christine , Blay Nicole 
Published: September 2010

Aims and objectives. The study aimed to explore whether nurse staffing, experience and skill mix influenced the model of nursing care in medical‐surgical wards.Background. Methods of allocating nurses to patients are typically divided into four types: primary nursing, patient allocation, task assignment and team nursing. Research findings are varied in regard to the relationship between these models of care and outcomes such as satisfaction and quality. Skill mix has been associated with various models, with implications for collegial support, teamwork and patient outcomes.Design. Secondary analysis of data collected on 80 randomly selected medical‐surgical wards in 19 public hospitals in New South Wales, Australia during 2004–2005.Methods. Nurses (n = 2278, 80·9% response rate) were surveyed using The Nursing Care Delivery System and the Nursing Work Index‐Revised. Staffing and skill mix was obtained from the ward roster and other data from the patient record. Models of care were examined in relation to these practice environment and organisational variables.Results. The models of nursing care most frequently reported by nurses in medical‐surgical wards in this study were patient allocation (91%) and team nursing (80%). Primary nursing and task based models were unlikely to be practised. Skill mix, nurse experience, nursing workload and factors in the ward environment significantly influenced the model of care in use. Wards with a higher ratio of degree qualified, experienced registered nurses, working on their ‘usual’ ward were more likely to practice patient allocation while wards with greater variability in staffing levels and skill mix were more likely to practice team nursing.Conclusions. Models of care are not prescriptive but are varied according to ward circumstances and staffing levels based on complex clinical decision making skills.Relevance to clinical practice. Variability in the models of care reported by ward nurses indicates that nurses adapt the model of nursing care on a daily or shift basis, according to patients’ needs, skill mix and individual ward environments.
The lived experience of persons with lower extremity amputation
Authors: Liu Fen , Williams Rhonda M , Liu Hsueh‐Erh , Chien Nai‐Hui 
Published: September 2010

Aim.  The aim of this study was to describe and understand the lived experience of people with lower extremity amputation.Background.  The loss of a body part can cause physical, psychological and social disturbances. The majority of previous studies in this area focus on the impact of amputation or the effectiveness of rehabilitation programmes. This is the first study in Taiwan exploring the holistic experiences of persons with amputation.Design.  A phenomenological research design was used.Methods.  Semi‐structured interviews were performed with 22 people with lower extremity amputation. Interviews were tape‐recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were analysed using Colaizzi’s phenomenological analysis method.Results.  The lived experience of persons with lower extremity amputation could be categorised into the following four themes: ‘lost in the dark woods’, ‘emotional collapse’, ‘difficulty in passing through the shadow’ and ‘igniting a gleam of hope’.Conclusions.  Participants described suffering in physical, psychological and sociocultural realms and the ways they strived to cope with these challenges. The findings of this study provide an enhanced understanding of the experiences of people with lower extremity amputation and underscore the importance of truly listening and responding to their concerns. The need to appreciate cultural context and to develop the peer‐based support programme was highlighted.Relevance to clinical practice.  Health professionals need to acknowledge the real needs of people with lower extremity amputation and provide them a clear explanation regarding the short‐term and long‐term health issues associated with amputation during the pre‐ and post‐amputation phase. Health professionals also need to expand the scope of services beyond a physical and prosthetic focus. Supportive psychological and social interventions such as formal support groups and peer support programmes may provide a powerful and inexpensive addition to routine care. Currently, such programmes are unavailable in Taiwan.
Urinary retention in older patients in connection with hip fracture surgery
Authors: Johansson Rose‐Marie , Christensson Lennart 
Published: September 2010

Aim and objective.  The aim of this study was to examine the presence of urinary retention in older patients with hip fracture and to describe what actions nurses performed to detect, prevent and treat urinary retention.Background.  The incidence of urinary retention in patients with hip fracture is described as being as high as 82% before surgery and 56% after. Urinary retention is traditionally treated with an indwelling urethral catheter or intermittent catheterisation. Urinary retention and treatment with an indwelling urethral catheter are associated with high risks.Design.  A prospective, descriptive study.Methods.  The study included 48 patients, 65 years or older who were recovering from hip fracture and receiving hospital care at a geriatric rehabilitation clinic. Six months before the study, a programme for the early detection, prevention and treatment of urinary retention was implemented. The presence of urinary retention, bacteriuria, the patient’s cognitive function, use of ultra‐sound bladder scan and type of treatment whether the patient suffered from urinary retention were examined during the study period.Results.  Urinary retention was found in 18 (38%) of the patients. No patients were examined using ultrasound bladder scan according to the programme, and the mean time of indwelling urethral catheter was three times longer than the programme suggested. The patients who were treated with intermittent catheterisation had had voiding satisfaction earlier and had not had repeated urinary retention compared to patients with indwelling urethral catheter.Conclusion.  In most patients, the programme was not followed and urinary retention was commonly present.Relevance to clinical practice.  There is knowledge on how to reduce the presence of urinary retention, but the great challenge is how to implement this knowledge.
A retrospective study of drug‐related problems in Australian aged care homes: medication reviews involving pharmacists and general practitioners
Authors: Nishtala Prasad S. , McLachlan Andrew J. , Bell J. Simon , Chen Timothy F. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractBackground  Drug‐related problems (DRPs) in Australian aged care homes have been studied previously. However, little is known about the acceptance and implementation of pharmacists' recommendations by general practitioners (GPs) to resolve DRPs.Objectives  The primary objective of this study was to investigate the number and nature of DRPs identified by accredited clinical pharmacists. The secondary objective was to study the GP acceptance and implementation of pharmacist recommendations to resolve DRPs.Methods  This was a retrospective study of 500 randomly selected, de‐identified medication reviews performed by 10 accredited clinical pharmacists over 6 months across 62 aged care homes. The DRPs identified by pharmacists were subsequently classified by the drugs involved, types of problem (indication, effectiveness and safety) and medical diagnoses of the patient. GP written feedback on the medication review reports determined implementation of pharmacists' recommendations to resolve the DRPs.Results  A total of 1433 DRPs were identified in 480 of the 500 residents. Potential DRPs were frequently classified as risk of adverse drug reactions, need for additional monitoring and inappropriate choice of a drug. Alimentary, cardiovascular, central nervous system and respiratory drugs were most frequently implicated, accounting for more than 75% of the DRPs. GPs' acceptance and implementation of pharmacists recommendations were 72.5% (95% CI; 70.2, 74.8) and 58.1% (95% CI; 55.5, 60.6), respectively.Conclusions  Over 96% of the residents had potential DRPs identified by pharmacists. GP acceptance of pharmacists' recommendations was independent of the drug category, but not independent of the disease category.
The P15 – a multinational assessment battery for collecting data on health indicators relevant to adults with intellectual disabilities
Authors: Perry J. , Linehan C. , Kerr M. , Salvador‐Carulla L. , Zeilinger E. , Weber G. , Walsh P. , Van Schrojenstein Lantman‐de‐Valk H. , Haveman M. , Azema B. , Buono S. , Câra A. Carmen , Germanavicius A. , Van Hove G. , Määttä T. , Berger D. Moravec , Tossebro J. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractBackground  Health disparities between adults with intellectual disabilities (ID) and the general population have been well documented but, to date, no dedicated assessment battery for measuring health disparity has been available. This paper reports on the development and testing of a multinational assessment battery for collecting data on a range of health indicators relevant to adults with ID.Methods  An assessment battery (the P15) was developed following piloting, and administered to samples of adults with ID, in 14 EU countries. Samples were neither random, nor representative of the countries from which they were drawn. However, within the local health administration areas selected in each country, efforts were made to ensure samples were broadly representative of the typical living circumstances, ages and ability levels of the administrative population of adults with ID. The total sample comprised 1269 adults with ID, of whom 49% were female. The mean age was 41 years (range 19 to 90).Results  Overall, feasibility, internal consistency and face validity of the P15 was acceptable.Conclusions  With some refinement the P15 could be useful for collecting data on health indicators known to be particularly important for adults with ID. It is useable in a range of countries and has the potential to highlight health inequity for adults with ID at a national or local level. Larger scale epidemiological studies are needed to exploit the potential of the P15 to address health inequity in this group.
Increasing competence in the genus Streptococcus
Authors: Håvarstein Leiv Sigve 
Published: September 2010

Summary Streptococcus pneumoniae is one of the most important model organisms for studies on natural genetic transformation in bacteria. The prevalence of this gene exchange mechanism in the genus Streptococcus has not been subjected to systematic investigations, but it has been known for decades that only a few streptococcal species develop the competent state spontaneously when grown under laboratory conditions. The recent discovery of a new mechanism regulating natural transformation in Streptococcus thermophilus suggested that this property might be more widespread among streptococci than previously thought. This suspicion has been confirmed by Mashburn‐Warren and co‐workers, who in the current issue of Molecular Microbiology report the discovery of a novel competence‐inducing pheromone that is conserved in Streptococcus mutans and a number of pyogenic streptococci.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection of a native polycystic kidney following renal transplantation
Authors: Rabbani M.A. , Ahmed B. , Khan M.A. 
Published: September 2010

M.A. Rabbani, B. Ahmed, M.A. Khan. Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection of a native polycystic kidney following renal transplantation. Transpl Infect Dis 2011: 13: 44–46. All rights reservedAbstract: Tuberculosis is a recognized complication following renal transplantation. Patients with autosomal‐dominant polycystic kidney disease are increasingly being offered renal transplantation as an alternative to chronic hemodialysis. These patients are uniquely susceptible to serious upper urinary tract infections that are associated with significant morbidity and mortality.  While involvement with gram‐negative organisms is well described, mycobacterial infection of native polycystic kidneys after transplantation has not been addressed. We report a case of a renal transplant recipient who suffered an isolated Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection of a native polycystic kidney. With a 4‐drug anti‐tuberculosis therapy (ATT) regimen, the patient responded and became afebrile 8 weeks after initiation of drug therapy. ATT was continued for a total of 1 year. Two years after completion of ATT, the patient enjoys a normal life and has stable graft function. M. tuberculosis, though not common, must be recognized as a potential source of infection of native polycystic kidneys in immunocompromised transplant recipients. Similar to the pattern observed with more common pathogens, these infections may be difficult to eradicate with standard antimicrobial drug regimens.
Do invasive ants respond more strongly to carbohydrate availability than co‐occurring non‐invasive ants? A test along an activeAnoplolepis gracilipesinvasion front
Authors: SAVAGE AMY M. , JOHNSON SALLY D. , WHITNEY KENNETH D. , RUDGERS JENNIFER A. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractInvasions by non‐native insects can have important ecological impacts, particularly on island ecosystems. However, the factors that promote the success of invaders relative to co‐occurring non‐invasive species remain unresolved. For invasive ants, access to carbohydrate resources via interactions with both extrafloral nectary‐bearing plants and honeydew‐excreting insects may accelerate the invasion process. A first step towards testing this hypothesis is to determine whether invasive ants respond to variation in the availability of carbohydrate resources, and whether this response differs from that of co‐occurring, non‐invasive ants. We investigated the effect of carbohydrate subsidies on the short‐term foraging and hemipteran‐tending behaviours of the invasive antAnoplolepis gracilipes(Formicidae) and co‐occurring ant species on an extrafloral nectary‐bearing plant by experimentally manipulating carbohydrate levels and tracking ant recruitment. We conducted experiments in 2 years at two sites: one site was invaded byA. gracilipesprior to 2007 and the other became invaded during the course of our study, allowing pre‐ (2007) and post‐invasion (2009) comparisons. Short‐term increases in carbohydrate availability increased the density ofA. gracilipesworkers on plants by as much as 400% and reduced tending of honeydew‐excreting insects by this species by up to 89%, with similar responses across years. In contrast, ants at the uninvaded site in 2007 showed a weak and non‐significant forager recruitment response. Across all sites,A. gracilipesworkers were the only ants that responded to carbohydrate manipulations in 2009. Furthermore, ant–carbohydrate dynamics at a site newly invaded byA. gracilipesquickly diverged from dynamics at uninvaded sites and converged on those of the site with an established invasion. These findings suggest that carbohydrate resources may be particularly important forA. gracilipesinvasions, and underscore the importance of species interactions, particularly putative mutualisms, in facilitating exotic species invasions.
Is N‐resorption efficiency related to secondary compounds and leaf longevity in coexisting plant species of the arid Patagonian Monte, Argentina?
Authors: CAMPANELLA MARÍA VICTORIA , BERTILLER MÓNICA B. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractLeaf longevity and nutrient resorption efficiency are important strategies to conserve plant nutrients. Theory suggests a negative relationship between them and also proposes that high concentration of phenolics in long‐lived leaves may reduce nutrient resorption. In order to provide new evidence on these relationships, we explored whether N‐resorption efficiency is related to leaf longevity, secondary compounds and other leaf traits in coexisting plant species of different life forms in the arid Patagonian Monte, Argentina. We assessed N‐resorption efficiency, green leaf traits (leaf mass per area (LMA), leaf longevity and lignin, total soluble phenolics and N concentrations) and N concentration in senescent leaves of 12 species of different life forms (evergreen shrubs, deciduous shrubs and perennial grasses) with contrasting leaf traits. We found that leaf longevity was positively correlated to LMA and lignin, and negatively correlated to N concentration in green leaves. N concentrations both in green and senescent leaves were positively related. N‐resorption efficiency was not associated with the concentration of secondary compounds (total soluble phenolics and lignin) but it was negatively related to LMA and leaf longevity and positively related to N concentration in green leaves. Furthermore, leaf traits overlapped among life forms highlighting that life forms are not a good indicator of the functional properties (at least in relation to nutrient conservation) of species. In conclusion, our findings indicated that differences in N‐resorption efficiency among coexisting species were more related to N concentration in green leaves, leaf lifespan and LMA than to the presence of secondary compounds at least those assessed in our study (soluble phenolics and lignin). Accordingly, N‐resorption efficiency seems to be modulated, at least in part, by the productivity–persistence trade‐off.
The effect of diabetes mellitus on age‐associated lean mass loss in 3153 older adults
Authors: Lee J. S. W. , Auyeung T. W. , Leung J. , Kwok T. , Leung P. C. , Woo J. 
Published: September 2010

Diabet. Med. 27, 1366–1371 (2010)AbstractAims  Diabetes mellitus may be associated with excessive lean mass loss. Other diabetes‐related conditions may also play a role. We assessed body composition changes associated with diabetes in older adults with adjustment for diabetes‐related co‐morbidities.Methods  Three thousand, one hundred and fifty‐three community‐living adults aged ≥ 65 years were examined for lifestyle factors, diabetes‐related medical conditions and body composition by dual energy X‐ray absorptiometry at baseline and 4 years later. Body composition changes were compared between participants with diabetes and those without diabetes. Multivariate linear regression was used to examine the relationship between appendicular lean mass loss and confounders.Results  Appendicular lean mass loss in men with diabetes was two times that of men without diabetes (−1.5% in ‘no diabetes’ vs. −3.0% in ‘diabetes’) and in women with diabetes was 1.8 times that of those without diabetes (−1.9% in ‘no diabetes’ vs. −3.4% in ‘diabetes’) over 4 years. Men with diabetes also had higher total body mass loss and higher total body fat loss than men without diabetes. Women with diabetes had higher total body mass loss but total body fat loss was similar. After adjusting for age, body mass index, diabetes‐related conditions, lifestyle factors and total body mass loss, diabetes remained an independent predictor of appendicular lean mass loss in both men and women.Conclusion  Diabetes was associated with higher body mass loss and higher appendicular lean mass loss in older adults. In men, diabetes was also associated with total body fat loss.