bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Low diversity and high intra-island variation in prevalence of avianHaemoproteusparasites on Barbados, Lesser Antilles
Authors: MARIA L. , SVENSSON E. , RICKLEFS ROBERT E. 
Published: July 2009

SUMMARYCommon bird species were screened during May and June 2007 on Barbados for haemosporidian parasites (Haemosporida) of the generaHaemoproteusandPlasmodiumto determine whether the low parasite diversity reported in previous studies might have reflected limited sampling. PCR screening and DNA sequencing revealed a single predominant lineage ofHaemoproteusidentified asH. coatneyi. Sixty-two out of 257 birds were infected withHaemoproteusspp. on Barbados in 2007. Fifty-nine of the infections were identified asH. coatneyi(lineage HC), the only lineage recovered in the previous study in 1993. Two of the infections recovered from the bananaquit (Coereba flaveola) were identified asHaemoproteusspp. (lineage HD), which is the prevalent haemosporidian parasite inC. flaveolaon Grenada. We discuss the possibility of infrequent colonization events and absence of vectors as explanations for Barbados's low avian haemosporidian diversity. In our study, the parasites were absent from the southeast of the island, whereas they were abundant in several host species in the northwest. Accordingly, environmental and host population genetic differences were also investigated between the areas with and without parasites. No host genetic differences were found between the parasite-free and the parasite-afflicted regions. However, the parasite-free region is slightly warmer and drier, and it supports less vegetation than the parasite-afflicted region. The influence that this harsher environment may have on vector survival is discussed.
Quitting smoking does not increase the risk of major depressive episodes among users of Internet smoking cessation interventions
Authors: Torres L. D. , Barrera A. Z. , Delucchi K. , Penilla C. , Pérez-Stable E. J. , Muñoz R. F. 
Published: July 2009

BackgroundLimited evidence has suggested that quitting smoking increases the incidence of major depressive episodes (MDEs), particularly for smokers with a history of depression. Further evidence for this increase would have important implications for guiding smoking cessation.MethodSpanish- and English-speaking smokers without a current MDE (n=3056) from an international, online smoking cessation trial were assessed for abstinence 1 month after their initial quit date and followed for a total of 12 months. Incidence of screened MDE was examined as a function of abstinence and depression history.ResultsContinued smoking, not abstinence, predicted MDE screened at 1 month [smoking 11.5% v. abstinence 7.8%, odds ratio (OR) 1.36, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04–1.78, p=0.02] but not afterwards (smoking 11.1% v. abstinence 9.8%, OR 1.05, 95% CI 0.77–1.45, p=0.74). Depression history predicted MDE screened at 1 month (history 17.1% v. no history 8.6%, OR 1.71, 95% CI 1.29–2.27, p<0.001) and afterwards (history 21.7% v. no history 8.3%, OR 3.87, 95% CI 2.25–6.65, p<0.001), although the interaction between history and abstinence did not.ConclusionsQuitting smoking was not associated with increased MDE, even for smokers with a history of depression, although a history of depression was. Instead, not quitting was associated with increased MDE shortly following a quit attempt. Results from this online, large, international sample of smokers converge with similar findings from smaller, clinic-based samples, suggesting that in general, quitting smoking does not increase the incidence of MDEs.
A simpler definition of major depressive disorder
Authors: Zimmerman M. , Galione J. N. , Chelminski I. , McGlinchey J. B. , Young D. , Dalrymple K. , Ruggero C. J. , Witt C. Francione 
Published: July 2009

BackgroundThe DSM-IV symptom criteria for major depressive disorder (MDD) are somewhat lengthy, with many studies showing that treatment providers have difficulty recalling all nine symptoms. Moreover, the criteria include somatic symptoms that are difficult to apply in patients with medical illnesses. In a previous report, we developed a briefer definition of MDD that was composed of the mood and cognitive symptoms of the DSM-IV criteria, and found high levels of agreement between the simplified and full DSM-IV definitions. The goal of the present study was to replicate these findings in another large sample of psychiatric out-patients and to extend the findings to other patient samples.MethodWe interviewed 1100 psychiatric out-patients and 210 pathological gamblers presenting for treatment and 1200 candidates for bariatric surgery. All patients were interviewed by a diagnostic rater who administered a semi-structured interview. We inquired about all symptoms of depression for all patients.ResultsIn all three samples high levels of agreement were found between the DSM-IV and the simpler definition of MDD. Summing across all 2510 patients, the level of agreement between the two definitions was 95.5% and the κ coefficient was 0.87.ConclusionsAfter eliminating the four somatic criteria from the DSM-IV definition of MDD, a high level of concordance was found between this simpler definition and the original DSM-IV classification. This new definition offers two advantages over the current DSM-IV definition – it is briefer and it is easier to apply with medically ill patients because it is free of somatic symptoms.
Differential predictions about future negative events in seasonal and non-seasonal depression
Authors: Dalgleish T. , Golden A.-M. J. , Yiend J. , Dunn B. D. 
Published: July 2009

BackgroundPrevious research indicates that individuals with seasonal depression (SD) do not exhibit the memory biases for negative self-referent information that characterize non-seasonal depression (NSD). The current study extended this work by examining processing of self-referent emotional information concerning potential future events in SD.MethodSD and NSD patients, along with never-depressed controls, completed a scenario-based measure of likelihood estimation for future positive and negative events happening either to the self or to another person.ResultsSD patients estimated future negative events as more likely to happen to both the self and others, relative to controls. In contrast, in the NSD sample this bias was specific to self-referred material. There were no group differences for positive events.ConclusionsThese data provide further evidence that the self-referent bias for processing negative information that characterizes NSD can be absent in SD, this time in the domain of future event processing.
Neuroimaging in cannabis use: a systematic review of the literature
Authors: Martín-Santos R. , Fagundo A. B. , Crippa J. A. , Atakan Z. , Bhattacharyya S. , Allen P. , Fusar-Poli P. , Borgwardt S. , Seal M. , Busatto G. F. , McGuire P. 
Published: July 2009

BackgroundWe conducted a systematic review to assess the evidence for specific effects of cannabis on brain structure and function. The review focuses on the cognitive changes associated with acute and chronic use of the drug.MethodWe reviewed literature reporting neuroimaging studies of chronic or acute cannabis use published up until January 2009. The search was conducted using Medline, EMBASE, LILACS and PsycLIT indexing services using the following key words: cannabis, marijuana, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, THC, cannabidiol, CBD, neuroimaging, brain imaging, computerized tomography, CT, magnetic resonance, MRI, single photon emission tomography, SPECT, functional magnetic resonance, fMRI, positron emission tomography, PET, diffusion tensor MRI, DTI-MRI, MRS and spectroscopy.ResultsSixty-six studies were identified, of which 41 met the inclusion criteria. Thirty-three were functional (SPECT/PET/fMRI) and eight structural (volumetric/DTI) imaging studies. The high degree of heterogeneity across studies precluded a meta-analysis. The functional studies suggest that resting global and prefrontal blood flow are lower in cannabis users than in controls. The results from the activation studies using a cognitive task are inconsistent because of the heterogeneity of the methods used. Studies of acute administration of THC or marijuana report increased resting activity and activation of the frontal and anterior cingulate cortex during cognitive tasks. Only three of the structural imaging studies found differences between users and controls.ConclusionsFunctional neuroimaging studies suggest a modulation of global and prefrontal metabolism both during the resting state and after the administration of THC/marijuana cigarettes. Minimal evidence of major effects of cannabis on brain structure has been reported.
The evaluation of training in patient-centred interviewing skills for psychiatric residents
Authors: Rimondini M. , Del Piccolo L. , Goss C. , Mazzi M. , Paccaloni M. , Zimmermann C. 
Published: July 2009

BackgroundCommunication skills are considered ‘core skills’ in the curriculum of psychiatry but studies evaluating the effectiveness of a time-limited training course in interviewing skills in psychiatry have remained rare. The aim was to assess the effectiveness of training in patient-centred interviewing on the interview performance of psychiatric residents.MethodPsychiatric residents (n=10) each interviewed 12 different anonymized standardized patients (SPs), eight before and another four after training. SPs simulated psychiatric out-patients who attended for a first visit to the psychiatric out-patient clinic. The consultations were videotaped, transcribed and coded with a classification scheme developed for psychiatric consultations from which an interview performance index was derived. An interrupted time-series design and a segmented regression analysis with multilevel analysis explored the performance trend within the series of consultations.ResultsThe regression model evidenced a horizontal slope at pre- and post-training, with a significant level change. These findings excluded the presence of a practice effect and indicated a significant effect of training. Performance variability between and within residents over the series of consultations increased at post-training.ConclusionsThe training improved patient-centred interviewing performance. More post-training exercise time and supervised practice are necessary to establish consistent performance patterns at a higher skill level.
The MYB96 Transcription Factor Mediates Abscisic Acid Signaling during Drought Stress Response in Arabidopsis
Authors: Seo Pil Joon , Xiang Fengning , Qiao Meng , Park Ju-Young , Lee Young Na , Kim Sang-Gyu , Lee Yong-Hwan , Park Woong June , Park Chung-Mo 
Published: July 2009

AbstractPlant adaptive responses to drought are coordinated by adjusting growth and developmental processes as well as molecular and cellular activities. The root system is the primary site that perceives drought stress signals, and its development is profoundly affected by soil water content. Various growth hormones, particularly abscisic acid (ABA) and auxin, play a critical role in root growth under drought through complex signaling networks. Here, we report that a R2R3-type MYB transcription factor, MYB96, regulates drought stress response by integrating ABA and auxin signals. The MYB96-mediated ABA signals are integrated into an auxin signaling pathway that involves a subset of GH3 genes encoding auxin-conjugating enzymes. A MYB96-overexpressing Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) mutant exhibited enhanced drought resistance with reduced lateral roots. In the mutant, while lateral root primordia were normally developed, meristem activation and lateral root elongation were suppressed. In contrast, a T-DNA insertional knockout mutant was more susceptible to drought. Auxin also induces MYB96 primarily in the roots, which in turn induces the GH3 genes and modulates endogenous auxin levels during lateral root development. We propose that MYB96 is a molecular link that mediates ABA-auxin cross talk in drought stress response and lateral root growth, providing an adaptive strategy under drought stress conditions.
Genetic variability in the European bison (Bison bonasus) population from Białowieża forest over 50 years
Authors: TOKARSKA MAŁGORZATA , KAWAŁKO AGATA , WÓJCIK JAN M. , PERTOLDI CINO 
Published: July 2009

Abstract
The aim of this study was to assess potential post-bottleneck temporal genetic differentiation following the reintroduction of the species into the Białowieża Forest. Variability of 12 polymorphic microsatellite markers was analysed for 178 individuals born between 1955 and 2005, divided by birth year into five temporal groups. Low overall allelic richness (AR) per locus (AR = 2.0) and a low overall expected heterozygosity (HE = 0.28) were observed. The overall FIS was not significantly different from zero. The mean FIS values were, however, significantly different from zero for individuals born between 1955 and 1965 (FIS = 0.19). A Bayesian computation was used to estimate effective population size (Ne) for each temporal group. We observed relatively small values of Ne ranging from 7.9 to 28.4. The low Ne values confirm that, despite a rapid growth of the bison population following the founder event, Ne increased only slowly.
Review article: nuclear receptors and liver disease – current understanding and new therapeutic implications
Authors: ELFAKI D. A. H. , BJORNSSON E. , LINDOR K. D. 
Published: July 2009

Aliment Pharmacol Ther 30, 816–825SummaryBackground  The important role of nuclear receptors and their contribution to liver function in both physiological and pathological conditions has come to attention in recent years and has advanced our understanding of several liver diseases. These findings led to the introduction of targeting nuclear receptors as treatment strategies for various liver diseases.Aims  To review the new insights brought by the study of nuclear receptors to our understanding of the molecular basis of various liver diseases, and to summarize some of the recent studies that evaluated the efficacy of targeting nuclear receptor as a new approach in treating liver diseases.Methods  Review of articles, using PubMed and article references.Results  Nuclear receptor ligands in patients with liver diseases have been associated with a variety of toxicities. Some clinical results have not met the expectations predicted from animal experiments. Mechanistic explanations at the molecular level are needed for preventing toxicity and improving outcomes from nuclear receptor ligands.Conclusion  The use of various nuclear receptor ligands in liver diseases is a promising approach that can benefit many patients suffering from these devastating diseases. However, we are far from a full understanding of the molecular mechanisms by which these receptors work.
Review article: Helicobacter pylori‐negative duodenal ulcer disease
Authors: GISBERT J. P. , CALVET X. 
Published: July 2009

Aliment Pharmacol Ther 30, 791–815SummaryBackground  Helicobacter pylori infection rates in duodenal ulcer (DU) patients may be lower than previously estimated.Aim  To review the real prevalence of H. pylori‐negative DUs and its possible causes.Methods  Bibliographical searches in MEDLINE looking for the terms ‘H. pylori’ and ‘duodenal ulcer’.Results  Mean prevalence of H. pylori infection in DU disease, calculated from studies published during the last 10 years including a total of 16 080 patients, was 81%, and this figure was lower (77%) when only the last 5 years were considered. Associations with H. pylori‐negative DU were: (1) False negative results of diagnostic methods, (2) NSAID use (21% in studies with <90% infection rate), (3) Complicated DU (bleeding, obstruction, perforation), (4) Smoking, (5) Isolated H. pylori duodenal colonization, (6) Older age, (7) Gastric hypersecretion, (8) Diseases of the duodenal mucosa, (9) Helicobacter‘heilmanii’ infection and (10) Concomitant diseases.Conclusion  In patients with H. pylori‐negative DU disease, one should carefully confirm that the assessment of H. pylori status is reliable. In truly H. pylori‐negative patients, the most common single cause of DU is, by far, the use of NSAIDs. Ulcers not associated with H. pylori, NSAIDs or other obvious causes should, for the present, be viewed as ‘idiopathic’. True idiopathic DU disease only exceptionally exists.
Social‐behavioural functioning in paediatric chronic kidney disease
Authors: Hooper S. R. , Duquette P. J. , Icard P. , Wetherington C. E. , Harrell W. , Gipson Debbie S. 
Published: July 2009

AbstractBackground  The social‐behavioural functioning of children and adolescents with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is not well studied and not fully understood, with available studies reflecting a mixed set of findings. The primary purpose of this paper is to compare the social‐behavioural functioning of children with CKD with typical controls using multiple raters. A secondary analysis also examines the impact of disease severity on social‐behavioural functioning.Methods  Parental ratings and self‐reports on the Behavior Assessment System for Children were obtained from a patient sample of 26 children and adolescents with CKD. This sample was comprised of those with end‐stage renal disease (end‐stage renal disease; n= 13) and those with chronic renal insufficiency (n= 13). For comparison, a typically developing control group (n= 33) also was ascertained.Results  While behaviour ratings by parents and children fell within the average range, parent ratings showed an increased number of internalizing symptoms when compared with the CKD Group. Exploratory analyses revealed parental ratings showing more specific concerns on the Behavior Assessment System for Children individual clinical scales of Anxiety, Depression and Somatization. No differences were observed between the groups on the children's self‐ratings, or in terms of numbers of children falling above the 90th percentile for both parent and child ratings. Secondary analyses did not produce any group differences between the chronic renal insufficiency and end‐stage renal disease severity groupings.Conclusions  These findings failed to show the presence of social‐behavioural difficulties in children with CKD, although there may be specific concerns for the presence of internalizing symptoms as per parent ratings. These findings suggest the need for follow‐up of the subtle affective symptoms that might be present in children with CKD as recognizing these subthreshold social‐behavioural symptoms may be a critical part of their overall clinical care.
PPARγ2 protects against obesity by means of a mechanism that mediates insulin resistance
Authors: Macias‐Gonzalez M. , Moreno‐Santos I. , García‐Almeida J. M. , Tinahones F. J. , Garcia‐Fuentes E. 
Published: July 2009

AbstractBackground  Many studies have focused on the physiological parameters and genetic predisposition of subjects presenting both obesity and insulin resistance (IR) and it has been suggested that the peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor gamma 2 (PPARγ2) Pro12Ala variant may contribute to the observed variability in insulin sensitivity. We investigated whether the PPARγ2 mRNA expression levels are associated with IR in morbid obesity in adipose and muscle tissues.Materials and methods  In this study, tissue biopsies were obtained from 26 morbidly obese (MO) patients and eight controls. The MO patients were divided into two groups: those with a low homeostasis model assessment of IR (HOMA‐IR < 5) (MO‐nonIR) and those with a high HOMA‐IR (HOMA‐IR ≥ 8) (MO‐IR). PPARγ1, PPARγ2 and aP2 mRNA expression levels were measured using quantitative RT‐PCR.Results  The study found that PPARγ2 mRNA expression in visceral adipose tissue (VAT) was significantly lower in the MO patients (P = 0·002) than the controls. Moreover, the PPARγ2 mRNA expression was lower in VAT (P < 0·05) and muscle tissue (P < 0·01), and higher in subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) (P < 0·01) in the MO‐IR than the MO‐nonIR group. By contrast, PPARγ1 mRNA expression levels were not dependent on IR. Finally, the MO patients showed a significant negative correlation between PPARγ2 mRNA expression and IR (r = −0·396, P = 0·020) in VAT and a positive correlation in SAT (r = 0·826, P < 0·001). The variable that best explained the IR was PPARγ2 mRNA expression in SAT (P = 0·002).Conclusions  These data show that PPARγ2 mRNA is expressed differently in the two types of MO patients and is associated with IR.
Evaluating the effectiveness of a deep‐vein thrombosis prophylaxis protocol in orthopaedics and traumatology
Authors: Unay Koray , Akan Kaya , Sener Nadir , Cakir Mustafa , Poyanli Oguz 
Published: July 2009

AbstractRationale, aims and objectives  To evaluate the effectiveness of the deep‐vein thrombosis (DVT) prophylaxis protocol for adult patients in a general orthopaedics and traumatology clinic.Method  We followed the DVT prophylaxis protocol in 1326 (776 female, 550 male) of 2114 adult patients admitted to the Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology in Goztepe Research and Training Hospital. They were followed for symptomatic DVT and possible complications of low‐molecular‐weight heparin (LMWH) therapy. A Doppler ultrasonography (US) was performed when DVT was suspected. The medical information treatment protocols of DVT patients were recorded.Results  Doppler US was performed in 58 patients with suspected DVT. Six of these patients were diagnosed with DVT. The side effects of LMWH were upper gastrointestinal bleeding (0.5%), widespread ecchymosis of the extremities (1.9%) and heparin‐induced thrombocytopenia (0.16%).Conclusion  Symptomatic DVT occurrences were similar to those in medical literature; however, there were fewer side effects of LMWH than reported in literature.
Do physical therapists change their beliefs, attitudes, knowledge, skills and behaviour after a biopsychosocially orientated university course?
Authors: Overmeer Thomas , Boersma Katja , Main Chris J. , Linton Steven J. 
Published: July 2009

AbstractAim  The aim of this study is to examine the effects of an 8‐day university‐based training course, aimed at identifying and addressing psychosocial prognostic factors during physiotherapy treatment, in shifting therapists towards a more biopsychosocial orientation as measured by changes in beliefs/attitudes, knowledge, skills and behaviour.Method  We combined a randomized controlled trail with a pre–post design. Forty‐two physiotherapists applied for a university‐accredited training course designed to enhance knowledge and management of psychosocial factors in their practice with patients suffering from musculoskeletal pain. The course participants were randomized either to receiving the course or to a waiting list for training. Attitudes and beliefs towards, and knowledge of psychosocial factors, patient vignettes and a video of an imaginary patient were tested before and after training. The patients of the course participants were asked to fill out a questionnaire with background questions at treatment start. The patients also received a questionnaire about the physical therapists' behaviour and patient satisfaction 6 weeks after treatment start.Results  The results show that physical therapists' attitudes and believes became more biopsychosocially and less biomedically orientated, they were less convinced that pain justifies disability and limitation of activities, and their knowledge and skills on psychosocial risk factors increased after a university‐accredited training course. Yet despite these changes their patients perceived their practice behaviour before and after the course as similar and were equally satisfied with their treatment and treatment result.Conclusion  A course, which enhanced biopsychosocial attitudes and beliefs, as well as increased such knowledge and skills did not change the way patients perceived their physical therapists. A future question is whether it improves patient outcome.