bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Characterization of haematological parameters with bortezomib–melphalan–prednisone versus melphalan–prednisone in newly diagnosed myeloma, with evaluation of long‐term outcomes and risk of thromboembolic events with use of erythropoiesis‐stimulating agents: analysis of the VISTA trial
Authors: Richardson Paul , Schlag Rudolf , Khuageva Nuriet , Dimopoulos Meletios , Shpilberg Ofer , Kropff Martin , Vekemans Marie‐Christiane , Petrucci Maria Teresa , Rossiev Viktor , Hou Jian , Robak Tadeusz , Mateos Maria‐Victoria , Anderson Kenneth , Esseltine Dixie‐Lee , Cakana Andrew , Liu Kevin , Deraedt William , van de Velde Helgi , San Miguel Jesús F. 
Published: March 2011

SummaryAlthough haematological toxicities, such as anaemia, are common in multiple myeloma (MM), no clear consensus exists on the use and impact of erythropoiesis‐stimulating agents (ESA) on outcomes in MM. This analysis characterizes haematological toxicities and associated interventions in the phase III VISTA (Velcade® as Initial Standard Therapy in Multiple Myeloma: Assessment with Melphalan and Prednisone) study of bortezomib plus melphalan/prednisone (VMP, n = 344) versus MP (n = 338) in previously untreated MM patients ineligible for high‐dose therapy, and evaluates the impact of ESA use or red‐blood‐cell (RBC) transfusions on outcomes and thromboembolic risk. Incidence of haematological toxicities was similar with VMP and MP; similar rates of interventions and associated complications (e.g. bleeding, febrile neutropenia) were observed. Two hundred thirty three patients received ESA; 204 had RBC transfusions. Frequency of thromboembolic events was low and not affected by ESA use. Median time‐to progression (TTP) was similar between ESA/non‐ESA [hazard ratio: 1·03 (95% confidence interval 0·76–1·39); P = 0·8478] in both arms (VMP: 19·9/not reached; MP: 15·0/17·5 months). Three‐year overall survival (OS) rates were similar between ESA/non‐ESA in each arm. Patients receiving RBC transfusions had significantly shorter OS (P < 0·0001) versus non‐RBC‐transfusion patients. In conclusion, bortezomib did not add to melphalan haematological toxicity. Concomitant ESA use with VMP/MP in previously untreated MM patients did not adversely affect TTP or OS, or increase thromboembolic risk. However, RBC transfusion was associated with significantly shorter survival.
Modelling everything everywhere: a new approach to decision‐making for water management under uncertainty
Authors: BEVEN KEITH J. , ALCOCK RUTH E. 
Published: March 2011

Summary1. There are increasing demands to predict ecohydrological responses to future changes in catchments but such predictions will be inevitably uncertain because of natural variability and different sources of knowledge (epistemic) uncertainty.2. Policy setting and decision‐making should therefore reflect these inherent uncertainties in both model predictions and potential consequences.3. This is the focus of a U.K. Natural Environment Research Council knowledge exchange project called the Catchment Change Network (CCN). The aim is to bring academics and practitioners together to define Guidelines for Good Practice in incorporating risk and uncertainty into assessments of the impacts of change.4. Here, we assess the development of such Guidelines in the context of having catchment models of everywhere.
Nurse‐delivered and doctor‐delivered care in an attention deficit hyperactivity disorder follow‐up clinic: a comparative study using propensity score matching
Authors: Foreman David M. , Morton Stephanie 
Published: March 2011

foreman d.m. & morton s. (2011) Nurse‐delivered and doctor‐delivered care in an attention deficit hyperactivity disorder follow‐up clinic: a comparative study using propensity score matching. Journal of Advanced Nursing67(6), 1341–1348.AbstractBackground.  Nurse prescribers may be a cost‐effective alternative to doctors in managing attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, but to date there has been no study of their relative effectiveness, and there are concerns about their usage. We therefore undertook a direct comparison of nurse‐delivered and doctor‐delivered attention deficit hyperactivity disorder care in an attention deficit hyperactivity disorder follow‐up clinic.Method.  Seventy patients were identified between February 2005 and September 2006, 36 managed by an attention deficit hyperactivity disorder specialist nurse, 34 by doctors. Average age at referral was 7·1 years; their duration in the service was 5·5 years. Outcomes included changes since admission in the predicted diagnostic category from Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire scores, the Commission for Health Improvement patient satisfaction questionnaire and a clinic‐developed side‐effect questionnaire. Propensity score matching and multiple imputation were used to manage selection bias and missing data. The impact of nurse management was estimated using the Average Treatment effect on the Treated statistic with 95% confidence intervals.Results.  All the Average Treatment effects on the Treated approximated zero. Inspecting the confidence intervals suggested that there was, at worst, 2·5% risk of nurses underidentifying emotional disorders with respect to doctors.Conclusions.  There seems little to distinguish the quality of doctor‐ or nurse‐delivered care in ordinary attention deficit hyperactivity disorder follow‐up clinics. There seems no clinical impediment to using nurse prescribers to increase clinic capacity. It may be useful to add structured assessment of mood difficulties at follow‐up if nurse prescribers are used.
Effects of an osteoarthritis self‐management programme
Authors: Wu Shu‐Fang Vivienne , Kao Mu‐Jung , Wu Meng‐Ping , Tsai Mei‐Wun , Chang Wan‐Wen 
Published: March 2011

wu s.‐f.v., kao m.‐j., wu m.‐p., tsai m.‐w. & chang w.‐w. (2011) Effects of an osteoarthritis self‐management programme. Journal of Advanced Nursing67(7), 1491–1501.AbstractAim. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a self‐management programme among osteoarthritis knee sufferers.Background. Osteoarthritis of the knee is a major cause of loss of function and is common in the older people. A self‐management programme is an effective way to increase arthritis self‐efficacy, and helps with mastering self‐management practices.Method. This study was carried out from January 2008 to December 2008 and included 205 participants, with 114 in the intervention group and 91 in the control group. The 4‐week trial was followed by an 8‐week follow‐up assessment. The outcome measures included assessments of arthritis self‐efficacy, pain beliefs, unplanned medical consultations, pain days and disability days using the Mann–Whitney U‐test and Friedman test.Findings. At post‐intervention, significant differences were found in pain beliefs (P < 0·001) and pain days (P < 0·004). At 8‐week follow‐up, there was a significant improvement in arthritis self‐efficacy: pain and other symptoms subscales (P < 0·001 and 0·049, respectively), pain beliefs (P < 0·001) and number of unplanned medical consultations (P < 0·010).Conclusion. The study supports the hypothesis that a self‐management programme enhances arthritis‐related self‐efficacy and pain beliefs. A decrease in the number of unplanned medical consultations, pain days and disability days suggests that the programme might help reduce healthcare costs. This programme has introduced a significant result about self‐efficacy and self‐management to a chronic disease population in Taiwan. In short, there were great beneficial effects on self‐management among persons who are affected by knee osteoarthritis.
Modernization and future care preferences: a cross‐sectional survey of Arab Israeli caregivers
Authors: Khalaila Rabia , Litwin Howard 
Published: March 2011

khalaila r. & litwin h. (2011) Modernization and future care preferences: a cross‐sectional survey of Arab Israeli caregivers. Journal of Advanced Nursing67(7), 1614–1624.AbstractAims.  This paper is a report of a study designed to examine the association between modernization and future care preferences among adult children caregivers of older Arab parents in Israel and to identify factors that may mediate the association.Method.  Cross‐sectional data were collected in 2006–2007 by a structured interview from 250 randomly sampled Arab‐Israeli adult children caregivers (response rate = 94%). Respondents’ preference for formal and/or informal future care for themselves was regressed on selected predictor variables.Results.  The vast majority of family caregivers would ‘prefer’ to be cared for by family members (76·4%). Urbanization level was a negative correlate of preference for future family care and a positive correlate of preference for future formal care. However, these associations were mediated by the extent of filial piety and caregiving burden. Filial piety was a positive predictor of preference for future family care (OR = 3·6, P < 0·01), and a negative predictor of preference for formal care (OR = 0·09, P < 0·01). Caregiving burden was a positive predictor of preferences for future formal care (OR = 5·15, P < 0·01).Conclusion.  Modernization has an impact on future care preferences in traditional cultures. In order to maintain informal family care, community nurses should examine ways to lessen the burden of care among family caregivers. They should also develop culturally sensitive services that will meet the evolving expectations and preferences that are held by the next generations of family caregivers.
Surviving the wait: defining support while awaiting breast cancer surgery
Authors: Dickerson Suzanne S. , Alqaissi Nesreen , Underhill Meghan , Lally Robin M. 
Published: March 2011

dickerson s.s., alqaissi n., underhill m. & lally r.m. (2011) Surviving the wait: defining support while awaiting breast cancer surgery. Journal of Advanced Nursing67(7), 1468–1479.AbstractAim.  This paper is a report of a descriptive study of the common meanings, shared experiences and practices of social support of women within the days between breast cancer diagnosis and treatment initiation.Background.  Support needs, types of social support and support outcomes during and after breast cancer treatment have been explored worldwide. However, to promote women’s psychological wellbeing it is essential to understand how women define support in the highly stressful period initially following diagnosis.Methods.  Secondary analysis of narrative texts using interpretive phenomenology from 18 women in the Midwestern United States newly diagnosed with breast cancer who were interviewed in 2005 for a study of women’s pretreatment thought processes.Findings.  ‘Surviving the wait for surgery by balancing support needs to maintain a hopeful outlook’ was the overarching pattern linking six other related themes: (1) controlling access to information for self and to others, (2) knowing which supportive network members to access, (3) controlling anxiety through distraction to maintain hope while waiting, (4) being in good hands and comfortable with decision (provider support), (5) protecting others through concealment and being strong to maintain hope and (6) accepting care from others vs. maintaining a nurturing role.Conclusion.  Implications for nurses working with women in the days following breast cancer diagnosis include assessing women’s definitions and availability of support; respecting varied needs for informational support; providing a supportive clinical environment; educating clinicians, family and friends regarding unsupportive responses within the cultural context and validating women’s control and balancing of support needs.
Competition may explain the fine‐scale spatial patterns and genetic structure of two co‐occurring plant congeners
Authors: Matesanz Silvia , Gimeno Teresa E. , de la Cruz Marcelino , Escudero Adrián , Valladares Fernando 
Published: March 2011

Summary 1. The spatial distribution of individual plants within a population and the population’s genetic structure are determined by several factors, like dispersal, reproduction mode or biotic interactions. The role of interspecific interactions in shaping the spatial genetic structure of plant populations remains largely unknown. 2. Species with a common evolutionary history are known to interact more closely with each other than unrelated species due to the greater number of traits they share. We hypothesize that plant interactions may shape the fine genetic structure of closely related congeners. 3. We used spatial statistics (georeferenced design) and molecular techniques (ISSR markers) to understand how two closely related congeners, Thymus vulgaris (widespread species) and T. loscosii (narrow endemic) interact at the local scale. Specific cover, number of individuals of both study species and several community attributes were measured in a 10 × 10 m plot. 4. Both species showed similar levels of genetic variation, but differed in their spatial genetic structure. Thymus vulgaris showed spatial aggregation but no spatial genetic structure, while T. loscosii showed spatial genetic structure (positive genetic autocorrelation) at short distances. The spatial pattern of T. vulgaris’ cover showed significant dissociation with that of T. loscosii. The same was true between the spatial patterns of the cover of T. vulgaris and the abundance of T. loscosii and between the abundance of each species. Most importantly, we found a correlation between the genetic structure of T. loscosii and the abundance of T. vulgaris: T. loscosii plants were genetically more similar when they were surrounded by a similar number of T. vulgaris plants. 5. Synthesis. Our results reveal spatially complex genetic structures of both congeners at small spatial scales. The negative association among the spatial patterns of the two species and the genetic structure found for T. loscosii in relation to the abundance of T. vulgaris indicate that competition between the two species may account for the presence of adapted ecotypes of T. loscosii to the abundance of a competing congeneric species. This suggests that the presence and abundance of close congeners can influence the genetic spatial structure of plant species at fine scales.
The activities and participation of adolescents with autism spectrum disorders in Singapore: findings from an ICF‐based instrument
Authors: Poon K. K. 
Published: March 2011

AbstractBackground This study sought to describe the activities and participation of adolescents with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in Singapore and to examine the suitability of the Activity and Participation component of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health for achieving this purpose. This information may guide the development of intervention programmes for adolescents and adults as well as the provision of a means to document meaningful outcomes.Methods Parents of 20 adolescents with ASD attending special schools in Singapore were interviewed using the Vineland Adaptive Behavioural Scales – Second Edition and the Activities and Participation Rating Scale (APRS), which was developed for this study.Results The adolescents with ASD were rated to have more difficulties with participation than with the engagement of activities. Individual domain analyses indicate no difficulties with mobility and mild difficulties with self‐care. The performance of general tasks and demands were rated as less problematic than domestic, major life areas, communication and interpersonal interactions. The adolescents with ASD were rated to have more difficulties in communication and community environments than in at home. In addition, analysis of associations between the APRS and Vineland Adaptive Behavioural Scales – Second Edition reveal a pattern of strong relationships between sub‐tests.Conclusion This study highlights the imperative for researchers and practitioners alike to develop a focus on strengths, generalisation and the quality of life of adolescents with ASD. The APRS also shows promise in helping document outcomes for adolescents with ASD in Asia and further development of this instrument is needed.
Two hydrophobins are involved in fungal spore coat rodlet layer assembly and each play distinct roles in surface interactions, development and pathogenesis in the entomopathogenic fungus,Beauveria bassiana
Authors: Zhang Shizhu , Xia Yu Xian , Kim Byong , Keyhani Nemat O. 
Published: March 2011

SummaryThe entomogenous filamentous fungus,Beauveria bassianaexpresses two hydrophobin genes,hyd1andhyd2, hypothesized to be involved in cell surface hydrophobicity, adhesion, virulence, and to constitute the protective spore coat structure known as the rodlet layer. Targeted gene inactivation ofhyd1resulted in seemingly ‘bald’ conidia that contained significantly altered surface fascicles or bundles. These cells displayed decreased spore hydrophobicity, loss of water mediated dispersal, changes in surface carbohydrate epitopes and β‐1,3‐glucan distribution, lowered virulence in insect bioassays, but no effect on adhesion. In contrast,Δhyd2mutants retained distorted surface bundles, but truncated/incomplete rodlets could be seen within the bundles.Δhyd2conidia displayed both decreased cell surface hydrophobicity and adhesion, but the mutant was unaffected in virulence. The doubleΔhyd1Δhyd2mutant was distinct from the single mutants, lacking both bundles and rodlets, and displaying additively decreased cell surface hydrophobicity, reduced cell attachment and lowered virulence than theΔhyd1mutant. Epitope tagged constructs of the proteins were used to examine the expression and distribution of the proteins and to demonstrate the continued presence of Hyd2 in theΔhyd1strain and vice versa. The implications of our results with respect to fascicle and rodlet assembly on the spore surface are discussed.
DsbA2 (27 kDa Com1‐like protein) of Legionella pneumophila catalyses extracytoplasmic disulphide‐bond formation in proteins including the Dot/Icm type IV secretion system
Authors: Jameson‐Lee Max , Garduño Rafael A. , Hoffman Paul S. 
Published: March 2011

SummaryIn Gram‐negative bacteria, thiol oxidoreductases catalyse the formation of disulphide bonds (DSB) in extracytoplasmic proteins. In this study, we sought to identify DSB‐forming proteins required for assembly of macromolecular structures in Legionella pneumophila. Here we describe two DSB‐forming proteins, one annotated as dsbA1 and the other annotated as a 27 kDa outer membrane protein similar to Com1 of Coxiella burnetii, which we designate as dsbA2. Both proteins are predicted to be periplasmic, and while dsbA1 mutants were readily isolated and without phenotype, dsbA2 mutants were not obtained. To advance studies of DsbA2, a cis‐proline residue at position 198 was replaced with threonine that enables formation of stable disulphide‐bond complexes with substrate proteins. Expression of DsbA2 P198T mutant protein from an inducible promoter produced dominant‐negative effects on DsbA2 function that resulted in loss of infectivity for amoeba and HeLa cells and loss of Dot/Icm T4SS‐mediated contact haemolysis of erythrocytes. Analysis of captured DsbA2 P198T–substrate complexes from L. pneumophila by mass spectrometry identified periplasmic and outer membrane proteins that included components of the Dot/Icm T4SS. More broadly, our studies establish a DSB oxidoreductase function for the Com1 lineage of DsbA2‐like proteins which appear to be conserved among those bacteria also expressing T4SS.
A Mycobacterium marinum TesA mutant defective for major cell wall‐associated lipids is highly attenuated in Dictyostelium discoideum and zebrafish embryos
Authors: Alibaud Laeticia , Rombouts Yoann , Trivelli Xavier , Burguière Adeline , Cirillo Suat L. G. , Cirillo Jeffrey D. , Dubremetz Jean‐François , Guérardel Yann , Lutfalla Georges , Kremer Laurent 
Published: March 2011

SummaryInfection of the zebrafish with Mycobacterium marinum is regarded as a well‐established experimental model to study the pathogenicity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Herein, a M. marinum transposon mutant library was screened for attenuated M. marinum phenotypes using a Dictyostelium discoideum assay. In one attenuated mutant, the transposon was located within tesA, encoding a putative type II thioesterase. Thin‐layer chromatography analyses indicated that the tesA::Tn mutant failed to produce two major cell wall‐associated lipids. Mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance clearly established the nature of missing lipids as phthioglycol diphthioceranates and phenolic glycolipids, respectively, indicating that TesA is required for the synthesis of both lipids. When injected into the zebrafish embryo bloodstream, the mutant was found to be highly attenuated, thus validating the performance and relevance of the Dictyostelium screen. Consistent with these in vivo findings, tesA::Tn exhibited increased permeability defects in vitro, which may explain its failure to survive in host macrophages. Unexpectedly, virulence was retained when bacteria were injected into the notochord. Histological and ultrastructural studies of the infected notochord revealed the presence of actively proliferating mycobacteria, leading to larval death. This work presents for the first time the notochord as a compartment highly susceptible to mycobacterial infection.
Estimated Pregnancy Length from Ovulation to Parturition in the Bitch and its Influencing Factors: A Retrospective Study in 162 Pregnancies
Authors: Mir F , Billault C , Fontaine E , Sendra J , Fontbonne A 
Published: March 2011

ContentsAn accurate timing of parturition is very useful for managing canine parturition. It is generally accepted that parturition in bitches occurs between 64 and 66 days after the luteinizing hormone peak. In this retrospective study, we determined pregnancy length in different breeds and its influencing factors dating it from the estimated day of ovulation (EDO), defined as the day when peripheral plasma level of progesterone (P4) reaches 6 ng/ml. From January 2001 to December 2006, 162 pregnancies in 151 bitches of 53 different breeds were followed. Different parameters concerning the bitch, the litter, the type of semen and the type of reproduction were studied. The mean estimated pregnancy length in the bitch from EDO to parturition was 63.1 ± 2.1 days. The main influencing factors for the pregnancies studied were the breed, the size of the bitch and the number of puppies within the litter.
X‐linked recessive polyfibromatosis manifesting with spontaneous keloid scars and Dupuytren's contracture
Authors: Ly Lena , Winship Ingrid 
Published: March 2011

ABSTRACTWe present a patient with keloid scars and Dupuytren's contracture comprising the polyfibromatosis syndrome; four members over three generations of his family are also affected. To our knowledge this is the first familial case reported of polyfibromatosis with this specific phenotypic presentation and probable X‐linked recessive inheritance.