bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Needs of adult patients in intensive care units of Estonian hospitals: a questionnaire survey
Authors: Aro Ilme , Pietilä Anna‐Maija , Vehviläinen‐Julkunen Katri 
Published: June 2012

Aims and objectives.  To describe the intensive care unit patients’ perceptions about the importance of their different needs and how their needs are met in Estonian hospitals, and to determine the correlations between the patients’ perceptions and their demographic characteristics and background variables.Background.  Meeting needs of patients in intensive care unit is important for avoiding unpleasant experiences and providing patient‐centred care.Design.  A descriptive questionnaire survey.Methods.  The study was performed in sixteen intensive care units (ICUs) in six acute care hospitals in Estonia. Data were collected over six months in 2008 using the structured five‐point scale questionnaire Needs of Adult Patients in Intensive Care Unit. The Convenience sample consisted of The adult patients discharged from ICUs to hospital wards able to answer the questionnaire (n = 166). Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis and statistical tests.Results.  Patients’ needs varied and were sometimes unmet. The most important needs were physical comfort and feeling safe. Privacy, involvement of family and friends and being involved in decision‐making were less important. The more important a need was perceived to be, the better it was met. The need for physical comfort was met best, involvement in decision‐making worst. Patients with lower educational level and unscheduled patients agreed more that their needs were met. The better the patients considered their condition when leaving the ICU, the more they agreed that their needs were met.Conclusions.  The findings provide a basis for understanding the needs of critically ill adults in Estonian ICUs to provide them more patient‐centred care and improve their psychological well‐being and quality of life after discharge.Relevance to clinical practice.  Identifying and acknowledging the personal needs of patients in intensive care unit is important. When meeting the patients’ needs, their individual characteristics should be taken into consideration.
Risk factors and incidence of deep vein thrombosis in lower extremities among critically ill patients
Authors: Hong Kee Chun , Kim HwaSoon , Kim Jang Yong , Kwak Kyung Sun , Cho Ok Min , Cha Hui Yeol , Lim Sun Hye , Song Yu Jin 
Published: June 2012

Aims and objectives.  To investigate how many critically ill patients developed deep vein thrombosis (DVT) during their admission to intensive care units (ICU) and to compare the characteristics of patients with and without deep vein thrombosis.Background.  Critically ill patients are a high‐risk group for deep vein thrombosis because they typically have multiple risk factors, such as prolonged immobility, mechanical ventilation and old age.Design.  A prospective observational study was employed.Methods.  The subjects were 90 patients who were older than 18 years of age, who were admitted to an intensive care unit for more than five days and were not provided any prophylactic measures. Data were collected at a university hospital for five months. A duplex scan was performed on day 2·4 on average and repeated between days 5–7 to diagnose deep vein thrombosis. The iliac, femoral, popliteal and tibial veins were examined by compression and colour Doppler methods of the duplex scan by one technician.Results.  Age, gender and body mass index were significant factors for deep vein thrombosis development (p < 0·05). Ten patients (11·1%) developed deep vein thrombosis during their stay in the intensive care units.Conclusions.  The incidence was lower than in Western studies in which patients were not provided prophylaxis, but may increase with an extended observation period as in previous studies.Relevance to clinical practice.  The results of this study could allow ICU nurses to recognise the DVT incidence in critically ill patients. This result could lead to more active prevention and monitoring of DVT by ICU nurses, especially for high‐risk patients, such as older or obese patients.
Beyond the ‘tick and flick’: facilitating best practice falls prevention through an action research approach
Authors: Lea Emma , Andrews Sharon , Hill Keith , Haines Terry , Nitz Jennifer , Haralambous Betty , Moore Kirsten , Robinson Andrew 
Published: June 2012

Aims and objectives.  To examine residential aged care facility staff views on using falls risk assessment tools and the implications for developing falls prevention practices in the context of an action research project.Background.  Falls risk assessments play an important role in care planning by identifying and monitoring aged care facility residents most at risk of falls. Yet while such assessments are recommended in falls prevention best practice guidelines, there is little published research that examines staff procedures and views related to conducting falls risk assessments.Design.  Falls risk assessments were undertaken in the context of an action research project.Method.  Twelve staff members from two residential aged care facilities (RACFs) in Tasmania formed a single Falls Action Research Group, which met 22 times over a year, providing the study’s qualitative data. During this time, key group members assessed 178 residents using a new falls risk assessment tool (FROP‐Resi).Results.  According to group members, facilities evolved from a ‘tick‐and‐flick’ approach to falls risk assessment to a more individualised, face‐to‐face assessment process. Group members perceived the process to be more meaningful and enjoyable for staff involved in the assessment process resulting in higher quality of assessments and leading to improved levels of falls awareness among staff, residents and family caregivers.Conclusions.  An action research process is useful for facilitating a new approach to falls risk assessments, engaging aged care facility staff with falls prevention and prompting improvements in falls prevention practices.Relevance to clinical practice.  RACFs need to provide opportunities for staff to meet regularly to discuss practice, identify issues and take action. By doing so, staff can engage meaningfully with best practice activities such as optimising falls risk assessment processes.
Effect of head and body positioning on cerebral blood flow velocity in patients who underwent cranial surgery
Authors: Kose Gulsah , Hatipoglu Sevgi 
Published: June 2012

Aim and objectives.  The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of head and neck positions on the cerebral blood flow velocity by transcranial Doppler ultrasound in patients who underwent cranial surgery.Background.  Inappropriate head elevation and body positioning in patients who undergo cranial surgery may affect cerebral blood flow and cerebral perfusion pressure.Designed.  Experimental clinical study.Method.  Our sample consisted of 38 patients who underwent cranial surgery between October 2009 and May 2010. The measurments of mean cerebral blood flow velocity were taken by the transcranial Doppler ultrasound through the temporal window. The mean cerebral blood flow velocity of the patients was measured in supine position with 0° and 30° head elevations, right and left lateral positions, right and left lateral positions with head flexion and extension. The measurements were taken before surgery and within 72 hours after surgery.Results.  The mean cerebral blood flow velocity of the middle cerebral arteries was increased in head elevations from 0° to 30°, in right and lateral positions with 30° head elevations, but the velocity was decreased in head flexion and extension positions in preoperative and postoperative periods.Discussion.  Head and body positioning, which is one of the nursing care activities, may affect intracranial pressure and cerebral perfusion pressure. Our results are similar with those of previous studies, which showed that head elevation did not affect the cerebral blood flow velocity.Relevance to clinical practice.  By the results of this study, the head elevation of the patients, who underwent cranial surgery, should be 30° during the nursing care to provide optimum cerebral blood flow. Right and left lateral positioning is safe and recommended for these patients if there is no medical contraindication.
Novel Recombinant BCG Coexpressing Ag85B, ESAT‐6 and Rv2608 Elicits Significantly Enhanced Cellular Immune and Antibody Responses in C57BL/6 Mice
Authors: Lu Y. , Xu Y. , Yang E. , Wang C. , Wang H. , Shen H. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractTuberculosis (TB) remains an enormous global health problem, and a new vaccine against TB more potent than the current inadequate vaccine, the Bacille Calmette‐Guérin (BCG), is urgently needed. BCG has proven to be an effective recombinant delivery vehicle for foreign antigens because of its ability to induce long‐lived specific humoral and cellular immunity. Experimental evidences have revealed that Ag85B, ESAT‐6 and Rv2608 are important immunodominant antigens of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and are all promising vaccine candidate molecules. In this study, we have constructed a novel recombinant BCG (rBCG) expressing fusion protein Ag85B‐ESAT6‐Rv2608 and evaluated the immunogenicity of rBCG in C57BL/6 mice. Results show there is strong TB‐specific CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes proliferative response in mice immunized with rBCG vaccine, especially the cytotoxic CD8+ T cells playing an important role in protection against TB. And rBCG immunization has induced a significantly strong Th1 immune response, characterized by the increased ratio of IgG2b/IgG1. Results also show that rBCG immunization could increase the secretion of Th1 cytokines such as TNF‐α and IL‐2 and could decrease the secretion of Th2 cytokine IL‐10. Moreover, it was shown that rBCG immunization induced a strong humoral response in mice, characterized by the elevated IgG titre. Therefore, we conclude that this rBCG immunization could increase both cellular immune response and antigen‐specific humoral response significantly as compared to BCG immunization in mice. The above results illustrated that rBCG::Ag85B‐ESAT6‐Rv2608 is a potential candidate against M. tuberculosis for further study.
Green Tea (Camelia Sinensis) Mediated Suppression of IgE Production By Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells of Allergic Asthmatic Humans
Authors: Wu S. Y. , Silverberg J. I. , Joks R. , Durkin H. G. , Smith‐Norowitz T. A. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractRecent studies in our laboratory demonstrated the suppression of immunoglobulin E (IgE) production by green tea extract (GTE) in U266 cells. However, the effects of GTE or one of its components (EGCG) on IgE production by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) are unknown. PBMC (1.5 × 106) obtained from serum IgE+, allergic asthmatic patients, were cultured ± GTE (1–100 ng/ml) or purified EGCG (0.5–50 ng/ml), and IgE levels were determined on day 10 by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). High levels of IgE were detected in supernatants of the PBMC cultures on day 10. When GTE was included in vitro, IgE production by PBMC was suppressed on day 10, compared with control. Purified EGCG included in vitro also suppressed IgE production, but at lower levels, compared with control. This study demonstrates that GTE and its major catechin, EGCG, have immunoregulatory effects on human IgE responses.
Characterization of CD4+ Cytotoxic Lymphocytes and Apoptosis Markers Induced by Trypanossoma cruzi Infection
Authors: Keesen T. S. L. , Gomes J. A. S. , Fares R. C. G. , de Araújo F. F. , Ferreira K. S. , Chaves A. T. , Rocha M. O. C. , Correa‐Oliveira R. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractAlthough the pathophysiology of Chagas disease is not completely understood, it is widely accepted that involvement of the immune response is critical in determining the outcome of the disease. In this context, CD4+ T cells may play an important role in generating different mechanisms of protection. In addition to effector and regulatory functions, CD4+ T cells may be also involved with lytic activities against the parasite and may have a relevant role on control of the infection. In this study, we have evaluated CD4+ T cells expressing cytotoxic and apoptosis markers in response to Trypanossoma cruzi infection in indeterminate (IND) and cardiac (CARD) patients with Chagas disease and non‐infected individuals (NI). Our data demonstrated that: (1) CD4+ T cells presented higher ex vivo granzyme B expression in patients with Chagas disease compared with healthy individuals and that antigen induced a greater granzyme B expression in IND patients; (2) CD95L expression in CD4+ CD95+ T cells from IND patients is higher than in CARD and NI; (3) IND and CARD patients had an increased frequency of caspase‐3 after in vitro stimulation and also expressed a high frequency of annexinV+ 7ADD+ within CD4+ T cells; (4) Lastly, a positive correlation was seen between cytotoxic molecules and CD45RO memory marker in CD4+ T cells and between caspase‐3 and CD95L within CD4+ CD95+ T cells. These results suggest new insights into the functional competence of CD4+ T cells among the different clinical forms of Chagas disease, which will lead to a better understanding of their influence during immune responses against T. cruzi.
SOCS1 Gene Expression is Increased in Severe Pulmonary Tuberculosis
Authors: Masood K. I. , Rottenberg M. E. , Carow B. , Rao N. , Ashraf M. , Hussain R. , Hasan Z. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractSuppressors of cytokine signalling (SOCS) molecules inhibit cytokine signalling and may regulate protective immunity in tuberculosis (TB). We investigated the association of SOCS with disease progression in patients with pulmonary TB. For this purpose, we studied peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and T cells from patients with pulmonary TB (TB, n = 33) and healthy endemic controls (EC, n = 15). Cases were stratified into those with moderately advanced (Mod‐PTB) or far advanced disease (Adv‐PTB). Interferon‐gamma (IFN‐γ), SOCS1 and SOCS3 gene expression was determined by RT‐PCR. Statistical analysis was performed using the Mann–Whitney test. Levels of IL6 (P = 0.018) and IL10 (P = 0.013) were found to be elevated in PBMC supernatants from patients with TB as compared with EC. SOCS1 mRNA gene expression in T cells from patients with TB was increased as compared with that of EC (P = 0.02). In addition, levels of SOCS1 mRNA transcripts were found to be elevated in PBMCs of Adv‐PTB as compared with Mod‐PTB (P = 0.008) cases. Our data show that raised SOCS1 levels are associated with increased disease severity in TB. As SOCS1 regulates IFN‐γ‐driven immunity and SOCS1 can be further upregulated by IL6 levels, the increase in SOCS1 in severe disease indicates a mechanism by which mycobacteria impede disease control in TB.
Differential expression of proteins associated with seasonal bud dormancy at four critical stages in Japanese apricot
Authors: Zhuang W.‐B. , Shi T. , Gao Z.‐H. , Zhang Z. , Zhang J.‐Y. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractDormancy is of great significance in the growth and development of deciduous fruit trees. We used a combination of two‐dimensional gel electrophoresis (2‐DE) and matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionisation time of flight/time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI–TOF/TOF MS) to identify the differentially expressed proteome of Japanese apricot flower buds at four critical stages, from paradormancy before leaf fall to dormancy release. More than 400 highly reproducible protein spots (P < 0.05) were detected: 34 protein spots showed a greater than twofold difference in expression values, of which 32 protein spots were confidently identified from databases. Identified proteins were classified into six functional categories: stress response and defence (11), energy metabolism (ten), protein metabolism (five), cell structure (three), transcription (one) and unclassified (two). The glyoxalase I homologue could help Japanese apricot survival under various abiotic and biotic stresses, greatly contributing to its dormancy. Enolase, thioredoxin family proteins and triose phosphate isomerase provide adequate energy to complete consecutive dormancy release and bud break in Japanese apricot. Cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase 9 and arginase enhance the resilience of plants, enabling them to complete dormancy safely. Analysis of functions of identified proteins and related metabolic pathways will increase our knowledge of dormancy in woody plants.
Nodule development on the tropical legume Sesbania virgata under flooded and non‐flooded conditions
Authors: Bomfeti C. A. , Ferreira P. A. A. , Carvalho T. S. , De Rycke R. , Moreira F. M. S. , Goormachtig S. , Holsters M. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractThe interaction between the Brazilian pioneer legume Sesbania virgata and its microsymbiont Azorhizobium doebereinerae leads to the formation of nitrogen‐fixing nodules on roots that grow either in well‐aerated soils or in wetlands. We studied the initiation and development of nodules under these alternative conditions. To this end, light and fluorescence microscopy were used to follow the bacterial colonisation and invasion into the host and, by means of transmission electron microscopy, we could observe the intracellular entry. Under hydroponic conditions, intercellular invasion took place at lateral root bases and mature nodules were round and determinate. However, on roots grown in vermiculite that allows aerated growth, bacteria also entered via root hair invasion and nodules were both of the determinate and indeterminate type. Such versatility in entry and developmental plasticity, as previously described in Sesbania rostrata, enables efficient nodulation in both dry and wet environments and are an important adaptive feature of this group of semi‐tropical plants that grow in temporarily flooded habitats.
Carbon and nitrogen partitioning during the post‐anthesis period is conditioned by N fertilisation and sink strength in three cereals
Authors: Aranjuelo I. , Cabrera‐Bosquet L. , Araus J. L. , Nogués S. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractFurther knowledge of the processes conditioning nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) is of great relevance to crop productivity. The aim of this paper was characterise C and N partitioning during grain filling and their implications for NUE. Cereals such as bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv Califa sur), triticale (× Triticosecale Wittmack cv. Imperioso) and tritordeum (× Tritordeum Asch. & Graebn line HT 621) were grown under low (LN, 5 mm NH4NO3) and high (HN, 15 mm NH4NO3) N conditions. We conducted simultaneous double labelling (12CO2 and 15NH415NO3) in order to characterise C and N partitioning during grain filling. Although triticale plants showed the largest total and ear dry matter values in HN conditions, the large investment in shoot and root biomass negatively affected ear NUE. Tritordeum was the only genotype that increased NUE in both N treatments (NUEtotal), whereas in wheat, no significant effect was detected. N labelling revealed that N fertilisation during post‐anthesis was more relevant for wheat and tritordeum grain filling than for triticale. The study also revealed that the investments of C and N in flag leaves and shoots, together with the ‘waste’ of photoassimilates in respiration, conditioned the NUE of plants, and especially under LN. These results suggest that C and N use by these plants needs to be improved in order to increase ear C and N sinks, especially under LN. It is also remarkable that even though tritordeum shows the largest increase in NUE, the low yield of this cereal limits its agronomic value.
Heat shock effects on seed germination of five Brazilian savanna species
Authors: Ribeiro L. C. , Pedrosa M. , Borghetti F. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractFire is considered an important factor in influencing the physiognomy, dynamics and composition of Neotropical savannas. Species of diverse physiognomies exhibit different responses to fire, such as population persistence and seed mortality, according to the fire frequency to which they are submitted. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of heat shocks on seed germination of Anadenanthera macrocarpa (Benth.) Brenan, Dalbergia miscolobium Benth., Aristolochia galeata Mart. & Zucc., Kielmeyera coriacea (Spreng.) Mart. and Guazuma ulmifolia Lam., which are native species of the Brazilian savanna. The temperatures and exposure times to which the seeds were submitted were established according to data obtained in the field during a prescribed fire: 60 °C (10, 20 and 40 min), 80 °C (5, 10 and 20 min) and 100 °C (2, 5 and 10 min). Untreated seeds were used as controls. Seeds of A. galeata and K. coriacea showed high tolerance to most heat treatments, and seeds of A. macrocarpa showed a significant reduction in germination percentage after treatments of 80 °C and 100 °C. Treatments of 100 °C for 10 min reduced germination percentage for all species except G. ulmifolia, which has dormant seeds. For this species, germination was accelerated by heat treatments. The high temperatures applied did not interfere with the time to 50% germination (T50) of the tolerant seeds. Seeds of the savanna species K. coriacea and A. galeata were more tolerant to heat shocks than seeds of the forest species A. macrocarpa. Guazuma ulmifolia, the forest species with seeds that germinate after heat shock, also occurs in savanna physiognomies. Overall, the high temperatures applied did not affect the germination rate of the tolerant seeds.
Endophytic Chaetomium globosum enhances maize seedling copper stress tolerance
Authors: Abou Alhamed M. F. , Shebany Y. M. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractThis study aims at characterisation of the impact of Chaetomium globosum on copper stress resistance of maize seedlings. Higher levels of copper treatment decreased maize dry weight and induced a marked increase in osmotic solutes, antioxidant enzyme activity and the level of lipid peroxidation. On the other hand, addition of the endophytic C. globosum alleviated the toxic effect of copper on maize growth. The combination of copper sulphate and Chaetomium increased seedling dry weight, osmotic solute content and antioxidant enzyme activity compared to copper sulphate alone, while lipid peroxidation levels were also decreased. The fungal scavenger system might be important for supporting the ability of maize seedlings to resist copper toxicity.
Life history trade‐offs and evidence for hierarchical resource allocation in two monocarpic perennials
Authors: Cao G.‐X. , Worley A. C. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractThe evolution of floral display is thought to be constrained by trade‐offs between the size and number of flowers; however, empirical evidence for the trade‐off is inconsistent. We examined evidence for trade‐offs and hierarchical allocation of resources within and between two populations each of the monocarpic perennials, Cardiocrinum cordatum and C. giganteum. Within all populations, flower size–number trade‐offs were evident after accounting for variation in plant size. In addition, variation in flower size explained much variation in flower‐level allocation to attraction, and female and male function, a pattern consistent with hierarchical allocation. However, between population differences in flower size (C. cordatum) and number (C. giganteum) were not consistent with size–number trade‐offs or hierarchical allocation. The population‐level difference in C. cordatum likely reflects the combined influence of a time lag between initiation and maturation of flowers, and higher light levels in one population. Thus, our study highlights one mechanism that may account for the apparent independence of flower size and number in many studies. A prediction of sex allocation theory was also supported. In C. giganteum: plants from one population invested more mass in pistils and less in stamens than did plants from the other population. Detection of floral trade‐offs in Cardiocrinum may be facilitated by monocarpic reproduction, production of a single inflorescence and ease of measuring plant size.