bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Polymerase Chain Reaction with Bacterial 16s Primers to Blood Culture to Identify Bacteremia in Dogs with Suspected Bacterial Endocarditis
Authors: Meurs K.M. , Heaney A.M. , Atkins C.E. , DeFrancesco T.C. , Fox P.R. , Keene B.W. , Kellihan H.B. , Miller M.W. , Oyama M.A. , Oaks J.L. 
Published: June 2011

Background: Identification of the bacterial organism in dogs with endocarditis is challenging. Human studies have reported the utility of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to amplify and identify bacterial nucleic acid from infected valvular tissue and blood.Hypothesis/Objectives: We hypothesized that PCR using primers designed to amplify the bacterial 16s gene would identify circulating bacteria in dogs with suspected bacterial endocarditis more consistently than standard blood culture techniques.Animals: Eighteen dogs with suspected bacterial endocarditis based upon clinical and echocardiographic findings. Fifteen clinically normal dogs served as negative controls.Methods: Prospective study of dogs evaluated for suspect endocarditis at 6 veterinary hospitals. A blood sample was drawn from all dogs and evaluated with both a single‐sample PCR and standard 3‐sample blood culture techniques.Results: Blood culture identified noncontaminant bacteria in 6/18 study animals (33%) and 1 control dog; PCR identified noncontaminant bacteria in 7/18 study animals (39%). There were no study animals in which the 2 tests identified different bacteria (κ= 1.0). However, bacteria were identified by both techniques in only 2/18 study animals. When results from both PCR and blood culture were considered together, a noncontaminant bacterial organism was identified in 11/18 study animals (61%).Conclusion and Clinical Importance: The results of this study suggest that although single sample PCR with 16s primers was not more sensitive than blood culture for detection of bacteremia in dogs with suspect endocarditis, performing both techniques simultaneously did increase the likelihood of identification of bacteria in blood.
The effect of Strongylus vulgaris larvae on equine intestinal myoelectrical activity
Authors: Lester G. D. , Bolton J. R. , Cambridge H. , Thurgate S. 
Published: June 2011

SummaryThe myoelectrical activity of the ileum, caecum and large colon was monitored from Ag‐AgCl bipolar recording electrodes in four conscious ‘parasite‐naive’ weanling foals. All foals were inoculated with 1000 infective 3rd‐stage Strongylus vulgaris larvae and alterations to the myoelectrical activity observed. The frequencies of caecal and colonic spike bursts increased significantly in all post infection periods coinciding with assumed larval penetration into the intestinal mucosa and migration through the vasculature. Peaks in caecal and colonic activity occurred at Days 1 to 5 post infection. In the caecum, peaks occurred again at Days 15 and 31 post infection, preceding similar rises in colonic spike burst frequency at Days 19 and 35. Longer term changes indicated a return towards pre‐infection levels of activity suggesting smooth muscle adaptation to decreased blood flow. The analysis of caecal and colonic spike burst propagation indicated that the increases in burst frequency were not attributable to an increase in the propagation of spike bursts in any particular direction, but rather to proportional increases in all directions of activity. There was a slight decrease in the simple ileal spike burst frequency immediately post‐infection. None of the experimental animals exhibited signs of abdominal pain during the trial, and there was no evidence of bowel infarction at post mortem examination despite the presence of severe parasite‐induced arterial lesions. The results suggest that increased caecal and colonic motility is an important host response in susceptible foals exposed to S. vulgaris larvae.
Plasma thromboxane B2 levels in horses experimentally infected with Strongylus vulgaris
Authors: CAMBRIDGE H. , REYNOLDSON J. A. , DUNSMORE J. D. 
Published: June 2011

SummaryPlasma thromboxane B2 (TXB2) the stable inactive metabolite of thromboxane A2 (TXA2), was measured daily by specific radioimmunoassay in three groups of animals before and after experimental infection with Strongylus vulgaris. Infection of four ‘parasite naive’ foals produced a typical acute syndrome with intermittent but statistically insignificant rises in TXB2 levels. Interpretation of results was complicated by the presence of a non‐septic peritonitis associated with implantation of the foals with electrodes for recording myoelectrical activity. In two foals of similar age, with some natural exposure to S. vulgaris, there was little or no clinical response to infection and increases in TXB2 were absent. Baseline levels were also much lower, indicating that the peritonitis may have affected the results obtained in the first group of foals. Severe mesenteric arteritis was confirmed at necropsy in all six foals. A third group of yearling horses, all with natural exposure to the parasite, were generally resistant to infection. One animal developed arteritis with clinical signs of diarrhoea and mild colic, and also showed intermittent increases in TXB2. The mean plasma TXB2 level after infection was significantly higher than in the control period, although absolute levels were lower than those recorded in the ‘parasite naive’ foals. Other animals in this group had low TXB2 levels and minimal arteritis was found at necropsy. These results indicate that although infection appears to have an effect on plasma TXB2, the changes are inconsistent and not reliable indicators of the presence of verminous arteritis. The results also confirm the difficulty in establishing infection and the variability of the response in animals with previous exposure.
Serological response of experimental ponies orally infected with Ehrlichia risticii
Authors: PALMER J. E. , BENSON C. E. , LOTZ G. W. 
Published: June 2011

SummaryTen healthy, mature ponies were orally infected with Ehrlichia risticii using Ehrlichia‐infected P388D1 mouse monocyte tissue culture cells. Seven developed signs of equine ehrlichial colitis including fever, depression, anorexia, reduced borborygmi, increased abdominal hyperresonance, and diarrhoea. Three remained clinically normal apart from early fever in one. Indirect fluorescent antibody titres were detected in the clinically affected ponies by Days 12 to 17 post infection and increased rapidly to high levels (1:640 to 1:5120) which were maintained until the end of the observation period (Day 28 post infection). Mean antibody titres significantly increased from Days 12 to 14 and from Days 14 to 17 post infection. The rapid increase in antibody titre which occurs close to first appearance of clinical signs may explain the insignificant rise in antibody titres in many naturally occurring cases.
Castor‐oil induced diarrhoea in ponies: a model for acute colitis
Authors: ROBERTS M. C. , CLARKE L. L. , JOHNSON C. M. 
Published: June 2011

SummaryA reproducible, reversible model of colitis induced in ponie by administering castor oil (2.5 ml/kg bodyweight [bwt] per os) was characterised by abdominal pain, fever, watery diarrhoea, dehydration, hypovolaemia, toxaemia, leucopenia, decreased serum Cl, Na and K levels and metabolic acidosis. The signs were most severe between 24 and 48 h post induction, stabilisation was frequently observed after 72 h, although diarrhoea could persist beyond 96 h. Morphological and in vitro transport studies (right ventral colon) were conducted on tissues from animals destroyed at 24, 48 and 72 h. In the caecum and colon, surface epithelial disruption and exfoliation from the basement membrane occurred between 24 and 48 h. Early signs of recovery were evident by replenishment of denuded areas with columnar epithelium at 72 h. The crypt epithelium was unaffected throughout the intestinal tract. In vitro transport studies were consistent with the morphological findings. Decreased Na‐Cl absorption and normal Cl secretion indicated an impaired surface epithelium coincident with an undamaged cryptal epithelium. Increased mucosal permeability was demonstrated by high ionic conductance and large unidirectional isotopic fluxes. Tissue conductance improved during in vitro incubation suggesting epithelial repair after removal of castor oil. Changes in the population and proportion of bacteria in the faeces as diarrhoea ensued were confirmed at necropsy with a predominance of E. coli and Enterobacter/Klebsiella sp in the large bowel. The experimental induction of castor oil colitis showed many similarities to intestinal endotoxaemia and the secretory type diarrhoea encountered in naturally occurring acute colitis syndromes in horses. The model could prove applicable in studying the pathophysiological mechanisms precipitating such life‐threatening disorders.
Treatment of gastric ulcers in horses with histamine type 2 receptor antagonists
Authors: FURR M. O. , MURRAY M. J. 
Published: June 2011

SummaryOf 55 horses treated with histamine type 2 (H2) receptor antagonists for gastric ulcers, 32 were examined by gastroendoscopy before and after treatment. Distribution and severity of lesions in the squamous fundus (sf), margo plicatus (mp), glandular fundus (gf), lesser curvature (lc) and cardia (car) were recorded. Severity of the lesions was scored 0–4 (0=no lesions, 4=most severe). On initial examination, lesions were most frequently observed at the mp (28/32) and least frequently observed in the gf (5/32). There was endoscopic confirmation of improvement in lesion scores in each region, although the magnitude of improvement and duration of treatment required to affect total healing varied by region. The mean (± sd) changes in lesion scores in each region of the stomach after treatment were: −1.92 ± 1.43 (sf), −2.27 ± 0.98 (mp), −1.60 ± 0.80 (gf), −1.20 ± 1.81 (lc), and −2.00 ± 1.85 (car). Clinical improvement was noted in 54 of 55 animals, as indicated by decreased frequency of colic episodes, weight gains, and improved appetite. It was concluded that H2 antagonists are an effective treatment of gastric ulcers in horses, as determined by endoscopic and clinical improvement.
The effect of low dose heparin therapy on complication and survival rates in horses following exploratory celiotomy
Authors: YOUNG D. R. , RICHARDSON D. W. , MARKEL M. D. 
Published: June 2011

SummaryA randomised, blind prospective study was performed to evaluate effects of low dose heparin therapy on complication and survival rates in 33 horses following exploratory celiotomy. Four horses had non‐strangulating lesions and seven had strangulating lesions of the small intestine, 19 had non‐strangulating lesions of the large intestine, and three had duodenitis‐proximal jejunitis. Eighteen required an enterotomy or intestinal resection and anastomosis. Sixteen received heparin subcutaneously (66 iu/kg every 12 h) post operatively and 17 received a saline placebo for a mean of 3.7 days. There was a significant (P<0.01) mean decrease in PCV (29.1 per cent) in the heparin group. No significant differences in complication or survival rates were seen between groups. Long term follow‐up was obtained for 10 horses in each group. There were no significant differences between groups.
A device and technique for gastrointestinal lavage in the horse
Authors: BEROZA G. A. 
Published: June 2011

SummaryA device and technique for intra‐operative gastro‐intestinal lavage was developed to remove ingesta from the stomach, large intestine and caecum of horses. The Gastro‐Intestinal Lavage System (GILS) is composed of a nozzle connected to both water under pressure and suction. Water jets across an intake portal in the nozzle, breaks up food and debris within the nozzle and is evacuated under negative pressure into the aspirating tube which is connected to a collection drum. The GILS nozzle was introduced at the pelvic flexure through a sterile enterotomy cuff and plastic sleeve. Water was first added through the GILS nozzle to mix intestinal ingesta to form a slurry and then the effluent was evacuated into the storage container by engaging the vacuum. Comparisons of this technique were made with the standard garden hose lavage technique. The GILS enables removal of 8.1 kg of large intestinal ingesta in less than 20 mins. Cleansing of the large bowel with the GILS was rapid, complete and a contamination free procedure which should prove applicable and beneficial for surgical treatment of small colonic, caecal, rectal and gastric impactions as well as sand colic and colonic torsions.
Positive but not negative life‐events predict vulnerability to upper respiratory illness
Authors: Evans Philip D. , Doyle Austin , Hucklebridge Frank , Clow Angela 
Published: June 2011

Objectives. The primary aim of this study was to examine the role of life‐events in the prediction of naturally occurring episodes of upper respiratory tract illness (mainly reported as common colds).Design. The study was prospective, involving a variable follow‐up period which averaged six and a half weeks.Methods. Measures of life‐events (Sarason LES), stress experience, and personality (EPQ‐R) were obtained for a sample of 35 participants, who were then followed up for incidence of Upper Respiratory Tract Illness (URTI).Results. Positive but not negative life‐events were shown strongly to predict subsequent incidence of URTI. Reports of recent stress experience and stress proneness were not predictive, nor were personality measures. Positive LES was shown to be predictive independent of personality measures, and health‐related behaviour reports concerned with smoking, alcohol consumption and normal diet. Self‐reports of URTI and symptom reporting were for the first five days of the study supplemented with objective body temperature readings. Temperature measures correlated positively and significantly with symptom and URTI reporting.Conclusions. Although some of the principal effect may reflect individual differences in exposure to infectious agents, host factors affecting symptomatic expression may also be involved, in ways that are currently not understood.
Improving arthritis self‐management among older adults: ‘Just what the doctor didn't order’
Authors: Barlow Julie H. , Williams Bethan , Wright Chris C. 
Published: June 2011

Objective. Community‐based health interventions have been shown to be effective in promoting arthritis self‐management amongst people in North America. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of such programmes among older people in the UK.Design. The study was a multiple baseline, pre‐test–post‐test design of 62 older people (> 55 years of age) attending Arthritis Self‐Management Programmes (ASMP) delivered in community settings.Method. Data were collected by self‐administered questionnaires at two points in time: prior to the intervention and after the intervention, four months from baseline.Results. The sample comprised 94 per cent women, with a mean age of 69 and mean disease duration of 26 years. Most participants had either osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. Results showed that after four months, participants demonstrated significant increases in arthritis self‐efficacy (p < .0005), positive affect (p = .042), cognitive symptom management (p < .0005), communication with doctors (p =< .0005), exercise (p < .0005) and relaxation (p < .0005). In addition, significant decreases were found in terms of pain (p = .026), depression (p = .042) and visits to GPs (p = .013).Conclusion. This first evaluation of the ASMP delivered in community settings suggests that this form of health intervention is not only acceptable to older people in the UK, but can offer considerable benefits in terms of arthritis self‐efficacy, increased use of self‐management strategies such as exercise, a reduction in pain and improved psychological well‐being.
Situational and individual‐difference correlates of annoyance extent and variability in daily provocations
Authors: Gidron Y. , Stewart S. H. , Ben‐Zur H. , Breznitz S. 
Published: June 2011

Objectives. This study wished to replicate previous findings on the effects of situational factors on annoyance extent of Israeli students in Canadian students, and to examine the roles of trait hostility and monitoring in annoyance extent and variability.Design. A within‐subject design tested the effects of situational dimensions (e.g. damage, intentionality), on annoyance extent, and a correlational design tested the relation between individual‐difference traits and annoyance extent and variability.Methods. Two Canadian student samples (N = 73 and N=79) completed a questionnaire to determine the effects of nine situational dimensions on annoyance extent. The second sample was additionally assessed for trait hostility (abbreviated Ho scale) and trait monitoring (Miller Behavioral Style Scale). Annoyance variability was defined as difference in annoyance extent between severe and mild provocations.Results. Eight situational dimensions conceptually related to harm (damage, correct‐ability, investment), control/information (intentionality, expectedness, agent, preventability) and social context (audience) consistently affected annoyance extent. Hostility and monitoring were positively and significantly correlated with annoyance extent (r = .34, r = .31, respectively). Finally, hostility was negatively correlated with annoyance variability.Conclusions. Several situational dimensions were found to have a robust effect on annoyance extent cross‐culturally. The negative correlation between hostility and annoyance variability may reflect cognitive and/or response biases. Interventions aimed at reducing health risks of hostile individuals (e.g. coronary heart disease) may need to alter these biases when facing provocations of different severity, to help them adapt more appropriately.
Biased perception and recall of reassurance in medical patients
Authors: Lucock M. P. , White C. , Peake M. D. , Morley S. 
Published: June 2011

Objectives. We tested the hypothesis that compared with patients with low health anxiety those with high health anxiety would perceive and recall reassurance given by a physician as less reassuring than the physician reported giving.Design. A quasi‐experimental repeated measures design; three time periods (immediate, one month and one year post‐consultation) in three groups of patients (total N = 50) defined by a ternary split on a questionnaire.Methods. Patients' health anxiety was measured prior to gastroscopic investigation and consultation with a physician for unexplained symptoms. All the investigations were negative for serious pathology. Immediately after consultation the physician and patients rated the given and perceived reassurance message on a five‐point scale describing the probability of there being something seriously wrong. Patients repeated their ratings at one month and one year.Results. Patients in the high‐health anxiety group were more likely to recall the reassurance given as less certain that there was nothing seriously wrong with them than were either the low or medium groups immediately post‐consultation. This difference persisted after one month but not one year later.Conclusions. These data provide preliminary support for the hypothesis that high health anxiety may bias the perception and recall of reassurance‐related information.
Factors affecting parental reports of the sleep patterns of children with severe learning disabilities
Authors: Wiggs Luci , Stores Gregory 
Published: June 2011

Objectives. Children with severe learning disabilities were identified by parental report as having a severe sleep problem (according to research criteria). A subgroup were considered by their parents to have no difficulty with their sleep pattern. The study aimed to investigate why sleeping problems of equal intensity should be a problem for one group of parents and not for another group, with a view to (a) establishing whether the families differed in the extent the child's sleep pattern affected the family and (A) identifying parent and child factors which may affect the parents' ability to tolerate the sleep problem.Design. Three groups (matched for sex, age and duration of sleep problem if appropriate) of 13 were compared: children with no sleep problem (NSP), children with a recognized sleep problem (SP), and children with an unrecognized sleep problem (USP).Methods. Mothers completed questionnaire assessments of the children's sleep and daytime behaviour and the mothers' sleepiness, coping style, stress and perceived control.Results. The USP mothers and children are similar to the NSP mothers and children. Compared to the SP group, the mothers are less stressed, have increased perceived control and the children have fewer daytime behaviour problems. USP mothers and SP mothers are equally dissatisfied with their child's, and their own, sleep pattern.Conclusions. USP mothers do not unrealistically deny that their child has a sleep problem but there are protective factors within the child and the parent which enable the mothers to tolerate sleep problems and suffer less negative effects. Implications for interventions arc considered.
Partner smoking behaviour change is associated with women's smoking reduction and cessation during pregnancy
Authors: Appleton P. L. , Pharoah P. O. D. 
Published: June 2011

Objectives. To examine whether partner smoking behaviour change is associated with women's smoking reduction and cessation during pregnancy, independently of a range of potential psychosocial confounding variables. It was hypothesized that a woman's failure to reduce or quit smoking in pregnancy would be associated independently with failure of partner to reduce or quit smoking.Design. Cohort study.Methods. A population‐based sample of 662 women who smoked, or had smoked until becoming pregnant, were recruited in early pregnancy, with follow‐up in late pregnancy. Participants completed questionnaires and self‐report measures of sychosocial variables. The primary outcome measures were women's self‐reported daily cigarette consumption before pregnancy (retrospective), and during early and late pregnancy (contemporary), from which smoking cessation, reduction and maintenance measures were derived.Results. Seventy per cent of partners smoked, and 25 per cent of all partners (34 per cent of smoking partners) reduced or quitted smoking in early pregnancy. The study hypothesis was confirmed in multivariate logistic regression models. Women's failure to quit smoking in early pregnancy was independently associated with partner failing to reduce or quit smoking, higher number of social network smokers, adult attachment style, socio‐economic status, pre‐pregnancy cigarette consumption and older age. Women's failure to reduce smoking was independently associated with partner failing to reduce or quit smoking, socio‐economic status, pre‐pregnancy cigarette consumption, and higher parity. Partner and family emotional support, joint pregnancy planning and depressive symptomatology, were not independently associated with women's smoking reduction or cessation. Follow‐up data confirmed the early pregnancy results.Conclusions. Intervention trials to reduce the prevalence of smoking in pregnancy should include targeting of behavioural change in partner smoking.