bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
RESEARCH FOCUS ON COMPULSIVE BEHAVIOUR IN ANIMALS: An animal model of compulsive food‐taking behaviour
Authors: Heyne Andrea , Kiesselbach Christoph , Sahún Ignasi , McDonald Jerome , Gaiffi Monica , Dierssen Mara , Wolffgramm Jochen 
Published: September 2009

ABSTRACTThe increase in the incidence of obesity and eating disorders has promoted research aimed at understanding the aetiology of abnormal eating behaviours. Apart from metabolic factors, obesity is caused by overeating. Clinical reports have led to the suggestion that some individuals may develop addictive‐like behaviours when consuming palatable foods, and compulsive eating plays a similar dominant role in obesity as compulsive drug taking does in drug addiction. The progress made in the development of treatment strategies for obesity is limited, in part, because the physiological and neurological causes and consequences of compulsive eating behaviour are not clearly understood and cannot readily be studied in human subjects. We have developed experimental approaches that reflect the functioning of the components of eating control, including compulsive food taking in rats. Rats that are given free choice between standard chow and a palatable, chocolate‐containing ‘Cafeteria Diet’ (CD) develop distinct signs of compulsive food taking that appear at an early stage. These include the inability to adapt intake behaviour in periods of limited or bitter‐tasting CD access, continued food intake during resting phases and changes in fine structure of feeding (duration, distribution and recurrence of feeding bouts). The model will help examine the neurobiological underpinnings of compulsive food seeking and food taking and provides a possibility to study the effects of novel anti‐obesity compounds on compulsive eating and other components of food‐taking behaviour in detail. For future use of genetic models, the possibility of a transfer to a mouse was discussed.
Co‐researching with people with learning disabilities: an experience of involvement in qualitative data analysis
Authors: Tuffrey‐Wijne Irene , Butler Gary 
Published: September 2009

AbstractBackground  People with learning disabilities have been included in research as co‐researchers since the 1990s. However, there is limited literature about the processes of involving people with learning disabilities in the more intellectual and analytical stages of the research process.Aims  To examine the potential contribution of people with learning disabilities to data analysis in qualitative research.Methods  This article is a reflection on one research experience. The two authors include one researcher with and one without learning disabilities. They each describe their experience and understanding of user involvement in analysing the data of an ethnographic study of people with learning disabilities who had cancer. The researcher with learning disabilities was given extensive vignettes and extracts from the research field notes, and was supported to extract themes, which were cross‐compared with the analysis of other members of the research team.Results  The researcher with learning disabilities coped well with the emotive content of the data and with the additional support provided, he was able to extract themes that added validity to the overall analysis. His contribution complemented those of the other members of the research team. There were unexpected benefits, in particular, in terms of a more reciprocal and supportive relationship between the two researchers.Conclusion  It is possible and valuable to extend involvement to data analysis, but to avoid tokenism and maintain academic rigour, there must be a clear rationale for such involvement. Extra support, time and costs must be planned for.
Human neutrophil alloantigen‐1a, ‐1b, ‐2, ‐3a and ‐4a frequencies in Brazilians
Authors: Norcia A. M. M. I. , Sugano E. Y. K. , Chiba A. K. , Moritz E. , Guirao F. P. , Yamamoto M. , Bordin J. O. 
Published: September 2009

AbstractHuman neutrophil reactive antibodies may cause clinical disorders such as transfusion‐related acute lung injury, febrile transfusion reactions, alloimmune neonatal neutropenia, immune neutropenia after stem cell transplantation, refractoriness to granulocyte transfusion, drug‐induced neutropenia and autoimmune neutropenia. Using the granulocyte immunofluorescence test by flow cytometry, the phenotypic frequencies of the human neutrophil alloantigens (HNA)‐1a, ‐1b, ‐2, ‐3a and ‐4a were determined in 100 healthy Brazilian persons. Neutrophils were separated from blood samples by sedimentation, centrifugated and incubated with HNA‐specific alloantibody plus fluorescein isothiocyanate‐labeled F(ab')2 fragments of anti‐human IgG. The results showed that the phenotype frequencies of HNA‐1a, ‐1b, ‐2a, ‐3a and ‐4a were 65%, 83%, 97%, 95% and 94%, respectively. We detected that neutrophils from 17% of Brazilians typed positive only with anti‐HNA‐1a (HNA‐1a/a), 35% only with anti‐HNA‐1b (HNA‐1b/b) and 48% reacted with both antibodies (HNA‐1a/b). The frequencies found for HNA‐1a and ‐1b were quite similar to that reported among Africans and American‐Africans, but different from those found in Japanese and Chinese. In addition, our data showed that the frequencies of HNA‐2, ‐3a and ‐4a in Brazilians were comparable with those observed in Caucasians. The determination of HNAs frequencies among populations with distinct racial backgrounds is important not only for anthropological reasons, but also for neonatal typing in suspected cases of alloimmune neutropenia or when patients are severely neutropenic.
Assessing the Importance of Social Factors in Bird Song Learning: A Test Using Computer‐Simulated Tutors
Authors: Burt John M. , O’Loghlen Adrian L. , Templeton Christopher N. , Campbell S. Elizabeth , Beecher Michael D. 
Published: September 2009

AbstractWe used a mixed live/synthetic tutoring design to investigate whether the social factors of eavesdropping on adult singing interactions and/or direct interaction with a tutor would influence song learning in song sparrows (Melospiza melodia). Males were brought into the laboratory at 4–5 d‐old, hand‐raised and then tutored by two pairs of adult song sparrows in June and July From January through March of the next year, subjects received tutoring from computer simulations of two of the original live tutors. The first, non‐interactive, model simulated one of the earlier tutors singing ‘naturalistic’ bouts of song with no interaction with the subject. The second, interactive, model simulated a different early tutor that behaved similarly to the non‐interactive model, but synchronized its singing with the subject, and tried to match the subject’s song. Subjects learned relatively more from their interactive late tutor and his early partner, and showed no tendency to learn more from their late than their early‐only tutors. These results support the eavesdropping hypothesis, and also suggest that direct interaction with the tutor is a relevant social factor.
Recovery from Drought Stress at the Shooting Stage in Oilseed Rape (Brassica napus)
Authors: Müller T. , Lüttschwager D. , Lentzsch P. 
Published: September 2009

AbstractPeriods of drought frequently affect the development of winter rape at the shooting stage in spring. A growth chamber study was conducted to determine the effects of 13 days of strong water deficit at the shooting stage followed by rewatering on oilseed rape (Brassica napus). The osmolality and the efficiency of photosystem II in leaves were measured by means of a vapour pressure osmometer and a chlorophyll fluorometer, respectively. The activities of sucrose cleaving enzymes in leaves were determined through invertase as well as sucrose synthase tests. A higher osmotic pressure was observed 2 days after water deprivation. Extracellular and vacuolar invertases as well as chlorophyll fluorescence were decreased with delay. Rewatering led to a gradual decrease in the osmotic pressure and a delayed increase in the enzyme activities as well as the photosynthetic efficiency. A linear regression model could predict osmolality in well‐watered plants based on the extracellular enzyme activity and growth stage. The ontogenetic and stress‐related pattern of extracellular invertase activity could indicate a role of this enzyme in balancing source‐sink relations. The onset of flowering was not influenced by drought, but the period of this stage was prolonged. Though, the ontogenetic stages of stressed and unstressed plants were the same at the time of harvest, the development of seed biomass was significantly depressed under stress.
Environmental and Varietal Influences on the Fatty Acid Composition of Rapeseed, Soybeans and Sunflowers
Authors: Werteker M. , Lorenz A. , Johannes H. , Berghofer E. , Findlay C. S. 
Published: September 2009

AbstractThe fatty acid (FA) composition of oil crops is of some importance under technological as well as under nutritional aspects. The influence of temperature on this parameter in rapeseed, soybeans and sunflowers was investigated under practical agricultural conditions, whereby varietal variations were taken into account. The analysed plant material originated from variety testing trials located in different climatic zones of Austria. As a measure of the climatic conditions of a location, the mean temperature of the last 30 days before harvest was calculated. Despite the low temperature differences between the various locations, moderate but significant negative correlations between temperature and the share of linolenic (18 : 3), respectively, linoleic (18 : 2) acid on the whole quantity of FAs in rapeseed (R² = 0.18–0.42), soybeans (R² = 0.11–0.13) and sunflowers (R² = 0.15) were found. Furthermore, there was a good negative correlation in the case of sunflower seeds between temperature and oil level (R² = 0.45). The environmental influence on the share of polyunsaturated FAs differed between the different species. The results show that quality of vegetable oils is as well a question of environment as of variety.
Trace metal concentration in water and sediments of satellite lakes within Lake Victoria (Kenya) basin
Authors: Mwamburi Job 
Published: September 2009

AbstractLakes Kanyaboli, Sare and Namboyo are three important freshwater satellite lakes in the northern region of the Lake Victoria (Kenya) basin. Lake Simbi, a small alkaline ‐saline crater‐lake is located near the southern shoreline of the Nyanza Gulf of Lake Victoria. The three freshwater lakes provide unique aquatic habitats for the important indigenous fish species and other aquatic biodiversity, as well as serving as water resources for the surrounding communities. Surface and sediment samples were collected and examined to characterize these lake systems. Metal partitioning among the various defined geochemical phases also was determined. Based on the measured concentrations, the satellite lake waters are relatively uncontaminated with regard to Al (aluminium), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu) and chromium (Cr). Levels of most elements were below detection limits, as well as being well below the desirable drinking water guideline values proposed by the World Health Organization. The exception was the elevated iron (Fe) contents (>300 μg L−1). The sediments exhibited a relatively low level of contamination with regard to heavy metals. The mean values of the measured metals in the sediments were compared to levels in adjacent Lake Victoria. The study results from these poorly‐studied, and relatively unperturbed ecosystems, compared to the main body of lake Victoria, highlight their importance as conservation areas, despite the small‐scale fishery activity, potential threats from human activities and their sensitivity to fluctuating environmental conditions.
Soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor‐1 in preterm infants with chronic lung disease
Authors: Sato Miho , Mori Masaaki , Nishimaki Shigeru , An Hiromi , Naruto Takuya , Sugai Toshiyuki , Shima Yoshio , Seki Kazuo , Yokota Shumpei 
Published: September 2009

AbstractBackground:  It is clear that inflammation plays an important role in developing chronic lung disease in preterm infants. The purpose of the present study is to investigate changes of serum soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor‐1 levels over time in infants with chronic lung disease.Methods:  The serum levels of soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor‐1 were measured after delivery, and at 7, 14, 21 and 28 days of age in 10 infants with chronic lung disease and in 18 infants without chronic lung disease.Results:  The serum level of soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor‐1 was significantly higher in infants with chronic lung disease than in infants without chronic lung disease after delivery. The differences between these two groups remained up to 28 days of age.Conclusion:  Prenatal inflammation with persistence into postnatal inflammation may be involved in the onset of chronic lung disease.
Evaluation of angiogenesis with vascular endothelial growth factor in patients with thalassemia major
Authors: Olgar Seref , Kara Aslıhan , Hicyilmaz Hicran , Balta Nihal , Canatan Duran 
Published: September 2009

AbstractBackground:  Thalassemia major (TM) is an important cause of severe anemia that necessitates regular blood transfusion to prevent the profound weakness and cardiac decompensation caused by the anemia. However, iron overloading is an inevitable consequence of prolonged transfusion therapy. In addition, extramedullary hematopoiesis and hemosiderosis cause spleen, liver and marrow enlargement. In recent years the role of angiogenesis has been investigated in physiological and pathological conditions. However, it is known that angiogenetic factors, especially the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), cause differentiation of the hemangioblast.Methods:  The effect of angiogenesis hasn't been investigated in TM patients yet, and in this study, angiogenesis was researched in 43 thalassemic patients by serum VEGF measurement.Results:  VEGF levels were not affected by hemoglobin levels, ferritin levels, or chelation type (P > 0.05). However, VEGF was positively affected by chelation starting age and negatively affected by yearly transfusion requirement of TM patients (P < 0.05). In addition, VEGF of patients who underwent splenectomy were higher than those who didn't undergo splenectomy (P < 0.05).Conclusion:  Early chelating age will negatively influence the VEGF level, which increases angiogenesis, however, early starting transfusion age and regular blood transfusion will positively influence the VEGF level, which decreases angiogenesis in thalassemic patients.
Passive smoking is associated with lower serum HDL‐C levels in school children
Authors: Hirata Kuniyo , Yamano Yuko , Suzuki Hidetaka , Miyagawa Sanpei , Nakadate Toshio 
Published: September 2009

AbstractBackground:  In recent years, a number of studies have reported that exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) reduces high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐C) levels in children, as well as in adults. Further, a number of countries have indicated that passive smoking increases the risk of early arteriosclerosis onset. Here, to evaluate the effects of ETS exposure, we conducted a cross‐sectional epidemiological study on primary school children in Japan using answers from a questionnaire survey, as well as urine cotinine and lipid metabolism‐related variable measurements.Methods:  A total of 121 sixth‐grade primary school children participated in this study by completing a questionnaire about their food intake, lifestyle and family smoking habits. Early in the morning, we also measured height, weight, blood pressure, serum levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL‐C, and blood sugar, as well as urine levels of cotinine and creatinine under unfed conditions.Results:  From the questionnaire, 40 and 81 children reported being exposed and not exposed to ETS, respectively. Serum HDL‐C levels, which were adjusted for the degree of corpulence and exercise habits, were significantly lower in the passive smoker group than the non‐passive‐smoker group (65.3 and 72.1 mg/dL, respectively; P= 0.012). In addition, proportional differences in serum HDL‐C levels were also observed based on the amount of cigarettes smoked at home by family members of the child.Conclusions:  Results suggest that ETS exposure at home is associated in a dose‐related manner with lower serum HDL‐C levels in primary school children. In addition, our results suggest that smoking in the presence of children who are not usually exposed to ETS increases the risk of arteriosclerosis. Given these findings, we strongly recommend the establishment of anti‐passive‐smoking measures.
Ehlers–Danlos type IV in pregnancy with a history of myocardial infarction
Authors: Ohkuchi Akihide , Matsubara Shigeki , Takahashi Kayoko , Inoue Soichiro , Saito Tsutomu , Mitsuhashi Takeshi , Yamagata Takanori , Takahashi Naoto , Watanabe Atsushi , Shimada Takashi , Suzuki Mitsuaki 
Published: September 2009

AbstractEhlers–Danlos syndrome (EDS) type IV is an autosomal dominantly inherited connective tissue disorder caused by abnormal type III collagen resulting from heterogenous mutations of the type III procollagen gene (COL3A1). The maternal mortality rate per pregnancy in EDS type IV has been reported as 11.5% to 25%. A 30‐year‐old Japanese primiparous woman, with a brother who had suffered a bowel rupture due to EDS type IV, became pregnant. She also suffered from myocardial infarction due to coronary artery dissections at 24 years old, and underwent coronary artery bypass grafting. Due to uncontrollable uterine contractions, beta 2‐stimulants were administered during 18 to 29 weeks of gestation. Therefore, we performed a cesarean section at 29 weeks of gestation to prevent uterine rupture. She and her baby were discharged without any complications. It was revealed that she had the same mutation as her brother, Gly220Trp, in the (Gly‐X‐Y)n repeat of the triple‐helical domain of COL3A1.
The efficacy of preoperative hormonal therapy before laparoscopic cystectomy of ovarian endometriomas
Authors: Tsujioka Hiroshi , Inoue Yoshihito , Emoto Makoto , Sadamori Riko , Shirota Kyoko , Hachisuga Toru , Kawarabayashi Tatsuhiko 
Published: September 2009

AbstractAim:  The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of preoperative hormonal therapy before laparoscopic cystectomy of ovarian endometriomas. We identified differences in follicle loss and surgical difficulties with or without preoperative hormonal therapy.Methods:  Ninety‐six patients with ovarian endometrioma underwent a laparoscopic cystectomy. Patients were divided into three groups: control group A (53 patients, 57 cysts) with no preoperative hormonal therapy; group B (34 patients, 40 cysts) who received gonadotropin‐releasing hormone agonist therapy; and group C (9 patients, 11 cysts) who received danazol therapy before surgery. The medical and videotape records of all patients were retrospectively reviewed. The specimens of endometriomas were histologically evaluated.Results:  Mean diameters of endometriomas before hormonal therapy in groups B and C were significantly greater than those in the control group. There were no significant differences in the following: the mean diameter of removed cysts, the revised‐American Society of Reproductive Medicine scores, the number of capsules containing follicle(s), and the mean number of follicles attached to a cyst. However, the number of capsules showing fibrosis significantly increased in the preoperative hormonal therapy groups (P < 0.001). Furthermore, the mean operation time of the preoperative hormonal groups was significantly longer than that of the control group (P < 0.01, P < 0.001).Conclusion:  Our data suggested that preoperative hormonal therapy reduced the size of endometriomas. However, with similar revised‐American Society of Reproductive Medicine scores, preoperative hormonal therapy did not contribute to the reduction of the loss of ovarian follicles. Fibrosis resulting from hormonal therapy appears to be responsible for these observations.
Ratio of directly necrotized volume to total volume of a submucosal myoma predicts shrinkage after microwave endometrial ablation
Authors: Kanaoka Yasushi , Yoshida Chika , Tsukioka Miho , Noriyuki Maiko , Ishiko Osamu 
Published: September 2009

AbstractAim:  To explore parameters relating to shrinkage of submucosal myomas after microwave endometrial ablation.Methods:  Fourteen patients underwent microwave endometrial ablation at 2.45 GHz using a curved microwave applicator to treat menorrhagia caused by a submucosal myoma. The size of myomas was measured on magnetic resonance images before, one month after, and six months after the operation. The average radius r was defined as half of the size of the myoma measured in three dimensions. The protrusion ratio α was defined as the ratio of the thickness of the protruding part of a myoma in the uterine cavity to the size of the myoma before the operation. The ratio of the directly necrotized volume by microwave irradiation to the total volume (RODNeV) of preoperative myomas was calculated using the following formula:

image
where d is the depth of myoma tissue directly necrotized by microwave irradiation. The relationships of preoperative α, r and RODNeV to postoperative shrinkage were then examined.Results:  Two‐dimensional plots showing shrinkage of submucosal myomas versus the RODNeV indicated that shrinkage at six months after microwave endometrial ablation depends on the RODNeV. Myomas with a RODNeV greater than 0.17 had shrunk more than 50% at six months after the operation.Conclusions:  RODNeV is closely related to postoperative necrosis and shrinkage of the submucosal myoma after microwave endometrial ablation. Prediction of the shrinkage rate of submucous myomas appears to be possible by calculating the RODNeV preoperatively.
HPV vaccination in women over 25 years of age: Asian Cervical Cancer Prevention Advisory Board recommendations
Authors: Basu Partha , Ngan Hextan Yuen Sheung , Hseon Tay Eng ,   for the Asian Cervical Cancer Prevention Advisory Board (ACCPAB)
Published: September 2009

AbstractCervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women worldwide and is responsible for more than 270 000 deaths every year, the majority of which occur in Asia. The Asian Cervical Cancer Prevention Advisory Board (ACCPAB) was established in 2005 with a mission to raise awareness of the significant disease burden of cervical cancer in Asia and the strategies for its prevention. Persistent infection with oncogenic subtypes of human papillomavirus (HPV) is the necessary cause of cervical cancer. Vaccines against the two most carcinogenic subtypes of HPV (HPV 16 and 18) are available and have the potential to prevent cervical cancer in 70–80% of HPV‐ naïve women. HPV vaccines have been first licensed for use in girls and women aged 9–26 years. However, women over 25 years of age are also vulnerable to HPV infection and are likely to benefit from vaccination. Current evidence shows that even women previously infected with HPV who have subsequently cleared the infection can obtain complete protection against the HPV types contained in the vaccines. Therefore, vaccinating sexually active women aged over 25 years offers significant benefits and may be expected to decrease the incidence of cervical cancer. The ACCPAB advocates the adoption of preventive measures against HPV infection, including vaccination, with a view to protecting women of all ages from developing cervical cancer.