bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Discovered on gastrointestinal stromal tumour 1 (DOG1): a useful immunohistochemical marker for diagnosing chondroblastoma
Authors: Akpalo Hana , Lange Claudia , Zustin Jozef 
Published: February 2012

Akpalo H, Lange C & Zustin J  (2012) Histopathology 60, 1099–1106Discovered on gastrointestinal stromal tumour 1 (DOG1): a useful immunohistochemical marker for diagnosing chondroblastomaAims:  Cellular areas of chondroblastoma are composed of polygonal chondroblasts with indented nuclei and scattered osteoclast‐type multinucleated cells. To learn more about the phenotype of chondroblasts, we investigated the expression of several established immunohistochemical markers in chondroblastomas.Methods and results:  Nine chondroblastomas were analysed using immunohistochemical antibodies [CD34, α‐smooth muscle actin (α‐SMA), DOG1, CD117, AE1/AE3 and CD163]. Ten chondromyxoid fibromas, seven giant cell tumours of bone and four foetal proximal femurs were also analysed. The cellular areas of each chondroblastoma contained nests of DOG1+αSMA+ CD117− CD34− chondroblasts, a phenotype that was not detected in chondromyxoid fibroma cases or in giant cell tumours. Although AE1/AE3 was expressed in all chondroblastomas, the staining intensity and proportion of the positive cells varied widely. Intra‐lesional CD163+ macrophages were detected in all cases of chondroblastoma, chondromyxoid fibroma and giant cell tumours.Conclusions:  Our results demonstrated nests of membranous DOG1+ chondroblasts located within cellular portions of chondroblastoma containing diffuse heterogeneous infiltrates of mostly DOG1− chondroblasts, CD163+ macrophages and multinucleated osteoclastic giant cells. Thus, chondroblastoma can be added to the tumours that are usually positive for DOG1, alongside gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST), rare solid‐pseudopapillary neoplasms of the pancreas and exceptional mesenchymal tumours including uterine type retroperitoneal leiomyoma, peritoneal leiomyomatosis and synovial sarcoma.
Lysyl oxidase from jumbo squid (Dosidicus gigas) muscle: purification and partial characterization
Authors: Torres‐Arreola Wilfrido , Ezquerra‐Brauer Josafat Marina , Pacheco‐Aguilar Ramón , Valenzuela‐Soto Elisa M. , Rouzaud‐Sandez Ofelia , Lugo‐Sanchez Maria E. , Carvallo‐Ruiz Gisela 
Published: February 2012

SummaryLysyl oxidase (LOX; E.C.1.4.3.13) was purified from jumbo squid muscle (Dosidicus gigas) with 1900‐fold and yield 1.9%, and characterized for the first time. The purification procedure consisted of fractionation with urea and a combination of size‐exclusion and anion‐exchange chromatography. The enzyme had a molecular weight of 32 kDa, as estimated by SDS‐PAGE. Using a specific LOX substrate (1,5‐diaminopentane), its optimum activity was determined at pH 8.2 and 65 °C. Activation energy (Ea) of the enzyme was 69.94 kJ K−1 mol−1. The enzyme was strongly inhibited by β‐aminopropionitrile fumarate (BAPN), a specific LOX inhibitor. Moreover, purified LOX was able to work at different temperatures (20–90 °C) at pH 8.2. Although further research is needed, the results from this work suggest that based on LOX activity, this enzyme may be of practical use in preventing textural changes in jumbo squid during storage or processing.
Forensic and non‐forensic psychiatric nursing skills and competencies for psychopathic and personality disordered patients
Authors: Bowen Matt , Mason Tom 
Published: February 2012

Aim and objective.  To understand better the skills and competencies for forensic and non‐forensic nursing of psychopathic and personality disordered patients.Background.  In the UK, there has been growing interest in service provision for this client group, but with little research to support the nursing skills required.Design.  A non‐experimental design, using a postal survey to 990 forensic and 500 non‐forensic nurses.Method.  An information gathering schedule was used to generate data about the most desirable skills and competencies and least desirable weaknesses and nursing attributes to nurse this group.Results.  The results for the forensic nurses. Main strengths and skills: being firm, setting limits and defining boundaries. Main weaknesses: inability to engage, inability to resolve conflict and impatience. Main skills and competencies: being non‐threatening, non‐judgemental and able to expect anything. Least desirable qualities: over‐reacting, being judgemental and over‐confrontational. The results for the non‐forensic nurses. Main strengths and skills: being non‐judgemental, listening skills and good risk assessment. Main weaknesses: frustration with the system, a fear of aggression and no skills to engage. Main skills and competencies: being open‐minded, non‐judgemental and forming relationships. Least desirable qualities: a supercilious attitude, cynicism and being judgemental.Conclusion.  The results highlight the importance of forming therapeutic relationships as the bedrock of both forensic and non‐forensic nursing, and they also highlight the important differences with regard to the significance of therapeutic action and therapeutic verbal interaction.Relevance to clinical practice.  The provision of better care for this client group will rely on appropriate training for nurses. This research highlights the need for training that supports the development of engagement skills, communication skills and an ability to use reflection in action as a means of providing therapeutic care. It also highlights the different emphasis on the use of these skills by forensic and non‐forensic nurses.
Nurses’ perceptions of the barriers in effective communication with inpatient cancer adults in Singapore
Authors: Tay Li Hui , Ang Emily , Hegney Desley 
Published: February 2012

Aim.  This study investigated the factors affecting effective communication between Singaporean registered nurses and inpatient oncology adults.Background.  In oncology nursing, where conversations entail emotionally loaded topics and patients’ receptivity is greatly affected by their life‐threatening disease and its trajectory, effective communication is crucial.Design.  This is a qualitative study situated within the interpretivism paradigm.Method.  Ten registered nurses from the oncology wards of a major teaching hospital in Singapore were interviewed. Data were transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed.Conclusion.  Factors that influenced effective nurse–patient communication were found in the characteristics of the patient, the nurse and the environment. While there are common factors influencing communication in all contexts of practice, this study has suggested that a multicultural community such as Singapore presents special challenges in the oncology inpatient setting. Language barriers are significant, particularly between overseas trained nurses and patients who cannot converse in English. Cultural taboos also increase nurses’ discomfort when discussing sensitive topics. Additionally, the government’s promotion of Singapore as a medical ‘hub’ increases the cultural and ethnic mix of inpatients. A particular concerning finding is Singapore society’s poor perception of and lack of respect for nurses, which is partly contributed by Singapore’s ‘user‐pays’ health system and lowly‐paid foreign nurses.Relevance to clinical practice.  Nurses should be mindful of how patients’ disease trajectory and psychological state affect communication. Nurses should also take patients’ cultural background into consideration when approaching sensitive topics. Language and cultural induction classes should also be made available, especially for overseas trained nurses working in Singapore. Nursing Associations in Singapore need to work on programmes that will increase the prestige of nursing. Further research involving a more representative sample is warranted to understand how Singapore’s ‘user‐pays’ health care system affects effective nurse–patient communication.
Effects of an educational patient safety campaign on patients' safety behaviours and adverse events
Authors: Schwappach David L.B. , Frank Olga , Buschmann Ute , Babst Reto 
Published: February 2012

AbstractRationale, aims and objectives  The study aims to investigate the effects of a patient safety advisory on patients' risk perceptions, perceived behavioural control, performance of safety behaviours and experience of adverse incidents.Method  Quasi‐experimental intervention study with non‐equivalent group comparison was used. Patients admitted to the surgical department of a Swiss large non‐university hospital were included. Patients in the intervention group received a safety advisory at their first clinical encounter. Outcomes were assessed using a questionnaire at discharge. Odds ratios for control versus intervention group were calculated. Regression analysis was used to model the effects of the intervention and safety behaviours on the experience of safety incidents.Results  Two hundred eighteen patients in the control and 202 in the intervention group completed the survey (75 and 77% response rates, respectively). Patients in the intervention group were less likely to feel poorly informed about medical errors (OR = 0.55, P = 0.043). There were 73.1% in the intervention and 84.3% in the control group who underestimated the risk for infection (OR = 0.51, CI 0.31–0.84, P = 0.009). Perceived behavioural control was lower in the control group (meanCon = 3.2, meanInt = 3.5, P = 0.010). Performance of safety‐related behaviours was unaffected by the intervention. Patients in the intervention group were less likely to experience any safety‐related incident or unsafe situation (OR for intervention group = 0.57, CI 0.38–0.87, P = 0.009). There were no differences in concerns for errors during hospitalization. There were 96% of patients (intervention) who would recommend other patients to read the advisory.Conclusions  The results suggest that the safety advisory decreases experiences of adverse events and unsafe situations. It renders awareness and perceived behavioural control without increasing concerns for safety and can thus serve as a useful instrument for communication about safety between health care workers and patients.
A nationwide evaluation on electronic medication‐related information provided by hospital websites
Authors: Lin Hsiang‐Wen , Ku Chung‐Hui , Li Jui‐fen , Tan An Chee , Chou Chia‐Hung 
Published: February 2012

AbstractRational, aims and objectives  The aim of this study was to describe the characteristics of electronic medication‐related information (e‐MRI) via Internet offered by the hospital settings in Taiwan.Methods  The structured Internet search and comprehensive review were performed on the most commonly used search engines in Taiwan. The assessment checklists were developed to describe the characteristics of general, e‐MRI in the years 2008 and 2010, and specific digoxin information in 2011 based on the operational definitions derived from other studies. The descriptive analyses and chi‐square tests for the retrieved data were performed.Results  With approximately 15% of hospital settings providing general, e‐MRI on their websites, their content varied but was not statistically significant, and different among the providers from different levels of hospitals and in different years. More medical centres provided the information with the updated dates and contact approaches than the smaller scale hospitals. Little was found about reference citation and authorships for those general, e‐MRI websites. More medical centres created the accesses to search for the individual prescription in the corresponding settings and the specific information about digoxin storage. However, more district hospitals provided the precaution and dosage form information about digoxin.Conclusions  The providers to offer the e‐MRI via hospital websites in Taiwan could be more responsible for its update, authorship and evidence. Further, the provision of electronic medication‐related information via the Internet should be regularly examined or audited by the neutral personnel or organizations to ensure its quality.
Current controversies in the use of haemoglobin A1c
Authors: Hare M. J. L. , Shaw J. E. , Zimmet P. Z. 
Published: February 2012

Abstract.  Hare MJL, Shaw JE, Zimmet PZ (Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Vic.; and Monash University, Melbourne, Vic.; Australia). Current controversies in the use of haemoglobin A1c (Review). J Intern Med 2012; 271: 227–236.Haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) has recently been adopted by the World Health Organization into its recommended criteria for diabetes diagnosis. Much debate continues regarding the relative benefits and potential disadvantages surrounding the use of HbA1c for this purpose. There is a lack of consensus as to whether this alteration to the definition of diabetes is a step forward or whether it could add further confusion and ambiguity to the debate on the method and criteria for the diagnosis of this globally important disease. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current issues surrounding how HbA1c is measured and reported; and of the evidence for and against its use in diagnosis.
Evidence of inbreeding depression but not inbreeding avoidance in a natural house sparrow population
Authors: BILLING ANNA M. , LEE ALINE M. , SKJELSETH SIGRUN , BORG ÅSA A. , HALE MATTHEW C. , SLATE JON , PÄRN HENRIK , RINGSBY THOR H. , SÆTHER BERNT‐ERIK , JENSEN HENRIK 
Published: February 2012

AbstractInbreeding is common in small and threatened populations and often has a negative effect on individual fitness and genetic diversity. Thus, inbreeding can be an important factor affecting the persistence of small populations. In this study, we investigated the effects of inbreeding on fitness in a small, wild population of house sparrows (Passer domesticus) on the island of Aldra, Norway. The population was founded in 1998 by four individuals (one female and three males). After the founder event, the adult population rapidly increased to about 30 individuals in 2001. At the same time, the mean inbreeding coefficient among adults increased from 0 to 0.04 by 2001 and thereafter fluctuated between 0.06 and 0.10, indicating a highly inbred population. We found a negative effect of inbreeding on lifetime reproductive success, which seemed to be mainly due to an effect of inbreeding on annual reproductive success. This resulted in selection against inbred females. However, the negative effect of inbreeding was less strong in males, suggesting that selection against inbred individuals is at least partly sex specific. To examine whether individuals avoided breeding with close relatives, we compared observed inbreeding and kinship coefficients in the population with those obtained from simulations of random mating. We found no significant differences between the two, indicating weak or absent inbreeding avoidance. We conclude that there was inbreeding depression in our population. Despite this, birds did not seem to actively avoid mating with close relatives, perhaps as a consequence of constraints on mating possibilities in such a small population.
Fig trees at the northern limit of their range: the distributions of cryptic pollinators indicate multiple glacial refugia
Authors: CHEN YAN , COMPTON STEPHEN G. , LIU MIN , CHEN XIAO‐YONG 
Published: February 2012

AbstractClimatic oscillations during the last few million years had well‐documented effects on the distributions and genomes of temperate plants and animals, but much less is known of their impacts on tropical and subtropical species. In contrast to Europe and North America, ice‐sheets did not cover most of China during glacial periods, and the effects of glacial cycles were less dramatic. Fig trees are a predominantly tropical group pollinated by host‐specific fig wasps. We employed partial mitochondrial COI (918 bp) and nuclear ITS2 (462 bp) gene sequences to investigate the genetic structure and demographic histories of the wasps that pollinate the subtropical Ficus pumila var. pumila in Southeastern China. Deep genetic divergence in both mitochondrial (7.2–11.6%) and nuclear genes (1.6–2.9%) indicates that three pollinator species are present and that they diverged about 4.72 and 6.00 Myr bp. This predates the Quaternary ice ages, but corresponds with the formation of the Taiwan Strait and uplifting of the Wuyi–Xianxia Mountains. The three pollinators have largely allopatric distribution patterns in China and display different postglacial demographic histories. Wiebesia spp. 1 and 2 occupy, respectively, the northern and southern regions of the mainland host range. Their populations both underwent significant postglacial spatial expansions, but at different times and at different rates. Wiebesia sp. 3 is largely restricted to northern islands and shows less evidence of recent population expansion. Their mainly allopatric distributions and different demographic histories are consistent with host plant postglacial expansion from three distinct refugia and suggest one mechanism whereby fig trees gain multiple pollinators.
RNase HIII from Chlamydophila pneumoniae can efficiently cleave double‐stranded DNA carrying a chimeric ribonucleotide in the presence of manganese
Authors: Lu Zheng , Liang Rubing , Liu Xipeng , Hou Jingli , Liu Jianhua 
Published: February 2012

SummaryTwo ribonuclease Hs (RNase Hs) have been found in Chlamydophila pneumoniae, CpRNase HII and CpRNase HIII. This work is the first report that CpRNase HIII can efficiently cleave DNA‐rN1‐DNA/DNA (rN1, monoribonucleotide) in vitro in the presence of Mn2+, whereas the enzymatic activity of CpRNase HII on the same substrate was inhibited by Mn2+ and dependent on Mg2+. However, the ability of both CpRNase Hs to cleave other alternative substrates (RNA/DNA hybrids and Okazaki‐like substrates), was insensitive to the divalent ions changes, suggesting that high concentrations of Mn2+ specifically repressed the ability of CpRNase HII to cleave DNA‐rN1‐DNA/DNA but activated this function in CpRNase HIII. Further in vivo experiments showed that the CpRNase HII complementation of Escherichia coli rnh‐ mutations in an Mg2+ environment was suppressed by Mn2+. In contrast, Mn2+ was indispensable for CpRNase HIII to complement the same mutations. Further, the cell growth inhibition and the genomic DNA sensitivity to alkali in the bacterial strain lacking RNase HII activity could be relieved by functional CpRNase HII or HIII with its compatible ion. Therefore, CpRNase HIII can execute cleavage activity on DNA‐rN1‐DNA/DNA under a Mn2+‐rich environment and may function as a substitute for CpRNase HII under special physiological states.
Activity in varicosities within the myenteric plexus between and during the colonic migrating motor complex in the isolated murine large intestine
Authors: Bayguinov P. O. , Broadhead M. J. , Okamoto T. , Hennig G. W. , Smith T. K. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractBackground  Neuronal communication within the myenteric plexus occurs when action potentials along nerve fibers produce Ca2+ transients in varicosities leading to exocytosis of vesicles and neurotransmitters release. We used Ca2+ transients in varicosities to monitor action potential activity in myenteric nerve pathways both between and during the colonic migrating motor complex (CMMC) in the isolated murine colon.Methods  Strips of longitudinal muscle were removed to reveal the myenteric ganglia, which were then loaded with Fluo‐4.Key Results  Many varicosities, including synaptotagmin 1 labeled varicosities, exhibited ongoing Ca2+ transients (duration of unitary Ca2+ transient 3.9 s). Between CMMCs, varicosities fired at a frequency of 0.6 Hz, which correlated with spontaneous inhibitory junction potentials in the circular muscle, suggesting they were mainly in inhibitory nerve pathways. During a CMMC other previously quiescent varicosities fired at 1.3 Hz (max. 2.0 Hz) for the duration (24 s) of the CMMC, suggesting they were on excitatory nerve pathways. Activity in varicosities was correlated with Ca2+ transient responses in a number of neurons. Some varicosities appeared to release an inhibitory neurotransmitter that reduced activity in nNOS‐positive neurons. Varicosities along the same nerve fiber exhibited identical patterns of activity that allowed nerve fibers to be traced throughout the myenteric plexus and internodal strands. Activity in varicosities was reduced by hexamethonium (100 μmol L−1), and blocked by ω‐conotoxin GVIA (200 nM) and tetrodotoxin (1 μmol L−1; TTX).Conclusions & Inferences  Ca2+ imaging of varicosities allows for a determination of activity in neural pathways within the enteric nervous system.
Somatic mosaicism in a mother of two children with Pitt–Hopkins syndrome
Authors: Steinbusch CVM , van Roozendaal KEP , Tserpelis D , Smeets EEJ , Kranenburg‐de Koning TJ , de Waal KH , Zweier C , Rauch A , Hennekam RCM , Blok MJ , Schrander‐Stumpel CTRM 
Published: February 2012

Steinbusch CVM, van Roozendaal KEP, Tserpelis D, Smeets EEJ, Kranenburg‐de Koning TJ, de Waal KH, Zweier C, Rauch A, Hennekam RCM, Blok MJ, Schrander‐Stumpel CTRM. Somatic mosaicism in a mother of two children with Pitt–Hopkins syndrome.Pitt–Hopkins syndrome (PTHS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by intellectual disability, unusual face and breathing abnormalities and can be caused by haploinsufficiency of TCF4. The majority of cases are sporadic. Somatic mosaicism was reported infrequently. We report on a proband with typical manifestations of PTHS and his younger brother with a less striking phenotype. In both, a heterozygous frameshift mutation (c.1901_1909delinsA, p.Ala634AspfsX67) was found in exon 19 of TCF4. The same mutation was found at low levels in DNA extracted from the mother's blood, urine and saliva. This report of familial recurrence with somatic mosaicism in a healthy mother has important consequences for genetic counseling. We suggest careful studies in parents of other patients with PTHS to determine the frequency of germline and somatic mosaicism for TCF4 mutations.
Hypoosmotic Swelling Test in Alpaca (Vicugna pacos) Epididymal Spermatozoa
Authors: Vásquez J , Florentini EA , Valdivia M 
Published: February 2012

ContentsThe present study intended to develop the hypoosmotic swelling (HOS) test in alpaca for its use in epididymal spermatozoa, to evaluate the membrane functional integrity and determine an appropriate hypoosmotic solution and whether the incubation time of 15 or 60 min is sufficient for the execution of the test. Hypoosmotic solutions (HS) with the following concentrations were used: 50, 100, 150, 200 and 275 mOsm/kg of sodium citrate tribasic dihydrate and d‐fructose. Ten microlitres of epididymal sperm sample was mixed in 150 μL of the respective HS and incubated for 15 or 60 min at 38°C. From the proportion of reacted (swollen) spermatozoa, the 150 mOsm/kg HS was the most sensitive (p < 0.05). The exposure times (15 and 60 min) did not have significant differences (p > 0.05) in the proportion of both strong‐ and total‐coiled sperm tails. In conclusion, 150 mOsm/kg HS and 15 min exposure time are optimal to evaluate the plasma membrane functional integrity through the HOS test in alpaca epididymal spermatozoa.