bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Stable isotopes in a stalagmite from NW Sweden document environmental changes over the past 4000 years
Authors: SUNDQVIST HANNA S. , HOLMGREN KARIN , MOBERG ANDERS , SPÖTL CHRISTOPH , MANGINI AUGUSTO 
Published: June 2009

Sundqvist, H. S., Holmgren, K., Moberg, A., Spötl, C. & Mangini, A. 2009: Stable isotopes in a stalagmite from NW Sweden document environmental changes over the past 4000 years. Boreas, 10.1111/j.1502‐3885.2009.00099.x. ISSN 0300‐9483.This study of a 4000‐year‐old stalagmite from Korallgrottan in northwestern Sweden highlights the potentials and challenges when using stable isotopes in stalagmites as climate proxies, as well as the fact that the relationship between climate and proxy may change through time. Both the oxygen and the carbon isotopes display an overall trend of enrichment together with decreasing growth rates over the time period covered by the stalagmite, which is considered a generally cooling period according to current palaeoclimate understanding. The stable isotope records show enriched isotopic values during the, for Scandinavia, comparatively cold period AD 1300–1700 and depleted values during the warmer period AD 800–1000. The indication of a negative relationship between measured δ18O and surface temperature concurs with earlier reported stalagmite records from regions with a seasonal snow cover and is further supported by the fact that the stalagmite δ18O record shows general similarities with both regional and hemispheric temperature reconstructions available for the past 500 and 2000 years, respectively. Compared with a stable isotope record of lacustrine carbonates from northern Sweden, however, shifting correlations over time between the two records indicate that a local hydrological change may have taken place at Korallgrottan, or at the lake, compared with around 1000 years ago. The earlier part of the stalagmite δ18O might thus be influenced, to some extent, by another process than the later part, which means that a negative relationship between δ18O and surface temperature might not hold for the entire 4000‐year‐old record.
Intrathecal Ziconotide for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome: Seven Case Reports
Authors: Kapural Leonardo , Lokey Kristi , Leong Michael S. , Fiekowsky Sharon , Stanton‐Hicks Michael , Sapienza‐Crawford Anne J. , Webster Lynn R. 
Published: June 2009

AbstractZiconotide is a nonopioid analgesic currently indicated as monotherapy, but frequently used in combination with opioids, for the management of severe chronic pain in patients for whom intrathecal (IT) therapy is warranted and who are intolerant of, or whose pain is, refractory to other treatments. There is a paucity of information regarding ziconotide use in patients with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). Seven cases in which IT ziconotide was used in patients with CRPS were analyzed. All patients (4 male, 3 female; age range, 14 to 52 years) had experienced inadequate pain relief with multiple conventional and interventional treatments. Three patients received ziconotide monotherapy exclusively; 4 patients received ziconotide monotherapy initially, then combination IT therapy. The mean ziconotide dose was 5.2 mcg/d (range, 0.5 to 13 mcg/d) at initiation and 24.7 mcg/d (range, 0.06 to 146 mcg/d) at the last available assessment. The mean duration of ziconotide therapy was 3.1 years (range, 26 days to 8 years). At ziconotide initiation, the mean visual analog scale (VAS) score was 89.3 mm (range, 75 to 100 mm); VAS scores decreased by a mean of 47.5% (range, 5% to 100%) at last assessment. Of the 5 patients who experienced substantial improvement in pain, edema, skin abnormalities, and/or mobility with ziconotide therapy, 2 have discontinued ziconotide and are pain free. Another patient experienced marked reversal of both edema and advanced skin trophic changes. Adverse events included urinary retention, depression, anxiety, and hallucinations. Adverse events generally resolved spontaneously, with treatment, or with ziconotide discontinuation/dose reduction. Although further studies are required, ziconotide holds promise as an effective treatment for CRPS.
Clinical Characteristics, Pharmacotherapy and Healthcare Resource Use among Patients with Fibromyalgia Newly Prescribed Gabapentin or Pregabalin
Authors: Gore Mugdha , Sadosky Alesia Beth , Zlateva Gergana , Clauw Daniel J. 
Published: June 2009

AbstractObjective:  To characterize comorbidities, pain‐related pharmacotherapy, and healthcare resource use among patients with fibromyalgia (FM) newly prescribed pregabalin or gabapentin in clinical practice.Methods and design:  Using the PharMetrics® Database, FM patients (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification code 729.1X) newly prescribed pregabalin (n = 1,606; mean age 49.9 ± 9.6 years; 87.9% female) and gabapentin (n = 930; mean age 49.5 ± 9.6 years; 86.6% female) on/after July 1, 2007 were identified. Prevalence of comorbidities, pharmacotherapy, and healthcare resource use/costs (pharmacy, outpatient, inpatient, total) were examined during the 6 months preceding (preindex) and following (postindex) the date of their first pregabalin or gabapentin (index) prescription.Results:  Patients in both cohorts had a variety of comorbidities and used multiple medications. There were significant decreases (P values < 0.05) in the use of nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (32.1% vs. 29.5%), anticonvulsants (27.0% vs. 22.0%), and combination therapies in the pregabalin cohort in the postindex period. There were significant increases (all P values < 0.05) in use of short‐acting opioids (58.8% vs. 63.7%), any opioids (61.5% vs. 65.6%), serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (22.5% vs. 24.5%), anticonvulsants (16.3% vs. 26.2%), benzodiazepines (33.2% vs. 36.6%), topical agents (6.6% vs. 9.0%), and combination therapies in the gabapentin cohort. Although there were no changes in units of healthcare resources used, there were increases in the postindex period in hospitalization, medications, and total costs for pregabalin, and office visits and medication costs for gabapentin (all P values < 0.05).Conclusions:  Results suggest a high comorbidity and medication use burden in FM patients in this study. Further evaluation is warranted to clarify differences in resource utilization/costs observed with these two anticonvulsants.
Does Pain Cause the Perception of Fatigue in Patients with Chronic Pain? Findings from Studies for Management of Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathic Pain with Duloxetine
Authors: Fishbain David A. , Hall Jerry A. , Risser Richard C. , Gonzales Jill S. 
Published: June 2009

AbstractA major issue in pain literature is whether an etiological association between pain, sleep, and vitality exists. We utilized data from clinical trials of duloxetine for management of diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain (DPNP) to investigate these associations. Data were pooled from 3 double‐blind, randomized, placebo‐controlled, 12‐week trials of patients without mood disorder (N =  1,139). After excluding 442 patients who reported maximum vitality at baseline, experienced treatment‐emergent somnolence, asthenia or fatigue, or were taking sedating concomitant medications or duloxetine 20 mg/day, 697 were included in the analysis. Efficacy measures included weekly mean scores for average daily and night pain, pain interference with sleep, and vitality. Baseline to end point mean improvements in daily and night pain, Brief Pain Inventory sleep interference, and vitality were significantly superior for duloxetine compared with placebo (P ≤ 0.001). Correlations between changes in daily and night pain, and sleep interference with vitality changes were −0.34, −0.32, and −0.28, respectively (P < 0.001). The direct effect of treatment on change in vitality was statistically significant (68%, P = 0.010) when assessed in an indirect manner through change in sleep interference alone but not in daily or night pain solely. Path analyses suggested vitality improvement in patients with chronic pain may be secondary to improvement in pain by duloxetine. Results do not prove pain causes fatigue, but indicate in DPNP patients with fatigue that treatment of pain can improve perception of improvement in fatigue. Thus, improvement of pain may be important in the context of trying to improve fatigue in DPNP patients.
Frequency of bacterial contamination of platelet concentrates before and after introduction of diversion method in Japan
Authors: Satake Masahiro , Mitani Takako , Oikawa Shinji , Nagumo Hideto , Sugiura Sayoko , Tateyama Hidemi , Awakihara Syuji , Mitsutomi Yoshiro , Muraoka Masato , Tadokoro Kenji 
Published: June 2009

BACKGROUND: Bacterial contamination of platelet concentrates (PCs) is the major infectious risk in transfusion medicine. To evaluate the necessity of implementing novel strategies for the reduction of bacterial contamination, it is necessary to establish a precise contamination frequency in PCs.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: The frequency of bacterial contamination in PCs issued by the Japanese Red Cross was determined using expired PCs before and after the implementation of the diversion method. The culture method was designed such that it yields the least possibility of false‐negative results: platelet specimens were sampled after at least 4 days of storage and the inoculum volume was 10 mL for both aerobic and anaerobic bottle cultures.RESULTS: Of the 21,786 PCs cultured, 36 (0.17%) were confirmed to be bacterially contaminated before the implementation of the diversion method. After its implementation, the number of contaminated PCs decreased to 11 of 21,783 (0.05%) with a reduction rate of 71% and the number of contaminations of clinical importance was 4 (0.018%) excluding PCs positive for Propionibacterium acnes. The frequency of contamination by bacteria presumed to originate from donors' blood did not decrease.CONCLUSION: The effect of the diversion method on the frequency of bacterial contamination is robust. The low incidence of septic reactions after PC transfusion in Japan in spite of the contamination frequency being comparable to those in Western countries and the noninstitution of culture screening suggests the importance of a short shelf life (72 hr) for PCs introduced in Japan.
Characterization of restricted area searching behavior following consumption of prey and non‐prey food in a cursorial spider, Hibana futilis
Authors: Patt Joseph M. , Pfannenstiel Robert S. 
Published: June 2009

AbstractCursorial spiders are important predators of crop pests in a variety of agricultural systems. Their survivorship, growth, and fecundity can be enhanced by the consumption of extra‐floral nectar. We recently showed that Hibana futilis (Banks) (Araneae: Anyphaenidae) engages in restricted area search following contact with nectar, is stimulated by nectar aroma, and can learn to recognize novel aroma cues. Studies have shown that H. futilis is also responsive to solvent extracts of the eggs and scales of the corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea Boddie (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), one of its primary prey insects in cotton. The arrestment behavior of cursorial spiders following consumption of prey and non‐prey food has not been characterized. In the present study, the responses of spiders were measured following consumption of prey (H. zea eggs) or non‐prey (droplets of dilute honey) food items and compared with individuals tested without food items. The food items were presented to the spiders in test arenas constructed from the top of an inverted glass Petri dish cover. A combination of real time and recorded observations were made via a video camera attached to a computer. The behaviors and movement patterns of individual spiders were analyzed with behavioral tracking software. Significant differences in the behaviors and motion paths of spiders tested in the different treatments were observed. Hibana futilis displayed significantly more dispersal behavior on a blank test arena, than on test arenas supplied with honey droplets or moth eggs. Likewise, spiders tested on the blank arena crawled faster and their motion paths were significantly less tortuous than those of spiders tested in the arenas with honey or moth eggs. Following consumption of both the honey droplets and moth eggs, spiders showed elevated levels of restricted area search and lowered levels of dispersal behavior. The analysis showed that these spiders could crawl rapidly for extended distances. Behaviors such as restricted area search and learned recognition of food‐based stimuli would facilitate efficient location of the food resources needed to maintain their high activity levels.
Influence of tannic acid and Cry1Ac toxin of Bacillus thuringiensis on larval survival, growth, and development of Helicoverpa armigera
Authors: Guan Xiumin , Liu Xiaoxia , Lu Zengquan , Zhao Zhangwu , Zhang Qingwen , Xia Jingyuan 
Published: June 2009

Abstract Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) causes huge economic losses in cotton production around the world. Tannin, one of the important secondary substances in cotton plants, can increase the δ‐endotoxin activity of Bacillus thuringiensis ssp. kurstaki. The mechanism of interaction between tannin and Bt toxin on H. armigera is unclear. We investigated the interaction between tannic acid and Cry1Ac toxin in H. armigera, and monitored survival, growth, and development during the larval period after treating the larvae with four concentrations of Cry1Ac toxin (0, 2, 8, and 14 μg−1) alone or in combination with four concentrations of tannic acid (0, 0.5, 1, and 2 mg g−1). Mortality of larvae treated with both tannic acid and Cry1Ac was higher than the mortality of larvae treated with tannic acid or Cry1Ac alone. Mortality was 47.5 and 51.5% in larvae treated with 14 μg g−1 Cry1Ac alone or 2 mg g−1 tannic acid alone, respectively. In contrast, larval mortality was 75% when treated with the mixture of 14 μg g−1 Cry1Ac and 2 mg g−1 tannic acid, suggesting that a mixture of the two enhanced the effectiveness of each one alone. The developmental time of larvae treated with the combination of tannic acid and Cry1Ac was significantly longer than when they were treated with Cry1Ac or tannic acid alone. Larval weight, pupal weight, and pupation rate were also significantly reduced in larvae treated with both toxins, compared with the larvae treated with either toxin alone. These results showed that the interactive effect of tannic acid and Cry1Ac on larval growth inhibition is additive, and that tannic acid improves Cry1Ac toxicity to insects. Tannic acid used in combination with B. thuringiensis might potentially reduce overall insecticide use, thus delaying development of insecticide resistance.
Three hundred and fifty generations of extreme food specialisation: testing predictions of nutritional ecology
Authors: Warbrick‐Smith James , Raubenheimer David , Simpson Stephen J. , Behmer Spencer T. 
Published: June 2009

AbstractWe used a strain of diamondback moth,Plutella xylostellaL. (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae), that had been reared for approximately 350 generations in a precisely characterised environment to test hypotheses regarding the influence of nutritional heterogeneity on the evolution of nutrient regulatory responses. Caterpillars were maintained with ad libitum access to a diet that emulated that of an extreme nutritional specialist, comprising a homogeneous food of fixed nutrient composition. We measured performance (survival, development rate, and pupal mass), as well as the protein and carbohydrate intake of individual caterpillars confined to one of a range of single foods differing in their protein, carbohydrate, and water content. In a separate experiment, we measured the amount and balance of protein and carbohydrate self‐selected by caterpillars presented with nutritionally complementary foods. Results showed a close fit with three of four predictions about the nutritional responses of ‘nutrient specialist’ feeders: (1) survival, development rate, and pupal mass were highest for animals given diets with the protein:carbohydrate composition of the ancestral culture diet, and dropped off sharply with higher and lower protein:carbohydrate balance, (2) caterpillars coped poorly with dietary dilution by water, irrespective of the macronutrient balance, and (3) the self‐selected intake point corresponded with the macronutrient balance that gave peak performance (i.e., that of the ancestral culture diet). The fourth prediction, that caterpillars would be disinclined to over‐ingest nutrients on imbalanced diets, was at best weakly met. We hypothesise that the evolution and maintenance of the specialist strategy might, paradoxically, require some degree of environmental heterogeneity.
Blood pressure support in extremely premature infants is affected by different courses of antenatal steroids
Authors: Nair GV , Omar SA 
Published: June 2009

AbstractObjective:  To examine the effects of partial, single and multiple courses of antenatal corticosteroids (ANS) on the need for blood pressure support in extremely premature infants.Methods:  Extremely premature infants with gestational age of 24 to 28 weeks were included in this study during a 5‐year period. The main outcome measure of the study was the amount of blood pressure support during the first 3 days of life.Results:  The study infants (n = 163) were divided into: infants not exposed (ANS; n = 27) and exposed to ANS (ANS; n = 136). Blood pressure support was significantly lower in ANS compared with No ANS (65% vs 96%; p = 0.003) and in single course (SANS; n = 73) and ≥2 courses (MANS; n = 34) compared with partial course of ANS (PANS; n = 29) (62%, 56% vs 86%; p = 0.03). The number of infants who received volume support and the amount of volume support were significantly lower in ANS compared with that in No ANS (p < 0.001) and in SANS and MANS compared with that in PANS (p < 0.02).Conclusion:  Exposure to multiple courses of ANS was as beneficial as single course of ANS in decreasing the need for blood pressure support in extremely premature infants.
Kangaroo Mother Care, home environment and father involvement in the first year of life: a randomized controlled study
Authors: Tessier R , Charpak N , Giron M , Cristo M , De Calume ZF , Ruiz‐Peláez JG 
Published: June 2009

AbstractAims:  This study tested the hypothesis that Kangaroo Mother Care creates a climate in the family, which enhances infants’ performance on the developmental quotient scale.Setting:  The largest social security hospital in Colombia with a neonatal intensive care unit.Subjects:  At 12 months of corrected age, 194 families in the Kangaroo Mother Care group and 144 families in the Traditional Care group were available for analysis.Interventions:  Infants were kept 24 h/day in an upright position, in skin‐to‐skin contact until it was no longer tolerated by the infants. Babies in the Traditional Care were kept in incubators on the Minimal Care Unit until they satisfied the usual discharge criteria.Outcome measures:  The Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment (HOME), Father Involvement and Developmental Quotient (Griffiths) scores.Results:  1) Kangaroo mothers created a more stimulating context and a better caregiving environment than mothers in the Traditional Care group; 2) this environment was positively correlated to father involvement and 3) the family environment of male infants was most improved by Kangaroo Mother Care.Conclusion:  Kangaroo Mother Care has a positive impact on home environment. The results also suggest, first, that both parents should be involved as direct caregivers in the Kangaroo Mother Care procedure and secondly, that this intervention should be directed more specifically at infants who are more at risk at birth. The Kangaroo Mother Care intervention could be an excellent means to ensure parents’ mature involvement in the future of their children.
Visual neurophysiological dysfunction in infants exposed to hydroxychloroquine in utero
Authors: Renault F , Flores‐Guevara R , Renaud C , Richard P , Vermersch AI , Gold F 
Published: June 2009

AbstractAim:  Hydroxychloroquine therapy during pregnancy is thought to be safe for foetuses. Normal visual function has been showed on clinical grounds in infants exposed in utero to hydroxychloroquine, but there are few visual neurophysiological data. Our study was designed to assess retina and visual pathways using electroretinogram and visual evoked potentials in a series of infants born to mothers treated by hydroxychloroquine for connective tissue diseases.Methods:  Twenty‐one infants (3–7 months of age) were consecutively examined between June 2002 and May 2007. Full‐field electroretinogram was recorded by contact lens electrodes and visual evoked potentials were recorded by occipital surface electrodes using flash stimulation in mesopic condition. Analysis was focused on the amplitudes and latencies of the a‐ and b‐waves of electroretinogram and the latency of the P100 component of visual evoked potentials.Results:  Electroretinogram abnormalities were detected in six infants, associated with delayed visual evoked potentials in four of them.Conclusion:  Early electroretinogram and visual evoked potentials testing evidenced neurophysiological visual disturbances in a subset of infants born to mothers treated by hydroxychloroquine. Systematic clinical and neurophysiological vision testing during childhood is needed to detect possible consequences of antenatal exposure to hydroxychloroquine.
Reproduction of Byrsonima sericea (Malpighiaceae) in Restinga Fragmented Habitats in Southeastern Brazil
Authors: Dunley Bernardo S. , Freitas Leandro , Galetto Leonardo 
Published: June 2009

ABSTRACTHabitat fragmentation may affect the reproductive success of plant populations in many different ways. Thus, negative, neutral, or positive plant responses can be observed, according to the balance of the different interactions. Variables related to mutualistic and antagonistic interactions (pollinator activity and gall occurrence, respectively) were measured on Byrsonima sericea populations of a fragmented seashore area (restinga) in southeastern Brazil. Pollinator visits to the oil‐bearing flowers, insect gall occurrence on stems and inflorescences, and fruit set of B. sericea were compared between three small (up to 0.3 ha) and three large (14.0–99.0 ha) fragments. MANOVA showed differences between fragment classes. Nevertheless, a posteriori univariate ANOVA showed that the pollinator visit frequency was more than twofold higher in small fragments, and that gall occurrence and fruit set did not show significant differences between small and large fragments. These results suggest that the habitat fragmentation does not affect the female reproductive success of B. sericea in the studied restinga areas because resource availability seems to be a more important factor for fruit set than pollen limitation due to pollination failure. This is the first work assessing the effects of habitat fragmentation in restinga areas, which are intensely impacted by urbanization, so that no generalization about the fragmentation consequences can still be made for this ecosystem.