bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Weight changes following the initiation of new anti‐hyperglycaemic therapies
Authors: Nichols G. A. , Gomez‐Caminero A. 
Published: April 2006

Objective:  The objective of this study was to quantify 1‐year weight gain associated with the initiation of sulphonylurea (SU), metformin, insulin and thiazolidinedione (TZD) therapy in a representative real world population of type 2 diabetic patients.Research Design and Methods:  The study population was 9546 members of Kaiser Permanente North‐west (KPNW) who initiated an anti‐hyperglycaemic drug between 1996 and 2002 and continued use of that drug for at least 12 months without adding other therapies. Change in weight was calculated as the annualized difference between baseline and follow‐up weight and was adjusted for demographic and clinical characteristics. We then compared the weight changes observed in patients newly initiating SU, metformin, insulin and TZD therapies.Results:  After adjustment for demographic and clinical characteristics that might affect weight change, metformin initiators lost an average of 2.4 kg while all other groups gained weight. SU initiators gained the least (1.8 kg), followed by insulin initiators (3.3 kg) and TZD subjects (5.0 kg). All comparisons were highly statistically significant.Conclusions:  In an observational study of 1‐year weight changes following the initiation of SUs, metformin, insulin or TZDs, we found similar but somewhat smaller weight changes than those previously reported in clinical trials. Our observed weight changes could not be explained by the many other factors we tested and seemed to apply across the full spectrum of diabetes patients. Our report provides valuable information that will allow the patient and clinician to anticipate, and perhaps address, expected weight changes that accompany the initiation of anti‐hyperglycaemic drugs.
Postoperative complications associated with jejunostomy tube placement using the interlocking box technique compared with other jejunopexy methods in dogs and cats: 76 cases (1999–2003)
Authors: Yagil‐Kelmer Efrat , Wagner‐Mann Colette , Mann F. A. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractObjective: To evaluate the postoperative complication rate associated with jejunostomy tubes (J‐tubes) placed using the interlocking box (ILB) technique, and to test whether the ILB technique offers the advantage of early tube removal without additional complications in comparison with other jejunopexy methods.Design: Retrospective study.Setting: Veterinary Teaching Hospital.Interventions: None.Measurements and main results: Seventy dogs and 6 cats had J‐tubes placed during 1999–2003. Fifty‐three tubes were placed using the ILB technique and 23 tubes were placed using a non‐ILB technique. The overall tube‐related complication rate was 33/76 (43.4%). The complication rate was slightly, but not significantly, lower in the ILB group (40% versus 52%; P= 0.556). In the majority of cases, (24/76, 31.5%), complications were considered mild. Moderate complications were noted in 4/76 cases (5.2%) and severe complications in 5/76 cases (6.5%). The mean time the tube remained in place and the mean time of tube usage were significantly shorter in the ILB group (5.2 versus 7.6 days, P=0.008, and 3.3 versus 5.8 days, P=0.013, respectively). Hospitalization time was also significantly shorter in the ILB group (mean of 8.1 days versus 10.5 days, P=0.014). The shorter period of tube presence in the ILB group did not result in an increase of the overall complication rate; however, inflammation around the tube exit site was more prevalent in the ILB group. Tubes that were not used for nutritional support in the ILB group stayed in place for a mean of 3.7 days and were removed with no significant complications. More complications were identified in the first 2 years of the study compared with the last 2.Conclusions: The ILB technique is not associated with a higher complication rate compared with other jejunopexy methods, and offers the advantage of safe, early removal if the tube is no longer needed for nutritional support.
Transfusion‐transmitted cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections in a murine model: characterization of CMV‐infected donor mice
Authors: Roback John D. , Su Leon , Newman James L. , Saakadze Natia , Lezhava Levan J. , Hillyer Christopher D. 
Published: April 2006

BACKGROUND:  Donor and recipient mechanisms that modulate the incidence and severity of transfusion‐transmitted cytomegalovirus (TT‐CMV) are unclear. The kinetics of murine CMV (MCMV) infection in the peripheral blood of donor mice were investigated to determine the utility of this model for studying TT‐CMV.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS:  BALB/cByJ mice, experimentally infected with Smith strain MCMV, were killed at serial time points up to 28 days after infection. Peritoneal exudate cells (PECs), peripheral blood white blood cells (WBCs), plasma, and marrow were tested for MCMV DNA with quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR), replication‐competent virus with quantitative culture, and transcription of viral genes with reverse transcription (RT)‐PCR targeted at the immediate‐early 1 (ie1) gene.RESULTS:  PECs, macrophages infected by MCMV shortly after intraperitoneal inoculation, demonstrated high mean levels of MCMV DNA (105‐107 genome equivalents [geqs]/105 PECs), virus production (101‐104 infectious virions/105 PECs), and ie1 gene transcription, demonstrating productive infection. In contrast, while MCMV loads averaged 104 to 106 geqs per 105 peripheral WBCs, all WBC samples were uniformly negative for MCMV ie1 expression by RT‐PCR and for culturable virus, consistent with latent MCMV infection. Plasma and marrow showed lower viral loads than WBCs and PECs and were all negative by culture and RT‐PCR analysis.CONCLUSIONS:  Following experimental MCMV infection, murine peripheral blood WBCs appear to be latently infected with virus (MCMV DNA–positive; MCMV RNA–negative; MCMV culture–negative), similar to the latently infected human monocytes in peripheral blood of CMV‐seropositive donors. These donor kinetics suggest that the experimental MCMV system can be used to effectively model the mechanisms of TT‐CMV infections in humans.
Post‐streptococcal uveitis
Authors: Gallagher Micheal J. , Muqit Mahiul M. K. , Jones David , Gavin Mike 
Published: April 2006

Abstract.Purpose:  To describe the clinical features of post‐streptococcal uveitis (PSU) and examine management strategies in the treatment of this under‐recognized condition. Methods:  Patients were identified from the world literature using the Pubmed search engine. We examined two new cases of post‐streptococcal intermediate uveitis. The epidemiology, immune mechanisms, clinical features, investigations, treatments and visual outcomes were examined and recorded. Results:  We reviewed 11 patients including our own two cases. There was a statistically significant seasonal difference in antistreptolysin‐O titres (ASOT), and age‐related ASOT was identified. Of the 11 patients, eight (72.7%) had anterior uveitis, two (18.2%) had intermediate uveitis and one (9.1%) had panuveitis. Their ages ranged from 5 to 56 years (mean 17 years). The majority of cases had significantly elevated ASOT; most patients were treated with topical steroids and oral antibiotics and four cases underwent adenotonsillectomy. The visual prognosis was good in most cases. Conclusions:  Uveitis may be the sole presenting clinical feature, or it may occur in combination with other features of post‐streptococcal infection. Ophthalmologists should be aware of the clinical features of PSU and maintain a high level of suspicion, particularly in childhood uveitis.
Cytokine gene polymorphisms in retinal detachment patients with and without proliferative vitreoretinopathy: a preliminary study
Authors: Sanabria Ruiz‐Colmenares Maria Rosa , Pastor Jimeno José Carlos , Garrote Adrados José Antonio , Telleria Orriols Juan José , Yugueros Fernández Maria Isabel 
Published: April 2006

Abstract.Purpose:  Cytokines and other growth factors such as interleukins play an important role in the pathogenesis of proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR). Interindividual variations in cytokine production seem to correlate with some cytokine gene polymorphisms. The purpose of this study was to analyse the distribution of these cytokine gene variants in patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RD) with and without PVR. Methods:  Single nucleotide polymorphisms were analysed for five cytokines: tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α), transforming growth factor‐β1 (TGF‐β1), interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ), interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) and interleukin‐10 (IL‐10). Patients were divided into two surgically treated groups of RD patients: group RD had 27 patients with RD, and group PVR had 31 patients with RD complicated by PVR. A control group was composed of 46 ethnically matched healthy individuals. Results:  The genotype distribution of the TGF‐β1 codon 10 polymorphism differed between PVR and RD patients (p = 0.018) and between PVR patients and controls in codon 25 (p = 0.011). There was a higher frequency of TGF‐β1 codon 10 allele T in PVR patients compared with RD patients (p = 0.023). No statistically significant differences between groups were observed for the other polymorphisms examined. Conclusion:  An association between the TGF‐β1 genetic profile and the development of PVR was detected in this study. Further studies are necessary to confirm this finding and to establish its clinical relevance.
Intravascular oxygen saturation in retinal vessels in normal subjects and open‐angle glaucoma subjects
Authors: Michelson Georg , Scibor Mateusz 
Published: April 2006

Abstract.Purpose:  To measure the oxygen saturation (SO2) in retinal arterioles and venules in patients with glaucomatous optic neuropathy. Methods:  We examined SO2 in retinal arterioles and venules simultaneously by imaging spectrometry. Oxygen saturation was evaluated according to the difference of the extinction spectra of haemoglobin and oxyhaemoglobin. The arterio‐venous difference (avD) was calculated by (SO2art − SO2ven). The optic nerve head topography was estimated by Heidelberg retinal tomography and the visual field using the Octopus G1. We examined one eye in each of 58 healthy persons (mean age 58.6 ± 10.7 years; mean rim area 1.52 ± 0.33 mm2; mean defect 0.65 ± 1.31 dB; mean intraocular pressure [IOP] 18.5 ± 2.7 mmHg), 49 patients with normal‐tension primary open‐angle glaucoma (NTG) (mean age 63.0 ± 8.5 years; mean rim area 0.89 ± 0.34 mm2; mean defect 5.4 ± 4.1 dB; mean IOP 19.2 ± 2.9 mmHg), and 45 patients with high‐tension primary open‐angle glaucoma (POAG) (mean age 62.6 ± 10.3 years; mean rim area 0.97 ± 0.47 mm2; mean defect 7.1 ± 6.4 dB; mean IOP 31.6 ± 10.8 mmHg). Results:  The intraclass correlation coefficients of the SO2 measurement were 0.82 (arteriole) and 0.59 (venule). In normal eyes, the SO2art, SO2ven and avD were 92.3 ± 3.4%, 55.7 ± 6.8% and 36.6 ± 7.0%, respectively. Equivalent data were 89.7 ± 5.4%, 56.0 ± 8.3% and 33.7 ± 10.6%, respectively, in NTG eyes and 91.4 ± 4.0%, 58.3 ± 10.5% and 33.1 ± 11.5%, respectively, in POAG eyes. Over all examined eyes, the arteriolar SO2 and the retinal arterio‐venous difference correlated significantly with the rim area. Conclusion:  Eyes with NTG showed significantly decreased arteriolar SO2. These changes were not seen in POAG patients.
Working Towards Accomodation: Rabbenu Yonah Gerondi's Slow Acceptance of Andalusian Rabbinic Traditions
Authors: Rothstein Gidon 
Published: April 2006

AbstractRabbis of thirteenth-century Spain were often exposed to two traditions, that of Northern France-Germany and that of Moslem Spain. Until now, the dominant discussion of how they balanced the contrast has been Bernard Septimus' analysis of Nahmanides (Ramban), who managed to draw fruitfully on both. Rabbenu Yonah b. Abraham of Gerona, Ramban's only slightly less famous relative, presents a useful counterexample.Rabbenu Yonah's early works reflect an almost-total immersion in Northern French ways of thinking and writing. Only gradually does he engage ideas from Moslem Spain, suggesting that the mixing of the two traditions in his later writings resulted from years of slow growth and exposure to such Moslem Spanish authors as Rif, R. Bahye ibn Paquda, and Maimonides.His example suggests that how to react to these differing influences was a continuing issue for these rabbis, and that tracking it offers an important key to understanding the intellectual history of the rabbis of that era.
Absolute and relative signals: a comparison between melanin- and carotenoid-based patches
Authors: Quesada J. , Senar J.C. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractSome signalling traits may be highly influenced by environmental factors, thereby decreasing between-year trait repeatability what could compromise the honesty of signal. However, although the repeatability of environmentally-influenced traits of individuals between years may be low, their relative position within the population can be maintained (i.e. significant correlation between years). In the great tit Parus major, individual hue of the yellow breast coloration, an environmentally influenced trait, showed a significant correlation between years in spite of repeatability between years being very low. However, the size of the black breast band, a heritable trait, showed both a high correlation and inter-year repeatability. Results emphasise the distinction between absolute and relative signals and also suggest that for environmentally-influenced ornaments, individuals maintain their relative position on a continuum.
Transdermal delivery of (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate, a green tea polyphenol, in mice
Authors: Lambert Joshua D , Kim Dou Hwan , Zheng Ruijin , Yang Chung S 
Published: April 2006

Abstract
Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is the most studied catechin in green tea (Camellia sinensis). EGCG and green tea are cancer preventive in many animal models, and numerous mechanisms have been proposed in cell lines. EGCG is poorly bioavailable in man and rodents. We hypothesized that transdermal delivery of EGCG could result in improved bioavailability. Following application of EGCG transdermal gel (50 mg kg−1, t.d.) to SKH-1 mice, EGCG was observed in the epidermis (1365.7–121.0 ng g−1) and dermis (411.2–42.6 ng g−1). The maximum plasma concentration (Cmax)of EGCG was 44.5 ngmL−1. The t½ (94.4 h) and AUC0→24h (881.5 ng mL−1 h) of EGCG were greater than values previously reported for oral EGCG. The t½ and area under the concentration-time curve up to 24h (AUC0→24h) in the liver, small intestine and colon were 21.3–74.6h and 715–2802 ng g−1 h, respectively. Stability studies showed that the transdermal formulation was stable at 4°C and had a half-life (t½) of 47.1 and 20.2 h at 25°C and 37°C, respectively. These data indicate that transdermal EGCG is useful for delivering prolonged levels of EGCG to plasma and tissues, and may provide an alternative to tea consumption as a dosage form of EGCG.
Does changing the order of threat and efficacy information influence the persuasiveness of threat messages?
Authors: Hall Sue , Bishop Amanda J. , Marteau Theresa M. 
Published: April 2006

Objectives. The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of changing the conventional threat‐before‐efficacy order of threat messages on the persuasiveness of a leaflet informing women smokers of the link between smoking and cervical cancer.Design. The study used a between‐groups design in which women smokers were sequentially allocated to one of three groups. Two groups received one of two leaflets aimed at providing information about the link between smoking and cervical cancer: one provided threat‐before‐efficacy information; the other provided efficacy‐before‐threat information. The third group received no leaflet.Methods. Participants (N = 178) were recruited by a commercial survey organization. Purposeful sampling was used to ensure that women with a wide range of ages and educational qualifications were included. Outcomes were intention to stop smoking, recall of information, and threat and efficacy perceptions.Results. Although women in the ‘efficacy‐before‐threat’ group recalled more efficacy information, and those in the ‘threat‐before‐efficacy’ group recalled more threat information, the leaflets were similarly persuasive. Compared with women not given a leaflet, those given either of the two leaflets had greater intentions to stop smoking and higher threat and efficacy perceptions.Conclusions. Informing women of the link between smoking and cervical cancer increases their intentions to stop smoking. Changing the order of threat and efficacy information does not influence the persuasiveness of this message. Order effects may be more likely in experimental contexts using weaker messages or those that are not novel.
A multi‐level decomposition of variance in somatic symptom reporting in families with adolescent children
Authors: Michel Gisela 
Published: April 2006

Objectives. This paper examines four different levels of possible variation in symptom reporting: occasion, day, person and family.Design. In order to rule out effects of retrospection, concurrent symptom reporting was assessed prospectively using a computer‐assisted self‐report method.Methods. A decomposition of variance in symptom reporting was conducted using diary data from families with adolescent children. We used palmtop computers to assess concurrent somatic complaints from parents and children six times a day for seven consecutive days. In two separate studies, 314 and 254 participants from 96 and 77 families, respectively, participated. A generalized multilevel linear models approach was used to analyze the data. Symptom reports were modelled using a logistic response function, and random effects were allowed at the family, person and day level, with extra‐binomial variation allowed for on the occasion level.Results. Substantial variability was observed at the person, day and occasion level but not at the family level.Conclusions. To explain symptom reporting in normally healthy individuals, situational as well as person characteristics should be taken into account. Family characteristics, however, would not help to clarify symptom reporting in all family members.
A PROPOSED FLORA OF EUROPE
Authors: Heywood V. H. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryA new project to write a Flora of Europe is announced by a committee of British and Irish botanists. Emphasis is laid on the great wealth of taxonomic data concerning the flora of Europe already published. These data are to be found in scores of Floras and in innumerable papers published in very diverse journals and periodicals, many of these works being expensive or difficult to obtain. Attention is drawn to the difficulties experienced by taxonomists, phytogeographers, evolutionists and other biologists in gaining access to this vast body of information and in making sense of it once the requisite facts have been ascertained. The discrepancies in taxonomic merit and completeness between the Floras of the different European countries and the inevitable nomenclatural and technical inconsistencies to be found in them are stressed. The ways in which it is planned to overcome these difficulties in the new Flora are outlined. The Flora will cover Europe in the generally accepted sense of the word and will link up with the area covered by Komarov's Flora of the URSS. All the major taxa of Angiosperms and Gymnosperms growing spontaneously in Europe will be keyed and briefly described and the intention is to produce within a period of 15 years a Flora of the greatest possible use to biologists in general, both pure and applied. There is a discussion of the policy which will be adopted concerning the following points: nomenclature, synonymy, taxonomic categories, geographical distribution, hybrids, aliens, apomicts, chromosome numbers. An appeal is made to taxonomists for reprints of their papers. Details of the present organization of the Flora are given.
THE PROBLEM OF TYPIFYING CERTAIN NAMES IN LINNAEUS'S SYSTEMA NATURAE ED. 10
Authors: Baum Bernard R. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryThe possibilities to typify the several hundred species in Linnaeus's Systema naturae ed. 10 (1759) which do not figure in the Species plantarum (1753) are analyzed. Many of these species can be typified because they were published by Linnaeus between 1755 and 1759 in other publications, others on the basis of the subsequent treatment in the second edition of Species plantarum (1762–1763). A small number of species (29) are difficult to typify and require further investigation. Some may have to be treated as nomina dubia or provided with a neotype.
THE INTERPRETATION OF DISJUNCT DISTRIBUTIONS
Authors: Fryxell Paul A. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractThe explanation of distributional disjunctions may shed light not only on the disjunct plants themselves, but also on the more general processes of evolution at work in the botanical world. Specific examples of disjunction from the malvaceous genera Gossypium and Cienfuegosia are discussed. Emphasis is placed not only on their geographical characteristics but on features of their life cycles as well.Two distinct types of disjunction may be noted. On the one hand are found bicentric species wherein the disjunct populations show no demonstrable evolutionary divergence. The distance separating such disjunct populations is generally great, implying long distance dispersal.On the other hand, disjunction is found among pairs or groups of vicarious taxa, wherein the vicariads are clearly differentiated at a specific or infra‐specific level. The distances separating such populations may be great or small. The disjunction
NOMENCLATURE AT SEATTLE
Authors: Stafleu F. A. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryA review of the main results of the discussions on botanical nomenclature at the Eleventh International Botanical Congress at Seattle, 22–24 August 1969. The International Code of Botanical Nomenclature remains practically unchanged. Minor amendments include a restriction of the phenomenon of ‘automatically created tautonyms’ (to be called autonyms), a further precision of the rules concerning names of hybrids, and a loosening of the rule governing superfluous names.
BUILDING BRIDGES BETWEEN EVOLUTIONARY DISCIPLINES
Authors: Stebbins G. Ledyard 
Published: April 2006

SummaryThe possible bridges between evolutionary studies at the subspecific and transspecific levels are numerous. Three kinds require particular attention. One kind, which calls for cooperation between population geneticists and paleontologists, consists of comparisons between variation patterns and ecological relationships between living and extinct populations. Favorable organisms for such comparisons, which have been exploited to some degree, are mammals, molluscs, and unicellular plankton organisms having hard shells. A second kind of bridge is based upon biochemical comparisons at various levels of the taxonomic hierarchy, particularly with reference to proteins, since these are the primary products of gene action. Such comparisons are particularly valuable as ways of estimating what kinds of mutations have most often had major evolutionary significance. When making these comparisons, protein molecules should be regarded as complex structures, more analogous to organs at the macroscopic level than to the small molecules which are studied by most chemists who are not biochemists. Only on this basis can sound inferences be made as to the adaptiveness or non‐adaptiveness of particular mutational changes. The biochemical bridge can aid in elucidating the evolution of processes of development and metabolism, but is valuable only indirectly for working out particular pathways of phylogeny, since the biochemical nature of extinct common ancestors can never be determined. Finally, comparative morphogenesis may eventually provide a number of very valuable bridges, but at present its potentialities have been very little explored.