bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Thoracic Epidural Analgesia Augments Ileal Mucosal Capillary Perfusion and Improves Survival in Severe Acute Pancreatitis in Rats
Authors: Freise Hendrik , Lauer Stefan , Anthonsen Soeren , Hlouschek Verena , Minin Evgeny , Fischer Lars G. , Lerch Markus M. , Van Aken Hugo K. , Sielenkämper Andreas W. 
Published: July 2006

Background
Acute pancreatitis has been linked to intestinal barrier dysfunction and systemic inflammatory response with high mortality. Thoracic epidural analgesia improves intestinal perfusion. The authors hypothesized that thoracic epidural analgesia influences microcirculation injury, inflammatory response, and outcome of acute pancreatitis in rats.

Methods
Control groups underwent a sham procedure or untreated pancreatitis induced by intraductal taurocholate injection. In the treatment groups, epidural analgesia was commenced immediately or after a 7-h delay. Fifteen hours after injury, the ileal mucosal perfusion was assessed by intravital microscopy. Thereby, the intercapillary area between all perfused capillaries and between continuously perfused capillaries only was used to differentially quantify total and continuous capillary mucosal perfusion. Villus blood flow and serum levels of amylase, lactate, and interleukin 6 were determined, and pancreatic injury was scored histologically. Seven-day survival was recorded in an additional 30 rats undergoing untreated pancreatitis or pancreatitis with epidural analgesia.

Results
In untreated pancreatitis, decreased total capillary perfusion increased the total intercapillary area by 24%. Furthermore, loss of continuous perfusion increased continuous intercapillary area to 228%. After immediate and delayed epidural analgesia, continuous perfusion was restored (P < 0.05). Blood flow decreased 50% in untreated pancreatitis but was preserved by epidural analgesia (P < 0.05). Biochemical and histologic signs of pancreatitis were not affected by epidural analgesia. Lactate and interleukin-6 levels increased in untreated pancreatitis, which was prevented in the treatment groups (P < 0.05). Epidural analgesia increased 7-day survival from 33% to 73% (P < 0.05).

Conclusion
Thoracic epidural analgesia attenuated systemic response and improved survival in severe acute pancreatitis. These effects might be explained by improved mucosal perfusion.
Sex–specific association of the androgen to oestrogen ratio with adipocytokine levels in older adults: the Rancho Bernardo Study
Authors: Laughlin Gail A. , Barrett‐Connor Elizabeth , May Susanne 
Published: July 2006

AbstractObjective  Androgens and oestrogens have opposing effects on some adipocyte functions. Thus, the androgen to oestrogen balance may be as important as the individual hormones in determining the biological interaction between endogenous sex hormones and adipocyte‐derived factors such as adiponectin and leptin. We tested this hypothesis by evaluating the sex‐specific, cross–sectional association of sex hormones and androgen to oestrogen ratios with serum adiponectin and leptin in older men and postmenopausal women.Design  Cross‐sectional.Participants  A total of 1510 community dwelling men and postmenopausal women aged 50–92 years.Measurements  Serum leptin, adiponectin and sex hormone levels.Results  Adiponectin and leptin levels were higher in women than men (P < 0·001). In both sexes, adiponectin concentrations were lower, and leptin levels higher, with increasing BMI and waist girth (all P < 0·001). Although the ratio of total testosterone to total oestradiol was significantly associated with both adipocytokines in both sexes, the strongest and most consistent hormone–adipocytokine associations were observed when the androgen to oestrogen ratio was expressed as total testosterone to bioavailable oestradiol. In linear regressions, the testosterone to bioavailable oestradiol ratio was positively related to adiponectin and inversely related to leptin, with nearly identical standardized β‐coefficients for men and women (all P < 0·001). The strength of the hormone ratio–adipocytokine associations was reduced, but not eliminated, after adjustment for age, adiposity and cardiovascular disease risk factors, including insulin resistance.Conclusions  The striking similarity of the hormone ratio–adipocytokine associations for men and women, despite wide differences in sex hormone and adipocytokine levels, suggests these results reflect underlying physiological mechanisms common to both sexes.
Subtle interplay of competition and facilitation among small herbivores in coastal grasslands
Authors: STAHL J. , VAN DER GRAAF A. J. , DRENT R. H. , BAKKER J. P. 
Published: July 2006

Summary

Overlap in habitat use between herbivores can result in facilitative interactions, through enhancement of forage quality, as well as competitive interactions. The latter result from either interference or indirectly from resource depletion.
We investigated competitive and facilitative interactions between wild Barnacle and Brent Geese and European Brown Hares on a salt marsh in the Dutch Wadden Sea. In a multifactorial experimental design, we manipulated biomass and quality of grass swards and determined foraging preferences of the wild herbivores.
We found that both Barnacle and Brent Geese select plots with plants that have a higher nitrogen content. Barnacle Geese avoid plots with high plant biomass.
Hares prefer the combination of high biomass with high plant quality, when geese are absent. However, in the natural situation with geese present, hares select high biomass swards.
Grazing increases the quality of the vegetation within one season. Geese mainly select plots that have been previously grazed by either geese or hares within the same season.
We conclude that indirect competition through forage depletion by large numbers of geese in spring plays a significant role determining the foraging choices of hares, while Barnacle Geese profit from grazing facilitation by other small herbivores which prevents the maturation of forage tissues.
Physical environmental stimuli that turn healthcare facilities into healing environments through psychologically mediated effects: systematic review
Authors: Dijkstra Karin , Pieterse Marcel , Pruyn Ad 
Published: July 2006

Aim.  This paper reports a systematic review to determine the effects of physical environmental stimuli in healthcare settings on the health and well‐being of patients.Background.  The concept of healing environments suggests that the physical environment of the healthcare setting can encourage the healing process and patients’ feelings of well‐being. Understanding the effects of physical environmental stimuli will allow us to design healthcare environments that generate these potential health benefits.Method.  A search was conducted using the MedLine, PsychInfo, Embase, CINAHL, Iconda, ScienceDirect, Compendex and the ISI Citation Indexes databases. Studies were included if they concerned interventions involving health effects of environmental stimuli in healthcare settings on patients, and were based on controlled clinical trials published in peer‐reviewed journals. Both clinical and psychological outcome measures were included. The search was completed in 2005.Findings.  Of the over 500 potentially relevant studies identified, only 30 met all criteria and were included in this review. Predominantly positive effects were found for sunlight, windows, odour and seating arrangements. Inconsistent effects were found for sound, nature, spatial layout, television and multiple stimuli interventions. In general, both the size and direction of effects seem highly dependent on characteristics of patient populations and healthcare settings.Conclusions.  Studies that manipulate several environmental stimuli simultaneously clearly support the general notion that the physical healthcare environment affects the well‐being of patients. However, when scrutinizing the effects of specific environmental stimuli, conclusive evidence is still very limited and difficult to generalize. The field thus appears to be in urgent need of well‐conducted, controlled clinical trials. At present, and on the basis of the available research, it would be premature to formulate evidence‐based guidelines for designing healthcare environments.
Psychological approaches for the nursing management of chronic pain: part 2
Authors: Richardson Clifford , Adams Nicola , Poole Helen 
Published: July 2006

Aims and objectives.  The aim of this article was to present the ways that nurses can integrate psychological approaches into their management of chronic pain conditions using a biopsychosocial framework. Communication, the importance of the patient–practitioner interaction, the role of education and provision of information, reassurance and reduction of anxiety and the use of coping strategies training in the management of chronic pain are reviewed alongside the key skills of nursing.Background.  This is the second part of a two‐part article. Part 1 was a discussion of psychosocial factors associated with chronic pain conditions and the psychological approaches used in the management of these conditions.Conclusions.  It is identified that key nursing skills often equate to the requirements of the psychological approaches, therefore specific techniques from a cognitive‐behavioural framework can be readily applied, integrated and used by nurses in the management of chronic pain conditions.Relevance to clinical practice.  Commonly utilized nursing skills are similar to those required for cognitive‐behavioural therapy. It is reasonable to assume therefore that nurses can and should be involved in effectively managing the psychological aspects associated with chronic pain conditions.
A comparison between integrating clinical practice setting and randomized controlled trial setting into economic evaluation models of therapeutics
Authors: Farahani Pendar , Levine Mitchell , Goeree Ron 
Published: July 2006

AbstractBackground  Cost‐effectiveness analyses generated from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) represent results obtained under ideal experimental conditions (efficacy) and the applicability of these data to real‐world settings (effectiveness) may be questionable.Objective  To compare cost‐effectiveness results obtained from a RCT setting with the results derived from community‐based clinical practice.Methods  Using data from a community‐based cohort study and from a RCT, two cost‐effectiveness analyses were performed and the incremental cost‐effectiveness ratios (ICERs) were calculated for the use of etanercept in the treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.Results  Using an effectiveness‐based analysis, the mean quality‐adjusted life years (QALYs) gained during the 12‐month monitoring period were 0.45 and 0.35 for the treatment and control groups respectively. The ICER for etanercept treatment was $174 200 (CDN) per QALY (95% confidence limits between $119 500 and $285 000). Incorporating efficacy data obtained from the RCT into the analysis, the mean QALYs gained were 0.56 and 0.35 for the treatment and control groups respectively. This resulted in a substantially lower ICER for etanercept treatment of $82 952 per QALY (95% confidence limits between $66 500 and $103 430).Conclusion  Depending on the type of clinical setting used for the analysis, the resulting ICER for etanercept treatment was very different. These results help to explain the difference in cost‐effectiveness reported in previous modeling studies, some based on RCT assumptions and some based on effectiveness setting.
Multiple origins of cultivated grapevine (Vitis vinifera L. ssp. sativa) based on chloroplast DNA polymorphisms
Authors: ARROYO‐GARCÍA R. , RUIZ‐GARCÍA L. , BOLLING L. , OCETE R. , LÓPEZ M. A. , ARNOLD C. , ERGUL A. , SÖYLEMEZO˝LU G. , UZUN H. I. , CABELLO F. , IBÁÑEZ J. , ARADHYA M. K. , ATANASSOV A. , ATANASSOV I. , BALINT S. , CENIS J. L. , COSTANTINI L. , GORISLAVETS S. , GRANDO M. S. , KLEIN B. Y. , McGOVERN P. E. , MERDINOGLU D. , PEJIC I. , PELSY F. , PRIMIKIRIOS N. , RISOVANNAYA V. , ROUBELAKIS‐ANGELAKIS K. A. , SNOUSSI H. , SOTIRI P. , TAMHANKAR S. , THIS P. , TROSHIN L. , MALPICA J. M. , LEFORT F. , MARTINEZ‐ZAPATER J. M. 
Published: July 2006

AbstractThe domestication of the Eurasian grape (Vitis vinifera ssp. sativa) from its wild ancestor (Vitis vinifera ssp. sylvestris) has long been claimed to have occurred in Transcaucasia where its greatest genetic diversity is found and where very early archaeological evidence, including grape pips and artefacts of a ‘wine culture’, have been excavated. Whether from Transcaucasia or the nearby Taurus or Zagros Mountains, it is hypothesized that this wine culture spread southwards and eventually westwards around the Mediterranean basin, together with the transplantation of cultivated grape cuttings. However, the existence of morphological differentiation between cultivars from eastern and western ends of the modern distribution of the Eurasian grape suggests the existence of different genetic contribution from local sylvestris populations or multilocal selection and domestication of sylvestris genotypes. To tackle this issue, we analysed chlorotype variation and distribution in 1201 samples of sylvestris and sativa genotypes from the whole area of the species’ distribution and studied their genetic relationships. The results suggest the existence of at least two important origins for the cultivated germplasm, one in the Near East and another in the western Mediterranean region, the latter of which gave rise to many of the current Western European cultivars. Indeed, over 70% of the Iberian Peninsula cultivars display chlorotypes that are only compatible with their having derived from western sylvestris populations.
Porcine Conceptus Oct‐4 mRNA Expression During Peri‐implantation Development
Authors: Spencer DS , Ross JW , Ashworth MD , Geisert RD , Rickords LF 
Published: July 2006

ContentsOCT‐4 is a transcriptional regulator of pluripotent cells throughout embryonic and germ cell lineage development prior to cellular differentiation during murine, bovine and porcine peri‐implantation development. In contrast to murine OCT‐4 expression, bovine and porcine expression is detected in both the inner cell mass and trophoblast. Delayed down regulation of OCT‐4 gene expression in farm species may be a consequence of the lengthened period of peri‐implantation. Expression of OCT‐4 mRNA has not been characterized during conceptus attachment to the uterine surface in the pig. The objective of the present study was to determine conceptus OCT‐4 mRNA expression during porcine peri‐implantation development from days 10–17 of gestation. Total RNA was extracted from multiple pools of conceptuses collected on days 10, 12, 13, 15 and 17 of pregnancy. Quantitative RT‐PCR was utilized to assay conceptus OCT‐4 mRNA synthesis. Day of conceptus development significantly affected (p < 0.001) OCT‐4 mRNA expression. Conceptus expression of OCT‐4 was greatest on days 10 and 12 of pregnancy being approximately 7.7‐ and 11.6‐fold greater compared to expression on days 15 and 17, respectively. Results from the present study suggest that down regulation of OCT‐4 may be critical in trophoblastic expansion and uterine epithelial attachment during establishment of pregnancy in the pig.
High‐temperature fatigue crack growth in Inconel 718 subjected to high strain amplitudes
Authors: ANDERSSON M. , PERSSON C. , MELIN S. 
Published: July 2006

ABSTRACTFatigue crack growth experiments in Inconel 718 subjected to high strain amplitudes at 650 °C have been conducted. In the study the effects of load amplitude, ratio and frequency have been investigated. It was found that crack growth is a mixture of cyclic and time dependent mechanisms, depending on the load frequency. The load frequency was also found to have a strong influence on the crack growth rate. Also, crack closure was found to play an important role. By using an effective J‐integral and including a frequency compensation term it was possible to summarize crack growth data into an empirical life prediction law, which seems to be in reasonable agreement with data from other studies.
Conditions for Sustainable Optimal Economic Development
Authors: Farzin Y. Hossein 
Published: July 2006

AbstractThis paper shows that, for dynamic optimizing economies with different types of natural resource, environmental, and human‐made capital stocks, a necessary and sufficient condition for permanently sustaining an optimal utility/consumption level is thestationarityof the current‐value Hamiltonian. For economies whose development is not exogenously and directly affected by time (i.e., time‐autonomous economies), this stationarity condition generalizesDixit et al.’s (1980) “zero‐net‐aggregate‐investment” rule of sustain‐ability, which in turn generalizes Solow‐Hartwick’s sustainability rule. For non‐autonomous economies, the stationarity condition isnotgenerally fulfilled, and the current‐value Hamiltonianunder(over) estimates the true welfare level by an amount equal to the discounted value of the net “pure time effect.” For the non‐autonomous case of atime‐dependent utility discount rate, a general condition on the discount rate function (of which thehyperbolicdiscount rate function is a special case) upholds the results obtained for autonomous cases. The paper concludes with a discussion of policies that promote both optimality and sustainability objectives.
Three Poverties in Urban China
Authors: Knight John , Shi Li 
Published: July 2006

AbstractRadical economic reform and rapid marketization in the late 1990s could be expected to create new poverty and insecurity in Chinese cities. Accordingly, the extent and nature of poverty in urban China is examined by means of a 1999 cross‐section household survey. Three types of poverty—“income and consumption”, “income not consumption” and “consumption not income”—are distinguished. A large proportion of the poor have income above, but consumption below, the poverty line. The estimated consumption function shows the importance of consumption smoothing, of precautionary considerations, of saving for investment opportunities, and of special needs related to the presence of children or sickness. An exercise is conducted to compare the three types of poverty by decomposing the divergence in the consumption of each poverty group from its benchmark consumption. Unpredicted financial assets and income, and differences in special needs, are important in contrasting and explaining the three poverties.
A 3‐Year Study of Addiction Mutual‐help Group Participation Following Intensive Outpatient Treatment
Authors: Kelly John F. , Stout Robert , Zywiak William , Schneider Robert 
Published: July 2006

Background: Addiction‐focused mutual‐help group participation is associated with better substance use disorder (SUD) treatment outcomes. However, little has been documented regarding which types of mutual‐help organizations patients attend, what levels of participation may be beneficial, and which patients, in particular, are more or less likely to participate. Furthermore, much of the evidence supporting the use of these organizations comes from studies examining participation and outcomes concurrently, raising doubts about cause–effect connections, and little is known about influences that may moderate the degree of any general benefit.Method: Alcohol‐dependent outpatients (N=227; 27% female; M age=42) enrolled in a randomized‐controlled telephone case monitoring trial were assessed at treatment intake and at 1, 2, and 3 years postdischarge. Lagged‐panel, hierarchical linear models tested whether mutual‐help group participation in the first and second year following treatment predicted subsequent outcomes and whether these effects were moderated by gender, concurrent axis I diagnosis, religious preference, and prior mutual‐help experience. Robust regression curve analysis was used to examine dose–response relationships between mutual‐help and outcomes.Results: Mutual‐help participation was associated with both greater abstinence and fewer drinks per drinking day and this relationship was not found to be influenced by gender, Axis I diagnosis, religious preference, or prior mutual‐help participation. Mutual‐help participants attended predominantly Alcoholics Anonymous and tended to be Caucasian, be more educated, have prior mutual‐help experience, and have more severe alcohol involvement. Dose–response curve analyses suggested that even small amounts of participation may be helpful in increasing abstinence, whereas higher doses may be needed to reduce relapse intensity.Conclusions: Use of mutual‐help groups following intensive outpatient SUD treatment appears to be beneficial for many different types of patients and even modest levels of participation may be helpful. Future emphasis should be placed on ways to engage individuals with these cost‐effective resources over time and to gather and disseminate evidence regarding additional mutual‐help organizations.
An Interdisciplinary Faculty Development Model for the Prevention and Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorders
Authors: Manwell Linda Baier , Pfeifer Judie , Stauffacher Ellyn A. 
Published: July 2006

Background: The skills of faculty working in health fields are inadequate to meet the needs of those adversely affected by alcohol. This project was designed to increase the teaching, clinical, and research activities of faculty from multiple disciplines at the university level.Methods: The faculty development model included two 2‐day skills‐based courses held 6 months apart, precourse and postcourse evaluations, active mentoring, and development of a specific work plan for each participant. The educational model utilized skills‐based courses previously developed for full‐time clinical/teaching medical faculty with limited time and resources.Results: A total of 153 participants at 6 locations completed the courses; 131 completed the 6‐month follow‐up interview. Sixty‐four designed teaching, clinical, or research projects during the 6‐month period between the first and second courses. Precourse versus postcourse clinical scores from standardized patient encounters showed highly significant improvements in screening, brief intervention, and motivational interviewing skills (p<0.001). At the 6‐month follow‐up interview, 61% of the participants reported teaching on alcohol, tobacco, or drug problems; 49% reported clinical activities in this area; 36% reported conducting research; 10% had submitted manuscripts for publication; 12% had submitted grant applications; and 32% percent had sought additional AODA training. Participants gave high scores to all components of the faculty development model; 81% would repeat the training and 98% would recommend the program to colleagues.Conclusions: This cost‐effective faculty development program can serve as a model to increase educational programs on substance abuse at public universities, increase faculty research activities in the alcohol area, and increase clinical programs in university hospitals.