bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Comparing tropical forest tree size distributions with the predictions of metabolic ecology and equilibrium models
Authors: Muller‐Landau Helene C. , Condit Richard S. , Harms Kyle E. , Marks Christian O. , Thomas Sean C. , Bunyavejchewin Sarayudh , Chuyong George , Co Leonardo , Davies Stuart , Foster Robin , Gunatilleke Savitri , Gunatilleke Nimal , Hart Terese , Hubbell Stephen P. , Itoh Akira , Kassim Abd Rahman , Kenfack David , LaFrankie James V. , Lagunzad Daniel , Lee Hua Seng , Losos Elizabeth , Makana Jean‐Remy , Ohkubo Tatsuhiro , Samper Cristian , Sukumar Raman , Sun I‐Fang , Nur Supardi M. N. , Tan Sylvester , Thomas Duncan , Thompson Jill , Valencia Renato , Vallejo Martha Isabel , Muñoz Gorky Villa , Yamakura Takuo , Zimmerman Jess K. , Dattaraja Handanakere Shavaramaiah , Esufali Shameema , Hall Pamela , He Fangliang , Hernandez Consuelo , Kiratiprayoon Somboon , Suresh Hebbalalu S. , Wills Christopher , Ashton Peter 
Published: March 2006

AbstractTropical forests vary substantially in the densities of trees of different sizes and thus in above‐ground biomass and carbon stores. However, these tree size distributions show fundamental similarities suggestive of underlying general principles. The theory of metabolic ecology predicts that tree abundances will scale as the −2 power of diameter. Demographic equilibrium theory explains tree abundances in terms of the scaling of growth and mortality. We use demographic equilibrium theory to derive analytic predictions for tree size distributions corresponding to different growth and mortality functions. We test both sets of predictions using data from 14 large‐scale tropical forest plots encompassing censuses of 473 ha and > 2 million trees. The data are uniformly inconsistent with the predictions of metabolic ecology. In most forests, size distributions are much closer to the predictions of demographic equilibrium, and thus, intersite variation in size distributions is explained partly by intersite variation in growth and mortality.
Systematic review on the short‐term outcome of laparoscopic resection for colon and rectosigmoid cancer
Authors: Tjandra J. J. , Chan M. K. Y. 
Published: March 2006

AbstractObjective  Several large randomized controlled trials on laparoscopic resection for colon and rectosigmoid cancer have recently been published. There is a need to provide an up‐to‐date systematic review in this subject.Methods  A literature search of all published randomized trials in English between January 1991 and September 2005 was obtained, from Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and All EBM Reviews (Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trial, Cochrane Database of Systemic Review, and Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects), including e‐links to the related articles. Two independent assessors reviewed the trials using a standardized protocol. Where means and standard deviations were available, meta‐analysis was performed using the Forest plot review. Studies where medians and ranges were presented were separately analysed.Results  A total of 17 randomized controlled trials with 4013 procedures were reviewed. The conversion rate varied widely between studies and was lowest in single‐Centre trials. There were no significant differences in overall and surgical complication rate, anastomotic leak rate, re‐operation rate and oncological clearance. However, laparoscopic resection has a significantly lower peri‐operative mortality (odds ratio 0.33; P = 0.005), lower wound complications (odds ratio 0.65; P = 0.01), less blood loss (weighted mean difference 0.11 l; P < 0.00001) and reduced postoperative pain scores by 12.6% with reduction of requirements for narcotic analgesia by 30.7%. After laparoscopic surgery, patients passed flatus 38.8% earlier (weighted mean difference 27.6 h; P < 0.00001) and had bowel movement 21.0% earlier (weighted mean difference 23.9 h; P < 0.00001) and resumed oral diet 28.3% sooner than patients in the open group (weighted mean difference 27.3 h; P < 0.00001). Patients were discharged 19.1% earlier after laparoscopic surgery than open surgery (weighted mean difference 1.7 days; P < 0.00001). Laparoscopic resection took 28.7% longer (weighted mean difference 40.1 min; P < 0.00001) to perform.Conclusions  Laparoscopic resection for colon and rectosigmoid cancer is feasible, safe and has many short‐term benefits.
New patients: should children be treated differently?
Authors: Dubinsky M. C. 
Published: March 2006

AbstractInflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in childhood is often diagnosed at a vulnerable time of growth and development, and is recognized as one of the most significant chronic gastrointestinal diseases to affect children. Children and adolescents with IBD are at increased risk of complications as a result of malnutrition secondary to reduced appetite, increased metabolism and decreased absorptive capacity. The most common and serious complications are growth failure, bone demineralization and impaired psychosocial development. These issues add to the complexity of childhood IBD management and it is essential that adequate medical management is in place to prevent these long‐term complications. Current treatment options include 5‐aminosalicylic acid, antibiotics, corticosteroids, nutritional therapy and immunomodulators used to induce and maintain remission; some are specifically employed to maintain a steroid free long‐term remission. As a general rule, long‐term corticosteroid use should be avoided to reduce the risk of bone demineralization and growth failure. Newer treatment options such as infliximab have been shown to be effective for inducing and prolonging remission of Crohn's disease in children and paediatric use of infliximab is likely to increase in the near future. A recent case report, involving a 15‐year old boy presenting with abdominal pain and bloody diarrhoea, illustrates the difficulty in correctly diagnosing IBD in children and the need for optimizing therapy to achieve treatment success.
Effect of sibutramine and of cognitive‐behavioural weight loss therapy in obesity and subclinical binge eating disorder
Authors: Bauer C. , Fischer A. , Keller U. 
Published: March 2006

Aim:  In this randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study, the effect of sibutramine and cognitive‐behavioural weight loss (cognitive‐BWL) treatment was assessed in obese subjects with and without subclinical binge eating disorder (sBED).Methods:  Seventy‐three obese participants were recruited from the community, 29 with and 44 without sBED. Subjects were randomly assigned to a 16‐week treatment with either sibutramine or placebo while simultaneously participating in a cognitive‐behavioural weight loss treatment.Results:  Intent‐to‐treat analysis showed moderate weight loss after treatment in all subject groups. Treatment with BWL programs and sibutramine leads to a higher weight loss in all subjects compared with that in patients who had undergone BWL programs alone. Subjects with sBED significantly reduced their binge episodes during treatment, but with no augmenting effect of sibutramine.Discussion:  Our results yield further evidence that sBED is associated with characteristics comparable with full‐syndrome BED, significantly differing from those of obesity alone. These findings call for a systematic assessment of eating behaviour before starting obesity treatment.
Effects of running exercise on fibre‐type distribution of soleus and plantaris muscles in diabetic Otsuka Long‐Evans Tokushima fatty rats
Authors: Yasuda K. , Adachi T. , Kikuchi N. , Tsujimoto G. , Aoki N. , Tsuda K. , Ishihara A. 
Published: March 2006

Aim:  Effect of running exercise on fibre‐type distributions of the slow soleus and fast plantaris muscles was investigated in male Otsuka Long‐Evans Tokushima fatty rats (OLETF) as an animal model of spontaneous type 2 diabetes mellitus.Methods:  Five‐week‐old OLETF rats were allowed to exercise voluntarily in running wheels for 32 days and the data were compared with those of age‐matched non‐exercised OLETF and non‐diabetic Long‐Evans Tokushima Otsuka rats (LETO).Results:  In the soleus muscle, a higher percentage of type I fibres was observed in non‐exercised OLETF rats compared with LETO rats, and there were no type IIA fibres in non‐exercised OLETF rats. In the plantaris muscle, a higher percentage of type IIB fibres and a lower percentage of type I and type IIA fibres were observed in non‐exercised OLETF rats compared with LETO rats. In contrast, there were no differences in the fibre‐type distribution of soleus and plantaris muscles between exercised OLETF and LETO rats. The body weight and type I fibre percentage of the soleus muscle were related to the running distance in exercised OLETF rats. White adipose tissue weight, HbA1c and blood insulin and glucose concentrations were lower in exercised OLETF rats than in non‐exercised OLETF rats, irrespective of the running distance. There was a difference in the gene‐expression pattern of the soleus muscle among LETO rats, non‐exercised OLETF and exercised OLETF rats.Conclusion:  Running exercise can inhibit diabetes‐associated type shifting of fibres, which is more apparent with postnatal growth, in skeletal muscles of diabetic OLETF rats, as a result of mRNA expression change in muscle.
Effect of a nutritional liquid supplement designed for the patient with diabetes mellitus (Glucerna SR) on the postprandial glucose state, insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity in healthy subjects
Authors: González‐Ortiz M. , Martínez‐Abundis E. , Hernández‐Salazar E. , Kam‐Ramos A. M. , Robles‐Cervantes J. A. 
Published: March 2006

Aim:  To identify the effect of a nutritional liquid supplement designed for the patient with diabetes mellitus (Glucerna SR) in single administration on the postprandial glucose state, insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity in healthy subjects.Methods:  A randomized, single‐blind, cross‐over, clinical trial was carried out in 14 young, healthy, non‐obese, volunteers. A basal metabolic profile, which included glucose level, insulin, total cholesterol, high‐density lipoprotein and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, creatinine, and uric acid, was measured. Subjects received a single administration of 300 kcal, gauged with water at 350 ml, of each of the following (at least 3 days apart): glucose 75 g, polymeric supplement (Ensure high calcium) 315 ml or Glucerna SR 323 ml. At the beginning of each administration and 30, 60, 90 and 120 min later, glucose and insulin concentrations were measured. Areas under the curve of glucose and insulin were calculated. First‐phase and total insulin secretions and insulin sensitivity were also estimated.Results:  Glucose level at 120 min was significantly lower after receiving Ensure high calcium or Glucerna SR. Administration of Glucerna SR resulted in a significant reduction in the areas under the curve of glucose and insulin, as well as in total insulin secretion with a tendency to be lower in their first phase. Insulin sensitivity was increased.Conclusions:  A single administration of Glucerna SR to healthy subjects decreased the postprandial glucose and insulin states, as well as the insulin secretion; insulin sensitivity increased.
The efficacy and tolerability of fosinopril in Chinese type 2 diabetic patients with moderate renal insufficiency
Authors: Tong P. C. Y. , Ko G. T. C. , Chan W.‐B. , Ma R. C. W. , So W.‐Y. , Lo M. K. W. , Lee K.‐F. , Ozaki R. , Chow C.‐C. , Cockram C. S. , Chan J. C. N. 
Published: March 2006

Background:  The renoprotective effect of angiotensin II antagonists has been demonstrated in type 2 diabetic patients with nephropathy but similar data on angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are limited. We examined the efficacy and tolerability of fosinopril, an ACE inhibitor with dual hepatic and renal clearance, in 38 type 2 diabetic patients with moderate renal impairment (plasma creatinine 130–300 µmol/l) over a 2‐year period.Methods:  This was a single‐centre, randomized, double‐blinded, placebo‐controlled trial comparing fosinopril 20 mg daily vs. placebo in addition to conventional antihypertensive treatment over a 2‐year period. The primary endpoints were the rate of change and the percentage change in both 24‐h urinary albumin excretion (UAE) and creatinine clearance (CrCl).Results:  The mean age of the patients was 65 ± 6 years (range 47–76 years, median 66 years) and plasma creatinine 190 ± 49 µmol/l. For similar blood pressure control, the percentage change of UAE in patients with microalbuminuria was greater in the fosinopril than the placebo group (−24.2 ± 28.8 vs. 11.6 ± 42.1%, p = 0.003 after adjustment for baseline covariates). In the fosinopril group, the rate of change of endogenous CrCl was slower than the placebo group (−0.07 ± 0.19 vs. −0.24 ± 0.35 ml/min/week, p = 0.026). The incidence of adverse events was similar between the two groups.Conclusions:  Fosinopril treatment reduced albuminuria and rate of decline in renal function in type 2 diabetic patients with moderate renal insufficiency and did not increase the incidence of adverse events.
Sir Robert Walpole after his Fall from Power, 1742–1745
Authors: OATES JONATHAN 
Published: March 2006

AbstractIt is often assumed that Sir Robert Walpole's career in politics ended with his ceasing to be chief minister in 1742. During his remaining years, however, he continued to exert political influence by bolstering and advising the government, especially in 1743–4. Even without political office, he was still seen as the fount of patronage. He was also able to pursue his other interests in this time and enjoyed favour with both King George II and his former political colleagues. Yet his health, never good, deteriorated rapidly towards the end of 1744 and he died bravely in the spring of the following year.
Epistasis Between Type 2 Diabetes Susceptibility Loci on Chromosomes 1q21‐25 and 10q23‐26 in Northern Europeans
Authors: Wiltshire S. , Bell J. T. , Groves C. J. , Dina C. , Hattersley A. T. , Frayling T. M. , Walker M. , Hitman G. A. , Vaxillaire M. , Farrall M. , Froguel P. , McCarthy M. I. 
Published: March 2006

SummaryCharacterisation of the interactions between susceptibility loci (epistasis) is central to a full understanding of the genetic aetiology and the molecular pathology of complex diseases. We have examined, in British and French pedigrees, evidence for epistasis between the type 2 diabetes susceptibility loci on chromosomes 1q21‐25 and 10q23‐26 using two complementary linkage‐based approaches. Joint two‐locus linkage analysis of 1q and 10q in British pedigrees provided significant evidence for interaction (P ≤ 0.003) when comparing a general epistasis model with multiplicative or additive‐effects‐only models. Conditional linkage analysis (which models epistasis as a deviation from multiplicativity only) confirmed these findings, with significant LOD score increases at the 1q (P = 0.0002) and 10q (P = 0.0023) loci. These analyses provided sizeable reductions in the 1‐LOD support intervals for both loci. Analyses of the British and French pedigrees together yielded comparable, but not enhanced, findings, with significant (P ≤ 0.003) evidence for epistasis in joint two‐locus linkage analysis, and during conditional linkage analysis significant increases in linkage evidence at the 1q (P = 0.0002) and 10q (P = 0.0036) loci. Our findings of epistasis nevertheless substantiate the evidence for genuine genetic effects at both loci, facilitate endeavours to fine‐map these loci in population samples, and support further examination of this interaction at the nucleotide level by providing a robust prior hypothesis.
Refined Association Mapping for a Quantitative Trait: Weight in the H19‐IGF2‐INS‐TH Region
Authors: Zhang W. , Maniatis N. , Rodriguez S. , Miller G. J. , Day I. N. M. , Gaunt T. R. , Collins A. , Morton N. E. 
Published: March 2006

SummaryPrevious analyses have provided evidence for one or more loci affecting body weight in the H19‐IGF2‐INS‐TH region on chromosome 11p15. To identify the location of a possible causal locus or loci we applied association analysis by composite likelihood to a large cohort under the Malecot model for body weight. A random sample of 2731 men in the UK were typed for eleven single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in IGF2, two SNPs in H19, one SNP in INS and one microsatellite marker in the TH genes. Using F tests appropriate to small marker sets, the superiority of regression over correlation was confirmed. All the evidence for association came from IGF2, with P= 0.007 for height‐adjusted weight and P= 0.019 for weight additionally adjusted for smoking and alcohol drinking. Although the estimated point location for the suspected causal variant was close to IGF2 ApaI, the 95% confidence and support intervals covered most of IGF2 but none of the other loci. Identification of the causal SNP or SNPs within IGF2 will require typing of more variants in this region.
Microdialysis measures of functional increases in ACh release in the hippocampus with and without inclusion of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors in the perfusate
Authors: Chang Qing , Savage Lisa M. , Gold Paul E. 
Published: March 2006

AbstractBecause brain extracellular acetylcholine (ACh) levels are near detection limits in microdialysis samples, an acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor such as neostigmine is often added to microdialysis perfusates to increase ACh levels in the dialysate, a practice that raises concerns that the inhibitor might alter the results. Two experiments compared functional differences in ACh release with and without neostigmine. In the first experiment, 30–60% increases in extracellular ACh concentrations in the hippocampus were evident during food‐rewarded T‐maze training with 20–500 nm neostigmine in the perfusate but no increases were seen without neostigmine. In the second experiment, 78% increases in ACh release in the hippocampus were seen after injections of the GABAA receptor antagonist, bicuculline, into medial septum only if neostigmine (50 nm) was included in the perfusate. These findings suggest that, in the hippocampus, endogenous brain AChEs are very efficient at removing extracellular ACh, obscuring differences in ACh release in these experiments. Therefore, inclusion of AChE inhibitors in the microdialysis perfusate may be necessary under some conditions for observations of functional changes in release of ACh in the hippocampus.
Nitric oxide inhibits mitochondrial movement in forebrain neurons associated with disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential
Authors: Rintoul Gordon L. , Bennett Vicki J. , Papaconstandinou Natalia A. , Reynolds Ian J. 
Published: March 2006

AbstractNitric oxide (NO) has a number of physiological and pathophysiological effects in the nervous system. One target of NO is the mitochondrion, where it inhibits respiration and ATP synthesis, which may contribute to NO‐mediated neuronal injury. Our recent studies suggested that impaired mitochondrial function impairs mitochondrial trafficking, which could also contribute to neuronal injury. Here, we studied the effects of NO on mitochondrial movement and morphology in primary cultures of forebrain neurons using a mitochondrially targeted enhanced yellow fluorescent protein. NO produced by two NO donors, papa non‐oate and diethylamine/NO complex, caused a rapid cessation of mitochondrial movement but did not alter morphology. Movement recovered after removal of NO. The effects of NO on movement were associated with dissipation of the mitochondrial membrane potential. Increasing cGMP levels using 8‐bromoguanosine 3′,5′‐cyclic monophosphate, did not mimic the effects on mitochondrial movement. Furthermore, 1H‐[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3‐a]quinoxalin‐1‐one (ODQ), an inhibitor of NO‐induced activation of soluble guanylate cyclase, did not block the effects of NO. Thus, neither increasing nor decreasing cGMP levels had an effect on mitochondrial movement. Based on these data, we conclude that NO is a novel modulator of mitochondrial trafficking in neurons, which may act through the inhibition of mitochondrial function.
Effects of Compensation Methods and Physician Group Structure on Physicians' Perceived Incentives to Alter Services to Patients
Authors: Reschovsky James D. , Hadley Jack , Landon Bruce E. 
Published: March 2006

Objective. To examine how health plan payment, group ownership, compensation methods, and other practice management tools affect physician perceptions of whether their overall financial incentives tilt toward increasing or decreasing services to patients.Data Source. Nationally representative data on physicians are from the 2000–2001 Community Tracking Study Physician Survey (N=12,406).Study Design. Ordered and multinomial logistic regression were used to explore how physician, group, and market characteristics are associated with physician reports of whether overall financial incentives are to increase services, decrease services, or neither.Principal Findings. Seven percent of physicians report financial incentives are to reduce services to patients, whereas 23 percent report incentives to increase services. Reported incentives to reduce services were associated with reports of lower ability to provide quality care. Group revenue in the form of capitation was associated with incentives to reduce services whereas practice ownership and variable compensation and bonuses for employee physicians were mostly associated with incentives to increase services to patients. Full ownership of groups, productivity incentives, and perceived competitive markets for patients were associated with incentives to both increase and reduce services.Conclusions. Practice ownership and the ways physicians are compensated affect their perceived incentives to increase or decrease services to patients. In the latter case, this adversely affects perceived quality of care and satisfaction, although incentives to increase services may also have adverse implications for quality, cost, and insurance coverage.
Development of an Easy‐to‐Use Spanish Health Literacy Test
Authors: Lee Shoou‐Yih D. , Bender Deborah E. , Ruiz Rafael E. , Cho Young Ik 
Published: March 2006

Objective. The study was intended to develop and validate a health literacy test, termed the Short Assessment of Health Literacy for Spanish‐speaking Adults (SAHLSA), for the Spanish‐speaking population.Study Design. The design of SAHLSA was based on the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine (REALM), known as the most easily administered tool for assessing health literacy in English. In addition to the word recognition test in REALM, SAHLSA incorporates a comprehension test using multiple‐choice questions designed by an expert panel.Data Collection. Validation of SAHLSA involved testing and comparing the tool with other health literacy instruments in a sample of 201 Spanish‐speaking and 202 English‐speaking subjects recruited from the Ambulatory Care Center at UNC Health Care.Principal Findings. With only the word recognition test, REALM could not differentiate the level of health literacy in Spanish. The SAHLSA significantly improved the differentiation. Item response theory analysis was performed to calibrate the SAHLSA and reduce the instrument to 50 items. The resulting instrument, SAHLSA‐50, was correlated with the Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults, another health literacy instrument, at r=0.65. The SAHLSA‐50 score was significantly and positively associated with the physical health status of Spanish‐speaking subjects (p<.05), holding constant age and years of education. The instrument displayed good internal reliability (Cronbach's α=0.92) and test–retest reliability (Pearson's r=0.86).Conclusions. The new instrument, SAHLSA‐50, has good reliability and validity. It could be used in the clinical or community setting to screen for low health literacy among Spanish speakers.