bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Decline in research publications from the United Kingdom in anaesthesia journals from 1997 to 2006
Authors: Feneck R. O. , Natarajan N. , Sebastian R. , Naughton C. 
Published: February 2008

SummaryWe undertook this survey to identify the trend in the published output of original research in anaesthesia emanating from the United Kingdom (UK) in a 10‐year period from 1997 to 2006, inclusive. We examined seven major anaesthetic journals for each of the 10 years, and four other specialist journals for the years 1997, 2000, 2003 and 2006. We included papers on experimental research, randomised controlled clinical trials, large observational studies and case series, formal equipment and apparatus assessments, but we excluded editorials, comments, reviews including systematic reviews, special articles, small case series and case reports, questionnaire surveys of clinical practice and correspondence. We found a highly significant reduction in published research output from the UK in the period under study (% change per year; −5.7 (95% CI −7.4 to −4.0), a trend which was significantly different (p < 0.001) from the trend of changes in research publications worldwide (−1.0% change per year; 95% CI −1.7 to 0.0). We discuss the implications of these findings for UK anaesthesia research strategy.
Molecular characteristics of the porcine DLK1 and MEG3 genes
Authors: Li X. P. , Do K. T. , Kim J.‐J. , Huang J. , Zhao S. H. , Lee Y. , Rothschild M. F. , Lee C. K. , Kim K. S. 
Published: February 2008

SummaryImprinted genes play important roles in embryo survival and postnatal growth regulation. The DLK1 and MEG3 (previously GTL2) genes are linked and reciprocally imprinted in several mammals, but their imprinting status is still unknown in pigs. In this study, we report polymorphisms, imprinting status and QTL analyses of the porcine DLK1 and MEG3 genes. Muscle and adipose DNA and RNA samples from 30‐day‐old animals generated with reciprocal crosses between the Korean native pig (KNP) and Yorkshire breeds were used to analyse DLK1 and MEG3 variation and expression. The samples exhibited paternal expression of DLK1 and maternal expression of MEG3 in pigs. These results indicated that the imprinting status of the DLK1 and MEG3 genes is conserved across mammalian species. By linkage analyses, we assigned the DLK1 and MEG3 genes to the telomeric region of SSC7. By QTL analyses, we confirmed a significant polar overdominance (POD) effect in DLK1, which was previously detected for several growth traits in pigs. However, no significant POD effect was found with the MEG3 locus.
Trends in the methodological quality of published randomized controlled trials on antibacterial agents
Authors: Falagas Matthew E. , Pitsouni Eleni I. , Bliziotis Ioannis A. 
Published: February 2008

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT • Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are believed to be one of the best methods of clinical research because they can minimize systematic errors of various types.• Temporal trends in the various aspects of RCTs have been studied in several medical fields (e.g. nephrology, hepatology, oncology).• However, there is lack of data regarding the trends in the methodological quality of RCTs focusing on antimicrobial agents. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS • Several important methodological aspects of RCTs on antibacterial agents, such as description of randomization, double blinding, description of the blinding and allocation concealment, have not improved during the last 30 years.AIMTo investigate the trends of the methodological quality of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of antimicrobial agents published during the last 30 years.METHODSWe randomly selected from the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials database 70 RCTs of antibacterial agents that were published during a 30‐year study period (1975–2005); specifically, we randomly selected 10 RCTs published during each of the following years: 1975, 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000 and 2005. In each of the selected RCTs, we searched for information on various methodological aspects and graded the methodological quality of the RCTs to evaluate trends for possible improvement.RESULTSNo improvement was noted in most of the analysed methodological aspects of the RCTs during the 30‐year study period. Description of randomization, double blinding, description of the blinding, and allocation concealment were rather scarce among the evaluated RCTs, without observing a trend for improvement during the study period. We noted improvement in reporting power of the study calculations, baseline data as well as in reporting the presence or not of statistical significance and the statistical cut‐off of significance. In only 1/70 RCTs were all 13 of the examined methodological quality aspects met and in one more RCT 12 of them were met.CONCLUSIONSWe did not observe considerable improvement in the quality of the reporting and methodology of RCTs on antibacterial agents during the last 30 years. The methodological quality aspects that need most improvement are those that help safeguard against various types of biases.
A Novel Approach to Regulate Experimental Visceral Leishmaniasis in Murine Macrophages using CCR5 siRNA
Authors: Bhattacharyya (Majumdar) S. , Dey R. , Majumder N. , Bhattacharjee S. , Majumdar S. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractEarly infection with Leishmania donovani during visceral leishmaniasis (VL) results in the enhanced expression of C‐C chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5) in macrophages. CCR5 expression at different time points of infection revealed increased expression at protein and mRNA level from 3 to 24 h and beyond 24 h expression of CCR5 is downregulated. To better understand the functional role of CCR5 during leishmania infection, RNA interference strategy has been used to modulate macrophage function by targeting the expression of CCR5 gene. We found that silencing of CCR5 receptor expression by transfection of CCR5‐specific small interfering RNA (siRNA) in murine peritoneal macrophages restricted the parasitic burden up to 70% during early hours of infection. In addition, gene silencing of CCR5 prior to L. donovani infection enhanced the pro‐inflammatory response of the host macrophages in comparison with infection alone as shown by high nitric oxide generation and the TNF‐α:IL‐10 ratio. These findings suggest that CCR5 receptor plays a significant role in the entry and establishment of L. donovani in murine macrophages and CCR5 gene silencing would be a potent therapeutic approach to control VL by restricting parasite entry.
ELEVATED LEVELS OF CIRCULATING CORTISOL IN YOUNG NORMOTENSIVE ADULT MEN WITH A FAMILY HISTORY OF HYPERTENSION
Authors: Matuszek Maria A , Boutcher Stephen H 
Published: February 2008

SUMMARY

Differences in blood lipids, glucose, insulin, amylin, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), cortisol, aldosterone, angiotensin II, metabolites of nitric oxide (nitrate, nitrite), asymmetric dimethyl arginine, endothelial leucocyte adhesion molecule‐1, vascular cell adhesion molecule‐1, C‐reactive protein, homocysteine and oxidative status (urate, vitamin A, vitamin E, b‐carotene and total anti‐oxidant capacity) were investigated in men (aged 18–25 years) with (+) or without (–) a family history (FH) of hypertension.
In the present study, FH+ was defined as having at least one parent or grandparent taking medication for hypertension. Blood (60 mL) was sampled (0800–1000 hours) from a cannulated forearm vein after an overnight fast and 24 h abstinence from caffeine‐containing products and alcohol.
Comparing FH+ with FH–, systolic blood pressure (124 ± 1 vs 117 + 3 mmHg, respectively; n = 50 and 14, respectively; P < 0.05) and plasma cortisol (377 ± 23 vs 298 ± 24 nmol/L, respectively; n = 43 and 12, respectively; P < 0.05) were found to be significantly higher in the former group.
No significant difference was found between the two groups for body mass index, resting heart rate, diastolic and mean blood pressures or any of the biochemical measures studied.
A significant correlation was found between cortisol and ACTH (r = 0.73). No correlation was found between cortisol and any other parameter measured.
These data indicate that elevated cortisol levels are characteristic of young lean normotensive FH+ men. The future impact of this on their vascular health and hypertension remains to be determined.
CARDIAC TISSUE FACTOR: ROLES IN PHYSIOLOGY AND FIBROSIS
Authors: Davis Darren R , Erlich Jonathan H 
Published: February 2008

SUMMARY

The aim of the present review is to discuss: (i) the role of tissue factor (TF) in the heart and focus on its potential role in maintaining normal extracellular cardiac homeostasis; (ii) the means by which TF may be contributing to extracellular matrix regulation and vascular maintenance; and (iii) potential mechanisms whereby reduced TF expression leads to cardiac fibrosis.
Tissue factor is the main initiator of the coagulation cascade in response to tissue injury, but it is also involved in numerous other biological processes, including angiogenesis, cell migration, apoptosis, metastasis and inflammation.
Tissue factor is implicated in cardiovascular disease and its localization and level of expression in cardiomyocytes suggests a unique role in maintaining the structure and function of cardiac muscle.
It has been shown that TF−/– mice die in utero as a result of disrupted yolk sac vasculature. Low‐TF mice, which have transgenic expression of TF at less than 1% of normal levels, are rescued from lethality.
Low‐TF mice develop cardiac fibrosis in a gender‐dependent manner that may be dependent on differential expression of urokinase plasminogen activator.
Intracardiac bleeding in low‐TF mice may occur as a result of a primary haemostasis defect and/or as a result of disrupted vascular maintenance. The mechanism, when elucidated, will have important therapeutic implications and may provide novel strategies for the treatment of cardiac fibrosis.
Identity and typification of Navicula hasta (Bacillariophyceae)
Authors: Levkov Zlatko , Edlund Mark B. , Nakov Teofil 
Published: February 2008

SUMMARYThe name Navicula hasta is regularly applied to large, heavily silicified Navicula specimens with lanceolate outlines, protracted ends, and relatively coarse, radiate, and lineolate striae that are more irregularly spaced around the central area. As such, Navicula hasta has been reported from numerous localities such as brackish water fossil sediments, oligotrophic ancient lakes and postglacial lakes. When the data for distribution of Navicula hasta are summarized, this species appears to be geographically and temporally widespread with a broad range of ecologic tolerances. Published reports for size range show that diatomists during the last century have differing concepts of the species starting with the disagreement between the protologue and one of the figures given by Pantocsek. Furthermore, an informal ‘type’ of Navicula hasta reported in 1980 does not match the protologue and is not unambiguously based on material Pantocsek had in his hands when describing his new species. We studied published reports of Navicula hasta and investigated material reported to contain Navicula hasta and its allies from the type locality (Köpecz), one of the fossil deposits reported to contain N. hasta (Bodos) and from ancient and other younger lakes worldwide. From our analyses, we document the variation and underappreciated diversity within the Navicula hasta group and set the stage for formal recognition of new species in subsequent papers. Herein, we formally propose a lectotype from among the original illustrations and designate an epitype for Navicula hasta based on Pantocsek's Köpecz material. Additionally, two new species, Navicula krenneri spec. nov. and Navicula pseudohasta spec. nov. are described and a lectotype of Navicula superhasta Lange‐Bertalot and Metzeltin is proposed.
Profile and management of patients treated for the first time for lower urinary tract symptoms/benign prostatic hyperplasia in four European countries
Authors: Fourcade Richard‐Olivier , Théret Nathalie , Taïeb Charles ,   the BPH USAGE Study Group
Published: February 2008

OBJECTIVETo describe the profile and management of patients medically treated for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in primary care in four European countries, as the diagnosis and management of BPH have developed dramatically in the last decade, and recent information from actual practice is insufficient.PATIENTS AND METHODSThis observational, cross‐sectional study was carried out by general practitioners in France (141 patients), Spain (127) and Portugal (50), and by office‐based urologists in Germany (162 patients) between July 2005 and June 2006. The physicians were unaware of the study sponsor. Patients aged ≥50 years were recruited if a decision for medical treatment of BPH was taken for the first time on that day. The patient and the investigator had to complete one questionnaire each.RESULTSThe physicians included 480 patients, with a mean (sd) age of 65.0 (7.8) years. The mean (sd) International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) was 16.0 (7.3). There were geographical differences in age (P = 0.009; patients in Germany being the youngest), IPSS (P = 0.017; patients in Spain having the highest score), quality of life (QoL; IPSS item 8, P < 0.001, the least altered being in Germany), and sexual activity (P = 0.010; the highest proportion of sexually active patients being in Portugal), but not for comorbidities and concomitant medication. The IPSS correlated poorly with age (r = 0.21) and moderately with QoL (r = 0.47). Severe symptoms (IPSS > 19) were not linked with sexual activity (age‐adjusted P = 0.378). Serum prostate specific antigen testing, although not recommended for BPH, was widely used (83.8% overall). All other examinations were carried out disparately depending on the country (P < 0.001 each). Digital rectal examination (DRE) and excluding urinary tract infection (urine culture) were used in ≈75% of study patients, but only half the patients in France had a urine culture, and 52% in Portugal had a DRE. A standardized assessment of symptoms and/or QoL was reported in 45% of study patients, with wide discrepancies among countries, i.e. 77.2% in Germany and 6.0% in Portugal. α‐blocker monotherapy was the most frequently prescribed treatment (62.5% overall, 87.1% in Germany, 46.1% in France), followed by phytotherapy (23.5%), and 5α‐reductase inhibitor monotherapy (3.75%); combinations were rare. Treatment varied according to the severity of the symptoms (P = 0.008), phytotherapy being given to patients with the lowest IPSS, and combinations to those with the highest IPSS.CONCLUSIONThere were geographical discrepancies that could be attributed to either different cultural habits or merely organisational differences, e.g. the presence of office urologists in Germany or diverse modes of access to phytotherapy (prescription vs ‘over the counter’) in the various countries.
Can we predict future improvement in glycaemic control?
Authors: Singh R. , Press M. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractAims  To determine the factors responsible for poor glycaemic control in diabetes and whether any such factors are associated with likely improvement in glycaemic control.Methods  A prospective cohort study of 130 diabetic patients with poor glycaemic control (HbA1c ≥ 10.0%) with 1‐year follow‐up in a teaching hospital Diabetes Clinic. Changes in HbA1c were measured after 1 year.Results  Poor glycaemic control was attributed to one of 15 possible causes. Those cases due to recent diagnosis of diabetes, inadequate treatment with diet, oral glucose‐lowering agents or insulin, exacerbation of co‐existent medical problems, recent stressful life‐events and missed clinic appointments were all associated with significant improvement in HbA1c at 12 months. Patients with low mood or alcohol excess, inadequate blood glucose monitoring, poor exercise/sedentary lifestyle, refusal to take tablets or underdosing and refusal to take insulin at all or to increase the dose were all associated with continuing poor glycaemic control at 12 months. The patients were divided almost equally between the two groups.Conclusions  In patients with poor glycaemic control, it is possible by simple features identified at clinic to predict which individuals are likely to show improvement in control and which will not. These findings have not been reported previously and suggest that about half of individuals with poor control will improve within our current diabetes clinic practice. Additional strategies will be required to address those individuals who are not likely to respond.
Short‐term nocturnal hypoglycaemia increases morning food intake in healthy humans
Authors: Schmid S. M. , Jauch‐Chara K. , Hallschmid M. , Oltmanns K. M. , Born J. , Schultes B. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractAims  Hypoglycaemia during wakefulness increases hunger and food intake. Patients with Type 1 diabetes mellitus are at high risk of recurrent hypoglycaemia and weight gain. Given the background of frequent hypoglycaemic episodes during night‐time sleep in diabetic patients, we investigated morning food intake after nocturnal hypoglycaemia.Methods  We tested 16 healthy normal‐weight subjects (eight women) on three nights. A linear fall in plasma glucose to a nadir of 2.2 mmol/l within 60 min was induced by insulin infusion immediately after sleep onset (‘early hypo’) or after about 3.5 h of sleep (‘late hypo’). On a control night, no hypoglycaemia was induced. Spontaneous food intake at a breakfast buffet was registered on the subsequent morning.Results  Compared with the control condition (700 ± 93 kcal), subjects ate more after ‘late hypo’ (867 ± 108 kcal; P = 0.041), but not after ‘early hypo’ (852 ± 111 kcal; P = 0.130). Analyses of macronutrient fractions revealed that in comparison with the control condition, subjects ate significantly more carbohydrates after both ‘late hypo’ (277 ± 25 kcal vs. 206 ± 23 kcal, P < 0.001) and ‘early hypo’ (245 ± 23 kcal, P = 0.048), with this effect being more pronounced after late than early nocturnal hypoglycaemia (P = 0.026).Conclusions  In healthy subjects, nocturnal hypoglycaemia during sleep stimulates spontaneous food intake the following morning, with carbohydrate intake being especially affected. Effects were more pronounced after ‘late hypo’, suggesting the influence of temporal dynamics. Although healthy non‐diabetic subjects were studied, similar mechanisms may contribute to the frequently observed body weight gain in insulin‐treated diabetic patients.
Down but not out: marine turtles of the British Virgin Islands
Authors: McGowan A. , Broderick A. C. , Frett G. , Gore S. , Hastings M. , Pickering A. , Wheatley D. , White J. , Witt M. J. , Godley B. J. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractWe present the result of a multi‐annual assessment of the spatio‐temporal patterns of marine turtle nesting, and foraging in the Eastern Caribbean archipelago state of the British Virgin Islands. Despite exploitation over several centuries, three species (leatherback Dermochelys coriacea, green Chelonia mydas and hawksbill Eretmochelys imbricata turtles) are still nesting and green and hawksbill turtles are found foraging. Leatherback turtles are showing signs of a recovery co‐incident with the implementation of an effective moratorium on adult take. When compared with historical data we demonstrate an apparent reduction in nesting levels in green and hawksbill turtles and a nesting range contraction in green turtles. Despite current conservation steps, it will be a decade or more before evidence of recovery can be expected in the two hard‐shelled species. Coupled with wider biological knowledge, our findings offer insights into the relative resilience of the different species to exploitation pressure. Additionally, the intra‐annual temporal and spatial spread of nesting demonstrated underlines the difficulties of monitoring such a multi‐species assemblage in such a diffuse archipelago.
Oesophageal leiomyosarcoma in dogs: surgical management and clinical outcome of four cases
Authors: Farese J. P. , Bacon N. J. , Ehrhart N. P. , Bush J. , Ehrhart E. J. , Withrow S. J. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractOesophageal leiomyosarcoma has yet to be reported in dogs. This retrospective case series describes the case management and clinical outcome of four dogs with oesophageal leiomyosarcoma treated by marginal excision alone. Histological features used to determine tumour grade included capsular invasion, percent necrosis, pleomorphism and mitotic rate. All tumours were designated grade 1 leiomyosarcoma. Excision of all grossly evident tumour tissue was achieved in two of the four cases; however, histopathologic evaluation showed tumour cells at the surgical margins in one of these two cases. Two dogs had grossly incomplete excision. Two dogs died from unrelated conditions, one 3 years and 5.5 months after surgery, the other at 65 days. One dog had persistent mega‐oesophagus and was lost to follow‐up 388 days after surgery and one dog is still alive (last follow‐up 405 days after surgery). Despite large tumour size and incomplete excision, surgical removal of low‐grade leiomyosarcomas can result in long‐term resolution of clinical signs.
NOD/SCID mouse model of canine T‐cell lymphoma with humoral hypercalcaemia of malignancy: cytokine gene expression profiling and in vivo bioluminescent imaging
Authors: Nadella M. V. P. , Kisseberth W. C. , Nadella K. S. , Thudi N. K. , Thamm D. H. , McNiel E. A. , Yilmaz A. , Boris‐Lawrie K. , Rosol T. J. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractLymphoma is a malignant neoplasm arising from B or T lymphocytes. In dogs, one‐third of lymphomas are highly aggressive multicentric T‐cell lymphomas that are often associated with humoral hypercalcaemia of malignancy (HHM). There are no cell lines or animal models to investigate the pathogenesis of T‐cell lymphoma and HHM in dogs. We developed the first xenograft model by injecting lymphoma cells from an Irish Wolfhound intraperitoneally into NOD/SCID mice. The mice developed multicentric lymphoma along with HHM and increased parathyroid hormone‐related protein (PTHrP) as occurs in dogs with T‐cell lymphoma. Using cytokine complementary DNA arrays, we identified genes that have potential implications in the pathogenesis of T‐cell lymphoma. Quantitative reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) of T‐cell lymphoma samples from hypercalcaemic canine patients showed that PTHrP likely plays a central role in the pathogenesis of HHM and that hypercalcaemia is the result of a combinatorial effect of different hypercalcaemic factors. Finally, we monitored in vivo tumour progression and metastases in the mouse model by transducing the lymphoma cells with a lentiviral vector that encodes a luciferase‐yellow fluorescent protein reporter and showed that in vivo trafficking patterns in this model were similar to those seen in dogs. This unique mouse model will be useful for translational research in lymphoma and for investigating the pathogenesis of T‐cell lymphoma and HHM in the dog.
Sowing the Seeds of Progress: The Agricultural Biotechnology Debate in Africa
Authors: Zerbe Noah 
Published: February 2008

AbstractRecent innovations in agricultural biotechnology raise a number of questions for the future of farming in both the developed and developing worlds. Conflicting international agreements, particularly tensions between the World Trade Organization's Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights Agreement and the Convention on Biological Diversity, provoke debates between farmers, plant breeders, and indigenous communities over the extent of ownership rights in genetic resources. Further, trade disputes between the United States and the European Union help to shape the terrain on which biotechnology is developed. The future of agricultural biotechnology in Africa is largely a function of the outcome of these debates.