bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Legume yellow mosaic viruses: genetically isolated begomoviruses
Authors: QAZI JAVARIA , ILYAS MUHAMMAD , MANSOOR SHAHID , BRIDDON ROB W. 
Published: May 2007

SUMMARYThe yellow mosaic diseases of a number of legumes across Southern Asia are caused by four species of whitefly‐transmitted geminiviruses (genus Begomovirus, family Geminiviridae): Mungbean yellow mosaic virus, Mungbean yellow mosaic India virus, Dolichos yellow mosaic virus and Horsegram yellow mosaic virus. They cause losses to a number of important pulse crops, a major source of dietary protein in the region. The viruses have host ranges limited to plants of the family Fabaceae and efforts to limit losses are hampered by limited availability of conventional resistance sources and/or the lack of durability of the resistance that has been identified. There is ample evidence for genetic interaction between these begomoviruses within the legumes, in the form of both classical recombination and component exchange, but little evidence for interaction with viruses that infect other plants. This is indicative of genetic isolation, the viruses in legumes evolving independently of the begomoviruses in plant species of other families. This has implications for the development of engineered resistance in legumes, which holds the promise of durability but has yet to be transferred to the field.Taxonomy:   The viruses causing yellow mosaic diseases of legumes across southern Asia, four of which have been identified so far, are bipartite begomoviruses (genus Begomovirus, family Geminiviridae): Mungbean yellow mosaic virus, Mungbean yellow mosaic India virus, Horsegram yellow mosaic virus and Dolichos yellow mosaic virus.Physical properties:   The legume yellow mosaic viruses (LYMVs), like all members of the Geminiviridae, have geminate (twinned) particles, 18–20 nm in diameter, 30 nm long, apparently consisting of two incomplete T = 1 icosahedra joined together in a structure with 22 pentameric capsomers and 110 identical protein subunits.Disease symptoms:   Symptoms caused by LYMVs are largely dependent on host species and susceptibility. Initially symptoms appear as small yellow specks along the veins and then spread over the leaf. In severe infections the entire leaf may become chlorotic. In blackgram the chlorotic areas sometimes turn necrotic. Infections of French bean usually do not produce a mosaic but instead induce a downward leaf curling.Disease control:   Control is based mainly on preventing the establishment of the whitefly vector, Bemisia tabaci, in the crop by application of insecticides. Changes in agricultural practices, such as moving the cropping period out of periods of high vector incidence (the wet period in late summer) to times of low vector incidence (dry season in early summer) have met with some, albeit short‐term, benefits. The use of natural, host plant resistance is efficacious, although the available sources of resistance in most legume crops are limited. In mungbean the resistance is attributed to two recessive genes which are used effectively to control the disease.Useful websites:   http://www.danforthcentre.org/iltab/geminiviridae/, http://www.iwglvv.org/
Detecting signals of drug–drug interactions in a spontaneous reports database
Authors: Thakrar Bharat T. , Grundschober Sabine Borel , Doessegger Lucette 
Published: May 2007

AimsThe spontaneous reports database is widely used for detecting signals of ADRs. We have extended the methodology to include the detection of signals of ADRs that are associated with drug–drug interactions (DDI). In particular, we have investigated two different statistical assumptions for detecting signals of DDI.MethodsUsing the FDA's spontaneous reports database, we investigated two models, a multiplicative and an additive model, to detect signals of DDI. We applied the models to four known DDIs (methotrexate‐diclofenac and bone marrow depression, simvastatin‐ciclosporin and myopathy, ketoconazole‐terfenadine and torsades de pointes, and cisapride‐erythromycin and torsades de pointes) and to four drug‐event combinations where there is currently no evidence of a DDI (fexofenadine‐ketoconazole and torsades de pointes, methotrexade‐rofecoxib and bone marrow depression, fluvastatin‐ciclosporin and myopathy, and cisapride‐azithromycine and torsade de pointes) and estimated the measure of interaction on the two scales.ResultsThe additive model correctly identified all four known DDIs by giving a statistically significant (P < 0.05) positive measure of interaction. The multiplicative model identified the first two of the known DDIs as having a statistically significant or borderline significant (P < 0.1) positive measure of interaction term, gave a nonsignificant positive trend for the third interaction (P = 0.27), and a negative trend for the last interaction. Both models correctly identified the four known non interactions by estimating a negative measure of interaction.ConclusionsThe spontaneous reports database is a valuable resource for detecting signals of DDIs. In particular, the additive model is more sensitive in detecting such signals. The multiplicative model may further help qualify the strength of the signal detected by the additive model.
Risk of congenital anomalies in pregnant users of statin drugs
Authors: Ofori Benjamin , Rey Evelyne , Bérard Anick 
Published: May 2007

What is already known about this subject• Cholesterol is known to be essential for fetal development.• Statins, which inhibit cholesterol production, have therefore been considered as potential teratogens and are contraindicated in pregnancy.• Data available thus far on the risks of congenital anomalies associated with statin therapy have come from non‐analytic postmarketing surveillance studies.• Given the increasing use of statins in women of childbearing age, there is a need for a population‐based study on the risks of congenital anomalies associated with gestational statin use.What this study adds• In this pharmacoepidemiological study, we determined the risk of congenital anomalies in women who filled prescriptions for statins during the first trimester of pregnancy, compared with women who had stopped statins before pregnancy or those who used fibrates during pregnancy.• We found no evidence of an increased risk of fetal anomalies among first‐trimester statin users, or any discernable pattern of congenital anomalies among live births.• However, in the absence of outcome data on nonlive births, conclusions remain uncertain.AimsEvidence from animal studies suggests that statin medications should not be taken during pregnancy. Our aim was to examine the association between the use of statins in early pregnancy and the incidence of congenital anomalies.MethodsA population‐based pregnancy registry was built. Three study groups were assembled: women prescribed statins in the first trimester (group A), fibrate/nicotinic acid in the first trimester (group B) and statins between 1 year and 1 month before conception, but not during pregnancy (group C). Among live‐born infants, we selected as cases infants with any congenital anomaly diagnosed in the first year of life. Controls were defined as infants with no congenital anomalies. The rate of congenital anomalies in the respective groups was calculated. Adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were also calculated.ResultsOur study group consisted of 288 pregnant women. Among women with a live birth, the rate of congenital anomalies was 3/64 (4.69%; 95% CI 1.00, 13.69) in group A, 3/14 in group B (21.43%; 95% CI 4.41, 62.57) and 7/67 in group C (10.45%; 95% CI 4.19, 21.53). The adjusted OR for congenital anomalies in group A compared with group C was 0.36 (95% CI 0.06, 2.18).ConclusionWe did not detect a pattern in fetal congenital anomalies or evidence of an increased risk in the live‐born infants of women filling prescriptions for statins in the first trimester of pregnancy. Conclusions, however, remain uncertain in the absence of data from nonlive births.
A pharmacokinetic model for L‐carnitine in patients receiving haemodialysis
Authors: Fornasini Gianfranco , Upton Richard N. , Evans Allan M. 
Published: May 2007

What is already known about this subject • Carnitine is essential for fatty acid metabolism, and is obtained from the diet and endogenous synthesis.• Patients with renal failure who are on chronic haemodialysis may require carnitine supplementation.• It is known that carnitine depletion in these patients may take years to develop, and that measurements of plasma carnitine may not be predictive of loss of carnitine from muscle, the main pool of carnitine in the body. What this study adds • This paper adds a quantitative understanding of the time‐course of the relationship between haemodialysis and the plasma concentration of L‐carnitine, with particular reference to how the carnitine pools in the body re‐equilibrate after a dialysis session.• It also provides insight into the time‐course of the depletion of L‐carnitine in these patients.AimsPatients requiring chronic haemodialysis may develop a secondary carnitine deficiency through dialytic loss of L‐carnitine. A previous report has described the plasma concentrations of L‐carnitine in 12 such patients under baseline conditions and after L‐carnitine administration (20 mg kg−1). A three‐compartment pharmacokinetic model was developed to describe these data to make inferences about carnitine supplementation in these patients.MethodsL‐carnitine removal was mediated solely by intermittent haemodialysis, which was incorporated into the model as an experimentally derived dialysis clearance value that was linked to an on‐off pulse function. Data were described by a model with a central compartment linked to ‘fast’‐ and ‘slow’‐equilibrating peripheral compartments.ResultsThe model adequately described the changing plasma concentrations of endogenous L‐carnitine in individual haemodialysis patients. Based on pooled data (mean ± SD; n = 12), the volume of the central compartment was 10.09 ± 0.72 l and the transfer rate constants into and out of the slowly equilibrating pool were 0.100 ± 0.018 h−1 and 0.00014 ± 0.00016 h−1, respectively. The turnover time of L‐carnitine in the slow pool (which was assumed to represent muscle) was approximately 300 days. The model was in general agreement with separate data on the measured loss of carnitine from muscle in dialysis patients.ConclusionsHaemodialysis causes rapid reductions in plasma L‐carnitine concentrations with each dialysis session. Plasma concentrations are restored between sessions by redistribution from peripheral compartments. However, during chronic haemodialysis, the ongoing dialytic loss of L‐carnitine may lead to a slow depletion of the compound, contributing to a possible secondary deficiency.
Birthing asynchrony is not a consequence of asynchronous offspring development in a non‐avian vertebrate, the Australian skink Egernia whitii
Authors: WHILE G. M. , JONES S. M. , WAPSTRA E. 
Published: May 2007

Summary

One of the major impediments to our understanding of avian hatching asynchrony is the difficulty in separating hypotheses that concentrate on the onset of incubation from those that explain hatching asynchrony adaptively. To address this, ideally we need a system(s) in which we can uncouple these two sets of hypotheses. Such a system exists in the skink genus Egernia.
We documented birthing asynchrony (analogous to hatching asynchrony) and the mechanisms underlying birthing asynchrony in the White's skink, Egernia whitii (Lacépède, 1804), a medium‐sized, viviparous skink species that displays complex sociality.
Egernia whitii females gave birth to offspring asynchronously (100% of litters), with an average of >2 days between births. We show that embryo gestation is synchronous with asynchrony first observed at birth. Furthermore, when birth of the entire litter was induced at the birth of the first offspring, there was no difference in development, mass or weight between first (naturally) born offspring and second and third (induced) offspring.
These results suggest that birthing asynchrony in this species is not a consequence of the constraint of asynchronous offspring development, but rather, females retain offspring despite all offspring being fully developed. This suggests that birthing asynchrony in this genus may have an adaptive explanation.
We discuss the potential adaptive explanations of birthing asynchrony in this genus, taking into account the potential links with indirect parental care and social organization, specifically the advantages that birthing asynchrony may offer to offspring in a highly competitive social environment.
Ex vivo microscopic assessment of factors affecting the quality of apical seal created by root‐end fillings
Authors: Tobón‐Arroyave S. I. , Restrepo‐Pérez M. M. , Arismendi‐Echavarría J. A. , Velásquez‐Restrepo Z. , Marín‐Botero M. L. , García‐Dorado E. C. 
Published: May 2007

AbstractAim  (i) To evaluate the incidence of microcracks around root‐end preparations completed with ultrasonic tips and their relationship with the root filling technique and thickness of surrounding dentine. (ii) To investigate the effect of rapid exposure to a water‐soluble dye of Intermediate Restorative Material (IRM), Super Ethoxybenzoic Acid (sEBA) and Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (MTA), on the marginal adaptation and microleakage of root‐end fillings. (iii) To describe the microstructure of the surface of root‐end filling materials.Methodology  Ninety‐two single‐rooted teeth were divided into two groups (n = 46) according to the root canal instrumentation/filling techniques. Group 1 consisted of specimens in which canal preparation was completed using a crown‐down technique and then filled with the Thermafil system (TF group); Group 2 consisted of specimens in which canal preparation was completed using a step‐back technique and lateral condensation (LC group). Following root‐end resection and ultrasonic cavity preparation, the samples were further divided into three subgroups (n = 24) for root‐end filling with IRM, sEBA or MTA. The ultrasonic preparation time was recorded. Eight teeth were kept as positive and 12 as negative controls. Following immersion in Indian ink for 7 days, all resected root surfaces were evaluated for the presence of microcracks and the cross‐sectional area of root‐end surface and root‐end filling were measured to evaluate the thickness of the dentinal walls. Thereafter, the samples were sectioned longitudinally so as to assess the depth of dye penetration and marginal adaptation of root‐end fillings. Negative controls longitudinally sectioned were used to describe microstructural characteristics of the root‐end filling materials using scanning electron microscopic (SEM) techniques.Results  Although the thickness of dentinal walls between groups 1 and 2 was similar, the ultrasonic preparation time and number of microcracks were significantly higher (P < 0.001) in the TF group. Both groups had a significant correlation between microcracks and ultrasonic preparation time (P < 0.001). sEBA and IRM had better adaptation and less leakage compared with MTA. A SEM analysis displayed microstructural differences between the root‐end filling materials.Conclusion  Microcracks can occur independently of the thickness of dentinal walls and may be associated with the prolonged ultrasonic preparation time required for the removal of the root filling during root‐end cavity preparation. Although sEBA and IRM had better behaviour than MTA regarding microleakage and marginal adaptation, it is possible that exposure of MTA to a water‐soluble dye before achieving full set and its porous microstructure contributed to the results.
Diet reconstruction and historic population dynamics in a threatened seabird
Authors: NORRIS D. RYAN , ARCESE PETER , PREIKSHOT DAVID , BERTRAM DOUGLAS F. , KYSER T. KURT 
Published: May 2007

Summary

For the overwhelming majority of species, we lack long‐term information on the dynamics of populations. As a consequence, we face considerable uncertainty about how to discriminate among competing hypotheses of population decline and design conservation plans.
The marbled murrelet Brachyramphus marmoratus is a small seabird that nests in coastal old‐growth forest but feeds year‐round in near‐shore waters of the north‐eastern Pacific. Although a decline in nesting habitat is the primary reason why marbled murrelets are listed as threatened in Canada, nest predation and food availability may also influence population abundance. To examine the hypothesis that murrelet populations are influenced by variation in diet quality, we analysed stable‐carbon and ‐nitrogen isotopes in feathers of museum specimens collected in the Georgia Basin, British Columbia.
Between 1889 and 1996, we found a decline in stable isotopic signatures that was approximately equal to a 62% drop in trophic feeding level. We also found that the estimated proportion of fish in murrelet diet was related closely to murrelet abundance over the past 40 years, as estimated from volunteer surveys. Using these isotopic data, we modelled population size as a function of variation in reproductive rate due to changes in diet quality and found that our model matched closely the 40‐year field estimates. We then applied our 107‐year isotopic record to the model to back‐cast estimates of population growth rate to 1889.
Our results suggest that, up to the 1950s, murrelet populations in the Georgia Basin were capable of growing and were probably limited by factors other than diet quality. After this period, however, our results imply that murrelets were often, but not solely, limited by diet quality.
Synthesis and applications. Protecting nesting habitat may not be sufficient to rebuild populations of this highly secretive and threatened seabird and recovery might also require the restoration of marine habitat quality, as well as a better understanding of how ocean climate affects prey abundance and reproductive rate. Combined with contemporary demographic data, stable isotope analysis of historic samples provides a unique opportunity to reconstruct population histories for species where we lack long‐term information.
Patients’ experiences at home after day case cystoscopy
Authors: Erkal S 
Published: May 2007

Aim.  To determine patients’ problems with day case cystoscopy and their problem solving ways and patients’ self‐care at home.Background.  Day surgery has become increasingly common in the last 20 years. Cystoscopic procedures are increasingly being carried out as a diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.Design and method.  This descriptive/prospective study comprised 50 patients undergoing day case cystoscopic procedures in the university hospital of Turkey. The data were collected using telephone interview three days after the procedure. The two questionnaire used were Symptom Measurement Questionnaire and Symptom Management Questionnaire. Discharge information and written instruction was given to all patients.Results.  It was found in the investigation that the most common problems experienced by the patients were tiredness, haematuria, dysuria, pain over bladder and difficulty in voiding after flexible cystoscopy in first day. Generally, urinary elimination problems were experienced by majority of the patients. At second day, these problems were also common. The mean score for all problems decreased after three days. The patients stated that they were able to deal with their symptoms either independently or to a lesser extent with assistance of a carer. But they were unable to deal with problems such as especially haematuria.Conclusion.  Problems experiences by the patients at home after cystoscopy influenced some daily living activities. The problems related to voiding are more frequently observed after cystoscopy. Although some these problems are related to the procedures, some were present previously.Relevance to clinical practice.  This findings indicate that patient‐centred care should be strengthened at home in urological day surgery.
The perceived burden among Chinese family caregivers of people with schizophrenia
Authors: Chien Wai‐Tong , Chan Sally WC , Morrissey Jean 
Published: May 2007

Aims.  The aim of this study was to examine the level of perceived burden of the Chinese families caring for a relative with schizophrenia and to test its associations with their demographic characteristics, social and family factors and health condition.Background.  Despite the increased demands on family members to provide care for patients with schizophrenia in community care, little is known about the level of family burden among these family caregivers and its relationship with their demographic, social and cultural backgrounds.Methods.  This was a cross‐sectional descriptive study. A total of 203 family caregivers were recruited from three regional psychiatric outpatient clinics in Hong Kong. They were asked to complete a set of well‐validated questionnaires, consisting of the Chinese version of four instruments – Family Burden Interview Schedule, Family Assessment Device, Six‐item Social Support Questionnaire and MOS 36‐Item Short Form Health Survey and a socio‐demographic data sheet. Statistical analyses were conducted to test the differences in mean burden scores between subgroups, the inter‐relationships among the mean scores of the scales and socio‐demographic variables and the predictors of family burden.Results.  The families who perceived a higher level of caregiver burden were those who lived in a family with poorer functioning, worse health status and less satisfaction of social support. The caregivers’ burden score was positively correlated with their age; conversely, it was negatively correlated with their monthly household income and number of family members living with patient. Social support was the best predictor of caregiver burden.Conclusion.  These findings increase our understanding about the socio‐demographic and cultural variables influencing the well being of family caregivers of a relative with schizophrenia. Helping families to maintain and enhance a supportive social network may represent a useful means to reduce family burden in schizophrenia.Relevance to clinical practice.  This understanding helps health professionals and researchers to identify different sources and domains of burden from a Chinese cultural perspective and take into account of these factors when planning interventions for family caregivers.