bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Metabolic syndrome in females with polycystic ovary syndrome and International Diabetes Federation criteria
Authors: Bhattacharya Sudhindra M. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractAim:  To find out the incidence of metabolic syndrome (MS) in females with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and to assess the metabolic risk factors as per the definition of International Diabetes Federation.Methods:  One hundred and seventeen females (39 adolescents and 78 adults) diagnosed with PCOS underwent assessments clinically and by appropriate laboratory tests for the evidence of MS, as per the criteria laid down by International Diabetes Federation.Results:  MS was diagnosed in 54 cases (46.2%), of which 43.6% were adolescents and 47.4% were adults (difference not statistically significant). MS in females with PCOS had significantly higher body mass index compared to those who did not have MS, irrespective of age. Abnormalities in both the lipids were more common than fasting glucose abnormalities.Conclusion:  MS was found in 46.2% of females with PCOS, with both adolescents and adults being similarly affected. Dyslipidaemia is more common than impaired fasting glucose and finding one risk factor should prompt the clinician to search for other risk factors. All females with PCOS should undergo periodic screening for MS.
Reduced insulin‐induced phosphatidylinositol‐3‐kinase activation in peripheral blood mononuclear leucocytes from patients with Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Castri Paola , Iacovelli Luisa , De Blasi Antonio , Giubilei Franco , Moretti Arianna , Capone Francesca Tari , Nicoletti Ferdinando , Orzi Francesco 
Published: November 2007

AbstractThe epidemiological finding of an increased risk of dementia in patients with diabetes mellitus has raised the hypothesis that a dysfunction of the insulin receptors plays a role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). A possible link is suggested by the evidence that the insulin‐stimulated phosphatidylinositol‐3‐kinase (PI‐3‐K)/phospho‐Akt pathway negatively controls the glycogen synthase kinase‐3β. The activation of this enzyme mediates the hyperphosphorylation of the tau protein, a relevant step in the formation of the neurofibrillary tangles associated with AD. We hypothesized that the neurodegeneration associated with AD is related to an impairment of the intracellular signalling stimulated by insulin receptors. To test this hypothesis we assessed the PI‐3‐K/phospho‐Akt pathway following in‐vitro challenge with insulin in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from subjects with AD (n = 20) and controls (n = 20). We found that the stimulation of PI‐3‐K is blunted in patients with AD with respect to control. The reduction did not correlate with the extent of cognitive decline or with scores at neuropsychological tests exploring attention, memory, language or visuospatial abilities. The study supports the hypothesis that an impaired control of glycogen synthase kinase‐3β activity by insulin receptor‐mediated signalling plays a role in the pathogenesis of AD, facilitating tau protein phosphorylation and neurofibrillary tangle formation.
Neuroprotectant minocycline depresses glutamatergic neurotransmission and Ca2+ signalling in hippocampal neurons
Authors: González José Carlos , Egea Javier , Del Carmen Godino María , Fernandez‐Gomez Francisco J. , Sánchez‐Prieto José , Gandía Luís , García Antonio G. , Jordán Joaquín , Hernández‐Guijo Jesús M. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractThe mechanism of the neuroprotective action of the tetracycline antibiotic minocycline against various neuron insults is controversial. In an attempt to clarify this mechanism, we have studied here its effects on various electrophysiological parameters, Ca2+ signalling, and glutamate release, in primary cultures of rat hippocampal neurons, and in synaptosomes. Spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents and action potential firing were drastically decreased by minocycline at concentrations known to afford neuroprotection. The drug also blocked whole‐cell inward Na+ currents (INa) by 20%, and the whole‐cell Ca2+ current (ICa) by about 30%. Minocycline inhibited glutamate‐evoked elevation of the cytosolic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]c) by nearly 40%, and K+‐evoked glutamate release from synaptosomes by 63%. Minocycline also depressed the frequency and amplitude of spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents, but did not affect the whole‐cell inward current elicited by γ‐aminobutyric acid or glutamate. This pharmacological profile suggests that the neuroprotective effects of minocycline might be associated with the mitigation of neuronal excitability, glutamate release, and Ca2+ overloading.
Mucus secretion and transport in amphioxus larvae: organization and ultrastructure of the food trapping system, and implications for head evolution
Authors: Lacalli Thurston 
Published: November 2007

AbstractA low‐to‐medium power transmission electron microscopy survey of the larval head of amphioxus was used to re‐examine the position and constituent cell types of the mucus‐secreting organs involved in feeding. Previously unreported features include cells with fibril‐filled paraciliary processes in the recessed (pit) portion of the preoral organ, which probably assist in generating the mucus string produced by this structure, and the cell responsible for driving the current through the club‐shaped gland, which appears to depend on a mechanism analogous to Archimedes’ screw. Pharyngeal structures are dramatically repositioned during larval growth and metamorphosis. Mapping these changes shows that they are most easily explained if the positioning of the mouth is not directly controlled by the mechanism used to pattern the rest of the ventral pharynx. This accords with the predictions of the dorsoventral inversion hypothesis, which requires that an originally dorsal mouth in the inverted chordate ancestor be secondarily shifted to the ventral surface. It is argued here, on this basis, that the repositioning of the larval mouth in amphioxus, from the left side to the ventral midline, represents a partial recapitulation of past evolutionary events.
Heterogeneity in disease severity in a family with a novel G68V GCK activating mutation causing persistent hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia of infancy
Authors: Wabitsch M. , Lahr G. , Van de Bunt M. , Marchant C. , Lindner M. , Von Puttkamer J. , Fenneberg A. , Debatin K. M. , Klein R. , Ellard S. , Clark A. , Gloyn A. L. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractBackground/aim  Glucokinase (GCK)‐activating mutations cause persistent hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia of infancy (PHHI). GCK‐PHHI patients have regulated insulin secretion and can usually be treated with diazoxide. The six reported cases suggest that the severity of the mutation predicts the clinical phenotype. The aim of this study was to relate genotype to phenotype [clinical phenotype, glucose‐stimulated insulin release (GSIR) and GCK functional analysis] in a large pedigree with eight affected individuals.Methods  The genes encoding B‐cell GCK and the KATP channel subunits (ABCC8 and KCNJ11) were sequenced to identify mutations for functional analysis. Genetic variants influencing B‐cell function were genotyped in affected individuals. Islet secretory capacity was determined by oral glucose tolerance testResults  A novel GCK mutation (G68V) co‐segregating with hypoglycaemia was identified in eight family members. Kinetic analysis revealed that G68V‐GCK activity is ~16 times more than wild‐type‐GCK with an increased affinity for glucose [concentration at half maximal activation (S0.5) 1.94 ± 0.16 vs. 7.43 ± 0.12, mutant vs. wild type, mean ± sem]. Mathematical modelling predicted a threshold for GSIR of 1.9 mmol/l in the mutant. Oral glucose tolerance tests showed regulated insulin secretion. The severity of hypoglycaemia and related symptoms in affected subjects were heterogeneous. Clinical presentations were asymptomatic (n = 1), extreme hunger (n = 3), seizures (n = 2) and loss of consciousness (n = 2); 7/8 were managed with diet but the proband was treated with diazoxide and octreotide. Phenotypic modification by a second mutation in the KATP channel genes (ABCC8, KCNJ11) or by common genetic variants in KCNJ11, GCK and TCF7L2 was excluded.Conclusion  The novel activating GCK mutation G68V is associated with variable phenotypic severity, supporting modification of GSIR by genetic and/or environmental factors.
The metabolic syndrome as a predictor of incident diabetes mellitus in Mauritius
Authors: Cameron A. J. , Zimmet P. Z. , Soderberg S. , Alberti K. G. M. M. , Sicree R. , Tuomilehto J. , Chitson P. , Shaw J. E. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractAims  To assess the utility of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and a Diabetes Predicting Model as predictors of incident diabetes.Methods  A longitudinal survey was conducted in Mauritius in 1987 (n = 4972; response 80%) and 1992 (n = 3685; follow‐up 74.2%). Diabetes status was retrospectively determined using 1999 World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. MetS was determined according to four definitions and sensitivity, positive predictive value (PPV), specificity and the association with incident diabetes before and after adjustment for MetS components calculated.Results  Of the 3198 at risk, 297 (9.2%) developed diabetes between 1987 and 1992. The WHO MetS definition had the highest prevalence (20.3%), sensitivity (42.1%) and PPV (26.8%) for prediction of incident diabetes, the strongest association with incident diabetes after adjustment for age and sex [odds ratio 4.6 (3.5–6.0)] and was the only definition to show a significant association after adjustment for its component parts (in men only). The low prevalence and sensitivity of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and ATPIII MetS definitions resulted from waist circumference cut‐points that were high for this population, particularly in men, and both were not superior to a diabetes predicting model on receiver operating characteristic analysis.Conclusions  Of the MetS definitions tested, the WHO definition best identifies those who go on to develop diabetes, but is not often used in clinical practice. If cut‐points or measures of obesity appropriate for this population were used, the IDF and ATPIII MetS definitions could be recommended as useful tools for prediction of diabetes, given their relative simplicity.
Lipoatrophy is a thing of the past, or is it?
Authors: Hussein S. F. , Siddique H. , Coates P. , Green J. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractWe describe the development of severe lipoatrophy in a patient treated with biphasic aspart. This complication of insulin therapy was common in the past with the use of animal insulins and became less common with the increasing purification of these and the introduction of recombinant human insulin. This patient developed severe lipoatrophy with the use of a premixed insulin containing the analogue insulin aspart. Lipoatrophy although rare can still occur even with the use of technologically advanced insulin preparations.
The island biogeography of exotic bird species
Authors: Blackburn Tim M. , Cassey Phillip , Lockwood Julie. L. 
Published: November 2007

ABSTRACTAim  A recent upsurge of interest in the island biogeography of exotic species has followed from the argument that they may provide valuable information on the natural processes structuring island biotas. Here, we use data on the occurrence of exotic bird species across oceanic islands worldwide to demonstrate an alternative and previously untested hypothesis that these distributional patterns are a simple consequence of where humans have released such species, and hence of the number of species released.Location  Islands around the world.Methods  Statistical analysis of published information on the numbers of exotic bird species introduced to, and established on, islands around the world.Results  Established exotic birds showed very similar species–area relationships to native species, but different species–isolation relationships. However, in both cases the relationship for established exotics simply mimicked that for the number of exotic bird species introduced. Exotic bird introductions scaled positively with human population size and island isolation, and islands that had seen more native species extinctions had had more exotic species released.Main conclusion  The island biogeography of exotic birds is primarily a consequence of human, rather than natural, processes.
Optimizing the use of shed feathers for genetic analysis
Authors: HOGAN FIONA E. , COOKE RAYLENE , BURRIDGE CHRISTOPHER P. , NORMAN JANETTE A. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractShed feathers obtained by noninvasive genetic sampling (NGS) are a valuable source of DNA for genetic studies of birds. They can be collected across a large geographical range and facilitate research on species that would otherwise be extremely difficult to study. A limitation of this approach is uncertainty concerning the quality of the extracted DNA. Here we investigate the relationship between feather type, feather condition and DNA quality (amplification success) in order to provide a simple, cost‐effective method for screening samples prior to genetic analysis. We obtained 637 shed feathers of the powerful owl (Ninox strenua) from across its range in southeastern Australia. The extracted DNA was amplified using polymerase chain reaction for a range of markers including mitochondrial DNA, ND3 and nuclear DNA, a simple sequence repeat (Nst02) and a portion of the CHD‐1 gene (P2/P8). We found that feather condition significantly influenced the amplification success of all three loci, with feathers characterized as ‘good’ having greater success. Feather type was found to be of lower importance, with good quality feathers of all types consistently producing high success for all three loci. We also found that the successful amplification of multilocus genotypes was dependant on the condition of the starting material and was highly correlated with successful amplification of the sex‐linked CHD‐1 locus. Samples with low DNA quality have a higher probability of amplification failure and are more likely to produce incorrect genotypes; therefore, identifying samples with high DNA quality can save substantial time and cost associated with the genetic analysis of NGS. As a result, we propose a method for screening shed feathers in order to provide a subset of samples which will have a greater probability of containing high quality DNA suitable for the amplification of multilocus genotypes.
A set of primers conserved in genus Parnassius (Lepidoptera, Papilionidae) for amplification and sequencing of 1016 bp fragment of cytochrome oxidase subunit I from museum specimens
Authors: KONOPINSKI MACIEJ K. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractFour short, overlapping amplicons covering a 1016 bp fragment of mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I were developed. All four fragments were successfully amplified and sequenced in eight species of butterflies belonging to the genus Parnassius including over 100‐year‐old DNA from pinned museum specimens. The fragment contains sufficient variation for both inter‐ and intraspecific analyses. A total of 105 sites were polymorphic within 52 haplotypes found in 186 samples from Parnassius mnemosyne.
Development of polymorphic markers from expressed sequence tags of Manihot esculenta Crantz
Authors: TANGPHATSORNRUANG S. , SRAPHET S. , SINGH R. , OKOGBENIN E. , FREGENE M. , TRIWITAYAKORN K. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractIn this study, 49 primers were designed from sequences containing di‐, tri‐, tetra‐, penta‐ and hexanucleotide motifs with a minimum of four repeats and presence of motif size polymorphisms (insertion/deletion) from cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) expressed sequence tags deposited in public sequence database. Each locus was subsequently screened on 29 M. esculenta Crantz obtained from 15 different countries. Cross‐amplification was tested with M. esculenta Crantz (ssp. flabellifolia) and four different Manihot species, M. chlorosticta, M. carthaginensis, M. filamentosa and M. tristis. Of these, nine loci showed polymorphic profiles within M. esculenta Crantz, which revealed two to four alleles per locus. The average unbiased and direct count heterozygosities were 0.4901 and 0.5674, respectively.
Factors influencing the quality of student learning on practice placements
Authors: Morris Jenny 
Published: November 2007

AbstractPractice/clinical placements are central to learning in healthcare programmes, and optimizing learning during placements is important. However, little literature exists on physiotherapy students’ practice placement experiences. That which has been published presents a picture of both positive and negative experiences.The topic was addressed within a larger longitudinal study into the learning experiences of students from non‐traditional backgrounds undertaking a 4‐year part‐time physiotherapy programme. Seventeen students from the 2000 cohort participated in the qualitative phenomenographic study. The study met institutional ethical requirements and participants’ gave written informed consent. Within the individual semi‐structured interviews undertaken in the final year, participants were asked to identify the aspects of their practice placements which had least and most facilitated their learning.Data were analysed using a phenomenographic approach, which identifies variation in the ways in which people experience phenomena. The iterative process began with identification of interview responses from verbatim transcriptions of the interviews, and ended with a set of categories of description which, together, captured the full set of participants’ responses. Representative quotations illustrated the nature and scope of each category of description and provided evidence regarding the rigour of the data analysis process.Some categories were identified as both positive and negative, for example direct involvement with patients, educator–student interaction, with the degree and nature of context deciding on the direction of participants’ perceptions. Factors relating to placement organization were also found to have both positive and negative influences on learning. Effective communication is proposed as a means to addressing the negative aspects identified.This study provides useful information on participant's perceptions of the quality of their clinical placement experiences. However, the research base on this important topic continues to be small, and further research is needed on physiotherapy students from both traditional and non‐traditional backgrounds.
Complexities of learning together: students’ experience of face‐to‐face interprofessional groups
Authors: Clarke Brenda A. , Miers Margaret E. , Pollard Katherine C. , Thomas Judith 
Published: November 2007

AbstractInterdisciplinary group work, as a method of learning, has become an essential component of most interprofessional undergraduate curricula in health and social care. Research into the effectiveness of these groups has concentrated on the dynamics of interaction between students from the different professions and focused largely on stereotyping and power. However, within small groups, social and psychological pressures are likely to influence participants’ behaviours and have a dramatic impact on overall effectiveness. Using qualitative data from an evaluative research study of a pre‐qualifying interprofessional undergraduate curriculum, the experience of students engaged in face‐to‐face group learning was examined. Data were collected from 15 groups of health and social care students across two sites of a university in the UK. Age, gender, experience and the demographic composition of the group affected individuals’ levels of participation. Analysis of group observations, student interviews and focus groups revealed a range of influences on group interaction. These include participation, group roles, tasks and cohesion and a tendency to avoid conflict.
Working in the theory–practice gap: the lecturer practitioner's story
Authors: Carson Alex , Carnwell Ros 
Published: November 2007

AbstractNarrowing the theory–practice gap through clinical education of pre‐registration nurses is of international importance. Difficulties arising from supervising students in clinical education have been reported in Nepal, Hong Kong and Turkey and different countries also make various provisions for pre‐registration clinical experience. In the UK, pre‐registration nursing education standards and course content equip nurses to practice safely and are defined in statute. Students spend 50% of the course in clinical practice where they apply theoretical concepts under the guidance of a mentor, lecturer practitioner (LP) and link tutor.This paper presents the results of the first phase of a three‐phase study, which sought to explore differences between mentors, LPs and link tutors and how they work together to enable pre‐registration nursing students to integrate theory and practice. The aim of this phase of the study was to explore how LP roles were implemented across the study area and how they worked with mentors and link tutors to enable students to integrate theory and practice.Eleven semistructured interviews of LPs were conducted. The constant comparison method was used to analyse the data. Three themes emerged from the data — participants’ perceptions of their role and how they relate to others (a foot in both camps); participants’ concern to fit students for practice (look at it the right way); participants’ perceptions of how their work could be enhanced (making the job better). This paper discusses these three themes in relation to how the LP role differs from that of mentors and link tutors and how they work together to facilitate theory/practice integration in pre‐registration nursing students.
Teamworking in healthcare: longitudinal evaluation of a teambuilding intervention
Authors: Bayley Julie E. , Wallace Louise M. , Spurgeon Peter , Barwell Fred , Mazelan Patti 
Published: November 2007

AbstractModernization of health services is a priority in the UK requiring changes in the working practices of all staff, and improved teamworking is a prerequisite of effective service delivery. This study evaluates a short teambuilding course delivered to health professionals. A longitudinal survey design was used to assess the feasibility of the course and the change in individual perceptions of team roles and team functioning, and communication skills by questionnaires immediately after the course (time 1), at 3 months (time 2) and at 6 months (time 3). Three questionnaires (Team Development Measure, Teambuilding Questionnaire and Teambuilding Questionnaire‐II) were administered over this period, and telephone interviews were conducted with team members and managers at time 3. Combined results suggest that the teambuilding programme lead to an apparent slight improvement in perceived teamworking at 3 months but this had disappeared at 6 months. Although the development of individual teamworking skills is important, interventions must consider the impact of individual, team and organizational level factors on successful translation of learning into practice. Several limitations to the study are discussed.