bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Nurses' satisfaction with nursing care and work at three care units for severely demented people
Authors: HANSSON U. WELANDER , HALLBERG I. R. , AXELSSON K. 
Published: February 2008

Nurses' Satisfaction with nursing care and work at three care units for severely demented people.The aim of this study is to investigate the degree of job satisfaction, burnout and strain among nurses (n=134) working in three care units for demented people in southern Sweden. Three questionnaires were used: the Maslach burnout inventory (MBI), the work‐related strain inventory (WRSI), and a recently developed measure for assessing job satisfaction. Based on principal component analysis, an eight‐factor job satisfaction scale was chosen. Nurses in general were found to be satisfied, with registered nurses (RNs) being most satisfied with their work and the nursing care provided. The nurses in one of the care units were more satisfied than the nurses on the other two. The MBI and WRSI results showed a low degree of burnout and work‐related strain and there was little difference between the care units or the categories of nurses. Job satisfaction scores were relatively independent from the MBI and WRSI scores. However, scores from these two inventories of burnout and strain at work were positively correlated. The results of the questionnaires seem to indicate that positive work experience and negative experience are not opposites. This particular method of evaluating job satisfaction needs further development. However, it seems important to include one specific measure for job satisfaction when action is taken in connection with the working situation of nurses.
A brief mental health outcome scale: relationships between scale scores and diagnostic/sociodemographic variables in the long‐term mentally ill
Authors: COFFEY M. , JONES S. H. , THORNICROFT G. 
Published: February 2008

A brief mental health outcomes scale: relationships between scale scores and diagnostic/sociodemographic variables in the long‐term mentally illThe Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scale is a quick and simple measure of overall psychological disturbance. A recent study by our group reported the reliability and validity of the scale in a population of severely mentally ill people. The current study extends the analysis of this population to consider a number of questions, i.e. what are the associations for this group between variations in GAF scores and sociodemographic variables? Are lower scores associated with particular diagnoses for the group assessed? What are the characteristics of those patients whose scores were most variable? What were the completion rates for use of the scale? No associations were observed between GAF score and the sociodemographic variables used in this study. Lower GAF scores were associated with psychotic diagnoses. Those with most varying scores were, in the main, white European nonimmigrant males with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Completion rates for the study were reasonable at 73.8%. This study involved the repeated assessment of a large number of clients by a changing multidisciplinary team. Inspite of the extended nature of the study, completion rates remained reasonable, suggesting that the scale was acceptable for routine clinical use. The GAF in itself, however, appears to be unsuitable for making individual treatment decisions but could be used as a first step before using more sophisticated scales.
Humoral immune response in IL‐12 and IFN‐γ deficient mice after infection with Cryptosporidium parvum
Authors: JAKOBI V. , PETRY F. 
Published: January 2008

SUMMARY Infection with Cryptosporidium spp. causes diarrhoeal disease and has become an important medical and veterinary problem especially in the immunocompromised host. The importance of the adaptive immune response, with CD4+ T‐lymphocytes being the major players, has been clearly demonstrated. The requirement of IL‐12 and IFN‐γ identifies this response as a Th1‐dominated reaction. IFN‐γ is also important in the early phase of the host–parasite interaction. We analysed the outcome of infection in IL‐12p40 (IL‐12KO) and IFN‐γ (GKO) deficient C57BL/6 mice after primary and secondary challenge with the parasite and, for the first time, we demonstrate the resulting Ig response in sera and vaginal lavages. Although showing differences in the extent and the time course both strains of mice were able to clear infection and developed an almost complete resistance to re‐infection. While GKO mice mounted prolonged parasite‐specific IgG and IgA responses after primary infection, in IL‐12KO mice IgG and IgA titres dropped over time. Re‐challenge of mice 5 weeks after primary infection led to a booster effect in Ig response despite the absence of oocyst shedding. The data from infection and re‐challenge experiments suggest that in IL‐12‐ or IFN‐γ‐deficient mice the development of resistance involves other protective immune responses.
The influence of glutathione modulators on the course of Leishmania major infection in susceptible and resistant mice
Authors: CRUZ K. K. , FONSECA S. G. , MONTEIRO M. C. , SILVA O. S. , ANDRADE V. M. , CUNHA F. Q. , ROMÃO P. R. T. 
Published: January 2008

SUMMARY Glutathione (GSH) has an important dual role in parasite–host relationship in Leishmania major infection. Our previous studies showed that both antioxidant systems, glutathione and trypanothione/trypanothione reductase, participate in the protection of Leishmania against the toxic effect of nitrogen‐derived reactive species. On the other hand, GSH also is very important to the modulation of the effective immune response, inducting NO production and leishmanicidal activity of macrophages. In the present study, we investigated the role of host GSH during the course of L. major infection, analysing the size of footpad lesions and parasite load from mice treated with two GSH modulators, N‐acethyl‐l‐cysteine (NAC) and buthionine sulphoximine (BSO). Resistant mice treated with BSO, which depletes GSH develop exacerbated lesions, but only harbour higher parasite load in their lesions 2 weeks post‐infection. Although the NAC treatment does not affect the footpad lesions development in susceptible BALB/c mice, it significantly reduced the tissue parasitism in the lesions throughout the course of infection. Interestingly, the treatment with BSO did not change the course of L. major infection on susceptible mice when compared with nontreated mice. These results suggest that GSH is an important antioxidant modulator during anti‐Leishmania immune response in vivo.
Cytokine gene expression and NF‐κB activation following infection of intestinal epithelial cells with Eimeria bovis or Eimeria alabamensis in vitro
Authors: ALCALA‐CANTO Y. , IBARRA‐VELARDE F. 
Published: January 2008

SUMMARY In cattle, Eimeria produces clinical disease with different degrees of severity, depending on the dominant species. Eimeria bovis triggers severe intestinal damage, while E. alabamensis causes minimal damage. Cytokines and other factors derived from epithelial cells play important roles in inflammatory and immune responses in intestinal tissue. This study aimed to obtain a detailed view of IFN‐γ and IL‐4 mRNA expression as well as of activation of NF‐κB p50 and p65 subunits induced by E. bovis or E. alabamensis in intestinal epithelial cells by means of a RT‐PCR assay and a NF‐κB p50/p65 ELISA‐based kit, respectively. Our results demonstrate that infection by both Eimeria species enhances IL‐4 mRNA expression in intestinal cells. However, IL‐4 was expressed more intensely in cells incubated with E. bovis whereas IFN‐γ levels were higher and detected at an earlier time in cells infected with E. alabamensis. NF‐κB was activated in infected cells irrespective of species, yet the activity of the p50 subunit was significantly higher in cells incubated with E. bovis. Our results suggest that the intensity of host‐cell responses triggered by these two Eimeria species could be considered as potential determinants of pathogenicity.
Metabolite annotations based on the integration of mass spectral information
Authors: Iijima Yoko , Nakamura Yukiko , Ogata Yoshiyuki , Tanaka Ken’ichi , Sakurai Nozomu , Suda Kunihiro , Suzuki Tatsuya , Suzuki Hideyuki , Okazaki Koei , Kitayama Masahiko , Kanaya Shigehiko , Aoki Koh , Shibata Daisuke 
Published: February 2008

SummaryA large number of metabolites are found in each plant, most of which have not yet been identified. Development of a methodology is required to deal systematically with unknown metabolites, and to elucidate their biological roles in an integrated ‘omics’ framework. Here we report the development of a ‘metabolite annotation’ procedure. The metabolite annotation is a process by which structures and functions are inferred for metabolites. Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum cv. Micro‐Tom) was used as a model for this study using LC‐FTICR‐MS. Collected mass spectral features, together with predicted molecular formulae and putative structures, were provided as metabolite annotations for 869 metabolites. Comparison with public databases suggests that 494 metabolites are novel. A grading system was introduced to describe the evidence supporting the annotations. Based on the comprehensive characterization of tomato fruit metabolites, we identified chemical building blocks that are frequently found in tomato fruit tissues, and predicted novel metabolic pathways for flavonoids and glycoalkaloids. These results demonstrate that metabolite annotation facilitates the systematic analysis of unknown metabolites and biological interpretation of their relationships, which provide a basis for integrating metabolite information into the system‐level study of plant biology.
Isolation of Aspergillus udagawae from a fatal case of feline orbital aspergillosis
Authors: Kano Rui , Itamoto Kazuhito , Okuda Masaru , Inokuma Hisashi , Hasegawa Atsuhiko , Balajee S. Arunmozhi 
Published: January 2008

Summary Aspergillus fumigatus is the predominant etiological agent of sino‐orbital aspergillosis in humans and animals. Here we report for the first time A. udagawae, a previously recognised but rare opportunistic pathogen causing fatal orbital aspergillosis in a cat. Identification of this isolate was secured by comparative sequence based analyses of the ITS and the β tubulin region. Antifungal susceptibility testing results revealed that this isolate had high in vitro MIC to amphotericin B (AMB) that correlated with in vivo failure of therapy with AMB.
NCS‐1 differentially regulates growth cone and somata calcium channels in Lymnaea neurons
Authors: Hui Kwokyin , Feng Zhong‐Ping 
Published: February 2008

AbstractLocal voltage‐gated calcium channels, which regulate intracellular Ca2+ levels by allowing Ca2+ influx, play an important role in guiding and shaping growth cones, and in regulating the outgrowth and branching of neurites. Therefore, elucidating the mechanisms that regulate the biophysical properties of whole‐cell calcium currents in the growth cones and somata of growing neurons is important to improving our understanding of neuronal development and regeneration. In this study, taking advantage of the large size of the pedal A (PeA) neurons in Lymnaea stagnalis, we compared the biophysical properties of somata and growth cone whole‐cell calcium channel currents using Ba2+ and Ca2+ as current carriers. We found that somata and growth cone currents exhibit similar high‐voltage activation properties. However, Ba2+ and Ca2+ currents in growth cones and somata are differentially affected by a dominant‐negative peptide containing the C‐terminal amino acid sequence of neuronal calcium sensor‐1 (NCS‐1). The peptide selectively reduces the peak and sustained components of current densities and the slope conductance in growth cones, and shifts the reversal potential of the growth cone currents to more hyperpolarized voltages. In contrast, the peptide had no significant effect on the somata calcium channels. Thus, we conclude that NCS‐1 differentially modulates Ca2+ currents in the somata and growth cones of regenerating neurons, and may serve as a key regulator to facilitate the growth cone calcium channel activity.
Dissociable neural activity to self‐ vs. externally administered thermal hyperalgesia: a parametric fMRI study
Authors: Mohr C. , Leyendecker S. , Helmchen C. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractLittle is known regarding how cognitive strategies help to modulate neural responses of the human brain in ongoing pain syndromes to alleviate pain. Under pathological pain conditions, any self‐elicited contact with usually non‐painful stimuli may become painful. We examined whether the human brain is capable of dissociating self‐controlled from externally administered thermal hyperalgesia in the experimental capsaicin model. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, 17 male subjects were investigated in a parametric design with heat stimuli at topically capsaicin‐sensitized skin. In contrast to external stimulation, self‐administered pain was controllable. For both conditions application trials without noticeable thermal stimulation were introduced and used as high‐level baseline (HLB) to account for the capsaicin‐induced ongoing pain and other covariables. Following subtraction of the HLB, the anterior insula and the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) but not the somatosensory cortices maintained parametric neural responses to thermal hyperalgesia. A stronger pain‐related activity increase during self‐administered stimuli was observed in the posterior insula. In contrast, prefrontal cortex showed stronger increases to uncontrollable external heat stimuli. In the state of ongoing pain (capsaicin), pain‐intensity‐encoding regions (anterior insula, ACC) but not those with sensory discriminative functions (SI, SII) showed graded, pain‐intensity‐related neural responses in thermal hyperalgesia. Some areas were able to dissociate between self‐ and externally administered stimuli in thermal hyperalgesia, which might be related to differences in perceived controllability. Thus, neural mechanisms maintain the ability to dissociate external from self‐generated states of injury in thermal hyperalgesia. This may help to understand how cognitive strategies potentially alleviate chronic pain syndromes.
Altered presymptomatic AMPA and cannabinoid receptor trafficking in motor neurons of ALS model mice: implications for excitotoxicity
Authors: Zhao Pingwei , Ignacio Sheila , Beattie Eric C. , Abood Mary E. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder involving the selective loss of spinal cord motor neurons. Excitotoxicity mediated by glutamate has been implicated as a cause of this progressive degeneration. In this study we examined two types of receptors, the excitatory α‐amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methyl‐4‐isoxazolepropionic acid‐type glutamate receptors (AMPARs) and inhibitory cannabinoid receptor (CB1) with respect to their localization and total expression in spinal cord motor neurons. AMPAR and CB1 represent major excitatory and inhibitory transmission input, respectively, and their expression levels on the plasma membrane have direct relevance to the vulnerability of the motor neurons to glutamatergic excitotoxicity. We used quantitative immunofluorescence microscopy to comparatively measure the total cellular expression and the synaptic localization of specific subclasses of AMPARs [as determined by the presence of the subunits glutamate receptor 1 (GluR1) or glutamate receptor 2 (GluR2)] and CB1 in spinal cord motor neurons during disease progression in a G93ASOD1 mouse model of ALS. We found an increase in synaptic GluR1 and a decrease of synaptic and total GluR2 at early ages (6 weeks, prior to disease onset). Total CB1 receptor levels were decreased at 6 weeks old. We determined the gene expression of CB1, GluR1 and GluR2 using quantitative real‐time reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction. The decreased synaptic and total GluR2 and increased synaptic GluR1 levels may result in increased numbers of Ca2+‐permeable AMPARs, thus contributing to neuronal death. Early alterations in CB1 expression may also predispose motor neurons to excitotoxicity. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of presymptomatic changes in trafficking of receptors that are in direct control of excitotoxicity and death in a mouse model of ALS.
Enhancing catch‐and‐release science with biotelemetry
Authors: Donaldson Michael R. , Arlinghaus Robert , Hanson Kyle C. , Cooke Steven J. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractCatch‐and‐release (C&R) angling is widely practised by anglers and is a common fisheries management strategy or is a by‐product of harvest regulations. Accordingly, there is a growing body of research that examines not only the mortality associated with C&R, but also the sublethal physiological and behavioural consequences. Biotelemetry offers a powerful means of remotely monitoring the behaviour, physiology and mortality of fish caught and released in their natural environment, but we contend that its usefulness is still underappreciated by scholars and managers. In this study, we review the applications of biotelemetry in C&R science, identify novel research directions, opportunities and challenges. There are now about 250 C&R studies but only one quarter of these utilize biotelemetry. In fact, almost all of the C&R studies that have used biotelemetry have been conducted within the last decade. We found that the majority of C&R telemetry studies used either radio or acoustic telemetry, while comparatively few studies have used satellite technologies. Most C&R biotelemetry studies have been used to assess mortality rates, behavioural impairments or to evaluate the effects of displacement on fish. A small fraction of studies (<8%) have used physiological sensors despite the fact that these tools are highly applicable to understanding the multiple sublethal consequences of C&R and are useful for providing mechanistic insights into endpoints such as death. We conclude that C&R science has the potential to benefit greatly from biotelemetry technology, particularly with respect to providing more robust short‐term and delayed mortality estimates and adopting a more integrative and comparative approach to understanding the lethal and sublethal impacts of C&R. However, there are still a number of challenges including (i) the need for appropriate controls and methodological approaches, (ii) the need for accounting for tagging and handling stress and mortality, and (iii) the need for certainty in assessing mortality. However, the benefits associated with C&R biotelemetry outweigh its disadvantages and limitations and thereby offer C&R researchers a suite of new tools to enhance fisheries management and conservation.
Ocean transport paths for the early life history stages of offshore‐spawning flatfishes: a case study in the Gulf of Alaska
Authors: Bailey Kevin M , Abookire Alisa A , Duffy‐Anderson Janet T 
Published: February 2008

AbstractOffshore‐ and deepwater‐spawning flatfish species face the problem of transport of their planktonic stages to shallow juvenile nursery grounds that are often far shoreward in bays or estuaries. We compare life history attributes of four offshore‐spawning flatfish species in the Gulf of Alaska: Pacific halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis), arrowtooth flounder (Atheresthes stomias), rex sole (Glyptocephalus zachirus) and Dover sole (Microstomus pacificus) to examine how their larvae get from a spawning location at the edge or beyond the continental shelf to specific inshore nursery zones. We utilize historical records of survey catches of different life stages to characterize the stage‐specific changes in distribution of spawning, planktonic stages and juvenile nursery areas. We infer transport mechanisms based on the shifts in distribution of the life stages and in comparison with local physical oceanography. This comparison provides insight into the different mechanisms marine species may use to solve the common ‘problem’ of planktonic drift and juvenile settlement.
Higher biomass accumulation by increasing phosphoribosylpyrophosphate synthetase activity in Arabidopsis thaliana and Nicotiana tabacum
Authors: Koslowsky Silke , Riegler Heike , Bergmüller Eveline , Zrenner Rita 
Published: January 2008

SummaryPlants are able to produce all the organic compounds required for development and growth. As developmental processes and metabolic pathways use a common resource pool, the tight regulation of the distribution of metabolites between growth, production of defence compounds and storage products can be assumed. A transgenic approach was used to investigate the importance of supplying the key intermediate phosphoribosylpyrophosphate (PRPP) for plant growth and biomass accumulation in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana and in Nicotiana tabacum. For this purpose, the Ashbya gossypii genes coding for either PRPP synthetase (PRS) or a mutated variant of the same gene were over‐expressed under the control of a constitutive promoter. It was shown that increased PRS activity in A. thaliana or N. tabacum leads to a substantial increase in biomass accumulation under different standardized growth conditions. Growth enhancement was accompanied by significant changes in the amount of sugars and other metabolites. This study provides evidence that the supply of PRPP co‐limits growth rates, and has obvious implications for biotechnological strategies aiming to increase plant biomass as an alternative renewable energy source.
High‐yield rapid production of hepatitis B surface antigen in plant leaf by a viral expression system
Authors: Huang Zhong , LePore Kate , Elkin Galina , Thanavala Yasmin , Mason Hugh S. 
Published: January 2008

SummaryRecombinant hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) constitutes currently used vaccines against hepatitis B virus, and has been successfully employed as a carrier for foreign epitopes. With the aim of developing an inexpensive, easily administered vaccine source for global immunization, several groups have expressed HBsAg in plant systems. Transgenic plant‐derived HBsAg assembles into virus‐like particles (VLPs) and is immunogenic in both mice and humans. However, HBsAg expression is relatively low in transgenic plant systems. The time‐consuming and labour‐intensive process of generating transgenic plants also significantly limits high‐throughput analyses of various HBsAg fusion antigens. In this paper, the high‐yield rapid production of HBsAg in plant leaf using a novel viral transient expression system is described. Nicotiana benthamiana leaves infiltrated with the MagnICON viral vectors produced HBsAg at high levels, averaging 295 µg/g leaf fresh weight at 10 days post‐infection, as measured by a polyclonal enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Transiently expressed HBsAg accumulated as the full‐length product, formed disulphide‐linked dimers, displayed the conformational ‘a’ antigenic determinant and assembled into VLPs. Immunization of mice with partially purified HBsAg elicited HBsAg‐specific antibodies. Furthermore, it was found that transient production of HBsAg using vacuum infiltration of whole plants, rather than syringe infiltration of leaves, was readily scalable, and greatly improved the accumulation of correctly folded HBsAg that displays the protective ‘a’ determinant.