bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Has patients’ involvement in the decision‐making process changed over time?
Authors: Van Den Brink‐Muinen Atie , Van Dulmen Sandra M. , De Haes Hanneke C.J.M. , Visser Adriaan Ph. , Schellevis François G. , Bensing Jozien M. 
Published: September 2006

AbstractObjective  To get insight into the changes over time of patients’ involvement in the decision‐making process, and into the factors contributing to patients’ involvement and general practitioners’ (GPs) communication related to the Medical Treatment Act (MTA) issues: information about treatment, other available treatments and side‐effects; informed decision making; asking consent for treatment.Background  Societal developments have changed the doctor–patient relationship recently. Informed decision making has become a central topic. Patients’ informed consent was legalized by the MTA (1995).Design  Data of two cross‐sectional studies, the First (1987) and Second (2001) Dutch National Survey of General Practice, were compared.Setting and participants  General practice consultations; 16 GPs and 442 patients in 1987; 142 GPs and 2784 patients in 2001.Methods  Consultations were videotaped and rated using Roter's Interaction Analysis System and observer questionnaires; pre‐ and post‐consultation patient questionnaires; and GP questionnaires. Descriptive analyses and multivariate, multilevel analysis were applied.Main results  Most patients reported to have received the information they had considered as important prior to the consultation. There were discrepancies in involvement in treatment decisions and in giving information about other available treatments, side‐effects and risks. GPs who were more affective and gave more information, more often involved their patients, especially younger patients, in decision making. In 2001, more informed decision making was observed and the GPs asked consent for a treatment more often, but they less often asked for the patients’ understanding.Conclusion  Patients’ involvement in decision making has increased over time, but not in every respect. However, this does not apply for all patients, especially the older ones. It should be questioned whether they are willing or capable to be involved and if so, how they could be encouraged.
Human leukocyte antigen class I and MICA haplotypes in a multicase family withCladophialophora carrioniichromoblastomycosis
Authors: Naranjo F. , Márquez I. , Gendzekhadze K. , Zhang S. , Fernández‐Mestre M. , Yegres F. , Richard‐Yegres N. , Navas T. , Montagnani S. , Ogando V. , Layrisse Z. 
Published: September 2006

AbstractPrevious studies carried out in an endemic semiarid region northwest of Venezuela at Falcon State have shown a prevalence of 15.4/1000 of chromoblastomycosis following traumatisms with xenophile vegetation infected withCladophialophora carrionii.We performed high‐resolution DNA typing of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)‐A, ‐B and ‐C and major histocompatibility complex class I chain related gene A (MICA) alleles and segregation analysis in 49 members of one extended family with 12 affected individuals, who have lived for approximately 70 years in this endemic zone. None of the alleles, haplotypes or genotypes is shared by all the patients. No deviation from the expected HLA haplotype distribution or association of chromoblastomycosis with HLA‐A, ‐B and ‐C haplotypes was observed. Further, a haplotype‐sharing transmission/disequilibria testing of 11 nuclear families did not give enough evidence to claim linkage (P= 0.398), suggesting that genes located in the short arm of chromosome 6 may not be relevant in the immune response toward infection withC. carrioniiin this Venezuelan endemic zone. Deleted MICA alleles on HLA‐B*4802 haplotypes were present among several members of the extended family, but only two of them were affected.
IFNγ and CXCR‐1 gene polymorphisms in idiopathic bronchiectasis
Authors: Boyton R. J. , Reynolds C. , Wahid F. N. , Jones M. G. , Ozerovitch L. , Ahmad T. , Chaudhry A. , Jewell D. P. , Kon O. M. , Smith J. , Rose M. , Newman‐Taylor A. J. , Cole P. , Wilson R. , Altmann D. M. 
Published: September 2006

AbstractIdiopathic bronchiectasis is a disease of chronic, bacterial lung infection, unresolving inflammation and progressive lung damage. Bronchiectasis can be associated with autoimmune diseases including ulcerative colitis. Defects of both innate and adaptive immunity have been proposed. The airway inflammation is characterized by interleukin‐8 (IL‐8) expression and infliltration by neutrophils and T cells. Here we investigated two candidate gene polymorphisms that may contribute to disease susceptibility: a CXCR‐1 (+2607 G/C) gene polymorphism that is implicated in IL‐8 binding and neutrophil trafficking as well as the interferon‐γ (IFNγ) (+874 T/A) polymorphism which is linked to levels of IFNγ production. These polymorphisms were distributed similarly in the idiopathic bronchiectasis group and controls, suggesting that these two candidate gene polymorphisms are not associated with disease susceptibility.
Class II HLA allele polymorphism: DRB1, DQB1 and DPB1 alleles and haplotypes in the New Zealand Maori population
Authors: Tracey M. C. , Carter J. M. 
Published: September 2006

AbstractClass II alleles of interest to transplantation comprise the DRB1, DQB1 and DPB1 loci. Sequence‐based typing was used to determine the class II allelic variability present in New Zealand Maori, a population with close genetic ties to Polynesia and known anthropological and linguistic connections to mainland Asia. The most common DRB1 alleles identified were DRB1*1201, DRB1*110101, DRB1*0403 and DRB1*080302, with frequencies of 21.5%, 14%, 11.25% and 9.25%, respectively. Standard linkages between the DRB1 locus and the DRB3, 4 and 5 loci were maintained, with no novel patterns identified. The most common DQB1 alleles identified were DQB1*030101, DQB1*060101, DQB1*020101, DQB1*0602 and DQB1*050201, with frequencies of 29.5%, 8%, 7.8%, 6.4% and 6.2%, respectively. The most common DPB1 alleles identified were DPB1*0501, DPB1*040101 and DPB1*020102, with frequencies of 40.2%, 28.89% and 15.83%, respectively. A total of 80 estimated DRB1–DQB1 two‐locus haplotypes were detected. DRB1*1201–DQB1*030101 was the most frequent (15.40%) haplotype, followed by DRB1*110101–DQB1*030101 (9.97%), DRB1*0403–DQB1*030201 (7.37%) and DRB1*080302–DQB1*060101 (5.96%). The allelic variation determined is being used in further analysis of the requirement for bone marrow transplantation in the New Zealand Maori population and has implications for optimal ethnic donor distribution on the New Zealand Bone Marrow Donor Registry, anthropological studies and disease association.
Relationship between maternal‐ and fetal‐specific IgE
Authors: Bertino Enrico , Bisson Carolina , Martano Claudio , Coscia Alessandra , Fabris Claudio , Monti Giovanna , Testa Tiziana , Conti Amedeo 
Published: September 2006

AbstractAim:  A positive correlation between maternal and cord‐blood IgE levels is well documented for total IgEs, but not for specific IgEs. The difficulty in detecting specific cord‐blood IgEs is due to their low concentrations, which hinder their dosage by low‐sensitivity methods. The study aimed to correlate maternal and foetal specific IgEs against individual cow's milk proteins, detected by highly sensitive and specific techniques.Methods:  Cow's milk specific IgE detection was performed by chemiluminescence on 52 specimens of maternal and cord blood after cow's milk protein separation by 1D and 2D gel electrophoresis. Cow's milk protein (CMP) antigens were identified by mass spectrometry techniques.Results:  Specific IgEs for CMPs were found in 25/52 (48.1%) of maternal sera and in 19/52 (37%) of cord‐blood sera. In order of decreasing frequency, the proteins found were BSA, IgG heavy chain, caseins and, in a single case, b‐lactoglobulin. Positive cord‐blood sera in all cases corresponded to a positive maternal result, and maternal and foetal immunoreactivity patterns were closely correlated. Moreover, in no case was there a positive cord‐blood response with a negative maternal response.Conclusion:  The study demonstrates a close relationship between maternal and cord‐blood specific IgE patterns. The phenomenon observed could provide a model to elucidate the general production method of foetal IgEs, which might only be produced in the presence of both the corresponding maternal IgE and the related allergen.
The unusual inheritance pattern of the courtship songs in closely related grasshopper species of the Chorthippus albomarginatus‐group (Orthoptera: Gomphocerinae)
Authors: VEDENINA V. YU. , PANYUTIN A. K. , VON HELVERSEN O. 
Published: September 2006

AbstractSibling species of the Chorthippus albomarginatus‐group are exceptional among all European grasshopper species because they have an extremely elaborate courtship behaviour. Here, we present a genetic analysis of the courtship song differences between two closely related grasshopper species Ch. albomarginatus and Ch. oschei. Measurements of seven courtship song characters and one parameter of courtship visual display were compared among parentals, F1 and F2 hybrids, and backcrosses. Variation in one morphological character, the number of stridulatory pegs, was studied as well. The distributions of song phenotypes were more consistent with a type‐III genetic architecture, which involves complementary or duplicate pairs of loci. We suggest that this type of architecture may provide the novel elements of the hybrid songs, even more complex than the parental ones, which may offer a new starting point for sexual selection. One parameter of the visual display appeared to be controlled by a single locus, but differences in other characters of visual display could be explained by a more complex inheritance pattern. Inheritance of the peg number differences was consistent with a simple polygenic additive model. Sex linkage and/or maternal effects were not detected for any trait. We found a disproportionate influence of the Ch. albomarginatus parent on most hybrid song characteristics and the visual display, and this may support a previously suggested idea that Ch. albomarginatus is an ancestral form and Ch. oschei is a derived species.
Adaptation of the rumen microbial population to native potato starch degradation determined with the gas production technique and the nylon bag technique
Authors: Cone J. W. , Van Gelder A. H. 
Published: September 2006

SummaryExperiments were conducted to investigate the influence of the adaptation of rumen micro‐organisms on the degradation of native potato starch (PS) in the rumen. Cows were fed with rations used for gas production (GP) analysis (dry cows, 1.6% starch) and for the nylon bag (NB) technique (lactating cows, 23% starch, mainly maize starch) and a ration containing 19% native PS (lactating cows). Fermentation characteristics of 13 samples were investigated with the GP technique using rumen fluid from cows fed each of the three rations. The same samples were investigated with the NB technique in the cows obtaining the NB ration and the PS ration. The results showed that the rate of GP was influenced by the source of the rumen fluid. The fermentation rate of PS was considerably enhanced by using rumen fluid adapted to the fermentation of native PS instead of using the other rumen fluids. Incubating in cows fed the PS ration, the rate of PS degradation determined with the NB technique, was higher compared with cows fed other rations. Using the PS ration the observed lag period for PS was shorter. The results show a clear influence of ration on the degradation characteristics of starch, determined with both the GP technique and the NB technique. However, these changes in behaviour did not explain observed differences in amounts of rumen escape PS measuredin vivoin animal experiments andin situ, using the NB technique.
Effects of dietary energy intake and cold exposure on kinetics of plasma glucose metabolism in sheep
Authors: Sano H. , Sawada H. , Takenami A. , Oda S. , Al‐Mamun M. 
Published: September 2006

SummaryAn isotope dilution method using [U‐13C]glucose injection was applied to determine the effects of dietary energy intake and cold exposure on plasma glucose metabolism in sheep. The sheep were assigned to two dietary treatments and were fed on diets containing either 100% or 160% of ME and both containing 150% of dietary crude protein intake for maintenance. The sheep were exposed from a thermoneutral environment (23°C) to a cold environment (2–4°C) for 5 days. The isotope dilution method was performed on the 18th day in the thermoneutral environment and on the fifth day of cold exposure. Plasma concentrations of glucose and NEFA increased (p < 0.05) during cold exposure for both diets. Plasma glucose pool size remained unchanged (p = 0.67), but plasma glucose turnover rate tended to increase (p = 0.07) with increased energy intake. Both pool size and turnover rate of plasma glucose increased (p = 0.01 and p = 0.0001, respectively) during cold exposure. No significant diet × environment interaction was detected. It is concluded that plasma glucose metabolism was influenced by both dietary energy intake and cold exposure, and plasma glucose metabolism in response to cold exposure was not modified by energy intake in sheep under the conditions (2–4°C on the fifth day) of the present experiment.
Regional differences in the effects of various doses of cerulein upon the small‐intestinal migrating motor complex in fasted and non‐fasted sheep
Authors: Romański K. W. 
Published: September 2006

SummaryThere are no precise data concerning the effect of cerulein on the small‐intestinal migrating motor complex (MMC) in sheep. Thus, the effort was directed towards the elucidation of the role of cerulein, a cholecystokinin (CCK) amphibian analogue, in the regulation of MMC cycle in conscious fasted and non‐fasted sheep in various regions of the small intestine. In six sheep, equipped with bipolar electrodes in the entire small intestine and with one duodenal strain gauge force transducer in four of these animals, the continuous myoelectric and motor activity recordings were performed. During control period, two normal consecutive MMC cycles were recorded in fasted and non‐fasted animals and then cerulein was slowly injected at the dose 1 (during 30 s), 10 (during 30 s or 60 s) or 100 ng/kg (during 30 s, 60 s or 120 s) or infused at the dose 0.5 or 1.5 ng/kg/min during 60 min. After cerulein administration at least two consecutive MMC cycles were also recorded. It was found that cerulein in moderate and higher doses injected in both fasted and non‐fasted animals, especially during phase 2a or 2b MMC, inhibited phase 3 in the duodenum in at least one‐third of the experiments and significantly increased the MMC cycle duration. The application of 100 ng/kg of cerulein during 120 s in the course of phase 2b MMC prolonged cycle duration from 70 ± 21 to 113 ± 19 min (p < 0.05) or from 51 ± 18 to 113 ± 19 min (p < 0.01) in fasted and non‐fasted sheep respectively. The first phase 3 MMC arriving after cerulein administration at the highest dose was usually abnormal in approximately 60% of the experiments. The second phase 3 observed following the hormone injection was abnormal much less frequently and to the lesser extent. Furthermore, both cerulein doses significantly shortened the duration of phase 3 MMC either in fasted (from approximately 5.5–6.5 cpm to 4–5 cpm) or in non‐fasted sheep (from approximately 4.5–5.5 to 3–4.5 cpm). The effects of cerulein exhibited the dose–response character. They were more pronounced when cerulein was injected during phase 2b or 2a MMC when compared with phase 1 MMC. The effects of cerulein on the ileal MMC were less evident, although the inhibition of the ileal phase 3 in response to both higher injected doses was observed occasionally. Infusions of cerulein in non‐fasted sheep exerted similar effects as cerulein injections. It was stated that cerulein exerts marked regulatory effect upon the small‐intestinal MMC in sheep. Although it remains uncertain whether the efficient doses of cerulein used in the present study correspond to physiological or pharmacological doses of CCK it seems likely that most of these doses were physiological. Thus, it is concluded that cerulein participates in the control of MMC cycles in the digestive and interdigestive states in sheep. It is possible that CCK is a physiological regulator of the ovine small‐intestinal MMC.
Molecular characterisation of the gut microflora of healthy and inflammatory bowel disease cats using fluorescence in situ hybridisation with special reference to Desulfovibrio spp.
Authors: Inness V. L. , McCartney A. L. , Khoo C. , Gross K. L. , Gibson G. R. 
Published: September 2006

SummaryInflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a common cause of chronic large bowel diarrhoea in cats. Although the aetiology of IBD is unknown, an immune‐mediated response to a luminal antigen is thought to be involved. As knowledge concerning the colonic microflora of cats is limited and requires further investigation, the purpose of this study was to determine the presence of specific bacterial groups in normal and IBD cats, and the potential role they play in the health of the host. Total bacterial populations, Bacteroides spp., Bifidobacterium spp., Clostridium histolyticum subgp., Lactobacillus–Enterococcus subgp. and Desulfovibrio spp. were enumerated in 34 healthy cats and 11 IBD cats using fluorescence in situ hybridisation. The study is one of the first to show the presence of Desulfovibrio in cats. Total bacteria, Bifidobacterium spp. and Bacteroides spp. counts were all significantly higher in healthy cats when compared with IBD cats, whereas Desulfovibrio spp. (producers of toxic sulphides) numbers were found to be significantly higher in colitic cats. The information obtained from this study suggests that modulation of bacterial flora by increasing bifidobacteria and decreasing Desulfovibrio spp. may be beneficial to cats with IBD. Dietary intervention may be an important aspect of their treatment.
Effects of dexamethasone on mRNA abundance of nuclear receptors and hepatic nuclear receptor target genes in neonatal calves
Authors: Greger D. L. , Blum J. W. 
Published: September 2006

SummaryHepatic nuclear receptors (NR), particularly constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) and pregnane X receptor (PXR), are involved in the coordinated transcriptional control of genes that encode proteins involved in the metabolism and detoxification of xeno‐ and endobiotics. A broad spectrum of metabolic processes are mediated by NR acting in concert with ligands such as glucocorticoids. This study examined the role of dexamethasone on hepatic mRNA expression of CAR, PXR and several NR target genes. Twenty‐eight male calves were allotted to one of four treatment groups in a 2 × 2 arrangement of treatments: feed source (colostrum or milk‐based formula) and glucocorticoid administration (twice daily intramuscular dexamethasone). Liver biopsies were obtained at 5 days of age. Real‐time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was used to quantify mRNA abundances. No effects of feed source on mRNA abundances were observed. For the NR examined, mRNA abundance of both CAR and PXR in dexamethasone‐treated calves was lower (p < 0.05) by 39% and 40%, respectively, than in control calves. Abundance of NR target genes exhibited a mixed response. SULT1A1 mRNA abundance was 39% higher (p < 0.05) in dexamethasone‐treated calves compared with control calves. mRNA abundance of CYP2C8 tended also to be higher (+44%; p = 0.053) after dexamethasone treatment. No significant treatment effects (p > 0.10) were observed for mRNA abundances of CYP3A4, CYP2E1, SULT2A1, UGT1A1 or cytochrome P450 reductase (CPR). In conclusion, an enhanced glucocorticoid status, induced by pharmacological amounts of dexamethasone, had differential and in part unexpected effects on NR and NR target systems in 5‐day‐old calves. Part of the unexpected responses may be due the immaturity of NR and NR receptor target systems.
Plasma growth hormone concentrations in female mithun (Bos frontalis) of different ages: relations with age and body weight
Authors: Mondal M. , Rajkhowa C. , Prakash B. S. 
Published: September 2006

SummaryThe role of growth hormone (GH) in postnatal somatic growth is well established. Its basal level and relation to growth performance in different age group mithun (Bos frontalis), a semiwild ruminant has not been characterized until now. To estimate the normal blood GH level and also to assess the influence of age and body weight (BW) on blood GH level in captive mithuns, a total of 65 female mithuns was divided into six age groups (group I, 0–6 months; group II, >6–12 months; group III, >1–2 years; group IV, >2–2.5 years; group V, >2.5–3.0 years and group VI, >3.0 years). Blood samples collected weekly for six consecutive weeks were assayed for GH. GH was also estimated in the samples collected from six growing mithuns at −60, −45, −30, −15, −10, −5 and 0 min prior to GH‐releasing hormone (GHRH) administration for calculation of basal GH level and at 5, 10, 15, 30 min and thereafter at 15‐min interval up to 8 h post‐GHRH to assess blood GH response following GHRH administration in growing mithuns. For calculation of basal plasma GH in adult mithuns, GH was measured in blood samples collected at 30‐min interval for 24 h from four animals. BW of all animals was recorded on two consecutive days per week and average of weekly BW was considered for growth rate calculation. It was found that both mean GH and GH per 100 kg BW between the age groups differ (p < 0.01). With increasing age and BW, GH and GH per 100 kg BW both decreased (p < 0.01). The age group with higher plasma GH and GH per 100 kg BW showed higher growth rates (r = 0.83 and 0.97 respectively). Interestingly, mean plasma GH for six consecutive weeks in all the groups showed much greater GH concentration (group I, 86.6 ± 9.7 ng/ml to group VI 33.2 ± 5 ng/ml) than reported in other species. Mean basal plasma GH calculated in growing and adult mithuns was 29.6 ± 4.01 ng/ml and around 25 ± 3.6 ng/ml respectively. The GH peak (444 ± 21.3 ng/ml) was registered at 15 min post‐GHRH administration in growing mithuns. In conclusion, age and BW influence plasma GH and GH per 100 kg BW but the latter is a better indicator of growth. The basal plasma GH and GH response to GHRH administration is six to eight and four to five times higher in mithun than in other species reported so far. An accurate assessment of the relationship between GH profiles and protein metabolism, proper receptor level study for GH action at the cellular level and the interaction of GH with other growth factors awaits better understanding of higher GH in this unique species.