bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Nutrition, physical activity and health status in Middle and East European countries
Authors: Zunft H.-J. Franz , Ulbricht Gottfried , Pokorný Jan , Sekula Wlodzimierz , Szponar Lucjan , Abaravicius J.-Algis 
Published: June 2008

AbstractIn the Middle- and East-European countries the political, economic and social situation changed fundamentally in 1989 and 1990. These alterations are reflected in markers of dietary intake, physical activity and health with a trend similar in Czechia, East Germany, Lithuania and Poland. Thus, the previous increase in energy consumption stopped and was followed by a decline. The increasing preference for a lower level of activity is demonstrated by the number of private cars clearly accelerating its rate of growth after the change. Life expectancy had been increasing during the eighties only slightly. After the change the yearly increase became higher than before. The rate difference is higher in men than in women. Beginning from 1991 the CVD mortality decreased considerably.
Health and Nutrition Education in Elementary Schools: Changes in health knowledge, nutrient intakes and physical activity over a six year period
Authors: Manios Yannis , Kafatos Anthony 
Published: June 2008

AbstractObjective:To examine the effects of a health and nutrition intervention, implemented in primary schools of Crete, on health knowledge, nutrient intakes and physical activity of the intervention population.Methods:The intervention group consisted of 24 schools while the control group consisted of 16 schools. The overall duration of the intervention was six years, while the topics of the intervention primarily focused on children' dietary habits, physical activity and fitness.Results:After the completion of the intervention period, the changes observed in health knowledge, nutrient intakes and physical activity were in favour of the intervention group pupils.Conclusion:The encouraging findings of the study indicate the potential of the programme in health promotion and disease prevention without involving substantial new school resources and time.
An appraisal of vitamin B6status indices and associated confounders, in young people aged 4–18 years and in people aged 65 years and over, in two national British surveys
Authors: Bates Christopher J , Pentieva Kristina D , Prentice Ann 
Published: June 2008

AbstractObjective:To compare vitamin B6status indices with each other and with potential confounding factors, in the datasets from two national British surveys and associated studies.Design:Vitamin B6status was measured by plasma pyridoxal phosphate (PLP) and plasma pyridoxic acid (PA) in both surveys, and also by erythrocyte aspartate aminotransferase activation coefficient (EAATAC) in one of the surveys. Plasma α1-antichymotrypsin was measured as an index of acute phase status; plasma creatinine was measured as an index of renal function; and plasma total alkaline phosphatase activity was measured as a proxy for PLP hydrolase activity.Setting:The survey of people aged 65 years and over was carried out in 80 postcode sectors across mainland Britain during 1994–95 and the survey of young people was carried out in 132 postcode sectors across mainland Britain during 1997.Subjects:Blood samples fromc. 1000 subjects of both sexes in each survey permitted measurements of plasma PLP and PA. There were also measurements of EAATAC in the young people's survey.Results:According to published limits of normality, only 5% or less of the young people had unacceptable vitamin B6status as measured by plasma PLP. About half had apparently unacceptable status by EAATAC, but this observation is difficult to interpret. The young people had considerably higher plasma concentrations of PLP and lower concentrations of PA than the older people. In both surveys, plasma PLP was strongly correlated with plasma PA and in the young persons’ survey it was also correlated, although much less strongly, with the basal activity and activation coefficient of aspartate aminotransferase. Both plasma PLP and EAATAC (but not PA nor basal aspartate aminotransferase activity) were influenced by acute phase status in young people, as indicated by significant correlations with α1-antichymotrypsin. In people aged 65 years and over, PA (but not PLP) was correlated with renal function, as indicated by its relation with plasma creatinine; however PLP (but not PA) was correlated with plasma alkaline phosphatase activity.Conclusions:Several potential confounders — acute phase reaction, kidney malfunction and hydrolase activity — may influence vitamin B6status indices, although differently for different indices and different age groups. Since older people have relatively poor vitamin B6status, which may have important health implications for them, more reliable vitamin B6status indices are needed.
Evaluation of the Nutrition Education at Primary School (NEAPS) programme
Authors: Friel Sharon , Kelleher Cecily , Campbell Paula , Nolan Geraldine 
Published: June 2008

AbstractObjective:To assess the impact and suitability of a pilot dietary educational programme for primary school pupils. The Nutrition Education at Primary School (NEAPS) programme aimed to build awareness of the benefits of healthy eating, induce positive behaviour change and increase the children's knowledge.Design:A comparative quasi-experimental study with follow-up after 3 months.Setting:Eight primary schools in the Eastern and North Western Health Boards and three control schools in the same board regions.Subjects:Data were used from 821 Irish school children aged 8–10 years old.Methods:The education programme comprised 20 sessions over 10 weeks including circular worksheets, homework assignments and an aerobic exercise regime. At baseline and after 3 months pupils completed food diaries and a validated food pairing questionnaire on food behaviour, knowledge and preferences.Results:Significant differences were found in the intervention children's behaviour and preference levels after the NEAPS programme (P < 0.01 in both sections). Knowledge levels were very high at baseline and though some individual items improved, average change overall was not significant. Rural children appeared to benefit more in behaviour and preferences from the programme (P < 0.01). The NEAPS programme appeared to be less effective in pupils in disadvantaged areas (P < 0.01 for each of the sections: behaviour, preference and knowledge). One hundred and eighty-seven children completed food diaries. The intervention children's consumption of fruit and vegetables increased, and they consumed less salty snacks after the programme. Rural children were confirmed to have healthier diets at baseline.Conclusions:Following the NEAPS pilot programme positive changes were seen in the school children's eating behaviour and preferences for healthier foodstuffs. This suggests successful development of a culturally sensitive nutrition education programme for school children aged 8–10 years.
Perceptions about body weight and weight reduction in Spain
Authors: Martinez-González MA , Martín-Almendros MIS , Gibney MJ , Kearney JM , Martinez JA 
Published: June 2008

AbstractObjective:To assess the more prevalent beliefs about body weight and the factors involved in weight changes in the Spanish adult population.Design:A national survey was carried out according to an established protocol on Spanish subjects selected by a multistage procedure following a random route model, which was quota-controlled for several sociodemographic variables. This study was undertaken by the Spanish arm of a pan-European survey and was performed with a validated questionnaire. It contained questions to evaluate some aspects concerning the relationship between obesity, physical activity and health. We also estimated the proportion of self-reported overweight and obesity.Setting:Spain.Subjects:The sample included 1000 subjects aged 15 years or older.Results:Eleven per cent of the sample were obese (body mass index, BMI > 30 kg m-2) and an additional 32% were overweight (BMI > 25 and < 30 kg m-2). Obesity prevalence was higher among older individuals, those with lower education and socioeconomic levels, and among housewives and retired or unemployed people. Most Spanish people believed that fat intake (51%) and the amount of food consumption (44%) were the major factors involved in weight gain, while physical activity was less mentioned (12%). The method most frequently used to lose weight was diet (9%). Individuals from central and southern regions payed more attention to genetics (20–27%) and physical activity (12–20%) as determinants of weight gain than people living in the north or northwest regions (15–17% and 8–9%, respectively). Normal weight people participated more often in some physical activity during their leisure time.Conclusions:The Spanish population is not familiar with factors influencing weight gain. Health promotion strategies should emphasize the role of physical activity, especially among older individuals, retired or unemployed subjects, those from lower educational or socioeconomic levels and among people living in the north or northwest of Spain.
Does nutritionist review of a self-administered food frequency questionnaire improve data quality?
Authors: Caan Bette J , Lanza Elaine , Schatzkin Arthur , Coates Ashley O , Brewer Brenda K , Slattery Martha L , Marshall James R , Bloch Abby 
Published: June 2008

AbstractObjective:This study sought to evaluate the benefit of utilizing a nutritionist review of a self-administered food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), to determine whether accuracy could be improved beyond that produced by the self-administered questionnaire alone.Design:Participants randomized into a dietary intervention trial completed both a FFQ and a 4-day food record (FR) at baseline before entry into the intervention. The FFQ was self-administered, photocopied and then reviewed by a nutritionist who used additional probes to help complete the questionnaire. Both the versions – before nutritionist review and after nutritionist review – were individually compared on specific nutrients to the FR by means, correlations and per cent agreement into quintiles.Settings and subjects:Three hundred and twenty-four people, a subset of participants from the Polyp Prevention Trial – a randomized controlled trial examining the effect of a low-fat, high-fibre, high fruit and vegetable dietary pattern on the recurrence of adenomatous polyps – were recruited from clinical centres at the University of Utah, University of Buffalo, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York and Kaiser Permanente Medical Program in Oakland.Results:Reviewing the FFQ increased correlations with the FR for every nutrient, and per cent agreement into quintiles for all nutrients except calcium. Energy was underestimated in both versions of the FFQ but to a lesser degree in the version with review.Conclusions:One must further evaluate whether the increases seen with nutritionist review of the FFQ will enhance our ability to predict diet–disease relationships and whether it is cost-effective when participant burden and money spent utilizing trained personnel are considered.
The relation between concentrations of ovarian trace elements and the body size of Atlantic cod Gadus morhua
Authors: Bang A. , Grønkjær P. , Lorenzen B. 
Published: June 2008

Abstract
Bang, A., Grønkjær, P., and Lorenzen, B. 2008. The relation between concentrations of ovarian trace elements and the body size of Atlantic cod Gadus morhua. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 65: 1191–1197. Trace metals in the ovaries of fish are transferred from the female via the yolk to the offspring, which makes the early life stages susceptible to deleterious effects of potentially toxic elements contained in the ovaries. Here, the concentrations of 13 elements from the ovaries of 133 ripe female North Sea cod Gadus morhua weighing 0.2–18 kg were correlated with female size, accounting for differences in maturity and condition. Most elements were negatively correlated with the size variables weight, length and, especially, ovarian dry weight. Further, they were negatively correlated with maturity and condition. Many of the trace elements showed true size-dependence, but the correlations were generally weak. A linear discriminant analysis separated “small” and “large” fish at a length of 85 cm based on concentrations of Co, Mn, Se, and Zn, and correctly assigned 78 of 102 small fish and 23 of 31 large fish to their respective size category. This corresponds to an overall classification success of 75.9%. The results suggest that embryos and early larvae from small females are exposed to higher levels of potentially harmful metals. If the differences in trace element concentration influence survival success, this will add to the negative effects of size distribution truncation and declines in size-at-maturity experienced by many populations of cod.
Single-molecule magnetic tweezer tests on DNA: bounds on topoisomerase relaxation
Authors: Thompson J. Michael T 
Published: June 2008

Biomedical researchers regularly stretch and twist single DNA molecules in magnetic tweezer experiments. By making the molecule writhe into a plectoneme (ply) and plotting its load–extension curves, key DNA parameters, such as effective radius, can be estimated. Adding untangling enzymes (topoisomerases) to the DNA's environment, their individual cuts are detected as jumps in extension.Sufficient information is now known about the topoisomerases for us to make good idealizations about their kinematics and mechanics. The novelty of this paper is to study their actions in the context of accurate ply solutions from the theory of elastic rods. To do this, we define an extended rod-plus-tension system that allows us to determine the stored energies from areas in the conventional link versus writhe plane.After a cut, the molecule relaxes dynamically to a new equilibrium state, and often there will be two or more alternative stable configurations onto which it might settle. Knowing the energy levels allows us to identify which states can and cannot be reached over the unstable mountain passes, and which of the accessible states offer the greatest energy relaxation. Strict energy bounds on behaviour are established.This knowledge has medical value because topoisomerase inhibitors, lethal for cells, are used as antibiotics and in chemotherapy for cancer.
Developing a disturbance index for five East African forests using GIS to analyse historical forest use as an important driver of current land use/cover
Authors: Mitchell N. , Schaab G. 
Published: June 2008

AbstractA means of deriving a disturbance index reflecting forest use history is demonstrated here to establish a disturbance gradient and enable comparison of different forest areas within and across individual forests. Detailed reference is made to Kakamega Forest in western Kenya for which a long‐term time series has been established, although the study is spread to four further forests in Kenya and Uganda. A wide variety of sources are drawn upon for spatially resolved data that are integrated in a geographic information system. Three indices are derived: for commercial disturbance, local disturbance, and forest cover change. Results show a wide range of disturbance values (from low to heavy) for the research sites within Kakamega Forest, while results for Budongo and Mabira Forest sites show low and moderate levels, respectively. Correlations of low disturbance levels with nature or national reserves appear to be marked, while a correlation of disturbance with differing management authority is also suggested with Kenya Wildlife Service achieving the lowest disturbance levels. Results from the index are reviewed against other means of estimating disturbance with the conclusion that disturbance evaluations should be both spatially resolved and long‐term in nature.
Cytomegalovirus infection induces T‐cell differentiation without impairing antigen‐specific responses in Gambian infants
Authors: Miles David J. C. , Sanneh Mariama , Holder Beth , Crozier Sarah , Nyamweya Samuel , Touray Ebrima S. , Palmero Melba S. , Zaman Syed M. A. , Rowland‐Jones Sarah , Van Der Sande Marianne , Whittle Hilton 
Published: June 2008

SummaryCytomegalovirus (CMV) infection induces profound differentiation of T cells, and is associated with impaired responses to other immune challenges. We therefore considered whether CMV infection and the consequent T‐cell differentiation in Gambian infants was associated with impaired specific responses to measles vaccination or polyclonal responses to the superantigen staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB). While the concentration of undifferentiated (CD27+ CD28+ CCR7+) T‐cells in peripheral blood was unaffected by CMV, there was a large increase in differentiated (CD28− CD57+) CD8 T‐cells and a smaller increase in differentiated CD4 cells. One week post‐vaccination, the CD4 cell interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ) response to measles was lower among CMV‐infected infants, but there were no other differences between the cytokine responses, or between the cytokine or proliferative responses 4 months post‐vaccination. However, the CD8 T cells of CMV‐infected infants proliferated more in response to SEB and the antibody response to measles correlated with the IFN‐γ response to CMV, indicating that CMV infection actually enhances some immune responses in infancy.
Expression of chemokine/cytokine genes and immune cell recruitment following the instillation of Mycobacterium bovis, bacillus Calmette–Guérin or Lactobacillus rhamnosus strain GG in the healthy murine bladder
Authors: Seow Shih Wee , Rahmat Juwita N. , Bay Boon Huat , Lee Yuan Kun , Mahendran Ratha 
Published: June 2008

Summary Mycobacterium bovis, bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) is the current gold standard for bladder cancer therapy. In this study a profile of the gene expression changes that occur after BCG instillation in the bladders of healthy mice was produced and compared to the type of immune cells recruited into the bladder. A similar comparison was made for Lactobacillus rhamnosus strain GG (LGG) instillations in healthy mice to determine its potential in the immunotherapy of bladder cancer. Mice were given six weekly instillations and were killed after the fourth, fifth and sixth instillations of BCG or LGG. Their bladders were harvested for chemokine/cytokine messenger RNA analysis using an array as well as semi‐quantitative reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction. In a second set of mice both the bladder and draining lymph nodes were harvested for the analysis of immune cells. BCG significantly upregulated genes for T helper type 1 (Th1) chemokines: Cxcl2, Cxcl9, Cxcl10, Xcl1; and increased the expression of Th1/Th2 chemokines: RANTES, Ccl6 and Ccl7; Th1 polarizing cytokines: Il1β and Tnfa; and Fcγr1 and iNOS as early as after four weekly instillations. Most of these genes remained highly expressed after 6 weeks. In contrast, LGG transiently induced Cxcl10, Il16, Fcεr1 and Il1r2. Despite these findings, LGG instillation induced the recruitment of natural killer cells into the bladder and draining lymph nodes, as was observed for BCG instillation.
The spatial distribution of avian relatives: do obligate army‐ant‐following birds roost and feed near family members?
Authors: CHAVES‐CAMPOS JOHEL , DeWOODY J. ANDREW 
Published: June 2008

AbstractThe ocellated antbird (Phaenostictus mcleannani) feeds in groups and therefore is an informative species in which to study the biological factors that modulate avian group living. These birds congregate at swarms of army ants to capture fleeing prey, and previous observations suggest that males may be philopatric, feed with close relatives, and defend communal feeding ranges. We assessed whether kin selection could be an important factor maintaining group formation in a population of ocellated antbirds inhabiting continuous forest at La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica, using radiotelemetry and 15 novel microsatellite markers. We predicted that the roosting areas of closely related adult males should overlap and that adult males feeding simultaneously at the same swarm should be highly related. We banded and genotyped 65 individuals (≥ 88% of the population) and radiotagged 30 of them. The results generally did not conform to our predictions. Little overlap occurred among the roosting areas of same‐sex individuals, and nearest roosting neighbours (either same or opposite sex) were generally unrelated. A small proportion of male dyads suggested short‐distance dispersal, but in general the distribution of genotypes within the study area approached randomness. We found little evidence of natal philopatry in either sex. Less than half of the feeding groups sampled included highly related males; most consisted of unrelated individuals. Hence, we found limited potential for kin selection to favour group living and suggest that other factors, particularly direct benefits (e.g. food intake), are probably more important than indirect effects (nepotism).
Role and mechanism of phosphatidylinositol‐specific phospholipase C in survival and virulence of Cryptococcus neoformans
Authors: Chayakulkeeree Methee , Sorrell Tania C. , Siafakas A. Rosemary , Wilson Christabel F. , Pantarat Namfon , Gerik Kimberly J. , Boadle Ross , Djordjevic Julianne T. 
Published: June 2008

SummaryPhospholipase B1 (Plb1) is secreted after release from its glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor and is implicated in initiation and dissemination of infection of the pathogenic fungus, Cryptococcus neoformans. To investigate the role of phosphatidylinositol‐specific phospholipase C (PI‐PLC) in Plb1 secretion, we identified two putative PI‐PLC‐encoding genes in C. neoformans var. grubii (PLC1 and PLC2), and created Δplc1 and Δplc2 deletion mutants. In Δplc1, which expressed less PI‐PLC activity than wild type (WT), three major cryptococcal virulence traits, Plb1 secretion, melanin production and growth at host temperature (37°C) were abolished and absence of Plb1 secretion coincided with Plb1 accumulation in plasma membranes. In addition, Δplc1 cell walls were defective, as indicated by cell clumping and irregular morphology, slower growth and an inability to activate mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) in the presence of cell wall‐perturbing agents. In contrast to Δplc2, which was as virulent as WT, Δplc1 was avirulent in mice and exhibited attenuated killing of Caenorhabditis elegans at 25°C, demonstrating that mechanism(s) independent of the 37°C growth defect contribute to the virulence composite. We conclude that Plc1 is a central regulator of cryptococcal virulence, acting through the protein kinase C/MAPK pathway, that it regulates release of Plb1 from the plasma membrane and is a candidate antifungal drug target.
Messenger RNA interferase RelE controls relBE transcription by conditional cooperativity
Authors: Overgaard Martin , Borch Jonas , Jørgensen Mikkel G. , Gerdes Kenn 
Published: June 2008

SummaryProkaryotic toxin–antitoxin (TA) loci consist of two genes in an operon that encodes a metabolically stable toxin and an unstable antitoxin. The antitoxin neutralizes its cognate toxin by forming a tight complex with it. In all cases known, the antitoxin autoregulates TA operon transcription by binding to one or more operators in the promoter region while the toxin functions as a co‐repressor of transcription. Interestingly, the toxin can also stimulate TA operon transcription. Here we analyse mechanistic aspects of how RelE of Escherichia coli can function both as a co‐repressor and as a derepressor of relBE transcription. When RelB was in excess to RelE, two trimeric RelB2•RelE complexes bound cooperatively to two adjacent operator sites in the relBE promoter region and repressed transcription. In contrast, RelE in excess stimulated relBE transcription and released the RelB2•RelE complex from operator DNA. A mutational analysis of the operator sites showed that RelE in excess counteracted cooperative binding of the RelB2•RelE complexes to the operator sites. Thus, RelE controls relBE transcription by conditional cooperativity.