bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A unique case of Hajdu‐Cheney syndrome and squamous cell carcinoma of the anus
Authors: Page B. R. , McDonald T. , Gagnon P. , Lu K. , Thomas C. R. 
Published: August 2008

AbstractObjective  Hajdu‐Cheney syndrome (HCS), first described in 1948 by Hajdu and independently in 1965 by Cheney, is an extremely rare disorder characterized by severe and excessive bone resorption leading to osteoporosis, with a wide range of other systemic complications from connective tissue and bone dysplasia. Currently there are approximately 50 distinct cases reported in the literature. There have been several reports associating polycystic kidneys with HCS and several other connective tissue disorders, suggesting a possibility of a hyperproliferative component to the syndrome. No articles exist in the current literature describing a case of HCS with concurrent carcinoma. Here, we present a case of a 54‐year‐old nonimmune compromised woman with multiple stigmata of HCS and recently diagnosed anal squamous cell carcinoma.Method  This is a case report of HCS and stage T3N0 squamous cell carcinoma of the anus.Results  This is the first report of a patient with HCS with malignancy.Conclusions  We present a patient with HCS who developed anal squamous cell carcinoma. The mechanism of HCS, which is still unknown, may either make patients more susceptible to carcinoma or may just be a reflection of the normal incidence of anal squamous cell carcinoma given attributable risk factors.
Systematic review of laparoscopic vs open colonic surgery within an enhanced recovery programme
Authors: Vlug M. S. , Wind J. , Zaag E. van der , Ubbink D. T. , Cense H. A. , Bemelman W. A. 
Published: August 2008

AbstractBackground  Fast track surgery accelerates recovery, reduces morbidity and shortens hospital stay. It is unclear what the effects are of laparoscopic or open surgery within a fast track programme. The aim of this systematic review was to review the existing evidence.Method  A systematic review was performed of all randomized (RCTs) and controlled clinical trials (CCTs) on laparoscopic and open surgery within a fast track setting. Primary endpoints were primary and overall hospital stay, readmission rate, morbidity and mortality. Study selection, quality assessment and data extraction were performed independently by two observers.Results  Only two RCTs and three CCTs were eligible for final analysis, which reported on 400 patients. Data could not be pooled because of clinical heterogeneity. One RCT and one CCT stated a shorter primary hospital stay in the laparoscopic group of 3 and 2 days, respectively. In one RCT, the readmission rate was lower in the laparoscopic group; absolute risk reduction (ARR) 21.4% [95% confidence interval (CI): 6–42.3%] resulting in a number needed to treat (NNT) of 4.7 patients (95% CI: 2.4–176). Another study showed a 23% difference in favour of the laparoscopic group with regard to morbidity (95% CI: 6.3–39.1%), i.e. an NNT of 4.4 patients (95% CI: 2.6–15.9). There were no significant differences in mortality rates.Conclusion  Due to the present lack of data, no robust conclusions can be made. A large randomized controlled trial is required to compare laparoscopic with open surgery within a fast track setting.
Evaluating depression in a sample of children and adolescents with cancer in Greece
Authors: Matziou V. , Perdikaris P. , Galanis P. , Dousis E. , Tzoumakas K. 
Published: August 2008

Background:  Several studies have found that serious illness increases the risk of depression. One of the most common psychiatric disorders related to the diagnosis and treatment of cancer is depression.Aim:  The aim of the present study was to investigate the rate of depression in children with cancer compared with that in healthy children.Patients and methods:  The present study is an ongoing prospective study. The research group consisted of 80 children with cancer followed up by an oncology inpatient clinic of a Greek Children's hospital. The control group consisted of 84 healthy children. After parental consent was obtained, data were collected using the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) and a socio‐demographic data form.Results:  At the time that this study was carried out, neither the research group nor the control group suffered from depression. In particular, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups with respect to symptoms of depression (X̄ = 5.88 for children with cancer vs. X̄ = 7.23 for healthy children, U = 3013, P = 0.25).Conclusions:  Our findings suggest that the children in this study with malignancies did not have higher depression scores than their healthy peers, although many previous surveys confirm that children with cancer are at high risk for depression.
Practising mental rotation using interactive Desktop Mental Rotation Trainer (iDeMRT)
Authors: Rafi Ahmad , Samsudin Khairulanuar 
Published: August 2008

AbstractAn experimental study involving 30 undergraduates (mean age = 20.5 years) in mental rotation (MR) training was conducted in an interactive Desktop Mental Rotation Trainer (iDeMRT). Stratified random sampling assigned students into one experimental group and one control group. The former trained in iDeMRT and the latter trained in conventional condition. A multifactorial pretest posttest design procedure was used and data were analysed using two‐way analysis of covariance. Overall, there was substantial improvement in MR accuracy. Main effects of training and gender were observed, indicating that iDeMRT group and boys outperformed the control group and girls respectively. In addition, an interaction between training method and gender was present, indicating that boys were more accurate when trained in iDeMRT and performed moderately in conventional method. Female participants achieved equivalent improvement gain in MR accuracy regardless of the training conditions used. For the speed measure of MR, no appreciable improvement was observed after training.
Endotracheal suctioning in children with severe traumatic brain injury: a literature review
Authors: Tume Lyvonne , Jinks Annette 
Published: August 2008

AbstractAim:  This paper aims to present an overview of the literature relating to the effects of endotracheal suctioning (ETS) in children and adults with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI).Background:  TBI is the leading cause of death in children worldwide and continues to result in widespread mortality and morbidity. In intensive care, ETS is an essential nursing procedure that is undertaken but is known to produce some adverse effects in children.Method:  A comprehensive literature search was undertaken using a Parahoo and quality of reporting of meta‐analyses (QUOROM) approach. A range of databases was searched to identify published papers with key search terms. The databases searched included Cochrane Library, Medline, PubMed Central, CINAHL, Proquest and Science Direct.Findings:  This review is based on 21 papers (with 433 patients in total), but specific papers in paediatric head injury children were extremely limited, and the evidence was largely dated and inconclusive. Although the majority of papers demonstrate an increase in intracranial pressure (ICP) with ETS, there are contradictory results with regard to recovery times.Conclusions:  Further research is needed specifically into the effect of ETS on ICP and cerebral perfusion pressure of children with severe TBI, taking into account all the known confounding variables.
Identifying and Predicting Biological Risks Associated With Manufactured Nanoparticles in Aquatic Ecosystems
Authors: MacCormack Tyson J. , Goss Greg G. 
Published: August 2008

SummaryNanotechnology has great potential for revolutionizing the treatment of disease, optimizing manufacturing processes and consumer products, and remediating polluted environments. Increased use and disposal of products containing nanoparticles will inevitably result in their accumulation in aquatic ecosystems via direct input and runoff from contaminated soils. Aquatic organisms are particularly susceptible to pollutants due to their large, fragile respiratory epithelium. This potential toxicity can be exacerbated by common stressors, such as changes in water temperature, salinity, pH, and oxygen levels, and must be considered in environmental risk assessments. The unique properties of manufactured nanoparticles present serious problems for risk assessment strategies, and there is a concern in the regulatory community that standard toxicological methods may be inadequate to address these compounds. Our capacity to detect and quantify nanoparticles is extremely limited, especially in complex biological, soil, or water samples. The distinctive chemistry and physical structure of each nanomaterial will determine its bioavailability, and these parameters can be altered over time or with changes in water chemistry. The use of advanced analytical techniques, such as functional genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, can provide a global assessment of the biological response to a novel chemical and will be important in determining the potential toxicity of nanoparticles. Industry should adopt a proactive approach to identifying potential risks to aquatic ecosystems so that the benefits of nanotechnology can be fully realized.
Using Nanotechnology for the Substitution of Hazardous Chemical Substances
Authors: Fiedeler Ulrich 
Published: August 2008

SummaryIt is often assumed that nanotechnology (NT) holds the potential to provide a substantial contribution to the solution of various ecological problems, including high consumption of energy and materials and the generation of waste. However, problems surrounding the use and release of hazardous substances remain largely unexplored. For this reason, the Scientific Technical Option Assessment (STOA) Panel of the European Parliament initiated a study on “The Role of Nanotechnology in Chemical Substitution.” The subject and aim of the study was an investigation into preexisting and potential applications of NT that could lead to a reduction in hazardous substances by providing substitutes for them. In terms of method, it was based on electronic searches of the literature, expert interviews, and an expert workshop. This article discusses the results of the project. It focuses on the methodological challenges and the principal problems resulting from a combination of the broad and ill‐defined concept of NT and the specific concept of hazardous substances. The hazardous substances addressed had to be reduced to a manageable number, and the term substitution was understood according to the characteristics of NT and the way in which the latter could reduce the use of hazardous substances. Although several applications of NT were identified that could lead to a considerable reduction in the use of hazardous substances, ambiguities in both the concept of NT and the concept of substitution in relation to NT prevent a comprehensive assessment of the potential of NT in respect to substitution.
Regulation of microRNA processing in development, differentiation and cancer
Authors: Schmittgen Thomas D. 
Published: August 2008

Introduction
microRNA processing and function
Regulation of microRNA processing during development, differentiation and normal cell function
Examples of altered miRNA processing in cancer
Conclusion
AbstractmicroRNA (miRNA) is a class of small, noncoding, regulatory RNAs. The ∼ 21 nt mature miRNA is processed from larger precursor molecules following a coordinated series of events. In theory, miRNA processing may be regulated at any of these steps. A growing body of evidence has demonstrated various steps in the miRNA biogenesis process for which regulation occurs. RNA editing of miRNA precursors, SNPs or mutations in the miRNA precursors, regulation by RNA binding proteins, alterations in the levels of key processing proteins, as well as a number of unknown mechanisms contribute to the regulation of miRNA processing. This article reviews the available literature on the regulation of miRNA processing that occurs within normal cells, during development or in diseases such as cancer.
Genetic parameters for production traits and measures of residual feed intake in Duroc and Landrace pigs
Authors: HOQUE Md. Azharul , SUZUKI Keiichi 
Published: August 2008

ABSTRACTData on 380 Duroc boars from seven generations, and 1026 Landrace pigs (341 boars and 685 gilts) from six generations were used to estimate genetic parameters for daily gain (DG), backfat thickness (BF), metabolic weight (MWT), daily feed intake (FI), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and residual feed intake (RFI). Two measures of RFI were estimated as the difference between actual feed intake and that predicted from models that included initial test age and weight and DG (RFI1); and initial test age and weight, DG and BF (RFI2). Heritability estimates for DG, MWT and FI were moderate for both breeds. BF estimates were high for both the breeds. The measures of feed efficiency (FCR and RFI) were moderately heritable. Genetic correlations of BF with measures of RFI were stronger when BF was not included in the estimation of RFI (0.40 and 0.46 for Duroc and Landrace, respectively (for RFI1), compared with 0.05 and 0.06 for Duroc and Landrace, respectively (for RFI2)). Genetic correlations of MWT with measures of RFI were all negative and low. Genetic and phenotypic correlations between DG and measures of RFI were close to zero, which indicated that selection for reduced RFI could be made without adversely affecting DG. BF should also decrease, and MWT should increase under selection for reduced RFI. The reduction in BF would depend on the measure of RFI used.
Energy expenditure for chewing in sheep fed timothy or sudangrass hay at the same intake level
Authors: SUZUKI Tomoyuki , TAKUSARI Naosumi , HIGUCHI Koji , KURIHARA Mitsunori , TERADA Fuminori 
Published: August 2008

ABSTRACTIn order to investigate the energy expended in chewing during eating and rumination in sheep fed timothy or sudangrass hay at the same intake level, the energy expenditure of the head was measured using the arterial‐venous difference technique and that of the whole body was measured using an open‐circuit, indirect respiration calorimeter. There was no difference in the per‐chew energy expenditure between timothy hay and sudangrass hay during eating and rumination, but for both types of hay there was a difference in energy expenditure between eating (0.25 J per chew per kilogram body weight) and rumination (0.18 J per chew per kilogram body weight). There was no effect of time period after feeding on the energy expended in one chew during eating and rumination. On average, for a given type of hay, the energy expended in chewing during eating + rumination accounted for 4.9% of the daily energy expenditure of the whole body.
Characterization of two microsatellites in chicken monoamine oxidase A
Authors: HONG Kyung‐Won , INOUE‐MURAYAMA Miho , NAKAMURA Akihiro , NAGAO Kenji , ITO Shin'ichi 
Published: August 2008

ABSTRACTWe surveyed two polymorphic microsatellites in a candidate gene for fear response, monoamine oxidase A (MAOA), in chicken. Two hundred and eighty chickens from five breeds (Nagoya, Mikawa, White Leghorn, White Plymouth Rock, and Rhode Island Red) were investigated. A thymine (T) repeat and an adenine (A) repeat were found on MAOA intron 4 (CMin4T) and intron 9 (CMin9A), respectively. Nine alleles (127‐bp to 166‐bp) in CMin4T and six alleles (184‐bp to 198‐bp) in CMin9A were detected. A 128‐bp allele in CMin4T was observed in the Nagoya breed only, implying a highly useful marker for discriminating the Nagoya breed from other breeds. In addition, the Mikawa breed had the fixed 127‐bp and 198‐bp alleles in CMin4T and CMin9A, respectively. The Nagoya breed chickens show densely cowardly behavior, but the Mikawa breed chickens do not show the same behavior. The current results may indicate that MAOA is an informative candidate gene for breed difference.
The Relationship between Local Abundance and Distribution of Rain Forest Trees across Environmental Gradients in India
Authors: Davidar Priya , Rajagopal B. , Arjunan M. , Puyravaud Jean Philippe 
Published: August 2008

ABSTRACTWe tested whether local abundance of rain forest trees in the medium elevation wet forests of the southern Western Ghats (WG) was related to environmental tolerance, life form, and geographical range. We selected trees in medium elevation wet forests (750–1700 m asl) of the southern WG, using two data bases: a small plot (30 × 30 m) data base of 288 species of trees (≥ 3 cm dbh) in 33 plots totaling 2.97 ha, and a data base of 135 species of tree (≥ 10 cm dbh) in larger plots of 1 ha each, totaling 4.84 ha. The species density per hectare and number of records in the plot network was used in a factor analysis to give a measure of the local abundance of each species. The altitude and seasonality ranges of these species in the WG was assessed from independent data bases and used to generate an environmental tolerance score. Results indicated that as a species became locally more abundant, it occurred across a wider range of environmental gradients, but regional distribution was not related to geographical distribution. Understory species tended to be rarer with smaller range sizes and lower environmental tolerances than overstory species. Climate change is predicted to have drastic effects on restricted range species with limited environmental tolerances.
Susceptibility of Tree Seedlings to Biotic and Abiotic Hazards in the Understory of a Moist Tropical Forest in Panama
Authors: Alvarez‐Clare Silvia , Kitajima Kaoru 
Published: August 2008

ABSTRACTWe evaluated temporal patterns of seedling survival of eight Neotropical tree species generated under multiple abiotic and biotic hazards (vertebrates, disease, litterfall) in the forest understory on Barro Colorado Island, Panama. Seedlings were transplanted at first leaf expansion in low densities along a 6‐km transect and damage and mortality were recorded for 1 yr. We also planted and monitored small and large artificial seedlings to estimate physical disturbance regimes. During 0–2 mo after transplant, vertebrate consumers of reserve cotyledons caused high mortality of real seedlings, but little damage to artificial seedlings. On real seedlings after 2 mo, disease became an important agent of mortality, despite a decrease in overall mortality rates. Damage by litterfall remained relatively low during the 1‐yr study period. Survival ranks among species showed ontogenetic shifts over time, as species changed susceptibility to the mortality agents. Survival after 2 mo was positively correlated with stem toughness, not because species with tough stems were less likely to receive mechanical damage, but because they survived better after receiving mechanical damage. Within each transplant station, artificial seedlings were not good predictors of litterfall damage experienced by real seedlings. Forest‐wide litterfall damage level, however, was similar for both real and artificial seedlings (ca 10%/yr), a moderate level compared to other tropical forests. In conclusion, species traits including biomechanical traits interact to create complex temporal patterns of first year seedling survival, resulting in ontogenetic shifts that largely reflect changes in the relative importance of vertebrate consumers relative to other hazards.
Arboreal Ant Abundance and Leaf Miner Damage in Coffee Agroecosystems in Mexico
Authors: De la Mora Aldo , Livingston George , Philpott Stacy M. 
Published: August 2008

ABSTRACTShaded coffee agroecosystems traditionally have few pest problems potentially due to higher abundance and diversity of predators of herbivores. However, with coffee intensification (e.g., shade tree removal or pruning), some pest problems increase. For example, coffee leaf miner outbreaks have been linked to more intensive management and increased use of agrochemicals. Parasitic wasps control the coffee leaf miner, but few studies have examined the role of predators, such as ants, that are abundant and diverse in coffee plantations. Here, we examine linkages between arboreal ant communities and coffee leaf miner incidence in a coffee plantation in Mexico. We examined relationships between incidence and severity of leaf miner attack and: (1) variation in canopy cover, tree density, tree diversity, and relative abundance of Inga spp. shade trees; (2) presence of Azteca instabilis, an arboreal canopy dominant ant; and (3) the number of arboreal twig‐nesting ant species and nests in coffee plants. Differences in vegetation characteristics in study plots did not correlate with leaf miner damage perhaps because environmental factors act on pest populations at a larger spatial scale. Further, presence of A. instabilis did not influence presence or severity of leaf miner damage. The proportion of leaves with leaf miner damage was significantly lower where abundance of twig‐nesting ants was higher but not where twig‐nesting ant richness was higher. These results indicate that abundance of twig‐nesting ants in shaded coffee plantations may contribute to maintenance of low leaf miner populations and that ants provide important ecosystem services in coffee agroecosystems.
Determination of the charge of the plasma proteins and consequent Donnan equilibrium across the capillary barriers in the rat microvasculature
Authors: Rügheimer L. , Hansell P. , Wolgast M. 
Published: August 2008

AbstractAim:  Due to the negatively charged proteins in plasma, a Donnan equilibrium will be formed between plasma and interstitium or, as in the glomerulus, between glomerular plasma and Bowman’s space. The phenomenon is of great physiological significance in the sense that the electro‐osmotic pressure offered by the small ions attracted to the proteins may account for an important part of the total colloid osmotic pressure and also as the electric potential consequent to the Donnan distribution will affect the transcapillary transport of all charged molecular compounds. The present study aimed at estimating the protein charge in rat plasma in order to validate its importance for colloid osmotic pressure and potential.Methods:  The charge of the plasma proteins was determined in vitro from the concentration of sodium across a cellophane membrane separating a rat plasma sample from saline alone. However, in order to improve the sensitivity of the method, the studies were carried out at an ionic strength of 1/10 of physiological saline.Results:  The average charge of plasma was estimated at 0.23 ± 0.003 mEq g−1 protein (mean ± SE), and the standard variation at ±0.01 mEq g−1, i.e. about 5%. At the normal protein concentration in Wistar rats of 50 g L−1, the charge of the proteins in systemic plasma was calculated to be 11.5 mEq L−1, whereas in glomerular and peritubular capillary plasma, the larger protein concentration increases the protein charge to 14.4 mEq L−1.Conclusion:  The results verify that the plasma protein charge accounts for about one‐third of the total colloid osmotic pressure and that the obtained potential will constitute a major driving force for the transport of charged molecular compounds.