bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Preparation of Membrane Proteins from Drosophila Embryos
Authors: Zhang Claire X. , Hsieh Tao-shih 
Published: March 2007

INTRODUCTIONDrosophila embryos provide a unique system for the study of membrane proteins because of an extensive database in both genetics and biochemistry. Drosophila early embryos have an extraordinary peak in membrane biogenesis with a 23-fold increase in membrane area over ~45 minutes. This protocol describes purification of Drosophila membranes using equilibrium sedimentation in a sucrose density step gradient (0.5 M, 2.0 M, 2.5 M). It also includes two methods to determine the membrane association of a protein of interest: (1) alkaline wash and (2) Triton X-114 phase separation.
Culturing Large Populations of Drosophila for Protein Biochemistry
Authors: Sisson John Charles 
Published: March 2007

INTRODUCTIONThe Drosophila embryo is a superb source of proteins for studies aimed at characterizing a variety of cellular functions, including replication, transcription, translation, signal transduction, and the functions of the extracellular matrix and the cytoskeleton. The success of these studies is dependent upon the maintenance of an efficient laboratory fly facility. This article outlines the basic requirements for maintaining Drosophila in large or small laboratories.
An integrated model for the effect of budesonide on ACTH and cortisol in healthy volunteers
Authors: Lönnebo Anna , Grahnén Anders , Karlsson Mats O. 
Published: March 2007

What is already known about this subject • The functionality of the HPA axis through cortisol production has been the subject for several investigations.• Modelling of cortisol production has been described by endogenous substance models utilizing a combination of indirect response functions and sum of cosine functions.• The effect of glucocorticoid drugs on cortisol production has been investigated using these models. What this study adds • Previous investigations (models) have not primarily considered the combined action of ACTH and cortisol.• Since ACTH drives cortisol production we adopted, for our modelling, the same approach as previous investigations but we distinguished between two types of models for the production of cortisol (driven by ACTH), one being the sum of cosine functions, the other being described by surges.• The presented surge‐based model can serve as a tool for further understanding of the HPA axis and may also prove useful in the development of drugs interacting with the axis.AimsBudesonide, a glucocorticosteroid, is used as a first‐line treatment for asthma. The aim of the study was to develop a PK/PD model for the effect of budesonide on ACTH and cortisol.MethodsThe modelling data were generated by conducting a single‐blind, randomized, placebo‐controlled cross‐over study. Ten healthy volunteers inhaled placebo (Placebo Turbohaler) and 1600 µg budesonide (Pulmicort Turbohaler), with a wash‐out period of 7 days between treatments. Baseline concentrations of cortisol and ACTH were measured after placebo treatment and concentrations of cortisol, ACTH and budesonide were assessed after budesonide treatment. A one‐compartment disposition model was used for budesonide disposition. Based on indirect response models, two types of models, distinguishing between production driven by a sum of cosine functions and production driven by surges, were used in parallel to describe the data.ResultsThe surge‐based approach was the most appropriate, based on goodness‐of‐fit, objective function values and number of parameters. The surge‐based model that integrated both ACTH and cortisol data was chosen as the final model. The estimated half‐lives of endogenous ACTH and cortisol were 9 and 113 min, respectively. The budesonide and ACTH concentrations producing 50% of the maximal response (IC50 and A50) were 0.325 µg l−1 and 4.96 pmol l−1.ConclusionsThe present PK/PD model of the effect of budesonide on ACTH and cortisol can serve as a tool for further understanding of the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal (HPA) axis and be useful in the development of drugs interacting with the axis.
The proteasome inhibitors bortezomib and PR‐171 have antiproliferative and proapoptotic effects on primary human acute myeloid leukaemia cells
Authors: Stapnes Camilla , Døskeland Anne P. , Hatfield Kimberley , Ersvær Elisabeth , Ryningen Anita , Lorens James B. , Gjertsen Bjørn Tore , Bruserud Øystein 
Published: March 2007

SummaryProteasome inhibitors represent a new class of antineoplastic drugs that are considered in the treatment of haematological malignancies. We compared the effects of the reversible proteasome inhibitor bortezomib (Velcade®) and the epoxomicin derivative PR‐171, an irreversible inhibitor, on primary human acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) cells. Both drugs inhibited autocrine‐ and cytokine‐dependent proliferation of primary AML blasts when tested at nanomolar levels (0·1–100 nmol/l). The antiproliferative effect was independent of basal chymotrypsin‐like proteasome activity (showing a 20‐fold variation between patients), genetic abnormalities, morphological differentiation and CD34 expression when testing a large group of consecutive patients (n = 54). The effect was retained in cocultures with bone marrow stromal cells. In addition, both drugs enhanced apoptosis. The effect of PR‐171 could be detected at lower concentrations than for bortezomib, especially when testing the influence on clonogenic AML cell proliferation. Both drugs had divergent effects on AML cells’ constitutive cytokine release. Furthermore, both drugs caused a decrease in proliferation and viability when tested in combination with idarubicin or cytarabine. An antiproliferative effect on primary human acute lymphoblastic leukaemia cells was also detected. We conclude that nanomolar levels of the proteasome inhibitors tested had dose‐dependent antiproliferative and proapoptotic effects on primary AML cells in vitro.
Constraints on recovery: using molecular methods to study connectivity of aquatic biota in rivers and streams
Authors: HUGHES JANE M. 
Published: March 2007

Summary1. The ‘Field of Dreams Hypothesis’ states ‘if we build it, they will come’, referring to the assumption that if habitats are restored, species will recolonise them. However, the ability of a species to recolonise a restored site will depend not only on the appropriate habitat being present, but also on the ability to get there. This is likely to depend on both the species’ dispersal behaviour and the position of a site in the landscape.2. Animals with good potential for dispersal are more likely to be able to disperse to newly restored sites. Similarly, sites in lowland streams with limited altitudinal differences between sites may be easier to reach than upstream sites. This is because upstream sites are connected to one another via lowland streams that have different characteristics and therefore may be difficult for animals to traverse.3. In this paper, genetic data from a range of freshwater species that have been analysed in my laboratory are used to assess the importance of life cycle and position in the landscape (i.e. upland versus lowland streams) on connectivity patterns (and thus recolonisation potential) among populations.4. In general, contemporary dispersal across catchment boundaries is negligible, except for aquatic insects with an adult flight stage. Dispersal among streams within catchments appears to be more limited than was predicted from knowledge on life histories, except for fish in lowland rivers and streams.5. As predicted, dispersal of fish, crustaceans and molluscs among streams within catchments is significantly greater in lowland rivers than in upland streams.6. Overall, these analyses suggest that, with the exception of most insects, and fishes in lowland rivers, natural recolonisation of restored sites is only likely from sites within the same stream. If a species has disappeared from the whole stream, then restoration of habitat alone may not be sufficient for its re‐establishment.
Self‐evaluation and peer review – an example of action research in promoting self‐determination of patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Löfman Päivi , Pietilä Anna‐Maija , Häggman‐Laitila Arja 
Published: March 2007

Aims and objectives.  The aim of this paper was to describe the areas that have been performed well and the areas in need of further development of rheumatoid arthritis patients.Background.  Nurses’ self‐evaluation and peer review are important methods for ascertaining the changes and success in the development of nursing practice. To date, there has been minimal research regarding the use of those evaluation methods in nursing practice.Design.  The findings of self‐evaluation and peer review of nurses are described in a participatory action research study aimed at promotion of self‐determination for patients with rheumatoid arthritis.Methods.  In self‐evaluation, the collection of data was accomplished using a self‐evaluation instrument with the permanent nursing staff (n = 18), then analysed through quantitative methods. For peer review, the data were gathered through focus groups (n = 21) using a tool similar to the one used for self‐evaluation. The participants included many of the same nurses as in self‐evaluation. The data were analysed using qualitative content analysis.Results.  Well‐performed areas in nursing of rheumatoid arthritis patients were found to be promoting patient participation, supporting self‐determination, performing patient‐centred nursing and raising patient self‐respect. The areas in need of development were connected to the nursing staff themselves: increasing collaboration of nursing staff, decreasing authoritarianism in nursing care and developing nursing practice with colleagues.Conclusions.  Self‐evaluation and peer review are complementary and support one another, especially since nurses were found to be more critical in their self‐evaluations than in peer review.Relevance to clinical practice.  Both evaluation tools proved to be useful methods in the evaluation phase of the action research process as a means of professional development. Also assisting in the development of clinical nursing practice.
Difficult asthma: people's perspectives on taking corticosteroid therapy
Authors: Gamble Jacqueline , Fitzsimons Donna , Lynes Dave , Heaney Liam Gabriel 
Published: March 2007

Aims and objectives.  This study aimed to explore the experiences of patients with difficult asthma, who take corticosteroid therapy, and provide insight into why some patients comply with therapy, whilst others do not.Background.  Asthma is growing in prevalence and affects more than 100 million people worldwide. Corticosteroids are the mainstay treatment but, despite considerable risk to the individual in terms of morbidity and mortality, compliance is low. Previous research has been mainly quantitative and analysed variables associated with compliance, doing little to increase professional understanding of the patient's perspective on taking corticosteroid treatment.Methods.  A hermeneutic phenomenological approach was selected as most appropriate for this study. Unstructured interviews were undertaken with a purposive sample of 10 participants. Interviews were taped, transcribed and the data were analysed using a multi‐step technique described by Holloway.Findings.  Fear of side effects was the strongest theme to emerge; illustrated by the negative images participants described such as weight gain, anxiety, irritability and depression. Participants related control and power over their condition to knowledge and information. They wanted more information, but believed that health professionals assumed they were already well informed. Costs and benefits of treatment were weighed up before decisions were made. Participants described feelings of ‘not being themselves’ and personality changes resulting in the loss of their role within relationships. Routine, time and opinions of significant others, also impacted on taking steroids.Conclusion.  Decision‐making was a complex process, involving evaluation of the personal costs and benefits of treatment; fear of side effects was the dominant concern. Compliance with treatment saves lives in this population.Relevance to clinical practice.  This study uncovers issues participants consider when making decisions regarding adherence and highlights the importance of the nurse's role in eliciting patients’ concerns and the providing appropriate information to allay fears and misconceptions.
A review of clinical decision making: models and current research
Authors: Banning Maggi 
Published: March 2007

Aims and objectives.  The aim of this paper was to review the current literature clinical decision‐making models and the educational application of models to clinical practice. This was achieved by exploring the function and related research of the three available models of clinical decision making: information‐processing model, the intuitive‐humanist model and the clinical decision‐making model.Background.  Clinical decision making is a unique process that involves the interplay between knowledge of pre‐existing pathological conditions, explicit patient information, nursing care and experiential learning. Historically, two models of clinical decision making are recognized from the literature; the information‐processing model and the intuitive‐humanist model. The usefulness and application of both models has been examined in relation the provision of nursing care and care related outcomes. More recently a third model of clinical decision making has been proposed. This new multidimensional model contains elements of the information‐processing model but also examines patient specific elements that are necessary for cue and pattern recognition.Design.  Literature review.Methods.  Evaluation of the literature generated from MEDLINE, CINAHL, OVID, PUBMED and EBESCO systems and the Internet from 1980 to November 2005.Results.  The characteristics of the three models of decision making were identified and the related research discussed.Conclusions.  Three approaches to clinical decision making were identified, each having its own attributes and uses. The most recent addition to the clinical decision making is a theoretical, multidimensional model which was developed through an evaluation of current literature and the assessment of a limited number of research studies that focused on the clinical decision‐making skills of inexperienced nurses in pseudoclinical settings. The components of this model and the relative merits to clinical practice are discussed.Relevance to clinical practice.  It is proposed that clinical decision making improves as the nurse gains experience of nursing patients within a specific speciality and with experience, nurses gain a sense of saliency in relation to decision making. Experienced nurses may use all three forms of clinical decision making both independently and concurrently to solve nursing‐related problems. It is suggested that O'Neill's clinical decision‐making model could be tested by educators and experienced nurses to assess the efficacy of this hybrid approach to decision making.
Nursing staff competence, work strain, stress and satisfaction in elderly care: a comparison of home‐based care and nursing homes
Authors: Hasson Henna , Arnetz Judith E 
Published: March 2007

Abstract  Aims.  The aims of this study were to: (1) compare older people care nursing staff's perceptions of their competence, work strain and work satisfaction in nursing homes and home‐based care; and (2) to examine determinants of work satisfaction in both care settings.Background.  The shift in older people care from hospitals to community‐based facilities and home care has had implications for nursing practice. Lack of competence development, high levels of work strain and low levels of work satisfaction among nursing staff in both care settings have been associated with high turnover. Few studies have compared staff perceptions of their competence and work in nursing homes as opposed to home‐based care.Design.  A cross‐sectional questionnaire survey.Methods.  Nursing staff perceptions of their competence, work strain, stress and satisfaction were measured by questionnaire in 2003 in two older people care organizations in Sweden. Comparisons of all outcome variables were made between care settings both within and between the two organizations. Multiple regression analysis was used to determine predictors of work satisfaction in home care and nursing homes respectively.Results.  In general, staff in home‐based care reported significantly less sufficient knowledge compared with staff in nursing homes. However, home care staff experienced significantly less physical and emotional strain compared with staff in nursing homes. Ratings of work‐related exhaustion, mental energy and overall work satisfaction did not differ significantly between care settings. In both care settings, work‐related exhaustion was the strongest (inverse) predictor of work satisfaction.Conclusions.  Future interventions should focus on counteracting work‐related exhaustion and improving competence development to improve work satisfaction among older people care nursing staff in both care settings.Relevance to clinical practice.  Work‐related exhaustion and lack of competence development may have significant negative implications for work satisfaction among older people care nursing staff in both home care and nursing homes.
Nutritional screening and perceived health in a group of geriatric rehabilitation patients
Authors: Söderhamn Ulrika , Bachrach‐Lindström Margareta , Ek Anna‐Christina 
Published: March 2007

Aims and objectives.  (i) To perform a nutritional screening using the Nutritional Form For the Elderly and relate the results to perceived health in a group of geriatric rehabilitation patients; and (ii) to compare the screening results and nurses’ nutritional notes in the nursing documentation.Background.  Undernutrition is an under‐recognized problem among older patients. Using a screening instrument is a way to detect patients at risk for undernutrition.Design.  A cross‐sectional study conducted in Sweden.Methods.  A sample of 147 geriatric rehabilitation patients was consecutively included and was interviewed with the screening instrument, questions about background variables, perceived health and health‐related issues. Higher screening scores indicate higher risk for undernutrition. Parametric and nonparametric statistical tests were used. When nurses’ nutritional notes in the nursing documentation were corresponding to the content in any of the response alternatives for each screening item, the notes were marked as existent.Results.  The screening results showed that 55% of the patients were at medium risk and 14% at high risk for undernutrition. Patients in perceived ill health had higher screening scores than those in perceived good health. Associations were also found between receiving help, perceiving helplessness, not being active and not feeling satisfied and higher screening scores. The content of nine of 15 items in the instrument was mentioned in a number of nursing records.Conclusions.  The prevalence of older patients at medium or high risk for undernutrition was high. To be at high risk for undernutrition was associated with perceived ill health. Nurses’ nutritional notes in the nursing documentation showed deficiencies, indicating that all patients at medium or high risk for undernutrition were not identified.Relevance to clinical practice.  The results suggest that nurses need a screening instrument to highlight older nutritional at‐risk patients in need of further awareness and investigation.
Predictors of psychosocial adjustment in people with physical disease
Authors: Kocaman Nazmiye , Kutlu Yasemin , Özkan Mine , Özkan Sedat 
Published: March 2007

Aims.  The purpose of this paper was to examine the demographic, medical and psychosocial variables that result in the deterioration of psychosocial adjustment in patients with physical disease, the meaning their illness has for them and their coping style.Methods.  The study was carried out in inpatient clinics of the Istanbul Faculty of Medicine (n = 198). The following evaluation instruments were used: a semi‐structured questionnaire, the Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale‐Self Report (PAIS‐SR), the Meaning of Illness Questionnaire (MIQ), the Hospital Anxiety–Depression Scale, the Multivariate Perceived Social Support Questionnaire and the Ways of Coping Inventory (WCI). Variables to be related with psychosocial adjustment were analysed by using Forward Logistic Regression.Results.  The mean age of patients was 36·9 (SD 12·9) (18–65), 55% of which were women, the average PAIS‐SR score was 1·02 (SD 0·41) (0·7–2·26); 47% of the patients had poor adjustment scores. Univariate analysis showed that psychosocial adjustment was affected by having children (p = 0·02), anxiety, depression, locus of control, perceived social support (p < 0·001), information level about their illness and its treatment (p = 0·01), the subscales of WCI [escape‐avoidance (p < 0·001), distancing (p = 0·002), planned problem solving (p < 0·001), positive re‐appraisal (p = 0·02)]. The psychosocial adjustment of patients with respiratory or infectious illnesses or bone‐muscle‐skeletal disorders was even less (p = 0·03). All 33 items of the MIQ were found to have a significant impact on psychosocial adjustment (p < 0·001). According to the regression analysis, the best predictors of psychosocial adjustment were: depression (p < 0·001) and the meaning of illness for patient (p < 0·01).Conclusions.  Having a physical illness is an important stress factor. In providing assistance, a number of factors should be taken into consideration, including how the patient perceives his illness, the impact the illness has on the patient's life, and a determination of the degree of depression being experienced by the patient.Relevance to clinical practice.  The study indicated some predictors in the assesment of psychosocial adjustment and care of patients with physical illness. In daily clinical practice, among the patients with physical illness, those with a negative perception of their illness and those who define depression should be given special attention for psychosocial support.
Evolutionary history of lamprey paired speciesLampetra fluviatilis(L.) andLampetra planeri(Bloch) as inferred from mitochondrial DNA variation
Authors: ESPANHOL RUTE , ALMEIDA PEDRO R. , ALVES M. JUDITE 
Published: March 2007

AbstractA remarkable trend in the evolution of lampreys is the occurrence in most genera of ‘paired species’, in which the parasitic anadromous lampreys are believed to have given rise to nonparasitic freshwater resident populations. The present work examines the phylogeography of the European paired speciesLampetra fluviatilisandLampetra planeri, in an attempt to elucidate species pair evolutionary history. We studied sequence variation in cytochromeband ATPase 6, 8 mitochondrial genes in 63 individuals from 21 localities of the paired species throughout their distribution range. Results from the phylogenetic and nested clade analyses were largely consistent, suggesting the existence of three major evolutionary lineages: lineage I and possibly lineage II are widespread throughout Europe, while the most ancestral lineage III is apparently restricted to the Iberian Peninsula. The high genetic diversity observed in the Iberian Peninsula is probably the result of refugial persistence and subsequent accumulation of variation over several ice ages, whereas the low levels of genetic diversity observed in central and northern Europe should reflect a rapid postglacial colonization. Results suggest thatL. planerioriginated within at least two distinct evolutionary lineages, rejecting the single origin hypothesis. The observed lack of taxa monophyly within lineage I may be the result of ongoing gene flow if the two taxa are alternate life‐history forms of a single species. However, structure within lineage I is also consistent with the hypothesis of divergence of taxa after postglacial dispersion (around 2000 generations ago) with incomplete lineage sorting. Further testing of the alternative hypotheses is warranted.