bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Registered nurses’ use of research findings in the care of older people
Authors: Boström Anne‐Marie , Kajermo Kerstin Nilsson , Nordström Gun , Wallin Lars 
Published: October 2008

Aims.  To describe registered nurses’ reported use of research in the care of older people and to examine associations between research use and factors related to the elements: the communication channels, the adopter and the social system.Background.  Research use among registered nurses working in hospital settings has been reported in many studies. Few studies, however, have explored the use of research among registered nurses working in the care of older people.Design.  A cross‐sectional survey.Methods.  In eight municipalities, all registered nurses (n = 210) working in older people care were invited to participate (response rate 67%). The Research Utilisation Questionnaire was adopted. Questions concerning the work organisation and research‐related resources were sent to the Community Chief Nurse at each municipality. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were applied.Results.  The registered nurses reported a relatively low use of research findings in daily practice, despite reporting a positive attitude to research. The registered nurses reported lack of access to research reports at the work place and that they had little support from unit managers and colleagues. Registered nurses working in municipalities with access to research‐related resources reported more use of research than registered nurses without resources. The factors ‘Access to research findings at work place’, ‘Positive attitudes to research’ and ‘Nursing programme at university level’ were significantly associated with research use.Conclusions.  There is a great potential to increase registered nurses’ use of research findings in the care of older people. Factors which were linked to the communication channels and the adopter were associated with research use.Relevance to clinical practice.  Strategies to enhance research use should focus on access to and adequate training in using information sources, increased knowledge on research methodology and nursing science and a supportive organisation.
Clinical indicators of ineffective airway clearance in children with congenital heart disease
Authors: Da Silva Viviane Martins , De Oliveira Lopes Marcos Venícios , De Araujo Thelma Leite , Ciol Marcia Aparecida , De Carvalho Emília Campos 
Published: October 2008

Aims and objectives.  To analyse the sensitivity and specificity of clinical indicators of ineffective airway clearance in children with congenital heart disease and to identify the indicators that have high predictive power.Background.  The precise establishment of nursing diagnoses has been found to be one of the factors contributing to higher quality of care and cost reduction in healthcare institutions. The use of indicators to diagnose ineffective airway clearance could improve care of children with congenital heart disease.Design.  Longitudinal study.Methods.  Participants consisted of 45 children, ≤1 year of age, with congenital heart disease, who had not had definitive or palliative surgical correction. Six assessments were made at 2‐day intervals. Each clinical indicator was defined based on previously established operational criteria. Sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values of each indicator were calculated based on a model for the longitudinal data.Results.  A nursing diagnosis of ineffective airway clearance was made in 31% of patients on the first assessment, rising to 71% on the last assessment, for a 40% increase. Sensitivity was highest for Changes in Respiratory Rates/Rhythms (0·99), followed by Adventitious Breath Sounds (0·97), Sputum Production (0·85) and Restlessness (0·53). Specificity was higher for Sputum Production (0·92), followed by Restlessness (0·73), Adventitious Breath Sounds (0·70) and Changes in Respiratory Rates/Rhythms (0·17). The best positive predictive values occurred for Sputum Production (0·93) and Adventitious Breath Sounds (0·80).Conclusions.  Adventitious Breath Sounds followed by Sputum Production were the indicators that had the best overall sensitivity and specificity as well as the highest positive predictive values.Relevance to clinical practice.  The use of simple indicators in nursing diagnoses can improve identification of ineffective airway clearance in children with congenital heart disease, thus leading to early treatment of the problem and better care for these children.
Cell–cell communication in filamentous cyanobacteria
Authors: Haselkorn Robert 
Published: October 2008

SummaryAlthough cytoplasmic bridges between adjacent cells in the filaments of nitrogen‐fixing cyanobacteria have been known for decades, the existence also of a continuous periplasm along the filaments raised the possibility that alternative modes of communication between cells could be utilized. The latter hypothesis was investigated by using GFP fusions to proteins whose expression is cell‐specific and engineered to be transported into the periplasm. Two groups have recently obtained contradictory results, one supporting periplasmic transport of GFP from cell to cell, the other not. A third effort, involving members of the first group, used a smaller, soluble fluorophore and found rapid communication via the cytoplasmic bridges between cells. The dilemma of periplasmic diffusion remains unresolved.
Existence of periplasmic barriers preventing green fluorescent protein diffusion from cell to cell in the cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120
Authors: Zhang Li‐Chen , Chen Yi‐Fei , Chen Wen‐Li , Zhang Cheng‐Cai 
Published: October 2008

SummaryWhen deprived of combined nitrogen, the filamentous cyanobacterium Anabaena PCC 7120 relies on intercellular cooperation involving two cell types: nitrogen‐fixing heterocysts and photosynthetic vegetative cells. Heterocysts send fixed nitrogen to vegetative cells over long distances along the filament, receiving a reduced carbon source from them. These intercellular exchanges might involve a continuous periplasm along the filament or cytoplasm‐to‐cytoplasm conduits or both. In the present study, the green fluorescent protein (GFP) was fused to a twin‐arginine translocation signal sequence, which exported GFP to the periplasm of either a heterocyst using the heterocyst‐specific promoters PhepA and PpatB or to the periplasm of vegetative cells using the vegetative cell‐specific promoter PrbcL. Using the techniques of FRAP (fluorescence recovery after photobleaching) and FLIP (fluorescence loss in photobleaching), we found no evidence for intercellular diffusion of GFP through the periplasm, either from a heterocyst to vegetative cells or vice versa, or among vegetative cells. GFP could diffuse within the periplasm of the producing cell, but the diffusion stopped at the cell border. GFP diffusion could occur between two dividing cells before septum closure. This study indicates that barriers exist at the periplasmic space to prevent free GFP diffusion across cell border along the filament.
Transfection of haloarchaea by the DNAs of spindle and round haloviruses and the use of transposon mutagenesis to identify non‐essential regions
Authors: Porter Kate , Dyall‐Smith Michael L. 
Published: October 2008

SummarySpindle‐shaped halovirus His2 and spherical halovirus SH1 represent ecologically dominant virus morphotypes in high‐salt environments. Both have linear dsDNA genomes with inverted terminal repeat sequences and terminal proteins, and probably replicate using protein priming. As a first step towards conventional genetic analyses on these viruses, we show that purified viral DNAs can transfect host cells. Intact terminal proteins were essential for this process. Despite the narrow host ranges of these viruses, at least under laboratory conditions, their DNAs were able to transfect a wide range of haloarchaeal species, demonstrating that the cytoplasms of diverse haloarchaea possess all the factors necessary for viral DNA synthesis and virion assembly. Transposon mutagenesis of viral DNAs was then used in conjunction with transfection to produce recombinant viruses, and to then map the insertion sites to identify non‐essential genes. The inserts in 34 His2 mutants were mapped precisely, and most clustered in a few, specific regions, particularly in the inverted terminal repeats and near the ends of ORFs. The results are consistent with the small genome size and densely packed, often overlapping ORFs that are transcribed as long operons. This study is the first demonstration of transfection and transposon mutagenesis in protein‐primed archaeal viruses.
A novel streptococcal integrative conjugative element involved in iron acquisition
Authors: Heather Zoe , Holden Matthew T. G. , Steward Karen F. , Parkhill Julian , Song Lijiang , Challis Gregory L. , Robinson Carl , Davis‐Poynter Nicholas , Waller Andrew S. 
Published: October 2008

SummaryIn this study, we determined the function of a novel non‐ribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) system carried by a streptococcal integrative conjugative element (ICE), ICESe2. The NRPS shares similarity with the yersiniabactin system found in the high‐pathogenicity island of Yersinia sp. and is the first of its kind to be identified in streptococci. We named the NRPS product ‘equibactin’ and genes of this locus eqbA–N. ICESe2, although absolutely conserved in Streptococcus equi, the causative agent of equine strangles, was absent from all strains of the closely related opportunistic pathogen Streptococcus zooepidemicus. Binding of EqbA, a DtxR‐like regulator, to the eqbB promoter was increased in the presence of cations. Deletion of eqbA resulted in a small‐colony phenotype. Further deletion of the irp2 homologue eqbE, or the genes eqbH, eqbI and eqbJ encoding a putative ABC transporter, or addition of the iron chelator nitrilotriacetate, reversed this phenotype, implicating iron toxicity. Quantification of 55Fe accumulation and sensitivity to streptonigrin suggested that equibactin is secreted by S. equi and that the eqbH, eqbI and eqbJ genes are required for its associated iron import. In agreement with a structure‐based model of equibactin synthesis, supplementation of chemically defined media with salicylate was required for equibactin production.
Clustering and dynamics of cytochrome bd‐I complexes in the Escherichia coli plasma membrane in vivo
Authors: Lenn Tchern , Leake Mark C. , Mullineaux Conrad W. 
Published: October 2008

SummaryThe cytochrome bd‐I complex of Escherichia coli is a respiratory terminal oxidase and an integral component of the cytoplasmic membrane. As with other respiratory components, the organization and dynamics of this complex in living membranes is unknown. We set out to visualize the distribution and dynamics of this complex in vivo. By exchanging cydB for cydB–gfpgcn4 on the E. coli chromosome, we produced a strain (YTL01) that expresses functional GFP‐tagged cytochrome bd‐I terminal oxidase complexes under wild‐type genetic control. We imaged live YTL01 cells using video‐rate epifluorescence and total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy in combination with fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) and saw mobile spots of GFP fluorescence in plasma membranes. Numbers of GFP molecules per spot were quantified by step‐wise photobleaching giving a broad distribution with a mean of ∼76, indicating that cytochrome bd‐I is concentrated in mobile patches in the E. coli plasma membrane. We hypothesize that respiration occurs in mobile membrane patches which we call ‘respirazones’.
Non‐communicable diseases in low‐ and middle‐income countries: context, determinants and health policy
Authors: Miranda J. J. , Kinra S. , Casas J. P. , Davey Smith G. , Ebrahim S. 
Published: October 2008

SummaryThe rise of non‐communicable diseases and their impact in low‐ and middle‐income countries has gained increased attention in recent years. However, the explanation for this rise is mostly an extrapolation from the history of high‐income countries whose experience differed from the development processes affecting today’s low‐ and middle‐income countries. This review appraises these differences in context to gain a better understanding of the epidemic of non‐communicable diseases in low‐ and middle‐income countries. Theories of developmental and degenerative determinants of non‐communicable diseases are discussed to provide strong evidence for a causally informed approach to prevention. Health policies for non‐communicable diseases are considered in terms of interventions to reduce population risk and individual susceptibility and the research needs for low‐ and middle‐income countries are discussed. Finally, the need for health system reform to strengthen primary care is highlighted as a major policy to reduce the toll of this rising epidemic.
Effectiveness of an alcohol‐based hand hygiene programme in reducing nosocomial infections in the Urology Ward of Binh Dan Hospital, Vietnam
Authors: Nguyen Kim V. , Nguyen Phuong Tran My , Jones Stephanie L. 
Published: October 2008

SummaryObjectives  To determine the effectiveness of hand hygiene in a developing healthcare setting in reducing nosocomial infections (NIs).Method  Prospective study measuring NI rates in a urology ward in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, before and after implementation of a hand hygiene programme with an alcohol‐based decontaminant, and compliance rates of medical staff and carers with hand hygiene using standardised observation sheets.Results  Incidence of NIs fell by 84%, from 13.1% to 2.1%, after implementation of the hand hygiene programme. Extended‐spectrum beta‐lactamase production was detected in 38.2%–50% of Enterobacteriaceae isolated from clinical samples. Length of patient stay and cost to the patient for antibiotics were reduced after implementation of the hand hygiene programme.Conclusion  The hand hygiene programme was effective in reducing incidence of NIs, leading to shorter inpatient stays and reduced treatment costs. Such programmes with measurable outcomes can be implemented at minimal cost in developing health contexts and should be promoted in all healthcare settings.
Use of insecticide treated nets by pregnant women and associated factors in a pre‐dominantly rural population in northern Ethiopia
Authors: Belay Mebrahtom , Deressa Wakgari 
Published: October 2008

SummaryObjective  To describe the use of insecticide treated nets (ITNs) among pregnant women and examine factors associated with its access and use.Methods  Community‐based cross‐sectional study of 815 pregnant women in eight malarious kebeles in northern Ethiopia based on two‐stage cluster design from May to June 2006. Knowledge on malaria, its cause and preventive measures; treatment seeking behaviour; possession and use of ITNs by pregnant women and under‐five children were ascertained through interview and observation. Logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with ITNs use.Results  Knowledge about the cause, transmission and preventive measures of malaria was relatively good; 90.2% of women associated malaria with mosquito bites and 94.2% with living near water ponds. Ten per cent reported malaria illness within the 14 days before the survey, and sought treatment mainly from public health facilities (56.5%) and community health workers (37.6%). Of 815 households surveyed, 59% owned at least one non‐long lasting or long‐lasting ITN (59.5% rural vs. 54.5% urban; P = 0.401). Lack of access to ITNs (68.3%) and the perception that nets could not prevent malaria (27%) were the main reasons for non‐ownership of nets. A total of 58.4% of 481 pregnant women from households owning at least one ITN had slept under it during the previous night. Fewer rural (56.7%) than urban women (76.2%) used ITNs (P = 0.001). In 57.6% of households with at least one ITN, under‐five children had used it the night before. Higher educational attainment was an important predictor of ITNs use (OR = 3.1, 95% CI = 2.1, 4.6).Conclusions  Household ownership of ITNs and their use by pregnant women is promising with the current efforts to scale‐up ITNs implementation, but the gap between ownership and use remains high. Consistent and proper use of nets by pregnant women should be ensured through information campaigns. Rapid expansion of access to long lasting ITNs requires that government and NGOs supply them in adequate numbers.
Study of cis and trans interactions between extended HLA‐haplotypes in insulin‐dependent diabetes
Authors: Deschamps I. , Marcelli‐Barge A. , Lallemand N. , Poirier J. C. , Bochu V. , Prévost P. , Busson A. , Massét M. , Lestradet H. , Hors J. 
Published: October 2008

From the study of HLA, A, B, C, DR, Bf and C4A, C4B alleles in 287 insulin‐dependent diabetes mellitus patients and 108 controls, comparisons were made between 424 diabetic and 216 normal extended haplotypes. In the “cis” situation (haplotype), the highest relative risks (RR) for IDDM were borne by multiloci allelic associations, mainly DR/complement alleles, rather than by DR3 or DR4 considered alone. Susceptibility was strongly associated with two extended haplotypes (Aw30, Cw5, B18, C4BQ0, C4A3, BfF1, DR3 and A2, Cw3, B15, C4Bx, C4A3, BfS, DR4) or their smaller segments. Two haplotypes, S31 associated with DR2 or DR5 and F31 associated with DRw6 or DR7 had a protective effect.In the “trans” situation (opposite haplotype) the large excess of DR3/DR4 hetero‐zygotes was not the only distortion observed. An excess of DR1 (57%) and of C4BQ0 (40%) was noted among non DR3, non DR4 haplotypes in diabetics compared to normal individuals (26% and 23%, respectively, p<0.01, 0.05). Homozygotes for DR3 or DR4 were not increased, and other homozygotes were decreased compared to controls. The protective antigens HLA DR2, DR5 and DR7 seemed not to be distributed randomly: their putative protective effect was not observed in the case of combination with DR1 or a B18, DR3 haplotype. DR2 was never found homozygous or combined with DR5.These results suggest that susceptibility to IDDM is generated by both cis and trans interactions between genes or gene products of the HLA region.
HLA typing with monoclonal antibodies: evaluation of 356 HLA monoclonal antibodies including 181 studied during the 10th International Histocompatibility Workshop
Authors: Colombani J. , Lepage V. , Raffoux C. , Colombani M. 
Published: October 2008

During the 10th International Histocompatibility Workshop (10th WS), 181 HLA MoAbs were studied using lymphocytotoxicity micro‐technique (LCT) and/or enzyme immuno‐assay (EIA), and their capacity to serve as typing reagents was evaluated. 129 MoAbs were tested by both techniques. Results obtained with 92 class I and 86 class II polymorphic MoAbs (10th WS) were compared to published data concerning 180 class I and 176 class II polymorphic MoAbs, listed in an HLA‐MoAbs Register maintained in our laboratory.The following conclusions can be proposed:1/ HLA‐A, B typing by LCT with MoAbs is possible for about 14 specificities. Some specificities are clearly recognized (HLA‐A3, B8, B13, Bw4, Bw6), others are recognized as cross‐reacting groups (B7+27+w22+40), others are not currently recognized by any MoAb with restricted specifity (B5, B15). Several MoAbs confirmed the existence of shared epitopes between products from a single locus (A2‐A28, A25‐A32), or from A and B loci (A2‐B17, Bw4‐A9‐A32). A single HLA‐Cw MoAb has been described.2/ HLA class II typing by LCT with MoAbs is more difficult than class I typing. DR2, DR3, DR4, DR5 and DR7 as well as DRw52 and DRw53 are well defined; other DR specificities are poorly or not at all defined. Particular associations (DR1+DR4, DR3+DRw6, all DR except DR7) are recognized by several MoAbs. All DQw specificities are well recognized, including new specificities defined only by MoAbs: WA (DQw4), TA10 (DQw7), 2B3 (DQw6+w8+w9). Only two HLA‐DP MoAbs have been described.3/ Satisfactory results, similar to those of LCT, were obtained with EIA using lymphoid cell lines as targets.4/ Human MoAbs (12 in the Register) are satisfactory typing reagents. They could represent in the future a significant contribution to HLA typing with MoAbs.
Conserved and variable structures in HLA class I molecules: a review
Authors: Colombani J. 
Published: October 2008

Abstract: Amino acid sequences and structural data on HLA class I molecules are now available, making possible a comparison of the serological and structural definitions of allelic series.1) A hierarchy of differences between molecules is observed. Certain molecules show a low level of differences (1.2% of amino acids) and represent variants of original molecules. Other molecules are recombinants derived from two parent molecules (2.5% difference). Original molecules from an allelic series have a higher level of difference (7.6.%). Maximum differences (13.5%) are observed between products from different loci. Serologically related specificities (cross‐reacting groups) show a relatively low level of difference (6.4%).2) In most specificities an exclusive residue can be considered as responsible for the formation of a serologically recognized determinant. Certain specificities do not have an exclusive residue; they can then be characterized either by a unique determinant made by the association of several non‐exclusive residues, or by an unique association of several non‐exclusive (shared) determinants. There is a significant correlation between the absence of an exclusive residue and the absence of monoclonal antibodies recognizing certain specificities. This suggests two kinds of definition of serological specificities, either by a single exclusive determinant (monotopic recognition) or by several shared determinants (polytopic recognition). Private and public specificities are recognized at the structural level. T‐cell receptor (TCR) recognizes either a xenogeneic peptide in the context of self HLA molecules (restricted CTL [Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte]), or allogeneic HLA molecules. Determinants recognized by CTL (restricted or allogeneic) on HLA molecules have been identified. It is not possible to ascertain whether determinants recognized by antibodies and TCRs are identical, but they are probably very similar.3) HLA class I molecule is made of 75% conserved residues (mostly in the α3 and β2‐m domains) and of 25% variable residues (mostly in the α1+α2 domains). Conserved residues maintain the general shape of the molecule, its outward orientation on the cell membrane, its association with T cells CD8 molecule, and the structure of the peptide binding site, a groove at the top of molecule. Variable residues are responsible for the capacity of each molecule to bind and to present a large number of different peptides to the TCR. Each molecule carries several (3–10?) variable sites; certain are localized into the groove and are recognition sites while others, more exposed on the surface of the molecule, are sites recognized by TCRs and antibodies. Both conserved and variable regions are necessary to the function of the HLA molecule.