bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of a Dummy Audience on Male–Male Interactions in Siamese Fighting Fish, Betta splendens
Authors: Dzieweczynski Teresa L. , Bessler Amanda M. , Shelton Delia S. , Rowland William J. 
Published: January 2006

AbstractRecent research on Siamese fighting fish, Betta splendens, and other taxa has demonstrated that an audience can cause males to alter their behavior in aggressive interactions. One factor not taken into account in these studies is how exactly the audience influences these interactions. It is possible that a live audience may interact with the subjects, creating an active communication network rather than a signaler–receiver dyad with a passive audience. Here, we used a dummy audience to control for information exchange between the audience and the interactants that might cause them to modify their behavior. Audience treatments included dummies of male and female B. splendens, a dummy cichlid, and a control condition with no audience present. The presence of a dummy audience did not influence male–male interactions. However, males spent the most time near the audience tank when the audience was a dummy of a B. splendens. This suggests that some factor other than the physical presence of the audience is responsible for the modification of behavior found in previous audience effect studies in Siamese fighting fish. However, we cannot rule out definitively that our dummy audience is viewed as unimportant by the opponents and, thus, ignored. Further research is necessary to determine which component of the audience is important for producing audience effects.
Male House Finches with Elaborate Songs have Higher Reproductive Performance
Authors: Mennill Daniel J. , Badyaev Alexander V. , Jonart Leslie M. , Hill Geoffrey E. 
Published: January 2006

AbstractThe elaborate songs of male animals are thought to function in either territory defense (male–male communication) or mate attraction (male–female communication). In non‐territorial animals, male vocalizations are expected to function primarily in mate attraction, yet the reproductive consequences of male vocalizations in non‐territorial animals are poorly described. Here we explore the relationship between male song and male reproductive performance in a free‐living population of house finches, Carpodacus mexicanus, a non‐migratory, non‐territorial songbird. Based on recordings of 20 males, we analyzed three song features (song length, number of unique syllables per song, and song rate) and compared male song with two measures of within‐pair reproductive performance (nest initiation date and clutch size) and one measure of extra‐pair reproductive performance (whether males sired extra‐pair young). We demonstrate a positive association between male song and within‐pair reproductive performance; males that sang long songs initiated their first clutch significantly earlier and males that sang songs at a faster rate had larger clutches. Despite the fact that only one of our recorded males sired extra‐pair young in the nest of another male, this male's songs were the most elaborate for two of three song features measured, anecdotally suggesting that male song may play a role in both within‐pair and extra‐pair partner choice. These results suggest that male song is a sexually selected trait in non‐territorial house finches.
Nest Green Plants as a Male Status Signal and Courtship Display in the Spotless Starling
Authors: Veiga José P. , Polo Vicente , Viñuela Javier 
Published: January 2006

AbstractThe use of green nest plants by birds has received much attention in recent years. Although many hypotheses have been put forward to explain the functional significance of this trait, three of them,the courtship hypothesis,the nest protection hypothesisandthe drug hypothesis, have particularly captured the interest of researchers. In this paper we demonstrate that in the spotless starling,Sturnus unicolor(1) most of the green plants were carried to nests during the 10 d that preceded the start of egg laying, (2) males that controlled a greater number of nest boxes, so that they mated with more females, also carried a larger amount of green material to each of their nests, (3) males carried larger amounts of green plants in second than in first clutches, and (4) monogamous males did not exhibit this last tendency when they mated with inexperienced females. Thus, plants seem to exert a function during the female fertile period but not during incubation or nestling stages. The amount of green plants added by a male may be seen as a honest signal of attractiveness and status. We suggest that males uses green plants to stimulate females to breed in it so that they carry more plants in second clutches, when females might be more reluctant to breed. This strategy was apparently constrained in monogamous males mated with inexperienced females probably because parental duties, rarely recorded in polygynous males, limits the time available to carry plants to nests. We also discuss to what extent other hypotheses may further explain the evolution of green plants carrying in starlings.
Nocturnal enuresis and overactive bladder in children: An epidemiological study
Authors: KAJIWARA MITSURU , INOUE KATSUMI , KATO MASAO , USUI AKIHIRO , KURIHARA MAKOTO , USUI TSUGURU 
Published: January 2006

Aims:  To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of nocturnal enuresis (NE) and to examine the prevalence of overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms in primary schoolchildren.Methods:  After conducting an anonymous questionnaire survey about voiding habits and bowel habits in primary schoolchildren, a total of 6917 schoolchildren belonging to 11 primary schools were randomly enrolled in the survey. According to the International Continence Society, we defined NE as any involuntary loss of urine during sleep, occurring more frequently than once per month. Children with NE were subdivided into two groups, monosymptomatic NE (MNE) and enuretic syndrome (ES). To evaluate the characteristic differences of MNE and ES, we assessed the relationships between NE and voiding habits, and episodes of cystitis and constipation. Overactive bladder was defined as increased daytime frequency and/or urge urinary incontinence, and its prevalence was investigated.Results:  The response rate to the questionnaire was 76.4%. The prevalence of NE was 5.9% and was inversely related to increasing age. Monosymptomatic NE comprised 59.4% of NE cases. The annual spontaneous resolution rate of MNE was higher than that of ES. Increased daytime frequency, a history of cystitis and infrequent bowel habits were not related to MNE, but were significantly related to ES. The prevalence of OAB was 17.8%. Children with a history of cystitis had a significantly higher rate of OAB than children without it.Conclusions:  Overall, NE and OAB were detected in 5.9% and 17.8% of primary schoolchildren, respectively. The link between NE and OAB symptoms, urinary tract infections and constipation deserves more attention.
Plasmakinetic prostate resection in the treatment of benign prostate hyperplasia: Results of 1‐year follow up
Authors: NUHOĞLU BARIŞ , AYYILDIZ ALI , KARAGüZEL ERSAGUN , CEBECI ÖZDEN , GERMIYANOĞLU CANKON 
Published: January 2006

Aim:  In our randomized prospective study, we aimed to evaluate the efficiency of plasmakinetic resection of prostate (PKRP) by comparing the preoperative and postoperative results of the transurethral resection of prostate (TURP) and PKRP techniques which we administered in patients with benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) in our clinic.Methods:  Of 57 patients for whom we thought an operative intervention was necessary, 30 cases in the first group had a TURP and 24 cases in the second group had a PKRP. International prostate symptom scores (I‐PSS), uroflowmetry, measurement of residual urine amount and ultrasonography were performed for each patient both preoperatively and postoperatively (first month and first year). Operation times, urethral catheterization times, preoperative and postoperative Hb, Htc and serum Na values of the patients were compared and the complications of the groups were also compared.Results:  On first month and first year follow up between the groups, there was no significant statistical difference in I‐PSS, maximum flow rate, average flow, residual urine and size of the prostate. The decrease in serum Na level was found to be significantly higher in the TURP group (P < 0.05). The operation times were not significantly different between the groups. While the postoperative catheterization time was 75.7 h in TURP group, it was found to be 42 h in PKRP group and it was clear that catheterization time was significantly shorter (P < 0001).Conclusion:  It is obvious that PKRP is as efficient as TURP and it has a similar morbidity. In our opinion, PKRP makes a promising treatment for BPH with its advantages, such as early removal of postoperative urethral catheter, a shorter hospital stay and the absence of TUR syndrome risk.
Clinical efficacy of an α1A/D‐adrenoceptor blocker (naftopidil) on overactive bladder symptoms in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia
Authors: TAKAHASHI SATORU , TAJIMA ATSUSHI , MATSUSHIMA HISASHI , KAWAMURA TAKESHI , TOMINAGA TAKASHI , KITAMURA TADAICHI 
Published: January 2006

Aim:  We evaluated the efficacy of an α1a/d blocker, naftopidil, on storage symptoms in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), using frequency/volume charts (FVC).Methods:  A total of 81 patients with BPH (52–91 years, mean age 69.0 years) were studied. The inclusion criteria were: (i) one or more episode(s) of urinary urgency/day; (ii) a score of eight or more points on the International Prostate Symptom Score (I‐PSS); and (iii) three or more points in any of the scores for three items (frequency, nocturia, and urgency) of the I‐PSS. The patients received 50–75 mg/day of naftopidil for 6 weeks. All the patients were examined for 2‐day FVC before and after the administration of naftopidil. I‐PSS, quality of life index, and uroflowmetry were also evaluated.Results:  Total I‐PSS decreased from 19.1 to 10.5 points (P < 0.0001), with significant improvement of both storage and voiding symptom scores (P < 0.0001, both). The score for urgency decreased from 3.1 to 1.4 (P < 0.0001). Daytime and night‐time frequency decreased from 9.3 to 8.0 (P < 0.0001) and from 2.7 to 2.0 (P = 0.0009), respectively. Mean volume/void increased from 174.0 to 188.6 mL (P = 0.0453). Nocturia decreased from 3.2 to 2.3 (P < 0.0001) in 40 patients who suffered from nocturia two times or more. Notably, significant improvement of nocturia was observed in the patients both with and without nocturnal polyuria (P = 0.0006 and 0.0135, respectively).Conclusion:  The α1a/d blocker naftopidil improves not only voiding symptoms but also storage symptoms, and is effective for nocturia in patients with BPH regardless of the existence of nocturnal polyuria.
Retrograde endoscopic laser therapy and ureteroscopic surveillance for transitional cell carcinoma of the upper urinary tract
Authors: MUGIYA SOICHI , OZONO SEIICHIRO , NAGATA MASAO , OTSUKA ATSUSHI , TAKAYAMA TATSUYA , NAGAE HIROSHI 
Published: January 2006

Objective:  To investigate the efficacy of endoscopic laser therapy and ureteroscopic surveillance for transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the upper urinary tract.Methods:  Tumors of the upper urinary tract were detected at ureteroscopy. After TCC was diagnosed by biopsy, retrograde endoscopic laser therapy was performed. Recurrent tumors were treated endoscopically and the patients were followed by ureteroscopic surveillance at 3‐ to 6‐month intervals.Results:  Seven patients underwent ureteroscopic treatment. The tumor was grade 1 in five patients and grade 2 in two patients. The average tumor size was 1.3 cm. One patient with large, multifocal tumors died of metastatic disease, and one died of an unrelated cause. One patient requested nephroureterectomy after endoscopic treatment. The remaining four patients were followed up for a mean of 32 months after initial treatment. Each patient received an average of 5.3 ureteroscopic surveillance procedures while 3.3 recurrences on average were detected. Recurrence occurred in all the patients who showed normal radiographic findings. Urine cytology was also of little value in predicting tumor recurrence, except in one patient with carcinoma in situ. The recurrent tumors detected by ureteroscopy were successfully treated by repeated endoscopic procedures. After the follow up, three patients remained alive with no signs indicative of disease, but one patient with an initial grade 2 tumor died of recurrence after 30 months.Conclusions:  Given that ureteroscopic evaluation is essential for surveillance after endoscopic treatment of upper urinary tract TCC because of residual concern about recurrence, patients treated endoscopically should be recommended to undergo long‐term endoscopic follow up.
Novel delivery of botulinum toxin for the treatment of anal fissures
Authors: Bhardwaj R. , Drye E. , Vaizey C. 
Published: January 2006

AbstractObjective  Botulinum toxin A (Botox) has been used as a local treatment for anal fissure since 1994. It effects a reversible chemical sphincterotomy without the need for patient compliance. This study examines the feasibility of injecting the treatment using a needle‐less system.Patients and methods  The optimal angle for injection was determined in a preclinical study using fresh porcine specimens. Ten patients with chronic anal fissures were then injected with 20 units Botox at the site of the fissure. They underwent assessment with a visual analogue pain scale, incontinence score and anal manometry pre‐injection, at 48 h postinjection and at six and 12 weeks postinjection. They were also examined at the initial and final visits.Results  The optimal angle for injection was 60°. All 10 patients (5 male; median age 40.5 years (range 26–68 years)) attended the 48 h follow up visit but only seven attended the six and 12 week visits. Six of seven patients healed their fissures. The remaining three were contacted by telephone at six months post injection and two of three remained asymptomatic without further treatment. In seven patients who underwent full follow up the median pain score pre‐injection was 5.5 out of 10 (range 1–10) and this dropped to a median of 1 (range 0–6) at 12 weeks. The median drop in resting pressure was 47 cm H2O or 37% at six weeks.Conclusion  No needle injection of Botox is feasible with similar healing rates and reduction of resting pressure to conventional injection techniques.
Straight to test: introduction of a city‐wide protocol driven investigation of suspected colorectal cancer
Authors: Hemingway D. M. , Jameson J. , Kelly M. J. ,   Leicester Colorectal Specialist Interest Group Project Steering Committee
Published: January 2006

AbstractObjective  To decrease waiting times for colorectal cancer diagnosis.Methods  Following extensive negotiations on three sites, we replaced the standard referral route of GP to outpatient clinic with city‐wide implementation of a protocol driven sequence based on the patient's declared symptoms, the initial consultation being replaced by the first test taking place within 31 days. No choice in test allocation was granted; difficult cases were adjudicated by named consultants. We used a ‘dry run’ to make sure that our planned changes would not overload our local capacity, leading to a pilot run involving 1/3 clinicians, followed by a full cross‐city implementation over two months.Results  In 2001, before the pilot only 116/188 (62%) of our colorectal cancers who were referred either under the 2‐week‐wait arrangements or on a ‘soon’ basis were diagnosed within 31 days of referral. Our ‘dry run’ established that we did have the capacity to service our planned sequence of tests. In the pilot, all colorectal cancers were diagnosed within 31 days of referral, and 95% of all diagnoses (no abnormality or benign disease) were reached within 31 days of referral. After full implementation 19/19 (100%) of our cancers coming through our protocol system were diagnosed within 31 days and 95% of patients with benign disease.Conclusion  Follow‐up audit of our system one and two years later shows that we now diagnose approximately 80% of our colorectal cancers who are referred under the 2 week wait or as ‘soon’ referrals within 31 days. We have successfully redesigned our service, at minimal expense, in a way, which should enable us to meet the government targets in the National Cancer Plan.
Comparing reagents for efficient transfection of human primary myoblasts: FuGENE 6, Effectene and ExGen 500
Authors: Arnold Anne‐Sophie , Laporte Vincent , Dumont Serge , Appert‐Collin Aline , Erbacher Patrick , Coupin Gilliane , Levy Rachel , Poindron Philippe , Gies Jean‐Pierre 
Published: January 2006

AbstractThis study compared three different synthetic reagents (FuGENE 6, Effectene and ExGen 500) for the transfection of human primary myoblasts. We examined the efficiency, cytotoxicity and size of the complexes formed in the presence of different amounts of vector and DNA and with variable amounts of serum. Transfection rates were relatively high for primary cells, especially with FuGENE 6 (20%), which appeared to be the best transfection reagent for these cells, even in the presence of 10% serum. Cultured human myoblasts are an interesting tool for studying neuromuscular diseases and are potentially useful for myoblast transfer therapy studies. Moreover, the efficiency of these transfection reagents in a medium containing 10% serum is promising for possible gene therapy protocols for muscle diseases.
Melatonin cytotoxicity in human leukemia cells: relation with its pro‐oxidant effect
Authors: Büyükavcı Mustafa , Özdemir Öner , Buck Steven , Stout Mark , Ravindranath Yaddanapudi , Savaşan Süreyya 
Published: January 2006

AbstractMelatonin has a variety of functions in human physiology and is involved in a number of pathological events including neoplastic processes. The tissue protective actions of melatonin are attributed to its antioxidant activity though, under certain conditions, melatonin might also exert oxidant effects, particularly in cancer cells. This study evaluated the effects of 10−5 and 10−3 m concentrations of melatonin on human leukemia cells. Moderate cytotoxic effects of melatonin at 10−3 m concentrations were observed in CMK, Jurkat and MOLT‐4 cells which was associated with significant reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Melatonin treatment was not associated with significant cytotoxicity in HL‐60 cells, although the generation of ROS was significantly increased. K562 and Daudi cells did not appear to be effected by melatonin treatment. Cellular membrane lipid peroxidation was not influenced by melatonin with the exception of CMK cells. Cell cycle kinetics were not affected in melatonin‐treated samples, again with the exception of CMK cells which showed increased apoptosis. Melatonin, therefore, induces the production of ROS that may be associated with cytotoxicity depending on the concentration of melatonin in some leukemia cells and does not appear to stimulate leukemia cell growth. These pro‐oxidant actions of melatonin may assist in limiting leukemic cell growth.
French adaptation and preliminary validation of a questionnaire to evaluate understanding of informed consent documents in phase I biomedical research
Authors: Paris Adeline , Cornu Catherine , Auquier Pascal , Maison Patrick , Radauceanu Anca , Brandt Christian , Salvat‐Melis Muriel , Hommel Marc , Cracowski Jean‐Luc 
Published: January 2006

AbstractThe content of informed consent documents (ICD) is a crucial element in the process of providing information to participants in biomedical research. Clear comprehension of the information, i.e. the ability to understand its meaning and its consequences, is of utmost importance. The objective of this study was to describe the different steps in the French adaptation and preliminary validation of the Qualité de Compréhension des Formulaires d'information et de consentement (QCFic) questionnaire (http://www.lyon.inserm.fr/cic‐grenoble) based on the American Quality of Informed Consent (QuIC) questionnaire. Adaptation and preliminary validation of the QuIC for use in France was composed of five principal steps: translation, scientific validation, lexical validation, edition of gold‐standard answers and a pilot study. Each stage was conducted by independent groups of experts, under the coordination of the study board. Thirteen questions were added and one was suppressed. Two steps were required for the scientific validation and for lexical validation, 21 modifications were proposed. Relative to gold‐standard answers, the three experts gave the same answer for 24 questions and for nine other questions, two of the three gave identical answers, which were validated by the study board. Results of a pilot study showed a global QCFic score of 88.99 (84.13–90.92) and no specific commentary was made about the content of the questions, so no more modification needed to be made. A preliminary validated French questionnaire, the QCFic, is now available to evaluate the quality of an informed consent document in phase I clinical trials. It is quick and easy to use.
Effects of fatty liver and related factors on the efficacy of combination antiviral therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C
Authors: Jian Wu Yu , Shu Chen Li , Gui Qiang Wang 
Published: January 2006

Abstract: Objective: Hepatic steatosis is a histological feature in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) and adversely affects the virologic response rates to anti‐hepatitis C virus (HCV) therapy. The aim of this study is to investigate whether the fatty liver and related factors have impact on the efficacy in CHC treated with peginterferon and ribavirin, and the associations between HCV genotyping and fatty liver.Methods: Ninety‐eight patients received subcutaneously 180 μg peginterferon α‐2a once a week plus ribavirin. HCV genotypes and the levels of plasma insulin of patients were measured. Fatty liver was detected by B ultrasound. The body mass index (BMI), waist‐to‐hip ratio (WHR) and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA‐IR) were calculated.Results: Among 98 CHC patients, 38 (38.8%) were infected with genotype 1; 44 (44.9%) with genotype 2; 13 (13.3%) with genotype 3; 3 (3.0%) with indeterminate genotype. The prevalence of fatty liver was 10.5%, 11.4%, 38.5% in patients infected with HCV genotype 1, 2, 3, respectively, which suggested that the distribution of fatty liver in different HCV genotypes was imbalanced (χ2=6.758, P=0.034). In univariate analysis, the efficacy of combination therapy was significantly associated with BMI (P=0.011), WHR (P=0.024), the levels of plasma insulin (P=0.001), genotype (P=0.036), presence of fatty liver (P=0.028), treatment dosage and duration (P=0.012) and HOMA‐IR (P=0.002). With binary logistic regression analysis, the plasma insulin levels and HOMA‐IR showed independent predictors to the efficacy of antiviral therapy.Conclusion: The prevalence of fatty liver in HCV genotype 3 was markedly higher than that of other genotypes. The BMI, WHR, the levels of plasma insulin, genotype, presence of fatty liver, treatment dosage and duration and HOMA‐IR were associated with the sustained virologic response. The level of plasma insulin and HOMA‐IR were independent factors for predicting effect of antiviral therapy.