bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
98  Management of urethro rectal fistulae: experience utilising the York Mason approach
Authors: GRAY K.M. , WINKLE D. 
Published: February 2006

Introduction:  Urethro rectal fistulae are a rarely seen clinical entity. These fistulae pose a difficult problem to the treating urologist. The majority of cases require surgical repair. Different approaches to surgical correction have evolved over time. We report our hospitals experience utilising the posterior transphincteric approach.Patients and Methods:  Six patients in our hospital have undergone repair of this type over a two year period. Three fistulas occurred after radical retropubic prostatectomy. The remainder as a result of laser prostatectomy, transurethral resection of the prostate and rectal surgery. Five of these underwent preoperative faecal and urinary diversion. Once treatment was complete data was reviewed retrospectively.Results:  All patients had a favourable outcome postoperatively. No faecal nor urinary incontinence is reported. No anal stenosis has developed. Postoperative recovery is rapid with minimal morbidity.Conclusion:  Posterior transphincteric approach provides excellent exposure through healthy tissue planes. Favourable repair with symptom resolution was obtained in all patients treated at our hospital with minimal morbidity.
99  Perks, freebies and incentives: zero ethical responsibility?
Authors: GRUMMET J.P. , SNOW R.M. 
Published: February 2006

Introduction:  The literature suggests that there is concern about the relationship between industry and doctors. Whilst industry sponsorship of education and research activities is highly valued, evidence suggests that promotional activities may influence doctors in ways that are not always beneficial to patients. The industry‐doctor relationship must therefore be transparent and comply with ethical standards of the community to preserve professional integrity and maintain patients’ trust. The aims of this study are 1) to determine the opinions of patients on the ethics of various practical aspects of urologists’ relationship with industry; 2) to compare these opinions to those of urologists.Methods:  A questionnaire comprising 22 aspects of the industry‐urologist relationship was formulated. Approval was obtained from the hospital ethics unit to distribute the questionnaire to urology outpatients. The questionnaire was also given to patients at private practices of urologists, and distributed to urologists and trainees in Australia and New Zealand.Results:  Over 200 questionnaires were returned for analysis. Urologists and their patients were found to hold very similar views on the ethics of the industry‐urologist relationship. Whilst industry funding for education and research activities was generally looked upon favourably, other promotional activities and conditional funding were generally not approved of. Notably, there was also a wide variation of opinion amongst urologists on several specific aspects of the industry‐urologist relationship.Conclusions:  Australian and New Zealand urologists’ standard of ethics regarding their relationship with industry appears to be in line with that of their patients. Such concordance of opinion is desirable as it may help to preserve professional integrity and maintain patients’ trust.
Rules, safety and the narrativisation of identity: a hospital operating theatre case study
Authors: McDonald Ruth , Waring Justin , Harrison Stephen 
Published: February 2006

AbstractPatient safety has become a health policy priority around the world. Acknowledging that ‘to err is human’ has led to attempts to design systems and rules that limit the capacity for individual discretion and thereby reduce clinical errors. In addition, great emphasis is being placed on the need to eradicate cultures of blame, which are assumed to discourage clinicians from reporting errors, and to establish a ‘safety culture’, which encourages openness and honesty. These efforts are underpinned by cognitive psychological explanations of the way individuals process information, which leads them to make errors of judgement. This paper examines the attitudes of hospital doctors and managers to the implementation of rules in the context of patient safety. Our analysis, using interpretive research focused on narrative identity, provides an alternative perspective to that offered by the current safety orthodoxy. This leads us to suggest that the achievement of a ‘safety culture’ is a remote prospect. The failure to follow formal written rules relates not to a deficiency in the cognitive capacity of individuals acting in isolation, but to the identities which individuals occupy, create and negotiate and the social rules (as opposed to clinical guidelines or protocols) which correspond to those identities.
Home range and habitat use by Geoffroy's cat (Oncifelis geoffroyi) in a wet grassland in Argentina
Authors: Manfredi C. , Soler L. , Lucherini M. , Casanave E. B. 
Published: February 2006

AbstractGeoffroy's cat Oncifelis geoffroyi is a little‐known South American small felid. We report data on the spatial ecology of four adults (two males and two females) that were radiotracked in an area of wet grassland of the Argentine Pampas from February 2000 to April 2001. The mean home range size varied from 248 ha [90% minimum convex polygon (MCP)] to 342 ha (100% MCP), with male home ranges c. 2.5 larger than those of females. Home range overlap averaged 44.7%, and was more extensive between males than between females but it decreased markedly when outliers were excluded. Forest patches were used more than expected by their availability within home ranges. These patches hosted many large defecation sites, possibly acting as ‘communication centres’ where information was exchanged among individuals in the form of scent marks. Despite the lack of a clear preference for tall grasslands, this was the most frequently used habitat. We argue that natural grasslands in the Pampas ecoregion are important for O. geoffroyi and that their alteration can affect the conservation status of this cat. The comparison of our data with those reported previously suggests that Geoffroy's cat can show a certain degree of flexibility in its spatial behaviour.
Evidence of seasonal migration in a tropical subterranean vertebrate
Authors: Measey G. J. , Barot S. 
Published: February 2006

AbstractMany animals undergo migrations that depend on a range of biotic or abiotic factors provoking daily, seasonal or annual movement of individuals and/or populations. Temperate amphibians frequently have their life cycles dominated by annual temperature fluctuations, but in the tropics it is often presumed that distinct rainy seasons will influence amphibians more than small changes in temperature. Here, we direct the seasonal changes in abundance hypothesis to a caecilian amphibian Boulengerula boulengeri found in monthly randomized quantitative surveys in the top 30 cm of soil. Meteorological data are used to interpret the significant changes found in relation to rainfall and temperature variables. Instead of the expected correlation of migration with rainfall, we find that frequency varies significantly and positively with temperature. In addition, data on the depth at which individual caecilians are collected suggest that animals undergo a vertical (rather than horizontal) migration within the soil. This is the first example of vertical migrations with temperature (as opposed to rainfall) of any tropical subterranean fauna. We discuss the possible influences that stimulate migration in this species (abiotic factors, feeding, reproduction and predation). The ecology of caecilians has lagged behind that of all other tetrapods, and this study has importance for future ecological studies, as well as biodiversity assessments and monitoring methodologies.
Isolation and characterization of five microsatellite loci in the Glanville fritillary butterfly (Melitaea cinxia)
Authors: SARHAN ALIA 
Published: February 2006

AbstractThe Glanville fritillary butterfly offers unique opportunities for population genetic studies in a metapopulation. Here I report the characterization of five polymorphic loci inMelitaea cinxia. I found high levels of polymorphism, with allele numbers ranging from nine to 43, and very broad size ranges.
New microsatellite loci for the European bushcricket, Ephippiger ephippiger (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae)
Authors: HAMILL RUTH M. , NOOR MOHAMED A. F. , WATSON ERIC T. , RITCHIE MICHAEL G. 
Published: February 2006

Abstract Ephippiger ephippiger is a model organism for studies of sexual selection and phylogeography but little is known about fine‐scale population structure. Available microsatellite loci have null allele problems so we used an enrichment technique to isolate 21 new microsatellite loci for E. ephippiger. We present primer pairs for 10 polymorphic loci (3–11 alleles per locus). Observed heterozygosities at polymorphic loci ranged from 0.118 to 0.787, but several were significantly lower than expected.
Isolation of microsatellites from Girella tricuspidata
Authors: CURLEY BELINDA G. , GILLINGS MICHAEL R. 
Published: February 2006

AbstractMicrosatellites were isolated from Girella tricuspidata (Girellidae) and screened for 64 individuals collected from coastal reefs in New South Wales, Australia. All seven loci tested were highly polymorphic, having seven to 42 alleles with average heterozygosities between 0.44 and 1.0. One locus (GT1N8) had a significant excess of homozygotes, probably due to the presence of null alleles. These microsatellite loci should be informative for examining population genetics of this species.
Effect of Chronic Tadalafil Administration on Penile Hypoxia Induced by Cavernous Neurotomy in the Rat
Authors: Vignozzi Linda , Filippi Sandra , Morelli Annamaria , Ambrosini Stefano , Luconi Michaela , Vannelli Gabriella Barbara , Donati Silvia , Crescioli Clara , Zhang Xin-Hua , Mirone Vincenzo , Forti Gianni , Maggi Mario 
Published: February 2006

ABSTRACT

Background
Numerous men develop postprostatectomy erectile dysfunction (PPED), due to surgery-related nervous damage. PPED is often refractory to phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors therapy.

Aim
To verify whether chronic tadalafil (CT) preserves bilateral cavernous neurotomy (BCN)-induced penile damage and hypo-oxygenation.

Methods
In a rat model of BCN we evaluated in vitro and ex vivo effect of CT treatment (2 mg/kg, daily for 3 months).

Results
Bilateral cavernous neurotomy induced massive hypoxia and decreased muscle/fiber ratio, completely restored by CT. Hypersensitivity of hypoxic tissues to the relaxant effect of the endothelin type B receptor (ETB) agonist IRL-1620 was observed, along with ETB mRNA and protein overexpression. CT restored sensitivity to IRL-1620, and normalized ETB expression. Hypoxic penis showed increased sensitivity to the relaxant effect of the nitric oxide donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP), while acute tadalafil (100 nM) did not amplify the SNP effect. Accordingly, PDE5 mRNA and protein were reduced in BCN penile tissues. By restoring PDE5, CT decreased SNP-induced relaxation and rescued sensitivity to acute tadalafil. However, in hypoxic penis, CT normalizes neither acetylcholine hyporesponsiveness nor neuronal nitric oxide synthase-endothelial nitric oxide synthase expression.

Conclusion
Chronic tadalafil restores some of the investigated BCN-induced alterations, including PDE5 and tadalafil efficacy.
Increased Intracavernosal Pressure Response in Hypertensive Rats After Chronic Hemin Treatment
Authors: Shamloul Rany , Wang Rui 
Published: February 2006

ABSTRACTIntroductionErectile dysfunction (ED) is increased in prevalence in patients with arterial hypertension. Whether upregulation of heme oxygenase (HO) expression could improve penile erection has been unknown.AimsTo correlate altered expression profiles of HO-1 and soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) in penile tissues with low intracavernosal pressure (ICP) in adult spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR); and to investigate therapeutic effect of hemin-induced upregulation of HO-1 in penile tissues on ED developed in adult SHR.Methods and Main Outcome MeasuresIntracavernosal pressure changes after electrical stimulation were monitored in adult SHR and age-matched normotensive Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats after chronic administration of either hemin or hydralazine. Expression levels of HO-1, HO-2, sGC, and phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) were examined with Western blot.ResultsFrequency-dependent ICP changes were reduced in adult SHR. Three weeks after hemin treatment, high blood pressure of SHR was normalized and ICP responses to electrical stimulations in SHR were significantly increased to the level of normotensive rats. Hydralazine-treated SHR had normalized blood pressure but unaltered low ICP response. Expression of HO-1 and sGC was upregulated and that of PDE5 downregulated in hemin-treated, but not hydralazine-treated, SHR.ConclusionsDecreased erectile responses in adult SHR can be improved through chronic hemin treatment. Prolonged upregulation of HO-1 and sGC as well as lowered expression of PDE5 may at least partially explain the effect of hemin treatment on ICP. Upregulation of HO-1 may represent a novel therapeutic approach to treat ED.
Development and Evaluation of the Arabic Index of Premature Ejaculation (AIPE)
Authors: Arafa Mohamed , Shamloul Rany 
Published: February 2006

ABSTRACT

Objectives
Our report describes the construction and evaluation of the Arabic Index Premature Ejaculation (AIPE) as a diagnostic tool for premature ejaculation (PE) and presents data supporting its validity.

Methods and Main Outcome Measures
Seventy-one men complaining of PE and 73 healthy subjects were asked to complete the seven-question AIPE. Diagnosis of PE was based on the criteria set by the second consultation on sexual dysfunctions. The seven items selected were based on assessment of erectile function, sexual desire, ejaculation latency, ejaculation control, patient satisfaction, partner satisfaction, and psychological distress. The AIPE was examined for sensitivity, specificity, and construct validity.

Results
A receiver operating characteristic curve indicated that the AIPE is an excellent diagnostic test. A cutoff score of 30 (range of scores 7–35) discriminated best (sensitivity=0.98, specificity=0.88). Severity of PE ranged from none (31–35) to severe (7–13). A high kappa value (0.85) indicated existence of significant agreement existed between the predicted and “true” PE classes.

Conclusions
AIPE shows a potential to be a reliable aid to decrease the number of misdiagnosed cases of PE.
The composition of Jupiter: sign of a (relatively) late formation in a chemically evolved protosolar disc
Authors: Guillot Tristan , Hueso Ricardo 
Published: February 2006

Abstract
It has been proposed that the enrichment in noble gases found by Galileo in the atmosphere of Jupiter can be explained by their delivery inside cold planetesimals. We propose instead that this is a sign that the planet formed in a chemically evolved disc and that noble gases were acquired mostly in gaseous form during the envelope capture phase of the planet.
We show that the combined settling of grains to the disc mid-plane in the cold outer layers, the condensation of noble gases on to these grains at temperatures below 20–30 K, and the evaporation from high disc altitudes effectively lead to a progressive, moderate enrichment of the disc. The fact that noble gases are vaporized from the grains in the hot inner disc regions (e.g. Jupiter formation region) is not a concern because a negative temperature gradient prevents convection from carrying the species into the evaporating region. We show that the ∼2 times solar enrichment of Ar, Kr and Xe in Jupiter is hence naturally explained by a continuous growth of the planet governed by viscous diffusion in the protosolar disc in conjunction with an evaporation of the disc and its progressive enrichment on a million-year time-scale.
MICROMECHANICS: SIMULATING THE ELASTIC BEHAVIOR OF ONION EPIDERMIS TISSUE
Authors: LOODTS JIMMY , TIJSKENS ENGELBERT , WEI CHUNFANG , VANSTREELS ELS , NICOLAÏ BART , RAMON HERMAN 
Published: February 2006

ABSTRACT A generic modeling approach is introduced that allows for dynamical simulations of cellular biological tissue. It is derived from the discrete element approach in the sense that the tissue is discretized such that histological aspects like cell geometry and the cellular arrangement within the tissue can be fully incorporated into the model. This makes dynamical simulations of arbitrarily shaped cellular tissues feasible in an elegant and a robust way. The validity of this simulation technique is demonstrated by a case study on the unicellular epidermis layer of onion (Allium cepa). The parameters of a two‐dimensional model are determined using published stress–strain data from a tension test on longitudinal strips. The model is then validated quantitatively against the data for transversal strips.
CHARACTERIZATION OF AGGLOMERATION PROCESS AS A FUNCTION OF MOISTURE CONTENT USING A MODEL FOOD POWDER
Authors: MUKHERJEE S. , BHATTACHARYA S. 
Published: February 2006

ABSTRACT A model food‐powder system using rice flour of different moisture contents (11 to 22%) was used to study rheological behavior by employing a powder rheometer to obtain maximum force, energy for compression and decompression. The latter parameters were sensitive at moisture contents of ≥18%. The compacted mass, obtained using a rotary punch‐tableting machine, was subjected to compression testing to determine the maximum force and firmness of the compressed tablets. These two parameters increased markedly above the 17% moisture content. A significant (P ≤ 0.01) relationship between energy for compression for powder and firmness of compacted mass indicated that an adequate integrity of the product could be achieved when a powder requires high energy for compression but low energy for decompression. A modified version of the Hausner ratio, often used to characterize the extent of compactness, was proposed that included a correction factor for loss of moisture during compaction.
Survey of priority substances entering thirty English wastewater treatment works
Authors: Rule K.L. , Comber S.D.W. , Ross D. , Thornton A. , Makropoulos C.K. , Rautiu R. 
Published: February 2006

AbstractCrude influent sewages were collected from 30 English wastewater treatment works representing rural, urban and industrial catchments as part of a screening study to assess the significance of the concentrations of substances from the Water Framework Directive priority pollutants list in crude sewage. Composite samples were analysed for a range of determinands including metals and organic compounds. Of the determinands quantified, the pesticides were almost exclusively below the limit of detection. Most trace metals (with the exception of mercury) were detectable in all wastewaters, reflecting their ubiquitous nature. Organic determinands detected in the influent at μg/L levels included surfactants (linear alkylbenzene sulphonates and nonylphenol ethoxylates), phthalates (diethylhexyl phthalate), polynuclear hydrocarbons and solvents. Trace concentrations of trichlorobenzene, tributyltin and polychlorinated biphenyl 153 were detected in a limited number of works. Little correlation was observed between runoff or trade effluent inputs entering the works and determinand concentration (chromium being the only exception).
Developmental Control of aparABPromoter Leads to Formation of Sporulation-Associated ParB Complexes inStreptomyces coelicolor
Authors: Jakimowicz Dagmara , Mouz Sebastien , Zakrzewska-Czerwińska Jolanta , Chater Keith F. 
Published: February 2006

ABSTRACTTheStreptomyces coelicolorpartitioning protein ParB binds to numerousparSsites in theoriC-proximal part of the linear chromosome. ParB binding results in the formation of large complexes, which behave differentially during the complex life cycle (D. Jakimowicz, B. Gust, J. Zakrzewska-Czerwinska, and K. F. Chater, J. Bacteriol. 187:3572-3580, 2005). Here we have analyzed the transcriptional regulation that underpins this developmentally specific behavior. Analysis of promoter mutations showed that the irregularly spaced complexes present in vegetative hyphae are dependent on the constitutiveparABp1promoter, while sporulation-specific induction of the promoterparABp2is required for the assembly of arrays of ParB complexes in aerial hyphae and thus is necessary for efficient chromosome segregation. Expression fromparABp2depended absolutely on two sporulation regulatory genes,whiAandwhiB, and partially on two others,whiHandwhiI, all four of which are needed for sporulation septation. Because of this pattern of dependence, we investigated the transcription of these fourwhigenes inwhiAandwhiBmutants, revealing significant regulatory interplay betweenwhiAandwhiB. A strain in which sporulation septation (but not vegetative septation) was blocked by mutation of a sporulation-specific promoter offtsZshowed close to wild-type induction ofparABp2and formed fairly regular ParB-enhanced green fluorescent protein foci in aerial hyphae, ruling out strong morphological coupling or checkpoint regulation between septation and DNA partitioning during sporulation. A model for developmental regulation ofparABp2expression is presented.
Localization of theBacillus subtilis murBGene within thedcwCluster Is Important for Growth and Sporulation
Authors: Real Gonçalo , Henriques Adriano O. 
Published: February 2006

ABSTRACTTheBacillus subtilis murBgene, encoding UDP-N-acetylenolpyruvoylglucosamine reductase, a key enzyme in the peptidoglycan (PG) biosynthetic pathway, is embedded in thedcw(for “division and cell wall”) cluster immediately upstream ofdivIB. Previous attempts to inactivatemurBwere unsuccessful, suggesting its essentiality. Here we show that the cell morphology, growth rate, and resistance to cell wall-active antibiotics ofmurBconditional mutants is a function of the expression level ofmurB. In one mutant, in whichmurBwas insertionally inactivated in a merodiploid bearing a second xylose-inducible PxylA-murBallele, DivIB levels were reduced and a normal growth rate was achieved only if MurB levels were threefold that of the wild-type strain. However, expression of an extra copy ofdivIBrestored normal growth at wild-type levels of MurB. In contrast, DivIB levels were normal in a second mutant containing an in-frame deletion ofmurB(ΔmurB) in the presence of the PxylA-murBgene. Furthermore, this strain grew normally with wild-type levels of MurB. During sporulation, the levels of MurB were highest at the time of synthesis of the spore cortex PG. Interestingly, the ΔmurBPxylA-murBmutant did not sporulate efficiently even at high concentrations of inducer. Since high levels of inducer did not interfere with sporulation of amurB+PxylA-murBstrain, it appears that ectopic expression ofmurBfails to support efficient sporulation. These data suggest that coordinate expression ofdivIBandmurBis important for growth and sporulation. The genetic context of themurBgene within thedcwcluster is unique to theBacillusgroup and, taken together with our data, suggests that in these species it contributes to the optimal expression of cell division and PG biosynthetic functions during both vegetative growth and spore development.