bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Changes and relationships of IGFS and IGFBPS and cytokines in coeliac disease at diagnosis and on gluten‐free diet
Authors: Street Maria E. , Volta Cecilia , Ziveri Maria A. , Zanacca Claudio , Banchini Giacomo , Viani Isabella , Rossi Maurizio , Virdis Raffaele , Bernasconi Sergio 
Published: August 2007

SummaryObjective  To evaluate changes and relationships of IGFs and IGFBPs, serum interleukin 6 (IL‐6) and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, and auxological parameters at diagnosis of coeliac disease (CD) and at 6 months and 12 months after starting a gluten‐free diet (GFD), compared with a control population.Patients  Twenty patients were enrolled at diagnosis (9 male, 11 female; age 9·6 ± 0·8 years). A healthy population of 18 subjects (5 male, 13 female; age 11·3 ± 0·6 years) comparable for age, sex and pubertal status served as controls at baseline.Measurements  Blood samples were taken at diagnosis, and at 6 months and 12 months after starting the GFD. Serum IGF‐I, IGF‐II, IGFBP‐1, IGFBP‐2, IGFBP‐3, IL‐6 and TNF‐α were measured using commercial kits. Height (Ht) standard deviation score (SDS), body mass index (BMI) SDS and Ht velocity SDS were evaluated at diagnosis and at 6 months and 12 months after starting GFD.Results  In CD patients, both Ht SDS and BMI SDS increased during the first year of treatment, and Ht velocity SDS increased during the second 6 months of follow‐up (P < 0·05). At diagnosis, IGF‐I, IGF‐II and IGFBP‐3 were lower compared with controls, IGFBP‐1 was similar, IGFBP‐2, IL‐6 and TNF‐α were higher (P < 0·05). When on GFD, all peptides normalized and IGFBP‐1 decreased. The IGF‐I/IGFBP‐2 and IGF‐I/IGFBP‐3 molar ratios were significantly reduced at diagnosis compared with those of controls, but were increased for both groups when on GFD. Although there was no apparent abnormality at diagnosis, the IGF‐II/IGFBP‐2 molar ratio increased significantly on GFD. Ht velocity SDS was positively correlated with IGFBP‐3 (P < 0·05) and with the IGF‐I/IGFBP‐2 molar ratio (P < 0·05). Serum IL‐6 was negatively correlated with IGF‐I and positively with IGFBP‐1 (P < 0·05).Conclusions  The data obtained from this study confirm changes in the IGF and cytokine systems at diagnosis of CD which tend to normalize on the gluten‐free diet. The two systems show relationships with each other and with linear growth.
Prospective evaluation of a protocol for reduced glucocorticoid replacement in transsphenoidal pituitary adenomectomy: prophylactic glucocorticoid replacement is seldom necessary
Authors: Wentworth John M. , Gao Nicole , Sumithran Kalpana P. , Maartens Niki F. , Kaye Andrew H. , Colman Peter G. , Ebeling Peter R. 
Published: August 2007

SummaryBackground  Most pituitary surgery centres prescribe perioperative glucocorticoids to subjects undergoing transsphenoidal pituitary adenomectomy (TSA), despite reports suggesting this may be unnecessary. Evidence‐based guidelines for glucocorticoid use in TSA have recently been published but there are no prospective studies of their utility.Objective  To implement and assess a protocol for reduced glucocorticoid replacement for subjects undergoing TSA.Design  Prospective and retrospective cohort study in an Australian pituitary surgery centre.Patients and measurements  Clinical and biochemical data for 56 TSAs performed for non‐ACTH‐secreting tumours between March 2004 and April 2006 were prospectively collected and compared with data for 47 TSAs performed between October 2001 and November 2003, before implementation of the protocol. In the prospective cohort, a postoperative days 1–3 morning serum cortisol threshold of 250 nmol/l (91 µg/dl) was used to guide long‐term glucocorticoid requirement.Results  Implementation of the protocol was associated with significant reductions in dose and duration of glucocorticoid treatment post TSA in 44 ‘low‐risk’ cases (no preoperative glucocorticoid use or evidence of pituitary apoplexy). In two low‐risk cases, long‐term glucocorticoid replacement was required despite postoperative cortisol greater than 250 nmol/l. Following the remaining 42 low‐risk operations, glucocorticoid was not prescribed on hospital discharge on the basis of morning serum cortisol > 250 nmol/l and no clinical evidence of hypocortisolism. None of these 42 cases required glucocorticoid treatment for hypocortisolism following surgery. Short synacthen tests were performed in 35 of these subjects a minimum of 6 months after surgery and were normal. Use of the protocol was not associated with differences in postoperative complications.Conclusions  Reduced glucocorticoid replacement in TSA is safe and reduces patient exposure to glucocorticoids and their potential adverse events. The occurrence of hypocortisolism in two low‐risk subjects with serum cortisol > 250 nmol/l highlights the importance of daily clinical assessment when using this protocol.
Age trends in pre‐cancerous and cancerous lesions of the uterine cervix in a cytology screening programme: what should be the target age group for a major thrust of screening in resource‐limited settings?
Authors: Gupta S. , Sodhani P. , Halder K. , Chachra K. L. , Singh V. , Sehgal A. 
Published: August 2007

Objective:  To identify the target age group where screening efforts may be concentrated in order to reduce the incidence of cervical cancer in resource‐limited countries.Study design:  The results of cyto‐screening in a hospital‐based screening programme for early detection of cervical cancer were analysed retrospectively. The frequency of epithelial cell abnormalities (ECAs) was computed in different age groups.Observations and results:  A total of 5.6% ECAs were detected on cyto‐screening. The peak age incidence for squamous intraepithelial lesions (SILs) was in the 30–39 age group while that for malignancies was age >60 years. The mean ages for LSIL, HSIL and cancer were 34.7, 37.7 and 51.8 years respectively. Around 43% LSILs and 48% HSILs presented in the fourth decade. If both fourth and fifth decade are covered by screening we could detect almost two‐thirds of SILs.Conclusions:  A distinct latent period of more than a decade between the onset of SIL and development of frank cancer provides us with ample opportunity to prevent cervical cancer through screening. Our data validate the WHO recommendation of once in a lifetime screening of women in their fourth decade, for low‐resource settings. If resources permit, screening can be extended to include women in the fifth decade. This approach would enable us to pick up maximum SILs within the available resources and prevent their progression to cancer.
Exposure to alcohol or tobacco affects the pattern of maturation in oral mucosal cells: a cytohistological study
Authors: Burzlaff J. B. , Bohrer P. L. , Paiva R. L. , Visioli F. , Sant’Ana Filho M. , Da Silva V. D. , Rados P. V. 
Published: August 2007

Objective: To assess the maturation pattern of oral mucosal cells of patients exposed to tobacco and alcohol.Methods:  (i) Group without lesions. Smears obtained from the lower lip, border of the tongue and floor of the mouth of 31 control individuals (group I), 49 tobacco users (group II) and 27 tobacco/alcohol users (group III) were stained using the Papanicolaou method. The first 100 cells counted on each smear determined the maturation pattern and the keratinization index (KI). Analysis of variance (anova) and the Tukey multiple comparison test were used for statistical analysis, at a 5% significance level. (ii) Group with lesions. Cytopathological and histopathological studies were conducted for 15 patients: eight with leucoplakia without epithelial dysplasia, two with epithelial dysplasia and five with squamous cell carcinoma.Results:  (i) Group without lesions. Statistical analysis revealed a smaller number of superficial cells with nuclei in all sites of the group of tobacco/alcohol users (group III) when compared to the control group (group I), and this difference was statistically significant (P < 0.005). (ii) Group with lesions. The severity of histopathological findings increased with the increase in the number of cells of the deeper epithelial layers, with a statistically significant difference in the number of intermediate (P = 0.013) and parabasal cells (P = 0.049), which increased with the severity of the epithelial maturation disorder: leucoplakias with dysplasia had a greater number of intermediate and parabasal cells than leucoplakias without dysplasia; and the number in squamous cell carcinomas was greater than in leucoplakias with dysplasia.Conclusion:  The maturation pattern of cells in the three anatomic sites showed changes that may be associated with the synergistic effect of tobacco and alcohol. Also, the severity of histopathological findings was associated with the increase in the number of cells in the deeper epithelial layers.
Physical defence traits enhance seedling survival of neotropical tree species
Authors: ALVAREZ‐CLARE S. , KITAJIMA K. 
Published: August 2007

Summary

Physical defence traits of stems and leaves should enhance biomechanical strength and survival of seedlings. For eight neotropical tree species that differ widely in life‐history strategies, we compared stem and leaf biomechanical traits of 1 and 7‐month‐old seedlings grown in the shaded forest understorey and in the laboratory.
Material traits (biomechanical traits per unit volume, mass or cross sectional area) were positively associated with seedling survival across species. Shade tolerant species that survive well in the forest understorey had stems and leaves with greater modulus of elasticity (stiffness), fracture toughness (resistance to tear), tissue density and fibre contents, compared to less shade tolerant species.
Seedling survival was most strongly correlated with stem tissue density at both 1 and 7 months (Spearman's correlation coefficient rs = 0·93 and 0·90), but was also strongly correlated with leaf density and stem toughness at 7 months (rs = 0·93 and 0·89, respectively).
Multiple material traits were strongly and positively correlated with each other in both stems and leaves. However, these traits varied independently of seed and seedling size among species, indicating the unique importance of physical defence as functional traits.
Structural traits of stems that integrate size with material traits, including % critical buckling height, flexural stiffness, work‐to‐bend and stem flexibility, showed no significant interspecific correlation with seedling survival.
Modulus of elasticity and fracture toughness of stems generally increased as seedlings aged from 1 to 7 months, especially in species with high tissue density. In contrast, fracture toughness of leaf mid‐vein and lamina showed inconsistent ontogenetic changes across species.
These results demonstrate that biomechanical traits including tissue density and fracture toughness should be considered as important functional correlates of seedling survival and overall life‐history strategies of tree species.
Adjustment of structure and function of Hawaiian Metrosideros polymorpha at high vs. low precipitation
Authors: CORNWELL W. K. , BHASKAR R. , SACK L. , CORDELL S. , LUNCH C. K. 
Published: August 2007

Summary

Populations of Metrosideros polymorpha establish across a broad range of precipitation in Hawai‘i – from <400 to >10000 mm per year. To determine whether adjustment of hydraulic and photosynthetic traits could contribute to this success in both high and low rainfall, we sampled populations on the wet and the dry sides of Hawai‘i Island, replicated on two different‐aged lava flows at similar elevation and mean annual temperature.
We quantified 24 stem and leaf traits in an integrated study of hydraulics, gas exchange, leaf chemistry and anatomy.
Values for traits associated with capacity for water transport through the plant and gas exchange per leaf area were higher at dry sites, including photosynthetic capacity, nitrogen per leaf area and hydraulic conductivity on both sapwood area and leaf area basis. These adjustments, due to plastic and/or heritable differentiation, would partially compensate for generally lower water availability.
Specific leaf area shifted towards lower values at the dry sites. However, several other traits associated directly with drought tolerance were inflexible across sites, including stem vulnerability to embolism and leaf cuticular conductance, indicating that the ability to persist through dry periods is sustained across the species’ range.
The ability of M. polymorpha to establish across a wide range of habitats is associated with, on one hand, adjustments in traits that would enable sustained growth across a dramatic range of moisture supply while simultaneously maintaining as fixed other traits that would contribute to survival through extended drought.
The importance of B‐cells and ecto‐5′nucleotidase in Mycoplasma fermentans infection and the relevance to rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Johnson Sheena M. 
Published: August 2007

SummaryThe aim of this work was to discover if Mycoplasma fermentans, which is known to infect B cells, could be the cause of the raised ecto‐5′‐nucleotidase observed in the synovial fluid of rheumatoid arthritis patients. The ecto‐5′‐nucleotidase activity in the patients' serum has been shown to correlate with the erythrocyte sedimentation rate and DNA from the mycoplasma has been found in the synovial fluid. B lymphoblastoid cell lines were exposed to 16 strains of Mycoplasma fermentans and their ecto‐5′‐nucleotidase, CD73, was measured both biochemically and by mouse antibodies to human ecto 5′‐nucleotidase using the fluorescence activated cell sorter. The type strain, PG 18, did not grow with the B cells. Some of the mycoplasma strains (9/15) increased the cellular ecto‐5′‐nucleotidase activity from twice to 17 fold, and usually showed 5′‐nucleotidase activity themselves. At least one strain, M106, induced human 5′‐nucleotidase on the normally 5′‐nucleotidase negative Daudi and Raji Burkitt's lymphoma cell lines, and increased sevenfold the 5′‐nucleotidase on the monocyte/macrophage cell line THP‐1. Growing the cells in aged medium increased the level of mycoplasma infection. This mycoplasma‐induced enzyme showed a conformational change and an increase in activity with a glycosylation change involving mannose groups. The other group of strains, mostly of respiratory or cell culture origin, usually did not have any 5′‐nucleotidase of their own and decreased the B‐cell enzyme activity by about half. Electron microscopy and flow cytometry showed that the strain M106 was filamentous and could be found inside the B‐cells. The 5′‐nucleotidase‐inducing strains of M. fermentans may be important in the aetiology of rheumatoid arthritis.
Does interference competition with wolves limit the distribution and abundance of coyotes?
Authors: BERGER KIM MURRAY , GESE ERIC M. 
Published: August 2007

SummaryInterference competition with wolvesCanis lupusis hypothesized to limit the distribution and abundance of coyotesCanis latrans, and the extirpation of wolves is often invoked to explain the expansion in coyote range throughout much of North America.We used spatial, seasonal and temporal heterogeneity in wolf distribution and abundance to test the hypothesis that interference competition with wolves limits the distribution and abundance of coyotes. From August 2001 to August 2004, we gathered data on cause‐specific mortality and survival rates of coyotes captured at wolf‐free and wolf‐abundant sites in Grand Teton National Park (GTNP), Wyoming, USA, to determine whether mortality due to wolves is sufficient to reduce coyote densities. We examined whether spatial segregation limits the local distribution of coyotes by evaluating home‐range overlap between resident coyotes and wolves, and by contrasting dispersal rates of transient coyotes captured in wolf‐free and wolf‐abundant areas. Finally, we analysed data on population densities of both species at three study areas across the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) to determine whether an inverse relationship exists between coyote and wolf densities.Although coyotes were the numerically dominant predator, across the GYE, densities varied spatially and temporally in accordance with wolf abundance. Mean coyote densities were 33% lower at wolf‐abundant sites in GTNP, and densities declined 39% in Yellowstone National Park following wolf reintroduction.A strong negative relationship between coyote and wolf densities (β = –3·988,P < 0·005,r2 = 0·54,n = 16), both within and across study sites, supports the hypothesis that competition with wolves limits coyote populations.Overall mortality of coyotes resulting from wolf predation was low, but wolves were responsible for 56% of transient coyote deaths (n = 5). In addition, dispersal rates of transient coyotes captured at wolf‐abundant sites were 117% higher than for transients captured in wolf‐free areas.Our results support the hypothesis that coyote abundance is limited by competition with wolves, and suggest that differential effects on survival and dispersal rates of transient coyotes are important mechanisms by which wolves reduce coyote densities.
Testing biotic indicator taxa: the sensitivity of insectivorous mammals and their prey to the intensification of lowland agriculture
Authors: Pocock Michael J. O. , Jennings Nancy 
Published: August 2007

Summary

Changes to agricultural policy aim to extensify agriculture and increase biodiversity. However, it is not known how sensitive many taxa are to intensification. Sensitive taxa could be used as biotic indicators, to assess changes over time and the effectiveness of policy changes.
We sampled shrews, bats and their prey (beetles, flies and moths) on matched pairs of sites and assessed the response in their abundance to aspects of intensification: increased agrochemical inputs (using abundance on matched organic and conventional cereal fields as a proxy), the switch from hay to silage (using abundance on matched hay and silage fields) and boundary loss (using abundance in the field and near the boundary as a proxy, in cereal and grass separately). We quantified the abundance‐derived sensitivity of the taxa in order to assess their use as biotic indicators.
There was substantial variation in the sensitivity of taxa to the three aspects of intensification. Most estimates (51%) of sensitivity to boundary loss were significant, but only 8% for increased agrochemical inputs and 16% for the switch from hay to silage. Sensitivity to one aspect of intensification was not significantly related to sensitivity to another.
Insectivorous mammals were relatively insensitive to increased agrochemical inputs and the switch from hay to silage, but strongly sensitive to boundary loss.
Taxa with significant sensitivity to increased agrochemical inputs included some Carabidae and Diptera. We found fewer significant differences in abundance between organic and conventional farms than previous workers, probably because we controlled for boundary characteristics, suggesting that the quality of field boundaries is important in influencing biodiversity differences between organic and conventional farms.
The switch from hay to silage had a positive effect on some Coleoptera and Diptera but a substantial negative effect on Hepialidae (Lepidoptera).
Synthesis and applications. The recorded sensitivity of taxa to changes in agricultural practices is highly variable. Therefore, the selection of biotic indicator taxa of agricultural intensification is not straightforward. If surveys of biotic indicator taxa are used to assess the effectiveness of changes in agricultural practice, empirical evidence should be used to select suitable taxa.
Sources of knowledge in clinical practice in postgraduate medical students and faculty members: a conceptual map
Authors: Yousefi‐Nooraie Reza , Shakiba Behnam , Mortaz‐Hedjri Soroush , Soroush Ahmad R. 
Published: August 2007

Abstract
Objectives  To determine the most important knowledge sources that can influence clinical practice and to cluster them in conceptual groups based on their relative importance.
Methods  Faculty members, fellows and residents of a large teaching tertiary care hospital were asked to rate the importance of different resources in their daily clinical practice and their understanding of some common terms from evidence‐based medicine. The knowledge sources were distributed in a two‐dimensional map using multidimensional scaling and hierarchical cluster analysis.
Results  A total of 250 of 320 recruited hospital staff returned the questionnaires. The most important resources in daily practice were English journals, text books and literature searching for faculty members, experience, text books and English journals for fellows and text books, experience and peers for residents. Regional journals were the least important resources for all study groups. About 62.7% of residents did not know the meaning of ‘number needed to treat’, 36.8%‘confidence interval’, 54.9%‘confounding factor’ and 44.6%‘meta‐analysis’. The percentages for faculty members were 41.3%, 37%, 42.2% and 39.1%. The knowledge sources were placed in four clusters in a point map derived from the multidimensional scaling process.
Conclusion  The dominance of the traditional information resources and experience‐based medicine debate which is the consequence of traditional approaches to medical education may be one of the considerable barriers to the dissemination of evidence‐based medicine in developing countries. The evidence‐based clinical practice guidelines could be used as a useful passive‐predigested source for busy clinicians to make informed decisions. A considerable Western bias may undermine the local research in developing world.
Evidence‐based practice and determinants of research use in elderly care in Sweden
Authors: Boström Anne‐Marie , Wallin Lars , Nordström Gun 
Published: August 2007

Abstract
Rationale and objective  Evidence‐based practice is a strategic ingredient in today’s health care. Despite extensive efforts to produce and disseminate clinical guidelines, research uptake is still a difficult task. In Sweden, elderly care (EC) has shifted from hospital care to community‐based care, and the major nursing‐staff group in EC has no university education. These and other factors make implementation of evidence‐based care particularly challenging in EC settings. The purpose of this study was to identify determinants of research utilization in EC.
Method  Two questionnaires that cover research utilization and organizational climate were mailed to all staff (n = 132) working in seven EC units. The response rate was 67%.
Results  Of all respondents, 28% reported that they used research findings in daily practice (the RU group). Remaining respondents constituted the non‐RU group. Significant differences existed between the RU group and the non‐RU group as per six individual and six organizational factors. Using logistic regression models, four factors were significantly related to research utilization, namely: attitudes toward research (OR = 5.52, P = 0.004); seeking research that is related to clinical practice (OR = 5.56, P = 0.019); support from unit manager (OR = 4.03, P = 0.044) and access to research findings at work place (OR = 6.65, P = 0.005).
Conclusions  Individual and organizational factors were associated with the use of research in EC. Despite distinguishing conditions in EC settings, identified factors reflect well‐known determinants of research use that, as in many other health care contexts, should be considered in the endeavours of evidence‐based practice.