bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Host reproduction and a sexually transmitted disease: causes and consequences of Coccipolipus hippodamiae distribution on coccinellid beetles
Authors: Webberley K. Mary , Hurst Gregory D. D. , Husband Robert W. , Schulenburg J. Hinrich G. V. D. , Sloggett John J. , Isham Valerie , Buszko Jaraslow , Majerus Michael E. N. 
Published: December 2004

Summary

We know that sexually transmitted parasites and pathogens have extremely deleterious effects in human and domesticated animal populations, but know little of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in natural populations.
One previously reported natural system is the sexually transmitted mite, Coccipolipus hippodamiae, on the eastern European coccinellid, Adalia bipunctata. Our aims were to determine how widespread this parasite is in terms of incidence and prevalence across host species, to identify the causes of the prevalence pattern and whether the parasite reduces fertility in all host species.
Coccipolipus hippodamiae was present on four of 19 European species examined. The wide distribution and high prevalence of C. hippodamiae on A. bipunctata indicates that this is the major host. The mite was also present at substantial prevalence on Adalia decempunctata and at lower prevalence on Synharmonia (=Oenopia) conglobata and Calvia quatuordecimguttata.
Laboratory studies on mite development time and transmission efficiency revealed that although physiological factors may affect incidence, they do not explain prevalence variation between hosts, but characteristics of host life history and reproductive behaviour are important in this context. Adalia bipunctata is more promiscuous than the less commonly infected A. decempunctata and S. conglobata. Diapause is needed before breeding will occur in C. quatuordecimguttata, leading to a lack of the consistent sexual activity between generations, which is needed for STD maintenance. Calvia quatuordecimguttata is probably periodically reinfected through hybrid matings with other host species.
Coccipolipus hippodamiae infection has similar strong deleterious effects on female reproduction in A. decempunctata and S. conglobata as have previously been demonstrated in A. bipunctata.
The results indicate that STDs may play a profound role in the ecology of promiscuous insect populations with overlapping generations. Here they may reach significant prevalence whilst exhibiting extreme virulence.
The dynamics of virus epidemics in Varroa‐infested honey bee colonies
Authors: Sumpter D. J. T. , Martin S. J. 
Published: December 2004

Summary

When the parasitic mite Varroa jumped species from the eastern to the western honey bee, millions of infested bee colonies died. Recent work has revealed that the probable cause of this collapse is that mites provide a new route of transmission, by acting as a vector, for certain bee viruses.
Using a mathematical model parameterized by recently collected data on bee viruses, we investigate the relationship between the mite load in a colony and the possibility of a virus epidemic occurring within a bee colony.
The model suggests that the balance of coexistence between mite, virus and bee in the eastern honey bee, has been lost in the western bee host, not simply because of the new transmission route, but also because mite populations in western honey bee colonies has exceeded a critical epidemic threshold. We quantify the critical epidemic mite load for two well‐studied bee viruses, acute paralysis virus and deformed wing virus, through the colony's yearly life cycle.
As well as providing practical insights into mite control strategies, the model allows us to disentangle the relative importance of different bee and mite behaviours in virus spread. We consider the evolutionary aspects of the new route of virus transmission, looking in particular at how changes to social organization might bring about collective resistance.
Availability and use of public information and conspecific density for settlement decisions in the collared flycatcher
Authors: Doligez Blandine , Pärt Tomas , Danchin Etienne , Clobert Jean , Gustafsson Lars 
Published: December 2004

Summary

Public information, i.e. local reproductive performance of conspecifics, is expected to be a highly valuable cue for breeding habitat selection. However, the access to this cue may be spatially and temporally constrained. When public information is unavailable, individuals may use other integrative cues, such as the local density of breeders.
Departure decisions of collared flycatchers (Ficedula albicollis) were shown previously to be related to both public information and breeding density, in a long‐term correlative study of a fragmented population. Here, we tested whether flycatchers also use public information (number and condition of fledglings produced locally) and breeding density to make individual settlement decisions in the following year.
Immigration rates were computed to measure the degree of attractiveness of patches to new breeders. We investigated the relative influence of public information and breeding density on immigration rates of yearlings and older adults separately. The access to public information for settlement decisions may indeed be more limited for yearlings.
Immigration rate in a patch increased with mean fledgling number in the previous year for older adults but not for yearlings. Yearling immigration rate was correlated positively to mean fledgling condition when patch breeding density in the previous year was low, but negatively when density was high.
Immigration rates of both yearlings and older adults increased with breeding density in the previous year. Breeding density explained a larger part of the variance in immigration rate than patch reproductive success.
The proportion of yearlings among breeders decreased with increasing patch reproductive success and breeding density in the previous year, suggesting that local competition was high in attractive patches.
Our results thus suggest that public information is also used for immigration decisions. However, decisions of yearlings are more complex than those of older adults, due to their more limited access to public information and the higher impact of intraspecific competition. Conversely, all individuals seemed to cue on breeding density in a similar way. Density is correlated to patch reproductive success, and may be a more easily accessible cue. We discuss the potential advantages of using conspecific density over conspecific reproductive performance for future immigration decisions.
Movements, habitat use and feeding success of cultural clans of South Pacific sperm whales
Authors: Whitehead Hal , Rendell Luke 
Published: December 2004

Summary

The population of sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) in the South Pacific is divided into at least five sympatric vocal clans that almost certainly reflect cultural variation.
We investigated differences in movements and feeding success of groups from different clans off the Galápagos Islands and northern Chile, using data from 87 days spent tracking groups of known clan.
Groups from different clans showed different use of habitat and movement patterns. Off the Galápagos Islands, ‘Plus‐one’ clan groups moved in relatively straight lines while ‘Regular’ clan groups had more convoluted tracks and a more inshore distribution, patterns which were consistent across years.
Groups from different clans had different defecation rates, indicating between‐clan variation in feeding success. Off the Galápagos Islands, ‘Plus‐one’ clan groups were more successful in the depauperate ENSO (‘El Niño/Southern Oscillation’) conditions of 1987. However, in the cooler conditions of 1989, groups of the ‘Regular’ clan had much higher feeding success than those of the ‘Plus‐one’ clan.
Thus we suggest that cultural inheritance in sperm whales incorporates foraging strategy as well as vocal patterns, and that clan membership has fitness consequences.
That clans seem differentially affected by altered climate conditions has implications for the effects of global warming on sperm whales.
The results also support the hypothesis that culturally determined differences in fitness may have affected genetic evolution through the process of cultural hitchhiking.
Patient satisfaction is rated higher by radiation oncology outpatients receiving nutrition intervention compared with usual care
Authors: Isenring E. , Capra S. , Bauer J. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractBackground  Satisfaction with services has been considered vital for the provision of quality health care, however, there are few published papers utilizing patient satisfaction with nutrition services as a measurable outcome.Method  A randomized, controlled trial investigating the impact of nutrition intervention (NI) vs. usual care (UC) in 54 ambulatory oncology patients receiving radiotherapy to the gastrointestinal or head and neck area demonstrated beneficial impacts in terms of body weight, nutritional status, quality of life and bowel health. This study reports the changes in patient satisfaction that were associated with these improved outcomes for patients receiving NI compared with UC. The patient satisfaction with clinical nutrition services questionnaire was used to measure overall satisfaction and satisfaction with four components of nutrition services 12 weeks after patients commenced radiotherapy.Results  Patients receiving NI rated satisfaction higher for staff interpersonal skills (P < 0.001), perceived health benefits (P = 0.008), staff presentation skills (P = 0.044) and for overall patient satisfaction with nutrition services (P = 0.002). There were no significant differences between those patients receiving NI or UC for the nutrition supplements factor (P = 0.191).Conclusions  These data suggest that patients receiving NI perceive nutrition as being beneficial and of higher importance to their health than those receiving UC. This may lead to increased compliance with the nutrition prescription and help explain the better outcomes observed in the NI group compared with the UC group. Patient satisfaction with nutrition services should be conducted regularly to act as a quality‐control measure and target areas for improvement.
A new evidence‐based model for weight management in primary care: the Counterweight Programme
Authors:   The Counterweight Project Team
Published: December 2004

AbstractBackground/Aims  Obesity has become a global epidemic, and a major preventable cause of morbidity and mortality. Management strategies and treatment protocols are however poorly developed and evaluated. The aim of the Counterweight Programme is to develop an evidence‐based model for the management of obesity in primary care.Methods  The Counterweight Programme is based on the theoretical model of Evidence‐Based Quality Assessment aimed at improving the management of obese adults (18–75 years) in primary care. The model consists of four phases: (1) practice audit and needs assessment, (2) practice support and training, (3) practice nurse‐led patient intervention, and (4) evaluation. Patient intervention consisted of screening and treatment pathways incorporating evidence‐based approaches, including patient‐centred goal setting, prescribed eating plans, a group programme, physical activity and behavioural approaches, anti‐obesity medication and weight maintenance strategies. Weight Management Advisers who are specialist obesity dietitians facilitated programme implementation. Eighty practices were recruited of which 18 practices were randomized to act as controls and receive deferred intervention 2 years after the initial audit.Results  By February 2004, 58 of the 62 (93.5%) intervention practices had been trained to run the intervention programme, 47 (75.8%) practices were active in implementing the model and 1256 patients had been recruited (74% female, 26% male, mean age 50.6 years, SD 14). At baseline, 75% of patients had at one or more co‐morbidity, and the mean body mass index (BMI) was 36.9 kg/m2 (SD 5.4). Of the 1256 patients recruited, 91% received one of the core lifestyle interventions in the first 12 months. For all patients followed up at 12 months, 34% achieved a clinical meaningful weight loss of 5% or more. A total of 51% of patients were classed as compliant in that they attended the required level of appointments in 3, 6, and 12 months. For fully compliant patients, weight loss improved with 43% achieving a weight loss of 5% or more at 12 months.Conclusion  The Counterweight Programme is an evidence‐based weight management model which is feasible to implement in primary care.
Classification of newly‐onset IDDIM and NIDDIM in subjects aged 25–45 years in Sudan
Authors: Elbagir M. N. , Elbagir M. N. , Eltom M. A. , Berne C. 
Published: December 2004

Elbagir MN, Eltom MA, Berne C (Departments of Internal Medicine, University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden and Endocrinology and Diabetes Research Centre, Omdurman Teaching Hospital, Omdurman, Sudan). Classification of newly‐onset IDDIM and NIDDIM in subjects aged 25–45 years in Sudan. J Intern Med 1998; 244: 443–50.Objectives To investigate the ability of classifying diabetes mellitus with clinical and biochemical characteristics at diagnosis in 25–45 years old patients.Design We determined age, body mass index (BMI), ICA, fasting C‐peptide and HbA1c at diagnosis, and after 4–27 months follow up, these variables were related to the type of treatment.Setting Omdurman Teaching Hospital, Sudan.Subjects Eighty‐six consecutive newly diagnosed diabetic patients, according to WHO criteria, were included.Results At diagnosis, 27 patients (31.4%) were treated with insulin and 59 (68.6%) with diet and/or oral hypoglycaemic agents (OHA). Insulin‐treated patients at diagnosis were younger, had lower BMI and higher HbA1c. In the non‐insulin treated group at diagnosis, ICA‐negative patients (n = 54) had higher fasting C‐peptide (P < 0.05) than ICA‐positive. The treatment was changed from insulin to diet and/or OHA in 17 patients, and to insulin in six patients. Patients who discontinued insulin had already at diagnosis higher BMI and higher fasting C‐peptide concentration (P < 0.005 and P < 0.05, respectively) than patients remained on insulin. The positive predictive values for insulin treatment of ICA positivity, low fasting C‐ peptide, and low BMI were 90, 78 and 73%, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive values for these variables in concurrence were, respectively, 85, 92 and 69%.Conclusion The clinical classification of newly‐ diagnosed young Sudanese patients was satisfactory. With regular follow up and early commencement of appropriate treatment, good glycaemic control is certainly attainable. BMI is potentially valuable for the clinical classification in such patients. ICA and fasting serum C‐peptide facilitate the choice of insulin treatment, but cost is a limit to large‐scale use of these tests.
Diabetes: the cost of illness in Sweden
Authors: Henriksson F. , Jönsson B. 
Published: December 2004

Henriksson F, Jönsson B (Stockholm School of Economics, Stockholm, Sweden). Diabetes: the cost of illness in Sweden. J Intern Med 1998; 244: 461–8.Objectives To estimate the total cost of diabetes mellitus in Sweden in 1994 and to compare the cost structure with a former Swedish study and with American studies. The study also aims to investigate how the total cost is distributed between control of and complications of the disease.Design In order to estimate the economic burden of diabetes mellitus in Sweden in 1994, the cost‐of‐illness method, based on the human capital theory, has been used. Both direct and indirect costs have been estimated using a prevalence approach and a ‘top‐down’ method.Results The economic burden of diabetes mellitus is estimated at 5746 MSEK (1US$ = 7.50 SEK) in Sweden in 1994. The direct costs are estimated at 2455 MSEK and constitute about 43% of the total cost. The indirect costs (production loss due to morbidity and premature mortality) were the dominant costs and amounted to 3291 MSEK, or 57% of total cost. Comparisons with a previous Swedish study from 1978 show some interesting results. Firstly, the distribution of direct and indirect costs is identical between the two studies. Secondly, the distribution of costs between management/control of the disease and complications was about the same, comparing the situation 16 years apart. Four American studies show a cost structure similar to the cost structure presented in this study.Conclusions The overall conclusion must be that very little has changed in the cost structure of diabetes in Sweden between 1978 and 1994.
Irritable bowel syndrome: which definitions are consistent?
Authors: Kay L. , Jørgensen T. , Lanng C. 
Published: December 2004

Kay L, Jørgensen T, Lanng C (University of Copenhagen and Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark). Irritable bowel syndrome: which definitions are consistent?J Intern Med 1998; 244: 489–94.Objectives Irritable bowel syndrome is inconsistently defined in international literature. Consequently, the resulting differences in study populations may impede any general application of results from one study to another. The aim of this study was to evaluate the consistency of various definitions of irritable bowel syndrome.Design By means of a questionnaire concerning abdominal symptoms, subjects were categorized as having IBS according to five definitions: (1) two positive Manning criteria; (2) the Rome criteria; (3) a consensus report by Drossman; (4) definition by Talley; and (5) a newly suggested definition by Kay.Setting The study was carried out as part of a cohort study of 4122 Danes at the Centre of Preventive Medicine (former the Glostrup Population Studies), Glostrup County Hospital, Denmark.Main outcomes measures Kappa coefficients comparing the irritable bowel populations as defined by the above five definitions.Results The participation rate was 64.4%. Manning and Rome criteria of irritable bowel syndrome were consistent with a Kappa value of 0.72. A substantial degree of consistency was also present comparing definitions of Drossman, Talley and Kay (kappa, 0.60–0.62). All other comparisons had kappa values below 0.42.Conclusion Variations in study populations selected by different definitions of irritable bowel syndrome are so large that they impede the general application of any results. There is a need for international agreement on consistent use of one definition of irritable bowel syndrome.
Natural history of myocardial infarction and angina pectoris in a general population sample of middle‐aged men: a 16‐year follow‐up of the Primary Prevention Study, Göteborg, Sweden
Authors: Rosengren A. , Wilhelmsen L. , Hagman M. , Wedel H. 
Published: December 2004

Rosengren A, Wilhelmsen L, Hagman M, Wedel H (Östra University Hospital, Göteborg; Kungälv Hospital, Kungälv; and Nordic School of Public Health, Göteborg, Sweden). Natural history of myocardial infarction and angina pectoris in a general population sample of middle‐aged men: a 16‐year follow‐up of the Primary Prevention Study, Göteborg, Sweden. J Intern Med 1998; 244: 495–505.Objectives Although many studies have described prognosis in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD), few have compared outcome in men with clinical evidence of CHD with healthy men from the general population over an extended follow‐up. This study aimed to compare long‐term prognosis in men with a history of myocardial infarction (MI) and in men with angina pectoris (AP) without MI, with men without clinical signs of CHD.Design Longitudinal general population study.Setting City of Göteborg, Sweden.Subjects From a general population sample, 195 men who had survived an MI for 0–19 years (median 3 years) and 314 men with AP but no MI (uncomplicated AP) at baseline in 1974–77 were identified and compared with 6591 men without clinical coronary disease. All were aged 51–59 years. Incident non‐fatal and fatal cases occurring until the beginning of 1983 were also followed (n= 317).Main outcome measures Death from CHD, from other causes and from all causes during a follow‐up of at least 16 years.Results Overall survival was 72% amongst men without coronary disease, 53% amongst men with uncomplicated AP and 34% amongst men with past MI at baseline. In survivors of MI the risk‐factor‐adjusted relative risk (RR) of coronary death during follow‐up was 6.67 (95% confidence interval (CI) 5.29–8.39), of dying from non‐cardiovascular causes 1.35 (0.96–1.91), and of dying from any cause 3.20 (2.67–3.83). During the first 4 years after the baseline examination, the adjusted RR of CHD death was 15.96 (10.29–24.74), and of dying from any cause 5.22 (3.68–7.41). During the last 4 years of follow‐up, relative risk was still 5.87 (3.44–10.01) for CHD death and 2.93 (2.05–4.18) for death from any cause. In men with uncomplicated AP, the adjusted relative risk of CHD death during the first 4 years was 4.05 (2.27–7.22) and 3.23 (2.10–4.96) during the last 4‐year period. After the first year, the incident MI cases had the same average annual mortality (about 5%) as the prevalent cases.Conclusions In survivors of MI, mortality risk remained high even after an extended follow‐up. Men with angina had a better prognosis, but still a compromised survival compared with the general population.
Primary intestinal T‐cell lymphoma and sclerosing cholangitis: a cytokine‐mediated association?
Authors: Schattner A. , Kozak N. , Lassry Y. , SokolovskAya N. 
Published: December 2004

Schattner A, Kozak N, Lassry Y, Sokolovskya N (Kaplan Medical Center, Rehovot, and Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel). Primary intestinal T‐cell lymphoma and sclerosing cholangitis: a cytokine‐mediated association? (Case Report). J Intern Med 1998; 244: 537–41.A 63‐year‐old woman with a 1‐year history of abdominal pain and intrahepatic cholestasis developed anorexia, weight loss, lassitude and diarrhoea. Studies led to a diagnosis of primary intestinal T‐cell lymphoma involving especially the proximal small intestine and infiltrating the mesenteric lymph nodes, bone marrow and skin. An associated severe hypoalbuminaemia (1.3 g dL−1) was most probably the result of protein‐losing enteropathy. Liver biopsy demonstrated concentric fibrosis of the bile ducts ('onion skin' lesions, with an inflammatory cell infiltrate and lymphoid aggregates) and was considered almost pathognomonic of primary sclerosing cholangitis. Sudden death due to pulmonary embolism occurred and a limited autopsy confirmed the diagnosis. Other associated diseases such as coeliac disease or inflammatory bowel disease were not found. This first report of the simultaneous occurrence of two rare diseases – primary sclerosing cholangitis and intestinal T‐cell lymphoma – may indicate an intriguing association, possibly mediated by the effect of cytokines released by the infiltrating T‐cells into the portal circulation.