bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Variable Lipoprotein Genes of
Mycoplasma agalactiae
Are Activated In Vivo by Promoter Addition via Site-Specific DNA Inversions
Authors: Flitman-Tene Ravenna , Mudahi-Orenstein Sigalit , Levisohn Sharon , Yogev David 
Published: June 2003

ABSTRACT

Mycoplasma agalactiae
, the etiological agent of contagious agalactia of small ruminants, has a family of related genes (
avg
genes) which encode surface lipoprotein antigens that undergo phase variation. A series of 13
M. agalactiae
clonal isolates, obtained from one chronically infected animal over a period of 7 months, were found to undergo major rearrangement events within the
avg
genomic locus. We show that these rearrangements regulate the phase-variable expression of individual
avg
genes. Northern blot analysis and reverse transcription-PCR showed that only one
avg
gene is transcribed, while the other
avg
genes are transcriptionally silent. Sequence analysis and primer extension experiments with two
M. agalactiae
clonal isolates showed that a specific 182-bp
avg
5′ upstream region (
avg
-B
2
) that is present as a single chromosomal copy serves as an active promoter and exhibits a high level of homology with the
vsp
promoter of the bovine pathogen
Mycoplasma bovis
. PCR analysis showed that each
avg
gene is associated with the
avg
-B
2
promoter in a subpopulation of cells that is present in each subclone. Multiple sequence-specific sites for DNA recombination (
vis-
like), which are presumably recognized by site-specific recombinase, were identified within the conserved
avg
5′ upstream regions of all
avg
genes and were found to be identical to the recombination sites of the
M. bovis vsp
locus. In addition, a gene encoding a member of the integrase family of tyrosine site-specific recombinases was identified adjacent to the variable
avg
locus. The molecular genetic basis for
avg
phase-variable expression appears to be mediated by site-specific DNA inversions occurring in vivo that allow activation of a silent
avg
gene by promoter addition. A model for the control of
avg
genes is proposed.
Asymmetrical Distribution of
Neisseria
Miniature Insertion Sequence DNA Repeats among Pathogenic and Nonpathogenic
Neisseria
Strains
Authors: De Gregorio Eliana , Abrescia Chiara , Carlomagno M. Stella , Di Nocera Pier Paolo 
Published: June 2003

ABSTRACT

Neisseria
miniature insertion sequences (
nemis
) are miniature DNA insertion sequences found in
Neisseria
species. Out of 57 elements closely flanking cellular genes analyzed by PCR, most were conserved in
Neisseria meningitidis
but not in
N. lactamica
strains. Since mRNAs spanning
nemis
are processed by RNase III at hairpins formed by element termini, gene sets could selectively be regulated in meningococci at the posttranscriptional level.
A randomized controlled trial of the effects of intensive sit-to-stand training after recent traumatic brain injury on sit-to-stand performance
Authors: Canning Colleen G , Shepherd Roberta B , Carr Janet H , Alison Jennifer A , Wade Lauren , White Alanna 
Published: May 2003

Objective: To examine the effectiveness of intensive practice of sit-to-stand on motor performance, exercise capacity and exercise efficiency in traumatic brain-injured patients during early inpatient rehabilitation. Design: Single-blind randomized controlled pilot study. Setting: Brain injury rehabilitation unit. Subjects: Twenty-four subjects who had recently sustained a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) were randomized into an experimental ( n = 13) and a control ( n = 11) group. Interventions: In addition to their usual rehabilitation programme, subjects in the experimental group participated in four weeks of intensive training of sit-to-stand and step-up exercises with the aim of improving performance of sit-to-stand. The control group did no additional sit-to-stand or step-up training. Main outcome measures: Total number of sit-to-stands in 3 min as a measure of motor performance; peak oxygen consumption during a maximal 3-min sit-to-stand test ( VO2peak) as a measure of exercise capacity; oxygen consumption during a 3-min equivalent workload sit-to-stand test ( VO2equiv) as a measure of exercise efficiency. Pre- and post-training measurements were made. Results: The exercise programme resulted in a 62% improvement in motor performance (number of repetitions of sit-to-stand in 3 min) for the experimental group compared with the control group's 18% improvement ( p < 0.05). There was no significant difference between groups for changes in exercise capacity or efficiency. In the experimental group, the increase in VO2peak from pre-test to post-test correlated with the increase in sit-to-stand repetitions ( p < 0.05). Conclusions: Intensive task-specific training is recommended as an important component of rehabilitation early following severe traumatic brain injury.
Effects of an ankle-foot orthosis on spatiotemporal parameters and energy cost of hemiparetic gait
Authors: Franceschini Marco , Massucci Maurizio , Ferrari Luciana , Agosti Maurizio , Paroli Chiara 
Published: May 2003

Objective: To assess the effect of an ankle-foot orthosis on the gait and energy parameters of walking in chronic hemiparetic subjects. Design: With/without group comparison. Setting: Consecutive patients recruited from the gait analysis laboratory of our rehabilitation department. Subjects: A group of nine chronic hemiparetic patients, with the same gait pattern alteration, were evaluated during walking at free speed with and without the use of an orthosis. Outcome measures: Gait analysis and study of energy cost. Results and conclusion: The orthosis significantly improved self-selected speed (15.47 versus 21.39 m/min), stride cycle (2.33 versus 2.08 s), stance (1.83 versus 1.48 s) and double support (1.55 versus 1.16 s) and reduced energy cost (0.76 versus 0.49 ml O2kg/m) of walking without affecting cardiorespiratory response. Moreover, a significant correlation was found between the improvement of double support and the reduction of energy cost.
The Adult Memory and Information Processing Battery (AMIPB) test of information-processing speed: a study of its reliability and feasibility in patients with multiple sclerosis
Authors: Vlaar A M M , Wade D T 
Published: May 2003

Objective: To investigate how useful the Adult Memory and Information Processing Battery Task A (AMIPB) is as a test of the speed of information processing in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) by comparing various methods of presenting the test and assessing the reliability (test–retest and inter-rater) and utility of each version. Design: Each patient was assessed twice verbally by the same assessor 1–2 weeks apart. Then 1–2 weeks later half were assessed by another observer, and half were assessed by the first observer using a written method. Setting: A specialist young disabled unit. Subjects: Thirty-three patients with MS. Measures: The AMIPB, the Short Memory-Orientation-Concentration Test (SOMC) and the Barthel ADL Index. Results: The average (SD) number of correct responses after 4 min was 23.3 (18.6), median 21. The test–retest reliability ( n = 24) of the 4-min AMIPB was high ( r = 0.98) and the difference of the score ranged from –7 to 9: median 3, mean (SD) 1.88 (4.01) and interquartile range 0 to 3.25. The inter-observer reliability ( n = 12) of the 4-min AMIPB was also high ( r = 0.97) and the mean (SD) differences between scores were 4.3 (5.8), median 4, range +19 to –2. The score at 60 seconds and the score at 240 seconds were highly correlated ( r = 0.98). The scores obtained verbally and by writing were closely correlated ( r = 0.99). Conclusions: The AMIPB used over 120 seconds with verbal responses is a reliable and reasonable test for major information-processing deficits.
The validity of patient and physician estimates of walking distance
Authors: Giantomaso Tony , Makowsky Lesia , Ashworth Nigel L , Sankaran Rajini 
Published: May 2003

Objective: To establish the validity of patient and physician estimates of maximum walking distance versus actual measured maximum walking distance. Design: Assessment of concurrent validity (patient and physician estimates were compared with a gold standard measure at the same time). Setting: University-affiliated rehabilitation department in a tertiary care hospital. Subjects: A sequential sample of 31 patients over the age of 17 referred to the physical medicine and rehabilitation outpatients department between 1 May 2000 and 20 July 2001, who had at least some degree of walking difficulty. Interventions: Patients and their physicians were asked to provide estimates of walking distance independently after a regular appointment prior to the patient being escorted along a pre-measured walking course. Main outcome measures: Actual distance walked was compared with estimates using Pearson correlation coefficients. Results: Pearson correlation coefficients for patient estimate versus actual was 0.789 ( p ≤ 0.0001), and mean estimate of patient and physician estimates versus actual was 0.812 ( p ≤ 0.0001). Physician estimate versus actual and patient estimate versus physician estimate were 0.349 and -0.139 (neither significant). Sixty-seven per cent (20/30) of patients overestimated how far they thought they could walk versus 23% (7.30) of physicians who overestimated. Neither group were found to be ‘good’ estimators of maximal walking distance. Conclusions: Neither patients nor physicians provide valid estimates of maximal walking distance. Patients consistently overestimate their maximal walking distance, whereas physicians tend to underestimate. Interestingly, patients' estimates (although over inflated) do correlate well with actual walking distance, while physician estimates are not at all correlated. This study suggests that reliance on self-reported or physician-estimated maximum walking distances (whether for clinical, research or other reasons) is potentially flawed.
Emotional well-being of close relatives to stroke survivors
Authors: Wyller Torgeir Bruun , Thommessen Bente , Sødring Karen Margrethe , Sveen Unni , Pettersen Anne Marie , Bautz-Holter Erik , Laake Knut 
Published: May 2003

Objective: To compare the well-being of stroke patients' relatives with that of a reference group, and to identify variables related to the well-being of the relatives. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Outpatient hospital department and patients' and relatives' own homes. Subjects: Fifty-four patients one year after a stroke and their closest relatives. A reference population consisted of 419 elderly people drawn at random from the census files. Outcome measures: Emotional well-being was assessed with the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-20), and the perceived burden attributed to the care of the patient with the Caregiver Strain Index (CSI). The personal and instrumental activities of daily life (PADL and IADL), motor and cognitive functions of the patients were assessed with standardized tests. Results: The relatives rated their well-being lower than the reference group rated theirs, the odds ratio (OR) being 5.6 (95% confidence interval (CI) 3.1–10) adjusted for age and gender. No association was found between the relatives' well-being and the motor, cognitive, PADL, IADL or other characteristics of the patients. Strong relationships were found between the CSI and the GHQ scores of the relatives, the OR (95% CI) for a poor GHQ score being 2.4 (1.6–3.7) for each unit increase in CSI, adjusted for gender. Conclusions: Emotional well-being is influenced when a close relative gets a stroke. This seems to relate more strongly to the perceived burden of care than to objective characteristics of the patient.
Life satisfaction several years after severe multiple trauma – a retrospective investigation
Authors: Anke Audny GW , Fugl-Meyer Axel R 
Published: May 2003

Objectives: To describe the prevalence of self-reported changes in life satisfaction after multiple trauma, to analyse associations between satisfaction with life as a whole and with domains in life, and to identify important contributors for satisfaction with life. Design: Retrospective follow-up study. Setting: Rehabilitation hospital three years after multiple trauma. Subjects: Sixty-nine subjects with severe multiple trauma (ISS 3 16). Main outcome measures: Clinical examinations to reveal prevalences of impairments and disabilities. Questionnaires about satisfaction with life as a whole and eight domains of life, both for the time before trauma, and for the actual situation; sense of coherence (SOC-13); social network. Results: A total of 87% experienced a decrease in at least one of the nine life satisfaction items from before to after trauma (six-graded scale). After trauma significantly fewer subjects reported to be satisfied5–6 with life as a whole, as well as the domains sexual life, ADL, contact with friends, leisure, vocational and financial situation. Satisfaction with family life and partner relationship did not decrease significantly. The most important domains after trauma were satisfaction with leisure, family life and vocation. Vocational and leisure disability after trauma were important determinants for satisfaction with life as a whole. A strong sense of coherence and sufficient social network quality had significant impact on satisfaction with life as a whole and some of the domain-specific satisfactions. Conclusions: Both personal resources (a strong sense of coherence) and the presence of a qualitatively sufficient social network can buffer the negative influence of disabilities on life satisfaction after trauma.
Is sense of coherence stable after multiple trauma?
Authors: Snekkevik Hildegun , Anke Audny GW , Stanghelle Johan K , Fugl-Meyer Axel R 
Published: May 2003

Objectives: To explore whether sense of coherence (SOC) is stable over time after multiple trauma. The associations between SOC and satisfaction with life as a whole, as well as aspects of psychological well-being, were explored. Finally, an overriding aim was to assess whether SOC has long-term prognostic value for global life satisfaction or psychological well-being. Design: Prospective study. Setting: Sunnaas Rehabilitation Hospital. Subjects: Twenty-six subjects with severe multiple trauma, without neuropsychological deficits. Main outcome measures: Questionnaires that were answered at admission, at discharge and at follow-up 1–3 years after trauma were: Sense of Coherence Scale 13 items (SOC-13), satisfaction with life as a whole, General Health Questionnaire 20 items (GHQ-20), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD). Results: While median SOC scores were fairly stable, individual scores were not stable over time, and for some subjects showed large variations. SOC score had neither long-term prognostic value for satisfaction with life as a whole nor for psychological well-being, at least not in the first years after severe multiple trauma. However, SOC was closely associated with overall life satisfaction when measured simultaneously. Furthermore, a weak SOC correlated with scores on psychological distress, anxiety and depression. SOC scores were also significantly related to being or not being in a state of anxiety, but not to being or not being depressed. Global life satisfaction was considerably reduced from before trauma (reported at admission) to the time of follow-up. Conclusion: SOC was not stable over time after severe multiple trauma. SOC measured at admission could neither predict future satisfaction with life as a whole nor future psychological well-being. Measured simultaneously, overall life satisfaction and occurrence of anxiety were significantly associated with SOC.
Wheelchair skills tests: a systematic review
Authors: Kilkens Olga JE , Post Marcel WM , Dallmeijer Annet J , Seelen Henk AM , van der Woude Lucas HV 
Published: May 2003

Objective: To describe and compare the content, feasibility, outcome parameters, and clinimetric properties of the manual wheelchair skills tests reported in the literature. Design: A systematic literature search was conducted in MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsychINFO and Current Contents. Tests were selected if they were observational tests, designed for subjects using hand-rim wheelchairs and were intended to assess wheelchair skill performance at the activity level. Results: The search resulted in 34 papers, in which 24 different wheelchair skills tests were described. The skill most frequently included was wheelchair propulsion, consecutively followed by transferring, negotiating kerbs, ascending slopes, traversing tracks, sprinting and performing a wheelie. The three most frequently used outcome parameters were task performance time, independency of task performance, and physical strain during skill performance. Sensitivity to change was evaluated in three tests, validity in 10 tests, and reliability in nine tests. Conclusions: Many tests are applied to measure wheelchair skill performance using different tasks and outcome measures. This makes it difficult to compare study results. Consensus among researchers as to which skills must be included as well as to standardization of the use of measurement instruments will reduce this problem and will additionally lead to a better insight in the quality of tests.
Reliability of the Dutch Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI)
Authors: Wassenberg-Severijnen Jeltje E , Custers Jan WH , Hox Joop J , Vermeer Adri , Helders Paul JM 
Published: May 2003

Objective: To evaluate the reliability of the Dutch version of the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI), an instrument for measuring functional status (capability and performance in self-care, mobility and social function) of young children using parent interviews. Design: Inter-interviewer reliability was studied after scoring audiotaped interviews by a second researcher. For test–retest reliability the same parent was interviewed twice within three weeks; in inter-respondent reliability both parents of a child were interviewed independently within a few days. On item level, percentage identical scores were computed, and on scale level intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and Cronbach's alphas were calculated. Subjects: Parents of 63 nondisabled and 53 disabled (various diagnosis) children aged between 7 and 88 months were interviewed. Results: On scale level, all ICCs were above 0.90 and Cronbach's alpha was 0.89 for the self-care domain, 0.74 for the mobility domain and 0.87 for the social function domain. On item level for the Functional Skills Scale, the mean percentage identical scores varied from 89 to 99, and for the Caregiver Assistance Scale from 54 to 90. Different scores between interviewers resulted partially from ambiguous interpretation of the item and/or the explanation. Conclusions: Although small adaptations have to be made, the psychometric properties of the Dutch PEDI are found to be good.
Reliability and validity of the Canadian Occupat189ional Performance Measure in stroke patients
Authors: Cup E H C , Scholte op Reimer W J M , Thijssen M C E , van Kuyk-Minis M A H 
Published: May 2003

Objective: To research test–retest reliability and discriminant validity of the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), a client-centred outcome measure, in stroke patients. Design: The COPM was administered twice with a mean interval of eight days (SD 2.5, range 5–16). On both occasions the patient identified a maximum of five problems in daily activities. The problems of both interviews were compared. The problems identified during the first COPM were rated by the patient on a performance and satisfaction rating scale on both occasions. The individually identified items with use of the client-centred COPM were compared with the fixed items of standardized measures (Barthel Index, Frenchay Activities Index, Stroke Adapted Sickness Impact Profile-30, Euroqol 5D and Rankin Scale). Setting: Patients were interviewed at their place of residence. Subjects: Twenty-six stroke patients participated, 11 men and 15 women, aged from 26 to 83 years (mean 68, SD 15). Twenty-four patients were six months, two patients were two months post stroke. Results: Of the 115 problems identified during the first COPM, 64 (56%) were also identified the second time. Correlation coefficients for the scores were 0.89 ( p < 0.001) for performance and 0.88 ( p < 0.001) for satisfaction. Of the individual problems identified with the COPM, 25% or less were present in the standardized measures. Correlations between the scores on the COPM and the standardized measures were low and nonsignificant, while all standardized measures correlated significantly with each other. Conclusions: Test–retest reliability of the COPM was moderate for the item pool but was good for the performance and satisfaction scores. Discriminant validity was confirmed. Many patient-unique problems identified with the COPM were not evaluated by standardized measures.
The influence of illness duration and level of consciousness on the treatment effect and complication rate of serial casting in patients with severe cerebral spasticity
Authors: Pohl Marcus , Mehrholz Jan , Rückriem Stefan 
Published: May 2003

Objective: To compare the improvement and complication rates for serial casting in patients with shorter as opposed to longer illness duration, and in patients with lower as opposed to higher levels of consciousness. Design: A retrospective case-comparison study. Setting: A rehabilitation centre for adult persons with neurological disorders. Subjects: Sixty-eight patients with cerebral spasticity of different aetiologies were treated with serial casting to relieve fixed contractures. Intervention: Serial casting with either <90 days (group A, 36 joints, 24 patients) or 390 days (group B, 85 joints, 44 patients) duration of illness and either <12 (group 1, 49 joints, 25 patients) or 312 (group 2, 72 joints, 43 patients) Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores. Main outcome measures: Percentage of normal maximum range of motion (ROM) at the completion of casting and one month after discontinuation, and number of complications due to casting procedure. Results: No differences in ROM improvement between duration groups ( F = 0.43, p = 0.51) and GCS groups ( F = 1.3, p = 0.26) were observed. Complications in serial casting were found in 25.0% in group A, in 10.6% in group B (chi-squared = 4.2, p = 0.042), in 24.5% in group 1, and in 8.3% in group 2 (chi-squared = 6.0, p = 0.014). Conclusion: This study suggests that serial casting in patients with longer illness duration and higher levels of consciousness provides improvements in ROM comparable with an earlier treatment in patients with more impaired consciousness, but results in a lower occurrence of complications.
Polymorphism of the rod visual pigment between allopatric populations of the sand goby (Pomatoschistus minutus): a microspectrophotometric study
Authors: Jokela Mirka , Vartio Annika , Paulin Lars , Fyhrquist-Vanni Nanna , Donner Kristian 
Published: June 2003

SUMMARY
Absorbance spectra were measured by microspectrophotometry in retinal rods of sand gobies (Pomatoschistus minutus) from four allopatric populations (Baltic Sea, Swedish west coast, English Channel and Adriatic Sea). Mean (± s.e.m.) wavelengths of maximum absorbance (λmax) were 508.3±0.5 nm,505.4±0.2 nm, 506.2±0.3 nm and 503.0±0.3 nm,respectively. Pairwise comparison between the populations (post-ANOVA Scheffe's test) shows that each of the λmax differences,except that between the Swedish west coast and the English Channel, is statistically significant (P&lt;0.05). The shapes of the absorbance spectra indicated that the pigments were A1 rhodopsins with no measurable admixture of the A2 chromophore. Thus, the differences indicate polymorphism in the protein part (opsin) of the pigment. Convolution of A1 templates forλ max values 508.3 nm and 503.0 nm with quantum spectra of the downwelling light at two locations at the south-west coast of Finland indicated that a 13-19% improvement in quantum catch would accrue in the Baltic environment from the 5.3 nm red-shift of the rod pigment of Baltic compared with Adriatic sand gobies.