bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Acceptance of contraceptives among women who had an unsafe abortion in Dar es Salaam
Authors: Rasch Vibeke , Massawe Siriel , Yambesi Fortunata , Bergstrom Staffan 
Published: November 2004

SummaryObjective  To assess the need for post‐abortion contraception and to determine if women who had an unsafe abortion will use a contraceptive method to avoid repeated unwanted pregnancies and STDs/HIV.Method  Women attending Temeke Municipal Hospital, Dar es Salaam, after an unsafe abortion or an induced abortion performed at the hospital (n = 788) were counselled about contraception and the risk of contracting STDs/HIV. A free ward‐based contraceptive service was offered and the women were asked to return for follow‐up.Results  Participants (90%) accepted the post‐abortion contraceptive service. Of these, 86% stated they were still using contraception 1–6 months after discharge. Initially, 55% of the women accepted to use condoms either alone or as part of double protection. After 1–6 months this proportion had dropped to 18%. Single women were significantly more likely to use condoms.Conclusion  High‐quality contraceptive service counselling can induce women to use contraception after having had an unsafe abortion. The results of our study are encouraging and should be used to convince policy makers of the need to implement such services at municipal level to reduce the number of repeated unsafe abortions.
Exposure to Schistosoma mansoni infection in a rural area in Brazil. Part III: household aggregation of water‐contact behaviour
Authors: Bethony Jeffrey , Williams Jeff T. , Brooker Simon , Gazzinelli Andrea , Gazzinelli Maria F. , LoVerde Philip T. , Corrêa‐Oliveira Rodrigo , Kloos Helmut 
Published: November 2004

SummaryMuch research points to the importance of the household in the study of water‐borne diseases such as schistosomiasis. An important aspect of the household is the clustering of domestic activities associated with water collection, storage and usage. Such activities can result in the sharing of water‐contact sites and water‐contact behaviour, which expose household members to similar risks of infection. In previous studies, we determined that shared residence accounted for 28% of the variance in Schistosoma faecal egg excretion rates. We now quantify the effect of shared residence on the variation in water‐related health behaviours. We found that shared residence accounted for 30% of the variation in total water contacts per week. It also accounted for a large proportion of the variation in individual water‐contact behaviour: e.g. agricultural contacts (63%), washing limbs (56%) or bathing (41%). These results implicate the household as an important composite measure of the complex relationships between socioeconomic, environmental and behavioural factors that influence water‐contact behaviour and, therefore, the transmission of schistosomiasis. Our results also support a focus on the household in the implementation of schistosomiasis prevention and control efforts.
Education and role modelling for clinical decisions with female cancer patients
Authors: Brown Rhonda F. , Butow Phyllis N. , Sharrock Merin Anne , Henman Michael , Boyle Fran , Goldstein David , Tattersall Martin H. N. 
Published: November 2004

AbstractBackground  Patients vary widely in their preferences and capacity for participating in treatment decision‐making. There are few interventions targeting patient understanding of how doctors make decisions and shared decision‐making. This randomized trial investigates the effects of providing cancer patients with a package designed to facilitate shared decision‐making prior to seeing their oncologist.Patients and methods  Sixty‐five female cancer patients were randomized to receive either the package (booklet and 15‐min video) or a booklet on living with cancer, before their initial consultation. Participants completed questionnaires prior to the intervention, immediately after the oncology consultation, and 2 weeks and 6 months later. The first consultation with the oncologist was audio‐taped and transcribed.Results  Patients receiving the package were more likely than controls to declare their information and treatment preferences in the consultation, and their perspectives on the costs, side‐effects and benefits of treatment. Doctors introduced considerably more new themes in the consultations with intervention subjects than they did with controls; no other differences in doctor behaviour were noted.Conclusions  This short intervention successfully shifted patient and doctor behaviour closer to the shared decision‐making model, although it did not alter patients’ preferences for information or involvement.
A randomized trial among women with heavy menstruation – impact of a decision aid on treatment outcomes and costs
Authors: Vuorma Sirkku , Teperi Juha , Aalto Anna‐Mari , Hurskainen Ritva , Kujansuu Erkki , Rissanen Pekka 
Published: November 2004

AbstractObjective  To evaluate the effects of a decision aid for menorrhagia on treatment outcomes and costs over a 12‐month follow‐up.Design  Randomized trial and pre‐trial prospective cohort study.Setting and participants  Gynaecology outpatient clinics in 14 Finnish hospitals, 363 (randomized trial) plus 206 (cohort study) patients with menorrhagia.Intervention  A decision aid booklet explaining menorrhagia and treatment options, mailed to patients before their first clinic appointment.Main outcome measures  Health related quality of life, psychological well‐being, menstrual symptoms, satisfaction with treatment outcome, use and cost of health care services.Results  All study groups experienced overall improvement in health‐related quality of life, anxiety, and psychosomatic and menstrual symptoms, but not in sexual life. Treatment in the intervention group was more active than in the control group, with more frequent course of medication and less undecided treatments. However, there were no marked disparities in health outcomes, satisfaction with treatment outcome and costs. Total costs (including productivity loss) per woman because of menorrhagia over the 12‐month follow‐up were 2760€ and 3094€ in the intervention and control group, respectively (P = 0.1). The pre‐trial group also had a significantly lower rate of uterus saving surgery compared with the control group, but no difference in costs because of menorrhagia treatment.Conclusion  Despite some differences in treatment courses, a decision aid for menorrhagia in booklet form did not increase the use of health services or treatment costs, nor had it impact on health outcomes or satisfaction with outcome of treatment.
A collaborative approach to the treatment alliance in bipolar disorder
Authors: Berk Michael , Berk Lesley , Castle David 
Published: November 2004

Objectives:  The treatment alliance is the arena in which psychopharmacological and other therapeutic interventions occur. The nature and quality of the treatment alliance may affect adherence to treatment and the realization of the benefits of effective pharmacological treatment in clinical practice. It is an area that has attracted little systematic study, despite the available evidence suggesting that it plays a measurable role in clinical outcomes.Methods:  A literature search was undertaken using Medline, Ovid, Psychinfo and Science Direct from 1975 to 2004. The following key words were used: bipolar disorder, patient adherence, non‐adherence to medication, compliance, doctor–patient relationship, doctor–patient communication, treatment alliance, therapeutic alliance, chronic illness management, collaborative care, self‐management, health beliefs, self‐efficacy, self‐determination, autonomy support, motivational interviewing.Results:  Psychosocial interventions have demonstrated positive effects on adherence problems. Studies of the impact of the treatment alliance on outcomes in mental illness highlight the possibilities of fruitful research in this area in bipolar disorder. Different theoretical models of changing health related behaviour may inform approaches to the treatment alliance.Conclusions:  Results suggest the usefulness of a collaborative approach to the treatment alliance. Attention needs to be given to developing intervention models that target modifiable risk factors for non‐adherence and address patient, clinician and illness related variables to enhance medication adherence in the treatment alliance. Refinement of these models through controlled evaluation in real world settings may lead to integration in health care delivery systems.
Rapid cycling bipolar disorder: historical overview and focus on emerging treatments
Authors: Mackin Paul , Young Allan H 
Published: November 2004

Objective:  Rapid cycling bipolar disorder presents a significant challenge with respect to treatment. The cyclical nature of bipolar disorder has been well recognised for over a century, and following Dunner and Fieve's landmark paper in 1974, investigators have increasingly turned their attention to issues such as the definition of rapid cycling, demographic characterisation, treatment response and pharmacologic intervention.Methods:  A literature search using Medline was performed, and selected articles which consider important developments in the definition, demographics and course of rapid cycling are reviewed. In addition, a systematic review of the literature published during the past 5 years (1999–2004) relating to treatment was conducted.Results:  Relevant articles are reviewed.Conclusions:  This review highlights the important developments in our understanding of rapid cycling bipolar disorder, and focuses particularly on the recent literature regarding treatment.
Foraging for Work and Age‐Based Polyethism: The Roles of Age and Previous Experience on Task Choice in Ants
Authors: Tripet Frederic , Nonacs Peter 
Published: November 2004

AbstractIn social insects, colonies commonly show temporal polyethism in worker behavior, such that a worker follows a predictable pattern of changes between tasks as it ages. This pattern usually leads from workers first doing a safe task like brood care, to ending their lives doing the most dangerous tasks like foraging. Two mechanisms could potentially underlie this pattern: (1) age‐based task allocation, where the aging process itself predisposes workers to switch to more dangerous tasks; and (2) foraging for work, where ants switch to tasks that need doing from tasks which have too many associated workers. We tested the relative influence of these mechanisms by establishing nests of Camponotus floridanus with predetermined combinations of workers of known age and previous task specialization. The results supported both mechanisms. Nests composed of entirely brood‐tending workers had the oldest workers preferentially switching to foraging. However, in nests initially composed entirely of foragers, the final distribution of tenders and foragers was not different from random task‐switching and therefore supportive of foraging for work. Thus, it appears that in C. floridanus there is directionality to the mechanisms of task allocation. Switching to more dangerous tasks is age‐influenced, but switching to less dangerous tasks is age‐independent. The results also suggest that older workers are more flexible in their task choice behavior. Younger workers are more biased towards choosing within‐nest tasks. Finally, there are effects of previous experience that tend to keep ants in familiar tasks. Task allocation based on several mechanisms may balance between: (1) concentrating the most worn workers into the most dangerous tasks; (2) increasing task performance levels; and (3) maintaining behavioral flexibility to respond to demographic perturbations. The degree to which behavior is flexible may correlate to the frequency of such perturbations in a species.
A Test of the Multi‐Predator Hypothesis: Rapid Loss of Antipredator Behavior after 130 years of Isolation
Authors: Blumstein Daniel T. , Daniel Janice C. , Springett Brian P. 
Published: November 2004

AbstractMany species find themselves isolated from the predators with which they evolved. Isolation often leads to the loss of costly antipredator behavior, which may have adverse consequences if the population should later come into contact with predators. An understanding of both the mechanism (i.e. the degree to which antipredator behavior depends on experience), and of the time course of loss is important to be able to predict how a population will respond to future contact. We studied ‘group‐size effects’– the way in which animals change the time they allocate to antipredator vigilance as a function of group size – and visual and acoustic predator recognition in a population of tammar wallabies (Macropus eugenii), a cat‐sized (6–10 kg) macropodid marsupial. To study group size effects we observed wallabies foraging in four populations – three with some sort of predator and a New Zealand population that was isolated from all predators for about 130 yr. To study predator recognition, we observed the response of New Zealand wallabies to the presentation of a model or taxidermic mount of mammalian predators, and to the broadcast sounds of mammalian and avian predators. We compare these predator recognition experiments with results from a previous study of Kangaroo Island (South Australia) tammars. Complete isolation from all predators for as few as 130 yr led to the loss of group size effects and a rapid breakdown in visual predator recognition abilities. Our results are consistent with a key prediction of the multi‐predator hypothesis – namely, that the isolation from all predators may lead to a rapid loss of antipredator behavior.
Lipoic acid is 10 times more toxic in cats than reported in humans, dogs or rats
Authors: Hill A. S. , Werner J. A. , Rogers Q. R. , O'Neill S. L. , Christopher M. M. 
Published: November 2004

SummaryThe antioxidant lipoic acid (LA) is administered to humans and pets. We described acute toxicity and maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of LA in cats. In progression, 10 healthy adult male cats received orally 60 (high), 30 (low), or 0 mg LA/kg (control). Serum enzyme activities and concentrations of bile acids, ammonia, amino acids (AA), LA and dihydrolipoic acid (DHLA) were measured, and tissues examined microscopically. Significant clinical toxicity with changes in ammonia and AA concentrations occurred in all high‐dose cats. Oral LA produced hepatocellular toxicity and MTD was <30 mg/kg in cats.
Insulin resistance and changes in plasma concentration of TNFα, IGF1, and NEFA in dogs during weight gain and obesity
Authors: Gayet C. , Bailhache E. , Dumon H. , Martin L. , Siliart B. , Nguyen P. 
Published: November 2004

SummaryObesity‐induced insulin resistance (IR) is a common problem in humans as well as domestic dogs. It is well‐known that this syndrome is associated with many modifications but it is still unclear if the changes are alterations or adaptations. The purpose of this study was to develop obesity‐induced IR in dogs, through a long‐term overfeeding period, and to explore hormonal and metabolic disturbances associated with the development of this syndrome. Dogs were overfed for 7 months. Body weight increased by 43 ± 5%, and insulin sensitivity decreased by 44 ± 5%. Plasma insulin‐like growth factor 1 (IGF1), tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), and non‐esterified fatty acids (NEFA) concentrations progressively increased during the overfeeding period (IGF1: 111 ± 13 to 266 ± 32 ng/ml, p < 0.001; TNFα: 5 ± 5 to 134 ± 41 pg/ml; NEFA: 0.974 ± 0.094 to 1.590 ± 0.127 mmol/l, p < 0.05). These metabolic and hormonal impairments are associated with IR, in obese dogs, and could explain, at least in part, the outbreak of this syndrome.
Blood serum branched chain amino acids and tryptophan modifications in horses competing in long‐distance rides of different length
Authors: Assenza A. , Bergero D. , Tarantola M. , Piccione G. , Caola G. 
Published: November 2004

SummaryDuring long‐distance exercise, branched‐chain amino acid (BCAA) catabolism could lead to an increase in the blood tryptophan/BCAA ratio and an early onset of ‘central fatigue’. Based on these considerations, we studied the modifications of blood serum BCAA and tryptophan (Try) levels in 30 endurance horses competing in rides varying in distance from 20 to 72 km. From all horses, blood samples were drawn just before and just after the end of the ride. Samples were analysed for their leucine (Leu), valine (Val), isoleucine (Iso) and Try levels. Data were processed by anova, using sampling moment and ride as factors, and by LSD post hoc test. Significant differences were recorded among the different distance rides for Leu, Val, Iso, Try, Try/BCAA ratio; the same trend was recorded between samples taken at the start and the end of the race for Val and Leu. The main effect observed was an increase of BCAA levels for all rides, except the 72‐km ride; for Try, a significant increase was present in all races, except the 50‐km ride. The Try/BCAA ratio decreased in 20‐ and 50‐km races and increased in the others. These data confirm that long‐distance exercise involves a mobilization of BCAA. The utilization of BCAA seems to be important in prolonged exercise: in the 72‐km ride, we observed a decrease in BCAA blood serum levels, while a major role of Try was indicated by its increase, resulting in a rise of the Try/BCAA ratio.
Accelerated Binding of Autoantibody to Red Blood Cells with Increasing Anaemia in Cattle Experimentally Infected with Theileria sergenti
Authors: Shiono H. , Yagi Y. , Kumar A. , Yamanaka M. , Chikayama Y. 
Published: November 2004

SummaryAnaemia is the most important clinical manifestation in cattle infected with Theileria sergenti. In order to determine the mechanism of red blood cells (RBC) destruction in anaemic cattle, we studied the binding of autoantibody (IgG) to RBC during the development of anaemia in T. sergenti infection. The low levels of IgG‐bound RBC before the development of anaemia were triggered in proportion with the progression of anaemia and parasitaemia. Our results suggest an accelerated destruction of RBC in anaemic cattle by IgG‐dependent phagocytosis.
Construction of a genetic linkage map for witloof (Cichorium intybus L. var. foliosum Hegi)
Authors: Van Stallen N. , Vandenbussche B. , Verdoodt V. , De Proft M. 
Published: November 2004

AbstractA genetic linkage map based on an intraspecific cross between two inbred lines of witloof‐chicory (Cichorium intybus L. var. foliosum Hegi) has been constructed. In total, 129 RAPD markers were scored in 565 F2 plants. Grouping of these markers at a LOD of threshold 4.0 resulted in nine linkage groups, which is equal to the chicory haploid genome. The nine linkage groups covered 609.6 cM. All 129 RAPD markers were linked to one of the nine groups. Three RAPD markers could not be mapped. Out of the 126 remaining RAPD markers, 18 showed segregation distortion with significance value of P < 0.01.
A rapid chromatographic method for determining the glucosinolate content in crambe seed
Authors: Leoni O. , Cinti S. , Aliano N. , Tittonel E. D. 
Published: November 2004

Abstract Crambe abyssinica is becoming a reliable source of industrial oil with good technical characteristics because of its high erucic acid content. The possibility of using the industrial defatted meal of crambe as a feed could further promote the interest in this crop, but is prevented by the high glucosinolate content (70‐150 μmol/g). Therefore the possibility of reducing this parameter by selection was evaluated and a search for a new quick analytical procedure begun. When hydrolysed by myrosinase (thioglucoside glucohydrolase EC 3.2.3.1.), at pH 6.5 or higher, epiprogoitrin, the main glucosinolate in crambe seed (>90% of total glucosinolates), gives (5R)‐5‐vinyl‐1,3‐oxazolidine‐2‐thione quantitatively. The latter can be easily estimated by high‐performance liquid chromatography. This is the background of the proposed analytical procedure that permits rapid analysis of about 100 samples per day using about 25 mg of crambe meal (five seeds) for assay. The method can also be used to select for glucosinolate content in rapeseed and, probably with some adjustment, all crops that have a 2‐hydroxy‐glucosinolate as the main glucosinolate.
Inheritance of growth vigour and its association with other characters in chickpea
Authors: Sabaghpour S. H. , Kumar J. , Rao T. N. 
Published: November 2004

AbstractGrowth vigour plays an important role in the establishment of a normal crop. The F2 population of a cross between high‐ and low‐growth vigour varieties of chickpea segregated into 15 high : 1 low growth vigour. The results for recombinant inbred lines and BC1P2 showed a good fit to the expected 3 : 1 ratio. The results indicated that growth vigour is controlled by two genes with duplicate dominant epistasis. No gene has so far been identified for growth vigour in chickpea. Correlation between growth vigour and other characters showed that high growth vigour had significant negative correlation with days to first flower, days to 50% flowering, days to first pod and days to maturity.
Thymalfasin: an immune system enhancer for the treatment of liver disease
Authors: SJOGREN MARIA H 
Published: November 2004

Abstract  Thymalfasin (thymosin‐alpha 1) is an immunomodulating agent able to enhance the Th1 immune response. It has been evaluated for its immunomodulatory activities and related therapeutic potential in several diseases, including chronic hepatitis B and C, AIDS, primary immunodeficiency diseases, depressed response to vaccination and cancer. The basis for effectiveness in these conditions is primarily through modulation of immunological responsiveness, as thymalfasin has been shown to have beneficial effects on numerous immune system parameters and to increase T‐cell differentiation and maturation.Thymalfasin is responsible for reconstitution of immune function when thymic tissue is given back to thymectomized animals. In addition, thymalfasin has been shown to have efficacy in multiple experimental models of immune dysfunction, mainly, infectious diseases such as hepatitis (woodchuck) and influenza (mouse), and cancer such as melanoma (mouse) and colorectal carcinoma (rat) where thymalfasin has shown antitumor effects.© 2004 Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd