bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Pharmacokinetics of phenylbutazone in beef steers
Authors: DE VEAU I. F. , PEDERSOLI W. , CULLISON R. , BAKER J. 
Published: March 2003

De Veau, I. F., Pedersoli, W., Cullison R., Baker J. Pharmacokinetics of phenylbutazone in beef steers.J. vet. Pharmacol. Therap.25,195–200.Phenylbutazone was administered intravenously to a group of 11 beef steers at a dosage of 6 mg/kg of body weight. Whole plasma and protein‐free plasma were analyzed for phenylbutazone residues. Pharmacokinetic parameters of total and free phenylbutazone in plasma were calculated using a noncompartmental method. In regards to whole plasma data, the mean volume of distribution at steady state (Vss), was 140 mL/kg body weight, with a mean (±SEM) terminal elimination half‐life (t1/2) of 34 ± 9 h. The mean clearance was 3.2 mL/h/kg body weight. TheVss, as determined from the protein‐free plasma fraction, was 54093 mL/kg body weight. This largerVssof free phenylbutazone compared with total plasma phenylbutazone was attributed to a high degree of plasma protein binding, as well as the greater penetration of free phenylbutazone into tissues. The meant1/2of free phenylbutazone was 35 ± 12 h. This similarity to thet1/2estimated from total plasma phenylbutazone data is attributed to an equilibrium between free and plasma phenylbutazone during the terminal elimination phase. The pharmacokinetic parameters of free and total plasma phenylbutazone in beef steers are statistically similar to those previously reported for lactating dairy cows.
Interferon‐α plus amantadine in chronic hepatitis C resistant to interferon alone: a pilot randomized study
Authors: Gaeta G. B. , Stornaiuolo G. , Stanzione M. , Ascione T. , Pasquazzi C. , Taliani G. , Cimino L. , Budillon G. , Piccinino F. 
Published: March 2003

The optimal therapy for patients with chronic hepatitis C who have not responded to interferon (IFN) is still an unsolved issue. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of a high dose of IFN‐α2a plus amantadine for chronic hepatitis C patients who were non‐responders to a previous course of IFN.Forty consecutive patients with chronic hepatitis C, genotype 1b, who had not responded to IFN‐α, were randomized to receive: (i) IFN 4.5 MU daily plus amantadine 200 mg/day for 4 weeks and then IFN 6 MU thrice weekly plus amantadine 200 mg/day for an additional 5 months (group A) or (ii) IFN alone at the same dosage and duration (group B). After 1 month of therapy, normal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) values were observed in three of 21 (14.3%) patients in group A and in three of 19 (15.8%) in group B; serum hepatitis C virus (HCV)‐RNA clearance was observed in one patient (4.8%) in group A and in six (31.6%) in group B. At the end of treatment, six patients (28.6%) in group A and three (15.8%) in group B had normal ALT levels; however, HCV‐RNA in serum was detectable in all of them at levels comparable to the basal values; an ALT relapse occurred within 3 months of stopping therapy. The combination of daily IFN plus amantadine was ineffective in this setting.
Determination of hepatitis B virus subtypes by an enzyme immunoassay method using monoclonal antibodies to type‐specific epitopes of HBsAg
Authors: Laperche S. , Girault A. , Beaulieu M. J. , Bouchardeau F. , Couroucé A. M. 
Published: March 2003

We described a Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) subtyping method based on a commercial enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for detection of HBsAg in which the procedure was modified to include the use of monoclonal antibodies with restricted anti‐HBs specificities. This method, which was able to classify HBsAg as: ayw1, ayw2, ayw3, ayw3* (intermediate between ayw3 and ayw4), ayw4, ayr, adw2, adw4 and adr, was compared to counter electrophoresis procedure (CEP) by testing HBsAg positive sera from blood donors included in a prospective national epidemiological survey. Among the 256 HBsAg positive samples tested with both techniques, 111 (43.3%) could not be subtyped with CEP vs 10 (3.9%) with our modified EIA. This difference was related to the serum HBsAg concentration which must be greater than 3000 ng/mL and 100 ng/mL for CEP and EIA, respectively. The results obtained from 145 sera with both methods were concordant. Seventeen out of 18 samples partially classified as ay with CEP were completely determined with EIA.This reliable procedure, derived from commercially available reagents, can be easily used in several applications such as large epidemiologic studies and as a substitute for nucleotide sequencing genotyping which is not adapted for large‐scale screening and not applicable on samples from nonviremic hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers.
Adoptive transfer of donor‐derived immunity by liver transplantation: a potential avenue to prevent hepatitis B virus reinfection
Authors: Dahmen U. , Li J. , Dirsch O. , Gu Y. L. , Polywka S. , Doebel L. , Shen K. , Broelsch C. E. 
Published: March 2003

summary. Immunity to hepatitis B has been successfully transferred by bone marrow transplantation, but has also occurred after liver transplantation (LTx). This study was designed to analyse the influence of alloreactivity and immunosuppression, on the efficacy of adoptive immune transfer to hepatitis B by liver transplantation. Orthotopic LTx (n = 34) were performed in three rat strain combinations representing different genetic constellations. Donors had been vaccinated twice with recombinant hepatitis B surface antigen while recipients were unimmunized. Half of the allogeneic recipients were immunosuppressed with cyclosporin A. All animals were monitored weekly for the presence of anti‐hepatitis B surface antibodies (anti‐HBs). Effective anti‐HBs titres were detected in 85% (29/34) of liver recipients and lasted from 2 to 10 weeks. Donor titre above >15 000 mIU/mL ensured a 100% seroconversion rate in the recipients. The maximal anti‐HBs titre in recipients represented 0.06% ∼ 0.76% of the donor titre. Rejection reduced the adoptive immune transfer, which was protected by immunosuppression. These observations suggest that transfer of functionally active donor lymphocytes, deriving from the graft, contributed to the donor‐derived immune response in the recipient. Further studies to augment the donor‐derived immune response are warranted to ensure a therapeutic effect for the recipient at risk of reinfection.
Distribution and status of the Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) and Grey Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) in Ireland
Authors: Teangana D. Ó. , Reilly S. , Montgomery W. I. , Rochford J. 
Published: March 2003

ABSTRACTThe distributions of the Red and Grey Squirrel were surveyed in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland between 1994 and 1996. Survey methods differed between the two studies. In the former, all suitable habitat, of at least 15 ha, was inspected for species presence or absence. In the Republic, data were gathered through questionnaires to governmental and independent wildlife bodies. The combined results indicate that the Red Squirrel remains widespread and locally abundant, and is present in all but two counties. The Grey Squirrel is now more widespread than ever before, and can be found in 22 of the 32 counties. Its range expansion has varied from 0 km/yr to an estimated 13.4 km/yr, as various geographical features, principally rivers, have hindered its progress in certain directions.
Road verges as habitat for small mammals in Britain
Authors: Bellamy P. E. , Shore R. F. , Ardeshir D. , Treweek J. R. , Sparks T. H. 
Published: March 2003

ABSTRACTThere are 370 000 kilometres of roads in Great Britain, mostly bordered by a verge that is potential habitat for small mammals. The present study assessed the importance of road verges as small mammal habitat and investigated the influence of some key features on rodent abundance. Five rodent and three shrew species were live‐trapped on 14 road verges in late summer 1994 and nine verges in autumn 1996 in north Cambridgeshire, UK. On average, between three and four species were captured per verge. Bank Voles Clethrionomys glareolus, Wood Mice Apodemus sylvaticus and Field Voles Microtus agrestis were the most abundant species, with mean densities of 45.5, 40.2 and 29.5 animals km–1 in summer and 52.8, 181.9 and 47.2 animals km–1 in autumn. Numbers varied between verges and this was significantly correlated with particular features on the verge. Bank Vole and Field Vole numbers showed a significant positive correlation with the dimensions of hedges and the width of the tall grass area, respectively. Wood Mice were also more numerous on verges with big hedges but the relationship between mouse abundance and verge structure was complex. The number of mice in 1994 was positively and significantly correlated with hedge features and with the width of the short grass sightline, whereas, in autumn 1996, they were only significantly correlated with total verge width (positive association) and ditch width (negative association).
Coprophagy in leporids and other mammalian herbivores
Authors: Hirakawa Hirofumi 
Published: March 2003

ABSTRACTLeporids have long been known to reingest soft faeces. However, it was recently found that they regularly reingest hard faeces, too. During the daytime, both soft and hard faeces are defecated and all of the faeces are reingested. Excreted at night are the hard faeces, which are normally discarded but reingested in starvation. The separation mechanism in the proximal colon, which diverts fine particles into the caecum and thus only passes large food particles, produces hard faeces. When the mechanism ceases acting, fermented caecal materials are excreted as soft faeces. The reingestion of soft faeces, rich in vitamins and microbial proteins, is physiologically imperative. Hard faeces are basically a refuse, but their thorough mastication at reingestion reduces poorly digestible large particles to fine ones good for fermentation. The regular reingestion of daytime hard faeces thus promotes food digestibility. The temporary use of night‐time hard faeces allows leporids to do without food for some time. It thus gives leporids behavioural flexibility and thereby an ecological advantage. Reingestion is also known in other small‐ to medium‐sized herbivores, which are all caecal fermenters. Morphological differentiation between faeces is reported only in larger species, but all ingested faeces are found to be richer in nutrients than discarded ones. Thus a separation mechanism is probably present in all reingesting species. Reingestion activity is deeply related to other behavioural and physiological traits of small mammalian herbivores, hence its study is important to understanding of their ecology and biology. Leporids are the largest of the reingesting species except for the semi‐aquatic Coypu, and reingestion by leporids is certainly the most sophisticated. This development of a reingestion‐involved digestive system has probably brought them to their present niche, as terrestrial medium‐sized generalist mammalian herbivores, and consequently made their characteristic hide‐and‐run lifeforms by exposing them to a strong predation pressure.
Geographical distribution and habitat occurrence of the Water Shrew (Neomys fodiens) in the Weald of South‐East England
Authors: Greenwood A. , Churchfield S. , Hickey C. 
Published: March 2003

ABSTRACTA survey of 96 sites in a range of riparian habitats in the catchments of five rivers during June–August 1998 used the bait tube method to investigate the geographical distribution and habitat occurrence of Water Shrews (Neomys fodiens) in the Weald of South‐East England. Water Shrews were found at 42% of sites, and were widely distributed in all river catchments except the Mole. They occurred in many riparian habitats, including rivers, streams, canals and ditches, with a range of physical and biotic characteristics. There were no signs of habitat avoidance in response to human disturbance but Water Shrews were absent from the river catchment with lowest water quality. Logistic regression analysis was used to model the effect of habitat variables on the presence of Water Shrews, with current speed, water depth, bank incline and bank‐side vegetation identified as important variables. Fast‐flowing shallow waters had a significant positive effect on their presence, whereas scarce herbaceous vegetation and a bank of low incline had a significant negative effect. These habitat variables appear to be reliable indicators of the probability of finding Water Shrews at a particular site, and have implications for habitat management and conservation.
Distribution of Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. spirochaete DNA in British ticks (Argasidae and Ixodidae) since the 19th Century, assessed by PCR
Authors: HUBBARD, MARK J. , BAKER ANNE S. , CANN KATHRYN J. 
Published: March 2003

The distribution of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, the Lyme borreliosis agent, was surveyed in British ticks in the collection of the Natural History Museum, London. Alcohol‐preserved specimens of eight species of ticks known to attack humans were studied: Ixodes ricinus, I. hexagonus, I. uriae, I. trianguliceps, Dermacentor reticulatus, Haemaphysalis punctata, Rhipicephalus sanguineus and Argas vespertilionis. The sample comprised all life stages and originated from a wide range of host species, collection dates (1896–1994) and geographical localities in England, Scotland and Wales. Borrelia burgdorferi s. l. DNA, detected by a polymerase chain reaction that targeted the outer surface protein A gene, was found in all eight species. The overall proportion of PCR‐positive specimens ranged from 7.8% for I. hexagonus (mostly from mustelids and hedgehogs) to 98.3% for I. uriae (mostly from seabirds). Borrelia burgdorferi s. l. DNA was found for the first time in the bat parasite A. vespertilionis (85.3%). The spirochaete is newly recorded in British populations of I. trianguliceps (97.4%, mostly from voles, mice and shrews), D. reticulatus (12.5% from dog and man) and R. sanguineus (30% from dogs and human dwellings). Of the four tick species with larvae available for testing, examples of I. ricinus, I. uriae and A. vespertilionis were PCR positive, as were significantly more nymphs than adults of I. ricinus, I. hexagonus and A. vespertilionis. Analyses showed that B. burgdorferi s. l. has been consistently present in British tick populations since at least 1897. Ticks positive for B. burgdorferi s. l. DNA were collected in all months of the year, throughout Britain, and were found on a wide range of mammal and bird species. PCR positivity does not prove vector or reservoir competence, but the use of archived material has demonstrated an extensive range of host–tick relationships involving B. burgdorferi s.l. in Britain for >100 years.
Distribution of the Simulium metallicum complex in Mexico in relation to selected environmental variables
Authors: Millest A. L. , Cheke R. A. , Greenwood R. 
Published: March 2003

SummaryLarvae of the Simulium metallicum complex (Diptera: Simuliidae) were collected from three foci of human onchocerciasis in Mexico. Specimens were separated into five different cytotypes, identified by morphological characteristics (head pattern and body colour) or polytene chromosome features. Differences were found between foci in the cytotype composition of the S.metallicum complex. Nearly all specimens were cytotype A in the Chamula (97%) and Soconusco (86%) foci. In the Oaxaca focus, however, cytotype I predominated (63%) with 14% cytotype A. Cytotype I comprised only 6% of specimens in the Soconusco focus and was very rare in the Chamula focus. Cytotypes B and H occurred only rarely in all three foci. Cytotype X was found only in Oaxaca. Environmental variables were measured at the collection sites and canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) was used to investigate the associations of cytotype distributions with the following factors: stream size, amount of shade, water clarity, pH, temperature and altitude. Members of the S.metallicum species complex were found to be differentially distributed according to stream conditions and there was a significant correlation between their distributions and the environmental variables. The most important factor in canonical axis 1 of the CCA was pH (t‐value –4.38) with temperature (–2.48) and altitude (2.19) having some influence, but the other variables were unimportant. In the second canonical axis, pH (–3.52) was the only variable having a significant effect. Thus, cytotype A was associated with high pH, high temperature and low altitude; B was associated with similar sites but with higher temperatures and at lower average elevations. Cytotype H was found at the centres of the ranges of these variables, I at sites with the lowest temperatures and highest altitudes and X in rivers with the lowest pH.
Effects of permethrin at different temperatures on pyrethroid‐resistant and susceptible strains of Anopheles
Authors: Hodjati M. H. , Curtis C. F. 
Published: March 2003

SummaryThe influence of temperature (16, 22, 28, 37°C) on effects of permethrin was investigated for susceptible and pyrethroid‐resistant strains of the mosquitoes Anopheles gambiae and An. stephensi (Diptera: Culicidae). Young unfed female adult mosquitoes were exposed to 0.25% permethrin test papers or to polyester netting treated with permethrin 500 mg a.i./m2. The time to 50% knock‐down (KT50) declined as temperature increased, i.e. there was a positive temperature coefficient of this effect of the pyrethroid. Resistance ratios (comparing KT50 values) between resistant and susceptible An. stephensi ranged between 2.5 and 4.4 at the different temperatures. Comparative tests of pyrethroid tolerance of different strains would be valid over the 22–28°C range but, when using a discriminating dose to detect resistance, more precise temperature control is desirable.Mortality 24 h after exposure to 0.25% permethrin of both susceptible and resistant strains of An. stephensi showed a negative correlation with temperature between 16 and 22°C and a positive correlation at higher temperatures. In An. gambiae, however, the correlation was positive over the whole range.Irritancy of permethrin‐treated netting to Anopheles females (measured as time lapse until first flight take‐off, and the number of take‐offs during 7.5 min exposure) was positively correlated with temperature in all four strains and was much greater for the susceptible than the resistant strains.
The development of a questionnaire to assess the readiness of health care students for interprofessional learning (RIPLS)
Authors: Parsell Glennys , Bligh John 
Published: March 2003

ObjectivesAlthough shared learning activities are gradually being introduced to health care undergraduates, it has not been possible to measure the effects of educational interventions on students' attitudes. The main objective of this study was to develop a rating scale using items based on the desired outcomes of shared learning, to assess the `readiness' of health care students for shared learning activities.Design and participantsA questionnaire study of 120 undergraduate students in 8 health care professions.ResultsPrincipal components analysis resulted a 3‐ factor scale with 19 items and having an internal consistency of 0.9. The factors have been initially named `team‐working and collaboration', `professional identity' and `professional roles'.ConclusionsThe new scale may be used to explore differences in students' perception and attitudes towards multi‐professional learning. Further work is necessary to validate the scale amongst a larger population.
Visiting elective students at the University of Toronto from the Korea University Medical College
Authors: Ahn  
Published: March 2003

ObjectivesThe main goal of the international elective programme was to provide the Korean students with a cross‐cultural educational environment.DesignThis programme was carried out on a voluntary basis during the summer vacation, rotating students through various clinical divisions in the teaching hospital.SettingThe University of Toronto.SubjectsMedical students from the Korea University Medical College.ResultsThe students found the student–teacher relationship to be much more open and liberal. Due to a different curricular structure, the Canadians have better clinical skills and problem‐solving abilities in real clinical settings. The cultural differences perceived by the students during the elective programme led them to believe that educational reform in Korea imperatively requires curricular change, but more importantly, a change in our traditional psychological and behavioural traits which derive from Confucianism.ConclusionsExtreme politeness, passiveness and blind respect for teachers, which are encouraged by Confucianism, are not effective in higher education. All the elective students, as well as the Canadian preceptors, believe that this programme is an invaluable asset.
Use of learning contracts in an office‐based primary care clerkship
Authors: McDermott Mary McGrae , Curry Raymond H , Stille F Conrad , Martin Gary J 
Published: March 2003

ObjectivesThis paper describes implementation of the learner‐centred learning goal within the primary care clerkship at a Midwestern, United States medical school.DesignThe learner‐centred learning goal exercise was developed to tailor students' educational activities to their personal level of development and to enhance their commitment to life‐long learning in medicine. In the learner‐centred learning goal exercise, each student records three specific learning goals early in the primary care clerkship. Students record the methods by which they will pursue and document achievement of each goal. Attainment of the learner‐centred learning goal is evaluated based on an oral presentation at the end of the clerkship. We compiled presented learning goals along with the corresponding grade. Students' ratings of the learner‐centred learning goal exercise were also compiled. Evaluations and ratings were made on a 1–5 Likert scale, where 1 is the best rating and 5 is worst.SettingDepartment of Medicine, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, USA.SubjectsOne hundred and seventy‐seven third‐ and fourth‐year medical students who presented learner‐centred learning goals between 1 July 1995 and 30 June 1996.ResultsStudents rated pursuing their individual learning goals more worthwhile than most clerkship lectures but less worthwhile than the office experience. Several learning goals were chosen by a disproportionate number of students, potentially indicative of some perceived deficiencies elsewhere in the curriculum. Third‐year students ranked the learner‐centred learning goal exercise more favourably than fourth‐year students (2·14 vs. 2·51, P = 0·03).ConclusionsThe learner‐centred learning goal exercise is a feasible and well‐received method within our primary care clerkship. Further study is required to determine whether the exercise promotes independent learning after formal medical school education is completed.