bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sexual behaviour of nursing home residents: staff perceptions and responses
Authors: Roach Sally M. 
Published: October 2004

Aims.  This paper presents the results of a study that investigated nursing home staff perceptions of affectionate and sexual behaviour of residents.Background.  Despite growing recognition of the importance of sexual expression among residents and a increasing willingness to discuss the topic, sexual activity for nursing home residents remains an ignored component of life satisfaction. Even when ‘sexuality’ has been included as part of a resident's plan of care, this may not mean that attention has been paid to maintaining that aspect of their life. Thus, nursing homes can mark the end of many types of freedom for older people. Given that intimate basic care is performed by others and often by members of the opposite sex, loss of sexual freedom may also occur.Method.  A grounded theory approach was used to study staff working in nursing homes in Australia and Sweden. Data were generated through interviews and nominal groups with nursing home staff. Thirty women volunteered to be interviewed, and 18 others were involved in the three nominal group discussions; a further five participants were involved as key informants.Findings.  Staff perceptions and responses to residents’ sexual behaviour were found to be influenced by their own level of comfort related to sexuality issues, and the ethos within the organization where they worked. The conceptual paradigm was termed ‘Guarding Discomfort’ and specified the ways in which staff guard against sexuality discomfort as well as the ways their behaviour fits within different types of organizations.Conclusion.  Both staff and nursing home managers need to work toward developing a home environment that is supportive of residents’ sexuality rights, that permits sexuality expression and promotes a culture where all people concerned are comfortable with sexuality issues.
Sense of coherence among unemployed nurses
Authors: Leino‐Loison Katja , Gien Lan T. , Katajisto Jouko , Välimäki Maritta 
Published: October 2004

Aims.  This paper reports a study assessing Finnish unemployed nurses’ sense of coherence and the factors relating to it.Background.  During the 1990s, due to the widespread economic downturn in Finland, the nursing profession suffered from a high level of unemployment. Previous research has clearly indicated that unemployment is detrimental to health. It creates stress by disturbing a person's sense of identity and self‐esteem and by disrupting social networks. In Finland, many studies have been conducted on the impact of unemployment, but have not examined the sense of coherence of unemployed nurses.Methods.  Data were collected in one Employment and Economic Development Centre area in Finland in 1998. Structured questionnaires were used to collect data among Finnish unemployed nurses (n = 183), and included the General Health Questionnaire, measuring nurses’ mental health; socio‐demographic questions; and the 13‐item version of the Sense of Coherence scale based on Antonovsky's salutogenic model to measure sense of coherence.Results.  Although the majority of unemployed nurses had a strong sense of coherence, many felt that during their period of unemployed they did not feel at ease, did not know what to do and had a sense of being unfairly treated. Daily household chores, on the whole, were perceived as meaningful. Income and the state of mental health were positively correlated with nurses’ sense of coherence: the better the family income and state of mental health, the stronger was their sense of coherence. Because of the low response rate (less than 50%), the results might be skewed by those whose higher sense of coherence made them more motivated to complete the questionnaires.Conclusions.  Many of the nurses reported low sense of coherence and poor general health. Special interventions should be designed to improve their sense of coherence and high motivation level, and to maintain their professional competence when they return to work. This kind of support may prevent further out‐migration and nursing shortages from Finland and other industrialized countries.
Effects of acupressure at the Sanyinjiao point on primary dysmenorrhoea
Authors: Chen Huei‐Mein , Chen Chung‐Hey 
Published: October 2004

Aim.  This paper presents the findings of a study that assessed the effects of acupressure at the Sanyinjiao point on symptoms of primary dysmenorrhoea among adolescent girls.Background.  Dysmenorrhoea is the most common gynaecological disorder among adolescents. Traditional Chinese acupressure derived from acupuncture is a non‐invasive technique. Despite renewed interest in the use of acupressure, relatively few studies have been undertaken to examine its effects on primary dysmenorrhoea.Methods.  An experimental study was conducted between December 2000 and August 2001. Participants were female students attending a technical college in Taiwan. None of the 69 participants had a prior history of gynaecological disease or secondary dysmenorrhoea, and all were rated higher than five for pain on a visual analogue scale from 0 to 10. The experimental group (n = 35) received acupressure at Sanyinjiao (above the ankle) while the control group (n = 34) rested for 20 min, while the control group underwent rest in the school health centre for 20 min without receiving acupressure. Fifty participants (30 experimental, 20 control) completed the 4–6‐week follow‐up session. Five instruments were used to collect pretest and post‐test data at each session: (1) Visual Analogue Scale for pain; (2) the Short‐Form McGill Pain Questionnaire; (3) the Menstrual Distress Questionnaire; (4) the Visual Analogue Scale for anxiety; and, for the experimental group only, (5) the Acupressure Self‐Assessment Form. Data were analysed using the chi‐square test, two‐sample t‐test and repeated measures two‐way anova.Results.  Acupressure at Sanyinjiao during the initial session reduced the pain and anxiety typical of dysmenorrhoea. In the self‐treatment follow‐up session, acupressure at Sanyinjiao significantly reduced menstrual pain but not anxiety. Thirty‐one (87%) of the 35 experimental participants reported that acupressure was helpful, and 33 (94%) were satisfied with acupressure in terms of its providing pain relief and psychological support during dysmenorrhoea.Conclusion.  The findings suggest that acupressure at Sanyinjiao can be an effective, cost‐free intervention for reducing pain and anxiety during dysmenorrhoea, and we recommend its use for self‐care of primary dysmenorrhoea.
Comparison of gastric volumes in response to isocaloric liquid and mixed meals in humans
Authors: De Schepper H. , Camilleri M. , Cremonini F. , Foxx‐Orenstein A. , Burton D. 
Published: October 2004

AbstractAims:  To compare gastric volume responses to ingestion of isocaloric liquid or mixed (solid–liquid) meals and document the intra‐ and interindividual reproducibility of gastric volume measurement using single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging after i.v. 99mTc‐pertechnetate.Methods:  Eight healthy volunteers performed two studies at least 9 months apart. Gastric volumes were measured after a 317 kcal liquid nutrient meal. Within 2 weeks of the second liquid meal study, participants performed a third study, ingesting an isocaloric mixed meal. The order of the mixed and second liquid meals was randomized; Bland–Altman plot displayed data on repeated studies with liquid meal and paired t‐test compared gastric volumes after mixed or liquid isocaloric meals.Results:  Fasting and postprandial gastric volumes associated with the two liquid meals were not significantly different; inter‐ and intra‐individual coefficients of variation were 13 and 13.8%. In response to the mixed meal, there was a lower absolute postprandial volume and lower change in gastric volume over fasting volume compared with the response to the liquid meal (P = 0.0001).Conclusion:  The SPECT measurement of gastric volumes in response to a nutrient liquid meal is reproducible. The magnitude of the volume response is greater after the liquid meal compared with the isocaloric mixed meal.
High‐resolution manometry predicts the success of oesophageal bolus transport and identifies clinically important abnormalities not detected by conventional manometry
Authors: Fox M. , Hebbard G. , Janiak P. , Brasseur J. G. , Ghosh S. , Thumshirn M. , Fried M. , Schwizer W. 
Published: October 2004

AbstractBackground and aims:  High‐resolution manometry (HRM) is a recent development in oesophageal measurement; its value in the clinical setting remains a matter of controversy. (i) We compared the accuracy with which bolus transport could be predicted from conventional manometry and HRM. (ii) The clinical value of HRM was assessed in a series of patients with endoscopy‐negative dysphagia in whom conventional investigations had been non‐diagnostic.Method:  (i) Control subjects and patients with endoscopy‐negative dysphagia underwent concurrent HRM and video‐fluoroscopy. Ninety‐five records were reviewed using HRM with spatiotemporal plot and conventional line plots of the pressure data derived from the same recording. (ii) The HRM and notes of patients with endoscopy‐negative dysphagia and abnormal bolus transport were analysed to identify additional information provided by the new technique.Results:  (i) Receiver operating characteristic analysis demonstrated that HRM predicts the presence of abnormal bolus transport more accurately than conventional manometry. (ii) HRM identified clinically important motor dysfunction not detected by manometry and radiography. These included localized disturbances of peristalsis and abnormal movement of the lower oesophageal sphincter during oesophageal spasm.Conclusion:  The HRM predicts bolus movement more accurately than conventional manometry and identifies clinically relevant oesophageal dysfunction not detected by other investigations including conventional manometry.
Oesophageal transport of solid dosage forms depends on body position, swallowing volume and pharyngeal propulsion velocity
Authors: Osmanoglou E. , van der Voort I. R. , Fach K. , Kosch O. , Bach D. , Hartmann V. , Strenzke A. , Weitschies W. , Wiedenmann B. , Trahms L. , Mönnikes H. 
Published: October 2004

AbstractKnowledge about transit of solid dosage forms (SDF) in the gastrointestinal tract is incomplete. Detection of magnetically marked capsules (MMC) via superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) allows monitoring of oesophageal transport of SDF with high tempospatial resolution. The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of body position, volume at swallowing, and oesophageal motility on orogastric transport of SDF. In 360 measurements we determined tempospatial characteristics of orogastric transit of SDFs by a SQUID device in six volunteers. They swallowed MMCs with various amounts of water in upright and supine position with and without simultaneous oesophageal manometry. Orogastric transit time, oesophageal transport velocity and rate of oesophageal retention of SDF depend on swallowing volume and body position at all experimental conditions. At 50 mL water bolus and in upright position, the retention rate depends on the pharyngeal propulsion velocity, and the transport velocity of MMCs in the oesophageal body are faster than the propulsive oesophageal contractions. Body position, swallowing volume and pharyngeal propulsion velocity markedly influence the oesophageal transport of SDF. They should be taken in upright body position with at least 50 mL of water to minimize entrapment in the oesophagus.
Directed endoscopic mucosal mapping of normal and dysrhythmic gastric slow waves in healthy humans
Authors: Coleski R. , Hasler W. L. 
Published: October 2004

AbstractFrequency and amplitude characteristics of normal and dysrhythmic slow waves in different gastric regions are poorly characterized. Using endoscopic mucosal mapping, we quantified slow wave frequency and power at predetermined sites under control conditions and with glucagon. Twelve healthy volunteers underwent gastroscopy with midazolam. Bipolar recording electrodes were directed to 12, 7, and 2 cm proximal to the pylorus along the greater and lesser curvatures. Dominant frequencies at all sites were 2.96 ± 0.07 cycles min−1 (cpm). Powers of the dominant frequency were 59 ± 7% lower 12 cm vs 2 cm from the pylorus (P < 0.01), but were similar along the greater and lesser curvatures. Glucagon (0.3 mg IV) decreased dominant frequencies (1.40 ± 0.10 cpm, P < 0.01) and elicited power reductions which varied by region (36 ± 37% at 12 cm vs 79 ± 20% at 2 cm, P < 0.01). Comparing dominant frequencies from mucosal recordings and electrogastrography revealed minimal slow wave uncoupling. In conclusion, endoscopic mucosal mapping demonstrates slow wave power gradients from the proximal to distal stomach under normal conditions. Glucagon evokes bradygastria with minimal uncoupling and elicits inhibitory effects on slow wave power which are more potent in the distal antrum. This method provides insight into the mechanisms of action of gastric slow wave dysrhythmic stimuli.
Pacemaker activity from submucosal interstitial cells of Cajal drives high‐frequency and low‐amplitude circular muscle contractions in the mouse proximal colon
Authors: Yoneda S. , Fukui H. , Takaki M. 
Published: October 2004

AbstractThe present study was aimed at elucidating how pacemaker activity (plateau potentials) (mean frequency: 15.9 ± 2.8 times min−1) from submucosal interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC‐SM) control spontaneous contractions in the mouse proximal colon. Mechanical activities in the circular muscle direction showed high‐frequency (mean frequency: 15.6 ± 2.7 times min−1) and low‐amplitude (mean amplitude: 0.01 ± 0.005 g) (HFLA) rhythmic contractions. Simultaneous recordings of circular muscle mechanical activity and electrical activity from ICC‐SM revealed that HFLA contractions were synchronized with plateau potentials (mean frequency: 15.9 ± 2.8 times min−1). Although low‐frequency (3.5 ± 2.1 times min−1) and high‐amplitude (0.12 ± 0.03 g) (LFHA) contractions in both longitudinal and circular muscle directions were synchronized with burst of action potentials in both muscle cells, these LFHA contractions were not synchronous with plateau potentials. Intracellular Ca2+ release from the internal stores through IP3 receptors is not a major factor to generate both action potentials differently from plateau potentials. Neither tetrodotoxin nor atropine affected the plateau potentials. The results reveal that the pacemaker activity from ICC‐SM drives only the spontaneous HFLA (one‐tenth amplitude of the LFHA circular and longitudinal muscle contractions) circular muscle contractions without control by enteric nerves.
Real‐time detection of serotonin release from enterochromaffin cells of the guinea‐pig ileum
Authors: Bertrand P. P. 
Published: October 2004

AbstractSerotonin (5‐hydroxytryptamine; 5‐HT) containing enterochromaffin (EC) cells may detect chemical or mechanical stimuli in the intestinal lumen and respond with release of 5‐HT. The aim of this study was to use real‐time electrochemical detection methods to detect release of 5‐HT from small numbers of EC cells. In guinea‐pig ileum, basal release of 5‐HT from the unstimulated, unparalyzed intestine was composed of individual release events (8.4 ± 1.8 events, 0.33 ± 0.06 Hz) of different amplitudes but with similar kinetics. Local compression of the mucosa with the electrode evoked peak 5‐HT release of 12.3 ± 2.8 μmol L−1 with a sustained release of 3.0 ± 0.7 μmol L−1. Brief application of acetylcholine (ACh) or carbachol elicited a transient peak (5.7 ± 1.3 μmol L−1 occurring at 35 ± 18 s, n = 9) followed by cyclic release of 5‐HT (9.7 ± 2.2 events, 0.40 ± 0.13 Hz, n = 6). This study shows that the release of 5‐HT occurs rapidly as individual events from a small number of cells and can reach very high concentrations locally.
Folate synthesis in plants: the last step of the p‐aminobenzoate branch is catalyzed by a plastidial aminodeoxychorismate lyase
Authors: Basset Gilles J.C. , Ravanel Stéphane , Quinlivan Eoin P. , White Ruth , Giovannoni James J. , Rébeillé Fabrice , Nichols Brian P. , Shinozaki Kazuo , Seki Motoaki , Gregory Jesse F. , Hanson Andrew D. 
Published: October 2004

SummaryIn plants, the last step in the synthesis of p‐aminobenzoate (PABA) moiety of folate remains to be elucidated. In Escherichia coli, this step is catalyzed by the PabC protein, a β‐lyase that converts 4‐amino‐4‐deoxychorismate (ADC) – the reaction product of the PabA and PabB enzymes – to PABA and pyruvate. So far, the only known plant enzyme involved in PABA synthesis is ADC synthase, which has fused domains homologous to E. coli PabA and PabB and is located in plastids. ADC synthase has no lyase activity, implying that plants have a separate ADC lyase. No such lyase is known in any eukaryote. Genomic and phylogenetic approaches identified Arabidopsis and tomato cDNAs encoding PabC homologs with putative chloroplast‐targeting peptides. These cDNAs were shown to encode functional enzymes by complementation of an E. coli pabC mutant, and by demonstrating that the partially purified recombinant proteins convert ADC to PABA. Plant ADC lyase is active as dimer and is not feedback inhibited by physiologic concentrations of PABA, its glucose ester, or folates. The full‐length Arabidopsis ADC lyase polypeptide was translocated into isolated pea chloroplasts and, when fused to green fluorescent protein, directed the passenger protein to Arabidopsis chloroplasts in transient expression experiments. These data indicate that ADC lyase, like ADC synthase, is present in plastids. As shown previously for the ADC synthase transcript, the level of ADC lyase mRNA in the pericarp of tomato fruit falls sharply as ripening advances, suggesting that the expression of these two enzymes is coregulated.
Alterations of mast cell mediator production and release by gamma‐linolenic and docosahexaenoic acid
Authors: GUECK THOMAS , SEIDEL ANJA , BAUMANN DANIELA , MEISTER ANTJE , FUHRMANN HERBERT 
Published: October 2004

Abstract  The purpose of our investigations was to evaluate the supposed beneficial effects of gamma‐linolenic (GLA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in a canine mastocytoma cell line (C2) as a model for canine atopic dermatitis. Cells were cultured in a basic medium (DEH) and in DEH supplemented with 14.3 µm GLA (DEH–GLA) or 14.3 µm DHA (DEH–DHA) for 8 days. Chymase and tryptase activity, as well as histamine and prostaglandin (PG)E2 release were measured. To stimulate histamine and PGE2 release, cells were incubated with the wasp venom peptide mastoparan (50 µm) for 30 min. GLA increased tryptase activity and decreased histamine release after C2 stimulation. DHA diminished PGE2 production in activated C2. These results support the prescription of GLA‐ and DHA‐enriched diets to reduce inflammatory signs in canine atopic dermatitis.
Determination of threshold concentrations of allergens and evaluation of two different histamine concentrations in canine intradermal testing
Authors: HENSEL PATRICK , AUSTEL MICHAELA , MEDLEAU LINDA , ZHAO YING , VIDYASHANKAR ANAND 
Published: October 2004

Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine the optimal histamine concentration and allergen threshold concentrations for canine intradermal testing. Thirty healthy dogs were tested using two different concentrations of histamine and four different concentrations of each allergen. The optimal histamine concentration was determined to be 1:10 000 w/v. The threshold concentration was at least 1750 PNU/mL for all tested grasses, weeds, trees, moulds and insects, except for fleas which was as least 1:500 w/v. ForDermatophagoides pteronyssinus, the optimal threshold concentration was 250 PNU/mL, whereas forDermatophagoides farinaeandTyrophagus putrescentiae, it was 100 PNU/mL. Threshold concentration for all epidermals except human dander was at least 1250 PNU/mL. The optimal threshold concentration for human dander was 300 PNU/mL. Our results suggest that the currently used 1:100 000 w/v concentration of histamine and the 1000 PNU/mL concentration for most grasses, weeds, trees, moulds, epidermals and insects may not be appropriate for canine intradermal testing.
CLASSICAL NILPOTENT ORBITS AS HYPERKÄHLER QUOTIENTS
Authors: KOBAK PIOTR Z. , SWANN ANDREW 
Published: October 2004

We show that on an arbitrary nilpotent orbit [Formula: see text] in [Formula: see text] where [Formula: see text] is a direct sum of classical simple Lie algebras, there is a G-invariant hyperKähler structure obtainable as a hyperKäher quotient of the flat hyperKähler manifold ℝ4N≅ℍN. Coïncidences between various low-dimensional simple Lie groups lead to some nilpotent orbits being described as hyperKähler quotients (in some cases in fact finite quotients) of other nilpotent orbits. For example, from the construction we are able to read off pairs of orbits [Formula: see text] in different classical Lie algebras [Formula: see text] such that there is a finite [Formula: see text]-equivariant surjection [Formula: see text] between the orbit closures. We include a table listing examples of hyperKähler quotients between small nilpotent orbits. The above-mentioned results have consequences in quaternionic Kähler geometry: it is known that nilpotent orbits in complex semisimple Lie algebras give rise to quaternionic Kähler manifolds. Our approach gives a more direct proof of this in the classical case as these manifolds turn out to be quaternionic Kähler quotients of quaternionic projective spaces. We find that many of these manifolds can also be constructed as quaternionic Kähler quotients of complex Grassmannians [Formula: see text].
MOMENTUM MAPPINGS AND POISSON COHOMOLOGY
Authors: GINZBURG VIKTOR L. 
Published: October 2004

We analyze the question of existence and uniqueness of equivariant momentum mappings for Poisson actions of Poisson Lie groups. A necessary and sufficient condition for the equivariant momentum mapping to be unique is given. The existence problem is solved under some extra hypotheses, for example, when the action preserves the Poisson structure. In this case, the problem is closely related to the triviality of the induced group action on the Poisson cohomology. This action is shown to be trivial whenever the group is compact or semisimple. Conceptually, these results rely upon a version of “Poisson calculus” developed here to make one-forms on a Poisson manifold induce a “flow” preserving the Poisson structure. In the general case, obstructions to the existence of an infinitesimal version of an equivariant momentum mapping are found. Using Lie algebra cohomology with coefficients in Fréchet modules, we show that the obstructions vanish, and the infinitesimal mapping exists, when the group is compact semisimple. We also prove the rigidity of compact group actions preserving the Poisson structure on a compact manifold and calculate the Poisson cohomology of the Poisson homogeneous space [Formula: see text].