bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Hypocotyl growth orientation in blue light is determined by phytochrome A inhibition of gravitropism and phototropin promotion of phototropism
Authors: Lariguet Patricia , Fankhauser Christian 
Published: November 2004

SummaryHow developing seedlings integrate gravitropic and phototropic stimuli to determine their direction of growth is poorly understood. In this study we tested whether blue light influences hypocotyl gravitropism in Arabidopsis. Phototropin1 (phot1) triggers phototropism under low fluence rates of blue light but, at least in the dark, has no effect on gravitropism. By analyzing the growth orientation of phototropism‐deficient seedlings in response to gravitropic and phototropic stimulations we show that blue light not only triggers phototropism but also represses hypocotyl gravitropism. At low fluence rates of blue light phot1 mutants were agravitropic. In contrast, phyAphot1 double mutants grew exclusively according to gravity demonstrating that phytochrome A (phyA) is necessary to inhibit gravitropism. Analyses of phot1cry1cry2 triple mutants indicate that cryptochromes play a minor role in this response. Thus the optimal growth orientation of hypocotyls is determined by the action of phyA‐suppressing gravitropism and the phototropin‐triggering phototropism. It has long been known that phytochromes promote phototropism but the mechanism involved is still unknown. Our data show that by inhibiting gravitropism phyA acts as a positive regulator of phototropism.
A 22‐mer primer enhances discriminatory power of AP‐PCR fingerprinting technique in characterization of leptospires
Authors: Roy Subarna , Biswas Debabrata , Vijayachari P. , Sugunan A. P. , Sehgal Subhash C. 
Published: November 2004

SummaryObjectives  To evaluate the discriminatory power and usefulness of arbitrarily primed‐polymerase chain reaction (AP‐PCR) characterization of leptospires with M16 primer.Methods  AP‐PCR fingerprints of 20 reference strains of Leptospira representing 20 different serovars belonging to seven genospecies (Leptospira interrogans, 11; L. noguchii, 2; L. borgpetersenii, 1; L. santarosai, 2; L. biflexa, 2; L. kirschneri, 1; L. weilii, 1) were generated by employing M16 primer. Fingerprints generated with this primer were compared with those generated with two other commonly used primers PB1, and L10. An attempt was also made to type 20 leptospiral isolates with the M16 primer.Results and conclusion  Fingerprints with M16 primer could not only differentiate between strains of different genospecies, but also between strains of the same genospecies belonging to different serovars. While two commonly used primers (PB1 and L10) failed to discriminate between some of the different serovars belonging to the same genospecies, this primer was able to generate discriminatory fingerprints for all strains tested. All 20 Leptospira isolates, recovered from patients in Andaman Islands, could also be typed by fingerprints generated with the M16 primer. The discriminatory power of M16 primer adds more specificity to the rapidity of this system of characterization and can be used as an excellent tool in epidemiological studies on Leptospira.
Fifty‐year mortality trends in three rural African villages
Authors: Rayco‐Solon Pura , Moore Sophie E. , Fulford Anthony J. , Prentice Andrew M. 
Published: November 2004

SummaryObjective  To determine differential improvements in mortality rates according to age, and to discuss differences in neonatal and post‐neonatal mortality rates, using longitudinal data from the past 50 years in three rural Gambian villages.Methods  All villagers whose date of birth was recorded were followed up until death or October 1997. A Lexis expansion was performed to categorize age: early neonatal, late neonatal, infant, 1–4 years, 5–14 years and 15 or more years. Calendar time was divided into three periods – prior to 1975, 1975–1984 and after 1985, representing different levels of clinical care. Cox regression and likelihood‐ratio test were used to model the hazards ratios.Results  There were 3981 subjects included in the analysis with a total of 59 002 person‐years follow‐up. There was a dramatic decrease in neonatal (44 to 15), infant (162 to 36) and under‐five mortality rates (397–66 per 1000) from pre‐1975 to the present. The disproportionate decrease in the mortality rates means that neonatal deaths accounted for a greater percentage of post‐natal deaths in later years. There was a marked seasonality in mortality rates with significantly more deaths in the ‘hungry’ season prior to 1975 (odds = 1.87; 95% CI = 1.62–2.17) and from 1975 to 1984 (odds = 1.84; 95% CI = 1.34–2.53). This seasonality of death has diminished in recent years (odds = 1.23; 95% CI = 0.85–1.76).Conclusion  Our analysis indicates a dramatic reduction in mortality rates and an attenuation in the seasonality of death. It is likely that the efficient implementation of basic currently available health measures was one of the key elements in achieving such a major reduction in mortality.
Treatment of maternal syphilis in rural South Africa: effect of multiple doses of benzathine penicillin on pregnancy loss
Authors: Myer Landon , Abdool Karim Salim S. , Lombard Carl , Wilkinson David 
Published: November 2004

SummaryObjectives  Despite few data, the treatment of syphilis in pregnant women using a single dose of benzathine penicillin is the standard of care in many resource‐poor settings. We examined the effect of various doses of benzathine penicillin on pregnancy loss among women with a positive Rapid Plasma Reagin (RPR) test result in a rural South African district.Methods  All pregnant women making their first antenatal care visit during pregnancy were screened for syphilis using the RPR test. Those testing positive were counselled to receive three weekly doses of benzathine penicillin, and received a partner notification card. Pregnancy outcomes were determined from facility records or home visits where necessary.Results  Of 8917 women screened, 1043 (12%) had reactive syphilis serology; of those with titre data available, 30% had titres of 1:8 or greater. While 41% (n = 430) of women received all three doses as counselled, 30% (n = 312) received only one dose, and 20% (n = 207) did not return to the clinic to receive treatment. Among the 947 women with pregnancy outcome data available, there were 17 miscarriages and 48 perinatal deaths observed. There was a strong trend towards reduced risk of pregnancy loss among women receiving multiple doses of penicillin (adjusted OR for perinatal mortality for each additional dose received, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.48–0.84).Conclusions  While this association requires further investigation, these results suggest that there may be substantial benefit to providing multiple doses of benzathine penicillin to treat maternal syphilis in this setting.
Total versus subtotal thyroidectomy for the management of benign multinodular goiter in an endemic region
Authors: Colak Tahsin , Akca Tamer , Kanik Arzu , Yapici Davud , Aydin Suha 
Published: November 2004

Background:  Because controversy still continuous to surround use of total thyroidectomy for the management of benign multinodular goiter, the present study aims to prospectively compare the safety and efficacy of total thyroidectomy with subtotal thyroidectomy.Methods:  A total of 200 consecutive patients with benign multinodular goiter were assigned to have either total thyroidectomy (n = 105) or subtotal thyroidectomy (n = 95) based on preoperative evaluation, intraoperative macroscopic findings and nodular dissemination. The patients with no healthy tissue or nodules localized in the dorsal part of the gland, which are usually left during normal subtotal resection, were assigned to the total thyroidectomy group. Demographic details, biochemical findings, indications for operation, operating time, specimen weight, complications and hospital stay were noted.Results:  There was no significant difference in the sex, hormonal status or duration of goiter between the two groups (P = 0.74, P = 0.59 and P = 0.59, respectively). The mean operating time was longer (148.52 min ± 51.10 vs 135.10 min ± 32.47, P = 0.03), and the mean weight of the specimens was greater (228.40 g ± 229.91 vs 157.01 g ± 151.23, P = 0.01) for total rather than subtotal thyroidectomy. Either temporary recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) palsy or hypoparathyroidism occurred in 10 (9.3%) or 12 (11.4%) of the patients undergoing total compared with six (6.3%) or nine (9.5%) of the patients undergoing subtotal thyroidectomy (P = 0.40 and P = 0.65, respectively). Either permanent RLN palsy or hypoparathyroidism was observed in one patient undergoing total thyroidectomy (P = 0.34 for each comparison). The mean hospital stay was longer in the total thyroidectomy group (2.24 days ± 1.18 vs 1.89 days ± 0.72 for subtotal thyroidectomy, P = 0.01).Conclusions:  The present study shows that total thyroidectomy can be performed without increasing risk of complication, and it is an acceptable alternative for benign multinodular goiter, especially in endemic regions, where patients present with a huge multinodular goiter.
Paediatric trauma teams in Australia
Authors: Wong Kenneth , Petchell Jeffrey 
Published: November 2004

Background:  Trauma teams have been associated with improved survival probability of paediatric trauma patients. The present study seeks to estimate the use of trauma teams in Australian paediatric tertiary referral centres and describe their medical composition, leadership and criteria for activation.Methods:  Australian paediatric tertiary referral centres were identified. A structured questionnaire assessing the presence, composition and means of activation of a trauma team was mailed to the ‘Director, Emergency Department’ of all identified hospitals. Three months later, all hospitals were contacted by telephone to complete and verify data collection.Results:  Questionnaires were distributed to eight hospitals. Seventy‐five per cent had an established trauma team. Hospitals without a trauma team claimed to have insufficient doctors to form a team and insufficient trauma caseload to justify a team. All trauma teams were potentially activated by prehospital paramedic data (field triage) and required a combination of anatomical, physiological and mechanistic criteria for activation. The two methods of mobilizing a trauma team were by dispatching a common call onto individual pagers (66%) or a specific trauma pager (33%) carried by trauma team members. Fifty per cent of hospitals had a two‐tier, stratified trauma team response. All teams consisted of emergency, surgical and intensive care unit registrars. Trauma team leaders were emergency medicine specialists/registrars (33%), surgical registrars (33%) and non‐defined (33%). Consultant surgeons were not members of any trauma team. Eighty‐three per cent of trauma teams consisted of more junior members after hours. Fifty per cent of hospitals did not have a surgical registrar on site outside of business hours. Eighty‐eight per cent of hospitals engaged in some form of trauma audit.Conclusions:  Trauma teams are utilized by most Australian paediatric tertiary referral centres, with fairly uniform medical composition and criteria for activation. Paediatric surgeons presently have limited leadership roles and membership of Australian paediatric trauma teams.
Adhesional small bowel obstruction after colorectal surgery
Authors: Ryan Matthew D. , Wattchow David , Walker Margaret , Hakendorf Paul 
Published: November 2004

Background:  Acute clinical indicators of complications in colorectal surgery can be readily attained but it is much harder to gather indicators of long‐term outcomes such as small bowel obstruction (SBO). However, with improved in‐hospital data collection and coding such information is becoming available. The aim of the present study was to examine our own hospital database for SBO rates post‐colorectal surgery.Methods:  The database was searched and then the relevant medical records were reviewed of all patients admitted to Flinders Medical Centre (Bedford Park, Australia) between July 1999 and November 2002 with a diagnosis of SBO following a colorectal procedure during this same time period.Results:  There were 21 patients that accounted for 28 readmissions from a total colorectal procedure group of 583 patients. The arbitrary subgroups were: 13/325 (4%) for colonic resections; 7/186 (3.7%) for rectal resections; 0/12 (0%) for laparotomies/other procedures; and 1/39 (2.6%) for stoma formation/reversals. The overall SBO rate requiring readmission was therefore 3.6%/pt in the 3 years. There was a large variation in the first readmission interval, 38% occurred within 3 months, 43% between 3 and 12 months, and 19% after 1 year. At the first readmission 38% of patients had operative treatment. The mean length of stay was 6.12 days for non‐operative vs 21.62 days for operative treatment.Conclusion:  The reported rate of SBO of 3.6% (at 3 years time interval) is in accordance with other studies. With 38% of patients being treated operatively at first admission there is good acceptance for conservative management in non‐strangulated SBO. The prolonged hospital stay for patients needing surgery warrants further investigation.
Public Debt, Migration, and Shortsighted Politicians
Authors: Schultz Christian , Sjöström Tomas 
Published: November 2004

AbstractWe analyze a model where local public debt levels are set by politicians who are chosen in local elections. Migration causes an externality across districts, and leads to overaccumulation of local public debt. Since debt is a strategic substitute, the median voters in each district prefer shortsighted political leaders who “borrow and spend,” thereby exacerbating the problem of overaccumulation of local public debt.
Effect of preoperative oral sustained‐release morphine sulfate on postoperative morphine requirements in elective spine surgery
Authors: Bellissant Eric , Estèbe Jean‐Pierre , Sébille Véronique , Ecoffey Claude 
Published: November 2004

AbstractSustained‐release morphine sulfate (SRMS) is a painkiller used in oncology. The purpose of our study was to assess its efficacy on postoperative morphine requirements in elective spine surgery. This was a placebo‐controlled, randomized, double‐blind study. Adults scheduled for spine surgery under general anesthesia were orally administered SRMS (30 mg) or a placebo 2 h before surgery. Primary endpoint was postoperative cumulated morphine consumption through patient‐controlled analgesia (PCA) during the 12 h following extubation. Statistical analysis was performed using a sequential method, the triangular test. The study was stopped after the sixth analysis (51 patients had been included; placebo: 26, SRMS: 25). Age, weight, sex ratio, type of surgery, intra‐operative sufentanil consumption, anesthesia duration and time to extubation were similar in the two groups. Morphine consumption through PCA during the 12 h following extubation was significantly lower in the SRMS group (mean ± SD: 10.5 ± 7.6 mg) compared with placebo group (15.6 ± 6.0 mg, P = 0.016, sequential analysis). Corresponding unbiased median estimates were 10.6 and 15.8 mg in SRMS and placebo groups, respectively. Morphine consumption through PCA during the 24 h following extubation was also significantly lower in the SRMS group (15.9 ± 12.7 mg) compared with the placebo group (23.8 ± 10.9 mg, P = 0.032). Vigilance, nausea and respiratory rate 3 and 6 h after extubation were similar in the two groups. A preoperative oral administration of SRMS (30 mg) induces a 33% reduction of postoperative morphine requirements in patients scheduled for spine surgery without inducing side effects.
Ostrich (Struthio camelus) chick and grower nutrition
Authors: COOPER Ross G. 
Published: November 2004

ABSTRACTThe ostrich (Struthio camelus) is an important agricultural animal. The successful raising of ostriches from hatching to grower to breeder bird stage requires high standards of nutrition, and the producer should be knowledgeable about how the ingredient will provide the essential nutrients for growth and development, the utilization capacity of each nutrient and expected performance outcomes. Correct nutrition of chicks is critical, as they are most vulnerable up to the age of 3 months. Correct nutrition in growers (3–12 months) is important for the attainment of healthy breeding birds. Detailed is an analysis of studies on correct balance of essential nutrients, protein/energy inclusions and of fiber.
Temperament assessments of lactating cows in three contexts and their applicability as management traits
Authors: UETAKE Katsuji , KILGOUR Robert J. , ISHIWATA Toshie , TANAKA Toshio 
Published: November 2004

ABSTRACTThe applicability of three behavioral assessments of lactating cows as management traits was verified. Flight responses to an approaching human (flight starting and walking distances, and flight walking speed) at pasture, entrance order into the milking parlour and step‐kick behavior to cup attachment were observed for 713 subject cows in six Australasian dairy farms. On all farms, cows were kept at pasture without any barn housing. Flight responses were measured once, and other assessments were recorded repeatedly for each subject cow. A principal component analysis was performed to verify whether these assessments appear to measure the same trait. A two‐way anova and correlation analyses were then used to test whether obtained principal components were affected by farm, age and milking stage of cows. Australian and some Japanese herd management systems were compared for flight distance using a one‐way anova and a multiple comparison test. Three behavioral assessments clustered in different principal components, indicating that these assessments did not appear to measure the same trait. Factor scores of four principal components were affected by farm (all, P < 0.01), and the scores of principal component 1, interpreted as fear of humans (r = −0.16, P < 0.01), and component 2, interpreted as aversion to cup attachment (r = −0.28, P < 0.01), were moderately correlated with age. These results emphasize the necessity of data standardization to reduce the non‐genetic variation resulting from these two affectors. The flight distance at pasture of herds in Australia (6.06 ± 2.85 m) was significantly (P < 0.05) different from the flight distances measured in paddocks (1.50 ± 0.82 m) and free‐stall barns (1.22 ± 1.09 m) in Japan. However, mean distances were not different between the Australian herds at pasture and the Japanese herds at pasture in tie‐stall barns (3.96 ± 2.16 m) or in a free‐stall barn (4.03 ± 1.79 m). This difference could be a result of the fact that only a single measurement was made, so that repeated measurement might improve the usefulness of flight distance as a management trait. In conclusion, it was verified that step‐kick behavior to cup attachment and flight responses to human approach were, although they have some affectors, applicable as objective management traits in lactating cows.
Differential requirements for calcium and Src family kinases in platelet GPIIb/IIIa activation and thromboxane generation downstream of different G-protein pathways
Authors: Dorsam Robert T. , Kim Soochong , Murugappan Swaminathan , Rachoor Swathi , Shankar Haripriya , Jin Jianguo , Kunapuli Satya P. 
Published: November 2004

AbstractG12/13 or Gq signaling pathways activate platelet GPIIb/IIIa when combined with Gi signaling. We tested whether combined Gi and Gz pathways also cause GPIIb/IIIa activation and compared the signaling requirements of these events. Platelet aggregation occurred by combined stimulation of Gi and Gz pathways in human platelets and in P2Y1-deficient and Gαq-deficient mouse platelets, confirming that the combination of Gi and Gz signaling causes platelet aggregation. When Gi stimulation was combined with Gz stimulation, there was a small mobilization of intracellular calcium. Chelation of intracellular calcium decreased the extent of this platelet aggregation, whereas it abolished the Gq plus Gi-mediated platelet aggregation. Costimulation of Gi plus Gz pathways also caused thromboxane generation that was dependent on outside-in signaling and was inhibited by PP2, a Src family tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Src family tyrosine kinase inhibitors also inhibited platelet aggregation and decreased the PAC-1 binding caused by costimulation of Gi and Gz signaling pathways in aspirin-treated platelets. However, Src family kinase inhibitors did not affect Gq plus Gi-mediated platelet aggregation. We conclude that the combination of Gi plus Gz pathways have different requirements than Gq plus Gi pathways for calcium and Src family kinases in GPIIb/IIIa activation and thromboxane production.
Donor T-cell production of RANTES significantly contributes to the development of idiopathic pneumonia syndrome after allogeneic stem cell transplantation
Authors: Hildebrandt Gerhard C. , Olkiewicz Krystyna M. , Choi Sung , Corrion Leigh A. , Clouthier Shawn G. , Liu Chen , Serody Jonathan S. , Cooke Kenneth R. 
Published: November 2004

AbstractIdiopathic pneumonia syndrome (IPS) is a major cause of mortality following allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT). Clinical and experimental data support a role for conditioning-induced inflammation and alloreactive T-cell responses in IPS pathophysiology, but the mechanisms by which donor leukocytes are ultimately recruited to the lung are not fully understood. RANTES is a chemokine ligand that is up-regulated during inflammation and promotes the recruitment of T cells and macrophages to sites of tissue damage. Using a lethally irradiated murine SCT model (B6 → B6D2F1), we evaluated the role of donor leukocyte–derived RANTES in the development of IPS. Pulmonary mRNA and protein levels of RANTES were significantly elevated in allo-SCT recipients compared to syngeneic controls and were associated with enhanced mRNA expression of CCR5 and CCR1 and with inflammatory cell infiltration into the lung. Allo-SCT with RANTES-/- donor cells significantly decreased IPS and improved survival. Combinations of allogeneic wild-type or RANTES-/- bone marrow with wild-type or RANTES-/- T cells demonstrated that the expression of RANTES by donor T cells was critical to the development of lung injury after SCT. These data reveal that donor T cells can help regulate leukocyte recruitment to the lung after allo-SCT and provide a possible mechanism through which inflammation engendered by SCT conditioning regimens is linked to allo-specific T-cell responses during the development of IPS.
The impact of discharge to a care home on longer term stroke outcomes
Authors: Leeds Lesley , Meara Jolyon , Hobson Peter 
Published: November 2004

Objective: To examine the impact of discharge to a care home on the longer term recovery after stroke. Design: An uncontrolled naturalistic study of stroke survivors, matched for stroke severity, discharged from a stroke rehabilitation unit to either a care home (n=65) or to their own home (n=65). Stroke-related variables were assessed in both groups shortly before discharge and again at six months after discharge. Setting: A stroke rehabilitation unit, care homes in the community and subjects' own homes. Outcome measures: Functional activities of daily living (ADL), cognitive function, depression, health service utilization, health-related quality of life. Results: Despite low levels of rehabilitation in both groups, at six months subjects discharged home had a better functional improvement in ADL (Barthel score 14.9 compared with 10.8) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) (five-item EuroQol score 0.60 compared with 0.35). Conclusions: Poorer outcome in subjects discharged to care homes may be remediable and could respond to better rehabilitative efforts and increased social support and encouragement for this group of stroke survivors.