bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Laboratory performance of haemophilia centres in developing countries: 3 years’ experience of the World Federation of Hemophilia External Quality Assessment Scheme
Authors: Jennings I. , Kitchen S. , Woods T. A. L. , Preston F. E. 
Published: March 2003

A World Federation of Hemophilia External Quality Assessment Scheme has been established to promote high standards of laboratory performance in haemophilia centres worldwide. Results from 21 International Haemophilia Training Centres (IHTCs) provide target values for the prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), factor VIII:C, IX:C and von Willebrand factor (VWF) assays, against which the performance of Haemophilia Centres in developing countries (HCs) can be assessed.Eight surveys were distributed over a 3‐year period between 1994 and 1997. A higher proportion of HCs failed to identify an abnormal PT or APTT in samples from donors with mild deficiencies of the extrinsic and intrinsic systems, respectively. For factor VIII:C and IX:C assays, agreement between HC results was consistently poorer than between IHTCs. However, improvement in between‐centre agreement could be seen for two samples distributed on more than one occasion. A minority of HCs perform assays for VWF, and a questionnaire revealed equipment and reagent costs as limiting the range of assays which could be carried out in several centres. However, agreement was in some cases better between those HCs that did perform VWF assays than between IHTCs. The problems of screening test sensitivity and between‐centre agreement for factor assays need to be addressed, together with the limitations which prevent HCs from performing a full range of tests in the diagnosis and treatment of bleeding disorders.
Extensor supracondylar femoral osteotomy as treatment for flexed haemophilic knee
Authors: Caviglia H.A. , Perez‐Bianco R. , Galatro G. , Duhalde C. , Tezanos‐Pinto M. 
Published: March 2003

The experience with extensor supracondylar femoral osteotomy as treatment for the flexed haemophilic knee is presented with the description of 19 patients treated during a 30‐year period (1968–98).The average age of the patients was 16 (8–35 years), and the average age follow‐up was 13 years (3–30 years). Six patients had flexion fixed deformity while the rest presented 40° average range of motion (10–75°). In 13 patients a single osteotomy without internal fixation was performed, in one an osteosynthesis with a condylar plate and in five stabilization was achieved by means of Blount staples. Previous surgery was performed in two patients with patello‐femoral ankylosis. The osteotomy site was consolidated in every patient and the deformity was corrected. Two bleeding complications were observed: one haemarthrosis and one psoas haematoma.Flexion relapsed in one patient who underwent another procedure after 12 years. One patient presented with a peroneal nerve paralysis; another one a genu recurvartum; which required flexor osteotomy.The extensor supracondylar femoral osteotomy is a procedure that aligns the limb with scarce modification of articular mobility.
Biogeographic relationships of primates on South‐East Asian islands
Authors: Harcourt A. H. 
Published: March 2003

SummaryThe number of primate species and genera on thirty‐one south‐east Asian islands west of the Wallace Line, including Sulawesi, is highly significantly related to surface area of the islands, as expected, but the z value (slope) of each relationship is low (0.21 for species). No association exists between number of taxa and distance to nearest mainland, or to nearest larger island. Excluding the non‐Sunda Shelf islands only negligibly changes the relationships. A significant correlation exists between island size and median taxon's body mass, with taxa of 10 kg or more occurring on only the two largest islands. Hence, the primate community changes greatly with island size. The existence of several genera, but no congeners, on small islands, and a checkerboard distribution of the two nocturnal genera (Nycticebus and Tarsius), hints at interspecific competition as a cause of extinction. It is suggested that for comparative purposes, genera/area analyses might be more useful than species/area analyses, because genera are more taxonomically stable, perhaps more comparable across deeper taxa, and might be a better indication of degree of variability.
Simulated effects of low atmospheric CO2 on structure and composition of North American vegetation at the Last Glacial Maximum
Authors: Sharon A. Cowling 
Published: March 2003

Abstract1. Physiological experiments have indicated that the lower CO2 levels of the last glaciation (200 μmol mol−1) probably reduced plant water‐use efficiency (WUE) and that they combined with increased aridity and colder temperatures to alter vegetation structure and composition at the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM).2. The effects of low CO2 on vegetation structure were investigated using BIOME3 simulations of leaf area index (LAI), and a two‐by‐two factorial experimental design (modern/LGM CO2, modern/LGM climate).3. Using BIOME3, and a combination of lowered CO2 and simulated LGM climate (from the NCAR‐CCM1 model), results in the introduction of additional xeric vegetation types between open woodland and closed‐canopy forest along a latitudinal gradient in eastern North America.4. The simulated LAI of LGM vegetation was 25–60% lower in many regions of central and eastern United States relative to modern climate, indicating that glacial vegetation was much more open than today.5. Comparison of factorial simulations show that low atmospheric CO2 has the potential to alter vegetation structure (LAI) to a greater extent than LGM climate.6. If the magnitude of LAI reductions simulated for glacial North America were global, then low atmospheric CO2 may have promoted atmospheric warming and increased aridity, through alteration of rates of water and heat exchange with the atmosphere.
The fifteenth‐ and twentieth‐century colonization of the Basin of Mexico by the Great‐tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus)
Authors: Christensen Alexander F. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractHistorical evidence indicates that Great‐tailed Grackles colonized the Basin of Mexico from the Gulf Coast lowlands in the fifteenth century. They were probably assisted by an intentional introduction, but colonization succeeded because of anthropogenic habitat alterations over the previous two centuries. During the Colonial period, grackles withdrew from the Basin, only to recolonize it in recent decades. This withdrawal was also due probably to changes in land use, including drainage of much of the water from the Basin's lakes.
Climatic and biotic controls on annual carbon storage in Amazonian ecosystems
Authors: Tian H. , Melillo J. M. , Kicklighter D. W. , McGuire A. D. , Helfrich Iii J. , Moore Iii B. , Vörösmarty C. J. 
Published: March 2003

Abstract

The role of undisturbed tropical land ecosystems in the global carbon budget is not well understood. It has been suggested that interannual climate variability can affect the capacity of these ecosystems to store carbon in the short term. In this paper, we use a transient version of the Terrestrial Ecosystem Model (TEM) to estimate annual carbon storage in undisturbed Amazonian ecosystems during the period 1980–94, and to understand the underlying causes of the year‐to‐year variations in net carbon storage for this region.
Effect of global atmospheric carbon dioxide on glacial–interglacial vegetation change
Authors: Bennett K. D. , Willis K. J. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractGlobal vegetation changes at the time‐scale of the Earth's orbital variations (104–105 years) have been interpreted as a direct effect of consequential climatic changes, especially temperature. At mid‐ and high latitudes, the evidence from fossil data and general circulation models (GCMs) supporting this hypothesis is strong, but at low latitudes there is a major discrepancy. GCMs predict temperature changes that are less than those inferred from palaeoclimatic data, including the plant fossil record. However, changes in atmospheric CO2 concentrations can account for a high proportion of the low‐latitude vegetation change hitherto attributed to temperature change, and may thus explain the discrepancy. The implications of this finding are considerable for understanding patterns of macroevolution and ecosystem development throughout the geological record.
Characterization of chemokine receptor expression and cytokine production in circulating CD4+ T cells from patients with atopic dermatitis: up‐regulation of C‐C chemokine receptor 4 in atopic dermatitis
Authors: Okazaki H. , Kakurai M. , Hirata D. , Sato H. , Kamimura T. , Onai N. , Matsushima K. , Nakagawa H. , Kano S. , Minota S. 
Published: March 2003

SummaryBackground Th2 and Th1 cells have been suggested to express CCR3/CCR4 and CCR5/CXCR3, respectively.Objective We examined CCR3, CCR4, CCR5 and CXCR3 expression and cytokine production in peripheral blood CD4+ T cells from patients with atopic dermatitis (AD), which has been postulated to be a Th2‐type cell‐mediated disease, and then analysed the possible correlation between these values and the levels of several clinical parameters.Methods Intracellular cytokine production and chemokine receptor expression in peripheral blood CD4+ T cells from 40 AD patients and 20 sex‐ and age‐matched healthy control subjects were studied by flow cytometry.Results The frequencies of IL‐4‐ and IL‐13‐producing CD4+ T cells from patients with AD were significantly higher than those from healthy control subjects (IL‐4:3.9 ± 2.1% vs. 1.6 ± 0.7%, P = 0.0005, IL‐13:4.0 ± 2.1% vs. 1.8 ± 0.8%, P = 0.0023), whereas the frequencies of IL‐2‐ and IFN‐γ‐producing CD4+ T cells were significantly decreased in AD patients (IL‐2:38.1 ± 10.3% vs. 51.3 ± 6.3%, P = 0.0003, IFN‐γ: 9.9 ± 3.5% vs. 26.4 ± 4.6%, P < 0.0001). The percentage of CCR4+ cells in CD4+ CD45RO+ T cells in AD patients was significantly higher than that in healthy control subjects (24.4 ± 8.0% vs. 10.9 ± 2.3%, P < 0.0001) and was correlated positively with the total serum IgE, serum lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) level, eosinophil number, eruption score, and IL‐4 and IL‐13 secretion in CD4+ T cells, and inversely with IL‐2 and IFN‐γ secretion in CD4+ T cells. In contrast, CCR3 was not detected on circulating CD4+ T cells even in AD patients. On the other hand, the percentage of CCR5+ or CXCR3+ cells in CD4+ CD45RO+ T cells in AD patients was significantly decreased (CCR5:23.2 ± 7.0% vs. 28.4 ± 5.4%, P = 0.023, CXCR3:29.9 ± 11.4% vs. 38.5 ± 6.7%, P = 0.028) and was positively correlated with eruption score (P < 0.05). Multiple regression analyses showed that the percentage of CCR4 expression highly correlated with serum IgE, LDH, eosinophil number and eruption in AD patients.Conclusion CCR4+ cells might be involved in the aetiopathogenesis of AD.
Prevalence of symptoms, sensitization to rats, and airborne exposure to major rat allergen (Rat n 1) and to endotoxin in rat‐exposed workers: a cross‐sectional study
Authors: Lieutier‐Colas F. , Meyer P. , Pons F. , Hedelin G. , Larsson P. , Malmberg P. , Pauli G. , De Blay F. 
Published: March 2003

SummaryObjective To analyse the relation between airborne exposure to major rat allergen and to endotoxins in exclusively rat‐exposed workers and the prevalence of rat‐related symptoms and sensitization.Methods A total of 113 workers answered a standardized questionnaire on their atopy status, occupational exposure to rats, and possible work‐related symptoms. Specific IgE against rat urinary proteins (RUP) was measured for 73 subjects. Individual airborne exposure to Rat n 1 and endotoxin were determined with static (n = 256) samplings. Rat n 1 was measured with enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and endotoxin by the Limulus method.Results Forty‐four of 113 subjects (38.9%) reported at least one rat‐related symptom: asthma (4.4%), rhinitis (34%) and conjunctivitis (16%). Twelve per cent were sensitized to RUP (specific IgE > 0.35 KU/L). But only 30.8% of all symptomatic subjects were sensitized to rat allergens. Airborne Rat n 1 levels were not related to symptoms in workers. Symptomatic patients not sensitized to rats were exposed to higher endotoxin levels, but airborne exposure to endotoxins did not significantly protect against or increase sensitization to RUP or rat‐related symptoms.Conclusion Most symptomatic workers were not sensitized to rat allergen; but no significant relation between rat‐related symptoms and endotoxin levels was found. This suggests that more studies are needed to determine causes other than rat allergens or endotoxins that may be responsible for symptoms in rat‐exposed workers.
Atrophoderma of Moulin with preceding inflammation
Authors: Browne Charmaine ,   FRCPC, Fisher Benjamin K. ,   FRCPC
Published: March 2003

A 16‐year‐old Vietnamese man presented to the Dermatology Clinic with a 10‐year history of bizarre brown patches, which initially started as red asymptomatic ‘‘bumps’' on the trunk, upper and lower extremities, and face. His past medical history was significant for hypothyroidism and idiopathic urticaria. He was on Eltroxin for hypothyroidism. The family history was noncontributory.Physical examination revealed two types of lesion: erythematous, well‐circumscribed papules in a linear configuration along with linear hyperpigmented atrophic patches following Blaschko's lines were noted on the lower extremities (Fig. 1), right upper extremity, right flank (Fig. 2), and right jawline.Hyperpigmented atrophic macules involving the lower extremitiesimageHyperpigmented atrophic macules involving the trunk and upper extremityimageInitial biopsies taken from the papular lesions on the right thigh and right elbow revealed the following changes. The first biopsy showed a slightly thinned epidermis with prominent dilated blood vessels in the superficial dermis. There also appeared to be a slight increase in the amount of collagen in the deep dermis. The findings were reported as in keeping with ‘‘epithelial atrophy.’' The second biopsy from the lesion on the right elbow revealed an acanthotic epidermis. The granular layer was absent in several areas and there was marked overlying parakeratosis. In the dermis, there was a heavy perivascular lymphocytic infiltrate. The appearances were consistent with a psoriasiform dermatitis (Fig. 3). A biopsy taken from the left thigh approximately 18 months later showed slight irregular acanthosis with dermal edema, dilated blood vessels, and a patchy lymphocytic infiltrate. The appearances were compatible with mild inflammation.Psoriasiform dermatitisimage
Public participation and marginalized groups: the community development model
Authors: O’Keefe Eileen , Hogg Christine 
Published: March 2003

Objectives To develop ways of reaching house‐bound people and enabling them to give their views in planning and monitoring health and social care. Strategy HealthLINK – a project based in a community health council – explored ways of involving older house‐bound people in the London Borough of Camden, in planning and monitoring health and social care using community development techniques. Results HealthLINK set up an infrastructure to enable house‐bound people to have access to information and to enable them to give their views. This resulted in access for health and local authorities to the views of house‐bound older people and increased the self esteem and quality of life of those who became involved. Conclusions Community development approaches that enable an infrastructure to be established may be an effective way of reaching marginalized communities. However, there are tensions in this approach between the different requirements for public involvement of statutory bodies and of users, and between representation of groups and listening to individual voices.
Public involvement in health care priority setting: an economic perspective
Authors: Roberts Tracy , Bryan Stirling , Heginbotham Chris , McCallum Alison 
Published: March 2003

Background Public involvement in health care decision making and priority setting in the UK is being promoted by recent policy initiatives. In 1993, the British Medical Association called for public consultation where rationing of services was to be undertaken. The approach to priority setting advocated by many health economists is the maximization of quality adjusted life years (QALYs). Typically, for a particular health care programme, the QALY calculation takes account of four features: (1) the number of patients receiving the programme, (2) the survival gain, (3) the gain in quality of life and, (4) the probability of treatment success. Only one feature, that relating to quality of life, is based upon public preferences. If the QALY is to be used as a tool for health care resource allocation at a societal level then it should incorporate broader societal preferences. Methods This study used an interview‐based survey of 91 members of the general public to explore whether the traditional QALY maximization model is a good predictor of public responses to health care priority setting choices. Results and conclusions Many respondents did not choose consistently in line with a QALY maximization objective and were most influenced by quality of life concerns. There was little support for health care programmes that provided a prognostic improvement but left patients in relatively poor states of health. The level of respondent engagement in the survey exercise was not sensitive to the provision of supporting clinical information.
The use of patients’ stories by self‐help groups: a survey of voluntary organizations in the UK on the register of the College of Health
Authors: Yaphe John , Rigge Marianne , Herxheimer Andrew , McPherson Ann , Miller Rachel , Shepperd Sasha , Ziebland Sue 
Published: March 2003

ObjectiveFirst‐hand accounts of illness experience are believed to provide important insights for other patients and their carers. We report the results of a survey that explored how patients’ stories are being collected and used by self‐help and voluntary groups.MethodsThe annual College of Health survey contacts 2 458 addresses, which includes many self‐help groups and voluntary associations. A brief questionnaire for the self‐help groups on the register was attached to the summer 1999 survey on behalf of the DIPEx (database of individual patient experience) project.ResultsDIPEx received replies from 309 organizations representing a wide range of interests and conditions. These indicated that 202 (65%) of the groups currently use patients’ stories in various ways. A further 59 (19%) of the groups reported that although they are not currently using them, they would like to in the future. Organizations that use patients’ stories were invited to describe how they use them and provide examples, if applicable. Content analysis of the free text descriptions revealed 22 distinct uses among the 202 organizations using patient stories. The most frequent uses are the inclusion of patient stories in interviews or articles for the group newsletter (74 or 37%) and the use of stories for inclusion in newspaper articles or media broadcasts (31 or 15%). Some form of database of patients’ stories was maintained by 23 groups (12%).ConclusionsThese findings suggest that patients’ stories are widely collected and used to support a wide range of the recognized functions of self‐help and voluntary groups. This is encouraging to the DIPEx project’s efforts to collect and analyse accounts of illness experience, which will be presented with evidence‐based information about the effects of treatments.
Measurement of consumer preference for treatments used to induce labour: a willingness‐to‐pay approach
Authors: Taylor Susan J. , Armour Carol L. 
Published: March 2003

AimThe purpose of the study was to assess the acceptability to consumers of two methods of induction of labour using a willingness‐to‐pay (WTP) approach. The methods compared were amniotomy plus oxytocin and prostaglandin E2 vaginal gel, followed by oxytocin if necessary.MethodsA description of each method was presented, in questionnaire format, to pregnant women attending a public hospital ante‐natal clinic. Women were asked to choose one of the two treatments, then give a valuation in dollar terms for both their preferred treatment and the alternative.ResultsIt was found that 73.7% of patients preferred gel. The mean maximum WTP for amniotomy plus oxytocin was Aus$133 while that for gel was Aus$178 (P=0.0001). Those who chose amniotomy plus oxytocin were WTP 90% more for their preferred treatment compared with the alternative (Aus$180 vs. Aus$95). Similarly, those who preferred gel were WTP 90% more for their preferred treatment compared with the alternative (Aus$222 vs. Aus$119).ConclusionConsumers were able to assess drug information provided on the two therapies, make an informed choice and to value that choice. Information obtained in this way, combined with information on costs, could be used in policy decision‐making.
Patients' opinions of the use of psychiatric case‐finding questionnaires in general practice
Authors: Wood Fiona , Pill Roisin , Prior Lindsay , Lewis Glyn 
Published: March 2003

AbstractBackground  The common mental disorders of depression and anxiety often remain undetected in general practice. Psychiatric screening instruments have been recommended to assist detection.Aim  To assess patients' attitudes towards the use of psychiatric screening questionnaires for common mental disorders within general practice.Design  Twenty focus groups comprising 127 patients were conducted in Wales, UK. The groups were distinguished by age, sex and locality.Results  The majority of respondents felt that the use of a screening questionnaire was acceptable and would be willing to complete one within a general practice setting. However, a number of individuals expressed concern about the validity of the kinds of questions asked and the usefulness of the instrument in practice. Respondents also discussed their concerns relating to issues of confidentiality and the doctor's response to the assessment.Conclusion  The study indicates that lay beliefs towards mental illness, particularly relating to perceived stigma, will continue to pose problems for the routine use of psychiatric case‐finding questionnaires within general practice.
Tissue factor pathway inhibitor
Authors: Panteleev Mikhail A. , Zarnitsina Veronica I. , Ataullakhanov Fazoil I. 
Published: March 2003

We have analyzed several mathematical models that describe inhibition of the factor VIIa–tissue factor complex (VIIa–TF) by tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI). At the core of these models is a common mechanism of TFPI action suggesting that only the Xa–TFPI complex is the inhibitor of the extrinsic tenase activity. However, the model based on this hypothesis could not explain well all the available experimental data. Here, we show that a good quantitative description of all experimental data could be achieved in a model that contains two more assumptions. The first assumption is based on the hypothesis originally proposed by Baugh et al. [Baugh, R.J., Broze, G.J. Jr & Krishnaswamy, S. (1998) J. Biol. Chem.273, 4378–4386], which suggests that TFPI could inhibit the enzyme–product complex Xa–VIIa–TF. The second assumption proposes an interaction between the X–VIIa–TF complex and the factor Xa–TFPI complex. Experiments to test these hypotheses are suggested.