bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Bat species diversity and distribution in three vegetation communities of Meru National Park, Kenya
Authors: Webala Paul W. , Oguge Nicholas O. , Bekele Afework 
Published: November 2004

AbstractDiversity and distribution of bats was determined in four vegetation types in and around Meru National Park, Kenya between September 2000 and February 2001. Bat‐habitat studies were based on plant species dominance, cover and farming activities. Bats were captured using standard mist nets (18 m long × 2 m high) erected on poles averaging 3 m. Vegetation was broadly grouped as Acacia or Combretum wooded grassland, or Acacia–Commiphora bushland and studied using the Braun‐Blanquet method. Analysis of floristic similarity showed five vegetation species assemblages in the three broad categories. Four hundred and ninety‐five bats representing eleven genera in seven families were recorded. These were Epomophorus labiatus, E. wahlbergi, Cardioderma cor, Lavia frons, Myotis welwitschii, Scotoecus hirundo, S. leucogaster, Pipistrellus kuhlii, Mops condylurus, Chaerephon bemmeleni, Mormopterus sp., Hipposideros caffer, H. commersoni, Nycteris arge and Rhinolophus landeri. This was the first record of N. arge, M. welwitschii, C. bemmeleni and a Mormopterus species in eastern Kenya. The Combretum community was most equitable (E = 0.51) with nine bat species records, while farming areas had only four. The low species richness and increased dominance of a few generalist species on farms may be indicative of different levels of disturbance.
In vivoeffects of interleukin‐17 on haematopoietic cells and cytokine release in normal mice
Authors: Jovčić G. , Bugarski D. , Petakov M. , Krstić A. , Vlaški M. , Stojanović N. , Milenković P. 
Published: November 2004

Abstract. In order to gain more insight into mechanisms operating on the haematopoietic activity of the T‐cell‐derived cytokine, interleukin‐17 (IL‐17) and target cells that first respond to its actionin vivo, the influence of a single intravenous injection of recombinant mouse IL‐17 on bone marrow progenitors, further morphologically recognizable cells and peripheral blood cells was assessed in normal mice up to 72 h after treatment. Simultaneously, the release of IL‐6, IL‐10, IGF‐I, IFN‐γ and NO by bone marrow cells was determined. Results showed that, in bone marrow, IL‐17 did not affect granulocyte‐macrophage (CFU‐GM) progenitors, but induced a persistant increase in the number of morphologically recognizable proliferative granulocytes (PG) up to 48 h after treatment. The number of immature erythroid (BFU‐E) progenitors was increased at 48 h, while the number of mature erythroid (CFU‐E) progenitors was decreased up to 48 h. In peripheral blood, white blood cells were increased 6 h after treatment, mainly because of the increase in the number of lymphocytes. IL‐17 also increased IL‐6 release and NO production 6 h after administration. Additionalin vitroassessment on bone marrow highly enriched Lin−progenitor cells, demonstrated a slightly enhancing effect of IL‐17 on CFU‐GM and no influence on BFU‐E, suggesting the importance of bone marrow accessory cells and secondary induced cytokines for IL‐17 mediated effects on progenitor cells. Taken together, these results demonstrate thatin vivoIL‐17 affects both granulocytic and erythroid lineages, with more mature haematopoietic progenitors responding first to its action. The opposite effects exerted on PG and CFU‐E found at the same time indicate that IL‐17, as a component of a regulatory network, is able to intervene in mechanisms that shift haematopoiesis from the erythroid to the granulocytic lineage.
Promoting health for families of children with chronic conditions
Authors: Hopia Hanna , Paavilainen Eija , Åstedt‐Kurki Päivi 
Published: November 2004

Aim.  This paper reports a study whose aim was to describe how nurses in a paediatric unit promote the health of families of children with chronic conditions during the children's hospitalization.Background.  It is stressful for a family when a child has a chronic condition and hospitalized. Nurses have the opportunity to promote family health while a child is hospitalized, and previous studies contain a wealth of recommendations on how this should be done. However, there is little research evidence about family care and how nurses promote the health of a family with a chronically ill child.Methods.  Forty nurses who worked in two paediatric units providing care for children with chronic conditions and their families participated in the study. Data were collected in two Finnish hospitals in 2002 using group interviews, and nursing actions were observed in both units for a period of 84 hours. Data analysis was based on the grounded theory method, proceeding to the stage of axial coding. Data were collected until theoretical saturation was reached.Findings.  Family care was based on three distinctive strategies. Nurses used a systematic, selective or situation‐specific strategy while promoting family health during a child's hospitalization.Conclusions.  The findings indicate that nurses used different strategies while promoting family health during a child's hospitalization. The systematic way of working with families identified in the study seems a useful strategy. All three strategies of family nursing described here should be tested in other paediatric wards and in other geographical locations.
Comparison of chloroquine, sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine, mefloquine and mefloquine‐artesunate for the treatment of falciparum malaria in Kachin State, North Myanmar
Authors: Smithuis Frank , Shahmanesh Maryam , Kyaw Moe Kyaw , Savran Olivia , Lwin Saw , White Nicholas J. 
Published: November 2004

SummaryMulti‐drug resistant falciparum malaria is widespread in Asia. In Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam the national protocols have changed largely to artesunate combined treatment regimens but elsewhere in East and South Asia chloroquine (CQ) and sulfadoxine‐pyrimethamine (SP) are still widely recommended by national malaria control programmes. In Kachin State, northern Myanmar, an area of low seasonal malaria transmission, the efficacy of CQ (25 mg base/kg) and SP (1.25/25 mg/kg), the nationally recommended treatments at the time, were compared with mefloquine alone (M; 15 mg base/kg) and mefloquine combined with artesunate (MA; 15:4 mg/kg). An open randomized controlled trial enrolled 316 patients with uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria, stratified prospectively into three age‐groups. Early treatment failures (ETF) occurred in 41% (32/78) of CQ treated patients and in 24% of patients treated with SP (18/75). In young children the ETF rates were 87% after CQ and 35% after SP. Four children (two CQ, two SP) developed symptoms of cerebral malaria within 3 days after treatment. By day 42, failure rates (uncorrected for reinfections) had increased to 79% for CQ and 81% for SP. ETF rates were 2.5% after treatment with M and 3.9% after treatment with MA (P > 0.2). Overall uncorrected treatment failure rates at day 42 following M and MA were 23% and 21%, respectively. Chloroquine and SP are completely ineffective for the treatment of falciparum malaria in northern Myanmar. Mefloquine treatment is much more effective, but three day combination regimens with artesunate will be needed for optimum efficacy and protection against resistance.
Pancreatic cancer: management and survival
Authors: Wakeman Christopher J. , Martin Ian G. , Robertson Robert W. , Dobbs Bruce R. , Frizelle Frank A. 
Published: November 2004

Aim:  To review the management and survival from all pancreatic cancer over a 5‐year period at a tertiary referral hospital in New Zealand and to examine similar outcome data from the national cancer registry.Methods:  A retrospective audit was conducted for the 5‐year period 1994−99 of patients discharged from Christchurch Hospital (Christchurch, New Zealand) and all patients in the New Zealand Cancer Registry with a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. Kaplan− Meier survival curves were used for analysis.Results:  From Christchurch Hospital a total of 230 patients were identified with a discharge diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. Medium survival for all groups was 3.9 months. There was a median survival of 1.6 months for the non‐interventional group, 3.1 months for the stent group, 6.2 months for the bypass group and 12.6 months for the pancreatico‐duodenectomy group. These data are very similar to the New Zealand National Cancer Registry data, where the overall median survival was 3.1 months and median survival for a pancreatico‐duodenectomy was 13.9 months.Conclusion:  A pancreatico‐duodenectomy is usually a palliative surgical technique and not a curative procedure. Those selected for resection have been shown to have an advantage over operative bypass in terms of length of survival, however, this most likely reflects selection bias.
Urological injuries during hysterectomies: A 6‐year review
Authors: Dorairajan Gowri , Rani P. Reddi , Habeebullah Syed , Dorairajan Lalgudi Narayanan 
Published: November 2004

AbstractAim:  Urological injuries that occur during hysterectomy are a rare but important cause of morbidity. An understanding of the risk factors can help us to reduce their incidence and studying their management and outcome could help us to evolve optimal management strategies. The aim of the present study was to examine the incidence of urological injuries that occur during hysterectomy and to determine the risk factors, management and outcome of such injuries.Methods:  A retrospective analysis of cases of urological injuries sustained during hysterectomies carried out from June 1996 until May 2002, at our institution. The chi‐squared test was applied for statistical analysis.Results:  The overall incidence of urological injuries was 0.40% (0.28% bladder and 0.12% ureteral). No ureteral injuries occurred during vaginal surgery. The incidence of bladder injury was significantly higher in non‐descent vaginal hysterectomies compared with abdominal hysterectomies or vaginal hysterectomies for genital prolapse (P < 0.05). Hysterectomy for ovarian malignancies had a significantly higher risk for bladder injuries compared with other indications. Bladder injuries detected during vaginal hysterectomies could be managed through the vaginal route. All the repairs healed successfully.Conclusions:  Non‐descent vaginal hysterectomy and hysterectomy for ovarian malignancies have a higher risk of bladder injury. Urological injuries during hysterectomy are uncommon. Early detection and appropriate management ensure successful healing and minimal long‐term sequelae.
Large pseudocyst of the umbilical cord associated with patent urachus
Authors: Kilicdag Esra Bulgan , Kilicdag Hasan , Bagis Tayfun , Tarim Ebru , Yanik Filiz 
Published: November 2004

AbstractCystic masses of the umbilical cord have been detected in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy in association with fetal abdominal wall defects and chromosomal anomalies. We present a case of an umbilical cord pseudocyst diagnosed using routine ultrasound at the 20 weeks of gestation. Serial sonography followed the progression of the cystic masses. A 2960‐g male infant was delivered at term, in whom a patent urachus was detected. The infant underwent repair with closure of the patent urachus and plastic reconstruction of the abdominal wall, and the postoperative course was uneventful. This case demonstrated an uneventful outcome despite the persistent multiple cord cysts.
Against Narrativity
Authors: Strawson Galen 
Published: November 2004

AbstractI argue against two popular claims. The first is a descriptive, empirical thesis about the nature of ordinary human experience: ‘each of us constructs and lives a “narrative” . . . this narrativeisus, our identities’ (Oliver Sacks); ‘self is a perpetually rewritten story . . . in the end, webecomethe autobiographical narratives by which we “tell about” our lives’ (Jerry Bruner); ‘we are all virtuoso novelists. . . . We try to make all of our material cohere into a single good story. And that story is our autobiography. The chief fictional character . . . of that autobiography is one’s self’ (Dan Dennett). The second is a normative, ethical claim: we ought to live our lives narratively, or as a story; a ‘basic condition of making sense of ourselves is that we grasp our lives in anarrative’ and have an understanding of our lives ‘as an unfolding story’ (Charles Taylor). A person ‘creates his identity [only] by forming an autobiographical narrative – a story of his life’, and must be in possession of a full and ‘explicit narrative [of his life] to develop fully as a person’ (Marya Schechtman).
A QSAR analysis of toxicity of Aconitum alkaloids
Authors: Bello‐Ramírez Angélica M. , Nava‐Ocampo Alejandro A. 
Published: November 2004

AbstractBiological activity of Aconitum alkaloids may be related to their toxicity rather than to a specific pharmacological action. A Quantitative structure‐activity relationships (QSAR) analysis was performed on the following two groups of alkaloids: compounds with an aroyl/aroyloxy group at R14 position (yunaconitine, bulleyaconitine, aconitine, beiwutine, nagarine, 3‐acetyl aconitine, and penduline), and compounds with the aroyloxy group at R4 position (N‐deacetyllappaconitine, lappaconitine, ranaconitine, N‐deacetylfinaconitine, N‐deacetylranaconitine). The LD50 (μmol/kg) of the 12 alkaloids were obtained from the literature. LD50 was significantly lower in group 1 than in group 2. The steric and core–core repulsion energies were significantly higher in group 1. The total energy and heat of formation and electronic energies were significantly lower in group 1. The reactivity index of N, C1′, C4′ and C6′ were similar between groups. The reactivity index of C2′ was significantly higher and the reactivity index of C3′ and C5′ were significantly lower in group 1. Log P and pKa were similar between groups. Molecular weight was significantly higher in group 1. A significant linear relationship was observed between log LD50 and either analgesic log ED50 or local anesthetic log ED50. The LD50/analgesic ED50 obtained from average values was 5.9 for group 1 and 5.0 for group 2. However, the LD50/local anesthetic ED50 was 40.4 and 318, respectively. The study supports that the analgesic effects of these alkaloids are secondary to their toxic effects whereas alkaloids from group 2 are susceptible to be further studied as local anesthetic agents.
Functional interaction of intestinal CYP3A4 and P‐glycoprotein
Authors: Kivistö Kari T. , Niemi Mikko , Fromm Martin F. 
Published: November 2004

AbstractIntestinal CYP3A4‐mediated biotransformation and active efflux of absorbed drug by P‐glycoprotein are major determinants of bioavailability of orally administered drugs. The hypothesis that CYP3A4 and P‐glycoprotein may act in concert to limit oral drug bioavailability is attractive from a theoretical point of view. Evidence in support of such an interplay between CYP3A4 and P‐glycoprotein comes mainly from a limited number of in vitro and animal studies. Obviously, it is a challenging task to demonstrate in vivo in humans that the function of CYP3A4 and P‐glycoprotein in enterocytes is complementary, and results to directly support this concept remain elusive. However, CYP3A4 and P‐glycoprotein are clearly an integral part of an intestinal defence system to protect the body against harmful xenobiotics, and drugs that are substrates of both proteins often have a low bioavailability after oral administration. The functional interaction of intestinal CYP3A4 and P‐glycoprotein warrants additional study. Further understanding this interplay would be potentially useful during drug development to solve bioavailability problems of new drug entities.
Does rat global transient cerebral ischemia serve as an appropriate model to study emotional disturbances?
Authors: Bantsiele Guy Bernard , Bentué‐Ferrer Danièle , Amiot Noëlla , Allain Hervé , Bourin Michel , Reymann Jean‐Michel 
Published: November 2004

AbstractWe used two validated psychopharmacological methods, the forced swimming test (FST 20 min and 5 min) and the elevated plus‐maze (EPM), to quantify depression‐like and anxiety‐like behavior induced by transient global cerebral ischemia in the rat. We also validated use of these methods for the study of antidepressant (imipramine) and anti‐anxiety drugs (diazepam). Twelve days after surgery to provoke transient global ischemia, spontaneous motor activity was 40% higher in ischemic rats than in sham‐operated controls. Duration of immobility during the FST 20 min and 5 min was 28 and 30% shorter, respectively, than in controls. Treatment with imipramine (3 × 30 mg/kg i.p.) induced a significantly shorter duration of immobility during the FST 5 min, but with no difference between ischemia and control rats. The EPM demonstrated that ischemia did not induce any change in the six behavior parameters measured. Diazepam (1.5 mg/kg i.p.) induced significant anxiolytic effects which were similar in ischemic and sham‐operated animals. Both tests failed to demonstrate perturbed performance but conversely, these findings did disclose the sensitivity of ischemia‐exposed rats to the action of imipramine and diazepam, demonstrating the usefulness of these tests as psychopharmocological tools for evaluating the effect of psychotropics in the ischemic rat.
Myocardial infarction non‐invasively induced in rabbits by administering isoproterenol and vasopressin: protective effects exerted by verapamil†
Authors: Pinelli Arnaldo , Trivulzio Silvio , Tomasoni Livio , Bertolini Boris , Brenna Sergio , Bonacina Edgardo , Vignati Silvano 
Published: November 2004

AbstractMyocardial infarction is usually induced in small animals by means of invasive procedures: the aim of this study was to cause heart necrosis lesions by non‐invasive means. We injected rabbits with isoproterenol (3 mg/kg, i.p.) and vasopressin (0.3 mg/kg/5 min, i.v.) alone and in combination, and studied their effects on myocardial histology, electrocardiographic profiles, the appearance of the plasma cardiac necrosis marker c‐troponin I (c‐TPN I), hemodynamic parameters (blood pressure, heart rate), the coagulative process partial throboplastine time (PTT), and plasma nitric oxide (NO) levels. In the rabbits treated with vasopressin alone, the ischemic damage was associated with a decrease in NO values, and the appearance of electrocardiographic T‐wave inversion and low plasma c‐TPN I levels, whereas the animals treated with isoproterenol alone had necrotic bands in the myocardium, plasma c‐TPN I, and electrocardiographic modifications (ST‐segment changes and T‐wave inversion). Combined treatment increased myocardial alterations such as contraction band necrosis, induced the appearance of specific hypoxic lesions such as areas of coagulative necrosis and leukocyte infiltration, and led to higher plasma c‐TPN I levels and altered ECG profiles. Both drugs favored a decrease in plasma NO values and further alterations in hemodynamic parameters, such as higher blood pressure and greater procoagulant activity. The myocardial necrosis and modified cardiovascular parameters were attributed to calcium activated processes and the decrease in NO levels. As this model of myocardial damage involves the use of drugs that facilitate the opening of L‐calcium channels, we also investigated their effects on cardiovascular parameters and heart histology after pretreatment with the calcium antagonist verapamil; this drug protected against the appearance of histological myocardial lesions, electrocardiographic alterations and high plasma c‐TPN I levels, and prevented the hemodynamic and procoagulation changes, but did not affect the decrease in plasma NO values. The protective effects were attributed to the drug's calcium antagonist activity. In conclusion, the injection of isoproterenol and vasopressin induces a myocardial infarction non‐invasively and seems to be suitable for studying early myocardial ischemic lesions and the effects of drugs interfering with myocardial damage and its related phenomena.
Anatomy and physiology of the gastro‐intestinal tract and growth curves of the ostrich (Struthio camelus)
Authors: COOPER Ross G. , MAHROZE Khalid M. 
Published: November 2004

ABSTRACTThe ostrich is an important animal in many livestock industries and in the developing world. The digestive system of the ostrich differs considerably from that of non‐ruminant animals or poultry. The genetic potential of an ostrich can be described by its characteristic growth curve. This present paper presents an account of the rearing, anatomy of the gastro‐intestinal tract, and growth curves of this bird.
Polymerase chain reaction detection of single nucleotide polymorphisms in the chicken mitochondrial D‐loop region
Authors: HARUMI Takashi , SANO Akiko , KAGAMI Hiroshi , TAGAMI Takahiro , MATSUBARA Yuko , NAITO Mitsuru 
Published: November 2004

ABSTRACTThe D‐loop region in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) was sequenced and compared among six chickens. Eleven single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) were observed. For six of the SNP sites, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers that had each base (A, C, G and T) as the penultimate base at the 3′ end (N2 base) and bases specific to both alleles at the 3′ end were produced to type the polymorphisms. Twenty‐one out of 96 primers succeeded in distinguishing the SNP by the presence or absence of PCR product. This method provides an easy way to discriminate SNP in chicken mtDNA.
In vitro progesterone production of corpus luteum in pregnant Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus)
Authors: ETOH Tadahiro , TANAKA Masami , SONODA Yutaka , KAI Osamu 
Published: November 2004

ABSTRACTThe present study was conducted to determine the in vitro progesterone (P4) production by Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) corpus luteum (CL) on days 9, 18 and 22 of pregnancy in comparison with rat CL on days 9 and 16. The culture medium of one CL per well of a 96‐well plate was changed after 4 h incubation and the CL were further cultured for 24 h. The P4 in serum and in the medium were measured by enzyme immunoassay system. Gerbil CL weight measured after 24 h incubation was at the same level for all 3 days of pregnancy and significantly different from that of the rat CL for the 2 days of pregnancy. The serum P4 level in gerbils was high in early pregnancy and decreased in advanced days of pregnancy. In contrast, the P4 in rats was higher in the latter half of pregnancy. In vitro P4 production by a single CL after 4 h incubation decreased significantly during the days of pregnancy in both the gerbil and the rat. P4 values produced by the gerbil CL for 24 h incubation were significantly higher than after 4 h incubation in all 3 days of pregnancy, however, there was no difference between the two incubation time groups in the rat. In vitro P4 production by CL correlated well with the serum P4 level on the 3 days of pregnancy in the gerbil. In the rat, however, the relationship was inversed between the two parameters. The correlation in this experiment suggested that CL is the sole source of P4 for the maintenance of the gerbil pregnancy, with the result of abortion after an ovariectomy on day 20 of pregnancy as described in our previous report.