bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Characteristics of primary nocturnal enuresis in adults: an epidemiological study
Authors: Yeung C.K. , Sihoe J.D.Y. , Sit F.K.Y. , Bower W. , Sreedhar B. , Lau J. 
Published: February 2004

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the prevalence and characteristics of primary nocturnal enuresis (PNE) in adults in Hong Kong, as there are currently limited epidemiological data in adults.SUBJECTS AND METHODSAfter a telephone survey, 8534 respondents (3996 males and 4538 females) aged 16–40 years were selected for the study and stratified in age groups. The questionnaire used comprised two parts; the first started with questions mainly about the general demographic background to decrease the sensitivity of the study and to establish rapport. The second part was conducted through an automated telephone interview service, with the questions being asked by recorded messages and the respondents then keying in their responses with no need to converse with an interviewer. This part included questions about enuretic symptoms and a subjective assessment of social and psychological effects of bedwetting, and measurements of the individual's self‐esteem (Rosenberg Self‐esteem Scale) and depression (The Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale).RESULTSOf the 8534 subjects interviewed, 196 had PNE, giving an overall prevalence of 2.3% (2.7% males and 2.0% females); of these 196, 36 (18.4%) also had daytime urinary incontinence. Hence, 1.9% of adults (2.2% males and 1.7% females) had monosymptomatic PNE. Of these, 53% wet > 3 nights/week and 26% wet every night. Prevalence rates remained relatively stable among different age groups, with no apparent trend of a reduction with age. Compared with nonenuretic normal controls, significantly fewer enuretics reached tertiary education (33.4% vs 17.8%, P < 0.01). Bedwetters had a significantly higher incidence of depression and lower self‐esteem, and a higher incidence of sleep disturbances than the control group. Among bedwetters, 32–40% felt that there was some effect on their choice of job, work performance and social activities, whilst 23% felt the condition affected their family life and in making friends of either sex. However, there was no significant difference in the marital status. Interestingly, only 34.5% of females and half of males used various methods before bedtime to prevent bedwetting.CONCLUSIONSOverall, 2.3% of Hong Kong adults aged 16–40 years have persistent PNE. Unlike PNE in early childhood the prevalence remained relatively unchanged with age, suggesting that enuretic symptoms persisting into adulthood are probably less likely to resolve with time. Also, significantly more patients had more severe enuretic symptoms. These findings therefore highlight the possibility that PNE in adults may represent a more pronounced form of the condition, and with a more serious social and psychological effect on affected individuals. Further work is needed to evaluate the pathogenesis and management strategy.
Prostate apoptosis after doxazosin treatment in the spontaneous hypertensive rat model
Authors: Lujan M. , Ferruelo A. , Paez A. , Moreno A. , Berenguer A. 
Published: February 2004

OBJECTIVETo validate the spontaneous hypertensive rat (SHR) model for basic research into benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH), and to assess doxazosin‐induced changes in prostatic structure and apoptotic status.MATERIALS AND METHODSFour groups of rats were assessed: group 1, 15 SHRs treated with doxazosin; group 2, 14 SHRs with unilateral excision of the major pelvic ganglion; group 3, 14 untreated SHRs; and group 4, 16 intact Wistar‐Kyoto (WKY) rats. The doxazosin mesylate (0.03 mg daily) was given compacted in rat food for 3 months. The prostatic ventral lobe (VL) was excised and weighed. Stereological light microscopy, multiplex reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction of prostate caspases, and caspase‐3 activity (cellular enzymatic assay) were assessed.RESULTSThere was more development of the glandular epithelium (P < 0.001) in SHR rats than in controls, which was even greater after doxazosin exposure (P = 0.027). SHR animals had higher caspase expression (P < 0.05) and activity (P = 0.008) than WKY rats, but both were reduced after doxazosin therapy (P < 0.01 and 0.028, respectively).CONCLUSIONSThis study confirmed prostate hyperplasia in the SHR model. Doxazosin exposure did not reduce the volume of glandular epithelium and contributed to protecting against caspase‐induced apoptosis. The SHR model may be not a valid option to study doxazosin‐induced apoptosis in BPH.
Effects of acupuncture and care interventions on the outcome of inflammatory symptoms of the breast in lactating women
Authors: Kvist L. J. , Wilde Larsson B. , Hall‐Lord M. L. , Rydhstroem H. 
Published: February 2004

Abstract Objective: To compare modes of care and treatment for lactating women with inflammatory symptoms of the breast, with special focus on the use of acupuncture. Method: Eighty‐eight mothers were randomized into three treatment groups. All three groups were given advice regarding emptying of the breasts and care in the form of comfort interventions. Acupuncture was included in the treatment regime for two of the groups. A severity index was created by adding together scores for signs and symptoms: breast tension, erythema and pain. Findings: Mothers in all groups expressed relative satisfaction with the breastfeeding situation despite considerable discomfort. There was no significant difference between the groups for the number of mothers requiring more than three contact days for recovery nor for their severity index scores on day 3. These findings must be interpreted with care but may suggest that care interventions play as great a part in the recovery of these women as acupuncture treatment or the use of oxytocin spray. Antibiotic therapy was used in 9% of the study population, which is in contrast to other studies. Proposed future action: Based on these results, a new study has been designed to test the hypothesis that acupuncture hastens recovery from inflammatory processes in the lactating breast and approximately 200 mothers will be randomized in a new expanded study.
A review of the literature on care of clients in pain who are culturally diverse
Authors: Davidhizar R. , Giger J. N. 
Published: February 2004

AbstractAim: This article reviews the literature on the care of clients from diverse cultures who are in pain and provides strategies for care.Background: Pain is a critical concept for caring for clients and particularly for clients from another culture. Culture shapes the values, beliefs, norms, and practices of individuals, including the ways persons react to pain. Culture affects the assessment and management of pain.Conclusions: Seven strategies can assist in culturally appropriate assessment and management of pain: (1) utilize assessment tools to assist in measuring pain, (2) appreciate variations in affective response to pain, (3) be sensitive to variations in communication styles, (4) recognize that communication of pain may not be acceptable within a culture, (5) appreciate that the meaning of pain varies between cultures, (6) utilize knowledge of biological variations, and (7) develop personal awareness of values and beliefs which may affect responses to pain.
Adolescents’ views on decision‐making regarding risky sexual behaviour
Authors: Zwane I. T. , Mngadi P. T. , Nxumalo M. P. 
Published: February 2004

Abstract Purpose: To explore adolescents’ views regarding risky sexual behaviour who were aged between 13 and 19 years. Method: A purposive sample was drawn from adolescents who were participating in workshops, organized by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. The sample consisted of a mix of in‐school and out‐of‐school adolescents aged between 13 and 19 years. The overall aim of the workshops was to explore adolescents’ views on decision‐making regarding risky sexual behaviour. The educational status of participants lay between grades 0 and 12. A total of 24 focus group discussions were conducted, six in each of the four regions of Swaziland (Manzini, Hhohho, Lubombo and Shiselweni). Each group consisted of 6–12 participants. All focus group discussions were audiotaped and later transcribed. Findings: The following four major themes emerged from content analysis: sexual behaviour, age at first intercourse, peer pressure and trust in the relationship. These were all found to be important factors in decision‐making for risky sexual behaviours. Conclusion: Obtaining a sexual history, motivation to use condoms, guidance and counselling on ways to reduce adolescents’ risk of sexual exploitation, and peer education programmes, are all of importance when aiming to reduce risky sexual behaviour. Recommendation: Adolescents should receive positive reinforcement for responsible sexual behaviour including abstinence and, where appropriate, use of active birth control.
Molecular Characterization of a High-Affinity Xylobiose Transporter of
Streptomyces thermoviolaceus
OPC-520 and Its Transcriptional Regulation
Authors: Tsujibo Hiroshi , Kosaka Mitsuo , Ikenishi Sadao , Sato Takaji , Miyamoto Katsushiro , Inamori Yoshihiko 
Published: February 2004

ABSTRACT

Streptomyces thermoviolaceus
OPC-520 secretes two types of xylanases (StxI and StxII), an acetyl xylan esterase (StxIII), and an α-
l
-arabinofuranosidase (StxIV) in the presence of xylan. Xylan degradation products (mainly xylobiose) produced by the action of these enzymes entered the cell and were then degraded to xylose by an intracellular β-xylosidase (BxlA). A gene cluster involved in xylanolytic system of the strain was cloned and sequenced upstream of and including a BxlA-encoding gene (
bxlA
). The gene cluster consisted of four different open reading frames organized in the order
bxlE
,
bxlF
,
bxlG
, and
bxlA
. Reverse transcriptase PCR analysis revealed that the gene cluster is transcribed as polycistronic mRNA. The deduced gene products, comprising BxlE (a sugar-binding lipoprotein), BxlF (an integral membrane protein), and BxlG (an integral membrane protein), showed similarity to components of the bacterial ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transport system; however, the gene for the ATP binding protein was not linked to the
bxl
operon. The soluble recombinant BxlE protein was analyzed for its binding activity for xylooligosaccharides. The protein showed high-level affinity for xylobiose (

K
d

= 8.75 × 10
−9
M) and for xylotriose (

K
d

= 8.42 × 10
−8
M). Antibodies raised against the recombinant BxlE recognized the detergent-soluble BxlE isolated from
S. thermoviolaceus
membranes. The deduced BxlF and BxlG proteins are predicted to be integral membrane proteins. These proteins contained the conserved EAA loop (between the fourth and the fifth membrane-spanning segments) which is characteristic of membrane proteins from binding-protein-dependent ABC transporters. In addition, the
bxlR
gene located upstream of the
bxl
operon was cloned and expressed in
Escherichia coli
. The
bxlR
gene encoded a 343-residue polypeptide that is highly homologous to members of the GalR/LacI family of bacterial transcriptional regulators. The purified BxlR protein specifically bound to a 4-bp inverted sequence overlapping the −10 region of the
bxl
operon. The binding of BxlR to the site was inhibited specifically by low concentrations of xylobiose. This site was also present in the region located between
stxI
and
stxIV
and in the upstream region of
stxII
. BxlR specifically bound to the regions containing the inverted sequence. These results suggest that BxlR might act as a repressor of the genes involved not only in the uptake system of xylan degradation products but also in xylan degradation of
S. thermoviolaceus
OPC-520.
TheytkD(mutTA) Gene ofBacillus subtilisEncodes a Functional Antimutator 8-Oxo-(dGTP/GTP)ase and Is under Dual Control of Sigma A and Sigma F RNA Polymerases
Authors: Ramírez Martha I. , Castellanos-Juárez Francisco X. , Yasbin Ronald E. , Pedraza-Reyes Mario 
Published: February 2004

ABSTRACTThe regulation of expression ofytkD, a gene that encodes the first functional antimutator 8-oxo-dGTPase activity ofB. subtilis, was studied here. AytkD-lacZfusion integrated into theytkDlocus of wild-typeB. subtilis168 revealed that this gene is expressed during both vegetative growth and early stages of sporulation. In agreement with this result,ytkDmRNAs were detected by both Northern blotting and reverse transcription-PCR during both developmental stages. These results suggested thatytkDis transcribed by the sequential action of RNA polymerases containing the sigma factors σAand σF, respectively. In agreement with this suggestion, the spore-associated expression was almost completely abolished in asigFgenetic background but not in aB. subtilisstrain lacking a functionalsigGgene. Primer extension analysis mapped transcriptional start sites on mRNA samples isolated from vegetative and early sporulating cells ofB. subtilis.Inspection of the sequences lying upstream of the transcription start sites revealed the existence of typical σA- and σF-type promoters. These results support the conclusion thatytkDexpression is subjected to dual regulation and suggest that the antimutator activity of YtkD is required not only during vegetative growth but also during the early sporulation stages and/or germination ofB. subtilis.WhileytkDexpression obeyed a dual pattern of temporal expression, specific stress induction of the transcription of this gene does not appear to occur, since neither oxidative damage (following either treatment with paraquat or hydrogen peroxide) nor mitomycin C treatment or σBgeneral stress inducers (sodium chloride, ethanol, or heat) affected the levels of the gene product produced.
Real-Time Monitoring of IntracellularStaphylococcus aureusReplication
Authors: Qazi S. N. A. , Harrison S. E. , Self T. , Williams P. , Hill P. J. 
Published: February 2004

ABSTRACTA high-throughput system to rapidly assess the intracellular replication ofStaphylococcus aureushas been developed utilizingS. aureustransformed with a dualgfp-luxABCDEreporter operon under the control of a growth-dependent promoter. Replication of tagged bacteria internalized into bovine mammary epithelial cells (MAC-T) could be measured by monitoring fluorescence and bioluminescence from the reporter operon following removal of extracellular bacteria from the plates. Bacterial replication inside cells was confirmed by a novel ex vivo time-lapse confocal microscopic method. This assay of bacterial replication was used to evaluate the efficacy of antibiotics which are commonly used to treat staphylococcal infections. Not all antibiotics tested were able to prevent intracellular replication ofS. aureusand some were ineffective at preventing replication of intracellular bacteria at concentrations above the MIC determined for bacteria in broth culture. Comparison of the fluorescence and bioluminescence signals from the bacteria enabled effects on protein synthesis and metabolism to be discriminated and gave information on the entry of compounds into the eukaryotic cell, even if bacterial replication was not prevented. Elevated resistance ofS. aureusto antibiotics inside host cells increases the likelihood of selectingS. aureusstrains which are resistant to commonly used antimicrobial agents within the intracellular niche. The approach presented directly assesses intracellular efficacy of antibiotics and provides an evidence-based approach to antibiotic selection for prescribing physicians and medical microbiologists.
α-Helix E of Spo0A Is Required for σ
A
- but Not for σ
H
-Dependent Promoter Activation in
Bacillus subtilis
Authors: Kumar Amrita , Brannigan James A. , Moran Charles P. 
Published: February 2004

ABSTRACT

At the onset of endospore formation in
Bacillus subtilis
, the DNA binding protein Spo0A activates transcription from two types of promoters. The first type includes the
spoIIG
and
spoIIE
promoters, which are used by σ
A
-RNA polymerase, whereas the second type includes the
spoIIA
promoter, which is used by RNA polymerase containing the secondary sigma factor σ
H
. Previous genetic analyses have identified specific amino acids in α-helix E of Spo0A that are important for activation of Spo0A-dependent, σ
A
-dependent promoters. However, these amino acids are not required for activation of the σ
H
-dependent
spoIIA
promoter. We now report the effects of additional single-amino-acid substitutions and the effects of deletions in α-helix E. The effects of alanine substitutions revealed one new position (239) in Spo0A that appears to be specifically required for activation of the σ
A
-dependent promoters. Based on the effects of a deletion mutation, we suggest that α-helix E in Spo0A is not directly involved in interaction with σ
H
-RNA polymerase.
clpB, a Novel Member of theListeria monocytogenesCtsR Regulon, Is Involved in Virulence but Not in General Stress Tolerance
Authors: Chastanet Arnaud , Derre Isabelle , Nair Shamila , Msadek Tarek 
Published: February 2004

ABSTRACTClp-HSP100 ATPases are a widespread family of ubiquitous proteins that occur in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes and play important roles in the folding of newly synthesized proteins and refolding of aggregated proteins. They have also been shown to participate in the virulence of several pathogens, includingListeria monocytogenes. Here, we describe a member of the Clp-HSP100 family ofL. monocytogenesthat harbors all the characteristics of the ClpB subclass, which is absent in the closely related gram-positive model organism,Bacillus subtilis.Transcriptional analysis ofclpBrevealed a heat shock-inducible σA-type promoter. Potential binding sites for the CtsR regulator of stress response were identified in the promoter region. In vivo and in vitro approaches were used to show that expression ofclpBis repressed by CtsR, a finding indicating thatclpBis a novel member of theL. monocytogenesCtsR regulon. We showed that ClpB is involved in the pathogenicity ofL. monocytogenessince the ΔclpBmutant is significantly affected by virulence in a murine model of infection; we also demonstrate that this effect is apparently not due to a defect in general stress resistance. Indeed, ClpB is not involved in tolerance to heat, salt, detergent, puromycin, or cold stress, even though its synthesis is inducible by heat shock. However, ClpB was shown to play a role in induced thermotolerance, allowing increased resistance ofL. monocytogenesto lethal temperatures. This work gives the first example of aclpBgene directly controlled by CtsR and describes the first role for a ClpB protein in induced thermotolerance and virulence in a gram-positive organism.
Jacobian Conditioning Analysis for Model Validation
Authors: Rivals Isabelle , Personnaz Léon 
Published: February 2004

Our aim is to stress the importance of Jacobian matrix conditioning for model validation. We also comment on Monari and Dreyfus (2002), where, following Rivals and Personnaz (2000), it is proposed to discard neural candidates that are likely to overfit and/or for which quantities of interest such as confidence intervals cannot be computed accurately. In Rivals and Personnaz (2000), we argued that such models are to be discarded on the basis of the condition number of their Jacobian matrix. But Monari and Dreyfus (2002) suggest making the decision on the basis of the computed values of the leverages, the diagonal elements of the projection matrix on the range of the Jacobian, or “hat” matrix: they propose to discard a model if computed leverages are outside some theoretical bounds, pretending that it is the symptom of the Jacobian rank deficiency. We question this proposition because, theoretically, the hat matrix is defined whatever the rank of the Jacobian and because, in practice, the computed leverages of very ill-conditioned networks may respect their theoretical bounds while confidence intervals cannot be estimated accurately enough, two facts that have escaped Monari and Dreyfus's attention. We also recall the most accurate way to estimate the leverages and the properties of these estimations. Finally, we make an additional comment concerning the performance estimation in Monari and Dreyfus (2002).
Effect on Heterorhabditis indica of substances occurring in decomposing palm tissues infested by Rhynchophorus ferrugineus
Authors: Monzer Abd-Elrahman , El-Rahman Randa Abd 
Published: February 2004

AbstractEthanol, acetic acid and ethyl acetate are generated during the degeneration of palm tissues infested by the red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Oliv. This in vitro study determined the influences of concentrations of 0.05-2% v/v of these substances in distilled water on the behaviour, survival and infectivity of the entomopathogenic nematode Heterorhabditis indica, a candidate species for control of R. ferrugineus. The observed responses of the nematode included normal movement, reversible partial paralysis and death. The estimated LC50 were 1.48, 0.25 and 0.14% for ethanol, acetic acid and ethyl acetate, respectively, but only 0.18% for the equal mixture of all three. Nematodes that survived treatment at the LC50 of each substance showed infectivity and penetration activity comparable to those of control nematodes. We conclude that it will be difficult to control R. ferrugineus using H. indica in the presence of these substances in palm trunks.
Free-living nematodes from nature reserves in Costa Rica. 5. Bunonematoidea (Rhabditida)
Authors: Holovachov Oleksandr , Bongers Tom , Esquivel Alejandro 
Published: February 2004

AbstractThree species of Bunonematoidea, Pterygorhabditis panoplus, Rhodolaimus arboreus sp. n. and Rhodolaimus dimorphus are described and illustrated on the basis of material collected in Costa Rica. SEM studies and details of the labial region structure in P. panoplus and R. arboreus sp. n. are given. Rhodolaimus arboreus sp. n. is characterised by the 0.2-0.25 mm long body, left body side with five parallel cuticular ridges, right body side with two parallel rows of tubercles, the anteriormost pair of which are almost fused, 28-33.5 μm long spicules, cylindrical gubernaculum, bursa developed on left body side and seven pairs of caudal papillae.
The genus Bursaphelenchus Fuchs (Nematoda: Aphelenchida) in north-west Spain
Authors: Arias María , Escuer Miguel , Mansilla J. Pedro , Abelleira Adela 
Published: February 2004

AbstractAs a consequence of the report of pine wood nematode (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus) in the Setúbal peninsula (Portugal), nematodes of the genus Bursaphelenchus and the vector insect were studied in pine forests, timber industries and entry points for imported timber in Galicia (north-west Spain). The aim of this paper was to contribute to the establishment of the necessary measures to prevent the introduction of B. xylophilus into Spain. Sampling, nematode extraction and identification were carried out according to the EU norm. From collections made in 1999-2002, a total of 2612 samples were studied. Bursaphelenchus eggersi, B. mucronatus and B. sexdentati were found, as well as Monochamus galloprovincialis, a vector cerambycid beetle. Bursaphelenchus xylophilus was not isolated. Morphometric characteristics and geographic distribution of the species are provided and the risk of introducing B. xylophilus to Spain assessed.