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West Scotland (west + scotland)
Selected AbstractsGeographical difference in Parkinson's disease prevalence within West Scotland,MOVEMENT DISORDERS, Issue 3 2009Edward J. Newman MRCP Abstract The wide range in reported prevalence of Parkinson's disease (PD) in the United Kingdom (between 108 and 164 per 100,000) is usually attributed to differences in study methodology. We report prevalence of PD in four geographic areas within West Scotland, which was calculated using the same methodology, from prescription database searches within primary care, combined with full case record review. Crude prevalence was 119.2 per 100,000 (95% CI 109.7,128.6) and age-adjusted prevalence was 129.5 (95% CI 119.6,139.4) in 92 General Practices covering a population of 511,927. Prevalence was significantly lower in South Glasgow (men 98.3, CI 78.7,117.9; women 83.9, CI 65.6,102.2) than South Lanarkshire (men 202.7, CI 175.0,230.4; women 151.1, CI 127.7,174.5), age-adjusted rates, both P < 0.001. Factors associated with higher prevalence of PD, such as lower cigarette smoking rates, higher education level, and rural living, were higher in South Lanarkshire than South Glasgow, but the magnitude of the difference was greater than expected considering studies describing relative risk for these factors. Access to services, and specialist clinic attendance were both higher for South Glasgow, which may influence diagnostic accuracy, time to diagnosis, and time to initiating antiparkinson therapy. Explorationof these factors is justified to explain further such wide variation in PD prevalence. © 2008 Movement Disorder Society [source] The value of conserving whales: the impacts of cetacean-related tourism on the economy of rural West ScotlandAQUATIC CONSERVATION: MARINE AND FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS, Issue 5 2003E.C.M. Parsons Abstract 1.During the tourist season of 2000, interview surveys were conducted with those involved in whale-watching in West Scotland. The groups included in the study were boat operators (32), visitor-centre managers (8), tourists on whale-watching trips (324), general tourists to West Scotland (673) and local residents (189). The latter two groups were interviewed for comparison of responses of those engaged in whale-watching against the views of the local community and tourists in general. From the data provided by these interviews, estimates for the economic value of this specialist sector of the Scottish tourism industry were calculated. 2.Extrapolating from the surveys, in the year 2000, an estimated total of approximately 242 000 tourists were involved in cetacean-related tourism activities in West Scotland. 3.In 2000, 59 full-time and one part-time jobs were estimated to be created as the direct result of cetacean-related tourism, with 38% of these positions being seasonal. 4.Cetacean-related tourism was estimated to account for 2.5% of the total income from tourism in the region. In remote coastal areas, cetacean-related tourism may account for as much as 12% of the area's total tourism income. 5.The direct economic income (i.e. expenditure on excursion tickets) from cetacean tourism activities was estimated to be £1.77 million per annum. 6.A 23% of surveyed whale watchers visited West Scotland specifically to go on whale-watching trips. The associated expenditure (accommodation, travel, food, etc.) from tourists being brought to rural West Scotland solely due to the presence of whales represented £5.1 million in additional tourism income for the region. 7.In addition to the above tourists, 16% of surveyed whale watchers stayed in West Scotland an extra night as a result of going on a whale-watching trip; thus generating a further £0.9 million of additional associated expenditure (extra accommodation, food, etc.). 8.The total gross income generated (directly and indirectly) by cetacean-related tourism in rural West Scotland was estimated at £7.8 million. 9.In comparison with established whale-watching industries (in countries such as the USA, Canada and New Zealand) the total expenditure by tourists on whale watching in West Scotland is low. However, cetacean tourism in West Scotland is still a relatively young industry and still developing. 10.The value of the non-consumptive utilization of cetaceans (i.e. whale-watching) to rural, coastal communities in West Scotland was three times greater than the value of the consumptive utilization of cetaceans (i.e. commercial whaling) for rural, coastal communities in Norway. 11.This study demonstrates that live cetaceans in Scotland can provide notable financial benefits and, therefore, their conservation has an economic value. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Modelling the benefits of American Mink Mustela vison management options for terns in west ScotlandIBIS, Issue 2008NORMAN RATCLIFFE American Mink Mustela vison is a semi-aquatic predator that has invaded the west coast of Scotland and many of its associated islands. We developed a GIS model of their potential range based on their dispersal abilities and habitat use, which revealed that most islands in west Scotland are accessible to Mink, and that these host a large proportion of the region's Common Sterna hirundo and Arctic Terns S. paradisaea. Mink are predators on tern eggs and chicks, and statistical modelling of long-term productivity data demonstrated that unprotected sites within their range have an average productivity of 0.33 chicks per pair, whereas that at sites where Mink were trapped was 253% higher. We assessed the benefits of current Mink control projects for terns in the Western Isles and the remainder of west Scotland using a population modelling approach. This showed that both projects delivered considerable benefits for Common Terns, because a large proportion of their numbers were within the area of the control programmes and in sites that would be accessible to Mink if no control were in operation. For Arctic Terns, the benefits were less clear, as a larger proportion of their numbers were outside the control areas, and many of these were in sites isolated from, or unsuitable for, Mink. We discuss the implications of these findings for future strategic planning of Mink management in west Scotland. [source] Survivorship and tube growth of reef-building Serpula vermicularis (Polychaeta: Serpulidae) in two Scottish sea lochsAQUATIC CONSERVATION: MARINE AND FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS, Issue 2 2008David J. Hughes Abstract 1.In the UK, reef formation by the tubicolous polychaete Serpula vermicularis L. has been recorded in only two sea lochs in Argyll, west Scotland. Serpula vermicularis aggregations are now confined to Loch Creran, those in Loch Sween having died out for unknown reasons. 2.Survivorship and tube extension rates were measured in situ in order to compare habitat quality of the two sea lochs and to determine the feasibility of artificial restoration of Loch Sween reefs using stock translocated from Loch Creran. After labelling and measurement, clusters of inhabited tubes collected from Loch Creran were re-planted at two sites in Loch Sween and two in Loch Creran in July 2004, and monitored at intervals before recovery and remeasurement in July 2005. 3.In Loch Sween the tube clusters gradually disappeared over the monitoring period. Only remnants were left by May 2005 and no growth data were obtained. In Loch Creran 76% of the labelled tubes were relocated. Confirmed mortality over the year was 5.3% and mean tube extension rate was 33 mmy,1. 4.There was no significant difference in tube growth between the two Loch Creran sites and inter-individual differences accounted for most of the variability in the data. Individual tube extension declined significantly with worm body mass but mean extension showed no relationship to total worm biomass in each cluster. Annual tube extension rate in Loch Creran was low in comparison with literature data from other serpulids, suggesting that tube growth is strongly seasonal. 5.The 10-month persistence of some living worms in Loch Sween suggests that there is no physiological barrier to survival of stock translocated from Loch Creran but in situ video monitoring would be necessary to determine the cause of tube disappearance. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Recovery of renal function after 90 d on dialysis: implications for transplantation in patients with potentially reversible causes of renal failureCLINICAL TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 2 2008Samira Siddiqui Abstract:, Background:, Late recovery of renal function in patients requiring dialysis is a well recognized but uncommon phenomenon. Moves to increase the number of live donor transplants and the recognition that early transplantation is associated with better graft survival means it is possible that patients who are going to recover renal function may be transplanted unnecessarily. Design:, Prospective survey of patients receiving dialysis for more than 90 d in south west Scotland from 1 January 1994 to 31 December 2005. Methods:, Routine measurement of residual renal function by combined urea and creatinine clearance allowed us to detect late recovery whenever this occurred. Results:, Eight of 202 (4%) patients recovered sufficient renal function to stop dialysing after 90-d treatment. The likely cause of the renal failure in five of these patients was atheroembolism. One with atherosclerotic renovascular disease had been stented and would have received a live related renal transplant had his sister not had second thoughts about the procedure. Conclusion:, It may be sensible to postpone transplantation in patients with certain types of renal failure, perhaps particularly patients with renovascular disease who have recently undergone a failed revascularization procedure. [source] | |||||||||||||