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Selected AbstractsAtypical Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension (SIH) With Nonorthostatic HeadacheHEADACHE, Issue 2 2007Doo-Sik Kong MD Background.,Some patients with spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) often do not demonstrate typical orthostatic headache, which is contrary to the typical SIH syndrome. They usually have an obscure and intermittent headache, regardless of their positional change. Object.,The objective of this study is to investigate the clinical course of atypical SIH that manifests with diffuse pachymeningeal enhancement, but no orthostatic headaches. Methods.,Between January 1997 and December 2005, we observed a total of 6 patients who revealed atypical presentations including nonpostural headaches and normal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure, despite the diffuse pachymeningeal enhancement seen on their MR images. For a comparison of the clinical features and the disease course, 13 other SIH patients with typical clinical manifestations were selected as a control group. Results.,Cerebrospinal fluid leakage sites were confirmed in only one patient through a variety of diagnostic tools; in contrast, definite focal CSF leakage sites were found in 12 of 13 patients with typical SIH. The 6 atypical SIH patients were treated with conservative treatment, including strict bed rest and intravenous hydration for 2 to 3 weeks. After a mean follow-up of 12 months, their headaches were gradually relieved after 2 to 3 weeks of conservative treatment only. Conclusions.,All SIHs do not necessarily show the typical clinical manifestations. The atypical finding of SIH such as nonorthostatic headache or normal CSF pressure may be the result of a normal physiologic response to the typical SIH as a compensatory reaction. Therefore, when faced with patients showing findings compatible with SIH on the brain MR images, regardless of nonpostural headache, atypical SIH should be suspected. [source] ACID TOLERANCE OF ESCHERICHIA COLI FOLLOWING COLD SHOCK TREATMENTJOURNAL OF FOOD SAFETY, Issue 2 2003GREG BLANK ABSTRACT The effect of an initial cold shock treatment (2 h at 10C), following an abrupt downshift in temperature from 37 to 10C, on the subsequent growth and survival of Escherichia coli strains O157:H7 and MY20 (Biotype 1) in acidified Trypticase soy broth (TSB) and fruit juices (orange, apple) was investigated. Overall, no difference in growth at 37C was observed between each cold shocked and noncold shocked E. coli strain when cultured in TSB adjusted with either acetic acid (pH 6.0)or malic, citric and tartaric acid (each adjusted to: pH 4.5, 5.0, 5.5, 6.0). However, significant (P ± 0.05) differences in survival were observed between cold shocked and noncold shocked populations in TSB acidified with acetic acid (pH 5.0) or citric, malic and tartaric acid (pH 4.0). For strain MY20, survivor levels for cold shocked cells in TSB acidified with acetic acid citric, malic and tartaric acid at 8C were significantly (P ± 0.05) higher than in noncold shocked populations. Also, at 37C survival levels for cold shocked cells were significantly (P ± 0.05) higher than noncold shocked cells in TSB acidified with either malic or tartaric acid (pH 4.0). For the O157:H7 strain, survivor levels were higher (P ± 0.05) for cold shocked cells when maintained in TSB at 37C regardless of acid type. At 8C, cold shock treatment only increased (P ± 0.05) the survival of the O157:H7 strain in TSB adjusted with acetic acid (pH 6.0). Acid cross protection induced by cold shocking, as evidenced by enhanced survival, was not apparent for either E. coil strain in apple (pH 3.5) or orange juice (pH 3.8) maintained at 8C. [source] Vedaprofen therapy in cats with upper respiratory tract infection or following ovariohysterectomyJOURNAL OF SMALL ANIMAL PRACTICE, Issue 2 2007S. Lopez Objectives: The antipyretic and analgesic efficacy of vedaprofen (at a dose of 0·5 mg/kg) was evaluated after repeated once-daily administration (for three or five days) to 80 cats with upper respiratory tract disease or 302 cats undergoing ovariohysterectomy. Methods: Both clinical trials were randomised, double blinded and placebo controlled. Results: In the upper respiratory tract disease trial, vedaprofen produced a significant reduction in rectal temperature when compared with cats administered antimicrobial treatment only. This antipyretic activity lasted at least four hours after administration on the first day of treatment (day 0) and at least eight hours on day 1 and day 2. Significantly more cats in the treatment group were classified as having returned to normal on day 5, day 6 and day 7 compared with the placebo group. In the ovariohysterectomy trial, scores for behaviour (on day 1, day 2 and day 3) and appetite (on day 1 and day 2) were significantly better in the vedaprofen group than in the placebo-treated cats. Clinical Significance: Vedaprofen produced a clinically relevant reduction in body temperature and a more rapid return to normality in cats with upper respiratory tract disease. Vedaprofen treatment also resulted in more rapid recovery, presumably through the relief of pain and inflammation, in cats that had undergone soft tissue surgery. [source] Hypoadrenocorticism in a catJOURNAL OF SMALL ANIMAL PRACTICE, Issue 4 2001J. Stonehewer Primary hypoadrenocorticism was diagnosed in an eight-year-old neutered male cat. The predominant presenting complaint was dysphagia. Other historical signs included lethargy, weight loss, polydipsia, polyuria, muscle weakness and occasional vomiting. The signs had waxed and waned over the two months before presentation and had improved when the cat was treated with enrofloxacin and prednisolone by the referring veterinarian. On referral, dehydration, depression and poor bodily condition were found on physical examination. Results of initial laboratory tests revealed mild anaemia, hyperkalaemia, hyponatraemia, hypochloraemia and elevations in serum creatinine and creatine kinase. The diagnosis of primary adrenocortical insufficiency was established on the basis of results of an adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation test and endogenous plasma ACTH determination. Initial therapy for hypoadrenocorticism included intravenous administration of 0,9 per cent saline and dexamethasone, and oral fludrocortisone acetate. Within one week the cat was clinically normal and two years later was still alive and well on fludrocortisone acetate treatment only. [source] Topical class I corticosteroids in 10 patients with bullous pemphigoid: correlation of the outcome with the severity degree of the disease and review of the literatureJOURNAL OF THE EUROPEAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY & VENEREOLOGY, Issue 2 2004A Stockman ABSTRACT Background, Treatment of bullous pemphigoid (BP) with systemic immunosuppressive agents, in particular with systemic corticosteroids, has many long-term side-effects. A dozen reports were published regarding the efficacy of topical corticosteroids in the treatment of bullous pemphigoid. Objective, To evaluate the efficacy of potent class I topical corticosteroids in relation to the affected body surface area (BSA) in patients with bullous pemphigoid and to review the literature. Methods, An open prospective trial with 10 patients with BP with measurement of the affected BSA. Treatment protocol consisted of three steps: potent class I topical corticosteroid treatment, systemic tetracyclines and systemic corticosteroids. Follow-up period was between 24 and 72 months. Results, Our study suggests a correlation between the success rate of topical corticosteroid treatment and the body surface area initially affected: all patients with an affected BSA of less than 20% healed with topical treatment only. The patients with more than 40% affected BSA needed systemic treatment with steroids. Conclusion, Topical class I corticosteroids seem to be effective in healing lesions of BP, especially if less than 20% of the BSA is affected. This study comprises only 10 patients, making further studies necessary to draw definite conclusions. [source] Is In-Prison Treatment Enough?LAW & POLICY, Issue 1 2003A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Prison-Based Treatment, Aftercare Services for Substance-Abusing Offenders This study performed a cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) of the Amity in-prison Therapeutic Community (TC) and Vista aftercare programs for criminal offenders in California. For the average treatment participant, the cost of treatment was $4,112, which led to approximately fifty-one fewer days incarcerated (36% less) than the average individual in the control group. This implies that, for the average offender, treatment reduced recidivism at a cost of $80 per incarceration day. For participants who received both in-prison treatment and aftercare services, an additional day of incarceration was avoided at a cost of $51 per day relative to those that received in-prison treatment only. [source] Einfluss von UV-Laserparametern auf die geometrische Strukturierung von fotosensitivem GlasMATERIALWISSENSCHAFT UND WERKSTOFFTECHNIK, Issue 7 2003U. Brokmann micro structuring; photosensitive glass; laser irradiation Abstract Der Werkstoff Glas ist zunehmend ein interessanter Konstruktionswerkstoff für die Mikrotechnik. Zur Mikrobearbeitung von fotostrukturierbaren Gläsern wird die Eigenschaft Fotosensibilität im UV-Bereich ausgenutzt. Als ,fotosensibel" gilt ein Glas u.,a. dann, wenn es unter Einfluss räumlich begrenzter energiereicher UV-Strahlung und anschließender thermischer Behandlung nur in den belichteten Bereichen kristallisiert. Die Mikrostrukturierung erfolgt durch anschließendes nasschemisches Ätzen der kristallisierten Bereiche. Die Belichtung fotosensitiver Gläser mittels konventioneller Maskaligner ist gegenwärtig Stand der Technik. Ein alternatives Verfahren dazu stellt die Belichtung mittels UV-Laserstrahlung dar. Es werden Zusammenhänge zwischen Laserparametern und erzeugten Strukturgeometrien diskutiert. Influence of UV-laser parameters on geometrical structuring of photosensitive glass Glass becomes an increasingly important material in micro system technology. A photosensitive glass crystallisizes partially after UV-exposure and thermal treatment only in exposed areas. The micro structuring of the glass takes place during a wet chemical etch process. The exposure of photosensitive glass by means of Maskaligner is currently state of the art. An alternative method is the UV-laser exposure of photosensitive glass. It will be presented the influence of laser parameters on results of micro structuring prozess. [source] Clinical efficacy of sublingual and subcutaneous birch pollen allergen-specific immunotherapy: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, double-dummy studyALLERGY, Issue 1 2004M. S. Khinchi Background:, Both sublingual allergen-specific immunotherapy (SLIT) and subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) have a documented clinical efficacy, but only few comparative studies have been performed. Objective:, To investigate the clinical efficacy of SLIT vs SCIT and secondary to compare SLIT and SCIT with placebo and to evaluate the relative clinical efficacy in relation to systemic side-effects. Methods:, A 3-year randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, double-dummy study including 71 adult birch pollen hay fever patients treated for two consecutive years after a baseline year. Allocation to treatment groups was based on disease severity in the baseline season, gender and age. Results:, Clinical efficacy was estimated in 58 patients completing the first treatment year by subtracting baseline data and by calculating the ratio first treatment season vs baseline. SLIT diminished the median disease severity to one-half and SCIT to one-third of placebo treatment. No statistical significant difference between the two groups was observed. Both for symptoms and medication scores actively treated patients showed statistically significant and clinical relevant efficacy compared with placebo. SLIT treatment only resulted in local mild side-effects, while SCIT resulted in few serious systemic side-effects. Conclusion:, Based on the limited number of patients the clinical efficacy of SLIT was not statistically different from SCIT, and both treatments are clinically effective compared with placebo in the treatment of birch pollen rhinoconjunctivitis. The lack of significant difference between the two treatments does not indicate equivalent efficacy, but to detect minor differences necessitates investigation of larger groups. Due to the advantageous safety profile SLIT may be favored. [source] Inhaled corticosteroids during and after respiratory syncytial virus-bronchiolitis may decrease subsequent asthmaPEDIATRIC ALLERGY AND IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 3 2000Merja Kajosaari Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis in infancy can lead to bronchial hyper-reactivity or recurrent obstructive bronchitis. The aim of the present study was to determine whether the type of treatment has an influence on respiratory status after RSV bronchiolitis. The study involved 117 infants (mean age 2.6 months), who needed hospital treatment because of RSV bronchiolitis. The patients were divided randomly into three groups. All received the same symptomatic treatment. Group I children received symptomatic treatment only, group II children were treated for 7 days with inhaled budesonide, 500 µg three times per day, administered via a nebulizer. Group III children received nebulized budesonide, 500 µg twice per day for two months. Follow-up consisted of out-patient check-ups 2 and 6 months after the infection, and telephone contact two years after the infection. Statistically significant differences were seen between the groups. In group I 37% of the children had asthma, in group II 18%, and in group III 12%. According to the present study it seems that inhaled corticosteroid treatment during and after the acute phase of infant RSV bronchiolitis may have a beneficial effect on subsequent bronchial wheezing tendency. [source] Atypical varicella zoster infection associated with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosisPEDIATRIC BLOOD & CANCER, Issue 2 2009Jutte E. van der Werff ten Bosch MD Abstract Two adolescents, on immunosuppressive therapy for graft-versus-host disease, developed hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) after varicella zoster virus (VZV) reactivation. In the absence of dermatome restricted characteristic skin lesions, VZV reactivation was not immediately recognized and treatment with acyclovir was delayed. The first patient developed optical neuritis and died 2 months after the VZV episode due to massive intracranial hemorrhage. The second patient presented with severe abdominal pain and pancreatitis, followed by atypical skin eruptions, which prompted a faster diagnosis. Both patients recovered from their HLH, the first patient being successfully treated with immunosuppressive agents and the second with VZV treatment only. These two cases demonstrate the difficulties in recognizing VZV reactivation, and in order to start adequate and timely treatment, the need to consider VZV as a possible cause of HLH in severely immunocompromised patients. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2009;53:226,228. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Primary pulmonary lymphangiectasis in a premature infant: Resolution following intensive care,PEDIATRIC PULMONOLOGY, Issue 5 2003C. Scott MRCPCH Abstract Primary pulmonary lymphangiectasis is a rare disease, often described as fatal within the neonatal period. We report on an infant who developed severe bilateral chylous pleural effusions with computed tomography (CT) features of pulmonary lymphangiectasis. She recovered spontaneously with supportive treatment only. We discuss aspects of her intensive care which might have contributed to the good outcome, and conclude that modern intensive care may allow spontaneous recovery in conditions described in the literature as having a very poor outcome. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2003; 35:405,406. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Effect of parental genotypes and colchicine treatment on the androgenic response of wheat F1 hybridsPLANT BREEDING, Issue 4 2003I. Zamani Abstract The effect of the parental genotypes and colchicine treatment on the androgenic response of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) F1 hybrids was studied. For this, anthers from three F1 hybrids and their parents were cultured on W14 initiation medium and W14 supplemented with 0.03% colchicine. The number of responding anthers, microspore-derived structures/100 anthers, green plants/embryos cultured, green plants/100 anthers and albino plants/100 anthers were recorded. It was observed that embryo formation and plant regeneration ability were genetically controlled and genotype dependent. In both treatments the variety Kavkaz had a significantly higher percentage of responding anthers, microspore-derived structures and green plants/100 anthers than the other genotypes. On the other hand, the variety Myconos also demonstrated high microspore-derived structure production and green plant regeneration when treated with colchicine. The good response observed in these two varieties indicates the importance of colchicine treatment only for certain genotypes. Green plant production capacity of the hybrids was intermediate to that of the parental varieties. As one parent with a high or even an intermediate response to anther culture could lead to the production of sufficient (for breeding purposes) green plants from the F1 hybrids, it was concluded that screening the inbred lines for the response to anther culture with and without colchicine treatment could contribute to utilization of breeding material with a low response to anther culture via the proper hybrid combinations. [source] Oral treatment and in vitro incubation with fructose modify vascular prostanoid production in the ratAUTONOMIC & AUTACOID PHARMACOLOGY, Issue 1 2006H. A. Peredo Summary 1 In the rat, a fructose-enriched diet induces hyperglycaemia, hypertriglyceridaemia, insulin resistance and hypertension; a model which resembles the human metabolic syndrome. 2 Prostanoids, metabolites of arachidonic acid, include vasoactive substances synthesized and released from the vascular wall that have been implicated in the increase of peripheral resistance, one of the mechanisms involved in the fructose-induced hypertension. 3 The aim of the present study was to: (i) analyse the effects of the in vitro incubation with fructose on the production and release of prostanoids in rat thoracic aorta and in rat mesenteric bed and (ii) compare the effects of incubation with those of the in vivo acute and chronic treatment of rats with fructose and with the combination of both in vivo and in vitro procedures. 4 Blood pressure, glycaemia and triglyceridaemia were significantly elevated in both 4- and 22-week fructose-treated groups. Meanwhile, body and heart weight as well as insulinaemia were similar between experimental animals and controls. 5 In aortae, 4 weeks of Fructose treatment did not modify the prostanoid pattern release, but in vitro incubation decreased prostacyclin (PGI2) production. However, after 22 weeks, fructose treatment and incubation exerted the same effect. 6 In mesenteric bed, after 4 weeks, the incubation and the combination of both procedures reduced the release of the vasodilators PGI2 and PGE2, while fructose treatment only diminished the PGE2 release. On the contrary, the production of the vasoconstrictor thromboxane A2 (TXA2) was enhanced by incubation and both the procedures. After 22 weeks, fructose treatment increased PGI2 release, while it was reduced by incubation. The combination of both did not modify this peripheral resistance when compared with controls. Finally, incubation of tissues from treated rats increased the release of the vasoconstrictors, PGF2, and TXA2. 7 In conclusion, the mesenteric bed, a resistance vascular bed, seems to be more sensitive than the aorta, a conductance vessel, to the effects of fructose on prostanoid production. This difference could be related to a more relevant role of resistance vessels in the regulation of peripheral resistance and consequently of blood pressure. The observed effects should contribute to a shift in the balance of the release of prostanoid in favour of vasoconstrictor metabolites. This phenomenon could be related to an increase in the peripheral resistance and the mild hypertension observed in the fructose-treated rats. [source] Clinically significant newly presenting autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura in adults: a prospective study of a population-based cohort of 245 patientsBRITISH JOURNAL OF HAEMATOLOGY, Issue 6 2003Annette J. Neylon Summary. The true incidence and prognosis of autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) in adults is unknown. We present the results of a prospective study in a population-based cohort of newly presenting adults (, 16 years) with ITP and platelet count of <,50 × 109/l, which took place between 1 January 1993 and 31 December 1999 in the former Northern Health Region in the UK (population 3·08 million). A total of 245 cases were confirmed by bone marrow examination with a median follow-up of 60 months (range 6,78 months). There were 134 females/111 males (1·2:1). Overall incidence was 1·6 per 105 per annum. Absolute incidence was similar for both sexes, with highest age-specific incidence in those aged >,60 years. Thirty patients (12%) presented with frank bleeding, and 28% were asymptomatic. Forty-five patients (18%) received no treatment, and 135 (55%) received first-line treatment only. Thirty patients (12%) underwent splenectomy. There were four deaths (1·6%) from bleeding and/or the complications of therapy in this cohort, but only one was in the acute phase of the illness. The majority of patients (155 out of 245) achieved remission (platelet count >,100 × 109/l), with a further 59 (24%) in partial remission with no symptoms (platelet count 30,100 × 109/l). This population-based study suggests that the traditional view of adult ITP as being a predominantly chronic disease that preferentially affects females needs to be modified. [source] Phase II randomized study of daily gefitinib treatment alone or with vinorelbine every 2 weeks in patients with adenocarcinoma of the lung who failed at least 2 regimens of chemotherapyCANCER, Issue 9 2007Yuh-Min Chen MD Abstract BACKGROUND. The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of adding chronic, intermittent, low-dose vinorelbine to gefitinib treatment for patients who had adenocarcinoma of the lung who failed ,2 regimens of chemotherapy. METHODS. Patients were randomized into 2 arms: Oral gefitinib 250 mg daily (the G arm) or vinorelbine 15 mg/m2 as an intravenous infusion on Day 1 and oral gefitinib 250 mg daily on Days 2 through 14 every 2 weeks (the GV arm). From August 2004 to October 2005, 48 patients were enrolled. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) exon 18 through 21 nucleotide sequence analysis and fluorescence in situ hybridization were performed in patients who had tumor tissue specimens available for analysis. RESULTS. After randomization, each arm had 24 patients. However, 3 patients refused vinorelbine treatment and were given gefitinib treatment only. Thus, 27 patients received G treatment, and 21 patients received GV treatment. Objective response rates were 55.6% in the G arm and 52.4% in the GV arm. All toxicities in both arms were mild. The 1-year progression-free survival rate was 57.1% in the GV arm and 21.2% in the G arm (P = .008). The median survival was 13.3 months in the G arm and 23.4 months in the GV arm (P = .1231). Three of 6 patients (50%) had an exon 19 in-frame deletion, and 2 of 10 patients had EGFR gene high polysomy or amplification (20%). CONCLUSIONS. Gefitinib was highly effective in ethnic Chinese patients with adenocarcinoma of the lung who failed previous platinum and taxane treatment. The addition of low-dose vinorelbine every 2 weeks produced a significantly better 1-year progression-free survival rate. Cancer 2007. © 2007 American Cancer Society. [source] Bone morphogenetic protein 7 induces mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition in melanoma cells, leading to inhibition of metastasisCANCER SCIENCE, Issue 11 2009Yi-Rang Na Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) 7 counteracts physiological epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, a process that is indicative of epithelial plasticity in developmental stages. Because epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and its reversed process mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition (MET) are also involved in cancer progression, we investigated whether BMP7 plays a role in WM-266-4 melanoma cell growth and metastasis. An MTT assay was conducted in WM-266-4 and HEK293T cell lines to show the cell growth inhibition ability of BMP7 and cisplatin. Semiquantitative RT-PCR was used to determine MET in morphologically changed BMP7-treated melanoma cells. MET-induced cells expressed less a basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor (TWIST) in western blot analysis, and we confirm that BMP receptor (Alk2) siRNA transduction could restore TWIST protein expression via blocking of Smad 1, 5 and 8 signaling. Matrigel invasion and cell migration assays were done to investigate the BMP7-induced metastasis inhibition ability. BMP7 treatment only slightly reduced cell growth rate, but induced apparent MET. BMP7 also reduced the invasion and migration ability. Furthermore, BMP7 reduced the resistance of WM-266-4 cells to cisplatin. Collectively, our findings indicate that the metastatis inhibition ability of BMP7 is involved in MET, and that BMP7 could be used as a potential metastasis inhibitor in human melanoma cells. (Cancer Sci 2009) [source] 4413: Analysis of gene expression in acute ischemic neuroretinas : a genome-wide screen discriminating occlusion (BRVO) versus laser effects in ratsACTA OPHTHALMOLOGICA, Issue 2010C OROPESA Purpose Identification of genes differentially regulated in rat neuroretinas submitted to an experimental acute branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO), to a laser treatment, or to no treatment at all. Methods We have developed an in vivo experimental model of venous occlusion by photodynamic thrombosis in rat retinas. After anaesthesia, a sodium fluorescein solution was injected in rat tail 15 minutes before laser treatments. To induce ischemia in tested retina, venous sites adjacent to the optic nerve head were photocoagulated with an argon laser. In one group of tested animals, the retina was exposed to laser treatment at sites located between major vessels. As this treatment may have an effect upon choroidal blood flow, control eyes were not subjected to laser treatment. RNAs were isolated from the neuroretina 30 minutes post treatments, and processed for Affymetrix gene-chip analysis. Results Genome-wide screen enabled us to identify 308 and 348 genes which were up- or down-regulated, respectively, by BRVO and laser treatment only. When we compared the transcriptomes of retinas subjected to vessel occlusion or laser treatment to the control one, we found that the expression profiles of, respectively, 116 and 126 genes were specifically modified. The majority of the up- and down-regulated genes encode proteins involved in different aspects of early stress response, neuroprotection, inflammation and apoptosis. Conclusion Our microarray analysis revealed changes in gene expression bearing similarities to gene expression results from other ischemia models. Furthermore, it revealed that laser treatment may have an unreported impact on retina's metabolism. [source] Colony growth responses of the Caribbean octocoral, Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae, to harvestingINVERTEBRATE BIOLOGY, Issue 4 2003John Castanaro Abstract. Colonies of the branching Caribbean gorgonian Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae were subjected to partial mortality at 2 sites in the Bahamas to study how colony growth responds to disturbances such as harvesting, grazing, and storm damage. Colonies were clipped so that either 4 branches or 10 branches remained. Growth rates of branches were then monitored over 1 year and compared with nearby unclipped colonies. No significant differences were found between branch extension rates among the 3 treatments. Extension rates of newly formed branches were significantly greater in all treatments than among branches present at the start of the experiment. Per capita branching rates were greater on the more severely clipped colonies and were smallest on control colonies. The absolute number of branches that became mother branches did not differ among treatments. Colonies clipped so that 4 and 10 branches remained had the same average number of mother branches per colony, and there was no significant difference between treatments in the average number of new branches formed on the colonies. Per capita branching rates were significantly different among treatments only because the relative proportion of branches that became mother branches was higher in colonies with four branches than in treatments with more initial branches. Total growth (cumulative growth on all branches) was not significantly different between the 2 clipped treatments. Many of the control colonies suffered extensive damage, which may have obscured the comparison of clipped and unclipped treatments; however, within the range of these clipping treatments, differing levels of partial mortality did not lead to different recovery rates. The lack of treatment effects is particularly relevant to assessing the effects of harvest techniques on the recovery and productivity of harvested, naturally occurring, colonies. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||