bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lifestyle Interventions and Independence for Elders Pilot Study: Recruitment and Baseline Characteristics
Authors: Katula Jeffrey A. , Kritchevsky Stephen B. , Guralnik Jack M. , Glynn Nancy W. , Pruitt Leslie , Wallace Kristin , Walkup Michael P. , Hsu Fang‐Chi , Studenski Stephanie A. , Gill Thomas M. , Groessl Erik J. , Wallace Jason M. , Pahor Marco
Published: March 2007

OBJECTIVES: To describe several recruitment parameters derived from the Lifestyle Interventions and Independence for Elders pilot (LIFE‐P) study for use in a full‐scale trial of mobility disability prevention.

DESIGN: A description of the recruiting methods and baseline characteristics of a four‐site randomized, controlled trial testing the effectiveness of a physical activity intervention at preventing mobility disability.

SETTING: The Cooper Institute, Dallas, Texas; Stanford University, Stanford, California; University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and Wake Forest University, Winston‐Salem, North Carolina.

PARTICIPANTS: Community‐living persons aged 70 to 89 who were able to walk 400 m within 15 minutes and were at high risk for disability (scoring<10 on the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB)) but without comorbidity severe enough to preclude full study participation.

MEASUREMENTS: Measures of efficiency included number of randomized participants per recruitment technique and costs per randomized participant across randomization techniques.

RESULTS: The 9‐month recruiting period resulted in 3,141 telephone screens, of which 424 (13.5%) participants were randomized (68.9% women, 25.7% minorities, 41.5% with SPPB scores<8). Forty percent of telephone‐screened participants were excluded primarily because of regular participation in physical activity, health exclusions, or self‐reported mobility disability. Of the 1,252 persons attempting the physical performance assessments, 41% scored above the SPPB cutoff. Of the 566 remaining eligible, 9.9% could not complete the 400‐m walk, and another 18.9% had various medical exclusions. Direct mailing was the most productive recruitment strategy (61.6% of all randomized participants). Recruitment cost approximately $439 per randomized participant.

CONCLUSION: The LIFE study achieved all recruitment goals and demonstrated the feasibility of recruiting high‐risk community‐dwelling older persons for trials of disability prevention in diverse geographic areas.
Withdrawal of Fall‐Risk‐Increasing Drugs in Older Persons: Effect on Tilt‐Table Test Outcomes
Authors: Van Der Velde Nathalie , Van Den Meiracker Anton H. , Pols Huibert A. P. , Stricker Bruno H. Ch. , Van Der Cammen Tischa J. M.
Published: March 2007

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether outcomes of tilt‐table tests improved after withdrawal of fall‐risk‐increasing drugs (FRIDs).

DESIGN: Prospective cohort study.

SETTING: Geriatric outpatient clinic.

PARTICIPANTS: Two hundred eleven new, consecutive outpatients, recruited from April 2003 until December 2004.

MEASUREMENTS: Tilt‐table testing was performed on all participants at baseline. Subsequently, FRIDs were withdrawn in all fallers in whom it was safely possible. At a mean follow‐up of 6.7 months, tilt‐table testing was repeated in 137 participants. Tilt‐table testing addressed carotid sinus hypersensitivity (CSH), orthostatic hypotension (OH), and vasovagal collapse (VVC). Odds ratios (ORs) of tilt‐table‐test normalization according to withdrawal (discontinuation or dose reduction) of FRIDs were calculated using multivariate logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS: After adjustment for confounders, the reduction of abnormal test outcomes (ORs) according to overall FRID withdrawal was 0.34 (95% confidence interval (CI)=0.06–1.86) for CSH, 0.35 (95% CI=0.13–0.99) for OH, and 0.27 (95% CI=0.02–3.31) for VVC. For the subgroup of cardiovascular FRIDs, the adjusted OR was 0.13 (95% CI=0.03–0.59) for CSH, 0.44 (95% CI=0.18–1.0) for OH, and 0.21 (95% CI=0.03–1.51) for VVC.

CONCLUSION: OH improved significantly after withdrawal of FRIDs. Subgroup analysis of cardiovascular FRID withdrawal showed a significant reduction in OH and CSH. These results imply that FRID withdrawal can cause substantial improvement in cardiovascular homeostasis. Derangement of cardiovascular homeostasis may be an important mechanism by which FRID use results in falls.
Bone Mineral Density and Age‐Related Maculopathy in Older Women
Authors: Seitzman Robin L. , Mangione Carol M. , Cauley Jane A. , Ensrud Kristine E. , Stone Katie L. , Cummings Steven R. , Hochberg Marc C. , Hillier Teresa A. , Yu Fei , Coleman Anne L. ,   for the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures Research Group
Published: March 2007

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether bone mineral density (BMD) is associated with age‐related maculopathy (ARM) risk in older women.

DESIGN: Cross‐sectional analysis at Year 10 (1997/98) of the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures (SOF).

SETTING: Four clinical centers in the United States.

PARTICIPANTS: One thousand forty‐two randomly sampled SOF participants who attended the Year 10 clinic visit.

MEASUREMENTS: ARM status was determined from fundus photographs using a modification of the Wisconsin Age‐Related Maculopathy Grading System 6‐level severity scale used in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III. Total hip BMD was measured at Year 10 using dual‐energy x‐ray absorptiometry. Information on potential confounders, including age, reproductive hormone exposures, body mass index, smoking, alcohol consumption, nutrition, education, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and physical activity, was ascertained with questionnaires.

RESULTS: The prevalence of ARM was 50% (46% had early ARM and 4% had late ARM). After potential confounder adjustment, greater BMD was associated with lower odds of ARM (odds ratio (OR) per 1 standard deviation increase in BMD=0.82, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.70–0.96). Women in the highest quartile of BMD had lower odds of ARM than those in the lowest quartile (OR=0.63, 95% CI=0.41–0.97) and those in the lowest three quartiles combined (OR=0.66, 95% CI=0.48–0.91).

CONCLUSION: Higher levels of BMD may be associated with lower risk for ARM. The underlying mechanism is unknown, although BMD may be a marker for lifetime endogenous estrogen exposure. Future studies are needed to replicate these findings and further investigate the nature of the relationship between BMD and ARM.
Metabolic Syndrome and Cognitive Decline in Elderly Latinos: Findings from the Sacramento Area Latino Study of Aging Study
Authors: Yaffe Kristine , Haan Mary , Blackwell Terri , Cherkasova Elena , Whitmer Rachel A. , West Nancy
Published: March 2007

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of metabolic syndrome on cognitive function in an elderly Latino population and to determine whether inflammation modifies this association.

DESIGN: A longitudinal cohort study.

SETTING: Sacramento area and the surrounding California counties from 1998 to 1999.

PARTICIPANTS: One thousand six hundred twenty‐four Latinos aged 60 and older who participated in the Sacramento Area Latino Study of Aging.

MEASUREMENTS: Baseline metabolic syndrome was calculated using the Third Adult Treatment Panel of the National Cholesterol Education Program. Cognitive function was measured using the Modified Mini‐Mental State Examination (3MS) and the Delayed Word‐List Recall (DelRec), a verbal memory test. The effect of metabolic syndrome on cognitive change scores was examined using random effects models; in addition, the effect of the individual components of the syndrome on cognitive change was examined.

RESULTS: Of the 1,624 participants, 718 (44%) had metabolic syndrome at baseline. Those with metabolic syndrome had worse 3‐year change scores on 3MS (P=.04) and DelRec (P=.03). Multivariate adjustment attenuated the results for DelRec but not for 3MS. This association was especially pronounced in participants with a high serum level of inflammation, resulting in an average 3MS score 0.64 points lower per year (P=.03) for those with metabolic syndrome. Individual components of metabolic syndrome were not associated with cognitive decline except for elevated glucose on the DelRec (P=.02) and high blood pressure on 3MS (P=.05).

CONCLUSION: Metabolic syndrome and inflammation may both contribute to cognitive decline in older people of diverse backgrounds. The results also suggest that, in elderly Latinos, the composite measure of metabolic syndrome is a greater risk for cognitive decline than its individual components.
Alternative Definitions of Sarcopenia, Lower Extremity Performance, and Functional Impairment with Aging in Older Men and Women
Authors: Delmonico Matthew J. , Harris Tamara B. , Lee Jung‐Sun , Visser Marjolein , Nevitt Michael , Kritchevsky Stephen B. , Tylavsky Frances A. , Newman Anne B. ,   for the Health, Aging and Body Composition Study
Published: March 2007

OBJECTIVES: To compare two methods for classifying an individual as sarcopenic for predicting decline in physical function in the Health, Aging and Body Composition Study.

DESIGN: Observational cohort study with 5 years of follow‐up.

SETTING: Communities in Memphis, Tennessee, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

PARTICIPANTS: Men and women aged 70 to 79 (N=2,976, 52% women, 41% black).

MEASUREMENTS: Appendicular lean mass (aLM) was measured using dual energy x‐ray absorptiometry, and participants were classified as sarcopenic first using aLM divided by height squared and then using aLM adjusted for height and body fat mass (residuals). Incidence of persistent lower extremity limitation (PLL) was measured according to self‐report, and change in objective lower extremity performance (LEP) measures were observed using the Short Physical Performance Battery.

RESULTS: There was a greater risk of incident PLL in women who were sarcopenic using the residuals sarcopenia method than in women who were not sarcopenic (hazard ratio (HR)=1.34, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.11–1.61) but not in men. Those defined as sarcopenic using the aLM/ht2 method had lower incident PLL than nonsarcopenic men (HR=0.76, 95% CI=0.60–0.96) and women (HR=0.75, 95% CI=0.60–0.93), but these were no longer significant with adjustment for body fat mass. Using the residuals method, there were significantly poorer LEP scores in sarcopenic men and women at baseline and Year 6 and greater 5‐year decline, whereas sarcopenic men defined using the aLM/ht2 method had lower 5‐year decline. Additional adjustment for fat mass attenuated this protective effect.

CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that sarcopenia defined using the residuals method, a method that considers height and fat mass together, is better for predicting disability in an individual than the aLM/ht2 method, because it considers fat as part of the definition.
Fund Manager Use of Public Information: New Evidence on Managerial Skills
Authors: KACPERCZYK MARCIN , SERU AMIT
Published: March 2007

We show theoretically that the responsiveness of a fund manager's portfolio allocations to changes in public information decreases in the manager's skill. We go on to estimate this sensitivity (RPI) as the R2 of the regression of changes in a manager's portfolio holdings on changes in public information using a panel of U.S. equity funds. Consistent with RPI containing information related to managerial skills, we find a strong inverse relationship between RPI and various existing measures of performance, and between RPI and fund flows. We also document that both fund‐ and manager‐specific attributes affect RPI.
Managerial Ability, Compensation, and the Closed‐End Fund Discount
Authors: BERK JONATHAN B. , STANTON RICHARD
Published: March 2007

This paper shows that the existence of managerial ability, combined with the labor contract prevalent in the industry, implies that the closed‐end fund discount should exhibit many of the primary features documented in the literature. We evaluate the model's ability to match the quantitative features of the data, and find that it does well, although there is some observed behavior that remains to be explained.
Limits of Arbitrage: Theory and Evidence from the Mortgage‐Backed Securities Market
Authors: GABAIX XAVIER , KRISHNAMURTHY ARVIND , VIGNERON OLIVIER
Published: March 2007

“Limits of Arbitrage” theories hypothesize that the marginal investor in a particular asset market is a specialized arbitrageur rather than a diversified representative investor. We examine the mortgage‐backed securities (MBS) market in this light. We show that the risk of homeowner prepayment, which is a wash in the aggregate, is priced in the MBS market. The covariance of prepayment risk with aggregate wealth implies the wrong sign to match the observed prices of prepayment risk. The price of risk is better explained by a kernel based on MBS market‐wide specific risk, consistent with the specialized arbitrageur hypothesis.
Banking Deregulation and Industry Structure: Evidence from the French Banking Reforms of 1985
Authors: BERTRAND MARIANNE , SCHOAR ANTOINETTE , THESMAR DAVID
Published: March 2007

We investigate how the deregulation of the French banking industry in the 1980s affected the real behavior of firms and the structure and dynamics of product markets. Following deregulation, banks are less willing to bail out poorly performing firms and firms in the more bank‐dependent sectors are more likely to undertake restructuring activities. At the industry level, we observe an increase in asset and job reallocation, an improvement in allocative efficiency across firms, and a decline in concentration. Overall, these findings support the view that a more efficient banking sector helps foster a Schumpeterian process of “creative destruction.”
Winners or Losers? The Effects of Banking Consolidation on Corporate Borrowers
Authors: DI PATTI EMILIA BONACCORSI , GOBBI GIORGIO
Published: March 2007

We estimate the impact of bank mergers and acquisitions (M&As) on outstanding credit, credit lines, and the sensitivity of investment to cash flow using a large sample of Italian corporate borrowers. We distinguish between firms that experienced relationship termination as a consequence of bank M&As and those that did not. Our findings are consistent with bank M&As having an adverse effect on credit, particularly when the M&A is followed by relationship termination. The effect persists 3 years and then is absorbed, suggesting that firms are able to compensate for the negative shock.
Growth Opportunities and the Choice of Leverage, Debt Maturity, and Covenants
Authors: BILLETT MATTHEW T. , KING TAO‐HSIEN DOLLY , MAUER DAVID C.
Published: March 2007

We investigate the effect of growth opportunities in a firm's investment opportunity set on its joint choice of leverage, debt maturity, and covenants. Using a database that contains detailed debt covenant information, we provide large‐sample evidence of the incidence of covenants in public debt and construct firm‐level indices of bondholder covenant protection. We find that covenant protection is increasing in growth opportunities, debt maturity, and leverage. We also document that the negative relation between leverage and growth opportunities is significantly attenuated by covenant protection, suggesting that covenants can mitigate the agency costs of debt for high growth firms.
Smart Institutions, Foolish Choices: The Limited Partner Performance Puzzle
Authors: LERNER JOSH , SCHOAR ANTOINETTE , WONGSUNWAI WAN
Published: March 2007

The returns that institutional investors realize from private equity differ dramatically across institutions. Using detailed, hitherto unexplored records, we document large heterogeneity in the performance of investor classes: endowments' annual returns are nearly 21% greater than average. Analysis of reinvestment decisions suggests that endowments (and to a lesser extent, public pensions) are better than other investors at predicting whether follow‐on funds will have high returns. The results are not primarily due to endowments' greater access to established funds, since they also hold for young or undersubscribed funds. Our results suggest that investors vary in their sophistication and potentially their investment objectives.
Financial Synergies and the Optimal Scope of the Firm: Implications for Mergers, Spinoffs, and Structured Finance
Authors: LELAND HAYNE E.
Published: March 2007

Multiple activities may be separated financially, allowing each to optimize its financial structure, or combined in a firm with a single optimal financial structure. We consider activities with nonsynergistic operational cash flows, and examine the purely financial benefits of separation versus merger. The magnitude of financial synergies depends upon tax rates, default costs, relative size, and the riskiness and correlation of cash flows. Contrary to accepted wisdom, financial synergies from mergers can be negative if firms have quite different risks or default costs. The results provide a rationale for structured finance techniques such as asset securitization and project finance.
How Are Firms Sold?
Authors: BOONE AUDRA L. , MULHERIN J. HAROLD
Published: March 2007

As measured by the number of bidders that publicly attempt to acquire a target, the takeover arena in the 1990s appears noncompetitive. However, we provide novel data on the pre‐public, private takeover process that indicates that public takeover activity is only the tip of the iceberg of actual takeover competition during the 1990s. We show a highly competitive market where half of the targets are auctioned among multiple bidders, while the remainder negotiate with a single bidder. In event study analysis, we find that the wealth effects for target shareholders are comparable in auctions and negotiations.
On the Importance of Measuring Payout Yield: Implications for Empirical Asset Pricing
Authors: BOUDOUKH JACOB , MICHAELY RONI , RICHARDSON MATTHEW , ROBERTS MICHAEL R.
Published: March 2007

We investigate the empirical implications of using various measures of payout yield rather than dividend yield for asset pricing models. We find statistically and economically significant predictability in the time series when payout (dividends plus repurchases) and net payout (dividends plus repurchases minus issuances) yields are used instead of the dividend yield. Similarly, we find that payout (net payout) yields contains information about the cross section of expected stock returns exceeding that of dividend yields, and that the high minus low payout yield portfolio is a priced factor.
Decoupling CEO Wealth and Firm Performance: The Case of Acquiring CEOs
Authors: HARFORD JARRAD , LI KAI
Published: March 2007

We explore how compensation policies following mergers affect a CEO's incentives to pursue a merger. We find that even in mergers where bidding shareholders are worse off, bidding CEOs are better off three quarters of the time. Following a merger, a CEO's pay and overall wealth become insensitive to negative stock performance, but a CEO's wealth rises in step with positive stock performance. Corporate governance matters; bidding firms with stronger boards retain the sensitivity of their CEOs' compensation to poor performance following the merger. In comparison, we find that CEOs are not rewarded for undertaking major capital expenditures.
Corporate Governance, Idiosyncratic Risk, and Information Flow
Authors: FERREIRA MIGUEL A. , LAUX PAUL A.
Published: March 2007

We study the relationship of corporate governance policy and idiosyncratic risk. Firms with fewer antitakeover provisions display higher levels of idiosyncratic risk, trading activity, private information flow, and information about future earnings in stock prices. Trading interest by institutions, especially those active in merger arbitrage, strengthens the relationship of governance to idiosyncratic risk. Our results indicate that openness to the market for corporate control leads to more informative stock prices by encouraging collection of and trading on private information. Consistent with an information‐flow interpretation, the component of volatility unrelated to governance is associated with the efficiency of corporate investment.
A Complex Pattern of Melanonychia and Onycholysis After Treatment With Pemetrexed for Lung Cancer
Authors: Dasanu Constantin A , Wiernik Peter H , Vaillant Juan , Alexandrescu Doru T
Published: March 2007

A 53‐year‐old black man was diagnosed with poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma of the lung and treated initially with 4 cycles of paclitaxel in combination with carboplatin and external‐beam radiation therapy with a good clinicoradiologic response. The patient tolerated the chemotherapy well and did not develop any skin or nail changes during that period of time. His lung cancer recurred 10 months later, when he was found to have bone metastases. Second‐line chemotherapy with pemetrexed 500 mg/m2 intravenously every 3 weeks was commenced. A week prior, the patient was started on folic acid 1 mg orally daily and given an injection of vitamin B12 1000 μg intramuscularly that was continued every 3 cycles thereafter. Dexamethasone 4 mg orally twice daily was given around the time of chemotherapy administration to prevent the dermatitis associated with the drug. The patient denied taking other drugs. Two months into his second‐line chemotherapy, he developed multiple, concomitant, transverse and longitudinal black lines in all of his fingernails and toenails. After an interval of 3 months, he presented a complex pattern of nail hyperpigmentation, from combined dense horizontal and longitudinal streaks in some nails to diffuse black discoloration in others (Figure). Other associated changes included koilonychia, dystrophy, and friability of nail plates. Along with normal results of a hepatorenal panel and normal serum vitamin B12 and folate levels, no metabolic or endocrinologic alterations were present to explain the nail pigmentation and dystrophic changes. Results of his mycologic examination and cultures came back negative. When questioned, he denied taking any other drugs including other alternative medicine approaches or vitamin supplements, particularly retinoids, well known for causing severe nail dystrophy.

Most fingernails show a complex pattern of nail hyperpigmentation, comprising dense horizontal and longitudinal streaks, with some nails presenting a diffuse black discoloration. Associated koilonychia, dystrophy, and nail friability were present. (Inset) Nail enlargement detailing the pattern of discoloration and dystrophic changes.

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Occlusive Irritant Dermatitis: When Is “Allergic” Contact Dermatitis Not Allergic?
Authors: Miller Sara , ENS Helms Amy , Brodell Robert T.
Published: March 2007

Case 1: A 38‐year‐old teacher presented with a 3‐ to 4‐week history of a linear, erythematous, vesicular, and pruritic eruption of her left wrist (Figure 1). She had been wearing a new elastic bracelet for 4 weeks before the onset of her eruption. Although there was no history of allergy to rubber products or jewelry, an allergic contact dermatitis to rubber was suspected. Patch testing to rubber chemicals and the elastic bracelet revealed no reactions at 48, 72, and 96 hours. She stopped wearing the bracelet and used a corticosteroid cream with rapid resolution of the problem. The patient resumed wearing the bracelet, and there has been no recurrence in the past 2 months. Case 2: A 12‐year‐old boy presented with a 1‐month history of an itchy, scaly, erythematous 1‐cm patch over the midline of his lower lip. The patient complained of tiny blisters initially with persistent erythema, mild scaling, and associated pruritus (Figure 2). The patient plays the saxophone and he had been practicing more intensely (3 to 4 h/d) for a musical competition. Allergic reaction to his wood reed was suspected, but patch testing with a moistened portion of his reed and reed shavings in a drop of water revealed no reaction at 48 and 72 hours. Treatment with hydrocortisone 1% cream bid for 3 days led to complete resolution of the dermitis and pruritus. Playing the saxophone 1 h/d has not led to any recurrence. Case 3: A 33‐year‐old woman presented with erythema, scaling, and pruritus of 1 months' duration beneath her engagement and wedding rings, which were worn together on her left fourth finger (Figure 3). Although she had no history of previous sensitivity to earrings, watch clasp, blue jean rivets, or other jewelry, allergic contact dermatitis to nickel was suspected. Patch testing was performed to the common metal allergens nickel, cobalt, chromium, and gold. Readings at 48 hours and 1 week revealed no positive reactions. The patient wore her rings on the right hand for 1 week and used fluocinonide 0.5% cream twice daily for 1 week with resolution of the dermatitis. She has subsequently begun wearing the rings again on her left hand with care to dry her hands and rings after washing, and there has been no recurrence of her dermatitis.

An erythematous, papulovesicular, linear patch is present on the wrist where an elastic bracelet rested on the skin.

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Erythema and slight scale are noted on the midportion of the lip where the reed contacts the skin when the saxophone is played.

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Erythema, scaling, and papulovesiculation are noted on the left fourth finger beneath the site where the patient's engagement and wedding ring set rested. The dermatitis is also present on the adjacent webspace between the 3rd and 4th fingers.

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Denture Stomatitis
Authors: Amy Chen Yuntzu‐Yen , Zirwas Matthew J.
Published: March 2007

A 70‐year‐old woman presented for evaluation of an eruption localized to the area covered by her partial upper denture. Her medical history and physical examination were otherwise unremarkable. She originally had a metal upper partial denture, which she used for many years without difficulty. Four years before presentation, she developed a painful eruption affecting only the tissue covered by the upper partial denture. Contact dermatitis to metal was suspected, and a new upper partial denture constructed primarily of acrylates was fashioned. When she transitioned to the new denture, the inflammation in her oral mucosa persisted and perhaps worsened, despite an excellent fit. Examination revealed striking erythema and mild edema sharply localized to the areas where the partial upper denture contacted the gum ridge (Figure 1). Patch testing was performed and revealed allergies to multiple acrylates, including methyl methacrylate. A swab from the gums was sent for yeast culture. No Candida was detected. Based on suspected candidal overgrowth on the denture, the patient was advised to begin applying nystatin ointment between the gums and the denture, and to start soaking the dentures nightly in chlorhexidine 0.12% solution. In addition, because the relevance of the acrylate allergy was unclear, her dentist was contacted and it was recommended that the dentures be boiled to induce polymerization of any residual un‐reacted methacrylate monomers. The patient had a 90% improvement in the clinical appearance and in symptoms at an 8‐week follow‐up appointment (Figure 2). Due to logistic issues, the dentures had not yet been boiled. The improvement, despite the dentures not having been boiled, was felt to demonstrate that the acrylate allergy was not relevant. The patient has continued to slowly show further improvement over 6 months of follow‐up.

Striking erythema and mild edema affecting strictly the areas in contact with the dentures.

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Dramatic decrease in erythema and resolution of edema after 8 weeks of therapy with nystatin ointment and chlorhexidine soaks.

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Comparison of Hydroxyzine and Doxepin in Treatment of Pruritus Due to Sulfur Mustard
Authors: Shohrati Majid , Tajik Ali , Harandi Ali Amini , Davoodi Seyed Masoud , Almasi Mahmood
Published: March 2007

Objective. To compare the safety and efficacy of doxepin and hydroxyzine in the treatment of chronic pruritus due to exposure to sulfur mustard.

Methods. In a randomized, double‐blind safety and efficacy study, 50 patients with chronic pruritus were given either doxepin 10 mg/d or hydroxyzine 25 mg/d for 4 weeks. Pruritic score was calculated for each patient before treatment and 1 month after.

Results. After treatment, the mean pruritic scores ± SD of the hydroxyzine and doxepin groups were 16.7±2.3 and 17.8±2.5, respectively. The severity of pruritus was decreased in 80% of patients in the hydroxyzine group and 75% in the doxepin group (P=.786). Eighteen patients in the hydroxyzine group and 14 patients in the doxepin group reported sedation.

Conclusions.Both hydroxyzine and doxepin are effective and have equivalent results in controlling the symptoms of patients with chronic pruritus due to exposure to sulfur mustard.
AIDS in Pregnancy, Part II: Treatment in the Era of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy and Management of Obstetric, Anesthetic, and Pediatric Issues
Authors: Rigopoulos Dimitris , Gregoriou Stamatis , Paparizos Vasilis , Katsambas Andreas
Published: March 2007

International guidelines recommend resistance testing of maternal virus for all human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)‐infected pregnant women. The use of highly active antiretroviral therapy leads to maximal virologic suppression, thus minimizing the risk of drug resistance, but it is available only in developed countries. In developing countries, the use of short‐course regimens is becoming more widespread. Women infected with HIV may be at greater risk for complications during pregnancy, including ectopic pregnancy, early abortions, bacterial pneumonia, urinary tract infection, oral and recurrent vaginal thrush, malaria, and tuberculosis. Regional anesthesia is often the treatment of choice when administering anesthesia in an HIV‐infected pregnant woman. Infected children present decreased survival rates, while uninfected children born to infected mothers present a higher incidence of poor weight gain, short stature, and wasting than would be expected for the general population. Transmission of HIV‐1 can occur via breast‐feeding.
Sexual Health Medicine, 2007
Authors: Waugh Michael
Published: March 2007

For 2007, this series will focus on concepts in sexual health, with special emphasis on the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome; bacterial sexually transmitted infections, such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, lymphogranuloma venereum, and syphilis; and changing concepts in viral conditions, such as immunization against human papilloma virus. The current article focuses on sexual health in its entirety.
Causal Mediation Analyses with Rank Preserving Models
Authors: Ten Have Thomas R. , Joffe Marshall M. , Lynch Kevin G. , Brown Gregory K. , Maisto Stephen A. , Beck Aaron T.
Published: March 2007

Summary We present a linear rank preserving model (RPM) approach for analyzing mediation of a randomized baseline intervention's effect on a univariate follow‐up outcome. Unlike standard mediation analyses, our approach does not assume that the mediating factor is also randomly assigned to individuals in addition to the randomized baseline intervention (i.e., sequential ignorability), but does make several structural interaction assumptions that currently are untestable. The G‐estimation procedure for the proposed RPM represents an extension of the work on direct effects of randomized intervention effects for survival outcomes by Robins and Greenland (1994, Journal of the American Statistical Association89, 737–749) and on intervention non‐adherence by Ten Have et al. (2004, Journal of the American Statistical Association99, 8–16). Simulations show good estimation and confidence interval performance by the proposed RPM approach under unmeasured confounding relative to the standard mediation approach, but poor performance under departures from the structural interaction assumptions. The trade‐off between these assumptions is evaluated in the context of two suicide/depression intervention studies.
ChIP‐chip: Data, Model, and Analysis
Authors: Zheng Ming , Barrera Leah O. , Ren Bing , Wu Ying Nian
Published: March 2007

Summary ChIP‐chip (or ChIP‐on‐chip) is a technology for isolation and identification of genomic sites occupied by specific DNA‐binding proteins in living cells. The ChIP‐chip signals can be obtained over the whole genome by tiling arrays, where a peak shape is generally observed around a protein‐binding site. In this article, we describe the ChIP‐chip process and present a probability model for ChIP‐chip data. We then propose a model‐based method for recognizing the peak shapes for the purpose of detecting protein‐binding sites. We also investigate the issue of bandwidth in nonparametric kernel smoothing method.
Prediabetes in Rural and Urban Children in 3 States in Mexico
Authors: Aradillas‐Garcia Celia , Malacara Juan M. , Garay‐Sevilla Ma. Eugenia , Guízar Juan M. , Camacho Nicolás , De la Cruz‐Mendoza Esperanza , Quemada Leticia , Sierra Juan Francisco Hernández
Published: March 2007

The authors studied the frequency, distribution, and factors associated with prediabetes (fasting glucose, 100–125 mg/dL) in rural and urban children from San Luis Potosí, León, and Querétaro in central Mexico. Family history, somatometry, and levels of fasting insulin, glucose, and lipids were collected in 1238 children 6 to 13 years of age. The authors found no cases of type 2 diabetes and a 5.7% frequency of prediabetes. The group with prediabetes had higher homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance scores and total cholesterol and high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Prediabetes was more frequent in León, with similar distribution in rural and urban children. The frequency of insulin resistance was 24.1%, with higher figures in urban groups and in San Luis Potosí. In multivariate analysis, prediabetes was associated with insulin resistance and residence in León. The authors concluded that in central Mexico the frequency of prediabetes is significant, and it is associated with insulin resistance and a geographic location, but not with obesity or urban vs rural dwelling.
Myocardial Velocity, Strain, and Strain Rate Abnormalities in Healthy Obese Children
Authors: Lorch Steven M. , Sharkey Angela
Published: March 2007

Childhood obesity is a major health care issue in the United States. This epidemic has important cardiovascular implications. Newer imaging modalities in obese adults have demonstrated abnormal systolic and diastolic cardiac function. The authors proposed to determine whether these abnormalities are present in obese children. A total of 168 children were identified from our echocardiographic database. Body mass index for age was calculated. Echocardiographic clips were analyzed using imaging technology to determine myocardial motion, strain, and strain rate. Patients at risk for obesity and those meeting criteria for obesity had increased late diastolic myocardial motion compared with normal‐weight children. Obese patients had decreased systolic strain compared with normal‐weight children. As with adults, obese children have significant differences in diastolic function and strain. These abnormalities may be subtle markers for the emergence of future cardiac disease.
The Endocannabinoid Network: Insight Into the Regulation of the Neuroendocrine and Metabolic Systems
Authors: Lastra‐Lastra Guido , Lastra‐Gonzalez Guido , Manrique Camila
Published: March 2007

The dramatic increase in the prevalence of obesity worldwide represents one of the most important challenges of modern medicine, owing to its myriad related complications—in particular cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death worldwide. Originating from early studies with Cannabis sativa, the active compound of marijuana, there has been an impressive progress in the knowledge about the endocannabinoid network, leading to the identification of specific pathways that modulate feeding behavior. The effects of endocannabinoids are not limited to the central nervous system, but also include peripheral tissues. Experimental and clinic trials have demonstrated the efficacy of endocannabinoid antagonists in the management of obesity and the cardiometabolic syndrome. Better understanding of the mechanisms underlying obesity will lead to development of more active and specific agents, which surely will enlarge the role of this efficacious alternative for management of obesity.
Prevalence of the Metabolic Syndrome in Patients With Hypertension Treated in General Practice in Spain: An Assessment of Blood Pressure and Low‐Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Control and Accuracy of Diagnosis
Authors: Barrios Vivencio , Escobar Carlos , Calderón Alberto , Llisterri José L. , Alegría Eduardo , Muñiz Javier , Matalí Arantxa
Published: March 2007

This study was designed to evaluate whether primary care physicians in Spain accurately diagnose the metabolic syndrome in hypertensive patients, to define the profile and management of these patients in clinical practice, and to ascertain the level of blood pressure and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol control. Data were analyzed from a cross‐sectional survey involving 12,954 patients with hypertension (Prevención Cardiovascular en España en Atención Primaria: Intervención Sobre el Colesterol en Hipertensión [PRESCOT] study), wherein 52% of the cohort fulfilled the National Cholesterol Education Program‐Adult Treatment Panel criteria for the metabolic syndrome. The majority of patients (54.6%) had 3 risk factors, 32.4% had 4, and 13% had 5 risk factors. Physician diagnosis of the metabolic syndrome was poor, with 43.7% of physicians missing the diagnosis and 12.9% wrongly diagnosing the metabolic syndrome. Blood pressure and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol control rates were very low, with only 4.7% of metabolic syndrome patients achieving control for both blood pressure and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol vs 13.5% for non‐metabolic syndrome patients (P<.0001). These findings demonstrate that the metabolic syndrome is common in patients with hypertension and that it is generally poorly diagnosed and treated by primary care physicians.
The Metabolic Syndrome and Subclinical Carotid Atherosclerosis: The Northern Manhattan Study
Authors: Rundek Tatjana , White Halina , Boden‐Albala Bernadette , Jin Zhezhen , Elkind Mitchell S.V. , Sacco Ralph L.
Published: March 2007

The metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a distinctive phenotype associated with an increased risk of vascular disease. Carotid plaque is a surrogate marker of subclinical atherosclerosis and a powerful predictor of vascular outcomes. The relationship between the MetS and subclinical atherosclerosis in multiethnic populations has not been well characterized. The authors have evaluated the association of the MetS with subclinical atherosclerosis among 1895 community residents from the Northern Manhattan Study (mean age, 68.0±9.7 years; 59% women; 25% black; 22% white; 51% Hispanic). The prevalence of the MetS was 41% (35% in men, 45% in women), and 57% of subjects had carotid plaque. In a multivariate‐adjusted logistic regression model, the MetS was a significant predictor of plaque presence (odds ratio, 1.36; 95% confidence interval, 1.10–1.67). Additionally, the number of MetS components was significantly associated with plaque prevalence. Further studies are needed to understand the role of the MetS in the progression from subclinical to clinical atherosclerotic disease.
Treatment of Hypertension With Thiazides: Benefit or Damage—Effect of Low‐ and High‐Dose Thiazide Diuretics on Arterial Elasticity and Metabolic Parameters in Hypertensive Patients With and Without Glucose Intolerance
Authors: Shargorodsky Marina , Boaz Mona , Davidovitz Ina , Asherov Jack , Gavish Dov , Zimlichman Reuven
Published: March 2007

Thiazide diuretics may cause multiple metabolic abnormalities. The authors investigated the effects of varying doses of hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) on arterial elasticity and metabolic parameters in patients with hypertension (HTN), HTN and impaired fasting glucose (HTN+IFG), and HTN and type 2 diabetes mellitus (HTN+DM). The patients received low and high doses of HCTZ. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures declined significantly during the first 3 months in all patients, but no additional decrease was seen following the increase in HCTZ dose. In HTN, large artery elasticity index and small artery elasticity increased during the study. In HTN+IFG, large artery elasticity index increased without improvement in small artery elasticity index. In HTN+DM, both large artery elasticity index and small artery elasticity index did not improve during follow‐up. Low‐dose HCTZ improves arterial elasticity in hypertensive patients, but this effect is diminished with concomitant DM or IFG. The HCTZ dose increase worsened parameters of glucose metabolism and did not further decrease blood pressure or improve arterial elasticity.
Impact of mating status on egg‐laying and superparasitism behaviour in a parasitoid wasp
Authors: Darrouzet Eric , Bignon Laure , Chevrier Claude
Published: March 2007

Most parasitoid female wasps can distinguish between unparasitized and parasitized hosts and use this information to optimize their progeny and sex allocation. In this study, we explored the impact of mating on oviposition behaviour (parasitism and self‐ and conspecific superparasitism) on both unparasitized and already parasitized hosts in the solitary parasitoid wasp Eupelmus vuilleti (Crw.) (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae). Virgin and mated females had the same oviposition behaviour and laid eggs preferentially on unparasitized hosts. The sex ratio (as the proportion of females) of eggs laid by mated females in parasitism and conspecific superparasitism was 0.67 ± 0.04 and 0.57 ± 0.09, respectively. Likewise, females laid more eggs in conspecific superparasitism than self‐superparasitism under our experimental conditions. These experiments demonstrate that E. vuilleti females can (i) discriminate between unparasitized and parasitized hosts and adapt the number of eggs they lay accordingly, and (ii) probably discriminate self from conspecific superparasitized hosts. Finally, mating does not appear to influence the host discrimination capacity, the ovarian function, or the oviposition behaviour.
Trust Networks in Transnational Migration
Authors: Tilly Charles
Published: March 2007

The sheer volume of migrant remittances to relatively poor countries, including those of Latin America and the Caribbean, nicely dramatizes the genuinely transnational social ties created by long‐distance migration. The evidence underlines that migration flows are serious business, not only for the individuals and families involved, but also for whole national economies. Thinking about remittances also allows us to identify some crucial social processes of which most migrants and first‐hand students of migration are well aware, but for which we have neither well‐established theories, carefully crafted concepts, nor extensive evidence. I mean the creation, use, and transformation of interpersonal trust networks within migration streams.
Beyond the Nuclear Family? Familism and Gender Ideology in Diverse Religious Communities
Authors: Edgell Penny , Docka Danielle
Published: March 2007

Religious familism, or ideology about “the good family,” has been central to the culture and practice of local religious communities in the United States. Recent research has suggested that the “Ozzie and Harriet” familism dominant among mainstream religious groups in the 1950s religious expansion has remained formative for many local religious communities in the intervening decades. This research suggests that religious familism shapes how gender is symbolized and enacted in local religious communities and leads to differences in the meaning of religious participation for contemporary men and women. However, this work has been based largely on studies of white, middle‐class religious communities. In this article, we analyze the relationship between family ideology and gender in three congregations chosen to exemplify those social locations where we would expect considerable distance from the 1950s “Ozzie and Harriet” ideal—one Hispanic Catholic parish, one African‐American congregation in the black Church tradition, and one white liberal Protestant congregation that has adopted an open and affirming stance toward homosexuality and same‐sex unions. We find considerable innovation in family‐oriented rhetoric and ministry, and a range of gendered practices that prove considerably more inclusive than those found in previous research. We also find considerable symbolic affirmation of the value of more traditional gender roles and practices, particularly in the realm of the family, than we expected to find. We explore the implications of these findings for how we understand the production of gender in local religious communities and for the capacity of local religious communities to become truly gender‐inclusive spaces.
Residential Segregation on the Island: The Role of Race and Class in Puerto Rican Neighborhoods
Authors: Denton Nancy A. , Villarrubia Jacqueline
Published: March 2007

In this paper, we use racial data from Census 2000, available for the first time in 50 years, to examine the links among race, socioeconomic status, and residential location on the island of Puerto Rico. Puerto Ricans overwhelmingly chose white as their race, and they chose only one race, not a combination of races that would seem more in keeping with the ideology of mestizaje. Overall, segregation by race is modest compared with residential segregation in the United States. In keeping with the Puerto Rican claim that class is more important than race, we find that segregation by race is generally lower than segregation between the lowest and highest income categories in all metro areas, but that the results for education and occupational status differ by metropolitan area. In San Juan‐Bayamón, the most diverse metropolitan area on the island, we find that as percent black increases, neighborhood socioeconomic statusdecreases, though the changes are not that stark, except in Loiza, a community of black Puerto Ricans and in some Dominican neighborhoods, though there are relatively few of these neighborhoods.
Kitchen Stories: Patterns of Recognition in Contemporary High Cuisine
Authors: Leschziner Vanina
Published: March 2007

How are patterns of cultural production informed by the nature of the field? In particular, I am concerned with how the mode of cultural production mediates relations among creators and, in turn, how these relations affect cultural production. I also inquire into how these two sets of relations are influenced by the connection between the field of cultural production and the larger social world. I rest my inquiry in the field of culinary arts. Drawing on ethnographic research with elite chefs in mid‐ to high‐status restaurants in New York City and San Francisco, where I have conducted 45 in‐depth interviews and observation in their restaurant kitchens, I analyze how actors subjectively manage the institutional conditions of authorship and differentiation through their discursive practices on the mode of cultural production and on their relations with other creators. By analyzing how chefs manage these issues, we will also observe how they subjectively deal with their objective position in the field.
“Her” Marriage after the Revolutions
Authors: Wilcox W. Bradford , Nock Steven L.
Published: March 2007

Recent social changes have made husbands’ emotional investments and wives’ perceptions of equity in the division of housework crucial for women's marital happiness. But wives are also happiest in their marriages when they share a strong normative commitment to lifelong marriage with their husbands and when their husbands take the lead in breadwinning. Thus our research suggests that elements of the new and the old promote marital happiness among contemporary wives.