bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lyngbya dermatitis (toxic seaweed dermatitis)
Authors: Werner Kimberly A. , Marquart Laura , Norton Scott A.
Published: July 2011

Lyngbya dermatitis is an irritant contact dermatitis caused by the blue‐green alga (or cyanobacterium), Lyngbya majuscula, commonly found in tropical and temperate waters worldwide. Lesions generally appear in a bathing suit distribution minutes to hours after exposure, initially with itching or burning, evolving into a blistering eruption which eventually desquamates leaving bright red, tender erosions that resolve spontaneously in about a week. Our case is of a 13‐year‐old female that presented with haphazard clusters of reddish‐brown vesicles and papules on her abdomen one day after swimming in rough surf conditions on the shores of Oahu, Hawaii. Histopathological examination revealed an acute irritant contact dermatitis consistent with Lyngbya dermatitis. L. majuscule, with its wealth of biologically active compounds, should be a consideration in any patient presenting with an acute irritant contact dermatitis following temperate saltwater exposure.
Identification of a novel HLA‐A allele, A*29:28, in an East African population
Authors: Isabey E. P. , Pham H. M. , Peterson T. A. , Brunham R. C. , Luo M. , Plummer F. A.
Published: July 2011

The new allele is identical to A*29:01:01:01 in exons 2 and 3, except for a single‐nucleotide substitution (TTG to TGG) at codon 156.
Cytotoxicity and metabolic stress induced by deoxynivalenol in the porcine intestinal IPEC‐J2 cell line
Authors: Awad W. A. , Aschenbach J. R. , Zentek J.
Published: July 2011

The digestive tract is a target for the Fusarium toxin deoxynivalenol (DON), a major cereal grain contaminant of animal and public health concern. Toxic effects of DON range from diarrhoea, vomiting and gastrointestinal inflammation to necrosis of several tissues. Following ingestion of contaminated food or feed, intestinal epithelial cells are exposed to a high concentration of ingested DON, potentially affecting intestinal functions. Pigs are considered to be the species most sensitive to DON toxicity. However, only few studies directly evaluated DON effects on porcine intestinal epithelial cells. Therefore, we used the porcine intestinal cell line (IPEC‐J2) to assess short‐term effects of DON on functional characteristics of the intestinal epithelial cells. The cytotoxic effect of DON on IPEC‐J2 cells was evaluated by measuring the count of living cells and the activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) released in the culture media at a DON concentration range from 0, 0.5, 2.5 and 10 μm. We demonstrated that DON at concentrations of 2.5 and 10 μm decreased significantly (p < 0.001) the cell count in a dose‐dependent manner. At a concentration of 10 μm, DON caused cell damage, including rounding of cells, autolysis and cell loss from the monolayer. The mycotoxin, DON, increased LDH release into the culture medium compared with the control value. The alterations of LDH showed a good agreement with the decrease in cell count. Deoxynivalenol decreased the l‐lactate concentration in the fluid supernatant of IPEC‐J2 cells at 2.5 μm (p < 0.05) with a maximal effect at 10 μm of DON. To determine whether the altered lactate production may be linked to alterations of energy balance, we measured cellular ATP levels in IPEC‐J2 cells. A significant decrease in ATP levels was seen at 48 h in a dose‐dependent manner. It could be demonstrated that DON has a distinct cytotoxic effect on IPEC‐J2 cells.
Multilocus enzyme electrophoresis analysis and exoenzymatic activity of Candida albicans strains isolated from women with vaginal candidiasis
Authors: Santos Patrícia O. , Melo Juliana O. , Ponzzes Camila Monique P. B. S. , Alves José Antônio B. , de Melo Dângelly L.F.M. , Botelho Nathalia de S. , Yamada‐Ogatta Sueli F. , Mann Renata S. , Trindade Rita de Cássia
Published: July 2011

Twenty‐eight Candida albicans strains obtained from women with vaginal candidiasis were tested for phospholipase and proteinase production and clustered by multilocus enzyme electrophoresis (MLEE). The proteolytic and phospholipidic activity were considered moderate (0.56 ± 0.12 mm and 0.53 ± 0.09 mm, respectively) for all isolates. The isoenzymes malate dehydrogenase (MDH) and sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH) showed strong intra‐specific discriminatory power. The numerical and genetic interpretation of the bands produced by the isoenzymes tested presented similar discriminatory power. The genetic diversity of the isolates was measured by allelic and genic frequency, perceptual index of polymorphic loci (P = 87.5%), average number of alleles per locus, average number of alleles per polymorphic locus, average heterozygosity observed and average heterozygosity expected. We verified that three isoenzymatic loci (Adh, Gdh and Sdh‐2) were not in Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. A dendrogram constructed based on the genetic distance matrix of Nei showed seven clusters; 57.15% (16) of the isolates were considered highly related or indistinguishable, and 42.85% were considered moderately related or unrelated. We did not find a relationship between the clusters and the exoenzymes production.
Caveolin‐1 expression regulates blood–retinal barrier permeability and retinal neovascularization in oxygen‐induced retinopathy
Authors: Tian Xiao‐Feng , Xia Xiao‐Bo , Xu Hui‐Zhuo , Xiong Si‐Qi , Jiang Jian
Published: July 2011

Abstract

Background:  Caveolin‐1 expression correlates with the permeability of endothelial barriers and angiogenesis. However, the role of caveolin‐1 in retinal neovascularization remains unknown. We evaluated the effect of caveolin‐1 on the blood–retina barrier and retinal neovascularization in a murine model of oxygen‐induced retinopathy.

Methods:  Starting at postnatal day 7, mice were exposed to 75 ± 5% oxygen for 5 days and then returned to room air conditions to induce retinal neovascularization. Effects on blood–retina barrier were evaluated by Western blot analysis of extravasated albumin in the retina. Retinal neovascularization morphology was studied by fluorescence angiography and was quantified by counts of the endothelial nuclei that protruded into the vitreous cavity. Reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis was used to examine retinal expression levels of caveolin‐1. siRNA against caveolin‐1 was injected intravitreally in the oxygen‐induced retinopathy models. Effects on caveolin‐1 mRNA and protein, and retinal neovascularization were assessed as described above.

Results:  Caveolin‐1 expression was found to increase during hypoxia and overexpression of caveolin‐1 correlated with the appearance of extravascular albumin. Caveolin‐1 siRNA reduced caveolin‐1 mRNA and protein levels by 47.94% and 54.76%, respectively. Furthermore, caveolin‐1 siRNA inhibition reduced retinal neovascularization by 51.3% and reduced albumin leakage by 56.32%.

Conclusions:  Caveolin‐1 may play an important role in induction of retinal neovascularization. SiRNA against caveolin‐1 can inhibit experimental retinal hyperpermeability and neovascularization. Therefore, the inhibition of caveolin‐1 may be a powerful and novel therapeutic tool for the treatment of ischaemia‐induced retinal diseases.
Anatomy of medial canthal tendon in Caucasians
Authors: Poh Eugenie , Kakizaki Hirohiko , Selva Dinesh , Leibovitch Igal
Published: July 2011

Abstract

Background:  To analyse the anatomy of the medial canthal tendon in Caucasians and to clarify the true anatomical nature of its posterior limb.

Methods:  This was an experimental anatomic study. Seven Caucasian cadavers (11 eyelids; age range: 78–101 years at death). Anatomical dissection and histological examination of cadaveric eyelids fixed in 10% buffered formalin was performed. The axial sections were made in parallel with the eyelid margin at 1 mm superior or inferior to the upper or lower eyelid margins, respectively. The histological specimens were first dehydrated and embedded in paraffin and then divided into 7 µm thickness sections and stained with Masson's trichrome. Microscopic photographs were taken with a digital camera system attached to the microscope.

Results:  The posterior limb of the medial canthal tendon was not detected in any of the specimens. The medial check ligament supported the posterior aspect of Horner's muscle and inserted into the medial orbital wall through the periosteum. The lacrimal diaphragm around the posterior lacrimal crest ran almost parallel to Horner's muscle and was usually difficult to distinguish from the tendon of Horner's muscle.

Conclusions:  The posterior limb of the medial canthal tendon was not detected in any of the studied specimens. This anatomical structure appears to be Horner's muscle, and the lacrimal diaphragm.
Differences in iris structural measurements among American Caucasians, American Chinese and mainland Chinese
Authors: Wang Dandan , He Mingguang , Wu Lingling , Yaplee Stephanie , Singh Kuldev , Lin Shan
Published: July 2011

Abstract

Background:  To assess the distribution of iris structural measurements among American Caucasians, American Chinese and mainland Chinese aged 40 years and over, in order to determine associated factors of increased risk for angle closure in Chinese.

Design:  Prospective multicentre cross‐sectional study.

Participants:  Four gender‐ and age‐matched cohorts: Caucasians, American Chinese, Southern Chinese from Guangzhou and Northern Chinese from Beijing were enrolled in this study.

Methods:  Anterior segment optical coherence tomography was utilized to image the anterior chamber. Customized software was used to calculate the related parameters from anterior segment optical coherence tomography images.

Main Outcome Measures:  Iris thickness at 750 µm from the scleral spur, iris curvature, iris area, pupil diameter.

Results:  Data from 121, 124, 121 and 120 subjects were available for American Caucasian, American Chinese, Southern and Northern Mainland Chinese subjects, respectively. The Chinese cohorts did not differ with regard to any of the parameters. Multiple linear regressions indicated that Caucasians had thinner iris thickness at 750 µm from the scleral spur and smaller iris area than Chinese after controlling for potential confounders. Female Caucasians had thinner irides (P = 0.015) and smaller iris area (P = 0.001) than male Caucasians. Female Chinese tended to have more convex irides (P = 0.021) than male Chinese. Pupil size was inversely associated with age (P < 0.001) in both ethnicities.

Conclusions:  In dark conditions, Chinese have thicker irides and greater iris area than Caucasians independent of pupil size. Among Chinese, more convex irides in women may account for the higher rate of narrow angles identified in this segment of the Chinese population.
Tax mix change to reduce greenhouse gas emissions*
Authors: Freebairn John
Published: July 2011

A pollution tax or emissions trading scheme places a price on greenhouse gas emissions. This price also is an additional indirect tax and a government revenue windfall. To restore distributional equity, to avoid compounding the efficiency costs of existing distorting taxes and to maintain macroeconomic stability, it is argued that most of the revenue windfall be recycled to households as lower income tax rates and higher social security payments. As the carbon price rises over time, new and larger tax mix change packages will be required.
A Longitudinal Examination of African American Adolescents’ Attributions About Achievement Outcomes
Authors: Swinton Akilah D. , Kurtz‐Costes Beth , Rowley Stephanie J. , Okeke‐Adeyanju Ndidi
Published: July 2011

Developmental, gender, and academic domain differences in causal attributions and the influence of attributions on classroom engagement were explored longitudinally in 115 African American adolescents. In Grades 8 and 11, adolescents reported attributions for success and failure in math, English and writing, and science. In Grade 11, English and mathematics teachers rated students’ classroom engagement. Boys were more likely than girls to attribute math successes to high ability and to attribute English failures to low ability. Both genders’ ability attributions for math became more negative from eighth to eleventh grades. Grade 8 attributions of math failure to lack of ability were negatively related to Grade 11 math classroom engagement. Results illustrate the gendered nature of motivational beliefs among Black youth.
Children’s Judgments of Emotion From Conflicting Cues in Speech: Why 6‐Year‐Olds Are So Inflexible
Authors: Waxer Matthew , Morton J. Bruce
Published: July 2011

Six‐year‐old children can judge a speaker's feelings either from content or paralanguage but have difficulty switching the basis of their judgments when these cues conflict. This inflexibility may relate to a lexical bias in 6‐year‐olds' judgments. Two experiments tested this claim. In Experiment 1, 6‐year‐olds (n = 40) were as inflexible when switching from paralanguage to content as when switching from content to paralanguage. In Experiment 2, 6‐year‐olds (n = 32) and adults (n = 32) had more difficulty when switching between conflicting emotion cues than conflicting nonemotional cues. Thus, 6‐year‐olds' inflexibility appears to be tied to the presence of conflicting emotion cues in speech rather than a bias to judge a speaker's feelings from content.
A self‐help book is better than sleep hygiene advice for insomnia: A randomized controlled comparative study
Authors: BJORVATN BJØRN , FISKE ELDBJØRG , PALLESEN STÅLE
Published: July 2011

Bjorvatn, B., Fiske, E. & Pallesen, S. (2011). A self‐help book is better than sleep hygiene advice for insomnia: A randomized controlled comparative study. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology 52, 580–585.

The objective was to compare the effects of two types of written material for insomnia in a randomized trial with follow‐up after three months. Insomniacs were recruited through newspaper advertisements to a web‐based survey with validated questionnaires about sleep, anxiety, depression, and use of sleep medications. A self‐help book focusing on cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia was compared to standard sleep hygiene advice; 77 and 78 participants were randomized to self‐help book or sleep hygiene advice, respectively. The response rate was 81.9%. The self‐help book gave significantly better scores on the sleep questionnaires compared to sleep hygiene advice. The proportion using sleep medications was reduced in the self‐help book group, whereas it was increased in the sleep hygiene group. Compared to pre‐treatment, the self‐help book improved scores on the sleep (effect sizes 0.61–0.62) and depression (effect size 0.18) scales, whereas the sleep hygiene advice improved scores on some sleep scales (effect sizes 0.24–0.28), but worsened another (effect size –0.36). In addition, sleep hygiene advice increased the number of days per week where they took sleep medications (effect size –0.50). To conclude, in this randomized controlled trial, the self‐help book improved sleep and reduced the proportion using sleep medications compared to sleep hygiene advice. The self‐help book is an efficient low‐threshold intervention, which is cheap and easily available for patients suffering from insomnia. Sleep hygiene advice also improved sleep at follow‐up, but increased sleep medication use. Thus, caution is warranted when sleep hygiene advice are given as a single treatment.
Cancer and Imputed Infection: Images of ‘The Disease’ among Patients' Relatives
Authors: Weiss Meira
Published: July 2011

A description of the social construction of cancer is offered from the cancer patient's relatives' point of view, focusing on the linkage made between contamination and cancer. The ethnography brings together four detailed observations of cancer patients found in a transient stage of remission, who are perceived by their relatives as paradoxically being at one and the same time very good-looking and also very sick. A semiotic explanation to the phenomenon of imputed infection with regard to cancer patients of ‘doubtful appearance’ is discussed, arguing that such imputation can be seen as one of several mechanisms intended to force the disease ‘into the open’ and thus re-align the lost congruence between internal and external.
School Governing Bodies: Reshaping Education in Their Own Image?
Authors: Brehony Kevin J. , Deem Rosemary
Published: July 2011

Recent educational reforms in England have given considerable responsibilities for the overall administration of schools to governing bodies largely comprised of lay people. The paper explores the knowledge of education possessed by lay governors. Issues considered include: the systematicity of that knowledge; its possible sources, and how gender, ethnicity and social class influence the knowledge held and used by governors. Also examined are the question of whether governors are always knowledgeable actors within the context of education and the implications of this for schools and democratic participation in their governance. Data is derived from a four year qualitative multi-site case study of ten school governing bodies in two English local education authorities undertaken by the authors between 1988 and 1992.
The Role of Family Help in the Housing Decisions of Young People
Authors: Pickvance C.G. , Pickvance K.
Published: July 2011

Recent debates about flows of help within the family have indicated considerable diversity according to the type of help (money, services), and ages and gender of those involved, and have shown that values are only a partial guide to the scale of such flows. This paper focuses on a particular occasion for help, young people's housing, and a particular region, South-East England, where one would expect family financial help to be high given the capacity to help of older generations (due to higher average incomes and wealth) and the affordability problems faced by young people. It is shown that contrary to hypothesis only 12% of a sample of young people had received financial help for housing purposes since they had left home, less than found in previous studies with different samples. The amounts involved were less than young people believed their parents could afford. The role of inheritance was also found to be minor. The results from the different studies are explained as due to changes in the housing market, changing values regarding financial help and differences among the samples. Intensive re-interviews with three households from very different backgrounds are used to show the different ways in which family help operates.
‘Workaholics’ and ‘Whingeing Women’: Theorising Intimacy and Emotion Work — The Last Frontier of Gender Inequality?
Authors: Duncombe Jean , Marsden Dennis
Published: July 2011

In a variety of discourses and empirical studies it has been argued that compared with women, men show more reluctance to express intimate emotion in heterosexual couple relationships. Our paper attempts to theorise this gender asymmetry in intimate emotional behaviour as a sort of ‘emotional power’, within the wider context of continuing gender inequalities of resources and power in society. To the extent that men's role as breadwinner becomes their central life interest (they become ‘workaholics’), women are left with emotional responsibility for the private sphere, including the performance of the ‘emotion work’ necessary to maintain the couple relationship itself. Increasingly women's dissatisfaction in relationships (which men dismiss as unjustified ‘whingeing’) stems mainly from this unequal division. Yet many women still collude with male power by living the family ‘myth’ and ‘playing the couple game’; they perform emotion work on themselves to convince themselves that they are ‘ever so happy really’, thereby helping to reproduce their own false consciousness. This suggests that gender asymmetry in relation to intimacy and emotion work may be the last and most obstinate manifestation and frontier of gender inequality.
Partially varying coefficient instrumental variables models
Authors: Cai Zongwu , Xiong Huaiyu
Published: July 2011

In this article, we study a new class of semiparametric instrumental variables models, in which the structural function has a partially varying coefficient functional form. Under this specification, the model is linear in the endogenous/exogenous components with unknown constant or functional coefficients. As a result, the ill‐posed inverse problem in a general non‐parametric model with continuous endogenous variables can be avoided. We propose a three‐step estimation procedure for estimating both constant and functional coefficients and establish their asymptotic properties such as consistency and asymptotic normality. We develop consistent estimators for their error variances. We demonstrate that the constant coefficient estimators achieve the optimal ‐convergence rate, and the functional coefficient estimators are oracle. In addition, efficiency issue of the parameter estimation is discussed and a simple efficient estimator is proposed. The proposed procedure is illustrated via a Monte Carlo simulation and an application to returns to education.
Limit theory for a general class of GARCH models with just barely infinite variance
Authors: Zhang Rong‐Mao , Lin Zheng‐Yan
Published: July 2011

In this article, limit theory is established for a general class of generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity models given by ɛt = σtηt and σt = f (σt−1, σt−2,…, σt−p, ɛt−1, ɛt−2,…, ɛt−q), when {ɛt} is a process with just barely infinite variance, that is, {ɛt} is a process with infinite variance but in the domain of normal attraction. In particular, we show that under some regular conditions, converges weakly to a Gaussian process. Applications of the asymptotic results to statistical inference, such as unit root test and sample autocorrelation, are also investigated. The obtained result fills in a gap between the classical infinite variance and finite variance in the literature. Further, when applying our limiting result to Dickey–Fuller (DF) test in a unit root model with integrated generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (IGARCH) errors, it just confirms the simulation result of Kourogenis and Pittis (2008) that the DF statistics with IGARCH errors converges in law to the standard DF distribution.
Delayed plumage maturation and delayed reproductive investment in birds
Authors: Hawkins Gerard L. , Hill Geoffrey E. , Mercadante Austin
Published: July 2011

Delayed plumage maturation is the delayed acquisition of a definitive colour and pattern of plumage until after the first potential breeding period in birds. Here we provide a comprehensive overview of the numerous studies of delayed plumage maturation and a revised theoretical framework for understanding the function of delayed plumage maturation in all birds. We first distinguish between hypotheses that delayed plumage maturation is attributable to a moult constraint with no adaptive function and hypotheses that propose that delayed plumage maturation is a component of an adaptive life‐history strategy associated with delayed reproductive investment. We then recognize three potential benefits of delayed plumage maturation: crypsis, mimicry and status signaling. Evidence suggests that delayed plumage maturation is not a consequence of developmental constraints and instead represents a strategy to maximize reproductive success in circumstances where young adults cannot effectively compete with older adults for limited resources, particularly breeding opportunities. A multi‐factorial explanation that takes into account lifespan and the degree of competition for limited breeding resources and that combines the benefits of an inconspicuous appearance with the benefits of honest signaling of reduced competitiveness provides a general explanation for the function of delayed plumage maturation in most bird species. Delayed plumage maturation should be viewed as a component of alternative reproductive strategies that can include delay in both plumage and sexual development. Such strategies are frequently facultative, with individuals breeding prior to the acquisition of definitive plumages when conditions are favourable. Presumably, the benefits of delayed plumage maturation ultimately enhance lifetime reproductive success, and studying delayed plumage maturation within the context of lifetime reproductive success should be a goal of future studies.
Cell–cell communication and signalling pathways within the ovule: from its inception to fertilization
Authors: Chevalier Éric , Loubert‐Hudon Audrey , Zimmerman Erin L. , Matton Daniel P.
Published: July 2011

Cell–cell communication pervades every aspect of the life of a plant. It is particularly crucial for the development of the gametes and their subtle interaction leading to double fertilization. The ovule is composed of a funiculus, one or two integuments, and a gametophyte surrounded by nucellus tissue. Proper ovule and embryo sac development are critical to reproductive success. To allow fertilization, the correct relative positioning and differentiation of the embryo sac cells are essential. Integument development is also intimately linked with the normal development of the female gametophyte; the sporophyte and gametophyte are not fully independent tissues. Inside the gametophyte, numerous signs of cell–cell communication take place throughout development, including cell fate patterning, fertilization and the early stages of embryogenesis. This review highlights the current evidence of cell–cell communication and signalling elements based on structural and physiological observations as well as the description and characterization of mutants in structurally specific genes. By combining data from different species, models of cell–cell interactions have been built, particularly for the establishment of the germline, for the progression through megagametogenesis and for double fertilization.

Contents

Summary
13

I.
Introduction
14

II.
Signal transduction during ovule and embryo sac development
14

III.
Signalling during double fertilization
20

IV.
Conclusion
25

Acknowledgements
26

References
26
The measurement properties of the menorrhagia multi‐attribute quality‐of‐life scale: a psychometric analysis
Authors: Pattison H , Daniels JP , Kai J , Gupta JK
Published: July 2011

Please cite this paper as: Pattison H, Daniels J, Kai J, Gupta JK. The measurement properties of the menorrhagia multi‐attribute quality‐of‐life scale: a psychometric analysis. BJOG 2011;118:1528–1531.

Menorrhagia, or heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB), is a common gynaecological condition. As the aim of treatment is to improve women’s wellbeing and quality of life (QoL), it is necessary to have effective ways to measure this. This study investigated the reliability and validity of the menorrhagia multi‐attribute scale (MMAS), a menorrhagia‐specific QoL instrument. Participants (n = 431) completed the MMAS and a battery of other tests as part of the baseline assessment of the ECLIPSE (Effectiveness and Cost‐effectiveness of Levonorgestrel‐containing Intrauterine system in Primary care against Standard trEatment for menorrhagia) trial. Analyses of their responses suggest that the MMAS has good measurement properties and is therefore an appropriate condition‐specific instrument to measure the outcome of treatment for HMB.
In vitro myometrial contractility reflects indication for caesarean section
Authors: Quenby S , Matthew A , Zhang J , Dawood F , Wray S
Published: July 2011

Please cite this paper as: Quenby S, Matthew A, Zhang J, Dawood F, Wray S. In vitro myometrial contractility reflects indication for caesarean section. BJOG 2011;118:1499–1506.

Objective  To assess the extent to which in vitro measurements of myometrial contractility reflect the clinical indication for caesarean section.

Design  A prospective, observational hypothesis‐generating study.

Setting  Women were recruited from Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust and experiments were performed in the Physiology Department at the University of Liverpool.

Population  Myometrial samples were taken from women undergoing a caesarean section during labour (n = 50) or from women having a repeat nonlabouring caesarean section (n = 70).

Methods  The demographic characteristics of the women and indications for current and previous caesarean sections were recorded. The force, frequency and duration of spontaneous contractions of myometrial strips, and changes in the intracellular calcium concentration of the strips, were measured. Kruskall–Wallis and post hoc tests were used to assess the significance of differences between groups.

Results  Samples from women whose caesarean section was for fetal distress/acidosis (scalp pH <7.2) contracted with more force than those from women whose caesarean section was for delay in the first stage of labour (P < 0.001). For repeat, nonlabouring caesarean sections, samples from women whose first caesarean section was for fetal distress/acidosis also contracted with more force than did samples from women whose first caesarean section was for delay in the first stage of labour (P = 0.03).

Conclusions  These findings suggest that the myometrium contracts with greater force in women who have a caesarean section for fetal distress.
Shift work and pregnancy outcomes: a systematic review with meta‐analysis of currently available epidemiological studies
Authors: Bonzini M , Palmer KT , Coggon D , Carugno M , Cromi A , Ferrario MM
Published: July 2011

Please cite this paper as: Bonzini M, Palmer K, Coggon D, Carugno M, Cromi A, Ferrario M. Shift work and pregnancy outcomes: a systematic review with meta‐analysis of currently available epidemiological studies. BJOG 2011;118:1429–1437.

Background  Varying work schedules are suspected of increasing risks to pregnant women and to fetal wellbeing. In particular, maternal hormonal disturbance arising from sleep deprivation or circadian rhythm disruption might impair fetal growth or lead to complications of pregnancy. Two independent meta‐analyses (from 2000 to 2007) reported a small adverse effect of shift work on the risk of preterm delivery (PTD). However, these reviews were based on few high‐quality studies.

Objectives  To provide an updated review of the associations of shift work with PTD, low birthweight (LBW), small‐for‐gestational‐age (SGA) infants and pre‐eclampsia.

Search strategy and selection criteria  We conducted a systematic search of MEDLINE using combinations of keywords and MeSH terms.

Data collection and analysis  For each relevant paper we abstracted standard details, used to summarise design features and rate methodological quality. We calculated pooled estimates of relative risk (RR) in random‐effect meta‐analyses.

Main results  We retrieved 23 relevant studies. The pooled estimate of RR for PTD was 1.16 (95% CI 1.00–1.33, 16 studies), but when five reports of poorer methodological quality were excluded, the estimated RR decreased to 1.03 (95% CI 0.93–1.14). We also observed increased RRs for LBW (RR 1.27, 95% CI 0.93–1.74) and for SGA (RR 1.12, 95% CI 1.03–1.22), which varied little by study quality. Little evidence was found on pre‐eclampsia.

Conclusions  These findings suggest that overall, any risk of PTD, LBW, or SGA arising from shift work in pregnancy is small.
Fetal growth and birthweight standards as screening tools: methods for evaluating performance
Authors: Hemming K , Bonellie S , Hutton JL
Published: July 2011

Please cite this paper as: Hemming K, Bonellie S, Hutton J. Fetal growth and birthweight standards as screening tools: methods for evaluating performance. BJOG 2011;118:1477–1483.

Objective  To discuss different methods for evaluating fetal growth and population‐based birthweight standards relevant to different uses: either in antenatal care or in epidemiology.

Design  Population‐based cohort study.

Setting  Routinely collected data in Scotland.

Population  A total of 540 849 singletons born after 24 weeks between 1980 and 2003.

Methods  The performance of a fetal growth standard and a population‐based birthweight standard are compared in two ways. First, we consider the accuracy of estimated risks of stillbirth at any point during the remaining pregnancy, a measure that is relevant in antenatal care. Second, the rates of stillbirth at each gestation, which are measures relevant in epidemiology, are compared with the actual rates.

Main outcome measures  Standard measures of screening and diagnostic performance: sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values.

Results  In clinical care, the evidence points towards using fetal growth standards: sensitivity at term is about 30%, increasing to 43% for preterm births (24–31 weeks of gestation), compared with about 29% across all ages under the birthweight standard. Positive predictive values are about 1% across gestations. For epidemiology, the evidence is not so clear‐cut: preterm, the population birthweight standard has higher sensitivity and specificity, but this is not the case in the full‐term weeks.

Conclusions  The performance of fetal growth and birthweight standards should be evaluated in different ways, depending on whether they are intended for use in antenatal care or in epidemiological investigations.
Melatonin attenuates cognitive dysfunction and reduces neural oxidative stress induced by phosphamidon
Authors: Sharma Amit K. , Mehta Ashish K. , Rathor Naveen , Chalawadi Hanumantappa Mahendra Kumar , Khanna Naresh , Bhattacharya Swapan K.
Published: July 2011

Melatonin is an important modulator of nervous system functioning and important neural antioxidant. Organophosphate pesticides like phosphamidon (PHOS) have been shown to adversely affect memory and induce oxidative stress on both acute and chronic exposure. This study was designed to explore the modulation of the effects of PHOS on cognitive function by melatonin (MEL). Cognitive function was assessed using step‐down latency (SDL) on a passive avoidance apparatus and transfer latency (TL) on an elevated plus maze. Oxidative stress was assessed by examining the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and nonprotein thiols (NP‐SH) in isolated homogenized whole brain samples. The results showed a significant reduction in SDL and prolongation of TL in the PHOS (1.74 mg/kg/day; p.o.)‐treated group at weeks 6 and 8 as compared to the control group. Two‐week treatment with MEL (5 mg/kg/day; i.p.) antagonized the effect of PHOS on SDL as well as TL. PHOS alone produced a significant increase in the brain MDA levels and decrease in the brain NP‐SH levels. Treatment with MEL attenuated the effect of PHOS on oxidative stress. Together the results showed that MEL attenuated the cognitive dysfunction and decreased oxidative stress induced by PHOS in the brain.
CREDIT, HOUSING COLLATERAL, AND CONSUMPTION: EVIDENCE FROM JAPAN, THE U.K., AND THE U.S.
Authors: ARON JANINE , DUCA JOHN V. , MUELLBAUER JOHN , MURATA KEIKO , MURPHY ANTHONY
Published: July 2011

The consumption behavior of U.K., U.S., and Japanese households is examined and compared using a modern Ando‐Modigliani style consumption function. The models incorporate income growth expectations, income uncertainty, housing collateral, and other credit effects. These models therefore capture important parts of the financial accelerator. The evidence is that credit availability for U.K. and U.S., but not Japanese, households has undergone large shifts since 1980. The average consumption‐to‐income ratio rose in the U.K. and U.S. as mortgage down‐payment constraints eased and as the collateral role of housing wealth was enhanced by financial innovations, such as home equity loans. The estimated housing collateral effect is similar in the U.S. and U.K. In Japan, land prices (which proxy house prices) continue to negatively impact consumer spending. There are negative real interest rate effects on consumption in the U.K. and U.S. and positive effects in Japan. Overall, this implies important differences in the transmission of monetary and credit shocks in Japan versus the U.S., U.K., and other credit‐liberalized economies.
Attachment orientation and reactions to anxiety expression in close relationships
Authors: MONIN JOAN K. , FEENEY BROOKE C. , SCHULZ RICHARD
Published: July 2011

This study examined perceptions, interpretations, and emotional reactions to a close partner's anxiety expression as mediators for the association between attachment orientation and caregiving effectiveness. One member of married or dating couples was exposed to a stressor and unobtrusively observed while interacting with his or her partner. Results revealed that anxious attachment was related to higher perceptions of partners' anxiety expression, feeling more personal distress, but not less effective caregiving. Avoidant attachment was related to lower perceptions of partners' anxiety expression and feeling more anger. Negative interpretations of partners' anxiety mediated the association between avoidant attachment and less effective caregiving. These findings suggest that attachment orientation is related to cognitive and emotional processes important for effective caregiving behavior.
Three‐dimensional conformal versus non‐graphic radiation treatment planning for apocrine gland adenocarcinoma of the anal sac in 18 dogs (2002–2007)
Authors: Keyerleber M. A. , Gieger T. L. , Erb H. N. , Thompson M. S. , McEntee M. C.
Published: July 2011

Differences in dose homogeneity and irradiated volumes of target and surrounding normal tissues between 3D conformal radiation treatment planning and simulated non‐graphic manual treatment planning were evaluated in 18 dogs with apocrine gland adenocarcinoma of the anal sac. Overall, 3D conformal treatment planning resulted in more homogenous dose distribution to target tissues with lower hot spots and dose ranges. Dose homogeneity and guarantee of not under‐dosing target tissues with 3D conformal planning came at the cost, however, of delivering greater mean doses of radiation and of irradiating greater volumes of surrounding normal tissue structures.
Recommendations on clinical proof of efficacy for potential scar prevention and reduction therapies
Authors: Bush James A. , McGrouther D. Angus , Young V. Leroy , Herndon David N. , Longaker Michael T. , Mustoe Thomas A. , Ferguson Mark W. J.
Published: July 2011

Cutaneous scarring is an enormous medical problem with approximately 100 million patients acquiring scars each year. Scar prevention/reduction represents a significant, and largely unmet, clinical need. Research into the prophylactic modulation of scar outcome differs from research into other disease processes as the scar is not present at the start of the study; measurements of changes from baseline are impossible. Final scar morphology is influenced by many variables. A fundamental principle that should be observed in the prospective evaluation of scar prevention/reduction therapies is that, if left untreated, wounds in treatment and control groups should have healed with identical scars. Observation of this principle will allow the detection of true treatment effects. The many variables that influence scar morphology mean that the evaluation of potential pharmaceutical products for this indication favors the use of self‐controlled designs in clinical trials. In this article, we review variables that affect scar morphology and recommend the self‐controlled design for clinical trials aiming to establish proof of efficacy of scar prevention and reduction pharmaceuticals. With no pharmaceutical products currently licensed for this indication, this represents a new therapeutic area. The principles discussed will also have direct relevance to the wider fields of wound healing and regenerative medicine.
Mechanobiology of scarring
Authors: Ogawa Rei
Published: July 2011

The mechanophysiological conditions of injured skin greatly influence the degree of scar formation, scar contracture, and abnormal scar progression/generation (e.g., keloids and hypertrophic scars). It is important that scar mechanobiology be understood from the perspective of the extracellular matrix and extracellular fluid, in order to analyze mechanotransduction pathways and develop new strategies for scar prevention and treatment. Mechanical forces such as stretching tension, shear force, scratch, compression, hydrostatic pressure, and osmotic pressure can be perceived by two types of skin receptors. These include cellular mechanoreceptors/mechanosensors, such as cytoskeleton (e.g., actin filaments), cell adhesion molecules (e.g., integrin), and mechanosensitive (MS) ion channels (e.g., Ca2+ channel), and sensory nerve fibers (e.g., MS nociceptors) that produce the somatic sensation of mechanical force. Mechanical stimuli are received by MS nociceptors and signals are transmitted to the dorsal root ganglia that contain neuronal cell bodies in the afferent spinal nerves. Neuropeptides are thereby released from the peripheral terminals of the primary afferent sensory neurons in the skin, modulating scarring via skin and immune cell functions (e.g., cell proliferation, cytokine production, antigen presentation, sensory neurotransmission, mast cell degradation, vasodilation, and increased vascular permeability under physiological or pathophysiological conditions). Mechanoreceptor or MS nociceptor inhibition and mechanical force reduction should propel the development of novel methods for scar prevention and treatment.
Mechanisms of pathological scarring: Role of myofibroblasts and current developments
Authors: Sarrazy Vincent , Billet Fabrice , Micallef Ludovic , Coulomb Bernard , Desmoulière Alexis
Published: July 2011

Myofibroblasts play a key role in the wound‐healing process, promoting wound closure and matrix deposition. These cells normally disappear from granulation tissue by apoptosis after wound closure, but under some circumstances, they persist and may contribute to pathological scar formation. Myofibroblast differentiation and apoptosis are both modulated by cytokines, mechanical stress, and, more generally, cell–cell and cell–matrix interactions. Tissue repair allows tissues and organs to recover, at least partially, functional properties that have been lost through trauma or disease. Embryonic skin wounds are repaired without scarring or fibrosis, whereas skin wound repair in adults always leads to scar formation, which may have functional or esthetic consequences, as in the case of hypertrophic scars, for example. Skin wound repair involves a precise remodeling process, particularly in the dermal compartment, during which fibroblasts/myofibroblasts play a central role. This article reviews the origins of myofibroblasts and their role in normal and pathological skin wound healing. This article focuses on traumatic skin wound healing, but largely, the same mechanisms apply in other physiological and pathological settings. Tissue healing in other organs is examined by comparison, as well as the stromal reaction associated with cancer. New approaches to wound/scar therapy are discussed.
The role of the epidermis and the mechanism of action of occlusive dressings in scarring
Authors: Mustoe Thomas A. , Gurjala Anandev
Published: July 2011

The problem of cutaneous scarring has conventionally been approached as a pathology of the dermis. Multiple lines of evidence from the clinic, in vitro experiments, and in vivo animal and human studies, however, increasingly suggest that the epidermis plays a major role in the control of underlying dermal scar. Building on the demonstrated efficacy of silicone gel occlusion, in this paper we review the evidence for epidermal regulation of scar, and propose the novel hypothesis that dermal fibrosis is exquisitely linked to the inflammatory state of the epidermis, which in turn is linked to hydration state as a function of epidermal barrier function. In the spectrum of factors contributing to dermal scar, the epidermis and its downstream effectors offer promising new targets for the development of antiscar therapies.
New potential antiscarring approaches
Authors: Liu Wei , Wu Xiaoli , Gao Zhen
Published: July 2011

Significant progress has been made in scar research in which an anti‐transforming growth factor‐β strategy has already been translated from an experimental study to a clinical trial. However, scar reduction and elimination remain an unmet medical need because of the difficulty in its treatment. The authors of this article would like to propose several new potential antiscarring approaches for scar prevention including anti‐transforming growth factor‐β, multifactor therapies, tissue regeneration, and tissue‐engineered skin. In addition, scar remodeling is also proposed as an alternative new potential approach for scar therapy. We hope that some of these potential approaches might be translated into clinical scar therapies in the near future.
Discovery and development of avotermin (recombinant human transforming growth factor beta 3): A new class of prophylactic therapeutic for the improvement of scarring
Authors: Occleston Nick L. , O'Kane Sharon , Laverty Hugh G. , Cooper Mark , Fairlamb David , Mason Tracey , Bush Jim A. , Ferguson Mark W.J.
Published: July 2011

Scarring in the skin following surgery or trauma may be associated with adverse aesthetic, functional, growth and psychological effects, such that both physicians and patients regard it as important to minimize the appearance of scars. The prophylactic improvement of cutaneous scar appearance represents a significant opportunity to improve the well‐being of patients. Human recombinant transforming growth factor beta 3 (avotermin) is the first in a new class of therapeutic agents to address this medical need. Herein we describe scar‐free healing in early embryonic development, including the identification of the cellular and molecular mechanisms underpinning the scarring process. This understanding has led to the discovery of novel therapeutics such as transforming growth factor beta 3, which can be administered to improve scar appearance in human subjects through pharmacological action. We discuss the pioneering development of transforming growth factor beta 3 in this new therapeutic area showing how it has been possible to translate preclinical concepts into clinical application, namely the improvement of scar appearance following surgery.
New dermal substitutes
Authors: van der Veen Vincent C. , Boekema Bouke K. H. L. , Ulrich Magda M. W. , Middelkoop Esther
Published: July 2011

The quality of skin wound healing can be improved by the application of scaffolds as skin replacement materials. Although the clinical requirements for the function of such materials are defined, the translation of these requirements into physical and mechanobiological properties of scaffolds is difficult. Natural as well as constructed biological materials and synthetic substitutes are discussed. Furthermore, new techniques such as electrospinning and solid freeform fabrication as well as new types of materials such as self‐assembling peptides are reviewed with regard to their potential role in the production of skin substitute materials.
Effect of Pulsatility on the Mathematical Modeling of Rotary Blood Pumps
Authors: Pirbodaghi Tohid , Weber Alberto , Carrel Thierry , Vandenberghe Stijn
Published: July 2011

In this study, the effect of time derivatives of flow rate and rotational speed was investigated on the mathematical modeling of a rotary blood pump (RBP). The basic model estimates the pressure head of the pump as a dependent variable using measured flow and speed as predictive variables. Performance of the model was evaluated by adding time derivative terms for flow and speed. First, to create a realistic working condition, the Levitronix CentriMag RBP was implanted in a sheep. All parameters from the model were physically measured and digitally acquired over a wide range of conditions, including pulsatile speed. Second, a statistical analysis of the different variables (flow, speed, and their time derivatives) based on multiple regression analysis was performed to determine the significant variables for pressure head estimation. Finally, different mathematical models were used to show the effect of time derivative terms on the performance of the models. In order to evaluate how well the estimated pressure head using different models fits the measured pressure head, root mean square error and correlation coefficient were used. The results indicate that inclusion of time derivatives of flow and speed can improve model accuracy, but only minimally.