bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quality of life after radical prostatectomy in elderly men
Authors: Namiki Shunichi , Ishidoya Shigeto , Tochigi Tatsuo , Ito Akihiro , Arai Yoichi
Published: September 2009

Objectives:  To evaluate the impact of radical prostatectomy (RP) on health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) in elderly men with prostate cancer.

Methods:  Between January 2002 and December 2006, a total of 205 elderly men (≥70 years) undergoing RP participated in our longitudinal outcome study. Patients completed general (Short Form 36) and disease‐specific (University of California, Los Angeles Prostate Cancer Index) HRQOL questionnaires. A t‐test was used to compare each HRQOL score after RP with the baseline scores and Cox proportional hazard models to characterize the recovery trends.

Results:  Patients undergoing RP showed physical problems, which diminished over time. Several emotional domains significantly improved during the follow‐up period. By 2 years postoperatively, 57% and 81% of subjects had fully returned to baseline urinary function and bother, respectively. Mean recovery time to baseline urinary function and bother was 8.3 months and 4.7 months, respectively. When incontinence was defined as ‘no pad’, 82% of patients reported continence. Whereas only 25% of patients returned to the baseline sexual function level, 83% had reached baseline sexual bother. Among those returning to their own baseline scores, the mean recovery time was 10.9 months for sexual function and 5.3 months for sexual bother.

Conclusions:  Selected elderly patients can achieve satisfactory functional outcomes after RP. These outcomes should be considered when decisions about treatment are made.
Adiponectin and testosterone in patients with symptoms of late‐onset hypogonadism: Is there a link?
Authors: Tsujimura Akira , Takada Shingo , Matsuoka Yasuhiro , Nakayama Jiro , Takao Tetsuya , Miyagawa Yasushi , Sonoda Mina , Nishizawa Hitoshi , Iwahashi Hiromi , Funahashi Tohru , Nonomura Norio , Okuyama Akihiko
Published: September 2009

Objectives:  To examine the correlation between testosterone and adiponectin in symptomatic late‐onset hypogonadism (LOH) patients.

Methods:  The study included 174 patients (>40 years old) with at least one LOH symptom and an Aging Male Symptoms score >26. The correlation between serum adiponectin levels and various factors was investigated by simple and multiple regression analyses. Serum adiponectin levels before and after testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) in 43 patients with serum free testosterone <11.8 pg/mL were also compared.

Results:  Serum adiponectin levels increased with increased age (P < 0.01), decreased with increased body mass index (P < 0.01), and increased with increased sex hormone‐binding globulin (P < 0.01). Multiple regression analysis revealed that body mass index and sex hormone‐binding globulin were factors with an influence on serum adiponectin levels. However, no association between testosterone and adiponectin was found. In the 43 patients receiving TRT, serum adiponectin levels before and after TRT did not differ significantly.

Conclusions:  Serum adiponectin is not related to serum testosterone in symptomatic LOH patients, suggesting that TRT in these subjects does not pose a higher risk of inducing a metabolic syndrome.
Motion opponency and transparency in the human middle temporal area
Authors: Garcia Javier O. , Grossman Emily D.
Published: September 2009

Motion transparency is the perception of multiple, moving surfaces within the same retinal location (for example, a ripple on the surface of a drifting stream), and is an interesting challenge to motion models because multiple velocities must be represented within the same region of space. When these motion vectors are in opposite directions, brief in duration and spatially constrained within a very local region, the result is little or no perceived motion (motion opponency). Both motion transparency and motion opponency inhibit the firing rate of single middle temporal area (MT) neurons as compared with the preferred direction alone, but neither generally influences the firing rate of primary visual cortex neurons. Surprisingly, neuroimaging studies of human middle temporal area (hMT+) have found less activation due only to motion opponency and an increase in neural responses for motion transparency. Here we parametrically manipulate the local balance between competing motion vectors and find an interaction between motion opponency and transparency in the population blood oxygen level‐dependent (BOLD) response. We find reduced BOLD amplitude for motion opponency throughout visual cortex, but weakened responses due to perceptual transparency that is most apparent only within the hMT+. We interpret our results as evidence for two distinct mechanisms mediating opponency and transparency.
MEG evidence that the central auditory system simultaneously encodes multiple temporal cues
Authors: Simpson Michael I. G. , Barnes Gareth R. , Johnson Sam R. , Hillebrand Arjan , Singh Krish D. , Green Gary G. R.
Published: September 2009

Speech contains complex amplitude modulations that have envelopes with multiple temporal cues. The processing of these complex envelopes is not well explained by the classical models of amplitude modulation processing. This may be because the evidence for the models typically comes from the use of simple sinusoidal amplitude modulations. In this study we used magnetoencephalography (MEG) to generate source space current estimates of the steady‐state responses to simple one‐component amplitude modulations and to a two‐component amplitude modulation. A two‐component modulation introduces the simplest form of modulation complexity into the waveform; the summation of the two‐modulation rates introduces a beat‐like modulation at the difference frequency between the two modulation rates. We compared the cortical representations of responses to the one‐component and two‐component modulations. In particular, we show that the temporal complexity in the two‐component amplitude modulation stimuli was preserved at the cortical level. The method of stimulus normalization that we used also allows us to interpret these results as evidence that the important feature in sound modulations is the relative depth of one modulation rate with respect to another, rather than the absolute carrier‐to‐sideband modulation depth. More generally, this may be interpreted as evidence that modulation detection accurately preserves a representation of the modulation envelope. This is an important observation with respect to models of modulation processing, as it suggests that models may need a dynamic processing step to effectively model non‐stationary stimuli. We suggest that the classic modulation filterbank model needs to be modified to take these findings into account.
A global synthesis of plant extinction rates in urban areas
Authors: Hahs Amy K. , McDonnell Mark J. , McCarthy Michael A. , Vesk Peter A. , Corlett Richard T. , Norton Briony A. , Clemants Steven E. , Duncan Richard P. , Thompson Ken , Schwartz Mark W. , Williams Nicholas S. G.
Published: September 2009

Plant extinctions from urban areas are a growing threat to biodiversity worldwide. To minimize this threat, it is critical to understand what factors are influencing plant extinction rates. We compiled plant extinction rate data for 22 cities around the world. Two‐thirds of the variation in plant extinction rates was explained by a combination of the city’s historical development and the current proportion of native vegetation, with the former explaining the greatest variability. As a single variable, the amount of native vegetation remaining also influenced extinction rates, particularly in cities > 200 years old. Our study demonstrates that the legacies of landscape transformations by agrarian and urban development last for hundreds of years, and modern cities potentially carry a large extinction debt. This finding highlights the importance of preserving native vegetation in urban areas and the need for mitigation to minimize potential plant extinctions in the future.
Learning from failures: testing broad taxonomic hypotheses about plant naturalization
Authors: Diez Jeffrey M. , Williams Peter A. , Randall Rod P. , Sullivan Jon J. , Hulme Philip E. , Duncan Richard P.
Published: September 2009

Our understanding of broad taxonomic patterns of plant naturalizations is based entirely on observations of successful naturalizations. Omission of the failures, however, can introduce bias by conflating the probabilities of introduction and naturalization. Here, we use two comprehensive datasets of successful and failed plant naturalizations in New Zealand and Australia for a unique, flora‐wide comparative test of several major invasion hypotheses. First, we show that some taxa are consistently more successful at naturalizing in these two countries, despite their environmental differences. Broad climatic origins helped to explain some of the differences in success rates in the two countries. We further show that species with native relatives were generally more successful in both countries, contrary to Darwin’s naturalization hypothesis, but this effect was inconsistent among families across the two countries. Finally, we show that contrary to studies based on successful naturalizations only, islands need not be inherently more invasible than continents.
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS FOR MANAGING INVESTMENTS
Authors: Caporin Massimiliano , McAleer Michael
Published: September 2009

Abstract Stress and distress are unavoidable aspects of dealing with the vagaries of financial markets and financial advisers. The purpose of this paper is to try to reduce the discomfort in dealing with investment advisers, and to make the journey up and down the financial mountain a little less stressful and more satisfying. The commandments deal with defining investment policies precisely, diversifying asset classes, choosing a consistent benchmark for investment policies, structuring precisely the asset allocation process, defining risk and risk management procedures, monitoring the portfolio carefully, matching the allocation and investment horizons, being active or passive according to investment policies, being agnostic about model forecasts and being aware that, while buy low and sell high is a truism, investors and financial advisers are only human and therefore make mistakes.
Faces are special for newly hatched chicks: evidence for inborn domain‐specific mechanisms underlying spontaneous preferences for face‐like stimuli
Authors: Rosa‐Salva Orsola , Regolin Lucia , Vallortigara Giorgio
Published: September 2009

It is currently being debated whether human newborns’ preference for faces is due to an unlearned, domain‐specific and configural representation of the appearance of a face, or to general mechanisms, such as an up‐down bias (favouring top‐heavy stimuli, which have more elements in their upper part). Here we show that 2‐day‐old domestic chicks, visually naïve for the arrangement of inner facial features, spontaneously prefer face‐like, schematic, stimuli. This preference is maintained when the up‐down bias is controlled for (Experiment1) or when put in direct conflict with facedness (Experiment 4). In contrast, we found no evidence for the presence of an up‐down bias in chicks (Experiment 2). Moreover, our results indicate that the eye region of stimuli is crucial in determining the expression of spontaneous preferences for faces (Experiments 3 and 4).
Analogical reasoning ability in autistic and typically developing children
Authors: Morsanyi Kinga , Holyoak Keith J.
Published: September 2009

Recent studies (e.g. Dawson et al., 2007) have reported that autistic people perform in the normal range on the Raven Progressive Matrices test, a formal reasoning test that requires integration of relations as well as the ability to infer rules and form high‐level abstractions. Here we compared autistic and typically developing children, matched on age, IQ, and verbal and non‐verbal working memory, using both the Raven test and pictorial tests of analogical reasoning. Whereas the Raven test requires only formal analogical reasoning, the other analogy tests require use of real‐world knowledge, as well as inhibition of salient distractors. We found that autistic children performed as well as controls on all these tests of reasoning with relations. Our findings indicate that the basic ability to reason systematically with relations, for both abstract and thematic materials, is intact in autism.
Profit from the Priceless: Heritage Sites, Property Rights and the Duty to Preserve
Authors: GIBSON KEVIN
Published: September 2009

This article suggests that corporate responsibility should be interpreted to include concern about resources that cannot easily be treated as commodities. Heritage Sites are places of historical and cultural importance. Given the primacy of contingent valuation methods in creating policy, these sites are often at risk from development or tourism since there is pressure to treat them as revenue centers. The article moves to looking at the status of sites in terms of property rights, drawing on Locke's original formulation. The article concludes that there is a normative justification for treating these sites as collective property that may warrant maintenance, preservation and restricted access.
Financial Returns of Corporate Social Responsibility, and the Moral Freedom and Responsibility of Business Leaders
Authors: DEMACARTY PETER
Published: September 2009

A number of theorists have proposed mechanisms suggesting that corporate social responsibility produces better financial results. Others subscribe to the theory that, realistically, less ethical means are necessary. This article contains an analysis of these perspectives drawing on observations from evolutionary game theory and nature. Based on these analyses, it is concluded that the financial returns of corporate social responsibility and irresponsibility (CSR and CSI) are equal on average. The explanation is that CSR and CSI aredriven to a state of equilibrium, because if one or the other were to offer higher profits, it would attract more players who would compete for the best opportunities until there was no difference in average profit. Existing empirical research generally shows a positive correlation between CSR as measured and corporate financial performance. It is argued that what is actually causing that finding is probably not CSR but management skill. More skillful managers, whether actually responsible or irresponsible, are able to obtain both higher profits and greater credit in imperfect measures of CSR. Next it is shown that this theory of equal returns implies greater moral freedom and therefore responsibility for business leaders. It is concluded that this insight can intensify the interest of decent business leaders in vigorously championing CSR.
Unraveling the Source of African American Children's Positively Biased Perceptions of Peer Acceptance
Authors: Dunkel Stephanie B. , Kistner Janet A. , David‐Ferdon Corinne
Published: September 2009

The present study investigated possible ethnic contributions to overly positive self‐perceptions in middle childhood. The goals of this study were threefold. First, the present study sought to replicate the intriguing findings reported by Zakriski and Coie that African American children overestimate their acceptance, and European American children underestimate acceptance by other‐ethnicity peers. Second, this study examined possible explanations for ethnic differences in the pattern of perceptual bias. Finally, this study extended prior research by examining ethnic differences in the accuracy of children's perceived peer acceptance. Archival data consisting of 826 children in third (N = 284), fourth (N = 241), and fifth grades (N = 301) were used in the present investigation; 237 of which were African American children, and 589 were European American children. Results of this study replicated the findings of Zakriski and Coie. Moreover, African Americans' overestimation and European Americans' underestimation of acceptance by other‐ethnicity peers was found to be attributable to more positive views of self and others among African American children relative to European American children. Finally, children were found to be more accurate about judging their acceptance by peers of the same ethnicity than those of a different ethnicity. Possible explanations of what causes African American children to have more positive views of self and others than European American children are discussed.
Semiosis, interaction and ethnicity in urban Java1
Authors: Goebel Zane
Published: September 2009

This paper teases out the interdiscursive relations between local and perduring signs of personhood and their recontextualization in situated talk. In doing so, I aim to provide further evidence of the utility of incorporating ethnography, linguistic anthropological work on semiotics and work on face‐to‐face interaction. My empirical focus is on two consecutive men's meetings that occurred in an urban Indonesian milieu. In particular, I draw upon work on semiotic register formation and processes of social identification to flesh out how signs from different temporal‐spatial scales figure in the social identification of a non‐present neighbor as deviant and Chinese. By taking an interactional view I also attempt to fill a gap in the scholarship on such inter‐ethnic relations in Indonesia, which has hitherto primarily been historical in nature.
The green leaves of love: Japanese romantic heroines, authentic femininity, and dialect1
Authors: Shibamoto Smith Janet S. , Occhi Debra J.
Published: September 2009

How is ‘authentic’ linguistic femininity in Japan manifested in popular texts? We analyze the dialogue of female characters in Wakaba, a 2005 Japanese drama set in two very different parts of ‘regional’ Japan – Miyazaki and Kobe. Through this analysis, we examine two contradictory discourses circulated through popular media. The first is that linguistic femininity is based in Standard Japanese – a surprisingly persistent ideology despite a current trend to examine cases in which language ideology and practice do not match. Other studies reflect another dominant discourse, that of the ‘authentic’ dialect speaker, who expresses local alignment by using dialect forms outside the bounds of ideologically modern linguistic forms. The tension between acting linguistically feminine and ‘authentically’ local raises some interesting questions for Japanese language and gender studies, including studies of gendered representations: are women who are speakers of regional dialects authentically ‘feminine’? Can they be? Do some dialects express femininity better than others?
Ecological Inference Techniques: An Empirical Evaluation Using Data Describing Gender and Voter Turnout at New Zealand Elections, 1893–1919
Authors: Hudson Irene L. , Moore Linda , Beh Eric J. , Steel David G.
Published: September 2009

The difference, if any, between men’s and women’s voting patterns is of particular interest to historians of gender and politics. For elections that were held before the introduction of opinion surveying in the 1940s, little data are available with which to estimate such differences. We apply six methods for ecological inference to estimate men’s and women’s voting rates in New Zealand (NZ), 1893–1919. NZ is an interesting case-study, since it was the first self-governing country where women could vote. Furthermore, NZ officials recorded the voting rates of men and women at elections, making it possible to compare estimates produced by methods for ecological inference with known true values, thus testing the efficacy of different methods for ecological inference for this data set. We find that the most popular methods for ecological inference, namely Goodman’s ecological regression and King’s parametric method, give poor estimates, as does the much debated neighbourhood method. However, King’s non-parametric method, Chambers and Steel’s semiparametric method and the Steel, Beh and Chambers homogeneous approach all gave good estimates that were close to the known values, with the homogeneous approach performing best overall. The success of these methods in this example suggests that ecological inference may be a viable option when investigating gender and voting. Moreover, researchers using ecological inference in other fields may do well to consider a range of statistical methods. This work is a significant NZ contribution to historical politics and the first quantitative contribution, in the area of NZ gender and politics.
Productivity and Trade Orientation in UK Manufacturing*
Authors: Rizov Marian , Walsh Patrick Paul
Published: September 2009

We show that improvements in aggregate productivity in UK manufacturing during the first years after the implementation of the Euro, by the UK's main trading partners in Europe, are determined by both market share reallocation and within‐company productivity growth. Furthermore, we outline a structural methodology for estimating parameters of a production function linking the unobservable productivity to endogenous company‐level trade orientation, investment and exit decisions. This allows us to back out consistent and unbiased estimates of productivity dynamics by trade orientation of companies within four‐digit UK manufacturing industries using FAME data over the period 1994–2001. Our estimates of productivity dynamics indicate that improvements in aggregate productivity were mainly driven by market share reallocations away from inefficient and towards efficient exporting companies alongside productivity improvements within non‐exporting companies.
Two new lipoaminoacids with complementary modes of action: new prospects to fight out against skin aging
Authors: Dumont S. , Cattuzzato L. , Trouvé G. , Chevrot N. , Stoltz C.
Published: September 2009

Synopsis

The mode of action of two cosmetic active ingredients (AIs), palmitoyl glycine (PG) and cocoyl alanine (CA) was studied with cDNA array experiments and quantitative PCR confirmations, which were performed on experimentally aged human fibroblasts. These preliminary studies revealed complementary profiles. Thus, specific supplementary investigations were then carried out for each AI. Protocols used were based either on in vitro models: (i) biochemical assays, (ii) monolayer cell culture (primary human fibroblasts and keratinocytes) and (iii) the model of capillary‐like tube formation by human endothelial cells or on ex vivo models, i.e. topically treated skin explants and both immunohistochemical and ChromameterTM investigations. New prospects are proposed to fight out against skin aging. Indeed, PG and CA showed complementary properties and thus enabled a regulation or a restoration effect on main aging‐associated disorders. Thus, they can not only act on tissue architecture, cell–cell interactions and extracellular matrix protection but also on inflammation, cell longevity, skin immune system protection, skin radiance and stem cell survey. Finally, a clinical trial performed on Caucasian women confirmed AI anti‐wrinkle efficacy, which was superior to that of a market reference ingredient. In the future, complementary experiments enabling a better understanding of the aging‐induced decline of epidermal stem cells would be of a great interest.
Differential deposition of emollients from tripartite formulation systems
Authors: Mehling A. , Haake H.‐M. , Poly W.
Published: September 2009

To date, emollients are included in skin care formulations although not much is known about their adsorption/deposition properties and/or the interactions of the constituents within these multi‐component systems. The modulation of the adsorption/deposition via the use of specific surfactant and/or emollient systems could therefore help to increase performance and sensorial benefits as well as to reduce adverse effects. In this study, the effects of various tripartite systems consisting of sodium laureth sulphate (SLES), a co‐surfactant and an emollient were studied. The two different emollients tested adsorbed with varying amounts although the same surfactant/co‐surfactant system was used. Interestingly, the deposition of both SLES and/or the emollient is also substantially influenced by the emollient component itself as well as by the co‐surfactant used. Sensory assessments showed that although SLES has a negative effect on the skin feel, adsorbed emollients improve skin softness and smoothness. These results show that optimization of performance is possible when using a co‐surfactant best suited for the emollient.
Tonabersat, A Novel Gap-Junction Modulator for the Prevention of Migraine
Authors: Silberstein SD
Published: September 2009

Migraine is a common, recurrent, primary headache disorder associated with significant morbidity as well as high direct and indirect costs. Despite its impact, only a proportion of migraineurs who meet criteria for prophylactic treatment take preventive medication. Antiepileptic drugs and β-blockers are among the most used preventive therapies, but their exact mechanisms of action in migraine prophylaxis are unknown. Recent research has pointed to the role of cortical spreading depression in the genesis of migraine aura and pain, with neuronalglial gap junctions playing a prominent part in cortical spreading depression. Tonabersat is a unique compound with demonstrated activity as a gap-junction inhibitor in animal studies. In preclinical and clinical trials, tonabersat was well tolerated, with no cardiovascular effects; the pharmacokinetic profile suggested its usefulness in the prophylaxis of migraine.
ETFAD/EADV eczema task force 2009 position paper on diagnosis and treatment of atopic dermatitis
Authors: Darsow U , Wollenberg A , Simon D , Taïeb A , Werfel T , Oranje A , Gelmetti C , Svensson A , Deleuran M , Calza A‐M , Giusti F , Lübbe J , Seidenari S , Ring J ,   for the European Task Force on Atopic Dermatitis/EADV Eczema Task Force
Published: September 2009

Background  The diagnosis of atopic dermatitis (AD) is made using evaluated clinical criteria. Management of AD must consider the symptomatic variability of the disease.

Methods  EADV eczema task force developed its guideline for atopic dermatitis diagnosis and treatment based on literature review and repeated consenting group discussions.

Results and Discussion  Basic therapy relies on hydrating topical treatment and avoidance of specific and unspecific provocation factors. Anti‐inflammatory treatment based on topical glucocorticosteroids and topical calcineurin antagonists is used for exacerbation management and more recently for proactive therapy in selected cases. Topical corticosteroids remain the mainstay of therapy, but the topical calcineurin inhibitors, tacrolimus and pimecrolimus are preferred in certain locations. Systemic anti‐inflammatory treatment is an option for severe refractory cases. Microbial colonization and superinfection may induce disease exacerbation and can justify additional antimicrobial/antiseptic treatment. Systemic antihistamines (H1) can relieve pruritus, but do not have sufficient effect on eczema. Adjuvant therapy includes UV irradiation preferably of UVA1 wavelength or UVB 311 nm. Dietary recommendations should be specific and given only in diagnosed individual food allergy. Allergen‐specific immunotherapy to aeroallergens may be useful in selected cases. Stress‐induced exacerbations may make psychosomatic counselling recommendable. ‘Eczema school’ educational programmes have been proven to be helpful.
Specialization and Rent Seeking in Moral Enforcement: The Case of Confession
Authors: Arruñada Benito
Published: September 2009

Moral codes are produced and enforced by more or less specialized means and are subject to standard economic forces. This article argues that the intermediary role played by the Catholic Church between God and Christians, a key difference from Protestantism, faces the standard tradeoff of specialization benefits and agency costs. It applies this trade‐off hypothesis to confession of sins to priests, an institution that epitomizes such intermediation, showing that this hypothesis fits cognitive, historical, and econometric evidence better than a simpler rent‐seeking story. In particular, Catholics who confess more often are observed to comply more with the moral code; however, no relationship is observed between mass attendance and moral compliance.
Mass Media and Religious Identity: A Case Study of Young Witches
Authors: Berger Helen A. , Ezzy Douglas
Published: September 2009

Drawing on interviews with 90 young people who have become Witches, we explore the visual media's influence on identity formation and maintenance. Witchcraft is a late modern religion that is highly individualistic and many young people report they have become a Witch without any interaction with other Witches. The rapid growth of interest in this religion among the young since The Craft was first shown provides an important example of the mass media's role in formation of contemporary religious identity. We argue that representations of Witchcraft in the visual mass media (along with other cultural trends such as environmentalism, feminism, and individualism) and cultural resources such as books, Internet sites, and magazines provide a mediated form of social interaction that sustains the plausibility of Witchcraft as a religion. It also helps the young to develop and legitimate their beliefs and practices and develop their Witchcraft persona.
“Hooking Up” at College: Does Religion Make a Difference?
Authors: Burdette Amy M. , Ellison Christopher G. , Hill Terrence D. , Glenn Norval D.
Published: September 2009

Recent attention from media, scholars, and religious leadership has focused on the dating activities of college students, particularly in relation to casual physical encounters or what some have termed “hooking up.” In this article, we examine the impact of both individual and institutional religious involvement on “hooking up” in a national sample of college women (N= 1,000). The results of our analysis reveal several important patterns. First, Catholic college women are more likely to have “hooked up” while at school than college women with no religious affiliation. Second, conservative Protestant college women are less likely to have “hooked up” while at school than college women with no religious affiliation; however, this difference is mediated or explained by church attendance, which is protective against “hooking up.” Finally, women who attend colleges and universities with a Catholic affiliation are more likely to have hooked up while at school than women who attend academic institutions with no religious affiliation, net of individual‐level religious involvement.
Trajectories of Religious Participation from Adolescence to Young Adulthood
Authors: Petts Richard J.
Published: September 2009

Using a life course approach, this study examines trajectories of religious participation from early adolescence through young adulthood. Distinct patterns of religious participation are identified, providing insight into how trajectories are shaped by family and religious characteristics and demonstrating the influence of life events on changes in religious participation. The study employs a group‐based method of trajectory analysis, identifying three trajectories of stable religious participation (nonattendance, occasional attendance, and frequent attendance) and three trajectories of change (early, late, and gradual declining attendance). Residing with two biological parents and in a religious family increases the likelihood that youth attend religious services throughout adolescence. Religious disaffiliation is associated with lower religious participation for youth in all trajectories; marriage, cohabitation, and religious switching/conversion are associated with changes in participation among youth in the frequent and occasional attendance trajectories only.
Denominational Differences in Support for Race‐Based Policies Among White, Black, Hispanic, and Asian Americans
Authors: Brown R. Khari
Published: September 2009

This study builds upon past studies of denominational culture and racial attitudes by positioning evangelicals as the basis of comparison when assessing denominational differences in American racial attitudes. The study also attempts to extend the theoretical contribution of religious culture and racial attitudes by assessing support for race‐based policies among black, white, Hispanic, and Asian‐American evangelical and nonevangelical Protestants. In short, arguments about a distinctive individualistic religious culture among evangelicals may be useful in explaining why white evangelicals maintain lower levels of support for policies aimed at reducing racial inequality than do mainline and secular whites. However, it is of less relevance in explaining the race‐based policy attitudes of white evangelicals relative to white Catholics and among nonwhites as a whole.
Associations of drugs routinely given in labour with breastfeeding at 48 hours: analysis of the Cardiff Births Survey
Authors: Jordan S , Emery S , Watkins A , Evans JD , Storey M , Morgan G
Published: September 2009

Background  Little is known about how breastfeeding rates are affected by drugs routinely administered in labour.

Objective  To examine a large obstetric data set to investigate potentially modifiable associations between drugs routinely administered in labour and breastfeeding in healthy women and infants.

Design  Retrospective cohort.

Setting  The Cardiff (Wales UK) Births Survey.

Population  A total of 48 366 healthy women delivering healthy singleton babies at term.

Methods  Analysis of the Cardiff Births Survey.

Main outcome measure  Association between intrapartum medications and breastfeeding at 48 hours postpartum.

Results  At 48 hours, 43.3% (20 933/48 366) women were not breastfeeding. Regression analysis confirmed previously reported associations of lower breastfeeding rates with certain demographic indicators, epidural analgesia, intramuscular opioid analgesia and ergometrine. Novel associations were detected with oxytocin alone or in combination with ergometrine administered for prevention of postpartum haemorrhage (PPH), which were associated with reductions of 6–8%, (intramuscular oxytocin OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.61–0.91, intravenous oxytocin OR 0.68, 95% CI 0.57–0.82, oxytocin/ergometrine OR 0.77, 95% CI 0.65–0.91), and prostaglandins administered for induction of labour. The associations were maintained when subgroups, such as primiparous women, women whose labours were neither induced nor augmented, and women not receiving epidural analgesia were considered.

Conclusion  Prospective studies on drugs in labour are needed to investigate potential causative associations between intrapartum medications and breastfeeding. Such studies will delineate the optimum balance between breastfeeding and maternal health, most importantly the risk of PPH.
Immediate and delayed add‐back hormonal replacement therapy during ultra long GnRH agonist treatment of chronic cyclical pelvic pain
Authors: Al‐Azemi M , Jones G , Sirkeci F , Walters S , Houdmont M , Ledger W
Published: September 2009

Objective  To assess the safety and efficacy of long‐term use of long‐acting GnRH agonist in women with chronic cyclical pelvic pain using immediate versus delayed add‐back hormonal replacement therapy (HRT).

Design  A prospective randomised trial.

Setting  Reproductive and Developmental Medicine, Academic Unit, University Teaching Hospital and NHS Hospitals.

Population  Thirty‐eight premenopausal women with chronic cyclical pelvic pain were recruited.

Methods  Women were given Zoladex 10.8 mg over 18 months and randomised to receive HRT (tibolone 2.5 mg) either immediately or after 6 months. Follow up was 12‐month post‐treatment.

Main outcome measures  Bone mineral density at 6 months, the end of treatment (18 months), and 12 months later, pain and quality of life.

Results  Women treated with immediate HRT add‐back showed less bone mineral density loss at 6 months and less vasomotor symptoms compared with those who had delayed HRT add‐back treatment. Long‐term follow up showed both groups experienced equivalent bone mineral density loss. Pain and health‐related quality‐of‐life assessment showed improvement in both groups but there was evidence of a return to baseline levels after ending treatment.

Conclusion  Long‐term use of GnRH agonist plus immediate add‐back HRT is a safe and acceptable approach to intractable cyclical pelvic pain. Given the delay in reactivation of the hypothalamo‐pituitary‐ovarian axis after long‐term suppression, an intermittent dose regime with GnRH agonist might warrant investigation.
How much does the levator hiatus have to stretch during childbirth?
Authors: Svabík K , Shek KL , Dietz HP
Published: September 2009

Objective  This study was designed to define the degree of stretch/strain required of the levator hiatus in childbirth. There have been attempts at defining the distension required for vaginal childbirth with the help of individual data sets, but from previous work it is clear that hiatal dimensions and distensibility are likely to vary greatly between individuals.

Design  Retrospective observational study.

Setting  Nepean Hospital, University of Sydney.

Population  Nulliparous women at 36–38 week’s gestation.

Methods  The ultrasound data sets of 227 nulliparous women examined at 36–38 week’s gestation were investigated using post‐processing software. Minimal hiatal diameters, subpubic arch, circumference and area were measured at rest, on Valsalva and pelvic floor muscle contraction. To estimate required hiatal distension at vaginal birth we used neonatal biometric data obtained in a Caucasian population. The muscle ‘strain’ or ‘stretch ratio’ required to allow delivery of a Caucasian baby of average size was calculated from dimensions at rest and on maximal Valsalva.

Main outcome measures  Degree of stretch/strain required of the levator hiatus in childbirth.

Results  The mean strain (stretch ratio) required for vaginal delivery was calculated as 1.47 (range 0.62–2.76; SD 0.39) from resting length, and 1.07 (range 0.25–2.45; SD 0.44) when calculated from dimensions at maximal Valsalva. This implies that, from dimensions at maximal Valsalva, some women will have to distend only 25%, others by 245%

Conclusions  We have obtained normative data for the required distension of the levator hiatus in a largely Caucasian population.
Recessive hyperekplexia mutations of the glycine receptor α1 subunit affect cell surface integration and stability
Authors: Villmann Carmen , Oertel Jana , Melzer Nima , Becker Cord‐Michael
Published: September 2009

The human neurological disorder hyperekplexia is frequently caused by recessive and dominant mutations of the glycine receptor α1 subunit gene, GLRA1. Dominant forms are mostly attributed to amino acid substitutions within the ion pore or adjacent loops, resulting in altered channel properties. Here, the biogenesis of glycine receptor α1 subunit mutants underlying recessive forms of hyperekplexia was analyzed following recombinant expression in HEK293 cells. The α1 mutant S231R resulted in a decrease of surface integrated protein, consistent with reduced maximal current values. Decreased maximal currents shown for the recessive α1 mutant I244N were associated with protein instability, rather than decreased surface integration. The recessive mutants R252H and R392H encode exchanges of arginine residues delineating the intracellular faces of transmembrane domains. After expression, the mutant R252H was virtually absent from the cell surface, consistent with non‐functionality and the importance of the positive charge for membrane integration. Surface expression of R392H was highly reduced, resulting in residual chloride conductance. Independent of the site of the mutation within the α1 polypeptide, metabolic radiolabelling and pulse chase studies revealed a shorter half‐life of the full‐length α1 protein for all recessive mutants as compared to the wild‐type. Treatment with the proteasome blocker, lactacystin, significantly increased the accumulation of α1 mutants in intracellular membranes. These observations indicated that the recessive α1 mutants are recognized by the endoplasmatic reticulum control system, and degraded via the proteasome pathway. Thus, the lack of glycinergic inhibition associated with recessive hyperekplexia may be attributed to sequestration of mutant subunits within the endoplasmatic reticulum quality control system.
Protective effect of epigallocatechin gallate on the immune function of dendritic cells after ultraviolet B irradiation
Authors: Jin Song Liang , Zhou Bing Rong , Luo Dan
Published: September 2009

Aim  To investigate the protective effect of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) on the immune function of dendritic cells (DCs) after ultraviolet B irradiation (UVB) and its underlying mechanisms.

Methods  The monocytes were isolated from peripheral blood and cultivated into DCs with cytokines, such as granulocyte‐macrophage colony‐stimulating factor (GM‐CSF) and interleukin (IL)‐4. DCs were harvested after cultivation for 7 days and subjected to irradiation with different dosages of UVB. Then, 200 μg/mL of EGCG was added in certain groups 24 h before irradiation. DCs simply treated with UVB or treated with both UVB and EGCG were co‐cultured with lymphocytes, and Mono‐nuclear cell direct cytotoxicity (MTT) assay was used to detect the ability of DCs to stimulate proliferation of lymphocytes. Surface markers CD80, CD86, human leukocyte antigen(locus)‐DR (HLA‐DR), and CD40 were detected using flow cytometry, and the levels of IL‐10 and IL‐12 secreted from DCs 24 h after cultivation were measured using ELISA.

Results  UVB irradiation was able to inhibit the ability of DCs to stimulate the proliferation of lymphocytes and surface expressions of CD80, CD86, HLA‐DR, and CD40 on DCs in a dose‐dependent manner. The inhibition rate of DCs was improved to some extent after treatment with 200 μg/mL of EGCG. UVB showed no significant influence on the secretion of IL‐10 and IL‐12 from DCs, while EGCG was able to down‐regulate the secretion level of IL‐12 and up‐regulate that of IL‐10.

Conclusions  EGCG can antagonize the inhibitory effect on DCs induced by UVB irradiation. This function has some relationship with its protecting effect of the expression of the costimulating molecules on the surface of DCs and the secretion level of IL‐10 and IL‐12.
Vulnerability of reactive skin to electric current perception – a pilot study implicating mast cells and the lymphatic microvasculature
Authors: Quatresooz Pascale , Piérard‐Franchimont Claudine , Piérard Gérald E
Published: September 2009

Background/objective  Sensitive/reactive skin is regarded as a manifestation of sensory irritation. This susceptibility condition to various exogenous factors suggests the intervention of some neuropeptides and other neurobiological mediators. Mast cells are among the putative implicated cells.

Method  The present immunohistochemical and morphometric study was performed on two groups of 36 gender‐ and age‐matched subjects complaining or not from reactive skin as determined by electric current perception. In the mid upper part of the dermis, the numerical density in mast cells and the size of the microvasculature were assessed distinguishing the blood and lymphatic vessels.

Results  Globally, the distributions of data were large in reactive skin. This condition was characterized by a prominent increase in both the numerical density in mast cells and the overall size of the lymphatics. By contrast, no difference was found in the size of cutaneous blood vessels. More precisely, it appeared that a subgroup of people with reactive skin exhibited these changes contrasting with some other individuals whose data remained close to the normal range.

Conclusion  Mast cells and lymphatics are probably involved in the process of sensory irritation affecting a subgroup of the population.
Loose anagen hair syndrome: an unusual cause of alopecia of cosmetic importance only
Authors: Santiago Felicidade , Vieira Ricardo , Figueiredo Américo
Published: September 2009

A 5‐year‐old girl was referred to our clinic because of a 5‐month history of diffuse hair loss. Her hair was light brown and dull with evident patches of alopecia. There were no signs of scalp inflammation or scarring. A hair pull test revealed multiple hairs, easily and painlessly extracted. Light microscopic examination and trichogram were consistent with loose anagen hair syndrome. This is an unusual benign hair disorder of childhood that improves spontaneously with aging.
Hypoxic conditioned culture medium from fibroblasts grown under embryonic‐like conditions supports healing following post‐laser resurfacing
Authors: Kellar Robert S , Hubka Mark , Rheins Lawrence A , Fisher Garth , Naughton Gail K
Published: September 2009

Objectives  Treatment of facial skin perturbed by laser resurfacing with a novel, topical hypoxic conditioned culture medium (HCCM) product results in apparent, accelerated wound recovery time. The HCCM product is conditioned by neonatal fibroblasts under hypoxic conditions and used as the active ingredient in a formulated topical lotion. The HCCM contains significant quantities of growth factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor, keratinocyte growth factor, and interleukin‐8. As these molecules are known to play an important role in normal wound healing in vivo, we conducted a pilot clinical evaluation “Proof of Concept” in which individuals, after receiving laser resurfacing, were instructed to use either active or placebo lotion on their abraded skin.

Methods  The end points used were clinical assessment of the time to complete healing, clinical and bioinstrumental mexameter measurements of erythema, and the number of days of rescue petrolatum use by patients, post‐laser.

Results  Day 7, post‐laser treatment, resulted in a greater improvement in erythema, and re‐epithelization of the peri‐oral and peri‐ocular regions in subjects using the active lotion vs. placebo control as determined by blinded, clinical evaluation of gross photographs and bioinstrumental mexameter measurements. A statistically significant reduction in rescue petrolatum use in active lotion‐treated subjects was reported. Finally, no attendant cutaneous safety concerns (e.g., irritant/allergic dermatitis) were reported with either active or placebo lotion.

Conclusions  This HCCM product may have broad applications within the field of skin wound repair.
Specific gel‐cream as adjuvant to oral isotretinoin improved hydration and prevented TEWL increase – a double‐blind, randomized, placebo‐controlled study
Authors: Herane María Isabel , Fuenzalida Héctor , Zegpi Emilia , De Pablo Carolina , Espadas Maria José , Trullás Carles , Mirada Alfons , Martin Guillermo González
Published: September 2009

Background  Hydrating and emollient products are often recommended to patients under isotretinoin therapy to control the most frequent mucocutaneous side effects and to improve adherence to treatment.

Aims  To assess, using noninvasive biophysical tests, the clinical and instrumental effectiveness of a hydrating gel‐cream compared with placebo as an adjuvant to isotretinoin for treatment of facial skin in patients with inflammatory acne.

Methods  Prospective, double‐blind, randomized study, using MULTI SKIN MC750, on the adjuvant effect of a hydrating gel‐cream for acne (active product) vs. a gel‐cream without active substances (placebo). Follow‐up lasted 3 months.

Results  Sixty‐six patients were included. Thirty‐four were administered the active product, and 32 placebo. Though the number of lesions fell significantly in both groups, the mean number of papules on day 30 was significantly lower in the active product group. The active product group showed a significant increase in hydration, while the placebo group showed a significant increase in transepidermal water loss (TEWL). Seborrhoea decreased significantly in both groups; there were no differences between them.

Conclusions  Compared with placebo, the specific gel‐cream with active products as an adjuvant to oral isotretinoin improved hydration, prevented TEWL increase, and reduced inflammatory acne lesions after 30 days.