bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Postnatal growth, neurodevelopment and altered adiposity after preterm birth—from a clinical nutrition perspective
Authors: Yeung Melinda Y.
Published: May 2006

Evidence reveals a dilemma that under‐nutrition and growth retardation during brain growth are associated with neurodevelopmental deficits, and nutritional supplement resulting in catch‐up growth and relative visceral adiposity leads to metabolic/cardiovascular morbidities. Hyperinsulinaemia secondary to insulin resistance appears to play a central role in the development of visceral adiposity through its action on adipocyte ?3‐adrenoceptor.

Conclusion: Optimal nutritional management to minimize hyperinsulinaemia and insulin resistance may potentially improve neurodevelopment and facilitate catch‐up growth with normal body composition.
Head circumference from birth to age 48 months for infants in Sweden
Authors: WERNER BO , BODIN LENNART
Published: May 2006

Aim: To describe the development of head circumference, from birth to age 48 mo, of infants in Sweden. Methods: Every infant born on the 15th of any month in the 1981 birth cohort, living in Sweden as of 31 December 1989, was studied from birth to age 48 mo (n=3158). By collecting data from child healthcare records and then analysing these data using piecewise linear regression, means and other statistics were produced for every age. Data were analysed for all and with exclusions for low birthweight and those born outside Sweden. Results: From the sample of 3158, data for 3107 infants were collected, making the percentage of missing individuals 1.6%; thus, non‐response bias is minimized and high national representativeness is achieved. Summary statistics for head circumference are presented. Comparisons are made to international reference materials, and to previous and current Swedish reference curves.

Conclusion: For the first time in Sweden, and without selection bias, means and distribution of head circumference measurements are documented longitudinally for a nationally representative sample of infants.
Pragmatic skills in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease: an analysis by means of a referential communication task
Authors: Feyereisen Pierre , Berrewaerts Joëlle , Hupet Michel
Published: May 2006

Background: Disordered discourse in cases of senile dementia of Alzheimer's type (DAT) has mainly been described in conversation and picture description tasks. The referential communication task provides researchers and clinicians with new insights on the nature of these disorders.

Aims: To study to what extent persons suffering from DAT can benefit from shared experience through trial repetition to achieve common reference.

Methods & Procedures: Thirteen persons suffering from DAT at minimal or mild stage (MMSE score range = 18–27) were compared with 13 healthy elderly adults (64–86 years) in neuropsychological assessment of executive functions and in a referential communication paradigm. To study how the two partners achieve mutual understanding by progressively elaborating a common ground, the task was repeated three times.

Outcomes & Results: Persons with DAT produced a larger number of words than control participants and they benefited from the task repetition. However, they were less able to take into account previously shared information, used no definite referential expressions and were more idiosyncratic in their descriptions of the referent. This decline of communicative effectiveness was found not to relate closely to executive deficits.

Conclusions: Collaborative exchanges allow healthy elderly persons to ground reference in common experience. This process is severely disturbed in persons with DAT, in relation to poor memory of preceding episodes or to other cognitive impairments.
Short Article: Reducing the Own-Race Bias in Face Recognition by Shifting Attention
Authors: Hills Peter J. , Lewis Michael B.
Published: May 2006

The own-race bias (ORB) in face recognition can be interpreted as a failure to generalize expert perceptual encoding developed for own-race faces to other-race faces. Further, black participants appear to use different features to describe faces from those used by white participants (Shepherd & Deregowski, 1981). An experiment is reported where the size of the ORB was assessed using a standard face recognition procedure. Four groups were tested at two time intervals. One group received a training regime involving learning to distinguish faces that varied only on their chin, cheeks, nose, and mouth. Three control groups did not receive this training. The ORB, present prior to training, was reduced after the critical perceptual training. It is concluded that the ORB is a consequence of a failure of attention being directed to those features of other race faces that are useful for identification.
Streblus asper Lour. (Shakhotaka): A Review of its Chemical, Pharmacological and Ethnomedicinal Properties
Authors: Rastogi Subha , Kulshreshtha Dinesh K. , Rawat Ajay Kumar Singh
Published: May 2006

Streblus asper Lour is a small tree found in tropical countries, such as India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand. Various parts of this plant are used in Ayurveda and other folk medicines for the treatment of different ailments such as filariasis, leprosy, toothache, diarrhea, dysentery and cancer. Research carried out using different in vitro and in vivo techniques of biological evaluation support most of these claims. This review presents the botany, chemistry, traditional uses and pharmacology of this medicinal plant.
Simple rules guide dragonfly migration
Authors: Wikelski Martin , Moskowitz David , Adelman James S , Cochran Jim , Wilcove David S , May Michael L
Published: May 2006

Every year billions of butterflies, dragonflies, moths and other insects migrate across continents, and considerable progress has been made in understanding population-level migratory phenomena. However, little is known about destinations and strategies of individual insects. We attached miniaturized radio transmitters (ca300 mg) to the thoraxes of 14 individual dragonflies (common green darners,Anax junius) and followed them during their autumn migration for up to 12 days, using receiver-equipped Cessna airplanes and ground teams. Green darners exhibited distinct stopover and migration days. On average, they migrated every 2.9±0.3 days, and their average net advance was 58±11 km in 6.1±0.9 days (11.9±2.8 km d−1) in a generally southward direction (186±52°). They migrated exclusively during the daytime, when wind speeds were less than 25 km h−1, regardless of wind direction, but only after two nights of successively lower temperatures (decrease of 2.1±0.6 °C in minimum temperature). The migratory patterns and apparent decision rules of green darners are strikingly similar to those proposed for songbirds, and may represent a general migration strategy for long-distance migration of organisms with high self-propelled flight speeds.
In silicoevolution of functional morphology: a test on bone tissue biomechanics
Authors: de Margerie Emmanuel , Tafforeau Paul , Rakotomanana Lalaonirina
Published: May 2006

Evolutionary algorithms (EAs) use Darwinian principles—selection among random variation and heredity—to find solutions to complex problems. Mostly used in engineering, EAs gain growing interest in ecology and genetics. Here, we assess their usefulness in functional morphology, introducing finite element modelling (FEM) as a simulated mechanical environment for evaluating the ‘fitness’ of randomly varying structures. We used this method to identify biomechanical adaptations in bone tissue, a long-lasting problem in skeletal morphology. The algorithm started with a bone tissue model containing randomly distributed vascular spaces. The EA randomly mutated the distribution of vascular spaces, and selected the new structure if its mechanical resistance was increased. After some thousands of generations, organized phenotypes emerged, containing vascular canals and sinuses, mimicking real bone tissue organizations. This supported the hypothesis that natural bone microstructures can result from biomechanical adaptation. Despite its limited faithfulness to reality, we discuss the ability of the EA+FEM method to assess adaptation in a dynamic evolutionary framework, which is not possible in the real world because of the generation times of macro-organisms. We also point out the interesting potential of EAs to simulate not only adaptation, but also concurrent evolutionary phenomenons such as historical contingency.
Impact on alumina. I. Response at the mesoscale
Authors: Bourne N.K
Published: May 2006

The response of polycrystalline ceramics to shock loading has no agreed suite of operating mechanisms. This is because the materials contain brittle and ductile phases within the microstructure. Some means of viewing these phases at an appropriate length-scale is necessary. Thus, mesoscale simulations are presented to illustrate their response. The microstructure observed experimentally is digitized and input to an Eulerian simulation of an impact event. The response of the phases, and of included voids, is assessed at different impact velocities. A roughened surface is simulated to mirror preparation of experimental targets and finally the effect of a metallic, rather than a rigid, impact surface is assessed. This work is the precursor to measurements of the pressure state behind the shock and the elastic precursor, and its properties are addressed in the following work.
Impact on alumina. II. Linking the mesoscale to the continuum
Authors: Bourne N.K
Published: May 2006

The response of polycrystalline ceramics to shock loading has been studied for the past 30 years. Yet formulation of continuum models describing their response has been only partially successful. In uniaxial-strain loading, failure mechanisms have been noted that proceed behind the shock front from the impact face. It has become clear that operating mechanisms have not been completely described, and so the technique of mesoscale simulation has been applied to understand composite behaviour at the grain scale to explain processes operating at the continuum. The aluminas chosen for the study have been experimentally investigated by using the plate impact shock loading. The microstructure has been investigated using transmission electron microscopy. This microstructure has been converted into an input file for computer simulation of the experimental impacts assuming that each phase has known properties. A view of the mesoscale response is presented and the operating mechanisms are highlighted. A connection with the macroscopic response is made to illustrate the features measured at the continuum that originate at the mesoscale.
Boiling during high-velocity impact of water droplets on a hot stainless steel surface
Authors: Mehdizadeh Navid Z , Chandra Sanjeev
Published: May 2006

High-velocity impact of water droplets (0.55 mm diameter) on a heated stainless steel surface was photographed. To achieve high impact velocities, the test surface was mounted on the rim of a rotating flywheel, giving linear velocities of up to 50 m s
−1
. Two cartridge heaters were inserted in the substrate and used to vary substrate temperature. A charge coupled device (CCD) video camera was used to photograph droplets impinging on the substrate. To photograph different stages of droplet impact, the ejection of a single droplet was synchronized with the position of the rotating flywheel and triggering of the camera. Substrate temperature was varied from 100 to 240 °C and the impact velocity from 10 to 30 m s
−1
. High-resolution photographs were taken of vapour bubbles nucleating sites inside the thin liquid films produced by spreading droplets. An analytical expression was derived for the amount of superheat required for vapour bubble nucleation as a function of the impact velocity. For a given surface roughness, the amount of superheat needed decreased with impact velocity, which agreed with experimental results. For a fixed impact velocity, the maximum extent of droplet spread increased with substrate temperature.
Climate, energy and diversity
Authors: Clarke Andrew , Gaston Kevin J
Published: May 2006

In recent years, a number of species–energy hypotheses have been developed to explain global patterns in plant and animal diversity. These hypotheses frequently fail to distinguish between fundamentally different forms of energy which influence diversity in dissimilar ways. Photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) can be utilized only by plants, though their abundance and growth rate is also greatly influenced by water. The Gibbs free energy (chemical energy) retained in the reduced organic compounds of tissue can be utilized by all heterotrophic organisms. Neither PAR nor chemical energy influences diversity directly. Both, however, influence biomass and/or abundance; diversity may then increase as a result of secondary population dynamic or evolutionary processes. Temperature is not a form of energy, though it is often used loosely by ecologists as a proxy for energy; it does, however, influence the rate of utilization of chemical energy by organisms. It may also influence diversity by allowing a greater range of energetic lifestyles at warmer temperatures (themetabolic niche hypothesis). We conclude that there is no single species/energy mechanism; fundamentally different processes link energy to abundance in plants and animals, and diversity is affected secondarily. If we are to make progress in elucidating these mechanisms, it is important to distinguish climatic effects on species' distribution and abundance from processes linking energy supply to plant and animal diversity.
Reading men's faces: women's mate attractiveness judgments track men's testosterone and interest in infants
Authors: Roney James R , Hanson Katherine N , Durante Kristina M , Maestripieri Dario
Published: May 2006

This study investigated whether women track possible cues of paternal and genetic quality in men's faces and then map perception of those cues onto mate attractiveness judgments. Men's testosterone concentrations served as a proxy for genetic quality given evidence that this hormone signals immunocompetence, and men's scores on an interest in infants test were chosen as prima facie markers of paternal quality. Women's perceptions of facial photographs of these men were in fact sensitive to these two variables: men's scores on the interest in infants test significantly predicted women's ratings of the photos for how much the men like children, and men's testosterone concentrations significantly predicted women's ratings of the men's faces for masculinity. Furthermore, men's actual and perceived affinity for children predicted women's long-term mate attractiveness judgments, while men's testosterone and perceived masculinity predicted women's short-term mate attractiveness judgments. These results suggest that women can detect facial cues of men's hormone concentrations and affinity for children, and that women use perception of these cues to form mate attractiveness judgments.
The carbon cycle and associated redox processes through time
Authors: Hayes John M , Waldbauer Jacob R
Published: May 2006

Earth's biogeochemical cycle of carbon delivers both limestones and organic materials to the crust. In numerous, biologically catalysed redox reactions, hydrogen, sulphur, iron, and oxygen serve prominently as electron donors and acceptors. The progress of these reactions can be reconstructed from records of variations in the abundance of
13
C in sedimentary carbonate minerals and organic materials. Because the crust is always receiving new CO
2
from the mantle and a portion of it is being reduced by photoautotrophs, the carbon cycle has continuously released oxidizing power. Most of it is represented by Fe
3+
that has accumulated in the crust or been returned to the mantle via subduction. Less than 3% of the estimated, integrated production of oxidizing power since 3.8 Gyr ago is represented by O
2
in the atmosphere and dissolved in seawater. The balance is represented by sulphate. The accumulation of oxidizing power can be estimated from budgets summarizing inputs of mantle carbon and rates of organic-carbon burial, but levels of O
2
are only weakly and indirectly coupled to those phenomena and thus to carbon-isotopic records. Elevated abundances of
13
C in carbonate minerals
ca
2.3 Gyr old, in particular, are here interpreted as indicating the importance of methanogenic bacteria in sediments rather than increased burial of organic carbon.
Darwin's dilemma: the realities of the Cambrian ‘explosion’
Authors: Conway Morris Simon
Published: May 2006

The Cambrian ‘explosion’ is widely regarded as one of the fulcrum points in the history of life, yet its origins and causes remain deeply controversial. New data from the fossil record, especially of Burgess Shale-type Lagerstätten, indicate, however, that the assembly of bodyplans is not only largely a Cambrian phenomenon, but can already be documented in fair detail. This speaks against a much more ancient origin of the metazoans, and current work is doing much to reconcile the apparent discrepancies between the fossil record, including the Ediacaran assemblages of latest Neoproterozoic age and molecular ‘clocks’. Hypotheses to explain the Cambrian ‘explosion’ continue to be generated, but the recurrent confusion of cause and effect suggests that the wrong sort of question is being asked. Here I propose that despite its step-like function this evolutionary event is the inevitable consequence of Earth and biospheric change.
Genetic diversity analyses of grapevine Rupestris stem pitting-associated virus reveal distinct population structures in scion versus rootstock varieties
Authors: Meng Baozhong , Rebelo Ana Rita , Fisher Helen
Published: May 2006

Grapevine Rupestris stem pitting-associated virus (GRSPaV) is a member of the genus Foveavirus within the family Flexiviridae. GRSPaV is closely associated with the disease Rupestris stem pitting and is frequently detected in grapevines worldwide. Previous research in several laboratories suggests that GRSPaV consists of a family of sequence variants. However, the genetic composition of GRSPaV variants in viral isolates from scion and rootstock varieties has not been studied extensively. In this report, the genetic diversity and population structure of GRSPaV isolates from scion and rootstock varieties were analysed using two pairs of primers targeting two different genomic regions encoding the helicase domain of the replicase and the capsid protein. In total, 190 cDNA clones derived from 24 isolates were sequenced and analysed. At least four major groups of GRSPaV variants were found to exist in grapevines. Interestingly, the majority of the scion varieties (9/10) that were analysed, regardless of their genetic background and geographical origin, harboured complex viral populations composed of two to four distinct viral variants. In contrast, the viral populations in isolates from rootstock varieties were homogeneous and comprised a single variant. The practice of grafting between scion and rootstock varieties commonly used in modern viticulture, coupled with the frequent regional and international exchange of propagating materials, may have played a major role in the ubiquitous distribution and mixed infections of distinct GRSPaV variants among scion varieties. The possible origin and evolution of GRSPaV are also discussed.
Feline infectious peritonitis virus-infected monocytes internalize viral membrane-bound proteins upon antibody addition
Authors: Dewerchin Hannah L. , Cornelissen Els , Nauwynck Hans J.
Published: May 2006

Feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV) may cause a highly lethal infection in cats, in spite of a usually strong humoral immune response. Antibodies seem unable to identify infected cells and mediate antibody-dependent cell lysis. In this study, the effect of antibodies onFeline coronavirus(FCoV)-infected monocytes was investigated. Upon addition of FCoV-specific antibodies, surface-expressed viral proteins were internalized through a highly efficient process, resulting in cells without visually detectable viral proteins on their plasma membrane. The internalization was also induced by mAbs against the Spike and Membrane proteins, suggesting that both proteins play a role in the process. The internalization did not occur spontaneously, as it was not observed in cells incubated with medium or non-specific antibodies. Further, the internalization could not be reproduced in feline cell lines, indicating its cell-type specificity. This study sheds new light on the immune-evasive nature of FIPV infections.
Murine gammaherpesvirus-68 glycoprotein H–glycoprotein L complex is a major target for neutralizing monoclonal antibodies
Authors: Gill Michael B. , Gillet Laurent , Colaco Susanna , May Janet S. , de Lima Brigitte D. , Stevenson Philip G.
Published: May 2006

Herpesviruses characteristically persist in immune hosts as latent genomes, but to transmit infection they must reactivate and replicate lytically. The interaction between newly formed virions and pre-existing antibody is therefore likely to be a crucial determinant of viral fitness. Murine gammaherpesvirus-68 (MHV-68) behaves as a natural pathogen of conventional, inbred mice and consequently allows such interactions to be analysed experimentally in a relatively realistic setting. Here, monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) were derived from MHV-68-infected mice and all those recognizing infected-cell surfaces were tested for their capacity to neutralize MHV-68 virions. All of the neutralizing mAbs identified were specific for the viral glycoprotein H (gH)–gL heterodimer and required both gH and gL to reproduce their cognate epitopes. Based on antibody interference, there appeared to be two major neutralization epitopes on gH–gL. Analysis of a representative mAb indicated that it blocked infection at a post-binding step – either virion endocytosis or membrane fusion.
Mercury: visualization and analysis of crystal structures
Authors: Macrae Clare F. , Edgington Paul R. , McCabe Patrick , Pidcock Elna , Shields Greg P. , Taylor Robin , Towler Matthew , van de Streek Jacco
Published: May 2006

Since its original release, the popular crystal structure visualization programMercuryhas undergone continuous further development. Comparisons between crystal structures are facilitated by the ability to display multiple structures simultaneously and to overlay them. Improvements have been made to many aspects of the visual display, including the addition of depth cueing, and highly customizable lighting and background effects. Textual and numeric data associated with structures can be shown in tables or spreadsheets, the latter opening up new ways of interacting with the visual display. Atomic displacement ellipsoids, calculated powder diffraction patterns and predicted morphologies can now be shown. Some limited molecular-editing capabilities have been added. The object-oriented nature of the C++ libraries underlyingMercurymakes it easy to re-use the code in other applications, and this has facilitated three-dimensional visualization in several other programs produced by the Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre.
Characterization of insulin microcrystals using powder diffraction and multivariate data analysis
Authors: Norrman Mathias , Ståhl Kenny , Schluckebier Gerd , Al-Karadaghi Salam
Published: May 2006

Twelve different microcrystalline insulin formulations were investigated by X-ray powder diffraction and were shown to have very characteristic patterns. Three of the formulations crystallize in the same crystal system, but have structural differences in the N-terminal B-chain of the insulin molecule. This difference was efficiently detected in the powder patterns. The sensitivity of the method makes it a valuable tool for characterization of microcrystalline samples. By use of principal-component analysis, the twelve different formulations originating from six different crystal systems were classified into nine separate clusters. The powder patterns of each cluster can now be used as `fingerprints' for the different insulin polymorphs. The combination of X-ray powder diffraction and multivariate analysis, such as principal-component analysis, provides a rapid and effective tool for studying the influence of derivatives, additives, ions, pHetc., in the crystallization media.
Symmetry properties and transformation behaviour of the X-ray stress factors
Authors: Ortner Balder
Published: May 2006

It is shown that the so-called X-ray elasticity factorsFij(φ, ψ, hkl) are second-rank tensors. The advantages that can be drawn from that fact are revealed: (i) it is possible to find the best strategies for the measurement ofFtensors in textured polycrystalline materials; (ii) in some cases,Ffor one measurement direction can be calculated fromFfor another measurement direction; (iii) when the measurement directionr(φ, ψ) is parallel to a symmetry axis or a mirror plane, some relationships among the entries of theFmatrix exist, so the number of independent variables ofFis reduced. Different equations are derived which could help in the calculation of theFtensors, be it for single crystals or polycrystalline materials with or without texture. It is also shown that many facts already known aboutFcan be interpreted and proved in an elegant way by making use of the tensor character ofF.
Si wafers having one- and two-dimensionally curved (111) planes examined by X-ray diffraction
Authors: Okuda Hiroshi , Nakajima Kazuo , Fujiwara Kozo , Ochiai Shojiro
Published: May 2006

Si (111) wafers deformed at elevated temperatures into cylindrical or hemispherical shapes have been examined by X-ray diffraction. Well defined 333 peaks shifted with in-plane distance from the centre of the wafer as determined by ω scans. The shift of the peak position agreed with the curvature of the Si wafer, suggesting that the Si (111) lattice plane can be designed on an arbitrarily curved surface by this method. These crystals have potential for innovative applications in X-ray instrumentation, for both diffraction/scattering and spectroscopy.
A deconvolution method for the reconstruction of underlying profiles measured using large sampling volumes
Authors: Xiong Y.-S. , Withers P. J.
Published: May 2006

A deconvolution method for diffraction measurements based on a statistical learning technique is presented. The radial-basis function network is used to model the underlying function. A full probabilistic description of the measurement is introduced, incorporating a Bayesian algorithm based on an evidence framework. This method allows predictions of both the convolution and the underlying function from noisy measurements. In addition, the method can provide an estimation of the prediction uncertainty,i.e.error-bars. In order to assess the capability of the method, the model was tested first on synthetic data of controllable quality and sparsity; it is shown that the method works very well, even for inaccurately measured (noisy) data. Subsequently, the deconvolution method was applied to real data sets typical of neutron and synchrotron residual stress (strain) data, recovering features not immediately evident in the large-gauge-volume measurements themselves. Finally, the extent to which short-period components are lost as a function of the measurement gauge dimensions is discussed. The results seem to indicate that for a triangular sensor-sensitivity function, measurements are best made with a gauge of a width approximately equal to the wavelength of the expected strain variation, but with a significant level of overlap (∼80%) between successive points; this is contrary to current practice for neutron strain measurements.
Tracking reflections through cryogenic cooling with topography
Authors: Lovelace Jeffrey J. , Murphy Cameron R. , Pahl Reinhard , Brister Keith , Borgstahl Gloria E. O.
Published: May 2006

The mosaic structure of a single protein crystal was analyzed by reflection profiling and topography using highly parallel and monochromatic synchrotron radiation. Fine-φ-sliced diffraction images (0.002° stills) were collected using a conventional large-area CCD detector in order to calculate reflection profiles. Fine-φ-sliced topographic data (0.002°) stills were collected with a digital topography system for three reflections in a region where the Lorentz effect was minimized. At room temperature, several different mosaic domains were clearly visible within the crystal. Without altering the crystal orientation, the crystal was cryogenically frozen (cryocooled) and the experiment was repeated for the same three reflections. Topographs at cryogenic temperatures reveal a significantly increased mosaicity, while the original domain structure is maintained. A model for the observed changes during cryocooling is presented.
Ripple: a program to collect and analyze digital topographic sequences
Authors: Lovelace Jeffrey J. , Borgstahl Gloria E. O.
Published: May 2006

A Microsoft Windows-based system calledRipplehas been developed to drive a digital topography camera and to collect and analyze a sequence of topographic images. It has a graphical user interface, is easy to use and can be parasitically installed at existing beamlines. The modular design allows for the simple addition of detectors, detector image file formats, triggers and motion controllers.
Violent victimization and drug involvement among Mexican middle school students
Authors: Ramos‐Lira Luciana , Gonzalez‐Forteza Catalina , Wagner Fernando A.
Published: May 2006

Aims  To answer the following research questions: (a) is there an association between violent victimization and exposure to opportunities to use marijuana, inhalants and cocaine and (b) is there an association between violent victimization and actual drug use among youth with drug‐using opportunities?

Design  Cross‐sectional survey.

Setting  Two middle schools located in the Historic Downtown area of Mexico City.

Participants  The entire body of students (n = 767; mean age 13.8 years, 52% males).

Measurements  Qualitative research was used to develop questions on drug exposure opportunities and violent victimization. Standardized questions on life‐time alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, inhalant drugs and cocaine use were also included, as well as questions on violent victimization and other covariates.

Findings  One‐quarter (25%) of students had an opportunity to try marijuana, inhalant drugs or cocaine; 35% who had an opportunity actually used at least one drug. In this sample, 59% had been victimized violently. Youth who had been victimized had greater odds of opportunities to use drugs compared to those who had not been victimized [adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 3.8; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.4, 6.1]. Once exposure opportunity is taken into consideration, no association was evident between violent victimization and actual drug use (adjusted OR = 0.9; 95% CI, 0.4, 2.1).

Conclusions  It is possible to trace back the association between violent victimization and drug use to differences in exposure to opportunities. Limitations considered, this study suggests interventions to improve micro and macro contexts, such as families, schools and communities, so young people can have better places to live and develop.
Estimating the effect of help‐seeking on achieving recovery from alcohol dependence
Authors: Dawson Deborah A. , Grant Bridget F. , Stinson Frederick S. , Chou Patricia S.
Published: May 2006

Aims  To investigate the effect of help‐seeking on the likelihood of recovery from Diagnostic and Statistical Manual version IV (DSM‐IV) alcohol dependence, specifically examining the impact of model selection, factors that moderate the effect of help‐seeking and distinctions between the effects of 12‐Step participation and formal treatment.

Design  This analysis is based on data from the Wave 1 2001–02 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC), a cross‐sectional, retrospective survey of a nationally representative sample of US adults 18 years of age and over. The analytical sample consisted of 4422 individuals with prior‐to‐past‐year (PPY) onset of DSM‐IV alcohol dependence.

Methods  Logistic regression, proportional hazards and time‐dependent proportional hazards models were used to estimate the effects of help‐seeking on three outcomes: (1) any recovery from alcohol dependence, which required full remission of all symptoms of alcohol abuse and dependence and excluded asymptomatic drinkers whose alcohol consumption exceeded low‐risk drinking guidelines; (2) non‐abstinent recovery (NR), representing low‐risk asymptomatic drinkers; and (3) abstinent recovery (AR), representing abstainers.

Findings  Only one‐quarter of individuals with PPY‐onset alcohol dependence had ever sought help for alcohol problems, including 3.1% who had participated in 12‐Step programs only, 5.4% who had received formal treatment only and 17.0% with both 12‐Step and formal treatment. Based on the most appropriate model, help‐seeking increased the likelihood of any recovery [hazard rate ratio (HRR) = 2.38], NR (HRR = 1.50) and AR (HRR = 4.01). The impact of help‐seeking on AR did not show any significant variation across the exposure period but was modified by severity among other factors. Individuals who participated in 12‐Step programs in addition to formal treatment had almost twice the chance of recovery and more than more than twice the chance of AR compared with those who received formal treatment alone.

Conclusions  Help‐seeking plays a significant role in the achievement of abstinent recovery from alcohol dependence, with 12‐Step participation playing a major role. Appropriate model selection is critical to assessing the impact of help‐seeking.
The use of record linkage to examine illicit drug use in pregnancy
Authors: Burns Lucy , Mattick Richard P. , Cooke Margaret
Published: May 2006

Aims  To examine the obstetric and perinatal outcomes for women with a drug‐related hospital admission during pregnancy.

Design  Antenatal and birth admissions to New South Wales (NSW) hospitals from the NSW Inpatient Statistics Collection were linked to birth information from the NSW Midwives Data Collection over a 5‐year period (1998–2002).

Measurements  Birth admissions were flagged as positive for drug use where a birth admission or any pregnancy admission for that birth involved an opioid, cannabis or stimulant‐related International Classification of Diseases version 10 Australian modification (ICD‐10AM) code.

Findings  A total of 416 834 live births were analysed over a 5‐year period (1998–2002). Of these, 1974 pregnancies had an opioid ICD‐10AM diagnosis recorded, 552 a stimulant‐related ICD‐10AM and 2172 a cannabis ICD‐10AM diagnosis. Births in each of the drug groups were to women who were younger, had a higher number of previous pregnancies, were indigenous, smoked heavily and were not privately insured. These women also presented later in their pregnancy to antenatal services and were more likely to arrive at hospital unbooked. Neonates born to women in each of the drug groups were more likely to be premature and were admitted to neonatal intensive care and special care nursery more often, with neonates born to women in the opioid group admitted most often.

Conclusions  Linked population level administrative data is a powerful method for examining the maternal and neonatal outcomes associated with the use of specific illicit drugs during pregnancy.
The effects of nicotine gum and counseling among African American light smokers: a 2 × 2 factorial design
Authors: Ahluwalia Jasjit S. , Okuyemi Kolawole , Nollen Nicole , Choi Won S. , Kaur Harsohena , Pulvers Kim , Mayo Matthew S.
Published: May 2006

Aim  Approximately 50% of African American smokers are light smokers (smoke ≤ 10 cigarettes a day). The prevalence of light smoking in the United States is increasing, yet there has not been a single smoking cessation clinical trial targeting light smokers. The purpose of this 2 × 2 factorial, randomized clinical trial was to evaluate the efficacy of nicotine gum (2 mg versus placebo) and counseling (motivational interviewing versus health education) for African American light smokers.

Design  Participants were assigned randomly to one of four study arms: 2 mg nicotine gum plus health education (HE); 2 mg nicotine gum plus motivational interviewing (MI); placebo gum plus HE; and placebo gum plus MI.

Participants and setting  A total of 755 African American light smokers (66% female, mean age = 45) were enrolled at a community health center over a 16‐month period.

Intervention and measurements  Participants received an 8‐week supply of nicotine gum and six counseling sessions during the course of the 26‐week study. Biochemical measures included expired carbon monoxide (CO) and serum and salivary cotinine.

Findings  Seven‐day quit rates for nicotine gum were no better than for the placebo group (14.2% versus 11.1%, P = 0.232) at 6 months. However, a counseling effect emerged, with HE performing significantly better than MI (16.7% versus 8.5%, P < 0.001). These results were consistent across outcome time‐points (weeks 1, 8, and 26).

Conclusions  Results highlight the potential positive impact of directive information and advice‐oriented counseling on smoking cessation. Studies are needed to assess other interventions that may further improve quit rates among African American light smokers who are motivated to quit.
White wine and beer induce gastro‐oesophageal reflux in patients with reflux disease
Authors: PEHL C. , WENDL B. , PFEIFFER A.
Published: May 2006

Background

An induction of gastro‐oesophageal reflux has been reported after ingestion of alcoholic beverages in healthy volunteers. However, it is unknown whether reflux in gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease patients will be enhanced by the ingestion of alcoholic beverages.

Aim

To investigate the effects of wine and beer on postprandial reflux in reflux patients.

Methods

Twenty‐five patients (reflux oesophagitis 15, non‐erosive reflux disease 10; 18 men and seven women) drank 300‐mL white wine (n = 17), 500‐mL beer (n = 8), or identical amounts of tap water (controls) together with a standardized meal in a randomized order. pH‐measurement was carried out during three postprandial hours by pH‐metry and the percentage of time pH < 4 was calculated.

Results

Both alcoholic beverages increased reflux compared with water [wine 23% (median), water 12%, P < 0.01; beer 25%, water 11%, P < 0.05]. Between wine and beer, no difference in reflux induction was obtained. The reflux induction was seen in patients with (23%, P < 0.01) and without reflux oesophagitis (22%, P < 0.05) and in both sexes (women 23%, men 25%, P < 0.05 each).

Conclusions

Ingestion of commonly consumed alcoholic beverages such as wine and beer induces gastro‐oesophageal reflux in gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease patients. Therefore, these patients should be advised to avoid the intake of large amounts (≥300 mL) of these beverages.
Systematic review: evidence‐based management of hepatocellular carcinoma – an updated analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: LOPEZ P. M. , VILLANUEVA A. , LLOVET J. M.
Published: May 2006

The treatment strategy of hepatocellular carcinoma applied following scientific guidelines is only supported by 77 randomized controlled trials published so far, a figure that clearly pinpoints hepatocellular carcinoma as an ‘orphan’ cancer in terms of clinical research when compared with other high‐prevalent cancers worldwide.

A systematic review analysing 61 randomized controlled trials (1978–2002) showed a modest survival benefit from chemoembolization in patients with intermediate tumours, and the lack of an effective first‐line treatment option for patients with advanced disease. These conclusions have been endorsed by the European Association for the Study of the Liver and the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases.

The present updated evidence‐based approach includes 16 randomized controlled trials published from 2002 to 2005 assessing percutaneous ablation (seven), other loco‐regional therapies (three) and systemic therapies (six). Eight showed high‐quality methodological profiles.

Four randomized controlled trials demonstrated a better local hepatocellular carcinoma control in tumours larger than 2 cm treated by radiofrequency ablation compared with ethanol injection. No survival advantages were obtained from systemic treatments in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma, an area that is an unmet need. Therefore, there is an urgent request to conduct well‐designed phase III investigations in hepatocellular carcinoma patients.
Serum bilirubin and colorectal cancer risk: a population‐based cohort study
Authors: IOANNOU G. N. , LIOU I. W. , WEISS N. S.
Published: May 2006

Background

Bilirubin has antioxidant properties and has been postulated to protect against the development of malignancies.

Aim

To investigate whether baseline serum bilirubin concentration predicts the incidence of colorectal cancer in a nationally representative sample of the US population.

Methods

Participants of the first National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were divided into four groups based on quartiles of baseline serum bilirubin concentration in mg/dL: <0.38 (n = 1410), 0.38 to <0.5 (n = 1287), 0.5 to <0.6 (n = 1048) and ≥0.6 (n = 1742). The incidence of colorectal cancer during the following 20 years was determined from hospitalization records and death certificates.

Results

110 cases of colorectal cancer‐related death or hospitalization were identified among 5487 participants during 88 339 person‐years of follow‐up (12 per 10 000 person‐years). There was no association between baseline serum bilirubin concentration and the incidence of colorectal cancer either in unadjusted analyses or after adjusting for age, gender, ethnicity, smoking, body mass index, alcohol consumption and educational attainment.

Conclusions

Baseline serum bilirubin concentration did not predict the subsequent incidence of colorectal cancer in this population‐based cohort study.
Simulated clinical evaluation of four fluid warming devices*
Authors: Turner M. , Hodzovic I. , Mapleson W. W.
Published: May 2006

The fluid warming capabilities of the Bair Hugger, Hotline, Standard Ranger and Fluido devices were evaluated in the laboratory with gravity flow via a 14G cannula (1 m head of fluid) and with the fluid bag pressurised to 300 mmHg. The resulting flows (70–450 ml.min−1) were recorded. At a room temperature of 22 °C, no device warmed the fluid to 37 °C. However, the Standard Ranger with gravity flow and the Fluido with both gravity and pressurised flow achieved 35 °C, whereas the Bair Hugger and Hotline with both gravity and pressurised flow, and the Standard Ranger with pressurised flow, achieved only 24–31 °C. However, from the way delivered temperatures changed with flow, we calculated that all four devices would achieve close to 37 °C at the flows specified by the manufacturers: 17, 83, 150 and 800 ml.min−1 for the Bair Hugger, Hotline, Standard Ranger and Fluido, respectively.
The effect of genetic variants in the thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) gene on TAFI‐antigen levels, clot lysis time and the risk of venous thrombosis
Authors: Martini C.H. , Brandts A. , De Bruijne E.L.E. , Van Hylckama Vlieg A. , Leebeek F.W.G. , Lisman T. , Rosendaal F.R.
Published: May 2006

Thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) is an important inhibitor of fibrinolysis. High TAFI antigen levels are associated with an increased risk of deep venous thrombosis (DVT). Because TAFI levels are partly determined genetically, we assessed the association between three TAFI gene polymorphisms (−438 G/A, 505 A/G and 1040 C/T), TAFI antigen levels and clot lysis times and the risk of DVT. Carriers of the 505G allele, which is associated with lower TAFI antigen levels than the 505A allele, showed an increased risk of DVT. This indicates that the relationship between TAFI and venous thrombosis is more complex than previously suggested.
Role of dystrophins and utrophins in platelet adhesion process
Authors: Cerecedo Doris , Mondragón Ricardo , Cisneros Bulmaro , Martínez‐Pérez Francisco , Martínez‐Rojas Dalila , Rendón Alvaro
Published: May 2006

Platelets are crucial at the site of vascular injury, adhering to the sub‐endothelial matrix through receptors on their surface, leading to cell activation and aggregation to form a haemostatic plug. Platelets display focal adhesions as well as stress fibres to contract and facilitate expulsion of growth and pro‐coagulant factors contained in the granules and to constrict the clot. The interaction of F‐actin with different actin‐binding proteins determines the properties and composition of the focal adhesions. Recently, we demonstrated the presence of dystrophin‐associated protein complex corresponding to short dystrophin isoforms (Dp71d and Dp71) and the uthophin gene family (Up400 and Up71), which promote shape change, adhesion, aggregation, and granule centralisation. To elucidate participation of both complexes during the platelet adhesion process, their potential association with integrin β‐1 fraction and the focal adhesion system (α‐actinin, vinculin and talin) was evaluated by immunofluorescence and immunoprecipitation assays. It was shown that the short dystrophin‐associated protein complex participated in stress fibre assembly and in centralisation of cytoplasmic granules, while the utrophin‐associated protein complex assembled and regulated focal adhesions. The simultaneous presence of dystrophin and utrophin complexes indicates complementary structural and signalling mechanisms to the actin network, improving the platelet haemostatic role.
Activation-associated phenotype of CD3+ T cells in acute graft-versus-host disease
Authors: Paz Morante M , Briones J , Canto E , Sabzevari H , Martino R , Sierra J , Rodriguez-Sanchez J L , Vidal S
Published: May 2006

During the effector phase of graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) response, donor T cells play an essential role and they are believed to change the expression of activation and co-stimulatory markers associated with functional alloreactivity. We analysed the expression of CD25, CD69, HLA-DR, CD154 and CD134 on CD4+ and CD8+ T cells by flow cytometry during acute GvHD (aGvHD) in 24 patients receiving human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-identical stem cell transplants. Expression of these molecules in nine patients with stages I–IV aGvHD was compared with 15 patients without aGvHD (n = 15). Serial analysis showed that peripheral blood of aGvHD patients presented a significant increase of CD4+ CD25+ cells (P < 0.03), CD4+ CD69+ (P < 0.04) and CD4+ CD134+ cells (P < 0.01). Additionally, there was a significant increase in CD8+ cells expressing CD134 (P = 0.007) and CD154 (P = 0.02). After resolution of aGvHD, the increased expression of these molecules returned to values comparable to patients without aGvHD. Only two of the 15 patients without clinical signs of aGvHD presented activated T cells that could not be attributed to development of aGvHD. In summary, our data show that multiple activation molecules are preferentially up-regulated on CD4+ and CD8+ T cells from patients with aGvHD. These patients had a significant increase in the expression of the co-stimulatory molecules CD134 and CD154.