bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sequential screening for psychosocial and behavioural risk during pregnancy in a population of urban African Americans
Authors: Kiely M , Gantz MG , El‐Khorazaty MN , El‐Mohandes AAE
Published: March 2013

Objective

Screening for psychosocial and behavioural risks, such as depression, intimate partner violence, and smoking, during pregnancy is considered to be state of the art in prenatal care. This prospective longitudinal analysis examines the added benefit of repeated screening, compared with a single screening, in identifying such risks during pregnancy.

Design

Data were collected as part of a randomised controlled trial to address intimate partner violence, depression, smoking, and environmental tobacco smoke exposure in African American women.

Setting

Prenatal care sites in the District of Columbia serving mainly women of minority background.

Population

A cohort of 1044 African American pregnant women in the District of Columbia.

Methods

Mothers were classified by their initial response (acknowledgement of risks), and these data were updated during pregnancy. Risks were considered new if they were not previously reported. Standard hypothesis tests and logistic regression were used to predict the acknowledgment of any new risk(s) during pregnancy.

Main outcome measures

New risks: psychosocial variables to understand what factors might help identify the acknowledgement of additional risk(s).

Results

Repeated screening identified more mothers acknowledging risk over time. Reported smoking increased by 11%, environmental tobacco smoke exposure increased by 19%, intimate partner violence increased by 9%, and depression increased by 20%. The psychosocial variables collected at the baseline that were entered into the logistic regression model included relationship status, education, Medicaid, illicit drug use, and alcohol use during pregnancy. Among these, only education less than high school was associated with the acknowledgement of new risk in the bivariate analyses, and significantly predicted the identification of new risks (OR 1.39, 95% CI 1.01–1.90).

Conclusions

It is difficult to predict early on who will acknowledge new risks over the course of pregnancy, and thus all women should be screened repeatedly to allow for the identification of risks and intervention during prenatal care.
The effects of low to moderate alcohol consumption and binge drinking in early pregnancy on behaviour in 5‐year‐old children: a prospective cohort study on 1628 children
Authors: Skogerbø Å , Kesmodel US , Denny CH , Kjaersgaard MIS , Wimberley T , Landrø NI , Mortensen EL
Published: March 2013

Objective

To examine the effects of low to moderate maternal alcohol consumption and binge drinking in early pregnancy on behaviour in children at the age of 5 years.

Design

Prospective cohort study.

Setting

Neuropsychological testing in four Danish cities, 2003–2008.

Population

A total of 1628 women and their children sampled from the Danish National Birth Cohort.

Methods

Participants were sampled based on maternal alcohol drinking patterns during early pregnancy. When the children were 5 years of age the parent and teacher versions of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) were completed by the mothers and a preschool teacher, respectively. The full statistical model included the following potential confounding factors: maternal binge drinking or low to moderate alcohol consumption, respectively; parental education; maternal IQ; prenatal maternal smoking; the child's age at testing; the child's gender; maternal age; parity; maternal marital status; family home environment; postnatal parental smoking; prepregnancy maternal body mass index (BMI); and the child's health status.

Main outcome measure

Behaviour among children assessed by the SDQ parent and teacher forms.

Results

Adjusted for all potential confounding factors, no statistically significant associations were observed between maternal low to moderate average weekly alcohol consumption and SDQ behavioural scores (OR 1.1, 95% CI 0.5–2.3; OR 1.1, 95% CI 0.6–2.1 for the total difficulties scores) or between binge drinking and SDQ behavioural scores (OR 1.2, 95% CI 0.8–1.7; OR 0.8, 95% CI 0.6–1.2).

Conclusion

This study observed no consistent effects of low to moderate alcohol consumption or binge drinking in early pregnancy on offspring behaviour at the age of 5 years.
The Use of Scale‐Invariance Feature Transform Approach to Recognize and Retrieve Incomplete Shoeprints
Authors: Wei Chia‐Hung , Li Yue , Gwo Chih‐Ying
Published: March 2013

Shoeprints left at the crime scene provide valuable information in criminal investigation due to the distinctive patterns in the sole. Those shoeprints are often incomplete and noisy. In this study, scale‐invariance feature transform is proposed and evaluated for recognition and retrieval of partial and noisy shoeprint images. The proposed method first constructs different scale spaces to detect local extrema in the underlying shoeprint images. Those local extrema are considered as useful key points in the image. Next, the features of those key points are extracted to represent their local patterns around key points. Then, the system computes the cross‐correlation between the query image and each shoeprint image in the database. Experimental results show that full‐size prints and prints from the toe area perform best among all shoeprints. Furthermore, this system also demonstrates its robustness against noise because there is a very slight difference in comparison between original shoeprints and noisy shoeprints.
Diversity of Forensic Rove Beetles (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae) Associated with Decaying Pig Carcass in a Forest Biotope
Authors: Dekeirsschieter Jessica , Frederick Christine , Verheggen Francois J. , Drugmand Didier , Haubruge Eric
Published: March 2013

Most forensic studies are focused on Diptera pattern colonization while neglecting Coleoptera succession. So far, little information is available on the postmortem colonization by beetles and the decomposition process they initiate under temperate biogeoclimatic countries. These beetles have, however, been referred to as being part of the entomofaunal colonization of a dead body. Forensic entomologists need increased databases detailing the distribution, ecology, and phenology of necrophagous insects, including staphylinids (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae). While pig carcasses are commonly used in forensic entomology studies to surrogate human decomposition and to investigate the entomofaunal succession, very few works have been conducted inEurope on large carcasses. Our work reports the monitoring of the presence of adult rove beetles (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae) on decaying pig carcasses in a forest biotope during four seasons (spring, summer, fall, and winter). A total of 23 genera comprising 60 species of rove beetles were collected from pig carcasses.
The Quantitation of Cocaine on U.S. Currency: Survey and Significance of the Levels of Contamination
Authors: Jourdan Thomas H. , Veitenheimer Allison M. , Murray Cynthia K. , Wagner Jarrad R.
Published: March 2013

It has long been suspected that the illicit distribution of cocaine in the United States has led to a large‐scale contamination of the currency supply. To investigate the extent of contamination, 418 currency samples (4174 bills) were collected from 90 locations around the United States from 1993 to 2009. The extent of their cocaine contamination was quantitated via gas chromatography/mass spectrometry or liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. The level of cocaine contamination was determined to average 2.34 ng/bill across all denominations ($1, $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100). Levels of cocaine contamination on currency submitted to the Federal Bureau of Investigation Laboratory in criminal cases over the 1993–2001 timeframe had significantly higher contamination than currency in general circulation. A mathematical model was developed based on the background survey that indicates the likelihood of drawing a bill in specific concentration ranges. For example, there is a 0.8349 likelihood that random bill will have contamination less than 20 ng.
Discrete Traits of the Sternum and Ribs: A Useful Contribution to Identification in Forensic Anthropology and Medicine
Authors: Verna Emeline , Piercecchi‐Marti Marie‐Dominique , Chaumoitre Kathia , Bartoli Christophe , Leonetti Georges , Adalian Pascal
Published: March 2013

During forensic anthropological investigation, biological profile is determined by age, sex, ancestry, and stature. However, several individuals may share the same profile. Observation of discrete traits can yield useful information and contribute to identification. This research establishes the frequency of discrete traits of the sternum and ribs in a modern population in southern France, using 500 computer tomography (CT) scans of individuals aged 15–60 years. Only discrete traits with a frequency lower than 10% according to the literature were considered, a total of eight traits. All scans examined were three‐dimensional (3D) volume renderings from DICOM images. In our population, the frequency of all the discrete traits was lower than 5%. None were associated with sex or age, with the exception of a single trait, the end of the xiphoid process. Our findings can usefully be applied for identification purposes in forensic anthropology and medicine.
Analysis of Bone Healing in a Postoperative Patient: Skeletal Evidence of Medical Neglect and Human Rights Violations
Authors: Báez‐Molgado Socorro , Peñaloza Abigail Meza , Spradley M. Katherine , Bartelink Eric J.
Published: March 2013

This study highlights complexities associated with postsurgical trauma interpretation of a 76‐year‐old female patient from a psychiatric institution in Mexico. The skeletal analysis identified complications from an unsuccessful surgical operation for an intertrochanteric fracture of the femur. An improperly placed surgical plate resulted in nonunion due to limited contact between fracture margins. However, it is unclear whether this resulted from surgical complications, ineffective postoperative care, or from the decedent's limited ability to follow postoperative care instructions. Additionally, failure of the plate resulted in degenerative changes to the acetabulum. These complications, associated with degenerative changes to upper limb joints, suggest significant mobility issues. The pattern of antemortem trauma and contextual information support a conclusion of postoperative medical neglect, a documented problem in psychiatric institutions in Latin America. This study provides insight into the relevance of detailed trauma assessment of skeletal remains in cases where neglect and human rights violations are suspected.
The Interest of Postmortem Bacteriology in Putrefied Bodies
Authors: Maujean Géraldine , Guinet Tiphaine , Fanton Laurent , Malicier Daniel
Published: March 2013

A 27‐year‐old man was found dead in an advanced decomposition stage at home. On external examination, his body showed petechial hemorrhages of the skin. At autopsy, petechial hemorrhages of the epicardium were found, but no sign of meningitis was detected. Toxicological investigations remained negative. Bacteriological conventional analyses showed no significant result. Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B was finally isolated on cerebrospinal fluid by a specific real‐time polymerase chain reaction. To our knowledge, there are no available data about the postmortem diagnosis of an infectious cause of death in a decomposed corpse. In such situations, the polymicrobial overgrowth usually hampers the interpretation of bacteriological conventional methods and questions their diagnostic value. Such molecular bacteriological approaches appear to constitute an important diagnostic tool for forensic scientists and should be widely processed in case of suspected infectious death or sudden death whatever the postmortem interval.
An Unusual Pattern of Decomposition Associated with Suicidal Electrocution in a Bath
Authors: Fernando Tarini , Winskog Calle , Byard Roger W.
Published: March 2013

A 51‐year‐old man was found dead face down and partially submerged in a bathtub alongside two hairdryers. The hairdryers had continued to work, as the victim had bypassed the electrical board of the house prior to dropping them into the water. This had resulted in death due to electrocution, with subsequent heating of the bath water causing marked putrefaction and softening of the immersed body parts. The back and feet, which were not submerged, were preserved. The degree of anterior decomposition was not in keeping with the postmortem interval; however, regional decomposition with sparing of the back and feet provided a clue at autopsy as to the sequence of events. Individuals with training in, or knowledge of, electrical circuitry are capable of modifying domestic wiring so that safety switches and/or fuses can be bypassed ensuring that electrical devices will continue to function even while under water.
Increased Blood Loss From Access Cannulation Site During Hemodialysis Is Associated With Anemia and Arteriovenous Graft Use
Authors: Lin Chi‐Lin , Chen Hung‐Yuan , Huang Shu‐Chen , Hsu Shih‐Ping , Pai Mei‐Fen , Peng Yu‐Sen , Chiu Yen‐Ling
Published: March 2013

Blood loss from the access cannulation site during hemodialysis (HD) treatment is inevitable. Nevertheless, during HD, excessive blood loss from the cannulation site is not uncommon. The clinical characteristics associated with it and whether such blood loss could impact on patient outcomes is unknown. This pilot study aims to indentify the prevalence and risk factors associated with excessive bleeding (≥4 mL/session) from dialysis access cannulation site during regular HD treatments. Stable end‐stage renal disease patients receiving maintenance HD via arteriovenous fistula (AVF) or graft (AVG) were included in this study (N = 361). They were closely monitored for one month for the occurrence of excessive access bleeding during each HD session. A total of 4152 sessions of HD were performed during the study period and 143 patients (39.6%) had at least one episode of excessive bleeding from the vascular access (≥4 mL/session). Individuals experiencing excessive bleeding episodes had a significantly lower hemoglobin level, higher rate of diabetes, central venous stenosis, longer dialysis vintage, lower serum albumin level, longer hemostasis time and higher AVG and anti‐platelet agent use (all P < 0.05). In the multivariable logistic regression model, longer dialysis vintage, central venous stenosis, lower hemoglobin level, and AVG usage were independently associated with occurrence of excessive access bleeding. AVG users also clustered with other risk factors for excessive access bleeding. Our study identified the novel associations between excessive cannulation site bleeding with dialysis vintage, anemia and AVG usage. The significance and impact of long‐term chronic, intermittent bleeding from dialysis access should be further explored.
Evaluating the effectiveness of aSafeHarborProgram for connecting wildlife populations
Authors: Trainor A. M. , Walters J. R. , Urban D. L. , Moody A.
Published: March 2013

Conversion of lands to agriculture and development within remaining natural habitats have fragmented ecosystems and reduced wildlife populations. TheUSFish and Wildlife Service has adopted an incentive‐based conservation strategy known as theSafeHarborProgram (SHP) to reduce the vulnerability of federally protected species located on private properties. In addition to protecting populations, theSHPalso strives to enhance species viability by devising strategies to (re)connect populations among habitat patches. We empirically evaluated the effectiveness of the initial Safe Harbor agreement, developed forRed‐cockadedWoodpeckers (Picoides borealis, hereafterRCW) in the North Carolina Sandhills, in enhancing connectivity for that species. According to our results, breeding territories located on private properties enrolled in theSHPpromoted dispersal ofRCWsand enhanced overall population connectivity relative to otherwise similar territories located on non‐SHPproperties. Moreover, theSHPcreated extensive stepping‐stone corridors throughout the region. Our analysis also showed thatRCWconnectivity will be negatively impacted directly and indirectly by encroaching urban growth. By combining an urban growth model with estimated connectivity, managers and conservation planners can identify which properties critical for connectivity are most threatened by urban encroachment. These results can help conservation planners develop strategic actions on private land based on the species specific movement ability, current landscapes and projected urban growth.
‘Vaping’ profiles and preferences: an online survey of electronic cigarette users
Authors: Dawkins Lynne , Turner John , Roberts Amanda , Soar Kirstie
Published: March 2013

Aims

To characterize e‐cigarette use, users and effects in a sample of Electronic Cigarette Company (TECC) and Totally Wicked E‐Liquid (TWEL) users.

Design and setting

Online survey hosted at the University of East London with links from TECC/TWEL websites from September 2011 to May 2012.

Measurements

Online questionnaire.

Participants

One thousand three hundred and forty‐seven respondents from 33 countries (72% European), mean age 43 years, 70% male, 96% Causacian, 44% educated to degree level or above.

Findings

Seventy‐four percent of participants reported not smoking for at least a few weeks since using the e‐cigarette and 70% reported reduced urge to smoke. Seventy‐two percent of participants used a ‘tank’ system, most commonly, the eGo‐C (23%). Mean duration of use was 10 months. Only 1% reported exclusive use of non‐nicotine (0 mg) containing liquid. E‐cigarettes were generally considered to be satisfying to use; elicit few side effects; be healthier than smoking; improve cough/breathing; and be associated with low levels of craving. Among ex‐smokers, ‘time to first vape’ was significantly longer than ‘time to first cigarette’ (t1104 = 11.16, P < 0.001) suggesting a lower level of dependence to e‐cigarettes. Ex‐smokers reported significantly greater reduction in craving than current smokers (χ21 = 133.66, P < 0.0007) although few other differences emerged between these groups. Compared with males, females opted more for chocolate/sweet flavours (χ21 = 16.16, P < 0.001) and liked the e‐cigarette because it resembles a cigarette (χ23 = 42.65, P < 0.001).

Conclusions

E‐cigarettes are used primarily for smoking cessation, but for a longer duration than nicotine replacement therapy, and users believe them to be safer than smoking.
‘It's more about the heroin’: injection drug users' response to an overdose warning campaign in a Canadian setting
Authors: Kerr Thomas , Small Will , Hyshka Elaine , Maher Lisa , Shannon Kate
Published: March 2013

Aims

To assess heroin injectors' perceptions of and responses to a warning issued by public health officials regarding high‐potency heroin and increases in fatal overdoses.

Design

Semi‐structured qualitative interviews.

Setting

Vancouver, Canada.

Participants

Eighteen active heroin injectors.

Measurements

Semi‐structured interview guide focussing on heroin injectors' perceptions of and responses to the overdose warning, including reasons for failing to adhere to risk reduction recommendations.

Findings

Although nearly all participants were aware of the warning, their recollections of the message and the timing of its release were obscured by on‐going social interactions within the drug scene focussed on heroin quality. Many injection drug users reported seeking the high potency heroin and nearly all reported no change in overdose risk behaviours. Responses to the warning were shaped by various social, economic and structural forces that interacted with individual behaviour and undermined efforts to promote behavioural change, including sales tactics employed by dealers, poverty, the high cost and shifting quality of available heroin, and risks associated with income‐generating activities. Individual‐level factors, including emotional suffering, withdrawal, entrenched injecting routines, perceived invincibility and the desire for intense intoxication also undermined risk reduction messages.

Conclusions

Among heroin injectors in British Columbia, a 2011 overdose warning campaign appeared to be of limited effectiveness and also produced unintended negative consequences that exacerbated overdose risk.
Ant seed predation, pesticide applications and farmers' income from tropical multi‐cropping gardens
Authors: Motzke Iris , Tscharntke Teja , Sodhi Navjot S. , Klein Alexandra‐Maria , Wanger Thomas C.
Published: March 2013

Tropical small‐holder farmers rely on sustainable food production. Crop seed predation by ants can cause substantial yield loss and result in high pesticide use.

We conducted field experiments and questionnaire‐based surveys aiming to assess the effect of sown‐seed predation on four crop species (Cucumis sativus, Daucus carota, Capsicum frutescens and Solanum melongena) in 15 vegetable gardens and the resulting impact on the net income of Indonesian farmers. Furthermore, we tested a commonly applied insecticide and herbicide for seed, seedling and plant protection aiming to understand their effect on ant seed predation.

We found that the mean percentage of seeds removed per garden was 42.0%, 49.4%, 48.0% and 50.6% for C. sativus, D. carota, C. frutescens and S. melongena, respectively, halving the farmers' income after considering initial and operational costs. Insecticide and herbicide treatments did not affect seed predation success or overall ant abundance, although they had positive and negative effects on ant species‐specific abundance.

High overall ant abundance caused high seed predation rate in all gardens as a result of a functional redundancy of ant species, which compensated for pesticide‐related species loss.

Environmentally‐friendly and more sustainable practices such as overseeding or seedling production in nurseries could substitute for these inefficient approaches of chemical pest control, although this requires further research.
Unexpected collapse of healthy newborn infants: risk factors, supervision and hypothermia treatment
Authors: Pejovic Nicolas J , Herlenius Eric
Published: March 2013

Aim

To determine the occurrence and risk factors of sudden unexpected postnatal collapse (SUPC) in presumably healthy newborn infants.

Methods

All live‐born infants during a 30‐month period, in five major delivery wards in Stockholm, were screened, and possible cases of SUPC thoroughly investigated. Infants were ≥35 weeks of gestation, had an Apgar score >8 at 10 min and collapsed within 24 h after birth. Maternal, infant, event characteristics and outcome data were collected.

Results

Twenty‐six cases of SUPC were found among 68 364 live‐born infants, an incidence of 38/100 000 live births. Sixteen of these cases of SUPC required resuscitation with ventilation >1 min, and 14 of these remained unexplained (21/100 000). Fifteen of the 26 children were found in a prone position, during skin‐to‐skin contact, 18 were primipara, and 13 occurred during unsupervised breastfeeding at <2 h of age. Three cases occurred during smart cellular phone use by the mother. Five developed hypoxic–ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE) grade 2, and 4 underwent hypothermia treatment. Twenty‐five infants had a favourable neurological outcome.

Conclusion

SUPC in apparent healthy babies is associated with initial, unsupervised breastfeeding, prone position, primiparity and distractions. Guidelines outlining the appropriate monitoring of newborns and safe early skin‐to‐skin contact should be implemented.
Long‐term growth of children with autoantibody‐mediated congenital heart block
Authors: Skog Amanda , Eliasson Håkan , Tingström Joanna , Källberg Henrik , Salomonsson Stina ,   The Swedish Congenital Heart Block Study Group, Sonesson Sven‐Erik , Wahren‐Herlenius Marie
Published: March 2013

Aim

To analyse growth of children with and without congenital heart block (CHB) born to anti‐Ro/SSA positive mothers from birth to 18 years of age, using a population‐based cohort of Swedish CHB patients.

Methods

Medical records for siblings with (n = 72) and without (n = 60) CHB born 1973–2009 to anti‐Ro/SSA positive mothers were retrieved from child healthcare centres and school health services and used to extract data on growth from birth to 18 years.

Results

Compared with reference standards, children with CHB were retarded in weight by 0.75–1.0 SD from birth to 2–3 years of age. Thereafter, the CHB children started to catch up, reaching the reference standards at 9–11 years of age. Pacemaker treatment was not correlated with the catch‐up in growth. Individuals with CHB were retarded in both weight and height from birth to 9–11 years of age when compared to siblings without CHB, who did not demonstrate restriction in these measurements.

Conclusion

Presence of CHB is a more important predictor of growth restriction than maternal rheumatic disease and foetal anti‐Ro/SSA exposure. The restriction persists for several years after birth, despite pacemaker treatment, which highlights the importance of follow‐up of children with CHB regarding nutrition and growth.
Organizational stressors, work–family interface and the role of gender in the hospital: Experiences from Turkey
Authors: Turk Meral , Davas Asli , Tanik Feride A. , Montgomery Anthony J.
Published: March 2013

Objectives

In the framework of the EU project ‘Improving quality and safety in the hospital: The link between organizational culture, burnout and quality of care’, focus groups (FGs) were conducted to explore hospital environment stressors and their relationship with health care professional (HP) well‐being and quality of care.

Methods

Semi‐structured interviews and FGs were used. Three mixed FGs with 23 health care workers, two FGs with 12 nurses, and another one with nine physicians were conducted. Thematic analyses were performed. Data were coded into main themes and subthemes.

Results

Three themes emerged from the discussions: (1) Organizational stressors associated with working conditions concerning the nature of the job, workload and working schedule, unclear role definition, lack of time for personal development, interpersonal relationships at work, changes in health policy, (2) work–family spillover and (3) the gendered nature of health care work and of patients' expectations, and the gendered character of the workplace.

Conclusions

Health care professionals are faced with numerous challenges that create stress affecting their daily life. Job stressors related to working conditions, the negative and positive spillover of work–family interference and the gendered nature of health care work emerged as important issues for Turkish HPs.

Statement of contribution

What is already known on this subject?

In Turkey, gender has rarely been considered in the healthcare studies.

Rapid changes in health reforms are making healthcare professionals more vulnerable to stress.

The deteriation in the health system impacts women more than men, as higher ratios work in outsourced services.

What does this study add?

Despite signifcant changes in attitudes towards women, nurses are treated as “mothers” of the clinics.

Women as health workers are particularly exposed to multiple stressors, that are rooted in ideals about gender.

Understanding the way healthcare is organized along gendered lines is a precusor to any real organizational change.
Under Pressure: The Impact of Recession on Employees inIreland
Authors: Russell Helen , McGinnity Frances
Published: March 2013

Ireland is experiencing the worst recession since the foundation of the state, and the effects on the labour market have been dramatic. This article explores the impact of recession for those still in employment by examining work pressure, using two large, nationally representative workplace surveys from 2003 (boom) and 2009 (recession). We find a significant increase in work pressure between 2003 and 2009. Staff reductions and company reorganization are both associated with increased work pressure, as is current job insecurity. Other job changes, like large pay cuts, increases in responsibility and monitoring are also associated with increased work pressure. We argue that negative organizational and job changes in the previous two years play an important role in accounting for the rise in work pressure.
Antithrombotic Activity of a Newly Synthesized Coumarin Derivative 3‐(5‐Hydroxy‐2,2‐dimethyl‐chroman‐6‐yl)‐N‐{2‐[3‐(5‐hydroxy‐2,2‐dimethyl‐chroman‐6‐yl)‐propionylamino]‐ethyl}‐propionamide
Authors: Jain Manish , Surin William R. , Misra Ankita , Prakash Prem , Singh Vishal , Khanna Vivek , Kumar Satish , Siddiqui Hefazat H. , Raj Kanwal , Barthwal Manoj K. , Dikshit Madhu
Published: March 2013

Anti‐platelet therapy is a useful strategy to prevent acute thromboembolic artery occlusions. This study was designed to assess the efficacy of seselin derivatives against murine pulmonary thromboembolism, bleeding time, platelet activation and thrombosis. Administration of C3 (16 mg/kg) offered 70% protection against collagen‐ and epinephrine‐induced pulmonary thromboembolism and 30% protection against arachidonic acid‐induced death in mice, without adversely affecting bleeding time. No significant difference was observed by C3 in ferric chloride‐induced arterial thrombosis in rats. Significant reduction in thrombus weight was observed in arteriovenous shunt model. In rat PRP, C3 reduced ADP and collagen‐induced platelet aggregation. In chronic hamster model of dyslipidemia, administration of C3 (16 mg/kg p.o. for 90 days) had no effect on plasma lipids, vasoreactivity and platelet adhesion. C3 fed hamsters showed reduced whole‐blood aggregation response to ADP and collagen compared to HC‐fed hamsters. In addition, C3 augmented thrombin time; however, time to occlusion was not increased. These results convincingly demonstrated that C3 is a novel molecule that reduces the risk of thrombosis and alleviates prothrombotic state associated with hyperlipidemia without any adverse effect on bleeding time. The high benefit/risk ratio of this compound makes it a suitable candidate for future valid studies.
Virtual and In Vitro Bioassay Screening of Phytochemical Inhibitors from Flavonoids and Isoflavones Against Xanthine Oxidase and Cyclooxygenase‐2 for Gout Treatment
Authors: Li Yadi , Frenz Christopher M. , Li Zhiwen , Chen Mianhua , Wang Yurong , Li Fengjuan , Luo Cheng , Sun Jian , bohlin Lars , Li Zhenjing , Yang Hua , Wang Changlu
Published: March 2013

Synthetic drugs such as allopurinol and benzbromarone are commonly used to treat the complex pathogenesis of gout, a metabolic disease that results from an inflammation of the joints caused by precipitation of uric acid. We seek to discover novel phytochemicals that could treat gout, by targeting the xanthine oxidase and cyclooxygenase‐2 enzymes. In this study, we report the screening of nine compounds of flavonoids from the ZINC and PubChem databases (containing 2092 flavonoids) using the igemdock software tool against the xanthine oxidase and cyclooxygenase‐2 3D protein structures. Each compound was also evaluated by an in vitro bioassay testing the inhibition of xanthine oxidase and cyclooxygenase‐2. Myricetin and luteolin were found to be the potential dual inhibitors of xanthine oxidase and cyclooxygenase‐2 as demonstrated by IC50: 62.7 and 3.29 μg/mL (xanthine oxidase)/70.8 and 16.38 μg/mL (cyclooxygenase‐2), respectively. In addition, structure–activity relationships and other important factors of the flavonoids binding to the active site of xanthine oxidase and cyclooxygenase‐2 were discussed, which is expected for further rational drug design.
School Life and Adolescents' Self‐Esteem Trajectories
Authors: Morin Alexandre J. S. , Maïano Christophe , Marsh Herbert W. , Nagengast Benjamin , Janosz Michel
Published: March 2013

This study investigates heterogeneity in adolescents' trajectories of global self‐esteem (GSE) and the relations between these trajectories and facets of the interpersonal, organizational, and instructional components of students' school life. Methodologically, this study illustrates the use of growth mixture analyses, and how to obtain proper student‐level effects when there are multiple schools, but not enough to support multilevel analyses. This study is based on a 4‐year, six‐measurement‐point, follow‐up of 1,008 adolescents (Mage = 12.6 years, SD = 0.6 at Time 1.) The results show four latent classes presenting elevated, moderate, increasing, and low trajectories defined based on GSE levels and fluctuations. The results show that GSE becomes trait‐like as it increases and that school life effects, moderated by gender, played an important role in predicting membership in these trajectories.
Developmental Personality Types From Childhood to Adolescence: Associations With Parenting and Adjustment
Authors: de Haan Amaranta D. , Deković Maja , van den Akker Alithe L. , Stoltz Sabine E. M. J. , Prinzie Peter
Published: March 2013

This study examined whether changes in children's self‐reported Big Five dimensions are represented by (developmental) personality types, using a cohort‐sequential design with three measurement occasions across 5 years (four cohorts, 9–12 years at T1; N = 523). Correlates of, and gender differences in, type membership were examined. Latent class growth modeling yielded three personality types: Resilients (highest initial levels on all Big Five), Overcontrollers (lowest Extraversion, Emotional Stability, Imagination), and Undercontrollers (lowest Benevolence, Conscientiousness). Gender differences in type membership were small. Warm parenting, but not overreactive discipline, in childhood was associated with type membership. The types differed in adjustment problems by the end of middle adolescence. Personality change more likely occurs at the level of dimensions within types than in type membership.
Consolidation and Transfer of Learning After Observing Hand Gesture
Authors: Cook Susan Wagner , Duffy Ryan G. , Fenn Kimberly M.
Published: March 2013

Children who observe gesture while learning mathematics perform better than children who do not, when tested immediately after training. How does observing gesture influence learning over time? Children (n = 184, ages = 7–10) were instructed with a videotaped lesson on mathematical equivalence and tested immediately after training and 24 hr later. The lesson either included speech and gesture or only speech. Children who saw gesture performed better overall and performance improved after 24 hr. Children who only heard speech did not improve after the delay. The gesture group also showed stronger transfer to different problem types. These findings suggest that gesture enhances learning of abstract concepts and affects how learning is consolidated over time.
The Journalistic Field and the City: Some Practical and Organizational Tales about the Toronto Star's New Deal for Cities
Authors: Rodgers Scott
Published: March 2013

This article presents Pierre Bourdieu's field theory as a way to approach the under–theorized relationship of journalism and the city. The concept of field provides a way to conceive of the conditions of possibility for what journalists do in, through, and in relation to the urban. Bringing this concept together with practice theory and organizational sociology, I examine four practical and organizational tales–two narratives and two episodes–related to the Toronto Star's New Deal for Cities campaign. These tales demonstrate how journalistic practices are not only performed in and distinctively oriented towards urban space, but also are at the same time regulated by, oriented towards, and positioned in the journalistic field. I highlight how journalistic practices take place in multiple organizational sites, through changing regimes of managerial authority and legitimacy, and with shifting positioning in and orientations to the journalistic field and other social fields of the city.
Exocrine pancreatic function in hepatocyte nuclear factor 1β‐maturity‐onset diabetes of the young (HNF1B‐MODY) is only moderately reduced: compensatory hypersecretion from a hypoplastic pancreas
Authors: Tjora E. , Wathle G. , Erchinger F. , Engjom T. , Molven A. , Aksnes L. , Haldorsen I. S. , Dimcevski G. , Ræder H. , Njølstad P. R.
Published: March 2013

Objectives

To examine the exocrine pancreatic function in carriers of the hepatocyte nuclear factor 1β gene (HNF1B) mutation by direct testing.

Methods

Patients with HNF1B mutations and control subjects were assessed using rapid endoscopic secretin tests and secretin‐stimulated magnetic resonance imaging. Seven patients and 25 controls underwent endoscopy, while eight patients and 20 controls had magnetic resonance imaging. Ductal function was assessed according to peak bicarbonate concentrations and acinar function was assessed according to peak digestive enzyme activities in secretin‐stimulated duodenal juice. The association of pancreatic exocrine function and diabetes status with pancreatic gland volume was examined.

Results

The mean increase in secretin‐stimulated duodenal fluid was smaller in patients than controls (4.0 vs 6.4 ml/min; P = 0.003). We found lower ductal function in patients than controls (median peak bicarbonate concentration: 73 vs 116 mEq/L; P < 0.001) and lower acinar function (median peak lipase activity: 6.4 vs 33.5 kU/ml; P = 0.01; median peak elastase activity: 0.056 vs 0.130 U/ml; P = 0.01). Pancreatic fluid volume outputs correlated significantly with pancreatic gland volumes (r2 = 0.71, P = 0.008) in patients. The total fluid output to pancreatic gland volume ratios were higher in patients than controls (4.5 vs 1.3 ml/cm3; P = 0.03), suggesting compensatory hypersecretion in the remaining gland.

Conclusion

Carriers of the HNF1B mutation have lower exocrine pancreatic function involving both ductal and acinar cells. Compensatory hypersecretion suggests that the small pancreas of HNF1B mutation carriers is attributable to hypoplasia, not atrophy.
Feedback of personal retinal images appears to have a motivational impact in people with non‐proliferative diabetic retinopathy and suboptimal HbA1c: findings of a pilot study
Authors: Rees G. , Lamoureux E. L. , Nicolaou T. E. , Hodgson L. A. B. , Weinman J. , Speight J.
Published: March 2013

Aim

To conduct a pilot study to explore the potential impact of visual feedback of personal retinal images on diabetes outcomes.

Methods

Twenty‐five participants with non‐proliferative diabetic retinopathy and suboptimal HbA1c (> 53 mmol/mol; > 7%) were randomized to receive visual feedback of their own retinal images or to a control group. At baseline and 3‐month follow‐up, HbA1c, standard measures of beliefs, diabetes‐related distress and self‐care activities were assessed.

Results

In unadjusted models, relative to controls, the intervention group showed significantly greater improvement in HbA1c at 3‐month follow‐up (–0.6% vs. +0.3%, P < 0.01), as well as enhanced motivation to improve blood glucose management (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

This small pilot study provides preliminary evidence that visual feedback of personal retinal images may offer a practical educational strategy for clinicians in eye care services to improve diabetes outcomes in non‐target compliant patients. A fully powered randomized controlled trial is required to confirm these findings and determine the optimal use of feedback to produce sustained effects.
Clinical status in adolescents: is its impact on oral health‐related quality of life influenced by psychological characteristics?
Authors: Foster Page Lyndie A. , Thomson W. Murray , Ukra Ali , Baker Sarah R.
Published: March 2013

The objective of this study was to examine, using structural equation modelling, the relationships among clinical characteristics (such as caries experience and malocclusion), oral health‐related quality of life (OHRQoL), and psychological characteristics (mental health, self‐esteem, somatisation, and social perception of body image) in adolescents in New Zealand. Adolescents were examined for malocclusion using the Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI) and for dental caries. Among the 353 (58.8%) 12‐ and 13‐yr‐old adolescents who took part in this cross‐sectional study, the overall mean ± SD decayed, missing, or filled surfaces (DMFS) value was 1.6 ± 3.0, with slightly more than 50% of being caries‐free; the mean ± SD DAI was 31.5 ± 7.6, with one‐quarter of subjects having a ‘handicapping’ malocclusion. The structural equation modelling analysis showed that the structural model was a good fit to the data. As hypothesized, the DAI score significantly predicted OHRQoL. There was no direct relationship between caries experience (DMFS) and OHRQoL, but there was an indirect effect of DMFS on OHRQoL mediated through psychological characteristics. The amount of OHRQoL variance accounted for in the model was substantial, at 62%. It appears that investigating OHRQoL in adolescents is not straightforward; while malocclusion directly affects OHRQoL, the influence of dental caries experience is less direct.
Dental anxiety – a joint interest for dentists and psychologists
Authors: Carlsson Sven G. , Wide Boman Ulla , Lundgren Jesper , Hakeberg Magnus
Published: March 2013

This introductory article to the Symposium on Behavioral and Community Dentistry aims to describe the development of research and clinical work on dental anxiety, and includes a discussion of the historical background and the evolution since the 1970s. In view of its pioneering activities in this regard, special focus is placed on research and development at the Institute of Odontology of the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
A quantitative study of white matter hypomyelination and oligodendroglial maturation in focal cortical dysplasia type II
Authors: Shepherd Caterina , Liu Joan , Goc Joanna , Martinian Lillian , Jacques Thomas S. , Sisodiya Sanjay M. , Thom Maria
Published: March 2013

Purpose

A diagnostic feature of focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) type II on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is increased subcortical white matter (WM) signal on T2 sequences corresponding to hypomyelination, the cause of which is unknown. We aimed to quantify WM pathology in FCD type II and any deficiency in the numbers and differentiation of oligodendroglial (OL) cell types within the dysplasia.

Methods

In 19 cases we defined four regions of interests (ROIs): ROI1 = abnormal WM beneath dysplasia, ROI2 =dysplastic cortex, ROI3 = normal WM, and ROI4 = normal cortex. We quantified axonal and myelin density using immunohistochemistry for neurofilament, myelin basic protein and quantified mature OL with NogoA, cyclic nucleotide 3‐phosphodiesterase (CNPase) and OL precursor cell (OPC) densities with platelet derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR)α, β and NG‐2 in each region.

Key Findings

We observed a significant reduction in myelin and axons in the WM beneath dysplasia relative to normal WM and there was a correlation between relative reduction of myelin and neurofilament in each case. OL and OPC were present in the WM beneath dysplasia and although present in lower numbers with most markers, were not significantly different from normal WM. Neurofilament and myelin labeling highlighted disorganized orientation of fibers in dysplastic cortex but there were no significant quantitative differences compared to normal cortex. Clinical correlations showed an association between the severity of reduction of myelin and axons in the WM of FCD and duration of epilepsy.

Significance

These findings indicate a reduction of myelinated axons in the WM of FCD type II rather than dysmyelination as the primary pathologic process underlying WM abnormalities, possibly influenced by duration of seizures. The range of OPC to OL present in FCD type II does not implicate a primary failure of cell recruitment and differentiation of these cell types in this pathology.
Finding novel pharmaceuticals in the systems biology era using multiple effective drug targets, phenotypic screening and knowledge of transporters: where drug discovery went wrong and how to fix it
Authors: Kell Douglas B.
Published: March 2013

Despite the sequencing of the human genome, the rate of innovative and successful drug discovery in the pharmaceutical industry has continued to decrease. Leaving aside regulatory matters, the fundamental and interlinked intellectual issues proposed to be largely responsible for this are: (a) the move from ‘function‐first’ to ‘target‐first’ methods of screening and drug discovery; (b) the belief that successful drugs should and do interact solely with single, individual targets, despite natural evolution's selection for biochemical networks that are robust to individual parameter changes; (c) an over‐reliance on the rule‐of‐5 to constrain biophysical and chemical properties of drug libraries; (d) the general abandoning of natural products that do not obey the rule‐of‐5; (e) an incorrect belief that drugs diffuse passively into (and presumably out of) cells across the bilayers portions of membranes, according to their lipophilicity; (f) a widespread failure to recognize the overwhelmingly important role of proteinaceous transporters, as well as their expression profiles, in determining drug distribution in and between different tissues and individual patients; and (g) the general failure to use engineering principles to model biology in parallel with performing ‘wet’ experiments, such that ‘what if?’ experiments can be performedin silicoto assess the likely success of any strategy. These facts/ideas are illustrated with a reasonably extensive literature review. Success in turning round drug discovery consequently requires: (a) decent systems biology models of human biochemical networks; (b) the use of these (iteratively with experiments) to model how drugs need to interact with multiple targets to have substantive effects on the phenotype; (c) the adoption of polypharmacology and/or cocktails of drugs as a desirable goal in itself; (d) the incorporation of drug transporters into systems biology models, en route to full and multiscale systems biology models that incorporate drug absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion; (e) a return to ‘function‐first’ or phenotypic screening; and (f) novel methods for inferring modes of action by measuring the properties on system variables at all levels of the ‘omes. Such a strategy offers the opportunity of achieving a state where we can hope to predict biological processes and the effect of pharmaceutical agents upon them. Consequently, this should both lower attrition rates and raise the rates of discovery of effective drugs substantially.