bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prevalence of Abuse and Violence Before, During, and After Pregnancy in a National Sample of Canadian Women
Authors: Daoud Nihaya , Urquia Marcelo L. , O'Campo Patricia , Heaman Maureen , Janssen Patricia A. , Smylie Janet , Thiessen Kellie 
Published: August 2012

Objectives. We describe the prevalence of abuse before, during, and after pregnancy among a national population-based sample of Canadian new mothers. Methods. We estimated prevalence, frequency, and timing of physical and sexual abuse, identified category of perpetrator, and examined the distribution of abuse by social and demographic characteristics in a weighted sample of 76 500 (unweighted sample = 6421) Canadian mothers interviewed postpartum for the Maternity Experiences Survey (2006–2007). Results. Prevalence of any abuse in the 2 years before the interviews was 10.9% (6% before pregnancy only, 1.4% during pregnancy only, 1% postpartum only, and 2.5% in any combination of these times). The prevalence of any abuse was higher among low-income mothers (21.2%), lone mothers (35.3%), and Aboriginal mothers (30.6%). In 52% of the cases, abuse was perpetrated by an intimate partner. Receiving information on what to do was reported by 61% of the abused mothers. Conclusions. Large population-based studies on abuse around pregnancy can facilitate the identification of patterns of abuse and women at high risk for abuse. Before and after pregnancy may be particularly important times to monitor risk of abuse.
Federally Funded Sterilization: Time to Rethink Policy?
Authors: Borrero Sonya , Zite Nikki , Creinin Mitchell D. 
Published: August 2012

In the 1970s, concern about coercive sterilization of low-income and minority women in the United States led the US Department of Health, Education, and Welfare to create strict regulations for federally funded sterilization procedures. Although these policies were instituted to secure informed consent and protect women from involuntary sterilization, there are significant data indicating that these policies may not, in fact, ensure that consent is truly informed and, further, may prevent many low-income women from getting a desired sterilization procedure. Given the alarmingly high rates of unintended pregnancy in the United States, especially among low-income populations, we feel that restrictive federal sterilization policies should be reexamined and modified to simultaneously ensure informed decision-making and honor women’s reproductive choices.
Building an Evidence Base to Inform Interventions for Pregnant and Parenting Adolescents: A Call for Rigorous Evaluation
Authors: Lachance Christina R. , Burrus Barri B. , Scott Alicia Richmond 
Published: August 2012

Adolescent parents and their children are at increased risk for adverse short- and long-term health and social outcomes. Effective interventions are needed to support these young families. We studied the evidence base and found a dearth of rigorously evaluated programs. Strategies from successful interventions are needed to inform both intervention design and policies affecting these adolescents. The lack of rigorous evaluations may be attributable to inadequate emphasis on and sufficient funding for evaluation, as well as to challenges encountered by program evaluators working with this population. More rigorous program evaluations are urgently needed to provide scientifically sound guidance for programming and policy decisions. Evaluation lessons learned have implications for other vulnerable populations.
Validity and Reliability of the Italian Version of the Functioning Assessment Short Test (FAST) in Bipolar Disorder
Authors: Moro Maria Francesca , Colom Francesc , Floris Francesca , Pintus Elisa , Pintus Mirra , Contini Francesca , Carta Mauro Giovanni 
Published: August 2012

Background:Functioning Assessment Short Test (FAST) is a brief instrument designed to assess the main functioning problems experienced by psychiatric patients, specifically bipolar patients. It includes 24 items assessing impairment or disability in six domains of functioning: autonomy, occupational functioning, cognitive functioning, financial issues, interpersonal relationships and leisure time. The aim of this study is to measure the validity and reliability of the Italian version of this instrument.Methods:Twenty-four patients with DSM-IV TR bipolar disorder and 20 healthy controls were recruited and evaluated in three private clinics in Cagliari (Sardinia, Italy). The psychometric properties of FAST (feasibility, internal consistency, concurrent validity, discriminant validity (patients vs controls and eutimic patients vs manic and depressed), and test-retest reliability were analyzed.Results:The internal consistency obtained was very high with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.955. A highly significant negative correlation with GAF was obtained (r = -0.9; p < 0.001) pointing to a reasonable degree of concurrent validity. FAST show a good test-retest reliability between two independent evaluation differing of one week (mean K =0.73). The total FAST scores were lower in controls as compared with Bipolar Patients and in Euthimic patients compared with Depressed or Manic.Conclusion:The Italian version of the FAST showed similar psychometrics properties as far as regard internal consistency and discriminant validity of the original version and show a good test retest reliability measure by means of K statistics.
Practitioner Summary of Can Auditors Reduce Negligence Verdicts? An Examination of Remedial Tactics
Authors: Cornell Robert M. , Eining Martha M. , Warne Rick C. 
Published: August 2012

SUMMARY
This article summarizes our recent study, “The Use of Remedial Tactics in Negligence Litigation” (Cornell et al. 2009). Auditors face significant litigation risk when adverse economic events occur with clients, even when the auditors followed Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS) when they conducted the audit. Civil litigation rules in many U.S. jurisdictions allow plaintiffs to compel testimony from defendants during trial proceedings. We investigated whether auditors could use verbal remediation tactics to reduce the likelihood of guilty verdicts when accused of professional negligence. In a mock trial setting, we examined whether an apology and/or a first-person justification offered by an auditor-defendant results in fewer negligence verdicts against audit firms. Our results indicate that, when an auditor testifies and expresses an apology and/or a first-person justification, jurors find the auditor guilty of negligence about half as often as when no remedial tactic is used. These findings provide evidence that auditors accused of negligence may effectively utilize such tactics to defend their audit decisions and actions.
Relationships between the root-crown ratio and the loss of occlusal contact and high mandibular plane angle in patients with open bite
Authors: Uehara Sawako , Maeda Aya , Tomonari Hiroshi , Miyawaki Shouichi 
Published: August 2012

Abstract

Objective:
To determine the root-crown (R/C) ratio and dental root length of teeth in patients with open bite and seek any relationships with occlusal contact (OC) and the mandibular plane (Mp) angle.

Materials and Methods:
Thirty-one patients with open bite with negative overbite of at least four anterior teeth and 31 control patients with clinically normal overjet and overbite were enrolled. R/C ratios, dental root length, OC, and Mp angle were measured using panoramic radiographs, dental casts, and cephalograms, respectively. Mean differences between the groups, and variations between the R/C ratio or root length and Mp angle in patients with open bite were statistically analyzed.

Results:
R/C and OC ratios from the incisors to premolars were significantly lower for patients with open bite than for controls, and some teeth had short dental roots. Relationships between low R/C ratio or root length and high Mp angle were significant in patients with open bite.

Conclusion:
Patients with open bite, especially those with a high Mp angle, have an unfavorable R/C ratio and short dental roots in some teeth, which may be related to the loss of OC.
Fungi Associated With Rotten Fruits in Dhaka Metropolis
Authors: Bashar MA , Shamsi S , Hossain M 
Published: August 2012

A total of 18 species of fungi representing nine genera were found to be associated with the rotten fruits collected from the markets of Dhaka metropolis. The fungi isolated from the fruits were Alternaria alternata ( Fr.) Keissler, Alternaria sp., Aspergillus flavus Link., A. niger Van Tiegh, A. fumigatus Fresenius, A. terreus Thorn, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (Penz.) Sacc, Colletotrichum sp.1, Colletotrichum sp.2, Curvularia brachyspora Boedijn, C. clavata Jain, Curvularia sp., Fusarium oxysporum Sch., Penicillium sp., Rhizopus nigricans Ehrenberg, Rhizopus sp., Syncephalastrum sp. and Trichoderma sp. Apergillus niger was found to be associated as the predominant fungus with the rotten fruits. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjb.v41i1.11090 Bangladesh J. Bot. 41(1): 115-117, 2012 (June)
Macro Ck2 Accumulation in Tenofovir-Treated HIV Patients is Facilitated by Ck Oligomer Stabilization but is Not Predictive for Pathology
Authors: Schmid Holger , Tokarska-Schlattner Malgorzata , Füeßl Birgit , Röder Maximilian , Kay Laurence , Attia Stéphane , Lederer Stephan R , Goebel Frank D , Schlattner Uwe , Bogner Johannes R 
Published: August 2012

Background Ubiquitous mitochondrial creatine kinase (uMtCK) accumulates as macroenzyme creatine kinase type 2 (macro CK2) in the serum of HIV-infected patients under a tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF)-containing antiretroviral regimen. The genesis and clinical significance of this finding is unclear. Methods A prospective observational 5-year follow-up study was performed on those patients in which macro CK2 appearance was initially described (‘TDF switch study’ cohort). In addition, tenofovir (TFV), its prodrug TDF and its active, intracellular derivative TFV diphosphate (TDP) were tested in vitro for their effects on different key properties of uMtCK to clarify possible interactions of uMtCK with TFV compounds. Results In just under 5 years of continuous TDF treatment, only 4/12 (33%) patients remained macro CK2-positive, whereas 8/12 (66%) originally positive patients were macro CK2-negative at the end of follow-up. Prospective clinical follow-up data indicate that macro CK2 appearance under TDF is not associated with significant cell damage or occurrence of malignancies. A trend towards grade 1 hypophosphataemia suggests subclinical proximal tubular dysfunction in macro-CK2-positive patients, although it was not associated with a significant decrease in estimated glomerular filtration rate. In vitro, TFV, TDF and TDP did not interfere with uMtCK enzyme activity as competitive inhibitors or pseudo-substrates, but TFV and TDF stabilized the native uMtCK octameric structure in dilute solutions. Conclusions Appearance of octameric uMtCK as macro CK2 in the serum of TDF-treated patients is suggested to result from a combination of low-level mitochondrial damage caused by subclinical renal tubular dysfunction together with possible compensatory uMtCK overexpression and a putative concomitant stabilization of uMtCK octamers by higher levels of TFV in proximal tubules.
Rheumatic Disease Among Oklahoma Tribal Populations: A Cross-sectional Study
Authors: GADDY JASMINE R. , VISTA EVAN S. , ROBERTSON JULIE M. , DEDEKE AMY B. , ROBERTS VIRGINIA C. , KLEIN WENDY S. , LEVIN JEREMY H. , MOTA FABIO H. , COOPER TINA M. , GRIM GLORIA A. , KHAN SOHAIL , JAMES JUDITH A. 
Published: August 2012

Objective.Rheumatic diseases cause significant morbidity within American Indian populations. Clinical disease presentations, as well as historically associated autoantibodies, are not always useful in making a rapid diagnosis or assessing prognosis. The purpose of our study was to identify autoantibody associations among Oklahoma tribal populations with rheumatic disease.Methods.Oklahoma tribal members (110 patients with rheumatic disease and 110 controls) were enrolled at tribal-based clinics. Patients with rheumatic disease (suspected or confirmed diagnosis) were assessed by a rheumatologist for clinical features, disease criteria, and activity measures. Blood samples were collected and tested for common rheumatic disease autoantibodies [antinuclear antibody (ANA), anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies (anti-CCP), rheumatoid factor (RF), anti-Ro, anti-La, anti-Sm, anti-nRNP, anti-ribosomal P, anti-dsDNA, and anticardiolipins].Results.In patients with suspected systemic rheumatic diseases, 72% satisfied American College of Rheumatology classification criteria: 40 (36%) had rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 16 (15%) systemic lupus erythematosus, 8 (7%) scleroderma, 8 (7%) osteoarthritis, 4 (4%) fibromyalgia, 2 (2%) seronegative spondyloarthropathy, 1 Sjögren’s syndrome, and 1 sarcoidosis. Compared to controls, RA patient sera were more likely to contain anti-CCP (55% vs 2%; p < 0.001) or RF IgM antibodies (57% vs 10%; p < 0.001); however, the difference was greater for anti-CCP. Anti-CCP positivity conferred higher disease activity scores (DAS28 5.6 vs 4.45; p = 0.021) while RF positivity did not (DAS28 5.36 vs 4.64; p = 0.15). Anticardiolipin antibodies (25% of rheumatic disease patients vs 10% of controls; p = 0.0022) and ANA (63% vs 21%; p < 0.0001) were more common in rheumatic disease patients.Conclusion.Anti-CCP may serve as a more specific RA biomarker in American Indian patients, while the clinical significance of increased frequency of anticardiolipin antibodies needs further evaluation.
Comparison of Blood and Synovial Fluid Th17 and Novel Peptidase Inhibitor 16 Treg Cell Subsets in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
Authors: GROSE RANDALL H. , MILLARD DEBORAH J. , MAVRANGELOS CHRIS , BARRY SIMON C. , ZOLA HEDDY , NICHOLSON IAN C. , CHAM WENG TARNG , BOROS CHRISTINA A. , KRUMBIEGEL DOREEN 
Published: August 2012

Objective.Early recognition and treatment of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) can prevent joint damage and minimize side effects of medication. The balance between proinflammatory and antiinflammatory mechanisms is known to be important in JIA, and we therefore investigated T cell subsets including Th cells, autoaggressive Th17 cells, and regulatory T cells (Treg), including a novel Treg subset in peripheral blood (PB) and synovial fluid (SF) of patients with JIA.Methods.Fifty children with JIA were enrolled in our study. Frequency, phenotype, and function of T lymphocytes in PB and SF were characterized using flow cytometry. Migration capabilities of PB and SF cells were compared.Results.Synovial T cells showed different phenotype and function compared with PB T cells, with an increased proportion of memory T cells, expression of CCR4, CCR5, CXCR3, interleukin 23R, and an increased ratio of Th17 to Treg. Although Treg were increased in SF compared with the PB, we found a significant decrease in the numbers of peptidase inhibitor 16 (PI16)+ Treg in active joints compared with peripheral blood. Coexpression of CCR4 and CCR6 was reduced on PI16+ Treg in PB and SF of patients with JIA compared with healthy children, however the ability of these cells to migrate toward their ligands was unaffected.Conclusion.This is a comprehensive characterization of novel PI16+ Treg and Th17 cells in matched blood and synovial fluid samples of patients with JIA. Despite an increased number of Treg within the inflamed joint, lower numbers of PI16+ Treg but high numbers of Th17 cells might contribute to the inability to control disease.
Time to Disease-modifying Antirheumatic Drug Treatment in Rheumatoid Arthritis and Its Predictors: A National, Multicenter, Retrospective Cohort
Authors: TAVARES RUBEN , POPE JANET E. , TREMBLAY JEAN-LUC , THORNE CARTER , BYKERK VIVIAN P. , LAZOVSKIS JURIS , BLOCKA KENNETH L.N. , BELL MARY J. , LACAILLE DIANE , HITCHON CAROL A. , FITZGERALD AVRIL A. , FIDLER WESLEY K. , BOOKMAN ARTHUR A.M. , HENDERSON JAMES M. , MOSHER DIANNE P. , SHOLTER DALTON E. , KHRAISHI MAJED , HARAOUI BOULOS , CHEN HONG , LI XIUYING , LAUPACIS ANDREAS , BOIRE GILLES , TOMLINSON GEORGE , BOMBARDIER CLAIRE 
Published: August 2012

Objective.To determine the proportion of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) under rheumatologic care treated with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARD) within 6 months from symptom onset and the components of time to treatment and its predictors.Methods.A historical inception cohort of 339 patients with RA randomly selected from 18 rheumatology practices was audited. The proportion that initiated DMARD treatment within 6 months from symptom onset was estimated using Kaplan-Meier analysis. Time to each component of the care pathway was estimated. Multivariable modeling was used to determine predictors of early treatment using 12 preselected variables available in the clinical charts. Bootstrapping was used to validate the model.Results.Within 6 months from symptom onset, 41% (95% CI 36%−46%) of patients were treated with DMARD. The median time to treatment was 8.4 (interquartile range 3.8−24) months. Events preceding rheumatology referral accounted for 78.1% of the time to treatment. The most prominent predictor of increased time to treatment was a concomitant musculoskeletal condition, such as osteoarthritis or fibromyalgia. The significance of other variables was less consistent across the models investigated. Included variables accounted for 0.69 ± 0.03 of the variability in the model.Conclusion.Fewer than 50% of patients with RA are treated with DMARD within 6 months from symptom onset. Time to referral to rheumatology represents the greatest component delay to treatment. Concomitant musculoskeletal condition was the most prominent predictor of delayed initiation of DMARD. Implications of these and other findings warrant further investigation.
Rituximab Treatment for Spondyloarthritis. A Nationwide Series: Data from the AIR Registry of the French Society of Rheumatology
Authors: WENDLING DANIEL , DOUGADOS MAXIME , BERENBAUM FRANCIS , BROCQ OLIVIER , SCHAEVERBEKE THIERRY , MAZIERES BERNARD , MARCELLI CHRISTIAN , LePARC JEAN-MARIE , BERTIN PHILIPPE , ROBIN MICHÈLE , SIBILIA JEAN , LAFFORGUE PIERRE , PRATI CLÉMENT , COMBE BERNARD , GOTTENBERG JACQUES-ERIC 
Published: August 2012

Objective.To evaluate the efficacy and safety of rituximab (RTX) in several subsets of spondyloarthritis (SpA) using the data of the AIR (Autoimmunity and Rituximab) registry.Methods.All patients receiving RTX for SpA, and prospectively included in the AIR registry from September 2005 to September 2010, were retrospectively analyzed. The response to treatment was evaluated by the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index for axial disease, joint count for peripheral disease, and C-reactive protein reduction.Results.Among the 595 patients included in the AIR registry, 26 patients with SpA from 13 centers were reported: ankylosing spondylitis (10), undifferentiated SpA (7), and psoriatic arthritis (9). Mean disease duration was 8.8 years (range 1−40). The extraarticular features found were psoriasis, 12 cases; uveitis, 4 cases; and Crohn’s disease, 3 cases. The mean number of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs before RTX was 2.4; previous anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) agents were taken in 23 cases. The mean number of RTX courses was 1.5 (range 1−5), with a total of 35.6 patient-years. Efficacy was noted in 11/23 cases: 3 out of 3 anti-TNF-naive patients and 8 out of 20 anti-TNF nonresponder patients. No predictive factors of response could be identified, particularly in diagnosis subsets or clinical presentation (axial or peripheral).Conclusion.In this nationwide study of several subsets of SpA, RTX had only a moderate efficacy that was more marked in patients who were anti-TNF-naive.
Cytokine Secretion by Pathogen Recognition Receptor-stimulated Dendritic Cells in Rheumatoid Arthritis and Ankylosing Spondylitis
Authors: PREVOSTO CLAUDIA , GOODALL JANE C. , HILL GASTON J.S. 
Published: August 2012

Objective.Interleukin 23 (IL-23) plays a major role in differentiation and survival of IL-17-secreting CD4+ Th17 cells. Having noted a higher frequency of Th17 cells in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) than in healthy donors (HD), we investigated whether IL-23 secretion is increased in these conditions.Methods.Monocyte-derived dendritic cells (moDC) were obtained from peripheral blood of 17 HD, 16 patients with RA, and 30 patients with AS, and stimulated with ligands for several pathogen recognition receptors. Messenger RNA (mRNA) expression and cytokine secretion were analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction and ELISA, respectively.Results.The combination of ligands for Toll-like receptors (TLR) 7/8 and TLR3 led to synergistic secretion of both IL-23 and IL-12p70 from all subjects; similar synergy was seen with TLR2 ligands and curdlan. However, for both combinations, moDC from patients with RA produced significantly lower amounts of IL-23 than moDC from patients with AS; in contrast, IL-12p70 secretion did not differ. Similarly, tumor necrosis factor-α, IL-6, and IL-10 were secreted at comparable levels in all subjects, whereas CXCL8 and CCL3 production was actually enhanced in moDC of patients with RA. Equivalent levels of mRNA for both IL-23p19 and IL-12p35 subunits were found in moDC from all donors, suggesting posttranscriptional regulation of IL-23 production in RA.Conclusion.Our observations show that IL-23 production is decreased in RA and maintained in AS. Because increased numbers of CD4+IL-17+ T cells are seen in both diseases, these observations imply that there are different mechanisms underlying chronic inflammation in these 2 forms of inflammatory arthritis.
TheIfngGene Is Essential forVdrGene Expression and Vitamin D3-Mediated Reduction of the Pathogenic T Cell Burden in the Central Nervous System in Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis, a Multiple Sclerosis Model
Authors: Spanier Justin A. , Nashold Faye E. , Olson Julie K. , Hayes Colleen E. 
Published: August 2012

AbstractCompelling evidence suggests that vitamin D3 insufficiency may contribute causally to multiple sclerosis (MS) risk. Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) research firmly supports this hypothesis. Vitamin D3 supports 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25-[OH]2D3) synthesis in the CNS, initiating biological processes that reduce pathogenic CD4+ T cell longevity. MS is prevalent in Sardinia despite high ambient UV irradiation, challenging the vitamin D–MS hypothesis. Sardinian MS patients frequently carry a low Ifng expresser allele, suggesting that inadequate IFN-γ may undermine vitamin D3-mediated inhibition of demyelinating disease. Testing this hypothesis, we found vitamin D3 failed to inhibit EAE in female Ifng knockout (GKO) mice, unlike wild-type mice. The two strains did not differ in Cyp27b1 and Cyp24a1 gene expression, implying equivalent vitamin D3 metabolism in the CNS. The 1,25-(OH)2D3 inhibited EAE in both strains, but 2-fold more 1,25-(OH)2D3 was needed in GKO mice, causing hypercalcemic toxicity. Unexpectedly, GKO mice had very low Vdr gene expression in the CNS. Injecting IFN-γ intracranially into adult mice did not increase Vdr gene expression. Correlating with low Vdr expression, GKO mice had more numerous pathogenic Th1 and Th17 cells in the CNS, and 1,25-(OH)2D3 reduced these cells in GKO and wild-type mice without altering Foxp3+ regulatory T cells. Thus, the Ifng gene was needed for CNS Vdr gene expression and vitamin D3-dependent mechanisms that inhibit EAE. Individuals with inadequate Ifng expression may have increased MS risk despite high ambient UV irradiation because of low Vdr gene expression and a high encephalitogenic T cell burden in the CNS.