bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Treatment of enuresis risoria in children by self‐administered electric and imaginary shock
Authors: ELZINGA‐PLOMP A. , BOEMERS T.M.L. , MESSER A.P. , VIJVERBERG M.A.W. , DE JONG T.P.V.M. , VAN GOOL J.D. 
Published: March 2014

Objective To treat enuresis risoria (giggle micturition) by a self‐administered electric and imaginary shock and to evaluate the outcome after behavioural therapy.Patients and methods Six boys and three girls with enuresis risoria were evaluated and treated. The mean age at referral was 10.4 years (range 5.7–14.2). All children had episodes of involuntary complete bladder emptying triggered by hearty laughter or giggling. The frequency ranged from four times per day to twice a week. No other voiding problems were noted. Five patients (four boys and one girl, mean age 10.2 years, range 5.7–14.2) received conditioning training which consisted largely of the self‐administration of a harmless, painless electric shock to the back of one hand, at the moment when micturition was induced by laughter, leading to inhibition of the voiding reflex. Later, the electric shock was replaced by an imaginary shock. Training was undertaken on an outpatient basis. A mean of eight sessions, each of 45 min duration, was necessary to train the children. The mean follow‐up was 26 months (range 12–51).Results The frequency of wetting was reduced by a mean of 89% in all children 1 year after the successful completion of the training. In three children, followed for 2 years, this result stabilized at that proportion. One of these children, followed for > 3 years, gradually reverted to the original pattern of daily wetting and another patient, with a follow‐up of > 4 years, maintained an 86% reduction of wetting incidents.Conclusion Until now, there was no specific treatment for enuresis risoria and not all patients outgrow the problem; this experimental conditioning programme shows promise in diminishing wetting incidents. However, the programme needs further testing in a prospective study.
Modification of therapy based on videourodynamics in neurologically normal children: Southampton 1988–1993
Authors: PORTER T. , WEERASINGHE N. , MALONE P.S. 
Published: March 2014

Objective To follow up a previously investigated group of enuretic children to assess their current situation and to determine if their previous treatment was appropriate.Patients and methods A group of 57 neurologically normal, enuretic children (mean age 10 years) were followed for a mean of 19 months (range 3–54) after the establishment of a working diagnosis with videourodynamics. Many of these children had previously been under medical follow‐up for long periods with no change in their enuresis. Depending on the urodynamic diagnosis, a therapeutic strategy was instigated and continued for an appropriate duration. Normal children were simply reassured.Results Currently, 44 patients (77%) are completely or very nearly dry.Conclusion Videourodynamics, although a traumatic procedure, provides information unobtainable from other sources. Treatment based on this information gives good results and may prevent years of unnecessary or inappropriate therapy, and psychological problems. Ambulatory studies may yield more useful information.
The use of the hCG stimulation test in the endocrine evaluation of cryptorchidism
Authors: DAVENPORT M. , BRAIN C. , VANDENBERG C. , ZAPPALA S. , DUFFY P. , RANSLEY P.G. , GRANT D. 
Published: March 2014

Objective To review retrospectively the value of the human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) test in the evaluation of prepubertal boys with bilateral impalpable testes.Subjects and methods The study comprised 31 boys investigated between 1974 and 1990 at the Hospital for Sick Children, London. All boys had an hCG test consisting of three intramuscular injections of hCG on successive days at a daily dose dependent on their age (< 1 year old, 500 units; 1–10 years, 1000 units; > 10 years, 1500 units). Blood samples were taken before the first dose and 24 h after the last dose and the level of plasma testosterone assessed and expressed as a pre/post ratio.Results Eight boys had no response to hCG, due to anorchia. One boy had no response to hCG but had bilateral atrophic intra‐abdominal testes. Twenty‐two boys responded to hCG and had testes whose size was related to the degree of testosterone elevation after this stimulatory test. The hCG test therefore had a positive predictive value of 89% and a negative predictive value of 100%. There was a quantitative difference in testosterone response between 14 boys who had bilateral intra‐abdominal testes of ‘normal’ volume (median pre/post ratio, 11.4) and nine boys who had an otherwise reduced volume of testes (dysplastic or unilateral intra‐abdominal) (median pre/post ratio of 4; P = 0.02).Conclusion The hCG test is a valid indicator of the presence of functioning testicular tissue. It is predictive of anorchia and a good response to hCG suggests the presence of testes sufficiently large for orchidopexy.
A peer support programme for enhancing adherence to oral antipsychotic medication in consumers with schizophrenia
Authors: Boardman Gayelene , McCann Terence , Kerr Debra 
Published: March 2014

AbstractAimsTo assess if consumers with schizophrenia who were non‐adherent to their oral antipsychotic medication had improved adherence and mental state, after participating in a problem‐solving based peer support programme.BackgroundMany people with schizophrenia are reluctant to take their antipsychotic medications. Peer support, combined with a problem‐solving approach, could be used as a strategy to improve adherence outcomes. A peer is an individual with mental illness who offers support to others.DesignA quasi‐experimental time‐series design was used to measure the effect of the problem‐solving based peer support programme on adherence and mental state.MethodConsumers who were non‐adherent to oral antipsychotic medication were recruited from February 2009–June 2010. Peers contacted consumers by a weekly 20‐minute telephone call for 8 weeks. Mental state was measured using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale‐E and medication adherence was measured by self‐report at baseline, postintervention (week 8) and follow‐up (week 14). Data were analysed using the Friedman's test and Wilcoxon Signed Rank test for pair‐wise comparisons.ResultsThe study included 22 consumers and six peers: 19 males, mean age 35·1 years. Improvements were identified in medication adherence, negative symptoms and overall mental state between baseline and week 8. These improvements were maintained at week 14.ConclusionMedication adherence may be enhanced with the addition of a peer support intervention. A problem‐solving based peer support programme could be implemented in the community setting for patients who are non‐adherent with oral antipsychotic medication.
Promotoras as facilitators of change: Latinas' perspectives after participating in a lifestyle behaviour intervention program
Authors: Albarran Cynthia R. , Heilemann MarySue V. , Koniak‐Griffin Deborah 
Published: March 2014

AbstractAimTo describe immigrant Latinas' perspectives of a lifestyle behaviour intervention, focusing on their interactions with and perceptions of the promotoras who delivered the program in the USA.BackgroundImmigrant Latinas in the USA have high obesity rates, which contribute to increased risk for cardiovascular disease and other long‐term diseases. Interventions using the promotora model appear to be effective in reducing cardiovascular disease risk by improving dietary habits, physical activity and selected clinical variables among Latinas. However, there has been very limited enquiry into what it is about these interventions and promotoras that facilitates behaviour change, from the perspective of participants.DesignGrounded theory methodology guided the data collection and analysis.MethodsThis qualitative study was completed in 2012 in California, after the end of a lifestyle behaviour intervention. Four focus groups and seven one‐on‐one interviews were conducted with a total of 18 immigrant Latina intervention participants.ResultsWomen described promotoras as helping them change by motivating them through three interconnected elements: tools, support and knowledge. Latinas viewed their ability to make lifestyle changes as connected with their emotional and psychological health and saw promotoras as counsellors who gave emotional and social support. In this respect, the intervention was emotionally therapeutic for this sample of Latinas, although this was not the original intention of the program.ConclusionPromotoras gave the backbone of the intervention and were crucial in motivating Latinas to implement lifestyle changes. Future lifestyle behaviour interventions should include a strong component of mental and emotional well‐being.
Pupillary reactivity to emotional stimuli in children of depressed and anxious mothers
Authors: Burkhouse Katie L. , Siegle Greg J. , Gibb Brandon E. 
Published: March 2014

BackgroundThe primary aim of this study was to examine differences in physiological reactivity (measured via pupillometry) to emotional stimuli between children of depressed versus nondepressed mothers. A second goal was to examine differences in pupil dilation to emotional stimuli between children of anxious versus nonanxious mothers.MethodParticipants included 117 mother–child pairs drawn from the community. Children were between the ages of 8 and 14. Pupil dilation was assessed using an eye‐tracker while participants viewed angry, happy, or sad faces.ResultsChildren of mothers with a history of major depression (MDD) exhibited increased pupil dilation to sad, but not happy or angry, faces compared with children of nondepressed mothers. Second, we found that children of anxious mothers exhibited increased pupil dilation to angry, but not happy or sad, faces compared to youth of nonanxious mothers.ConclusionsThe current findings add to the growing body of research suggesting that differences in physiological reactivity to depression‐ and anxiety‐relevant cues may represent an important mechanism in the intergenerational transmission of MDD and anxiety.
Respiratory Impairment and Dyspnea and Their Associations with Physical Inactivity and Mobility in Sedentary Community‐Dwelling Older Persons
Authors: Vaz Fragoso Carlos A. , Beavers Daniel P. , Hankinson John L. , Flynn Gail , Berra Kathy , Kritchevsky Stephen B. , Liu Christine K. , McDermott Mary M. , Manini Todd M. , Jack Rejeski W. , Gill Thomas M. ,   Lifestyle Interventions Independence for Elders Study Investigators
Published: March 2014

ObjectivesTo evaluate the prevalence of respiratory impairment and dyspnea and their associations with objectively measured physical inactivity and performance‐based mobility in sedentary older persons.DesignCross‐sectional.SettingLifestyle Interventions and Independence for Elders Study.ParticipantsCommunity‐dwelling older persons (n = 1,635, mean age 78.9) who reported being sedentary (<20 min/wk of regular physical activity and <125 min/wk of moderate physical activity in past month).MeasurementsRespiratory impairment was defined as low ventilatory capacity (forced expiratory volume in 1 second less than lower limit of normal (LLN)) and respiratory muscle weakness (maximal inspiratory pressure <LLN). Dyspnea was defined as moderate to severe ratings on the modified Borg index, immediately after a 400‐m walk test (400‐MWT). Physical inactivity was defined according to high sedentary time as the highest quartile of participants with accelerometry‐measured activity of <100 counts/min. Performance‐based mobility was evaluated using the Short Physical Performance Battery (≤7 defined as moderate to severe mobility impairment) and 400‐MWT gait speed (<0.8 m/s defined as slow).ResultsPrevalence rates were 17.7% for low ventilatory capacity, 14.7% for respiratory muscle weakness, 31.6% for dyspnea, 44.7% for moderate to severe mobility impairment and 43.6% for slow gait speed. Significant associations were found between low ventilatory capacity and slow gait speed (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.41, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.03–1.92), between respiratory muscle weakness and moderate to severe mobility impairment (aOR = 1.42, 95% CI = 1.03–1.95), and between dyspnea and high sedentary time (aOR = 1.98, 95% CI = 1.28–3.06) and slow gait speed (aOR = 1.70, 95% CI = 1.22–2.38).ConclusionRespiratory impairment and dyspnea are prevalent in sedentary older persons and are associated with objectively measured physical inactivity and poor performance‐based mobility. Because they are modifiable, respiratory impairment and dyspnea should be considered in the evaluation of sedentary older persons.
Effectiveness of a National Transitional Care Program in Reducing Acute Care Use
Authors: Wee Shiou‐Liang , Loke Chok‐Kang , Liang Chun , Ganesan Ganga , Wong Loong‐Mun , Cheah Jason 
Published: March 2014

This study evaluated the effectiveness of a national transitional care program for elderly adults with complex care needs and limited social support. The Aged Care Transition (ACTION) Program was designed to improve coordination and continuity of care and reduce rehospitalizations and visits to emergency departments (EDs). Dedicated care coordinators provided coaching to help individuals and families understand the individuals' conditions, effectively articulate their preferences, and enable self‐management and care planning. Participants were individuals aged 65 and older hospitalized and enrolled from five public general hospitals in Singapore between February 2009 and July 2010 (N = 4,132). The coordinators worked with participants during hospitalization and followed up with telephone calls and home visits for 1 to 2 months after discharge and coordinated placements with appropriate community service providers. Unplanned rehospitalization and ED visit (up to 6 months after discharge) rates were compared with those of a comparator group of individuals who did not receive care coordination using propensity score‐based weighting. Participant and caregiver surveys on quality of life and self‐rated health were also administered. Recipients of the ACTION program had fewer unplanned rehospitalizations and ED visits after discharge. Propensity score–adjusted odds ratios of participants versus control for number of unplanned rehospitalization and ED visits were 0.5 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.5–0.6) and 0.81 (95% CI = 0.72–0.90) 30 days after discharge and 0.6 (95% CI = 0.6–0.7) and 0.90 (95% CI = 0.82–0.99) 180 days after discharge. Quality of life and self‐rated health were better 4 to 6 weeks after discharge than 1 week after discharge. These findings confirm the effectiveness of the ACTION program in improving the transition of vulnerable older adults from hospital to community. Such transitional care should be considered as an integral part of care integration.
Relationship Between 25‐Hydroxyvitamin D and Cognitive Function in Older Adults: The Health, Aging and Body Composition Study
Authors: Wilson Valerie K. , Houston Denise K. , Kilpatrick Laurel , Lovato James , Yaffe Kristine , Cauley Jane A. , Harris Tamara B. , Simonsick Eleanor M. , Ayonayon Hilsa N. , Kritchevsky Stephen B. , Sink Kaycee M. ,   the Health, Aging and Body Composition Study
Published: March 2014

ObjectivesTo examine the relationship between 25‐hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels and cognitive performance over time in older adults in the Health, Aging and Body Composition (Health ABC) Study.DesignProspective cohort study.SettingCommunity‐dwelling participants in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Memphis, Tennessee.ParticipantsWell‐functioning adults aged 70 to 79 at baseline with serum 25(OH)D measured at the 12‐month follow‐up visit and cognitive function measured at baseline and 4‐year follow‐up visit (N = 2,777).MeasurementsVitamin D status was categorized as 25(OH)D levels of less than 20.0 ng/mL, 20.0 to 29.9 ng/mL, or 30.0 ng/mL or greater. Cognition was measured using the modified Mini‐Mental State Examination (3MS) and Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST). Linear regression models adjusting for multiple covariates, including age, education, sex, race, site, season, physical activity, and comorbidities, were used in the analysis.ResultsSixty‐eight percent of participants had 25(OH)D levels of less than 30.0 ng/mL. Lower 25(OH)D levels were associated with lower baseline cognitive scores on the 3MS (adjusted mean 89.9, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 89.4–90.4 for <20.0 ng/mL; adjusted mean 90.8, 95% CI = 90.4–91.3 for 20.0–29.9 ng/mL; adjusted mean 90.6, 95% CI = 90.2–91.1 for ≥30.0 ng/mL; P trend = .02) and the DSST (adjusted mean 35.2, 95% CI = 34.5–36.0 for <20.0 ng/mL; adjusted mean 35.9, 95% CI = 35.2–36.6 for 20.0–29.9 ng/mL; adjusted mean 37.0, 95% CI = 36.3–37.8 for ≥30.0 ng/mL; P trend = .01). Participants with low 25(OH)D levels had greater declines in 3MS scores over 4 years than those with higher levels (least square mean change −1.0, 95% CI = −1.5 to −0.6 for <20.0 ng/mL; least square mean change −0.8, 95% CI = −1.2 to −0.3 for 20.0–29.9 ng/mL; least square mean change −0.2, 95% CI = −0.7 to 0.2 for ≥30.0 ng/mL; P = .05). There was no significant difference in DSST decline according to 25(OH)D level.ConclusionLow 25(OH)D levels were associated with worse global cognitive function and greater decline over time according to the 3MS. Intervention trials are needed to determine whether vitamin D supplementation can reduce cognitive decline.
Combining multiple healthcare databases for postmarketing drug and vaccine safety surveillance: why and how?
Authors: Trifirò G. , Coloma P. M. , Rijnbeek P. R. , Romio S. , Mosseveld B. , Weibel D. , Bonhoeffer J. , Schuemie M. , van der Lei J. , Sturkenboom M. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractA growing number of international initiatives (e.g. EU‐ADR, Sentinel, OMOP, PROTECT and VAESCO) are based on the combined use of multiple healthcare databases for the conduct of active surveillance studies in the area of drug and vaccine safety. The motivation behind combining multiple healthcare databases is the earlier detection and validation, and hence earlier management, of potential safety issues. Overall, the combination of multiple healthcare databases increases statistical sample size and heterogeneity of exposure for postmarketing drug and vaccine safety surveillance, despite posing several technical challenges. Healthcare databases generally differ by underlying healthcare systems, type of information collected, drug/vaccine and medical event coding systems and language. Therefore, harmonization of medical data extraction through homogeneous coding algorithms across highly different databases is necessary. Although no standard procedure is currently available to achieve this, several approaches have been developed in recent projects. Another main challenge involves choosing the work models for data management and analyses whilst respecting country‐specific regulations in terms of data privacy and anonymization. Dedicated software (e.g. Jerboa) has been produced to deal with privacy issues by sharing only anonymized and aggregated data using a common data model. Finally, storage and safe access to the data from different databases requires the development of a proper remote research environment. The aim of this review is to provide a summary of the potential, disadvantages, methodological issues and possible solutions concerning the conduct of postmarketing multidatabase drug and vaccine safety studies, as demonstrated by several international initiatives.
Extracellular environment modulates the formation and propagation of particular amyloid structures
Authors: Westergard Laura , True Heather L. 
Published: March 2014

SummaryAmyloidogenic proteins, including prions, assemble into multiple forms of structurally distinct fibres. The [PSI+] prion, endogenous to the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, is a dominantly inherited, epigenetic modifier of phenotypes. [PSI+] formation relies on the coexistence of another prion, [RNQ+]. Here, in order to better define the role of amyloid diversity on cellular phenotypes, we investigated how physiological and environmental changes impact the generation and propagation of diverse protein conformations from a single polypeptide. Utilizing the yeast model system, we defined extracellular factors that influence the formation of a spectrum of alternative self‐propagating amyloid structures of the Sup35 protein, called [PSI+] variants. Strikingly, exposure to specific stressful environments dramatically altered the variants of [PSI+] that formed de novo. Additionally, we found that stress also influenced the association between the [PSI+] and [RNQ+] prions in a way that it superceded their typical relationship. Furthermore, changing the growth environment modified both the biochemical properties and [PSI+]‐inducing capabilities of the [RNQ+] template. These data suggest that the cellular environment contributes to both the generation and the selective propagation of specific amyloid structures, providing insight into a key feature that impacts phenotypic diversity in yeast and the cross‐species transmission barriers characteristic of prion diseases.
Proper functioning of the GINS complex is important for the fidelity of DNA replication in yeast
Authors: Grabowska Ewa , Wronska Urszula , Denkiewicz Milena , Jaszczur Malgorzata , Respondek Aleksandra , Alabrudzinska Malgorzata , Suski Catherine , Makiela‐Dzbenska Karolina , Jonczyk Piotr , Fijalkowska Iwona J. 
Published: March 2014

SummaryThe role of replicative DNA polymerases in ensuring genome stability is intensively studied, but the role of other components of the replisome is still not fully understood. One of such component is the GINS complex (comprising the Psf1, Psf2, Psf3 and Sld5 subunits), which participates in both initiation and elongation of DNA replication. Until now, the understanding of the physiological role of GINS mostly originated from biochemical studies. In this article, we present genetic evidence for an essential role of GINS in the maintenance of replication fidelity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In our studies we employed the psf1‐1 allele (Takayama et al., 2003) and a novel psf1‐100 allele isolated in our laboratory. Analysis of the levels and specificity of mutations in the psf1 strains indicates that the destabilization of the GINS complex or its impaired interaction with DNA polymerase epsilon increases the level of spontaneous mutagenesis and the participation of the error‐prone DNA polymerase zeta. Additionally, a synergistic mutator effect was found for the defects in Psf1p and in the proofreading activity of Pol epsilon, suggesting that proper functioning of GINS is crucial for facilitating error‐free processing of terminal mismatches created by Pol epsilon.