bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
OP86 Dietary Patterns in Older Men: Influence of Early Life Social Circumstances and Area of Residence
Authors: Atkins J L , Whincup P H , Morris RW , Wannamethee S G 
Published: September 2013

BackgroundFew studies have examined diet quality in older adults in Great Britain. We examined the influence of area of residence and early life social circumstances on dietary patterns among older British men.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study of 4252 older men (aged 60-79 years) from the British Regional Heart Study. Food frequency questionnaire data were used to examine daily fruit and vegetable consumption and to generate two dietary scores – the Healthy Diet Indicator (HDI) and the Elderly Dietary Index (EDI), with higher scores indicating greater compliance with dietary recommendations. Linear and logistic regression analyses assessed associations of adult and childhood social class (based on father’s occupation) and area of residence with dietary patterns, adjusting for age, energy intake, smoking, physical activity and body mass index.ResultsMen with non-manual childhood social class had higher EDI scores (adjusted mean difference = 0.54, p < 0.001) and were slightly more likely to consume fruit and vegetables daily (OR 1.22 [95% CI 0.98, 1.51]), independent of adult social class. Men with non-manual adult social class also had higher EDI scores (adjusted mean difference = 1.30, p < 0.001) and were much more likely to consume fruit and vegetables daily (1.56 [1.26, 1.93]), independent of childhood social class. HDI score was not associated with childhood or adult social class. Region of birth and region of residence were related to daily fruit and vegetable consumption and to both HDI and EDI scores, with the highest consumption/scores seen in the Southern region and the lowest in Scotland.ConclusionDietary patterns in older men are influenced by area of residence and social class, with adult social class being more influential than early life social class in determining dietary patterns.
OP90 Non-Attendance at Diabetes Eye Screening and Risk of Sight-Threatening Diabetic Retinopathy: Population-based Cohort Study
Authors: Forster A S , Forbes A , Dodhia H , Connor C , Chemin A Du , Sivaprasad S , Mann S , Gulliford M C 
Published: September 2013

BackgroundPopulation-based diabetes eye screening aims to reduce the occurrence of visual loss from diabetic eye disease. This study evaluated whether repeated non-attendance for diabetes eye screening is associated with risk of sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy (STDR).MethodsA population-based cohort study was conducted using diabetes eye screening appointments and results bare presented for N = 35,253 patients resident in three South London boroughs invited for screening between 2008 and 2011. Analysis examined associations between the number of years in which screening was missed and risk of sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy. We also describe uptake and socio-demographic and clinical associations with non-attendance.ResultsThere were 16,985 participants who were invited for screening in all four years, from 2008 to 2011, including 10,208 (60%) who were screened in every year, 6,564 (39%) who did not attend screening for up to three years, and 213 (1%) who did not attend screening in any year. Compared with participants who were screened annually, the adjusted relative odds of STDR were 2.28 ([95% CI 1.86, 2.78], p < 0.001) for participants who did not attend one year’s screening and 5.51 ([3.89, 7.80], p < 0.001) for participants who did not attend two year’s screening. In participants with mild non-proliferative retinopathy at their first screen, the adjusted relative odds of moderate or severe non-proliferative retinopathy or proliferative retinopathy at the next screen were 8.35 ([4.56, 15.26], p < 0.001) when one year of screening was missed and 24.08 ([11.52, 50.31], p < 0.001) when two years of screening was missed.ConclusionPatients who do not attend diabetes eye screening are at increased risk of developing sight threatening diabetic retinopathy. This risk is greater after two years of non-attendance or when background retinopathy has already been diagnosed. Quality assurance in the screening programme should focus on repeat non-attenders who already have some evidence of retinopathy.
PL01 Common Epidemiological Misconceptions: “Mutually Adjusted” – What does it mean and why might it be Misleading?
Authors: Tilling K , Howe L D , Lawlor D A , Gilthorpe M S 
Published: September 2013

BackgroundEach year, numerous studies relate an outcome (e.g. offspring birthweight) to several exposures (e.g. maternal characteristics) using standard multiple linear/logistic regression. The results are often reported as coefficients/odds ratios for all exposures simultaneously, described as “mutually adjusted”. As discussed recently by Westreich and Greenland, depending on the nature of the theoretical model underpinning the data, this approach confuses the effects of exposures, confounders and mediators. The results presented in such a table are often uninterpretable. Interpretation of the different exposures is often only achievable through multiple models, informed bya prioriknowledge of the data structure. We use the example of the associations between multiple maternal characteristics and birthweight, and show how directed acyclic graphs (DAGs) can help to clarify which analyses should be reported.MethodsThe Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) is a prospective population-based birth cohort study that recruited 14,541 pregnant women resident in Avon, UK with expected dates of delivery 1st April 1991 to 31st December 1992 (http://www.alspac.bris.ac.uk/). Here, we focus on the 10,104 singletons with complete data on offspring birthweight and sex, and the following maternal characteristics: age at delivery; parity; social class; height; ethnicity; smoking during early pregnancy; education level.ResultsIn considering each putative exposure, several plausible DAGs were drawn, resulting in different sets of confounders to be included in some instances. The effect estimates for each exposure, adjusted only for appropriate confounders, are compared to those from the single, “mutually adjusted” model. For example, when considering maternal education as an exposure, the only factors which could be considered as genuine confounders on the grounds of temporality were ethnicity and (possibly) height. In the mutually-adjusted analysis (i.e. adjusted for all other maternal characteristics) there was no evidence of an association between maternal education and birthweight (coefficient for degree compared to ‘O’ Level 0.02 kg ([95% CI 0.01, 0.05], p=0.062). When appropriately adjusted for only the genuine confounding factors of ethnicity and height, there was weak evidence of an association between maternal education and birthweight (coefficient for degree compared to ‘O’ Level 0.04 kg ([0.00, 0.07], p=0.04).ConclusionThe common practice to analyse several exposures simultaneously can lead to errors in interpretation, as they cannot all be confounders for each other. More careful consideration of the use of multiple regression is required, with distinction between genuine confounders and mediators becoming more widely understood.
PL02 An Analysis of the Changing Prices of Unhealthy and Healthier Foods: the First Step towards Tracking the Affordability of a Healthy Diet
Authors: NRV Jones , A Conklin , P Monsivais 
Published: September 2013

BackgroundThe public health importance of monitoring the affordability of a nutritious diet has been highlighted by the UK Department for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs. The economic and health-related aspects of food and diet are currently tracked by separate government agencies. Here we demonstrate how linking routine economic and health data can facilitate the study of food prices in relation to nutrition and investigate food price trends for the period 2002-2012.MethodsWe obtained national median price data for 94 foods and beverages included in the UK Consumer Price Index from 2002-2012 from the Office of National Statistics and linked these foods to items in the National Diet and Nutrition Survey food database. This linkage produced a unique dataset containing nutrition information per 100 g and price per 1000kcal across an 11 year period. Each food and beverage item was categorised as either ‘unhealthy’ or ‘healthier’ using the Food Standards Agency’s (FSA) Ofcom nutrient profiling model, developed by the FSA as a tool to differentiate foods based on their nutritive value. We tested statistical significance using a t-test for cross-sectional analyses and repeated measures ANOVA for time-series analyses.ResultsThere were 43 foods categorised as ‘unhealthy’ and 51 as ‘healthier’. The mean 2012 price/1000 kcal was £2.50 for unhealthy items and £7.49 for healthier items (p < 0.001). From 2002 to 2012 the absolute price of unhealthy and healthier products had risen by £0.74 and £1.92/1000 kcal, respectively. The ANOVA results confirmed that prices had risen over time, that there was a difference in price between the unhealthy and healthier items, and that the effect of time on price was different for unhealthy and healthier foods, with the price of healthier foods rising more substantially (p < 0.001).ConclusionAnalyses of UK price trends for foods in relation to their nutrient content revealed that foods and beverages designated as unhealthy cost less than healthier foods per unit of energy. Moreover, since 2002, absolute prices per 1000 kcal for healthier foods and drinks have been rising faster than prices per 1000 kcal for unhealthy items. A widening price gap between healthy and unhealthy foods may indicate that a nutritious diet is increasingly difficult to afford, a trend that may contribute to social inequalities in nutrition. The novel linkage we have demonstrated could serve as the basis for on-going monitoring of food prices to inform public health policy relating to diet and non-communicable disease.
Cost and Resource Utilization Associated With Use of Computed Tomography to Evaluate Chest Pain in the Emergency Department
Authors: Hulten Edward , Goehler Alexander , Bittencourt Marcio Sommer , Bamberg Fabian , Schlett Christopher L. , Truong Quynh A. , Nichols John , Nasir Khurram , Rogers Ian S. , Gazelle Scott G. , Nagurney John T. , Hoffmann Udo , Blankstein Ron 
Published: September 2013

Background—
Coronary computed tomographic angiography (cCTA) allows rapid, noninvasive exclusion of obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD). However, concern exists whether implementation of cCTA in the assessment of patients presenting to the emergency department with acute chest pain will lead to increased downstream testing and costs compared with alternative strategies. Our aim was to compare observed actual costs of usual care (UC) with projected costs of a strategy including early cCTA in the evaluation of patients with acute chest pain in the Rule Out Myocardial Infarction Using Computer Assisted Tomography I (ROMICAT I) study.

Methods and Results—

We compared cost and hospital length of stay of UC observed among 368 patients enrolled in the ROMICAT I study with projected costs of management based on cCTA. Costs of UC were determined by an electronic cost accounting system. Notably, UC was not influenced by cCTA results because patients and caregivers were blinded to the cCTA results. Costs after early implementation of cCTA were estimated assuming changes in management based on cCTA findings of the presence and severity of CAD. Sensitivity analysis was used to test the influence of key variables on both outcomes and costs. We determined that in comparison with UC, cCTA-guided triage, whereby patients with no CAD are discharged, could reduce total hospital costs by 23% (
P
<0.001). However, when the prevalence of obstructive CAD increases, index hospitalization cost increases such that when the prevalence of ≥50% stenosis is >28% to 33%, the use of cCTA becomes more costly than UC.

Conclusions—
cCTA may be a cost-saving tool in acute chest pain populations that have a prevalence of potentially obstructive CAD <30%. However, increased cost would be anticipated in populations with higher prevalence of disease.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT00990262.
Serum Alkaline Phosphatase and Phosphate in Cerebral Atherosclerosis and Functional Outcomes After Cerebral Infarction
Authors: Kim Jinkwon , Song Tae-Jin , Song Dongbeom , Lee Hye Sun , Nam Chung Mo , Nam Hyo Suk , Kim Young Dae , Heo Ji Hoe 
Published: September 2013

Background and Purpose—
Higher serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and phosphate levels are associated with atherosclerotic disease and an increased risk of cardiovascular events. However, the association of ALP/phosphate with cerebral atherosclerosis and prognosis in patients with acute stroke is not well known.

Methods—
In 1034 patients with first-ever acute cerebral infarction, levels of ALP and phosphate were compared with (1) cerebral atherosclerosis and (2) poor long-term functional outcomes as defined by the modified Rankin Scale >2 at 3 months after stroke onset.

Results—
ALP levels were not associated with cerebral atherosclerosis. However, higher levels of ALP were associated with a poor functional outcome (adjusted odds ratio per 1 SD, 1.25; 95% confidence interval, 1.04–1.50). Phosphate was associated with neither cerebral atherosclerosis nor functional outcome.

Conclusions—
A higher level of ALP was not associated with cerebral atherosclerosis but was an independent prognostic factor for long-term functional outcome after acute cerebral infarction.
Effects of sediment management on the amphipod community off the Latium coasts (Tyrrhenian Sea) and preliminary DNA barcoding data on Ampelisca (Amphipoda)
Authors: Marusso V. , Trabucco B. , Nonnis O. , Maggi C. , Cecchetti S. , Nascetti G. , Angeletti D. , Cimmaruta R. 
Published: September 2013

Macroinvertebrates are commonly used as environmental indicators in monitoring programs. Among crustaceans, amphipod communities play a relevant role in describing changes of sea bottom features, being therefore well appreciated as indicators. In this study the effects of sediment management off the Tyrrhenian coasts of Latium (Central Italy) have been assessed, using amphipod assemblages to monitor changes occurred in soft bottom areas before and after the perturbation. Results showed a variation in number of both individuals and species, with Ampelisca brevicornis (Costa, 1853), A. diadema (Costa, 1853), A. typica (Bate, 1856) and A. tenuicornis Liljeborg, 1855 as the most abundant species before sediment management, and Autonoe spiniventris Della Valle, 1893, Urothoe pulchella (Costa, 1853) and Medicorophium runcicorne Della Valle, 1893 as the most abundant ones after the perturbation. Amphipod assemblage appeared modified after sediment management showing an increase of species linked to sandy substrates. It is known that amphipod species have different degrees of sensitivity to environmental impacts but deeper studies concerning single species are problematic, also because of the limitation of a correct taxonomic classification of specimens based on morphological characters. With the aim to set up a tool for a quick and reliable assignment of the abundant genus Ampelisca, we have carried out a preliminary survey of a 658 bp (base pair) fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene, showing that some possible mis-assignments can occur based only on morphological characters.
Superficial Necrolytic Dermatitis in a Dog With an Insulin-Producing Pancreatic Islet Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Isidoro-Ayza M. , Lloret A. , Bardagí M. , Ferrer L. , Martínez J. 
Published: September 2013

A 10-year-old dog presented with convulsive crisis and symmetrical hyperkeratotic cutaneous lesions affecting the abdomen, inguinal area, eyelids, muzzles, both pinnae, and all the paw pads. Hypoglycemia and hyperinsulinemia were the main biochemical findings. A mass 2 cm in diameter was detected within the left pancreatic lobe by ultrasonography. It was surgically removed and histologically and immunohistochemically diagnosed as an insulin-producing pancreatic islet cell carcinoma. The animal was eventually euthanized due to lack of clinical improvement. At necropsy, metastatic nodules were observed in the pancreatic lymph nodes and liver. Histopathological findings of cutaneous lesions were highly suggestive of superficial necrolytic dermatitis and were interpreted as a paraneoplastic syndrome derived from the islet cell carcinoma. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report of superficial necrolytic dermatitis associated with an insulin-producing pancreatic neuroendocrine carcinoma in dogs.
Genetic parameters for milk fatty acids in Danish Holstein cattle based on SNP markers using a Bayesian approach
Authors: Krag Kristian , Poulsen Nina A , Larsen Mette K , Larsen Lotte B , Janss Luc L , Buitenhuis Bart 
Published: September 2013

Abstract

Background
For several years, in human nutrition there has been a focus on the proportion of unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) and saturated fatty acids (SFA) found in bovine milk. The positive health-related properties of UFA versus SFA have increased the demand for food products with a higher proportion of UFA. To be able to change the UFA and SFA content of the milk by breeding it is important to know whether there is a genetic component underlying the individual FA in the milk. We have estimated the heritability for individual FA in the milk of Danish Holstein. For this purpose we used information of SNP markers instead of the traditional pedigree relationships.

Results
Estimates of heritability were moderate within the range of 0.10 for C18:1 trans-11 to 0.34 for C8:0 and C10:0, whereas the estimates for saturated fatty acids and unsaturated fatty acids were 0.14 and 0.18, respectively. Posterior standard deviations were in the range from 0.07 to 0.17. The correlation estimates showed a general pattern of two groups, one group mainly consisting of saturated fatty acids and one group mainly consisting of unsaturated fatty acids. The phenotypic correlation ranged from −0.95 (saturated fatty acids and unsaturated fatty acids) to 0.99 (unsaturated fatty acids and monounsaturated fatty acids) and the genomic correlation for fatty acids ranged from −0.29 to 0.91.

Conclusions
The heritability estimates obtained in this study are in general accordance with heritability estimates from studies using pedigree data and/or a genomic relationship matrix in the context of a REML approach. SFA and UFA expressed a strong negative phenotypic correlation and a weaker genetic correlation. This is in accordance with the theory that SFA is synthesized de novo, while UFA can be regulated independently from the regulation of SFA by the feeding regime.
Transcriptomic characterization of cold acclimation in larval zebrafish
Authors: Long Yong , Song Guili , Yan Junjun , He Xiaozhen , Li Qing , Cui Zongbin 
Published: September 2013

Abstract

Background
Temperature is one of key environmental parameters that affect the whole life of fishes and an increasing number of studies have been directed towards understanding the mechanisms of cold acclimation in fish. However, the adaptation of larvae to cold stress and the cold-specific transcriptional alterations in fish larvae remain largely unknown. In this study, we characterized the development of cold-tolerance in zebrafish larvae and investigated the transcriptional profiles under cold stress using RNA-seq.

Results
Pre-exposure of 96 hpf zebrafish larvae to cold stress (16°C) for 24 h significantly increased their survival rates under severe cold stress (12°C). RNA-seq generated 272 million raw reads from six sequencing libraries and about 92% of the processed reads were mapped to the reference genome of zebrafish. Differential expression analysis identified 1,431 up- and 399 down-regulated genes. Gene ontology enrichment analysis of cold-induced genes revealed that RNA splicing, ribosome biogenesis and protein catabolic process were the most highly overrepresented biological processes. Spliceosome, proteasome, eukaryotic ribosome biogenesis and RNA transport were the most highly enriched pathways for genes up-regulated by cold stress. Moreover, alternative splicing of 197 genes and promoter switching of 64 genes were found to be regulated by cold stress. A shorter isoform of stk16 that lacks 67 amino acids at the N-terminus was specifically generated by skipping the second exon in cold-treated larvae. Alternative promoter usage was detected for per3 gene under cold stress, which leading to a highly up-regulated transcript encoding a truncated protein lacking the C-terminal domains.

Conclusions
These findings indicate that zebrafish larvae possess the ability to build cold-tolerance under mild low temperature and transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulations are extensively involved in this acclimation process.
Effect of exercise training and dopamine agonists in patients with uremic restless legs syndrome: a six-month randomized, partially double-blind, placebo-controlled comparative study
Authors: Giannaki Christoforos D , Sakkas Giorgos K , Karatzaferi Christina , Hadjigeorgiou Georgios M , Lavdas Eleftherios , Kyriakides Theodoros , Koutedakis Yiannis , Stefanidis Ioannis 
Published: September 2013

Abstract

Background
Restless Legs Syndrome is very common in hemodialysis patients however there are no comparative studies assessing the effectiveness of a non-pharmacological treatment to a classical treatment on parameters related to syndromes’ severity and quality of life.

Methods
In this randomized, partially double blind, placebo controlled trial, thirty two hemodialysis patients with restless legs syndrome were randomly assigned into three groups: 1) the exercise training group (N = 16), 2) the dopamine agonists group (ropinirole 0.25 mg/d) (N = 8) and 3) the placebo group (N = 8). The intervention programs lasted 6 months. Restless Legs Syndrome severity was assessed using the international severity scale, physical performance by a battery of tests, muscle size and composition by computed tomography, body composition by Dual Energy X Ray Absorptiometry, while depression score, sleep quality, daily sleepiness and quality of life were assessed through questionnaires.

Results
Exercise training and dopamine agonists were effective in reducing syndrome’s symptoms by 46% (P = 0.009) and 54% (P = 0.001) respectively. Within group changes revealed that both approaches significantly improved quality of life (P < 0.05), however, only the dopamine agonists significantly improved sleep quality (P = 0.009). Within group changes showed a tendency for lean body mass improvements with dopamine agonists, this reached statistical significance only with the exercise training (P = 0.014), which also reduced fat infiltration in muscles (P = 0.044) and improved physical performance (P > 0.05) in various tests. Between group changes detect significant improvements with both exercise and dopamine agonists in depression score (P = 0.003), while only the dopamine agonist treatment was able to significantly improve sleep quality, compared to exercise and placebo (P = 0.016).

Conclusions
A 6-month exercise training regime was as effective as a 6-month low dosage dopamine agonist treatment in reducing restless legs syndrome symptoms and improving depression score in uremic patients. Further research is needed in order to show whether a combination treatment could be more beneficial for the amelioration of RLS.

Trial registration

NCT00942253