bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Direct Pars Repair Techniques of Spondylolysis in Pediatric and Adolescent Patients
Authors: Karatas Ali F. , Dede Ozgur , Atanda Alfred A. , Holmes Larry , Rogers Kenneth , Gabos Peter , Shah Suken A. 
Published: October 2012

Study Design:
Retrospective clinical cohort study.

Objective:
To compare the clinical and radiographic outcomes of patients who were treated with intrasegmental pars fixation by either laminar compression screw (LS) or a pedicle screw, rod, and laminar hook (PSRH) construct.

Summary of Background Data:
Spondylolysis is a nonunion defect of the pars interarticularis. In symptomatic spondylolysis, direct repair of the pars interarticularis defect can preserve motion and prevent abnormal stresses at the adjacent levels.

Methods:
Sixteen patients who failed nonoperative treatment and underwent direct pars repair by using LS (n=9) or PSRH (n=7) constructs were included in the study. Clinical outcome was assessed by using the MacNab criteria. Radiologic fusion and complications were evaluated using plain radiographs or computed tomography images and patient charts.

Results:
The healing rate was 100% after 6 months. The healing time was similar in both the groups: LS, 6.5 months; PSRH, 6.2 months. Patients with PSRH (5.9 mo) were more likely to return to sports earlier relative to patients with LS (7.7 mo). There were no complications in the LS group; in the PSRH group, 1 patient had mild sensory deficit and 2 had superficial wound infections. The MacNab criteria for pain assessment showed an excellent or good outcome in 8 of 9 patients in LS group and 6 of 7 patients in PSRH group. Relative to LS patients, there was a significant increase in surgical time and estimated blood loss among PSRH patients.

Conclusions:
Either of the mentioned 2 techniques appears to produce acceptable results. Biplanar fluoroscopy and navigation systems could minimize the risk of screw misplacement with LS construct. Familiarity with the various fixation techniques will allow the surgeon to select the most appropriate surgical technique.
Profiles of illicit drug use during annual key holiday and control periods in Australia: wastewater analysis in an urban, a semi‐rural and a vacation area
Authors: Lai Foon Yin , Bruno Raimondo , Hall Wayne , Gartner Coral , Ort Christoph , Kirkbride Paul , Prichard Jeremy , Thai Phong K. , Carter Steve , Mueller Jochen F. 
Published: October 2012

AbstractAimsTo examine changes in illicit drug consumption between peak holiday season (23 December–3 January) in Australia and a control period two months later in a coastal urban area, an inland semi‐rural area and an island populated predominantly by vacationers during holidays.DesignAnalysis of representative daily composite wastewater samples collected from the inlet of the major wastewater treatment plant in each area.SettingThree wastewater treatment plants.ParticipantsWastewater treatment plants serviced approximately 350 000 persons in the urban area, 120 000 in the semi‐rural area and 1100–2400 on the island.MeasurementsDrug residues were analysed using liquid chromatography coupled to a tandem mass spectrometer. Per capita drug consumption was estimated. Changes in drug use were quantified using Hedges' g.FindingsDuring the holidays, cannabis consumption in the semi‐rural area declined (g = −2.8) as did methamphetamine (−0.8), whereas cocaine (+1.5) and ecstasy (+1.6) use increased. In the urban area, consumption of all drugs increased during holidays (cannabis +1.6, cocaine +1.2, ecstasy +0.8 and methamphetamine +0.3). In the vacation area, methamphetamine (+0.7), ecstasy (+0.7) and cocaine (+1.1) use increased, but cannabis (−0.5) use decreased during holiday periods.ConclusionsWhile the peak holiday season in Australia is perceived as a period of increased drug use, this is not uniform across all drugs and areas. Substantial declines in drug use in the semi‐rural area contrasted with substantial increases in urban and vacation areas. Per capita drug consumption in the vacation area was equivalent to that in the urban area, implying that these locations merit particular attention for drug use monitoring and harm minimisation measures.
Past major depression and smoking cessation outcome: a systematic review and meta‐analysis update
Authors: Hitsman Brian , Papandonatos George D. , McChargue Dennis E. , DeMott Andrew , Herrera María José , Spring Bonnie , Borrelli Belinda , Niaura Raymond 
Published: October 2012

AbstractAimsTo update our prior meta‐analysis that showed past major depression (MD+) to be unrelated to smoking cessation outcome.MethodsEligible trials included 14 from our original review and 28 identified through an updated systematic review (2000–2009). We coded for assessment of past MD, exclusion for recent MD episode (MDE; ≤6 months versus no exclusion), duration/modality of cognitive behavioral treatment (CBT; face‐to‐face versus self‐help) and other factors. To minimize influence of experimental treatments that may selectively benefit MD+ smokers we analyzed placebo/lowest intensity control arms only. Study‐specific ORs for the effect of past MD on short‐term (≤3 months) and long‐term (≥6 months) abstinence were estimated and combined using random effects. Two‐way interaction models of past MD with study methodology and treatment factors were used to evaluate hypothesized moderators of the past MD‐abstinence association.ResultsMD+ smokers had 17% lower odds of short‐term abstinence (n = 35, OR = 0.83, 95% CI = 0.72–0.95, P = 0.009) and 19% lower odds of long‐term abstinence (n = 38, OR = 0.81, 95% CI = 0.67–0.97, P = 0.023) than MD‐ smokers after excluding the sole study of varenicline because of its antidepressant properties. The association between past MD and abstinence was affected by methodological (recent MDE exclusion, type of MD assessment) and treatment (CBT modality) factors.ConclusionsPast major depression has a modest adverse effect on abstinence during and after smoking cessation treatment. An increased focus on the identification of effective treatments or treatment adaptations that eliminate this disparity in smoking cessation for MD+ smokers is needed.
Efficacy combined with specified ingredients: a new direction for empirically supported addiction treatment
Authors: Magill Molly , Longabaugh Richard 
Published: October 2012

AbstractAimsWith the increased need for sanctioning behavioral addiction treatments to guide key stakeholders, focus has shifted to developing and applying criteria for establishing empirically supported treatments (EST). Among the many criteria offered, demonstration of incremental efficacy over a placebo or comparison in at least two independent randomized clinical trials (RCTs) has been the gold standard. While necessary, the present EST criteria are not sufficient. The present work: (i) argues for empirically supported specificity in behavioral addiction treatment, (ii) explores the limitations of empirical support for EST efficacy without evidence of specificity and (iii) discusses implications and recommendations for ultimately raising the bar for status as an EST.MethodsThe authors review relevant literature on ESTs, evidence‐based practice and clinical trial design in the addictions and related disciplines.ResultsWe clarify that the additional bar of specificity does not denote uniqueness in causal processes and we argue that specificity should not be inferred only via the nature of the experimental contrast. Rather, a treatment has specificity if its active ingredients are identified and validated empirically as predictors of subsequent treatment‐related outcomes. Within this new definition, there are implications for clinical research and other key stakeholders.ConclusionsA heightened centrality of empirically supported addiction treatment ingredients moving forward will advance clinical knowledge and evaluation methodology at a far greater pace.
Do mast cells link obesity and asthma?
Authors: Sismanopoulos N. , Delivanis D.‐A. , Mavrommati D. , Hatziagelaki E. , Conti P. , Theoharides T. C. 
Published: October 2012

AbstractAsthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the lungs. Both the number of cases and severity of asthma have been increasing without a clear explanation. Recent evidence suggests that obesity, which has also been increasing alarmingly, may worsen or precipitate asthma, but there is little evidence of how obesity may contribute to lung inflammation. We propose that mast cells are involved in both asthma and obesity by being the target and source of adipocytokines, ‘alarmins’ such as interleukin‐9 (IL‐9) and interleukin‐33 (IL‐33), and stress molecules including corticotropin‐releasing hormone (CRH) and neurotensin (NT), secreted in response to the metabolic burden. In particular, CRH and NT have synergistic effects on mast cell secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). IL‐33 augments VEGF release induced by substance P (SP) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) release induced by NT. Both IL‐9 and IL‐33 also promote lung mast cell infiltration and augment allergic inflammation. These molecules are also expressed in human mast cells leading to autocrine effects. Obese patients are also less sensitive to glucocorticoids and bronchodilators. Development of effective mast cell inhibitors may be a novel approach for the management of both asthma and obesity. Certain flavonoid combinations may be a promising new treatment approach.
Palladium‐induced Th2 cytokine responses reflect skin test reactivity
Authors: Muris J. , Feilzer A. J. , Kleverlaan C. J. , Rustemeyer T. , van Hoogstraten I. M. W. , Scheper R. J. , von Blomberg B. M. E. 
Published: October 2012

AbstractRecently, a crucial role of Th2 responses in nickel allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) was demonstrated. As palladium allergy is an issue of growing interest, the diagnostic potential of Th2 parameters for palladium sensitization was investigated. Palladium (Na2[PdCl4])‐induced lymphocyte proliferation (LPT), Th1 and Th2 cytokine production were correlated with skin test (ST) reactivity in 16 positive and 21 negative controls. Furthermore, the diagnostic potential of these assays was evaluated using receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis. For comparison, same experiments were carried out for nickel (NiSO4). Correlation coefficients between palladium ST reactivity and IFN‐γ, LPT, IL‐5, and IL‐13 were 0.34, 0.51, 0.69, and 0.78, and overall test accuracies were 68%, 81%, 89%, and 95%, respectively. Both palladium‐ and nickel‐mediated Th2 responses tightly correlate with ST reactivity, supporting recent findings on the crucial role of Th2 involvement in ACD. Therefore, these assays may have great potential as diagnostic tools for future in vitro sensitization testing.
Secondary fear of childbirth prolongs the time to subsequent delivery
Authors: SYDSJÖ GUNILLA , ANGERBJÖRN LOUISE , PALMQUIST SOFIE , BLADH MARIE , SYDSJÖ ADAM , JOSEFSSON ANN 
Published: October 2012

AbstractObjective. Most pregnant women are anxious about the delivery and up to 30% develop varying degrees of fear of childbirth (FOC). Secondary FOC occurs in parous women who have experienced a traumatic delivery. The aim of this study was to investigate the time to subsequent delivery and delivery outcome in women with secondary FOC, compared with a reference group. Setting. Southeast Sweden. Sample. 356 parous pregnant women with secondary FOC and a reference group of 634 parous women without FOC. Design. Descriptive, retrospective case–control study. Main outcome measures. Time to next pregnancy and delivery outcome. Results. More women with secondary FOC had a longer interval to subsequent delivery compared with parous women without FOC (p = 0.005). Women with secondary FOC had 5.2 times higher probability of having a cesarean section than the reference group. Women with secondary FOC also had on average a 40‐minute longer duration of active labor than women without FOC (p < 0.001). Conclusions. Secondary fear of childbirth prolongs the time to subsequent delivery and the active phase of labor itself, and increases the risk for cesarean section.
Initiation and extent of skin‐to‐skin care at two Swedish neonatal intensive care units
Authors: Blomqvist Ylva Thernström , Ewald Uwe , Gradin Maria , Nyqvist Kerstin Hedberg , Rubertsson Christine 
Published: October 2012

AbstractAimTo describe initiation and extent of parents’ application of skin‐to‐skin care (SSC) with their preterm infants at two Swedish neonatal intensive care units.MethodsThe duration of SSC was recorded in 104 infants’ medical charts during their hospital stay, and the parents answered a questionnaire.ResultsBoth parents were involved in the practice of SSC. Three infants experienced SSC directly after birth, 34 within 1 h, 85 within 24 h and the remaining 19 at 24–78 h postbirth. SSC commenced earlier (median age of 50 min) in infants whose first SSC was with their father instead of with their mother (median age of 649 min: p < 0.001). The earlier the SSC was initiated, the longer the infant was cared for skin‐to‐skin per day during his/her hospital stay (p < 0.001). The median daily duration of SSC was 403 min.ConclusionEarly initiation of SSC had positive impact on the extent of parents’ application of SSC. Even though the infants in this study were cared for skin‐to‐skin to a high extent, there is a potential for extended use of SSC in this type of hospital setting for reducing separation between infants and parents.
Children and adolescents' self‐reported coping strategies during the Southeast Asian Tsunami
Authors: Jensen Tine K. , Ellestad Ane , Dyb Grete 
Published: October 2012

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to investigate how Norwegian children on holiday in Southeast Asia coped when the tsunami hit December 26, 2004. The goal is to understand more about children and adolescents' immediate coping strategies when faced with a life‐threatening situation. Acquiring more knowledge on coping strategies at different points in the recovery process can be useful for gaining insight to the relationship between coping and psychological adjustment.MethodsSemi‐structured interviews of 56 children aged 6–18 years (36 girls and 20 boys) were conducted in their homes approximately 10 months after the tsunami. The interviews were analysed using qualitative methods.ResultsTwo primary coping strategies were described and labelled as self‐soothing thoughts and behavioural strategies. Self‐soothing thoughts were divided into five categories: positive thinking; avoidant thinking; rational thoughts; and thoughts on parental competencies and parental protection. Behavioural strategies were divided into six categories: attachment seeking behaviour; distraction behaviour; helping others; seeking information and comfort; and talking.ConclusionsThe children's coping responses point to the developmental aspects of coping and how children are dependent upon adults for guidance and protection. In addition, very few youth reported using problem‐focused coping strategies that are normally thought of as helpful in the aftermath of trauma, whereas strategies often thought of as not so helpful such as distraction and avoidance, was more predominant. It may be that helpful immediate coping strategies are different from long‐term coping strategies, and that coping strategies differ according to the degree of perceived control of the situation.Practitioner Points

Assessing peri‐trauma coping responses can be important for understanding post‐trauma functioning.
Important peri‐trauma responses can be discovered by asking the youth to narrate their traumatic experience.
Helpful peri‐trauma coping responses may be very different from post‐trauma coping responses and clinicians should recognize this.
First responders should seek to reunite youth with carers as soon as possible after a traumatizing experience.
Outside‐school physical activity participation and motivation in physical education
Authors: Shen Bo 
Published: October 2012

BackgroundExperience in non‐school contexts can shape and reshape students' motivation and mediate their learning in school. Outside‐school physical activity may provide students with an extensive cognitive and affective foundation and influence their motivation in physical education. Although a trans‐contextual effect of physical education has been explored, very little empirical research has examined the impact from outside‐school context to physical education.AimsUsing self‐determination theory and a hierarchical model of motivation, this study was designed to examine the association between participation in organized outside‐school physical activity programmes and self‐determination process in physical education.SampleParticipants included 545 9th graders (305 males and 240 females, age range = 14–16 years, mean age = 14.66 years) enrolled in required physical education classes in three suburban high schools in a large Midwest metropolitan area in the United States.MethodsSelf‐determination variables were measured using relevant instruments, and information on organized outside‐school physical activity experiences was gathered in a survey. Structural equation modelling analyses were conducted.ResultsStudents who participated in organized outside‐school physical activity programmes displayed overall higher motivation; however, the strength of associations among the self‐determination variables (i.e., pathways from perceived autonomy support to relatedness, from autonomy to competence, and from self‐determined motivation to in‐class physical activity engagement) was stronger for their non‐participant counterparts.ConclusionThere are dynamic relationships between participation in organized outside‐school physical activity programmes and self‐determination process in physical education. Physical educators need to identify, appreciate, and instructionally address individual students' differences during teaching and learning.
Functional asymmetry in kinesin and dynein dimers
Authors: Rank Katherine C. , Rayment Ivan 
Published: October 2012

AbstractActive transport along the microtubule lattice is a complex process that involves both the Kinesin and Dynein superfamily of motors. Transportation requires sophisticated regulation much of which occurs through the motor's tail domain. However, a significant portion of this regulation also occurs through structural changes that arise in the motor and the microtubule upon binding. The most obvious structural change being the manifestation of asymmetry. To a first approximation in solution, kinesin dimers exhibit twofold symmetry, and microtubules exhibit helical symmetry. The higher symmetries of both the kinesin dimers and microtubule lattice are lost on formation of the kinesin–microtubule complex. Loss of symmetry has functional consequences such as an asymmetric hand‐over‐hand mechanism in plus‐end‐directed kinesins, asymmetric microtubule binding in the Kinesin‐14 family, spatially biased stepping in dynein and cooperative binding of additional motors to the microtubule. This review focusses on how the consequences of asymmetry affect regulation of motor heads within a dimer, dimers within an ensemble of motors, and suggests how these asymmetries may affect regulation of active transport within the cell.
Safety, compliance, and predictive parameters for dosage modification in adjuvant S‐1 chemotherapy for gastric cancer
Authors: Kim Su‐Jung , Kim Yu Jung , Kim Jee Hyun , Park Do Joong , Kim Hyung‐Ho , Lee Jong Seok , Lee Keun‐Wook 
Published: October 2012

This study was performed to investigate the compliance, safety, dosage modifications (dose reduction and/or schedule change [including permanent S‐1 withdrawal]), and clinical parameters that predict S‐1 dosage modification in gastric cancer patients receiving adjuvant S‐1 chemotherapy. One hundred and forty‐nine patients who underwent curative D2 surgery and received adjuvant S‐1 chemotherapy were enrolled. S‐1 was administered orally (40 mg/m2 twice daily on days 1–28 every 6 weeks) for 1 year. For patients unable to tolerate S‐1, the dosage was reduced or the schedule was changed to a 3‐weekly schedule of 2 weeks on treatment followed by 1 week off treatment. The planned 1‐year treatment was completed in 73.8% of patients; 69 patients required dosage modification because of toxicity. The most frequent cause of dosage modification was enterocolitis (37 patients; defined as ≥ grade 2 abdominal pain and/or ≥ grade 2 diarrhea). Most dosage modification occurred during the early cycles of treatment (within the first 3 months). Severe toxicities (≥ grade 3) included neutropenia (13.4%), abdominal pain (8.1%) and diarrhea (8.1%). In multivariate analyses, decreased relative dose intensity was related to poor disease‐free survival independent of stage, and only low creatinine clearance predicted S‐1 dosage modification. In conclusion, although adjuvant S‐1 therapy has a high compliance rate, meticulous monitoring of adverse events is required in the early period of treatment. Decreased creatinine clearance was the only factor that predicted dosage modification. In patients with creatinine clearance <50 mL/min, dosage reduction should be considered from the initiation of S‐1 treatment. (Cancer Sci 2013; 104: 123–116)
Ion channels regulating mast cell biology
Authors: Ashmole I. , Bradding P. 
Published: October 2012

SummaryMast cells play a central role in the pathophysiology of asthma and related allergic conditions. Mast cell activation leads to the degranulation of preformed mediators such as histamine and the secretion of newly synthesised proinflammatory mediators such as leukotrienes and cytokines. Excess release of these mediators contributes to allergic disease states. An influx of extracellular Ca2+ is essential for mast cell mediator release. From the Ca2+ channels that mediate this influx, to the K+, Cl− and transient receptor potential channels that set the cell membrane potential and regulate Ca2+ influx, ion channels play a critical role in mast cell biology. In this review we provide an overview of our current knowledge of ion channel expression and function in mast cells with an emphasis on how channels interact to regulate Ca2+ signalling.