bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The oral health status, practices and knowledge of pregnant women in south‐western Sydney
Authors: George A , Johnson M , Blinkhorn A , Ajwani S , Bhole S , Yeo AE , Ellis S 
Published: January 2013

AbstractBackgroundCurrent evidence highlights the importance of oral health during pregnancy. However, little is known about the oral health of pregnant women in Australia. The aim of this study was to report the oral health status, knowledge and practices of pregnant women in south‐western Sydney.MethodsA cross‐sectional survey of 241 pregnant women attending a large hospital in south‐western Sydney.ResultsMore than half (59.3%) reported dental problems during pregnancy, less than a third (30.5%) saw a dentist in the last six months, only 10% had received any information about perinatal oral health and many (>50%) were unaware of the potential impact of poor maternal oral health on pregnancy and infant outcomes. Analysis revealed a significant difference (<0.05) in the uptake of dental services among pregnant women who had higher household incomes, private health insurance, received information about perinatal oral health and knowledge about maternal oral health.ConclusionsThe participants reported significant barriers to obtaining dental care including limited access to affordable dental services and lack of awareness about the importance of maternal oral health. The findings suggest the need for preventive strategies involving dentists and antenatal providers to improve maternal oral health in Australia.
Genotype‐Based Association Analysis Using Discordant Pairs: A Penetrance Odds Ratio Approach
Authors: Grover Vaneeta K. , Cole David E.C. , Hamilton David C. 
Published: January 2013

SummaryGenotypic counts of paired relatives discordant for a complex late‐onset disease are often used to test for genetic association. The power of the various statistical test options, when data on covariates are unavailable, has been the focus of recent research. Comparison of the Cochran‐Armitage, Bhapkar, and McNemar tests indicates that none is superior to the others in all cases. Using an alternative approach, we found that the theoretical genotypic frequencies of the discordant pairs depend only on the penetrance odds ratios, after conditioning. These odds ratios can be estimated by maximizing a product binomial likelihood and provide insight into the mode of inheritance. We identified cases where exact maximum likelihood (ML) estimates can be explicitly obtained. This approach led us to two tests for association which depend on likelihood ratio (LR) or score statistics. We quantified the power of these tests analytically and examined their performance through simulation. We explored the utility of these tests with an example from the literature—the association between complement factor H (CFH) polymorphisms and age‐related macular degeneration. The LR and Score tests serve as simple and effective ways of interpreting paired case‐control data sets.
A Likelihood Ratio Test for Genome‐Wide Association under Genetic Heterogeneity
Authors: Qian Meng , Shao Yongzhao 
Published: January 2013

SummaryMost existing association tests for genome‐wide association studies (GWASs) fail to account for genetic heterogeneity. Zhou and Pan proposed a binomial‐mixture‐model‐based association test to account for the possible genetic heterogeneity in case‐control studies. The idea is elegant, however, the proposed test requires an expectation‐maximization (EM)‐type iterative algorithm to identify the penalised maximum likelihood estimates and a permutation method to assess p‐values. The intensive computational burden induced by the EM‐algorithm and the permutation becomes prohibitive for direct applications to GWASs. This paper develops a likelihood ratio test (LRT) for GWASs under genetic heterogeneity based on a more general alternative mixture model. In particular, a closed‐form formula for the LRT statistic is derived to avoid the EM‐type iterative numerical evaluation. Moreover, an explicit asymptotic null distribution is also obtained, which avoids using the permutation to obtain p‐values. Thus, the proposed LRT is easy to implement for GWASs. Furthermore, numerical studies demonstrate that the LRT has power advantages over the commonly used Armitage trend test and other existing association tests under genetic heterogeneity. A breast cancer GWAS dataset is used to illustrate the newly proposed LRT.
Ultrasound velocity through the tibia is not affected by prolonged inhaled steroid therapy in children
Authors: Picard Elie , Wilk Menucha , Mimouni Francis B , Joseph Leon , Goldberg Shmuel 
Published: January 2013

AbstractAimTo evaluate in a prospective, cross‐sectional cohort study the impact of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) on bone speed of sound (SOS) in asthmatic children.MethodsChildren with mild‐to‐moderate asthma from a pulmonary clinic were assessed over a 2‐month period. We recorded clinical and demographic data related to asthma severity, its treatment, participation in sports and dairy intake. Tibial SOS was measured using the Sunlight Omnisense 7000S quantitative ultrasound bone sonometer.ResultsEighty‐five mild‐to‐moderate asthmatic children were studied. Age range was 1.4–17 years (71.7% boys). Average disease duration was approximately 5 years, and the average cumulative duration of ICS therapy was approximately 1.5 years. Average SOS Z‐score was slightly negative and varied between −3.5 and +1.9 SD. In univariate analysis, SOS Z‐score was negatively correlated with asthma duration (R2 = 5.7%, p = 0.028) and ICS duration (R2 = 4.9%, p = 0.042). In backward stepwise multiple regression, where SOS Z‐score was the dependent variable, the only variables that remained significant in the final analysis were gender (p = 0.015), asthma duration (p = 0.003) and BMI (p = 0.048) (R2 for the model 17.52% p = 0.01).ConclusionProlonged inhaled steroid therapy appears to have no deleterious effect upon SOS in children with mild‐to‐moderate persistent asthma.
A model case of a positive outcome in super‐super obesity
Authors: Hipp A. , Kramer M. , Gallwitz B. , Fritsche A. , Zipfel S. , Reutershan J. , Niess A. 
Published: January 2013

SummaryFor an increasing number of obese patients, bariatric surgery is considered as the treatment of choice after the failure of conventional strategies. While numerous studies on bariatric surgery have shown substantial health benefits, there is a broad inter‐individual variation in the long‐term outcome, which is insufficiently understood. Here we show a favourable long‐term outcome following multidisciplinary care in a super‐super‐obese patient. The patient suffered from numerous typically obesity‐associated comorbidities and limitations. He underwent multidisciplinary care including two‐step bariatric intervention. Endoscopic intragastric balloon positioning was followed by gastric sleeve surgery without Roux‐en‐Y gastric bypass. His body weight dropped from 260 kg (body mass index [BMI] 79.4 kg m−2) to 85 kg (BMI 25.9 kg m−2) within 16 months and continued to be stable at 90 kg (BMI 27.8 kg m−2) at the end of the follow‐up period of 48 months. The loss of excess body weight was associated with the remission of numerous obesity‐related comorbidities and with a concomitant pronounced increase in the quality of life and in the socioeconomic status. Eventually, the patient was able to lead a normal life with a decreased risk of long‐term complications. We attribute the positive long‐term outcome to the following potential determinants: individualized bariatric surgery, multidisciplinary care, the patient's long‐term compliance, adequate adherence to the aftercare, physical exercise after surgery, family support, the cooperation of the primary care physician and the financial coverage by the health insurance. Some of these factors remain to be evaluated as predictors of a favourable long‐term outcome in prospective trials.
Normalizing CO2 in chronic hyperventilation by means of a novel breathing mask: a pilot study
Authors: Johansen Troels , Jack Sandy , Dahl Ronald 
Published: January 2013

AbstractIntroductionChronic idiopathic hyperventilation (CIH) is a form of dysfunctional breathing that has proven hard to treat effectively.ObjectivesTo perform a preliminary test of the hypothesis that by periodically inducing normocapnia over several weeks, it would be possible to raise the normal resting level of CO2 and achieve a reduction of symptoms.MethodsSix CIH patients were treated 2 h a day for 4 weeks with a novel breathing mask. The mask was used to induce normocapnia in these chronically hypocapnic patients. Capillary blood gases and acid/base parameters [capillary CO2 tension (PcapCO2), pH, and standard base excess (SBE)] were measured at baseline and once each week at least 3 h after mask use, as well as spirometric values, breath‐holding tolerance and hyperventilation symptoms as per the Nijmegen Questionnaire (NQ).ResultsThe mask treatment resulted in a significant increase of resting PcapCO2 (+0.45 kPa, P = 0.028), a moderate increase in SBE (+1.4 mEq/L, P = 0.035) and a small reduction in daily symptoms (−3.8 NQ units, P = 0.046). The effect was most pronounced in the first 2 weeks of treatment.ConclusionBy inducing normocapnia with the breathing mask 2 h a day for 4 weeks, the normal resting CO2 and acid/base levels in chronically hyperventilating patients were partially corrected, and symptoms were reduced.
Projections of changes in grassland soil organic carbon under climate change are relatively insensitive to methods of model initialization
Authors: Senapati N. , Smith P. , Wilson B. , Yeluripati J. B. , Daniel H. , Lockwood P. , Ghosh S. 
Published: January 2013

SummaryModel initialization in soil organic carbon (SOC) turnover models has often been described as a crucial step in making future projections. Model initialization by the spin‐up of pools of SOC (model equilibrium run) has been questioned, because equilibrium has to be assumed. Measured SOC pools are independent of model assumptions and are thought to reflect better real site conditions. It has been suggested that model initialization with measured SOC fractions could provide an advantage over model spin‐up of SOC pools. In this study we tested this suggestion in relatively undisturbed native grasslands in Australia. We tested the Rothamsted SOC turnover model (RothC) under climate change at 12 sites with three different initialization methods, viz. model initialization with (i) spin‐up of model pools with inert organic matter (IOM) pool size calculated from a regression equation, (ii) spin‐up of model pools with measured IOM and (iii) all pools estimated from measured fractions. Averaged over the sites and initialization methods, maximum absolute variations (absolute differences in projected SOC stocks expressed as a percentage of initial 2008 SOC stocks) as well as averaged absolute variations throughout the projection period were very small (2.2 and 1.6%, respectively). Averaged across the sites, there were no significant differences in projected grassland SOC stocks under climate change after 93 years of simulation with model initialization by different methods and averaged absolute variation was only 1.6% across initialization methods. These findings suggest that in a relatively undisturbed land‐use system such as native grassland, projections of SOC under climate change are relatively insensitive to the model initialization method.
Do not forget the professional – the value of the FIRST model for guiding the structural involvement of patients in rheumatology research
Authors: de Wit Maarten P. T. , Elberse Janneke E. , Broerse Jacqueline E. W. , Abma Tineke A. 
Published: January 2013

AbstractBackgroundThe FIRST model describes five practical components that enable equal collaboration between patients and professionals in clinical rheumatology research: Facilitate, identify, respect, support and training.ObjectiveTo assess the value of this model as a framework for setting up and guiding the structural involvement of people with arthritis in health research.MethodThe FIRST model was used as a framework during the guidance of a network of patient research partners and clinical rheumatology departments in the Netherlands. A ‘monitoring and evaluation’ approach was used to study the network over a period of 2 years. Data were collected using mixed methods and subjected to a directed content analysis. The FIRST components structured the data analysis. During monitoring meetings, refined and additional descriptors for each component were formulated and added if new items were found.ResultsThe FIRST model helps to guide and foster structural partnerships between patients and professionals in health research projects. However, it should be broadened to emphasize the pivotal role of the principal investigator regarding the facilitation and support of patient research partners, to recognize the requirements of professionals for training and coaching and to capture the dynamics of collaboration, mutual learning processes and continuous reflection.ConclusionFIRST is a good model to implement sustainable relationships between patients and researchers. It will benefit from further refinement by acknowledging the dynamics of collaboration and including the concept of reflection and relational empowerment. The reciprocal character of the five components, including training and support of researchers, should be incorporated.
The presence of clusters of plasmacytoid dendritic cells is a helpful feature for differentiating lupus panniculitis from subcutaneous panniculitis‐like T‐cell lymphoma
Authors: Liau Jau‐Yu , Chuang Shih‐Sung , Chu Chia‐Yu , Ku Wen‐Hui , Tsai Jia‐Huei , Shih Teng‐Fu 
Published: January 2013

AimsBoth lupus panniculitis (LP) and subcutaneous panniculitis‐like T‐cell lymphoma (SPTCL) are characterized by subcutaneous lobular lymphocytic infiltrates, and they are sometimes difficult to differentiate. Recently, plasmacytoid dendritic cells (PDCs) were found to be present in various types of cutaneous lupus erythematosus lesions, including LP, and are supposed to play important pathogenetic roles. The aim of this study was to investigate whether PDCs are differentially present in these two diseases and can be utilized to differentiate them. Conventional histopathological features were also compared.Methods and resultsInitial biopsies from 21 LP and 11 SPTCL patients were analysed. Our results showed that the presence of lymphoid follicles, dermal mucin deposition and lack of moderate to marked nuclear atypia or adipocyte rimming were more suggestive of LP. Several distinct patterns of fat necrosis, i.e. hyaline/lipomembranous and fibrinoid/coagulative in LP and SPTCL, respectively, were also diagnostically useful. Also, clusters of PDCs were characteristically seen in LP lesions (17/21, 81%) but not in SPTCL lesions (2/11, 18.2%). In LP lesions, but not in SPTCL lesions, the presence of epidermal interface change correlated perfectly with the presence of PDCs in the papillary dermis.ConclusionsWe conclude that the presence of clusters of PDCs and certain histological features are helpful for the differential diagnosis.
Women, pharmacy and the World Wide Web: could they be the answer to the obesity epidemic?
Authors: Fakih Souhiela , Hussainy Safeera , Marriott Jennifer 
Published: January 2013

Abstract

Objectives
The objective of this article is to explore how giving women access to evidence-based information in weight management through pharmacies, and by utilising the World Wide Web, is a much needed step towards dealing with the obesity crisis.

Key findings
Women's needs should be considered when developing evidence-based information on weight. Excess weight places them at high risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease, infertility and complications following pregnancy and giving birth. Women are also an important population group because they influence decision-making around meal choices for their families and are the biggest consumers of weight-loss products, many of which can be purchased in pharmacies. Pharmacies are readily accessible primary healthcare locations and given the pharmacist's expertise in being able to recognise underlying causes of obesity (e.g. medications, certain disease states), pharmacies are an ideal location to provide women with evidence-based information on all facets of weight management. Considering the exponential rise in the use of the World Wide Web, this information could be delivered as an online educational resource supported by other flexible formats.

Conclusions
The time has come for the development of an online, evidence-based educational resource on weight management, which is combined with other flexible formats and targeted at women in general and according to different phases of their lives (pregnancy, post-partum, menopause). By empowering women with this knowledge it will allow them and their families to take better control of their health and wellbeing, and it may just be the much needed answer to complement already existing resources to help curb the obesity epidemic.
The identity, distribution and epizootiological significance of brucella isolates in Australia, 1981 to 1985
Authors: CRICHTON R , MEDVECZKY N E 
Published: February 2013

SUMMARY: Results listing the identification of brucella isolates received by the National Brucellosis Reference Centre, National Biological Standards Laboratory, Canberra from 1981 to 1985 are presented. The distribution of brucella species and blotypes is shown on a host and state basis. Cultures Isolated in Australia were identified as Brucella abortus biotypes 1, 2 and 4, and Strain 19; B. suis biotype 1, and B. ovis. B. melitensis biotype 3 was recovered from man infected in the Mediterranean area. B. abortus biotype 1 was the most frequent isolate.Atypical cultures isolated from cattle included B. suis biotype 1, and erythrltol‐utilising mutants of Strain 19. The epizootiological implications of these findings are discussed in relation to their impact on the national campaign to eradicate bovine brucellosis.
Facile Synthesis of Monodispersed In2O3 Hollow Spheres and Application in Photocatalysis and Gas Sensing
Authors: Tseng Wenjea J. , Tseng Tzu‐Tsung , Wu Hong‐Mao , Her Yung‐Chiun , Yang Tsong‐Jen 
Published: January 2013

Monodispersed, agglomerate‐free In2O3 hollow spheres have been prepared via a simple synthetic route involving permeation and anchoring of In3+ ions with carbonyl groups of swollen commercial polymer beads in tetrachloroethylene solvent followed by thermal removal of the template cores in ambient air. The as‐synthesized hollow spheres exhibit a narrow size distribution with tunable particle size (0.5–1.2 μm) and shell thickness (62–230 nm) over the process variables examined, i.e., InCl3 precursor concentration (4.5 × 10−3–6.7 × 10−2 M), reaction temperature (55°C–95°C), and reaction time (1–6 h). Kinetics calculation reveals that the formation of permeating In3+‐rich shell in the swollen template beads becomes energetically less favorable to proceed as the reaction time increases. This limits the maximum shell thickness attainable at the given process variables. The shell is nanoporous with a Horvath‐Kawazoe (HK) pore size of ~3 nm, which remains essentially unchanged as the process variables alter. The In2O3 hollow spheres with an increased Brunauer‐Emmett‐Teller (BET) surface area (up to 329 m2/g) show an improved capability in photodegradation of aqueous methylene blue (MB) dye under UV exposure as well as an increased sensitivity for CO‐gas detection. This metal‐implantation scheme is general and can be extended to the synthesis of other hollow materials in various solvent liquids.
Temperature‐Dependent Emission Spectra of Ca2Si5N8:Eu2+, Tm3+ Phosphor and its Afterglow Properties
Authors: Li Jinfang , Lei Bingfu , Qin Jinlan , Liu Yingliang , Liu Xiaotang 
Published: January 2013

The nitrides Ca2Si5N8:0.5%Eu2+, x%Tm3+(x = 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 4) (CSN:0.5E, xT) phosphors were prepared via the high temperature solid‐sintering method using CaH2 as calcium source. These phosphors exhibited strong orange long‐lasting phosphorescence (LLP) after turning off the activating light. Besides, the CSN:0.5E, 1T phosphor with an afterglow time of more than 200 min (0.32 mcd/m2). Furthermore, the temperature‐dependent emission spectra of CSN:0.5E, 1T were investigated from temperature 80–500 K and an anti‐quenching phenomenon that the emission intensities increased then decreased under excitation at increased temperature was found. Ultimate, the proposed mechanism on temperature dependence of luminescence was analyzed. This study provides a new perspective for the impact of temperature‐dependent problem as a consequence of heating processes in luminescent materials.
Risk factors for delayed post‐polypectomy hemorrhage: A case‐control study
Authors: Kim Jeong Ho , Lee Hyun Jeong , Ahn Ji Won , Cheung Dae Young , Kim Jin Il , Park Soo‐Heon , Kim Jae Kwang 
Published: January 2013

AbstractBackground and AimDelayed post‐polypectomy hemorrhage is a rare but serious complication. The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for the development of delayed post‐polypectomy hemorrhage.MethodsThis was a retrospective case‐control study of patients who developed delayed hematochezia after receiving colonoscopic polypectomy. The control patients underwent uneventful polypectomy and were selected at a 4:1 ratio.ResultsOf the 7447 lesions examined from the 3253 patients who received colonoscopic polypectomy, 53 lesions (0.7%) of 42 patients (1.3%) developed delayed hemorrhage, and 168 patients were selected as controls. According to multivariate logistic regression analysis, a polyp larger than 10 mm (odds ratio [OR] 2.355, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.225–4.528, P = 0.010), a pedunculated polyp (OR 3.473, 95% CI 1.576–7.657, P = 0.002), and a polyp located in the right hemi‐colon (OR 2.690, 95% CI 1.465–4.940, P = 0.001) were significant risk factors for delayed post‐polypectomy hemorrhage. The presence of comorbidities did not increase the risk of delayed hemorrhage.ConclusionPolyp size (large), shape (pedunculated), and location (right hemi‐colon) represented substantial risk factors for the development of delayed hemorrhage after colonoscopic polypectomy.
BDNF prevents NMDA‐induced toxicity in models of Huntington's disease: the effects are genotype specific and adenosine A2A receptor is involved
Authors: Martire Alberto , Pepponi Rita , Domenici Maria Rosaria , Ferrante Antonella , Chiodi Valentina , Popoli Patrizia 
Published: January 2013

AbstractNMDA receptor‐mediated excitotoxicity is thought to play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of Huntington's disease (HD). The neurotrophin brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which is also highly involved in HD and whose effects are modulated by adenosine A2ARs, influences the activity and expression of striatal NMDA receptors. In electrophysiology experiments, we investigated the role of BDNF toward NMDA‐induced effects in HD models, and the possible involvement of A2ARs. In corticostriatal slices from wild‐type mice and age‐matched symptomatic R6/2 mice (a model of HD), NMDA application (75 μM) induced a transient or a permanent (i.e., toxic) reduction of field potential amplitude, respectively. BDNF (10 ng/mL) potentiated NMDA effects in wild‐type, while it protected from NMDA toxicity in R6/2 mice. Both effects of BDNF were prevented by A2AR blockade. The protective effect of BDNF against NMDA‐induced toxicity was reproduced in a cellular model of HD. These findings may have very important implications for the neuroprotective potential of BDNF and A2AR ligands in HD.