bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prolonged Administration of Pyridostigmine Impairs Neuromuscular Function with and without Down-regulation of Acetylcholine Receptors
Authors: Richtsfeld Martina , Yasuhara Shingo , Fink Heidrun , Blobner Manfred , Martyn J. A. Jeevendra 
Published: April 2013

Abstract

Background:
The acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, pyridostigmine, is prophylactically administered to mitigate the toxic effects of nerve gas poisoning. The authors tested the hypothesis that prolonged pyridostigmine administration can lead to neuromuscular dysfunction and even down-regulation of acetylcholine receptors.

Methods:
Pyridostigmine (5 or 25 mg·kg−1·day−1) or saline was continuously administered via osmotic pumps to rats, and infused for either 14 or 28 days until the day of neuromuscular assessment (at day 14 or 28), or discontinued 24 h before neuromuscular assessment. Neurotransmission and muscle function were examined by single-twitch, train-of-four stimulation and 100-Hz tetanic stimulation. Sensitivity to atracurium and acetylcholine receptor number (quantitated by 125I-α-bungarotoxin) provided additional measures of neuromuscular integrity.

Results:
Specific tetanic tensions (Newton [N]/muscle weight [g]) were significantly (P < 0.05) decreased at 14 (10.3 N/g) and 28 (11.1 N/g) days of 25 mg·kg−1·day−1 pyridostigmine compared with controls (13.1–13.6 N/g). Decreased effective dose (0.81–1.05 vs. 0.16–0.45 mg/kg; P < 0.05) and decreased plasma concentration (3.02–3.27 vs. 0.45–1.37 μg/ml; P < 0.05) of atracurium for 50% paralysis (controls vs. 25 mg·kg−1·day−1 pyridostigmine, respectively), irrespective of discontinuation of pyridostigmine, confirmed the pyridostigmine-induced altered neurotransmission. Pyridostigmine (25 mg·kg−1·day−1) down-regulated acetylcholine receptors at 28 days.

Conclusions:
Prolonged administration of pyridostigmine (25 mg·kg−1·day−1) leads to neuromuscular impairment, which can persist even when pyridostigmine is discontinued 24 h before assessment of neuromuscular function. Pyridostigmine has the potential to down-regulate acetylcholine receptors, but induces neuromuscular dysfunction even in the absence of receptor changes.
Effectiveness of Trimethoprim‐Sulfamethoxazole and Metronidazole in the Treatment of Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth in Children Living in a Slum
Authors: Tahan Soraia , Melli Lígia Cristina F.L. , Mello Carolina Santos , Rodrigues Mírian Silva C. , Filho Humberto Bezerra , de Morais Mauro B. 
Published: April 2013

ABSTRACTTrimethoprim‐sulfamethoxazole and metronidazole were used for 14 days to treat 20 children with small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). SIBO was diagnosed using the lactulose hydrogen breath test. The breath test was repeated 1 month after treatment, and 19 (95.0%) of 20 children showed no evidence of SIBO (P < 0.001). The area under the individual curves showed that children with SIBO exhibited greater hydrogen production before treatment in both the first hour and between 60 and 180 minutes after the breath test. The treatment did not decrease methane production. In conclusion, trimethoprim‐sulfamethoxazole and metronidazole was effective in treating children with SIBO.
The controversy over euthanasia in Uganda: a case of the Baganda
Authors: Kalanzi Dorothy J.N. 
Published: April 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore attitudes towards euthanasia among Ugandan adults.Design/methodology/approachThis is an important study because data were recently collected in 2010. The sample consists of 80 participants above age 18 who responded to an interview schedule exploring attitudes towards euthanasia. A qualitative approach was utilized to analyze the findings.FindingsUnique to this study is the fact that almost all participants (96 percent) perceived euthanasia as murder. Religious beliefs, hope for recovery, potential for new medical technologies, health care costs, quality of life, and the right to die are some of the themes that influenced attitudes towards euthanasia. Religious and cultural beliefs appear to be the major influential factors for euthanasia attitudes in this study.Originality/valueGenerated information may assist in formulating end of life policies as well as addressing related ethical issues in low income nations. Currently, information on attitudes towards euthanasia in sub‐Sahara African countries is scarce in the literature. The paper's findings may increase knowledge in this area.
Altruism and participation costs in local redistribution
Authors: Terra Rafael , Mattos Enlinson 
Published: April 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the role played by the geographic distance between the poor and non‐poor in the local demand for income redistribution and, in particular, to provide an empirical test of the geographically limited altruism model proposed by Pauly, incorporating the possibility of participation costs associated with the provision of transfers.Design/methodology/approachFirst, the authors motivate the discussion by allowing for an “iceberg cost” as participation for the poor individuals in Pauly's original model. Next, using data from the 2000 Brazilian Census and a panel based on the National Household Sample Survey (PNAD) from 2001 to 2007, the authors estimate the effect of the proximity between poor and non‐poor on the demand for redistribution.FindingsAll of the authors' distance‐related explanatory variables indicate that an increased proximity between poor and non‐poor is associated with better targeting of the programs (demand for redistribution). For instance, a one‐hour increase in the time spent commuting by the poor reduces the targeting by 3.158 percentage points. This result is similar to that of Ashworth et al., but is definitely not due to the program leakages. To empirically disentangle participation costs and spatially restricted altruism effects, an additional test is conducted using unique panel data based on the 2004 and 2006 PNAD, which assess the number of benefits and the average benefit value received by beneficiaries. The estimates suggest that both cost and altruism play important roles in the demand for redistribution and might reduce targeting in Brazil. Lastly, the results indicate that “size matters”; i.e. the budget for redistribution has a positive impact on targeting.Practical implicationsOur results suggest that a totally centralized supply of transfers may be more inefficient than local redistribution in terms of targeting, either due to higher participation costs or because of the eventual greater geographical distance between the national median voter and poor individuals. However, a partial role for the federal government, such as providing funds for redistribution, seems to improve targeting.Originality/valueIn particular, the paper provides an empirical test for the geographically limited altruism model proposed by Pauly, incorporating the possibility of participation costs associated with the provision of transfers. The authors motivate this discussion by adding the possibility of distance‐related “iceberg costs” of delivering benefits to poor individuals and show that these two effects of distance may act to lower the demand for transfers, making it difficult to distinguish between the two effects. These two effects of distance act by lowering the demand for transfers, making it difficult to disentangle the effect of altruism from the effect of cost. The authors' empirical strategy seems to allow to identify each of them and to provide a suggestion on whether it is advantageous to carry out redistribution at the local level.
Understanding citizens' participation in service delivery protests in South Africa's Sedibeng district municipality
Authors: Akinboade Oludele A. , Putuma Mokwena Mandisa , Kinfack Emilie C. 
Published: April 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to discuss citizen participation in public service delivery protests in the Sedibeng district municipality of South Africa. The municipality consists of three local municipalities: Lesedi, Emfuleni and Midvaal.Design/methodology/approachA structured sample of 1,000 respondents was used in the study. The descriptive and inferential statistics approaches were applied to understand the root causes of the protests.FindingsOverall, the average level of satisfaction with public service delivery is quite low. Service delivery protest participants opine that doing so is the only way of getting things done in the municipality. The overwhelming opinion of respondents is that the councillors are unresponsive.Practical implicationsPublic service delivery in Sedibeng municipality must improve so that citizens' confidence in municipal governance can rise. Sedibeng municipality should urgently improve the socio‐economic conditions in the communities and should prioritise crime prevention, job creation and development for young people. Health care delivery is important to long‐term residents. Government should ensure that all allegations of corruption and maladministration are speedily and transparently dealt with, without fear or favour.Originality/valueStudies that provide insight into citizen participation in public services delivery protests in Africa are very few and so this study makes an important contribution to our understanding of this important field.
A bivariate causality link between foreign direct investment and economic growth
Authors: Kaur Manpreet , Yadav Surendra S. , Gautam Vinayshil 
Published: April 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the causal relationship between economic growth and foreign direct investment (FDI) in context of India.Design/methodology/approachUsing Toda‐Yamamoto granger causality technique, authors tried to examine the causal link between GDP per capita (proxy for economic growth) and FDI. The data is tested for stationarity using Augmented Dickey‐Fuller test and Phillips Peron test. Authors also examined the co integration properties using Johansen test to identify long run relationship between the two variables.FindingsIt was found that GDP per capita and FDI are integrated in long run. There also exist a bidirectional between FDI and growth in post liberalization period, i.e. post 1991. There is also evidence of FDI led growth in the pre‐liberalization period, i.e. pre 1991.Research limitations/implicationsThere are many factors which contribute to FDI and GDP per capita. A comprehensive study can be done to explore other determinants of FDI and GDP per capita.Practical implicationsThe findings reveal that economic growth measured by GDP per capita has become one of the important determinants of FDI after liberalization. The evidence of FDI led growth in both the periods signifies that policy makers should ensure a minimum level of economic growth to maintain India as an attractive destination for FDI. The policy should lay emphasis on business facilitation measures like improving the conditions for doing business in India, expanding the role of investment promotion agencies (IPAs) and providing single window for foreign investment.Originality/valueThere exists cross‐sectional studies on examining relationship between FDI and growth. However, there is a need to have country level study to identify FDI and growth nexus as it is sensitive to country specific factors which are unobservable in time series analysis of group of countries.
Population responses of small mammals to food supply and predators: a global meta‐analysis
Authors: Prevedello Jayme A. , Dickman Chris R. , Vieira Marcus V. , Vieira Emerson M. 
Published: April 2013

Summary

The relative importance of food supply and predation as determinants of animal population density is a topic of enduring debate among ecologists. To address it, many studies have tested the potential effects of food on population density by experimentally supplementing natural populations, with much focus on terrestrial vertebrates, especially small mammals.

Here we perform a meta‐analysis of such experiments, testing two complementary hypotheses: (i) small mammal populations are bottom‐up limited and (ii) population increases in response to food supplementation are constrained by predation, a top‐down limitation.

In the 148 experiments recorded, food supplementation had an overall positive and significant effect, increasing population densities by 1·5‐fold. Larger population increases occurred when predation was reduced and populations were open to immigration. Predation appeared to be unimportant when populations were closed to immigration. Immigration was the major mechanism underlying increases in abundance by increasing local population density and crowding. Contributions of increased reproductive rate could be detected, but were minor compared to immigration, and no effects were detected from survival.

Our analyses support the view that animal population density is determined by both bottom‐up and top‐down forces. They also suggest the possibility that food supplementation experiments might unintentionally create ecological traps by aggregating both prey and predators in small areas of the landscape. We suggest an alternative experimental design to increase the contribution that food supplementation experiments can make in future.
The City as Experiential Space: The Production of Shared Meaning
Authors: Löw Martina 
Published: April 2013

AbstractCities obviously differ from each other. Sociologically, this difference becomes significant when your aim is to ascertain the influence of local factors in a globalizing world or to understand processes of societal differentiation. To do so, scholars in the areas of urban and regional sociology, community research and local policy can turn to a number of theoretical and empirical studies on cities, municipalities, or, less specifically, the local setting as societally formative units that resist global influences. In this article I continue to ask how cities socialize in a way that allows shared experience to emerge in communities. Grounded in the sociology of knowledge shaped by German thinkers such as Max Weber, Alfred Schütz, Karl Mannheim, Peter L. Berger and Thomas Luckmann, my aim is to illustrate that specific stocks of knowledge based on habitualized experience arise in every city. Intrinsic logic captures the hidden structures of cities as locally well‐established, operative processes of sense‐making along with their physical, material manifestations.
Use of the air‐Q® intubating laryngeal airway for rapid‐sequence intubation in infants with severe airway obstruction: a case series
Authors: Jagannathan N. , Sohn L. E. , Eidem J. M. 
Published: April 2013

SummaryWe describe a four‐step method for fibreoptic‐guided, rapid‐sequence tracheal intubation through the air‐Q® intubating laryngeal airway in infants with severe airway obstruction. Our step‐wise process provides an organised and controlled approach to safely securing the airway.
Impact of persistent, frequent regurgitation on quality of life in heartburn responders treated with acid suppression: a multinational primary care study
Authors: Kahrilas P. J. , Howden C. W. , Wernersson B. , Denison H. , Nuevo J. , Gisbert J. P. 
Published: April 2013

SummaryBackgroundIn gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease (GERD), heartburn responds well to acid suppression, but regurgitation is a common cause of incomplete treatment response.AimTo assess the prevalence and burden of persistent, frequent regurgitation in primary care patients with GERD treated with acid suppression.MethodsWe analysed observational data from 134 sites across six European countries in patients diagnosed with GERD. Within 3 months of the index visit, symptoms were assessed using the Reflux Disease Questionnaire, and their impact on sleep and work productivity with the Quality of Life in Reflux and Dyspepsia questionnaire and the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire, respectively. Patients provided information on concomitant over‐the‐counter (OTC) GERD medication use.ResultsPersistent, frequent (3–7 days/week) regurgitation was reported by 13.2% (153/1156) of GERD patients with no heartburn on acid suppression; the prevalence was very similar for patients with up to 2 days/week of ongoing mild heartburn. Among patients without heartburn, sleep disturbance of any type was reported by 50.7–60.1% with persistent, frequent regurgitation, compared with 38.1–51.1% and 14.4–19.2% of those with less frequent or no regurgitation respectively. Persistent, frequent regurgitation was associated with increased use of OTC medication and more hours of work missed, whether mild, infrequent heartburn was present or not.ConclusionsFrequent regurgitation, which persisted in 12–13% of patients with no or infrequent, mild heartburn on acid suppression, negatively affected sleep and work productivity, and increased use of OTC medication. Persistent, frequent regurgitation is problematic for primary care patients with GERD.
Non‐invasive tests for fibrosis and liver stiffness predict 5‐year survival of patients chronically infected with hepatitis B virus
Authors: de Lédinghen V. , Vergniol J. , Barthe C. , Foucher J. , Chermak F. , Le Bail B. , Merrouche W. , Bernard P.‐H. 
Published: April 2013

SummaryBackgroundLiver stiffness and non‐invasive tests predict overall survival in chronic hepatitis C. However, in patients chronically infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV), only the association between liver stiffness and the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma has been published.AimTo evaluate the 5‐year prognostic value of liver stiffness, non‐invasive tests of liver fibrosis, and liver biopsy, to predict overall survival in chronic hepatitis B.MethodsIn a consecutive cohort, we prospectively assessed fibrosis, with liver stiffness, FibroTest, APRI, FIB‐4 and liver biopsy (if indicated). We examined death and liver transplantation during a 5‐year follow‐up, and factors associated with overall survival.ResultsA total of 600 patients (men 64%, mean age 42 years, inactive carriers 36%) with chronic hepatitis B were included. At 5 years, 25 patients were dead (13 liver‐related deaths) and four patients had liver transplantation. Overall survival was 94.1% and survival without liver‐related death 96.3%. No liver‐related death was observed in inactive carriers. Survival was significantly decreased in patients diagnosed with severe fibrosis, whatever the non‐invasive method used (P < 0.0001), or liver biopsy (P = 0.02). Patients' prognosis decreased as liver stiffness and FibroTest increased. In multivariate analysis, FibroTest and liver stiffness had the highest hazard ratio with survival. The association persisted after adjustment on age, necro‐inflammatory histological activity presumed by ActiTest and treatment.ConclusionsLiver stiffness measurement or FibroTest can predict survival in chronic HBV infection. Thus, these tools may help physicians to early assess prognosis and discuss specific treatments, such as liver transplantation.
Therapies in Aicardi–Goutières syndrome
Authors: Crow Y J , Vanderver A , Orcesi S , Kuijpers T W , Rice G I 
Published: April 2013

SummaryAicardi–Goutières syndrome (AGS) is a genetically determined disorder, affecting most particularly the brain and the skin, characterized by the inappropriate induction of a type I interferon-mediated immune response. In most, but not all, cases the condition is severe, with a high associated morbidity and mortality. A number of important recent advances have helped to elucidate the biology of the AGS-related proteins, thus providing considerable insight into disease pathology. In this study, we outline the clinical phenotype of AGS, paying particular attention to factors relevant to therapeutic intervention. We then discuss the pathogenesis of AGS from a molecular and cell biology perspective. Finally, we suggest possible treatment strategies in light of these emerging insights.
A methodological approach to assessing alveolar ridge preservation procedures in humans: soft tissue profile
Authors: Vanhoutte Vanessa , Rompen Eric , Lecloux Geoffrey , Rues Stefan , Schmitter Marc , Lambert France 
Published: April 2013

AbstractIntroductionThe aesthetic results of implant restoration in the anterior maxilla are particularly related to the soft tissue profile. Although socket preservation techniques appear to reduce bone remodelling after tooth extraction, there is still few investigations assessing the external soft tissue profile after such procedures. The goal of this study was to describe an accurate technique to evaluate soft tissue contour changes after performing socket preservation procedures. The secondary objective was to apply the newly developed measuring method to a specific socket preservation using a “saddled” connective tissue graft combined with the insertion of slowly resorbable biomaterials into the socket.Materials and methodsA total of 14 patients needing tooth replacement in the aesthetic region were included to receive a socket preservation procedure using a connective tissue graft. Impressions were taken before the tooth extraction (baseline) and at 2, 4, and 12 weeks after the procedure. The corresponding plaster casts were scanned, and the evolution of the soft tissue profile in relation to the baseline situation was assessed using imaging software.ResultsThe measuring technique allowed assessing the soft tissue profiles accurately at different levels of the alveolar process. The insertion of a saddled connective tissue appeared to compensate for the horizontal and vertical bone remodelling after a socket preservation procedure in most regions of the alveolar crest. After 12 weeks, the only significant change was located in the more cervical and central region of the alveolar process and reached a median drop of 0.62 mm from baseline.ConclusionWithin the limitations of this study, we found that a saddled connective tissue graft combined with a socket preservation procedure could almost completely counteract the bone remodelling in terms of the external soft tissue profile. The minor changes found in the cervical region might disappear with the emergence profile of the prosthodontic components. The described technique might therefore enhance the aesthetic outcomes when a tooth has to be replaced in the aesthetic zone. The described protocol can be used to further compare the effectiveness of different extraction socket preservation protocols in randomised controlled trials.
“Pure Land”: Inhabiting the Mogao Caves at Dunhuang
Authors: Kenderdine Sarah 
Published: April 2013

AbstractThis article examines two exhibition installations that integrate high‐resolution digital archeological datasets (photography and 3D architectural models) with immersive, interactive display systems. These analogous installations, Pure Land: Inside the Mogao Grottoes at Dunhuang and Pure Land: Augmented Reality Edition, allow visitors to engage in different ways with a full‐scale augmented digital facsimile of Cave 220 from the UNESCO World Heritage site, the Mogao Grottoes, Gansu Province, northwestern China. The peerless treasuries of paintings and sculptures at Dunhuang are extremely vulnerable. Comprehensive digitization has become a primary method of preservation at the site. The digital facsimiles of this cultural paragon can be transformed, providing formative personal experiences for museum visitors. The Pure Land projects contribute to new strategies for rendering cultural content and heritage landscapes. Interpreting these installations through the lens of phenomenology and panoramic immersion helps situate them at the forefront of virtual heritage today.