bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Young Singaporean women's knowledge of cervical cancer and pap smear screening: a descriptive study
Authors: Shea Juanna , Klainin‐Yobas Piyanee , Mackey Sandra 
Published: November 2013

Aims and objectivesTo assess the knowledge of young female Singaporeans regarding cervical cancer and pap smear, the intention to participate in pap smear and whether there is any relationship between knowledge and intention to participate in pap smear screening.BackgroundWhile cervical cancer has poor prognosis in the later stages, pap smear is effective in identifying precancerous lesions, which are more treatable. Pap smear screening is available to women in Singapore, but its uptake is opportunistic. Research has shown that knowledge about pap smear and cervical cancer is important determinant of screening behaviour in Singaporean women.DesignCross‐sectional descriptive correlational design was used.MethodsThree hundred and ninety‐three young Singaporean undergraduates, aged 18–25 years, were recruited via convenience sampling from a local university over a four‐month period. Data were collected through self‐administered questionnaires.ResultsMajority of the participants knew the term ‘pap smear’ and its function. However, knowledge of the risk factors for cervical cancer was lacking among the young women. Knowledge of pap smear and cervical cancer had a weak correlation with the intention to go for the future uptake of pap smear.ConclusionsEducational efforts among younger Singaporean women on the knowledge of pap smear and risk factors for cervical cancer are needed. Improving knowledge will enable them to understand the importance of reducing exposure to risk factors and regular pap smear screening.Relevance to clinical practiceAll health professionals working with young Asian women should be prepared to educate and counsel young women to participate in pap smear screening according to current guidelines. In particular, knowledge of the age to attend the first pap smear and the recommended frequency for screening need to be targeted for health education.
Woman's contraceptive needs and preferences in the postpartum period: an Italian study
Authors: Di Giacomo Patrizia , Sbarlati Alessia , Bagnasco Annamaria , Sasso Loredana 
Published: November 2013

Aims and objectivesTo describe what puerperal women know about postpartum contraception and to identify their related needs and expectations.BackgroundPuerperal women face the problem of beginning or resuming contraception, the choice of the right method of contraception and the right time to start it. This choice becomes particularly important in case they breastfeed since the contraceptive method should not interfere with breastfeeding. Different factors, such as the level of knowledge women have about various contraceptive methods, their individual preferences or their desire to have a baby, can strongly influence this choice.DesignA cross‐sectional study had been carried out within the period of six months, from November 2011–February 2012.MethodsThree hundred puerperal women were interviewed before their discharge from a Maternity Home. The women were asked for their personal characteristics, their maternity history, the information they had received, their knowledge and expectations about postpartum contraception and their intention to use contraception.ResultsDuring pregnancy and postpartum, 45·5% of the women reported that they had received adequate information about contraception. Of these ones, 64·3% reported their intention to use contraception either to avoid pregnancy or to space out future births, even if they did not always have appropriate knowledge about fertility and the use of contraceptive methods during postpartum. During this study, we also discovered that women's intention to use contraception was proportional to their level of education.ConclusionWomen need more and appropriate information about postpartum contraception, to make a conscious choice in relation to their needs and without putting their health at risk.Relevance to clinical practiceTo promote awareness of the choices related to postpartum contraception, it is important to understand the personal characteristics that influence or hinder this choice. Midwives can play a very important role in informing women and in developing educational interventions to support a safe contraceptive choice.
Autoimmune disorders and quadrivalent human papillomavirus vaccination of young female subjects
Authors: Grimaldi‐Bensouda L. , Guillemot D. , Godeau B. , Bénichou J. , Lebrun‐Frenay C. , Papeix C. , Labauge P. , Berquin P. , Penfornis A. , Benhamou P.‐Y. , Nicolino M. , Simon A. , Viallard J.‐F. , Costedoat‐Chalumeau N. , Courcoux M.‐F. , Pondarré C. , Hilliquin P. , Chatelus E. , Foltz V. , Guillaume S. , Rossignol M. , Abenhaim L. ,   the PGRx‐AID Study Group
Published: November 2013

AbstractObjectivesThe aim of this study was to investigate whether the quadrivalent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine Gardasil is associated with a change in the risk of autoimmune disorders (ADs) in young female subjects.DesignSystematic case–control study of incident ADs associated with quadrivalent HPV vaccination in young women across France.Participants and settingA total of 113 specialised centres recruited (from December 2007 to April 2011) females aged 14–26 years with incident cases of six types of ADs: idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), central demyelination/multiple sclerosis (MS), Guillain–Barré syndrome, connective tissue disorders (systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis/juvenile arthritis), type 1 diabetes mellitus and autoimmune thyroiditis. Control subjects matched to cases were recruited from general practice.AnalysisMultivariate conditional logistic regression analysis; factors included age, geographical origin, smoking, alcohol consumption, use of oral contraceptive(s) or vaccine(s) other than Gardasil received within 24 months before the index date and personal/family history of ADs.ResultsOverall, 211 definite cases of ADs were matched to 875 controls. The adjusted odds ratio (OR) for any quadrivalent HPV vaccine use was 0.9 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.5–1.5]. The individual ORs were 1.0 (95% CI 0.4–2.6) for ITP, 0.3 (95% CI 0.1–0.9) for MS, 0.8 (95% CI 0.3–2.4) for connective disorders and 1.2 (95% CI 0.4–3.6) for type 1 diabetes. No exposure to HPV vaccine was observed in cases with either Guillain–Barré syndrome or thyroiditis.ConclusionsNo evidence of an increase in the risk of the studied ADs was observable following vaccination with Gardasil within the time periods studied. There was insufficient statistical power to allow conclusions to be drawn regarding individual ADs.
Changes in masticatory function after injection of botulinum toxin type A to masticatory muscles
Authors: Park H. U. , Kim B. I. , Kang S. M. , Kim S. T. , Choi J. H. , Ahn H. J. 
Published: November 2013

SummaryThis study examined changes in masticatory function after botulinum toxin type A (BTX‐A) injection using objective and subjective tests during 12 weeks. Also, we compared differences in masticatory function between group in which only masseter muscle (M group) was injected and group in which masseter and temporal muscle (M‐T group) were injected. Forty subjects were assigned into two groups; M group (n = 20) and the M‐T group (n = 20). The Meditoxin® was used as BTX‐A injection. The mixing ability index (MAI) was used as the objective indicator, and visual analogue scale (VAS) and food intake ability (FIA) index were used as subjective indicators. Overall, the masticatory function drastically declined after 4 weeks and gradually recovered with time. Compared with the pre‐injection state, the masticatory function decreased by 89·2% (MAI), 12·2% (FIA) and 32·2% (VAS) 4 weeks after the injection (P < 0·05). When the results between M group and M‐T group were compared, scores of VAS and FIA were significantly different 4 weeks after the injection (P < 0·05), but the MAI score showed no significant difference between two groups. In conclusion, this study showed that masticatory function was significantly decreased after BTX‐A injection into the masticatory muscle after 4 and 8 weeks from injection. However, masticatory efficiency measured using MAI could completely recover after 12 weeks. Furthermore, after 8 weeks from the injection, the masticatory function measured after injection into only the masseter muscle was similar to that measured after injection into both masseter and temporal muscle.
Using rumen probes to examine effects of conjugated linoleic acids and dietary concentrate proportion on rumen pH and rumen temperature of periparturient dairy cows
Authors: Petzold M. , Meyer U. , Spilke J. , Dänicke S. 
Published: November 2013

SummaryThe study aimed to examine the influence of supplemented conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) to periparturient cows receiving different concentrate proportions antepartum on rumen pH (RpH) and rumen temperature (RT). Twenty pregnant German Holstein cows were equipped with rumen probes for continuous RpH and RT measurement in a frequency of 15 min to investigate effects of dietary concentrate and CLA around parturition and the impact of parturition itself on RpH and RT. Cows had ad libitum access to partial mixed rations, 3 weeks prior to calving until day 7 post‐partum. Antepartum, cows received 100 g/day control fat (CON) or CLA supplement, either in low (20%; CON‐20, CLA‐20) or high concentrate diet (60%; CON‐60, CLA‐60). Post‐partum, concentrate proportion was adjusted to 50% while fat supplementation continued. Compared with adapted feeding, high concentrate proportions antepartum tended to increase DMI and reduced RpH. Groups CON‐60 and CLA‐60 spent more than 4 h per day below RpH 5.6 during late pregnancy, indicating the presence of subacute rumen acidosis (SARA). The RT remained unaffected antepartum. Before calving, cows spent less time below RpH 5.6 and SARA could be detected in each group post‐partum. Mean RpH increased slightly antepartum, whereas few hours before parturition a sharp decrease in RpH could be observed, accompanied with increased RT. Overall, it seems that CLA supplementation influences RpH and RT. Bearing in mind that rumen parameters fluctuate during day and herd level must be known, rumen probes for continuous RpH and RT measurement could be a useful management tool for animal health surveillance and may also help to predict parturition.
Subinhibitory concentrations of tetracyclines induce lipopolysaccharide shedding by Porphyromonas gingivalis and modulate the host inflammatory response
Authors: Tanabe S. , Yoshioka M. , Hinode D. , Grenier D. 
Published: November 2013

Background and ObjectiveAntibiotics at below minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) may induce various biological responses in bacteria. In this study, we hypothesized that subinhibitory concentrations (subICs) of tetracycline and doxycycline induce the shedding of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) by Porphyromonas gingivalis and, as a consequence, may contribute to enhancing the host inflammatory response associated with periodontitis.Material and MethodsA polymyxin‐based enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay was used to quantify LPS shedding by P. gingivalis grown in the presence of subICs of tetracycline and doxycycline. A macrophage model was used to show that tetracycline‐ and doxycycline‐mediated LPS shedding by P. gingivalis can induce cytokine secretion. The secretion of interleukin (IL)‐1β, IL‐8, and tumor necrosis factor‐α was quantified by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay.ResultsLPS was shed spontaneously in a time‐dependent way by P. gingivalis during growth. LPS shedding was significantly increased by growth in the presence of subICs of tetracycline and doxycycline corresponding to 1/20 of their MICs (0.025 μg/mL for tetracycline and 0.0125 μg/mL for doxycycline). This shedding was not associated with an increased rate of bacterial cell lysis. Stimulating macrophages with a P. gingivalis culture supernatant induced the secretion of IL‐1β, IL‐8 and tumor necrosis factor‐α when the bacteria were grown in the presence of 1/20 MIC of the antibiotics.ConclusionOur study showed that growing P. gingivalis in the presence of subICs of either tetracycline or doxycycline induces LPS shedding. Shed LPS may in turn increase cytokine secretion in a macrophage model.
Comparing bedside methods of determining placement of gastric tubes in children
Authors: Ellett Marsha L. Cirgin , Cohen Mervyn D. , Croffie Joseph M. B. , Lane Kathleen A. , Austin Joan K. , Perkins Susan M. 
Published: November 2013

AbstractPurposeThe purpose of this study was to compare the accuracy and predictive validity of pH, bilirubin, and CO2 in identifying gastric tube placement errors in children.Design and MethodsAfter the tube was inserted into 276 children, the CO2 monitor reading was obtained. Fluid was then aspirated to test pH and bilirubin.ResultsLack of ability to obtain tube aspirate was the best predictor of NG/OG placement errors with a sensitivity of 34.9% and a positive predictive value of 66.7%. Measuring pH, bilirubin, and CO2 of tube aspirate was less helpful.Practice ImplicationsHealthcare providers should suspect NG/OG tube misplacement when no fluid is aspirated.
Sleep duration and personality in Croatian twins
Authors: Butkovic Ana , Vukasovic Tena , Bratko Denis 
Published: November 2013

SummaryThe objective of this study was to examine which genetic and environmental influences contribute to individual differences in sleep duration in a sample of Croatian adolescent/early adult twins, as well as to investigate the relationship between personality and sleep duration. Participants included 339 twin pairs (105 monozygotic and 234 dizygotic) aged between 15 and 22 years. They reported on their average sleep duration and personality. The broad heritability estimate (additive and non‐additive genetic influences) for sleep duration was 0.63, while personality estimates ranged between 0.47 and 0.62. Significant negative phenotypic associations with neuroticism and openness were mainly genetically mediated 100 and 80%, respectively. Only 6% of the sleep duration variance was explained by genetic influences shared with neuroticism and openness. In regression analysis, age, gender and five personality traits explained 5% of sleep duration variance, with neuroticism and openness as significant predictors. Comparison of short, moderate and long sleepers showed that participants in the short sleepers group had significantly higher neuroticism scores than groups of moderate and long sleepers, as well as a significantly higher openness score than the group of long sleepers. This indicates that personality traits of neuroticism and openness contribute to the prediction of sleep duration due to overlapping genetic influences that contribute to both these personality traits and sleep duration. However, as phenotypic overlap of personality and sleep duration is relatively weak, heritability of sleep duration is not only related to individual differences in personality traits, so future research needs to examine other phenotypic correlates of sleep duration.
Robust Bayesian Compressive Sensing for Signals in Structural Health Monitoring
Authors: Huang Yong , Beck James L. , Wu Stephen , Li Hui 
Published: November 2013

AbstractIn structural health monitoring (SHM) systems for civil structures, massive amounts of data are often generated that need data compression techniques to reduce the cost of signal transfer and storage, meanwhile offering a simple sensing system. Compressive sensing (CS) is a novel data acquisition method whereby the compression is done in a sensor simultaneously with the sampling. If the original sensed signal is sufficiently sparse in terms of some orthogonal basis (e.g., a sufficient number of wavelet coefficients are zero or negligibly small), the decompression can be done essentially perfectly up to some critical compression ratio; otherwise there is a trade‐off between the reconstruction error and how much compression occurs. In this article, a Bayesian compressive sensing (BCS) method is investigated that uses sparse Bayesian learning to reconstruct signals from a compressive sensor. By explicitly quantifying the uncertainty in the reconstructed signal from compressed data, the BCS technique exhibits an obvious benefit over existing regularized norm‐minimization CS methods that provide a single signal estimate. However, current BCS algorithms suffer from a robustness problem: sometimes the reconstruction errors are very large when the number of measurements K are a lot less than the number of signal degrees of freedom N that are needed to capture the signal accurately in a directly sampled form. In this article, we present improvements to the BCS reconstruction method to enhance its robustness so that even higher compression ratios can be used and we examine the trade‐off between efficiently compressing data and accurately decompressing it. Synthetic data and actual acceleration data collected from a bridge SHM system are used as examples. Compared with the state‐of‐the‐art BCS reconstruction algorithms, the improved BCS algorithm demonstrates superior performance. With the same acceptable error rate based on a specified threshold of reconstruction error, the proposed BCS algorithm works with relatively large compression ratios and it can achieve perfect lossless compression performance with quite high compression ratios. Furthermore, the error bars for the signal reconstruction are also quantified effectively.
Managing allergens from a food retailer perspective including an update on allergen labelling regulation
Authors: Watson R. 
Published: November 2013

SummaryFood allergy presents a unique food safety issue, as while allergy affects a relatively small proportion of the UK population, consuming foods containing even minute quantities of a food allergen can have very serious consequences. New European Union (EU) legislation [Regulation (EU) No. 1169/2011 on the provision of food information to consumers], with which manufacturers and retailers have until December 2014 to comply, requires allergens to be highlighted in the ingredients list on all pre‐packed food, rather than within an allergy box or statement. Allergy boxes and statements may still be used to signpost consumers to the allergen information within the ingredients list and to highlight cross‐contamination risk. These changes in allergen labelling must be effectively and consistently communicated so that allergy information is not overlooked by consumers.There is ongoing research to develop allergen thresholds or ‘no adverse effect levels’ for use in food safety risk assessment, with a view to reducing the number of ‘may contain’ allergen warnings on food packaging. This would be welcomed by UK consumers who have been found to find this type of allergen labelling frustrating, owing to its widespread use and ambiguity in meaning. However, more robust data are required before allergen thresholds can be widely implemented in food production.Sainsbury's has a 20 × 20 sustainability commitment to be the number 1 retailer in the UK for customers with allergies and intolerances. One way in which Sainsbury's aims to deliver on this pledge is by removing unnecessary and unexpected allergens from own brand food and by removing unnecessary cross‐contamination warnings (i.e. unnecessary ‘may contain’ type labelling). Sainsbury's also recognises that retailers and manufacturers have a responsibility to reliably inform consumers of the nature and composition of their food, as well as having appropriate allergen management strategies and policies in place, as consumers rely heavily on retailers and manufacturers to provide safe, accurate labelling so that they can effectively manage the allergens in the foods they purchase.
Concentration of salivary protective proteins within the bound oral mucosal pellicle
Authors: Gibbins HL , Proctor GB , Yakubov GE , Wilson S , Carpenter GH 
Published: November 2013

ObjectivesTo study which salivary proteins form the protective bound mucosal pellicle and to determine the role of transglutaminase in pellicle development.Materials and MethodsOral epithelial cells were collected and underwent washes of different strengths, followed by homogenisation. SDS‐PAGE, western blotting, IgA ELISAs and amylase activity assays were completed on cell homogenates and compared to saliva samples to confirm which salivary proteins were bound to cell surfaces.ResultsSalivary mucins, MUC5B and MUC7, were strongly retained on the oral epithelial cell surface. Other bound proteins including cystatin S, carbonic anhydrase VI, secretory component and IgA could be washed off. IgA was present in concentrated levels in the bound mucosal pellicle compared to amounts in saliva. Amylase, one of the most abundant proteins present in saliva, showed minimal levels of binding. Transglutaminase 3 presence was confirmed, but proteins that it catalyses cross‐links between, statherin and proline‐rich proteins, showed minimal presence.ConclusionSome protective salivary proteins including mucins and IgA become concentrated on oral surfaces in the bound mucosal pellicle, through specific interactions. Concentration of mucins would contribute to lubrication to prevent abrasion damage to soft tissues, whilst increased IgA could create an ‘immune reservoir’ against mucosal infection.
Extracellular calcium chelation and attenuation of calcium entry decrease in vivo cholinergic‐induced eccrine sweating sensitivity in humans
Authors: Metzler‐Wilson Kristen , Sammons Dawn L. , Ossim Megan A. , Metzger Natalie R. , Jurovcik Andrew J. , Krause B. Andrew , Wilson Thad E. 
Published: November 2013

New Findings
What is the central question of this study?
Calcium is an important second messenger in eccrine sweating; however, whether modulation of extracellular Ca2+ and Ca2+ entry has the capacity to modulate sweat rate in non‐glabrous human skin has not been explored.
What is the main finding and its importance?
Acetylcholine to sweat rate dose–response relationships identify that local in vivo Ca2+ chelation and L‐type Ca2+ channel antagonism have the capacity to attenuate the cholinergic sensitivity of eccrine sweat glands. Importantly, these data translate previous glabrous in vitro animal studies into non‐glabrous in vivo human skin.
Calcium is an important second messenger in eccrine sweating, with both internal and external sources being identified in vitro. It is unclear whether in vivo modulation of extracellular Ca2+ levels or influx has the capacity to modulate sweat rate in non‐glabrous human skin. To test the hypothesis that lowering interstitial Ca2+ levels would decrease the sensitivity of the ACh to sweat rate (via capacitance hygrometry) dose–response relationship, nine healthy subjects received six ACh doses (1 × 10−5 to 1 × 100 m in 10‐fold increments) with and without a Ca2+ chelator (12.5 mg ml−1 EDTA) via forearm intradermal microdialysis (protocol 1). To test the hypothesis that attenuating Ca2+ influx via L‐type Ca2+ channels would also decrease the sensitivity of the ACh to sweat rate dose–response relationship, 10 healthy subjects received similar ACh doses with and without a phenylalkylamine Ca2+ channel blocker (1 mm verapamil; protocol 2). Non‐linear regression curve fitting identified a right‐shifted ED50 in EDTA‐treated sites compared with ACh alone (−1.0 ± 0.1 and −1.5 ± 0.1 logm, respectively; P < 0.05), but unchanged maximal sweat rate (0.60 ± 0.07 and 0.58 ± 0.11 mg cm−2 min−1, respectively; P > 0.05) in protocol 1. Protocol 2 also resulted in a right‐shifted ED50 (verapamil, −0.9 ± 0.1 logm; ACh alone, −1.6 ± 0.2 logm; P < 0.05), with unchanged maximal sweat rate (verapamil, 0.45 ± 0.08 mg cm−2 min−1; ACh alone, 0.35 ± 0.06 mg cm−2 min−1; P > 0.05). Thus, local in vivo Ca2+ chelation and L‐type Ca2+ channel antagonism have the capacity to attenuate in vivo cholinergic sensitivity of eccrine sweat glands. These data suggest that interstitial Ca2+ and its influx via Ca2+ channels play a functional role in eccrine sweating in intact non‐glabrous human skin.