bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Empty iron stores in children and young adults—the diagnostic accuracy of MCV, MCH, and MCHC
Authors: Åsberg A. E. , Mikkelsen G. , Aune M. W. , Åsberg A. 
Published: August 2013

SummaryIntroductionErythrocyte mean cell volume (MCV) is used clinically to classify anemia, and normal values may be used to exclude iron deficiency. We have studied the diagnostic accuracy of MCV and the related measures mean cell hemoglobin (MCH) and mean cell hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) in diagnosing empty iron stores in children and young adults.MethodsDiagnostic accuracy of MCV, MCH, and MCHC was studied by ROC curve analysis in 6443 ambulant patients aged 0.5–25 years, of which 476 were anemic. In all patients, blood hemoglobin, MCV, MCH, and serum ferritin were measured in specimens sampled at the same time. MCHC was calculated as MCH divided by MCV. The gold standard of empty iron stores was s‐ferritin <10, 15, or 20 μg/L. The cutoff limit of MCV giving 90% sensitivity in diagnosing serum ferritin <15 μg/L was constructed using quantile regression.ResultsGenerally, MCH was slightly more accurate than MCV and MCHC. In the whole study population, the area under the ROC curve was 0.68–0.93 for MCV, 0.73–0.96 for MCH, and 0.68–0.87 for MCHC; and 0.70–0.86, 0.71–0.89, and 0.68–0.88, respectively, in the anemic subpopulation. At the cutoff limits of MCV giving a sensitivity of 90% at all ages in anemic patients, the specificity was about 50%.ConclusionMean cell hemoglobin, MCH, and MCHC are only moderately accurate in diagnosing empty iron stores in children and young adults, and normal values of these tests do not exclude empty iron stores in anemic patients.
Physician Migration in the Global South between Cuba and South Africa
Authors: Hammett Daniel 
Published: August 2013

AbstractTransnational physician migration has concerned states' health and migration policies for many years. Recent developments have increased attention to the outcomes of these flows in the global south, where physician emigration is undermining public health policies. Cuba's exporting of medical professionals presents an alternative dynamic, based upon both an ideology of humanitarian solidarity and a need to secure hard currency earnings. The benefits and challenges arising from a bilateral agreement between Cuba and South Africa to supply Cuban doctors to South Africa and training at the Latin American Medical School (ELAM) for South African medical students are addressed. The benefits of skills enhancement and professional development are noted, as well as the economic benefits for both the Cuban government and individual doctors, while concerns with the appropriateness of the medical training provided at ELAM for the South African health context and the sustainability of the current policy are discussed.
Policy Implications

Strategic bi‐lateral agreements offer a productive route towards more sustainable management of skilled migration.

When migration agreements include skills training, attention is needed to ensure the training provided is appropriate to the destination context: attention needs to be paid to the appropriateness of the medical training afforded to South African medical students in Cuba for health requirements in South Africa.

International migration agreements can form part of a broader policy suite aimed at realizing public health and other development priorities. However, attention must be paid to the suitability and sustainability of the outcomes of these practices.
Distinct activation phenotype of a highly conserved novel HLA‐B57‐restricted epitope during dengue virus infection
Authors: Townsley Elizabeth , Woda Marcia , Thomas Stephen J. , Kalayanarooj Siripen , Gibbons Robert V. , Nisalak Ananda , Srikiatkhachorn Anon , Green Sharone , Stephens Henry A.F. , Rothman Alan L. , Mathew Anuja 
Published: August 2013

SummaryVariation in the sequence of T‐cell epitopes between dengue virus (DENV) serotypes is believed to alter memory T‐cell responses during second heterologous infections. We identified a highly conserved, novel, HLA‐B57‐restricted epitope on the DENV NS1 protein. We predicted higher frequencies of B57‐NS126–34‐specific CD8+ T cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from individuals undergoing secondary rather than primary DENV infection. However, high tetramer‐positive T‐cell frequencies during acute infection were seen in only one of nine subjects with secondary infection. B57‐NS126–34‐specific and other DENV epitope‐specific CD8+ T cells, as well as total CD8+ T cells, expressed an activated phenotype (CD69+ and/or CD38+) during acute infection. In contrast, expression of CD71 was largely limited to DENV epitope‐specific CD8+ T cells. In vitro stimulation of cell lines indicated that CD71 expression was differentially sensitive to stimulation by homologous and heterologous variant peptides. CD71 may represent a useful marker of antigen‐specific T‐cell activation.
A POSITIVE APPROACH TO ALZHEIMERS DISEASE
Authors: Van Tiggelen C.J.M. 
Published: August 2013

Despite its past anonymity, senile dementia of the Alzheimer type is a disease with a major impact on our ageing society. It affects a considerable percentage of old and very old people (some 20% of people over the age of eighty), causing distress and discomfort for the sufferers and the carers; it causes close to 50% of all nursing home admissions and costs the nation probably more than $2 billion annually; it is, with cardiovascular diseases and cancer, a leading cause of death.One of the particular difficulties with senile dementia of the Alzheimer type (SDAT) is that the diagnosis only can be confirmed in the post‐mortem — during life the diagnosis can only be made with a limited degree of certainty by following established inclusion and exclusion criteria (Glen and Christie 1979); that is, by ruling out other known causes of dementia in a patient with a dementia syndrome it is concluded that it must be senile dementia of the Alzheimer type.One other interesting aspect is that in SDAT, a disease which I compared before with cancer and cardio‐vascular disease, a defeatist attitude amongst the medical profession is frequently noticed. Had the same attitude been adopted in the past towards cancer and cardio‐vascular disease, progress in diagnosis and treatment of these diseases would never have happened.I am suggesting that it is possible to adopt a less defeatist and more positive attitude towards SDAT and this then stimulates the development of working strategies and working hypotheses. A working hypothesis can never claim to be a final solution to the problem, it is merely a frame of thought that directs step by step research working towards piecemeal solution of the problem.SummaryA working hypothesis is presented, describing SDAT as a multi‐factorial condition, in which genetic factors, toxic factors and nutritional factors are interacting and may play an accelerating role in the development of SDAT.Depression, frequently co‐existing with SDAT, contributes to symptomatology and can be considered as playing an accelerating role.A tremendous amount of research has to be done.A working strategy at present could be:1. Increase research.2. Maintenance of a good nutritional status in the individual patient is mandatory. Nutritional research deserves high priority, based on early indications that secondary changes in nutritional condition may accelerate the process.3. More attention should be given, before the verdict of “Alzheimer” is pronounced, to the possibility that toxic factors have been contributing to the condition. Extra attention should be given to careful prescription of medication.4. Prevention, early recognition and vigorous treatment of depression seems to be a most important factor.The importance of psycho‐social stimulation should be recognised. The influence of the depression‐like state on the blood‐brain barrier function and on nutritional status of the brain should have high priority in future research.
OVERCOMING CHALLENGES IN IMPROVEMENT WORK
Authors: Crisp Helen 
Published: August 2013

SUMMARYThe Health Foundation is an independent charity working to improve healthcare in the UK, so that we have a system of the highest possible quality—safe, effective, person‐centred, timely, efficient and equitable. We believe that in order to achieve this, health services need to continually improve the way they work.The Foundation conducts research and evaluation, puts ideas into practice through improvement programmes, develops leaders and shares evidence to drive wider change. The work is a focused around two priority areas: patient safety and person‐centred care.The Foundation has supported work to improve services for patients with kidney disease and, in common with other quality improvement projects, there have been challenges to overcome. Awareness of these common challenges can help others to be more prepared when planning service improvements.
Temporal divergence of percent body fat and body mass index in pre‐teenage children: the LOOK longitudinal study
Authors: Telford R. D. , Cunningham R. B. , Abhayaratna W. P. 
Published: August 2013

SummaryWhat is already known about this subject
The index of body mass related to stature, (body mass index, BMI, kgm–2), is widely used as a proxy for percent body fat (%BF) in cross‐sectional and longitudinal investigations.
BMI does not distinguish between lean and fat mass and in children, the cross‐sectional relationship between %BF and BMI changes with age and sex.
What this study adds
While BMI increases linearly with age from age 8 to 12 years in both boys and girls, %BF plateaus off between 10 and 12 years.
Repeated measures in children show a systematic decrease in %BF for any given BMI from age 8 to 10 to 12 years.
Because changes in BMI misrepresent changes in %BF, its use as a proxy of %BF should be avoided in longitudinal studies in this age group.
BackgroundBody mass index (BMI, kgm–2) is commonly used as an indicator of pediatric adiposity, but with its inability to distinguish changes in lean and fat mass, its use in longitudinal studies of children requires careful consideration.ObjectiveTo investigate the suitability of BMI as a surrogate of percent body fat (%BF) in pediatric longitudinal investigations.MethodsIn this longitudinal study, healthy Australian children (256 girls and 278 boys) were measured at ages 8.0 (standard deviation 0.3), 10.0 and 12.0 years for height, weight and percent body fat (%BF) by dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry.ResultsThe patterns of change in the means of %BF and BMI were different (P < 0.001). While mean BMI increased linearly from 8 to 12 years of age, %BF did not change between 10 and 12 years. Relationships between %BF and BMI in boys and girls were curvilinear and varied with age (P < 0.001) and gender (P < 0.001); any given BMI corresponding with a lower %BF as a child became older.ConclusionConsidering the divergence of temporal patterns of %BF and BMI between 10 and 12 years of age, employment of BMI as a proxy for %BF in absolute or age and sex standardized forms in pediatric longitudinal investigations is problematical.
Salicylic Acid and Abiotic Stress Responses in Rice
Authors: Pál M. , Kovács V. , Szalai G. , Soós V. , Ma X. , Liu H. , Mei H. , Janda T. 
Published: August 2013

AbstractAmong plant species rice (Oryza sativa L.) leaves can be characterised with a very high level of salicylic acid content; however, its exact role is still poorly understood. In the present work, rice genotypes with different levels of drought tolerance have been subjected to PEG‐induced drought or cold stress at 10 °C in order to find relationship between the salicylic acid metabolism and the level of stress tolerance; and between the salicylic acid level and other protective mechanisms. Although the drought‐sensitive genotypes usually contained slightly higher amount of salicylic acid than the tolerant ones, there was no strong correlation between the salicylic acid contents and the degree of drought tolerance. Because the expression pattern of the chorismate synthase and isochorismate synthase genes did not correlate with the level of salicylic acid, but there was a correlation between the levels of salicylic acid and ortho‐hydroxy‐cinnamic, it is assumed that the salicylic acid synthesis via ortho‐hydroxy‐cinnamic acid may play a more decisive role than the chorismate–isochorismate–salicylic acid pathway in rice. While the activity of the glutathione reductase enzyme did not show correlation with drought tolerance, the glutathione S‐transferase activities were usually higher in the leaves of the drought‐tolerant varieties than in the sensitive ones. The salicylic acid contents in the leaves were not substantially affected by the applied stress conditions; however, other stress‐related compounds polyamines showed marked, stress‐specific responses. Correlation data suggest that there is no direct link between the abiotic stress‐induced polyamine changes and the salicylic acid metabolism in rice.
International prevalence measurement of care problems: results
Authors: Halfens Ruud J.G. , Meesterberends Esther , van Nie‐Visser Noémi C. , Lohrmann Christa , Schönherr Silvia , Meijers Judith M.M. , Hahn Sabine , Vangelooven Christa , Schols Jos M.G.A. 
Published: August 2013

AbstractAimThis report describes the results from the last international prevalence measurement of care problems in the Netherlands, Austria and Switzerland, including the course of the prevalence rates during the past 4 years.BackgroundBasic care problems such as pressure ulcers, malnutrition and falls occur frequently in healthcare organizations. Measuring these care problems provides insight into their occurrence, and, while a measurement is included of the prevention, treatment and structural quality indicators, this gives institutions the possibility of improving their care regarding these care problems.DesignAn annual cross‐sectional multicentre study.MethodThe prevalence measurement of care problems is conducted annually on one specific day in different healthcare settings, among which are hospitals and care homes. Data are collected by means of a comprehensive, standardized questionnaire that comprises three levels: institutional, ward/department and patient level.ResultsBesides general characteristics of patients, results are presented for prevalence rates, prevention, treatment and quality indicators regarding each care problem for each country.
Genome‐wide association study of chronic periodontitis in a general German population
Authors: Teumer Alexander , Holtfreter Birte , Völker Uwe , Petersmann Astrid , Nauck Matthias , Biffar Reiner , Völzke Henry , Kroemer Heyo K. , Meisel Peter , Homuth Georg , Kocher Thomas 
Published: August 2013

AbstractAimTo identify loci associated with chronic periodontitis through a genome‐wide association study (GWAS).Materials and MethodsA GWAS was performed in 4032 individuals of two independent cross‐sectional studies of West Pomerania (SHIP n = 3365 and SHIP‐TREND n = 667) with different periodontal case definitions. Samples were genotyped with the Affymetrix Genome‐Wide Human SNP Array 6.0 or the Illumina Human Omni 2.5 array. Imputation of the HapMap as well as the 1000 Genome‐based autosomal and X‐chromosomal genotypes and short insertions and deletions (INDELs) was performed in both cohorts. Finally, more than 17 million SNPs and short INDELs were analysed.ResultsNo genome‐wide significant associations were found for any periodontitis case definition, regardless of whether individuals aged >60 years where excluded or not. Despite no single SNP association reached genome‐wide significance, the proportion of variance explained by additive effects of all common SNPs was around 23% for mean proximal attachment loss. Excluding subjects aged >60 years increased the explained variance to 34%.ConclusionsNo single SNPs were found to be genome‐wide significantly associated with chronic periodontitis in this study.
Clinical and microbiological effects of Lactobacillus reuteri probiotics in the treatment of chronic periodontitis: a randomized placebo‐controlled study
Authors: Teughels Wim , Durukan Andaç , Ozcelik Onur , Pauwels Martine , Quirynen Marc , Haytac Mehmet Cenk 
Published: August 2013

AbstractAimThe aim of this randomized placebo‐controlled clinical trial was to evaluate the effects of Lactobacillus reuteri‐containing probiotic lozenges as an adjunct to scaling and root planing (SRP).Material and MethodsThirty chronic periodontitis patients were recruited and monitored clinically and microbiologically at baseline, 3, 6, 9 and 12 weeks after therapy. All patients received one‐stage full‐mouth disinfection and randomly assigned over a test (SRP + probiotic, n = 15) or control (SRP + placebo, n = 15) group. The lozenges were used two times a day for 12 weeks.ResultsAt week 12, all clinical parameters were significantly reduced in both groups, while there was significantly more pocket depth reduction (p < 0.05) and attachment gain (p < 0.05) in moderate and deep pockets; more Porphyromonas gingivalis reduction was observed in the SRP + probiotic group.ConclusionsThe results indicate that oral administration of L. reuteri lozenges could be a useful adjunct to SRP in chronic periodontitis.
Titanium‐zirconium narrow‐diameter versus titanium regular‐diameter implants for anterior and premolar single crowns: 1‐year results of a randomized controlled clinical study
Authors: Benic Goran I. , Gallucci German O. , Mokti Muizzaddin , Hämmerle Christoph H. F. , Weber Hans‐Peter , Jung Ronald E. 
Published: August 2013

AbstractAimTo test whether titanium‐zirconium (TiZr) 3.3 mm diameter implants perform differently from titanium (Ti) 4.1 mm diameter implants with respect to marginal bone level (MBL) and clinical parameters.Material and MethodsForty subjects in need of a single implant‐supported crown in the anterior or premolar regions were recruited in two centres. After random allocation, either a Ti or a TiZr implant was placed. Definitive crowns were inserted 6 months after implant placement. Implant survival, change in MBL, clinical parameters and occurrence of adverse events were assessed at the 1‐year examination.ResultsAt 1 year, 38 of the 40 included patients were examined (18 Ti and 20 TiZr implants). All the implants were in place and stable. From the implant placement to the 1‐year examination, the change of MBL amounted to −0.40 mm in the Ti group and −0.41 mm in the TiZr group. There were no significant differences between the groups regarding the change in MBL, the clinical parameters and the occurrence of adverse events.ConclusionsThe use of TiZr implants with narrow diameter for the support of single crowns in the anterior and premolar regions leads to successful tissue integration and clinical performance over a 1‐year period.
Relationship between metabolic syndrome and diagnoses of periodontal diseases among participants in a large Taiwanese cohort
Authors: Tu Yu‐Kang , D'Aiuto Francesco , Lin Hung‐Ju , Chen Yi‐Wen , Chien Kuo‐Liong 
Published: August 2013

AbstractObjectiveEpidemiological studies suggested that individuals suffering from periodontitis present with greater prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and diabetes. We used a large health check‐up data set in Taiwan to investigate this association.Design and methodsData from 33,740 individuals, who undertook comprehensive health check‐up at a university hospital in Taipei, Taiwan, were analysed. The dental examinations were undertaken by experienced dentists, and the diagnosis of MetS was made according to the criteria defined by the Third Adult Treatment Panel of the National Cholesterol Education Program.ResultsAfter adjusting for potential confounders, females and males in the periodontitis group had higher levels of blood pressure, blood glucose, triglyceride and body mass index, but lower high‐density lipoprotein compared to controls. Females in the gingivitis and periodontitis group showed greater odds ratios [1.42 (95% CI: 1.30–1.56) and 1.52 (1.41–1.63) respectively] of being diagnosed with MetS, whereas males in the gingivitis and periodontitis group presented with odds ratios of being diagnosed with MetS of 1.06 (0.94–1.18) and 1.04 (0.96–1.12) respectively.ConclusionsA small but statistically significant association between MetS and the diagnosis of periodontal diseases was found in Taiwanese women and a weaker association in Taiwanese men.
Efficacy of a new mouth rinse formulation based on 0.07% cetylpyridinium chloride in the control of plaque and gingivitis: a 6‐month randomized clinical trial
Authors: Costa Xavier , Laguna Estefanía , Herrera David , Serrano Jorge , Alonso Bettina , Sanz Mariano 
Published: August 2013

AbstractAimTo assess the efficacy of a 0.07% cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) mouth rinse in the control of plaque and gingival inflammation during a 6‐month period.Material and MethodsAdult subjects with moderate gingivitis were selected [≥40% bleeding on marginal probing (BOMP)]. After retrieving microbiological samples and evaluating the clinical parameters (plaque, BOMP and stain indexes), a professional prophylaxis was performed and subjects were randomly assigned to the test (CPC mouth rinse) or to the placebo group. Subjects were re‐assessed after 3 and 6 months.ResultsA total of 67 patients (35 test, 32 placebo) were included in the analysis. At 6 months, intra‐group significant plaque reductions were observed in the test group (0.691, p < 0.001), but not in the placebo (0.181, p = 0.653). At 6 months, the mean BOMP values were lower in the test group (p = 0.052). Changes between baseline and 6 months were significantly higher in the test group both for plaque (p = 0.002) and BOMP (p = 0.037) when compared with the placebo. A microbiological impact was observed in the test group, especially for Prevotella intermedia.ConclusionThe evaluated 0.07% CPC‐based mouth rinse, used three times per day adjunctively to mechanical tooth cleaning, prevents plaque accumulation and gingival inflammation, as compared to the placebo, for at least 6 months.
Effect of salinity and temperature on marine leech, Zeylanicobdella arugamensis (De Silva) under laboratory conditions
Authors: Kua B C , Choong F C , Leaw Y Y 
Published: August 2013

AbstractThe high prevalence (80–100%) of the marine leech Zeylanicobdella arugamensis (De Silva) on cage‐cultured Asian sea bass Lates calcarifer (Bloch) led us to investigate the percentage of juvenile leeches hatched from deposited cocoons, survival of juvenile and adult marine leeches at different salinity and temperature. The results showed that the hatching percentage of juvenile leeches was highest at salinity of 30 ppt (32.5 ± 2.8%) followed by 20 ppt (18.0 ± 4.3%) and 10 ppt (12.1 ± 1.4%), respectively. It was found that the adult and juvenile leeches could live up to an average range of 4–7 days at salinity ranging from 10 to 40 ppt. The juvenile leeches were able to hatch at temperature ranging from 25 to 35 °C but unable to hatch at 40 °C. The survival period of adult and juvenile leeches ranged from 11 to 16 days at 25 °C, which was comparatively longer than 5–13 days and 10 h – 5 days at 27–30 °C and 35–40 °C, respectively. The study provided the information on the physical parameters of salinity and temperature which are most optimal for the marine leech Z. arugamensis to propagate.