bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Quality use of medicines and health outcomes among a cohort of community dwelling older men: an observational study
Authors: Beer Christopher , Hyde Zoë , Almeida Osvaldo P. , Norman Paul , Hankey Graeme J. , Yeap Bu B. , Flicker Leon 
Published: December 2010

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT • Adverse drug reactions and polypharmacy are common, particularly later in life. Suboptimal use of medicines may be associated with adverse health outcomes. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS • Markers of potentially suboptimal medication use (both medication over‐use and under‐use) were observed frequently among a cohort of community dwelling older men. Potentially suboptimal medication appeared to be independently associated with important adverse health outcomes.AIM To determine the prevalence of potentially suboptimal medication use and association with adverse outcomes.METHODS A prospective, observational cohort study of 4260 community‐dwelling older men from Perth, Western Australia (mean age of 77 ± 3.6 years) was conducted. Follow‐up was for 4.5 years (or until death, if sooner). Cox proportional hazard models were used to explore associations between suboptimal medication use and prospective clinical outcomes. Logistic regression analyses were used to explore predictors of a fall in the previous 12 months.RESULTS Use of potentially inappropriate medicines (48.7%), polypharmacy (≥5 medications, 35.8%) and potential under‐utilization (56.7%) were highly prevalent, and overall 82.3% of participants reported some form of potentially suboptimal medication use. A self‐reported history of falls in the previous 12 months was independently associated with the number of medicines taken (odds ratio [OR]= 1.06, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02, 1.09) and use of one or more potentially inappropriate medicines (OR = 1.23, 95% CI 1.04, 1.45). After adjusting for age, co‐morbidity, smoking status, body mass index, hypertension and educational attainment, the number of medicines reported was associated with admission to hospital (hazard ratio [HR]= 1.04, 95% CI 1.03, 1.06), cardiovascular events (HR = 1.09, 95% CI 1.06, 1.12) and all cause mortality (HR = 1.04, 95% CI 1.00, 1.07). Use of one or more potentially inappropriate medicines was associated with admission to hospital (HR = 1.16, 95% CI 1.08, 1.24). Potential under‐utilization was associated with cardiovascular events (HR = 1.20, 95% CI 1.03, 1.40).CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that both medication over‐use and under‐use occur frequently among older men and may be harmful.
Cysteinyl‐leukotrienes induce vascular endothelial growth factor production in human monocytes and bronchial smooth muscle cells
Authors: Poulin S. , Thompson C. , Thivierge M. , Véronneau S. , McMahon S. , Dubois C. M. , Stankova J. , Rola‐Pleszczynski M. 
Published: December 2010

Cite this as: S. Poulin, C. Thompson,M. Thivierge, S. V'eronneau,S. McMahon, C. M. Dubois, J. Stankova and M. Rola‐Pleszczynski, Clinical & Experimental Allergy, 2011 (41) 204–217.SummaryBackground
Cysteinyl leukotrienes (cysLTs) are suggested to be implicated in the process of airway remodelling in asthma.Objective
We investigated the potential for cysLTs to modulate vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression, a growth factor involved in the angiogenesis of airway remodelling.Methods
VEGF mRNA and protein were quantified by real‐time PCR and ELISA, respectively. VEGF promoter activation was assessed using luciferase gene‐tagged promoter constructs.Results
We found that LTD4 induction of VEGF in human monocytes and bronchial smooth muscle cells is cysLT1 dependent. Stimulation of HEK293 cells stably expressing cysLT1 or cysLT2 with cysLTs showed a concentration‐dependent activation of the VEGF promoter and a time‐dependent increase in VEGF mRNA and protein. For the cysLT1‐mediated response, mutations of hypoxia‐induced factor‐1 (HIF‐1) sites failed to reduce cysLT‐induced VEGF promoter activation and 5′ deletions showed that the proximal region containing one AP‐1 and four specificity protein 1 (Sp1) sites was necessary. Pretreatment with inhibitors of c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase (JNK) and extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK), but not p38, and an overexpression of dominant negative forms of c‐Jun, c‐Fos or Ras suggested the implication of mitogen‐activated protein kinases and AP‐1. Mutation of the AP‐1‐binding element failed to prevent VEGF transactivation suggesting that AP‐1 might not act directly on the promoter. Moreover, inhibition of Sp1‐dependent transcription by mithramycin completely inhibited VEGF promoter transactivation and VEGF mRNA expression by LTD4. Finally, mutations of Sp1 binding elements prevented VEGF promoter transactivation.Conclusion and Clinical Relevance
Our data indicate for the first time that cysLTs can transcriptionally activate VEGF production via cysLT1 receptors, with the involvement of JNK, ERK, the AP‐1 complex and Sp1. These findings suggest that cysLTs may be important in the angiogenic process of airway remodelling and potentially provide a previously unknown benefit of using cysLT1 receptor antagonists in the prevention or treatment of airway remodelling in asthma.
Deciding about sterilisation: perspectives from women with an intellectual disability and their families in Taiwan
Authors: Chou Y‐C. , Lu Z‐Y. 
Published: December 2010

AbstractBackground This qualitative study explores decision‐making regarding sterilisation for women with intellectual disabilities (ID) living with their families, including how such decisions are made and who is involved in the decision‐making.Methods Eleven families including sterilised women with ID participated in the study. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with family members and four of the women with ID; the interviews took place at the family homes during March 2009. The interview schedule sought information regarding decision‐making on sterilisation including the reasons for the sterilisation, the identities of those involved in the decision‐making, attitudes towards the sexuality of women with ID and the role of women with ID in decision‐making about their own sterilisation. Additionally, women with ID were asked about their experiences of sterilisation.Results The data showed that most of the women who underwent tubal ligation were married and had mild ID; the decision to perform tubal ligation was mostly made by the husband or parents‐in‐law, and was made after the women had given birth. The reasons given by the families of these women for deciding on sterilisation included: the woman was unable to care for the children, the family could not afford to raise many children, the concern that the ID might be hereditary, or a perceived risk of pregnancy from rape. The two women who underwent hysterectomy were unmarried and had more severe ID than the married women with ID who received tubal ligation. In these two cases, the decisions were primarily made by the mothers of the women based on concerns about managing their menstruation. Almost none of the women with ID were involved in the decision‐making process, and some were not even informed of the nature of the surgery. Health professionals and service workers contacted by the families were also influential in the decision‐making. The autonomy of the women to engage in decision‐making regarding sterilisation thus was constrained by their families and professionals, without considering either sterilisation or hysterectomy a violation of the essential human rights of the women involved.Conclusion The results suggest that with respect to sexuality and body images among women with ID, concern should exist among society in general and among professionals in particular, regarding human rights; furthermore, more information and better educational programmes must be provided to relevant professionals, as well as to women with ID and their families.
Recognition of emotion in facial expression by people with Prader–Willi syndrome
Authors: Whittington J. , Holland T. 
Published: December 2010

AbstractBackground  People with Prader–Willi syndrome (PWS) may have mild intellectual impairments but less is known about their social cognition. Most parents/carers report that people with PWS do not have normal peer relationships, although some have older or younger friends. Two specific aspects of social cognition are being able to recognise other people's emotion and to then respond appropriately. In a previous study, mothers/carers thought that 26% of children and 23% of adults with PWS would not respond to others' feelings. They also thought that 64% could recognise happiness, sadness, anger and fear and a further 30% could recognise happiness and sadness. However, reports of emotion recognition and response to emotion were partially dissociated. It was therefore decided to test facial emotion recognition directly.Method  The participants were 58 people of all ages with PWS. They were shown a total of 20 faces, each depicting one of the six basic emotions and asked to say what they thought that person was feeling. The faces were shown one at a time in random order and each was accompanied by a reminder of the six basic emotions.Results  This cohort of people with PWS correctly identified 55% of the different facial emotions. These included 90% of happy faces, 55% each of sad and surprised faces, 43% of disgusted faces, 40% of angry faces and 37% of fearful faces. Genetic subtype differences were found only in the predictors of recognition scores, not in the scores themselves. Selective impairment was found in fear recognition for those with PWS who had had a depressive illness and in anger recognition for those with PWS who had had a psychotic illness.Conclusions  The inability to read facial expressions of emotion is a deficit in social cognition apparent in people with PWS. This may be a contributing factor in their difficulties with peer relationships.
Comparison of rhyolites from continental rift, continental arc and oceanic island arc: Implication for the mechanism of silicic magma generation
Authors: Ayalew Dereje , Ishiwatari Akira 
Published: December 2010

AbstractWe discuss the chemical compositions of rhyolites from three distinct tectonic settings: (i) the continental rift from Ethiopia (both Oligocene–Miocene and Quaternary rhyolites); (ii) the early Miocene continental arc of Japan (the Mt Wasso rhyolites related to the rifting of the Japan Sea); and (iii) the oceanic Izu–Bonin Island Arc. The comparison reveals that the oceanic island arc rhyolites have high contents of CaO, Al2O3, and Sr, and extremely low abundance of trace elements including K2O. In contrast, the Ethiopian continental rift rhyolites are characterized by low contents of CaO, Al2O3, and Sr, and high contents of K2O, and are enriched in the whole range of trace elements. The continental arc Mt Wasso rhyolites are apparently low in Nb content, although they display similar chemical trends to those of the Ethiopian rhyolites. This obvious difference in the chemical signatures of the rhyolites from the three tectonic settings is the consequence of their derivation from different sources. The implication of this result is that fractional crystallization processes were dominant in the rift‐related rhyolites both from continental rift and continental arc regardless of the prevailing tectonic setting and the nature of the crust (age, thickness, composition), whereas the oceanic island arc rhyolites may form through partial melting of young, mafic crust.
Chemical characteristics of chromian spinel in plutonic rocks: Implications for deep magma processes and discrimination of tectonic setting
Authors: Arai Shoji , Okamura Hidenobu , Kadoshima Kazuyuki , Tanaka Chima , Suzuki Kenji , Ishimaru Satoko 
Published: December 2010

AbstractWe summarize chemical characteristics of chromian spinels from ultramafic to mafic plutonic rocks (lherzolites, harzburgites, dunites, wehrlites, troctolites, olivine gabbros) with regard to three tectonic settings (mid‐ocean ridge, arc, oceanic hotspot). The chemical range of spinels is distinguishable between the three settings in terms of Cr# (= Cr/(Cr + Al) atomic ratio) and Ti content. The relationships are almost parallel with those of chromian spinels in volcanic rocks, but the Ti content is slightly lower in plutonics than in volcanics at a given tectonic environment. The Cr# of spinels in plutonic rocks is highly diverse; its ranges overlap between the three settings, but extend to higher values (up to 0.8) in arc and oceanic hotspot environments. The Ti content of spinels in plutonics increases, for a given lithology, from the arc to oceanic hotspot settings by mid‐ocean ridge on average. This chemical diversity is consistent with that of erupted magmas from the three settings. If we systematically know the chemistry of chromian spinels from a series of plutonic rocks, we can estimate their tectonic environments of formation. The spinel chemistry is especially useful in dunitic rocks, in which chromian spinel is the only discriminating mineral. Applying this, discordant dunites cutting mantle peridotites were possibly precipitated from arc‐related magmas in the Oman ophiolite, and from an intraplate tholeiite in the Lizard ophiolite, Cornwall.
Exercise capacity in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: The effect of pulmonary hypertension
Authors: BOUTOU AFRODITI K , PITSIOU GEORGIA G. , TRIGONIS IOANNIS , PAPAKOSTA DESPINA , KONTOU PASCHALINA K. , CHAVOUZIS NIKOLAOS , NAKOU CHRYSANTHI , ARGYROPOULOU PARASKEVI , WASSERMAN KARLMAN , STANOPOULOS IOANNIS 
Published: December 2010

ABSTRACTBackground and objective:  Increased pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) usually coexists with impaired lung function in IPF. Data on the effect of pulmonary hypertension (PH) on cardiopulmonary responses during exercise in IPF patients is very limited. We sought to investigate the impact of PH on exercise capacity and the correlation between systolic PAP (sPAP) and pulmonary function testing, as well as cardiopulmonary exercise parameters, in patients with IPF and PH.Methods:  Eighty‐one consecutive patients with IPF, who were evaluated over a 6‐year period, were retrospectively studied. Patients underwent pulmonary function testing, Doppler echocardiography and maximal cardiopulmonary exercise testing. PH was defined as sPAP > 35 mm Hg.Results:  PH was diagnosed in 57% of the patients. Categorization of patients according to severity of PH indicated a significant reduction in maximum work rate, peak O2 uptake, anaerobic threshold and peak O2 pulse in those with sPAP > 50 mm Hg. In IPF patients with PH, estimated sPAP correlated with peak O2 uptake, anaerobic threshold, peak O2 pulse and end‐tidal CO2 at anaerobic threshold, while the strongest correlation was between sPAP and ventilatory equivalent for CO2 at anaerobic threshold (r = 0.611, P < 0.001). There were no differences in pulmonary function or exercise parameters indicative of lung volume reduction, across the patient categories, and none of these parameters correlated with sPAP.Conclusions:  PH has a negative impact on exercise capacity in IPF patients. In IPF patients with PH, resting sPAP correlated with exercise parameters indicative of gas exchange and circulatory impairment, but not with defective lung mechanics.
A computational intelligence‐based approach for short‐term traffic flow prediction
Authors: Zargari Shahriar Afandizadeh , Siabil Salar Zabihi , Alavi Amir Hossein , Gandomi Amir Hossein 
Published: December 2010

AbstractThis paper proposes alternative approaches for the prediction of short‐term traffic flow using three branches of computational intelligence techniques, namely linear genetic programming (LGP), multilayer perceptron (MLP) and fuzzy logic (FL). Different LGP, MLP and FL models are developed for estimating the 5‐ and 30‐min traffic flow rates. New LGP‐ and MLP‐based prediction equations are derived for the traffic flow rates in the 5‐ and 30‐min time intervals. The models are established upon extensive databases of the traffic flow records obtained from Iran's Rasht‐Qazvin highway. The results indicate that the proposed models are effectively capable of predicting the target values. The LGP‐based models are found to be simple, straightforward and more practical for predictive purposes compared with the other derived models.
Effects of sunscreen on human skin’s ultraviolet radiation tolerance
Authors: Chao Yuan , Xue‐min Wang , Yi‐mei Tan , Li‐jie Yang , Yin‐fen Lin , Pei‐lan Wu 
Published: December 2010

SummaryPurpose  To observe the alteration ultraviolet radiation (UVR) of skin’s tolerance after its exposure to the small dose of UVR under the protection of sunscreen.Methods  Eleven subjects who applied sunscreen were exposed to 0.75 dose minimal persistent pigment darkening (MPPD) and minimal erythema dose (MED) by the Phototherapy Unit for 4 weeks. Each week their MPPDs and MEDs were measured by solar simulator. Meanwhile, SPECTCOLOMETER® and VISIOSCAN VC98® were used to detect the test areas and control areas.Results  The values of MPPD and MED increased significantly after the exposure to UVR. But there were no visible changes on the surface of skin’s texture.Conclusion  With the protection of sunscreen, the UVR tolerance of skin was greatly increased after the skin’s exposure to the small dose UV.
Axillary chromhidrosis: report of a case, review of the literature and treatment considerations
Authors: Beer Kenneth , Oakley Hillary 
Published: December 2010

SummaryChromhidrosis is a rare but troubling syndrome whose cardinal feature is the appearance of colored sweat. In some instances, this may be associated with the use of drugs or ingested materials [Dermatology vol. 199 (1999) 149–52] but in others it is idiopathic. Irrespective of the etiology, the appearance of colored sweat can be profoundly psychologically disturbing. We report the case of a woman who had been affected by chromhidrosis for several years. Treatment with botulinum toxin type A resulted in a cessation of the problem with profoundly improved quality of life for this individual. This is significant because it is the first case of isolated axillary chromhidrosis treated with botulinum toxin A and, as with reports of facial chromhidrosis [Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology vol. 52 (2005) 89–91], resolution of the symptoms supports the eccrine etiology of this entity.
Globalization and West African Music
Authors: Salm Steven J. 
Published: December 2010

AbstractThe interplay between the forces of globalization and West African music reflects complex processes of adoption and adaptation by West African musicians and their audiences. The pace of globalization and changes in West African popular music accelerated in the latter half of the 20th century due to changes in technology that allowed for more rapid movement of people and ideas. Scholars often make a clear distinction between traditional music and popular music but, as this article shows, the processes that lead to West African musical development blur those lines by linking the past to the present, merging African and non‐African musical styles, and highlighting artists who reside in multiple localities and manage a mosaic of cultural resources in the age of globalization.
Anatomic site variability in rat skeletal uptake and desorption of fluorescently labeled bisphosphonate
Authors: Wen D , Qing L , Harrison G , Golub E , Akintoye SO 
Published: December 2010

Oral Diseases(2011)17, 427–432Objectives: Bisphosphonates commonly used to treat osteoporosis, Paget’s disease, multiple myeloma, hypercalcemia of malignancy and osteolytic lesions of cancer metastasis have been associated with bisphosphonate‐associated jaw osteonecrosis (BJON). The underlying pathogenesis of BJON is unclear, but disproportionate bisphosphonate concentration in the jaw has been proposed as one potential etiological factor. This study tested the hypothesis that skeletal biodistribution of intravenous bisphosphonate is anatomic site‐dependent in a rat model system.Materials and Methods: Fluorescently labeled pamidronate was injected intravenously in athymic rats of equal weights followed byin vivowhole body fluorimetry,ex vivooptical imaging of oral, axial, and appendicular bones and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid bone decalcification to assess hydroxyapatite‐bound bisphosphonate.Results: Bisphosphonate uptake and bisphosphonate released per unit calcium were similar in oral and appendicular bones but lower than those in axial bones. Hydroxyapatite‐bound bisphosphonate liberated by sequential acid decalcification was the highest in oral, relative to axial and appendicular bones (P < 0.05).Conclusions: This study demonstrates regional differences in uptake and release of bisphosphonate from oral, axial, and appendicular bones of immune deficient rats.
Saliva: diagnostics and therapeutic perspectives
Authors: Spielmann N , Wong DT 
Published: December 2010

Oral Diseases (2011) 17, 345–354For the past two decades, salivary diagnostic approaches have been developed to monitor oral diseases such as periodontal diseases and to assess caries risk. Recently, the combination of emerging biotechnologies and salivary diagnostics has extended the range of saliva‐based diagnostics from the oral cavity to the whole physiologic system as most compounds found in blood are also present in saliva. Accordingly, saliva can reflect the physiologic state of the body, including emotional, endocrinal, nutritional and metabolic variations and acts as a source for the monitoring of oral and also systemic health. This review presents an update on the status of saliva diagnostics and delves into their applications to the discovery of biomarkers for cancer detection and therapeutic applications. Translating scientific findings of nucleic acids, proteins and metabolites in body fluids to clinical applications is a cumbersome and challenging journey. Our research group is pursuing the biology of salivary analytes and the development of technologies for detection of distinct biomarkers with high sensitivity and specificity. The avenue of saliva diagnostics incorporating transcriptomic, proteomic and metabolomic findings will enable us to connect salivary molecular analytes to monitor therapies, therapeutic outcomes, and finally disease progression in cancer.
Transgenic α‐1‐antitrypsin secreted into the bloodstream from salivary glands is biologically active
Authors: Perez P , Adriaansen J , Goldsmith CM , Zheng C , Baum BJ 
Published: December 2010

Oral Diseases (2011) 17, 476–483Objectives:  Salivary glands are potentially a valuable target for gene therapeutics. Herein, we examined the expression and biochemical activity of human alpha‐1‐antitrypsin (hA1AT) produced in rodent submandibular glands after gene transfer.Methods:  A serotype 5 adenoviral vector (Ad.hA1AT) was constructed and first characterized by dose response and time course studies using SMIE cells in vitro. hA1AT expression was analysed by ELISA and the biologic activity determined by the inhibition of human neutrophil elastase (hNE) and formation of hA1AT‐hNE complexes. Ad.hA1AT was administered to submandibular glands of rats and mice. The levels and activity of hA1AT were analysed in saliva, serum and gland extracts. Treatment with endoglycosidase H and Peptide N‐Glycosidase F was used to assess N‐linked glycosylation.Results:  Transgenic hA1AT, expressed in submandibular glands following Ad.hA1AT administration, was secreted into the bloodstream, N‐glycosylated and biochemically active.Conclusion:  After in vivo gene transfer, rodent salivary glands can produce a non‐hormonal, transgenic, secretory glycoprotein exhibiting complex and conformation‐dependent biologic activity.