bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Efficacy of a 0.0584% hydrocortisone aceponate spray in the management of canine atopic dermatitis: a randomised, double blind, placebo‐controlled trial
Authors: Nuttall Tim , Mueller Ralf , Bensignor Emmanuel , Verde Maite , Noli Chiara , Schmidt Vanessa , Rème Christophe 
Published: April 2009

AbstractThis study evaluated a 0.0584% hydrocortisone aceponate (HCA) spray (Cortavance®; Virbac SA, Carros, France) in canine atopic dermatitis (AD). Initially, dogs with a canine AD extent and severity index (CADESI‐03) ≥ 50 were randomly allocated to receive HCA (n = 15) or placebo (n = 13) (two sprays from 10 cm away to treat an area of 100 cm2) once daily for 28 days. Twenty‐one of the dogs then received HCA spray once daily, reducing to every other day or twice weekly over 42 days if improvement was maintained. CADESI, pruritus (14 cm visual‐analogue‐scale) and owner satisfaction (5‐point scale) were recorded every 14 days. Haematology, biochemistry and adrenocorticotrophic hormone stimulation were performed at baseline, d28 and d70 (HCA n = 9; placebo n = 7). Intention‐to‐treat data were analysed. HCA spray significantly decreased CADESI (–61.4% versus –13.4%, P = 0.0069) and pruritus (–38.8% versus +57.6%, P = 0.0015) at d28 compared to placebo. Scores were significantly decreased at d14 (CADESI –50.5%, P < 0.0021) and d28 (CADESI P < 0.0001; pruritus P = 0.018) compared to baseline following HCA but not placebo. At d28 11 of 15 and 7 of 15 HCA dogs had ≥ 50% reductions in CADESI and pruritus compared to 3 of 13 (P = 0.02) and 1 of 13 (P = 0.04) placebo dogs. Owner satisfaction scores were significantly higher in the HCA group (d28 P = 0.0001). Daily 3 of the 21 dogs required daily maintenance therapy, 7 every other day, 6 twice weekly and 5 dogs required additional therapy. Coat length did not influence the results. No adverse effects or changes to blood parameters were noted. HCA spray proved safe and effective up to 70 days. It is not, however, licensed for long‐term treatment.
Three microsporidian pathogens infecting Lymantria dispar larvae do not differ in their success in horizontal transmission
Authors: Goertz D. , Hoch G. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractWe quantified horizontal transmission of three microsporidian pathogens, Endoreticulatus schubergi, Nosema lymantriae and Vairimorpha disparis that infect Lymantria dispar larvae in an experiment using caged, potted oak plants. Despite marked differences in the modes of spore release from infectious hosts, no significant differences in the transmission success to uninfected, susceptible test hosts were ascertained between the tested microsporidian species. The density of initially inoculated larvae and the exposure period, on the other hand, did influence the number of infected test larvae. Depending on the density of inoculated larvae (10%, 30% or 50%), between 0% and 26% of the test larvae became infected with one of the three tested microsporidian pathogens after an exposure period of 6 days. When the exposure period was 12 days, between 11% and 76% of the test larvae became infected.
Reliability reconsidered: Cronbach's alpha and paediatric assessment in occupational therapy
Authors: Spiliotopoulou Georgia 
Published: April 2009

Background/aim: Using reliable outcome measures is a necessity for the occupational therapy profession in enabling valid assessments of clients. Although Cronbach's alpha is the most widely applied index of internal consistency reliability, there are misconceptions about its use and interpretation. This paper aims to guide assessment developers in paediatric occupational therapy, as well as practitioners who are evaluating outcome measures in using and interpreting the Cronbach's alpha estimates appropriately. This will enable them to decide on the tools’ clinical value and incorporate them into their practice with children.Method: Previously published papers reporting on internal consistency issues of outcome measures in paediatric occupational therapy were searched through the Allied and Complementary Medicine database. These papers were used as a basis to discuss possible reasons for reporting of low internal consistency.Results: The analysis demonstrates that Cronbach's alpha reports are not always interpreted in a sound way. The paper emphasises that one should be cautious about judging estimates of internal consistency. Low size of the coefficient alpha might not always indicate problems with the construction of the tool; whereas large sizes do not always suggest adequate reliability. Instead, these reports might be related to the data characteristics of the construct.Conclusion: In judging an outcome measure's internal consistency, researchers and practitioners in occupational therapy should report and consider the nature of data, the scale's length and width, the linearity and the normality of response distribution, the central response tendency, the sample response variability and the sample size.
The significance of measurement of serum unbound bilirubin concentrations in high‐risk infants
Authors: Lee Yong‐Kye , Daito Yasuyo , Katayama Yoshinori , Minami Hirotaka , Negishi Hirokuni 
Published: April 2009

AbstractBackground:  In the management of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, total bilirubin (TB) concentration is not specific enough to predict the brain damage caused by bilirubin toxicity. Unbound bilirubin (UB) easily passes the blood–brain barrier and causes neurotoxicity. We aimed to evaluate whether serum UB concentration would be a useful predictor of bilirubin encephalopathy in high‐risk infants.Methods:  We measured the serum TB and UB concentrations of 388 newborn infants treated with phototherapy or exchange transfusion for their hyperbilirubinemia at Takatsuki General Hospital between January 2002 and October 2003. Peak serum TB and UB levels and UB/TB ratios were studied on each birthweight group: below 1500 g (very low birthweight), 1500 g–2499 g (low birthweight), above 2500 g (normal birthweight); and several clinical factors influencing hyperbilirubinemia were also studied.Results:  Peak serum TB and UB levels increased with increasing birthweight, while UB/TB ratios decreased. The very low birthweight group showed higher UB levels and UB/TB ratios despite lower TB levels in intraventricular hemorrhage or severe infection compared to those in the others. The low birthweight and normal birthweight groups showed higher TB and UB levels in cases of hemolytic disease of the newborn compared to non‐hemolytic disease of the newborn cases. Eight of 44 cases showed high UB levels accompanied by abnormal auditory brainstem responses, one of whom subsequently developed ataxic cerebral palsy with hearing loss, whereas the other seven showed transient abnormalities of auditory brainstem responses by the treatment of exchange transfusion or phototherapy.Conclusion:  The UB measurement was considered to be significant for the assessment of the risk of bilirubin neurotoxicity and the appropriate intervention for hyperbilirubinemia in high‐risk infants.
Association of a single nucleotide polymorphism in the constitutive androstane receptor gene with bone mineral density
Authors: Urano Tomohiko , Usui Takahiko , Shiraki Masataka , Ouchi Yasuyoshi , Inoue Satoshi 
Published: April 2009

Background:  Nuclear receptors play an important role in bone metabolism. In bone cells, the vitamin D receptor (VDR) and the steroid and xenobiotic receptor (SXR) are activated by vitamin D and vitamin K2, respectively. VDR and SXR are the NR1I subfamily members of nuclear receptors. We speculated that the constitutive androstane receptor (CAR), the third member of the NR1I subfamily, also could be implicated in the regulation of bone metabolism. Therefore, we analyzed expression of CAR mRNA in osteoblasts and then examined association of a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the human CAR gene at intron 2 (IVS2–99C>T, rs2502815) with bone mineral density (BMD).Methods:  Expression levels of CAR mRNA were analyzed during the culture course of rat primary osteoblasts. Association of an SNP in the CAR gene with BMD was examined in 548 healthy Japanese postmenopausal women.Results:  CAR mRNA increased at day 16 and then increased during culture of rat primary osteoblasts. The increase of CAR mRNA was parallel with the increase of alkaline phosphatase expression, a differentiation marker of osteoblasts. As a result of association study of an SNP in the CAR gene at intron 2, subjects with the CC genotype (n = 208) had significantly higher BMD than subjects with the TT or CT genotype (n = 340) (lumbar spine BMD, P = 0.0185; total body BMD, P = 0.0416).Conclusion:  CAR mRNA was expressed and regulated in primary osteoblasts. A genetic variation at the CAR gene locus is associated with BMD, suggesting an involvement of the CAR gene in bone metabolism.
Phenotypical aspects of maturity‐onset diabetes of the young (MODY diabetes) in comparison with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in children and adolescents: experience from a large multicentre database
Authors: Schober E. , Rami B. , Grabert M. , Thon A. , Kapellen Th. , Reinehr Th. , Holl R. W. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractAims  To analyse and compare clinical characteristics in young patients with maturity‐onset diabetes of the young (MODY) and Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).Methods  We conducted an observational investigation using the DPV‐Wiss database containing clinical data on 40 757 diabetic patients < 20 years of age from Germany and Austria.Results  Three hundred and thirty‐nine cases were clinically categorized as MODY (0.83%); 562 patients were diagnosed as T2DM (1.4%). In 20% of cases, the diagnosis of MODY was based on clinical findings only. Of the 272 subjects where genetic testing was available, 3% did not carry mutations in the three examined MODY genes. Glucokinase‐MODY was commoner than HNF1A‐MODY and HNF4A‐MODY. Age at diagnosis was younger in MODY patients. The body mass index of T2DM was significantly higher compared with all MODY subgroups. Macrovascular risk factors such as dyslipidaemia and hypertension were commoner in T2DM, but 23% of MODY patients had dyslipidaemia and 10% hypertension. Glycaemic control was within the therapeutic target (HbA1c < 7.5%) in 86% of MODY and 70% of T2DM patients.Conclusions  The prevalence of MODY in children and adolescents in Germany and Austria is lower than that of T2DM in this age group. Dyslipidaemia and hypertension are less frequent in MODY compared with T2DM patients, but do occur.
Multilevel Regression Mixture Analysis
Authors: Muthén Bengt , Asparouhov Tihomir 
Published: April 2009

SummaryA two-level regression mixture model is discussed and contrasted with the conventional two-level regression model. Simulated and real data shed light on the modelling alternatives. The real data analyses investigate gender differences in mathematics achievement from the US National Education Longitudinal Survey. The two-level regression mixture analyses show that unobserved heterogeneity should not be presupposed to exist only at level 2 at the expense of level 1. Both the simulated and the real data analyses show that level 1 heterogeneity in the form of latent classes can be mistaken for level 2 heterogeneity in the form of the random effects that are used in conventional two-level regression analysis. Because of this, mixture models have an important role to play in multilevel regression analyses. Mixture models allow heterogeneity to be investigated more fully, more correctly attributing different portions of the heterogeneity to the different levels.
Central retinal artery occlusion: timing and mode of presentation
Authors: Rudkin A. K , Lee A. W. , Chen C. S. 
Published: April 2009

Background and purpose:  Central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) is a sudden, frequently irreversible, monocular vision loss, analogous to acute cerebral ischaemia. Thrombolysis may improve visual outcomes, but it is unclear what the acceptable timing of administration should be. We aim to ascertain, through audit, the timing and mode of presentation of individuals with potentially thrombolysable CRAOs.Methods:  A retrospective audit of patients with acute thromboembolic CRAO.Results:  Thirty‐one patients were identified. Mean time from onset of vision loss to presentation was 31 ± 65 h. Eighteen patients (58%) presented within 20 h of vision loss, and the majority presented first to a general practitioner. Fifteen patients (48%) were reviewed by an in‐hospital ophthalmologist within 20 h of vision loss. The mean delay from the referring source to assessment by an in‐hospital ophthalmologist was 5.2 h (median 3.3 h, range 50 min to 24 h). This delay was, on average, shorter for patients referred directly to an ophthalmology clinic.Conclusions:  Just under half (48%) of our cohort of CRAO patients were reviewed by an in‐hospital ophthalmologist within the 20‐h therapeutic time window for thrombolytic therapy and thus could qualify for inclusion in a randomized controlled trial according to EAGLE inclusion criteria. If thrombolysis is proven to be a feasible and safe treatment in CRAO then public awareness should be raised of the symptoms and an efficient direct referral pathway to an in‐hospital ophthalmologist established to aid treatment delivery.
Spontaneous release of acetylcholine from autonomic nerves in the bladder
Authors: Zagorodnyuk VP , Gregory S , Costa M , Brookes SJH , Tramontana M , Giuliani S , Maggi CA 
Published: April 2009

Background and purpose:  Bladder contractility is regulated by intrinsic myogenic mechanisms interacting with autonomic nerves. In this study, we have investigated the physiological role of spontaneous release of acetylcholine in guinea pig and rat bladders.Experimental approach:  Conventional isotonic or pressure transducers were used to record contractile activity of guinea pig and rat bladders.Key results:  Hyoscine (3 µmol·L−1), but not tetrodotoxin (TTX, 1 µmol·L−1), reduced basal tension, distension‐evoked contractile activity and physostigmine (1 µmol·L−1)‐evoked contractions of the whole guinea pig bladder and muscle strips in vitro. ω‐Conotoxin GVIA (0.3 µmol·L−1) did not affect physostigmine‐induced contractions when given either alone or in combination with ω‐agatoxin IVA (0.1 µmol·L−1) and SNX 482 (0.3 µmol·L−1). After 5 days in organotypic culture, when extrinsic nerves had significantly degenerated, the ability of physostigmine to induce contractions was reduced in the dorso‐medial strips, but not in lateral strips (which have around 15 times more intramural neurones). Most muscle strips from adult rats lacked intramural neurones. After 5 days in culture, physostigmine‐induced or electrical field stimulation‐induced contractions of the rat bladder strips were greatly reduced. In anaesthetized rats, topical application of physostigmine (5–500 nmol) on the bladder produced a TTX‐resistant tonic contraction that was abolished by atropine (4.4 µmol·kg−1 i.v.).Conclusions and implications:  The data indicate that there is spontaneous TTX‐resistant release of acetylcholine from autonomic cholinergic extrinsic and intrinsic nerves, which significantly affects bladder contractility. This release is resistant to blockade of N, P/Q and R type Ca2+ channels. British Journal of Pharmacology (2009) 157, 607–619; doi:10.1111/j.1476‐5381.2009.00166.x; published online 3 April 2009
Peripheral endocannabinoid dysregulation in obesity: relation to intestinal motility and energy processing induced by food deprivation and re‐feeding
Authors: Izzo Angelo A , Piscitelli Fabiana , Capasso Raffaele , Aviello Gabriella , Romano Barbara , Borrelli Francesca , Petrosino Stefania , Di Marzo Vincenzo 
Published: April 2009

Background and purpose:  Endocannabinoids in tissues controlling energy homeostasis are altered in obesity, thus contributing to metabolic disorders. Here we evaluate endocannabinoid dysregulation in the small intestine of mice with diet‐induced obesity (DIO) and in peripheral tissues of Zucker and lean rats following food deprivation and re‐feeding.Experimental approach:  Intestinal transit, evaluated using rhodamine‐B‐labelled dextran, and small intestinal endocannabinoid levels, measured by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry, were measured in mice fed normal or high‐fat diets (HFDs). Endocannabinoid levels were measured also in various tissues of lean and Zucker rats fed ad libitum or following overnight food deprivation with and without subsequent re‐feeding.Key results:  After 8 weeks of HFD, baseline intestinal transit was increased in DIO mice and enhanced by cannabinoid CB1 receptor antagonism less efficaciously than in lean mice. Small intestinal anandamide and 2‐arachidonoylglycerol levels were reduced and increased respectively. In Zucker rats, endocannabinoids levels were higher in the pancreas, liver and duodenum, and lower in the subcutaneous adipose tissue. Food deprivation increased endocannabinoid levels in the duodenum and liver of both rat strains, in the pancreas of lean rats and in adipose tissues of Zucker rats.Conclusions and implications:  Reduced anandamide levels might account for increased intestinal motility in DIO mice. Regulation of endocannabinoid levels in rat peripheral tissues, induced by food deprivation and re‐feeding, might participate in food intake and energy processing and was altered in Zucker rats. These data, together with previous observations, provide further evidence for dysregulation of peripheral endocannabinoids in obesity.
Implant–Bone Interface Stress Distribution in Immediately Loaded Implants of Different Diameters: A Three‐Dimensional Finite Element Analysis
Authors: Ding Xi , Zhu Xing‐Hao , Liao Sheng‐Hui , Zhang Xiu‐Hua , Chen Hong 
Published: April 2009

Abstract Purpose: To establish a 3D finite element model of a mandible with dental implants for immediate loading and to analyze stress distribution in bone around implants of different diameters. Materials and Methods: Three mandible models, embedded with thread implants (ITI, Straumann, Switzerland) with diameters of 3.3, 4.1, and 4.8 mm, respectively, were developed using CT scanning and self‐developed Universal Surgical Integration System software. The von Mises stress and strain of the implant–bone interface were calculated with the ANSYS software when implants were loaded with 150 N vertical or buccolingual forces. Results: When the implants were loaded with vertical force, the von Mises stress concentrated on the mesial and distal surfaces of cortical bone around the neck of implants, with peak values of 25.0, 17.6 and 11.6 MPa for 3.3, 4.1, and 4.8 mm diameters, respectively, while the maximum strains (5854, 4903, 4344 μɛ) were located on the buccal cancellous bone around the implant bottom and threads of implants. The stress and strain were significantly lower (p < 0.05) with the increased diameter of implant. When the implants were loaded with buccolingual force, the peak von Mises stress values occurred on the buccal surface of cortical bone around the implant neck, with values of 131.1, 78.7, and 68.1 MPa for 3.3, 4.1, and 4.8 mm diameters, respectively, while the maximum strains occurred on the buccal surface of cancellous bone adjacent to the implant neck, with peak values of 14,218, 12,706, and 11,504 μm, respectively. The stress of the 4.1‐mm diameter implants was significantly lower (p < 0.05) than those of 3.3‐mm diameter implants, but not statistically different from that of the 4.8 mm implant. Conclusions: With an increase of implant diameter, stress and strain on the implant–bone interfaces significantly decreased, especially when the diameter increased from 3.3 to 4.1 mm. It appears that dental implants of 10 mm in length for immediate loading should be at least 4.1 mm in diameter, and uniaxial loading to dental implants should be avoided or minimized.
An Approach to Define Clinical Significance in Prosthodontics
Authors: John Mike T. , Reißmann Daniel R. , Szentpétery András , Steele James 
Published: April 2009

Abstract Purpose: The concept of the minimal important difference (MID) of an oral health‐related quality of life (OHRQoL) questionnaire has been proposed to refer to the smallest OHRQoL score difference considered to be clinically important in oral health. This study determined the MID for the 49‐item Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP) in prosthodontic patients. This could serve as a patient‐based approach to define clinical significance for prosthodontic interventions. Materials and Methods: A consecutive sample of 224 adult patients completed the OHIP questionnaires twice before treatment was performed and 4 to 6 weeks after prosthodontic treatment was finished. At follow‐up patients were asked about their overall impression of the treatment (global transition; answer categories “improved a lot,”“improved a little,”“stayed the same,”“worsened a little,” and “worsened a lot”). Results: The median of baseline and follow‐up differences in OHIP (change scores) was computed for subjects (N = 47) reporting a “little improvement.” This figure was considered the MID for the OHIP, and it was found to be 6 OHIP units (95% confidence interval: 2 to 9). Conclusion: The MID of the OHIP is an important benchmark to assess individual and group treatment effects in prosthodontics and could be used to approach what is clinically significant in terms of patient‐based outcomes.
Packed blood cells stored in AS‐5 become proinflammatory during storage
Authors: McFaul Steve J. , Corley Jason B. , Mester Craig W. , Nath Jayasree 
Published: April 2009

BACKGROUND: Studies have shown that packed blood cells (PBCs) stored in AS‐1 (Adsol, Baxter) and AS‐3 (Nutricel, Medsep Corp.) accumulate proinflammatory substances, which may contribute to increased complications from allogeneic blood transfusion. This study assessed whether supernates from PBCs stored in AS‐5 (Optisol, Terumo Corp.) prime neutrophils (PMNs), activate platelets (PLTs), and accumulate proinflammatory cytokines and PMN granule constituents.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: PBC units were prepared in AS‐5 from nonleukoreduced (NLR) and leukoreduced (LR) whole‐blood units and stored at 4°C. Supernates from samples of PBCs collected at various storage times were analyzed by multiplex enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay for proinflammatory cytokines and myeloperoxidase (MPO) and were incubated with type‐matched blood, which was assessed by flow cytometry for expression of CD11b on PMNs, CD62P on PLTs, and formation of PMN‐PLT aggregates.RESULTS: Supernates from NLR PBCs stored for at least 14 days elevated CD11b expression on PMNs and the number of PMN‐PLT aggregates compared to supernates from collection day PBCs. The magnitude of these effects correlated with storage age. Supernates from LR PBCs did not elicit these responses. Expression of CD62P on PLTs was not affected by supernates from either NLR or LR PBCs. Levels of interleukin (IL)‐1β, IL‐6, IL‐8, IL‐18, NAP‐2, MCP‐1, RANTES, and MPO were elevated in supernates from 28‐ and 42‐day NLR units. Tumor necrosis factor α and MIP‐1α did not increase, and cytokine levels in LR PBC units did not increase.CONCLUSION: Units of NLR PBCs stored in AS‐5 become increasingly proinflammatory as a function of storage time. Leukoreduction prevents this change.