bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The overweight: obesity and plasma lipids in adults with intellectual disability and mental illness
Authors: Gazizova D. , Puri B. K. , Singh I. , Dhaliwal R. 
Published: September 2011

AbstractBackground  Previous studies in adults with intellectual disabilities (ID) have reported a higher prevalence of obesity than in the general population, and a trend to an increase in the prevalence of excess weight. However, little information is available on body weight status and lipids levels of adults with ID and co‐existing mental illness. The aim of this study was to address this information gap, by conducting a stepwise multiple regression analysis to predict BMI, thereby allowing the investigation of (semi‐)partial correlations, which assess the extent to which a particular predictor variable is associated with BMI over and above the other predictors.Methods  A study of the patients with ID and psychiatric illness registered in the service. Collected data included body mass index (BMI), age, gender, the presence of additional physical conditions, residential status, mental illness and use the psychotropic medication. We analysed the lipid profile including serum cholesterol together with low‐density lipoprotein, high‐density lipoprotein (HDL), triglycerides and the serum cholesterol/HDL ratio. Data for these variables were entered into a stepwise multiple linear regression to predict BMI.Results  28% of the participants were overweight and 41% obese. Most of the obese patients were men with mild ID (P = 0.039). Level of ID (P = 0.003), gender (P = 0.001) and serum triglycerides (P = 0.026) had significant predictive value in the regression model. There were no significant differences in either the mean serum cholesterol levels or the mean triglyceride levels between those taking and those not taking first‐generation antipsychotics, second‐generation antipsychotics or anti‐epileptic medication.Conclusions  The rate of obesity in our sample was higher than in previous studies. The most predictive combination of predictors to predict BMI was ID level, gender and serum triglyceride levels. Serum triglyceride and cholesterol levels did not appear to be unduly affected by first‐ or second‐generation antipsychotic medication or by antiepileptic medication.
Bioluminescent imaging of Borrelia burgdorferi in vivo demonstrates that the fibronectin‐binding protein BBK32 is required for optimal infectivity
Authors: Hyde Jenny A. , Weening Eric H. , Chang MiHee , Trzeciakowski Jerome P. , Höök Magnus , Cirillo Jeffrey D. , Skare Jon T. 
Published: September 2011

SummaryThe aetiological agent of Lyme disease, Borrelia burgdorferi, is transmitted via infected Ixodes spp. ticks. Infection, if untreated, results in dissemination to multiple tissues and significant morbidity. Recent developments in bioluminescence technology allow in vivo imaging and quantification of pathogenic organisms during infection. Herein, luciferase‐expressing B. burgdorferi and strains lacking the decorin adhesins DbpA and DbpB, as well as the fibronectin adhesin BBK32, were quantified by bioluminescent imaging to further evaluate their pathogenic potential in infected mice. Quantification of bacterial load was verified by quantitative PCR (qPCR) and cultivation. B. burgdorferi lacking DbpA and DbpB were only seen at the 1 h time point post infection, consistent with its low infectivity phenotype. The bbk32 mutant exhibited a significant decrease in its infectious load at day 7 relative to its parent. This effect was most pronounced at lower inocula and imaging correlated well with qPCR data. These data suggest that BBK32‐mediated binding plays an important role in B. burgdorferi colonization. As such, in vivo imaging of bioluminescent Borrelia provides a sensitive means to detect, quantify and temporally characterize borrelial dissemination in a non‐invasive, physiologically relevant environment and, more importantly, demonstrated a quantifiable infectivity defect for the bbk32 mutant.
Multiple Arabidopsis genes primed for recruitment into C4 photosynthesis
Authors: Kajala Kaisa , Brown Naomi J. , Williams Ben P. , Borrill Philippa , Taylor Lucy E. , Hibberd Julian M. 
Published: September 2011

SummaryC4 photosynthesis occurs in the most productive crops and vegetation on the planet, and has become widespread because it allows increased rates of photosynthesis compared with the ancestral C3 pathway. Leaves of C4 plants typically possess complicated alterations to photosynthesis, such that its reactions are compartmented between mesophyll and bundle sheath cells. Despite its complexity, the C4 pathway has arisen independently in 62 separate lineages of land plants, and so represents one of the most striking examples of convergent evolution known. We demonstrate that elements in untranslated regions (UTRs) of multiple genes important for C4 photosynthesis contribute to the metabolic compartmentalization characteristic of a C4 leaf. Either the 5′ or the 3′ UTR is sufficient for cell specificity, indicating that functional redundancy underlies this key aspect of C4 gene expression. Furthermore, we show that orthologous PPDK and CA genes from the C3 plant Arabidopsis thaliana are primed for recruitment into the C4 pathway. Elements sufficient for M‐cell specificity in C4 leaves are also present in both the 5′ and 3′ UTRs of these C3A. thaliana genes. These data indicate functional latency within the UTRs of genes from C3 species that have been recruited into the C4 pathway. The repeated recruitment of pre‐existing cis‐elements in C3 genes may have facilitated the evolution of C4 photosynthesis. These data also highlight the importance of alterations in trans in producing a functional C4 leaf, and so provide insight into both the evolution and molecular basis of this important type of photosynthesis.
Analysis of phenotype and genotype information for the diagnosis of Marfan syndrome
Authors: Sheikhzadeh S , Kade C , Keyser B , Stuhrmann M , Arslan‐Kirchner M , Rybczynski M , Bernhardt AM , Habermann CR , Hillebrand M , Mir T , Robinson PN , Berger J , Detter C , Blankenberg S , Schmidtke J , von Kodolitsch Y 
Published: September 2011

Sheikhzadeh S, Kade C, Keyser B, Stuhrmann M, Arslan‐Kirchner M, Rybczynski M, Bernhardt AM, Habermann CR, Hillebrand M, Mir T, Robinson PN, Berger J, Detter C, Blankenberg S, Schmidtke J, von Kodolitsch Y. Analysis of phenotype and genotype information for the diagnosis of Marfan syndrome.Marfan syndrome is considered a clinical diagnosis. Three diagnostic classifications comprising first, Marfan genotype with a causative FBN1 gene mutation; second, Marfan phenotype with clinical criteria of the original Ghent nosology (Ghent‐1); and third, phenotype with clinical criteria of its current revision (Ghent‐2) in 300 consecutive persons referred for confirmation or exclusion of Marfan syndrome (150 men, 150 women aged 35 ± 13 years) were used. Sequencing of TGBR1/2 genes was performed in 128 persons without FBN1 mutation. Marfan genotype was present in 140, Ghent‐1 phenotype in 139, and Ghent‐2 phenotype in 124 of 300 study patients. Marfan syndrome was confirmed in 94 and excluded in 129 persons consistently by all classifications, but classifications were discordant in 77 persons. With combined genotype and phenotype information confirmation of Marfan syndrome was finally achieved in 126 persons by Ghent‐1 and in 125 persons by Ghent‐2 among 140 persons with Marfan genotype, and exclusion was accomplished in 139 persons by Ghent‐1 and in 141 persons by Ghent‐2 among 160 persons without Marfan genotype. In total, genotype information changed final diagnoses in 22 persons with Ghent‐1, and in 32 persons with Ghent‐2. It is concluded that genotype information is essential for diagnosis or exclusion of Marfan syndrome.
Clinical efficacy and prognostic factors for overall survival in Japanese patients with metastatic renal cell cancer treated with sunitinib
Authors: Yuasa Takeshi , Tsuchiya Norihiko , Urakami Shinji , Horikawa Yohei , Narita Shintaro , Inoue Takamitsu , Saito Mitsuru , Yamamoto Shinya , Yonese Junji , Fukui Iwao , Nakano Kenji , Takahashi Shunji , Hatake Kiyohiko , Habuchi Tomonori 
Published: September 2011

Study Type – Therapy (case series)Level of Evidence 4What's known on the subject? and What does the study add?A randomized prospective phase III clinical trial for systemic treatment‐naïve metastatic renal cell cancer (RCC) patients demonstrated the superiority of sunitinib over interferon with an acceptable safety profile. However, a commonly asked question is whether patients with RCC in clinical trials are representative of those with this disease being seen in ordinary clinical practice.To our knowledge, this is the first report of sunitinib for the Japanese patients with metastatic RCC in ordinary clinical practice. The estimated median PFS and OS in this study were 9.3 and 32.2 months, respectively. The application of the MSKCC model distinctly separated OS curves (P < 0.001), suggesting that MSKCC prognostic factors might be still valid to predict survival in metastatic RCC in the era of molecular targeted therapy.OBJECTIVES
To report the treatment efficacy and safety profile of sunitinib for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in ordinary clinical practice.
In addition, to investigate the prognostic clinicopathological factors in these patients.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
The present study consisted of native Japanese patients with metastatic RCC, comprising 29 pretreated and 34 systemic treatment‐naïve patients.
Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed by the log‐rank test and the Cox proportional hazards model, respectively.
RESULTS
Estimated median progression‐free survival and overall survival (OS) were 9.3 months (95% confidence interval, CI, 5.0–13.7) and 32.2 months (95% CI, 24.4–40.0), respectively.
Among the patients pretreated before sunitinib, two patients were treated with initialized systemic therapy with sorafenib and the remaining 27 were initialized with interferon‐α.
The OS from the initial systemic therapy of the patients in pretreated groups was 79.6 months (95% CI, 14.6–144.5).
The application of the Memorial Sloan‐Kettering Cancer Center model distinctly separated the OS curves (P < 0.001).
The most common grade 3 adverse events were fatigue (53%), thrombocytopaenia (48%), hand‐foot syndrome (16%), anaemia (20%), hypertension (10%) and leucopaenia (9%), although these events were manageable and reversible.
CONCLUSIONS
Sunitinib has a favourable efficacy/safety profile for Japanese metastatic RCC patients in clinical practice.
The estimated median OS was >2 years with acceptable tolerability.
The median OS from the initial systemic therapy of the pretreated patients was >6 years.
Memorial Sloan‐Kettering Cancer Center prognostic factors still appear to be valid for predicting survival in metastatic RCC in the era of molecular targeted therapy.
Message design for mobile learning: Learning theories, human cognition and design principles
Authors: Wang Minjuan , Shen Ruimin 
Published: September 2011

AbstractThe demands of an increasingly knowledge‐based society and the dramatic advances in mobile phone technology are combining to spur the growth of mobile learning (mLearning). However, for mLearning to attain its full potential, it is essential to develop pedagogy and instructional design tailored to the needs of this new learning environment. At present, there is a lack of research on message design for mLearning. Towards these ends, this paper explores the principles and processes of message design for mLearning, including the influence of learning and cognitive theories, human–computer interaction principles, devices and methodologies. And it presents a number of practical guidelines for designing instructional messages for mLearning.
Testing the Structural Interpretation of the Price Puzzle with a Cost‐Channel Model*
Authors: Castelnuovo Efrem 
Published: September 2011

AbstractWe estimate a variety of small‐scale new‐Keynesian DSGE models with the cost channel to assess their ability to replicate the ‘price puzzle’, i.e. the inflationary impact of a monetary policy shock typically arising in vector autoregression (VAR) analysis. To correctly identify the monetary policy shock, we distinguish between a standard policy rate shifter and a shock to ‘trend inflation’, i.e. the time‐varying inflation target set by the Fed. Our estimated models predict a negative inflation reaction to a monetary policy tightening. We offer a discussion of the possible sources of mismatch between the VAR evidence and our own.
Cross‐Cultural Validation of a Measure of Felt Stigma in People with Intellectual Disabilities
Authors: Kock Elizabeth , Molteno Chris , Mfiki Ntathu , Kidd Martin , Ali Afia , King Michael , Strydom Andre 
Published: September 2011

Background  One trade‐off for increased independence of adults with intellectual disabilities in developing countries is that they may find themselves more exposed to the negative perceptions held by the general population regarding the mentally ill and disabled. The aim of this study was to adapt and translate a tool to measure felt stigma in people with intellectual disabilities designed in the United Kingdom (UK) to make it culturally viable, and to determine its reliability and validity in the multi‐ethnic and multilingual context of South Africa (SA) and to compare the item responses and factor structures of the tool between the UK and SA.Methods  We translated the tool into local languages and refined it by conducting focus groups and pilot studies with professionals and adults with intellectual disabilities, after which test–retest reliability, factor analysis and internal consistency were calculated.Results  Participants were from three different population groups: Afrikaans (n = 71; 37%), English (n = 67; 35%) and Xhosa (n = 53; 28%), who had mild (n = 106; 56%) or moderate intellectual disabilities (n = 85; 44%). 98 (51%) were re‐interviewed. The resulting international version of the perceived stigma measure consisted of 10 questions with good test–retest reliability (κ ranging from 0.41 to 0.59) and a similar factor structure to the UK version, despite including a different set of questions.Conclusions  There is evidence for the validity of felt stigma ratings reported by adults with intellectual disabilities, despite different cultural and health service contexts.
Persisting mental health problems among AIDS‐orphaned children in South Africa
Authors: Cluver Lucie D. , Orkin Mark , Gardner Frances , Boyes Mark E. 
Published: September 2011

Background:  By 2008, 12 million children in sub‐Saharan Africa were orphaned by AIDS. Cross‐sectional studies show psychological problems for AIDS‐orphaned children, but until now no longitudinal study has explored enduring psychological effects of AIDS‐orphanhood in the developing world.Methods:  A 4‐year longitudinal follow‐up of AIDS‐orphaned children with control groups of other‐orphans and non‐orphans. 1021 children (M = 13.4 years, 50% female, 98% isiXhosa‐speaking) were interviewed in 2005 and followed up in 2009 with 71% retention (49% female, M = 16.9 years), in poor urban South African settlements. Children were interviewed using sociodemographic questionnaires and well‐validated standardised scales for assessing depression, anxiety, and post‐traumatic stress. Data were analysed using mixed‐design ANOVA and backward‐stepping regression.Results:  AIDS‐orphaned children showed higher depression, anxiety, and post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) scores in both 2005 and 2009 when compared with other‐orphans and non‐orphans. Backward‐stepping regression, controlling for baseline mental health, and sociodemographic cofactors such as age, gender, and type of bereavement, revealed that being AIDS‐orphaned in 2005 was associated with depression, anxiety, and PTSD scores in 2009. This was not the case for other‐orphaned or non‐orphaned children. Age interacted with orphan status, such that there was a steep rise in psychological distress in the AIDS‐orphaned group, but no rise with age amongst other‐orphans and non‐orphans.Conclusions:  Negative mental health outcomes amongst AIDS‐orphaned children are maintained and worsen over a 4‐year period. It is important that psychosocial support programmes are sustained, and focus on youth as well as young children.
The effect of smoking cessation counselling in pregnant women: a meta‐analysis of randomised controlled trials
Authors: Filion KB , Abenhaim HA , Mottillo S , Joseph L , Gervais A , O’Loughlin J , Paradis G , Pihl R , Pilote L , Rinfret S , Tremblay M , Eisenberg MJ 
Published: August 2011

Please cite this paper as: Filion K, Abenhaim H, Mottillo S, Joseph L, Gervais A, O’Loughlin J, Paradis G, Pihl R, Pilote L, Rinfret S, Tremblay M, Eisenberg M. The effect of smoking cessation counselling in pregnant women: a meta‐analysis of randomised controlled trials. BJOG 2011;118:1422–1428.Background  Pregnant smokers are often prescribed counselling as part of multicomponent cessation interventions. However, the isolated effect of counselling in this population remains unclear, and individual randomised controlled trials (RCTs) are inconclusive.Objective  To conduct a meta‐analysis of RCTs examining counselling in pregnant smokers.Search strategy  We searched the CDC Tobacco Information and Prevention, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Medline and PsycINFO databases for RCTs evaluating smoking cessation counselling.Selection criteria  We included RCTs conducted in pregnant women in which the effect of counselling could be isolated and those that reported biochemically validated abstinence at 6 or 12 months after the target quit date.Data collection and analysis  Overall estimates were derived using random effects meta‐analysis models.Main results  Our search identified eight RCTs (n = 3290 women), all of which examined abstinence at 6 months. The proportion of women that remained abstinent at the end of follow up was modest, ranging from 4 to 24% among those randomised to counselling and from 2 to 21% among control women. The absolute difference in abstinence reached a maximum of only 4%. Summary estimates are inconclusive because of wide confidence intervals, albeit with little evidence to suggest that counselling is efficacious at promoting abstinence (odds ratio 1.08, 95% confidence interval 0.84–1.40). There was no evidence to suggest that efficacy differed by counselling type.Conclusions  Available data from RCTs examining the isolated effect of smoking cessation counselling in pregnant women are limited but sufficient to rule out large treatment effects. Future RCTs should examine pharmacological therapies in this population.
Retracted: ‘Clinical trials in Alzheimer’s disease’: immunotherapy approaches
Authors: Delrieu Julien , Ousset Pierre Jean , Caillaud Céline , Vellas Bruno 
Published: September 2011

J. Neurochem. (2012) 120 (Suppl. 1), 186–193.AbstractRecent advances in the understanding of Alzheimer’s disease pathogenesis have led to the development of numerous compounds that might modify the disease process. Amyloid β (Aβ) peptide represents an important molecular target for intervention in Alzheimer’s disease. Several types of Aβ peptide immunotherapy for Alzheimer’s disease are under investigation, direct immunization with synthetic intact Aβ42, active immunization involving the administration of synthetic fragments of Aβ peptide conjugated to a carrier protein and passive administration with monoclonal antibodies directed against Aβ peptide. Pre‐clinical studies showed that immunization against Aβ peptide can provide protection and reversal of the pathology of Alzheimer’s disease in animal models. Indeed, several adverse events have been described like meningoencephalitis with AN1792, vasogenic edema and microhemorrhages with bapineuzumab. Although immunotherapy approaches resulted in clearance of amyloid plaques in patients with Alzheimer’s disease, this clearance did not show significant cognitive effect for the moment. Currently, several Aβ peptide immunotherapy approaches are under investigation but also against tau pathology.
Structure‐activity relationships of vanilloid receptor agonists for arteriolar TRPV1
Authors: Czikora Á , Lizanecz E , Bakó P , Rutkai I , Ruzsnavszky F , Magyar J , Pórszász R , Kark T , Facskó A , Papp Z , Édes I , Tóth A 
Published: September 2011

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) plays a role in the activation of sensory neurons by various painful stimuli and is a therapeutic target. However, functional TRPV1 that affect microvascular diameter are also expressed in peripheral arteries and we attempted to characterize this receptor.EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Sensory TRPV1 activation was measured in rats by use of an eye wiping assay. Arteriolar TRPV1‐mediated smooth muscle specific responses (arteriolar diameter, changes in intracellular Ca2+) were determined in isolated, pressurized skeletal muscle arterioles obtained from the rat and wild‐type or TRPV1−/− mice and in canine isolated smooth muscle cells. The vascular pharmacology of the TRPV1 agonists (potency, efficacy, kinetics of action and receptor desensitization) was determined in rat isolated skeletal muscle arteries.KEY RESULTS Capsaicin evoked a constrictor response in isolated arteries similar to that mediated by noradrenaline, this was absent in arteries from TRPV1 knockout mice and competitively inhibited by TRPV1 antagonist AMG9810. Capsaicin increased intracellular Ca2+ in the arteriolar wall and in isolated smooth muscle cells. The TRPV1 agonists evoked similar vascular constrictions (MSK‐195 and JYL‐79) or were without effect (resiniferatoxin and JYL‐273), although all increased the number of responses (sensory activation) in the eye wiping assay. Maximal doses of all agonists induced complete desensitization (tachyphylaxis) of arteriolar TRPV1 (with the exception of capsaicin). Responses to the partial agonist JYL‐1511 suggested 10% TRPV1 activation is sufficient to evoke vascular tachyphylaxis without sensory activation.CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Arteriolar TRPV1 have different pharmacological properties from those located on sensory neurons in the rat.
National Study of Emergency Department Observation Services
Authors: Wiler Jennifer L. , Ross Michael A. , Ginde Adit A. 
Published: September 2011

ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE 2011; 18:959–965 © 2011 by the Society for Academic Emergency MedicineAbstractObjectives:  The objective was to describe patient and facility characteristics of emergency department (ED) observation services in the United States.Methods:  The authors analyzed the 2007 National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS). Characteristics of EDs with observation units (OUs) were compared to those without, and patients with a disposition of ED observation were compared to those with a “short‐stay” (<48 hour) hospital admission. Results are descriptive and without formal statistical comparisons for this observational analysis.Results:  An estimated 1,746 U.S. EDs (36%) reported having OUs, of which 56% are administratively managed by ED staff. Fifty‐two percent of hospitals with ED‐managed OUs are in an urban location, and 89% report ED boarding, compared to 29 and 65% of those that do not have an OU. The admission rate is 38% at those with ED‐managed OUs and 15% at those without OUs. Of the 15.1% of all ED patients who are kept in the hospital following an ED visit, one‐quarter are kept for either a short‐stay admission (1.8%) or an ED observation admission (2.1%). Most (82%) ED observation patients were discharged from the ED. ED observation patients were similar to short‐stay admission patients in terms of age (median = 52 years for both, interquartile range = 36 to 70 years), self‐pay (12% vs. 10%), ambulance arrival (37% vs. 36%), urgent/emergent triage acuity (77% vs. 74%), use of ≥1 ED medication (64% vs.76%), and the most common primary chief complaints and primary diagnoses.Conclusions:  Over one‐third of U.S. EDs have an OU. Short‐stay admission patients have similar characteristics as ED observation patients and may represent an opportunity for the growth of OUs.