bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Psychological abuse between parents: associations with child maltreatment from a population‐based sample
Authors: Reading Richard 
Published: September 2010

Chang J. J.,
Theodore A. D.,
Martin S. L. &
Runyan D. K.
(
2008
)

,
32
,
819
–
829
.
Objective  This study examined the association between partner psychological abuse and child maltreatment perpetration.Methods  This cross‐sectional study examined a population‐based sample of mothers with children aged 0–17 years in North and South Carolina (n = 1149). Mothers were asked about the occurrence of potentially neglectful or abusive behaviours towards their children by either themselves or their husband/partner in the past year. Partner psychological abuse was categorized as no psychological abuse (reference), husband perpetrates, wife perpetrates or both perpetrates. Outcome measures for psychological and physical abuse of the child had four categories: no abuse (reference), mother perpetrates, father/father‐figure perpetrates or both parents perpetrates, whereas child neglect was binary. Adjusted relative risk ratios (aRRRs), adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated with regression models. A relative risk ratio was the ratio of odds ratios derived from multinomial logistic regression.Results  Children were at the greatest risk of maltreatment when parents psychologically abused each other versus no abuse: the aRRR for child psychological abuse by the mother only was 16.13 (95% CI 5.11, 50.92) compared with no abuse, controlling for child age, gender, Medicaid welfare and mother's level of education. Both parents psychologically abuse each other versus no abuse also results in an aRRR of 14.57 (95% CI 3.85, 55.16) for child physical abuse by both parents compared with no abuse. When only the husband perpetrates towards the wife, the odds of child neglect was 5.29 times as much as families with no psychological abuse (95% CI 1.36, 20.62).Conclusions  Partner psychological abuse was strongly related to child maltreatment. Children experienced a substantially increased risk of maltreatment when partner psychological abuse was present in the homes.Practice implications  This study observed that intimate partner psychological abuse significantly increased risk of child maltreatment. Increased public awareness of partner psychological abuse is warranted. Primary prevention should include education about the seriousness of partner psychological abuse in families. Domestic violence and child welfare agencies must recognize the link between partner psychological abuse and child maltreatment and work together to develop effective screening for each of these problems.
PRODUCTION OF IMMUNOREACTIVE INHIBIN BY A VIRILIZING OVARIAN TUMOUR (SERTOLI‐LEYDIG TUMOUR)
Authors: OHASHI MASAO , HASEGAWA YOSHIHISA , HAJI MASAFUMI , IGARASHI MASAO , NAWATA HAJIME 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYA 59‐year‐old post‐menopausal woman was admitted to the hospital with atypical vaginal bleeding and hirsute lower extremities. There was a high serum testosterone level (15‐8 nmol/1) and also an appreciable serum immunoreactive inhibin level. No adrenal or ovarian lesions were detected by conventional imaging procedures. Selective blood sampling was performed during venous catheterization and showed that testosterone and inhibin levels were highest in the right ovarian vein. Laparotomy revealed a Sertoli‐Leydig tumour in the right ovary, which was excised. Post‐operatively, immunoreactive inhibin became undetectable while the testosterone level fell to 2–8 nmol/1. Specific radioimmunoassay showed a high immunoreactive inhibin content in the tumour. These findings indicate that Sertoli‐Leydig tumours can produce both testosterone and immunoreactive inhibin, both of which would then inhibit LH and FSH release to produce the symptoms seen in this patient. Thus, assay of inhibin may aid in the differential diagnosis of virilizing tumours.
Preventive effect of levothyroxine in patients operated for non‐toxic goitre: a randomized trial of one hundred patients with nine years follow‐up
Authors: Bistrup Claus , dan Nielsen Jesper , Gregersen Gunnar , Franch Poul 
Published: September 2010

SummaryOBJECTIVE Earlier reports have shown different effects of levothyroxine in the prevention of recurrence of non‐toxic goitre after operation. These studies have been either retrospective or of short‐term follow‐up. This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of long‐term Eitroxin treatment (levothyroxine 0.1 mg daily) In the prevention of post‐operative recurrence of non‐toxic goitre.DESIGN Randomized prospective non‐placebo controlled study with 9 years follow‐up. Group A (n = 40) received levothyroxine and group B (n = 60) did not.PATIENTS One hundred patients consecutively operated for non‐toxic goitre. All clinically and biochemically euthyroid and none taking any thyroid and/or antithyroid medication.MEASUREMENTS T3, T4, TSH, thyroid antibodies (microsomal/thyroglobulin), weight and neck circumference were measured and thyroid palpation were done preoperatively, 3 and 12 months after surgery and thereafter yearly up to 9 years.RESULTS Sixty‐nine patients completed 9 years follow‐up. Incidence of recurrence in group A vs group B was 14.5 vs 21.8% (P < 0.05) irrespective of type of operation, pathoanatomical diagnosis, removed amount or remnant size of the thyroid gland and level of TSH.CONCLUSION No preventive effect on incidence of recurrence of goitre by Eltroxin 0.1 mg daily in patients operated for non‐toxic sporadic goitre was observed.
Suppression of sex steroids by a gonadotrophin‐releasing hormone agonist increases serum growth hormone‐binding protein activity in girls with central idiopathic precocious puberty
Authors: Kobayashi Yasuyuki , Murata Atsushi , Yasuda Toshiyuki , Minagawa Masanori , Wataki Kunio , Ohnishi Hisashi , Niimi Hiroo 
Published: September 2010

SummaryOBJECTIVE The high‐affinity growth hormone (GH)‐binding protein corresponds to the extracellular domain of GH receptor. The direct role of sex steroids in pubertal bone growth may be an increased GH receptor‐coupled GH action. We examine the GH‐binding protein (GHBP) activity before and after the suppression of female sex steroids and the relation of GHBP to pubertal growth.PATIENTS We studied six girls with central idiopathic sexual precocity without any prior gonadal suppression therapy.DESIGN We measured GHBP activity before and 12, 24 and 48 weeks after the treatment with s.c. injection of a GnRH agonist (leuprolide acetate) every 4 weeks.MEASUREMENT GHBP activity was measured by immunoprecipitation using anti‐GH receptor monoclonal antibody.RESULTS The treatment caused a decrease in the LH and FSH responses to GnRH test and plasma oestradiol, which resulted in decreased urinary GH excretion, plasma IGF‐I levels, height velocity and bone age maturation. GHBP activity before the start of the treatment was normal (75 ± 27% relative to adult pooled serum, mean ± SD), and it was increased above adult level (122 ± 29% at 48 weeks, P < 0.01) by the suppression of the pituitary‐gonadal axis. There were significant negative correlations between GHBP and oestradiol (r=‐0.452, n = 24, P < 0.05) and between GHBP and urine GH excretion (r = −0.462, n = 24, P < 0.05).CONCLUSIONS The high‐affinity GHBP is increased by the withdrawal of female sex steroid. The clinical significance of this finding may be interference with the binding of GH to its receptor resulting in a reduced IGF‐I level and decreased height velocity. The mechanism warrants further study.
Report: Analysis of epidemiology, clinical features and management of erysipelas
Authors: Krasagakis Konstantin , Valachis Antonios , Maniatakis Panagiotis , Krüger‐Krasagakis Sabine , Samonis George , Tosca Androniki D. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractBackground Erysipelas is a superficial form of cellulitis affecting the upper dermis and superficial lymphatics. The widespread use of antibiotics may affect clinical findings and response to therapy of infectious disorders. The purpose of the study was to investigate the epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory features of erysipelas and to compare the results of treatment with penicillin vs. other antibiotic regimens.Methods All charts of erysipelas patients treated at the University Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, Greece from 1994 to 2002 were retrospectively studied.Results Median age of the 99 patients was 54.5 years; 59% were females. The most frequent site involved was the lower extremity (76%), followed by the face (17%) and upper extremity (6%). In 61 patients (62%), a possible entry portal was identified. The most common manifestation of erysipelas was local symptoms and signs (pain, erythema, and swelling) in all patients, together with elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (60%). Fever was present in 25% of patients. The most commonly used antibiotic was intravenous penicillin G (64%). In the penicillin group, mean duration of fever after treatment initiation was shorter than in the nonpenicillin group (1.7 vs. 4.5 days,P = 0.002). Both treatment failures and recurrences were the same between the two groups.Discussion The diagnosis of erysipelas can be based on careful examination for local signs and symptoms. The role of ESR in primary diagnosis needs further investigation. Penicillin seems to preserve its fundamental role in the treatment of disease.
Medical genetics: An Indian family with Sjögren‐Larsson syndrome caused by a novel ALDH3A2 mutation
Authors: Sakai Kaori , Akiyama Masashi , Yanagi Teruki , Nampoothiri Sheela , Mampilly Tony , Sunitha V , Shimizu Hiroshi 
Published: September 2010

AbstractSjögren‐Larsson syndrome is an autosomal‐recessive hereditary disorder characterized by congenital ichthyosis, mental retardation and spastic diplegia or tetraplegia. It is known that mutations in the fatty aldehyde dehydrogenase (FALDH) gene (ALDH3A2) underlie SLS. We report two Indian sisters showing typical clinical features of SLS. Direct sequencing of the entire coding region of ALDH3A2 revealed a novel homozygous mutation, c.142G>T (p.Asp48Tyr) in exon 1, in both patients. Their parents harbored the mutation heterozygously. Mutant‐allele‐specific amplification analysis using PCR products as a template verified the mutation in the patients. The aspartic acid residue at the mutation site is located in the C‐terminal portion of the second a‐helix strand, a2, of N‐terminal four helices of FALDH and the FALDH amino‐acid sequence alignment shows that this aspartic acid residue is conserved among several diverse species. Until now, a number of mutations in ALDH3A2 have been shown to be responsible for SLS in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and North and South America. However, in Asian populations, ALDH3A2 mutations have been identified only in Japanese SLS patients. Here we report an ALDH3A2 mutation for the first time in SLS patients in the Asian country other than Japan. The present results suggest that ALDH3A2 is a gene responsible for SLS in Asian populations. We hope ALDH3A2 mutation search will be globally available including many Asian countries in the future.
Report: Dermoscopy as a diagnostic tool in demodicidosis
Authors: Segal Rina , Mimouni Daniel , Feuerman Hanna , Pagovitz Odelya , David Michael 
Published: September 2010

AbstractBackground  The in vivo demonstration of Demodex infestation is traditionally based on the microscopic identification of Demodex mites, which is time consuming and requires specific equipment and a trained observer.Objective  The aim of this study was to describe for the first time the use of polarized‐light dermoscopy for the diagnosis of demodicidosis in patients with variable clinical presentations.Methods  A total of 72 patients with variable facial eruptions were examined clinically, microscopically, and dermoscopically for the presence of Demodex mites.Results  Of the 72 patients, 55 were found to have demodicidosis. In 54 patients, the dermoscopy examination yielded a specific picture consisting of Demodex “tails” and Demodex follicular openings. In patients with an inflammatory variant of demodicidosis, reticular horizontal dilated blood vessels were also visualized. Microscopically, skin scrapings demonstrated Demodex in 52 patients. Overall, the dermoscopy findings showed excellent agreement with the microscopy findings (kappa value 0.86, 95% CI 0.72–0.99, P < 0.001). In the remaining 17 patients, there was no evidence of Demodex infestation either microscopically or dermoscopically.Limitations  The study was not blinded. As there are no standards for the diagnosis of demodicidosis, our results were based on criteria developed by our research group.Conclusions  This is the first description of the specific dermoscopic findings associated with variable clinical presentations of demodicidosis. Dermoscopy may serve as a valuable tool for the real‐time validation of Demodex infestation and the evaluation and follow‐up of affected patients.
Report: In vitro antimicrobial susceptibility of Propionibacterium acnes isolated from acne patients in northern Mexico
Authors: González Roger , Welsh Oliverio , Ocampo Jorge , Hinojosa‐Robles Rosa M. , Vera‐Cabrera Lucio , Delaney Mary L. , Gómez Minerva 
Published: September 2010

AbstractBackground  Antimicrobials are essential in acne therapy. In the last decades, Propionibacterium acnes has become resistant to different antibiotics.Objective  To determine antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of P. acnes to frequently used drugs.Materials and methods  Cutaneous lesion samples were obtained from 50 patients with acne vulgaris, which were cultured in anaerobic media to demonstrate the presence of P. acnes. After that, antimicrobial susceptibility tests to tetracycline, minocycline, doxycycline, erythromycin, azithromycin, clindamycin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (SXT) and levofloxacin were performed.Results  In the general study group, resistance to azithromycin was 82%, the most prevalent one (P < 0.05), followed by trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (68%) and erythromycin (46%). On the other hand, all strains isolated were susceptible to minocycline. Resistance bias were similar when subgroups with and without the previous antimicrobial therapy were performed, finding a low prevalence of resistance to tetracyclines and levofloxacin in both groups.Conclusions  In our region, P. acnes is highly resistant to azithromycin, SXT, erythromycin and clindamycin; and being very susceptible to minocycline, levofloxacin and tetracycline, in vitro in both groups: with and without the previous antibiotic use. To our knowledge, high resistance prevalence to azithromycin and SXT has never been reported.
Tropical medicine rounds: Treatment of acute cutaneous leishmaniasis with intralesional injection of meglumine antimoniate: comparison of conventional technique with mesotherapy gun
Authors: Kashani Mansour Nassiri , Sadr Bardia , Nilforoushzadeh Mohammad Ali , Arasteh Mahfar , Babakoohi Shahab , Firooz Alireza 
Published: September 2010

AbstractBackground  The gold standard treatment of Old World leishmaniasis, a common tropical parasitic infestation, is intralesional meglumine antimoniate injection. Mesotherapy is a new minimally invasive method of administration of variable substances to the skin.Objective  Comparison of the efficacy and adverse effects of treatment of leishmaniasis with intralesional injection of meglumine antimoniate using conventional method and mesotherapy method.Patients and methods  Eighty‐five patients with proven leishmaniasis were recruited and randomly treated by one of the two methods, either by conventional injection or by mesotherapy administration weekly. Lesion characteristics were evaluated at every treatment session as well as 1 week, 1 month and 3 months after cessation of treatment.Results  The improvement in lesions was similar in both groups, while it was noted sooner in mesotherapy group with less amount of drug usage (P = 0.005 and 0.016 respectively). Also, patients treated with mesotherapy experienced less pain severity (P = 0.005).Conclusion  Mesotherapy is a safe and effective method of meglumine antimoniate injection for the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis and is less painful.
ANTIDIABETIC EFFECT OF A NEW PEPTIDE FROM SQUALUS MITSUKURII LIVER (S‐8300) IN ALLOXAN‐DIABETES
Authors: Huang Fengjie , Wu Wutong 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARY1. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the antidiabetic effect of S‐8300 in alloxan diabetic mice.2. Diabetes was induced by single intravenous injection of alloxan (60 mg/kg bodyweight).3. The effects of S‐8300 on diabetic mice were investigated by observing changes in the glycometabolic index (fasting plasma glucose, glycosylated haemoglobin), the lipometabolic index (triglyceride, cholesterol, free fatty acids), anti‐oxidant index (superoxide dismutase, malondialdehyde) and in the degree of injury of β‐cells in the pancreatic islets.4. A significant decrease in fasting plasma glucose, glycosylated haemoglobin, triglycerides, cholesterol, free fatty acids in the plasma and malondialdehyde in the tissues, as well as a significant increase in the activity of superoxide dismutase, was observed in diabetic mice treated with 10, 3 and 1 mg/kg S‐8300.5. Treatment with S‐8300 also attenuated the degree of injury of β‐cells.6. A comparison was made between the action of S‐8300 and 6 U/kg insulin. The effects of S‐8300 were similar to those of insulin.
INHIBITION OF CYCLIC STRAIN‐INDUCED ENDOTHELIN‐1 SECRETION BY TETRAMETHYLPYRAZINE
Authors: Bi Wei‐Fung , Yang Hung‐Yu , Liu Ju‐Chi , Cheng Tzu‐Hurng , Chen Cheng‐Hsien , Shih Chun‐Ming , Lin Heng , Wang Tze‐Che , Lian Wei‐Shiung , Chen Jin‐Jer , Chiu Heng‐Cheng , Chang Nen‐Chung 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARY1. Chuanxiong is a Chinese herb that has been used widely in China to treat vascular disorders. 2,3,5,6‐Tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) is one of the major components purified from chuanxiong. Many studies have demonstrated that TMP is effective in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. However, the mechanism of action by which TMP exerts relaxation in vascular vessels remains unclear.2. Endothelin (ET)‐1 is a potent vasopressor synthesised by endothelial cells both in culture and in vivo. The aims of the present study were to test the hypothesis that TMP may alter strain‐induced ET‐1 secretion and to identify the putative underlying signalling pathways in endothelial cells.3. We showed that TMP inhibits strain‐induced ET‐1 secretion. 2,3,5,6‐Tetramethylpyrazine also inhibits the strain‐induced formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and phosphorylation of extracellular signal‐regulated kinases (ERK) 1/2. Furthermore, pretreating cells with TMP or the anti‐oxidant N‐acetyl‐cysteine decreased strain‐induced increases in ET‐1 secretion and ERK1/2 phosphorylation. Using a reporter gene assay, TMP and N‐acetyl‐cysteine were demonstrated to also attenuate the strain‐induced activity of the activator protein‐1 reporter.4. In summary, we have demonstrated, for the first time, that TMP inhibits strain‐induced ET‐1 gene expression, in part by interfering with the ERK1/2 pathway via attenuation of ROS formation. Thus, the present study provides important new insights into the molecular pathways that may contribute to the proposed beneficial effects of TMP in the vascular system.
EFFECTS OF A CHINESE HERBAL PREPARATION ON VASCULAR CELLS IN CULTURE: MECHANISMS OF CARDIOVASCULAR PROTECTION
Authors: Ling Shanhong , Dai Aozhi , Guo Zhixin , Yan Xijun , Komesaroff Paul A 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARY1. The use of traditional Chinese medicinal herbs or their pharmaceutical products for disease prevention and management is becoming increasingly popular in Western countries. Mixtures of various Chinese herbs have been used for the treatment of syndromes clinically overlapping Western cardiovascular syndromes. One modern preparation, known as the ‘Cardiotonic Pill’ (CP), is a pharmaceutical product derived mainly from a medicinal herb, Salvia miltiorrhiza bunge, and recently widely used in Chinese hospitals for the prevention and management of ischaemic cardiovascular diseases. Although the CP is believed to confer an extensive range of benefits, little is known about the physiological actions of this medicine, particularly at the cellular and molecular levels. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to explore possible cellular mechanisms of the CP on the cardiovascular system.2. Cultured human vascular endothelial cells (EC) and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) were exposed to the CP at various concentrations for periods ranging from hours to days. Cellular DNA synthesis was determined by a [3H]‐thymidine incorporation assay, proliferation and death were assessed by investigations of cell numbers and apoptosis, whereas the expression of extracellular adhesion molecules was analysed by flow‐cytometry and Western blotting.3. The CP extract at concentrations of less than 200 µg/mL was not associated with cell damage. At doses beyond the therapeutic range (10–20 µg/mL), the CP appeared to exert a mild inhibitory effect on DNA synthesis and proliferation of EC in serum‐enriched cultures. The CP significantly attenuated tumour necrosis factor‐α‐induced expression of intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 (ICAM‐1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule‐1 (VCAM‐1) in a dose‐dependent manner, with 50 and 100 µg/mL CP producing decreases in the expression of ICAM‐1 of 26–32% and 32–44%, respectively, and of VCAM‐1 of approximately 23% and 27–42%, respectively. The CP did not affect apoptosis in EC under conditions of serum‐deprivation.4. In VSMC, the CP significantly inhibited platelet‐derived growth factor BB‐induced DNA synthesis and cell proliferation in a dose‐dependent manner. The CP did not affect VSMC expression of adhesion molecules.5. We conclude that the CP inhibits expression of ICAM‐1 and VCAM‐1 in EC and proliferation of VSMC in a manner that has potentially beneficial therapeutic effects.
Downregulation of AP‐1 gene expression is an initial event in the oridonin‐mediated inhibition of colorectal cancer: Studies in vitro and in vivo
Authors: Jin Heiying , Tan Xuanzhong , Liu Xiufang , Ding Yijiang 
Published: September 2010

AbstractBackground and Aim:  Oridonin is the active ingredient isolated from the Chinese herb Rabdosia rubescens. We used both in vivo and in vitro approaches to elucidate the underlying mechanism of the oridonin‐mediated inhibition of colorectal cancer.Methods:  Two colorectal cell lines, Lovo and SW480, were treated with oridonin in solution. The effect of this treatment on the inhibition of the cell proliferation rate was determined by the 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide method. The changes in gene expression that occurred in both cell lines in response to treatment with oridonin were determined via an illumine expression sensor. Additionally, a colorectal cancer colostomy implantation model was established. Animals were injected intraperitoneally with an oridonin solution.Results:  The treatment of Lovo and SW480 cells with oridonin inhibited cell proliferation in a dose‐dependent manner. Furthermore, the rate of inhibition increased with prolonged treatment. The growth rate of the colorectal cancer colostomy implantation model was significantly lower than control cells when treated with oridonin (P < 0.001), which meant that oridonin treatment had a significant effect on the tumor growth rate. In the tumor model, activator protein‐1 (AP‐1) was the only gene found to be downregulated after oridonin treatment by the gene expression sensor. After 4 weeks of treatment, AP‐1, nuclear factor‐κB (NF‐κB) and P38 were all found to be downregulated.Conclusions:  Our study confirmed the inhibitory effects of oridonin on colorectal cancer. These results indicate that the downregulation of AP‐1 might be an initial response to treatment by oridonin. This regulation could, in turn, affect the expression of the NF‐κB and mitogen‐activated protein kinase pathways, thereby inhibiting tumor growth.