bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Perceived competence and school adjustment of hearing impaired children in mainstream primary school settings
Authors: Hatamizadeh N. , Ghasemi M. , Saeedi A. , Kazemnejad A. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractBackground  Although educational main streaming of children with special needs formally began in Iran since 1992 there is little information whether hearing impaired children feel competent in regular schools.Methods  To determine the perceived competence and school adjustment of hearing impaired children in mainstream primary school settings, the self‐perception profile was administered to 60 mainstreamed hard of hearing children and 60 classmates with normal hearing matched for gender by a single interviewer. The instrument comprised 28 items, 23 of which were similar to those of ‘adapted test Image for children with cochlear implants' asking children about their feelings about their own cognitive, physical, socio‐emotional and communication competence and school adjustment. The Cronbach alpha coefficient for the instrument was 0.93.Results  Hard of hearing children rated their competence significantly poorer than their hearing classmates for all domains. Mean differences for the five domains ranged from 0.48 (for physical competence) to 0.90 (for school adjustment) on a scale of 1–4. There were no significant differences between girls' and boys' competence, in either the hearing or the hearing impaired groups. Classifying overall scores for perceived competence into four groups (‘poor competence’, ‘low competence’, ‘moderate competence’ and ‘high competence’), 23.4% of hearing impaired children but none of the hearing classmates rated themselves as having low or poor competence. On the other hand 85% of hearing children and only 18.3% of hearing impaired children rated themselves as highly competent.Conclusion  We suggest that periodical assessments of mainstreamed children might help to identify those children who are having difficulty adapting to their environment.
Health status of children with cerebral palsy living in Europe: a multi‐centre study
Authors: Beckung E. , White‐Koning M. , Marcelli M. , McManus V. , Michelsen S. , Parkes J. , Parkinson K. , Thyen U. , Arnaud C. , Fauconnier J. , Colver A. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractAim The aim of this report is to describe the health status of 8–12‐year‐old children with cerebral palsy (CP) of all severities in Europe using the Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ).Method A total of 818 children with CP from nine centres in defined geographical areas participated. CP type, gross and fine motor function, additional impairments were classified and family data were obtained. The CHQ was used to measure the parent's perception of their child's physical (PHY) and psychosocial (PSY) health.Results PHY scores were lower than the reference samples with a median of 46. The severity of gross motor function influenced the CHQ scores significantly in the PHY scale with the lowest scores for children with least gross motor function. There were significant differences between the CP types in PHY with the higher scores for children with unilateral spastic and the lowest scores for children with bilateral spastic and dyskinetic CP type. Fine motor function severity significantly affected both the PHY and PSY scales. The severity of intellectual impairment was significantly associated with CHQ scores in most dimensions with higher scores for higher IQ level in PHY and PSY. Children with seizures during the last year had a significantly lower health compared with children without seizures. The results of the multivariate regression analyses (forward stepwise regression) of CHQ scores on CP subtype, gross and fine motor function, cognitive function, additional impairments, seizures, parental education and employment revealed gross motor function, cognitive level and type of school attended were significant prognostic factors.Conclusion This report is based on the largest sample to date of children with CP. Health status as measured using the CHQ was affected in all children and was highly variable. Gross motor function level correlates with health from the PHY well‐being perspective but the PSY and emotional aspects do not appear to follow the same pattern.
OVARIAN ELECTROCAUTERY VERSUS HUMAN MENOPAUSAL GONADOTROPHINS AND PURE FOLLICLE STIMULATING HORMONE THERAPY IN THE TREATMENT OF PATIENTS WITH POLYCYSTIC OVARIAN DISEASE
Authors: GADIR AHMED ABDEL , MOWAFI RAOUF S. , ALNASER HUDA M. I. , ALRASHID ABDULLA H. , ALONEZI ONEZI M. , SHAW ROBERT W. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYEighty‐eight clomiphene citrate‐resistant infertile patients with oligomeno‐rrhoea or amenorrhoea attributable to polycystic ovarian disease were divided at random into three groups. Twenty‐nine patients were treated with ovarian electrocautery, 30 with human menopausal gonadotropins (hMG) and 29 with pure follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). Successful ovulation was induced in 71‐4, 70‐6 and 66‐7% of the cycles in the groups respectively. Ten patients conceived after electrocautery and pure FSH therapy while 15 conceived after hMG medication (chi‐squared = 1 ‐6464, P = 0–439). The six‐cycle cumulative pregnancy rate in the three consecutive groups was 521, 55‐4 and 38‐3%. Four further pregnancies were achieved after treating 10 patients in the electrocautery group with clomiphene citrate (100 mg/day for 5 days) for 25 cycles. The rate of pregnancy wastage in the corresponding groups was 21‐4, 53‐3 and 40% (chi‐squared = 3–127, P = 0–2039). Ovarian electrocautery is equally effective as hMG and pure FSH in the treatment of PCO patients resistant to clomiphene citrate therapy.
TREATMENT OF MACROPROLACTINOMAS WITH A NEW NON‐ERGOT, LONG‐ACTING DOPAMINERGIC DRUG, CV 205–502
Authors: van't VERLAAT JOHANNA W. , CROUGHS RONALD J. M. , BROWNELL JUDITH 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYEleven patients with prolactin‐producing pituitary adenomas were treated with the new non‐ergot, long‐acting dopamine agonist, CV 205–502, for a period of 2–18 months (mean 11 months). Tumour volumes ranged from 1–9 to 64 ml in seven patients who were newly diagnosed, and from 01 to 31 ml in four patients who had been treated for macroprolactinomas by oral bromocriptine or depot bromocriptine (Parlodel LAR). Plasma prolactin values ranged from 3–5 to 360 U/l before institution of CV 205–502 treatment in these 11 patients. The following observations were made: (1) plasma prolactin values fell dramatically in all patients, and values within the normal range were obtained in five patients at once‐daily doses of CV 205–502 between 0075 and 0–300 mg; (2) tumour size reduction was obtained in all patients with macroadenomas on pretreatment CT scans. Tumour reduction was associated with the development of a partial empty sella in five patients, and with visualization of the pituitary in six cases; (3) bitemporal hemianopia (five patients) disappeared in four patients and improved in one patient. Oculomotor palsy receded in one patient; (4) signs of anterior pituitary insufficiency improved or normalized in most cases affected; (5) mild nausea or dizziness during the first days of CV 205–502 treatment and/ or during several days after a dose increase were observed in three patients. We conclude that CV 205–502 in a once daily dose is an effective and safe alternative in the long‐term treatment of macroprolactinomas.
THE EFFECT OF RADIOACTIVE IODINE TREATMENT ON THYROID C CELLS
Authors: BAYRAKTAR MIYASE , GEDIK OLCAY , AKALIN SEMA , USMAN AYDAN , ADALAR NEZAKET , TELATAR FERZAN 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYTo determine the effect of radioiodine treatment on thyroid C cells, calcitonin (CT) levels were measured by RIA before and after intravenous calcium stimulation (2 mg/kg body‐weight elemental calcium) in 22 women treated with 131I for hyperthyroidism. The results were compared with sex, age and weight‐matched normal controls. There was a slight but statistically significant decrease in basal CT levels of the patients compared to the control group (mean±SE; 0–009±0–001 vs 0011 ±0001 pmol/1, P<005). The mean stimulated CT level of the patient group was significantly lower than that of the controls (0–010 ±0–001 vs. 0–018 ± 0–003 pmol/1, P< 0–001). The absence or presence of 131I‐induced hypothyroidism at the time of the study did not influence basal or stimulated CT levels. Basal and stimulated CT levels were significantly lower in the patients with Graves' disease than in the patients with toxic nodular goitre. We conclude that 131I used to correct hyperthyroidism may cause marked CT deficiency.
GLUCAGON IN WOMEN WITH POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME (PCO): RELATIONSHIP TO ABNORMALITIES OF INSULIN AND ANDROGENS
Authors: GOLLAND I. M. , WILLIAMS C. A. VAUGHAN , SHALET S. M. , LAING I. , ELSTEIN M. 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYTo investigate the glucagon status of women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCO) and to relate this to serum concentrations of insulin, androgens and SHBG, 44 women with PCO and 23 control subjects underwent a 75‐g oral glucose tolerance test. Although obese (body mass index > 30kg/m2) women with PCO had higher concentrations of glucose and insulin than overweight (BMI 25‐30kg/m2) and non‐obese (BMI <25kg/m2) women with PCO and control subjects, fasting and summed values of glucagon in response to oral glucose were similar in all groups. The fasting and summed concentrations of glucagon were inversely related to those of testosterone and androstenedione in obese women with PCO, but no other relationships were demonstrated between hormone values and those of glucagon in the other groups. We conclude that glucagon is not implicated in peripheral insulin resistance in women with PCO.
Molecular prenatal diagnosis of partial androgen insensitivity syndrome based on the Hind III polymorphism of the androgen receptor gene*
Authors: Lobaccaro Jean‐Marc , Belon Charles , Lumbroso Serge , Olewniczack Georges , Carré‐Pigeon Françoise , Job Jean‐Claude , Chaussain Jean‐Louis , Toublanc Jean‐Edmond , Sultan† Charles 
Published: September 2010

SummaryOBJECTIVE Partial androgen Insensitivity syndromes are the cause of genital ambiguity that is at times quite severe; there is, therefore, a high demand for prenatal diagnosis in families already afflicted with this syndrome. When the mutation has not been identified, the diagnosis can be made by the study of the polymorphisms of the androgen receptor gene. To perform molecular prenatal diagnosis in a family with partial androgen insensitivity syndrome, we studied the Hind III polymorphism of the androgen receptor gene on the trophoblastic DNA. The use of this restriction fragment length polymorphism tracked maternal X chromosome segregation and established prenatal diagnosis although the mutation had not yet been identified in this family.FAMILY The mother had been previously described as heterozygous for the Hind III polymorphism and chromosomal segregation analysis showed that the affected allele was associated with the 6.7‐kb Hind III fragment.MEASUREMENTS Hind III RFLP with an androgen receptor gene cDNA probe was realized on the trophoblastic DNA, along with measurement of androgen binding activity on the trophoblastic cells.RESULTS We detected the presence of the 6.7‐kb fragment In the DNA of the trophoblastic cells suggesting the fetus was affected. Partial androgen insensitivity syndrome was confirmed by a considerable decrease in androgen binding activity on the trophoblastic cells and by sonography of the fetus. After a therapeutic abortion requested by the parents, the diagnosis was confirmed by clinical examination of the fetus, biochemical analyses of the fetal androgen receptor, and molecular studies of the fetal DNA.CONCLUSIONS When the mutation of the androgen receptor gene has not been identified, Hind III polymorphism of the trophoblastic DNA is useful in the prenatal diagnosis of androgen insensitivity syndrome in high‐risk families.
Decreased blood pressure response to infused noradrenaline in normotensive as compared to hypertensive patients with primary hypothyroidism
Authors: Bramnert Margareta , Hallengren Bengt , Lecerof Harry , Werner Richard , Manhem Per 
Published: September 2010

SummaryOBJECTIVE AND PATIENTS To further explore the difference in plasma noradrenaline in normotensive and hypertensive hypothyroid patients we have investigated the pressor response to exogenous noradrenaline in 11 normotensive and five hypertensive patients with primary hypothyroidism before and after thyroxine replacement. Seven healthy subjects served as controls.DESIGN The patients were studied under metabolic ward conditions and received a Na+ and K+ defined diet for 4 days. The controls received the same diet on an ambulatory basis for 3 days and were admitted to the ward in the evening on the third day. In the morning of day 4 a graded noradrenaline infusion was given. When the increase in systolic blood pressure in two consecutive registrations was at least 20 mmHg as compared to basal values the noradrenaline infusion was stopped. The dose required to increase systolic blood pressure by 20 mmHg (I20) was determined.RESULTS During hypothyroidism the I20 was 120 ng/kg BW/min in normotensive patients and 39 in hypertensive patients as compared to 62 in controls. The I20 was higher in normotensives as compared to hypertensives (P = 0.041). The I20 was not different in hypertensives as compared to controls. When the patients had become euthyroid I20 decreased to 51 ng/kg BW/min (P=0.04) in the normotensives, but remained unchanged in the hypertensives. There was no difference in I20 between normotensive and hypertensive patients in the euthyroid state, or when compared to controls.CONCLUSION The pressor response to noradrenaline was decreased in normotensive hypothyroid as compared to hypertensive hypothyroid patients, indicating a decreased peripheral sensitivity to noradrenaline in normotensive hypothyroid patients. Following thyroxine replacement the decreased response became normal.
Persistent elevation of serum oestradiol levels by functional ovarian cysts despite effective pituitary desensitization with GnRH agonists
Authors: Jenkins J. M. , Anthony F. W. , Lee A. , Masson G. M. , Thomas E. 
Published: September 2010

SummaryOBJECTIVE This study assessed whether functional ovarian cysts may prevent suppression of serum oestradiol levels even after pituitary desensitization had been achieved with buserelin.PATIENTS OI 288 in‐vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles studied 10 patients were found to have cysts with serum oestradiol levels > 200 pmol/l despite 3 weeks of buserelin.DESIGN AND MEASUREMENTS The 10 patients with cysts were given 01 mg GnRH and serum gonadotrophins were measured at time 0, 30 and 60 minutes subsequently. Immediately following the GnRH stimulation test the cysts were aspirated transvaginally under ultrasound guidance. Serum oestradiol levels were again measured 3 days after cyst aspiration.RESULTS Basal LH and FSH levels were < 3 U/I and there was no significant rise in response to GnRH. On the day of cyst aspiration serum oestradiol levels varied between 244 and 1127 pmol/l, and in all cases serum oestradiol levels fell to < 200 pmol/l within 3 days of cyst aspiration.CONCLUSION In the presence of a functional ovarian cyst, failure to suppress the serum oestradiol level does not necessarily imply a failure of pituitary desensitization with a GnRH agonist.
The spectrum of endocrine dysfunction in active pulmonary tuberculosis
Authors: Post F. A. , Soule S. G. , Willcox P. A. , Levitt N. S. 
Published: September 2010

SummaryOBJECTIVE Substantial variation in the prevalence (0–55%) of hypoadrenalism in tuberculosis (TB) has been reported. The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate adrenal, thyroid and gonadal function in patients presenting with active pulmonary TB.DESIGN A prospective study of 50 patients admitted to a single hospital.PATIENTS Fifty hospitalized adults with newly diagnosed sputum positive pulmonary TB (mean age 38 years, mean body mass index 18 kg/m2, mean albumin 28 g/l) were studied.MEASUREMENTS Adrenal reserve was assessed by intravenous tetracosactrin administration with measurement of basal and stimulated cortisol concentrations. Basal ACTH, thyroid and gonadal hormones were also measured.RESULTS The mean basal serum cortisol was 625 nmol/l (range 394–1185). Basal plasma ACTH was undetectable (<4·4 pmol/l) in 32, normal in 17 (mean 11·45, range 4·4–24.9 pmol/l) and elevated in one (54·2 pmol/l) subjects and did not correlate with cortisol. The mean increment in cortisol following tetracosactrin was 256 nmol/l (range 0–650) and was unrelated to basal cortisol or ACTH. All 50 patients had a stimulated plasma cortisol exceeding 550 nmol/l, indicating intact adrenal reserve. Ninety‐two per cent of patients had the sick euthyroid syndrome, 72% of males had hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism and 4% of patients tested positive for the human immunodeficiency virus.CONCLUSIONS Hypoadrenalism is uncommon in active pulmonary TB despite frequent dysfunction of the thyroid and gonadal axes.
Cholelithiasis and acromegaly: therapeutic strategies
Authors: Montini M. , Gianola D. , Paganl M. D. , Pedroncelli A. , Caldara R. , Gherardi F. , Bonelli M. , Lancranjan I. , Pagani G. 
Published: September 2010

SummaryOBJECTIVE The aims of this study were (i) to evaluate gall‐bladder form and contents, (ii) to assess the prevalence of gallstones in acromegalic patients before octreotide treatment and the incidence of gallstone formation in patients with acromegaly during long‐term (6–90 months, mean 44 months) octreotide treatment, and (iii) to test the efficacy of ursodeoxycholic acid in preventing and treating octreotide‐induced cholelithiasis.DESIGN Forty‐nine patients (23 men and 26 women, aged 19–81 years) were studied by repeated gall‐bladder ultrasonography performed at baseline and then every 6 months during octreotide therapy. All ultrasound scans were evaluated by the same radiologist. Statistical analysis was performed using the Chi‐squared and regression analysis tests.RESULTS Asymptomatic stones were recorded in 13/49 patients (26·5%) prior to octreotide treatment (the prevalence of cholelithiasis in the Italian population is 9·5% in men and 18·9% in women). During octreotide therapy gallstones developed in 10/36 patients (27·7%). No significant correlations with sex, age, body mass index, duration of the disease, daily dose and duration of octreotide therapy, altered gall‐bladder form, family history of gallbladder stones, basal plasma values of cholesterol and triglycerides were found between the patients (10/36) who developed stones during octreotide treatment and the ones who did not (26/36). Fourteen patients (10 with newly developed stones and four with cholelithiasis diagnosed prior to octreotide) were put on ursodeoxycholic acid at the daily dose of 10 mg/kg. Gallstones completely disappeared in 6/14 patients (42·8%; five patients with newly developed stones and one with stones prior to octreotide therapy) after a mean of 30·8 months of ursodeoxycholic acid treatment. In addition, seven patients were treated with ursodeoxycholic acid at the preventive dose of 450 mg, administered as a once‐a‐day oral preparation in the evening. However, stones developed in one of these seven patients who was thereafter cured (gallstones completely disappeared) by the therapeutic dose of ursodeoxycholic acid of 10 mg/kg/day after 23 months of treatment.CONCLUSIONS This study indicates that (i) acromegaly by itself is correlated with a high prevalence of gallbladder stones, (ii) the long‐term treatment with octreotide increases the incidence of cholelithiasis, and (iii) ursodeoxycholic acid is useful in the treatment of gallstones in acromegalic patients but its prophylactic effect in patients on octreotide treatment requires further assessment.
Expression of pituitary tumour‐derived, N‐terminally truncated isoform of fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (ptd‐FGFR4) correlates with tumour invasiveness but not with G‐protein alpha subunit (gsp) mutation in human GH‐secreting pituitary adenomas
Authors: Morita Koji , Takano Koji , Yasufuku‐Takano Junko , Yamada Shozo , Teramoto Akira , Takei Mao , Osamura Robert Yoshiyuki , Sano Toshiaki , Fujita Toshiro 
Published: September 2010

SummaryObjective  Apart from the constitutively activating mutation of the G‐protein alpha subunit (Gsα) (gsp mutation), factors involved in tumorigenesis or those in tumour behaviour remain elusive in sporadic GH‐secreting pituitary adenomas. Recently, the N‐terminally truncated form of fibroblast growth factor receptor‐4 (ptd‐FGFR4) was identified in pituitary adenomas. This aberrant receptor has transforming activity, and causes pituitary adenomas in transgenic mice. The clinical relevance of this receptor warrants investigation. Our objective was twofold: first, to examine how the expression of ptd‐FGFR4 relates to gsp mutations; and second, to see whether patients with this receptor have unique clinical characteristics.Materials and methods  mRNA was extracted from excised adenomas of 45 Japanese acromegalic patients. ptd‐FGFR4 expression and gsp mutations were determined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) and direct sequencing. Preoperative clinical data were collected by reviewing medical charts and pituitary magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans.Results  ptd‐FGFR4 mRNA expression was detected in 19 out of 45 tumours (42·2%) while gsp mutations were detected in 25 out of 45 tumours (55·6%). The prevalence of ptd‐FGFR4 expression did not differ between gsp‐positive (44·0%) and gsp‐negative (40·0%) tumours (P = 1·00). ptd‐FGFR4‐positive tumours invaded the cavernous sinus more frequently (P = 0·0098) than did the ptd‐FGFR4‐negative tumours. Tumour size was not statistically different between ptd‐FGFR4‐positive and ‐negative tumours (P = 0·198). The presence of ptd‐FGFR4 did not correlate with age at operation, sex, preoperative serum GH or IGF‐1 levels.Conclusions  We found that ptd‐FGFR4 expression and gsp mutations occur independently of each other, and that ptd‐FGFR4 expression is associated with more invasive tumours in patients with GH‐secreting pituitary adenomas.