bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Serum transaminases as a prognostic factor in children post cardiac surgery
Authors: Shteyer Eyal , Yatsiv Ido , Sharkia Muhamad , Milgarter Eli , Granot Esther 
Published: March 2011

AbstractBackground:  Elevated serum transaminases that are often observed in critically ill children are frequently attributed to liver injury. Indeed, hypoperfused or hypoxemic livers will produce sudden and marked elevations of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and consequences of elevated serum transaminases in children following cardiac surgery.Methods:  Charts of all children admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit following cardiac surgery over a 10‐year period were retrospectively analyzed.Results:  Of the 384 children studied, 46 (11.9%) had elevated transaminases. Extreme ALT and AST levels (≥20‐fold elevations over the upper limit of normal) were found in 3.4% and 4.7% of the children, respectively. Tetralogy of Fallot and double outlet right ventricle were significantly more common (P < 0.001) among the elevated transaminases group (26% and 13% vs 17% and 2.5%, respectively). A significant difference (P < 0.001) was noted between overall mortality among 384 patients studied: 15.8%, versus a mortality of 43.4% among children who manifested elevated transaminases levels following cardiac surgery. AST, ALT and lactate dehydrogenase peak levels were significantly higher in the group of children who died in comparison to the survivors (P < 0.05). Kaplan–Meier survival analysis demonstrated lower survival among the patients who had extreme ALT elevations (P < 0.05).Conclusions:  Elevation of transaminases following cardiac surgery occurs more frequently than previously reported, particularly in the setting of right‐sided heart failure. Extreme elevation of ALT, AST and lactate dehydrogenase correlated with decreased postoperative survival and places these children in a high‐risk category, requiring closer, more stringent monitoring.
Iranian nursing students' perspectives regarding caring for elderly patients
Authors: Rejeh Nahid , Heravi‐Karimooi Majideh , Vaismoradi Mojtaba 
Published: March 2011

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to explore Iranian nursing students' perspectives regarding caring for elderly patients. A qualitative design, based on the content analysis approach, was used to collect and analyze the perspectives of 25 senior nursing students who were providing care for elderly patients in the medical and surgical wards of two teaching hospitals in Tehran, Iran. After using purposeful sampling to select the participants, semistructured interviews were held in order to collect the data. During the data analysis, two main themes and six subthemes emerged. The first theme was “the barriers to caring for elderly patients”, with the subthemes of “policies and rules of the organization”, “a lack of educational preparation”, and “an inappropriate physical environment”, and the second theme was “the facilitators to caring for elderly patients”, with the subthemes of “religion and cultural norms”, “role modeling”, and “previous exposure to elderly patients”. This study informs international audiences of the factors that influence the quality of care of elderly patients so that strategies can be devised in order to prepare nursing students to meet the physical and psychological needs of elderly patients.
Evaluating intervention for language impaired children: a review of the literature
Authors: LAW JAMES 
Published: March 2011

ABSTRACTIntervention studies are divided into those which have examined the effectiveness of specific techniques and those that have attempted to examine efficacy within the clinical context. Of the specific techniques, imitation and recasting or expansion have been the most commonly examined. Results suggest that they may be equally useful in reaching targets but that input in context has more chance of generalising. Combinations of techniques such as ‘milieu teaching’ seem especially promising. Evaluation of general language training strategies has tended to show good results relative to controls, although care has to be taken to discriminate between changes brought about to interaction skills and those to specific linguistic structures. The paper also covers issues associated with evaluation including clinical outcomes and methodological considerations. A number of research directions are suggested
Verbs in the emergence of word combinations in young children with specific expressive language impairment
Authors: OLSWANG LESLEY B. , LONG STEVEN H. , FLETCHER PAUL 
Published: March 2011

ABSTRACTYoung children with specific expressive language impairment (SELI) are typically first identified by their delay in initial vocabulary learning. When their language difficulties persist they often have problems with verb constructions. The purpose of the present study was to examine the role of lexical development in children with SELI who were moving from the single‐word to the multi‐word stage of language production, with particular attention to verbs. The research examined the nature of the developing lexicon (lexicon size and composition) and realisation of lexical categories and their combinatorial properties (transitivity of verbs) as the children began producing word combinations during a nine‐week period of observation, three weeks of which involved treatment. Results indicated a moderate correlation between the developing lexicon, both in size and composition of vocabulary, and the emergence of word combinations as measured by mean length of utterance. Further, the data revealed the importance of intransitive and ditransitive verbs for children who demonstrated the greatest change in their language production. The findings are discussed in terms of their theoretical and clinical importance.
Enhancing the phonological processing skills of children with specific reading disability
Authors: GILLON GAIL , DODD BARBARA 
Published: March 2011

ABSTRACTThe present study evaluated the benefits of phonological processing skills training for children with persistent reading difficulties. Children aged between 9–14 years, identified as having a specific reading disability, participated in the study. In a series of three experiments, pedagogical issues related to length of training time, model of intervention and severity of readers' phonological processing skills deficit prior to intervention, were explored. The results indicated that improvement in poor readers' phonological processing skills led to a dramatic improvement in their reading accuracy and reading comprehension performance. Increasing the length of training time significantly improved transfer effects to the reading process. Children with particularly severe phonological processing skill deficits benefited from an extended training period, and both individual and group intervention models for phonological processing training proved successful. Implications for speech and language therapists are discussed.
Secondary prevention of paediatric language disability: a comparison of parents and nurses as screening agents
Authors: STOKES STEPHANIE F. 
Published: March 2011

ABSTRACTThe purpose of this investigation was to compare the ability of nurses and parents to detect speech and language disability. The methodology included development and validation of a parent questionnaire to detect speech and language disability in 398 3‐year‐old English‐speaking children. The parent questionnaire and a standard developmental screen administered by child health nurses were compared with a gold standard (a speech and language assessment). International criteria for screening tools were applied. The tools were comparable in performance. A simple parent questionnaire, completed without professional assistance, was a viable alternative to professional screening. Parents' education and parity had no influence on their ability to detect language disorders. Although size of sibship had no association with the occurrence of speech and language disability, third‐born children were more likely to have a speech and language disability than any other birth order.
Evaluation of laryngoscopic views and related influencing factors in a pediatric population
Authors: Mirghassemi Asadollah , Soltani Alireza E. , Abtahi Maryam 
Published: March 2011

SummaryBackground:  Management of the difficult pediatric airway is a serious problem that anesthesiologists face in their practice. However, guidelines for adults may not be applied readily to pediatric populations.Aim:  This study was performed to determine the incidence of different laryngoscopic views and the associated conditions.Methods:  The authors collected data on 511 consecutive patients who were scheduled to receive general anesthesia. Laryngeal views were graded using the Cormack and Lehane classification, and grades III and IV were defined as difficult laryngoscopic visualization. The distances from the nose to the upper lip, lower lip to menthom, ear tragus to mouth, ear lobe to mouth, the horizontal length of mandible, and thyromental distance were measured. The association of these parameters with the laryngoscopic views was analyzed.Results:  The incidence of grade I to IV laryngoscopic views was 80%, 17%, 3%, and 0%, respectively. All the cases that involved difficult laryngoscopy (3%) were aged ≤3 months. The distances from the lower lip to menthom and ear tragus to mouth had a direct association with difficult cases. There were no apparent cutoff points to predict difficult laryngoscopy, for any of the distances.Conclusion:  The difficult cases were mostly aged <1 year. The association between difficult laryngoscopy and the distances between the lower lip border and menthom, ear tragus and corner of the mouth, and ear lobe and corner of the mouth can be summarized in an equation that may have potential use in the prediction of difficult laryngoscopy.
Interpersonal violence in childhood as a risk factor for obesity: a systematic review of the literature and proposed pathways
Authors: Midei A. J. , Matthews K. A. 
Published: March 2011

SummaryWe examined the associations between exposure to interpersonal violence in childhood and risk for obesity and central adiposity. Interpersonal violence is defined as behaviour that threatens, attempts or causes physical harm. In addition, we evaluated the evidence for three mechanisms that may connect interpersonal violence to obesity: negative affect, disordered eating and physical inactivity. Based on a literature search of Medline and PsycInfo databases, 36 separate studies were evaluated and ranked based on quality. Approximately 81% of the studies reported a significant positive association between some type of childhood interpersonal violence and obesity, although 83% of the studies were cross‐sectional. Associations were consistent for caregiver physical and sexual abuse and peer bullying, and there was mixed evidence for community violence. Although few studies explored mechanisms, early evidence suggests that negative affect and disordered eating may be involved. More prospective studies are needed, as well as studies that examine the mechanisms connecting early childhood victimization to obesity and central adiposity.
Post‐decision consolidation in large group decision‐making
Authors: BÄCK EMMA A. , ESAIASSON PETER , GILLJAM MIKAEL , SVENSON OLA , LINDHOLM TORUN 
Published: March 2011

Bäck, E. A., Esaiasson, P., Gilljam, M., Svenson, O. & Lindholm, T. (2011). Post‐decision consolidation in large group decision‐making. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology 52, 320–328.Decision‐makers tend to change the psychological attractiveness of decision alternatives in favor of their own preferred alternative after the decision is made. In two experiments, the present research examined whether such decision consolidation occurs also among individual group members in a large group decision‐making situation. High‐school students were presented with a decision scenario on an important issue in their school. The final decision was made by in‐group authority, out‐group authority or by majority after a ballot voting. Results showed that individual members of large groups changed the attractiveness of their preferred alternative from a pre‐ to a post‐decision phase, that these consolidation effects increased when decisions were made by in‐group members, and when participants identified strongly with their school. Implications of the findings for understanding of group behavior and subgroup relations are discussed.
Revenue Sharing, Competitive Balance and the Contest Success Function
Authors: Runkel Marco 
Published: March 2011

Abstract
This paper investigates revenue sharing in an asymmetric two-teams contest model of a sports league with Nash behavior of team owners. The innovation of the analysis is that it focuses on the role of the contest success function (CSF). In case of an inelastic talent supply, revenue sharing turns out to worsen competitive balance regardless of the shape of the CSF. For the case of an elastic talent supply, in contrast, the effect of revenue sharing on competitive balance depends on the specification of the CSF. We fully characterize the class of CSFs for which revenue sharing leaves unaltered competitive balance and identify CSFs ensuring that revenue sharing renders the contest closer.
Buying Online: An Analysis of Shopbot Visitors
Authors: Dulleck Uwe , Hackl Franz , Weiss Bernhard , Winter-Ebmer Rudolf 
Published: March 2011

AbstractWe conduct an empirical study on the search and purchasing behavior of buyers on an Austrian price comparison site. On such a market a consumer typically searches for the cheapest price of a given product. Reliability and service of the supplier, however, are other important characteristics of an offer. We find robust evidence of consumer behavior that can be described as a two-stage procedure: shoppers first select a group of candidate offers based on the price only; then, in the actual buying decision consumers tradeoff a lower price with higher reliability of the retailer.
Glycation induction and antiglycation activity of skin care ingredients on living human skin explants
Authors: Gasser P. , Arnold F. , Peno‐Mazzarino L. , Bouzoud D. , Luu M. T. , Lati E. , Mercier M. 
Published: March 2011

SynopsisGlycation is an ageing reaction of naturally occurring sugars with dermal proteins, whose clinical signs may appear in vivo around age 30, and increases steadily/regularly with age. The suppleness of the dermis is affected by the formation of bridges between proteins and sugars (Maillard’s reaction). The residues formed (Amadori products, Advanced Glycation End products) as well as the proteins they alter, can be visualized by specific immunostainings.Induced in a few days on living skin explants by methylglyoxal, glycation can be prevented by the application of aminoguanidine HCl, the reference anti‐glycation molecule. This model enabled to highlight the anti‐glycation activity of substances of vegetal origin such as puerarin and chlorogenic acid.
Body malodours and their topical treatment agents
Authors: Kanlayavattanakul M. , Lourith N. 
Published: March 2011

SynopsisBody malodour, including foot odour, suppresses social interaction by diminishing self‐confidence and accelerating damage to the wearer’s clothes and shoes. Most treatment agents, including aluminium anti‐perspirant salts, inhibit the growth of malodourous bacteria. These metallic salts also reduce sweat by blocking the excretory ducts of sweat glands, minimizing the water source that supports bacterial growth. However, there are some drawback effects that limit the use of aluminium anti‐perspirant salts. In addition, over‐the‐counter anti‐perspirant and deodourant products may not be sufficiently effective for heavy sweaters, and strong malodour producers. Body odour treatment agents are rarely mentioned in the literature compared with other cosmetic ingredients. This review briefly summarizes the relationship among sweat, skin bacteria, and body odour; describes how odourous acids, thiols, and steroids are formed; and discusses the active ingredients, including metallic salts and herbs, that are used to treat body odour. A new class of ingredients that function by regulating the release of malodourants will also be described. These ingredients do not alter the balance of the skin flora.
Investigation of the HIN200 Locus in UK SLE Families Identifies Novel Copy Number Variants
Authors: Fernando Michelle M. A. , de Smith Adam J. , Coin Lachlan , Morris David L. , Froguel Philippe , Mangion Jonathan , Blakemore Alexandra I. F. , Graham Robert R. , Behrens Timothy W. , Vyse Timothy J. 
Published: March 2011

SummaryWe undertook a candidate locus study of the HIN200 gene cluster on 1q21‐23 in UK systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) families. To date, despite mounting evidence demonstrating the importance of these proteins in autoimmune disease, cancer, apoptosis, inflammation, and cell cycle arrest, there has been a dearth of data with respect to the genetic characterisation of the HIN200 locus in SLE or any other disease. We typed 83 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) across 317 kb of the HIN200 cluster in 428 UK SLE families and sought replication from a European‐American lupus cohort. We do not find strong evidence of SNP association in either cohort. Interestingly, we do observe a trend for association with certain HIN200 SNPs and serologic subphenotypes in UK SLE that parallels the association of lupus antibodies with the orthologous murine locus. Furthermore, we find the HIN200 locus to be unexpectedly complex in terms of genetic structural organisation. We have identified a number of copy number variants (CNVs) in this region in healthy French males, HapMap samples, and UK SLE families. In summary, candidate interferon signalling genes show evidence of common CNV in human SLE and healthy subjects. The impact of these CNVs in health and disease remains to be determined.
New snakeflies (Insecta: Raphidioptera) from the Lower Cretaceous of the UK, Spain and Brazil
Authors: JEPSON JAMES E. , ANSORGE JÖRG , JARZEMBOWSKI EDMUND A. 
Published: March 2011

Abstract:  Several new taxa of snakeflies (Raphidioptera) are described from the Lower Cretaceous deposits of the Wealden, UK (Barremian), Montsec, Spain (Barremian) and the Crato Formation, Brazil (Aptian). Mesoraphidia ednae sp. nov. and M. hilli sp. nov. are described from the Wealden; Nanoraphidia lithographica sp. nov. and Iberoraphidia dividua gen. et sp. nov. are described from Montsec, and Baissoptera lisae sp. nov. is described from the Crato Formation. The geographical range of Nanoraphidia has potentially been extended.
Carvedilol targets human K2P3.1 (TASK1) K+ leak channels
Authors: Staudacher K , Staudacher I , Ficker E , Seyler C , Gierten J , Kisselbach J , Rahm A‐K , Trappe K , Schweizer PA , Becker R , Katus HA , Thomas D 
Published: March 2011

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Human K2P3.1 (TASK1) channels represent potential targets for pharmacological management of atrial fibrillation. K2P channels control excitability by stabilizing membrane potential and by expediting repolarization. In the heart, inhibition of K2P currents by class III antiarrhythmic drugs results in action potential prolongation and suppression of electrical automaticity. Carvedilol exerts antiarrhythmic activity and suppresses atrial fibrillation following cardiac surgery or cardioversion. The objective of this study was to investigate acute effects of carvedilol on human K2P3.1 (hK2P3.1) channels.EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Two‐electrode voltage clamp and whole‐cell patch clamp electrophysiology was used to record hK2P3.1 currents from Xenopus oocytes, Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells and human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (hPASMC).KEY RESULTS Carvedilol concentration‐dependently inhibited hK2P3.1 currents in Xenopus oocytes (IC50= 3.8 µM) and in mammalian CHO cells (IC50= 0.83 µM). In addition, carvedilol sensitivity of native IK2P3.1 was demonstrated in hPASMC. Channels were blocked in open and closed states in frequency‐dependent fashion, resulting in resting membrane potential depolarization by 7.7 mV. Carvedilol shifted the current–voltage (I–V) relationship by −6.9 mV towards hyperpolarized potentials. Open rectification, characteristic of K2P currents, was not affected.CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS The antiarrhythmic drug carvedilol targets hK2P3.1 background channels. We propose that cardiac hK2P3.1 current blockade may suppress electrical automaticity, prolong atrial refractoriness and contribute to the class III antiarrhythmic action in patients treated with the drug.
A pirinixic acid derivative (LP105) inhibits murine 5‐lipoxygenase activity and attenuates vascular remodelling in a murine model of aortic aneurysm
Authors: Revermann M , Mieth A , Popescu L , Paulke A , Wurglics M , Pellowska M , Fischer AS , Steri R , Maier TJ , Schermuly RT , Geisslinger G , Schubert‐Zsilavecz M , Brandes RP , Steinhilber D 
Published: March 2011

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Arachidonic acid derivatives play a central role in inflammation processes. Arachidonic acid is metabolized by several enzymes, particularly cyclooxygenases (COX), 5‐lipoxygenase (5‐LOX) and microsomal prostaglandin E‐synthase‐1 (mPGES‐1) to pro‐inflammatory mediators.EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH We determined the effect of LP105, a pirinixic acid derivative which acts as inhibitor of 5‐LOX, COX and mPGES‐1, on aortic aneurysm development in mice and on 5‐LOX activity in murine monocytes.KEY RESULTS In a monocyte cell line (RAW264.7), LP105 inhibited 5‐LOX in whole cells (IC50: 1–3 µM) and in supernatants (IC50: ∼10 µM). Oral administration of LP105 to mice resulted in therapeutic tissue and plasma levels. Aortic aneurysms were induced in ApoE−/− mice by angiotensin II (AngII) and LP105 (5 mg·day−1 per animal) was co‐administered to a subgroup. Compared with animals receiving AngII alone, the LP105+AngII group showed a lower heart rate, a trend towards reduced heart to body weight ratio but similar hypertensive responses. AngII alone significantly increased aortic weight and diameter but co‐treatment with LP105+AngII prevented these changes. LC/MS‐MS studies revealed increased 15‐hydroxytetraenoic acid (15‐HETE) and 14,15‐epoxyeicosatrienoic acid (14,15‐EET) plasma levels in LP105‐treated animals. In the murine kidney, mRNAs of EET‐generating or metabolizing enzymes and of 5‐LOX and 15‐LOX were unaffected by LP105. LP105 also did not inhibit the EET‐metabolizing soluble epoxide hydrolase.CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS LP105 was a potent inhibitor of monocyte 5‐LOX and reduced AngII‐induced vascular remodelling in mice. A shift of arachidonic acid metabolism to the protective EET pathway may contribute to the beneficial effects of LP105.