bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Focusing Children in Focus Groups
Authors: Khadka Jyoti , Woodhouse Margaret J. , Margrain Tom , Ryan Barbara , Davies Nathan 
Published: August 2010

Purpose:  Focus groups are one of the widely used qualitative research methods. It is defined as a carefully planned discussion with a small group of people designed to obtain perception on a defined area of research interests in a permissive and non‐threatening environment. This technique is widely used in social sciences and marketing with adult participants but rarely used with children. We tried to assess how effective this technique could be to find out the daily living activities of children with and without low vision.Methods:  A well‐structured script and a question route having questions on daily living activities were developed in best possible child friendly language. The children were approached through teachers. The children of a given age group were given information sheets and consent forms a week prior to focus groups. The teachers were asked to select 4–8 children randomly among those children who had parental consents. The focus groups were conducted in a quiet room by two moderators. The group discussions were audio recorded and the non verbal responses during the discussion of the children were noted down.Results:  There were 81 participants (boys 57% and girls 43%) from seven schools, a centre for the visually‐impaired, and a leisure centre in Wales. The age range was between 5 to 17 years with mean age of 11 years. In total 13 focus groups were conducted, seven with visually impaired children and six with normally sighted children. The focus groups resulted in 15 h of recorded discussions demonstrating how readily the children talked. All the children actively participated and readily responded to all structured questions and openly discussed issues. In the groups with a wider age range, the older children tended to dominate. There was no difference between mixed gender and single gender groups in discussion. Younger children tired and lost interest after half‐an‐hour whereas older children were still participating up to 1 h. There was no obvious difference in quality of discussion between children with and without visual impairment. The children were found to be more comfortable to talk with friends than with strangers.Conclusion:  A careful selection of the structured questions and a skilled moderator could make focus groups with children a very effective tool of qualitative data collection.
Pulfrich's phenonenon in a case of optic nerve hypoplasia
Authors: Heron Gordon 
Published: August 2010

Introduction:  Optic nerve hypoplasia (ONH) is a congenital deficiency of retinal ganglion cells and their axons that form the optic nerve. This condition is associated with visual deficits ranging from no light perception in severe cases to vision within normal ranges in mild cases of ONH. In mild cases, deficits can be limited to sectoral anomalies in the visual field and normal vision with colour vision anomalies have been reported. We report here a case of mild ONH with visual symptoms relating to Pulfrich phenomenon (PP) occurring spontaneously.Methods:  A 12 year girl presented with typical visual symptoms (bumping into objects when walking, poor object location at tennis) associated with the spontaneous PP. A simple pendulum revealed a perceived anticlockwise ellipse indicative of a left eye defect. This was neutralised by an 85% transmission filter placed before the right eye. The inter‐ocular latency difference was calculated to be 0.88 (S.D., 0.55) ms.Results:  Fundus biometry showed an asymmetry in optic nerve size, the left being smaller than the right. Visual fields, anomaloscope and other colour vision tests, and both flash and pattern‐reversal stimuli Visually Evoked Potentials showed no difference in visual function between the right and left eyes.Conclusions:  A case of very mild ONH gives inter‐ocular normal vision and visual function and yet a subtle inter‐ocular delay occurs resulting in visual symptoms associated with PP. These were completely removed with tinted spectacles.
The success rate of wearing bifocals in children with Down's syndrome
Authors: Al‐Bagdady Mohammad , Stewart RE , Woodhouse JM 
Published: August 2010

Purpose:  Accommodation is reduced in approximately 75% of children with Down's syndrome (DS) compared to their peers (Woodhouse et al., 1993). A study by Stewart et al. (2005) showed that bifocals improve focusing on near targets and they are currently prescribed regularly. The study also showed that wearing bifocals improved the children's own accommodative ability over time. The aim of this study is to evaluate the success of wearing bifocals in improving accommodation.Methods:  Clinical records of 37 children from the Cardiff University Down's Syndrome Vision Research Unit, who were prescribed bifocals, were reviewed. Their accommodation, using dynamic retinoscopy at 10, 16.7 and 25 cm, was noted before wearing the bifocals and during either their latest visit or when they stopped using bifocals. An accommodative lag of up to and including 0.75D at two or more testing distances is considered accurate (McClelland and Saunders, 2004).Results:  The accommodative ability of 23 out of 37 (62.16%) of the children had improved (through the distance part of the lens) after using the bifocals for an average of 29.38 months. Thirteen out of those 23 had accurate accommodation, one third of the overall number of children, without the use of bifocals. These 13 children have returned, or will shortly return, to single vision spectacles.Conclusions:  Using bifocals not only improves the children's accuracy of focusing on near objects through the bifocals, but also ‘trains’ their accommodative ability, with a success rate of 62.16% so far. For some children at least, bifocal wear can be a temporary management strategy.
The chromatic selectivity of visual crowding
Authors: Kennedy Graeme J. , Whitaker David 
Published: August 2010

Purpose:  Precortical vision is mediated by three opponent mechanisms which linearly combine receptoral outputs to form a luminance channel (L + M) and two chromatic channels, red‐green (L/M) and blue‐yellow (S/L + M). These colour channels are known to undergo considerable cortical reorganisation in order to form multiple, ‘higher‐order’ mechanisms tuned to a variety of axes in colour space. Here we ask the extent to which the basic colour‐opponent mechanisms interact in the phenomenon of visual crowding, where nearby targets interfere with the spatial processing of a central test target.Methods:  The task was to identify the orientation of a central Gabor patch whilst an annular plaid was positioned around the patch. The radius of the annulus was varied in order to produce different amounts of crowding. The chromatic content of the central patch and the annulus could be varied independently along the (L + M), (L/M) and (S/L + M) cardinal axes.Results:  For all targets, when the target and crowding annulus were of the same chromaticity, the crowding effect increased with decreasing separation of the target and annulus. When the test and crowding stimuli had different chromatic properties, very little crowding was observed, even at the minimum separation of test target and crowding annulus.Conclusions:  The crowding effect appears to be critically dependent on whether or not the target and crowding stimuli share a common chromatic axis. These results suggest a method by which performance in crowding‐limited tasks might be enhanced through appropriate selection of chromatic stimulus content.
Limbal and Bulbar Hyperaemia in Normal Eyes
Authors: Pult Heiko , Murphy Paul J. , Purslow Christine , Nyman Jeffrey , Woods Russell L. 
Published: August 2010

AbstractPurpose:  To investigate the appearance of limbal and bulbar hyperaemia in normal eyes, their relationship and the inter‐observer agreement of clinical grading.Methods:  The right eyes of 120 healthy, non‐contact lens‐wearing subjects (m = 57, f = 63, median age = 45 years, range 18–77 years) were examined by two trained observers. Limbal and bulbar hyperaemia were scored using the Cornea and Contact Lens Research Unit (CCLRU) redness grading scales interpolated into 0.1 increments. Redness of four quadrants, and overall, were assessed, and quadrant‐average redness was calculated. Inter‐observer agreement was assessed at the start and end of the study (20 subjects each).Results:  For limbal redness, the overall (1.62 ± 0.46) (mean units ± S.D.) was not significantly different from the quadrant‐average (1.61 ± 0.40) score. For bulbar redness, the overall (2.02 ± 0.49) was higher than the quadrant‐average (1.82 ± 0.39) score (p < 0.0001). Significant correlations were found between bulbar and limbal quadrants (Pearson: r ≥ 0.43, p < 0.0001). Significant differences in redness were found between quadrants (p < 0.0001), with nasal and temporal redder than superior and inferior quadrants. Small effects of age and gender were found for limbal redness. The inter‐observer 95% limits of agreement were similar at the start and end of the study. They were larger for overall (0.57) compared with quadrant‐average (0.28) redness.Conclusions:  For similar populations, a limbal redness above 2.5 or a bulbar redness above 2.6 (quadrant‐average) or 3.0 (overall) may be considered abnormal. Limbal and bulbar redness were correlated. Quadrant‐average scores are recommended instead of overall scores, as inter‐observer agreement was better.
Theoretical evaluation of the cataract extraction‐refraction‐implantation techniques for intraocular lens power calculation
Authors: Sheppard Amy L. , Dunne Mark C. M. , Wolffsohn James S. , Davies Leon N. 
Published: August 2010

AbstractPurpose:  To evaluate theoretically three previously published formulae that use intra‐operative aphakic refractive error to calculate intraocular lens (IOL) power, not necessitating pre‐operative biometry. The formulae are as follows: IOL power (D) = Aphakic refraction × 2.01 [Ianchulev et al., J. Cataract Refract. Surg.31 (2005) 1530]; IOL power (D) = Aphakic refraction × 1.75 [Mackool et al., J. Cataract Refract. Surg.32 (2006) 435]; IOL power (D) = 0.07x 2 + 1.27x + 1.22, where x = aphakic refraction [Leccisotti, Graefes Arch. Clin. Exp. Ophthalmol.246 (2008) 729].Methods:  Gaussian first order calculations were used to determine the relationship between intra‐operative aphakic refractive error and the IOL power required for emmetropia in a series of schematic eyes incorporating varying corneal powers, pre‐operative crystalline lens powers, axial lengths and post‐operative IOL positions. The three previously published formulae, based on empirical data, were then compared in terms of IOL power errors that arose in the same schematic eye variants.Results:  An inverse relationship exists between theoretical ratio and axial length. Corneal power and initial lens power have little effect on calculated ratios, whilst final IOL position has a significant impact. None of the three empirically derived formulae are universally accurate but each is able to predict IOL power precisely in certain theoretical scenarios. The formulae derived by Ianchulev et al. and Leccisotti are most accurate for posterior IOL positions, whereas the Mackool et al. formula is most reliable when the IOL is located more anteriorly.Conclusion:  Final IOL position was found to be the chief determinant of IOL power errors. Although the A‐constants of IOLs are known and may be accurate, a variety of factors can still influence the final IOL position and lead to undesirable refractive errors. Optimum results using these novel formulae would be achieved in myopic eyes.
Occupational colour vision requirements for police officers
Authors: Birch Jennifer , Chisholm Catharine M. 
Published: August 2010

AbstractInclusion of public service professions in the UK Disability Discrimination Act in 2004 prompted a review of occupational colour vision requirements for police officers. Changes in the regulations which existed prior to 2003 were proposed. The aim of this study was to obtain the views of serving police officers in Northern Ireland on the importance of good colour discrimination in everyday police work and on the recruitment regulations for patrol constables introduced in 2003 in mainland UK. These views were obtained by means of a questionnaire and informal discussions. More than 65% of police officers who responded to the questionnaire considered that good colour vision was very important for effective policing. Fewer than 2% considered that colour vision was unimportant. Experienced police officers agreed that the employment of colour‐deficient patrol constables, as permitted in the new regulations, would lead to reduced efficiency and organisational difficulties at the local level. A number of everyday activities were described which showed the need for accurate colour discrimination. The change in recruitment policy and the lack of clarity in the new regulations show inadequate appreciation of the needs of the occupation, of different types of colour vision anomalies and of the diagnostic function of colour vision tests. Failure to provide guidance on appropriate colour vision tests, examination procedures and counselling services is likely to result in inconsistent employment policies in different police forces. It is recommended that the colour vision standard in place prior to 2003 is reinstated at the recruitment stage. The Ishihara test should be used for screening, and colour‐deficient applicants further examined with the Farnsworth D15 test as a replacement for the City University Test 2nd edition.
INVESTIGATIONS CONCERNING THE ORIGIN OF BLOOD‐PLATELETS
Authors: Petri Svend 
Published: August 2010

Resumè:

In future experiments to elucidate the genesis of the blood‐platelets such methods must be employed as electively effect the blood‐platelet system.
Experimentally produced asphyxia (either owing to lack of O2 or after inhalation of illuminating gas) a) does not cause any noteworthy fluctuations in the number of blood‐platelets, b) is unsuitable for investigations into a numerical relation between megacaryocytes and blood‐platelets (Wright's theory). None of the corpuscular elements mentioned undergo the fluctuations described by Bianchini and others.
ÜBER VERSCHIEDENE NEUE SALMONELLA‐TYPEN
Authors: Kauffmann F. 
Published: August 2010

Zusammenfassung

Es wird über 4 neue Typen der Salmonella E‐Gruppe berichtet: S.amager = III.X.XXVI. y ? 1, 2 …, S.zanzibar = III.X.XXVI. k ? 1, 5 …, S.shangani = III.X.XXVI. d ? 1, 5 … und S.niloese = I.III.XIX. d ? z6 …
Bei dem von S. Gard beschriebenen »neuen Salmonellatypus (S.abortus canis)« handelt es sich nicht um einen neuen Typus, sondern um S.paratyphi B mit künstlich erzeugter 3.Phase (z5 …).
Es werden Untersuchungen über verschiedene Salmonella‐Typen mitgeteilt und zwar über S.budapest, S.mikawashima, S.narashino, S.worthington, S.minnesota, S.carrau, S.onderstepoort und S.kentucky.
The Weight of the Thyroid Gland in Children of 0–2 Years of Age
Authors: TÄHKÄ HILKKA 
Published: August 2010

Summary

The thyroid glands of 244 infants of 0–2 years who had died of different diseases was examined and weighed.
The results show that the absolute weight of the thyroid gland is roughly constant, approximately 3 g for the whole of the first month of life. Subsequently, the weight begins to decrease reaching its minimum value (approximately 68 per cent of the newborn), at the age of 2–3 months. From that age the weight again begins to increase slowly.
The changes in weight are along the same lines in premature infants, the absolute weights only being considerably lower as, a fact evident from this series too, the size of the thyroid gland increases greatly towards the end of pregnancy.
No difference can be shown between the sexes in the size of the thyroid gland.
Congenital goitre was found in 10 patients of the material, i.e., in 6.25 per cent. In premature infants not a single case of goitre was encountered.
The duration and type of disease cannot be shown to affect the absolute weights of the thyroid gland. On the other hand, the size of the thyroid gland, calculated as a percentage of the average weight for the same age, seems to decrease the longer the duration of disease.
The “Lente” Insulins in Juvenile Diabetes
Authors: ENGLESON GUNNAR , LEHMANN ORLA 
Published: August 2010

SummaryThe following is an account of investigations carried out at the Paediatric Department, University Hospital of Lund on the treatment of juvenile diabetes with the Lente Insulins.The material comprises 42 patients, aged 2–17 years. In 37 cases (i.e. 88 per cent) a A blood sugar below 150 mg/100 ml was obtained. During establishment on the Lente Insulins we noted in some cases a substantial increase in height. Insulin reactions were rare and most patients felt better after changing to Lente Insulin.L'insuline « lente » dans le traitement du diabète juvénile.Résultats obtenus avec l'insuline « lente » dans le traitement de cas de diabète juvénile. Quarante‐deux patients âgées de 2 à 17 ans ont été traités. Dans 37 cas (soit 88%), le taux de la glycémie put être ramené en dessous de 150 mg/100 cm3. Une augmentation notable de la croissance en hauteur a été observée dans certains cas durant le traitement par l'insuline « lente ». Les réactions d.'intolérance à l'insuline furent rares et la plupart des malades se sentirent mieux après le passage à l'insuline « lente ».“Lente”‐Insulinpräparate bei jugendlichem Diabetes.Bericht über die Behandlung von jugendlichem Diabetes mellitus mit “Lente” Insulinpräparaten. 42 Kranke im Alter von 2–17 Jahren wurden auf diese Weise behandelt. In 37 Fällen, d.i. bei 88%, wurde ein Blutzuckerspiegel von unter 150 mg/100 ml erreicht. Während der Behandlung mit “Lente” Insulin kam es bei manchen Fallen zu einer wesentlichen Zunahme im Körperwuchs. Insulinreaktionen waren selten und die Mehrzahl der Patienten wies eine Besserung im Allgemeinbefinden auf, wenn sie auf “Lente” Insulinpräparate umgestellt wurden.Insulinas «Lentet» en la diabetes infantil.Se expone el tratamiento de la diabetes mellitus infantil con insulinas «Lente». Fueron tratados cuarenta y dos pacientes de 2 a 17 años de edad. En 37 easos (es decir el 88%) se obtuvo un delta de azúcar en la sangre inferior a 150 mg por 100 ml. Durante el tratamiento practicado con insulinas «Lente», se observó un aumento apreciable de la estatura en algunos casos. Se produjeron rara vez reacciones insulínicas y la mayoría de los pacientes se sintió mejor después de cambiar con las insulinas «Lente».
PHYSICAL GROWTH OF 5‐YEAR‐OLD CHILDREN WITH A LOW BIRTH WEIGHT
Authors: BJERRE INGRID 
Published: August 2010

Abstract. Bjerre, I. (Department of Paediatrics, Malmö General Hospital, Malmö, Sweden). Physical growth of 5‐year‐old children with a low birth weight. Stature, weight, circumference of head and osseous development. Acta Paediatr Scand, 64: 33, 1975.–In a prospective investigation of the physical growth of children with a low birth weight, 143 unselected children who weighed less than 2500 g at birth were reviewed at 5 years of age. The children were grouped according to weight relative to gestational age.Stature and weight were compared with normal curves for Swedish children and with a control series. The circumference of the head was compared with a normal curve. Osseous development was assessed by the method of Eklöf & Ringertz and was compared with their normal values.Growth of the LBW‐children was slightly retarded in respect of stature, weight and osseous development, but not regarding head circumference. The values found for stature and osseous development were low in the group small for gestational age and for twins. Those LBW‐children who were appropriate for gestational age developed at a normal rate. This is true even for those with the lowest birth weight and those born long before term.Osseous development was correlated with stature, which may be due to the measuring method used. Neither maternal disease nor feeding difficulties during the first few months of life had any demonstrable effect on the physical development of the children. Socio‐economic factors now surely play at most a subordinate role. Physical development of the children varied most with the mothers' stature and weight and probably with hereditary factors.
Pain in paediatric oncology: interviews with children, adolescents and their parents
Authors: Ljungman G , Gordh T , Sörensen S , Kreuger A 
Published: August 2010

Ljungman G, Gordh T, Sörensen S, Kreuger A. Pain in paediatric oncology: interviews with children, adolescents and their parents. Acta Pædiatr 1999; 88: 623‐30. Stockholm. ISSN 0803‐5253Pain diagnostics and treatment are crucial components in the care of children with cancer. This study evaluated the extent and causes of pain, the use of methods for monitoring pain intensity, principles of pain management and adverse effects of pain treatment. In addition, care, support and information given to children and parents were evaluated. Structured interviews were conducted with 55 children with malignant disease and their parents. Pain was a common symptom and a major problem during different phases of cancer treatment and pain evaluation was unsystematic. Pain due to treatment and procedures was a greater problem than pain due to the malignant disease itself, and two thirds of the pain experienced by these children seemed to have iatrogenic origin. Younger children and children with short disease duration were more concerned about procedural pain. Parents and children thought that more efficient pain treatment was often possible. Parents claimed to judge their child's pain better than professionals, and children and parents wanted more information on different aspects of pain and pain treatment. Pain identification and treatment can be substantially improved through increased use of methods for pain evaluation and through giving enhanced information to families about pain and pain treatment. □Adolescence, child, neoplasms, pain/diagnosis, pain/drug therapy, pain/epidemiology, pain/aetiology, pain/measurement, pain/ therapy
Phenylketonuria: diet for life or not?
Authors: Cerone R , Schiaffino MC , Stefano S Di , Veneselli E 
Published: August 2010

Cerone R, Schiaffino MC, Di Stefano S, Veneselli E. Phenylketonuria: diet for life or not? Acta Pædiatr 1999; 88: 664‐6. Stockholm. ISSN 0803‐5253In order to evaluate the argument whether or not a restricted phenylalanine diet should be maintained for life in patients with phenylketonuria (PKU), 16 patients with early treated PKU but off diet since their 11th birthday were investigated. The evaluation included a detailed neurological examination, IQ, neurophysiological testing and MRI of the brain. Even if IQ and electrophysiological studies were normal or unchanged if compared to results before diet discontinuation, all patients revealed abnormal neurological signs. We conclude that the diet should be continued during adult life, but somewhat higher phenylalanine levels (<10mg/dl;< 600 μmol/l) than at younger ages should be allowed. □Adolescence, dietary treatment, phenylketonuria