bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Scale for measuring self‐recoverability in daily life for people with schizophrenia
Authors: Takamatsu Toko , Hashimoto Takeshi , Taira Masaru , Fukutake Masaaki , Maeda Kiyoshi 
Published: May 2009

Aim:  A new scale has been developed to assess the self‐recoverability in the daily life of people with schizophrenia. Self‐recoverability in daily life includes coping with stress events and taking care of one's mental and physical health. The new scale, called Self‐Recoverability in Daily Life (SRDL), is a semi‐structured instrument with 10 items. The aim of the present study was therefore to test the scale accordingly.Methods:  A total of 57 subjects who were outpatients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder as defined by DSM‐IV, were enrolled in the study. The SRDL scale was assessed with four other scales: the World Health Organization Quality Of Life (WHO‐QOL)‐26, the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for health state, the Drug‐Induced Extrapyramidal Symptoms Scale (DIEPSS) and the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS).Results:  The mean total score of the SRDL scale was positively correlated with both the WHO‐QOL‐26 and VAS, while the SRDL scale was negatively correlated with the BPRS total score.Conclusion:  The SRDL scale may be useful for assessing living skills in the daily life of people with schizophrenia.
Association between neuropeptide Y gene and its receptor Y1 gene and methamphetamine dependence
Authors: Okahisa Yuko , Ujike Hiroshi , Kotaka Tatsuya , Morita Yukitaka , Kodama Masafumi , Inada Toshiya , Yamada Mitsuhiko , Iwata Nakao , Iyo Masaomi , Sora Ichiro , Ozaki Norio , Kuroda Shigetoshi 
Published: May 2009

Aims: Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is a 36‐amino acid peptide that is widely distributed in the brain, adrenal medulla, and sympathetic nervous system. Several lines of evidence suggest a possible involvement of the NPY system in the physiological effects of several classes of abused substances including alcohol, phencyclidine, cocaine, and marijuana and in endogenous psychosis. Accordingly, it was hypothesized that the NPY system may also be involved in methamphetamine dependence or psychosis.Methods: The single nucleotide polymorphisms rs16147 of theNPYgene (−485C>T) and rs7687423 of the NPY receptor Y1 (NPY1R) gene were analyzed in 222 patients with methamphetamine dependence and psychosis and 288 age‐ and gender‐matched controls.Results: Genotypic distribution of theNPY1Rgene showed a significant association with methamphetamine dependence and psychosis (P = 0.04), whereas theNPYgene had no significant association with them.Conclusion: It is possible that genetic variants of theNPY1Rgene affect the NPY‐NPY receptor type Y1 signaling system in the brain, which may result in susceptibility to methamphetamine dependence or the development of methamphetamine psychosis, but the present findings need to be confirmed on replication.
Relationship between depressive mood and chronotype in healthy subjects
Authors: Hidalgo Maria Paz , Caumo Wolnei , Posser Michele , Coccaro Sônia Beatriz , Camozzato Ana Luiza , Chaves Márcia Lorena Fagundes 
Published: May 2009

Aim:  The endogenous circadian clock generates daily variations of physiological and behavior functions such as the endogenous interindividual component (morningness/eveningness preferences). Also, mood disorders are associated with a breakdown in the organization of ultradian rhythm. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to assessed the association between chronotype and the level of depressive symptoms in a healthy sample population. Furthermore, the components of the depression scale that best discriminate the chronotypes were determined.Methods:  This cross‐sectional study involved 200 volunteers, aged 18–99 years, 118 women and 82 men. The instruments were the Montgomery–Äsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), the Morningness/Eveningness Questionnaire, the Self‐Reporting Questionnaire‐20, and the future self‐perception questionnaire.Results:  Logistic regression showed that subjects with the eveningness chronotype had a higher chance of reporting more severe depressive symptoms compared to morning‐ and intermediate‐chronotypes, with an odds ratio (OR) of 2.83 and 5.01, respectively. Other independent cofactors associated with a higher level of depressive symptoms were female gender (OR, 3.36), minor psychiatric disorders (OR, 3.70) and low future self‐perception (OR, 3.11). Younger age, however, was associated with a lower level of depressive symptoms (OR, 0.97). The questions in the MADRS that presented higher discriminate coefficients among chronotypes were those related to sadness, inner tension, sleep reduction and pessimism.Conclusion:  Identification of an association between evening typology and depressive symptoms in healthy samples may be useful in further investigation of circadian typology and the course of depressive disease.
Multi‐dimensional discriminative factors for Internet addiction among adolescents regarding gender and age
Authors: Yen Cheng‐Fang , Ko Chih‐Hung , Yen Ju‐Yu , Chang Yu‐Ping , Cheng Chung‐Ping 
Published: May 2009

Aims:  The aim of the present study was to examine the discriminative effects of sociodemographic, individual, family, peers, and school life factors on Internet addiction in Taiwanese adolescents.Methods:  A total of 8941 adolescents were recruited and completed the questionnaires. Multi‐dimensional discriminative factors for Internet addiction were examined using chi‐squared automatic interaction detection for gender and sex.Results:  Depression and low family monitoring were the discriminative factors for Internet addiction in all four gender‐ and age‐specified groups of adolescents. Low connectedness to school, high family conflict, having friends with habitual alcohol drinking, and living in rural areas also had discriminative effects on adolescent Internet addiction in adolescents of different gender and age.Conclusions:  Multi‐dimensional factors were able to discriminate between those adolescents with and without Internet addiction. It is suggested that parents and health and educational professionals monitor the Internet‐using behaviors of adolescents who have the factors discriminating for Internet addiction identified in the present study.
Comorbidity of cardiovascular diseases with mood and anxiety disorder: A population based 4‐year study
Authors: Huang Kai‐Lin , Su Tung‐Ping , Chen Tzeng‐Ji , Chou Yuan‐Hwa , Bai Ya‐Mei 
Published: May 2009

Aims:  Accumulating evidence from Caucasian patients has shown that depression, bipolar and anxiety disorders are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD), but reports in the Asian population are limited, and age effect is rarely investigated. This population‐based study was carried out to examine and compare the CVD comorbidities among patients with mood and anxiety disorders in different age groups.Method:  A 4‐year cross‐sectional survey was carried out using the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database from 2000 to 2003.Results:  An average total of 1 031 557 patients with mood and anxiety disorders were enrolled as study participants, including 76 430 cases of major depressive disorder, 41 557 cases of bipolar disorder, and 913 570 cases of anxiety disorder. When compared with the insured population without mood or anxiety disorders (average 21 356 304 people), the average relative risk (RR) of developing ischemic heart disease and hypertensive disorders in 1 031 557 study participants was 2.0 and 2.05, respectively. The highest RR was found in the age group under 20 years (RR = 4.74 and 4.08, respectively), and the lowest RR in the age group equal to or older than 65 years (RR = 0.47 and 0.58, respectively).Conclusions:  Taiwanese patients with mood and anxiety disorders experience high cardiovascular morbidity, especially patients with anxiety disorders. Age acted as an important modifier variable that influenced the relationship between mood, anxiety disorder and CVD. This study highlights the need for future research in different age groups, in order to elucidate the causality and the trajectory of developing CVD among patients with mental disorders.
Diffuse alveolar haemorrhage due to 5‐nitroimidazole treatment
Authors: UYAR Meral , ELBEK Osman , BAYRAM Nazan , EKIZ ŞUle , BAKIR Kemal , DIKENSOY ÖNer 
Published: May 2009

ABSTRACTDiffuse alveolar haemorrhage (DAH) is indicated by the presence of red blood cells, fibrin and haemosiderin deposits in the lung parenchyma. We present a case of DAH in a 25‐year‐old male following 5‐nitroimidazole treatment. The first episode of haemoptysis occurred following metronidazole treatment 10 months previously. The second episode of haemoptysis occurred following ornidazole treatment 10 days before admission. During his first admission, the patients haemoglobin concentration decreased to 40 g/L. The CXR was normal, whereas high resolution CT of the lungs revealed a diffuse acinonodular pattern. Serological tests for connective tissue diseases were negative. The haemorrhagic appearance of the BAL fluid obtained during fibreoptic bronchoscopy was consistent with DAH. Microbiological analysis of the BAL fluid showed no evidence for bacterial or mycobacterial infection. Haemosiderin laden macrophages were detected in BAL fluid and lung biopsy specimens. DAH due to use of 5‐nitroimidazole was diagnosed on the basis of the patient's previous history and complete recovery following treatment with corticosteroid. This is the first reported case of DAH due to use of 5‐nitroimidazole. Physicians should be aware of this side‐effect when prescribing this group of drugs to patients.
Patients with mild‐to‐moderate asthma may develop clinically significant chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: TSUDA Yasunari , NOGUCHI Toshiyuki , MOCHIZUKI Hideaki , MAKINO Fumihiko , NANJO Yuta , SAWABE Motoji , TAKAHASHI Hideki 
Published: May 2009

ABSTRACTBackground and objective:  Little is known about the aetiology and clinical characteristics of COPD among people who have never smoked.Methods:  A case–control study was conducted to describe the potential risk factors for clinically significant COPD among smokers and people who had never smoked. Medical record reviews and scoring of high‐resolution computed tomography (HRCT) findings were performed in patients with clinically significant COPD (defined as having post‐bronchodilator FEV1/FVC < 0.7 and FEV1 < 60% of the predicted values). Pathological analyses were performed in some patients following autopsy.Results:  Among the 9493 subjects screened, 424 (4.5%) were diagnosed with clinically significant COPD. Forty‐nine (11.6% of clinically significant COPD) were never smokers (NSCOPD), and a comparative group of 98 smoking patients with COPD was randomly selected (SMCOPD). NSCOPD was characterized by predominantly female sex (87.8%) and a high prevalence of physician‐diagnosed asthma (61.2%). Similar levels of reduction in %FEV1 and %FEF25–75% were found in NSCOPD and SMCOPD, but there were higher %DLCO values and fewer low attenuation areas on HRCT in NSCOPD. More than half of the NSCOPD patients without a history of asthma had features of asthma. More than one‐third of NSCOPD patients with an asthma history had never had a severe attack. At autopsy, both NSCOPD and SMCOPD showed wall thickening and inflammatory cell infiltration in small airways, and the number of CD4+‐T cells was increased in NSCOPD.Conclusion:  In elderly Japanese, COPD among never smokers is largely attributable to asthma. Airflow limitation in NSCOPD results from small airway disease (airway predominant phenotype) rather than parenchymal destruction (emphysematous phenotype).
HIV‐associated opportunistic pneumonias
Authors: HUANG Laurence , CROTHERS Kristina 
Published: May 2009

ABSTRACTAmong the HIV‐associated pulmonary complications, opportunistic pneumonias are major causes of morbidity and mortality. The spectrum of HIV‐associated opportunistic pneumonias is broad and includes bacterial, mycobacterial, fungal, viral and parasitic pneumonias. Bacterial pneumonia is the most frequent opportunistic pneumonia in the United States and Western Europe while tuberculosis is the dominant pathogen in sub‐Saharan Africa. With the use of combination antiretroviral therapy and prophylaxis, the incidence of Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) has declined. Nevertheless, PCP continues to occur in persons who are unaware of their HIV infection, those who fail to access medical care, and those who fail to adhere to antiretroviral therapy or prophylaxis. Although pneumonias due to Cryptococcus neoformans, Histoplasma capsulatum, Coccidioides immitis, cytomegalovirus and Toxoplasma gondii are less frequent, their presence in the lung is often indicative of disseminated disease and is associated with significant mortality.
Peak flow rate is the best predictor of acute urinary retention following prostate brachytherapy: Our experience and literature review
Authors: Ikeda Tetsuhiro , Shinohara Katsuto 
Published: May 2009

Objectives:  We prospectively investigated risk factors for acute urinary retention (AUR) following transperineal radioactive seed implantation for prostate cancer.Methods:  A total of 273 consecutive patients underwent transperineal ultrasound‐guided prostate brachytherapy for clinical T1c–T3b prostate cancer. Preoperative factors included age; International Prostate Symptom score; planimetric prostate and transition volumes (TZV) measured by transrectal ultrasound; peak flow rate; post‐void residual urine; neoadjuvant hormone therapy; use of pelvic radiation; and T stage. Intra‐ and postoperative factors included the number of seeds and needles.Results:  Ten patients (3.6%) showed AUR requiring catheterization. Among preoperative factors, age, International Prostate Symptom score, planimetric prostate volume, planimetric prostate volume and radiation therapy (RT) were not significantly correlated with AUR. PFR (P = 0.012) and PVR (P = 0.020) of patients having AUR were significantly higher than those not having AUR. Mean TZV was also significantly higher (P = 0.038) in the AUR group univariate analysis. Multivariate analysis showed that PFR is the only independent predictor of AUR (P = 0.030).Conclusion:  On univariate analysis, PFR, PVR and TZV were found to be statistically significant predictors of AUR following seed implantation. According to multivariate analysis, only PFR was confirmed to be a significant predictor.
Gemcitabine and capecitabine chemotherapy in Japanese patients with immunotherapy‐resistant renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Soga Norihito , Yamada Yasushi , Nishikawa Kouhei , Hasegawa Yoshihiro , Kise Hideaki , Arima Kiminobu , Sugimura Yoshiki 
Published: May 2009

AbstractThe objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of combined gemcitabine and capecitabine (Gca) chemotherapy in patients with advanced renal cell cancer after immunotherapy failure. Nine patients were enrolled in this trial. Gemcitabine (1000 mg/m2) was injected on days 1 and 8, followed by oral administration of capecitabine (1660 mg/m2) on days 1–14. The response rate was 11%, with a partial response in one patient (11%), stable disease in five patients (56%) and disease progression in three patients (33%). Grade 3–4 neutropenia was observed in one patient (11%) and thrombocytopenia in two patients (22%). The quality of life (QOL) questionnaire scales showed no significant changes induced by chemotherapy. The median progression‐free survival was 4 months with an overall 1‐year survival rate of 78%. Gemcitabine and capecitabine chemotherapy can be safely administered as second‐line therapy in renal cell cancer patients, maintaining QOL baseline parameters.
Is urethritis accompanied by seminal vesiculitis?
Authors: Furuya Ryoji , Takahashi Satoshi , Furuya Seiji , Saitoh Nobuhito , Ogura Hiroshi , Kurimura Yuichiro , Tsukamoto Taiji 
Published: May 2009

Objective:  To determine whether urethritis is accompanied by seminal vesiculitis using transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) imaging.Methods:  Fifty‐six male patients (mean age 31.6 ± 8.7 years) with urethritis were included in the study. As a control group, we also considered 34 healthy volunteers (mean age 21.3 ± 1.8 years). The two groups were evaluated by the nucleic acid amplification test and imaging studies using TRUS.Results:  The nucleic acid amplification test could identify 15 patients (26.8%) with gonococcal urethritis (five had accompanying chlamydial urethritis), 32 (57.1%) with chlamydial urethritis, and nine (16.1%) with nongonococcal and nonchlamydial urethritis. The mean anteroposterior diameter of the bilateral seminal vesicles was significantly longer in the urethritis group than in the controls (12.9 ± 3.3 mm vs 11.0 ± 2.0 mm, P = 0.004). The incidence of dilatation or cystic changes of seminal vesicles was significantly higher in the urethritis group than in the controls (dilatation: 30% vs 9%, P = 0.019; cystic change: 39% vs 12%, P = 0.007). There was no significant difference in the incidence of dilatation or cystic changes of seminal vesicles between gonococcal urethritis and chlamydial urethritis.Conclusions:  Patients with urethritis are likely to have accompanying seminal vesiculitis. This suggests a close interrelationship among urethritis, seminal vesiculitis and epididymitis.
Sexual problems and associated help‐seeking behavior patterns: Results of a population‐based survey in France
Authors: Buvat Jacques , Glasser Dale , Neves Raimundo Celestino Silva , Duarte Fernanda Gross , Gingell Clive , Moreira Jr Edson Duarte 
Published: May 2009

Objectives:  To report the sexual activity, the prevalence of sexual problems and related help‐seeking behavior among adults in France.Methods:  A telephone survey was conducted in 2001 and 2002. Interviews were based on a standardized questionnaire including demographic details, overall health, relationships, and sexual behaviors, attitudes and beliefs.Results:  A total of 1500 individuals (750 men, 750 women) aged 40 to 80 years completed the survey. Eighty‐one percent of men and 65% of women had engaged in sexual intercourse during the 12 months preceding the interview. Premature ejaculation (16%) and erectile dysfunction (15%) were the most frequently reported sexual problems among men. Lack of sexual interest (21%) and a lack of sexual pleasure (18%) were the most frequently reported ones among women. Only 10% of men and 8% of women had been asked by a doctor about possible sexual problems during a routine visit in the last 3 years.Conclusions:  Many middle aged and older men and women in France report continued sexual interest and activity. Although a number of sexual problems are seen in this population, only a minority of individuals seek medical help for these disorders. This is largely due to believing that the problem is not serious, not being bothered by the problem, and/or a lack of awareness of available treatments.
Distribution of Roseobacter RCA and SAR11 lineages and distinct bacterial communities from the subtropics to the Southern Ocean
Authors: Giebel Helge‐Ansgar , Brinkhoff Thorsten , Zwisler Walter , Selje Natascha , Simon Meinhard 
Published: May 2009

SummaryWe assessed the composition of the bacterioplankton in the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean in austral fall and winter and in New Zealand coastal waters in summer. The various water masses between the subtropics/Agulhas–Benguela boundary region and the Antarctic coastal current exhibited distinct bacterioplankton communities with the highest richness in the polar frontal region, as shown by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis of 16S rRNA gene fragments. The SAR11 clade and the Roseobacter clade‐affiliated (RCA) cluster were quantified by real‐time quantitative PCR. SAR11 was detected in all samples analysed from subtropical waters to the coastal current and to depths of > 1000 m. In fall and winter, this clade constituted < 3% to 48% and 4–28% of total bacterial 16S rRNA genes respectively, with highest fractions in subtropical to polar frontal regions. The RCA cluster was only present in New Zealand coastal surface waters not exceeding 17°C, in the Agulhas–Benguela boundary region (visited only during the winter cruise), in subantarctic waters and in the Southern Ocean. In fall, this cluster constituted up to 36% of total bacterial 16S rRNA genes with highest fractions in the Antarctic coastal current and outnumbered the SAR11 clade at most stations in the polar frontal region and further south. In winter, the RCA cluster constituted lower proportions than the SAR11 clade and did not exceed 8% of total bacterial 16S rRNA genes. In fall, the RCA cluster exhibited significant positive correlations with latitude and ammonium concentrations and negative correlations with concentrations of nitrate, phosphate, and for near‐surface samples also with chlorophyll a, biomass production of heterotrophic prokaryotes and glucose turnover rates. The findings show that the various water masses between the subtropics and the Antarctic coastal current harbour distinct bacterioplankton communities. They further indicate that the RCA cluster, despite the narrow sequence similarity of > 98% of its 16S rRNA gene, is an abundant component of the heterotrophic bacterioplankton in the Southern Ocean, in particular in its coldest regions.
Immune suppression in the honey bee (Apis mellifera) following infection by Nosema ceranae (Microsporidia)
Authors: Antúnez Karina , Martín‐Hernández Raquel , Prieto Lourdes , Meana Aránzazu , Zunino Pablo , Higes Mariano 
Published: May 2009

SummaryTwo microsporidia species have been shown to infect Apis mellifera, Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae. This work present evidence that N. ceranae infection significantly suppresses the honey bee immune response, although this effect was not observed following infection with N. apis. Immune suppression would also increase susceptibility to other bee pathogens and senescence. Despite the importance of both Nosema species in honey bee health, there is no information about their effect on the bees' immune system and present results can explain the different virulence between both microsporida infecting honeybees.