bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prevalence of MEFV gene mutations and their clinical correlations in Turkish children with Henoch–Schönlein purpura
Authors: Bayram Cengiz , Demircin Gülay , Erdoğan Özlem , Bülbül Mehmet , Çaltık Aysun , Akyüz Sare G 
Published: January 2011

AbstractAim:  To investigate the frequency of MEFV mutations and their associations with the clinical and laboratory findings in children with Henoch–Schönlein purpura (HSP).Methods:  One hundred and seven children with HSP were investigated for 12 common MEFV mutations.Results:  Forty‐seven patients (43.9%) were found to have one of the MEFV mutations. Eight patients (7.5%) were homozygous for one mutation, 33 (30.8%) were heterozygous for one and six (5.6%) were compound heterozygous for two mutations. There were no age and sex differences between patients with or without mutations. Scrotal involvement was statistically more frequent in patients with mutations. Leucocyte counts, erythrocyte sedimentation rates, serum C‐reactive protein (CRP) concentrations, number of patients with increased CRP levels and number of patients with increased immunoglobulin A concentrations were found to be higher in patients with MEFV mutations. p.M694V was the most frequent mutation and was found to have effects on clinical and laboratory findings in children with HSP. Fifteen patients were started on colchicine with the diagnosis of familial Mediterranean fever (FMF).Conclusion:  MEFV mutations are more frequent in HSP than in the general population, and mutation carriers may have more severe clinical findings with higher inflammatory response, suggesting a dysregulation of the inflammatory response because of defective gene encoding the protein pyrine. Investigation of these mutations may be beneficial to follow‐up the susceptible patients more closely leading to early diagnosis and treatment of FMF.
Manual therapy in infantile torticollis: a randomized, controlled pilot study
Authors: Haugen Else Beth , Benth JūratėŠaltytė , Nakstad Britt 
Published: January 2011

AbstractAim:  Torticollis in infancy is routinely treated by child physiotherapists. The addition of manual therapy to the treatment is a new approach in Norway. As the effect of manual therapy for this condition is poorly documented, we designed a pilot study to evaluate measurement methods and examine the short‐time effect of manual therapy in addition to child physiotherapy.Methods:  Randomized controlled trial, double blinded. Thirty‐two patients aged 3–6 months were randomized to intervention group (manual therapy and child physiotherapy) and control group (child physiotherapy alone). Primary outcome: Change of symptoms because of torticollis evaluated by video recordings. Secondary outcomes: 12 parameters including spontaneous movements, active and passive range of motion and head righting reaction.Results:  We found a nonsignificant tendency to greater improvement in lateral flexion (p = 0.092) and head righting reaction (p = 0.116) in the intervention group.Conclusion:  In this pilot study, we found that in patients with moderate symptoms related to torticollis, the short‐time effect of manual therapy in addition to physiotherapy is not significantly better than physiotherapy alone.
Fat‐free mass hydration in newborns: assessment and implications for body composition studies
Authors: Eriksson Britt , Löf Marie , Eriksson Olle , Hannestad Ulf , Forsum Elisabet 
Published: January 2011

AbstractAim:  Equipment (Pea Pod) offering new possibilities to assess infant body composition has recently become available and has already been used in several studies. In the Pea Pod, body density is converted to body composition using one of two models (‘Fomon’ or ‘Butte’) with different water content in fat‐free mass (hydration factor, HF). In healthy full‐term infants, we assessed HF and its biological variability in 12 newborns and calculated body composition using the two models at 1 and 12 weeks in 108 infants. Body weight and volume were assessed in Pea Pod, and body water was assessed using isotope dilution.Results:  Hydration factor was 80.9% with low biological variability (0.8% of average HF). Body fat (%) was significantly lower at 1 and 12 weeks when calculated using the ‘Butte’ model than when using the ‘Fomon’ model. The difference was more pronounced at one than at 12 weeks.Conclusion:  Our HF value agrees with that in the ‘Fomon’ model, its low biological variability can be reconciled with the statement that Pea Pod is accurate in newborns and ‘Fomon’ is the best available model for studies in Pea Pod.
Periodontal disease in Norwegian old‐age pensioners
Authors: Norderyd Ola , Henriksen Birgitte Moesgaard , Jansson Henrik 
Published: January 2011

doi: 10.1111/j.1741‐2358.2010.00380.xPeriodontal disease in Norwegian old‐age pensionersPurpose:  To identify factors of importance for periodontal health and disease on an old‐age Norwegian population.Materials and methods:  From a random sample of 1152 urban and rural elderly Norwegians, aged 67 years or older, 582 individuals were agreed to participate in the study. After exclusion of edentulous individuals, 394 individuals were remained. A standardised clinical examination was performed by the same examiner. In conjunction with the clinical examination, a questionnaire was filled out regarding demographic and social status, educational level, tobacco habits and general condition.Results:  In the examined population, 33% of the subjects had periodontal disease. Out of those, 12% had severe periodontitis, that is, ≥3 periodontal pockets ≥6 mm. All variables were tested separately in a logistic regression model with periodontal pockets 6 mm and above, as the outcome variable. After univariate testing the following variables were included in a multivariate logistic regression model: daily smoking, higher plaque score, rural living and lower education. Only daily smoking remained significantly correlated to periodontal disease in the multivariate model.Conclusions:  This study has shown a prevalence of periodontal disease in 33% of the study population. Out of those approximately 12% had more severe periodontitis. Daily tobacco use was the only factor significantly correlated to presence of periodontal disease.
MEASUREMENT OF FRUIT PEELABILITY IN THE GENUS ACTINIDIA
Authors: HARKER F. ROGER , HALLETT IAN C. , WHITE ANNE , SEAL ALAN G. 
Published: January 2011

ABSTRACT Actinidia (kiwifruit) vary in peeling behavior from “difficult to peel” to “easy to peel.” Thus, the breeding of new cultivars of commercially acceptable kiwifruit with peelable skins is possible. Identification of skin properties conferring peelability and development of a simple, repeatable method for measuring peelability will be critical to the success of breeding programs. We assessed mechanical and biological characteristics of kiwifruit skins with respect to the ease with which fruit could be peeled. Values for skin–flesh adhesion, skin compliance in tension, and skin tearing were obtained, and a simple method for quantifying peelability developed based on knowledge of tearing of sheet materials. Using this test, we established that peelability varies among kiwifruit selections, but is only evident once fruit has ripened. We demonstrated that efficiency of peeling was dependent on the radius of curvature from which the skin is drawn away from the flesh.PRACTICAL APPLICATIONSThe development of a peelable kiwifruit will enhance the diversity of products in the kiwifruit category and provide consumers with a more convenient option for eating this type of fruit. The information presented in this study contributes to the knowledge of the biological, structural and mechanical properties that influence skin‐to‐flesh adhesion and skin tearing behavior. The simple protocol for assessing peelability may be adapted for use in screening seedling populations for this trait.
An assessment of measures of body image, body attitude, acculturation, and weight status among Mexican American women
Authors: Petti Yvette M. , Cowell Julia M. 
Published: January 2011

Abstract Purpose: The purpose of this descriptive study was to establish the validity and reliability of the measurement of body image and body attitudes among Mexican American women. Data sources: Completed measures of height, weight, waist circumference, body mass index, acculturation, body image, and body attitude of 35 U.S.‐born Mexican American women between the ages of 18 and 65 years of age. Also included were repeated measures of body image and body attitude and verbatim face‐to‐face interviews with 13 study participants. Conclusions: Most study participants were overweight; however, body image discrepancy (difference between perceived actual and ideal body image) did not increase as anticipated and was negatively related to body mass index; suggesting those participants' perceptions of ideal body image increased with increasing body size and was reliable. Body attitude subscale scores had varying relationships to weight status. Implications for practice: Further study is warranted examining why an acceptance of a greater body image occurs, potentially leading to a greater understanding of the influences of body image integration on health behaviors. Clinicians working with Mexican American women should consider weight reduction interventions that are based on an individual assessment of the perceptions of body image and body attitudes.
Influence of Blanching and Grinding Process with Hot Water on Beany and Non‐Beany Flavor in Soymilk
Authors: Lv Yan‐Chun , Song Huan‐Lu , Li Xin , Wu Liang , Guo Shun‐Tang 
Published: January 2011

Abstract: A total of 8 beany odor‐active compounds and 4 non‐beany aroma‐active compounds of traditional soymilk were identified through dynamic headspace dilution analysis (DHDA) and gas chromatography‐olfactometry‐mass spectrometry (GC‐O‐MS). To eliminate the beany flavors, soymilk was processed with hot water blanching and grinding for 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 min with a temperature between 80 and 100 °C. A total of 5 beany odor‐active compounds and 3 non‐beany aroma‐active compounds of this soymilk were analyzed by headspace solid phase microextraction (HS‐SPME). As a result, lipoxygenase (LOX) activity gradually decreased by hot water treatment with time, and with the decrease of Lox activity, the 5 beany odor‐active compounds and 3 non‐beany aroma‐active compounds were significantly decreased. However, the reduction in non‐beany flavor compounds was smaller than for beany odor compounds. Therefore, a balance between beany and non‐beany flavors can be reached in soymilk. When the soaked soybeans were blanched and ground with hot water for 2 to 6 min, the LOX activity was between 38% and 57% of the beginning activity. For these processing times, the non‐beany compounds could be largely maintained. The ratio of the total peak area of the 3 non‐beany aroma compounds and 5 beany flavor compounds was between 0.07 and 0.12, and the sensory scores of the aromas were higher than that of the off‐flavors.Practical Application: Beany flavors in soymilk could be reduced with hot water blanching and grinding at temperature above 80 °C. However, the treatment of hot water blanching affected the non‐beany aromas of soymilk. A suitable blanching and grinding time is necessary to achieve a balance of soymilk flavors.
Wheat Bread Enrichment with Hard‐to‐Cook Bean Extruded Flours: Nutritional and Acceptance Evaluation
Authors: Batista Karla A. , Prudêncio Sandra H. , Fernandes Kátia F. 
Published: January 2011

Abstract:  This study describes the enrichment of wheat bread with hard‐to‐cook black bean (BBEF) and cowpea (CEF) extruded flours. Breads containing 10% BBEF and 10% CEF presented increase of, respectively, 9% and 10% in protein content. In addition the fiber content was 2.6 higher in 10% BBEF bread and 2.2 higher in 10% CEF bread in comparison with standard bread. Despite protein and fiber increasing, the energetic value of substituted breads remained unchanged. An increase in the substitution to 15% resulted in decrease of specific volume and density of the breads. Results of sensory analysis to 10% BBEF bread presented overall appearance scores higher than standard bread and overall flavor acceptance very similar to standard. A total of 10% CEF bread presented similar appearance to those standard bread and 73% overall flavor acceptance. It is interesting to point out that distribution of 10% CEF bread overall flavor scores showed 3 distinct levels of consumer's sensibility.Practical Application:  Breads enriched with extruded bean flours presented fiber and protein content improved and a very good consumer's acceptance. These results indicate that extruded bean flours constitute ingredients nutritionally and economically viable for technological application in breads elaboration, conferring improvement of nutritional characteristics without changing sensory attributes.
Agroenvironmental Determinants Associated with the Presence of Antimicrobial‐resistant Escherichia coli in Beach Waters in Quebec, Canada
Authors: Turgeon P. , Michel P. , Levallois P. , Chevalier P. , Daignault D. , Crago B. , Irwin R. , McEwen S. A. , Neumann N. F. , Louie M. 
Published: January 2011

SummaryExposure to microorganisms resistant to antimicrobials may constitute a health risk to human populations. It is believed that one route of exposure occurs when people engage in recreational activities in water contaminated with these microorganisms. The main objective of this study was to explore population‐level and environmental determinants specifically associated with the presence of antimicrobial resistant (AMR) generic Escherichia coli isolated from recreational waters sampled from beaches located in southern Quebec, Canada. Water samples originated from the Quebec provincial beach surveillance program for the summers of 2004 and 2005. This study focused on three classes of determinants, namely: agricultural, population‐level and beach characteristics for a total of 19 specific factors. The study was designed as a retrospective observational analysis and factors were assessed using logistic regression methods. From the multivariable analysis, the data suggested that the percentage of land used for spreading liquid manure was a significant factor associated with the presence of AMR E. coli (OR = 27.73). Conceptually, broad factors potentially influencing the presence of AMR bacteria in water must be assessed specifically in addition to factors associated with general microbial contamination. Presence of AMR E. coli in recreational waters from beaches in southern Quebec may represent a risk for people engaging in water activities and this study provides preliminary evidence that agricultural practices, specifically spreading liquid manure in agricultural lands nearby beaches, may be linked to the contamination of these waters by AMR E. coli.
Knowing when the camera lies: Judicial instructions mitigate the camera perspective bias
Authors: Elek Jennifer K. , Ware Lezlee J. , Ratcliff Jennifer J. 
Published: January 2011

Purpose.  Videotaped confession evidence elicits harsher evaluations against a defendant if initially recorded with the camera focused primarily on the suspect, compared with other presentation formats. Unfortunately, most videotaped confession evidence employs this biasing suspect‐focus camera perspective format, leaving defendants with no recourse. The present study examined the utility of judicial instructions in mitigating the effects of the camera perspective bias on individual juror verdicts.Methods.  Through random assignment, 156 mock jurors did or did not receive explicit instructions to correct for the camera perspective bias prior to viewing a video recording of an authentic true or false confession.Results.  As expected, mock jurors who received instructions to correct for the camera perspective bias reported more lenient judgments of confessor guilt after viewing a suspect‐focus confession recording compared to those who did not receive such instructions. However, this relative leniency emerged only in response to false, and not true, confessions.Conclusions.  Results demonstrated that judicial instructions used in the present research mitigated the effect of camera perspective on mock‐juror judgments of suspect guilt.
V
H
3 Antibody Response to Immunization with Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine in Middle-Aged and Elderly Persons
Authors: Serpa Jose A. , Valayam Josemon , Musher Daniel M. , Rossen Roger D. , Pirofski Liise-anne , Rodriguez-Barradas Maria C. 
Published: January 2011

ABSTRACT

Pneumococcal disease continues to cause substantial morbidity and mortality among the elderly. Older adults may have high levels of anticapsular antibody after vaccination, but their antibodies show decreased functional activity. In addition, the protective effect of the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV) seems to cease as early as 3 to 5 years postvaccination. Recently, it was suggested that PPV elicits human antibodies that use predominantly V
H
3 gene segments and induce a repertoire shift with increased V
H
3 expression in peripheral B cells. Here we compared V
H
3-idiotypic antibody responses in middle-aged and elderly subjects receiving PPV as initial immunization or revaccination. We studied pre- and postvaccination sera from 36 (18 vaccine-naïve and 18 previously immunized subjects) middle-aged and 40 (22 vaccine-naïve and 18 previously immunized subjects) elderly adults who received 23-valent PPV. Concentrations of IgGs to four individual serotypes (6B, 14, 19F, and 23F) and of V
H
3-idiotypic antibodies (detected by the monoclonal antibody D12) to the whole pneumococcal vaccine were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). PPV elicited significant IgG and V
H
3-idiotypic antibody responses in middle-aged and elderly subjects, regardless of whether they were vaccine naïve or undergoing revaccination. Age did not influence the magnitude of the antibody responses, as evidenced by similar postvaccination IgG and V
H
3 antibody levels in both groups, even after stratifying by prior vaccine status. Furthermore, we found similar proportions (around 50%) of elderly and middle-aged subjects experiencing 2-fold increases in V
H
3 antibody titers after vaccination. Age or repeated immunization does not appear to affect the V
H
3-idiotypic immunogenicity of PPV among middle-aged and elderly adults.
Evaluation of Serological Diagnostic Methods for the 2009 Pandemic Influenza A (H1N1) Virus
Authors: Papenburg Jesse , Baz Mariana , Hamelin Marie-Ève , Rhéaume Chantal , Carbonneau Julie , Ouakki Manale , Rouleau Isabelle , De Serres Gaston , Boivin Guy 
Published: January 2011

ABSTRACT

Serology improves influenza diagnosis by capturing cases missed by reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR). We prospectively evaluated microneutralization and hemagglutination inhibition assays for 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus diagnosis among 24 RT-PCR-confirmed cases and 98 household contacts. Compared to hemagglutination inhibition, microneutralization demonstrated a higher level of concordance with RT-PCR (kappa = 0.69 versus kappa = 0.60) and greater sensitivity (83% versus 71%;
P
= 0.016).
Identification of HACEK Clinical Isolates by Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization–Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Couturier Marc Roger , Mehinovic Elvina , Croft Ann C. , Fisher Mark A. 
Published: January 2011

ABSTRACT

Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry is a rapid and accurate tool for the identification of many microorganisms. We assessed this technology for the identification of 103
Haemophilus parainfluenzae
,
Aggregatibacter aphrophilus
,
Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans
,
Cardiobacterium hominis
,
Eikenella corrodens
, and
Kingella kingae
(HACEK) clinical isolates and 20
Haemophilus influenzae
clinical isolates. Ninety-three percent of HACEK organisms were identified correctly to the genus level using the Bruker database, and 100% were identified to the genus level using a custom database that included clinical isolates.
Feasibility of Flow Cytometry for Measurements of Plasmodium falciparum Parasite Burden in Studies in Areas of Malaria Endemicity by Use of Bidimensional Assessment of YOYO-1 and Autofluorescence
Authors: Campo Joseph J. , Aponte John J. , Nhabomba Augusto J. , Sacarlal Jahit , Angulo-Barturen Iñigo , Jiménez-Díaz María Belén , Alonso Pedro L. , Dobaño Carlota 
Published: January 2011

ABSTRACT

The detection and quantification of
Plasmodium falciparum
in studies of malaria endemicity primarily relies upon microscopy. High-throughput quantitative methods with less subjectivity and greater reliability are needed for investigational studies. The staining of parasitized erythrocytes with YOYO-1 for flow cytometry bears great potential as a tool for assessing malaria parasite burden. Capillary blood was collected from children presenting to the pediatric ward of the Manhiça District Hospital in Mozambique for parasitemia assessment by thick and thin blood films, flow cytometry (YOYO-1
530/585
), and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Whole blood was fixed and stained with YOYO-1 for acquisition on a cytometer to assess the frequency of infected erythrocyte events. qRT-PCR was used as the gold standard for the detection of
P. falciparum
. The YOYO-1
530/585
method was as sensitive and specific as conventional microscopy (area under the receiver operating characteristic, 0.9 for both methods). The interrater mean difference for YOYO-1
530/585
was near zero. Parasite density using flow cytometry and complete blood counts returned density estimates with a mean difference 2.2 times greater than results by microscopy (confidence interval, 1.46 to 3.60) but with limits of agreement between 10 times lower and 50 times higher than those of microscopy. The YOYO-1
530/585
staining pattern was established exactly as demonstrated in animal models, but the assay was limited by the lack of appropriate negative-control samples for establishing background levels and the definition of positives in areas in which malaria is endemic. YOYO-1
530/585
is a high-throughput tool with great potential if the limitations of negative controls and heterogeneous levels of background signal can be overcome.
Conserved Residues in Lassa Fever Virus Z Protein Modulate Viral Infectivity at the Level of the Ribonucleoprotein
Authors: Capul Althea A. , de la Torre Juan Carlos , Buchmeier Michael J. 
Published: January 2011

ABSTRACTArenaviruses are negative-strand RNA viruses that cause human diseases such as lymphocytic choriomeningitis, Bolivian hemorrhagic fever, and Lassa hemorrhagic fever. No licensed vaccines exist, and current treatment is limited to ribavirin. The prototypic arenavirus, lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), is a model for dissecting virus-host interactions in persistent and acute disease. The RING finger protein Z has been identified as the driving force of arenaviral budding and acts as the viral matrix protein. While residues in Z required for viral budding have been described, residues that govern the Z matrix function(s) have yet to be fully elucidated. Because this matrix function is integral to viral assembly, we reasoned that this would be reflected in sequence conservation. Using sequence alignment, we identified several conserved residues in Z outside the RING and late domains. Nine residues were each mutated to alanine in Lassa fever virus Z. All of the mutations affected the expression of an LCMV minigenome and the infectivity of virus-like particles, but to greatly varying degrees. Interestingly, no mutations appeared to affect Z-mediated budding or association with viral GP. Our findings provide direct experimental evidence supporting a role for Z in the modulation of the activity of the viral ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complex and its packaging into mature infectious viral particles.