bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Changes in coronary heart disease risk profile of adults with intellectual disabilities following a physical activity intervention
Authors: Moss S. J. 
Published: June 2009

AbstractBackground  Regular physical activity is one of the modifiable risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD). With an increasing age profile and similar patterns of morbidity to the general population, persons with intellectual disabilities (ID) and their caregivers would benefit from data that indicate CHD risk factors. Knowledge of the CHD risk factors and the changes a physical activity intervention may have on theses risk factors will facilitate future intervention programmes.Methods  A cohort of 100 men and women between the ages of 21 and 73 years with ID living in a community group home in the North‐West Province of South Africa was recruited. A CHD risk profile was compiled by means of a questionnaire and physical assessment that included resting blood pressure, body mass index, non‐fasting glucose and cholesterol and cardiorespiratory fitness. A 12‐week physical activity intervention was then conducted 3 days/week after which the baseline measurements were repeated.Results  The results indicated that 85% of the participants were inactive, while 67% were overweight and obese. Hypertension (6.1%) and smoking (6.1%) were relatively low in this population with ID. Glucose concentrations above the recommended cut‐off values were observed in 28% of the participants. Total cholesterol concentrations above normal were measured in 23% of the participants. The physical activity intervention reduced inactivity to 50% and resulted in a significant increase in cardiorespiratory fitness and a decrease in percentage body fat in both men and women.Conclusion  Inactivity is a major risk factor in this population with ID living in a community group setting. The implementation of the physical activity intervention significantly reduced the risk factors for CHD.
MHC‐based mate choice combines good genes and maintenance of MHC polymorphism
Authors: EIZAGUIRRE C. , YEATES S. E. , LENZ T. L. , KALBE M. , MILINSKI M. 
Published: June 2009

AbstractPolymorphic genes of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) are regarded as essential genes for individual fitness under conditions of natural and sexual selection. To test this hypothesis, we investigated the ultimate individual fitness trait — that of reproductive success. We used three‐spined sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus) in seminatural enclosures, located in natural breeding areas where the experimental fish had been caught. During their reproductive period, fish were exposed continuously to their natural sympatric parasites. By genotyping almost 4000 eggs with nine microsatellites, we determined parenthood and inferred female mating decision. We found that with reference to their own MHC profile, female sticklebacks preferred to mate with males sharing an intermediate MHC diversity. In addition, males with a specific MHC haplotype were bigger and better at fighting a common parasite (Gyrodactylus sp.). This translated directly into Darwinian fitness since fish harbouring this specific MHC haplotype were more likely to be chosen and had a higher reproductive output. We conclude that females also based their mating decision on a specific MHC haplotype conferring resistance against a common parasite. This identifies and supports ‘good genes’. We argue that such an interaction between host and parasite driving assortative mating is not only a prerequisite for negative frequency‐dependent selection — a potential mechanism to explain the maintenance of MHC polymorphism, but also potentially speciation.
Description of novel class I alleles encountered during routine registry typing in 2007
Authors: Lazaro A. M. , Xiao Y. , Masaberg C. , Nichol L. , Ivaskova E. , Banwart R. , Field E. , Ng J. , Hurley C. K. , Posch P. E. 
Published: June 2009

AbstractTwenty‐six novel human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I alleles are described: 3 HLA‐A alleles, 19 HLA‐B alleles and 4 HLA‐C alleles. Only one of the novel alleles (HLA‐B*0753) was found in multiple individuals and likely is not uncommon in the population. Nineteen (∼70%) of the 26 novel alleles are single nucleotide substitution variants when compared with their most homologous allele. Four of these single nucleotide variants are silent substitutions, and one creates a null allele. The remaining novel alleles differ from their most similar allele by two to six nucleotide substitutions. Some of the new alleles encode novel codons and unique amino acid changes at polymorphic positions in the HLA‐B lows (codons 30, 67 and 72), while HLA‐Cw*0347 encodes an amino acid change at a position not previously reported to be polymorphic for this locus.
Multiple sclerosis association study with the TENR‐IL2‐IL21 region in a Spanish population
Authors: Fedetz M. , Ndagire D. , Fernandez O. , Leyva L. , Guerrero M. , Arnal C. , Lucas M. , Izquierdo G. , Delgado C. , Alcina A. , Matesanz F. 
Published: June 2009

AbstractPolymorphisms from the TENR‐IL2‐IL21 block in the 4q27 chromosome were recently associated with type 1 diabetes, celiac disease, rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis. We undertook this study to investigate the potential role of polymorphisms rs3136534, rs6822844 and rs2069762 (−330 T/G IL2) in multiple sclerosis (MS) (805 patients of Spanish Caucasian origin and 952 health controls). We did not find evidence for association with any single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) tested. Allele and genotype frequencies of the SNPs, which were studied, were similar in DRB1*15‐positive or DRB1*15‐negative patients. After stratification of MS patients by clinical course, a weak association was observed with rs2069762 G allele and haplotype bearing this allele with secondary progressive MS, although these cases represent 22% of the MS cases. Our results did not show major influence of TENR‐IL2‐IL21 locus on susceptibility or disease progression in MS. However, we could not exclude completely the effect in MS for this region. Additional studies, using much larger sample sizes and analysis of additional polymorphisms in the gene and its flanking region, will be required to ascertain their contributions to MS susceptibility.
Evaluation of risk of falls in patients at a memory impairment outpatient clinic
Authors: Kikuchi Reiko , Kozaki Koichi , Iwata Akiko , Hasegawa Hiroshi , Toba Kenji 
Published: June 2009

Aim:  We investigated the usefulness of the fall‐predicting score, a simple screening test to identify patients at high risk of falls in outpatients with cognitive impairment.Methods:  This was a 1‐year prospective study. Seventy‐nine patients (28 men and 51 women, 78.1 ± 5.9 years old) in the Memory Impairment Outpatient Clinic of Kyorin University Hospital. History of falls in the past year, record of falls in the follow‐up period (1 year), fall‐predicting score, time of standing on one foot, timed Up & Go test, tandem gait, functional reach, grip strength, maximum circumference of the legs and blood laboratory tests were measured.Results:  Of the 79 subjects, 38 (48.1%) had experienced falls in the past year, and 29 (36.7%) experienced falls during the follow‐up period. Comparing the two groups with and without a history of falls during the follow‐up period, a significant difference was observed in fall‐predicting score, timed Up & Go test, tandem gait and functional reach. Logistic regression analysis revealed that fall‐predicting score was the only significant determinant for predicting future falls. Furthermore, fall‐predicting score correlated with timed Up & Go, duration of standing on one foot, functional reach, grip strength and tandem gait. When the χ2‐test was performed to investigate the correlation between individual items of the fall‐predicting questions and falls during the follow‐up period, “Do you use a stick when you walk?” and “Are there any obstacles in your house?” showed a significant difference (P < 0.05).Conclusion:  Fall‐predicting score is useful as a screening test to predict future falls in patients with cognitive decline.
Comprehensive geriatric assessment of elderly highlanders in Qinghai, China, III: Oxidative stress and aging in Tibetan and Han elderly highlanders
Authors: Sakamoto Ryota , Matsubayashi Kozo , Kimura Yumi , Ishine Masayuki , Kosaka Yasuyuki , Wada Taizo , Wada Chizu , Nakatsuka Masahiro , Ishimoto Yasuko , Hirosaki Mayumi , Kasahara Yoriko , Konno Akiko , Chen Wingling , Fujisawa Michiko , Otsuka Kuniaki , Nakashima Michiro , Wang Hongxin , Dai Qingxiang , Yang Airong , Qiao Haisheng , Gao Jidong , Li Zhanquan , Zhang Yongshou , Ge Ri‐Li , Okumiya Kiyohito 
Published: June 2009

Background:  Although there are several factors which may contribute to oxidative stress at high altitude, little is known about the association between oxidative stress and aging in the community‐dwelling elderly in the Tibetan Plateau.Methods:  Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and comprehensive geriatric functions were examined among 235 community‐dwelling elderly subjects aged 60 years or more (146 Hans and 89 Tibetans). As a marker of ROS, the levels of reactive oxygen metabolites (ROM) were measured using the d‐ROM test.Results:  The rate of dependence of basic activities of daily living (basic ADL) among Tibetan elderly highlanders was significantly higher than that among Han elderly highlanders. The d‐ROM level was higher among the Tibetan elderly than those among the Han elderly (Tibetan 465.6 ± 97.9 Carr U, Han 415.3 ± 72.0 Carr U, P = 0.003). The ROM level was higher among women than those among men. Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that being Tibetan, female, and oxygen saturation were independent predictors of increasing d‐ROM level (Tibetan β, 0.241; female β, 0.206; oxygen saturation β, 0.218). The high levels of ROM (d‐ROM >500 Carr U) were significantly associated with dependence of basic ADL after adjustment for age, sex and ethnicity (odds ratio = 2.51, P = 0.028).Conclusion:  The findings of this study imply the possibility that ROS is higher among Tibetan elderly highlanders than that of Han, which related to the geriatric items. Further studies are needed to show the impact of oxidative stress on the aging of highlanders.
Survival of patients with pseudomyxoma peritonei treated by serial debulking
Authors: Järvinen P. , Järvinen H. J. , Lepistö A. 
Published: June 2009

AbstractAim  We evaluated the outcome of patients with pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) after traditional debulking. PMP is a clinical condition characterized by disseminated intraperitoneal mucinous tumours often accompanied by mucinous ascites derived usually from an appendiceal neoplasm. Patients with PMP have traditionally been treated by serial debulking, but aggressive cytoreduction followed by hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy is now advocated as standard treatment in PMP.Method  The analysis included 33 consecutive patients with PMP who underwent traditional debulking surgery between June 1984 and August 2008. The patient characteristics and details of the treatment were analysed retrospectively. The primary end‐point was survival.Results  The overall 5‐ and 10‐year survival rates were 67% and 31% respectively. The patients underwent an average of 3.2 ± 0.4 operations (range 1–10). Of 33 patients, 23 (70%) underwent only 1–3 operations. The 30‐day operative mortality rate was 2.7%. However, four patients (12%) seemed to have achieved long‐term disease‐free survival of more than 5 years.Conclusions  The 5‐year survival is comparable with results achieved in patients receiving a combination of cytoreductive surgery and intraperitoneal chemotherapy, but in the long term, the latter seems superior.
Sexual satisfaction of women partners of circumcised men in a randomized trial of male circumcision in Rakai, Uganda
Authors: Kigozi Godfrey , Lukabwe Ivan , Kagaayi Joseph , Wawer Maria J. , Nantume Betty , Kigozi Grace , Nalugoda Fred , Kiwanuka Noah , Wabwire‐Mangen Fred , Serwadda David , Ridzon Renee , Buwembo Dennis , Nabukenya Dorothy , Watya Stephen , Lutalo Tom , Nkale James , Gray Ronald H. 
Published: June 2009

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of adult medical male circumcision on female sexual satisfaction.SUBJECTS AND METHODSWe investigated self‐reported sexual satisfaction among 455 women partners of men circumcised in a randomized trial of male circumcision for the prevention of human immunodeficiency virus in Rakai, Uganda. Women aged 15–49 years were interviewed about their sexual satisfaction before and after their partners were circumcised. We analysed female‐reported changes in sexual satisfaction using chi‐square or Fisher’s exact tests.RESULTSOnly 2.9% (13/455) of women reported less sexual satisfaction after their partners were circumcised; 57.3% (255/455) reported no change in sexual satisfaction and 39.8% (177/455) reported an improvement in sexual satisfaction after their partner’s circumcision. There were no statistically significant differences in sexual satisfaction before and after partner’s circumcision by age, religion and education status.CONCLUSIONThe overwhelming majority of women (97.1%) report either no change or improved sexual satisfaction after their male partner was circumcised. These findings suggest that male circumcision has no deleterious effect on female sexual satisfaction.
Predictors of secondary treatment following biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy: results from the Shared Equal Access Regional Cancer Hospital database
Authors: Moreira Daniel M. , Bañez Lionel L. , Presti Jr Joseph C. , Aronson William J. , Terris Martha K. , Kane Christopher J. , Amling Christopher L. , Freedland Stephen J. 
Published: June 2009

Study Type – Prognosis (retrospective cohort)Level of Evidence 2bOBJECTIVETo investigate the predictors of secondary treatment for recurrent prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy (RP) among subjects from the Shared Equal Access Regional Cancer Hospital (SEARCH) database.PATIENTS AND METHODSWe used Kaplan–Meier curves and Cox proportional hazard models to identify factors associated with time to secondary treatment and type of secondary treatment received among 697 men who developed biochemical recurrence (BCR) after RP.RESULTSDuring a median follow‐up of 45 months after BCR, 357 men received salvage treatment. The 1‐, 3‐, and 5‐year risk of receiving any salvage treatment was 29% (95% confidence interval (CI) 26–33%), 48% (95%CI 44–52%), and 53% (95%CI 49–57%), respectively. In multivariate analysis, more recent year of recurrence, centre, shorter disease‐free interval, and pathological high‐grade disease (Gleason 8–10) predicted increased risk of salvage treatment (all P < 0.01). Predictors of specifically receiving radiotherapy were shorter disease‐free interval, centre, and more recent year of BCR (all P < 0.001). Predictors of specifically receiving hormonal therapy were shorter disease‐free interval, more recent year of BCR, centre, high Gleason score, and higher tumour stage (all P < 0.05). In a subset analysis of men with available prostate‐specific antigen doubling time (PSADT) data, shorter PSADT predicted receipt of any salvage treatment as well as radiation and hormonal therapy separately.CONCLUSIONSAmong men who recur after RP, salvage treatment was associated with disease severity, centre and year of BCR; patient‐specific factors (race, body mass index and age) were not predictive of secondary treatment. Although patients are being treated more aggressively in contemporary years, the affect on long‐term survival is unknown.
Critical inquiry and knowledge translation: exploring compatibilities and tensions
Authors: Reimer‐Kirkham Sheryl , Varcoe Colleen , Browne Annette J. , Lynam M. Judith , Khan Koushambhi Basu , McDonald Heather 
Published: June 2009

AbstractKnowledge translation has been widely taken up as an innovative process to facilitate the uptake of research‐derived knowledge into health care services. Drawing on a recent research project, we engage in a philosophic examination of how knowledge translation might serve as vehicle for the transfer of critically oriented knowledge regarding social justice, health inequities, and cultural safety into clinical practice. Through an explication of what might be considered disparate traditions (those of critical inquiry and knowledge translation), we identify compatibilities and discrepancies both within the critical tradition, and between critical inquiry and knowledge translation. The ontological and epistemological origins of the knowledge to be translated carry implications for the synthesis and translation phases of knowledge translation. In our case, the studies we synthesized were informed by various critical perspectives and hence we needed to reconcile differences that exist within the critical tradition. A review of the history of critical inquiry served to articulate the nature of these differences while identifying common purposes around which to strategically coalesce. Other challenges arise when knowledge translation and critical inquiry are brought together. Critique is one of the hallmark methods of critical inquiry and, yet, the engagement required for knowledge translation between researchers and health care administrators, practitioners, and other stakeholders makes an antagonistic stance of critique problematic. While knowledge translation offers expanded views of evidence and the complex processes of knowledge exchange, we have been alerted to the continual pull toward epistemologies and methods reminiscent of the positivist paradigm by their instrumental views of knowledge and assumptions of objectivity and political neutrality. These types of tensions have been productive for us as a research team in prompting a critical reconceptualization of knowledge translation.
Obesity, the PI3K/Akt signal pathway and colon cancer
Authors: Huang X‐F. , Chen J‐Z. 
Published: June 2009

SummaryObesity is currently reaching epidemic levels worldwide and is a major predisposing factor for a variety of life‐threatening diseases including diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. Recently, it has also been suggested to be linked with cancer.Epidemiological studies have shown that obesity increases the risk of colon cancer by 1.5–2 fold with obesity‐associated colon cancer accounting for 14–35% of total incidence. Several factors, altered in obesity, may be important in cancer development including increased levels of blood insulin, insulin‐like growth factor I, leptin, TNF‐α, IL‐6 as well as decreased adiponectin. A unifying characteristic of all these factors is that they increase the activity of the PI3K/Akt signal pathway. The PI3K/Akt signal pathway in turn activates signals for cell survival, cell growth and cell cycle leading to carcinogenesis. Here we review the evidence that PI3K/Akt and its downstream targets are important in obesity‐associated colon cancer and thus, that targeted inhibition of this pathway could be employed for the prevention of obesity‐associated colon cancer and incorporated into the therapy regime for those with irremovable colon cancers.
More on the no‐DP analysis of article‐less languages*
Authors: Bošković Željko 
Published: June 2009

Abstract. This reply shows that arguments against the no‐DP analysis (Bo✓ković 2005, 2008), according to which article‐less languages do not have DP, given in Pereltsvaig 2007) do not go through. Additionally, it is shown that ordering restrictions on demonstratives, possessives, and adjectives in Serbo‐Croation follow from the semantics of the elements in question. These elements can be generated in any order in the syntx, with the semantics filtering out the unacceptable orders.The goal of this reply is to address the arguments against the no‐DP analysis ofBošković (2005), according to which languages without articles do not project DP (see alsoBošković 2008), given inPereltsvaig (2007).1The latter work erroneously attributes several properties to the no‐DP analysis; it also incorrectly citesBošković (2005), attributing a statement made regarding English to a statement regarding article‐less languages.
Adaptively Varying-Coefficient Spatiotemporal Models
Authors: Lu Zudi , Steinskog Dag Johan , Tjøstheim Dag , Yao Qiwei 
Published: June 2009

SummaryWe propose an adaptive varying-coefficient spatiotemporal model for data that are observed irregularly over space and regularly in time. The model is capable of catching possible non-linearity (both in space and in time) and non-stationarity (in space) by allowing the auto-regressive coefficients to vary with both spatial location and an unknown index variable. We suggest a two-step procedure to estimate both the coefficient functions and the index variable, which is readily implemented and can be computed even for large spatiotemporal data sets. Our theoretical results indicate that, in the presence of the so-called nugget effect, the errors in the estimation may be reduced via the spatial smoothing—the second step in the estimation procedure proposed. The simulation results reinforce this finding. As an illustration, we apply the methodology to a data set of sea level pressure in the North Sea.
Childcare: welfare or investment?
Authors: Conley Amy 
Published: June 2009

Conley A. Childcare: welfare or investment?Int J Soc Welfare 2010: 19: 173–181 © 2009 The Author, Journal compilation © 2009 Blackwell Publishing Ltd and the International Journal of Social Welfare.Childcare (also called day care or preschool) has generally served three purposes: to care for children while parents are employed; to provide early childhood education; and to cater to the needs of poor and disadvantaged children. This article proposes that the welfare approach to childcare be augmented by a social investment approach to enhance human and social capital investments among low income families and communities and to contribute to wider social development goals. The Head Start program in the United States and the Integrated Child Development Scheme in India are used to illustrate this argument.
Giving money to strangers: European welfare states and social trust
Authors: Jensen Carsten , Svendsen Gert Tinggaard 
Published: June 2009

Jensen C, Svendsen GT. Giving money to strangers: European welfare states and social trustInt J Soc Welfare 2011: 20: 3–9 © 2009 The Author, Journal compilation © 2009 Blackwell Publishing Ltd and the International Journal of Social Welfare.Why would you give money to strangers? That is the fundamental question posed by a new body of research into the relationship between social trust and willingness to accept high taxes and extensive welfare states. The literature argues that generalised trust causes and upholds universal welfare state institutions, an entirely plausible explanation of the Scandinavian social democratic welfare states. However, it cannot explain the presence of very large welfare states in Continental Europe, where the level of generalised trust is much lower than in Scandinavia. The article adds to the existing literature by arguing that the ‘bumblebee’ of conservative welfare states is characterised by particularistic trust and familiaristic welfare institutions, which are functional equivalents to the mechanisms found in Scandinavia. Future research into the trust–welfare state relationship should therefore focus on the trust profile of a country to understandhowthe welfare state provides its citizens with benefits.