bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mycobacterium kansasii pericarditis in a kidney transplant recipient: a case report and comprehensive review of the literature
Authors: Cho J.‐H. , Yu C.‐H. , Jin M.‐K. , Kwon O. , Hong K.‐D. , Choi J.‐Y. , Yoon S.‐H. , Park S.‐H. , Kim C.‐D. , Kim Y.‐L. 
Published: July 2012

AbstractMycobacterium kansasii is the second most common non‐tuberculous mycobacteria in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) and has been reported to cause disseminated infection in KTRs. We report the first case to our knowledge of M. kansasii pericarditis after kidney transplantation in a 54‐year‐old man. The patient was admitted with a 2‐month history of intermittent fever and myalgia, treated with oral prednisolone and mycophenolate mofetil prior to admission. Chest computed tomography showed enlarged mediastinal lymph node and small amount of pericardial effusion. Mediastinoscopic biopsy of mediastinal lymph node revealed reactive hyperplasia, without evidence of granuloma, but acid‐fast bacilli stain of pericardial fluid reported positive finding and pericardial fluid culture identified M. kansasii. The patient has been treated successfully with rifabutin‐based combination therapy. All available cases of M. kansasii infection in kidney transplant patients and M. kansasii pericarditis in human immunodeficiency virus‐infected patients are comprehensively reviewed.
Safety and efficacy of healthy volunteer stem cell mobilization with filgrastim G‐CSF and mobilized stem cell apheresis: results of a prospective longitudinal 5‐year follow‐up study
Authors: Mueller M. M. , Bialleck H. , Bomke B. , Brauninger S. , Varga C. , Seidl C. , Seifried E. , Tonn T. , Bonig H. 
Published: July 2012

Background and Objectives  G‐CSF‐mobilized peripheral blood stem cells have long replaced marrow as the major source for allogeneic transplants. Conclusive evidence questioning the long‐term safety of G‐CSF for donors has not been provided, but the cumulative number of followed donors remains insufficient to rule out rare adverse events. A long‐term active follow‐up study of G‐CSF‐mobilized healthy volunteer donors was therefore performed.Patients and Methods  Two hundred and three successive donors were evaluated pre‐apheresis, subjected to G‐CSF‐mobilization/apheresis, and actively followed for 5 years by the same physicians and laboratories. Follow‐up laboratory work included standard biochemical/haematological tests and T‐cell phenotyping.Results  Donor epidemiology was typical for reported stem cell donor cohorts. Acute adverse effects of G‐CSF and apheresis were mild and transient, consistent with the previous reports. Mean circulating CD34+ cells after nine doses of G‐CSF were 124 per μl. Other biochemical/haematological parameters were also altered, consistent with G‐CSF treatment. Spleen enlargement was modest. At first follow‐up, all clinical and laboratory parameters had normalized. Leucocyte/lymphocyte counts and CD4/CD8 ratios were the same as during premobilization work‐up and remained unchanged throughout. A single severe but likely unrelated adverse event, a case of papillary thyroid carcinoma, was reported.Conclusion  The studies add an observation time of almost 500 donor years to the growing body of evidence of the long‐term safety of G‐CSF for allogeneic donor stem cell mobilization.
Thoroughbred racehorse mitochondrial DNA demonstrates closer than expected links between maternal genetic history and pedigree records
Authors: Bower M.A. , Whitten M. , Nisbet R.E.R. , Spencer M. , Dominy K.M. , Murphy A.M. , Cassidy R. , Barrett E. , Hill E.W. , Binns M. 
Published: July 2012

SummaryThe potential future earnings and therefore value of Thoroughbred foals untested in the racing arena are calculated based on the performance of their forebears. Thus, lineage is of key importance. However, previous research indicates that maternally inherited mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) does not correspond to maternal lineage according to recorded pedigree, casting doubt on the voracity of historic pedigrees. We analysed mtDNA of 296 Thoroughbred horses from 33 maternal lineages and identified an interesting trend. Subsequent to the founding of the Thoroughbred breed in the 16th century, well‐populated maternal lineages were divided into sub‐lineages. Only six in 10 of the Thoroughbreds sampled shared mitochondrial haplotype with other members of their maternal lineage, despite having a common maternal ancestor according to pedigree records. However, nine in 10 Thoroughbreds from the 103 sub‐lineages sampled shared mtDNA with horses of their maternal pedigree sub‐lineage. Thus, Thoroughbred maternal sub‐lineage pedigree represents a more accurate breeding record than previously thought. Errors in pedigrees must have occurred largely, though, not exclusively, at sub‐lineage foundation events, probably due to incomplete understanding of modes of inheritance in the past, where maternal sub‐lineages were founded from individuals, related, but not by female descent.
Modulation of Maternal Immune System During Pregnancy in the Cow
Authors: Oliveira LJ , Barreto RSN , Perecin F , Mansouri‐Attia N , Pereira FTV , Meirelles FV 
Published: July 2012

ContentsThere is a molecular crosstalk between the trophoblast and maternal immune cells of bovine endometrium. The uterine cells are able to secrete cytokine/chemokines to either induce a suppressive environment for establishment of the pregnancy or to recruit immune cells to the endometrium to fight infections. Despite morphological differences between women and cows, mechanisms for immune tolerance during pregnancy seem to be conserved. Mechanisms for uterine immunesuppression in the cow include: reduced expression of major histocompatability proteins by the trophoblast; recruitment of macrophages to the pregnant endometrium; and modulation of immune‐related genes in response to the presence of the conceptus. Recently, an eGFP transgenic cloned embryo model developed by our group showed that there is modulation of foetal proteins expressed at the site of syncytium formation, suggesting that foetal cell can regulate not only by the secretion of specific factors such as interferon‐tau, but also by regulating their own protein expression to avoid excessive maternal recognition by the local immune system. Furthermore, foetal DNA can be detected in the maternal circulation; this may reflect the occurrence of an invasion of trophoblast cells and/or their fragment beyond the uterine basement membrane in the cow. In fact, the newly description of exosome release by the trophoblast cell suggests that could be a new fashion of maternal‐foetal communication at the placental barrier. Additionally, recent global transcriptome studies on bovine endometrium suggested that the immune system is aware, from an immunological point of view, of the presence of the foetus in the cow during early pregnancy.
Convalescent resting tachycardia predicts unfavorable outcome of anorexia nervosa
Authors: Tokumura Mitsuaki , Watanabe Hisako , Esaki Takashi 
Published: July 2012

AbstractBackground:  In patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) who have tachycardia during the clinical course, difficulty in treatment has been observed. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the association between heart rate (HR) in the weight loss and weight recovery periods, and outcome.Methods:  The subjects consisted of 40 girls with AN (age at onset, 8–16 years). The outcome 1–5 years after the initiation of treatment was regarded as favorable for both bodyweight within 15% of the standard weight and regular menstruation during the last 6 months, and unfavorable for bodyweight <85% of the standard weight and absent or nearly always absent menstruation. HR during the weight loss period was obtained at the outpatient clinic on the first visit. For HR during the weight recovery period, we used the resting and peak HR obtained in exercise tolerance test, which was performed when the bodyweight successfully increased along with improvement in physical complications. The association between each HR and outcome was evaluated.Results:  Favorable outcomes were observed in 19 of the 40 patients after the 1 year follow up but in 32 after the 5 year follow up. Resting HR during the weight recovery period was higher throughout the 5 years in the unfavorable than in the favorable outcome group, with significant differences after the 2, 4, and 5 year follow ups.Conclusion:  In AN, resting tachycardia during the convalescent period is associated with unfavorable outcome.
Ultradian corticosterone secretion is maintained in the absence of circadian cues
Authors: Waite Eleanor J. , McKenna Mervyn , Kershaw Yvonne , Walker Jamie J. , Cho Kwangwook , Piggins Hugh D. , Lightman Stafford L. 
Published: July 2012

AbstractPlasma levels of corticosterone exhibit both circadian and ultradian rhythms. The circadian component of these rhythms is regulated by the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). Our studies investigate the importance of the SCN in regulating ultradian rhythmicity. Two approaches were used to dissociate the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal (HPA) axis from normal circadian input in rats: (i) exposure to a constant light (LL) environment and (ii) electrolytic lesioning of the SCN. Blood was sampled using an automated sampling system. As expected, both treatments resulted in a loss of the circadian pattern of corticosterone secretion. Ultradian pulsatile secretion of corticosterone however, was maintained across the 24 h in all animals. Furthermore, the loss of SCN input revealed an underlying relationship between locomotor and HPA activity. In control (LD) rats there was no clear correlation between ultradian locomotor activity and hormone secretion, whereas, in LL rats, episodes of ultradian activity were consistently followed by periods of increased pulsatile hormone secretion. These data clearly demonstrate that the ultradian rhythm of corticosterone secretion is generated through a mechanism independent of the SCN input, supporting recent evidence for a sub‐hypothalamic pulse generator.
THE OBJECTIVITY OF OBLIGATIONS IN DIVINE MOTIVATION THEORY: On Imitation and Submission
Authors: Johnson Daniel M. 
Published: July 2012

ABSTRACTTo support her divine motivation theory of the good, which seeks to ground ethics in motives and emphasize the attractiveness of morality over against the compulsion of morality, Linda Zagzebski has proposed an original account of obligations which grounds them in motives. I argue that her account renders obligations objectionably person‐relative and that the most promising way to avoid my criticism is to embrace something quite close to a divine command theory of obligation. This requires her to combine her desired emphasis on the imitation of God with a contrasting emphasis on submission to God. I conclude that her divine motivation theory of the good, if it is to have an adequate account of obligation, is dependent on a divine will or divine command theory of obligation.
Medical students and sun prevention: knowledge and behaviours in France
Authors: Isvy A. , Beauchet A. , Saiag P. , Mahé E. 
Published: July 2012

AbstractBackground  High sun exposure is a major risk factor of skin cancer, and physicians are first‐line players in a sun‐risk prevention campaign.Objectives  To survey medical students at the end of their general medical education about their knowledge and behaviours concerning natural and artificial sun risk and its prevention.Methods  A 32‐question survey was e‐mailed to fifth or sixth year medical school students or first‐year resident, attending residency‐exam preparatory courses in Paris.Results  Among 1,374 students, 570 (41.7%) completed the questionnaires. General aspects of sun‐protection measures were known to >75% but responses to specific questions, mainly the impact of environmental conditions on sun risk, were frequently erroneous. Although most students declared using sunscreen and avoiding peak hours, 39% never or exceptionally (<1/year) performed skin self‐examination. Fewer than one‐third wore long sleeves or cap/hat in the sun, and tanning beds were used by 13.5%, but their regulations remained unknown by 30–68%.Conclusion  The sixth year of medical school signals the end of non‐specialized training. Students’ results and practices were almost comparable to those of the French general population. Medical schools might not be providing adequate sun‐protection education programmes, perhaps diminishing the ability of future doctors to educate patients.
Methotrexate for treatment of lichen planus: old drug, new indication
Authors: Kanwar A.J. , De D. 
Published: July 2012

AbstractTreatment of generalized lichen planus is often disappointing and is associated with relapses. Though reports have suggested a beneficial role of various immunosuppressive and immunomodulatory agents, most of these reports are retrospective series or anecdotes. Oral methotrexate has been found to be useful in recent studies. In this study, we prospectively evaluated the role of low‐dose oral methotrexate (15 mg/week in adults or 0.25 mg/kg/week for children) in generalized lichen planus. Mean improvement in 24 evaluated patients (two of them were of paediatric age group) at the end of 14 weeks of treatment was 79%. By the end of 24 weeks treatment, 14 of 24 (58%) patients had complete remission of their disease. Side effects were observed in 12 of 24 (50%) patients. Most of these adverse effects were mild; only one requiring treatment discontinuation due to significantly deranged liver function test. During post‐treatment follow‐up of 3 months, none had relapse of lichen planus. Overall, low‐ dose methotrexate is effective and reasonably safe option in treatment of eruptive lichen planus, provided haematological and biochemical parameters are regularly monitored.
Effects of Multisensory Environments on Stereotyped Behaviours Assessed as Maintained by Automatic Reinforcement
Authors: Hill Lindsay , Trusler Karen , Furniss Frederick , Lancioni Giulio 
Published: July 2012

Background  The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of the sensory equipment provided in a multi‐sensory environment (MSE) and the level of social contact provided on levels of stereotyped behaviours assessed as being maintained by automatic reinforcement.Method  Stereotyped and engaged behaviours of two young people with severe intellectual disabilities were observed while the participants were either in a living room or in a MSE and receiving either high or low levels of interaction from carers.Results  For both participants, levels of stereotyped behaviour were lower in the MSE irrespective of the level of carer attention received, while levels of engagement were higher under conditions of high carer attention in both environments.Conclusions  The results are consistent with the hypothesis that reductions in stereotyped behaviour observed in MSEs are due to the increased levels of specific sensory stimulation provided by such environments.
Explicit and implicit stigma towards peers with mental health problems in childhood and adolescence
Authors: O’Driscoll Claire , Heary Caroline , Hennessy Eilis , McKeague Lynn 
Published: July 2012

Background:  Children and adolescents with mental health problems are widely reported to have problems with peer relationships; however, few studies have explored the way in which these children are regarded by their peers. For example, little is known about the nature of peer stigmatisation, and no published research has investigated implicit attitudes thus ensuring that stigma is not well understood. To address this issue, the current study explored patterns of explicit and implicit stigmatisation of peers with depression and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).Methods:  The sample was 385 children (M = 10.21 years) and adolescents (M = 15.36 years). Participants completed a questionnaire assessing explicit stigma towards an age‐ and gender‐matched peer with ADHD or depression and another peer with ‘normal issues’ who were described in vignettes. They also completed a modified version of the Implicit Association Test (IAT) that explored implicit attitudes towards the target peers.Results:  Questionnaire data indicated that the peer with ADHD was perceived more negatively than the peer with depression on all dimensions of stigma, except perceived dangerousness and fear. In contrast, the IAT findings suggest that some participants had more negative views of the peer with depression than the peer with ADHD. Specifically, the findings demonstrate that adolescent males demonstrated significantly stronger negative implicit evaluations of depression compared with younger males and adolescent females.Conclusions:  Children and adolescents demonstrate stigmatising responses to peers with common mental health problems. The nature and extent of these responses depends on the type of problem and the type of measurement used. The findings highlight the importance of using both explicit and implicit measures of stigma.
Factors influencing scores on the social responsiveness scale
Authors: Hus Vanessa , Bishop Somer , Gotham Katherine , Huerta Marisela , Lord Catherine 
Published: July 2012

Background:  The Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) is a parent‐completed screening questionnaire often used to measure autism spectrum disorders (ASD) severity. Although child characteristics are known to influence scores from other ASD‐symptom measures, as well as parent‐questionnaires more broadly, there has been limited consideration of how non‐ASD‐specific factors may affect interpretation of SRS scores. Previous studies have explored effects of behavior problems on SRS specificity, but have not addressed influences on the use of the SRS as a quantitative measure of ASD‐symptoms.Method:  Raw scores (SRS‐Raw) from parent‐completed SRS were analyzed for 2,368 probands with ASD and 1,913 unaffected siblings. Regression analyses were used to assess associations between SRS scores and demographic, language, cognitive, and behavior measures.Results:  For probands, higher SRS‐Raw were associated with greater non‐ASD behavior problems, higher age, and more impaired language and cognitive skills, as well as scores from other parent report measures of social development and ASD‐symptoms. For unaffected siblings, having more behavior problems predicted higher SRS‐Raw; male gender, younger age, and poorer adaptive social and expressive communication skills also showed small, but significant effects.Conclusions:  When using the SRS as a quantitative phenotype measure, the influence of behavior problems, age, and expressive language or cognitive level on scores must be considered. If effects of non‐ASD‐specific factors are not addressed, SRS scores are more appropriately interpreted as indicating general levels of impairment, than as severity of ASD‐specific symptoms or social impairment. Additional research is needed to consider how these factors influence the SRS’ sensitivity and specificity in large, clinical samples including individuals with disorders other than ASD.
The effect of maternal fasting during Ramadan on preterm delivery: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Awwad J , Usta IM , Succar J , Musallam KM , Ghazeeri G , Nassar AH 
Published: July 2012

Please cite this paper as: Awwad J, Usta I, Succar J, Musallam K, Ghazeeri G, Nassar A. The effect of maternal fasting during Ramadan on preterm delivery: a prospective cohort study. BJOG 2012;119:1379–1386.Objective  To determine the effect of fasting during the month of Ramadan on the rate of preterm delivery (PTD).Design  A prospective cohort study of women with singleton pregnancies who elected to fast and matched controls.Setting  Four medical centres in Beirut, Lebanon.Population  Women presenting for prenatal care (20–34 weeks of gestation) during the month of Ramadan, September 2008.Methods  Data were collected prospectively. The frequency of PTD was evaluated in relation to the duration of fasting and the stage of gestation at the time of fasting.Main outcome measures  The primary endpoint was the percentage of pregnant women who had PTD, defined as delivery before 37 completed weeks of gestation.Results  A total of 468 women were approached, of whom 402 were included in the study. There were no differences in smoking history and employment. There was no difference in the proportion of women who had PTD at <37 weeks (10.4% versus 10.4%) or PTD at <32 weeks (1.5% versus 0.5%) in the Ramadan‐fasted group and the controls, respectively. The PTD rate was also similar in those who fasted before or during the third trimester. The mean birthweight was lower (3094 ± 467 g versus 3202 ± 473 g, P = 0.024) and the rate of ketosis and ketonuria was higher in the Ramadan‐fasted women. On multivariate stepwise logistic regression analysis, fasting was not associated with an increased risk of PTD (odds ratio 0.72; 95% confidence interval 0.34–1.54; P = 0.397). The only factor that had a significant effect on the PTD rate was body mass index (odds ratio 0.43; 95% confidence interval 0.20–0.93; P = 0.033).Conclusions  Fasting during the month of Ramadan does not seem to increase the baseline risk of preterm delivery in pregnant women regardless of the gestational age during which this practice is observed.
Inclusion in Israel: coping resources and job satisfaction as explanatory factors of stress in two cultural groups
Authors: Braun‐Lewensohn Orna 
Published: July 2012

The aim of this study was to explore the differences between the two cultural groups of Jewish and Arab teachers on several variables and to analyse their link to stress. Specifically, I examined sense of coherence (SOC), sense of school community and job satisfaction among regular Jewish and Arab teachers in regular schools and classes who have special education students in their classes. Furthermore, I investigated how the different coping resources – SOC and sense of school community – explain the stress reactions of state anxiety and state anger directly and indirectly via job satisfaction and also the direct prediction of stress by job satisfaction.Data were gathered from 634 Jewish and Arab teachers (80% Jews) who completed self‐report questionnaires that measured SOC, sense of community, employee satisfaction inventory, state anxiety and state anger.Differences in SOC and sense of school community were found between the two groups such that Jews reported stronger SOC, and Arabs reported stronger sense of school community. Further differences were revealed in the links of the different coping resources to stress reactions. The results are discussed against the backdrop of cultural background and the salutogenic model.