bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Active transportation as a way to increase physical activity among children
Authors: Morency C. , Demers M. 
Published: December 2009

AbstractBackground  This study examines how active transportation could help increase the daily physical activity volume of school‐aged children.Methods  Using data from the 2003 Origin‐Destination Survey carried out among 5% of the 3.5 million residents of the Greater Montreal Area, we determined the proportion of short motorized trips made daily by children 5–14 years old (16 837 children sampled) and estimated the number of steps these trips would account for if they were travelled by foot, taking into account variables such as age, sex and height of children. Modal choice and trip purpose were also examined.Results  In 2003, 31.2% of the daily trips made by children aged 5–14 years in the Greater Montreal Area were 1 km or less (0.6 mile). Of these, 33.0% were motorized trips. Overall, 13.1% of the children in the area had ‘steps in reserve’, an average of 2238 steps per child per day. If they were performed, these steps would account for 16.6% of the daily recommended volume of physical activity for children.Conclusion  Replacing short motorized trips with walking could increase the physical activity level of children and contribute to meet the recommended guidelines, as long as these walking trips add to their daily physical activity volume. It could also reduce their dependence towards adults for moving around.
Collaborative transdisciplinary intervention in early years – putting theory into practice
Authors: Bell A. , Corfield M. , Davies J. , Richardson N. 
Published: December 2009

AbstractBackground  Recent government initiatives in the UK encourage collaborative working among professionals and highlight the importance of a co‐ordinated and collaborative approach in early years for families and children. There are many models of collaborative working but the evidence base for its effectiveness in early years (0–2.5 years) in a community setting in the UK is patchy. The aim of this study is to objectively evaluate the transdisciplinary model of collaborative working in this setting.Methods  This paper describes the development of a transdisciplinary early intervention team providing services to a 0‐ to 2.5‐year‐old age group in a community setting in the UK, between 2004 and 2007. The effects on waiting times, therapy session attendance and caseload were evaluated.Results  Statistically significant reduction in waiting times from an average 114–35.6 days for the highest priority children was demonstrated. Attendance at therapy sessions increased significantly from 49% in 2005 to 56% in 2006 and 75% 2007, despite an increasing case load from 29 in 2004 to 64 in 2008 through more efficient utilization of time and resources.Conclusion  It is felt that this paper demonstrates, for the first time, the objective benefits to clients and fundholders/Primary Care Trust (PCT) of practical application of the theory of transdisciplinary working in a community paediatric service setting in the UK.
Family needs of parents of children and youth with cerebral palsy
Authors: Palisano R. J. , Almarsi N. , Chiarello L. A. , Orlin M. N. , Bagley A. , Maggs J. 
Published: December 2009

AbstractBackground  Understanding the needs of families of children and youth with cerebral palsy (CP) is important for family‐centred services. The aims of this study were to identify: (1) differences in the number and types of family needs expressed by parents based on the age and gross motor function level of their children with CP; (2) the most frequent family needs; and (3) needs that differ on gross motor function level.Methods  A total of 501 parents (77.6% mothers) of children and youth with CP completed a modified version of a Family Needs Survey and a demographic questionnaire. Children's gross motor function level was classified using the Gross Motor Function Classification System.Results  Total number of family needs differed based on gross motor function level (P < 0.001) but not age. Parents of children/youth who use wheeled mobility expressed the highest number of family needs, while parents of children/youth who walk without restrictions expressed the fewest needs. Family needs for Information (P= 0.001), Support (P= 0.001), Community Services (P < 0.001) and Finances (P < 0.001) differed based on children's gross motor function level. Over 50% of parents expressed family needs for information on current and future services, planning for the future, help in locating community activities and more personal time. Parents of children and youth who use wheeled mobility were more likely to express the need for help in paying for home modifications, equipment, services and locating sitters, respite care providers and community activities.Conclusions  The gross motor function of children/youth with CP has implications for collaboration with families to identify needs and co‐ordinate services. Health professionals have a role to assist families with information needs and locating community services and leisure activities. Family needs for future planning suggest that health professionals should assist families to prepare for key periods in the lives of their children with CP.
Time‐frequency seismic data de‐noising
Authors: Elboth Thomas , Vik Presterud Ida , Hermansen Dag 
Published: December 2009

ABSTRACTMarine seismic data are always affected by noise. An effective method to handle a broad range of noise problems is a time‐frequency de‐noising algorithm. In this paper we explain details regarding the implementation of such a method. Special emphasis is given to the choice of threshold values, where several different strategies are investigated. In addition we present a number of processing results where time‐frequency de‐noising has been successfully applied to attenuate noise resulting from swell, cavitation, strumming and seismic interference. Our seismic interference noise removal approach applies time‐frequency de‐noising on slowness gathers (τ−p domain). This processing trick represents a novel approach, which efficiently handles certain types of seismic interference noise that otherwise are difficult to attenuate. We show that time‐frequency de‐noising is an effective, amplitude preserving and robust tool that gives superior results compared to many other conventional de‐noising algorithms (for example frequency filtering, τ−p or fx‐prediction). As a background, some of the physical mechanisms responsible for the different types of noise are also explained. Such physical understanding is important because it can provide guidelines for future survey planning and for the actual processing.
Developmental regulation of the pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide‐receptor (PBAN‐R): re‐evaluating the role of juvenile hormone
Authors: Bober R. , Azrielli A. , Rafaeli A. 
Published: December 2009

AbstractSex pheromone production in Helicoverpa armigera is regulated by pheromone‐biosynthesis‐activating neuropeptide (PBAN), which binds to a G‐protein coupled receptor at the pheromone gland. We demonstrate the temporal differential expression levels of the PBAN receptor (PBAN‐R) gene, reaching peak levels at a critical period of 5 h post‐eclosion. Previous studies implied a possible regulatory role for juvenile hormone (JH). We herein demonstrate that PBAN‐R expression levels increase normally when females are decapitated or head‐ligated, removing the source of JH, before peak transcript levels are reached. Similarly, sex pheromone production can be induced by PBAN in such decapitated females. These results indicate that up‐regulation, at this critical time, is not dependent on JH originating from the head. Conversely, JH injected in vivo at this critical period significantly inhibits PBAN‐R transcript levels.
Functional analysis of the cis‐acting elements responsible for the induction of the Cyp6a8 and Cyp6g1 genes of Drosophila melanogaster by DDT, phenobarbital and caffeine
Authors: Morra R. , Kuruganti S. , Lam V. , Lucchesi J. C. , Ganguly R. 
Published: December 2009

AbstractMany Drosophila cytochrome P450 or Cyp genes are induced by caffeine and phenobarbital (PB). To understand the induction mechanism, we created Drosophila S2 cell lines stably transformed with different luciferase reporter plasmids carrying upstream DNAs of Cyp6a8 allele of the resistant 91‐R strain, and the 1.1‐kb upstream DNAs of Cyp6g1 of the 91‐R and the susceptible 91‐C strains. Following 24 h treatment with dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), caffeine or PB, luciferase activity of all cell lines was determined. Results showed that the 0.1‐kb DNA of Cyp6a8 and the upstream DNAs of Cyp6g1 from both strains are not induced by these chemicals in S2 cells. However, the 0.2‐, 0.5‐ and 0.8‐kb DNAs of Cyp6a8 showed 13–24‐, 4–5‐ and 2.2–2.7‐fold induction with caffeine, PB and DDT, respectively. These DNAs also showed a 2–3‐fold synergistic effect of caffeine and PB but not of caffeine and DDT. The results suggest that the cis‐regulatory elements for all three chemicals are located within the ‐11/‐199 DNA of Cyp6a8. Furthermore, caffeine and PB inductions appear to be mediated via different cis‐elements, whereas caffeine and DDT induction may involve common regulatory elements. These stably transformed cell lines should help understand the mechanism of resistance‐associated Cyp gene overexpression in Drosophila.
Eosinopenia as a marker of mortality and length of stay in patients admitted with exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: HOLLAND Mat , ALKHALIL Mohammad , CHANDROMOULI Siram , JANJUA Ali , BABORES Marta 
Published: December 2009

ABSTRACTBackground and objective:  Blood eosinopenia has long been known as a marker of acute infection, and has recently been shown to be a better predictor of sepsis than CRP in critically ill patients. This study examines the usefulness of eosinopenia (≤0.04), for predicting the severity of exacerbations of COPD using inpatient mortality and length of stay as markers of severity.Methods:  Retrospective review of the case‐notes of patients admitted with an exacerbation of COPD from March 2007 to April 2008. Patients with radiographic evidence of pneumonia and those having steroids in the previous week were excluded. Data were collected for age, length of stay, pH, WCC and mortality.Results:  Sixty‐five patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria, 42 with a normal eosinophil count and 23 with eosinopenia. No significant differences were seen between the two groups' age, total WCC and admission pH. However, significant differences were seen in mortality (4/23 (17.4%) vs 1/42 (2.4%), P = 0.049) and length of stay (8 vs 5 days, P = 0.005) when the eosinopenia group compared with those with normal eosinophils.Conclusions:  The eosinophil count might be a useful marker of severity inpatients admitted with an exacerbation of COPD independent of the WCC and pH. As it is routinely given in the full blood count in all patients admitted to hospital, there is no extra cost for this beneficial test.
Management of complications of minimally invasive thoracic surgery
Authors: HSIN Michael K.Y. , YIM Anthony P.C. 
Published: December 2009

ABSTRACTMinimally invasive thoracic surgery (MITS) has become part of the modern thoracic surgeon's armamentarium. Its applications include diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, and over the past one and a half decades, the scope of MITS has undergone rapid evolution. The role of MITS is well established in the management of pleural and mediastinal conditions, and it is beginning to move beyond diagnostic procedures for lung parenchyma conditions, to gain acceptance as a viable option for primary lung cancer treatment. However MITS poses technical challenges that are quite different from the conventional open surgical procedures. After a brief review of the history of MITS, an overview of the scope of MITS is given. Important examples of diagnostic and therapeutic indications are then discussed, with special emphasis on the potential complications specific to MITS, and their prevention and management.
Clinical characteristics of acute respiratory deterioration in pulmonary fibrosis associated with lung cancer following anti‐cancer therapy
Authors: ISOBE Kazutoshi , HATA Yoshinobu , SAKAMOTO Susumu , TAKAI Yujiro , SHIBUYA Kazutoshi , HOMMA Sakae 
Published: December 2009

ABSTRACTBackground and objective:  To clarify the clinical characteristics and risk factors for acute respiratory deterioration following anti‐cancer therapy in patients with pulmonary fibrosis (PF) and lung cancer.Methods:  Patients with primary lung cancer and PF were identified by review of medical records. Of the 865 consecutive patients with primary lung cancer who had been treated between June 1999 and September 2007, 53 were diagnosed as having PF. This retrospective study analysed the prevalence of and risk factors for acute respiratory deterioration after treatment of lung cancer in these patients.Results:  Acute respiratory deterioration was found in 10 (24%) of the 41 patients who received anti‐cancer therapy, and six (60%) of these patients died of respiratory failure. The incidence of acute respiratory deterioration was 28% (8/29) after chemotherapy and 16% (2/12) after surgery. Mortality after acute respiratory deterioration was 50% (4/8) among patients with idiopathic PF and 100% (2/2) among the patients with PF associated with rheumatoid arthritis. Logistic regression analysis revealed that a higher smoking index (cigarettes smoked per day × years of smoking) was a significant risk factor for acute respiratory deterioration (odds ratio: 1.002, P = 0.025).Conclusions:  Patients with lung cancer who have pre‐existing PF should be carefully managed because of their high risk for developing acute respiratory deterioration after anti‐cancer therapy.
Sleep‐disordered breathing in spinal cord‐injured patients: A short‐term longitudinal study
Authors: TRAN Khoa , HUKINS Craig , GERAGHTY Timothy , ECKERT Brenton , FRASER Lynne 
Published: December 2009

ABSTRACTBackground and objective:  Previous studies have demonstrated an increased incidence of sleep apnoea in spinal cord‐injured patients. Many of these studies were performed in long‐term, stable spinal cord injury (SCI). The aims of this study were: (i) to determine the prevalence of sleep‐disordered breathing (SDB) in acute SCI; (ii) to document the change in SDB over time during the rehabilitation period; and (iii) to correlate the degree of SDB with ventilatory parameters.Methods:  Sixteen subjects with an acute SCI level T12 and above with complete motor impairment (American Spinal Injury Association impairment scale A or B) were recruited. Assessment, including polysomnography, respiratory function testing, and hypoxic and hypercapnic ventilatory responses, were performed 6–8 weeks post SCI, and repeated 6 months post SCI.Results:  Eleven of 16 subjects (73%) had evidence of sleep apnoea, five of whom were moderate to severe. This high incidence persisted during the acute admission, with 9 of 12 subjects (75%) having sleep apnoea on polysomnography 20 weeks following injury. There was no correlation between the severity of SDB and other measures, such as level or completeness of injury, respiratory function tests or measures of ventilatory responses.Conclusions:  We have demonstrated a high incidence of sleep apnoea in the acute phase of SCI that persisted during the acute admission. Despite the high incidence of sleep apnoea, patients were relatively asymptomatic. Screening of this population would appear worthwhile given the high prevalence, although the significance of the sleep apnoea and clinical impact is not known.
Effects of antisense interleukin‐5 gene transferred by recombinant adeno‐associated virus to allergic rats
Authors: ZENG Daxiong , CAO Yong , SONG Qingfeng , CAO Chao , LIU Xiansheng , XU Yongjian , XIONG Weining 
Published: December 2009

ABSTRACTBackground and objective:  The accumulation of eosinophils in airways is an important characteristic of asthma. The process is primarily mediated by interleukin‐5 (IL‐5) secreted by Th2 lymphocytes. This study explored a new approach to asthma therapy in which allergic rats were transfected with the IL‐5 antisense gene delivered by the recombinant adeno‐associated virus (rAAV‐ASIL‐5).Methods:  The viral vector rAAV‐ASIL‐5 was constructed and the IL‐5 antisense gene transfected into allergic rats. The levels of IL‐5, IgE, eotaxin and eosinophilic cationic protein (ECP) in sera and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were measured by ELISA. The inflammatory responses in lung tissues were evaluated by histological study.Results:  The levels of IL‐5 protein in serum and BALF were significantly decreased in the allergic rats treated with rAAV‐ASIL‐5 (P < 0.05). Serum ovalbumin‐specific IgE was reduced in treated rats compared with untreated rats (P < 0.05). rAAV‐ASIL‐5 treatment also reduced eosinophils in the peripheral blood and BALF, as well as the ECP and eotaxin levels in serum and BALF (P < 0.05). There was significantly less inflammation in the lungs of rAAV‐ASIL‐5‐treated rats than in those of untreated rats. No obvious pathological damage to the kidneys and livers of the rats treated with rAAV was observed.Conclusions:  Treatment with rAAV‐ASIL‐5 inhibited the accumulation of eosinophils and airway inflammation in the rat model of allergic asthma by suppressing IL‐5 production. These results suggest that rAAV‐ASIL‐5‐based gene therapy may be used for the treatment of allergic asthma.
Gene therapy for diseases of the cornea – a review
Authors: Williams Keryn A , Coster Douglas J 
Published: December 2009

AbstractThe cornea is particularly suited to gene therapy. The cornea is readily accessible, normally transparent, and is somewhat sequestrated from the general circulation and the systemic immune system. The principle of genetic therapy for the cornea is to use an appropriate vector system to transfer a gene to the cornea itself, or to the ocular environs, or systemically, so that a transgenic protein will be expressed that will modulate congenital or acquired disease. The protein may be structural such as a collagen, or functionally active such as an enzyme, cytokine or growth factor that may modulate a pathological process. Alternatively, gene expression may be silenced by the use of modalities such as antisense oligonucleotides. Interestingly, despite a very considerable amount of work in animal models, clinical translation directed to gene therapy of the human cornea has been minimal. This is in contrast to gene therapy for monogenic inherited diseases of the retina, where promising early results of clinical trials for Leber's congenital amaurosis have already been published and a number of other trials are ongoing.
Anterior lamellar keratoplasty: ‘Back to the Future’– a review
Authors: Tan Donald TH , Anshu Arundhati 
Published: December 2009

AbstractNewer forms of lamellar keratoplasty techniques have emerged in the last decade or so revolving around the concept of targeted replacement of diseased corneal layers. These include anterior lamellar keratoplasty (ALK) techniques that aim to selectively replace diseased corneal stroma and, endothelial keratoplasty techniques aiming to replaced damaged endothelium in endothelial disorders. ALK surgery has a distinct advantage over penetrating keratoplasty (PK) in that it minimizes unnecessary replacement of the unaffected healthy endothelial layer thereby almost eliminating the risk of endothelial rejection, a major cause of graft failure in PK. Overall it provides increased life expectancy to the graft and with advancements in the surgical technique and instrumentation for ALK, the visual outcomes are now comparable if not better to standard PK. There are several forms of ALK procedures that have evolved to cater to a wide range of stromal disorders. This article reviews the various emerging techniques of anterior lamellar surgery, its indications and visual outcomes, to emphasize the shift from PK to ALK for stromal disorders with a healthy endothelium.
Transcervical hysteroscopic sterilization using cyanoacrylate: A long‐term experimental study on sheep
Authors: Bigolin Sergio , Fagundes Djalma José , Rivoire Henri Chaplin , Fagundes Anna Tereza Negrini , Fagundes Anna Luiza Negrini 
Published: December 2009

AbstractAim:  We investigated the transcervical hysteroscopy application of n‐butyl‐2‐cyanoacrylate in the uterine tube lumen of a non‐rodent animals (sheep) with fallopian tube dimensions similar those in humans.Methods:  Standard hysteroscopic procedures were performed on female Texel sheep (n = 26). The right and left ostia were identified. For each ewe, a urethral catheter (5Fr) was used for the delivery of 0.5 mL of saline or an equal volume of n‐butyl‐2‐cyanoacrylate into the uterine tube. Following the procedure, ewes were housed with males of proven fertility for 90 days (equivalent to 5.5 estrous cycles). Postmortem (dye and burst pressure) and in vivo (hysterosalpingogram) testing for tube patency were both performed 90 days and 180 days following the procedure.Results:  All animals receiving the saline treatment became pregnant. Gross inspection of uterine tubes following n‐butyl‐2‐cyanoacrylate treatment revealed no visceral adhesions or fibrosis. However, postmortem testing revealed total obstruction within the fallopian tubes. This was confirmed by hysterosalpingogram, in that iodine contrast did not escape into the abdominal cavity.Conclusion:  The cyanoacrylate promoted a reliable fallopian tube obstruction without fibrosis in an animal model exhibiting a similar tube diameter to that found in women. The technique can be evaluated for efficacy in vivo using hysterosalpingography.
Long‐term use of dienogest for the treatment of endometriosis
Authors: Momoeda Mikio , Harada Tasuku , Terakawa Naoki , Aso Takeshi , Fukunaga Masao , Hagino Hiroshi , Taketani Yuji 
Published: December 2009

AbstractAim:  To investigate the safety and efficacy of 52 weeks of dienogest treatment in patients with endometriosis.Methods:  One hundred and thirty‐five patients with endometriosis received 2 mg of dienogest orally each day for 52 weeks. Adverse drug reactions and bone density were evaluated. Global improvement was assessed based on the changes in severity categories of five subjective symptoms during non‐menstruation (lower abdominal pain, lumbago, dyschezia, dyspareunia, and pain on vaginal examination) and two objective findings (induration involving the pouch of Douglas and limited uterine mobility).Results:  The most common adverse drug reactions included metrorrhagia (71.9%), headaches (18.5%), and constipation (10.4%). No clinically significant changes were noted in the incidence or severity of reactions associated with the course of the treatment period (52 weeks). Changes from the baseline bone mineral density of the lumbar spine measured by dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry were −1.6 ± 2.4% and −1.7 ± 2.2% (mean ± standard deviation) at 24 and 52 weeks, respectively, which were statistically significant decreases; however, there was no cumulative decrease. The proportions of patients assessed as marked or moderate improvement in terms of global improvement were 72.5% (95/131 cases) at 24 weeks and 90.6% (106/117 cases) at 52 weeks.Conclusion:  The long‐term effect of dienogest on bone mineral density was slight, whereas the efficacy increased cumulatively.