bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The effect of pain on training‐induced plasticity of the corticomotor system
Authors: Ingham Damian , Tucker Kylie J. , Tsao Henry , Hodges Paul W. 
Published: May 2011

AbstractPain is thought to interfere with training‐induced plasticity of corticomotor pathways. Although this implies direct interference with plastic processes, it may be explained by compromised performance in the training task during pain. Repeated finger movements can induce plasticity and change the amplitude/direction of acceleration of finger movement evoked by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). We hypothesized that if pain interferes with plasticity, acceleration of finger movement would not change when the training task was painful, despite control of training task performance. TMS was applied over the optimal scalp site to evoked index finger abduction movements in nine participants. Participants then trained finger adduction with feedback of finger acceleration for three 8‐min sessions, in three conditions on separate days. Conditions: first dorsal interosseus (FDI) pain and control (no‐pain), with injection of 5% and 0.9% hypertonic saline, respectively, into FDI; and remote pain (5% saline injection into infrapatellar fat pad). Peak acceleration of TMS‐evoked finger movement and amplitude of motor evoked potentials (MEPs) in FDI were measured at baseline, between training sessions, and at three 5‐min intervals after training ceased. Plastic change was observed (reduced TMS evoked peak finger acceleration in the abduction direction) after motor training during control and FDI pain, but not during the remote pain. There was no change in FDI MEPs in any conditions. These data do not support direct effects of nociceptive input (pain) on training‐induced plasticity of corticomotor pathways. Remote pain may compromise learning due to distraction from the training task or other complex central pain processes.
Transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation inhibits nociceptive spinal pathway conduction and increases pain tolerance in humans
Authors: Truini A. , Vergari M. , Biasiotta A. , La Cesa S. , Gabriele M. , Di Stefano G. , Cambieri C. , Cruccu G. , Inghilleri M. , Priori A. 
Published: May 2011

AbstractDespite concerted efforts from pharmacologic research into neuropathic pain, many patients fail to achieve sufficient pain relief with medication alone. For this reason, increasing interest centres on neurostimulation techniques. We assessed whether transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation (tsDCS) modulates conduction in ascending nociceptive spinal pathways. We measured changes induced by anodal and cathodal tsDCS over the thoracic spinal cord on face‐ and foot‐laser evoked potentials (LEPs) and foot‐cold pressor test responses in 20 healthy subjects. Whereas anodal tsDCS reduced the amplitude of the N1 and N2 components of foot‐LEPs (P < 0.05) neither anodal nor cathodal tsDCS changed LEPs evoked by face stimulation. Pain tolerance to the cold pressor test was significantly higher after anodal than after cathodal tsDCS (P < 0.05). Conversely, no difference was found in the pain threshold or pain ratings to the cold pressor test between the two polarity conditions.Our data suggest that anodal tsDCS over the thoracic spinal cord might impair conduction in the ascending nociceptive spinal pathways, thus modulating LEPs and increasing pain tolerance in healthy subjects.
The association between anxiety and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels: Results from the Northern Finland 1966 Birth Cohort Study
Authors: Liukkonen T. , Räsänen P. , Jokelainen J. , Leinonen M. , Järvelin M.-R. , Meyer-Rochow V.B. , Timonen M. 
Published: May 2011

AbstractBackgroundAnxiety frequently accompanies low-grade inflammation-associated conditions like depression, insulin resistance, coronary heart disease and metabolic syndrome. The association between anxiety and low-grade inflammation is, unlike between depression and low-grade inflammation, a very sparsely studied area in general populations. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether anxiety symptoms as well as comorbid anxiety and depressive symptoms are associated with low-grade inflammation at population level.MethodsThe general population-based Northern Finland 1966 Birth Cohort was followed until age 31 (n= 2688 males and 2837 females), when the highly sensitive CRP concentrations were measured. Anxiety and depressive symptoms were defined by Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25 (HSCL-25).ResultsAfter adjusting for confounders, logistic regression analyses showed that anxiety symptoms alone increased the probability for elevated hs-CRP levels (> 3.0 mg/L) in males over two-fold (2.19 CI 95% 1.08–4.46), while comorbid anxiety and depressive symptoms caused a 1.7-fold (1.76 CI 95% 1.13–2.74) increase in the probability for elevated hs-CRP levels (1.0–3.0 mg/L).ConclusionsOur results support the hypothesis that anxiety as well as comorbid anxiety and depression can be associated with an increased risk for low-grade inflammation in males at population level.
The effect of overweight/obesity on cognitive function in euthymic individuals with bipolar disorder
Authors: Yim C.Y. , Soczynska J.K. , Kennedy S.H. , Woldeyohannes H.O. , Brietzke E. , McIntyre R.S. 
Published: May 2011

AbstractBackgroundPersistent impairment in cognitive function has been described in euthymic individuals with bipolar disorder. Collective work indicates that obesity is associated with reduced cognitive function in otherwise healthy individuals. This sub-group post-hoc analysis preliminarily explores and examines the association between overweight/obesity and cognitive function in euthymic individuals with bipolar disorder.MethodsEuthymic adults with DSM-IV-TR-defined bipolar I or II disorder were enrolled. Subjects included in this post-hoc analysis (n= 67) were divided into two groups (normal weight, body mass index [BMI] of 18.5–24.9kg/m2; overweight/obese, BMI≥25.0kg/m2). Demographic and clinical information were obtained at screening. At baseline, study participants completed a comprehensive cognitive battery to assess premorbid IQ, verbal learning and memory, attention and psychomotor processing speed, executive function, general intellectual abilities, recollection and habit memory, as well as self-perceptions of cognitive failures.ResultsBMI was negatively correlated with attention and psychomotor processing speed as measured by the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (P<0.01). Overweight and obese bipolar individuals had a significantly lower score on the Verbal Fluency Test when compared to normal weight subjects (P<0.05). For all other measures of cognitive function, non-significant trends suggesting a negative association with BMI were observed, with the exception of measures of executive function (i.e. Trail Making Test B) and recollection memory (i.e. process-dissociation task).ConclusionNotwithstanding the post-hoc methodology and relatively small sample size, the results of this study suggest a possible negative effect of overweight/obesity on cognitive function in euthymic individuals with bipolar disorder. Taken together, these data provide the impetus for more rigorous evaluation of the mediational role of overweight/obesity (and other medical co-morbidity) on cognitive function in psychiatric populations.
Independent validation of the Dimensional Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (DY-BOCS)
Authors: Pertusa A. , Fernández de la Cruz L. , Alonso P. , Menchón J.M. , Mataix-Cols D. 
Published: May 2011

AbstractIntroductionObsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a clinically heterogeneous condition characterized by a few consistent, temporally stable symptom dimensions. The Dimensional Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (DY-BOCS) is a recently developed instrument that allows patient and clinician ratings of dimension-specific symptom severity, as well as estimates of global symptom severity in patients with OCD.MethodsWe examined the psychometric properties of the DY-BOCS in a sample of 128 European adult patients with OCD.ResultsThe results of the psychometric analyses were overall excellent. The internal consistency across the domains of time, distress and interference for each dimension was high. The subscales of the DY-BOCS were largely independent from one another. The convergent and discriminant validity of the DY-BOCS subscales were adequate. The Global Severity and Interference scales were largely intercorrelated, suggesting that they may be redundant. The level of agreement between self-report and expert ratings was adequate although somewhat lower than in the original validation study.ConclusionThe results of the present study confirm the excellent psychometric properties of the DY-BOCS reported in the original validation study.
Specific exercises to treat pregnancy‐related low back pain in a South African population
Authors: Kluge Judith , Hall David , Louw Quinette , Theron Gerhard , Grové Debbie 
Published: May 2011

AbstractObjectiveTo investigate the effect of an exercise program, including specific stabilizing exercises, on pain intensity and functional ability in women with pregnancy‐related low back pain.MethodsFifty women between 16 and 24 weeks of pregnancy were recruited at Tygerberg and Paarl Hospitals, Western Cape, South Africa. Twenty‐six women were randomized to a 10‐week exercise program and 24 were randomized as controls.ResultsOverall, the most frequent type of back pain experienced was lumbar pain (36 [72.0%]). Pain intensity (P = 0.76) and functional ability (P = 0.29) were comparable between the groups on study entry. In the study group, there was a significant improvement in pain intensity (P < 0.01) and an improvement in functional ability (P = 0.06) at the end of the study. In the control group, there were no significant changes in pain intensity (P = 0.89) or functional ability (P = 0.70) at the end of the study.ConclusionA specific exercise program decreased back pain intensity and increased functional ability during pregnancy in South African women with lumbar and pelvic girdle pain.
Impact of hot flashes and night sweats on carotid intima–media thickness and bone mineral density among postmenopausal women
Authors: Özkaya Enis , Cakir Evrim , Kara Fadil , Okuyan Erhan , Cakir Caner , Üstün Gülnihal , Küçüközkan Tuncay 
Published: May 2011

AbstractObjectiveTo determine whether postmenopausal women with vasomotor symptoms have a lower bone mineral density (BMD) and a higher carotid intima–media thickness (CIMT) than those without vasomotor symptoms.MethodsPostmenopausal women with (n = 87) or without (n = 117) vasomotor symptoms who did not receive hormone therapy were included. The CIMT and BMD were determined and the relationship with vasomotor symptoms evaluated.ResultsThe presence of both hot flashes and night sweats was associated with a CIMT of more than 0.80 mm after adjusting for age, time since menopause, and body mass index (adjusted odds ratio 3.2; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.3–4.5; P < 0.001). The adjusted odds ratio for a CIMT higher than 0.80 mm in women with night sweats was 3.6 (95% CI 1.5–8.9; P = 0.006); the adjusted odds ratio in women with hot flashes was 23.1 (95% CI 9.1–58.4; P < 0.001). The mean CIMT was 0.65 ± 0.08 mm in the asymptomatic group and 0.81 ± 0.06 mm in the symptomatic group (P < 0.001). The mean lumbar (L1, L2, and L3) and total hip BMD values were lower in the symptomatic group (P < 0.05).ConclusionHot flashes and night sweats in postmenopausal women are associated with a higher CIMT and a lower BMD.
Prevalence and impact of urinary incontinence among female athletes
Authors: Jácome Cristina , Oliveira Daniela , Marques Alda , Sá‐Couto Pedro 
Published: May 2011

AbstractObjectiveTo assess the prevalence of urinary incontinence (UI) in a group of female athletes and to explore its impact on their lives.MethodsIn total, 106 female athletics, basketball, and indoor football athletes were recruited. Data were collected through a questionnaire and a focus group and analyzed via Pearson's χ2 test, 2‐way analysis of variance, and thematic analysis.ResultsUrinary incontinence was experienced by 41.5% of the athletes. Its prevalence across the 3 types of sport was similar and was not affected by age. However, athletes who experienced UI had a lower body weight (P = 0.011) and a lower body mass index (P = 0.035). Most (95.5%) athletes had never discussed their condition with a health professional. In the focus group, all athletes described preventive urination to avoid urine leakage. It was mentioned that UI affected their performance and made them feel uncomfortable and frustrated.ConclusionUrinary incontinence is a prevalent condition among athletes that is not openly discussed. However, it causes regular changes in their physical performance and daily life. More research is needed to increase awareness of UI and to design interventions.
A 5‐year prospective study of vaginal pessary use for pelvic organ prolapse
Authors: Lone Farah , Thakar Ranee , Sultan Abdul H. , Karamalis George 
Published: May 2011

AbstractObjectiveTo evaluate prospectively the use of vaginal pessaries for pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and to identify complications and reasons for discontinuing pessary use over a 5‐year period.MethodsA prospective observational study was conducted among all women with POP referred to the urogynecology clinic of a UK hospital between June 2002 and June 2005 who opted to use a vaginal pessary. Patients were followed‐up for 5 years.ResultsOf the 246 women who chose to use a vaginal pessary, 187 successfully retained the pessary 4 weeks after insertion. Over a 5‐year period, 36 (19.3%) of the 187 women were lost to follow‐up. Of the 151 women included in the analysis, 21 (13.9%) discontinued use at some point after 4 weeks, whereas 130 (86.1%) used the pessary successfully over 5 years. Overall, 12.1% of the women experienced minor complications (6.9% pain or discomfort, 3.2% excoriation or bleeding, and 2.0% disimpaction or constipation). Most failures (73.8%) occurred within 4 weeks of pessary insertion. After cessation of pessary use, 70 (28.5%) of the 246 women chose surgery and 10 (4.1%) chose no further treatment.ConclusionIf treatment of POP with a vaginal pessary is successful at 4 weeks, most women will continue to use the pessary over 5 years without a concomitant increase in complications.
Predictors of costs of care in Alzheimer's disease: A multinational sample of 1222 patients
Authors: Gustavsson Anders , Brinck Per , Bergvall Niklas , Kolasa Katarzyna , Wimo Anders , Winblad Bengt , Jönsson Linus 
Published: May 2011

BackgroundThe costs of care for patients with Alzheimer's disease are correlated with key measures of disease severity. This relationship is important in the economic evaluation of new treatments and is used to translate treatment efficacy into effects on costs through economic modeling. We aimed to identify what measures of disease severity are the most important predictors of societal costs of care and whether their relationship differs across countries.MethodsInterviews were conducted with 1222 patient and caregiver pairs residing in the community or in residential care settings in Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, and the United States. Assessments included costs of care (Resource Utilization in Dementia) and key disease severity measures: cognitive function (Mini‐Mental State Examination), ability to perform Activities of Daily Living (ADL‐ability, Disability Assessment for Dementia [DAD]), and behavioral symptoms (Neuropsychiatry Inventory (NPI)‐severity).ResultsADL‐ability was the most important predictor of societal costs of care of community‐dwelling patients in all countries. A one‐point decrease in DAD resulted in a 1.4% increase in costs of care in Spain, United Kingdom, and the United States on average, and a 2% increase in Sweden. This translated into a 45% increase from a standard deviation decrease in DAD on average. NPI‐severity and Mini‐Mental State Examination were also significant predictors but with lesser effect. Although mean costs of care differed across countries, the important predictors were the same.ConclusionADL‐ability is the most important predictor of societal costs of care in community dwellings irrespective of country and should therefore be central in the economic evaluation of Alzheimer's disease therapies.
Risk of Alzheimer's disease incidence attributable to vascular disease in the population
Authors: Dodge Hiroko H. , Chang Chung‐Chou H. , Kamboh Ilyas M. , Ganguli Mary 
Published: May 2011

BackgroundAlthough Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder, there is growing interest in the influence of vascular factors on its incidence.MethodsIn a population‐based longitudinal epidemiological study, we fit Cox proportional hazard models to examine the risk of incident dementia and AD associated with self‐reported vascular disease. The population‐attributable risk percent (percent of the incidence of dementia and AD in the population that would be eliminated if vascular disease was eliminated) was calculated using the adjusted hazard ratios (HR).ResultsOf 822 eligible participants, 94 individuals developed incident dementia, with 79 having AD (probable/possible AD) during the follow‐up period of on average 8 years. Stroke/transient ischemic attack history was associated with incident dementia (HR = 2.6) as well as AD (HR = 2.4) among non‐apolipoprotein E ɛ4 carriers.ConclusionsAt the community level, the risk of dementia could be potentially reduced by 10.8% by eliminating overt cerebrovascular disease, and the risk of AD by 9.1% for non‐apolipoprotein E ɛ4 carriers.
Language and behavior domains enhance the value of the clinical dementia rating scale
Authors: Knopman David S. , Weintraub Sandra , Pankratz Vernon S. 
Published: May 2011

BackgroundThe six domain standard Clinical Dementia Rating Scale (CDRstd) has been successful for staging patients with the clinical syndrome of probable Alzheimer's disease (AD). The CDRstd does not specifically address language dysfunction or alteration in personality and social behaviors which are prominent in behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) and primary progressive aphasia (PPA).ObjectiveTo determine the value of adding domains of Language (LANG), and Behavior, Comportment, and Personality (BEHAV) to the CDRstd for the evaluation of patients with bvFTD and PPA.MethodsTwo new domains, LANG and BEHAV, were constructed to parallel the six domains sampled in the CDRstd. Clinical and neuropsychological test data were obtained from the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center. The dataset contained information on 2550 probable AD, 88 vascular dementia, 281 dementia with Lewy body, 234 bvFTD, and 137 PPA patients.ResultsThere were 76.5% of bvFTD and 99.3% of PPA patients with abnormal ratings (>0) on the LANG domain; 90.2% of bvFTD and 63.5% of PPA had abnormal ratings on the BEHAV domain. In patients with a CDRstd sum of boxes score of <4, 53.7% of bvFTD had BEHAV domain and 78.6% of PPA patients had LANG domain scores >1. Among probable AD patients, 3.7% had LANG ratings that were ≥1 and 3.8% had BEHAV ratings that were ≥1. Logistic regression analyses showed that adding either the LANG or BEHAV domains to the CDRstd sum of boxes score significantly improved the discrimination between probable AD, bvFTD, and PPA.ConclusionsThe new LANG and BEHAV domains add value to the CDRstd for the characterization of the nonamnestic symptoms that are prominent in patients with bvFTD and PPA but that also occur in those with probable AD.
Multiphase timing of hominin occupations and the paleoenvironment in Luonan Basin, Central China
Authors: Lu Huayu , Zhang Hongyan , Wang Shejiang , Cosgrove Richard , Sun Xuefeng , Zhao Jun , Sun Donghuai , Zhao Cunfa , Shen Chen , Wei Ming 
Published: May 2011

AbstractThousands of Paleolithic artifacts have been recovered from Paleolithic sites in the Luonan Basin, in the upper South Luohe River of central China. Their discovery suggests that the basin was an important area for hominin settlement during the Pleistocene. However, the initial timing of this occupation and the environmental conditions for this period are still largely unknown. In addition, the sediments are not well dated and most of the artifacts lie on the surface. In an attempt to resolve these issues, a new systemic paleomagnetic analysis was carried out on the loess deposits that contain in situ stone tools. Our detailed loess–paleosol analyses of the stratigraphy of different sites in the basin and Chinese Loess Plateau shows the accumulation of the loess since at least 1.1 million years (Ma) ago. Moreover, recently discovered in situ cores, flakes and retouched stone tools in these deposits show that hominins used this region repeatedly from 0.8–0.7 Ma to 0.4–0.3 and 0.2–0.1 Ma. Pedostratigraphic analyses, magnetic susceptibility and carbon isotope analyses also indicate that these hominins lived in a subtropical to warm-temperate climate with broad-needle-leaf forest vegetation mixed with grasses.
Holocene coastal change in the ancient harbor of Yenikapı–İstanbul and its impact on cultural history
Authors: Algan Oya , Yalçın M. Namık , Özdoğan Mehmet , Yılmaz Yücel , Sarı Erol , Kırcı-Elmas Elmas , Yılmaz İsak , Bulkan Özlem , Ongan Demet , Gazioğlu Cem , Nazik Atike , Polat Mehmet Ali , Meriç Engin 
Published: May 2011

AbstractAn extensive rescue excavation has been conducted in the ancient harbor of İstanbul (Yenikapı) by the Sea of Marmara, revealing a depositional sequence displaying clear evidence of transgression and coastal progradation during the Holocene. The basal layer of this sequence lies at 6 m below the present sea level and contains remains of a Neolithic settlement known to have been present in the area, indicating that the sea level at ~ 8–9 cal ka BP was lower than 6 m below present. Sea level advanced to its maximum at ~ 6.8–7 cal ka BP, drowning Lykos Stream and forming an inlet at its mouth. After ~ 3 cal ka BP, coastal progradation became evident. Subsequent construction of the Byzantine Harbor (Theodosius; 4th century AD) created a restricted small basin and accumulation of fine-grained sediments. The sedimentation rate was increased due to coastal progradation and anthropogenic factors during the deposition of coarse-grained sediments at the upper parts of the sequence (7th–9th centuries AD). The harbor was probably abandoned after the 11th century AD by filling up with Lykos Stream detritus and continued seaward migration of the coastline.
Bott Periodicity for group rings An Appendix to “Periodicity of Hermitian K-groups”
Authors: Weibel Charles 
Published: May 2011

AbstractWe show that the groups Kn(RG;ℤ/m) are Bott-periodic for n ≥ 1 whenever G is a finite group, m is prime to |G|, R is a ring of S-integers in a number field and 1/m ∊ R.