bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Similar profile of cognitive impairment and recovery for Aboriginal Australians in treatment for episodic or chronic alcohol use
Authors: Dingwall Kylie M. , Maruff Paul , Cairney Sheree 
Published: March 2011

ABSTRACTAims  The cognitive impairment and recovery associated with chronic alcohol abuse and subsequent abstinence is well understood. However, the recovery profile following heavy episodic or ‘binge’ use, which is common among some Australian Aboriginal users, has not been investigated thoroughly and no empirical studies have examined chronic use in this population. The aim of this study was to identify and compare cognitive impairment and recovery associated with chronic and episodic alcohol use among Aboriginal Australians.Design  Longitudinal case–control design.Setting  Residential alcohol treatment programmes in northern Australia.Participants  Forty chronic alcohol users, 24 episodic users and 41 healthy controls [mean age = 34.24; standard deviation (SD) = 9.73].Measurements  Cognitive assessments of visual motor, attention, memory, learning and executive functions at baseline (start of treatment), then 4 weeks and 8 weeks later. Reassessment of 31% of participants an average of 11 months later (SD = 4.4) comparing those who remained abstinent (n = 5), those who relapsed (n = 11) and healthy controls (n = 19).Findings  At baseline, chronic and episodic alcohol users showed impaired visual motor, learning, memory and executive functions. With the exception of visual motor impairment, all deficits had improved to normal levels within 4 weeks. Visual motor deficits had normalized within 11 months. Performances did not differ at any time between chronic and episodic alcohol groups.Conclusions  In Aboriginal Australians, episodic drinking is associated with similar patterns of impairment and recovery as chronic alcohol use. Most cognitive deficits appear to recover within the first month of abstinence, while persisting visual motor problems recover within 1 year.
Gender differences in the impact of families on alcohol use: a lagged longitudinal study of early adolescents
Authors: Kelly Adrian B. , O'Flaherty Martin , Toumbourou John W. , Connor Jason P. , Hemphill Sheryl A. , Catalano Richard F. 
Published: March 2011

ABSTRACTAims  From the pre‐teen to the mid‐teen years, rates of alcohol use and misuse increase rapidly. Cross‐sectional research shows that positive family emotional climate (low conflict, high closeness) is protective, and there is emerging evidence that these protective mechanisms are different for girls versus boys. The aim of this study was to explore gender differences in the longitudinal impact of family emotional climate on adolescent alcohol use and exposure to peer drinking networks.Design  Three‐wave two‐level (individual, within‐individual over time) ordinal logistic regression with alcohol use in the past year as the dependent measure and family variables lagged by 1 year.Setting  Adolescents completed surveys during school hours.Participants  A total of 855 Australian students (modal age 10–11 years at baseline) participating in the International Youth Development Study (Victoria, Australia).Measurements  These included emotional closeness to mother/father, family conflict, parent disapproval of alcohol use and peer alcohol use.Findings  For girls, the effect of emotional closeness to mothers on alcohol use was mediated by exposure to high‐risk peer networks. Parent disapproval of alcohol use was protective for both genders, but this effect was larger for boys versus girls, and there was no evidence that peer use mediated this effect. Peer drinking networks showed stronger direct risk effects than family variables.Conclusions  Family factors unidirectionally impact on growth in adolescent alcohol use and effects vary with child gender.
Cannabis and social welfare assistance: a longitudinal study
Authors: Pedersen Willy 
Published: March 2011

ABSTRACTAims  To investigate associations between cannabis use and subsequent receipt of social welfare assistance.Design, setting and participants  The Young in Norway Longitudinal Study. A population‐based Norwegian sample (n = 2606) was followed‐up from adolescence to late 20s. Self‐report data were merged with data from national registers.Measurements  Data were extracted on the use of alcohol, tobacco and cannabis and other illegal substances. Information was also retrieved on socio‐demographic and family factors, academic achievement, conduct problems and mental health. National registers provided data on social welfare assistance, educational level and crime statistics.Findings  We observed prospective bivariate associations between increasing levels of cannabis use and subsequent social welfare assistance (P < 0.0001). The associations were reduced after adjusting for a range of potentially confounding factors, but remained significant. Frequent cannabis users were at highly increased risk for subsequently receiving social welfare assistance. At 28 years, those with 50+ times cannabis use during the previous 12 months and had an odds ratio of 9.3 (95% confidence interval: 4.3–20.1) for receiving social welfare assistance in the following 2‐year span. Users of cannabis also had longer periods of receiving social welfare assistance than others (P < 0.0001) and were less likely to leave the welfare assistance system (P < 0.0001).Conclusions  In Norway the use of cannabis is linked with subsequent receipt of social welfare assistance whether the consequences are related to use of the substance per se, or to cultural factors and the illegal status of the cannabis. Future research should attempt to understand the interactions of factors behind these associations.
Does the introduction of comprehensive smoke‐free legislation lead to a decrease in population smoking prevalence?
Authors: Bajoga Ummulkhulthum , Lewis Sarah , McNeill Ann , Szatkowski Lisa 
Published: March 2011

ABSTRACTAims  To investigate changes in population smoking prevalence in jurisdictions which have implemented comprehensive smoke‐free legislation, taking into account long‐term trends in smoking behaviour.Design  Interrupted time series analysis of population‐level survey data using segmented regression.Setting  Twenty‐one countries, American states or Canadian provinces which have implemented comprehensive smoke‐free legislation.Participants   Respondents sampled in large representative surveys of smoking prevalence.Measurements  For each jurisdiction, segmented regression models quantify any upwards or downwards trend in smoking prevalence prior to the introduction of smoke‐free legislation, any immediate change in the level of smoking prevalence at the time smoke‐free legislation was introduced, and any change in the trend in smoking prevalence post‐legislation compared to the pre‐legislation period.Findings  In all but three locations there was a statistically significant decline in smoking prevalence prior to the introduction of smoke‐free legislation. In two locations, Washington and the Republic of Ireland, there was an immediate decline in the level of smoking prevalence at the introduction of legislation. In six American states there was a significant change in the rate of decline in smoking prevalence, with smoking prevalence declining more steeply in the post‐legislation period compared to the pre‐legislation period. No change in the level or trend of population smoking prevalence was seen in 13 of the 21 locations studied.Conclusions  The introduction of comprehensive smoke‐free legislation has increased the rate at which smoking prevalence was declining in some locations, but in the majority of jurisdictions had no measureable impact on existing trends in smoking prevalence.
Social participation of youths with cerebral palsy differed based on their self‐perceived competence as a friend
Authors: Kang L‐J. , Palisano R. J. , King G. A. , Chiarello L. A. , Orlin M. N. , Polansky M. 
Published: March 2011

AbstractBackground  Social participation with friends fosters development of meaningful relationships, life skills and psychosocial well‐being. Youths with cerebral palsy (CP) face challenges to establishing social relationships with friends. The aim of this study was to explore whether social participation with friends differs among youths with CP based on their self‐perceived competence as a friend.Methods  A total of 135 youths with CP, 13–21 years old (mean age 16 years, 50% were male), completed the measures Fulfillment in Social Roles and Children's Assessment of Participation and Enjoyment. Youths were assigned to high, middle and low groups defined by their self‐perceived competence as a friend. Differences among the three groups in the number, total frequency and enjoyment of activities done with friends was examined by Kruskal–Wallis one‐way analyses of variance. Post hoc analysis of significant effects was performed using a Mann–Whitney U‐test or Kolmogorov–Smirnov test.Results  The number (χ2= 17.07, d.f. = 2, P < 0.001) and total frequency (χ2= 18.35, d.f. = 2, P < 0.001) of activities done with friends differed based on youths' self‐perceived competence as a friend. Youths with high self‐perceived competence as a friend did the greatest number of activities and participated most often with friends. Youths with low self‐perceived competence did the fewest activities and participated least often with friends. No differences were found in the enjoyment of activities done with friends among the three groups (χ2= 1.86, d.f. = 2, P > 0.05).Conclusions  For youths with CP, the number and frequency of activities done with friends differed based on self‐perceived competence as a friend, but not enjoyment of activities. The results suggest a positive link between social participation and self‐perceived competence. Healthcare providers have a role to support youths' efforts to engage with friends by enhancing community opportunities, developing and providing interventions in natural social environments and incorporating peer support into service delivery.
The relation between health‐related quality of life, treatment adherence and disease severity in a paediatric sickle cell disease sample
Authors: Fisak B. , Belkin M. H. , von Lehe A. C. , Bansal M. M. 
Published: March 2011

AbstractBackground  The purpose of this study was to provide a comprehensive examination of the potential factors associated with health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) in a paediatric sickle cell disease sample.Methods  Caregivers of 78 paediatric sickle cell disease patients completed surveys, which included measures of HRQOL, treatment adherence and barriers to treatment adherence. Medical chart reviews were also conducted to assess disease severity.Results  Barriers to treatment adherence and pain crisis frequency were found to be the most robust factors associated with HRQOL.Conclusions  This study provides insight into the factors related to paediatric sickle cell disease and informs both clinicians and researchers interested in understanding and improving HRQOL in this population. In particular, the reduction of pain crises frequency and barriers to adherence may be particularly effective strategies to improve HRQOL.
Profiles of language development in pre‐school children: a longitudinal latent class analysis of data from the Early Language in Victoria Study
Authors: Ukoumunne O. C. , Wake M. , Carlin J. , Bavin E. L. , Lum J. , Skeat J. , Williams J. , Conway L. , Cini E. , Reilly S. 
Published: March 2011

AbstractBackground  Pre‐school language impairment is common and greatly reduces educational performance. Population attempts to identify children who would benefit from appropriately timed intervention might be improved by greater knowledge about the typical profiles of language development. Specifically, this could be used to help with the early identification of children who will be impaired on school entry.Methods  This study applied longitudinal latent class analysis to assessments at 8, 12, 24, 36 and 48 months on 1113 children from a population‐based study, in order to identify classes exhibiting distinct communicative developmental profiles.Results  Five substantive classes were identified: Typical, i.e. development in the typical range at each age; Precocious (late), i.e. typical development in infancy followed by high probabilities of precocity from 24 months onwards; Impaired (early), i.e. high probabilities of impairment up to 12 months followed by typical language development thereafter; Impaired (late), i.e. typical development in infancy but impairment from 24 months onwards; Precocious (early), i.e. high probabilities of precocity in early life followed by typical language by 48 months. The entropy statistic (0.84) suggested classes were fairly well defined, although there was a non‐trivial degree of uncertainty in classification of children. That half of the Impaired (late) class was expected to have typical language at 4 years and 6% of the numerically large Typical class was expected to be impaired at 4 years illustrates this. Characteristics indicative of social advantage were more commonly found in the classes with improving profiles.Conclusions  Developmental profiles show that some pre‐schoolers' language is characterized by periods of accelerated development, slow development and catch‐up growth. Given the uncertainty in classifying children into these profiles, use of this knowledge for identifying children who will be impaired on school entry is not straightforward. The findings do, however, indicate greater need for language enrichment programmes among disadvantaged children.
Autophagy in the immune response to tuberculosis: clinical perspectives
Authors: Ní Cheallaigh C , Keane J , Lavelle E C , Hope J C , Harris J 
Published: March 2011

SummaryA growing body of evidence points to autophagy as an essential component in the immune response to tuberculosis. Autophagy is a direct mechanism of killing intracellular Mycobacterium tuberculosis and also acts as a modulator of proinflammatory cytokine secretion. In addition, autophagy plays a key role in antigen processing and presentation. Autophagy is modulated by cytokines; it is stimulated by T helper type 1 (Th1) cytokines such as tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interferon (IFN)-γ, and is inhibited by the Th2 cytokines interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13 and the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. Vitamin D, via cathelicidin, can also induce autophagy, as can Toll-like receptor (TLR)-mediated signals. Autophagy-promoting agents, administered either locally to the lungs or systemically, could have a clinical application as adjunctive treatment of drug-resistant and drug-sensitive tuberculosis. Moreover, vaccines which effectively induce autophagy could be more successful in preventing acquisition or reactivation of latent tuberculosis.
Chemokine CXCL11 links microbial stimuli to intestinal inflammation
Authors: Liu Z , Chen X , Wang X , Chen X , Song C-H , Du Y , Su J , Yaseen S A , Yang P-C 
Published: March 2011

Summary
Interleukin (IL)-17 plays an important role in the pathogenesis in a number of immune inflammatory disorders. This study aims to investigate the mechanism by which microbial product flagellin is involved in the development of T helper type (Th)17 cells. Serum levels of IL-17 and CXCL9-11 in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) were evaluated. The source and mechanism of CXC11 release in intestinal mucosa were examined with colonic biopsies from UC patients and a colitis mouse model. The role of flagellin in the development of Th17 cells was studied with a cell co-culture system. High serum levels of CXCL11 and IL-17 were observed in UC. Flagellin could induce the production of CXCL11 in CD14+ cells that facilitated the development of Th17 cells. In a skewed Th1 response environment flagellin induces intestinal inflammation, with IL-17 expression predominant. CXCR3/CXCL11 pathway is involved in microbial product flagellin-induced intestinal inflammation in which the Th17 response plays an important role.
Antioxidant properties of garden strawberry leaf extract and its effect on fish oil oxidation
Authors: Raudoniūtė Ieva , Rovira Jordi , Venskutonis Petras Rimantas , Damašius Jonas , Rivero‐Pérez María Dolores , González‐SanJosé María Luisa 
Published: March 2011

SummaryThe present study characterises garden strawberry leaf extract and reports its effect on shelf life and quality characteristics of fish oil. Radical scavenging capacity of the extract in DPPH• and ABTS•+ assays was equivalent to 1207 and 1579 μmol g−1 of trolox equivalents, respectively, total phenolic content was 257 mg g−1 of gallic acid equivalents. Phenolic and volatile constituents were analysed by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The extract was added to fish oil and its oxidation was followed during 42 days: peroxide, p‐anisidine values and hexanal concentration were lower in the samples with extract, particularly at the end of storage. The effect of extract on fatty acid composition was not significant, however the changes in the percentages of some individual acids were observed. Fish oil containing 5% of extract had lower levels of lipid oxidation in comparison to other samples. The results indicate that strawberry leaves could be a potential source of natural antioxidants.
Factors determining the motivation of primary health care professionals to implement and continue the ‘Beweegkuur’ lifestyle intervention programme
Authors: Helmink Judith H. M. , Kremers Stef P. J. , van Boekel Leonieke C. , van Brussel‐Visser Femke N. , de Vries Nanne K. 
Published: March 2011

AbstractAim  To examine factors explaining motivation among health care professionals to implement and continue a multidisciplinary primary care‐based lifestyle intervention, called BeweegKuur, to support prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus.Methods  Questionnaire research with two measurements among Dutch general practitioners, practice nurses and physiotherapists participating in a pilot study. At baseline, professionals were generally preparing to start the implementation. At second measurement, all practices were implementing BeweegKuur.Results  The results reveal a positive motivation among professionals to implement and continue the intervention. The motivation of practice nurses to continue implementation was lower compared with other professionals. Social support by colleagues, compatibility and perceived relative advantage of the intervention for the professionals were associates of the baseline motivation to implement it. High‐baseline self‐efficacy and profession (i.e. not being practice nurse) positively predicted the motivation to continue the intervention at second measurement.Conclusions  Professionals in our study can be characterized as innovators or early adopters, and inclusion of BeweegKuur in the basic health insurance package may persuade other adoption categories to implement the intervention. An intensified focus on skills building (e.g. motivational interviewing skills, general lifestyle counselling skills) is expected to contribute to sustained high‐quality implementation of the intervention.
Effects of video‐feedback interaction training for professional caregivers of children and adults with visual and intellectual disabilities
Authors: Damen S. , Kef S. , Worm M. , Janssen M. J. , Schuengel C. 
Published: March 2011

AbstractBackground  Individuals in group homes may experience poor quality of social interaction with their professional caregivers, limiting their quality of life. The video‐based Contact programme may help caregivers to improve their interaction with clients.Method  Seventy‐two caregivers of 12 individuals with visual and intellectual disabilities received a training programme and four individual video‐feedback sessions. Quality of interaction was independently measured in an AB‐design across subjects with two baseline and three intervention observations, using a time sampling coding system for interactive behaviour as well as a rating for affective mutuality.Results  From baseline to intervention, significant increases were found for the frequency with which caregivers confirmed the signals of clients, for the proportion of initiatives taken by clients that were responded to by the caregivers, and the affective mutuality as a quality of the interaction. No significant increase in client responsiveness was observed. Caregivers evaluated the intervention as useful and feasible.Conclusions  The start of the Contact programme coincided with improved quality of interaction between professional caregivers and clients with visual and intellectual disabilities in group homes. Further research is necessary regarding the generalisability, long‐term effects and effects on quality of life.
MecA dampens transitions to spore, biofilm exopolysaccharide and competence expression by two different mechanisms
Authors: Prepiak Peter , Defrancesco Melissa , Spadavecchia Sophia , Mirouze Nicolas , Albano Mark , Persuh Marjan , Fujita Masaya , Dubnau D. 
Published: March 2011

SummaryThe adapter protein MecA targets the transcription factor ComK for degradation by the ClpC/ClpP proteolytic complex, thereby negatively regulating competence in Bacillus subtilis. Here we show that MecA also decreases the frequency of transitions to the sporulation pathway as well as the expression of eps, which encodes synthesis of the biofilm matrix exopolysaccharide. We present genetic and biophysical evidence that MecA downregulates eps expression and spore formation by directly interacting with Spo0A. MecA does not target Spo0A for degradation, and apparently does not prevent the phosphorylation of Spo0A. We propose that it inhibits the transcriptional activity of Spo0A∼P by direct binding. Thus, in its interaction with Spo0A, MecA differs from its role in the regulation of competence where it targets ComK for degradation. MecA acts as a general buffering protein for development, acting by two distinct mechanisms to regulate inappropriate transitions to energy‐intensive pathways.
Ancestral sporulation initiation
Authors: Dürre Peter 
Published: March 2011

SummaryMembers of the classes Bacilli and Clostridia are able to form endospores, with clostridia representing the ancestral phylogenetic line. In contrast to Bacillus subtilis, the process of sporulation initiation at the molecular level is less well understood in Clostridium acetobutylicum, the model organism of the clostridia. Especially the question of how the master regulator of sporulation, Spo0A, becomes phosphorylated, remained unsolved so far. Steiner et al. now provide compelling genetic and biochemical evidence for two different pathways of direct phosphorylation of Spo0A in C. acetobutylicum by three orphan sensor kinases. Cac0903 and Cac3319 act together, while the other pathway is only dependent on Cac0323. Abortion of sporulation initiation can be achieved by a kinase‐like protein, Cac0437.