bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The incidence of low back problems among nursing students in Hong Kong
Authors: Cheung Kin 
Published: May 2010

Aims.  To determine the cumulative incidence (CI) of and risk factors for musculoskeletal problems among nursing students in Hong Kong.Background.  Although low back problems have been identified internationally as one of the major work‐related hazards among nursing personnel, only a few studies have examined the problem among nursing students.Design.  Two‐year prospective cohort study; data collected at baseline and 2 (T1), 12 (T2) and 26 (T3) months after baseline.Methods.  Three cohorts [i.e. two full‐time (FT) and one part‐time (PT) cohorts] of nursing students were recruited from one of the universities in Hong Kong. They were invited to complete a baseline and three follow‐up questionnaires. CIs of low back problems among the three cohorts were calculated and tested for their association. The multivariate logistic regression was also used to identify the risk factors for low back problems.Results.  Initially, the seven‐day, 30‐day and 12‐month prevalence in baseline as well as the T1 (64%) and T2 (94%) CIs of low back problems for the PT cohort were significantly higher than those of the two FT cohorts (their CIs ranged from 45–67%). However, the CIs for the FT cohorts were increased from 45% at T1–83% at T3, while the CIs for the PT cohort was only increased from 64–80%, respectively. At T3, the CIs for both FT cohorts caught up with the CI for the PT cohort (χ2 = 0·068, p = 0·07). As expected, the risk factors for low back problems were multifactorial, i.e. personal, psychosocial and physical.Conclusion.  Nursing students had similar CI of low back problems as registered nurses 26 months after baseline, i.e. during their nursing training and before becoming a registered nurse.Relevance to clinical practice.  The results of this study, for the first time, identified that low back problems were developed during the period of nursing school training rather than after nurses enter the workforce. These findings have crucial implications for reducing low back problems among nursing personnel. There is a need to evaluate nursing students’ experience in their nursing study and provide appropriate support to them to reduce their personal, physical and psychosocial stress. The ability of nursing students to deliver high quality patient care depends in part on their ability to conserve their own health and well‐being.
A simple method for rapid community assessment of tungiasis
Authors: Ariza L. , Wilcke T. , Jackson A. , Gomide M. , Ugbomoiko U. S. , Feldmeier H. , Heukelbach J. 
Published: May 2010

SummaryObjective  To evaluate a rapid assessment method to estimate the overall prevalence of tungiasis and severity of disease in endemic communities.Methods  We analysed data from 10 population‐based surveys on tungiasis, performed in five endemic communities in Brazil and Nigeria between 2001 and 2008. To assess the association between occurrence of tungiasis on six defined topographic areas of the feet and the true prevalence/prevalence of severe disease, linear regression analyses were performed. Estimated prevalences were calculated for each of the 10 surveys and compared to true prevalences. We then selected the most useful topographic localization to define a rapid assessment method, based on the strength of association and operational aspects.Results  In total, 7121 individuals of the five communities were examined. Prevalence of tungiasis varied between 21.1% and 54.4%. The presence of periungual lesions on the toes was identified as the most useful rapid assessment to estimate the prevalence of tungiasis (absolute errors: −4% to +3.6%; R2 = 96%; P < 0.0001). Prevalence of severe tungiasis (>20 lesions) was also estimated by the method (absolute errors: −3.1% to +2.5%; R2 = 76%; P = 0.001).Conclusion  Prevalence of tungiasis and prevalence of severe disease can be reliably estimated in communities with distinct cultural and geographical characteristics, by applying a simple and rapid epidemiological method. This approach will help to detect high‐risk communities and to monitor control measures aimed at the reduction of tungiasis.
Sleeping sickness diagnosis: use of buffy coats improves the sensitivity of the mini anion exchange centrifugation test
Authors: Camara Mamadou , Camara Oumou , Ilboudo Hamidou , Sakande Hassan , Kaboré Jacques , N’Dri Louis , Jamonneau Vincent , Bucheton Bruno 
Published: May 2010

SummaryObjectives  To evaluate a modification of the mini anion exchange centrifugation test (mAECT) for the diagnosis of Trypanosoma brucei (T.b.) gambiense human African trypanosomiasis (HAT). To increase its sensitivity, this test uses 350 μl of buffy coat withdrawn from 5 ml of blood instead of blood.Methods  The new protocol was first tested experimentally on serial dilution of trypanosomes and was then further evaluated under field conditions on 57 patients with HAT diagnosed during a medical survey in Guinea.Results  Experimentally, the use of buffy coats improved mAECT sensitivity at least five fold and enabled to consistently detect parasites in blood at a concentration of 10 trypanosomes/ml. During the field evaluation, more patients tested positive by mAECT‐bc (96.5%) than by mAECT‐blood (78.9%, χ2 = 6.93, P = 0.008) and lymph juice examination (77.2%, χ2 = 7.67, P = 0.005). Furthermore, the number of parasites per collectors was significantly higher (7.2 vs. 2.6, P = 0.001) when buffy coats were used instead of blood.Conclusion  The use of the mAECT‐bc protocol enabled a significant improvement of HAT parasitological diagnosis in Guinea, without any additional costs. It would deserve to be tested in other T.b. gambiense endemic areas.
Detection and Identification of a Phytoplasma Related to the 16SrV Group Infecting Chinese Pink in China
Authors: Zhang Chunping , Min Hong , Li Zhengnan , Wu Zhanmin , Yang Yang , Wu Yunfeng 
Published: May 2010

AbstractUsing universal phytoplasma primer pairs R16mF2/R16mR1 and R16F2n/R16R2, nested polymerase chain reactions were used for phytoplasma detection in Chinese pink with white leaves and stunt symptoms. Sequencing results and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of the 1248‐bp R16F2n/R16R2 products revealed the phytoplasma belongs to group 16SrV. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the phytoplasma had a close relation to Jujube Witches‐broom phytoplasma. This is the first report of a 16SrV‐related phytoplasma infecting Chinese pink in China.
Incidence of hypertrophic pulmonary osteoarthropathy associated with primary lung cancer
Authors: IZUMI Miiru , TAKAYAMA Koichi , YABUUCHI Hidetake , ABE Koichiro , NAKANISHI Yoichi 
Published: May 2010

ABSTRACTBackground and objective:  Although the association of hypertrophic pulmonary osteoarthropathy (HPO) with lung cancer was investigated in the 1960s, the recent incidence of clinically apparent HPO is not known. Data from a large series of patients with lung cancer were analysed, in order to assess the incidence of possible HPO, based on bone scintigraphy, as well as the incidence of clinically confirmed HPO. The clinical features of confirmed HPO were also evaluated.Methods:  The medical records of patients admitted with lung cancer between January 1986 and August 2004 were reviewed. Bone scintigraphy showing symmetrical, abnormally high uptake in joints and/or long bones was considered to be suggestive of HPO. Patients who also had finger clubbing and joint pain were considered to have a confirmed diagnosis of HPO. Clinical histories and hormone levels were then investigated in these patients, to identify possible causal factors.Results:  Among the 1226 lung cancer patients, 55 (4.5%) demonstrated abnormally high uptake on bone scintigraphy, suggesting possible HPO. Ten (0.8%) patients had clubbed fingers and joint pain and were eventually confirmed as having HPO. Serum hormone concentrations were abnormally high in the patients with confirmed HPO.Conclusions:  This retrospective study indicated that 4.5% of lung cancer patients showed findings suggestive of HPO, a frequency similar to that reported previously. However, patients with HPO rarely showed the complete triad of signs. Although increased hormone concentrations may have caused the HPO, further investigation is required to confirm this.
Determining corneal power using Pentacam after myopic photorefractive keratectomy
Authors: Falavarjani Khalil Ghasemi , Hashemi Masih , Joshaghani Mahmoud , Azadi Pejvak , Ghaempanah Mohammad J , Aghai Gholam H 
Published: May 2010

AbstractPurpose:  To assess the accuracy of Pentacam Scheimpflug camera for corneal power measurement in eyes with previous photorefractive keratectomy for myopia.Methods:  In this comparative interventional case series, 35 eyes of 35 patients who had myopic photorefractive keratectomy were studied. Corneal power was measured by conventional topography and Pentacam Scheimpflug camera, and equivalent keratometry readings (EKR) in different central corneal rings (0.5 to 4.5 mm), true net power and simulated keratometry (K) measurements as well as those obtained using Shammas no‐history, Koch‐Maloney and Haigis methods were compared with clinical history method.Results:  All corneal power measurements except for the topography simulated K and true net power values were statistically similar to the clinical history values. Simulated keratometry and 4.5‐mm EKR values were more closely correlated with clinical history method. Shammas formula, Pentacam simulated K and 3‐, 4‐ and 4.5‐mm EKR provided a 95% confidence interval within ±0.50 D of the mean clinical history method value, among these, the width of the 95% limits of agreement (LoA) was narrower for Shammas and Pentacam simulated K and 4.5‐mm EKR values; however, considerably large 95% LoA were found between each of these values and those obtained with the clinical history method. Estimated preoperative keratometry was statistically similar to the preoperative measurement; however, estimated refractive change was different from actual value.Conclusions:  The Pentacam 4.5‐mm EKR and simulated keratometry may be used as an alternative to clinical history method to predict corneal power when pre‐keratorefractive surgery data are unavailable; however, wide LoA should be considered in the calculations.
Safety assessment of nonbrowning potatoes: opening the discussion about the relevance of substantial equivalence on next generation biotech crops
Authors: Llorente Briardo , Alonso Guillermo D. , Bravo‐Almonacid Fernando , Rodríguez Vanina , López Mariana G. , Carrari Fernando , Torres Héctor N. , Flawiá Mirtha M. 
Published: May 2010

SummaryIt is expected that the next generation of biotech crops displaying enhanced quality traits with benefits to both farmers and consumers will have a better acceptance than first generation biotech crops and will improve public perception of genetic engineering. This will only be true if they are proven to be as safe as traditionally bred crops. In contrast with the first generation of biotech crops where only a single trait is modified, the next generation of biotech crops will add a new level of complexity inherent to the mechanisms underlying their output traits. In this study, a comprehensive evaluation of the comparative safety approach on a quality‐improved biotech crop with metabolic modifications is presented. Three genetically engineered potato lines with silenced polyphenol oxidase (Ppo) transcripts and reduced tuber browning were characterized at both physiological and molecular levels and showed to be equivalent to wild‐type (WT) plants when yield‐associated traits and photosynthesis were evaluated. Analysis of the primary metabolism revealed several unintended metabolic modifications in the engineered tubers, providing evidence for potential compositional inequivalence between transgenic lines and WT controls. The silencing construct sequence was in silico analysed for potential allergenic cross‐reactivity, and no similarities to known allergenic proteins were identified. Moreover, in vivo intake safety evaluation showed no adverse effects in physiological parameters. Taken together, these results provide the first evidence supporting that the safety of next generation biotech crops can be properly assessed following the current evaluation criterion, even if the transgenic and WT crops are not substantially equivalent.
Sex‐dimorphic changes in neuroactive steroid levels after chronic experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis
Authors: Caruso Donatella , D’Intino Giulia , Giatti Silvia , Maschi Omar , Pesaresi Marzia , Calabrese Donato , Garcia‐Segura Luis‐Miguel , Calza Laura , Melcangi Roberto C. 
Published: May 2010

J. Neurochem.(2010)114, 921–932.AbstractOur previous observations have shown that neuroactive steroid levels in the brain are affected by acute experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) with sex and regional specificity (Giattiet al.2010). To better understand the effect of EAE on neuroactive steroids, we have here assessed the levels of pregnenolone, progesterone and its derivatives (i.e. dihydroprogesterone, tetrahydroprogesterone and isopregnanolone), testosterone and its derivatives (dihydrotestosterone and 5α‐androstane‐3α, 17β‐diol) in different CNS regions of male and female rats affected by chronic EAE. Data obtained by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry revealed that chronic EAE results in sex and regional specific alterations in the levels of neuroactive steroids in the brain, which are in many cases different to those produced by acute EAE. The specific changes in neuroactive steroid levels after chronic EAE may be of relevance to design new possible therapeutic strategies for the disease.
Genetic and historical evidence disagree on likely sources of the Atlantic amethyst gem clam Gemma gemma (Totten, 1834) in California
Authors: Hoos Phillip M. , Whitman Miller A. , Ruiz Gregory M. , Vrijenhoek Robert C. , Geller Jonathan B. 
Published: May 2010

AbstractAim  Historical information about source populations of invasive species is often limited; therefore, genetic analyses are used. We compared inference about source populations from historical and genetic data for the oyster‐associated clam, Gemma gemma that invaded California from the USA Atlantic coast.Location  Mid‐Atlantic (North Carolina, Maryland), Northeastern (New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts) and the California coasts (Elkhorn Slough, San Francisco Bay, Bolinas Lagoon, Tomales Bay, Bodega Harbor).Methods  The documented history of transplantation of Eastern oysters to California was reviewed. Cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) sequences from recent and archived clams were examined in a haplotype network. We used AMOVA to detect geographic genetic structure and a permutation test for significant reductions in diversity.Results  Chesapeake Bay oysters were transplanted to New York prior to shipment to San Francisco Bay and from there to peripheral bays. Gemma in the Northeastern and Mid‐Atlantic regions were genetically differentiated. In California, populations in Bodega Harbor and Tomales Bay were genetically similar to those in the Mid‐Atlantic area while clams in San Francisco Bay, Elkhorn Slough and Bolinas Lagoon resembled populations in the Northeastern region. In California, genetic variation was not highest in San Francisco Bay despite greater magnitude of oyster plantings. Haplotypes varied over time in native and introduced populations.Main Conclusions  Historical records and inferences from genetics agree that both Northeastern and Mid‐Atlantic regions were sources for Gemma in California. Only complex genetic hypotheses reconcile the strong segregation of haplotypes in California to the historical evidence of mixing in their proximate source (New York). These hypotheses include sorting of mixtures of haplotypes or selection in non‐native areas. Haplotype turnover in San Francisco and Massachusetts samples over time suggests that the sorting hypothesis is plausible. We suggest, however, that Gemma was introduced independently and recently to Tomales Bay and Bodega Harbor.
New public policy proposal for the management of industrial toxic substances in São Paulo State, Brazil
Authors: De Miranda Ribeiro Flávio , Kuno Rúbia 
Published: May 2010

AbstractIn order to find out an alternative to traditional environmental policies in the State of São Paulo (Brazil), which have been mainly focused on legal standard compliance for air and water emissions, as well as in soil contamination, the Environmental Agency of São Paulo State — CETESB — launched a research project entitled Industrial Toxic Substances Use Reduction Programme. The project was launched in 2006 with funding from the United States Trade and Development Agency. Its aim was to propose new policies and strategies to reduce industrial releases of toxic compounds to the environment. Its general steps were the identification of an initial toxic chemical targets list; a review of successful programmes in the United States; the development of key elements and the establishment of alternative combinations of those elements for the implementation of an indigenous programme. Since project completion, CETESB has been discussing the possibility of implementing the results through a pilot project being developed jointly with industry representatives. This pilot project will serve as a model for a broader industrial toxic substances reduction programme to be implemented in São Paulo State.
A Thermoreversible Polymer Mediates Controlled Release of Glial Cell Line‐Derived Neurotrophic Factor to Enhance Kidney Regeneration
Authors: Gheisari Yousof , Yokoo Takashi , Matsumoto Kei , Fukui Akira , Sugimoto Naomi , Ohashi Toya , Kawamura Tetsuya , Hosoya Tatsuo , Kobayashi Eiji 
Published: May 2010

AbstractPreviously, we reported that human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) that were cultivated in growing embryos differentiated in an appropriate developmental milieu, thereby facilitating the development of a functional renal unit. However, this approach required transfection with an adenovirus that expressed glial cell line‐derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) to enhance the development of hMSC‐derived renal tissue, and safety issues restrict the clinical use of such viral vectors. To circumvent this problem, we tested an artificial polymer as a means to diffuse GDNF. This GDNF‐polymer, which exists in liquid form at 4°C but becomes a hydrogel upon heating to 37°C, was used as a thermoreversible switch, allowing the injection of hMSCs at low viscosity using a mouth pipette, with subsequent slow diffusion of GDNF as it solidified. The polymer, which was dissolved in a solution of GDNF at 4°C and then maintained at 37°C, acted as a diffuser of GDNF for more than 48 h. LacZ‐transfected hMSCs and the GDNF‐polymer (at 4°C) were placed in the nephrogenic sites of growing rat embryos that were maintained at 37°C. Forty‐eight hours later, the resultant kidney anlagen were dissected out and allowed to continue developing for 6 days in vitro. Whole‐organ X‐Gal staining and fluorescence activated cell sorter analysis showed that the number of hMSC‐derived cells was significantly increased in developed anlagen that have been generated from hMSCs plus GDNF‐polymer compared with those from hMSCs plus GDNF‐containing medium and was comparable to those from adenovirus‐transfected hMSCs. These findings suggest that the GDNF‐polymer can be used as a diffuser of GDNF for kidney organogenesis.
Exercise Training During Hemodialysis Reduces Blood Pressure and Increases Physical Functioning and Quality of Life
Authors: De Moura Reboredo Maycon , Henrique Diane Michela Nery , De Souza Faria Ruiter , Chaoubah Alfredo , Bastos Marcus Gomes , De Paula Rogério Baumgratz 
Published: May 2010

AbstractHypertension and cardiovascular diseases are highly prevalent in hemodialysis patients and are associated with the reduction of physical functioning and quality of life. We evaluated the effects of supervised aerobic exercise training on physical functioning, blood pressure, quality of life, and laboratory data in hemodialysis patients. Fourteen patients were evaluated at the beginning and after 12 weeks of stretching exercises (control phase) and at the end of 12 weeks of aerobic exercise training performed during hemodialysis sessions (intervention phase). Patients underwent a 6‐min walking test (6MWT), 24‐h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, a Medical Outcomes Study 36—Item Short‐Form Health Survey (SF‐36) quality of life questionnaire, and blood sample collections. After the intervention phase, the 6MWT distance increased from 508.7 ± 91.9 m to 554.9 ± 105.8 m (P = 0.001), systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased respectively from 150.6 ± 18.4 mm Hg to 143.5 ± 14.7 mm Hg and from 94.6 ± 10.5 mm Hg to 91.4 ± 9.7 mm Hg (P < 0.05), while hemoglobin levels increased from 10.8 ± 1.2 g/dL to 11.6 ± 0.8 g/dL (P < 0.05). Moreover, there was a significant increase in the physical functioning, social functioning, and mental health dimensions of the SF‐36. Aerobic exercise training during hemodialysis increased physical functioning, reduced blood pressure levels, and improved the control of anemia and quality of life in patients with end‐stage renal disease.
Cryopreservation of Fibroblasts Immobilized Within a Porous Scaffold: Effects of Preculture and Collagen Coating of Scaffold on Performance of Three‐Dimensional Cryopreservation
Authors: Miyoshi Hirotoshi , Ehashi Tomo , Ohshima Norio , Jagawa Akari 
Published: May 2010

AbstractAs a preliminary investigation to establish a cryopreservation method suited for bioartificial livers (BALs), three‐dimensional (3‐D) cryopreservation experiments with fibroblasts were performed, in which the cells were firstly seeded into a porous scaffold, and the scaffold containing the cells was then cryopreserved. After thawing, 65% of the initially applied cells were still attached to the scaffold, and this efficiency was significantly higher than that in the control experiments (39%), in which fibroblasts cryopreserved in a suspension were seeded into the scaffold. This higher efficiency was mainly caused by higher immobilization efficiency at the time of cell seeding (83%) than in the controls (54%). Collagen coating of the scaffold in the 3‐D cryopreservation enhanced immobilization efficiency at the time of cell seeding, and 1‐day precultures before the 3‐D cryopreservation considerably improved cell growth after thawing. From these favorable results, this 3‐D cryopreservation method may become useful for developing BALs.
Battle for Births: The Fascist Pronatalist Campaign in Italy 1925 to 1938
Authors: Forcucci Lauren E. 
Published: May 2010

AbstractThe battle for births took place during the inter‐war years of 1925 to 1938. The demographic campaign promoted fecunditá, especially within the working class, by increasing welfare benefits, legislating tax breaks, making available better health care, and awarding highly public medals and recognition to those women who produced more than the state's target of five children per family. The regime associated motherhood, children, family, and virility with maintaining national greatness. In spite of all the mass propaganda, mobilization, and state incentives to increase the birthrate, the battle for births had failed by 1938. This article compares and contrasts key economic, regional, political, cultural, and religious explanations for the failure of Italian pronatalism. Although the battle for births failed to produce an overall increase in the Italian birth rates, it did succeed in other ways.