bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Efficacy, safety, and tolerability of microsphere adapalene vs. conventional adapalene for acne vulgaris
Authors: Rao G. Raghu Rama , Ghosh Sanjay , Dhurat Rachita , Sharma Akhilesh , Dongre Prashant , Baliga Vidyagauri P. 
Published: November 2009

AbstractBackground  The present study was undertaken to compare the efficacy, safety and tolerability of a new microsphere adapalene formulation and conventional adapalene in adult patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris.Materials and Methods  This prospective, randomized, assessor‐blind, multi‐centric (3 centres) comparative, post‐marketing phase IV study was undertaken in 175 patients with mild to moderate acne after approval by respective Institutional review boards. Patients fulfilling selection criteria were randomly assigned to either microsphere adapalene gel or conventional adapalene gel both once daily in the evening for 12 weeks after obtaining their informed consent. Efficacy variables included success rate and percent lesion reduction from baseline. Safety and tolerability was assessed on the basis of physical examination and monitoring of treatment–emergent adverse events.Results  Of the 175 patients (88 in microsphere and 87 in conventional) 21 were lost to follow‐up and considered drop‐outs. There was a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in mean inflammatory and non‐inflammatory lesion and total lesion counts from 1st week onwards in both groups. A significantly lower number of microsphere treated patients (50%) reported a side effect (P < 0.05) as compared to 71.3% in conventional users. A highly significant decrease was observed in dryness and erythema (P < 0.01) in microsphere group compared to conventional. Eight patients in conventional group discontinued therapy due to severe irritation as compared to none in microsphere adapalene group.Comment  Therapy with microsphere adapalene provided a better tolerability with minimal irritation compared to conventional adapalene, without compromising efficacy and could be a better therapeutic option for acne.
Cutaneous lymphangioma circumscriptum: frog spawn on the skin
Authors: Patel Gopal A. , Schwartz Robert A. 
Published: November 2009

AbstractLymphangiomas are congenital malformations of the lymphatic system that may involve the skin, subcutaneous tissues, and intestines. They account for 4% of all vascular tumors, but comprise 25% of benign vascular growths in children. They are hamartomatous in nature and may be grouped into cutaneous lymphangioma circumscriptum (CLC), cavernous lymphangiomas, and cystic hygromas. CLC appears localized to the dermis, although frequently extends deeper and laterally. It is important to distinguish CLC, a potentially recurrent disease, from an unusual type of metastatic carcinoma of the skin called carcinoma telangiectoides.
Lack of association between angiotensin I‐converting enzyme insertion/deletion polymorphism and psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis in Spain
Authors: Coto‐Segura Pablo , Alvarez Victoria , Soto‐Sánchez Javier , Morales Blanca , Coto Eliecer , Santos‐Juanes Jorge 
Published: November 2009

AbstractData on the potential influence of the angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE) insertion/ deletion (I/D) genotype on psoriasis are contradictory. Our aim was to investigate the relationship between the ACE gene I/D polymorphism and psoriasis/psoriatic arthritis. To investigate this, a genetic association study was conducted among 268 unrelated patients with psoriasis and 272 controls. The distribution of DD, ID, and II genotypes did not significantly differ between psoriatic patients and controls (DD: 39.6% vs. 34.2%; ID: 46.3% vs. 53.3%; II: 14.1% vs. 12.5%). In conclusion, the ACE polymorphism is not likely to be associated with either psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis in this study.
Diversity of host plant relationships and leaf galling behaviours within a small genus of thrips –GynaikothripsandFicusin south east Queensland, Australia
Authors: Tree Desley J , Walter G H 
Published: November 2009

AbstractThrips are well known as gall inducers, yet no field studies have been published on phlaeothripids in the genusGynaikothrips,which gallFicusleaves in Australia. A detailed field study was conducted in suburban Brisbane, Australia, on thrips species that induce leaf galls on fig trees.Gynaikothrips ficorumis evidently host specific as it induced leaf galls only onFicus microcarpa, and did so almost continuously throughout the spring and summer growing season. By contrast,G. australisinduced leaf galls onF. macrophylla,F. rubingosaandF. obliquabut only when flushes of new leaves appeared, and this occurred at intervals during spring and summer.Gynaikothrips ficorumfeeds on the upper surface of new leaves and this causes the leaf to fold and/or twist into a gall. The life of the gall is about 4 weeks, with the thrips pupating within it. Sometimes, the galls are invaded by a kleptoparasite thrips,Mesothrips jordani.Gynaikothrips australisfeeds on the underside of the new leaves and this causes the margins to curl under. The life of the gall is about 6 weeks, with the thrips pupating under the bark of the fig tree branches, and sometimes the galls are shared with an inquiline,G. additamentus.
Selandriinae, a subfamily of Tenthredinidae new to Australia, and a review of other Australian Tenthredinidae (Hymenoptera: Symphyta)
Authors: Schmidt Stefan , Smith David R 
Published: November 2009

AbstractTen species of Tenthredinidae are now known in Australia. The subfamily Selandriinae is recorded for the first time, with the description of Neostromboceros teres sp. nov. Nematus oligospilus Förster, a Salix‐feeding species, is recently adventive in Australia. A new Queensland record is given for Senoclidea purpurata (F. Smith), a species previously recorded as Senoclidea furva (Konow). Four of the 10 species are considered native to Australia, and six of them have been introduced. A key is provided for the 10 species.
Insect pests and insect‐vectored diseases of palms
Authors: Gitau Catherine W , Gurr Geoff M , Dewhurst Charles F , Fletcher Murray J , Mitchell Andrew 
Published: November 2009

AbstractPalm production faces serious challenges ranging from diseases to damage by insect pests, all of which may reduce productivity by as much as 30%. A number of disorders of unknown aetiology but associated with insects are now recognised. Management practices that ensure the sustainability of palm production systems require a sound understanding of the interactions between biological systems and palms. This paper discusses insect pests that attack palms, pathogens the insects vector as well as other disorders that are associated with these pests. We re‐examine the disease aetiologies and procedures that have been used to understand causality. Pest management approaches such as cultural and biological control are discussed.
Searching for the right outcome? A systematic review and meta‐analysis of controlled trials using carotid intima‐media thickness or pulse wave velocity to infer antiatherogenic properties of thiazolidinediones
Authors: Webb D. R. , Davies M. J. , Gray L. J. , Abrams K. R. , Srinivasan B. , Das S. , Taub N. , Lawrence I. , Sutton S. , Khunti K. 
Published: November 2009

Introduction: Recent meta‐analyses cast doubt over purported beneficial effects of Peroxisome Proliferator Activated Receptor‐Gamma (PPAR‐γ) receptor agonists. Thiazolidinedione (TZD) trials using surrogate outcomes to postulate an antiatherogenic paradigm have been criticised as misinformative. We conducted an independent systematic review and meta‐analysis of controlled TZD studies incorporating carotid intima‐media thickness (CIMT) or pulse wave velocity (PWV) as primary outcome measures. The aim was to provide an evidence‐based overview of TZD intervention studies using markers prospectively linked to vascular outcome in type 2 diabetes. Methods: Systematic search of known databases for TZD intervention trials using mean thickness CIMT(n = 9) and ankle‐brachial PWV(n = 6) as primary outcome measures was performed. CIMT and PWV pooled weighted mean difference was calculated using a random effects model accounting for heterogeneity and publication bias. An indirect meta‐analysis provided a comparison of rosiglitazone and pioglitazone effects. Results: A composite of combined placebo and comparator controlled trials demonstrated a significant weighted mean difference of–0.06 mm for CIMT (95% CI–0.09 to–0.02, p = 0.001) and–0.72 ms−1 for PWV (95% CI–1.28 to–0.16, p = 0.011) in favour of thiazolidiendione treatment. No TZD intraclass variation in CIMT (p = 0.96) or PWV (p = 0.33) change was observed. Conclusion: TZDs exhibit significant beneficial effects on aorto‐carotid atherosclerosis when assessed using prospectively validated non‐invasive techniques. Inferring clinical benefit in the absence of confirmatory outcome trials is questionable and caution should be exercised when interpreting intervention data with surrogate endpoints. TZD‐induced congestive cardiac failure or other unknown PPAR‐γ adverse effects are plausible explanations for the conflicting results of intervention trials using markers of atherosclerosis and clinical event outcomes.
Cardiovascular morbidity, heart rates and use of antimuscarinics in patients with overactive bladder
Authors: Andersson Karl‐Erik , Sarawate Chaitanya , Kahler Kristijan H. , Stanley Elizabeth L. , Kulkarni Amit S. 
Published: November 2009

Study Type – Symptom prevalence (retrospective cohort) Level of Evidence 2bOBJECTIVETo determine if cardiovascular (CV) comorbidity and treatment‐associated antimuscarinic effects differ between patients with and without overactive bladder (OAB), and between treated and untreated patients with OAB, as OAB, CV disorders and exposure to medications with antimuscarinic effects are common in older patients.PATIENTS AND METHODSAdults from the HealthCore Integrated Research Database with a diagnosis of OAB (International Classification of Diseases‐9 codes; from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2006) or a pharmacy claim for an antimuscarinic OAB medication, formed the OAB cohort, further stratified as treated and untreated. A random sample of patients with neither a diagnosis for OAB nor any urinary bladder dysfunction, nor a pharmacy claim for antimuscarinics, formed the non‐OAB cohort. CV comorbidities and use of medications with antimuscarinic effects were assessed for the 12 months before OAB diagnosis/treatment. Information on heart rate (HR) on the day of the first OAB drug prescription was obtained from the GE Healthcare dataset. HR was assessed for patients aged ≥18 years with a diagnosis of OAB who were prescribed antimuscarinics (oxybutynin or tolterodine) at any dose or oral formulation between January 1995 and November 2006.RESULTSThe 6607 patients with OAB, with a substantial proportion with elevated HR at baseline, were more likely to have CV comorbidities (39% vs 21%;P < 0.001) and previous exposure to medications with antimuscarinic effects (33% vs 17%;P < 0.001) than the non‐OAB patients. Rate of CV comorbidities (40% vs 38%;P = 0.326) did not differ between treated and untreated patients with OAB. However, there was a difference in previous exposure to medications with antimuscarinic effects (37% vs 29%;P < 0.001); 39.1% of patients with OAB had a HR of >80 beats/min before starting antimuscarinic treatment.CONCLUSIONIn this study, the prevalence of CV comorbidities was significantly higher in patients with than without OAB; previous exposure to medications with antimuscarinic effects was also higher in patients with OAB. There was no difference in pre‐existing CV comorbidities between the treated and untreated patients with OAB, but the high use of medications with antimuscarinic effects among these patients suggests that the presence of CV comorbidity might not be considered before using antimuscarinic agents for OAB.
The development of childhood dietary preferences and their implications for later adult health
Authors: Venter C. , Harris G. 
Published: November 2009

SummaryThe food fed to infants and young children not only determines their health in childhood but also predicts the foods that they eat in later life. Because adult dietary preferences are partially formed in childhood, the childhood diet inevitably contributes to the long‐term health of the individual. We are all aware of preferences that have endured since childhood, and that our dietary habits only change if we have reason to adapt them, perhaps for a healthier lifestyle. Adopting a healthy diet in adulthood is likely to be considerably easier if we have developed healthy food preferences during our childhood.Current information shows that toddlers are fed diets high in fat, sugar and salt and that mothers are confused about what toddlers should be eating.A healthy diet for toddlers combines foods from all the five food groups. This combination involves mixing high‐calorie and low‐calorie foods. Healthy food options should be introduced from weaning, and offered repeatedly through the infant and toddler years. Furthermore, the whole family should model a healthy eating lifestyle in order to foster the acceptance of foods that constitute a well‐balanced diet.
Infant nutrition – protein and its influence on growth rate
Authors: Sidnell A. , Greenstreet E. 
Published: November 2009

SummaryBreastfeeding provides the optimum nutrition for young infants and one of the aims of the new UK‐World Health Organization growth charts is to encourage healthcare professionals and parents to see breastfed infants' growth rate as the norm. Formula‐fed infants gain weight more quickly than breastfed infants in the first year of life, and this may be because of the greater quantity of protein in infant formula. Childhood obesity rates are increasing and obesity is probably the result of a multitude of factors. Observational studies have indicated that rapid growth in infancy may contribute to a later risk of obesity. New randomised controlled studies have shown that lower protein levels in infant formula can slow infants' weight gain, and this may offer short‐ and long‐term health benefits. New innovations in protein quality now allow reductions in the total protein content of infant formula.
Hydration in sport and exercise: water, sports drinks and other drinks
Authors: Shirreffs S. M. 
Published: November 2009

SummaryThere is evidence to suggest that exercise‐induced dehydration can have a negative impact on exercise performance, and restoration of fluid balance should be achieved after exercise. It is equally well known that muscle glycogen must be restored after exercise if subsequent performance is not to be negatively affected. Sports drinks are ideally placed to fill both these roles. However, while muscle glycogen restoration can be comfortably achieved by consumption of solid food, the same is not true for restoration of hydration status.Clear evidence is available that drinking during exercise can improve performance, provided that the exercise is of sufficient duration for the drink to be emptied from the stomach and absorbed in the intestine. Generally, drinking plain water is better than drinking nothing, but drinking a properly formulated carbohydrate–electrolyte ‘sports’ drink can allow for even better exercise performance.Of importance for rehydration purposes after exercise is consumption of both an adequate volume of fluid (greater than the net deficit of the sweat volume lost) and quantity of sodium. Without both of these, rehydration will be neither rapid nor complete and maintained. There is, however, no good evidence for the inclusion of any other electrolytes. The current generation of commercially available sports drinks are generally formulated to meet the needs of many athletes in many different situations.
TYPES OF PRAYER, HEART RATE VARIABILITY, AND INNATE HEALING
Authors: Stanley Ruth 
Published: November 2009

Abstract.Spiritual practices such as prayer have been shown to improve health and quality of life for those facing chronic or terminal illness. The early Christian healing tradition distinguished between types of prayer and their role in healing, placing great emphasis on the healing power of more integrated relational forms of prayer such as prayers of gratitude and contemplative prayer. Because autonomic tone is impaired in most disease states, autonomic homeostasis may provide insight into the healing effects of prayer. I report on observations in five volunteers engaging in five types of prayer. Using heart rate variability as a measure of autonomic tone and adaptability, I review the potential correlation of type of prayer with autonomic rebalance as measured specifically by psychophysiological coherence ratios. The five types—supplication, devotion, intercession, gratefulness, and contemplative prayer—elicited varying degrees of improvements in heart rate variability and corresponding psychophysiological coherence. These observations suggest a correlation of innate healing to prayer type that is consistent with teachings from the Christian healing tradition and with modern research. Further research is warranted to verify these hypotheses.
The Open Access Association? EAHIL’s new model for sustainability
Authors: McSean Tony , Jakobsson Arne 
Published: November 2009

AbstractObjective:  To discover a governance structure and a business model for the European Association for Health Information and Libraries (EAHIL) which will be economically sustainable in the medium term, arresting a long‐term gradual decline in membership numbers and implementing new revenue streams to sustain association activity.Methodology:  Reviewed survival strategies of other professional associations, investigated potential of emerging interactive web technologies, investigated alternative revenue streams based around the ‘franchise’ of the annual EAHIL conferences and workshops. A fully worked‐through and costed alternative structure was produced, based on abolition of the subscription, web‐based procedures and functions, increased income from advertising and sponsorship and a large measure of member participation and engagement. Statutes and Rules of Procedure were rewritten to reflect the changes. This plan was put through the Association’s approval cycle and implemented in 2005.Results:  The new financial model has proved itself sustainable on the basis of the first 2 years’ operations. The long‐term gradual decline in membership was reversed, with membership numbers trebling across the EAHIL region. The software worked with minimal problems, including the online electoral process.Conclusion:  With no identified precedent from other professional associations, the changes represented a considerable risk, which was justifiable because long‐term projections made it clear that continuing the traditional model was not viable. The result is a larger, healthier association with a stronger link to its membership. Long‐term risks include the high level of member commitment and expertise. There are also important questions about scalability—diseconomies of scale probably limit the applicability of the overall open access model to larger associations.
Diacylglycerol kinases in the regulation of dendritic spines
Authors: Kim Karam , Yang Jinhee , Kim Eunjoon 
Published: November 2009

J. Neurochem. (2010) 112, 577–587.AbstractDiacylglycerol (DAG) is an important lipid‐signaling molecule that binds and activates various downstream effectors. Tight control over the production and removal of DAG is important in maintaining the dynamic responses of the DAG signaling system to a changing environment. Diacylglycerol kinases (DGKs) are enzymes that convert DAG to phosphatidic acid (PA). This conversion terminates DAG signaling and, at the same time, initiates additional signaling events downstream of PA, which also acts as a lipid‐signaling molecule. However, little is known about how (or if) DGKs are targeted to specific subcellular sites or how DGKs tightly regulate local DAG and PA signaling. Dendritic spines are tiny protrusions on neuronal dendrites that receive the majority of excitatory synaptic inputs. They are also the sites where DAG molecules are produced through activation of postsynaptic receptors, including metabotropic glutamate receptors and NMDA receptors. Accumulating evidence indicates that synaptic levels of DAG and PA are important determinants of dendritic spine stability and that the DGKζ isoform at excitatory postsynaptic sites is critically involved in spine maintenance. In addition, DGKζ appears to form a multi‐protein complex with functionally related proteins to organize efficient DAG and PA signaling pathways at excitatory synapses.
CONVERTIBLE DEBT AND RISK‐SHIFTING INCENTIVES
Authors: Eisdorfer Assaf 
Published: November 2009

AbstractI argue that convertible debt, in contrast to its perceived role, can produce shareholders’ risk‐shifting incentives. When a firm's capital structure includes convertible debt, every investment decision affects not only the distribution of the asset value but also the likelihood that the debt will be converted and thereby the distribution of the firm's leverage. This suggests that managers can engage in risk‐increasing projects if a higher asset risk generates a more favorable distribution of leverage. Empirical evidence using 30 years of data supports my argument.
BACKDATING AND DIRECTOR INCENTIVES: MONEY OR REPUTATION?
Authors: Minnick Kristina , Zhao Mengxin 
Published: November 2009

AbstractWe investigate how director incentives affect the occurrence of firms' backdating employee stock options. Directors with more wealth tied up in stock options may pursue activities that lead to personal gain, such as option backdating, which potentially increases the option recipient's compensation. We document a positive and significant association between director option compensation and the likelihood that firms backdate stock options. Our results question the effectiveness of director option compensation in aligning the interests with those of shareholders and help to explain the recent decline in the use of director option grants by many firms.