bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Alcoholism and Dampened Temporal Limbic Activation to Emotional Faces
Authors: Marinkovic Ksenija , Oscar‐Berman Marlene , Urban Trinity , O’Reilly Cara E. , Howard Julie A. , Sawyer Kayle , Harris Gordon J. 
Published: August 2009

Background: Excessive chronic drinking is accompanied by a broad spectrum of emotional changes ranging from apathy and emotional flatness to deficits in comprehending emotional information, but their neural bases are poorly understood.Methods: Emotional abnormalities associated with alcoholism were examined with functional magnetic resonance imaging in abstinent long‐term alcoholic men in comparison to healthy demographically matched controls. Participants were presented with emotionally valenced words and photographs of faces during deep (semantic) and shallow (perceptual) encoding tasks followed by recognition.Results: Overall, faces evoked stronger activation than words, with the expected material‐specific laterality (left hemisphere for words, and right for faces) and depth of processing effects. However, whereas control participants showed stronger activation in the amygdala and hippocampus when viewing faces with emotional (relative to neutral) expressions, the alcoholics responded in an undifferentiated manner to all facial expressions. In the alcoholic participants, amygdala activity was inversely correlated with an increase in lateral prefrontal activity as a function of their behavioral deficits. Prefrontal modulation of emotional function as a compensation for the blunted amygdala activity during a socially relevant face appraisal task is in agreement with a distributed network engagement during emotional face processing.Conclusions: Deficient activation of amygdala and hippocampus may underlie impaired processing of emotional faces associated with long‐term alcoholism and may be a part of the wide array of behavioral problems including disinhibition, concurring with previously documented interpersonal difficulties in this population. Furthermore, the results suggest that alcoholics may rely on prefrontal rather than temporal limbic areas in order to compensate for reduced limbic responsivity and to maintain behavioral adequacy when faced with emotionally or socially challenging situations.
Ethanol Inhibits Muscarinic Receptor‐Induced Axonal Growth in Rat Hippocampal Neurons
Authors: VanDeMark Kathryn L. , Guizzetti Marina , Giordano Gennaro , Costa Lucio G. 
Published: August 2009

Background: In utero alcohol exposure can lead to fetal alcohol spectrum (FAS) disorders characterized by cognitive and behavioral deficits. In vivo and in vitro studies have shown that ethanol alters neuronal development. One mechanism through which ethanol has been shown to exert its effects is the perturbation of activated signaling cascades. The cholinergic agonist carbachol has been shown to induce axonal outgrowth through intracellular calcium mobilization, protein kinase C (PKC) activation, and ERK1/2 phosphorylation. This study investigated the effect of ethanol on the differentiation of rat hippocampal pyramidal neurons induced by carbachol as a possible mechanism involved in the developmental neurotoxicity of ethanol.Methods: Prenatal rat hippocampal pyramidal neurons were treated with ethanol (50 to 75 mM) in the presence or absence of carbachol for 24 hours. Neurite outgrowth was assessed spectrophotometrically; axonal length was measured in neurons fixed and immunolabeled with the neuron‐specific βIII tubulin antibody; cytotoxicity was analyzed using the thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide assay. The effect of ethanol on carbachol‐stimulated intracellular calcium mobilization was assessed utilizing the fluorescent calcium probe, Fluo‐3AM. The PepTag® assay for nonradioactive detection of PKC from Promega was used to measure PKC activity, and ERK1/2 activation was determined by densitometric analysis of Western blots probed for phospo‐ERK1/2.Results: Ethanol treatment (50 to 75 mM) caused an inhibition of carbachol‐induced axonal growth, without affecting neuronal viability. Neuron treatment for 15 minutes with ethanol did not inhibit the carbachol‐stimulated rise in intracellular calcium, while inhibiting PKC activity at the highest tested concentration and ERK1/2 phosphorylation at both the concentrations used in this study. On the other hand, neuron treatment for 24 hours with ethanol significantly inhibited carbachol‐induced increase in intracellular calcium.Conclusions: Ethanol inhibited carbachol‐induced neurite outgrowth by inhibiting PKC and ERK1/2 activation. These effects may be, in part, responsible for some of the cognitive deficits associated with in utero alcohol exposure.
Effect of Trainees on Length of Stay in the Pediatric Emergency Department
Authors: James Catherine , Harper Marvin , Johnston Patrick , Sanders Brian , Shannon Michael 
Published: August 2009

AbstractBackground:  Emergency departments (EDs) in teaching hospitals have competing goals of timely patient care and supervised trainee education. Previous investigations have indicated that trainees add time to the length of ED patient encounters. However, no studies have quantified the effect of trainees on pediatric ED length of stay (LOS).Objectives:  The objectives were to measure the effect of trainees on pediatric ED LOS by comparing LOS for patients managed by a pediatric emergency physician (PEP) alone to LOS for patients seen by a trainee and a precepting PEP (Trainee+PEP). A secondary objective was to identify factors other than provider type associated with LOS differences observed in teaching hospital pediatric EDs.Methods:  Data were extracted from a computerized ED tracking system in an urban tertiary care children’s hospital with approximately 52,000 visits annually. All patients were seen by a PEP alone, an urgent care physician, or a trainee (a pediatric emergency medicine fellow; a pediatric, emergency medicine, or combined internal medicine/pediatrics resident; or a medical student) plus a precepting PEP. The primary comparison was the ratio of median LOS for the PEP group versus the Trainee+PEP group.Results:  There were 92,193 visits eligible for inclusion over a 2‐year period. Median patient age was 5.75 years (interquartile range [IQR] = 21 months to 12.9 years). The PEP group managed 9,141 patients (10%), while the Trainee+PEP group treated 72,135 patients (78%). Overall LOS for an ED visit was 221 minutes. The median LOS was 192 minutes for PEP patients and 225 minutes for Trainee+PEP patients (difference of means = 17%, p < 0.001). Laboratory and imaging studies were associated with LOS increases of 111 and 74 minutes, respectively; both were performed more frequently in Trainee+PEP patients (44% vs. 33% for laboratory studies and 41% vs. 39% for imaging studies, both comparisons p < 0.001). When LOS was analyzed after adjusting for confounding factors including patient acuity, laboratory or radiologic testing, and trainee year, LOS for Trainee+PEP was higher by 17 minutes, or 9% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 6% to 12%, p < 0.001). When LOS was examined for four specific diagnoses (asthma, gastroenteritis, appendicitis, foot/ankle sprain), there were no significant differences in LOS between the PEP and Trainee+PEP groups.Conclusions:  In the pediatric ED of a teaching hospital, ED LOS is on average 9% higher in patients seen by trainees. In an era of increasing efforts to accelerate throughput while training future providers, these findings provide an important metric for the delivery of pediatric emergency care.
Antiapoptotic Cardioprotective Effect of Hypothermia Treatment Against Oxidative Stress Injuries
Authors: Huang Chien‐Hua , Chen Huei‐Wen , Tsai Min‐Shan , Hsu Chiung‐Yuan , Peng Ren‐How , Wang Tzung‐Dau , Chang Wei‐Tien , Chen Wen‐Jone 
Published: August 2009

AbstractObjectives:  The effect of hypothermia on cardiomyocyte injury induced by oxidative stress remains unclear. The authors investigated the effects of hypothermia on apoptosis and mitochondrial dysfunction in cardiomyocytes exposed to oxidative stress.Methods:  Cardiomyocytes (H9c2) derived from embryonic rat heart cell culture were exposed to either normothermic (37°C) or hypothermic (31°C) environments before undergoing oxidative stress via treatment with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The degree of apoptosis was determined by annexin V and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TUNEL) staining. The amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was compared after H2O2 exposure between normo‐ and hypothermic‐pretreated groups. Mitochondrial dysfunction in both groups was measured by differential reductase activity and transmembrane potential (ΔΨm).Results:  Hydrogen peroxide induced significant apoptosis in both normothermic and hypothermic cardiomyocytes. Hypothermia ameliorated apoptosis as demonstrated by decreased annexin V staining (33 ± 1% vs. 49 ± 4%; p < 0.05) and TUNEL staining (27 ± 17% vs. 80 ±25%; p < 0.01). The amount of intracellular ROS increased after H2O2 treatment and was higher in the hypothermic group than that in the normothermic group (237.9 ± 31.0% vs. 146.6 ± 20.6%; p < 0.05). In the hypothermic group, compared with the normothermic group, after H2O2 treatment mitochondrial reductase activity was greater (72.0 ± 17.9% vs. 27.0 ± 13.3%; p < 0.01) and the mitochondria ΔΨm was higher (101.0 ± 22.6% vs. 69.7 ± 12.9%; p < 0.05). Pretreatment of cardiomyocytes with the antioxidant ascorbic acid diminished the hypothermia‐induced increase in intracellular ROS and prevented the beneficial effects of hypothermia on apoptosis and mitochondrial function.Conclusions:  Hypothermia at 31°C can protect cardiomyocytes against oxidative stress–induced injury by decreasing apoptosis and mitochondrial dysfunction through intracellular ROS‐dependent pathways.
Randomized Double‐blind Placebo Controlled Crossover Study of Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen, Acetaminophen/Hydrocodone, and Placebo for the Relief of Pain From a Standard Painful Stimulus
Authors: Miner James R. 
Published: August 2009

AbstractObjectives:  The objective was to compare subjects’ change in perceived acute pain from an identical painful stimulus after receiving three separate, commonly used pain medications and placebo.Methods:  This was an institutional review board–approved, randomized, double‐blind crossover study of healthy human volunteers. Subjects received 1000 mg of acetaminophen, 800 mg of ibuprofen, the combination of 650 mg of acetaminophen with 10 mg of hydrocodone, or placebo (800 mg of lactose) in a randomized order over four separate occasions each 1 week apart. Prior to receiving the drug on each study day, subjects placed their nondominant hand in a bath of 0°C water for 45 seconds. The bath was divided into two sections; the larger was the reservoir of cooled water monitored at 0°C, and the other half was filled from constant overflow. Water drained from the overflow section into the cooling unit and was then pumped up into the base of the reservoir through a diffusion grid. Subjects completed a 100‐mm visual analog scale (VAS) representing perceived pain during the exposure. The cold water exposure and VAS were repeated 1 hour after receiving the study drug, and then subjects were observed for side effects for 4 hours. Data were compared using descriptive statistics, 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and repeated‐measures analysis of variance (ANOVA).Results:  Twenty‐five subjects were enrolled. The mean VAS preexposure was 56.9 mm (±15.1 mm; range = 5 to 92 mm). The mean decrease in VAS after receiving the study drug for acetaminophen was 10.2% (95% CI = −1.4 to 20.4), for ibuprofen was −6.6% (95% CI = −16.5 to 3.20), for acetaminophen/hydrocodone was 9.5% (95% CI = 1.4 to 20.4), and for placebo was −6.9% (95% CI = −15.2 to 1.4). The range in change in pain scores for all agents was −91.3% to 57.6%. Mild side effects (nausea, dizziness, or somnolence) were reported in 11 subjects (44%) after receiving acetaminophen/hydrocodone; no other side effects were reported.Conclusions:  There was a wide range of changes in pain scores from this identical painful stimulus after receiving the study medications. Acetaminophen and acetaminophen/hydrocodone resulted in a similar decrease in pain (10.2 and 9.5%), while ibuprofen and placebo had a similar lack of effect (−6.6 and −6.9%). Forty‐four percent of subjects receiving acetaminophen/hydrocodone reported mild side effects; no other side effects were seen. In this noninflammatory pain model, the VAS is not able to distinguish differences in pain relief between acetaminophen and acetaminophen/hydrocodone or ibuprofen and placebo.
Combined Residency Training in Emergency Medicine and Internal Medicine: An Update on Career Outcomes and Job Satisfaction
Authors: Kessler Chad S. , Stallings Leonard A. , Gonzalez Andrew A. , Templeman Todd A. 
Published: August 2009

AbstractObjectives:  This study was designed to provide an update on the career outcomes and experiences of graduates of combined emergency medicine‐internal medicine (EM‐IM) residency programs.Methods:  The graduates of the American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM) and American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM)‐accredited EM‐IM residencies from 1998 to 2008 were contacted and asked to complete a survey concerning demographics, board certification, fellowships completed, practice setting, academic affiliation, and perceptions about EM‐IM training and careers.Results:  There were 127 respondents of a possible 163 total graduates for a response rate of 78%. Seventy graduates (55%) practice EM only, 47 graduates (37%) practice both EM and IM, and nine graduates (7%) practice IM or an IM subspecialty only. Thirty‐one graduates (24%) pursued formal fellowship training in either EM or IM. Graduates spend the majority of their time practicing clinical EM in an urban (72%) and academic (60%) environment. Eighty‐seven graduates (69%) spend at least 10% of their time in an academic setting. Most graduates (64%) believe it practical to practice both EM and IM. A total of 112 graduates (88%) would complete EM‐IM training again.Conclusions:  Dual training in EM‐IM affords a great deal of career opportunities, particularly in academics and clinical practice, in a number of environments. Graduates hold their training in high esteem and would do it again if given the opportunity.
The Association Between Emergency Medical Technician‐Basic (EMT‐B) Exam Score, Length of EMT‐B Certification, and Success on the National Paramedic Certification Exam
Authors: Fernandez Antonio R. , Studnek Jonathan R. , Cone David C. 
Published: August 2009

AbstractObjectives:  Factors that affect success on the national paramedic certification examination have been identified. However, there are no known studies that have examined success on the paramedic exam with respect to either Emergency Medical Technician‐Basic (EMT‐B) examination score or length of EMT‐B certification (which may reflect field experience gained prior to enrolling in paramedic training). The objectives of this study included assessing the relationship of EMT‐B examination score and length of EMT‐B certification to success on the national paramedic certification examination.Methods:  Study data were obtained from the National Registry of EMTs (NREMT). First attempts of the NREMT paramedic certification exam from 2002 to 2006 were included. To assure that EMT‐B certification exam scores were recorded, analysis was limited to individuals in the 14 states that have utilized NREMT for initial certification of both EMT‐Bs and paramedics since January 1, 1997. This also facilitated accurate calculations of the length of EMT‐B certification.Results:  There were 11,163 individuals meeting inclusion criteria, and a complete case analysis was performed on 9,148, of whom 5,826 (63.7%) passed the national paramedic exam. The mean (±SD) score on the EMT‐B cognitive exam was 75.5 (±6.4%), and the mean (±SD) length of EMT‐B certification prior to paramedic testing was 3.2 (±2.3) years. When placed in a logistic regression model, the EMT‐B exam score variable was categorized in quartiles (≤71%, 72%–75%, 76%–79%, and ≥80%), and the length of EMT‐B certification variable was dichotomized (≤1.6 years vs. >1.6 years). With respect to paramedic exam success, after controlling for known confounders, there was an increase in the odds ratio (OR) across each of the quartiles of EMT‐B exam score. The largest difference was seen when comparing the lowest and highest quartiles (paramedic exam pass rates of 45.6 and 80.8%, respectively; OR = 5.4, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 4.7 to 6.2). Individuals whose length of EMT‐B certification was >1.6 years had increased odds of passing the paramedic examination (OR = 1.2, 95% CI = 1.1 to 1.3). The multivariable logistic regression model demonstrated good fit (p = 0.62).Conclusions:  Both EMT‐B examination score and ength of EMT‐B certification are associated with success on first attempt at the cognitive portion of the national paramedic certification exam. Educators may wish to consider these two factors when determining paramedic program admission standards and/or consider these variables when determining how to allocate program resources.
Neurological symptoms in children with intussusception
Authors: Kleizen KJ , Hunck A , Wijnen MH , Draaisma JMTh 
Published: August 2009

AbstractAim:  The classical combination of abdominal pain, vomiting, rectal blood loss and a palpable abdominal mass is only present in a minority of children with intussusception. Neurological signs and symptoms have been described, but are not a well understood phenomenon. We performed a retrospective study to ascertain the frequency and nature of these symptoms and to describe the characteristics of the patients presenting in this atypical way.Methods:  The records of 58 children presenting with intussusception from 2003 to 2008 were reviewed for abdominal and neurological signs and symptoms, duration of symptoms and effectiveness of treatment.Results:  In 10 out of 58 patients (17%), one or more neurological symptoms were recorded at presentation, with lethargy being the most frequent, followed by hypotonia and fluctuating consciousness. The patients with neurological abnormalities were significantly younger and presented with a shorter duration of symptoms. Therapy was more invasive, although not statistically significant, in this patient category.Conclusion:  Intussusception should be considered in the differential diagnosis in young children presenting with lethargy, hypotonia and/or sudden alterations of consciousness even in the absence of the classical symptoms of intussusception.
Prospective effects of weight perception and weight comments on psychological health among Chinese adolescents
Authors: Lo Wing‐Sze , Ho Sai‐Yin , Mak Kwok‐Kei , Wong Yee‐Man , Lai Yuen‐Kwan , Lam Tai‐Hing 
Published: August 2009

AbstractAim:  To investigate the prospective effects of weight perception of self and weight comments by others on psychological health problems among Chinese adolescents.Methods:  In the Hong Kong Student Obesity Surveillance project, 8716 adolescents (41.3% boys) aged 14.2 ± 1.7 years were followed prospectively. Logistic regression yielded odds ratios (ORs) for psychological health problems at 1‐year follow‐up by weight comments received and weight perception at baseline (2006), adjusting for each other sociodemographic factors and body mass index.Results:  Perceived fatness at baseline predicted subsequent headache and feeling stressful with adjusted ORs (95% confidence intervals) of 1.17 (1.03–1.33) and 1.20 (1.03–1.39), respectively. Perceived thinness at baseline did not predict any subsequent health problems. Receiving incorrect weight comments at baseline also predicted headache, feeling stressful and feeling depressed at follow‐up, with adjusted ORs of 1.19 (1.08–1.31), 1.26 (1.04–1.53) and 1.38 (1.10–1.74) respectively. No gender difference was found in the effects of weight perception and weight comments on psychological outcomes.Conclusions:  In adolescents, perceived fatness and incorrect weight comments predicted psychological health problems at 1‐year follow‐up. Family members, peers and other social contacts should realize the potential adverse effects of their weight comments, and adolescents should be taught how to correctly assess their weight status.
The enzymatic activity of SR protein kinases 1 and 1a is negatively affected by interaction with scaffold attachment factors B1 and 2
Authors: Tsianou Dora , Nikolakaki Eleni , Tzitzira Alexandra , Bonanou Sofia , Giannakouros Thomas , Georgatsou Eleni 
Published: August 2009

SR protein kinases (SRPKs) phosphorylate Ser/Arg dipeptide‐containing proteins that play crucial roles in a broad spectrum of basic cellular processes. Phosphorylation by SRPKs constitutes a major way of regulating such cellular mechanisms. In the past, we have shown that SRPK1a interacts with the nuclear matrix protein scaffold attachment factor B1 (SAFB1) via its unique N‐terminal domain, which differentiates it from SRPK1. In this study, we show that SAFB1 inhibits the activity of both SRPK1a and SRPK1 in vitro and that its RE‐rich region is redundant for the observed inhibition. We demonstrate that kinase activity inhibition is caused by direct binding of SAFB1 to SRPK1a and SRPK1, and we also present evidence for the in vitro binding of SAFB2 to the two kinases, albeit with different affinity. Moreover, we show that both SR protein kinases can form complexes with both scaffold attachment factors B in living cells and that this interaction is capable of inhibiting their activity, depending on the tenacity of the complex formed. Finally, we present data demonstrating that SRPK/SAFB complexes are present in the nucleus of HeLa cells and that the enzymatic activity of the nuclear matrix‐localized SRPK1 is repressed. These results suggest a new role for SAFB proteins as regulators of SRPK activity and underline the importance of the assembly of transient intranuclear complexes in cellular regulation.Structured digital abstract
MINT‐7228149: SRPK1 (uniprotkb:Q96SB4‐2) phosphorylates (MI:0217) Nt‐LBR (uniprotkb:Q14739) by protein kinase assay (MI:0424)
MINT‐7228207: SRPK1 (uniprotkb:Q96SB4‐2) physically interacts (MI:0915) with SAFB1C (uniprotkb:Q15424) by pull down (MI:0096)
MINT‐7228438: SRPK1a (uniprotkb:Q96SB4‐3) physically interacts (MI:0915) with SAFB1C (uniprotkb:Q15424) by pull down (MI:0096)
MINT‐7228306: SRPK1 (uniprotkb:Q14151) physically interacts (MI:0915) with SAFB2C (uniprotkb:Q14151) by pull down (MI:0096)
MINT‐7228452: SRPK1a (uniprotkb:Q96SB4‐3) physically interacts (MI:0915) with SAFB2C (uniprotkb:Q14151) by pull down (MI:0096)
MINT‐7228466: SRPK1 (uniprotkb:Q96SB4‐2) physically interacts (MI:0915) with SAFB1 (uniprotkb:Q15424) by anti tag coimmunoprecipitation (MI:0007)
MINT‐7228500: SRPK1a (uniprotkb:Q96SB4‐3) physically interacts (MI:0915) with SAFB1 (uniprotkb:Q15424) by anti tag coimmunoprecipitation (MI:0007)
MINT‐7228483: SRPK1 (uniprotkb:Q14151) physically interacts (MI:0915) with SAFB2 (uniprotkb:Q14151) by anti tag coimmunoprecipitation (MI:0007)