bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Examining the effectiveness of a peer‐led education programme for Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease in a Bangladeshi population
Authors: Choudhury S. M. , Brophy S. , Fareedi M. A. , Zaman B. , Ahmed P. , Williams R. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractAims  The aim of this study was to assess an adapted version of the X‐PERT® Programme for Type 2 diabetes within a Bangladeshi population.Methods  Bangladeshi adults, living in the UK, with Type 2 diabetes participated in a diabetes educational session based on an adapted version of the X‐PERT® Programme. Participants attended a session, led by a trained peer educator and carried out in Sylheti. All participants who registered on the course were telephoned or visited in person the day before the course as a reminder.Results  Registration to attend the course was excellent. However, actual attendance rates were 58% (42/72) out of those registered. Once participants attended, overall they enjoyed attending the sessions and felt they benefited as they understood more about how to better self‐manage their condition. Those aspects of the sessions that were most enjoyed were group discussions and interactive posters to explain diabetes. Participants requested a home‐based exercise guide, which was developed by the research team. The study was underpowered to show behaviour change, but did demonstrate a trend to improvement in self‐care activities. All participants reported recommending the course to others.Conclusions  There was an excellent response in terms of registration for the course. However, the time to attend the course appeared to be a barrier to participants. Nevertheless, for those attending the course, responses were very positive. The amended X‐PERT® Programme could be used as a component of a package to improve outcome and self‐management for people with diabetes in the Bangladeshi community.
Production and quality evaluation of instant lassi
Authors: HINGMIRE SANJAY R , LEMBHE ARVIND F , ZANJAD PRABHAKAR N , PAWAR VITHAL D , MACHEWAD GIRISH M 
Published: November 2008

Instant lassi was prepared from cows’ milk standardized to 4% fat and 8.5% solids‐nonfat and heated to 85°C for 30 min, followed by cooling at 37°C and adding 50% v/v lactic acid to adjust the pH to 3.4, 3.6 and 3.8. The sugar was added at the rate of 8%, 10% and 12% and mixed thoroughly in a Waring blender. The synthetic flavours vanilla, strawberry and pineapple were also added at the rate of 0.2% and stored at refrigeration temperature. The sensory evaluation of flavoured instant lassi adjusted to pH 3.8 and 12% sugar indicated no influence in colour, appearance or overall acceptability of compared to control. Among the different flavours used, pineapple‐flavoured instant lassi scored highest for colour, appearance and overall acceptability. Both pH and sugar had significant effects, flavoured instant lassi having a higher specific gravity and lower viscosity than the control.
Reactive oxygen species regulate F‐actin dynamics in neuronal growth cones and neurite outgrowth
Authors: Munnamalai Vidhya , Suter Daniel M. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractReactive oxygen species are well known for their damaging effects due to oxidation of lipids, proteins and DNA that ultimately result in cell death. Accumulating evidence indicates that reactive oxygen species also have important signaling functions in cell proliferation, differentiation, cell motility and apoptosis. Here, we tested the hypothesis whether reactive oxygen species play a physiological role in regulating F‐actin structure and dynamics in neuronal growth cones. Lowering cytoplasmic levels of reactive oxygen species with a free radical scavenger, N‐tert‐butyl‐α‐phenylnitrone, or by inhibiting specific sources of reactive oxygen species, such as NADPH oxidases or lipoxygenases, reduced the F‐actin content in the peripheral domain of growth cones. Fluorescent speckle microscopy revealed that these treatments caused actin assembly inhibition, reduced retrograde actin flow and increased contractility of actin structures in the transition zone referred to as arcs, possibly by activating the Rho pathway. Reduced levels of reactive oxygen species ultimately resulted in disassembly of the actin cytoskeleton. When neurons were cultured overnight in conditions of reduced free radicals, growth cone formation and neurite outgrowth were severely impaired. Therefore, we conclude that physiological levels of reactive oxygen species are critical for maintaining a dynamic F‐actin cytoskeleton and controlling neurite outgrowth.
The Na+‐dependent l‐ascorbic acid transporter SVCT2 expressed in brainstem cells, neurons, and neuroblastoma cells is inhibited by flavonoids
Authors: Caprile Teresa , Salazar Katterine , Astuya Allisson , Cisternas Pedro , Silva‐Alvarez Carmen , Montecinos Hernán , Millán Carola , García María de los Angeles , Nualart Francisco 
Published: November 2008

AbstractAscorbic acid (AA) is best known for its role as an essential nutrient in humans and other species. As the brain does not synthesize AA, high levels are achieved in this organ by specific uptake mechanisms, which concentrate AA from the bloodstream to the CSF and from the CSF to the intracellular compartment. Two different isoforms of sodium–vitamin C co‐transporters (SVCT1 and SVCT2) have been cloned. Both SVCT proteins mediate high affinity Na+‐dependent l‐AA transport and are necessary for the uptake of vitamin C in many tissues. In the adult brain the expression of SVCT2 was observed in the hippocampus and cortical neurons by in situ hybridization; however, there is no data regarding the expression and distribution of this transporter in the fetal brain. The expression of SVCT2 in embryonal mesencephalic neurons has been shown by RT‐PCR suggesting an important role for vitamin C in dopaminergic neuronal differentiation. We analyze SVCT2 expression in human and rat developing brain by RT‐PCR. Additionally, we study the normal localization of SVCT2 in rat fetal brain by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization demonstrating that SVCT2 is highly expressed in the ventricular and subventricular area of the rat brain. SVCT2 expression and function was also confirmed in neurons isolated from brain cortex and cerebellum. The kinetic parameters associated with the transport of AA in cultured neurons and neuroblastoma cell lines were also studied. We demonstrate two different affinity transport components for AA in these cells. Finally, we show the ability of different flavonoids to inhibit AA uptake in normal or immortalized neurons. Our data demonstrates that brain cortex and cerebellar stem cells, neurons and neuroblastoma cells express SVCT2. Dose‐dependent inhibition analysis showed that quercetin inhibited AA transport in cortical neurons and Neuro2a cells.
Tau phosphorylation at threonine‐175 leads to fibril formation and enhanced cell death: implications for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with cognitive impairment
Authors: Gohar May , Yang Wencheng , Strong Wendy , Volkening Kathryn , Leystra‐Lantz Cheryl , Strong Michael J. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractAlthough amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) can be associated with cognitive impairment (ALSci) as a reflection of frontotemporal lobar degeneration, the basis of this process is unknown. The observation of neuronal and extraneuronal tau deposition in ALSci in addition to a unique tau phosphorylation at Thr175 has suggested that ALSci can be associated with alterations in tau metabolism. We have examined the association between phosphorylation at Thr175 and tau fibril formation. Both soluble and insoluble tau was purified from control, patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), ALS without cognitive impairment, and ALSci and the tendency to fibril formation assayed ex vivo using the thioflavin S fluorescence assay. The extent of fibril formation was significantly greater in tau derived from ALSci, with ALS‐derived tau being intermediate between control and AD‐derived tau. Using both Neuro2A and human embryonic kidney (HEK293T) cells, we expressed full‐length tau constructs harboring either a pseudophosphorylation at Thr175 (Thr175‐Asp‐tau), inhibition of Thr175 phosphorylation (Thr175‐Ala‐tau) or intact tau (wild‐type tau). Both tau fibril formation and cell death were significantly enhanced in the presence of Thr175‐Asp‐tau, regardless of the tau isoform, suggesting that phosphorylation of Thr175 is associated with tau fibril formation in ALSci.
A NEW SPECIES OF DICERORHINUS (RHINOCEROTIDAE) FROM THE PLIO‐PLEISTOCENE OF MYANMAR
Authors: ZIN‐MAUNG‐MAUNG‐THEIN  , TAKAI MASANARU , TSUBAMOTO TAKEHISA , THAUNG‐HTIKE  , EGI NAOKO , MAUNG‐MAUNG  
Published: November 2008

Abstract:  A skull and mandible of the new species Dicerorhinus gwebinensis sp. nov. of Rhinocerotidae (Mammalia, Perissodactyla) is described. The material is collected from the upper part of the Irrawaddy sediments (Plio‐Pleistocene) in central Myanmar. D. gwebinensis sp. nov. is morphologically more similar to the extant species D. sumatrensis (Sumatran rhinoceros) than to other species of the genus but differs from D. sumatrensis in having the comparatively shorter nasal, the more concave dorsal profile of the skull, the more elevated occiput and presence of molar crista in M3/. This is the first discovery of Dicerorhinus in the upper Miocene to lower Pleistocene of the Indian subcontinent and Mainland Southeast Asia, and fills the chronological and geographical gap of this lineage in Asia. The Dicerorhinus clade probably migrated into Southeast Asia from East Asia by the Pliocene or early Pleistocene. This hypothesis is supported by the scarcity or absence of this clade in the Neogene mammalian fauna of the Indian Subcontinent.
Cost Liability and Residential Space Heating Expenditures of Welfare Recipients in Germany*
Authors: Rehdanz Katrin , Stöwhase Sven 
Published: November 2008

Abstract.Within the German welfare system, recipients’ heating expenditures are generally fully covered by the government. This paper empirically tests the hypothesis that households receiving welfare payments turn to overconsumption of residential space heating. We use micro‐data from two different data sources to explore whether the conditional heating expenditures of these households differ significantly from those of other households. Our empirical findings suggest that even when controlling for a range of other factors, this is indeed the case, as their heating expenditures lie about 7–8 per cent above those of other households. These results are fairly robust to sensitivity analyses. Comparing the results with those for a control group, expenditures for heating are still more than 5 per cent higher. Our results imply that there is potential scope for cost savings if this policy is changed.
A toxicity study of low‐dose rate half‐body irradiation and chemotherapy in dogs with lymphoma
Authors: Lurie D. M. , Kent M. S. , Fry M. M. , Théon A. P. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractThirteen dogs with previously untreated multicentric lymphoma were enrolled in a prospective study investigating the effects of low‐dose rate total body irradiation (TBI) and chemotherapy. Dogs received either 6 or 8 Gy TBI in half‐body fractions, 2 weeks apart. Toxicity consisted of mild to moderate haematological and gastrointestinal (GI) signs. One dog died from treatment complications. Anorexia was noted independent of dose. Haematological toxicity was more common and more severe after 8 Gy treatment. GI toxicity was more likely postcaudal half‐body irradiation with 8 Gy. Other than leukotrichia, late effects from radiation were not observed. Results indicated that haematological and nonhaematological toxicity was dose dependent. However, the protocol was well tolerated and treatment intensification using a 2‐week inter‐radiation interval was possible in all dogs treated with 6 Gy. Preliminary survival data for these dogs were very encouraging, providing a strong rationale to analyse the efficacy of low‐dose rate irradiation (LDRI) in canine lymphoma.
Treatment of refractory tardive dyskinesia with donepezil in an elderly patient with depression
Authors: YOSHIMI Asuka , TOGO Takashi , SUGIYAMA Naoya , UEHARA Kumi , OTSUKA Tatsui , KARASHIMA Aya , HIRAYASU Yoshio 
Published: November 2008

AbstractTardive dyskinesia (TD) is a neurological disorder caused by the prolonged administration of dopamine antagonists, usually antipsychotics and especially first‐generation antipsychotics. Herein, we report on an elderly patient suffering from TD with depression induced by amoxapine, an antidepressant that antagonizes dopamine receptors. This case report demonstrates the therapeutic effect of donepezil even for TD due to amoxapine, corroborating the view that donepezil is beneficial for the treatment of TD induced by dopamine antagonists. A randomized placebo‐controlled double‐blind trial is required to confirm the usefulness of donepezil in the treatment of dopamine antagonist‐induced TD.
Aripiprazole‐associated dystonia in a patient with vascular dementia
Authors: CHEN Shaw‐Ji , SHEN Yu‐Chih , CHEN Shao‐Tsu , LIN Chaucer C. H. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractAripiprazole is a novel atypical antipsychotic agent with unique pharmacological profiles as a partial dopamine receptor agonist. Few extrapyramidal signs have been reported previously following the use of aripiprazole. In the present study, we report on an 84‐year‐old female patient who suffered from vascular dementia with psychotic symptoms. She was treated with aripiprazole and acute dystonia was noted. This case report highlights the importance of slow titration of aripiprazole and close monitoring for extrapyramidal signs in elderly psychotic patients with vascular dementia.
Late Cretaceous blueschist facies metamorphism in southern Thrace (Turkey) and its geodynamic implications
Authors: TOPUZ G. , OKAY A. I. , ALTHERR R. , SATIR M. , SCHWARZ W. H. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractA blueschist facies tectonic sliver, 9 km long and 1 km wide, crops out within the Miocene clastic rocks bounded by the strands of the North Anatolian Fault zone in southern Thrace, NW Turkey. Two types of blueschist facies rock assemblages occur in the sliver: (i) A serpentinite body with numerous dykes of incipient blueschist facies metadiabase (ii) a well‐foliated and thoroughly recrystallized rock assemblage consisting of blueschist, marble and metachert. Both are partially enveloped by an Upper Eocene wildflysch, which includes olistoliths of serpentinite–metadiabase, Upper Cretaceous and Palaeogene pelagic limestone, Upper Eocene reefal limestone, radiolarian chert, quartzite and minor greenschist. Field relations in combination with the bore core data suggest that the tectonic sliver forms a positive flower structure within the Miocene clastic rocks in a transpressional strike–slip setting, and represents an uplifted part of the pre‐Eocene basement. The blueschists are represented by lawsonite–glaucophane‐bearing assemblages equilibrated at 270–310 °C and ∼0.8 GPa. The metadiabase dykes in the serpentinite, on the other hand, are represented by pumpellyite–glaucophane–lawsonite‐assemblages that most probably equilibrated below 290 °C and at 0.75 GPa. One metadiabase olistolith in the Upper Eocene flysch sequence contains the mineral assemblage epidote + pumpellyite + glaucophane, recording P–T conditions of 290–350 °C and 0.65–0.78 GPa, indicative of slightly lower depths and different thermal setting. Timing of the blueschist facies metamorphism is constrained to c. 86 Ma (Coniacian/Santonian) by Rb–Sr phengite–whole rock and incremental 40Ar–39Ar phengite dating on blueschists. The activity of the strike–slip fault post‐dates the blueschist facies metamorphism and exhumation, and is only responsible for the present outcrop pattern and post‐Miocene exhumation (∼2 km). The high‐P/T metamorphic rocks of southern Thrace and the Biga Peninsula are located to the southeast of the Circum Rhodope Belt and indicate Late Cretaceous subduction and accretion under the northern continent, i.e. the Rhodope Massif, enveloped by the Circum Rhodope Belt. The Late Cretaceous is therefore a time of continued accretionary growth of this continental domain.
Upper‐amphibolite facies partial melting of paragneisses from the Epupa Complex, NW Namibia, and relations to Mesoproterozoic anorthosite magmatism
Authors: BRANDT S. , KLEMD R. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractThe evolution of the mineral assemblages and P–T conditions during partial melting of upper‐amphibolite facies paragneisses in the Orue Unit, Epupa Complex, NW Namibia, is modelled with calculated P–T–X phase diagrams in the Na2O–CaO–K2O–FeO–MgO–Al2O3–SiO2–H2O system. The close concordance of predictions from the phase diagrams to petrographic observations and thermobarometric results documents that quantitative phase diagrams are suitable to explain the phase relationships in migmatitic upper‐amphibolite facies low‐ and medium‐pressure metapelites, which occur in many high‐grade metamorphic terranes worldwide. Different mineral assemblages in the migmatitic metapelites of the Orue Unit reflect regional discrepancies in the metamorphic grade: in a Northern Zone, early biotite–sillimanite–quartz assemblages were replaced via melt‐producing reactions by cordierite‐bearing assemblages. In a Southern Zone, they were replaced via melt‐producing reactions by garnet‐bearing assemblages while cordierite is restricted to rare metapelitic granofelses, which preserve Grt–Sil–Crd–Bt peak assemblages. Peak‐metamorphic conditions of 700–750 °C at 5.5–6.7 kbar in the Southern Zone and of ∼750 °C at 4.5 kbar in the Northern Zone are estimated by integrating thermobarometric calculations with data from calculated mineral composition isopleths. Retrograde back‐reactions between restite and crystallizing melt are recorded by the replacement of garnet by biotite–sillimanite and/or biotite–muscovite intergrowths.Upper‐amphibolite facies metamorphism and partial melting (c. 1340–1320 Ma) in the rocks of the Southern Zone of the Orue Unit, which underwent probably near‐isobaric heating–cooling paths, are attributed to contact metamorphism induced by the coeval (c. 1385–1319 Ma) emplacement of the Kunene Intrusive Complex, a huge massif‐type anorthosite body. The lower‐pressure metapelites of the Northern Zone are interpreted to record contact metamorphism at an upper crustal level.
Epilepsy surgery in children with seizures arising from the rolandic cortex
Authors: Behdad Amir , Limbrick Jr David D. , Bertrand Mary E. , Smyth Matthew D. 
Published: November 2008

SummaryPurpose:  Medically intractable seizures arising from the sensorimotor (rolandic) cortex present a formidable challenge for epileptologists and epilepsy surgeons. The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of surgical treatment for seizures in this region.Methods:  We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 24 children and adolescents who underwent surgical management of refractory rolandic epilepsy at our institution.Results:  Patient age at the time of surgery ranged between 1.9 and 19.2 years, and median postoperative follow‐up was 2.3 years. Three patients had clear lesions on preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) that correlated with noninvasive electroencephalography (EEG) and underwent single‐stage lesionectomies. Of the 21 patients who underwent invasive monitoring, 19 underwent therapeutic procedures, including lesionectomy, topectomy, and multiple subpial transections. Engel class I and II outcomes were seen in five of six patients (84.0%) after lesionectomy and in seven of nine patients (77.0%) and four of six patients (66.7%) after sensorimotor corticectomy or multiple subpial transections (MSTs), respectively. At last follow‐up, neurologic deficits were observed following 50.0% (n = 3 of 6) of lesionectomies and 67.0% (n = 7 of 9) of topectomies; no neurologic deficits were seen in patients undergoing motor cortex MSTs. No correlation existed between seizure outcome and duration of epilepsy, age at diagnosis, age at surgery, histopathology, or the presence or absence of a discrete lesion.Discussion:  Surgery for appropriately selected children with intractable seizures arising from rolandic cortex was effective and associated with minimal neurologic morbidity in many cases. Engel I–II outcome was achieved in 77% of patients overall, and neurologic deficits were often mild and improved over time. Lesionectomy resulted in the best seizure control, followed by topectomy, and then MSTs.
A randomized trial of classical and medium‐chain triglyceride ketogenic diets in the treatment of childhood epilepsy
Authors: Neal Elizabeth G. , Chaffe Hannah , Schwartz Ruby H. , Lawson Margaret S. , Edwards Nicole , Fitzsimmons Georgiana , Whitney Andrea , Cross J. Helen 
Published: November 2008

SummaryPurpose:  To conduct the first randomized trial on classical and medium‐chain triglyceride (MCT) versions of the ketogenic diet, examining efficacy and tolerability after 3, 6, and 12 months.Methods:  One hundred forty‐five children with intractable epilepsy were randomized to receive a classical or an MCT diet. Seizure frequency was assessed after 3, 6, and 12 months. Treatment withdrawals were documented. Tolerability was assessed by questionnaire, and blood ketone levels were measured.Results:  Of the 61 children who started a classical diet and the 64 who started an MCT diet, data from 94 were available for analysis: 45 classical and 49 MCT. After 3, 6, and 12 months there were no statistically significant differences in mean percentage of baseline seizures between the two groups (3 months: classical 66.5%, MCT 68.9%; 6 months: classical 48.5%, MCT 67.6%; 12 months: classical 40.8%, MCT 53.2%; all p > 0.05). There were no significant differences between groups in numbers achieving greater than 50% or 90% seizure reduction. Serum acetoacetate and β‐hydroxybutyrate levels at 3 and 6 months were significantly higher in children on the classical diet (p < 0.01); this was the case at 12 months for acetoacetate. There were no significant differences in tolerability except increased reports in the classical group of lack of energy after 3 months and vomiting after 12 months.Discussion:  This study has shown classical and MCT ketogenic diet protocols to be comparable in efficacy and tolerability; both ways of implementing the diet have their place in the treatment of childhood epilepsy.