bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prolapse worsens with age, doesn't it?
Authors: DIETZ Hans Peter 
Published: December 2008

Background: Female pelvic organ prolapse is common and generally thought to worsen over time. This assumption has recently become less plausible, as the author and others have been able to show that mild to moderate pelvic organ descent is common in young, nulligravid women.Aims: To investigate the relationship between age and pelvic organ prolapse.Methods: The records of 1110 women seen for interview, clinical examination, urodynamics and ultrasound were evaluated in a retrospective study. Data were analysed to investigate the relationship between patient age at presentation and pelvic organ descent on clinical examination and ultrasound imaging.Results: After removal of 139 datasets of women with previous incontinence or prolapse surgery, 971 datasets remained. Mean age was 54 years (17–90), mean vaginal parity was 2.4 (0–12), with 31% complaining of prolapse. We found weak complex relationships between age and cystocele/rectocele staging, with a positive correlation to menopause and a negative relationship thereafter. This was confirmed on imaging findings, with regression showing an almost parabolic fitted line plot for cystocele and rectocele, but a near‐linear curve for uterine prolapse. In nulliparous women, the positive relationship between age and cystocele in premenopausal women was still significant (P = 0.028), indicating that it is not explained by the confounding effect of child bearing.Conclusions: Ageing seems to play a complex role in the aetiology and pathogenesis of pelvic organ prolapse. Our results contradict epidemiological studies showing age to be a major risk factor for pelvic reconstructive surgery and pelvic organ prolapse.
Maternal Prepregnancy Body Mass Index and Delivery of a Preterm Infant in Missouri 1998–2000
Authors: Johnson Teresa S. , Rottier Kara J. , Luellwitz Alison , Kirby Russell S. 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACT
Objective: To determine risk of delivering a preterm infant (<37 weeks) in overweight/obese women.Design: Descriptive.Sample: Population‐based sample of 169,881 singleton Missouri birth certificate records for 1998–2000.Measures: Prepregnancy body mass index (BMI): underweight BMI<19.8; normal BMI=19.8–24.9; overweight BMI=25–29.9; and obese BMI≥30; and preterm birth (<37 completed weeks' gestation).Results: In each BMI category, the percent of women who delivered a preterm infant is: underweight 11.5%, normal 8.3%, overweight 8.2%, and obese 8.5%. For women with a BMI of overweight (odds ratio [OR] 0.9, 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.8–0.9) and obese (OR 0.8, 95% CI=0.8–0.9), the risk of delivering a preterm infant decreased when compared with women with a BMI<19.8. Black (OR=2.5, 95% CI 2.4–2.6) and Hispanic (OR=1.4, 95% CI 1.2–1.5) women had a higher risk of preterm birth than White women when obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and prenatal care were controlled. Women with diabetes (OR=1.4, 95% CI=1.2–1.5), hypertension (OR=3.2, 95% CI=3.1–3.4), and those who smoked (OR=1.6, 95% CI=1.6–1.7) were at increased risk for a preterm birth.Conclusions: Findings suggest that preconception and prenatal care focus on identification and management of risks associated with premature births and maternal risk factors such as diabetes, hypertension, and smoking.
Comparing the Influence of Childhood and Adult Economic Status on Midlife Obesity in Mexican American, White, and African American Women
Authors: Salsberry Pamela J. , Reagan Patricia B. 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACT
Objective: This research addresses the following 2 questions. What is the effect of childhood and adult economic status on midlife obesity in Mexican American women? How do these economic patterns in Mexican American women compare with patterns seen in White women and in African American women?Method: Data were drawn from the U.S. National Longitudinal Survey of Youths 1979–2002 waves. The sample consisted of 422 Mexican Americans, 2,090 Whites, and 1,195 African Americans. The economic indicator used for childhood economic status was parent education; for adult economic status, the participant's own education and adult per capita income were used. Unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios were estimated for the relationship between midlife obesity and economic indicator, stratified by race/ethnic group.Results: There was an increased risk for midlife obesity with disadvantaged economic status measured during childhood and at midlife in Mexican American women. The economic effects on midlife obesity in Mexican American women were similar to those found for White, but not African American women. Few economic influences on obesity at midlife were found for African American women.Conclusions: Strategies that broadly improve the economic conditions of Mexican American women may be one important way to address the obesity epidemic in this population.
Longitudinal Associations Between Alcohol Problems and Depressive Symptoms: Early Adolescence Through Early Adulthood
Authors: Marmorstein Naomi R. 
Published: December 2008

Background:  Alcohol use‐related problems and depressive symptoms are clearly associated with each other, but results regarding the nature of this association have been inconsistent. In addition, the possible moderating effects of age and gender have not been comprehensively examined. The goals of this study were to clarify: (i) how depressive symptoms affect the levels and trajectory of alcohol use‐related problems, (ii) how alcohol use‐related problems affect the levels and trajectory of depressive symptoms, and (iii) whether there are differences in these associations at different points in development or between males and females.Methods:  Participants for this study were drawn from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (AddHealth) data set, a community‐based sample of 20,728 adolescents followed from adolescence through early adulthood. Multilevel models were used to assess how each problem affected the level and rate of change in the other problem over time; gender was considered as a possible moderator of these associations.Results:  The results indicated that alcohol use‐related problems and depressive symptoms had reciprocal, positive associations with each other during the period from early adolescence through early adulthood; however, these effects differed somewhat by gender and age. High levels of depressive symptoms were associated with higher initial levels of alcohol problems (particularly among females), as well as faster increases in alcohol problems over time among males. High levels of alcohol problems were associated with higher initial levels of depressive symptoms (particularly among females), as well as less curvature in the slope of depressive symptoms so that although there was a large difference between people with high and low depressive symptoms in early adolescence, by early adulthood the difference was smaller (particularly among females).Conclusions:  These results highlight the importance of examining gender and age in studies on the associations between affective disorders and substance use disorders.
Characterization of White Matter Microstructure in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
Authors: Fryer Susanna L. , Schweinsburg Brian C. , Bjorkquist Olivia A. , Frank Lawrence R. , Mattson Sarah N. , Spadoni Andrea D. , Riley Edward P. 
Published: December 2008

Background:  Exposure to alcohol during gestation is associated with CNS alterations, cognitive deficits, and behavior problems. This study investigated microstructural aspects of putative white matter abnormalities following prenatal alcohol exposure.Methods:  Diffusion tensor imaging was used to assess white matter microstructure in 27 youth (age range: 8 to 18 years) with (n = 15) and without (n = 12) histories of heavy prenatal alcohol exposure. Voxelwise analyses, corrected for multiple comparisons, compared fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) between groups, throughout the cerebrum.Results:  Prenatal alcohol exposure was associated with low FA in multiple cerebral areas, including the body of the corpus callosum and white matter innervating bilateral medial frontal and occipital lobes. Fewer between‐group differences in MD were observed.Conclusions:  These data provide an account of cerebral white matter microstructural integrity in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders and support extant literature showing that white matter is a target of alcohol teratogenesis. The white matter anomalies characterized in this study may relate to the neurobehavioral sequelae associated with gestational alcohol exposure, especially in areas of executive dysfunction and visual processing deficits.
Demonstration of the principles of enzyme‐catalysed reactions using alkaline phosphatase
Authors: C.Price Nicholas , Newman Bethan L. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractThe activity of the enzyme alkaline phosphatase can be conveniently measured spectrophotometrically using 4‐nitrophenylphos‐phate as substrate. This article describes an integrated series of experiments involving the enzyme in which a number of valuable experimental and analytical skills can be developed. A suitable assay procedure for the enzyme is established and this is then used to explore a number of features of the enzyme‐catalysed reaction. These include the dependence of the rate of reaction on substrate concentration, pH and presence of inhibitors. Studies of the temperature‐dependence of the reaction rate in the presence and absence of alkaline phosphatase provide valuable insights into the degree of rate enhancement brought about by the enzyme. © 2000 IUBMB. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Increasing student involvement in lectures by error‐prone talks
Authors: Tomaska Lubomir 
Published: December 2008

AbstractA substantial number of intermediate‐size courses take place in a format of the traditional lecture. However, due to their inherently passive nature, the lectures represent a relatively poor teaching technique. Here, I outline an effective approach for eliciting student involvement in the lecture. The approach named ‘the error‐prone talk’ is based on the students' identification of errors consciously generated by the teacher during the talk. A simple credit system motivates the students to actively participate in the course and has a positive impact on the level of the understanding of basic concepts. © 2000 IUBMB. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
A Deductive Mapping Strategy for Atrial Tachycardia Following Atrial Fibrillation Ablation: Importance of Localized Reentry
Authors: JAÏS PIERRE , MATSUO SEIICHIRO , KNECHT SEBASTIEN , WEERASOORIYA RUKSHEN , HOCINI MÉLÈZE , SACHER FRÉDERIC , WRIGHT MATTHEW , NAULT ISABELLE , LELLOUCHE NICOLAS , KLEIN GEORGE , CLÉMENTY JACQUES , HAÏSSAGUERRE MICHEL 
Published: December 2008

Background:
Atrial tachycardia (AT) occurring following catheter ablation of persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) may be challenging to map and ablate because their mechanism and location is unpredictable and may be multiple in an individual patient.
Methods and Results:
A prospective cohort of 128 consecutive patients presenting 246 AT in the context of prior AF ablation was investigated. Using activation and entrainment mapping and applying the consensus definition of AT, we evaluated a deductive diagnostic approach based on up to three steps: (1) cycle length regularity, (2) search for macroreentry (i.e., involving >2 separate atrial segments), and (3) if macroreentry excluded, search for focal origin giving a centrifugal activation of the atria. A total of 238/246 (97%) sustained AT (mean cycle length [CL] 284 ± 87 ms) were successfully mapped (single AT, 51 pts; multiple AT, 77 pts) with a diagnostic time of 10 ± 8 min per tachycardia. AT were macroreentrant in 109 (46%) and focal in 129 (54%). Of the latter, only 34 focal AT originated from a discrete point site fulfilling the consensus criteria, while a distinct mechanism, localized reentry (AT that was neither macro reentry nor focal), was identified in 95. Localized reentry was defined by (1) electrograms covering ≥75% of the cycle length of AT within an area covering a single or 2 contiguous segments, (2) postpacing interval (PPI) < 30 ms at the site, (3) an identifiable zone of slow conduction, and (4) centrifugal activation of the atrium from the area.
Conclusions:
This prospective study demonstrates the feasibility of rapid and accurate identification of all types of postablation AT in a large cohort of patients and describes the dominant role of localized reentry as a novel mechanism of AT.
Complete removable prostheses: from expectation to (dis)satisfaction
Authors: De Souza e Silva Maria Elisa , De Magalhães Cláudia Silami , E Ferreira Efigênia Ferreira 
Published: December 2008

Objective:  The purpose of this survey was to increase our knowledge on the experience and feelings of edentulous people, 6 months after having acquired and worn a pair of complete removable prostheses.Background:  The incorporation of conventional, complete removable prostheses may be an appropriate treatment which can result in an improvement in the quality of life of people who have lost their teeth.Methods:  The 12 patients of the sample were interviewed individually according to a semi‐structured questionnaire so as to create an atmosphere for open conversation regarding the subject matter. For each participant, photographs, before dental treatment and after the use of the prostheses, were taken. The images of the prostheses were reviewed and impressions were collected.Results:  The analysis of participant’s statements allowed one to verify if the complete removable prostheses improved the quality of life; however, difficulties encountered could lead users to abandon their prostheses.Conclusion:  Appropriate investment on the part of health professionals, together with the clarification of information and the monitoring of patients, may well minimise these difficulties.
Isolation and characterization of microsatellite markers from the phytopathogenic fungus Alternaria dauci
Authors: BENICHOU SOUMAYA , DONGO ANITA , HENNI DJAMEL EDDINE , PELTIER DIDIER , SIMONEAU PHILIPPE 
Published: December 2008

AbstractEleven polymorphic microsatellite markers were isolated from the necrotrophic phytopathogenic fungus Alternaria dauci based on enriched genomic libraries. In order to assess allelic variability, the microsatellite loci were analysed in a collection of 43 isolates. The number of detected alleles in 11 loci ranged from two to 24 (mean 10.4). Test of cross‐species amplification and sequencing of the resulting amplicons showed that some of these microsatellites could be used in different species such as Alternaria solani, Alternaria bataticola and Alternaria zinniae.
Fifteen polymorphic microsatellite markers for the giant spiny frog, Paa spinosa
Authors: ZHENG RONG‐QUAN , YE RONGHUI , YU YANYAN , YANG GUANG 
Published: December 2008

AbstractWe characterized 15 polymorphic microsatellite loci for the giant spiny frog, Paa spinosa. These loci were highly polymorphic when screened in 38 individuals from two different populations, with nine to 23 alleles per locus. The range of observed and expected heterozygosities was 0.231–0.916 and 0.296–0.944, respectively. These polymorphic loci will be useful for assessing genetic diversity, population structure, gene flow, population assignment and determining paternity in the giant spiny frog.
Neonatal haemoglobinopathy screening in Belgium
Authors: Gulbis B , Cotton F , Ferster A , Ketelslegers O , Dresse M F , Rongé-Collard E , Minon J M , Lé P Q , Vertongen F 
Published: December 2008

Background:A neonatal haemoglobinopathy screening programme was implemented in Brussels more than a decade ago and in Liège 5 years ago; the programme was adapted to the local situation.Methods:Neonatal screening for haemoglobinopathies was universal, performed using liquid cord blood and an isoelectric focusing technique. All samples with abnormalities underwent confirmatory testing. Major and minor haemoglobinopathies were reported. Affected children were referred to a specialist centre. A central database in which all screening results were stored was available and accessible to local care workers. A central clinical database to monitor follow-up is under construction.Results:A total of 191 783 newborns were screened. One hundred and twenty-three (1:1559) newborns were diagnosed with sickle cell disease, seven (1:27 398) with β thalassaemia major, five (1:38 357) with haemoglobin H disease, and seven (1:27 398) with haemoglobin C disease. All major haemoglobinopathies were confirmed, and follow-up of the infants was undertaken except for three infants who did not attend the first medical consultation despite all efforts.Conclusions:The universal neonatal screening programme was effective because no case of major haemoglobinopathy was identified after the neonatal period. The affected children received dedicated medical care from birth. The screening programme, and specifically the reporting of minor haemoglobinopathies, has been an excellent health education tool in Belgium for more than 12 years.
A comparison of journal instructions regarding institutional review board approval and conflict-of-interest disclosure between 1995 and 2005
Authors: Rowan-Legg A , Weijer C , Gao J , Fernandez C 
Published: December 2008

Objectives:To compare 2005 and 1995 ethics guidelines from journal editors to authors regarding requirements for institutional review board (IRB) approval and conflict-of-interest (COI) disclosure.Design:A descriptive study of the ethics guidelines published in 103 English-language biomedical journals listed in theAbridged Index Medicusin 1995 and 2005. Each journal was reviewed by the principal author and one of four independent reviewers.Results:During the period, the proportion of journals requiring IRB approval increased from 42% (95% CI 32.2% to 51.2%, p<0.001) to 76% (95% CI 66.4% to 83.1%, p<0.001). In 2005, an additional 9% referred to theDeclaration of Helsinkior the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors’Uniform requirements for ethical guidelines; 15% (95% CI 8.5% to 22.5%, p<0.01) provided ambiguous or no requirements. The proportion of journals requiring COI disclosure increased from 75% (95% CI 66.6% to 83.3%, p<0.05) to 94% (95% CI 89.4% to 98.6%, p<0.05); 41% had comprehensive requirements, while some addressed only funding source (6%), were vague (10%) or both (14%). Criteria for authorship rose from 40% (95% CI 30.5% to 49.5%, p<0.05) to 72% (95% CI 63.3% to 80.7%, p<0.05). Journals with higher impact factors were more likely to require IRB approval (p<0.01). Journals in anaesthesia and radiology all required IRB approval; requirements in other disciplines varied.Conclusions:Instructions to authors regarding ethical standards have improved. Some remain incomplete, especially regarding the scope of disclosure of COI. The ethical guidelines presented to authors need further clarification and standardisation.
Bubble trouble: a review of diving physiology and disease
Authors: Levett D Z H , Millar I L 
Published: December 2008

Abstract
Exposure to the underwater environment for recreational or occupational purposes is increasing. Approximately 7 million divers are active worldwide and 500 000 more are training every year. Diving related illnesses are consequently an increasingly common clinical problem with over 1000 cases of decompression illness reported annually in the USA alone. Divers are exposed to a number of physiological risks as a result of the hyperbaric underwater environment including: the toxic effects of hyperbaric gases, the respiratory effects of increased gas density, drowning, hypothermia and bubble related pathophysiology. Understanding the nature of this pathophysiology provides insight into physiological systems under stress and as such may inform translational research relevant to clinical medicine. We will review current diving practice, the physics and physiology of the hyperbaric environment, and the pathophysiology and treatment of diving related diseases. We will discuss current developments in diving research and some potential translational research areas.
Application of Coupled Bred Vectors to Seasonal-to-Interannual Forecasting and Ocean Data Assimilation
Authors: Yang Shu-Chih , Keppenne Christian , Rienecker Michele , Kalnay Eugenia 
Published: December 2008

Abstract
Coupled bred vectors (BVs) generated from the NASA Global Modeling and Assimilation Office (GMAO) coupled general circulation model are designed to capture the uncertainties related to slowly varying coupled instabilities. Two applications of the BVs are investigated in this study.
First, the coupled BVs are used as initial perturbations for ensemble-forecasting purposes. Results show that the seasonal-to-interannual variability forecast skill can be improved when the oceanic and atmospheric perturbations are initialized with coupled BVs. The impact is particularly significant when the forecasts are initialized from the cold phase of tropical Pacific SST (e.g., August and November), because at these times the early coupled model errors, not accounted for in the BVs, are small.
Second, the structure of the BVs is applied to construct hybrid background error covariances carrying flow-dependent information for the ocean data assimilation. Results show that the accuracy of the ocean analyses is improved when Gaussian background covariances are supplemented with a term obtained from the BVs. The improvement is especially noticeable for the salinity field.
Surface Temperature Variations in East Africa and Possible Causes
Authors: Christy John R. , Norris William B. , McNider Richard T. 
Published: December 2008

Abstract
Surface temperatures have been observed in East Africa for more than 100 yr, but heretofore have not been subject to a rigorous climate analysis. To pursue this goal monthly averages of maximum (TMax), minimum (TMin), and mean (TMean) temperatures were obtained for Kenya and Tanzania from several sources. After the data were organized into time series for specific sites (60 in Kenya and 58 in Tanzania), the series were adjusted for break points and merged into individual gridcell squares of 1.25°, 2.5°, and 5.0°.
Results for the most data-rich 5° cell, which includes Nairobi, Mount Kilimanjaro, and Mount Kenya, indicate that since 1905, and even recently, the trend of TMax is not significantly different from zero. However, TMin results suggest an accelerating temperature rise.
Uncertainty estimates indicate that the trend of the difference time series (TMax − TMin) is significantly less than zero for 1946–2004, the period with the highest density of observations. This trend difference continues in the most recent period (1979–2004), in contrast with findings in recent periods for global datasets, which generally have sparse coverage of East Africa.
The differences between TMax and TMin trends, especially recently, may reflect a response to complex changes in the boundary layer dynamics; TMax represents the significantly greater daytime vertical connection to the deep atmosphere, whereas TMin often represents only a shallow layer whose temperature is more dependent on the turbulent state than on the temperature aloft.
Because the turbulent state in the stable boundary layer is highly dependent on local land use and perhaps locally produced aerosols, the significant human development of the surface may be responsible for the rising TMin while having little impact on TMax in East Africa. This indicates that time series of TMax and TMin should become separate variables in the study of long-term changes.