bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Elevation of serum high‐mobility group box 1 protein during granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor‐induced peripheral blood stem cell mobilisation
Authors: Tagami Kozo , Yujiri Toshiaki , Tanimura Atsuko , Mitani Noriyuki , Nakamura Yukinori , Ariyoshi Koichi , Ando Toshihiko , Fujii Yasuhiko , Tanizawa Yukio 
Published: October 2006

SummaryHigh mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is a non‐histone protein involved in maintaining the architecture of chromatin. HMGB1 also acts extracellularly as a cytokine, in processes such as inflammation, cell migration and stem cell recruitment. The involvement of HMGB1 in granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor (G‐CSF)‐induced mobilisation of haematopoietic stem cells was investigated in 21 healthy donors. G‐CSF treatment significantly elevated serum HMGB1 levels, which increased from 1·16 ± 0·86 ng/ml, before treatment, to 31·1 ± 5·99 ng/ml, after treatment. These findings suggest HMGB1 may play a role during the mobilisation of stem cells from the bone marrow into the systemic circulation.
The experience of caring for someone over 75 years of age: results from a Scottish General Practice population
Authors: Jarvis Alison , Worth Allison , Porter Mike 
Published: October 2006

Aims and objectives.  To understand the unpaid carers’ experiences of looking after someone aged over 75 at all stages of their caring career.Background.  The role of, and support for, unpaid carers have become central in the debates surrounding community care in the UK. This paper presents the findings of a study to elicit the complexities of the caring role and inform the Primary Health Care Team to help support carers more effectively.Designs and methods.  A quantitative research design was employed. Carers of people over 75 years of age in a General Practice, who had been previously identified from a screening questionnaire, were sent the Carers Assessment of Difficulties Index, the Carers Assessment of Satisfactions Index and Carers Assessment of Managing Index questionnaires which examine the experience of caring.Results.  From a sample of 247 carers, a 70% response rate (n = 172) was achieved. Satisfactions lay in the quality of care provided; difficulties reflected the potential and actual family tensions generated; coping strategies included reframing difficulties, using humour and practical problem solving. The data show that caregivers’ reactions, such as feeling angry about the situation, or the consequences of their involvement, such as tensions within the family, cause them more difficulties than the actual care‐giving tasks they perform.Conclusion.  This study adds to the understanding of carers’ roles by including carers across a range of situations, including those at an early stage of their caring career. Service providers are better able to support carers if they understand the complex interplay of difficulties, rewards and personal coping strategies associated with the caring role.Relevance to practice.  The study helps illuminate the less obvious, but important, emotional aspects of carers’ difficulties and suggests strategies which service providers may find helpful in assessing carers’ needs and determining the appropriate interventions.
Prevalence and risk factors of intestinal parasites in Cuban children
Authors: Wördemann Meike , Polman Katja , Menocal Heredia Lenina T. , Junco Diaz Raquel , Collado Madurga Ana‐Maria , Núñez Fernández Fidel A. , Cordovi Prado Raúl A. , Ruiz Espinosa Aniran , Pelayo Duran Liliana , Bonet Gorbea Mariano , Rojas Rivero Lázara , Gryseels Bruno 
Published: October 2006

SummaryObjectives  To determine the prevalence of intestinal parasite infections and their risk factors in children in urban and rural settings in two Cuban municipalities.Methods  A total of 1320 Cuban schoolchildren aged 4–14 were tested by stool examination for intestinal parasite infections and evaluated by parental questionnaire for a number of common environmental, sanitary, socioeconomic and behavioural risk factors. Multivariate regression was applied to examine the relationship between the respective parasite infections and the risk factors.Results  Prevalences of intestinal parasite infections were 58% in Fomento and 45% in San Juan y Martínez; for helminth infections, these were 18% and 24% and for protozoa infections, 50% and 29%, respectively. Helminth infections were associated with high parental education (maternal: OR 0.68, CI 0.50–0.93; paternal: OR 0.71, CI 0.52–0.96), absence of toilet (OR 1.57, CI 1.12–2.19), consumption of water from a well or river (OR 0.56, CI 0.41–0.77) and eating unpeeled/unwashed fruit (OR 1.37, CI 1.01–1.87); protozoa infections were only associated with high maternal education (OR 0.72, CI 0.57–0.91).Conclusions  Paediatric intestinal parasite infections are still prevalent in certain areas in Cuba and associated with a number of common environmental, socioeconomic and sanitary risk factors.
Do inherited hypercoagulable states play a role in thrombotic events affecting kidney/pancreas transplant recipients?
Authors: Adrogué Horacio E. , Matas Arthur J. , McGlennon R.C. , Key Nigel S. , Gruessner Angelika , Gruessner Rainer W. , Humar Abhinav , Sutherland David E.R. , Kandaswamy Raja 
Published: October 2006

Abstract:  Background:  Pancreas graft thrombosis remains the leading non‐immunologic cause of graft loss after pancreas transplantation. We studied the role of hypercoagulable states (HCS) in pancreas graft thrombosis (pthx).Methods:  Between January 1, 1994, and January 1, 2003, 131 pancreas transplant recipients experienced a pthx (n = 67) or other thrombotic events. Fifty‐six recipients consented to have their blood drawn and tested for the HCS. These results were compared with a control group of pancreas transplant recipients who did not experience a thrombotic event. Fisher's exact test was used to compare the groups.Results:  We found 18% of the recipients with pancreas thrombosis to have a HCS. Factor V Leiden (FVL) was found in 15% vs. 4% in the control group (p = ns) vs. 3–5% in the general white population. We found 3% of the pancreas thrombosis patients to have a prothrombin gene mutation (PGM) vs. 0% in the control group (p = ns) vs. 1–2% in the general white population.Conclusions:  Of pancreas transplant recipients with thrombosis, 18% had one or more of the most common factors associated with a HCS (FVL or PGM). This can be compared with 4% in a control group and 4–7% in the general white population, respectively. Although the differences are not statistically significant due to small numbers, we feel that the findings may be clinically relevant. While this is only a pilot study, it may be reasonable to screen select pancreas transplant candidates for HCS, especially FVL and PGM, until more data become available.
Role of pre‐transplant marital status in renal transplant outcome
Authors: Naiman Natalie , Baird Bradley C. , Isaacs Ross B. , Koford James K. , Habib Arsalan N. , Wang Ben‐jr , Barenbaum Lev L. , Goldfarb‐Rumyantzev Alexander S. 
Published: October 2006

Abstract:  Background:  End‐stage renal disease is associated with illness‐induced disruptions that challenge patients and their families to accommodate and adapt. However, the impact of patients’ marital status on kidney transplant outcome has never been studied. This project, based on data from United States Renal Data System (USRDS), helps to answer how marriage affects renal transplant outcome.Methods:  Data have been collected from USRDS on all kidney/kidney‐pancreas allograft recipients between January 1, 1995 and June 30, 2002, who were 18 yr old or older and had information about their marital status prior to the kidney transplantation (n = 2061). Survival analysis was performed using Kaplan–Meier methods and Cox proportional hazards modeling to control for confounding variables.Results:  Overall findings of this study suggest that being married has a significant protective effect on death‐censored graft survival [Hazard Ratio (HR) 0.80, p < 0.05] but a non‐significant effect on recipient survival (HR 0.85, p = 0.122). When stratified by gender, the effect was still present in males for death‐censored graft survival (HR 0.75, p < 0.05), but not for recipient survival (HR 0.86, p = 0.24). The effect was not observed in females, where neither graft (HR 0.90, p = 0.55) nor recipient (HR 0.8, p = 0.198) survival had an association with marital status. In subgroup analysis similar association was found in the recipients of a single transplant.Conclusion:  Based on our analysis, being married in the pre‐transplant period is associated with positive outcome for the graft, but not for the recipient survival. When analyzed separately, the effect is present in male, but not in female recipients.
Leg crossers’ dimple: A form of localized lipoatrophy
Authors: Kalouche Hassan , Whitfeld Margot J 
Published: October 2006

SUMMARYWe report eight individuals with localized lipoatrophy of the lateral lower leg that were seen by a single dermatologist in a 1‐year period. All were asymptomatic and half had mild epidermal changes consistent with lichenification. Seven were an incidental finding during a general skin examination. All had a long‐standing history of frequent leg crossing. The sites correlated with the area resting on the patella of the opposing knee. The depressions were larger on sides of leg‐crossing preference. Only one had a significant rise in antinuclear antibodies, but this patient had no other clinical or serological abnormalities. This appears to be an extremely common yet previously unreported form of localized lipoatrophy.
Successful treatment of recalcitrant necrotizing eosinophilic folliculitis using indomethacin and cephalexin
Authors: Fallah Haady , Dunlop Kate , Kossard Steven 
Published: October 2006

SUMMARYA 56‐year‐old man presented with a 4‐month history of a painful and pruritic eruption consisting of crusted plaques and blisters on his face, scalp and chest. The patient suffered from headaches and malaise but was afebrile. Two skin biopsies revealed an epidermis which was eroded and covered by locules of serum and neutrophils. In the underlying dermis, there was a marked mixed inflammatory reaction including lymphocytes, neutrophils and numerous eosinophils. There was exocytosis of eosinophils into several follicles with areas of follicular mucinosis. A diagnosis of necrotizing eosinophilic folliculitis was made based upon the clinical and histopathological findings. The diagnosis was supported by the rapid response to a combination of indomethacin and cephalexin. The patient has taken continuous indomethacin (with rabeprazole and misoprostol cover) and cephalexin for 2 years. If treatment is withdrawn he experiences a flare of his disease within 2 weeks. This case highlights the potentially chronic nature of this disease.
An atypical panniculitis
Authors: Storer Emma 
Published: October 2006

A 33 year old Caucasian male presented with a 6‐week history of purpuric tender nodules, first appearing on his lower legs. Over time, the nodules increased in size and number over his thighs, trunk and later, his face and neck. Initially, he had no associated symptoms and at this time diagnoses such as an atypical erythema nodosum, lupus panniculitis, and infections were considered.Incisional biopsies were taken from the thigh, for histopathology and bacterial, fungal and mycobacterial culture. He also had numerous blood tests and a chest X‐ray. Whilst awaiting conclusive results, the patient became unwell with fevers and a productive cough, precipitating admission for further investigation and management.The biopsy revealed a diffuse lobular panniculitis, characterised by an atypical dermal and subcutaneous lymphohistiocytic infiltrate, with a lymphocytic small and large vessel vasculitis. There were also poorly formed tuberculoid granulomata, more conspicuous in the dermis than the subcutis. The infiltrates of small atypical lymphocytes were interspersed with occasional larger, blastic lymphocytes and histiocytes with bubbly cytoplasm. Some of the histiocytes appeared phagocytic, but this was not a predominant feature. There was no polarisable foreign material and special stains excluded various micro‐organisms. This was supported by negative microscopy and culture of the fresh specimen.Immunocytochemistry demonstrated the diffuse lymphocytic infiltrate was >90% T cells, with majority CD4+. 10% of the T cells were CD56+ and there was no staining with Epstein Barr virus latent membrane protein or CD30. Lymphocyte gene rearrangement studies showed no clonal band on the TCR gamma/delta rearrangement.Based on these findings, it was not possible to either confirm or deny a definite subcutaneous T‐cell lymphoma. The histopathology findings favoured an atypical lymphocytic lobular panniculitis, which usually follows an indolent course. However, further staging revealed lymphomatous infiltrates in both lungs and bone marrow, and flow cytometry confirmed this as a T/NK cell non‐Hodgkin lymphoma, with extensive cutaneous and extra‐nodal involvement.
Flaking failures originating from microholes of bearings under rolling contact fatigue
Authors: KIDA K. , YOSHIDOME K. , YAMAKAWA K. , HARADA H. , OGUMA N. 
Published: October 2006

ABSTRACTRolling contact fatigue tests were carried out using plates with microholes (diameter was about 100 μm and depth was about 140 μm) under three different loads (maximum values of Hertzian stress were about 3250, 3550 and 3840 MPa, respectively) and the surface cracks initiating from those holes were observed. It was found that there is a threshold value of maximum Hertzian stress whether surface cracks originate from microholes or not, and its value is between 3250 and 3550 MPa. However, flaking failures occurred even when the stress values were lower than the threshold value. In order to investigate the relation between the flaking failures and the cracks, sectional observations of the subsurface cracks were made before and after the surface layer separations. From these observations, it was found that the subsurface cracks caused the flaking failures even when the maximum value of Hertzian stress was lower than the threshold value of surface crack initiation.
There's more to macroecology than meets the eye
Authors: Blackburn Tim M. , Gaston Kevin J. 
Published: October 2006

ABSTRACTMacroecology sits at the junction of, and can contribute to, the fields of ecology, biogeography, palaeontology and macroevolution, using a broad range of approaches to tackle a diverse set of questions. Here, we argue that there is more to macroecology than mapping, and that while they are potentially useful, maps are insufficient to assess macroecological pattern and process. The true nature of pattern can only be assessed, and competing hypotheses about process can only be disentangled, by adopting a statistical approach, and it is this that has been key to the development of macroecology as a respected and rigorous scientific discipline.
Cutaneous melioidosis
Authors: Teo Lynn , Tay Yong‐Kwang , Mancer Kent J F 
Published: October 2006

AbstractMelioidosis is an infection caused by the gram‐negative bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei. This disease is endemic in Southeast Asia and North Australia with sporadic occurrence in temperate countries, mostly imported from travellers. Any organ can be involved in melioidosis whereby Burkholderia pseudomallei causes an acute inflammatory reaction with rapid development of small abcesses which tend to coalesce to form larger abscesses. Cutaneous manifestations vary greatly. We report a man with systemic melioidosis who presented with cutaneous lesions.
Brain potentials to mathematical syntax problems
Authors: Martín‐Loeches Manuel , Casado Pilar , Gonzalo Raquel , De Heras Lidia , Fernández‐Frías Carlos 
Published: October 2006

AbstractAnterior negativities obtained during sentence processing have never been unambiguously reported in the mathematical domain. The reason for this might be that the tasks explored in the mathematical domain have been far from resembling those typically yielding language‐related anterior negativities. To test this hypothesis, we explored three mathematical aspects: Order‐relevant information, a parenthesis indicating the onset of an embedded calculation, and violations of the type of symbol displayed. Results yielded parieto‐occipital instead of frontal negativities. Late posterior positivities were also found, largely comparable to linguistic P600 in topography, but dissociable in functional terms. Our data suggest that language‐related anterior negativities may indeed reflect language‐specific resources of the human brain and support recent claims that language and mathematical domains are more independent than previously thought.
The Effect of Immediate Reading of Screening Mammograms on Medical Care Utilization and Costs after False‐Positive Mammograms
Authors: Stewart Kate A. , Neumann Peter J. , Fletcher Suzanne W. , Barton Mary B. 
Published: October 2006

Objective. To investigate whether decreased anxiety associated with immediate reading of screening mammograms resulted in lower downstream utilization and costs among women with false‐positive mammograms.Data Sources/Study Setting. We identified 1,140 women,≥age 40, with false‐positive mammograms and 12‐month follow‐up after participating in a trial of immediate versus batch mammographic reading between February 1999 and January 2001 in a multispecialty group managed care practice in Massachusetts.Study Design. We determined downstream utilization and costs for study participants by immediate and batch reading status.Data Collection/Extraction Methods. Demographic, comorbidity, and medical care utilization data were obtained from survey data and computerized medical record databases. Costs included direct medical costs, patient time, travel and copayments, and additional professional time costs associated with immediate reading.Principal Findings. Immediate reading cost an additional $4.40 per screening mammogram. Women with immediate readings had more follow‐up mammograms (781 versus 750, p=.018) and fewer diagnostic ultrasounds (176 versus 219, p=.016) than women with batch readings. Costs to the health plan for breast care were approximately 10 percent higher for immediate readings in multivariable analyses (p=.046), but no significant difference was seen in total societal costs (p=.072).Conclusions. Immediate mammogram reading was associated with increased costs to the health plan and changes in follow‐up radiology procedures. These costs must be examined alongside beneficial effects of immediate reading.
Disparities Between Ambient, Standard Lighting and Retinal Acuities in Community‐Dwelling Older People: Implications for Disability
Authors: Albert Steven M. , Bear‐Lehman Jane , Burkhardt Ann 
Published: October 2006

OBJECTIVES: To examine three types of visual ability—ambient acuity, standard lighting acuity, and retinal acuity—and their relationship with self‐reported disability.DESIGN: Cross‐sectional prevalence survey.SETTING: New York, New York.PARTICIPANTS: Community‐dwelling older people.MEASUREMENTS: Ambient acuity assessed using a near reading card; standard lighting acuity and retinal acuity assessed using the Retinal Acuity Meter. Difficulty in activities of daily living was assessed according to self‐report.RESULTS: Mean logMAR acuities were 0.44 (20/56) for ambient acuity, 0.33 (20/44) for standard lighting acuity, and 0.19 (20/31) for retinal acuity (all pairwise differences, P<.001). Given the distribution of disability by ambient acuity in this sample, improving ambient acuity to the level of retinal acuity could potentially reduce self‐care disability 22%.CONCLUSION: Better utilization of retinal acuity through optimal ophthalmologic care and improvement in lighting would likely reduce disability in older adults.
The formation of the double pulsar PSR J0737–3039A/B
Authors: Stairs I. H. , Thorsett S. E. , Dewey R. J. , Kramer M. , McPhee C. A. 
Published: October 2006

Abstract
Recent timing observations of the double pulsar J0737∓3039A/B have shown that its transverse velocity is extremely low, only 10 km s−1, and nearly in the plane of the Galaxy. With this new information, we rigorously re-examine the history and formation of this system, determining estimates of the pre-supernova companion mass, supernova kick and misalignment angle between the pre- and post-supernova orbital planes. We find that the progenitor to the recently formed ‘B’ pulsar was probably less than 2 M⊙, lending credence to suggestions that this object may not have formed in a normal supernova involving the collapse of an iron core. At the same time, the supernova kick was likely non-zero. A comparison to the history of the double neutron star binary B1534+12 suggests a range of possible parameters for the progenitors of these systems, which should be taken into account in future binary population syntheses and in predictions of the rate and spatial distribution of short gamma-ray burst events.
Measuring Perceptions of Breast Cancer Risk
Authors: Gurmankin Levy Andrea , Shea Judy , Williams Sankey V. , Quistberg Alex , Armstrong Katrina 
Published: October 2006

Abstract
Background: Accurate measurement of people's risk perceptions is important for numerous bodies of research and in clinical practice, but there is no consensus about the best measure.
Objective: This study evaluated three measures of women's breast cancer risk perception by assessing their psychometric and test characteristics.
Design: A cross-sectional mailed survey to women from a primary care population asked participants to rate their chance of developing breast cancer in their lifetime on a 0% to 100% numerical scale and a verbal scale with five descriptive categories, and to compare their risk to others (seven categories). Six hundred three of 956 women returned the survey (63.1%), and we analyzed surveys from the 566 women without a self-reported personal history of breast or ovarian cancer.
Results: Scores on the numeric, verbal, and comparative measures were correlated with each other (r &gt; 0.50), worry (r &gt; 0.51), the Gail estimate (r &gt; 0.26), and family history (r &gt; 0.25). The numerical scale had the strongest correlation with annual mammogram (r = 0.19), and its correlation with the Gail estimate was unassociated with participants' sociodemographics. The numerical and comparative measures had the highest sensitivity (0.89-0.90) and specificity (0.99) for identifying women with very high risk perception. The numerical and comparative scale also did well in identifying women with very low risk perception, although the numerical scale had the highest specificity (0.96), whereas the comparative scale had the highest sensitivity (0.89).
Conclusion: Different measures of women's perceptions about breast cancer risk have different strengths and weaknesses. Although the numerical measure did best overall, the optimal measure depends on the goals of the measure (i.e., avoidance of false positives or false negatives). (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2006;15(10):1893–8)