bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sponge eating: is it an obsessive compulsive disorder or an unusual form of pica?
Authors: Gupta A , Rajput S , Maduabuchi G , Kumar P 
Published: October 2007

AbstractAssociation of pica, iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) and celiac disease (CD) have been reported in the literature. An unusual but completely reversible form of pica in the form obsessive compulsive sponge eating (pervasive disorder) was reported as an odd manifestation of IDA and CD.Conclusion: The medical practice is full of challenges and complexity; and clinicians need to be vigilant all the time in their practice to appreciate unusual and rare manifestations of common clinical conditions like IDA and CD.
Severe child abuse: a study of cases reported to the police
Authors: Annerbäck E‐M , Lindell C , Svedin CG , Gustafsson PA 
Published: October 2007

AbstractAim: To investigate the characteristics of severe abuse of children and possible differences in comparison with less severe abuse.Method: Cases of abuse reported to the police within a single police district (n = 142) in Sweden were studied. The severe cases were compared to all the remaining cases.Results: Severe abuse constituted 14% of the total cases and was reported by agencies to a greater degree than minor cases. The suspected perpetrators were socially disadvantaged people in both groups. Half of the most serious cases led to conviction in the courts, compared to 8% in the reference group. The children who had been subjected to abuse were often already known to social services and reports of child abuse had frequently been made.Conclusion: In comparison between cases of severe and minor child abuse reported to the police, the results did not show any crucial differences except the pattern of reporting and a higher occurrence of prosecution/conviction in the severe cases. This finding places a responsibility on agencies outside of the justice system to consider all cases of reported abuse as serious warning signals and to make independent evaluations to identify risks and the possible need for child protection.
Kikuchi‐Fujimoto disease manifesting as recurrent thrombocytopenia and Mobitz type II atrioventricular block in a 7‐year‐old girl: a case report and analysis of 138 Chinese childhood Kikuchi‐Fujimoto cases with 10 years of follow‐up in 97 patients
Authors: Jun‐Fen Fu , Chun‐Lin Wang , Li Liang , Dayan Colin , Guan‐Ping Dong , Fang Hong 
Published: October 2007

AbstractBackground: The diagnosis of Kikuchi‐Fujimoto disease (KFD) is challenging for a paediatrician. Recognizing unusual clinical presentations and features of KFD is essential for doctors to obtain a thorough understanding of this clinical entity.Method: We reported a case recently diagnosed in our ward with manifestation of recurrent thrombocytopenia and Mobitz type II atrioventricular block, which is very unusual in childhood KFD. We also used three powerful Chinese Journal Search Engines (Cqvip.com, Wanfang.data and ScienceChina) to search the cases reported in China from 1989 to 2006.Results: One hundred seventy‐three patients younger than 16 years old with pathologic proof of KFD were identified. Among them, 138 cases with detailed clinical records from eight different provinces and cities were analyzed, and of which 97 patients were followed‐up for average of 10 years and the outcomes are discussed.Conclusions: KFD is characterized by a spectrum of distinctive features, but also a variety of systemic manifestations. A hyperimmune reaction to unidentified agents as well as an autoimmune component may play an important role in this disease. Early corticosteroid therapy may improve the long‐term prognosis of KFD in children.
Secular trends of pedometer‐determined physical activity in Swedish school children
Authors: Raustorp Anders , Ludvigsson Johnny 
Published: October 2007

AbstractAim: To explore the secular trends (time change) of pedometer‐determined physical activity (steps per day) in Swedish schoolchildren 7–9 years of age from 2000 to 2006. It was an additional aim to examine the secular trends in body mass index.Methods: The study was analyzed between two cross‐sectional cohorts on children 7–9 years of age carried out in October 2000 (336 children, 153 girls) and March/April 2006 (168 children, 83 girls) in the same five schools in south eastern Sweden, using identical procedures at the two occasions. Data of mean steps per day were collected during four consecutive weekdays (sealed pedometer Yamax SW‐200 Tokyo, Japan) and in addition height and weight were measured.Results: Physical activity (mean steps per day) was significantly higher in 2006 than in 2000 among girls (13788 vs. 15141 steps per day) and boys (15991 vs. 16973 steps per day). The share of girls and boys to meet the preliminary weight control recommendations of 12000 and 15000 steps per day respectively was higher in 2006 than in 2000: 90% versus 75% (girls) and 67% versus 60% (boys).Conclusion: The level of physical activity (steps per day) during school weekdays was higher in 2006 than in 2000. Enhanced focus on physical activity in society and at school might have influenced the result.
‘Thair is Richt Litill Play at My Hungrie Hart’: Politics and Play in David Lyndsay's Ane Satyre of the Thrie Estaitis
Authors: Martin Joanna 
Published: October 2007

Abstract Ane Satyre of the Thrie Estaitis is the only extant play by the prolific poet Sir David Lyndsay of the Mount, and the only surviving dramatic text from pre‐Reformation Scotland. Acknowledged to be controversial in its own time, the play was devised in c.1540, and reworked for performances in Cupar and Edinburgh in the 1550s. Its composition thus spans a particularly troubled period in Scottish history, and in its action Lyndsay examines the possibilities of political and religious reform with great contemporaneity. The play also explores the meta‐theatrical question of the ability of dramatic performance to facilitate social and governmental reform, and the capacity of theatre to influence the personal ethics of its audience. In order to explore these theatrical and moral issues Lyndsay creates a rich and sophisticated drama which draws on the tradition of the medieval morality play, contemporary European dramatic forms and his native Scots literary tradition.
Cultural Shaping of Self, Emotion, and Well‐Being: How Does It Work?
Authors: Kitayama Shinobu , Park Hyekyung 
Published: October 2007

AbstractIn this paper, we review the existent literature to propose that (i) different cultures have distinct views of self, which are instrumental in organizing daily routines, practices, and public meanings, (ii) the resulting behavioral environment shapes personal motivational propensities, (iii) the behavioral environment also carries information about normative expectations about what it is to be a ‘good’ person, and, as a consequence, (iv) culture has substantive influences on emotion, well‐being, and health. In making this proposal, we highlight the distinction between personal motivational propensities and the society's normative expectations. The consequences of the cultural views of self on personal motivational propensities and those on the society's normative expectations may typically be concordant and, yet, the concordance can be disrupted especially at times of rapid social change. Directions for future research on culture, emotion, and well‐being are discussed.
Toward a Social Psychology of Culture and Globalization: Some Social Cognitive Consequences of Activating Two Cultures Simultaneously
Authors: Chiu Chi‐Yue , Cheng Shirley Y. Y. 
Published: October 2007

AbstractDespite the increased attention given to cultural phenomena in social psychology, the field has neglected issues related to globalization's cultural impacts. Meanwhile, opinions in the debates over these issues are divided, polarized, and often motivated by political and ideological commitments. Globalization has brought symbols of diverse cultures together and provided ample opportunities for the simultaneous activation of two or more cultural representations. Using our research on the social cognitive consequences of activating two cultural representations simultaneously as an example, we argue for constructing a social psychology of globalization that offers nuanced understandings of people's psychological responses to globalization. Although simultaneous activation of cultural representations does not determine an individual's cultural identity, it enlarges the felt distinctions between different identity options and magnifies the effects of identity choice. Furthermore, in situations that emphasize appropriating intellectual resources from diverse cultures to foster creativity, simultaneous activation of cultural representations may facilitate creative performance.
Human intrahepatic biliary epithelial cell as a possible modulator of hepatic regeneration: Potential role of biliary epithelial cell for hepatic remodeling in vivo
Authors: Komori Atsumasa , Nakamura Minoru , Fujiwara Shinsuke , Yano Koji , Fujioka Hikaru , Migita Kiyoshi , Yatsuhashi Hiroshi , Ishibashi Hiromi 
Published: October 2007

Background:  During liver regeneration, the process of hepatic wound healing, a complex cascade of inflammatory signals, recruit inflammatory cells, stimulate hepatobiliary cell proliferation, direct cell migration and induce vascularization to restore tissue integrity, irrespective of its etiology. This might also be the case in cholangiopathies, in which the initial target is the branch of the intrahepatic biliary tree; that is, primary biliary cirrhosis. Previous studies about biliary wound healing focused mainly on the inducers of compensatory biliary proliferation following bile duct insult. Nevertheless, the microenvironment around biliary wound healing responses, which in turn might affect hepatic remodeling, possibly by biliary epithelial cells themselves via paracrine manner, is still less known.Methods:  In this study, we defined the humoral factors that are released from human intrahepatic biliary epithelial cell lines (HIBEC) with human cytokine array, and reviewed their relevance according to the previous published work.Results:  Conditioned medium of HIBEC were revealed to be rich in multiple cytokines and chemokines, including ELR+CXC chemokines, such as interleukin‐8/CXCL8, growth‐related oncoprotein (GRO), epithelial neutrophil chemoattractant (ENA‐78), known chemoattractants with a wide range of non‐leukocytic activities. Subsequent enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay analyses confirmed that the secretion was commonly observed in various culture conditions and in both an apical and basolateral direction.Conclusions:  Considering that some of these factors had been already reported to have direct autocrine mitogenic influence on HIBEC, these findings could further strengthen an active role of HIBEC as a modulator of hepatic regeneration, through its biological reactivity on inflamed milieu.
Long‐term clinical outcome of living‐donor liver transplantation for primary biliary cirrhosis
Authors: Hashimoto Etsuko , Taniai Makiko , Yatsuji Satoru , Tokushige Katsutoshi , Shiratori Keiko , Yamamoto Masakazu , Fuchinoue Syouhei 
Published: October 2007

Aim:  We described the recurrence of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) after living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) (Liver Transplantation, 7, 2001: 588). However, since the follow‐up period in that study was insufficiently long (median 35.5 months), we performed a long‐term study to further characterize recurrence of PBC after LDLT.Patients:  From 1991 to 2006, 15 patients with end‐stage PBC underwent LDLT at Tokyo Women's Medical University. Of these patients, we studied 8 PBC patients (age 29 to 51 years, all females) who survived LDLT for more than 5 years. The follow‐up period for these patients ranged form 68 to 120 months. Immunosuppression was maintained with tacrolimus and prednisone. Laboratory examinations performed in every patient and donor before LDLT included routine biochemical studies, antimitochondrial antibody (AMA) by immunofluorescence (IF), anti‐M2 by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay as well as antinuclear antibody (ANA) by IF, and immunoglobulin. After LDLT, the same laboratory examinations were performed in patients every 6 months. Liver biopsy was performed when patients exhibited clinical or biochemical signs of graft dysfunction. In addition, protocol biopsy was performed every 1 to 2 years after LDLT.Results:  At the time of LDLT, all patients had end‐stage cholestatic liver failure. Seven patients were positive for AMAand anti‐M2 while 1 patient was negative for these markers but strongly positive for ANA. Donors were blood relatives in 6 cases, and 2 donors who were not blood relatives still exhibited multiple HLA matches with the recipients. At the end of the study in May 2006, all patients were doing well. On laboratory examination, mild abnormal liver function test results were found in 4 patients: 3 were probably due to recurrence of PBC, 1 resulted from nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Comparison of the AMA titer between before LDLT and the most recent follow‐up visit showed an increase in three patients, a decrease in two patients and no change in three patients. In contrast, the ANA titer increased in five patients. Histologically, strong evidence of recurrent PBC was found in 4 patients, and findings compatible with PBC were present in 2 additional patients.Conclusions:  Although the number of our patients is small, our findings confirm that PBC can recur at high frequency after LDLT. However, this complication has not developed to advanced stages and has not caused appreciable symptoms in our patients, all of whom have a good quality of life.
Diagnostic criteria for autoimmune hepatitis
Authors: Lohse Ansgar W. , Hennes Elke 
Published: October 2007

Diagnosis of Autoimmune Hepatitis (AIH) often represents a clinical challenge. The clinical spectrum of disease is quite heterogeneous. AIH can affect patients of all age groups, both sexes, and any race and region. The course may range from subclinical and very mild to acute attacks of hepatitis up to fulminant hepatic failure. Other patients present very late with the picture of cryptogenic cirrhosis. Laboratory features may also differ. Autoantibodies vary, and some patients do not display any autoantibodies at the time of clinical presentation. SLA/LP‐autoantibodies are the only antibodies specific for the diagnosis of AIH, but they are only present in about 20% of cases. The most common feature in all patients with AIH is an elevation of IgG levels, usually a selective or highly preferential elevation of IgG in comparison to IgA and IgM. However, in some patients the relative increase in IgG levels may be within the normal limits, because the normal range is quite wide. The diagnosis of AIH should not be made without a liver biopsy showing inflammatory hepatitis. Histology mayshow typical features such as enrichment of plasma cells and piecemeal necroses, but distinction from other inflammatory liver disease including allergic drug reactions may be difficult.The International Autoimmune Hepatitis Group has tried to define diagnostic criteria on the basis of consensus discussions. These were revised in 1999 in the light of some clinical studies. However, the criteria are complicated, and not useful in everyday practise. In addition, the criteria were only designed as a scientific tool in order to create comparable groups in publication from different centres. Therefore, the International Autoimmune Hepatitis Group has re‐approached the problem with the aim of defining simplified criteria for everyday use. With the help of various specialised centres in the world we evaluated a number of hypothetical criteria, and found out, that four criteria with two categories are sufficient to either make or exclude the diagnosis of AIH with positive and negative predictive values well over 90%:

1 point
2 points

1. IgG
>16 g/l
>18 g/l

2. ANA, SMA
>1 : 40
>1 : 80 or SLA/LP+

3. Histology
compatible with
typical for AIH

4. Viral markers

negative

A value of 6 or more points makes the diagnosis of AIH very likely, a value of 7 or 8 points demonstrates definite AIH. The simplified criteria should help in the diagnosis of AIH in patients with liver disease, and they seem to be valid world‐wide. Prospective data are needed to validate these criteria further.
Use of Synthetic Derivatives To Determine the Minimal Active Structure of Cytokine-Inducing Lipoteichoic Acid
Authors: Deininger Susanne , Figueroa-Perez Ignacio , Sigel Stefanie , Stadelmaier Andreas , Schmidt Richard R. , Hartung Thomas , von Aulock Sonja 
Published: October 2007

ABSTRACT

Lipoteichoic acid (LTA) from gram-positive bacteria is the counterpart to lipopolysaccharide from gram-negative bacteria. LTA, which activates Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2), induces a unique cytokine and chemokine pattern. The chemical synthesis of LTA proved its immunostimulatory properties. To determine the minimal active structure of LTA, we reduced synthetic LTA in a number of steps down to the synthetic anchor and employed these molecules to stimulate interleukin-8 (IL-8) release in human whole blood. Ten times more of the synthetic structures with four to six
d
-alanine-substituted polyglycerophosphate units (50 nM) than of the native LTA preparation was required to induce IL-8 release. A further reduction to three backbone units with two or no
d
-alanine residues resulted in cytokine induction only from 500 nM. The synthetic anchor was not able to induce IL-8 release even at 5 μM. When the LTA derivatives were used at 500 nM, they induced increasing levels of IL-8 and tumor necrosis factor alpha with increasing elongation of the backbone. Peritoneal macrophages were less responsive than human blood to the synthetic structures. Therefore, TLR2 dependency could be shown only with cells from TLR2-deficient mice for the two largest synthetic structures. This was confirmed by using TLR2-transfected HEK 293 cells. Taken together, these data indicate that although the synthetic anchor (which, unlike the native anchor, contains only myristic acid) cannot induce cytokine release, the addition of three backbone units, even without
d
-alanine substituents, confers this ability. Lengthening of the chain with
d
-alanine-substituted backbone units results in increased cytokine-inducing potency and a more sensitive response.
Longitudinal Tracking of Cytokines after Acute Exposure to Tuberculosis: Association of Distinct Cytokine Patterns with Protection and Disease Development
Authors: Hussain Rabia , Talat Najeeha , Shahid Firdaus , Dawood Ghaffar 
Published: October 2007

ABSTRACT

Household contacts (HCs) of patients with tuberculosis (TB) are at higher risk of infection as well as the development of active disease. Longitudinal tracking of antigen-specific cytokines after acute exposure may significantly advance our understanding of the dynamic changes in cytokine patterns associated with disease establishment. To achieve this objective, we carried out a prospective cohort study with healthy HCs after exposure to TB. The patterns of cytokines (gamma interferon [IFN-γ] and interleukin 10 [IL-10]) in response to mycobacterial antigens (culture filtrate [CF] proteins) and nonspecific mitogens (phytohemagglutinin [PHA] and lipopolysaccharide [LPS]) were assessed at 0, 6, 12, and 24 months after exposure. Seven of 109 (6.4%) HCs developed active disease. Six of the seven individuals were females, and active disease developed between 12 and 15 months after exposure in 5/20 families. The most significant findings were the exponential increases (∼1,000-fold) in both the CF protein- and the PHA- or LPS-induced IFN-γ/IL-10 ratio in healthy HCs (
n
= 26), which peaked at 12 months, compared to the levels in HCs who developed disease (
n
= 7), in whom relatively flat responses were observed during the 24-month period. Linear trends for 0 to 12 and 0 to 24 months for the CF protein-induced IFN-γ/IL-10 ratio showed significant differences between the two groups, as determined by the use of the Mantel extension test for χ
2
analysis (odds ratio = 0.45; 95% confidence interval = 0.295 to 0.685;
P
= 0.0002). Our results strongly suggest that the magnitude of the IFN-γ/IL-10 ratio at 12 months after exposure may be a critical determinant in the resolution of infection. These studies provide new insights into the cytokine responses associated with disease establishment or the resolution of infection after natural exposure to TB and have implications for TB control programs as well vaccine efficacy studies.
Use of an Experimental Model To Test the Efficacy of Planned Exposure to Live Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus
Authors: Opriessnig Tanja , Baker Rodney B. , Halbur Patrick G. 
Published: October 2007

ABSTRACTThe objectives of this study were to test the efficacy and safety of planned exposure to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) in protecting naïve and previously exposed pigs against PRRSV challenge and to gain information on the dose of PRRSV necessary to induce a protective immune response. Fifty 2-week-old pigs were randomly assigned to one of five groups: a group exposed to a low dose of autogenous PRRSV vaccine (the L-VAC group), a group exposed to a high dose of autogenous vaccine (the H-VAC group), a group exposed to a low dose of a heterologous PRRSV strain (strain SDSU73) prior to planned exposure (the SDSU73-L-VAC group), a group exposed to a high dose of a heterologous PRRSV strain (strain SDSU73) prior to planned exposure (the SDSU73-H-VAC group), and a control group. All groups were challenged with PRRSV VR2385 5 weeks after the planned exposure. Necropsy was done 2 weeks after the PRRSV challenge. The H-VAC, SDSU73-L-VAC, and SDSU73-H-VAC groups had significantly (P< 0.05) less severe clinical disease (sneezing, respiratory scores, and weight gain), significantly (P< 0.05) less severe macroscopic and microscopic lung lesions, and significantly (P< 0.05) lower numbers of PRRSV genomic copy numbers in their sera compared to the results for the control group. Planned exposure to live PRRSV can be used as an inexpensive and effective way to decrease the severity of PRRSV-induced disease following subsequent challenge.
Evaluation of a Multiplexed PCR Assay for Detection of Respiratory Viral Pathogens in a Public Health Laboratory Setting
Authors: Marshall David J. , Reisdorf Erik , Harms Gerda , Beaty Edward , Moser Michael J. , Lee Wai-Ming , Gern James E. , Nolte Frederick S. , Shult Pete , Prudent James R. 
Published: October 2007

ABSTRACT
There are numerous viral and bacterial causes of respiratory disease. To enable rapid and sensitive detection of even the most prevalent causes, there is a need for more-simplified testing systems that enable researchers and clinicians to perform multiplexed molecular diagnostics quickly and easily. To this end, a new multiplexed molecular test called the MultiCode-PLx respiratory virus panel (PLx-RVP) was developed and then implemented in a public health laboratory setting. A total of 687 respiratory samples were analyzed for the presence of 17 viruses that commonly cause respiratory disease. As a comparator, the samples were also tested using a standard testing algorithm that included the use of a real-time influenza virus A and B reverse transcription-PCR test and routine viral culture identification. The standard testing algorithm identified 503 (73%) samples as positive and 184 as negative. Analyzing the same 687 samples, the PLx-RVP assay detected one or more targets in 528 (77%) samples and found 159 samples negative for all targets. There were 25 discordant results between the two systems; 14 samples were positive for viruses not routinely tested for by the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene, and 13 of these were confirmed by real-time PCR. When the results of the standard testing algorithm were considered “true positives,” the PLx-RVP assay showed an overall sensitivity of 99% and an overall specificity of 87%. In total, the PLx-RVP assay detected an additional 40 viral infections, of which 11 were mixed infections.