bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Metabolic parameters and adipokine profile during GH replacement therapy in children with GH deficiency
Authors: Ciresi A , Amato M C , Criscimanna A , Mattina A , Vetro C , Galluzzo A , D’Acquisto G , Giordano C 
Published: February 2007

Objective: GH replacement therapy in children with GH deficiency (GHD) mainly promotes linear growth. Not only have very few studies fully analyzed the metabolic consequences of GH therapy, but also the question as to whether GH may affect adipokine secretion has been insufficiently investigated. Our aim was to study the effects of GH replacement therapy on auxological data, lipid and glycemic profiles, insulin homeostasis (HOMA-IR) and serum adipokines in children.
Methods: This was a 1-year prospective study. Thirty-four GHD children (11.6 ± 2.6 years) and thirty healthy matched controls were enrolled. Children affected by GHD were studied both before beginning continuous GH replacement therapy and again at 12 months.
Results: At the beginning of the study, total and LDL cholesterol were higher in GHD children than in controls (P<0.001), whereas HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, insulin, HOMA-IR, leptin, and adiponectin were similar. At 12 months of continuous GH replacement therapy in the GHD group, there was a significant increase in both auxological data and IGF-I (P<0.001); total cholesterol (P<0.001), LDL (P<0.001), triglycerides (P<0.005), and leptin (P<0.001) decreased significantly; HDL (P<0.003), insulin (P<0.001), HOMA-IR (P<0.001) increased while adiponectin was unmodified. Furthermore, IGF-IΔ showed an inverse correlation with leptin Δ (ρ = −0.398, P = 0.02).
Conclusions: In GHD children, the evaluation of metabolic parameters proves to be a useful tool for the evaluation of auxological parameters during GH replacement therapy. In our study, GH replacement therapy in GHD children improved final height, restored IGF-I levels, reduced leptin levels, and improved the lipid profile, without producing any unfavorable effects on glucose metabolism.
Spontaneous hypoglycemia in patients with cystic fibrosis
Authors: Battezzati A , Battezzati P M , Costantini D , Seia M , Zazzeron L , Russo M C , Daccò V , Bertoli S , Crosignani A , Colombo C 
Published: February 2007

Objective: Diabetes frequently complicates cystic fibrosis (CF) without fasting hyperglycemia or despite spontaneous hypoglycemia (anecdotally ascribed to malnutrition), whose prevalence, clinical meaning, and relationship with glucose tolerance and clinical/nutritional status were not previously investigated. The relationship of CF genotype with insulin secretion control is also unclear.
Design and methods: A total of 129 CF patients without stable diabetes received 188 oral glucose tolerance tests. Distribution of fasting plasma glucose (FPG), glucose, insulin and C-peptide responses, clinical/nutritional variables, and their relationships were analyzed.
Results: FPG < 60 mg/dl (3.3 mmo/l) was detected in 14% of studies and reactive hypoglycemia (PG < 50 mg/dl (2.8 mmo/l)) in 15%. OGTT-based diabetes frequency was similar in the lowest quartile (Q1) and Q2–3 for FPG (10 and 8%), with higher glucose increment and area under the curve in Q1. Insulin and C-peptide levels were similar among FPG quartiles. Class I cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator mutation carriers had higher insulin concentrations than class II, especially in Q1 for FPG. Age, sex, nutritional, and anthropometric parameters including fat and lean body mass were unrelated to FPG. Lower FPG was associated with more frequent hospitalization rates (P = 0.002) and lower Shwachman scores (P = 0.041). Steroids weaning was accurately evaluated but then excluded as a possible cause of hypoglycemia.
Conclusions/interpretation: Fasting asymptomatic hypoglycemia is frequent and possibly related to inappropriate insulin secretion control in class I mutation carriers. Low FPG does not exclude impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and diabetes in CF and reflects worse clinical status.
Gene variants of monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 and components of metabolic syndrome in KORA S4, Augsburg
Authors: Sedlmeier Eva-Maria , Grallert Harald , Huth Cornelia , Löwel Hannelore , Herder Christian , Strassburger Klaus , Giani Guido , Wichmann H-Erich , Hauner Hans , Illig Thomas , Rathmann Wolfgang 
Published: February 2007

Objective: Monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) has been suggested to be involved in the development of several components of metabolic syndrome (MetS). The present study investigated the association of nine MCP-1 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with MetS, type 2 diabetes mellitus and metabolic risk factors.
Subjects and methods: The population-based study sample comprised 1630 subjects aged 55–74 years from KORA S4 (Cooperative Health Research in the Region of Augsburg Survey 4). Genotyping was carried out by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) analysis of allele-dependent primer extension products.
Results: The MCP-1 SNP c.-3813C>T exhibited trends for differences between the genotype groups in triglycerides, 2-h glucose and uric acid (P = 0.0084, 0.014, 0.027). Other trends were observed for c.-928G>C associated with height and fasting glucose (P = 0.0024, 0.033), for c.105T>C with height and leukocytes (P = 0.0095, 0.047), for c.*65C>T and c.*3879C>T with MCP-1 levels (both P = 0.012) and for c.-2138A>T with interleukin-6 levels. After correction for multiple testing, none of the analysed SNPs, except c.-928G>C in men showed a significant association with MetS, T2DM or other analysed parameters. Haplotype MCP-1*1 and c.-928G>C in men (P = 0.0002, 0.0004) were significantly associated with an increase in height.
Conclusions: This is the first study to investigate the associations of MCP-1 SNPs with MetS. We found trends for several components of MetS. These parameters were hyperlipidaemia, fasting and 2-h glucose, and uric acid. A new finding is that MCP-1*1 haplotype is associated with height. Further investigation in larger populations is needed to clarify the involvement of MCP-1 in MetS.
Rethinking the Purposes and Processes for Designing Digital Portfolios
Authors: Hicks Troy , Russo Anne , Autrey Tara , Gardner Rebecca , Kabodian Aram , Edington Cathy 
Published: February 2007

As digital portfolios become more prevalent in teacher education, the purposes and processes for creating them have become contested. Originally meant to be critical and reflective spaces for learning about multimedia and conceived as contributing to professional growth, research shows that digital portfolios are now increasingly being used to provide evidence that a set of teacher education standards have been met for a course.In this article, the authors describe how they designed their digital portfolios as part of an inquiry‐based teacher research project and represented their own work—as well as that of their students—in these online spaces. They discuss a number of personal and professional concerns that they encountered while engaged in this process, from the ethics of editing students' work to the online personas the teachers themselves chose to adopt. Issues of audience, purpose, format, and content are framed in discussions of teacher research and portfolio design. Finally, the authors argue that keeping design‐based decisions about how and why to construct a digital portfolio in teachers' hands can contribute to lasting professional growth and change.
Transformative Learning Through “Teaching With Technology” Electronic Portfolios
Authors: Stansberry Susan L. , Kymes Angel D. 
Published: February 2007

Along with discussion of format and design of electronic portfolios, this article addresses the larger question of what happens to teachers when they invest in creating a professional portfolio. Are they able to transform this experience into more authentic assessment with their own students? Beside acquiring proficiency in using portfolio development tools, do teachers find that their core beliefs and philosophies related to these tools been altered?Seventy‐eight teachers created e‐portfolios during their participation in a graduate‐level education course. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected and are explained in terms of Mezirow's transformational learning theory. While not all of the teachers seemed ready to replicate the process of developing electronic portfolios with their students, it is clear that they were transformed by the process of creating their own. In particular, the content addressed through this particular portfolio and the format of the course (collaboration, critical reflection, supportive discussion, and individual construction of learning experiences) did facilitate transformative learning.
“I” Poems: Invitations for Students to Deepen Literary Understanding
Authors: Kucan Linda 
Published: February 2007

“I” poems are motivating invitations to write that can engage students in preparing for or responding to reading. In composing “I” poems, students assume the identity and voice of a person, place, or object and write from that perspective. The first‐person narrative point of view is the most important feature of an “I” poem. “I” poems can rhyme, but a rhyme scheme is not a necessary or critical feature.The article includes models of “I” poems as well as examples written by preservice teachers and fourth‐grade students. Specific suggestions for writing “I” poems before reading and after reading are described.
How Important Is Reading Skill Fluency for Comprehension?
Authors: Walczyk Jeffrey J. , Griffith‐Ross Diana A. 
Published: February 2007

Some important approaches to reading instruction and assessment, as well as influential theories of reading, are based on the assumption that reading fluency is necessary for good comprehension. However, this may not always be the case. This article takes another look at the relationship between word reading fluency and comprehension. It also identifies diverse pathways that lower ability readers can take to comprehend well.Findings on compensatory‐encoding theory are presented. They reveal that struggling readers can overcome weak skills and improve comprehension if they know how to compensate, are motivated to understand, and are unrestricted. However, when such readers must perform under time pressure, must read text at a constant or fast rate, or must read silently, they are less likely to compensate and frequently comprehend less well as a result. At the other extreme of the skill spectrum, the article also discusses older and more fluent readers who often read lackadaisically and thus are not engaged by text. As a consequence, they comprehend below their potential. The article concludes with instructional implications for helping nonfluent readers to compensate freely and for challenging fluent readers to stay focused on a text's meaning.
Differential Effects of Faith-Based Coping on Physical and Mental Fatigue in Middle-Aged and Older Cardiac Patients
Authors: Al Amy L. , Peterson Christopher , Tice Terrence N. , Rodgers Willard , Seymour E. Mitchell , Bolling Steven F. 
Published: February 2007

Purpose: This analysis investigated the effect of faith-based coping used by cardiac patients undergoing surgery on physical and mental fatigue, symptoms which have significant prognostic implications for mortality. Particularly, we explored whether this faith effect is independent or explained by positive mediators. Methods: Two weeks preoperatively, 481 patients (male, 58%; mean age=62 years) were recruited for three sequential interviews. Among them, 426 completed the second interview, and 335 completed the post-operative follow-up. Cross-clamp and bypass time were obtained from patients' charts. Plasma interlukin-6 (IL-6) was used as a correlate of age-associated diseases and frailty. Results: Hierarchical multiple regression analyses showed that pre-operative positive religious coping styles and optimism contributed to reduced physical fatigue, controlling for post-operatively confirmed prayer coping and such covariates as severe injury. Depression and lower-back problems contributed to mental fatigue. No potential mediators explained these effects. Conclusion: Faith-based coping and optimism are independent predictors of physical fatigue.
Variables Affecting Patient Satisfaction in Breast Surgery: A Cross-Sectional Sample of Turkish Women with Breast Cancer
Authors: Noyan M. Aysin , Sertoz Ozen Onen , Elbi Hayriye , Kayar Ragip , Yilmaz Rasih 
Published: February 2007

Objective: In Turkey, despite the fact that breast cancer accounts for 24.1% of all cancer in women, a very small number of these patients receive breast reconstruction. This low percentage would seem to indicate that there are several factors affecting the decision of which surgical procedure should be selected. The aim of this study was to establish the demographical, medical, and psychological factors associated with the breast cancer patient's decision-making process, and assess their satisfaction with the type of surgery received. Method: We assessed long-term satisfaction with the type of surgery received; satisfaction with the information process by which the surgery decision is taken; feelings of ambivalence or regret regarding the type of surgery received in both mastectomy ( n = 50) and breast reconstruction patients ( n = 25). Additionally, breast cancer survivors were compared with age-matched healthy control volunteers ( n = 50) in terms of demographics, body image and self-esteem, which could be expected to affect their preferences. We administered a demographical and medical information form, Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV, Clinical Version (SCID-I), the Body Cathexis Scale (BCS); and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSE). Results: In both groups, women with a low income and less education were more likely to experience decision regret or low satisfaction. Moreover, total mastectomy-alone patients had lower self-esteem compared to reconstructive surgery patients and healthy women. Conclusion: Early stage breast cancer is a chronic disease and patients have to live with the consequences of their decision for many years. At the same time, the type of surgery is decided on when patients are in an acute phase and under intense pressure. Therefore, the decision making process needs to be explored more, especially breast cancer patients with less education and low income need better assistance and more detailed explanation of their options.
The Effect of Exercise on Hippocampal Integrity: Review of Recent Research
Authors: Kiraly Michael A. , Kiraly Stephen J. 
Published: February 2007

Objectives: To review salient basic research regarding physical exercise as a major protective factor against hippocampal degradation and to emphasize its relevance to humans. Method: Recent mammalian and human research literature search and theoretical discussion. Results: The cascade of cellular damages from oxidative stress, nitrosative stress and gluco-corticoid effects are cumulative and age related. Exercise training reduces oxidative stress, nitro-sative stress and improves neuroendocrine autoregulation which counteracts damages from stress- and age-related neuronal degeneration, brain ischemia and traumatic brain injury. Conversely, lack of exercise and motility restrictions are associated with increased vulnerability from oxidative stress, nitrosative stress and glucocorticoid excesses, all of which precede amyloid deposition and are fundamental in the cascade of events resulting in neuronal degradation, especially in the hippocampi. Conclusions: Despite the paucity of human research, basic animal models and clinical data overwhelmingly support the notion that exercise treatment is a major protective factor against neurodegeneration of varied etiologies. The final common pathway of degradation is clearly related to oxidative stress, nitrosative stress, glucocorticoid dysregulation, inflammation and amyloid deposition. We conclude that people prone to chronic distress, brain ischemia, brain trauma, and the aged are at increased risk for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's. Exercise training may be a major protective factor but without clinical guidelines, its prescription and success with treatment adherence remain elusive.
Multimodal Therapy of Treatment Resistant Depression: A Study and Analysis
Authors: Bannan Noreen 
Published: February 2007

Objective: To demonstrate through the use of a case study, the application of cognitive psychotherapy in the treatment of resistant depression. Method: The case of a woman with an 18-month history of resistant depression associated with low self-esteem, guilt and shame, who failed to respond to three therapeutic trials of antidepressants is described. A detailed description of a CBT intervention over 12 sessions is given. Result: Clear improvements on assessments of mood and hopelessness, along with overall improvements in social and occupational functioning were noted. Conclusion: These improvements were attributed to a combination of CBT and pharmacotherapy, where pharmacotherapy alone failed to alleviate symptoms. A concise literature review revealed relatively few published trials of psychological treatments, and a lack of clear guidelines on pharmacological treatments. More research is needed to explore the efficacy of psychological therapies for treatment resistant depression.
Animal Health Assurance
Authors: Donovan John , Brown Patricia 
Published: February 2007

AbstractA program to ensure the health of laboratory animals and to provide a stable environment for their maintenance is necessary to reduce unwanted variables or complicating factors in experimentation. To ensure animal health throughout a research study, the animals involved should be procured in good health, monitored for continued health status, and protected from pathogenic organisms through testing of any biological materials. This unit addresses all three of these health management practices. Essential in support of these practices is a diagnostic laboratory capable of testing for rodent and rabbit pathogens.
Generation of Epstein‐Barr Virus (EBV)–Immortalized B Cell Lines
Authors: Tosato Giovanna , Cohen Jeffrey I. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractImmortalization of B lymphocytes by EBV is an effective procedure for inducing long‐term growth of certain human B lymphocytes. The protocol described in this unit to accomplish this can be divided into three stages: preparation of virus, preparation of target cells to be immortalized, and EBV infection and growth of infected cells.
Characterization of Bacteria in Mixed Biofilm Communities Using Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (DGGE)
Authors: Welsh Allana K. , McLean Robert J.C. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractMost microorganisms in nature, including those within biofilms, live in mixed populations. PCR‐based molecular genetic techniques are very useful in studying microbial diversity since unculturable as well as culturable organisms can be investigated. One such technique is denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE), which separates PCR‐amplified community 16S rRNA (and other gene) sequences on the basis of G+C content. Unlike other community fingerprinting techniques, bands from DGGE gels can be excised, and sequenced to identify community members. Thus DGGE can be used to describe overall microbial diversity as well as to identify individual community members. This protocol describes a method for using DGGE to study microbial diversity within biofilm populations.
Isolation and Culture of Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVEC)
Authors: Cheung Ambrose L. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractHuman‐derived endothelial cells can now be routinely harvested from human umbilical veins. Studies with human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) have been conducted with cells from passage 2 to 5. It is now also possible to cryopreserve primary and early‐passaged HUVEC for future propagation and for forwarding to an end user by express courier. Stored HUVEC have been stably retrieved even after several years. These retrieval techniques have facilitated the deployment of HUVEC for many studies, including those for homeostasis, inflammatory disorders, atherosclerosis, cancer, and microbial adhesion and invasion. In this unit, we will delineate the procedure for harvesting, propagation, and storage of HUVEC.
Direct sulfation of limestone
Authors: Hu Guilin , Dam‐Johansen Kim , Wedel Stig , Hansen Jens Peter 
Published: February 2007

AbstractThe direct sulfation of limestone was studied in a laboratory fixed‐bed reactor. It is found that the direct sulfation of limestone involves nucleation and crystal grain growth of the solid product (anhydrite). At 823 K and at low‐conversions (less than about 0.5 %), the influences of SO2, O2 and CO2 on the direct sulfation of limestone corresponds to apparent reaction orders of about 0.2, 0.2 and −0.5, respectively. Water is observed to promote the sulfation reaction and increase the apparent reaction orders of SO2 and O2. The influence of O2 at high O2 concentrations (> about 15 %) becomes negligible. In the temperature interval from 723 K to 973 K, an apparent activation energy of about 104 kJ/mol is observed for the direct sulfation of limestone. At low temperatures and low conversions, the sulfation process is most likely under mixed control by chemical reaction and solid‐state diffusion. The nucleation and crystal grain growth of the solid product, and this mixed control mechanism provide satisfactory explanations of the various phenomena related to the direct sulfation of limestone, such as porosity in the product layer, the variation of the apparent reaction orders of SO2, O2 and CO2 with reaction conditions and the influence of water. © 2007 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 53: 948–960, 2007
Treatment of diuretic refractory pleural effusions with bevacizumab in four patients with primary systemic amyloidosis
Authors: Hoyer Robert J. , Leung Nelson , Witzig Thomas E. , Lacy Martha Q. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractRefractory pleural effusions present a challenging management problem and are associated with a poor prognosis in patients with primary systemic amyloidosis (AL). We report a series of four patients with AL who presented with bilateral pleural effusions that were refractory to diuretic therapy. After treatment with bevacizumab, an antivascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) antibody, three of the four patients had improvement in their pleural effusions, peripheral edema, and functional status. Additional studies are needed to further define the role of bevacizumab in the management of this group of patients. Am. J. Hematol., 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Unkonventionelle gemischtvalente Komplexe des Rutheniums und Osmiums
Authors: Kaim Wolfgang , Lahiri Goutam Kumar 
Published: February 2007

AbstractIn den letzten Jahren ist es gelungen, das Repertoire gemischtvalenter Ruthenium‐ und Osmiumkomplexe über konventionelle Systeme hinaus zu erweitern, indem anspruchsvollere Liganden eingesetzt und vielgestaltigere Koordinationssituationen herbeigeführt wurden. Zu den angewendeten Strategien zählen sowohl die Nutzung mehrzähniger Liganden (die zu mehrkernigen Komplexen und Chelatkomplexen führen) als auch der Einsatz einer oder mehrerer selbst redoxaktiver Komponenten (“nicht‐unschuldige” Liganden; Stichwort: Oxidationsstufenambivalenz). Diese Untersuchungen geben tiefere Einblicke in die Abläufe von Elektronentransfers zwischen Metallen und Liganden. Gemischtvalente Materialien können in der molekularen Elektronik und im “molecular computing” Anwendung finden.