bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Practitioners Who Work with Parents with Intellectual Disability: Stress, Coping and Training Needs
Authors: Clayton Olivia , Chester Andrea , Mildon Robyn , Matthews Jan 
Published: July 2008

Background  Challenges for practitioners who work with parents with intellectual disability arise from several sources. The purpose of the current study was to identify the stressors experienced by practitioners who work with parents with intellectual disability in Australia, investigate coping strategies and explore training needs so as to inform professional development for this group.Materials and Methods  Fifty‐eight, predominantly female Australian practitioners, completed a questionnaire, which included a demographics section and training questions (developed specifically for this study), in addition to the Mental Health Professionals Stress Scale, the Perceived Stress Scale, and the Brief COPE.Results  The main stressors experienced by practitioners were workload, client‐related difficulties and organizational structure and processes. Although practitioners indicated that they required additional training in 15 areas, one area was highlighted as particularly important, that is, tailoring interventions to individual parent needs and goals.Conclusions  It is suggested that managers, service planners, educators and professionals involved in stress reduction be aware that this area may be the focal point of future training of practitioners who work with parents with intellectual disability.
Parenting with Intellectual Disability in Germany: Results of a New Nationwide Study
Authors: Pixa‐Kettner Ursula 
Published: July 2008

Background  A nationwide questionnaire survey conducted in Germany in 2005 found 1584 families headed by persons with intellectual disability with 2164 adults becoming parents between 1990 and 2005.Materials and Methods  In spite of a lower response rate and a more limited time frame compared with a previous study undertaken in the early 1990s [Pixa‐Kettner (1998), Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 11, 355–364], there was an increase of more than 40% both in the number of people with intellectual disability becoming parents and number of children born.Results  Thus, the new study confirms the trend from 1998 of a continually increasing number of parents with intellectual disability. The proportion of children living with at least one biological parent has increased from 40% to 57% since 1998. Younger children live more often with their parents than older children; however, half of children aged 12–15 years live with at least one biological parent.Conclusion  Parents who live without professional support seem to have better chances of living with their children than parents who draw on professional support. These findings require further clarification.
Active Negotiation: Mothers with Intellectual Disabilities Creating Their Social Support Networks
Authors: Mayes Rachel , Llewellyn Gwynnyth , McConnell David 
Published: July 2008

Background  The support networks of mothers with intellectual disabilities play an important role in caring for children. Understanding the support provided by the network is therefore vital in understanding the capacity of a mother to care for her child. Nevertheless, how these important networks came into existence is yet to be explored. Furthermore, the other functions support networks may serve are poorly understood, apart from assistance with child care.Materials and Methods  This paper reports some findings from a phenomenological study into becoming a mother for women with intellectual disabilities. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 17 expectant mothers with intellectual disabilities. One part of the phenomenon, ‘negotiating a support network for me and my baby’ is described.Results  Expectant mothers strategically negotiated support networks prior to the baby’s birth. They sought practical assistance for the tasks of mothering from those who acknowledged them as the most important person in their baby’s life.Conclusions  The findings have implications for the practitioners engaged in supporting mothers and their children, particularly those who are a part of the lives of women with intellectual disabilities and their children due to a court order.
Review of Parent Training Interventions for Parents with Intellectual Disability
Authors: Wade Catherine , Llewellyn Gwynnyth , Matthews Jan 
Published: July 2008

Background  This paper reviews recent research to provide an updated perspective on the effectiveness of parent training interventions for parents with intellectual disability. The degree to which these studies meet previous recommendations for future research is explored, particularly with regard to the influence of context on intervention outcomes.Materials and Methods  Seven studies are reviewed, which have been published in the peer‐reviewed literature since 1994.Results  Evidence from this review supports the use of individually administered home‐based behavioural intervention for parents with intellectual disability. However, the effect of parent training interventions on child outcomes and the generalization of parenting skills is rarely investigated. Contextual factors that may be associated with intervention success (or failure) are also neglected.Conclusions  There is reasonable evidence of the effectiveness of parent training for parents with intellectual disability. However, investigators have yet to determine the influence of immediate or more distal contextual factors on intervention outcomes. This presents a significant gap in the literature in contrast to other areas of parenting intervention research where the influence of family and the broader community context has been shown to influence the effectiveness of parent training interventions.
Considering the Contextual Fit of an Intervention for Families Headed by Parents with an Intellectual Disability: An Exploratory Study
Authors: Mildon Robyn , Wade Catherine , Matthews Jan 
Published: July 2008

Background  The purpose of this paper was to report on the results of an exploratory trial of an intensive home‐based parenting programme for parents with an intellectual disability. The aim of the programme was to combine the delivery of evidence‐based parent education technology for parents with an intellectual disability with two strategies aimed at promoting the contextual fit of the intervention with these families.Materials and Methods  A single group repeated measures design was adopted. The independent variable comprised the home‐based intervention which all participants received. Multiple dependent variables included parents’ perceived stress associated with parenting, parent sense of competence, parent‐reported child problem behaviours, and quality of the home environment. During programme delivery the intervention’s contextual fit with each family was assessed, and parent satisfaction with the intervention was measured at post‐intervention.Results  Parents reported reductions in the frequency and intensity of potentially hassling events and reported more satisfaction and confidence with their role as a parent. Parents also reported a reduction in the frequency of child disruptive behaviour and a decrease in the number of disruptive behaviours that parents viewed as being a problem. Improvements were observed in the quality of the home environment for all families. Assessments of contextual fit showed that the programme fitted very well with the parents’ own goals, values, and the families’ lifestyles.Conclusion  The single group design of the current study precludes a firm conclusion being drawn about the effectiveness of the programme. However, these results show that the programme has promise for assisting families where a parent has an intellectual disability. This study adds to the research demonstrating the success of evidence‐based parent education interventions for families headed by parents with intellectual disability by including ways to enhance the contextual fit of interventions.
Is Living Longer Living Better?
Authors: TEMKIN LARRY S. 
Published: July 2008

abstract  Some day, perhaps soon, we may have genetic enhancements enabling us to conquer aging. Should we do so, if we can? I believe the topic is both interesting and important, and that it behoves us to think about it. Doing so may yield important insights about what we do care about, what we should care about, and how we should seek to live our lives, both individually and collectively. My central question is this: Is living longer, living better? My paper does not offer a sustained argument for a single, considered, thesis. Rather, it offers a number of snippets of often‐unconnected thoughts relevant to the issues my question raises. The paper contains seven sections. Part one is introductory. Part two comments on some current longevity research. Part three indicates the attitudes towards death and science with which I approach these questions. Parts four and five, respectively, discuss some worries about immortality raised by Leon Kass and Bernard Williams. Part six points to some practical, social, and moral concerns that might arise if society's members lived super long lives. Part seven concludes by suggesting that we should favour living well over living longer, and ongoing reproduction over immortality; correspondingly, I suggest that we should think long and hard before proceeding with certain lines of longevity research.
HMBS Mutations in Chinese Patients with Acute Intermittent Porphyria
Authors: Yang C.‐C. , Kuo H.‐C. , You H.‐L. , Wang J. , Huang C.‐C. , Liu C.‐Y. , Lan M.‐Y. , Stephenson D. A. , Lee M.‐J. 
Published: July 2008

SummaryAcute intermittent porphyria (AIP), an autosomal dominant disorder, is caused by partial deficiency of hydroxymethylbilane synthase (HMBS) affecting heme biosynthesis. Patients with AIP are characterized by recurrent abdominal pain, port‐wine urine, and motor paresis. The disease can be provoked by changes in hormone levels, drugs and fasting. Molecular analysis for twenty‐four unrelated Chinese AIP patients from Taiwan identified twenty‐five HMBS mutations. There were 10 missense (40%), four nonsense (16%), five frame‐shift (20%) and six splice site (24%) mutations. More than a half (15/25, 60%) of these mutations are predicted to produce a truncated protein. Four (c.33 + 5C>A, Arg26Cys, Arg26His, Arg325X) occurred more than once among the 24 families and one individual carried two mutations in the same allele, a missense (Gly221Asp) and a splice site mutation (c.652‐1G>A). Of the 25 mutations, eleven were novel (Arg149Pro, Gly218Arg, Asn322X, Gly221Asp, Pro313X, c.88‐4_‐16delAAGTCTCTACCCG, c.1008_1019delCAGCCTGGCCAA, c.113delT, c.88‐4_‐16delAAGTCTCTACCCGinsCA, c.160delA, c.902_909delTCCCTGCC). No correlation between genetic defect and phenotype (both clinical and biochemical) was observed in this study.
Apoptotic‐like programmed cell death in plants
Authors: Reape Theresa J. , McCabe Paul F. 
Published: July 2008

SummaryProgrammed cell death (PCD) is now accepted as a fundamental cellular process in plants. It is involved in defence, development and response to stress, and our understanding of these processes would be greatly improved through a greater knowledge of the regulation of plant PCD. However, there may be several types of PCD that operate in plants, and PCD research findings can be confusing if they are not assigned to a specific type of PCD. The various cell‐death mechanisms need therefore to be carefully described and defined. This review describes one of these plant cell‐death processes, namely the apoptotic‐like PCD (AL‐PCD). We begin by examining the hallmark ‘apoptotic‐like’ features (protoplast condensation, DNA degradation) of the cell's destruction that are characteristic of AL‐PCD, and include examples of AL‐PCD during the plant life cycle. The review explores the possible cellular ‘executioners’ (caspase‐like molecules; mitochondria;de novoprotein synthesis) that are responsible for the hallmark features of the cellular destruction. Finally, senescence is used as a case study to show that a rigorous definition of cell‐death processes in plant cells can help to resolve arguments that occur in the scientific literature regarding the timing and control of plant cell death.ContentsSummary13I.Introduction13II.Apoptotic‐like cellular destruction in plants14III.Cellular executioners18IV.Senescence‐associated PCD: a case study22V.Conclusions23Acknowledgements23References23
Influence of temperature on accelerated lactose crystallization in dulce de leche
Authors: ARES GASTÓN , GIMÉNEZ ANA 
Published: July 2008

The aims of the present work were to study the crystallization of lactose in dulce de leche and to evaluate the influence of temperature on this process. Samples of approximately 1 g were placed in plastic containers and stored at –5, 5, 20 and 35°C for 25 days. Lactose crystal and lactose crystal agglomerate numbers and size were measured by using an optical microscope. Results suggested that stirring and placing a small sample of dulce de leche in a small container induced lactose crystallization. Lower storage temperatures resulted in an increase of crystal and agglomerate number but in a decrease of crystal and agglomerate size. The effect of temperature on crystal and agglomerate growth rates could be attributed to the effect of temperature on viscosity, as lower temperatures resulted in decreased crystal mobility in dulce de leche and therefore reduced crystal and agglomerate growth rate.
Physicochemical, microbiological and sensory changes during ripening and storage of Xinotyri, a traditional Greek cheese from raw goat's milk
Authors: BONTINIS THOMAS G. , MALLATOU HELENI , ALICHANIDIS EFSTATHIOS , KAKOURI ATHANASIA , SAMELIS JOHN 
Published: July 2008

Physicochemical, microbiological and sensory characteristics, evolution of lipolysis monitored by measuring acid degree value (ADV) and the main mineral elements were studied during ripening and storage of artisanal Xinotyri cheese from raw goat's milk. Cheeses were characterized by a high content in total solids (TS; 83%) and fat (59% of TS), and very low pH (4.0), water activity (0.87) and moisture (17%). Protein and salt contents at the end of storage were 31% and 2.8%, respectively. Lipolysis increased, while variations in mineral (Ca, P, Mg and Zn) content were found during ripening and storage. Cheeses were free of Salmonella and Listeria in 25 g, while enterobacteria, pseudomonads, and coagulase‐positive staphylococci were < 100 cfu/g. Mesophilic lactic acid bacteria increased above 8 log cfu/g by day 6, but declined by 2–3 logs in the ripened cheese (45 days) and by 3–4 logs during cheese storage at 4°C for up to 180 days.
Effect of carrot on quality improvement of sweet syrupy cheese ball (Rasgulla)
Authors: BANDYOPADHYAY MAHUYA , CHAKRABORTY RUNU , RAYCHAUDHURI UTPAL 
Published: July 2008

To evaluate the effect of carrot on the quality improvement of the sweet syrupy cheese ball known as Rasgulla, six types of Rasgulla samples containing carrot paste in the proportions of 0, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50% were prepared and stored in closed containers at 25°C for 40 h. With increasing storage time the acidity of syrup, free fatty acid formation, absorptivity value and colour of all Rasgulla samples increased. The addition of carrot to chhana (analogous to cottage cheese) decreased acid and free fatty acid formation in Rasgulla syrup, decreased absorptivity, and also gave colour stability. Carrot concentration up to 30% improves the quality of Rasgulla. More than a 30% concentration of carrot reduced the oxidative stability of Rasgulla, while a more than 40% carrot concentration reduced its colour stability. Thus, the use of carrot up a concentration of 30% is suggested to increase the oxidative stability as well as the colour stability of Rasgulla.
Pharmacological intervention of tiferron and propolis to alleviate beryllium‐induced hepatorenal toxicity
Authors: Nirala Satendra Kumar , Bhadauria Monika , Shukla Sangeeta , Agrawal Om Prakash , Mathur Asha , Li Pei Qiang , Mathur Ramesh 
Published: July 2008

AbstractIntervention of chelating agent tiferron (sodium‐4,5‐dihydroxy‐1,3‐benzene disulfonate; 300 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) with propolis (honey beehive product; 200 mg/kg, p.o.) was evaluated to encounter the characteristic biochemical and ultra‐morphological alterations following subchronic exposure to beryllium. Female albino rats were challenged with beryllium nitrate (1 mg/kg, i.p.) daily for 28 days followed by treatment of the above‐mentioned therapeutic agents either individually or in combination for five consecutive days. Exposure to beryllium increased its concentration in the serum, liver and kidney, and caused significant alterations in cytochrome P450 activity, microsomal lipid peroxidation and proteins. Activities of alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase, γ‐glutamyl transpeptidase, bilirubin, creatinine and urea in the serum and activity of acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, adenosine triphosphatase, glucose‐6‐phophatase and succinic dehydrogenase in the liver and kidney were significantly altered after beryllium administration. Beryllium exposure also induced severe hepatorenal alterations at histopathological and ultra‐morphological level. Tiferron along with propolis dramatically reversed the alterations in all the variables more towards control rather than their individual treatment. The study concludes that pharmacological intervention of tiferron and propolis is beneficial in attenuating beryllium‐induced systemic toxicity.
Repercussion of acetylsalicylic acid during fetal development on later renal hemodynamics of rats
Authors: Vieira‐Filho Leucio D. , Lucena‐Júnior José M. , Barreto Izabel S.S. , Angelim José L.C. , Paixão Ana D.O. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractAcetylsalicylic acid (ASA) during pregnancy reaches the fetus. It seems important to know possible repercussions of ASA on later renal function of the offspring, as well as repercussions of this drug on factors that may influence fetal development, such as maternal plasma volume and placental oxidative stress. It was evaluated whether ASA changes maternal plasma volume and/or placental oxidative stress, fetal weight and renal function of the offspring at adult life. ASA (100 mg/kg/day, p.o., dissolved in ETOH 10%) or ETOH 10% was administered to Wistar rat dams, from the day 7 to day 20 of pregnancy/parturition. Plasma volume and the placental oxidative stress were evaluated on day 20 of pregnancy, using, respectively, the Evans blue dye and the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances methods. Mean arterial pressure, renal blood flow (RBF) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) were evaluated in the anesthetized offspring, at the age of 90 days, using a blood pressure transducer, a flow probe and inulin clearance respectively. Plasma volume was 76% (P < 0.05) higher in ASA compared with that in control dams, but placental oxidative stress was the same for both groups. Fetal body weight, the number of nephrons, GFR, RBF and renal vascular resistance were similar for the same gender among the offspring of the two groups. However, reduced hematocrit (9.8%, P < 0.05), increased renal plasma flow (27%, P < 0.05) and reduced filtration fraction (32%, P < 0.05) were seen in the female offspring. In conclusion, although ASA had increased maternal plasma volume, it did not change nephrogenesis nor GFR in the adult offspring. The changes in renal plasma flow and filtration fraction seen in the ASA female offspring might partially be due to the reduced hematocrit.
Effect of ellagic acid on cyclosporine A‐induced oxidative damage in the liver of rats
Authors: Pari Leelavinothan , Sivasankari Ramasamy 
Published: July 2008

AbstractCyclosporine A (CsA) is an immunosuppressor, which is most frequently used in the transplant surgery and in the treatment of autoimmune diseases. It has been shown that CsA is able to generate reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation, which are directly involved in the CsA nephrotoxicity, hepatotoxicity and cardiotoxicity. This study was undertaken to investigate the protective effect of ellagic acid (EA), a polyphenolic compound against CsA‐induced liver injury in male Wistar rats. In this study, CsA was administered orally (25 mg/kg body weight) for 21 days to induce toxicity. EA was administered orally (12.5, 25 and 50 mg/kg body weight) for 21 days along with oral administration of CsA. CsA‐induced liver damage was evidenced by increased activities of serum hepatic enzymes namely aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, alkaline phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase with a significant elevation of lipid peroxidation markers such as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and hydroperoxides in the liver. The levels of enzymic antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione‐S‐transferase and non‐enzymic antioxidants (vitamin C, vitamin E and reduced glutathione) were also decreased in CsA‐treated rats. Administrations of EA at 50 mg/kg body weight significantly decreased the activities of hepatic marker enzymes compared with other doses of EA (12.5, 25 mg/kg body weight). In addition, the levels of TBARS and hydroperoxides were significantly decreased and the levels of enzymic and non‐enzymic antioxidants significant increased on treatment with EA in the liver. The biochemical observation was supplemented by histopathologic examination of liver section. The results of this study indicate that EA might play an important role in protecting CsA‐induced oxidative damage in the liver.
Enhanced therapeutic effects on the multi‐drug resistant human leukemia cells in vitro and xenograft in mice using the stealthy liposomal vincristine plus quinacrine
Authors: Liang Gong‐Wen , Lu Wan‐Liang , Wu Jin‐Wei , Zhao Ji‐Hui , Hong Hai‐Yan , Long Chuan , Li Ting , Zhang Yu‐Teng , Zhang Hua , Wang Jian‐Cheng , Zhang Xuan , Zhang Qiang 
Published: July 2008

AbstractThe multi‐drug resistance (MDR) could be caused by the over‐expression of adenosine triphosphate binding cassette transporters such as p‐glycoprotein, thereby resulting in the efflux of anti‐cancer drugs from the cells. An anti‐resistant stealthy liposomal vincristine plus quinacrine was defined in this study. Human chronic myelogenous leukemia K562 and MDR K562 cells were included for comparisons. Anti‐tumor activity studies were performed on female BALB/c nude mice with MDR K562 cell xenografts. Results showed that quinacrine was effective in reversing the resistance in the MDR K562 cells, and enhanced the anti‐tumor effect of vincristine in K562 cells. The caspase‐9 and ‐3 activities in the MDR K562 and K562 cells were increased with the dose rise of quinacrine. In the MDR K562 cell xenografts in mice, the anti‐resistant tumor effect of the stealthy liposomal vincristine plus quinacrine was evidently observed. The enhanced anti‐tumor effects of vincristine by quinacrine in the resistant/non‐resistant K562 cells could be because of the direct injury and the potentiating apoptotic effect of vincristine via activating the initiator caspase‐9 and subsequently the effector caspase‐3, and the long circulatory effect of stealthy liposomes. The stealthy liposomal encapsulation of vincristine plus quinacrine could be a potential therapeutic approach for resistant human leukemia.