bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Visceral adipose tissue as a predictor for metabolic risk factors in the Korean population
Authors: Han J. H. , Park H. S. , Kim S. M. , Lee S. Y. , Kim D. J. , Choi W. H. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractAims  Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) accumulation is closely associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. We have investigated the appropriate VAT cut‐off values for predicting metabolic risk factors in the Korean population.Methods  We assessed 276 men and 540 women aged 17–69 years who were undergoing regular health examinations. Anthropometry, metabolic risk factors and VAT area determined by computed tomography were measured. Receiver‐operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to define VAT cut‐off points for metabolic risk factors.Results  Based on the first quintile of VAT, the odds ratios for having metabolic risk factors increased significantly with each VAT quintile in both men and women. Using ROC analysis, the appropriate VAT cut‐offs for metabolic risk factors were 100 cm2 in men and 70 cm2 in women. Regression lines indicated that, in men, a VAT of 100 cm2 corresponded to a waist circumference of 88.1 cm and a body mass index (BMI) of 24.9 kg/m2; in women, a VAT of 70 cm2 corresponded to a waist circumference of 84.0 cm and a BMI of 25.1 kg/m2.Conclusion  VAT cut‐offs of 100 cm2 in men and 70 cm2 in women are useful for defining visceral obesity in Korean subjects. These VAT cut‐offs were validated by the ethnic‐specific cut‐offs for waist circumference and BMI for Korean individuals.
Prevalence and independent predictors of insulin resistance in children from Crete, Greece: The Children Study
Authors: Manios Y. , Moschonis G. , Kourlaba G. , Bouloubasi Z. , Grammatikaki E. , Spyridaki A. , Hatzis C. , Kafatos A. , Fragiadakis G. A. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractBackground  It has been proposed that insulin resistance (IR) is associated with the development of Type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of IR in Greek schoolchildren and to investigate factors associated with IR.Methods  Between October 2005 and March 2006, 522 children were recruited from Crete. Physical activity and dietary habits, anthropometric and biochemical characteristics, as well as medical history of pupils’ parents were recorded. IR was estimated using the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA‐IR), fasting glucose‐to‐insulin ratio (FGIR) and quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI). Multiple linear regression was used to determine independent predictors for IR.Results  Fasting insulin levels and HOMA‐IR scores were higher in obese children and girls compared with their normal‐weight peers (P < 0.001). Moreover, the former had lower values in FGIR and QUICKI indices compared with the latter, indicating that obese children and girls are more insulin resistant compared with their counterparts (P < 0.001). The prevalence of IR was 9.2% (2.9% in normal‐weight, 10.5% in overweight and 31.0% in obese children), using as a threshold HOMA‐IR > 2.10 97.5th percentile of normal‐weight participants). Multiple linear regression revealed that central adiposity, female gender and intake of simple carbohydrates is associated positively with HOMA‐IR values, even after controlling for many other factors.Conclusion  These findings demonstrate that girls and obese children, particularly those with central adiposity, are at high risk of developing IR. Therefore, these groups should be targets of Type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease preventive interventions.
An increase in HbA1c after percutaneous coronary intervention raises the risk for restenosis in patients without Type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Diedrichs H. , Pfister R. , Hagemeister J. , Müller‐Ehmsen J. , Frank K. F. , Höpp H.‐W. , Erdmann E. , Schneider C. A. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractAims  The influence of dynamic changes in glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) on restenosis after elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients without diabetes has not been analysed. Therefore, the rate of restenosis was investigated after elective PCI in 101 consecutive patients without diabetes mellitus in relation to dynamic changes of HbA1c levels.Methods  Follow‐up angiography was performed in all patients 4–6 months after intervention.Results  Multivariate analysis demonstrated that the change in HbA1c between first and second coronary angiography was the most powerful metabolic parameter for prediction of restenosis. The odds ratio for restenosis was 3.0 (95% CI 1.0–9.0) for any increase in HbA1c and 1.9 (95% CI 1.1–3.5) for an HbA1c increase of 0.2%.Conclusions  Hence, chronic changes in the glucometabolic environment influence the incidence of restenosis after PCI in patients without diabetes.
Conservative Ideas and Social Policy in the United States
Authors: Béland Daniel , Waddan Alex 
Published: November 2007

Abstract This article explores social policy development in the United States since the beginning of the George W. Bush presidency. Starting from an analysis of the discourse about compassionate conservatism at the centre of the 2000 presidential campaign and proceeding to a discussion of the meaning of the more recent ownership society blueprint, it underlines the fragmented nature of the conservative policy agenda in the United States. Yet, the article suggests that, despite this fragmentation, the ideological dominance of the right and the related absence of needed reform in key policy areas are of great significance for the future of federal social policy. Overall, the article shows how paying close attention to the nature of conservative ideas improves our understanding of social policy development in the United States. As argued, the old liberal and the traditionalist sides of American conservatism have inspired distinct yet related blueprints and reform proposals that both promote a scaling‐down of existing federal social programmes and a return to traditional forms of economic security (i.e. charity and personal savings). The article underlines the relationship between these blueprints and policy drift.
5‐Lipoxygenase and anandamide hydrolase (FAAH) mediate the antitumor activity of cannabidiol, a non‐psychoactive cannabinoid
Authors: Massi P. , Valenti M. , Vaccani A. , Gasperi V. , Perletti G. , Marras E. , Fezza F. , Maccarrone M. , Parolaro D. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractIt has been recently reported that cannabidiol (CBD), a non‐psychoactive cannabinoid, is able to kill glioma cells, bothin vivoandin vitro, independently of cannabinoid receptor stimulation. However, the underlying biochemical mechanisms were not clarified. In the present study, we performed biochemical analysis of the effect of CBD bothin vivo, by using glioma tumor tissues excised from nude mice, andin vitro, by using U87 glioma cells.In vivoexposure of tumor tissues to CBD significantly decreased the activity and content of 5‐lipoxygenase (LOX, by ∼ 40%), and of its end product leukotriene B4(∼ 25%). In contrast cyclooxygenase (COX)‐2 activity and content, and the amount of its end product prostaglandin E2, were not affected by CBD. In addition,in vivotreatment with CBD markedly stimulated (∼ 175%) the activity of fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), the main anandamide‐degrading enzyme, while decreasing anandamide content (∼ 30%) and binding to CB1cannabinoid receptors (∼ 25%).In vitropre‐treatment of U87 glioma cells with MK‐886, a specific 5‐LOX inhibitor, significantly enhanced the antimitotic effect of CBD, whereas the pre‐treatment with indomethacin (pan‐COX inhibitor) or celecoxib (COX‐2 inhibitor), did not alter CBD effect. The study of the endocannabinoid system revealed that CBD was able to induce a concentration‐dependent increase of FAAH activity in U87 cells. Moreover, a significantly reduced growth rate was observed in FAAH‐over‐expressing U87 cells, compared to wild‐type controls. In conclusion, the present investigation indicates that CBD exerts its antitumoral effects through modulation of the LOX pathway and of the endocannabinoid system, suggesting a possible interaction of these routes in the control of tumor growth.
Mitochondrially encoded cysteine predicts animal lifespan
Authors: Moosmann Bernd , Behl Christian 
Published: November 2007

SummaryThe role of genetic factors in the determination of lifespan is undisputed. However, numerous successful efforts to identify individual genetic modulators of longevity have not yielded yet a quantitative measure to estimate the lifespan of a species from scratch, merely based on its genomic constitution. Here, we report on a meta‐examination of genome sequences from 248 animal species with known maximum lifespan, including mammals, birds, fish, insects, and helminths. Our analysis reveals that the frequency with which cysteine is encoded by mitochondrial DNA is a specific and phylogenetically ubiquitous molecular indicator of aerobic longevity: long‐lived species synthesize respiratory chain complexes which are depleted of cysteine. Cysteine depletion was also found on a proteome‐wide scale in aerobic versus anaerobic bacteria, archaea, and unicellular eukaryotes; in mitochondrial versus hydrogenosomal sequences; and in the mitochondria of free‐living, aerobic versus anaerobic–parasitic worms. The association of longevity with mitochondrial cysteine depletion persisted after correction for body mass and phylogenetic interdependence, but it was uncoupled in helminthic species with predominantly anaerobic lifestyle. We conclude that protein‐coding genes on mitochondrial DNA constitute a quantitative trait locus for aerobic longevity, wherein the oxidation of mitochondrially translated cysteine mediates the coupling of trait and locus. These results provide distinct support for the free radical theory of aging.
Defects in telomere maintenance molecules impair osteoblast differentiation and promote osteoporosis
Authors: Pignolo Robert J. , Suda Robin K. , McMillan Emily A. , Shen Johnny , Lee Seoung‐Hoon , Choi Yongwon , Wright Alexander C. , Johnson F. Brad 
Published: November 2007

SummaryOsteoporosis and the associated risk of fracture are major clinical challenges in the elderly. Telomeres shorten with age in most human tissues, including bone, and because telomere shortening is a cause of cellular replicative senescence or apoptosis in cultured cells, including mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and osteoblasts, it is hypothesized that telomere shortening contributes to the aging of bone. Osteoporosis is common in the Werner (Wrn) and dyskeratosis congenita premature aging syndromes, which are characterized by telomere dysfunction. One of the targets of the Wrn helicase is telomeric DNA, but the long telomeres and abundant telomerase in mice minimize the need for Wrn at telomeres, and thus Wrn knockout mice are relatively healthy. In a model of accelerated aging that combines the Wrn mutation with the shortened telomeres of telomerase (Terc) knockout mice, synthetic defects in proliferative tissues result. Here, we demonstrate that deficiencies in Wrn−/– Terc−/– mutant mice cause a low bone mass phenotype, and that age‐related osteoporosis is the result of impaired osteoblast differentiation in the context of intact osteoclast differentiation. Further, MSCs from single and Wrn−/– Terc−/– double mutant mice have a reduced in vitro lifespan and display impaired osteogenic potential concomitant with characteristics of premature senescence. These data provide evidence that replicative aging of osteoblast precursors is an important mechanism of senile osteoporosis.
Soil disturbed using a strip tillage implement on a range of soil types and the effects on sugar beet establishment
Authors: Morris N. L. , Miller P. C. H. , Orson J. H. , Froud‐Williams R. J. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractThe area of soil disturbed using a single tine is well documented. However, modern strip tillage implements using a tine and disc design have not been assessed in the UK or in mainland Europe. Using a strip tillage implement has potential benefits for European agriculture where economic returns and sustainability are key issues. Using a strip tillage system a narrow zone is cultivated leaving most of the straw residue on the soil surface. Small field plot experiments were undertaken on three soil types and the operating parameters of forward speed, tine depth and tine design were investigated together with measurements of seedbed tilth and crop emergence. The type of tine used was found to be the primary factor in achieving the required volume of disturbance within a narrow zone whilst maintaining an area of undisturbed soil with straw residue on the surface. The winged tine produced greater disturbance at a given depth compared with the knife tine. Increasing forward speed did not consistently increase the volume of disturbance. In a sandy clay loam the tilth created and emergence of sugar beet by strip tillage and ploughing were similar but on a sandy loam the strip tillage treatments generally gave a finer tilth but poorer emergence particularly at greater working depth.
Results of Screening With the Brief Headache Screen Compared With a Modified IDMigraineTM
Authors: Maizels Morris , Houle Timothy 
Published: November 2007

Background.— Patients with chronic migraine and chronic daily headache syndromes have greater morbidity than patients with episodic migraine, and are less frequently diagnosed. A screening tool which identifies daily headache syndromes as well as migraine would promote more patients receiving appropriate treatment, including prophylaxis.Methods.— A post‐hoc analysis of data obtained to evaluate the prevalence of somatic symptoms in primary care patients was conducted on a convenience sample of primary care patients who completed the Patient Health Questionnaire portion of the PRIME‐MD (Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders). Patients who endorsed the symptom of headache were asked to complete the Brief Headache Screen (BHS), a 4‐item screening tool, supplemented by 3 clinical questions (nausea, light sensitivity, and noise sensitivity). The data obtained allowed a post‐hoc comparison of the BHS with a modified version of the screening tool, IDMigraineTM (IDMTM). Diagnostic interviews were performed on patients whose diagnoses differed by the 2 screening methods, and on patients who screened positive for daily headache on BHS.Results.— Of the 1000 patients who completed the PRIME‐MD, 302 (30.2%) indicated headache as a concern, and there were sufficient data for both the BHS and IDMTM for 259. There was substantial concordance between the 2 instruments with 82.6% agreement in identified migraine (95% confidence interval: 77.8%‐87.4%). The BHS screened positive for migraine in an additional 15.1% of patients who were not identified by IDMTM, whereas the IDMTM identified an additional 2.3% of patients. Of the 173 which both tools recognized as migraine, the BHS identified 42.8% as having a daily headache syndrome (chronic migraine: 23.1%; episodic migraine + chronic tension‐type headache [CTTH]: 19.7%). BHS also identified 7 non‐migraine patients as having CTTH alone. Diagnostic interviews confirmed that 6/18 (33%) of BHS+ but IDM−, and one of 2 (50%) patients BHS−/IDM+ met full criteria for migraine. Additionally, interviews confirmed the diagnoses of 85.4% of those patients who the BHS identified with daily headache and 67% of those who were identified as medication overuse headache.Conclusion.— The BHS and a modified IDMTM are concordant in screening for migraine in 82.6% of a primary care population who endorsed the symptom of headache. However, the BHS screens effectively not only for migraine but also for chronic daily headache and medication overuse. A screening paradigm based on headache frequency and the frequency of medication use can rapidly and sensitively identify migraine, daily headache syndromes, and medication overuse. This paradigm may improve clinical care by identifying patients who merit preventive as well as acute therapy for migraine.
When do seizures usually improve with the ketogenic diet?
Authors: Kossoff Eric H. , Laux Linda C. , Blackford Robyn , Morrison Peter F. , Pyzik Paula L. , Hamdy Rana M. , Turner Zahava , Nordli Douglas R. 
Published: November 2007

Summary
Purpose: Parents often expect immediate seizure improvement after starting the ketogenic diet (KD) for their children. The purpose of this study was to determine the typical time to seizure reduction as well as the time after which it was unlikely to be helpful in those children started on the KD.
Methods: Records of all children started on the KD at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore (n = 83) and Children's Memorial Hospital, Chicago (n = 35) from November 2003 to December 2006 were examined to determine the first day in which seizures were reportedly improved.
Results: Of the 118 children started on the KD, 99 (84%) had documented seizure reduction. The overall median time to first improvement was 5 days (range: 1–65 days). Seventy‐five percent of children improved within 14 days. In those children who were fasted at KD onset, the time to improvement was quicker (median 5 vs. 14 days, p < 0.01) with a higher percentage improving within 5 days (60% vs. 31%, p = 0.01). No difference was identified between fasting and nonfasting in regards to long‐term outcomes, however.
Discussion: The KD works quickly when effective, typically within the first 1–2 weeks. Starting the KD after a fasting period may lead to a more rapid, but equivalent long‐term seizure reduction, confirming prior reports. If the KD has not led to seizure reduction after 2 months, it can probably be discontinued.
Coupling of minor motor events and epileptiform discharges with arousal fluctuations in NFLE
Authors: Terzaghi Michele , Sartori Ivana , Mai Roberto , Tassi Laura , Francione Stefano , Cardinale Francesco , Castana Laura , Cossu Massimo , LoRusso Giorgio , Manni Raffaele , Nobili Lino 
Published: November 2007

Summary
Purpose: We recently demonstrated that in nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy (NFLE) highly stereotyped minor motor events (MMEs, in the form of short‐lasting stereotyped movements involving the limbs, the axial musculature, and/or the head), could occur in either the presence or absence of an epileptiform discharge (ED). In lack of a systematic analysis, both MMEs and EDs were frequently observed to occur in association with arousal fluctuations. Hereby, in the same group of refractory NFLE subjects, we report a methodical neurophysiolgical investigation set out to investigate whether, and how, the arousal mechanism, monitored through visual scoring of the cyclic alternating pattern, modulates the expression of MMEs and EDs.
Methods: The relationship of MMEs, EDs and arousal fluctuation was assessed in subjects explored using implanted electrodes.
Results: The occurrence of both EDs and MMEs was associated with higher level of arousal (p < 0.0001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis shows a significant effect of interaction of EDs and MMEs during CAP sleep (p < 0.001).
Conclusions: Both MMEs and EDs are associated with arousal. We suggest that recurrence of EDs in itself can induce an increase in arousal level, which in turn, through a gate effect, facilitate the occurrence of MMEs. Thus, MMEs wouldn't be a direct effect of EDs, but rather originate from an indirect effect related to loss of cortical inhibition, which is secondary to arousal. In this perspective MMEs may be regarded as the result of aspecific dishinibition, triggered by internal epileptiform stimuli, of innate motor patterns generated by central pattern generators (CPGs). The CPG system might represent, through arousal facilitation, the substrate of the heterogeneous expression of MMEs in NFLE.
Late‐Life Body Mass Index and Dementia Incidence: Nine‐Year Follow‐Up Data from the Kungsholmen Project
Authors: Atti Anna Rita , Palmer Katie , Volpato Stefano , Winblad Bengt , De Ronchi Diana , Fratiglioni Laura 
Published: November 2007

OBJECTIVES: To describe the association between late‐life body mass index (BMI) and dementia development with a time perspective and to investigate the effect of weight changes on dementia incidence.DESIGN: Three‐, 6‐, and 9‐year follow‐up study.SETTING: The Kungsholmen Project.PARTICIPANTS: One thousand two hundred fifty‐five subjects aged 75 and older with baseline BMI data available.MEASUREMENTS: Cox‐regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) for dementia detected at different risk periods in relation to baseline BMI. The association between BMI changes and development of dementia after 3 and 6 years was also analyzed.RESULTS: Subjects with a BMI of 25.0 kg/m2 or higher had a lower risk of developing dementia than subjects with a BMI of 20.0 to 24.9 (HR=0.75, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.59–0.96), even when cases occurring only during the last follow‐up period (6–9 years after BMI assessment) were included (HR=0.66. 95% CI=0.40–1.07). Severe BMI loss (>10%) was related to a greater risk of dementia, but this association was present only for dementia cases detected in the subsequent 3 years (HR=2.18, 95% CI=1.27–3.74).CONCLUSION: This study does not confirm that being overweight in late life is a risk factor for dementia, although a protective effect for a BMI greater than 25.0 is suggested. In addition, BMI loss is confirmed as a marker of incipient dementia. The findings suggest that, from a clinical perspective, the cognitive profile of elderly persons with unexplained weight loss should be considered and that being moderately overweight at older ages might be indicative of good health status.
Mild Cognitive Impairment: Epidemiology and Dementia Risk in an Elderly Italian Population
Authors: Ravaglia Giovanni , Forti Paola , Montesi Fausta , Lucicesare Anna , Pisacane Nicoletta , Rietti Elisa , Dalmonte Edoardo , Bianchin Marisa , Mecocci Patrizia 
Published: November 2007

OBJECTIVES: To investigate prevalence and incidence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and its risk of progression to dementia in an elderly Italian population.DESIGN: Longitudinal.SETTING: Population‐based cohort aged 65 and older resident in an Italian municipality.PARTICIPANTS: A total of 1,016 subjects underwent baseline evaluation in 1999/2000. In 2003/04, information about cognitive outcome was collected for 745 participants who were free of dementia at baseline.MEASUREMENTS: MCI (classified as with or without impairment of the memory domain), dementia, Alzheimer's dementia (AD), and vascular dementia (VaD) diagnosed according to current international criteria.RESULTS: Overall prevalence of MCI was 7.7% (95% confidence interval (CI)=6.1–9.7 %) and was greater with older age and poor education. During 4 years of follow‐up, 155 incident MCI cases were diagnosed, with an incidence rate of 76.8 (95% CI=66.8–88.4) per 1,000 person‐years. Approximately half of prevalent and incident MCI cases had memory impairment. Compared with normal cognition, multivariable‐adjusted risk for progression from MCI with memory impairment to dementia was 4.78 (95% CI=2.78–8.07) for any dementia, 5.92 (95% CI=3.20–10.91) for AD, and 1.61 (95% CI=0.37–7.00) for VaD. No association with dementia risk was found for MCI without memory impairment. Approximately one‐third of MCI cases with memory impairment did not progress to dementia.CONCLUSION: MCI occurs often in this elderly Italian cohort and is associated with greater risk of AD, but only when the impairment involves the memory domain. However, a substantial proportion of MCI cases with memory impairment do not progress to dementia.