bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Fluoride supplements for young children: an analysis of the literature focusing on benefits and risks
Authors: Riordan Paul J. 
Published: February 2007

Abstract –The use of fluoride supplements to prevent caries has been advised for more than 100 years, but serious promotion of this strategy occurred only after the effectiveness of water fluoridation was established, in the late 1950s and 1960s. Although the effectiveness of fluoride supplements was apparently endorsed by many small clinical studies, closer examination of the experimental conditions of these, their methods and the analysis of their results undermined confidence in their findings. It is likely that confounding resulted in spurious conclusions in many of them. More modern, well‐conducted clinical trials of supplements suggest that today, in children also exposed to fluoride from other sources such as toothpaste, the marginal effect of fluoride supplements is very small. There is evidence that fluoride lozenges, designed to maximise any local effect, may have a small caries preventive effect, particularly in deciduous teeth. Overall, poor compliance makes fluoride supplements a poor public health measure. Supplement use by young children is associated with a substantial risk of dental fluorosis. Fluorosis is an issue about which the public is becoming concerned in several countries and this concern, if translated into opposition to all fluoride use, could jeopardise the most successful caries preventive aid we have. The potential for dental fluorosis, concern about the public's reaction to this, the poor effectiveness of supplements and the public's poor compliance with their use are persuasive arguments for a radical reduction in the use of supplements by young children. Recent changes in fluoride dosage schedules and deferment of the age of commencing the use of supplements, implemented in many countries, have followed from these concerns. Supplements formulated as lozenges maximise topical exposure of enamel to fluoride and such products may offer older children and some adults a way of maintaining an elevated fluoride level in saliva at times when toothbrushing is not practical.
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: Understanding the Effects of Prenatal Alcohol Exposure and Supporting Students
Authors: Green Jennifer H. 
Published: February 2007

ABSTRACTBackground:  Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) affect a significant number of children in this country. This article addresses diagnostic issues related to fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) and other alcohol‐related disabilities, discusses associated features and behaviors of FASD, and introduces interventions to support children with FASD in school settings.Methods:  A comprehensive review of FAS and FASD literature as it relates to school functioning was conducted.Results:  Prenatal alcohol exposure can result in a broad range of negative developmental consequences, including deficits in cognitive and academic functioning, psychological disorders, behavioral problems, and difficulties with independent living. Children with prenatal alcohol exposure are at risk for a spectrum of difficulties at school.Conclusions:  This topic is of considerable relevance to all professionals in a school setting, including teachers, administrators, school psychologists, special education providers, special service providers, and school nurses who interact with children who may be prenatally exposed to alcohol. Successful interventions will need to balance the use of environmental modifications, immediate and meaningful positive and negative consequences for behaviors, and opportunities to teach children skills to monitor and modify their behavior.
Academic Performance and Substance Use: Findings From a State Survey of Public High School Students
Authors: Cox Reagan G. , Zhang Lei , Johnson William D. , Bender Daniel R. 
Published: February 2007

ABSTRACTBackground:  Previous investigations have shown that low academic achievers are more likely to smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol, and use marijuana and other illicit drugs. This study investigated the relationship between academic performance and substance use among public high school students in Mississippi.Methods:  The sampling frame for the 2003 Mississippi Youth Risk Behavior Survey was obtained from the Mississippi Department of Education. A 2‐stage cluster sample design produced a representative sample of Mississippi students in grades 9‐12 who attended public schools. During the spring 2003, 34 of the 45 sampled schools (75.6%) participated.Results:  A total of 1488 from the 1672 sampled students (89.0%) completed an 87‐item questionnaire (overall response rate 67.3%). Low academic performance (students with mostly Cs or below) during the 12 months preceding the survey was more prevalent among males, non‐Hispanic blacks, frequent smokers, binge drinkers, and marijuana users. Logistic regression identified gender, race, frequent smoking, and marijuana use as statistically significant factors associated with increased odds for low academic performance. Adjusted odds ratios were 1.2 for binge drinkers versus other students to 2.6 for non‐Hispanic black students versus non‐Hispanic white students.Conclusions:  The present findings highlight the extensive use of cigarettes, alcohol, and marijuana among Mississippi public high school students. Because poor academic achievers are more prevalent among students who participate in these substance‐use behaviors, multifaceted approaches that encourage high levels of academic performance, while dissuading student involvement in risky/problem behaviors, may both improve low levels of academic achievement and reduce behaviors that contribute to poor health in adulthood.
Active Parental Consent for a School‐Based Community Violence Screening: Comparing Distribution Methods
Authors: Stein Bradley D. , Jaycox Lisa H. , Langley Audra , Kataoka Sheryl H. , Wilkins Windy S. , Wong Marleen 
Published: February 2007

ABSTRACTBackground:  Students are unable to benefit from many school programs designed to address their mental health needs if their parents do not consent to their participation. As part of an ongoing effort in a large urban school district to meet the mental health needs of students traumatized by violence exposure, this paper examines the impact of alternative approaches on parental response and consent rates for an initial screening to participate in a school mental health program.Methods:  Two alternative approaches were used to obtain consent for students to participate in a school‐based intervention for students exposed to violence. For one cohort, consent forms were distributed along with school information and other school forms during a parent orientation meeting. In the other cohort, school mental health clinicians visited student homerooms to distribute consent forms and explain the program and evaluation to students.Results:  There were significantly higher rates of return of consent forms (89.8% vs 53.2%) and parents consenting to participate (69.6% vs 27.9%) among parents receiving consent forms at a school meeting than among parents whose forms were distributed to children in a classroom, with comparable rates of active refusals to participate (20.1% vs 25.3%).Conclusions:  Overall return rates and rates of consent for screening participation were substantially higher when the consent form and accompanying materials were provided directly to parents rather than distributed in the classroom and sent home with students. These findings have implications for efforts to obtain active consent from parents for students to participate in school mental health programs.
Promising Outcomes in Teen Mothers Enrolled in a School‐Based Parent Support Program and Child Care Center
Authors: Sadler Lois S. , Swartz Martha K. , Ryan‐Krause Patricia , Seitz Victoria , Meadows‐Oliver Mikki , Grey Margaret , Clemmens Donna A. 
Published: February 2007

ABSTRACTBackground:  This study described a cohort of teen mothers and their children attending an urban high school with a parent support program and school‐based child care center. Specific aims of the study were to describe maternal characteristics and outcomes, and child developmental and health outcomes.Methods:  A volunteer sample of 65 adolescent mothers enrolled in the parent support program and their children were interviewed, surveyed, and assessed. Fifty‐three mothers had children enrolled in the school‐based child care center and 12 mothers had their children cared for by family members. Maternal characteristics assessed included self‐esteem and depressive symptoms, social stressors and support, self‐perceived parental competence, parent‐child teaching interactions, and subsequent childbearing and maternal educational outcomes. Child outcomes included child developmental assessments and health outcomes.Results:  About 33% of teen mothers were mildly to moderately depressed and 39% of the sample had experienced transitional homelessness. Social support networks were small; in the past 12 months, mothers experienced a mean number of 13.2 ± 11.9 negative life events. Maternal self‐report measures and mother‐child observation measures indicated positive levels of parental competence. Maternal educational outcomes were positive, and only 6% of mothers had subsequent childbirths within 2 years. The mean scores on developmental assessments of children fell within the normal range, although there were 7 children identified with developmental delays.Conclusions:  For at‐risk teen mothers, this parent support program and school‐based child care setting appears to offer promising opportunities to help young mothers with parenting, avoid rapid subsequent pregnancies, and stay engaged with school, while their children are cared for in a close and safe environment.
School, Parent, and Student Perspectives of School Drug Policies*
Authors: Evans‐Whipp Tracy J. , Bond Lyndal , Toumbourou John W. , Catalano Richard F. 
Published: February 2007

ABSTRACTBackground:  Schools use a number of measures to reduce harmful tobacco, alcohol, and drug use by students. One important component is the school’s drug policy, which serves to set normative values and expectations for student behavior as well as to document procedures for dealing with drug‐related incidents. There is little empirical evidence of how policy directly or indirectly influence students’ drug taking. This study compares how effectively schools communicate school drug policies to parents and students, how they are implemented, and what policy variables impact students’ drug use at school and their perceptions of other students’ drug use at school.Methods:  Data were obtained from 3876 students attending 205 schools from 2 states in the United States and Australia, countries with contrasting national drug policy frameworks. School policy data were collected from school personnel, parents, and students.Results:  Schools’ policies and enforcement procedures reflected national policy approaches. Parents and students were knowledgeable of their school’s policy orientation.Conclusions:  When delivered effectively, policy messages are associated with reduced student drug use at school. Abstinence messages and harsh penalties convey a coherent message to students. Strong harm‐minimization messages are also associated with reduced drug use at school, but effects are weaker than those for abstinence messages. This smaller effect may be acceptable if, in the longer term, it leads to a reduction in harmful use and school dropout within the student population.
Food Fight: The Battle Over Redefining Competitive Foods
Authors: Fleischhacker Sheila 
Published: February 2007

ABSTRACTBackground:  Environmental and policy influences are potentially the most powerful—and yet the least understood—strategies for reversing the current childhood obesity epidemic.Methods:  This essay focuses on the school lunch environment and examines the key legal and policy factors that affect competitive foods or foods of minimal nutritional value (FMNV) in schools. The essay also analyzes the latest, proposed federal legislation on redefining competitive foods.Results:  FMNV compete for children’s coins and calories in the school food environment. The emerging scientific record on the negative impact competitive foods have on children’s diet and health is significantly stronger than when Congress and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) secretary first deemed the connection sufficient to take action. The Child Nutrition Promotion and School Lunch Protection Act of 2006, if enacted, will provide additional authority to the USDA and supply science‐based federal guidance to local schools. Opposition to this legislation may come from the local school districts, the food industry, parents, and children.Conclusions:  Defining competitive foods in a federally consistent manner and eliminating competitive foods from our nation’s schools are food fight that will evidently be fought by legislative efforts at the local, state, and federal level. The food industry, as history illustrates, will likely work hard to weaken any regulatory efforts and could potentially demand that this fight end up requiring judicial review.
Prevalence of occupational exposures and protective practices in Australian female veterinarians
Authors: Shirangi A , Fritschi L , Holman CDJ 
Published: February 2007

Objective To identify the prevalence of exposure to potentially harmful occupational hazards in Australian female veterinarians and to report factors associated with prevalence of occupational hazards in this profession.Design National cross‐sectional survey of a cohort population.Procedure A self‐administered questionnaire was mailed to 5748 veterinarians (males and females) graduating from Australian veterinary schools from 1960 to 2000. This paper reports the prevalence of occupational exposures in 1197 female veterinarians in their current job including radiation, anaesthetic gases, pesticides and long working hours. Comparisons were undertaken between respondents by practice type and decades of graduation. Multivariate logistic regression was undertaken to predict the risk for exposure to occupational hazards in female veterinarians by age, type of practice, graduation year and number of hours worked.Results The response rate for females was 59%. We found that age under 30 years, small and mixed animal practice, graduation year after 1990, and working more than 45 hours per week were all associated with greater exposure to putative risk factors. Mixed animal practitioners worked more than 45 hours per week (53%) and reported the highest exposure to anaesthetic gases (94%) and pesticides (54%). Twenty two percent of those who were exposed to anaesthetic gases did not have waste anaesthetic gas scavenging systems. Small animal practitioners reported they took more X‐rays (90%). While taking X‐rays, 56% of respondents reported physically restraining animals, and only one in five of respondents used film holders and lead screens.Conclusions The high prevalence of potentially harmful exposures among female veterinarians and lack of use of protective equipment at work needs to be considered in developing and planning the safety of veterinary work.
Clinical and epidemiological features of canine leptospirosis in North Queensland
Authors: Miller RI , Ross SP , Sullivan ND , Perkins NR 
Published: February 2007

Objective  To evaluate the clinical signs, results of clinical pathology and serology tests, and treatment outcome of clinical leptospirosis in 40 dogs from North Queensland.Design  Retrospective study from January 1995 to August 1999.Procedure  Case records were reviewed for age, breed, sex, month of submission, geographical location and presenting clinical signs in 40 dogs with titres of ≥ 200 for leptospirosis by the microscopic agglutination test. A biochemistry panel and complete blood count were performed on 18 dogs.Results  Canine leptospirosis occurred most frequently during the summer and autumn particularly in the ‘wet’ tropical coastal areas of Mackay and Cairns. Fewer cases were seen in the Atherton Tablelands and ‘dry’ tropics around Townsville. Young and male dogs were more commonly affected. Most cases were caused by L australis (80%) and L zanoni (15%) with individual cases of L hardjo and L copenhageni. All dogs showed a distinctive multiorgan disease pattern including renal failure and cholestatic hepatopathy. Presenting clinical signs were related to these disease syndromes and included jaundice, vomiting, lethargy, inappetence, dehydration, pyrexia, abdominal pain and diarrhoea. Just over 50% of the dogs in the present study failed to recover. Clinical biochemical changes indicative of renal failure and cholestasis were significantly less severe in dogs that recovered compared with dogs that did not survive.Conclusions  Clinical pathology testing should be performed on all dogs presented for illness in the endemic areas so as to help make a presumptive diagnosis and assist in determining the prognosis as soon as possible. The presumptive diagnosis should be confirmed serologically.
Suppression of behavioural and physiological oestrus in the mare by vaccination against GnRH
Authors: Elhay M , Newbold A , Britton A , Turley P , Dowsett K , Walker J 
Published: February 2007

Objective  To examine the immunogenicity of an equine immunocontraceptive vaccine and its efficacy in controlling hormone‐related behaviour.Design  A total of 24 mares at two sites in Australia were vaccinated with an immunocontraceptive vaccine comprising gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) conjugated to a carrier protein in immunostimulating complex as an adjuvant. Twelve animals at each site received a placebo of adjuvant alone and served as controls for seasonal oestrus, hormonal and behaviour patterns. Animals were observed for injection site reactions, ovarian and follicular activity, and serum levels of antibody, 17β‐oestradiol and progesterone in the weeks following vaccination. Mares were also examined for oestrous behaviour by teasing with a stallion.Results  All mares responded to vaccination. Two weeks following the second vaccination there was a peak in antibody response to GnRH that declined gradually over the following weeks. Commensurate with the elevated anti‐GnRH antibody there was a marked effect on ovarian activity with a reduction in 17β‐oestradiol and progesterone levels in the 24 vaccinated mares. There was also a reduction of oestrus‐related behaviour as determined by a teaser stallion. This effect lasted a minimum of 3 months and correlated with the initial level of antibody response.Conclusion  Following a conventional two‐dose immunisation regime this commercially available equine immunocontraceptive vaccine was effective at inhibiting oestrous behaviour for at least 3 months. This vaccine has a high level of safety since there were no significant local reactions nor were there any adverse systemic responses to vaccination.
Multiplex PCR for the detection ofBrucella ovis,Actinobacillus seminisandHistophilus somniin ram semen
Authors: Saunders VF , Reddacliff LA , Berg T , Hornitzky M 
Published: February 2007

Objective To develop a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for the rapid detection ofBrucella ovis,Actinobacillus seminis,Histophilus somniin fresh ram semen samples.Design The multiplex assay was based on the single PCR assays published for the detection ofA seminisandB ovis, and the forward primer published for the detection ofH somni; an alternative reverse primer forH somniwas designed in this study.Procedure Culture and PCR of 295 fresh semen samples were carried out.Results The multiplex PCR was far more successful in the detection ofH somni(45/295) than culture (23/295).A seminiswas also detected in more semen samples by multiplex PCR (29/295) than culture (13/295) andB oviswas detected in three samples using both PCR and culture. No amplifications were detected with DNA from a range of bacterial isolates including species associated with epididymitis in rams.Conclusion This PCR could be used as a complementary test, or alternative to culture of ram semen and other biological samples for the detectionB ovis,H somniandA seminis.
Serum Antibody Responses in Ethiopian Meningitis Patients Infected withNeisseria meningitidisSerogroup A Sequence Type 7
Authors: Norheim Gunnstein , Aseffa Abraham , Yassin Mohammed Ahmed , Mengistu Getahun , Kassu Afework , Fikremariam Dereje , Tamire Wegene , Merid Yared , Høiby E. Arne , Caugant Dominique A. , Fritzsønn Elisabeth , Tangen Torill , Alebel Tsegaye , Berhanu Degu , Harboe Morten , Rosenqvist Einar 
Published: February 2007

ABSTRACTTo elucidate critical components of protective immune responses induced during the natural course of serogroup A meningococcal disease, we studied acute-, early-convalescent-, and late-convalescent-phase sera from Ethiopian patients during outbreaks in 2002 to 2003. Sera were obtained from laboratory-confirmed patients positive for serogroup A sequence type 7 (ST-7) meningococci (A:4/21:P1.20,9) (n= 71) and from Ethiopian controls (n= 113). The sera were analyzed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to measure levels of immunoglobulin G (IgG) against serogroup A polysaccharide (APS) and outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) and for serum bactericidal activity (SBA) using both rabbit and human complement sources. Despite relatively high SBA titers and high levels of IgG against APS and OMVs in acute-phase patient sera, significant increases were seen in the early convalescent phase. Antibody concentrations returned to acute-phase levels in the late convalescent phase. Considering all patients' sera, a significant but low correlation (r= 0.46) was observed between SBA with rabbit complement (rSBA) using an ST-5 reference strain and SBA with human complement (hSBA) using an ST-7 strain from Ethiopia. While rSBA demonstrated a significant linear relation with IgG against APS, hSBA demonstrated significant linear relationships with IgG against both APS and OMV. This study indicates that antibodies against both outer membrane proteins and APS may be important in providing the protection induced during disease, as measured by hSBA. Therefore, outer membrane proteins could also have a role as components of future meningococcal vaccines for the African meningitis belt.