bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Alterations in multifocal visual evoked potentials during the acute phase of Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy
Authors: Gränse Lotta 
Published: April 2006

Abstract.Purpose:  This report aimed to investigate alterations in multifocal visual evoked potentials (mfVEPs) during the acute stage of Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON). Methods:  A 27‐year‐old woman with a point mutation at nucleotide 11778 in the mitochondrial DNA was examined during the acute phase of LHON, which is generally investigated only rarely because of its rapid progress. She was examined repeatedly, with testing of best corrected visual acuity, pupil function, Goldmann perimetry, ophthalmoscopy and frequent assessment of mfVEPs. Results:  Multifocal VEPs, which reveal topographical information about different parts of the visual pathways, demonstrated reduced responses in all parts of the central visual field. The mean amplitude (summarized amplitude of the first two components) in the mfVEPs in the previously described sector C, which has been identified as a hallmark of other optic nerve disorders, was evaluated. This amplitude demonstrated a correlation with the progression of the disease during the acute period of LHON, which also correlated with the VA, pupil function and Goldmann perimetry. Conclusions:  These alterations in the components of mfVEPs reflect the reduction in the function of the visual pathways in different parts of the central field; the drop in amplitude in a localized area (sector C), not previously described, demonstrates the acute course of this disorder. Multifocal VEPs may be of further interest in evaluating the pathogenesis of this disorder and of clinical value in representing an objective method for monitoring the course of this disease.
Tilt and decentration of the intraocular lens following combined vitrectomy and pars plana lensectomy
Authors: Ohara Kozue , Kato Satoshi , Hori Sadao , Kitano Shigehiko 
Published: April 2006

Abstract.Purpose:  To investigate intraocular lens (IOL) tilt and decentration following combined vitrectomy and pars plana lensectomy (PPL) with IOL implantation in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Methods:  We followed 25 patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy who underwent PPL and IOL (MA60BM) implantation at the time of pars plana vitrectomy (PPL group), and 25 patients who underwent phacoemulsification and IOL (MA60BM) implantation without vitrectomy (PE group). Intraocular lens tilt and decentration were evaluated quantitatively, using the anterior eye segment analysis system, approximately 12 months after surgery. Results:  There was no significant difference in IOL tilt (p = 0.47) or decentration (p = 0.26) between the PPL and PE groups. Conclusions:  The present study suggests that tilt and decentration of the IOL are acceptable in combined vitrectomy and pars plana lensectomy.
Temporal changes in suicide rates for persons treated and not treated with antidepressants in Denmark during 1995–1999
Authors: Søndergård L. , Kvist K. , Lopez A. G. , Andersen P. K. , Kessing L. V. 
Published: April 2006

Objective:  To compare the temporal changes in suicide rate among patients treated with antidepressants with the change in suicide rate among persons who have not been treated with antidepressants during 1995–1999.Method:  In a historic prospective national pharmacoepidemiological register linkage study by using four Danish registers we included 438 625 patients who had purchased antidepressants, and compared them with 1 199 057 population based control persons. The annual rate of suicide was estimated using Poisson regression analyses.Results:  The suicide rate decreased for persons treated with antidepressants as well as for persons not treated with antidepressants. The proportion of persons, who committed suicide and who had not been treated with antidepressants decreased. The reduction in suicide rate was more pronounced among persons treated with SSRIs or older antidepressants than among persons not treated with antidepressants.Conclusion:  Several factors contribute to the decreasing suicide rate. The most pronounced decrease in suicide rate was found among persons treated with antidepressants.
Efficacy and Safety of Two Dosing Regimens of Tadalafil and Patterns of Sexual Activity in Men with Diabetes Mellitus and Erectile Dysfunction: Scheduled Use vs. On-Demand Regimen Evaluation (SURE) Study in 14 European Countries
Authors: Buvat Jacques , Van Ahlen Hermann , Schmitt Henry , Chan Melanie , Kuepfer Christine , Varanese Lucio 
Published: April 2006

ABSTRACT

Aim
The aim of this article is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of 20-mg tadalafil taken on demand or three times per week and its effect on the sexual activity of patients with diabetes mellitus and erectile dysfunction (ED).

Methods
The scheduled use vs. on-demand regimen evaluation (SURE) was a randomized, crossover, open-label study with 4,262 patients in 14 European countries. The efficacy measures for the 762 patients with diabetes and ED included changes from baseline in the erectile function (EF) domain of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF), and the proportion of “yes” responses to patient Sexual Encounter Profile (SEP) questions 2 (SEP2) and 3 (SEP3). The treatment satisfaction was measured with responses to SEP question 4 (SEP4) and SEP question 5 (SEP5), and sexual attempts data were collected. Patient preference for either regimen was determined by the treatment preference question (TPQ).

Results
At end point on both regimens, the mean IIEF EF domain score was 22, and &gt;40% of the patients had a normal EF domain score (≥26). The proportion of “yes” responses was ≥73% for SEP2 (penetration), ≥58% for SEP3 (successful intercourse), &gt;46% for SEP4 (hardness of erection), and ≥45% for SEP5 (overall satisfaction). Efficacy was maintained up to 36 hours post-dosing. More than 70% of sexual attempts while on the three-times-per-week regimen and approximately 50% of the attempts on the on-demand treatment occurred &gt;4 hours post-dosing. Tadalafil was well tolerated, with dyspepsia and headache as the most frequent adverse events reported. Treatment preference was 57.2% for on demand and 42.8% for three times per week.

Conclusions
Tadalafil, when taken on demand or three times per week, is efficacious and safe in men with diabetes and ED.
A polymorphism in the promoter region of the CD86 (B7.2) gene is associated with systemic sclerosis
Authors: Abdallah A. M. , Renzoni E. A. , Anevlavis S. , Lagan A. L. , Munkonge F. M. , Fonseca C. , Black C. M. , Briggs D. , Wells A. U. , Marshall S. E. , McHugh N. , Du Bois R. M. , Welsh K. I. 
Published: April 2006

SummarySystemic sclerosis (SSc) is a connective tissue disease of unknown aetiology characterized by fibrosis of the skin and internal organs, vascular abnormalities and humoral autoimmunity. Strong T‐cell‐dependent autoantibody and HLA associations are found in SSc subsets. The co‐stimulatory molecule, CD86, expressed by antigen‐presenting cells, plays a crucial role in priming naïve lymphocytes. We hypothesized that SSc, or one of the disease subsets, could be associated with single‐nucleotide polymorphisms of the CD86 gene. Using sequence specific primer‐polymerase chain reaction (SSP‐PCR) methodology, we assessed four CD86 polymorphisms in 221 patients with SSc and 227 healthy control subjects from the UK. Haplotypes were constructed by inference and confirmed using PHASE algorithm. We found a strong association between SSc and a specific haplotype (haplotype 5), which was more prevalent in patients than in controls (29% vs 15%, OR = 2.3, χ2 = 12, P = 0.0005). This association could be attributed to the novel −3479 promoter polymorphism; a significant difference was observed in the distribution of the CD86 −3479 G allele in patients with SSc compared to controls (43.7% vs. 32.4%, OR = 1.7, χ2 = 12.1, P = 0.0005). TRANSFAC analyses suggest that the CD86‐3479T allele contains putative GATA and TBP sites, whereas G allele does not. We assessed the relative DNA protein‐binding activity of the −3479 polymorphism in vitro using electromobility gel shift assays (EMSA), which showed that the −3479G allele has less binding affinity compared to the T allele for nuclear proteins. These findings highlight the importance of co‐stimulatory pathways in SSc pathogenesis.
A Prospective Outcome Evaluation of Arthroscopic Bankart Repairs
Authors: Carreira Dominic S. , Mazzocca Augustus D. , Oryhon Jeremy , Brown Frederick M. , Hayden Jennifer K. , Romeo Anthony A. 
Published: April 2006

Background Arthroscopic treatment of anterior shoulder dislocation has become possible through improvements in instruments and techniques. Objective To prospectively evaluate results of arthroscopic Bankart repairs at a minimum 2-year follow-up for patients with histories of shoulder dislocation and an anterior-inferior labral tear at the time of diagnostic arthroscopy. Study Design Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods A consecutive series of 85 patients (70 men, 15 women; mean age, 26 years) with Bankart lesions were treated with arthroscopic repair using suture anchors; 18 patients (27%) had extension of the labral injury into the superior labrum affecting some or all of the biceps anchor. Anchors were loaded with no. 2 nonabsorbable braided suture and placed 2 mm into the edge of the glenoid surface. A low anterior (5-o'clock) portal through the subscapularis tendon was used in all patients; 72 patients were evaluated at a minimum of 2 years postoperatively (mean, 46 months). Results Seven patients (10%) experienced recurrent instability after repair. Four patients had redislocations; 3 experienced recurrent subluxations. One patient had pain with the apprehension test without a clear history of recurrent instability. Of 18 collision athletes, 2 had dislocations at 22 and 60 months postoperatively. There were no complications, including no neurologic deficits. Clinical strength testing of the subscapularis muscle was normal in all patients. The mean Rowe score was 88 of 100 points, with 90% excellent or good results. Simple Shoulder Test responses improved from 66% positive preoperatively to 88% positive postoperatively. The American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons scoring index averaged 92 of 100 points postoperatively. Pain analog scales improved from 5.5 preoperatively to 0.35 postoperatively on a 10-point scale. SF-12 scores improved for physical function. Patient satisfaction was rated 8.9 on a 10-point visual analog scale. Conclusion Bankart repairs performed arthroscopically using properly implanted suture anchors and nonabsorbable sutures and in which associated pathoanatomy is addressed demonstrate low recurrence rates (10%) similar to historical open controls.
Pursuing Good Practice?
Authors: Gray Mel , Mcdonald Catherine 
Published: April 2006

• Summary: Many of the profession are pursuing ways to develop and promote good and accountable practice. One of the most popular courses suggested is evidence-based practice. Locating our discussion within the context of neo-liberalism, we argue here that evidence-based practice has arisen not only in response to the ongoing desire to promote scientific practice, but also to increase social work’s ‘fit’ with the current context. • Findings: We conclude that social work is an extremely complex set of activities and that evidence-based practice is too conceptually narrow and theoretically limited, particularly in its constrained capacity to take up many of the developments in social theory. Finally, we suggest that the conceptual objectives of evidence-based practice can be met by the integration of ethical reasoning in practice, which we suggest is a strategy of mature professionalism that can be more readily applied in the diverse contexts and forms of social work practice. • Applications: The ethical intent (and indeed, the cognitive discipline) of evidence-based practice can equally be realized through deployment of ethical reasoning as a mode of good practice.
Somatoform Disorders and a History of Abuse
Authors: Arnd-Caddigan Margaret 
Published: April 2006

• Summary: Somatoform disorders and functional somatic syndromes are defined as the presence of physical symptoms in the absence of sufficient tissue or organ damage to account for the degree of pain or dysfunction. Many people who suffer from these disorders have a history of childhood abuse. Because these individuals may also have a number of other difficulties in living, social workers encounter such clients in diverse fields of practice. Clients who fall into the category of adult survivors of abuse with a somatoform disorder may experience certain interventions by doctors, therapists, and other helping professionals (including social workers) as repeating interactions they had with their abusers. • Findings: Adult survivors of abuse who have a somatoform disorder often have parallel experiences in terms of their abuse and their somatic symptoms: important others communicate that the abuse and the symptoms are not real, are the client’s fault, and/or that the client is over-reacting to the abuse and symptoms. Furthermore, adult survivors of abuse may experience helping professionals as distinctly non-nurturing and as engaging in distancing behaviours. These interactions may stand in the way of helping members of this population, or even add to the client’s distress. There are specific practices in which the social worker may engage to help avoid these kinds of relations. • Applications: Social workers in a number of fields of practice may be alerted to dynamics common among adult survivors of abuse with a somatoform disorder. In the event that a client falls into this category, the informed social worker can avoid recapitulating abuse dynamics as well as help clients understand their diagnosis and why interactions with helping professionals may have been upsetting.
Understanding Power and Powerlessness
Authors: Tew Jerry 
Published: April 2006

• Summary: This paper reviews the existing literature that seeks to conceptualize the operation of power, from modernist ideas of power as a ‘thing’ that may be possessed, to a range of critical alternatives, including structuralist, Foucauldian and feminist psychological perspectives. This review provides the foundations on which to construct a framework by which social workers may be able to map out and work with issues of power and powerlessness more effectively in their everyday practice. • Findings: Current frameworks, such as anti-oppressive practice, may be insufficient in being able to identify the range and complexity of power relations that may be enacted within a social situation. In order to provide a more comprehensive understanding, the article presents a discussion of the application of a framework for analysing the operation of different forms of power - one that acknowledges the potential of power to be both damaging and productive. • Applications: Through a discussion of how the concepts within this framework may be applied to a practice scenario, and to issues around the use of power and authority by social workers, there is an exploration of how the framework may provide a useful tool for underpinning emancipatory social work practice.
Gene functional similarity search tool (GFSST)
Authors: Zhang Peisen , Zhang Jinghui , Sheng Huitao , Russo James J , Osborne Brian , Buetow Kenneth 
Published: April 2006

Abstract

Background
With the completion of the genome sequences of human, mouse, and other species and the advent of high throughput functional genomic research technologies such as biomicroarray chips, more and more genes and their products have been discovered and their functions have begun to be understood. Increasing amounts of data about genes, gene products and their functions have been stored in databases. To facilitate selection of candidate genes for gene-disease research, genetic association studies, biomarker and drug target selection, and animal models of human diseases, it is essential to have search engines that can retrieve genes by their functions from proteome databases. In recent years, the development of Gene Ontology (GO) has established structured, controlled vocabularies describing gene functions, which makes it possible to develop novel tools to search genes by functional similarity.

Results
By using a statistical model to measure the functional similarity of genes based on the Gene Ontology directed acyclic graph, we developed a novel Gene Functional Similarity Search Tool (GFSST) to identify genes with related functions from annotated proteome databases. This search engine lets users design their search targets by gene functions.

Conclusion
An implementation of GFSST which works on the UniProt (Universal Protein Resource) for the human and mouse proteomes is available at GFSST Web Server. GFSST provides functions not only for similar gene retrieval but also for gene search by one or more GO terms. This represents a powerful new approach for selecting similar genes and gene products from proteome databases according to their functions.
STEM: a tool for the analysis of short time series gene expression data
Authors: Ernst Jason , Bar-Joseph Ziv 
Published: April 2006

Abstract

Background
Time series microarray experiments are widely used to study dynamical biological processes. Due to the cost of microarray experiments, and also in some cases the limited availability of biological material, about 80% of microarray time series experiments are short (3–8 time points). Previously short time series gene expression data has been mainly analyzed using more general gene expression analysis tools not designed for the unique challenges and opportunities inherent in short time series gene expression data.

Results
We introduce the Short Time-series Expression Miner (STEM) the first software program specifically designed for the analysis of short time series microarray gene expression data. STEM implements unique methods to cluster, compare, and visualize such data. STEM also supports efficient and statistically rigorous biological interpretations of short time series data through its integration with the Gene Ontology.

Conclusion
The unique algorithms STEM implements to cluster and compare short time series gene expression data combined with its visualization capabilities and integration with the Gene Ontology should make STEM useful in the analysis of data from a significant portion of all microarray studies. STEM is available for download for free to academic and non-profit users at http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~jernst/stem.
PedGenie: an analysis approach for genetic association testing in extended pedigrees and genealogies of arbitrary size
Authors: Allen-Brady Kristina , Wong Jathine , Camp Nicola J 
Published: April 2006

AbstractBackgroundWe present a general approach to perform association analyses in pedigrees of arbitrary size and structure, which also allows for a mixture of pedigree members and independent individuals to be analyzed together, to test genetic markers and qualitative or quantitative traits. Our software, PedGenie, uses Monte Carlo significance testing to provide a valid test for related individuals that can be applied to any test statistic, including transmission disequilibrium statistics. Single locus at a time, composite genotype tests, and haplotype analyses may all be performed. We illustrate the validity and functionality of PedGenie using simulated and real data sets. For the real data set, we evaluated the role of two tagging-single nucleotide polymorphisms (tSNPs) in the DNA repair gene,NBS1, and their association with female breast cancer in 462 cases and 572 controls selected to beBRCA1/2mutation negative from 139 high-risk Utah breast cancer families.ResultsThe results from PedGenie were shown to be valid both for accuratep-value calculations and consideration of pedigree structure in the simulated data set. A nominally significant association with breast cancer was observed with theNBS1tSNP rs709816 for carriage of the rare allele (OR = 1.61, 95% CI = 1.10–2.35, p = 0.019).ConclusionPedGenie is a flexible and valid statistical tool that is intuitively simple to understand, makes efficient use of all the data available from pedigrees without requiring trimming, and is flexible to the types of tests to which it can be applied. Further, our analyses of real data indicateNBS1may play a role in the genetic etiology of heritable breast cancer.
A new standard nomenclature for proteins related to Apx and Shroom
Authors: Hagens Olivier , Ballabio Andrea , Kalscheuer Vera , Kraehenbuhl Jean-Pierre , Schiaffino M Vittoria , Smith Peter , Staub Olivier , Hildebrand Jeff , Wallingford John B 
Published: April 2006

Abstract
Shroom is a recently-described regulator of cell shape changes in the developing nervous system. This protein is a member of a small family of related proteins that are defined by sequence similarity and in most cases by some link to the actin cytoskeleton. At present these proteins are named Shroom, APX, APXL, and KIAA1202. In light of the growing interest in this family of proteins, we propose here a new standard nomenclature.
No variation and low synonymous substitution rates in coral mtDNA despite high nuclear variation
Authors: Hellberg Michael E 
Published: April 2006

Abstract

Background
The mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of most animals evolves more rapidly than nuclear DNA, and often shows higher levels of intraspecific polymorphism and population subdivision. The mtDNA of anthozoans (corals, sea fans, and their kin), by contrast, appears to evolve slowly. Slow mtDNA evolution has been reported for several anthozoans, however this slow pace has been difficult to put in phylogenetic context without parallel surveys of nuclear variation or calibrated rates of synonymous substitution that could permit quantitative rate comparisons across taxa. Here, I survey variation in the coding region of a mitochondrial gene from a coral species (Balanophyllia elegans) known to possess high levels of nuclear gene variation, and estimate synonymous rates of mtDNA substitution by comparison to another coral (Tubastrea coccinea).

Results
The mtDNA surveyed (630 bp of cytochrome oxidase subunit I) was invariant among individuals sampled from 18 populations spanning 3000 km of the range of B. elegans, despite high levels of variation and population subdivision for allozymes over these same populations. The synonymous substitution rate between B. elegans and T. coccinea (0.05%/site/106 years) is similar to that in most plants, but 50–100 times lower than rates typical for most animals. In addition, while substitutions to mtDNA in most animals exhibit a strong bias toward transitions, mtDNA from these corals does not.

Conclusion
Slow rates of mitochondrial nucleotide substitution result in low levels of intraspecific mtDNA variation in corals, even when nuclear loci vary. Slow mtDNA evolution appears to be the basal condition among eukaryotes. mtDNA substitution rates switch from slow to fast abruptly and unidirectionally. This switch may stem from the loss of just one or a few mitochondrion-specific DNA repair or replication genes.