bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Chinese Law System of Intellectual Property Right Protection in Biotechnology
Authors: Junli Chang , Xuezhong Zhu , Guangyuan He 
Published: August 2008

AbstractThis paper deals with the Chinese law system on protecting the biotechnology intellectual property right. This law system includes the copyright law and the patent law, etc. as well as the regulations being issued by the Chinese State Council and the Chinese Council Ministries and the authorized local governments, such as the Protection of New Varieties of Plants issued by the Chinese State Council. The establishment and application of this law system in the area of biotechnology have resulted in a rapid development of biotechnology and life sciences in China. In the meantime, optimized law system to protect the intellectual property right has been demanded, in order to fit the further exploitation, application and commercialization of the techniques and productions in the area of the biotechnology and the life sciences. The history, current situation and several special topics for Chinese laws to protect intellectual property right in biotechnology shall be presented and related suggestion raised.
Recurrent Postnatal Infections Are Associated With Progressive White Matter Injury in Premature Infants
Authors: Glass Hannah C. , Bonifacio Sonia L. , Chau Vann , Glidden David , Poskitt Kenneth , Barkovich A. James , Ferriero Donna M. , Miller Steven P. 
Published: August 2008

OBJECTIVE. Our objective was to identify clinical predictors of progressive white matter injury.
METHODS. We evaluated 133 infants of &lt;34 weeks of gestation at birth from 2 university hospitals. Infants underwent MRI twice, initially when in stable condition for transport and again at term-equivalent age or before transfer or discharge. Two neuroradiologists who were blinded to the clinical course graded MRI white matter injury severity by using a validated scale. Potential risk factors were extracted from medical charts.
RESULTS. Twelve neonates (9.0%) had progressive white matter injury. In the unadjusted analysis of 10 newborns without Candida meningoencephalitis, recurrent culture-positive postnatal infection and chronic lung disease were associated with progressive white matter injury. Exposure to multiple episodes of culture-positive infection significantly increased the risk of progressive white matter injury. Of the 11 neonates with &gt;1 infection, 36.4% (4 infants) had progressive injury, compared with 5.0% (6 infants) of those with ≤1 infection. Of the 35 infants with chronic lung disease, 17.1% (6 infants) had progressive injury, compared with 4.3% (4 infants) of those without chronic lung disease. After adjustment for gestational age at birth, the association between infection and white matter injury persisted, whereas chronic lung disease was no longer a statistically significant risk factor.
CONCLUSIONS. Recurrent postnatal infection is an important risk factor for progressive white matter injury in premature infants. This is consistent with emerging evidence that white matter injury is attributable to oligodendrocyte precursor susceptibility to inflammation, hypoxia, and ischemia.
Safety and Tolerability of North American Ginseng Extract in the Treatment of Pediatric Upper Respiratory Tract Infection: A Phase II Randomized, Controlled Trial of 2 Dosing Schedules
Authors: Vohra Sunita , Johnston Bradley C. , Laycock Keri L. , Midodzi William K. , Dhunnoo Indra , Harris Evan , Baydala Lola 
Published: August 2008

BACKGROUND. Upper respiratory tract infections are the most common childhood illness. Panax quinquefolius (American ginseng root extract) standardized to contain 80% poly-furanosyl-pyranosyl-saccharides is purported to be effective in adult upper respiratory tract infection but has not been evaluated yet in a pediatric population.
OBJECTIVES. Our primary objective was to document the safety and tolerability of 2 weight-based dosing schedules (standard dose versus low dose versus placebo) in children. We also used the Canadian Acute Respiratory Infection Flu Scale, a quantitative scoring sheet for measuring the severity and duration of upper respiratory symptoms, to establish the SD of the treatment effect to allow sample-size calculations for future clinical trials.
METHODS. We conducted a randomized, double-blind dose-finding 3-arm trial (2 dosing schedules of American ginseng extract with 1 placebo control) during the winter months (November 2005 to March 2006) in children 3 to 12 years of age.
RESULTS. Seventy-five subjects were prerecruited from the general population in Edmonton. Of these, 46 subjects developed an upper respiratory tract infection and were randomly assigned (15 standard dose, 16 low dose, and 15 placebo), with 1 subject withdrawing from the low-dose arm before beginning the intervention. No serious adverse events were reported. The frequency, severity, and degree of association between the intervention and reported adverse events were not significantly different among each of the 3 treatment arms.
CONCLUSIONS. Standard doses of ginseng were well tolerated and merit additional evaluation with regard to treatment of pediatric upper respiratory tract infection.
A Phase I/II Trial of High-Dose Erythropoietin in Extremely Low Birth Weight Infants: Pharmacokinetics and Safety
Authors: Juul Sandra E. , McPherson Ronald J. , Bauer Larry A. , Ledbetter Kelly J. , Gleason Christine A. , Mayock Dennis E. 
Published: August 2008

OBJECTIVES. High-dose recombinant erythropoietin is neuroprotective in animal models of neonatal brain injury. Extremely low birth weight infants are at high risk for brain injury and neurodevelopmental problems and might benefit from recombinant erythropoietin. We designed a phase I/II trial to test the safety and determine the pharmacokinetics of high-dose recombinant erythropoietin in extremely low birth weight infants.
METHODS. In a prospective, dose-escalation, open-label trial, we compared 30 infants who were treated with high-dose recombinant erythropoietin with 30 concurrent control subjects. Eligible infants were &lt;24 hours old, ≤1000 g birth weight, and ≤28 weeks of gestation and had an umbilical artery catheter in place. Each infant received 3 intravenous doses of 500, 1000, or 2500 U/kg at 24-hour intervals beginning on day 1 of age. Blood samples were collected at scheduled intervals to determine recombinant erythropoietin pharmacokinetics. Safety parameters were also evaluated. In the concurrent control group, only clinical data were collected.
RESULTS. Mean erythropoietin concentrations 30 minutes after recombinant erythropoietin infusion were 5973 ± 266, 12291 ± 403, and 34197 ± 1641 mU/mL after 500, 1000, or 2500 U/kg, respectively. High-dose recombinant erythropoietin followed nonlinear pharmacokinetics as a result of decreasing clearance from the lowest dosage (17.3 mL/hour per kg for 500 U/kg) to the highest dosage (8.2 mL/hour per kg for 2500 U/kg). Steady state was achieved within 24 to 48 hours. Both 1000 and 2500 U/kg recombinant erythropoietin produced peak serum erythropoietin concentrations that were comparable to neuroprotective concentrations that previously were seen in experimental animals. No excess adverse events occurred in the recombinant erythropoietin–treated infants compared with control infants.
CONCLUSIONS. Early high-dose recombinant erythropoietin is well tolerated by extremely low birth weight infants, causing no excess morbidity or mortality. Recombinant erythropoietin dosages of 1000 and 2500 U/kg achieved neuroprotective serum levels.
Morbidity of Overweight (≥85th Percentile) in the First 2 Years of Life
Authors: Shibli Rana , Rubin Lisa , Akons Hannah , Shaoul Ron 
Published: August 2008

OBJECTIVES. Our hypothesis was that morbidity related to overweight/obesity is already evident in infants and young toddlers. The major objectives of this study were (1) to assess the prevalence of overweight in a sample of hospitalized infants and (2) to assess the prevalence of morbidity in overweight infants in a community-based sample.
METHODS. The hospital admission study population included 2139 infants, ≤24 months of age, who were admitted for any reason to the pediatric department at the Bnai Zion Medical Center in 2004–2005. For the community-based sample, we identified overweight infants (≥85th weight-for-height percentile in ≥2 measurements, ≥3 months apart), ≤24 months of age, in 8 mother and child health care facilities in the Haifa subdistrict of Israel. Parents of infants were interviewed by using a structured questionnaire.
RESULTS. We found that overweight infants (85th to 94th percentiles) had fewer admissions and fewer repeated admissions than expected. Infants of ≥95th percentile had more admissions than expected, as well as a larger number of repeated admissions. In the second part of the study, we found that rates of developmental delays (mainly delayed gross motor skills) and snoring were significantly higher in infants of ≥85th percentile. In addition, although the results were not statistically significant, infants with overweight suffered more frequently from breathing problems, such as asthma and stridor. When the mothers were asked to assess whether their child was overweight, only 31.6% of mothers of overweight children thought that the child was overweight.
CONCLUSIONS. The high admission rates for infants of ≥95th percentile and the high incidence rates of respiratory morbidity, snoring, and delayed gross motor skills in overweight infants support our hypothesis regarding early morbidity associated with overweight.
Access to and Use of Paid Sick Leave Among Low-Income Families With Children
Authors: Clemans-Cope Lisa , Perry Cynthia D. , Kenney Genevieve M. , Pelletier Jennifer E. , Pantell Matthew S. 
Published: August 2008

OBJECTIVE. The ability of employed parents to meet the health needs of their children may depend on their access to sick leave, especially for low-income workers, who may be afforded less flexibility in their work schedules to accommodate these needs yet also more likely to have children in poor health. Our goal was to provide rates of access to paid sick leave and paid vacation leave among low-income families with children and to assess whether access to these benefits is associated with parents’ leave taking to care for themselves or others.METHODS. We used a sample of low-income families (&lt;200% of the federal poverty level) with children aged 0 to 17 years in the 2003 and 2004 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey to examine bivariate relationships between access to and use of paid leave and characteristics of children, families, and parents’ employer.RESULTS. Access to paid leave was lower among children in low-income families than among those in families with higher income. Within low-income families, children without ≥1 full-time worker in the household were especially likely to lack access to this benefit, as were children whose parents work for small employers. Among children whose parents had access to paid sick leave, parents were more likely to take time away from work to care for themselves or others. This relationship is even more pronounced among families with the highest need, such as children in fair or poor health and children with all parents in full-time employment.CONCLUSIONS. Legislation mandating paid sick leave could dramatically increase access to this benefit among low-income families. It would likely diminish gaps in parents’ leave taking to care for others between families with and without the benefit. However, until the health-related consequences are better understood, the full impact of such legislation remains unknown.
Adverse Childhood Experiences Predict Earlier Age of Drinking Onset: Results From a Representative US Sample of Current or Former Drinkers
Authors: Rothman Emily F. , Edwards Erika M. , Heeren Timothy , Hingson Ralph W. 
Published: August 2008

OBJECTIVE. Our goal was to determine whether adverse childhood experiences predicted the age at which drinking was initiated and drinking motives in a representative sample of current or former drinkers in the United States.
METHODS. In 2006, a probability sample of 3592 US current or former drinkers aged 18 to 39 were surveyed. Multinomial logistic regression examined whether each of 10 adverse childhood experiences was associated with earlier ages of drinking onset, controlling for demographics, parental alcohol use, parental attitudes toward drinking, and peers' drinking in adolescence. We also examined whether there was a graded relationship between the number of adverse childhood experiences and age of drinking onset and whether adverse childhood experiences were related to self-reported motives for drinking during the first year that respondents drank.
RESULTS. Sixty-six percent of respondents reported ≥1 adverse childhood experiences, and 19% reported experiencing ≥4. The most commonly reported adverse childhood experiences were parental separation/divorce (41.3%), living with a household member who was a problem drinker (28.7%), mental illness of a household member (24.8%), and sexual abuse (19.1%). Of the 10 specific adverse childhood experiences assessed, 5 were significantly associated with initiating drinking at ≤14 years of age (compared with at ≥21 years of age) after adjustment for confounders, including physical abuse, sexual abuse, having a mentally ill household member, substance abuse in the home, and parental discord or divorce. Compared with those without adverse childhood experiences, respondents with adverse childhood experiences were substantially more likely to report that they drank to cope during the first year that they used alcohol.
CONCLUSIONS. Results suggest that children with particular adverse childhood experiences may initiate drinking earlier than their peers and that they may be more likely to drink to cope with problems (rather than for pleasure or to be social).
Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor and Autism Spectrum Disorders
Authors: Grigorenko Elena L. , Han Summer S. , Yrigollen Carolyn M. , Leng Lin , Mizue Yuka , Anderson George M. , Mulder Erik J. , de Bildt Annelies , Minderaa Ruud B. , Volkmar Fred R. , Chang Joseph T. , Bucala Richard 
Published: August 2008

OBJECTIVE. Autistic spectrum disorders are childhood neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by social and communicative impairment and repetitive and stereotypical behavior. Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is an upstream regulator of innate immunity that promotes monocyte/macrophage-activation responses by increasing the expression of Toll-like receptors and inhibiting activation-induced apoptosis. On the basis of results of previous genetic linkage studies and reported altered innate immune response in autism spectrum disorder, we hypothesized that MIF could represent a candidate gene for autism spectrum disorder or its diagnostic components.METHODS. Genetic association between autism spectrum disorder and MIF was investigated in 2 independent sets of families of probands with autism spectrum disorder, from the United States (527 participants from 152 families) and Holland (532 participants from 183 families). Probands and their siblings, when available, were evaluated with clinical instruments used for autism spectrum disorder diagnoses. Genotyping was performed for 2 polymorphisms in the promoter region of the MIF gene in both samples sequentially. In addition, MIF plasma analyses were conducted in a subset of Dutch patients from whom plasma was available.RESULTS. There were genetic associations between known functional polymorphisms in the promoter for MIF and autism spectrum disorder–related behaviors. Also, probands with autism spectrum disorder exhibited higher circulating MIF levels than did their unaffected siblings, and plasma MIF concentrations correlated with the severity of multiple autism spectrum disorder symptoms.CONCLUSIONS. These results identify MIF as a possible susceptibility gene for autism spectrum disorder. Additional research is warranted on the precise relationship between MIF and the behavioral components of autism spectrum disorder, the mechanism by which MIF contributes to autism spectrum disorder pathogenesis, and the clinical use of MIF genotyping.
Assessing Attitudes About Emergency Contraception Among Urban, Minority Adolescent Girls: An In-depth Interview Study
Authors: Mollen Cynthia J. , Barg Frances K. , Hayes Katie L. , Gotcsik Marah , Blades Nakeisha M. , Schwarz Donald F. 
Published: August 2008

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this work was to explore the knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs of urban, minority adolescent girls about intention to use emergency contraception pills and to identify barriers to emergency contraception pill use.
PATIENTS AND METHODS. We conducted an in-depth, semistructured interview study of healthy, urban-dwelling, English-speaking 15- to 19-year-old black adolescents seeking care in a children's hospital emergency department. Purposive sampling was used to recruit sexually active and nonsexually active adolescents and those with and without a history of pregnancy. Enrollment continued until saturation of key themes was achieved. Participants returned after their emergency department visit for a 1-hour interview. The interview consisted of semistructured questions based on the theory of planned behavior constructs: attitudes (including knowledge), subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control, as well as demographic data collection. Interviews were recorded and transcribed. Transcripts were coded by 2 members of the study team by using a modified grounded-theory method.
RESULTS. Thirty interviews were required for saturation. Mean participant age was 16.4 years; 53% reported being sexually active, and 17% reported a history of pregnancy. Specific knowledge gaps exist about emergency contraception pills, including misconceptions about the recommended time frame for taking the medication. Several major themes were noted for each of the constructs. Intention to use emergency contraception pills is affected by the conflicting attitudes that the emergency contraception pill works faster than birth control pills and that those who use emergency contraception pills are irresponsible; family and friends are important influences and have uninformed but generally supportive opinions; and adolescents have a perception of limited behavioral control because of their young age and concerns about confidentiality.
CONCLUSIONS. Urban, minority adolescent girls have misconceptions about emergency contraception pills, are affected by the opinions of those close to them, and express concern about specific barriers. These findings can inform specific interventions aimed at addressing the barriers to emergency contraception pill use that are of most importance to this population of young women.
Care of Children Isolated for Infection Control: A Prospective Observational Cohort Study
Authors: Cohen Eyal , Austin Janice , Weinstein Michael , Matlow Anne , Redelmeier Donald A. 
Published: August 2008

BACKGROUND. Patients with community-acquired or nosocomial infections are often managed in a hospital with isolation precautions. Given the high prevalence and substantial inconvenience associated with implementation of isolation precautions in pediatric settings, we explored the impact of this intervention on the care provided to children and their families.
OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this work was to compare the quantity and quality of care received by isolated patients relative to nonisolated patients.
PATIENTS AND METHODS. Sixty-five consecutive newly admitted inpatients in private rooms (24 isolated, 41 nonisolated) were recruited from the general pediatric service at the Hospital for Sick Children. Interactions between a medical team with patients and their families were observed. All of the participants were blinded to the study objectives. The medical team was observed during its morning rounds, and data were collected on the quantity and quality of care. Quantity of care was determined by the amount of time that the medical team spent interacting with the patient and parents and the number of organ systems examined by the attending physician during morning rounds. Quality of care was determined by using parental completion of the Pediatric Family Satisfaction Questionnaire.
RESULTS. We found no significant difference in the average amount of time spent interacting with isolated compared with nonisolated patients (516 vs 480 seconds) or the number of organ systems examined in isolated compared with nonisolated patients (3 vs 4). Isolated and nonisolated groups gave high ratings to all of the items pertaining to the facility, doctors, and nurses.
CONCLUSIONS. No large differences in quality or quantity of care were observed between isolated and nonisolated patients in the first 2 days of admission to a pediatric ward.
Cough and Cold Medication Use by US Children, 1999–2006: Results From the Slone Survey
Authors: Vernacchio Louis , Kelly Judith P. , Kaufman David W. , Mitchell Allen A. 
Published: August 2008

OBJECTIVE. Pediatric cough and cold medications are widely marketed in the United States, but the precise patterns of use among children are not known. Such information is especially important given recent reports suggesting that these medications are responsible for previously underappreciated serious adverse events and deaths among children. We sought to describe the prevalence and patterns of pediatric use of cough and cold medications, with particular attention to use among young children.METHODS. We analyzed data on the use of cough and cold medications, defined as any oral medication that contains ≥1 antitussive, decongestant, expectorant, and/or first-generation antihistamine active ingredients, among 4267 US children who were younger than 18 years and enrolled during 1999–2006 in the Slone Survey, a national random-digit-dial telephone survey of medication use by the US population.RESULTS. In a given week, a cough and cold medication was used by 10.1% of US children. Exposure was highest to decongestants (6.3%; mostly pseudoephedrine) and first-generation antihistamines (6.3%; most common were chlorpheniramine, diphenhydramine, and brompheniramine), followed by antitussives (4.1%; mostly dextromethorphan) and expectorants (1.5%; almost exclusively guaifenesin). Multiple-ingredient products accounted for 64.2% of all cough and cold medications used. Exposure to antitussives, decongestants, and first-generation antihistamines was highest among 2- to 5-year-olds (7.0%, 9.9%, and 10.1%, respectively) followed by children who were younger than 2 years (5.9%, 9.4%, and 7.6%, respectively); expectorant use was low in all age groups. The use of cough and cold medications declined from 1999 through 2006.CONCLUSIONS. Approximately 1 in 10 US children uses a cough and cold medication in a given week. The especially high prevalence of use among children of young age is noteworthy, given concerns about potential adverse effects and the lack of data on the efficacy of cough and cold medications in this age group.