bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Involving students in learning and health promotion processes - clarifying why? what? and how?
Authors: Bruun Jensen Bjarne , Simovska Venka 
Published: April 2008

The concept of student participation is currently a popular notion in health promoting schools as well as in general education. However, phrases such as 'involvement', 'participation', 'co-determination' and 'influence' are frequently used without careful definition. In this article two models, developed in the context of health promoting schools in two different cultures, are presented and discussed. The first model makes a fundamental distinction between token and genuine participation. Token participation in health promotion is characterised by focusing on prescribed knowledge, closed and convergent outcomes and targeting individuals isolated from the surrounding environment. In contrast, genuine participation stresses students' own construction of knowledge, open and divergent outcomes and targeting individuals in their context. Genuine participation is in accordance with a democratic health promoting school aiming at students' empowerment and action competence. The second model clarifies a number of different categories of students' participation in health promotion. The different categories illustrate how the teacher in various ways can play an active role in participatory approaches as a responsible professional. The more the students are involved in health projects, the more important it will be for the teacher to provide support, insight and knowledge to facilitate the learning processes. Furthermore, the different participation categories have to be related to a number of decisions which are normally included in a school health project. The model illustrates that participation should always be viewed in relation to the context and that it makes no sense to establish a single ideal way of working with participation in a health promoting school. The theoretical models are illuminated by concrete examples from health promoting schools. The overall conclusion is that participation is a complex term and rather than providing definitive answers, the models can be used as a framework for discussion among all stakeholders in planning, implementation, evaluation and managing projects involving student participation. Finally, specific implications and challenges for future health promoting schools are outlined. These are as follows: •a participatory approach does not imply that health content should be regarded as vague or superfluous; • teachers need flexible educational models and resources to manage participatory projects in health promoting schools; · schools have to be acknowledged as cultural systems with firmly rooted rules and routines that are often difficult to change; • a participatory approach has to influence all aspects of a democratic health promoting school rather than solely the teaching strategies.
Advocacy for physical activity-from to influence
Authors: Shilton Trevor 
Published: April 2008

Advocacy is an evolving and underdeveloped element of public health practice. Historically, it was used to describe activities undertaken by persons on behalf of the poor, the sick or oppressed. In the seventies, led by tobacco control advocates such as Pertschuk in the United States, Gray in Australia and Daube in the United Kingdom, public health advocacy became more focused on structural and policy change. Since the Ottawa Charter (WHO, 1986), the health promotion movement has embraced a broader view of the role of advocacy. The public health community now see advocacy as social action primarily aimed at effecting changes in legislation, policy and environments that support healthy living. Advocacy is defined by the World Health Organization as a combination of individual and social actions designed to gain political commitment, policy support, social acceptance and systems support for a particular health goal or programme (WHO, 1995). This paper describes a model for understanding and mobilising physical activity advocacy. It outlines a three step process: 1. Gathering and translating the most pertinent physical activity evidence. Why advocate for physical activity? 2. Developing from the evidence, a physical activity advocacy agenda and articulating a plan (or plans) of key actions that will increase population levels of physical activity. What should be advocated? 3. Implementing a mix of advocacy strategies to influence and mobilise support for the physical activity agenda. How should advocacy be implemented?
The Otsego-Schoharie healthy heart program: prevention of cardiovascular disease in the rural US
Authors: Nafziger A.N. , Erb T.A. , Jenkins P.L. , Lewis C. , Pearson T.A. 
Published: April 2008

Objectives: To describe a rural, hospital-based public health intervention program and to evaluate its effectiveness in cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk reduction using cross-sectional studies and a panel study. Methods: A rural population of 158,000 located in New York state comprised the intervention population. A similar but separate population was used for reference. A multifaceted, multimedia 5-year program provided health promotion and education initiatives to increase physical activity, decrease smoking, improve nutrition, and identify hypercholesterolemia and hypertension. To evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention, surveys were conducted at baseline in 1989 (cross-sectional) and at follow-up in 1994- 95 (cross-sectional and panel). For cross-sectional studies, a random sample of adults was obtained using a three-stage cluster design. Self-reported and objective risk factor measurements were obtained. Comparison of pre- to post- changes in intervention versus reference populations was done using 2× 2randomized block ANOVA, 2 × 2 mixed ANOVA, and extension of the McNemar test. Results: Smoking prevalence declined (from 27.9% to 17.6%) in the intervention population. Significant adverse trends were observed for high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides. Systolic blood pressure was reduced while diastolic blood pressure remained stable. Body mass index increased significantly in both populations. Conclusions: This rural, 5-year CVD community intervention program decreased smoking. The risk reduction may be attributable to tailoring of a multifaceted approach (multiple risk factors, multiple messages, and multiple population subgroups) to a target rural population. The study period was too short to identify changes in CVD morbidity and mortality.
Restricting the influx of disability beneficiaries by means of law: experiences in Norway
Authors: Claussen Bjørgulf 
Published: April 2008

Objectives: To study effects of restricting eligibility criteria for disability pension in Norway 1991. Methods: Documents of 288 applicants from 1990 and 1993 in one county were analysed for social and medical variables as well as for the determination and its causes. Results: Incidence of applications for disability benefits during a three-month period was 223 per 100,000 inhabitants in 1990. The focused group of `medically imprecise` musculoskeletal diagnoses concerned 26% of all applicants, while `precise` musculoskeletal diagnoses were given to 15%,`imprecise` psychiatric diagnoses to 7% and `precise` ones to 6%. The number of applicants fell by 39%, surprisingly about the same in all social and diagnostic groups. Denial rate increased from 8% to 21%. Denials mostly struck women, middle-aged, those living alone, those with short education, and applicants with `medically imprecise` diagnoses. Conclusions: Restriction of disability benefits affected applicants with the least resources the hardest, and seems to contribute to the on-going process of marginalising the weaker part of the population.
The gender gap in musculoskeletal-related long term sickness absence in Norway
Authors: Brage Sören , Nygard Jan F. , Tellnes Gunnar 
Published: April 2008

Objective — To examine the gender differences in long term (> 14 days) sickness absence due to musculoskeletal health problems. Design — Analysis of data from the National Sickness Benefit Register, 1994. Setting — The economically active population in Norway, except civil servants ( n = 1,978,030). Subjects — All persons, 16—66 years old, with long term sickness absence episodes due to musculoskeletal health problems in 1994 ( n= 141,839). Main outcome measures — Cumulative incidence, episode frequency, and episode duration of sickness absence. Results — Women had higher cumulative incidence of sickness absence than men—80.6 pr 1,000 vs. 64.1 pr 1,000, and longer mean duration of episodes—94 calendar days vs. 86 days counted from the first day of absence. Episode frequency did not differ between the genders. After adjustment for age and income the gender ratio (men/women) in cumulative incidence changed from 0.80 to 1.08, and in mean duration from 0.91 to 0.96. Conclusion — Long term sickness absence due to musculoskeletal health problems was strongly associated with gender, age, income, and diagnosis. Multivariate analysis indicated that the large gender differences in sickness absence might be overstated due to lack of adjustment for income and income-related factors.
How to measure sickness absence? Literature review and suggestion of five basic measures
Authors: Hensing Gunnel , Alexanderson Kristina , Allebeck Peter , Bjurulf Per 
Published: April 2008

Objective — To examine different sick-leave measures used in sickness absence research, and to suggest a systematic way of assessing sickness absence. Methods — A review and analysis of five major studies on sick-leave performed 1983—1988 with an epidemiological approach. Results — Terminology and measures used varied in the different studies reviewed. The choice of a certain measure was seldom discussed in relation to the aim of the study. Based on the review five measures are suggested: frequency, length, incidence rate, cumulative incidence and duration. The definition of incidence rate is new and is a measure useful in studies of recurrent events within epidemiology. Conclusions — We have reviewed sick-leave measures previously used in the literature and suggested five basic measures for assessing sick-leave.
Comparison of stress, job satisfaction, perception of control, and health among district nurses in Stockholm and prewar Zagreb
Authors: Tholdy Doncevic Stefanija , Romelsjö Anders , Theorell Töres 
Published: April 2008

The increasing number of studies of stress among nurses in the last two decades have mainly dealt with nurses in hospitals. A few studies have included community-based nurses. However, no comparative studies of district nurses in different countries have been published. We have conducted a study to identify sources of stress, job satisfaction, perceived demands, control and health among district nurses (DNs) in Zagreb (Croatia) and Stockholm (Sweden), working in a polyvalent health care organization. Data were obtained regarding altogether 305 district nurses by means of self- administered questionnaires using identical methods and items, with response rates between 88% and 95%. In general, district nurses reported high levels of job-related stress, satisfaction and control. Organizational sources of stress, such as ongoing changes in the primary care organization, and reorganization of tasks, were of importance for the district nurses in Stockholm. They reported also more job satisfaction and commitment than the district nurses in Zagreb. The district nurses in Zagreb had significantly higher level of ``lack of resources''. They displayed significantly higher scores of psychological demands but also a greater feeling of control than the district nurses in Stockholm. Significant differences were also found between the groups in ranking of self-reported stressors. Thus results show that differences in work organization and in essential resources have a substantial impact of perceived stress, job satisfaction, and on the generality both of single association and on the applications of models.
Iron phases identified in bentonite from the Lieskovec deposit (Slovakia) by variable-temperature Mössbauer spectroscopy
Authors: Komadel P. , Anastácio A. S. , Andrejkovičová S. , Stucki J. W. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractThe clay-mineral fraction of samples from a bentonite deposit in the Zvolenská kotlina Basin (Slovakia), formed by the alteration of andesitic pyroclastics, was dominated by Fe-bearing montmorillonite of relatively low charge. The total Fe content of the samples ranged from 3.58 to 5.81 wt.% Fe. Variable-temperature Mössbauer spectroscopy revealed that structural Fe(III) in smectite accounts for 70–90% of the total Fe in the unfractionated samples. No structural Fe(II) was observed by Mössbauer spectroscopy, but a small amount was detected by wet chemical analysis. The remainder of the Fe is present in oxide and/or oxyhydroxide phases dominated by poorly ordered goethite and hematite. The hyperfine parameters of the Mössbauer spectra for the raw bentonite are consistent with structural Fe(III) in an aluminosilicate phase mixed with varying quantities of hematite, goethite and possibly maghemite. Except in the fine fraction of sample L28, the hematite failed to undergo the Morin transition, as shown by the negative values for quadrupole splitting at 298 K and 6 K.
Novel exon 12 mutations in the HIF2A gene associated with erythrocytosis
Authors: Percy Melanie J. , Beer Philip A. , Campbell Gavin , Dekker Ad W. , Green Anthony R. , Oscier David , Rainey M. Glenn , van Wijk Richard , Wood Marion , Lappin Terence R. J. , McMullin Mary Frances , Lee Frank S. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractErythrocytosis can arise from deregulation of the erythropoietin (Epo) axis resulting from defects in the oxygen-sensing pathway. Epo synthesis is controlled by the hypoxia inducible factor (HIF) complex, composed of an α and a β subunit. There are 2 main α subunits, HIF-1α and HIF-2α. Recently, a HIF-2α Gly537Trp mutation was identified in a family with erythrocytosis. This raises the possibility of HIF2A mutations being associated with other cases of erythrocytosis. We now report a subsequent analysis of HIF2A in a cohort of 75 erythrocytosis patients and identify 4 additional patients with novel heterozygous Met535Val and Gly537Arg mutations. All patients presented at a young age with elevated serum Epo. Mutations at Gly-537 account for 4 of 5 HIF2A mutations associated with erythrocytosis. These findings support the importance of HIF-2α in human Epo regulation and warrant investigation of HIF2A in patients with unexplained erythrocytosis.
Expression profiling of circulating non-red blood cells in embryonic blood
Authors: McIntyre Brendan AS , Alev Cantas , Tarui Hiroshi , Jakt Lars M , Sheng Guojun 
Published: April 2008

Abstract

Background
In addition to erythrocytes, embryonic blood contains other differentiated cell lineages and potential progenitor or stem cells homed to changing niches as the embryo develops. Using chicken as a model system, we have isolated an enriched pool of circulating non red blood cells (nRBCs) from E4 and E6 embryos; a transition period when definitive hematopoietic lineages are being specified in the peri-aortic region.

Results
Transcriptome analysis of both nRBC and RBC enriched populations was performed using chicken Affymetrix gene expression arrays. Comparison of transcript profiles of these two populations, with verification by RT-PCR, reveals in nRBCs an expression signature indicative of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and progenitor cells of myeloid and lymphoid lineages, as well as a number of previously undescribed genes possibly involved in progenitor and stem cell maintenance.

Conclusion
This data indicates that early circulating embryonic blood contains a full array of hematopoietic progenitors and stem cells. Future studies on their heterogeneity and differentiation potentials may provide a useful alternative to ES cells and perinatal blood.
Val103Ile polymorphism of the melanocortin-4 receptor gene (MC4R) in cancer cachexia
Authors: Knoll Susanne , Zimmer Sabiene , Hinney Anke , Scherag André , Neubauer Andreas , Hebebrand Johannes 
Published: April 2008

Abstract

Background
At present pathogenic mechanisms of cancer cachexia are poorly understood. Previous evidence in animal models implicates the melanocortin-4 receptor gene (MC4R) in the development of cancer cachexia. In humans, MC4R mutations that lead to an impaired receptor function are associated with obesity; in contrast, the most frequent polymorphism (Val103Ile, rs2229616; heterozygote frequency approximately 2%) was shown to be negatively associated with obesity. We tested if cancer patients that are homo-/heterozygous for the Val103Ile polymorphism are more likely to develop cachexia and/or a loss of appetite than non-carriers of the 103Ile-allele.

Methods
BMI (body mass index in kg/m2) of 509 patients (295 males) with malignant neoplasms was determined; additionally patients were asked about premorbid/pretherapeutical changes of appetite and weight loss. Cachexia was defined as a weight loss of at least 5% prior to initiation of therapy; to fulfil this criterion this weight loss had to occur independently of other plausible reasons; in single cases weight loss was the initial reason for seeing a physician. The average age in years (± SD) was 59.0 ± 14.5 (males: 58.8 ± 14.0, females 59.2 ± 14.0). Blood samples were taken for genotyping of the Val103Ile by PCR- RFLP.

Results
Most of the patients suffered from lymphoma, leukaemia and gastrointestinal tumours. 107 of the patients (21%) fulfilled our criteria for cancer cachexia. We did not detect association between the Val103Ile polymorphism and cancer cachexia. However, if we exploratively excluded the patients with early leucaemic stages, we detected a trend towards the opposite effect (p < 0.05); heterozygotes for the 103Ile-allele developed cancer cachexia less frequently in comparison to the rest of the study group. Changes of appetite were not associated with the 103Ile-allele carrier status (p > 0.39).

Conclusion
Heterozygotes for the 103Ile-allele are not more prone to develop cancer cachexia than patients without this allele; possibly, Ile103 carriers might be more resistant to cancer cachexia in patients with solid tumors. Further studies of the melanocortinergic system in cachexia of patients with solid tumors are warranted.
Acupuncture, chiropractic and osteopathy use in Australia: a national population survey
Authors: Xue Charlie CL , Zhang Anthony L , Lin Vivian , Myers Ray , Polus Barbara , Story David F 
Published: April 2008

Abstract

Background
There have been no published national studies on the use in Australia of the manipulative therapies, acupuncture, chiropractic or osteopathy, or on matters including the purposes for which these therapies are used, treatment outcomes and the socio-demographic characteristics of users.

Methods
This study on the three manipulative therapies was a component of a broader investigation on the use of complementary and alternative therapies. For this we conducted a cross-sectional, population survey on a representative sample of 1,067 adults from the six states and two territories of Australia in 2005 by computer-assisted telephone interviews. The sample was recruited by random digit dialling.

Results
Over a 12-month period, approximately one in four adult Australians used either acupuncture (9.2%), chiropractic (16.1%) or osteopathy (4.6%) at least once. It is estimated that, adult Australians made 32.3 million visits to acupuncturists, chiropractors and osteopaths, incurring personal expenditure estimated to be A$1.58 billion in total. The most common conditions treated were back pain and related problems and over 90% of the users of each therapy considered their treatment to be very or somewhat helpful. Adverse events are reported. Nearly one fifth of users were referred to manipulative therapy practitioners by medical practitioners.

Conclusion
There is substantial use of manipulative therapies by adult Australians, especially for back-related problems. Treatments incur considerable personal expenditure. In general, patient experience is positive. Referral by medical practitioners is a major determinant of use of these manipulative therapies.
Quantification of Cre-mediated recombination by a novel strategy reveals a stable extra-chromosomal deletion-circle in mice
Authors: Leonhard Wouter N , Roelfsema Jeroen H , Lantinga-van Leeuwen Irma S , Breuning Martijn H , Peters Dorien JM 
Published: April 2008

Abstract

Background
Inducible conditional knockout animals are widely used to get insight in the function of genes and the pathogenesis of human diseases. These models frequently rely on Cre-mediated recombination of sequences flanked by Lox-P sites. To understand the consequences of gene disruption, it is essential to know the efficiency of the recombination process.

Results
Here, we describe a modification of the multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA), called extension-MLPA (eMLPA), which enables quantification of relatively small differences in DNA that are a consequence of Cre-mediated recombination. eMLPA, here applied on an inducible Pkd1 conditional deletion mouse model, simultaneously measures both the reduction of the floxed allele and the increase of the deletion allele in a single reaction thereby minimizing any type of experimental variation. Interestingly, with this method we were also able to observe the presence of the excised DNA fragment. This extra-chromosomal deletion-circle was detectable up to 5 months after activation of Cre.

Conclusion
eMLPA is a novel strategy which easily can be applied to measure the Cre-mediated recombination efficiency in each experimental case with high accuracy. In addition the fate of the deletion-circle can be followed simultaneously.
Effect of leptin infusion on insulin sensitivity and lipid metabolism in diet-induced lipodystrophy model mice
Authors: Nagao Koji , Inoue Nao , Ujino Yoko , Higa Kouki , Shirouchi Bungo , Wang Yu-Ming , Yanagita Teruyoshi 
Published: April 2008

Abstract

Background
Lipodystrophies are rare acquired and genetic disorders characterized by the complete or partial absence of body fat with a line of metabolic disorders. Previous studies demonstrated that dietary conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) induces hepatic steatosis and hyperinsulinemia through the drastic reduction of adipocytokine levels due to a paucity of adipose tissue in mice and the pathogenesis of these metabolic abnormalities in CLA-fed mice is similar to that in human lipodystrophy. The present study explores the effect of leptin infusion on the pathogenesis of diet-induced lipodystrophy in mice. C57BL/6N mice were assigned to three groups: (1) mice were fed a semisynthetic diet supplemented with 6% corn oil and infused PBS intraperitoneally (normal group), (2) mice were fed a semisynthetic diet supplemented with 4% corn oil plus 2% CLA and infused PBS intraperitoneally (lipodystrophy-control group), and (3) mice were fed a semisynthetic diet supplemented with 4% corn oil plus 2% CLA and infused recombinant murine leptin intraperitoneally (lipodystrophy-leptin group). All mice were fed normal or lipodystrophy model diets for 4 weeks and were infused intrapeneally 0 or 5 μ g of leptin per day from third week of the feeding period for 1 week.

Results
The results indicate that leptin infusion can attenuate hepatic steatosis and hyperinsulinemia through the reduction of hepatic triglyceride synthesis and the improvement of insulin sensitivity in diet-induced lipodystrophy model mice.

Conclusion
We expect the use of this model for clarifying the pathophysiology of lipodystrophy-induced metabolic abnormalities and evaluating the efficacy and safety of drug and dietary treatment.