bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Explaining the global pattern of protected area coverage: relative importance of vertebrate biodiversity, human activities and agricultural suitability
Authors: Loucks Colby , Ricketts Taylor H. , Naidoo Robin , Lamoreux John , Hoekstra Jonathan 
Published: April 2008

AbstractAim  Twelve per cent of the Earth’s terrestrial surface is covered by protected areas, but neither these areas nor the biodiversity they contain are evenly distributed spatially. To guide future establishment of protected areas, it is important to understand the factors that have shaped the spatial arrangement of the current protected area system. We used an information‐theoretic approach to assess the ability of vertebrate biodiversity measures, resource consumption and agricultural potential to explain the global coverage pattern of protected areas.Location  Global.Methods  For each of 762 World Wildlife Fund terrestrial ecoregions of the world, we measured protected area coverage, resource consumption, terrestrial vertebrate species richness, number of endemic species, number of threatened species, net primary production, elevation and topographic heterogeneity. We combined these variables into 39 a priori models to describe protected area coverage at the global scale, and for six biogeographical realms. Using the Akaike information criterion and Akaike weights, we identified the relative importance and influence of each variable in describing protected area coverage.Results  Globally, the number of endemic species was the best variable describing protected area coverage, followed by the number of threatened species. Species richness and resource consumption were of moderate importance and agricultural potential had weak support for describing protected area coverage at a global scale. Yet, the relative importance of these factors varied among biogeographical realms. Measures of vertebrate biodiversity (species richness, endemism and threatened species) were among the most important variables in all realms, except the Indo‐Malayan, but had a wide range of relative importance and influence. Resource consumption was inversely related to protected area coverage across all but one realm (the Palearctic), most strongly in the Nearctic realm. Agricultural potential, despite having little support in describing protected area coverage globally, was strongly and positively related to protection in the Palearctic and Neotropical realms, as well as in the Indo‐Malayan realm. The Afrotropical, Indo‐Malayan and Australasian realms showed no clear, strong relationships between protected area coverage and the independent variables.Main conclusions  Globally, the existing protected area network is more strongly related to biodiversity measures than to patterns of resource consumption or agricultural potential. However, the relative importance of these factors varies widely among the world’s biogeographical realms. Understanding the biases of the current protected area system may help to correct for them as future protected areas are added to the global network.
Impact of caregiver group psychoeducation on the course and outcome of bipolar patients in remission: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Reinares María , Colom Francesc , Sánchez‐Moreno José , Torrent Carla , Martínez‐Arán Anabel , Comes Mercè , Goikolea José M. , Benabarre Antoni , Salamero Manel , Vieta Eduard 
Published: April 2008

Objective:  Although there are some randomized controlled trials that highlight the positive role of family‐focused treatment added to pharmacotherapy in bipolar disorder, no trials using contemporary methodologies have analyzed the specific effect of working with caregiver‐only groups. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of a psychoeducational group intervention focused on caregivers of euthymic bipolar patients.Method:  A total of 113 medicated euthymic bipolar outpatients who lived with their caregivers were randomized into an experimental and a control group. Caregivers in the experimental group received twelve 90‐min group psychoeducation sessions focused on knowledge of bipolar disorder and training in coping skills. The patients did not attend the groups. Caregivers assigned to the control group did not receive any specific intervention. Patients were assessed monthly during both the intervention and the 12 months of follow‐up. The primary outcome was time to any mood recurrence.Results:  Psychoeducation group intervention focused on the caregivers of bipolar patients carried a reduction of the percentage of patients with any mood recurrence (χ2 = 6.53; p = 0.011) and longer relapse‐free intervals (log‐rank χ2 = 4.04; p = 0.044). When different types of episodes were analyzed separately, the effect was significant for both the number of patients who experienced a hypomanic/manic recurrence (χ2 = 5.65; p = 0.017) and the time to such an episode (log‐rank χ2 = 5.84; p = 0.015). The differences in preventing depressive and mixed episodes were not significant.Conclusions:  A psychoeducation group intervention for the caregivers of bipolar patients is a useful adjunct to usual treatment for the patients in reducing the risk of recurrences, particularly mania and hypomania, in bipolar disorder.
Wheezing due to rhinovirus infection in infancy: Bronchial hyperresponsiveness at school age
Authors: Kotaniemi‐Syrjänen Anne , Reijonen Tiina M. , Korhonen Kaj , Waris Matti , Vainionpää Raija , Korppi Matti 
Published: April 2008

AbstractBackground: Characteristics related to decreased lung function and increased bronchial responsiveness after early childhood wheezing requiring hospitalization are not fully established.Methods: Seventy‐nine children with wheezing requiring hospitalization at age <2 years were prospectively followed up and re‐investigated at age 5.6–8.8 years when the measurements of baseline lung function and bronchial responsiveness to exercise were performed.Results: At early school age, 23% of children had decreased lung function, and 13% had increased bronchial responsiveness to exercise. Predictors of decreased lung function were maternal history of smoking during pregnancy (odds ratio [OR], 12.8; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.2–139.6), parental history of asthma (OR, 4.3; 95%CI: 1.1–17.1), and female gender (OR, 4.0; 95%CI: 1.2–13.7). Increased bronchial responsiveness was associated with rhinovirus infection‐induced wheezing in infancy (OR, 6.5; 95%CI: 1.2–36.3), and early cat or dog exposure leading to sensitization (OR, 26.6; 95%CI: 1.3–525.2). Inhaled anti‐inflammatory therapy was common in children with rhinovirus infection‐induced wheezing in infancy (n = 13/19; P = 0.001 vs children with other/no confirmed virus infection etiology for wheezing in infancy, n = 16/60), which may have improved lung function and attenuated bronchial responsiveness in them.Conclusions: After early childhood wheezing requiring hospitalization, one‐fourth of children will have decreased lung function and one‐eighth of children will show increased bronchial responsiveness at school age. Gender, heredity of asthma, and antenatal exposure to tobacco smoke are predictors of decreased lung function, whereas rhinovirus infection etiology of wheeze and early animal exposure leading to sensitization are associated with increased bronchial responsiveness later in childhood.
Porphyrinuria in childhood autistic disorder is not associated with urinary creatinine deficiency
Authors: Nataf Robert , Skorupka Corinne , Lam Alain , Springbett Anthea , Lathe Richard 
Published: April 2008

AbstractBackground: Urinary metabolite measurements are often normalized to levels of the ubiquitous metabolite creatinine (CRT) to take account of variations in fluid export. Following CRT normalization, excesses of porphyrins and isoprostanes have been reported in the urines of children with neurodevelopmental disorders. It was suggested (Whiteley et al., 2006, Pediatr. Int. 2006; 48: 292–297) that urinary CRT levels may be depressed in children with autism spectrum disorders. This prompted re‐evaluation of CRT levels in such children.Methods: First matinal urinary CRT levels were compared between subjects in different diagnostic categories including autistic disorder, pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD‐NOS) and hyperactivity, before and after correction for age and gender. A larger reference group, consisting of subjects with unrelated disorders and Asperger disorder, with no reported porphyrin excess, was also compared to the group with autistic disorder, both for CRT and for porphyrin (coproporphyrin, COPRO) excess.Results: No significant difference in CRT was observed between any of the categories analyzed, also when corrected for age and gender. In contrast, urinary COPRO levels were significantly higher in autistic disorder versus reference groups, either when expressed as absolute values (independent of CRT levels) or when normalized to CRT.Conclusions: These data do not support a systematic reduction in urinary CRT levels in subjects with autism spectrum disorders including autistic disorder and PDD‐NOS. Urinary COPRO excess in autistic disorder was not associated with or consequent upon urinary CRT deficiency. Differences between affected and control subjects in age and sampling time, as reported by Whiteley et al., may underlie the apparent CRT reduction.
Poly(D,L‐lactide) nanoencapsulation to reduce photoinactivation of a sunscreen agent
Authors: Vettor M. , Perugini P. , Scalia S. , Conti B. , Genta I. , Modena T. , Pavanetto F. 
Published: April 2008

SynopsisThe use of sunscreens is the ‘gold standard’ for protecting the skin from ultraviolet light. Octyl methoxycinnamate (OMC) is one of the most widely used UVB filter but it can act as a sensitizer or photoallergen. When exposed to sunlight, OMC can change from the primary trans‐form to cis‐form and the isomerization, not reversible, conducts to a reduction of the UVB filtering efficiency because the trans‐form has a higher extinction coefficient. Photostability is the most important characteristic of effective sunscreens and it can be influenced by formulation ingredients and by applying technological strategies. In this work, photostability experiments, performed on emulsion–gels containing different percentages of OMC free or loaded in poly(d,l‐lactide) nanoparticles, were carried out. The presence of a polymeric envelop may act to protect the active ingredient. In this study, the influence of poly(d,l‐lactide) matrices on the photochemical stability of the sunscreen agent was investigated. As highlighted in this study, free OMC in different formulations has different photoisomerization degree. Moreover, a dissimilar behaviour was observed by studying different sunscreen concentrations in the same cosmetic formulation. Photostability results show a significant reduction in photoisomerization degree for formulations containing sunscreen loaded in nanoparticles, highlighting that the encapsulation is a suitable strategy to improve OMC photostability. Moreover, sun protection factor (SPF) results show that the UVB filter protective power is also maintained after encapsulation.
Effect of hyperbilirubinemia on intestinal permeability in healthy term newborns
Authors: Indrio Flavia , Raimondi Francesco , Laforgia Nicola , Riezzo Gieuseppe , Polimeno Lorenzo , Francavilla Ruggiero 
Published: April 2008

AbstractWe investigated the effect of serum bilirubin (SB) on intestinal permeability (IP) of healthy, term, birth weight appropriate for gestational age neonates before phototherapy. IP was measured by the dual probe (lactulose/mannitol) sugar absorption test (SAT) performed on the third day of life in 12 healthy jaundiced newborns (total bilirubin 249 ± 39.75 μmol/L) and compared to that of 12 non‐jaundiced newborns (total bilirubin 83.79 + 37.62 μmol/L) matched for sex, gestational age, birth weight and Apgar score. Jaundiced newborns have a significantly higher La/Ma ratio than non‐jaundiced (0.31 ± 0.28 vs. 0.053 ± 0.043; p < 0.0004). A significant correlation was found between serum bilirubin level and La/Ma ratio (r = 0.56 p < 0.006).Conclusion: Our study demonstrates a direct effect of UCB on gut epithelial barrier of at‐term newborns in whom UCB appears to be responsible for an alteration of IP that theoretically may lead to a passage of macromolecules through the intestinal epithelium increasing the risk of sensitization.
Oxygenation and ventilation in spontaneously breathing very preterm infants with nasopharyngeal CPAP in the delivery room
Authors: Lindner Wolfgang , Pohlandt Frank 
Published: April 2008

AbstractAim: To provide data on ventilation, oxygenation and acid–base state from birth to 48 h in very preterm infants treated with lung recruitment manoeuvre and nasopharyngeal continuous positive airway pressure in the delivery room.Methods: Subjects of this prospective observational cohort study were 48 of 61 infants enrolled in a randomised controlled trial to test two lung recruitment manoeuvres after birth. The infants had received an arterial line in the delivery room. The outcome measures were data on oxygenation, ventilation and acid–base state during spontaneous breathing.Results: Data are presented as (n [%]; median [minimum‐maximum]). 22 of 48 (46%) infants (gestational age, 26.4 [25.0–28.9] weeks; birth weight 870 [540–1310] g) were never intubated during the study. The FiO2 of these infants was low (0.4 [0.21–0.45] at 45 min and 0.21 [0.21‐0.5] at 48 h). Pco2 reached its maximum at 24 (11–44) min (8 [6.4–10.8] kPa) and decreased below 6.7 kPa (median) within 3 h. The incidence of intracranial haemorrhage/periventricular leukomalacia did not increase with hypercapnia (pCO2 > 8 kPa).Conclusion: A transient period of hypercapnia after birth may occur in spontaneously breathing very preterm infants supported with nasopharyngeal continuous positive airway pressure in the delivery room. The incidence of cerebral damage was not increased in infants with hypercapnia.
Improvement of the eradication rate of Helicobacter pylori gastritis in children is by adjunction of omeprazole to a dual antibiotherapy
Authors: Cadranel S , Bontemps P , Van Biervliet S , Alliet P , Lauvau D , Vandenhoven G , Vandenplas Y 
Published: April 2008

AbstractAim: The possible improvement of efficacy and tolerability of a 7‐day dual antibiotherapy amoxicillin‐clarithromycin (AC) on the eradication of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) gastritis in children by the adjunction of omeprazole (OAC) was studied.Methods: Forty‐six children presenting with H. pylori gastritis, assessed at inclusion by endoscopy, H. pylori urease test, histology and/or culture were randomised to a twice−daily regimen of AC or OAC. A 13C‐urease breath test was performed 4–6 weeks after the end of the treatment period to evaluate H. pylori eradication.Results: A larger proportion of patients was H. pylori negative (69%) in the OAC regimen treatment 4–6 weeks after eradication treatment compared with those who received dual AC therapy (15%). A total of seven patients (three in the OAC and four in the AC group) reported adverse events (AEs). Only vomiting was reported in more than one patient (one in each treatment regimen) and only one AE was severe (urticaria: in the OAC group, but considered not related to treatment).Conclusion: A larger eradication rate of H. pylori was obtained in the triple OAC group than in the dual AC group. Both therapy regimens can be safely administered to children for 7 days.
The effect of nutritional support on weight gain of HIV‐infected children with prolonged diarrhoea
Authors: Rollins NC , Van Den Broeck J , Kindra G , Pent M , Kasambira T , Bennish ML 
Published: April 2008

AbstractAim: To examine the effect on growth and immunity of enhanced calorie and protein provision to HIV‐infected children presenting with prolonged diarrhoea.Methods: A total of 169 HIV‐infected children aged 6–36 months with diarrhoea for 7 days or more were randomly assigned to either standard nutrition support for children with prolonged diarrhoea or an enhanced diet started during hospitalisation and continued after discharge. The change in weight between enrolment and 8, 14 and 26 weeks and changes in plasma HIV‐RNA and CD4 cell count at 8 and 26 weeks were estimated.Results: Children receiving enhanced nutrition achieved significantly more weight gain (p < 0.001) between enrolment and 8 weeks than children on the standard diet (median increase in weight‐for‐age standard deviation score +1.02 vs. +0.01). After 8 weeks median weight velocity was normal and similar in both groups. The change in median CD4 count was similar in both groups. The 26‐week mortality rate was high in both groups (standard support: 22%, enhanced support: 29%).Conclusions: Nutrition support of children with advanced HIV infection and prolonged diarrhoea resulted in significant and sustained weight gain, but did not improve CD4 counts or survival. These results support integrated nutrition interventions for HIV‐infected children.
Obesity in 4‐year‐old children more prevalent in girls and in municipalities with a low socioeconomic level
Authors: Blomquist HK , Bergström E 
Published: April 2008

AbstractAim: To provide updated prevalence data of BMI and obesity in 4‐year‐old Swedish children, also exploring socioeconomic differences.Subjects: A total of 4407 children born 1998–1999 (2231 boys and 2176 girls) in the county of Västerbotten, Sweden.Methods: Overweight and obesity was estimated using the International Obesity Task Force cutoff values (ISO BMI). Information about socioeconomic level of the municipalities was collected from a health survey of the adult population.Results: Of the boys, 16.7% were classified as overweight and 3.1% of these as obese. Corresponding figures for girls were 22.1% and 4.5%. The P50 and P95 values for BMI were 16.2 and 18.8 for boys and 16.1 and 19.3 for girls, respectively. P50 was at the same level as in previous Swedish studies, while P95 was higher in this study. Obesity, in girls, was more prevalent in municipalities with a low socioeconomic level.Conclusion: Overweight and obesity in pre‐school children in Sweden is more prevalent in girls than in boys, and the prevalence is as high as in school age children. A low socioeconomic level of living area seems to be related to a higher prevalence of obesity. Increased preventive efforts, both on the individual and the societal level, must be undertaken to reduce future health risks in obese children.
Five‐years growth hormone (GH) treatment in adults with Prader‐Willi syndrome
Authors: Höybye Charlotte 
Published: April 2008

AbstractAim: We have previously shown that 1 year of growth hormone (GH) treatment to adults with Prader‐Willi syndrome (PWS) has beneficial effects on body composition. The aim of the present observational study was to re‐evaluate our cohort, with focus on long‐term GH treatment.Methods: Seven men and seven women, median age 31 years, were available for follow‐up for 6 years. Nine were on GH treatment for 5 years. Body composition was measured with Dual Energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA).Results: In six GH treated patients with genetically verified PWS there was a substantial increase in lean body mass of 5 kg (p = 0.031) and a concomitant, however, non‐significant, decrease in body fat of 5% (p = 0.156). The changes in the genetically verified patients without GH treatment were small and unsystematic. No compliance problems were reported. Only one non‐GH‐treated woman developed overt diabetes.Conclusion: Despite inherent behavioural problems it was possible to continue GH injections for 5 years with sustained favourable effects on body composition without clinically, significant side effects.
Age is of influence on midazolam requirements in a paediatric intensive care unit
Authors: De Gast‐Bakker Dana‐Anne H , Van Der Werff Suzanne D , Sibarani‐Ponsen Renate , Swart Eleonora L , Plötz Frans B 
Published: April 2008

AbstractAim: To test that age is of influence on midazolam requirements during prolonged mechanical ventilation in critically ill children.Methods: Retrospective observational study of children (28 days–18 year) admitted between January 1st 2002 and January 1st 2005 who needed controlled mechanical ventilation for 5 days and initial sedation with midazolam were included. Exclusion criteria were psychomotor retardation, therapeutic use of midazolam, ventilator weaning within 5 days, kidney or liver failure.Results: A total of 1186 children were admitted, of which 58 children were included. The children were divided into three age groups: 28 days–1 year (n = 28), 1–4 years (n = 16) and older than 4 years (n = 14). Within 2 days the children age 1–4 years received the maximum midazolam dosage (0.3 mg/kg/h). In addition, the mean total dose of midazolam was higher at all days for this age group. At day 5 none of the children between 1 and 4 years could be sedated with midazolam alone.Conclusions: Our data showed that children between 1 and 4 years needed higher doses of midazolam as compared to children who were younger and older. Furthermore, we observed that midazolam alone is a poor sedative for all age groups. The influence of and mechanisms for possible age related effects on midazolam requirements remain to be elucidated, as well as the position of midazolam as a first line drug for PICU sedation.
Early prediction of anthracycline induced cardiotoxicity
Authors: Erkus Bedirhan , Demirtas Selda , Yarpuzlu Aysegul Akbay , Can Murat , Genc Yasemin , Karaca Levent 
Published: April 2008

AbstractAim: The purpose of this study is to evaluate echocardiographically determined cardiac functions with serum levels of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and total antioxidant status (TAOS) in childhood leukemia treated with chemotherapeutics containing anthracyclines.Methods: A study group of 29 patients who have been followed for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and administered a treatment protocol containing chemotherapy of anthracyclines were included in the analysis. Levels of BNP, cTnI and TAOS were studied in serum samples of the patients.Results: We demonstrated that as the drug dosage increased, systolic ejection fraction (EF) and shortening fraction (FS) values decreased (EF r2= 0.2327, FS r2= 0.251). On the other hand, increased dosage of anthracycline therapy was associated with significant raise in plasma BNP levels (r2= 0.246) and significant decrease in serum TAOS levels (r2= 0.317) without any change in serum cTnI levels.Conclusion: Our study suggest that serum TAOS and BNP levels may be useful as an early and sensitive indicator of anthracycline induced cardiotoxicity.
Quality of infant feeding counselling for HIV+ mothers in Brazil: challenges and achievements
Authors: Rea Marina Ferreira , Santos Rosangela Gomes dos , Sanchez‐Moreno Cirlei Celia 
Published: April 2008

AbstractAim: This project aimed to assess the information and counselling on infant feeding in HIV+ mothers.Methods: A cross‐sectional study, based on 118 structured observations of mothers' visits to health professionals (5–8/professional)—in 15 purposively selected HIV/Aids healthcare units in Sao Paulo. Results: The general quality of communication and counselling skills was good: for example, professionals responded to all mothers' questions (98%); kept eye‐to‐eye contact (82%); encouraged the mother to talk (77.1%). However, the information provided to mothers aimed to help their choices concerning infant feeding was of very poor quality. No mother, for example, was informed about alternatives to formula feeding and the danger of mixed feeding. None was offered the option of using banked breast milk. Only around 20% of mothers were informed about the safe preparation of formula feeding. When counselled by a nutritionist (compared with a paediatrician) more mothers were informed about the correct way to prepare bottle‐feeds. No mention was made of cup feeding.Conclusion: Although health workers have good communication skills, the information provided to HIV+ mothers is insufficient. Recommending against breast‐feeding and providing infant formula may not be enough to achieve safer infant‐feeding practices.