bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
DENGUE FEVER ACTIVATES THE l‐ARGININE–NITRIC OXIDE PATHWAY: AN EXPLANATION FOR REDUCED AGGREGATION OF HUMAN PLATELETS
Authors: Mendes‐Ribeiro Antonio C , Moss Monique B , Siqueira Mariana AS , Moraes Thalyta L , Ellory J Clive , Mann Giovanni E , Brunini Tatiana MC 
Published: May 2008

SUMMARY

In patients with Dengue fever, a viral inflammatory syndrome, haemorrhage is a significant pathological feature, yet the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Nitric oxide (NO) is an important regulator of platelet function, inhibiting aggregation, recruitment and adhesion to the vascular endothelium.
We have investigated whether changes in the activity of the l‐arginine–NO pathway in human platelets may account for increased bleeding in patients with Dengue fever. A total of 16 patients with Dengue fever and 18 age‐matched healthy volunteers participated in the study.
Collagen induced platelet aggregation in a dose‐dependent manner in both Dengue patients and controls, but the degree of platelet aggregation was significantly reduced in the patient group. Elevated rates of l‐arginine transport in Dengue fever patients were associated with enhanced NO synthase activity and elevated plasma fibrinogen levels.
The present study provides the first evidence that Dengue fever is associated with increased l‐arginine transport and NO generation and reduced platelet aggregation.
Airway stenting for the treatment of laryngotracheal stenosis secondary to thyroid cancer
Authors: TSUTSUI Hidemitsu , KUBOTA Mitsuhiro , YAMADA Masae , SUZUKI Akihiko , USUDA Jitsuo , SHIBUYA Hiroshi , MIYAJIMA Kuniharu , SUGINO Kiminori , ITO Koichi , FURUKAWA Kinya , KATO Harubumi 
Published: May 2008

Background and objective:  Airway stenting can be a valuable therapeutic option for symptomatic airway stenosis, but its role in the palliation of advanced thyroid cancers invading the upper airway is unclear. This study examined the hypothesis that durable and replaceable silicone stents would give better results than self‐expanding metallic stents.Methods:  A retrospective analysis was conducted of consecutive patients stented for laryngotracheal obstruction due to thyroid cancer. Stenting was performed via a rigid bronchoscope when airway patency after dilatation was ≤50% of normal. Symptomatic improvement, Hugh‐Jones (H‐J) classification, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (PS), and complications were analysed.Results:  There were 37 stenotic lesions treated in 35 patients. The most common sites for these lesions were in the inclusive area extending from the cricoid cartilage to the first tracheal ring (26/37 lesions, 70%). Forty‐five stents (12 silicone, 20 metallic, 13 T‐tubes) were used in 43 interventions. All patients showed immediate symptomatic relief and significant improvement in both PS and H‐J classifications. Critical complications were supraglottic stenosis (5/43 interventions, 12%) and, of those same five cases, stent migration was seen in all but one (4/45 implantations, 9%). As these complications occurred only in patients in whom the silicone stents had been placed in close proximity to the cricoid cartilage (5/10 patients, 50%), this emphasizes the unsuitability of silicone stents in such cases. The median survival time from stenting was 8 months. The 1‐year survival rate was 40%.Conclusions:  Airway stenting can achieve significant palliation in patients with thyroid cancer and airway obstruction. The study showed that for the most common lesions, the uncovered Ultraflex stent is associated with fewer critical complications than the silicone stents.
The association of comorbid anxiety and depression with asthma‐related quality of life and symptom perception in adults
Authors: DESHMUKH Vandana M. , TOELLE Brett G. , USHERWOOD Tim , O'GRADY Brian , JENKINS Christine R. 
Published: May 2008

Background and objective:  There are limited data on the association and interaction between anxiety and depression comorbidity and asthma‐related quality of life (AQOL) and symptom perception. This study evaluated these associations in patients subsequent to an emergency department (ED) visit for asthma.Methods:  This was a cross‐sectional study of 110 (38 male) adult asthma patients (mean age 42 years), who had visited an ED in the previous 18 months. Participants completed the hospital anxiety and depression scale, measures of AQOL and the asthma symptom checklist.Results:  Depression symptoms independently showed a significant negative association with AQOL after controlling for depression/anxiety, age, gender, smoking status and ED visits in the previous 12 months (ED‐12). Overall, anxiety and depression symptoms accounted for 28.3% of the variance in AQOL. Greater anxiety was associated with increased perception of asthma‐specific panic‐fear and hyperventilation symptoms during an asthma attack, irrespective of depression status. Categorical analyses of groups of patients, differentiated by psychometric properties on the hospital anxiety and depression scale (anxiety vs normal, anxiety and depression vs normal depression) confirmed most results. However, for the anxiety group there was a significant association with the AQOL domains of emotional functioning and response to environmental stimuli, after controlling for depression symptoms.Conclusions:  The negative association of depression symptom scores with AQOL and of anxiety with increased panic‐fear and hyperventilation symptoms suggests a potential role for interventions addressing this psychological comorbidity, in order to improve AQOL.
High‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein: A predicative marker in severe asthma
Authors: QIAN Fen‐Hong , ZHANG Qian , ZHOU Lin‐Fu , LIU Hua , HUANG Mao , ZHANG Xi‐Long , YIN Kai‐Sheng 
Published: May 2008

Background and objective:  Serum levels of high‐sensitivity CRP (hs‐CRP) are associated with asthma but the relationship between higher levels of hs‐CRP and the degree of asthma severity remains unclear. This study investigated whether hs‐CRP is associated with asthma severity as well as with other clinical indices of asthma activity (pulmonary function, total serum IgE, and peripheral blood eosinophil counts).Methods:  Levels of hs‐CRP and clinical indices of asthma were determined among 177 control subjects and 281 asthmatic patients (84 intermittent, 30 mild, 63 moderate and 104 severe).Results:  The level of hs‐CRP was examined as both a continuous variable and by quartiles (<0.23, 0.23–0.51, 0.51–1.42 and ≥1.42 mg/L) in the five groups. Compared with the first quartile of hs‐CRP, patients with higher levels were at increased risk of severe asthma independently of other clinical indices (adjusted OR 3.49, 95% CI: 1.51–8.12 for the third quartile; adjusted OR 6.46, 95% CI: 2.85–16.62 for fourth quartile, respectively).Conclusions:  These findings suggest that hs‐CRP might be a sensitive marker for severe asthma.
Incidence of iodine deficiency in Turkish patients with congenital hypothyroidism
Authors: Evliyaoğlu Olcay , Kutlu Alev , Kara Cengiz , Atavci Sevil G. 
Published: May 2008

AbstractBackground: Turkey is located in an area of mild to moderate iodine deficiency. The aim of the present study was to investigate the incidence of iodine deficiency in patients with congenital hypothyroidism.Methods: Twenty five patients with a median age of 12 days (6 days–6 months) at diagnosis and followed for a median time of 7 months (1–60 months) were enrolled in the study. Thyroid function tests, thyroid scintigraphy, ultrasonography and urine iodine measurements of the patients and mothers were performed.Results and conclusion: Congenital hypothyroidism was diagnosed within postnatal day 13, between days 13 and 30, and after 30 days of age in 68%, 20% and 12% of the patients, respectively. At the time of diagnosis mean serum thyroid‐stimulating hormone and total T4 were 85.3 ± 27.6 mIU/L and 3.9 ± 2.8 μg/dL, respectively. Incidence of iodine deficiency was 36% in the patients (median, 110 μg/L) and 88% in the mothers (median, 40 μg/L). Thyroid scintigraphy and ultrasound were normal in all of the patients with iodine deficiency. At scintigraphic evaluation, thyroid gland was not visualized in 28% of patients; in the patients whose thyroid glands were not visualized scintigraphically thyroid ultrasonography indicated agenesis in 57%, and hypoplasia in 43%. In all the patients with thyroid agenesis or hypoplasia iodine levels were normal. In 36% of the patients imaging studies of thyroid gland and urine iodine measurements were normal. Despite salt iodization program, incidence of iodine deficiency is still high in patients with congenital hypothyroidism and mothers. National measures are urgently required for correction of iodine deficiency in Turkey.
Acute abdomen in children due to extra‐abdominal causes
Authors: Tsalkidis Aggelos , Gardikis Stefanos , Cassimos Dimitrios , Kambouri Katerina , Tsalkidou Evanthia , Deftereos Savas , Chatzimichael Athanasios 
Published: May 2008

AbstractBackground: Acute abdominal pain in children is a common cause for referral to the emergency room and for subsequent hospitalization to pediatric medical or surgical departments. There are rare occasions when the abdominal pain is derived from extra‐abdominal organs or systems. The aim of the present study was to establish the most common extra‐abdominal causes of acute abdominal pain.Methods: The notes of all children (1 month–14 years of age) examined for acute abdominal pain in the Accident and Emergency (A&E) Department of Alexandroupolis District University Hospital in January 2001–December 2005 were analyzed retrospectively. Demographic data, clinical signs and symptoms, and laboratory findings were recorded, as well as the final diagnosis and outcome.Results: Of a total number of 28 124 children who were brought to the A&E department, in 1731 the main complaint was acute abdominal pain. In 51 children their symptoms had an extra‐abdominal cause, the most frequent being pneumonia (n = 15), tonsillitis (n = 10), otitis media (n = 9), and acute leukemia (n = 5).Conclusion: Both abdominal and extra‐abdominal causes should be considered by a pediatrician who is confronted with a child with acute abdominal pain.
Smoking trends before, during, and after pregnancy among women and their spouses
Authors: Kaneko Akiyo , Kaneita Yoshitaka , Yokoyama Eise , Miyake Takeo , Harano Satoru , Suzuki Kenshu , Ibuka Eiji , Tamaki Tetsuo , Nakajima Hiromi , Ohida Takashi 
Published: May 2008

AbstractBackground: Pregnancy and childbirth can act as strong factors motivating parents to spontaneously quit smoking. The aim of the present survey was to establish smoking cessation guidelines for this group. The objectives were to clarify the smoking status of parents before, during and after pregnancy, as well as the factors associated with continuous smoking during pregnancy and post‐partum smoking relapse among women who had stopped smoking during pregnancy.Methods: A cross‐sectional survey with self‐administered questionnaires was conducted for the parents of the 908 infants who participated in the official medical and dental examination for 18‐month‐old infants in Itabashi ward, Tokyo, Japan.Results: The prevalence of smoking among women before, during pregnancy, and at post‐partum 18 months at 95% confidence intervals was 29.3% (23.3–35.3%), 9.8% (3.0–16.6%), and 23.1 (16.8%–29.4%), and among their spouses it was 64.3% (60.0–68.6%), 58.1% (53.4–62.7%), and 58.2% (53.5–62.8%), respectively. The positive factors associated with smoking among pregnant women were marriage to a smoker, less education, under stress, and part‐time employment rather than unemployment. The positive factors associated with smoking relapse after childbirth among women were breast‐feeding <6 months and age under 30 years.Conclusion: Compared with Western countries, the rate of smoking cessation during pregnancy was relatively high in Japan. It is necessary that smoking cessation intervention and support for men be initiated at the early stages of their spouses’ pregnancies. These observations could influence the targeting and design of maternal smoking intervention.
DIARRHOEA AFTER LAPAROSCOPIC CHOLECYSTECTOMY: INCIDENCE AND MAIN DETERMINANTS
Authors: Fisher Mikhail , Spilias Dean C. , Tong Lien K. 
Published: May 2008

Background:  Data on the effect of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) on bowel function are controversial. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of postcholecystectomy diarrhoea (PCD) and to identify patient characteristics that can be used as predictors in daily practice.Methods:  In 100 consecutive patients who underwent LC, data were obtained from clinical records and telephone survey 6–12 months postoperatively using standardized questionnaire.Results:  Postoperatively, 19 patients had diarrhoea, including 17 with new onset. Two patients with preoperative and postoperative diarrhoea were excluded from further analysis. Of 98 patients (mean age 58.1 ± 19.4 years; 62 women) 34 were younger than 50 years, 33 were overweight (BMI 25–29.9 kg/cm2) and 29 were obese (BMI >30 kg/cm2). PCD was significantly associated with younger age (odds ratio (OR) 3.4; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.16–9.96; P = 0.026), higher BMI (OR 1.1; 95%CI 1.01–1.18; P = 0.019) and food intolerance postoperatively (OR 3.4; 95%CI 1.18–10.08; P = 0.025). PCD was most common with combination of two or three of the following factors: age <50 years, male sex, BMI >25 kg/cm2. The highest risk of developing PCD was observed in obese men younger than 50 (OR 26.1), and the lowest in persons aged >50 years with BMI <25 kg/cm2 (OR = 0.8).Conclusion:  After LC, 17% of patients reported troublesome new‐onset diarrhoea. PCD was independently associated with younger age, especially <50, and postoperative food intolerance. Coexistence of age <50 with high BMI and male sex was predictive for PCD.
CYTOREDUCTIVE SURGERY IN MULTIDISCIPLINARY TREATMENT OF ADVANCED HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA
Authors: Lai Eric C. H. , Tang Chung‐Ngai , Ha Joe P. Y. , Tsui David K. K. , Li Michael K. W. 
Published: May 2008

Background:  Cytoreductive surgery (debulking surgery) as a multidisciplinary treatment approach for inoperable advanced hepatocellular carcinoma has been shown to prolong survival and provide symptomatic relief for good surgical risks patients in non‐randomized studies before.Methods:  A non‐randomized comparative study was performed in a tertiary referral centre between January 2001 and December 2006. The outcome of a consecutive series of patients with inoperable advanced hepatocellular carcinoma who received cytoreductive surgery was compared with a control group of patients who received palliative treatment without surgery. Two techniques of cytoreductive surgery were used: (i) partial hepatectomy for the main tumour plus intraoperative local ablative therapy for the smaller tumour nodules in the liver remnant; and (ii) partial hepatectomy for the main tumour plus postoperative transarterial chemoembolization.Results:  The overall survival of cytoreductive surgery group (n = 18) was significantly better than that of the palliative treatment group (n = 15) (3‐year overall survival, 54% vs 22%; median survival, 18 vs 11 months) (P =0.038). In the cytoreductive surgery group, there was no operative mortality. Postoperative morbidity rate was 16.7%. The mean hospital stay was 8 days.Conclusion:  Cytoreductive treatment strategy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma can be considered as one of the options in selected patients with low operative risks and reasonable liver function. Further prospective randomized trials are required to validate this aggressive surgical approach.
Experimental evidence for extreme dispersal limitation in tropical forest birds
Authors: Moore R. P. , Robinson W. D. , Lovette I. J. , Robinson T. R. 
Published: May 2008

AbstractMovements of organisms between habitat remnants can affect metapopulation structure, community assembly dynamics, gene flow and conservation strategy. In the tropical landscapes that support the majority of global biodiversity and where forest fragmentation is accelerating, there is particular urgency to understand how dispersal across habitats mediates the demography, distribution and differentiation of organisms. By employing unique dispersal challenge experiments coupled with exhaustive inventories of birds in a Panamanian lacustrine archipelago, we show that the ability to fly even short distances (< 100 m) between habitat fragments varies dramatically and consistently among species of forest birds, and that this variation correlates strongly with species’ extinction histories and current distributions across the archipelago. This extreme variation in flight capability indicates that species’ persistence in isolated forest remnants will be differentially mediated by their respective dispersal abilities, and that corridors connecting such fragments will be essential for the maintenance of avian diversity in fragmented tropical landscapes.
The Trade Effects of Indian Antidumping Actions
Authors: Ganguli Bodhisattva 
Published: May 2008

AbstractAntidumping (AD) has emerged as the most widespread policy impediment to trade in the last 25 years. One of the surprise proliferators of AD in the lesser developed world has been India, which has filed an outstanding number of 285 cases between 1992 and 2002. In this paper, I study empirically the effect of Indian AD cases on trade flows from other countries. I also look at the effect of AD cases on trade diversion from countries subject to or “named” in AD investigations to non‐subject or “non‐named” countries and conclude that Indian AD policy is effective. I use a unique dataset combining AD data from the World Trade Organization with trade data from Comtrade. The empirical model is estimated via the Arellano–Bond procedure.
Moral Reasoning in Violent Contexts: Displaced and Non‐displaced Colombian Children's Evaluations of Moral Transgressions, Retaliation, and Reconciliation
Authors: Ardila‐Rey Alicia , Killen Melanie , Brenick Alaina 
Published: May 2008

AbstractIn order to assess the effects of displacement and exposure to violence on children's moral reasoning, Colombian children exposed to minimal violence (non‐displaced or low risk; N = 99) and to extreme violence (displaced or high risk; N = 94), evenly divided by gender at 6, 9, and 12 years of age, were interviewed regarding their evaluation of peer‐oriented moral transgressions (hitting and not sharing toys). The vast majority of children evaluated moral transgressions as wrong. Group and age differences were revealed, however, regarding provocation and retaliation. Children who were exposed to violence, in contrast to those with minimum exposure, judged it more legitimate to inflict harm or deny resources when provoked and judged it more reasonable to retaliate for reasons of retribution. Surprisingly, and somewhat hopefully, all children viewed reconciliation as feasible. The results are informative regarding theories of morality, culture, and the effects of violence on children's social development.
Peer Groups, Social Identity, and Children's Bullying Behavior
Authors: Duffy Amanda L , Nesdale Drew 
Published: May 2008

AbstractDrawing on social identity theory, this study explored the impact of the peer group on childhood bullying. Participants were 351 students, aged 8 to 13 years. Involvement in bullying, friendship group membership, norms of particular groups, and intra‐group positions (prototypical vs. peripheral) were determined using peer reports. Results revealed within‐group similarities in bullying behaviors. In addition, bullying was found to be greater when it was endorsed by group norms and when children were prototypical vs. peripheral members of bullying groups. The implications of the findings for the conceptualization of childhood bullying are discussed.
Children's and Adolescents’ Decisions about Sharing Money with Others
Authors: Leman Patrick J. , Keller Monika , Takezawa Masanori , Gummerum Michaela 
Published: May 2008

AbstractTwo hundred and ninety‐four participants aged between 7 and 17 years of age were asked to share out money between themselves and another, imaginary group. Individual responses were recorded as well as responses after discussion in a group with two other participants. The distribution task took place in two different experimental conditions that either gave participants a free choice about how much to offer to the other group or involved making a strategic offer to avoid the other group rejecting an offer and losing all the money. From 10 years of age onwards, when allowed to choose freely how much to share, boys made progressively less generous offers than girls whereas girls’ offers remained the same with age. However, when inter‐group strategic constraints were present, there were few gender differences from 10 years of age. The order in which games were presented was a powerful influence on the offers that participants made.
METANEXUS 2007: THE CHALLENGE AHEAD
Authors: Grassie William 
Published: May 2008

Abstract.This essay is William Grassie's valedictory remarks at the Metanexus Institute's 2007 Annual Conference. Grassie asks what is wrong with religion, what is wrong with science, and why the constructive engagement of the two holds the key to setting things right. He cites Sir John Templeton and others to make his case and proposes a new curriculum for general science education that uses the history of nature as a mnemonic and context for promoting better science literacy and the incorporation of science into our cultural traditions.
CONSCIOUSNESS AND QUANTUM MECHANICS: OPTING FROM ALTERNATIVES
Authors: Klemm David E. , Klink William H. 
Published: May 2008

Abstract.We present a model of a fundamental property of consciousness as the capacity of a system to opt among presented alternatives. Any system possessing this capacity is “conscious” in some degree, whether or not it has the higher capacity of reflecting on its opting. We argue that quantum systems, composed of microphysical particles, as studied by quantum mechanics, possess this quality in a protomental form. That is, such particles display the capacity to opt among alternatives, even though they lack the ability to experience or communicate their experiences. Human consciousness stands at the opposite end of the hierarchy of conscious life forms as the most sophisticated system of which we have direct acquaintance. We contend that it shares the common characteristic of a system capable of opting among alternatives. Because the fundamental property of consciousness is shared by human beings and the constituents of elementary matter in the universe, our model of consciousness can be considered as a modified form of panpsychism.
NONEMPIRICAL REALITY: TRANSCENDING THE PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL IN THE ORDER OF THE ONE
Authors: Schäfer Lothar 
Published: May 2008

Abstract.I describe characteristic phenomena of quantum physics that suggest that reality appears to us in two domains: the open and well‐known domain of empirical, material things—the realm of actuality—and a hidden and invisible domain of nonempirical, non‐material forms—the realm of potentiality. The nonempirical forms are part of physical reality because they contain the empirical possibilities of the universe and can manifest themselves in the empirical world. Two classes of nonempirical states are discussed: the superposition states of microphysical entities, which are nonempirical because observation destroys them, and the virtual states of material systems, which are nonempirical because they are empty. The non‐empirical part to physical reality represents a predetermined and hidden order that exists before it is empirical, and the visible world is an emanation out of it. I discuss consequences for our understanding of human nature, the origin of life, and human values. Reality is an indivisible wholeness that is aware of its processes, like a Cosmic Spirit, and it reveals its awareness in the mindlike properties of elementary processes as well as in the human consciousness. Thus, one is led to G. W. F. Hegel's thesis that the Cosmic Spirit is thinking in us.