bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Haemophilus influenzae type b antibodies in vaccinated and non‐vaccinated children
Authors: Arvas Ahmet , Gur Emel , Bahar Hrisi , Torun Muzeyyen M. , Demirci Mehmet , Aslan Mustafa , Kocazeybek Bekir 
Published: April 2008

AbstractBackground: Invasive Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) infection has a high morbidity among young children, but the burden of disease and rate of Hib are different in different regions. The aim of the present study was to investigate the levels of Hib antibodies and the oropharyngeal Hib prevalence in young children.Methods: One hundred‐fifty nine healthy children aged 19–36 months of age were included in this cross‐sectional study. Anti‐polyribosylribitol phosphate (anti‐PRP) antibody concentrations were measured using commercially available enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and serotyping of isolated Hib strains was conducted by slide agglutination with specific antisera.Results: Of the study participants, 57 (35.8%) were fully vaccinated (group 1A); 17 (10.7%) were incompletely vaccinated (group 1B), and 85 (53.5%) were non‐vaccinated (group 2). Geometric mean titer (GMT) of anti‐PRP antibody was 3.8 μg/mL, 2.2 μg/mL and 0.49 μg/mL in group 1A, group 1B and group 2, respectively. While all children in group 1 (n = 74) had seroprotective antibody concentrations (≥0.15 μg /mL), of the children in group 2 (n = 85) 31.8% did not have seroprotective anti‐PRP levels (P < 0.0001). A total of 68.2% in group 2 had natural immunity. Nineteen children (33.3%) in group 1, and 46 (54.1%) in group 2 had oropharyngeal Hib colonization (P = 0.0004).Conclusions: Hib conjugate vaccine is immunogenic and reduces Hib colonization. Each country should investigate the burden of Hib disease and the natural immunity in young children, and should determine antigenic dose, number of doses administered and dose intervals before deciding whether to introduce Hib conjugate vaccine in routine immunization programs.
Monocular fixation with the optic nerve head: a case report
Authors: Vera‐Diaz Fuensanta A. , Peli Eli 
Published: April 2008

AbstractPurpose:  To document and discuss the case of a patient with left esotropia (ET) who uses the left optic nerve head (ONH) for monocular ‘fixation’.Case report:  The patient was an 80‐year‐old male with left ET from early childhood. Retinal tracking monocular fixation measurements with a Nidek MP‐1 revealed stable fixation within the left ONH area. In an attempt to challenge the initial observation, further assessments of fixation were performed with a smaller target size and requiring various gaze positions. MP‐1 fixation data showed remarkably stable monocular fixation (±1° over 30 s) mostly within the left ONH for all the target sizes and positions of gaze tested. Additional clinical binocular evaluations showed concomitant left ET ∼28Δ, no movement with cover test regardless of fixation target and no significant monocular motility restrictions. Visuoscopy also revealed fixation at the left ONH. There was a strong family history of ET, but none of the other affected descendants tested (n = 3) demonstrated the same behaviour.Conclusions:  This is the first report documenting an abnormally developed monocular ocular motor system, with principal visual direction and zero retinomotor value shifted from the fovea to the ONH. We do not believe that there is any direct visual input from the ONH. The patient may use visual information obtained by glancing with peri‐papillary areas to determine the target position (although this was largely ruled out), or obtain position information from the average luminance produced by scattered light around the ONH margin. The abnormal oculocentric direction might then be combined with extraretinal information (efferent copy or extraocular muscle proprioception) of the eye location in the orbit to stabilize the fixation. This patient does not have the blind spot syndrome (Swan, 1948). We propose the use of a retinal perimeter for documentation of eccentric fixation in strabismus.
Usefulness of post‐assessment reports in a paediatric low vision clinic: a questionnaire survey of parents and education professionals
Authors: Lennon Julie , Harper Robert , Lloyd Chris , Biswas Sus 
Published: April 2008

AbstractThis survey aimed to evaluate how helpful parents and those working in the educational setting found written low vision assessment reports. A questionnaire survey was sent to 25 parents and to the corresponding and relevant member of the educational team for each of the 25 children. All were satisfied with the level of information contained in the report and agreed that the report was easy to understand and that the level of explanations given regarding visual function were clear. The main disparities between parents and teaching professionals were concerning the amount of medical terminology used in the report, with only 7% (n = 1) of those from the educational setting, but 30% (n = 6) of parents feeling there was too much. Adaptations were also more likely to have been implemented in the educational setting [82% (n = 11)] as compared with 62% (n = 16) in the home. Eighty‐three per cent (n = 43) of respondents reported that low vision aids were used at either home or school on at least a weekly basis.
The effect of positive‐lens addition and base‐in prism on accommodation accuracy and near horizontal phoria in Chinese myopic children
Authors: Cheng Desmond , Schmid Katrina L. , Woo George C. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractThe effect of positive‐lens addition (0, +0.75, +1.50, +2.25, +3.00 D each eye) and base‐in prism power (0, 1.5, 3 Δ each eye) on both near focusing errors and latent horizontal deviations was evaluated in 29 Chinese myopic children (age: 10.3 ± 1.9 years, refractive error: −2.73 ± 1.31 D). Accommodation response and phoria were measured by the Shin‐Nippon auto‐refractor (right eye) and Howell–Dwyer near phoria card at 33 cm with each of the 15 lens/prism combinations in random order. The initial accommodative error was −0.96 ± 0.67 D (lag) and near phoria was −0.8 ± 5.0 Δ (exophoria). The positive‐lens addition decreased the accommodative lag but increased the exophoria as the power increased (e.g. up to −9.1 ± 4.1 Δ with +3 D). A 6‐Δ base‐in prism totally controlled the exophoria induced by a +1.50 D addition (−0.3 ± 4.3 Δ), but the accommodative lag was still considerable (−0.69 ± 0.54 D). In the graphical analysis of the data, a lens addition of +2.25 D combined with a 6‐Δ base‐in prism minimized both the lag and lens‐induced exophoria to −0.33 D and −2.4 Δ respectively (regression analysis). This lens and prism combination decreased the lens‐induced exophoria by 4.5 Δ compared with that measured with +2.25 D alone (−2.4 Δ vs −6.9 Δ). The results suggest that incorporating near base‐in prism when prescribing bifocal lenses for young progressing myopes with exophoria could reduce the positive lens‐induced oculomotor imbalance.
On the compensation of horizontal coma aberrations in young human eyes
Authors: Lu Fan , Wu Jiangxiu , Shen Yeyu , Qu Jia , Wang Qinmei , Xu Chenchen , Chen Shihao , Zhou Xiangtian , He Ji C. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractThe nature of the compensation of horizontal coma (Z31) between optical elements of the human eye has been studied and the compensative mechanism has been attributed to a passive process linked to angle kappa of the eye. We measured the horizontal coma in the anterior cornea, the whole eye and the internal optics for 221 young subjects. Thirty‐three eyes with minimum angle lambda and 53 eyes with relatively large angle lambda were selected from these eyes to test the hypothesis that horizontal coma compensation is linked to angle kappa. Significant horizontal coma in the anterior cornea was observed for the group with minimum angle lambda in both the right (−0.12 ± 0.07 μm) and left eyes (0.12 ± 0.10 μm), and this was well compensated by the internal optics so that the level of horizontal coma in the whole eye over a 6‐mm pupil size was very low (−0.05 ± 0.07 μm for OD and 0.02 ± 0.08 μm for OS). The horizontal coma in the anterior cornea was significantly correlated to the horizontal coma in the internal optics for both the right and the left eye. The results suggest that there is another source of horizontal coma, in addition to that linked to angle kappa, in the anterior cornea, and also a new compensative mechanism to balance the corneal coma, perhaps in the posterior cornea or the lens.
Discharge Setting for Patients with Hip Fracture: Trends from 2001 to 2005
Authors: Nguyen‐Oghalai Tracy U. , Kuo Yong‐fang , Zhang Dong D. , Graham James E. , Goodwin James S. , Ottenbacher Kenneth J. 
Published: April 2008

OBJECTIVES: To examine recent trends in discharge disposition after hospitalization for hip fracture.DESIGN: Retrospective observational study using data from the 5% random sample of Medicare claims data from 2001 to 2005 that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services makes available for research purposes.SETTING: Inpatient medical rehabilitation pre‐ and postimplementation of prospective payment (2001–2005).PARTICIPANTS: Forty‐four thousand six hundred eighty‐four Medicare patients.MEASURES: Postacute discharge setting (home, inpatient rehabilitation, skilled nursing facility, and long‐term care nursing home/hospital/hospice).RESULTS: Bivariate analyses showed that discharge from acute care to inpatient rehabilitation increased from 12.2% in 2001 to 23.9% in 2005. The odds of discharge to inpatient medical rehabilitation were 2.26 (95% confidence interval=2.09–2.45) greater in 2005 than in 2001 after adjustment for patient characteristics (age, sex, and race or ethnicity), admitting diagnoses, type of treatment (internal fixation vs arthroplasty), and length of stay.CONCLUSION: The move from fee for service to prospective payment for postacute services for persons with hip fracture was associated with greater use of inpatient medical rehabilitation. Further research is necessary to confirm the trend in discharge setting and determine whether it is related to changes in reimbursement for postacute care.
Dispermic chimerism identified during HLA typing for stem cell transplantation
Authors: Draper Nicole L. , Conley Cheryl , Smith Clayton , Benson Kaaron 
Published: April 2008

BACKGROUND: Chimerism is defined as the presence of two genetically distinct cell populations in an organism. Few cases of phenotypically normal dispermic chimeras have been reported and most showed abnormalities on blood typing.CASE REPORT: A 32‐year‐old man was diagnosed with acute myelomonocytic leukemia. He clearly typed as group A, D−. No abnormalities of sexual development were identified on multiple physical exams, previous exploratory surgery, or CT scans. Molecular HLA typing (sequence‐specific primers) in preparation for stem cell transplant showed the patient to have three HLA‐B* and three HLA‐Cw* alleles. Initial serologic HLA typing reported two haplotypes, but on subsequent review reactions for a third HLA‐B antigen that were initially deemed to be false‐positive reactions were identified. Two of 10 microsatellite short tandem repeat (STR) loci also showed three distinct alleles in blood and buccal samples. In all studies the third allele was attributable to a dual paternal contribution.CONCLUSION: This case represents dispermic chimerism, with one maternal and two paternal haplotypes variably distributed throughout body tissues in a phenotypically normal man without abnormalities in blood typing. The presence of additional alleles that may have been undetected or dismissed by serologic typing should be carefully investigated and verified by molecular techniques. Molecular HLA typing may increase the accurate identification of phenotypically normal chimeras and aid in selecting proper donors for transplantation to reduce graft‐versus‐host disease and transplant rejection in these patients.
Clinical Implications of QRS Duration and QT Peak Prolongation in Patients with Suspected Coronary Disease Referred for Elective Cardiac Catheterization
Authors: Attar M. Nadeem , Wong Kenneth , Groves David G. , Newall Nick , Ramsdale David R. , Moore Roger K. 
Published: April 2008

Background: The electrocardiogram (ECG) remains a simple, universally available, and prognostically powerful investigation in heart failure, and acute coronary syndromes. We sought to assess the prognostic utility of clinical, angiographic, and simple ECG parameters in a large cohort of patients undergoing elective cardiac catheterization (CC) for known or suspected coronary artery disease. Methods: Consecutive consenting patients undergoing CC for coronary disease were enrolled at a single tertiary center. Patient data, drug therapy, catheter reports, and ECG recordings were prospectively recorded in a validated electronic archive. The primary outcome measure was death or nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI) over 1 year or until percutaneous or cardiac surgical intervention. Independent prognostic markers were identified using the Cox proportional hazard model. Results: A total of 682 individuals were recruited of whom 17(2.5%) died or suffered a nonfatal MI in 1 year. In multivariate analysis QRS duration (ms) (HR 1.03 95% CI 1.01–1.05, P = 0.003), extent of coronary disease (HR 2.01 95% CI 1.24–3.58, P = 0.006), and prolonged corrected QT peak interval in lead I (HR 1.02 95% CI 1.00–1.03, P = 0.044) were independently associated with death or nonfatal MI. Receiver‐operator characteristic (ROC) analysis for the multivariate model against the primary end point yielded an area under the curve of 0.759 (95% CI 0.660–0.858), P < 0.001. Conclusions: QRS duration and QT peak are independently associated with increased risk of death or nonfatal MI in stable patients attending for coronary angiography.
Adverse Effects of Continuous Ventricular Pacing in Patients with Slower Atrial Fibrillation and Normal Left Ventricular Systolic Function
Authors: Chiladakis John A. , Koutsogiannis Nikolaos , Kalogeropoulos Andreas , Arvanitis Panagiotis , Alexopoulos Dimitrios 
Published: April 2008

Background: Both heart rate irregularity during chronic atrial fibrillation (AF) and ventricular desynchronization imposed by ventricular pacing may compromise ventricular function. We investigated whether heart rhythm regularization achieved through ventricular overdrive pacing (VP) gives additional benefit over rate control alone in patients with AF. Methods: We studied 27 patients (mean age 72 ± 7 years) with AF and normal left ventricular (LV) systolic function who were implanted with a common VVIR pacemaker. Cardiac function was assessed by using serial echocardiographic conventional, tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) and color M‐Mode (CMM) examinations, together with B‐type natriuretic peptide (BNP) measurements. Baseline data were obtained during AF (mean heart rate 58 ± 5 beats/minute) with the pacemakers programmed to ventricular mere back‐up pacing. These data were compared to the corresponding measurements following a 2‐week VP period after the devises had been programmed to a lower rate of 70 beats/min, ensuring most of the time continuing VP. Results: Continuous VP compared to AF, reduced the LV cardiac index (2.28 ± 0.44 l/min/m2 vs 2.33 ± 0.39 l/min/m2, P < 0.05), increased the LV end‐systolic volume (38 ± 14 mL vs 35 ± 11 mL, P < 0.05), and decreased the TDI‐derived systolic and diastolic mitral velocity (8.1 ± 1.8 cm/s vs 8.3 ± 1.6 cm/s, and 8.1 ± 1.8 cm/s vs 8.3 ± 1.6 cm/s, respectively, both P < 0.05) and the CMM‐derived transmitral early diastolic flow propagation velocity (37.6 ± 9.2 vs 41.5 ± 9.7, P < 0.05). Following VP, both ratios E/Ea and E/Vp showed a trend toward increase (P = NS), whereas BNP rose up to 25.5% (median value, from 111 pg/mL to 165 pg/mL, P < 0.01). Conclusion: VP may be considered disadvantageous compared to slower AF.
Resting Magnetocardiography Predicts 3‐Year Mortality in Patients Presenting with Acute Chest Pain without ST Segment Elevation
Authors: Park Jai‐Wun , Leithäuser Boris , Hill Peter , Jung Friedrich 
Published: April 2008

Objective: Magnetocardiography (MCG) as a noninvasive, noncontact and risk‐free diagnostic method predicts ischemic coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with acute chest pain at admission with high accuracy. However, it remains unclear whether MCG findings can add prognostic information. Method: A cohort of 402 consecutive patients presenting at the intensive care unit (ICU) with acute chest pain without ST segment elevation (NSTEMI) were included in a prospective registry. In order to prove the prognostic value of MCG a head‐to‐head comparison of the admission MCG, ECG, TnI, and ECHO tests was made. Results: In 43 patients (10.7%) the MCG could not be analyzed due to insufficient signal‐to‐noise ratio. Complete follow‐up over a period of up to 3 years was obtained in 355 out of the 359 patients (98.9%). Age at admission was 67.2 ± 10.3 years, 59.7% males. In the group of patients with an abnormal MCG at admission, 43 out of 249 patients (17.3%) died in the follow‐up period, while in the group of patients with a normal MCG at admission only 4 out of 106 patients died (3.77%). The relative risk was 4.58 (95% confidence intervals: 1.68–12.42). A multivariate regression analysis revealed the highest mortality risk for patients with diabetes mellitus and an abnormal MCG at admission (RR = 18.0; 95% CI: 2.49–133.3). Conclusion: Resting MCG at hospital admission predicts 3‐year mortality in patients presenting with acute chest pain without ST segment elevation in the ECG. MCG seems to be valuable in identifying chest pain patients at highest risk.
Roles of interstitial cells of Cajal in regulating gastrointestinal motility: in vitro versus in vivo studies
Authors: Yin Jieyun , Chen Jiande D.Z. 
Published: April 2008

Subtypes and functions of ICC in the gut
Mutant animal models used in in vitro and in vivo studies
Roles of ICC in generating slow waves
Roles of ICC in regulating gastrointestinal motility
Roles of ICC in mediating neural transmission
Roles of ICC as mechanoreceptors
Conclusions
AbstractThe aim of this article is to provide a better understanding of the roles of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) in regulating gastrointestinal motility by reviewing in vitro and in vivo physiological motility studies. Based on the in vitro studies, ICC are proposed to have the following functions: to generate slow waves, to mediate neurotransmission between the enteric nerves and the gastrointestinal muscles and to act as mechanoreceptors. However, there is limited evidence available for these hypotheses from the in vivo motility studies. In this review, we first introduce the major subtypes of ICC and their established functions. Three Kit mutant mouse and rodent models are presented and the loss of ICC subtypes in these mutants is reviewed. The physiological motility findings from various in vitroand in vivo experiments are discussed to give a critical review on the roles of ICC in generating slow waves, regulating gastrointestinal motility, mediating neural transmission and serving as mechanoreceptors. It is concluded that the role of ICC as pacemakers may be well established, but other cells may also be involved in the generation of slow waves; the theory that ICC are mediators of neurotransmission is challenged by the majority of the in vivo motility studies; the hypothesis that ICC are mechanoreceptors has not found supportive evidence from the in vivo studies yet. More studies are needed to explain discrepancies in motility findings between the in vitro and in vivo experiments.
Evaluation on the movement of endosseous titanium implants under continuous orthodontic forces: an experimental study in the dog
Authors: Hsieh Yao‐Dung , Su Ching‐Ming , Yang Yi‐Hsin , Fu Earl , Chen Hui‐Lin , Kung Suefang 
Published: April 2008

AbstractObjectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the movement of pure titanium implants under different continuous forces in the edentulous alveolar ridge.Material and methods: Four pairs of titanium implants were inserted into the right maxillary and mandibular post‐extraction edentulous ridge of the experimental dog. Three different levels of continuous force (100, 200, and 500 g) were loaded onto three pairs of adjacent implant abutments using a memory Ni–Ti coil spring for up to 6 months and the remaining two implant abutments as the control group received no force. The positions of implant abutments were observed and the distances between the implants abutment at the top, middle and base levels were measured at the 0th, 2nd, 3rd, 6th and 8th month of the follow‐up period.Results: There was no significant change in the distances between adjacent abutments loaded with 100 or 200 g continuous forces throughout the entire study period. However, significantly more movement of implant abutments was noted in the 500 g pair after the 3rd month of loading when compared with the 200 or the 100 g pair (both P<0.001). This change further increased at the 6th month (P<0.001, 0.01, respectively). Moreover, the difference in the measurements at the top, middle and base level indicated that the two adjacent implants moved in a tipping manner in the 500 g pair after 3 and 6 months of loading.Conclusion: The osseointegrated implants remained stable and rigid with a pulling force of 100 and 200 g after 6 months of loading. However, when the force reached 500 g, the implants moved in an inward‐tipping pattern. The results suggested that endosseous titanium implants might not necessarily be rigid anchorages under all circumstances.
Influence of homeopathic treatment with comfrey on bone density around titanium implants. A digital subtraction radiography study in rats
Authors: Sakakura Celso Eduardo , Neto Rubens Spin , Bellucci Marina , Wenzel Ann , Scaf Gulnara , Marcantonio Elcio 
Published: April 2008

AbstractObjective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of homeopathic treatment with comfrey (Shymphytum officinalis 6CH) on radiographic bone density and area around titanium implants.Material and methods: Forty‐eight rats were divided into two groups of 24 animals each: a control group (C) and a test group (SO). Each animal received one titanium micro‐implant placed in the tibia. The animals in Group SO were subjected to 10 drops of comfrey 6CH per day mixed into their drinking water until the day of sacrifice. Eight animals of each group were sacrificed at 7, 14 and 28 days post‐surgery, respectively.Standardized digital radiographs were obtained on the day of implant installation (baseline images) and on the day of sacrifice (final images). Digital subtraction of the two corresponding images was performed to evaluate changes in bone density and the area related to change around the implant between baseline and final images.Results: Subtraction images demonstrated that a significant difference existed in mean shade of gray at 14 days post‐surgery between Group SO (mean 175.3±14.4) and Group C (mean 146.2±5.2). Regarding the area in pixels corresponding to the bone gain in Group SO, the differences observed between the sacrifice periods and groups were only significant at 7 days sacrifice between Group SO (mean 171.2±21.9) and Group C (mean 64.5±60.4).Conclusion: Within the limits of this study, comfrey administration promotes an increase in radiographic bone density around titanium implants in the initial period of bone healing.