bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Blood Pressure Control with Amlodipine Add-on Therapy in Patients with Hypertension and Diabetes: Results of the Amlodipine Diabetic Hypertension Efficacy Response Evaluation Trial
Authors: Kloner Robert A , Neutel Joel , Roth Eli M , Weiss Robert , Weinberger Myron H , Thakker Kamlesh M , Schwartz Brian , Shi Harry , Gregg Anne-Marie 
Published: October 2008

Background: Attainment of blood pressure (BP) goals in patients with diabetes is critical both to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events and to delay the progression of renal disease. While therapeutic guidelines advise initial therapy with an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker, monotherapy with these agents may not be sufficient to attain target BP. Objective: The ADHT (Amlodipine Diabetic Hypertension Efficacy Response Evaluation Trial) evaluated the efficacy and safety of adding amlodipine to the treatment regimen of patients with hypertension and diabetes who were already receiving either quinapril or losartan as monotherapy. Methods: ADHT was a double-blind, double-dummy, 22-week trial conducted in the US, After a washout period of 7–13 days, patients (aged 30–75 y) with hypertension and diabetes were randomized to receive quinapril 20 mg/day plus placebo or losartan 50 mg/day plus placebo for 4 weeks, titrated to 40 mg or 100 mg (if required), respectively, for an additional 4 weeks to achieve their BP goals (<130/60 mm Hg), At week 8, either amlodipine 5 mg/day or placebo was added for an additional 12 weeks, with titration to 10 mg at week 14 if the BP goal was not achieved. Results: Efficacy of add-on therapy was evaluated in 411 patients (amlodipine 211, placebo 200). BP goal was reached by 27.5% of patients when amlodipine was added to quinapril or losartan monotherapy, compared with 12.5% when placebo was added (OR 2.73; 95% CI 1.61 to 4.64; p < 0.001), When added to quinapril or losartan monotherapy, amlodipine reduced BP by 8.1/5.4 mm Hg, compared with a 1.6/0.7 mm Hg decrease with add-on placebo (p < 0.001). Amlodipine, quinapril, and losartan were well tolerated. Conclusions: Amlodipine is safe and effective when added to quinapril or losartan monotherapy to help lower BP toward therapeutic targets in patients with hypertension and diabetes.
Comparison of the Impact of the Atrial Fibrillation Follow-Up Investigation of Rhythm Management Trial on Prescribing Patterns: A Time-Series Analysis
Authors: Choudhry Niteesh K , Zagorski Brandon , Avorn Jerry , Levin Raisa , Sykora Kathy , Laupacis Andreas , Mamdani Muhammad 
Published: October 2008

Background: The AFFIRM (Atrial Fibrillation Follow-Up Investigation of Rhythm Management) trial demonstrated that rate control and rhythm control strategies result in similar survival and quality of life for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Because of superior safety and lower cost, rate control is now the recommended strategy (or the management of most elderly, high-risk AF patients. Objective: To determine the extent to which the AFFIRM trial results have been adopted into actual practice. Methods: We conducted a time-series analysis of 3 population-based cohorts of patients with AF who were 66 years of age or older in Pennsylvania and Ontario. We stratified patients in Ontario by socioeconomic status (SES) and examined changes in quarterly prescription rates for rate control and rhythm controlling medications as well as cardioversion procedures before and after publication of the AFFIRM trial. Results: The publication of the AFFIRM trial resulted in statistically significant reductions in the use of rhythm controlling medications in all 3 cohorts (p < 0.01). The magnitude of these changes in the non-low SES Canadian cohort was approximately 1% per quarter and was greater than the magnitude observed in the other cohorts (p < 0.001). The use of cardioversion procedures also decreased in all study regions (p < 0.01). In contrast, AFFIRM publication was also associated with a small increase in the use of rate controlling medications in Canada (p < 0.01) but not in the US (p = 0.23). Conclusions: Publication of the AFFIRM trial resulted in small but statistically significant changes in the care of patients with AF.
Males Do Not Reduce the Fitness of Their Female Co-Twins in Contemporary Samples
Authors: Medland Sarah E. , Loehlin John C. , Willemsen Gonneke , Hatemi Peter K. , Keller Mathew C. , Boomsma Dorret I. , Eaves Lindon J. , Martin Nicholas G. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractLummaa et al. (2007) presented historical data collected from twins born in Finland between 1734 and 1888 which suggested that females (N= 31) born as part of an opposite sex (OS) twin pair were 25% less likely to reproduce than female twins (N= 35) born as part of a same sex (SS) pair. They hypothesized that this reduction in fitness was due to masculinization of the female fetus via prenatal effects of the hormones of a male fetus. Because such masculinization would presumably take place in modern populations as well, it would seem important to establish to what degree it does so, and if so, whether reproduction is affected. We therefore address the question of reproduction differences in individual female twins from same-sex (N= 1979) and opposite-sex (N= 913) dizygotic pairs in studies carried out in Australia, the Netherlands, and the United States. In all three samples, there were no differences in the number of children or age of first pregnancies in women from same sex pairs compared to those from opposite sex pairs. Similarly, there were no differences in psychological femininity between women from pairs of the same or opposite sex.
Vitamin D Receptor Gene Polymorphisms Have Negligible Effect on Human Height
Authors: Macgregor Stuart , Hottenga Jouke-Jan , Lind Penelope A. , Suchiman H. Eka D. , Willemsen Gonneke , Slagboom P. Eline , Montgomery Grant W. , Martin Nicholas G. , Visscher Peter M. , Boomsma Dorret I. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractHuman height is a highly heritable trait, with genetic factors explaining up to 90% of phenotypic variation. Vitamin D levels are known to influence several physiological processes, including skeletal growth. The vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene has been reported as contributing to variation in height. A meta-analysis of 13607 adult individuals found a small but significant association with the rs1544410 (BsmI) polymorphism. In contrast, the meta-analysis found no effect in a sample of 550 children. Two recent studies reported variants with large effect on height elsewhere in VDR (rs10735810 [FokI] and rs7139166 [-1521] polymorphisms). We genotyped large Caucasian samples from Australia (N= 3906) and the Netherlands (N= 1689) for polymorphisms in VDR. The Australian samples were twin families with height measures from 3 time points throughout adolescence. The Dutch samples were adult twins. We use the available family data to perform both within and between family tests of association. We found no significant associations for any of the genotyped variants after multiple testing correction. The (non-significant) effect of rs1544410 in the Australian adolescent cohort was in the same direction and of similar magnitude (additive effect 0.3cm) to the effect observed in the published adult meta-analysis. An effect of this size explains ~0.1% of the phenotypic variance in height — this implies that many, probably hundreds, of such variants are responsible for the observed genetic variation. Our results did not support any role for two other regions (rs10735810, rs7139166) of VDR in explaining variation in height.
Anthropometry, Carbohydrate and Lipid Metabolism in the East Flanders Prospective Twin Survey: Linkage of Candidate Genes Using Two Sib-Pair Based Variance Components Analyses
Authors: Souren Nicole Y. , Zeegers Maurice P. , Janssen Rob G. J. H. , Steyls Anja , Gielen Marij , Loos Ruth J. F. , Beunen Gaston , Fagard Robert , Stassen Alphons P. M. , Aerssens Jeroen , Derom Catherine , Vlietinck Robert , Paulussen Aimee D. C. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractInsulin resistance and obesity are underlying causes of type 2 diabetes and therefore much interest is focused on the potential genes involved. A series of anthropometric and metabolic characteristic were measured in 240 MZ and 112 DZ twin pairs recruited from the East Flanders Prospective Twin Survey. Microsatellite markers located close to ABCC8, ADIPOQ, GCK, IGF1, IGFBP1, INSR, LEP, LEPR, PPARγ and the RETN gene were genotyped. Univariate single point variance components linkage analyses were performed using two methods: (1) the standard method, only comprising the phenotypic and genotypic data of the DZ twin pairs and (2) the extended method, also incorporating the phenotypic data of the MZ twin pairs. Suggestive linkages (LOD > 1) were observed between the ABCC8 marker and waist-to-hip ratio and HDL-cholesterol levels. Both markers flanking ADIPOQ showed suggestive linkage with triglycerides levels, the upstream marker also with body mass and HDL-cholesterol levels. The IGFBP1 marker showed suggestive linkage with fat mass, fasting insulin and leptin levels and the LEP marker showed suggestive linkage with birth weight. This study suggests that DNA variants in ABCC8, ADIPOQ, IGFBP1 and LEP gene region may predispose to type 2 diabetes. In addition, the two methods used to perform linkage analyses yielded similar results. This was however not the case for birth weight where chorionicity seems to be an important confounder.
Adhesion Molecule Polymorphisms and Pulse Wave Velocity in American Youth
Authors: Zhu Haidong , Yan Weili , Tan Yuande , Li Ke , Kapuku Gaston , Treiber Frank A. , Su Shaoyong , Harshfield Gregory A. , Snieder Harold , Dong Yanbin 
Published: October 2008

AbstractBackground:Our research group recently reported that aorto-radial (radial) and aorto-dorsalis-pedis (foot) pulse wave velocity (PWV) as proxies of arterial stiffness are substantially heritable in healthy youth. This article aimed at uncovering the genetic contributions of adhesion molecules, key members in the inflammatory process, to PWV in these young individuals.Methods:Radial and foot PWV were noninvasively measured with applanation tonometry in 702 black and white subjects (42% blacks, mean age 17.7 ± 3.3 years) from the Georgia Cardio vascular Twin Study. Eight functional polymorphisms from genes for E-selectin (SELE), P-selectin (SELP), intercellular adhesion molecules-1 (ICAM1), and vascular cell adhesion molecules-1 (VCAM1) were genotyped.Results:Youth with Ser290Asn or Asn290Asn genotype (SELP) compared to those with Ser290Ser had an increase in both radial and foot PWV (6.61 ± 0.07 vs. 6.41 ± 0.05 m/s,p= .026; 7.22 ± 0.05 vs. 7.04 ± 0.04 m/s,p= .007). TT homozygotes of rs2244529 (SELP) had higher foot PWV (7.28 ± 0.07 vs. 7.06 ± 0.03 m/s,p= .002) than CT heterozygotes and CC homozygotes. There appeared to be a decrease in foot PWV in youth with the 241Arg allele (ICAM1) as compared to those without (6.96 ± 0.08 vs. 7.14 ± 0.03 m/s,p= .005). For the Asp693Asp (C to T) polymorphism (VCAM1), CC genotype had higher foot PWV than CT and TT genotypes (7.18 ± 0.04 vs. 6.95 ± 0.06 m/s,p< .0001). There was an epistatic interaction between Ser290Asn, Gly241Arg, and Asp693Asp on foot PWV (p= .017), explaining 3.6% variance of the foot PWV.Conclusion:Genetic variation of adhesion molecules may be implicated in the development of arterial stiffness. Screening for adhesion molecule polymorphisms may help identify high-risk youth.
Sleep During a Regular Week Night: A Twin-Sibling Study
Authors: Boomsma Dorret I. , van Someren Eus J. W. , Beem A. Leo , de Geus Eco J. C. , Willemsen Gonneke 
Published: October 2008

AbstractPrevious genetic investigations of variation in normal sleep have focused on measures that describe sleep over longer periods of time. We undertook a study with the aim of evaluating whether heritability can be found in single-night sleep traits. A classical twin study design of monozygotic and dizygotic twins, enriched with siblings of twins was employed. The study included adult twin pairs and their siblings (N= 813 subjects from 342 families). A subsample of 66 individuals participated twice. For a single night, bedtime, awakening time and subjective sleep quality were assessed using a diary. The diary also assessed smoking, alcohol and coffee consumption, and the subjective evaluation of stress. Resemblance between family members was used to estimate the heritability of bedtime, awakening time, sleep problems and sleep quality as a function of sex. Most sleep measures showed familial clustering, but results differed for men and women. Heritability for bedtime and sleep problems was seen in women; and for awakening time in men. We conclude that heritability can be demonstrated for bedtime and subjective evaluation of even a single night of sleep. The contribution of the genetic make-up is sex specific. In women variance in awakening time is so affected by environmental circumstances, that the genetic contribution to the variance becomes negligible. In contrast, for males, variance in the evening bedtime is so affected by environmental circumstances, that the genetic contribution to the variance becomes negligible.
Maternal Age and Temporal Effects on Stillbirth Rates
Authors: Fellman Johan , Eriksson Aldur W. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractStillbirth rates among single and multiple births show markedly decreasing temporal trends. In addition, several studies have demonstrated that the stillbirth rates are dependent on maternal age, in general, showing a U- or J-shaped association with maternal age. In this study, the temporal trends in and the effect of maternal age on the stillbirth rate were considered simultaneously. Our goal was to split the variation into temporal trends and maternal age effects. We applied two-dimensional analysis of variance because no linear association between maternal age and stillbirth rate can be assumed. The temporal trends of stillbirth rates also were not clearly linear. However, the possibility of applying regression analyses based on linear time trends was also considered. Our study is mainly based on official data from England and Wales for the period between 1927 and 2004. These results were compared with registered birth data from Finland between 1937 and 1997. The best fit was obtained when the models were built for the logarithm of the stillbirth rate. Our interpretation of this result is that an association exists between the effects of the factors and the mean stillbirth rate, and consequently, a multiplicative model was applied. Relatively high stillbirth rates were observed among twin births of young mothers and among all births of older mothers.
Dramatically Different Dizygotic Twins: Will We Include Them in Research? / Twin Research Reviews: Congenital Anomalies, Mirror-Image Effects in Conjoined Twins, Older Mothers of Twins; / Twin Statistics: 'Massachusetts, Land of Twins'; / Tribute: Dr Victor A. McKusick
Authors: Segal Nancy L. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractThe increased frequency of interracial marriage is a likely source of unusual-looking dizygotic (DZ) twins. Some members of DZ twin pairs born to mixed-race couples inherit very different physical features from their parents. This raises several questions, such as: Will researchers wish to include such twins in their ongoing studies? Next, new twin research concerned with congenital anomalies, mirror-image effects in conjoined twins and older mothers of twins will be reviewed. New statistics on twinning rates in Massachusetts will also be summarized, followed by a tribute to the late medical geneticist Dr. Victor A. McKusick.
Ein objektorientierter Ansatz zur Modellierung des menschlichen Herz-Kreislauf-Systems An Object-Oriented Approach to Modelling the Human Cardiovascular System
Authors: Brunberg Anja , Autschbach Rüdiger , Abel Dirk 
Published: October 2008

Zusammenfassung
Zur Analyse körpereigener Regelungen, zur Synthese von Unterstützungsgeräten für gestörte physiologische Regelkreise und zur Ableitung von Maßnahmen zur Therapie wird ein objektorientiertes Modell in Form einer an den Organen orientierten, offen erweiterbaren Bibliothek entwickelt. Die Einsatzmöglichkeiten der Modelle reichen von Forschung und Entwicklung bis hin zur Ausbildung.
Multi-modales Biofeedback System zur Vorbeugung von Stürzen Multi-modal Biofeedback System for the Prevention of Falls
Authors: Burger Jürgen , Meyes Simon , Tschanz Roger , Davis Justin R. , Carpenter Mark G. , Debrunner Daniel , Allum John H. J. 
Published: October 2008

Zusammenfassung
Das Biofeedback des Körperschwankens stellt eine Möglichkeit dar, Patienten mit statischen und dynamischen Gleichgewichtsproblemen alternative Sinnesreize zur Erlangung eines stabilen Gleichgewichts zur Verfügung zu stellen, was zu einer Verbesserung ihrer Lebensqualität führt. Das Biofeedback-System erzeugt mittels am Kopf befestigter Signalwandler auditive, vibro-taktile und vibro-vestibuläre Sinneseindrücke. Die Ergebnisse sowohl an jungen als auch an älteren Probanden ergaben, dass mit Hilfe des Biofeedbacks eine bemerkenswerte 40–60%ige Reduktion des Körperschwankens erzielt werden konnte.
Iterativ Lernende Regelung einer Gang-Neuroprothese Iterative Learning Control of a Gait Neuroprosthesis
Authors: Nahrstaedt Holger , Schauer Thomas , Hesse Stefan , Raisch Jörg 
Published: October 2008

Zusammenfassung
Dieser Beitrag beschreibt den Entwurf einer linearen Iterativ Lernenden Regelung (ILR) im Zeitbereich für die automatische Anpassung einer Neuroprothese bei Schlaganfallpatienten. Eine unzureichende Fußhebung in der Schwungphase des Ganges soll durch die gezielte Stimulation des Fußhebers kompensiert werden. Für die Erfassung des Gelenkwinkels wird ein neuartiges Messverfahren verwendet, bei welchem durch Bewegung hervorgerufene Bio-Impedanz-Änderungen im Bein registriert werden. Für die Regelung ist ferner eine Gangphasenerkennung mittels Drucksensoren unter der Fußsohle notwendig, um die Stimulation exakt mit der Schwungphase zu synchronisieren. Ein erster Test des Regelungskonzepts und des neuen Ansatzes zur Winkelmessung wurde an einem gesunden Probanden durchgeführt.
Strukturanalyse von Betonpfählen durch eingebettete faseroptische Sensoren Analysis of Concrete Foundation Piles Using Structure-Integrated Fibre-Optic Sensors
Authors: Schallert Matthias , Hofmann Detlef , Habel Wolfgang R. 
Published: October 2008

Zusammenfassung
Zur Gründung von Bauwerken auf weichen, gering tragfähigen Böden werden unter anderem Betonpfähle, einzeln oder in Pfahlgruppen, eingesetzt. Deren Bewertung bzgl. Tragverhalten bzw. Integrität ist bei bestimmten Baugrundverhältnissen und Pfahlgeometrien schwierig. Hierfür werden statische und dynamische Pfahlprüfungen durchgeführt. Aus Messwerten vom Pfahlkopf bzw. vom oberen Pfahlbereich werden üblicherweise die notwendigen Aussagen abgeleitet. Eine genauere Bewertung ist möglich, wenn präzise Messwerte über die gesamte Pfahllänge vorliegen. Deshalb wurden hochauflösende betoneinbettbare Messwertaufnehmer auf Basis von Faser-Fabry-Perot-Sensoren entwickelt, die in Modell- und in realen Rammpfählen getestet wurden. Der Beitrag beschreibt den Sensor, die Installation und exemplarisch einige Testergebnisse zur Erfassung der Wellenausbreitung im Modellpfahl. Feldtests wurden zurzeit der Erstellung des Manuskripts erfolgreich begonnen.
Messtechnische Charakterisierung elektrostatischer Entladungen Metrological Characterization of Electrostatic Discharges
Authors: Langer Tim , Beyer Michael , von Pidoll Ulrich 
Published: October 2008

Zusammenfassung
Die Einflüsse von Ladungspolarität und Luftfeuchte auf zwei Verfahren zum Messen von Impulsladungen werden untersucht. Des Weiteren wird ein Modell entwickelt für die Messunsicherheitsbestimmung nach dem “Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement” im Zusammenhang mit den Untersuchungen der Polaritäts- und Luftfeuchteabhängigkeit der beiden Messverfahren.
The appearance of the adrenal glands on computed tomography in multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1
Authors: Whitley S A , Moyes V J , Park K M , Brooke A M , Grossman A B , Chew S L , Rockall A G , Monson J P , Reznek R H 
Published: October 2008

AimsTo review the morphology of the adrenal glands in multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) on computed tomography (CT) to compare the results with established normal values for adrenal size and nodularity and to correlate adrenal size with serum cortisol secretory dynamics.Materials and methodsTwo observers independently reviewed the adrenal CT in 28 patients with MEN1, measuring the maximum width of the body of the gland and the medial and lateral limbs. Incidence and location of nodules >5 mm within the gland were recorded. Following exclusion of known cases of Cushing's syndrome, adrenal gland size was compared with previously documented normative data. Adrenal gland size was compared between patients with normal and abnormal cortisol dynamics.ResultsComparison of mean adrenal size in MEN1 patients with normative data showed that the adrenal limbs were significantly larger in MEN1 than normal (P<0.0001 in all four limbs). Adrenal body was also significantly larger (P<0.05). Nodules were demonstrated in 17 (60%) of patients (versus 0.4–2% in the normal population). No statistically significant correlation was demonstrated between adrenal limb hyperplasia and abnormal cortisol dynamics.ConclusionsIn patients with MEN1, adrenal limb hyperplasia and adrenal nodules are significantly more common than in the normal population, a phenomenon not previously documented in a quantitative manner. There was no significant correlation between adrenal limb hyperplasia and abnormal cortisol dynamics.
Parents With Doubts About Vaccines: Which Vaccines and Reasons Why
Authors: Gust Deborah A. , Darling Natalie , Kennedy Allison , Schwartz Ben 
Published: October 2008

OBJECTIVES. The goals were (1) to obtain national estimates of the proportions of parents with indicators of vaccine doubt, (2) to identify factors associated with those parents, compared with parents reporting no vaccine doubt indicators, (3) to identify the specific vaccines that prompted doubt and the reasons why, and (4) to describe the main reasons parents changed their minds about delaying or refusing a vaccine for their child.
METHODS. Data were from the National Immunization Survey (2003–2004). Groups included parents who ever got a vaccination for their child although they were not sure it was the best thing to do (“unsure”), delayed a vaccination for their child (“delayed”), or decided not to have their child get a vaccination (“refused”).
RESULTS. A total of 3924 interviews were completed. Response rates were 57.9% in 2003 and 65.0% in 2004. Twenty-eight percent of parents responded yes to ever experiencing ≥1 of the outcome measures listed above. In separate analyses for each outcome measure, vaccine safety concern was a predictor for unsure, refused, and delayed parents. The largest proportions of unsure and refused parents chose varicella vaccine as the vaccine prompting their concern, whereas delayed parents most often reported “not a specific vaccine” as the vaccine prompting their concern. Most parents who delayed vaccines for their child did so for reasons related to their child's illness, unlike the unsure and refused parents. The largest proportion of parents who changed their minds about delaying or not getting a vaccination for their child listed “information or assurances from health care provider” as the main reason.
CONCLUSIONS. Parents who exhibit doubts about immunizations are not all the same. This research suggests encouraging children's health care providers to solicit questions about vaccines, to establish a trusting relationship, and to provide appropriate educational materials to parents.