bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Progression of dysprosody in Parkinson's disease over time—A longitudinal study
Authors: Skodda Sabine , Rinsche Heiko , Schlegel Uwe 
Published: January 2009

AbstractParkinsonian speech or hypokinetic dysarthria results from a multidimensional impairment of phonation, articulation, and prosody. Although the dysprosody in Parkinson's disease (PD) is well described (alterations in speech rate and pause time, speech intensity and pitch variation), little is known about alterations of these single prosodic parameters over a longer time course. The objective of this study is to analyze changes of speech rate and pitch variation in patients with PD over time and to compare these findings with healthy controls. Patients with PD (N = 50; 27 male and 23 female) and n = 50 age‐matched healthy controls (25 male, 25 female) were tested and retested after at least 7 months (mean: 25.02; median: 21; SD: 17.44; range: 7–79 months). In the PD group, motor impairment according to UPDRS motor score was similar at first and second visit. The participants had to accomplish a standardized four sentence reading task. The acoustical analysis was performed using a standard head‐worn microphone for voice recordings and commercial audio software (WaveLab®). For the determination of intonation based upon fundamental frequency (F0) variation, we used a computer analysis program (Praat®). Articulatory velocity was determined by measurement of syllable rate and pause ratios. In the PD group, total speech rate (syllables per second related to total speech time/TSR) and net speech rate declined from first to second examination, especially in the male patients, but showed no significant differences to the control group. The course of pitch variation revealed some gender particularities. Whereas female patients' pitch variability declined over time, male patients' intonation variability remained relatively stable. F0 variation in male and female patients with PD were significantly reduced compared with the control group in the first examination and the follow up as well. Progression of prosodic impairment over time showed no correlation to disease duration or UPDRS motor score. Some aspects of dysprosody in PD show characteristic changes over time, but show no clear correlation with general motor impairment as assessed by UPDRS motor score. Therefore, we suspect that the underlying mechanism could be independent from dopaminergic deficits. © 2008 Movement Disorder Society
Dopamine agonists restore cortical plasticity in patients with idiopathic restless legs syndrome
Authors: Rizzo Vincenzo , Aricò Irene , Mastroeni Claudia , Morgante Francesca , Liotta Giovanna , Girlanda Paolo , Silvestri Rosalia , Quartarone Angelo 
Published: January 2009

AbstractIn the present work, we aimed at assessing whether patients with idiopathic restless legs syndrome (RLS) showed alterations of sensory‐motor plasticity, an indirect probe for motor learning, within the motor cortex (M1). Previous findings suggest that learning in human M1 occurs through LTP‐like mechanisms. To test our hypothesis, we employed the paired associative stimulation (PAS) protocol by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), which is able to induce LTP‐like effects in the motor cortex of normal subjects. Twelve patients with idiopathic RLS and 10 age‐ and sex‐matched control subjects were recruited. PAS protocol consisted of 0.05 Hz electrical median nerve stimulation (90 stimuli), paired with 0.05 Hz TMS (90 stimuli) over the hot spot for stimulating the abductor pollicis brevis (APB) muscle given 25 milliseconds after the onset of the electrical stimulus. Corticospinal excitability recorded in APB muscle, as indexed by MEP obtained after single stimulus, was tested before and up to 30 minutes after PAS protocol. Eight of 12 patients were studied before and after 4 weeks of dopaminergic treatment. PAS protocol increased significantly corticospinal excitability as long as 30 minutes in healthy subjects. On the contrary, PAS protocol did not change the amplitude of MEPs in patients with idiopathic RLS without treatment. PAS associative plasticity was restored after 4 weeks of dopaminergic treatment. Our data demonstrated that associative sensory‐motor plasticity, an indirect probe for motor learning, is impaired in idiopathic RLS patients but may be reverted to normal after dopaminergic treatment. © 2008 Movement Disorder Society
Experimental and theoretical study of the mechanism for the kinetic of elimination of methyl carbazate in the gas phase
Authors: Herize Armando , Mora José R. , Lezama Jesus , Marquez Edgar , Córdova Tania , Chuchani Gabriel 
Published: January 2009

AbstractThe elimination kinetic of methyl carbazate in the gas phase was determined in a static system over the temperature range of 340–390 °C and pressure range of 47–118 Torr. The reaction is homogeneous, unimolecular, and obeys a first order rate law. The decomposition products are methyl amine, nitrous acid, and CO gas. The variation of the rate coefficients with temperatures is given by the Arrhenius expression: log k1 (s−1) = (11.56 ± 0.34) −  (180.7 ± 4.1) kJ mol−1(2.303 RT)−1. The estimated kinetics and thermodynamics parameters are in good agreement to the experimental values using B3LYP/6‐31G (d,p), and MP2/6‐31G (d,p) levels of theory. These calculations imply a molecular mechanism involving a concerted non‐synchronous quasi three‐membered ring cyclic transition state to give an unstable intermediate, 1,2‐oxaziridin‐3‐one. Bond order analysis and natural charges implies that polarization of O (alkyl)C (alkyl) bond of the ester is rate determining in this reaction. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Piezoelectric and electromechanical properties of ultrahigh temperature CaBi2Nb2O9 ceramics
Authors: Wang Chun‐Ming , Wang Jin‐Feng , Zhang Shujun , Shrout Thomas R. 
Published: January 2009

AbstractThe piezoelectric, dielectric, and electromechanical properties of the (KCe) co‐substituted calcium bismuth niobate (CaBi2Nb2O9, CBN) were investigated. The piezoelectric activities of CBN ceramics were significantly enhanced and the dielectric loss tan δ decreased by (KCe) substitution. The Ca0.9(KCe)0.05Bi2Nb2O9 ceramics possess the optimal piezoelectric properties, and the piezoelectric coefficient (d33), Curie temperature (TC), and electromechanical coupling factors (kp and kt) were found to be 16 pC/N, 868 °C, 8.6%, and 23.8%, respectively. The excellent dielectric and electromechanical spectra, together with the high piezoelectric activities and ultrahigh Curie temperature, make CBN ceramics promising candidates for high temperature piezoelectric applications. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Dolichandroside A, a new α‐glucosidase inhibitor and DPPH free‐radical Scavenger from Dolichandrone falcata seem
Authors: Aparna P. , Tiwari Ashok K. , Srinivas Pullela. V. , Ali A. Zehra , Anuradha V. , Rao J. Madhusudana 
Published: January 2009

AbstractA new phenylpropanoid glycoside, dolichandroside‐A, together with seven known compounds α‐lapachone, lapachol, aloesaponarin II, 8‐hydroxydehydroiso‐α‐lapachone, β‐sitosterol, 3,8‐dihydroxydehydroiso‐α‐lapachone and verbascoside were isolated from the active ethyl acetate soluble extract of heartwood of Dolichandrone falcata. All except for dolichandroside‐A are known compounds, but have been isolated for the first time from this plant. The structure of all these compounds was determined on the basis of 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR spectral data. All the isolates were tested for α‐glucosidase inhibitory and DPPH radical scavenging activity. This is the first report identifying DPPH scavenging activity and α‐glucosidase inhibitory activity in D. falcata. Furthermore, along with a new compound, dolichandroside‐A, this study also assigns for the first time α‐glucosidase inhibitory activity to verbascoside and aloe saponarin‐II. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Anti‐inflammatory effect of Ishige okamurae ethanolic extract via inhibition of NF‐κB transcription factor in RAW 264.7 cells
Authors: Kim Moon‐Moo , Rajapakse Niranjan , Kim Se‐Kwon 
Published: January 2009

AbstractNowadays, much attention has been paid to the development of anti‐inflammatory agents from marine natural resources. As a result of screening anti‐inflammatory agents from marine algae using immunoassay, we found for the first time that ethanolic extract of Ishige okamurae (IO) classified into brown algae was effective in inhibiting the production of inflammatory mediators, such as tumor necrosis factor‐α, interleukin‐1β, interleukin‐6 and prostaglandin E2, in RAW264.7 cells stimulated by lipopolysaccharide, compared with dexamethasone and aspirin used as positive control in this study. Moreover, transcriptional activation of NF‐κB transcription factor that regulates the expression of these inflammatory mediators was also examined using reporter gene assay and western blot analysis. It was observed that IO extract exerted anti‐inflammatory effect via inactivation of NF‐κB transcription factor in macrophages. In addition, the expression and activity of matrix metalloproteinase‐2 and 9 that play an important role in chronic inflammation were decreased in dose‐dependent manner in the presence of IO extract in HT1080 cells. The above results suggest that IO extract can inhibit inflammation through inactivation of NF‐κB transcription factor in macrophage. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ginger's (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) inhibition of rat colonic adenocarcinoma cells proliferation and angiogenesis in vitro
Authors: Brown Amy C. , Shah Chirag , Liu Jessie , Pham Jimmy T. H. , Zhang Jian Gang , Jadus Martin R. 
Published: January 2009

AbstractGinger's (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) natural bioactives, specifically ginger extract and 6‐gingerol, were measured for their in vitro inhibition of two key aspects of colon cancer biology – cancer cell proliferation and angiogenic potential of endothelial cell tubule formation. Ginger extract was obtained via column distillation, while the 6‐gingerol was purchased from Calbiochem. Antiproliferation activity was assessed through tritiated thymidine ([3H]Tdr) incorporation studies of YYT colon cancer cells; the anti‐angiogenic ability of gingerol was assessed by a Matrigel assays using MS1 endothelial cells. These selected ginger bioactives had: 1) a direct effect on YYT rat cancer cell proliferation (6–1.5% ginger extract; 100–4 µM 6‐gingerol); 2) an indirect effect on MS1 endothelial cell function either at the level of endothelial cell proliferation or through inhibition of MS1 endothelial cell tube formation (100–0.8 µM). Compound 6‐gingerol was most effective at lower doses in inhibiting endothelial cell tube formation. These in vitro studies show that 6‐gingerol has two types of antitumor effects: 1) direct colon cancer cell growth suppression, and 2) inhibition of the blood supply of the tumor via angiogenesis. Further research is warranted to test 6‐gingerol in animal studies as a potential anticancer plant bioactive in the complementary treatment of cancer. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Motivation for learning science in kindergarten: Is there a gender gap and does integrated inquiry and literacy instruction make a difference
Authors: Patrick, Helen , Mantzicopoulos Panayota , Samarapungavan Ala 
Published: January 2009

AbstractWe investigated whether kindergarten girls' and boys' (N = 162) motivation for science (perceived competence and liking) differed. Children were ethnically and linguistically diverse, primarily from low‐income families, and attended one of three schools. One school offered a typical kindergarten science experience. Kindergarteners in the other two schools participated in the Scientific Literacy Project (SLP)—a program based on a conceptually coherent sequence of integrated science inquiry and literacy activities. SLP lasted either 5 or 10 weeks. Regardless of sex, both groups of SLP children had greater motivation for science than children who had only the regular science experience. Moreover, children receiving 10 weeks of SLP reported greater science competence than those who received 5 weeks. Boys in regular classrooms reported liking science more than did girls, however there was no sex difference for SLP children. These results are supported by interview data accessing children's ideas about science. The findings suggest that early meaningful participation in science is likely to promote girls' and boys' motivation for science. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 46: 166–191, 2009
Perioperative Fluid Management
Authors: Young Eileen , Sherrard‐Jacob Alisa , Knapp Karen , Craddock Timothy Shawn , Kemper Candace , Falvo Ralph , Hunter Sheila , Everson Claire , Giarrizzo‐Wilson Sharon 
Published: January 2009

ABSTRACTTechnological advances have changed how traditional surgical procedures are performed. New knowledge and surgical skills are required to effectively monitor the patient and manage fluids administered perioperatively.Today, selective fluids are used in a variety of surgical specialties. Complications of fluid therapy can occur that are intrinsic to each procedure within a specialty.This article provides perioperative nurses with the information needed to evaluate different fluid media and their applications and identify patient care considerations. Possible complications and important postanesthesia care concerns also are discussed. AORN J 89 (January 2009) 167–178. © AORN, Inc, 2009.
Perceived Effects of Specialty Nurse Certification: A Review of the Literature
Authors: Wade Charlene H. 
Published: January 2009

ABSTRACTRecent evidence suggests that specialty nurse education and certification may improve the quality of patient care.Specialty nurse certification also may improve nurses' job satisfaction and sense of empowerment, as well as positively affect collaboration with other health care team members.Despite the evidence that there are intrinsic rewards for specialty certification, the lack of extrinsic value to nurses makes it unlikely that greater numbers of nurses will be attracted to certification unless health care administrators increase opportunities for recognition and greater compensation. AORN J 89 (January 2009) 183–192. © AORN, Inc, 2009.
Body Piercing Among Brazilian Surgical Patients
Authors: Diccini Solange , Malheiro da Costa Nogueira Aline , Sousa Valmi D. 
Published: January 2009

ABSTRACTThe practice of body piercing is becoming more common worldwide.Surgical patients with body piercings require special preoperative assessment to ensure safety during and after surgery.In a study of Brazilian surgical patients at one facility, only 0.6% had body piercings. An RN or nursing student instructed each patient on piercing removal, and piercings were removed by the patients before surgery. AORN J 89 (January 2009) 161–165. © AORN, Inc, 2009.
Just world beliefs moderate the relationship of pain intensity and disability with psychological distress in chronic pain support group members
Authors: McParland Joanna L. , Knussen Christina 
Published: January 2009

AbstractThe impact of pain beliefs on coping and adjustment is well established. However, less is known about how beliefs unrelated to pain might impact upon this experience. In particular, just world beliefs could impact upon and be influenced by chronic pain, given that pain is not experienced in a vacuum but instead is experienced in a social context where justice issues are potentially salient. The focus of this study was the ability of personal and general just world beliefs to moderate the relationships psychological distress held with pain intensity and disability in chronic pain. The sample (N = 95) was recruited from members of arthritis and fibromyalgia support groups to investigate these social beliefs in a controlled community pain context. A cross‐sectional, questionnaire design was adopted. The personal just world belief was endorsed significantly more than the general just world belief, and endorsement of the personal just world belief was negatively correlated with pain intensity, disability and psychological distress, while the general just world belief was unrelated to these variables. When interaction terms relating to personal and general just world beliefs were entered simultaneously into regression analyses, the personal just world belief did not predict psychological distress. However, pain intensity positively predicted psychological distress at low but not high levels of the general just world belief, while disability predicted psychological distress at low and high levels of this belief. This suggests that a strong general just world belief has implications for psychological well‐being in chronic pain, and as such this belief may occupy a potential coping function in this context.
Systemic administration of lidocaine suppresses the excitability of rat cervical dorsal horn neurons and tooth‐pulp‐evoked jaw‐opening reflex
Authors: Takeda Mamoru , Oshima Katsuo , Takahashi Masayuki , Matsumoto Shigeji 
Published: January 2009

ABSTRACTAlthough systemic lidocaine has been demonstrated to have analgesic actions in neuropathic pain conditions, the effect of intravenous lidocaine on trigeminal pain has not been elucidated. The aim of the present study is to investigate the effect of intravenous lidocaine administration on the excitability of the upper cervical dorsal horn (C1) neuron having convergent inputs from both tooth‐pulp (TP) and facial skin as well as nociceptive jaw‐opening reflex (JOR). After electrical stimulation of TP, extracellular single‐unit recordings from 19 C1 neurons and the digastric muscle electromyogram (dEMG) were made in pentobarbital‐anesthetized rats. These neurons also responded to non‐noxious and noxious mechanical stimulation (touch and pinch) of facial skin, and every neuron was considered to be a wide dynamic range (WDR) neuron. The TP‐evoked C1 neuronal and dEMG activities were dose‐dependently inhibited by systematic administration of lidocaine (1–2mg/kg, i.v.). After intravenous injection of lidocaine, the unit discharges induced by both touch and pinch stimuli were inhibited, and the size of the receptive field for pinch was also significantly decreased. The mean spontaneous discharge frequencies were significantly inhibited by the application of lidocaine. These changes were reversed within −20min. These results suggest that in the absence of neuropathic pain intravenous lidocaine injection suppresses the trigeminal nociceptive reflex as well as the excitability of C1 neurons having convergent inputs from TP and somatic afferents. Systemic lidocaine administration, therefore, may contribute to the alleviation of trigeminal‐referred pain associated with tooth pain.
Belgian Schizophrenia Outcome Survey – Results of a 2-year naturalistic study in patients stabilised on monotherapy with olanzapine, risperidone or haloperidol
Authors: Peuskens J. , Gillain B. , De Graeve D. , Van Vleymen B. , Albert A. 
Published: January 2009

AbstractObjectivesThis Schizophrenia Outcome Survey compared medical costs, psychopathology and adverse events in outpatients for 2 years following hospitalisation for an acute schizophrenic episode.MethodsAdults stabilised with haloperidol, olanzapine or risperidone entered this observational study ≤1 month after discharge and were assessed at baseline, 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months using Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), Clinical Global Impression (CGI), Global Assessment of Functioning and adverse events reporting.ResultsAmong 323 patients (haloperidol 32, olanzapine 149, risperidone 142), baseline characteristics were similar in the olanzapine and risperidone groups, except for more first episodes in the risperidone group (p = 0.01). Haloperidol patients were more often single and institutionalised, less educated, had more residual schizophrenia, were longer hospitalised in the previous year, took more corrective and psychotropic drugs and had more extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) and gynaecomastia (all significantly). Sixty-eight percent of patients completed a 2-year follow-up. In all groups, CGI and GAF improved during the first 3 months (both p < 0.0001) while BPRS deteriorated in the first year (all within group changes p < 0.05, between group changes NS) before it stabilised. There were no significant differences in hospitalisations and no change in social profile. At the last visit, 66% of haloperidol (p < 0.01), 35% of olanzapine (NS) and 39% (NS) of risperidone patients had ≥1 EPS; 69% (p < 0.013), 40 and 44%, respectively, had ≥1 sexual problem (NS). Mean weight gain was 0.4 (NS), 2.6 (p < 0.05) and 2.6 kg (p < 0.05), respectively.ConclusionsIn this naturalistic study, treatment allocation might have introduced a bias in the interpretation of efficiency results, but olanzapine and risperidone caused less EPS than haloperidol during 2 years of outpatient follow-up.
Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder traits and personality dimensions in parents of children with obsessive-compulsive disorder
Authors: Calvo Rosa , Lázaro Luisa , Castro-Fornieles Josefina , Font Elena , Moreno Elena , Toro J. 
Published: January 2009

AbstractPurposeTo compare patterns of temperament and character and the prevalence of Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD) and OCPD traits in parents of children with OCD and parents of healthy controls.MethodsTCI and SCID-II were administered to 63 parents of 32 children with OCD and 63 parents of age- and sex-matched controls with no psychiatric diagnosis. Interviewers were not blind to proband status. Personality dimension scores and frequencies of OCPD criteria in both groups were compared after excluding parents with a diagnosis of OCD. Relationships between TCI dimensions and OCPD symptoms in parents and the clinical characteristics of OCD children were also studied.ResultsParents of OCD children presented significantly higher scores in harm avoidance and lower scores in self-directedness, cooperativeness and reward dependence than parents of healthy children. A higher incidence of OCPD was found in parents of probands (p < 0.02). Hoarding, perfectionism and preoccupation with details were significantly more frequent in parents of OCD children. Counting, ordering and cleaning compulsions in OCD children predicted elevated odds of perfectionism and rigidity in their parents.ConclusionsThe existence of the dimensional personality profile associated with OCD in parents of children with OCD and the higher number of OCPD criteria in these parents in comparison to parents of healthy children highlight the importance of the role of personality factors in familial OCD.