bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Chronic childhood illnesses: what aspects of caregiving do parents value?
Authors: Baine S , Rosenbaum P , King S 
Published: April 2006

SummaryParents of children with chronic iiinesses are at significantly increased risk to experience mental health problems. Because such families are in frequent contact with the health care system, it is possible that aspects of the organization and content of health services might contribute to the development or prevention of these emotional burdens. The purpose of the present study was to examine the patterns of parental values about a variety of aspects of care and services, assessing both the absolute and relative importance of 22 defined components of care (COCs). Respondents were 80/111 parents (72%) of children with diabetes mellitus and 45/56 parents (80%) of children with cystic fibrosis, followed at a regional university‐affiliated children's hospital. They completed a two‐part mailed questionnaire, rating independently each COC, and then ranking all 22 COCs using a modified Q‐sort technique. While the majority of COCs were judged as 'somewhat’or‘very’important by over 75% of respondents, there was also significant agreement between the two groups on their rankings of the COCs (Spearman rank coefficient r= 0.92, P< 0.001). The COCs ranked most highly by both groups were diagnosis, treatment, education/information, continuity/ consistency, accessible and available care, evaluation of chronic illness, and parental involvement. Furthermore, the concordance between this combined medical illness group and a previously‐studied neurodevelopmental group was r = 0.72 (P < 0.001). These results are discussed in relation to the
The control of sexuality in young people with Down's syndrome
Authors: Shepperdson B 
Published: April 2006

SummaryThree studies were undertaken of two cohorts of young people with Down's syndrome. One cohort, of 52 people, was born in the 1960s and they were seen in their teens and again in their mid‐20s. The other cohort, of 26 people, was born in the 197ds and they were seen in their teens. The studies show that while carers in both cohorts paid lip service to the rights of young people with learning disabilities to have sexual experiences and to marry, they did not necessarily feel that this applied to their own youngsters. Carers of the 1970s cohort at teenage were more permissive than carers of the 1960s cohort at adulthood. How carers controlled the sexuality of their young people is discussed. Carers in both cohorts were rarely in favour of parenthood for people with teaming disabilities and over half the carers thought that sterilization might be appropriate, in some circumstances. At teenage, about two‐thirds of carers in both cohorts thought that their youngsters needed sex education. By adulthood, in the 1960s cohort, only one‐third of the same group of carers continued to hold the same view. According to carers, more young people knew about events that they were unlikely to experience themselves, namely pregnancy and birth, than knew about the most likely event, sexual intercourse. So, in spite of holding permissive views on sexual expression for people with teaming disabilities, carers left their own young people iii‐prepared for such experiences. Few young people were given the education or freedoms necessary to encourage sexual relationships. Reasons for this discrepancy are discussed.
“Sexuality, disability and abuse: advice for life … not just for kids!”*
Authors: Blackburn M 
Published: April 2006

SummaryThis annotation addresses the debate about the availability, taboos, choices and risks concerning the sexuality and abuse of young disabled people, it highlights the vulnerability of some disabled young people and discusses the dilemmas of maintaining the disabled person's dignity, safeguarding his/her independence and recognizing the need for appropriate sex education while providing protection from abuse, it is suggested that statutory agencies as well as legislation should assume greater responsibility for protecting and safeguarding the interests of disabled youngsters, some of whom may risk physical, emotional and sexual abuse beyond childhood. The manner in which sexuality and abuse are dealt with often reflects the way disabled people are regarded by the society. This paper attempts to address some of the legal and conceptual issues surrounding this area.
Anthropometric and motor characteristics of Senegalese with different nutritional histories
Authors: Bénéfice E , Fouéré T , Malina R M , Beunen G 
Published: April 2006

SummaryThe effects of Protein Energy Malnutrition (PEM) on the motor performance of 4.5‐6.5‐year‐old Senegalese children were studied. Body dimensions included weight, lengths, circumferences, and four skinfolds. Motor performance tests included a 3‐min endurance run, 4 × 10 m shuttle‐run, distance throw, standing long jump and grip strength. The sample consisted of 147 children: 52 children who were hospitalized for severe undernutrition (severe UN group) during infancy but who had been nutritionally rehabilitated; 63 children who were never severely malnourished but who were chronically exposed to mild‐to‐moderate undernutrition up to the time of study (chronic UN group); and 32 well nourished children (well nourished group) from well‐off households. After adjusting for sex and age, the well nourished group performed better than the severe UN and chronic UN groups. Principal components analysis resulted in two factors which explained 65% of the variance in anthropometry and motor performance. One was related to body size and the second to body composition. The three nutritional groups differed significantly in principal component scores for the two factors; chronic UN and severe UN children also differed for the second factor. Body composition, especially low fat mass appeared to be an important feature for motor performance In chronically undernourished children.
Management of minor ailments in primary schoolchildren in rural and urban areas
Authors: Cantrill J A , Johannesson B , Nicolson M , Noyce P R 
Published: April 2006

SummaryThe concept of self‐management in healthcare includes disease prevention, self‐diagnosis, self‐treatment and appropriate consultation with health care practitioners. Within the context of childrens’ailments the decision‐maker will usually be a carer The aim of this study was to examine carers’management of minor childhood aliments within urban and rural settings. The subjects were primary schoolchildren (4‐12 years of age) and the respondents were their parents or carers. Data were gathered using a pre‐piloted structured questionnaire. The questionnaires were distributed through and collected by the head teachers of the 13 participating schools. Of the 491 questionnaires distributed, 306 (62%) were returned and suitable for analysis, in total, 96 (31%) children had experienced a minor aliment in the preceding 2 weeks; the most commonly reported were cold, headache and gastrointestinal disturbance. Ninety‐five respondents indicated how they managed this episode; the most common response was to treat the child with a medicine which they already had in the house (41%). A further 24 obtained a medicine specifically to manage the episode; 12 on prescription and 12 purchased an over‐the‐counter (OTC) medicine. The majority of respondents (86%) felt that they based their management decision on their own experience, only 10 felt their action was influenced by the advice of a pharmacist or doctor. Fifty children (16%) were reported to have a chronic illness. Several respondents volunteered comments suggesting that they would be cautious in their use of OTC medicines. This study indicates that in the majority of cases, carers manage children's minor aliments without recourse to professional advice.
Methods of quantifying circulating IgE
Authors: MERRETT T. G. , MERRETT J. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryFour radioimmunoassay techniques, two conventional and two sandwich, have been used to measure circulating IgE levels in 100 sera. The test sera had IgE levels ranging From 1.0 to 20,000 u/ml, and each was measured at live dilutions, ranging from threefold to 400‐fold. The same IgE standards were used throughout, and the optimal range for each assay was determined by assessing data for quality control sera and the WHO standard 69/204. To be of general use in the United Kingdom an IgE test must measure accurately levels as low as 20‐30 u IgE/ml. The Phadebas RIST method failed to meet this criterion, and of the remaining tests the double antibody method had the most useful operating range and produced the most reliable results. However, the double antibody method is not available commercially and so, for the majority of laboratories, the Phadebas PRIST technique should be the method chosen.
Aerobiological studies based in Derby
Authors: BROWN H. MORROW , JACKSON F. A. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryA simplified version of the Hirst automatic volumetric spore trap has been developed in Derby for aerobiological studies. In comparative trials, the numbers of spores retained by the Morrow Brown trap were similar in the case of larger spores such as Alternaria (102%), rather higher in the case of grass pollen (136%) and considerably higher (166–201%) for very small spores such as Sporobolomyces and Tilletiopsis. Impaction efficiency has been improved by using a narrower slit. The trap designed in Derby is simple to produce and presents advantages in design over the Hirst version.
Aerobiological studies based in Derby
Authors: BROWN H. MORROW , JACKSON F. A. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryThe air spora of two sites on the east coast of Britain and one on the west coast were compared with each other and with the regular sampling site in Derby by the simultaneous operation of volumetric spore traps. Concentrations of airborne spores and pollen were found to be usually less at the coastal sites tham in Derby. The effect of wind direction was shown to be important at coastal sites because daily counts often showed rises and falls corresponding to off‐ and on‐shore winds respectively. Counts at the west coast site were nearly always lower than those on the east. These findings, together with the prevalence of westerly winds over Britain and the different land use in the east and west, suggest that fewer airborne allergens may be encountered on the west coast.
Circulating immune complexes in patients with house‐dust‐mite‐sensitive bronchial asthma
Authors: NAKAGAWA T. , YOSHINOYA S. , SAKAMOTO Y. , ITO K. , MIYAMOTO T. 
Published: April 2006

SummarySera from forty patients with house‐dust‐mite‐sensitive bronchial asthma were examined for the presence of circulating immune complexes (CIC) by the sensitive and quantitative CIq solid‐phase radioimmunoassay (Clq‐SP) and a monoclonal rheumatoid factor solid‐phase radioimmunoassay (mRF‐SP). Compared to fifteen normal individuals, the asthmatic patients showed significantly higher mean values of Clq‐reactive materials; however, there was no difference between the results from the patients treated by immunotherapy using Dermatophagoides farinae extract and those not so treated. Moreover, immune complexes in eight patients before and after immunotherapy showed that the amount of the complexes tend to decrease during immunotherapy. Furthermore, the presence of complexes had no relationship with the amounts of mite‐specific IgG antibody. Similar results were also obtained in tests using mRF‐SP. These data suggest that complexes in the sera of the house‐dust‐mite‐sensitive asthmatic patients are not necessarily associated either with immunotherapy or with the mite‐specific IgG antibodies.
Sodium cromoglycate in histamine and methacholine reactivity in asthma
Authors: PATEL K. R. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryThe effect of increasing concentrations of inhaled sodium cromoglycate (SCG) (2, 10, 20 and 40 g/l) on histamine and methacholine bronchial reactivity was studied in nine patients with extrinsic bronchial asthma. The responses to histamine and methacholine were expressed in terms of provocative concentrations producing 20% fall in the FEV1 (PC20)‐ The PC20 for histamine and methacholine was unaffected by all the concentrations of SCG used in the study. These results suggest that the effect of SCG on the bronchial smooth muscle or on the muscarinic receptors is minimal.
A comparison of the available methods for the measurement of histamine in sputum
Authors: MOODLEY I. , ZHONG N.S. , MORGAN D.J.R. , DAVIES R.J. 
Published: April 2006

SummarySputum samples from patients with chronic bronchitis were assayed for histamine content using a bioassay, and/or fluorometric assay and single or double radioenzymatic techniques. Comparison showed that all the assays produced significant differences in the measurement of sputum histamine. Similarly, it was observed that the assays all showed significant differences in the measurement of histamine released from human basophils. In general the fluorometric assay give the highest values for histamine in sputum and the double‐isotope radioenzymatic assay the lowest. In contrast, no differences were found between the bioassay, fluorometric assay and the single‐isotope radioenzymatic assay for the measurement of histamine added to Tyrode's solution. These results suggest that in biological samples some of the assays may additionally be measuring metabolites of histamine or other components present in the samples and underline the need to measure the levels of histamine and its metabolites separately in sputum.
Occupational allergy due to inhalation of ipecacuanha dust
Authors: LUCZYNSKA CHRISTINA M. , MARSHALL PAMELA E. , SCARISBRICK D.A. , TOPPING M. D. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryA number of workers packing ipecacuanha tablets were complaining of allergic symptoms. Skin‐prick tests, RAST and an assessment of clinical history by interview were used to confirm the presence of work‐related allergy. Specific IgE antibodies to ipecacuanha were detected and the occurrence of antibodies correlated with the incidence of allergic symptoms. The individuals with positive RAST scores had been employed, on average, longer than those with negative scores. It was found that atopy did not predispose the workers to work‐related allergy and that there was no correlation between smoking and respiratory symptoms in this population.
Monitoring of maximum expiratory peak flow rates and histamine inhalation tests in the investigation of occupational asthma
Authors: CARTIER A. , PINEAU L. , MALO J. ‐L. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryA 49 year old carpenter developed asthma after he was employed in a new workshop. Specific inhalation tests carried out in a laboratory with presswood sawdust and the different glues used at work were negative. Monitoring peak expiratory flow rates (PEFR) at work revealed a progressive fall on consecutive days with recovery after periods off‐work. Histamine inhalation tests showed a definite increase in bronchial hyperexcitability after working periods. Monitoring of PEFR in conjunction with histamine inhalation tests can thus help in confirming occupational asthma.
Multiparity Reveals the Blunting Effect of Breastfeeding on Physiological Reactivity to Psychological Stress
Authors: Tu M. T. , Lupien S. J. , Walker C.‐D. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractRat studies show that hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal (HPA) responsiveness to physical and emotional stressors is attenuated during lactation, although situations evoking pup endangerment can supersede this phenomenon. In the human population, blunted cortisol responses are seen in primiparous breastfeeding compared to bottlefeeding mothers following physical stress, but not after psychosocial stress. It is currently unknown whether stressor salience (child‐related versus nonrelated stressor) has a differential effect on cortisol reactivity as a function of infant feeding choice and whether HPA responses to stress could be modified by parity. We investigated the impact of infant feeding type and maternal parity on salivary cortisol and alpha‐amylase response to stress in 5–20‐week postpartum mothers using exposure to the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) and to an emotional film evoking threats to a child. Analyses show that alpha‐amylase responses were similar in all groups and for both types of stress, suggesting that sympathetic reactivity was independent of infant feeding type and parity. By contrast, cortisol response was affected by these variables. In primiparous mothers, cortisol reactivity to psychological stressors did not vary as a function of infant feeding type while, among multiparous mothers, breastfeeding was associated with reduced responsiveness to the TSST and child‐related stressor. We speculate that changes in neural mechanisms occurring as a result of pregnancy and lactation and that modulate the HPA axis in women might be exacerbated with multiple repeats of the pregnancy/lactation period. This would serve to ‘desensitise’ stress circuits and reduce the overall stress‐induced cortisol secretion after multiple births.
Selection of different 5′ untranslated region hepatitis C virus variants during post‐transfusion and post‐transplantation infection
Authors: Gallegos‐Orozco J. F. , Arenas J. I. , Vargas H. E. , Kibler K. V. , Wilkinson J. K. , Nowicki M. , Radkowski M. , Nasseri J. , Rakela J. , Laskus T. 
Published: April 2006

Summary.  Background:  Hepatitis C virus (HCV) translation is initiated in a cap‐independent manner by an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) located within the 5′ untranslated region (5′UTR). Sequence changes in this region could affect translation efficiency and presumably viral replication.Aim:  To determine translation efficiency of 5′UTR variants developing during post‐transfusion hepatitis C in two immunocompetent subjects and in two immunosuppressed liver recipients with recurrent HCV.Methods:  Sequential samples were screened for 5′UTR changes by single‐strand conformation polymorphism followed by cloning and sequencing whenever band pattern suggested sequence changes. 5′UTR variants were tested for IRES activity using a bicistronic dual luciferase expression plasmid transfected into HepG2 and Huh7 cell‐lines.Results:  In the transfused patients, translation efficiency of 5′UTR variants from early post‐transfusion samples was 5.1‐ to 13.7‐fold higher than that of predominant variants found in late follow‐up samples. Post‐transplant variants in the other two patients had 2.6‐ to 5.9‐fold higher translation efficiency than those present only in pretransplant samples.Conclusion:  In the immunocompetent host there may be selection of low translation efficiency HCV variants over the course of infection. However, in immunosuppressed subjects the opposite seems to be true as low translation efficiency variants are superseded by high translation efficiency variants.
Crenarchaeal community assembly and microdiversity in developing soils at two sites associated with deglaciation
Authors: Nicol Graeme W. , Tscherko Dagmar , Chang Lisa , Hammesfahr Ute , Prosser James I. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryNon‐thermophilic Crenarchaeota are recognized as ubiquitous and abundant components of soil microbial communities. Previous studies of the foreland of the receding Rotmoosferner glacier in the Austrian Central Alps have demonstrated that crenarchaeal communities in soil at different stages of development are distinct from each other, with Group 1.1b crenarchaeal populations dominating throughout the successional gradient, while Group 1.1c crenarchaea are present in mature soils only. To determine whether this highly structured succession was unique to the Rotmoosferner glacier foreland, 1.1b and 1.1c communities were compared with those present along a successional gradient at Ödenwinkelkees glacier, 125 km away, by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of 16S rRNA reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction products. Similarities in community structure were observed; 1.1b communities were present throughout both successional gradients (though lacking the defined structure at Ödenwinkelkees) and 1.1c communities were present only in mature soil. Comigration of bands on DGGE gels indicated that a number of similar crenarchaeal populations were present at both sites. To compare populations, and examine microscale diversity, 16S rRNA genes and complete 16S‐23S internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions representing six major band positions in DGGE analysis were amplified, cloned and sequenced and represented four 1.1b and two 1.1c lineages. The data provide no evidence of endemism, but large differences in the rate of sequence divergence in the ITS region (relative to that in 16S rRNA genes) were observed. Two of the 1.1b lineages (each possessing > 98% 16S rRNA gene similarity) had relatively long and highly divergent ITS sequences. In contrast, two other 1.1b and two 1.1c lineages (each possessing > 99% 16S rRNA gene similarity) exhibited markedly less variation in their respective 16S‐23S ITS regions. The results reveal common patterns in the ecology and assembly of crenarchaeal communities in spatially separated soil systems and may indicate different evolutionary rates between soil crenarchaea lineages.
Differential gene expression in response to phenol and catechol reveals different metabolic activities for the degradation of aromatic compounds in Bacillus subtilis
Authors: Tam Le Thi , Eymann Christine , Albrecht Dirk , Sietmann Rabea , Schauer Frieder , Hecker Michael , Antelmann Haike 
Published: April 2006

SummaryAromatic organic compounds that are present in the environment can have toxic effects or provide carbon sources for bacteria. We report here the global response of Bacillus subtilis 168 to phenol and catechol using proteome and transcriptome analyses. Phenol induced the HrcA, σB and CtsR heat‐shock regulons as well as the Spx disulfide stress regulon. Catechol caused the activation of the HrcA and CtsR heat‐shock regulons and a thiol‐specific oxidative stress response involving the Spx, PerR and FurR regulons but no induction of the σB regulon. The most surprising result was that several catabolite‐controlled genes are derepressed by catechol, even if glucose is taken up under these conditions. This derepression of the carbon catabolite control was dependent on the glucose concentration in the medium, as glucose excess increased the derepression of the CcpA‐dependent lichenin utilization licBCAH operon and the ribose metabolism rbsRKDACB operon by catechol. Growth and viability experiments with catechol as sole carbon source suggested that B. subtilis is not able to utilize catechol as a carbon‐energy source. In addition, the microarray results revealed the very strong induction of the yfiDE operon by catechol of which the yfiE gene shares similarities to glyoxalases/bleomycin resistance proteins/extradiol dioxygenases. Using recombinant His6‐YfiEBs we demonstrate that YfiE shows catechol‐2,3‐dioxygenase activity in the presence of catechol as the metabolite 2‐hydroxymuconic semialdehyde was measured. Furthermore, both genes of the yfiDE operon are essential for the growth and viability of B. subtilis in the presence of catechol. Thus, our studies revealed that the catechol‐2,3‐dioxygenase YfiE is the key enzyme of a meta cleavage pathway in B. subtilis involved in the catabolism of catechol.