bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Working across boundaries: clinical outcomes for an integrated mental health service for people with intellectual disabilities
Authors: Hall I. , Parkes C. , Samuels S. , Hassiotis A. 
Published: July 2006

AbstractBackground  The Mental Health Service for People with Learning Disabilities (MHSPLD) is a service development in keeping with UK government policy that promotes cross agency working and access to mainstream mental health services for people with intellectual disabilities. We aimed to show whether the service model brought about improvements in people’s mental state and level of functioning.Method  Community and inpatient groups were compared across three time points using a range of clinical outcome measures that assessed psychiatric symptoms, risk, needs and level of functioning.Results  Inpatients and community groups had similar mental health problems, but inpatients had higher unmet needs and lower functioning, and were at greater risk. There were significant improvements across the range of outcome measures in both groups.Conclusions  Working with mainstream mental health services and across health and social service boundaries delivers effective mental health care for people with intellectual disabilities.
Psychopathology in tuberous sclerosis: an overview and findings in a population‐based sample of adults with tuberous sclerosis
Authors: Raznahan A. , Joinson C. , O’Callaghan F. , Osborne J. P. , Bolton P. F. 
Published: July 2006

AbstractBackground Tuberous sclerosis (TS) is a multi‐ system disorder with complex genetics. The neurodevelopmental manifestations of TS are responsible for considerable morbidity. The prevalence of epilepsy and intellectual disabilities among individuals with TS have been well described. Ours is the first study that explores the prevalence and pattern of psychopathology in a population‐based sample of adults with TS.Methods Sixty subjects were identified through a capture–recapture analysis of TS. Information was gathered as to seizure history, cognitive functioning (WISC‐III) and psychopathology (SADS‐L, SAPPA). Lifetime psychopathology was categorized according to Research Diagnostic Criteria. The overall pattern of mental illness (MI) was examined as well as how this varied with IQ and seizure history.Results Twenty‐four (40.0%) subjects had a history of MI. The most common diagnosis was that of an affective disorder [18 (30.0%)], the majority of which were major depressive episodes. Alcoholism [4 (6.7%)] and anxiety disorders [3 (5.0%)] were the next most common diagnoses. Two (3.3%) subjects had had a tic disorder. Only one individual had a diagnosis of schizophrenia. MI was found in 75.0% of those with a history of epilepsy and 37.5% of those without epilepsy. MI was significantly more prevalent in those with a full‐scale IQ above 70.Conclusions A significant proportion of adult with TS experience MI. MI was significantly less prevalent in subjects with a full‐scale IQ above 70. Reasons for such a finding are explored, and related methodological considerations for future research outlined.
Psychiatric co‐morbidity and gender differences in intellectual disability
Authors: Tsakanikos E. , Bouras N. , Sturmey P. , Holt G. 
Published: July 2006

AbstractBackground  Although gender differences in psychopathology among the general psychiatric population appear to be well documented, such differences have been either ignored or inconsistently investigated among people with intellectual disability (ID).Methods  The study examined psychiatric co‐ morbidity in 295 men and 295 women with ID and significant social impairments living in community settings. The sample was drawn from consecutive clinical referrals to a specialist mental heath service of South‐East London. Psychiatric diagnoses were based on ICD‐10 criteria.Results  Personality disorder was more common among men, although dementia and adjustment reaction were more common among women. There were also gender differences in marital status, with a larger percentage of women being either married or in a stable relationship. Gender differences in the source of referral were also observed, with more women being referred through primary care and more men being referred through generic mental health services.Conclusions  Female patients seem to have at some extent different mental health needs from male patients. Such differences should be taken into account in the design and delivery of clinical service for people with ID.
Mental health and intellectual disability: culture and diversity
Authors: Littlewood R. 
Published: July 2006

AbstractBackground  Compared with that in mental illness, cultural variation in popular conceptualisations of intellectual disability has been rarely addressed.Methods  A survey of the relevant literature was conducted.Results and Conclusion  Preliminous conclusions are that local conceptualisation does not lead to invariant social response, but that intellectual disability is generally distinguished from mental illness.
Serum and cerebral spinal fluid levels of chemokines and Th2 cytokines in Schistosoma mansoni myeloradiculopathy
Authors: SOUSA‐PEREIRA S. R. , TEIXEIRA A. L. , SILVA L. C. S. , SOUZA A. L. S. , ANTUNES C. M. , TEIXEIRA M. M. , LAMBERTUCCI J. R. 
Published: July 2006

SUMMARY Schistosomal myeloradiculopathy (SMR) is the most common neurological form of Schistosoma mansoni infection. In this study we investigated the expression of chemokines and Th2 cytokines in serum and cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) of SMR patients. SMR patients presented increased serum levels of CCL11/eotaxin and CCL24/eotaxin‐2 when compared to controls. SMR patients also had higher levels of IL‐13 in CSF. Thus, SMR patients present enhancement of both IL‐13 and CCR3 acting chemokines, both of which may facilitate the expression of a Th2 response and Th2‐dependent damage to the spinal cord. As this cytokine is responsible for promoting Th2 responses, this finding is in accordance to the view that Th2 cells are important in the immunological process against the S. mansoni.
Immune reconstitution disease associated with parasitic infections following antiretroviral treatment
Authors: LAWN S. D. , WILKINSON R. J. 
Published: July 2006

SUMMARY HIV‐associated immune reconstitution disease (IRD) is the clinical presentation or deterioration of opportunistic infections that results from enhancement of pathogen‐specific immune responses among patients responding to antiretroviral treatment (ART). The vast majority of reported cases of IRD have been associated with mycobacterial, chronic viral and invasive fungal infections; such cases result from dysregulated augmentation of cell‐mediated type 1 cytokine‐secreting host immune responses. However, the spectrum of infections now recognized as associated with IRD is expanding and includes a number of parasitic infections, which may be mediated by different immunopathological mechanisms. These include leishmaniasis (visceral, cutaneous, mucosal and post kala azar dermal leishmaniasis), schistosomiasis and strongyloidiasis. Since the major burden of HIV lies in resource‐limited countries where access to ART is now rapidly expanding, increased awareness and knowledge of these phenomena is important. Here we review the clinical spectrum and pathogenesis of IRD associated with parasitic infections.
T‐cell Control of IL‐12p75 Production
Authors: Abdi K. , Singh N. , Matzinger P. 
Published: July 2006

AbstractIt is currently thought that IL‐12, produced by dendritic cells (DC) early after stimulation by bacterial pathogens or lipopolysaccharide (LPS), acts as a pro‐inflammatory cytokine bridging the innate and adaptive immune responses. We found, however, that it is only the p40 subunit and not the IL‐12p75 heterodimer that is secreted early in copious amounts in response to LPS. Neither naïve T cells, nor a variety of microbial products, were able to induce IL‐12p75 production unless the DC were conditioned by the presence of interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ) or by encounter with previously activated T cells. The inability of naïve T cells or of bacterial products to induce IL‐12 argues against its early role as the initiator of innate and adaptive immune responses.
A Three‐cell Model for Activation of Naïve T Helper Cells
Authors: Corthay A. 
Published: July 2006

AbstractIt is generally assumed that the activation of naïve T helper (Th) cells is the result of a two‐cell interaction between the Th cell and a dendritic cell (DC) and that three signals are required. Signal one or stimulation is the recognition by the T‐cell receptor (TCR) of antigenic peptides presented by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules. Signal two or co‐stimulation is mainly provided by the triggering of CD28 on the T cell by CD80 and CD86 molecules on the DC. Signal three or polarization directs T‐cell differentiation into various effector phenotypes such as Th1 and Th2. Both signals, two and three, are often assumed to result from the binding of microbial products or endogenous molecular danger signals to germline‐encoded receptors such as toll‐like receptors (TLR) on the DC. However, recent data challenge this two‐cell model by revealing that Th1 polarization requires the presence of interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ) provided by a third cell. I propose here a three‐cell model for naïve Th‐cell activation. In this model, delivery of signal three by the DC is dependent on help provided by other innate immune cells such as NK cells, NK T cells, γδ T cells, mast cells, eosinophils and basophils. The rationale behind this model is that the innate immune system has been designed by evolution to select an appropriate class of immune response to protect the host.
Mapping indicators of sexually transmitted infection services in the South African public health sector
Authors: Kleinschmidt Immo , Ramkissoon Arthi , Morris Natashia , Mabude Zonke , Curtis Bronwyn , Beksinska Mags 
Published: July 2006

SummaryBackground  Prevention and early treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is a high public health priority in South Africa. In 2002 a national survey of public health care (PHC) facilities was conducted to develop measurable indicators for monitoring and evaluation of the National STI programme. In this paper we present maps of key indicators obtained from the survey, and discuss their programmatic implications. We also address some methodological issues that arise in the context of producing appropriate maps.Methods  A national sample, stratified by subdistrict/municipality, of 962 PHC facilities was randomly selected. In each facility the senior nurse was telephonically contacted and interviewed to answer questions related to the implementation of STI prevention and management from a structured questionnaire. Responses were validated through a second phone call, and inconsistencies recorded. The following key variables were mapped: stock‐outs of drugs and condoms, knowledge of correct treatment procedures, consistent record keeping, number of STI clients seen per month per 1000 adult population, number of condoms distributed per adult male, and number of trained nurses per 1000 population. Using conditional autoregressive models and Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) simulation, smoothed subdistrict level clinic responses were computed and 95% confidence limits estimated.Results and Discussion  Drug stock‐outs were reported by 13% [95% CI 10–15%] and condom stock‐outs were reported by 4% [95% CI 2–5%] of facilities. Underlying geographical patterns of risk were more clearly observed when maps had been smoothed and were not dominated by sampling error. Smoothed maps show that there is a finite, low risk of drug stock‐outs in all areas with higher risk regions more clearly identified. The maps of indicators of STI services at PHC facilities show that there are important differences in quality of service within South Africa and underscore the usefulness of facility level routine data both for local programme monitoring and planning and for providing a national ‘bird's eye view’ of programme performance.Keywords  sexually transmitted infectionsclinic servicessurveysmapsautoregressive models
Serotype and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae causing invasive disease in The Gambia 1996–2003
Authors: Adegbola Richard A. , Hill Philip C. , Secka Ousman , Ikumapayi Usman N. , Lahai George , Greenwood Brian M. , Corrah Tumani 
Published: July 2006

SummaryObjectives  To describe the characteristics of pneumococcal isolates obtained from patients with invasive pneumococcal disease in The Gambia.Methods  Pneumococcal isolates were obtained from children aged ≤6 years with invasive pneumococcal disease during a Haemophilus influenzae vaccine effectiveness study (1997–2002) and from patients with invasive pneumococcal disease admitted to the MRC hospital, Fajara, for routine care (1996–2003). Isolates were identified, serotyped and tested for antibiotic susceptibility.Results  Five hundred and thirty one pneumococcal isolates were obtained from 518 patients; 55 (10.6%) patients died; 415 isolates (79%) were from blood culture, 84 (16%) from CSF, and 42 (8%) from lung aspirates. Forty serogroups and serotypes were identified; six accounted for 64% and 16 for 86% of all episodes; 33.7% were of serotypes 1 and 5. 23.5% were of a 7‐valent vaccine serotype, 57.1% were of a 9‐valent vaccine serotype; 56% were of a 7‐valent serogroup and 78% were of a 9‐valent serogroup. There was a significant increase in the proportion of isolates of non‐vaccine serogroup with increasing age (P < 0.0001). Antibiotic resistance had not significantly increased over time; but intermediate non‐susceptibility to penicillin had risen and resistance to chloramphenicol had fallen in isolates of vaccine serotype compared with those of non‐vaccine serotype.Conclusions  The majority of invasive pneumococcal disease in The Gambia is caused by pneumococci of relatively few serogroups. A conjugate vaccine would be expected to reduce the pneumococcal disease burden substantially and to have a beneficial effect on pneumococcal antibiotic resistance to penicillins.
Effects of climate and different management strategies on Aedes aegypti breeding sites: a longitudinal survey in Brasília (DF, Brazil)
Authors: Favier Charly , Degallier Nicolas , Ribeiro Vilarinhos Paulo de Tarso , De Carvalho Maria do Socorro Laurentino , Cavalcanti Yoshizawa Maria Amelia , Britto Knox Monique 
Published: July 2006

SummaryObjective  To determine the influence of climate and of environmental vector control with or without insecticide on Aedes aegypti larval indices and pupae density.Methods  An 18‐month longitudinal survey of infestation of Ae. aegypti immature stages was conducted for the 1015 residences (premises) of Vila Planalto, an area of Brasilia where the Breteau Index was about 40 before the study. This area was divided into five zones: a control zone with environmental management alone and four zones with insecticide treatment (methoprene, Bti, temephos). We tested for significant differences between infestation levels in the control and insecticide‐treated areas, for relationships between climatic variables and larval indices, and to determine risk factors of infestation for certain types of premises and containers.Results  Environmental vector control strategies dramatically decreased infestation in the five areas. No significant differences could be detected between control strategies with insecticide and without. Some premises and container types were particularly suitable for breeding. The influence of climate on the emergence of Ae. aegypti adults for the area is described.Conclusion  In a moderately infested area such as Brasilia, insecticides do not improve environmental vector control. Rather, infestations could be further reduced by focusing on residences and containers particularly at risk. The nature of the link between climate and larval population should be investigated in larger‐scale studies before being used in forecasting models.Keywords  Aedes aegypti management strategieslongitudinal surveybreeding siteslarval Stegomyia indicespupae
Low efficacy of the combination artesunate plus amodiaquine for uncomplicated falciparum malaria among children under 5 years in Kailahun, Sierra Leone
Authors: Grandesso Francesco , Hagerman Andres , Kamara Sarian , Lam Eva , Checchi Francesco , Balkan Suna , Scollo Giuseppe , Durand Rémy , Guthmann Jean‐Paul 
Published: July 2006

SummaryObjective  In 2004, Sierra Leone adopted artesunate plus amodiaquine as first‐line antimalarial treatment. We evaluated the efficacy of this combination in Kailahun, where a previous study had shown 70.2% efficacy of amodiaquine in monotherapy.Methods  Method and outcome classification of the study complied with WHO guidelines. Children 6–59 months with uncomplicated malaria were followed‐up for 28 days. PCR genotyping was used to distinguish recrudescence from reinfection. Reinfections were reclassified as cured.Results  Of 172 children who were referred to the study clinic, 126 satisfied inclusion criteria and were enrolled. No early treatment failures were reported. The day 14, efficacy was 98.2% (95% CI: 93.8–99.8). Of 65 recurrent parasitaemias analysed by PCR, 17 were recrudescences. The PCR‐adjusted day 28 efficacy was 84.5% (95% CI: 76.4–90.7). All true failures occurred in the last 8 days of follow‐up. Of 110 children who completed the 28‐day follow‐up, 54 (49.1%) experienced a novel infection.Conclusion  The efficacy of this combination was disappointing. The high reinfection rate suggested little prophylactic effect. In Kailahun a more efficacious combination might be necessary in the future. The efficacy of AS + AQ needs to be monitored in Kailahun and in the other regions of Sierra Leone.
Variation in reproductive characteristics of Eupatorium adenophorum populations in different habitats
Authors: YU X‐J , MA K‐P 
Published: July 2006

SummaryThe invasive plant, Eupatorium adenophorum, produces large numbers of small seeds with a high germination rate. However, this investigation showed that E. adenophorum populations in an evergreen broad‐leaved forest had a high proportion of seedlings when compared with clonal plants. Whereas an opposite pattern was found in a deciduous broad‐leaved forest and in a roadside site. A seed addition experiment where E. adenophorum seeds were added to each of the three habitats did not increase the number of E. adenophorum seedlings at any of the three field sites. Field and greenhouse experiments demonstrated that a soil litter layer significantly reduced the number of E. adenophorum seedlings during the early seedling emergence period. However, at later periods, the litter cover did not affect survival and growth of individuals. The emergence of E. adenophorum seedlings was significantly increased in field experiments when there was no litter, and parental plants were removed. Finally, the growth of seedlings was significantly reduced when planted with their parental plants in a root box experiment. In the low‐resource environment of the evergreen broad‐leaved forest, E. adenophorum reproduced primarily by its abundant seed production. In the more open deciduous broad‐leaved forest and roadside site, the populations reproduce primarily by vegetative clones that can grow quickly, are better competitors and could take advantage of the high‐resource environment.
Herbicidal potential of allelochemicals from Lantana camara against Eichhornia crassipes and the alga Microcystis aeruginosa
Authors: KONG C H , WANG P , ZHANG C X , ZHANG M X , HU F 
Published: July 2006

SummaryIn the field, the growth of the aquatic weed Eichhornia crassipes and the alga Microcystis aeruginosa may be inhibited by fallen leaves of Lantana camara. This study showed that extracts of L. camara leaves and their fractions reduced the biomass of E. crassipes and M. aeruginosa within 7 days under laboratory conditions. Two fractions with highly inhibitory activity from the extract were isolated and subsequently identified as the pentacyclic triterpenoids, lantadene A and lantadene B. Both compounds significantly inhibited E. crassipes and M. aeruginosa growth, even at a low concentration. At all concentrations tested, their inhibitory activities were much higher than that of salicylic acid, a putative allelochemical from L. camara. The results indicated that the predominant allelochemicals involved in L. camara against either E. crassipes or M. aeruginosa are not phenolic acids, but lantadene A and lantadene B. Field trials showed that released levels of lantadene A and lantadene B were significantly correlated with amounts and decomposition periods of L. camara leaves floated in water. The amount released from 5 kg L. camara leaves was over the inhibition threshold of both E. crassipes and M. aeruginosa and reached a maximum at days 15–20. This study suggested that allelochemicals of L. camara could potentially be used to improve the management of weeds and algae in aquatic systems.
Action of two herbicides on the microbial activity of soil cultivated with common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) in conventional‐till and no‐till systems
Authors: SANTOS J B , JAKELAITIS A , SILVA A A , COSTA M D , MANABE A , SILVA M C S 
Published: July 2006

SummaryThe effects of application of the herbicides fluazifop‐p‐butyl and fomesafen and the commercial mixture of these herbicides on the microbial activity of a soil, cultivated with common bean under no‐till (NTS) and conventional‐till (CTS) systems, were evaluated. Microbial respiration was monitored for 63 days after application (DAA) of the herbicides, and the following evaluated at 12 and 51 DAA: microbial biomass carbon (MBC), microbial quotient (qMIC), metabolic quotient (qCO2), percentage of bean root colonisation by mycorrhizal fungi and grain yield at the end of the cycle. A greater microbial respiratory rate was observed under NTS, with fluazifop‐p‐butyl providing the lowest respiration. At 12 DAA, MBC andqMIC were most affected negatively by fomesafen and by the commercial mixture of the two herbicides. Mycorrhizal colonisation was affected by the herbicides only at 12 DAA under CTS; however, in both periods, the highest value was found under NTS. All the herbicides caused a decrease in the MBC andqMIC values at 51 DAA; theqCO2, which is related to the soil system stability, indicated a greater NTS balance over CTS. The herbicide fomesafen induced lower stability in the system. Lower grain yield was obtained without weed control (no herbicides) and with fomesafen‐only treatments, which may be attributed to the high weed infestation in the experimental area.
Genome‐wide microarray analysis of the effect of a surfactant application in Arabidopsis
Authors: MADHOU P , RAGHAVAN C , WELLS A , STEVENSON T W 
Published: July 2006

SummaryHerbicides provide growers with the means to chemically manage weeds; surfactants are often an effective way of improving the performance of these herbicides. However, the mode of action of surfactants at the molecular level is not well understood. As a preliminary step towards understanding the molecular mechanism of action of an etheramine surfactant, plant gene expression in response to foliar application of surfactant NUL1026 was analysed in Arabidopsis thaliana, using the commercially available Affymetrix ATH1‐121501 chip. One hundred and ninety‐six genes were found to be significantly altered 1 h after plants were treated with 0.2% (V/V) of surfactant NUL1026. Functional category analysis of these genes revealed that the largest categories included metabolism, physiological processes, transport, protein metabolism, response to stimulus and transcription. A number of genes encoding detoxification proteins, such as cytochrome P450, glutathione S‐transferase and members of the multidrug‐resistance associated proteins, were upregulated. Interestingly, microarray results showed a number of genes encoding enzymes involved in the jasmonic acid biosynthesis pathway and also the 1‐aminocyclopropane‐1‐carboxylate synthase gene for ethylene production were upregulated, indicating that treatment with surfactant NUL1026 affects the expression of a number of genes involved in the detoxification and signalling pathways.