bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Seasonal variations in phytoplankton populations in Ogelube Lake, a small natural West African Lake
Authors: Nweze Nkechinyere O. 
Published: May 2006

AbstractWater samples were collected on a monthly basis at three locations along the north–south axis of the lake at 1 m depth intervals for 1 year. A sedimentation technique was used for microscopic examination of the samples. The monthly mean and seasonal phytoplankton densities were calculated. The original data were square‐root transformed, and analysis of variance performed with SPSS version 10.0. The significant treatment effects were determined using Fisher's least significance difference at the 5% probability level. The mean phytoplankton population per millilitre was very high for the entire sampling period. There was a phytoplankton bloom formation in the early rainy season, with the mean total phytoplankton population density for the rainy season (April–October) being significantly higher than that of for the dry season (November–March). A population increase was observed during the late part of the dry season to the early part of the rainy season. During the rainy season, Chlorophyceae (mostly desmids) were most abundant, followed by Cyanobacteria, Bacillariophyceae, Euglenophyceae, Dinophyceae, Cryptophyceae, Chrysophyceae and Xanthophyceae, in decreasing order of abundance. This order changed slightly in the dry season, when there was relative abundance of Bacillariophyceae over Cyanophyceae, and Dinophyceae over Euglenophyceae. The low population of Euglenophyceae indicates that the organic pollution is still low, with the predominance of desmids, indicating an oligotrophic lake condition.
Modelling natural conditions and impacts of consumptive water use and sedimentation of Lake Abaya and Lake Chamo, Ethiopia
Authors: Awulachew Seleshi Bekele 
Published: May 2006

AbstractThere is few available information regarding the water resource systems of Abaya Lake and Chamo Lake, which are found in the Southern Rift Valley Region of Ethiopia. This paper describes modelling of the water balance components of these lakes, as well as the impacts of water uses, and sediment transport and deposition in the lakes. The various parameters and data needed for the water balance model are derived on the basis of various surveys, analysis of data and modelling efforts. The watershed characteristics are derived using geographical information system, whereas the morphometry of the lakes is investigated by undertaking bathymetry surveys. The hydrometeorological components of this lake system also were investigated through the development of relevant database and information systems, by identifying regional relationships, and by a rainfall‐run‐off model. These information systems have subsequently been integrated to model the water balance of the two lakes, and simulating the in‐lake water levels. Several scenarios reflecting the natural conditions, water consumptive development possibilities, and sedimentation impacts have been investigated in this study. Based on the model simulation results, and on the computation of the life expectancies of the two lakes, it was found that sediment inflow and deposition significantly threaten their existence.
Toxic cyanobacterial blooms in a shallow, artificially mixed urban lake in Colorado, USA
Authors: Oberholster P. J. , Botha A.‐M. , Cloete T. E. 
Published: May 2006

AbstractOne of the most severe problems associated with eutrophication of urban freshwater ecosystems is the occurrence of increasingly frequent blooms of toxic cyanobacteria. Cyanotoxins might accumulate in the trophic web, producing diverse intoxication symptoms and chronic effects that are difficult to diagnose and prevent. High mortality of domestic animals and fish has been reported previously under these prevailing conditions. This study investigates the taxonomic composition of phytoplankton assemblages in Sheldon Lake during the summer of 2004, a year after the completion of a restoration project on the lake. The study analysed the physical and chemical changes caused by urban run‐off and artificial mixing, as well as the usefulness of microcystin molecular markers derived from the mcy gene cluster for the detection of toxic cyanobacterial strains in environmental samples from Sheldon Lake. This study clearly demonstrates that the artificial mixing rate alone was insufficient to cause a transition to a well‐mixed aquatic system, and that cyanobacteria remained dominant throughout the summer months. The presence of toxic cyanobacterial strains was confirmed with the use of molecular markers that detected the presence of the mcy gene cluster responsible for the production of toxin by Microcystis spp. This approach might have a great potential use in the routine analyses of urban aquatic ecosystems. It also might make toxicity monitoring more feasible, allowing for the early application of corrective actions, especially for cases such as Sheldon Lake, which is a public recreational focal point.
Characteristics of facial nerve palsy during childhood in Japan: frequency of varicella–zoster virus association
Authors: OGITA SATOKO , TERADA KIHEI , NIIZUMA TAKAHIRO , KOSAKA YASUKO , KATAOKA NAOKI 
Published: May 2006

AbstractBackground: The aim of this study was to clarify the clinical characteristics of facial nerve palsy and the frequency of varicella–zoster virus association in Japanese children, retrospectively.Methods: The subjects were 30 facial nerve palsy patients less than 15 years old, treated in the Department of Pediatrics, Kawasaki Medical School Hospital, Okayama, Japan, during the last 10 years.Results: The male/female and right/left ratios were 16/14 and 16/13, respectively. The patients included 21 cases (70%) of Bell’s palsy, four cases (13%) due to otitis media, three cases (10%) of Ramsay Hunt syndrome and two cases (7%) due to birth trauma. There were six cases of zoster sine herpete among the Bell’s palsy cases.Conclusion: Varicella–zoster virus‐associated facial palsy was found in nine (36%) of the 25 patients examined. Zoster sine herpete was more frequently encountered in children than adults. Ramsay Hunt syndrome was found in school‐age children and zoster sine herpete was often found in preschool children. The period of recovery was fast for facial nerve palsy due to acute otitis media, which occurred within 23 months of age, after myringotomy and administration of antibiotics.
Critical management in patients with severe enterovirus 71 infection
Authors: WANG JIEH‐NENG , YAO CHIH‐TA , YEH CHENG‐NAN , HUANG CHAO‐CHING , WANG SHIH‐MIN , LIU CHING‐CHUAN , WU JING‐MING 
Published: May 2006

AbstractObjective: The aim of this study was to analyze clinical details occurring in children with severe enterovirus 71 (EV71) infection and synthesize the critical care experience for patients with severe EV71 infection.Methods: A retrospective clinical, laboratory, and hemodynamic study was performed in a pediatric intensive care unit in a university hospital. From March 1998 to April 2000, seven consecutive pediatric patients with severe EV71 infection were retrospectively analyzed as the comparison group. From May 2000 to March 2003, eight consecutive patients with severe EV71 infection who had received the protocol therapy were enrolled as the study group. Detailed information about clinical treatment and pharmacological therapy was collected for comparison.Results: The clinical presentations and laboratory findings between the comparison and the study groups were not significantly different. The amount of intravenous fluid in the first 24 h was significantly higher in the comparison group (9.2 ± 5.0 vs 4.9 ± 1.3 mL/kg per h). More patients in the study group received low doses of dopamine infusion, patients in the comparison group received more epinephrine, and none of them received milrinone. The acute‐stage and long‐term survival rates were higher in the study group (100% vs 43%, 87% vs 29%).Conclusion: Early cardiopulmonary support may prevent the vicious cycle of cardiopulmonary failure and improve the clinical outcome of severe EV71 infection. Milrinone may be the ideal inotropic agent for these patients. Echocardiography, a central line, and an arterial line could be an alternate method to replace direct intracardiac hemodynamic monitoring for guiding critical management.
Serum regulated upon activation, normal T cell expressed and presumably secreted concentrations and eosinophils in respiratory syncytial virus infection
Authors: KAWASAKI YUKIHIKO , HOSOYA MITSUAKI , KANNO HIROYUKI , SUZUKI HITOSHI 
Published: May 2006

AbstractBackground: The aim of this study was to characterize respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection. To do this, the authors evaluated eosinophil counts and chemokines including regulated upon activation, normal T cell expressed and presumably secreted (RANTES) in children with RSV, adenoviral, and influenza virus infections.Methods: The authors enrolled 80 patients who had been diagnosed with acute viral respiratory infection caused by RSV, adenoviral, or influenza viruses. In total, 35 patients (Group A) had RSV infection, 18 (Group B) had adenoviral infection, and 27 (Group C) had influenza virus infection. The authors evaluated clinical manifestations, white blood cell and eosinophil counts, and serum chemokines including RANTES concentrations in the acute and recovery phases in each group.Results: In recovery phase, eosinophil counts were higher in Group A than Groups B and C. In Group A, eosinophil counts were higher in recovery phase than in the acute phase. In Group A, serum RANTES concentration was significantly higher in the recovery phase than in the acute phase (132 ± 76 pg/mL vs 52 ± 25 pg/mL, P < 0.05).Conclusion: The findings suggest that high values of RANTES in children with RSV infection may be associated with the presence of eosinophils and be an important mediator of inflammatory response.
Serum vitamin A concentrations in asthmatic children in Japan
Authors: MIZUNO YASUTAKA , FURUSHO TADASU , YOSHIDA AI , NAKAMURA HIRONORI , MATSUURA TOMOKAZU , ETO YOSHIKATSU 
Published: May 2006

AbstractBackground: Vitamin A is an essential micronutrient with important roles in immunity and maintenance of normal epithelial cell differentiation. Little information is available regarding the relationship between vitamin A concentrations and asthma despite the repair of epithelial and other structural changes being of utmost importance for the relief of symptoms and control of the disease. The authors evaluated vitamin A and vitamin E concentrations in well‐nourished children with asthma.Methods: The serum vitamin A and vitamin E concentrations were measured by high performance liquid chromatography methods. Statistical analysis was performed using the Mann–Whitney U‐test and Peason’s correlation coefficient test.Results: According to these methods, the mean serum vitamin A concentrations were significantly lower (19.41 ± 7.45 μg/dL, mean ± SD) in asthmatic children than controls (29.52 ± 11.34 μg/dL, P = 0.0001). To compare the correlation of C‐reactive protein and serum vitamin A concentrations, there was also significant difference between the two groups.Conclusion: The data suggest that there is a correlation between vitamin A deficiency and the mechanism of asthmatic response. These data support that the mechanism of hypovitaminosis A in asthmatic children may involve not only the acute phase response but also the various degrees of chronic epitherial damage of airways.
Physical and socioeconomic predictors of birthweight in Japan
Authors: TERAMOTO SATOSHI , SOEDA ATSUHIRO , HAYASHI YOSHIHIRO , URASHIMA MITSUYOSHI 
Published: May 2006

AbstractBackground: The purpose of this study was to characterize physical and socioeconomic factors associated with birthweight in Tokyo, Japan.Methods: In a cohort of obstetric outpatients from the Tokyo Metropolitan Maternity and Child Health Institute, Tokyo, and The Jikei University School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan, 553 eligible women in their third trimester of pregnancy were given a survey investigating physical and socioeconomic backgrounds.Results: Infants tended to be small for gestational age when maternal pre‐pregnancy weight was lower, and low income and female infant gender were significantly associated with a low birthweight infant. Further, birthweight compared with predicted birthweight was lower in the case of a female infant gender, low income, low maternal pre‐pregnancy weight and low parity.Conclusion: Income is a novel parameter that is associated with birthweight in Japan.
The effect of Ramadan on maternal nutrition and composition of breast milk
Authors: RAKICIOĞLU NESLIŞAH , SAMUR GÜLHAN , TOPÇU ALI , TOPÇU AYLIN AYAZ 
Published: May 2006

AbstractBackground: There are many advantages of breast milk for infants. Many factors can affect the volume and composition of breast milk. One of them is the maternal diet. The objective of this study is to determine the effect of Ramadan fasting on maternal nutrition and breast milk composition.Methods: A total of 21 breast‐feeding mothers aged between 17 and 38 years who fasted during Ramadan month and volunteered to give milk samples were surveyed. The ages of the infants were between 2 and 5 months. The study was performed during Ramadan and 2 weeks after the end of Ramadan.Results: The results showed that during Ramadan, zinc, magnesium and potassium levels in breast milk decreased significantly (P < 0.05). The mother’s weight increased approximately 1 kg after Ramadan. Changes in body mass index of the mother were not statistically significant. A significant decrease in vitamin A intake was observed after Ramadan (P < 0.05). During Ramadan, energy and most nutrient intakes except protein and vitamins A and C were found below daily recommended dietary allowances necessary for lactating women.Conclusions: Ramadan fasting had no significant effect on the macronutrient composition of the breast milk and consequently the growth of the infants. There were significant differences in some of the micronutrients such as zinc, magnesium and potassium. The nutritional status of lactating women was affected by Ramadan fasting. All of the nutrient intakes (except vitamins A, E and C) decreased during Ramadan. For these reasons, it would seem prudent to excuse lactating women from fasting during Ramadan.
Investigating thein vitroeffect of taurine on the infant lymphocytes by sister chromatid exchange
Authors: ERGUN MEHMET ALI , SOYSAL YASEMIN , KISMET EROL , AKAY CEMAL , DUNDAROZ RUSEN , ILHAN MUSTAFA N. , IMIRZALIOGLU NECAT 
Published: May 2006

AbstractBackground:Taurine (2‐aminoethane sulphonic acid) is normally present in most mammalian tissues and the most abundant free amino acid in lymphocytes. It participates in various important physiological activities including modulation of the functioning of the central nervous system, cell proliferation, viability and prevention of oxidant‐induced injury in many tissues. Its levels in human milk are very high which may be the most important difference from cow’s milk. In contrast, an inverse association between breast‐feeding and carcinogenesis in childhood or later in life has been suggested by several studies.Methods:The study group consisted of eight healthy infants. Peripheral blood was collected and lymphocytes were cultured with either Taurine or Mitomycin C (MMC). Sister chromatid exchange in lymphocytes of the infants were calculated.Results:Statistical differences were found between untreated and MMC‐treated lymphocytes, untreated and MMC plus taurine‐treated lymphocytes, and between MMC and MMC plus taurine‐treated lymphocytes (P = 0.012).Conclusion:The results indicated that taurine plays a protective role in MMC‐induced sister chromatid exchange in human lymphocytes. The authors suggest that the high levels of taurine found in human milk may induce protecting effects from breast‐feeding against DNA damage and malignancy.
Comparison of direct radionuclide cystography and voiding cystourethrography in detecting vesicoureteral reflux
Authors: UNVER TAMER , ALPAY HARIKA , BIYIKLI NESE KARAASLAN , ONES TUNC 
Published: May 2006

AbstractBackground: Fluoroscopic voiding cystourethrography (VCUG) is a widely used imaging test for the diagnosis of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR). However, high gonadal radiation and intermittent imaging are the main disadvantages of VCUG. Direct radionuclide cystography (DRC) has been advocated for the detection of VUR with increased sensitivity and low radiation doses, however, having the disadvantage of providing less anatomical details for urethral evaluation. In this study, DRC has been compared with standard fluoroscopic VCUG for detection of VUR.Methods: A total of 41 children (82 kidney ureter units, KUU) aged 1 month–126 months (median, 15 months) were studied sequentially using DRC and VCUG. The indications of VUR studied were urinary tract infection in 29 children, VUR follow up in eight children and antenatal dilatation history in four children.Results: A total of 18 refluxing ureters were detected by DRC, 22 refluxing ureters by VCUG and 14 refluxing ureters by both methods. The two methods were concordant for the detection and exclusion of VUR in 85% of KUU. VUR was missed by VCUG in four KUU (three severe, one mild) whereas VUR was missed by DRC in eight KUU (four grade I, four grade III).Conclusions: There was a good correlation between DRC and VCUG in the evaluation of VUR. DRC provides continuous monitoring and low gonadal radiation exposure. DRC can be used in the diagnosis of VUR as an alternative to VCUG in selected cases.
Spot urinary creatinine excretion in pervasive developmental disorders
Authors: WHITELEY PAUL , WARING ROSEMARY , WILLIAMS LEE , KLOVRZA LIBUSE , NOLAN FRANCES , SMITH SUSAN , FARROW MALCOLM , DODOU KALLIOPI , LOUGH W. JOHN , SHATTOCK PAUL 
Published: May 2006

AbstractBackground: Excretion of creatinine in urine represents the end‐point of endogenous energy transfer from stored adenosine triphosphate in skeletal and cardiac muscle. Measurement of urinary creatinine is commonly used to correct for total urine concentration. Various quantitative measures of compounds suspected to be either pathological to, or indicative of, possible therapeutic interventions for Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD) have relied extensively on spot creatinine as a ratio quantity, although this important metabolite has not been exclusively studied within this population.Methods: Levels of urinary creatinine in spot urine samples were analyzed for a group of children diagnosed with PDD (n = 24; median age, 75 months; range, 39–137 months) and a control group (n = 50; median age, 109 months; range, 59–140 months). Diagnosis of PDD was confirmed using the Autism Diagnostic Interview–Revised. Samples were collected and analyzed blind for creatinine content using an improved Jaffe’s reaction method.Results: Controlling for sample pH and body mass index, a significant decrease in urinary creatinine concentration was found in the PDD group compared to controls using a Mann–Whitney two‐tailed ranks test (P = 0.001).Conclusion: Further studies of protein catabolism and renal function in autism are required to ascertain the relevance of decreased spot urinary creatinine excretion identified in this preliminary study. Issues regarding the use of single urine creatinine measurements and associated confounding variables are discussed in light of the findings, together with recommendations to use other internal or external standards for the quantification of urinary compounds in PDD research.
Prenatal diagnosis of agenesis of corpus callosum: what is the neurodevelopmental outcome?
Authors: FRANCESCO PISANI , MARIA‐EDGARDA BIANCHI , GIOVANNI PIANTELLI , DANDOLO GRAMELLINI , GIULIO BEVILACQUA 
Published: May 2006

AbstractBackground:Corpus callosum is the largest cerebral commissure that connects neocortical areas. Agenesis of corpus callosum (ACC) can be partial or complete, isolated or associated with other malformations. Its prenatal diagnosis creates problems within parental counselling due to its uncertain prognosis. The aim of this study was to correlate the neurodevelopmental outcome with both the clinical picture and the neuroradiological features, in order to improve prenatal parental counselling in a group of nine children with ACC, prenatally diagnosed by ultrasound and then confirmed by postnatal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).Methods:In all patients, cerebral ultrasound scans, electroencephalogram (EEG) examinations, cerebral MRI, cytogenetic analysis, general physical evaluation, neurological examination and neuropsychological assessment (Griffiths Scale, Wechsler Primary and Preschool Scale of Intelligence, Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children) were carried out.Results:In six patients the callosal agenesis was isolated, while in 3/9 it was associated with other cerebral malformations. Children with isolated callosal agenesis were asymptomatic or presented a mild hypotonia and the EEG was normal in five of them. All children with other associated brain malformations presented epilepsy, poor psychomotor development and cerebral palsy.Conclusion:The prenatal suspicion of ACC needs an accurate diagnostic approach, in order to well determine its isolated or associated nature, linked to different neurodevelopmental outcome.
Evaluation of cardiac reserved function by high‐dose dobutamine‐stress echocardiography in asymptomatic anthracycline‐treated survivors of childhood cancer
Authors: HAMADA HISAMITSU , OHKUBO TAKASHI , MAEDA MIHO , OGAWA SHUNICHI 
Published: May 2006

AbstractBackground: The aim of this study was to evaluate cardiac function and cardiac reserved function in asymptomatic anthracycline‐treated long‐time survivors of childhood cancer using dobutamine (DOB) stress echocardiography.Methods: A total of 26 patients (19 males and 7 females) were divided into four groups according to cumulative dose of anthracycline (ATC): non‐anthracycline group (N group), seven cases; low anthracycline cumulative dose group (L group), five cases (≤200 mg/m2); medium anthracycline cumulative dose group (M group), seven cases (200–<400 mg/m2); high anthracycline group (H group), seven cases (≥400 mg/m2). DOB infusion was begun at 5 μg/kg per min (γ) and increased up to 30γ. Cardiac function and cardiac reserved function at rest, after low‐dose and high‐dose DOB stress, were estimated.Results: In the H group, % left ventricular posterior wall thickening (%PWT) at rest and ratio of maximum early filling peak velocity (E) and atrial contraction peak velocity (A) from the left ventricular transmitral flow wave (E/A) and %PWT at DOB 5γ stress were significantly lower than in other groups (P < 0.05). After DOB 30γ stress in groups given >200 mg/m2 end‐systolic wall stress was significantly higher and E/A and %PWT were significantly lower than those of other groups (P < 0.05). ATC cumulative dose strongly correlated with %PWT after DOB 30γ stress (P < 0.001).Conclusions: Subclinical ATC cardiotoxicity was detected by high‐dose DOB stress echocardiography at lower cumulative doses than with other methods. %PWT appears to be a useful index for detection of ATC cardiotoxicity.