bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Parent‐proxy report of their children's health‐related quality of life: an analysis of 13 878 parents' reliability and validity across age subgroups using the PedsQL 4.0 Generic Core Scales
Authors: Reading Richard 
Published: August 2007

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Varni J. W.,
Limbers C. A. &
Burwinkle T. M.
(
2007
)

,
5
,
2
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DOI:10.1186/1477‐7525‐5‐2.
Background  Health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) measurement has emerged as an important health outcome in clinical trials, clinical practice improvement strategies, and healthcare services research and evaluation. While paediatric patient self‐report should be considered the standard for measuring perceived HRQOL, there are circumstances when children are too young, too cognitively impaired, too ill or fatigued to complete an HRQOL instrument, and reliable and valid parent‐proxy report instruments are needed in such cases. Further, it is typically parents' perceptions of their children's HRQOL that influences healthcare utilization. Data from the PedsQL DatabaseSM were utilized to test the reliability and validity of parent‐proxy report at the individual age subgroup level for ages 2–16 years as recommended by recent Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines.Methods  The sample analysed represents parent‐proxy report age data on 13 878 children ages 2–16 years from the PedsQL 4.0 Generic Core Scales DatabaseSM. Parents were recruited from general paediatric clinics, sub‐specialty clinics and hospitals in which their children were being seen for well‐child checks, mild acute illness or chronic illness care (n = 3,718, 26.8%), and from a State Children's Health Insurance Program in California (n = 10 160, 73.2%).Results  The percentage of missing item responses for the parent‐proxy report sample as a whole was 2.1%, supporting feasibility. The majority of the parent‐proxy report scales across the age subgroups exceeded the minimum internal consistency reliability standard of 0.70 required for group comparisons, while the total scale scores across the age subgroups approached or exceeded the reliability criterion of 0.90 recommended for analysing individual patient scale scores. Construct validity was demonstrated utilizing the known groups approach. For each PedsQL scale and summary score, across age subgroups, healthy children demonstrated a statistically significant difference in HRQOL (better HRQOL) than children with a known chronic health condition, with most effect sizes in the medium‐to‐large effect size range.Conclusion  The results demonstrate the feasibility, reliability and validity of parent‐proxy report at the individual age subgroup for ages 2–16 years. These analyses are consistent with recent FDA guidelines which require instrument development and validation testing for children and adolescents within fairly narrow age groupings and which determine the lower age limit at which reliable and valid responses across age categories are achievable. Even as paediatric patient self‐report is advocated, there remains a fundamental role for parent‐proxy report in paediatric clinical trials and health services research.
Bigger is better: implications of body size for flight ability under different light conditions and the evolution of alloethism in bumblebees
Authors: KAPUSTJANSKIJ A. , STREINZER M. , PAULUS H. F. , SPAETHE J. 
Published: August 2007

Summary

In social insects, reproductive success and survival of the colony critically depend on the colony's ability to efficiently allocate workers to the various tasks which need to be performed. In bumblebees, workers show a large variation of body size within a colony. Large workers tend to leave the nest and forage for nectar and pollen, whereas small workers stay inside the nest and fulfill nest duties. It was speculated that size‐related differences of the sensory system might contribute to alloethism found in bumblebee colonies.
In the first part, we investigated how body size determines eye morphology. We measured several eye parameters of Bombus terrestris workers and drones. In both, workers and drones, larger individuals had larger eyes with larger facet diameters, more ommatidia and larger ocelli. At similar body size, drones exhibited larger eyes and ocelli compared to workers. Due to theoretical considerations, we predict that large individuals with large eyes should be better able to operate in illumination conditions of lower intensity than small individuals, since ommatidial sensitivity is proportional to the square of facet diameter.
In the second part, we tested this prediction. In a behavioural experiment, we first caught bumblebees of various sizes in the field and then determined the lowest light intensity level at which they are just able to fly under controlled laboratory conditions. We tested workers of B. terrestris and B. pascuorum, and workers and drones of B. lapidarius. Large bumblebees were able to fly under lower light levels compared to small bees, with light intensity thresholds ranging from 1·1 to 5·5 lux.
Our results indicate that the increased light sensitivity of the visual system of large bumblebees allows them to fly under poor light conditions, for example, very early in the morning or late at dusk. This is of potential benefit to the survival of a bumblebee colony since flowers that open early in the morning usually have accumulated a relatively high amount of nectar and pollen throughout the night, and large bumblebees can utilize these resources earlier than most other bees. Thus, our findings have important implications for the understanding of the functional significance and evolution of alloethism in bumblebee colonies.
Explaining isotope trophic‐step fractionation: why herbivorous fish are different
Authors: MILL A. C. , PINNEGAR J. K. , POLUNIN N. V. C. 
Published: August 2007

Summary

An assumed constant trophic fractionation of 15N/14N between consumer and diet (usually 3·4 for diet–muscle tissue differences) allows inferences to be made about feeding interactions and trophic level in food web studies. However, considerable variability surrounds this constant, which may conceal subtle differences about the trophodynamics of consumers.
The feeding ecologies of herbivores and carnivores differ in terms of diet quality (in C : N terms) and food processing mechanisms, which may affect fractionation.
We present a new model that explores how consumer feeding rates, excretion rates and diet quality determine the 15N/14N ratios in the consumer's tissues and hence influence the magnitude of trophic fractionation.
Three herbivorous reef fish Acanthurus sohal, Zebrasoma xanthurum and Pomacentrus arabicus were chosen as study organisms. Empirical estimates of diet–tissue stable isotope fractionation were made in the field, and model parameters were derived from feeding observations and literature data.
The trophic fractionation values of A. sohal, Z. xanthurum and P. arabicus were 4·69, 4·47 and 5·25, respectively, by empirical measurement, and 4·41, 4·30 and 5·68, respectively, by model, indicating that herbivores have a higher trophic fractionation than the currently accepted value of 3·4.
The model was most sensitive to the excretion rate, which may differ between herbivores and carnivorous animals. This model is the first to determine stable isotope signatures of a consumer's diet mixture without applying a constant fractionation value.
Histological features useful in the distinction of phyllodes tumour and fibroadenoma on needle core biopsy of the breast
Authors: Lee A H S , Hodi Z , Ellis I O , Elston C W 
Published: August 2007

Aim:  To identify features useful in distinguishing phyllodes tumours from fibroadenomas on core biopsy.Methods and results:  Starting from the diagnosis made on the surgical specimen, 12 features in the previous core biopsy specimens were analysed. Thirty‐six phyllodes tumours had 44 previous core biopsy specimens, which were reported as fibroadenoma in 11 and spindle cell lesion of uncertain nature in one, and included phyllodes tumour in the differential diagnosis in 32. The lesions with a core diagnosis of fibroadenoma were excised largely because they were growing or exceeded 30 mm; review of the corresponding surgical specimen showed heterogeneous stromal cellularity. Thirty‐eight fibroadenomas had previous core biopsy specimens reported as fibroadenoma in 37, and one of which included phyllodes tumour in the differential diagnosis. The following four features were significantly more common in cores from phyllodes tumours and had a κ statistic of > 0.6 in a reproducibility study: stromal cellularity increased in at least 50% compared with typical fibroadenoma, stromal overgrowth (×10 field with no epithelium), fragmentation and adipose tissue within stroma.Conclusions:  This study describes features useful in the diagnosis of phyllodes tumour on core biopsy. Some core biopsy specimens from phyllodes tumours show features of fibroadenoma on core biopsy because of tumour heterogeneity.
Identification of serosal invasion and extramural venous invasion on review of Dukes' stage B colonic carcinomas and correlation with survival
Authors: Stewart C J R , Morris M , De Boer B , Iacopetta B 
Published: August 2007

Aims:  To determine whether serosal invasion (SI) and/or extramural venous invasion (VI) could be more frequently identified on review of Dukes' stage B colonic carcinoma resection specimens and whether the revised findings correlated with clinical outcome.Methods and results:  The original histology slides from 82 patients with Dukes' stage B colonic carcinoma were reviewed specifically to identify tumours showing SI and/or VI. All tumours were initially reported to be negative for both pathological parameters. The selected cases included 35 patients who died of carcinoma within 5 years of surgery and 47 patients with a minimum of 5‐years' postoperative survival. The review was blinded to the original histopathology reports and to clinical follow‐up data. SI and/or VI were identified in 26 cases (32%). Fourteen of 18 patients with SI, 8/12 patients with VI and all four patients with both adverse histological features died of carcinoma.Conclusions:  Review of routinely sampled and stained colonic carcinoma resection specimens increased the proportion of cases classified as positive for SI and/or VI. The revised assessment correlated with patient outcome. Reliable identification of these features may permit stratification of high‐risk patients with Dukes' stage B colonic cancer who could benefit from adjuvant treatment.
Value of elastin staining in the assessment of peritoneal implants associated with ovarian serous borderline tumours
Authors: Stewart C J R , Brennan B A , Crook M L , Russell P 
Published: August 2007

Aims:  To determine whether elastin stains aid in classifying peritoneal implants associated with ovarian serous borderline tumours (SBT).Methods and results:  The study group comprised 80 implants (nine invasive and 71 non‐invasive) from 28 patients with ovarian SBT. Elastin stains were performed using histochemical and immunohistochemical methods to demonstrate the peritoneal elastic lamina (PEL), and evaluated with regard to assessment of the subtype of implant. The elastin stains demonstrated the PEL in most anatomical sites other than the omentum and the bladder and were considered helpful in 44/80 (55%) cases. The stains were most useful in the assessment of poorly oriented or traumatized biopsy specimens and in confirming the superficial distribution of non‐invasive implants. The staining was non‐contributory in most of the remaining biopsies, because the PEL was not identified.Conclusions:  Demonstration of the PEL using elastin stains can be useful in the subclassification of implants associated with ovarian SBT and is of most value in confirming the superficial distribution of non‐invasive lesions. However, evaluation is limited by the absence of a defined elastic layer in a proportion of biopsy specimens, possibly reflecting their superficial location, as well as absence of a distinct PEL in sites such as the omentum.
Class III β‐tubulin, a marker of resistance to paclitaxel, is overexpressed in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and intraepithelial neoplasia
Authors: Lee K M , Cao D , Itami A , Pour P M , Hruban R H , Maitra A , Ouellette M M 
Published: August 2007

Aims:  Class III β‐tubulin (TUBB3) reduces microtubule stability and confers resistance to microtubule‐stabilizing taxanes, including paclitaxel and docetaxel. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas show limited responsiveness to taxanes, but little is known of the underlying mechanisms. The aim of this study was to examine TUBB3 expression in pancreatic cancer cell lines, invasive pancreatic adenocarcinoma and pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN).Methods and results:  Reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction and Western blot were used to study TUBB3 expression in pancreatic cancer cell lines. Immunohistochemistry was employed to assess TUBB3 in pancreatic cancer specimens, including 75 invasive adenocarcinomas and 41 PanIN precursor lesions. TUBB3 was undetectable in non‐neoplastic ducts of the pancreas. In contrast, the vast majority (78–93%) of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas demonstrated either diffuse or focal TUBB3 expression. TUBB3 was found to increase progressively in PanIN lesions from 3/16 of PanIN‐1 (19%), 5/17 of PanIN‐2 (29%) to 5/8 of PanIN‐3 lesions (63%).Conclusions:  TUBB3 is expressed in most pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas, possibly accounting for the suboptimal response of these tumours to microtubule‐stabilizing agents. Up‐regulation of TUBB3 in PanIN lesions suggests that microtubule dysfunction is an early feature of this disease. TUBB3 immunohistochemistry could potentially help identify pancreatic cancer patients lacking TUBB3 expression who might benefit from taxane therapy.
Distinct angiogenic and non‐angiogenic growth patterns of lung metastases from renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Sardari Nia P , Hendriks J , Friedel G , Van Schil P , Van Marck E 
Published: August 2007

Aims:  We have recently evaluated a classification of non‐small‐cell lung cancer based upon the presence of an angiogenic or a non‐angiogenic growth pattern. The aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis that lung metastases of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC) can grow without eliciting angiogenesis and give rise to the same set of growth patterns.Methods and results:  Tissue sections of 24 patients with lung metastases from clear cell RCC were analysed. Haematoxylin and eosin and reticulin staining were performed to evaluate growth pattern. Double‐labelling with antibodies to CD34 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) was performed to determine the endothelial cell proliferation fraction (ECPF) and the microvessel density (MVD). Three growth patterns were observed. In the destructive growth pattern (54%), the architecture of the lung was not preserved. In the alveolar (33%) and interstitial growth patterns (13%), the normal lung parenchyma was preserved within the metastases. MVD was higher in the destructive than in the alveolar growth pattern (P = 0.009). ECPF was higher in the destructive (mean 31.1 ± 22.7%, median 30.0) than in the alveolar growth pattern (mean 3.6 ± 2.8%, median 3.2; P = 0.005).Conclusions:  The present study demonstrates that highly angiogenic primary tumours can give rise to non‐angiogenic metastases. This type of metastasis may be resistant to antiangiogenic therapy.
Comparing the caries‐preventive effect of two fissure sealing modalities in public health care: a single application of glass ionomer and a routine resin‐based sealant programme. A randomized split‐mouth clinical trial
Authors: KERVANTO‐SEPPÄLÄ SARI , LAVONIUS EEVA , PIETILÄ ILPO , PITKÄNIEMI JANNE , MEURMAN JUKKA H. , KEROSUO EERO 
Published: August 2007

Aim.  The aim of this study was to compare the caries‐preventive effect of two types of sealant modalities and to evaluate whether the caries‐preventive effect is related to sealant retention. A hypothesis was tested in which a glass ionomer sealant, once applied to the occlusal surface, was able to protect the fissure from caries even if the sealant appeared lost at visual inspection.Design.  A 3‐year randomized split‐mouth trial evaluating two sealant modalities was performed at a public health centre in Finland. A chemically curing glass ionomer cement (GIC) and light‐curing resin‐based (RB) sealant material were applied randomly to the permanent second molars. Sealant application as a routine treatment procedure was carried out to 599 children in the age group of 12–16 years. Caries rate of the sealed teeth and sealant retention with both materials were analysed by a modified McNemar's test. The effectiveness, rate difference, and relative risk with both sealant materials were measured.Results.  The difference in caries rate between the two modalities was highly significant. When compared to the GIC sealant method, the effectiveness of RB sealant method was 74.1% and the rate difference 3.2% (95% CI 1.44%, 4.98%). The relative risk for RB‐sealed surfaces vs. GIC‐sealed surfaces of having detectable dentin caries was 0.26 (95% CI 0.12, 0.57). The retention rate of sealants was higher with RB than GIC (P < 0.001). The effectiveness of the retention rate for RB sealants was 94.8% and the rate difference 87.2% (95% CI 83.86%, 90.50%). The relative risk during the 3‐year study period of having a defective or lost RB sealant was 0.052 (95% CI 0.036, 0.075) when compared to having a defective or lost GIC sealant.Conclusion.  It is concluded that in preventing dentin caries a RB sealant programme including resealing when necessary was more effective than a single application of GIC. The original hypothesis was thus falsified.
A probiotic lozenge administered medical device and its effect on salivary mutans streptococci and lactobacilli
Authors: ÇAGLAR ESBER , KUSCU OZGUR ONDER , CILDIR SULE KAVALOGLU , KUVVETLI SENEM SELUI , SANDALLI NUKET 
Published: August 2007

Background.  Previous studies have suggested that lactobacilli‐derived probiotics in dairy products may affect oral ecology, but the effects of different delivery methods have received little attention.Aim.  The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of the probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri, delivered by a new medical device, on the levels of salivary mutans streptococci and lactobacilli in young women with high Streptococcus mutans counts.Design.  This is a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study involving 20 healthy young women (aged 20 years): 10 as subjects and 10 as controls. The study subjects (Group A) sucked the medical device containing the probiotic lozenge with L. reuteri ATCC 55730/L. reuteri ATCC PTA 5289 (1.1 × 108 CFU) once daily for 10 days, while the control subjects (Group B) received placebo medical devices without bacteria. Salivary mutans streptococci and lactobacilli were enumerated with chair‐side kits at baseline and 1 day after the final ingestion.Results.  Salivary S. mutans levels in the probiotic test group were significantly reduced, with statistical significance of reduction (P < 0.05).Conclusions.  A short‐term daily ingestion of lactobacilli‐derived probiotics delivered via medical device containing probiotic lozenge reduced the levels of salivary mutans.
Evidence for a cost of immunity when the crustacean Daphnia magna is exposed to the bacterial pathogen Pasteuria ramosa
Authors: LITTLE TOM J. , KILLICK STUART C. 
Published: August 2007

Summary

The deployment of the immune system has the obvious potential to ameliorate infection outcomes, but immune responses can also harm hosts by either damaging host tissues or monopolizing resources, leading to enhanced mortality. To gain insight into such a ‘cost of immunity’ when the crustacean Daphnia magna is challenged with the bacterium Pasteuria ramosa, we measured survivorship among hosts that resisted infection following exposure to various strains and doses of the parasite.
In the first of two experiments, these exposures were: single exposures with relatively non‐aggressive strains, double exposures with non‐aggressive strains, and exposure to aggressive strains. Mortality increased across this gradient of exposure. In a second experiment, we varied the dose of the most aggressive P. ramosa strain and found that resisting infection when a large dose was applied resulted in greater mortality than when a medium or low dose was applied.
Assuming that resistance is accomplished with an immune response, and that more aggressive parasites and/or larger doses of parasites are more immunostimulatory, these data are compatible with a cost of immunity. Indeed, in terms of survival, resisting parasites can be more harmful than infection.
Effects of reduced‐impact logging and forest physiognomy on bat populations of lowland Amazonian forest
Authors: Presley Steven J. , Willig Michael R. , Wunderle Joseph M. , Saldanha Luis Nélio 
Published: August 2007

Summary

As human population size increases, demand for natural resources will increase. Logging pressure related to increasing demands continues to threaten remote areas of Amazonian forest. A harvest protocol is required to provide renewable timber resources that meet consumer needs while minimizing negative effects on biodiversity and ecosystem services. Reduced‐impact logging (RIL) may be a viable option to achieve these goals.
Effects of RIL (18 m3 ha−1) and forest physiognomy were assessed for populations of bats from Amazonian terra firme forest in Brazil at 20–42 months postharvest.
Based on 64 512 meter‐hours of netting, 1468 bats were captured representing 47 species, 30 genera, four families and five feeding ensembles. Five species (one nectarivore and four frugivores) responded to management in a consistent manner: four were more abundant in logged forest and one was more abundant in undisturbed forest. Ten species (one nectarivore, two gleaning animalivores and seven frugivores) responded to forest physiognomy in a consistent manner: nine were more abundant in closed‐canopy sites and one was more abundant in gaps. Three species (all frugivores) exhibited idiosyncratic responses to management that were contingent on physiognomy.
Using qualitative measures (changes in status from common to rare, or from present to absent), RIL elicited negative responses from 16 species, mostly rare taxa. After accounting for differences in total number of collected individuals, control forest harboured seven to 15 more rare species than did forest subjected to RIL.
Synthesis and applications. In the short term, RIL generally did not negatively affect populations of abundant bats. In contrast, reductions in abundance or local extirpation in response to RIL generally characterized uncommon or rare species. Arrangement of RIL sites in a matrix of undisturbed forest may allow source–sink dynamics to mitigate effects of RIL on rare or sensitive species and enhance sustainability at a regional scale.