bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Radiographic outcome of surgical treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis in males versus females
Authors: Ameri Ebrahim , Behtash Hamid , Mobini Bahram , Omidi-Kashani Farzad , Momeni Behnam 
Published: September 2008

Abstract

Background
Studies on adolescent idiopathic scoliosis have well documented the differences between natural history of male and female patients. There are also differences in responses to nonoperative treatment, but the results of operative treatment in male patients compared with females have not been widely reported. Only few studies had compared the outcomes of operative treatment between male and female patients with different results.

Methods
We retrospectively reviewed the outcome of 150 (112 girls and 38 boys) consecutive patients with diagnosis of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis who were managed surgically between May 1996 and September 2005. Next, male radiographic parameters were compared with female ones pre- and postoperatively. Then, a subgroup of 38 matched girls was compared regarding the age, curve type, curve magnitude, and the instrumentation we used.

Results
In comparing male patients with unmatched girls, the boys had greater mean age (17.3 ± 2.3 vs. 16.3 ± 2.9; p = 0.049), greater primary curve (71.4 ± 21.3° vs. 62.7 ± 17.5°; p = 0.013), less flexibility (30.1 ± 13.5% vs. 40.3 ± 17.8%; p = 0.01), and less correction percentage (51.3 ± 12.9% vs. 58.8 ± 16.5%; p = 0/013). The loss of correction was comparable between the two groups. In the matched comparison, the flexibility in boys was less than girls (30.1 ± 13.5% vs. 38.1 ± 17.5%; p = 0.027). Also, the boys had a smaller correction percentage compared to the girls, but this finding was not statistically significant.

Conclusion
There was similar distribution curve pattern between male and female patients with AIS. Males had more rigid primary curves compared to females but a similar degree of postoperative scoliosis correction. Male AIS patients were older at the time of surgery. These preoperative gender differences, however; did not compromise the radiological outcomes of surgical treatment and the results were comparable between the genders.
Evaluation of Patient Navigation in a Community Radiation Oncology Center Involved in Disparities Studies: A Time-to- Completion-of-Treatment Study
Authors: Schwaderer Karen A. , Proctor Julian W. , Martz Elaine F. , Slack Robert J. , Ricci Edmund 
Published: September 2008

Purpose: To evaluate whether data on length of time from patient referral to treatment completion, collected routinely as part of a quality improvement program, can be used to measure the effectiveness of a patient navigator program. Patients and Methods: During a calendar year, 72 disparities patients, 38 of whom received navigator services, and a group of 157 nondisparate, un-navigated patients received external beam radiation therapy at a community center. Data from referral time through completion of treatment, which had been collected routinely under an existing continuous quality improvement program, were compared retrospectively, as well as missed treatments and the percentage of planned treatments completed, for three patient groups. Results: The average number of days from referral to consult and from consult to start of treatment were lower for the navigated disparate group (6.66 and 14.56 days, respectively) than un-navigated groups (disparate: 7.37 and 15.97 days; non-disparate: 8.97 and 16.24 days, respectively). The percentage of patients completing treatment was lower for the navigated group (85%) than the un-navigated groups (95% and 97%), despite equivalent treatment percentage completion rates for all groups (97.0% to 98.8%). The navigated group missed more treatment days (1.86 days/patient) than the un-navigated disparate group (0.47 days/patient) or the non-disparate group (0.83 days/patient.) Conclusion: Some statistically insignificant differences were noted in favor of patient navigation (PN) but the significance is unclear because of the large data spread and the small numbers of patients. Given that the study was retrospective, it is also unclear whether these differences were influenced by the patient navigator. Repeat studies using the same data elements will provide a better platform for assessing whether such data can provide a measure of the effectiveness of PN in the radiation oncology setting. Given that the patients were not observed routinely by the navigator after the start of treatment unless a particular barrier was identified, there is an opportunity to assess whether interventions by the navigator could improve treatment completion rates and reduce the number of missed treatments.
Up-Regulation of Placental Leptin by Human Chorionic Gonadotropin
Authors: Maymó Julieta L. , Pérez Pérez Antonio , Sánchez-Margalet Víctor , Dueñas José L. , Calvo Juan Carlos , Varone Cecilia L. 
Published: September 2008

Leptin, the 16,000 molecular weight protein product of the obese gene, was originally considered as an adipocyte-derived signaling molecule for the central control of metabolism. However, leptin has been suggested to be involved in other functions during pregnancy, particularly in placenta, in which it was found to be expressed. In the present work, we have found that recombinant human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) added to BeWo choriocarcinoma cell line showed a stimulatory effect on endogenous leptin expression, when analyzed by Western blot. This effect was time and dose dependent. Maximal effect was achieved at hCG 100 IU/ml. Moreover, hCG treatment enhanced leptin promoter activity up to 12.9 times, evaluated by transient transfection with a plasmid construction containing different promoter regions and the reporter gene luciferase. This effect was dose dependent and evidenced with all the promoter regions analyzed, regardless of length. Similar results were obtained with placental explants, thus indicating physiological relevance. Because hCG signal transduction usually involves cAMP signaling, this pathway was analyzed. Contrarily, we found that dibutyryl cAMP counteracted hCG effect on leptin expression. Furthermore, cotransfection with the catalytic subunit of PKA and/or the transcription factor cAMP response element binding protein repressed leptin expression. Thereafter we determined that hCG effect could be partially blocked by pharmacologic inhibition of MAPK pathway with 50 μM PD98059 but not by the inhibition of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase pathway with 0.1 μm wortmannin. Moreover, hCG treatment promoted MAPK kinase and ERK1/ERK2 phosphorylation in placental cells. Finally, cotransfection with a dominant-negative mutant of MAPK blocked the hCG-mediated activation of leptin expression. In conclusion, we provide some evidence suggesting that hCG induces leptin expression in trophoblastic cells probably involving the MAPK signal transduction pathway.Human chorionic gonadotropin induces leptin expression in trophoblastic BeWo cells and placental explants analyzed by western-blot and reporter gene strategy. This effect involves the MAPK signal transduction pathway.
Role of Aging Versus the Loss of Estrogens in the Reduction in Vascular Function in Female Rats
Authors: Stice James P. , Eiserich Jason P. , Knowlton A. A. 
Published: September 2008

Although aging is known to lead to increased vascular stiffness, the role of estrogens in the prevention of age-related changes in the vasculature remains to be elucidated. To address this, we measured vascular function in the thoracic aorta in adult and old ovariectomized (ovx) rats with and without immediate 17β-estradiol (E2) replacement. In addition, aortic mRNA and protein were analyzed for proteins known to be involved in vasorelaxation. Aging in combination with the loss of estrogens led to decreased vasorelaxation in response to acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside, indicating either smooth muscle dysfunction and/or increased fibrosis. Loss of estrogens led to increased vascular tension in response to phenylephrine, which could be partially restored by E2 replacement. Levels of endothelial nitric oxide synthase and inducible nitric oxide synthase did not differ among the groups, nor did total nitrite plus nitrate levels. Old ovx exhibited decreased expression of both the α and β-subunits of soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) and had impaired nitric oxide signaling in the vascular smooth muscle. Immediate E2 replacement in the aged ovx prevented both the impairment in vasorelaxation, and the decreased sGC receptor expression and abnormal sGC signaling within the vascular smooth muscle.
The combination of loss of estradiol and aging leads to increased constriction (phenylephrine) and decreased relaxation with nitric oxide. Reduced soluble guanylyl cyclase mediates these changes.
Impact of Epitope Specificity and Precursor Maturation in Pro-B–Type Natriuretic Peptide Measurement
Authors: Goetze Jens Peter , Dahlström Ulf , Rehfeld Jens F , Alehagen Urban 
Published: September 2008

AbstractBackground: Cardiac-derived natriuretic peptides are sensitive plasma markers of cardiac dysfunction. Recent reports have disclosed a more complex molecular heterogeneity of B-type natriuretic peptide precursor (proBNP)-derived peptides than previously suggested. In this study, we examined the impact of epitope specificity and precursor maturation on plasma measurement of proBNP-derived peptides.Methods: We compared 2 assays, N-terminal proBNP and proBNP 1–76, in a randomly collected set of human plasma specimens (n = 370). Additionally, we evaluated the clinical performance of 4 assays with different epitope specificities in a cohort of elderly patients presenting with symptoms associated with heart failure (n = 415).Results: Comparison of N-terminal proBNP with proBNP 1–76 measurement in plasma revealed a high correlation on regression analysis (r2 = 0.91, P &lt; 0.0001). Nevertheless, the proBNP 1–76 assay measured lower concentrations in the high range than the N-terminal proBNP assay. Correlations between assay measurements in a clinical setting were comparable for all the assays (r2 approximately 0.57–0.83), and ROC analyses revealed area-under-the-curve values ranging between 0.77 and 0.81 for identifying reduced left ventricular ejection fraction. In parallel, all assays displayed comparable abilities in predicting long-term mortality.Conclusions: Our results reveal marked assay differences in analytical assay comparison, contrasting the overall comparable clinical performance in cardiovascular diagnostics or prognosis in the elderly.
Engagement and Effectiveness of Parent Management Training (Incredible Years) for Solo High-Risk Mothers: A Multiple Baseline Evaluation
Authors: Lees Dianne G. , Ronan Kevin R. 
Published: September 2008

AbstractThe effectiveness ofThe Incredible Yearsparent-training program with a small sample of four high risk solo mothers in a public clinic setting was assessed. All families had a number of risk factors for early drop-out and poor outcomes. Mindful of resource limitations in the public setting, economical strategies were used to enhance attendance rates and engagement. For the outcome evaluation, a multiple baseline across participants design was used. Participants attended a 2-hour group treatment session weekly for twenty weeks, with booster sessions at 2 months and 4 months following treatment. Participants had sons aged between 6 years and 9 years diagnosed with ADHD. Family functioning was assessed from a pretreatment interview schedule, measures of child behaviour and parent and family functioning. Participants also completed program satisfaction and program evaluation measures. Results showed: (a) all mothers engaged with and finished the program, (b) improvement in family functioning, (c) improvements in some teacher and parent reports of child behaviour, (d) increased parenting confidence, (e) reduced stress and depression levels for most parent participants, and (f) reports of better parent–child relationships. Additionally, participants all reported being highly satisfied with the program. Findings overall support the use of easy to do engagement strategies and the use of theIncredibleYears parent-training program as an effective, low cost and early step intervention for families at higher risk in a day-to-day practice setting. The use of this intervention in an overall stepped care approach is considered and discussed.
Can a Theory of Mind Disruption Help Explain OCD Related Metacognitive Disturbances?
Authors: O'Kearney Richard , Nicholson Cherie 
Published: September 2008

AbstractThis study investigated whether individual differences in obsessive-compulsive symptoms and in thought–action fusion are related to theory of mind abilities. One hundred and ninety-two adult participants completed self-reports of obsessive–compulsive symptoms (OCI-R), thought–action fusion (TAF), private self-consciousness (PSC) and self-reflectiveness (SR) as mentalising abilities, and anxiety and depression. A nonintrospective method examining participants' implicit structure of their lexicon for ‘knowing’ was used to assess theory of mind. Private self-conciousness and SR added to the prediction of OCD symptoms independently of TAF and depression but did not mediate the relationship between TAF and OCD symptoms. Participants high in thought–action fusion gave a greater emphasis to the certainty dimension of the mental lexicon and placed lesser importance on the source of information dimension than those low in TAF. Our results provide preliminary evidence of a relationship between theory of mind and thought–action fusion. People disposed to thought–action fusion are more likely to make a significance judgment about ‘knowing’ based on the degree of certainty than on reference to the source of knowledge. Identifying disruptions to theory of mind abilities in OCD provides links to solid theory and evidence about metacognitive development and may help integrate cognitive processing and cognitive appraisal models of OCD.
Delay to Seek Treatment for Anxiety and Mood Disorders in an Australian Clinical Sample
Authors: Thompson Anna , Issakidis Cathy , Hunt Caroline 
Published: September 2008

AbstractEffective treatments for common anxiety and mood disorders exist, yet epidemiological studies reveal that the unmet need for treatment in the community remains high. This study investigates the significance of the initial delay to first seek professional help in this unmet need for treatment in an Australian sample. Help-seeking history was retrospectively reported by 273 new referrals to a specialist anxiety treatment clinic who had a primary diagnosis of an anxiety (78%) or mood disorder (22%). Clinical, demographic and attitudinal variables were tested as potential predictors of length of the delay. Average help-seeking delay was 8.2 years (range 0–72 years). Younger age at symptom onset and slower problem recognition were associated with delayed help-seeking, and older people were more likely to report longer delays. We conclude that delays to first seek treatment are long and contribute significantly to the unmet need for treatment for anxiety and mood disorders, and that lack of problem recognition is a significant barrier to help-seeking.
Exploring the Effectiveness of the FRIENDS Program in Reducing Anxiety Symptoms Among South African Children
Authors: Mostert Jemona , Loxton Helene 
Published: September 2008

AbstractThe prevalence of anxiety symptoms among South African children is reported to be significantly higher than in other parts of the world. The need for an effective anxiety prevention and early intervention program for use with South African children is urgently needed. The aim of the present study was therefore to determine whether the Australian FRIENDS program could effectively reduce the anxiety symptoms, as measured by the Spence Children's Anxiety scale (SCAS), among a sample of South African children from low socioeconomic background. The program evaluation employed a quasi-experimental, nonequivalent control group design that followed participants (N= 46) over a course of 10 months. Within group effects and between group effects revealed that the FRIENDS program had little statistically significant postintervention effect on the anxiety symptoms of this sample, but had significant effects in the longer term, at 4 months and 6 months follow-up. The implications of these results for the South African context are discussed.
Social Problem-Solving Skills Training for Adults With Mild Intellectual Disability: A Multiple Case Study
Authors: Anderson Gillian , Kazantzis Nikolaos 
Published: September 2008

AbstractSocial problem-solving training has been successful in improving maladaptive behaviour and problem-solving skills for individuals with intellectual disability. However, in contrast to individuals without intellectual disability there has been only one study that has examined whether social problem-solving training can improve psychological distress in individuals with intellectual disability and a psychiatric diagnosis. Three participants from a vocational community centre with mild intellectual disability, comorbid mental illness, and challenging behaviour, participated in 15 individually delivered sessions of social problem-solving training. Social problem-solving skill, behaviour, and psychological distress measures were used to assess outcome. All three participants showed improvement in social problem-solving skills, and two participants showed improvement in depression. Improvement was maintained at 4-week follow-up. The results provide preliminary evidence that social problem-solving training could be an effective intervention tool for the treatment of psychological distress in individuals with mild intellectual disability.
Extraction of galactoglucomannan from spruce wood with pressurised hot water
Authors: Song Tao , Pranovich Andrey , Sumerskiy Ivan , Holmbom Bjarne 
Published: September 2008

AbstractSapwood chips and ground wood of spruce have been extracted with pressurised pure water in an accelerated solvent extractor at temperatures from 100 to 180°C. The water extracts were freeze-dried, weighed, and analysed for carbohydrates by acid methanolysis followed by GC determination of monomeric sugars. Lignin was determined by measuring UV absorption and acetyl groups by HPLC after alkaline hydrolysis. Average molar masses of hemicelluloses in water extracts were determined by HPSEC-MALLS after filtration. Typically, approximately 70% of the total weighed extracts were composed of carbohydrates derived from hemicelluloses. Approximately 75% of the extracted carbohydrates were from galactoglucomannan (GGM). Other extracted substances were xylans, arabinogalactans, lignin and acetic acid. As much as 80–90% of the GGM in the wood, i.e., approximately 15% based on the original wood, was extracted from ground wood at 170–180°C for an extraction time of 1 h. The yields from chips were lower: approximately 60% from that of ground wood. The hemicelluloses were partly hydrolysed during the extractions at 160–180°C. Xylans and arabinogalactans were hydrolysed to a higher extent than GGM. Acetyl groups in GGM were also partly hydrolysed, which resulted in lower GGM solubility. A key factor for achieving a high yield of high-molar mass GGM is an optimised pH profile in order to minimise hydrolysis of acetyl groups and hydrolytic cleavage of GGM chains.
Simultaneous identification of independent parameters in elliptic equations — numerical studies
Authors: Hein T. , Meyer M. 
Published: September 2008

Abstract
In a model situation the problem of parallel identification of two parameters in an elliptic equation was examined. Here, coefficients were considered which are piecewise constant. In a numerical study we deal with various questions. The main focal point is on additional ill-posedness phenomena and numerical effects which are caused by the simultaneous determination of more than one coefficients in differential equations. Different known approaches for solving the underlying problem are investigated with respect to their efficiency and reliability. Moreover, the effect of noise in the given data is analyzed as well as the influence of the specific choice of the boundary conditions on the unique solvability of the identification problem.
Modulus of continuity of Nemytskii operators with application to the problem of option pricing
Authors: Krämer R. , Mathé P. 
Published: September 2008

Abstract
We introduce and analyze moduli of continuity for specific classes of Nemytskii operators on spaces of continuous functions, which are given by kernels, strictly monotone in their second argument. Such operators occur as non-linear (outer) mappings for certain problems of option pricing within the Black–Scholes model for time-dependent volatility. This nonlinear mapping can be seen to be continuous, however its convergence properties are poor. Our general results allow to bound the related moduli of continuity, both for the forward and backward non-linear mappings. In particular we explain the observed ill-conditioning of the nonlinear backward problem. The analysis uses some abstract local analysis of index functions, which may be of independent interest.
Regularization of linear ill-posed problems with noisy right hand side and noisy operator
Authors: Tautenhahn U. 
Published: September 2008

Abstract
For solving linear ill-posed problems regularization methods are required when the right hand side and the operator is with some noise. In the present paper regularized approximations are obtained by Tikhonov regularization, by regularized total least squares (RTLS) and by dual regularized total least squares (DRTLS). We discuss computational aspects and provide order optimal error bounds under two assumptions characterizing the smoothness of the unknown solution and the smoothing properties of the forward operator. The derived error bounds extend results from [S. Lu, S.V. Pereverzev, and U. Tautenhahn, Regularized total least squares: computational aspects and error bounds, Johann Radon Institute for Computational and Applied Mathematics, Report no. 2007-30, 2007.] where the above regularization methods are studied for finitely smoothing forward operators. We illustrate our theory by a special inverse heat conduction problem.
‘Do no harm’: management of craniopharyngioma
Authors: Gleeson Helena , Amin Rakesh , Maghnie Mohamad 
Published: September 2008

Craniopharyngioma management is challenging. Although histology is benign, the tumour can be clinically aggressive with local invasion and frequent recurrences. Extensive morbidity may be present at diagnosis and furthermore, occurs as a consequence of neurosurgery and radiotherapy. Hypothalamic symptoms can have a devastating effect on quality of life and may reduce life expectancy. This case highlights both the challenge of managing hyperphagia and morbid obesity and the importance of initial treatment preserving existing hypothalamic function and the need to avoid tumour recurrence and further surgery.A 11-year old boy presented with hydrocephalus secondary to a craniopharyngioma (he had visual failure and hypopituitarism but few hypothalamic symptoms). He underwent radical resection followed by radiotherapy. Following this treatment, he developed psychological and behavioural problems and hyperphagia. Weight gain in the first year (an increase from +1.4 to +3.7 s.d.) resulted in poor mobility and a fall which caused a slipped femoral epiphysis. In the next year, there was a 6-month period of unexpected weight loss (+4.2 to +3.8 s.d.) that culminated in emergency treatment for diabetic ketoacidosis secondary to severe insulin resistance. He developed a left hemiplegia, and a subsequent cerebral angiogram identified multiple stenoses of the Circle of Willis with a Moyamoya appearance secondary to radiotherapy. Weight gain has continued (+3.8 to +5.5 s.d.) so that bariatric surgery is a management option.