bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Risk factors associated with obesity in children of different racial backgrounds
Authors: Urrutia-Rojas Ximena , Ahmad Naveed , Bayona Manuel , Bae Sejong , Rivers Patrick A. , Singh Karan P. 
Published: May 2008

Objective The purpose of this study is to determine specific risk factors associated with obesity among African American, Hispanic and Caucasian children. Design This is a cross-sectional study conducted on 1076 fifth grade children from 17 elementary schools at Fort Worth, Texas. Data were collected through questionnaires and physical assessments performed at schools. Crude and adjusted odds ratios were determined for the risk factors of obesity in each ethnic group. Results More African American (32.8 per cent) and Hispanic (31.9 per cent) children were overweight compared to Caucasians (23.5 per cent). A specific risk factor seen in the African American children was the frequent use of sweets and sugar-sweetened drinks, which increased the odds of obesity nearly three-fold. In the Caucasian children, the odds of obesity increased over two-fold as a result of frequent consumption of snacks with a high fat content. In Hispanic children, specific risk factors included physical inactivity and frequent consumption of multiple servings of fruit, which increased the odds of obesity approximately two-fold and 68 per cent, respectively. Although eating more fruits is usually considered a healthy behaviour, excessive fruit consumption appears to increase the likelihood of obesity among Hispanic children in this sample. Conclusion Risk factors associated with obesity are different in children of different ethnic backgrounds. Knowledge of these differences in risk factors may help design better targeted prevention approaches.
Stage-specific gene expression during urediniospore germination in Puccinia striiformis f. sp tritici
Authors: Zhang Yonghong , Qu Zhipeng , Zheng Wenming , Liu Bo , Wang Xiaojie , Xue Xiaodan , Xu Liangsheng , Huang Lili , Han Qingmei , Zhao Jie , Kang Zhensheng 
Published: May 2008

AbstractBackgroundPuccinia striiformisf. sp.triticiis an obligate biotrophic pathogen that causes leaf stripe rust on wheat. Although it is critical to understand molecular mechanisms of pathogenesis in the wheat stripe rust fungus for developing novel disease management strategies, little is known about its genome and gene functions due to difficulties in molecular studies with this important pathogen. To identify genes expressed during early infection stages, in this study we constructed a cDNA library with RNA isolated from urediniospores ofP. striiformisf. sp.triticigerminated for 10 h.ResultsA total of 4798 ESTs were sequenced from the germinated urediniospore library and assembled into 315 contigs and 803 singletons. About 23.9% and 13.3% of the resulting 1118 unisequences were homologous to functionally characterized proteins and hypothetical proteins, respectively. The rest 62.8% unisequences had no significant homologs in GenBank. Several of these ESTs shared significant homology with known fungal pathogenicity or virulence factors, such as HESP767 of the flax rust andPMK1,GAS1, andGAS2of the rice blast fungus. We selected six ESTs (Ps28, Ps85, Ps87, Ps259, Ps261, and Ps159) for assaying their expression patterns during urediniospore germination and wheat infection by quantitative real-time PCR. All of them had the highest transcript level in germinated urediniospores and a much less transcript level in un-germinated urediniospores and infected wheat tissues (1–7 dpi). The transcript level of Ps159 increased at later infection stages (6–7 dpi). Our data indicated that these genes were highly expressed in germinated urediniospores and may play important roles in fungal-plant interactions during early infection stages in the wheat stripe rust fungus.ConclusionGenes expressed in germinated urediniospores ofP. striiformisf. sp.triticiwere identified by EST analysis. Six of them were confirmed by quantitative real-time PCR assays to be highly expressed in germinated urediniospores.
Quantitative correlation between promoter methylation and messenger RNA levels of the reduced folate carrier
Authors: Yang Rui , Li Wei-Wei , Hoang Bang H , Kim Hansoo , Banerjee Debabrata , Kheradpour Albert , Healey John H , Meyers Paul A , Bertino Joseph R , Gorlick Richard 
Published: May 2008

Abstract

Background
Methotrexate (MTX) uptake is mediated by the reduced folate carrier (RFC). Defective drug uptake in association with decreased RFC expression is a common mechanism of MTX resistance in many tumor types. Heavy promoter methylation was previously identified as a basis for the complete silencing of RFC in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells, its role and prevalence in RFC transcription regulation are, however, not widely studied.

Methods
In the current study, RFC promoter methylation was assessed using methylation specific PCR in a panel of malignant cell lines (n = 8), including MDA-MB-231, and M805, a MTX resistant cell line directly established from the specimen of a patient with malignant fibrohistocytoma, whom received multiple doses of MTX. A quantitative approach of real-time PCR for measuring the extent of RFC promoter methylation was developed, and was validated by direct bisulfite genomic sequencing. RFC mRNA levels were determined by quantitative real-time RT-PCR and were related to the extent of promoter methylation in these cell lines.

Results
A partial promoter methylation and RFC mRNA down-regulation were observed in M805. Using the quantitative approach, a reverse correlation (correlation coefficient = -0.59, p < 0.05) was identified between the promoter methylation and RFC mRNA levels in this a panel of malignant cell lines.

Conclusion
This study further suggests that promoter methylation is a potential basis for MTX resistance. The quantitative correlation identified in this study implies that promoter methylation is possibly a mechanism involved in the fine regulation of RFC transcription.
Suicide among adults aged 30–49: A psychological autopsy study in Hong Kong
Authors: Wong Paul WC , Chan Wincy SC , Chen Eric YH , Chan Sandra SM , Law YW , Yip Paul SF 
Published: May 2008

Abstract

Background
A surge in suicide rates in middle age people in Hong Kong and many Asian countries was recently observed. However, there is a paucity of suicide research on this subgroup of people in Asia.

Methods
The next-of-kin of 85 suicide cases and 85 community subjects aged 30–49 years were interviewed by a psychological autopsy approach. Information was triangulated by interview notes, coroner's court files, and police investigation reports.

Results
A multiple logistic regression analysis identified the following risk factors for suicide among the middle age people in Hong Kong: the presence of at least one psychiatric disorder (OR = 37.5, 95% CI 11.5–121.9, p < 0.001), indebtedness (OR = 9.4, 95% CI 2.2–40.8, p < 0.01), unemployment (OR = 4.8, 95% CI 1.3–17.5, p < 0.05), never married (OR = 4.2, 95% CI 1.1–16.3, p < 0.05), and lived alone (OR = 3.9, 95% CI 1.2–13.4, p < 0.05).

Conclusion
The data show that socio-economical factors had a strong impact on suicide in the target group. Further research is needed to explore any positive qualities that protect the middle-aged from suicide. The prevention of suicide in the middle-aged requires multiple strategies.
Fainting Passengers: The Role of Cabin Environment
Authors: Simons Ries , de Ree Hans 
Published: May 2008

Abstract
Reported percentages of in-flight medical incidents caused by syncope, the medical term for fainting, vary between 15 % and 22 %. Syncope is usually a benign medical event, but it may cause fear and distress among passengers and the individual involved. Incorrectly diagnosed benign syncope may lead to unnecessary flight diversions. In this context, the incidence of in-flight syncope and possible relationships with cabin environmental and passenger factors were studied. In September 2005, questionnaires were handed out to the senior purser on all KLM long haul flights. Pursers were asked to record all cases of in-flight syncope and to answer questions concerning cabin climate. Literature data were analyzed concerning in-flight and passenger factors that may cause or elicit syncope. With a response rate of 79 %, 1625 forms were analyzed. The in-flight syncope risk was 3–9 per 1000 passenger flight hours, depending on type of aircraft. The frequency of syncopal events was weakly correlated with cabin climate conditions. Literature analysis provides evidence that hypoxia is a sufficient cause for syncope in a sub-set of healthy airline passengers. There is evidence that cabin pressure and temperature may contribute to the occurrence of syncope. The syncope risk appears to be higher aboard an aircraft than on the ground. Hypoxia is a sufficient cause for syncope in a sub-set of healthy airline passengers. Airline passengers may become considerably hypoxic due to reduced pulmonary ventilation caused by immobility, drowsiness, and gastro-intestinal distension. In-flight hypoxia may reach levels sufficient to cause syncope. High cabin temperature may further trigger this reaction.
Forkhead-Associated Domain of Yeast Xrs2, a Homolog of Human Nbs1, Promotes Nonhomologous End Joining Through Interaction With a Ligase IV Partner Protein, Lif1
Authors: Matsuzaki Kenichiro , Shinohara Akira , Shinohara Miki 
Published: May 2008

Abstract
DNA double-strand breaks (DSB) are repaired through two different pathways, homologous recombination (HR) and nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ). Yeast Xrs2, a homolog of human Nbs1, is a component of the Mre11-Rad50-Xrs2 (MRX) complex required for both HR and NHEJ. Previous studies showed that the N-terminal forkhead-associated (FHA) domain of Xrs2/Nbs1 in yeast is not involved in HR, but is likely to be in NHEJ. In this study, we showed that the FHA domain of Xrs2 plays a critical role in efficient DSB repair by NHEJ. The FHA domain of Xrs2 specifically interacts with Lif1, a component of the ligase IV complex, Dnl4-Nej1-Lif1 (DNL). Lif1, which is phosphorylated in vivo, contains two Xrs2-binding regions. Serine 383 of Lif1 plays an important role in the interaction with Xrs2 as well as in NHEJ. Interestingly, the phospho-mimetic substitutions of serine 383 enhance the NHEJ activity of Lif1. Our results suggest that the phosphorylation of Lif1 at serine 383 is recognized by the Xrs2 FHA domain, which in turn may promote recruitment of the DNL complex to DSB for NHEJ. The interaction between Xrs2 and Lif1 through the FHA domain is conserved in humans; the FHA domain Nbs1 interacts with Xrcc4, a Lif1 homolog of human.
Neonatal Respiratory Failure: A 12-Month Clinical Epidemiologic Study From 2004 to 2005 in China
Authors: Qian Liling , Liu Cuiqing , Zhuang Wanzhu , Guo Yunxia , Yu Jialin , Chen Hanqiang , Wang Sannan , Lin Zhenlang , Xia Shiwen , Ni Liming , Liu Xiaohong , Chen Chao , Sun Bo ,   and the Chinese Collaborative Study Group for Neonatal Respiratory Diseases
Published: May 2008

OBJECTIVES. In the past decade, neonatal special care services in China have been established, during which time various therapies for neonatal respiratory failure have been introduced. The objective of this study was to investigate the incidence, management, outcome, and cost of neonatal respiratory failure treated by mechanical ventilation in 23 tertiary NICUs of major hospitals in southeastern and midwestern China.
METHODS. Data were collected over 12 consecutive months from 2004 to 2005 for neonates with neonatal respiratory failure. Eligible infants were those who required endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation and/or nasal continuous positive airway pressure for at least 24 hours and infants who died within 24 hours of ventilation during their first 7 days of life. Data characterized demographics, antenatal and perinatal history, illness severity score, primary disease, respiratory care, complications, survival, and clinical burden.
RESULTS. From a total of 13070 NICU admissions, there were 1722 (13.2%) cases of neonatal respiratory failure with respiratory distress syndrome, pneumonia/sepsis, and meconium aspiration syndrome as major causes. For infants who survived until discharge, the median length of ventilation was 70 hours. Overall, in-hospital mortality for neonatal respiratory failure was 32.1%. Logistic regressions showed that lower gestational age, vaginal delivery, fetal distress before delivery, presence of a major anomaly, and high severity score in preterm infants were associated with an increased risk for death. In term and postterm infants, only the presence of a major anomaly and a high severity score were significant risk factors for death. Mean length and cost of stay in hospital were 19.2 ± 14.6 days and 14966 ± 13465 Yuan in the survivors.
CONCLUSIONS. Neonatal respiratory failure in the NICU of the provincial cities of China has high mortality and cost that are linked to geographic variability, a male predominance, and low proportion of very preterm infants, characteristic of sociocultural confounding background.
Quality of Life in Children With Heart Disease as Perceived by Children and Parents
Authors: Uzark Karen , Jones Karen , Slusher Joyce , Limbers Christine A. , Burwinkle Tasha M. , Varni James W. 
Published: May 2008

OBJECTIVES. The aims of this study were to evaluate and compare the parent-reported and self-reported quality of life of children who have cardiovascular disease with the healthy pediatric population across age groups and to determine the relationship between perceived quality of life and severity of cardiovascular disease.METHODS. The Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) Generic Core Scales and Cardiac Module were administered to 475 families including 347 children with cardiovascular disease during a pediatric cardiology outpatient visit. The PedsQL scores reported by children with cardiovascular disease and their parents were compared with pediatric population norms. The relationship between Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory scores and patient characteristics was examined.RESULTS. By self-report, mean PedsQL scores for children with cardiovascular disease were significantly lower than healthy child norms for physical and psychosocial functioning. Psychosocial quality of life scores were classified as significantly impaired as reported by 21% of children ≥8 years of age. Even among children with less severe cardiovascular disease, 19.2% reported significantly impaired psychosocial quality of life. By parental report, overall PedsQL scores were not significantly different from healthy children except in the teenage group, and both the 8- to 12-year-old and teenage groups had lower mean psychosocial quality of life scores than healthy peers. Parent-reported mean PedsQL scores for both physical and psychosocial quality of life were significantly lower in children with more severe cardiovascular disease. Children with more severe cardiovascular disease reported lower mean scores for physical functioning, but smaller differences in psychosocial quality of life scores were observed related to disease severity.CONCLUSIONS. Overall, children with cardiovascular disease perceived lower quality of life than healthy children across all age groups. As perceived by parents, overall quality of life was not significantly different in young children with cardiovascular disease, but children with more severe cardiovascular disease have worse physical and psychosocial quality of life. One in 5 children with cardiovascular disease perceives impaired psychosocial functioning, including children with mild disease severity.
Pulse Oxygen Saturation Levels and Arterial Oxygen Tension Values in Newborns Receiving Oxygen Therapy in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: Is 85% to 93% an Acceptable Range?
Authors: Castillo Armando , Sola Augusto , Baquero Hernando , Neira Freddy , Alvis Ramiro , Deulofeut Richard , Critz Ann 
Published: May 2008

OBJECTIVE. Our aim was to define the relationship of Pao2 and pulse oxygen saturation values during routine clinical practice and to evaluate whether pulse oxygen saturation values between 85% and 93% were associated with Pao2 levels of &lt;40 mmHg.METHODS. Prospective comparison of Pao2 and pulse oxygen saturation values in 7 NICUs at sea level in 2 countries was performed. The Pao2 measurements were obtained from indwelling arterial catheters; simultaneous pulse oxygen saturation values were recorded if the pulse oxygen saturation values changed &lt;1% before, during, and after the arterial gas sample was obtained.RESULTS. We evaluated 976 paired Pao2/pulse oxygen saturation values in 122 neonates. Of the 976 samples, 176 (18%) from infants breathing room air had a mean pulse oxygen saturation of 93.9 ± 4.3% and a median of 95.5%. The analysis of 800 samples from infants breathing supplemental oxygen revealed that, when pulse oxygen saturation values were 85% to 93%, the mean Pao2 was 56 ± 14.7 mmHg and the median 54 mmHg. At this pulse oxygen saturation level, 86.8% of the samples had Pao2 values of 40 to 80 mmHg, 8.6% had values of &lt;40 mmHg, and 4.6% had values of &gt;80 mmHg. When the pulse oxygen saturation values were &gt;93%, the mean Pao2 was 107.3 ± 59.3 mmHg and the median 91 mmHg. At this pulse oxygen saturation level, 39.5% of the samples had Pao2 values of 40 to 80 mmHg and 59.5% had values of &gt;80 mmHg.CONCLUSIONS. High Pao2 occurs very rarely in neonates breathing supplemental oxygen when their pulse oxygen saturation values are 85% to 93%. This pulse oxygen saturation range also is infrequently associated with low Pao2 values. Pulse oxygen saturation values of &gt;93% are frequently associated with Pao2 values of &gt;80 mmHg, which may be of risk for some newborns receiving supplemental oxygen.
Patterns of Brain Injury in Neonates Exposed to Perinatal Sentinel Events
Authors: Okereafor Akudo , Allsop Joanna , Counsell Serena J. , Fitzpatrick Julie , Azzopardi Denis , Rutherford Mary A. , Cowan Frances M. 
Published: May 2008

OBJECTIVES. We studied (1) the pattern of brain injury in term neonates with encephalopathy with evidence of a preceding hypoxic sentinel event, (2) prenatal and perinatal risk factors, and (3) the correlation between neuroimaging findings and developmental outcomes.
METHODS. We identified, among 500 term neonates with encephalopathy who were studied with MRI between 1992 and 2005, 48 infants with evidence of a preceding acute hypoxic event, and we reviewed their MRI scans retrospectively. Prenatal and perinatal data were compared with those for term normal low-risk infants. Neurodevelopmental outcomes were assessed at a minimum of 12 months.
RESULTS. Five patterns of brain injury were identified, as follows: pattern I, basal ganglia and thalami lesions associated with severe white matter damage (n = 6; 14%); pattern II, basal ganglia and thalami lesions with mild or moderate white matter changes (n = 24; 56%); pattern III, isolated thalamic injury (n = 2; 5%); pattern IV, moderate white matter damage only (n = 1; 2%); pattern V, mild white matter changes or normal findings (n = 10; 23%). No scan showed evidence of long-standing injury. The internal capsule was abnormal in 93% of infants with patterns I and II, and 86% of those infants died or developed cerebral palsy. Infants with patterns III and IV had developmental delay and diplegic cerebral palsy, respectively. Pattern V was associated with normal outcomes. Case infants were significantly more often of African descent, born to pluriparous or hypertensive mothers. Uterine rupture followed previous cesarean section in 8 of 11 cases. Cord prolapse accompanied undiagnosed breech presentation in 4 of 9 cases.
CONCLUSIONS. Basal ganglia and thalami lesions are the imaging signature in term neonates exposed to hypoxic-ischemic sentinel events. Patterns of central gray matter and secondary white matter injury were associated with higher risks of severe morbidity and death. Affected infants did not seem intrinsically different from our low-risk population. These data support the need for anticipating sentinel events and expediting delivery.
Presence of Diabetic Ketoacidosis at Diagnosis of Diabetes Mellitus in Youth: The Search for Diabetes in Youth Study
Authors: Rewers Arleta , Klingensmith Georgeanna , Davis Cralen , Petitti Diana B. , Pihoker Catherine , Rodriguez Beatriz , Schwartz I. David , Imperatore Giuseppina , Williams Desmond , Dolan Lawrence M. , Dabelea Dana 
Published: May 2008

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this work was to determine the prevalence and predictors of diabetic ketoacidosis at the diagnosis of diabetes in a large sample of youth from the US population.
PATIENTS AND METHODS. The Search for Diabetes in Youth Study, a multicenter, population-based registry of diabetes with diagnosis before 20 years of age, identified 3666 patients with new onset of diabetes in the study areas in 2002–2004. Medical charts were reviewed in 2824 (77%) of the patients in a standard manner to abstract the results of laboratory tests and to ascertain diabetic ketoacidosis at the time of diagnosis. Diabetic ketoacidosis was defined by blood bicarbonate &lt;15 mmol/L and/or venous pH &lt; 7.25 (arterial/capillary pH &lt; 7.30), International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, code 250.1, or listing of diabetic ketoacidosis in the medical chart.
RESULTS. More than half (54%) of the patients were hospitalized at diagnosis, including 93% of those with diabetic ketoacidosis and 41% without diabetic ketoacidosis. The prevalence of diabetic ketoacidosis at the diagnosis was 25.5%. The prevalence decreased with age from 37.3% in children aged 0 to 4 years to 14.7% in those aged 15 to 19 years. Diabetic ketoacidosis prevalence was significantly higher in patients with type 1 (29.4%) rather than in those with type 2 diabetes (9.7%). After adjusting for the effects of center, age, gender, race or ethnicity, diabetes type, and family history of diabetes, diabetic ketoacidosis at diagnosis was associated with lower family income, less desirable health insurance coverage, and lower parental education.
CONCLUSION. At the time of diagnosis, 1 in 4 youth presents with diabetic ketoacidosis. Those with diabetic ketoacidosis were more likely to be hospitalized. Diabetic ketoacidosis was a presenting feature of &lt;10% of youth with type 2. Young and poor children are disproportionately affected.