bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Lifestyle Treatments in Randomized Clinical Trials of Pharmacotherapies for Obesity
Authors: Poston Walker S. Carlos , Haddock C. Keith , Dill Patricia L. , Thayer Beth , Foreyt John P. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractObjective:This meta‐analysis evaluated the types of lifestyle treatments used in published obesity drug studies and assessed their contribution to weight losses associated with pharmacological interventions.Research Methods and Procedures:Randomized, placebo‐controlled, double‐blind clinical trials of anti‐obesity agents that are/were Food and Drug Administration‐approved for the treatment of obesity (both prescription and over‐the‐counter), and drugs that are Food and Drug Administration‐approved and are used off‐label for obesity were included. Studies were located by computer searches of databases (e.g., Medline, PsychInfo) and reviewing tables of content/reference sections of journals, abstracts, previous reviews, past empirical studies, relevant book chapters, and recent issues of journals that regularly publish obesity research. In addition, a number of individuals who regularly publish in the obesity literature were asked to provide personal lists of obesity‐drug studies. Based on the above criteria, a total of 108 randomized clinical trials were located.Results:Balanced‐deficit diets, low‐calorie diets, and self‐monitoring were the most used lifestyle treatments in published obesity studies. They were incorporated into 40.7%, 25%, and 23.1% of pharmacotherapy studies, respectively. Physical activity and other behavioral or psychotherapeutic interventions rarely were used. A substantial portion of weight loss experienced by patients was attributable to both “placebo effects” and to the lifestyle treatments.Discussion:Obesity‐pharmacotherapy trials do not use lifestyle treatments with the frequency expected based on the official positions of most professional organizations concerned with the comprehensive management of obesity.
Influence of Leptin on Changes in Body Fat during Growth in African American and White Children
Authors: Johnson Maria S. , Huang Terry T‐K. , Figueroa‐Colon Reinaldo , Dwyer James H. , Goran Michael I. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractObjective: The aim of this study was to determine whether initial levels or temporal changes in fasting leptin were associated with longitudinal changes in body‐fat mass in children.Research Methods and Procedures: The study group consisted of 85 children (42 white and 43 African American) with a mean initial age of 8.1 ± 0.1 years. The children had between three and six annual visits for repeated measurements of body composition by DXA and fasting leptin level. Fat mass and fasting leptin level were not normally distributed and were log‐transformed. Data were analyzed using SAS Proc mixed growth models, with log fat as the dependent variable.Results: Initial leptin level was a significant predictor of the change in fat mass over time (p < 0.0001), with high initial leptin levels resulting in increased fat gain, independent of initial fat levels. This relationship remained significant when the data were analyzed separately by race (whites, p < 0.0001; African Americans, p = 0.008). The relationship between the initial level of leptin and the change in fat mass was not modified by race, sex, or Tanner Stage. The rate of change in leptin during the study was significantly related to the rate of change in fat mass in African Americans (p = 0.008) but not in whites (p = 0.490).Discussion: In conclusion, high fasting leptin level at the start of the study was significantly associated with increasing fat mass in this cohort, indicating that the children may be developing resistance to the effects of leptin.
QT Dispersion in Uncomplicated Human Obesity
Authors: Girola Andrea , Enrini Riccardo , Garbetta Francesca , Tufano Antonietta , Caviezel Francesco 
Published: April 2008

Objective: Because obese patients generally may be prone to ventricular arrhythmias, this study was designed to measure the interval between Q‐ and T‐waves of the electrocardiogram (QT) interval dispersion (QTD) in uncomplicated overweight and obese patients. QTD is an electrocardiographic parameter whose prolongation is thought to be predictive of the possibility of sudden death caused by ventricular arrhythmias. To better evaluate the association between obesity per se and QTD, the study population was intentionally selected because they were free of complications.Research Methods and Procedures: QTD (defined as the difference between the maximum and the minimum QT corrected interval [QTc] across the 12‐lead electrocardiogram) was measured manually in 54 obese patients (Group A: mean body mass index [BMI] of 38.1 ± 0.9 kg/m2 [SEM], 15 males and 39 females), 35 overweight patients (Group B: mean BMI of 27.3 ± 0.2 kg/m2, 10 males and 25 females), and 57 normal weight healthy control subjects (Group C: mean BMI of 21.9 ± 0.2 kg/m2, 17 males and 40 females). The obese and overweight patients had no heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, or impaired glucose tolerance and did not have any hormonal, hepatic, renal or electrolyte disorders. The study subjects were matched in terms of age (mean age 38.4 ± 1.2 years) and sex.Results: The QTDs were comparable among the three groups: Group A, 56.4 ± 2.6 ms; Group B, 56.7 ± 2.1 ms; and Group C, 59.4 ± 2.1 ms; not significant. The QTc intervals of Group A and Group B were similar to that of Group C (411.8 ± 3.3, 407.2 ± 3.9, and 410.3 ± 3.9 ms, respectively [not significant]) and did not correlate with BMI. An association was found between QTD and QTc (r = 0.24, p < 0.005). Using multivariate stepwise regression analysis of the study population, QTD did not correlate with age, BMI, waist circumference, or abdominal sagittal diameter.Discussion: These data suggest that QTD in uncomplicated obese or overweight subjects is comparable with that in age‐ and sex‐matched normal weight healthy controls. In this study population, no association was found between QTD and anthropometric parameters reflecting body fat distribution.
Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 1c (SREBP‐1c) Expression in Human Obesity
Authors: Kolehmainen Marjukka , Vidal Hubert , Alhava Esko , Uusitupa Matti I.J. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractObjective: Investigation of the expression of sterol regulatory element binding protein‐1c (SREBP‐1c) in different adipose tissue depots in morbidly obese subjects before and after 1 year of weight loss induced by gastric banding operation.Research Methods and Procedures: SREBP‐1c expression was studied in 20 massively obese subjects (6 men and 14 women; age: 41 ± 9 years; weight: 148 ± 34 kg; percentage of body fat: 42 ± 4; mean ± SD) using reverse transcription competitive polymerase chain reaction. Adipose tissue biopsies were taken from omental, subcutaneous abdominal, and femoral depots before weight loss, and from subcutaneous depots after weight loss. Subcutaneous samples were taken also from 6 normal weight subjects.Results: The level of SREBP‐1c mRNA was significantly lower in omental (1.8 ± 0.2 amol/μg of total RNA) than in subcutaneous abdominal (3.7 ± 0.4 amol/μg of total RNA) or femoral (3.9 ± 0.4 amol/μg of total RNA; p < 0.001, mean ± SEM) depots. The values in subcutaneous depots were about twice as high in normal weight (7.4 ± 2.5 for abdominal and 6.5 ± 1.5 for femoral, p < 0.01) as in obese subjects. After weight loss, the mRNA levels of SREBP‐1c increased in obese subjects, both in subcutaneous abdominal (5.3 ± 0.7, p < 0.01) and in femoral (4.8 ± 0.8, p < 0.05) tissue.Discussion: SREBP‐1c mRNA expression was lower in omental adipose tissue than in subcutaneous depots in obese subjects before weight loss. Furthermore, the expression of SREBP‐1c in obese subjects was clearly lower than in normal weight subjects, but mRNA levels increased along with weight reduction. Weight reduction was associated with increased mRNA levels of SREBP‐1c in obese subjects. The reduced expression of SREBP‐1c in obesity could be ascribed to lowered action or concentration of insulin, changeable along with weight reduction. However, changes in SREBP‐1c expression after weight reduction could also be ascribed to the changes in calorie intake or nutritional habits after gastric banding operation.
Tuberculosis of the parotid gland: computed tomographic findings
Authors: Wei Y. , Xiao J. , Pui M. H. , Gong Q. 
Published: April 2008

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) of the parotid gland is rare, even in endemic regions. Approximately 100 cases have been reported in the English literature. The computed tomographic (CT) features, however, have seldom been studied. Purpose: To determine the diagnostic CT features of tuberculosis of the parotid gland. Material and Methods: CT studies of four histologically proven cases of tuberculosis of the parotid gland were retrospectively reviewed. Results: A total of 15 enlarged lymph nodes were found in the superficial lobes of the parotid glands. The nodes were arranged linearly within the gland. Enhancement patterns included homogeneous enhancement (9/15, 60%), homogeneous enhancement with eccentric microcysts (3/15, 20%), and thick-walled rim enhancement with central lucency (3/15, 20%). Thickened adjacent fascial plane and platysma were seen in two patients. Ipsilateral cervical lymphadenopathy was seen in all patients. Conclusion: In patients presenting with unilateral parotid nodules, TB should be considered when linearly arranged enhancing nodules are demonstrated in the superficial lobes of the glands on CT scan.
Heterogeneity influences spatial patterns and demographics in forest stands
Authors: Getzin Stephan , Wiegand Thorsten , Wiegand Kerstin , He Fangliang 
Published: April 2008

Summary

The spatial pattern of tree species retains signatures of factors and processes such as dispersal, available resource patches for establishment, competition and demographics. Comparison of the spatial pattern of different size classes can thus help to reveal the importance and characteristics of the underlying processes. However, tree dynamics may be masked by large‐scale heterogeneous site conditions, e.g. when the restricting size of regeneration sites superimposes emergent patterns.
Here we ask how environmental heterogeneity may influence the spatial dynamics of plant communities. We compared the spatial patterns and demographics of western hemlock in a homogeneous and a heterogeneous site of old‐growth Douglas‐fir forests on Vancouver Island using recent techniques of point pattern analysis. We used homogeneous and inhomogeneous K‐ and pair‐correlation functions, and case‐control studies to quantify the change in spatial distribution for different size classes of western hemlock.
Our comparative analyses show that biological processes interacted with spatial heterogeneity, leading to qualitatively different population dynamics at the two sites. Population structure, survival and size structure of western hemlock were different in the heterogeneous stand in such a way that, compared to the homogeneous stand, seedlings were more clustered, seedling densities higher, seedling mortality lower, adult growth faster and adult mortality higher. Under homogeneous site conditions, seedling survival was mainly abiotically determined by random arrival in small gaps with limiting light. At the heterogeneous site, seedling densities and initial survival were much higher, leading to strong density‐dependent mortality and selection for faster growing individuals in larger size classes. We hypothesise that the dynamics of the heterogeneous stand were faster due to asymmetric competition with disproportionate benefit to taller plants.
Synthesis. Our study supports the hypothesis that successional dynamics are intensified in heterogeneous forest stands with strong spatial structures and outlines the importance of spatial heterogeneity as a determinant of plant population dynamics and pattern formation.
Multiple paternity or multiple queens: two routes to greater intracolonial genetic diversity in the eusocial Hymenoptera
Authors: HUGHES W. O. H. , RATNIEKS F. L. W. , OLDROYD B. P. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractUnderstanding the evolution of multiple mating by females (polyandry) is an important question in behavioural ecology. Most leading explanations for polyandry by social insect queens are based upon a postulated fitness benefit from increased intracolonial genetic diversity, which also arises when colonies are headed by multiple queens (polygyny). An indirect test of the genetic diversity hypotheses is therefore provided by the relationship between polyandry and polygyny across species, which should be negative if the genetic diversity hypotheses are correct. Here, we conduct a powerful comparative investigation of the relationship between polyandry and polygyny for 241 species of eusocial Hymenoptera (ants, bees and wasps). We find a clear and significant negative relationship between polyandry and polygyny after controlling for phylogeny. These results strongly suggest that fitness benefits resulting from increased intracolonial genetic diversity have played an important role in the evolution of polyandry, and possibly polygyny, in social insects.
Measurement of development of cognitive and attention functions in children using continuous performance test
Authors: Kanaka Noriko , Matsuda Tetsuya , Tomimoto Yasushi , Noda Yuji , Matsushima Eisuke , Matsuura Masato , Kojima Takuya 
Published: April 2008

Aim:  The development of attention function in children is still not sufficiently clear. Although it is difficult to objectively assess attention function, continuous performance tests (CPT) can be used to objectively assess cognitive function along with attention. The development of cognitive and attention functions was examined in children using a CPT.Methods:  A total of 541 healthy girls aged 5–12 years participated. Ten parameters were calculated: numbers of cancellations for either target stimuli (T‐cancel) or non‐target stimuli (N‐cancel), numbers of omission errors (Omission) and commission errors (Commission), hit rate (Hit), false alarm rate (False), mean reaction time for correct response (RT), coefficient of variance for mean reaction time (CVRT), sensitivity index (d′), and lnβ.Results:  The parameters were divided into three types based on pattern of change. T‐cancel, False, and Commission, which are related to inhibition of response, N‐cancel, Hit, and Omission, which are related to inattention to stimuli, and CVRT, which is related to stability of processing time, exhibited significant change until 5 or 6 years of age. d′, which is related to ability to discriminate between target or non‐target, exhibited significant change until 8 years of age. RT, which is related to processing time, exhibited significant change until 11 years of age. lnβ exhibited no significant differences among age groups.Conclusions:  These findings indicate that inhibition function, inattention to stimuli, and stability of processing time develop first. Discrimination ability subsequently increases based on these developments, and finally processing time is reduced.
Factor structure of the Japanese Interpersonal Competence Scale
Authors: Matsudaira Tomomi , Fukuhara Taihei , Kitamura Toshinori 
Published: April 2008

Aim:  Assessing social competence is important for clinical and preventive interventions of depression. The aim of the present paper was to examine the factor structure of the Japanese Interpersonal Competence Scale (JICS).Methods:  Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis was performed on the survey responses of 730 participants. Simultaneous multigroup analyses were conducted to confirm factor stability across psychological health status and sex differences.Results:  Two factors, which represent Perceptive Ability and Self‐Restraint, were confirmed to show a moderate correlation. Perceptive Ability involves a more cognitive aspect of social competence, while Self‐Restraint involves a more behavioral aspect, both of which are considered to reflect the emotion‐based relating style specific to the Japanese people: indulgent dependence (amae) and harmony (wa). In addition, Self‐Restraint may be linked to social functioning. Both constructs may confound a respondent's perceived confidence.Conclusion:  Despite its shortcomings, the JICS is a unique measure of social competence in the Japanese cultural context.
Poor performance in Clock‐Drawing Test associated with visual memory deficit and reduced bilateral hippocampal and left temporoparietal regional blood flows in Alzheimer's disease patients
Authors: Takahashi Megumi , Sato Aiko , Nakajima Keisuke , Inoue Aya , Oishi Satoru , Ishii Takayoshi , Miyaoka Hitoshi 
Published: April 2008

Aim:  To investigate the associations of Clock‐Drawing Test (CDT) score with neuropsychological test scores and regional cerebral blood flow.Method:  Twenty‐five patients (normal aging, n = 2; mild cognitive impairment, n = 7; Alzheimer's disease [AD], n = 16) participated in this study. Their average age was 74.8 years.Results:  CDT score correlated well with the neuropsychological test scores of Mini‐Mental State Examination, Clinical Dementia Rating, immediate visual memory, delayed visual memory, and IQ evaluated by Koh's block design. CDT score also had a statistically significant correlation with the regional blood flow in the left hippocampal region as evaluated on 3‐D stereotaxic region‐of‐interest template analysisapplied to single‐photon emission computed tomography images. Using a cut‐off point of 8/9 in the CDT, the high‐CDT group had significantly higher delayed visual memory and IQ scores than the low‐CDT group. Moreover, the high‐CDT group had significantly higher regional blood flows in the left parietal, left angular and bilateral hippocampal regions than the low‐CDT group.Conclusion:  CDT score correlates well with regional cerebral blood flow that is decreased in the early stage of AD.
Alterations in prefrontal cortical activity in the course of treatment for late‐life depression as assessed on near‐infrared spectroscopy
Authors: Onishi Yasunori , Kikuchi Senichiro , Watanabe Eiju , Kato Satoshi 
Published: April 2008

Aim:  To evaluate the severity of depression by measuring alterations in prefrontal cortical activity associated with mood disorders, as assessed on near‐infrared spectroscopy.Methods:  Ten of 27 subjects hospitalized for late‐life depression from May 2006 to June 2007, were examined. In these 10 subjects changes in hemoglobin concentration were measured on near‐infrared spectroscopy during two types of the rock, paper, scissors game as the cognitive tasks affecting prefrontal cortical activity on 2 days, including 1 day on which depressive symptoms had slightly improved due to treatment, and then on another day >4 weeks later. Severity of depression and cognitive impairment were also simultaneously assessed.Results:  The change in oxygenated hemoglobin concentration during a difficult task (intentional loss task) was significantly larger than that during an easy task (try to win task) on the left side (left, P = 0.010; right, P = 0.059). On the left side there was a significant negative correlation between the ratio of oxygenated hemoglobin measurements on the second day to those on the first day, and the severity of depression on the second day (left, P = 0.012; right, P = 0.090). Thus, the more left prefrontal cortical activity tended to increase, the fewer depressive symptoms tended to be present on the second day of testing.Conclusions:  Measuring of alterations in prefrontal cortical activity associated with mood disorders, as assessed on near‐infrared spectroscopy, is feasible in subjects with depression.
Confabulation behavior and false memories in Korsakoff's syndrome: Role of source memory and executive functioning
Authors: Kessels Roy P. C. , Kortrijk Hans E. , Wester Arie J. , Nys Gudrun M. S. 
Published: April 2008

Aims:  Confabulation behavior is common in patients with Korsakoff's syndrome. A distinction can be made between spontaneous and provoked confabulations, which may have different underlying cognitive mechanisms. Provoked confabulations may be related to intrusions on memory tests, whereas spontaneous confabulations may be due to executive dysfunction or a source memory deficit.Methods:  In 19 chronic Korsakoff patients, spontaneous confabulations were quantified by third‐party rating (Likert scale). Provoked confabulations were assessed using the Dalla Barba Confabulation Battery. Furthermore, assessment of executive function was performed using an extensive neuropsychological battery. False memories (i.e. intrusions) and source memory were measured using twoparallelversions of a word‐list learning paradigm (a modification of the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test).Results:  There were deficits in source memory, in which patients incorrectly assigned previously learned words to an incorrect word list. Also, Korsakoff patients had extensive executive deficits, but no relationship between the severity of these deficits and the severity of confabulation or intrusions on a memory task was found.Conclusion:  The present findings provide evidence for a dissociation between spontaneous confabulation, provoked confabulation and false memories.
The ongoing variability in blood transfusion practices in cardiac surgery
Authors: Snyder‐Ramos Stephanie A. , Möhnle Patrick , Weng Yi‐Shin , Böttiger Bernd W. , Kulier Alexander , Levin Jack , Mangano Dennis T. ,   Investigators of the Multicenter Study of Perioperative Ischemia,   MCSPI Research Group
Published: April 2008

BACKGROUND: Although blood utilization has been under considerable scrutiny for the past two decades, particularly for surgery, studies comparing perioperative blood transfusion practices between countries are rare, and the evolution of international standards remains unknown. Therefore, the objective of this evaluation was to compare the perioperative transfusion of blood components in cardiac surgery in multiple centers in different countries.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Transfusion practice was investigated prospectively in 70 centers among 16 countries. A total of 5065 randomly selected cardiac surgery patients of the Multicenter Study of Perioperative Ischemia Epidemiology II (EPI II) Study were evaluated. Utilization of red blood cells (RBCs), fresh‐frozen plasma (FFP), and platelets (PLTs) was assessed daily, before, during, and after surgery until hospital discharge.RESULTS: Intraoperative RBC transfusion varied from 9 to 100 percent among the 16 countries, and 25 to 87 percent postoperatively (percentage of transfused patients). Similarly, frequency of transfusion of FFP varied from 0 to 98 percent intraoperatively and 3 to 95 percent postoperatively, and PLT transfusion from 0 to 51 and 0 to 39 percent, respectively. Moreover, there were not only marked differences in transfusion rates between centers in different countries but also in interinstitutional comparison of multiple centers within countries.CONCLUSION: In cardiac surgical patients, marked variability in transfusion practice exists between centers in various countries and suggests differences in perioperative practice patterns as well as possible inappropriate use. International standardization of perioperative practice patterns as well as transfusion regimes appears necessary.