bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cognitive Neuropsychology and Its Application to Children
Authors: Temple Christine M. 
Published: December 2006

Cognitive neuropsychology has been used successfully in the analysis of adult neuropsychological disorders in both verbal and nonverbal domains. When applied to children, it aims lo construct models on the basis of functional lesions manifest within developing systems find provides a theoretical framework within which patterns of intact and deficient skills can be charted over time. These patterns constrain possible underlying models la highlighting potential individual differences in the acquisition of skills and indicating intact skills within subjects, cognitive neuropsychology may also enable a precise description of the locus of difficulty and potential circumventory routes for remediation around it.The theoretical assumptions of cognitive neuropsychology and issues relevant to its methodology are discussed, including the terminology and principles of modularity, the significance of individual differences and the use of case studies, the dynamics of developing systems, current views on plasticity and distinctions between developmental and acquired disorders.The application of cognitive neuropsychology to children is discussed in relation to three cognitive areas: face recognition disorders, language disorders and arithmetical disorders. These illustrate the similarities that there are between many developmental cognitive neuropsychological disorders and those seen in adults following brain injury. Models derived from studies of adults are helpful in enabling understanding of both face recognition disorders and arithmetical disorders in childhood. Within language systems, a variety of different types of disorder are evident, which not only relate to receptive and productive difficulties but differentially affect the core components of the language system.All of the disorders discussed illustrate the limitations of functional plasticity m development. In each case, there is not a generalised deficit resulting from degradation of capabilities independent of task requirements Rather, there are focal and selective disorders which affect subcomponents of cognitive systems. In some eases, genetic factors may constrain compensatory mechanisms.
Memories of Childhood Neglect and Abuse: Corroboration in a Series of Sisters
Authors: Bifulco A. , Brown G. W. , Lillie A. , Jarvis J. 
Published: December 2006

Reports from 87 community‐based sister‐pairs, selected for high rates of neglect or abuse in childhood, have been used to establish validity of the CECA, a retrospective interview measure of childhood experience. Corroboration was based on independent assessments of sisters accounts of what happened to each other in childhood. Corroboration of scales assessing parental neglect, physical abuse in the household and sexual abuse either household or nonhousehold I was satisfactory, with a mean correlation for the three experiences of.60 (weighted kappa [kw]).Concordance reflected the degree to which experience was shared and was judged by comparing the sisters' accounts of their own experience. Among sisters with shared (concordant) experience for neglect or abuse, corroboration was high (mean of 74), but for those with nonshared (nonconcordant) experience it was largely absent (mean of .011. The degree to which I he experiences of neglect or abuse were concordant was related to whether the perpetrator was a member of the household. Neglect and physical abuse were by definition from household members i mainly parents I and involved high concordance of experience. Sexual abuse occurred from many sources and in practice was commonly from an adult living outside the household and such experiences were less likely to be shared by sisters. An overall index indicating the presence of at least one abusive experience before the age of 17 showed a concordance of .64 with corroboration between sisters as high as 70, Issues involving retrospective recall and measurement are discussed.
What do clinicians want from us? An evaluation of Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust clinical librarian service and its implications for developing futureworking patterns
Authors: Brookman Amanda , Lovell Alan , Henwood Flis , Lehmann Judy 
Published: December 2006

AbstractBackground:   The Clinical Librarian (CL) Service at Brighton was established in 2003 with the aim of providing high‐quality evidence to designated teams and fostering an evidence‐based culture.Objective:   To evaluate the CL service at Brighton and discuss the implication of the findings.Methods:   A combination of internally collected data (n = 167), and an external evaluation of the service by questionnaires (n = 86) of users and non‐users and interviews (n = 9) of users.Results:   Internal data suggest that the service is valued by its users and that patient care and continuing professional development are the most common uses for searches (confirmed by the external study); that searches generally result in some change in knowledge; and that this knowledge is disseminated. The external study found that visibility of the CL was crucial to the effectiveness of the role and that clinicians used the service mostly to get access to a wider range of resources and/or to save time. Users wanted the CL to include evaluative annotation with the results, and for the CL role to become more embedded in the team. Interview results expanded on the issues of integration of the CL and the need for annotation of results.Conclusions:   To be most effective, CLs would be dedicated to one team, but financial constraints make this unlikely. Alternative working patterns are suggested as a possible compromise.
Opportunity for change in the future roles for the health library and information professional: meeting the challenges in NHS Scotland
Authors: Maclean Gerry 
Published: December 2006

AbstractBackground:  NHS Education for Scotland (NES) is the Special Health Board responsible for supporting best practice in education, training and development for all staff groups within NHS Scotland. As part of its remit, the Knowledge Services Group within NES is responsible for the e‐Library, a national electronic resource providing and supporting access to the evidence base. The Knowledge Services Group also supports the national development of library services to NHS Scotland.Aims:  This article aims to provide a reflective overview of some recent challenges within the health library and information field in Scotland, and the positive role opportunities these have afforded.Methods:  The information was gathered through extensive professional interaction with staff across the sector over the first year of establishing the new role of Librarian Staff Development Manager.Focus:   New roles have emerged for health library and information professionals generally; for example, in response to new technology or new user groups. The development of the NHS Scotland e‐Library provides examples of role development that emerges symbiotically from core skills applied to a new situation or applied in an innovative way. Role development among health library and information professionals operating at the local service level can be both reactive and proactive. Working together, the partnership between the national Knowledge Services Group and local library and knowledge services for NHS Scotland has resulted in the emergence of additional new roles, extending the role portfolio of the local professional (for example, the Librarian–Tutor role) and supported by other national infrastructures (for example, the competency framework initiative).
Ion channel blockade attenuates aggregated alpha synuclein induction of microglial reactive oxygen species: relevance for the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Thomas Mark P. , Chartrand Kathryn , Reynolds Ashley , Vitvitsky Victor , Banerjee Ruma , Gendelman Howard E. 
Published: December 2006

AbstractBrain mononuclear phagocyte (perivascular macrophage and microglia, MG) inflammatory neurotoxins play a principal role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease; chief among these are reactive oxygen species (ROS). We posit that aggregated, misfolded and oxidized α‐synuclein (a major constituent of Lewy bodies), released or secreted from dying dopaminergic neurons, induces microglial ROS production that is regulated by ion channels and as such affects disease progression. To address this hypothesis, we performed patch clamp recordings of outward ionic currents in murine microglia and characterized their links to ROS production during α‐synuclein stimulation. Aggregated nitrated α‐synuclein induced ROS production in a dose‐dependent manner that was inhibited by voltage‐gated potassium current blockade, and to a more limited degree, by chloride current blockade. Interestingly, ROS produced in MG primed with tumor necrosis factor alpha and activated with phorbol myristate acetate was attenuated by voltage‐gated potassium current blockade and more completely by chloride current blockade. In contrast, amyloid beta or cell membrane extract failed to induce microglial ROS production. Similar results were obtained using bone marrow‐derived macrophages. The association of ROS production with specific plasma membrane ion currents provides a link between regulation of microglial ion transport and oxygen free radical production. Understanding these linkages may lead to novel therapeutics for Parkinson’s disease where modulation of redox‐related stress may slow disease progression.
Characterization of highly polymorphic nuclear microsatellite loci from the ascidian Ciona intestinalis
Authors: ANDREAKIS N. , CAPUTI L. , SORDINO P. 
Published: December 2006

AbstractEight nuclear polymorphic microsatellite markers were characterized from the ascidian Ciona intestinalis whole genome sequence. The behaviour of these loci was investigated against two geographically distinct populations: one from Plymouth, UK the other from the Fusaro Lagoon, Italy, both belonging to the type A Ciona cryptic species. The markers exhibited six to 29 alleles and average observed heterozygosity ranging from 0.06 to 0.73. These new microsatellite loci demonstrated to be valuable tools for both population genetic analysis at different scales and genetic identification of mutant phenotypes frequently encountered in Mediterranean populations of C. intestinalis.
IN SITU ALLELOPATHIC POTENTIAL OF MYRIOPHYLLUM VERTICILLATUM (HALORAGACEAE) AGAINST SELECTED PHYTOPLANKTON SPECIES1
Authors: Hilt (nee Körner) Sabine , Ghobrial Mary G. N. , Gross Elisabeth M. 
Published: December 2006

The potential allelopathic impact of Myriophyllum verticillatum L. under in situ conditions was determined in a series of field and laboratory experiments. Coexistence experiments were performed in a lake dominated by M. verticillatum (Van Goor) Meffert where we exposed three unialgal phytoplankton cultures in dialysis tubes to macrophyte exudates regularly during the vegetated period. Plant content and exudation of polyphenolic compounds were determined, and the inhibitory activity of polyphenol‐containing extracts was tested in bioassays with cyanobacteria. To account for possible resource interference, we monitored growth and photosynthesis of phosphorus‐limited and unlimited cyanobacterium Limnothrix redekei in dialysis tubes exposed to M. verticillatum in aquaria.A high allelopathic potential of M. verticillatum was concluded from high tissue concentrations of total phenolic compounds of 6%–12% of dry matter, the demonstrated release of bioactive polyphenols into the surrounding medium, and the inhibition of cyanobacteria by extracts. We could not unambiguously demonstrate the exudation of polyphenols by M. verticillatum in situ due to interference with allochthonous humic compounds. In laboratory experiments, L. redekei exhibited significantly reduced maximum relative electron transport rates when co‐cultivated in dialysis tubes with M. verticillatum. The field dialysis tube experiment confirmed this result, accompanied by a decline of chl a and PSII activity for L. redekei and the diatom Stephanodiscus minutulus (Kütz.) Greve et Möller, but not for the green alga Scenedesmus armatus Chodat in August. At other times, either no effects or stimulatory effects were observed with all species. Nutrient limitation of the target species may have masked allelopathic effects, and M. verticillatum may have enhanced phytoplankton growth due to phosphorus leakage.
A Functional Polymorphism of the μ‐Opioid Receptor Gene (OPRM1) Influences Cue‐Induced Craving for Alcohol in Male Heavy Drinkers
Authors: Van Den Wildenberg Esther , Wiers Reinout W. , Dessers Joelle , Janssen Rob G. J. H. , Lambrichs Ellen H. , Smeets Hubert J. M. , Van Breukelen Gerard J. P. 
Published: December 2006

Background: The μ‐opioid receptor gene (OPRM1) codes for the μ‐opioid receptor, which binds β‐endorphin. The A118G polymorphism in this gene affects β‐endorphin binding such that the Asp40 variant (G allele) binds β‐endorphin 3 times more tightly than the more common Asn40 variant (A allele). This study investigated the influence of the A118G polymorphism on cue reactivity after exposure to an alcoholic beverage in male heavy drinkers.Methods: Participants were either homozygous for the A allele (n=84) or carrying at least 1 copy of the G allele (n=24). All participants took part in a cue‐reactivity paradigm where they were exposed to water and beer in 3‐minute trials. The dependent variables of main interest were subjective craving for alcohol, subjective arousal, and saliva production.Results: G allele carriers reported significantly more craving for alcohol than the A allele participants (as indicated by the within‐subject difference in craving after beer vs after water exposure). No differences were found for subjective arousal and saliva. Both groups did not differ in family history of alcoholism. Participants with the G allele reported a significantly higher lifetime prevalence of drug use than participants homozygous for the A allele.Conclusions: A stronger urge to drink alcohol after exposure to an alcoholic beverage might contribute to a heightened risk for developing alcohol‐related problems in individuals with a copy of the G allele. The G allele might also predispose to drug use in general.
Sleep Electroencephalographic Spectral Power After Withdrawal from Alcohol in Alcohol‐Dependent Patients
Authors: Feige Bernd , Scaal Susanne , Hornyak Magdolna , Gann Horst , Riemann Dieter 
Published: December 2006

Background: Dysfunctional hyperarousal is suspected to be a neurophysiological determinant of relapse in abstinent alcohol‐dependent patients. In the present study, we used spectral power analysis of the sleep electroencephalographic (EEG) to quantify brain activity during sleep in patients during subacute withdrawal as well as in control subjects. Our hypothesis was that the subgroup of patients who relapsed within the 3 months to follow‐up would exhibit‐increased dysfunctional arousal manifested by higher‐frequency (β) EEG power during sleep.Methods: Twenty‐six alcohol‐dependent in‐patients were examined with polysomnography over 2 nights 2 to 3 weeks after withdrawal. At the 3‐month clinical follow‐up assessment, 12 of them had relapsed and 14 abstained. The control group consisted of 23 healthy subjects similar to the patients with alcohol dependence in age and gender distribution. Spectral sleep EEG analysis was performed on both nights (adaptation and baseline) of all subjects. Logarithmic artifact‐controlled spectral band power of sleep stage 2 and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep was analyzed for Group, Gender, and Age effects using multiple analyses of covariance. Three groups were compared with the Group factor: relapsers, abstainers, and controls.Results: Generally, both Group and Age effects were significant for the second, baseline night for the visually scored sleep parameters, while spectral EEG parameters showed significant differences in the adaptation night. In the adaptation night, a significant enhancement in the β2 band (24–32 Hz) was seen in REM sleep in relapsers relative to both abstainers and controls.Conclusions: The β2 increase could be interpreted as a sign of dysfunctional arousal during REM sleep “unmasked” by the additional stressor of sleep environment adaptation. Its determinants are likely to be both premorbid and drinking history related.
Ethnic Disparities in Clinical Severity and Services for Alcohol Problems: Results from the National Alcohol Survey
Authors: Schmidt Laura A. , Ye Yu , Greenfield Thomas K. , Bond Jason 
Published: December 2006

Background: This study reports lifetime estimates of the extent of unmet need for alcohol services across the 3 largest ethnic groups in America, and examines factors that may contribute to ethnic differences in service use. Prior studies report mixed findings as to the existence of ethnic disparities in alcohol services, with some suggesting that minorities are over‐represented in treatment settings.Methods: Drawing on the most recent National Alcohol Surveys, we compare rates and factors associated with the lifetime service use for alcohol problems among Whites, Blacks, and Hispanics who meet lifetime criteria for alcohol abuse or dependence.Results: While bivariate analyses revealed few ethnic differences in service use, there were significant differences by ethnicity in multivariate models that included alcohol problem severity and its interactions with ethnicity. At higher levels of problem severity, both Hispanics and Blacks were less likely to have utilized services than comparable Whites. Hispanics, on the whole, reported higher‐severity alcohol problems than Whites. Yet, they were less likely to have received specialty treatment and multiple types of alcohol services, and were more likely to cite economic and logistical barriers as reasons for not obtaining care.Conclusions: Future efforts to study ethnic disparities in alcohol services should utilize analytic approaches that address potential confounding between ethnicity and other factors in service use, such as alcohol problem severity. Our findings suggest that Hispanics and Blacks with higher‐severity alcohol problems may utilize services at lower rates than comparable Whites, and that, particularly for Hispanics, this may in part be attributable to financial and logistical barriers to care.
Impact of Age at First Drink on Stress‐Reactive Drinking
Authors: Dawson Deborah A. , Grant Bridget F. , Li Ting‐Kai 
Published: December 2006

Background: Although recent data from animal models indicate that adolescent ethanol exposure increases self‐administered ethanol intake in adult rats, the impact of age at first drink on the association between stress and drinking has not been studied in humans.Methods: Data collected in the 2001 to 2002 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC) were used to estimate the extent to which age at first drink modified the association between stress and average daily volume (ADV) of ethanol intake in a sample of 26,946 past‐year drinkers. Successive models estimated the magnitude and significance of the interaction between age at first drink (ages 14 or younger, 15–17, and 18 or older) and number of stressors (out of 12 past‐year negative life events) after (1) adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, (2) additionally adjusting for family history of alcoholism, comorbid psychopathology, adolescent, and past‐year tobacco and illicit drug use, and (3) additionally adjusting for all other significant interactions with number of stressors.Results: Even after adjusting for a wide range of confounders and their interactions with stress, initiation of drinking at ages 14 and younger increased the association between the number of stressors and ADV of ethanol consumption by 8% (p=0.014), when considering the full range of 12 potential stressors. In fact, the positive association between stress and consumption was significant only for this group of drinkers with early adolescent exposure to ethanol. Within this group, ADV of consumption increased by an average of 7% with each additional stressor experienced, although the exact percentage increase varied as a function of other covariates that had significant interactions with stress. When a reduced set of 4 stressors was considered, the magnitudes of the associations were mostly unchanged, but the modifying effect of age at first drink fell short of statistical significance (p=0.309) in the fully adjusted model.Conclusions: The findings of this study are consistent with the argument that early‐onset drinking may increase stress‐reactive ethanol consumption; however, these findings need to be replicated in an experimental human study in order to control fully the direction of the relationship between stress and consumption.
Effect of rinsing with povidone–iodine on bacteraemia due to scaling: a randomized‐controlled trial
Authors: Cherry Martin , Daly Christopher G. , Mitchell David , Highfield John 
Published: December 2006

AbstractAim: To investigate rinsing with povidone–iodine on bacteraemia caused by ultrasonic scaling.Material and Methods: Sixty patients with gingivitis undertook a randomized, placebo‐controlled trial in which 30 rinsed with 0.9% saline and 30 with 7.5% povidone–iodine for 2 min. before ultrasonic scaling of FDI teeth 31–35. Blood samples before and after 30 s and 2 min. of scaling were cultured by lysocentrifugation.Results: Oral bacteraemia occurred in 33.3% of the saline group and 10% of the povidone–iodine group. Regression analysis showed that rinsing with povidone–iodine was approximately 80% more effective than rinsing with saline in reducing the occurrence of bacteraemia, with a statistically significant odds ratio (OR) of 0.189 (95% confidence intervals, OR=0.043–0.827). There were 24 oral bacterial isolates in the saline group and 3 in the povidone–iodine group. Viridans streptococci comprised 11 of the isolates in the saline group and none in the povidone–iodine group. Bacteraemia magnitude was 0.1 colony‐forming units /ml in the povidone–iodine subjects and 0.1–0.7 CFU/ml in the saline group.Conclusions: Rinsing with 7.5% povidone–iodine reduced the incidence and magnitude of bacteraemia and eliminated viridans streptococci from such bacteraemia. Povidone–iodine rinsing may be helpful for ultrasonic scaling of gingivitis patients at risk of infective endocarditis.
Cellular Localization and Function of the Antiviral Protein, Ovine Mx1 (oMx1): I. Ovine Mx1 Is Secreted By Endometrial Epithelial Cells Via an ‘Unconventional’ Secretory Pathway
Authors: Toyokawa Koji , Carling Stacy J. , Ott Troy L. 
Published: December 2006

ProblemEmbryonic loss is a major contributor to infertility. Understanding factors contributing to embryonic loss will aid in development of technologies to improve/regulate fertility in animals and humans.Method of studyWe tested the hypothesis that the antiviral protein, ovine Mx1 (oMx1), is secreted by uterine epithelial cells. Uterine flushes were obtained from cyclic and early pregnant ewes and examined for levels of oMx1 protein. The pathway for ovine Mx1 secretion in ovine glandular epithelial (oGE) cells was determined using brefeldin A (BFA), an inhibitor of the conventional secretory pathway. Effects of BFA were determined using β2‐microglobulin (β2MG) as a marker for the conventional secretory pathway, and interferon stimulated gene 15 (ISG15) and Galectin‐1 (Gal‐1) as markers for the unconventional secretory pathways.ResultsOvine Mx1 protein levels were low in uterine flushes from cyclic ewes and levels increased in pregnant ewes after D 15. Ovine GE cells secreted oMx1 in response to interferon and secretion was not reduced by BFA, suggesting oMx1 was secreted via an unconventional secretory pathway. β2MG secretion was reduced by BFA, whereas ISG15 and Gal‐1 were not.ConclusionThis is the first report that the antiviral protein, oMx1, is secreted and provides evidence that secretion occurs via unconventional secretory pathway(s).