bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Methylprednisolone does not restore biological response in multiple sclerosis patients with neutralizing antibodies against interferon‐β
Authors: Hesse D. , Frederiksen J. L. , Koch‐Henriksen N. , Schreiber K. , Stenager E. , Heltberg A. , Ravnborg M. , Bendtzen K. , Sellebjerg F. , Sorensen P. S. 
Published: December 2008

Background and purpose:  Neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) appearing during treatment with Interferon‐beta (IFN‐β) reduce or abolish bioactivity and therapeutic efficacy. Initial combination therapy with methylprednisolone (MP) may reduce the frequency of NAb positive patients. We hypothesized that MP treatment might also reduce NAb levels and re‐establish IFN‐β bioactivity in patients already NAb+, who discontinue IFN‐β therapy.Methods:  In a 6‐month open‐label trial, we compared monthly high‐dose pulsed MP treatment in 38 Nab positive patients with 35 NAb+, MP‐untreated control patients discontinuing any therapy or switching to glatiramer acetate. All patients were NAb+ with an absent in vivo response to IFN‐β. NAbs were measured using a cytopathic effect assay and expressed as neutralizing capacity (NC) in percentage of added IFN‐β. Bioactivity was expressed as in vivo Myxovirus Resistance Protein A (MxA) mRNA induction in whole blood using real time PCR.Results:  At the end of study, median NAb NC was 92% in both groups. Eight patients (21%) in the MP group and four patients (11%) in the control group had regained an in vivo MxA response to IFN‐β (P = 0.35).Conclusions:  Monthly pulsed MP treatment in NAb positive patients has no beneficial effect on NAb status or IFN‐β bioactivity.
Impairment of short‐term memory and Korsakoff syndrome are common in AIDS patients with cytomegalovirus encephalitis
Authors: Pirskanen‐Matell R. , Grützmeier S. , Nennesmo I. , Sandström E. , Ehrnst A. 
Published: December 2008

Background and purpose  The diagnosis of cytomegalovirus encephalitis (CMV‐E) in AIDS patients is challenging as other illnesses may obscure the symptoms. Here, we characterize the clinical symptoms of CMV‐E and link them to post‐mortem findings.Patients and methods  In 254 homosexual men with AIDS, followed from HIV diagnosis to death before the antiretroviral combination therapy era, CMV‐E was suspected in 93 cases. All were CMV‐positive in blood. Neurological examination, including cognitive testing was performed in 34 of them within 6 months before death. CMV‐E was diagnosed by CMV‐PCR in cerebrospinal fluid (n = 24) or by post‐mortem (n = 24).Results  The majority complained of forgetfulness (91%), balance difficulties (85%) and impotence (85%). Impaired short‐term memory was present in 29 patients. It was extreme in 17, justifying the diagnosis of Korsakoff’s syndrome. This was often associated with infectious CMV in blood (P = 0.01). Brainstem symptoms were found in 19 patients. Post‐mortem examination often revealed ventriculoencephalitis. CMV was found primarily around the ventricles and in other structures, described in Korsakoff′s syndrome.Conclusion  The location of CMV in the brain corresponded well to the clinical findings, demonstrating the close relationship between the neurological symptoms and the neuroanatomical lesions.
Profile of health‐related quality of life in Nigerian stroke survivors
Authors: Owolabi M. O. , Ogunniyi A. 
Published: December 2008

Background and purpose:  No study using a stroke‐specific measure has been previously conducted to determine the profile of health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) in Nigerian stroke patients. Such a study is pre‐requisite to planning of patient‐centered rehabilitative care aimed at maximizing HRQOL improvement. Our objectives were to develop and validate a stroke‐specific HRQOL measure, and determine the profile of HRQOL using it.Methods:  The HRQOL in stroke patients (HRQOLISP) questionnaire was developed and administered to 100 stroke patients and a control group of 100 age‐ and gender‐matched healthy adults. The Stroke Levity Score (SLS) and modified Rankin Scale (mRS) were applied to measure stroke severity and disability respectively.Results:  The HRQOLISP surpassed the Nunnaly’s criterion for reliability and was able to discriminate between stroke (HRQOLsum = 73.5 ± 9.1) and normal subjects (HRQOLsum = 84.4 ± 6.9, P = 0.002). It differentiated strokes of various severities in the physical dimension (physical, psychological, cognitive and social domains). SLS and mRS correlated only to the domains in the physical dimension.Conclusion:  The HRQOLISP demonstrated good content, construct and discriminant validity and internal consistency reliability. Stroke had a multifaceted effect on HRQOL, which was more pronounced in the physical dimension.
Development of a new semi‐quantitative non‐invasive method for evaluating ventricular stroke work
Authors: Cheng Mu‐Hua , Rao Guo‐Hui , Zhou Han‐Jian , Xu Jie‐Hua , Zhang Feng 
Published: December 2008

AbstractBackground and aim:  Ventricular stroke work (SW) is one of the best indices to evaluate ventricular function, however, the SW monitoring mainly depends on the invasive method with the artery catheter. In this paper, our aim is to develop a new semi‐quantitative non‐invasive method for evaluating ventricular SW.Methods:  The multiple gated cardiac blood pool imaging was done in 25 patients with coronary artery disease and 12 normal controls. A new parameter, the relative stroke work (RSW) of left ventricle, was calculated using an equation derived from the principle of hydrodynamics. The left ventricular SW was analyzed by stroke volume (SV) and mean arterial pressure. Ejected fraction (EF), peak ejected rate (PER) and peak filling rate (PFR) were gotten with the routine software in imaging device.Results:  The left ventricular RSW was linearly correlated with the SW. The RSW was related to the SV, EF, PER and PFR of the left ventricle. The RSW had regressive relation with SV and PER. The RSW in patients, same as SW, SV, EF, PFR and PER, was noticeably lower than that in normal controls, P<0·01.Conclusion:  The RSW is a potential and valuable clinical index for evaluation of the ventricular function.
Partner support and marital satisfaction: Support amount, adequacy, provision, and solicitation
Authors: LAWRENCE ERIKA , BUNDE MALI , BARRY ROBIN A. , BROCK REBECCA L. , SULLIVAN KIERAN T. , PASCH LAURI A. , WHITE GRACE A. , DOWD CHRISTINA E. , ADAMS ERIN E. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractTo compare the extent to which (a) amount versus adequacy of received support and (b) support provision versus solicitation behaviors predict marital satisfaction, married couples from the United States (N= 275) provided perceptions of received support and participated in 2 support transactions. Actor–partner interdependence modeling and structural equation modeling techniques were employed. Husbands’ perceptions of support adequacy predicted marital satisfaction more than their perceptions of support amount, whereas the results were generally the opposite for wives. Husbands’ provision and wives’ solicitation behaviors predicted marital satisfaction. Results suggest the need to move beyond simple counts of support received to examining support adequacy—and the various behaviors and roles involved in supportive transactions—to enhance theories of support and relationship functioning.
Gender and Rulership in the Medieval German Empire
Authors: Fößel Amalie 
Published: December 2008

AbstractThis article discusses queens’ and empresses’ powers, and the changing scope of their activities, in the Medieval German Empire. As a consors regni and partner in politics, queens and empresses played prominent roles in public life and influenced political decisions in the tenth, eleventh and twelfth centuries. Then, in the course of subsequent centuries, the idea of the queens’ partnership in ruling the realm increasingly disappeared. Some of their duties lapsed, while other responsibilities were taken over by the nobility. Queens could still participate in decision making by influencing the King, but more and more they had to carve out a sphere of action for and by themselves. By the later Middle Ages, queens held political power and exercised rulership in the royal family's hereditary territories, but not in the Empire as a whole.
Surgical Repair of Mid‐body Proximal Sesamoid Bone Fractures in 25 Horses
Authors: BUSSCHERS EVITA , RICHARDSON DEAN W. , HOGAN PATRICIA M. , LEITCH MIDGE 
Published: December 2008

Objective—To describe the characteristics of unilateral mid‐body proximal sesamoid bone (PSB) fractures, to determine factors associated with the outcome of horses after surgical repair, and to describe a technique for arthroscopically assisted screw fixation in lag fashion.Study Design—Retrospective case series.Animals—Horses (n=25) with unilateral mid‐body PSB fracture.Methods—Medical records (1996–2006), radiographs, and arthroscopic videos of horses with surgically repaired unilateral mid‐body PSB fractures were reviewed. Retrieved data included signalment, affected limb and PSB, fracture characteristics, and surgical technique. Outcome was established by radiographic assessment of healing and race records; categorical data were analyzed using Fisher's Exact test.Results—Medial forelimb PSBs were most commonly affected (80%). Surgical technique and degree of reduction were significantly associated with outcome; 44% of horses with screw repair and none of the horses with wire fixation raced (P=.047). Factors that may have influenced this outcome were differences in fracture reduction (improved reduction in 22% wire repairs and 88% screw repairs,P=.002) and use of external coaptation (22% wire repair and 88% lag screw repair,P=.002). None of the horses with unimproved reduction raced after surgery.Conclusions—Only 28% of horses with mid‐body PSB fractures raced after surgery. Compared with wire fixation, screw fixation in lag fashion resulted in good reduction and is seemingly a superior repair technique.Clinical Relevance—For mid‐body PSB fractures, arthroscopically assisted screw fixation in lag fashion and external coaptation for anesthesia recovery and initial support provides the best likelihood of return to athletic use.
Nomenclature and Definitions for Emergency Department Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Testing: Report from the 2007 Conference of the National Emergency Department HIV Testing Consortium
Authors: Lyons Michael S. , Lindsell Christopher J. , Haukoos Jason S. , Almond Gregory , Brown Jeremy , Calderon Yvette , Couture Eileen , Merchant Roland C. , White Douglas A.E. , Rothman Richard E. ,   on behalf of the National Emergency Department HIV Testing Consortium
Published: December 2008

AbstractEarly diagnosis of persons infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) through diagnostic testing and screening is a critical priority for individual and public health. Emergency departments (EDs) have an important role in this effort. As EDs gain experience in HIV testing, it is increasingly apparent that implementing testing is conceptually and operationally complex. A wide variety of HIV testing practice and research models have emerged, each reflecting adaptations to site‐specific factors and the needs of local populations. The diversity and complexity inherent in nascent ED HIV testing practice and research are associated with the risk that findings will not be described according to a common lexicon. This article presents a comprehensive set of terms and definitions that can be used to describe ED‐based HIV testing programs, developed by consensus opinion from the inaugural meeting of the National ED HIV Testing Consortium. These definitions are designed to facilitate discussion, increase comparability of future reports, and potentially accelerate wider implementation of ED HIV testing.
Can Patients with Brain Herniation on Cranial Computed Tomography Have a Normal Neurologic Exam?
Authors: Probst Marc A. , Baraff Larry J. , Hoffman Jerome R. , Wolfson Allan B. , Ourian Ariel J. , Mower William R. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractObjectives:  Herniation of the brain outside of its normal intracranial spaces is assumed to be accompanied by clinically apparent neurologic dysfunction. The authors sought to determine if some patients with brain herniation or significant brain shift diagnosed by cranial computed tomography (CT) might have a normal neurologic examination.Methods:  This is a secondary analysis of the National Emergency X‐Radiography Utilization Study (NEXUS) II cranial CT database compiled from a multicenter, prospective, observational study of all patients for whom cranial CT scanning was ordered in the emergency department (ED). Clinical information including neurologic examination was prospectively collected on all patients prior to CT scanning. Using the final cranial CT radiology reports from participating centers, all CT scans were classified into three categories: frank herniation, significant shift without frank herniation, and minimal or no shift, based on predetermined explicit criteria. These reports were concatenated with clinical information to form the final study database.Results:  A total of 161 patients had CT‐diagnosed frank herniation; 3 (1.9%) had no neurologic deficit. Of 91 patients with significant brain shift but no herniation, 4 (4.4%) had no neurologic deficit.Conclusions:  A small number of patients may have normal neurologic status while harboring significant brain shift or brain herniation on cranial CT.
Ambulance Diversion as a Proxy for Emergency Department Crowding: The Effect on Pediatric Mortality in a Metropolitan Area
Authors: Shenoi Rohit P. , Ma Long , Jones Jennifer , Frost Mary , Seo Munseok , Begley Charles E. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractObjectives:  The objective was to determine the prevalence of emergency department (ED) ambulance diversion among Houston pediatric hospitals and its association with mortality of pediatric patients.Methods:  Hospital diversion and patient data between August 2002 and December 2004 were used to examine the impact of diversion on mortality of children under age 18 years. Patients were assumed to be exposed to ED crowding if diversion and admission or ED arrival times overlapped. Univariate and logistic regression were performed to determine if diversion was associated with mortality while controlling for age, illness severity, injury, and transfer status.Results:  Mean hospital diversion hours as a percentage of operating hours were 10.58 (standard deviation [SD] ± 9). Overall, of 63,780 admissions, there were 4,095 (6.4%) children admitted during diversion. Fewer severely ill patients were admitted during diversion than nondiversion times (odds ratio [OR] = 0.72; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.66 to 0.78). The presence of diversion was protective for mortality (OR = 0.51; 95% CI = 0.34 to 0.77) in bivariate analysis. Mortality was associated with presence of major or extreme illness (OR = 60.7; 95% CI = 45.2 to 81.5), injury (OR=1.7; 95% CI = 1.4 to 2.1), and transfer status (OR = 6.3; 95% CI = 5.4 to 7.3). Using conditional logistic regression, major or extreme illness (OR = 50.7; 95% CI = 37.7 to 68.3), injury (OR 3.7; 95% CI = 2.9 to 4.7), and transfer (OR = 2.7; 95% CI = 2.2, 3.2) were associated with mortality, but diversion did not show any association with mortality. After combining ED and inpatient deaths, no association between diversion and mortality was observed.Conclusions:  Hospital diversion due to ED crowding is common in pediatrics. The authors found no evidence of an association between diversion and ED and inpatient pediatric mortality.
A Comparison of Salicylic Acid Levels in Normal Subjects after Rectal versus Oral Dosing
Authors: Maalouf Roger , Mosley Mark , James Kallail K. , Kramer Karen M. , Kumar Gaurav 
Published: December 2008

AbstractObjectives:  The common practice is to use 162 mg of aspirin orally in the emergency department (ED) for patients presenting with myocardial infarction. If the patient cannot take aspirin orally in the authors’ facility, then 600 mg of aspirin is given rectally. However, no strong evidence exists as to whether the oral and rectal doses provide equivalent risk protection. The authors hypothesized that the salicylic acid levels for orally and rectally administered aspirin will not be similar, because of the different dosages used and the different routes of administration.Methods:  The study sample consisted of healthy, nonpregnant, adult volunteers without active illness, who did not take any medication regularly. Each subject served as his or her own control to account for any confounding factors. The study was conducted on 2 days, separated by a 1‐week washout period. On the first day, 162 mg of oral aspirin was chewed and swallowed. Salicylic acid levels were obtained at baseline (i.e., before taking the aspirin) and then 30, 60, and 90 minutes after dosing. The 600‐mg aspirin suppository was self‐administered 1 week later with a sample for laboratory measures again drawn at baseline and then 30, 60, and 90 minutes after dosing.Results:  Twenty‐four subjects completed the study. The rectal suppository provided significantly more salicylic acid into the blood than the oral tablets over 90 minutes (p < 0.001). No statistical difference was noted between oral and rectal administration from baseline to 30 minutes (p > 0.05). However, mean salicylic acid levels from the rectal suppository were statistically higher than from the oral tablets from 30 to 60 minutes (p < 0.001) and from 60 to 90 minutes (p = 0.002). More than 60% of the subjects had an increasing salicylic acid level response over time to the rectal suppository. The salicylic acid level response to the oral administration was more evenly divided between those subjects whose salicylic acid levels peaked quickly and then fell or held steady (33%), those whose salicylic acid levels increased over time (29%), and those whose salicylic acid levels were measureable only after 60 minutes (25%). Although not statistically significant, these differences in group distributions for the type of salicylic acid level response between oral and rectal doses suggested the possibility of a rectal advantage.Conclusions:  Whether the higher salicylic acid levels and faster absorption of the rectal aspirin translate into better clinical outcomes is unknown and cannot be concluded from our study. Previous evidence, however, has shown that 162 mg of aspirin chewed and swallowed provided lower mortality in patients presenting with myocardial infarction. Our results suggested the rectal administration of a 600‐mg suppository provides sufficient levels of salicylic acid within 90 minutes to meet or exceed that of oral aspirin.
Intrinsic competition between two oligophagous parasitoids, Sturmiopsis parasitica and Cotesia sesamiae, attacking the same life stages of lepidopteran cereal stemborers
Authors: Mucheru O. M. , Jiang N. , Kongoro J. , Bruce A. Y. , Schulthess F. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractHost acceptability and suitability of four cereal stemborers (Lepidoptera) commonly occurring in eastern Africa, Sesamia calamistis Hampson, Busseola fusca (Fuller) (both Noctuidae), Chilo partellus Swinhoe (Crambidae), and Eldana saccharina Walker (Pyralidae), for a West African strain of Sturmiopsis parasitica (Curran) (Diptera: Tachinidae) were assessed. In addition, the outcome of multi‐parasitism was studied using a local strain of the endoparasitic Cotesia sesamiae Cameron (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) as the competing parasitoid. Various parasitism sequences and time intervals between parasitism were chosen. Parasitism increased linearly with the number of planidia used per larvae and was 80% with eight planidia. All species were accepted for larviposition, but suitability varied greatly; parasitism was 75.2, 37.9, 34.8, and 23.8% with S. calamistis, B. fusca, E. saccharina, and Ch. partellus, respectively. Sturmiopsis parasitica outcompeted Co. sesamiae irrespective of the time interval between parasitism, and whether it was the first or second species to parasitize. This was mainly due to a longer egg‐to‐cocoon development time and a high cocoon‐to‐adult mortality in Co. sesamiae. The implications of these results for expanding the geographic range of the West African strain of the tachinid in Africa are discussed.
Discrimination of the age of conspecific eggs by an ovipositing ectoparasitic wasp
Authors: Lebreton Sébastien , Labarussias Maureen , Chevrier Claude , Darrouzet Eric 
Published: December 2008

AbstractThe recognition and avoidance of already parasitized hosts is a major issue in parasitoid behavioural ecology. A key factor affecting the fitness reward expected from superparasitism is the probability that the second or subsequent egg laid on a host will win the contest with the first‐laid egg. The present study investigated the ability of females of the solitary ecto parasitoid Anisopteromalus calandrae Howard (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) to (i) discriminate between unparasitized Callosobruchus maculatus (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) hosts and those parasitized by a conspecific, and (ii) discriminate between a host parasitized by an egg just laid (2 h) and one parasitized by an egg about to hatch (28 h). However, they did not adjust their offspring sex ratio on already parasitized hosts compared to unparasitized ones. Our results show that A. calandrae females can discriminate between parasitized and unparasitized hosts, as they lay more eggs on the latter. The probability of the second or subsequent egg laid on a host (superparasitism) winning the contest with a conspecific increases as the time between the two ovipositions decreases. Consequently, parasitoid females should lay more eggs on recently parasitized hosts than on those that have been parasitized for a long time (i.e., when the first eggs are about to hatch), and that is indeed what they were found to do. To increase their fitness in spite of the presence of already parasitized hosts, A. calandrae females have developed highly discriminative capacities regarding the parasitism status of hosts.
Fungal loline alkaloids in grass–endophyte associations confer resistance to the rice leaf bug, Trigonotylus caelestialium
Authors: Shiba Takuya , Sugawara Koya 
Published: December 2008

AbstractPlant symbiotic fungi (endophytes) of the genus Neotyphodium [anamorphs, asexual derivatives of Epichloë (Ascomycota: Clavicipitaceae)] often associate with grass species of the subfamily Pooideae, which includes important forage and turf species. These endophytes are known to produce a range of alkaloids that enhance their host's resistance to insects or are toxic to grazing animals. Among the alkaloids, loline alkaloids (saturated 1‐aminopyrrolizidines) are generally observed in the highest concentrations in many Neotyphodium–grass symbiotic associations, and are known to be toxic to insects but not to mammals. Some Neotyphodium‐infected grasses have enhanced resistance to rice leaf bug, Trigonotylus caelestialium (Kirkaldy) (Heteroptera: Miridae), one of the major pests for rice production in Japan. Our laboratory experiments quantified the effects of purified loline (N‐formylloline) and in planta synthesis of loline alkaloids by meadow fescue [Lolium pratense (Huds.) S.J. Darbyshire (syn. Festuca pratensis Huds.)]–Neotyphodium uncinatum (Gams, Petrini & Schmidt) Glenn, Bacon & Hanlin and Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.)–Neotyphodium occultans Moon, Scott & Christensen associations on the development and survival of T. caelestialium. No‐choice feeding assays with laboratory populations of the insect revealed that their growth was significantly decreased by the infected grasses, and the effect was greater for N. uncinatum than for N. occultans, in keeping with differences in N‐formylloline concentrations in the plants. Artificial feeding of N‐formylloline through feeding sachets indicated that the chemical has an adverse effect on survival of larvae, even at the lowest concentration tested (50 µg/g), which was considerably lower than the typical concentrations in many Neotyphodium–grass associations. The results confirmed the ability of Neotyphodium‐infected forage grasses to control T. caelestialium propagation in meadows, which may cause damages to nearby rice paddies.