bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Reports of birthweight by adolescents and their mothers: comparing accuracy and identifying correlates
Authors: Lucia Victoria C. , Luo Zhehui , Gardiner Joseph C. , Paneth Nigel , Breslau Naomi 
Published: October 2006

SummaryBirthweight is associated with health outcomes throughout the lifespan. Official birthweight records are not always available, and researchers must rely on self‐reports for birthweight information. This study evaluates the accuracy of adolescent self‐reports of birthweight, using medical records as a standard, and compares it with maternal reports. It also examines potential correlates of accuracy. Respondents are 17‐year‐old adolescents and their mothers, who participated in a follow‐up study of randomly selected samples from newborn discharge lists (1983–85) of two major hospitals in south‐east Michigan. Nearly one‐quarter of the adolescents stated that they did not know their own birthweight, with males twice as likely as females to respond ‘don’t know’. In addition, self‐reports of birthweight among the remaining adolescents were inaccurate, and accuracy was inversely related to birthweight. While maternal reports of offspring’s birthweight are highly accurate across diverse subgroups of the population, adolescent self‐reports of birthweight are unlikely to be useful in medical research.
Relationships between air pollution and preterm birth in California
Authors: Huynh Mary , Woodruff Tracey J. , Parker Jennifer D. , Schoendorf Kenneth C. 
Published: October 2006

SummaryAir pollution from vehicular emissions and other combustion sources is related to cardiovascular and respiratory outcomes. However, few studies have investigated the relationship between air pollution and preterm birth, a primary cause of infant mortality and morbidity. This analysis examined the effect of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and carbon monoxide (CO) on preterm birth in a matched case–control study. PM2.5 and CO monitoring data from the California Air Resources Board were linked to California birth certificate data for singletons born in 1999–2000. Each birth was mapped to the closest PM monitor within 5 miles of the home address. County‐level CO measures were utilised to increase sample size and maintain a representative population. After exclusion of implausible birthweight–gestation combinations, preterm birth was defined as birth occurring between 24 and 36 weeks’ gestation. Each of the 10 673 preterm cases was matched to three controls of term (39–44 weeks) gestation with a similar date of last menstrual period. Based on the case’s gestational age, CO and PM2.5 exposures were calculated for total pregnancy, first month of pregnancy, and last 2 weeks of pregnancy. Exposures were divided into quartiles; the lowest quartile was the reference. Because of the matched design, conditional logistic regression was used to adjust for maternal race/ethnicity, age, parity, marital status and education.High total pregnancy PM2.5 exposure was associated with a small effect on preterm birth, after adjustment for maternal factors (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.15, [95% CI 1.07, 1.24]). The odds ratio did not change after adjustment for CO. Results were similar for PM2.5 exposure during the first month of pregnancy (AOR = 1.21, 95% CI [1.12, 1.30]) and the last 2 weeks of pregnancy (AOR = 1.17, 95% CI [1.09, 1.27]). Conversely, CO exposure at any time during pregnancy was not associated with preterm birth (AORs from 0.95 to 1.00). Maternal exposure to PM2.5, but not CO, is associated with preterm birth. This analysis did not show differences by timing of exposure, although more detailed examination may be needed.
Absence of CD4+ T Cells Impairs Host Defence of Mice Infected with Fonsecaea pedrosoi
Authors: Teixeira de Sousa M. da Gloria , Ghosn E. E. B. , Almeida S. R. 
Published: October 2006

AbstractChromoblastomycosis is a human chronic, often debilitating, suppurative, granulomatus mycosis of the skin and subcutaneous tissues beginning after inoculation trauma. It occurs worldwide, but is more frequently observed in tropical countries such as Brazil. Some studies have focused on fungus–host interaction, showing a predominantly cell‐mediated immune response, with the activation of macrophages involved in fungus phagocytosis. Immunization with live conidia produced a high influx of CD4 T cells into the draining lymph node. The sensitized T cells proliferate in vitro when restimulated with specific antigen and preferentially produce IFN‐ γ. To better characterize the role played by T cells on the chromoblastomycosis infection we used mice deficient for CD4 and CD8. Data determined by CFU counts associated with decreased DTH and IFN‐γ production of infected mice clearly demonstrated that, during experimental F. pedrosoi infection, absence of CD4+ cells induces a more severe disease.
Prospective predictors of suicide and suicide attempts in 1,556 patients with bipolar disorders followed for up to 2 years
Authors: Marangell Lauren B , Bauer Mark S , Dennehy Ellen B , Wisniewski Stephen R , Allen Michael H , Miklowitz David J , Oquendo Maria A , Frank Ellen , Perlis Roy H , Martinez James M , Fagiolini Andrea , Otto Michael W , Chessick Cheryl A , Zboyan Holly A , Miyahara Sachiko , Sachs Gary , Thase Michael E 
Published: October 2006

Objectives:  Bipolar disorders are associated with high rates of suicide attempts (SAs) and completions. Several factors have been reported to be associated with suicide in persons with bipolar disorder, but most studies to date have been retrospective and have not utilized multivariate statistics to account for the redundant prediction among variables submitted for analysis.Methods:  This study examined the association between baseline clinical and demographic variables and subsequent SAs and completions through 2 years of follow‐up of participants in the Systematic Treatment Enhancement Program for Bipolar Disorder using a pattern‐mixture model.Results:  Of the sample with complete data (n = 1,556), 57 patients (3.66%) experienced an SA or completion (CS). Several variables predicted suicidality (SA + CS) in this data set when considered alone, but after controlling for redundant prediction from other baseline characteristics, only history of suicide [odds ratio (OR) = 4.52, p < 0.0001] and percent days depressed in the past year (OR = 1.16, p = 0.036) were significantly associated with SAs and completions. A secondary analysis included a greater number of variables but a smaller sample size (n = 1,014). In the secondary analyses, only prior SAs predicted prospective suicidality (OR = 3.87, p = 0.0029).Conclusions:  These results indicate that patients with bipolar disorder who present with a history of SAs are over four times as likely to have a subsequent SA or completion. Further studies are needed to evaluate and prevent future attempts in this high‐risk cohort.
Comparison of Romifidine and Medetomidine Pre‐medication in Propofol–Isoflurane Anaesthetised Dogs
Authors: Gómez‐Villamandos R. J. , Domínguez J. M. , Redondo J. I. , Martín E. M. , Granados M. M. , Ruiz I. , Santisteban J. M. 
Published: October 2006

SummaryThe objective of this paper was to evaluate romifidine as a pre‐medicant in dogs prior to propofol–isoflurane anaesthesia, and to compare it with medetomidine. For this, eight healthy dogs were anaesthetised. Each dog received three pre‐anaesthetic protocols: R40 (romifidine, 40 μg/kg, IV), R80 (romifidine, 80 μg/kg, IV) or MED (medetomidine, 10 μg/kg, IV). Induction of anaesthesia was delivered with propofol and maintained with isoflurane. The following variables were studied before sedative administration and 10 min after sedative administration: heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), systolic arterial pressure (SAP) and diastolic arterial pressure (DAP) and respiratory rate (RR). During maintenance, the following variables were recorded at 5‐min intervals: HR, MAP, SAD, DAP, arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2), end‐tidal CO2(EtCO2), end‐tidal concentration of isoflurane (EtISO) required for maintenance of anaesthesia and tidal volume (TV). Time to extubation, time to sternal recumbency and time to standing were also registered. HR and RR experimented a significantly decreased during sedation in all protocols respect to baseline values. Mean HR, MAP, SAP, DAP, SpO2, EtCO2, and TV during anaesthesia were similar for the three protocols. End tidal of isoflurane concentration was statistically similar for all protocols. Recovery time for R40 was significantly shorter than in R80 and MED. The studied combination of romifidine, propofol and isoflurane appears to be an effective drug combination for inducing and maintaining general anaesthesia in healthy dogs.
Effect of Seminal Plasma Fractions on Stallion Sperm Survival after Cooled Storage
Authors: Akcay E. , Reilas T. , Andersson M. , Katila T. 
Published: October 2006

SummaryThis study aimed to evaluate stallion sperm survival after 24 h of cooled storage in the presence of seminal plasma (SP) derived from the sperm‐rich fractions (SRF) or sperm‐poor fractions(SPF) of the ejaculate, without SP, or in the presence of SP from other stallions. Ejaculates were collected from four stallions using an automated phantom, which separated the semen into five cups. Centrifuged and washed spermatozoa from cup 2 (SRF) were mixed with skim milk extender to a concentration of 100 × 106 sperm/ml and then 1:1 (v/v) with SP from the stallion's own or another stallions’ second (SP‐SRF) or last cup (SP‐SPF). Skim milk extender (K) and skim milk extender supplemented with modified Tyrode's medium (KMT) were used as control treatments. After a 24‐h storage period in a transport container, spermatozoa were evaluated for motion characteristics and plasma membrane integrity by calcein acetoxymethyl (AM)/propidium iodide staining. The percentage of spermatozoa with intact plasma membranes after storage was lower in SP‐SRF than in SP‐SPF, and the highest in K (P < 0.05). Progressive motility (PMOT) was lower for sperm stored in SP‐SRF than for sperm stored in SP‐SPF (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference in total motility (TMOT). Sperm stored in KMT (P < 0.05) registered the highest TMOT and PMOT percentages. Osmolarity was significantly higher and pH lower in K than in KMT or SP. Treatment with SP‐SPF from three stallions benefited the PMOT of sperm from one stallion. These preliminary findings suggest that SP from SRFs may be more harmful during storage than SP from SPFs. Removal of SP improves sperm survival in KMT extender, and exchanging SP between stallions seems to influence sperm survival.
EFFECTS OF TROLOX ON NERVE DYSFUNCTION, THERMAL HYPERALGESIA AND OXIDATIVE STRESS IN EXPERIMENTAL DIABETIC NEUROPATHY
Authors: Sharma Shyam S , Sayyed Sufyan G 
Published: October 2006

SUMMARY

Diabetic neuropathy is one of the most common complications of diabetes and oxidative stress has been implicated to play a major role in its pathophysiology.
In the present study, we targeted oxidative stress using trolox, an anti‐oxidant, in streptozotocin‐induced diabetic neuropathy in rats.
Compared with control rats, diabetic rats showed significant deficits in motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV; 49.91 ± 1.94 vs 42.77 ± 1.39 m/s, respectively) and nerve blood flow (NBF; 107.98 ± 8.22 vs 38.9 ± 2.7 arbitarary perfusion units, respectively) after 8 weeks of diabetes. Tail flick latencies for cold and hot immersion tests were also significantly reduced in diabetic rats, indicating thermal hyperalgesia. These observations indicate development of diabetic neuropathy.
A significant decrease in the activity of anti‐oxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase and catalase) and an increase in lipid peroxidation were observed in sciatic nerves from diabetic rats compared with age‐matched control rats. Alterations in the activity of anti‐oxidant enzymes and lipid peroxidation in diabetic rats indicate oxidative stress in diabetic neuropathy.
Two weeks treatment with trolox (10 and 30 mg/kg, i.p.) started on completion of the 6th week of diabetes significantly improved MNCV, NBF and inhibited thermal hyperalgesia. Trolox treatment also improved the activity of anti‐oxidant enzymes and inhibited lipid peroxidation in sciatic nerves of diabetic rats.
The results of the present study suggest the beneficial effects of trolox in experimental diabetic neuropathy.
Impact of antenatal screening on the presentation of infants with congenital heart disease to a cardiology unit
Authors: Chew Colleen , Stone Sunita , Donath Sussan M , Penny Daniel James 
Published: October 2006

Aim:  Antenatal diagnosis of congenital heart disease (CHD) facilitates prenatal treatment and optimal perinatal care. This has been demonstrated to improve perinatal mortality and morbidity in neonates with CHD. Thus, antenatal diagnosis of CHD is most likely to benefit patients who require surgery in early infancy. We aimed to examine the frequency of antenatal diagnosis in neonates presenting to The Royal Children’s Hospital severe CHD.Methods:  Main outcome measures were antenatal diagnosis and whether the individual lesion would have been expected to be detected on a four‐chamber view or four‐chamber and outflow tract view during a routine obstetric anomaly ultrasound. Poisson regression was used to estimate the average trend over the study period.Results:  A total of 610 patients met the inclusion criteria, of whom 164 had an antenatal diagnosis (26.8%). If routine ultrasound screening was ideal, we would have expected 63.9% of cases to be detected on four‐chamber view and 83.6% on four‐chamber and outflow tract view. Trend analysis demonstrated an annual rate of improvement of 9% in actual versus expected antenatal diagnosis of CHD. Malformation‐specific analysis showed that antenatal detection was the highest for double inlet/outlet ventricle (51.3%, 95% confidence interval 34.8–67.6%) and the lowest for simple transposition of the great arteries (15.6%, 95% confidence interval 9.0–24.5).Conclusion:  Despite mass screening for congenital malformations in Victoria with routine antenatal ultrasounds, a large proportion of neonates with severe congenital heart disease still present without an antenatal diagnosis.
Oral baclofen in children with cerebral palsy: A double‐blind cross‐over pilot study
Authors: Scheinberg Adam , Hall Kate , Lam Lawrence T , O’Flaherty Stephen 
Published: October 2006

Aim:  To assess the effectiveness of oral baclofen in reducing spasticity and improving function in children with cerebral palsy.Methods:  A double‐blind, randomised cross‐over pilot study of oral baclofen versus placebo. Assessment tools included the Goal Attainment Scale, Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory, Modified Tardieu Scale and parent questionnaire.Results:  Fifteen children with mean age 7.4 years (SD = 2.7 years) and spastic or spastic/dystonic quadriplegia (Gross Motor Function Classification System Level IV or V) were enrolled. Children scored significantly better on the Goal Attainment Scale with baclofen compared with placebo (F(1,13) = 4.5, P = 0.05). There was no significant difference between baclofen and placebo for the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory or Modified Tardieu Scale. Parent questionnaire results are described.Conclusion:  This pilot study demonstrates that oral baclofen has an effect beyond placebo in improving goal‐oriented tasks, such as transfers, in children with spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy.
Heart valve calcifications in patients with end‐stage renal disease: Analysis for risk factors
Authors: TARRASS FAISSAL , BENJELLOUN MERYEM , ZAMD MOHAMED , MEDKOURI GHISLAINE , HACHIM KHADIJA , BENGHANEM MOHAMED GHARBI , RAMDANI BENYOUNES 
Published: October 2006

SUMMARY:Background:  The prevalence of valve calcification (VC) in end‐stage renal disease patients is high and information regarding risk factors is scarce. Our aims were to determine the prevalence of VC in our maintenance haemodialysis (HD) population and to examine some possible aetiologic factors for its occurrence.Methods:  We studied 90 patients (47 women) on maintenance HD for more than 12 months. An M‐mode two‐dimensional echocardiogram was carried out to evaluate mitral, aortic VC and ventricular geometry. We calculated mean daily calcium intake for the phosphate intestinal chelaing in the previous year to echocardiogram date and also mean values from previous year of Ca, PO4, Ca × PO4, parathyroid hormone, lipide profile, nutritional and inflammatory marquers. Finally consumption of calcium and alfacalcidol was also noted.Results:  Thirty‐six patients (40%) presented with VC. Patients with VC were older and showed higher levels of serum calcium (92.00 ± 7.54 vs 89.27 ± 6.86 mg/L, P = 0.04), phosphorus (69.70 ± 18.33 vs 44.90 ± 12.43 mg/L, P < 0.0001), Ca × P product (6164.97 ± 1797.64 vs 4024.70 ± 1066.40 mg2/L2, P < 0.0001) and poor ventricular geometry, as compared with patients without VC. Moreover, they required higher doses of alfacalcidol for treating secondary hyperparathyroidism (0.43 ± 0.60 vs 0.11 ± 0.46 µg/day, P < 0.0001).Conclusion:  Findings of the present study are consistent with a role of altered calcium and phosphate metabolism in the pathogenesis of VC in HD patients.
Pulmonary tuberculosis presenting as community‐acquired pneumonia
Authors: LIAM Chong‐Kin , PANG Yong‐Kek , POOSPARAJAH Shyamala 
Published: October 2006

Objective and background:  The aims of this study were to investigate the frequency of Mycobacterium tuberculosis as a cause of community‐acquired pneumonia (CAP) requiring hospitalization in Malaysia, and to define the clinical features of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) that distinguish it from non‐TB CAP.Methods:  A prospective study was performed on consecutive non‐immunocompromised patients aged 12 years and older, who were hospitalized for CAP.Results:  Of a total of 346 patients hospitalized for CAP, the aetiological agent was identified in 163 patients (47.1%). M. tuberculosis was isolated in 17 patients (4.9%). Multivariate analysis revealed that the following features were significantly associated with culture‐positive PTB: duration of symptoms of more than 2 weeks before hospital admission (odds ratio (OR) 25.10; 95% confidence interval (CI) 4.63–136.05; P < 0.001), history of night sweats (OR 5.43; 95% CI 1.10–26.79; P = 0.038), chest radiograph showing upper lobe involvement (OR 8.23; 95% CI 1.59–42.53; P = 0.012) or cavitary infiltrates (OR 19.41; 95% CI 2.94–128.19; P = 0.002), total white blood cell count on admission of 12 × 109/L or less (OR 6.28; 95% CI 1.21–32.52; P = 0.029) and lymphopenia (OR 4.73; 95% CI 1.08–20.85; P = 0.040).Conclusion:  Mycobacterium tuberculosis was not an uncommon cause of CAP requiring hospitalization in Malaysia. A longer duration of symptoms, history of night sweats, upper lobe involvement, cavitary infiltrates, lower total white blood cell count and lymphopenia were predictive of PTB.
Chronic necrotizing pulmonary aspergillosis as a complication of pulmonary Mycobacterium avium complex disease
Authors: KOBASHI Yoshihiro , FUKUDA Minoru , YOSHIDA Kouichiro , MIYASHITA Naoyuki , NIKI Yoshihito , OKA Mikio 
Published: October 2006

Objective and background:  To investigate the characteristic clinical features of chronic necrotizing pulmonary aspergillosis (CNPA) as a complication of pulmonary Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) disease.Methods:  Clinical analysis of nine cases without a history of old pulmonary tuberculosis in whom CNPA was found to be a complication during the follow‐up period for MAC disease.Results:  The average duration from the diagnosis of pulmonary MAC disease to the diagnosis of CNPA was 36.0 months. Five patients received antituberculous therapy including clarithromycin for pulmonary MAC disease, but this treatment was ineffective in most. A positive culture for Aspergillus spp. from sputum and a bronchoscopic specimen and clinical evidence of a chronic infective process were recognized in all cases at the time of detection of CNPA. Serological fungal examinations for anti‐Aspergillus IgG antibody were initially negative and became positive in all cases during the follow‐up period of pulmonary MAC disease. The presence of CNPA surrounding the cavity previously caused by MAC was characterized by local thickening of the cavity with a fungus ball and the appearance of an infiltration shadow surrounding the cavity. In most of the cases, CNPA was at first treated with oral itriconazole and then with i.v. infusion of micafungin, but the clinical efficacy was generally poor.Conclusion:  The results of this study showed that during the long follow‐up period of patients with pulmonary MAC disease it is important to not only carry out serological examinations, but also perform radiological examinations using chest CT.
Comparison of Natural and Dumon airway stents for the management of benign tracheobronchial stenoses
Authors: RYU Yon Ju , KIM Hojoong , YU Chang‐Min , CHOI Jae Chul , KWON Yong Soo , KIM Jhingook , SUH Soo Won 
Published: October 2006

Objective and background:  To investigate the utility and safety of the ‘Natural stent’, a newly designed silicone airway stent, the authors compared clinical outcomes and complications in patients who underwent silicone airway stenting for the management of benign airway stenosis.Methods:  The medical records of 94 patients requiring the placement of 100 airway stents (43 Dumon and 57 Natural) were retrospectively reviewed in a tertiary referral hospital.Results:  Post‐tuberculous stenosis was the leading indication for airway stenting (74%), followed by post‐intubation stenosis (21%). After intervention, dyspnoea improved in patients who underwent Dumon (90%) and Natural (86%) stenting. After stabilizing dyspnoea, stents could be successfully removed in half of the patients who underwent Dumon (54%) or Natural (49%) stenting. During a 42‐month follow‐up period, complication rates were similar in patients who underwent Dumon or Natural stenting.Conclusion:  Natural airway stent was as effective and safe as Dumon stent for the management of benign tracheobronchial stenoses.
Accuracy of endoscopic ultrasound staging of gastric cancer in routine clinical practice in Singapore
Authors: ANG Tiing Leong , NG Tay Meng , FOCK Kwong Ming , TEO Eng Kiong 
Published: October 2006

OBJECTIVE:  Endoscopic ultrasound has emerged as the leading modality to assess the T and N stage in gastric cancer. This study aimed to assess the accuracy of TN staging by endoscopic ultrasound in routine clinical practice in Singapore.METHODS:  Over a period of 7 years, 77 patients (male: 70%; median age 62.8 years) with gastric cancer underwent preoperative staging with endoscopic ultrasound. Fifty‐seven patients eventually underwent surgery with tissues available for histopathological staging and comparison.RESULTS:  The tumor locations were: cardia: 13; corpus: 20; incisura: 19; antrum: 25. The majority was poorly differentiated (57.1%); 26% were moderately differentiated and 16.9% were well differentiated adenocarcinoma. Compared to pathological staging, the overall accuracy of T staging by endoscopic ultrasound was 77.2% (17.5% under‐staged: 5.3% over‐staged). The staging accuracy of T1 (92.9%) and T3 (81.8%) was higher than T2 (57.1%) and T4. For N staging, the accuracy of endoscopic ultrasound was 59.6% (26.3% under‐staged; 14% over‐staged); this was significantly superior to computer tomography (43.9%).CONCLUSION:  Endoscopic ultrasound is useful for the T staging of gastric cancer, with an overall accuracy rate of 77%, and up to 93% for T1 lesions. Under‐staging may occur due to microscopic tumor infiltration, while over‐staging may arise due to inflammatory reactions. The accuracy of N staging is lower at 60%, but could be further improved with the use of fine needle aspiration.