bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Physical and emotional disturbances in children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy
Authors: Kurnatowski P , Putyński L , Łapienis M , Kowalska B 
Published: February 2008

AbstractObjective:Enlarged tonsils and adenoids (part of Waldeyer's ring) are responsible for obstructive sleep disordered breathing. Obstructive sleep disordered breathing episodes lead to hypoxaemia, hypercapnia and a state of arousal, all of which affect normal development of the nervous system. In this study, two hypotheses were tested: (1) obstructive sleep disordered breathing is caused by adenotonsillar hypertrophy and is associated with hypoxia and brain dysfunction; and (2) children with obstructive sleep disordered breathing more commonly display emotional lability, depressive behaviour and anxiety.Material and methods:A total of 225 children were examined. The study group consisted of 121 children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy (87 aged six to nine years and 34 aged 10 to 13 years) and with obstructive sleep apnoeas and hypopnoeas confirmed by polysomnography. Patients were compared with 104 children with no obstructive sleep disordered breathing and no adenotonsillar hypertrophy (74 aged six to nine years and 30 aged 10 to 13 years). The following tests were used to measure the children's emotional disorders: the children's depression inventory; the state-trait anxiety inventory for children; and the emotional instability scale. The average values and standard deviations were calculated for all results. Student's t-test was used to compare differences in all groups of children. The minimum level of p < 0.05 was set as statistically significant.Results:Children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy are more likely to experience poor brain development and sleep problems. They also have emotional disturbances. In the sick and healthy children aged six to nine years, mean results for the emotional instability scale were statistically significantly different in the two groups, being higher in children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy than in healthy children. Mean values for the children's depression inventory test were higher in children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy, but the differences were not statistically significant. In the state-trait anxiety inventory for children test, the mean T score was T = 1.760 and the level of significance was p = 0.08 for both groups. Since the standard level of significance was p < 0.05, the differences in mean values for the state-trait anxiety inventory for children test bordered on statistical significance. There were no differences between tests results in the older children (10 to 13 years).Conclusions:Recent studies have confirmed the negative emotional effect of adenotonsillar hypertrophy induced obstructive sleep disordered breathing in children aged six to nine years. The main problems are emotional lability, and anxiety and depressive disturbances. Such emotional problems subside in older children (aged 10 to 13 years).
Immunolocalisation of heme oxygenase isoforms in human nasal polyps
Authors: Lo S , Di Palma S , George E , McCombe A W 
Published: February 2008

AbstractBackground:Carbon monoxide is an endogenous vasodilator gas produced by the enzyme heme oxygenase (HO). HO is expressed in human nasal mucosa, but its pathophysiological role in nasal inflammatory diseases is not fully understood. The aim of this study was to detect and compare the expression of HO-1 and -2 isoforms in nasal polyps with normal nasal mucosa.Methods:Immunohistochemical analysis using antibodies specific for HO-1 and -2 was conducted on nasal polyps from nine patients with allergic nasal polyposis, and on normal nasal mucosa from six controls.Results:Intense HO-1 immunoreactivity was observed in nasal polyp epithelium but was absent in normal nasal mucosa. HO-2 staining was observed in respiratory epithelium, vascular endothelium and seromucous glands, with no difference observed between nasal polyps and normal nasal mucosa.Conclusions:HO-1 expression is up-regulated in nasal polyp epithelium, supporting the theory that respiratory epithelium plays a role in the pathogenesis of nasal polyposis.
Effectiveness of X-ray and computed tomography screening for assessing pulmonary involvement in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Leong S C L , Javed F , Elliot S , Mortimore S 
Published: February 2008

AbstractObjectives:To evaluate the benefits of chest computed tomography and X-ray as screening tools in patients with newly diagnosed head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, to determine the incidence of lung metastases or synchronous pulmonary lesions, and to evaluate factors associated with positive radiological findings.Design:Five-year, retrospective survey of all newly diagnosed cases of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.Results:We included 102 patients (63 men and 39 women), with a mean age of 67 years (range 33–91 years). The incidence of pulmonary involvement was 17 per cent. The sensitivity and specificity of computed tomography were 100 and 89.8 per cent, respectively. For chest X-ray, the sensitivity was 35.7 per cent and the specificity 92.7 per cent. The accuracy of computed tomography was 91.5 per cent and that of chest X-ray 83.1 per cent. There was a clear correlation between higher nodal stage and larger tumour with the development of distant metastases. In patients with a positive chest computed tomography scan, 86 per cent had T3or T4tumours, in contrast to 38 per cent of those with a negative chest scan (p < 0.05). In addition, 71 per cent of patients with positive findings had N2or N3nodal disease, compared with 29 per cent of those with negative findings (p < 0.05).Conclusion:There is currently no consensus on the use of chest X-ray and computer tomography for screening newly diagnosed cases of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. We recommend routine scanning of high-staged head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. The National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence guidelines should be reappraised.
Complete recovery of an isolated left vocal fold palsy associated with a benign mediastinal thymic cyst
Authors: Woolley S L , Espeso A , Smith D R K 
Published: February 2008

AbstractObjectives:To present a case of benign mediastinal thymic cyst, and to review the published information on these cysts, including their incidence, presentation, diagnosis and management.Methods:We report the case of a 55-year-old man who presented with a unilateral vocal fold palsy subsequently found to be due to the presence of a benign mediastinal thymic cyst. A literature search was undertaken to identify the incidence, key features and management of this rare condition.Results:Benign mediastinal thymic cysts are a rare cause of mediastinal masses. Usually diagnosed incidentally, their management is usually surgical. Vocal fold palsy in isolation has not previously been reported in association with mediastinal thymic cysts.Conclusion:This report describes what we believe to be the first published case of a completely reversible vocal fold palsy presenting in association with a rare benign mediastinal thymic cyst.
Inner-ear obliteration in ulcerative colitis patients with sensorineural hearing loss
Authors: Kariya S , Fukushima K , Kataoka Y , Tominaga S , Nishizaki K 
Published: February 2008

AbstractObjective:Systemic autoimmune diseases, including ulcerative colitis, may involve the inner ear. Several ulcerative colitis cases presenting with sensorineural hearing loss have been reported. We report the T2-weighted, three-dimensional, inner-ear magnetic resonance imaging findings in the inner ears of two such patients.Methods:Case reports and a review of the literature concerning autoimmune disease and sensorineural hearing loss are presented.Results:We describe two cases of ulcerative colitis with sensorineural hearing loss in which three-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging revealed obliteration of the inner ear. Those inner ears with obliteration had severe hearing loss, and responded poorly to steroid therapy.Conclusion:To our knowledge, there has been no previous published report of the T2-weighted, inner-ear magnetic resonance imaging findings of cases of ulcerative colitis with sensorineural hearing loss. This paper represents the first published report in the world literature of inner-ear obliteration in such patients. Three-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging is beneficial in elucidating the pathophysiology of the inner-ear involvement seen in ulcerative colitis.
Surgical treatment of osteoradionecrosis of the temporal bone in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma
Authors: Xu Y-D , Ou Y-K , Zheng Y-Q , Zhang S-Y 
Published: February 2008

AbstractObjective:To investigate methods of treating diffuse osteoradionecrosis of the temporal bone in cases of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, following radiotherapy.Study design:Retrospective.Methods:Fourteen post-irradiation nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients (n = 14 ears) with diffuse osteoradionecrosis received surgical treatment from March 1994 to May 2005. The patients underwent radical mastoidectomy (five ears), extensive radical mastoidectomy (one ear), or radical mastoidectomy and obliteration with local vascularised fascia flaps (eight ears).Results:Six ears fully recovered; two ears were still infectious but sequestrum had not re-formed; five ears (50 per cent) still had repeated suppuration and did not epithelialise; and one ear had local re-formation of sequestrum requiring periodic dressing changes.Conclusion:Diffuse osteoradionecrosis of the temporal bone following radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma is difficult to treat surgically. The main objective of surgery is to facilitate drainage and to prevent complications. Radical mastoidectomy and obliteration with local vascularised flaps is an effective method.
Phenylthiocarbamide taste perception and susceptibility to motion sickness: linking higher susceptibility with higher phenylthiocarbamide taste acuity
Authors: Sharma K , Sharma P , Sharma A , Singh G 
Published: February 2008

AbstractObjective:This study is the first attempt to link quantified phenylthiocarbamide bitter taste recognition threshold with susceptibility to motion sickness.Subjects:The study was conducted on a sample of 291 teenage Rajput children (146 males and 145 females; age range 13–19 years) from the Sirmour district of Himachal Pradesh, India. Phenylthiocarbamide taste sensitivity was measured by administering a serial dilution of a freshly prepared phenylthiocarbamide solution, following the method of Harris and Kalmus. Motion sickness susceptibility was assessed retrospectively via interview.Results:About 40 per cent of the subjects had experienced motion sickness in the past. The mean and standard deviation of phenylthiocarbamide taste thresholds in non-tasters and tasters were 0.83 ± 0.87 and 7.98 ± 1.86, respectively. A bimodal distribution test (D/S) index of 5.24 confirmed bimodality of phenylthiocarbamide taste threshold distribution. The Mann–Whitney U test rejected the null hypothesis of μ1 = μ2 and thus confirmed the existence of differences in the distributions of phenylthiocarbamide taste threshold between individuals susceptible and not susceptible to motion sickness. Individuals susceptible to motion sickness had lower mean and median taste thresholds, indicating higher phenylthiocarbamide taste sensitivity, compared with non-susceptible individuals. The frequency of non-tasters was about 10 per cent in both motion sickness susceptible and non-susceptible individuals. The simple division of phenylthiocarbamide tasting ability into tasters and non-tasters was a less sensitive criterion with which to measure the association of this ability with motion sickness susceptibility. However, further differentiation of tasters into weak threshold, medium threshold and super threshold (‘supersensitive’) tasters clearly revealed a highly significantly increased risk of motion sickness in super threshold tasters (i.e. threshold solution number ≥12). The ratio of motion sickness susceptible individuals to non-susceptible individuals was 1:1.7 for non-tasters (threshold solution numbers zero to three) and weak and medium tasters (threshold solution numbers four to 11), but the trend was reversed for super threshold tasters (threshold solution numbers 12 and 13), in whom the ratio was 2:1.Conclusion:Individuals exhibiting greater phenylthiocarbamide taste acuity (i.e. supersensitive tasters) had a higher susceptibility to motion sickness than did non-, weak and medium phenylthiocarbamide tasters, as measured in terms of their taste thresholds (i.e. threshold solution numbers zero to 11).
Does tonsillectomy lead to improved outcomes over and above the effect of time? A longitudinal study
Authors: Fox R , Temple M , Owens D , Short A , Tomkinson A 
Published: February 2008

AbstractObjective:To determine the effect of tonsillectomy on morbidity in patients listed for tonsillectomy.Design:Questionnaire survey of 257 children and 159 adults who had been listed for tonsillectomy. The cohort studied had experienced delays of greater than 12 months between being listed for tonsillectomy and undergoing surgery. They had responded to an earlier questionnaire in 2003 regarding morbidity experienced while waiting for surgery. The same questionnaire was presented to them again in 2005. Morbidity experienced in 2003 was compared to that experienced in 2005 in subjects who had and had not proceeded to surgery in the interval.Results:Forty-seven per cent of the cohort had undergone tonsillectomy. The questionnaire response rate was 48 per cent. Respondents reported less morbidity in 2005 than in 2003, whether or not they had had surgery. Respondents who had undergone tonsillectomy reported significantly greater reductions in morbidity than those who had not. Five per cent of children who had undergone tonsillectomy experienced at least three short episodes of tonsillitis in the six months before the questionnaire, compared with 35 per cent of those who had not undergone tonsillectomy (p < 0.001).Conclusions:The morbidity reported by patients suffering from chronic, untreated tonsillitis decreases with time. Tonsillectomy produces significantly greater reductions in morbidity than time alone.
An unusual succinate dehydrogenase gene mutation C in a case of laryngeal paraganglioma
Authors: Garrel R , Raynaud P , Raingeard I , Muyshondt C , Gardiner Q , Guerrier B , Pujol P , Coupier I 
Published: February 2008

AbstractObjective:To report a rare case of a laryngeal paraganglioma related to succinate dehydrogenase gene mutation C.Method:A case report and a review of the world literature concerning succinate dehydrogenase mutations and laryngeal paraganglioma are presented.Results:We identified a laryngeal paraganglioma in a 38-year-old woman, related to a very rare, deleterious in exon 4 of the succinate dehydrogenase mutation C. This mutation was a non-sense mutation: c.183G >A leading to p.Trp61X. No other neuroendocrine tumour was identified in this case, but a thyroid papillary carcinoma was concomitantly discovered and cured.Conclusion:To our knowledge, this is the first report in the world literature of laryngeal paraganglioma related to a succinate dehydrogenase mutation C. The case presented underlines the fact that every patient with paraganglioma should be tested for succinate dehydrogenase genetic mutations, even if a family history of paraganglioma is absent, in order to enable appropriate clinical management and to improve our knowledge of familial paraganglioma.
Long-term effectiveness of antiseptic cream for recurrent epistaxis in childhood: five-year follow up of a randomised, controlled trial
Authors: Robertson S , Kubba H 
Published: February 2008

AbstractObjectives:To determine the long-term outcome for children treated for recurrent epistaxis, and to compare the efficacy of antiseptic cream treatment and nasal cautery.Study design and participants:Retrospective analytical cohort study of 88 children treated for recurrent epistaxis in 2001.Methods:Five-year data on chlorhexidine–neomycin cream usage, nasal cautery, current epistaxis frequency and emergency room attendance was collected by telephone interview and case record review.Results:During their first clinic visit, 51 per cent of the children had been treated with cautery and cream and 35 per cent with cream alone; 14 per cent had received no treatment. Five years later, 65 per cent of these children were still having ongoing epistaxis. Those who had undergone cautery and received cream had the highest ongoing bleeding rate (77 per cent).Conclusion:The majority of children treated at our clinic for recurrent epistaxis had ongoing bleeding five years later. Despite the proven short-term efficacy of chlorhexidine–neomycin cream, few patients receive further courses of cream or are referred back to the clinic.
I-STOD: a new standardization method for analysing indirect-ELISA results of a schistosomiasis field study
Authors: LUO J. , XU J. , ZHANG Y. , SHAN H. , ZHANG S. , ZHANG M. , TU X. , JI M. , CHEN F. , KNOPF P. M. , KURTIS J. , WU G. , WU H.-W. 
Published: February 2008

SUMMARYVariability among samples analysed using the same ELISA protocol generates ambiguity in deciding which assay best quantifies the protein concentration. In this study, we propose a standardization method, called I-STOD (Improved STandardization method for Optical Density), for the transformation of OD values on different plates into relative concentrations of the antibody levels being assessed. We derived an equation relating OD values of different test samples to antibody levels according to the multi-stage reaction dynamics of the indirect-ELISA. Using serum samples from aSchistosomiasis japonicaendemic area, we evaluated the fitness of the I-STOD model to experimental data of a standard reference serum in comparison with 5 other models. Calibration curves fitted by the I-STOD method judged to be superior, based on adjustedR2(adjustedR2>0·99 on 22 out of 26 plates) values. The CV (coefficient of variation) value of the results between multi-well plates and the number of plates with OD values beyond the control range in Shewhart charts also demonstrate that the I-STOD method is a powerful tool which can greatly improve the comparability of results on different multi-well ELISA plates. We conclude that a standardization method is certainly necessary for antibody levels detected in order to properly illustrate clinical differences.
First report of Echinococcus granulosus G8 in Eurasia and a reappraisal of the phylogenetic relationships of ‘genotypes’ G5-G10
Authors: MOKS E. , JÕGISALU I. , VALDMANN H. , SAARMA U. 
Published: February 2008

SUMMARYIn this study, we investigated the presence of the larval stage of the tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus in wild ungulates in Estonia, genetically characterized E. granulosus isolates using mitochondrial gene sequences and used the sequence data, together with those available in a public database, to infer the phylogenic relationships of E. granulosus ‘genotypes’ G5-G10. While 0·8% of the 2038 moose (Alces alces) examined were found to be infected with E. granulosus, the parasite was not detected in other wild ungulates, such as roe deer (Capreolus capreolus: 1044 specimens examined) and wild boar (Sus scrofa: 442 specimens). Genetic analyses of concatenated atp6, nad1 and cox1 gene (1028 bp) sequences revealed that 2 novel E. granulosus haplotypes, namely E8 (11 samples: 69%) and E10 (5 samples: 31%), grouped with E. granulosus G8 and G10, respectively, are present in Estonia. This is the first record of an E. granulosus G8 in Eurasia. Phylogenetic analyses, using 4 different methods, demonstrated with considerable statistical support that E. granulosus G6/7 forms a subgroup together with G10, whereas G8 is a sister taxon to G6/7-G10.
Outdoor environments for people with dementia: an exploratory study using virtual reality
Authors: BLACKMAN TIM , VAN SCHAIK PAUL , MARTYR ANTHONY 
Published: February 2008

ABSTRACTFew studies have investigated how outdoor environments might disable people with dementia. The issue is rarely considered in planning and design guidelines and not at all in regulations, despite dementia being within the scope of disability discrimination legislation in the United Kingdom and other countries. This article reports a study that involved older people with mild to moderate dementias taking two walks, one in a real town centre and one in a virtual reality (VR) simulation. Adaptations were made to the VR simulation to test possible design improvements. Overall, the town centre posed relatively few problems for the 38 older people with dementia who participated, although more difficulty was evident with greater impairment. Some features of particular places were liked more than others, particularly the segregation of spaces from motor traffic. There were measurable benefits from using clear textual signs to support wayfinding and to identify objects and places in the environment. Diminished outdoor activity is likely to be experienced as a decrease in quality of life and may accelerate the progression of dementia. We conclude that older people with mild to moderate dementia should be encouraged to be active outdoors and that this can be facilitated by small environmental modifications. Some limitations of the VR technology used for the study are also reported.
Western retirees in Thailand: motives, experiences, wellbeing, assimilation and future needs
Authors: HOWARD ROBERT W. 
Published: February 2008

ABSTRACTWesterners increasingly retire outside their home countries, and some venture to developing nations. A growing number go to Thailand, usually after working there or after many tourist visits. The present study examined currently and formerly resident Western retirees in Thailand, with a focus on their reasons for migrating to Thailand, their wellbeing and perceived assimilation, the reasons why some leave, and their long-term welfare needs. The principal data source was an online survey of 152 current and former retirees in Thailand. The major reported motives were low living costs, a warm climate, to escape a disliked home nation, like of the Thai lifestyle and culture, and the availability of attractive sexual partners. Most survey respondents had a Thai spouse or live-in partner. The move apparently works out well for most, at least initially. They report positive wellbeing and feel assimilated, but most live with visa insecurity and their assimilation may be partly illusory, as many reported socialising mainly with other foreigners. The major long-term concerns of Western retired men in Thailand are their health-care and welfare needs, income problems, increasing negative local reactions to the influx of Westerners, and the possibility of visa cancellation that would enforce a move elsewhere.
Working beyond the state pension age in the United Kingdom: the role of working time flexibility and the effects on the home
Authors: CEBULLA ANDREAS , BUTT SARAH , LYON NICK 
Published: February 2008

ABSTRACTThe present and future security of employee-pension funding remains at the forefront of public debate across Europe and beyond. In the United Kingdom, to finance future pension entitlements it has been suggested that the state pension age be increased. This paper presents the results of analyses of four major national social surveys that have explored the working and living conditions of workers in paid employment after the state pension age. Comparing the circumstances of these workers with workers just below that age illustrates the extent to which it constitutes a break in the working and domestic lives of older people. The findings suggest that, in order to accommodate older workers in the workplace, more attention may need to be placed on informal as well as contractual arrangements of flexible working. Beyond part-time working, older workers rarely take up additional or alternative flexible working arrangements. At the same time, older workers continue to experience housework as burdensome, while in partnered households the gendered division of domestic labour prevails. Research and policy have yet to consider in depth these risks associated with working longer in life.