bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A Screening Study of Thyroid Cancer and Other Thyroid Diseases among Individuals Exposed in Utero to Iodine-131 from Chernobyl Fallout
Authors: Hatch M. , Brenner A. , Bogdanova T. , Derevyanko A. , Kuptsova N. , Likhtarev I. , Bouville A. , Tereshchenko V. , Kovgan L. , Shpak V. , Ostroumova E. , Greenebaum E. , Zablotska L. , Ron E. , Tronko M. 
Published: December 2008

Abstract
Background: Like stable iodine, radioiodines concentrate in the thyroid gland, increasing thyroid cancer risk in exposed children. Data on exposure to the embryonic/fetal thyroid are rare, raising questions about use of iodine 131 (I-131) in pregnant women. We present here estimated risks of thyroid disease from exposure in utero to I-131 fallout from the Chernobyl nuclear accident.
Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional thyroid screening study (palpation, ultrasound, thyroid hormones, and, if indicated, fine needle aspiration) from 2003 to 2006. Participants were 2582 mother-child pairs from Ukraine in which the mother had been pregnant at the time of the accident on April 26, 1986, or 2 months after the time during which I-131 fallout was still present (1494 from contaminated areas, 1088 in the comparison group). Individual cumulative in utero thyroid dose estimates were derived from estimated I-131 activity in the mother’s thyroid (mean 72 mGy; range 0–3230 mGy).
Results: There were seven cases of thyroid carcinoma and one case of Hurthle cell neoplasm identified as a result of the screening. Whereas the estimated excess odds ratio per gray for thyroid carcinoma was elevated (excess odds ratio per gray 11.66), it was not statistically significant (P = 0.12). No radiation risks were identified for other thyroid diseases.
Conclusion: Our results suggest that in utero exposure to radioiodines may have increased the risk of thyroid carcinoma approximately 20 yr after the Chernobyl accident, supporting a conservative approach to medical uses of I-131 during pregnancy.
The impact of portfolios on health professionals' practice: a literature review
Authors: Kostrzewski Andrzej Jerzy , Dhillon Soraya , Goodsman Danë , Taylor Kevin M G 
Published: December 2008

Abstract

Objectives
The purpose of this paper is to review the literature on the use of a portfolio and discuss the evidence for the impact of a portfolio on professional practice, in particular pharmacy practice.

Method
A literature review was performed using databases from health care and education, namely AMED, BEI, CINAHL, Embase, ERIC, IPA, MedLine, PHARM-LINE, Psycinfo, TIMELIT and ZETOCs, as well as a manual search of relevant journals and documents between 1991 and 2007. The search terms included portfolio, progress files and assessment, and these were linked with pharmacy. Articles were included in the review if they had a focus on the portfolio as a contribution to professional practice.

Key findings
Portfolios have been used in the education field for over decade. A total of 26 out of 1901 papers were identified which examined portfolios in a post-registration setting. The majority of these publications were from medicine (12), with education (six), pharmacy (five) and nursing (three) making up a small proportion. Portfolios were seen as (a) a tool for use in feedback, (b) a useful trigger for reflection and (c) a link between academic learning and practice. A similar set of findings were seen in the educational context. In addition, a portfolio (a) requires motivation to record and (b) can change behaviour towards colleagues.

Conclusions
There is still confusion about the meaning of a professional portfolio in health care professions. It is suggested that portfolios should be classified according to a modified system from the teaching profession. The evidence that portfolios can contribute to practice is limited. This review suggests the need for more studies into the impact of portfolios on professional practice, in particular in a pharmacy context.
Amiodarone-Induced Thyrotoxicosis in a Patient with Autonomously Functioning Nodular Goiter
Authors: Liang Yi-Lin , Huang Shih-Ming , Peng Shu-Ling , Hsiao Shu-Hwa , Hung Hao-Chang , Ou Horng-Yih , Wu Ta-Jen 
Published: December 2008

OBJECTIVE To report on adverse reactions associated with amiodarone and propylthiouracil. CASE SUMMARY A 64-year-old female with atrial fibrillation and nodular goiter progressed to overt thyrotoxicosis after receiving therapy with amiodarone 200 mg/day for less than 12 weeks. Thyroid scan revealed a hyperfunctioning nodule in the left lobe, while immunologic studies were negative for both thyroid peroxidase and thyroglobulin antibodies. The thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) receptor antibody level was transiently elevated. Propylthiouracil 100 mg 3 times/day was started after the withdrawal of amiodarone, but the patient developed severe generalized skin rash, fever, and leukocytosis after 4 weeks. Thyroidectomy was performed, and histopathology was compatible with type 1 amiodarone-induced thyrotoxicosis (AIT) associated with toxic nodular goiter. An objective causality assessment revealed that thyrotoxicosis was probably related to use of amiodarone. DISCUSSION Amiodarone is an antiarrhythmic agent that may cause thyroid dysfunction. Differentiating between the 2 types of AIT is important for implementation of the correct therapeutic strategy. The transient elevation of TSH receptor antibodies in AIT complicated the diagnosis. As a rare subtype, type 1 AIT by nodular goiter may be associated with early AIT. Initiating thyroid function monitoring within 3 months of amiodarone therapy should be considered. CONCLUSIONS Type 1 AIT caused by nodular goiter is rarely reported. Amiodarone should be avoided in such patients and subtotal thyroidectomy to remove the toxic nodule may be the treatment of choice.
Successful Use of Topiramate in a Patient with Severe Postherpetic Neuralgia
Authors: Fowler Jill A , Shen Jason Y , Bettinger Tawny L 
Published: December 2008

OBJECTIVE To describe the case of a patient with postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) who had a marked response to topiramate despite failure of several previous therapies. CASE SUMMARY A 79-year-old white male with multiple medical comorbidities developed severe trigeminal territory PHN requiring treatment with opiates to maintain adequate pain relief. Topiramate was initiated after the patient failed treatment with 4 other antiepileptic medications due to various adverse events. After 3 months of topiramate therapy, with dosages up to 50 mg twice daily, PHN pain had decreased to the point that the patient was able to discontinue the use of opiates entirely. At time of writing, he continued to be maintained on topiramate 50 mg twice daily with good pain relief and no reported adverse effects. DISCUSSION Topiramate exhibits a number of actions that may contribute to the relief of neuropathic pain, including modulation of voltage-gated sodium and calcium channels, potentiation of γ-aminobutyric acid inhibition, and blockade of a-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid (AMPA)/kainite glutamate receptors. Current evidence-based recommendations consider topiramate to be a third-line agent for the treatment of neuropathic pain based on studies of its use in painful diabetic neuropathy and chronic lumbar radicular pain. A comprehensive search of MEDLINE (1950–August 2008) using the terms postherpetic neuralgia, neuralgia, and topiramate revealed only one previously published case report evaluating the use of topiramate specifically for treatment of PHN. CONCLUSIONS While it is impossible to determine whether pain relief in this case was due to treatment with topiramate as opposed to spontaneous resolution of pain over time, this additional case report suggests that topiramate may be a useful treatment option for patients with PHN who have not responded to or are intolerant of other interventions. Further studies are needed to determine whether topiramate should receive a stronger recommendation for the treatment of PHN.
Characterization of Chromosome Ends in the Filamentous FungusNeurospora crassa
Authors: Wu Cheng , Kim Yun-Sik , Smith Kristina M , Li Weixi , Hood Heather M , Staben Chuck , Selker Eric U , Sachs Matthew S , Farman Mark L 
Published: December 2008

AbstractTelomeres and subtelomere regions have vital roles in cellular homeostasis and can facilitate niche adaptation. However, information on telomere/subtelomere structure is still limited to a small number of organisms. Prior to initiation of this project, the Neurospora crassa genome assembly contained only 3 of the 14 telomeres. The missing telomeres were identified through bioinformatic mining of raw sequence data from the genome project and from clones in new cosmid and plasmid libraries. Their chromosomal locations were assigned on the basis of paired-end read information and/or by RFLP mapping. One telomere is attached to the ribosomal repeat array. The remaining chromosome ends have atypical structures in that they lack distinct subtelomere domains or other sequence features that are associated with telomeres in other organisms. Many of the chromosome ends terminate in highly AT-rich sequences that appear to be products of repeat-induced point mutation, although most are not currently repeated sequences. Several chromosome termini in the standard Oak Ridge wild-type strain were compared to their counterparts in an exotic wild type, Mauriceville. This revealed that the sequences immediately adjacent to the telomeres are usually genome specific. Finally, despite the absence of many features typically found in the telomere regions of other organisms, the Neurospora chromosome termini still retain the dynamic nature that is characteristic of chromosome ends.
Nonadditive Expression of Homoeologous Genes Is Established Upon Polyploidization in Hexaploid Wheat
Authors: Pumphrey Michael , Bai Jianfa , Laudencia-Chingcuanco Debbie , Anderson Olin , Gill Bikram S 
Published: December 2008

AbstractEffects of polyploidy in allohexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) have primarily been ascribed to increases in coding sequence variation and potential to acquire new gene functions through mutation of redundant loci. However, regulatory variation that arises through new promoter and transcription factor combinations or epigenetic events may also contribute to the effects of polyploidization. In this study, gene expression was characterized in a synthetic T. aestivum line and the T. turgidum and Aegilops tauschii parents to establish a timeline for such regulatory changes and estimate the frequency of nonadditive expression of homoeologous transcripts in newly formed T. aestivum. Large-scale analysis of nonadditive gene expression was assayed by microarray expression experiments, where synthetic T. aestivum gene expression was compared to additive model values (mid-parent) calculated from parental T. turgidum and Ae. tauschii expression levels. Approximately 16% of genes were estimated to display nonadditive expression in synthetic T. aestivum. A certain fraction of the genes (2.9%) showed overdominance or underdominance. cDNA–single strand conformation polymorphism analysis was applied to measure expression of homoeologous transcripts and further verify microarray data. The results demonstrate that allopolyploidization, per se, results in rapid initiation of differential expression of homoeologous loci and nonadditive gene expression in T. aestivum.
Effects of silymarin supplementation in chronic hepatitis C patients treated with peg-interferon + ribavirin. A placebo-controlled double blind study
Authors: Pár Alajos , Rőth Erzsébet , Miseta Attila , Hegedüs Géza , Pár Gabriella , Hunyady Béla , Vincze Áron 
Published: December 2008

Mivel az oxidatív stressz patogenetikai szerepet játszik krónikus C-hepatitisben, és az antivirális terápiára való tartós virológiai válasz korlátozott HCV1 genotípus fertőzésben, kettős vakvizsgálatban tanulmányoztuk a pegilált interferon + ribavirin kezelésben részesült betegekben az antioxidáns flavonoid silymarin szupportációjának hatását.
Betegek és módszerek:
32 naiv krónikus C-hepatitises beteget pegilált interferon + ribavirin kezelés előtt random két csoportba osztottunk. A) csoport: 16 beteg placebót, B) csoport: 16 beteg naponta per os 2 × 166 mg silymarint kapott 3 hónapig, a betegek 6–12 hónapig mindkét csoportban pegilált interferon + ribavirin terápiában részesültek. Meghatároztuk a szérumban az alanin-aminotranszferáz és a HCV-RNS, a plazma- vagy vörösvértest-hemolizátum malondialdehid-, a szuperoxid-dizmutáz, a kataláz, a glutation-peroxidáz, a mieloperoxidáz és a redukált glutation szintjeit a 0., 1., 3., 6. és 12. hónap után. A tartós virológiai válasz értékelésére a HCV-RNS vizsgálatát az antivirális kezelés befejezését követően 6 hónappal megismételtük.
Eredmények:
A silymarincsoportban a malondialdehidszint gyorsabb csökkenése, a szuperoxid-dizmutáz jelentősebb csökkenése és a mieloperoxidáz jelentősebb növekedése volt észlelhető a 12. hónap után, az alanin-aminotranszferáz normalizálódása 6/16 (vs. kontroll 9/16) esetben, a tartós virológiai válasz 3/16 (vs. 7/16) esetben fordult elő.
Megbeszélés:
Bár az antivirális terápia silymarinnal történt kiegészítése javította az oxidatív stresszt, nem volt igazolható kedvező hatása sem az alanin-aminotranszferáz, sem a tartós virológiai válasz alakulására. Ezek az ellentmondásos leletek feltehetőleg a randomizációval kapcsolatosak, mivel a silymarincsoportban több volt a terápiás válasz negatív prediktora: a betegek idősebbek voltak, magasabb fibrosispontszámmal és súlyosabb oxidatív stresszel. A silibinin HCV-replikációt gátló hatásáról újabban közölt
in vitro
kísérletek és klinikai megfigyelések alapján, több mint háromszoros nagyságú silymarindózissal további kontrollált vizsgálatokat javaslunk krónikus C-hepatitisben az antivirális terápia flavonoidszupportáció-értékének megítélésére.
A Modified Crestal Ridge Expansion Technique for Immediate Placement of Implants: A Report of Three Cases
Authors: Santagata Mario , Guariniello Luigi , D'Andrea Alfredo , Tartaro Gianpaolo 
Published: December 2008

Abstract
Atrophic edentulous jaws can pose a significant challenge to successful oral rehabilitation with endosseous dental implants. Although ridge augmentation can help to restore ridge volume, grafting procedures can significantly increase patient morbidity, costs, and treatment time, depending on the case, before dental implants can be placed. This article reports on an alternative technique used in 3 patients to expand ridge volume and place dental implants in a single procedure. A partial-thickness flap was elevated to expose the alveolar crest, and conventional implant osteotomies were partially prepared. Along the crest of the ridge, a furrow with terminal vertical releases 1 to 3 mm deep were created, and a bone chisel was used to deepen the furrow. Osteotomes were used to complete preparation of the implant receptor sites, and the implants were placed. Bony plates were stabilized through the use of resorbable sutures. Furrows more than 2 mm deep between the plates were augmented with a xenograft. Collegen membranes were placed over the sites, and soft tissue was sutured. Healing was unremarkable, and all implants were successfully restored. For these patients, the ridge expansion technique resulted in substantial bone reconstruction with little or no grafting. Long-term, prospective studies on this procedure are required before definitive conclusions can be drawn.
A New Twist on Surgical Guides
Authors: Bavar Trevor 
Published: December 2008

Abstract
Surgical guides have evolved to the point that they can be created with the aid of computer-assisted tomography (CT) technology. Surgical guides also are used in construction of the prosthesis prior to implant surgery. With existing guide techniques, the prosthesis is screw retained, or cone-shaped temporary abutments may be used to overcome the lack of parallelism of the implants. With the New Twist technique, we are able to create the surgical guide in such a way that optimum bone may be used and the rotational position of the implant may be established for the surgeon and for the laboratory. Custom abutments are inserted at the time of surgery, as is an esthetic, functionally provisional cemented prosthesis. Castings for the finished ceramo-metal bridge are fabricated before surgery is performed. The final prosthesis then is easily constructed by the restorative dentist during just 3 simple patient visits.
Cleft Lip and/or Palate with Monogenic Autosomal Recessive Transmission in Pyrenees Shepherd Dogs
Authors: Kemp Cordula , Thiele Holger , Dankof Anja , Schmidt Gül , Lauster Carola , Fernahl Gabriele , Lauster Roland 
Published: December 2008

Objective: To document the genetic background of Pyrenees shepherd dogs as it relates to the incidence of cleft lip and/or cleft palate, to describe the phenotype, and to determine possible candidate genes. Design: Pedigree analysis was performed and blood samples were taken from five affected pups, their siblings, and parents. Seven candidate genes were selected and linkage analysis was performed. Further methods used included sequencing and histology. Results: In 37 litters consisting of 163 pups, we found 47 affected pups in a total population of 2104. The male:female ratio was 1:0.96. Affected pups showed isolated cleft lip and/or cleft palate; no attendant disorders have been reported. Despite a high degree of relationship, two affected pups displayed a cleft palate (– H S H –) and a cleft lip with or without cleft palate (L A —) cleft formation. Histology of affected pups showed that the medial edge epithelium remained intact and did not undergo an epithelial-mesenchymal transformation. There was no evidence for linkage between the trait and TGFb3 or Msx1. Subsequent sequencing excluded the coding sequence of Fst as well. Conclusion: Pedigree analysis showed that cleft palate is not genetically distinct from cleft lip with or without cleft palate but is inherited in this breed as a monogenic autosomal recessive trait. Linkage analysis and sequencing excluded TGFb3, Msx1, and Fst as candidate genes. Histology of affected pups showed that the medial edge epithelium is still intact.
Abnormalities of Maxillary Anterior Teeth in Chinese Children with Cleft Lip and Palate
Authors: Lai Moon Cheung , King Nigel M. , Wong Hai Ming 
Published: December 2008

Objective: To retrospectively study the anterior maxilla of southern Chinese children with complete cleft lip and palate (CLP) for the prevalence of different kinds of dental anomalies, position and rotation of the teeth, and the asymmetry of dental development. Patients: 195 southern Chinese children with CLP aged between 3 and 17 years. Methods and Materials: Dental records and study casts were studied as were the radiographs from which the dental development was determined. Results: The tooth prevalence of cleft side permanent lateral incisor was 19.2% in unilateral CLP (UCLP) children and 20.5% in bilateral CLP (BCLP) children. The cleft side central incisors were rotated in 78.1% and 95.9% of the teeth in UCLP and BCLP children, respectively. Of the permanent canines, 43.4% were positioned mesially on the cleft side in UCLP children, while for BCLP children 69.7% of the teeth were in a normal position. In addition, the mesially positioned canines were often associated with an absence of the permanent lateral incisor while the distally positioned canines were always associated with the presence of supernumeraries in the cleft region. The permanent teeth on the cleft side showed significantly delayed development compared with their antimeres on the noncleft side; however, the delayed permanent lateral incisors did complete their formation normally. Conclusion: This group of Chinese children with CLP demonstrated statistically significant higher prevalences of hypodontia, microdontia, and delayed dental development on the cleft side than the noncleft side.
Association Analysis between the IRF6 G820A Polymorphism and Nonsyndromic Cleft Lip and/or Cleft Palate in a Chinese Population
Authors: Tang Wei , Du Xinya , Feng Fan , Long Jie , Lin Yunfeng , Li Peng , Liu Lei , Tian Weidong 
Published: December 2008

Objective: To investigate whether an association occurred between the IRF6 G820A polymorphism and nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CL±P) or cleft palate only (CPO) in Chinese patients. Design and Setting: Case-controlled study at the West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, China. Subjects: A total of 91 patients with cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) and 96 unrelated, healthy individuals with no family history of CL/P were genotyped. Methods: The IRF6 G820A polymorphism was genotyped by restriction digestion of polymerase chain reaction products with BseLI. Chi-square statistics were used to make case-controlled comparisons. Results: The frequency of the A allele was significantly increased and the frequency of the G allele was reduced in CPO patients in comparison with control subjects. The 820GG genotype had a significantly lower frequency in patients with CPO than in controls, with an odds ratio of 0.25 (95% confidence interval, −0.061 to 0.57). No difference in the distribution of genotypes was noted between CL±P patients and the total group of CL/P patients compared with controls. Conclusions: The present findings indicate that the 820A allele is more frequent in the Chinese CPO population and may confer an increased risk for CPO in these individuals. The G820A variant may be in linkage disequilibrium with other disorder-causing mutations. CL±P or CPO results should be analyzed separately and stratified in future studies.
Unblocking the Nose by Unplugging the Ear: The Use of Foam Ear Defenders as a Splint following Secondary Cleft Rhinoplasty
Authors: Treharne Linda J. , van der Meulen Jacques J. N. M. 
Published: December 2008

Objective: The functional and aesthetic result from secondary cleft rhinoplasty is commonly impaired by a bulge in the lateral nasal vestibule, which can relapse in the postoperative period despite careful intraoperative correction. We aim to improve our results by using a foam ear defender as a postoperative splint to prevent relapse. Design: Case series of 10 patients with photographs of a typical clinical case. Interventions: The postoperative nasal pack was exchanged with a foam ear defender on day 5. The splint was worn continuously for 3 to 4 weeks, then nightly for 3 months. The splint was changed daily by the patient. Main Outcome Measures: The results were assessed clinically by the senior author. Results: The patients had little or no recurrence of the lateral vestibular bulge following nasal splintage. Conclusions: Foam ear defenders are a simple, cheap, and comfortable method to provide splintage to the nasal vestibule following secondary cleft rhinoplasty.