bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Safety of external fixation during postoperative chemotherapy
Authors: Tsuchiya H. , Shirai T. , Morsy A. F. , Sakayama K. , Wada T. , Kusuzaki K. , Sugita T. , Tomita K. 
Published: June 2008

We studied the safety of external fixation during post-operative chemotherapy in 28 patients who had undergone distraction osteogenesis (17, group A) or vascularised fibular grafting (11, group B) after resection of a tumour. Four cycles of multi-agent post-operative chemotherapy were administered over a mean period of 14 weeks (6 to 27). The mean duration of external fixation for all patients was 350 days (91 to 828). In total 204 wires and 240 half pins were used. During the period of post-operative chemotherapy, 14 patients (11 in group A, 3 in group B) developed wire- and pin-track infection. A total of ten wires (4.9%) and 11 half pins (4.6%) became infected. Seven of the ten infected wires were in periarticular locations. External fixation during post-operative chemotherapy was used safely and successfully for fixation of a vascularised fibular graft and distraction osteogenesis in 27 of 28 patients. Post-operative chemotherapy for malignant bone tumours did not adversely affect the ability to achieve union or cause hypertrophy of the vascularised fibular graft and had a minimal effect on distraction osteogenesis. Only one patient developed osteomyelitis which required further surgery.
Perthes’ disease
Authors: Canavese F. , Dimeglio A. 
Published: June 2008

Children presenting with Perthes’ disease before their sixth birthday are considered to have a good prognosis. We describe 166 hips in children in this age group. The mean age at onset of the disease was 44 months (22 to 72). Mild forms (Catterall I and II) were treated conservatively and severe forms (Catterall III and IV) either conservatively or operatively. The aim of the former treatment was to restrict weight-bearing. Operative treatment consisted of innominate osteotomy and was indicated by a Conway type-B appearance on the bone scan. All the patients were followed to skeletal maturity with a mean follow-up of 11 years (8 to 15). The end results were evaluated radiologically using the classifications of Stulberg and Mose. A total of 50 hips were Catterall grade-I or grade-II, 65 Catterall grade-III and 51 Catterall grade-IV. All hips with mild disease had a good result at skeletal maturity. Of the hips with severe disease 78 (67.3%) had good (Stulberg I and II), 26 (22.4%) fair (Stulberg III) and 12 (10.3%) poor results (Stulberg IV and V). Of the Catterall grade-III hips 38 were treated conservatively of which 31 (81.6%) had a good result, six (15.8%) a fair and one (2.6%) a poor result. Operative treatment was carried out on 27 Catterall grade-III hips, of which 21 (77.8%) had a good, four (14.8%) a fair and two (7.4%) a poor result. By comparison conservative treatment of 19 Catterall grade-IV hips led to ten (52.7%) good, seven (36.8%) fair and two (10.5%) poor results. Operative treatment was carried out on 32 Catterall grade-IV hips, of which 16 (50.0%) had a good, nine (28.1%) a fair and seven (21.9%) a poor result. We confirm that the prognosis in Perthes’ disease is generally good when the age at onset is less than six years. In severe disease there is no significant difference in outcome after conservative or operative treatment (p > 0.05). Catterall grade-III hips had a better outcome according to the Stulberg and Mose criteria than Catterall grade-IV hips, regardless of the method of treatment.
Behaviour–emotional characteristics of primary‐school children rated as having language problems
Authors: Lundervold A. J. , Heimann M. , Manger T. 
Published: June 2008

Background Primary‐school teachers are expected to detect problems related to language function, but the teachers' evaluations may be heavily influenced by gender and classroom behaviour.Aim To investigate the relationship between language problems (LPs) and behaviour–emotional problems as rated by primary‐school teachers.Methods All participants participated in a population‐based study, the Bergen Child Study (BCS). Teachers of 9,072 children and parents of 6,234 children completed forms containing questions pertaining to language function and the strengths and difficulties questionnaire (SDQ) to screen for behaviour–emotional problems. LP was defined as a score above the 95th percentile on the sum score of five language items. Children achieving a total SDQ score above the 90th percentile were defined as high scorers, indicating a high risk for behavioural–emotional problems.Results Based on teacher reports, 540 children were defined as having LP, more boys (N = 366) than girls. Children defined as having LP were reported to have significantly higher scores on all SDQ subscales, and a higher total difficulty score than children without language problems (NLP). More LP boys than LP girls were defined as high scorers on the SDQ, with the highest effect size on the hyperactivity–inattention subscore. The agreement between teachers and parents was moderate to low, with the highest consensus of behaviour–emotional problems in children with LP.Conclusions Primary‐school children defined as having LP according to their teachers are frequently characterized by behavioural–emotional problems. Further assessment is warranted for primary‐school children defined as having LP by their teachers.
Accessibility of salient beliefs about the outcomes of physical activity
Authors: Scott Emma J. , Eves Frank F. , Hoppé Roberta , French David P. 
Published: June 2008

Objectives. Attitudes may influence behaviour through both deliberative and automatic processes. To investigate the automatic influences of attitudes, this study explores the accessibility of modally salient beliefs about physical activity outcomes using response latency measures.Design. Response latencies for modally salient beliefs for physically activity outcomes were compared with latencies for non‐salient, hygiene outcomes. Possible relationships between self‐report and response latency was assessed between‐ and within‐subjects.Method. Regularly active participants (N=148) completed a computer‐based response latency task in which they indicated whether an outcome, for example more fit, was a likely or unlikely consequence of six different physical activities, for example go running. Self‐reports of the likelihood of these outcomes, their importance, intentions to participate in the physical activities and frequency of participation were obtained.Results. As expected, the physical activity outcomes were more accessible than control outcomes. In addition, the outcome strong heart was less accessible than the outcomes more fit and have fun. There was only weak evidence, however, of any relationship between self‐reports and the accessibility of the physical activity outcomes.Conclusion. Response latency data may represent a source of between‐subject variation that differs from self‐report. Discussion focuses on the possible origins of such a discrepancy.
Transdermal Lovastatin Enhances Fracture Repair in Rats
Authors: Gutierrez Gloria E , Edwards James R , Garrett Ian R , Nyman Jeffry S , McCluskey Brandon , Rossini Gianni , Flores Alda , Neidre Daria B , Mundy Gregory R 
Published: July 2008

Abstract
Statins have been shown to stimulate BMP2 transcription and bone formation. This raises the possibility that they could be useful for enhancing rates of fracture repair. Observational studies in patients treated with oral statins for lipid-lowering have been controversial. The likely reason for their inconsistent effects is that the statin concentration reaching the periphery was too low after oral administration to produce a reproducible biologic effect. Thus, we examined the effects of lovastatin (LV) given transdermally in a well-described preclinical model of fracture repair. Effects on the healing fracture callus were assessed by biomechanical strength, radiographs, and quantitative morphology. LV was administered transdermally (TD) for 5 days after fracture in several doses (0.1–5 mg/kg/d) and compared with vehicle-treated control rats and rats treated with LV by oral gavage (PO) at 5–25 mg/kg/d for 5 days from the day of fracture. Radiological evaluation of bones treated with TD LV showed enhanced fracture repair at 2 and 6 wk. BMD in the callus area at 6 wk was also increased in the TD group compared with vehicle-treated controls (p &lt; 0.05). The force required to break TD-treated bones (0.1 mg/kg/d for 5 days) was 42% greater than vehicle-treated controls (p &lt; 0.02), and there was a 90% increase in stiffness (p &lt; 0.01). PO LV at much higher doses (10 and 25 mg/kg/d) showed increased stiffness but no change in other biomechanical properties. By histological examination, a significant increase was also observed in the size of the callus, surrounding proliferating cell nuclear antigen–positive cells, and osteoblast and osteoclast number in TD-treated rats compared with controls at day 8 after fracture (n = 6). In summary, we found that TD LV in low doses accelerates fracture healing, whereas 10-fold the lipid-lowering dose was required to produce any effect when it was administered orally. These studies provide valuable information on the potential of statins and TD delivery as a new and effective therapeutic modality in fracture repair.
Annexin-Mediated Matrix Vesicle Calcification in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells
Authors: Chen Neal X , O'Neill Kalisha D , Chen Xianming , Moe Sharon M 
Published: July 2008

Abstract
In bone, osteoblasts and chondrocytes synthesize matrix vesicles (MVs) that interact with collagen to initiate calcification. MVs have been identified in human calcified arteries but are poorly characterized. The objective of this study is to determine the role of annexins and fetuin-A in MV formation and activity during calcification in bovine vascular smooth muscle cells (BVSMCs). BVSMCs were treated with control or calcification (high phosphorus) media, and cellular MVs were isolated by collagenase digestion and secreted MVs were isolated from cultured media by ultracentrifugation. The results showed that alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was significantly increased in MVs from calcified BVSMCs compared with noncalcified BVSMCs, as was annexin II and VI content and 45Ca uptake. We also determined that MVs from calcifying BVSMCs could mineralize type I collagen but not type II collagen in the absence of cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Blockade of annexin calcium channel activity by K201 significantly decreased ALP activity and reduced the ability of the MVs to subsequently calcify on collagen, whether the K201 was added during or after MV formation. Furthermore, cellular MVs had significantly increased ability to calcify on collagen compared with secreted MVs, likely because of their increased ALP activity and annexin II content but low fetuin-A content. In conclusion, our results suggest that mineralization in VSMCs requires both active MVs and an interaction of the MVs with type I collagen, and both steps require annexin activity.
Connexin 43 Is Required for the Anti-Apoptotic Effect of Bisphosphonates on Osteocytes and Osteoblasts In Vivo
Authors: Plotkin Lilian I , Lezcano Virginia , Thostenson Jeff , Weinstein Robert S , Manolagas Stavros C , Bellido Teresita 
Published: July 2008

Abstract
Connexin (Cx)43 is required for inhibition of osteocyte and osteoblast apoptosis by bisphosphonates in vitro. Herein, we evaluated its requirement for the in vivo actions of bisphosphonates using mice in which Cx43 was deleted specifically from osteocytes and osteoblasts (Cx43ΔOb−Ot/− mice). Effective removal of Cx43 was confirmed by the presence of the deleted form of the gene and by reduced mRNA and protein expression in osteoblastic cells and bones obtained from Cx43ΔOb−Ot/− mice. The amino-bisphosphonate alendronate (2.3 μmol/kg/d) was injected daily into 5-mo-old female mice (n = 6–11) for 31 days, starting 3 days before implantation of pellets releasing the glucocorticoid prednisolone (2.1 mg/kg/d). Cx43ΔOb−Ot/− mice and their littermates (Cx43fl/−, Cx43ΔOb−Ot/+, and Cx43fl/+) gained bone with similar kinetics and exhibited identical bone mass from 2 to 4.5 mo of age, indicating that Cx43 deletion from osteocytes and mature osteoblasts does not impair bone acquisition. In addition, prednisolone induced a similar increase in osteocyte and osteoblast apoptosis in Cx43ΔOb−Ot/− or in control Cx43fl/− littermates. However, whereas alendronate prevented prednisolone-induced apoptosis in control Cx43fl/− mice, it was ineffective in Cx43ΔOb−Ot/− mice. In contrast, alendronate inhibited glucocorticoid-induced bone loss in both type of animals, suggesting that inhibition of resorption is the predominant effect of alendronate against the early phase of glucocorticoid-induced bone loss. Taken together with earlier in vitro evidence, these findings show that Cx43 is required for the anti-apoptotic effect of bisphosphonates on osteocytes and osteoblasts.
Accuracy in clinical chemistry – who will kiss Sleeping Beauty awake?
Authors: Thienpont Linda M. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractTriggered by recent criticism from parties outside the clinical chemistry community on poor analytical accuracy of measurement procedures used for evaluating the calcium-parathyroid hormone-vitamin D axis, I argue, in this opinion paper, strongly in favor of prioritizing the establishment of accuracy. I make a proposal on how the clinical chemistry profession could tackle the challenges focused at the conceptual, technical, and organizational level. The profession should “rehearse” the basic concepts of measurement, because they need to be understood before one can look for pragmatic solutions when a purist's approach cannot be realized in a foreseeable time. This is illustrated for the measurement of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). To solve problems encountered at the technical level of establishing reference measurement systems, in particular when this is not possible according to the point of view of purism, the profession should have the courage to agree on pragmatic solutions, without neglecting, however, the technical progress. This is exemplified by way of a solution for measurement of FT4 in serum water and TSH. Because the technical question is also inseparably connected to the specification of the analytical quality required for measurements, I propose that the profession sets realistic specifications for calibration tolerance, limits for batch acceptance, linearity, etc. Last but not least, I call upon organizing and implementing the accuracy process with utmost care, i.e., in a concerted action with all parties involved in patient care. The driving force towards accuracy should come from the test developers, while the lead should be taken by the clinical chemistry community, itself being guided by the clinical professions.Clin Chem Lab Med 2008;46:1220–2.
Development of a risk-based environmental management tool for drilling discharges. Summary of a four-year project
Authors: Singsaas Ivar , Rye Henrik , Frost Tone Karin , Smit Mathijs GD , Garpestad Eimund , Skare Ingvild , Bakke Knut , Veiga Leticia Falcao , Buffagni Melania , Folium Odd-Arne , Johnsen Ståle , Moltu Ulf-Einar , Reed Mark 
Published: June 2008

Abstract
This paper briefly summarizes the ERMS project and presents the developed model by showing results from environmental fates and risk calculations of a discharge from offshore drilling operations. The developed model calculates environmental risks for the water column and sediments resulting from exposure to toxic stressors (e.g., chemicals) and nontoxic stressors (e.g., suspended particles, sediment burial). The approach is based on existing risk assessment techniques described in the European Union technical guidance document on risk assessment and species sensitivity distributions. The model calculates an environmental impact factor, which characterizes the overall potential impact on the marine environment in terms of potentially impacted water volume and sediment area. The ERMS project started in 2003 and was finalized in 2007. In total, 28 scientific reports and 9 scientific papers have been delivered from the ERMS project (http://www.sintef.no/erms).
Estimation of bioavailability of metals from drilling mud barite
Authors: Neff Jerry M 
Published: June 2008

Abstract
Drilling mud and associated drill cuttings are the largest volume wastes associated with drilling of oil and gas wells and often are discharged to the ocean from offshore drilling platforms. Barite (BaSO4) often is added as a weighting agent to drilling muds to counteract pressure in the geologic formations being drilled, preventing a blowout. Some commercial drilling mud barites contain elevated (compared to marine sediments) concentrations of several metals. The metals, if bioavailable, may harm the local marine ecosystem. The bioavailable fraction of metals is the fraction that dissolves from the nearly insoluble, solid barite into seawater or sediment porewater. Barite-seawater and barite-porewater distribution coefficients (Kd) were calculated for determining the predicted environmental concentration (PEC; the bioavailable fraction) of metals from drilling mud barite in the water column and sediments, respectively. Values for Kdbarite-seawater and Kdbarite-porewater were calculated for barium, cadmium, chromium, copper, mercury, lead, and zinc in different grades of barite. Log Kdbarite-seawater values were higher (solubility was lower) for metals in the produced water plume than log Kdbarite-porewater values for metals in sediments. The most soluble metals were cadmium and zinc and the least soluble were mercury and copper. Log Kd values can be used with data on concentrations of metals in barite and of barite in the drilling mud-cuttings plume and in bottom sediments to calculate PECseawater and PECsediment.
Guidance for evaluating in vivo fish bioaccumulation data
Authors: Parkerton Thomas F , Arnot Jon A , Weisbrod Anne V , Russom Christine , Hoke Robert A , Woodburn Kent , Traas Theo , Bonnell Mark , Burkhard Lawrence P , Lampi Mark A 
Published: June 2008

Abstract
Currently, the laboratory-derived fish bioconcentration factor (BCF) serves as one of the primary data sources used to assess the potential for a chemical to bioaccumulate. Consequently, fish BCF values serve a central role in decision making and provide the basis for development of quantitative structure-property relationships (QSPRs) used to predict the bioaccumulation potential of untested compounds. However, practical guidance for critically reviewing experimental BCF studies is limited. This lack of transparent guidance hinders improvement in predictive models and can lead to uninformed chemical management decisions. To address this concern, a multiple-stakeholder workshop of experts from government, industry, and academia was convened by the International Life Sciences Institute Health and Environmental Sciences Institute to examine the data availability and quality issues associated with in vivo fish bioconcentration and bioaccumulation data. This paper provides guidance for evaluating key aspects of study design and conduct that must be considered when judging the reliability and adequacy of reported laboratory bioaccumulation data. Key criteria identified for judging study reliability include 1) clear specification of test substance and fish species investigated, 2) analysis of test substance in both fish tissue and exposure medium, 3) no significant adverse effects on exposed test fish, and 4) a reported test BCF that reflects steady-state conditions with unambiguous units. This guidance is then applied to 2 data-rich chemicals (anthracene and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin) to illustrate the critical need for applying a systematic data quality assessment process. Use of these guidelines will foster development of more accurate QSPR models, improve the performance and reporting of future laboratory studies, and strengthen the technical basis for bioaccumulation assessment in chemicals management.
Towards the assessment and management of contaminated dredged materials
Authors: Agius Suzanne J , Porebski Linda 
Published: June 2008

Abstract
Environment Canada's Disposal at Sea Programme hosted the Contaminated Dredged Material Management Decisions Workshop in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, on 28–30 November 2006. The workshop brought together over 50 sediment assessment and management experts from academic, industrial, and regulatory backgrounds and charged them with drafting a potential framework to assess contaminated dredged materials and compare the risks of various disposal alternatives. This article summarizes the recommendations made during the workshop concerning the development of sediment assessment tools, the interpretation of these tools, and the essential attributes of a comparative risk assessment process. The major outcomes of the workshop include a strong recommendation to develop a national dredging or sediment management strategy, a potential decision-making framework for the assessment of dredged materials and comparative risk assessment of disposal options, and the expansion of minimum sediment characterization requirements for nonroutine disposal permit applications.
Demonstration of a landscape-scale approach for predicting acute copper toxicity to larval fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) in surface waters
Authors: Van Genderen Eric J , Klaine Stephen J 
Published: June 2008

Abstract
Watersheds have historically been used as the appropriate spatial classification unit for managing water resources. However, geology, soil type, predominant vegetation, and climate have obvious influences on water quality and are not constrained by watercourses or political boundaries. This concept has evolved for several decades and developed the concept of ecoregions and other spatial schemes. While this approach to water resource management has considered the interaction between water quality and biological integrity (aquatic community structure and assemblage), it has not been applied in the context of predicting aquatic toxicity. As such, a previously published study providing a chemical and toxicological data set consisting of 24 sampling sites in South Carolina, USA, and was used to develop empirical models for predicting acute copper (Cu) toxicity to larval fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas). Moreover, numerous spatial classifications (hydrologic units, ecoregions, stream order, adjacent land use, and proximity to certain land uses) and seasonality were used to delineate sites and develop empirical models based on these different classifications. An independent sampling and testing regime was implemented to determine the performance of the empirical models and whether certain classifications could be used to extrapolate toxicity data across spatial landscapes. Additionally, a computational model (biotic ligand model [BLM]) for deriving site-specific water quality criteria for Cu also was used as a reference for current regulatory application. Empirical models based on delineations of stream order, hydrologic unit, and downstream distance to urbanization accurately predicted at least 60% of the observed Cu toxicity values within the supplemental data set. Delineations based on adjacent land use, ecoregions, and seasons were not as useful for predicting acute Cu toxicity but demonstrated better performance than the BLM.