bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Responses of Heterodera glycines and Meloidogyne incognita to exogenously applied neuromodulators
Authors: Masler E.P. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractBiogenic amines regulate important behaviours in nematodes and are associated with pharyngeal activity in plant-parasitic nematodes. A robust behavioural assay based upon nematode body movements was developed to expand the study of these and other neuroregulators in plant-parasitic nematodes. Dopamine, octopamine and serotonin each had significant but differing effects on the behaviour of soybean cyst nematode Heterodera glycines and root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita juveniles. Body movement frequency was increased twofold in H.glycines by 5 mM dopamine (P = 0.0001), but decreased by 50 mM dopamine in H. glycines (88%) and M. incognita (53%) (P < 0.0001). Movement frequency in both species was increased by 50–70% (P < 0.0001) by 50 mM octopamine, and 5 mM octopamine increased M. incognita movement frequency more than twofold (P < 0.0001). Movement frequency in each species was reduced by more than 90% by 5 mM serotonin (P < 0.0001). While amplitude of body movement in H. glycines was unaffected by any amine, it was significantly reduced in M.incognita by all amines (P < 0.0006). Stylet pulsing frequencies in either species were unaffected by dopamine or octopamine, but 5 mM serotonin stimulated pulsing in H. glycines by nearly 13-fold (P < 0.0001) and in M. incognita by more than 14-fold (P < 0.0001). The invertebrate neuropeptide FLRFamide (N-Phe-Leu-Arg-Phe) increased M. incognita body movement frequency 45% (P = 0.02) at 1 mM but did not affect stylet activity. Finally, H. glycines egg hatch was completely suppressed by 50 mM serotonin, and partially suppressed by 50 mM dopamine (75%; P < 0.0001) and 50 mM octopamine (55%; P < 0.0001).
Genitourinary schistosomiasis among pre-primary schoolchildren in a rural community within the Cross River Basin, Nigeria
Authors: Opara K.N. , Udoidung N.I. , Ukpong I.G. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractIn Africa, most schistosomiasis control programmes defined the age 5–19 years as the target population for nationwide control through the school systems, excluding the under fives. A study was therefore undertaken to determine the prevalence and intensity of genitourinary schistosomiasis in children aged 0–5 years (pre-primary) in Adim, a rural and endemic community within the Cross River Basin, Nigeria. Of the 126 children examined, 25 (19.8%) were infected with Schistosoma haematobium, with no significant difference (P > 0.05) in infection rates between boys (21.1%) and girls (18.2%). Both prevalence and intensity of infection increased significantly (P < 0.05) with age. The overall geometric mean egg count was 5.9 eggs/10 ml urine. There was no significant association (P > 0.05) between intensity in boys (6.2 eggs/10 ml urine) and girls (5.6 eggs/10 ml urine). A total of 32.5 and 27.8% of the children had haematuria and proteinuria, respectively; it was not gender specific (P > 0.05). Six species of snail were encountered, with Bulinus globosus being the most abundant and widespread. The results of this study have shown that pre-primary schoolchildren are a source of transmission of schistosomiasis in endemic communities and should be integrated into any control intervention.
Longevity ofEchinostoma caproniin Balb/c mice
Authors: Fried B. , Peoples R.C. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractThis study used Balb/c mice to examine the longevity ofEchinostoma caproni. Five mice each exposed to 75 encysted metacercariae (cysts) were necropsied at 23 weeks postinfection (PI) (160 days PI). Two of the 5 were infected with a total of 33 worms; 23 in one mouse and 10 in the other. Body and organ area measurements showed that these worms were robust and normal in appearance. No signs of atrophy of any of the genital structures were observed. The mean ± SE of eggs/uterus per worm (n = 10) was 243 ± 6. This strain of mouse will be suitable to study the effect of long-term survival on the host–parasite relationship ofE. caproniin Balb/c mice.
In vitroanthelmintic effects of cysteine proteinases from plants against intestinal helminths of rodents
Authors: Stepek Gillian , Lowe Ann E. , Buttle David J. , Duce Ian R. , Behnke Jerzy M. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractInfections with gastrointestinal (GI) nematodes are amongst the most prevalent worldwide, especially in tropical climates. Control of these infections is primarily through treatment with anthelmintic drugs, but the rapid development of resistance to all the currently available classes of anthelmintic means that alternative treatments are urgently required. Cysteine proteinases from plants such as papaya, pineapple and fig are known to be substantially effective against three rodent GI nematodes,Heligmosomoides polygyrus,Trichuris murisandProtospirura muricola, bothin vitroandin vivo. Here, based onin vitromotility assays and scanning electron microscopy, we extend these earlier reports, demonstrating the potency of this anthelmintic effect of plant cysteine proteinases against two GI helminths from different taxonomic groups – the canine hookworm,Ancylostoma ceylanicum, and the rodent cestode,Rodentolepis microstoma. In the case of hookworms, a mechanism of action targeting the surface layers of the cuticle indistinguishable from that reported earlier appears to be involved, and in the case of cestodes, the surface of the tegumental layers was also the principal location of damage. Hence, plant cysteine proteinases have a broad spectrum of activity against intestinal helminths (both nematodes and cestodes), a quality that reinforces their suitability for development as a much-needed novel treatment against GI helminths of humans and livestock.
Squamous carcinoma arising in a branchial cleft cyst: have you ever treated one? Will you?
Authors: Devaney K O , Rinaldo A , Ferlito A , Silver C E , Fagan J J , Bradley P J , Suárez C 
Published: November 2007

AbstractThe existence of primary branchiogenic carcinoma – that is, carcinoma arising in a pre-existing branchial cleft cyst (a benign developmental cyst) – has in recent decades been the subject of increasing scepticism. Recognition of the propensity of a variety of head and neck sites – including in particular the tonsil – to give rise to cervical metastases while the primary tumours themselves remain undetected has given rise to the idea that virtually all cystic carcinomas of the neck represent metastatic deposits, whether or not their primary sites are found. A diagnosis of primary branchiogenic carcinoma should be viewed with extreme scepticism, and every effort should be made (e.g. imaging, panendoscopy, elective tonsillectomy) to exclude the existence of a primary site elsewhere, before considering a diagnosis of primary branchiogenic carcinoma.
Acute-phase and 1-year follow-up results of a randomized controlled trial of CBT versus Befriending for first-episode psychosis: the ACE project
Authors: Jackson H. J. , McGorry P. D. , Killackey E. , Bendall S. , Allott K. , Dudgeon P. , Gleeson J. , Johnson T. , Harrigan S. 
Published: November 2007

BackgroundThe ACE project involved 62 participants with a first episode of psychosis randomly assigned to either a cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) intervention known as Active Cognitive Therapy for Early Psychosis (ACE) or a control condition known as Befriending. The study hypotheses were that: (1) treating participants with ACE in the acute phase would lead to faster reductions in positive and negative symptoms and more rapid improvement in functioning than Befriending; (2) these improvements in symptoms and functioning would be sustained at a 1-year follow-up; and (3) ACE would lead to fewer hospitalizations than Befriending as assessed at the 1-year follow-up.MethodTwo therapists treated the participants across both conditions. Participants could not receive any more than 20 sessions within 14 weeks. Participants were assessed by independent raters on four primary outcome measures of symptoms and functioning: at pretreatment, the middle of treatment, the end of treatment and at 1-year follow-up. An independent pair of raters assessed treatment integrity.ResultsBoth groups improved significantly over time. ACE significantly outperformed Befriending by improving functioning at mid-treatment, but it did not improve positive or negative symptoms. Past the mid-treatment assessment, Befriending caught up with the ACE group and there were no significant differences in any outcome measure and in hospital admissions at follow-up.ConclusionsThere is some preliminary evidence that ACE promotes better early recovery in functioning and this finding needs to be replicated in other independent research centres with larger samples.
Cannabis abuse is associated with decision-making impairment among first-episode patients with schizophrenia-spectrum psychosis
Authors: Mata I. , Rodríguez-Sánchez J. M. , Pelayo-Terán J. M. , Pérez-Iglesias R. , González-Blanch C. , Ramírez-Bonilla M. , Martínez-García O. , Vázquez-Barquero J. L. , Crespo-Facorro B. 
Published: November 2007

BackgroundCannabis use appears to be a risk factor for schizophrenia. Moreover, cannabis abusers show impaired decision-making capacities, linked to the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC). Although there is substantial evidence that first-episode schizophrenia patients show impairments in cognitive tasks associated with the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), it is not clear whether decision making is impaired at schizophrenia onset. In this study, we examined the association between antecedents of cannabis abuse and cognitive impairment in cognitive tasks associated with the DLPFC and the OFC in a sample of first-episode patients with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders.MethodOne hundred and thirty-two patients experiencing their first episode of a schizophrenia-spectrum psychosis were assessed with a cognitive battery including DLPFC-related tasks [backward digits, verbal fluency (FAS) and the Trail Making Test (TMT)] and an OFC-related task [the Iowa Gambling Task (GT)]. Performance on these tasks was compared between patients who had and had not abused cannabis before their psychosis onset.ResultsNo differences were observed between the two groups on the performance of any of the DLPFC-related tasks. However, patients who had abused cannabis before their psychosis onset showed a poorer total performance on the gambling task and a lower improvement on the performance of the task compared to no-abusers.ConclusionsPre-psychotic cannabis abuse is associated with decision-making impairment, but not working memory and executive function impairment, among first-episode patients with a schizophrenia-spectrum psychosis. Further studies are needed to examine the direction of causality of this impairment; that is, does the impairment make the patients abuse cannabis, or does cannabis abuse cause the impairment?
Amygdala and ventral anterior cingulate activation predicts treatment response to cognitive behaviour therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder
Authors: Bryant R. A. , Felmingham K. , Kemp A. , Das P. , Hughes G. , Peduto A. , Williams L. 
Published: November 2007

BackgroundAlthough cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) is the treatment of choice for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), approximately half of patients do not respond to CBT. No studies have investigated the capacity for neural responses during fear processing to predict treatment response in PTSD.MethodFunctional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) responses of the brain were examined in individuals with PTSD (n=14). fMRI was examined in response to fearful and neutral facial expressions presented rapidly in a backwards masking paradigm adapted for a 1.5 T scanner. Patients then received eight sessions of CBT that comprised education, imaginal andin vivoexposure, and cognitive therapy. Treatment response was assessed 6 months after therapy completion.ResultsSeven patients were treatment responders (defined as a reduction of 50% of pretreatment scores) and seven were non-responders. Poor improvement after treatment was associated with greater bilateral amygdala and ventral anterior cingulate activation in response to masked fearful faces.ConclusionsExcessive fear responses in response to fear-eliciting stimuli may be a key factor in limiting responses to CBT for PTSD. This excessive amygdala response to fear may reflect difficulty in managing anxiety reactions elicited during CBT, and this factor may limit optimal response to therapy.
Four cases of acute flaccid paralysis associated with chikungunya virus infection
Authors: SINGH S. S. , MANIMUNDA S. P. , SUGUNAN A. P. , SAHINA  , VIJAYACHARI P. 
Published: November 2007

SUMMARYThe recent epidemic of chikungunya fever (2005–2006) in India has affected millions of people. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, an archipelago situated in the Bay of Bengal 1200 km from peninsular India, also witnessed an outbreak of chikungunya fever starting in July 2006 which affected thousands of people. Chikungunya fever classically manifests as high fever, myalgia, arthralgia and arthritis and in a certain percentage of cases with maculopapular rashes. However, deviation from the classical clinical features of chikungunya fever was reported in the earlier and recent epidemics. During the recent epidemic in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands we came across ten cases of flaccid limb weakness following symptoms and signs suggestive of chikungunya fever. In four subjects we confirmed the diagnosis of chikungunya virus infection by serological method (IgM ELISA method). This is the case report of those four subjects.
Seasonality of clinical isolation of rapidly growing mycobacteria
Authors: HAN X. Y. 
Published: November 2007

SUMMARYRapidly growing mycobacteria (RGM) are environmental organisms that have emerged as significant human pathogens. RGM infections show remarkable geographic variations. In this study, based on data from Houston, Texas, RGM were isolated from clinical cultures year-round, although peaks in the summer and autumn correlating with the seasonal variation of temperature and rainfall also were noted. These results may offer some explanation for the summer occurrence of RGM outbreaks at diverse locations.
Beliefs of South Africans regarding food and cardiovascular health
Authors: Dolman Robin C , Stonehouse Welma , Riet Hilda van’t , Badham Jane , Jerling Johann C 
Published: November 2007

AbstractObjectivesTo investigate the beliefs of South African metropolitan adults regarding the importance of influencing cardiovascular health by eating certain food types, and to compare these beliefs between different race, living standards, age and gender groups.DesignRandomised cross-sectional study. Trained fieldworkers administered questionnaires by conducting face-to-face interviews with consumers.SubjectsTwo thousand South Africans (16 years and older) were randomly selected from metropolitan areas in South Africa. The data were weighted to be representative of the total South African metropolitan population (N = 10 695 000) based on gender, age and race distribution.ResultsThe majority (94 %) of the population indicated that it is important to influence cardiovascular risk-related health issues by eating certain food types, especially the higher LSM (Living Standard Measure) groups within the different race groups. Weight loss was considered the least important (61 % indicated that it is important) compared with cholesterol lowering (80 %), blood pressure (89 %), diabetes (86 %) and healthy blood vessels (89 %). In the higher LSM groups (7–10) higher proportions of respondents agreed than in the lower LSM groups (2 and 3). No differences were seen in responses between different gender, race and age groups.Conclusions and recommendationsThis study shows that the metropolitan South African adult population considers the influence on cardiovascular health by eating certain food types to be important. However, modifying weight loss by eating certain food types was considered less important.
Overweight and blood pressure: results from the examination of a selected group of adolescents in northern Italy
Authors: Turconi G , Maccarini L , Bazzano R , Roggi C 
Published: November 2007

AbstractObjectiveThe aim of the present study was to investigate blood pressure (BP) levels and their relationship with different indices of body fat in a group of adolescents, in order to evaluate the prevalence of hypertension and plan preventive and corrective strategies.DesignCross-sectional study in primary care.SettingAll high schools in the Aosta Valley region, northern Italy.SubjectsFive hundred and thirty-two adolescents of both sexes, aged 15·4 (standard deviation 0·7) years. The following parameters were measured: body weight, body height, body mass index (BMI), four skinfold thicknesses, body fat mass, waist and hip circumferences and BP.ResultsBMI data indicated a high prevalence of overweight subjects in both sexes, but higher in males, while the prevalence rate of obese adolescents was lower. Of the total, 11·8 % of subjects suffered from systolic hypertension, while 6·9 % suffered from diastolic hypertension. In linear correlation analysis, BMI and all adiposity indices, except waist:hip ratio, were found to be significantly associated (P ranging between 0·05 and 0·001) with both systolic BP and diastolic BP in both sexes, with r ranging between 0·152 and 0·359. Multiple regression analysis with the stepwise method showed BMI and body fat mass to have the strongest association (P < 0·001) with BP, with r ranging between 0·275 and 0·359.ConclusionUnless reversed, these conditions are worrying and predict the possible development of cardiovascular disease in adulthood. There is a pressing need to develop a comprehensive medical and nutrition plan, together with preventive and corrective strategies, in school programmes.
Validation of the Radimer/Cornell food insecurity measure in rural Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
Authors: Leyna Germana H , Mmbaga Elia J , Mnyika Kagoma S , Klepp Knut-Inge 
Published: November 2007

AbstractObjectiveThe objective of the present study was to assess the construct validity, criterion-related validity and internal consistency of the Radimer/Cornell food insecurity measure for use in rural Tanzania.DesignA cross-sectional community-based survey was conducted from March to May 2005. Key adaptations to the nine-item Radimer/Cornell items included translation to Swahili, replacing the term ‘balanced diet’ with ‘full meal’ and constructing the items as questions rather than statements. Factor analysis and Cronbach’s alpha were used to assess validity and reliability, respectively.SettingRural Kilimanjaro, Tanzania.SubjectsAnalysis was restricted to data from 530 women aged 15–44 years who had children under 5 years old.ResultsPrincipal component factor analysis revealed a two-factor solution: (1) altered eating pattern at household level and (2) altered eating pattern at child level. The two factors accounted for 66·2 % of the total variance. The subscales developed had good reliability. Internal consistency of the scales was 0·853 and 0·784 for food insecurity at household level and food insecurity at child level, respectively. Only 14·0 % of the women reported to be food-secure and 86·0 % reported some kind of food insecurity. The Radimer/Cornell food insecurity measure showed significant associations with selected sociodemographic factors in the expected directions. There was also an association with the NHANES III (Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey) and CCHIP (Community Childhood Hunger Identification Project) indicators.ConclusionOur findings suggest that the adapted Radimer/Cornell measure may have some utility in assessing food insecurity in settings like rural Tanzania.
Whole-grain intake as a marker of healthy body weight and adiposity
Authors: Harland Janice I , Garton Lynne E 
Published: November 2007

AbstractObjectiveTo review evidence relating to the consumption of whole grains and healthy body weight (BW).DesignSystematic review and analysis of observational studies reporting whole-grain consumption and measures of BW and adiposity, including the effect on macronutrient intakes and lifestyle factors.SettingMedline and other databases were searched for the period 1990 to 2006 to produce a full reference list; observational studies were retained for further analysis if they included an appropriate control group and reported whole-grain intake and body mass index (BMI) or a measure of adiposity.SubjectsFifteen trials were identified which included data from 119 829 male and female subjects aged 13 years and over.ResultsThe combined and weighted mean difference in BMI from 15 studies representing 20 treatment groups (n= 119 829) using a random-effects model was 0·630 kg/m2lower when high versus low whole-grain intake was compared,P< 0·0001 (95 % confidence interval (CI) 0·460, 0·800 kg/m2). In high consumers, adiposity assessed as waist circumference was reduced by 2·7 (95 % CI 0·2, 5·2) cm,P= 0·03 (six data sets,n= 4178) or as waist:hip ratio by 0·023 (95 % CI 0·016, 0·030),P< 0.0001 (four data sets,n= 20 147). Higher intake of whole grains led to increased dietary fibre intake (9 g,P< 0·01), while total and saturated fat intakes decreased by 11 g and 3·9 g, respectively.ConclusionA higher intake of whole grains (about three servings per day) was associated with lower BMI and central adiposity. In addition, people who consume more whole grains are likely to have a healthier lifestyle as fewer of them smoke, they exercise more frequently and they tend to have lower fat and higher fibre intakes.
Associations of television viewing time with excess body weight among urban and rural high-school students in regional mainland China
Authors: Xu Fei , Li JieQuan , Ware Robert S , Owen Neville 
Published: November 2007

AbstractObjectiveTo examine the relationship between television (TV) viewing and body mass index (BMI) among adolescents in a region of mainland China.DesignPopulation-based cross-sectional study, conducted between September and November of 2004, on a sample of enrolled high-school students aged 12–18 years.SettingOne hundred and sixty-eight classes randomly selected from both urban and rural areas and belonging to 15 senior and 41 junior high schools in Nanjing, China, with a regional population of 6·0 million.SubjectsIn total 6848 students participated; 47·7 % from urban and 52·3 % from rural areas; 49·0 % male and 51·0 % female. The response rate among eligible participants was 89·3 %.ResultsThe proportion of overweight was 6·6 % according to the criteria of overweight recommended for Chinese adolescents. Boys than girls (8·9 % vs. 4·4 %) had higher odds of being overweight (odds ratio (OR) 2·12, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1·74, 2·60), while the proportion of overweight was significantly lower among rural students than urban students (4·5 % vs. 8·9 %; OR 0·49, 95 % CI 0·40, 0·60). Those students who watched TV for more than 7 h/week had a 1·5 times greater odds of being overweight relative to their counterparts who watched TV for 7 h/week or less (adjusted OR 1·51, 95 % CI 1·24, 1·82). Furthermore, there was a positive linear relationship between TV viewing time and BMI, even after adjusting for age, gender, residence area, time spent in study, in sleeping and in physical activity, and monthly pocket money.ConclusionsViewing TV might increase the likelihood of being overweight for Chinese adolescents in China.