bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Japan: alcohol today
Authors: HIGUCHI SUSUMU , MATSUSHITA SACHIO , MAESATO HITOSHI , OSAKI YONEATSU 
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACTAims The purpose of this paper is to outline alcohol availability, alcohol consumption and related harm, alcohol control policy and prevention programmes in Japan, few of which have been discussed in either the Japanese or English literature.Methods Data were collected primarily from the following two sources: statistics and survey results issued by the national government, including surveys funded by the government; and papers published since 2000, identified by searching the MEDLINE and Igaku‐Chuo‐Zasshi databases. These data were assessed regarding their quality and summarized. Some data presented here were produced specifically for this review.Results Although per capita alcohol consumption has tended to decline for more than 10 years, it has remained at a high level. Diversification of the drinking population has progressed rapidly, specifically in women, among whom alcohol consumption has increased sharply. Cross‐sectional data suggest that alcohol consumption is associated with serious health and social consequences. Existing longitudinal data suggest that alcohol‐related problems, especially health problems, have increased steadily over the past several decades, with few exceptions, including alcohol‐related fatal road traffic accidents. Alcohol policy and prevention programmes have not developed to a level that can control these problems adequately. Specifically, the high availability of alcoholic beverages, including the lack of restrictions on sales and advertising and decreasing prices, are noted.Conclusions This review provides basic information regarding alcohol availability and alcohol consumption and related harm that may facilitate the improvement of existing alcohol control measures in Japan and encourage the development of new alcohol control measures. This research revealed the scarcity of longitudinal data regarding alcohol consumption and its consequences, and the lack of several important variables, such as disability adjusted life years, for improving our understanding of the comprehensive status of alcohol in Japan.
The Alcohol Dependence Syndrome, 30 years later: a commentary
Authors: Li Ting‐Kai , Hewitt Brenda G. , Grant Bridget F. 
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACTAims  Major classification systems for alcohol use disorders (DSM‐IV and ICD‐10) contain elements of the 1976 Edwards and Gross formulation of the Alcohol Dependence Syndrome (ADS). However, issues remain about the criteria that identify Alcohol Dependence (AD) as distinct from Alcohol Abuse (AA) in DSM‐IV and Harmful Use in ICD‐10. These issues, in part, have their roots in changing historical perceptions of alcohol use and its problems. We discuss current diagnostic criteria for AA and AD, collectively called Alcohol Use Disorders (AUDs), in the context of their historical evolution; research progress in understanding alcohol problems, including alcohol dependence; new findings on the severity of AUDs as classified by DSM‐IV; and the role of alcohol consumption patterns in future classifications of AUDs.Methods  This paper is based largely on the 2006 H. David Archibald Lecture. Parts of the original lecture have been modified to reflect more recent findings from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC) of the US National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA).Results  The original Edwards and Gross ADS construct is supported by advances in biological and behavioral science over the past 30 years. New findings indicate that DSM‐IV AA and AD are not diagnostically distinct entities, but represent a continuum of severity of AUDs. The ADS criteria may best represent one quantifiable dimension of alcohol use problems and this scale can be related to that of the frequency of harmful patterns of drinking.Conclusion  The Edwards and Gross ADS criteria can be used as the basis for beginning the development of scalable multi‐dimensional criteria for diagnosing AUDs in new initiatives to revise DSM‐IV and ICD‐10.
Detrital zircon geochronology of Carboniferous–Cretaceous strata in the Lhasa terrane, Southern Tibet
Authors: Leier Andrew L. , Kapp Paul , Gehrels George E. , DeCelles Peter G. 
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACTSedimentary strata in the Lhasa terrane of southern Tibet record a long but poorly constrained history of basin formation and inversion. To investigate these events, we sampled Palaeozoic and Mesozoic sedimentary rocks in the Lhasa terrane for detrital zircon uranium–lead (U–Pb) analysis. The >700 detrital zircon U–Pb ages reported in this paper provide the first significant detrital zircon data set from the Lhasa terrane and shed new light on the tectonic and depositional history of the region. Collectively, the dominant detrital zircon age populations within these rocks are 100–150, 500–600 and 1000–1400 Ma. Sedimentary strata near Nam Co in central Lhasa are mapped as Lower Cretaceous but detrital zircons with ages younger than 400 Ma are conspicuously absent. The detrital zircon age distribution and other sedimentological evidence suggest that these strata are likely Carboniferous in age, which requires the existence of a previously unrecognized fault or unconformity. Lower Jurassic strata exposed within the Bangong suture between the Lhasa and Qiangtang terranes contain populations of detrital zircons with ages between 200 and 500 Ma and 1700 and 2000 Ma. These populations differ from the detrital zircon ages of samples collected in the Lhasa terrane and suggest a unique source area. The Upper Cretaceous Takena Formation contains zircon populations with ages between 100 and 160 Ma, 500 and 600 Ma and 1000 and 1400 Ma. Detrital zircon ages from these strata suggest that several distinct fluvial systems occupied the southern portion of the Lhasa terrane during the Late Cretaceous and that deposition in the basin ceased before 70 Ma. Carboniferous strata exposed within the Lhasa terrane likely served as source rocks for sediments deposited during Cretaceous time. Similarities between the lithologies and detrital zircon age‐probability plots of Carboniferous rocks in the Lhasa and Qiangtang terranes and Tethyan strata in the Himalaya suggest that these areas were located proximal to one another within Gondwanaland. U–Pb ages of detrital zircons from our samples and differences between the geographic distribution of igneous rocks within the Tibetan plateau suggest that it is possible to discriminate a southern vs. northern provenance signature using detrital zircon age populations.
Nitrative stress in respiratory inflammation caused by influenza virus infection
Authors: Zaki Md. H. , Okamoto T. , Sawa T. , Fujii S. , Akaike T. 
Published: August 2007

SummaryRespiratory inflammation and hyperresponsiveness caused by various pathological stimulants and microbial infections are associated with excessive production of nitric oxide (NO) in airway epithelial and phagocytic cells. For example, in viral pneumonia caused by influenza and Sendai virus, NO contributes critically to inflammatory processes and pathological exacerbation in the airway. NO‐mediated respiratory complications may be dependent on the complex reactions of NO, with simultaneously produced superoxide forming several reactive nitrogen species, most notably ONOO−. These reactive nitrogen oxides can react with biologically important proteins, enzymes, lipids, and nucleic acids via oxidation, nitration, or nitrosylation reactions, producing nitrative stress. Recent studies indicate that nitrative stress is involved in inflammation by a number of mechanisms including modulation of host immune response, destruction of tissue architecture, activation or inactivation of enzymes and transcription factors, and so on. There is accumulating evidence for the involvement of NO and nitrative stress in respiratory diseases. In this review, we focus on the molecular mechanisms of NO‐induced and nitrative stress‐mediated respiratory inflammation and pathogenesis during respiratory viral infections.
Percutaneous reactivity to natural rubber latex proteins persists in health‐care workers following avoidance of natural rubber latex
Authors: Smith A. M. , Amin H. S. , Biagini R. E. , Hamilton R. G. , Arif S. A. M. , Yeang H. Y. , Bernstein D. I. 
Published: August 2007

SummaryBackground
Long‐term avoidance of natural rubber latex [Hevea brasiliensis (Hev b)] is currently recommended for health‐care workers (HCWs) with established natural rubber latex (NRL) allergy. Percutaneous sensitivity to eight Hev b NRL allergens was evaluated in HCWs in 2000. To date, no studies have evaluated the longitudinal effects of NRL avoidance on percutaneous sensitivity to NRL allergens.Objective
The aims of this study were to evaluate changes in percutaneous reactivity to non‐ammoniated latex (NAL) and NRL allergens in HCWs 5 years after a recommendation to avoid NRL and to evaluate factors that predict the persistence of in vivo sensitivity to NAL and NRL allergens.Methods
Skin prick testing was performed with NAL, seven NRL allergens (Hev b 1, 2, 3, 4, 6.01, 7.01, and 13), and recombinant Hev b 5 (rHev b 5) in 34 HCWs who were initially evaluated in 2000 for occupationally related NRL allergy. Serial 10‐fold dilutions of NAL and NRL allergens were employed in skin testing. Sera from the HCWs were assayed for latex and enhanced latex (rHev b 5‐enriched allergosorbent)‐specific IgE antibodies using the ImmunoCAP® assay.Results
The prevalence of work‐related symptoms significantly decreased between 2000 and 2005 with avoidance of NRL (P<0.05). A 100‐fold reduction in percutaneous sensitivity to Hev b 2 and Hev b 7 was less likely in those with prior history of systemic reactions to NRL (P=0.0053), reported history of reaction to cross‐reactive foods (P=0.014), continued local reactions to NRL gloves (P<0.0001), or high NRL glove exposure since the initial study (P=0.0075). The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of the latex‐specific IgE serology was 54% and 87.5%, respectively, in comparison with NAL skin tests. The addition of rHev b 5 to the ImmunoCAP® (enhanced latex) allergosorbent altered the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of the ImmunoCAP® to 77% and 75%, respectively.Conclusion
While symptoms may resolve quickly with NRL avoidance therapy, detectable IgE indicating continued sensitization remains beyond 5 years, and thus continued avoidance of NRL should be recommended.
Effects of air pollution on asthma hospitalization rates in different age groups in Hong Kong
Authors: Ko F. W. S. , Tam W. , Wong T. W. , Lai C. K. W. , Wong G. W. K. , Leung T.‐F. , Ng S. S. S. , Hui D. S. C. 
Published: August 2007

SummaryAims
To assess the relationship between levels of ambient air pollutants and hospitalization rates for asthma in Hong Kong (HK).Methods
This is a retrospective ecological study. Data of daily emergency hospital admissions to 15 major hospitals in HK for asthma and indices of air pollutants [sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3), particulates with an aerodynamic diameter of <10 μm particulate matter (PM10) and 2.5 μm (PM2.5)] and meteorological variables from January 2000 to December 2005 were obtained from several government departments. Analysis was performed by the generalized additive models with Poisson distribution. The effects of time trend, season, other cyclical factors, temperature and humidity were adjusted. Autocorrelation and overdispersion were corrected.Results
Altogether, 69 716 admissions were assessed. Significant associations were found between hospital admissions for asthma and levels of NO2, O3, PM10 and PM2.5. The relative risks (RR) for hospitalization for every 10 μg/m3 increase in NO2, O3, PM10 and PM2.5 were 1.028, 1.034, 1.019 and 1.021, respectively, at a lag day that ranged from cumulative lag 0–4 to 0–5. In a multi‐pollutant model, O3 was significantly associated with increased admissions for asthma. The younger age group (0–14 years) tended to have a higher RR for each 10 μg/m3 increase in pollutants than those aged 15–65 years. The elderly (aged 65 years) had a shorter ‘best’ lag time to develop asthma exacerbation following exposure to pollutants than those aged <65 years.Conclusion
Adverse effects of ambient concentrations of air pollutants on hospitalization rates for asthma are evident. Measures to improve air quality in HK are urgently needed.
Cord serum visfatin at term birth: maternal smoking unmasks the relation to foetal growth
Authors: López‐Bermejo Abel , De Zegher Francis , Díaz‐Silva Marta , Vicente Maria Pilar , Valls Carme , Ibáñez Lourdes 
Published: August 2007

SummaryObjective  Visfatin is an adipocytokine involved in insulin action and oxidative stress. The regulation of circulating concentrations in the human foetus is unknown. We studied whether, at term birth, the serum concentrations of visfatin are related to foetal size, both in the absence and in the presence of maternal smoking during pregnancy.Design  A cross‐sectional, hospital‐based study.Patients  Seventy‐eight singleton, healthy neonates [39 girls and 39 boys; gestational age (GA) 39·5 ± 0·2 weeks; birth weight (BW) 3·3 ± 0·04 kg].Methods  Cord serum visfatin, insulin and IGF‐I measured by specific immunoassays.Results  In infants from nonsmoking mothers (N = 48), cord serum visfatin levels were unrelated to either BW or birth length (BL). In infants from smoking mothers (N = 30), however, serum visfatin was inversely associated with both BW (r = −0·57; P < 0·001) and BL (r = −0·60; P < 0·0001) and it was directly associated with the number of cigarettes smoked (P < 0·05) in heavy smokers. In a multiple regression analysis, cord serum visfatin accounted for 36% of BW and 32% of BL variance in infants from smoking mothers. Cord serum visfatin was unrelated to insulin or IGF‐I in either subgroup.Conclusion  At term birth, there is no readily detectable relation between circulating visfatin and indices of foetal size; however, maternal smoking unmasked a strikingly inverse relationship between cord serum visfatin and the foetal growth status, indicating that smoking can elicit a rise or a fall of cord serum visfatin, depending on whether the foetus is, respectively, of smaller or larger size.
Plasticity to neighbour shade: fitness consequences and allometry
Authors: BELL D. L. , GALLOWAY L. F. 
Published: August 2007

SummaryPhenotypic plasticity may confer a fitness benefit to organisms in a spatially heterogeneous environment. However, the evolution of such adaptive plasticity can be limited by the constraints imposed by interacting environments. Moreover, adaptive plasticity may be masked by reduced growth in a low‐quality environment. The allometry between plasticity of morphological traits and overall growth is often overlooked.We addressed these issues by examining the effect of shade produced by neighbouring plants (neighbour shade) on a small annual plant,Geranium carolinianum. Plants were grown in two field sites, a wood margin and an old field. A clipping treatment was used to manipulate neighbour shade at both planting sites. We measured petiole length to quantify shade avoidance response. Genotypic selection analysis was used to assess the fitness consequences of petiole length.Petioles were longer in the wood margin than in the old field and were similar between neighbour environments. However, overall plant size differed among the environments. As a result, relative to plant size, petioles were longer when individuals were surrounded by neighbours than when neighbours had been removed, but were similar between sites. After taking the size into account, plants with longer petioles had higher fitness than plants with shorter petioles in all environments.The functional response of petioles to neighbour shade was revealed only when the passive plasticity of plant size was considered. The lack of differential selection across neighbour environments together with active elongation of petioles in response to neighbours suggests that the current shade avoidance response is adaptive.
Role of osteopontin in neutrophil function
Authors: Koh Adeline , Da Silva Andre Paes Batista , Bansal Anil K. , Bansal Manju , Sun Chunxiang , Lee Hyejin , Glogauer Michael , Sodek Jaro , Zohar Ron 
Published: August 2007

SummaryOsteopontin (OPN) is important for the function of fibroblasts, macrophages and lymphocytes during inflammation and wound healing. In recent studies of experimental colitis we demonstrated exacerbated tissue destruction in OPN‐null mice, associated with reduced tumour necrosis factor‐α expression and increased myeloperoxidase activity. The objective of this investigation therefore was to determine the importance of OPN expression in neutrophil function. Although, in contrast to macrophages, neutrophils expressed low levels of OPN with little or no association with the CD44 receptor, intraperitoneal recruitment of neutrophils in OPN‐null mice was impaired in response to sodium periodate. The importance of exogenous OPN for neutrophil recruitment was demonstrated by a robust increase in peritoneal infiltration of PMNs in response to injections of native or recombinant OPN. In vitro, OPN–/– neutrophils exhibited reduced chemokinesis and chemotaxis towards N‐formyl methionyl leucyl phenylalanine (fMLP), reflecting a reduction in migration speed and polarization. Exogenous OPN, which was chemotactic for the neutrophils, rescued the defects in polarization and migration speed of the OPN–/– neutrophils. In contrast, the defensive and cytocidal activities of OPN–/– neutrophils, measured by assays for phagocytosis, generation of reactive oxygen species, cytokine production and matrix metalloproteinase‐9, were not impaired. These studies demonstrate that, while exogenous OPN may be important for the recruitment and migration of neutrophils, expression of OPN by neutrophils is not required for their destructive capabilities.
Preventive aspects in children's caries treatments preceding dental care under general anaesthesia
Authors: SAVANHEIMO NORA , VEHKALAHTI MIIRA M. 
Published: August 2007

Background.  In Helsinki Public Dental Service (PDS) the Special Oral Health Care Unit (SOHCU) provides comprehensive dental treatments under general anaesthesia (GA). For the present study, all dental treatment given under GA for generally healthy children (n = 102) below 16 years of age (range 2.3–15.8) during a 1‐year period and dental treatment and visits of these children in the preceding 2 years in Helsinki PDS was recorded in detail. These children were referred to the SOHCU because of serious difficulties in dental care due to large treatment needs or failures in psychological and chemical management, including sedation.Aim.  To describe treatments given to generally healthy children under GA and to evaluate preventive aspects of their dental care in the preceding 2 years.Design.  The study was cross‐sectional and retrospective. Data came from the patients’ individual records.Results.  Treatments under GA included an average of 6.0 restorations (SD = 2.7, range 0–12) and 1.7 extractions (SD = 2.1, range 0–10). In the 2 preceding years, these children had visited dentist an average of 5.1 times (SD = 2.7, range 1–14) with an average of 2.4 restorations (SD = 1.9, range 0–12) and 0.5 extractions (SD = 1.4, range 0–10). Of the restorations made, 36% were temporary. Of all visits, those with an operative approach accounted for 35%, preventive for 37%, operative and preventive for 5%, and visits with total uncooperation for 23%. Of the children, 90% had at least one preventive visit. Children treated under conscious sedation in the preceding 2 years received less prevention (P = 0.02). Remaining without preventive measures was most likely for those children exhibiting visits with total uncooperation (odds ratio = 4.6; P = 0.004) and for those receiving numerous temporary fillings (odds ratio = 4.1; P = 0.0005).Conclusions.  The uncooperative high‐caries children pose a demanding challenge to PDS. The early identification of high‐caries risk and efforts of intensive preventive care are in key position to reduce the number of children receiving treatment under GA due to high levels of dentinal decay.
Informed multi‐objective decision‐making in environmental management using Pareto optimality
Authors: Kennedy Maureen C. , Ford E. David , Singleton Peter , Finney Mark , Agee James K. 
Published: August 2007

SummaryEffective decision‐making in environmental management requires the consideration of multiple objectives that may conflict. Common optimization methods use weights on the multiple objectives to aggregate them into a single value, neglecting valuable insight into the relationships among the objectives in the management problem.We present a multi‐objective optimization procedure that approximates the non‐dominated Pareto frontier without the use of weightings, allowing for visualization of the trade‐offs among objectives. The non‐dominated Pareto frontier is approximated by the simultaneous optimization of a vector objective function; two vector objective functions are defined as non‐dominated if improvement with respect to one objective is at the detriment of another objective.We demonstrate the method with a case study for the optimum distribution of forest fuels treatments that reduce the impact of fire on a forest. The multiple objectives are to protect habitat of an endangered species, protect late successional forest reserves and minimize the total area treated. In the comparison of three optimization searches, the number of non‐dominated solutions increases with the dimensions of the objective space, but with only two objectives the search is ineffective in minimizing fire impact in the different landscape types. Key challenges include the extensive computation time required to approximate the non‐dominated set, and reducing the number of solutions that are analysed in detail.Synthesis and applications. The multi‐objective optimization program presented can be adapted to other environmental management problems, and easily incorporates a wide range of quantifiable objectives. This tool provides decision‐makers with a set of alternatives that estimates the full range of trade‐offs among multiple objectives and provides a common ground from which dialogue can come to an informed compromise and decision in environmental management problems.
New tools to measure discrepancy between prescribing practices and guideline recommendations
Authors: Mercier Catherine , Boissel Jean‐Pierre , Estève Jacques , Iwaz Jean , Nony Patrice 
Published: August 2007

Abstract
Objective  To study the performance of a new method designed to measure discrepancy between real prescriptions and evidence‐based reference treatments.
Methods  Two different indices (additive and multiplicative) are proposed to summarize deviation between prescription and reference. Deviations thought to be observed in a population of prescribers are simulated in diverse hypothetical situations in the presence or absence of evidence‐based references. The performances of both indices are compared and their sensitivities to change are explored.
Results  Both indices are sensitive to variation in prescriber behaviour. The additive index allows a more accurate analysis of deviation while the multiplicative index is simpler to implement and interpret but more sensitive to change.
Conclusion  The two deviation indices may be used as new tools in surveys or trials dealing with prescribing practices.