bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Associations between bullying behaviour, psychosomatic complaints, emotional and behavioural problems
Authors: Gini Gianluca 
Published: June 2007

Objective:  Bullying or being bullied have been demonstrated to be related to a broad spectrum of behavioural, emotional and social problems. The present study aimed at analysing psychosomatic, emotional and behavioural problems among Italian bullies, victims and bully victims.Study design:  In a cross‐sectional study, 565 primary‐school children completed self‐reported measures for bullying, victimisation and psychosomatic complaints. Teachers rated each child on the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire.Results:  Within our sample, 11.2% of children were classified as bullies, 7.1% were classified as victims and 10.4% were classified as bully victims. Compared with the students who were not involved in bullying, victims had a higher risk for conduct problems (2.43 (1.18–5.03)), hyperactivity (2.41 (1.05–5.53)) and problems with peers (4.40 (2.08–9.33)). Bully victims had a higher risk for conduct problems (2.41 (1.28–4.54) and hyperactivity (2.58 (1.25–5.32)). Finally, bullies had higher risk for hyperactivity (2.06 (1.01–4.21)). All groups of children also had a higher risk for several psychosomatic symptoms than uninvolved children.Conclusions:  Children involved in bullying as victims and bully victims had significantly higher risk for psychosomatic problems and psychosocial maladjustment than uninvolved children, whereas bullies manifested the fewest number of adjustment problems. When addressing bullying in a school community, particular care should be devoted to the identification and help of children who are involved as victims or bully victims.
Survey of the management of neonatal hyperglycaemia in Australasia
Authors: Alsweiler Jane M , Kuschel Carl A , Bloomfield Frank H 
Published: June 2007

Aim:  Hyperglycaemia is a common problem in very low birthweight (VLBW) preterm neonates and has been associated with an increase in intraventricular haemorrhage and mortality. There are few data to guide clinicians on the best range of blood glucose levels to aim for when treating hyperglycaemic preterm babies with insulin. The aim of this study was to survey all Australasian tertiary neonatal intensive care units for their current practice in the definition and management of neonatal hyperglycaemia to aid in the design of a randomised controlled trial of the effect of tight glycaemic control on long‐term outcome in VLBW babies.Methods:  An online survey was sent to the 27 tertiary neonatal units in Australasia asking the respondents for details of their unit’s definition and management of hyperglycaemia in VLBW infants.Results:  Twenty‐three tertiary neonatal units responded to the questionnaire. There were six different definitions of hyperglycaemia, with most units defining neonatal hyperglycaemia as a blood glucose level greater than 10 mM. There were large variations in the criteria for commencing insulin (blood glucose level 8–15 mM ± glycosuria) and target blood glucose ranges for babies on insulin (ranging from 2.5–8 mM to 8–15 mM).Conclusions:  There is a wide variation in the management of neonatal hyperglycaemia between tertiary neonatal units in Australasia. This reflects the paucity of data available in this area. Further research on the management of neonatal hyperglycaemia is needed.
FAST‐TRACK REHABILITATION IN ELECTIVE COLORECTAL SURGERY PATIENTS: A PROSPECTIVE CLINICAL AND IMMUNOLOGICAL SINGLE‐CENTRE STUDY
Authors: Wichmann Matthias W. , Eben Ricarda , Angele Martin K. , Brandenburg Franzis , Goetz Alwin E. , Jauch Karl‐Walter 
Published: June 2007

Background:  Recent clinical data indicate that fast‐track surgery (multimodal rehabilitation) leads to shorter postoperative length of hospital stay, faster recovery of gastrointestinal function as well as reduced morbidity and mortality rates. To date, no study has focused on the effects of fast‐track surgery on postoperative immune function. This study was initiated to determine whether fast‐track rehabilitation results in improved clinical and immunological outcome of patients undergoing colorectal surgery.Methods:  Forty patients underwent either conventional or fast‐track rehabilitation after colorectal surgery. In addition to clinical parameters (return of gastrointestinal function, food intake, pain score, complication rates and postoperative length of stay), we determined parameters of perioperative immunity by flow cytometry (lymphocyte subgroups) and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (interleukin‐6).Results:  Our findings indicate a better‐preserved cell‐mediated immune function (T cells, T‐helper cells, natural killer cells) after fast‐track rehabilitation, whereas the pro‐inflammatory response (C‐reactive protein, interleukin‐6) was unchanged in both study groups. Furthermore, we detected a significantly faster return of gastrointestinal function (first bowel movement P < 0.001, food intake P < 0.05), significantly reduced pain scores in the postoperative course (P < 0.05) and a significantly shorter length of postoperative stay (P < 0.001) in patients undergoing fast‐track rehabilitation.Conclusion:  Fast‐track rehabilitation after colorectal surgery results in better‐preserved cell‐mediated immunity when compared with conventional postoperative care. Furthermore, patients undergoing fast‐track rehabilitation suffer from less pain and have a faster return of gastrointestinal function in the postoperative course. In addition, postoperative length of hospital stay was significantly shorter in fast‐track patients.
GASTRIC BANDING AT THE ROYAL BRISBANE AND WOMEN’S HOSPITAL: TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS OF A PUBLIC SERVICE
Authors: Stringer Kate M , Bryant Richard , Hopkins George H , Favot Danella , Fielding George A 
Published: June 2007

Background:  The Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital provides the only gastric banding service for the public to the state of Queensland. Our patients are potentially a different group from the previously reported Australian series with respect to weight, comorbidities and ease of follow up and we therefore present this series of public patient for comparison of medium‐term results.Methods:  The service consists of a dedicated fortnightly clinic. Patients are referred from within the hospital and also from other health services throughout Queensland and northern New South Wales. Resources allow a limited number of gastric bands to be placed annually. At follow up, measurement of weight is carried out and band adjustments made as necessary. Data are collected prospectively on a dedicated database (LapBase; AccessMed, Melbourne, Australia).Results:  Sixty‐nine laparoscopic gastric bands (Lap Band; Inamed Health, Santa Barbara, CA, USA) have been placed as a public service at Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital since August 2001 in 50 women and 19 men. The mean body mass index (BMI) at surgery was 53 kg/m2 (range 33–81 kg/m2). The mean percentage of excess bodyweight lost at 1, 2 and 3 years is 38.5, 45.7 and 57.9%, respectively. The mean BMI has reduced from the baseline of 53 to 44.5 at 1 year, 41.8 at 2 years and 38.6 at 3 years. The waiting list currently contains 103 patients with a mean BMI of 53 kg/m2 and 250 new referrals are on a waiting list for initial review.Conclusion:  A banding service for the public is a unique experience. The BMI is greater than in other published series; diverse geographic origin of the patients creates difficulties with review and there are limited surgical resources. The Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital is leading the way towards a multidisciplinary clinic approach to managing obesity. However, more resources will be required to have an effect on overall public health.
TREATMENT OF ANAL STENOSIS: A 5‐YEAR REVIEW
Authors: Casadesus Damian , Villasana Luis E. , Diaz Hector , Chavez Mariano , Sanchez Ines M. , Martinez Pedro P. , Diaz Angelina 
Published: June 2007

Background:  Benign anal stenosis is an uncommon, disabling and incapacitating disease, occurring mainly after anorectal surgery. Both non‐surgical and surgical treatments have been devised in the treatment of anal stenosis with good results. We described the results of the treatment of this disease in the Coloproctology Department of our institution.Methods:  A retrospective clinical study was undertaken over a 5‐year period for consecutive patients operated on for anal stenosis.Results:  Twenty‐three patients with benign anal stenosis were treated in our department. Haemorrhoidectomy was the most common cause of anal stenosis (74%). Nineteen patients with moderate to severe symptoms of anal stenosis underwent surgical treatment. Lateral mucosal advancement flap was the most frequently carried out operation (63.1%). Four patients were treated with anal dilatation (17.3%). All patients had remission of the preoperative symptoms. There was no re‐operation and only minor complications were present in four patients: three patients with anal pruritus and one patient with temporary incontinence.Conclusion:  The easy performance, the absence of major complications and the good results obtained confirm that these methods are effective and safe in the treatment of anal stenosis.
Behavioural characteristics and gene expression in the hyperactive wiggling (Wig) rat
Authors: Masuo Yoshinori , Ishido Masami , Morita Masatoshi , Sawa Hirofumi , Nagashima Kazuo , Niki Etsuo 
Published: June 2007

AbstractRecently, congenic wiggling (Wig) rats were described as a good model for attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder; 12‐ to 14‐week‐old animals demonstrated hyperactivity, impulsive behaviour and an impaired working memory. Here, we show that 4‐ to 5‐week‐old Wig rats displayed significantly greater spontaneous motor activity than control rats during a period of darkness. Subcutaneous injection of 4 mg/kg methamphetamine exacerbated hyperactivity, the reverse of its effect in rats with neonatally induced 6‐hydroxydopamine lesions. Immunohistochemistry showed low levels of tyrosine hydroxylase in the ventral midbrain, similar to 6‐hydroxydopamine‐treated rats. In cDNA macroarrays, 4‐week‐old Wig rats showed increased expression of the adenosine A2a receptor in the dorsal striatum, macrophage migration inhibitory factor in the frontal cortex, ventral striatum and midbrain, and calbindin 2 in the dorsal and ventral midbrain. Expression of the γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) transporter and sterol carrier protein 2 genes was reduced in all regions. Dopamine transporter gene expression was increased in the dorsal midbrain but decreased in the ventral midbrain, a pattern distinct from that induced by 6‐hydroxydopamine. Although abnormal development of dopaminergic neurons may underlie motor hyperactivity, other mechanisms may control responsiveness to methamphetamine. Wig rats may provide a model of attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder in which treatment with psychostimulants accelerate the hyperactivity.
Phylogenetic reconstruction of carnivore social organizations
Authors: Dalerum F. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractIt is generally assumed that carnivore social organizations evolved directionally from a solitary ancestor into progressively more advanced forms of group living. Although alternative explanations exist, this evolutionary hypothesis has never been tested. Here, I used literature data and maximum likelihood reconstruction on a complete carnivore phylogeny to test this hypothesis against two others: one assuming directional evolution from a non‐solitary ancestor, and one assuming parallel evolutions from a socially flexible ancestor, that is, an ancestor with abilities to live in a variety of social organizations. The phylogenetic reconstructions did not support any of the three hypotheses of social evolution at the root of Carnivora. At the family level, however, there was support for a non‐solitary and socially flexible ancestor to Canidae, a socially flexible or solitary ancestor to Mustelidae, a solitary or socially flexible ancestor to Mephitidae, a solitary or group living ancestor to Phocidae, a group living ancestor to Otariidae and a solitary ancestor to Ursidae, Felidae, Herpestidae and Viverridae. There was equivocal support for the ancestral state of Procyonidae and Hyaenidae. It is unclear whether the common occurrence of a solitary ancestry at the family level was caused by a solitary ancestor at the root of Carnivora or by multiple transitions into a solitary state. The failure to support a solitary ancestor to Carnivora calls for caution when using this hypothesis in an evolutionary framework, and I suggest continued investigations of the pathways of the evolution of carnivore social organizations.
Mature leaf selection of Japanese macaques: effects of availability and chemical content
Authors: Hanya G. , Kiyono M. , Takafumi H. , Tsujino R. , Agetsuma N. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractMature leaf food selection of Japanese macaques was studied in two different altitudinal zones of Yakushima: in the coniferous (1000–1200 m) and coastal forests (0–200 m). Logistic regression analysis was conducted to reveal the effect of chemical [neutral detergent fibre (NDF), crude protein, crude ash, crude lipid, condensed tannin, hydrolysable tannin and crude protein/NDF ratio] and availability properties (density of trees and total basal area) on the macaques' choice between the major food leaves and the rarely eaten or non‐food leaves. In both forests, macaques selected leaves with a high crude ash and crude protein content, or a high crude protein/NDF ratio, as major foods. In the coniferous forest, macaques selected leaves with less condensed tannin, but this tendency was absent in the coastal forest. This was because macaques in the coniferous forest suffer from a greater risk of ingesting large amounts of condensed tannins, as their feeding time on mature leaves is seven times as long as that in the coastal forest. Among the chemical and availability properties, stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that the number of trees (ha−1) was the only significant factor explaining the variations in feeding time among major food leaves, both in the coniferous and coastal forests. The present results suggest that the effect of travelling cost, which can be reduced by selecting common trees, exceeds the benefits gained by selecting high‐quality foods.
Effect of lactation stage and concurrent pregnancy on milk composition in the bottlenose dolphin
Authors: West K. L. , Oftedal O. T. , Carpenter J. R. , Krames B. J. , Campbell M. , Sweeney J. C. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractAlthough many toothed whales (Cetacea: Odontoceti) lactate for 2–3 years or more, it is not known whether milk composition is affected by lactation stage in any odontocete species. We collected 64 pooled milk samples spanning 1–30 months postpartum from three captive bottlenose dolphinsTursiops truncatus. Milks were assayed for water, fat, crude protein (TN × 6.38) and sugar; gross energy was calculated. Ovulation and pregnancy were determined via monitoring of milk progesterone. Based on analysis of changes in milk composition for each individual dolphin, there were significant increases (P<0.05) in fat (in all three dolphins) and crude protein (in two of three), and a decrease (P<0.05) in water (in two of three) over the course of lactation, but the sugar content did not change. In all three animals, the energy content was positively correlated with month of lactation, but the percentage of energy provided by crude protein declined slightly but significantly (P<0.05). At mid‐lactation (7–12 months postpartum,n=17), milk averaged 73.0±1.0% water, 12.8±1.0% fat, 8.9±0.5% crude protein, 1.0±0.1% sugar, 1.76±0.09 kcal g−1(=7.25 kJ g−1) and 30.3±1.3% protein:energy per cent. This protein:energy per cent was surprisingly high compared with other cetaceans and in relation to the growth rates of calves. Milk progesterone indicated that dolphins ovulated and conceived between 413 and 673 days postpartum, following an increase in milk energy density. The significance of these observed compositional changes to calf nutrition will depend on the amounts of milk produced at different stages of lactation, and how milk composition and yield are influenced by sampling procedure, maternal diet and maternal condition, none of which are known.
Cardiovascular, electrodermal, and respiratory response patterns to fear‐ and sadness‐inducing films
Authors: Kreibig Sylvia D. , Wilhelm Frank H. , Roth Walton T. , Gross James J. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractResponses to fear‐ and sadness‐inducing films were assessed using a broad range of cardiovascular (heart rate, T‐wave amplitude, low‐ and high‐frequency heart rate variability, stroke volume, preejection period, left‐ventricular ejection time, Heather index, blood pressure, pulse amplitude and transit time, and finger temperature), electrodermal (level, response rate, and response amplitude), and respiratory (rate, tidal volume and its variability, inspiratory flow rate, duty cycle, and end‐tidal pCO2) measures. Subjective emotional experience and facial behavior (Corrugator Supercilii and Zygomaticus Major EMG) served as control measures. Results indicated robust differential physiological response patterns for fear, sadness, and neutral (mean classification accuracy 85%). Findings are discussed in terms of the fight–flight and conservation–withdrawal responses and possible limitations of a valence‐arousal categorization of emotion in affective space.
Arginine vasopressin increases glutamate release and intracellular Ca2+concentration in hippocampal and cortical astrocytes through two distinct receptors
Authors: Syed Nasser , Martens Catherine A. , Hsu Walter H. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractArginine vasopressin (AVP), released from the CNS, plays an important role in regulating several aspects of CNS functions including aggression, anxiety, and cognition. In this study, we report a novel finding that AVP induces glutamate release from astrocytes isolated from the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. We also investigated the types of AVP receptors involved in the AVP‐induced increase in glutamate release from astrocytes isolated from the hippocampus and cortex of neonatal rats. We showed that the AVP (0.1–1000 nmol/L) induced increase in glutamate release and [Ca2+]iis brought about by two distinct subtypes of V1receptors (V1aand V1b). Our results suggested that V1breceptors are predominantly expressed in astrocytes isolated from the hippocampus and V1areceptors are solely expressed in astrocytes isolated from the cerebral cortex of neonatal rats. The results of the western blot analyses confirmed these pharmacological data. In addition, the AVP‐induced increase in glutamate did not contribute to an increase in [Ca2+]i, as blockade of metabotropic glutamate receptors did not alter the AVP‐induced increase in [Ca2+]i. In addition, the administration of a phospholipase A2inhibitor failed to alter AVP‐induced [Ca2+]iincrease suggesting the lack of involvement of this enzyme.
Detection of left ventricular dysfunction by Doppler tissue imaging in patients with complete recovery of visual wall motion abnormalities 6 months after a first ST‐elevation myocardial infarction
Authors: Witt Nils , Samad Bassem A. , Frick Mats , Alam Mahbubul 
Published: June 2007

SummaryAims  The aim of this study was to assess left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic function, using Doppler tissue imaging (DTI), in patients with complete recovery of visual wall motion abnormalities six months after a first ST‐elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).Methods  Out of 90 patients presenting with a STEMI, 68 patients without a history of heart disease were examined by echocardiography before discharge and after 6 months. The patients were compared to 41 age matched healthy subjects (HS). LV function was assessed by visual wall motion and mitral annular velocities using pulsed wave DTI.Results  Sixty‐eight patients had visual wall motion abnormalities at baseline. Of these, 19 patients showed complete recovery of wall motion at 6‐months follow‐up. Patients with complete recovery of wall motion abnormalities had significantly reduced peak systolic and peak early diastolic mitral annular velocities compared to HS at 6 months (8·3 cm s−1 versus 9·9 cm s−1, P<0·001 for systolic velocity and 9·3 cm s−1 versus 13·1 cm s−1, P<0·001 for diastolic velocity, respectively).Conclusion  In patients presenting with a first STEMI, mitral annular systolic and early diastolic velocities assessed by DTI at 6‐months follow‐up are significantly reduced compared to HS, despite normal standard echocardiographic parameters of LV function. This probably reflects a residual subendocardial damage not detected by conventional echocardiographic methods.
Reviews: Hepatitis C Virus Infection and the Dialysis Patient
Authors: Fabrizi Fabrizio , Lunghi Giovanna , Ganeshan Sri Venkatesh , Martin Paul , Messa Piergiorgio 
Published: June 2007

AbstractHepatitis C virus (HCV) remains common in patients undergoing regular dialysis and is an important cause of liver disease in this population both during dialysis and after renal transplantation (RT). Anti‐HCV screening of blood products has almost eliminated posttransfusion HCV infection but acquisition of HCV continues to occur in dialysis patients because of nosocomial spread. The natural history of HCV in dialysis population is not completely understood though recent data show that HCV infection has a detrimental role on survival of chronic dialysis patients. Several clinical trials have suggested that the response rate to conventional interferon (IFN) is higher in dialysis patients than those with normal kidney function but tolerance is lower. There are only limited data about pegylated IFN alone or in association with ribavirin for hepatitis C in dialysis population. IFN remains contraindicated post‐RT because of concern about precipitating graft dysfunction; however, preliminary evidence shows the durability of sustained response to antiviral therapy pre‐RT after renal transplant. Successful pretransplant therapy is associated with several benefits after RT including reduced incidence of posttransplant diabetes mellitus and de novo glomerulonephritis in HCV‐infected recipients.
Teratogenic Effects of Ethanol during Hyperplastic Growth in Cardiac Myocyte Cultures
Authors: Adickes Edward D. , Mollner Teresa J. , Makoid Michael C. 
Published: June 2007

Ethanol alters cellular growth and maturation, teratologic factors that are recognized as contributing to abnormal phenotypic expression. Cultured neonatal Sprague‐Dawley rat cardiac myocytes were utilized to determine how ethanol alters growth and development. Two ethanol exposure paradigms were studied: (1) constant, to cultures in closed chambers for 7 days at low (10 mM) and high (50 mM) concentrations; and (2) periodic (24‐hr) to cells during hyperplastic growth. In constantly exposed cultures, 10 and 50 ITIM ethanol concentrations depressed the rate of leucine incorporation and the rate of thymidine uptake during early hyperplastic growth (log phase growth). A resultant slower expansion of cell populations was noted.Although the period of maximum vulnerability appeared to be the hyperplastic growth phase, a second set of experiments using 10 and 50 mM ethanol were performed to assess the effects of short (24‐hr) exposures. DNA synthesis was depressed during early hyperplastic growth compared with controls (days 2‐4), reflected as a decrease in thymidine incorporation and smaller cell population.This study demonstrates that ethanol depresses both DNA and protein synthesis during hyperplastic growth resulting in an insufficient, protein‐deficient cell mass, incapable of participating in normal embryogenesis.