bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The relationship between female adolescent self‐esteem, decision making, and contraceptive behavior
Authors: Commendador Kathleen 
Published: October 2007

AbstractPurpose: To examine the relationship between female adolescent self‐esteem, decision making, and contraceptive behavior in multiethnic, 14‐ to 17‐year‐olds, residing on the Big Island of Hawaii.Data sources: This was a descriptive cross‐sectional survey design using a convenience sample of 98 female adolescents aged 14‐17 who came to five different clinics on the Big Island of Hawaii for health care. Along with a brief demographic questionnaire, global self‐esteem was measured by Rosenberg’s Self‐Esteem Scale, decision making was measured by the Flinders Adolescent Decision Making Questionnaire, and sexual activity and contraception use was measured by a nonnormed Sexual History and Contraceptive Use Questionnaire developed for this study. Descriptive statistics, logistic regression, and correlations were used to analyze associations and correlations between age, global self‐esteem, decision self‐esteem, decision coping (vigilant and maladaptive), and contraceptive use for sexually active female adolescents.Conclusions: No significant associations or correlations were found between age, global self‐esteem, decision self‐esteem, decision coping (vigilance), and the decision to use contraception in sexually active adolescent females. There was, however, significant negative correlation (p < .05) between overall maladaptive decision making and contraceptive use in sexually active female adolescents. This suggests that sexually active adolescent females with higher maladaptive scores are less likely to use contraception. There was also significant association (p < .05) between maladaptive decision making in contraceptive use and sexually active female adolescents. For every one unit increase on the maladaptive scale, the odds of using contraception were estimated to decrease by 7%.Implications for practice: Adolescence is a period of transition that involves biological, cognitive, psychological, and social changes. During the vulnerable transition period of adolescence, decisions relating to contraception may occur. Interventions focused on improving decision‐making skills and stimulating thinking around not only sexual issues but also on relationship and communication in adolescent issues may facilitate more competent decision making. Understanding the relationship between female adolescent self‐esteem, decision making, and contraceptive behavior has contributed to the knowledge base about female contraceptive behavior. Gaining further insight into these relationships will help healthcare professionals provide counseling and health care to female adolescents.
Factors influencing cancer screening practices of underserved women
Authors: Ackerson Kelly , Gretebeck Kimberlee 
Published: October 2007

AbstractPurpose: This integrated review was conducted to evaluate the factors that inhibit or promote decisions by African American and Hispanic women to obtain cervical cancer screening.Data sources: Research articles were identified using MEDLINE, PubMed, and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health literature, published between 1999 and 2005.Conclusions: Cervical cancer screening practices of African American and Hispanic women were influenced by extrinsic motivators including lack of insurance, no usual source of health care, acculturation, and socioeconomic factors. Intrinsic motivators were related to beliefs and perceptions of vulnerability, such as ignoring cervical cancer screening when no symptoms were present; believing that not knowing if one had cervical cancer was better; and thinking that only women who engage in sexual risk–taking behaviors need to obtain Papanicolaou (Pap) smear testing.Implications for practice: Nurse practitioners (NPs) have an opportunity to impact the incidence and mortality of cervical cancer by improving screening practices of minority women. They can emphasize the importance of obtaining Pap smears regularly, teach patients the risks for and signs and symptoms of cervical cancer, and provide recommendations for obtaining screening at low cost or no cost to the patient. To improve cancer screening practices, NPs need to address minority women’s beliefs about cervical cancer and provide information and services in a culturally sensitive manner at an appropriate level of learning.
Coordinated School Health Programs and Academic Achievement: A Systematic Review of the Literature
Authors: Murray Nancy G. , Low Barbara J. , Hollis Christine , Cross Alan W. , Davis Sally M. 
Published: October 2007

ABSTRACTBackground:  Few evaluations of school health programs measure academic outcomes. K‐12 education needs evidence for academic achievement to implement school programs. This article presents a systematic review of the literature to examine evidence that school health programs aligned with the Coordinated School Health Program (CSHP) model improve academic success.Methods:  A multidisciplinary panel of health researchers searched the literature related to academic achievement and elements of the CSHP model (health services, counseling/social services, nutrition services, health promotion for staff, parent/family/community involvement, healthy school environment, physical education, and health education) to identify scientifically rigorous studies of interventions. Study designs were classified according to the analytic framework provided in the Guide developed by the Community Preventive Services Task Force.Results:  The strongest evidence from scientifically rigorous evaluations exists for a positive effect on some academic outcomes from school health programs for asthmatic children that incorporate health education and parental involvement. Strong evidence also exists for a lack of negative effects of physical education programs on academic outcomes. Limited evidence from scientifically rigorous evaluations support the effect of nutrition services, health services, and mental health programs, but no such evidence is found in the literature to support the effect of staff health promotion programs or school environment interventions on academic outcomes.Conclusions:  Scientifically rigorous evaluation of school health programs is challenging to conduct due to issues related to sample size, recruitment, random assignment to condition, implementation fidelity, costs, and adequate follow‐up time. However, school health programs hold promise for improving academic outcomes for children.
Predictors of Sexual Intercourse Among Korean Adolescents
Authors: Ryu Eunjung , Kim Kyunghee , Kwon Hyejin 
Published: October 2007

ABSTRACTBackground: The proportion of adolescents experiencing unwanted pregnancy and abortion caused by the premature initiation of sexual intercourse is increasing at an alarming rate in Korea. This study aimed at developing a theoretical model for identifying individual and environmental risk factors affecting the initiation of sexual intercourse by adolescents.Methods: A descriptive survey was used to identify the predictors of sexual intercourse among Korean adolescents. Data were collected from students attending 10 senior high schools in 2 cities and 3 provinces in Korea. A total of 1012 students were chosen by convenience sampling, with 50 of them being excluded due to their failing to respond properly.Results: Logistic regression analysis of the data showed that gender, socialization traits, and disinhibition were the statistically significant individual factors, and that parental living arrangement, career track, school record, having a boy‐/girlfriend, and sexual permissiveness with a boy‐/girlfriend were the statistically significant environmental factors associated with sexual intercourse by adolescents.Conclusion: The theoretical model developed on the basis of the above findings should be useful in the development of effective counseling and preventive intervention programs provided to adolescents by school and community nurses.
Prevalence of Overweight in North Florida Elementary and Middle School Children: Effects of Age, Sex, Ethnicity, and Socioeconomic Status
Authors: Johnson Suzanne B , Pilkington Lorri L , Deeb Larry C , Jeffers Sheila , He Jianghua , Lamp Camilla 
Published: October 2007

ABSTRACTBackground:  The number of overweight children has been rapidly increasing, although its prevalence varies by age, sex, ethnicity, and socioeconomic (SES) status.Methods:  Height and weight assessments were used to calculate body mass index (BMI) and BMI percentile on more than 17,000 children in 1 north Florida school district’s elementary and middle schools. Based on the child’s BMI percentile, each child was placed into 1 of 4 groups: underweight, normal, at risk for overweight, and overweight. Logistic regression was used to test the relative contribution of sex, ethnicity, school (elementary vs middle), age, and SES (indicated by free/reduced vs full‐pay lunch status) to a child’s weight classification.Results:  Overall, 36.2% of the children were either overweight (18.9%) or at risk for overweight (17.4%). Approximately 30% of the kindergarten children were overweight (14.0%) or at risk for overweight (15.5%). African American children were most likely to begin kindergarten overweight. The prevalence of overweight increased for all ethnic groups during the elementary school years. However, African American girls and Hispanic boys were more likely to be overweight than any other ethnic group; Asian girls were least likely to be overweight. These findings could not be readily explained by the effects of SES. Higher SES appeared to be protective but only for white and Hispanic children.Conclusions:  These results confirm the increasing prevalence of overweight in US school children, especially among African American girls and Hispanic boys.
Glomerular filtration rate estimates decrease during high altitude expedition but increase with Lake Louise acute mountain sickness scores
Authors: Pichler J. , Risch L. , Hefti U. , Merz T. M. , Turk A. J. , Bloch K. E. , Maggiorini M. , Hess T. , Barthelmes D. , Schoch O. D. , Risch G. , Huber A. R. 
Published: October 2007

AbstractAim:  Acute mountain sickness (AMS) can result in pulmonary and cerebral oedema with overperfusion of microvascular beds, elevated hydrostatic capillary pressure, capillary leakage and consequent oedema as pathogenetic mechanisms. Data on changes in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) at altitudes above 5000 m are very limited.Methods:  Thirty‐four healthy mountaineers, who were randomized to two acclimatization protocols, undertook an expedition on Muztagh Ata Mountain (7549 m) in China. Tests were performed at five altitudes: Zurich pre‐expedition (PE, 450 m), base camp (BC, 4497 m), Camp 1 (C1, 5533 m), Camp 2 (C2, 6265 m) and Camp 3 (C3, 6865 m). Cystatin C‐ and creatinine‐based (Mayo Clinic quadratic equation) GFR estimates (eGFR) were assessed together with Lake Louise AMS score and other tests.Results:  eGFR significantly decreased from PE to BC (P < 0.01). However, when analysing at changes between BC and C3, only cystatin C‐based estimates indicated a significant decrease in GFR (P = 0.02). There was a linear decrease in eGFR from PE to C3, with a decrease of approx. 3.1 mL min−1 1.73 m−2 per 1000 m increase in altitude. No differences between eGFR of the two groups with different acclimitization protocols could be observed. There was a significant association between eGFR and haematocrit (P = 0.01), whereas no significant association between eGFR and aldosterone, renin and brain natriuretic peptide could be observed. Finally, higher AMS scores were significantly associated with higher eGFR (P = 0.01).Conclusions:  Renal function declines when ascending from low to high altitude. Cystatin C‐based eGFR decreases during ascent in high altitude expedition but increases with AMS scores. For individuals with eGFR <40 mL min−1 1.73 m−2, caution may be necessary when planning trips to high altitude above 4500 m above sea level.
Changes in skeletal muscle size, fibre‐type composition and capillary supply after chronic venous occlusion in rats
Authors: Kawada S. , Ishii N. 
Published: October 2007

AbstractAim:  We have previously shown that surgical occlusion of some veins from skeletal muscle results in muscle hypertrophy without mechanical overloading in the rat. The present study investigated the changes in muscle‐fibre composition and capillary supply in hypertrophied muscles after venous occlusion in the rat hindlimb.Methods:  Sixteen male Wistar rats were randomly assigned into two groups: (i) sham operated (sham‐operated group; n = 7); (ii) venous occluded for 2 weeks (2‐week‐occluded group; n = 9). At the end of the experimental period, specimens of the plantaris muscle were dissected from the hindlimbs and subjected to biochemical and histochemical analyses.Results:  Two weeks after the occlusion, both the wet weight of plantaris muscle relative to body weight and absolute muscle weight showed significant increases in the 2‐week‐occluded group (∼15%) when compared with those in the sham‐operated group. The concentrations of muscle glycogen and lactate were higher in the 2‐week‐occluded group, whereas staining intensity of muscle lipid droplets was lower in the 2‐week‐occluded group than those in the sham‐operated group. The percentage of type I muscle fibre decreased, whereas that of type IIb fibre increased in the 2‐week‐occluded group when compared with the sham‐operated group. Although the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor‐188 mRNA increased, the number of capillaries around the muscle fibres tended to decrease (P = 0.07).Conclusion:  Chronic venous occlusion causes skeletal muscle hypertrophy with fibre‐type transition towards faster types and changes in contents of muscle metabolites.
Diagnosis and treatment of copper poisoning caused by accidental feeding on poultry litter in a sheep flock
Authors: Christodoulopoulos G , Roubies N 
Published: October 2007

We report a case of chronic copper poisoning in a flock of 182 grazing dairy sheep in Thessaly, Central Greece. Five ewes were found dead during the course of a week. The diagnosis of copper poisoning was confirmed by necropsy examination, blood test results, and abnormally high copper levels in liver and kidney samples. A field investigation revealed the source of copper as a litter heap from a broiler farm to which the sheep had accidental access during their movement between the milking parlour and the grazing area. Access to the litter was subsequently blocked and all sheep were provided with 50 g of a salt/gypsum/sodium molybdate mixture (90.0: 9.8: 0.2, w/w) mixed in 500 g of concentrate feed daily, for a period of 5 weeks. Follow‐up blood samples were taken 3 and 8 wk after the initial diagnosis. A reduction in aspartate aminotransferase activity indicated the source of copper had been eliminated and the subsequent treatment was successful.
Blood, Bull Terriers and Babesiosis: further evidence for direct transmission of Babesia gibsoni in dogs
Authors: Jefferies R , Ryan UM , Jardine J , Broughton DK , Robertson ID , Irwin PJ 
Published: October 2007

This study reports on the epidemiology of Babesia gibsoni in American Pit Bull Terriers living in a region of western Victoria in southern Australia. Both American Pit Bull Terriers (n = 100) and other dog breeds (n = 51) were screened for B gibsoni using immunofluorescent antibody testing (IFAT) and/or polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR‐RFLP). A questionnaire was also completed by each dog owner, ascertaining the husbandry and habits of the dogs sampled. Fourteen dogs were positive for B gibsoni using IFAT and/or PCR‐RFLP and all were American Pit Bull Terriers. Dogs that were male and/or had been bitten by or were biters of other American Pit Bull Terriers were more likely to be B gibsoni positive, thus suggesting that blood‐to‐blood transmission contributes to the spread of this disease between dogs.
Activity of Meropenem with and without Ciprofloxacin and Colistin against
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
and
Acinetobacter baumannii
Authors: Pankuch Glenn A. , Lin Gengrong , Seifert Harald , Appelbaum Peter C. 
Published: October 2007

ABSTRACT

Time-kill synergy studies showed that at 24 h, subinhibitory meropenem and ciprofloxacin concentrations of 0.06 to 128 and 0.03 to 32 μg/ml, respectively, showed synergy against 34/51
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
strains; subinhibitory concentrations of meropenem (0.06 to 8 μg/ml) and colistin (0.12 to 1 μg/ml) showed synergy against 13 isolates. Subinhibitory meropenem and ciprofloxacin concentrations of 0.25 to 2 and 0.12 to 16 μg/ml, respectively, showed synergy against 18/52
Acinetobacter baumannii
strains at 24 h. Subinhibitory meropenem and colistin concentrations of 0.03 to 64 and 0.06 to 8 μg/ml, respectively, showed synergy against 49 strains at 24 h.
Identification and Evaluation of a Highly Effective Fusion Inhibitor for Human Metapneumovirus
Authors: Deffrasnes Céline , Hamelin Marie-Ève , Prince Gregory A. , Boivin Guy 
Published: October 2007

ABSTRACT

Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) can cause acute upper and lower respiratory tract infections that are particularly severe in young children, elderly subjects, and immunocompromised patients. To date, no treatments or vaccines are available for hMPV infections. Our objective was to assess the inhibitory potential of several peptides derived from the heptad repeat A and B (HRA and HRB) domains of the hMPV fusion protein. Nine candidate peptides were expressed in
Escherichia coli
or obtained synthetically and tested in vitro and in an animal model. Excellent in vitro inhibition of an hMPV strain of the A1 subgroup was obtained with five peptides, with 50% inhibitory concentrations ranging from 1.4 nM to 3.3 μM. One peptide, HRA2, displayed very potent activity against all four hMPV subgroups. It was also moderately active against human respiratory syncytial virus (strain A2) but displayed no activity against human parainfluenza virus type 3. BALB/c mice that received the HRA2 peptide and a lethal hMPV intranasal challenge simultaneously were completely protected from clinical symptoms and mortality. On day 5 postinfection, HRA2-treated mice had undetectable lung viral loads which were significantly less than those of untreated mice (3 × 10
4
50% tissue culture infective doses/lung). Pulmonary inflammation, levels of proinflammatory cytokines/chemokines (RANTES, gamma interferon, and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1) and airway obstruction were also significantly decreased in HRA2-treated mice. The results of this study demonstrate that potent antivirals can be derived from the hMPV fusion protein HR domains. Moreover, hMPV, compared to other paramyxoviruses and to the human immunodeficiency virus, seems to be more susceptible to HRA- than HRB-derived peptides.
Mechanisms by Which the G333D Mutation in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Reverse Transcriptase Facilitates Dual Resistance to Zidovudine and Lamivudine
Authors: Zelina Shannon , Sheen Chih-Wei , Radzio Jessica , Mellors John W. , Sluis-Cremer Nicolas 
Published: October 2007

ABSTRACTRecent studies have identified a role for mutations in the connection and RNase H domains of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) reverse transcriptase (RT) resistance to nucleoside analog RT inhibitors (NRTI). To provide insight into the biochemical mechanism(s) involved, we investigated the effect of the G333D mutation in the connection domain of RT on resistance to zidovudine (AZT) and lamivudine (3TC) in enzymes that contain both M184V and thymidine analog mutations (TAMs; M41L, L210W, and T215Y). Our results from steady-state kinetic, pre-steady-state kinetic, and thermodynamic analyses indicate that G333D facilitates dual resistance to AZT and 3TC in two ways. First, in combination with M184V, G333D increased the ability of HIV-1 RT to effectively discriminate between the normal substrate dCTP and 3TC-triphosphate. Second, G333D enhanced the ability of RT containing TAMs and M184V to bind template/primer terminated by AZT-monophosphate (AZT-MP), thereby restoring ATP-mediated excision of AZT-MP under steady-state assay conditions. This study is the first to elucidate a molecular mechanism whereby a mutation in the connection domain of RT can affect NRTI susceptibility at the enzyme level.
Comparative Evaluation of the Inhibitory Activities of a Series of Pyrimidinedione Congeners That Inhibit Human Immunodeficiency Virus Types 1 and 2
Authors: Buckheit Robert W. , Hartman Tracy L. , Watson Karen M. , Chung Sun-Gan , Cho Eui-Hwan 
Published: October 2007

ABSTRACT
Seventy-three analogs of SJ-3366 (1-(3-cyclopenten-1-ylmethyl)-5-ethyl-6-(3,5-dimethylbenzoyl)-2,4(1H,3H)-pyrimidinedione) were synthesized and comparatively evaluated for their ability to inhibit the replication of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and HIV-2 and for their ability to suppress virus entry and reverse transcription. These studies were performed to identify inhibitors with activity greater than that of the current lead molecule (SJ-3366) and to utilize structure-activity relationships (SAR) to define the chemical features of the pyrimidinedione congeners responsible for their efficacy, toxicity, and dual mechanism of action against HIV. The results of our SAR evaluations have demonstrated that the addition of the homocyclic moiety at the N-1 of the pyrimidinedione results in acquisition of the ability to inhibit virus entry and extends the range of action of the compounds to include HIV-2. In addition, the results demonstrate that analogs with a methyl linker between the homocyclic substitution and the N-1 of the pyrimidinedione had a greater number of highly active molecules than those analogs possessing ethyl linkers. Six molecules were identified with activity equivalent to or greater than that of SJ-3366, and five additional molecules with highly potent inhibition of reverse transcriptase and virus entry and possessing high efficacy against both HIV-1 and HIV-2 were identified. Six molecules exhibited significant inhibition of viruses with the highly problematic nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) resistance engendering amino acid change K103N in the reverse transcriptase. These evaluations indicate that a new class of NNRTIs has been identified and that these NNRTIs possess highly potent inhibition of HIV-1 with an extended range of action, which now includes HIV-2.
A DNA Fusion Vaccine Induces Bactericidal Antibodies to a Peptide Epitope from the PorA Porin of
Neisseria meningitidis
Authors: Zhu Delin , Williams Jeannette N. , Rice Jason , Stevenson Freda K. , Heckels John E. , Christodoulides Myron 
Published: October 2007

ABSTRACT

An experimental DNA plasmid vaccine was developed based on a well-characterized and protective peptide epitope derived from a bacterial porin protein. For this study, we used the P1.16b serosubtype epitope, located in variable region (VR)2 in loop 4 of the PorA outer membrane (OM) porin from
Neisseria meningitidis
serogroup B strain MC58. A plasmid that encoded the entire loop (pPorAloop4) was prepared, as well as a fusion plasmid that encoded the loop in tandem with the fragment C (FrC) immunostimulatory sequence from tetanus toxin (pPorAloop4-FrC). The constructs were used for intramuscular immunization without exogenous adjuvant. Murine antisera raised to the pPorAloop4-FrC DNA fusion plasmid reacted significantly with OMs in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and with whole bacteria by immunofluorescence, whereas antisera raised to the pPorAloop4 DNA plasmid and to control plasmid showed little or no reactivity. Significantly, only the pPorALoop4-FrC plasmid induced bactericidal antibodies, demonstrating that the intrinsic immunostimulatory sequence was essential for inducing a protective immune response. The antibodies raised to the P1.16b pPorALoop4-FrC plasmid were serosubtype specific, showing no significant immunofluorescence reactivity or bactericidal activity against other PorA variants. These data provide proof of principle for a DNA fusion plasmid strategy as a novel approach to preparing vaccines based on defined, protective epitopes.