bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Quality of life instrument for Turkish people with skin diseases
Authors: Gurel Mehmet Salih , Yanik Medaim , Simsek Zeynep , Kati Mahmut , Karaman Ahmet 
Published: November 2005

AbstractBackground and objective  To develop a new, short, self‐administrated subjective quality of life (QOL) instrument for Turkish people with skin diseases.Patients and methods  The 11‐item questionnaire of QOL instrument was developed from 200 consecutive dermatological patients’ replies. The reliability and validity of the instrument was tested on data gathered from 278 patients with skin diseases attending a dermatology outpatient department and 49 normal subjects. Construct validity was assessed by an exploratory factor analyses and comparisons between patients rated severe and not severe, as well as between normal and patient groups. Reliability was assessed from the internal consistency of the scales and the correlations were made between scores from a 7–10‐day retest by using intraclass correlation coefficient.Results  Factor analyses found six separate dimensions of QOL involving skin disease: social life, emotional life, daily activity, symptoms, cognitive life and sexual life. In addition, 81.3% of common variance was explained by the above factors, all of which correlated with the scale scores of the instrument. The instrument scales were internally consistent (Cronbach's α= 0.77–0.84) and scale scores were reproducible after 7–10 days (ICC = 0.63–0.88). Significantly, correlations between scale scores and physician's assessment of the severity of the skin disease were found. Significant differences between diagnostic groups were observed with higher scores for patients with psoriasis, urticaria and acne than those with eczema in the emotional life domain (P < 0.05). In the sexual life domain, however, the eczema group had higher scores than patients with psoriasis, urticaria or acne (P < 0.01).Conclusion  The instrument provides valid and reliable assessments of QOL in Turkish patients with skin disease.
Ultrasonographical evaluation of the Achilles’ tendon in psoriasis patients
Authors: Özçakar Levent , Çetin Alp , Ínanici Fatma , Kaymak Bayram , Gürer Cansel Köse , Kölemen Fikret 
Published: November 2005

AbstractBackground  Psoriasis is a common dermatological disease with erythematous plaques where articular and extra articular findings (tenosynovitis and enthesitis) may well accompany. The aim of this current study was to evaluate the Achilles’ tendon of psoriasis patients with ultrasonography.Methods  The study comprised 30 psoriasis patients and 20 healthy controls. Ankle ultrasonography was performed with posterior approach, the joint in neutral or in a little dorsiflexed position. The statistical analysis was carried out with a Student's t‐test and Spearman correlation tests.Results  The mean values of Achilles’ tendon thickness of two groups were compared: the psoriatic group was found to have thicker tendon measurements (P = 0.00). The tendons of the patients with radiologically proven enthesopathy were found to be even thicker (P = 0.001).Conclusions  We encourage the use of diagnostic ultrasonography for evaluation of enthesopathy manifestations in psoriasis patients as an adjunct to conventional methods owing to its convenience and promising results.
Bullous variant of Sweet's syndrome
Authors: Voelter‐Mahlknecht Susanne , Bauer Jürgen , Metzler Gisela , Fierlbeck Gerhard , Rassner Gernot 
Published: November 2005

A 69‐year‐old woman presented to our clinic as an emergency with erythematous, well‐circumscribed plaques, which were partly vesicular, on her extremities and in her armpits, and additionally hemorrhagic blisters on both her palms and her fingers (Fig. 1a), which had developed 2 days after the first appearance of the skin lesions. The rapid onset of the lesions (within a few hours) and the pain associated with them were extremely troublesome to the patient. On admission she complained of fever, tiredness and being easily fatigued. Because of a urinary tract infection 1 month prior to admission, trospiumchloride was given. On clinical examination, body temperature was found to be above 38 °C and infraclavicular lymph nodes were enlarged but not tender.(a) Bullae on the patient's right hand. (b) Multiple partly confluent vesicles with neutrophilic granulocytes intraepidermally and a dense interstitial perivascular infiltration of neutrophilic granulocytes and lymphomononuclear cells (H&E, ×200)imageNormal or negative laboratory tests included blood counts, liver and kidney parameters, electrolytes and infection screen. Laboratory examination demonstrated minor leukocytosis and absolute neutrophilia (white blood cell count 10 440 cells/µL, neutrophils 8030 cells/µL). X‐ray screening, abdominal ultrasound and laboratory investigations were all normal.There was no response to antibiotics when erythromycine was given. However, there was a good response to systemic corticosteroids. The patient was treated with a low dosage of prednisolone, beginning at 50 mg/day, which was then tapered off. Skin lesions resolved within 7 days.Histology from a lesion on the patient's left forearm showed a dense interstitial inflammatory infiltration consisting predominantly of neutrophilic granulocytes from the subepidermal layer to the middle of the reticular dermis. Inflammatory cells penetrated into both blood vessels and vessel walls; vasculitis was not prominent. In the lower dermis, perivascular infiltrations of lymphomononuclear cells were found. In addition, intraepidermally multiple partly confluent vesicles, with inclusions of neutrophilic granulocytes, were found, confirming the diagnosis of this rare variant of an acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis (Fig. 1b).
Diagnostic clinical features of pentazocine‐induced ulcers
Authors: Prasad H. R. Y. , Khaitan Binod K. , Ramam M. , Sharma Vinod K. , Pandhi Ravinder K. , Agarwal Saurabh , Dhawan Anju , Jain Raka , Singh Manoj K. 
Published: November 2005

AbstractBackground  Pentazocine was introduced in 1967 as a “non‐narcotic, nonaddicting” analgesic. However, the abuse potential of this medication was soon recognized, and cutaneous and muscular complications of pentazocine abuse have been reported.Methods  Demographic and clinical data on 10 patients with pentazocine‐induced ulcers attending the Dermatology Outpatient Department of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, India between November 2000 and October 2002 have been compiled.Results  Ten patients with pentazocine‐induced ulcers were seen at AIIMS between November 2000 and October 2002, six of whom were female. The average age of these patients was 32 years. The duration of the complaints ranged from 10 days to 7 years (average 17.5 months). Nine of the 10 patients had past history of painful medical conditions for which they had received pentazocine injections. All the patients presented with deep ulcers and sinuses over the accessible sites. The margins of these ulcers were hyperpigmented and indurated. Six patients had scars along the superficial vein access sites. Three patients had puffy‐hand syndrome, while two had muscle contractures. No underlying psychiatric disorders were found in any of these patients. Urine screening for pentazocine was positive in two patients. Antinuclear antibody (ANA), antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) and antibody against DNA (antidsDNA) tests and screening for infections such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) were negative in all patients.Conclusions  Pentazocine abuse can be suspected from cutaneous findings, even when the patient does not volunteer a history of self‐medication. Recognition of the condition will prevent misdirected investigations and treatment. The patient should be encouraged to seek treatment for drug dependence.
Heritability of corticosterone response and changes in life history traits during selection in the zebra finch
Authors: Evans Matthew R. , Roberts Mark L. , Buchanan Katherine L. , Goldsmith Arthur R. 
Published: November 2005

Abstract
Vertebrates respond to environmental stressors through the neuro-endocrine stress response, which involves the production of glucocorticoids. We have selected independent, duplicate divergent lines of zebra finches for high, low and control corticosterone responses to a mild stressor. This experiment has shown that over the first four generations, the high lines have demonstrated a significant realized heritability of about 20%. However, the low lines have apparently not changed significantly from controls. This asymmetry in response is potentially because of the fact that all birds appear to be showing increased adaptation to the environment in which they are housed, with significant declines in corticosterone response in control lines as well as low lines. Despite the existence of two- to threefold difference in mean corticosterone titre between high and low lines, there were no observed differences in testosterone titre in adult male birds from the different groups. In addition, there were no consistent, significant differences between the lines in any of the life history variables measured – number of eggs laid per clutch, number of clutches or broods produced per pair, number of fledglings produced per breeding attempt, nor in any of egg, nestling and fledgling mortality. These results highlight the fact that the mechanisms that underlie variation in the avian physiological system can be modified to respond to differences between environments through selection. This adds an additional level of flexibility to the avian physiological system, which will allow it to respond to environmental circumstances.
Predator diversity strengthens trophic cascades in kelp forests by modifying herbivore behaviour
Authors: Byrnes Jarrett , Stachowicz John J. , Hultgren Kristin M. , Randall Hughes A. , Olyarnik Suzanne V. , Thornber Carol S. 
Published: November 2005

AbstractAlthough human‐mediated extinctions disproportionately affect higher trophic levels, the ecosystem consequences of declining diversity are best known for plants and herbivores. We combined field surveys and experimental manipulations to examine the consequences of changing predator diversity for trophic cascades in kelp forests. In field surveys we found that predator diversity was negatively correlated with herbivore abundance and positively correlated with kelp abundance. To assess whether this relationship was causal, we manipulated predator richness in kelp mesocosms, and found that decreasing predator richness increased herbivore grazing, leading to a decrease in the biomass of the giant kelp Macrocystis. The presence of different predators caused different herbivores to alter their behaviour by reducing grazing, such that total grazing was lowest at highest predator diversity. Our results suggest that declining predator diversity can have cascading effects on community structure by reducing the abundance of key habitat‐providing species.
Scale‐dependent interactions and community structure on cobble beaches
Authors: van de Koppel Johan , Altieri Andrew H. , Silliman Brian R. , Bruno John F. , Bertness Mark D. 
Published: November 2005

AbstractRecent theory suggests that scale‐dependent interaction between facilitation and competition can generate spatial structure in ecological communities. The application of this hypothesis, however, has been limited to systems with little underlying heterogeneity. We evaluated this prediction in a plant community along an intertidal stress gradient on cobble beaches in Rhode Island, USA. Prior studies have shown that Spartina alterniflora facilitates a forb‐dominated community higher in the intertidal by modifying the shoreline environment. We tested the hypothesis that, at a smaller scale, Spartina competitively excludes forb species, explaining their marked absence within the lower Spartina zone. Transplant experiments showed forb species grow significantly better in the Spartina zone when neighbours were removed. Removal of the Spartina canopy led to a massive emergence of annual forbs, showing that competition limits local occupation. These findings indicate that interaction of large‐scale facilitation and small‐scale competition drives plant zonation on cobble beaches. This study is the first to provide empirical evidence of scale‐dependent interactions between facilitation and competition spatially structuring communities in heterogeneous environments.
College Choice and Subsequent Earnings: Results Using Swedish Sibling Data*
Authors: Lindahl Lena , Regnér Håkan 
Published: November 2005

AbstractUsing data on 19,000 whole siblings, it is shown that earnings vary significantly among students who have graduated from different colleges. The cross‐section estimates are up to twice the within‐family estimates, indicating that a regression estimator of college effects that does not adjust properly for family characteristics will overestimate the earnings premium of college. This study also shows that the effects of college choice vary between sisters and brothers and that there is a relationship between teacher quality and the college effects. These findings suggest that there is no straightforward interpretation of college in individual earnings equations.
Direct Displacement Effects of Labour Market Programmes*
Authors: Dahlberg Matz , Forslund Anders 
Published: November 2005

AbstractUsing a panel of 250 Swedish municipalities over the period 1987–1996, we examine the direct displacement effects of active labour market programmes (ALMPs). Compared to earlier studies on this topic, we have more and better data. Based on our GMM estimations, we find that there are direct displacement effects from subsidised employment (in the order of approximately 65%), but that there seem to be no (significant) displacement effects from training. This result seems to be robust to several alternative specifications.
Intertemporal Equity and Hartwick's Rule in an Exhaustible Resource Model*
Authors: Buchholz Wolfgang , Dasgupta Swapan , Mitra Tapan 
Published: November 2005

AbstractIn a standard exhaustible resource model, it is known that if, along a competitive path, investment in the augmentable capital good equals the rents on the exhaustible resource (known as Hartwick's rule), then the path is equitable in the sense that the consumption level is constant over time. In this paper, we show the converse of this result: if a competitive path is equitable, then it must satisfy Hartwick's rule.
Regulation and Evolution of Compliance in Common Pool Resources
Authors: Xepapadeas Anastasios 
Published: November 2005

AbstractThe evolution of compliance with regulation and the evolution of a CPR stock are modeled jointly in a setup where replicator dynamics describing compliance with harvesting rules are combined with resource stock dynamics. This evolutionary approach suggests that in long‐run equilibrium, coexistence of both cooperative and non‐cooperative rules is possible under regulation. Stock effects on profits and a certain structure of auditing probabilities could imply the emergence of a limit cycle in areas of low stock levels, as an equilibrium outcome. It might be easier for the regulator to obtain full compliance under precommitment to fixed auditing probabilities.
Health in People with Intellectual Disabilities: Current Knowledge and Gaps in Knowledge
Authors: van Schrojenstein Lantman‐de Valk Henny M. J. 
Published: November 2005

Background  The health needs of people with intellectual disabilities have recently received increasing attention.Method  Based on a review of the 2003 literature, this paper presents an overview of our knowledge on physical, mental and social well‐being in this group.Results  Physical well‐being is threatened by handicap‐related conditions, syndrome‐related health problems and lifestyle characteristics.Conclusion  Gaps in knowledge include insufficient evidence on health disparities, the lack of comparability of data on the prevalence of ill heath, lack of expertise in relation to communication problems and the fact that all knowledge is based on research in developed countries, while people with intellectual disabilities in developing countries face the same or even greater health problems. Recommendations concerning evidence, education and empowerment are formulated.
A long‐term outcome study of selective mutism in childhood
Authors: Steinhausen Hans‐Christoph , Wachter Miriam , Laimböck Karin , Metzke Christa Winkler 
Published: November 2005

Objective:  Controlled study of the long‐term outcome of selective mutism (SM) in childhood.Method:  A sample of 33 young adults with SM in childhood and two age‐ and gender‐matched comparison groups were studied. The latter comprised 26 young adults with anxiety disorders in childhood (ANX) and 30 young adults with no psychiatric disorders during childhood. The three groups were compared with regard to psychiatric disorder in young adulthood by use of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI). In addition, the effect of various predictors on outcome of SM was studied.Results:  The symptoms of SM improved considerably in the entire SM sample. However, both SM and ANX had significantly higher rates for phobic disorder and any psychiatric disorder than controls at outcome. Taciturnity in the family and, by trend, immigrant status and a severity indicator of SM had an impact on psychopathology and symptomatic outcome in young adulthood.Conclusion:  This first controlled long‐term outcome study of SM provides evidence of symptomatic improvement of SM in young adulthood. However, a high rate of phobic disorder at outcome points to the fact that SM may be regarded as an anxiety disorder variant.
Periictal Dynamic Changes in Benzodiazepine Receptors
Authors: Cascino Gregory D. 
Published: November 2005

Seizure-related Short-term Plasticity of Benzodiazepine Receptors in Partial Epilepsy: An [11C]Flumazenil-PET Study Bouvard S, Costes N, Bonnefoi F, Lavenne F, Mauguiere F, Delforge J, Ryvlin P Brain 2005;128:1330–1343 We have undertaken a test–retest [11C]flumazenil (FMZ) positron emission tomography (PET) study in 10 drug-resistant epilepsy patients, including six with a mesiotemporal epilepsy (MTE), and 10 normal controls, to investigate seizure-related short-term plasticity of benzodiazepine (BZD) receptors. All subjects underwent two FMZ-PET scans at a 1-week interval. Patients benefited from a concurrent video-EEG monitoring, which allowed determination of the duration of the interictal period (IP) preceding each PET study. Test–retest whole-brain B′max variations, evaluated with a partial-saturation injection protocol, were similarly observed in patients and controls, suggesting a physiologic modulation of BZD receptors. Five (50%) patients, but no controls, also demonstrated clinically significant test–retest FMZ-PET variations in the mesial temporal region. This was observed in all three patients with MTE and no hippocampal atrophy, in whom only the PET study associated with the shortest IP correctly identified the epileptogenic zone. Statistical analysis revealed a significant effect of IP duration on BZD receptor B′max in MTE patients, suggesting that the shorter the IP, the lower the B′max in the epileptogenic hippocampus. FMZ-PET appears to be an interesting tool for investigating both normal and abnormal short-term modulations of the BZD receptor system and should ideally be performed within a few days after a seizure in patients with MTE and a normal MRI.
Pregabalin: The Next New Thing
Authors: Faught Edward 
Published: November 2005

Safety and Efficacy of Two Pregabalin Regimens for Add-on Treatment of Partial Epilepsy Beydoun A, Uthman BM, Kugler AR, Greiner MJ, Knapp LE, Garofalo EA; Pregabalin 1008-009 Study Group Neurology 2005;64:475–480 Objective To evaluate the efficacy, tolerability, and safety of two pregabalin regimens administered as adjunctive therapy to that of placebo in patients with medically refractory partial epilepsy. Methods A multicenter, double-blind, randomized, parallel-group, placebo-controlled trial was performed. After a prospective 8-week baseline phase, patients were randomized to 12 weeks of double-blind treatment with placebo or pregabalin, 600 mg/day, administered twice daily (BID) or 3 times daily (TID). Primary efficacy was measured as change in seizure frequency from baseline of either pregabalin regimen compared with placebo. Secondary efficacy comparisons included the proportion of patients experiencing ≥50% reduction in seizure frequency (responder rate) and median percentage change from baseline in seizure frequency. Safety/tolerability assessments included adverse events (AEs), physical and neurologic examinations, and clinical laboratory evaluation. Efficacy and safety analyses were performed on the intent-to-treat (ITT) population. Results Pregabalin treatment resulted in seizure frequency reductions: 53% for pregabalin TID ( P ≤ 0.0001) and 44% for pregabalin BID ( P ≤ 0.0001) compared with a 1% increase for placebo. Responder rates were 49% for pregabalin TID and 43% for pregabalin BID compared with 9% for placebo ( P ≤ 0.001). Both pregabalin regimens were similar in efficacy and tolerability. The most common AEs were dizziness, somnolence, and ataxia. Conclusions Pregabalin administered at 600 mg/day is safe, generally well tolerated, and efficacious as adjunctive therapy for the treatment of patients with partial seizures, with or without secondary generalizations. This dose can be administered on a twice-daily or 3-times-daily schedule with similar efficacy and tolerability results.
Angelman Syndrome: Need for Further Illumination in the Theater of the Happy Puppet
Authors: Sankar Raman 
Published: November 2005

Analysis of the Characteristics of Epilepsy in 37 Patients with the Molecular Diagnosis of Angelman Syndrome Galvan-Manso M, Campistol J, Conill J, Sanmarti FX Epileptic Disord 2005;7:19–25 Angelman syndrome is a genetic disorder caused by defects in the maternally inherited imprinted domain located on chromosome 15q11-q13. Most patients with Angelman syndrome have severe mental retardation, characteristic physical appearance, behavioral traits, and severe, early-onset epilepsy. We retrospectively reviewed the medical histories of 37 patients, all with the molecular diagnosis of Angelman syndrome and at least 3 years of follow-up in our neurology department, for further information about their epilepsy: age at onset, type of seizures initially and during follow-up, EEG recordings, treatments, and response. The molecular studies showed 87% deletions de novo; 8% uniparental, paternal disomy; and 5% imprinting defects. The median age at diagnosis was 6.5 years, with 20% having begun to manifest febrile seizures at an average age of 1.9 years. Nearly all (95%) had epilepsy, the majority younger than 3 years (76%). The most frequent seizure types were myoclonic, atonic, generalized tonic–clonic, and atypical absences. At onset, two patients exhibited West syndrome. EEG recordings typical of Angelman syndrome were found in 68%. Normalization of EEG appeared in 12 patients after 9 years. Control of epileptic seizures improved after the age of 8.5 years. The most effective treatments were valproic acid and clonazepam. We conclude that epilepsy was present in nearly all of our cases with Angelman syndrome and that the EEG can be a useful diagnostic tool. On comparing the severity of epilepsy with the type of genetic alteration, we did not find any statistically significant correlations.