bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Social influences and self‐efficacy as predictors of youth smoking initiation and cessation: a 3‐year longitudinal study of vocational high school students in Taiwan
Authors: Chang Fong‐Ching , Lee Ching‐Mei , Lai Hsiang‐Ru , Chiang Jeng‐Tung , Lee Pi‐Hsia , Chen Wen‐Jau 
Published: October 2006

ABSTRACTAims  This 3‐year longitudinal study examined changes in patterns of risk factors and protective factors of smoking initiation and cessation among vocational high school students in Taipei, Taiwan. Design and setting  In 2000, a total of 2151 10th grade students from 16 vocational high schools were assessed and followed up in the 11th and 12th grades. Self‐administered questionnaires were collected in each year to assess the pattern of changes in smoking behaviors, and risk and protective factors.Findings  Of the 1654 non‐smokers in the 10th grade, 227 students initiated smoking by the 12th grade. Higher risk factors such as peer smoking, peers offering cigarettes, alcohol use and lower protective factors, such as refusal self‐efficacy, antismoking attitude and belief in the 10th grade predicted youth initiation by grade 12. Increases in risk factors and decreases in protective factors during the years from 10th to 12th grades were associated significantly with youth smoking initiation. Of the 494 smokers in the 10th grade, 76 students quit smoking by the 12th grade. Lower risk factors and higher protective factors in 10th grade smokers predict youth smoking cessation by grade 12. Decreases in risk factors and increases in protective factors were associated significantly with youth smoking cessation.Conclusions  The risk factors (i.e. social influences) and protective factors (i.e. self‐efficacy) examined in this study predict both youth smoking initiation and youth smoking cessation.
Expression analyses and transcriptional regulation of mouse nucleolar spindle‐associated protein gene in erythroid cells: essential role of NF‐Y
Authors: Fujiwara Tohru , Harigae Hideo , Okitsu Yoko , Takahashi Shinichiro , Yokoyama Hisayuki , Yamada Minami F , Ishizawa Kenichi , Kameoka Junichi , Kaku Mitsuo , Sasaki Takeshi 
Published: October 2006

SummaryNucleolar spindle‐associated protein (NuSAP), a recently characterised microtubule‐associated protein, appears to participate in cell cycle regulation. It has been demonstrated that NuSAP is expressed preferentially in the erythroid lineage in haematopoietic cells. To characterise its role in erythropoiesis, we examined the expression profile of the NuSAP gene. In fractionated murine erythroblasts, NuSAP mRNA was remarkably more abundant in the subset corresponding to immature erythroblasts (TER119+CD71high) than mature erythroblasts (TER119+CD71low), and it was significantly increased in TER119+ cells from in vivo phlebotomised mice compared with control mice. Furthermore, during erythroid maturation of mouse erythroleukaemia (MEL) cells by dimethylsulfoxide, NuSAP mRNA was increased at 24–72 h. These results suggested that the NuSAP gene might contribute to the expansion of immature erythroblast pool. The regulatory mechanism of NuSAP gene was investigated using MEL cells. Sequence analysis revealed that NuSAP promoter has four CCAAT boxes, an Sp1 element, a GATA‐like element, a CACCC element, a Myb element and lacks a TATA box. Promoter analyses demonstrated that duplicated CCAAT boxes located at −81/−85 and −30/−34 were essential for promoter activity. Furthermore, the promoter was trans‐activated by NF‐YA through these elements. These results suggest that NuSAP might play an important role in erythroid proliferation under the control of NF‐Y.
Nicotinamide (vitamin B3) increases the polyploidisation and proplatelet formation of cultured primary human megakaryocytes
Authors: Giammona Lisa M. , Fuhrken Peter G. , Papoutsakis Eleftherios T. , Miller William M. 
Published: October 2006

SummaryMegakaryocytic (Mk) cell maturation involves polyploidisation, and the number of platelets produced increases with Mk DNA content. Ploidy levels in cultured human MK cells are much lower than those observed in vivo. This study demonstrated that adding the water‐soluble vitamin nicotinamide (NIC) to mobilised peripheral blood CD34+ cells cultured with thrombopoietin (Tpo) more than doubled the percentage of high‐ploidy (≥8N) MK cells. This was observed regardless of donor‐dependent differences in Mk differentiation. Furthermore, MK cells in cultures with NIC were larger, had more highly lobated nuclei, reached a maximum DNA content of 64N (vs. 16N with Tpo alone), and exhibited more frequent and more elaborate cytoplasmic extensions. NIC also increased the ploidy of cultured primary murine MK cells and a cell line model (CHRF‐288) of Mk differentiation. However, NIC did not alter Mk commitment, apoptosis, or the time at which endomitosis was initiated. Despite the dramatic phenotypic differences observed with NIC addition, gene expression microarray analysis revealed similar overall transcriptional patterns in primary human Mk cultures with or without NIC, indicating that NIC did not disrupt the normal Mk transcriptional program. Elucidating the mechanisms by which NIC increases Mk maturation could lead to advances in the treatment of Mk and platelet disorders.
Coupling of growth rate and body stoichiometry in Daphnia: a role for maintenance processes?
Authors: KYLE MARCIA , ACHARYA KUMUD , WEIDER LAWRENCE J. , LOOPER KAREN , ELSER JAMES J. 
Published: October 2006

Summary1. The growth rate hypothesis predicts positive relationships among growth rate (μ), body RNA (%RNA of dry mass) and body P (%P of dry mass) contents.2. We tested this within‐ and across‐species by growing five species/clones of Daphnia (Daphnia magna, Daphnia pulex, Daphnia galeata and two isolates of Daphnia pulicaria) with different combinations of food quantity and stoichiometric food quality.3. Within each species, positive correlations among μ, %RNA and %P were seen and across species there was a strong association between%RNA and %P, consistent with the growth rate hypothesis. However, coupling of growth to %RNA and to %P differed for different species. In particular, the %RNA–μ and %P–μ relationships had similar slopes but considerably different y‐intercepts (i.e.%P or %RNA at zero growth), with D. pulicaria and D. galeata having higher intercepts than D. magna and especially D. pulex. As a result of these displacements, the relative rankings of the species on the basis of %P and %RNA did not correspond to their rankings based on μ.4. These findings suggest that within a narrow clade (e.g. the daphnids), interspecific differences in body P content may reflect not growth rate‐related RNA allocation but instead the amount of RNA required for support of maintenance processes.
Nursing home care: whodunit?
Authors: Paulus Aggie TG , Van Raak Arno JA , Keijzer Femke B 
Published: October 2006

Aims and objectives.  (1) To analyse and compare (changes and differences in) activity profiles of various types of nursing home care. (2) To assess the impact of integrated care on these activity profiles.Background.  Because of an ongoing introduction of integrated nursing home care, caregivers increasingly have to co‐ordinate their activities, engage into interprofessional relationships and take over each other's tasks. Consequently, activity profiles [i.e. combinations of (contributions to) care activities and the roles that perform them] are expected to change.Design/methods.  At three measurement points in the period 1999–2003, caregivers (in 18 different roles) recorded and listed direct and indirect care activities. A total of 41 335 lists were analysed to derive activity profiles of traditional, transitional and integrated nursing home care in the Netherlands.Results.  Traditional, transitional and integrated care shared some comparable activity profiles. Integrated care differed from the other types with respect to the contribution of the geriatric nurse, recreational activities supervisor, nutrition assistant, household assistant and nursing assistant to activities such as extra care, handling food and club activities. Contrary to the other roles, the licensed practical nurse contributed to (almost) all activities in all types of care.Conclusions.  Nursing home care has several recurring activity profiles. These profiles are the same in all types of nursing home care. The introduction of integrated care implies that particular profiles have to be added to these profiles. As a generalist, the licensed practical nurse seems to play a key role in all activity profiles.Relevance to clinical practice.  Because of demographic and financial pressures, integrated care for older people becomes increasingly important. By addressing the impact of integrated care on activity profiles, this paper provides information on how new types of care can be delivered in the most effective manner.
Amodiaquine resistance is not related to rare findings of pfmdr1 gene amplifications in Kenya
Authors: Holmgren Gabrielle , Björkman Anders , Gil José Pedro 
Published: October 2006

SummaryObjectives  Many countries are now adopting artemisinin‐based combination therapy (ACT) for treatment of Plasmodium falciparum malaria. In multi‐drug resistant areas in South East Asia amplifications of the pfmdr1 gene are frequent and tentatively associated with reduced susceptibility to the common quinoline partner drugs mefloquine and lumefantrine. In Africa where amodiaquine is one of the favoured quinoline partner drugs in ACT, studies on multi‐drug resistance associated pfmdr1 gene amplifications are urgent. Our aim was to determine the current prevalence of pfmdr1 gene amplifications and a possible association between pfmdr1 gene copy number and amodiaquine treatment outcome in Kenya.Methods  Seventy‐two children with Plasmodium falciparum infection in Kenya were treated with amodiaquine monotherapy and followed for 21 days. Possible amplification of the pfmdr1 gene was assessed from blood‐spotted filterpaper by TaqMan® probe based real‐time polymerase chain reaction.Results  The recrudescent rate was 14 of 72 (19%). All children had single pfmdr1 copy infections, with the exception of one child who had an infection with two pfmdr1 copies. This child had an adequate treatment response.Conclusion  Pfmdr1 amplifications do exist in Kenya but at a very low frequency. Yet, the substantial number of children with recrudescent infections implies that amodiaquine resistance is not related to pfmdr1 gene amplifications in Kenya.
Segmental haemangiomas of infancy: A review of 14 cases
Authors: Phan Tai Anh , Adams Susan , Wargon Orli 
Published: October 2006

SUMMARYHaemangiomas of infancy are the commonest benign tumour in childhood, with the majority being a localized subtype, only requiring therapy in specific locations. The segmental subtype, however, confers a higher complication rate, an association with the PHACE syndrome and poorer prognosis. This retrospective case series of 14 infants with segmental haemangiomas aimed to further define the variety of clinical presentations, complication rates, and response to treatment in this subset of patients. We found in our series that 71% of infants with segmental haemangiomas develop at least one complication related to the lesion. Systemic corticosteroids prevented the further growth as well as reduced the pain and ulceration of the segmental haemangiomas in all of those treated. Early recognition and early treatment to arrest the growth of segmental haemangiomas will reduce morbidity and complications associated with these haemangiomas. Corticosteroid use, however, needs to be considered against the high incidence of side‐effects such as secondary hypertension (40%), cushingoid features (40%) and growth suppression (67%). In our experience, these infants benefit from multidisciplinary team involvement for the assessment of associated syndromes, and to follow up and avoid complications associated with systemic therapy.
Prurigo pigmentosa
Authors: Shannon John F , Weedon David , Sharkey Michael P 
Published: October 2006

SUMMARYA 22‐year‐old Chinese woman presented with a 5‐year history of an intensely pruritic eruption on her posterior neck, mid back and sacrum leaving reticulate pigmentation. The diagnosis of prurigo pigmentosa was made on the basis of the clinico‐histological features and a response to minocycline. Although prurigo pigmentosa is uncommon, it has characteristic clinical and histological features. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment result in a rapid response and prevents a progression of pigmentation.
Cheilitis caused by contact allergy to anethole in spearmint flavoured toothpaste
Authors: Poon Terence SC , Freeman Susanne 
Published: October 2006

SUMMARYA 63‐year‐old woman presented with a 6‐year history of persistent cheilitis. Minimal improvement was achieved with therapeutic measures. Patch testing was positive to anethole, a flavouring used in her toothpaste. Her cheilitis resolved after cessation of the flavoured toothpaste. This case demonstrates the importance of considering contact allergy to toothpaste flavours in patients with cheilitis.
Parvovirus B19 infection presenting as ‘bathing trunk’ erythema with pustules
Authors: Butler Gregory J , Mendelsohn Shevaun , Franks Andrea 
Published: October 2006

SUMMARYA 7‐year‐old girl presented with acute vulval erythema and pustules, associated with a petechial eruption in her flexures and over her feet. There was a mild prodromal illness and the patient was afebrile. There were minimal symptoms associated with the rash. Skin and throat swabs were negative and blood examination showed mild neutrophilia and lymphopaenia. Parvovirus B19 IgM was detected on serology and cutaneous features resolved within 4 days. This is a further case of parvovirus B19 infection presenting as a ‘bathing trunk’ exanthem that has unique dermatologic features, including the presence of pustules and distant petechiae.
Factors Affecting %CDT Status at Entry Into a Multisite Clinical Treatment Trial: Experience from the COMBINE Study
Authors: Anton Raymond F. , Youngblood Marston 
Published: October 2006

Background: Carbohydrate‐deficient transferrin (CDT) occurs as a higher percentage of normal transferrin (%CDT) in heavy drinkers. %CDT is used as a marker of both alcohol use disorder severity and treatment outcome both clinically and in treatment trials. Nevertheless, little is known about the parameters that predict which patients are %CDT positives at treatment entry. These parameters might include level of drinking, days of abstinence before testing, and severity of alcohol dependence before evaluation.Methods: %CDT levels were collected before randomization from participants of the COMBINE Study, a large federally sponsored multisite clinical trial evaluating medications and behavioral therapies in alcohol‐dependent outpatients. %CDT (assayed in a central laboratory) was available in 1,193 individuals for whom drinking history in the 30 days before testing and measures of alcoholism severity were documented. The effects of drinking history and alcohol severity were evaluated for prediction of a %CDT‐positive test status.Results: Less percent days abstinent (PDA) and more drinks per drinking day (DDD) were predictive of higher rates of %CDT‐positive patients (maximum 67%). Up to 14 days of continuous abstinence before testing did not appear to significantly affect %CDT status. Rates of %CDT positives remained reasonably steady up to about 40% PDA. Years of drinking at dependence levels had an unexpected negative impact on %CDT‐positive rates while previous treatment had a small but positive impact of %CDT‐positive rates. ADS and DrInC scores had no predictive value over and above recent drinking amounts on %CDT status.Conclusions: %CDT is more likely to be positive in those who have more days of drinking and to a lesser degree in those who drink more per drinking day. It can remain positive even in those alcoholic subjects who stop drinking many days before testing. Alcoholic subjects with more treatment experiences appear to have a marginally higher %CDT‐positive rate.
2001 IFT Education Standards: A 5‐Year Perspective
Authors: Hartel Richard W. 
Published: October 2006

ABSTRACT:  The current IFT Education Standards used to evaluate Food Science programs for IFT approval have been in place now for 5 years. Most Food Science programs in the United States (as well as some in Mexico and Canada) have been reviewed according to these standards. The transition to instruction based on assessment of student learning outcomes, in accord with these Education Standards, is well under way. In the first round of reviews, the Committee on Higher Education (CoHE) focused mostly on the Core Competency grid, also making sure programs were writing learning outcomes and instituting meaningful assessment programs. In the 2nd round of reviews, there will be more focus on assessment of learning outcomes. CoHE would like to see that programs (administration, faculty, and students) have embraced the transition to assessment of learning outcomes and are making significant progress in aligning the curriculum with this educational format. As in the past, CoHE offers assistance to any program that would like help in making this transition. Finally, the next revision of the IFT Education Standards is due out in 2011 (10 year cycle) and it is already time to think about what this might entail. Some thoughts and suggestions for future directions are provided.
Evaluating the Impact of Overactive Bladder on Sexual Health in Women: What is Relevant?
Authors: Coyne Karin S. , Margolis Mary Kay , Brewster-Jordan Jessica , Sutherland Suzette E. , Bavendam Tamara , Rogers Rebecca G. 
Published: October 2006

ABSTRACT

Introduction
To assess sexual health, relevant, valid, and reliable questionnaires need to be used.

Aim
To assess the relevance and content validity of three sexual health questionnaires in women with overactive bladder (OAB) and urinary incontinence.

Main Outcome Measures
Sexual Quality of Life Questionnaire––Female (SQoL-F), Sexual Function Questionnaire (SFQ), and Pelvic Organ Prolapse–Incontinence Sexual Function Questionnaire (PISQ).

Methods
Women with OAB and urinary incontinence were recruited from five urology clinics in the United States; those who were interested in participating were mailed questionnaire packets with instructions. Each questionnaire item was followed by three questions regarding the understandability, relevance, and impact of bladder condition when responding to the question. Patients returned the completed questionnaires by mail; clinical information was obtained from chart review.

Results
A total of 129 patients (74% response) returned the questionnaires. The mean age was 56 years; 78% were white; 64% were married. In this sample, 64% had urge incontinence; 32% had mixed incontinence; and 4% had stress incontinence. Participants experienced bladder symptoms for a mean of 12.2 years with the following treatments: surgery (43%), bladder training (26%), exercise/biofeedback (42%), and medications (67%). SQoL-F items were understood by more than 97% of the respondents, more than 89% for SFQ, and more than 82% for PISQ. There were two SQoL-F items, one SFQ item, and 11 PISQ items that less than 60% of the respondents deemed relevant to their bladder condition. Correlations among questionnaire items and relevance to bladder condition ranged from 0.04 to 0.64 for the SQoL-F, 0.04 to 0.47 for the SFQ, and 0.01 to 0.58 for the PISQ.

Conclusion
Women with OAB found the majority of items on all three questionnaires to be relevant to their bladder condition. Of these questionnaires, the SQoL-F had the highest understandability, fewest questions considered irrelevant, and correlated well with OAB symptoms.
Death Receptor 4 Variants and Colorectal Cancer Risk
Authors: Frank Bernd , Shanmugam Kalai Selvi , Beckmann Lars , Hemminki Kari , Brenner Hermann , Hoffmeister Michael , Chang-Claude Jenny , Burwinkel Barbara 
Published: October 2006

Abstract
The tumor necrosis factor–related apoptosis-inducing ligand receptor modulates apoptotic response by binding to the proapoptotic death receptor 4 (DR4). Perturbed apoptosis due to missense alterations in the candidate tumor suppressor gene DR4 leads to deregulated cell proliferation and cancer predisposition. Recent studies have discussed the association of DR4 variants with cancer risk. We evaluated, for the first time, the role of the Thr209Arg (626C&gt;G) and Glu228Ala (683A&gt;C) polymorphisms on colorectal cancer risk by genotyping 659 incident cases and 607 healthy controls drawn from the German population-based Darmkrebs: Chancen der Verhütung durch Screening (DACHS) study. Whereas DR4 Glu228Ala was not associated with colorectal cancer, Thr209Arg heterozygotes were at a significantly decreased colorectal cancer risk [odds ratio (OR), 0.73; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 0.54-0.97]. Stratification according to sex and age exhibited a significant association of Thr209Arg with a decreased risk for male heterozygotes (OR, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.46-0.99) and for Arg209 carriers ≥65 years of age (OR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.46-0.92) as well as an enhanced risk for female Ala228 carriers in a allele dose-dependent manner (Ptrend = 0.01). Subsite analysis revealed a protective effect of Thr209Arg for rectal cancer risk (OR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.48-0.95) and a significant risk increase for Ala228 carriers with advanced colorectal cancer stages (Ptrend = 0.04). Haplotype analysis revealed a 2.4-fold risk for carriers of the rare 626C-683C haplotype (1% prevalence in the general population; OR, 2.37; 95% CI, 0.98-5.76). The score statistic yielded an empirical P of 0.03 of the haplotype-specific test for 626C-683C based on 20,000 simulations, suggesting that DR4 626C-683C may affect colorectal cancer predisposition. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2006;15(10):2002–5)
Racial/Ethnic Differences in Postmenopausal Endogenous Hormones: The Multiethnic Cohort Study
Authors: Setiawan Veronica Wendy , Haiman Christopher A. , Stanczyk Frank Z. , Le Marchand Loïc , Henderson Brian E. 
Published: October 2006

AbstractPostmenopausal women with increased estrogens and lowered sex hormone–binding globulin (SHBG) concentrations are at increased risk of breast cancer. In the Multiethnic Cohort Study, the highest incidence rates of postmenopausal breast cancer were observed among Native Hawaiians followed by Japanese Americans, Whites, African Americans, and Latinas. Ethnic differences in endogenous sex hormone profiles may contribute to some of the variation in breast cancer incidence. Plasma concentrations of androstenedione, testosterone, estrone (E1), estradiol (E2), and SHBG were measured in 739 postmenopausal women from the Multiethnic Cohort Study (240 African Americans, 81 Native Hawaiians, 96 Japanese Americans, 231 Latinas, and 91 Whites). After adjusting for age, known breast cancer risk factors and lifestyle factors, the mean levels of testosterone, estrogen, and SHBG varied across populations (Ps ≤ 0.004). Across racial/ethnic groups, Native Hawaiians had the highest mean levels of androstenedione, testosterone, and estrogens and the lowest mean levels of SHBG. Compared with Whites, Native Hawaiians had higher androstenedione (+22%, P = 0.017), total testosterone (+26%, P = 0.013), bioavailable testosterone (+33%, P = 0.002), E1 (≥21%; P = 0.009), total E2 (+26%, P = 0.001), bioavailable E2 (+31%, P &lt; 0.001), and lower SHBG (−12% P = 0.07) levels. Compared with Whites, Japanese Americans had higher E2 (+15%, P = 0.036) and bioavailable E2 (+18%, P = 0.024) levels. African Americans also had higher E1 (+21%, P = 0.004), E2 (+20%, P = 0.007), and bioavailable E2 (+20%, P = 0.015) levels compared with Whites, whereas mean levels in Latinas were similar to those of Whites. Many of the differences in endogenous postmenopausal hormonal milieu across these five racial/ethnic groups are consistent with the known differences in breast cancer incidence across these populations. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2006;15(10):1849–55)