bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Temporal stability of heart period variability during a resting baseline and in response to psychological challenge
Authors: SLOAN R. P. , SHAPIRO P. A. , BAGIELLA E. , GORMAN J. M. , BIGGER J. T. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractCentral to the psychophysiologic reactivity hypothesis of the etiology of coronary artery disease is the assumption that reactivity is an individual characteristic that is stable over time. Although heart rate (HR) and blood pressure reactivity appear to meet this criterion, temporal stability of cardiac autonomic control as measured by analysis of heart period variability (HPV) has not been assessed. In this study, we tested the stability of HPV, measured in both the time and frequency domain, during a quiet, resting baseline and in response to 5‐min mental arithmetic and reaction time tasks, in 20 normal subjects measured in three testing sessions during a 9‐month period. Stability, assessed by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), was excellent for resting baseline measures of HR and HPV, with ICCs of 0.68–0.86. However, HR and HPV reactivity to either arithmetic or reaction time tasks generally was less stable, with ICCs of 0.17–0.73, in contrast to results of previous studies demonstrating long‐term Stability of HR responses to psychological challenge. Stability of aggregated reactivity scores was only slightly improved. Whether for individual tasks or aggregated measures, reactivity of total and low‐frequency measures of HPV was moderately stable but stability of high‐frequency HPV reactivity was poor.
Neural mechanisms of detecting and orienting attention toward unattended threatening somatosensory target stimuli. II. Intensity effects
Authors: Dowman Robert 
Published: March 2007

AbstractNegative potentials evoked by painful electrical stimulation of the sural nerve that occur at 100–180 ms poststimulus over the contralateral temporal scalp (CTN100‐180) and at 130–200 ms over the fronto‐central scalp (FCN130‐200) exhibit unusual attention effects. That is, their amplitudes are larger when the painful evoking stimulus is unattended than when it is attended. In this experiment, I show that attention has no effect on the CTN100‐180 evoked by a weak, nonthreatening sural nerve electrical stimulus. These data suggest that the generators of the CTN100‐180, which include the somatosensory association areas in the parietal operculum, are specifically involved in detecting threatening somatosensory stimuli. The FCN130‐200 showed a small increase in the unattended condition, which is consistent with the role of its medial prefrontal cortex generators in monitoring any situation that might require a change in attentional control.
Crossmodal effect with rubber hand illusion and gamma‐band activity
Authors: Kanayama Noriaki , Sato Atsushi , Ohira Hideki 
Published: March 2007

AbstractThe integration of multimodal stimuli has been regarded as important for the promotion of adaptive behavior. Although recent work has identified brain areas that respond to multimodal stimuli, the temporal features are not clear yet. Earlier event‐related potential studies revealed crossmodal attention effects, but did not focus on mechanisms underlying crossmodal integration. Here, electroencephalography (EEG) activity in the gamma band was considered as a correlate of multimodal integration. Participants localized a tactile stimulus on their fingers while seeing visual stimuli on rubber hands with the same posture as their hands. EEG analyses using wavelet transform suggested that interelectrode phase synchrony in the gamma‐band range (40–50 Hz) was related to behavioral indices of the intermodal illusion under consideration. The findings suggest a role of high‐frequency oscillations in the integrative processing of stimuli across modalities.
VASCULAR CALCIFICATION IN PATIENTS WITH KIDNEY DISEASE: Techniques and Technologies to Assess Vascular Calcification
Authors: Bellasi Antonio , Raggi Paolo 
Published: March 2007

AbstractCardiovascular calcification (CV) is highly prevalent in chronic kidney disease stage V and has been associated with an increased risk for all‐cause as well as cardiovascular mortality. A number of noninvasive imaging techniques are available to screen for the presence of CV—plain x‐rays of the abdomen and extremities to identify macroscopic calcifications of aorta and peripheral arteries; echocardiography for assessment of valvular calcification; two‐dimensional ultrasound for calcification of carotid arteries, femoral arteries and aorta, and computed tomography technologies that constitute the gold standard for quantification of coronary artery and aorta calcification. Some of these modalities are also useful to monitor calcification progression and to assess the effect of different therapeutic strategies directed at modifying calcification progression. In this article we review the strengths and limitations of the most common noninvasive techniques employed for the imaging of vascular calcification.
VASCULAR CALCIFICATION IN PATIENTS WITH KIDNEY DISEASE: Cardiovascular Calcification in Nondialyzed Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Qunibi Wajeh Y. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractChronic kidney disease (CKD) has become a major health‐care problem of global proportions. Progression to end‐stage renal disease (ESRD), the need for renal replacement therapy, and the high annual death rate of dialysis patients are the most noticeable outcomes of CKD. Less appreciated, however, is the fact that most patients with CKD actually die mainly from cardiovascular disease, rather than progress to ESRD. Coronary artery calcification (CAC), a surrogate marker of atherosclerosis, is common in dialysis and CKD patients. Coronary artery calcium scores, as measured by ultrafast computed tomography, is an independent predictor of future cardiac events. Using this technique, several studies have documented extensive calcification in dialysis patients, a subject of several exhaustive reviews. Unfortunately, much less attention has been paid to calcification in nondialyzed patients with CKD. In this review, I will emphasize the fact that CVC is common in patients with CKD not yet on dialysis, develops early in the course of CKD, and worsens with the decline in renal function particularly among diabetics who progressed to ESRD. I will also discuss the pathogenesis of CVC in CKD patients and highlight the lack of a major role for abnormalities of mineral metabolism in the pathogenesis of calcification in CKD patients. In addition to the high prevalence of traditional risk factors for CAD, the presence of proteinuria, reduced renal function, diabetic nephropathy, and the rate of progression to ESRD may represent the main uremia‐related factors that increase the risk for calcification in CKD. Finally, I will review the protective role of inhibitors of calcification in CKD.
Means, Motive, and Opportunity: Establishing Culpability in Pharmacoresistant Epilepsy
Authors: Sills Graeme J. 
Published: March 2007

Inhibition of the Multidrug Transporter P-Glycoprotein Improves Seizure Control in Phenytoin-Treated Chronic Epileptic Rats. van Vliet EA, van Schaik R, Edelbroek PM, Redeker S, Aronica E, Wadman WJ, Marchi N, Vezzani A, Gorter JA. Epilepsia 2006;47:672–680. Purpose Overexpression of multidrug transporters such as P-glycoprotein (P-gp) may play a significant role in pharmacoresistance, by preventing antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) from reaching their targets in the brain. Until now, many studies have described increased P-gp expression in epileptic tissue or have shown that several AEDs act as substrates for P-gp. However, definitive proof showing the functional involvement of P-gp in pharmacoresistance is still lacking. Here we tested whether P-gp contributes to pharmacoresistance to phenytoin (PHT) by using a specific P-gp inhibitor in a model of spontaneous seizures in rats. Methods The effects of PHT on spontaneous seizure activity were investigated in the electrical post-status epilepticus rat model for temporal lobe epilepsy, before and after administration of tariquidar (TQD), a selective inhibitor of P-gp. Results A 7-day treatment with therapeutic doses of PHT suppressed spontaneous seizure activity in rats, but only partially. However, an almost complete control of seizures by PHT (93% μ 7%) was obtained in all rats when PHT was coadministered with TQD. This specific P-gp inhibitor was effective in improving the anticonvulsive action of PHT during the first 3–4 days of the treatment. Western blot analysis confirmed P-gp upregulation in epileptic brains (140–200% of control levels), along with approximately 20% reduced PHT brain levels. Inhibition of P-gp by TQD significantly increased PHT brain levels in chronic epileptic rats. Conclusions These findings show that TQD significantly improves the anticonvulsive action of PHT, thus establishing a proof-of-concept that the administration of AEDs in combination with P-gp inhibitors may be a promising therapeutic strategy in pharmacoresistant patients.
Higher cortisol awakening response in young adolescents with persistent anxiety problems
Authors: Greaves‐Lord K. , Ferdinand R. F. , Oldehinkel A. J. , Sondeijker F. E. P. L. , Ormel J. , Verhulst F. C. 
Published: March 2007

Objective:  The aims of the present study were to test the association between current anxiety problems and basal cortisol levels in a large population sample of young preadolescents, and to test if HPA‐axis activity differs between individuals with no, only current, or persistent anxiety problems.Method:  Cortisol levels of 10‐ to 12‐year olds (n = 1768) from the general population were measured on three time points during the day. A self‐report questionnaire (RCADS) was used to assess current anxiety, a parent‐report questionnaire (TPBQ) to assess anxiety problems at age 4.Results:  Associations between cortisol levels and current anxiety problems were not found. However, individuals with persistent anxiety problems had higher morning cortisol levels and a higher cortisol awakening response.Conclusion:  Apparently, only persistent, and not current, anxiety problems are associated with higher HPA‐axis activity. Alterations in HPA‐axis activity might underlie persistent anxiety problems, or result from the stress accompanied by persistent anxiety problems.
Oral health of children in South Australia by socio‐demographic characteristics and choice of provider
Authors: Gaughwin Anne , Spencer A. John , Brennan David S. , Moss John 
Published: March 2007

Abstract –Australia has a highly developed school dental program for providing dental care to schoolchildren which operates alongside well‐established private practice delivery of dental care. While free school‐based dental care has high utilisation where offered, little is known about the oral health outcomes of groups of children across different providers of dental care, or patterns of service use. This paper investigates the effects of socio‐demographic characteristics and choice of dental provider on oral health amongst a random sample of secondary school students residing in Adelaide, South Australia. Objectives: To describe the oral health of children by different dental provider groups; to describe the association of socio‐demographic characteristics with oral health outcomes; and to describe the differences in oral health that remained after controlling for socio‐demographic confounding, by dental provider group. Methods: The study included metropolitan Adelaide schoolchildren from Year 9 and 10 school grades (n=373). Results: Children who received care from the School Dental Service (SDS) and from both the SDS and private dentists (Mixed) had significantly lower caries experience (DMFS) than children who received care from private dentists (Private) or who had not received any care for at least 2 years (No Recent Care). There were differences in the socio‐demographic characteristics between children who used different dental providers, and these socio‐demographic characteristics were significantly associated with levels of decayed, missing and filled surfaces and surfaces which had been fissure sealed. After controlling for socio‐demographic characteristics using multiple regression, significant differences were seen in mean caries experience (DMFS) and mean numbers of decayed surfaces and filled surfaces. Conclusion: Although from less advantaged backgrounds, children seen through the SDS had more favourable oral health outcomes than children seen by a private dentist.
Fluoride supplements and caries in a non‐fluoridated child population
Authors: Wang N. J. , Riordan P. J. 
Published: March 2007

Abstract –In Norway, there is no water fluoridation and little naturally occurring fluoride in drinking water. Fluoride toothpaste is used by 95% of the population and there is a long tradition of use of fluoride supplements. The purpose of this study was to analyse whether children who used fluoride toothpaste regularly and complied with the recommendations for use of fluoride supplements had less caries than other children at the age of 8 years. Most fluoride supplements sold in Norway are lozenge‐type tablets, which allow for extended enamel exposure to fluoride. All children (n=551) born in 1988 living in a suburban community in Norway were invited to participate. In those who participated (n=470), caries was registered clinically and radiographically and parents provided data on use of supplements. Thirty‐eight percent of the children had used fluoride supplements regularly during the period 0.5 to 4.0 years of age and 66% used supplements regularly at the age of 6 to 8 years. Multivariate analyses showed that the children complying with the recommendations for use of fluoride supplements during the period 0.5 to 4.0 years of age had lower caries experience (dmfs) and fewer decayed surfaces (ds) in primary teeth than other children. No significant associations were found between supplement use in childhood and caries prevalence (DMFS) or number of decayed surfaces (DS) in permanent teeth at the age of 8 years. Supplement use from 6 to 8 years of age was not associated with caries occurrence either in primary or in permanent teeth. Both mother's education and the quality of dental hygiene were inversely associated with caries occurrence.
Scaled Healing Assessment Index: a novel method for measuring the degree of wound bed preparation
Authors: Shai Avi , Avrin Vadim , Zvulunov Alex , Dinstein Its'hak 
Published: March 2007

Background/purpose: The color of a wound bed reflects its degree of ‘cleanness’ and serves as an indicator in evaluating the progression of wounds toward healing. We were aiming to develop a standard tool, for use in clinical research studies, which would analyze and provide objective data as to the color distribution of wound surfaces. To this end, we designed the ‘Scaled Healing Assessment Index’ algorithmic tool to provide a scoring system to determine the average color of wound surfaces.Methods: The scale is graded from 1 to 10, with 1 representing the most unclean yellow wound, and 10 representing the optimal red wound. In order to test the accuracy of the software, 102 chronic wounds in 88 patients were examined. Each wound was assessed using a grading from 1 to 10, according to its color, using three separate methods: (1) by three dermatologists [average clinical score (ACS)] in the outpatient clinic; (2) by three other dermatologists with the same wounds presented on a computer screen [average photo score (APS)]; and (3) by the Scaled Healing Assessment Index [software score (SS)]. The results of the three methods were examined statistically using Pearson's correlation.Results: We found a high correlation between the ACSs and the SSs (0.86), between the APSs and the SSs (0.863), as well as the ACSs with the APSs (0.95).Conclusion: The Scaled Healing Assessment Index algorithm provides objective and reliable data, and can be used in research studies aimed at examining the beneficial effect of products intended for wound healing.
Mechanisms that play a role in the maintenance of the calcium gradient in the epidermis
Authors: Cornelissen Lisette H. , Oomens Cees W. J. , Huyghe Jacques M. , Baaijens Frank P. T. 
Published: March 2007

Background/purpose: Calcium regulates the proliferation and differentiation of keratinocytes and plays a role in restoration of the epidermal barrier function. The factors that maintain the calcium gradient in vivo are still unknown. A numerical model may give more insight into transport processes that maintain the epidermal calcium gradient.Methods: In this study, transport of free calcium in the epidermis is described with diffusion, convection and electrophoresis. Binding and release of calcium results in equilibrium between free and bound calcium. The physiological epidermal calcium gradient as well as the calcium concentration in a damaged epidermis are modeled.Results: The typical shape of the calcium gradient in the epidermis, as found in experimental studies, was maintained when separate formulations were used for free and bound calcium. Application of damage results in a decrease of the calcium concentration, especially in the upper living epidermis. Using this model, an estimate could be made about the fraction bound calcium in the epidermis.Conclusion: The typical shape of the gradient is predominantly determined by the bound calcium concentration. For both a normal and a damaged epidermis, the concentration of free calcium is mainly determined by electrophoresis in the living epidermis, whereas in the largest part of the stratum corneum diffusion is the most important factor. The convection that was determined by the transepidermal water loss did not have an effect on the calcium concentration.
Cytokines at different stratum corneum levels in normal and sodium lauryl sulphate‐irritated skin
Authors: De Jongh Cindy M. , Verberk Maarten M. , Spiekstra Sander W. , Gibbs Susan , Kezic Sanja 
Published: March 2007

Background/purpose: Cytokines play an important role in inflammatory and repair processes occurring in the skin. The objectives of this study were to determine the amounts of cytokines and protein isolated by tape stripping in the different layers of the stratum corneum (SC), and to compare normal skin with skin exposed in vivo to the irritant sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS).Methods: In eight volunteers, we determined the amount of total and soluble protein and also interleukin‐1α (IL‐1α) in pooled tape strips obtained from the upper, intermediate and lower parts of the SC. Three different types of tape were compared (Diamond®, D‐squame® or Sentega® tape). In a separate study, 20 volunteers were repeatedly exposed to 0.1% SLS over a 3‐week period. The amounts of IL‐1α, IL‐1RA and IL‐8 in strips obtained from the three different SC levels of SLS‐exposed skin were compared with an unexposed site.Results: For normal skin, the amounts of soluble protein and IL‐1α were similar for the three tapes. Diamond® tape showed the highest yield of total protein. The total protein yield per strip decreased to lower SC levels, whereas soluble protein and IL‐1α normalized by soluble protein did not change across the SC. After SLS induced skin irritation, IL‐1α decreased and IL‐1RA and IL‐8 increased at increasing depth into the SC.Conclusions: Tape stripping is a suitable method to determine SC cytokine concentrations in human skin. With this technique, it is possible to study changes in cytokine concentrations at different SC layers after skin irritation.
Protection effect of cosmetics on human skin under simulated rigorous environment
Authors: Cheng Yan , Dong Yi‐yang , Dong Mei‐xian , Wang Chao , Su Ning , Sun Yuan‐tao , Liu Juan , Zheng Hong‐yan , Schrader Andreas , Rohr Mathias , Liu Wei 
Published: March 2007

Background/purpose: The efficacy of cosmetics on human skin measured under normal mild laboratory environment might be discounted by exterior environment factors such as wind, UV exposure, etc. Few studies have focused on the ‘genuine’ efficacy of cosmetics on human skin during exposure to external rigorous environment. The aim of this study was to develop a model for the evaluation of the efficacy of cosmetics on human skin under simulated rigorous environment.Methods: We measured skin water content and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) before and after products application under simulated windy and sub‐erythema UV exposure treatment in a constant temperature and humidity laboratory.Results: The results showed that the products had higher water content and lower TEWL at 2, 4 and 8 h of products application, and ameliorated the skin moisturization situation after a 3‐week continuous use of the products. In addition, the products might protect the skin to maintain the normal water content and TEWL under the simulated windy or sub‐erythema UV exposure treatment in our laboratory when compared with untreated area.Conclusion: Our data indicate that this model may provide a more accurate evaluation for the genuine moisturizing effect of cosmetics under external natural climate.
PPL and MDM skin test: New test kit is helpful in detecting immediate‐type allergy to beta‐lactams
Authors: Treudler Regina , Simon Jan Christoph 
Published: March 2007

SummaryBackground: The diagnosis of PPL (major determinant) and MDM (minor determinant) sensitization as relevant allergens in beta‐lactam allergy has been recently hampered by withdrawal from the market of formerly available test kits. We investigated a new PPL/MDM test kit in the work‐up of beta‐lactam allergy.Patients and Methods: 15 patients with history of beta‐lactam allergy were investigated for specific IgE and received patch, skin prick (SPT) and intracutaneous tests (ICT; immediate and late readings) using the relevant beta‐lactams. In addition the new test kit was used for parallel SPT and ICT.Results:14 women and 1 man (16–73 years) with immediate (n = 7), delayed (n = 7) or unclear (n = 1) reactions to beta‐lactams 8–300 months previously (penicillin G/V n = 3, aminopenicillins n = 7, cephalosporins n = 4, unknown n = 2) were tested. In patients with immediate type reactions, n = 2 had specific IgE, n = 4 reacted to the new test kit (n = 3 MDM, all of whom reacted exclusively to this test, n = 1 PPL).Two patients with non‐immediate reactions reacted to other beta‐lactams.Conclusions:Our data show that the new test kit may be helpful in detecting patients with immediate type allergy to beta‐lactams. Without this test, in those three patients reacting exclusively to MDM, and oral provocation test would have been necessary to clarify their allergy. Data from larger groups of patients are needed to determine the sensitivity and specificity of this test kit.
Angioedema due to type I allergy to snuff tobacco
Authors: Plaza Tobias , Nist Gabriele , Stetter Christoph , Von Den Driesch Peter 
Published: March 2007

SummaryA 67‐year‐old male patient twice developed severe angioedema after enjoying a meal and an after‐dinner snuff. The cause for these allergic reactions was a type I allergy to tobacco contained in the snuff. In addition to positive prick tests to tobacco, specific serum IgE antibodies (CAP‐FEIA) to snuff were found, while prick tests and RASTs for suspected foods were negative. Tobacco belongs to the family Solanaceae which includes tomatoes and potatoes and comes from South America. Whenever allergic reactions together with tobacco snuff use occur, a possible type I allergy should be considered and investigated.