bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Quality of life in 70 women with disorders of sex development
Authors: Johannsen Trine H , Ripa Caroline P L , Mortensen Erik L , Main Katharina M 
Published: November 2006

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the quality of life and psychosocial well-being in women with disorders of sex development (DSD).
Design: An open case-control study.
Methods: Social and psychiatric information was collected via a structured interview from 70 Danish women diagnosed with DSD, 70 controls matched on sex, age, and school education, and six women with isolated genital malformations. Quality of life and mental distress were assessed by ‘Quality of Life-Assessment of Growth Hormone Deficiency in Adults’ (QoL-AGHDA) and three symptom scales from the ‘Hopkins Symptom Checklist’ (SCL-90-R; i.e. somatization, depression, and anxiety) respectively. For both measures, higher scores reflected poorer outcomes.
Results: Present relationships and having children were less frequent in patients than in controls (P = 0.02 and P < 0.001 respectively). Previous suicidal thoughts (P = 0.002) and a higher frequency of psychological/psychiatric counseling for severe problems (P = 0.06) were more frequently reported in patients than in controls. The mean QoL-AGHDA score was significantly higher in patients than in controls (5.5 vs 2.9; P = 0.002), especially for congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) females (P = 0.01) and virilized 46,XX and 46,XY females (P = 0.04). The total SCL score was higher in patients than in controls (mean 23.2 vs 20.0), reaching significance for anxiety (mean 6.3 vs 4.3, P = 0.03) with highest score in CAH (P = 0.01).
Conclusion: An impaired quality of life and more affective distress were observed especially in CAH patients and virilized 46,XX and 46,XY females. This may be caused by trauma from distressing diagnostic procedures, the chronic illnesses per se, and psychosocial consequences of the disorders.
Effect of exogenous glucocorticoid on osmotically stimulated antidiuretic hormone secretion and on water reabsorption in man
Authors: Bähr Volker , Franzen Norma , Oelkers Wolfgang , Pfeiffer Andreas F H , Diederich Sven 
Published: November 2006

Objective: Glucocorticoids exert tonic suppression of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) secretion. Hypocortisolism in secondary adrenocortical insufficiency can result in a clinical picture similar to the syndrome of inappropriate ADH secretion. On the other hand,in vitroandin vivoresults provide evidence for ADH suppression in states of hypercortisolism. To test the hypothesis that ADH suppression is of relevance during glucocorticoid therapy, we investigated the influence of prednisolone on the osmotic stimulation of ADH.Design and methods: Seven healthy men were subjected to water deprivation tests with the measurement of plasma ADH (pADH) and osmolality (posmol) before and after glucocorticoid treatment (5 days 30 mg prednisolone per day).Results: Before glucocorticoid treatment, the volunteers showed a normal test with an adequate increase of pADH (basal 0.54 ± 0.2 to 1.9 ± 0.72 pg/ml (mean ± S.D.)) in relation to posmol(basal 283.3 ± 8.5 to 293.7 ± 6 mosmol/kg). After prednisolone intake, pADH was attenuated (<0.4 pg/ml) in spite of an increase of posmol from 289.3 ± 3.6 to 297.0 ± 5.5 mosmol/kg. However, urine osmolar concentration increased normally during water deprivation after prednisolone. Urinary cAMP excretion increased during water deprivation without glucocorticoid treatment from 3.56 ± 0.55 to 6.07 ± 0.76 μmol/l, reflecting the increased pADH levels. The rise in cAMP excretion was completely blunted by prednisolone treatment.Conclusions: We speculate that there may be an ADH-independent stimulation of the formation or function of aquaporin-2 channels by prednisolone and/or a direct osmotic stimulation of water reabsorption independent of ADH and glucocorticoid control.
Searching for somatic mutations in McCune–Albright syndrome: a comparative study of the peptidic nucleic acid versus the nested PCR method based on 148 DNA samples
Authors: Kalfa N , Philibert P , Audran F , Ecochard A , Hannon T , Lumbroso S , Sultan C 
Published: November 2006

Background: Activating mutations of the Gsα gene (GNAS), which encodes for the α-subunit of the stimulatory G protein, have been identified in patients with McCune–Albright syndrome (MAS). Accuracy and sensitivity in the molecular diagnosis of MAS is mandatory for optimal therapeutic strategy and adapted follow-up, especially for incomplete clinical forms of MAS. To date, the highly sensitive nested PCR method with intermediary digestion by a restriction enzyme at the mutation site is one of the most widely used techniques. This study evaluated a new diagnostic method using a peptidic nucleic acid (PNA) and compared it with the nested PCR method.
Material and methods: One hundred and forty-eight DNA samples from eighty-eight patients presenting clinical symptoms compatible with MAS were included. The DNA samples were mainly obtained from peripheral blood, ovarian tissue or cyst liquid, and bone lesions. The nested PCR method required 4 days. PNA clamping required 1.5 days and utilized the higher thermal stability and specificity of PNA–DNA coupling to inhibit PCR product formation. Direct sequencing was subsequently performed in all cases.
Results: The sensitivity of mutation detection was 54% (n = 80) for nested PCR and 46.6% (n = 69) for PNA (P > 0.05). The 11 cases where PNA failed to detect the mutation were mainly incomplete and atypical clinical forms of MAS (n = 10/11). The cost per sample was 50 euros for PNA clamping versus 136 euros for nested PCR.
Conclusion: PNA clamping is a rapid, reliable, and economical method to diagnose MAS. It should be the first-line diagnostic method, although negative results, especially for incomplete clinical forms of MAS, should be confirmed by nested PCR.
Serum sex hormone and plasma homocysteine levels in middle-aged and elderly men
Authors: Pour Hamid Reza Nakhai , Grobbee Diederick E , Muller Majon , Emmelot-Vonk Marielle , van der Schouw Yvonne T 
Published: November 2006

Objective: To investigate whether circulating levels of testosterone (total, bioavailable), estradiol (total, bioavailable), and DHEA sulfate (DHEAS) are associated with fasting plasma homocysteine (tHcy) levels in middle-aged and elderly men.
Design: A population-based sample of 400 independently living men between 40 and 80 years of age in a cross-sectional study.
Methods: Total testosterone, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), and total estradiol were measured by RIA methods and bioavailable testosterone and estradiol were calculated. DHEAS was measured using an immunometric technique. Fasting homocysteine was measured by fluorescence polarization immunoassay. Anthropometric characteristics were also measured and two standardized questionnaires completed, including life-style factors and diet. Linear regression analysis adjusted for age, body mass index (BMI), creatinine clearance, and mean visceral fat was used to assess the association of endogenous sex hormones and fasting plasma homocysteine levels.
Results: After adjustment for age, BMI, creatinine clearance, and mean visceral fat no statistically significant association was observed between testosterone (total, bioavailable), DHEAS, and estradiol (total, bioavailable)levels with natural log tHcy (β = −2 × 10−3; 95% confidence intervals (CI) −9 × 10−3; 5 × 10−3), (β = −4 × 10−3; 95% CI −18 × 10−3; 9 × 10−3), (β = 3 × 10−3; 95% CI −6 × 10−3; 12 × 10−3), (β = −9.3 × 10−5; 95% CI −1 × 10−3; 1 × 10−3), and (β = 0.00; 95% CI −3 × 10−3; 2 × 10−3) respectively. Additional adjustment for smoking, alcohol intake, daily physical activity, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension did not change these findings.
Conclusion: The results of our study do not support a direct role for circulating sex hormone levels in the regulation of fasting plasma tHcy concentrations in middle-aged and elderly men.
Selective parathyroid venous sampling in patients with complicated hyperparathyroidism
Authors: Ogilvie C M , Brown P L , Matson M , Dacie J , Reznek R H , Britton K , Carpenter R , Berney D , Drake W M , Jenkins P J , Chew S L , Monson J P 
Published: November 2006

Objective: The role of preoperative localisation of abnormal parathyroid glands remains controversial but is particularly relevant to the management of patients with recurrent or persistent hyperparathyroidism and familial syndromes. We report our experience of the use of selective parathyroid venous sampling (PVS) in the localisation of parathyroid disease in such patients.
Design: We report a retrospective 10-year experience (n = 27) of the use of PVS in complicated primary hyperparathyroidism and contrast the use of PVS with neck ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT) and sestamibi imaging modalities.
Results: In 14 out of 25 patients who underwent surgery PVS results were completely concordant with surgical and histological findings and 88% of patients achieved post-operative cure. Out of 13 patients referred after previous failed surgery, 12 underwent further surgery which was curative in 9. In total PVS yielded useful positive (n = 13) and/or negative information (n = 6) in 19 out of 25 patients undergoing surgery. Using histology as the gold standard, 59% of PVS studies were entirely consistent with histology, as compared with 39% of ultrasound scans, 36% of sestamibi scans and 17% of MRI/CT scans.
Conclusions: PVS is a valuable adjunct to MRI/CT and sestamibi scanning in selected patients with complicated hyperparathyroidism when performed in an experienced unit.
Effects of type and number of impellers and liquid viscosity on the power characteristics of mechanically agitated gas—liquid systems
Authors: Adamiak R. , Karcz J. 
Published: November 2006

AbstractEffect of the type and number of high-speed impellers installed on a common shaft on the power characteristics was investigated in water and glucose solutions of different concentration. Different configurations of the Rushton or Smith turbines, pitched blade turbines, propeller, and A 315 impeller were tested. Measurements of power consumption were carried out within the transitional and turbulent regime of the fluid flow using the strain gauge method. Baffled agitated vessels with inner diameter of 0.288 m and 0.634 m were used for the experiments. Liquid height in the vessels was equal to the vessel diameter or it was twice higher. The relative power consumption was compared for different configurations of the impellers.
Modelling of composting of food waste in a column reactor
Authors: Briški F. , Vuković M. , Papa K. , Gomzi Z. , Domanovac T. 
Published: November 2006

AbstractThe composting of organic solid waste, the mixture of fruit and vegetable leftovers enriched with night soil, was investigated in a closed thermally insulated reactor. It was found that 80.9 % of the original substrate biodegraded after 14 days. A mathematical model of the column reactor was proposed where the biodegradation rate of the organic solid waste was described using simple n-thorder kinetics. A good prediction of process performance was obtained using the proposed kinetics and experimentally obtained reaction heat.
Electrical resistivity and photoluminescence of lead iodide crystals
Authors: Matuchová M. , Žďánský K. , Svatuška M. , Zavadil J. , Procházková O. 
Published: November 2006

AbstractDirect synthesis of lead iodide, a promising material for X-ray and γ detectors operating at room temperature, was developed and optimized. The influence of admixture of rare earth elements Ce, Ho, Gd, Yb, Er, and Tb in concentrations 0.05–0.5 at. % on the quality of prepared PbI2 was investigated. Zone melting was employed in order to increase the lead iodide purity. Electrical and optical properties of PbI2 samples were assessed on the basis of the measurement of electrical resistivity and low-temperature photoluminescence. The electrical resistivity of synthesized samples varied from 109 Ω cm to 1011 Ω cm and occasionally it was increased up to 1013 Ω cm.
Theoretical study of solvent effect on π-EDA complexation II. Complex between TCNE and two benzene molecules
Authors: Kysel’ O. , Juhász G. , Mach P. , Košík G. 
Published: November 2006

AbstractFormation of tetracyanoethylene—benzene 1: 1 and 1: 2 complexes was modeled using the Møller—Plesset second-order theory (MP2) and polarized continuum model (PCM). The MP2 calculated geometry of 1: 1 complex presents a plane-parallel C 2υ sandwich structure with interplanar distance 3.05 × 10−10 m, while the 1: 2 complex has D 2h geometry where the planparallel distance is equal to 3.09 × 10−10 m. The MP2 calculations indicate that the main part of formation enthalpy in both complexes is dispersion energy due to intermolecular electron correlation. The calculations also show that the formation entropy destabilizes both complexes since from the two constituent molecules one complex molecule arises. The MP2/6-31G* procedure showed to be a suitable tool for the estimation of the relative importance of 1: 2 complexation compared to the 1: 1 complexation. In the gas phase the ratio of the equilibrium constants of both complexes K 1:2/K 1:1 = 0.09 was calculated. The presence of solvent, treated by the PCM, further destabilized the 1: 2 complex with respect to the 1: 1 complex. The ratio K 1:2/K 1:1 in CH2Cl2 calculated by the PCM method was 0.022, i.e. the 1: 2 complex was almost 50 times less stable than the 1: 1 complex, which is in agreement with available experimental data. According to the calculations, solvent always destabilizes complex with respect to the isolated (solvated) components.It was also found that charge polarization in the 1: 2 complex with respect to that in the 1: 1 complex was not strictly additive due to the presence of the second benzene molecule in the 1: 2 complex. Non-additive were also formation enthalpy, entropy, polarizability, charge transfer from donors to acceptor molecule and other properties. This fact is caused by a slightly changed interaction between constituent molecules in the 1: 2 complex in comparison with the 1: 1 complex as well as by the interaction between benzene molecules in the 1: 2 complex which is missing in the 1: 1 complex.Preliminary CIS/6-31G* theoretical study regarding a few first-electron (electron charge transfer) transitions in both complexes indicates the presence of Frenkel excitn and Davydov transition energy splitting in the 1: 2 “supercomplex” with the first allowed π → π* absorption transition at λ = 355 nm, while the first allowed transition in the case of 1: 1 complex was characterized by λ = 392 nm with the oscillator strength only half of that of the 1: 2 complex, which is in agreement with experiment. These unexpected large hypso-and hypochromic effects predicted by the theory could allow to overcome difficulties of the experimental determination of the 1: 2 complexation.
COVID-19 Rebound After VV116 vs Nirmatrelvir-Ritonavir Treatment
Authors: Yang Zhitao , Xu Yu , Zheng Ruizhi , Ye Lei , Lv Gang , Cao Zhujun , Han Rulai , Li Mian , Zhu Yuanyue , Cao Qiuyu , Ding Yi , Wang Jiqiu , Tan Yun , Liu Feng , Wei Dong , Tan Wei , Jiang Weiwei , Sun Jing , Sun Shouyue , Shao Jie , Deng Yang , Gao Weiyi , Wang Weiqing , Zhao Ren , Qiu Liping , Chen Erzhen , Zhang Xinxin , Wang Shengyue , Ning Guang , Xu Yiping , Bi Yufang 
Published: March 2024

ImportanceWith the widespread use of anti–SARS-CoV-2 drugs, accumulating data have revealed potential viral load rebound after treatment.ObjectiveTo compare COVID-19 rebound after a standard 5-day course of antiviral treatment with VV116 vs nirmatrelvir-ritonavir.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThis is a single-center, investigator-blinded, randomized clinical trial conducted in Shanghai, China. Adult patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 and within 5 days of SARS-CoV-2 infection were enrolled between December 20, 2022, and January 19, 2023, and randomly allocated to receive either VV116 or nirmatrelvir-ritonavir.InterventionsParticipants in the VV116 treatment group received oral 600-mg VV116 tablets every 12 hours on day 1 and 300 mg every 12 hours on days 2 through 5. Participants in the nirmatrelvir-ritonavir treatment group received oral nirmatrelvir-ritonavir tablets with 300 mg of nirmatrelvir plus 100 mg of ritonavir every 12 hours for 5 days. Participants were followed up every other day until day 28 and every week until day 60.Main Outcomes and MeasuresThe primary outcome was viral load rebound (VLR), defined as a half-log increase in viral RNA copies per milliliter compared with treatment completion. Secondary outcomes included a reduction in the cycle threshold value of 1.5 or more, time until VLR, and symptom rebound, defined as an increase of more than 2 points in symptom score compared with treatment completion. The primary outcome and secondary outcomes were analyzed using the full analysis set. Sensitivity analyses were conducted using the per protocol set. Adverse events were analyzed using the safety analysis set.ResultsThe full analysis set included 345 participants (mean [SD] age, 53.2 [16.8] years; 175 [50.7%] were men) who received VV116 (n = 165) or nirmatrelvir-ritonavir (n = 180). Viral load rebound occurred in 33 patients (20.0%) in the VV116 group and 39 patients (21.7%) in the nirmatrelvir-ritonavir group (P = .70). Symptom rebound occurred in 41 of 160 patients (25.6%) in the VV116 group and 40 of 163 patients (24.5%) in the nirmatrelvir-ritonavir group (P = .82). Viral whole-genome sequencing of 24 rebound cases revealed the same lineage at baseline and at viral load rebound in each case.Conclusions and RelevanceIn this randomized clinical trial of patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19, viral load rebound and symptom rebound were both common after a standard 5-day course of treatment with either VV116 or nirmatrelvir-ritonavir. Prolongation of treatment duration might be investigated to reduce COVID-19 rebound.Trial RegistrationChinese Clinical Trial Registry Identifier: ChiCTR2200066811
Bright Light Therapy as Add-On to Inpatient Treatment in Youth With Moderate to Severe Depression
Authors: Legenbauer Tanja , Kirschbaum-Lesch Inken , Jörke Carina , Kölch Michael , Reis Olaf , Berger Christoph , Dück Alexander , Schulte-Markwort Michael , Becker-Hebly Inga , Bienioschek Stefanie , Schroth Jennifer , Ruckes Christian , Deuster Oliver , Holtmann Martin 
Published: March 2024

ImportanceMajor depressive disorder is one of the most common mental disorders among adolescents, entailing severe, long-term psychosocial impairment and a high risk of chronicity. In view of the large number of patients requiring treatment, along with insufficient treatment responses with small effect sizes, innovative adjunctive treatment strategies are urgently needed.ObjectiveTo investigate whether the effect of adolescent psychiatric inpatient treatment as usual for major depressive disorder can be enhanced by simultaneous use of morning bright light therapy.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThis was a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized parallel-group trial with enrollment between March 2018 and November 2020 and follow-up completed in May 2021. The study took place among inpatients at 4 university hospitals for child and adolescent psychiatry across Germany. Of 248 eligible youth aged 12 to 18 years fulfilling ICD-10 criteria for major depressive disorder, 227 were randomized to bright light therapy (n = 116) or placebo red light (n = 111); 151 participants completed the study.InterventionsUp to 20 sessions of either morning bright light therapy with an intensity of 10 000 lux or placebo red light (100 lux) in addition to multimodal inpatient treatment as usual over 4 weeks.Main Outcomes and MeasuresThe primary outcome was the change in Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) score from baseline to posttreatment in the intention-to-treat sample.ResultsAmong the 224 patients included in the intention-to-treat analyses (192 girls and 32 boys; mean [SD] age, 15.5 [1.4] years), the mean (SD) BDI-II score at baseline was 37.3 (8.7). BDI-II scores were significantly reduced after 4 weeks (postassessment) by a mean of −7.5 (95% CI, −9.0 to −6.0; Hedges g = 0.71). Bright light therapy had no impact on this change (no significant group × time effect). Loss to follow-up was 31% (n = 69) at 16 weeks and 49% (n = 110) at 28 weeks. There were 10 serious adverse events throughout the whole trial, which were not considered related to study treatment.Conclusions and RelevanceThe findings in this study did not indicate superiority of bright light therapy over placebo red light therapy in a large sample of adolescent inpatients with moderate or severe major depressive disorder. Both groups benefited equally from treatment as usual, showing relevant symptom reduction.Trial RegistrationGerman Clinical Trials Register: DRKS00013188
Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education Milestone Training Ratings and Surgeons’ Early Outcomes
Authors: Smith Brigitte K. , Yamazaki Kenji , Tekian Ara , Brooke Benjamin S. , Mitchell Erica L. , Park Yoon Soo , Holmboe Eric S. , Hamstra Stanley J. 
Published: March 2024

ImportanceNational data on the development of competence during training have been reported using the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Milestones system. It is now possible to consider longitudinal analyses that link Milestone ratings during training to patient outcomes data of recent graduates.ObjectiveTo evaluate the association of in-training ACGME Milestone ratings in a surgical specialty with subsequent complication rates following a commonly performed operation, endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR).Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThis study of patient outcomes followed EVAR in the Vascular Quality Initiative (VQI) registry (4213 admissions from 208 hospitals treated by 327 surgeons). All surgeons included in this study graduated from ACGME-accredited training programs from 2015 through 2019 and had Milestone ratings 6 months prior to graduation. Data were analyzed from December 1, 2021, through September 15, 2023. Because Milestone ratings can vary with program, they were corrected for program effect using a deviation score from the program mean.ExposureMilestone ratings assigned to individual trainees 6 months prior to graduation, based on judgments of surgical competence.Main Outcomes and MeasuresSurgical complications following EVAR for patients treated by recent graduates during the index hospitalization, obtained using the nationwide Society for Vascular Surgery Patient Safety Organization’s VQI registry, which includes 929 participating centers in 49 US states.ResultsThe study included outcomes for 4213 patients (mean [SD] age, 73.25 [8.74] years; 3379 male participants [80.2%]). Postoperative complications included 9.5% major (400 of 4213 cases) and 30.2% minor (1274 of 4213 cases) complications. After adjusting for patient risk factors and site of training, a significant association was identified between individual Milestone ratings of surgical trainees and major complications in early surgical practice in programs with lower mean Milestone ratings (odds ratio, 0.50; 95% CI; 0.27-0.95).Conclusions and RelevanceIn this study, Milestone assessments of surgical trainees were associated with subsequent clinical outcomes in their early career. Although these findings represent one surgical specialty, they suggest Milestone ratings can be used in any specialty to identify trainees at risk for future adverse patient outcomes when applying the same theory and methodology. Milestones data should inform data-driven educational interventions and trainee remediation to optimize future patient outcomes.