bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sleep habits and disorders in Finnish schoolchildren
Authors: SAARENPÄÄ‐HEIKKILÄ OUTI A. , RINTAHAKA PERTTI J. , LAIPPALA PEKKA J. , KOIVIKKO MATTI J. 
Published: January 2009

SUMMARY  A variety of epidemiological sleep parameters was evaluated in 574 Finnish schoolchildren (age 7 to 17 years) and in their parents (454 mothers and 390 fathers). Three questionnaire forms were set, one for the pupil and two for his/her parents including information of sleep habits, disorders, and social background of the pupil and his/her family. The pupils were grouped by age (two preadolescent groups: 7.1–9.3 y and 9.4–13 y, adolescents 13.1–17.1 y) and sex. It was found that bedtime was more often after 22.00 hours among adolescents than preadolescents both at weekends and on weekdays. At weekends the wake‐up time was later in adolescents than preadolescents but on weekdays it was opposite in boys. On weekdays girls went earlier to bed than boys and woke up earlier than boys. Total sleep durations both on weekdays and at weekends were longer in preadolescent than in adolescent groups, and longer during weekend nights than on weekday nights in all groups. Girls experienced more dreaming and night waking, but boys snored more. Daytime sleepiness patterns were more common in adolescents than in preadolescents. Children who experienced daytime sleepiness more often had fathers with daily sleep urges.An association was found between age and sleep habits and some daytime sleepiness patterns; adolescents went to bed later and slept less, and had more problems with alertness during daytime than preadolescents. Some differences were also found between boys and girls. The daytime sleepiness of pupils correlated with the same symptom in fathers.
Pre‐sleep behaviour in normal subjects
Authors: ELLIS CATHY , LEMMENS GILBERT , PARKES DAVID 
Published: January 2009

SUMMARY  Behaviour in the 2‐h period before sleep onset was evaluated in 90 subjects with normal sleep/wake habits using an anonymous self‐report questionnaire. This determined the timing of events from the initial preparation for sleep. The nature of the pre‐sleep environment, the level of physical activity, and patterns of feeding behaviour were recorded together with self‐ratings of tiredness, mood and security. Estimated sleep duration and sleep quality were determined. Ninety of 120 subjects responded. Sleep ‘preparatory latency’, from the time of initial sleep preparation to sleep onset, was 77 ± 48 min; bed time to sleep onset time (sleep latency) was 41 ± 42 min; lights out to sleep onset latency was 26 ± 45 min. The estimated total sleep time was 7 ± 1 h. In the pre‐sleep period, mean noise and illumination levels were low and environmental temperature rating was at the median point on a very cold‐very hot scale (mean scale scores: 23, 28 and 50, respectively). All subjects went to the bathroom before going to bed. Twenty‐five percent of normal subjects had a snack or meal in the 2‐h period before sleep onset. Sixty percentage recorded setting an alarm, 27% had a bath or shower, 23% checked door locks or windows and 49% read in bed. Nine percent of subjects slept with a cat on the bed.Humans, like other animal species, show a complex behavioural sequence in the 2‐h period before falling asleep. A constant environment with limited metabolic activity may predispose to thermoregulatory changes prior to sleep onset.
Blood pressure analysis
Authors: PENZEL THOMAS 
Published: January 2009

SUMMARY  Arterial blood pressure is influenced by sleep‐related breathing disorders. As cardiovascular consequences can be diagnosed by an accurate recording and analysis of blood pressure, new recording methodologies and an approach to analysis are presented here. Invasive continuous blood pressure recording is the common reference for all methodologies. As blood pressure varies rapidly in parallel with sleep‐related breathing disorders it is indispensible to record blood pressure continuously. To introduce non‐invasive methodology the Finapres system was used during sleep studies; a validation study showed severe limitations. This study was followed by the validation of an improved system called Portapres, which is portable, has two finger cuffs and a hydrostatic height compensation.Analysis of continuous blood pressure in patients with sleep apnoea is carried out to detect mechanisms which influence the cardiovascular risk. Spectrum analysis of systolic blood pressure showed two different major oscillations present in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea. One oscillation (<0.06 Hz) occurs in parallel with each apnoeic episode and the other oscillation (0.2‐0.4 Hz) occurs in parallel with the obstructive efforts during each apnoea and in parallel with respiration during periods of snoring. These two oscillations were so specific that the use of non‐invasive continuous blood pressure recording allowed an estimation of the extent of underlying breathing disorders, and assessment of cardiovascular risk in a patient with obstructive apnoea in terms of hypertension and on the basis of ambulatory monitoring.
Variable extent of hybridization between invasive sika (Cervus nippon) and native red deer (C. elaphus) in a small geographical area
Authors: SENN HELEN V. , PEMBERTON JOSEPHINE M. 
Published: January 2009

AbstractInstances of hybridization between endemic and alien species pose a threat to species integrity but also provide us with an opportunity to study the dynamics of gene flow between two species as they first meet. Here, we used variation at 22 highly differentiated microsatellite loci and one mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) marker in a sample of 735 individuals, to investigate the genetic consequences of an introduction of Japanese sika deer (Cervus nippon) for native red deer (C. elaphus) on the Kintyre Peninsula in Scotland. We investigated population structure, estimated null‐allele frequency and assigned individual hybrid scores using a Bayesian clustering algorithm implemented in structure 2.2. The dataset clearly divided into two clusters and generally, introgression into red and sika was low. However at one site, West Loch Awe, 43% of individuals were hybrids. MtDNA introgression indicated that hybridization was occurring between red‐deer hinds and sika‐deer stags. We argue that the pattern of differential introgression across the study area is primarily due to the rarity of hybridization events between the two species and the limited time the two species have been in contact (< 120 years). This contrasts with the causes of classic mosaic hybrid zones (selection induced by habitat variability). Currently, it seems possible that, in time, the level of hybridization found at West Loch Awe could also be found across the whole of the peninsula.
Calcium homeostasis is required for contact‐dependent helical and sinusoidal tip growth in Candida albicans hyphae
Authors: Brand Alexandra , Lee Keunsook , Veses Veronica , Gow Neil A. R. 
Published: January 2009

SummaryHyphae of the dimorphic fungus, Candida albicans, exhibit directional tip responses when grown in contact with surfaces. On hard surfaces or in liquid media, the trajectory of hyphal growth is typically linear, with tip re‐orientation events limited to encounters with topographical features (thigmotropism). In contrast, when grown on semisolid surfaces, the tips of C. albicans hyphae grow in an oscillatory manner to form regular two‐dimensional sinusoidal curves and three‐dimensional helices. We show that, like thigmotropism, initiation of directional tip oscillation in C. albicans hyphae is severely attenuated when Ca2+ homeostasis is perturbed. Chelation of extracellular Ca2+ or deletion of the Ca2+ transporters that modulate cytosolic [Ca2+] (Mid1, Cch1 or Pmr1) did not affect hyphal length but curve formation was severely reduced in mid1Δ and cch1Δ and abolished in pmr1Δ. Sinusoidal hypha morphology was altered in the mid1Δ, chs3Δ and heterozygous pmr1Δ/PMR1 strains. Treatments that affect cell wall integrity, changes in surface mannosylation or the provision of additional carbon sources had significant but less pronounced effects on oscillatory growth. The induction of two‐ and three‐dimensional sinusoidal growth in wild‐type C. albicans hyphae is therefore the consequence of mechanisms that involve Ca2+ influx and signalling rather than gross changes in the cell wall architecture.
Echinococcosis, toxocarosis and toxoplasmosis screening in a rural community in eastern Kazakhstan
Authors: Torgerson Paul R. , Rosenheim Kathy , Tanner Isabelle , Ziadinov Iskender , Grimm Felix , Brunner Matthias , Shaiken Sholpan , Shaikenov Blok , Rysmukhambetova Aizhan , Deplazes Peter 
Published: January 2009

SummaryObjective  To determine the extent of carnivore‐transmitted parasitic zoonoses in a community in eastern Kazakhstan, a region where cystic echinococcosis (CE) re‐emerged in recent years.Methods  Cross sectional ultrasound study of 3126 human subjects to determine the extent of human cystic and alveolar echinococcosis (AE). Blood samples were taken from each subject and analysed for antibodies against Echinococcus, Toxocara and Toxoplasma spp. Each subject was questioned about possible risk factors that might be associated with zoonotic transmission. Analysis employed a mixed modelling approach based on the results of the ultrasound study, the serological results and the results of the questionnaire. Bayesian techniques were employed to estimate diagnostic performance. A helminthological study of the local dog population was also undertaken.Results  A total of 23 subjects tested positive for CE on ultrasound and a further three individuals had strong serological evidence of infection. Another 24 reported treatment for CE. Ultrasound lesions or treatment for CE were associated with poverty. No ultrasound evidence of AE was found, but one individual had strong serological evidence of exposure to Echinococcus multilocularis. Toxoplasma seropositivity (16%; 504 individuals) increased with age. Household level Toxoplasma‐seropositivity was associated with unsafe drinking water. Toxocara seropositivity (11%; 349 individuals) was more frequent in children and in individuals who disposed of dog faeces on the vegetable garden. A purgation study of dogs indicated that 13% of dogs in the community were infected with Echinococcus granulosus, 5% with E. multilocularis and 2% with Toxocara canis respectively.Conclusions  There is significant transmission of E. granulosus to humans in this community. Transmission may be associated with poverty. There is little evidence of E. multilocularis transmission to humans, despite the presence in the parasite in the domestic dog population. Toxoplasma is actively transmitted and there is evidence for transmission by the water supply. Children are at highest risk of exposure to Toxocara.
Medication history of a series of patients with bullous pemphigoid from northern Greece – observations and discussion
Authors: Patsatsi Aikaterini , Vyzantiadis Timoleon‐Achilleas , Chrysomallis Fotis , Devliotou‐Panagiotidou Despina , Sotiriadis Dimitrios 
Published: January 2009

AbstractBackground  Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is an autoimmune bullous disease that mainly affects elderly patients. In this retrospective study, in a series of patients with BP, data on systemic medications were collected in order to investigate a possible association with active BP.Methods  Thirty‐four patients with BP were studied in two groups. Group A contained patients who were receiving systemic medications and group B contained patients receiving no medications. All sera were examined by immunoassay for the possible existence of anti‐BP180NC16a and anti‐BP230, prior to the initiation of steroid treatment.Results  Patients were of a similar age in both groups (P = 0.07). Anti‐BP180NC16a autoantibodies were detected in 80% of patients in group A and in 14% of patients in group B. Anti‐BP230 autoantibodies were detected in 25% of patients in group A and in 50% of patients in group B. Levels of circulating anti‐BP180NC16a autoantibodies were statistically significantly higher in group A than in group B (P = 0.04).Conclusions  Patients who were receiving systemic medications seemed to be more susceptible to the development of BP. Should we consider drug exposure as one of the reasons for the increased prevalence of BP in the elderly? It is important to be more vigilant with this category of patients in order to provide an early diagnosis of the disease.
Kindler syndrome: report of three cases in a family and a brief review
Authors: Yazdanfar Ameneh , Hashemi Banafsheh 
Published: January 2009

AbstractBackground  Kindler syndrome is an autosomal recessive disorder with neonatal blister formation, photosensitivity, atrophy, abnormal pigmentation, and fragility of the skin. Skin atrophy is more prominent on the extremities and the skin manifestations improve with age.Methods  We report three cases in a family which present the clinical and pathologic manifestations of Kindler syndrome.Results  All of the three cases reported here present skin changes on the extremities, face, and neck, including hyper‐ and hypopigmentation, atrophy, and telangiectasia. The condition in these cases started soon after birth. Two of these cases also had mucosal involvement.Conclusion  Increased photosensitivity and sunburn after minimal sun exposure should lead physicians to examine the skin for poikiloderma and the mouth for fragility of the gums, periodontitis and other associated findings. Also, patients should be questioned about any history of blister formation as well as family history.
Gambogic acid induces apoptosis by regulating the expression of Bax and Bcl‐2 and enhancing caspase‐3 activity in human malignant melanoma A375 cells
Authors: Xu Xiaoyuan , Liu Yeqiang , Wang Ling , He Jun , Zhang Hongfeng , Chen Xinxiang , Li Yan , Yang Jing , Tao Juan 
Published: January 2009

AbstractObjectives  To investigate the effect of a Chinese traditional medicine, gambogic acid (GA), on human malignant melanoma (MM) A375 cells and to study the mechanism of apoptosis induced by GA.Methods  A375 cells were treated with GA at different doses and for different times, and their proliferation and viability were detected by 3‐[4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl]‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Apoptosis induced by GA in A375 cells was observed by annexin‐V/propidium iodide doubling staining flow cytometry assay and Hoechst staining. To further determine the molecular mechanism of apoptosis induced by GA, the changes in expression of Bcl‐2 and Bax were detected by real‐time reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) and Western blot, and caspase‐3 activity was measured by fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) probe.Results  After incubation with GA, A375 cell proliferation was dramatically inhibited in a dose‐dependent manner. After these cells had been exposed to GA for 24, 36 and 48 h, the IC50 values were 1.57 ± 0.05, 1.31 ± 0.20, and 1.12 ± 0.19 µg/mL, respectively. Treatment of A375 cells with GA (2.5–7.5 µg/mL) for 36 h resulted in an increased number of early apoptotic cells, which ranged from 27.6% to 41.9%, in a dose‐dependent manner, compared with only 3.5% apoptotic cells in the non‐GA‐treated group. An increase in Bax and decrease in Bcl‐2 expression were found by real‐time RT‐PCR and Western blot. Caspase‐3 activity was increased in a dose‐dependent manner, observed by FRET probe.Conclusion  GA can inhibit the proliferation of A375 cells and induce their apoptosis, which may be related to the up‐regulation of the Bax/Bcl‐2 ratio and caspase‐3 activity.
PEP005 (ingenol mebutate) gel, a novel agent for the treatment of actinic keratosis: Results of a randomized, double‐blind, vehicle‐controlled, multicentre, phase IIa study
Authors: Siller Greg , Gebauer Kurt , Welburn Peter , Katsamas Janelle , Ogbourne Steven M 
Published: January 2009

SUMMARYThe sap of the plant Euphorbia peplus is a traditional remedy for skin conditions, including actinic keratosis. The active constituent of the sap is ingenol mebutate (ingenol‐3‐angelate), formerly known as PEP005. This randomized, double‐blind, vehicle‐controlled, phase IIa study investigated the safety (and secondarily the efficacy) of two applications of ingenol mebutate gel in 58 patients with biopsy‐confirmed actinic keratosis. Five preselected lesions were treated with ingenol mebutate gel, 0.0025%, 0.01% or 0.05%, or vehicle gel, on days 1 and 2 (Arm A) or days 1 and 8 (Arm B). There were no significant differences in tolerability or efficacy between Arms A and B. Treatment was well tolerated. The most common local skin responses were dose‐related erythema, flaking/scaling/dryness and scabbing/crusting. Efficacy was greatest with ingenol mebutate gel, 0.05%, which resulted in complete clinical clearance of 71% of treated lesions (P < 0.0001 vs vehicle gel). In addition, 67% of patients treated with ingenol mebutate gel, 0.05% had clinical clearance of at least four of five treated lesions (P = 0.0185 vs vehicle gel). Ingenol mebutate gel is being developed as a short‐course topical therapy for actinic keratosis and non‐melanoma skin cancer.
Cardiovascular risk factors in Australian indigenous and non‐indigenous children: A population‐based study
Authors: Haysom Leigh , Williams Rita E , Hodson Elisabeth M , Lopez‐Vargas Pamela , Roy L Paul , Lyle David M , Craig Jonathan C 
Published: January 2009

Aim:  Indigenous people have a two‐ to tenfold increased risk of premature death from cardiovascular disease. We aimed to determine whether some key risk factors for cardiovascular disease occur more commonly in Aboriginal than non‐Aboriginal Australian children.Methods:  Children were enrolled from primary schools throughout New South Wales, the state with the highest number of Aboriginal people. Associations between ethnicity, gender, birthweight, socio‐demographic status and hypertension, obesity, baseline and persistent albuminuria were determined.Results:  A total of 2266 children (55% Aboriginal) were enrolled. Mean age was 8.9 years (±3.8 years). Obesity (body mass index ≥2 standard deviations) was detected in 7.1%, systolic hypertension (blood pressure >90th percentile) in 7.2%, diastolic hypertension in 5.9%, baseline albuminuria (albumin : creatinine ≥3.4 mg/mmol) in 7.3% and persistent albuminuria in 1.5% with no differences between Aboriginal and non‐Aboriginal children. Hypertension was less common with increasing social disadvantage (trend P < 0.02). Increasing body mass index standard deviation was strongly associated with systolic and diastolic hypertension (both P < 0.0001).Conclusions:  Many risk factors for cardiovascular disease are already common in young children but not more prevalent in Aboriginal than in non‐Aboriginal children. In all children, overweight and obesity have the strongest association with hypertension, but social disadvantage appears protective for hypertension. Our findings suggest that risk for cardiovascular health disparities seen in indigenous adults manifests beyond childhood and that a window of opportunity exists to prevent some of these outcomes.
Referrals for tall stature in children: A 25‐year personal experience
Authors: Thomsett Michael J 
Published: January 2009

Aim:  Extreme tall stature may lead to a variety of concerns in tall children and their parents, leading to requests for treatment to reduce final height in some children. This study reviews referrals for tall stature to a single pediatric endocrinologist and results of treatment over 25 years from 1980 to 2004.Methods:  Diagnoses, heights, target heights and estimated final heights at presentation, and final heights and complications in treated patients, were examined by retrospective chart review.Results:  Of 345 referrals, 244 (71%) were girls and 101 (29%) were boys. Of the 68 (19.7%) treated, 53 (78%) were girls and 15 (22%) were boys. Most children had familial tall stature. Treated children were tall for their already tall families. Treatment reduced final heights compared with estimated final heights by (mean +/− standard error of the mean) 4.2 +/− 0.5 cm (P = 0.001) in girls and 5.1 +/− 0.8 cm (P < 0.001) in boys. Minor complications occurred in 27 (51%) girls, including 5 (9.4%) who stopped treatment because of weight gain, and 5 (33%) of boys. In more recent years, girls (but not boys) presented less frequently, were taller at presentation and opted for treatment less often, and at taller estimated final heights than in the earlier years.Conclusions:  Any benefits of high‐dose sex steroid treatment of tall children in terms of reduced final height and improved self‐image are at the expense of complications in many. Fewer tall girls being referred and treated probably reflects altered attitudes to tallness in society. Such treatment should seldom – if ever – be used in the future.
The development and evaluation of a simple method of gestational age estimation
Authors: Allan Rachel C , Sayers Susan , Powers Jennifer , Singh Gurmeet 
Published: January 2009

Aims:  The aims of this study were to develop and evaluate a shorter gestational age estimation method based on the Dubowitz scoring system (DSS) that could be taught easily to untrained health‐care workers.Methods:  Using the DSS, seven criteria were identified that explained 90% of the variance in gestational age estimation. Ventral suspension was excluded, skin texture was substituted for skin colour and ear bending was for ear firmness. The final six criteria comprise the short DSS (SDSS). The study population was 100 babies, 51 Caucasian, 34 Aboriginal. Birth weight ranged from 1351 to 5430 g. The gestational age range was 29.6–41.7 weeks. Three researchers (medical student 1 (MS1), medical student 2 (MS2) and a paediatrician) who were blind to other available gestational age estimations assessed babies within 72 h of birth using the DSS and SDSS.Results:  MS1 found the 95% limits of agreement (LOA) between SDSS and DSS to be −1.1 to 1.7 weeks. In the 27 babies who had first trimester foetal ultrasound (USS), the LOA between USS and SDSS were −1.9 to 1.4 weeks and −2.3 to 1.9 weeks, respectively. Using the SDSS, the LOA for the three researchers were within ±2 weeks.Conclusion:  The data presented suggest that the SDSS is approximately equivalent to the DSS in the relatively limited population studied, and within these limitations appears to be a simple alternative to the DSS. Further evaluation is needed before firm conclusions about the accuracy and clinical utility of the SDSS can be made.
Adherence to physical activity and electronic media guidelines in Australian pre‐school children
Authors: Okely Anthony D , Trost Stewart G , Steele Julie R , Cliff Dylan P , Mickle Karen 
Published: January 2009

AbstractThe aim of this study was to determine compliance with the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) guideline for physical activity and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommendation for electronic media use among urban pre‐school children in two large cities on the East Coast of Australia. Cross‐sectional data were collected from 266 parents. Time spent using electronic media (watching television, DVDs or on the computer) and in physical activity were parent reported. The proportion who met each guideline was calculated. 56 per cent and 79% of children met the NASPE guideline on weekdays and weekends, respectively, while 73% and 70% met the AAP recommendation on weekdays and weekends, with no difference between boys and girls. A substantial minority do not meet physical activity and electronic media use recommendations, highlighting the need to better understand what factors contribute to physical activity and electronic media use among this group of pre‐schoolers.
Traumatic bleeding at birth treated with Factor VII
Authors: Carmo Kathryn A Browning , O'Brien Karen , Teo Juliana , Schell David 
Published: January 2009

AbstractWe report 36 week gestation twins born following a traumatic delivery. Twin 2 had profuse haemorrhage where haemostasis was achieved with recombinant Factor VIIa (rFVIIa – NovoSeven®;Novo Nordisk A/S, Bagsværd, Denmark)