bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of Valproate on Acylcarnitines in Children with Epilepsy Using ESI‐MS/MS
Authors: Werner Tamara , Treiss Irmgard , Kohlmueller Dirk , Mehlem Peter , Teich Martin , Longin Elke , Gerstner Thorsten , Koenig Stephan A. , Schulze Andreas 
Published: October 2006

Summary:  Purpose: To determine the influence of valproate (VPA) treatment on acylcarnitines in children with epilepsy. Methods: Determination of acylcarnitines (including free carnitine and acylcarnitines from C2 to C18) in dried blood spot specimens using tandem‐mass spectrometry. Longitudinal study of changes in acylcarnitines in children under VPA treatment without pretreatment (group 1) or with pretreatment with other antiepileptic drugs (group 2) before the start of VPA treatment at an early and a late treatment interval (12–66, 90–260 days after the beginning of treatment, respectively). Cross‐sectional comparison of these two VPA groups and of a group receiving carbamazepine monotherapy (group 3) with controls. Results: Acylcarnitines in epileptic patients before VPA therapy did not differ from control values. In group 1, decreases of C0 (−26%), C2 (−12%), C16 (−31%), C18 (−41%), Ctotal (−10%), increases of C5OH (+31%), C8 (+33%) in the early treatment interval, and decreases of C16 (−21%), C18 (−42%), and increases of C2 (+26%), C5OH (+44%) in the late treatment interval were significant. In group 2, both in the longitudinal and the cross‐sectional study, only a decrease of C18 (−41%, −43%, respectively) in the late treatment interval was found. In group 3, no significant changes have been observed. Conclusions: We could prove changes in acylcarnitine subspecies, which were associated with VPA treatment in children with epilepsy. The treatment interval with the most marked changes coincides with the interval of highest risk for VPA‐induced hepatotoxicity. The observed specific acylcarnitine pattern might point to the impaired intermediary metabolism that is responsible for VPA‐induced hepatotoxicity.
Ketogenic Diet Improves Sleep Quality in Children with Therapy‐resistant Epilepsy
Authors: Hallböök Tove , Lundgren Johan , Rosén Ingmar 
Published: October 2006

Summary:  Purpose: The study purpose was to evaluate sleep structure during ketogenic diet (KD) treatment in children with therapy‐resistant epilepsy and to correlate possible alterations with changes in clinical effects on seizure reduction, seizure severity, quality of life (QOL), and behavior. Methods: Eighteen children were examined with ambulatory polysomnographic recordings initially and after 3 months of KD treatment. Eleven children continued with the KD and were also evaluated after 12 months. Sleep parameters were estimated. Seizure frequency was recorded in a diary and seizure severity in the National Health Seizure Severity Scale (NHS3). QOL was assessed with a visual analogue scale. Child behavior checklist and Ponsford and Kinsella's rating scale of attentional behavior were used. Results: KD induced a significant decrease in total sleep (p = 0.05) and total night sleep (p = 0.006). Slow wave sleep was preserved, rapid eye movement (REM) sleep increased (p = 0.01), sleep stage 2 decreased (p = 0.004), and sleep stage 1 was unchanged. Eleven children continued with the KD and were also evaluated after 12 months. They showed a significant decrease in daytime sleep (p = 0.01) and a further increase in REM sleep (p = 0.06). Seizure frequency (p = 0.001, p = 0.003), seizure severity (p < 0.001, p = 0.005) and QOL (p < 0.001, p = 0.005) were significantly improved at 3 and 12 months. Attentional behavior was also improved, significantly so at 3 months (p = 0.003). There was a significant correlation between increased REM sleep and improvement in QOL (Spearman r = 0.6, p = 0.01) at 3 months. Conclusion: KD decreases sleep and improves sleep quality in children with therapy‐resistant epilepsy. The improvement in sleep quality, with increased REM sleep, seems to contribute to the improvement in QOL.
Comparison of Motor Delays in Young Children With Fetal Alcohol Syndrome to Those With Prenatal Alcohol Exposure and With No Prenatal Alcohol Exposure
Authors: Kalberg Wendy O. , Provost Beth , Tollison Sean J. , Tabachnick Barbara G. , Robinson Luther K. , Eugene Hoyme H. , Trujillo Phyllis M. , Buckley David , Aragon Alfredo S. , May Philip A. 
Published: October 2006

Background: Researchers are increasingly considering the importance of motor functioning of children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). The purpose of this study was to assess the motor development of young children with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) to determine the presence and degree of delay in their motor skills and to compare their motor development with that of matched children without FAS.Methods: The motor development of 14 children ages 20 to 68 months identified with FAS was assessed using the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales (VABS). In addition, 2 comparison groups were utilized. Eleven of the children with FAS were matched for chronological age, gender, ethnicity, and communication age to: (1) 11 children with prenatal alcohol exposure who did not have FAS and (2) 11 matched children without any reported prenatal alcohol exposure. The motor scores on the VABS were compared among the 3 groups.Results: Most of the young children with FAS in this study showed clinically important delays in their motor development as measured on the VABS Motor Domain, and their fine motor skills were significantly more delayed than their gross motor skills. In the group comparisons, the young children with FAS had significantly lower Motor Domain standard (MotorSS) scores than the children not exposed to alcohol prenatally. They also had significantly lower Fine Motor Developmental Quotients than the children in both the other groups. No significant group differences were found in gross motor scores. For MotorSS scores and Fine Motor Developmental Quotients, the means and standard errors indicated a continuum in the scores from FAS to prenatal alcohol exposure to nonexposure.Conclusions: These findings strongly suggest that all young children with FAS should receive complete developmental evaluations that include assessment of their motor functioning, to identify problem areas and provide access to developmental intervention programs that target deficit areas such as fine motor skills. Fine motor delays in children with FAS may be related to specific neurobehavioral deficits that affect fine motor skills. The findings support the concept of an FASD continuum in some areas of motor development.
The Hippocampus Does Not Swim Unscathed in the Sea of Cortical Malformations
Authors: Burneo Jorge G 
Published: October 2006

Patterns of Hippocampal Abnormalities in Malformations of Cortical Development Montenegro MA, Kinay D, Cendes F, Bernasconi A, Bernasconi N, Coan AC, Li LM, Guerreiro MM, Guerreiro CA, Lopes-Cendes I, Andermann E, Dubeau F, Andermann F J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2006;77:367–371 Objective To assess whether different types of malformation of cortical development (MCD) are associated with specific patterns of hippocampal abnormalities. Methods A total of 122 consecutive patients with MRI diagnosis of MCD (53 males, age range 1–58 years) were included in the study. Hippocampal measurements were made on 1–3 mm coronal T1-weighted MRIs and compared with MRIs of normal controls. Results A total of 39 patients had focal cortical dysplasia, 5 had hemimegalencephaly, 5 had lissencephaly-agyria-pachygyria, 11 had SLH, 11 had PNH, 12 had bilateral contiguous PNH, 5 had schizencephaly, and 34 had polymicrogyria. The frequency of hippocampal abnormalities in these patients with MCD was 29.5%. A small hippocampus was present in all types of MCD. Only patients with lissencephaly and SLH had an enlarged hippocampus. Abnormalities in hippocampal rotation and shape were present in all types of MCD; however, these predominated in PNH. None of the patients with lissencephaly-agyria-pachygyria or SLH had hyperintense signal on T2 or FLAIR images or abnormal hippocampal internal architecture. Conclusion A small hippocampus was present in all types of MCD; however, the classic MRI characteristics of hippocampal sclerosis were often lacking. Abnormal enlargement of the hippocampus was associated with only diffuse MCD due to abnormal neuronal migration (lissencephaly-agyria-pachygyria and SLH).
Analysis of the signal transduction pathway of nickel‐induced matrix metalloproteinase‐2 expression in the human keratinocytesin vitro: preliminary findings
Authors: Perfetto Brunella , Lamberti Monica , Giuliano Maria Teresa , Canozo Nunzia , Cammarota Marcella , Baroni Adone 
Published: October 2006

Background: Nickel can induce cellular and nuclear damages responsible for chronic diseases, like allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). We previously showed that matrix metalloproteinase‐2 (MMP‐2) gene expression was induced by nickel in nontumorigenic human keratinocytes cell line (HaCat).Objective: To investigate the signal transduction pathways involved in gelatinolytic activity induced in HaCat under nickel stimulation.Methods: We analyzed the involvement of protein kinase A (PKA), protein kinase C (PKC), tyrosine kinase (PTK), nuclear factor‐kB (NF‐kB) and activator protein‐1 (AP‐1) using specific inhibitors (H89, calphostin C, genistein, carpain and curcumin) by electrophoretic mobility shift assay, reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction and gelatin zymography.Results: Our results indicate that nickel‐induced MMP‐2 production was inhibited with PTK, PKC and AP‐1 specific inhibitors. Moreover, both PKA and NF‐kB were not involved in nickel pathway.Conclusions: Using HaCat, we showed that curcumin and genistein can revert nickel‐induced MMP‐2 upregulation. Whether the use of PTK and AP‐1 inhibitors has therapeutic ramifications in the management of ACD remains to be investigated.
Promoting evidence‐based best practices for hip fracture prevention in residential aged care
Authors: Scherer Samuel C , Jennings Catherine , Rule Jeanette , Smeaton Mindy , Farrell Michael J , Garratt Sally A , Flicker Leon , Davis Ivor , Wark John D 
Published: October 2006

Objectives:  To evaluate the effect of advice about hip fracture prevention on clinical practice in residential aged care facilities (RACFs) and to survey consumer knowledge. Methods:  Cluster randomised trial using modified two‐by‐two factorial design. Clinicians received written advice in three RACFs; online advice in three RACFs; both in three RACFs and three RACFs were controls. Free hip protectors were offered in one RACF from each intervention group. Consumer awareness and attitudes to hip fractures were surveyed. Results:  Baseline rate of calcium plus vitamin D prescription was 3.5%. Information provision failed to produce a significant effect on clinical practice during 12‐week follow up. Offering free hip protectors was effective (P < 0.0001), but was associated with lower compliance (P < 0.05). Consumer awareness was low.Conclusions:  Low rates of preventative interventions among residents at high risk of hip fracture were not increased by provision of advice to health professionals.
Le Droit du Plus Fort: Lawas Metaphor and Morality in Milton's Samson Agonistes
Authors: Yovel Jonathan 
Published: October 2006

This study explores the emergence of legal language as the salient language for social relations in early modernity, through its prominence in the last, most personal and most passionate work of John Milton, the dramatic poem Samson Agonistes (1671). In this extraordinary work, law functions as a secularized order of obligations on different levels of metaphor. In each of the poem's major parts some legal construction is introduced metaphorically in such a way as to render coherence, meaning and unity to its central argument. The source of normative obligation is transformed from divine command (or grace) to a secularized paradigm of legality. Through their distinctive and developing voices, the characters reveal their relations as framed by mutual expectations grounded in reciprocal rights and duties, conveniently arranged in the several forms of legal relations. Likewise, claims of transgressions are arranged and presented in recognizable social-normative forms, i.e. along legal lines of English family law, property law, and the law of trusts and bonds. With Hobbes, political theory became grounded in a normative framework independent of religion, and the legal metaphor of “social contract” became the prevalent metaphor in political theory. This study - dealing not so much in law and literature as in the history of legal language - traces how Milton, the generation's foremost humanist, cast law both as an internal grammar for social relations and as an interpretative principle of action. Albeit a religious author, Milton's last work's extensive use of legal language anticipates one of modernity's most recognizable structures, namely the emergence of law as the salient normative field.
RiboSubstrates: a web application addressing the cleavage specificities of ribozymes in designated genomes
Authors: Lucier Jean-François , Bergeron Lucien Junior , Brière Francis P , Ouellette Rodney , Elela Sherif Abou , Perreault Jean-Pierre 
Published: October 2006

Abstract

Background
RNA-dependent gene silencing is becoming a routine tool used in laboratories worldwide. One of the important remaining hurdles in the selection of the target sequence, if not the most important one, is the designing of tools that have minimal off-target effects (i.e. cleaves only the desired sequence). Increasingly, in the current dawn of the post-genomic era, there is a heavy reliance on tools that are suitable for high-throughput functional genomics, consequently more and more bioinformatic software is becoming available. However, to date none have been designed to satisfy the ever-increasing need for the accurate selection of targets for a specific silencing reagent.

Results
In order to overcome this hurdle we have developed RiboSubstrates http://www.riboclub.org/ribosubstrates. This integrated bioinformatic software permits the searching of a cDNA database for all potential substrates for a given ribozyme. This includes the mRNAs that perfectly match the specific requirements of a given ribozyme, as well those including Wobble base pairs and mismatches. The results generated allow rapid selection of sequences suitable as targets for RNA degradation. The current web-based RiboSubstrates version permits the identification of potential gene targets for both SOFA-HDV ribozymes and for hammerhead ribozymes. Moreover, a minimal template for the search of siRNAs is also available. This flexible and reliable tool is easily adaptable for use with any RNA tool (i.e. other ribozymes, deoxyribozymes and antisense), and may use the information present in any cDNA bank.

Conclusion
RiboSubstrates should become an essential step for all, even including "non-RNA biologists", who endeavor to develop a gene-inactivation system.
Survey of clozapine use by consultant old age psychiatrists
Authors: Paranthaman Raghupathy , Baldwin Robert C. 
Published: October 2006

Aims and MethodThe aim of the survey was to assess the attitudes of specialists in old age psychiatry towards the use of clozapine in elderly patients. A postal questionnaire was sent to a random sample of 155 consultant old age psychiatrists in England.ResultsThe response rate was 87%. A majority of respondents felt that clozapine had a useful place in the treatment of elderly patients, although they expressed concerns about the lack of published data and about safety and practical difficulties in monitoring. Prescribers of clozapine (n=45) were significantly more positive about its role in treating older patients than those who had not used it.Clinical ImplicationsThe findings suggest that familiarity with and confidence in clozapine and practical difficulties in monitoring are important determinants of its use in older patients.
Palifermin Reduces the Incidence of Oral Mucositis in Patients With Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Treated With Fluorouracil-Based Chemotherapy
Authors: Rosen Lee S. , Abdi Ehtesham , Davis Ian D. , Gutheil John , Schnell Frederick M. , Zalcberg John , Cesano Alessandra , Gayko Urte , Chen Mon-Gy , Clarke Stephen 
Published: October 2006

Purpose To characterize the efficacy and safety of palifermin in reducing the incidence of oral mucositis (OM) and diarrhea when administered to patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) receiving fluorouracil/leucovorin (FU/LV) chemotherapy. Patients and Methods Patients (N = 64) were randomly assigned to receive either placebo or palifermin (40 μg/kg for 3 consecutive days) before each of two consecutive cycles of chemotherapy with FU/LV. The incidence of OM and diarrhea, safety, disease progression, and survival were evaluated. Results Thirty-six patients received placebo and 28 patients received palifermin. The incidence of WHO grade 2 or higher OM was lower in patients who received palifermin compared with placebo (29% v 61% in cycle 1; 11% v 47% in cycle 2). FU dose reductions in the second chemotherapy cycle were more frequent in the placebo group (31%) than in the palifermin group (14%). Investigators reported lower mucositis scores and patients reported less severe symptoms with palifermin. There were no statistically significant differences in the incidence or severity of diarrhea or in overall survival between the groups. Overall, palifermin was safe and well tolerated. Conclusion Palifermin administered at the indicated dosing regimen (40 μg/kg for 3 consecutive days) before chemotherapy was well tolerated and resulted in a statistically significant and clinically meaningful reduction in the incidence of WHO grade 2 or higher OM in patients with metastatic CRC.
Measuring and Mitigating the Costs of Stockouts
Authors: Anderson Eric T. , Fitzsimons Gavan J. , Simester Duncan 
Published: October 2006

There is now an extensive theoretical literature investigating optimal inventory policies for retailers. Yet several recent reviews have recognized that these models are rarely applied in practice. One explanation for the paucity of practical applications is the difficulty of measuring how stockouts affect both current and future demand. In this paper, we report the findings of a large-scale field test that measures the short- and long-run opportunity cost of a stockout. The findings confirm that the adverse impact of a stockout extends to both other items in the current order as well as future orders. We show how the findings can be used to provide input to inventory planning models and illustrate how failing to account for the long-run effects of a stockout will lead to suboptimal inventory decisions. We also demonstrate how the findings can be used in a customer lifetime value model. Finally, the study investigates the effectiveness of different responses that firms can offer to mitigate the cost of stockouts. There is considerable variation in the effectiveness of these responses. Offering discounts to encourage customers to backorder rather than cancel their orders is widely used in practice, but that was the least profitable of the responses that we evaluated. The findings have important implications for retailers considering the use of discounts as a response to stockouts.
Surgical management of nasopharyngeal angiofibroma with intracranial extension
Authors: Krekorian Edmund A. , Kato Ronald H. 
Published: October 2006

AbstractIntracranial extension of nasopharyngeal angiofibroma is a condition difficult to diagnose and even more difficult to treat. Often the diagnosis is not suspected until autopsy. The management of intracranial extension has included incomplete removal via the extracranial approach, radiation therapy, hormonal therapy and cryosurgery. The results of these therapeutic efforts have been characterized by persistent tumor, severe hemorrhage, intracranial complications and death.The combined intra‐extracranial approach shows some promise of total tumor removal in the patient with intracranial extension with minimal morbidity. The general criteria of patient selection, risks, surgical technique and case histories of two patients are presented.
Management of carcinoma of the lip
Authors: Bailey Bykon J. 
Published: October 2006

AbstractCarcinoma of the lip is a very common variety of head and neck malignancy, usually seen in elderly white male patients. Surgical management is recommended for most patients because of the advantages which it offers in the areas of tumor tissue evaluation, cosmetic results, cure rate, long‐teim scar tolerance, the avoidance of radiotherapy complications, time requirements, and rapid rehabilitation. Radiotherapy should be considered for the eldei'ly patient with a small, localized lesion and for the patient who is not an acceptable surgical candidate. Specific surgical techniques are discussed in detail.It is the purpose of this paper to provide the reader with a greater awareness of the behavior and clinical management of lip carcinoma, and to review information which will be helpful to the reader in his future management of these problems.
Toward the total rehabilitation of the alaryngeal patient
Authors: Johnson Jonas T. , Casper Janina , Lesswing N. Jacob 
Published: October 2006

AbstractRehabilitative efforts directed toward the total laryngectomee are receiving increasing interest. Fifteen to 50% of laryngectomees fail to develop speech, and 50% do not return to full employment. Many make poor psychological adjustment.A study was designed wherein laryngectomees and their families were individually interviewed. These people suggested that their rehabilitation could have been facilitated had they been better informed preoperatively. Many expressed a desire for exposure to a speech pathologist and a successfully rehabilitated laryngectomee preoperatively.A total of 1,276 otolaryngologists were surveyed regarding the substance and amount of information they believed patients should receive prior to laryngectomy.Otolaryngologists, in the main, feel that they do fully and adequately inform their patients. Speech pathologists and rehabilitated laryngectomy patients are often called to see patients preoperatively. Nevertheless, we deduce that improvements need to be made to insure that the preoperative patient does in fact receive the information and counselling intended.
Bone conduction changes following successful tympanoplasty type I
Authors: Ostfeld Ervin , Bar‐On Chaim , Bergman Moe 
Published: October 2006

AbstractPre and one year postoperative bone conduction (b.c.) thresholds were compared for 50 ears of 48 patients, ranging in age from 14 to 42 years, in whom successful tympanic grafts resulted in at least an average improvement of 10 db for 500 to 4000 Hz. While pre and postoperative data are included for all ears and test frequencies, significant BC improvement is seen only at those frequencies, in each case, where the pre‐op BC thresholds were worse than 10 db. Normal pre‐op BC thresholds cannot show substantial improvement because of audiometric limitations. The amount of BC shift at each frequency for those with pre‐op BC thresholds that were subnormal averaged 6 db at 500 Hz, 13.3 db at 1000 Hz, 13.8 db at 2000 Hz and 9 db at 4000 Hz, all highly significant statistically. There were no significant postoperative BC shifts related either to duration of the disease process, length of postoperative period before final test (all were more than one year) or whether the surgical procedure was tympanoplasty type I or myringoplasty.