bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of Long-term Steroids on Cough Efficiency and Respiratory Muscle Strength in Patients With Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Authors: Daftary Ameet S. , Crisanti Mark , Kalra Maninder , Wong Brenda , Amin Raouf 
Published: February 2007

OBJECTIVE. The objective of this study was to determine whether long-term steroid therapy is associated with increased peak cough flow in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy and to determine which pulmonary function test variable is most predictive of peak cough flow.
METHODS. In this case-control study, the medical charts of patients who had Duchenne muscular dystrophy and had pulmonary function tests at our institution in the previous 2 years were examined. Steroid-treated patients were on therapy for at least 1 year. The measured pulmonary function tests included forced vital capacity, maximum expiratory pressure, maximum inspiratory pressure, maximum voluntary ventilation, and peak cough flow. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to determine which pulmonary function test measure was most predictive of peak cough flow and assess the influence of steroid treatment and patient age on peak cough flow.
RESULTS. Ten steroid-treated and 25 untreated patients were analyzed. Peak cough flow and maximum expiratory pressure were significantly higher in the steroid-treated patients. Each of the pulmonary function test variables was significantly associated with peak cough flow. The linear model that had the highest adjusted r2 value included only 2 variables: maximum voluntary ventilation and steroid treatment, demonstrating that steroid-treated patients had peak cough flow values that were 27 L/min higher than the untreated patients. The interaction between maximum voluntary ventilation and steroid was not statistically significant, suggesting that the steroid-associated increase in peak cough flow was approximately constant over the observed range of maximum voluntary ventilation values. The effects of maximum voluntary ventilation and treatment group on peak cough flow were not confounded with the patient age.
CONCLUSIONS. Long-term steroid therapy is associated with improved peak cough flow and respiratory muscle strength in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Maximum voluntary ventilation may be a useful predictor of lung function in Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
Unwanted and Wanted Exposure to Online Pornography in a National Sample of Youth Internet Users
Authors: Wolak Janis , Mitchell Kimberly , Finkelhor David 
Published: February 2007

OBJECTIVE. The goal was to assess the extent of unwanted and wanted exposure to online pornography among youth Internet users and associated risk factors.
METHODS. A telephone survey of a nationally representative sample of 1500 youth Internet users aged 10 to 17 years was conducted between March and June 2005.
RESULTS. Forty-two percent of youth Internet users had been exposed to online pornography in the past year. Of those, 66% reported only unwanted exposure. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was used to compare youth with unwanted exposure only or any wanted exposure with those with no exposure. Unwanted exposure was related to only 1 Internet activity, namely, using file-sharing programs to download images. Filtering and blocking software reduced the risk of unwanted exposure, as did attending an Internet safety presentation by law enforcement personnel. Unwanted exposure rates were higher for teens, youth who reported being harassed or sexually solicited online or interpersonally victimized offline, and youth who scored in the borderline or clinically significant range on the Child Behavior Checklist subscale for depression. Wanted exposure rates were higher for teens, boys, and youth who used file-sharing programs to download images, talked online to unknown persons about sex, used the Internet at friends’ homes, or scored in the borderline or clinically significant range on the Child Behavior Checklist subscale for rule-breaking. Depression also could be a risk factor for some youth. Youth who used filtering and blocking software had lower odds of wanted exposure.
CONCLUSIONS. More research concerning the potential impact of Internet pornography on youth is warranted, given the high rate of exposure, the fact that much exposure is unwanted, and the fact that youth with certain vulnerabilities, such as depression, interpersonal victimization, and delinquent tendencies, have more exposure.
Anticholinergic drugs for overactive bladder: a review of the literature and practical guide
Authors: Munjuluri Nalini , Wong William , Yoong Wai 
Published: February 2007

Key content

Overactive bladder syndrome is a highly prevalent symptom complex that can be extremely distressing to women.
It is associated with co‐morbidities and reduced quality of life.
Treatment involves behavioural therapy, physiotherapy and pharmacotherapy.
There is robust and convincing evidence that anticholinergic agents are effective drug treatments.
Possible adverse effects include disruption of cognitive function, dry mouth, constipation and blurred vision.

Learning objectives

To know about the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of anticholinergic medications.
To be able to prescribe them appropriately.
To know about the differences in effectiveness between the newer anticholinergic drugs.

Ethical issues

How much information should women be given about possible adverse effects?

Please cite this article as: Munjuluri N, Wong W, Yoong W. Anticholinergic drugs for overactive bladder: a review of the literature and practical guide. The Obstetrician & Gynaecologist 2007;9:9–14.
Blueprinting the RCOG examinations
Authors: Hodges Paul 
Published: February 2007

Key content

Blueprinting is a good tool to ensure that the MRCOG examinations cover the right areas of knowledge and skills required for the specialty in an appropriate way.
Examination weaknesses can be identified to ensure that these are covered by different assessment tools.
The addition of considering domains as well as subjects increases the utility of blueprinting.
Making the outline of the blueprint open to candidates will greatly assist their preparation for examinations.
Analysis of the domains covered by the new Core Curriculum and by the whole MRCOG show a close match, indicating that the MRCOG is very fit for its purpose and corresponds well with the content of the new curriculum.

Learning objectives

To understand the concept of blueprinting.
To be aware of alternative approaches to blueprinting.
To be aware of how blueprinting has affected the RCOG Membership examinations.

Ethical issues

Thorough blueprinting of the coverage of summative assessments contributes to setting standards to protect women's health.

Please cite this article as: Hodges P. Blueprinting the RCOG examinations. The Obstetrician & Gynaecologist 2007;9:53–57.
Accuracy of Uncorrected versus Corrected QT Interval for Prediction of Torsade de Pointes Associated with Intravenous Haloperidol
Authors: Tisdale James E. , Kovacs Richard , Mi Deming , McCabe George P. , Cariera Beth L. , Sharma Nagaraja , Rosman Howard 
Published: January 2007

Study Objective. To determine if the uncorrected QT interval (QTu) more accurately predicts drug‐induced torsade de pointes than QT intervals corrected using the Bazett's (QTB), Fridericia (QTFrid), or Framingham (QTFram) methods.Design. Retrospective analysis of a previously reported case‐control study of risk factors for haloperidol‐induced torsade de pointes.Setting. Large tertiary care teaching hospital.Patients. Forty‐six critically ill patients who received intravenous haloperidol for sedation; seven developed torsade de pointes.Measurements and Main Results. The QT intervals were measured manually by one investigator from electrocardiograms performed before and during haloperidol therapy. Logistic regression analysis for prediction of torsade de pointes was performed, incorporating QTu, QTB, QTFrid, QTFram, and RR intervals measured during treatment. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves were constructed. Primary outcome measures were proportion of explained variation (maximum‐rescaled R2); area under the ROC curves for QTu, QTB, QTFrid, QTFram, and RR interval; and sensitivity and specificity for prediction of haloperidol‐induced torsade de pointes. The QTu was associated with the highest R2 compared with QTFram, QTFrid, QTB, and RR interval (0.77, 0.73, 0.68, 0.53, and 0.30, respectively). No significant differences in areas under the ROC curves were found between any of the QT‐interval methods. Areas under the ROC curves for QTu and QTFram trended toward being greater than that associated with the RR interval. All QT‐interval methods were highly sensitive (100% for each), whereas the RR interval was less sensitive (86%); QTu and QTFram were most specific (82%) compared with the QTFrid (72%), QTB (64%), and RR interval (36%).Conclusion. Compared with QTB and QTFrid, the QTu and QTFram best predicted haloperidol‐induced torsade de pointes in critically ill patients; the QTFram offered no advantage over the QTu.
Pharmacokinetics of Intranasal and Intratracheal Pentoxifylline in Rabbits
Authors: Adcock Kim G. , Kyle Patrick B. , Deaton Jennifer S. , Olivier Jake H. , Hogan Shirley M. 
Published: January 2007

Study Objective. To evaluate the disposition of pentoxifylline and its metabolite, lisofylline, in New Zealand rabbits after two alternative routes of administration, intranasal and intratracheal.Design. Pharmacokinetics study in an animal model.Setting. University‐affiliated animal care facility.Subjects. Twenty New Zealand white rabbits divided into four groups of five rabbits each: group 1 did not receive study drug (control group), and groups 2, 3, and 4 evaluated intravenous, intranasal, and intratracheal routes of administration, respectively.Intervention. Each rabbit in groups 2–4 received pentoxifylline as a single 20‐mg/kg dose by their respective route of administration.Measurements and Main Results. Blood samples were collected over a 24‐hour period and were analyzed by using high‐performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. The pharmacokinetic parameters evaluated were area under the concentration‐time curve from time zero extrapolated to infinity (AUC0–∞), maximum concentration (Cmax), time to maximum concentration (Tmax), elimination rate constant (kel), and half‐life (t1/2). Median pentoxifylline pharmacokinetic parameters after intravenous administration were AUC0–∞ 5420 ng•hr/ml, Cmax 16,727 ng/ml, Tmax 5 minutes, kel 0.036 minute−1, and t1/2 19 minutes. Median pharmacokinetic parameters after intranasal and intratracheal administration, respectively, were AUC0–∞ 4224 and 6824 ng•hr/ml, Cmax 11,181 and 16,758 ng/ml, Tmax 5 and 5 minutes, kel 0.028 and 0.032 minute−1, and t1/2 25 and 22 minutes. The metabolite, lisofylline, displayed a similar disposition after the three different routes of administration.Conclusion. The pharmacokinetic profiles after intranasal and intratracheal administration of pentoxifylline appear similar to those after intravenous administration. These data provide support for development of pentoxifylline intranasal and intratracheal dosage formulations that would be suitable for use in premature neonates.
“Walking the Walk” With Teacher Education Candidates: Strategies for Promoting Active Engagement With Assigned Readings
Authors: L'Allier Susan K. , Elish‐Piper Laurie 
Published: February 2007

Teacher educators can use active engagement strategies to help teacher candidates interact meaningfully with assigned readings for literacy methods courses. This approach to active engagement with required readings helps teacher candidates learn the content, concepts, and processes from text, and enables them to experience as learners the techniques, strategies, and processes advocated for use in K‐12 classrooms. The authors believe that helping teacher candidates understand, value, and apply research‐based practices in their own teaching is facilitated by modeling, application, and reflection on using such practices with their own reading and learning.The strategies described are
Alpha boxes
Making connections
Double‐entry journals
Text coding
Teachers as readers
Also provided are a rationale for each strategy, a description of how to implement the strategy with teacher candidates, an example, and application ideas for the strategy in K‐12 classrooms.
The Effective Teacher of Reading: Considering the “What” and “How” of Instruction
Authors: Blair Timothy R. , Rupley William H. , Nichols William Dee 
Published: February 2007

What teaching strategies must teachers of reading be able to perform and how are these strategies applied effectively in teaching children to read? This article attempts to answer these two important questions.One key element of a successful reading program focuses on the teacher. A brief review of the teacher effectiveness literature, including the International Reading Association's position statement on excellent reading teachers, is followed by a description of common instructional features associated with the effective teaching of reading:
Assessing students' strengths and weaknesses
Structuring reading activities around an explicit instructional model
Providing students with opportunities to learn and apply skills and strategies in authentic reading tasks
Ensuring that students attend to the learning tasks
Believing in one's teaching abilities and expecting students to be successful
Q2ChIP, a Quick and Quantitative Chromatin Immunoprecipitation Assay, Unravels Epigenetic Dynamics of Developmentally Regulated Genes in Human Carcinoma Cells
Authors: Dahl John Arne , Collas Philippe 
Published: February 2007

Abstract
Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) is a key technique for studying protein-DNA interactions and mapping epigenetic histone modifications on DNA. Current ChIP protocols require extensive sample handling and large cell numbers. We developed a quick and quantitative (Q2)ChIP assay suitable for histone and transcription factor immunoprecipitation from chromatin amounts equivalent to as few as 100 cells. DNA-protein cross-linking in suspension in presence of butyrate, elimination of background chromatin through a tube shift after washes, and a combination of cross-link reversal, protein digestion, increased antibody-bead to chromatin ratio, and DNA elution into a single step considerably improve ChIP efficiency and shorten the procedure. We used Q2ChIP to monitor changes in histone H3 modifications on the 5′ regulatory regions of the developmentally regulated genes OCT4, NANOG, LMNA, and PAX6 in the context of retinoic-acid-mediated human embryonal carcinoma cell differentiation. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis of precipitated DNA unravels biphasic heterochromatin assembly on OCT4 and NANOG, involving H3 lysine (K)9 and K27 methylation followed by H3K9 deacetylation and additional H3K27 trimethylation. Di- and trimethylation of H3K4 remain relatively unaltered. In contrast, PAX6 displays histone modifications characteristic of repressed genes with potential for activation in undifferentiated cells. PAX6 undergoes H3K9 acetylation and enhanced H3K4 trimethylation upon transcriptional activation. Q2ChIP of the transcription factor Oct4 demonstrates its dissociation from the NANOG promoter upon differentiation. This study is, to our knowledge, the first to reveal histone modification changes on human OCT4 and NANOG regulatory sequences. The results demonstrate ordered chromatin rearrangement on developmentally regulated promoters upon differentiation.
Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is found at the end of this article.
Host Vascular Niche Contributes to Myocardial Repair Induced by Intracoronary Transplantation of Bone Marrow CD34+ Progenitor Cells in Infarcted Swine Heart
Authors: Zhang Shaoheng , Ge Junbo , Zhao Lan , Qian Juying , Huang Zheyong , Shen Li , Sun Aijun , Wang Keqiang , Zou Yunzeng 
Published: February 2007

Abstract
The effects of bone marrow cell transplantation (BMT) on myocardial infarct might be affected by host intrinsic circumferences. A best vascular niche was shown in the infarcted hearts with collateral vessels at 2 weeks after myocardial infarction (MI). BMT caused the greatest cardiac repairs after MI in the swine with better collateral vessels, which might be relative to richer collateral vessels, greater vessel densities, and higher expressions of basif fibroblast growth factor and stromal cell–derived factor-1 in the hearts before BMT. Our data suggest that existence of intrinsic collateral vessels contributes greatly to the beneficial effects of intracoronary BMT on cardiac repairs after MI.
Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is found at the end of this article.
Whole Genome Analysis of Human Neural Stem Cells Derived from Embryonic Stem Cells and Stem and Progenitor Cells Isolated from Fetal Tissue
Authors: Shin Soojung , Sun Yu , Liu Ying , Khaner Hanita , Svant Smita , Cai Jingli , Xu Qin Xiu , Davidson Bruce P. , Stice Steven L. , Smith Alan K. , Goldman Steven A. , Reubinoff Benjamin E. , Zhan Ming , Rao Mahendra S. , Chesnut Jonathan D. 
Published: February 2007

Abstract
Multipotent neural stem cells (NSC) have been derived from human embryonic stem cells (hESC) as well as isolated from fetal tissues. However, there have been few exclusive markers of NSC identified to date, and the differences between NSC from various sources are poorly understood. Although cells isolated from these two sources share many important characteristics, it is not clear how closely they are related in terms of gene expression. Here, we compare the gene expression profiles of 11 lines of NSC derived from hESC (ES_NSC), four lines of NSC isolated from fetus (F_NSC), and two lines of restricted progenitors in order to characterize these cell populations and identify differences between NSC derived from these two sources. We showed that ES_NSC were clustered together with high transcriptional similarities but were distinguished from F_NSC, oligodendrocyte precursor cells, and astrocyte precursor cells. There were 17 genes expressed in both ES_NSC and F_NSC whose expression was not identified in restricted neural progenitors. Furthermore, the major differences between ES_NSC and F_NSC were mostly observed in genes related to the key neural differentiation pathways. Here, we show that comparison of global gene expression profiles of ES_NSC, F_NSC, and restricted neural progenitor cells makes it possible to identify some of the common characteristics of NSC and differences between similar stem cell populations derived from hESCs or isolated from fetal tissue.
Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is found at the end of this article.
Assessment of Pain Associated With the Surgical Placement of Dental Implants
Authors: Al‐Khabbaz Areej K. , Griffin Terrence J. , Al‐Shammari Khalaf F. 
Published: February 2007

Background: Despite increasing popularity and established predictability, limited information is available on the pain experience associated with the surgical placement of dental implants. The aim of this study was to assess patient‐reported pain during and after implant insertion and to evaluate factors associated with this pain.Methods: This was a prospective, two‐center study of adult patients scheduled for the surgical placement of one or more implants. Surgery was performed by an experienced periodontist or periodontal graduate students. Mean pain scores were evaluated with the use of a 0 to 10 scale during surgery and 24 hours and 1, 6, and 12 weeks after surgery and compared between the two centers. The association of pain scores at each time‐point with patient‐, operator‐, and surgery‐related factors was examined through univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses.Results: Five hundred ten implants were placed in 234 patients during the study. Mean pain scores were highest at 24 hours after surgery (2.01 ± 0.11) and decreased gradually thereafter. Pain intensity was mild for the majority of patients at all time‐points, and only a few patients had moderate or severe pain. Regression analysis revealed that factors significantly associated with pain after 24 hours included operator experience (odds ratio [OR] = 24.86), pain during surgery (OR = 2.81), and female gender (OR = 2.51). After 1 week, pain levels were associated significantly with having pain after 24 hours (OR = 38.69) and having a surgical template used during surgery (OR = 1.11).Conclusions: Pain experienced by patients following the surgical placement of dental implants was generally mild and gradually decreased with time. Operator experience, female gender, surgical difficulty, and pain at earlier time‐points were associated significantly with patient reports of pain.
Comparative Study of Ultrasonic Instrumentation for the Non‐Surgical Treatment of Interproximal and Non‐Interproximal Furcation Involvements
Authors: Del Peloso Ribeiro Érica , Bittencourt Sandro , Nociti Francisco H. , Sallum Enilson A. , Sallum Antônio W. , Casati Márcio Zaffalon 
Published: February 2007

Background: The aim of this clinical trial was to compare the outcome of non‐surgical treatment of interproximal and non‐interproximal Class II furcation involvements.Methods: Thirty‐eight patients presenting at least one Class II furcation involvement that bled on probing with a probing depth (PD) ≥5 mm were recruited. Furcation involvements were grouped as either buccal and lingual furcation involvements (BLFI) or interproximal furcation involvements (IFI). The following clinical outcomes were evaluated: visible plaque index, bleeding on probing (BOP), position of the gingival margin, relative attachment level (RAL), PD, and relative horizontal attachment level (RHAL). N‐benzoyl‐l‐arginine‐p‐nitroanilide (BAPNA) testing was used to analyze trypsin‐like activity in dental biofilm. All parameters were evaluated at baseline and 1, 3, and 6 months after non‐surgical subgingival instrumentation.Results: Six months after treatment, both groups had similar means of RAL and RHAL gain (P >0.05). These variables were 1.22 and 1.07 mm in the IFI group and 1.38 and 1.20 mm in the BLFI group, respectively. The PD reduction was significantly greater in the BLFI group than in the IFI group (2.59 and 2.11 mm, respectively; P <0.05). The BLFI group presented fewer sites with PD ≥5 mm than the IFI group at all post‐treatment periods. At 6 months, the BAPNA test showed that only the BLFI group had values significantly different from baseline. This means that the BLFI group had significantly lower BAPNA values compared to the IFI group at 6 months.Conclusion: Buccal and lingual Class II furcation involvements respond better to non‐surgical therapy compared to interproximal Class II furcation involvements.
Giorgione'sTempest, StudioloCulture, and the Renaissance Lucretius*
Authors: Campbell Stephen J. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractThe invention of Giorgione's much-interpreted painting known asThe Tempestcan be explained with reference to theDe rerum naturaof Lucretius. Lucretius provides the essential connection between the main elements of the painting: a male 'wanderer,' a lightning bolt, broken columns, a naked, nursing female, and a landscape rendered according to momentary, fleeting appearances. The invention of the painting also responds to the way Lucretius was read around 1500, to the specific interests of the poet's Renaissance readers and imitators, and to forms of self-cultivation associated with the ownership of astudiolo.