bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Recognizing and reporting child physical abuse: a survey of primary healthcare professionals
Authors: Lazenbatt Anne , Freeman Ruth 
Published: October 2006

Aim.  This paper reports a study of the self‐reported ability and behaviours of primary healthcare professionals in Northern Ireland to recognise child physical abuse. A secondary aim was to assess the educational and training needs of these professionals.Background.  In the United Kingdom, 7% of children suffer serious physical abuse by a parent or carer, and two children aged under 15 years die from abuse each week. Recognizing child physical abuse depends on the knowledge and skills of a variety of healthcare professionals.Methods.  A stratified random sample of 979 nurses, doctors, and dentists working in primary care in Northern Ireland were sent a postal questionnaire; 419 responded, giving a 43% response rate. The data were collected in 2002–2003.Findings.  In their working lives 60% (251) said that they had seen a suspicious child physical abuse case; however, only 47% (201) had reported a suspicious case to the authorities, leaving a 13% gap in reporting. Although 74% (310) of respondents were aware of some of the mechanisms for reporting child physical abuse, 79% (332) requested further education on this topic. Ability to recognize and willingness to report abuse cases discriminated between the three professional groups. Compared with doctors or dentists, community nurses were statistically significantly more likely to recognize and report suspicions of child physical abuse, and were the group most aware of child abuse issues and the most willing to become involved in abuse cases.Conclusions.  The findings suggest that professional fears and anxieties and lack of knowledge act as barriers to recognizing and reporting abuse and that more specific education and support for primary care professionals is required.
The genetic effective and adult census size of an Australian population of tiger prawns (Penaeus esculentus)
Authors: OVENDEN JENNIFER R. , PEEL DAVID , STREET RAEWYN , COURTNEY ANTHONY J. , HOYLE SIMON D. , PEEL SAMANTHA L. , PODLICH HEATHER 
Published: October 2006

AbstractThis study compares estimates of the census size of the spawning population with genetic estimates of effective current and long‐term population size for an abundant and commercially important marine invertebrate, the brown tiger prawn (Penaeus esculentus). Our aim was to focus on the relationship between genetic effective and census size that may provide a source of information for viability analyses of naturally occurring populations. Samples were taken in 2001, 2002 and 2003 from a population on the east coast of Australia and temporal allelic variation was measured at eight polymorphic microsatellite loci. Moments‐based and maximum‐likelihood estimates of current genetic effective population size ranged from 797 to 1304. The mean long‐term genetic effective population size was 9968. Although small for a large population, the effective population size estimates were above the threshold where genetic diversity is lost at neutral alleles through drift or inbreeding. Simulation studies correctly predicted that under these experimental conditions the genetic estimates would have non‐infinite upper confidence limits and revealed they might be overestimates of the true size. We also show that estimates of mortality and variance in family size may be derived from data on average fecundity, current genetic effective and census spawning population size, assuming effective population size is equivalent to the number of breeders. This work confirms that it is feasible to obtain accurate estimates of current genetic effective population size for abundant Type III species using existing genetic marker technology.
Mexican women in California: differentials in maternal morbidity between foreign and US‐born populations
Authors: Guendelman Sylvia , Thornton Dorothy , Gould Jeffrey , Hosang Nap 
Published: October 2006

SummaryIn the US, the majority of deaths and serious complications of pregnancy occur during childbirth and are largely preventable. We conducted a population‐based study to assess disparities in maternal health between Mexican‐born and Mexican‐American women residing in California and to evaluate the extent to which immigrants have better outcomes. Mothers in these two populations deliver 40% of infants in the state. We compared maternal mortality ratios and maternal morbidities during labour and delivery in the two populations using linked 1996–98 hospital discharge and birth certificate data files. For maternal morbidities, we calculated frequencies and observed and adjusted odds (OR) ratios using pre‐existing maternal health, sociodemographic characteristics and quality of health care as covariates.Approximately 19% of Mexican‐born women suffered a maternal disorder compared with 21% of Mexican‐American women (Observed OR = 0.89, [95% CI 0.88, 0.90]). Despite their lower education and relative poverty, Mexican‐born women still experienced a lower odds of any maternal morbidity than Mexican‐American women, after adjusting for covariates (OR = 0.92, [95% CI 0.90, 0.93]). These findings suggest a paradox of more favourable outcomes among Mexican immigrants similar to that found with birth outcomes. Nevertheless, the positive aggregate outcome of Mexican‐born women did not extend to maternal mortality, nor to certain conditions associated with suboptimal intrapartum obstetric care.
Necrotising enterocolitis hospitalisations among neonates in the United States
Authors: Holman Robert C. , Stoll Barbara J. , Curns Aaron T. , Yorita Krista L. , Steiner Claudia A. , Schonberger Lawrence B. 
Published: October 2006

SummaryThe objective of this study was to estimate the rate and describe the epidemiology of necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) among neonates (infants <1 month of age) hospitalised in the United States. Hospital discharge records for neonates with an NEC diagnosis and an in‐hospital death or routine discharge were selected for analysis from the 2000 Kids’ Inpatient Database. An estimated 4463 (SE = 219) hospitalisations associated with NEC occurred among neonates in the United States during the year 2000, resulting in a hospitalisation rate of 109.9 [95% CI 97.2, 122.6] per 100 000 livebirths. The rate of NEC hospitalisations was highest among non‐Hispanic Black neonates. The median hospital length of stay was 49 days.The in‐hospital fatality rate was 15.2% (SE = 1.0%). Neonates who underwent a surgical procedure during hospitalisation were more likely to have a longer length of stay and to die than were those who did not have surgical intervention. Low‐birthweight (LBW) neonates with NEC were more likely than LBW neonates hospitalised with other diagnoses to be very LBW (VLBW), non‐Hispanic Black and male. In addition, compared with LBW neonates hospitalised with other diagnoses, LBW neonates with NEC had higher hospital charges and longer lengths of stay, and were more likely to die during hospitalisation. This study provides the first national estimate of the rate of hospitalisation for NEC among neonates in the United States. During 2000, there was one NEC hospitalisation per 1000 livebirths, with approximately 1 in 7 NEC hospitalisations ending in death. NEC accounts for substantial morbidity; thus, the development of prevention strategies and effective therapies continues to be an important issue.
Association study of 5′‐UTR polymorphisms of the human dopamine transporter gene with manic depression
Authors: Stöber Gerald , Sprandel Julia , Schmidt Florian , Faul Thomas , Jabs Burkhard , Knapp Michael 
Published: October 2006

Objectives:  To determine the degree of association of five single nucleotide polymorphisms at the 5′‐untranslated region (5′‐UTR) of the human dopamine transporter gene (hSLC6A3; hDAT1) in bipolar affective disorder.Methods:  In a case–control design study, the polymorphisms were genotyped for allelic and genotypic distribution between 105 index cases (50 males) with bipolar affective disorder according to DSM IV and 199 unaffected control subjects (120 males).Results:  At the 5′‐UTR locus of hSLC6A3, no significant allelic or genotypic differences were observed between index cases and controls. However, distinct 5‐locus genotypes accumulated in subjects with bipolar affective disorder compared to control subjects (p = 0.029, odds ratio 1.84, 95% confidence interval 1.12–3.02).Conclusions:  In conclusion, our data do not provide evidence for a major role of the 5′‐UTR of the dopamine transporter gene in bipolar affective disorder. A minor contribution of distinct genotypes may be possible and warrants replication in extended samples.
Aromatase inhibitors and bipolar mood disorder: a case report
Authors: Goodwin Guy M. 
Published: October 2006

Objective:  To report a case in which the aromatase inhibitor letrozole produced irritable mood elevation followed by depression in a woman with a history of postpartum depression.Methods:  A 60‐year‐old Caucasian woman who had a severe depressive episode after the birth of her only child, 32 years earlier, was treated successively with anastrozole and letrozole following a mastectomy, radiotherapy and chemotherapy.Results:  Mrs X was prescribed anastrozole for about 6 weeks. During this time she experienced labile mood, increased activity, tremulousness and difficulty sleeping. These symptoms disappeared after stopping the anastrozole. On letrozole, she developed an acute irritable activated mood elevation, which then subsided into a prolonged major depression after withdrawal of letrozole. These effects occurred during co‐prescription of amitriptyline at a low dose for urinary frequency.Conclusions:  The present case suggests caution may be warranted when employing aromatase inhibitors, especially in women with a past history of postpartum affective disorder or bipolar disorder. As with postpartum mania, the primary mechanism of the effect may be acute reduction in circulating oestrogen levels.
The universal ancestor and the ancestors of Archaea and Bacteria were anaerobes whereas the ancestor of the Eukarya domain was an aerobe
Authors: DI GIULIO M. 
Published: October 2006

AbstractThe use of an oxyphobic index (OI) based on the propensity of amino acids to enter more frequently the proteins of anaerobes makes it possible to make inferences on the environment in which the last universal common ancestor (LUCA) lived. The reconstruction of the ancestral sequences of proteins using a method based on maximum likelihood and their attribution by means of the OI to the set of aerobe or anaerobe sequences has led to the following conclusions: the LUCA was an anaerobic ‘organism’, as were the ancestors of Archaea and Bacteria, whereas the ancestor of Eukarya was an aerobe. These observations seem to falsify the hypothesis that the LUCA was an aerobe and help to identify better the environment in which the first organisms lived.
Effects of Two Different Dosages of Dobutamine on Pulmonary Artery Wedge Pressure, Systemic Arterial Blood Pressure and Heart Rate in Anaesthetized Horses
Authors: Gehlen H. , Weichler A. , Bubeck K. , Ohnesorge B. , Deegen E. , Stadler P. 
Published: October 2006

SummaryThe purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of two different dobutamine concentrations on pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP) and on mean systemic arterial blood pressure (MAP) in horses anaesthetized with isoflurane, after induction of general anaesthesia with xylazine, ketamine and diazepam. Eight healthy warm‐blood horses were included in the study. Each horse was subjected to general anaesthesia twice with two different dosages of dobutamine, 3 and 5 μg/kg bw/min, being infused over 15 min, starting 50 min after induction of general anaesthesia (T0). The heart rate, the PAWP and the MAP were recorded after 10 min (T1) and then every 5 min until 15 min after cessation of intravenous dobutamine administration (T3–T5). The PAWP was measured by a right heart catheter, which was positioned in the pulmonary capillaries. Mean systemic arterial blood pressure was monitored at the facial artery for the duration of general anaesthesia. All parameters increased at both dosage rates of dobutamine and decreased significantly when dobutamine administration ceased. The increase in heart rate was significantly higher after administration of 3 μg/kg bw/min dobutamine compared with the dosage of 5 μg/kg bw/min dobutamine. The increase in MAP was also higher at this dosage, but not significantly different to the dosage of 5 μg/kg bw/min dobutamine. During both dosages the MAP was above a value considered to be compatible with good peripheral circulation. The greater increase in PAWP was observed during administration of 5 μg/kg bw/min dobutamine, but PAWP was not significantly different with the dosage of 3 μg/kg bw/min dobutamine. In conclusion, the administration of dobutamine led to an increase in MAP and PAWP above a value considered to be compatible with a good peripheral circulation. The results of the present study indicate that dobutamine improves circulation, in addition to its well‐known effect on the periphery.
Essential pathogenic and metabolic differences in steatosis induced by choline or methione‐choline deficient diets in a rat model
Authors: Veteläinen Reeta , Van Vliet Arlène , Van Gulik Thomas M 
Published: October 2006

AbstractBackground and Aim:  Choline deficient (CD) and methione‐choline deficient (MCD) diets are rodent models for steatosis, with potentially dissimilar biochemical backgrounds. The aim of this study was to assess the metabolic and pathological derangements in rats fed CD and MCD diets.Methods:  Male Wistar rats received CD or MCD diet up to 7 weeks. Nutritional status, liver histopathology, Kupffer cell‐mediated inflammation and injury, oxidative stress via thiobarbituric reactive species (TBARS), hepatic and plasma glutathione (GSH) and insulin homeostasis were assessed.Results:  In CD‐fed rats, mainly microvesicular steatosis developed with occasional inflammatory cells. In MCD‐fed rats, macrovesicular steatosis progressed to steatohepatitis (collagen deposition, activated stellate cells). Hepatic TBARS was increased and GSH decreased in the MCD‐fed rats compared to no changes in the CD‐fed rats. The CD‐fed rats developed obesity, dyslipidemia and insulin resistance, in contrast to undetectable plasma lipids, unaffected insulin homeostasis and loss of body weight in the MCD‐fed rats.Conclusions:  The CD diet induced uncomplicated steatosis as compared to progressive inflammation and fibrinogenesis in the MCD diet. CD and MCD diets represent two pathogenically different models of steatosis. Although equivalence for the outcome of both diets can be found in clinical steatosis, the results of models using these diets should be compared with caution.
Serum oxidized low‐density lipoprotein is inversely correlated to telomerase activity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of haemodialysis patients
Authors: TSIRPANLIS GEORGE , CHATZIPANAGIOTOU STYLIANOS , BOUFIDOU FOTINI , KORDINAS VASILEIOS , ZOGA MARGARITA , ALEVYZAKI FOTINI , STAMATELOU KYRIAKI , FRANGOU ELENI , SAVVA LEFKOTHEA , NICOLAOU CHRYSOULA 
Published: October 2006

SUMMARY:Background:  Telomerase preserves telomeres’ function and structure preventing cellular senescence. Its activity is reduced in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of haemodialysis (HD) patients. The purpose of this study is to investigate the potential correlation between increased oxidative stress/inflammation and telomerase activity in PBMC of HD patients.Methods:  Telomerase activity was measured by PCR‐ELISA in PBMC isolated from a group of 42 HD patients and 39 subjects with estimated glomerular filtration rate ≥80 mL/min (control group). Serum oxidized low‐density lipoprotein (ox‐LDL), tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) and interleukin‐10 (IL‐10) were also measured in both groups by ELISA.Results:  Ox‐LDL was negatively correlated to percentage telomerase activity in PBMC (r = −0.506, P = 0.000 in the whole group of 81 HD and normal subjects and r = −0.559, P < 0.001 in HD patients). TNF was also inversely associated with percentage telomerase activity in the whole group studied (r = −0.492, P = 0.000) while IL‐10 was not. In stepwise multiple linear regression, taking into consideration the most important characteristics of the HD patients and control group, the only significant predictors for percentage telomerase activity in PBMC were ox‐LDL and TNF (β = −0.421, t = −4.083, P = 0.000 and β = −0.381, t = −3.691, P = 0.000, respectively) while examining separately HD patients, the predictors for the same parameter were ox‐LDL and HD duration (β = −0.671, t = −4.709, P = 0.000 and β = −0.349, t = −2.447, P = 0.023, respectively).Conclusion:  Ox‐LDL serum level is inversely correlated to telomerase activity in PBMC of HD patients. Our study proposes a new consequence of increased oxidative stress in HD patients: the premature cellular senescence potentially related to atherosclerosis through LDL oxidation.
Venous collapsibility index changes in children on dialysis
Authors: HACIOMEROGLU PELIN , OZKAYA OZAN , GUNAL NAZLIHAN , BAYSAL KEMAL 
Published: October 2006

SUMMARY:Aim:  Hypervolemia is an important factor for the development of cardiac failure in end‐stage renal disease. The aims of this study are to evaluate whether collapsibility index (CI) is a useful method to assess the volume status in children on haemodialysis (HD) and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), and to test whether the small amounts of fluid removed after a single dialysis exchange will be reflected by a change in CI in peritoneal dialysis patients.Methods:  Sixteen CAPD, nine HD patients aged from 5 to 18 years and 27 age‐ and sex‐matched healthy children were enrolled in the study. Inferior vena cava diameters were measured from subxiphoidal long axis position in 2 cm to its junction to right atrium and CI were calculated.Results:  The collapsibility index was significantly lower in HD patients before HD and in the CAPD group before dialysate exchange when compared with the controls. No significant difference was found between the CAPD and HD groups. We observed significant increase in CI after HD, CI values reached nearly to control levels after HD. Ultrafiltrate was 1.93 ± 0.98 kg in HD, 0.23 ± 0.09 kg in the CAPD group. Although the change in CI values before and after dialysate exchange was significant in the CAPD group, there was still a significant difference between the CI values of the control group and the CAPD patients after dialysate exchange.Conclusion:  We suggest that serial mesurements of CI in children will be a useful guide to assess the volume changes in an individual instead of a single measurement.
Rome III: The new criteria
Authors: DROSSMAN Douglas A 
Published: October 2006

The new Rome III criteria reflects upon a more than 15 year process to legitimize, classify and bring scientific credibility to the functional GI disorders. This has occurred through a series of activities and documents including the recently published Rome III book and a journal issue in Gastroenterology published in April, 2006. The work involved has involved committees of 87 international investigators from 17 countries, 2 of whom are from China. This article will review the Rome committee process that led to the production of these documents, the Rome III classification system, a description of the changes from Rome II (published in 2000) to Rome III and information on the future of Rome Foundation activities.
RNA interference inhibits hepatitis B virus gene expression and replication in HepG2‐N10 cells
Authors: REN Jian Lin , PAN Jin Shui , CHENG Tong , DONG Jing , LU Ya Pi , HUANG Song Jie , SHI Hua Xiu , WANG Lin , LIAN Ya Mei 
Published: October 2006

OBJECTIVE:  RNA interference (RNAi) refers to the phenomenon of sequence‐specific degradation of homologous mRNA induced by double‐stranded RNA. It has been successfully utilized to down‐regulate endogenous gene expression or suppress the replication of various pathogens in mammalian cells. In this study, the effect of vector‐based small interfering RNA (siRNA) promoted by pSilencer2.0‐U6 inhibit hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication in cell culture was evaluated.METHODS:  Three fragments of short nucleic acids, respectively, targeting on S, X and C region of HBV genome were inserted into pSilencer vectors after they were annealed with their partly antisense strands. The recombination plasmids were pS, pX and pC. These expression plasmids were transfected into HepG2‐N10 cells, a cell line which stably expresses hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B virus e antigen (HBeAg) and adw2 subtype Dane particles. The effect of RNAi was evaluated from the changes of DNA, RNA and protein levels. Viral antigens were measured by ELISA. Viral mRNA was analyzed by RT‐PCR. The covalent closed circular DNA and genome DNA of HBV secreted into the culture media were measured by quantitative real‐time PCR. Analysis of variance was performed for the results.RESULTS:  Vector‐based RNA interference could potently reduce HBsAg (pS vs pN: 47%, pX vs pN: 30%, and pC vs pN: 25%, P < 0.001) and HBeAg (pX vs pN: 57% and pC vs pN: 66%, P < 0.001) expression in cell culture. Furthermore, RT‐PCR analysis showed that viral mRNAs were effectively degraded, thus eliminating the messengers for protein expression as well as templates for reverse transcription (pS and pC vs pN, P < 0.001; pX vs pN, P = 0.003). Quantitative real‐time PCR analysis of HBV DNA revealed that vector‐based RNA interference can inhibit HBV replication efficiently (pS, pX and pC vs pN, P < 0.001).CONCLUSIONS:  Our results indicate that RNAi can inhibit HBV gene expression and replication, and it might have the potential to revolutionize the treatment of HBV.
PERFORATED DIVERTICULITIS MANAGED BY LAPAROSCOPIC LAVAGE
Authors: Taylor Craig J. , Layani Laurent , Ghusn Michael A. , White Stephen I. 
Published: October 2006

Background:  Traditionally the management of acute diverticulitis complicated by perforation has been the Hartmann’s procedure, which may be associated with significant morbidity and mortality and the unpleasantness of a colostomy. We present our early experience in managing perforated diverticulitis acutely by laparoscopic lavage and drainage.Methods:  A retrospective review was conducted of all patients with surgically confirmed perforated diverticulitis. Details concerning the nature of presentation, operative findings, postoperative course and medium‐term progress were investigated.Results:  Fourteen patients with a mean age of 57.2 years were identified over a 3‐year period. All patients presented with peritonitis and systemic sepsis. Ten patients had extraluminal gas on preoperative imaging. Laparoscopic lavage and drainage, without resection or stoma, was the initial management in all cases. Sigmoid diverticulitis was confirmed in all cases, complicated by Hinchey grade 3 purulent peritonitis in 10 patients, grade 2 contamination in 2 patients and grade 4 faeculent peritonitis in 2 patients. Eleven patients (79%) improved and were discharged following a median of 6.5 days (range, 5–32 days). Three patients did not improve and underwent acute resection. Eight patients have subsequently undergone elective resection without a stoma at a mean interval of 6 weeks, which was carried out laparoscopically in all but one case.Conclusion:  Laparoscopic lavage and drainage in the acute management of perforated acute diverticulitis may be a promising alternative to more radical procedures, including the Hartmann’s procedure. Acute resection should still be carried out in patients found to have faecal peritonitis or who fail to improve following lavage.