bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sleep behaviour in preterm children from birth to age 10 years: A longitudinal study
Authors: IGLOWSTEIN IVO , HAJNAL BEATRICE LATAL , MOLINARI LUCIANO , LARGO REMO H. , JENNI OSKAR G. 
Published: April 2006

Abstract Aim: To study clinically relevant aspects of sleep behaviour in preterm children in comparison to term children. Methods: Longitudinal sleep behaviour data were collected prospectively by structured interviews in 130 preterm and 75 control term children from birth to age 10 y. Results: No significant differences in sleep duration (time in bed per 24 h), bedsharing, night wakings, bedtime resistance and sleep‐onset difficulties were found between preterm and term children. Conclusion: Sleep behaviour does not differ between preterm and term children from birth to age 10 y, indicating that prematurity or neonatal intensive care experience does not significantly affect sleep in the first 10 y of life.
Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans: report of a case with a variant ring chromosome and metastases following pregnancy
Authors: Bigby Susan M. , Oei Paul , Lambie Neil K. , Symmans Pennie J. 
Published: April 2006

Background:  The most frequent molecular abnormality observed in dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is the formation of a supernumerary ring chromosome or translocation resulting in fusion of the gene encoding the α‐chain of type 1 collagen, COL1A1 from 17q22, to the platelet‐derived growth factor β‐chain, PDGFB gene from 22q13. Rare cases documenting variant ring or marker chromosomes involving regions other than 17q22 and 22q13 have been reported. Further analysis in three of these cases demonstrated the presence of the COL1A1 and PDGFB genes.Methods:  We report a further case of DFSP with a rare variant ring chromosome. The tumor appeared to undergo accelerated growth during pregnancy, then metastasized following pregnancy. We describe the clinical, histological, immunohistochemical, and cytogenetic features.Results:  The metastatic tumor showed a variant r(17;?) chromosome. A locus‐specific probe was required to demonstrate presence of the PDGFB gene within the ring, indicating cryptic molecular rearrangement between chromosomes 17 and 22, and recombination with an unknown chromosome.Conclusions:  Cryptic rearrangement of chromosomes 17 and 22 should be suspected in variant ring chromosomes and translocations. Pregnancy may contribute to accelerated growth of DFSP, and delay in surgical resection should be avoided.
Keeping It TogetherTM: an information KIT for parents of children and youth with special needs
Authors: Stewart D. , Law M. , Burke‐Gaffney J. , Missiuna C. , Rosenbaum P. , King G. , Moning T. , King S. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractBackground  Provision and use of information about their children is a major concern to families who have a child with a disability. Strategies or systems to influence parents’ abilities to receive, give and use information in a way that is satisfying to them have not been well validated.Methods  This paper reports on the development and evaluation of a Parent Information KIT (‘Keeping It Together’) information management system and child advocacy tool. The KIT was designed to assist parents in giving, getting and organizing information in an effective way. The KIT was evaluated by a sample of 440 parents, with outcomes of use, utility, impact and perceptions of family‐centred care measured at baseline, and after 6 months, and 15 months.Results  Parents’ perceptions of their ability, confidence and satisfaction when using information improved significantly after using the KIT. Parents’ perceptions of care, as measured with the Measure of Processes of Care, also improved significantly in the areas of ‘Enabling/Partnership’ and ‘Providing General Information’. Parents’ ratings of the use and utility of the KIT were associated with increased impact and, in turn, predicted improved perceptions of care.Conclusion  Parents who received and actively used the Parent Information KIT experienced significant increases in their perception of their ability and self‐confidence in getting, giving and using information to assist their child with a disability. Strategies for improving the use of the KIT among parents are discussed.
Short birth intervals and the risk of school unreadiness among a Medicaid population in South Carolina
Authors: Hayes H. , Luchok K. , Martin A. B. , McKeown R. E. , Evans A. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractBackground Communities across the United States have become more involved in enhancing school readiness. Many of the predictors of school readiness relate to conditions prior to and following the birth of the child, including a child’s birthweight. Shortened birth intervals are related to a variety of health and social consequences that affect child development, yet no formal research has examined the association between birth intervals and school readiness.Methods This study was a secondary data analysis of de‐identified pregnancy‐related vital record information, matched to selected items from the Department of Health and Human Services Medicaid records on mothers and children and to the Cognitive Skills Assessment Battery score in South Carolina for the year 2000 for the child of interest (N = 6915). Analysis of covariance and logistic regression were used to determine if there was a statistically significant relationship between birth interval and school readiness.Results Results showed that birth interval is a significant predictor of school readiness with aP‐value <0.001 even after controlling for various socio‐demographic factors. Children born with inadequate birth intervals (less than 24 months) are more likely to fail the Cognitive Skills Assessment Battery compared with those with adequate birth intervals. Potential implications of this research include promoting optimal birth spacing to improve the likelihood that future first graders will come to school ready to learn.
Changes in the scrotal temperature of subjects in a sedentary posture over a heated floor
Authors: Song Gook‐Sup , Seo Ju Tae 
Published: April 2006

SummaryAs Koreans habitually sit on the heated floor in their residential buildings, the male testis is directly exposed, and is therefore affected by the floor surface temperature. The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes in the scrotal temperature of the subjects in a sedentary posture over the heated floor. A rigid screening test was performed to select healthy subjects. Finally, six college students volunteered to participate in the experiments. Two experiments were performed in a controlled environmental chamber. Experiment I was designed for a low metabolism state, with the subjects reading a book in a sedentary posture for 50 min. The floor surface temperature (tf) was controlled by varying the temperature of water (tw) flowing into the floor coil from 15 to 50 °C, at 5 °C intervals. Experiment I revealed that the final scrotal surface temperature was 32.27, 32.62, 33.51, 33.34, 34.14, 34.28, 34.34 and 35.04 °C at the tw 15 °C (tf 17.0 °C), 20 °C (tf 20.8 °C), 25 °C (tf 24.1 °C), 30 °C (tf 27.8 °C), 35 °C (tf 31.7 °C), 40 °C (tf 35.9 °C), 45 °C (tf 38.6 °C) and 50 °C (tf 42.2 °C), respectively. At tf 17.0 and 20.8 °C, the scrotal temperature exhibited a declining pattern and a low temperature for spermatogenesis. At tf 24.1, 27.8 and 31.7 °C, however, the thermal regulatory system of the scrotum and testis was activated appropriately. On the contrary, scrotal temperature ascended at tf 35.9, 38.6 and 42.2 °C. Of the six subjects, two subjects demonstrated scrotal temperatures above 35 °C at tf 38.6 °C and four subjects exhibited scrotal temperatures above 35 °C at tf 42.2 °C. Experiment II was designed for a high metabolism state, with the subjects playing a card game in a sedentary posture for 180 min. The tf was controlled by varying the tw from 30 to 40 °C, at 5 °C intervals. Experiment II revealed that the final scrotal temperature was 33.43, 34.78 and 35.61 °C, and the difference between the initial and final scrotal temperatures was +0.34, +1.06 and +2.24 °C, at tw 30 °C (tf 27.8 °C), 35 °C (tf 31.7 °C) and tw 40 °C (tf 35.9 °C), respectively. The scrotal temperature was affected by the floor surface temperature and by the rate of metabolism of the subject in a sedentary posture. As derived from regression analysis, the recommended surface temperature of a heated floor is within 23–33 °C under the assumption that scrotal and consecutively testicular temperature above 35 °C impairs spermatogenesis.
Genetic structure among and within peripheral and central populations of three endangered floodplain violets
Authors: ECKSTEIN R. L. , O’NEILL R. A. , DANIHELKA J. , OTTE A. , KÖHLER W. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractUnderstanding the partitioning of genetic variance in peripheral and central populations may shed more light on the effects of genetic drift and gene flow on population genetic structure and, thereby, improve attempts to conserve genetic diversity. We analysed genetic structure of peripheral and central populations of three insect‐pollinated violets (Viola elatior, Viola pumila, Viola stagnina) to evaluate to what extent these patterns can be explained by gene flow and genetic drift. Amplified fragment length polymorphism was used to analyse 930 individuals of 50 populations. Consistent with theoretical predictions, peripheral populations were smaller and more isolated, differentiation was stronger, and genetic diversity and gene flow lower in peripheral populations of V. pumila and V. stagnina. In V. elatior, probably historic fragmentation effects linked to its specific habitat type were superimposed on the plant geographic (peripheral‐central) patterns, resulting in lower relative importance of gene flow in central populations. Genetic variation between regions (3–6%), among (30–37%) and within populations (60–64%) was significant. Peripheral populations lacked markers that were rare and localized in central populations. Loss of widespread markers in peripheral V. stagnina populations indicated genetic erosion. Autocorrelation within populations was statistically significant up to a distance of 10–20 m. Higher average genetic similarity in peripheral populations than in central ones indicated higher local gene flow, probably owing to management practices. Peripheral populations contributed significantly to genetic variation and contained unique markers, which made them valuable for the conservation of genetic diversity.
Natal dispersal and parental escorting predict relatedness between mates in a passerine bird
Authors: VAN DE CASTEELE T. , MATTHYSEN E. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractAlthough relatedness between mates is of considerable evolutionary and ecological significance, the way in which the level of relatedness is determined by different behavioural processes remains largely unknown. We investigated the role of behaviour in predicting mate relatedness in great tits using genotypic markers and detailed observations. We studied how mate relatedness is influenced by natal dispersal, inbreeding/outbreeding avoidance after natal dispersal and a behaviour not previously considered that influences membership to social aggregations, namely family escorting behaviour by parents. Among locally born individuals, the level of mate relatedness decreased with natal dispersal distance for females, but not for males. In contrast, mate relatedness was negatively related to the extent of family movements for males, but not for females. However, family movements did not predict dispersal distance for either sex. Local recruits were more related to their mates than immigrants, but this was only significant for females. No evidence was found for inbreeding/outbreeding avoidance after dispersal. Our results suggest that, in highly mobile species, mating options are spatially and/or socially limited, and that parents influence mating options of their offspring before dispersal.
Antibody responses to Ascaris‐derived proteins and glycolipids: the role of phosphorylcholine
Authors: VAN RIET E. , WUHRER M. , WAHYUNI S. , RETRA K. , DEELDER A. M. , TIELENS A. G. M. , VAN DER KLEIJ D. , YAZDANBAKHSH M. 
Published: April 2006

SUMMARY In addition to proteins, glycolipids can be targets of antibody responses and contribute to host–pathogen interaction. Following the structural analysis of Ascaris lumbricoides‐derived glycolipids, the antibody responses of a group of children with no, light and heavy infections were analysed. The role of the phosphorylcholine moiety, present on Ascaris glycoproteins and glycolipids, in antibody reactivity of these infected individuals was determined.  Children carrying heavy infections showed highest IgG reactivity to glycolipids compared to lightly or non‐infected children. Substantial IgG antibody reactivity to both (glyco)proteins and glycolipids was found to be directed to the phosphorylcholine moiety as determined by either removal of this group or a competition assay. This was most pronounced for glycolipids, where removal of the phosphorylcholine moieties by hydrofluoric acid treatment abrogated IgG antibody reactivity. Measurement of IgG4 and IgE isotypes showed no IgG4 reactivity to Ascaris glycolipids, but raised IgE responses were detected in subjects with light or no Ascaris infections, suggesting that IgE responses to glycolipids may play a role in controlling parasite burden. Differences found in antibody profiles to glycolipids and (glyco)proteins, indicate that these different classes of compounds may have distinct roles in shaping of and interacting with humoral immune responses.
Identification of Alternaria spp. on wheat by pathogenicity assays and sequencing
Authors: Mercado Vergnes D. , Renard M.‐E. , Duveiller E. , Maraite H. 
Published: April 2006

The pathogenicity of Alternaria spp. isolated from wheat leaves collected in regions where alternaria leaf blight has been reported was compared with that of IMI reference isolates of A. triticina and A. alternata using two durum and two bread wheat genotypes. To identify isolates putatively corresponding to A. triticina, morphological and DNA sequence analyses based on ribosomal DNA from the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region (ITS1, 5·8S rRNA gene, ITS2) and toxicity bioassays of culture filtrate were combined. Glasshouse inoculations provided reliable information to assess the pathogenicity of A. triticina isolates on wheat. Alternaria leaf blight symptoms were produced by the A. triticina isolates only on durum wheat cv. Bansi, while A. alternata, A. tenuissima and A. arborescens isolates were found to be nonpathogenic on the wheat cultivars tested. Alternaria triticina isolates were distinguished from other Alternaria species by Simmons and Roberts’ sporulation pattern 6 and two to three conidia per sporulation unit associated with primary conidia bearing long (> 7 µm) apical secondary conidiophores. Phylogenetic analysis also proved effective at discriminating wheat‐pathogenic A. triticina from other nonpathogenic Alternaria species. Alternaria triticina isolates yielded longer ITS sequences than A. alternata, A. tenuissima and A. arborescens isolates, leading to clear‐cut differences as visualized with agarose gel electrophoresis. Additionally, only culture filtrates of A. triticina isolates caused nonspecific necrotic lesions on leaves of 3‐week‐old wheat plants.
Intersections of ‘sanitation, sexual coercion and girls’ safety in schools’
Authors: Abrahams Naeemah , Mathews Shanaaz , Ramela Petunia 
Published: April 2006

SummaryObjective  To explore safety for girls in schools, particularly how girls perceive and negotiate dangers and risks associated with the use of toilets.Methods  Participatory action research over a period of 3 days at three schools in South Africa. Informants were 81 girls 16 years and older, teachers and other relevant school personnel. Data were collected through focus group discussions, in‐depth interviews, participant observation, mapping and photography.Results  Toilets had inadequate or no sanitation. Both their use and their avoidance were risky for female students and discouraged hygienic practices. Experience of sexual violence from male students and teachers was a major theme, but unrelated to school toilets. Male teachers used various strategies and opportunities to gain sexual access to the girls and previous experience of victimization prevented the girls from reporting them.Conclusion  To ensure a healthy school environment that promotes gender equality, all threats to safety, including the physical and social environment, must be considered.
Model‐based analysis of trial data: microfilaria and worm‐productivity loss after diethylcarbamazine–albendazole or ivermectin–albendazole combination therapy against Wuchereria bancrofti
Authors: De Kraker Marlieke E. A. , Stolk Wilma A. , Van Oortmarssen Gerrit J. , Habbema J. Dik F. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryObjectives  To determine the efficacies of combinations of ivermectin or diethylcarbamazine and albendazole, which are recommended for use in mass treatment programmes against lymphatic filariasis.Method  Review of published trends in microfilarial (mf) intensities after treatment with these combination therapies. By fitting a mathematical model of treatment effects to the trial data, we quantified the efficacy of treatment, distinguishing between the killing of mf (mf loss) and a reduction in mf production by adult worms (worm‐productivity loss). After diethylcarbamazine–albendazole treatment mf density dropped immediately, then slowly but steadily decreased further (four trials). After ivermectin–albendazole treatment, mf densities immediately dropped to near‐zero levels, followed by a small increase (five trials). For diethylcarbamazine–albendazole treatment the average mf loss was approximately 83% (ranging from 54% to 100% in the different studies) and worm‐productivity loss was 100% (in all studies). For ivermectin–albendazole treatment, average mf loss was 100% (ranging from 98% to 100%) and worm productivity loss was 96% (ranging from 83% to 100%). The effects were dose‐dependent. Sensitivity analysis showed that the estimates did not depend on assumptions on worm lifespan or premature period and little on assumptions on mf lifespan.Conclusion  The two therapies differ with respect to their direct effect on mf, but both are highly effective against adult worms. If mass treatment with these combination therapies achieves high coverage, they can have a large impact on lymphatic filariasis transmission.
Tolerability of amodiaquine and sulphadoxine‐pyrimethamine, alone or in combination for the treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Rwandan adults
Authors: Fanello Caterina I. , Karema Corine , Van Doren Walli , Rwagacondo Claude E. , D'Alessandro Umberto 
Published: April 2006

SummaryObjective  To assess the tolerability and efficacy of amodiaquine (AQ) + sulphadoxine‐pyrimethamine (SP), the first‐line malaria treatment in Rwanda.Method  Randomized, double‐blind trial in 2003 in Kigali town. A total of 351 adult patients with uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria were randomly allocated to one of the following treatments: AQ + SP, AQ or SP. We followed patients until day 14 after treatment and recorded adverse events (AEs) and clinical and parasitological outcomes.Results  One hundred and eighteen patients reported at least one AE: 40% in the AQ, 39% in the AQ + SP and 21% in the SP groups. The AE was classified as possibly related to the antimalarial treatment for 86 patients. The Risk Ratio for at least one AE after treatment was significantly and about fourfold higher in patients receiving AQ or AQ + SP than in patients receiving SP. Pruritus and fatigue were significantly more frequent in patients treated with AQ or AQ + SP than in those receiving SP. Severe AEs, such as fatigue, nausea, dizziness and vomiting, were observed in four patients treated with AQ, in 10 treated with AQ + SP and in one patient treated with SP.Conclusion  Amodiaquine + SP is not well tolerated and a substantial proportion of patients experienced pruritus and fatigue, thus decreasing their compliance and compromising the first line treatment implementation at national level. This renders AQ‐containing regimens sub‐optimal; better‐tolerated treatments should be identified.
Risk of introduction of poliovirus into a Dutch Cape Verdian community during an outbreak of poliovirus in Cape Verde, 2000
Authors: Mertens Paul L. J. M. , Widdowson Marc‐Alain , Van Der Avoort Harrie G. A. M. , Richardus Jan Hendrik 
Published: April 2006

SummaryObjective To assess the risk of introduction of polio virus in a Cape Verdian community of Rotterdam, during the polio epidemic in Cape Verde in 2000.Methods All 225 insufficiently vaccinated 0–14‐year‐old Cape Verdian children (n = 4188) and a random sample of 285 out of all 15–30‐year‐old Cape Verdians (n = 5074) in Rotterdam were surveyed to assess travel behaviour and vaccination coverage. Faecal specimens were collected and sewage samples taken in neighbourhoods with a sizable Cape Verdian population for testing of polio virus.Results During the polio epidemic in Cape Verde, 10% of insufficiently vaccinated children aged 0–14 years and 17% of adults aged 15–30 years living in Rotterdam reported travelling to Cape Verde. 94.6% of Cape Verdians in Rotterdam aged 0–14 years were sufficiently vaccinated against polio, but 9 of 91 insufficiently vaccinated children had travelled to Cape Verde during the epidemic. Of those aged 15–30 years, 10% were not vaccinated against polio. In the faeces of 80 insufficiently vaccinated individuals aged 0–14 years and in 74 adults aged 15–30 years, no poliovirus was detected. Samples of sewage from six sites were negative for poliovirus.Conclusion No evidence of poliovirus infection was found in the Cape Verde population in Rotterdam despite extensive travel to the Cape Verde during the outbreak.
Are maternal re‐infections with Trypanosoma cruzi associated with higher morbidity and mortality of congenital Chagas disease?
Authors: Torrico Faustino , Vega Cristina Alonso , Suarez Eduardo , Tellez Tatiana , Brutus Laurent , Rodriguez Patricia , Torrico Mary‐Cruz , Schneider Dominique , Truyens Carine , Carlier Yves 
Published: April 2006

SummaryBackground  Comparing two surveys performed in Bolivia in 1992–1994 and 1999–2001, we reported a significant decrease in the proportions of severe and mortal forms of congenital Chagas disease. This might be due to a reduction of vectorial density (VD) in maternal residence area, raising the question of a possible causal relationship between such VD, maternal parasitaemia and prognosis of congenital infection with Trypanosoma cruzi.Method  Comparisons of haematological and parasitological data obtained from Bolivian mothers infected with T. cruzi, and of clinical and biological data obtained from their infected and uninfected newborns, stratified according to VD in the area of maternal residence.Results  i) Blood hematocrit rates or hemoglobin amounts were within the normal ranges and similar in all the maternal groups, whatever the VD in their areas of residence; ii) mothers living in high VD areas displayed a higher frequency of hemocultures positive for T. cruzi; iii) newborns congenitally infected with T. cruzi, but not uninfected babies born from infected mothers, displayed higher frequencies of very low Apgar scores, low birth weights, prematurity, respiratory distress syndrome or anasarca, as well as higher mortality rates when their mothers lived in areas of high VD.Conclusion  Frequent bites of blood sucking Reduvidae during pregnancy do not induce maternal anaemia, but, likely through multiple maternal re‐infections with T. cruzi, increase maternal parasitemia and worsen congenital Chagas disease. Maternal dwelling in areas of high VD is associated with a serious increased risk of severe and mortal congenital Chagas disease.