bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Family and school determinants of overweight in 13‐year‐old Portuguese adolescents
Authors: Ramos Elisabete , Barros Henrique 
Published: April 2008

AbstractAims: To identify familial and school determinants of overweight in 13‐year‐old adolescents.Methods: All 27 public and 19 (79%) private schools allowed to contact age eligible students, 77.5% accepting to participate (1116 girls, 1045 boys). Self‐administered questionnaires were completed and physical examination performed, including weight and height measurements. Overweight (>95th percentile) and at risk of overweight (85th–95th) were defined using CDC standards. Its determinants were identified using logistic regression models, entering parents' education and all variables significantly associated in crude analysis.Results: Prevalence of overweight (10.2%) and at risk of overweight (16.5%) was not influenced by type of school, vending machines and number of school canteen meals. In girls, the prevalence of body mass index (BMI) >85th percentile increased significantly with decreasing age at menarche (45.7% if menstruating before 11‐year and 13.2% when pre‐menarche), and increasing parental BMI or time spent on sedentary activities. In multivariate analysis, age at menarche and increasing parental BMI remained significant risks in girls. In boys, besides parental BMI, ever smoking, sleeping <9 h and sedentary leisure activities were significant determinants.Conclusions: Food offered at school had no significant impact on adolescents overweight, which was mainly dependent on parental anthropometrics and leisure time activities.
Child behaviour after anaesthesia: association of socioeconomic factors and child behaviour checklist to the post‐hospital behaviour questionnaire
Authors: Karling M. , Hägglöf B. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractAim: In the process of validation of the Swedish translation of the Post‐Hospital Behaviour Questionnaire (PHBQ) to assess its relation to the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL) and to describe its relation to sociodemographic factors.Method: Three hundred and forty children 2–13 years studied in connection with elective procedures which included anaesthesia. Parents completed the CBCL forms before and after hospitalization as well as the PHBQ 2 weeks after hospitalization.Results: In multivariate analysis of PHBQ total score independent risk factors were: age <5 (OR 2.4; CI 1.4–4.0), living in a one parent family (OR 4.4; CI: 1.6–12.6) and not living in a rural area (OR 1.6; CI: 1.0–2.6). The correlation between the total scores for PHBQ and CBCL for children aged 2–4 was moderate: (r = 0.38; p < 0.005). For children aged 4–7 there were significant correlations between PHBQ sleep anxiety and CBCL Other problems (r = 0.4; p < 0.01), PHBQ eating disturbances and CBCL total score (r = 0.3; p < 0.01), though none of these significant correlations were observed for children above 7 years of age.Conclusion: There is an association between PHBQ and CBCL which is weaker for older children. The reason for this might be that PHBQ is more sensitive in the younger age group and to minor changes in behaviour. Children younger than 5 years of age or living in a one parent family or not living in rural areas appear to have higher incidence of problematic behaviour in a 2 week follow up after anaesthesia.
Performance of neonatal ventilators in volume targeted ventilation mode
Authors: Sharma Atul , Milner Anthony D. , Greenough Anne 
Published: April 2008

AbstractAim: To test the hypothesis that in volume targeted ventilation modes, ventilator performance would vary according to ventilator type.Methods: Four neonatal ventilators: Draeger Babylog 8000 (Draeger Medical, Germany), SLE 5000 infant ventilator (SLE systems, UK), Stephanie paediatric ventilator (F. Stephan Biomedical, German) and V.I.P. Bird gold (Viasys Healthcare, USA) were assessed using a lung model. Delivered peak pressure, inflation time, mean airway pressure (MAP) and volume were measured.Results: At the same preset ventilator settings, the Stephanie and V.I.P. Bird ventilators delivered significantly lower peak pressures and tended to deliver lower MAPs than the other two ventilators. At a volume targeted ventilation level of 5 mL, the SLE and the V.I.P. Bird delivered significantly shorter inflation times. The above differences related to differences in the airway pressure waveforms delivered by the four ventilators. The V.I.P. Bird had a less variable volume delivery, but this was always significantly lower than the preset volume guarantee level but higher than the volume displayed by the ventilator.Conclusion: In volume targeted ventilation modes, performance differs between neonatal ventilator types; these results may have implications for clinical practise.
Women's involvement in household decision‐making and strengthening social capital—crucial factors for child survival in Ethiopia
Authors: Fantahun Mesganaw , Berhane Yemane , Wall Stig , Byass Peter , Högberg Ulf 
Published: April 2008

AbstractAims: To assess the influence of household decision making, social capital, socio‐economic factors and health service use on under‐five mortality.Setting: Butajira Demographic Surveillance Site, Ethiopia.Methods: A prospective case‐referent design with a total of 209 under‐five year old deaths occurring in an 18‐month period, together with 627 referents matched for age, sex and community of residence were included. Questionnaires were administered to mothers or caretakers. Matched case control analysis investigated the effect of risk factors on mortality and the presence of avoidable factors was assessed for each death.Results: Lack of immunization was strongly associated with mortality (adjusted OR = 9.8, 95% CI 5.9, 16.1). Low decision making capacity of women (adjusted OR= 3.2 95% CI 2.0, 5.0) and low social capital scores (adjusted OR = 1.9 95% CI 1.1, 3.5) were also related to high under‐five mortality in multivariate analyses. Potentially avoidable household and health facility factors were identified, respectively in 71% and 40% of the deaths.Conclusion: Combined efforts to improve women's involvement in household decision making, social capital and immunization may decrease the high child mortality in this setting where the level of poverty is high and no appreciable trend in child mortality decline has been noted over the years.
Atopy in childhood idiopathic nephrotic syndrome
Authors: Salsano Maria Esposito , Graziano Luisa , Luongo Ilaria , Pilla Paola , Giordano Mario , Lama Giuliana 
Published: April 2008

AbstractAim: Aim of the study was to evaluate the immunoallergic pattern and their modulating serum cytokines in children with primary manifestation of nephrotic syndrome, in order to analyse the correlation with disease activity and the outcome of childhood NS.Materials and methods: We have evaluated 72 children: 58 steroid‐sensitive and 14 steroid‐resistant; 42 subjects were the healthy controls. In all were measured serum: T cell‐subset, cytokines by Th‐1, Th‐2, total IgE levels and specific IgE antibodies.Results: Of the 72 children investigated, 35 (48.6%) had either a history of atopy and/or elevated serum IgE; 14 of these children (40%) had clinical sign of an atopic disease (asthma, rhinitis, dermatitis) and 21 (60%) had elevated sIgE. The atopy was more frequent among SS than SRNS patients (52% versus 36%, p < 0.05). The CD19 were significantly increased in nephrotic patients compared with controls. IL‐4 levels were not different from those in normal control both in SS and SRNS patients, either in relapse than in remission. There was no correlation between the sIgE and IL‐4 levels. Therefore, IL‐5 and Il‐13 levels were significantly higher in SSNS compared to controls, in both pre than posttreatment, and higher in atopic patients. Interestingly, IL‐6 and IL‐10 levels were significantly increased in SRNS pretreatment compared to posttreatment and controls and, only for IL‐10, significantly higher in atopic patients.Conclusion: In our study, only 40% of atopic children had a positive allergic history and 51.4% of the nephrotic children had normal sIgE levels, both pre and posttreatment, indicating different aetiologies, as immune mechanisms, in the pathogenesis of NS. Therefore, specific IgE antibodies were not related to disease activity, suggesting that IgE production might be co‐incident in childhood NS. However, the increased production of IL‐5 and IL‐13 in atopic SSNS may indicate that these cytokines are involved in the enhanced production of sIgE while IL‐4 have a role as controlling cytokine.
Haematological changes and iron status in teenage girls with eating disorders and weight loss—the importance of menstrual status
Authors: Swenne Ingemar 
Published: April 2008

AbstractAim: To study haematological changes and iron stores in teenage girls with eating disorders and weight loss.Methods: Blood haemoglobin concentration, white blood cell and thrombocyte count and serum ferritin concentration were measured at assessments of 446 subjects.Results: Haemoglobin concentrations, leukocyte and thrombocyte counts were related to weight and rate of weight loss but were largely within reference ranges. Serum ferritin concentrations were high in girls with amenorrhea and related to weight and rate of weight loss. Girls who retained menstruations had low serum ferritin concentrations and 37% had depleted iron stores (serum ferritin <16 μg/L).Conclusion: Anaemia, leukopenia and thrombocytopenia are uncommon in teenage girls with eating disorders and weight loss. When present, other diseases causing haematological changes should be considered. In amenorrhoic girls muscle catabolism increases serum ferritin concentrations which may give a false impression of an adequate iron status. This is unmasked in girls with retained menstruations who often have depleted iron stores.
Hospital readmissions and morbidity in a fifteen‐year follow‐up of very low birthweight children in Southeast Sweden
Authors: Gäddlin Per‐Olof , Finnström Orvar , Hellgren Kerstin , Leijon Ingemar 
Published: April 2008

AbstractAim: To study the effect of very low birthweight on hospital care and morbidity, and their relationship to gender, birthweight and neonatal complications.Methods: Eighty‐five very low birthweight (VLBW; ≤1500 g) children and term controls born in 1987–1988 in south‐east region of Sweden were checked in registers regarding readmissions and diagnoses, need for habilitation and child psychiatric care up to 15 years of age. Ophthalmological examinations were made at age 4 in 64 of VLBW and 61 of control children, and at age 15 in 59 of VLBW and 55 of control children.Results: VLBW boys had three times more readmissions compared with normal weight control boys (p = 0.003). Neonatal risk factors for readmissions were gestational age under 30 weeks (OR 3.1), birthweight less than 1000 g (OR 4.6), mechanical ventilation (OR 9.5) and more than 60 days' stay in neonatal ward (OR 5.0).A minority of VLBW children had an impairment/handicap such as cerebral palsy (CP) in five (5.9%) children, attention deficit hyperactivity disorders (ADHD) in five children, and blindness due to retinopathy of prematurity in one child. One child in the control group had ADHD. At the 15‐year examination median visual acuity in the best eye was better in the control group (1.6) than in the VLBW group (1.3) (p = 0.009). 32% of VLBW children and 11% of controls had latent or manifest strabismus (p = 0.007).Conclusion: Risk factors for readmissions were gender, low gestational age, birthweight <1000 g or mechanical ventilation. A minority of VLBW children had a handicap that influenced their daily life activities at 15 years of age.
Circulating stem cells in extremely preterm neonates
Authors: Bizzarro Matthew J , Bhandari Vineet , Krause Diane S , Smith Brian R , Gross Ian 
Published: April 2008

AbstractAim: To measure circulating CD34+cell levels in premature neonates and to correlate the initial CD34+counts with measures of pulmonary function and neonatal morbidity.Methods: CD34+cell counts were measured in the peripheral blood of preterm neonates (gestational ages 24–32 weeks) ventilated for respiratory disease at <48 h of life, and at the start of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th weeks of life. Data pertaining to neonatal demographics and short‐term outcomes were collected. Pulmonary function tests were performed to coincide with CD34+sampling.Results: Thirty preterm neonates with median gestational age of 24 weeks and birth weight of 641 g were analysed. A mean of 99.4 CD34+cells per microliter was observed in the 1st week of life with a decline to 54.4 cells per microliter by the 4th week. An inverse correlation between initial CD34+count and gestational age (p = 0.01) was observed. No significant correlations were observed with measures of pulmonary function or neonatal morbidities.Conclusions: Extremely premature neonates have remarkably high levels of CD34+cells in their peripheral blood at birth. Umbilical cord blood from this population may potentially provide an abundant source of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells for therapeutic purposes.
Risk of concurrent bacterial infection in preterm infants hospitalized due to respiratory syncytial virus infection
Authors: Resch Bernhard , Gusenleitner Walter , Mueller Wilhelm D 
Published: April 2008

AbstractObjective: To evaluate the risk of concurrent bacterial infection in preterm infants hospitalized due to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) disease.Patients and methods: Retrospective cohort analysis of all infants hospitalized due to RSV infection between January 1, 2001 and July 31, 2005. Patients were identified by ICD‐10 diagnosis of RSV infection including codes J21.0, J21.9, J12.1, J20.5 and B97.4. Medical charts were reviewed and RSV infection had to be confirmed by positive antigen detection test on nasopharyngeal aspirates.Results: A total of 464 infants had been hospitalized due to RSV infection and 42 (9.1%) were born <37 weeks of gestational age. Concurrent bacterial infections were diagnosed by either positive blood or urine cultures, stool culture, tracheal aspirates or smears in 4 of 42 preterm (9.5%) compared to 13 of 422 term (3.1%) infants (p = 0.017, RR 3.092, CI 95% 1.251–7.641). Excluding the infants admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) the total rate of bacterial co‐infection was 1.9%. Ten of 42 preterm (23.8 %) compared to 25 of 422 term (5.2 %) infants were referred to ICU (p < 0.001, RR 3.349, CI 95% 1.882–5.959). All preterm infants had pneumonia, and isolates were Streptococcus pneumoniae, Chlamydia pneumoniae and Streptococcus pneumoniae with Haemophilus influenzae. Mean length of stay in preterm infants with bacterial co‐infection was 22.3 days compared to 10.3 days without bacterial co‐infection (p < 0.006).Conclusion: The overall low risk of concurrent bacterial infection was significantly increased in preterm infants associated with prolonged hospitalization and ICU admission.
Socio‐demographic and psychopathologic correlates of enuresis in urban Ethiopian children
Authors: Desta Menelik , Hägglöf Bruno , Kebede Derege , Alem Atalay 
Published: April 2008

AbstractAim: To examine the association between enuresis and psychopathology in urban Ethiopian children.Methods: A two‐stage mental health survey of 5000 urban children found enuresis to be by far the most common disorder. Logistic regression modelling was carried out to determine the independent associations of a number of socio‐demographic and psychopathological characteristics with enuresis.Results: Male sex, younger age and lower achieved educational grade of the child were all independently associated with childhood enuresis. The odds of having enuresis were significantly higher for children in families with significant financial worries and in children from homes where parents were separated. Children with DSMIII‐R anxiety disorders, especially simple phobia, or disruptive behaviour disorders were found to have significantly higher odds of having enuresis.Conclusion: Psychopathology, both anxiety and behavioural disorders, as well as family stressors in urban Ethiopian children were found to be risk factors for enuresis. Although a cause‐effect relationship could not be ascertained, the findings of higher association of psychopathology with enuresis in this and other studies indicate that there is a need for evaluating children with enuresis for the presence of concurrent psychopathology, especially in traditional societies where undetected psychopathology may be more common.
Beauty Spot, Blind Spot: Romantic Wales
Authors: Constantine Mary‐Ann 
Published: April 2008

AbstractRomantic‐period Wales was a fascinating place: part literary construct, part tourist destination, it appears in the work of many writers as a locus of alternative possibilities, both political and personal. Welsh landscape, language and literature attracted poets, artists, antiquarians and historians alike, and an energetic literary cultural revival within Wales produced a rich blend of texts, legends and fabrications which would inspire makers of both fiction and history on either side of the border. The questions of national and cultural allegiance at the heart of this revival are of profound importance to current discussions of ‘British’ identity, particularly in the light of so‐called ‘four nations’ criticism. This article argues that the Welsh contribution to British Romanticism has been seriously neglected by Romantic studies in general. It suggests reasons for this neglect, surveys recent work in the field, and points to future possible directions for research.
Some Issues in Chinese Philosophy of Religion
Authors: Yang Xiaomei 
Published: April 2008

AbstractChinese philosophy of religion is a less discussed and less clearly formed area in the study of Chinese philosophy. It is true that there is virtually no discussion in Chinese philosophy about rationality or justification of religious beliefs comparable to the discussion of the same issues in Western philosophy of religion. The inquiry about rationality and justification of religious beliefs has shaped Western philosophy of religion. However, the scope of philosophy of religion in the Western context has been widened since Hume and Kant. When the West began to be exposed to non‐Western religions, philosophical reflection on non‐Western religions is also brought into the scope of philosophy of Religion. We can expect that the concept of religion will become much broader, the scope of philosophy of religion will expand and new issues, especially, issues concerning specific and non‐Western religions, will be framed. When we look at philosophy of religion in a broad sense, the field of Chinese philosophy of religion begins to emerge. In this survey paper, I will focus on several issues which, in a broad sense of philosophy of religion, can be construed as the issues of Chinese philosophy of religion. One of the issues is about the religiosity of Confucianism. The second issue is about the concept of Tian. The third is the issue regarding the origin and nature of Chinese state religion and its characteristics which also have caught the attention of scholars, especially, in China. Is Confucianism a religion? How should we construe the religiosity of Confucianism if it does have a religious dimension? Is Tian a theological term? How does Tian differ from Western God? Is the sacrifice to Tian religious and a form of monotheism? What is the nature of state religion in traditional China? What is the relation between the state religion and Confucianism in traditional China? The debates on the issues addressing these questions will be introduced and discussed in this paper.
Malignant Gliomas with Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumor‐like Components: A Clinicopathologic and Genetic Study of 53 Cases
Authors: Perry Arie , Miller C. Ryan , Gujrati Meena , Scheithauer Bernd W. , Zambrano Sandro Casavilca , Jost Sarah C. , Raghavan Ravi , Qian Jiang , Cochran Elizabeth J. , Huse Jason T , Holland Eric C. , Burger Peter C. , Rosenblum Marc K. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractCentral nervous system neoplasms with combined features of malignant glioma and primitive neuroectodermal tumor (MG‐PNET) are rare, poorly characterized, and pose diagnostic as well as treatment dilemmas. We studied 53 MG‐PNETs in patients from 12 to 80 years of age (median = 54 years). The PNET‐like component consisted of sharply demarcated hypercellular nodules with evidence of neuronal differentiation. Anaplasia, as seen in medulloblastomas, was noted in 70%. Within the primitive element, N‐myc or c‐myc gene amplifications were seen in 43%. In contrast, glioma‐associated alterations involved both components, 10q loss (50%) being most common. Therapy included radiation (78%), temozolomide (63%) and platinum‐based chemotherapy (31%). Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) dissemination developed in eight patients, with response to PNET‐like therapy occurring in at least three. At last follow‐up, 27 patients died, their median survival being 9.1 months. We conclude that the primitive component of the MG‐PNET: (i) arises within a pre‐existing MG, most often a secondary glioblastoma; (ii) may represent a metaplastic process or expansion of a tumor stem/progenitor cell clone; (iii) often shows histologic anaplasia and N‐myc (or c‐myc) amplification; (iv) has the capacity to seed the CSF; and (v) may respond to platinum‐based chemotherapy regimens.
Effects of static dosimetric leaf gap on MLC‐based small‐beam dose distribution for intensity‐modulated radiosurgery
Authors: Lee Jeong‐Woo , Choi Kyoung‐Sik , Hong Semie , Kim Yon‐Lae , Chung Jin‐Beom , Lee Doo‐Hyun , Choe Bo‐Young , Jang Hong‐Seok , Suh Tae‐Suk 
Published: April 2008

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of various specific dosimetric leaf gaps on the multileaf collimator (MLC)–based small‐beam dose distribution. The dosimetric static leaf gap was determined by comparing the profiles of small MLC‐based beams with those of small collimated fields (square fields of 1, 2, 3, and 4cm). The results showed that an approximately 2‐mm gap was optimal with the Millennium 120‐leaf MLC (Varian Medical Systems, Palo Alto, CA) and a Varian 21EX 6‐MV photon beam. We also investigated how much the leaf gap affects the planning results and the actual dose distribution. A doughnut‐shaped planning target volume (PTV, 6.1 cm3) and inner organ at risk (OAR, 0.3 cm3) were delineated for delicate intensity‐modulated radiosurgery test planning. The applied leaf gaps were 0, 1, and 2 mm. The measured dose distributions were compared with the dose distribution in the treatment planning system. The maximum dose differences at inside PTV, outside PTV, and inner OAR were, respectively, 22.3%, 20.2%, and 35.2% for the 0‐mm leaf gap; 17.8%, 22.8%, and 30.8% for the 1‐mm leaf gap; and 5.5%, 8.5%, and 6.3% for the 2‐mm leaf gap. In a human head phantom (model 605: CIRS, Norfolk, VA) study, large dose differences of 1.3% – 12.7% were noted for the measurements made using the MLC files generated by the three different leaf gaps. The planned results were similar, and measurements showed a large dose difference associated with the various leaf gaps. These results strongly suggest that plans generated by a commercial inverse planning system commissioned using general collimated field data will probably demonstrate discrepancies between the planned treatments and the measured results.PACS number: 87.53.Dq