bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Moxibustion and other acupuncture point stimulation methods to treat breech presentation: a systematic review of clinical trials
Authors: Li Xun , Hu Jun , Wang Xiaoyi , Zhang Huirui , Liu Jianping 
Published: February 2009

Abstract

Background
Moxibustion, acupuncture and other acupoint stimulations are commonly used for the correction of breech presentation. This systematic review aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of moxibustion and other acupoint stimulations to treat breech presentation.

Methods
We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and controlled clinical trials (CCTs) on moxibustion, acupuncture or any other acupoint stimulating methods for breech presentation in pregnant women. All searches in PubMed, the Cochrane Library (2008 Issue 2), China National Knowledge Information (CNKI), Chinese Scientific Journal Database (VIP) and WanFang Database ended in July 2008. Two authors extracted and analyzed the data independently.

Results
Ten RCTs involving 2090 participants and seven CCTs involving 1409 participants were included in the present study. Meta-analysis showed significant differences between moxibustion and no treatment (RR 1.35, 95% CI 1.20 to 1.51; 3 RCTs). Comparison between moxibustion and knee-chest position did not show significant differences (RR 1.30, 95% CI 0.95 to 1.79; 3 RCTs). Moxibustion plus other therapeutic methods showed significant beneficial effects (RR 1.36, 95% CI 1.21 to 1.54; 2 RCTs). Laser stimulation was more effective than assuming the knee-chest position plus pelvis rotating. Moxibustion was more effective than no treatment (RR 1.29, 95% CI 1.17 to 1.42; 2 CCTs) but was not more effective than the knee-chest position treatment (RR 1.22, 95% CI 1.11 to 1.34; 2 CCTs). Laser stimulation at Zhiyin (BL67) was more effective than the knee-chest position treatment (RR 1.30, 95% CI 1.10 to 1.54; 2 CCTs,).

Conclusion
Moxibustion, acupuncture and laser acupoint stimulation tend to be effective in the correction of breech presentation.
Cardiovascular risk factors and acute-phase response in idiopathic ascending aortitis: a case control study
Authors: Chowdhary Vaidehi R , Crowson Cynthia S , Liang Kimberly P , Michet Clement J , Miller Dylan V , Warrington Kenneth J , Matteson Eric L 
Published: February 2009

Abstract
Introduction
Idiopathic aortitis is a rare condition characterized by giant cell or lymphoplasmacytic inflammation of the aorta. The purpose of this study was to describe risk factors for the development of idiopathic aortitis.

Methods
We conducted a case control study of 50 patients who were age-matched with two control subjects with non-inflammatory ascending aortic aneurysms. We examined whether the prevalences of gender, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, smoking, family history of any aortic aneurysms, and elevated inflammatory markers differed between cases and controls.

Results
The mean age of cases was 71.6 ± 8.9 years and that of controls was 71.1 ± 8.9 years. We found female gender (odds ratio [OR] 2.41, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.20 to 4.85; P = 0.014) and active smoking (OR 3.37, 95% CI 1.12 to 10.08; P = 0.03) to be associated with idiopathic aortitis. The association with smoking persisted after adjustment for gender (OR 3.24, 95% CI 1.05 to 9.96; P = 0.04). There was a trend toward lower prevalence of diabetes mellitus in cases (OR 0.39, 95% CI 0.11 to 1.43; P = 0.16) but no difference in prevalences of other risk factors. The median pre-operative erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was 20 mm/hour in cases (n = 13) and 9 mm/hour in controls (n = 22). The median pre-operative C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were 12 mg/L in cases (n = 8) and 3 mg/L in controls (n = 6) (normal: <8 mg/L). A higher proportion of cases versus controls had elevations in ESR (38% versus 9%; P = 0.075) and CRP (62% versus 0%; P = 0.031).

Conclusions
Gender and smoking may interact in complex mechanisms with immune and proteolytic pathways in older, less distensible thoracic aortas. Elevated acute-phase reactants as a marker of systemic inflammation may be present in some patients.
Management of bulimia nervosa and other binge eating problems
Authors: Cooper Zafra , Fairburn Christopher G. 
Published: February 2009

SummaryBinge eating occurs across the entire range of eating disorders. It is required for a diagnosis of bulimia nervosa but it is also seen in some cases of anorexia nervosa and in many cases of eating disorder not otherwise specified (usually referred to as eating disorder NOS or atypical eating disorder). This article focuses on the management of those eating disorders in which binge eating is a prominent feature.
Childhood temperament and long-term sickness absence in adult life
Authors: Henderson Max , Hotopf Matthew , Leon David A. 
Published: February 2009

BackgroundLittle is known as to whether childhood temperament is associated with long-term sickness absence in adult life.AimsTo explore the associations between childhood temperament and long-term sickness absence in middle age.MethodThe Aberdeen Children of the 1950s study is comprised of 12 150 children born in Aberdeen 1950–55. Teachers completed the Aberdeen–London Child Behaviour Scale (Rutter B) for all participants in 1964. Current employment status was ascertained for 7183 (63.7%) in 2001.ResultsFive and a half per cent of responders classified themselves as ‘permanently sick or disabled’ at follow-up. ‘Often complains of aches and pains’ (OR=6.75, 95% CI 1.28–35.5) and ‘Often appears miserable or unhappy’ (OR=3.81, 95% CI 1.01–14.4) were strongly associated with being permanently sick or disabled following adjustment for year of birth, gender, IQ and father's social class.ConclusionsChildhood temperament is strongly associated with sickness absence in middle age.
Prevalence, correlates and course of behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia in the population
Authors: Savva George M. , Zaccai Julia , Matthews Fiona E. , Davidson Julie E. , McKeith Ian , Brayne Carol 
Published: February 2009

BackgroundBehavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) are major contributors to the burden of dementia.AimsTo describe the prevalence, correlates and course of BPSD in the population of England and Wales.MethodThe prevalence of 12 symptoms was estimated in 587 participants with dementia and 2050 participants without dementia as part of a population-based longitudinal study of ageing. The effect of risk factors and the factor structure were estimated using 1782 interviews provided by participants with dementia throughout the study.ResultsEach symptom apart from sleeping problems was more common in the population with dementia. The co-occurrence of the symptoms was explained by a four-factor solution, corresponding to psychosis/apathy, depression/anxiety, irritability/persecution and wandering/sleep problems. Psychosis occurred more frequently with declining cognition. Anxiety and depression were more common in younger individuals and in those with poor self-reported health. Persistence varied between symptoms.ConclusionsBehavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia affect nearly all people with dementia. Symptoms co-occur, and the symptoms that affected individuals experience are related to their socio-demographic and clinical characteristics.
Neuropsychological status of bipolar I disorder: impact of
psychosis
Authors: Savitz Jonathan , van der Merwe Lize , Stein Dan J. , Solms Mark , Ramesar Rajkumar 
Published: February 2009

BackgroundThe presence of schizotypal personality traits in some people with
bipolar disorder, together with reports of greater cognitive dysfunction
in patients with a history of psychotic features compared with patients
without such a history, raises questions about the nosological
relationship between bipolar disorder with psychotic features and bipolar
disorder without psychotic features.AimsTo test the impact of a history of DSM–IV-defined psychosis on the
neuropsychological status of participants with bipolar disorder while
statistically controlling for confounding factors such as mood,
medication, alcohol misuse/dependence and childhood abuse, and to
evaluate the impact of schizotypal personality traits (and thus potential
vulnerability to psychotic illness) on the cognitive performance of
people with bipolar disorder and their healthy relatives.MethodNeuropsychological data were obtained for 25 participants with type I
bipolar disorder and a history of psychosis, 24 with type I bipolar
disorder but no history of psychosis and 61 unaffected relatives.
Schizotypal traits were measured with the Schizotypal Personality Scale
(STA). Childhood trauma was measured with the Childhood Trauma
Questionnaire.ResultsThe group with a history of psychosis performed significantly worse than
the healthy relatives on measures of verbal working memory, cognitive
flexibility and declarative memory. Nevertheless, the two bipolar
disorder groups did not differ significantly from each other on any
cognitive measure. Scores on the STA were negatively associated with
verbal working and declarative memory, but positively associated with
visual recall memory.Conclusions‘Psychotic’ and ‘non-psychotic’ subtypes of bipolar disorder may lie on a
nosological continuum that is most clearly defined by verbal memory
impairment.
Stroop-test interference in bipolar disorder
Authors: Kravariti Eugenia , Schulze Katja , Kane Fergus , Kalidindi Sridevi , Bramon Elvira , Walshe Muriel , Marshall Nicolette , Hall Mei-Hua , Georgiades Anna , McDonald Colm , Murray Robin M. 
Published: February 2009

SummaryWe analysed Stroop (neuropsychological screening test) measures of response
inhibition in 18 twin pairs discordant for bipolar I disorder compared with
17 healthy control pairs, as well as 40 singletons with bipolar disorder
with psychotic features and a family history of psychosis, 46 of their
first-degree relatives without bipolar disorder or psychosis and 48
controls. In both studies, individuals with bipolar disorder showed Stroop
deficits and their first-degree relatives showed intact performance. In the
twin patients, an interference score was associated with depressive
symptoms. Having a first-degree relative with bipolar disorder, even a
familial, psychotic form, did not confer risk for enhanced susceptibility to
interference in our studies.
Psychopathic traits and deception: functional magnetic resonance
imaging study
Authors: Fullam Rachael S. , McKie Shane , Dolan Mairead C. 
Published: February 2009

BackgroundThere is relatively little existing information regarding the neural
correlates of deception in individuals with psychopathic traits.AimsTo investigate the relationship between neural responses during deception
and psychopathic personality traits in a sample of male participants
drawn from the normal population.MethodTwenty-four male participants carried out a simple deception paradigm
while undergoing functional magnetic resonance imaging. Psychopathic
traits were assessed in the sample using the Psychopathic Personality
Inventory (PPI).ResultsMean response times were greater for the lie than truth condition. Lie
responses resulted in enhanced activation of the ventrolateral prefrontal
cortex. The PPI sub-scales, coldheartedness, fearlessness, Machiavellian
egocentricity, social potency and stress immunity were found to be
correlated with activation patterns in the brain circuitry implicated in
both deception and related processes such as behavioural restraint and
social cognition.ConclusionsThis is a novel technology that may prove useful in our understanding of
some of the key components of the psychopathy construct in both clinical
and non-clinical contexts.
White matter microstructure in schizophrenia: effects of
disorder, duration and medication
Authors: Kanaan Richard , Barker Gareth , Brammer Michael , Giampietro Vincent , Shergill Sukhwinder , Woolley James , Picchioni Marco , Toulopoulou Timothea , McGuire Philip 
Published: February 2009

BackgroundDiffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging studies in schizophrenia to
date have been largely inconsistent. This may reflect variation in
methodology, and the use of small samples with differing illness duration
and medication exposure.AimsTo determine the extent and location of white matter microstructural
changes in schizophrenia, using optimised diffusion tensor imaging in a
large patient sample, and to consider the effects of illness duration and
medication exposure.MethodScans from 76 patients with schizophrenia and 76 matched controls were
used to compare fractional anisotropy, a measure of white matter
microstructural integrity, between the groups.ResultsWe found widespread clusters of reduced fractional anisotropy in
patients, affecting most major white matter tracts. These reductions did
not correlate with illness duration, and there was no difference between
age-matched chronically and briefly medicated patients.ConclusionsThe finding of widespread fractional anisotropy reductions in our larger
sample of patients with schizophrenia may explain some of the
inconsistent findings of previous, smaller studies.
Differential efficacy of escitalopram and nortriptyline on
dimensional measures of depression
Authors: Uher Rudolf , Maier Wolfgang , Hauser Joanna , Marušič Andrej , Schmael Christine , Mors Ole , Henigsberg Neven , Souery Daniel , Placentino Anna , Rietschel Marcella , Zobel Astrid , Dmitrzak-Weglarz Monika , Petrovic Ana , Jorgensen Lisbeth , Kalember Petra , Giovannini Caterina , Barreto Mara , Elkin Amanda , Landau Sabine , Farmer Anne , Aitchison Katherine J. , McGuffin Peter 
Published: February 2009

BackgroundTricyclic antidepressants and serotonin reuptake inhibitors are
considered to be equally effective, but differences may have been
obscured by internally inconsistent measurement scales and inefficient
statistical analyses.AimsTo test the hypothesis that escitalopram and nortriptyline differ in
their effects on observed mood, cognitive and neurovegetative symptoms of
depression.MethodIn a multicentre part-randomised open-label design (the Genome Based
Therapeutic Drugs for Depression (GENDEP) study) 811 adults with moderate
to severe unipolar depression were allocated to flexible dosage
escitalopram or nortriptyline for 12 weeks. The weekly Montgomery–Åsberg
Depression Rating Scale, Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, and Beck
Depression Inventory were scored both conventionally and in a more novel
way according to dimensions of observed mood, cognitive symptoms and
neurovegetative symptoms.ResultsMixed-effect linear regression showed no difference between escitalopram
and nortriptyline on the three original scales, but symptom dimensions
revealed drug-specific advantages. Observed mood and cognitive symptoms
improved more with escitalopram than with nortriptyline. Neurovegetative
symptoms improved more with nortriptyline than with escitalopram.ConclusionsThe three symptom dimensions provided sensitive descriptors of
differential antidepressant response and enabled identification of
drug-specific effects.
Echolocation by two foraging harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena)
Authors: Verfuß Ursula K. , Miller Lee A. , Pilz Peter K. D. , Schnitzler Hans-Ulrich 
Published: February 2009

SUMMARY
Synchronized video and high-frequency audio recordings of two trained harbour porpoises searching for and capturing live fish were used to study swimming and echolocation behaviour. One animal repeated the tasks blindfolded. A splash generated by the fish being thrown into the pool or– in controls – by a boat hook indicated prey and stimulated search behaviour. The echolocation sequences were divided into search and approach phases. In the search phase the porpoises displayed a clear range-locking behaviour on landmarks, indicated by a distance-dependent decrease in click interval. Only in trials with fish was the search phase followed by an approach phase. In the initial part of the approach phase the porpoises used a rather constant click interval of around 50 ms. The terminal part started with a sudden drop in click interval at distances around 2–4 m. Close to the prey the terminal part ended with a buzz,characterized by constant click intervals around 1.5 ms. The lag time in the search and the initial part of the approach phase seems to be long enough for the porpoise to process echo information before emitting the next click (pulse mode). However, we assume that during the buzz lag times are too short for pulse mode processing and that distance information is perceived as a `pitch'with a `frequency' corresponding to the inverse of the two-way transit time(pitch mode). The swimming speed of the animal was halved when it was blindfolded, while the click intervals hardly changed, resulting in more clicks emitted per metre swum.
Ametabolic embryos of Artemia franciscana accumulate DNA damage during prolonged anoxia
Authors: McLennan Alexander G. 
Published: February 2009

SUMMARY
Encysted embryos of the brine shrimp Artemia franciscana are able to survive prolonged periods of anoxia even when fully hydrated. During this time there is no metabolism, raising the question of how embryos tolerate spontaneous, hydrolytic DNA damage such as depurination. When incubated at 28°C and 40°C for several weeks, hydrated anoxic embryos were found to accumulate abasic sites in their DNA with k=5.8×10–11s–1 and 2.8×10–10s–1, respectively. In both cases this is about 3-fold slower than expected from published observations on purified DNA. However, purified calf thymus DNA incubated under similar anoxic conditions at pH 6.3, the intracellular pH of anoxic cysts, also depurinated more slowly than predicted(about 1.7-fold), suggesting that cysts may in fact accumulate abasic sites only slightly more slowly than purified DNA. Upon reoxygenation of cysts stored under N2 for 30 weeks at 28°C, the number of abasic sites per 104 bp DNA fell from 21.1±4.0 to 9.8±2.0 by 12 h and to 6.2±2.1 by 24 h. Larvae hatched after 48 h and 72 h had only 0.59±0.17 and 0.48±0.07 abasic sites per 104 bp,respectively, suggesting that repair of these lesions had largely taken place before hatching commenced. Thus, unlike bacterial spores, Artemiacysts appear to have no specific protective mechanism beyond what might be afforded by chromatin structure to limit spontaneous depurination, and rely on the repair of accumulated lesions during the period between reoxygenation and hatching.
Costs and benefits of increased weapon size differ between sexes of the slender crayfish,Cherax dispar
Authors: Wilson Robbie S. , James Rob S. , Bywater Candice , Seebacher Frank 
Published: February 2009

SUMMARYUnreliable signals of weapon strength are considered to be problematic for signalling theory and reliable signals are predicted to be the dominant form of signalling among conspecifics in nature. Previous studies have shown that males of the Australian freshwater crayfish (Cherax dispar) routinely use unreliable signals of strength whereas females use reliable signals of weapon strength. In this study, we examined the performance benefits of increased weapon (chela) size for both males and females of C. dispar. In addition, we investigated the possibility of functional trade-offs in weapon size by assessing the relationship between chela size and maximum escape swimming performance. We found males possessed larger and stronger chelae than females and the variance in chela force was greater for males than females. By contrast, females possessed greater absolute and body length-specific escape swimming speeds than males. Swimming speed was also negatively correlated with chela size for males but not females, suggesting that a functional trade-off exists for males only. Decreases in swimming speed with increases in weapon size suggest there could be important fitness costs associated with larger chelae. Larger weaponry of males may then act as a handicap ensuring large chelae are reliable signals of quality.
Seawater Ca2+ concentration influences solar orientation inTalitrus saltator(Crustacea, Amphipoda)
Authors: Ugolini Alberto , Ungherese Giuseppe , Mercatelli Luca , Saer Doumett , Lepri Luciano 
Published: February 2009

SUMMARYThe role of salinity in the ecophysiology of many intertidal invertebrates has been extensively investigated. Calcium (Ca2+), magnesium(Mg2+), potassium (K+) and sodium (Na+) are the major constituents of seawater and it has been demonstrated that sandhoppers tested under the sun in diluted seawater (3.5‰) head seaward, instead of going landward as expected. Therefore, the variation in seawater salinity (from 35‰ to 3.5‰) influences their directional choice. This paper investigates the contribution of different cations to the sea–land directional choice of Talitrus saltator(Crustacea, Amphipoda) by the sun compass orientation mechanism. Results of releases carried out in basic seawater selectively deprived of Ca2+, Mg2+ or K+ and containing the same concentration of Na+ indicate that only the reduction in Ca2+ concentration affects the capacity of solar orientation. The pH does not influence the directional choice of sandhoppers and nor do small variations in salinity in the range 32–39‰. Moreover, the clear photopositive tendency registered in experiments of phototaxis in Ca2+-deprived seawater indicates that the absence of Ca2+ does not affect the normal functioning of the visual cells. Therefore, our results show that Ca2+ seawater concentration is important for the correct functioning of one of the principal mechanisms of orientation in supralittoral amphipods and it could affect their survival in the field.
Phenotypic flexibility of traits related to energy acquisition in mice divergently selected for basal metabolic rate (BMR)
Authors: Książek Aneta , Czerniecki Jan , Konarzewski Marek 
Published: February 2009

SUMMARYTheoretical considerations suggest that one of the main factors determining phenotypic flexibility of the digestive system is the size (mass) of internal organs. To test this, we used mice from two lines selected for high and low levels of basal metabolic rate (BMR). Mice with higher BMRs also have larger internal organs and higher daily food consumption (C) under non-stressful conditions. We exposed animals from both lines to a sudden cold exposure by transferring them (without prior acclimation) from an ambient temperature of 23°C to 5°C. Cold exposure elicited a twofold increase in C and a 25%reduction of apparent digestive efficiency. For the same body mass-corrected C, small intestine, kidneys, heart and liver of cold-exposed low-BMR mice were smaller than those of the high-BMR line. Therefore, the internal organs of low-BMR animals were burdened with substantially higher metabolic loads(defined as C or digestible food intake per total mass of a particular organ). The mass-specific activity of citrate synthase (CS) in the liver and kidneys(but not heart) was also lower in the low-BMR mice. The magnitude of phenotypic flexibility of internal organ size and CS activity was strictly proportional to the organ mass (in the case of kidneys and liver, also mass-specific CS activity) prior to an increased energy demand. Thus,phenotypic flexibility had additive rather than multiplicative dynamics. Our results also suggest that variation in BMR positively correlates with the magnitude of an immediate spare capacity that fuels the initial response of internal organs to a sudden metabolic stress.