bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Toxocara seropositivity in Sri Lankan children with asthma
Authors: Fernando Deepika , Wickramasinghe Pujitha , Kapilananda Gamini , Dewasurendra Rajika L. , Amarasooriya Melanie , Dayaratne Asangi 
Published: September 2008

AbstractBackground:  Toxocariasis occurs in humans due to infection with Toxocara canis or T. cati, the nematode parasites of dogs and cats, respectively. The relationship between toxocariasis and asthma is complex, with some studies demonstrating that children with asthma were more likely to be Toxocara seropositive as compared to non‐asthmatic children, and other studies indicating no such significant relationship. The aim of the present study was to investigate Toxocara seropositivity and its association with asthma in a selected group of Sri Lankan children.Methods:  Two groups of children were studied: group 1 included 100 children with confirmed bronchial asthma who were on regular inhaler steroid treatment for asthma; group 2 included 96 children who did not have physician‐diagnosed asthma or upper respiratory tract infections, attending the same hospital. Diagnosis of Toxocara seropositivity was based on IgG Toxocara Microwell Serum Elisa Kits. Enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay was regarded as positive for a reading of 0.3 optical density units. Stool samples were examined for helminth ova.Results:  Toxocara seropositivity in children with asthma was 29% and this was significantly more than Toxocara seropositivity among non‐asthmatic children (P < 0.001). Toxocara seropositivity was identified as a significant risk factor of asthma in a univariate model. Eosinophilia was seen in a significantly higher proportion of non‐asthmatic and asthmatic children who were Toxocara seropositive. Toxocara seropositivity, however, was not identified as a significant risk factor in a multivariate model.Conclusions:  The analysis confirmed previously identified risk factors for asthma but there was no association between the helminth parasitic infection, toxocariasis and bronchial asthma in children.
Dorsal onlay lingual mucosal graft urethroplasty: Comparison of two techniques
Authors: Singh Pratap B , Das Suren K , Kumar Abhay , Sharma Girish K , Pandey Ashwani K , Swain Samir , Bansal Harbans , Trivedi Sameer , Dwivedi Udai S 
Published: September 2008

Objectives:  To compare the results of two different techniques of dorsal onlay lingual mucosal graft (LMG) urethroplasty for anterior urethral strictures.Methods:  Thirty patients underwent dorsal onlay LMG urethroplasty by Barbagli's technique (group I) and 25 through a ventral sagittal urethrotomy approach (group II). All of the patients were followed up with a pericatheter urethrography at 3 weeks, retrograde urethrography with micturating cystourethrography and uroflowmetry at 3, 6 and 12 months.Results:  Mean follow up was 22 months and 13 months in group I and II, respectively. The mean peak flow rate increased from 4.2 mL/s preoperatively to 35.5, 25.06 and 25 mL/s at 3, 6, and 12 months, respectively, in group I and from 7.8 mL/s to 34.2, 28.4 and 26.2 mL/s at 3, 6 and 12 months, respectively, in group II. Five patients in group I and two patients in group II had an anastomotic stricture at 12 months. Meatal narrowing was seen in five patients in group I and three patients in group II. The overall success rate was 83.4% and 76.6% in group I and 90% and 80% in group II at 6 and 12 months, respectively. One patient had chordee in group I and no patient had chordee in group II. There was a shorter operative time and less blood loss in group II.Conclusions:  Dorsal onlay LMG urethroplasty through a ventral sagittal approach is better than the Barbagli's technique in terms of results and complications.
Does a nerve‐sparing technique or potency affect continence after open radical retropubic prostatectomy?
Authors: Marien Tracy P. , Lepor Herbert 
Published: September 2008

OBJECTIVETo characterize the effect of preserving the neurovascular bundle (NVB) and of potency on urinary continence after open radical retropubic prostatectomy (ORRP).PATIENTS AND METHODSBetween October 2000 to September 2005, 1110 consecutive continent men had ORRP by one surgeon. The University of California Los Angeles Prostate Cancer Index was self‐administered at baseline and 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after ORRP. Men were considered continent if they responded that they had total urinary control or had occasional urinary leakage. Men were considered potent if they engaged in sexual intercourse with or without the use of phosphodiesterase inhibitors at least once in the month before or after ORRP. Of the 1110 men, 728 (66%) were potent and continent at baseline. Men undergoing adjuvant hormonal therapy, radiation therapy or chemotherapy were excluded. The potency status was evaluated in 610 men at 24 months after ORRP, and the number of NVBs preserved was recorded at the time of ORRP.RESULTSOf men who were potent at baseline and had bilateral vs unilateral nerve sparing, 96% and 99% were continent at 24 months, respectively (P = 0.50). Of the men who were potent and impotent at 24 months, 98% and 96% were continent at 24 months, respectively (P = 0.25). Continence did not depend on whether men regained potency or whether they had a bilateral or a unilateral nerve‐sparing procedure.CONCLUSIONOur observation that only 60% of men undergoing bilateral nerve‐sparing ORRP regain potency suggests that the NVBs are often inadvertently injured, despite efforts to preserve them. We feel that potency status is the best indicator of the true extent of NVB preservation. That men undergoing bilateral vs unilateral nerve‐sparing procedures, and that potent vs impotent men at 24 months have similar continence rates, provides compelling evidence that nerve‐sparing is not associated with better continence. Based on these findings, NVBs should not be preserved in men with baseline erectile dysfunction, with the expectation of improving continence.
Neural mechanisms underlying the processing of Chinese and English words in a word generation task: An event‐related potential study
Authors: Qiu Jiang , Li Hong , Wei Yonggang , Liu Qiang , Zhang Ye , Zhang Qinglin 
Published: September 2008

AbstractEvent‐related brain potentials (ERPs) were used to examine the spatiotemporal cortical activation patterns underlying Chinese and English word generation (forming a new word by adding a stroke or a letter to an old Chinese or English word) for low‐ and high‐proficiency Chinese–English bilinguals. The results revealed that early visual perceptual processing and word identification were similar between the two languages for the N120 and P220 waveforms. However, a greater negative potential (N250–350) was associated with Chinese words than with English words between 250 and 350 ms. Subsequently, for fluent Chinese bilinguals, Chinese words elicited a more positive ERP deflection (LPC) than did English words between 350 and 800 ms. The differences in ERP components between Chinese and English words indicates that there might be a real difference in the processing demands between these languages, and that the processing of English might be affected by the proficiency of the second language.
COMT Val158Met moderation of cannabis‐induced psychosis: a momentary assessment study of ‘switching on’ hallucinations in the flow of daily life
Authors: Henquet C. , Rosa A. , Delespaul P. , Papiol S. , Faňanás L. , Van Os J. , Myin‐Germeys I. 
Published: September 2008

Objective:  A functional polymorphism in the catechol‐o‐methyltransferase gene (COMT Val158Met) may moderate the psychosis‐inducing effects of cannabis. In order to extend this finding to dynamic effects in the flow of daily life, a momentary assessment study of psychotic symptoms in response to cannabis use was conducted.Method:  The experience sampling technique was used to collect data on cannabis use and occurrence of symptoms in daily life in patients with a psychotic disorder (n = 31) and healthy controls (n = 25).Results:  Carriers of the COMT Val158Met Val allele, but not subjects with the Met/Met genotype, showed an increase in hallucinations after cannabis exposure, conditional on prior evidence of psychometric psychosis liability.Conclusion:  The findings confirm that in people with psychometric evidence of psychosis liability, COMT Val158Met genotype moderates the association between cannabis and psychotic phenomena in the flow of daily life.
Adjunctive lithium treatment in the prevention of suicidal behaviour in depressive disorders: a randomised, placebo‐controlled, 1‐year trial
Authors: Lauterbach E. , Felber W. , Müller‐Oerlinghausen B. , Ahrens B. , Bronisch T. , Meyer T. , Kilb B. , Lewitzka U. , Hawellek B. , Quante A. , Richter K. , Broocks A. , Hohagen F. 
Published: September 2008

Objective:  Evidence based on controlled studies is still limited for treatment strategies that prevent recurrence of suicide attempts. Findings from observational as well as meta‐analytic studies strongly suggest that lithium may have suicide‐protective properties.Method:  Patients with a recent suicide attempt in the context of an affective spectrum disorder (n = 167) were treated with either lithium or placebo during a 12‐month period.Results:  Survival analysis showed no significant difference of suicidal acts between lithium and placebo‐treated individuals (adjusted hazard ratio 0.517; 95% CI 0.18–1.43). However, post hoc analysis revealed that all completed suicides had occurred in the placebo group accounting for a significant difference in incidence rates (P = 0.049).Conclusion:  Results indicate that lithium treatment might be effective in reducing the risk of completed suicide in adult patients with affective disorders. Our findings contribute to the growing body of evidence suggesting a specific antisuicidal effect of lithium.
Ludwig II, King of Bavaria: a royal medical history
Authors: Förstl H. , Immler G. , Seitz M. , Hacker R. 
Published: September 2008

Objective:  The case of Ludwig II, King of Bavaria, had soon become synonymous with paranoia, after he had drowned at the age of 40 together with the neuropsychiatrist Gudden.Method:  We were granted access to the Secret Archive of the House of Wittelsbach to study documents on Ludwig’s medical history.Results:  The documents underlying Gudden’s expert opinion which led to Ludwig being deposed would be insufficient for a diagnosis of schizophrenia according to contemporary standards. The autopsy revealed prominent prefrontal brain atrophy.Conclusion:  The evidence is compatible with a diagnosis of schizotypal personality and suspected frontotemporal degeneration.
Insulin sensitivity, VO2max and body composition in severely obese Swedish children and adolescents
Authors: Morinder Gunilla , Larsson Ulla Evers , Norgren Svante , Marcus Claude 
Published: September 2008

AbstractAim: The aim of this study was to identify relationships between insulin sensitivity (SI), cardiorespiratory fitness and body composition in severely obese Swedish children and adolescents.Methods: Two hundred and twenty‐eight obese children (119 girls, 8–16 years, body mass index (BMI) 23.2–57.0 kg/m2) performed a frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test (FSIVGTT), a submaximal bicycle ergometry test and a dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DEXA).Results: Mean SI (SD) was 0.38 (0.32) (×10−5/min/pM). SI correlated positively with relative body mass (BM) VO2max (r = 0.42) (p < 0.001), relative fat‐free mass (FFM) VO2max (r = 0.36) (p < 0.001) and negatively with body mass index standard deviation score (BMI SDS) (r =−0.22) (p = 0.001). SI did not correlate with percent body fat (r =−0.01) and absolute VO2max (r = 0.01). In multiple regression analyses with SI as dependent variable, VO2max and body composition, together with gender, age and Tanner stage, explained 20–26% of the variance.Conclusion: Relative (BM) VO2max and relative (FFM) VO2max were stronger predictors of SI than percent body fat in severely obese children and adolescents. The study confirms that cardiorespiratory fitness is of importance for the metabolic syndrome in the studied population. Efforts to improve SI should include physical activity targeting cardiorespiratory fitness also in severely obese children and adolescents.
Topical negative pressure wound therapy: a review of its role and guidelines for its use in the management of acute wounds
Authors: Bovill Estas , Banwell Paul E , Teot Luc , Eriksson Elof , Song Colin , Mahoney Jim , Gustafsson Ronny , Horch Raymund , Deva Anand , Whitworth Ian 
Published: September 2008

AbstractOver the past two decades, topical negative pressure (TNP) wound therapy has gained wide acceptance as a genuine strategy in the treatment algorithm for a wide variety of acute and chronic wounds. Although extensive experimental and clinical evidence exists to support its use and despite the recent emergence of randomised control trials, its role and indications have yet to be fully determined. This article provides a qualitative overview of the published literature appertaining to the use of TNP therapy in the management of acute wounds by an international panel of experts using standard methods of appraisal. Particular focus is applied to the use of TNP for the open abdomen, sternal wounds, lower limb trauma, burns and tissue coverage with grafts and dermal substitutes. We provide evidence‐based recommendations for indications and techniques in TNP wound therapy and, where studies are insufficient, consensus on best practice.
Late complication after tropic storm accident: subcutaneous and intracranial actinomycetoma
Authors: Verma Shyam B , Nayak Suresh , Pasale Ravindra K , Kittner Thomas , Wollina Uwe 
Published: September 2008

AbstractWe report a 53‐year‐old farmer who developed subcutaneous and cerebral masses 24 years after penetrating trauma during a tropic storm. Computed tomography scans, magnetic resonance imaging and histopathology disclosed actinomycetoma, a disease that rarely develops after trauma and is only occasionally seen with intracranial manifestation. Clinically, the cutaneous manifestation resembled acne keloidalis nuchae or dissecting folliculitis of the scalp. He was treated by neurosurgery and antibiosis.
Phenological growth stages of roses (Rosa sp.): codification and description according to the BBCH scale
Authors: Meier U. , Bleiholder H. , Brumme H. , Bruns E. , Mehring B. , Proll T. , Wiegand J. 
Published: September 2008

AbstractThe phenological development stages of plants and their BBCH (Biologische Bundesanstalt, Bundessortenamt, CHemische Industrie)‐coding system are used in agricultural and horticultural science and practice, botanical sciences, meteorology and climatic science as well as agricultural insurance, each with their own varying individual objectives. A proposal for a code for the phenological development of roses in general on the basis of the BBCH extended scale is presented. Ten principal growth stages have been defined from germination/sprouting, through leaf and shoot production to bud, flower and fruit production and to senescence and dormancy. Every principal growth stage has been subdivided into secondary growth stages. Under special conditions, it is helpful to use mesostages with three‐digit codes. The mesostages are particularly relevant to roses, as many rose plants have more than one flower per plant. Descriptive keys with illustration aids for the use of the system are included.
The type IIb SN 2008ax: the nature of the progenitor
Authors: Crockett R. M. , Eldridge J. J. , Smartt S. J. , Pastorello A. , Gal-Yam A. , Fox D. B. , Leonard D. C. , Kasliwal M. M. , Mattila S. , Maund J. R. , Stephens A. W. , Danziger I. J. 
Published: September 2008

Abstract
A source coincident with the position of the type IIb supernova (SN) 2008ax is identified in pre-explosion Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 observations in three optical filters. We identify and constrain two possible progenitor systems: (i) a single massive star that lost most of its hydrogen envelope through radiatively driven mass-loss processes, prior to exploding as a helium-rich Wolf–Rayet star with a residual hydrogen envelope, and (ii) an interacting binary in a low-mass cluster producing a stripped progenitor. Late time, high-esolution observations along with detailed modelling of the SN will be required to reveal the true nature of this progenitor star.
Polymorphic microsatellite markers isolated from the neptune whelk Neptunea arthritica
Authors: AZUMA N. , MIRANDA R. M. , GOSHIMA S. , ABE S. 
Published: September 2008

AbstractEight polymorphic microsatellite DNA loci were isolated from the neptune whelk Neptunea arthritica, which is an important fishery resource in northern Japan. The number of alleles at the loci ranged from two to six, with observed and expected heterozygosities of 0.192–0.807 and 0.233–0.738, respectively. The observed variations suggest that these loci can be used as markers for population and kinship analyses in this species.
Modeling of Saccular Aneurysm Growth in a Human Middle Cerebral Artery
Authors: Kroon Martin , Holzapfel Gerhard A. 
Published: September 2008

AbstractSaccular aneurysm growth in a human middle cerebral artery is modeled. The aneurysm growth model was presented in a companion paper by Kroon and Holzapfel (“A Model for Saccular Cerebral Aneurysm Growth by Collagen Fibre Remodelling,” J. Theor. Biol., in press) and was assessed there for axisymmetric growth. The aneurysm growth model is now evaluated for a more realistic setting. The middle cerebral artery is modeled as a two-layered cylinder, where the layers correspond to the media and the adventitia. An instant loss of the media in a region of the artery wall initiates the growth of the saccular aneurysm. The aneurysm wall is assumed to be a development of the adventitia of the original healthy artery, and collagen is assumed to be the only load-bearing constituent in the adventitia and in the aneurysm wall. The collagen is organized in a number of distinct layers where fibers in a specific layer are perfectly aligned in a certain fiber direction. The production of new collagen is taken to depend on the stretching of the aneurysm wall, and the continuous remodeling of the collagen fibers is responsible for the aneurysm growth. The general behavior of the growth model is investigated and also the influence of the structural organization of the collagen fabric. The analysis underlines the fact that the material behavior of aneurysmal tissue cannot be expected to be isotropic. The model predictions agree well with clinical and experimental results, for example, in terms of aneurysm size and shape, wall stress levels, and wall thickness.
Multiscale Thermodynamic Basis of Plastic Potential
Theory
Authors: Yang Q. , Xue L. J. , Liu Y. R. 
Published: September 2008

Abstract
In this paper, the multiscale thermodynamic basis of the plastic potential theory is addressed within the irreversible thermodynamic framework with internal variables by Rice (1971, “Inelastic Constitutive Relations for Solids: An Internal Variable Theory and Its Application to Metal Plasticity,” J. Mech. Phys. Solids, 19, pp. 433–455). It is shown that the condition of free or complementary energy equivalence leads to the full equivalence of the microscale and macroscale thermodynamic formulations as soon as the multiscale kinematic relation is prescribed. The condition of dissipation equivalence by Rice is not an independent condition. The thermodynamic significance and counterparts of plastic potentials and multipliers, Koiter’s and Mises’ flow rules, the intrinsic time in the work of Valanis (1975, “On the Foundations of the Endochronic Theory of Viscoplasticity,” Arch. Mech., 27, pp. 857–868), the viscoplasticity, and the J2 plasticity can all be revealed and recovered within the multiscale thermodynamic framework.
Changes in mechanical loading lead to tendonspecific alterations in MMP and TIMP expression: influence of stress deprivation and intermittent cyclic hydrostatic compression on rat supraspinatus and Achilles tendons
Authors: Thornton G M , Shao X , Chung M , Sciore P , Boorman R S , Hart D A , Lo I K Y 
Published: September 2008

BackgroundTendinopathy commonly occurs in tendons with large in vivo loading demands like the Achilles tendon (AT) and supraspinatus tendon (SST). In addition to differences in their local anatomic environment, these tendons are designed for different loading requirements because of the muscles to which they attach, with the AT experiencing higher loads than the SST. One possible factor in the progression of tendinopathy is the interplay between mechanical loading and the regulation of enzymes that degrade the extracellular matrix (matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs)) and their inhibitors (tissue inhibitor of metalloprotienases (TIMPs)). Thus, overuse injuries may have different biological consequences in tendons designed for different in vivo loading demands.AimIn this study, the tendon-specific regulation of MMP-13, MMP-3 and TIMP-2 expression in rat AT and SST exposed to two different mechanical environments was investigated.MethodsRat AT and SST were exposed to stress deprivation (ie, detached from attachments) and intermittent cyclic hydrostatic compression (with attachments intact). Levels of MMP-13, MMP-3 and TIMP-2 mRNA were evaluated in time-zero control, attached, stressdeprived and “compressed” tendons.ResultsStress deprivation led to elevated expression of MMP-13, MMP-3 and TIMP-2 in both tendons, although the magnitude of the increase was greater for the SST than the AT. Intermittent cyclic hydrostatic compression of attached tendons increased expression of MMP-13 in the SST, but not the AT.ConclusionsThe results of this study suggest that stress deprivation may be one contributor to the progression of tendinopathy in AT and SST, where the tendon designed for the lower in vivo loading demand (SST) was the most affected by a change in mechanical loading. The unique upregulation of MMP-13 with hydrostatic compression supports the impingement injury theory for rotator cuff tears.
Rotator cuff tendinopathy
Authors: Lewis J S 
Published: September 2008

Purpose:A review was conducted to synthesise the available research literature on the pathogenesis of rotator cuff tendinopathy.Relevance:Musculoskeletal disorders of the shoulder are extremely common, with reports of prevalence ranging from one in three people experiencing shoulder pain at some stage of their lives to approximately half the population experiencing at least one episode of shoulder pain annually. Pathology of the soft tissues of the shoulder, including the musculotendinous rotator cuff and subacromial bursa, is a principal cause of pain and suffering.Conclusions:The pathoaetiology of rotator cuff failure is multifactorial and results from a combination of intrinsic, extrinsic and environmental factors. The specialised morphology of the rotator cuff, together with the effects of stress shielding, may contribute to the development of rotator cuff tendinopathy. Profound changes within the subacromial bursa are strongly related to the pathology and resulting symptoms. A considerable body of research is necessary to more fully understand the aetiology and pathohistology of rotator cuff tendinopathy and its relationship with bursal pathology. Once this knowledge exists more effective management will become available.