bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Weekday distribution of alcohol consumption in Norway: influence on the occurrence of epileptic seizures and stroke?
Authors: Bråthen G. , Brodtkorb E. , Sand T. , Helde G. , Bovim G. 
Published: March 2003

Binge drinking at weekends is considered to be a predominant feature of alcohol consumption in the Nordic countries. Neurological diseases, such as seizures and stroke, have been reported to occur in temporal relation to alcohol intoxication and withdrawal. We wanted to investigate weekday variances in alcohol consumption in relation to the onset of neurological symptoms in these disorders.Consecutive patients admitted for epileptic seizures (n = 142) and ischemic strokes (n = 91) were included in the study. Control groups were consecutively hospitalized sciatica patients (n = 181), outpatients with epilepsy (n = 91), and healthy subjects (n = 254). The day‐by‐day alcohol intake during the 8 days prior to hospital admission was recorded. Seizures occurring in subjects with hazardous alcohol consumption, operationally defined by a score ≥8 in the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT‐positive) were considered to be related to alcohol use. Binge drinkers were identified by an alcohol intake, on at least 1 of the last 3 days, of ≥6 standard units in men, or ≥4 standard units in women.Thirty‐five percent of seizure patients were AUDIT‐positive, in contrast to 18% and 16% of stroke and sciatica patients, and 12% and 13% of epilepsy outpatients and healthy controls. Twenty‐three percent of seizure patients were binge drinkers whereas in the other groups, this proportion did not exceed 10%. In all groups, alcohol consumption peaked on Saturdays. More seizures occurred on Mondays compared to Saturdays, with a diminishing trend through the week. However, AUDIT‐negative seizure patients, of which binge drinking occurred in only 5%, caused this difference. AUDIT‐positive seizure patients had a higher and more evenly distributed alcohol intake through the week, and the occurrence of seizures in this group did not differ significantly between days of the week. Alcohol consumption peaked 2 days prior to the onset of withdrawal seizures.The weekend drinking pattern was confirmed for all the study groups. Hazardous alcohol consumption preceded every third acute seizure, but was found in only one of eight outpatients with epilepsy. AUDIT‐negative patients caused a peak of seizure admissions on Mondays, compared to Saturdays, with a diminishing trend through the week.
EFNS Task Force on Teaching of Neuroimaging in Neurology Curricula in Europe: present status and recommendations for the future
Authors: Pantano P. , Chollet F. , Paulson O. , Von Kummer R. , Laihinen A. , Leenders K. , Yancheva S. 
Published: March 2003

A Task Force on ‘Teaching of Neuroimaging in Neurology Curricula in Europe’ was appointed in September 1998 by the education committee of the European Federation of Neurological Societies (EFNS) in order to: (1) examine the present status of teaching of neuroimaging in the training of neurology in European countries, and, in particular, to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the various countries; (2) give recommendations for global improvement and harmonization of such training.A questionnaire was completed in February 1999 and sent to 35 delegates of national neurological societies. Completed questionnaires were received from 21 countries: Albania, Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey and UK.The questionnaire revealed that the situation in Europe is highly heterogeneous, both as regards the training in neurology in general and, more specifically, the teaching of neuroimaging during the training.Some recommendations to make the teaching of neuroimaging more homogeneous across European countries and to improve it are provided.
Cerebral vasculitis and ischaemic stroke in Behçet’s disease: report of one case and review of the literature
Authors: Krespi Y. , Akman‐Demir G. , Poyraz M. , Tugcu B. , Coban O. , Tuncay R. , Serdaroglu P. , Bahar S. 
Published: March 2003

Introduction. Behçet’s disease (BD) is a multisystemic, recurrent, inflammatory disorder. Neurological involvement is well‐known but cerebral vasculitis and ischaemic stroke are unusual. Case description. A 43‐year‐old male patient presented with acute left hemiparesis, he had recurrent oral aphthae and scrotal ulcerations. Two episodes of transient brainstem ischaemia and an episode of right hemiparesis were reported in the past 2 years. Cranial magnetic resonance (MR) imaging showed a right striatocapsular infarction and multiple segmental stenosis, fusiform enlargement and beading of the arteries of the polygone of Willis were seen on angiography. Cerebro‐spinal fluid (CSF) examination disclosed lymphocytic pleocytosis. Skin pathergy test was positive. A diagnosis of BD with cerebral vasculitis was made and immunosuppressive therapy was started. Some improvement of the arterial lesions on MR angiography and normalization of CSF were observed after 1 year of treatment. Discussion. Low grade chronic meningo‐encephalitis is the core neuropathological process in neuro‐Behçet’s disease. Nevertheless BD is a systemic disease known to cause vasculitis and can exceptionally lead to cerebral vasculitis and brain infarction. While BD is usually not part of the differential diagnosis of cerebral vasculitis, it should be borne in mind especially in endemic areas of the disease and in patients from these areas.
Lower limb nerve impairment in diabetic patients: multiperspective assessment
Authors: Padua L. , Saponara C. , Ghirlanda G. , Padua R. , Aprile I. , Caliandro P. , Tonali P. 
Published: March 2003

To assess the relationship between patient’s perception of his own inferior limbs symptom and function and the clinical‐neurophysiological assessment in patients affected by insulin‐dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM).We studied 50 consecutive outpatients affected by IDDM (23 men, 27 women). We used validated measurements clinical [Semmes–Weinstein (SW), vibration perception threshold (VPT), muscle strength, osteotendineous reflexes, etc.], neurophysiological (sural, peroneal nerves), metabolic and patient‐oriented [North American Spine Society (NASS) questionnaire].Patient‐oriented scores were significantly related with neurophysiological findings of the inferior limbs.Our data suggest that electrodiagnostic tests are useful to assess the severity of the diabetic polyneuropathy not only because they provide a biological measurement of the nerve function but also because they appeared related to the patient’s quality of life related to the peripheral nerve involvement.
Towards the creative management of risk: perceptions, practices and policies
Authors: Alaszewski Andy , Alaszewski Helen 
Published: March 2003

SummaryThe present paper examines the importance of risk when supporting individuals with learning disabilities. It uses data from a small research project designed to examine the perceptions of risk held by users, carers and professionals, as well as the risk policies of agencies. Risk is an important issue in the provision of support. The service users in the present study saw risk primarily in terms of hazards. The carers were concerned about hazards and harm, but recognized the need for risk‐taking. The professionals emphasized the importance of reasonable risk‐taking. Agencies also recognized the importance of risk management, and most had or were developing risk policies. However, most of these policies are based on a restricted approach to risk which emphasizes hazard assessment, and health and safety issues. There was limited evidence of broader integrated approaches to risk management which had the capacity to link and balance safety and empowerment.
Fluid trapping at the brittle–ductile transition re‐examined
Authors: Simpson F. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractThe brittle–ductile transition has been suggested to provide a mechanical trap to deep crustal fluids. The mechanism was advanced as a way of reconciling the geophysical case for a wet lower crust, founded on the revelation of deep crustal electrical conductors and seismic reflectors, with the problem of maintaining interconnected, low‐density fluids in stable crust for geologically significant timescales. Although some deep crustal conductors are now attributed to graphite, the hypothesis of fluid trapping at the brittle–ductile transition has been widely adopted in electromagnetic literature, with no regard to tectonic regime, and in association with standardized temperatures of 300–450°C. Meanwhile, petrologists continue to argue that the lower crust is dry.This paper re‐examines the arguments on which the hypothesis of fluid trapping at the brittle–ductile transition has been founded, and concludes that there is a geophysical case for a dry lower crust based on electromagnetic studies. The magnetotelluric (MT) technique yields electrical conductances (conductivity–thickness products) that are direction dependent (or anisotropic). The necessity of considering direction‐dependent conductances, rather than a bulk conductance, is demonstrated using data from Saxothuringia, Germany. A quantitative model is developed to facilitate joint interpretation of the maximum conductance and the anisotropy of conductance (ratio of maximum to minimum conductance). The model yields quantitative arguments against fluids being the principal cause of deep crustal electrical conductivity, because unreasonably thick layers and unreasonably high porosities are required.
Cookbooks as a social and historical document. A Scottish case study
Authors: Mitchell Janet 
Published: March 2003

AbstractCookbooks are not only instructional manuals for the culinary arts and repositories for traditional dishes, they also reflect food habits of a population, act as historical markers of major events, and record technological advances in a society. Evidence of this was gathered from Scottish cookbooks, published between 1890 and 1990, listed in the catalogue of printed books in the National Library of Scotland. Textual analysis of the cookbooks included an examination of their authors, audience, and contents. The results validated the claim that a cookbook can be regarded as a socio‐historic and cultural document.
Food services trends in New South Wales hospitals, 1993–2001
Authors: Mibey Redemptor , Williams Peter 
Published: March 2003

AbstractA survey of the food service departments in 93 hospitals throughout NSW Australia (covering 51% of hospital beds in the state) was conducted using a mailed questionnaire and the results compared with those from similar surveys conducted in 1986 and 1993. Over the past eight years there has been a significant increase in the proportion of hospitals using cook‐chill food service production systems, from 18% in 1993 to 42% in 2001 (P < 0.001). Hospitals with cook‐chill systems had better staff ratios than those with cook‐fresh systems (8.3 vs. 6.4 beds/full time equivalent staff; p < 0.05), but there was no significant difference in the ratio of meals served per FTE. There was no difference between public and private hospitals in terms of ratios of beds or meals to food service staff. Managers using cook‐chill systems reported significantly lower levels of satisfaction with the food service system compared to those using cook‐fresh. Two aspects of the services have not changed since the last survey: approximately a quarter of food service departments are still managed by staff without formal qualifications and meal times remain the same, with more than 90% of hospitals serving the evening meal before 5.30 p.m. and a median of 14.25 h gap between the evening meal and breakfast.
Distribution patterns of biodiversity and the design of a representative reserve network in Portugal
Authors: Araújo Miguel B. 
Published: March 2003

SummaryRepresentativeness is a desirable property of conservation networks. In this paper an attempt is made to assess the efficiency of current conservation networks in Portugal in representing vertebrates (reptiles and amphibians) and plants (gymnosperms, pteridophytes and bryophytes). It was found that whilst the protected areas do not sample all species in the database they provide a better result than choosing areas at random. For the goal of maximizing representation of taxa per unit area hotspots and complementarity performed better. A pattern of over‐representation of vertebrates in relation to lower plants was discovered among selected conservation areas in Portugal suggesting that charismatic organisms with large home ranges may not always be the most appropriate surrogates for biodiversity when representativeness is sought. When trying to fill the gaps in current protected areas with additional areas only complementarity performed better than choosing areas at random. Both rarity and richness hotspots gave worse results. Opportunistic administrative criteria such as supplementing the PAS with other conservation areas (CORINE Biotopes) without taking into account their contribution to a representation goal was nearly half as good as choosing areas at random. The results recall for the need of explicit goals and accountable methods in area selection for conservation and reinforce the role of complementarity for finding additional areas to protected areas when limited resources are available for ‘in situ’ conservation.
Monitoring temporal changes in the spatial patterns of a Mediterranean shrubland using Landsat™ images
Authors: Viedma O. , Meliá J. 
Published: March 2003

SummaryThe overall goal of this study is to understand the structure and function of a Mediterranean shrubland at landscape scale by means of satellite images and GIS. Specifically, to assess the sensitivity of several spatial statistics to characterise landscape pattern, measure fragmentation and quantify the change through time. We study the landscape structure of a Mediterranean shrubland located in the east part of Spain (Valencia) and the change in spatial patterns of different shrubs types from 1984 to 1994. To accomplish these objectives, we used 10 Landsat™ images from 1984 to 1994 (except 1988) to which a geometric correction and an atmospheric normalization was applied. In addition, a Digital Terrain Model (DTM) of 10×10 m resolution, which was resampled to 30×30 m to make possible the comparison with the satellite images, was used to extract the topographic information. Firstly, the landscape was divided into a set of units based on their different spatial patterns of shrub‐type distribution on topography. The elaboration of ‘landscape units’ involved a quantitative description of each topographic gradient derived from a D™ as a function of their vegetation composition. The results obtained differentiated clearly among areas showing different vegetation developments under diverse environmental conditions in which differences in solar radiation (aspect), availability of soil nutrients (slope) and humidity (elevation) were very important. These environmental constraints exert a strong and persistent effect on vegetation composition and strengthen the association between current vegetation and site variables. Finally, we analysed the multitemporal behaviour of those landscape units in which the species and communities were adapted to biotic and abiotic environmental changes (rainfalls and phenological dates).
Diazepam enhances etoposide‐induced cytotoxicity in U‐87 MG human glioma cell line
Authors: Lavička Juraj , Šarišský Marek , Miroššay Andrej , Šulla Igor , Mojziš Ján , Mirossay Ladislav 
Published: March 2003

Various approaches might be employed in an effort to increase efficacy of the chemotherapeutic treatment of cancer. Recently, various modulators of anticancer therapy effectiveness have been studied. Antiproliferative effects of peripheral benzodiazepine receptor (PBR) ligands might be exploited to enhance cytotoxic effect of a chemotherapeutic drug towards cancer cells.In this work, we sought to enhance cytotoxic effect of etoposide (VP‐16) by a PBR ligand, diazepam (DZ) in U‐87 MG human glioma cells. Cytotoxicity of VP‐16, DZ and their combinations was assessed by using the microculture MTT assay. Cell survival, effective concentrations (EC) and the onset of cytotoxic effect were determined.After 72 h of cultivation, survival of U‐87 MG cells was reduced to 57 ± 7% in the presence of VP‐16 at 12.5 μg/mL alone, whereas DZ at 10–4 mol/L alone caused 28 ± 6% reduction in cell survival. Coincubation of VP‐16 at 12.5 μg/mL with DZ at 10–4 mol/L led to a further decrease in cell survival to 45 ± 6%. Furthermore, DZ at 10–4 mol/L significantly decreased effective concentrations, EC10, EC30 and EC50, of VP‐16 and the dose–response curves were shifted to the left. Addition of DZ at 10–4 mol/L to VP‐16 also facilitated the onset of its cytotoxic effect. The same decrease in survival was thus achieved approximately 30 h earlier in comparison with VP‐16 alone. However, DZ at 10–9 mol/L failed both to exert any effect on glioma cells survival and enhance cytotoxic effect of VP‐16.DZ at 10–4 mol/L was capable of both reducing U‐87 MG glioma cells survival when applied alone and also enhancing the cytotoxic effect of VP‐16. No such observation was made for the lower concentrations of DZ. Potential implementation of diazepam in the antiglioma/anticancer armamentarium awaits further experimentation but phase I and phase II clinical trials could be suggested.
5‐fluorocytosine‐related bone‐marrow depression and conversion to fluorouracil: a pilot study
Authors: Vermes András , Guchelaar Henk‐Jan , Van Kuilenburg Andre B.P. , Dankert Jacob 
Published: March 2003

The aim of this study is to investigate whether fluorouracil (5‐FU) could be responsible for bone‐marrow depression occurring in fluorocytosine (5‐FC) treated patients. Six 5‐FC treated patients were included in this pilot study. Toxicity was monitored by means of thrombocyte and leucocyte counts. 5‐FC and 5‐FU serum levels were measured using a high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) assay that allows simultaneous determination of both compounds.The amounts of 5‐FU in the 34 available serum samples remained below the limit of quantitation (< 0.05 mg/L), whereas 5‐FC levels could be detected in all samples. Instead, low levels of the 5‐FU catabolite α‐fluoro‐β‐alanine (FBAL) were detected in several of the investigated serum samples. In case of three patients thrombocyte counts remained within the normal range during 5‐FC treatment, whereas one patient developed thrombocytopenia (50 × 109 thrombocytes/L) during therapy. Furthermore, one patient developed leucocytopenia (2.6 × 109 leucocytes/L) during 5‐FC therapy, whereas the remaining five patients were suffering from leucocytosis prior to 5‐FC therapy.In conclusion, we found nondetectable 5‐FU serum concentrations (< 0.05 mg/L) in ICU patients treated with intravenous 5‐FC, making it unlikely that 5‐FC‐associated toxicity results from 5‐FU exposure in patients receiving intravenous 5‐FC therapy. These findings may be explained by the fact that our patients received 5‐FC intravenously instead of orally, therefore not allowing active conversion of 5‐FC to 5‐FU by the human intestinal microflora.
Intracellular free calcium in the neutrophils of maintenance haemodialysis patients
Authors: Koorts A. M. , Kruger M. C. , Potgieter C. D. , Viljoen M. 
Published: March 2003

SummaryChronic renal failure has on occasion been referred to as a state of calcium toxicity. The aim of this study was to investigate the status of intracellular free Ca2+ in the neutrophils of chronic renal failure patients on maintenance haemodialysis treatment. Factors previously suggested to influence intracellular free Ca2+ were investigated including PTH levels, oxidative stress and recombinant human erythropoietin administration. The study involved 14 chronic renal failure patients on the haemodialysis programme of the Pretoria Academic hospital. Intracellular free Ca2+ and transmembrane Ca2+ fluxes were investigated by fluorescence spectrophotometry. Increases above control values were found in intracellular free Ca2+ (P‐value 0·0242) and in the transmembrane Ca2+ flux upon fMLP stimulation (P‐value 0·0002). The results showed significant differences in intracellular free Ca2+ between patients on rHuEPO and patients not on rHuEPO. The apparently rHuEPO‐induced increase in intracellular free Ca2+ persisted in the presence of calcium channel blockers. No overt indications of oxidative stress could be detected by the antioxidant vitamin levels. It is concluded that factors other than those associated with uraemia, such as rHuEPO administration, might contribute to the often reported increase in intracellular free Ca2+ in these patients. Further studies to investigate the relationship between intracellular free Ca2+, rHuEPO and calcium channel blockers are suggested.
Reproducibility of air plethysmography for the evaluation of arterial and venous function of the lower leg
Authors: Yang Danian , Sacco Paul 
Published: March 2003

SummaryThis study assessed the test–retest reliability of air plethysmographic parameters for the evaluation of arterial and venous function of the lower extremity in normal, healthy adults. Fourteen voluntary subjects underwent air plethysmographic tests on two occasions, 1–2 weeks apart, with three tests being performed at each visit. Test–retest reliability was assessed via correlation coefficients and the intraclass correlations. Differences in the parameters of arterial inflow (AI), venous volume (VV), venous refilling time (VFT), venous refilling index (VFI), ejection volume (EV) and residual fraction (EF) obtained on the two separate occasions were small (r = 0·81 ∼ 0·95; ICC = 0·94 ∼ 0·99), whereas differences in ejection fraction (EF), residual volume (RV) and venous outflow (OF) measurements were much larger (r = 0·50 ∼ 0·61; ICC = 0·58 ∼ 0·95). The findings demonstrate that evaluation of blood flow in the lower limbs of healthy individuals using air plethysmography is reliable in test–retest measures, suggesting that this technique represents a sensitive method for quantifying changes in parameters of arterial and venous functions of the lower extremity.
Analysis of endothelium‐dependent vasodilation by use of the radial artery pulse wave obtained by applanation tonometry
Authors: Lind Lars , Pettersson Knut , Johansson Kristina 
Published: March 2003

SummaryObjectives: To evaluate applanation tonometry as a method to obtain arterial pulse waves suitable for pulse wave analysis of the height of the diastolic inflection point (IP), and to use this technique to study endothelium‐mediated vasodilation by evaluation of the contribution of nitric oxide (NO) to the reduction in the height of the IP induced by β2‐adrenergic stimulation.Methods: The radial artery pulse waveform was recorded by applanation tonometry in young healthy subjects before and after interventions both locally in the forearm and systemically by different vasodilators and vasoconstrictors, and vasodilatation was analysed as a change in the height of the IP. The mechanism behind the reduction in the height of the IP induced by terbutaline was investigated by systemic interventions with both N(G)‐monomethyl‐l‐arginine (l‐NMMA) and noradrenaline (NA).Results: Applanation tonometry was a convenient method to obtain radial artery pulse waves of good quality. The reduction in IP was substantially more pronounced when vasodilators were given systemically than when given locally in the forearm, indicating that the effect was obtained through an effect on peripheral pulse wave reflection. Systemically given l‐NMMA, but not NA, increased the IP (P<0·05). Systemically given l‐NMMA also caused a more pronounced attenuation than NA of the reduction in IP following terbutaline injection (P<0·05).Conclusion: Changes in IP following β2‐adrenergic stimulation appears to be a measurement of pulse wave reflection mainly governed by NO. Applanation tonometry and pulse wave analysis is a minimally invasive method suitable to assess endothelium‐dependent vasodilation in large‐scale studies.