bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Chinese version of the Childbirth Self‐efficacy Inventory
Authors: Ip Wan‐Yim , Chan Dominic , Chien Wai‐Tong 
Published: August 2005

Aim. This paper reports a study to translate the Childbirth Self‐efficacy Inventory into Chinese and examine its reliability and validity among pregnant Chinese women in Hong Kong.Background. Self‐efficacy for childbirth has been emerged as an important psychological construct in childbearing care. A reliable and valid self‐efficacy measure for pregnant women is crucial to the understanding of their psychological preparation, as well as the development of an appropriate childbirth education programme.Methods. Two experienced midwives undertook translation of the Childbirth Self‐efficacy Inventory into Chinese, and another two experienced midwives independently conducted back translation. An expert panel of six healthcare professionals and 10 pregnant women examined the face and content validity of the translated instrument. A convenience sample of 148 pregnant Chinese women of not <36 weeks of gestation, and attending a regional teaching hospital in Hong Kong, were invited to complete the translated inventory and a demographic data sheet.Results. The Childbirth Self‐efficacy Inventory indicated high internal consistency. Principal components analysis supported the fact that each of the efficacy and outcome expectancy subscales is uni‐dimensional. Neither scores in the efficacy nor outcome expectancy subscales suggested any statistically significant relationships with parity, age, education and attendance at childbirth education classes. No statistically significant differences in efficacy and outcome expectancy scores were found between the active phase (when contractions are not more than 5 minutes apart) and second stage (when pushing out the baby) of labour.Conclusion. The study provides initial support for the reliability and validity of the Childbirth Self‐efficacyInventory. Although its sensitivity in differentiating between the two stages of labour was not evident, the distinguishing role of its expectancy subscales has been identified.
Weak relationships between suppression of melatonin and suppression of sleepiness/fatigue in response to light exposure
Authors: RÜGER MELANIE , GORDIJN MARIJKE C. M. , BEERSMA DOMIEN G. M. , DE VRIES BONNIE , DAAN SERGE 
Published: August 2005

SummaryIn this paper we examine the relationship between melatonin suppression and reduction of sleepiness through light by comparing three different data sets. In total 36 subjects participated in three studies and received 4 h of bright light either from midnight till 4:00 hours (experiments A and B) or from noon till 16:00 hours (experiment C). In experiment A (night‐time light, partial illumination of the retina, pupil dilated) subjects were exposed to either 100 lx of ocular light on the temporal, 100 lx on the nasal part of the retina, or <10 lx of dim light on the whole retina. In experiments B (night‐time light, whole retina, pupil not dilated) and C (daytime light, whole retina, pupil not dilated) subjects were exposed either to bright (5000 lx) or to dim light (<10 lx). Subjective sleepiness/fatigue and melatonin concentrations in saliva were assessed hourly in all three experiments. For experiment A, a significant suppression of melatonin due to nasal and temporal illumination of the retina was found, that was not accompanied by a detectable reduction of subjective sleepiness/fatigue. For experiment B we found a suppression of melatonin that was paralleled with a significant reduction in subjective sleepiness, but not in fatigue. During experiment C we found no melatonin suppression but a reduction of subjective sleepiness, but also no effect on fatigue. From these data we conclude that the effects of light on sleepiness/fatigue are not mediated by melatonin and that the influence of endogenous melatonin concentration on sleepiness/fatigue is restricted.
Subjective fatigue and subjective sleepiness: two independent consequences of sleep disorders?
Authors: HOSSAIN JAMIL L. , AHMAD PARVEZ , REINISH LAWRENCE W. , KAYUMOV LEONID , HOSSAIN NAHEED K. , SHAPIRO COLIN M. 
Published: August 2005

SummaryThe objective of this investigation was to evaluate subjective fatigue versus subjective sleepiness as independent consequences of sleep disorders. Furthermore, we tried to explore how these symptoms relate to alertness, depressive symptoms and illness intrusiveness. In a prospective observational study, 283 sleep‐disordered patients referred to a hospital‐based sleep laboratory for various indications over a 1‐year period were evaluated vis‐à‐vis fatigue and sleepiness. All patients completed five subjective questionnaires, underwent objective sleep recording and attended a clinical interview with a sleep specialist. The subjective questionnaires included the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, the Fatigue Severity Scale, the Toronto Hospital Alertness Test, the Illness Intrusiveness Rating Scale and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies‐Depression Scale. Only 4% of the total sample was referred to the sleep clinic due to a complaint of excessive fatigue compared with 17% for excessive daytime sleepiness. However, during the assessment, 64% of referred patients reported pathological fatigue without overlap of sleepiness and only 4% reported pathological sleepiness without overlap of fatigue. Pearson's correlation analysis indicated a weak association (r = 0.18) between subjective fatigue and sleepiness in the total sample. Analysis of variance testing showed strong association between those patients with prominent fatigue and depressive symptoms (P < 0.01) and illness intrusiveness (P < 0.001). The findings support the notion that subjective fatigue and sleepiness can be independent manifestations of sleep disorders. Furthermore, predominantly fatigued individuals with sleep disorders seem vulnerable to additional negative consequences due to possible interplay between amplified fatigue and psychological distress.
Improving access to early treatment of malaria: a trial with primary school teachers as care providers
Authors: Afenyadu G. Y. , Agyepong I. A. , Barnish G. , Adjei S. 
Published: August 2005

SummaryThe feasibility of improving access to early case detection and prompt and adequate management of acute episodes of malaria using school teachers was explored through an intervention trial in Ghana. Of all the ‘fevers’ diagnosed as presumptive malaria by the trained teachers, 93% met the case definition. However, a lower proportion (75%) of such correctly diagnosed cases were subsequently treated according to the treatment protocol provided. In a scaled up study, pre‐packaging of the antimalarial drug improved the rate of adequate treatment to 97% of cases correctly diagnosed as presumptive malaria. Pre‐packaging of chloroquine ensured a high level of user compliance (96.6%), even in the face of diminished supervision of the teachers. It is feasible for the health and education sectors to work in partnership to improve access to early case detection and adequate management of acute episodes of malaria.
AIDS‐related Kaposi's sarcoma: epidemiological, diagnostic, treatment and control aspects in sub‐Saharan Africa
Authors: Sissolak Gerhard , Mayaud Philippe 
Published: August 2005

SummaryUntil the 1980s, little attention had been accorded to endemic Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), a neoplasm noted in several parts of Southern Europe and the African continent but with relatively slow progression, except in children and young adults. Furthermore, therapeutic approaches based on surgery, radiation and topical treatment were of limited efficacy, mostly used to overcome the disabling and stigmatizing effects of the disease. With the emergence of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and the profound impact of KS on AIDS‐related mortality, the pathogenesis of KS has been better studied, and the realisation that a virus (KS‐associated Herpesvirus or Human Herpesvirus 8, or KSHV/HHV‐8), combined with immunosuppression and cytokine‐induced growth, was responsible for the development of this disease has led to novel therapeutic approaches. These are unfortunately still highly toxic, require careful monitoring, and are expensive, thus limiting their use in most parts of Africa. However, the use of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), which has led to a considerable decline in KS incidence in populations of industrialized countries, constitutes the best hope for the control of this stigmatizing and lethal disease in Africa. Trials comparing different regimens of antiretroviral drugs in combination with systemic chemotherapeutic agents are urgently needed.
Spatial autocorrelation of assemblages of benthic invertebrates and its relationship to environmental factors in two upland rivers in southeastern Australia
Authors: Lloyd Natalie J. , Mac Nally Ralph , Lake P. Sam 
Published: August 2005

ABSTRACTThe nature of spatial autocorrelation of biota may reveal much about underlying ecological and biological factors responsible for producing those patterns, especially dispersal processes (drift, adult flight, etc.). We report here on assemblage‐level autocorrelation in the benthic‐invertebrate assemblages (retained in sieves of 300 µm mesh) of riffles in two adjacent, relatively pristine rivers in southeastern Victoria, Australia (40‐km reaches of the Wellington and Wonnangatta Rivers). These are related to patterns of autocorrelation in physical and catchment conditions (‘environmental variables’) in the vicinity of the sampling points. Both the invertebrate assemblages and environmental variables were autocorrelated at small scales (= 8 km) in the Wellington River in one of the sampling years (1996). Dissimilarities of invertebrate assemblages were correlated with dissimilarities of environmental variables in both sampling years (1996 and 1997) in that river. Environmental variables were autocorrelated in the Wonnangatta River, but this was not expressed as autocorrelation in the assemblages of invertebrates, which were not autocorrelated at any scale studied. Individual environmental variables showed different spatial patterns between the two rivers. These results suggest that individual rivers have their own idiosyncratic patterns and one cannot assume that even similar, geographically adjacent rivers will have the same patterns, which is a difficulty for ecological assessment and restoration.
Muscle Cellularity at Cranial and Caudal Levels of the Trunk Musculature of Commercial Size Sea Bass,Dicentrarchus labrax(Linnaeus, 1758)
Authors: Abdel I. , López‐Albors O. , Ayala Ma. D. , García‐Alcazar A. , Abellán E. , Latorre R. , Gil F. 
Published: August 2005

SummaryIn eight specimens of Atlantic sea bass of commercial size (≅350 g) muscle cellularity was studied at two selected sampling levels of the trunk axial musculature: caudal (anal opening) and cranial (fourth radius of the dorsal fin). The following parameters were quantified at both sampling levels: white muscle cross‐sectional area, white muscle fibre diameter (900–1200 fibres), muscle fibre number and muscle fibre density. Results showed a higher total cross‐sectional area at cranial than at caudal level (P < 0.05), what is related with their different gross morphology. However, the white muscle fibre size distribution, as well as the muscle fibre number and density did not show significant differences between them. This study contributes to typify muscle fibre sampling in sea bass of commercial size what is of great interest for morphometric studies where white muscle cellularity is commonly correlated with textural or organoleptic parameters.
Schistosomus Reflexus Syndrome: A Heritable Defect in Ruminants
Authors: Laughton K. W. , Fisher K. R. S. , Halina Partlow W. G., G. D. 
Published: August 2005

SummarySchistosomus reflexus (SR) is a rare and fatal congenital disorder. Primarily observed in ruminants, its defining features include spinal inversion, exposure of the abdominal viscera because of a fissure of the ventral abdominal wall, limb ankylosis, positioning of the limbs adjacent to the skull and, lung and diaphragm hypoplasia. Variable components of SR include scoliosis, cleft sternum, exposure of thoracic viscera, and abnormalities of the digestive and urogenital systems. This report presents the findings from an anatomical analysis of a female Holstein SR calf with thoracoschisis, scoliosis and anomalies of the appendicular skeleton, cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive and urogenital systems. Many of these malformations have not been previously reported. The reproductive tract of this case is particularly unique, displaying Muellerian duct abnormalities. These abnormalities suggest SR occurs as early as the post‐gastrulation embryo and involves the intermediate mesoderm. Preliminary analysis of associated cases suggests that SR has a genetic aetiology.
A New Stem‐splitting Symptom in Safflower Caused by Macrophomina phaseolina
Authors: Govindappa M. , Lokesh S. , Ravishankar Rai V. 
Published: August 2005

AbstractSafflower is known to be attacked by several seed‐borne fungi, of which Macrophomina phaseolina is one of the most important pathogens causing serious yield losses. During routine experiments, a new stem‐split symptom was observed in M. phaseolina‐infected plants resulting in poor growth and reduced size of inflorescences. Stem‐split was observed in 30‐day‐old plants as minute cracks approximately 2–3 cm above the soil surface, which over time extended to both upward and downward directions, resulting in the formation of a wider split. The split portion was hollow and brown with a white to grey mycelial mat of the fungus on the inner surface. Such plants became lodged, ultimately resulting in poor seed yield compared with healthy plants. The stem‐split plants showed delayed flowering by 1 week over healthy plants. One of the three M. phaseolina isolates used for inoculation of seeds and plants was more aggressive but all isolates were able to reproduce the stem‐split symptoms found on naturally infected safflower plants in the field.
Influence of N‐fertilization and Fungicide Strategies on Fusarium Head Blight Severity and Mycotoxin Content in Winter Wheat
Authors: Heier T. , Jain S. K. , Kogel K.‐H. , Pons‐Kühnemann J. 
Published: August 2005

AbstractNitrogen (N) fertilization and fungicide applications are still subject to discussion concerning the influence on Fusarium head blight (FHB) and related mycotoxin accumulation. Field studies were made in 2000–2001 and 2001–2002 to investigate the effect of two N‐rates and 11 plant protection treatments on FHB severity and the content of FHB‐related mycotoxins, namely deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEA) under conditions of natural infection. The treatments applied can be summarized as (i) an integrated approach using a decision support system, (ii) the use of two plant strengtheners, Bion® (benzo [1,2,3]thiadiazole‐7‐carbothioic acid S‐methyl‐ester, BTH) and a compound based on the biomass of the cyanobacterium Spirulina platensis, (iii) the use of plant strengtheners in combination with a broad‐spectrum fungicide and (iv) common fungicide strategies against foliar diseases. Fusarium infections as well as the analysed mycotoxins were observed at low levels in both years. Disease severity was significantly increased by conventional N‐fertilization only in 2001. Neither FHB severity nor mycotoxin accumulation was significantly influenced by any of the treatments, although treatments without fungicides appeared to lead to lower disease severities. In 2002, there was a tendency towards higher disease severities when common fungicide strategies were applied. Mycotoxin contamination was found in grain samples from both years. In 2001 DON was mainly traceable, whereas in 2002 ZEA was also detected. Mycotoxin contamination was influenced by N‐fertilization rather than by the treatments. In 2001, the DON content was significantly increased due to the conventional N‐supply. Our results indicate that less intensive fungicide strategies, including plant strengtheners, are no worse than common fungicide strategies under conditions of low FHB severity and mycotoxin accumulation. Immoderate N‐fertilization however, can increase mycotoxin levels significantly even under conditions unfavourable for Fusarium spp.
A systematic review of telemedicine interventions to support blood glucose self‐monitoring in diabetes
Authors: Farmer A. , Gibson O. J. , Tarassenko L. , Neil A. 
Published: August 2005

AbstractAims To evaluate evidence for feasibility, acceptability and cost‐effectiveness of diabetes telemedicine applications.Methods medline,embase,psychinfo,cinahl, Cochrane, andinspecwere searched using the terms diabetes and telemedicine for clinical studies using electronic transfer of blood glucose results in people with diabetes. The technology used, trial design and clinical outcome measures used were extracted for trials and prospective cohort studies. Randomized controlled trials with HbA1cas an outcome were pooled using standard meta‐analytical methods.Results We identified 539 papers among which 32 papers described 10 prospective cohort studies, 12 parallel group randomized controlled trials (RCT), three crossover trials, and one non‐parallel group trial. Only two studies described full details of randomization, blinding of outcomes and dropouts and withdrawals. Electronic transfer of glucose results appears feasible in a clinical setting. Only two of the RCTs included more than 100 patients, and only three extended to 1 year. Only one study was designed to show that telemedicine interventions might replace clinic interventions without deterioration in HbA1c. Results pooled from the nine RCTs with reported data did not provide evidence that the interventions were effective in reducing HbA1c(−0.1%, 95% CI −0.4% to 0.04%).Conclusions Telemedicine solutions for diabetes care are feasible and acceptable, but evidence for their effectiveness in improving HbA1cor reducing costs while maintaining HbA1clevels, or improving other aspects of diabetes management is not strong. Further research should seek to understand how telemedicine might enhance educational and self‐management interventions and RCTs are required to examine cost‐effectiveness.
Diabetic ketoacidosis associated with aripiprazole
Authors: Church C. O. , Stevens D. L. , Fugate S. E. 
Published: August 2005

AbstractBackground  Atypical antipsychotics have become the mainstay of management of schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders due to low risk of extrapyramidal symptoms. However, postmarketing data has reported atypical antipsychotic agents being associated with hyperglycaemia and diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). We believe this to be the first published report of hyperglycaemia and DKA with the newest atypical antipsychotic agent, aripiprazole.Case report  A 34‐year‐old African‐American female with schizophrenia presented to the emergency department with nausea, vomiting, and malaise for 3–4 days shortly after initiation of aripiprazole therapy. Initial laboratory results revealed significant hyperglycaemia with metabolic acidosis. The patient received treatment for DKA with an intravenous insulin infusion and fluid replacement. Isophane insulin suspension (NPH insulin) was begun immediately following the insulin drip and continued upon discharge from the hospital. Outpatient follow‐up information was not available.Conclusion  To our knowledge, this is the first case report of aripiprazole associated with hyperglycaemia and DKA. This case is striking in that DKA occurred 4 days following initiation of aripiprazole and the patient had rapid resolution of symptoms and normalization of laboratory values upon discontinuation of aripiprazole. It is important that health‐care providers monitor for hyperglycaemia when prescribing atypical antipsychotics including aripiprazole.
Effects of doxazosin on ambulatory blood pressure and sympathetic nervous activity in hypertensive Type 2 diabetic patients with overt nephropathy
Authors: Yasuda G. , Hasegawa K. , Kuji T. , Ogawa N. , Shimura G. , Umemura S. , Tochikubo O. 
Published: August 2005

AbstractAims  Few studies have reported the effect of α1‐adrenergic antagonists on 24‐h blood pressure (BP) and sympathetic nervous activity in hypertensive patients with diabetic nephropathy. We assessed the effects of doxazosin on 24‐h BP and spectral analysis of heart rate variability in hypertensive Type 2 diabetic patients with macroalbuminuria and compared the results with those in hypertensive Type 2 diabetic patients with normoalbuminuria and non‐diabetic patients with essential hypertension.Methods  Thirty‐three patients in the macroalbuminuric group, 24 patients in the normoalbuminuric group, and 34 patients with essential hypertension underwent ambulatory BP monitoring before and after doxazosin treatment. Spectral analysis was performed to calculate the high‐frequency (HF) components, a marker of parasympathetic nervous activity, and the low‐frequency (LF) components, a marker of sympathetic nervous activity.Results  Doxazosin decreased waking (from 158 ± 17/88 ± 10 to 148 ± 15/80 ± 7 mmHg, P = 0.001 for systolic and P < 0.001 for diastolic BP) and sleeping BP (146 ± 20/79 ± 10 to 137 ± 17/72 ± 9 mmHg, P < 0.001 and P < 0.001) in the macroalbuminuric group, but only decreased waking BP in the essential hypertension group (157 ± 16/91 ± 9 to 145 ± 15/84 ± 11 mmHg, P < 0.001 and P < 0.001) and normoalbuminuric group (159 ± 15/89 ± 9 to 150 ± 16/82 ± 10 mmHg, P = 0.014 and P < 0.001). Doxazosin decreased waking (from 1.48 ± 0.11 to 1.42 ± 0.12, P = 0.001) and sleeping (1.46 ± 0.11 to 1.40 ± 0.13, P = 0.001) LF components [unit: log(ms2/Hz)] only in the macroalbuminuric group without changing HF components. The normoalbuminuric and essential hypertension groups showed no differences (P = 0.637 and 0.492) in LF components during sleep.Conclusions  Doxazosin may be an antihypertensive agent that decreases both waking and sleeping BP through inhibiting sympathetic nervous activity in macroalbuminuric diabetes patients.
The impact of diabetes or elevated fasting blood glucose on cardiovascular prognosis in patients with stable angina pectoris
Authors: Held C. , Björkander I. , Forslund L. , Rehnqvist N. , Hjemdahl P. 
Published: August 2005

AbstractAims  To examine the influences of diabetes and elevated fasting blood glucose on cardiovascular prognosis in patients with stable angina pectoris.Methods  In a prospective study of 809 patients with stable angina pectoris randomized to receive metoprolol or verapamil, a subgroup of 69 diabetic patients was compared with non‐diabetic patients with respect to the risk of cardiovascular (CV) death, non‐fatal myocardial infarction (MI) and revascularization. We also analysed a subgroup of 67 patients with fasting blood glucose ≥ 6.1 mmol/l, defined according to the most recent revised guidelines for the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus. Fasting blood glucose was measured in venous whole blood at baseline.Results  The diabetic patients had a greater risk‐factor burden, with a higher prevalence of hypertension, more likely to be male, a tendency towards a higher prevalence of previous MI, and higher triglyceride and lower high‐density lipoprotein (HDL)‐cholesterol levels. In multivariate analyses, diabetes was an independent risk factor for CV events with a relative risk of 2.64 (CI 1.39–5.00; P < 0.001) for CV death/MI, and 1.79 (CI 1.02–3.15; P < 0.01) for revascularization. Blood glucose ≥ 6.1 mmol/l without a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus was found in 67 patients, and predicted CV death/MI [relative risk 2.76 (CI 1.97–3.84)] in both univariate and multivariate analyses. The prognosis of diabetic or hyperglycaemic patients did not differ significantly with metoprolol compared with verapamil treatment.Conclusions  Diabetes mellitus is an independent risk factor for CV death/MI and for revascularization in patients with stable angina pectoris. Elevated fasting blood glucose was seen in 9% of patients without known diabetes and was an equally strong and independent risk factor for CV death/MI as diagnosed and treated diabetes.