bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The relationship between birth weight and maternal glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) concentration in pregnancies complicated by Type 1 diabetes
Authors: Penney G. C. , Mair G. , Pearson D. W. M. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractAim  To examine the relationships between maternal HbA1c concentration at different time points and birth weight in pregnancies complicated by pre‐existing Type 1 diabetes.Methods  A comprehensive audit dataset was collected prospectively on all deliveries in Scotland to women with pre‐existing Type 1 diabetes occurring between 1 April 1998 and 31 March 1999. Data items included HbA1c concentrations prior to conception and in each of the three trimesters of pregnancy, and birth weight. Relationships between standardized birth weight and HbA1c concentrations at each of the four time points were examined using correlation analysis.Results  Standardized birth weight (Z scores) could be calculated for 203 of 208 singleton liveborn infants. HbA1c concentrations, standardized to correct for assay differences among hospitals, at different time points were available for between 134 (pre‐pregnancy) and 192 (third trimester) cases. Standardized birth weight, relative to a reference population, showed a unimodal distribution, shifted to the right (mean, +1.57 sd). There was a significant negative correlation between pre‐pregnancy HbA1c and birth weight (Spearman's R, −0.208; P = 0.016). There were no statistically significant correlations for other time points.Conclusions  Standardized birth weight scores of the infants of diabetic mothers are higher than those of a reference population. There is no simple relationship between maternal glycaemic status and birth weight, but there appears to be a paradoxical inverse relationship between pre‐pregnancy glycaemic control and standardized birth weight.
A pilot study of the beneficial effects of amantadine in the treatment of painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy
Authors: Amin P. , Sturrock N. D. C. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractBackground  Current symptomatic treatments for painful peripheral neuropathy in diabetes have variable efficacy in individual patients. Amongst other chemical transmitters involved in pain reception, the N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate (NMDA) subtype of excitatory amino acid receptor is involved in nociception. Amantadine was recently shown to act as a non‐competitive antagonist of NMDA and may be effective in the treatment of neuropathic pain in patients with cancer. We have looked at the benefit of amantadine infusion in diabetic patients with painful peripheral neuropathy.Methods  Seventeen patients with diabetes (nine men) completed this double‐blind randomized crossover placebo‐controlled trial of intravenous amantadine. The average age was 58.4 (sd 11) years, with duration of diabetes of 21.1 (8.7) years and duration of painful peripheral neuropathy symptoms of 29.1 (24) months. All analgesics except paracetamol were stopped for 4 weeks prior to the study. Infusions were carried out on a weekly basis with amantadine being administered intravenously as a single 200‐mg infusion. The Neuropathy Symptom Score (NSS), together with visual analogue scales, were used to assess current pain intensity (VAS‐P) pre‐therapy and 1 week later VAS‐P was repeated together with a visual analogue scale used to assess relief in pain (VAS‐R) and the Physicians Global Evaluation (PGE) score used to assess response to therapy.Results  Pre‐therapy, the NSS was 6.8 (6.3–7.4) at baseline, remaining unchanged at 6.6 (5.8–7.4) after placebo (P = 0.33), but fell to 4.6 (3.4–5.8) after amantadine (P = 0.003 vs. baseline and P = 0.02 vs. placebo). The baseline perception of pain was scored as 7.8 cm (7.3–8.3), with no difference following placebo, at 8.2 cm (7.7–8.6) (P = 0.34), but following amantadine it fell to 6.2 cm (4.9–7.8) (P = 0.01 compared with pre‐therapy, P = 0.003 compared with placebo). The perception of relief from pain following placebo was only 0.2 (−0.2 to +0.6) but following amantadine was 10‐fold better at 1.9 (0.8–3.1) (P = 0.016). The PGE assessment of pain relief was −0.3 (−0.5 to 0) for placebo and following amantadine was 0.8 (0.1–1.5) (P = 0.006).Conclusions  Our study has shown that intravenous amantadine is beneficial in reducing the pain of painful peripheral neuropathy, with an effect sustained for at least 1 week after an infusion.
Do plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI‐1) or tissue plasminogen activator PAI‐1 complexes predict complications in Type 1 diabetes: The Pittsburgh Epidemiology of Diabetes Complications Study
Authors: Bosnyak Z. , Forrest K. Y.‐Z. , Maser R. E. , Becker D. , Orchard T. J. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractAims  To examine the predictive power of plasminogen activator inhibitor‐1 (PAI‐1) and the complexes it forms with tissue plasminogen activator (tPA–PAI‐1) for the two major Type 1 diabetes (T1D) complications (coronary artery disease (CAD) and overt nephropathy) in the context of standard risk factors.Methods  Observational prospective study of 454 participants with childhood onset (< 17 years) T1D, aged 18+ years at baseline. PAI‐1 and tPA–PAI‐1 were determined using ELISA methodology. Follow‐up (6 years) was limited to 382 individuals for CAD and 294 individuals for overt nephropathy, after excluding baseline cases. Total, HDL and LDL‐cholesterol, triglycerides, HbA1, blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), waist–hip ratio (WHR), leucocyte count, Beck depression score and fibrinogen were also examined.Results  The 56 incident cases of CAD had marginally lower PAI‐1 and higher tPA–PAI‐1 levels compared with those free of CAD. However, marginally higher PAI‐1 and significantly higher tPA–PAI‐1 (P = 0.04) levels were seen in those who developed nephropathy. After controlling for age, both PAI‐1 and tPA–PAI‐1 showed significant negative correlations with HDL‐cholesterol, and positive correlations with triglycerides, WHR, HbA1 and fibrinogen. tPA–PAI‐1 was also positively correlated with total and LDL‐cholesterol. In multivariate analyses, neither PAI‐1 nor tPA–PAI‐1 was an independent predictor of CAD or overt nephropathy.Conclusions  These results suggest little association between PAI‐1 and later CAD in patients with T1D. However, tPA–PAI‐1 complexes may be involved in the pathogenesis of overt nephropathy.
Elevational diversity gradients, biogeography and the structure of montane mammal communities in the intermountain region of North America
Authors: Rickart Eric A. 
Published: March 2003

Abstract1 Distribution data were assembled for non‐volant small mammals along elevational gradients on mountain ranges in the western U.S.A. Elevational distributions in the species‐rich Uinta Mountains were compared to those on smaller mountain ranges with varying degrees of historical isolation from the Uintas.2 For mountain ranges supporting the richest faunas, species richness is highest over a broad low‐ to mid‐elevation zone and declines at both lower and higher elevations. Patterns on other mountain ranges are similar but reflect lower overall species richness.3 A basic relationship between elevational and geographical distribution is apparent in the occurrence patterns of mammals on regional mountains. Faunas on mountains that have had low levels of historical isolation appear to be influenced by immigration rather than extinction. Species restricted to high elevations in the Uintas are poorly represented on historically isolated mountains and form a portion of local faunas shaped by extinction. Species occurring at lower elevations in the Uintas have better representation on isolated mountains and apparently maintain populations through immigration.4 Several widespread species show substantial variation in maximum elevation records on different mountain ranges. This involves (1) an upward shift in habitat zones on small, isolated mountain ranges, allowing greater access by low‐elevation species, and (2) expansion of certain low‐ and mid‐elevation species into habitats normally occupied by absent high‐elevation taxa.5 Results indicate that montane mammal faunas of the intermountain region have been shaped by broad‐scale historical processes, unique regional geography and local ecological dynamics. Parallel examples among mammals of the Philippine Islands suggest that such patterns may characterize many insular faunas.
Latitude, elevation and body mass variation in Andean passerine birds
Authors: Blackburn Tim M. , Ruggiero Adriana 
Published: March 2003

AbstractRelationships between body mass and latitude, and body mass and elevation are examined in the assemblage of Andean passerine birds.Across species, body mass is positively correlated with the mid‐point of the species elevational distribution, but there is no significant relationship between body mass and latitudinal range mid‐point.When the assemblage is separated into Andean endemic and non‐endemic species, the former group shows a significant positive relationship between body mass and elevation, and the latter a significant positive relationship between body mass and latitude (‘Bergmann’s rule’). Andean endemic species exhibit Bergmann’s rule once elevation is controlled for using multiple regression.These relationships are not a consequence of the phylogenetic non‐independence of species. All the effects shown are very weak, with latitude and elevation explaining only a few per cent of the variation in body mass. Relationships are strongest when phylogenetically controlled analyses are performed just within genera.The implications of these results for the mechanistic understanding of Bergmann’s rule are discussed.
The influence of resprouting forest canopy species on richness in Southern Cape forests, South Africa
Authors: Kruger L. M. , Midgley J. J. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractWe investigated the relationship between species richness and numbers and types of individuals and species present in forests with different physiognomies in the southern Cape Province, South Africa. Data were collected from three different ‘plot’ types: 400 m2, canopy‐scaled (plot length is directly proportional to canopy height) and per 100 individuals closest to a point. Plots were designed to control for the effect of scale on local richness. Canopy species richness was inversely proportional to the abundance of resprouting species. The strength of the relationship between the abundance of resprouters and canopy species richness increased progressively from the 400 m2 plots to the canopy‐scaled plots and finally to the plots of 100 individuals. Resprouter abundance decreased, while canopy species richness increased, with increasing canopy height. Resprouters are able to retain their in situ position in the forests for longer periods of time than do reseeders. This reduces individual and species turnover, thus reducing species richness in resprouter‐dominated forests.
The validity of twin studies
Authors: Evans David M. , Martin Nicholas G. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractThe classical twin study is the most popular method for assessing the relative contribution of genes and environment to traits in human populations. Critics argue that several assumptions of the twin method are unjustified, and therefore results from twin studies are misleading. Specifically, it has been suggested that twins differ in important aspects from singletons, that monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) twins are not matched in their degree of environmental similarity, and that MZ twins are neither matched genetically nor in their prenatal environments. These criticisms are addressed and it is suggested that they do not provide serious impediments to the validity of the twin study.
The future of stock enhancements: lessons for hatchery practice from conservation biology
Authors: Brown Culum , Day Rachel L 
Published: March 2003

AbstractThe world's fish species are under threat from habitat degradation and over‐exploitation. In many instances, attempts to bolster stocks have been made by rearing fish in hatcheries and releasing them into the wild. Fisheries restocking programmes have primarily headed these attempts. However, a substantial number of endangered species recovery programmes also rely on the release of hatchery‐reared individuals to ensure long‐term population viability. Fisheries scientists have known about the behavioural deficits displayed by hatchery‐reared fish and the resultant poor survival rates in the wild for over a century. Whilst there remain considerable gaps in our knowledge about the exact causes of post‐release mortality, or their relative contributions, it is clear that significant improvements could be made by rethinking the ways in which hatchery fish are reared, prepared for release and eventually liberated. We emphasize that the focus of fisheries research must now shift from husbandry to improving post‐release behavioural performance. In this paper we take a leaf out of the conservation biology literature, paying particular attention to the recent developments in reintroduction biology. Conservation reintroduction techniques including environmental enrichment, life‐skills training, and soft release protocols are reviewed and we reflect on their application to fisheries restocking programmes. It emerges that many of the methods examined could be implemented by hatcheries with relative ease and could potentially provide large increases in the probability of survival of hatchery‐reared fish. Several of the necessary measures need not be time‐consuming or expensive and many could be applied at the hatchery level without any further experimentation.
β2‐Glycoprotein I – dependent anticardiolipin antibodies in ischemic stroke
Authors: Fiallo P. , Tomasina C. , Cardo P.P. 
Published: March 2003

Our study was undertaken to investigate whether beta2‐glycoprotein I (GPI) is relevant for enhancing anticardiolipin antibody (aCL) binding in stroke patients, in particular view of vascular risk factors and recurrence of previous cerebral ischemic events. One‐hundred and twenty‐one sera from patients with ischemic stroke and 154 control sera from patients with non‐ischemic neurological disorders (n= 43) and healthy subjects (n= 111) were included in the study. All sera were tested for either GPI‐independent aCL and GPI‐dependent aCL. GPI‐independent aCL were detected in two (1.7%) stroke patients. When GPI was added to the assay system, 13 (10.8%) sera were positive. Of the 43 sera in the neurological control group one was positive for both GPI‐independent aCL and GPI‐dependent aCL. Multiple linear regression in the stroke group revealed that GPI‐dependent aCL are marginally associated with sex, prior TIA/strokes and embolism. More importantly, GPI‐dependent aCL were significantly more frequent in stroke patients with a history of prior TIA/strokes compared with patients with a first ischemic stroke (p= 0.029).The present study demonstrates that aCL in stroke patients are of the GPI‐dependent type and emphasizes the importance of adding GPI in the immunoassay for the optimal detection of aCL. Furthermore, it supports the recommendation of testing aCL in those patients who experience unexplained recurrent cerebral ischemic events.
Phosphoglycerate kinase deficiency in two brothers with McArdle‐like clinical symptoms
Authors: Aasly J. , van Diggelen O. P. , Boer A. M. , Brønstad G. 
Published: March 2003

Phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK) catalyses the transfer of the acylphosphate group of 1,3‐diphosphoglycerate to ADP with formation of 3‐phosphoglycerate and ATP in the terminal stage of the glycolytic pathway. Two young brothers are presented who both experienced muscle pain, cramps and stiffness shortly after beginning heavy exercise. After these episodes they noticed that the urine was dark brown, indicating rhabdomyolysis and myoglobinuria. The neurological examinations were without remarks. There was no lactate increase in the ischaemic forearm exercise test. Both had very low PGK levels in muscle, erythrocytes, leukocytes and fibroblasts.This is the first family with more than one affected case of PGK deficiency and exercise‐induced stiffness, myalgia and rhabdomyolysis. The clinical manifestations may resemble myophosphorylase deficiency (McArdle’s disease: glycogenosis Type V) and muscle phosphofructokinase deficiency (Tarui’s disease: glycogenosis Type VII). PGK deficiency is inherited as an X‐linked trait and may show other features such as mental retardation and/or haemolytic anaemia.
Visual cortex excitability in migraine before and after valproate prophylaxis: a pilot study using TMS
Authors: Mulleners W. M. , Chronicle E. P. , Vredeveld J. W. , Koehler P. J. 
Published: March 2003

We examined the effect of standard migraine prophylaxis with sodium valproate on repeated measures of occipital excitability using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). We predicted that, comparing pre‐ and post‐treatment assessments, a reduction in clinical migraine parameters would be paralleled by a decrease in excitability measurements.A total of 31 migraine patients enrolled in the study, for assessment prior to and 1 month after commencement of sodium valproate prophylaxis. At each assessment, we used a standardized protocol to stimulate the occipital cortex with a 90‐mm circular (coil A) and 70 mm figure‐of‐eight (coil B) coil. We recorded the threshold stimulation intensity at which subjects just perceived phosphenes. Subjects kept detailed records of headache parameters 1 month before and also during the study period.Valproate therapy significantly improved headache indexes, as expected. In MA subjects assessed with coil B, phosphene thresholds were significantly higher post‐treatment than pre‐treatment, but those for MO did not change. Modest correlations were observed in MA patients between increase in phosphene threshold and decrease in headache index.Although preliminary, the findings with coil B lend some support to the notion that effective migraine prophylaxis may be achieved through lowering cortical excitability by γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA)‐ergic intervention. Further investigation of the effect of sodium valproate or other similarly acting substances on cortical excitability in migraine is warranted.
Migraine and Cluster Headache-Their Management with Sumatriptan: A Critical Review of The Current Clinical Experience
Authors: Wilkinson M , Pfaffenrath V , Schoenen J , Diener H-C , Steiner TJ 
Published: March 2003

Sumatriptan is a potent and selective agonist at the vascular 5HT1 receptor which mediates constriction of certain large cranial blood vessels and/or inhibits the release of vasoactive neuropeptides from perivascular trigeminal axons in the dura mater following activation of the trigeminovascular system. The mode of action of this drug in migraine and cluster headache is discussed. On the basis of a detailed review of all published trials and available data from post-marketing studies, the efficacy, safety, tolerability and the place of oral and subcutaneous sumatriptan in the treatment of both conditions are assessed. A number of double-blind clinical trials have demonstrated that sumatriptan 100 mg administered orally is clearly superior to placebo in the acute treatment of migraine headache and achieves significantly greater response rates than ergotamine or aspirin. In other studies, 70 to 80% of patients receiving sumatriptan 6 mg sc experienced relief of migraine headaches by 1 or 2 h after administration, and patients consistently required less rescue medication for unresolved symptoms. Sumatriptan was also effective in relieving associated migraine symptoms like nausea and vomiting. Sumatriptan was equally effective regardless of migraine type or duration of migraine symptoms. Overall, approximately 40% of patients who initially responded to oral or subcutaneous sumatriptan experienced recurrence of their headache usually within 24 h, effectively treated by a further dose of this drug. In 75% of patients with cluster headache treated with sumatriptan 6 mg sc, relief was achieved within 15 min. Based on pooled study data, sumatriptan is generally well tolerated and most adverse events are transient. Adverse events following oral administration include nausea, vomiting, malaise, fatigue and dizziness. With the subcutaneous injection, injection site reactions occur in approximately 30%. Chest symptoms are reported in 3 to 5% but have been associated with myocardial ischaemia only in rare isolated cases. The recommended dosage of sumatriptan at the onset of migraine symptoms is 100 mg orally or 6 mg subcutaneously. The recommended dosage for cluster headache is 6 mg sumatriptan sc. Sumatriptan must not be given together with vascoconstrictive substances, e.g. ergotamines, or with migraine prophylactics with similar properties, e.g. methysergide. Sumatriptan should not be given during the migraine aura. It is contraindicated in patients with ischaemic heart disease, previous myocardial infarction, Prinzmetal (variant) angina and uncontrolled hypertension.
Nonaneurysmal Thunderclap Headache with Diffuse, Multifocal, Segmental, and Reversible Vasospasm
Authors: Dodick DW , Brown RD , Britton JW , Huston J 
Published: March 2003

Objective. To highlight the clinical profiles and angiographic findings of two patients with recurrent thunderclap headache (TCH) without subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and to present modified diagnostic criteria for this unusual syndrome. Background. TCH may be a benign recurrent headache disorder or it may represent a serious underlying process such as SAH or venous sinus thrombosis. The pathophysiology of this disorder in the absence of underlying pathology is not well understood and its potential angiographic features are not well appreciated. Methods. Two case descriptions with illustrative angiography. Results. Both cases demonstrated the potential for reversible intracranial vasospasm without intracranial aneurysm or SAH and a benign clinical outcome. Conclusions. Primary TCH has a distinctive clinical and angiographic profile and must be distinguished from central nervous system vasculitis and SAH.
Acupuncture for Recurrent Headaches: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Melchart D , Linde K , Fischer P , White A , Allais G , Vickers A , Berman B 
Published: March 2003

Objective: To assess whether there is evidence that acupuncture is effective in the treatment of recurrent headaches. Design: Systematic review. Study selection: Randomized or quasi-randomized clinical trials comparing acupuncture with any type of control intervention for the treatment of recurrent headaches. Data sources: Electronic databases (Medline, Embase, Cochrane Field for Complementary Medicine, Cochrane Controlled Trials Register), personal communications and bibliographies. Data collection and analysis: Information on patients, interventions, methods, and results were extracted by at least two independent reviewers using a pretested form. A pooled estimate of the responder rate ratio (responder rate in treatment group/responder rate in control group) was calculated as a crude indicator of trial results as meta-analysis of more specific outcome data was impossible due to heterogeneity and insufficient reporting. Results: Twenty-two trials, including a total of 1042 patients (median 36, range 10-150), met the inclusion criteria. Fifteen trials were in migraine patients, six in tension-headache patients, and in one trial patients with various headaches were included. The majority of the 14 trials comparing true and sham acupuncture showed at least a trend in favor of true acupuncture. The pooled responder rate ratio was 1.53 (95% confidence interval 1.11 to 2.11). The eight trials comparing acupuncture and other treatment forms had contradictory results. Conclusions: Overall, the existing evidence suggests that acupuncture has a role in the treatment of recurrent headaches. However, the quality and amount of evidence is not fully convincing. There is urgent need for well-planned, large-scale studies to assess effectiveness and efficiency of acupuncture under real life conditions.