bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Determination of total homocysteine in dried blood spots using high performance liquid chromatography for homocystinuria newborn screening
Authors: Febriani Andi Dwi Bahagia , Sakamoto Akiko , Ono Hiroaki , Sakura Nobuo , Ueda Kazuhiro , Yoshii Chiyoko , Kubota Miho , Yanagawa Junko 
Published: January 2004

Abstract
Background
: The most widely used method for newborn screening for homocystinuria (HCU) is a semi­quantitative bacterial inhibition assay for measuring methionine concentration in dried blood spots (DBS). Because this method has resulted in a number of missed cases due to many factors, we developed a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method with fluorescence detection to measure total homocysteine (tHcy) in DBS which might be useful for newborn screening for HCU.
Methods
: One disk of DBS 3 mm in diameter was sonicated in 10 min. The extract was reduced with dithioerythritol and was derivatized with 4‐aminosulfonyl‐7fluoro‐2,1,3‐benzoxadiazole before injection into HPLC.
Results
: This method showed good linearity (r = 0.996), precision (coefficient of variation range 2.7−5%), and excellent correlation coefficient between DBS and serum tHcy, both in control (r = 0.932) and patient samples (r = 0.952). By this method, the mean tHcy concentration in DBS of preterm newborns, full‐term newborns, and adults was 1.4 ± 1.0, 2.5 ± 1.6, and 4.9 ± 1.5 µmol/L, respectively. The mean tHcy DBS concentration in two cases of cystathionine‐β‐synthase deficiency and one case of 5,10‐methylentetrahydrofolate reductase deficiency was 22.7 ± 2.88, 29.3 ± 1.90, and 41.3 µmol/L, respectively.
Conclusions
: The present method, which is rapid, user friendly and reliable, seems applicable to newborn screening of HCU in place of methionine measurement.
Renal resistive indexes and some renal functions in liver cirrhotic children
Authors: AydoĞdu Sema , Akil Ipek , Akil Talha , Kabasakal Caner , Killi Refik , Mir Sevgi , YaĞci RaŞit 
Published: January 2004

Abstract
Background
: The aim of the present study was to investigate renal vascular resistive changes in children with different stages of liver cirrhosis without obvious renal failure.
Methods
: Twenty‐nine children (14 girls, 15 boys, mean age 11.6 years) with cirrhosis and 20 healthy children (mean age 10.3 years) were investigated for renal vascular resistance with Doppler ultrasonography, urinary sodium, N‐acetyl‐beta‐D glucosaminidase (NAG) and microalbuminuria excretion.
Results
: The measurements of renal resistive indexes (RRI) were significantly higher in cirrhotic patients than the control group (0.69 ± 0.07 vs 0.62 ± 0.02, P < 0.0001). RRI measurement was found to be increased in decompensated cirrhotic patients than in compensated cirrhotic patients (0.73 ± 0.05 vs 0.67 ± 0.08, P < 0.0001). A significant positive relationship was observed between RRI and child score (r = 0.53). Urine NAG/Cr ratio was significantly higher in cirrhotic patients than in the control subjects (P < 0.001). Microalbumin concentrations were increased in the patients with decompensated cirrhosis than in the controls (P = 0.02). Patients with ascites and portal hypertension showed increased RRI values.
Conclusions
: We conclude that patients with cirrhosis are at risk of renal deterioration, which can not be detected by serum urea, creatinine, and glomerular filtration rate. The increase of RRI is associated with the progress of hepatocellular disease, and also the development of ascites and portal hypertension. Elevated urinary sodium excretion, elevated urinary NAG/Cr ratio and microalbuminuria might have a prognostic value especially in patients with Child scores> 6. Hence, monitoring RRI is a non‐invasive means of studying early renal hemodynamic alteration in childhood cirrhosis.
Child abuse as a result of enuresis
Authors: Can Gamze , Topbas Murat , Okten Aysenur , Kizil Melahat 
Published: January 2004

Abstract
Background
: Enuresis is a frequent manifestation with important psychological and social consequences. The aim of the present study was to describe the types of child abuse as a result of enuresis, and to investigate the association of child abuse.
Methods
: A cross‐sectional field study was conducted between March 2001 and August 2001 in the 5−17‐year‐old age group, to identify risk factors and prevalence of enuresis in the province of Trabzon, Turkey. A face‐to‐face interview with 889 mothers was carried out. In the questionnaire, the existence, frequency, and risks factors of enuresis were questioned in detail and the parental reactions to the child's enuresis were widely investigated.
Results
: The prevalence of nocturnal enuresis was 17.9% in the 5−17‐year‐old age group. It was also found out that of 154 mothers, 86.4% (n = 133) were involved in child abuse of different types. It was found that 40.6% of children who were abused as a result of their enuresis were neglected medically, 42.1% were spanked and 12.8% were beaten.
Conclusions
: The high prevalence of enuresis among Turkish children leads to a high frequency of neglect. The high frequency of other types of child abuse in Turkey can be taken as being punishment.
Sucking behavior at breast during the early newborn period affects later breast‐feeding rate and duration of breast‐feeding
Authors: Mizuno Katsumi , Fujimaki Koichiro , Sawada Madoka 
Published: January 2004

Abstract
Background
: One of the objectives of health‐workers is to help increase the rate and duration of breast‐feeding. It could become a helpful tool if babies sucking behavior at breast in the early neonatal period could predict babies at risk of short‐term breast‐feeding. The aims of this study are: to determine the prevalence of a range of sucking behaviors at breast in the early neonatal period in Japan; to determine if sucking behavior in the early neonatal period affects the later breast‐feeding rate; and to clarify reasons for ceasing breast‐feeding for each sucking behavior.
Methods
: A total of 1582 mothers of infants aged 6−12 months were surveyed. The questionnaire asked mothers their interpretation from memory of the sucking behavior of their infants in the early neonatal period. Mothers were asked to choose one out of five defined types (barracudas, excited ineffectives, procrastinators, gourmets and resters) and others. The study also included questions about the type of feeding (i.e. full, partial). Finally mothers were questioned about the time of and reasons for ceasing breast‐feeding.
Results
: Sufficient responses to the questionnaires were given by 1474 mothers (93.2%). The remainder of mothers questioned (108, 6.8%) did not provide appropriate answers. The babies whose mothers selected ‘Barracudas’ as the sucking behavior which best described their babies breast‐feeding showed the largest number of full breast‐feeding. These babies also displayed the highest breast‐feeding rate all the time. The ‘Procrastinators’ type showed the lowest overall rate of breast‐feeding. The Chi‐square test revealed that sucking behavior in the early neonatal period affects the breast‐feeding rate at 3 and 6 months of age (P < 0.001). The reasons for ceasing breast‐feeding observed in all subtypes were perceived shortage of milk volume and elder children's anger and jealousy.
Conclusion
: Based on the sucking behavior at breast in the early neonatal period, it is possible to predict babies at risk for short‐term breast‐feeding.
Use of laboratory data to identify risk factors of giant coronary aneurysms due to Kawasaki disease
Authors: Nakamura Yosikazu , Yashiro Mayumi , Uehara Ritei , Watanabe Makoto , Tajimi Morihiro , Oki Izumi , Ojima Toshiyuki , Sonobe Tomoyoshi , Yanagawa Hiroshi 
Published: January 2004

Abstract
Background
: Although some laboratory findings are known to be indicators of the risk of giant coronary aneurysm formation among Kawasaki disease patients, an appropriate cut‐off point to predict aneurysm formation is not clear.
Methods
: One hundred and five patients with giant coronary aneurysms were selected from the 15th and 16th nationwide surveys of Kawasaki disease in Japan. A total of 2936 patients without Kawasaki disease were recruited from a single hospital as a control group. Odds ratios were calculated for six laboratory data with specific values as cut‐off points. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were observed to determine the most appropriate laboratory tests and cut‐off points.
Results
: Hematocrit, leukocyte count, neutrophil proportion, and hemoglobin had one or more peaks of odds ratio for specific cut‐off points, but they did not have a clear cut‐off point for the predictor according to the receiver operating characteristic curves. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) increased the risk of giant coronary aneurysms continuously so no clearly appropriate cut‐off point was identified. Serum sodium concentration of 135 mEq/L had a peak of odds ratio, and those with <135 mEq/L had the highest odds ratio (4.78). This value seemed appropriate with a sensitivity of 78% and specificity of 57%, although the predictive positive value was as small as 5%.
Conclusion
: The author's propose that a serum sodium concentration of <135 mEq/L at the patient's first visit to hospital may be a predictor of giant coronary aneurysms due to Kawasaki disease.
Nitric oxide inhalation therapy in very low‐birthweight infants with hypoplastic lung due to oligohydramnios
Authors: Uga Naoki , Ishii Tetsuya , Kawase Yasuhiro , Arai Hiroko , Tada Hiroshi 
Published: January 2004

Abstract
Background
: Although nitric oxide inhalation (iNO) therapy improves arterial oxygenation and reduces the rate of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in term neonates, the efficacy of this therapy in premature infants is controversial. The objective of the present study was to determine whether iNO therapy improves the survival of very low‐birthweight infants with pulmonary hypoplasia due to prolonged rupture of membrane.
Methods
: A retrospective comparative study of very low‐birthweight infants with pulmonary hypoplasia due to oligohydramnios who had or had not been treated with iNO therapy, was performed (iNO‐treated group, eight infants; control group, 10 infants). A neonate was considered to have pulmonary hypoplasia due to oligohydramnios if the following conditions were satisfied: (i) artificial surfactant treatment did not improve the respiratory distress; (ii) prolonged rupture of membrane (PROM) continued for more than 5 days with oligohydramnios; and (iii) sufficient arterial oxygenation did not occur even after giving 100% oxygen, and more than 8 cm H2O of mean airway pressure was needed to maintain arterial oxygenation.
Results
: Nitric oxide inhalation improved arterial oxygenation rapidly and consistently in all eight infants with pulmonary hypoplasia. All eight iNO‐treated infants survived longer than 28 days, while five of the 10 control infants died within 24 h of birth (P < 0.05). Before starting iNO, seven of the eight treated infants had shown persistent pulmonary hypertension, which was confirmed by echocardiography. No iNO‐treated infant had IVH greater than grade 1, while one control infant had grade 2 IVH. All six long‐term survivors in the iNO‐treated group are developing normally, while only two of the control infants are developing normally as of February 2002.
Conclusions
: The majority of the infants with pulmonary hypoplasia due to oligohydramnios had persistent pulmonary hypertension. iNO improved the arterial oxygenation and significantly improved the survival rate. A controlled study to determine whether iNO therapy improves the survival rate of preterm infants with pulmonary hypoplasia due to oligohydramnios is necessary.
Video‐fluoroscopic study of swallowing in children with neurodevelopmental disorders
Authors: Fung Cheuk‐Wing , Khong Pek‐Lan , To Raymond , Goh Winnie , Wong Virginia 
Published: January 2004

Abstract
Background
: Children with neurodevelopmental disorders can have feeding problems. Malnutrition and recurrent aspiration pneumonia can increase the risk of morbidity and mortality. Video‐fluoroscopic study of swallowing (VFSS) is essential in understanding the pathological mechanisms involved during swallowing.
Methods
: The aim of the present study was to assess the role of VFSS in assessment and management of four children with various neurodevelopmental disorders in a multidisciplinary feeding team. We describe the team approach, with the participation of child neurologist, radiologist with the rehabilitation team including the speech therapist, occupational therapist and dietician, in the assessment and plan of management.
Results
: Video‐fluoroscopic study of swallowing had been useful in assessing the type of swallowing problems with treatment goals targeted to the basic underlying pathophysiological mechanism.
Conclusion
: A child neurologist should be involved in the multidisciplinary oromotor rehabilitation program for neurologically impaired children with feeding problems.
Trapping intensities for sampling ants in Australian rangelands
Authors: JAMES CRAIG D. 
Published: January 2004

Abstract  I investigated the relationship between species richness and composition of ant faunas, and sampling intensity in two regions with different long‐term histories of grazing intensity in mulga (Acacia aneura) woodlands in northern New South Wales. There were two aims: (i) to examine the relationship between sampling intensity and species richness and composition; and (ii) to explore the differences in ant assemblages from two regions of markedly different grazing intensity when sampled at different intensities (i.e. when a higher proportion of the local ant fauna were collected). Ants were sampled in pit traps (120‐mm diameter) at densities of two, four, six and nine pits per 100 m2. Each sampling‐intensity treatment was replicated three times within each region. Pit traps filled with preservative were opened for 3 days. Species richness was higher with each successive increase in sampling intensity but was not different between regions for a given trapping intensity. There was no obvious asymptote of the curve relating trapping intensity to cumulative species richness suggesting that even greater trap densities than those used in the present study would be needed to collect most of the species of ants using a patch of ground over a few days. Spatial replication of a low‐intensity sampling design did not capture as many species as one higher‐intensity sampling array with the same total number of pit traps. This result can be explained by aggressive numerically dominant species of ants monopolizing access to a greater proportion of the traps in low‐density arrays. Ordination reveals that regions and sampling‐intensity treatments could be discriminated and that differences between regions with different grazing histories were less apparent with high‐intensity sampling arrays than they were with low‐intensity sampling arrays. This suggests that differences between locations in space (or potentially samples in time) could be exaggerated by incomplete sampling of the patch‐scale fauna. Comparison of the present study with other studies suggests that most studies to date have used sampling intensities that would not give a thorough assessment of the patch‐scale ground‐dwelling fauna if sampled only by pit traps. The implications of the results for programmes of ant monitoring in rangelands are discussed.
Characteristics of Australia's rangelands and key design issues for monitoring biodiversity
Authors: SMYTH ANITA K. , JAMES CRAIG D. 
Published: January 2004

Abstract  We explored the key issues that are most likely to influence any set of guiding principles for developing biodiversity monitoring programmes in Australia's rangelands. We defined the Australian rangelands and came up with an overview of their climate extremes, land‐use pressures and biodiversity loss, and then focussed on issues underpinning the design phase of any monitoring programme. Using Noss's 1990 framework of compositional, structural and functional attributes of biodiversity and its new revisions by others, we showed how the elusive, abstract concept of biodiversity can be used to identify many measurable attributes that can form a minimum and necessary set of indicators for any biodiversity monitoring task. We then described the steps in the monitoring process, with a particular focus on the reasons for monitoring biodiversity as they strongly influence the selection of indicators. We concluded by compiling a table of key issues as background information for developing guiding principles (Table 4). The list is by no means an exhaustive list for the design phase but it does indicate that considerable attention needs to be given to this phase when developing monitoring programmes. We have intentionally not addressed the equally important issues associated with the planning and delivery phases of developing a monitoring programme, as Wallace et al. and Watson and Novelly cover these in their papers in the present issue of Austral Ecology.
Correlations between steroids concentration in follicular fluid, pronuclear morphology and embryo qualities in in vitro fertilization
Authors: Hasegawa Junichi , Iwasaki Shinji , Yanaihara Atsushi , Negishi Momoko , Tahara Ryuzo , Okai Takashi 
Published: January 2004

Background:  Several parameters of early embryo development are known as predictors of implantation success. Recently, zygote or embryo morphological assessments are thought to be a major method of selection in embryo transfer. We expected that the concentrations of the steroids in follicular fluid (FF) were associated with oocyte maturation and embryo quality. In the present paper, we evaluated the relationship of several parameters.Methods:  We investigated 105 samples of FF from 22 subjects by in vitro fertilization (IVF). We evaluated the correlations between the FF concentrations of estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4), the diameter of the ovarian follicles, fertilization, and zygote assessment based on pronuclear morphology and day 3 embryo qualities (i.e. number of blastomeres and fragmentation rate).Results:  There was a positive correlation between the E2 concentrations in FF and serum (r = 0.273, P < 0.01), but there was no correlation between follicular diameter and the FF concentration of each steroid. The concentration of E2 in FF containing fertilized oocytes was not significantly different from that in FF containing unfertilized oocytes. At the pronuclear stage, the concentration of either steroid in FF did not differ among the morphological groups. The concentration of P4 in FF was significantly lower in the group in which pronuclei were detected at 20 h after insemination than in the group in which pronuclei were not detected. The concentration of E2 in FF was significantly related to the number of blastomeres (r = 0.271, P < 0.05) and furthermore, was significantly higher in FF from which morphologically good embryos were obtained at day 3 (P < 0.05).Conclusions:  The FF concentrations of the steroids did not affect the pronuclear pattern, but P4 production may play a role in reducing the potential of the oocyte to develop pronuclei and the concentration of E2 may predict the cleavage capability of the oocyte. (Reprod Med Biol 2003; 2: 171–176)
Serum leptin concentration during in vitro fertilization treatment with controlled ovarian hyperstimulation: Serum leptin concentration decreases in the early luteal phase in pregnancy
Authors: Ayustawati  , Shibahara Hiroaki , Taneichi Akiyo , Takamizawa Satoru , Ohkuchi Akihide , Suzuki Mitsuaki 
Published: January 2004

Purpose:  To investigate the change pattern of leptin during in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF‐ET) treatment with controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) and at the stages of very early pregnancy.Methods:  The serum leptin concentration was investigated in 65 patients treated with assisted reproductive technology (ART) in five different periods (ART‐1: on the first day of ovarian stimulation with follicle‐stimulating hormone; ART‐2: at human chorionic gonadotropin administration before oocyte retrieval; ART‐3: 7 days after oocyte retrieval; ART‐4: 14 days after oocyte retrieval and ART‐5: 21 days after oocyte retrieval).Results:  The leptin concentration showed significant lower values in the pregnancy group than the non‐pregnancy group at ART‐3 and ART‐4 (P < 0.05). In the pregnancy group, leptin concentration increased from ART‐1 (13.5 ± 8.2 ng/mL) to ART‐2 (23.0 ± 15.1 ng/mL) (P < 0.001). The values significantly decrease at 7 days after oocyte retrieval, from ART‐2 to ART‐3 (18.1 ± 12.0 ng/mL) (P < 0.01), and then showed no remarkable change until 21 days after oocyte retrieval. In the non‐pregnancy groups, leptin concentration increased from ART‐1 (17.3 ± 11.5 ng/mL) to ART‐2 (25.7 ± 12.1 ng/mL) (P < 0.0001). There was no remarkable change in leptin concentration until 14 days after oocyte retrieval, followed by a significant decrease in leptin concentration at ART‐4 (21.9 ± 11.9 ng/mL) to ART‐5 (18.1 ± 11.8 ng/mL) (P < 0.05).Conclusion:  The serum leptin concentration increases during COH in the pregnancy and non‐pregnacy groups. In the pregnancy group, leptin concentration showed a fall of leptin values at early luteal phase. These findings might be useful to elucidate the role of leptin in the IVF‐ET patients. (Reprod Med Biol 2003; 2: 177–182)
Striatal neurons in striatal grafts are derived from both post‐mitotic cells and dividing progenitors
Authors: Fricker‐Gates Rosemary A. , White Anna , Gates Monte A. , Dunnett Stephen B. 
Published: January 2004

AbstractTransplants of embryonic striatal tissue are characteristically heterogeneous, containing patches (P‐zones) of striatal medium spiny projection neurons. It is not yet known how this morphology develops, and whether the striatal neurons in the grafts are derived from post‐mitotic neuroblasts in the embryonic brain or from striatal progenitors that continue to divide after transplantation. To address this question we labelled dividing cells in the transplants with bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU), either prior to or after transplantation into the adult lesioned rat striatum. Cells for transplantation were either pre‐labelled in utero by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of BrdU, or post‐labelled after transplantation by i.p. injections to the hosts. Either two or six months after transplantation the brains were processed using double immunohistochemical techniques to detect BrdU and calbindin‐positive neurons in the transplants. In the transplants pre‐labelled with BrdU, approximately 30% of calbindin‐positive cells were heavily labelled with BrdU, suggesting these had undergone a final division prior to transplantation. In transplants where cells had been labelled post‐transplantation, approximately 17% of calbindin cells were heavily BrdU labelled. These results suggest that whereas a proportion of striatal medium spiny neurons in the striatal grafts were post‐mitotic at the time of transplantation, other striatal progenitor cells can continue to divide after transplantation, and then complete an appropriate neuronal maturation programme in the adult host brain environment.