bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Human immune recognition-based multicomponent subunit vaccines against tuberculosis
Authors: Sable S. B. , Verma I. , Behera D. , Khuller G. K. 
Published: April 2005

The cell-mediated immune response, with its shift in favour of type-1 over type-2 T-helper cell immune response, is generally regarded as essential to protection against mycobacterial infections. The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective potential of two multicomponent subunit vaccines (MSV-1 and MSV-2) against tuberculosis (TB) based on human immune recognition.MSV-1 consisted of five immunodominant antigens (TB10.4, early secretory antigenic target (ESAT)-6, culture filtrate protein (CFP)-8, CFP-10 and CFP-15) selected from a group of polypeptides, which induced a predominant T-cell response in immune human subjects, whereas MSV-2 consisted of antigens (CFP-11, CFP-21, CFP-22.5,Mycobacterium tuberculosisprotein (MPT)-64 and CFP-31) selected from a group of polypeptides which induced a subdominant T-cell response along with the antibody response.Both of these sets of polypeptides were extensively recognised in healthy individuals with significant interferon gamma release compared to the diseased population. In C57BL/6J mice, at the level of the lungs, the order of protective efficacy for the test vaccines was: bacille Calmette–Guérin (BCG)>MSV-2>MSV-1. The protective efficacy of MSV-1 was found to be significantly less than that of MSV-2 and BCG at the level of spleen, whereas that of MSV-2 was comparable to that of BCG.The results of this study indicate that high T-helper cell type 1 response-inducing polypeptides selected on the basis of human immune recognition do not necessarily impart protection during vaccination experiments.
Cheyne-Stokes respiration and supine dependency
Authors: Sahlin C. , Svanborg E. , Stenlund H. , Franklin K. A. 
Published: April 2005

The influence of position during sleep on central apnoeas during Cheyne-Stokes respiration has not previously been studied systematically. The current authors aimed to study the effect of body position and sleep stages on central sleep apnoeas during Cheyne-Stokes respiration.A total of 20 consecutive patients with cardiovascular diseases and central sleep apnoea during Cheyne-Stokes respiration were investigated using nocturnal polysomnography, including a body position sensor mounted on the patient's sternum.The mean central apnoea–hypopnoea index was significantly higher in the supine position than in nonsupine positions (41±13versus26±12). The central apnoea–hypopnoea index was highest in sleep stages 1 and 2, and lowest in slow-wave sleep and rapid eye movement sleep. In every sleep stage, central apnoeas and hypopnoeas were more prevalent in the supine position compared with nonsupine positions.In conclusion, sleep in the supine body position increases the frequency of apnoeas and hypopnoeas in patients with Cheyne-Stokes respiration.
Genetics of fibrosing lung diseases
Authors: Grutters J. C. , du Bois R. M. 
Published: April 2005

Genetic studies in familial lung fibrosis have demonstrated an association with surfactant protein C genes: two mutations have been found resulting in protein misfolding and causing type-II epithelial cell injury. Remarkably, different histological patterns were observed in the affected subjects, suggesting the influence of modifier genes and/or environmental factors. Surfactant protein C gene variations have not, however, been associated with sporadic cases,i.e.idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).Susceptibility to IPF probably involves a combination of polymorphisms related to epithelial cell injury and abnormal wound healing. To date, the genetic associations with IPF that have been reported in different cohorts include the genes encoding tumour necrosis factor (TNF; −308 adenine), interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (+2018 thymidine) and association with severity and progression (interleukin-6/TNF receptor II and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGFB1; +869 cytosine)), but none of these associations have been replicated by others.Unlike in IPF, immunological inflammation seems to be more prominent in the pathogenesis of scleroderma lung fibrosis, being an autoimmune disease with specific autoantibodies, such as antitopoisomerase antibodies, in patients with diffuse lung disease, and anticentromere antibodies, in patients with pulmonary vascular disease. Antitopoisomerase antibody positivity is associated with the carriage of human leukocyte antigen DRB1*11 and DPB1*1301 alleles, suggesting the recognition of a specific amino-acid motif. Extended haplotype analysis also supports the conclusion that TNF may be the primary association with anticentromere positivity. Intriguingly, associations with TGFB1 and genes involved in extracellular matrix homeostasis have been reported in this disease.In conclusion, significant steps forward have been taken in the understanding of the genetic contribution to fibrosing lung diseases, but major challenges lay ahead. It is the present authors' opinion that only a combined approach studying large numbers of familial and sporadic cases, all clinically well phenotyped, using multiple distinct cohorts, and genotyped according to relevant gene ontologies will be successful. It will be necessary to be particularly vigilant with regard to phenotype; the absence of very strong reproducible associations may be because of the rigidity of phenotype definition, coupled with the possibility that idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis may still be a heterogeneous group of diseases, despite the more rigid definition set out by the European Respiratory Society/American Thoracic Society statement.
A novel duplication polymorphism in the FANCApromoter and its association with breast and ovarian cancer
Authors: Thompson Ella , Dragovic Rebecca L , Stephenson Sally-Anne , Eccles Diana M , Campbell Ian G , Dobrovic Alexander 
Published: April 2005

AbstractThe FANCA gene is one of the genes in which mutations lead to Fanconi anaemia, a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterised by congenital abnormalities, bone marrow failure, and predisposition to malignancy. FANCA is also a potential breast and ovarian cancer susceptibility gene. A novel allele was identified which has a tandem duplication of a 13 base pair sequence in the promoter region.
Methods
We screened germline DNA from 352 breast cancer patients, 390 ovarian cancer patients and 256 normal controls to determine if the presence of either of these two alleles was associated with an increased risk of breast or ovarian cancer.

Results
The duplication allele had a frequency of 0.34 in the normal controls. There was a non-significant decrease in the frequency of the duplication allele in breast cancer patients. The frequency of the duplication allele was significantly decreased in ovarian cancer patients. However, when malignant and benign tumours were considered separately, the decrease was only significant in benign tumours.

Conclusion
The allele with the tandem duplication does not appear to modify breast cancer risk but may act as a low penetrance protective allele for ovarian cancer.
Effects of multiple sclerosis on respiratory functions
Authors: Mutluay F K , Gürses H N , Saip S 
Published: April 2005

Objectives: To measure respiratory functions of ambulatory patients with multiple sclerosis and compare the results with expected values from healthy general population data. Further, to study the correlation of respiratory function impairment with the multiple sclerosis-induced disability level. Subjects: Thirty-eight patients with definite diagnosis of multiple sclerosis from the multiple sclerosis outpatient clinic. Methods: The Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores (mean 4.34±1.39) were evaluated to measure disability level. Respiratory functions tested in the laboratory included spirometric (FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC), maximal inspiratory (MIP) and expiratory (MEP) mouth pressure measurements. Patients were clinically assessed using a pulmonary dysfunction index (PDI) and dyspnoea index; various breathing features were also recorded. Results: With respect to expected values from healthy general population, important decreases were found in mouth pressures with MIP (77%±23%, p ≃ 0) and MEP (60%±13%, p ≃ 0) while spirometric measures were significantly but less affected (FVC 94%±12%, p < 0.01, FEV1 91%±16%, p < 0.001). FEV1/FVC ratios were normal. Notable increases in PDI (5.58±0.68, p ≃ 0) and dyspnoea index (0.32±0.47, p ≃ 0) were observed. Significant relationships (p < 0.01) between respiratory function impairment and the multiple sclerosis disability level could be detected for FVC, MEP and PDI. Conclusions: Multiple sclerosis clearly impairs respiratory functions; maximal mouth pressures are more severely reduced. This impairment increases with multiple sclerosis-induced disability level but is found to be independent from duration of disease.
The measurement properties and performance characteristics among older people of TURN180, a test of dynamic postural stability
Authors: Fitzpatrick C , Simpson J M , Valentine J D , Ryder S , Peacock-Edwards T , Sidnell P , Colognese M 
Published: April 2005

Objectives: To establish the measurement properties of TURN180, a test of dynamic postural stability. Design: One physiotherapist conducted three trials of TURN180, one of which was also observed by a second therapist. Setting: A day unit for elderly people accepting both inpatients and outpatients. Subjects: Sixty-six people (mean age 82.45 years), only six (9.1%) of whom could walk without using a walking aid. Main measurement: The number of steps that a person takes to step around 180 degrees. A step is defined as any attempt on the subject's part to take a step, successful or not. Results: Repeatability is good, intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.828; the minimal detectable change revealed that in order to be considered a real improvement the number of steps the person takes to complete the postintervention TURN180 must be 28–29% fewer than the preintervention count. As long as the protocol is followed carefully, between-observer agreement is good, with differences between two observers rarely exceeding one step. People who had fallen in the previous year took statistically significantly more steps than those who had not done so to complete TURN180. Requesting written as well as oral consent seems to reduce the likelihood of an elderly patient agreeing to participate in a study. Conclusion: TURN180 yields repeatable (retest reliable) and valid data about a person's dynamic postural stability, especially the minimal detectable change which allows clinicians to judge whether any change in their patient's performance is real.
Effectiveness of the Easy-Up Handle in acute rehabilitation
Authors: Eriksrud Ola , Bohannon Richard W 
Published: April 2005

Objective: The ability to attain standing without assistance is important to independent functioning. The objectives of this study, therefore, were to: (1) determine the effectiveness of the Easy-Up Handle for enabling otherwise dependent patients to attain standing from an armless chair and (2) establish whether knee extension force played a role in such effectiveness. Design: Cross-sectional descriptive study and explicatory experiment. Setting: Acute rehabilitation unit. Subjects: A subset ( n = 26) of 107 primarily elderly patients described in a previous study. The subjects were selected because of their inability to stand from an armless chair, even when using their upper limbs. Main measures: The ability to stand from the same chair when using an Easy-Up Handle. Hand-held dynamometer measures of the combined strength of the lower extremities. Results: Eight of 26 otherwise dependent patients were able to stand up independently with the Easy-Up Handle. Whether or not they were able to attain standing with the Easy-Up Handle was predicted by their combined knee extension force and by their combined force normalized against body weight. The Pearson correlations between stand-up independence (yes, no) and the forces were 0.496 and 0.543, respectively. Conclusions: The Easy-Up Handle can facilitate independence in chair rise for some patients otherwise unable to stand from sitting. Even with the Easy-Up Handle, however, a threshold of knee extension force is required.
Falls and injury prevention should be part of every stroke rehabilitation plan
Authors: Mackintosh S FH , Hill K , Dodd K J , Goldie P , Culham E 
Published: April 2005

Objective: To evaluate falls incidence, circumstances and consequences in people who return home after stroke rehabilitation, so that appropriate falls and injury prevention strategies can be developed. Design: Prospective cohort study. Setting: Community. Subjects: Fifty-six subjects with stroke who were participating in a rehabilitation programme and returning to live in a community setting completed the study. Main measures: Subjects completed a prospective falls diary for six months after discharge from rehabilitation, and were interviewed after falls. Physical function was measured by the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and the Functional Independence Measure (FIM). Results: Forty-six per cent of people (26/56) fell, with most falls (63/103 falls) occurring in the two months after discharge from rehabilitation. One subject had 37 similar falls and these falls were excluded from further analysis. Falls occurred more often indoors (50/66), during the day (46/66) and towards the paretic side (25/66). People required assistance to get up after 25 falls (38%) and 36 falls (55%) resulted in an injury. People sought professional health care after only 16 falls, and activity was restricted after 29 falls (44%). The Berg Balance Scale and Functional Independence Measure scores were lower in people who had longer lies after a fall, and who restricted their activity after a fall (p < 0.05). Lower physical function scores were also associated with falling in the morning, wearing multifocal glasses at the time of a fall, and injurious falls (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Falls are common when people return home after stroke. Of concern are the small number seeking health professionals’ assistance after a fall, the high proportion restricting their activity as a result of a fall and the number of falls occurring towards the paretic side.
A comparative evaluation of oxygen consumption and gait pattern in amputees using Intelligent Prostheses and conventionally damped knee swing-phase control
Authors: Datta Dipak , Heller Ben , Howitt John 
Published: April 2005

Objective: To compare the gait of amputees wearing conventionally damped pneumatic swing-phase control knees and microchip-controlled Intelligent Prostheses. Design: Crossover trial. Setting: An amputee rehabilitation centre in a teaching hospital. Participants: Ten established unilateral transfemoral prosthetic users were asked to participate in the trial; all agreed. Interventions: The amputees were assessed wearing pneumatic swing-phase control knees and then with the Intelligent Prosthesis. Main outcome measures: Oxygen consumption while walking at different speeds on a treadmill, video-recording of gait assessed by a panel and temporal–spatial parameters of gait whilst walking at slow, fast or normal speeds in a gait laboratory. Results: Mean oxygen cost for all subjects at 0.69 m/s was 0.33 ml/kg.m with the conventional limb and 0.30 ml/kg.m with the Intelligent Prosthesis ( p–0.01). At 1.25 m/s the mean oxygen cost for the conventional limb was 0.24 ml/kg.m and for the Intelligent Prosthesis was 0.22 ml/kg.m (not significant). The ANOVA analysis showed that oxygen cost was similar at normal walking speeds but increased more at lower speeds for the pneumatic swing-phase control leg compared to the Intelligent Prosthesis ( p<0.02). There were no significant differences in subjective gait evaluation or temporal and spatial gait parameters. Conclusion: At lower speeds oxygen cost was lower with the Intelligent Prosthesis. Gait analysis detected no significant changes between the two legs.
The co-ordination of bimanual rapid aiming movements following stroke
Authors: Rose D K , Winstein C J 
Published: April 2005

Objective: To determine the role of anticipatory and movement control processes for the coordination of bimanual target aiming in individuals post stroke. Subjects: Thirty adults with chronic stroke and 30 individuals without stroke history. Design: A two-group (stroke, control) by two-aiming type (unimanual, bimanual) by two-limb (paretic, nonparetic; left, right for controls) design with repeated measures on the last two factors. Outcome measures: Kinematic analyses of performance and psychometric measures of reaction time, movement time, peak resultant velocity, time to and after peak resultant velocity and interlimb timing for movement initiation and target impact. Results: Compared with unimanual aiming, the nonparetic limb exhibited a prolonged movement time in the bimanual condition; the locus for prolongation was primarily in the deceleration phase. This adaptive response allowed for a nearly simultaneous (both limbs) target impact in 81% of trials. Compared with the unimanual condition, the nonparetic limb exhibited a lower peak velocity (10%) in the bimanual condition. Conversely, compared with the unimanual condition, the paretic limb exhibited a higher peak velocity (4%) in the bimanual condition. This disociation between limb and condition was observed for the stroke group but not the control group. Conclusions: The interlimb coordination that emerged for the stroke group revealed a complex and asymmetric contribution from each limb mediated through anticipatory and motor control processes. We suggest that this coordination may be harnessed for future bimanual intervention approaches to rehabilitation of upper limb function after stroke.
Reliability and validity of the Northwick Park Dependency Score (NPDS) Swedish version 6.0
Authors: Svensson Siv , Sonn Ulla , Sunnerhagen Katharina Stibrant 
Published: April 2005

Objective: To translate, to test inter-rater and intra-rater reliability and concurrent validity of the Basic Care Needs (BCN) section of the Northwick Park Dependency Score (NPDS). Design: Test–retest reliability and validity testing. Observed data were collected by the staff (nursing staff, occupational therapists). Setting: Three rehabilitation units. Subjects: Forty inpatients between 16 and 65 years of age with brain injury were included. Main measures: Inter-rater and intra-rater reliability was calculated by percentage agreement (PA) and unweighted kappa measure. Concurrent validity was examined by computing Goodman–Kruskal's gamma, a nonparametric statistic for degree of association between the BCN score and the total score of the Functional Independence Measure (FIM). Results: Inter-rater reliability showed a good percentage agreement between nursing staff. Between nursing staff and occupational therapists the percentage agreement was lower especially in one item. Intra-rater reliability showed a good percentage agreement for all assessors. Concordance was good with a gamma 0.83 and an asymptotic error (ase) of 0.04, for nursing staff and for occupational therapists — 0.87, ase 0.04. Conclusion: The BCN section of NPDS was found to be inter-rater and intra-rater reliable, to have concurrent validity. Further studies are needed on clinical utility. The instrument can be used for assessment of dependency for individual patients with brain injury, and information when transferring between different caregivers. Further studies need to investigate the sensitivity of the instrument.
Neuropsychological impairments in people with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder and their unaffected relatives
Authors: McIntosh Andrew M. , Harrison Lesley K. , Forrester Karen , Lawrie Stephen M. , Johnstone Eve C. 
Published: April 2005

BackgroundNeuropsychological abnormalities in schizophrenia are well replicated and are present in unaffected relatives. Cognitive findings in bipolar disorder are less clearly established.AimsTo examine the possibility that these abnormalities may provide a means by which the disorders might be separated and to clarify the associations of phenotypic expression and genetic liability.MethodA neuropsychological test battery was administered to 50 control participants, 74 patients and 76 unaffected relatives recruited for the study. Patients included those with schizophrenia from families affected by schizophrenia alone, those with bipolar disorder from families affected by bipolar disorder alone and those with bipolar disorder from families affected by both disorders. Unaffected relatives were also recruited.ResultsCurrent, verbal and premorbid IQ were impaired in people with schizophrenia and in their close relatives. Memory was impaired in all patient and relative groups. Psychomotor performance and performance IQ were impaired in patients, regardless of diagnosis.ConclusionsThis study finds evidence that intellectual abnormalities are related to a genetic liability to schizophrenia. Abnormalities of memory appear to be related to an increased liability to psychosis in general. No impairment was specific to bipolar disorder.
Birth dimensions and risk of depression in adulthood: cohort study of Danish men born in 1953
Authors: Osler Merete , Nordentoft Merete , Andersen Anne-Marie Nybo 
Published: April 2005

BackgroundTwo British cohort studies have reported birth weight to be associated with self-reported depression in adulthood, even after adjustment for socio-economic factors.AimsTo examine the relationship between birth dimensions and discharge from a psychiatric ward with a depression diagnosis in adulthood.MethodA cohort of 10 753 male singletons born in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1953 and for whom birth certificates had been traced in 1965 were followed from 1969 until 2002, with record linkage for date of first admission to a psychiatric ward that led to a discharge diagnosis of depression.ResultsA total of 190 men, corresponding to 1.8% of the cohort, had a discharge diagnosis of depression. The Cox's regression analyses failed to show any association between birth dimensions (birth weight and ponderal index) and risk of psychiatric ward diagnosis of depression in adult life, before or after adjustment for social indicators at birth.ConclusionsThis study does not support the existence of a relation between birth dimensions and psychiatric ward admission for depression in adult men.
Mental health inequalities in Wales, UK: Multi–level investigation of the effect of area deprivation
Authors: Skapinakis Petros , Lewis Glyn , Araya Ricardo , Jones Kelvyn , Williams Gareth 
Published: April 2005

BackgroundGeographical variation in the prevalence of common mental disorders has not been explained adequately.AimsTo investigate whether regional mental health differences in Wales would persist after having taken into account the characteristics of individuals and regional social deprivation.MethodData from the 1998 Welsh Health Survey were used. Common mental disorders were assessed with the mental health index included in the Short-Form 36 health survey (SF–36). The data were analysed using a multi–level linear regression model.ResultsOf the total variance in the mental health index, 1.47% occurred at regional level (95% CI 0.56–2.38). Adjustment for individual characteristics did not explain the between-region variation. A higher area deprivation score was associated with a higher score on the mental health index.ConclusionsMental health differences in Wales are partly explained by the level of regional social deprivation.