bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
An evaluation of current diagnostic tests for the detection of infectious salmon anaemia virus (ISAV) following experimental water‐borne infection of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L.
Authors: Snow M , Raynard R S , Murray A G , Bruno D W , King J A , Grant R , Bricknell I R , Bain N , Gregory A 
Published: March 2003

AbstractFour commonly used diagnostic tests [reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR), indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT), virus culture and light microscopy] were evaluated for their ability to detect infectious salmon anaemia virus (ISAV) or tissue pathology following experimental infection of Atlantic salmon. Fish were infected with ISAV by water‐borne exposure which mimics the route of natural infection. Forty‐five per cent of pre‐clinical fish tested yielded positive results by RT‐PCR for at least one of the organs tested (kidney, heart, gill, liver, blood). No significant difference was detected between organs in the number or time of first occurrence of positive result. Virus culture identified a total of 14% of pre‐clinical fish as ISAV‐infected. The presence of ISAV in heart tissue was particularly notable (13% of fish sampled) as was the inability to culture virus from spleen tissue. In the case of IFAT, 15% of fish sampled were positive, although tissue other than kidney proved unsuitable for use in this method. Only limited ISAV‐specific pathology was detectable by histological examination of fish prior to the onset of clinical disease. These findings reveal important information regarding the optimal choice of both tissue sample and diagnostic test for the routine diagnosis of ISAV.
Changes in serum phenylalanine after overnight fasts in youngsters with phenylketonuria
Authors: Ferguson C. , Morris A. M. 
Published: March 2003

Summary Background and aims: In patients with phenylketonuria (PKU), overnight fasting is associated with rises in serum phenylalanine (PHE) concentration. This is thought to result from catabolism of endogenous protein, which can be reduced by a bedtime snack accompanied by a dose of PHE‐free protein substitute (P/S). This study assessed the effectiveness of this strategy and whether any additional benefit was conferred by omitting PHE from the bedtime snack. Methods: Data are presented for 18 PKU children (aged 9–16 years), studied over a 48‐h period whilst following diets of known composition. All the subjects had a bedtime snack accompanied by 25% of their P/S daily requirement. Half the subjects (Group X) had 25% of their daily PHE allowance in the bedtime snack, whilst the others (Group Z) ate only ‘PHE‐free’ foods at this time. Results: Overnight changes in serum PHE levels were generally small for both groups; the mean serum PHE level changed very little overnight (Group X: 405 μmol L−1 post snack, 389 μmol L−1 prebreakfast; Group Z: 430 μmol L−1 post snack, 426 μmol L−1 pre breakfast). Conclusion: Overnight changes in serum PHE levels can be minimized by a bedtime snack accompanied by a proportion of the daily protein substitute. Omission of PHE from the snack confers no extra advantage.
The folic acid message – can training make a difference?
Authors: Edwards L. , Wyles D. 
Published: March 2003

Summary Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of training sessions for health professionals concerning folic acid in pregnancy. Methods: Training sessions were held for Community Health Professionals to disseminate the current Department of Health recommendations about folic acid. The professions targeted were those who were more likely to come into contact with women of child‐bearing age, e.g. midwives, health visitors, practice nurses and family planning staff. Altogether 24 1‐h training sessions were held reaching 189 staff. Each session consisted of factual information, a brainstorming session about what pregnant women eat and a nutrition game involving calculating a day's intake of folic acid. Questionnaires were used to evaluate the level of knowledge before and after training. Feedback about the sessions was also obtained from participants. Results: With every group trained there was an improvement in knowledge. The greatest change was that staff realized how difficult it is to consume the recommended amount of folic acid from food alone. Before the training session 42% of the health professionals thought that women could eat enough folic acid and after the training this had fallen to just 1%. Conclusion: The training sessions produced positive changes. In addition, the process of evaluation, which is increasingly recognized as important for dietitians, was found to be rewarding.
An investigation of the face validity of a food intake questionnaire: lessons for dietary advice
Authors: Johnson B. , Hackett A. F. , Bibby A. , Cross J. 
Published: March 2003

Summary Aim: To assess the face validity of a food intake questionnaire (FIQ) by comparison to current dietetic practice exemplified by State Registered Dietitians (SRD) working in the North West of England. Methods: 228 questionnaires were posted to 38 dietetic departments in the North West & North Wales branch of the British Dietetic Association. Dietitians were asked to name foods they considered most important when advising clients on four aspects of healthy eating: lowering sugar intake, lowering fat intake, increasing fibre intake and decreasing salt intake; the foods mentioned by most respondents in each category were ranked 1–10. If an FIQ item appeared in the list of ranked foods and was selected by more than 50% of the sample its inclusion in the FIQ was considered face valid. Results: 56 foods out of the 80 ranked 1–10 in the eight categories appeared in the FIQ. Thirty‐one of these 56 foods were mentioned by more than 50% of dietitians when considering the four aspects of healthy eating; 27 (87%) of these were included in FIQ items. The study also revealed a surprisingly large number of foods to be mentioned by dietitians for each of the four categories. The list of foods mentioned was extensive; for example, 120 foods were mentioned when considering lowering fat intake. Conclusions: The items chosen for the FIQ can be seen to agree closely with the opinions of practising SRDs, confirming its face validity. The results also suggest there is a need to debate the nature of dietary advice which is given to the public. The findings of the study suggest that translating nutritional guidelines into advice about which foods should be eaten is far from simple. The results may provide one reason for public confusion about healthy eating.
The development and testing of a food portion photograph book for use in an African population
Authors: Venter C. S. , MacIntyre U. E. , Vorster H. H. 
Published: March 2003

Objective To develop and test a book of photographs of commonly eaten foods to be used as a visual aid in the description of portion sizes in a large cross‐sectional study on the health profile of Africans in transition (THUSA – Transition, Health and Urbanization in South Africa).Setting Clinics in the North West Province of South Africa.Participants One hundred and sixty‐nine adult African volunteersDesign Data on commonly eaten foods, preparation methods, recipes and portion sizes were collected in a pilot study. Colour photographs, taken of foods prepared by the researchers and measured into three or four portion sizes, were enlarged and put together in a book. The food portion photograph book (FPPB) was tested by presenting subjects with a portion of real food and asking them to estimate the portion size by matching it with one of the portion photographs.Main results Of 2959 portions tested, 68% were accurately estimated (estimated weight within 10% of actual weight). Clearly defined solid foods were better estimated than foods that had an amorphous appearance. Accuracy of estimation was not affected by gender, age or education.Conclusion The FPPB was accepted as a useful and convenient visual aid to estimate portion sizes in the cross‐sectional dietary intake study.
The alpha and gamma tocopherol levels in serum are influenced by the dietary fat quality
Authors: Öhrvall M. , Gustafsson I.‐B. , Vessby B. 
Published: March 2003

BackgroundAlpha tocopherol in serum is thought to be of importance in protecting lipids against oxidation and low serum levels of alpha tocopherol has been suggested to increase the risk for coronary heart disease. However, low levels of gamma, rather than alpha, tocopherol have been found in patients with manifest coronary heart disease and in populations with a high incidence of coronary heart disease.AimThe aim of this study was to determine the tocopherol concentrations in serum after two diets with identical nutrient content but with different fat quality, enriched in butter and rapeseed oil‐based fats, respectively.MethodTwenty moderately hyperlipidemic, healthy subjects (six females and 14 males) participated in this double‐blind cross‐over study, where two isoenergetic diets were given in a randomized order during two 3‐week periods, interrupted by a wash‐out period of 3–4 weeks.ResultsThe lipid‐corrected serum concentrations of alpha and gamma tocopherol increased during the diet rich in rapeseed oil (by 7 and 23%, respectively) compared with on the baseline diet (P < 0.001), while these concentrations decreased (by 5 and 37%, respectively, P < 0.01) during the diet rich in saturated fat. The ratio between alpha and gamma tocopherol decreased significantly during the rapeseed oil diet (−23%, P < 0.01) and increased (+46%, P < 0.001) during the butter diet.ConclusionAlpha and gamma tocopherol levels in serum are influenced by the type of fat used in the diet. The most unexpected finding is that the lipid‐adjusted gamma tocopherol concentration significantly decreased by 37% during a diet rich in saturated fat with an increased ratio between alpha and gamma tocopherol, similar to the situation found in CHD patients.
Validation of a nutrition screening tool: testing the reliability and validity
Authors: Burden S. T. , Bodey S. , Bradburn Y. J. , Murdoch S. , Thompson A. L. , Sim J. M. , Sowerbutts A. M. 
Published: March 2003

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to validate a nutrition screening tool for use in South Manchester University Hospitals Trust.MethodA sample of 100 patients was selected from medical, surgical and elderly care wards. To test the reliability of the screening tool, nurses and dietitians completed the screening tool on the same patient. These results were compared for interobserver error to determine whether the screening tool was reproducible with different observers. To ascertain if the screening tool identified malnutrition at ward level, four markers commonly used to assess nutritional status were collected. These included body mass index (BMI), mid upper arm circumference MUAC, percentage weight loss, and energy intake calculated from the patient’s first full day in hospital and expressed as a percentage of their estimated average requirements (EAR).ResultsThere was a 95% level of agreement between nurses and dietitians within ±3. The screening tool had a sensitivity level of 78% and a specificity of 52% when compared to all patients who had one or more markers indicating malnutrition. This association was found to be statistically significant (P < 0.005).ConclusionThe screening tool is reliable when completed by different observers and is valid for wide scale nutritional assessment. The screening tool identifies an acceptable number of patients who are malnourished but overestimates patients at moderate risk.
Women’s confidence to consume adequate servings of milk products: validation of a summated rating scale
Authors: Gulliver P. , Horwath C. 
Published: March 2003

ObjectiveTo design and validate a scale to assess women’s confidence to consume adequate servings of milk products.DesignUsing the electoral rolls as a sampling frame, two large random population surveys of women aged 25–70 years were conducted. The structure of the self‐efficacy scale was explored in the first survey of 500 women, and the component structure was refined and confirmed in an independent sample of 1200 women.ResultsThe final single component self‐efficacy scale consisted of nine items to assess confidence to consume milk products in various situations. Confidence was higher in women who were already consuming adequate servings of milk products than in women who were not yet ready to consume adequate servings of milk products, providing construct validity for the scale.ConclusionThe data provide preliminary support for the validity of the self‐efficacy scale. The potential usefulness of the scale in interventions designed to improve women’s milk product consumption is discussed.
An investigation of the validity and reliability of a food intake questionnaire
Authors: Johnson B. , Hackett A. , Roundfield M. , Coufopoulos A. 
Published: March 2003

AimsTo evaluate the reliability and criterion validity of a food intake questionnaire (FIQ) designed for use in schoolchildren.MethodsStudy of reliability: 98 young people aged 13–14 years attending two schools in deprived areas of Liverpool completed the FIQ on three separate occasions over a 3‐month period.Validity studyNinety‐six young people (aged 11–13 years) completed the FIQ and 2 weeks later completed a 3‐day food diary (with interview).ResultsThe FIQ gave consistent response on separate occasions over the 3‐month reliability study period. Levels of agreement were consistent between survey combinations. Analysis of variance showed no differences in mean score for food groups between surveys. Pearson correlations for mean scores estimated by separate FIQ ranged from 0.42 for fibre food group to 0.76 for negative marker food group; the majority of the correlations were above 0.5. The data suggested the FIQ should be able to detect a change of ±10% in eating habits. The validity study provided modest but significant Pearson correlations between energy intake, fat intake as a percentage of energy intake and sugars intake derived from 3‐day diaries, and mean scores for the fatty, sugary and negative marker food group assessed by the FIQ.ConclusionsThe results from both studies provide an indication of the FIQ’s reliability, and suggest it has criterion validity for fatty and sugary and negative marker foods.
Acceptability and tolerance of a low tyrosine and phenylalanine diet in patients with advanced cancer – a pilot study
Authors: Harvie M. N. , Campbell I. T. , Howell A. , Thatcher N. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractBackgroundLow phenylalanine (phe) and tyrosine (tyr) diets limit tumour growth in animal models and may offer a novel cancer therapy. We studied the efficacy and acceptability of a low phe and tyr diet in patients with advanced cancer.MethodsPatients with advanced metastatic melanoma (n=22) and metastatic breast cancer (n=15) were invited to follow a low phe and tyr diet (10 mg kg−1 phe and tyr per day) for 1 month. In those individuals who followed the diet for 1 month, we attempted to establish the effects on nutritional status (body weight, fat free mass, percentage body fat, serum albumin), immune cell function (white cell count, lymphocytes and neutrophils), plasma levels of phe–tyr and tryptophan and quality of life (Hospital Anxiety and Depression score).ResultsOnly three of the 22 patients with metastatic melanoma and three of the 15 patients with metastatic breast cancer agreed to start the diet. All patients experienced problems and side‐effects and increases in anxiety and depression. There were declines in weight, with loss of fat and fat free mass but slight increases in white cell counts and neutrophils.ConclusionsLow phe and tyr diets do not appear to be a viable treatment option for patients with advanced cancer.
Implementation research for ‘evidence‐based’ guideline development by dietitians: a pilot study to test an instrument
Authors: Wammes B. M. , Blom C. A. , Koelen M. , De Groot S. D. W. , Remijnse‐Meester W. T. A. , Van Staveren W. A. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractAim  To improve the quality of dietetic care, dietitians in the University Medical Center Utrecht (UMCU) are encouraged to develop and implement ‘evidence‐based’ guidelines. The aim of this pilot study was to develop and test a questionnaire for implementation research to monitor the process of developing and implementing these guidelines.Methods  A questionnaire was developed and distributed to 15 dietitians, who have started developing an ‘evidence‐based’ guideline. The questionnaire measures determinants of dietitians' behaviour and the presence of conditions facilitating the development of a guideline. Cronbach's α with a cut‐off point of 0.7 was used to analyse the internal consistence between the items related to behavioural determinants. A panel of professionals such as a member of staff from the UMCU, a communication expert and project‐managers ensured the completeness of the questionnaire.Results  The internal consistency was high (α > 0.7) between the items related to the determinants of behaviour. The questionnaire gives a structured overview of factors affecting positively or negatively the process of guideline development. Although dietitians have a positive behaviour towards guideline development, they perceived barriers related to the presence of conditions to develop a guideline.Conclusion  We concluded that the applied questionnaire is appropriate for implementation research and has given a structured overview of factors that influence the development of dietetic guidelines by dietitans in the UMCU.
The latent variable structure of the Compulsive Behaviour Checklist in people with Prader–Willi syndrome
Authors: Bouras N. , Feurer I. D. , Dimitropoulos A. , Stone W. L. , Roof E. , Butler M. G. , Thompson T. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractThe presence and severity of compulsive behaviours may be evaluated via the Compulsive Behaviour Checklist (CBC) and this instrument has been successfully employed in people with intellectual disability. However, the applicability of the overall CBC scoring system, which entails tallying the number of behavioural categories represented (i.e. five) as well as the number of individual behaviours endorsed (i.e 25), is not known in the population with Prader–Willi syndrome (PWS). The present investigation examined the latent variable structure of the CBC in people with PWS in order to identify possible population‐specific scoring and interpretation considerations. The 25 behaviour‐specific items of the CBC were analysed for 75 people with PWS (44 females and 31 males) aged between 4 and 41 years (mean ± SD = 11.4 ± 9.4) via factor analysis with principal component extraction and equamax rotation. The most suitable solution was determined on the basis of multiple empirical criteria: (1) the scree test; (2) eigenvalues > 1.00; (3) salient loadings > 0.30; (4) the clarity of item assignment to a single latent dimension; (5) the internal consistency of the latent dimension(s) (coefficient α≥ 0.70); and (6) item‐total correlations between 0.20 and 0.79. In addition, solutions were examined with respect to psychological theory and previous research. A ‘general factor’ (i.e. single latent dimension) solution which adhered to all a priori criteria was indicated. Twenty‐four out of 25 items achieved salient loadings ranging from 0.46 to 0.80 on the general factor. The single item which failed to achieve salience, ‘deviant grooming‐skin picking’, exhibited both substantial unique variance (0.997) and moderate reliability (r= 0.59, P < 0.001). The internal consistency of the general factor was strong (α= 0.93) and all salient items were suitably correlated with the unit‐weighted total score (ritem‐total= 0.41−0.77). The traditional CBC scoring system, which includes tallying the number of categories represented, would not be relevant in this PWS sample. In addition, the recommended tallying of the number of individual behaviours endorsed does not reflect the empirically indicated notion of compulsive behaviour in this special population. These findings indicate that the 24 salient items should be scored as a unit‐weighted composite and that the score on the substantially unique item (skin picking) should be considered a separate measure when evaluating compulsive behaviours via the CBC in people with PWS.
Neurophysiological and neuropsychological differences related to performance and verbal abilities in subjects with mild intellectual disability
Authors: Muñoz‐Ruata J. , Gómez‐Jarabo G. , Martín‐Loeches M. , Martínez‐Lebrusant L. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractThe present study compared two group of subjects with intellectual disability. The 44 subjects in group 1 had equivalent verbal and performance IQs (67 and 64, respectively), while the 12 subjects in group 2 had an intellectual performance IQ which was ≥10 points above their verbal performance IQ (80 and 65, respectively). The second group showed an alpha peak at a higher frequency and an evoked potential closer to normality. The decrease in the voltage of the P300 wave in group 1 was especially significant. The cognitive evoked potentials were also different between the two groups.
Health status of mothers of adults with intellectual disability
Authors: Chen S. C. , Ryan‐Henry S. , Heller T. , Chen E. H. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractA cross‐sectional survey was conducted to describe the health of mothers of adults with intellectual disability (ID), and the influence of the mother's and her adult child's characteristics on her health. The sample consisted of 108 mothers divided into mid‐life and later‐life groups. Four service agencies mailed SF‐36 forms and demographic questionnaires to their clients. The return rate from primary caregivers was 70%. The physical and the mental components of health of both groups of mothers were found to be similar to or better than those of their counterparts in the US national norms. Arthritis was found to influence the physical health of both groups of mothers. Employment was found to influence physical health of the mid‐life mothers, while family income was found to influence mental health of the later‐life mothers. The characteristics of adults with ID did not influence the mothers' health significantly. Mothers' caregiving for their adult children with ID might not be as detrimental to the mid‐life mothers' physical component of health as it might be to the later‐life mothers. Further studies are needed.