bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ophthalmological manifestations of Fabry disease: a survey of patients at the Royal Melbourne Fabry Disease Treatment Centre
Authors: Nguyen Thanh T , Gin Trevor , Nicholls Kathy , Low Michael , Galanos Jason , Crawford Andrew 
Published: April 2005

AbstractBackground: Fabry disease is a rare X‐linked inborn error of glycosphingolipid metabolism. The aim of this study was to document the ophthalmological manifestations of patients attending the Royal Melbourne Hospital Fabry disease treatment centre.Methods: Patients at the treatment centre had full ophthalmological examination performed. This included best corrected visual acuity, ocular motility examination and examination of the adnexae. Patients also underwent slit‐lamp examination looking for the presence of features of Fabry disease, particularly examining the bulbar conjunctiva, cornea, lens and fundus.Results: Thirty‐four hemizygous male and 32 heterozygous female patients were recruited. The mean age of the hemizygous male patients was 37.7 years (range 18–57 years). The mean age of the heterozygous female patients was 34.6 years (range 1–78 years). Visual acuity was not affected. 97.1% of the hemizygotes and 78.1% of the heterozygotes had vascular abnormalities of the bulbar conjunctiva. Cornea verticillata was noted in 94.1% of the hemizygotes and 71.9% of the heterozygotes. 41.2% of the hemizygotes and 9.4% of the heterozygotes had anterior cataract formation. Posterior lens opacities were observed in 11.8% of the hemizygotes and none of the heterozygotes. Retinal vascular tortuosity was observed in 76.5% of the hemizygotes and 18.8% of the heterozygotes.Conclusion: Conjunctival vascular tortuosity was the most common manifestation in this series. Conjunctival and retinal vessel tortuosity, and corneal verticillata are frequently observed in Fabry disease. The incidence of lenticular changes is not consistently reported, but in this series and many others, it is much less common than that of corneal, conjunctival and retinal changes.
Wavefront's role in corneal refractive surgery
Authors: Lawless Michael A , Hodge Christopher 
Published: April 2005

AbstractIn the 5 years since the first wavefront‐based LASIK treatment on normal eyes, the ophthalmology profession has had to confront a new language based on astronomy, optics and mathematics. Over this time wavefront technology has been used for diagnosis and treatment, and its application has made the profession define what is meant by good vision, and determine whether, with psychophysical and psychometric tests, it is possible understand how an individual perceives the world. The clinical application of wavefront technology has forced ophthalmologists and vision scientists with an engineering bias to talk to those with a biological bias, and to appreciate that if you try and change the corneal shape, its biological, anatomical and optical properties exist within a complex external eye environment. This perspective article demonstrates that wave­front analysis is a useful diagnostic tool, and that wavefront‐based corneal refractive surgery is an improvement over conventional techniques. Its use by an ophthalmologist is a clinical decision specific to an individual patient.
Predictors of glycaemic control in indigent patients presenting with diabetic ketoacidosis
Authors: Maldonado M. , D'Amico S. , Otiniano M. , Balasubramanyam A. , Rodriguez L. , Cuevas E. 
Published: April 2005

Aim:  To derive predictors of good glycaemic control in patients presenting with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) followed prospectively in a specialized clinic.Methods:  One hundred and sixty‐one adult patients were admitted during a 31‐month period and followed for at least 12 months. After 1 year, the patients were classified into three groups: good control (GC) (HbA1c ≤ 7%), intermediate control (IC) (HbA1c 7–9%) and poor control (PC) (HbA1c > 9%). Characteristics of patients in the three groups were compared both at baseline and during follow‐up.Results:  At 12 months, 36% of the patients were classified as GC, 27% as IC and 37% as PC. GC patients had higher fasting serum C‐peptide levels 0.7 ± 0.54 compared to 0.38 ± 0.29 and 0.16 ± 0.21 nmol/l, respectively, for the IC and PC patients (p < 0.0001). A higher proportion GC patient had a C‐peptide level greater than 0.33 nmol/l than that for IC and PC patients (86, 61 and 19%, respectively; p < 0.0001). Exogenous insulin was safely discontinued in 50, 30 and 3% of patients, respectively, in the GC, IC and PC groups (p < 0.0001). Compliance with life‐style interventions was higher in the GC than that in IC and PC patients (87, 41 and 5%, respectively; p < 0.0001). In the logistic regression analysis, predictors of good glycaemic control were having baseline fasting serum C‐peptide value ≥0.33 mmol/l, OR: 3.01 (95% CI 1.07–8.55, p = 0.03) and compliance with life‐style interventions OR 12.66 (95% CI 3.73–51.57, p = 0.0001).Conclusion:  Among adult patients with DKA, significant predictors of good glycaemic control are preserved β‐cell function and compliance with life‐style modifications.
Comparison of air displacement plethysmograph and bioelectrical impedance for assessing body composition changes during weight loss in Japanese women
Authors: Miyatake N. , Takenami S. , Kawasaki Y. , Fujii M. 
Published: April 2005

Objective:  To investigate the difference between air displacement plethysmograph (ADP) and bioelectrical impedance (BI) for assessing body composition changes during weight loss in Japanese women.Design:  Cross‐sectional and longitudinal investigation study.Subjects:  In a first cross‐sectional study, we used data of 7380 Japanese women aged 14–83 years [body mass index (BMI): 22.6 ± 3.7 kg/m2] at baseline. Among the participants, we used data of 54 women (BMI: 25.9 ± 3.9 kg/m2) for a 5‐month follow‐up study.Measurements:  Body fat percentage was evaluated by ADP and BI, and body fat (kg) and lean body mass (kg) were calculated. Anthropometric parameters, such as height, weight, BMI, waist circumference, hip circumference and waist hip ratio, were also measured. In a second longitudinal study, they were also investigated before and after the study.Results:  In a first cross‐sectional study, body fat percentage was 31.2 ± 7.0% in ADP and 25.7 ± 6.8% in BI. A significant relationship was observed between ADP and BI (r = 0.761, p < 0.01). In a second longitudinal study, body weight was significantly reduced. There were significant method (ADP vs. BI) and time (pre and post) effects but no interactions in assessing body fat percentage. There was a significant relationship between ADP and BI in body fat percentage, body fat and lean body mass. Delta body fat percentage (r = 0.386, p < 0.01) and delta body fat (r = 0.556, p < 0.01) measured by ADP were weakly correlated with those measured by BI. However, delta lean body mass measured by ADP was not correlated with that measured by BI.Conclusion:  There was a discrepancy between ADP and BI for assessing body composition changes in Japanese women. ADP is preferentially recommended for evaluating body composition.
Letrozole normalizes serum testosterone in severely obese men with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism
Authors: De Boer H. , Verschoor L. , Ruinemans‐Koerts J. , Jansen M. 
Published: April 2005

Background: Morbid obesity is associated with increased estradiol production as a result of aromatase‐dependent conversion of testosterone to estradiol. The elevated serum estradiol levels may inhibit pituitary LH secretion to such extent that hypogonadotropic hypogonadism can result. Normalization of the disturbed estradiol‐testosterone balance may be beneficial to reverse the adverse effects of hypogonadism.Aim: To examine whether aromatase inhibition with Letrozole can normalize serum testosterone levels in severely obese men with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism.Patients and Methods: Ten severely obese men, mean age 48.2 ± 2.3 (s.e.) years and body mass index 42.1 ± 2.6 kg/m2, were treated with Letrozole for 6 weeks in doses ranging from 7.5 to 17.5 mg per week.Results: Six weeks of treatment decreased serum estradiol from 120 ± 20 to 70 ± 9 pmol/l (p = 0.006). None of the subjects developed an estradiol level of less than 40 pmol/l. LH increased from 4.5 ± 0.8 to 14.8 ± 2.3 U/l (p < 0.001). Total testosterone rose from 7.5 ± 1.0 to 23.8 ± 3.0 nmol/l (p < 0.001) without a concomitant change in sex hormone‐binding globulin level. Those treated with Letrozole 17.5 mg per week had an excessive LH response.Conclusion: Short‐term Letrozole treatment normalized serum testosterone levels in all obese men. The clinical significance of this intervention remains to be established in controlled, long‐term studies.
Abdominal obesity predicts declining insulin sensitivity in non‐obese normoglycaemics: the Insulin Resistance Atherosclerosis Study (IRAS)
Authors: Karter A. J. , D'Agostino R. B. , Mayer‐Davis E. J. , Wagenknecht L. E. , Hanley A. J. G. , Hamman R. F. , Bergman R. , Saad M. F. , Haffner S. M. ,   for the IRAS investigators
Published: April 2005

Aim:  Cross‐sectional studies have demonstrated a relationship between obesity and insulin sensitivity (SI); however, there is a lack of evidence from longitudinal studies.Methods:  The Insulin Resistance Atherosclerosis Study (IRAS) estimated SI (×10−4/min·µU/ml) directly using a frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test with minimal model analysis in 504 normoglycaemic subjects. Partial correlation coefficients (r) were calculated to compare the relationship of change in SI from baseline to 5 years later (ΔSI) with baseline waist circumference (waist) as a measure of abdominal obesity and body mass index (BMI) as a measure of overall obesity. Mean ΔSI was −1.06 (SD = 1.85).Results:  Higher baseline waist (r = −0.16; p = 0.0005), but not BMI (r = −0.005; p = 0.91), was associated with (–) ΔSI in models including sex, ethnicity, clinical centre and baseline SI, BMI, waist, age and physical activity. The waist–ΔSI relationship differed across the levels of baseline BMI, being significant only in normal weight (r = −0.21) and overweight subjects (r = −0.16), but not in obese subjects. ΔSI was correlated with a 5‐year change in either obesity measure (Δwaist: r = −0.22 and ΔBMI: r = −0.20; p = 0.0001).Conclusions:  Among non‐diabetics, waist circumference was a strong predictor of declining SI among lean subjects, a modest predictor among overweight subjects, but was not predictive among obese individuals. Waist circumference should be considered, in addition to BMI, when identifying individuals at high risk of diabetes or the insulin resistance syndrome.
Low‐fat, high‐carbohydrate (low‐glycaemic index) diet induces weight loss and preserves lean body mass in obese healthy subjects: results of a 24‐week study
Authors: Bahadori B. , Yazdani‐Biuki B. , Krippl P. , Brath H. , Uitz E. , Wascher T. C. 
Published: April 2005

Background:  The traditional treatment for obesity which is based on a reduced caloric diet has only been partially successful. Contributing factors are not only a poor long‐term dietary adherence but also a significant loss of lean body mass and subsequent reduction in energy expenditure. Both low‐fat, high‐carbohydrate diets and diets using low‐glycaemic index (GI) foods are capable of inducing modest weight loss without specific caloric restriction. The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility and medium‐term effect of a low‐fat diet with high (low GI) carbohydrates on weight loss, body composition changes and dietary compliance.Methods:  Obese patients were recruited from two obesity outpatient clinics. Subjects were given advise by a dietician, then they attended biweekly for 1‐hour group meetings. Bodyweight and body composition were measured at baseline and after 24 weeks.Results:  One hundred and nine (91%) patients completed the study; after 24 weeks the average weight loss was 8.9 kg (98.6 vs. 89.7 kg; p ≤ 0.0001). There was a significant 15% decrease in fat mass (42.5 vs. 36.4 kg; p ≤ 0.0001) and a decrease in lean body mass of 5% (56.1 vs. 53.3 kg; p ≤ 0.0001).Discussion:  In this 6‐month study, a low‐fat, low‐GI diet led to a significant reduction of fat mass; adherence to the diet was very good. Our results suggest that such a diet is feasible and should be evaluated in randomized controlled trials.
Effect of orlistat on cardiovascular disease risk in obese adults
Authors: Swinburn B. A. , Carey D. , Hills A. P. , Hooper M. , Marks S. , Proietto J. , Strauss B. J. , Sullivan D. , Welborn T. A. , Caterson I. D. 
Published: April 2005

Aim:  The aim of this study is to compare the effect of orlistat vs. placebo on the predicted 10‐year cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in obese people with one or more cardiovascular risk factors treated for 12 months, in conjunction with a fat‐reduced, but otherwise ad libitum, diet.Methods:  A double‐blind, randomized, placebo‐controlled, parallel study was performed in conjunction with a fat‐reduced diet and physical activity advice for 1 year. Participants (n = 339) from eight centres in Australia and New Zealand were randomized to either orlistat (120 mg) three times daily (n = 104 women, 66 men; mean ± s.d. age = 52.0 ± 7.5 years, body mass index (BMI) = 37.6 ± 5.1 kg/m2) or placebo three times daily (n = 89 women, 80 men; age = 52.5 ± 7.4 years, BMI = 38.0 ± 4.9 kg/m2). The primary efficacy criterion was the 10‐year risk of developing CVD calculated from the Framingham equation. Secondary efficacy criteria were body weight, waist circumference, blood pressure and serum concentrations of triglycerides, cholesterol (total, LDL and HDL), glucose, insulin and glycated haemoglobin and quality of life.Results:  There was no difference in the change in 10‐year CVD risk between orlistat and placebo groups over 1 year. The orlistat group, however, had significant favourable changes in many of the individual CVD risk factors (total cholesterol, LDL‐cholesterol, glucose, glycated haemoglobin, insulin, body weight and waist circumference) and one of the domains of quality of life measured by means of the SF‐36 questionnaire (vitality), compared to the placebo group. Significant reductions in medication use for hypertension and diabetes were observed in the orlistat group, compared to those in placebo, but there were no significant differences in medication use for blood lipids.Conclusions:  Orlistat may have reduced CVD risk, as judged by the favourable changes in individual risk factors and reductions in medication use, but the method used in order to measure absolute CVD risk in this study (Framingham CVD equation) was not sensitive enough to detect the changes in this relatively low‐risk group (approximately 10% of risk of a CVD event over 10 years).
Effects of cerivastatin on forearm vascular responses, blood pressure responsiveness and ambulatory blood pressure in type 2 diabetic men
Authors: Tran D. , Lowy A. , Howes J. B. , Howes L. G. 
Published: April 2005

Objective:  The objective of the study was to investigate the effects of cerivastatin therapy on forearm endothelial dependent acetylcholine (ACH) and independent (nitroprusside) vasodilator responses, blood pressure (BP) responses to intravenous infusions of angiotensin II (AII) and noradrenaline (NA) and on 24‐h ambulatory BP recordings in type 2 diabetic men.Design:  Eleven type 2 diabetic men aged 59 ± 9 years with total cholesterol levels of 5.0 ± 1.26 mmol/l, triglycerides of 2.23 mmol/l and high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol levels of 1.24 mmol/l completed a double‐blind, randomized, crossover trial comparing 8 weeks of cerivastatin therapy (800 µg of nocte) with placebo. Forearm vascular resistance (FVR) responses to intrabrachial‐arterial infusions of ACH (3–24 µg/min), nitroprusside (2–16 µg/min), the nitric oxide(NO) synthase inhibitor l‐nitro‐mono‐methyl arginine (l‐nmma) (8 µmol/min), ACH during l‐NMMA infusion and BP responses to intravenous infusions of AII (12.5–50 ng/min) and NA (20–400 ng/min) were measured at the end of each treatment period. Twenty‐four‐hour ambulatory BP recordings were also performed.Results:   FVR responses to ACH during l‐NMMA infusion were significantly (p = 0.026) greater during cerivastatin than during placebo therapy. In contrast, FVR responses to ACH in the absence of NO synthase inhibition did not differ significantly between cerivastatin and placebo therapies (p = 0.81). FVR increased by 31.4 ± 57.3% in response to l‐NMMA infusion during cerivastatin therapy compared with 6.1 ± 41.2% during placebo therapy (p = 0.20). FVR responses to nitroprusside did not differ between cerivastatin and placebo therapies (p = 0.28), nor did BP responses to AII (systolic BP, p = 0.99; diastolic BP, p = 0.98) or NA (systolic BP, p = 0.21; diastolic BP, p = 0.48). Mean 24‐h BP was similar during cerivastatin (123 ± 10 or 70 ± 7 mmHg) and placebo therapies (129 ± 11 or 74 ± 7 mmHg) (systolic BP, p = 0.26; diastolic BP, p = 0.41).Conclusion:  Cerivastatin increases FVR responses to ACH in type 2 diabetic men with mild dyslipidaemia but only following NO synthase inhibition. This may indicate an improvement in endothelium‐derived hyperpolarizing factor‐mediated responses.
Audiences’ judgements of speakers who use multimedia as a presentation aid: a contribution to training and assessment
Authors: Christie Bruce , Collyer Jenny 
Published: April 2005

AbstractMultimedia technology in principle may help speakers to deliver more effective presentations. The present study examined what effectiveness might mean in terms of audience reaction. Understanding that may help educators to use multimedia more effectively themselves and to help their students to do so. Descriptors were elicited from audiences in response to a total of 56 live presentations in which speakers used multimedia as a presentation aid. Forty‐two rating scales were defined. A total of 20 presentations were rated using the scales, with the scales presented in one of two different random orders. The order did not appear to affect the ratings. A factor analysis suggests that three factors may be most important in describing the audiences’ responses. The first describes audience assessment of how well researched and informative the presentation seemed. The second concerns the design of the multimedia, including how creative and imaginative it was. The third reflects how entertaining  and  how  much  fun  the  audience  felt  the  experience  as  a  whole to be. The results suggest a three‐factor model that might be useful when designing multimedia‐supported presentations, for providing proactive guidance and feedback when training speakers, and for assessment purposes.
Users’ views about the usability of digital libraries
Authors: Koohang Alex , Ondracek James 
Published: April 2005

AbstractThis study examined users’ views about the usability of digital libraries—current and perceived importance. Age, gender, prior experience with the Internet, college status, and digital library proficiency are the independent variables. Users’ current views about the usability of digital libraries and users’ perceived importance of digital library usability are treated as dependent variables. The Digital Library Usability Survey, a Likert‐type instrument developed by Koohang, was used. The study's participants were 107 undergraduate students enrolled in an interdisciplinary and cross‐functional degree programme at a large state university in the Midwest, USA. The collected data were analysed through statistical procedures. The overall results yielded significant differences for the variables of users’ prior experience with the Internet and users’ proficiency level with the digital library. The univariate results  indicated  a  significant  difference  on  the  users’ perceived  importance of digital library usability. However, digital library proficiency produced a significant difference on users’ current views about the digital library's usability. These results are discussed. Recommendations are made for practice and future research.
Structural adjustment programmes and human well‐being
Authors: McGregor Sue 
Published: April 2005

AbstractThis paper provides a primer on structural adjustment programmes (SAPs) anticipating that a deeper understanding of these policies enables home economists to influence the global trend for SAPs that is profoundly impacting human well‐being. It addresses the issue of what SAPs are (their intended and actual impact on family well‐being), provides five reasons why home economists should care about SAPs and tenders seven ideas for what we can do, as professionals, to mitigate the negative impact of SAPs on familial well‐being and human security.
Fissures in the marketing strategies of South Asian restaurants in Edinburgh
Authors: Seaman Claire E.A. , Bent Richard , Ingram Arthur , Welsh Rita , Mederos Alicia 
Published: April 2005

AbstractThis exploratory study sought to investigate South Asian restaurants in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK in order to obtain a preliminary identification of marketing gaps compromising their future profitability. The aims of the study were to expose and understand the relative importance attached by owners and managers of South Asian restaurants in Edinburgh to the different elements of the marketing mix. South Asian restaurants form a small but important sector of the restaurant in market in towns throughout the UK and are characteristically of disproportionate financial and social importance to the communities who run them. South Asian restaurants in Edinburgh, as in most towns in the UK, are run primarily by the Bangladeshi community and are under increasing pressure as the variety of restaurants operating in the sector increases. The results of the study make evident that any initiatives taken to support South Asian restaurants should include awareness‐raising actions. Building awareness, which is perceived to be currently partially understood, of the importance of studying markets, customers and competitors is essential before any advice is given on how to accomplish these monitoring tasks. Equally, a fundamental priority is to encourage self‐critical and proactive approaches to business, thus increasing the capacity to identify possible problems and implement correcting measures.
Conjoint analysis of consumer preferences for roasted peanut products in Haiti
Authors: Nelson Robert G. , Jolly Curtis M. , Hinds Margaret J. , Donis Yanick , Prophete Emmanuel 
Published: April 2005

AbstractThis study evaluated Haitian consumers’ preferences for three attributes of roasted peanuts: form (dry‐roasted vs. honey‐roasted), country of origin (Haiti vs. USA) and price (lowest vs. most common vs. highest). A sample of 199 respondents from three locations near Port‐au‐Prince revealed that price was overwhelmingly the most important attribute, although three well‐differentiated consumer segments were identified: the largest (44% of the sample) based strictly on price; a second (29%) distinguished by preference for honey‐roasted peanuts of Haitian origin; and a third (27%) preferring dry‐roasted peanuts imported from the USA. Segment membership was predicted by gender, education, household size, survey location and whether or not respondents were themselves the purchasers of the peanuts and peanut butter they consumed. Market simulation of a proposed, new domestic product (honey‐roasted peanuts from Haiti) revealed that a price near that of the currently imported product would maximize domestic revenues at about 15% above the current base.