Home About us Contact
|
Home About us Contact | ||
|
|
||
Additional Study (additional + study)
Selected AbstractsTrends in Pediatric Melanoma Mortality in the United States, 1968 through 2004DERMATOLOGIC SURGERY, Issue 2 2008KEVAN G. LEWIS MD BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Mortality from melanoma in children is a poorly understood and controversial problem in dermatology. There is paucity of research into this important public health dilemma. The purpose of this study was to characterize pediatric melanoma mortality in the United States and to evaluate trends over time. METHODS AND MATERIALS Deaths were derived from a database of more than 75 million records of the U.S. Center for National Health Statistics based on routine death certification. Information on age, race, gender, and geographic location was available for years 1968 through 2004. RESULTS During the 37-year period, there were 643 deaths attributed to melanoma in children under 20 years of age in the United States, an average of 18 per year. The overall age-adjusted mortality rate for melanoma in children was 2.25 deaths per year (per 10 million at-risk individuals). Mortality rates were strongly associated with age. In the oldest age group (age 15,19 years) the mortality rate was approximately an order of magnitude 8,18 times higher compared to younger age groups. Mortality among males was 25% higher than females. Mortality rates for white children were more than twice as high as black children. Overall mortality from melanoma in children declined steadily from 1968 to 2004. The highest mortality rates were observed in Idaho, Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico. CONCLUSIONS Although mortality from melanoma among children in the United State is low, the magnitude of the public health burden from this preventable cause of death is substantial. In contrast to results of studies suggesting that the incidence of melanoma may be rising in children and adolescents, the data suggest that mortality in these groups may be falling. Additional study is warranted to further characterize and ultimately reduce mortality from childhood melanoma. [source] Suppressive effect of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression by the methanol extract of Actinodaphne lancifoliaPHYTOTHERAPY RESEARCH, Issue 10 2004Youngleem Kim Abstract Nitric oxide (NO) produced by inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) has played a crucial role in various pathophysiological processes including in,ammation and carcinogenesis. Therefore, the inhibitors of NO synthesis or iNOS gene expression have been considered as potential anti-in,ammatory and cancer chemopreventive agents. In our continuous search for iNOS inhibitors from natural products we have evaluated indigenous Korean plant extracts using an assay for inhibition of nitric oxide formation on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated mouse macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. As a result, the methanolic stem extract of Actinodaphne lancifolia showed an inhibitory activity of NO production in a dose-dependent manner (IC50 = 2.5 µg/ml). Additional study demonstrated that the extract of Actinodaphne lancifolia signi,cantly suppressed the iNOS protein and gene expression in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that Actinodaphne lancifolia could be a potential candidate for developing an iNOS inhibitor from natural products. Further elucidation of active principles for development of new cancer chemopreventive and/or anti-in,ammatory agents could be warranted. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Australian species of Anachloris Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Geometridae: Larentiinae): taxonomy, musculature of the male genitalia and systematic positionAUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 3 2001Olga Schmidt Abstract The genus Anachloris Meyrick, containing the species A. subochraria (Doubleday) and A. uncinata (Guenée) is reviewed, and a new species A. tofocolorata sp. n. is described and illustrated. Keys to species and distribution maps, as well as information about the biology of A. uncinata, are provided. The skeletomuscular system of the male genitalia and the structure of the female genitalia of Hydriomena impluviata (Denis and Schiffermüller) from Europe are compared with those of A. subochraria and A. uncinata from Australia, suggesting that Anachloris does not belong to the tribe Hydriomenini. Additional study is necessary to establish its tribal position. [source] Functional interaction of intestinal CYP3A4 and P-glycoproteinFUNDAMENTAL & CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY, Issue 6 2004Kari T. Kivistö Abstract Intestinal CYP3A4-mediated biotransformation and active efflux of absorbed drug by P-glycoprotein are major determinants of bioavailability of orally administered drugs. The hypothesis that CYP3A4 and P-glycoprotein may act in concert to limit oral drug bioavailability is attractive from a theoretical point of view. Evidence in support of such an interplay between CYP3A4 and P-glycoprotein comes mainly from a limited number of in vitro and animal studies. Obviously, it is a challenging task to demonstrate in vivo in humans that the function of CYP3A4 and P-glycoprotein in enterocytes is complementary, and results to directly support this concept remain elusive. However, CYP3A4 and P-glycoprotein are clearly an integral part of an intestinal defence system to protect the body against harmful xenobiotics, and drugs that are substrates of both proteins often have a low bioavailability after oral administration. The functional interaction of intestinal CYP3A4 and P-glycoprotein warrants additional study. Further understanding this interplay would be potentially useful during drug development to solve bioavailability problems of new drug entities. [source] Daily streamflow modelling and assessment based on the curve-number techniqueHYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES, Issue 16 2002Jin-Yong Choi Abstract A cell-based long-term hydrological model (CELTHYM) that can be integrated with a geographical information system (GIS) was developed to predict continuous stream flow from small agricultural watersheds. The CELTHYM uses a cell-by-cell soil moisture balance approach. For surface runoff estimation, the curve number technique considering soil moisture on a daily basis was used, and release rate was used to estimate baseflow. Evapotranspiration was computed using the FAO modified Penman equation that considered land-use-based crop coefficients, soil moisture and the influence of topography on radiation. A rice paddy field water budget model was also adapted for the specific application of the model to East Asia. Model sensitivity analysis was conducted to obtain operational information about the model calibration parameters. The CELTHYM was calibrated and verified with measured runoff data from the WS#1 and WS#3 watersheds of the Seoul National University, Department of Agricultural Engineering, in Hwaseong County, Kyounggi Province, South Korea. The WS#1 watershed is comprised of about 35·4% rice paddy fields and 42·3% forest, whereas the WS#3 watershed is about 85·0% forest and 11·5% rice paddy fields. The CELTHYM was calibrated for the parameter release rate, K, and soil moisture storage coefficient, STC, and results were compared with the measured runoff data for 1986. The validation results for WS#1 considering all daily stream flow were poor with R2, E2 and RMSE having values of 0·40, ,6·63 and 9·69 (mm), respectively, but validation results for days without rainfall were statistically significant (R2 = 0·66). Results for WS#3 showed good agreement with observed data for all days, and R2, E2 and RMSE were 0·92, 0·91 and 2·23 (mm), respectively, suggesting potential for CELTHYM application to other watersheds. The direct runoff and water balance components for watershed WS#1 with significant areas of paddy fields did not perform well, suggesting that additional study of these components is needed. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Smoking cessation interventions in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and the role of the family: a systematic literature reviewJOURNAL OF ADVANCED NURSING, Issue 6 2007Karen A. Luker Abstract Title.,Smoking cessation interventions in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and the role of the family: a systematic literature review Aim., This paper is a report of a systematic review to assess the effectiveness of family-focused smoking cessation interventions for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and to determine what data on families are documented in studies of smoking cessation interventions. Background., Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a major public health problem and cigarette smoking is the most important factor contributing to its development and progression. However, smoking cessation rates are low and relapse is common. The role of families in smoking cessation efforts has received little attention. Methods., All studies were included in the review that (i) addressed an evaluation of a psycho-social/educational smoking cessation intervention for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, (ii) addressed some information on the family (i.e. living arrangements, marital status, smoking history of family members, support for quitting) and/or included the family as part of the intervention and (iii) were published between 1990 and 2006. Electronic data sources, existing systematic reviews of smoking cessation interventions and the grey literature were reviewed. Results., Seven studies were included. Six studies (11 papers) included data on marital status, smoking status of household members, support for quitting smoking and related variables. In two of the studies, the variable on the family was used to analyse smoking cessation outcomes. One additional study met the inclusion criterion of an evaluation of a smoking cessation intervention, which also included a family focus in the intervention. Conclusion., No conclusions about the effectiveness of a family-focused smoking cessation intervention could be drawn from this review. Further research is needed to determine if a more family-focused intervention, in conjunction with pharmacological and counselling approaches, would lead to improved smoking cessation outcomes. [source] Distribution, seasonal use, and predation of incubation mounds of Orange-footed Scrubfowl on Komodo Island, IndonesiaJOURNAL OF FIELD ORNITHOLOGY, Issue 2 2009M. Jeri Imansyah ABSTRACT Megapodes are unique in using only heat from the environment, rather than body heat, to incubate their eggs as well as the precocious independence of their chicks on hatching. Of 22 recognized species of megapodes, 9 are listed as threatened due to factors including habitat loss and fragmentation, and predation on eggs and chicks. Orange-footed Scrubfowl (Megapodius reinwardt) are conspicuous components of the Oriental/Austral avifauna that inhabit the monsoon forests of the Lesser Sunda chain of islands in Indonesia. We examined the abundance, patterns of distribution, physical characteristics, seasonal activity, and predation risk of incubation mounds of Orange-footed Scrubfowl on Komodo Island in eastern Indonesia. We surveyed 13 valleys on Komodo Island from April 2002 to January 2005 and located 113 tended and 107 untended incubation mounds. Densities of scrubfowl mounds in our study were similar to that reported by investigators during the 1970s, suggesting little change in the scrubfowl population since then. Most scrubfowl mounds were on sandy or loamy soils in open monsoon forest with little overhead shade, and placement of mounds in such areas may ensure adequate temperatures for egg incubation. Although some mounds were tended during all months, mound use peaked during the late wet season in March. During the dry season (April,November), only a few mounds were tended. Komodo dragons (Varanus komodoensis) and wild pigs (Sus scrofa) were the primary predators of scrubfowl eggs, with no indication of egg predation by humans. The valley with the largest number of untended mounds in our study also had the largest number of active Komodo dragon nests. This suggests an effect of Komodo dragons on scrubfowl numbers, but additional study is needed. SINOPSIS Los Megadopodos son únicos al usar calor del ambiente, en vez de calor corporal, para incubar sus huevos, y que sus polluelos nidífugos son independientes después de la eclosión. De las 22 especies de Megapodos reconocidas, nueve están en la lista de especies amenazadas debido a factores como pérdida y fragmentación del hábitat y depredación de huevos y polluelos. Megapodius reinwardt es un componente conspicuo de la avifauna Oriental/Austral que vive en los bosques monzones en las islas de las Sundas Menores en Indonesia. Examinamos la abundancia, patrones de distribución, características físicas, actividades temporales y riesgo de depredación en los montículos incubadores de M. reinwardt en la isla de Komodo en el este de Indonesia. Examinamos 13 valles en la isla de Komodo entre Abril 2002 y Enero 2005 y localizamos 113 montículos incubadores atendidos y 107 que no estaban siendo atendidos. Las densidades de montículos de M. reinwardt en nuestro sitio de estudio fueron similares a los reportados por investigadores en la década de los ,70, lo cual siguiere pocos cambios en la población de M. reinwardt desde entonces. La mayoría de los montículos de M. reinwardt se encontraron en suelos arenosos o margosos en bosques monzones abiertos, con poca cobertura de vegetación, y la localización de los montículos en estas áreas posiblemente aseguran temperaturas adecuadas para la incubación de los huevos. A pesar de que algunos montículos estuvieron atendidos durante todos los meses, el pico de uso de los montículos ocurrió durante el final de la temporada de lluvias en Marzo, y durante la temporada seca (Abril,Noviembre) solo algunos montículos estuvieron atendidos. Los dragones de Komodo (Varanus komodoensis) y los cerdos salvajes (Sus scrofa) fueron los principales depredadores de los huevos de M. reinwardt, y no hubo indicio de depredación por humanos. En nuestro estudio el valle con los mayores números de montículos desatendidos tenía el mayor número de nidos activos de dragones de Komodo. Este resultado sugiere la posibilidad de algún efecto de los dragones de Komodo en los números de Megapodius reinwardt, pero estudios adicionales son requeridos. [source] Distribution, abundance, and conservation of Vinaceous Amazons (Amazona vinacea) in Argentina and ParaguayJOURNAL OF FIELD ORNITHOLOGY, Issue 1 2007Kristina Cockle ABSTRACT Vinaceous Amazons (Amazona vinacea) are endemic to the Atlantic forest of southeastern Brazil, eastern Paraguay, and the province of Misiones in Argentina. We searched for Vinaceous Amazons throughout the western part of its range in Argentina and Paraguay during 1639 days of fieldwork from 1997 to 2006. These parrots have disappeared from most areas where they were historically recorded in these countries, and are now limited to a few sites in northeastern Paraguay and central Misiones (Argentina). We estimate the minimum remaining populations at 220 individuals in Paraguay and 203 individuals in Argentina. Important sites for the species are (1) the farming area from San Pedro to Tobuna (Misiones, Argentina) and (2) the Itaipú reserves complex and Reserva Natural Privada Itabó (Paraguay). In our surveys, Vinaceous Amazons were absent from the largest tracts of forest in Misiones, and were most often observed feeding, roosting, and nesting in small forest remnants and in agricultural areas that included forest fragments and isolated trees. Threats to amazons in these areas include nest poaching, forest clearing, and being shot as a crop pest. We confirmed 40 Vinaceous Amazons kept as pets in 35 homes between San Pedro and Tobuna. Environmental education and law enforcement are urgently needed to reduce threats in populated areas, and subsistence farmers need technical and logistical support to slow or stop the conversion of forest into cropland. Finally, additional study is needed to determine this amazon's habitat preferences, nest site requirements, and demography in different habitats. SINOPSIS El loro vinoso (Amazona vinacea) es endémico del bosque Atlántico del sudeste de Brasil, este de Paraguay, y la provincia de Misiones en Argentina. Buscamos esta especie durante 1639 días de trabajo de campo de 1997 a 2006, a lo largo de la porción oeste de su distribución, en Argentina y Paraguay. A. vinacea ha desaparecido de la mayor parte de las áreas donde ha sido registrada históricamente en estos paises, y permanece sólo en algunos pocos sitios del noroeste de Paraguay y del centro de Misiones (Argentina). Estimamos el tamaño mínimo de las poblaciones remanentes en 220 individuos en Paraguay y 203 individuos en Argentina. Los sitios importantes para la especie son: (1) la zona rural de San Pedro a Tobuna (Misiones, Argentina) y (2) el complejo de reservas de Itaipú y la Reserva Natural Privada Itabó (Paraguay). A. vinacea no fue encontrada en los tractos más grandes de bosque durante nuestras prospecciones en Misiones. Mayormente fue observada alimentándose, durmiendo y nidificando en pequeños remanentes boscosos y en hábitats antropogénicos. Las amenazas en estos hábitats incluyen robo de pichones de los nidos, deforestación, y cacería por daño a cultivos. Confirmamos la existencia de 40 ejemplares cautivos como mascotas en 35 hogares de San Pedro y Tobuna. Para reducir las amenazas se requieren urgentemente educación ambiental y fortalecimiento legal en las áreas pobladas. Es necesario proveer de apoyo técnico y logístico a los agricultores de subsistencia para reducir la conversión de bosques a cultivos. Finalmente, estudios futuros deberían tratar la preferencia de hábitat del loro, sus requerimientos de nidificación, y su demografía en distintos hábitats. [source] The Costs and Quality-of-Life Outcomes of Drug-Eluting Coronary Stents: A Systematic ReviewJOURNAL OF INTERVENTIONAL CARDIOLOGY, Issue 1 2007M.S., PETER W. GROENEVELD M.D. Objectives: While the efficacy of drug-eluting coronary stents (DES) has been demonstrated by several clinical trials, the impact of DES on health-care costs and recipient quality of life (QOL) is controversial. We performed a systematic review of the published literature on DES costs and the QOL effects of restenosis and target vessel revascularization (TVR). Methods: Among 536 potential articles initially identified by a broad search, 12 publications ultimately met inclusion criteria. Data were independently abstracted, evaluated for quality and relevance, and summarized by two reviewers. Excessive heterogeneity among these studies prevented formal meta-analysis, thus a narrative synthesis of the literature was performed. Results: In four economic studies, DES recipients had $1,600,$3,200 higher up-front costs than recipients of bare metal stents, but the differences in total costs after 1 year were less pronounced ($200,$1,200), and estimates of the average cost of an avoided revascularization ranged widely ($1,800,$36,900). All eight QOL studies indicated that restenosis was associated with lower QOL, but only two studies quantified this in terms of quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), with estimates ranging from 0.06 to 0.08. An additional study estimated that the median willingness to pay to prevent restenosis was $2,400,$3,600. Conclusions: There is a lack of convergence in the literature on the cost of DES in avoiding TVR. There is more agreement that the average QALY benefit of an avoided revascularization is 0.04,0.08. This implies that use of DES in patients where the average cost per avoided revascularization exceeds $8,000 may be less likely to be cost-effective. [source] Use of radiotherapy in the primary treatment of cancer in South AustraliaJOURNAL OF MEDICAL IMAGING AND RADIATION ONCOLOGY, Issue 2 2003Colin Luke Summary Previous studies point to a lower use of radiotherapy by Australian cancer patients in lower socioeconomic areas and in country regions that are some distance from urban treatment centres. These were cross-sectional studies with the potential for error from changes in place of residence. We used a cohort design to avoid such error. South Australian patients diagnosed in 1990,1994 were followed until the date of censoring of 31 December 1999 using data from the State Cancer Registry. The percentage found to have had megavoltage therapy in the first 12 months following diagnosis varied by leading primary incidence site from 44% for the prostate to 40% for female breast, 38% for lung, 17% for rectum, 3% for colon and 2% for skin (melanoma). Multivariate analysis indicated that determinants of not receiving megavoltage therapy in the first 12 months were older age, female sex, residence in a country region and country of birth. Melanoma data revealed earlier stages for women than men. If this difference by sex applies to other cancers, it might explain the lower exposure of women to radiotherapy. Fewer older patients received radiotherapy, consistent with trends observed in hospital-based cancer-registry data. The influence on this finding of differences in stage and comorbidity requires additional study. While earlier findings of a lower exposure of country residents to radiotherapy were confirmed, the difference was comparatively small in this study. Variations in exposure by socioeconomic status of residential area were not observed. [source] Oestrogen Receptors Enhance Dopamine Neurone Survival in Rat MidbrainJOURNAL OF NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY, Issue 4 2010M. L. Johnson Previous findings in our laboratory and elsewhere have shown that ovariectomy of rats in adulthood attenuates cocaine-stimulated locomotor behaviour. Ovarian hormones enhance both cocaine-stimulated behaviour and increase dopamine overflow after psychomotor stimulants. The present study aimed to determine whether ovarian hormones have these effects in part by maintaining dopamine neurone number in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) and ventral tegmental area (VTA) and to investigate the roles of specific oestrogen receptors (ERs) in the maintenance of mesencephalic dopamine neurones. To accomplish this goal, we used unbiased stereological techniques to estimate the number of tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive (TH-IR) cell bodies in midbrain regions of intact, ovariectomised and hormone-replaced female rats and mice. Animals received active or sham gonadectomy on postnatal day 60 and received vehicle, 17,-oestradiol (E2) or selective ER agonists propyl-pyrazole-triol (PPT, ER,) or diarylpropionitrile (DPN, ER,) for 1 month post-surgery. In both rats and mice, ovariectomy reduced the number of TH-IR cells in the SNpc and VTA. Replacement with E2, PPT or DPN prevented or attenuated the loss observed with ovariectomy in both rats and mice. An additional study using ER knockout mice revealed that adult female mice lacking ER, had fewer TH-IR cells in midbrain regions than wild-type mice, whereas mice lacking ER, had TH-IR cell counts comparable to wild-type. These findings suggest that, although both ER subtypes play a role in the maintenance of TH-IR cell number in the SNpc and VTA, ER, may play a more significant role. [source] Identification of Susceptibility Loci for Alcohol-Related Traits in the Irish Affected Sib Pair Study of Alcohol DependenceALCOHOLISM, Issue 11 2006Po-Hsiu Kuo Background: Alcoholism is a phenotypically and probably genetically heterogeneous condition. Thus, one strategy for finding genes influencing liability to alcoholism is to study the components of alcoholism, which may be more directly related to the underlying pathophysiology than is clinical diagnosis. The goal of this study was to identify genomic regions containing susceptibility loci for alcohol-related traits. Methods: A 4-cM dense whole-genome linkage study was conducted in the Irish Affected Sib Pair Study of Alcohol Dependence. Probands, affected siblings, and parents were evaluated by structured interview. Variance component linkage analysis was applied to data from 485 families for 5 measures: initial sensitivity and tolerance (based on scales from the self-report of the effects of ethanol; maximum drinks within 24 hours, an empirically derived factor score based on withdrawal symptoms, and age at onset of alcohol dependence. Results: Evidence for linkage (p<0.005) was found on 9 chromosomes. For age at onset, 2 regions were found on chromosome 9 (highest Lod=2.3, p=0.0005). For initial level of response to alcohol, suggestive regions were on chromosomes 1 and 11 (highest Lod=2.9, p=0.0001 on chromosome 11), while those for tolerance signals were on chromosomes 1, 6, and 22. Maximum drinking was associated with regions on chromosomes 12 and 18. For withdrawal symptoms, the highest peak was on chromosome 2 (Lod=2.2, p=0.0007). Conclusions: Using quantitative measures of components of alcohol dependence, we identified several regions of the genome that may contain susceptibility loci for specific alcohol-related traits and merit additional study. [source] Exact integration of the stiffness matrix of an 8-node plane elastic finite element by symbolic computationNUMERICAL METHODS FOR PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS, Issue 1 2008L. Videla Abstract Computer algebra systems (CAS) are powerful tools for obtaining analytical expressions for many engineering applications in both academic and industrial environments. CAS have been used in this paper to generate exact expressions for the stiffness matrix of an 8-node plane elastic finite element. The Maple software system was used to identify six basic formulas from which all the terms of the stiffness matrix could be obtained. The formulas are functions of the Cartesian coordinates of the corner nodes of the element, and elastic parameters Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio. Many algebraic manipulations were performed on the formulas to optimize their efficiency. The redaction in CPU time using the exact expressions as opposed to the classical Gauss,Legendre numerical integration approach was over 50%. In an additional study of accuracy, it was shown that the numerical approach could lead to quite significant errors as compared with the exact approach, especially as element distortion was increased.© 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 2007 [source] Mefloquine prescriptions in the presence of contraindications: prevalence among US military personnel deployed to Afghanistan, 2007,,PHARMACOEPIDEMIOLOGY AND DRUG SAFETY, Issue 2 2010Remington L. Nevin MD Abstract Purpose Contraindications to mefloquine use include a history of certain prevalent neuropsychiatric disorders, which are thought to increase the risk of severe adverse events including anxiety, paranoia, depression, hallucinations, psychosis, and possibly suicide. Within the US military, the continued availability and use of mefloquine is subject to administrative policies dating to 2002 that require clinicians to exercise added caution during prescribing. This analysis was performed to quantify the effectiveness of these policies in ensuring health care provider compliance with package insert prescribing guidance. Methods A previously identified cohort consisting of 11,725 active duty US military personnel, among whom 1127 (9.6%) had contraindications to mefloquine use identified through medical surveillance and pharmaceutical databases, was examined to identify individuals receiving prescriptions for mefloquine in the 45 days prior to a combat deployment in 2007. Results Among the 11,725 cohort members, 4505 (38.4% of the cohort) received a prescription for mefloquine. Among the 1127 cohort members with contraindications, 155 (1.3% of the cohort) were prescribed mefloquine, comprising 13.8% of those with contraindications. Conclusions Despite the longstanding administrative policies meant to reduce such events, approximately one in seven individuals with neuropsychiatric contraindications received a prescription for mefloquine prior to a recent combat deployment, significantly increasing the risk of subsequent adverse events. Given the prevalence of neuropsychiatric disorders among US military personnel and the continued availability of mefloquine, additional study is recommended to describe and quantify the nature and extent of mefloquine-associated adverse events experienced among this group. Published in 2009 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] | |||||||||||||