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Selected AbstractsRadiation therapy for esthesioneuroblastoma: Rationale for elective neck irradiation,HEAD & NECK: JOURNAL FOR THE SCIENCES & SPECIALTIES OF THE HEAD AND NECK, Issue 7 2003Alan T. Monroe MD Abstract Purpose. Esthesioneuroblastoma is an uncommon malignancy of neural crest origin arising in the upper nasal cavity. We describe the University of Florida experience using radiation therapy (RT) in the treatment of this neoplasm, particularly the use of elective nodal irradiation. Materials and Methods. Between May 1972 and August 1998, 22 patients received RT for esthesioneuroblastoma. Two additional patients were treated with palliative intent and were excluded from analysis. Equal numbers of male and female patients were treated, with a median age of 54 years (range, 3,82). The modified Kadish stage was A in 1 patient, B in 4 patients, C in 15 patients, and D in 2 patients. Treatment modalities included primary RT in 6 patients, preoperative RT in 1 patient, postoperative RT after craniofacial resection in 12 patients, and salvage RT in 3 patients treated for recurrence after surgery. Elective neck RT was performed in 11 of 20 patients; 2 patients had cervical metastases at presentation for RT. Results. Rates of local control, cause-specific survival, and absolute survival at 5 years were 59%, 54%, and 48%, respectively. The cause-specific survival rate at 5 years was lower after primary RT (17%) than after craniofacial resection and postoperative RT (56%). Cervical metastases occurred in 6 of 22 patients (27%). No neck recurrences occurred in 11 patients treated with elective neck RT compared with 4 neck recurrences in 9 patients (44%) not receiving elective neck RT (p = .02). Conclusions. Combined modality therapy is preferred over RT alone in advanced-stage esthesioneuroblastoma. Our data and review of the current literature suggest a higher cervical failure rate than previously recognized. Elective neck RT seems to correlate with improved nodal control and should be considered in the treatment of esthesioneuroblastoma. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 25: 529,534, 2003 [source] The Impact of Service User Cognitive Level on Carer Attributions for Aggressive BehaviourJOURNAL OF APPLIED RESEARCH IN INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES, Issue 3 2002Hannah Tynan Background This study was designed to test the hypothesis that carer attributions for aggressive behaviour vary according to a service user's severity of intellectual disability. Methods Forty-two residential care staff participated in an investigation examining the effects of the level of a service user's intellectual disability on causal attributions for their aggressive behaviour. Equal numbers of participants were assigned to either a ,mild disability' or a ,severe disability' condition and required to read a vignette depicting a service user with aggressive challenging behaviour. The service user's cognitive abilities were experimentally manipulated across conditions, whilst the behaviour described remained unchanged. Participants were required to make attributions along Weiner's (1980) dimensions of locus, stability and controllability, and in accordance with five prominent models of challenging behaviour (Hastings 1997b). Results The service user depicted in the mild disabilities condition was perceived to have significantly greater control over factors causing the aggressive behaviour than the service user in the severe disabilities condition. Participants in the severe disabilities condition considered the aggression to be significantly more challenging. Learned behaviour and emotional causal models of aggressive behaviour were favoured, whilst the physical environment account was seen as least appropriate. Additionally, the biomedical model was rated as significantly more applicable in the severe disability condition than in the mild disability condition. Conclusions Implications for staff and service users are discussed. In particular, the relationship between staff causal attributions for challenging behaviour, their emotional responses and willingness to engage in helping behaviour is explored. [source] Joint capsule mast cells and neuropeptides are increased within four weeks of injury and remain elevated in chronic stages of posttraumatic contracturesJOURNAL OF ORTHOPAEDIC RESEARCH, Issue 10 2008Kevin A. Hildebrand Abstract The purpose of this article was to determine mast cell and neuropeptide nerve fiber numbers in joint capsules in posttraumatic contractures, as elevated numbers have been implicated in other fibrotic and contracture conditions. Twelve skeletally mature rabbits had intraarticular cortical windows removed from the medial and lateral femoral condyles and the knee joint immobilized. The contralateral unoperated limb served as a control. Equal numbers of rabbits were sacrificed 4 weeks after surgery or 40 weeks after the first surgery that included 32 weeks of remobilization. Six patients with chronic posttraumatic elbow joint contractures and six age-matched organ donor controls free of elbow contractures were also studied. Joint capsule myofibroblast, mast cell, and neuropeptide containing nerve fiber numbers were assessed with immunohistochemistry. The numbers of myofibroblasts, mast cells, and neuropeptide containing nerve fibers expressed as a percentage of total cells were significantly greater in the contracture capsules when compared to the control capsules at all time points (p,<,0.0001). The range of percentages for the three components in the contracture capsules versus the controls were 41,48% versus 9,10%, 44,50% versus 11,13%, and 45,50% versus 10,12% for the acute and chronic stages of the rabbit model and the chronic stages in the human elbows, respectively. These data support the hypothesis that a myofibroblast,mast cell,neuropeptide fibrosis axis may underlie some of the pathologic changes in the joint capsule in posttraumatic contractures. Approaches designed to manipulate this axis, such as preventing degranulation of mast cells, warrant further investigation. © 2008 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 26:1313,1319, 2008 [source] Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have opposing effects during stress fracture repairJOURNAL OF ORTHOPAEDIC RESEARCH, Issue 12 2007Jiliang Li Abstract Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) were used to treat stress fracture. Bilateral stress fractures were induced in the ulnas of 48 adult rats. Animals were divided into two groups (NSAID and VEH), and treated 5 days per week with celecoxib (5 mg/kg) mixed in a vehicle solution of polyethylene glycol and saline (NSAID) or vehicle alone (VEH). One-to-three hours following drug administration, all animals were treated with unilateral active-LIPUS and contralateral inactive-LIPUS. Equal numbers of ulnas from each drug group were histologically evaluated at 2, 4, and 8 weeks following induction of stress fracture. Neither LIPUS nor NSAID influenced bone resorption, but each had significant and opposite effects on intracortical bone formation rate. These effects indicate that LIPUS may be used to facilitate stress fracture repair whereas NSAID may delay tissue level repair of stress fractures. There was no interaction between LIPUS and NSAID, indicating that the beneficial LIPUS effect was not mediated by the cyclooxygenase-2 pathway. LIPUS accelerated stress fracture healing, whereas the NSAID delayed repair. When used in combination, the beneficial LIPUS effect was not impaired by the detrimental NSAID effect. © 2007 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 25:1559,1567, 2007 [source] Ethanol Alters Cell Fate of Fetal Human Brain-Derived Stem and Progenitor CellsALCOHOLISM, Issue 9 2010Sharada D. Vangipuram Background:, Prenatal ethanol (ETOH) exposure can lead to fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). We previously showed that ETOH alters cell adhesion molecule gene expression and increases neurosphere size in fetal brain-derived neural stem cells (NSC). Here, our aim was to determine the effect of ETOH on the cell fate of NSC, premature glial-committed precursor cells (GCP), and premature neuron-committed progenitor cells (NCP). Methods:, NSC, GCP, and NCP were isolated from normal second-trimester fetal human brains (n = 3) by positive selection using magnetic microbeads labeled with antibodies to CD133 (NSC), A2B5 (GCP), or PSA-NCAM (NCP). As a result of the small percentage in each brain, NSC were cultured in mitogenic media for 72 hours to produce neurospheres. The neurospheres from NSC and primary isolates of GCP and NCP were used for all experiments. Equal numbers of the 3 cell types were treated either with mitogenic media or with differentiating media, each containing 0 or 100 mM ETOH, for 120 hours. Expression of Map2a, GFAP, and O4 was determined by immunoflourescence microscopy and western blot analysis. Fluorescence intensities were quantified using Metamorph software by Molecular Devices, and the bands of western blots were quantified using densitometry. Results:, ETOH in mitogenic media promoted formation of neurospheres by NSC, GCP, and NCP. Under control conditions, GCP attached and differentiated, NSC and NCP formed neurospheres that were significantly smaller in size than those in ETOH. Under differentiating conditions, Map2a expression increased significantly in NSC and GCP and reduced significantly in NCP, and GFAP expression reduced significantly in GCP and NCP, and Gal-C expression reduced significantly in all 3 cell types in the presence of ETOH compared to controls. Conclusions:, This study shows that ETOH alters the cell fate of neuronal stem and progenitor cells. These alterations could contribute to the mechanism for the abnormal brain development in FASD. [source] Interaction between hepatitis B and C viruses in hepatocellular carcinogenesisJOURNAL OF VIRAL HEPATITIS, Issue 3 2006M. C. Kew Summary., Although hepatitis B (HBV) and C viruses (HCV) are, individually, major causes of hepatocellular carcinoma, the interaction, if any, between the carcinogenic effects of the two viruses is uncertain. Equal numbers of published studies have reported no risk interaction or a synergistic risk interaction. These conflicting results are explained by the rarity of concurrent infection with HBV and HCV in individuals without clinically evident liver disease, which severely limits the ability to accurately estimate the hepatocarcinogenic risk of dual infection compared with that of either infection alone. In an attempt to circumvent this difficulty, two meta-analyses have been performed, one based on studies published from a number of countries and the other on studies confined to Chinese patients. Both analyses concluded that a synergistic carcinogenic interaction existed between the two viruses and that the increased risk was super-additive but not multiplicative. If confirmed, this risk interaction will occur against a background of negative confounding effects on viral replication between HBV and HCV, which may be reciprocal. The mechanisms responsible for the carcinogenic interaction between the viruses are unknown. One possibility is that the increased incidence of cirrhosis with concurrent HBV and HCV infections acts as an even more potent tumour promoter than occurs with either virus alone. Synergism between the direct hepatocarcinogenic effects of the two viruses is another possible mechanism, but proof will have to await a fuller understanding of the pathogenetic mechanisms involved with the individual viruses. [source] Pattern of skin and nail changes in chronic renal failure in Nepal: A hospital-based studyTHE JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 3 2008Beni AMATYA ABSTRACT Chronic renal failure, regardless of its cause, often produces specific dermatological abnormalities, which can develop long before failure manifests clinically. Our aim was to study the clinical pattern of skin and nail changes in chronic renal failure and also study the associations of these changes with age, sex, etiology and duration of the chronic renal failure. A total of 104 diagnosed cases of chronic renal failure were included in the study over a period of 1 year. Equal numbers of age- and sex-matched individuals were taken as controls. The male : female ratio was 1.4:1. The mean duration of chronic renal failure was 19 ± 20 months. Among cases and controls, 72% and 16% had skin changes, respectively. Xerosis was the most common of the skin changes (28%), followed by hyperpigmentation (20%), pruritus (15%), infectious diseases (5%) and other skin changes (33%) in chronic renal failure patients. Abnormal nail changes were seen in 82% of the cases compared to only 8% of the controls. In the cases, white nail was most common followed by brown and half-and-half nail. Pruritus was significantly higher in the dialysis group whereas the nail changes were significantly higher in the non-dialysis group. The skin and nail changes were common in chronic renal failure and manifested in various forms. Thus, thorough inspection of the integument might reveal markers of occult renal disease. [source] Divergent selection for shell length in two stocks of small abalone Haliotis diversicolorAQUACULTURE RESEARCH, Issue 6 2010Wei-Wei You Abstract To determine whether genetic improvement can be attained through a selective breeding programme, divergent selection for shell length was applied to two stocks of Haliotis diversicolor. Stock A was descended from the cross between males from a Japanese wild population and females from a Taiwan aquacultured population and Stock B was from the Taiwan cultured population, which had been successively cultured in mainland China for about 10 generations. The 10% largest and 10% smallest abalones for each of these two stocks were selected as parents for the large-selected and small-selected lines respectively. Equal numbers of abalone were randomly chosen from the two stocks to serve as parents for the control lines before the selection. The selected and control lines were reared under the same conditions at early juvenile, later juvenile and grow-out stages. Stock A showed a significantly higher response to selection and realized heritability than Stock B (P<0.01). The large-selected line of Stock A and Stock B grew 12.79% and 4.58% faster than their control lines on shell length respectively. The average realized heritability for shell length was 0.441±0.064 for Stock A and 0.113±0.013 for Stock B. Responses to selection were different at different ages in each stock and the body weights of the selected lines were significantly different from the control lines in both stocks at the grow-out stage. Asymmetric responses to selection in the two directions were also observed in both stocks. Differences in response to selection and realized heritability between the two stocks are presumably due to genetic variability. [source] Biomarkers of periodontal inflammation in the Australian adult populationAUSTRALIAN DENTAL JOURNAL, Issue 2 2009TR Fitzsimmons Abstract Background:, Several inflammatory biomarkers are implicated in the pathogenesis of periodontitis including interleukin-1, (IL-1,) and C-reactive protein (CRP). This study investigated the presence of these factors in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and their relationship to clinical and social determinants of periodontitis in the Australian population. Methods:, Equal numbers of periodontitis cases and non-cases were sampled during oral epidemiologic examination in the National Survey of Adult Oral Health. GCF was sampled from four sites where probing pocket depth (PPD) and recession were recorded. From these, IL-1, and CRP were quantified by ELISA and the log amount of GCF IL-1, (pg) per person and the proportion of adults with detectable CRP was computed. Results:, Periodontitis cases (n = 511) had significantly higher levels of IL-1, and CRP than non-cases (n = 562). PPD, clinical attachment loss, plaque and gingivitis indices were positively associated with elevated levels of both biomarkers. Levels of both were positively associated with age, low socio-economic position and non-Australian birth. Conclusions:, The presence of IL-1, and CRP in GCF are associated with periodontal disease parameters within the Australian population. The levels of both biomarkers are influenced by age, education and eligibility for public dental care. [source] Early Contact versus Separation: Effects on Mother,Infant Interaction One Year LaterBIRTH, Issue 2 2009Ksenia Bystrova MD ABSTRACT: Background: A tradition of separation of the mother and baby after birth still persists in many parts of the world, including some parts of Russia, and often is combined with swaddling of the baby. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare possible long-term effects on mother-infant interaction of practices used in the delivery and maternity wards, including practices relating to mother-infant closeness versus separation.Methods:A total of 176 mother-infant pairs were randomized into four experimental groups: Group I infants were placed skin-to-skin with their mothers after birth, and had rooming-in while in the maternity ward. Group II infants were dressed and placed in their mothers' arms after birth, and roomed-in with their mothers in the maternity ward. Group III infants were kept in the nursery both after birth and while their mothers were in the maternity ward. Group IV infants were kept in the nursery after birth, but roomed-in with their mothers in the maternity ward. Equal numbers of infants were either swaddled or dressed in baby clothes. Episodes of early suckling in the delivery ward were noted. The mother-infant interaction was videotaped according to the Parent-Child Early Relational Assessment (PCERA) 1 year after birth.Results:The practice of skin-to-skin contact, early suckling, or both during the first 2 hours after birth when compared with separation between the mothers and their infants positively affected the PCERA variables maternal sensitivity, infant's self-regulation, and dyadic mutuality and reciprocity at 1 year after birth. The negative effect of a 2-hour separation after birth was not compensated for by the practice of rooming-in. These findings support the presence of a period after birth (the early "sensitive period") during which close contact between mother and infant may induce long-term positive effect on mother-infant interaction. In addition, swaddling of the infant was found to decrease the mother's responsiveness to the infant, her ability for positive affective involvement with the infant, and the mutuality and reciprocity in the dyad.Conclusions:Skin-to-skin contact, for 25 to 120 minutes after birth, early suckling, or both positively influenced mother-infant interaction 1 year later when compared with routines involving separation of mother and infant. [source] Epidemiologic Analysis of Factors Associated with Local Disappearances of Native Ranid Frogs in ArizonaCONSERVATION BIOLOGY, Issue 2 2008CARMEL L. WITTE análisis de factores de riesgo; declinación de anfibios; declinación de ranas; epidemiología de vida silvestre; métodos de control de casos Abstract:,We examined factors that may independently or synergistically contribute to amphibian population declines. We used epidemiologic case,control methodology to sample and analyze a large database developed and maintained by the Arizona Game and Fish Department that describes historical and currently known ranid frog localities in Arizona, U.S.A. Sites with historical documentation of target ranid species (n= 324) were evaluated to identify locations where frogs had disappeared during the study period (case sites) and locations where frog populations persisted (control sites). Between 1986 and 2003, 117 (36%) of the 324 sites became case sites, of which 105 were used in the analyses. An equal number of control sites were sampled to control for the effects of time. Risk factors, or predictor variables, were defined from environmental data summarized during site surveys and geographic information system data layers. We evaluated risk factors with univariate and multifactorial logistic-regression analyses to derive odds ratios (OR). Odds for local population disappearance were significantly related to 4 factors in the multifactorial model. Disappearance of frog populations increased with increasing elevation (OR = 2.7 for every 500 m, p < 0.01). Sites where disappearances occurred were 4.3 times more likely to have other nearby sites that also experienced disappearances (OR = 4.3, p < 0.01), whereas the odds of disappearance were 6.7 times less (OR = 0.15, p < 0.01) when there was a source population nearby. Sites with disappearances were 2.6 times more likely to have introduced crayfish than were control sites (OR = 2.6, p= 0.04). The identification of factors associated with frog disappearances increases understanding of declines occurring in natural populations and aids in conservation efforts to reestablish and protect native ranids by identifying and prioritizing implicated threats. Resumen:,Examinamos los factores que pueden contribuir independiente o sinérgicamente a la declinación de poblaciones de anfibios. Utilizamos una metodología epidemiológica de control de casos para muestrear y analizar una base de datos desarrollada y mantenida por el Departamento de Caza y Pesca de Arizona que describe las localidades históricas y actuales de ranas en Arizona, E. U. A. Los sitios con documentación histórica de las especies de ránidos (n= 324) fueron evaluados para identificar localidades donde las ranas desaparecieron durante el período de estudio (sitios caso) y localidades donde las poblaciones de ranas persistieron (sitios control). Entre 1986 y 2003, 36% (117) de los 324 sitios se volvieron sitios caso, de los cuales 105 fueron utilizados en los análisis. El mismo número de sitios control fueron muestreados para controlar los efectos del tiempo. Los factores de riesgo, o variables predictivas, fueron definidos a partir de datos ambientales obtenidos de los muestreos en los sitios y de capas de datos de un sistema información geográfica. Evaluamos los factores de riesgo con análisis de regresión logística univariada y multivariada para derivar proporciones de probabilidades (PP). Las probabilidad para la desaparición de una población local estuvo relacionada significativamente con 4 factores en el modelo multifactorial. La desaparición de poblaciones de ranas incrementó con la elevación (PP = 2.7 por cada 500 m, p < 0.01). Los sitios donde ocurrieron las desapariciones fueron 4.3 veces más propensos a estar cerca de otros sitios donde ocurrieron desapariciones (PP = 4.3, p < 0.01), mientras que la probabilidad de desaparición fue 6.7 veces menos (PP = 0.15, p < 0.01) cuando había una población fuente cercana. Los sitios con desapariciones fueron 2.6 veces más propensos a tener langostinos introducidos que los sitios control (PP = 2.6, p= 0.04). La identificación de factores asociados con la desaparición de ranas incrementa el conocimiento de las declinaciones de poblaciones naturales y ayuda a los esfuerzos de conservación para el reestablecimiento y la protección de ránidos nativos mediante la identificación y priorización de las amenazas implicadas. [source] Hodgkin's lymphoma: Diagnostic difficulties in fine-needle aspiration cytologyDIAGNOSTIC CYTOPATHOLOGY, Issue 8 2009D.Sc., Dilip K. Das M.B.B.S., F.R.C.Path., Ph.D. Abstract It is commonly believed that cytodiagnosis of Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) is much easier than that of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). However, recognition of certain NHL subtypes with Reed-Sternberg (R-S)-like cells and results of immunohistochemical studies point to the contrary. To study the limitations of cytology in diagnosis of HL, fine-needle aspiration (FNA) smears of 130 lymphoma or suspected lymphoma cases were reviewed. Initial and reviewed cytodiagnoses were compared with histopathology in 89 cases. Immunocytochemical and immunohistochemical studies were performed in 56 and 59 cases, respectively. Among histologically diagnosed HL cases, definitive cytodiagnosis of HL (initial as well as reviewed) was significantly less frequent than cytodiagnosis of NHL among histologically diagnosed NHL cases (P = 0.0328 and = 0.0001, respectively). On the other hand, cytologically diagnosed HL/NHL cases were significantly more frequent in the former group (P = 0.0001 and = 0.0018, respectively). ALCL and TCRBCL were the two NHL subtypes which created confusion with HL in FNA smears. Twenty-one cytohistological concordant HL cases and equal number of discordant cases were compared. When compared with discordant group, the patients in concordant group were significantly younger (P = 0.045). Hodgkin/Hodgkin-like cells and typical R-S cells were significantly more frequent in FNA smears of the concordant group (P = 0.0478 and = 0.0431, respectively). Immunocytochemical and immunohistochemical studies showed good correlation with histological diagnosis of HL. It is suggested that proper interpretation of cytologic features, together with use of immunocytochemical parameters can help in reducing the margin of error in cytodiagnois of HL. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Effects of Male Vocal Learning on Female Behavior in the Budgerigar, Melopsittacus undulatusETHOLOGY, Issue 10 2005Arla G. Hile Parrots are unusual among birds and animals in general in the extent of their ability to learn new vocalizations throughout life and irrespective of season. The budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus), a small parrot that is well suited for laboratory studies, has been the subject of numerous studies investigating the neurobiology of vocal learning. To date, few studies have focused on the function of vocal imitation by parrots. Previous work from our research group has shown that vocal imitation in budgerigars is sex-biased, as males paired with females learn vocalizations from their new mates, but not vice versa. This bias led us to hypothesize that vocal learning has a reproductive function. To test this hypothesis, we conducted two experiments. In the first experiment, we tutored males so that they could produce a call similar to one shared by a group of experimental females. The experimental females were then presented with one of the tutored males and another, equally unfamiliar, male that had not been tutored. We found that the females spent a greater proportion of time in proximity of, and made more affiliative displays toward, the tutored males. In the second experiment, seven males received small bilateral brain lesions that disrupt vocal learning. These males and an equal number of control males were then released into an aviary containing females and reproductive resources. We found that lesioned and control males were equally successful in obtaining social mates, but females mated to lesioned males were more likely to engage in extra-pair activities. These experiments indicate that a male's ability to imitate a female's call can influence the sexual behavior of the female even though lack of imitation ability does not appear to influence social pairing. We hypothesize that mate choice in budgerigars has multiple stages. Upon meeting a strange male, a female quickly assesses its ability for social acquisition of calls by the presence or absence of a call type similar to its own in its repertoire. As courtship proceeds into pair formation, the female assesses the ability of male to learn more directly by the extent of the male's perfection of imitation. [source] Effects of grass pasture and concentrate-based feeding systems for spring-calving dairy cows in early spring on performance during lactationGRASS & FORAGE SCIENCE, Issue 3 2005E. Kennedy Abstract The effect of offering a total mixed ration of silage and concentrate (proportionately 0·44 silage) system [indoor feeding system (IF)] was compared with grazing at a high daily herbage allowance with a low level of concentrate supplementation [early grazing system (EG)] in early spring on the performance of spring-calving dairy cows in Ireland. Sixty-four spring-calving Holstein,Friesian dairy cows (mean calving date, 2 February) were allocated to one of two systems between 16 February and 4 April 2004. An equal number of primiparous and multiparous cows were assigned to each system. The dairy cows on the IF system were housed for a 7-week period and offered a diet of 10·9 kg DM cow,1 d,1 (s.d. 2·3) of concentrate, the remainder of the diet was 8·6 kg DM cow,1 d,1 (s.d. 1·9) of grass silage. The dairy cows on the EG system were offered a mean daily herbage allowance of 15·1 kg DM cow,1 d,1 (s.d. 3·7) and were supplemented with 3·0 kg DM cow,1 d,1 (s.d. 1·0) of concentrate. There was no difference in milk yield between the two systems but the cows in the EG system had a higher milk protein concentration (2·9 g kg,1) and a higher milk protein yield than in the IF system. Milk fat concentration was higher for cows in the IF than EG system (3·0 g kg,1). There was no difference in total daily dry-matter intake between the systems, measured in week 6 of the study. Mean live weight of the cows in the IF system was greater than in the EG system. The results of the study suggest that a slightly greater performance can be achieved by a system offering a high daily herbage allowance to spring-calving dairy cows in early lactation compared with a system offering a total mixed ration containing a high proportion of concentrate with grass silage. [source] Oscillatory activity in parietal and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex during retention in visual short-term memory: Additive effects of spatial attention and memory loadHUMAN BRAIN MAPPING, Issue 10 2009Stéphan Grimault Abstract We used whole-head magnetoencephalography to study the representation of objects in visual short-term memory (VSTM) in the human brain. Subjects remembered the location and color of either two or four colored disks that were encoded from the left or right visual field (equal number of distractors in the other visual hemifield). The data were analyzed using time-frequency methods, which enabled us to discover a strong oscillatory activity in the 8,15 Hz band during the retention interval. The study of the alpha power variation revealed two types of responses, in different brain regions. The first was a decrease in alpha power in parietal cortex, contralateral to the stimuli, with no load effect. The second was an increase of alpha power in parietal and lateral prefrontal cortex, as memory load increased, but without interaction with the hemifield of the encoded stimuli. The absence of interaction between side of encoded stimuli and memory load suggests that these effects reflect distinct underlying mechanisms. A novel method to localize the neural generators of load-related oscillatory activity was devised, using cortically-constrained distributed source-localization methods. Some activations were found in the inferior intraparietal sulcus (IPS) and intraoccipital sulcus (IOS). Importantly, strong oscillatory activity was also found in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). Alpha oscillatory activity in DLPFC was synchronized with the activity in parietal regions, suggesting that VSTM functions in the human brain may be implemented via a network that includes bilateral DLPFC and bilateral IOS/IPS as key nodes. Hum Brain Mapp, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Semen quality in fertile US men in relation to geographical area and pesticide exposureINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ANDROLOGY, Issue 1 2006Shanna H. Swan Summary We conducted the first US study to compare semen quality among study centres using standardized methods and strict quality control. We present data on semen quality in partners of 493 pregnant women recruited through prenatal clinics in four US cities during 1999,2001. Sperm concentration, semen volume and motility were determined at the centres and morphology was assessed at a central laboratory. While between-centre differences in sperm morphology and sample volume were small, sperm concentration and motility were significantly reduced in Columbia, MO (MO) relative to men in New York, NY, Minneapolis, MN and Los Angeles, CA; total number of motile sperm was 113 × 106 in MO and 162, 201 and 196 × 106 in CA, MN and NY respectively. Differences among centres remained significant in multivariate models that controlled for abstinence time, semen analysis time, age, race, smoking, history of sexually transmitted disease and recent fever (all p -values <0.01). We hypothesized that poorer sperm concentration and motility in MO men relative to other centres might be related to agricultural pesticides that are commonly used in the mid-west. We investigated this hypothesis by conducting a nested case,control study within the MO cohort. We selected 25 men in this cohort for whom all semen parameters (concentration, % normal morphology and % motile) were low as cases and an equal number of men for whom all semen parameters were within normal limits as controls. We measured metabolites of eight non-persistent, current-use pesticides in urine samples the men had provided at the time of semen collection. Pesticide metabolite levels were elevated in cases compared with controls for the herbicides alachlor and atrazine, and for the insecticide diazinon (2-isopropoxy-4-methyl-pyrimidinol) (p -values for Wilcoxon rank test = 0.0007, 0.012, and 0.0004 for alachlor, atrazine and diazinon respectively). Men with higher levels of alachlor or diazinon were significantly more likely to be cases than men with low levels [odds ratios (OR) = 30.0, 16.7 for alachlor and diazinon respectively], as were men with atrazine over the limit of detection (OR = 11.3). These associations between current-use pesticides and reduced semen quality suggest that agricultural chemicals may have contributed to the reduced semen quality seen in fertile men from mid-Missouri. [source] Carotenoids/vitamin C and smoking-related bladder cancerINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 3 2004J. Esteban Castelao Abstract Previous epidemiological studies of fruit and vegetable intake and bladder cancer risk have yielded inconsistent results, especially with respect to the role of cigarette smoking as a possible modifier of the diet-bladder cancer association. A population-based case-control study was conducted in nonAsians of Los Angeles, California, which included 1,592 bladder cancer patients and an equal number of neighborhood controls matched to the index cases by sex, date of birth (within 5 years) and race between January 1, 1987 and April 30, 1996. Information on smoking, medical and medication history, and intake frequencies of food groups rich in preformed nitrosamines, vitamins A and C and various carotenoids, were collected through in-person, structured interviews. Beginning in January 1992, all case patients and their matched control subjects were asked for a blood sample donation at the end of the in-person interviews for measurements of 3- and 4-aminobiphenyl (ABP) hemoglobin adducts, and glutathione S -transferases M1/T1/P1 (GSTM1/T1/P1) and N -acetyltransferase-1 (NAT1) genotypes. Seven hundred seventy-one (74%) case patients and 775 (79%) control subjects consented to the blood donation requests. In addition, all case patients and matched control subjects were asked to donate an overnight urine specimen following caffeine consumption for measurements of cytochrome P4501A2 (CYP1A2) and N -acetyltransferase-2 (NAT2) phenotypes. Urine specimens were collected from 724 (69%) case patients and 689 (70%) control subjects. After adjustment for nondietary risk factors including cigarette smoking, there were strong inverse associations between bladder cancer risk and intake of dark-green vegetables [p value for linear trend (p) = 0.01], yellow-orange vegetables (p = 0.01), citrus fruits/juices (p = 0.002) and tomato products (p = 0.03). In terms of nutrients, bladder cancer risk was inversely associated with intake of both total carotenoids (p = 0.004) and vitamin C (p = 0.02). There was a close correlation (r = 0.58, p = 0.0001) between intakes of total carotenoids and vitamin C in study subjects. When both nutrients were included in a multivariate logistic regression model, only total carotenoids exhibited a residual effect that was of borderline statistical significance (p = 0.07 and p = 0.40 for total carotenoids and vitamin C, respectively). Cigarette smoking was a strong modifier of the observed dietary effects; these protective effects were confined largely to ever smokers and were stronger in current than ex-smokers. Smokers showed a statistically significant or borderline statistically significant decrease in 3- and 4-aminobiphenyl (ABP)-hemoglobin adduct level with increasing intake of carotenoids (p = 0.04 and 0.05, respectively). The protective effect of carotenoids on bladder cancer seemed to be influenced by NAT1 genotype, NAT2 phenotype and CYP1A2 phenotype; the association was mainly confined to subjects possessing the putative NAT1 -rapid, NAT2-rapid and CYP1A2-rapid genotype/phenotype. The carotenoid-bladder cancer association was not affected by the GSTM1, GSTT1 and GSTP1 genotypes. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Synthesis of multiport resistors with piecewise-linear characteristics: a mixed-signal architectureINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CIRCUIT THEORY AND APPLICATIONS, Issue 4 2005Mauro Parodi Abstract Non-linear multiport resistors are the main ingredients in the synthesis of non-linear circuits. Recently, a particular PWL representation has been proposed as a generic design platform (IEEE Trans. Circuits Syst.-I 2002; 49:1138,1149). In this paper, we present a mixed-signal circuit architecture, based on standard modules, that allows the electronic integration of non-linear multiport resistors using the mentioned PWL structure. The proposed architecture is fully programmable so that the unit can implement any user-defined non-linearity. Moreover, it is modular: an increment in the number of input variables can be accommodated through the addition of an equal number of input modules. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Association of penile lichen sclerosus and oncogenic human papillomavirus infectionINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 6 2006Maria Rita Nasca MD Background, Data on the prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in patients with penile lichen sclerosus (LS) are scant and controversial. Aim, To investigate the prevalence of HPV infections in patients with penile LS. Methods, HPV infection was assessed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in paraffin-embedded penile biopsies obtained from the glans or inner foreskin of 46 adult patients with penile LS, and in brush cytology smears of penile healthy mucosa from an equal number of randomly selected control males matched for age. Statistical evaluation was performed using conditional logistic regression analysis. Results, PCR disclosed the presence of HPV infection in 17.4% of LS patients (HPV 16, six cases; HPV 18, one case; HPV 45, one case). Amongst the controls, HPV infection occurred in 8.7% of patients (HPV 16, two cases; HPV 53, one case; HPV 70, one case). Statistical regression analysis confirmed that the rate of HPV infection was higher amongst patients with genital LS than amongst healthy controls [odds ratio (OR), 2.55; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.73,8.89]. Conclusions, Infection with oncogenic "high-risk" HPV types in patients with genital LS may enhance the risk of penile cancer arising on LS. [source] Winter selection of landscapes by woodland caribou: behavioural response to geographical gradients in habitat attributesJOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY, Issue 5 2008Daniel Fortin Summary 1Understanding animal,habitat relationships is central to the development of strategies for wildlife management and conservation. The availability of habitat attributes often changes along latitudinal and longitudinal axes, and animals may respond to those changes by adjusting their selection. We evaluated whether landscape selection by forest-dwelling woodland caribou Rangifer tarandus caribou varied along geographical gradients in habitat attributes. 2Centroids (n = 422) of track networks made by caribou in winter were recorded during aerial surveys conducted over 161 920 km2 of boreal forest in Québec, Canada. Autologistic models were estimated by comparing the characteristics of landscapes (201 km2) centred on each centroid to an equal number of randomly located landscapes, with an autocovariate controlling for the non-independence among caribou locations. 3The availability of habitat attributes varied along longitudinal and latitudinal gradients, and caribou altered their landscape selection with respect to those gradients. 4Information Theory provided substantial support for only one model. The model revealed that the probability of occurrence of caribou increased with the abundance of conifer forests over most of the study region, but this positive response gradually became negative towards the southern portion of the region. The association between caribou and lichens changed from being negative west of the study region to being positive in the eastern part. Availability of landscapes dominated by lichen decreased from west to east. Finally, caribou generally displayed an aversion to areas with high road density, a negative association that became positive in the southern part of the study region. 5Synthesis and applications. Under current legislation in Canada, the critical habitat of woodland caribou must be defined, and then protected. Our autoregressive models can help to identify landscapes to prioritize conservation efforts. The probability of occurrence of caribou was related to different landscape characteristics across their range, which implies that the typical habitat of woodland caribou differs spatially. Such behavioural plasticity could be problematic for defining critical habitat, but we showed that spatial variation in landscape selection was organized along geographical gradients. Our study illustrates how geographical trends in habitat selection can guide management and conservation decisions. [source] People with intellectual disabilities on probation: an initial studyJOURNAL OF COMMUNITY & APPLIED SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 1 2002Jonathan Mason Abstract The two studies in this paper aim to investigate the prevalence and characteristics of people with intellectual disabilities in the probation service in England. Study one screened the abilities of a sample of 70 probationers in one single probation service. Study two compares a sub-set of these to an equal number of control participants in order to further investigate the characteristics of those with intellectual disability on probation. Nearly 6% of service users appeared to have an intellectual disability, and 11% fell into the bottom 5% of the general population in terms of their intellectual and social functioning. We conclude that a significant minority of those in the probation service have an intellectual disability or similar needs. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Developmental changes in habitat associations of tropical treesJOURNAL OF ECOLOGY, Issue 3 2007LIZA S. COMITA Summary 1Recent studies have documented local-scale associations between tree species and topographic and edaphic habitat types in forests worldwide. To determine whether such associations form at early life stages, we compared species' positive associations with five habitat types (high plateau, low plateau, slope, streamside, and swamp) at two life stages for 80 tree and shrub species in a Panamanian lowland forest. 2Nineteen significant, positive habitat associations were detected at the small tree stage (seedlings and saplings , 20 cm tall and < 1 cm d.b.h.), and 18 at the large tree stage (individuals , 1 cm d.b.h.), according to results of torus-translation randomization tests. The majority of species did not show consistent associations at the two stages. Of the 30 species significantly associated with a habitat, only five were associated with the same habitat at both stages. Overall, more species were associated with the wetter slope habitat at the large tree stage compared with the small tree stage. 3For a subset of species, we examined the relationship between observed habitat associations and seed dispersal and seedling establishment patterns by using species-specific seed dispersal kernels to predict seed rain into each habitat. 4Two-thirds of species associated with a habitat at the large tree stage had higher predicted seed densities in the associated habitat relative to other habitat types, indicating that limited seed dispersal acts to reinforce habitat associations for most species. In contrast, only one-third of the species associated with a habitat at the large tree stage showed evidence of higher seedling establishment rates in the associated habitat compared with other habitats, and an equal number of species appeared to have lower rates of establishment in the habitat that large trees of the species were associated with. 5Overall, our results indicate that habitat associations of large trees typically do not form at early life stages. Rather, many species appear to exhibit different ecological habitat preferences across life stages. Future studies of species' habitat associations should therefore include multiple life stages in order to detect developmental shifts in ecological preferences. [source] Avifauna associated with ephemeral ponds on the Cumberland Plateau, TennesseeJOURNAL OF FIELD ORNITHOLOGY, Issue 2 2006Brett R. Scheffers ABSTRACT Although ephemeral ponds act as small hotspots of plant, invertebrate, and salamander diversity, the importance of such ponds for birds has been little studied. We hypothesized that ephemeral ponds on the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee would support a greater abundance, richness, and diversity of birds than the surrounding hardwood forests. In 2004, we recorded all birds seen or heard in 10 min within 50-m radius circles at 25 ephemeral ponds. We repeated the counts at control sites located 150 m from each pond in the surrounding forest. To quantify potential food availability, we captured aerial invertebrates using sweep nets at four points around a subsample of eight ephemeral ponds and at an equal number of control sites. We found significantly greater bird abundance, richness, and species diversity at ephemeral ponds than at control sites, and that pond area was not associated with either bird abundance or richness. Bird community composition at pond and control sites was similar. Aerial invertebrates were significantly more abundant at ephemeral ponds than at adjacent forest sites, providing one possible explanation for greater bird abundance at ephemeral ponds. SINOPSIS Aunque las charcas efímeras actúan como lugares claves para plantas, invertebrados y vertebrados como salamandras, la importancia de estas no ha sido objeto de estudio para aves. Pusimos a prueba la hipótesis de que charcas efímeras, sostendrían una mayor abundancia, riqueza y diversidad de aves que unos bosques secundarios encontrados en Cumberland Plateau, Tennessee. Durante el 2004 contabilizamos las aves observadas o escuchadas, durante un periodo de 10 minutos en círculos con radio de 50 m en 18 charcas efímeras. Como control, repetimos los conteos en los alrededores del bosque a distancias de 150 m de las charcas. Para cuantificar la disponibilidad potencial de alimentos, capturamos invertebrados aéreos utilizando redes de barrido en cuatro lugares como sub-muestras en ocho de las charcas y en un número similar de áreas con bosques. Encontramos un número significativo mayor de abundancia de aves, riqueza y diversidad de especies en las charcas efímeras que en los bosques. El área ocupada por las charcas no estuvo asociada ni a la riqueza o abundancia de aves. La composición de la comunidad de aves en las charcas y en los bosques resultó similar. La cantidad de invertebrados aéreos fue significativamente más abundante en las charcas que en los bosques adyacentes, lo que provee una explicación posible para la mayor abundancia de aves en las charcas. [source] Fecal lactoferrin, myeloperoxidase and serum C-reactive are effective biomarkers in the assessment of disease activity and severity in patients with idiopathic ulcerative colitisJOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY, Issue 11 2009Ibrahim Masoodi Abstract Background and Aim:, Disease activity and severity of ulcerative colitis (UC) is assessed using colonoscopy, which is invasive, costly and has poor patient acceptability. The role of non-invasive biomarkers of intestinal inflammation in the evaluation of patients with UC is not known. The aim of the study was to examine the role of serum C-reactive protein (SCRP), fecal myeloperoxidase (FMPO) and fecal lactoferrin (FLF) in assessing disease severity, activity and response to therapy. Methods:, Consecutive patients with idiopathic UC (IUC) attending our hospital from July 2005 to September 2006 were studied. All underwent clinical, endoscopic and histological assessment for disease activity, extent, severity and estimation of SCRP, FMPO and FLF levels at baseline and follow up (FU). An equal number of healthy age-matched controls were studied for biomarker levels. Results:, A total of 37 patients (mean age 37 ± 12 years) were studied. All three biomarkers were elevated more often in the cases than in the controls (all P = 0.000). Cases with severe IUC had higher CRP, MPO and FLF titers than those without severe IUC. At FU, a significant fall in biomarker levels paralleled the reduction in Mayo's scores. All three biomarkers showed a high degree of correlation with each other. The areas under the curve for FLF, MPO and CRP were 1.00, 0.867 and 0.622, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of markers were: FLF (94%, 100%), FMPO (89%, 51%) and SCRP (24%, 100%). Conclusion:, Biomarkers are useful in assessing disease activity, severity and response to therapy in patients with UC. They showed a high degree of correlation with each other. [source] Coagulation profile and platelet function in patients with extrahepatic portal vein obstruction and non-cirrhotic portal fibrosisJOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY, Issue 6 2001Jasmohan S Bajaj Abstract Background and Aims: Coagulation disorders commonly develop in patients with cirrhosis of the liver. They have also been reported in patients with non-cirrhotic portal fibrosis (NCPF) and extra-hepatic portal venous obstruction (EHPVO); the two conditions with portal hypertension and near-normal liver functions. The spectrum and prevalence of coagulation abnormalities and their association with the pathogenesis of these diseases and with hypersplenism was prospectively studied. Methods: Eighteen EHPVO patients that included an equal number of NCPF patients and 20 healthy controls were prospectively studied. The coagulation parameters assessed included: international normalized ratio, partial thromboplastin time, and fibrinogen and fibrinogen degradation products. Platelet aggregation and malondialdehyde levels were measured. Results: Both EHPVO (83%) and NCPF (78%) patients had a significantly prolonged international normalized ratio and a decrease in fibrinogen and platelet aggregation. The EHPVO patients had a significant prolongation in partial thromboplastin time (67% patients), with increased levels of fibrinogen degradation product levels occurring in all patients; these were normal in NCPF patients. Platelet malondialdehyde levels were normal in both groups. Hypersplenism was present in four EHPVO and seven NCPF patients. It did not significantly influence the coagulation profile in either NCPF or EHPVO patients. Conclusions: Coagulation anomalies are common and significant in both NCPF and EHPVO patients, suggestive of a mild disseminated intravascular coagulation disorder. These imbalances could be caused by chronic subclinical endotoxemia and cytokine activation after the initial portal thromboembolic event. The persistence of these abnormalities in adolescent patients indicates an ongoing coagulation derangement. [source] A retrospective analysis of two independent prospective cartilage repair studies: autogenous perichondrial grafting versus subchondral drilling 10 years post-surgeryJOURNAL OF ORTHOPAEDIC RESEARCH, Issue 2 2002Phianne S. J. M. Bouwmeester Background: Experimental data indicate that perichondrial grafting to restore articular cartilage defects will result in repair with hyaline-like cartilage. In contrast, debridement and drilling results in repair with fibro-cartilage. In this retrospective study the longterm clinical results of both procedures were compared to evaluate the theoretical benefit of repair with hyaline-like tissue. Methods: From two independent studies patients were selected with a cartilage defect in their knee. The selection was performed using strict inclusion criteria published elsewhere [Bouwmeester et al. Int. Orthop. 21 (1997) 313]. The patients were treated with either a perichondrium transplantation (PT group, n = 14) or with an ,open' debridement and drilling procedure (DD group, n = 11). The results of both procedures after 10,11 years were evaluated using the Hospital for Special Surgery Knee Score (HSSS), X-ray examination, clinical examination and visual analogue scales (VAS) for pain during walking and at rest. Results: Both procedures resulted in a general improvement compared to the situation before the operation. After an average of 10 years in the PT group there were three failures, in the DD group none, success rates were 78% and 100%, respectively. When comparing the successful PT patients with the DD patients, there were no differences in HSSS and VAS data. Both groups showed an equal number of irregular operation surface sites on X-ray (PT 9/11 versus DD 8/10). Conclusions: This study shows that clinically at 10 years follow-up no difference was observed between debridement and drilling and perichondrium transplantation for treatment of an isolated cartilage defect. This raises questions about ongoing research to develop methods in order to improve the results of debridement and drilling as therapy for an isolated cartilage defect in a young patient (, 40 years). © 2002 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved. [source] Risk factors and ultrasonographic profile of posterior fossa haemorrhages in preterm infantsJOURNAL OF PAEDIATRICS AND CHILD HEALTH, Issue 4 2009Arvind Sehgal Aims: While preterm infants are known to be at risk of intracranial haemorrhages, advances in ultrasound imaging of preterm babies have facilitated recognition of presence of haemorrhages in the posterior fossa, which include cerebellar and Cisterna Magna haemorrhages. There are limited data on the profile and predisposing risk factors. The objective was to identify antenatal, intrapartum and post-natal risk factors for and to define the clinical spectrum. The study was designed as a retrospective case-control study in the setting of a tertiary level neonatal intensive care unit. Preterm babies ,30 weeks gestation age admitted between January 2005 and December 2006, with an ultrasound diagnosis of posterior fossa haemorrhage and an equal number of controls matched for gestation age, gender and month of birth with normal cranial scans were selected. Systematic chart and radiographic review was done. All cranial ultrasounds in both groups were reviewed. Results: Eighteen babies had documented posterior fossa haemorrhage (13 cerebellar, 5 isolated Cisterna Magna, 10 both), the median time of detection being 2.5 days. Eleven babies had either no or grade I/II supratentorial bleeds, while half of all cerebellar bleeds were bilateral. All haemorrhages were visualised from mastoid view and none from anterior fontanel. On univariate analysis, multiple gestations, lack of antenatal steroids, foetal heart rate abnormalities, need for volume expanders and cardiotrophins and sepsis were associated with a higher risk for having posterior fossa bleeds. Conclusions: Posterior fossa haemorrhages in preterm babies are being increasingly recognised. Antenatal, intrapartum and post-natal factors may predispose towards haemorrhages in the cerebellum or Cisterna Magna. [source] Effects of d -Cycloserine on Extinction and Reconditioning of Ethanol-Seeking Behavior in MiceALCOHOLISM, Issue 5 2009Peter A. Groblewski Background:,d -Cycloserine (DCS), a partial N -methyl- d -aspartate receptor agonist, has been shown to enhance the extinction of both cocaine and amphetamine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP). However, there have been no reports of the effects of DCS on the extinction of ethanol-conditioned behaviors in mice. Thus, the current experiments examined the effects of DCS on the extinction and subsequent reconditioning of ethanol-induced CPP in mice. Methods:, Male DBA/2J mice received either 2 or 4 pairings of ethanol (2 g/kg) with a conditioned stimulus (CS+) floor cue (and an equal number of saline pairings with a CS, floor cue on alternate days) resulting in either a weak or strong ethanol CPP, respectively. Following conditioning of a strong ethanol CPP mice received saline or 30 mg/kg DCS prior to each of the twelve 30-minute choice extinction trials administered at 48-hour intervals. Mice that had received conditioning of a weak ethanol CPP received saline, 30 or 60 mg/kg DCS immediately before each of the six 30-minute choice extinction trials. Following successful ethanol CPP extinction, mice received reconditioning trials similar to the initial conditioning trials. A final experiment examined the effects 12 DCS pre-exposures (15, 30, and 60 mg/kg) on initial conditioning of ethanol CPP. Results:, First, we showed that 2 doses of DCS (30 and 60 mg/kg) did not have aversive properties that could confound the effects on extinction of CPP (Experiment 1). Second, we showed that DCS (30 and 60 mg/kg) had no effect on the rate of extinction of either strong (Experiment 2) or weak (Experiment 3) ethanol-induced CPP. Interestingly, DCS administered during extinction interfered with reconditioning of ethanol-induced CPP,an effect specific to reconditioning, as DCS pre-exposure did not influence initial ethanol CPP conditioning (Experiment 4). Conclusions:, These experiments show that although DCS showed no effect on extinction behavior, when given during extinction it interfered with subsequent reconditioning of ethanol CPP. The mechanisms of this effect were not, however, due to nonspecific interference with learning because repeated DCS pre-exposures did not impair initial conditioning of ethanol CPP. [source] Sleep problems and daytime somnolence in a German population-based sample of snoring school-aged childrenJOURNAL OF SLEEP RESEARCH, Issue 1 2007STEFFEN EITNER Summary Habitual snoring is associated with daytime symptoms like tiredness and behavioral problems. Its association with sleep problems is unclear. We aimed to assess associations between habitual snoring and sleep problems in primary school children. The design was a population-based cross-sectional study with a nested cohort study. The setting was twenty-seven primary schools in the city of Hannover, Germany. Habitual snoring and sleep problems were assessed in primary school children using an extended version of Gozal's sleep-disordered breathing questionnaire (n = 1144). Approximately 1 year later, parents of children reported to snore habitually (n = 114) and an equal number of children who snored never or occasionally were given the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children, a validated questionnaire for the assessment of pediatric sleep problems. Snoring status was re-assessed using the initial questionnaire and children were then classified as long-term habitual snorers or ex-habitual snorers. An increasing prevalence of sleep problems was found with increasing snoring frequency for sleep-onset delay, night awakenings, and nightmares. Long-term habitual snorers were at significantly increased risk for sleep,wake transition disorders (e.g. rhythmic movements, hypnic jerks, sleeptalking, bruxism; odds ratio, 95% confidence interval: 12.0, 3.8,37.3), sleep hyperhidrosis (3.6, 1.2,10.8), disorders of arousal/nightmares (e.g. sleepwalking, sleep terrors, nightmares; 4.6, 1.3,15.6), and excessive somnolence (i.e. difficulty waking up, morning tiredness, daytime somnolence; 6.3, 2.2,17.8). Ex-habitual snorers were at increased risk for sleep,wake transition disorders (4.4, 1.4,14.2). Habitual snoring was associated with several sleep problems in our study. Long-term habitual snorers were more likely to have sleep problems than children who had stopped snoring spontaneously. [source] Psoralen and ultraviolet A and narrow-band ultraviolet B in inducing stability in vitiligo, assessed by vitiligo disease activity score: an open prospective comparative studyJOURNAL OF THE EUROPEAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY & VENEREOLOGY, Issue 10 2007A Bhatnagar Abstract Background Vitiligo is a common pigmentary disorder with great cosmetic and psychological morbidity and an unpredictable course. No treatment available is a definitive cure. Systemic psoralen and ultraviolet A (PUVA) has been the mainstay of treatment. Narrow-band UVB (NBUVB) was later introduced. In this study, we have compared the phototherapy modalities PUVA and NBUVB in inducing stability in vitiligo, assessed by using vitiligo disease activity score (VIDA), for the first time. Aims To investigate the position of NBUVB vis-à-vis PUVA in terms of stability achieved during therapy as indicated by the VIDA scores. Subjects and methods It was an open, prospective study of 50 patients divided equally in PUVA and NBUVB groups. The study period was from January 2004 to June 2005. This study was done as a part of a larger project to compare the efficacy of mentioned modalities in degree of repigmentation. Results In the NBUVB group, disease activity was present in 40% patients before commencement of therapy, which was reduced to 16% at the end of therapy (statistically significant, P = 0.049). In the PUVA group, similar figures were 20% and 16%, respectively. In the NBUVB group, 50% of patients whose disease was active prior to commencement of therapy had less than 50% repigmentation, whereas an equal number of patients had repigmentation of more than 50%. Almost an equal number of stable patients had less than and more than 50% repigmentation. In the PUVA group, 4 of the 5 (80%) patients who had active disease had less than 50% repigmentation, whereas only 1 patient (20%) with active disease obtained more than 50% repigmentation. The time to attain stability was 3.6 ± 2.1 months in the NBUVB group and 3.22 ± 3.1 months in the PUVA group. Eight of the 10 (80%) patients with unstable disease in the NBUVB group achieved stability, whereas 2 of the 5 (40%) patients of similar pre-treatment status in the PUVA group achieved stability. Conclusion NBUVB was in a more statistically advantageous position vis-à-vis PUVA, in respect to stability achieved and efficacy in both active and stable disease in a comparable time period. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||