Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nurses' attitudes and perceived barriers to the reporting of medication administration errors.

AIMS (1) To explore the attitudes and perceived barriers to reporting medication administration errors and (2) to understand the characteristics of - and nurses' feelings - about error reports. BACKGROUND Under-reporting of medication administration errors is a global concern related to the safety of patient care. Understanding nurses' attitudes and perceived barriers to error reporting is the initial step to increasing the reporting rate. METHODS A cross-sectional, descriptive survey with a self-administered questionnaire was completed by the nurses of a medical centre hospital in Taiwan. RESULTS A total of 306 nurses participated in the study. Nurses' attitudes towards medication administration error reporting were inclined towards positive. The major perceived barrier was fear of the consequences after reporting. The results demonstrated that 88.9% of medication administration errors were reported orally, whereas 19.0% were reported through the hospital internet system. Self-recrimination was the common feeling of nurses after the commission of an medication administration error. CONCLUSIONS Even if hospital management encourages errors to be reported without recrimination, nurses' attitudes toward medication administration error reporting are not very positive and fear is the most prominent barrier contributing to underreporting. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT Nursing managers should establish anonymous reporting systems and counselling classes to create a secure atmosphere to reduce nurses' fear and provide incentives to encourage reporting.
Seasonal and interannual variations in abundance of Euphausia pacifica off north-eastern Japan

Seasonal and interannual variations in abundance of Euphausia pacifica off north-eastern Japan were examined using Remodeled Norpac net samples collected from April 1993 to February 2000. Spawning occurred mainly during April-June and August-October in every year. When abundance of eggs was high in May, those of larval and immature stages in May-June and small adults (≤15 mm) during July–October tended to be high. There were high positive correlations between monthly average abundance of eggs in May–June and average abundance of small adults during July–October. However, there was low or negative correlation between monthly abundance of eggs in April and average abundance of small adults during July–October. Recruitment time to adult takes approximately 3 months, so these results suggest that small adults during July–October are mainly derived from spawning in May–June, but rarely from spawning in April. The apparent decrease in abundance of small adults from summer to winter was observed every year despite active spawning during August–October, which would recruit to adults in late autumn-winter. The possible effects on recruitment and mortality are discussed in relation to starvation and predation caused by low temperatures and low available food abundance.
Management of Primary Dysmenorrhea by School Adolescents in ILE-IFE, Nigeria

Dysmenorrhea is a problem that girls and women face and often manage themselves with or without support from health professionals. A cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted among adolescents with dysmenorrhea (N = 150) in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. The aims of the study were to determine their knowledge of menstruation and primary dysmenorrhea, assess the severity of pain they experienced during an episode of primary dysmenorrhea, and determine the management strategies they adopted. A pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Findings revealed the adolescents had a knowledge deficit regarding menstruation and dysmenorrhea, 58% of respondents reported pain between face 4 and face 10 on the Faces Pain Scale and the majority used inappropriate methods to manage primary dysmenorrhea. School nurses are able to assist adolescents and their mothers in proper management of primary dysmenorrhea.
An Evidence-Based Systematic Review of Black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa, Actaea racemosa) by the Natural Standard Research Collaboration

ABSTRACT An evidence-based systematic review of black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa, Actaea racemosa) by the Natural Standard Research Collaboration consolidates the safety and efficacy data available in the scientific literature using a validated, reproducible grading rationale. This article includes written and statistical analysis of clinical trials, plus a compilation of expert opinion, folkloric precedent, history, pharmacology, kinetics/dynamics, interactions, adverse effects, toxicology, and dosing.
Myelofibrosis in chronic granulocytic leukaemia: clinicopathologic correlations and prognostic significance

Summary. We performed 221 marrow trephine biopsies in 139 patients with Ph1‐positive (Ph1‐+) chronic granulocytic leukaemia (CGL) in order to assess the incidence, degree and prognostic significance of marrow fibrosis (MF) at various stages of the disease. We also attempted to elucidate the relationship between development of MF and the various clinical and haematological features of CGL. A significant correlation was found between the amount of fibrosis (graded from 0 to 3) and the stage of CGL, indicating that major fibrotic changes are associated with accelerated or blastic disease. Survival studies performed to assess the prognostic significance of the various degrees of MF, showed a progressively worse life‐expectancy from grade 0 to grade 3 fibrosis. Multivariate regression analysis indicated Hb level, age, number of marrow megakaryocytes (MKs), time from diagnosis as the features most significantly correlated with the degree of MF. This study demonstrates that the natural history of CGL involves a progressive increase in reticulin deposition towards severe MF, although the rate of this progression varies widely. Monitoring changes of fibrosis with sequential biopsies could give a measure of the rate of progression of the disease and help in prognostic assessment of CGL patients. Our findings also confirm that among marrow features the number of MKs is the cytological variable most significantly correlated with MF.
Tolvaptan Delays the Onset of End-Stage Renal Disease in a Polycystic Kidney Disease Model by Suppressing Increases in Kidney Volume and Renal Injury

Tolvaptan, a selective vasopressin V2 receptor antagonist, slows the increase in total kidney volume and the decline in kidney function in patients with the results of the Tolvaptan Efficacy and Safety in Management of Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease and Outcome (TEMPO) 3:4 trial. However, it was unclear which dose of tolvaptan was optimal or whether tolvaptan was able to delay progression to end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Here we examined the relationship with aquaresis and the inhibitory effect on cyst development in short-term treatment and mortality as an index of ESRD in long-term treatment with tolvaptan using DBA/2FG-pcy mice, an animal model of nephronophthisis. With short-term treatment from 5 to 15 weeks of age, tolvaptan (0.01–0.3% via diet) dose-dependently enhanced aquaresis, prevented increases in kidney weight and cyst volume, and was associated with significant reductions in kidney cAMP levels and extracellular signal–regulated kinase activity. Maximal effects of tolvaptan on aquaresis and the prevention of development of polycystic kidney disease (PKD) were obtained at 0.1%. Interestingly, tolvaptan also dose-dependently reduced urinary neutrophil gelatinase–associated lipocalin levels in correlation with the kidney volume. With long-term treatment from 5 to 29 weeks of age, tolvaptan significantly attenuated the increase in kidney volume by up to 50% and reduced urinary albumin excretion. Furthermore, tolvaptan significantly reduced the mortality rate to 20%, compared with 60% in the control group. These data indicate that tolvaptan may delay the onset of ESRD in PKD by suppressing the increases in kidney volume and renal injury, providing a promising treatment for PKD.
Protracted Rheumatic Manifestations in Travelers

Background:Travel returnees may complain of protracted rheumatic symptoms, but there are sparse data regarding their causes. We aimed to describe travelers returning with new rheumatic symptoms. Methods:We conducted a retrospective analysis of Israeli travelers who were referred to the Sheba Medical Center from January 2005 to January 2010 with prolonged (>4 weeks) nontraumatic arthralgia or arthritis. Results:During 5 years, 14 patients (7 men and 7 women) with posttravel arthritis/arthralgia were seen. A total of 5 patients were diagnosed with reactive arthritis, and 9 were diagnosed with rheumatic symptoms related to infection with Alphaviruses: Chikungunya virus or Ross River virus. Some disability remained for several months in most cases, but only 1 case of reactive arthritis eventually evolved to a chronic spondyloarthropathy. Conclusions:Travel-related arthritis may persist even several months after the exposure. Assessing patients' travel history may help in the evaluation of some cases with rheumatic manifestations. Their prognosis may be better than that of autoimmune arthritides.
Molecular Markers to Access Genetic Diversity of Castor Bean: Current Status and Prospects for Breeding Purposes

The spurge family (Euphorbiaceae) is one of the most diverse and numerous clades of the angiosperms, including several species of great economic importance as rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis), cassava (Manihot esculenta), and some oil seed crops, as candlenut (Aleurites moluccana), physic nut (Jatropha curcas) and castor bean (Ricinus communis). Castor bean, the single member of the African genus Ricinus (subfamily Acalyphoideae), presents a wide variation regarding vegetative traits such as leaf and stem colors, number and size of leaf lobes and presence of wax covering the stem (Popova & Moshkin, 1986; Savy-Filho, 2005; Webster, 1994; see Fig. 1). Depending on the environmental conditions, even the vegetative habit may vary, although it is more likely in a shrubby form (Webster, 1994). However, the most conspicuous variability is related to reproductive characters, as color shape and size of seeds, number of flowers per raceme, peduncle length and fruit dehiscence (Figs. 1 and 2) as described by Popova & Moshkin (1986).
Subcellular distribution of α1G subunit of T‐type calcium channel in the mouse dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus

T‐type calcium channels play a pivotal role in regulating neural membrane excitability in the nervous system. However, the precise subcellular distributions of T‐type channel subunits and their implication for membrane excitability are not well understood. Here we investigated the subcellular distribution of the α1G subunit of the calcium channel which is expressed highly in the mouse dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN). Light microscopic analysis demonstrated that dLGN exhibits intense immunoperoxidase reactivity for the α1G subunit. Electron microscopic observation showed that the labeling was present in both the relay cells and interneurons and was found in the somatodendritic, but not axonal, domains of these cells. Most of the immunogold particles for the α1G subunit were either associated with the plasma membrane or the intracellular membranes. Reconstruction analysis of serial electron microscopic images revealed that the intensity of the intracellular labeling exhibited a gradient such that the labeling density was higher in the proximal dendrite and progressively decreased towards the distal dendrite. In contrast, the plasma membrane‐associated particles were distributed with a uniform density over the somatodendritic surface of dLGN cells. The labeling density in the relay cell plasma membrane was about 3‐fold higher than that of the interneurons. These results provide ultrastructural evidence for cell‐type‐specific expression levels and for uniform expression density of the α1G subunit over the plasma membrane of dLGN cells. J. Comp. Neurol. 518:4362–4374, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Tourism Expansion and Economic Development: VAR/VECM Analysis and Forecasts for the Case of India

This study tests for the existence and direction of causality between output growth and tourism expenditure using a trivariate model with real effective exchange rate (REER), analysed as a whole and in sub-categories (i.e. leisure travel and tourism expenditures, LTS and business travel and tourism expenditures, BTS) during the period 1988-2011 for India. For this purpose exhaustive empirical evidence are provided from the application of Phillips-Perron and KPSS unit root tests, Johansen cointegration tests, VAR models with an error-correction term, impulse responses, variance decompositions and forecasts generated from the VAR/VECM models. Results for the aggregated model indicate that all variables return to their long-run equilibrium relationships although this model failed to support the significance of causal links between total tourism expenditure and India’s real output. However, the application of the disaggregated model imply strong bidirectional causal links between growth and LTS in the long-run and unidirectional causal links from LTS and BTS to growth suggesting direct impact of tourism on the Indian real output. Finally, forecasts generated for the period 2012-2016 are promising; total tourism expenditure compared to the previous half-decade will grow at a similar pace and optimistic forecasts are generated for the case of LTS, BTS and GDP.
Palonosetron hydrochloride for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting

A large number of different 5-hydroxytryptamine (HT)3 receptor antagonists have been marketed with the indication of preventing nausea and vomiting induced by chemotherapy – palonosetron is the most recently developed of these. Pharmacologic studies have revealed that palonosetron has a long half-life, a high affinity for 5-HT3 receptors, exhibits allosteric binding to 5-HT3 receptors and possess positive cooperativity. Although interesting, pharmacologic differences are only useful if they result in clinical advantages, such as an increase in efficacy and/or an improvement in tolerability. We summarize preclinical and clinical studies of palonosetron and compare the efficacy and tolerability with the other 5-HT3 receptor antagonists, ondansetron, granisetron and dolasetron.
Increased thickness of the arterial intima-media detected by ultrasonography in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether arterial wall thickening is advanced in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients compared with healthy controls by measuring the intima-media thickness (IMT) of the common carotid and femoral arteries, and to evaluate the factors associated with arterial IMT in patients with RA. METHODS We studied 138 RA patients and 94 healthy controls (matched for age, sex, and other major risk factors for atherosclerosis). IMT was measured on digitized still images of the common carotid and femoral arteries obtained by high-resolution ultrasonography (10-MHz in-line Sectascanner). Laboratory variables relevant to RA activity were measured by routine methods. The degree of RA progression was assessed by scoring (Larsen method) metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints on hand radiographs. Activities of daily living were determined by a modified Health Assessment Questionnaire (M-HAQ) score, and physical activity levels were assessed by ultrasound measurement of the calcaneus (expressed as the osteo-sono assessment index [OSI] Z score). RESULTS Common carotid and femoral artery IMTs were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in RA patients (mean +/- SD 0.641 +/- 0.127 and 0.632 +/- 0.125 mm, respectively) compared with controls (0.576 +/- 0.115 and 0.593 +/- 0.141 mm, respectively). Multiple regression analysis revealed a significant association between RA and the common carotid artery IMT. Moreover, the common carotid artery IMT in RA patients was positively associated with disease duration, the MCP joint Larsen score, and the M-HAQ score, and was negatively associated with the calcaneus OSI Z score. No significant association was found between corticosteroid treatment and common carotid artery IMT. CONCLUSION RA patients exhibited greater thickness of the common carotid and femoral arteries than healthy controls. The duration and severity of RA and decreased activities of daily living, but not corticosteroid treatment, were independently associated with the increased arterial wall thickness.
Helicon experiments and simulations in nonuniform magnetic field configurations

Wave, antenna impedance, plasma density, and temperature anisotropy measurements are carried out for a helicon plasma source in nonuniform and uniform static magnetic fields. Strong axial density gradients associated with the nonuniform magnetic fields are observed to affect wave fields, absorption, and source efficiency. The wave field and antenna input impedance measurements are compared with a new simulation code which also calculates Poynting power flow and wave absorption profiles. Wave amplitude measurements are shown to decay more rapidly and the phase velocity varies over a wide range for the nonuniform static magnetic field case.
Prognostic indicators for surgical peri-implantitis treatment.

OBJECTIVES Objective of this study was to identify prognostic indicators for the outcome of resective peri-implantitis treatment, by an analysis of the pooled data of two previously conducted randomized controlled trials. MATERIAL AND METHODS Data of 74 patients with peri-implantitis (187 implants) who had received resective surgical treatment were available. Primary outcome variable was failure of peri-implantitis treatment after 12 months. Multilevel univariable and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the effect of various potentially prognostic indicators on the primary outcome. RESULTS Peri-implantitis treatment was unsuccessful in 106 implants (57%) and 48 patients (67%) after 12 months. In the multiple regression analysis, the variables "order of inclusion" (P = 0.016) and mean bone loss at baseline (P = 0.030) were significant prognostic indicators for treatment failure. To eliminate the effect of "order of inclusion," post hoc analyses were carried out in a subgroup of patients. The univariable post hoc analysis showed a significant association for smoking (P = 0.015), maximum pocket depth at baseline (P = 0.073), mean bone loss at baseline (P = 0.003), and presence of plaque (P = 0.100). In the multiple regression post hoc analysis, only the variables smoking (P = 0.044) and mean bone loss (P = 0.043) remained statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS The outcome of surgical peri-implantitis treatment is influenced by the experience of the surgical team with the surgical procedure. The observed learning effect has consequences for clinical practice and for conducting and interpreting clinical trials on peri-implantitis treatment. Other prognostic indicators are amount of peri-implant bone loss at baseline and smoking, and to a lesser extent, probing pocket depth at baseline and presence of plaque during follow-up. Early diagnosis of peri-implantitis and control of behavioral factors are crucial in achieving peri-implantitis treatment success.
Human follicular papilla cells carry out nonadipose tissue production of leptin.

Leptin, a satiety-regulating cytokine, is predominantly expressed by adipocytes, although recently the nonadipose tissue production of leptin has been reported. To investigate the possibility of leptin production by human scalp hair follicles, we examined leptin production and its mRNA expression by cultured human follicular papilla cells. We isolated 12 human follicular papilla cell lines from different individuals. They were identified by their morphology, their high alpha-smooth-muscle actin expression, their inability to differentiate into adipocytes, and by the lack of mRNA for adipose-specific fatty acid binding protein. All the human follicular papilla cell lines, but not neonatal human dermal fibroblasts, produced significant amounts of leptin demonstrable by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We demonstrated leptin mRNA expression by human follicular papilla cell lines, but not by neonatal human dermal fibroblasts, by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. By immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization, we detected both leptin protein and mRNA at the lower portion of the hair follicle, i.e., hair matrix, inner root sheath of the hair bulb, and human follicular papilla cells. In contrast, the leptin receptor with intracytoplasmic signal sequence was detected in the follicular papilla cells immunohistochemically, and the long isoform of the leptin receptor mRNA was demonstrated in the human follicular papilla cell lines by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Finally, by using these human follicular papilla cell lines, we showed that cytokines such as interleukin-1 beta, tumor necrosis factor alpha, interferon-gamma, and interleukin-4, and growth factors such as epidermal growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor, and transforming growth factor beta1, but not vascular endothelial growth factor, hepatocyte growth factor, keratinocyte growth factor, and insulin-like growth factor 1, significantly downregulated the production of leptin. These data demonstrated that human follicular papilla cells produce leptin and express the functional leptin receptor in vivo and in vitro, suggesting its autocrine function. Moreover, the regulation pattern of its production by various factors suggests a pivotal role of leptin in hair biology.
Digital television on ATM networks: optimum chain for coding and transmission

This paper presents a global optimization of the transmission chain for video on asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) channels. This optimum control includes compression, transmission, and decoding. First, the gain in statistical multiplexing is put forward to demonstrate that transmitting at variable rates on asynchronous multiplexing links is more efficient than exploiting the constant rate on synchronous links. The joint optimization relies on both the entropy rate and the end-to-end image quality. This requires the characterization of the video sources as entropy generators, and the development of the entropy rate-distortion functions in the coder and the transmission channel. Quantizers and variable-length entropy coders in coding, traffic, and queues in transmission multiplexing each lead to performance functions expressing quality in terms of entropy rate. The objective measures of quality are, respectively, the PSNR in terms of the output data rate and the cell loss in terms of the network loads. The main advantage of transmitting on variable bit-rate channels is to permit the generation of image sequences at constant subjective quality on the coding side, and the saving of transmission bandwidth through a gain in statistical multiplexing on the network side. Mirrored control actions are described for coding and multiplexing; they lead to a unique global optimum of the transmission chain. Since the decoders are generally slaved to the coding and transmission performances, they are restricted to perform independent optimum signal reconstruction.
Feasibility of high‐density electrophysiological study using multiple‐electrode array in isolated small animal atria

1. High‐density cardiac electrophysiological study (EPS) of small animal atria has been limited to optical mapping techniques, which require complex and expensive equipment setup. We aim to evaluate the feasibility of carrying out EPS in isolated atrial tissues using a custom made high‐density multiple‐electrode array (MEA).