bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Adult Onset Epilepsy and History of Childhood Febrile Convulsions: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Sardar MH , Howlader MAR , Hossain MZ
Published: October 2010

Objective: To assess the association between adult -onset epilepsy and history of childhood febrile convulsions (CFC) and determine the types of epilepsy which develop after CFC Design: A retrospective study. Study period: January 2008 to December 2008. Place of study: Epilepsy Clinic of the Department of Neurology of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka. Materials & Methods: 106 consecutive adult (age>13 years) patients with adult onset epilepsy receiving treatment from Epilepsy Clinic of the Department of Neurology of BSMMU, Dhaka were the sample of this study. Records of these patients were reviewed & the patients & their family members were interviewed to assess the medical history. The data obtained from the records and the interviews formed the basis of this study. Chi-Square test was applied to analysis the data. Results: Results of interview and records of 92 patients were analyzed. Of the 106 patients 14 patients were excluded from this study for the reasons of missing reliable data of the CFC episodes (9), secondary epilepsy due to intracerebral space occupying lesions (ICSOL) (1), history of head injury (1) & meningoencephalitis (3). Thirty one (33.7%) of the remaining ninety two patients had history of CFC in the childhood (71% male, 29% female). Partial epilepsies were significantly associated with history of CFC [Odds Ratio : 3.29; (95% CI 1.30-8.06), (c2=5.49, df=1, p<0.012)] when compared to other epilepsies and epilepsy syndromes. An initial unprovoked simple partial seizure was also significantly associated with a positive history of CFC [Odds Ratio : 8.05; (95% CI 2.88-22.45), (c2=15.86, df=1, p<0.001)]. Conclusion: Partial epilepsies seem to be associated with a history of CFC in childhood. The mechanism & pathophysiology of association between CFC and epilepsy in affected probands requires further investigations. Identification of the basic defect in relation to CFC & epilepsy may have important implication for the prevention of adult- onset epilepsy in patients with history of CFC. But the risk of epilepsy after febrile convulsions is much less than reported in many hospital studies & if febrile convulsion causes brain damage that leads to epilepsy later, this is a rare occurrence. Key words: Generalized epilepsy; partial epilepsy; febrile convulsion; afebrile seizures; genetic. DOI: 10.3329/jdmc.v18i1.6307 J Dhaka Med Coll. 2009; 18(1) : 54-57
Treatment of vitiligo with autologous epidermal transplantation using the roof of suction blisters, first in Bangladesh
Authors: Khondoker MS , Rabbi SMR , Awwal R , Hussain DAS
Published: October 2010

CorrigendumThere is correction in the Journal of Dhaka Medical College, April 2009 issue (Vol. 18, No. 1). In the original article titled "Treatment of vitiligo with autologous epidermal transplantation using the roof of suction blisters, first in Bangladesh", the name of the first author will have to be read Khondoker MS instead of Khundkar SH, and in address of correspondence Dr. Md. Sajjad Khondoker instead of Prof. Shafquat Hussain Khundkar at page no. 58.On 15/02/2011, the first author's name was changed from SH Khundkar to MS Khondoker on the online edition of the journal on BanglaJOL.We report our experience of autologous epidermal transplantation for 30 (Thirty) patients with vitiligo. The vitiligo in 25 (Twenty five) patients was stable whereas in the rest (5) it was active. Autologous epidermal transplantation was performed using suction blister roofs from normal pigmented skin to vitiligo skin that was failed to repigment using topical steroid and/or psoralenultraviolet- A treatment. Grafts were well taken in all the patients. Only three of them are presented as case report in this article. There were no complications except mild hyper pigmentation at the donor areas. For the patient who had active vitiligo, depigmentation of the graft and concomitant Koebner‘s phenomenon at the donor site were observed 3 weeks after the procedure. We conclude that autologous epidermal transplantation using the roof of suction blisters is an excellent and safe regimenting procedure for stable, localized vitiligo and the active disease precludes transplantation. Key words: Epidermis surgery; vitiligo therapy; transplantation alutologous. DOI: 10.3329/jdmc.v18i1.6308 J Dhaka Med Coll. 2009; 18(1) : 58-63
Seroprevalence of Hepatitis C Virus among Health Care Workers
Authors: Uddin MR , Islam MMS , Hossain MZ , Sarker MN , Salimullah ASM , Begum F , Ahmed DS , Alam A , Roy PK , Raihan ASMA
Published: October 2010

Context: Hepatitis C virus is one of the leading causes of liver disease and represents a major public health problem. It is a common cause of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) as well as the most common reason for liver transplantation. Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out during the period of April 2007 to April 2008 among health care workers including phlebotomists, dialysis staffs and laboratory personnel handling blood and blood products. Total 200 health care workers from phlebotomists working at one stop collection centre of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), Dialysis staff working at haemodialysis units of BSMMU, Bangladesh Institute of Rehabilitation for Diabetes, Endocrine & Metabolic Diseases (BIRDEM), DMCH, National Institute of Kidney Diseases & Urology (NIKDU) had at least more than one year working exposure was enrolled in this study. After taking informed written consent detailed history was taken, clinical examination was done. 0.3 ml of venous blood was collected from each patient and tested for anti HCV by commercial kit, confirmed by ELISA method. Result: Among 200 patients majority (55.5%) of patients were below 30 years of age and there was equal prevalence among male and female. Out of 200 health care workers 1% was found to be anti HCV positive. All positive patient had duration of exposure of >5 years and had history of needle stick injury. Key words: Hepatitis C virus; seroprevalence; health care workers. DOI: 10.3329/jdmc.v18i1.6310 J Dhaka Med Coll. 2009; 18(1) : 70-74
Misoprostol in Obstetrics and Gynaecology - A Clinical Review
Authors: Ishrat S , Islam F
Published: October 2010

Although misoprostol is widely used in Obstetrics and Gynaecology it is not officially approved for these uses. The literature review shows its efficacy and safety in most of its indications. Misoprostol is effective in cervical priming and inducing uterine contraction and so used in termination of pregnancy. Its use at term can be complicated with serious side effects on uterine contractility and fetal heart rate , rarely causing uterine rupture and fetal death. But review of the studies finds limited reports of these life-threatening complications. Misoprostol is also effective in prevention of postpartum haemorrhage but the effect is not more than combination of oxytocin and ergometrine. Key words: Misoprostol; prostaglandin; clinical use. DOI: 10.3329/jdmc.v18i1.6311 J Dhaka Med Coll. 2009; 18(1) : 75-78
Duodenal Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor: A Rare Cause for Recurrent Anaemia
Authors: Aftab H , Alam J , Parveen S , Hossain MZ , Ahmed F , Kibria MG
Published: October 2010

Gastrointestinal Stromal tumors are rare neoplasm that account for < 1% of all GI malignancies. GISTs arise rarely in the duodenum and clinical presentation is variable. This report describes a case of a GIST arising from the duodenum resulting in recurrent anaemia. DOI: 10.3329/jdmc.v18i1.6314 J Dhaka Med Coll. 2009; 18(1) : 85-87
Water Microbiology. Bacterial Pathogens and Water
Authors: Cabral João P. S.
Published: October 2010

Water is essential to life, but many people do not have access to clean and safe drinking water and many die of waterborne bacterial infections. In this review a general characterization of the most important bacterial diseases transmitted through water—cholera, typhoid fever and bacillary dysentery—is presented, focusing on the biology and ecology of the causal agents and on the diseases’ characteristics and their life cycles in the environment. The importance of pathogenic Escherichia coli strains and emerging pathogens in drinking water-transmitted diseases is also briefly discussed. Microbiological water analysis is mainly based on the concept of fecal indicator bacteria. The main bacteria present in human and animal feces (focusing on their behavior in their hosts and in the environment) and the most important fecal indicator bacteria are presented and discussed (focusing on the advantages and limitations of their use as markers). Important sources of bacterial fecal pollution of environmental waters are also briefly indicated. In the last topic it is discussed which indicators of fecal pollution should be used in current drinking water microbiological analysis. It was concluded that safe drinking water for all is one of the major challenges of the 21st century and that microbiological control of drinking water should be the norm everywhere. Routine basic microbiological analysis of drinking water should be carried out by assaying the presence of Escherichia coli by culture methods. Whenever financial resources are available, fecal coliform determinations should be complemented with the quantification of enterococci. More studies are needed in order to check if ammonia is reliable for a preliminary screening for emergency fecal pollution outbreaks. Financial resources should be devoted to a better understanding of the ecology and behavior of human and animal fecal bacteria in environmental waters.
The Effect of Exercise on the Skeletal Muscle Phospholipidome of Rats Fed a High-Fat Diet
Authors: Mitchell Todd W. , Turner Nigel , Else Paul L. , Hulbert Anthony J. , Hawley John A. , Lee Jong Sam , Bruce Clinton R. , Blanksby Stephen J.
Published: October 2010

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of endurance training on skeletal muscle phospholipid molecular species from high-fat fed rats. Twelve female Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a high-fat diet (78.1% energy). The rats were randomly divided into two groups, a sedentary control group and a trained group (125 min of treadmill running at 8 m/min, 4 days/wk for 4 weeks). Forty-eight hours after their last training bout phospholipids were extracted from the red and white vastus lateralis and analyzed by electrospray-ionization mass spectrometry. Exercise training was associated with significant alterations in the relative abundance of a number of phospholipid molecular species. These changes were more prominent in red vastus lateralis than white vastus lateralis. The largest observed change was an increase of ~30% in the abundance of 1-palmitoyl-2-linoleoyl phosphatidylcholine ions in oxidative fibers. Reductions in the relative abundance of a number of phospholipids containing long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids were also observed. These data suggest a possible reduction in phospholipid remodeling in the trained animals. This results in a decrease in the phospholipid n-3 to n-6 ratio that may in turn influence endurance capacity.
Effect of Temperature on Isolation and Characterization of Hydroxyapatite from Tuna (Thunnus obesus) Bone
Authors: Venkatesan Jayachandran , Kim Se Kwon
Published: October 2010

The effect of temperature on isolation and characterization of hydroxyapatite (HAp) from tuna bone was evaluated at different temperatures ranging from 200 °C to 1200 °C. The calcined bones were characterized by thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and cytotoxicity assay. The FTIR and TGA results revealed the presence of inorganic and organic matrices in raw bone and a preserved carbonated group in the derived HAp. The XRD results of the derived HAp were coherent with the Joint Committee on Powder Diffraction Standards (JCPDS-09-0432/1996) data. In addition, FE-SEM results revealed the formation of nanostructured HAp (80–300 nm) at 600 °C and crystal agglomeration was observed with an increase in temperature. The calcium to phosphorous weight ratio was determined by EDX results of treated bones. Derived HAp with various crystal sizes had no cytotoxicity on the MG 63 cell line. Based on the analysis, we conclude that varying the isolation temperature between 600–900 °C has tremendous impact on the production of HAp from Thunnus obesus with required properties.
Toxic Effects of Domoic Acid in the Seabream Sparus aurata
Authors: Nogueira Isabel , Lobo-da-Cunha Alexandre , Afonso António , Rivera Socorro , Azevedo Joana , Monteiro Rogério , Cervantes Rosa , Gago-Martinez Ana , Vasconcelos Vítor
Published: October 2010

Neurotoxicity induced in fish by domoic acid (DA) was assessed with respect to occurrence of neurotoxic signs, lethality, and histopathology by light microscopy. Sparus aurata were exposed to a single dose of DA by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of 0, 0.45, 0.9, and 9.0 mg DA kg−1 bw. Mortality (66.67 ± 16.67%) was only observed in dose of 9.0 mg kg−1 bw. Signs of neurological toxicity were detected for the doses of 0.9 and 9.0 mg DA kg−1 bw. Furthermore, the mean concentrations (±SD) of DA detected by HPLC-UV in extracts of brain after exposure to 9.0 mg DA kg−1 bw were 0.61 ± 0.01, 0.96 ± 0.00, and 0.36 ± 0.01 mg DA kg−1 tissue at 1, 2, and 4 hours. The lack of major permanent brain damage in S. aurata, and reversibility of neurotoxic signs, suggest that lower susceptibility to DA or neuronal recovery occurs in affected individuals.
Anti-Adhesive Activities of Flavan-3-ols and Proanthocyanidins in the Interaction of Group A-Streptococci and Human Epithelial Cells
Authors: Janecki Aneta , Kolodziej Herbert
Published: October 2010

Bacterial adhesion to epithelial cells is a key step in infections, allowing subsequent colonization, invasion and internalization of pathogens into tissues. Anti-adhesive agents are therefore potential prophylactic tools against bacterial infections. The range of anti-adhesive compounds is largely confined to carbohydrate analogues. Tannins are generously recognized as potent antimicrobials, but little data exist on their anti-adherence potency. Using a model for mucosal pathogenesis with labeled group A-streptococci (GAS) and human laryngeal HEp-2 cells, a series of flavan-3-ols (epicatechin, epigallocatechin, epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate) and highly purified and chemically characterized proanthocyanidin samples including procyanidins based on epicatechin, catechin or ‘mixed’ constituent flavanyl units, prodelphinidins made up of (epi)gallocatechin monomeric unts as well as oligomers possessing A-type units in their molecules was evaluated for anti-adhesive effects. Reduced microbial adherence was observed exclusively for prodelphinidins, suggesting that pyrogallol-type elements, i.e., (epi)gallocatechin units are important structural features. This is the first report on structure-activity relationships regarding the anti-adhesive potency of proanthocyanidins. In addition, the structures of the first chemically defined proanthocyanidins from Pelargonium sidoides are disclosed.
Role of Oxidant Scavengers in the Prevention of Ca2+ Homeostasis Disorders
Authors: Galan Carmen , Jardín Isaac , Dionisio Natalia , Salido Ginés , Rosado Juan A.
Published: October 2010

A number of disorders, such as Alzheimer disease and diabetes mellitus, have in common the alteration of the redox balance, resulting in an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation that might lead to the development of apoptosis and cell death. It has long been known that ROS can significantly alter Ca2+ mobilization, an intracellular signal that is involved in the regulation of a wide variety of cellular functions. Cells have a limited capability to counteract the effects of oxidative stress, but evidence has been provided supporting the beneficial effects of exogenous ROS scavengers. Here, we review the effects of oxidative stress on intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis and the role of antioxidants in the prevention and treatment of disorders associated to abnormal Ca2+ mobilization induced by ROS.
Design and Application of Nanoscale Actuators Using Block-Copolymers
Authors: Swann Joshua M. G. , Topham Paul D.
Published: October 2010

Block copolymers are versatile designer macromolecules where a “bottom-up” approach can be used to create tailored materials with unique properties. These simple building blocks allow us to create actuators that convert energy from a variety of sources (such as chemical, electrical and heat) into mechanical energy. In this review we will discuss the advantages and potential pitfalls of using block copolymers to create actuators, putting emphasis on the ways in which these materials can be synthesised and processed. Particular attention will be given to the theoretical background of microphase separation and how the phase diagram can be used during the design process of actuators. Different types of actuation will be discussed throughout.
Design of Belief Propagation Based on FPGA for the Multistereo CAFADIS Camera
Authors: Magdaleno Eduardo , Lüke Jonás Philipp , Rodríguez Manuel , Rodríguez-Ramos José Manuel
Published: October 2010

In this paper we describe a fast, specialized hardware implementation of the belief propagation algorithm for the CAFADIS camera, a new plenoptic sensor patented by the University of La Laguna. This camera captures the lightfield of the scene and can be used to find out at which depth each pixel is in focus. The algorithm has been designed for FPGA devices using VHDL. We propose a parallel and pipeline architecture to implement the algorithm without external memory. Although the BRAM resources of the device increase considerably, we can maintain real-time restrictions by using extremely high-performance signal processing capability through parallelism and by accessing several memories simultaneously. The quantifying results with 16 bit precision have shown that performances are really close to the original Matlab programmed algorithm.
An Intelligent Architecture Based on Field Programmable Gate Arrays Designed to Detect Moving Objects by Using Principal Component Analysis
Authors: Bravo Ignacio , Mazo Manuel , Lázaro José L. , Gardel Alfredo , Jiménez Pedro , Pizarro Daniel
Published: October 2010

This paper presents a complete implementation of the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) algorithm in Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) devices applied to high rate background segmentation of images. The classical sequential execution of different parts of the PCA algorithm has been parallelized. This parallelization has led to the specific development and implementation in hardware of the different stages of PCA, such as computation of the correlation matrix, matrix diagonalization using the Jacobi method and subspace projections of images. On the application side, the paper presents a motion detection algorithm, also entirely implemented on the FPGA, and based on the developed PCA core. This consists of dynamically thresholding the differences between the input image and the one obtained by expressing the input image using the PCA linear subspace previously obtained as a background model. The proposal achieves a high ratio of processed images (up to 120 frames per second) and high quality segmentation results, with a completely embedded and reliable hardware architecture based on commercial CMOS sensors and FPGA devices.
Intelligent Sensor Positioning and Orientation Through Constructive Neural Network-Embedded INS/GPS Integration Algorithms
Authors: Chiang Kai-Wei , Chang Hsiu-Wen
Published: October 2010

Mobile mapping systems have been widely applied for acquiring spatial information in applications such as spatial information systems and 3D city models. Nowadays the most common technologies used for positioning and orientation of a mobile mapping system include a Global Positioning System (GPS) as the major positioning sensor and an Inertial Navigation System (INS) as the major orientation sensor. In the classical approach, the limitations of the Kalman Filter (KF) method and the overall price of multi-sensor systems have limited the popularization of most land-based mobile mapping applications. Although intelligent sensor positioning and orientation schemes consisting of Multi-layer Feed-forward Neural Networks (MFNNs), one of the most famous Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs), and KF/smoothers, have been proposed in order to enhance the performance of low cost Micro Electro Mechanical System (MEMS) INS/GPS integrated systems, the automation of the MFNN applied has not proven as easy as initially expected. Therefore, this study not only addresses the problems of insufficient automation in the conventional methodology that has been applied in MFNN-KF/smoother algorithms for INS/GPS integrated systems proposed in previous studies, but also exploits and analyzes the idea of developing alternative intelligent sensor positioning and orientation schemes that integrate various sensors in more automatic ways. The proposed schemes are implemented using one of the most famous constructive neural networks––the Cascade Correlation Neural Network (CCNNs)––to overcome the limitations of conventional techniques based on KF/smoother algorithms as well as previously developed MFNN-smoother schemes. The CCNNs applied also have the advantage of a more flexible topology compared to MFNNs. Based on the experimental data utilized the preliminary results presented in this article illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed schemes compared to smoother algorithms as well as the MFNN-smoother schemes.
Optical Oxygen Sensors for Applications in Microfluidic Cell Culture
Authors: Grist Samantha M. , Chrostowski Lukas , Cheung Karen C.
Published: October 2010

The presence and concentration of oxygen in biological systems has a large impact on the behavior and viability of many types of cells, including the differentiation of stem cells or the growth of tumor cells. As a result, the integration of oxygen sensors within cell culture environments presents a powerful tool for quantifying the effects of oxygen concentrations on cell behavior, cell viability, and drug effectiveness. Because microfluidic cell culture environments are a promising alternative to traditional cell culture platforms, there is recent interest in integrating oxygen-sensing mechanisms with microfluidics for cell culture applications. Optical, luminescence-based oxygen sensors, in particular, show great promise in their ability to be integrated with microfluidics and cell culture systems. These sensors can be highly sensitive and do not consume oxygen or generate toxic byproducts in their sensing process. This paper presents a review of previously proposed optical oxygen sensor types, materials and formats most applicable to microfluidic cell culture, and analyzes their suitability for this and other in vitro applications.
La gestion spirituelle du VIH/sida : parcours biographique et construction identitaire
Authors: Bégot Anne-Cécile
Published: October 2010

Spiritually coping with HIV/AIDS. Biographical portraits and building of the personality

Within the framework of a study of the Agence nationale de recherches sur le sida (ANRS), a survey has been fulfilled among HIV/AIDS infected people who are spiritually involved, the scope being to understand the role and the importance of the spirituality in the building of the personality of this people.

After explaining what is meant by « spiritually involved », we described three different types of spiritual journeys, relying on chosen portraits. They differ one from another because the link to religion has taken three different forms: inherited religion, religion as a cultural link, religious opposition.
Devenir mère dans le contexte des multithérapies antirétrovirales
Authors: Coulon Myriam , Feroni Isabelle
Published: October 2010

Becoming mother in HAART context

This paper focuses on reproductive life course of HIV-infected women, in the context of HIV chronicisation. Twenty semi-structured in-depth interviews of HIV infected women of the French MANIF 2000 cohort were analysed to study the effects of a lower viral transmission risk during the second part of nineties on pregnancy decision making. Results show more pregnancies since 1996 and better doctor acceptance in relation with a good women health and compliance to an antiretroviral the- rapy. Reproductive behaviours normalisation is also related to the stop of drug addiction and stable relationships with the main partner.
Différenciation sexuelle des interprétations causales de la maladie en Afrique subsaharienne (Burkina Faso)
Authors: Egrot Marc
Published: October 2010

Sexual differentiation and causal interprétation of illness in subsaharian Africa (Burkina Faso)

The social sex is implied in the construction and representation of several illnesses among the Mossis of Burkina Faso, especially those regarding sexuality (diseases transmitted during sexual intercourse), individual reproduction (sterility, impotence) and group reproduction (children diseases and witchcraft). Interferences between these categories may exist and imply an asymmetry between etiological models and imputation logics. They also represent opportunities to enhance the social norms associated to each gender and the risks generated by transgression. The illness is both a form of expression and a space of legitimation of the social differentiation between genders
Recours aux soins en cas de fièvre chez l'enfant en pays Sereer au Sénégal entre contrainte économique et perception des maladies
Authors: Baxerres Carine , Le Hesran Jean-Yves
Published: October 2010

Résumé. Cette étude interroge l'influence de l'économie familiale sur le recours aux soins en cas de fièvre (suspicion d'accès palustre) chez l'enfant de moins de 10 ans. Les méthodes de recherche sont celles de l'observation participante et de l'entretien semi-directif auprès de vingt familles d'une zone rurale au Sénégal. La situation économique propre à chaque famille ne détermine pas principalement son recours aux soins. Dans un premier temps, les familles ont toutes tendance, quel que soit leur niveau de « richesse », à dépenser le minimum d'argent et à gérer de façon « domestique » la santé de leurs enfants. En revanche, lorsque les parents constatent une aggravation, ils n'hésitent pas à avoir un recours « spécialisé » (guérisseur ou dispensaire) dont le choix dépend de leurs perceptions de la maladie. Les représentations populaires banalisent les fièvres qui surviennent pendant l'hivernage et expliquent que le premier temps de la maladie relève de l'automédication domestique alors même que cela augmente le risque d'évolution de la maladie vers un accès palustre grave.
Lutte contre le sida : reconfiguration d'une politique de « réduction des risques liés à l'usage de drogues » à Marseille
Authors: Le Naour Gwenola
Published: October 2010

Fight against AIDS: the reshaping of a policy of «reduction of harm linked to drug using» in Marseilles

The writer focuses on the changes in Marseilles' s healthcare policy for drug-addicts during the 1990' s. Doing so, she evaluates the influence of the nationwide adoption of so-called policies of reduction of harms linked to drug-using (hence, harm reduction policy). The arrivai of AIDS and the decision to carry out health and social harm reduction policies linked to drug addiction thus bring to light people whose conceptions of the issue of drugs, of drug addiction, and of treatments to implement are in competition with those of «traditional» contributors to the issue of drug addiction. The emergence of these agents does not lead to the victory of one group over another but to juxtapositions and hybridisations of the various plans of action and public policies.
Soutien social et santé psychologique de victimes d'inondations
Authors: Maltais Danielle , Lachance Lise , Brassard Audrey , Dubois Mathieu
Published: October 2010

Social support, coping and psychological health after a flood

Two years after serious flooding, a study was conducted involving 177 disaster victims. This article presents the results of analyses aiming to identify the principal factors associated with post-disaster psychological problems by examining mediating or moderating influences of social support and adjustment strategies in the stressor-health link. The results show, within the variables studied, that there are very few significant differences between men and women; however, women did receive more help for evacuation, cleaning, and rebuilding. The results also demonstrate that exposure to the stressor is the greatest contributor in explaining manifestations of post-traumatic stress, while variables like social support and adjustment strategies are more likely to explain the existence of depression symptoms and psychological stress. The analyses also allow conclusions to be drawn about mediating and moderating effects of adjustment strategies in the stressor-health link. In other respects, the observed effects involving social support variables are direct.
Introduire le changement dans les systèmes de soins au Québec : comment tirer profit de l'expérimentation sociale ?
Authors: Touati Nasséra , Denis Jean-Louis , Contandriopoulos André-Pierre , Béland François
Published: October 2010

Introducing change in health care Systems from Quebec: how to benefit from social experimentation?

Based on an implementation analysis of an experimentation of a System of integrated care for frail elderly (in the province of Quebec, Canada), this paper initiates reflections about the introduction of reforms in health care Systems. It highlights the advantages of decentralized, participatory change stratégies, based on social experimentation. Theses strategies are particularly interesting in the case of complex changes, in which they in fact allow the autonomy necessary for learning. In conclusion, we propose some hypotheses concerning factors which make these social experimentations successful.
« On sait qu'il n'y a pas de "vrais" risques ». Discours et pratiques de soignants autour des infections nosocomiales
Authors: Amiel Céline
Published: October 2010

« Se sabe que no hay "verdaderos" riesgos ».

Discursos y prácticas del personal sanitario

acerca de las infecciones nosocomiales

La higiene hospitalaria trata de luchar contra la transmisión de los agentes patógenos dentro de una estructura hospitalaria. Las prácticas de los médicos y de las enfermeras no corresponden siempre con las recomendaciones higiénicas. El enfoque antropológico permite recalcar las lógicas internas de los factores que impulsan los discursos y hechos de los profesionales de la salud. Muy présente en la realidad diaria de los médicos y de las enfermeras, la gestión de la higiene es muy a menudo sujeta a reinterpretaciones por parte de los médicos y de las enfermeras, según sus propios esquemas de pensamiento. La percepción del riesgo aparece entonces como el resultado de una percepción y de una opinion subjetivas de las situaciones a las que se enfrentan los profesionales de la salud.
La couverture médicale universelle : des usages sociaux différenciés
Authors: Desprès Caroline
Published: October 2010

Résumé. Cet article met en perspective la loi sur la couverture médicale universelle (CMU) dans la structure de la protection sociale et dans ses évolutions récentes. Il montre que le choix d'un principe de discrimination positive, mesure spécifique et ciblée, produit des effets sociaux de désignation, voire de stigmatisation, des personnes visées. Il examine les usages que les bénéficiaires de la CMU font de ce dispositif. Si de nombreux bénéficiaires en tirent des avantages et une amélioration de l'accès aux soins, d'autres n'utilisent pas le dispositif (non-recours) ou ne l'utilisent que de manière restreinte (du fait des refus de soins de certains professionnels). L'article discute les effets de cette loi, visant à apporter plus d'équité, sur les inégalités sociales de santé.
Phylogeographic structure of jack pine (Pinus banksiana; Pinaceae) supports the existence of a coastal glacial refugium in northeastern North America
Authors: Godbout Julie , Beaulieu Jean , Bousquet Jean
Published: October 2010

• Premise of the study: The genetic structure of jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.), a North American boreal conifer with large longitudinal distribution, was investigated to test for the possible existence of a genetically distinct lineage in the Maritimes region in northeastern North America, which could be indicative of a mid‐latitude coastal refuge during the last glaciation.

• Methods: One maternally inherited mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) minisatellite marker and four paternally inherited chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) microsatellite markers were used to assess the range‐wide geographical structure of jack pine populations with particular focus on northeastern North America.

• Key results: The populations from the Maritimes region presented a unique mtDNA background characterized by very low diversity and the preponderance of a distinctive mitotype. The distribution of cpDNA diversity was not spatially structured, though three chlorotypes were restricted to the east.

• Conclusions: MtDNA data suggest that populations from the Maritimes region derive from a genetically depauperated north‐coastal refugium. Contrastingly, the much higher geographical uniformity observed for cpDNA variation indicates that gene flow by pollen had been much more effective than seed gene flow at homogenizing population structure.
Development of SSR markers from Citrus clementina (Rutaceae) BAC end sequences and interspecific transferability in Citrus
Authors: Ollitrault Frédérique , Terol Javier , Pina Jose Antonio , Navarro Luis , Talon Manuel , Ollitrault Patrick
Published: October 2010

• Premise of the study: Microsatellite primers were developed from bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) end sequences of Citrus clementina and their transferability and polymorphism tested in the genus Citrus for future anchorage of physical and genetic maps and comparative interspecific genetic mapping.

• Methods and Results: Using PAGE and DNA silver staining, 79 primer pairs were selected for their transferability and polymorphism among 526 microsatellites mined in BES. A preliminary diversity study in Citrus was conducted with 18 of them, in C. reticulata, C. maxima, C. medica, C. sinensis, C. aurantium, C. paradisi, C. lemon, C. aurantifolia, and some papedas (wild citrus), using a capillary electrophoresis fragment analyzer. Intra‐ and interspecific polymorphism was observed, and heterozygous markers were identified for the different genotypes to be used for genetic mapping.

• Conclusions: These results indicate the utility of the developed primers for comparative mapping studies and the integration of physical and genetic maps.
Patient and Physician Predictors of Peritoneal Dialysis Technique Failure: A Population Based, Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Chidambaram Mala , Bargman Joanne M. , Quinn Robert R. , Austin Peter C. , Hux Janet E. , Laupacis Andreas
Published: October 2010

Background

The use of peritoneal dialysis (PD) has been declining over the past decade in Canada, and high technique failure rates have been implicated. Studies have examined clinical risk factors for PD technique failure, but few studies have addressed sociodemographic factors driving technique failure. There are no studies examining the effect of physician factors on technique failure.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study using Ontario healthcare databases from 1 April 1995 to 31 March 2005 to examine the effects of patient sociodemographic and physician characteristics on PD technique failure. The primary outcome was time to technique failure. Secondary outcomes included the proportion of patients experiencing technique failure during the first year and the proportion of patients experiencing death during the study period. A competing risks analysis was applied to the Cox proportional hazards model to determine the predictors of technique failure, death, and kidney transplantation.

Results

In 5162 incident PD patients, the probability of technique success and patient survival at 5 years was 58.2% and 46.9% respectively. Of patients failing PD, 43.5% failed during the first year of treatment. Statistically significant predictors of technique failure included increasing age [hazard ratio (HR) 1.02], diabetes mellitus (HR 1.32), lower neighborhood education level (HR 2.93), and receiving transient (≤ 3 months) hemodialysis before starting PD (HR 1.24). Predictors of patient death included increasing age (HR 1.05), diabetes mellitus (HR 1.44), coronary artery disease (HR 1.26), congestive heart failure (HR 1.58), and late referral to the nephrologist (HR 1.27). Distance from treating dialysis center and residing in a rural area did not impact the risk of technique failure or death. Male physician gender increased the risk of technique failure (HR 1.31). Increased PD patient volume decreased the risk of technique failure (HR 0.98). None of the physician factors were predictors of patient death.

Conclusion

These findings support the need for implementing strategies to reduce technique failure, which could include increasing educational resources for patients initiating PD, aggressive risk factor modification in patients with multiple comorbidities, and increasing physician awareness regarding the detrimental outcomes associated with late referral and late PD start.
Insights into the mechanical properties of a silicone oil gel with a ‘latent’ gelator, 1-octadecylamine, and CO2 as an ‘activator’
Authors: Carretti Emiliano , George Mathew , Weiss Richard G
Published: October 2010

A detailed study of the rheological properties of silicone oil gels, made from a low-molecular-mass organic gelator, a combination of 1-octadecylamine (a latent gelator) and carbon dioxide (an ‘activating’ molecule), is reported. Information gleaned from the mechanical measurements is used to characterize the gel networks and how they respond to temperature and strain. It is shown, for example, that very precise measurements of the gel-to-sol transitions can be obtained from plots of viscosity versus temperature.
Pain-specific Beliefs and Pain Experience in Children with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: A Longitudinal Study
Authors: THASTUM MIKAEL , HERLIN TROELS
Published: October 2010

Objective.

To assess longitudinal associations between pain-specific health beliefs and pain in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), and to compare a selected group of patients with high pain and low disease activity (high-pain patients) with the remaining group.

Methods.

Forty-seven children with JIA, aged 7–15 years, completed the children’s version of the Survey of Pain Attitudes (SOPA-C) and a 3-week pain diary at study entry (T1) and in a followup study 2 years later (T2). Parents also rated the Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire (CHAQ), and an arthritis activity score was calculated each time. Second-order principal component analysis was conducted to reduce the number of independent variables. Regression analysis of the dependent measure was performed. The use of health beliefs was compared using t test for independent samples.

Results.

T1 health beliefs predicted 7% of the variance in T2 pain scores after controlling for T1 pain, CHAQ, and disease activity. At T2, statistical differences were found between the scores of the high-pain group and the rest of the group for the health belief subscales of disability (mean ± SD 2.7 ± 0.5 and 2.2 ± 0.7, respectively) and harm (mean ± SD 3.8 ± 0.8 and 3.3 ± 0.6).

Conclusion.

Our findings suggest that pain beliefs are influential on the longitudinal course of pain in children with JIA. Dysfunctional health beliefs in patients with high pain seem to be stable over time.
Prognostic Factors of Radiological Damage in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A 10-year Retrospective Study
Authors: MARKATSELI THEODORA E. , VOULGARI PARASKEVI V. , ALAMANOS YANNIS , DROSOS ALEXANDROS A.
Published: October 2010

Objective.

To describe the longterm clinical and radiological outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in a cohort in northwestern Greece; and to investigate predictive factors of radiological damage at the 10-year followup in patients with RA.

Methods.

We studied the disease course and outcome of 144 patients with RA and radiographs of the hands and wrists available at baseline and at 10 years. Baseline measurements and time-averaged measures of swollen joint count (SJC) and inflammatory markers [erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP)] were tested in univariate analysis, and then those presenting a statistically significant association with either Larsen score at 10 years or annual progression rate were included in 2 logistic regression models in order to determine relevant independent prognostic factors.

Results.

A significant clinical improvement was noted, associated with a decrease of inflammatory markers along the timepoints. Larsen score and the number of erosive joints were increased. In the univariate analysis, both final Larsen score at 10 years and accelerated annual radiological progression rate were significantly associated with baseline radiographic measurements (Larsen score and number of erosive joints), the presence of autoantibodies [anticyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies (anti-CCP) and rheumatoid factor of IgA and IgM isotype], disease duration, and time-averaged measures of ESR, CRP, and SJC. In the logistic regression analysis, the baseline Larsen score, anti-CCP antibodies, and time-averaged CRP presented significant and independent associations with Larsen score at 10 years. An accelerated annual radiological progression rate was also predicted by baseline Larsen score and time-averaged measures of SJC and CRP.

Conclusion.

Despite clinical improvement, the radiologic progression of RA continues over time, because of the underlying inflammatory process. Baseline radiographic damage, anti-CCP antibodies, and time-averaged CRP constitute the main predictive factors of poor radiologic outcome in the long term.
Association of IgA Anti-ß2 Glycoprotein I with Clinical and Laboratory Manifestations of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Authors: MEHRANI TARANEH , PETRI MICHELLE
Published: October 2010

Objective.

IgA isotypes of anticardiolipin and anti-ß2 glycoprotein I (anti-ß2-GPI) are omitted from the revised antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) classification criteria. Multiple studies have found a high prevalence of IgA anti-ß2-GPI in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We determined the frequency and associations of IgA anti-ß2-GPI in a cohort of patients with SLE.

Methods.

Anti-ß2-GPI was measured in 796 patients with SLE (93% women, 53% white, 38% African American, mean age 45 yrs). IgA anti-ß2-GPI (> 20 phospholipid units) was found in 20%. Using a cohort database, associations with cumulative thrombotic and other manifestations were determined.

Results.

Of patients with SLE who demonstrated IgA anti-ß2-GPI positivity, about 6% had transient ischemic attack (p = 0.070), 4% had superficial thrombophlebitis (p = 0.647), 20% had deep venous thrombosis (p = 0.003), 4% had other venous thrombosis (p = 0.827), 12% had stroke (p = 0.050), and 1% had myocardial infarction (p = 0.397).

Conclusion.

IgG anti-ß2-GPI has the strongest association with thrombosis in SLE. However, IgA anti-ß2-GPI was more strongly associated with deep venous thrombosis and with stroke than was IgM. These results indicate that assessment of IgA anti-ß2-GPI is associated with thrombosis in SLE, and that the classification criteria for APS should be revised to include IgA anti-ß2-GPI in patients with SLE.
Kerkleierskap as bemiddeling van ‘n onmoontlike werklikheid: ‘n Prakties teologiese ondersoek na die rol van leierskap in die transformasie van gemeentes
Authors: Labuschagne Frederick J. , Nel Malan
Published: October 2010

Church leadership as mediator for an impossible reality: A practical theological study of the role of leadership in the transformation of congregationsThe Church finds herself in a complex society, which currently has a destructive impact on the realisation of the Church. To overcome the challenges of our time, leaders must help to shape new realities creatively and innovatively. Church leadership must find an alternative way of dealing with the issues at stake in order to guide congregations on a challenging journey. The challenge for congregational leaders is to let the realisation of the Church take place in a revealing and developing manner. The assumption is that the Church is realised organically rather than mechanically and institutionally. Leadership is a dynamic matter that should be realised in a congregational and ecumenical context. The question to be answered in this article is: What is the role of leaders in a world typified as complex? Because of the complexity of postmodern society, leadership theory and practice have developed beyond the point of planning, organisation and control (acceptable managerial scientific methodology). Leadership in the Church is a collective matter, and, as such, it should be approached and managed holistically with dynamic and relational methods.
Cofinitely Hopfian groups, open mappings and knot complements
Authors: Bridson Martin R. , Groves Daniel , Hillman Jonathan A. , Martin Gaven J.
Published: October 2010

A group

Γ

is defined to be
cofinitely Hopfian
if every homomorphism

Γ → Γ

whose image is of finite index is an automorphism. Geometrically significant groups enjoying this property include certain relatively hyperbolic groups and many lattices. A knot group is cofinitely Hopfian if and only if the knot is not a torus knot. A free-by-cyclic group is cofinitely Hopfian if and only if it has trivial centre. Applications to the theory of open mappings between manifolds are presented.
Largeness of LERF and 1-relator groups
Authors: Button Jack Oliver
Published: October 2010

We consider largeness of groups given by a presentation of deficiency

1

, where the group is respectively free-by-cyclic, LERF or 1-relator. We give the first examples of (finitely generated free)-by-

ℤ

word hyperbolic groups which are large, show that a LERF deficiency 1 group with first Betti number at least two is large or

ℤ × ℤ

and show that 2-generator 1relator groups where the relator has height

1

obey the dichotomy that either the group is large or all its finite images are metacyclic.
A conjecture on product decompositions in simple groups
Authors: Liebeck Martin W. , Nikolov Nikolay , Shalev Aner
Published: October 2010

We propose a conjecture concerning decompositions of finite simple groups as products of conjugate subgroups, and prove it for a large class of maximal subgroups.
The conjugacy problem in the Grigorchuk group is polynomial time decidable
Authors: Lysenok Igor , Myasnikov Alexei , Ushakov Alexander
Published: October 2010

In this paper we prove that the conjugacy problem in the Grigorchuk group Γ has polynomial time complexity. This solves a problem posed by Grigorchuk rather unexpectedly.
Free subgroups in groups acting on rooted trees
Authors: Nekrashevych Volodymyr V.
Published: October 2010

We show that if a group

G

acting faithfully on a rooted tree

T

has a free subgroup, then either there exists a point

w

of the boundary

∂T

and a free subgroup of

G

with trivial stabilizer of

w

, or there exists

w \in ∂T

and a free subgroup of

G

fixing

w

and acting faithfully on arbitrarily small neighborhoods of

w

. This can be used to prove the absence of free subgroups for different known classes of groups. For instance, we prove that iterated monodromy groups of expanding coverings have no free subgroups and give another proof of a theorem by S. Sidki.
Universal diagram groups with identical Poincaré series
Authors: Pride Stephen J.
Published: October 2010

For a diagram group G, the first derived quotient G1/G2 is always free abelian (as proved by M. Sapir and V. Guba). However the second derived quotient G2/G3 may contain torsion. In fact, we show that for any finite or countably infinite direct product of cyclic groups A, there is a diagram group with second derived quotient A. We use that to construct families with the properties of the title.