bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
David Takes on Goliath: An Analysis of Survey Evidence in a Trademark Dispute
Authors: Gendall Philip , Hoek Janet
Published: January 2018

Anheuser Busch, the brewers of Budweiser, sued a Czech brewer alleging that its beer brand, Budejovicky Budvar, created confusion in the marketplace and breached New Zealand consumer protection legislation that prohibits misleading and deceptive conduct. The case brought against Budejovicky Budvar included a survey of beer consumers and this was central to the action. This paper explores the robustness of the survey by evaluating its methodology in terms of the four errors that affect survey research: coverage error, measurement error, sampling error and non-response error. In each area, the survey adduced contained serious flaws that undermined its validity. Ironically, these flaws were largely avoidable. An alternative survey design that draws on past cases and empirical generalisations in question wording is proposed. While untested in court, this design takes greater cognisance of issues regarding forensic research that have been raised internationally. More attention to these issues should reduce the vulnerability of surveys to criticism and help ensure that the relevant public's voice is better represented in actions that allege consumer confusion.
Information Processing: A Critical Literature Review and Future Research Directions
Authors: Spickett-Jones Graham , Kitchen Philip J.
Published: January 2018

This conceptual paper concerns information processing, and focuses on the methods and mechanisms used by marketers and academics in attempting to explore mental processes, particularly regarding perception and cognitive mapping in relation to marketing communications. The paper reviews the extensive literature in this domain, deriving information and models from a wide variety of disciplines including: cognitive information processing, attitudes and attitudinal change, elaboration and receiver involvement, sub-routines and sub-processors, semiotics, cognitive science and psycholinguistics. We conclude by suggesting that each of these disciplines has a role to play in terms of future research direction, and that the field of information processing still provides a rich and fertile basis for significant developments to take place.
Coolhunting with Aristotle
Authors: Southgate Nick
Published: January 2018

This pervasive influence of Coolhunting is the motivation behind this paper. Being touched by the Coolhunt raised legitimate questions. Client and researcher wanted to know if they should be Coolhunting, or at least doing something similar. The critics (and the public they spoke for) wanted to know if they should acquiesce in the role of quarry in the hunt. What follows is an analysis of how the Coolhunt works. It looks to both question and interrogate Coolhunting's explicit and implicit assumptions. Key amongst these assumptions is the belief that cool is in some sense beyond analysis. Cool is ineluctably recondite. It may be described but any attempt to develop prescriptive criteria must necessarily be jejune and insipid. Central to this paper's argument is the contrary claim that cool is open to analysis.
Is a Central Tendency Error Inherent in the Use of Semantic Differential Scales in Different Cultures?
Authors: Yu Julie H. , Albaum Gerald , Swenson Michael
Published: January 2018

This paper examines the effect of alternative scale formats on reporting the nature and extent of attitudes toward grocery supermarkets on bipolar semantic differential measurement scales. A traditional one-stage format and an alternative two-stage format were tested in two studies conducted in different countries. In general, the two-stage format generated the greatest percentage of extreme-position (i.e. greatest amount) responses across scales, indicating that the more usual traditional one-stage format is subject to a central tendency form-related error. A test of predictive ability showed that the two-stage format was a better predictor of shopping behaviour in one country, whereas the results for the other country were mixed, although for the most part the two-stage format did a better job of prediction. Consequently, a question can be raised about the etic attributes of this measurement scale.
Cognitive Evaluation: Prompts used to Measure Sponsorship Awareness
Authors: Tripodi John A. , Hirons Martin , Bednall David , Sutherland Max
Published: January 2018

Marketing managers have the same accountability for their spending on sponsorship as they do for their general advertising spend. Since the direct impact on customer loyalty and profit is so hard to measure, surrogate measures like recall are often used. Key issues with recall measures are the nature and type of prompting given. This paper reports the results of an experiment on three different ways of measuring sponsorship recall based on brand, category and event prompts. Differences between the prompts are shown with some facilitating and another inhibiting recall. The results are discussed within the framework of spreading activation theory which has the potential to explain and predict recall.
Combining Revealed and Stated Preferences to Forecast Customer Behaviour: Three Case Studies
Authors: Verhoef Peter C. , Franses Philip Hans
Published: January 2018

Many companies collect stated preference data (SP), such as intentions and satisfaction, as well as revealed preference data (RP), such as actual purchasing behaviour. It seems relevant to examine the predictive usefulness of this information for future revealed preferences, that is, customer behaviour. In this paper we address this issue by considering three case studies. Our results indicate that adding SP data to RP data for predicting future customer behaviour does not result in better forecasts.
Response Order Effects - How Do People Read?
Authors: Duffy Bobby
Published: January 2018

This paper outlines the results from an experiment examining response order effects with visually presented lists. In particular it examines the implications of the practical response adopted by most market research agencies - to use normal and reversed show cards. The conclusion is that for most questions the effect is likely to be present, but relatively small, and dependent on the extent of context effects. That is, it appears more important to ensure that the most likely responses are not grouped at either end of the show list. The study also identified that a quarter of respondents do not actually read the lists they are presented with in interviews from top to bottom, and significant minorities ‘jump around’ lists looking for eye-catching words or phrases. This clearly has implications for interpreting ‘primacy’ effects and for the design and physical appearance of lists.
The trade-off model and its extensions
Authors: Westwood Dick , Beazley David , Lunn Tony
Published: January 2018

This 1975 paper marked the launch onto the European market research scene of both the trade-off method of estimating consumer values and also Micro-Behavioural Modelling (MBM) more generally. Both approaches aroused controversy at the time. But they were widely regarded as innovatory, and the paper was awarded the Society's Gold Medal. Revisiting the paper 21 years on was an encouraging experience. Along with the two associated publications in European Research (see references), it provides a cogent exposition of the authors' early work on trade-off and remains a useful introduction to the MBM approach.
The Likert Scale Revisited
Authors: Albaum Gerald
Published: January 2018

This study examined the effect of alternative scale formats on reporting of intensity of attitudes on Likert scales of agreement. A standard one-stage format and an alternate two-stage format were tested in three separate studies on samples of university students in three countries. In general the two-stage format generated the greatest percentage of extreme-position (i.e. most intense) responses across scales. A test of predictive ability showed that the two-stage format was a better predictor of product preferences. Underlying data structures did not differ much between the two.
‘Bringing it All Back Home’ - Using RDD Telephone Methods for Large-scale Social Policy and Opinion Research in the UK
Authors: McVey Dominic , Moon Nick , Noble Iain
Published: January 2018

Despite the extent of telephone ownership in the UK rising to levels comparable with those in the USA the use of telephone methods here, although growing, remains at a consistently and significantly lower level, even where the use of such methods might solve specific research problems. The major reason for this is the hitherto presumed inability to apply two stage Random Digit Dialling (Mitofsky-Waksberg) sampling methods. The authors review the position in the UK and the deficiencies of telephone sampling methods used there hitherto. They present proposals for a new method of implementing RDD in the UK and thus true probability sampling for telephone methods. In addition they present data from a number of surveys carried out to test the proposed methods, in particular a survey of health related behaviour and beliefs among adults aged 16-74 in England and a number of opinion polls. They also review briefly other polls carried out during the 1997 General Election campaign. They review the effectiveness of the proposed method and the possible future for telephone surveys in the UK.
People Power in Politics
Authors: Mattinson Deborah
Published: January 2018

This paper argues that people have become increasingly alienated from the decision-making processes that affect their lives. It presents market research as a tool for democracy, particularly in the form of Citizens’ Juries which re-open the lines of communication between voter and representative. The ways in which these have been used for public involvement programmes are described. The author suggests that the same approaches that are used by public bodies could be applied in corporate decision-making.
The Representation of Older People in Advertisements: Ageism in Advertising
Authors: Szmigin Isabelle , Carrigan Marylyn
Published: January 2018

This paper discusses the criticism that has been targeted at the advertising industry about its hesitancy to use older models in advertising. It reports research on this issue in the context of current advertising in print media, using content analysis of British advertisements in inappropriate journals. The paper includes general discussion about ageism in advertising and its social implications.
Sampling for Internet Surveys. An Examination of Respondent Selection for Internet Research
Authors: Bradley Nigel
Published: January 2018

The traditional methods of probability and non-probability sample selection are applicable to Internet surveys and respondents can be selected in various ways, some of which are unique to the Internet. Specific to the Internet and important to note from a sampling viewpoint, is the self-completion method of data collection. For this article the method has been sub-divided into six categories, three web-page style questionnaires and three e-mail style questionnaires. Data that show the number of individuals with access to a networked computer are of limited use in sampling. Thirteen types of computer user are identifiable, each of which poses a challenge for sampling. Published examples illustrate how these principles have been applied in practice. Two techniques; saturation surveying and sifting, may be employed usefully in some situations. There are numerous solutions to sampling problems for Internet research and many avenues for further inquiry.
The Use of Internet-Based Groupware in New Product Forecasting
Authors: Ozer Muammer
Published: January 2018

New product development is a risky business. Companies can use a number of methods to assess the viability of a new product and reduce the risks associated with it. Judgmental new product forecasting is one of the widely used methods. Previous studies outline numerous ways of eliciting judgmental group forecasts with their advantages and disadvantages. With the rapid growth of the Internet, there are now also a few Internet-based group discussion tools that can offer valuable opportunities for judgmental new product forecasting. This paper presents an application of Internet-based groupware in judgmentally forecasting the adoption of two Internet services. The results showed that the participants found the method to be easy, reasonable and interesting and felt confident about their contributions to the group discussions. The findings also showed that the predictions based on this method were reasonably accurate with absolute errors of 4% to 5%.
Ethnicity and Early Christianity: New Approaches to Religious Kinship and Community
Authors: Berzon Todd
Published: January 2018

This article outlines how recent scholarly interventions about notions of race, ethnicity and nation in the ancient Mediterranean world have impacted the study of early Christianity. Contrary to the long-held proposition that Christianity was supra-ethnic, a slate of recent publications has demonstrated how early Christian authors thought in explicitly ethnic terms and developed their own ethnic discourse even as they positioned Christianity as a universal religion. Universalizing ambitions and ethnic reasoning were part and parcel of a larger sacred history of Christian triumphalism. Christian thinkers were keen to make claims about kinship, descent, blood, customs and habits to enumerate what it meant to be a Christian and belong to a Christian community. The narrative that Christians developed about themselves was very much an ethnic history, one in which human difference and diversity was made to conform to the theological and ideological interests of early Christian thinkers.
“Suburban Warriors”: The Blue-Collar and Blue-Sky Communities of Southern California’s Aerospace Industry
Authors: Karafantis Layne , Leslie Stuart W.
Published: January 2018

Los Angeles’s aerospace suburbs no longer have many aerospace companies or workers in them, but their legacy—a geographical division of labor, class, and race reflected in and reinforced by corporate planning—continues to shape the region’s suburban landscape. In the early 1960s, aerospace companies relocated their new divisions to the emerging edge cities of greater Los Angeles. Until the end of the Cold War, these “blue-sky” suburbs—white, white-collar, and with predominantly male workforces—reinterpreted the California dream for an upper-middle class who believed they had little in common with their blue-collar counterparts left behind in older working-class communities.
Cucurbitacin D exhibits its anti-cancer effect in human breast cancer cells by inhibiting Stat3 and Akt signaling
Authors: Ku Jin Mo , Hong Se Hyang , Kim Hyo In , Lim Ye Seul , Lee Sol Ji , Kim Mia , Seo Hye Sook , Shin Yong Cheol , Ko Seong-Gyu
Published: January 2018

Cucurbitacins are triterpenoids commonly found in Cucurbitaceae and Cruciferae and have long been used in traditional medicine. Cucurbitacins demonstrate anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activities. We investigated whether cucurbitacin D affects viability in breast cancer cells and its mechanism of action. An MTT assay was used to measure the viability of breast cancer cells. Western blot analysis was used to measure the expression of various modulators, such as p-p53, p-Stat3, p-Akt, and p-NF-κB. Doxorubicin and cucurbitacin D affected the viability of MCF7, MDA-MB-231, and SKBR3 cells. Cucurbitacin D and doxorubicin increased p-p53 expression in MCF7, SKBR3, and MDA-MB-231 cells. Cucurbitacin D suppressed p-Akt, p-NF-κB, and p-Stat3 expression in MCF7, MDA-MB-231, and SKBR3 cells. Doxorubicin alone did not decrease p-Akt and p-Stat3 levels. Cucurbitacin D decreased p-NF-κB and p-Stat3 levels. Doxorubicin in combination with cucurbitacin D increased p-p53 levels and suppressed Akt, NF-κB, Stat3, and Bcl-2 expression more than cucurbitacin D alone. Our results clearly demonstrate that cucurbitacin D could be a useful compound for treating human breast cancer.
Effects of lentinan on the function of phagocyte in long-term heavy-duty exercising mice
Authors: Huang Jian , Shi Yali , Sun Minjun
Published: January 2018

Excessive exercise can lead to decreased immune function of phagocytes. This study used 50 male Kunming mice aged 40 days to evaluate the effects of lentinan (LNT) on the number of functional blood cells, the phagocytosis, peripheral blood neutrophils, and peritoneal macrophages of long-term heavy-duty exercising mice. The mice were subjected to 45 min of 5% load weight swimming training for 4 weeks, 6 times per week. Different doses of LNT were administered in the HL + T group (400 mg/kg/day), ML + T group (200 mg/kg/day), LL + T group (100 mg/kg/day), and S + T group (saline only) during the 4 weeks of excessive exercise. The phagocytic function of mice in each group was measured after long-term heavy-load exercise. The results showed that the number of white blood cells decreased significantly; the number of neutrophils and the phagocytic index of blood neutrophils in mice were significantly decreased at the end of the exercise. The macrophage phagocytosis index also decreased significantly on the fourth day after the end of the exercise. The difference was significant, and the difference in the phagocytosis rate was not obvious. The numbers of white blood cells in ML + T and HL + T groups were significantly higher than that in S + T and LL + T groups. The number of neutrophils in the ML + T and HL + T groups was significantly higher than that in the S + T and LL + T groups. The phagocytic rate and phagocytic index of neutrophils in the HL + T group were also significantly higher than those in the S + T group. The macrophage phagocytosis rate of ML + T and LL + T mice was significantly higher than that of S + T, and the phagocytic index difference was not significant. Four weeks of heavy-load exercise resulted in a decrease in phagocytic immune function in mice. Excessive exercise while feeding on LNT can improve the immune function of mice phagocytic cells. There was a positive correlation between the effect of LNT on the function of phagocytes and the LNT dose.
Development and Clinical Indications of Cetuximab
Authors: Labianca R. , La Verde N. , Garassino M.C.
Published: January 2018

Cetuximab is a chimeric immunoglobulin G1 monoclonal antibody that targets the extracellular domain of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) with high specificity and affinity. It competitively inhibits endogenous ligand binding and thereby inhibits subsequent EGFR activation. The EGFR signaling pathways regulate cell differentiation, proliferation, migration, angiogenesis and apoptosis, all of which become deregulated in cancer cells. EGFR is an important target for cancer therapy and many studies have demonstrated that cetuximab is active in several types of cancer, particularly colorectal and head and neck cancer. Cetuximab enhances the effects of many standard cytotoxic agents, including irinotecan, and in combination with chemotherapy it can elicit antitumor responses in tumors that previously failed to respond to that chemotherapy. Cetuximab also enhances radiation-induced apoptosis. On the basis of a pivotal European randomized study (the BOND study) and of 2 clinical studies conducted in the USA, cetuximab has been approved in combination with irinotecan for patients affected by EGFR-expressing metastatic colon cancer after failure with irinotecan. There have only been a few small phase II trials on first-line treatment in metastatic colorectal cancer, but the results suggest promising activity of cetuximab together with irinotecan or oxaliplatin. There is some evidence that additive efficacy can be achieved using EGFR inhibitors in combination with vascular endothelial growth factor receptor inhibitors such as bevacizumab. A correlation between response and the main toxicity (acne-like skin reaction) has been observed but is unclear. EGFR status as a specific marker for EGFR inhibitors is controversial. At the moment, EGFR expression does not appear to be a predictive factor for response to EGFR inhibitors.
Application of dermal chlorhexidine antisepsis is ineffective at reducing Proprionibacterium acnes colonization in shoulder surgery
Authors: MacLean Simon B. M. , Phadnis Joideep , Ling Chi M. , Bain Gregory I.
Published: January 2018

Background

Chlorhexidine as a skin surface antiseptic has been shown to be ineffective with respect to reducing Proprionibacterium acnes colonization within the dermis. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether the application of aqueous chlorhexidine solution to the dermal layer decreased P. acnes colonization during open shoulder surgery.

Methods

The present study enrolled 50 patients who were undergoing open shoulder surgery. Patients received standard antimicrobial preparation. Three dermal swabs were taken from each patient: swab 1 following skin incision; swab taken 2 minutes to 5 minutes post-application of aqueous chlorhexidine to the dermis; and swab 3 taken 60 minutes post-application.

Results

Mean age was 57.5 years (22 males, 28 females). There were 21 patients (42%) with P. acnes present on any dermal swab. There were significantly more P. acnes positive cultures identified at swab 3 compared to swab 1 ( p = 0.043). In nine patients with positive P. acnes at cultures swab 1, eight also isolated P. acnes after at swabs 2 or 3. Males were significantly more likely to have P. acnes on any swab ( p < 0.001). Positive P. acnes cultures were significantly more common in patients ≤50 years ( p < .001). None of the patients had any clinical signs of infection at a minimum of 1 year following surgery.

Conclusions

Dermal application of aqueous chlorhexidine during open shoulder surgery fails to eradicate or reduce P. acnes on deep cultures.
The compressive behavior of cement mortar with the addition of nano metakaolin
Authors: Xiaoyu Guo , Yingfang Fan , Haiyang Luan
Published: January 2018

Elastic modulus is an important mechanical index for the cement-based materials, which has a significant effect on the static and dynamic response of the concrete structure. To investigate the compressive behavior of nano metakaolin cement mortar, the effects of dispersion conditions, water to binder ratios, and mineral admixtures on the compressive strength of nano metakaolin cement mortar were examined. The elastic modulus of nano metakaolin cement mortar under different water to binder ratios and mineral admixtures was obtained. Based on the theory of micromechanics of composite materials, a theoretical model was deduced to calculate elastic modulus of nano metakaolin cement mortar. Based on the experimental results, an influence coefficient was introduced into simplified model to estimate the elastic modulus of nano metakaolin cement mortar. The results demonstrate that the application of ultrasonic dispersion and long-duration dispersion time (no more than 15 min) can effectively improve the compressive strength of nano metakaolin cement mortar. Compressive strength of nano metakaolin cement mortar mixed with ground granulated blast furnace slag, fly ash, and attapulgite clay is 33.38%, 17.65%, and 6.45% higher than that of the ordinary mortar, respectively. Compared with the experimental results, the calculated error of theoretical model is no more than 5%, while the calculated error of the simplified model is no more than 10%.
Endoscopic management and follow‐up of patients with a submucosal esophageal adenocarcinoma
Authors: Künzli HT , Belghazi K , Pouw RE , Meijer SL , Seldenrijk CA , Weusten BLAM , Bergman JJGHM
Published: January 2018

Introduction

The risk of lymph node metastases (LNM) in submucosal esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) patients is subject to debate. These patients might be treated endoscopically if the risk of LNM appears to be low.

Objective

The objective of this article is to evaluate the outcome of patients who underwent an endoscopic resection (ER) and subsequent endoscopic follow‐up for a submucosal EAC.

Methods

All patients who underwent ER for submucosal EAC between January 2012 and August 2016 and were subsequently managed with endoscopic follow‐up were retrospectively identified. Primary outcome was the number of patients diagnosed with LNM; secondary outcomes included intraluminal recurrences.

Results

Thirty‐five patients (median age 68 years) were included: 17 low‐risk (submucosal invasion <500 microns, G1–G2, no lymphovascular invasion (LVI)), and 18 high‐risk (submucosal invasion >500 microns, and/or G3–G4, and/or LVI, and/or a tumor‐positive deep resection margin (R1)) EACs. After a median follow‐up of 23 (IQR 15–43) months, in which patients underwent a median of six (IQR 4–8) endoscopies and a median of four (IQR 2–8) endoscopic ultrasound procedures, none of the included patients were diagnosed with LNM. Five (14%) patients developed a local intraluminal recurrence a median of 18 (IQR 11–21) months after baseline ER that were treated endoscopically.

Conclusions

In 35 patients with a submucosal EAC, no LNM were found during a median follow‐up of 23 months. Endoscopic therapy may be an alternative for surgery in selected patients with a submucosal EAC.
The prevalence of human papillomavirus in pediatric tonsils: A systematic review of the literature
Authors: Wojtera Monika , Paradis Josee , Husein Murad , Nichols Anthony C. , Barrett John W. , Salvadori Marina I. , Strychowsky Julie E.
Published: January 2018

Background

HPV-related head and neck cancer rates have been increasing in recent years, with the tonsils being the most commonly affected site. However, the current rate of HPV infection in the pediatric population remains poorly defined. The objective of this study was to systematically review and evaluate the prevalence and distribution of HPV in the tonsils of pediatric patients undergoing routine tonsillectomy.

Methods and Results

The literature was searched using PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, and ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global databases (inception to December 2017) by two independent review authors. Inclusion criteria included articles which evaluated the prevalence of HPV in a pediatric cohort without known warts or recurrent respiratory papillomatosis, those which used tonsil biopsy specimens for analysis, and those with six or more subjects and clear outcomes reported. Eleven studies met the inclusion criteria. Using the Oxford Clinical Evidence-based Medicine (OCEBM) guidelines, two reviewers appraised the level of evidence of each study, extracted data, and resolved discrepancies by consensus. The systematic review identified 11 articles ( n = 2520). Seven studies detected HPV in the subject population, with prevalence values ranging from 0 to 21%. The level of evidence for all included studies was OCEBM Level 3.

Conclusions

HPV may be present in pediatric tonsillectomy specimens; however, the largest included study demonstrated a prevalence of 0%. Future testing should be performed using methods with high sensitivities and specificities, such as reverse transcript real-time PCR or digital droplet PCR.
Resolution of unilateral sensorineural hearing loss in a pediatric patient with a severe phenotype of Muckle-Wells syndrome treated with Anakinra: A case report and review of the literature
Authors: Marchica Cinzia , Zawawi Faisal , Basodan Dania , Scuccimarri Rosie , Daniel Sam J.
Published: January 2018

Background

Muckle-Wells syndrome (MWS) is a rare auto-inflammatory disease characterized by the presence of recurrent urticaria, deafness and amyloidosis. Progressive sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is reported to occur in up to 85% of patients occurring in the second and third decades and as early as the first decade in patients with a more severe phenotype, thus potentially having a significant impact on a child's development. IL-1 inhibitors, such as Anakinra, have been described to improve systemic inflammation, and stabilize or improve hearing status as well. However, complete resolution of hearing loss has been rarely reported. The objective of this article is to highlight the clinical presentation of a pediatric patient with a severe form of MWS and report on the complete resolution of SNHL with the use of Anakinra.

Case presentation

A 3-year-old boy was referred to our hospital to assess for the possibility of MWS given a history of hives and recurrent episodes of fever with a family history of MWS in his mother. Of note, the patient's history was significant for conductive hearing loss, speech delay, as well as recurrent acute otitis media episodes. Genetic analysis was performed and diagnosis of MWS was confirmed due to the presence of a NLRP3 gene mutation. Further work-up demonstrated the presence of papilledema and elevation of systemic inflammatory markers for which Canakinumab was initiated. Despite initiation of this treatment, audiogram evaluation demonstrated a new right-sided SNHL. Lumbar puncture also revealed aseptic meningitis. Canakinumab was eventually discontinued and Anakinra initiated. Within 7 months of treatment with Anakinra at 5 mg/kg sc daily, resolution of the SNHL was observed. With further escalation of the Anakinra dose, there was also complete resolution of the aseptic meningitis.

Conclusions

Progressive hearing loss is a significant finding in patients with MWS. Early screening as well as initiation of Anakinra can lead to complete resolution of SNHL even in a patient with a severe spectrum of MWS. However, as this case demonstrates, longer treatment duration and higher doses of Anakinra may be required to achieve this.
Group Work
Authors: Wilson Kristy J. , Brickman Peggy , Brame Cynthia J.
Published: January 2018

Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics faculty are increasingly incorporating both formal and informal group work in their courses. Implementing group work can be improved by an understanding of the extensive body of educational research studies on this topic. This essay describes an online, evidence-based teaching guide published by CBE—Life Sciences Education (LSE). The guide provides a tour of research studies and resources related to group work (including many articles from LSE). Instructors who are new to group work, as well as instructors who have experienced difficulties in implementing group work, may value the condensed summaries of key research findings. These summaries are organized by teaching challenges, and actionable advice is provided in a checklist for instructors. Education researchers may value the inclusion of empirical studies, key reviews, and meta-analyses of group-work studies. In addition to describing key features of the guide, this essay also identifies areas in which further empirical studies are warranted.
Completed audit cycle to explore the use of the STOPP/START toolkit to optimise medication in psychiatric in-patients with dementia
Authors: Aziz Victor M. , Hill Natalie , Kumar Sugandha
Published: January 2018

Aims and method

To explore the use of the STOPP/START toolkit in older psychiatric in-patients with dementia. Clinical records and current drug charts were reviewed against STOPP/START criteria for all in-patients (n = 86) on six specialist dementia wards.

Results

Benzodiazepines, antipsychotics and opiates were most commonly prescribed inappropriately. The most common unprescribed medication groups were statins, calcium supplements and vitamin D supplements. There was an overall reduction of 7% in comorbidities and 8% in the number of prescriptions. t-test showed a significant drop in average comorbidities between both audits, t(1) = 23.920, P = 0.027, and in average prescriptions per patient, t(1) = 28.808, P = 0.022. There was no difference in the number of patients receiving polypharmacy, t(1) = 7.500, P = 0.084, or receiving medication with a high risk of adverse drug reactions, t(1) = 6.857, P = 0.092.

Clinical implications

The STOPP/START toolkit highlighted the importance of collaborative working between doctors, clinical pharmacists and nursing staff, and could provide old age psychiatrists with a structured tool to identify inappropriate prescribing of non-psychiatric medications.

Declaration of interests

None.
Antidepressants in paediatric depression: do not look back in anger but around in awareness
Authors: Brent David A. , Gibbons Robert D. , Wilkinson Paul , Dubicka Bernadka
Published: January 2018

In this paper, we summarise and critique a network meta-analysis (NMA) of antidepressant efficacy and tolerability for paediatric depression and an accompanying editorial. Although we agree that many of the extant studies are flawed, this meta-analysis showed clear efficacy of fluoxetine in the NMA, and for sertraline and escitalopram in pairwise analyses. Consequently, these papers underestimate the benefits of antidepressants for paediatric depression, and provide support for current practice guideline, which recommends the use of an antidepressant if the patient does not respond to psychotherapy. In these circumstances, fluoxetine should be the first choice, with escitalopram and sertraline as alternatives.

Declaration of interest

D.A.B. receives royalties from Guilford Press, has or will receive royalties from the electronic self-rated version of the C-SSRS from eResearch Technology, Inc., is on the editorial board of UpToDate, and is a reviewer for Healthwise. R.D.G. serves as an expert witness for the US Department of Justice, Pfizer, Wyeth and GSK; and is the founder of Adaptive Testing Technologies. P.W. receives personal fees from Lundbeck and Takeda. B.D. reports a licensing agreement with Lundbeck for a psychosocial treatment manual for depression. No other disclosures were reported.
External validity and anchoring heuristics: application of DUNDRUM-1 to secure service gatekeeping in South Wales
Authors: Lawrence Daniel , Davies Tracey-Lee , Bagshaw Ruth , Hewlett Paul , Taylor Pamela , Watt Andrew
Published: January 2018

Aims and method

Structured clinical judgement tools provide scope for the standardisation of forensic service gatekeeping and also allow identification of heuristics in this decision process. The DUNDRUM-1 triage tool was completed retrospectively for 121 first-time referrals to forensic services in South Wales. Fifty were admitted to medium security, 49 to low security and 22 remained in open conditions.

Results

DUNDRUM-1 total scores differed appropriately between different levels of security. However, regression revealed heuristic anchoring on the ‘legal process’ and ‘immediacy of risk due to mental disorder’ items.

Clinical implications

Patient placement was broadly aligned with DUNDRUM-1 recommendations. However, not all triage items informed gatekeeping decisions. It remains to be seen whether decisions anchored in this way are effective.

Declaration of interest

Dr Mark Freestone gave permission for AUC values from Freestoneet al. (2015) to be presented here for comparison.
Neurologists' detection and recognition of mental disorder in a tertiary in-patient neurological unit
Authors: Dawood Samr , Poole Norman , Fung Robert , Agrawal Niruj
Published: January 2018

Aims and method

Psychiatric disorders are common in neurological in-patients, but they are under-recognised and undertreated. We investigated the frequency of detection of mental disorder and referral to psychiatric services in a regional neuroscience centre. The results were compared with the expected prevalence. All in-patient referrals received in 2014 from the in-patient wards of the regional neuroscience centre and acute neurological unit were reviewed.

Results

A total of 129 ward referrals were identified; of these, 78 were from the regional in-patient neurological unit, which comprised 11.4% of the total of 679 admissions to that unit.

Clinical implications

A spectrum of neuropsychiatric conditions were recognised by neurologists, but overall rates of recognition were low. To address the problem of under-recognition, routine screening with validated assessment tools can represent a cost-effective and acceptable method to detect psychiatric disorders in an in-patient neurological setting.

Declaration of Interest

None.
Effectiveness of automated appointment reminders in psychosis community services: a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Kravariti Eugenia , Reeve-Mates Christopher , Da Gama Pires Rafaela , Tsakanikos Elias , Hayes Daniel , Renshaw Siobhan , McAllister Sarah , Bhavsar Vishal , Patterson Pam , Daley Emily , Stewart Jane , Pritchard Megan , Shetty Hitesh , Ramsay Rosalind , Perez-Iglesias Rocio , McGuire Philip
Published: January 2018

We report on the first open-label, parallel group randomised controlled trial of automated appointment reminders in a psychosis community service in the UK. Ninety-five patients were randomly allocated to receiving/not receiving automated messaging reminders 7 days and 1 day before appointments. All ‘Attended’ and ‘Missed’ appointment outcomes over 6 months were analysed using cluster regression analysis. Reminded appointments were significantly more frequently attended than non-reminded appointments (unadjusted odds ratio (OR) = 3.54, 95% CI 1.36–9.22, P = 0.01; adjusted OR = 2.95, 95% CI 1.05–8.85, P < 0.05). Automated messaging reminders can provide a robust strategy for promoting engagement with psychosis services.

Declaration of interest

The authors have no competing financial interests to declare in relation to the current work. Sarah McAllister was supported by a King's Undergraduate Research Fellowship.
Selective Inhibition of Nuclear Export With Oral Selinexor for Treatment of Relapsed or Refractory Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Vogl Dan T. , Dingli David , Cornell Robert Frank , Huff Carol Ann , Jagannath Sundar , Bhutani Divaya , Zonder Jeffrey , Baz Rachid , Nooka Ajay , Richter Joshua , Cole Craig , Vij Ravi , Jakubowiak Andrzej , Abonour Rafat , Schiller Gary , Parker Terri L. , Costa Luciano J. , Kaminetzky David , Hoffman James E. , Yee Andrew J. , Chari Ajai , Siegel David , Fonseca Rafael , Van Wier Scott , Ahmann Gregory , Lopez Ilsel , Kauffman Michael , Shacham Sharon , Saint-Martin Jean-Richard , Picklesimer Carla D. , Choe-Juliak Cassandra , Stewart A. Keith
Published: January 2018

Purpose

Selinexor, a first-in-class, oral, selective exportin 1 (XPO1) inhibitor, induces apoptosis in cancer cells through nuclear retention of tumor suppressor proteins and the glucocorticoid receptor, along with inhibition of translation of oncoprotein mRNAs. We studied selinexor in combination with low-dose dexamethasone in patients with multiple myeloma refractory to the most active available agents.

Patients and Methods

This phase II trial evaluated selinexor 80 mg and dexamethasone 20 mg, both orally and twice weekly, in patients with myeloma refractory to bortezomib, carfilzomib, lenalidomide, and pomalidomide (quad-refractory disease), with a subset also refractory to an anti-CD38 antibody (penta-refractory disease). The primary end point was overall response rate (ORR).

Results

Of 79 patients, 48 had quad-refractory and 31 had penta-refractory myeloma. Patients had received a median of seven prior regimens. The ORR was 21% and was similar for patients with quad-refractory (21%) and penta-refractory (20%) disease. Among patients with high-risk cytogenetics, including t(4;14), t(14;16), and del(17p), the ORR was 35% (six of 17 patients). The median duration of response was 5 months, and 65% of responding patients were alive at 12 months. The most common grade ≥ 3 adverse events were thrombocytopenia (59%), anemia (28%), neutropenia (23%), hyponatremia (22%), leukopenia (15%), and fatigue (15%). Dose interruptions for adverse events occurred in 41 patients (52%), dose reductions occurred in 29 patients (37%), and treatment discontinuation occurred in 14 patients (18%).

Conclusion

The combination of selinexor and dexamethasone has an ORR of 21% in patients with heavily pretreated, refractory myeloma with limited therapeutic options.
Bisphosphonate Combination Therapy in the Management of Postchemotherapy Avascular Necrosis of the Femoral Head in Adolescents and Young Adults: A Retrospective Study From India
Authors: Agarwala Sanjay , Banavali Shripad D. , Vijayvargiya Mayank
Published: January 2018

Purpose

With improved survival after chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), it is imperative to maintain good quality of life as part of the management of post-therapy adverse effects. Avascular necrosis of the femoral head (AVNFH) is one such adverse effect. A need exists for a therapy that ameliorates discomfort, provides a productive life, is cost effective, and is joint preservative. We conducted the current study to evaluate the response to bisphosphonate in the nonsurgical management of AVNFH in adolescents and young adults (AYA) who receive treatment for ALL.

Materials and Methods

This is a retrospective study of 20 AYA patients—34 affected hips—who received zolendronic acid 5 mg intravenously each year along with oral alendronate 70 mg weekly for 3 years. Clinical evaluation was performed by using the Visual Analog Scale and the Harris Hip Score. Radiographs were used to classify the Ficat-Arlet stage, monitor radiologic collapse, and evaluate the rate of progression.

Results

Pain relief with a drop in the Visual Analog Scale score was observed at a mean duration of 5.2 weeks (range, 3 weeks to 11 weeks) after the start of therapy. Radiologic progression by one grade was observed in 12 hips (35.3%), and only one hip (2.94%) showed progression by two grades. At a mean follow-up of 50.3 months, 31 affected hips (91.1%) had a satisfactory clinical outcome and had not required any surgical intervention. The proportion of hips that required total hip arthroplasty were 0%, 5%, and 22.2% in Ficat-Arlet stage I, II, and III, respectively.

Conclusion

The combination of intravenous zolendronic acid and oral alendronate provides a pragmatic solution for the management of AVNFH after therapy for ALL in AYA patients. This therapy is safe, effective, and well tolerated.
Three-Dimensional Analysis of the Human Pancreas
Authors: Fowler Jonas L , Lee Steve Seung-Young , Wesner Zachary C , Olehnik Scott K , Kron Stephen J , Hara Manami
Published: January 2018

Pancreatic islets are endocrine micro-organs scattered throughout the exocrine pancreas. Islets are surrounded by a network of vasculature, ducts, neurons, and extracellular matrix. Three-dimensional imaging is critical for such structural analyses. We have adapted transparent tissue tomography to develop a method to image thick pancreatic tissue slices (1 mm) with multifluorescent channels. This method takes only 2 to 3 days from specimen preparation and immunohistochemical staining to clearing tissues and imaging. Reconstruction of the intact pancreas visualizes islets with β, α, and δ cells together with their surrounding networks. Capturing several hundred islets at once ensures sufficient power for statistical analyses. Further surface rendering provides clear views of the anatomical relationship between islets and their microenvironment as well as the basis for volumetric quantification. As a proof-of-principle demonstration, we show an islet size–dependent increase of intraislet capillary density and an inverse decrease in sphericity.
Adding Dopamine to Proxymetacaine or Oxybuprocaine Solutions Potentiates and Prolongs the Cutaneous Antinociception in Rats
Authors: Chen Yu-Wen , Chiu Chong-Chi , Lin Heng-Teng , Wang Jhi-Joung , Hung Ching-Hsia
Published: January 2018

BACKGROUND:

We evaluated the interaction of dopamine–proxymetacaine and dopamine– oxybuprocaine antinociception using isobolograms.

METHODS:

This experiment uses subcutaneous drug (proxymetacaine, oxybuprocaine, and dopamine) injections under the skin of the rat’s back, thus simulating infiltration blocks. The dose-related antinociceptive curves of proxymetacaine and oxybuprocaine alone and in combination with dopamine were constructed, and then the antinociceptive interactions between the local anesthetic and dopamine were analyzed using isobolograms.

RESULTS:

Subcutaneous proxymetacaine, oxybuprocaine, and dopamine produced a sensory block to local skin pinpricks in a dose-dependent fashion. The rank order of potency was proxymetacaine (0.57 [0.52–0.63] μmol/kg) > oxybuprocaine (1.05 [0.96–1.15] μmol/kg) > dopamine (165 [154–177] μmol/kg; P < .01 for each comparison) based on the 50% effective dose values. On the equianesthetic basis (25% effective dose, 50% effective dose, and 75% effective dose), the nociceptive block duration of proxymetacaine or oxybuprocaine was shorter than that of dopamine (P < .01). Oxybuprocaine or proxymetacaine coinjected with dopamine elicited a synergistic antinociceptive effect and extended the duration of action.

CONCLUSIONS:

Oxybuprocaine and proxymetacaine had a higher potency and provoked a shorter duration of sensory block compared with dopamine. The use of dopamine increased the quality and duration of skin antinociception caused by oxybuprocaine and proxymetacaine.
The Evolving Dilemma of Factor XI in Pregnancy: Suggestions for Management
Authors: Shander Aryeh , Friedman Tamara , Palleschi Greg , Shore-Lesserson Linda
Published: January 2018

A case of a patient with severe factor XI (FXI) deficiency who presented for her seventh labor and delivery is presented. The nature of FXI deficiency, its prevalence, and issues related to genetic screening are discussed. Published literature on the topic is reviewed, including criteria that were developed to assess bleeding, laboratory tools used to estimate bleeding risk, and available treatments. Within the context of this challenging clinical dilemma, specific recommendations are provided for the antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum stages of pregnancy. These include recommendations that take into account both FXI levels and history of any abnormal bleeding. While there are effective treatments available, it is important to consider that institutional multidisciplinary protocols are needed to manage this complex disorder. More work is needed to define the best management protocols.