bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Surgical Approach for Flexible Flatfeet in Adults Including a Subtalar Arthroereisis with the MBA Sinus Tarsi Implant
Authors: Needleman Richard L.
Published: January 2017

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine the functional outcomes and radiographic results of adult patients who had an operation for flexible flatfeet without any hindfoot osteotomies or fusions. Methods: Twenty-eight feet in 23 patients with problems caused by their flexible flatfoot deformities had reconstructive foot and ankle surgery that included a subtalar arthroereisis (the restriction of the range of motion of a joint) with the Maxwell-Brancheau Arthroereisis (MBA) sinus tarsi implant. The American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) Hindfoot Scale and a patient assessment questionnaire were obtained from all patients before surgery and at final follow-up. Preoperative and postoperative standing radiographs were analyzed to determine radiographic correction of the deformities. The average followup was 44 months. The MBA implant was surgically removed in 11 of 28 feet (39%) because of sinus tarsi pain. Results: The average preoperative AOFAS score was 52 and had improved to 87 ( p < 0.00001) at final followup. The average response to four of five questions in the patient assessment had significantly improved ( p < 0.05). On a 10-point scale, average patient satisfaction was 8.3 points; 78% said that they would have the surgery again. Correction after surgery was significant ( p < 0.0001) in each of the three radiographic parameters evaluated for ‘correction with MBA’ and ‘final correction.’ With the numbers available, no significant differences could be detected after the MBA was removed. Complications included sinus tarsi pain in 46% (13) of the 28 feet in this study; after implant removal, 73% (8) of 11 feet had less discomfort than before surgery with AOFAS scores 80 or better. Conclusions: Reconstructive foot and ankle surgery that included a subtalar arthroereisis with the MBA sinus tarsi implant resulted in favorable clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction in 78% (18) of 23 patients. In spite of the high incidence of temporary sinus tarsi pain until the implant was removed, this operative approach compares favorably with other operations for flexible flatfoot deformities in adults.
Coralline Hydroxyapatite Bone Graft Substitute in Hindfoot Surgery
Authors: Coughlin Michael J. , Grimes Jerry S. , Kennedy Michael P.
Published: January 2017

Background: Coralline hydroxyapatite bone graft substitute material is created by the conversion of the calcium carbonate structure of coral into hydroxyapatite. The microstructure of the material resembles cancellous bone and provides an osteoconductive scaffold for bone ingrowth. The use of this material is reported in the orthopedic oncology and trauma literature. Short-term reports in foot procedures have been reported. Method: A retrospective review identified 10 patients who had undergone hindfoot arthrodesis with coralline hydroxyapatite bone graft. The charts were reviewed for outcomes, operative complications, and time to union. Nine of the 10 patients were available for additional examination. Results: The average followup was 6 years. There were three complications. One patient had sural nerve numbness with partial resolution which was unrelated to the graft material. A rheumatoid patient on methotrexate and prednisone developed a deep wound infection 9 months after surgery. One patient had a nonunion of the talonavicular joint. Eight of the 10 patients reported good or excellent results. Radiographs continued to demonstrate the presence of the graft material at 6 years. Radiographs showed extrusion of the graft from the joint in all patients. No patient had symptoms from the extruded material. Discussion: Coralline hydroxyapatite bone graft substitute appears to be a clinically effective material for use in foot procedures. No adverse events could be linked to the graft material. The graft material is difficult to contain and extrusion was present in all patients. The slow resorption is a concerning characteristic of the graft material. At 6-year followup, the continued presence of the material has not shown any adverse effect.
Interobserver and Intraobserver Reliability of Two Classification Systems for Intra-articular Calcaneal Fractures
Authors: Lauder Anthony J. , Inda David J. , Bott Aaron M. , Clare Michael P. , Fitzgibbons Timothy C. , Mormino Matthew A.
Published: January 2017

Background: For a fracture classification to be useful it must provide prognostic significance, interobserver reliability, and intraobserver reproducibility. Most studies have found reliability and reproducibility to be poor for fracture classification schemes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the interobserver and intraobserver reliability of the Sanders and Crosby-Fitzgibbons classification systems, two commonly used methods for classifying intra-articular calcaneal fractures. Methods: Twenty-five CT scans of intra-articular calcaneal fractures occurring at one trauma center were reviewed. The CT images were presented to eight observers (two orthopaedic surgery chief residents, two foot and ankle fellows, two fellowship-trained orthopaedic trauma surgeons, and two fellowship-trained foot and ankle surgeons) on two separate occasions 8 weeks apart. On each viewing, observers were asked to classify the fractures according to both the Sanders and Crosby-Fitzgibbons systems. Interobserver reliability and intraobserver reproducibility were assessed with computer-generated kappa statistics (SAS software; SAS Institute Inc., Cary, North Carolina). Results: Total unanimity (eight of eight observers assigned the same fracture classification) was achieved only 24% (six of 25) of the time with the Sanders system and 36% (nine of 25) of the time with the Crosby-Fitzgibbons scheme. Interobserver reliability for the Sanders classification method reached a moderate ( kappa = 0.48, 0.50) level of agreement, when the subclasses were included. The agreement level increased but remained in the moderate ( kappa = 0.55, 0.55) range when the subclasses were excluded. Interobserver agreement reached a substantial ( kappa = 0.63, 0.63) level with the Crosby-Fitzgibbons system. Intraobserver reproducibility was better for both schemes. The Sanders system with subclasses included reached moderate ( kappa = 0.57) agreement, while ignoring the subclasses brought agreement into the substantial ( kappa = 0.77) range. The overall intraobserver agreement was substantial ( kappa = 0.74) for the Crosby-Fitzgibbons system. Conclusions: Although intraobserver kappa values reached substantial levels and the Crosby-Fitzgibbons system generally showed greater agreement, we were unable to demonstrate excellent interobserver or intraobserver reliability with either classification scheme. While a system with perfect agreement would be impossible, our results indicate that these classifications lack the reproducibility to be considered ideal.
Hallux Metatarsophalangeal Joint Arthrodesis Using Dome-Shaped Reamers and Dorsal Plate Fixation: A Prospective Study
Authors: Goucher Nicholas R. , Coughlin Michael J.
Published: January 2017

Background:

Many techniques exist for arthrodesis of the first metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint, as well as, indications for each method. The purpose of this study was to determine the results of one method using dome-shaped reamers to prepare the joint surfaces and a low-profile dorsal titanium plate for internal fixation. To date, no prospective studies have reported patient outcomes of arthrodesis of the first MTP joint using this technique.

Methods:

Fifty patients (54 feet) had first MTP joint arthrodesis from January, 2004, through January, 2005. All patients were evaluated preoperatively for underlying pathology, pain, function, and radiographic findings. First MTP joint arthrodesis was fixed with a dorsal titanium plate with preset valgus and dorsiflexion after the joint surfaces were prepared with matching male and female dome-shaped power reamers to achieve congruous cancellous bone surfaces. At a minimum of 1-year followup, patients returned for postoperative evaluation. In addition to evaluation of pain, function, and radiographic findings, patients were asked how long they remained off work, how long swelling persisted, and whether the hardware caused symptoms.

Results:

Forty-nine of 53 patients returned for followup at an average of 16 months after surgery. American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) scores improved significantly (z = −6.301, p > 0.01) from an average of 51 points preoperatively (range 24 to 97) to 82 points postoperatively (range 47 to 90). Pain scores at final followup demonstrated a significant improvement (z = −6.154, p > 0.01) from a mean of 6.3 to a mean of less than 1 point on the visual analog pain scale. Time off work averaged 3 weeks, while swelling persisted for an average of 11 weeks. Thirty-five feet in 32 patients (66%) were rated as excellent, 16 feet in 16 patients (30%) were rated as good, and two feet (4%) in one patient were rated as fair, with none reporting a poor result. There were four nonunions (8%), with one being a fibrous union having no progression of deformity. Three of four patients with a nonunion reported a good result subjectively with the fourth reporting a fair result.

Conclusions:

The 96% satisfaction rate in 49 patients indicates that first MTP joint arthrodesis with a low-profile contoured dorsal titanium plate and crossed lag screws after joint preparation with dome-shaped reamers is both reliable and reproducible. The union rate was high (92%), and the revision rate was low (4%).
Relationship Between Glycosylated Hemoglobin Level and Sciatic Nerve Block Performance in Diabetic Patients
Authors: Sertoz Nezih , Deniz Mustafa N. , Ayanoglu Hilmi O.
Published: January 2017

Background:

The objective of the present study was to explore the effects of deficiencies in glucose regulation on the onset, regression, and block performance times in a group of patients with diabetes-related foot problems.

Methods:

Forty-eight patients with American Society of Anesthetists physical status 2-4 undergoing foot and ankle surgery with a popliteal fossa block were prospectively studied. Patients were stratified into cohorts based on 3 groups according to their HbA1c levels: group 1 (n = 15), HbA1c 5%-6%; group 2 (n = 16), HbA1c 7%-8%; group 3 (n = 17), HbA1c 9%-10%. A standardized local anesthetic mixture containing 10 mL of 2% prilocaine and 10 mL of 0.5% levobupivacaine was used in all study groups. The primary outcome of the study was the time for regression of the sensory block.

Results:

The onset times of sensory and motor blocks in group 3 were significantly longer than those in groups 2 and 1. Motor block regression time differed significantly between groups ( P = .04), being longer in group 3 compared with group 1. In group 3, the sensory block regression time and the time of first analgesic use were significantly longer than the times in groups 1 and 2.

Conclusions:

We found that sensory block regression time was longer in diabetic patients with poor glycemic control than in the patients with better glycemic control. Longer block performance time, probably due to reduction in sensory and motor conduction velocity in diabetic patients with poor glycemic control, should be taken into consideration when peripheral nerve blocks are used.

Level of Evidence:

Level II, prospective comparative study.
Comparison of Low-Molecular-Weight Heparins Prepared From Bovine Heparins With Enoxaparin
Authors: Liu Xinyue , St.Ange Kalib , Fareed Jawed , Hoppensteadt Debra , Jeske Walter , Kouta Ahmed , Chi Lianli , Jin Caijuan , Jin Yongsheng , Yao Yiming , Linhardt Robert J.
Published: January 2017

Heparin and its low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) derivatives are widely used clinical anticoagulants. These drugs are critical for the practice of medicine in applications including kidney dialysis, cardiopulmonary bypass, and in the management of venous thromboembolism. Currently, these drugs are derived from livestock, primarily porcine intestine. The worldwide dependence on a single animal species has made the supply chain for this critical drug quite fragile, leading to the search for other sources of these drugs, including bovine tissues such as bovine intestine or lung. A number of laboratories are currently examining the similarities and differences between heparins prepared from porcine and bovine tissues. The current study is designed to compare LMWH prepared from bovine heparins through chemical β-elimination, a process currently used to prepare the LMWH, enoxaparin, from porcine heparin. Using top-down, bottom-up, compositional analysis and bioassays, LMWHs, derived from bovine lung and intestine, are shown to closely resemble enoxaparin.
Generalized vibration analysis of beams including warping effects by isogeometric methods
Authors: Sapountzakis EJ , Tsiptsis IN
Published: January 2017

In this paper, the Isogeometric tools, either integrated in the Finite Element Method (FEM) or in a Boundary Element based Method (BEM) called Analog Equation Method (AEM), are employed for the vibration analysis of homogeneous beams of arbitrary cross section (thin- or thick- walled) taking into account nonuniform warping and shear deformation effects (shear lag due to both flexure and torsion). The beam is subjected to the combined action of arbitrarily distributed or concentrated axial and transverse loading, as well as to bending, twisting and warping moments. Its edges are subjected to the most general boundary conditions. By employing a distributed mass model system accounting for longitudinal, transverse, rotatory, torsional and warping inertia, ten boundary value problems with respect to the variable along the beam time-dependent 1-D kinematical components are formulated. The numerical solution or the spectrum analysis of the aforementioned problems is performed through IGA, FEM and AEM, leading to a system of second-order differential equations, which are quasi-static and solved for the free vibration case, formulating a generalized eigenvalue problem. Special cases of the generalized problem have also been studied in order to demonstrate the efficiency of AEM in reducing computational effort and improving accuracy, especially when combined to Isogeometric tools, such as NURBS and B-splines.
A new real-time signal processing approach for frequency-varying machinery
Authors: Zhang Jie , Gao Hongli , Liu Qiyue , Grebe Christopher
Published: January 2017

Development of condition monitoring approaches has played a key role in the stability and safety of frequency-varying machinery operations. Conventional time–frequency analysis methods suffer problems such as analysis results being too complex to realize highly intelligent and automated condition monitoring systems. Blind source separation is an attractive tool due to its excellent performance in separating defect source signals from their mixtures without detailed knowledge of sources and mixing processes; however, it can only be applied under some strict conditions. In this paper, a nonuniform sampling model is built and a new processing algorithm of frequency-varying signal is proposed. The relationship between the power spectral density (PSD) of the vibration signal of frequency-varying machinery and frequencies at different rotational speeds is derived. The proposed method can adaptively eliminate the influence of the varying rotational speed in the revised PSD. Some classical signal analysis methods are implemented to compare with the proposed approach by simulations. An experiment has been conducted by using a JD-1 wheel/rail simulation facility to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Back to life with checkpoint inhibitors in Hodgkin lymphoma
Authors: Dada Reyad , Zekri Jamal
Published: January 2017

Cancer can escape the immune system through different mechanisms. One of which is the expression of program death ligand-1 (PD-L1). This ligand binds to programmed cell death 1 receptor on activated T cells, subsequently leading to inhibition of the immune response. Nivolumab is a novel antibody that binds to programmed cell death 1 and prevents such immune tolerance. Several recently published clinical trials confirmed the clinical efficacy of single agent nivolumab in pretreated patients with different cancer types. Publications on nivolumab in Hodgkin lymphoma are very scarce. We report on a 30-year-old man with stage IVB Hodgkin lymphoma, who failed nine lines of treatments including high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation and brentuximab vedotin. He reached a major response after four cycles of nivolumab and got married. The available literature is being reviewed. Pre-treated Hodgkin lymphoma is amenable to novel immunotherapy. Nivolumab induces clinically meaningful responses with excellent tolerance. The drug enriches our treatment options by reviving the immune system response against cancer. Further clinical studies are needed to determine the effectiveness on a large patients’ cohort.
Parents Caring For Adult Children With Serious Mental Illness
Authors: Raymond Kathryn Y. , Willis Danny G. , Sullivan-Bolyai Susan
Published: January 2017

BACKGROUND: Parents often become the caregivers for their adult children with serious mental illness (SMI) due to the chronic and debilitating course of the illness and shortages in funding for community mental health services and residential placements. OBJECTIVE: To examine parents’ management styles when caring for adult children with SMI and parents’ perspectives on what type of community-based mental health interventions would support and/or enhance overall family functioning. DESIGN: A qualitative descriptive study using semistructured interviews with parents caring for adult children with SMI. The study was undergirded by Knafl and Deatrick’s Family Management Style Framework. RESULTS: Four major themes emerged from the data describing prolonged and difficult phases that parents and the family undergo in caring for an adult child with SMI. CONCLUSIONS: Successful management of these phases must include increasing access to mental health information, mental health screening, early interventions, and violence prevention for adult children and their families.
Patient Violence Toward Psychiatric Health Care Workers in Israel as Viewed Through Incident Reports
Authors: Drori Tal , Guetta Hava , Ben Natan Merav , Polakevich Yaakov
Published: January 2017

BACKGROUND: Rates of violence perpetrated by patients toward health care workers are known to be higher in psychiatry than in other fields. Objective standardized reports of violent incidents may clarify this phenomenon. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the characteristics of patient violence, as evident from objective reports. STUDY DESIGN: In this retrospective chart review study, conducted at a large mental health hospital in Israel between 2013 and 2015, reports of violent incidents perpetrated by people diagnosed with mental health problems against health care workers of the hospital were reviewed. RESULTS: A total of 80 violent incidents were recorded. The findings outline the characteristics of a typical assailant, a typical victim, and a typical incident, and demonstrate associations between some of these characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: This information may be beneficial for planning interventions for efficient coping with and prevention of violence at psychiatric inpatient facilities.
Remarks on isotropic extension of anisotropic constitutive functions via structural tensors
Authors: Man Chi-Sing , Goddard Joe D
Published: January 2017

In their original formulation of the method of isotropic extension via structural tensors, which is meant for applications to the derivation of coordinate-free representation formulas for anisotropic constitutive functions, both Boehler and Liu start with the assumption that the invariance group of structural tensors is the symmetry group that defines the anisotropy of the constitutive function in question. As a result, the method (with structural tensors of order not higher than two) is applicable only when the anisotropy is characterized by a cylindrical group or belongs to the triclinic, monoclinic, or rhombic crystal classes. In this note we present a reformulation of the method in which the aforementioned assumption of Boehler and of Liu is relaxed, and we show by examples in finite elasticity and anisotropic linear elasticity that the method of isotropic extension via structural tensors could be applicable beyond the original limitations.
Health-Seeking Behaviors and Barriers to Health Care of Southeast Asian Immigrants: Implications for the Home Health Nurse
Authors: Xu Yu , Sun Jiemin , Zhang Jianhui , Xu Zhaomin
Published: January 2017

Grounded in first-hand experience, research, and published literature, this article provides an emic view of the health-seeking behaviors and barriers to health care of Southeast Asian immigrants. Implications for the home health nurse are also examined. Such an understanding is the foundation for building the cultural and linguistic competencies for taking care of Southeast Asian clients. In addition, in light of the changing demographics of the U.S. population reflected in Census 2000 and the recently released national standards for culturally and linguistically appropriate services, the article also discusses the challenges and implications of implementing the national standards to reduce and eventually eliminate racial and ethnic disparities in health care.
“Hot” Fraud and Abuse Issues under the Prospective Payment System
Authors: Hogue Elizabeth E.
Published: January 2017

The home care industry has come under frequent scrutiny for violations of fraud and abuse prohibitions. Under cost-based reimbursement, agencies were often scrutinized for filing false cost reports for overutilization. Fraud and Abuse Compliance is not a fad. It has become a permanent part of the health care industry. Although the focus may have changed for home health agencies under the prospective payment system (PPS), the importance of compliance cannot be overemphasized. Under PPS, providers must still be wary of fraud in relation to cost reports. They must also, however, focus on new issues of fraud and abuse, including underutilization, patient dumping, and abandonment. The purpose of this article is to assist providers to focus on fraud and abuse compliance efforts under PPS.
Postintervention Effects of Click City®: Alcohol on Changing Etiological Mechanisms Related to the Onset of Heavy Drinking
Authors: Gordon Judith S. , Andrews Judy A. , Hampson Sarah H. , Gunn Barbara , Christiansen Steven M. , Jacobs Thomas
Published: January 2017

Introduction. Alcohol consumption, including heavy drinking, is the fourth leading preventable cause of death in the United States. Youth who engage in heavy drinking are likely to experience a number of problems associated with their use. In 2015, U.S. prevalence of heavy drinking was 17% among 12th graders. These data suggest a clear need for conducting alcohol prevention activities among youth. Method. We designed the Click City®: Alcohol program for 7th graders, with a booster in 8th grade. We conducted an efficacy trial in 25 schools in three counties in Oregon. Schools were randomized to either the Click City: Alcohol ( n = 12) or Usual Curriculum condition ( n = 13). We present the results of a short-term evaluation, assessing change in outcomes from baseline to 1 week following the intervention among students in Click City: Alcohol schools versus those in Usual Curriculum schools. Results. Students who used the Click City: Alcohol program significantly decreased their intentions to drink heavily in the future, as compared with students in the Usual Curriculum control condition, although the effect size was small. Changes in the targeted mechanisms were in the expected direction and were significant for all but one mechanism, with moderate effect sizes. Conclusion. Our short-term findings provide preliminary support for the efficacy of the Click City: Alcohol program to change adolescents’ intentions to engage in heavy drinking. If the results are maintained over time, the program has the potential to prevent the onset of heavy drinking among teens and reduce the negative consequences associated with heavy drinking, including neurological and other health consequences.
In Vitro Metabolite Formation in Human Hepatocytes and Cardiomyocytes and Metabolism and Tissue Distribution in Monkeys of the 2′-C-Methylguanosine Prodrug BMS-986094
Authors: Li Wenying , Trouba Kevin J. , Ma Li , Kwagh Jae , Storck Christopher , Zhu Yongxin , Flint Oliver , Humphreys William G. , Wang Jian , Liu Ang , Wang Bonnie , Graziano Michael J. , Davies Marc H. , Sanderson Thomas P.
Published: January 2017

BMS-986094, a 2′-C-methylguanosine prodrug for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus infection, was withdrawn from phase 2 clinical trials because of unexpected cardiac and renal toxicities. To better understand these toxicities, the in vitro metabolism of BMS-986094 in human hepatocytes (HHs) and human cardiomyocytes (HCMs) and the measurement of BMS-986094 and selected metabolites in monkey plasma and tissues were assessed. BMS-986094 was extensively metabolized by HHs and HCMs, resulting in more efficient formation and accumulation of the active triphosphorylated metabolite, INX-09114, and less efficient efflux of metabolites in HCMs. The predominant metabolism pathway (hydrolysis) in HHs and HCMs was not associated with the formation of reactive metabolites or oxidative stress. In cynomolgus monkeys dosed with BMS-986094 of 15 or 30 mg/kg/d for 3 weeks, the nucleoside metabolite M2 was the major plasma analyte (66%-68% of the combined area under the curve). INX-09114 was the highest drug-related species in the heart and kidney (2,610-4,280 ng/mL [males]; ∼2-420× the concentration of other analytes). Other analytes increased dose dependently, with BMS-986094 highest in diaphragm (≤4,400 ng/mL) followed by M2 in liver and kidney (≤1,360 ng/mL), and M7 and M8 in other tissues (≤124 ng/mL). Three weeks after the last dose, INX-09114 remained high in the heart and kidney (≤1,870 ng/mL), with low M2 (≤37 ng/mL) in plasma and tissues. Persistent high concentrations of INX-09114 in the heart and kidney appeared to correlate with toxicities in these tissues in monkeys.
Propranolol in the Management of Infantile Hemangiomas: Clinical Response and Predictors
Authors: Balma-Mena Alexandra , Chakkittakandiyil Ajith , Weinstein Miriam , Lansang Perla , Ho Nhung , Cammisuli Salvatore , Pope Elena
Published: January 2017

Background:

Recent data suggest that propranolol is an effective treatment for infantile hemangiomas (IHs). Data on the optimal dose, duration of therapy, and predictors of response are currently lacking.

Objective:

To assess the clinical response to and predictors of propranolol use in the treatment of IH.

Methods:

Retrospective cohort study of 44 patients. Two independent assessors evaluated improvement by comparing serial digital photographs using a 100 mm visual analogue scale (VAS), where 5 mm change represented 10% change in the size or appearance of the IH.

Results:

Propranolol was started at a mean age of 7.8 (SD 8.21) months and was used for 7.3 (SD 4.8) months before weaning. The mean percent improvement compared to baseline (as measured by the VAS) was 78% (SD 23%). Minor adverse events were noted in 32% of patients. The most significant predictor of regrowth after weaning was a IH > 5 cm in size ( p = .017).

Conclusions:

Propranolol is effective in IH, but the side effects and the possibility of regrowth should be considered.
Safety and Efficacy of Adalimumab for the Treatment of Severe Alopecia Areata: Case Series of Three Patients
Authors: Bolduc Chantal , Bissonnette Robert
Published: January 2017

Background:

Current therapeutic options for extensive alopecia areata (AA) often lead to disappointing results.

Objective:

To study the efficacy and safety of adalimumab in patients with severe AA.

Methods:

This was a prospective, open-label, single-center, pilot study. Three subjects of the planned 10 were enrolled and received two weekly subcutaneous (SC) loading doses of adalimumab 80 mg followed by 40 mg SC every week for 6 months. Patients were evaluated for efficacy and safety on a monthly basis.

Results:

Enrolment in this trial was stopped following publication of studies showing no improvement in patients with AA treated with tumor necrosis factor α antagonists. One patient had a favorable response to adalimumab, whereas the two other patients had no benefit from the therapy. Adalimumab was well tolerated by patients with AA.

Conclusion:

Adalimumab was well tolerated in patients with AA but did not induce clinically significant hair regrowth.
Effective Treatment of Chronic Hand Dermatitis with 36 Continuous Months of Alitretinoin Administration: Report of Three Cases
Authors: Gulliver Wayne P. , Baker Kenneth A.
Published: January 2017

Background:

Moderate to severe chronic hand dermatitis (CHD) is not well controlled by current medical strategies; however, recent studies have shown significant improvement in patients treated with up to 6 months of oral alitretinoin (9- cis-retinoic acid). The results of longer-term continuous treatment are lacking.

Objective:

To evaluate the long-term safety and efficacy of alitretinoin for the treatment of CHD.

Methods:

The Physician's Global Assessment (PGA) and Modified Total Lesion Symptom Score (MTLSS) were used to assess CHD improvement in three patients treated with alitretinoin (10–30 mg/d). Patients had routine bloodwork and were monitored for adverse events.

Results:

Significant improvement in MTLSS scores (≈ 76%) was seen at 2 months ( p < .002) and maintained for the 3-year treatment period with occasional dosage adjustments. No significant adverse events developed that necessitated treatment withdrawal.

Conclusion:

Alitretinoin was well tolerated in the treatment of these three CHD patients who were carefully monitored over this prolonged treatment period.
Orthovoltage X-rays for Postoperative Treatment of Resected Basal Cell Carcinoma in the Head and Neck Area
Authors: Duinkerken Charlotte W. , Lohuis Peter J.F.M. , Crijns Marianne B. , Navran Arash , Haas Rick L.M. , Hamming-Vrieze Olga , Klop W. Martin C. , van den Brekel Michiel W.M. , Al-Mamgani Abrahim
Published: January 2017

Background:

Surgery is the golden standard for treating basal cell carcinomas. In case of positive tumor margins or recurrent disease, postoperative adjuvant or salvaging therapy is suggested to achieve good local control.

Objective:

To retrospectively report on local control and toxicity of postoperative radiotherapy by means of orthovoltage X-rays for residual or recurrent basal cell carcinoma after surgery in the head and neck area.

Methods:

Sixty-six surgically resected residual or recurrent basal cell carcinomas of the head and neck region were irradiated postoperatively by means of orthovoltage X-rays at the Netherlands Cancer Institute between January 2000 and February 2015.

Results:

After a median follow-up duration of 30.5 months, only 5 recurrences were reported. The 5-year local control rates at 1, 3, and 5 years were 100%, 87%, and 87%, respectively. The 5-year local control rate was 92% for immediate postoperative radiotherapy of incompletely resected basal cell carcinomas, 90% for recurrences after 1 previously performed excision, and 71% for multiple recurrences, namely, a history of more than 1 excision ( P = .437). Acute toxicity healed spontaneously within 3 months. Late toxicities were mild.

Conclusion:

Radiotherapy by means of orthovoltage X-ray is an excellent alternative for re-excision in case of incompletely resected or recurrent basal cell carcinomas that are at risk of serious functional and cosmetic impairments after re-excision, with a 5-year local control rate of 87% and a low toxicity profile.
Towards a Narratology of Court Reporting
Authors: Johnston Jane , Breit Rhonda
Published: January 2017

This article uses the theory of narratology to connect legal discourses and processes with the way the media translate the law into news. It identifies how narratology has been used by other disciplines, notably the law, to provide a framework for better understanding, and uses a range of theories and examples to propose a narratology for court reporting. The research identifies six key elements of narrative and expands these into a three-level schema of story level, discourse analysis and the interpretative context of stories. Finally, the article foreshadows a methodology through which to develop the narratology that follows court proceedings through various stages: from the metanarratives within court to the final production of courts as news. It suggests that such an approach may assist the media to gain greater insights into their involvement within the court system while also providing a deeper understanding between the courts and the media.
‘Catastrophic Failure’ Theories and Disaster Journalism: Evaluating Media Explanations of the Black Saturday Bushfires
Authors: Burns Alex , Eltham Ben
Published: January 2017

In recent decades, academic researchers of natural disasters and emergency management have developed a canonical literature on ‘catastrophe failure’ theories such as disaster responses from US emergency management services (Drabek, 2010; Quarantelli, 1998) and the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant (Perrow, 1999). This article examines six influential theories from this field in an attempt to explore why Victoria's disaster and emergency management response systems failed during Australia's Black Saturday bushfires. How well, if at all, are these theories understood by journalists, disaster and emergency management planners, and policy-makers? In examining the Country Fire Authority's response to the fires, as well as the media's reportage of them, we use the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires as a theory-testing case study of failures in emergency management, preparation and planning. We conclude that journalists can learn important lessons from academics' specialist knowledge about disaster and emergency management responses.
‘Breakfast is Now Tea, Toast and Tissues’: Affect and the Media Coverage of Bushfires
Authors: Yell Susan
Published: January 2017

Print and electronic media coverage of disasters raises a multitude of issues about the media's role during and after a crisis. This article focuses on a specific issue: the affective dimension of news media coverage immediately following a crisis. The selection and presentation of bushfire stories not only disseminates information but elicits emotion from audiences. I use textual and visual analysis of The Age newspaper's coverage of the 2009 Victorian bushfires to examine the discursive structuring of affect. Comparisons are made with coverage of earlier bushfire disasters (the 1983 Ash Wednesday fires and the 1939 Black Friday fires) in order to investigate changes in the visual and verbal discourses of bushfire reporting. The article demonstrates that there is an intensification of affect in contemporary media coverage that is not present in the coverage of previous bushfires, and that this has implications for the role of the emotions in public life and for our conception of the public sphere.
Local News Representations of Women in Hurricane Katrina
Authors: Calloway Candace
Published: January 2017

This mixed-method study examines the local news coverage of Hurricane Katrina, a natural disaster that hit the Gulf Coast region of the United States in 2005, with respect to the experiences of one vulnerable group: poor African-American women. The purpose of this investigation was to discover how the mainstream and black newspapers along the Gulf Coast covered the personal, social, economic and political issues that one representative sample of a predominately poor and marginalised African-American female population living along that coast said concerned them most during and after the Katrina storm. First, a textual analysis of 38 oral testimonies from a representative group of women, posted on two popular internet websites, was performed in order to identify the central concerns they held and problems they faced during and following the storm. Next, those concerns were compared with the coverage of three local Gulf Coast newspapers, including a black press publication. While the content analysis found a low representation of women throughout each paper, the black press publication had the highest percentage of quotes on topics that concerned African-American women.
Social Media and Public Information Management: The September 2009 Tsunami Threat to New Zealand
Authors: Mersham Gary
Published: January 2017

Social media are often the first point of reference for emergency management information for many people, including the traditional media. As social media and online community networks produce early event awareness, and ongoing information and guidance, they can create an asynchronous disjunction with information provided by official Emergency Management (EM) channels. This article explores how social media and other information communication technologies act as ‘back channels' of communication, assaying, analysing and commenting upon official emergency management messages as they are disseminated. The research shows how official messaging in the early stages of a national (tsunami) warning is characterised by an ‘information and guidance lag’ period created by the institutionalised requirement of scientific assessment and validation in accordance with organisational protocols in the inherently uncertain business of predicting the path and impact of a tsunami. The research suggests that, despite concern by officials about the legitimacy of information shared through social media, such technologies are gaining prominence in the disaster arena. The methodology uses an analysis of social media conversations and posts, official documents reviewing the tsunami threat and its aftermath, and academic publications. This research will interest academics and EM practitioners who are concerned with improving Public Information Management (PIM).
E-Electioneering 2010: Trends in Social Media Use in Australian Political Communication
Authors: Macnamara Jim , Kenning Gail
Published: January 2017

In the wake of the ‘turning point’ 2004 US presidential election, the Obama campaign of 2008, the 2010 UK election and e-democracy movements globally, Australians went to the polls in 2010 in a media-hyped flurry of tweeting, YouTube videos, Facebook befriending and ‘liking’, blogging and other social media activities. Following a study showing that the 2007 Australian election was not a ‘YouTube election’, as claimed by many media and commentators, and that social media use in the campaign was mostly non-interactive promotional messaging, a study was undertaken during the 2010 federal election campaign to gain comparative data and updated insights. This article reports quantitative and qualitative content analysis of social media use by 206 federal political candidates and the two major political parties during the 2010 Australian election to identify trends in the volume of e-electioneering content and activity, as well as the main ways in which social media are being used in political communication.
Reporting Diversity: The Representation of Ethnic Minorities in Australia's Television Current Affairs Programs
Authors: Phillips Gail
Published: January 2017

A recent study of ethnic diversity in Australia's television news showed that diversity of race, culture and religion is largely absent from the news services, unless people from ethnic minorities are posing a social problem of some kind. A parallel study of Australia's nightly current affairs programs has yielded similar results: like news, they represent Australia as an ‘Anglo’ nation. When ethnic minorities are featured, they tend to occupy peripheral roles, and where they are allowed a central role, it is usually to be shown as threatening and menacing to the Anglo mainstream. The industry codes of practice explicitly state the standards that should apply in reporting on race, culture and religion, yet only the public broadcaster, the ABC, follows the guidelines in the representation of diversity. The reporting practices on the commercial stations deliberately or unwittingly encourage a sense of racial hierarchy in which the Anglo dominates.
‘When the Movie Started, We All Got Along’: Generation Y Remembers Movie Night
Authors: Jones Janna
Published: January 2017

Most scholars interested in movie-going have focused their attention on the early twentieth century, when going to the cinema was a common part of public life. More recently, however, sites of film consumption have become increasingly dispersed, encompassing both communal and private spaces. Examining ‘movie night’ – an informal, ritualised event in which contemporary families watch a film together at home or at the theatre – this article aims to broaden our understanding of the phenomenon of movie-going by recovering its present day practices. This analysis draws on the experiences of university students who recall movie nights as a set of comforting and enriching performances that had particular meanings within the complex network of their families. This essay argues that while contemporary movie-going practices are far less public than they once were, many of the fundamental elements of cinema's sociability that existed in cinema's classic era persist into the present.
Fighting the Festival Apocalypse: Film Festivals and Futures in Film Exhibition
Authors: Stevens Kirsten
Published: January 2017

Since the turn of the millennium, the number of film festivals celebrated annually has exploded, with more than 30 events being celebrated in the Melbourne metropolitan area alone in 2010. The rate of proliferation raises issues of event saturation, bringing into question the future of the film festival format. This article engages with the growing debate over the sustainability of unchecked festival growth. Examining the rise in specialised events that has characterised the film festival phenomenon, it argues that the diverse range and ubiquitous nature of these events collectively forms an exhibition system with the potential to usurp the role of art-house and specialty theatres. As a kind of ‘new cinema’, this article considers how festivals may be reshaping the future of film exhibition.
Consciousness-Raising in a Child Abuse Flame War over Fan Fiction
Authors: Walker Rebecca
Published: January 2017

A flame war over depictions of child abuse in a fan fiction competition based on The L Word television series (Showtime, 2004–09) provided an opportunity for feminists and others to deliberate over the issue of child abuse. Various tactics were used, including storytelling and the narration of intimate and personal stories of abuse, as well as more confrontational and personally derisive tactics. The flame war revealed taken-for-granted assumptions in a forum based on a lesbian-centred series.
The ‘New’ News
Authors: Harrington Stephen , McNair Brian
Published: January 2017

This themed issue of Media International Australia brings together a collection of work that critically examines some of the rapid changes to the news media system in recent years, including an explosion of news sources, formats and increasingly popular hybrid styles and, the collapse in the authority of the trusted news sources of the past. Much news is now broken by social media, and journalists compete in a cycle of news and politics that has been dramatically influenced and sped up by 24-hour news channels. The role of journalists has changed, and they increasingly are being called up on to interpret and explain events rather than simply report them.
Continuity and Transformation in Convergent News: The Case of Wikileaks
Authors: Meikle Graham
Published: January 2017

This article identifies three important aspects of media convergence for news and journalism. It uses the case of WikiLeaks to argue that ‘the new news’ enabled by media convergence is characterised by a number of particular tensions and conflicts between continuity and transformation: the ongoing processes through which established news organisations encounter new kinds of competition from new kinds of news actors, including wholesale information suppliers such as WikiLeaks; the ongoing cultural contests around the roles of journalists and the continued value of the fourth estate role of the news media; and the tensions between narrative and database approaches to news. The article explores the series of major news events precipitated by WikiLeaks throughout 2010 to highlight the contours of the emerging convergent news environment.
Wikileaks, Journalism and the Consequences of Chaos
Authors: McNair Brian
Published: January 2017

This article considers the impact of the WikiLeaks organisation in relation to debates around the defence of national security and free speech, global media citizenship and the emerging dynamics of the global public sphere. Building on the author's previous work on political communication, journalism and ‘cultural chaos’, it explores the implications of WikiLeaks for emerging conceptions and definitions of journalism, and for the changing structure of media–politics power relations at the global level, against the background of three trends: democratisation, declining deference and digitalisation.
Crikey, the Australian and the Politics of Professional Status in Australian Journalism
Authors: Morieson Lucy
Published: January 2017

This article presents a case study of editorial content in an ongoing ‘war of words’ between two Australian publications – independent daily email news source Crikey and the Murdoch-owned broadsheet newspaper The Australian – in order to demonstrate one of the struggles over professional status in the changing Australian media environment. This negotiation over professional status exemplifies the way in which rhetorics of professionalism are used to gain authority over the particular jurisdiction of journalism. Considering this example in relation to dominant discussions of journalistic professionalism, this article demonstrates the limitations of the ways in which many of these discussions are framed, and works to place professionalism within a framework that positions journalism as a cultural technology.
Strong Support for News Media: Attitudes towards News on Old and New Platforms
Authors: Bergström Annika , Wadbring Ingela
Published: January 2017

The aim of this article is to analyse attitudes towards news on old and new platforms. Our study used two types of independent variable: generation, which – along with age – is one of the most important factors explaining news media practices; and news consumption, which is strongly related to attitudes. We utilised a national mail survey of 3000 people in the Swedish population (aged 16–85) to conduct the study. The response rate in the 2010 study was a little over 60 per cent, and the survey gives a significant picture of news attitudes in the population. The findings generally show a strong degree of support for traditional news media such as television and printed newspapers. However, this support is far stronger among the older generations than the younger – who, to a larger extent, express support for other forms of news distribution, in particular the internet and social media networks.
The ‘New’ News as No ‘News’: Us Cable News Channels as Branded Political Entertainment Television
Authors: Jones Jeffrey P.
Published: January 2017

Contesting the journalism frame as the basis for assessing US cable television news channels, this article argues instead for a focus on the branding and product differentiation practices that shape news content in the highly competitive cable marketplace. Politics, in particular, has become the central identifying brand marker, as cable news channels transform the raw material of public life into a variety of entertainment performances. The construction of politics is thoroughly informed by commercial strategy and brand appeal, as politics is brought to life through performances that constitute political reality for viewing audiences.