bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Factors associated with psychosocial needs of close relatives of women under treatment for breast cancer
Authors: Schmid‐Büchi Silvia , van den Borne Bart , Dassen Theo , Halfens Ruud JG
Published: December 2010

Aims.  (1) To gain insight into the psychosocial needs and distress of close relatives of women under treatment for breast cancer and identify how they perceive the interpersonal relationship with the patient and (2) to determine factors associated with the relatives’ psychosocial needs.

Background.  Breast cancer affects patients but also close relatives. Relatives need support themselves but there is still a lack of knowledge about their specific needs.

Design.  Relatives of women newly diagnosed with breast cancer participated in a cross‐sectional survey.

Method.  Relatives were approached by patients, who were contacted by nurses in two Swiss breast cancer clinics. The patients received the questionnaire for their closest relative, who decided independently of the patient about participation. Standardised questionnaires were completed by 107 relatives.

Results.  The relatives needed help with access to information and health care professionals. They needed information about the patients’ treatment (50·9%), honest information (41·6%) and had difficulties with confidence in health care professionals (39·2%). The majority (61·0%) suffered from distress, less (26·1%) from anxiety and depression (10·9%). Distress, anxiety and conflict in their interpersonal relationship were associated with the relatives’ unmet psychosocial needs.

Conclusions.  The findings increase the knowledge of the psychosocial needs of relatives of patients with breast cancer and provide the basis for purposeful support. Distress, anxiety and conflicts in the relationship are important factors that may identify more vulnerable relatives with unmet needs or a higher demand for support.

Relevance to clinical practice.  Assessment of the relatives’ specific needs, distress and anxiety is important, and the relatives’ perception of their relationship should be addressed. Health care professionals are key persons in contact with relatives and should motivate the patients to involve their relatives in the illness and treatment process. Support programmes for relatives of patients with breast cancer should be developed in Swiss cancer clinics.
An evaluation of indices of gross pathology associated with the nematodeAnguillicoloides crassusin eels
Authors: Lefebvre F , Fazio G , Palstra A P , Székely C , Crivelli A J
Published: December 2010

This study compares two alternative indices for quantifying the gross pathology of the swimbladder of eels,Anguilla anguilla(L.), infected with the nematodeAnguillicoloides crassus. Two observers recorded twice the scores obtained by the two indices on the same set of 71 wild caught eels (from elver to silver eels, French Mediterranean lagoons). The Length Ratio Index (LRI), performed better than the Swimbladder Degenerative Index (SDI), in three of four predefined criteria of decision. First, the LRI better correlated with an estimate of the swimbladder volume reduction, a functional consequence of the infection (representativeness). Also, the LRI was less prone to subjectivity (inter‐observer variability) and more precise (intra‐observer variability), although less easy to generate (time needed for measurement/assessment). Using a sub‐sample of 32 unaffected eels (showing minor if any swimbladder damage and no living worms at autopsy), we ascertained a linear relationship between the swimbladder length and the total body length, a prerequisite of isometric growth, to definitively accept the new ratio index as a valid alternative to the SDI. Also, because the LRI can be recorded on live specimens with radio‐imagery (non‐invasive method), we recommend its use, and provide a graph of correspondence between the SDI scores, the LRI scores and the estimated proportion of gas loss in the swimbladder.
Molecular events of apical bud formation in white spruce,Picea glauca
Authors: KAYAL WALID EL , ALLEN CARMEN C. G. , JU CHELSEA J.‐T. , ADAMS ERI , KING‐JONES SUSANNE , ZAHARIA L. IRINA , ABRAMS SUZANNE R. , COOKE JANICE E. K.
Published: December 2010

Bud formation is an adaptive trait that temperate forest trees have acquired to facilitate seasonal synchronization. We have characterized transcriptome‐level changes that occur during bud formation of white spruce [Picea glauca(Moench) Voss], a primarily determinate species in which preformed stem units contained within the apical bud constitute most of next season's growth. Microarray analysis identified 4460 differentially expressed sequences in shoot tips during short day‐induced bud formation. Cluster analysis revealed distinct temporal patterns of expression, and functional classification of genes in these clusters implied molecular processes that coincide with anatomical changes occurring in the developing bud. Comparing expression profiles in developing buds under long day and short day conditions identified possible photoperiod‐responsive genes that may not be essential for bud development. Several genes putatively associated with hormone signalling were identified, and hormone quantification revealed distinct profiles for abscisic acid (ABA), cytokinins, auxin and their metabolites that can be related to morphological changes to the bud. Comparison of gene expression profiles during bud formation in different tissues revealed 108 genes that are differentially expressed only in developing buds and show greater transcript abundance in developing buds than other tissues. These findings provide a temporal roadmap of bud formation in white spruce.
Sensing embolism in xylem vessels: the role of sucrose as a trigger for refilling
Authors: SECCHI FRANCESCA , ZWIENIECKI MACIEJ A.
Published: December 2010

Refilling of embolized vessels requires a source of water and the release of energy stored in xylem parenchyma cells. Past evidence suggests that embolism presence can trigger a biological response that is switched off upon successful vessel refilling. As embolism formation is a purely physical process and most biological triggers rely on chemical sensors, we hypothesized that accumulation of osmotic compounds in walls of embolized vessels are involved in the embolism sensing mechanism. Analysis ofPopulus trichocarpa's response to infiltration of sucrose, monosaccharides, polyethylene glycol and potassium chloride into the xylem revealed that only presence of sucrose resulted in a simultaneous physiological and molecular response similar to that induced by embolism. This response included reduction of the starch pool in xylem parenchyma cells and significant correlation of gene expression from aquaporins, amylases and sugar transporter families. The work provides evidence of the ability of plants to sense embolism and suggests that sucrose concentration is the stimulus that allows plants to trigger a biological response to embolism.
Constrained preferences in nitrogen uptake across plant species and environments
Authors: WANG LIXIN , MACKO STEPHEN A.
Published: December 2010

Knowledge of determining factors for nitrogen uptake preferences and how they are modified in changing environments are critical to understand ecosystem nitrogen cycling and to predict plant responses to future environmental changes. Two 15N tracer experiments utilizing a unique differential labelled nitrogen source were employed in both African savannas and greenhouse settings. The results demonstrated that nitrogen uptake preferences were constrained by the climatic conditions. As mainly indicated by root δ15N signatures at 1:1 ammonium/nitrate ratio, in the drier environments, plants preferred nitrate and in the wetter environments they preferred ammonium. Nitrogen uptake preferences were different across different ecosystems (e.g. from drier to wetter environments) even for the same species. More significantly, our experiments showed that the plant progeny continued to exhibit the same nitrogen preference as the parent plants in the field, even when removed from their native environment and the nitrogen source was changed dramatically. The climatic constraint of nitrogen uptake preference is likely influenced by ammonium/nitrate ratios in the native habitats of the plants. The constancy in nitrogen preference has important implications in predicting the success of plant communities in their response to climate change, to seed bank use and to reforestation efforts.
Infectivity of HBV DNA positive donations identified in look‐back studies in Hyogo‐Prefecture, Japan
Authors: Bouike Y. , Imoto S. , Mabuchi O. , Kokubunji A. , Kai S. , Okada M. , Taniguchi R. , Momose S. , Uchida S. , Nishio H.
Published: December 2010

Aims/Objectives: To clarify transfusion incidence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infected blood negative for mini pool‐nucleic acid amplification testing (MP‐NAT).

Background: Japanese Red Cross (JRC) blood centres screen donated blood to avoid contamination with HBV. However, a low copy number of HBV may be overlooked.

Methods/Materials: In Hyogo‐Prefecture, JRC blood centres screened 787 695 donations for HBV from April 2005 to March 2009. Of these, 685 844 were donations from the repeat donors. To detect the donors with HBV, serological tests, MP‐NAT and/or individual donation (ID)‐NAT were performed. To detect the recipients with transfusion‐transmitted HBV infection (TTHBI), serological analysis and/or ID‐NAT were performed.

Results: In this study, 265 of the 685 844 repeat donations were serologically and/or MP‐NAT positive for HBV. Their repository samples from the previous donation were examined in a look‐back study; 13 of the 265 repository samples proved ID‐NAT positive. Twelve recipients were transfused with HBV‐infected blood components derived from 10 of the 13 HBV‐infected donors. Only 1 of the 12 recipients was identified as TTHBI case. Seven of the 12 recipients escaped from our follow‐up study and 4 recipients were negative for HBV during the observation period.

Conclusion: On the basis of the look‐back study among the repeat donors in Hyogo‐Prefecture, Japan, donations with HBV‐infected blood negative for MP‐NAT occurred with a frequency of 13 in 685 844 donations (∼1/53 000 donations). However, more than half of the recipients transfused with HBV‐infected blood negative for MP‐NAT could not be followed up. It is necessary to establish a more cautious follow‐up system.
Cost and effectiveness comparison of two methods for screening potential blood donors for anaemia in Vietnam
Authors: Tyrrell A. , Worrall E. , Que T. N. , Bates I.
Published: December 2010

Aim/Objective:To compare the cost and effectiveness of Copper Sulphate (CS) and HemoCue (HC) methods for screening blood donors for anaemia.

Background:Robust information from developing countries about cost and effectiveness of anaemia screening methods for blood donors is scarce. In such countries there are widespread shortages of blood, so the most cost‐effective method should maximise blood supply without compromising donor safety.

Methods:Economic data (e.g. staff time, equipment and buildings) were collected from direct observation of procedures and purchase data from Hanoi's Central Blood Bank administrative department. A framework for comparing the cost and effectiveness of anaemia screening methods was developed and a cost per effective (i.e. usable and accurate) test was generated for each method.

Results:Samples from 100 potential donors from the Hanoi Central Blood Bank (static) and 198 from two mobile units were tested. The mean probability of an ineffective anaemia test was 0·1 (0·05–0·2). The average cost of an HC test was $0·75 (static $0·61 and mobile $0·89) and a CS test was $0·31 (static $0·17 and mobile $0·45). The difference between static and mobile units was predominantly due to transport costs; the difference between the two methods was predominantly due to the HC microcuvettes.

Conclusion:In this setting the CS yields greater value for money than the HC method for screening blood donors. The relative cost and effectiveness of CS and HC may be different in places with higher staff turnover, lower test accuracy, higher anaemia prevalence or lower workload than in Vietnam.
Anti‐acid medication as a risk factor for food allergy
Authors: Pali‐Schöll I. , Jensen‐Jarolim E.
Published: December 2010

To cite this article: Pali‐Schöll I, Jensen‐Jarolim E. Anti‐acid medication as a risk factor for food allergy. Allergy 2011; 66: 469–477.

An important feature for oral allergens is their digestion‐resistance during gastrointestinal transit. For some oral allergens, digestion stability is an innate feature, whereas digestion‐labile antigens may only persist in times of impairment of the digestive system. In this review, we collect evidence from mouse and human studies that besides the inherent molecular characteristics of a food protein, the stomach function is decisive for the allergenic potential. Gastric acid levels determine the activation of gastric pepsin and also the release of pancreatic enzymes. When anti‐ulcer drugs inhibit or neutralize gastric acid, they allow persistence of intact food allergens and protein‐bound oral drugs with enhanced capacity to sensitize and elicit allergic reactions via the oral route. Mouse studies further suggest that maternal food allergy arising from co‐application of a food protein with anti‐acid drugs results in a Th2‐biased immune response in the offspring. Especially, anti‐ulcer drugs containing aluminum compounds act as Th2 adjuvants. Proton pump inhibitors act on proton secretion but also on expression of the morphogen Sonic hedgehog, which has been related to the development of atrophic gastritis. On the other hand, atrophic gastritis and resulting hypoacidity have previously been correlated with enhanced sensitization risk to food allergens in elderly patients. In summary, impairment of gastric function is a documented risk factor for sensitization against oral proteins and drugs.
Effects of a pantothenic acid supplementation to different rations on ruminal fermentation, nutrient flow at the duodenum, and on blood and milk variables of dairy cows
Authors: Ragaller V. , Lebzien P. , Bigalke W. , Südekum K. H. , Hüther L. , Flachowsky G.
Published: December 2010

To investigate the effects of a dietary pantothenic acid (PA) supplementation on duodenal nutrient flows, blood and milk variables and especially on duodenal PA flows and PA concentrations in blood and milk German Holstein cows, equipped with cannulas in the dorsal sac of the rumen and in the proximal duodenum were used. In the first experiment of the study two dry and six lactating cows received a diet with a forage to concentrate (F:C) ratio of 34:66 (high concentrate, HC), whereas in the second experiment a diet with a F:C ratio of 66:34 (high forage, HF) was fed to four dry and five lactating cows. The cows received both rations with or without 1 g PA/day. By supplementing PA to the HC ration, the molar percentage of acetic acid increased, whereas the concentration of total short chain fatty acids, the efficiency of microbial protein synthesis in the rumen and the serum glucose levels, decreased. With the HF ration the PA decreased the molar percentage of propionic acid and increased the amount of ruminally fermented organic matter. Furthermore, PA supplementation only increased the duodenal PA flow with the HF ration, while the serum and milk PA concentrations and milk PA yields were not affected. Based on the results of the present study, a rumen‐unprotected supplementation of PA makes no sense.
Focal cortical dysplasia coexisting with diffuse astrocytoma in childhood: A case report and reappraisal of the glial component in archival FCD cases
Authors: Masui Kenta , Suzuki Satoshi O. , Hashiguchi Kimiaki , Morioka Takato , Yoshiura Takashi , Sasaki Tomio , Iwaki Toru
Published: December 2010

We report a rare case of focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) concurring with diffuse astrocytoma and arachnoid cyst, and also re‐evaluate the glial component in archival FCD cases for the differential diagnosis of diffuse gliomas. A 7‐year‐old boy with a 9‐month history of psychomotor seizures disclosed a hyperintense area accompanied by a cystic lesion in the left temporal lobe on MRI. The surgical specimen displayed dyslamination of the cortices and ectopic neurons in the white matter, associated with dysmorphic neurons, indicating FCD type IIA. Additionally, the lesion showed diffuse proliferation and infiltration of glial cells, immunopositive for infiltrating glioma markers (nestin, doublecortin, MAP‐2e) and p53, and MIB‐1 index was 2.0%. These findings indicated coexisting diffuse astrocytoma. Coexistence of diffuse glioma with FCD is unusual, but we often notice increased population of small glial cells in FCD lesions. Re‐evaluation of archival FCD cases with diverse markers revealed that reactive microglia significantly proliferate in the white matter lesions. Therefore, a careful pathological assessment has to be made to define a rare case of diffuse glioma occurring in FCD.
The impacts of abandoned mining shafts: Fauna entrapment in opal prospecting shafts at Coober Pedy, South Australia
Authors: Pedler Reece D.
Published: December 2010

Summary  The impacts of uncapped, abandoned mining shafts on small vertebrate species were investigated by monitoring numbers of fauna falling into opal prospecting shafts near Coober Pedy, in the far north of South Australia. Catching devices made from 10 L buckets were installed in the top of 43 shafts and checked regularly by local community members for a total of 10 840 trap nights over a 13‐month period. A total of 190 individual reptiles of 18 species were captured in this manner after falling into shafts, including the nationally vulnerable Bronzeback Legless Lizard (Ophidiocephalus taeniatus). While the tops of these shafts resemble conventional pitfall traps used in scientific monitoring and therefore readily ‘trap’ ground‐fauna, they may be over 30 m deep and are permanently open. Capture rates in this study, calculated at 4.1 reptiles/shaft/year, highlight the potential impact of the similar shafts that remain uncapped in the Coober Pedy opal fields, roughly estimated to be anywhere from 1 to 2 million shafts. The inferred total number of captures from these shafts may represent 10–28 million reptiles/year or an equivalent of 25–72 tonnes of biomass. The results highlight the potential threat that uncapped shafts may pose to Bronzeback Legless Lizard populations in this area and suggest that they may also have major impacts on other small vertebrate fauna in the Coober Pedy area and in other similar opal mining areas.
Managing rock outcrops to improve biodiversity conservation in Australian agricultural landscapes
Authors: Michael Damian R. , Lindenmayer David B. , Cunningham Ross B.
Published: December 2010

Summary  Rocky outcrops are prominent geological features in agricultural landscapes worldwide. Reptiles are a major component of these habitats and some species are restricted to, and more abundant on, rocky outcrops than in remnant vegetation. Rock outcrops are important to reptiles because they provide resources that are often limited in the surrounding landscape (e.g. micro‐gradients in climatic conditions, basking‐ and retreat‐sites). However, there is a knowledge gap in the literature addressing the conservation value of small, rocky outcrops. Management may be necessary to reverse habitat degradation in these systems. We identify four key areas of management that need to be addressed to improve outcrop habitat values and enhance biodiversity conservation in agricultural landscapes. Specific actions involve: (i) protecting outcrops from processes that cause damage to rock microhabitat, (ii) monitoring and managing changes in vegetation structure to maintain thermally suitable environments, (iii) applying integrated pest animal control and (iv) improving matrix management to enhance inselberg function and landscape connectivity. Further research is required to evaluate the efficacy of different management regimes on outcrop biota. We hope this paper will provide the stimulus for land managers to incorporate rocky outcrops in future biodiversity conservation programmes.
BioPrEP – a regional, process‐based approach for assessment of land with high conservation value for Bush Heritage Australia
Authors: Mackey Brendan , Gilmore Sandy , Pringle Hugh , Foreman Paul , Van Bommel Linda , Berry Sandra , Haseler Murray
Published: December 2010

Summary  A framework is presented for terrestrial conservation assessment that has been developed for Bush Heritage, an Australian non‐profit organisation that manages land of outstanding conservation value through acquisition or working in partnership with other landowners. The framework is called Biodiversity Prediction using Ecological Processes and comprises seven conservation goals, with a set of candidate criteria and indicators for each goal. Particular emphasis is given to criteria that relate to habitat quality in addition to the more conventional focus on land quantity. The MCAS‐S graphic user interface is used to help analyse the indicators and visualise the results in a transparent way that assists the decision‐making process. The interface also allows indicators to be weighted differently, which among other things, allows analyses to reflect inter‐regional differences in what represents high quality land. The framework was tested in a case study region (the Woodland region of south‐eastern Australia), and the results reveal land that is potentially a priority for conservation investments. While the framework and case study results are indicative, and further analyses are required before they can be considered operational, the approach has potential application to other organisations in the private conservation sector.
Haemostatic effects of simvastatin in subjects with impaired glucose tolerance
Authors: Krysiak R. , Okopien B.
Published: December 2010

Background:  Very little is known about extra‐lipid effects of statins in prediabetic subjects.

Aim:  Our study has assessed the effect of simvastatin on coagulation and fibrinolysis in patients with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), comparing this effect with that exhibited by simvastatin in isolated hypercholesterolaemia.

Methods:  Lipid profile, fasting and 2‐h post‐glucose challenge plasma glucose levels, the homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) ratio, glycated haemoglobin, the prothrombin and partial thromboplastin time, plasma fibrinogen, plasminogen activator inhibitor‐1 (PAI‐1), von Willebrand factor (vWF), factor X levels and factor VII coagulant activity were assessed at baseline, and after 30 and 90 days of simvastatin treatment (20 mg daily) in 28 patients with IGT and 28 subjects with primary isolated hypercholesterolaemia. The control group included 26 age‐, sex‐ and weight‐matched dyslipidaemia‐free individuals with normal glucose tolerance. The experiments comply with the current law of Poland.

Results:  Compared to the control subjects, hypercholesterolaemic and IGT patients exhibited increased baseline plasma levels of fibrinogen, PAI‐1 and vWF, and increased factor VII activity, with no difference between the two groups of patients. All these haemostatic abnormalities were alleviated or normalized after simvastatin treatment, which was accompanied by a prolongation of the prothrombin and partial thromboplastin time. In both treatment groups simvastatin reduced total and low‐density lipoprotein (LDL)‐cholesterol, oxidized LDL and apoprotein B but did not affect glucose metabolism marker levels.

Conclusions:  Our study shows that haemostasis is disturbed to a similar degree in IGT and isolated hypercholesterolaemia. Simvastatin exhibits a multidirectional, lipid‐independent favourable action on coagulation and fibrinolysis in IGT patients, which may play a role in the prevention of initiation and progression of atherosclerosis in this prediabetic state.
Comparison of prediction equations to estimate glomerular filtration rate in Chinese patients with chronic kidney disease
Authors: Liu X. , Lv L. , Wang C. , Shi C. , Cheng C. , Tang H. , Chen Z. , Ye Z. , Lou T.
Published: December 2010

Aim:  We sought to evaluate the applicability of formulae based on serum creatinine (SC) levels in Chinese patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Materials and methods:  Three hundred and twenty‐seven patients with CKD who had undergone 99mTc‐DTPA glomerular filtration rate (GFR) estimation were enrolled. The Cockcroft–Gault equation, SC‐reciprocal equation, Gate equation, Hull equation, Jelliffe‐1973 equation, Jelliffe‐1971 equation, Mawer equation, Bjornsson equation, reexpressed 6‐variable MDRD equation and reexpressed 4‐variable MDRD equation were compared. Using the 99mTc‐DTPA GFR as the standard GFR (sGFR), the accuracy of estimated GFR was compared with sGFR in various stages of CKD.

Results:  Median per cents of the absolute difference ranged from 28.16% to 39.39%, accuracy with a deviation less than 30% ranging from 39.4% to 53.5%, accuracy with a deviation less than 50% ranging from 63.0% to 80.7%. None of the equations had accuracy up to the 70% level with a deviation less than 30% from sGFR. Bland–Altman analysis demonstrated that mean difference ranged from −2.42 to 16.39 mL/min/1.73 m2, whereas precision ranged from 82.66 to 106.15 mL/min/1.73 m2. However, the agreement limits of all the equations exceeded the prior acceptable tolerances defined as 60 mL/min/1.73 m2. Linear regression showed that the slopes of regression line ranged from 0.37 to 0.54 and intercepts ranged from −12.10 to 3.86. When the overall performance as well as bias and accuracy were compared in different stages of CKD, GFR estimated by Jelliffe‐1973 equation, Cockcroft–Gault equation and Bjornsson equation showed promising results.

Conclusion:  When SC was measured by the enzymatic method, GFR estimation equations showed great bias in Chinese CKD patients. At present, the Jelliffe‐1973 equation and Cockcroft–Gault equation may be more accurate in the Chinese ethnic group.
Survival in patients with malignancy and venous thromboembolism by tumour subtype and thrombus location
Authors: Prestidge T. , Lee S. , Harper P. , Young L. , Ockelford P.
Published: December 2010

Background:  Although the association between malignancy and venous thromboembolism (VTE) is firmly established, less is known about the survival following VTE among different malignant subtypes.

Aims:  We sought to estimate survival from first VTE in consecutive patients with known malignancy receiving extended low molecular weight heparin therapy.

Methods:  Five hundred and fifty‐nine consecutive patients presenting to the Thrombosis Unit Registry at Auckland City Hospital between January 1997 and October 2006 were observed. Events were confirmed by standard imaging procedures. The diagnosis date and site of VTE as well as the type of malignancy were recorded.

Results:  Mean follow up was 21.4 months. Overall median survival from VTE was 13.5 months. Six‐month, one‐, two‐ and five‐year survivals were 64%, 53%, 43% and 33% respectively. Survival was longest for haematological malignancy at 44.4 months, followed by prostate, bowel, breast (metastatic breast), lung and pancreatic malignancy at 29.4, 27.4, 15.5 (6.2), 2.4 and 1.9 months respectively. Median survival varied with thrombotic location from 31.1 months for upper limb/jugular deep vein thrombosis reducing to only 10.1 months for iliocaval/abdominal deep vein thrombosis, but this did not reach statistical significance. Survival from cancer diagnosis was also determined.

Discussion:  The 1‐year 53% survival in cancer patients with VTE treated using extended low molecular weight heparin is longer than that reported from large registry and population studies in which specific patient information and therapeutic regimens are unknown. Survival is critically determined by tumour type and correlates with tumour stage in women with breast cancer. There is also a trend towards differing survival by thrombus location.
Survival after the initiation of combination therapy in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension: an Australian collaborative report
Authors: Keogh A. , Strange G. , Kotlyar E. , Williams T. , Kilpatrick D. , Macdonald P. , Brown K. , Pidoux A. , Kermeen F. , Steele P. , Dalton B. , Gabbay E.
Published: December 2010

Background:  Several cellular pathways are implicated in the pathogenesis of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and attempts to arrest disease progression with a single drug would not be expected to succeed in the medium term. In clinical practice, combination therapy is often used in patients deteriorating on monotherapy, despite the absence of firm evidence from randomized controlled controls.

Methods:  From January 2005 to August 2009, 112 patients with World Health Organisation Functional Class (FC) II–IV PAH deteriorating on monotherapy received non‐parenteral combination therapy at six Australian PAH expert hospitals. Combination therapy included bosentan, sitaxentan, ambrisentan, iloprost and sildenafil. Data were prospectively collected for survival status, 6‐min walk distance, FC and echocardiographic parameters at the start of monotherapy through to commencement of combination therapy and at 6‐monthly intervals thereafter.

Results:  After varying periods of monotherapy (18.7 ± 13.4 months), survival estimates on combination therapy were 88%, 71% and 61% for the additional 1, 2 and 3 years respectively. Survival on dual therapy in patients with idiopathic PAH/familial PAH was 93% at 1 year and 79% at 2 years, and for scleroderma‐related PAH, 72% at 1 year and 48% at year 2 after initiation of combination therapy. In survivors, dual therapy reversed the deterioration in FC, from 3.1 ± 0.6 on monotherapy to 2.2 ± 0.6 at 12 months. Similarly, dual therapy improved 6‐min walk distance from 316 ± 119 m to 406 ± 129 m at 12 months, and sequential echocardiography demonstrated a fall in pulmonary artery systolic pressure and improved right ventricular function.

Conclusions:  Dual non‐parenteral therapy appears safe and effective and should be considered for PAH patients who are deteriorating on monotherapy to improve long‐term outcomes.
Characteristics associated with intent to stay among Quality Improvement nurses
Authors: Kim E‐K. , Hwang J‐I.
Published: December 2010

Kim E.K. & Hwang J.I. (2011) Characteristics associated with intent to stay among Quality Improvement nurses. International Nursing Review58, 89–95

Aim:  The study aims to investigate characteristics associated with intent to stay among Quality Improvement (QI) nurses in Korean hospitals.

Background:  QI nurses have recently emerged as a new specialty area in the nursing profession in Korea. They have played a major role in coordinating and facilitating hospital‐wide QI activities. However, their frequent turnover degrades the continuity of overall QI programmes and incurs additional costs in human resource management.

Methods:  A cross‐sectional questionnaire survey was administered to 123 QI nurses in 123 general hospitals. The collected data included their hospital and department characteristics, work demand, job satisfaction, organizational commitment and demographics. The response rate was 94.3% (n = 116). Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the factors associated with intent to stay.

Findings:  Only 32.8% intended to stay in their current job. Significant factors associated with intent to stay were affective commitment and work demands. QI nurses with a higher level of affective commitment were more likely to stay [odds ratios (OR) = 2.50], whereas those with higher quantitative work demands in QI education and support were less likely to stay (OR = 0.40).

Conclusion:  The findings indicated that intent to stay was closely associated with work environment characteristics. Efforts to enhance their affective commitment and support their workload management are needed to increase the retention of qualified and experienced QI nurses.
A unit‐coordinator system: an effective method of reducing inappropriate hospital stays
Authors: Yu S.Y. , Ko I.S. , Lee S.M. , Park Y.W. , Lee C.
Published: December 2010

YU S., KO I., LEE S., PARK Y. & LEE C. (2011) A unit‐coordinator system: an effective method of reducing inappropriate hospital stays. International Nursing Review58, 96–102

Background:  Many hospitals would benefit from a reduction in the length of inpatient hospital stays; in this regard, nursing approaches require complementation to ensure optimized nursing care. Such action is particularly important in general hospitals in Korea, where the ratio of patients to nurses is more than 10:1.

Objectives:  This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of a unit‐coordinator system in complementing primary nursing in general hospitals as a means of reducing inappropriate hospital stays.

Methods:  The unit‐coordinator system was implemented in seven wards in a hospital in Seoul for 8 weeks. The existing primary nursing system was maintained, and newly placed unit‐coordinators organized the activities within each ward.

The numbers of early admissions and early discharges were determined by assessing the electronic administrative records of the hospital. Further, the number of patients who had undergone check‐ups and chemotherapy on the day of admission was confirmed from the daily reports of each ward. The effect of the unit‐coordinator system on nurse satisfaction was assessed through direct interviews.

Findings:  Early‐discharge and early‐admission numbers increased significantly after implementation of the unit‐coordinator system. Early admission allowed check‐ups and treatments to be performed on the day of admission. Thus, this system reduced the length of hospital stay by 1 day, and the total reduction of inappropriate hospital stays over the 8‐week study period was 66 days. Further, the unit‐coordinator system also increased nurse satisfaction.

Conclusion:  The unit‐coordinator system is an effective method of complementing primary nursing and reducing inappropriate hospital stays.
Languages of Class in US Party Platforms, 1880–1936
Authors: HURST ALLISON L.
Published: December 2010

This article will explore the shifting use of class language in party platforms during theLochnerera, a period of increased class polarization, social unrest, andlaissez fairejudicial philosophy. It explores the ways in which political parties responded to the growing inequality of wealth and the judicial distaste for “class legislation.” Using as a dataset all available party platforms of the presidential elections years during this period, I analyze the impact of class identity and class consciousness on politics and social movements during this time, finding that (1) class language increased during this period, with its sharpest images and depictions found in third party platforms; (2) the use of class language was directly connected to calls for an end to “government by injunction” and very specific proposals for workers; (3) the two major parties often took on some of these specific recommendations in the following presidential cycle or cycles, but without the attendant class language; leading to (4) a general muting of explanations for the cause of industrial conflict (irrecoof industrialncilable interests of labor and capital) in favor of specific reforms leading to government as mediator, picked up primarily by the Democratic Party.
The Effects of Bank Reforms on the Monetary Transmission Mechanism in Emerging Market Economies: Evidence from Egypt
Authors: Abdel‐Baki Monal
Published: December 2010

Abstract:  This paper investigates the transmission of monetary policy to the real economy after the adoption of bank reforms in emerging market economies (EMEs). The Egyptian case is empirically studied to test the efficacy of the banking sector as a transmission agent subsequent to the banking reforms that extended from 1991 to 2009. The structural vector autoregressive methodology is employed to investigate the impact of the interest rate and foreign exchange rate channels on output and inflation. The results of the study reveal several interactions among the two types of channels. Second, interest rate intervention proves to have substantial effects on output, but less on inflation. Third, exchange rate intervention has some effects on inflation, but less on output. Thus, both transmission channels have showed superior effectiveness after the banking reform. This indicates that the Central Bank of Egypt should not continue to depend on the interest rate channel alone, but has to additionally utilize the exchange rate channel in order to successfully achieve inflation targeting that has been its prime goal since 2003 and even more after the global food crisis of 2007/8. This ruling could prove functional when conducting monetary policy in EMEs of similar circumstances to Egypt.
The mutability of melamine: A transductive account of a scandal (Respond to this article at http://www.therai.org.uk/at/debate)
Authors: Tracy Megan
Published: December 2010

This article focuses on the 2008 global dairy scandal sparked by the distribution of milk adulterated with the industrial chemical melamine in the People's Republic of China. In China, roughly 300,000 children were suspected of having melamine‐related illnesses and six children died. Subsequent court proceedings showed that the addition of melamine to the nation's milk supply was an open secret in the industry. Just months before, Western media had applauded China for relatively open access during the 2008 Sichuan earthquake and the Olympic Games. The scandal called into question this apparent rise of transparency in China. How is it that a common household substance like melamine ‘jumped’ from everyday object to a substance with severe effects on hundreds of thousands of bodies? This ‘jump’ offers an opportunity to consider melamine transductively – to examine these leaps across scales of experience and between particular modes of knowledge. Transduction refers to the conversion of one type of signal into another (e.g. sound into electrical energy). A transductive account of the melamine scandal focuses attention on melamine's materiality, its circulation through various media and experiences, and its transformation through and on these media. This transformative potential, melamine's mutability, is what allows it to hold social and political resonances.
The Children of Ephraim: Being Jewish in Andhra Pradesh (Respond to this article at http://www.therai.org.uk/at/debate)
Authors: Egorova Yulia , Perwez Shahid
Published: December 2010

The article focuses on the community of Bene Ephraim (the Children of Ephraim, in Hebrew), who in the late 1980s declared that they belonged to the Lost Tribes of Israel. This group stems from a community of the Madiga untouchables of Andhra Pradesh and at the moment has about 100 active members, who have embraced Judaism and have expressed a desire to move to the state of Israel. On the basis of a year‐long fieldwork among them, we suggest that their case problematizes conventional notions about the alleged ‘ethnocentricity’ of Judaism and presents a new challenge for public and academic debates about the meaning of being Jewish. At the same time, we demonstrate that Bene Ephraim are under pressure to modify their narrative of origin and to renegotiate community membership in order to become a more ‘conventional’ Jewish group in the eyes of Israeli authorities.
690. NYMPHAEA THERMARUM
Authors: Fischer Eberhard , Rodriguez Carlos Magdalena
Published: December 2010

Nymphaea thermarumEb. Fisch. is described and illustrated. Its history, distribution, cultivation, propagation and conservation status are discussed.
691. BULBOPHYLLUM BICOLOR
Authors: Gale Stephan , Wang Jackie , Isaac‐Williams Mark
Published: December 2010

Bulbophyllum bicolor Lindl. is one of eleven species of the genus found in Hong Kong, and one of three regarded as endemic or near‐endemic to the tiny territory. The species' taxonomy, affinities, ecology and precarious status are discussed, and notes are provided on its cultivation.
693. GUSTAVIA LONGIFOLIA
Authors: Prance Ghillean , Mori Scott
Published: December 2010

Gustavia longifolia Poeppig ex Berg, a native of western Amazonia forest is described and illustrated.
THE INADEQUACY OF PARAPHRASE IS THE DOGMA OF METAPHOR
Authors: PHELAN MARK
Published: December 2010

Philosophers have alleged that paraphrases of metaphors are inadequate. They have presented this inadequacy as a datum predicted by, and thus a reason to accept, particular accounts of ‘metaphorical meanings.’ But to what, specifically, does this inadequacy claim amount? I argue that, if this assumption is to have any bearing on the metaphor debate, it must be construed as the comparative claim that paraphrases of metaphors are inadequate compared to paraphrases of literal utterances. But the evidence philosophers have offered does not support the comparative inadequacy of paraphrases of metaphors. I offer my own empirical evidence against the inadequacy assumption.
ACTING CONTRARY TO OUR PROFESSED BELIEFS OR THE GULF BETWEEN OCCURRENT JUDGMENT AND DISPOSITIONAL BELIEF
Authors: SCHWITZGEBEL ERIC
Published: December 2010

People often sincerely assert or judge one thing (for example, that all the races are intellectually equal) while at the same time being disposed to act in a way evidently quite contrary to the espoused attitude (for example, in a way that seems to suggest an implicit assumption of the intellectual superiority of their own race). Such cases should be regarded as ‘in‐between’ cases of believing, in which it's neither quite right to ascribe the belief in question nor quite right to say that the person lacks the belief.
An Analysis of Urban Size and Territorial Location Effects on Employment Probabilities: The Spanish Case
Authors: VIÑUELA‐JIMÉNEZ ANA , RUBIERA‐MOROLLÓN FERNANDO , CUETO BEGOÑA
Published: December 2010

The probability of being employed varies depending on several factors. Many of these are related to personal characteristics such as educational level, age, gender, or number and age of children. Nevertheless, other factors may be relevant, in particular the geographical environment. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the relevance of urban size and the position of each territory (in terms of its distance from large metropolises) for the probability of being employed in the Spanish economy. Following the set of economic regions suggested by Polése, Shearmur and Rubiera (2007), we try to explain the spatial patterns of employment distribution. Our results show some relevant differences between these alternative economic areas. We find that municipalities with similar sizes and located at a similar distance from a metropolis but belonging to different Autonomous Communities or provinces share similar employability patterns.
The Supply of Private Acreage for Public Recreational Use in Southern and Central Appalachia
Authors: LIU ZHENG , FLEMING RON , PAGOULATOS ANGELOS , HU WUYANG
Published: December 2010

Public lands in Southern and Central Appalachia (SCA) available for outdoor recreational pursuits are limited relative to the rest of the country. This study identifies factors that encourage private landowners to permit public access to their land for recreational purposes and determines how much acreage would be offered in the SCA region. The Tobit and Heckman's sample selection models suggest that the probability of offering land to the public is correlated with the number of acres offered. Having acreage suited for recreation is a positive determinant of acres leased, but attributes developed by the landowner act as a disincentive. Type of recreational activity has no effect on the landowner's decision, and the supply of recreational acreage is inelastic with respect to price.
Evaluation of the efficacy of methotrexate and cyclosporine therapies on psoriatic nails: a one‐blind, randomized study
Authors: Gümüşel M. , Özdemir M. , Mevlitoğlu İ. , Bodur S.
Published: December 2010

Background  Treatment of psoriatic nail is difficult.

Objective  The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the efficacy and safety of methotrexate and cyclosporine in psoriatic nail.

Methods  Thirty‐seven psoriatic patients with nail involvement were randomized to treatment with methotrexate (initial dose, 15 mg per week) or cyclosporine (initial dose, 5 mg per kg of bodyweight per day) for 24 weeks. The primary outcome was the Nail Psoriasis Severity Index (NAPSI). The Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), doctor and patient global score were also measured. The scores were determined by a blinded observer.

Results  Seventeen patients completed the study in each group. The mean percentages of reduction of the NAPSI score after methotrexate and cyclosporine treatments were 43.3% and 37.2%, respectively. No significant differences between the treatment groups was found for in the NAPSI, PASI, physician’s and patient’s global score at the end of the study period. The methotrexate group showed a significant improvement in nail matrix scores and the cyclosporine group in nail bed score.

Conclusion  Moderate effectiveness on psoriatic nail was found in the two treatment agents and there were no significant differences in efficacy between the groups. A significant improvement was detected in methotrexate group for the nail matrix findings, and in cyclosporine group for the nail bed findings.
Dermatomyositis related to autoimmune thyroiditis
Authors: Wang H. , Tao L. , Li H. , Deng J.
Published: December 2010

Background and objective  Reports on the coexistence of dermatomyositis (DM) with autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT) are very few. Our aim is to define the relationship of the two conditions, identify clinical, laboratory, electromyographic and pathologic features of coexistent DM and AIT.

Methods  We underwent a MEDLINE search to identify relevant literature published in the past 30 years. Concurrently, we analysed retrospectively medical records of five patients diagnosed with DM and AIT from our hospital.

Results  Eleven cases were included. 90.9% of patients were female with a mean (SD) age of 44.18 (13.11) years for DM at diagnosis, and 39.00 (7.81) years for AIT. AIT can precede or parallel the diagnosis of DM. The most common comorbidities included hypothyroidism (90.9%), cardiopulmonary diseases (63.7%) and overlap syndrome (27.3%), while only one case had malignancy. The most common clinical manifestations were: muscle weakness (100%), polyarthralgia (45.5%), heliotrope rash (45.5%), myalgia (36.4%), and Raynaud’s phenomenon (27.3%). The abnormalities on electromyography and muscle/skin biopsy of DM related to AIT did not differ from those findings of DM, while none of these reports were normal. All patients received both the treatment of corticosteroids and levothyroxine, and only 27.3% of patients had a good prognosis.

Conclusion  Prevalence of cancer in coexistent DM and AIT may be very low. Also, it is reasonable to suggest that DM patients with AIT should be routinely evaluated for thyroid function and the emergence of comorbidities. Moreover, corticosteroids combined with levothyroxine may be useful for these patients as a standard treatment.
Why Do Vacant Houses Sell for Less: Holding Costs, Bargaining Power or Stigma?
Authors: Turnbull Geoffrey K. , Zahirovic‐Herbert Velma
Published: December 2010

This article introduces Nash bargaining into a search model to identify various channels through which vacancy affects selling price and liquidity in the resale market for houses. The model shows the various vacancy effects in the form of greater seller holding cost, lower seller bargaining power and unobserved negative attributes or stigma. We use a 20‐year data series on house transactions to test for these effects in a simultaneous model of price and liquidity, using the long data series to allow for variation across market phases. The robust vacancy effects on price and liquidity across all market phases primarily reflect greater seller holding cost and diminished bargaining power. Repeatedly, vacant houses also exhibit significant stigma effects in the rising market but not in stable or declining market phases. At the same time, vacant houses enjoy stronger shopping externality effects from surrounding houses for sale than do their occupied counterparts.