bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Airport Wandering as a Psychotic Symptom
Authors: Shapiro Stanley
Published: February 2010

It appears that wandering at airports can be the expression in certain psychotic patients whose conflicts relate to separation and reunion as a major area of disturbance. The case reports presented demonstrate a causal relationship between attraction to the airport setting and ideas relating to abandonment and reuniting with family. The patients whose symptoms are focused in these settings may be found wandering in various airports around the world.
Anorexia nervosa und Schizophrenic bei einem eineiigen Zwillingspaar
Authors: Steinberg Reinhard
Published: February 2010

The case report describes two 20-year-old monozygotic twin sisters who have been suffering from the symptoms of primary anorexia nervosa for the last 10 years. Usually the disease manifested itself in such a manner that the twin who was currently in the mother’s favour showed no signs of anorexia, whereas the other was severely afflicted. Occasionally, however, both girls suffered from the same anorectic symptoms at the same time. For the moment the condition of one of the twins seems to have become stable. Up to now the other twin has suffered three times from schizophrenic episodes which seem to be closely connected with the problems of anorexia. The most recent severe katatonic state, in particular, appeared to be a gradual transition from anorectic behaviour to psychotic experience so that the close relationship between primary anorexia and schizophrenic disturbances, as discussed in literature, becomes increasingly evident.
Familially Accumulated Schizophrenia (Folie à Cinq) in Association with Stein-Leventhal Syndrome
Authors: Pethö Bertalan , Karczag István , Czeizel Andrew
Published: February 2010

The authors describe the psychosis of both parents and their three daughters. The psychosis of the father and three daughters corresponds to the paranoid schizophrenias (more specifically, the affective paraphrenias), while the mother’s psychosis is largely the result of induction. All 3 daughters suffer from surgically confirmed Stein-Leventhal syndrome. Such a close association of the two diseases cannot be by chance.
The Psychiatry of Vertebro-Basilar Insufficiency with the Report of a Case
Authors: Price John , Whitlock F.A. , Hall R.T.
Published: February 2010

Vertebro-basilar insufficiency produces a rich spectrum of psychological and neurological symptoms. Where psychological symptoms dominate the picture, the patient may be presented first to a psychiatrist. The phenomenology of vertebro-basilar insufficiency is discussed with special reference to hallucinatory syndromes, memory disturbance, affective disorders, akinetic mutism, ‘unusual reports’, cortical blindness, agitated delirium, the Capgras syndrome and normal pressure hydrocephalus. Finally, the case of a 61-year-old man illustrating a variety of the neurological and psychological features described in this paper is presented.
Concepts of Schizo-Affective Psychoses
Authors: Pethö B.
Published: February 2010

After offering a brief survey of some major unresolved contradictions in the field of clinical psychiatry, the author looks over the historical development of syndromatological entities related to the so-called schizo-affective psychoses. These syndromes were described with reference to somatogenic, endogenous, and psychogenic psychoses and as (relatively) distinct entities, respectively. For grasping these syndromes as independent entities it seems to be necessary to take into account a few holistic characteristics and to put aside the ‘mixture model’ while making research diagnostic criteria.
Kurt Schneider’s ‘Zwischen-Fälle’, ‘Mid-Cases’ or ‘Cases in between’
Authors: Marneros Andreas
Published: February 2010

Kurt Schneider’s concept recognizes an intermediate area between the two groups of the major psychoses: the ‘Zwischen-Fälle’, in translation ‘mid-cases’ or ‘cases in between’. We investigated 108 such cases, and we found that some features external to the symptomatology distinguished the ‘mid-cases’ or the ‘cases in between’ from schizophrenia and suggested particular similarities to the affective psychoses. Such external factors were: age, heredity, educational and occupational level, broken home situation, life events, and necessity for long hospitalization.
The Importance of the Schizo-Affective Psychoses within the Psychopathological and Nosological Systematics
Authors: Burchard Johann M.
Published: February 2010

Schizo-affective psychoses lead more often to reintegration of the paranoid-hallucinatory pattern than schizophrenic psychoses. The author interprets schizo-affective psychoses in the light of his systematic psychopathology and concludes that excitation is intensified in comparison with cyclothymia. Ego destruction is more serious, but paranoid manifestations decrease in the course and emotional syndromes become more pronounced. Prognosis depends on the intensity of therapeutic efforts in the sense of psycho-pharmacological and supportive therapies and is not prestabilized.
Schizophrenia and Schizo-Affective Psychosis
Authors: Achté Kalle , Tuulio-Henriksson Annamari
Published: February 2010

The position taken in the 3rd edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM III), which holds that schizo-affective psychoses cannot be defined unequivocally, that no unambiguous criteria for these psychoses can be determined, and that they cannot be placed into either of the two main groups of functional psychoses, illustrates the present status of schizo-affective psychoses. The study of their position in relation to schizophrenia and manic-depressive psychoses is also essential: after all, the placing of a patient into either category plays a crucial role in the choice of treatment. For example, recent research on the success of lithium treatment in schizo-affective psychoses shows the practical relevance of this line of study. It seems that, like many other mental disorders, the internal structure of schizo-affective psychoses is highly heterogenous, and it is therefore not always possible to place them as a whole into either of Krae-pelin’s diagnostic categories.
Problems of Schizo-Affective Disorders
Authors: Okasha A.
Published: February 2010

The inclusion of schizo-affective type under schizophrenia in ICD-9 (9th revision of the international classification of diseases) and under psychotic disorders not elsewhere classified in DSM-3 (3rd edition of diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders), the absence of this term in the French classification, and its parallelism among Scandinavian writers with cycloid psychosis – all the above data reflect the present perplexity of schizo-affective disorders. Recent studies showed the presence of depressive symptoms in a large number of acute and chronic schizophrenias as an integral part of the schizophrenic process. The difficulty of differential diagnosis between mania and schizophrenia has added to our present dilemma. A review and discussion of the present status of the term ‘schizo-affective disorders’ are presented. A plea is made to abandon the dichotomy of functional psychosis with delineating ‘psychosis of unknown etiology’ into three or four categories (as this is no more functional).
Long-Term Prognosis and Course of Schizo-Affective, Schizophreniform, and Cycloid Psychoses
Authors: Armbruster B. , Gross G. , Huber G.
Published: February 2010

From the Bonn study including 502 patients followed up an average 22.4 years after onset of schizophrenic disease diagnosed according to the criteria of K. Schneider, we selected 113 cases of schizo-affective, schizophreniform, and cycloid psychoses in accordance to the definitions given by Kasanin, Retterstøl, Angst, and Leonhard. These psychoses have a better prognosis than the whole sample: characteristic residues are seen more rarely, complete remissions and noncharacteristic residues more frequently. This group of psychoses differs from the whole sample in the hereditary taint, too: the morbidity risk with affective psychoses and with schizophrenic psychoses in first- and second-degree relatives is higher than in the total sample of the Bonn study. In spite of the better prognosis and other differences described in the paper, we believe that these results do not justify the classification of schizo-affective and related disorders as an independent disease group. Between these different subtypes of schizophrenia only a differential typology and not a differential diagnostic is possible.
Is the Concept of ‘Schizo-Affective Psychoses’ Prognostically of Value?
Authors: Leonhard Karl
Published: February 2010

The concept of ‘schizo-affective psychoses’ covers favourable as well as unfavourable forms of endogenous psychoses. Thus, it does not help us for a nosological classification which must also allow for the prognosis. In order to make a prognostic distinction we have to subdivide the schizo-affective psychoses into the ‘cycloid psychoses’ and the ‘non-systematic schizophrenias’. Also the latter display affective symptoms and can take a bipolar course, but, despite this, tend to deterioration; they do so increasingly shift after shift, whereas the cycloid psychoses completely recover after every phase. Even during the first phase or shift a reliable differential diagnosis can be made. This has been confirmed by follow-up examinations, as the cycloid psychotics, in fact, had recovered. Only very few misdiagnoses could be detected. If we want to classify prognostically, we must separate the cycloid psychoses from the true schizophrenias.
Levels of Interaction between Schizophrenia and Manic-Depressive Disease
Authors: Arnold O.H.
Published: February 2010

Interaction between schizophrenia and manic-depressive disease (MDI) has to be examined with respect to type, intensity and time points within the courses. Interactions are possible at the level of genetics, constitution, biological (e.g. biorhythmical) mechanisms, neurophysiological actions, biochemical complexes and psychopathological interferences including defense mechanisms of personality. The common denominator seems to be the energetic situation into the satellite-glia-neuron cooperation. Activity of G6PD and AK 2–1 could be a hint of a factor of bipolarity, existing independently from schizophrenia and MDI. Interactions of different psychoses should be designated as interference psychoses. Within this field, the term schizoaffective characterizes the interference between schizophrenia and MDI, mixed psychoses mean stages of rapidly alternating or stable combinations of symptoms within the MDI. ‘Legierungspsychosen’ should be reserved for interferences at the genetic level.
What Can Genetics Contribute to Reduce the Problems of Schizo-Affective Psychoses?
Authors: Lange Volkmar
Published: February 2010

The biological base of psychoses is controlled by multifactorial genotype compounds using sometimes the same gene locus or DNA information section for diverse diseases, but always in different and repeatable combinations. These compounds can be formed by special regulatory or junction genes. With the help of inherited serum markers of the haptoglobin and the Gc system including quantitative studies of the ceruloplasmin and transferrin serum level, the combinations of diverse biological factors have been presented especially for cycloid psychoses, unsystematic schizophrenias, and paranoid psychoses with late onset and a cyclic axis syndrome. Considering the specifications of genetic control and clinical course no indefinite mixtures in the sense of schizo-affective psychoses should be discussed furthermore.
Schizo-Affective Disorder, Manic Type
Authors: Taylor Michael Alan , Abrams Richard
Published: February 2010

We studied a sample of Ill Feighner manics divided into 42 ‘pure’ manics without any schizophrenic features, 41 manics with one such feature, and 28 with two or more such features. The three groups did not significantly differ on any major demographic, clinical, historical, treatment response, laboratory, or familial variable tested. We also applied the DSM-III schizophrenia and schizophreniform criteria to these Ill Feighner manics. Only 1 manic had an index episode longer than 6 months (a necessary criterion for schizophrenia), whereas 13 (12%) satisfied the schizophreniform criteria. We compared these 13 Feighner manics satisfying DSM-III schizophreniform criteria with the remaining 97 Feighner manics and could find no major demographic, clinical, or laboratory differences between the two groups. Although not statistically significant, the morbidity risk for affective disorder in the first-degree relatives of the 97 Feighner manics was three times the risk in the relatives of the Feighner manics who also satisfied the DSM-III schizophreniform criteria. The morbidity risk for alcoholism in these relatives was one-half that of first-degree relatives of the ‘schizophreniform’ manics. The two groups did not differ in total risk for alcoholism and affective disorder.
Approaches to an Exact Definition of Schizo-Affective Psychoses for Research Purposes
Authors: Berner Peter , Simhandl Christian
Published: February 2010

The perplexity psychiatry is faced with when approaching the problem of ‘schizo-affective disorders’ is the result of two characteristic features of human psychology: The first consists in the tendency to pick up quickly attractively formulated terms and to prefer them to others designating the same facts. The second psychological trend referred to concerns the use of a well-sounding term in a definition which deviates from the original one. The nosological implications of the existence of the ‘cases in between’ (K. Schneider), attributable neither to schizophrenia nor to cyclothymia, are briefly reviewed. It is suggested to speak of schizo-affective disorders only if the criteria for both disorders manifest simultaneously. Applying the Vienna Research Criteria we found that ‘schizo-affective’ disorders occur rarely as compared to other frequently used less restrictive diagnostic instruments.
Schizo-Affective Psychoses from a Phenomenological-Anthropological Point of View
Authors: Kraus A.
Published: February 2010

The presence of schizo-affective psychosis is postulated psychopathologically, if schizophrenic as well as manic or depressive cyclothymic symptoms, respectively, are to be found in the same clinical picture. This circumstance rises the question with what legitimation do we designate a symptom as schizophrenic, etc.? Generally, we call a symptom, e.g., schizophrenic, if: (1) like with K. Schneider’s first-rank symptoms the presence of a schizophrenic called entity of syndrome and course of illness is very easy to be recognized by means of the symptom, and (2) the symptom is statistically significantly correlated with this entity. In both definitions the schizophrenic nature of the single symptom remains undetermined. Here the attempt is made to work out a specificity of manic and depressive phenomena, a phenomenological determination of manic-depressive psychosis as an essential entity, respectively, by tracing structural signs of the moods and delusions as well as of the personality of manic-depressives. The same could be done in some way also with schizophrenic psychoses. We believe that only if we arrive at a clearer determination of what is meant by schizophrenic, manic, and depressive not only in a correlative statistical, but also in a phenomenological sense, we might have a chance finally to classify schizo-affective psychosis psychopathologically on an empirical basis.
Schizo-Affective Disorders: ‘Just Another Illness’ or Key to Understanding the Psychoses?
Authors: Strauss John S.
Published: February 2010

Descriptive studies of schizo-affective disorder can be reviewed to suggest answers to several major questions regarding this disorder. Cross-sectional studies have not supported the existence of a dichotomy between schizophrenia and affective disorders. Rather, they suggest a continuum of disorders with schizo-affective clinical pictures in the middle. Longitudinal studies indicate that some patients with schizophrenia and major affective disorders go through a ‘schizo-affective period’ on the way to developing the clinical picture of the other disorder, while still other patients have a continuity of syndrome type. These findings suggest the importance of considering disorder processes rather than just disease types. An interactive developmental model of disorder is one way of conceptualizing these processes.
Psychotrope Effekte der Antiepileptika
Authors: Diehl L.W.
Published: February 2010

Today the rank taken by antiepileptic drugs in the complex conditional fabric of mental disorders in epilepsies is well known. There are direct as well as indirect psychotropie effects caused by medication quite independent of other disorders which epilepsy based on or correlated with. It is of particular practical significance to control the concentration of drugs and their metabolic interactions by means of plasma levels which has nothing to do with a ‘therapy of plasma levels’. The significance of plasma concentration, however, is becoming more and more evident. There exist today several antiepileptic drugs, meanwhile well researched and properly applied, which achieve, in terms of frequency and intensity, that progressively less mental disorders develop, establish or become chronic.
Psychomotorische Leistungen von schizophrenen Patienten und Neuroleptika-Langzeittherapie
Authors: Burr Wolfgang , Kaiser Erika
Published: February 2010

15 patients diagnosed as schizophrenics (ICD 295) under long-term neuroleptic treatment were compared with 15 neurotic and normal persons concerning their ability at a psychomotor task. There was no difference between both groups; no correlation between performance and neuroleptic dosage was found. However, motoric coordination of a small group was impaired. The authors discuss several hypotheses referring to these findings.
Psychiatrischer Konsiliardienst an einem medizinischen Grossklinikum: Evaluation dreier Jahrgänge
Authors: Bender W. , Greil W. , Meyer G.
Published: February 2010

The report is based on 1,165 medical inpatients seen by the consultant psychiatrist within a 3-year period. During the last year evaluated for this study psychiatric consultation was requested for 2,8% of the total non-psychiatric hospital admissions. Questions to the consultant are most often referred to psychogenic factors, depression and suicidality. The most frequent psychiatric diagnosis was neuroses/reactions/ personality disorders followed by suicidality, organic psychoses, psychosomatic illnesses, endogenous psychoses, somatopsychic syndromes and addictions. Further details and problems in psychiatric consultation are discussed.
Cerebral Malignancy in Psychiatry: EEG Aspects
Authors: Hoste S. , Schwemmler M. , van Sweden B.
Published: February 2010

The prevalence of cerebral malignancy in psychiatric patients is investigated in our own clinical material and compared with literature data. The importance of cellular type and localization of the lesion is checked and related to clinical symptoms such as seizures and psychopathological symptoms. The recognition of cerebral malignancy in psychiatric patients, especially in the early stages when few or no neurological signs are present, is shown to be a complex clinical problem. The possibilities and restrictions of technical investigations in general and of the EEG in particular are stressed.
Red Blood Cell/Plasma Lithium Ratio in Manic-Depressive, Schizoaffective, and Schizophrenic Patients
Authors: Rihmer Z. , Arató M. , Szentistványi I. , Bánki C.M.
Published: February 2010

The red blood cell/plasma lithium ratio (LR) has been studied in 14 schizophrenic (paranoid type), 22 schizoaffective, and 86 manic-depressive patients. Mean LR proved to be significantly higher in manic-depressive patients (p < 0.001) as compared to the other two groups which on the other hand did not differ significantly from each other. There was no significant difference in the LR between female and male patients. Analyzing the LR according to family history and subtype of illness (i.e., bipolar I/bipolar II dichotomization) of 86 manic-depressive patients we found that neither sex nor type of illness had consistent influence on LR, but patients with positive family history of affective illness had a significantly higher LR than patients with negative ones (p < 0.01)
Bayesian Inference Based on Stationary Fokker-Planck Sampling
Authors: Berrones Arturo
Published: February 2010

A novel formalism for Bayesian learning in the context of complex inference models is proposed. The method is based on the use of the stationary Fokker-Planck (SFP) approach to sample from the posterior density. Stationary Fokker-Planck sampling generalizes the Gibbs sampler algorithm for arbitrary and unknown conditional densities. By the SFP procedure, approximate analytical expressions for the conditionals and marginals of the posterior can be constructed. At each stage of SFP, the approximate conditionals are used to define a Gibbs sampling process, which is convergent to the full joint posterior. By the analytical marginals efficient learning methods in the context of artificial neural networks are outlined. Offline and incremental Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood estimation from the posterior are performed in classification and regression examples. A comparison of SFP with other Monte Carlo strategies in the general problem of sampling from arbitrary densities is also presented. It is shown that SFP is able to jump large low-probability regions without the need of a careful tuning of any step-size parameter. In fact, the SFP method requires only a small set of meaningful parameters that can be selected following clear, problem-independent guidelines. The computation cost of SFP, measured in terms of loss function evaluations, grows linearly with the given model's dimension.
Learning to Represent Spatial Transformations with Factored Higher-Order Boltzmann Machines
Authors: Memisevic Roland , Hinton Geoffrey E.
Published: February 2010

To allow the hidden units of a restricted Boltzmann machine to model the transformation between two successive images, Memisevic and Hinton ( 2007 ) introduced three-way multiplicative interactions that use the intensity of a pixel in the first image as a multiplicative gain on a learned, symmetric weight between a pixel in the second image and a hidden unit. This creates cubically many parameters, which form a three-dimensional interaction tensor. We describe a low-rank approximation to this interaction tensor that uses a sum of factors, each of which is a three-way outer product. This approximation allows efficient learning of transformations between larger image patches. Since each factor can be viewed as an image filter, the model as a whole learns optimal filter pairs for efficiently representing transformations. We demonstrate the learning of optimal filter pairs from various synthetic and real image sequences. We also show how learning about image transformations allows the model to perform a simple visual analogy task, and we show how a completely unsupervised network trained on transformations perceives multiple motions of transparent dot patterns in the same way as humans.
General Poisson Exact Breakdown of the Mutual Information to Study the Role of Correlations in Populations of Neurons
Authors: Scaglione A. , Moxon K. A. , Foffani G.
Published: February 2010

We present an integrative formalism of mutual information expansion, the general Poisson exact breakdown, which explicitly evaluates the informational contribution of correlations in the spike counts both between and within neurons. The formalism was validated on simulated data and applied to real neurons recorded from the rat somatosensory cortex. From the general Poisson exact breakdown, a considerable number of mutual information measures introduced in the neural computation literature can be directly derived, including the exact breakdown (Pola, Thiele, Hoffmann, & Panzeri, 2003 ), the Poisson exact breakdown (Scaglione, Foffani, Scannella, Cerutti, & Moxon, 2008 ) the synergy and redundancy between neurons (Schneidman, Bialek, & Berry, 2003 ), and the information lost by an optimal decoder that assumes the absence of correlations between neurons (Nirenberg & Latham, 2003 ; Pola et al., 2003 ). The general Poisson exact breakdown thus offers a convenient set of building blocks for studying the role of correlations in population codes.
Timescale-Invariant Pattern Recognition by Feedforward Inhibition and Parallel Signal Processing
Authors: Creutzig Felix , Benda Jan , Wohlgemuth Sandra , Stumpner Andreas , Ronacher Bernhard , Herz Andreas V. M.
Published: February 2010

The timescale-invariant recognition of temporal stimulus sequences is vital for many species and poses a challenge for their sensory systems. Here we present a simple mechanistic model to address this computational task, based on recent observations in insects that use rhythmic acoustic communication signals for mate finding. In the model framework, feedforward inhibition leads to burst-like response patterns in one neuron of the circuit. Integrating these responses over a fixed time window by a readout neuron creates a timescale-invariant stimulus representation. Only two additional processing channels, each with a feature detector and a readout neuron, plus one final coincidence detector for all three parallel signal streams, are needed to account for the behavioral data. In contrast to previous solutions to the general time-warp problem, no time delay lines or sophisticated neural architectures are required. Our results suggest a new computational role for feedforward inhibition and underscore the power of parallel signal processing.
Decision Confidence and Uncertainty in Diffusion Models with Partially Correlated Neuronal Integrators
Authors: Moreno-Bote Rubén
Published: February 2010

Diffusion models have become essential for describing the performance and statistics of reaction times in human decision making. Despite their success, it is not known how to evaluate decision confidence from them. I introduce a broader class of models consisting of two partially correlated neuronal integrators with arbitrarily time-varying decision boundaries that allow a natural description of confidence. The dependence of decision confidence on the state of the losing integrator, decision time, time-varying boundaries, and correlations is analytically described. The marginal confidence is computed for the half-anticorrelated case using the exact solution of the diffusion process with constant boundaries and compared to that of the independent and completely anticorrelated cases.
Biomechanical Evaluation of the Acromioclavicular Capsular Ligaments and Reconstruction with an Intramedullary Free Tissue Graft
Authors: Freedman Jason A. , Adamson Gregory J. , Bui Christopher , Lee Thay Q.
Published: February 2010

Background

Multiple techniques have been reported to treat chronic acromioclavicular joint injuries. However, many have failed to restore native stability, and few have addressed reconstructing the acromioclavicular ligaments.

Hypothesis

An intramedullary free semitendinosus graft reconstruction of the acromioclavicular ligaments will demonstrate joint stability comparable with that of the intact acromioclavicular joint.

Study Design

Controlled laboratory study.

Methods

Six matched pairs of cadaveric specimens with only the acromioclavicular capsule/ligament intact were tested at 10 N and 15 N in the anteroposterior and superoinferior directions under acromioclavicular joint compression loads of 10 N, 20 N, and 30 N. One of each pair randomly underwent reconstruction of the acromioclavicular ligaments with an intramedullary free semitendinosus graft, and the translational testing was repeated. Both the intact and reconstructed specimens then underwent load-to-failure testing via superior clavicle distraction at a rate of 50 mm/min.

Results

The reconstructed specimens reproduced the stability of the intact specimens during all translational and joint compression load trials. Progressively decreased translation was observed for the reconstructed specimens that reached statistical significance (P < .05) in the anteroposterior direction at 10 N of joint compression under 10-N and 15-N translation loads and in the superoinferior direction at 10 N of joint compression and 10-N translational load. With regard to load-to-failure testing, the reconstructed specimens demonstrated significantly lower (P < .05) values for linear stiffness, yield load, ultimate load, and energy absorbed, ranging from 40% to 48% of the values for the intact specimens.

Conclusion

Intramedullary free semitendinosus graft reconstruction of the acromioclavicular ligaments reproduced anteroposterior and superoinferior translational stability and partially reproduced load-to-failure characteristics.

Clinical Relevance

When surgical intervention after higher grade acromioclavicular joint injuries is required, reconstruction of the acromioclavicular ligaments with an intramedullary free semitendinosus graft, in addition to reconstructing the coracoclavicular ligaments, may result in improved stability of the joint complex, improved maintenance of joint reduction, and increased patient satisfaction.
Rhetorical pedagogy: Teaching students to write a stylistics paper
Authors: Burke Michael
Published: February 2010

How can we help our students to think clearly and plan wisely so that they can write better stylistics papers? This article evaluates a set of rhetorical pedagogical guidelines that I made for my own undergraduate stylistics students in an attempt to address this question. The article primarily reproduces the guidelines I designed, but also a questionnaire that I drew up, and, crucially, reports the responses of the subjects in that questionnaire. It is hoped that such data might lead to better testing methods and ultimately an improved set of stylistics guidelines so that students can be empowered to perform better, with increased confidence and motivation, in the undergraduate stylistics classroom.
Association between framing of the research question using the PICOT format and reporting quality of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Rios Lorena P , Ye Chenglin , Thabane Lehana
Published: February 2010

Background

Experts recommend formulating a structured research question to guide the research design. However, the basis for this recommendation has not been formally evaluated. The aim of this study was to examine if a structured research question using the PICOT (Population, Intervention, Comparator, Outcome, Time-frame) format is associated with a better reporting quality of randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Methods

We evaluated 89 RCTs reports published in three endocrinology journals in 2005 and 2006, the quality of reporting of which was assessed in a previous study. We examined whether the reports stated each of the five elements of a structured research question: population, intervention, comparator, outcome and time-frame. A PICOT score was created with a possible score between 0 and 5. Outcomes were: 1) a 14-point overall reporting quality score (OQS) based on the Consolidated Standards for Reporting Trials; and 2) a 3-point key score (KS), based on allocation concealment, blinding and use of intention-to-treat analysis. We conducted multivariable regression analyses using generalized estimating equations to determine if a higher PICOT score or the use of a structured research question were independently associated with a better reporting quality. Journal of publication, funding source and sample size were identified as factors associated with OQS in our previous report on this dataset, and therefore included in the model.

Results

A higher PICOT score was independently associated with OQS (incidence rate ratio (IRR) = 1.021, 95% CI: 1.012 to 1.029) and KS (IRR = 1.142, 95% CI: 1.079 to 1.210). A structured research question was present in 33.7% of the reports and it was associated with a better OQS (IRR = 1.095, 95% CI 1.059-1.132) and KS (IRR = 1.530, 95% CI 1.311-1.786).

Conclusions

Better framing of the research question using the PICOT format is independently associated with better overall reporting quality - although the effect is small - and better reporting of key methodologies.
Feasibility study to inform the design of a randomised controlled trial to eradicate Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in individuals with Cystic Fibrosis
Authors: Hickey Helen R , Jones Ashley P , Lenney Warren , Williamson Paula R , Smyth Rosalind L
Published: February 2010

Background

There are controversies about the most effective treatment to eradicate first growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P aeruginosa) from the lower airways of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). UK guidelines recommend oral treatment, but some advocate intravenous (IV) treatment. The objective of this study was to assess the feasibility of conducting a randomised controlled trial comparing two treatment strategies to eradicate P aeruginosa in CF patients.

Methods/Principal Findings

Two surveys were conducted. Survey [1] included clinicians who were responsible for the treatment of individuals with CF, to assess their clinical practice, opinions and numbers of potentially eligible patients. Survey [2] included adults and young people aged 13 years or more with CF and parents of children with CF aged less than 13 years, identified at six UK CF centres, who fulfilled eligibility criteria for the proposed clinical trial, to assess their views about the interventions and their willingness to participate in the trial. Generally clinicians treat first or new growth of P aeruginosa with oral antibiotics, but 90% reported that they would consider IV treatment of first isolation of P aeruginosa. 74% of clinicians would consider recruiting their patients and 45% of consumers would consider entry for themselves or their children into a trial comparing oral with intravenous antibiotics. The median rate per annum for first or new growths of P aeruginosa in adults was 3% (range 1% to 9%) and in children was 10% (range 3% to 23%). If the trial was conducted across the UK, with a consent rate of 45%, then the number of eligible patients per annum who would be willing to take part in a study would be approximately 41 adults and 203 children.

Conclusions

This work demonstrates the importance of feasibility studies in preparation for multicentre clinical trials. It confirmed the uncertainty amongst clinicians and patients about the clinical question, enabled assessment of the number of potentially eligible patients, the proportion of patients and clinicians prepared to participate and aspects of trial design which might encourage this. It showed that a clinical trial was feasible, but only if patients were recruited from across United Kingdom.
Systematic Construction of Porous Coordination Pillared-layer Structures and Their Sorption Properties
Authors: Sakamoto Hirotoshi , Kitaura Ryo , Matsuda Ryotaro , Kitagawa Susumu , Kubota Yoshiki , Takata Masaki
Published: February 2010

Two novel coordination polymers, {[Cu2(pzdc)2L]·mH2O}n where pzdc is pyrazine-2,3-dicarboxylate and L is 2,7-diazapyrene (CPL-3) and 1,2-azopyridine (CPL-4), respectively, having 3D pillared-layer structure were prepared and the compounds showed gas adsorption properties depending on L.
Facile Surface Functionalization of Polystyrene Substrates with Biomimetic Apatite by Utilizing Serum Proteins
Authors: Hashizume Mineo , Sakai Atsushi , Sakamoto Yuri , Matsuno Hisao , Serizawa Takeshi
Published: February 2010

Serum proteins such as human serum albumin and human immunoglobulin G can induce heterogeneous nucleation of hydroxyapatite (HAp) in body fluid conditions, which make it possible for them to act as mediators to deposit HAp on polystyrene (PS) surfaces when they are immobilized on PS surfaces by physical adsorption. The present system for preparation of HAp-coated PS surfaces is simple and conversion of PS chemical structures does not occur, so that it can be applicable to various polymer surfaces having protein adsorption ability.
Highly Chemoselective Reduction of Nitroaromatic Compounds Using a Hydrotalcite-supported Silver-nanoparticle Catalyst under a CO Atmosphere
Authors: Mikami Yusuke , Noujima Akifumi , Mitsudome Takato , Mizugaki Tomoo , Jitsukawa Koichiro , Kaneda Kiyotomi
Published: February 2010

Hydrotalcite-supported silver nanoparticles (Ag/HT) acted as an effective heterogeneous catalyst for the reduction of nitroaromatic compounds using CO/H2O as a reducing reagent. The Ag/HT catalyst system showed complete chemoselectivity for nitro groups in the presence of inter- and intra-molecular olefinic functionalities. Moreover, Ag/HT was reusable without any loss of its activity or selectivity.
Synthesis of Lipophilic Gold Nanosheets by Using Reducing Stabilizers and Their Reversible Transformation between Golden Solid
Authors: Kuwahara Rempei , Kuroiwa Keita , Kimizuka Nobuo
Published: February 2010

4,5-Dialkylated o-phenylenediamine with oligo(ethylene glycol) units is developed as a stabilizer with reducing property. It reduces chloroauric acid in water, giving lipophilic gold nanosheets whose surface is passivated by the quinoid-form ligands generated in situ. These nanosheets show brilliant golden luster in the solid state, whereas they are reversibly dispersible in organic media.
An Excellent Method for Cbz-protection of Amines
Authors: Vanlaldinpuia Khiangte , Sema H Atoholi , Rokhum Lalthazuala , Bez Ghanashyam
Published: February 2010

Cbz-protection of aliphatic and aromatic amines can be accomplished with benzylchloroformate using a catalytic amount of dodecatungstophosphoric acid hydrate (0.05 equiv). The reaction is simple, fast, does not require aqueous work-up and gives excellent yields.
Photochromic Reaction of a Novel Room Temperature Ionic Liquid: 2-Phenylazo-1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium Bis(pentafluoroethylsulfonyl)amide
Authors: Kawai Akio , Kawamori Daiki , Monji Tomoo , Asaka Tooru , Akai Nobuyuki , Shibuya Kazuhiko
Published: February 2010

We synthesized a new room temperature ionic liquid, [2PA-Hmim][Pf2N], and characterized the photochromic behavior by absorption spectroscopy. [2PA-Hmim][Pf2N] was found to be a photochromic liquid where solvent itself undergoes photochromic reaction.
Acceleration of Enantioselective Hydrogenation of Olefins over Pd/C by Cinchonidine as a Chiral Modifier. Comparison with Cinchonine, Pseudoenantiomer
Authors: Sugimura Takashi , Ogawa Hiroyuki
Published: February 2010

The performance of cinchonidine (CD) and cinchonine (CN) as chiral modifiers in enantioselective hydrogenation over Pd/C were compared in different concentrations. The catalytic hydrogenation with CD always occurred in better ee and at faster rate than that with CN. The difference is not attributable to the adsorption properties of the modifiers, but to the intrinsic enantio differentiation that accompanies the reaction acceleration.
Tri(quaternary ammonium) Surfactant with a Benzene Core as a Novel Template for Synthesis of Ordered Porous Silica
Authors: Fukasawa Yuki , Sugawara Ayae , Hirahara Hirotomo , Shimojima Atsushi , Okubo Tatsuya
Published: February 2010

A novel rigid-core surfactant where three trimethylammonium heads are attached to a benzene core via flexible hydrocarbon chains was examined as a template for synthesizing ordered porous silica. A well-ordered 2D hexagonal silica structure with relatively small pores was generated owing to the formation of the stable mesophase where the surfactants were stacked to form cylindrical assemblies.
Fabrication of Metal–Polymer Nanocomposite with Beaded Structures Using Ordered Anodic Porous Alumina Template
Authors: Kondo Toshiaki , Nishio Kazuyuki , Masuda Hideki
Published: February 2010

The fabrication of nanocomposites consisting of uniform-sized metal nanoparticles arranged at uniform intervals in a fibrous polymer matrix is described. The combined process of metal deposition into periodic holes in anodic porous alumina and polymer injection into the holes yielded metal (Au, Ag)–polymer composite structures. In the obtained composition, metal nanoparticles are arranged at equal spaces in a fibrous polymer matrix.
Synthesis and Photochemistry of Stilbene Ionic Liquids
Authors: Tamura Hiroyasu , Shinohara Yoshihiro , Arai Tatsuo
Published: February 2010

Ionic liquids having a photoresponsive stilbene chromophore were prepared and their properties were examined. While the trans isomers were all solid, most of the cis isomers were liquid at room temperature. The trans isomers give fluorescence emission with a quantum yield of ca. 0.02, while the cis isomers practically give no fluorescence. Thus, we could photochemically switch the properties of ionic liquid as well as emission properties by photochemical processes.
Living Polymerization of Phenylacetylene Catalyzed by a Cationic Rh Complex Bearing Tetrafluorobenzobarrelene
Authors: Shiotsuki Masashi , Onishi Naoya , Sanda Fumio , Masuda Toshio
Published: February 2010

Living polymerization of phenylacetylene (PA) was achieved with new catalyst systems composed of a cationic rhodium complex, [(tfb)Rh(PPh3)2]BPh4 (2, tfb = tetrafluorobenzobarrelene) and amines as cocatalysts. Applying i-PrNH2 as a cocatalyst, the PDI of the formed poly(PA) was as small as 1.09. Kinetic plots and multistage polymerization proved the livingness of the present polymerization.
A Rapid and Efficient Synthesis of Allyl Iodides from Baylis–Hillman Adducts: A Facile Synthesis of Semiplenamide D
Authors: Das Biswanath , Srinivas Yallamalla , Sudhakar Chithaluri , Damodar Kongara , Reddy Parigi Raghavendar
Published: February 2010

Treatment of Baylis–Hillman adducts with Et3SiH/I2 in CHCl3 at room temperature afforded the (Z)- and (E)-allyl iodides in stereoselective manner. The products are formed in excellent yields within 5 min. The method has successfully been utilized for synthesis of natural bioactive fatty acid amide, semiplenamide D.
Preparation of Nanoaggregates through Self-assembly of Amphiphilic Polyrotaxane Composed of PLLA–PEG–PLLA Triblock Copolymer and α-Cyclodextrins
Authors: Nagahama Koji , Ohmura Junpei , Sakaue Hiromi , Ouchi Tatsuro , Ohya Yuichi , Yui Nobuhiko
Published: February 2010

An amphiphilic polyrotaxane (PRX) composed of biodegradable triblock copolymer of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and poly(l-lactide) (PLLA), PLLA–PEG–PLLA, and many α-cyclodextrins (α-CD) threaded on the triblock copolymer was successfully synthesized. The PRX was found to be self-assembled into vesicle-like water-soluble nanoaggregates in an aqueous solution.
Self-assembly of Zn(II) Porphyrin–1,2,3-Triazole Conjugate with Alcohol Glue
Authors: Toganoh Motoki , Harada Hiroyuki , Ikawa Yoshiya , Furuta Hiroyuki
Published: February 2010

A Zn(II) porphyrin–1,2,3-triazole conjugate (1-Zn), which can be prepared by click chemistry, afforded a unique self-assembled structure with methanol molecules as glue in the crystals and in toluene solution. The resulting assembled units form a zigzag architecture due to multipoint CH–π interactions in the solid state.
Childhood Obesity and Impulsivity: An Investigation With Performance-Based Measures
Authors: Verbeken Sandra , Braet Caroline , Claus Line , Nederkoorn Chantal , Oosterlaan Jaap
Published: February 2010

The study investigated whether obese children are more impulsive than lean children, taking into account the multidimensionality of the construct. Responses of 41 overweight children were compared to those of 40 lean children. The Stop Task, Circle Drawing Task and Opposite Worlds Task were administered to measure executive inhibitory control, and the Maudsley Index of Childhood Delay Aversion and the Door Opening Task were administered to measure motivational inhibitory control. On the Stop Task, the overweight children showed less inhibitory control. On the Opposite Worlds task, we found no significant difference, whereas on the Circle Drawing Task an unexpected group difference was found. Although on the Door Opening Task the overweight children showed greater reward sensitivity, they were equally motivated to wait on the Maudsley Index of Childhood Delay. We conclude that the findings were different depending on the measure used, but that they suggest that overweight children can be characterised by a decrease in executive and motivational inhibitory control.
A Cognitive Behavioural Intervention for Overweight and Obese Adolescents Illustrated by Four Case Studies
Authors: Brennan Leah , Walkley Jeff , Lukeis Sarah , Risteska Anica , Archer Lisa , Digre Ellen , Fraser Steve , Greenway Kate
Published: February 2010

This article reports four case studies illustrating the implementation of the ChooseHealthProgram, a cognitive behavioural lifestyle intervention for overweight and obese adolescents. Participants were an overweight (12 years) and obese (15 years) female, and an overweight (14 years) and obese (12 years) male. The program was delivered by provisional psychologists with program specific training and supervision. All participants demonstrated improvements in body composition, and maintained or improved dietary quality and psychosocial wellbeing. The program had variable effects on physical activity and minimal effect on cardiovascular fitness for three of the four participants. While parents and adolescents required considerable assistance to develop and monitor long term program goals, these goals were a useful clinical tool to support the adolescent and parent to recognise the improvements they had made. Identification and monitoring of specific, measurable, and realistic behaviour change strategies was particularly important in assisting adolescents and their parents to translate session information into improved health behaviours. Results indicate that an adolescent overweight and obesity treatment program that promotes adolescent responsibility and autonomy, and emphasises the importance of parent support and family change is both effective and highly acceptable to both adolescents and parents.
Brief Behavioural Activation Treatment of Chronic Anxiety in an Older Adult
Authors: Turner Jarrod S. , Leach David J.
Published: February 2010

A 64-year-old male who met criteria for social and generalised anxiety was treated using a brief behavioural activation (BA) approach. The intervention was delivered in twelve weekly 60-minute individual sessions. The effects of the intervention were assessed using a simple A-B-C phase change with repeated measurement design. Change in reported anxiety was recorded across phases. Decreased scores in self-reported anxiety measures were obtained and significant clinical improvement was maintained during a 4-month no treatment maintenance phase. This preliminary investigation suggests BA could be an efficient and effective treatment for anxiety and that replications are warranted.
WiseNET: An Ultra Low-Power Concept for Wireless Sensor NetworksWiseNET: Ein Ultra-Low-Power-Konzept für drahtlose Sensornetzwerke
Authors: Decotignie Jean-Dominique , Enz Christian , Peiris Vincent , Hübner Michel
Published: February 2010

The WiseNET system includes an ultra low-power system-on-chip (SoC) hardware platform, WiseMAC, a low power medium access control protocol (MAC) dedicated to duty-cycled radios and a cluster-tree routing protocol. These elements have been designed to meet the specific requirements of wireless sensor networks and are particularly well suited to ad-hoc and hybrid networks. The WiseNET radio offers dual-band operation (434 MHz and 868 MHz) and runs from a single 1.5-V battery. It consumes only 2.5 mW in receive mode with a sensitivity smaller than -108 dBm at a BER of 10-3 and for a 100-kb/s data rate. In addition to this low-power radio, the WiseNET system-on-chip (SoC) also includes all the functions required for data acquisition, processing and storage of the information provided by the sensors. Ultra-low power consumption with the WiseNET system is achieved thanks to the combination of the low power consumption of the transceiver and the high energy efficiency of the WiseMAC protocol. The WiseNET solution consumes more than 250 times less power than comparable solutions based on the IEEE 802.15.4 standard.