bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Estudo transversal sobre fatores associados ao baixo peso ao nascer a partir de informações obtidas em sala de vacinação
Authors: Nascimento Luiz Fernando Costa
Published: April 2005

OBJETIVOS: estimar alguns fatores de risco para baixo peso ao nascer, em Guaratinguetá, cidade do Sudeste do Brasil, com dados primários obtidos junto a mães que procuraram o setor de vacinação do Sistema Único de Saúde em 1998. MÉTODOS: estudo transversal com amostra de conveniência e correspondente a 598 mães entrevistadas - 28,9% dos partos ocorridos no ano de 1998. As variáveis independentes foram ganho de peso materno, número de consultas realizadas no pré-natal, paridade, infecção no trato gênito-urinário, hipertensão arterial, outros filhos com baixo peso, tabagismo, idade materna e situações conjugal e trabalhista. Utilizou-se regressão logística e foram estimados os riscos relativos e o risco atribuível populacional; o nível de significância foi p < 0,05. RESULTADOS: as variáveis com significância estatística presentes no modelo final foram idade materna inferior a 20 anos (OR = 2,08), outros filhos com baixo peso (OR = 3,94), ganho de peso igual ou menor que 10kg (OR = 1,69), hipertensão arterial (OR = 2,16), e tabagismo (OR = 2,43). CONCLUSÕES: o controle destes três últimos fatores, que pode ocorrer durante o pré-natal ao contrário dos outros dois, pode reduzir em quase 50% a prevalência de baixo peso ao nascer.
A "Declaração de Nascido Vivo" como orientadora de ações de saúde em nível local
Authors: Carniel Emília de Faria , Antonio Maria Ângela Reis de Góes Monteiro , Mota Mirna Ruth M. Lima e , Morcillo André Moreno , Zanolli Maria de Lurdes
Published: April 2005

OBJETIVOS: descrever o perfil de mães e recém-nascidos da área de um Centro de Saúde (CS), partindo das "Declarações de Nascidos Vivos" (DNVs). MÉTODOS: estudo descritivo transversal que analisou 400 DNV de um CS de Campinas, em 1999. Identificou-se o perfil das mães por: idade, escolaridade, ocupação, situação conjugal, número de filhos, freqüência ao pré-natal; tipo de parto; e dos recém-nascidos por: peso de nascimento e idade gestacional. Na avaliação da associação entre variáveis empregou-se o teste do qui-quadrado e calcularam-se os valores de odds ratio (OR) brutos. Para as variáveis idade da mãe e tipo de parto empregou-se o modelo de regressão logística a fim de obter valores de OR ajustados. RESULTADOS: mães: 17,8% adolescentes, 54,9% com primeiro grau incompleto, 26% sem companheiro, 40,2% sem renda, 44,3% com até seis consultas de pré-natal. Crianças: 6,5% prematuras, 50,3% de cesárea, 9% pesando até 2.499 gramas. Evidenciaram-se riscos para as adolescentes sem companheiro, sem renda e sem informação sobre a ocupação. Observou-se que mulheres sem renda e com baixa escolaridade foram protegidas dos partos cesáreos. CONCLUSÕES: as DNVs possibilitaram conhecer mães e RN e se revelaram um instrumento adequado para monitoramento da realidade local, possibilitando planejamento de ações.
La nutrición: un aspecto importante en la calidad de vida de la mujer
Authors: Reina Gómez Goliat , Rodríguez Anzardo Berta R.
Published: April 2005

La 53ª sesión de la Comisión de Derechos Humanos, incluía en su preámbulo el derecho a un nivel de vida adecuado, incluyendo la alimentación. Desde hace años existe una gran preocupación por los organismos internacionales en relación con la producción de alimentos, por la gravedad y extensión del problema y su impacto económico. La accesibilidad de los alimentos está determinada por la existencia de los mismos y las posibilidades de adquisición. Algunos malos resultados perinatales son producto de una dieta insuficiente y desequilibrada, que puede corregirse utilizando la educación nutricional y la promoción social, analizando los hábitos alimentarios, los alimentos disponibles y su accesibilidad. Los esfuerzos para la solución de este problema están relacionados con la seguridad alimentaria y la presión social que se ejerza para lograr la posibilidad de un desarrollo armónico a escala mundial.
Efectos de un programa de mejoramiento de la calidad en servicios materno perinatales en el Peru: la experiencia del proyecto 2000
Authors: Seclen-Palacín Juan A. , Jacoby M Enrique , Benavides C Bruno , Novara V Joaquín , Velásquez V Anibal , Watanabe V Enrique , Arroyo V César
Published: April 2005

OBJETIVOS: comparar la calidad de los servicios de salud materno perinatales (SMP) de los establecimientos participantes en un programa de mejora de calidad (PMC) y compararlos con un grupo control; evaluar comparativamente los conocimientos y actitudes de usuarias de servicios de salud materna; y determinar la contribución del PMC en los niveles de calidad. MÉTODOS: fue implementado un PMC en 74 establecimientos de salud seleccionados para mejorar la calidad. Se desarrolló un cuasiexperimento controlado en 74 hospitales, centros de salud y establecimientos periféricos. El análisis de la calidad de los SMP se realizó mediante comparación de promedios de escalas centesimales; los conocimientos y actitudes de las usuarias mediante análisis bivariado; y la predicción del nivel de calidad a través de análisis multivariado. RESULTADOS: al final de la intervención, la puntuación de los establecimientos con PMC tuvo un promedio de 61,8 puntos y de 37,5 en el grupo de comparación, (p <0,001). El promedio de conocimientos de signos de alarma obstétricos fue mayor en las usuarias PMC (3,6 signos/entrevistada) versus 2,5 en usuarias sin PMC, (p <0,05). La intención de parto institucional fue dos veces mayor en las usuarias de los servicios con PMC, (p = 0,038). Los predictores significativos de calidad fueron la mejora continua de la calidad y la disponibilidad de profesionales de salud. CONCLUSIONES: el nivel de calidad es mayor en los servicios que desarrollaron PMC. Las usuarias de tales servicios tienen más conocimientos de los signos de alarma obstétricos y mejor actitud hacia el parto institucional. El PMC ha contribuido para tales logros.
Avaliação nutricional de crianças indígenas Pakaanóva (Wari'), Rondônia, Brasil
Authors: Escobar Ana Lúcia , Santos Ricardo Ventura , Coimbra Jr Carlos E A
Published: April 2005

OBJETIVOS: apresentar os resultados de um inquérito transversal sobre o estado nutricional de crianças Pakaanóva (Wari'), povo indígena localizado em Rondônia, na Amazônia, Brasil. MÉTODOS: inquérito transversal em que foram coletadas medidas de peso/massa corporal e estatura de 131 crianças entre 2-10 anos (69 meninos e 62 meninas). Os dados foram comparados com as curvas do NCHS, tomando-se como ponto de corte -2 escores z. RESULTADOS: são muito pronunciadas as freqüências de baixa estatura (45,8%) e de massa corporal para idade (26,0%), notando-se a manutenção da proporcionalidade corporal (somente 1,6% abaixo de -2 escores z para massa corporal para estatura). Diferenças entre os sexos foram observadas somente para o indicador massa corporal para a idade, com uma maior freqüência de meninos apresentando baixo peso. CONCLUSÕES: os achados são discutidos levando-se em consideração as condições de vida dos Pakaanóva, em particular aspectos epidemiológicos e de saneamento, concluindo-se que a desnutruição é de ampla ocorrência no grupo indígena investigado.
Diagnóstico e tratamento das anemias carenciais na gestação: consensos e controvérsias
Authors: Souza Ariani Impieri de , Batista Filho Malaquias
Published: April 2005

A anemia por carência de ferro representa a deficiência nutricional de maior prevalência em todo o mundo. A mulher e a criança são os grupos biológicos mais vulneráveis. Embora seja um dos procedimentos terapêuticos mais antigos da prática médica, o tratamento das anemias carenciais não está devidamente consolidado na rotina dos serviços de saúde. Em conseqüência, a eficácia do tratamento, os esquemas de tratamento, as recomendações posológicas, a adesão das pacientes e os critérios de acompanhamento são pontos cruciais na avaliação das propostas de intervenção a serem implementadas.
Fatores determinantes do crescimento infantil
Authors: Romani Sylvia de Azevedo Mello , Lira Pedro Israel Cabral de
Published: April 2005

Esta revisão enfoca os fatores que interferem no crescimento de crianças nos primeiros anos de vida. Foram utilizadas informações de artigos publicados em revistas científicas, teses e publicações de organizações internacionais. O crescimento infantil se constitui em um dos melhores indicadores de saúde da criança e o retardo estatural representa atualmente, a característica antropométrica mais representativa do quadro epidemiológico da desnutrição no Brasil. Ressaltando a importância do fator genético no crescimento, a revisão abrange com maior ênfase a atuação dos fatores extrínsecos, sabendo-se que o processo de crescimento resulta da interação entre a carga genética e os fatores do meio ambiente, os quais premitirão a maior ou menor expressão do potencial genético. Face a comprovada natureza multicausal do crescimento infantil, vários estudos têm sido desenvolvidos, buscando relacionar variáveis biológicas, socioeconômicas, maternas, ambientais, culturais, demográficas, nutricionais, entre outras, com a sua etiologia, seu desenvolvimento e sua manutenção. A revisão apresentada reforça o interesse em investigações sobre o crescimento na primeira infância que devem ser permanentes, devido, principalmente, às repercussões a longo prazo sobre a saúde infantil.
Fatores determinantes dos níveis de hemoglobina em crianças aos 12 meses de vida na Zona da Mata Meridional de Pernambuco
Authors: Lima Ana Claudia V. M. de S. , Lira Pedro Israel Cabral de , Romani Sylvia de Azevedo Mello , Eickmann Sophie Helena , Piscoya Maria Dilma , Lima Marília de Carvalho
Published: April 2005

OBJETIVOS: avaliar os fatores determinantes dos níveis de hemoglobina de crianças aos 12 meses de vida, em quatro municípios da Zona da Mata Meridional de Pernambuco. MÉTODOS: estudo transversal, realizado em uma sub-amostra de 245 lactentes, pertencentes a uma coorte de 652 crianças. A coleta de dados foi realizada no período de janeiro a agosto de 1999. RESULTADOS: a prevalência de anemia foi de 73,2%, sendo a média de hemoglobina de 9,8 g/dL (DP = 1,6 g/dL). A análise de variância apresentou uma associação estatisticamente significante entre níveis de hemoglobina e escolaridade materna, posse de televisão no domicílio, peso ao nascer, duração do aleitamento materno exclusivo, ocorrência de diarréia e estado nutricional segundo os índices peso/idade e comprimento/idade. A análise de regressão linear múltipla mostrou que as condições socioeconômicas, o peso ao nascer, a duração do aleitamento materno exclusivo e a ocorrência de diarréia tiveram um impacto significante na variação dos níveis de hemoglobina. CONCLUSÕES: os resultados confirmam ser a anemia um relevante problema de saúde pública, especialmente em lactentes, tendo múltiplos fatores que contribuem para o seu surgimento, sendo necessário, portanto, identificar os mais importantes para serem levados em consideração nos programas de saúde da criança.
Aplicação do escore CRIB como preditor de óbito em unidade de terapia intensiva neonatal: uma abordagem ampliada
Authors: Nascimento Luiz Fernando C. , Ramos Rosana dos Santos
Published: April 2005

OBJETIVOS: avaliar o uso do escore CRIB (Clinical Risk Index for Babies) em todos os recém-nascidos internados em Unidade de Terapia Intensiva Neonatal (UTIN) e comparar seus resultados com peso ao nascer e idade gestacional. MÉTODOS: estudo observacional, envolvendo todos os recém-nascidos internados na UTIN do Hospital Universitário de Taubaté. As variáveis foram escore CRIB, peso ao nascer, idade gestacional, uso de surfactante, cateterização umbilical, asfixia neonatal e óbito. Foram comparadas as médias do escore CRIB, peso ao nascer e idade gestacional segundo óbito. Foram estimados os valores da sensibilidade, especificidade, valores preditivos positivo e negativo e risco relativo e criadas curvas Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) para CRIB, peso ao nascer e idade gestacional. Utilizou-se da técnica t de Student e qui-quadrado de tendência linear. A significância estatística foi alfa = 5%. RESULTADOS: óbito esteve associado a maiores valores do CRIB; houve tendência de mais casos com asfixia, uso de surfactante, cateterização umbilical e óbitos com as classes maiores do CRIB. A curva ROC relativa ao CRIB foi maior que as relativas ao peso ao nascer e idade gestacional. CONCLUSÕES: o escore CRIB foi bom preditor do óbito quando aplicado em todos os RN.
New findings on iron absorption conditioning factors
Authors: Pereira Rute Cândida , Diniz Alcides da Silva , Ferreira Luiz Oscar Cardoso
Published: April 2005

The authors focus iron intake regulation in the body and the probable mechanisms related to iron absorption. They analyze the impact of iron absorption deficiency resulting in iron deficiency anemia, a public health issue of great impact in the world influencing child and maternal health risk increase. This paper aims at highlighting the problems affecting the uptake or inhibiting processes of iron absorption in an attempt to correlate information on conditioning factors and current findings. This study is a document based descriptive study comprising literature review. In food, iron has different forms, such as the heme and non-heme forms following different absorption pathways with different efficiency rates, depending on conditioning factors, such as diet profile, physiological aspects, iron chemical state, absorption regulation, transportation, storing, excretion and the presence of disease, They also discuss the current difficulties in dealing with iron nutritional deficiency in vulnerable groups, children and pregnant women, and focus data on iron consumption, adhesion to breast feeding and the frequency of prenatal care visits.
O aleitamento materno previne o sobrepeso na infância?
Authors: Balaban Geni , Silva Gisélia Alves Pontes da , Dias Maria Laura Campelo de Melo , Dias Maria Catarina de Melo , Fortaleza Gleyce Tavares de Melo , Morotó Fabíola Moura Medeiros , Rocha Eziel Cavalcanti Vasconcelos
Published: April 2005

OBJETIVOS: investigar se o aleitamento materno tem um efeito protetor contra o sobrepeso na idade pré-escolar. MÉTODOS: estudo de corte transversal com 409 crianças na faixa etária de dois a seis anos, sendo 221 do sexo masculino e 188 do feminino, provenientes de creches vinculadas à prefeitura da cidade de Recife. Foram consideradas expostas as crianças que receberam aleitamento materno exclusivo por menos de quatro meses. O desfecho analisado foi o sobrepeso, definido como índice de massa corporal para idade igual ou superior ao percentil 85. RESULTADOS: dentre as 409 crianças, 11,5% nunca haviam recebido leite materno. A duração média do aleitamento materno foi de 3,97 meses. A prevalência de sobrepeso foi de 18,6%. O sobrepeso foi mais prevalente entre as crianças que receberam leite materno exclusivo por menos de quatro meses (22,5%) do que entre aquelas que receberam leite materno exclusivo por quatro meses ou mais (13,5%) (p = 0,03). CONCLUSÕES: em nosso estudo, o aleitamento materno apresentou um efeito protetor contra o sobrepeso na idade pré-escolar.
O panorama da atenção pré-natal no Brasil e o Programa de Humanização do Pré-natal e Nascimento
Authors: Serruya Suzanne Jacob , Lago Tânia Di Giácomo , Cecatti José Guilherme
Published: April 2005

O objetivo deste artigo foi contextualizar historicamente a implantação do Programa de Humanização do Pré-Natal e Nascimento do Ministério da Saúde no Brasil, resgatando, através de análise documental e situacional, seus aspectos conceituais, filosófico e operacional. O Programa, lançado em junho de 2000, tem como principal estratégia assegurar a melhoria do acesso, da cobertura e da qualidade do acompanhamento pré-natal, da assistência ao parto e puerpério das gestantes e ao recém-nascido, na perspectiva dos direitos de cidadania. O Programa fundamenta-se no direito à humanização da assistência obstétrica e neonatal como condição primeira para adequado acompanhamento, além de estabelecer critérios para qualificar a assistência e promover o vínculo entre a assistência ambulatorial e o momento do parto, integrados e com intervenções que tivessem fortes evidências de que são efetivas. O artigo apresenta o panorama da assistência pré-natal no Brasil no fim da década de 90, discute os princípios da humanização como requisito para a qualidade da atenção, reconstitui o delineamento e lançamento do Programa, bem como comenta aspectos práticos de sua avaliação inicial e desafios para o futuro.
Atmospheric pollution effects on childhood health: an environmental study in the Paraíba Valley
Authors: Nascimento Luiz Fernando C. , Módolo Maria Carolina C. , Carvalho Jr. João A.
Published: April 2005

OBJECTIVES: to estimate correlation between atmospheric pollutants and the number of children admissions by respiratory disease in the year 2001. METHODS: this is an ecological study of time series. The data on the atmospheric pollutants were obtained at CETESB and the data on hospital admissions were obtained at the Medical Archive Service of the Taubaté University Hospital, in Taubaté. In order to study the correlation of pollutants concentration values between themselves and with the admissions, the Pearson correlation technique was utilised. The relative risks for admission by respiratory disease were estimated comparing the quartiles of the pollutant agents with values of the first quartile. The adopted statistical significance was alpha = 5%. RESULTS: one hundred and fifty eight children were admitted with respiratory disease in the year 2001 (30% of annual admissions). The pollutants were correlated between themselves. There was a positive correlation between the number of admissions and the concentrations of sulphur dioxide and particulate material. There was an increase of 25 % in the admission risk when comparing the fourth and the first quartiles. CONCLUSIONS: there was positive correlation between admission by respiratory disease and the concentration of atmospheric pollutants.
Employer Policies Toward Guns and the Risk of Homicide in the Workplace
Authors: Loomis Dana , Marshall Stephen W. , Ta Myduc L.
Published: April 2005

This population-based case–control study of North Carolina workplaces evaluated the hypothesis that employers’ policies allowing firearms in the workplace may increase workers’ risk of homicide. Workplaces where guns were permitted were about 5 times as likely to experience a homicide as those where all weapons were prohibited (adjusted odds ratio=4.81; 95% confidence interval=1.70, 13.65). The association remained after adjustment for other risk factors. The findings suggest that policies allowing guns in the workplace might increase workers’ risk of homicide.
Hepatitis A–Related Mortality in California, 1989–2000: Analysis of Multiple Cause–Coded Death Data
Authors: Wise Matthew E. , Sorvillo Frank
Published: April 2005

Objectives. We estimated the hepatitis A (HA) mortality rate in California, assessed demographic differences in HA-related mortality, and examined comorbidities listed on death certificates in order to provide information for health policy and planning related to HA vaccination.

Methods. We identified HA-related deaths in California from 1989 to 2000 with multiple-cause-of-death files and calculated mortality rates and rate ratios.

Results. We identified 402 HA-related deaths between 1989 and 2000; the annual age-adjusted HA-related mortality rate was 1.20 deaths per 1 million persons. Older individuals, men, Latinos, and American Indians/Alaska Natives had elevated mortality rates. Liver conditions and non-A viral hepatitis infections were more common among HA-related deaths than among all other deaths.

Conclusions. Current immunization practices should be reevaluated and the expansion of current vaccination guidelines for groups that have elevated HA-related mortality rates should be considered.
“I Have an Evil Child at My House”: Stigma and HIV/AIDS Management in a South African Community
Authors: Campbell Catherine , Foulis Carol Ann , Maimane Sbongile , Sibiya Zweni
Published: April 2005

We examined the social roots of stigma by means of a case study of HIV/AIDS management among young people in a South African community (drawing from interviews, focus groups, and fieldworker diaries). We highlight the web of representations that sustain stigma, the economic and political contexts within which these representations are constructed, and the way in which they flourish in the institutional contexts of HIV/AIDS interventions.

Stigma serves as an effective form of “social psychological policing” by punishing those who have breached unequal power relations of gender, generation, and ethnicity. We outline an agenda for participatory programs that promote critical thinking about stigma’s social roots to stand alongside education and, where possible, legislation as an integral part of antistigma efforts.
Evaluating the Safety of New Vaccines: Summary of a Workshop
Authors: Ellenberg Susan S. , Foulkes Mary A. , Midthun Karen , Goldenthal Karen L.
Published: April 2005

Public concerns about the safety of vaccines arise on a regular basis. In November 2000, a workshop titled “Evaluation of New Vaccines: How Much Safety Data?” was convened by US Public Health Service agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration, the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Health Resources and Services Administration, to discuss appropriate methods for evaluating the safety of new vaccines.

Workshop presentations addressed the current standards and approaches for new vaccine evaluation and postlicensure surveillance, as well as public views about vaccine safety and alternative approaches that could be considered.

The advantages and disadvantages of conducting large controlled trials before licensure or widespread use of a new vaccine were discussed. We summarize these presentations and discussions.
Passive Immunization Against Poliomyelitis
Authors: Rinaldo Charles R.
Published: April 2005

Poliomyelitis has gone from being one of the worst scourges of the 20th century to nearing eradication in the 21st. This success is well known to be attributable to the Salk inactivated and Sabin attenuated poliovirus vaccines.

However, before introduction of these vaccines, William McDowall Hammon of the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health led the first major breakthrough in prevention of the disease by using passive immunization in one of the earliest double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials. This study provided the first evidence that antibodies to poliovirus could prevent the disease in humans.
Disparities in Indigenous Health: A Cross-Country Comparison Between New Zealand and the United States
Authors: Bramley Dale , Hebert Paul , Tuzzio Leah , Chassin Mark
Published: April 2005

Objectives. We compared the health statuses of the indigenous populations of New Zealand and the United States with those of the numerically dominant populations of these countries.

Methods. Health indicators compared included health outcome measures, preventive care measures, modifiable risk factor prevalence, and treatment measures.

Results. In the case of nearly every health status indicator assessed, disparities (both absolute and relative) were more pronounced for Maoris than for American Indians/Alaska Natives. Both indigenous populations suffered from disparities across a range of health indicators. However, no disparities were observed for American Indians/Alaska Natives in regard to immunization coverage.

Conclusions. Ethnic health disparities appear to be more pronounced in New Zealand than in the United States. These disparities are not necessarily intractable. Although differences in national health sector responses exist, New Zealand may be well placed in the future to evaluate the effectiveness of new strategies to reduce these disparities given the extent and quality of Maori-specific health information available.
Correlates of Cigarette Smoking Among Selected Southwest and Northern Plains Tribal Groups: The AI-SUPERPFP Study
Authors: Nez Henderson Patricia , Jacobsen Clemma , Beals Janette ,   the AI-SUPERPFP Team
Published: April 2005

Objectives. We describe the prevalence and correlates of cigarette smoking in 2 American Indian tribal groups.

Methods. We performed multinomial logistic regression on epidemiological data from a population-based, cross-sectional study of Southwest and Northern Plains American Indians aged 15 to 54 years.

Results. We found that 19% of Southwest men, 10% of Southwest women, 49% of Northern Plains men, and 51% of Northern Plains women were current smokers. Male gender and younger age were associated with higher odds of smoking in the Southwest tribe, whereas current or former marriage and having spent less time on a reservation were associated with higher odds of smoking in the Northern Plains population. Alcohol consumption was strongly associated with higher odds of smoking in both groups.

Conclusions. Cigarette smoking is a major public health concern among American Indians. Because correlates and smoking patterns vary among different tribal groups, each group’s unique characteristics should be considered when designing and implementing comprehensive, culturally appropriate interventions in American Indian communities.
Tuberculosis Among American Indians and Alaska Natives in the United States, 1993–2002
Authors: Schneider Eileen
Published: April 2005

Objectives. I examined trends in and epidemiological and clinical characteristics of tuberculosis (TB) within the American Indian/Alaska Native (AIAN) population of the United States and compared TB trends and characteristics in that population with TB trends and characteristics within other racial/ethnic groups.

Methods. I analyzed all verified cases of TB reported to the US National Tuberculosis Surveillance System from January 1, 1993, to December 31, 2002.

Results. From 1993 through 2002, 196133 TB cases were reported, 2612 (1.3%) of which were in the AIAN population. During this period, TB case rates declined 40.4% among AIAN peoples, the smallest decrease among any US-born racial/ethnic group. In 2002, 15075 TB cases (5.2 per 100000 population) were reported, 180 of which were in the AIAN population (8.4 per 100000 population)—almost 6 times the rate for non-Hispanic Whites (1.5 per 100000 population).

Conclusions. TB continues to be a significant health problem for the AIAN population. Vigilance and collaboration among local, state, federal, AIAN, and tribal TB control programs are essential to TB elimination among the AIAN population.
Social Epidemiology of Trauma Among 2 American Indian Reservation Populations
Authors: Manson Spero M. , Beals Janette , Klein Suzell A. , Croy Calvin D. ,   the AI-SUPERPFP Team
Published: April 2005

Objectives. We examined the prevalence of trauma in 2 large American Indian communities in an attempt to describe demographic correlates and to compare findings with a representative sample of the US population.

Methods. We determined differences in exposure to each of 16 types of trauma among 3084 tribal members aged 15 to 57 years through structured interviews. We compared prevalence rates of trauma, by gender, across the 2 tribes and with a sample of the US general population. We used logistic regression analyses to examine the relationships of demographic correlates to trauma exposure.

Results. Lifetime exposure rates to at least 1 trauma (62.4%–67.2% among male participants, 66.2%–69.8% among female participants) fell at the upper limits of the range reported by other researchers. Unlike the US general population, female and male American Indians exhibited equivalent levels of overall trauma exposure. Members of both tribes more often witnessed traumatic events, experienced traumas to loved ones, and were victims of physical attacks than their counterparts in the overall US population.

Conclusions. American Indians live in adverse environments that place them at high risk for exposure to trauma and harmful health sequelae.
Recursive blind image deconvolution via dispersion minimization
Authors: Vural C. , Sethares W. A.
Published: April 2005

This paper presents an adaptive autoregressive (AR) approach to the blind image deconvolution problem which has several advantages over standard adaptive FIR filters. There is no need to figure out the optimum filter support when using an AR deconvolution filter because it is the same as the support of the blur. Thus there is no distortion introduced by the finite support of the FIR filter. While an FIR filter provides an approximate inverse to the blur at convergence, the AR filter converges to an approximation of the blur itself. Hence, the method can be used for blur identification. Simulations suggest that convergence of the adaptive AR filter coefficients occur rapidly and the improvement in signal‐to‐noise ratios are higher than in the FIR case for a given blur (and with the same step‐size for the adaptive algorithms). When the adaptive AR method is derived naively to minimize the dispersion, it requires a recursion within a recursion which is computationally complex. We propose a simplification that removes the inner recursion, and prove conditions under which this simplification is valid when dealing with binary images. Simulations are used to show that the method may also be applied to certain multi‐valued images as well. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
H2 production by Zn hydrolysis in a hot‐wall aerosol reactor
Authors: Weiss Rodrigo J. , Ly Hao C. , Wegner Karsten , Pratsinis Sotiris E. , Steinfeld Aldo
Published: April 2005

A novel process for hydrogen generation from water at high conversion is presented that is based on zinc hydrolysis as part of the two‐step water‐splitting thermochemical cycle of Zn/ZnO redox reactions. It encompasses formation of Zn nanoparticles by steam‐quenching a Zn(g) flow followed by in situ hydrolysis. The process is experimentally demonstrated at the laboratory scale using a tubular aerosol flow reactor featuring a Zn‐evaporation, a mixing and a reaction zone. In the reaction zone, operated at and just below the Zn(g) saturation temperature, Zn particles were formed and hydrolyzed with chemical conversion of up to 70%. The onset of H2 formation is traced to ZnO formation by surface growth along the reactor axis using X‐ray diffraction and microscopic analyses of Zn and ZnO particles collected on the reactor walls and effluents. © 2005 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2005
Preparation and properties of electrospun poly(vinylidene fluoride) membranes
Authors: Zhao Zhizhen , Li Jingqing , Yuan Xiaoyan , Li Xiang , Zhang Yuanyuan , Sheng Jing
Published: April 2005

Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) was electrospun into fibrous membranes from its solutions in a mixture of N,N‐dimethylformamide (DMF) and acetone. The electrospun PVDF membranes were viewed under a scanning electron microscope. Effects of acetone amount, polymer concentration, and capillary‐collector distance on the morphology of the membranes were studied. It was suggested that uniform fibrous membranes with fiber diameters ranging mainly from 50 nm to 300 nm were formed from a 15% (wt/v) PVDF solutions in 8 : 2 (v/v) DMF/acetone at 5‐kV voltage, 0.3‐mL/h flow rate, and 10 ∼ 20‐cm capillary‐collector distance. After about 10 h of electrospinning, fibrous PVDF membranes with thickness of approximate 46 μm were obtained. The tensile moduli and the tensile strengths of the electrospun PVDF membranes were 100 ∼ 170 MPa and 4 ∼ 5 MPa, respectively, from the 13% PVDF solution. Analysis of differential scanning calorimeter and wide angle X‐ray diffraction showed that the crystallization of PVDF in the electrospun membranes was weakened compared to the casting film and the raw material. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 97: 466–474, 2005
Synthesis and characterization of a series of smectic liquid crystalline elastomers
Authors: He Xiao‐Zhi , Zhang Bao‐Yan , Xiao Ling‐Jiu , Wang Yang , Wu Hai‐Quan
Published: April 2005

A series of new smectic and cholesteric liquid crystalline elastomers was prepared by graft polymerization of mesogenic monomer with the chiral and nonmesogenic crosslinking agent using polymethylhydrosiloxane as backbone. The chemical structures of the monomers and polymers obtained were confirmed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectra (1H‐NMR). The mesomorphic properties were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarizing optical microscopy (POM), and X‐ray diffraction measurements (XRD). M1 showed smectic (SB, SC, SA) and nematic phases during the heating and the cooling cycles. Polymer P0 and elastomer P1 exhibited smectic B phase, elastomers P2–P5 showed smectic A phase, P6 and P7 showed cholesteric phase, and P8 displayed stress‐induced birefringence. The elastomers containing less than 15 mol % M2 displayed elasticity and reversible phase transition with wide mesophase temperature ranges. Experimental results demonstrated that the glass transition temperatures decreased first and then increased; melting temperatures and the isotropization temperatures and the mesophase temperature ranges decreased with increasing content of crosslinking unit. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 97: 498–506, 2005
Rheological kinetics of acrylonitrile–acrylamide copolymer solutions in dimethyl formamide
Authors: Hou Chen , Qu Rong‐jun , Ying Liang , Wang Cheng‐guo
Published: April 2005

Viscosity behavior of dimethyl formamide solutions of acrylonitrile–acrylamide copolymer is discussed. The rheological kinetics of the solutions was studied for contrast. It is shown that the solutions behave the same as Newtonian flow as the rotor speed goes beyond 6 revolutions min−1. With an increase of temperature, the apparent viscosity of acrylonitrile–acrylamide copolymer solutions shows a decreasing trend. The changes of the apparent flow–activation energy of solutions calculated by Arrhenius equation become less prominent along with the changes of the molecular weight of acrylonitrile–acrylamide copolymers. The apparent flow–activation energy of the copolymer solutions increases continuously with an increase of copolymer concentration. The viscosity of copolymer solutions decreases continuously at concentrations of KCl and NaCl up to 0.02 mol L−1 and then increases. The apparent flow–activation energy of acrylonitrile–acrylamide copolymer solutions shows an obvious trend of decrease with addition of alkali salts and the changes of the apparent flow–activation energy of solutions containing NaCl are more prominent than those of solutions containing KCl. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 97: 527–531, 2005
Mechanical and structural properties of melt spun polypropylene/nylon 6 alloy filaments
Authors: Afshari Mehdi , Kotek Richard , Gupta Bhupender S. , Haghighat Kish Mohammad , Nazock Dast Hosein
Published: April 2005

Investigated in the present study are the physical properties, morphology, and structure of PP/N6 alloy filaments (10, 20 wt % N6) made with or without PP‐g‐MAH as compatibilizer. The alloy filaments produced at the take‐up speeds of 300 and 800 m/min were drawn with draw ratio of 3.5 and 2, respectively. Stress–strain curves of PP and alloy filaments show ductile and brittle behavior, respectively. It is suggested that the brittle behavior of alloy filaments is due to the presence of microvoids or micropores at the interface of PP and N6; these lead to stress concentration and thus to a decrease in tenacity, modulus, and elongation at break. Effects of the blending of N6 with PP on birefringence and crystalline and amorphous orientation factors of the composite filaments are studied. The amorphous orientation factor, fam, of PP was found to increase with an increase in the amount of N6. The alloy filaments behaved like isostrain materials and most of the force in spinning and drawing was born by the PP phase. The presence of N6 fibrils helped to orient PP chain molecules in amorphous regions. However, the crystalline factor, fc, of PP decreased with the increase in nylon fraction. This means the presence of the crystals of N6 caused a decrease in the orientation of the PP crystals. LSCM micrographs of the filament showed the presence of matrix–fibril morphology with the N6 fibrils oriented along the axis. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 97: 532–544, 2005
Endoscopic treatment of large primary adrenal tumours
Authors: Walz M K , Petersenn S , Koch J A , Mann K , Neumann H P H , Schmid K W
Published: April 2005

Background

Endoscopic adrenalectomy has become the treatment of choice for small benign adrenal tumours but should not be used for malignant lesions. It is debatable whether large and therefore potentially malignant primary adrenal tumours should be removed by minimally invasive techniques.

Methods

Three hundred and eighty primary adrenal tumours in 368 patients (142 male and 226 female; mean(s.d.) age 48·9(14·4) years) were excised by laparoscopic or retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy. Adrenal neoplasias exceeded 6 cm in diameter (range 6–13 cm) in 33 patients (18 male and 15 female; age 42·6(14·2) years).

Results

There were no deaths. Patients with large tumours had an increased conversion rate (P = 0·039), longer operating time (P < 0·001) and greater intraoperative blood loss (P = 0·007) than those with smaller lesions, but a similar overall morbidity rate (P = 0·207). Six malignant tumours were identified (diameter 4–10 cm; four phaeochromocytomas and two adrenocortical carcinomas). Local recurrence developed in two patients and distant metastasis occurred in all six patients with malignant lesions.

Conclusion

Endocopic adrenalectomy perfomed by an experienced surgeon should be the treatment of choice for tumours exceeding 6 cm in diameter.
Randomized clinical trial of daclizumab induction and delayed introduction of tacrolimus for recipients of non-heart-beating kidney transplants
Authors: Wilson C H , Brook N R , Gok M A , Asher J F , Nicholson M L , Talbot D
Published: April 2005

Background

Kidneys from non-heart-beating donors (NHBDs) have high rates of delayed graft function (DGF). Use of calcineurin inhibitors is associated with a reduction in renal blood flow, which may delay graft recovery from ischaemic acute tubular necrosis.

Methods

To assess whether daclizumab (DZB) could safely replace tacrolimus in the immediate postoperative period, patients were randomized to receive DZB induction and daily mycophenolate mofetil with steroids (DZB group) or standard tacrolimus-based triple therapy (control group). Tacrolimus was given to patients in the DZB group when the serum creatinine level dropped below 350 µmol/l.

Results

Fifty-one patients were recruited at two centres over a 2-year interval between 2000 and 2003. The overall rate of immediate function was 28 per cent (13 of 46 grafts), with the highest rate in recipients of machine-perfused kidneys treated with DZB (eight of 15 patients).

Conclusion

Induction with DZB and delayed introduction of tacrolimus reduced the incidence of DGF in recipients of machine-perfused NHBD kidneys.
Comparison of column performances in direct high‐performance liquid chromatographic enantioseparation of 1‐ or 3‐methyl‐substituted tetrahydroisoquinoline analogs. Application of direct and indirect methods
Authors: Péter Antal , Péter Mária , Ilisz István , Fülöp Ferenc
Published: April 2005

The enantioseparability of 1‐ or 3‐methyl‐substituted tetrahydroisoquinolines was investigated by direct and indirect high‐performance liquid chromatography. α‐ and β‐cyclodextrin‐, macrocyclic glycopeptide‐ and cellulose‐based chiral columns and isothiocyanate‐ and Sanger‐type chiral derivatizing agents (CDAs) were applied to attain satisfactory enantioseparation. Of the chiral columns, β‐cyclodextrin‐, vancomycin‐ and teicoplanin‐containing macrocyclic glycopeptide‐based columns appeared to be most suitable; of the CDAs, (1S,2R)‐1‐acetoxy‐1‐phenyl‐2‐propyl isothiocyanate was most favorable. The differences between the selectivities of the columns and CDAs were compared and optimized to yield the best resolution. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Optimal QSAR analysis of the carcinogenic activity of drugs by correlation ranking and genetic algorithm‐based PCR
Authors: Hemmateenejad Bahram
Published: April 2005

The major problem associated with principal component regression (PCR), especially in QSAR studies, is that this model extracts the eigenvectors solely from the matrix of predictor variables and therefore they might not have an essentially good relationship with the predicted variable. This paper describes the application of PCR to model the structure–carcinogenic activity of drugs. To obtain the optimal model, correlation ranking and a genetic algorithm were employed for selecting the best set of principal components (PCs). A large data set containing 735 carcinogenic activities and 1355 descriptors was used. Two cross‐validation procedures (leave‐many‐out and ν‐fold cross‐validation) and the hold‐out‐a‐test‐sample (HOTS) method were used to validate the models. It was found that introduction of PCs by the conventional eigenvalue ranking procedure did not produce the perfect model. Instead, factor selection by correlation ranking and genetic algorithm produced good models of similar quality. The models could explain more than 80% of the variances in carcinogenic activity. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Sequential application of backward interval partial least squares and genetic algorithms for the selection of relevant spectral regions
Authors: Leardi Riccardo , Nørgaard Lars
Published: April 2005

It is nowadays widely accepted that genetic algorithms (GAs) are powerful tools in variable selection and that after suitable modifications they can also be powerful in detecting the most relevant spectral regions for multivariate calibration. One of the main limitations of GAs is related to the fact that when spectral intensities are measured at a very large number of wavelengths the search domain increases correspondingly and therefore the detection of the relevant regions is much more difficult. A modification of interval partial least squares (iPLS), designated backward interval PLS (biPLS), is developed and studied such that it can detect and remove the least relevant regions, thereby reducing the search domain to a size that GAs can handle easily. In this paper the application to two different spectroscopic data sets will be shown: infrared spectroscopic analysis of polymer film additives and determination of the contents of erucic acid and total fatty acids in brassica seeds by near‐infrared spectroscopy. The developed method is compared with model performances based on expert selection of variables as well as with results from application of the previously developed GA‐PLS method. The sequential application of biPLS and GA‐PLS has proven successful, and comparable or better results have been obtained, introducing a more automatic region selection procedure and a substantial decrease in computation time. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ensemble methods and partial least squares regression
Authors: Mevik Bjørn‐Helge , Segtnan Vegard H. , Næs Tormod
Published: April 2005

Recently, there has been increased attention in the literature on the use of ensemble methods in multivariate regression and classification. These methods have been shown to have interesting properties for both regression and classification. In particular, they can improve the accuracy of unstable predictors. Ensemble methods have so far been little studied in situations that are common for calibration and prediction in chemistry, i.e. situations with a large number of collinear x‐variables and few samples. These situations are often approached by data compression methods such as principal component regression (PCR) or partial least squares regression (PLSR). The present paper is an investigation of the properties of different types of ensemble methods used with PLSR in situations with highly collinear x‐data. Bagging and data augmentation by simulated noise are studied. The focus is on the robustness of the calibrations. Real and simulated data are used. The results show that ensembles trained on data with added noise can make PLSR robust against the type of noise added. In particular, the effects of sample temperature variations can be eliminated. Bagging does not seem to give any improvement over PLSR for small and intermediate numbers of components. It is, however, less sensitive to overfitting. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Grouping three‐mode data with mixture methods: the case of the diseased blue crabs
Authors: Kroonenberg Pieter M. , Basford Kaye E. , Gemperline Paul J.
Published: April 2005

The primary aim of this paper is to provide an introduction to a three‐mode method of clustering and the useful role it can fulfil in clustering chemical three‐mode data. The analysis of trace elements present in body tissues of diseased blue crabs caught along the coast of North Carolina serves as an example. The clustering method succeeded in separating the diseased crabs from healthy controls, lending support to the hypothesis that the trace elements were the origin of the blue crabs' disease. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of clarithromycin on the enantioselective disposition of lansoprazole in relation to CYP2C19 genotypes
Authors: Miura Masatomo , Tada Hitoshi , Yasui‐Furukori Norio , Uno Tsukasa , Sugawara Kazunobu , Tateishi Tomonori , Suzuki Toshio
Published: April 2005

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of clarithromycin, a CYP3A4 inhibitor, on the enantioselective disposition of lansoprazole among three different CYP2C19 genotype groups in healthy Japanese subjects. These subjects included 6 each of homozygous extensive metabolizers (homEMs), heterozygous extensive metabolizers (hetEMs), and poor metabolizers (PMs). In the EMs of CYP2C19, clarithromycin markedly increased Cmax and the AUC0–∞ of (S)‐lansoprazole and (S)‐hydroxylansoprazole compared with those of the corresponding (R)‐enantiomers. Clarithromycin significantly increased Cmax and the AUC0–∞ of (S)‐lansoprazole in the homEMs by 110% and 115%, respectively, and in the hetEMs by 105% and 103%, respectively, compared with placebo. Furthermore, clarithromycin slightly prolonged the elimination half‐life of (R)‐lansoprazole in the homEMs and hetEMs but did not alter that of (S)‐lansoprazole. In the of PMs CYP2C19, clarithromycin significantly increased Cmax and the AUC0–∞ and significantly prolonged the elimination half‐lives of (R)‐ and (S)‐lansoprazole by 51% and 49%, respectively. The present study suggests that there are significant drug interactions between (R)‐ or (S)‐lansoprazole and clarithromycin in EMs by inhibiting the CYP3A4‐catalyzed sulfoxidation primarily during the first pass, whereas in PMs, the overall metabolism of lansoprazole is inhibited. Chirality 17:338–344, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Exciton chirality in trans‐1,2‐diamidocyclohexanes: Fluorescent chromophores
Authors: Boiadjiev Stefan E. , Lightner David A.
Published: April 2005

N,N′‐Carbonyl‐bridged dipyrrinones constitute a new class of highly fluorescent chromophores suitable for investigations of stereochemistry and absolute configuration. Xanthoglow (N,N′‐carbonylxanthobilirubic acid) diamides of trans‐1,2‐diaminocyclohexane are strongly fluorescent (ϕF = 0.37, λem = 500 nm, λex = 419 nm in CHCl3) but exhibit only weak exciton circular dichroism (CD). In contrast, the diamide of (1R,2R)‐diaminocyclohexane from the xanthoglow analogue whose propionic acid has been replaced by benzoic acid (N,N′‐carbonyl‐8‐(4‐carboxyphenyl)‐3‐ethyl‐2,7,9‐trimethyl‐(10H)‐dipyrrin‐1‐one) exhibits even stronger fluorescence (ϕF = 0.62, λem = 495 nm, λex = 422 nm in CHCl3) and UV–visible absorption (ε = 41,600 dm3·mol−1·cm−1 at 424 nm) in organic solvents. Its exciton CD (Δε = −13 dm3·mol−1·cm−1, λ = 432 nm; Δε = +2 dm3·mol−1·cm−1, λ = 382 nm) correlates with the exciton chirality rule. Chirality 17:316–322, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.