bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Text Genetics in Literary Modernism and Other Essays
Authors: Gabler Hans Walter 
Published: February 2018

This collection of essays from world-renowned scholar Hans Walter Gabler contains writings from a decade and a half of retirement spent in exploration of textual criticism, genetic criticism, and literary criticism. In these sixteen stimulating contributions, he develops theories of textual criticism and editing that are inflected by our advance into the digital era; structurally analyses arts of composition in literature as well as music; and traces the cultural implications discernible in book design, and in the societal processes of the canonisation of works of literature and their authors.
Distinctive and ambitious, these essays move beyond the development of concerns voiced in the community of critics and scholars. Gabler responds innovatively to the issues involved and often endeavours to re-think their urgencies through allowing orthodox tenets of national schools of textual criticism to converge and merge. He moves between a variety of topics, ranging from fresh genetic approaches to the work of James Joyce and Virginia Woolf, to significant contributions to the theorisation of scholarly editing in the digital age.
Written in Gabler’s fluent style, these rich and elegant compositions are essential reading for literary and textual critics, scholarly editors, readers of James Joyce, New Modernism specialists, and all those interested in textual scholarship and digital editing within the encompassing framework of Digital Humanities.
Prophylactic intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation before surgical myocardial revascularization in patients with acute myocardial infarction
Authors: Grieshaber Philippe , Schneider Tobias , Oster Lukas , Orhan Coskun , Roth Peter , Niemann Bernd , Böning Andreas 
Published: February 2018

Introduction: Prophylactic intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation (pIABC) is recommended for high-risk patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery. Criteria for high-risk patients benefiting from pIABC are unclear. This study aimed to specifically describe the effect of pIABC on outcomes of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) undergoing CABG. Methods: In 178 of 484 AMI patients (non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction [NSTEMI] or ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction [STEMI] ≤5 days before surgery) without cardiogenic shock who underwent CABG between 2008 and 2013, pIABC was initiated preoperatively. After propensity score matching, the outcomes of 400 patients were analyzed (pIABC: 150; Control: 250). Results: After propensity score matching, baseline and operative characteristics were balanced between the groups except for a higher rate of patients with a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF)≤30% in the pIABC group (26% vs. Control: 13%; p=0.032). Seven point two percent (7.2%) of the control patients received an IABP intraoperatively or postoperatively. Postoperative extracorporeal life support (ECLS) was only needed in the control group (1.2% vs. 0%; p=0.01). Postoperative plasma curves of troponin I, creatine kinase (CK) and creatine kinase isoform MB (CK-MB) levels were reduced in the pIABC group compared with the control group. In-hospital mortality was reduced in the pIABC group (3.3% vs. control: 6.4%; p=0.18). After multivariate adjustment for other preoperative risk factors, pIABC was significantly protective concerning in-hospital mortality (HR 0.56; 95%-CI 0.023-0.74; p=0.021). Mortality (pIABC vs. control) was more affected in patients with preoperative LVEF≤30% (2/36 (5.6%) vs. 6/31 (19%); heart rate (HR) 0.25; 95%-CI 0.046-1.3; p=0.13) compared with LVEF>30% (3/114 (2.6%) vs. 10/219 (4.6%); HR 0.56; 95%-CI 0.15-2.1; p=0.55). Long-term survival did not differ between the groups. Conclusions: pIABC in CABG for AMI is associated with reduced perioperative cardiac injury and in-hospital mortality. Long-term survival is not affected.
The interrelationships among pain interference, depressive symptoms, loneliness, and employment status: a moderated mediation study
Authors: Mugoya George CT , Hooper Lisa M , Tomek Sara , George Dalmida Safiya , Bolland Anneliese , Ufomadu Joy , Bolland John 
Published: February 2018

Objective: To explore the mediating effect of loneliness on the relationship between pain interference and depressive symptoms and to determine whether this mechanism is contingent on employment status. Design: Cross-sectional study. Subjects: A total of 876 adult caregivers of adolescents living in extremely impoverished conditions. Analysis: Mediation and moderated mediation analyses using standard path-analytic approaches. Results: The mean age of the sample was 39.0 (SD = 12.8) years and 80.7% ( n = 707) identified as female. Almost half (48.9%, n = 425) of the participants did not report any pain, while 32.5% ( n = 285) reported non-disabling pain, and 19.0% ( n = 166) reported disabling pain. The mean depressive symptoms score was 16.20 (SD = 10.6), and the mean loneliness score was 40.09 (SD = 10.5). Loneliness mediated the effect of both non-disabling and disabling pain on depressive symptoms. However, the indirect effect of pain interference on depressive symptoms through loneliness was more pronounced among participants reporting disabling pain (coefficient, 2.11; Boot 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.25–3.01)) than non-disabling pain (coefficient, 0.99; Boot 95% CI (0.25–1.76)). Moderated mediation results showed that the indirect effect of pain interference on depressive symptoms, via loneliness varied in magnitude as a function of employment status among participants reporting disabling pain but not those reporting non-disabling pain. Conclusion: Loneliness provides an important link in the relationship between depressive symptoms and pain interference. Furthermore, employment status is an important factor to consider, especially among individuals reporting disabling pain with comorbid depressive symptoms.
A framework for complexity in palliative care: A qualitative study with patients, family carers and professionals
Authors: Pask Sophie , Pinto Cathryn , Bristowe Katherine , van Vliet Liesbeth , Nicholson Caroline , Evans Catherine J , George Rob , Bailey Katharine , Davies Joanna M , Guo Ping , Daveson Barbara A , Higginson Irene J , Murtagh Fliss EM 
Published: February 2018

Background: Palliative care patients are often described as complex but evidence on complexity is limited. We need to understand complexity, including at individual patient-level, to define specialist palliative care, characterise palliative care populations and meaningfully compare interventions/outcomes. Aim: To explore palliative care stakeholders’ views on what makes a patient more or less complex and insights on capturing complexity at patient-level. Design: In-depth qualitative interviews, analysed using Framework analysis. Participants/setting: Semi-structured interviews across six UK centres with patients, family, professionals, managers and senior leads, purposively sampled by experience, background, location and setting (hospital, hospice and community). Results: 65 participants provided an understanding of complexity, which extended far beyond the commonly used physical, psychological, social and spiritual domains. Complexity included how patients interact with family/professionals, how services’ respond to needs and societal perspectives on care. ‘Pre-existing’, ‘cumulative’ and ‘invisible’ complexity are further important dimensions to delivering effective palliative and end-of-life care. The dynamic nature of illness and needs over time was also profoundly influential. Adapting Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory, we categorised findings into the microsystem (person, needs and characteristics), chronosystem (dynamic influences of time), mesosystem (interactions with family/health professionals), exosystem (palliative care services/systems) and macrosystem (societal influences). Stakeholders found it acceptable to capture complexity at the patient-level, with perceived benefits for improving palliative care resource allocation. Conclusion: Our conceptual framework encompasses additional elements beyond physical, psychological, social and spiritual domains and advances systematic understanding of complexity within the context of palliative care. This framework helps capture patient-level complexity and target resource provision in specialist palliative care.
Where Should I Start? On Default Values for Slider Questions in Web Surveys
Authors: Liu Mingnan , Conrad Frederick G. 
Published: February 2018

Web surveys have expanded the set of options available to questionnaire designers. One new option is to make it possible to administer questions that respondents can answer by moving an on-screen slider to the position on a visual scale that best reflects their position on an underlying dimension. One attribute of sliders that is not well understood is how the position of the slider when the question is presented can affect responses—for better or worse. Yet the slider’s default position is under the control of the designer and can potentially be exploited to maximize the quality of the responses (e.g., positioning the slider by default at the midpoint on the assumption that this is unbiased). There are several studies in the methodology literature that compare data collected via sliders and other methods, but relatively little attention has been given to the issue of default slider values. The current article reports findings from four web survey experiments ( n = 3,744, 490, 697, and 902) that examine whether and how the default values of the slider influence responses. For 101-point questions (e.g., feeling thermometers), when the slider default values are set to be 25, 50, 75, or 100, significantly more respondents choose those values as their answers which seems unlikely to accurately reflect respondents’ actual position on the underlying dimension. For 21- and 7-point scales, there is no significant or consistent impact of the default slider value on answers. The completion times are also similar across default values for questions with scales of this type. When sliders do not appear by default at any value, that is, the respondent must click or touch the scale to activate the slider, the missing data rate is low for 21- and 7-point scales but higher for the 101-point scales. Respondents’ evaluation of the survey difficulty and their satisfaction level with the survey do not differ by the default values. The implications and limitations of the findings are discussed.
Shared decision-making in psychiatry: a study of patient attitudes
Authors: Nott Josie , Mcintosh Aspen , Taube Clare , Taylor Mark 
Published: February 2018

Objectives: Shared decision-making (SDM) is promoted as beneficial in mental healthcare, despite a dearth of supportive evidence. We aimed to obtain patients’ perspective on SDM in a ‘real world’ hospital sample. Methods: Structured validated questionnaires were used to examine SDM with regard to treatment choices, and whether SDM influences attitudes towards treatment. The Mini-Mental State Examination was used to assess decision-making capacity. Results: A total of 109 individuals participated, with 60% reporting experiencing SDM. SDM positively correlated with positive attitudes to medication. Those detained under the Mental Health Act had lower levels of SDM. Conclusions: SDM leads to more positive attitudes towards medication and may improve adherence with treatment. SDM may particularly benefit those subject to involuntary treatment and is not onerous to practice.
Cryosurgery + 5% 5-Fluorouracil for Treatment of Superficial Basal Cell Carcinoma and Bowen’s Disease
Authors: Soong Laura C. , Keeling Christopher P. 
Published: February 2018

Background: Superficial basal cell carcinoma (sBCC) and squamous cell carcinoma in situ (SCCis) are 2 types of nonmelanoma skin cancers (NMSCs) that are amenable to treatment with topical 5-fluorouracil, cryosurgery, or topical imiquimod, among other destructive and surgical modalities. There are few studies examining the effectiveness of combination therapy with 5% 5-fluorouracil and cryosurgery for the treatment of sBCC and SCCis. Objectives: Our objective was to study the clinical cure rate achieved with the regimen of cryosurgery and a 3-week course of 5% 5-fluorouracil in the treatment of biopsy-proven sBCC and SCCis. Methods: A retrospective chart review of patients treated with cryosurgery and a 3-week course of 5% 5-fluorouracil was performed. Immunocompetent patients with biopsy-proven sBCC or SCCis who completed the treatment and attended a follow-up appointment at 6 months were included in the study. Results: On clinical examination, 30 sBCC lesions of the 34 that were assessed and 31 SCCis lesions of the 33 that were assessed demonstrated no evidence of recurrence. The clinical cure rates were found to be 73% (sBCC) and 82% (SCCis), with the inclusion of patients that were lost to follow-up. Conclusions: This approach may represent a suitable option for select patients for the treatment of SCCis. Further studies with a longer follow-up duration, documentation of histologic cure, and tolerability of this regimen for SCCis are needed. The effectiveness of cryosurgery and 5-fluorouracil for sBCC requires further study.
Atopy Associated With Positive Patch Test and Possible Allergic Contact Dermatitis
Authors: Kirchhof Mark G. , de Gannes Gillian C. 
Published: February 2018

Background: Atopy is a genetic predisposition to the development of allergic reactions and the increased production of immunoglobulin E (IgE) upon exposure to environmental antigens. Clinical manifestations of atopy include asthma, atopic dermatitis (AD), and allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (ARC). Objective: To determine if cutaneous delayed hypersensitivity reactions (CDHRs) as assessed by patch testing are higher among patients with a history of atopy and with a familial predisposition to atopy. Methods: For this study, we reviewed the patch test database of the UBC Contact Dermatitis Clinic over a 4-year time span. A personal history of asthma, AD, and ARC was recorded. In addition, a family history was obtained and manifestations of atopy in family members were noted. Results: A total of 1515 patients were included in this study. Our data show that the odds ratio (OR) of a positive patch test with a personal history of atopy was 1.39, while the OR of a positive patch test with a family history of atopy was 1.69. Conversely, a personal history of respiratory atopy did not significantly affect the probability of a positive patch test, with an OR of 1.03. Conclusion: We conclude from our study that patients with a personal or family history of atopy have an increased risk of allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). These results provide further evidence for the link between atopy and ACD and suggest that children of atopic parents should avoid potential contact allergens and would likely benefit from prophylactic emollient use.
Intensive care decision-making: Identifying the challenges and generating solutions to improve inter-specialty referrals to critical care
Authors: Power Nicola , Plummer Nicholas R , Baldwin Jacqueline , James Fiona R , Laha Shondipon 
Published: February 2018

Introduction Decision-making regarding admission to UK intensive care units is challenging. Demand for beds exceeds capacity, yet the need to provide emergency cover creates pressure to build redundancy into the system. Guidelines to aid clinical decision-making are outdated, resulting in an over-reliance on professional judgement. Although clinicians are highly skilled, there is variability in intensive care unit decision-making, especially at the inter-specialty level wherein cognitive biases contribute to disagreement. Method This research is the first to explore intensive care unit referral and admission decision-making using the Critical Decision Method interviewing technique. We interviewed intensive care unit ( n = 9) and non-intensive care unit ( n = 6) consultants about a challenging referral they had dealt with in the past where there was disagreement about the patient’s suitability for intensive care unit. Results We present: (i) a description of the referral pathway; (ii) challenges that appear to derail referrals (i.e. process issues, decision biases, inherent stressors, post-decision consequences) and (iii) potential solutions to improve this process. Discussion This research provides a foundation upon which interventions to improve inter-specialty decision-making can be based.
The role of early colonoscopy in patients presenting with acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Roshan Afshar Ira , Sadr Mo Seyed , Strate Lisa L. , Martel Myriam , Menard Charles , Barkun Alan N. 
Published: February 2018

Objective: The use of early colonoscopy in the management of acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding (LGIB) is controversial, with disparate evidence. We aim to formally characterize the utility of early colonoscopy (within 24 h) in managing acute LGIB. Design: A systematic literature search to August 2016 identified fully published and abstracts of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies assessing early colonoscopy in acute LGIB. Single-arm studies were also included to define incidence. Primary outcomes were overall rebleeding rates and time to rebleeding. Secondary outcomes included mortality, surgery, length of stay (LOS), definite cause of bleeding and adverse events (AEs). Odds ratios (OR) and weighted mean differences (WMD) were calculated. Results: Of 897 citations, 10 single-arm, 9 observational studies, and 2 RCTS were included (25,781 patients). Rebleeding was no different between patients undergoing early colonoscopy and controls (seven studies, OR = 0.89, 95% CI 0.49–1.62), or RCT data only (OR = 1.00, 95% CI 0.52–1.62). Early colonoscopy detected more definitive sources of bleeding (OR = 4.12, 95% CI 2.00–8.49), and was associated with shorter LOS colonoscopy (WMD = −1.52, 95% CI −2.54 to −0.50 days). No other differences were noted between early and late colonoscopy. AEs occurred in 4.0%, (95% CI 2.9%; 5.4%) of early colonoscopies. Included studies were of low quality, with significant heterogeneity for some outcomes. Conclusion: Early colonoscopy in acute LGIB does not decrease rebleeding, mortality or need for surgery, but is associated with increased detection of definitive sources of bleeding, shorter LOS, with low complication incidence. However, the quality of evidence is low, highlighting the need for additional high-level studies.
Analysis of psychosocial stress factors in patients with renal cancer
Authors: Draeger Désirée Louise , Sievert Karl-Dietrich , Hakenberg Oliver W. 
Published: February 2018

Background: The experience of stress in patients with cancer through helplessness and the suppression of emotions correlates with unfavorable disease prognosis. Significant distress can reduce survival probability as well as subjectively perceived poor quality of life. Currently, there are few data on psychological stress in patients with renal cancer and most studies focus on survival time. The aim of the study was to evaluate the psychosocial stress of patients with renal cancer with screening questionnaires for an inpatient psychosocial treatment program. Methods: Patients undergoing inpatient surgical or medical treatment for renal cancer were prospectively assessed for psychosocial stress with two standardized stress screening questionnaires used for the identification of the need for psychosocial care [NCCN Distress Thermometer (NCCN-DT), Hornheider Screening Instrument (HSI)]. Results: Seventy-four patients with a mean age of 65 years were assessed. The average NCCN-DT score was 4.8 (scale of 0–10) and did not correlate with tumor stage, sex or prognosis. According to the DT results, 27% of patients were in need of psychosocial care which was significantly higher than the self-reported need. The main stressors were anxiety (32%), pain (27%), nervousness (26%), sadness, worry and sleeping difficulties (20%). Conclusions: There is a significant number of patients with renal cancer with increased psychological distress and a consecutive need for psychosocial care. This is underreported and largely unrecognized by patients as well as physicians and nurses. Easy-to-use assessment tools can be very helpful in identifying patients in need and this information can be used to implement psychological support and thus improve patient care.
Intravesical instillations for the treatment of refractory recurrent urinary tract infections
Authors: Dutta Sonia , Lane Felicia 
Published: February 2018

Background: Treatment options for refractory recurrent urinary tract infections (UTI) are limited; therefore, we sought to determine if intravesical instillations with heparin effectively treat recurrent UTIs. Methods: Patients at an academic medical center who received intravesical instillations with heparin for recurrent UTIs/chronic cystitis between January 2011 and December 2015 were identified via International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) and Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) procedure codes. All cases were analyzed for frequency of UTIs during the treatment phase as well as for the subsequent 6 months after completion of therapy. Demographic, clinical and treatment related factors were then collected from the medical records to draw associations with success or failure of treatment. Results: Thirty-nine women were treated with heparin intravesical instillations for recurrent UTIs. The average age of the cohort was 68.38 years [range 25–88, standard deviation (SD) 12.92], with mean parity 2.38 (range 0–7, SD 1.55) and mean body mass index 27.85 (range 19.5–37.9, SD 4.84). A total of 84.6% completed the recommended 6-week treatment course while 69.2% went on to an additional maintenance phase. Twelve patients (30.8%) had a culture-proven UTI during the treatment phase. In the 6-month follow-up period, 46.2% of patients had at least one UTI with only seven patients (17.9%) meeting criteria for recurrent UTIs (two or more UTIs in 6 months). On univariable assessment, development of recurrent UTIs after completion of instillation therapy was associated with increasing age and vaginal estrogen use during the instillation treatment course. Conclusions: Intravesical instillation with heparin is an effective option to consider for the treatment of refractory recurrent UTIs.