bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Aiming for the optimal bicarbonate prescription for maintenance hemodialysis therapy in end‐stage renal disease
Authors: Bozikas Andreas , Kiriakoutzik Iliana , Petrou Ioannis , Touroutzis Theodoros , Kitoukidi Eleni , Pisanidou Pinelopi , Vakiani Styliani , Georgilas Nikolaos , Martika Antigoni , Pangidis Panagiotis , Spaia Sofia 
Published: February 2019

AbstractIntroduction: Acidemia and alkalemia, as a result of gradual depletion of the body's buffers followed by rapid repletion during hemodialysis (HD), are linked to adverse consequences. We examined the acid‐base status with dialysis bath of higher bicarbonate (HC03−) concentration or standard HC03− bath plus oral HC03− supplementation.Methods: A total of 60 stable HD patients (pts) were evaluated according to their pre‐dialysis acid‐base status both before the first and the second session of the week dialyzed against standard base dialysate of 35 mmol/L. Those who presented predialysis HC03− <22 mmol/L (25 pts) were assigned to dialysis against bath of increased HC03− levels (37 mmol/L) for 2 weeks (period A) and subsequently to dialysis with the standard dialysate bath plus daily oral sodium bicarbonate at a dose of 5 g/day for 2 weeks (period B). Pre and post‐dialysis acid‐base status at each study period and relevant laboratory tests were recorded.Findings: Pre‐dialysis acid‐base values were similar between the first and the second dialysis session. Twenty‐five points had pre‐dialysis pH <7.35, while 42 (the younger ones) presented pre‐dialysis HC03− <22 mmol/L. After dialysis session 18 pts had pH >7.45. Comparing the two study periods, interdialytic weight was similar, pre‐dialysis HC03− levels were improved with oral bicarbonate, while post‐dialysis HC03− were higher during period A. Three pts could not tolerate the symptoms of alkalemia during period A.Discussion: The impact of conventional HC03− concentrations of 35 mmol/L results in a considerable degree of pre‐dialysis acidemia. Increasing the HC03− in bath results in more prominent post‐dialysis alkalemia, however, it is not sufficient to maintain acid‐base status during the interdialytic period. Oral bicarbonate supplement at a dose of 5 g/day (divided in three daily doses) results in a more balanced acid‐base status, avoiding post‐dialysis alkalemia.
Patient stakeholder engagement in research: A narrative review to describe foundational principles and best practice activities
Authors: Harrison James D. , Auerbach Andrew D. , Anderson Wendy , Fagan Maureen , Carnie Martha , Hanson Catherine , Banta Jim , Symczak Gina , Robinson Edmondo , Schnipper Jeffrey , Wong Celene , Weiss Rachel 
Published: February 2019

AbstractBackgroundHealth research is evolving to include patient stakeholders (patients, families and caregivers) as active members of research teams. Frameworks describing the conceptual foundations underlying this engagement and strategies detailing best practice activities to facilitate engagement have been published to guide these efforts.ObjectiveThe aims of this narrative review are to identify, quantify and summarize (a) the conceptual foundational principles of patient stakeholder engagement in research and (b) best practice activities to support these efforts.Search Strategy, Inclusion Criteria, Data Extraction and SynthesisWe accessed a publicly available repository of systematically identified literature related to patient engagement in research. Two reviewers independently screened articles to identify relevant articles and abstracted data.Main ResultsWe identified 990 potentially relevant articles of which 935 (94.4%) were excluded and 55 (5.6%) relevant. The most commonly reported foundational principles were “respect” (n = 25, 45%) and “equitable power between all team members” (n = 21, 38%). Creating “trust between patient stakeholders and researchers” was described in 17 (31%) articles. Twenty‐seven (49%) articles emphasized the importance of providing training and education for both patient stakeholder and researchers. Providing financial compensation for patient stakeholders’ time and expertise was noted in 19 (35%) articles. Twenty articles (36%) emphasized regular, bidirectional dialogue between patient partners and researchers as important for successful engagement.Discussion and ConclusionsEngaging patient stakeholders in research as partners presents an opportunity to design, implement and disseminate patient‐centred research. This review creates an overarching foundational framework for authentic and sustainable partnerships between patient stakeholders and researchers.
Exploring views of pharmacists on antibacterial prescribing: a Maltese perspective
Authors: Attard Pizzuto Maresca , Camilleri Liberato , Azzopardi Lilian M , Serracino-Inglott Anthony 
Published: February 2019

AbstractObjectivesTo investigate the perception of Maltese pharmacists to prescribe a selected number of antibiotics.MethodsA self-administered questionnaire entitled ‘Antibiotic Prescribing by Pharmacists’ was developed to study pharmacist perception to prescribing a selected number of antibacterial agents. The questionnaire was validated by a two-round Delphi technique and disseminated to all practising pharmacists (N = 930) during a 3-month period.Key findingsTwo hundred and nine pharmacists answered the questionnaire. The majority of pharmacists (77%) were in agreement with pharmacists prescribing a selected number of antibacterials. Reasons given are that pharmacist prescribing would increase recognition of the participation of pharmacists within patient care and as members of the healthcare team. Protocol-based prescribing was the preferred model for prescribing by 60% of pharmacists. Half of the respondents (50%) feel competent to prescribe, 34% have no opinion and 16% do not feel competent at all. Co-amoxiclav for an uncomplicated upper respiratory tract infection was the antibacterial that most pharmacists (51%) feel confident prescribing. When pharmacists were asked whether they feel comfortable prescribing other medications rather than antibacterials, 93% answered positively, with 83% feeling mostly comfortable prescribing lactulose solution.ConclusionPharmacists in Malta are in agreement with prescribing selected antibiotics for minor ailments. A collaborative approach between medical practitioners and pharmacists should be evaluated as a possible national structure towards achieving better antibiotic prescribing whilst giving patient access to the use of antibacterials as necessary.
PECAM‐1 modulates liver damage induced by synergistic effects of TNF‐α and irradiation
Authors: Malik Gesa , Wilting Jörg , Hess Clemens Friedrich , Ramadori Giuliano , Malik Ihtzaz Ahmed 
Published: February 2019

AbstractThe mechanisms of radiation‐induced liver damage are poorly understood. We investigated if tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐α acts synergistically with irradiation, and how its activity is influenced by platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule‐1 (PECAM‐1). We studied murine models of selective single‐dose (25 Gy) liver irradiation with and without TNF‐α application (2 μg/mouse; i.p.). In serum of wild‐type (wt)‐mice, irradiation induced a mild increase in hepatic damage marker aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in comparison to sham‐irradiated controls. AST levels further increased in mice treated with both irradiation and TNF‐α. Accordingly, elevated numbers of leucocytes and increased expression of the macrophage marker CD68 were observed in the liver of these mice. In parallel to hepatic damage, a consecutive decrease in expression of hepatic PECAM‐1 was found in mice that received radiation or TNF‐α treatment alone. The combination of radiation and TNF‐α induced an additional significant decline of PECAM‐1. Furthermore, increased expression of hepatic lipocalin‐2 (LCN‐2), a hepatoprotective protein, was detected at mRNA and protein levels after irradiation or TNF‐α treatment alone and the combination of both. Signal transducer and activator of transcription‐3 (STAT‐3) seems to be involved in the signalling cascade. To study the involvement of PECAM‐1 in hepatic damage more deeply, the liver of both wt‐ and PECAM‐1‐knock‐out‐mice were selectively irradiated (25 Gy). Thereby, ko‐mice showed higher liver damage as revealed by elevated AST levels, but also increased hepatoprotective LCN‐2 expression. Our studies show that TNF‐α has a pivotal role in radiation‐induced hepatic damage. It acts in concert with irradiation and its activity is modulated by PECAM‐1, which mediates pro‐ and anti‐inflammatory signalling.
Longitudinal assessment of exercise capacity and quality of life outcome measures in cystic fibrosis: A year‐long prospective pilot study
Authors: Bhatia Rajeev , Kaye Melissa , Roberti‐Miller Adria 
Published: February 2019

AbstractBackgroundMultiple outcomes measures including exercise capacity and quality of life are necessary to get complete and accurate picture of cystic fibrosis (CF) progression. In this pilot study, we investigated these measures in CF longitudinally for a year to determine (a) minimal clinically important difference (MCID) for 6‐minute walk distance (6MWD) and CF Health‐Related Quality of Life Questionnaire (CFQ‐R) domains and (b) how 6MWD, CFQ‐R, and spirometry change during times of exacerbation and baseline health and their relationship among each other.MethodsSubjects with moderate and severe CF (baseline FEV1 less than 70% predicted) at Akron Children's Hospital CF centre were followed for a full year longitudinally. All three tests (6MWT, CFQ‐R, and spirometry) were done during each outpatient visit and weekly during inpatient admission. MCID was estimated for these parameters using distribution‐based methods. Finally, data were examined visually using longitudinal graphs for each subject.ResultsTwelve CF subjects (eight [67%] males and age range 13‐46 years) were followed for a full year resulting in at least four encounters per subject. 6MWD (m) and CFQ‐R respiratory had an MCID of 33 m and 7.3, respectively. MCIDs for FEV1 (percentage predicted) and CFQ‐R physical were 7.1 and 11.4, respectively. The longitudinal evaluation of multiple outcome measures during periods of disease exacerbation and baseline health showed that these parameters did not appear to change in accordance with each other.ConclusionIn this pilot study, MCIDs for 6MWD and CFQ‐R domains were calculated for the first time to facilitate their use as additional outcome measures in CF. The disparity among multiple outcome measures highlights that these measures together may provide a more complete picture in CF than any single measure alone.
Vessel Wall MRI Added to MR Angiography in the Evaluation of Suspected Vasculopathies
Authors: Song Jae W. , Obusez Emmanuel C. , Raymond Scott B. , Rafla Samuel D. , Schaefer Pamela W. , Romero Javier M. 
Published: February 2019

ABSTRACTBACKGROUND AND PURPOSEWe hypothesized that vessel wall MR imaging (VWI) with 3D‐time‐of‐flight magnetic resonance imaging (3D‐TOF‐MRA) together increases the ability to detect abnormal intracranial vessel segments compared to 3D‐TOF‐MRA alone.METHODSNinety‐three consecutive subjects with a clinical history of suspected vasculopathy imaged with both VWI and 3D‐TOF‐MRAs were retrospectively reviewed. The 3D‐TOF‐MRAs were reviewed by two independent neuroradiologists classifying arterial segments as normal or abnormal based on caliber changes. Following a 2‐week wash‐out period, the 3D‐TOF‐MRAs with VWI together were re‐evaluated for caliber changes and/or vessel wall enhancement. A third neuroradiologist served as consensus. Significance was assessed by McNemar's test.RESULTSForty‐two subjects with VWI and 3D‐TOF‐MRAs met the inclusion criteria. By 3D‐TOF‐MRA alone, 12.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 10.7‐15.1) of the arterial segments were identified as abnormal compared to 20.8% (95% CI, 18.2‐23.4) by VWI and 3D‐TOF‐MRA together (P < .0001).CONCLUSIONS3D‐TOF‐MRA and VWI together identifies a higher number of abnormal vessel segments than 3D‐TOF‐MRA alone and may provide a more accurate assessment of disease burden.
Ability to control directional lip‐closing force during voluntary lip pursing in healthy young adults
Authors: Miyamoto Takeshi , Yamada Kazuhiro , Hijiya Keiko , Kageyama Toru , Kato Takafumi , Sugo Hideaki , Shimono Ryosuke , Masuda Yuji 
Published: February 2019

SummaryBackgroundIt is considered important to evaluate the ability to control lip‐closing force (LCF).ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the ability to control directional LCF.MethodsThe experimental system included an apparatus developed to measure LCF during lip pursing in eight directions (upper, lower, right, left and the four directions in between) and a display showing the exerted LCF and a target value in each direction in real time. Twenty subjects (10 men and 10 women) were instructed to maintain the LCF at a specific target value using visual feedback. Based on our preliminary experiments, the target value was set as 50% of the maximum LCF, and the range was set at the target value ±8%. The accuracy rate was defined as the ratio of the matched time, in which the subject was able to keep the LCF in the target range, to the total 3 seconds.ResultsThe accuracy rate of men was higher than in women in the lower, lower left and lower right directions. The accuracy rate of the directional LCF differed significantly depending on the direction. In assessing the accuracy rate for each directional LCF, the rates of upper and lower directional LCF were significantly higher than those of oblique directional LCF. No significant relationship was observed between the accuracy rate and the maximum LCF except for one direction in men subjects.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that the ability to control directional LCF is affected by sex and the force direction.
The Invisible Hand is an Ideology: Toward a Social Psychology of Neoliberalism
Authors: Bettache Karim , Chiu Chi‐Yue 
Published: February 2019

AbstractOn the one hand, neoliberalism, originally an economic theory, has evolved into a sociopolitical ideology and extended its hegemonic influence to all areas of life, including the production of psychological knowledge in academia and the practice of psychology in various domains. On the other hand, neoliberalism has been criticized as the root of all problems in contemporary societies. Widespread discontent with neoliberalism is seen as the catalyst for the rising popularity of populism, the election of Donald Trump in the United States, and the Brexit referendum. The discontent with neoliberalism has also inspired imaginations of what a postneoliberal society may be like, as evidenced by the rise of neosocialists such as Alexandria Ocasio‐Cortez in the United States or Jeremy Corbyn in the United Kingdom. In this issue, we have gathered multidisciplinary insights to answer questions that would constitute a preliminary agenda of a social psychology of neoliberalism. These questions include: how neoliberalism can be studied social psychologically? What are the neoliberalist constraints on knowledge creation and social practices? How can social psychology shed light on the psychological responses to the hegemonic impact of neoliberalism and contribute to the imagination of a postneoliberal world? In short, is social psychology of neoliberalism a feasible and useful intellectual project for producing actionable social knowledge?
Growth performance, biochemical, cytological and molecular aspects of rabbits exposed to lead toxicity
Authors: Taha Heba S. A. , Abdelnour Sameh A. , Alagawany Mahmoud 
Published: February 2019

AbstractHeavy metals have enormous variety of deleterious effects on many organs in the body. This study demonstrated the toxic influences of lead on the growth, biochemical, cellular and molecular aspects of developing rabbits. Seventy‐five rabbits (New Zealand NZW) were divided into five equal groups as follows; control (C) and four treatment groups (T1‐4) orally administered lead acetate solution as follow T1: 20, T2: 30, T3: 50 and T4: 70 mg/kg body weight. Lead resulted in a significant decrease in live body weight, daily body weight gain and feed intake in T3 and T4 compared to those in other groups. Blood haematology measurements such as red blood cells, haematocrit (HCT), mean corpuscular volume, platelet, white blood cells and lymphocytes were significantly influenced by the high level of lead. Oral administration of lead significantly reduced total proteins in the serum. It was observed that the high lead level led to significantly (p < 0.05) increased levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase enzymes, urea and creatinine. Four random amplified polymorphic DNA primers polymorphism were detected among the treatment groups. Total number of induced bands (loss or appearance) compared with control group were 4, 10, 10 and 14 bands using primers P1, P2, P3 and P4 respectively. Number of micronuclei showed a dose–response increase and the difference was highly significant especially between control compared with T3 and T4 groups. From our results, we can conclude that exposure of rabbits to lead acetate resulted in negative effects on the growth performance and altered the haematological and biochemical parameters, in addition to its adverse impact on cytological and molecular characterization of animals.
Accuracy of self‐monitoring: does experience, ability or case difficulty matter?
Authors: Hautz Wolf E , Schubert Sebastian , Schauber Stefan K , Kunina‐Habenicht Olga , Hautz Stefanie C , Kämmer Juliane E , Eva Kevin W 
Published: February 2019

ContextThe ability to self‐monitor one's performance in clinical settings is a critical determinant of safe and effective practice. Various studies have shown this form of self‐regulation to be more trustworthy than aggregate judgements (i.e. self‐assessments) of one's capacity in a given domain. However, little is known regarding what cues inform learners’ self‐monitoring, which limits an informed exploration of interventions that might facilitate improvements in self‐monitoring capacity. The purpose of this study is to understand the influence of characteristics of the individual (e.g. ability) and characteristics of the problem (e.g. case difficulty) on the accuracy of self‐monitoring by medical students.MethodsIn a cross‐sectional study, 283 medical students from 5 years of study completed a computer‐based clinical reasoning exercise. Confidence ratings were collected after completing each of six cases and the accuracy of self‐monitoring was considered to be a function of confidence when the eventual answer was correct relative to when the eventual answer was incorrect. The magnitude of that difference was then explored as a function of year of seniority, gender, case difficulty and overall aptitude.ResultsStudents demonstrated accurate self‐monitoring by virtue of giving higher confidence ratings (57.3%) and taking a shorter time to work through cases (25.6 seconds) when their answers were correct relative to when they were wrong (41.8% and 52.0 seconds, respectively; p< 0.001 and d > 0.5 in both instances). Self‐monitoring indices were related to student seniority and case difficulty, but not to overall ability or student gender.ConclusionsThis study suggests that the accuracy of self‐monitoring is context specific, being heavily influenced by the struggles students experience with a particular case rather than reflecting a generic ability to know when one is right or wrong. That said, the apparent capacity to self‐monitor increases developmentally because increasing experience provides a greater likelihood of success with presented problems.
Transformative learning as pedagogy for the health professions: a scoping review
Authors: Van Schalkwyk Susan C , Hafler Janet , Brewer Timothy F , Maley Moira A , Margolis Carmi , McNamee Lakshini , Meyer Ilse , Peluso Michael J , Schmutz Ana MS , Spak Judy M , Davies David ,   the Bellagio Global Health Education Initiative
Published: February 2019

ContextTransformative learning (TL) has been described as learning that challenges established perspectives, leading to new ways of being in the world. As a learning theory it has resonated with educators globally, including those in the health professions. Described as a complex metatheory, TL has evolved over time, eliciting divergent interpretations of the construct. This scoping review provides a comprehensive synthesis of how TL is currently represented in the health professions education literature, including how it influences curricular activities, to inform its future application in the field.MethodsArksey and O'Malley's six‐step framework was adopted to review the period from 2006 to May 2018. A total of 10 bibliographic databases were searched, generating 1532 potential studies. After several rounds of review, first of abstracts and then of full texts, 99 studies were mapped by two independent reviewers onto the internally developed data extraction sheet. Descriptive information about included studies was aggregated. Discursive data were subjected to content analysis.ResultsA mix of conceptual and empirical research papers, which used a range of qualitative methodologies, were included. Studies from the USA, the UK and Australia were most prevalent. Insights relating to how opportunities for TL were created, how it manifests and influences behaviour, as well as how it is experienced, demonstrated much congruency. Conceptions of TL were seen to be clustered around the work of key theorists.ConclusionsThe training of health professionals often takes place in unfamiliar settings where students are encouraged to be active participants in providing care. This increases the opportunity for exposure to learning experiences that are potentially transformative, allowing for a pedagogy of uncertainty that acknowledges the complexity of the world we live in and questions what we believe we know about it. TL provides educators in the health professions with a theoretical lens through which they can view such student learning.
Theory to Practice: Reflections on a Consulting Life
Authors: Druckman Daniel 
Published: February 2019

AbstractIn this essay, I recount my career experiences as a research consultant in Washington DC. These experiences, over the course of 23 years, provide examples of how theory and research can be used to guide practice. The account is chronological, beginning with my first consulting assignment in 1975, where I worked with a US delegation on resolving a negotiation impasse, to the 1990s where I directed study groups on a variety of human performance and international conflict resolution topics. These projects consisted both of applications of research‐based knowledge and the generation of research ideas for new projects. By immersing myself in both theory and practice, I could transform basic research into applied insights and induce research ideas from practice. This was the kind of career that Jeff Rubin aspired to having. The IACM Rubin award recognizes the way that his aspiration was fulfilled by one of his colleagues.
The Double Helix of Theory and Practice: Celebrating Stephen J. Goldberg as a Scholar, Practitioner, and Mentor
Authors: Olekalns Mara , Shestowsky Donna , Skratek Sylvia P. , De Pauw Ann‐Sophie 
Published: February 2019

AbstractIn this tribute to the 2014 recipient of the International Association for Conflict Management's Rubin Theory‐to‐Practice Award recipient, we celebrate the multifaceted contributions of Stephen J. Goldberg. The contributors highlight the role that he has played as a mentor inspiring young scholars, as a champion for grievance mediation, a designer of dispute resolution systems including the enduring power–rights–interests framework, and as a scholar. The article closes with reflections from Steve Goldberg about the intertwined nature of theory and practice, the ongoing cycle in which each informs the other and in which each makes the other stronger.