bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Long-Term Outcomes From Repeated Smoking Cessation Assistance in Routine Primary Care
Authors: Bailey Steffani R. , Stevens Victor J. , Fortmann Stephen P. , Kurtz Stephen E. , McBurnie Mary Ann , Priest Elisa , Puro Jon , Solberg Leif I. , Schweitzer Rebecca , Masica Andrew L. , Hazlehurst Brian 
Published: March 2018

Purpose: To test the association between repeated clinical smoking cessation support and long-term cessation. Design: Retrospective, observational cohort study using structured and free-text data from electronic health records. Setting: Six diverse health systems in the United States. Participants: Patients aged ≥18 years who were smokers in 2007 and had ≥1 primary care visit in each of the following 4 years (N = 33 691). Measures: Primary exposure was a composite categorical variable (comprised of documentation of smoking cessation medication, counseling, or referral) classifying the proportions of visits for which patients received any cessation assistance (<25% (reference), 25%-49%, 50%-74%, and ≥75% of visits). The dependent variable was long-term quit (LTQ; yes/no), defined as no indication of being a current smoker for ≥365 days following a visit where nonsmoker or former smoker was indicated. Analysis: Mixed effects logistic regression analysis adjusted for age, sex, race, and comorbidities, with robust standard error estimation to account for within site correlation. Results: Overall, 20% of the cohort achieved LTQ status. Patients with ≥75% of visits with any assistance had almost 3 times the odds of achieving LTQ status compared to those with <25% visits with assistance (odds ratio = 2.84; 95% confidence interval: 1.50-5.37). Results were similar for specific assistance types. Conclusions: These findings provide support for the importance of repeated assistance at primary care visits to increase long-term smoking cessation.
Psychometric Properties of the FACIT-Pal 14 Administered in an Outpatient Palliative Care Clinic
Authors: Shinall Myrick C. , Ely E. Wesley , Karlekar Mohana , Robbins Samuel G. , Chandrasekhar Rameela , Martin Sara F. 
Published: March 2018

Background: The Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Palliative (FACIT-Pal) 14 instrument measures the quality of life in palliative care patients but its psychometric properties are not well characterized. Objectives: To establish the reliability and validity of the FACIT-Pal 14 in an outpatient palliative care clinic population. Methods: The FACIT-Pal 14 was administered to 227 patients in an outpatient palliative care clinic at a large, urban academic medical center. Internal consistency reliability was assessed with Crohnbach’s α, and principal component analysis was used to investigate for multiple underlying latent variables. Construct validity was tested by comparing mean scores in various subgroups. Results: The FACIT-Pal 14 has Crohnbach’s α of 0.76, which increases to 0.79 if 2 items are removed. Principal component analysis supports a single latent variable underlying the instrument. Significantly lower mean scores were found in patients with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) functional status 3 to 4 compared with patients with ECOG functional status 1-2 ( P = .007), in patients with life expectancy under 6 months compared to those with 6 months or greater ( P = .003), and in patients referred to clinic for pain and symptom management compared with patients referred for other reasons ( P = .038). Instrument scores did not significantly differ between men and women or between white and nonwhite patients ( P = .525 and P = .263, respectively). Conclusions: In an outpatient palliative care clinic population, the FACIT-Pal 14 has good internal consistency, but removal of 2 items would improve consistency. One latent variable underlies the instrument and there is evidence of construct validity.
Potential diagnostic value of fluorescein angiography and color Doppler imaging in primary open angle glaucoma
Authors: Mokbel Tharwat H. , Shahin Maha M. , El-Said Eglal M. , El-Ghaffar Wael M. Abd 
Published: March 2018

Purpose To evaluate absolute filling defects of the optic disc and color Doppler imaging (CDI) measurements in primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) to assess their diagnostic potentialities. Methods Twenty patients with POAG and 20 age- and sex-matched controls were included in this study. Fluorescein angiograms were performed and percentage of absolute fluorescein filling defects was calculated. Peak systolic velocity (PSV), end diastolic velocity (EDV), and resistive indices (RI) of the ophthalmic artery (OA), central retinal artery (CRA), and temporal and nasal short posterior ciliary arteries (TPCA, NPCA) were measured using CDI. Results Absolute filling defects of the optic nerve head and RI of CRA were significantly larger in patients with POAG (p<0.001). EDV of CRA, TPCA, and NPCA were significantly reduced in POAG (p<0.05). RI of OA, TPCA, and NPCA were significantly increased in patients with POAG (p<0.05). Absolute fluorescein filling defects percentages correlated with the RI of CRA and NPCA. They correlated negatively with EDV of CRA, NPCA, and TPCA. The diagnostic accuracy of the RI of CRA in glaucoma was 96% while that of absolute fluorescein filling defects percentages was 92%. Conclusions The combination of different techniques allows further interpretation of ocular circulatory changes in glaucoma and help in diagnosis of glaucoma. Further studies are needed for better understanding of the relationship between circulatory and neural loss.
Inflammatory mediators and posterior segment involvement in ocular Behçet disease
Authors: Ozdamar Yasemin , Berker Nilufer , Bahar Gul , Soykan Emel , Bicer Tolga , Ozkan Seyhan Sonar , Karakaya Jale 
Published: March 2018

Purpose To assess the serum level of mediators and their relation with posterior ocular involvement in patients with Behçet disease (BD). Methods This study was a prospective, institutional clinical trial including 43 patients with ocular BD. Patients were divided into two subgroups: those with active posterior segment involvement (Group A) and those with inactive ocular BD (Group B). Group A included patients with posterior uveitis (vitritis or chorioretinal involvement), while Group B included patients with no active intraocular inflammation within the last 3 months. Serum levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and spectrophotometric assay and compared among the groups by independent sample t test and Mann-Whitney U-test. Results Serum levels of the mediators in Group A (IL-6 [23.1 pg/mL], IL-8 [161.1 pg/mL], TNF-α [30.5 pg/mL], VEGF [455.9 pg/mL], MDA [10.7 μm]) were found to be significantly higher than those in Group B (IL-6 [12.2 pg/mL], IL-8 [48.4 pg/mL], TNF-α [18.6 pg/mL], VEGF [138.0 pg/mL], MDA [5.1 μm]). Conclusions This study demonstrated that increased serum levels of inflammatory mediators including IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, VEGF, and MDA were possibly involved in the development of posterior uveitis in BD.
Varicella endotheliitis: a case report
Authors: Khodabande Alireza 
Published: March 2018

Purpose To report a case of varicella endotheliitis. Methods An 18-year-old patient with varicella presented with photophobia and reduced vision in his left eye because of disciform corneal endotheliitis. Results Ocular symptoms and signs resolved completely except for small sectoral iris atrophy with combined antiviral and corticosteroid therapy. Conclusions We report a rare presentation of varicella.
Polyacrylic Acid Gel in Patients with Dry Eyes: A Randomised Comparison with Polyvinyl Alcohol
Authors: Bron A.J. , Mangat H. , Quinlan M. , Foley-Nolan A. , Eustace P. , Fsadni M. , Sunder Raj P. 
Published: March 2018

Purpose To compare the safety and efficacy of polyacrylic acid 0.2% (PAA) gel and polyvinylalcohol 1.4% (PVA) in the treatment of patients with dry eyes. Methods Eighty-nine patients with dry eyes were randomly allocated to treatment with either PAA (48) or PVA (41) in a prospective, investigator-masked study in two centres. The parameters assessed were daily frequency of instillation of the study medications, ocular signs and symptoms, tear film break up time, Schirmer's test values, local tolerance and global assessment of the improvement following treatment. Results The two groups were similar in patient demographics and study parameters at baseline. The total score of symptoms (gritty or foreign body sensation, burning sensation, dry eye sensation, photophobia, others) and signs (conjunctival hyperaemia, ciliary injection, corneal and conjunctival epithelial staining) was reduced significantly more by treatment with PAA than with PVA at both three and six weeks (p<0.0001). The daily frequency of instillation of PAA was significantly less than that PVA on 38 of the 41 (93%) study days. Both PAA and PVA were safe and equally well-tolerated except for blurred vision, usually mild and transient, on PAA. On global assessment of the improvement in their dry eye condition, significantly more PAA patients felt better on treatment at six (p=0.02) weeks compared with those on PVA. Conclusions Polyacrylic acid gel was as safe as and more effective than polyvinylalcohol in the treatment of patients with dry eyes.
Experimental Tractional Retinal Detachment: An Immunohistochemical Study
Authors: Basmak H. , Isiksoy S. , Topbas S. , Artan S. , Yurdakul S. 
Published: March 2018

Purpose This study investigated the pathogenesis of tractional retinal detachment associated with proliferative vitreoretinopathy in an experimental model, using immunohistochemical staining. Methods To produce tractional retinal detachment in rabbit eyes, homologous cultured fibroblasts obtained from the gluteal muscle fascia were injected intravitreously. Right eyes of 20 rabbits in the study group, and 7 rabbits in the control group were followed for 28 days at weekly intervals with indirect ophthalmoscopy and fundus photographs. Results During the follow-up period grade III tractional retinal detachment developed in 11 eyes, grade II in six, and grade 1 in three eyes. The spindle-shaped cells contributed predominantly to the development of epiretinal membrane, and a smaller number of round small and large cells. In 10/17 grade II and III eyes, spindle-shaped cells had vimentin, 7/10 had actin, 5/17 had GFAP, 4/17 had S-100 protein immunoreactivity. Round small and large cells expressed S-100 protein, GFAP and actin in 5/17 eyes. Epiretinal membrane appeared to be formed by spindle-shaped fibroblast-like cells and small and large round glia-like cells. Actin positivity of spindle-shaped and round cells was taken as a marker of contractile elements of the cells and their locomotional features. Conclusions These features are believed to be involved in contraction of the membrane and retinal detachment.
Diabetic Macular Edema
Authors: Cunha-Vaz J. 
Published: March 2018

Retinal edema is defined as any increase of water in retinal tissue resulting in an increase in its volume. This increase may be initially intracellular or extracellular. In the first case, there is cytotoxic edema. In the second, vasogenic edema, directly associated with an alteration of the blood-retinal barrier (BRB). Retinal thickness can now be measured, using the retinal thickness analyser (RTA). Similarly, local breakdown of the BRB can now be mapped using the retinal leakage analyser (RLA). The application of these methods to diabetic macular edema has shown that both types of retinal retinopathy edema occur in the initial stages of diabetic retinal disease. These observations suggest a role for neuroprotective and vasoprotective agents in the management of diabetic retinal disease.
Effects of Transforming Growth Factor-Beta 2, Interleukin 6 and Fibronectin on Corneal Epithelial Wound Healing
Authors: Er H. , Uzmez E. 
Published: March 2018

Purpose The aim of this study was to compare the effects of topically applied transforming growth factor-beta 2 (TGF-beta 2) and interleukin 6 (IL-6), alone and combined with fibronectin, on the rate of corneal wound healing in rabbits. Methods Twenty-eight rabbits were used for the experiment. After the right eye of each rabbit was debrided with n-heptyl alcohol, the animals were divided into four treatment groups (six rabbits per group) and one control group (four rabbits). The debrided eyes were treated, beginning immediately after wounding and continuing every 2 hours from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. for 48 hours. Group 1 received TGF-beta 2; group 2 IL-6; group 3, TFR-beta 2 and purified fibronectin; group 4, IL-6 and fibronectin; control group, balanced salt solution. At set intervals each eye was stained with fluorescein and photographed; epithelial defects were measured with a computer-assisted digitizer. The healing rate was calculated by linear regression analysis. Results The mean healing rates in groups 1, 2, 3, 4, and controls were respectively 1.65 ± 0.16, 1.68 ± 0.11, 1.99 ± 0.12, 2.23 ± 0.09, and 0.93 ± 0.18 mm2/h. Mean epithelial healing rates for all drug-treatment groups were significantly faster than controls. The healing rates of groups 3 and 4 were significantly faster than groups 1 and 2. Conclusions We conclude that cytokines, in combination with extracellular matrix proteins, facilitate corneal epithelial wound healing in vivo, possibly by making corneal epithelial cells more sensitive to fibronectin receptors.
The Value of Pre-Operative Screening for MRSA in the Reduction of Sepsis in Total Hip Replacement Associated with MRSA. A Prospective Audit
Authors: Sott A.H. , Jones R. , Davies S. , Cumberland N. 
Published: March 2018

This audit was set up at Frimley Park Hospital in 1996 to assess how screening patients for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) before total hip replacement would affect the post-operative rate of wound infection with this multi-resistant organism. Over 12 months, 123 patients were screened for MRSA during their pre-operative assessment for total hip replacement. Four ‘screen-positive’ patients were identified, treated and their surgery postponed until clearance; none developed MRSA - related problems. The wound infection rate did not significantly drop when compared to a similar unscreened patient cohort who had undergone total hip replacement the previous year.
Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Head (Part 2)
Authors: Steinberg M.E. 
Published: March 2018

Although there is no completely effective treatment for osteonecrosis (ON), core decompression is one of the more popular methods used to promote healing and retard progression. However, there has been considerable controversy about its safety and effectiveness. Published reports have indicated clinical success which has varied from 40 to 90 percent. We performed core decompression with supplementary cancellous bone grafting on 406 hips with ON. There were five complications in the entire series, including two hip fractures resulting from falls. Of 297 hips with a two to fourteen year follow-up, total hip replacement was required in only 36 percent of treated hips as compared to 77 percent of non-operated controls. The outcome was correlated with both the stage and the size of the necrotic lesion. Only 22 percent of the hips with small lesions required total hip replacement as compared to 39 percent with intermediate or large lesions. There was no correlation between outcome and the amount of pain present prior to surgery. Various modifications of core decompression have also been used to treat ON. These have included the use of supplementary grafts of various types, electrical stimulation, decalcified bone matrix, and bone morphogenic protein. Early results in limited series have been encouraging, but some of those techniques remain experimental. At the present time we feel that core decompression, with or without bone grafting, is a simple, safe, and established technique which is our first choice for the treatment of patients with earlier stages of ON. The role of vascularized fibular grafts is promising and the place of other new techniques is currently being evaluated.
Successful Multidisciplinary Interventions for Arterio-Venous Fistula Creation by the Pacific Northwest Renal Network 16 Vascular access Quality Improvement Program
Authors: Nguyen V.D. , Lawson L. , Ledeen M. , Treat L. , Buss J. , Barclay C. , Alford S. , Reus J. , Griffith C. 
Published: March 2018

Background In December 2001, 44.2% of hemodialysis (HD) patients in the Northwest Renal Network (NWRN 16) received dialysis using an arteriovenous fistula (AVF). Substantial differences were noted in percentages of patients with AVF, ranging from 5% to 90% of the facility population, suggesting wide variation in physician practice patterns within the Network. To address the needs of facilities having <40% AVF, NWRN 16 provided education and tools for their vascular access decision-makers to promote AVF creation. Methods In 2002, the Network sponsored 4 regional workshops targeted to nephrologists, vascular surgeons, dialysis nurses, and interventional radiologists. Results 46 facilities (43% of all Network facilities) had <40% AVF in use in December, 2001, dialyzing 2940 patients (Invited Units). Percent AVF in use in all the Invited Facilities increased from 31.3% pre-intervention to 39.8% at 1 year (p<0.001 vs pre) to 56.2% at four years: 79.8% increase in the prevalent AVF rate over a four-year period (95% confidence interval: 77.8% to 81.7%). Conclusion Low prevalent AVF rates in many NWRN 16 facilities may have resulted from differences in physician practice patterns. The success of Network 16 AVF Intervention demonstrates the effectiveness of Network education promoting multidisciplinary teamwork, innovative strategies to increase AVF rates among dialysis patients.
Insertion of Long-Term Tunneled Cuffed Hemodialysis Catheters via the External Jugular Vein by using a Simple, Safe and Reliable Surgical Technique
Authors: Skandalos I. , Amvrosiadis D. , Filippidis A. , Sioulis A. , Tsitsios T. , Mavromatidis K. , Hatzibaloglou A. 
Published: March 2018

Objective Description of our technique for the insertion of long-term tunneled cuffed hemodialysis (HD) catheters via the external jugular vein. Methods From December 1999 to August 2006, 357 long-term tunneled cuffed HD catheters were inserted in 308 patients, who were referred to us from various hospitals and clinics in Greece. About half of them (168, or 47%) were inserted via the external jugular vein. We describe our surgical technique for the insertion of long-term tunneled cuffed HD catheters via the external jugular vein. Results During our study, there was a gradual increase in using the external jugular vein as a method for the insertion of permanent HD catheters. In all cases, the intraoperative catheter blood flow was measured >300 ml/min. No major complications occurred. Conclusions Long-term tunneled cuffed HD catheters can be inserted via the external jugular vein by using an easy, simple, safe surgical technique. This procedure provides the possibility of using the internal jugular vein in the future.
Risk Factors for Yeast Superinfection in the Treatment of Suspected Exit Site Infections: A Case-Control Study
Authors: Oliveira L. , Graham J. , Lok C. , Macfarlane S. , Zimmerman D. 
Published: March 2018

Purpose The risk of infection can be reduced in hemodialysis (HD) patients with central venous catheters (CVCs) by using prophylactic intranasal mupirocin or polysporin at the exit site. However, there are concerns about the potential emergence of resistant microorganisms. The purpose of our study was to determine if the use of polysporin double in the treatment of exit site infections was associated with the emergence of yeast positive exit site cultures. Methods In this case control study, we evaluated the risk of developing yeast positive exit site cultures after introducing a polysporin medical directive for the treatment of presumed exit site infections in our HD units. All HD patients using a CVC for blood access at the Ottawa Hospital were eligible for study. Demographic variables, use of polysporin, antibiotics and immunosuppressive medications were compared between those patients with yeast positive exit site cultures and controls. Results There was no differences in age, gender or diabetic status between the cases and controls. However, the use of polysporin, antibiotics and immunocompromised status were associated with an increased risk of yeast positive exit site cultures. The relative importance of each of these factors could not be determined using this study design and requires future prospective study. Conclusions The emergence of yeast positive exit site cultures after the introduction of a new medical directive at a tertiary care hospital highlights the difference between medications used for prophylaxis and those used for treatment of CVC infections in high risk dialysis patients.
Public Journalism: The Media's Intellectual Journey
Authors: Hippocrates Cratis 
Published: March 2018

Journalism is important to public life: it helps to define public life and mediate debate about it through all its forms, from tabloid press to high-quality broadsheets, and news and current affairs programs. And while many scholars debate the vagaries of which theoretical approach best explains the media, the Public Journalism movement in the United States and Australia is an example of how theory can impact on the practice of journalism. Merritt (1996) describes Public Journalism as an ‘intellectual journey’. This paper develops that notion and reflects on how this kind of innovation can be an exemplar to media theorists and practitioners, as well as on how their respective traditions and critiques can evolve an new industry paradigm, designed to bring together the key stakeholders in public policy formulation: the media, political organisations and a range of community groups. The paper reviews Public Journalism as a movement from its origins in the late 1980s in the United States, refers to American examples of Public Journalism and details how readers, audiences, editors, community groups and political organisations have reacted to this news approach to doing journalism.