bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Therapeutic Efficacy of Carprofen (Rimadyl-V™) in 209 Clinical Cases of Canine Degenerative Joint Disease
Authors: Parker R. B. , Beale B. S. , Friedman R. L. , Holtsinger R. H. 
Published: March 2018

SummaryCarprofen (D,L-6-chlor-alphamethylcarbazole-2-acetic acid) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug with demonstrated therapeutic activity in the relief of clinical signs of degenerative joint disease in laboratory animal models and in human trials. The double-blind clinical study, reported herein, compared the therapeutic efficacy of carprofen with that of a placebo, in the acute relief of clinical canine degenerative joint disease. Twohundred and nine cases were collected from 10 studies in three geographic regions of the USA. The results of logistic analysis showed that dogs treated with carprofen were 24.8 times more likely to receive a positive evaluation by the veterinarian than those treated with a placebo (p <0.01). The odds of showing improvement, when evaluated by the owners, were 13.4 times greater than placebo (p <0.01). The evaluation from the veterinarian and the owner had excellent agreement (Kappa = 0.997) for dogs treated with carprofen and good agreement (Kappa = 0.667) for those treated with the placebo. Regional differences in response rate were not found in these studies. This trial demonstrated that carprofen is efficacious, across geographic regions, in the acute relief of clinical signs associated with canine degenerative joint disease.Carprofen is a new anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) with analgesic potency. Side effects reported are few. Dogs with degenerative joint disease (DSD) treated with carprofen were 24.8 times more likely to respond favourably than placebo-treated dogs (p <0.01). This study concluded that carprofen is an effective NSAID in relieving the clinical signs of DSD in dogs.
The Influence of Intratendinous Sodium Hyaluronate on Tendon Healing in Horses
Authors: Gaughan E. M. , DeBowes R. M. , Douglass J. P. , Frank R. K. , Klemm R. D. , Gift L. J. 
Published: March 2018

SummaryAcute tendinitis was created bilaterally in the mid-metacarpal region of the deep digital flexor tendons of six horses with intratendinous collagenase administration. The collagenase-induced lesion in one deep digital flexor tendon of each horse was injected 48 h later with 10.0 mg of sodium hyaluronate (1.0 ml) while employing ultrasound guidance. To serve as a control, the lesion in the contralateral deep digital flexor tendon was injected with 1.0 ml of 0.9% sodium chloride. Sequential ultra-sonographic examinations revealed that the sodium hyaluronate treated deep digital flexor tendons were significantly less enlarged and the collagenase-induced tendon lesions significantly smaller than control tendons and tendon lesions. Difference could not be detected between sodium hyaluronate treated tendons and control tendons using histological and video-interactive planar morphometric evaluation six weeks after treatment.Collagenase-induced tendinitis lesions were treated with intratendinous administration of sodium hyaluronate in six horses. The size of the tendon lesions and the amount of tendon enlargement were significantly less in the sodium hyaluronate treated tendons compared to control tendons. A significant difference in the rate or quality of healing was not detected in the sodium hyaluronate treated tendons.
Mandibular Coronoid Process Displacement: Signs, Causes, Treatment
Authors: Koole R. , Voorhout G. , Hazewinkel H. A. W. 
Published: March 2018

SummaryOpen-mout h locking due to lateral impingement of the mandibular coronoid process, lateral to the zygomatic arch, is described in five dogs and one cat. In order to elucidate the underlying cause of this abnormality, radiographs of temporomandibular joints of forty dogs, as well as the case history of a human patient, are compared. Three possible aetiologies are given, namely, flattening of the zygomatic arch, aberrant architecture of the condylar aspects, or contracture of the pterygoid muscle. An effective surgical treatment to prevent recur-rence of coronoid impingement was achieved by ostectomy of the locking part of the coronoid process.Unilateral protrusion of the mandible is described as a veterinary and comparative abnormality in five dogs, a cat and a woman. For the impingement of the coronoid process lateral of the zygomatic arch causing open-mouth locking in the animals, three aetiologies and an effective ostectomy of the coronoid process are given.
Zurück in die Gegenwart
Authors: Remmers C. , Heidenreich T. , Michalak J. 
Published: March 2018

ZusammenfassungAufgrund der hohen Rückfallwahrscheinlichkeit, die schon mit dem ersten Auftreten einer Depression gegeben ist, entwickelt sich die Störung häufig zu einem chronischen Leiden. Entsprechend wurden in den letzten Jahren Ansätze zur Prävention von Rückfällen entwickelt. Im vorliegenden Beitrag soll ein 8-wöchiges gruppentherapeutisches Rückfallpräventionsprogramm für Patienten mit mehr als drei depressiven Episoden in der Vergangenheit vorgestellt werden: Die Achtsamkeitsbasierte Kognitive Therapie. In diesem Programm sollen Patienten lernen, negative grüblerische Geisteszustände möglichst frühzeitig zu erkennen. Indem Patienten Achtsamkeit praktizieren, das heißt, indem sie sich bewusst dem Hier und Jetzt zuwenden, sollen sie lernen, aus den negativen Zuständen und Grübelprozessen auszusteigen. Die Behandlung basiert auf aktuellen Ergebnissen zum Rückfallgeschehen und hat sich in einer Reihe von Therapiestudien und Metaanalysen als wirksam zur Reduktion der Rückfallraten erwiesen.
Akzeptanz- und Commitment-Therapie
Authors: Eifert G. H. 
Published: March 2018

ZusammenfassungAkzeptanz- und Commitment-Therapie (ACT) ist ein therapeutischer Balance-ACT zwischen Akzeptanz und Veränderung. ACT ist transdiagnostisch und basiert auf den Ergebnissen zahlreicher Studien, die zeigen, dass ein Großteil psychischen Leidens Folge von Erlebensvermeidung ist. Kontrolle und Beseitigung unerwünschter Gedanken und Gefühle (Symptome) sind daher kein direktes Therapieziel. Anstatt mit unerwünschten schlecht zu kontrollierenden Gedanken und Gefühlen weiterhin zu kämpfen, lernen Patienten, (a) dass rigide unflexible Versuche aversives Erleben zu beseitigen keine Lösung, sondern das Problem sind; (b) zu unterscheiden, was sie eher kontrollieren und eher nicht kontrollieren können; (c) größere psychologische Flexibilität zu entwickeln durch das Praktizieren von achtsamer Akzeptanz, Bereitschaft und Defusion beim Auftauchen schwierigen Erlebens; (d) Lebensziele bzw. Werte zu identifizieren und in engagiertes Handeln umzusetzen und getroffene Vorsätze einzuhalten (commitment), (e) Erlebensbarrieren nicht zu bekämpfen, sondern sie freundlich mit auf den Weg zu nehmen. In der ACT stehen vor allem erlebensorientierte Methoden im Mittelpunkt (z. B. Ausspielen von Metaphern, Akzeptanzübungen). Eine ständig wachsende Zahl empirischer Untersuchungen unterstützt die Effektivität der ACT zur Behandlung eines breiten Spektrums psychischer Störungen.
Modeling Cancer Registration Processes with an Enhanced Activity Diagram
Authors: Williams W. , Lyalin D. 
Published: March 2018

Summary

Objectives:
Adequate instruments are needed to reflect the complexity of routine cancer registry operations properly in a business model. The activity diagram is a key instrument of the Unified Modeling Language (UML) for the modeling of business processes. The authors aim to improve descriptions of processes in cancer registration, as well as in other public health domains, through the enhancements of an activity diagram notation within the standard semantics of UML.

Methods:
The authors introduced the practical approach to enhance a conventional UML activity diagram, complementing it with the following business process concepts: timeline, duration for individual activities, responsibilities for individual activities within swimlanes, and descriptive text.

Results:
The authors used an enhanced activity diagram for modeling surveillance processes in the cancer registration domain. Specific example illustrates the use of an enhanced activity diagram to visualize a process of linking cancer registry records with external mortality files.

Conclusions:
Enhanced activity diagram allows for the addition of more business concepts to a single diagram and can improve descriptions of processes in cancer registration, as well as in other domains. Additional features of an enhanced activity diagram allow to advance the visualization of cancer registration processes. That, in turn, promotes the clarification of issues related to the process timeline, responsibilities for particular operations, and collaborations among process participants. Our first experiences in a cancer registry best practices development workshop setting support the usefulness of such an approach.
Design and Development of a Mobile System for Supporting Emergency Triage
Authors: Slowinski R. , Wilk S. , Farion K. J. , Pike J. , Rubin S. , Michalowski W. 
Published: March 2018

Summary

Objectives:
Our objective was to design and develop a mobile clinical decision support system for emergency triage of different acute pain presentations. The system should interact with existing hospital information systems, run on mobile computing devices (handheld computers) and be suitable for operation in weak-connectivity conditions (with unstable connections between mobile clients and a server).

Methods:
The MET (Mobile Emergency Triage) system was designed following an extended client-server architecture. The client component, responsible for triage decision support, is built as a knowledge-based system, with domain ontology separated from generic problem solving methods and used for the automatic creation of a user interface.

Results:
The MET system is well suited for operation in the Emergency Department of a hospital. The system’s external interactions are managed by the server, while the MET clients, running on handheld computers are used by clinicians for collecting clinical data and supporting triage at the bedside. The functionality of the MET client is distributed into specialized modules, responsible for triaging specific types of acute pain presentations. The modules are stored on the server, and on request they can be transferred and executed on the mobile clients. The modular design provides for easy extension of the system’s functionality. A clinical trial of the MET system validated the appropriateness of the system’s design, and proved the usefulness and acceptance of the system in clinical practice.

Conclusions:
The MET system captures the necessary hospital data, allows for entry of patient information, and provides triage support. By operating on handheld computers, it fits into the regular emergency department workflow without introducing any hindrances or disruptions. It supports triage anytime and anywhere, directly at the point of care, and also can be used as an electronic patient chart, facilitating structured data collection.
Markov Chain Modelling for Geriatric Patient Care
Authors: Faddy M. J. , McClean S. I. 
Published: March 2018

Summary

Objectives:
To show that Markov chain modelling can be applied to data on geriatric patients and use these models to assess the effects of covariates.

Methods:
Phase-type distributions were fitted by maximum likelihood to data on times spent by the patients in hospital and in community-based care. Data on the different events that ended the patients’ periods of care were used to estimate the dependence of the probabilities of these events on the phase from which the time in care ended. The age of the patients at admission to care and the year of admission were also included as covariates.

Results:
Differential effects of these covariates were shown on the various parameters of the fitted model, and interpretations of these effects made.

Conclusions:
Models based on phase-type distributions were appropriate for describing times spent in care, as the ordered phases had an interpretable structure corresponding to increasing amounts of care being given.
Enabling On-demand Real-time Functional MRI Analysis Using Grid Technology
Authors: Matsuo K. , Tanaka Y. , Sarmenta L. F. G. , Nakai T. , Bagarinao E. 
Published: March 2018

Summary

Objectives:
The analysis of brain imaging data such as functional MRI often requires considerable computing resources, which in most cases are not readily available in many medical imaging facilities. This lack of computing power makes it difficult for researchers and medical practitioners alike to perform on-site analysis of the generated data. This paper presents a system that is capable of analyzing functional MRI data in real time with results available within seconds after data acquisition.

Methods:
The system employs remote computational servers to provide the necessary computing power. System integration is accomplished by an accompanying software package, which includes fMRI analysis tools, data transfer routines, and an easy-to-use graphical user interface. The remote analysis is transparent to the user as if all computations are performed locally.

Results:
The use of PC clusters in the analysis of fMRI data significantly improved the performance of the system. Simulation runs fully achieved real-time performance with a total processing time of 1.089 s per image volume (64 x 64 x 30 in size), much less than the per volume acquisition time set to 3.0 s.

Conclusions:
The results show the feasibility of using remote computational resources to enable on-demand real-time fMRI capabilities to imaging sites. It also offers the possibility of doing more intensive analysis even if the imaging site doesn’t have the necessary computing resources.
More Up-To-Date Monitoring of Long-Term Survival Rates by Cancer Registries: An Empirical Example
Authors: Gefeller O. , Stegmaier C. , Ziegler H. , Brenner H. 
Published: March 2018

Abstract:A few years ago, a new method of survival analysis, denoted period analysis, has been developed to derive more up-to-date estimates of long-term survival rates of cancer patients, but this method has rarely been applied so far. Using empirical examples from the Saarland Cancer Registry, we illustrate how seriously traditional long-term survival estimates may lag behind survival expectations of newly diagnosed cancer patients in the case of recent improvement in prognosis, and to what extent this problem may be reduced by period analysis of survival. We conclude that period analysis should be more widely used for deriving more up-to-date long-term survival estimates.
A Prospective Evaluation of the Medical Consultation System CADIAG-II/RHEUMA in a Rheumatological Outpatient Clinic
Authors: Kiener H. P. , Kolarz G. , Schuh C. , Graninger W. , Adlassnig K.-P. , Leitich H. 
Published: March 2018

Abstract:To evaluate the performance of CADIAG-II/RHEUMA as consultant in the primary evaluation of patients visiting a rheumatological outpatient clinic, a CADIAG-II/RHEUMA consultation was done for 54 patients and the list of generated diagnostic hypotheses was compared to each clinical discharge diagnosis. For 26 of a total of 126 rheumatological discharge diagnoses, no matching CADIAG-II/RHEUMA diagnosis was available. 94% of all other discharge diagnoses were found in the list of CADIAG-II/RHEUMA hypotheses, 82% among the first third of the list of hypotheses and 48% among the first five hypotheses. We identified the following factors limiting the ability of CADIAG-II/RHEUMA to generate a comprehensive and correctly ranked list of diagnostic hypotheses: (1) a large percentage of patients with early stages of not clearly identified rheumatological conditions; (2) the limited number of CADIAG-II/RHEUMA diagnoses compared to the large number of known rheumatological conditions; (3) the fact that rheumato-logical diseases are rarely characterized by a single pathognomonic feature but are usually diagnosed by combinations of rather unspecific findings.
Notions of Reliability
Authors: De Bont A. A. , Adams S. A. 
Published: March 2018

Summary
Objectives: This article analyzes the efforts of three organizations to provide a standard that guides Internet users to reliable health care sites.
Methods: Comparison of health Internet sites, interviews and document studies.
Results: In comparing these approaches, three different constructions of reliability are identified.
Conclusions: The resulting possibilities and restrictions of these constructions for users that are searching for health information on the Internet are revealed.
Two Patient Care Information Systems in the Same Hospital: Beyond Technical Aspects
Authors: Solen I. , Hasman A. , Troost J. , Tange H. J. , van der Meijden M. J. 
Published: March 2018

Summary

Objectives:
To compare two clinical workstations in one hospital with respect to technical, organizational, cultural and human factors. One clinical workstation was a GUI to the HIS. The other was an electronic patient record for stroke.

Methods:
Data were collected by means of in-depth interviews with end-users of both clinical workstations. The interviews were audio taped and transcribed for analysis.

Results:
End users assessed both clinical workstations as user friendly. Coordination between health care workers was perceived to be enhanced. However, in both situations poor communication between management, implementers and users resulted in uncertainty and skepticism about future perspectives. Furthermore, it appeared that inpatient and outpatient settings needed clinical workstations with different requirements for an optimal fit between work practices and information system.

Conclusions:
Regardless of the domain and content of a workstation, it can support coordination between disciplines. The communication concerning the information technology strategy deserves much attention. Finally, the requirements for inpatient and outpatient workstations differ.
From a Urinalysis Strategy to an Evaluated Urine Protein Expert System
Authors: Ogurol Y. , Hofmann W. , Guder W. G. , Ivandic M. 
Published: March 2018

Abstract:Urine single protein analysis has developed into a routine method for the screening and monitoring of kidney diseases. In order to support clinical decision making by an interpretative report, a urine protein expert system (UPES) has been developed.Based on a database containing more than 500 excretion patterns, a modular knowledge base was extracted in production rules and implemented in a modern expert system shell. The resulting interpretation system has been thoroughly verified and validated. After the need of interpretation of the complex findings had been documented in a survey, its usability in routine and its knowledge representation was evaluated in 11 hospitals. A user conference confirmed a high quality level of the reports proposed by UPES. It revealed that the problem of automatic data transfer as well as the common definition of diagnostic terms by laboratorians and clinicians play a crucial role for the use of knowledge-based systems in laboratory medicine.
Spontaneous Fluctuations of Human Pupil Reflect Central Autonomic Rhythms
Authors: Censi F. , Lino S. , Cerutti S. , Calcagnini G. 
Published: March 2018

Abstract:Aim of this study is to assess whether and to what extent LF and HF rhythms contribute to spontaneous pupil diameter fluctuations at rest and during sympathetic activation by Head-Up Tilt Test 70°. ECG, Finapres and Respiration data from 10 normal subjects were recorded simultaneously to spontaneous pupil diameter fluctuations (SPDF). The respiratory rhythm and the LF component were clearly detected in all the SPDF series. The cross-spectrum analysis gave significant results (>0.5) in HF band. During tilt, a reduction in the total variability with a relative increase of the LF component was observed in HR, BP and SPDF signals. The multivariate analysis of the SPDF and of the cardiovascular variability series allows new insights into the physiology of pupil neural control. The effect of tilting on SPDF spectra and the physiological background of the pupil control are consistent with the hypothesis that pupil fluctuations reflect a generalized increase of the sympathetic tone.
AIDA – Experiences in Compensating the Mutual Weaknesses of Knowledge-based and Object-oriented Development in a Complex Dental Planning Domain
Authors: Weber R. , Haßfeld S. , Koke U. , Wetter T. , Finkeissen E. 
Published: March 2018

Summary

Objectives:
Dentistry is a discipline with two properties that pose a serious challenge to knowledge based decision support: (1) It has to integrate six sub-disciplines ranging from conservative measures to invasive disciplines, such as implantology; (2) A plan may have to cover a complex treatment often lasting one year or more. It is the aim of the AIDA-project1 to set up a planning strategy that is suited to incorporate all dental peculiarities in one methodology.

Methods:
Generic tasks, that can be assigned to individual persons involved in dental treatment, have been designed with the help of KADS. They have been integrated into a planning super-structure for the planning of all dental solution alternatives, that can principally be applied on the basis of the given patient status.

Results:
Besides an evaluation of the implemented planning system itself, it has been evaluated how well the development is supported by (1) knowledge-engineering methods and (2) object-oriented methods.

Conclusion:
Common knowledge-based tools are not powerful enough for the planning of complex dental constructions. Therefore, a solution combining object-oriented and knowledge-based methods is proposed.
Virtual Rehabilitation – Benefits and Challenges
Authors: Burdea G. C. 
Published: March 2018

Summary

Objectives:
To discuss the advantages and disadvantages of rehabilitation applications of virtual reality.

Methods:
VR can be used as an enhancement to conventional therapy for patients with conditions ranging from musculo-skeletal problems, to stroke-induced paralysis, to cognitive deficits. This approach is called “VR-augmented rehabilitation.” Alternately, VR can replace conventional interventions altogether, in which case the rehabilitation is “VR-based.” If the intervention is done at a distance, then it is called “telerehabilitation.” Simulation exercises for post-stroke patients have been developed using a “teacher object” approach or a video game approach. Simulations for musculo-skeletal patients use virtual replicas of rehabilitation devices (such as rubber ball, power putty, peg board). Phobia-inducing virtual environments are prescribed for patients with cognitive deficits.

Results:
VR-augmented rehabilitation has been shown effective for stroke patients in the chronic phase of the disease. VR-based rehabilitation has been improving patients with fear of flying, Vietnam syndrome, fear of heights, and chronic stroke patients. Telerehabilitation interventions using VR have improved musculo-skeletal and post-stroke patients, however less data is available at this time.

Conclusions:
Virtual reality presents significant advantages when applied to rehabilitation of patients with varied conditions. These advantages include patient motivation, adaptability and variability based on patient baseline, transparent data storage, online remote data access, economy of scale, reduced medical costs. Challenges in VR use for rehabilitation relate to lack of computer skills on the part of therapists, lack of support infrastructure, expensive equipment (initially), inadequate communication infrastructure (for telerehabilitation in rural areas), and patient safety concerns.