bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Uveitis: a sight-threatening disease which can impact all systems
Authors: Krishna Unnat , Ajanaku Deji , Denniston Alastair K , Gkika Theodora 
Published: September 2017

ABSTRACTUveitis describes a group of conditions characterised by intraocular inflammation. The term uveitis technically describes inflammation of the uvea which comprises the iris, ciliary body and choroid, however now encompasses inflammation of adjacent intraocular structures such as the retina, vitreous and optic nerve. Uveitis is a significant cause of blindness worldwide, but its impact is generally underappreciated due to a lack of awareness and understanding of the condition among the public and most non-ophthalmic healthcare professionals. In this review, we provide an introduction to uveitis for the non-specialist, outlining the clinical presentations that should raise the suspicion of the disease, the signs that should be looked for and a framework in which to understand the condition. We show how a logical approach to classifying uveitis by aetiology and anatomical focus of disease provides the basis for treatment strategies (drug and route of administration) and clinical presentation and prognosis. We also show why understanding uveitis is helpful to clinicians working in almost every speciality due to the wide-ranging associations with systemic disease.
Interventions for smoking cessation in patients admitted with Acute Coronary Syndrome: a review
Authors: Chehab Omar M , Dakik Habib A 
Published: September 2017

AbstractTobacco smoking contributes to about six million deaths per year and is predicted to increase in the future. Several pharmacological interventions are used for smoking cessation. Trials using nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) showed inconclusive results. Furthermore, three trials using bupropion in patients admitted with ACS failed to show improvement in smoking cessation compared with placebo. Interestingly, only one trial using varenicline was successful in achieving smoking abstinence in the acute setting. With regard to behavioural interventions, a meta-analysis found that telephone counselling was successful in both the acute and stable settings, with greater effect in the acute setting. The best results for smoking cessation were found in trials that used a combination of pharmacological and behavioural interventions. The objective of this report is to review the results of studies on interventions used for smoking cessation after an ACS.
The application and mechanism of PD pathway blockade for cancer therapy
Authors: Wang Xing , Huang Shan , Zhang Ya , Zhu Lin , Wu Xiaoliang 
Published: September 2017

AbstractResearch in cancer therapeutics has achieved major progress in the understanding of the tumour-immunity cycle, which controls the delicate balance between the immune system and tumour. Identification of cancer cell T-cell inhibitory signals, including PD-L1, has generated novel insight into how to reinvigorate the patients’ immune cells to respond to a variety of tumour types. PD-1 and PD-L1 (PD) inhibitory pathway blockade appears to a highly promising therapy and could accomplish durable anti-tumour responses with a reasonable toxicity profile. Some of the FDA-approved mAbs can reverse the negative regulators from tumour cells and antigen presenting cells of T-cell function to treat some cancer types by blocking the PD signalling pathway,especially advanced solid tumours. Emerging clinical data suggest that cancer immunotherapy will become a significant part of the clinical treatment of cancer.
Unique manifestations and risk factors of Jarisch–Herxheimer reaction during treatment of child congenital syphilis
Authors: Wang Caiying , He Shuxin , Yang Hongling , Liu Yuhuan , Zhao Yang , Pang Lin 
Published: September 2017

ObjectivesThe objective of this retrospective study was to summarise the clinical manifestations of, and to analyse the incidence and risk factors of, Jarisch–Herxheimer reaction (JHR) during the treatment of children with symptomatic congenital syphilis.MethodsClinical data of 60 children with clinically and laboratory diagnosed congenital syphilis, hospitalised in Beijing Ditan Hospital between January 2010 and November 2015, were collected and analysed.ResultsA total of 11 patients with congenital syphilis (11/60, 18.3%) developed JHR. JHR occurred in 1–6 hour after the first dose of penicillin. Common clinical manifestations included fever (11/11, 100%), irritability (11/11, 100%), rapid pulse and breathing (11/11, 100%), exacerbation of existing rash (5/11, 45.6%) and chills (3/11, 27.3%). Of the 11 patients who developed JHR, 9 patients (9/11, 81.8%) had bone syphilis, 10 (10/11, 90.9%) had more than three organs affected by syphilis and 10 (10/11, 90.9%) had a high plasma concentration of rapid plasma reagin (RPR) (≥1:256); these percentages were significantly higher than in patients who had not developed JHR (p<0.05), suggesting that the occurrence of JHR was related to bone syphilis, having more than three organs affected by syphilis and a high plasma concentration of RPR.ConclusionsClinicians should be familiar with the risk factors for this reaction and its common clinical manifestations.
Impact of point-of-care management on the transmission of anogenital gonococcal infections among men who have sex with men in Amsterdam: a mathematical modelling and cost-effectiveness study
Authors: Bartelsman Menne , Vaughan Kelsey , van Rooijen Martijn S , de Vries Henry J C , Xiridou Maria 
Published: September 2017

ObjectivePoint-of-care (POC) management may avert ongoing transmissions occurring between testing and treatment or due to loss to follow-up. We modelled the impact of POC management of anogenital gonorrhoea (with light microscopic evaluation of Gram stained smears) among men who have sex with men (MSM) on gonorrhoea prevalence and testing and treatment costs.MethodsData concerning costs and sexual behaviour were collected from the STI clinic of Amsterdam. With a deterministic model for gonorrhoea transmission, we calculated the prevalence of gonorrhoea in MSM in Amsterdam and the numbers of consultations at our clinic over 5 years, in three testing scenarios: POC for symptomatic MSM only (currently routine), POC for all MSM and no POC for MSM.ResultsAmong MSM, 34.7% (109/314) had sexual contacts in the period between testing and treatment, of whom 22.9% (25/109) had unprotected anal intercourse. Expanding POC testing from symptomatic MSM to all MSM could result in an 11% decrease (IQR, 8%–15%) in gonorrhoea prevalence after 5 years and a cost increase of 8.6% (€2.40) per consultation and €86 118 overall (+8.3%). Switching from POC testing of symptomatic MSM to no POC testing could save €1.83 per consultation (6.5%) and €54 044 (−5.2%) after 5 years with a 60% (IQR, 26%–127%) gonorrhoea prevalence increase. Overtreatment was 2.1% (30/1411) with POC for symptomatic MSM only and 4.1% (68/1675) with POC for all MSM.ConclusionsIn the Amsterdam setting, possible abandonment of POC testing of symptomatic MSM because of budget cuts could result in a considerable increase in gonorrhoea prevalence against a reduction in costs per consultation. Expanding POC testing to all MSM could result in a modest reduction in prevalence and a cost increase. While the costs and outcomes depend on specific local characteristics, the developed framework of this study is useful to evaluate POC management in other settings.
Binding of FUN14 Domain Containing 1 With Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate Receptor in Mitochondria-Associated Endoplasmic Reticulum Membranes Maintains Mitochondrial Dynamics and Function in Hearts in Vivo
Authors: Wu Shengnan , Lu Qiulun , Wang Qilong , Ding Ye , Ma Zejun , Mao Xiaoxiang , Huang Kai , Xie Zhonglin , Zou Ming-Hui 
Published: September 2017

Background:
FUN14 domain containing 1 (FUNDC1) is a highly conserved outer mitochondrial membrane protein. The aim of this study is to examine whether FUNDC1 modulates the mitochondria-associated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membranes (MAMs), mitochondrial morphology, and function in cardiomyocytes and intact hearts.

Methods:

The impacts of FUNDC1 on MAMs formation and cardiac functions were studied in mouse neonatal cardiomyocytes, in mice with cardiomyocyte-specific
Fundc1
gene knockout (
Fundc1

f/Y

/Cre

αMyHC+/−

), and in the cardiac tissues of the patients with heart failure.

Results:

In mouse neonatal cardiomyocytes and intact hearts, FUNDC1 was localized in MAMs by binding to ER-resided inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate type 2 receptor (IP
3
R2).
Fundc1
ablation disrupted MAMs and reduced the levels of IP
3
R2 and Ca
2+
in both mitochondria and cytosol, whereas overexpression of
Fundc1
increased the levels of IP
3
R2 and Ca
2+
in both mitochondria and cytosol. Consistently,
Fundc1
ablation increased Ca
2+
levels in ER, whereas
Fundc1
overexpression lowered ER Ca
2+
levels. Further,
Fundc1
ablation in cardiomyocytes elongated mitochondria and compromised mitochondrial functions. Mechanistically, we found that
Fundc1
ablation-induced reduction of intracellular Ca
2+
levels suppressed mitochondrial fission 1 protein (
Fis1
) expression and mitochondrial fission by reducing the binding of the cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) in the
Fis1
promoter.
Fundc1

f/Y

/Cre

αMyHC+/−

mice but not their littermate control mice (
Fundc1

wt/Y

/Cre

αMyHC+/−

) exhibited cardiac dysfunction. The ligation of the left ventricle artery of
Fundc1

f/Y

/Cre

αMyHC+/−

mice caused more severe cardiac dysfunction than those in sham-treated
Fundc1

f/Y

/Cre

αMyHC+/−

mice. Finally, we found that the FUNDC1/MAMs/CREB/Fis1 signaling axis was significantly suppressed in patients with heart failure.

Conclusions:

We conclude that FUNDC1 binds to IP
3
R2 to modulate ER Ca
2+
release into mitochondria and cytosol. Further, a disruption of the FUNDC1 and IP
3
R2 interaction lowers the levels of Ca
2+
in mitochondria and cytosol, both of which instigate aberrant mitochondrial fission, mitochondrial dysfunction, cardiac dysfunction, and heart failure.
A Polarimetric Analysis of Ice Microphysical Processes in Snow, Using Quasi-Vertical Profiles
Authors: Griffin Erica M. , Schuur Terry J. , Ryzhkov Alexander V. 
Published: September 2017

AbstractThis study implements a new quasi-vertical profile (QVP) methodology to investigate the microphysical evolution and significance of intriguing winter polarimetric signatures and their statistical correlations. QVPs of transitional stratiform and pure snow precipitation are analyzed using WSR-88D S-band data, alongside their corresponding environmental thermodynamic High-Resolution Rapid Refresh model analyses. QVPs of KDP and ZDR are implemented to demonstrate their value in interpreting elevated ice processes. Several fascinating and repetitive signatures are observed in the QVPs for differential reflectivity ZDR and specific differential phase KDP, in the dendritic growth layer (DGL), and at the tops of clouds. The most striking feature is maximum ZDR (up to 6 dB) in the DGL occurring near the −10-dBZ ZH contour within low KDP and during shallower and warmer cloud tops. Conversely, maximum KDP (up to 0.3° km−1) in the DGL occurs within low ZDR and during taller and colder cloud tops. Essentially, ZDR and KDP in the DGL are anticorrelated and strongly depend on cloud-top temperature. Analyses also show correlations indicating larger ZDR within lower ZH in the DGL and larger KDP within greater ZH in the DGL. The high-ZDR regions are likely dominated by growth of a mixture of highly oblate dendrites and/or hexagonal plates, or prolate needles. Regions of high KDP are expected to be overwhelmed with snow aggregates and crystals with irregular or nearly spherical shapes, seeded at cloud tops. Furthermore, QVP indications of hexagonal plate crystals within the DGL are verified using in situ microphysical measurements, demonstrating the reliability of QVPs in evaluating ice microphysics in upper regions of winter clouds.
How can Curricula be Analysed? The Case of History Syllabuses
Authors: Partington Geoffrey 
Published: September 2017

Many thousands of hours a year are spent in many countries in drawing up specific subject syllabuses and general curriculum proposals. A common feature of such activities is a transposition of aims, objectives, or rationales with subject content and activities. Teachers with their own reasons, in many cases entirely respectable ones, for what they teach, and how they teach it, leave them largely unstated, sometimes because they are not fully conscious of them. Instead teachers’ justifications are apt to be grounded in contingency. Many teachers and ‘curriculum writers’, deeply impressed by arrays of ‘practical curriculum objectives’ and taxonomic hierarchies, seek to justify their subjects in terms of various desirable results which often follow from their pursuit, even though other subjects or activities might equally or better secure these contingent goods. As Robin Barrow (1976) justly observed of such a situation in the United Kingdom: ‘by the end of the exercise virtually every school subject that has ever been devised is shown to be justifiable in terms of more than one of the objectives’ (pp. 35–6). A general method for avoiding this and some related forms of conceptual confusion is outlined here, with history as a specific example of how its principles can be applied.
Special diets in modern America: Analysis of the 2012 National Health Interview Survey data
Authors: Leung Brenda , Lauche Romy , Leach Matthew , Zhang Yan , Cramer Holger , Sibbritt David 
Published: September 2017

Background: Special diets are frequently used by the public but reasons for use and characteristics of users remain unclear. Aim: To determine prevalence of the use of special diets, the individual characteristics associated with their use and reasons for use. Methods: The secondary analysis used data from the 2012 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), a cross-sectional household interview survey of a nationally representative sample of non-hospitalized US adult populations ( n = 34,525). The dependent variables in this secondary analysis were the use of a special diet (vegetarian, macrobiotic, Atkins, Pritikin, and Ornish) ever and during the past 12 months. Independent variables included sociodemographic, clinical and behavioral variables. Prevalence of special diet use and reasons for use were analyzed descriptively. Associations between independent and dependent variables were analyzed using Chi-square tests and logistic regression. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Results: Lifetime and 12-month prevalence of using special diets were 7.5% (weighted n = 17.7 million) and 2.9% (weighted n = 6.9 million), respectively. Individuals using special diets in the past 12 months were more likely female (OR = 1.45; 95% CI = 1.21–1.74), not married (OR = 0.76; 95% CI = 0.63–0.91), college-educated (OR = 1.98; 95% CI = 1.25–3.11) and depressed (OR = 1.50; 95% CI = 1.14–1.98). They more likely also used herbal products (OR = 2.35; 95%CI = 1.84–2.99), non-vitamin (OR = 1.82; 95% CI = 1.45–2.27) and vitamin supplements (OR = 1.57; 95% CI = 1.24–1.99). Diets were mainly used to improve overall health (76.7%) or for general wellness/prevention (70.4%). Conclusions: Special diets are mainly used for unspecific health reasons by those who are females, have a college degree or with depression, and commonly used in conjunction with herbs and dietary supplements.
STD-related knowledge, beliefs and attitudes of Xhosa-speaking patients attending STD primary health-care clinics in South Africa
Authors: Reddy Priscilla , Meyer-Weitz Anna , Van Den Borne Bart , Kok Gerjo 
Published: September 2017

The primary aim of this study was to describe patients at sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinics in Cape Town, South Africa, in terms of gender, education and age differences relative to their STD knowledge and beliefs, their condom use, as well as their attitudes towards condom use and their condom-use behaviour. The information was collected with a view to developing a health education intervention. Structured interviews were conducted with 2978 randomly sampled Xhosa-speaking STD clinic attenders about their knowledge, beliefs and practices regarding STDs and related behaviours. More males (75%) than females (25%) presented for STD treatment. The majority of patients (92%) were younger than 35 years. Female patients were found to be more aware than male patients of the sexual nature of STD transmission, valued personal autonomy in sexual behaviour and expressed a greater need to use condoms. Males perceived STD symptoms to be more serious, had more misconceptions about the cause of STDs and also more negative beliefs and attitudes towards condom use. Only 34.9% of the patients reported using condoms in the last 6 months while only 24.5% reported regular use. Those who reported condom use were more knowledgeable about the sexual transmission of STDs and the effects of STDs on the neonate. They also had fewer misconceptions about the causes of STDs and perceived STD symptoms to be more serious, attached greater value to personal autonomy in sexual behaviour and condom use and had more positive outcome expectancies of refusing sex than those who never used condoms. The data suggest that targeted interventions directed at males will have to address their inadequate knowledge regarding STDs in terms of transmission, causes, consequences, prevention and cure. Their negative beliefs and attitudes towards condoms will need special attention, especially in view of their multiple partner behaviour. Interventions directed at females will need to improve their knowledge regarding STD consequences, causes, recognition of symptoms as well as improve their knowledge of aspects of prevention and cure. All interventions must facilitate personal autonomy in decision making about sexual behaviour and condom use for both men and women, through skills development programmes that promote self-efficacy in the individual and instil a culture of mutual respect of such in the community.
The Impact of Distance Education Programs on Community Agencies
Authors: McFall Jo Ann P. , Freddolino Paul P. 
Published: September 2017

Objective This study examined the impact of two distance education programs on clients, field instructors, cooperating agencies, and the broader networks of agencies surrounding the two distance sites. Method Self-administered surveys were mailed to one cohort of students as well as to field instructors and agency directors from two successive field placement sites. Results A11 groups of respondents reported Impact of increased services to clients, new knowledge of interventions available, and increased networking among students, field instructors, and agencies. There was a limited amount of information about technology transferred to the agencies. No significant differences were found in results between the sites. Conclusions The amount and quality of services, and to a lesser extent the choices of interventions and programs, were seen by these key stakeholders as having increased in the two distant communities where the master's of social work program was offered.
Enhancing Computer-Mediated Teaching through Interactivity: The Second Iteration of a World Wide Web-Based Graduate Social Work Course
Authors: Stocks J. Timothy , Freddolino Paul P. 
Published: September 2017

Objective This study evaluated the effects of increasing opportunities for interactivity on student attitudes and behavior over two iterations of an Internet-based graduate social work research methods course. Method In both iterations, lectures and class discussions were carried out over the Internet. In the second iteration, additional opportunities for interaction (self-tests, automated feedback, discussion questions, and links to an Internet discussion list) were added. Type and frequency of class participation were measured for both iterations as well as attitude toward the course. Results Students in the second iteration participated in class list discussions more frequently than their first iteration counterparts. Students in the second iteration also tended to rate their experience more positively than did their counterparts in the first class. Conclusion The incorporation of interactivity into a Web site served to make it easier to create an active learning environment for students.
The Social Work Research Group/NASW Research Section/Council on Social Work Research, 1949-1965: An Emerging Research Identity in the American Profession
Authors: Graham John R. , Al-Krenawi Alean , Bradshaw Cathryn 
Published: September 2017

Objective To determine major themes and significance of the Social Work Research Group (SWRG), founded in 1949. Methods Archival research, principally at Social Welfare History Archives, University of Minnesota; oral historical interviews of key informants. Results The Social Work Research Group (SWRG), founded in 1949, fostered research within the profession by creating an organization representing and promoting social work research, advancing the place of research in teaching and scholarship, and establishing what ultimately became Social Work Abstracts. It was one of seven organizations leading to the 1955 creation of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW). Retaining NASW status, the SWRG (renamed NASW Research Section in 1955 and then Council on Social Work Research in 1963) moved from an earlier preoccupation with membership criteria and the place of research within the profession to conceptualizing and promoting research as an established social work method. Conclusion In doing so, the SWRG laid groundwork for the contemporary social work research movement.
An Examination of the Transition from Philanthropy to Professional Social Work in Ireland
Authors: Skehill Caroline 
Published: September 2017

Objective The objective of the article is to examine the way in which social work in Ireland evolved from practices of philanthropy in the late 19th century to a distinct professional strategy in the present. Results The results of archival research show that philanthropy in Ireland was provided almost exclusively by religious organizations and was constructed within a discourse of sectarianism and rivalry between the two main denominations, Catholic and Protestant, up to the 1960s. It is only in the past 30 years that social work has become firmly established as a secular strategy. Conclusions It is concluded that although social work is now clearly distinct from voluntary and religious-based social work practices, some of its present principles and practices remain continuous with its historical antecedents.