bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Shifting Between Biomedical and Social Medicine: International Health Organizations in the 20th Century
Authors: Borowy Iris 
Published: June 2014

AbstractInternational health organizations emerged in the 19th century as a means to reconcile the needs of a world of increasing trade and mobility with the increasing threat of the spread of diseases. Inexorably, they have assumed a growing list of responsibilities. Throughout the 20th century, their work has been torn between two approaches to health: one biomedical, which saw health as a function of pathogens and diseases and called for vertical campaigns against specific diseases, another social, which considered diseases mere symptoms of underlying problems of poverty and inequality and which favored horizontal programs of social change. Inevitably, the activities of international health organizations like the Rockefeller Foundation, the League of Nations Health Organisation, the World Health Organization, the World Bank, and others have maneuvered between those positions. The international eradication campaigns against malaria (unsuccessful) and smallpox (successful) and the principles adopted at the Conference of Alma‐Ata stand out as pivotal examples of biomedical and social approaches to health in the post‐WWII period. Implicitly, international health organizations have provided a mirror image of how those in power, the community of nations and – eventually – all citizens and voters, have decided to organize their interaction with their biological environments, their material and immaterial resources, their political priorities, and with each other.
Squamous cell carcinomas in situ arising in seborrheic keratoses: an association with concomitant immunosuppression?
Authors: Boyd Alan S. , Su Pei F. , Shyr Yu , Tang Yi W. 
Published: June 2014

AbstractBackgroundSeborrheic keratoses (SK) are the most common cutaneous neoplasm in humans. Given their numbers, a squamous cell carcinoma in situ (SCCIS) arising from an SK would not be unexpected, although this occurrence has not been widely reported.ObjectiveThis study compares the immune status of patients with a SCCIS arising contiguously from SK (SK/SCCIS) and the number of daily medications taken by these patients. The biopsy tissue was evaluated for the presence of human papillomavirus DNA.MethodsOver a 5‐year period at our institution, 13 cases of SK/SCCIS were diagnosed. For each case, age‐ and sex‐matched control patients with a histologically diagnosed unremarkable SK were randomly selected. The number of patients taking immunosuppressing medications was determined from each group and compared statistically. In addition, polymerase chain reaction analysis of the 13 SK/SCCIS biopsies was performed.ResultsFive of the 13 study patients took immunosuppressive medications compared to none of the 39 control patients (P = 0.0005). None of the biopsies demonstrated the presence of human papillomavirus DNA by polymerase chain reaction.ConclusionsImmunocompromised patients with SKs appear to carry a greater risk of these otherwise innocuous lesions developing an SCCIS, although given the small number of patients evaluated, further research into this possible association is warranted.
Demodex folliculorum: its association with oily skin surface rather than rosacea lesions
Authors: Porta Guardia Carlos A. 
Published: June 2014

AbstractBackgroundDespite the predilection of Demodex folliculorum (DF) for human sebum, observational studies addressing a relationship between this agent and rosacea paid no attention to the effect of a potentially acting confounder, the oily nature of the skin.ObjectivesTo analyze whether a relationship exists between the presence of the mite in rosacea and oily cutis.Materials and methodsAn observational study on 63 rosacea cases and 61 healthy controls, both discriminated according to their predominance of oily or dry cutis, was carried out to investigate demodectic density by the skin surface biopsy.ResultsWhile comparisons on the density of DF revealed no differences between patients and controls (Mann–Whitney U‐test, P = 0.35), persons with an oily cutis had increased amounts of this mite on the skin surface (Mann–Whitney U‐test, P < 0.05), irrespective of whether they had rosacea or not.ConclusionsThe association between DF and oily skin rather than rosacea lesions gives no support for this agent being implied in disease pathogenesis.
An investigation into the MMP1 gene promoter region polymorphism – 1607 2G with recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa disease severity in northeastern Mexican patients
Authors: Garza‐Gómez Jorge , Cerda‐Flores Ricardo M. , Gómez‐Flores Minerva , Salas‐Alanís Julio C. , Ocampo‐Candiani Jorge , Martínez‐Garza Laura E. , South Andrew P. , Gallardo‐Blanco Hugo L. 
Published: June 2014

AbstractBackgroundRecessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB) is a severe genetic skin blistering disorder caused by mutations in the gene COL7A1 encoding type VII collagen. Most of the patients' clinical severity depends in part on the nature and location of the mutations, ranging from the mild form described as RDEBother‐generalized (RDEB‐O) to the more aggressive phenotype described as RDEBsevere‐generalized (RDEB‐sev gen). However, interfamilial and interindividual differences in subjects with identical COL7A1 mutations suggest the presence of modifier elements, which may influence severity. There is a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at the promoter of the MMP1 gene‐encoding matrix metalloproteinase type 1, which has been studied as a genetic disease modifier in different patient cohorts with different findings.MethodsWe tested the SNP in 30 patients with RDEB and 130 controls whose four grandparents were born in northeastern Mexico. Patients were clinically classified as RDEB‐sev gen and RDEB‐O by three dermatologists. The SNPStats, RXC, and SPSS software were used to perform statistical testing.ResultsThe allele frequencies for 2G were 0.607, 0.562, and 0.642 for RDEB‐O, RDEB‐sev gen, and the control group, respectively. When the genotype frequencies were compared, there was no significant difference between RDEB‐sev gen (OR = 0.38, CI 95% 0.12–1.21), RDEB‐O (OR = 1.03, CI 95% 0.21–4.96), and the control group.ConclusionWe found no significant association in relation to the severity of the study subjects and the SNP at the promoter of the MMP1 gene.
Lived‐experience participation in nurse education: Reducing stigma and enhancing popularity
Authors: Happell Brenda , Byrne Louise , Platania‐Phung Chris , Harris Scott , Bradshaw Julie , Davies Jonathan 
Published: June 2014

AbstractMental health nursing consistently emerges as less popular than other specialties, and both service users and mental health practitioners are affected by negative attitudes. Education is fundamental to attracting students to the field of mental health nursing. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of undergraduate mental health curricula on student attitudes to people with mental illness, and career interest in mental health nursing. A traditional mental health course was compared to a course delivered by a person with lived experience of mental illness (and mental health service use) for its impact on student attitudes and career intentions in mental health nursing (cohort 1: n = 70, cohort 2: n = 131, respectively). In both cohorts, attitudes were measured via self‐report, before and after the course, and changes were investigated through within‐subjects t‐tests. The lived experience‐led course demonstrated statistically‐significant positive changes in intentions to pursue mental health nursing and a decrease in negative stereotypes, which were not observed in the traditional course. The valuable contribution of mental health nursing emerged in the traditional, but not lived‐experience‐led, programmes. These findings support the value of an academic with lived experience of mental health challenges in promoting attraction to mental health nursing as a career option.
Tumour necrosis factor‐α promotes liver ischaemia‐reperfusion injury through the PGC‐1α/Mfn2 pathway
Authors: Li Jun , Ke Wenbo , Zhou Qi , Wu Yongzhong , Luo Hong , Zhou Hong , Yang Bin , Guo Yu , Zheng Qichang , Zhang Yong 
Published: June 2014

AbstractTumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐α has been considered to induce ischaemia‐reperfusion injury (IRI) of liver which is characterized by energy dysmetabolism. Peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor‐γ co‐activator (PGC)‐1α and mitofusion2 (Mfn2) are reported to be involved in the regulation of mitochondrial function. However, whether PGC‐1α and Mfn2 form a pathway that mediates liver IRI, and if so, what the underlying involvement is in that pathway remain unclear. In this study, L02 cells administered recombinant human TNF‐α had increased TNF‐α levels and resulted in down‐regulation of PGC‐1α and Mfn2 in a rat liver IRI model. This was associated with hepatic mitochondrial swelling, decreased adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production, and increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity as well as cell apoptosis. Inhibition of TNF‐α by neutralizing antibody reversed PGC‐1α and Mfn2 expression, and decreased hepatic injury and cell apoptosis both in cell culture and in animals. Treatment by rosiglitazone sustained PGC‐1α and Mfn2 expression both in IR livers, and L02 cells treated with TNF‐α as indicated by increased hepatic mitochondrial integrity and ATP production, reduced ROS and ALT activity as well as decreased cell apoptosis. Overexpression of Mfn2 by lentiviral‐Mfn2 transfection decreased hepatic injury in IR livers and L02 cells treated with TNF‐α. However, there was no up‐regulation of PGC‐1α. These findings suggest that PGC‐1α and Mfn2 constitute a regulatory pathway, and play a critical role in TNF‐α‐induced hepatic IRI. Inhibition of the TNF‐α or PGC‐1α/Mfn2 pathways may represent novel therapeutic interventions for hepatic IRI.
Validation of a non‐linear model of health
Authors: Topolski Stefan , Sturmberg Joachim 
Published: June 2014

AbstractPurposeThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the veracity of a theoretically derived model of health that describes a non‐linear trajectory of health from birth to death with available population data sets.MethodsThe distribution of mortality by age is directly related to health at that age, thus health approximates 1/mortality. The inverse of available all‐cause mortality data from various time periods and populations was used as proxy data to compare with the theoretically derived non‐linear health model predictions, using both qualitative approaches and quantitative one‐sampleKolmogorov–Smirnov analysis withMonteCarlo simulation.ResultsThe mortality data's inverse resembles a log–normal distribution as predicted by the proposed health model. The curves have identical slopes from birth and follow a logarithmic decline from peak health in young adulthood. A majority of the sampled populations had a good to excellent quantitative fit to a log–normal distribution, supporting the underlying model assumptions. Post hoc manipulation showed the model predictions to be stable.ConclusionsThis is a first theory of health to be validated by proxy data, namely the inverse of all‐cause mortality. This non‐linear model, derived from the notion of the interaction of physical, environmental, mental, emotional, social and sense‐making domains of health, gives physicians a more rigorous basis to direct health care services and resources away from disease‐focused elder care towards broad‐based biopsychosocial interventions earlier in life.
Requirements of a new communication technology for handover and the escalation of patient care: a multi‐stakeholder analysis
Authors: Johnston Maximilian J. , King Dominic , Arora Sonal , Cooper Kerri , Panda Neha Aparajita , Gosling Rebecca , Singh Kaushiki , Sanders Bradley , Cox Benita , Darzi Ara 
Published: June 2014

AbstractRationale, aims and objectivesIn order to enable safe and efficient information transfer between health care professionals during clinical handover and escalation of care, existing communication technologies must be updated. This study aimed to provide a user‐informed guide for the development of an application‐based communication system (ABCS), tailored for use in patient handover and escalation of care.MethodsCurrent methods of inter‐professional communication in health care along with information system needs for communication technology were identified through literature review. A focus group study was then conducted according to a topic guide developed by health innovation and safety researchers. Fifteen doctors and 11 nurses from three London hospitals participated in a mixture of homogeneous and heterogeneous sessions. The sessions were recorded and transcribed verbatim before being subjected to thematic analysis.ResultsSeventeen information system needs were identified from the literature review. Participants identified six themes detailing user perceptions of current communication technology, attitudes to smartphone technology and anticipated requirements of an application produced for handover and escalation of care. Participants were in favour of an ABCS over current methods and expressed enthusiasm for a system with integrated patient information and group‐messaging functions.ConclusionDespite concerns regarding confidentiality and information governance a robust guide for development and implementation of an ABCS was produced, taking input from multiple stakeholders into account. Handover and escalation of care are vital processes for patient safety and communication within these must be optimized. An ABCS for health care professionals would be a welcome innovation and may lead to improvements in patient safety.
Explaining the unexplainable – the impact of physicians’ attitude towards litigation on their incident disclosure behaviour
Authors: Renkema Erik , Broekhuis Manda H. , Ahaus Kees 
Published: June 2014

AbstractRationale, aims and objectivesThis study aims to provide in‐depth insight into the emotions and thoughts of physicians towards malpractice litigation, and how these relate to their incident disclosure behaviour.MethodsThirty‐one Dutch physicians were interviewed and completed short questionnaires regarding malpractice litigation. We used hierarchical cluster analysis to identify physician clusters. Additional qualitative data were analysed.ResultsPhysicians vary largely in their attitude towards malpractice litigation, and their attitude is not straightforward related to their disclosure behaviour. Based on their responses physicians could be divided into two clusters: one with a positive and one with a negative attitude. Physicians with a negative attitude showed often, but also 6 out of 15 not, a reluctance to disclose, whereas the majority in the positive attitude cluster (12 out of 16) showed no reluctance. If, what and how physicians disclose incidents depends on a complex interplay of their emotions and thoughts regarding litigation, and not only on their fear of litigation as many studies assume.ConclusionsDue to the variation among physicians in their litigation attitude and behaviour in terms of incident disclosure the oft‐heard call for ‘openness’ about medical incidents will not be easy to achieve. A coaching system in which physicians can share and discuss their differing attitudes and disclosure principles, teaching medical students and junior physicians about disclosure, and explaining how to organize emotional and legal support for oneself in case of litigation could decrease stress feelings and support open disclosure behaviour.
Dietitians’ perceptions of communicating with preadolescent, overweight children in the consultation setting: the potential for e‐resources
Authors: Raaff C. , Glazebrook C. , Wharrad H. 
Published: June 2014

AbstractBackgroundThere are calls to enhance existing child weight management interventions and to develop new treatment approaches. The potential for interactive electronic resources (e‐resources) to support child–dietitian communication has yet to be explored. Towards developing such a tool, the present study aimed to understand dietetic attitudes and approaches to communicating with preadolescent overweight children in individual consultations to support behaviour change.MethodsA purposive sample of 18 dietitians, providing weight management advice to overweight 7–11‐year‐old children, took part in the study. Individual semi‐structured telephone interviews were conducted. Data were transcribed and then analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Content analysis was used to interpret dietetic attitude towards e‐resources.ResultsSix overarching themes were identified describing dietitians’ views: the complexity of treating childhood obesity, the strategic balance of dietetic communication focus between child and parent, the child's capacity to communicate affecting their contribution, dietetic approaches to verbal child communication and the features of resources that can support them, as well as dietetic expectations for resources. Independent inter‐rater agreement for the themes was 76.9% and 73.1%, respectively. The majority of dietitians (n = 13) supported the concept of introducing an interactive multimedia e‐resource into child weight management consultations.ConclusionsMost dietitians sought to engage the preadolescent child in the consultation, using dietetic visual aids to complement verbal strategies and to serve as scaffolding for the conversation. There is scope for interactive e‐resources to enhance communication, provided that they are flexibly tailored to meet the needs of the dietitian and the overweight child.
The design and delivery of a PKA inhibitory polypeptide to treat SCA1
Authors: Hearst Scoty M. , Shao Qingmei , Lopez Mariper , Raucher Drazen , Vig Parminder J. S. 
Published: June 2014

AbstractSpinocerebellar ataxia‐1 (SCA1) is a neurodegenerative disease that primarily targets Purkinje cells (PCs) of the cerebellum. The exact mechanism of PC degeneration is unknown, however, it is widely believed that mutant ataxin‐1 becomes toxic because of the phosphorylation of its serine 776 (S776) residue by cAMP‐dependent protein kinase A (PKA). Therefore, to directly modulate mutant ATXN1 S776 phosphorylation and aggregation, we designed a therapeutic polypeptide to inhibit PKA. This polypeptide comprised of a thermally responsive elastin‐like peptide (ELP) carrier, which increases peptide half‐life, a PKA inhibitory peptide (PKI), and a cell‐penetrating peptide (Synb1). We observed that our therapeutic polypeptide, Synb1‐ELP‐PKI, inhibited PKA activity at concentrations similar to the PKI peptide. Additionally, Synb1‐ELP‐PKI significantly suppressed mutant ATXN1 S776 phosphorylation and intranuclear inclusion formation in cell culture. Further, Synb1‐ELP‐PKI treatment improved SCA1 PC morphology in cerebellar slice cultures. Furthermore, the Synb1‐ELP peptide carrier crossed the blood–brain barrier and localized to the cerebellum via the i.p. or intranasal route. Here, we show the intranasal delivery of ELP‐based peptides to the brain as a novel delivery strategy. We also demonstrate that our therapeutic polypeptide has a great potential to target the neurotoxic S776 phosphorylation pathway in the SCA1 disease.
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Protein kinase A (PKA) phosphorylates mutant ataxin‐1 and makes it resistant to degradation. We designed a PKA inhibitory polypeptide. Our polypeptide comprised a thermally responsive elastin‐like peptide (ELP) carrier, a PKA inhibitory peptide (PKI) and a cell‐penetrating peptide (Synb1). Synb1‐ELP‐PKI, inhibited PKA activity in various in vitro models. The polypeptide crossed the blood–brain barrier when administered intraperitoneally or intranasally. We demonstrate that our polypeptide is a potential candidate for Spinocerebellar ataxia‐1 (SCA1) therapy.
Hippocampal proteoglycans brevican and versican are linked to spatial memory of Sprague–Dawley rats in the morris water maze
Authors: Saroja Sivaprakasam R. , Sase Ajinkya , Kircher Susanne G. , Wan Jia , Berger Johannes , Höger Harald , Pollak Arnold , Lubec Gert 
Published: June 2014

AbstractProteoglycans (PGs) are major constituents of the extracellular matrix and have recently been proposed to contribute to synaptic plasticity. Hippocampal PGs have not yet been studied or linked to memory. The aim of the study, therefore, was to isolate and characterize rat hippocampal PGs and determine their possible role in spatial memory. PGs were extracted from rat hippocampi by anion‐exchange chromatography and analyzed by nano LC‐MS/MS. Twenty male Sprague–Dawley rats were tested in the morris water maze. PGs agrin, amyloid beta A4 protein, brevican, glypican‐1, neurocan, phosphacan, syndecan‐4, and versican were identified in the hippocampi. Brevican and versican levels in the membrane fraction were higher in the trained group, correlating with the time spent in the target quadrant. α‐amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methylisoxazole‐4‐propionate receptor GluR1 was co‐precipitated with brevican and versican. Levels for a receptor complex containing GluR1 was higher in trained while GluR2 and GluR3‐containing complex levels were higher in yoked rats. The findings provide information about the PGs present in the rat hippocampus, demonstrating that versican and brevican are linked to memory retrieval in the morris water maze and that PGs interact with α‐amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methylisoxazole‐4‐propionate receptor GluR1, which is linked to memory retrieval.
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Proteoglycans (PGs) are major constituents of the extracellular matrix of the brain and were proposed to contribute to synaptic plasticity. This report addressed PGs in rat hippocampus and suggests that PGs brevican and versican are linked to spatial memory, and form a complex with the GluR1 subunit of the AMPA receptor, a key signaling molecule in memory mechanisms.
The anti‐seizure drugs vinpocetine and carbamazepine, but not valproic acid, reduce inflammatory IL‐1β and TNF‐α expression in rat hippocampus
Authors: Gómez Carlos D. , Buijs Rudolf M. , Sitges María 
Published: June 2014

AbstractIn the present study, the effects of the two classical anti‐epileptic drugs, carbamazepine and valproic acid, and the non‐classical anti‐seizure drug vinpocetine were investigated on the expression of the pro‐inflammatory cytokines IL‐1β and TNF‐α in the hippocampus of rats by PCR or western blot after the administration of one or seven doses. Next, the effects of the anti‐seizure drugs were investigated on the rise in cytokine expression induced by lipopolysaccharides (LPS) inoculation in vivo. To validate our methods, the changes induced by the pro‐convulsive agents 4‐aminopyridine, pentylenetetrazole and pilocarpine were also tested. Finally, the effect of the anti‐seizure drugs on seizures and on the concomitant rise in pro‐inflammatory cytokine expression induced by 4‐aminopyridine was explored. Results show that vinpocetine and carbamazepine reduced the expression of IL‐1β and TNF‐α from basal conditions, and the increase in both pro‐inflammatory cytokines induced by LPS. In contrast, valproic acid failed to reduce both the expression of the cytokines from basal conditions and the rise in IL‐1β and TNF‐α expression induced by LPS. Tonic‐clonic seizures induced either by 4‐aminopyridine, pentylenetetrazole or pilocarpine increased the expression of IL‐1β and TNF‐α markedly. 4‐aminopyridine‐induced changes were reduced by all the tested anti‐seizure drugs, although valproic acid was less effective. We conclude that the anti‐seizure drugs, vinpocetine and carbamazepine, whose mechanisms of action involve a decrease in ion channels permeability, also reduce cerebral inflammation.
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The mechanism of action of anti‐seizure drugs like vinpocetine and carbamazepine involves a decrease in Na+ channels permeability. We here propose that this mechanism of action also involves a decrease in cerebral inflammation.