bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Actualizing Personalized Healthcare for Women through Connected Data Systems: Breast Cancer Screening and Diagnosis
Authors: Nelson Heidi D. , Weerasinghe Roshanthi 
Published: September 2013

Background: Healthcare organizations have invested in electronic patient data systems, yet use of health data to optimize personalized care has been limited. Primary Study Objective: To develop and pilot an integrated source of health system data related to breast healthcare. Methods/Design: This study is a quality improvement project. Patient-level data from multiple internal sources were identified, mapped to a common data model, linked, and validated to create a breast healthcare-specific data mart. Linkages were based on matching algorithms using patient identifiers to group data from the same patient. Data definitions, a data dictionary, and indicators for quality and benchmarking aligned with standardized measures. Clinical pathways were developed to outline the patient populations, data elements, decision points, and outcomes for specific conditions. Setting: Electronic data sources in a community-based health system in the United States. Participants: Women receiving breast cancer screening, prevention, and diagnosis services. Main Outcome Measures: Distribution of mammography examinations and pathologic results of breast biopsies. Results: From 2008 to 2011, 200 768 screening and 50200 diagnostic mammograms were obtained; rates varied by age over time. Breast biopsies for 7332 women indicated 23.3% with invasive breast cancer, 6.7% with ductal carcinoma in situ, and 70.0% with nonmalignant diagnoses that would not have been further differentiated by administrative codes alone. Limitations: Evaluation of validity and efficiency and additional tracking of clinical outcomes are needed. Conclusions: The creation of a patient-centered data system by connecting and integrating disparate data sources within a large health system allows customized analyses of data and improves capacity for clinical decision making and personalized healthcare.
The Health Status of Latino Immigrant Women in the united States and Future Health Policy Implications of the Affordable Care Act
Authors: De Leon Siantz Mary Lou , Castaneda Xochitl , Benavente Viola , Peart Tasha , Felt Emily 
Published: September 2013

Immigrant women of Mexican birth face unique health challenges in the United States. They are at increased risk for developing many preventable health conditions due in part to limited access to healthcare and benefits, legal status, and inadequate income. Increased vulnerability of women has established a growing need to focus on their healthcare needs because of their role, position, and influence in the family. The purpose of this article is to review factors that impact the health status of Mexican-born women living in the United States and review policy implications of the Affordable Care Act for this population. Mexican-born women are the largest female immigrant group in the United States. Therefore, they comprise the group that will need health coverage in the greatest proportion. As a result, there will be a need for culturally and linguistically appropriate healthcare services and culturally sensitive providers.
Changes in Plasma Kynurenic Acid Concentration in Septic Shock Patients Undergoing Continuous Veno-Venous Haemofiltration
Authors: Dabrowski Wojciech , Kocki Tomasz , Pilat Jacek , Parada-Turska Jolanta , Malbrain Manu L. N. G. 
Published: September 2013

AbstractKynurenic acid (KYNA) is one of the end products of tryptophan metabolism. The aim of this study was to analyse plasma KYNA concentration in septic shock patients (SSP) with acute kidney injury (AKI) undergoing continuous veno-venous haemofiltration (CVVH). Changes in KYNA content were compared to alterations in the levels of procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein and lactate. Adult SSP with AKI were examined. Measurements were conducted at seven time points: before beginning CVVH and at 6, 12, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h after the beginning of CVVH. Based on clinical outcomes, the data were analysed separately for survivors and non-survivors. Twenty-seven patients were studied. CVVH was associated with reduced plasma KYNA concentration only in survivors. Plasma KYNA concentration correlated with the levels of lactate and PCT only in survivors. (1) CVVH reduced plasma KYNA concentration only in survivors; (2) lack of this reduction may predict fatal outcomes in SSP.
Separation of the Fatty Acids in Menhaden Oil as Methyl Esters with a Highly Polar Ionic Liquid Gas Chromatographic Column and Identification by Time of Flight Mass spectrometry
Authors: Fardin‐Kia Ali Reza , Delmonte Pierluigi , Kramer John K. G. , Jahreis Gerhard , Kuhnt Katrin , Santercole Viviana , Rader Jeanne I. 
Published: September 2013

AbstractThe fatty acids contained in marine oils or products are traditionally analyzed by gas chromatography using capillary columns coated with polyethylene glycol phases. Recent reports indicate that 100 % cyanopropyl siloxane phases should also be used when the analyzed samples contain trans fatty acids. We investigated the separation of the fatty acid methyl esters prepared from menhaden oil using the more polar SLB‐IL111 (200 m × 0.25 mm) ionic liquid capillary column and the chromatographic conditions previously optimized for the separation of the complex mixture of fatty acid methyl esters prepared from milk fat. Identifications of fatty acids were achieved by applying Ag+‐HPLC fractionation and GC‐TOF/MS analysis in CI+ mode with isobutane as the ionization reagent. Calculation of equivalent chain lengths confirmed the assignment of double bond positions. This methodology allowed the identification of 125 fatty acids in menhaden oil, including isoprenoid and furanoid fatty acids, and the novel 7‐methyl‐6‐hexadecenoic and 7‐methyl‐6‐octadecenoic fatty acids. The chromatographic conditions applied in this study showed the potential of separating in a single 90‐min analysis, among others, the short chain and trans fatty acids contained in dairy products, and the polyunsaturated fatty acids contained in marine products.
Increased incidence of distal humeral fractures and surgical treatment in 0- to 18-year-old patients treated in Finland from 1987 to 2010
Authors: Salonen A. , Pajulo O. , Lahdes-Vasama T. , Välipakka J. , Mattila V. M. 
Published: September 2013

Background Studies of pediatric and adolescent fractures in general report a significant increase in the incidence of upper-extremity fractures as well as in their surgical treatment. The aim of this study was to determine the trends of the incidence and treatment of distal humeral fractures in hospitalized 0- to 18-year-old patients in Finland. Method The study included the entire pediatric and adolescent (<19 years) population in Finland during the 24-year period from 1 January 1987 to 31 December 2010. Data on hospitalized patients were obtained from the nationwide National Hospital Discharge Registry where information is collected from all hospital categories (private, public, and other). Surgical treatment was categorized into three groups; (1) reposition with casting; (2) reposition or reduction and osteosynthesis; (3) reposition or reduction and external-fixation and other fixation methods. Patients were classified into three groups according to age: 0–6 years, 7–13 years, and 14–18 years. Annual incidences were calculated using the annual mid-year population census obtained from the Official Statistics of Finland. Results During the 24-year study period, there were a total of 12,590 hospitalizations with a main or secondary diagnosis of distal humeral fracture. In children aged 0–12 years the overall incidence of hospitalization increased 30 % during the 24-year study period, from 4.5 per 10,000 person-years in 1987 to 5.8 per 10,000 person-years in 2010. There were a total of 5,548 operations. During the study period, surgical treatment by repositioning or reduction with osteosynthesis due to a distal humeral fracture increased by fivefold in patients aged <6 years and by twofold in patients aged 7–12 years of age. The incidences of fracture and treatment in children older than 13 years did not change. Conclusion The incidence of distal humeral fractures and the incidence of repositioning with osteosynthesis increased remarkably in prepubertal children during the 24-year study period in Finland.
A case of premature ventricular contractions originating from the papillary muscle in the right ventricle
Authors: Senoo Keitaro , Otsuka Takayuki , Suzuki Shinya , Sagara Koichi , Yamashita Takeshi 
Published: September 2013

AbstractA 45‐year‐old man with premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) underwent electrophysiological studies. Activation mapping using a noncontact electroanatomical mapping system indicated that the septal mid‐apical region in the right ventricle was activated earliest. However, pace mapping did not match the activation mapping. Although the PVCs were successfully eliminated by applying radiofrequency current to the prepotential site preceding their QRS onset, a recurrence of PVCs with the same QRS morphology was observed at the 2‐month follow‐up examination, necessitating a second procedure. During the second procedure, echocardiography‐guided electroanatomic mapping revealed centrifugal activation from the right ventricular mid‐apical region on the septal portion of the anterior papillary muscle, but perfect pace mapping was not obtained at that site. With intracardiac echocardiography confirming good contact between the ablation catheter and papillary muscle, an irrigated radiofrequency current successfully eliminated the PVCs. This case indicates that the use of a guidance system may be feasible and useful for catheter ablation of PVCs originating from the right ventricular papillary muscle when there are discrepancies between activation mapping and pace mapping.
Memory impairment in chronic pain patients and the related neuropsychological mechanisms: a review
Authors: Liu Xianhua , Li Li , Tang Fanggui , Wu Siwei , Hu Yiqiu 
Published: September 2013

ObjectiveThis study provides a comprehensive review of the literature on memory impairment and the potential effective factors in patients with chronic pain.MethodsA literature search of databases PubMed, EMBASE, SpringerLink, and PsycINFO until September 2012 was conducted using the keywords ‘memory’ and ‘chronic pain’. The study emphasises on publications over the past 20 years.ResultsMemory impairment in chronic pain patients is substantial, but the aspects of memory (e.g. working memory, long-term memory, and autobiographical memory) in chronic pain patients and the potentially related factors (e.g. age, level of education, pain conditions, emotion, neural network, and use of analgesics) are modest. Memory impairment is interpreted with the attention-narrowing hypothesis and the capacity-reduction hypothesis.ConclusionsThe currently available data and theory have explained memory impairment in chronic pain patients, but many controversies remain. Future research should focus on the subclinical characteristics of chronic pain, enlarging the sample size, and emphasise on the experimental intervention method and the cognitive neuroscience method.
Effect of mastoid drilling on hearing of the contralateral ear
Authors: Goyal A , Singh P P , Vashishth A 
Published: September 2013

AbstractObjectives:This study aimed to: understand the effect that high intensity noise associated with drilling (during otological surgery) has on hearing in the contralateral ear; determine the nature of hearing loss, if any, by establishing whether it is temporary or persistent; and examine the association between hearing loss and various drill parameters.Methods:A prospective clinical study was carried out at a tertiary centre. Thirty patients with unilateral cholesteatoma and normal contralateral hearing were included. Patients were evaluated pre-operatively and for five days following surgery using high frequency pure tone audiometry, and low and high frequency transient evoked and distortion product otoacoustic emission testing.Results:The findings revealed statistically significant changes in distortion product otoacoustic emissions at high frequencies (p = 0.016), and in transient evoked otoacoustic emissions at both low and high frequencies (p = 0.035 and 0.021, respectively). There was a higher statistical association between otoacoustic emission changes and cutting burrs compared with diamond burrs.Conclusion:Drilling during mastoid surgery poses a threat to hearing in the contralateral ear due to noise and vibration conducted transcranially.
White-matter tract integrity in late-life depression: associations with severity and cognition
Authors: Charlton R. A. , Lamar M. , Zhang A. , Yang S. , Ajilore O. , Kumar A. 
Published: September 2013

BackgroundAlthough significant changes in both gray and white matter have been noted in late-life depression (LLD), the pathophysiology of implicated white-matter tracts has not been fully described. In this study we examined the integrity of specific white-matter tracts in LLD versus healthy controls (HC).MethodParticipants aged ⩾60 years were recruited from the community. The sample included 23 clinically diagnosed individuals with LLD and 23 HC. White-matter integrity metrics [fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), axial diffusivity (AD) and radial diffusivity (RD)] were calculated in the bilateral cingulum and uncinate fasciculus. Depression severity was measured using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CESD). Composite scores for learning and memory and executive function were created using standardized neuropsychological assessments.ResultsWhite-matter integrity was lower in LLD versus HC in the bilateral cingulum and right uncinate fasciculus (p⩽0.05). In the whole sample, depression severity correlated with integrity in the bilateral cingulum and right uncinate fasciculus (p ⩽0.05). In patients, depression severity correlated with the integrity of the left uncinate fasciculus (p = 0.03); this tract also correlated with executive function (p = 0.02). Among HC, tract integrity did not correlate with depression scores; however, learning and memory correlated with integrity of the bilateral uncinate fasciculus and bilateral cingulum; executive function correlated with the right uncinate and left cingulum (p ⩽0.05).ConclusionsWhite-matter tract integrity was lower in LLD than in HC and was associated with depression severity across all participants. Tract integrity was associated with cognition in both groups but more robustly among HC.
Bridge over troubled waters
Authors: Torres Anália , Coelho Bernardo , Cabrita Miguel 
Published: September 2013

ABSTRACT
How can we explain that same-sex marriages have been approved in countries like Portugal (2010) and Spain (2005), where the majority of the population identifies with the catholic religion, when they are not recognised in countries with more liberal traditions? Assessing social, economic and legal changes this paper aims to explain the transformations on family, gender and public policies in Portugal in the context of the welfarestate. Two main lines of analysis are pursued.
First, changes in practices, attitudes and laws, such as the approval of gay marriage in Portugal (2010), are discussed and related to social, economic and institutional processes. The remarkable fall of catholic marriage in Portugal and the huge growth of children born out of the wedlock, just in one decade (2000–2010), are only some of the examples of these transformations.
Secondly, the development of social, family, care and gender equality policies are analysed in order to put the welfare pathway of change in perspective: from a late start in the 1970s and 1980s to the expanding coverage, highlighting welfare-state insufficiencies and limitations as well as, more recently, with ideological and financial pressures for retrenchment.
Bridges and troubled relations between social practises, values and public policies are also debated. Our research results are based in data from several sources, namely, European Social Survey (2004, 2006, 2008, 2010), Eurostat and National Statistics.
Facilitating curriculum reforms through lesson study
Authors: Lewis Catherine , Takahashi Akihiko 
Published: September 2013

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to briefly describe the role of lesson study in implementation of national curriculum reforms in Japan, identifying key features that may be of interest to policy-makers in other countries.

Design/methodology/approach
– Literature review, observation, and artefact collection were used to study the role of lesson study in educational reform in Japan.

Findings
– One key characteristic of implementation of national curricular reforms in Japan is that lesson study allows primary and secondary schools, universities, district and prefectural offices, and subject-matter associations to collaborate in implementation. Some key features of the lesson study-supported system of implementation of curricular reform in Japan includes: the ability of school-based lesson study groups to leverage regional and national subject-matter expertise; school learning routines that enable systematic study, refinement, and dissemination of practice (e.g. kyouzai kenkyuu, public research lessons, grade-level collaboration); and policy structures that support implementation (e.g. grants for designated research schools, a period to try out new standards before they are required by law).

Research limitations/implications
– While some features of lesson study transfer readily from Japan to other countries (such as the usefulness of curriculum study, live lessons, and interchange with more experienced teachers), comprehensive systems for using lesson study to support curricular reform are yet to develop outside Japan. This paper identifies the policy, cultural, and infrastructural elements of the Japanese system that allow lesson study to effectively support implementation of new curriculum.

Originality/value
– Successful implementation of curricular reform at the classroom level is a persistent difficulty in many countries. Japan's system illustrates how the strengths of teacher leadership and research-based content can be joined to support curriculum implementation, through interlocking systems of lesson study.
Chinese teachers’ reconstruction of the curriculum reform through lesson study
Authors: Chen Xiangming , Yang Fan 
Published: September 2013

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to reveal how the meanings of the current national curriculum reform in China changed in its transmission from the outside authoritative mandate to the local school practice through a case study of a lesson study on a reform practice called the “thematic teaching” in the Chinese language course.

Design/methodology/approach
– By a longitudinal study of the case for more than two months in a primary school in Beijing, China, the authors of this paper followed all the steps of the lesson study cycle conducted by all the Chinese language teachers in the school. Observations, interviews and document analysis were employed to capture the teachers’ thoughts, actions and especially group interactions in trying to understand and implement this new reform practice.

Findings
– The study found that due to the marked differences between the professional reform discourse and the teachers’ native discourse, the meanings of the reform tended to look alien to school teachers. In order to make meanings out of the reform, the teachers in this lesson study resorted to their own native discourse to understand the reform. Such strategies as “de-contextualization” and “re-contextualization” were found in the teachers’ joint efforts to reconstruct and reenact the reform.

Originality/value
– This research points to the importance of school teachers’ own belief system in teaching as revealed by their native discourse. Only by finding an adequate link between the outside reform discourse and the teachers’ native discourse, can the national curriculum reform truly take hold in the school.
Innovating the Singapore English Language curriculum through lesson study
Authors: Tan-Chia Lydia , Fang Yanping , Chew Ang Pow 
Published: September 2013

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to report on an exploratory study, Project En-ELT (enhancing English language learning and teaching), which used lesson study to mediate curriculum innovation to enhance student learning by engaging teachers in learning and implementing effective English language teaching strategies and formative assessment practices in seven lower secondary schools in Singapore over two years. It aims to portray how lesson study can be adapted to build teacher pedagogical capacity in carrying out the language development goals formulated in the revised national English Language Syllabus 2010.Design/methodology/approach– Project evaluation is embedded systematically into the research design from the very beginning of the pilot to in between each step of lesson study process across three consecutive cycles in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the pilot program from the project advisors’, participating teachers’ and students’ perspectives. Both the quantitative and qualitative data were collected in and across the instructional steps and lesson study cycles to create immediate evidence-based feedback to inform continuous on-going adjustment and improvement.Findings– Findings indicate that across the three cycles the lesson study teams moved from isolated to collaborative planning; from poor understanding and mechanical execution of the retelling strategy to a more sophisticated and skilful use of reciprocal teaching. An increase was found in teacher confidence and positive attitude towards the value of the project in developing their language and teaching effectiveness. There was enhanced student engagement and collaborative participation in the lessons while assessment for learning was fostered in the classroom.Originality/value– Program evaluation provided feedback loops to ensure that each enactment stage and cycle learns from and builds on the limitations and strengths of the previous one(s) so internal consistency, continuity and coherence can be achieved for concrete implementation; different perspectives from the project officers/researchers, teachers and students were collected consistently and analyzed to gauge the accuracy of the findings; the collaboration between Ministry of Education curriculum officers, specialists and teachers, through lesson study, was able to create democratic relations rested upon interdependence, and mutual respect and trust; and it provides an illustrative case of how lesson study can be used effectively to help schools carry out national curriculum and pedagogical innovations. The project has important implications for addressing the issues of implementation and sustainability of innovative curriculum practices.