bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Moderate expression of the transcriptional regulator ALsR enhances acetoin production by Bacillus subtilis
Authors: Zhang Xian , Zhang Rongzhen , Bao Teng , Yang Taowei , Xu Meijuan , Li Huazhong , Xu Zhenghong , Rao Zhiming 
Published: July 2013

Abstract
Acetoin, a major extracellular catabolic product of Bacillus subtilis cultured on glucose, is widely used to add flavor to food and also serves as a precursor for chemical synthesis. The biosynthesis of acetoin from pyruvate requires the enzymes α-acetolactate synthase (ALS) and α-acetolactate decarboxylase (ALDC), both of which are encoded by the alsSD operon. The transcriptional regulator ALsR is essential for the expression of alsSD. Here we focused on enhancing the production of acetoin by B. subtilis using different promoters to express ALsR. The expression of reporter genes was much higher under the control of the HpaII promoter than under control of the PbdhA promoter. Although the HpaII promoter highly enhanced transcription of the alsSD operon through overexpression of ALsR, the production of acetoin was not significantly increased. In contrast, moderate enhancement of ALsR expression using the PbdhA promoter significantly improved acetoin production. Compared with the wild-type, the enzyme activities of ALS and ALDC in B. subtilis harboring PbdhA were increased by approximately twofold, and the molar yield of acetoin from glucose was improved by 62.9 % in shake flask fermentation. In a 5-L fermentor, the engineered B. subtilis ultimately yielded 41.5 g/L of acetoin. Based on these results, we conclude that enhanced expression of ALDC and ALS by moderately elevated expression of the transcriptional regulator ALsR could increase acetoin production in recombinant B. subtilis.
297 – The Dialectics Between Secrecy and Openness Among Couples of Mixedorientation Marriages
Authors: Adler A. , Ben-Ari A. 
Published: July 2013

The phenomenon of homosexual men who are married to women (Mixed-orientation marriage) is usually invisible, but its frequency is not insignificant. In some cases the men discloses their sexual orientation to their wives, in other cases they choose to conceal it. Despite the fundamental differences between the two situations, both are experienced as complex and challenging and require different modes of coping. This presentation takes an insider's perspective and puts a spotlight on the dialectics between secrecy and openness - a major aspect characterizing the lives of spouses in mixed-orientation marriages. Thirty eight in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with heterosexually married homosexual men. In 22 of the cases the wives were aware of their husband's homosexuality and in 16 cases they were unaware. In addition, 8 interviews were conducted with women who are aware of their husband's homosexuality.Interviews revealed rich information regarding the dynamics of secrecy and openness in mixed-orientation marriages. The main finding challenges the conventional dichotomy between secrecy and disclosure. It appears that in both situations (when the wife is aware/unaware) there is a constant tension between secrecy and disclosure. When the wife is unaware, disclosure appears in one form or another. Similarly, when husband's sexual orientation is known to the wife, secrecy remains an important aspect of the relationship and it is expressed in several different ways.In our presentation we will discuss the concept of ‘Dialectics’, in an attempt to better understand the dynamics of secrecy and disclosure in the context of mixed-orientation marriages.
308 – Apocalyptic Delusions
Authors: Rudaleviciene P. , Stompe T. , Narbekovas A. 
Published: July 2013

This study attempts to present the genesis of the world end (Apocalyptic) delusions. Religious idea of the world end given in the Sacred Scripture is being found in the content of delusions but is added with inclusion of modern cultural signs, personal values and beliefs and description of apocalypse, produced in delusional thinking of nowadays patients suffering from schizophrenia and related disorders.We have studied the content of delusions in patients with schizophrenia looking for apocalyptic themes using Fragebogen fur psychotische Symptome (FPS) - a semi-structured questionnaire developed by Cultural Psychiatry International research group in Vienna, which was translated into the language of the participating patient, double translation was performed. Examination was conducted on 295 patients (the mean age - 42.4 [SD 9.7] years; women - 51.5%), suffering from schizophrenia at Vilnius Mental Health Center in Lithuania, among whom 69.8% reported apocalyptic delusional themes (lifetime-prevalence), both religious and culture-sensitive. Investigation of the influence of personal importance of their religious beliefs on the content of (Apocalyptic) delusions was made.We divided the content into three goups: religiuos content, modrnern and global.
333 – Validation of Iranian Version of FI-QOL Scale in Patients with Fecal Incontinence
Authors: Nojomi M. , Mostafavian Z. , Bijari B. , Mahjubi B. 
Published: July 2013

Background and objective:One of the most important indicators of effectiveness of therapy in patients with fecal incontinence (FI) can be patient's quality of life. Therefore, a well-constructed questionnaires studying quality of life is necessary. The objective of this study was to assess the Iranian version of Fecal Incontinence Quality of Life Scale in a hospital-based study on patients with FI.Method:Two hundred women were recruited in the study. One group included patients with FI (n = 100) and the control group (n = 100) included patients with any gastrointestinal (GI) problems except FI. The Persian version of fecal incontinence quality of life scale completed by groups. The FI patients completed the SF-36 questionnaire too. Reliability and validity of questionnaire were evaluated by Cronbach's alpha, test/retest using correlation analysis, Intraclss correlation coefficient, paired t-test, and analysis of variance.Results:Mean age of FI patients and controls were 42.6 (±13.3) and 44.5 (±15.0) respectively. Cronbach's-α for all domains ranged between 0.72–0.92. All scales showed significant correlation between the test and retest administration of questionnaire. The FI patients had lower scores than the controls for all domains adjusted for gender. All correlations between six selected domains of Sf-36 scales and FIQL scales were significant at P < 0.05 levels.Conclusion:The Persian version of FIQL had a good validity and reliability and can be used for accurate measure of quality of life in FI patients.
344 – Weight Gain in the First Six Months after Diagnosis of Depression Associated with Baseline BMI, not Treatment Outcomes
Authors: Angstman K.B. 
Published: July 2013

Introduction:There is an observed inter-dependency between the onset of obesity and onset of depression. Less is known of the outcomes of depression treatment on changes in weight, when compared to baseline body mass index (BMI). In a prior study we demonstrated that six month depression outcomes were not related to patient's baseline BMI.Objectives/aims:To determine if there were significant weight changes for patients diagnosed with depression over a six month period.Methods:This was a retrospective chart review of 1,551 patients diagnosed with depression by their primary care provider from March 2008.Results:A majority of the patients, 1,050 (67.7%) either had a weight loss or no significant change (+/- 2.5%). In logistic modeling, age was the only variable independently associated with weight gain of 2.5% or greater at six months (OR 0.9916, p = 0.0133). For the 501 patients with weight gain, BMI was inversely associated with weight gain at six months. With logistic modeling; increased BMI remained inversely associated with significant weight gain (+5%) at six months. The presence of clinical remission at six months was not associated with weight gain of greater than 5%.Conclusions:The majority of patient diagnosed with depression by their primary care provider did not experience a significant change in their weight over the next six months. Clinical remission did not impact the weight changes seen. If a patient was going to gain weight, a baseline normal BMI was associated with an increased risk of >5% weight gain in six months.
355 – Stigmatising Attitudes of Mental Health Care Professionals, Forensic Psychiatric Professionals And General Practitioners: A Pilot Study
Authors: Gras L.M. , van Weeghel J. , Slooff C. , Swart M. , Knegtering R. , Castelein S. 
Published: July 2013

Objective:Studying stigma in health care professionals may be helpful to address stigma in people with mental illness. The purpose of this study is to assess (stigmatising) attitudes of mental health care professionals (MHC), forensic psychiatric professionals (FP) and general practitioners (GP) in the Netherlands.Method:The Mental Illness Clinicians Attitude (MICA) questionnaire is used to assess stigmatising attitudes in three different groups of health care professionals. Scores range from 16 (minimum stigma) to 96 (maximum stigma). Additionally, background information was obtained including gender, age, work and personal experience.Results:All three groups of health care professionals had a positive attitude towards psychiatry and patients with a mental health problem. However, the total MICA score differed significantly between the three groups (p<0.001). GP's had the highest score (44) on stigmatising attitudes, followed by the FP's (39) and MH's (34). In our study population 25%-38% had personal experience with having a mental illness. Most stigmatising attitudes were found regarding protection of the public against patients with severe mental illness, telling colleagues about personal experience with mental illness and, appreciating psychiatry as less respectable compared to other medical disciplines.Conclusion:General practitioners showed in comparison to mental health care professionals a significantly higher stigmatising attitude. The scores still represent a mild positive attitude towards psychiatry and psychiatric patients. Although all three groups have a relatively positive attitude, there is still room for improvement.
361 – Audit of Attendance of Clozapine Clinic Two Years after First Audit
Authors: Van Mechelen C. , Uzair F. 
Published: July 2013

Introduction:Aim of audit was to assess attendance at clinic and determine factors that might influence attendance. The outcome of the audit showed that mainly young men from South asian background were not attending. Recommendations from the audit included education of patient about illness and importance of maintenance treatment, education of family about illness so they can get more involved in treatment and encourage patient's compliance with treatment.Objectives:Observe trends in attendance according to ethnicity.Aim:Re-evaluate attendance after recommendations were put into practice.Method:Look at clinic lists and note DNA (did not attend) in clozapine clinic over period of 3 months. Note ethnicity of patients.Results:39 patients were booked into clozapine clinic over period of 3 months 8 DNA's - 2 black british and 6 white english Reasons for non attendance: 1 black british works full time, 1 black british AOT client, 1 white english was physically unwell, 1 discontinued clozapine without informing services. Another important reason for non attendance: patients don’t tend to attend clozapine clinic if blood test is not due the same day.Conclusions:Improvement of non attendance in South Asian client group due to education of patient and family about illness and treatment. Non attendance in other client group is mainly due to non concordance between blood test appointment and clinic appointment.Recommendation:Treatment team should consult client's diary to synchronise the time of blood test with time of clinic appointment.
397 – Nurses’ Problem in Management of Aggressive Behavior in Psychiatric Wards
Authors: Parvin N. , Rafiee Vardanjani L. , Taji P. 
Published: July 2013

Introduction:Aggressive behavior is a critical issue for psychiatric services, because of the adverse impact on patients and staff, and management of this behavior is difficult. This study was done by aim of determination of nurses’ problem in management of aggressive behavior in psychiatric wards.Methodology:This descriptive analytic study was done in 41 nurses who worked in Hajar and Sina Psychiatric ward in 2011. Sampling method was census. Data was gathered by self-making questionnaire include two parts: nurses’ demographic data and aggression management problem in three domains: personal, physical, and organizational factors. Data was analyzed by SPSS software 18, and means and frequency and analytical statistic exams such as Mann-Whitney and chi square were used.Findings:The average of aggression episode was 4.44±3.3 time and in 51.25% occurred in all work shifts. 82.9% of aggression episode was mix verbal and physical aggression. The most aggressive patients suffer from schizophrenia and they had 30 till 40 years old. The most frequent problem in management of aggressive patients was related to personal problem specially fear about physical conflict with patients and physical restriction side effects. There was no significant relationship between age, sex, work shift and ward with aggression frequency (P>0.05),but there was significant difference between two hospital in physical environment (P= 0.003) and personal problems (P=0.011).Conclusion:Results of this study revealed that nurses who work in psychiatry ward have some problem in management of aggressive patient's especially in personal and physical environment domain, and attention of managers is necessary.
401 – Evaluation of Psychiatric Illness in Iranian Stoma Patients
Authors: Mohammad-Sadeghi H. , Mahjoubi B. , Mohammadipour M. , Mirzaei R. , Moini R. 
Published: July 2013

Aims:The objective of this study was to assess the nonpsychotic psychiatric disorders of stoma patients in Iran.Background review:The only study that evaluated stoma patients in Iran indicated that postoperative problems, especially psychosocial ones, have a rather high frequency in comparison with other reports, but since no standardized questionnaire was applied for the evaluation of psychosocial problems and their severity, further studies were needed.Methods:In this cross-sectional study, patients referred to the Iranian Ostomy Association from 2005 to 2006 filled the 28-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) in Farsi as a screening instrument to identify cases of nonpsychotic psychiatric morbidity.Results:A total of 155 patients participated in the study, of whom 79 (51%) were female and 76 (49%) were male. Fifty-five percent of the patients (n=86) had psychiatric problems. The females’ mean GHQ score was significantly higher than that of males (P=.001). Psychiatric disorder was significantly more frequent among patients with the following specifications: educational level of high school or lower (P=.001), mucosal hemorrhage of the ostomy (P=.03), stomal stenosis (P=.012), and history of psychiatric drug consumption (P=.000). GHQ score decreased as stoma age increased (P=.032; r=−.177).Conclusion:Similar to other complications, psychiatric problems are prevalent in Iranian stoma patients. Our findings highlight the need for special support.
406 – Gabaergic Dysfunction, Disturbed Otoacoustic Emissions Products (DAOEPS) and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Authors: Trousselard M. , Lefèvre B. , Pattou C. , Denis J. , Canini F. 
Published: July 2013

There is indirect evidence for hypofunction of the inhibitory GABAergic system among factors that will lead to PTSD. Hearing researches highlighting that the GABA is involved in both hearing and cerebral changes following a trauma, have developed a promising audiometric method consisting in the measurement of the contractile properties of the Outer Hair Cells, so called DPOAEs, which could constitute an indirect non invasive physiological tool to evaluate central GABAergic response (2). The present study aims at assessing the response of the inhibitory GABAergic system, the OE, as their relationships for individuals with PTSD.The research strategy used the Stroop paradigms (classic and emotional Stroop) to constitute a relevant experimentallyinduced Anxiety in 16 subjects with PTSD and 16 controls. Blood GABA concentrations and DPOAEs were assessed before and after psychological stimulations.Results showed that GABA concentrations differed between PTSD and controls at baseline and after the Stroop tasks. The Stroop tasks induced a decrease in the DPOAEs for the medium frequencies only for the PTSD group. Moreover, for PTSD, the GABA concentration at baseline was all the most low than the intensity of the PTSD was high. The increase of GABA after the Stroop tasks was all the most low than the intensity of the PTSD was high. No relationship was found between changes in GABA concentrations and in DPOAEs for subjects with PTSD.These data showed dysfunction in the GABAergic system for individuals with PTSD and suggested that DPOAEs could be an indirect indicator for evaluating the GABAergic function.
417 – Primary Refusal to Eat in People with Moderate Intellectual Disability - Mirtazapine used Successfully to Restore Appetite
Authors: Patel R. , Hillier R. 
Published: July 2013

Background:Research has shown that Mirtazapine has been effective in stimulating appetite in the elderly. We present a case series of three patients with Moderate Intellectual Disability, each presenting with intractable refusal to eat over several months. They did not have overt symptoms of depression according to carers and family. Two patients were being considered for Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (PEG) feeding in view of their significant weight loss and deteriorating physical health.Results:Mirtazapine was introduced as an appetite stimulant, despite the apparent lack of depressive symptoms. All three patients experienced an improvement in their appetite within days of initiation of Mirtazapine, increasing their calorie and fluid intake and obviating the need for PEG feeding. During the following 3 months, the patients also developed an increased interest in activities, improved sleeping pattern and improved concentration.Conclusion:These patients had very limited communication skills and there was little suggestion of depression at the time of assessment. The families and carers also did not feel that their relative was significantly depressed. Despite this, Mirtazapine had the two fold benefit of early appetite stimulation and, over the subsequent weeks, treating what in hindsight had been an underlying depressive episode. A lesson to be learnt is that primary refusal to eat, even in the absence of overt depressive symptoms may indicate an occult depressive episode in this patient group. We have shown that Mirtazapine can be an effective treatment in such cases and can prevent distressing medical intervention from having to be used.
421 – Full Cycle Audit of the Quality of Fall Reviews by Junior Doctors in Oxford Deanery
Authors: Shaddel F. , Ghazirad M. 
Published: July 2013

Background:Elderly psychiatric patients are at constant risk of having a fall due to numerous reasons e.g. frailty, gait problem, vision problem, cognitive and judgment impairment, psychotropic medications.Consequences of a fall for an elderly patient could be potentially life threatening, protracted, painful and detrimental. Also the cost of falls for NHS is enormous.Objective:To improve the quality of fall reviews undertaken by junior doctors in Oxford Health Foundation Trust.Methods:The quality of a random sample of 23 fall reviews by junior doctors was assessed against the national guideline (NICE guideline No.: CG21).Proper actions taken to raise the awareness of junior doctors i.e. circulating an email and short talk about national standards.The second cycle (Sample size: 17) in 6 months time showed substantial improvement in most areas but not all of them.In the next stage a “Fall intervention proforma” designed for the wards. Also reminding posters were mounted in clinical rooms and junior doctors’ offices.The third cycle (Sample size: 10) in 6 months time conducted to assess the sustainability of improvements in our compliance.Results:Our compliance improved from less than 50% in most essential components of a high quality fall review (Musculoskeletal examination, Neurological examination, History taking, Cardiovascular examination, Medication review) to around 100% in 3rd cycle.Recommendations:– routine use of “Fall intervention proforma” as standard check list on the wards– mounting of reminding posters in clinical rooms– a short talk about fall reviews in induction programme for new junior doctors
453 – A Pilot Study on a Collaborative Education Program between Psychogeriatric Ward and Community Psychiatric Service for Caregivers of Suicidal Elderly
Authors: Wong W.C. 
Published: July 2013

Caregivers experience great stress when their old relatives have attempted suicide, are diagnosed with depression and are discharged after hospitalization. The stress is partly induced by the lack of elderly suicidal precaution knowledge and skills. Actually, caregivers need support during and particularly, after patients’ hospitalization. A collaborative education program is conducted for those caregivers during and after patients’ hospitalization.Objectives:The pilot study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a collaborative education program in term of feedbacks from community suicidal precaution nurses (CSPN) and caregivers.Method:A convenience sample of eight caregivers of patients who presented with suicidal idea or attempted suicide before current admission, and were diagnosed with depression in a study ward were recruited. Knowledge and theory about elderly suicide and caring skill were taught by the psycho-geriatric ward nurse during patient hospitalization. When patient was discharged, the CSPN were liaised. They would help caregivers transforming the theory into practice at their home, and then reinforce their suicidal precaution skills. The effectiveness of the collaborative education program was evaluated by feedbacks from CSPN and caregivers.Results:The CSPN agreed that the collaborative program was useful and practical, which bridged caregivers’ knowledge gap. The program provided a continuous support to caregivers before and after patients’ discharge. The caregivers expressed that the program was satisfactory and met their needs.Conclusion:The collaborative program was effective in providing continuous support on practicing the suicidal precaution skill among the caregivers.