bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Participation of chronic patients in medical consultations: patients' perceived efficacy, barriers and interest in support
Authors: Henselmans Inge , Heijmans Monique , Rademakers Jany , van Dulmen Sandra 
Published: May 2014

AbstractAimsChronic patients are increasingly expected to participate actively in medical consultations. This study examined (i) patients' perceived efficacy and barriers to participation in consultations, (ii) patients' interest in communication support and (iii) correlates of perceived efficacy and barriers, with an emphasis on differences across providers' disciplines.MethodsA representative panel of chronic patients (n = 1314) filled out the short Perceived Efficacy in Patient‐Provider Interaction scale and were questioned about barriers to participation and interest in communication support. Potential correlates included socio‐demographic (age, sex, education, living situation), clinical (discipline care provider, type of illness, comorbidity, illness duration, functional disabilities, health consultations in last year) and personal characteristics (information preference, health literacy, level of general patient activation).ResultsMost patients felt efficacious in consultations, although 46% reported barriers to participation and 39% had an interest in support. Barriers most frequently recognized were ‘not wanting to be bothersome’, ‘perception there is too little time’ and ‘remembering subjects only afterwards’. Patients most frequently endorsed relatively simple support. Patients perceived the least barriers and were least likely to endorse support when seeing a nurse. In multivariate models, consistent risk factors for low efficacy and perceived barriers were low health literacy and a low general patient activation.ConclusionsMany chronically ill patients feel confident in medical interactions. Still, a significant number might benefit from support. Often this concerned more generally vulnerable patients, that is, the low literate and generally less activated. Relatively simple supportive interventions are likely to be endorsed and might overcome frequent barriers.
Non‐O1, non‐O139 Vibrio cholerae bacteraemia in an Australian population
Authors: Trubiano J. A. , Lee J. Y. H. , Valcanis M. , Gregory J. , Sutton B. A. , Holmes N. E. 
Published: May 2014

AbstractThis retrospective case series identifies the largest cohort of non‐O1, non‐O139 Vibrio cholerae bacteraemia in an Australian population from 2000 to 2013. We examine the risk factors, epidemiology, clinical presentations and mortality of non‐O1, non‐O139 V. cholerae bacteraemia in Victoria and compare them with published cases in the literature. This case series highlights the pathogenic potential of non‐O1, non‐O139 V. cholerae and identifies possible associations with host (underlying chronic liver disease and malignancy) and environmental factors (contaminated water supply and raw seafood). Clinicians should be aware of the morbidity and mortality associated with invasive non‐O1, non‐O139 V. cholerae infections, particularly in immunocompromised patients.
Twenty‐eight day Holter monitoring is poorly tolerated and insensitive for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation detection in cryptogenic stroke
Authors: Tu H. T. , Spence S. , Kalman J. M. , Davis S. M. 
Published: May 2014

AbstractThis pilot study in a prospective cohort of 20 cryptogenic stroke patients showed that a significant proportion has paroxysmal atrial fibrillation undetected by 24‐h Holter monitoring. However, longer monitoring with 28‐day Holter was poorly tolerated and still insufficiently sensitive for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation detection. Further studies are urgently needed to elucidate the optimal timing, method and duration of cardiac rhythm monitoring following ischaemic stroke.
Low‐molecular‐weight heparin biosimilars: potential implications for clinical practice
Authors: Nandurkar H. , Chong B. , Salem H. , Gallus A. , Ferro V. , McKinnon R. 
Published: May 2014

AbstractA working group of clinicians and scientists was formed to review the clinical considerations for use of low‐molecular‐weight heparin (LMWH) biosimilars. LMWH are biological molecules of significant complexity; the full complexity of chemical structure is still to be elucidated. LMWH biosimilars are products that are biologically similar to their reference product and rely on clinical data from a reference product to establish safety and efficacy. The complex nature of LMWH molecules means that it is uncertain whether a LMWH biosimilar is chemically identical to its reference product; this introduces the possibility of differences in activity and immunogenicity. The challenge for regulators and clinicians is to evaluate the level of evidence required to demonstrate that a LMWH is sufficiently similar to the reference product. The consensus opinion of the working group is that prior to clinical use a LMWH biosimilar should have proven efficacy and safety, similar to the reference product with prospective studies, which should be confirmed with a proactive post‐marketing pharmacovigilance programme.
Pemphigus vulgaris is characterized by low IgG reactivities to specific self‐antigens along with high IgG reactivity to desmoglein 3
Authors: Fattal Ittai , Rimer Jacob , Shental Noam , Molad Yair , Gabrielli Armando , Livneh Avi , Sarig Ofer , Goldberg Ilan , Gafter Uzi , Domany Eytan , Cohen Irun R. 
Published: May 2014

SummaryPemphigus vulgaris (PV) is an autoimmune skin disease, which has been characterized by IgG autoantibodies to desmoglein 3. Here we studied the antibody signatures of PV patients compared with healthy subjects and with patients with two other autoimmune diseases with skin manifestations (systemic lupus erythematosus and scleroderma), using an antigen microarray and informatics analysis. We now report a previously unobserved phenomenon – patients with PV, compared with the healthy subjects and the two other diseases, show a significant decrease in IgG autoantibodies to a specific set of self‐antigens. This novel finding demonstrates that an autoimmune disease may be associated with a loss of specific, healthy IgG autoantibodies and not only with a gain of specific, pathogenic IgG autoantibodies.
Portfolio Quality and Mutual Fund Performance
Authors: Gallagher David R. , Gardner Peter A. , Schmidt Camille H. , Walter Terry S. 
Published: May 2014

AbstractThis study investigates how the quality of stocks owned by mutual funds affects the performance of those funds during 2000–2009. The quality of a stock is positively related to its size, while quality is inversely related to volatility. Evidently, stocks in the lowest quality decile perform particularly poorly amidst volatile market conditions with a mean monthly Daniel, Grinblatt, Titman and Wermers (DGTW) alpha 1.93% [25.73% per annum (pa)] less than high‐quality stocks. Furthermore, funds which hold the lowest quality stocks exhibit substantial underperformance, particularly during market downturns, with funds in the lowest decile of quality incurring a mean monthly DGTW alpha 0.96% (12.14% pa) lower than their higher quality counterparts. Interestingly, we discover a trend to funds investing in higher quality stocks over time.
Temperature‐Stable Relative Permittivity from −70°C to 500°C in (Ba0.8Ca0.2)TiO3–Bi(Mg0.5Ti0.5)O3–NaNbO3 Ceramics
Authors: Zeb Aurang , Bai Yang , Button Tim , Milne Steven J. 
Published: May 2014

Temperature‐stable relaxor dielectrics have been developed in the solid solution system: 0.45Ba0.8Ca0.2TiO3–(0.55 − x)Bi(Mg0.5Ti0.5)O3–xNaNbO3. Ceramics of composition x = 0 have a relative permittivity ɛr = 950 ± 15% over a wide temperature range from +70°C to 600°C. Modification with NaNbO3 at x = 0.2 decreases the lower limiting temperature to −70°C, but also decreases relative permittivity such that ɛr ~ 600 ± 15% over the temperature range −70°C to 500°C. For composition x = 0.3, the low‐temperature dispersion in loss tangent, tan δ, (at 1 kHz) shifts to lower temperature, giving tan δ values ≤0.02 across the temperature range −60°C to 300°C in combination with ɛr ~ 550 ± 15%. Values of dc resistivity for all samples are of the order of 1010 Ω m at 250°C and 107 Ω m at 400°C.
Zirconium Diboride with High Thermal Conductivity
Authors: Lonergan Jason M. , Fahrenholtz William G. , Hilmas Greg E. 
Published: May 2014

Thermal properties were characterized for zirconium diboride produced by reactive hot pressing and compared to ZrB2 ceramics that were hot pressed from commercial powders. No sintering additives were used in either process. Thermal conductivity was calculated from measured values of heat capacity, thermal diffusivity, and density for temperatures ranging from 298 to 2273 K. ZrB2 produced by reactive hot pressing achieved near full density, but had a small volume fraction of ZrO2, whereas hot‐pressed ZrB2 contained porosity and carbon inclusions. Reactive hot pressing produced a ceramic with higher thermal diffusivity and heat capacity, resulting in thermal conductivities of 127 W·(m·K)−1 at 298 K and 80 W·(m·K)−1 at 2273 K, which were up to ~30% higher than typically reported for hot‐pressed ZrB2.
Terahertz Time‐Domain Spectroscopy of 0.73Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3–0.27PbTiO3 Single Crystal
Authors: Yong Zehui , He Lianxing , Li Bo , Hu Mingzhe , Lam Chi Hang , Wang Yu 
Published: May 2014

Lead magnesium niobate titanate is an important ferroelectric material. In this study, the terahertz (THz) transmission properties of a 0.73Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3–0.27PbTiO3 single crystal were investigated using a time‐domain spectroscopy method. Complex refractive index and dielectric dispersion functions were determined from the amplitude and phase information derived from time‐domain responses. Based on calculations, it was concluded that the room‐temperature dielectric constant of the single crystal equal to ~30 at 1 THz. This result could be a useful reference for development of ferroelectric‐material‐based THz components and devices.
Magnetic and Dielectric Properties of Nanostructured BiFeO3 Prepared by Sol–Gel Method
Authors: Lu Shih‐Zong , Qi Xiaoding 
Published: May 2014

Polycrystalline BiFeO3 was synthesized at 400°C–700°C. Distinctive difference in the magnetic and dielectric properties was observed between the samples sintered at 400°C–500°C and those sintered at 600°C–700°C. The former showed ferromagnetic‐like hysteresis loops with an increased magnetization of 0.54 emu/g, whereas the later showed linear loops with a small magnetization of 0.065 emu/g. Although X‐ray did not identify any secondary phase, the suspected trace of some magnetic phase (Fe3O4) in the samples was conceded by the occurrence of an exchange bias. The difference in dielectric response between the two groups of samples arose mainly from a different conductivity at the grain boundaries. Owing to Fe3O4 coating at grain surface, the 400°C–500°C sintered samples behaved like a single parallel R–C circuit, whereas the dielectric response of the samples sintered at 600°C–700°C was represented by a series of two parallel R‐C units for grains and grain boundaries, respectively. Two dielectric relaxation peaks observed at <700 Hz and 0.3~6 MHz in the high‐temperature sintered samples were attributed to the Maxwell–Wagner relaxation and electron hopping, respectively.
Chemical Processes During Energy‐Saving Preparation of Lightweight Ceramics
Authors: Kazantseva Lidia K. , Rashchenko Sergey V. 
Published: May 2014

Lightweight glass‐ceramic material similar to foam glass was obtained at 700°C–800°C directly from alkali‐activated silica clay and zeolitized tuff without preliminary glass preparation. It was characterized by low bulk density of 100–250 kg/m3 and high pore size homogeneity. Chemical processes occurring in alkali‐activated silica clay and zeolitized tuff were studied using X‐ray diffraction, thermal gravimetry, IR‐spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. Pore formation in both compositions is caused by dehydration of hydrated sodium polysilicates (Na2O·mSiO2·nH2O), formed during alkali activation. Additional pore‐forming gas source in alkali‐activated zeolitized tuff is trona, Na3(CO3)(HCO3)·2H2O, formed during interaction between unbound NaOH and CO2 and H2O from air. Influence of mechanical activation of raw materials on chemical processes occurring in alkaline compositions was also studied.
Crystallography of Interfaces and Grain Size Distributions in Sr‐Doped LaMnO3
Authors: Liu Qinyuan , Bhattacharya Sudip , Helmick Lam , Donegan Sean P. , Rollett Anthony D. , Rohrer Gregory S. , Salvador Paul A. 
Published: May 2014

Grain‐boundary plane distributions (GBPDs), grain size distribution (GSDs), and upper tail departure from log‐normal GSDs were quantified in dense and porous La0.8Sr0.2MnO3 samples to understand expected microstructures in solid oxide fuel cells. Samples were sintered at 1450°C for 4 h and then annealed between 800°C and 1450°C. The GBPDs and normalized GSDs reached steady state during sintering and little variation occurred during annealing. The GBPDs were nearly isotropic, with the relative areas of {001} planes being slightly higher than random (and the relative areas of {111} planes being less than random). The porous sample had an almost identical GBPD, whereas the almost isotropic pore boundary plane distribution was essentially opposite to the GBPD. The upper tails of the experimental GSDs, and several theoretical distributions, were characterized using peaks‐over‐threshold analysis. Dense samples, and all normal grain growth models, exhibit lower frequencies of large grains in the upper tail than would a log‐normal distribution, and the experimental distributions are similar to the Mullins distribution. Porous samples, however, have an anomalous increased frequency of large grains in the upper tail, as compared to all the model distributions, even though other metrics of the microstructure indicate the dense and porous systems are similar.
Medical and nursing diagnoses: a critical comparison
Authors: Chiffi Daniele , Zanotti Renzo 
Published: May 2014

AbstractRationaleDiagnostic systems exist in many disciplines. Strengths and weaknesses of such diagnostic systems vary considerably within and among disciplinary domains of the health sciences. The logical framework behind each diagnostic process involves identifying a condition, seeking causes, establishing a prognosis and a treatment. Notably, a clinical diagnosis is a judgment focused on thepresent, aiming to cluster events associated with a disease. Diagnostic judgment focuses on thepastwhen it attempts to isolate possible causes, and towards thefuturewhen it indicates prognoses and treatments.Aims and objectivesThe paper suggests ways to differentiate nursing diagnosis from medical diagnoses, discussing ontology and abductive reasoning for doctors and nurses.ConclusionsThe proposed logical framework has been applied to a nursing taxonomy‐based diagnostic system in order to evaluate its strengths and weaknesses consistently with the epistemology of a diagnostic judgment.
How evidence‐based medicine is failing due to biased trials and selective publication
Authors: Every‐Palmer Susanna , Howick Jeremy 
Published: May 2014

AbstractEvidence‐based medicine (EBM) was announced in the early 1990s as a ‘new paradigm’ for improving patient care. Yet there is currently little evidence that EBM has achieved its aim. Since its introduction, health care costs have increased while there remains a lack of high‐quality evidence suggesting EBM has resulted in substantial population‐level health gains. In this paper we suggest that EBM's potential for improving patients' health care has been thwarted by bias in the choice of hypotheses tested, manipulation of study design and selective publication. Evidence for these flaws is clearest in industry‐funded studies. We argue EBM's indiscriminate acceptance of industry‐generated ‘evidence’ is akin to letting politicians count their own votes. Given that most intervention studies are industry funded, this is a serious problem for the overall evidence base. Clinical decisions based on such evidence are likely to be misinformed, with patients given less effective, harmful or more expensive treatments. More investment in independent research is urgently required. Independent bodies, informed democratically, need to set research priorities. We also propose that evidence rating schemes are formally modified so research with conflict of interest bias is explicitly downgraded in value.
Assessment of the pregnancy education programme with ‘EDUMA2’ questionnaire in Madrid (Spain)
Authors: Fernández y Fernández‐Arroyo Matilde , Muñoz Isabel , Torres Jorge 
Published: May 2014

AbstractRationale, aims and objectivesThe prenatal education promotes the empowerment of parents during pregnancy and postnatal period. This study aimed to assess the quality of educational sessions held in the third trimester of pregnancy as part of the parenting education programme for Spanish National Health System in Madrid.MethodsThe design is a cross‐sectional study in 41 primary care centres in the autonomous community of Madrid, which is one of the 17 autonomous communities that constitute the Spanish State, each wick medical responsibilities. The participants are a representative probability sample of 928 attendees to the programme. The assessment instrument is ‘EDUMA2’ questionnaire (Cronbach's alpha = 0.829) of 56 variables. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed using SPSS. The project was approved by the Research and Ethics Committees of the University Hospital of La Paz.ResultsThe uptake efficiency immigration risk is 14.7%, and lack of social support is 8.7%. The functionality in organization, teaching and methodology is high in 90.5%. The learning effectiveness of health habits, care and techniques is significant and greater than 60% in the 14 parameters studied. Satisfaction is very high at 67.5%. The immediate impact in terms of control or safety increase is significant and greater than 71% and significantly greater than 40% and for increasing the bonding with the baby.ConclusionsNo jobs found with which to compare. The assessment of the programme with adequate psychometric characteristics questionnaire allows designing strategies and research to improve the quality of prenatal education.
Knockdown of phosphotyrosyl phosphatase activator induces apoptosis via mitochondrial pathway and the attenuation by simultaneous tau hyperphosphorylation
Authors: Luo Dan‐Ju , Feng Qiong , Wang Zhi‐Hao , Sun Dong‐Sheng , Wang Qun , Wang Jian‐Zhi , Liu Gong‐Ping 
Published: May 2014

AbstractPhosphotyrosyl phosphatase activator (PTPA) is decreased in the brains of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and the AD transgenic mouse models. Here, we investigated whether down‐regulation of PTPA affects cell viability and the underlying mechanisms. We found that PTPA was located in the integral membrane of mitochondria, and knockdown of PTPA induced cell apoptosis in HEK293 and N2a cell lines. PTPA knockdown decreased mitochondrial membrane potential and induced Bax translocation into the mitochondria with a simultaneous release of Cyt C, activation of caspase‐3, cleavage of poly (DNA ribose) polymerase (PARP), and decrease in Bcl‐xl and Bcl‐2 protein levels. Over‐expression of Protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) catalytic subunit (PP2AC) did not rescue the apoptosis induced by PTPA knockdown, and PTPA knockdown did not affect the level of and their phosphorylation of mitogen‐activated protein kinases (MAPKs), indicating that PP2A and MAPKs were not involved in the apoptosis induced by PTPA knockdown. In the cells with over‐expression of tau, PTPA knockdown induced PP2A inhibition and tau hyperphosphorylation but did not cause significant cell death. These data suggest that PTPA deficit causes apoptotic cell death through mitochondrial pathway and simultaneous tau hyperphosphorylation attenuates the PTPA‐induced cell death.
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Phosphotyrosyl phosphatase activator (PTPA) is decreased in the brains of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and AD transgenic mouse models. Here, we investigated whether down‐regulation of PTPA affects cell viability. We found that PTPA located in the integral membrane of mitochondria, and knockdown of PTPA induced cell apoptosis in HEK293 and N2a cell lines by decreasing mitochondrial membrane potential, which leads to translocation of Bax and a simultaneous release of Cyt C. In the cells with tau over‐expression, PTPA knockdown inactivated PP2A to phosphorylate tau to avoid cell apoptosis which induced by PTPA knockdown.
Non‐invasive and Invasive Predictors of Paravalvular Regurgitation Post CoreValve® Stent Prosthesis Implantation in Aortic Valves
Authors: ANGER THOMAS , BAUER VERENA , PLACHTZIK CLAUDIA , GEISLER TOBIAS , GAWAZ MEINRAD , OBERHOFF MARTIN , HÖHER MARTIN 
Published: May 2014

ObjectivesThe long‐term success of CoreValve® stent prosthesis (Medtronic) implantation for severe aortic valve stenosis is limited by postprocedural paravalvular regurgitation (PVR).MethodsWe have retrospectively investigated preinterventional cardiac 256‐slice computed tomography (CT) scans and aortography to define predictors for mild, moderate, or severe PVR, in a blinded fashion.ResultsWe investigated 100 consecutive patients with a mean aortic valve area (AVA) of 0.69 cm2 and a mean age of 79.4 years. PVR was defined by echocardiography as mild (63), moderate (18), or severe (19). We found no differences according to AVA, left ventricular function, deployed stent size, calcification rate of the aortic valve, and stent position. Anatomically, the annular size and the angle between the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) and the ascending aorta demonstrated significant (P < 0.05) differences in the severity of the PVR: an LVOT: ascending aorta angle >12.6°, annulus area >8.9 cm2, and annulus diameter difference >3.9 mm. The multivariate analysis demonstrated that deviation angle, difference of aortic annulus (longitudinal–orthogonal), and CoreValve size were independent predictors of PVR.ConclusionOur data demonstrate the feasibility of cardiac CT to evaluate predictors of PVR post‐CoreValve placement. We support the aortic annulus (the area as well as the diameter differences) and the deviation of the linear slope from LVOT to ascending aorta as predictors of severe paravalvular regurgitations poststent implantation. (J Interven Cardiol 2014;27:275–283)