bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Outcomes of Community‐dwelling Seniors Vary by Type of Emergency Department
Authors: McCusker Jane , Roberge Danièle , Ciampi Antonio , Silva Roxane Borges Da , Vadeboncoeur Alain , Larouche Danielle , Lévesque Jean‐Frédéric , Belzile Eric 
Published: March 2012

ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE 2012; 19:304–312 © 2012 by the Society for Academic Emergency MedicineAbstractObjectives:  The specific objectives were: 1) to compare the characteristics and 6‐month outcomes of community‐dwelling seniors in Quebec, Canada, who visited three different emergency department (ED) types and 2) to explore whether the differences in outcomes by ED type were seen among subgroups of seniors.Methods:  The three types of ED were most specialized, less community‐oriented (n = 12); moderately specialized, less community‐oriented (n = 28); and least specialized, more community‐oriented (n = 28). Administrative databases were used to create a cohort of 223,120 seniors who visited these 68 EDs during a 14‐month period. Using a multilevel approach, the following patient characteristics were compared across ED types: sociodemographic (age, sex, urban vs. rural residence, proximity to ED); medical diagnoses and comorbidity burden; and utilization of hospital and physician services during the 16 months before the index ED visit. Cox regression analysis was used to model the relationships between ED type and two 6‐month outcomes, adjusting for patient characteristics: 1) serious outcomes (death, acute or long term‐care admission) among all individuals who made an index visit and 2) outpatient ED visits (without hospital admission) among those discharged either from the ED or hospital. Interactions between ED type and patient age, sex, urban–rural residence, and comorbidity burden were explored.Results:  Compared to patients treated at the least specialized EDs, those at the most specialized EDs were more often urban‐dwelling, resided outside the health service area of the ED, and had the highest disease burden and prior specialist utilization. Those treated at the moderately specialized EDs were intermediate between these two groups. During the 6 months after the ED visit, the rate of serious outcomes was higher and the rate of outpatient ED visits was lower for the most specialized compared to the least specialized EDs, even after adjustment for patient characteristics. The differences in these outcomes by ED type were attenuated among older patients and those with greater comorbidity.Conclusions:  More vulnerable community‐dwelling seniors tend to be treated in more specialized EDs, which have worse linkages to community services. Improved linkages between more specialized EDs and the community (physicians, home care, and other services) and increased access to community services may improve outcomes in this population. Seniors treated at more specialized EDs were more likely to experience serious outcomes, but were less likely to make a return outpatient ED visit.
Psychological gender of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome
Authors: KOWALCZYK ROBERT , SKRZYPULEC VIOLETTA , LEW–STAROWICZ ZBIGNIEW , NOWOSIELSKI KRZYSZTOF , GRABSKI BARTOSZ , MERK WOJCIECH 
Published: March 2012

Abstract Objective. We compared women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) to a control group with regard to intensity of hirsutism and psychological gender. Design. Cohort study, 2005–2009. Setting. Gynecological endocrinology clinic and gynecological practice, Silesian area, Poland. Sample. 89 women aged 17–42 years with PCOS, in two groups (S1, S2) by age < or ≥31 years, and age‐stratified controls of 45 healthy women. Methods. We used the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ 12), Ferriman–Gallwey score and Psychological Gender Inventory, to assess masculinity and femininity through self‐reported possession of socially desirable, stereotypical personality traits (masculine, feminine, androgynous, undifferentiated), supplemented by questions concerning social status (education, profession) and gynecological history. All questionnaires were anonymous and independently answered during clinic visits. Main outcome measures. Influence of PCOS and concomitant hirsutism on psychological gender. Results. Hirsutism (moderate or severe intensity) was observed in a considerably higher number of women from both PCOS groups compared with controls (S1: 49.0 vs. 20.0%, p < 0.05, S2: 41.9 vs. 16.7%, p < 0.05, respectively). Women ≥31 years with PCOS more often viewed themselves as sexually undifferentiated compared with controls (31.8 vs. 6.7%, p < 0.01), less likely to identify with a female gender scheme (18.2 vs. 33.3%), and more likely to see themselves as androgynous (50.0 vs. 40.9%). Conclusions. Women with PCOS have, depending on age and severity of disease, problems with psychological gender identification. Duration and severity of PCOS can negatively affect the self‐image of patients, lead to a disturbed identification with the female‐gender scheme and, associated with it, social roles.
The prevalence and correlates of intermittent explosive disorder in Iraq
Authors: Al‐Hamzawi A. , Al‐Diwan J. K. , Al‐Hasnawi S. M. , Taib N. I. , Chatterji S. , Hwang I. , Kessler R. C. , McLaughlin K. A. 
Published: March 2012

Al‐Hamzawi A, Al‐Diwan JK, Al‐Hasnawi SM, Taib NI, Chatterji S, Hwang I, Kessler RC, McLaughlin KA. The prevalence and correlates of intermittent explosive disorder (IED) in Iraq.Objective:  Intermittent explosive disorder is common, begins early in life, and is associated with considerable impairment in the United States. The epidemiology of IED outside the United States is unknown. We examined the prevalence and correlates of IED in Iraq, where exposure to violence has been widespread during the last three decades.Method:  Data were drawn from a national survey of the Iraq population, the Iraq Mental Health Survey (IMHS), conducted in 2006–2007. The WHO Composite International Diagnostic interview was used to assess DSM‐IV disorders, including IED. The response rate was 95.2%.Results:  Lifetime and 12‐month prevalence estimates of IED were 1.7% and 1.5%. Mean age of onset was 18.5. The mean number of lifetime attacks was 141.6 attacks, and IED‐related injuries occurred 61 times per 100 lifetime cases. IED was significantly comorbid with mood and anxiety, but not substance, disorders.Conclusion:  Although the prevalence of IED is lower in Iraq than in the United States, the disorder has an early age of onset, is highly persistent, and is associated with substantial comorbidity and functional impairment. Iraq lacks national policies or systematic programmes to reduce aggression, highlighting the importance of implementing violence prevention programmes to reduce the societal burden of violence in Iraq.
Myxoid variant of anaplastic large cell lymphoma involving the skin: a case report
Authors: Gable Ashley D. , Clark Sandra H. , Magro Cynthia M. 
Published: March 2012

We report the case of a 62‐year‐old white male who presented with a 2.6‐cm ulcerating mass on the skin of the left buttock and ipsilateral inguinal lymphadenopathy. Microscopic sections of the skin lesion showed a nodular and plaque‐like growth pattern of a mixed cellular infiltrate throughout the dermis and subcutaneous tissue with prominent myxoid change. There was a dominant population of medium‐sized mitotically active atypical cells that expressed CD30, CD4 and EMA. These atypical cells were mixed with eosinophils, neutrophils, mature lymphocytes and histiocytes. Tissue from the inguinal lymphadenopathy showed similar pathologic features, although no residual lymph node tissue was present. A diagnosis of secondary anaplastic large cell lymphoma, myxoid variant, with skin and lymph node/perinodal soft tissue involvement was rendered at the time of complete excision of the buttock mass. The patient received five cycles of CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone) chemotherapy with complete resolution of lymphadenopathy and no residual cutaneous disease. He was disease‐free by PET/CT scan and physical examination at 16 months after chemotherapy. We present this case to highlight the histopathologic and immunophenotypic features of this entity with a discussion of the differential diagnosis and a review of the literature.Gable AD, Clark SH, Magro CM. Myxoid variant of anaplastic large cell lymphoma involving the skin: a case report.
CD158k/KIR3DL2 and NKp46 are frequently expressed in transformed mycosis fungoides
Authors: Ortonne Nicolas , Le Gouvello Sabine , Tabak Reka , Marie‐Cardine Anne , Setiao Julie , Berrehar François , Nghe‐Tang Alexandra , Martin Nadine , Bagot Martine , Bensussan Armand 
Published: March 2012

Abstract: Malignant Sezary cells express the natural killer (NK) receptors KIR3DL2 (CD158k) and Nkp46 and may co‐express activating killer immunoglobulin‐like receptors (KIR) that may participate to neoplastic T‐cell activation through the JNK pathway. Little is known regarding NK receptor expression in other cutaneous T‐cell lymphomas. We studied the expression of KIR and natural cytotoxicity receptor (NCR) transcripts, and KIR3DL1/2 at the protein level, in 16 skin biopsies from 10 patients with transformed mycosis fungoides (tMF). Some KIR and NCR transcripts were found in all cases, with various repertoires. Two to nine different KIR receptors were expressed in a single biopsy. Among them, KIR3DL2 was the most frequent, with the highest level of expression in quantitative analyses and correlated with in situ protein expression, while phosphorylated JNK was never detected. Among NCR, NKp46 was expressed in all investigated cases. The role of KIR3DL2 and NKp46 in tMF oncogenesis remains to be studied.
Liquidity, the Value of the Firm, and Corporate Finance*
Authors: Amihud Yakov , Mendelson Haim 
Published: March 2012

The theory of corporate finance has been based on the idea that a company's market value is determined mainly by just two variables: the company's expected aftertax operating cash flows or earnings, and the risk associated with producing them. The authors argue that there is another important factor affecting a company's value: the liquidity of its own securities, debt as well as equity. The paper supports this argument by reviewing the large and growing body of evidence showing that differences—and, perhaps even more important, sudden changes—in liquidity can have major effects on the pricing of corporate stocks and bonds or, equivalently, on investors' required returns for holding them.The authors also suggest that the liquidity of a company's securities can be managed by corporate policies and actions. For those companies whose value is likely to be increased by having more liquid securities—which is by no means true of all companies (for example, mature firms with little need for outside equity are likely to benefit from having more concentrated ownership and hence less liquidity)—management should consider actions such as reducing leverage and substituting dividends for stock repurchases as well as measures designed to increase the effectiveness of their disclosure and investor relations program and the size of their retail investor base.
Hospitalization of influenza‐like illness patients recommended by general practitioners in France between 1997 and 2010
Authors: Pelat Camille , Lasserre Andrea , Xavier Ana , Turbelin Clément , Blanchon Thierry , Hanslik Thomas 
Published: March 2012

Please cite this paper as: Pelat et al. (2012) Hospitalization of influenza‐like illness patients recommended by general practitioners in France between 1997 and 2010. Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses DOI: 10.1111/j.1750‐2659.2012.00356.x.Background  The case–hospitalization ratio (CHR) is a key quantity for the management of emerging pathogens such as pandemic influenza. Yet, few running surveillance systems prospectively monitor the CHR during influenza epidemics. Here, we analyze the proportion of recommended hospitalizations (PRH) among influenza‐like illness (ILI) patients attended in general practice in France and compare the PRH observed during the 2009–2010 A(H1N1) pandemic with the one of the twelve previous seasons.Methods  ILI cases were recorded by general practitioners (GPs) involved in surveillance, who indicated for each case whether they recommended hospitalization. We stratify the analysis by age, sex, and viral subtype. We investigate the reasons why GPs recommended hospitalization and the presence of risk factors for pandemic A(H1N1) complications.Results  The average PRH over the seasons 1997–1998 to 2008–2009 was 3·4‰ (3–3·9). It was three times higher during the 2009–2010 pandemic than during seasonal influenza epidemics (OR = 2·89, 95% CI: 2·28–3·64). The highest increase was among 20–39‐year‐old women: OR = 11·8 (5·04–29·59). Overall, the principal reasons for recommending hospitalization were “respiratory problems” and “bad general condition.” However, during the pandemic, “age” (mainly associated with infants), “pregnancy,” and “diagnostic” became more frequent than before (P < 0·001). Finally, pregnancy was the reported risk factor for pandemic A(H1N1) complications that had the largest impact on hospitalization recommendation during the pandemic (OR = 38·62, P < 0·001).Conclusion  Easily implemented in surveillance systems, this protocol has the potential to reveal changes in hospitalization recommendation by GPs. Moreover, if the right data are collected alongside, it could give timely insights into epidemic severity.
Comparison of two approaches to performing an inferior alveolar nerve block in the horse
Authors: Harding PG , Smith RL , Barakzai SZ 
Published: March 2012

Objectives  To compare two approaches to performing the inferior alveolar nerve block in the horse and to evaluate the consistency of described topographical landmarks.Design  Experimental cadaver model.Methods  Eleven cadaver heads were positioned to mimic a standing sedated horse and the position of the mandibular foramen approximated. The vertical approach to the approximate location of the mandibular foramen was undertaken and red dye was deposited. The angled approach was then undertaken and blue ink was used to identify it. The heads were then dissected to determine the location of the dye. Placement was categorised as a hit or a miss for each technique for each side of the head. The distance of the dye from the nerve was recorded. Straight lateral radiographs of the sectioned heads were taken to evaluate the topographical landmarks for performing this nerve block.Results  Each method was performed 22 times. A hit was achieved 16 times (73%) for the angled approach and 13 times (59%) for the vertical approach. There was no significant difference between the two approaches (P = 0.34). Radiographs revealed that the topographical landmarks used to approximate the mandibular foramen were relatively accurate.Conclusion  Both methods were found to be equivalently accurate. The previously reported topographic landmarks for locating the approximate position of the mandibular foramen on the medial aspect of the mandible were found to be accurate, but currently recommended doses of local anaesthetic may be excessive.
The role of habitat complexity on spider communities in native alpine grasslands of New Zealand
Authors: MALUMBRES‐OLARTE JAGOBA , VINK COR J. , ROSS JAMES G. , CRUICKSHANK ROBERT H. , PATERSON ADRIAN M. 
Published: March 2012

Abstract.  1. Physical structure and species composition of vegetation determine spider diversity through habitat availability. Here, we assess, for the first time, the role of plant structure on spider communities in New Zealand native alpine tussock grasslands. We investigate the specific associations between spider assemblages and plant communities and test the hypothesis that spider diversity increases with plant diversity and tussock cover.2. Spiders were sampled using density‐ and abundance‐activity‐dependent methods. Data on physical characteristics and species composition of plants revealed gradients in vegetation, driven by distinct intra‐ecosystem plant communities. Effects of vegetation on spider diversity and composition were assessed through linear mixed‐effects models. Redundancy analysis was used to determine and visualise the spider species–level response to gradients in plant compositions.3. There was a positive relationship between plant diversity and spider diversity, while the effects of tussock cover varied with spider taxa. Overall, physical structure and species composition of vegetation had effects on the abundance of a similar number of spider species and families.4. Gradients in vegetation were matched to gradients in spider communities, whose diversity and composition varied according to their habitat preference. The family Orsolobidae was associated with wetland vegetation, and Linyphiidae with shrubs. The abundance of certain spider families and species, such as Lycosidae and Anoteropsis hilaris, was consistently affected by vegetation.5. Environmental factors, such as soil moisture, may affect plant species composition and physical structure in tussock grasslands, which in turn determine spider assemblages. Lycosidae were identified as potential indicators of structural changes in tussock grassland plants and could be valuable for ecological monitoring in conservation management.
DNA‐based analysis of regurgitates: a noninvasive approach to examine the diet of invertebrate consumers
Authors: WALDNER THOMAS , TRAUGOTT MICHAEL 
Published: March 2012

AbstractDNA‐based gut content analysis has become an important tool for unravelling feeding interactions in invertebrate communities under natural conditions. It usually implies killing of the consumer and extracting the DNA from its food, using either the whole animal or its dissected gut. This post‐mortem approach, however, is not suitable for investigating the diet of rare or protected species and also prohibits tracking individual dietary preferences as each consumer can provide trophic information only once. Moreover, removing large numbers of consumers from a habitat for analysis might critically change population densities and affect species interactions. Here, we present DNA‐based analysis of invertebrate regurgitates, a novel approach to overcome these limitations. Conducting feeding experiments where adult Poecilus cupreus (Coleoptera: Carabidae) were fed with larvae of Amphimallon solstitiale (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), we show that detection success in regurgitates compared to samples prepared from whole beetles was similar or significantly enhanced for small/medium and large prey DNA fragments, respectively. Prey DNA detection success remained high in regurgitates stored in ethanol for 21 months at room temperature prior to DNA extraction. We conclude that in those invertebrates where regurgitates can be obtained, examination of food DNA in regurgitates offers many advantages over conventional post‐mortem gut content analysis.
Incompatibilism and the Past*
Authors: BAILEY ANDREW M. 
Published: March 2012

AbstractThere is a new objection to the Consequence Argument for incompatibilism. I argue that the objection is more wide‐ranging than originally thought. In particular: if it tells against the Consequence Argument, it tells against other arguments for incompatibilism too. I survey a few ways of dealing with this objection and show the costs of each. I then present an argument for incompatibilism that is immune to the objection and that enjoys other advantages.
Freeness and multirestriction of hyperplane arrangements
Authors: Schulze Mathias 
Published: March 2012

AbstractGeneralizing a result of Yoshinaga in dimension three, we show that a central hyperplane arrangement in 4-space is free exactly if its restriction with multiplicities to a fixed hyperplane of the arrangement is free and its reduced characteristic polynomial equals the characteristic polynomial of this restriction. We show that the same statement holds true in any dimension when imposing certain tameness hypotheses.
Zoonotic Agents in Small Ruminants Kept on City Farms in Southern Germany
Authors: Schilling Anna-Katarina , Hotzel Helmut , Methner Ulrich , Sprague Lisa D. , Schmoock Gernot , El-Adawy Hosny , Ehricht Ralf , Wöhr Anna-Caroline , Erhard Michael , Geue Lutz 
Published: March 2012

ABSTRACT

Sheep and goats are popular examples of livestock kept on city farms. In these settings, close contacts between humans and animals frequently occur. Although it is widely accepted that small ruminants can carry numerous zoonotic agents, it is unknown which of these agents actually occur in sheep and goats on city farms in Germany. We sampled feces and nasal liquid of 48 animals (28 goats, 20 sheep) distributed in 7 city farms and on one activity playground in southern Germany. We found that 100% of the sampled sheep and 89.3% of the goats carried Shiga toxin-producing
Escherichia coli
(STEC). The presence of
Staphylococcus
spp. in 75% of both sheep and goats could be demonstrated.
Campylobacter
spp. were detected in 25% and 14.3% of the sheep and goats, respectively. Neither
Salmonella
spp. nor
Coxiella burnetii
was found. On the basis of these data, we propose a reasonable hygiene scheme to prevent transmission of zoonotic agents during city farm visits.
Hepatitis C Virus-Multispecific T-Cell Responses without Viremia or Seroconversion among Egyptian Health Care Workers at High Risk of Infection
Authors: Abdelwahab Sayed F. , Zakaria Zainab , Sobhy Maha , Rewisha Eman , Mahmoud Mohamed A. , Amer Mahmoud A. , Del Sorbo Mariarosaria , Capone Stefania , Nicosia Alfredo , Folgori Antonella , Hashem Mohamed , El-Kamary Samer S. 
Published: March 2012

ABSTRACTHepatitis C virus (HCV)-specific cell-mediated immunity (CMI) has been reported among exposed individuals without viremia or seroconversion. Limited data are available regarding CMI among at-risk, seronegative, aviremic Egyptian health care workers (HCW), where HCV genotype 4 predominates. We investigated CMI responses among HCW at the National Liver Institute, where over 85% of the patients are HCV infected. We quantified HCV-specific CMI in 52 seronegative aviremic Egyptian HCW using a gamma interferon (IFN-γ) enzyme-linked immunospot assay in response to 7 HCV genotype 4a overlapping 15-mer peptide pools covering most of the viral genome. A positive HCV-specific IFN-γ response was detected in 29 of 52 HCW (55.8%), where 21 (40.4%) had a positive response for two to seven HCV pools and 8 (15.4%) responded to only one pool. The average numbers of IFN-γ total spot-forming cells (SFC) per million peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) (± standard error of the mean [SEM]) in the 29 responding and 23 nonresponding HCW were 842 ± 141 and 64 ± 15, respectively (P< 0.001). Flow cytometry indicated that both CD4+and CD4−T cells produced IFN-γ. In summary, more than half of Egyptian HCW demonstrated strong HCV multispecific CMI without viremia or seroconversion, suggesting possible clearance of low HCV exposure(s). These data suggest that detecting anti-HCV and viremia to determine past exposure to HCV can lead to an underestimation of the true disease exposure and that CMI response may contribute to the low degree of chronic HCV infection in these HCW. These findings could have strong implications for planning vaccine studies among populations with a high HCV exposure rate. Further studies are needed to determine whether these responses are protective.