bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Community blood donors' knowledge of anemia and design of a literacy‐appropriate educational intervention
Authors: Young Staci , Fink Arlene , Geiger Susan , Marbella Anne , Mast Alan E. , Schellhase Kenneth G. 
Published: August 2009

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this project is to improve the health of blood donors by educating and motivating them to seek medical attention for anemia. The National Anemia Action Council, BloodCenter of Wisconsin, and the Medical College of Wisconsin formed a partnership to engage volunteer blood donors and develop an educational intervention to motivate donors with anemia to seek appropriate medical care.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Partners developed an educational pamphlet and conducted two focus groups with volunteer blood donors for feedback. Participants were recruited from volunteer donors at BloodCenter of Wisconsin found to have anemia (men age, 18 years and older with a hematocrit [Hct] level of <38%; women age 50 years and older with a Hct level of <36%) at blood screening before donation.RESULTS: Participants (n = 25) addressed their understanding of anemia, information they received after being deferred, their reactions about the deferral, and comments on the educational material. The educational pamphlet was revised based on focus group comments.CONCLUSION: Volunteer donors are extremely dedicated and interested in increasing their understanding of anemia and the ability to continue donation. Community members' feedback on educational material is a valuable resource to improve the literacy level of information.
Validation of a hospital‐laboratory workstation for immunohematologic methods
Authors: Schoenfeld Helge , Pretzel Karin J. , Von Heymann Christian , Neuner Bruno , Kalus Ulrich , Kiesewetter Holger , Pruss Axel 
Published: August 2009

BACKGROUND: The FREELYS Nano system (Diagast) is a manual workstation for ABO/D grouping, Rh phenotyping, K typing, and antibody screening (ABS) for immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies only and works with the erythrocyte‐magnetized technology (EMT). The principle of EMT is based on magnetization of red blood cells and avoids centrifugation and washing steps.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 304 samples were tested with our routine blood bank methods, 100 samples for ABO/D grouping, 196 samples (100 at first evaluation, 96 at second evaluation) for Rh phenotyping and K typing (PK7200, Olympus), and 108 samples for ABS (DiaMed). All samples were tested in parallel with the FREELYS Nano.RESULTS: We found a 100% concordance between the observed (FREELYS Nano) and the expected (Olympus PK7200) results for ABO/D grouping in all 100 samples. For Rh phenotyping and K tests, in 24 of 100 samples false‐positive reactions were observed in the first evaluation by the FREELYS Nano. After changing the test kit batch for Rh phenotyping by the manufacturer, a complete concordance in Rh phenotyping and K tests was observed in a second evaluation. For ABS, the FREELYS Nano showed in 4 of 108 samples (3.7%) false‐negative reactions for IgG antibodies (two anti‐K, one anti‐E, one anti‐Cw), and one (0.9%) false‐positive reaction.CONCLUSIONS: The FREELYS Nano is reliably suited to ABO/D grouping, Rh phenotyping, and K testing. The rate of false‐negative reactions for IgG antibodies should be reduced.
Studies of the anti–platelet factor 4/heparin immune response: adapting the enzyme‐linked immunosorbent spot assay for detection of memory B cells against complex antigens
Authors: Selleng Kathleen , Schütt Antje , Selleng Sixten , Warkentin Theodore E. , Greinacher Andreas 
Published: August 2009

BACKGROUND: The anti–platelet factor 4 (PF4)/heparin immune response, which underlies heparin‐induced thrombocytopenia (HIT), has several atypical features: relatively rapid onset even without previous heparin exposure, lack of immune anamnesis, and transience of antibody production.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: We modified the enzyme‐linked immunosorbent spot (ELISPOT) assay to investigate for PF4/heparin‐specific memory B cells in cardiac surgery patients, in whom the high anti‐PF4/heparin immunization rate made a prospective study feasible. The PF4‐containing antigen complexes were attached to microtiter plates via a spacer, rather than using nitrocellulose, and the final reaction enzyme substrate was added in melted agarose which, after rapid hardening, localized color development of enzyme‐tagged anti‐immunoglobulin G (IgG) probes to single PF4/heparin‐specific B cells. This modified ELISPOT assay was applied to 58 consecutive patients (testing blood from preoperative baseline and Postoperative Days 6 and 10), in which we compared detectability of PF4/heparin‐specific B cells to tetanus toxin‐specific B cells (comparator group with presumed vaccination).RESULTS: No patient had detectable PF4/heparin‐specific memory B cells at baseline. In 2 of 30 patients (6.7%) who formed anti‐PF4/heparin IgG, PF4/heparin‐specific memory B cells (three to four spots/well) were detected by Postoperative Day 10, whereas tetanus toxin–specific memory B cells were found in 12 of 24 (50.0%) patients tested (3‐25 spots/well; p < 0.001).CONCLUSIONS: HIT lacks a strong memory B‐cell response, perhaps explaining transience and lack of anamnesis of the anti‐PF4/heparin immune response. The technical modifications we describe for the ELISPOT assay, which permit detection of B‐cell reactions to complex antigens, could be useful for studying other immunohematologic disorders, for example, drug‐dependent thrombocytopenia and acquired hemophilia.
Simple Method to Eliminate Interference between Ventricular Assist Devices and Cardiac Rhythm Devices
Authors: BARAN DAVID A. , MARTIN TONY , BLICHARZ DONNA , CARR CANDACE , ZUCKER MARK J. , McBRIDE LAWRENCE , CAMACHO MARGARITA 
Published: August 2009

Background: Report on a simple solution to allow programming of defibrillators in the presence of a Heartmate II (Thoratec Corporation, Pleasanton, CA, USA) ventricular assist device. Ventricular assist devices have become increasingly utilized for patients waiting for heart transplantation as well as those who will be maintained on a permanent support. The Heartmate II, which was recently given Food and Drug Administration approval as a bridge‐to‐transplant device, has a particular anomaly that complicates patient management. The pulse width modulator of the Heartmate II produces electromagnetic noise that interferes with the ability to interrogate and program certain defibrillators, and explantation of the defibrillator has been reported as the only viable solution.
Methods: The authors describe the use of cast‐iron pans to reduce the electromagnetic interference between St. Jude Medical's first‐generation Atlas family of defibrillators (St. Jude Medical, St. Paul, MN, USA) and the Heartmate II pump.
Results: The use of a simple shielding protocol avoids the need to remove a pre‐existing defibrillator from a patient receiving support from the Heartmate II ventricular assist device.
Conclusions: The method described herein is important as future generations of medical devices may present different types of device‐device interactions. Simple bedside methods to eliminate interference can potentially help patients who would otherwise need one or another device removed
Outpatient Electrical Cardioversion of Atrial Fibrillation: 8 Years’ Experience. Analysis of Shock‐Related Arrhythmias
Authors: MORANI GIOVANNI , CICOIRA MARIANTONIETTA , POZZANI LAURA , ANGHEBEN CARLO , ZANOTTO GABRIELE , VASSANELLI CORRADO 
Published: August 2009

Background: Outpatient electrical cardioversion (EC) of atrial fibrillation is currently the standard of care. Shock‐related arrhythmias may be particularly deleterious in this setting. Preoperative identification of high‐risk patients may be very useful.
Methods: A retrospective analysis was made of 543 consecutive elective EC procedures in 457 outpatients over an 8‐year period in a university cardiological institute. The protocol included adequate anticoagulation, intravenous anesthesia, direct current shock, and a direct observation after a shock to detect procedure‐related complications. No patients were excluded due to severity of pathology or comorbidities. Clinical characteristics, energy delivered, medications, arrhythmic phenomena, and predictors of success and complications were analyzed.
Results: Of 543 ECs performed, 88.2% restored sinus rhythm, which persisted at discharge in 83.2%. No anesthesia‐related complications were detected. No thromboembolic complications were detected. Use of a biphasic cardioverter was the only predictor of success (P = 0.0001). The bradyarrhythmic complication rate was 1.5%. No ventricular arrhythmic events were detected. Atrial flutter was present in five of eight patients who developed complications versus 44 of 535 patients who had no complications (P < 0.0005), and prosthetic heart valves in four of eight complicated versus 40 of 535 uncomplicated cases (P = 0.0044). The combination of atrial flutter and prosthetic heart valve was found in four of eight complicated versus 11 of 535 uncomplicated cases (P < 0.0005).
Conclusion: Shock‐related arrhythmias are essentially bradyarrhythmias. Atrial flutter and previous cardiac surgery identify a subgroup of patients at high risk of postshock bradyarrhythmic complications.
P‐Wave Duration and Dispersion in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome
Authors: YASAR AYSE SAATCI , BILEN EMINE , BILGE MEHMET , IPEK GOKTURK , IPEK EMRAH , KIRBAS OZGUR 
Published: August 2009

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MS) has been reported to be associated with an increased risk of atrial fibrillation (AF). The aim of this study was to investigate P‐wave dispersion (PWD) in patients with MS.
Methods: The study population included 66 patients with MS (21 men, 45 women; mean age, 49.7 ± 9.1 years) and 63 control subjects without MS (26 men, 37 women; mean age, 47.0 ± 10.6 years). The diagnosis of MS was based on the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. A 12‐lead electrocardiogram was recorded for each subject. The difference between maximum and minimum P‐wave duration was calculated and defined as PWD. An echocardiographic examination was also performed for each subject.
Results: Maximum P‐wave duration and PWD were found to be significantly higher in patients with MS compared with the control subjects (Maximum P‐wave duration: 113.5 ± 9.7 ms vs 101.0 ± 8.1 ms, PWD: 37.8 ± 7.6 vs 23.3 ± 5.9, respectively, P < 0.001 for both). However, there was no statistically significant difference between two groups regarding minimum P‐wave duration (75.6 ± 6.9 ms vs 77.6 ± 7.8 ms, respectively, P = 0.18). In addition, PWD was positively correlated with age, body mass index, waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, triglyceride level, deceleration time, isovolumetric relaxation time and negatively correlated with high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol level and early‐to‐late diastolic velocity ratio.
Conclusion: We have shown that patients with MS have higher PWD, indicating increased risk for AF, compared to the control subjects without MS.
New immigrant settlement in a mid‐sized city: a case study of housing barriers and coping strategies in Kelowna, British Columbia
Authors: TEIXEIRA CARLOS 
Published: August 2009

The successful integration of immigrants into a new society is based on their attainment of several basic needs, including access to adequate, suitable and affordable housing. While this has long been a concern in Canadian cities, such as Vancouver, Toronto, and Montréal, it is also increasingly an issue in growing mid‐sized cities such as Kelowna, in the interior of British Columbia. While Kelowna's real estate market is one of the most expensive in the country, there is little published data or literature on the housing experiences of immigrants in the city. This study examines the housing experiences and stresses of a small group of immigrants in Kelowna's rental housing market. This study uses data from five focus groups with 34 new immigrants and 20 interviews with key informants, conducted in Kelowna in summer 2008. The evidence indicates that for this group of immigrant newcomers, the housing search process in Kelowna's rental housing market met with significant barriers in locating affordable rental housing. Of these barriers, the most commonly cited were: (a) high housing costs; (b) lack of reliable housing information, including lack of access to organizations that provide housing help (government or not); and (c) prejudice by landlords based on the immigrants' ethnic and racial background.This study points to the need for more comparative studies on the housing experiences of immigrants in mid‐sized cities in Canada to better understand which groups of immigrants are more successful than others in finding affordable housing in these mid‐sized cities, and why.
An improved objective evaluation measure for border detection in dermoscopy images
Authors: Celebi M. Emre , Schaefer Gerald , Iyatomi Hitoshi , Stoecker William V. , Malters Joseph M. , Grichnik James M. 
Published: August 2009

Background: Dermoscopy is one of the major imaging modalities used in the diagnosis of melanoma and other pigmented skin lesions. Owing to the difficulty and subjectivity of human interpretation, dermoscopy image analysis has become an important research area. One of the most important steps in dermoscopy image analysis is the automated detection of lesion borders. Although numerous methods have been developed for the detection of lesion borders, very few studies were comprehensive in the evaluation of their results.Methods: In this paper, we evaluate five recent border detection methods on a set of 90 dermoscopy images using three sets of dermatologist‐drawn borders as the ground truth. In contrast to previous work, we utilize an objective measure, the normalized probabilistic rand index, which takes into account the variations in the ground‐truth images.Conclusion: The results demonstrate that the differences between four of the evaluated border detection methods are in fact smaller than those predicted by the commonly used exclusive‐OR measure.
Acceptability and feasibility of infant‐feeding options: experiences of HIV‐infected mothers in the World Health Organization Kesho Bora mother‐to‐child transmission prevention (PMTCT) trial in Burkina Faso
Authors: Cames Cécile , Saher Aisha , Ayassou Kossiwavi A. , Cournil Amandine , Meda Nicolas , Simondon Kirsten Bork 
Published: August 2009

AbstractIn Burkina Faso, prolonged breastfeeding with introduction of ritual fluids from birth is a deep‐seated norm. We explored HIV‐infected mothers' views and experiences of the acceptability and feasibility of the World Health Organization's recommended infant‐feeding options within a mother‐to‐child‐transmission prevention trial. A qualitative study was conducted on 17 formula‐feeding and 19 breastfeeding mothers, from a larger cohort of 51 eligible HIV‐infected women, consenting to participate in separate focus group discussions in early post‐partum. Mothers opted for breastfeeding essentially out of fear of family rejection. Most of them were afraid of denigration for disrespecting tradition if they formula‐fed or being suspected of HIV infection. Achieving exclusive breastfeeding remained a difficult challenge as they engaged in a continuous struggle with close elders to avoid fluid feeding. Additional stress and fatigue were fed by their perception of a high transmission risk through breast milk. Exclusive formula‐feeding seemed easier to implement, especially as formula was provided free of charge. Formula‐feeding mothers more frequently had a supportive partner, a strong personality and lived in better socio‐economic conditions than breastfeeding mothers (76% had education and electricity supply vs. 42%, respectively). Exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months remains the most appropriate option for many HIV‐infected mothers in sub‐Saharan Africa. Its acceptability and feasibility urgently need to be improved by promoting it as the best feeding option for all infants. Other crucial interventions are the promotion of voluntary counselling and testing for couples, and greater partner involvement in infant‐feeding counselling.
Breastfeeding support – the importance of self‐efficacy for low‐income women
Authors: Entwistle Francesca , Kendall Sally , Mead Marianne 
Published: August 2009

AbstractBreastfeeding is a key determinant in promoting public health and reducing health inequality. Low‐income women have a significantly lower level of breastfeeding. Midwives in the UK have been encouraged to implement the World Health Organization/United Nations Children's Fund's Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding, but to date, there has been no evaluation of the impact of the training initiative on the breastfeeding behaviours of low‐income women.As part of a wider study, this qualitative component was designed to answer the question – what are the views and experiences of low‐income women (defined by Jarman scores) in relation to their breastfeeding support received in the post‐natal period?A sample of seven women was interviewed. The in‐depth interviews were analysed using a qualitative, thematic approach based on the self‐efficacy theory. The four themes that emerged from the data were the following: breastfeeding related to the woman's self‐confidence, the social environment in which the woman lived, knowledge of breastfeeding and the influence of maternity services on breastfeeding outcomes. These themes were interpreted in relation to the self‐efficacy theory.The findings suggest that the components that inform self‐efficacy are consistent with the themes from the data, suggesting that midwives and other health professionals should take the psychosocial aspects of breastfeeding support into account. As this important feature of breastfeeding support is not explicitly part of the current Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding, we suggest that further research and debate could inform expansion of these minimum standards to include the psychosocial aspects.
Terminology of Developmental Abnormalities in Common Laboratory Mammals (Version 2)
Authors: Makris Susan L. , Solomon Howard M. , Clark Ruth , Shiota Kohei , Barbellion Stephane , Buschmann Jochen , Ema Makoto , Fujiwara Michio , Grote Konstanze , Hazelden Keith P. , Hew Kok Wah , Horimoto Masao , Ooshima Yojiro , Parkinson Meg , Wise L. David 
Published: August 2009

ABSTRACTThis update (Version 2) of the Terminology of Developmental Abnormalities in Common Laboratory Mammals (Version 1) incorporates improvements and enhancements to both content and organization of the terminology to enable greater flexibility in its application, while maintaining a consistent approach to the description of findings. The revisions are the result of an international collaboration among interested organizations, advised by individual experts and the outcomes of several workshops. The terminology remains organized into tables under the broad categories of external, visceral, and skeletal observations, following the manner in which data are typically collected and recorded in developmental toxicity studies. This arrangement of the tables, as well as other information provided in appendices, is intended to facilitate the process of specimen evaluation at the laboratory bench level. Only the commonly used laboratory mammals (i.e. rats, mice, rabbits) are addressed in the current terminology tables. The inclusion of other species that are used in developmental toxicity testing, such as primates, is considered outside the scope of the present update. Similarly, categorization of findings as, for example, ‘malformation’ or ‘variation’ remains unaddressed, in accordance with the overall principle that the focus of this document is descriptive terminology and not diagnosis or interpretation. The skeletal terms have been augmented to accommodate cartilage findings.
The use of Urgotul™ in the treatment of partial thickness burns and split‐thickness skin graft donor sites: a prospective control study
Authors: Tan Pearlie WW , Ho Wong Chin , Song Colin 
Published: August 2009

ABSTRACTThe use of paraffin‐impregnated gauze for burns and skin graft donor sites is commonly associated with wound adherence with consequent pain and trauma upon removal. This prospective clinical study was performed to evaluate a new class of lipido‐colloid dressings (Urgotul™) in promoting healing and in reducing tissue adherence. In a 6‐month period, 25 consecutive patients were recruited. Two separate burn or donor sites on each patient were dressed with tulle‐gras (TG) or Urgotul™ and covered with standard secondary dressings. Objective assessment of wounds by two reviewers, and patients' subjective assessments were recorded. Twenty‐three (92%) patients were followed up for a mean of 3 months. Mean time to complete epithelialisation was 9·6 and 11·9 days for the Urgotul™ and TG sites respectively (P < 0·05). Bleeding was seen in 52% of Urgotul™ sites compared with 100% of the TG sites at first dressing change (P < 0·05). Patients reported ‘moderate pain’ during dressing change in 22% and 57% in the Urgotul™ and TG groups respectively (P < 0·05), with 35% of TG sites being ‘very painful’ requiring extra analgesia. We found that compared with TG, Urgotul™ was associated with faster epithelialisation, less pain and trauma (bleeding) during dressing changes.
Vacuum‐assisted closure of laparostomy wounds: a critical review of the literature
Authors: Stevens Philip 
Published: August 2009

ABSTRACTVacuum‐assisted closure (VAC) reduces the burden for carers of laparostomy wounds but evidence from randomised trials is lacking. This review analyses the evidence for the VAC® abdominal wound management system (KCI, San Antonio, TX) in the open abdomen. Three prospective studies provide level III evidence that VAC® allows delayed primary fascial closure in the majority of these wounds up to 21 days after occurrence, but not where duration of VAC® was less than 9 days or if vacuum pack techniques were used in place of VAC®. Fistulae occurred in a minority of wounds complicated by multi‐organ failure or sepsis and could not be attributed to VAC® itself. Two retrospective analyses suggested VAC® may reduce re‐operation rate and length of stay in complex wounds. Whilst randomised controlled trials remain the gold standard of evidence for effectiveness of health care interventions, contemporaneous level III evidence supports the hypothesis that VAC® increases the rate of primary fascial closure. Whilst enterocutaneous fistula formation is reported in the most complex of these wounds, there is no more evidence that these are consequential to as opposed to coincident with VAC® use.