bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Stress amongst nurses working in a healthcare telephone‐advice service: relationship with job satisfaction, intention to leave, sickness absence, and performance
Authors: Farquharson Barbara , Allan Julia , Johnston Derek , Johnston Marie , Choudhary Carolyn , Jones Martyn 
Published: May 2012

farquharson b., allan j., johnston d., johnston m., choudhary c. & jones m. (2012) Stress amongst nurses working in a healthcare telephone‐advice service: relationship with job satisfaction, intention to leave, sickness absence, and performance. Journal of Advanced Nursing68(7), 1624–1635.AbstractAims.  This paper is a report of a study, which assessed levels of stress amongst nurses working in a healthcare telephone‐advice service. We explored whether stress related to performance, sickness absence, and intention to leave.Background.  Nurses report high levels of stress, as do call‐centre workers. The emergence of telephone health advice services means many nurses now work in call‐centres, doing work that differs markedly from traditional nursing roles. Stress associated with these roles could have implications for nurses, patients, and service provision.Design.  This paper reports cross‐sectional survey results. The design of the overall study included longitudinal elements.Method.  A comprehensive study of stress was conducted amongst nurses working for a telephone‐advice service in Scotland (2008–2010). All nurse‐advisors were approached by letter and invited to participate. A total of 152 participants (33%) completed a questionnaire including General Health Questionnaire‐12, Work Family Conflict Questionnaire, Job Satisfaction Scale and a measure of intention to leave the telephone‐advice service and rated the perceived stress of 2 working shifts. Nurses’ employers provided data on sickness absence and performance.Results.  Overall levels of psychological distress were similar to those found amongst Scottish women generally. In multiple regression, work–family conflict was identified as a significant predictor of job satisfaction and intention to leave, and significantly related to sickness absence. There were significant correlations between General Health Questionnaire scores and perceived stress of shifts and some performance measures.Conclusions.  Work–family conflict is a significant predictor of job satisfaction, intention to leave, and sickness absence amongst telephone helpline nurses. Minimizing the impact of nurses’ work on their home lives might reduce turnover and sickness absence.
Susceptibility to dysphagia after fundoplication revealed by novel automated impedance manometry analysis
Authors: Myers J. C. , Nguyen N. Q. , Jamieson G. G. , Van’t Hek J. E. , Ching K. , Holloway R. H. , Dent J. , Omari T. I. 
Published: May 2012

AbstractBackground  Conventional measures of esophageal pressures or bolus transport fail to identify patients at risk of dysphagia after laparoscopic fundoplication.Methods  Liquid and viscous swallows were evaluated with impedance/manometry in 19 patients with reflux disease before and after surgery. A new method of automated impedance manometry (AIM) analysis correlated esophageal pressure with impedance data and automatically calculated a range of pressure and bolus movement variables. An iterative analysis determined whether any variables were altered in relation to dysphagia. Standard measures of esophago–gastric junction pressure, bolus presence time, and total bolus transit time were also evaluated.Key Results  At 5 months postop, 15 patients reported some dysphagia, including 7 with new‐onset dysphagia. For viscous boluses, three AIM‐derived pressure–flow variables recorded preoperatively varied significantly in relation to postoperative dysphagia. These were: time from nadir esophageal impedance to peak esophageal pressure (TNadImp–PeakP), median intra‐bolus pressure (IBP, mmHg), and the rate of bolus pressure rise (IBP slope, mmHg s−1). These variables were combined to form a dysphagia risk index (DRI = IBP × IBP_slope/TNadImp–PeakP). DRI values derived from preoperative measurements were significantly elevated in those with postoperative dysphagia (DRI = 58, IQR = 21–408 vs no dysphagia DRI = 9, IQR = 2–19, P < 0.02). A DRI >14 was optimally predictive of dysphagia (sensitivity 75% and specificity 93%).Conclusions & Inferences  Before surgery, a greater and faster compression of a swallowed viscous bolus with less bolus flow time relates to postoperative dysphagia. Thus, susceptibility to postfundoplication dysphagia is related to a pre‐existing sub‐clinical variation of esophageal function.
Cold stress selectively unsilences tandem repeats in heterochromatin associated with accumulation of H3K9ac
Authors: HU YONG , ZHANG LU , HE SHIBIN , HUANG MIN , TAN JUNJUN , ZHAO LIN , YAN SHIHAN , LI HUI , ZHOU KUN , LIANG YANAN , LI LIJIA 
Published: May 2012

ABSTRACTKnobs are cytologically observable major interstitial heterochromatin present on maize nuclei, which consist of highly tandem‐repetitive elements that are always silenced. Here we investigated the genome‐wide change of H3K9ac, an active chromatin mark, during cold stress using chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP‐Seq) and identified differential cold‐induced H3K9ac enrichment at repetitive sequences in maize. More detailed analysis of two knob‐associated tandem‐repetitive sequences, 180‐bp and TR‐1, demonstrated that cold activated their transcription and this cold‐induced transcriptional activation of repetitive sequences is selective, transient, and associated with an increase in H3K9ac and a reduction in DNA methylation and H3K9me2. Furthermore, knob sequence expression is accompanied by localized chromatin remodelling and silencing is recovered upon prolonged treatment. In addition, no evidence of copy number change and rearrangement of these repetitive elements are found in plants subjected to cold stress. These results suggest that cold‐mediated unsilencing of heterochromatic tandem‐repeated sequences, accompanied with epigenetic regulation, might play an important role in the adaptation of plants to cold stimuli.
Structure and temporal shifts in virulence of Pseudoperonospora cubensis populations in the Czech Republic
Authors: Lebeda A. , Pavelková J. , Sedláková B. , Urban J. 
Published: May 2012

The structure and temporal dynamics of the virulence of Pseudoperonospora cubensis (causal agent of cucurbit downy mildew) were studied in pathogen populations in the Czech Republic from 2001 to 2010. A total of 398 P. cubensis isolates collected from Cucumis (Cm.) sativus, Cm. melo, Cucurbita (Cr.) maxima, Cr. pepo, Cr. moschata and Citrullus lanatus were analysed for variation in virulence (pathotypes). Virulence was evaluated on a differential set of 12 genotypes of cucurbitaceous plants. All isolates of P. cubensis were characterized by their level of virulence (classified according the number of virulence factors, VF; low VF = 1–4, medium VF = 5–8, high VF = 9–12): high (75%), medium (24%) and low (1%). The structure and dynamics of virulence in the pathogen populations were expressed by pathotypes using tetrad numerical codes and a total of 67 different pathotypes of P. cubensis were determined. The most susceptible group of differentials was Cucumis spp., while the lowest frequency of virulence was recorded on Cr. pepo ssp. pepo, Ci. lanatus and Luffa cylindrica. A high proportion (c. 90%) of isolates was able to infect cucurbit species Benincasa hispida and Lagenaria siceraria, which are not commonly cultivated in the Czech Republic or elsewhere in central Europe. In the recent pathogen populations (2008–2010) there was prevailing frequency (70–100%) of isolates with high numbers (9–12) of virulence factors. ‘Super pathotype’ 15.15.15 was often observed in the study within the pathogen populations and was one of the four most frequently recorded pathotypes. Pseudoperonospora cubensis populations shifted to a higher virulence over time. From 2009 the pathogen population changed dramatically and new pathotypes appeared able to establish natural and serious infection of Cucurbita spp. and Ci. lanatus, which was not observed in 2001–2008. Generally, virulence structure and dynamics of P. cubensis populations are extremely variable in the Czech Republic.
First reported use of the heartware HVAD in the US as bridge to transplant in an adolescent
Authors: D’Alessandro David , Forest Stephen J. , Lamour Jacqueline , Hsu Daphne , Weinstein Samuel , Goldstein Daniel 
Published: May 2012

D’Alessandro D, Forest SJ, Lamour J, Hsu D, Weinstein S, Goldstein D. First reported use of the heartware HVAD in the US as bridge to transplant in an adolescent.Abstract:  Limited options exist for mechanical circulatory support as a bridge to transplantation in pediatric patients with advanced heart failure. This is particularly true when it comes to intracorporeal technologies. We describe the first reported experience with the use of the HVAD in the US as a successful bridge to transplantation in a 13‐yr‐old patient.
Positive fluid balance is associated with reduced survival in critically ill patients with cancer
Authors: DE ALMEIDA J. P. , PALOMBA H. , GALAS F. R. B. G. , FUKUSHIMA J. T. , DUARTE F. A. , NAGAOKA D. , TORRES V. , YU L. , VINCENT J.‐L. , AULER J. O. C. , HAJJAR L. A. 
Published: May 2012

BackgroundThere are no studies that describe the impact of the cumulative fluid balance on the outcomes of cancer patients admitted to intensive care units ICUs. The aim of our study was to evaluate the relationship between fluid balance and clinical outcomes in these patients.MethodOne hundred twenty‐two cancer patients were prospectively evaluated for survival during a 30‐day period. Univariate (Chi‐square, t‐test, Mann–Whitney) and multiple logistic regression analyses were used to identify the admission parameters associated with mortality.ResultsThe mean cumulative fluid balance was significantly higher in non‐survivors than in survivors [1675 ml/24 h (471–2921) vs. 887 ml/24 h (104–557), P = 0.017]. We used the area under the curve and the intersection of the sensibility and specificity curves to define a cumulative fluid balance value of 1100 ml/24 h. This value was used in the univariate model. In the multivariate model, the following variables were significantly associated with mortality in cancer patients: the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score at admission [Odds ratio (OR) 1.15; 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.05–1.26), P = 0.003], the Lung Injury Score at admission [OR 2.23; 95% CI (1.29–3.87), P = 0.004] and a positive fluid balance higher than 1100 ml/24 h at ICU [OR 5.14; 95% CI (1.45–18.24), P = 0.011].ConclusionA cumulative positive fluid balance higher than 1100 ml/24 h was independently associated with mortality in patients with cancer. These findings highlight the importance of improving the evaluation of these patients' volemic state and indicate that defined goals should be used to guide fluid therapy.
Inhibition of Armillaria and Heterobasidion growth by Penicillium adametzii isolated from Pinus sylvestris forest soil
Authors: Szwajkowska‐Michałek L. , Kwaśna H. , Łakomy P. , Perkowski J. 
Published: May 2012

Summary

Penicillium adametzii significantly inhibited the growth of
Heterobasidium annosum sensu stricto on 2% potato dextrose agar after 10 days at 20–25°C. Chloroform extracts from
P. adametzii culture filtrate and from culture grown on rice often decreased the dry weight of
Armillaria colony and diameter of
Heterobasidion colony in vitro. The effect depended on species and isolate of
Armillaria, Heterobasidion and
P. adametzii and concentration of the extract. Higher concentration of chloroform extract increased the dry weight of stems and roots of
Pinus sylvestris plants inoculated with either of two isolates of
Armillaria ostoyae and one isolate of
Armillaria gallica. Lower concentrations of chloroform extract increased the dry weight of stems and roots of
P. sylvestris inoculated with another isolate of
A. gallica. Culture filtrate of
P. adametzii decreased the length of necrosis on
P. sylvestris stem inoculated with either of two of four isolates of
H. annosum s.s., but if applied 1 month before inoculation, it increased the length of necrosis caused by another
H. annosum s.s. isolate. Twenty fractions from the
P. adametzii chloroform extract were separated by thin layer chromatography. Carboxylic acids, flavonoids and glycosides were detected in chloroform extract of
P. adametzii by high performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometer analysis. This is the first report of interactions between
P. adametzii and either
Armillaria or
Heterobasidion with
P. sylvestris.
Seed Priming with Ascorbic Acid Improves Drought Resistance of Wheat
Authors: Farooq M. , Irfan M. , Aziz T. , Ahmad I. , Cheema S. A. 
Published: May 2012

AbstractThe study, consisting of two independent experiments, was conducted to evaluate the role of seed priming with ascorbic acid (AsA) in drought resistance of wheat. In the first experiment, seeds of wheat cultivars Mairaj‐2008 and Lasani‐2008 were either soaked in aerated water (hydropriming) for 10 h or not soaked (control). In the second experiment, seeds of same wheat cultivars were soaked in aerated (2 mm) AsA solution (osmopriming) or water (hydropriming) for 10 h. In both experiments, seeds were sown in plastic pots (10 kg) maintained at 70 % and 35 % of water‐holding capacity designated as well watered and drought stressed, respectively. Both experiments were laid out in a completely randomized design with six replications. Drought caused delayed and erratic emergence and disturbed the plant water relations, chlorophyll contents and membranes because of oxidative damage; however, root length in cultivar Lasani‐2008 was increased under drought. Hydropriming significantly improved the seedling emergence and early growth under drought and well‐watered conditions; however, improvement was substantially higher from osmopriming with AsA. Similarly, osmopriming with AsA significantly improved the leaf emergence and elongation, leaf area, specific leaf area, chlorophyll contents, root length and seedling dry weight. Owing to increase in proline accumulation, phenolics and AsA, by seed priming with AsA, plant water status was improved with simultaneous decrease in oxidative damages. These improved the leaf emergence and elongation, and shoot and root growth under drought. However, there was no difference between the cultivars in this regard. In conclusion, osmopriming with AsA improved the drought resistance of wheat owing to proline accumulation and antioxidant action of AsA and phenolics, leading to tissue water maintenance, membrane stability, and better and uniform seedling stand and growth.
Influence of Type D personality on health‐related quality of life among Korean patients with end‐stage renal disease
Authors: Son Youn‐Jung , You Mi‐Ae , Song Eun Kyeung 
Published: May 2012

Son Y‐J, You M‐A, Song E‐K. International Journal of Nursing Practice 2012; 18: 260–267Influence of Type D personality on health‐related quality of life among Korean patients with end‐stage renal diseaseThe purposes of this study were to explore the prevalence of Type D personality and the impact of Type D personality (the combination of negative affectivity and social inhibition) on health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) in end‐stage renal disease (ESRD) patients and to determine whether this link of Type D personality to HRQOL is mediated by depressive symptoms. Patients (n = 144) from an outpatient nephrology clinic of a university hospital participated in this cross‐sectional study. The prevalence of Type D personality using Type D Personality Scale‐14 was 26%. After adjustment for patients' characteristics and depressive symptoms in multivariate analysis, Type D personality was an independent predictor of HRQOL. This relation of Type D personality to HRQOL was mediated by depressive symptoms. Our findings underline that intervention should be directed towards reducing depressive symptoms in patients with Type D personality in order to improve HRQOL of ESRD patients.
Non‐infectious hyperthermia in acute brain injury patients: Relationships to mortality, blood pressure, intracranial pressure and cerebral perfusion pressure
Authors: Oh Hyun Soo , Jeong Hye Sun , Seo Wha Sook 
Published: May 2012

Oh HS, Jeong HS, Seo WS. International Journal of Nursing Practice 2012; 18: 295–302Non‐infectious hyperthermia in acute brain injury patients: Relationships to mortality, blood pressure, intracranial pressure and cerebral perfusion pressureThe present study was conducted to investigate the frequency of hyperthermia during the first 72 h after acute brain injury, and to compare subjects that developed hyperthermia with those that did not with respect to blood pressure, intracranial pressure (ICP), cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP), Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score and mortality. This study was conducted by performing a retrospective medical record review of 126 brain injury patients admitted to the neurological intensive care unit of a university hospital located in Incheon, South Korea. Our results showed that 25.4% of the subjects had hyperthermia for at least 1 day during the first 3 days of hospitalization. Hyperthermic subjects demonstrated higher mortality and ICP, and lower CPP and GCS scores than non‐hyperthermic subjects, indicating a reduced cerebral blood flow. The findings may provide a possible explanation for poor clinical outcome and offer justification for the careful monitoring of body temperature in patients with acute brain injury.
Tobacco smoke exposure and allergic sensitization in children: A propensity score analysis
Authors: HAVSTAD SUZANNE L. , JOHNSON CHRISTINE COLE , ZORATTI EDWARD M. , EZELL JEREL M. , WOODCROFT KIMBERLY , OWNBY DENNIS R. , WEGIENKA GANESA 
Published: May 2012

ABSTRACTBackground and objective: There is conflicting evidence of the effect of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) on the development of allergic diseases in children. Studies have shown that this relationship differs depending on maternal history of the disease. We employed the rigour of propensity score methods to assess this relationship using data from a birth cohort.Methods: Usingn = 662 children from the Wayne County Health, Environment, Allergy and Asthma Longitudinal Study, we assessed the relationship between early‐life ETS and subsequent allergic sensitization via a positive skin prick test (SPT+) or at least one specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) ≥ 0.35 (sIgE+) in children aged 2–3 years. Propensity score estimation followed by full and nearest neighbour matching was compared with standard multivariable regression models.Results: Among children without a maternal history of allergic disease, ETS was positively associated with allergic sensitization in children with an adjusted odds ratio (aOR) for SPT+ of 2.32 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.28–4.22) and the aOR for sIgE+ was 2.53 (95% CI: 1.43–4.48). Contrarily, for children with a positive maternal history, the aOR for SPT+ and sIgE+ was 0.56 (95% CI: 0.24–1.32) and 0.43 (95% CI: 0.20–0.91), respectively.Conclusions: Using propensity score methods to rigorously control for confounding factors, ETS exposure was found to reduce the risk of allergic sensitization in children with a positive maternal history. There is a strong association between early‐life ETS and the development of allergic sensitization for children aged 2–3 years without maternal history.
Preoperative six‐min walking distance does not predict pulmonary complications in upper abdominal surgery
Authors: PAISANI DENISE M , FIORE Jr JULIO F. , LUNARDI ADRIANA C. , COLLUCI DANIELA B.B. , SANTORO ILKA LOPES , CARVALHO CELSO R.F. , CHIAVEGATO LUCIANA DIAS , FARESIN SONIA MARIA 
Published: May 2012

ABSTRACTBackground and objective:  Field exercise tests have been increasingly used for pulmonary risk assessment. The six‐min walking distance (6MWD) is a field test commonly employed in clinical practice; however, there is limited evidence supporting its use as a risk assessment method in abdominal surgery. The aim was to assess if the 6MWD can predict the development of post‐operative pulmonary complications (PPCs) in patients having upper abdominal surgery (UAS).Methods:  This prospective cohort study included 137 consecutive subjects undergoing elective UAS. Subjects performed the 6MWD on the day prior to surgery, and their performance were compared with predicted values of 6MWD (p6MWD) using a previously validated formula. PPCs (including pneumonia, tracheobronchitis, atelectasis with clinical repercussions, bronchospasm and acute respiratory failure) were assessed daily by a pulmonologist blinded to the 6MWD results. 6MWD and p6MWD were compared between subjects who developed PPC (PPC group) and those who did not (no PPC group) using Student's t‐test.Results:  Ten subjects experienced PPC (7.2%) and no significant difference was observed between the 6MWD obtained in the PPC group and no PPC group (466.0 ± 97.0 m vs 485.3 ± 107.1 m; P = 0.57, respectively). There was also no significant difference observed between groups for the p6MWD (100.7 ± 29.1% vs 90.6 ± 20.9%; P > 0.05).Conclusions:  The results of the present study suggest that the six‐min walking test is not a useful tool to identify subjects with increased risk of developing PPC following UAS.
Combined renin angiotensin blockade in childhood steroid‐resistant nephrotic syndrome
Authors: Supavekin Suroj , Surapaitoolkorn Wantanee , Tancharoen Worrarut , Pattaragarn Anirut , Sumboonnanonda Achra 
Published: May 2012

AbstractBackground:  Reduced proteinuria results in delayed deterioration of renal function and remission of proteinuria predicts a good long‐term prognosis in steroid‐resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS). The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of the combined angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitor and angiotensin II receptor blocker in reducing proteinuria in SRNS.Methods:  A prospective study of eight patients with SRNS was conducted at the Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University from September 2003 to December 2007. Enalapril was given at 0.1 mg/kg/day and was increased by 0.1 mg/kg/day every 4 weeks up to 0.6 mg/kg/day (maximum 40 mg/day) and 1 mg/kg/day of losartan was added for 4 weeks and stepped up to 2 mg/kg/day (maximum 100 mg/day) for another 4 weeks.Results:  There were five boys (62.5%) and three girls (37.5%). The mean age at diagnosis was 8.3 ± 4.1 years (range 2.05–13 years) and age at enrollment was 11.7 ± 3.8 years (range 6–16 years). Renal histology revealed seven focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and one immunoglobulin M nephropathy. The results showed significant reduction on mean spot urine protein : creatinine ratio from 9.6 ± 2.3 to 3.6 ± 1.6 (P < 0.05) and 24‐h urine protein from 182.8 ± 59.6 to 28.7 ± 8.2 mg/m2/h (P < 0.05). Urine protein reduction ratio at the end of the study was 50% (P= 0.08). Serum cholesterol, albumin, potassium, blood pressure and renal function had no significant change. No clinical and laboratory side‐effects were reported.Conclusion:  Combined high‐dose angiotensin II receptor blocker to high‐dose angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitor therapy is safe and effective in reducing proteinuria in childhood SRNS. However a large‐scale study should be conducted to validate this result.