bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
South Africans’ experiences of being old and of care and caring in a transitional period
Authors: Bohman Doris M. , van Wyk Neltjie C. , Ekman Sirkka‐Liisa 
Published: May 2010

bohman d.m., van wyk n.c. & ekman s.‐l. (2011)  South Africans’ experiences of being old and of care and caring in a transitional period. International Journal of Older People Nursing6, 187–195doi: 10.1111/j.1748‐3743.2010.00225.xThis focused ethnographic study aimed to illuminate a group of South Africans’ experiences of being old and of care and caring in a transitional period. With a growing number of older people in Africa, studies on the individual experiences may help to develop care which is more sensitively based on the needs for older people in a changing Southern Africa context. Data were collected through group and individual in‐depth interviews and participant observations which involved 16 individuals, aged 52–76. Data were analysed using a qualitative content analysis. The study showed two interrelated themes reflections on life and ubuntu – an orientation towards others. Findings were discussed from the viewpoint of the theory of gerotranscendence, showing similarities as well as differences, possibly due to societal and cultural differences. Shortage of formal care for older people living in poor conditions in Southern Africa, gave rise to the discussion for the need of a contextualized development of gerontological care. To enhance knowledge on the theory of gerotranscendence and develop guidelines for nursing in home‐based care/community‐based care in a South African context may be a first step to support older people in their process towards gerotranscendence.
Evidence of susceptibility to morbillivirus infection in cetaceans from the United States
Authors: Rowles T. K. , Schwacke L. S. , Wells R. S. , Saliki J. T. , Hansen L. , Hohn A. , Townsend F. , Sayre R. A. , Hall A. J. 
Published: May 2010

AbstractCetacean morbilliviruses (CeMV) are viruses that can cause mass mortalities among various odontocete species. In this study levels of “herd” immunity in cetaceans from the U.S. coast are described from the distribution and prevalence of antibodies against morbilliviruses. Neutralizing antibody titers against dolphin morbillivirus (DMV), porpoise morbillivirus (PMV), phocine distemper (PDV), and canine distemper viruses (CDV) were measured. Positive samples had higher titers against the CeMV than against the other morbilliviruses tested, indicating that although PDV or CDV can be used to investigate exposure their use may result in a higher false negative rate. The results suggest that morbillivirus did not persist in coastal populations of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) after the major outbreaks that occurred in the 1980s and 1990s. Bottlenose dolphins from Beaufort, North Carolina; St. Joseph Bay, Florida; and Cape May, New Jersey had anti‐DMV seroprevalences ranging from between 15% and 33% but those from Charleston, South Carolina and Sarasota Bay, Florida, sampled in recent years were largely negative. These latter groups are therefore now vulnerable to infection and could experience high mortality if exposed to CeMV. Sero‐surveys of this kind are therefore vital for assessing the risk of new and recurring viral outbreaks in coastal cetaceans.
Dramatic shifts in Hawaiian monk seal distribution predicted from divergent regional trends
Authors: Baker Jason D. , Harting Albert L. , Wurth Tracy A. , Johanos Thea C. 
Published: May 2010

AbstractTotal estimated abundance of Hawaiian monk seals was just 1,161 individuals in 2008 and this number is decreasing. Most monk seals reside in the remote Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI) where the decline is approximately 4%/yr, whereas relatively fewer seals currently occupy the main Hawaiian Islands (MHI). It is widely accepted that the MHI population is increasing, although there are no formal estimates of total abundance, population growth rate or vital rates. This lack of information has hampered efforts to anticipate future scenarios and plan conservation measures. We present the first estimates of MHI monk seal survival and age‐specific reproductive rates. Using these rates, a conservative estimate of current MHI abundance and a previously published stochastic simulation model, we estimate the MHI population growth rate and projected abundance trend. Analogous estimates for the NWHI are derived from a much richer data set. Estimated survival from weaning to age 1 yr is 77% in the MHI, much higher than recent NWHI estimates ranging from 42% to 57%. Moreover, MHI females begin reproducing at a younger age and attain higher birth rates than observed in the NWHI. The estimated MHI intrinsic rate of population growth is 1.07 compared to a 0.89–0.96 range in the NWHI. Assuming an initial abundance of 152 animals in the MHI, projections indicate that if current demographic trends continue, abundance in the NWHI and MHI will equalize in approximately 15 yr. These results underscore the imperative to mitigate the NWHI decline while devoting conservation efforts to foster population growth in the MHI, where documented threats including fishery interactions, direct killing, and disease could rapidly undo the current fragile positive trend.
Proteolysis of Submembrane Cytoskeletal Proteins Ankyrin‐G and αII‐Spectrin Following Diffuse Brain Injury: A Role in White Matter Vulnerability at Nodes of Ranvier
Authors: Reeves Thomas M. , Greer John E. , Vanderveer Andrew S. , Phillips Linda L. 
Published: May 2010

AbstractA high membrane‐to‐cytoplasm ratio makes axons particularly vulnerable to traumatic injury. Posttraumatic shifts in ionic homeostasis promote spectrin cleavage, disrupt ankyrin linkages and destabilize axolemmal proteins. This study contrasted ankyrin‐G and αII‐spectrin degradation in cortex and corpus callosum following diffuse axonal injury produced by fluid percussion insult. Ankyrin‐G lysis occurred preferentially in white matter, with acute elevation of all fragments and long‐term reduction of a low kD form. Calpain‐generated αII‐spectrin fragments increased in both regions. Caspase‐3 lysis of αII‐spectrin showed a small, acute rise in cortex but was absent in callosum. White matter displayed nodal damage, with horseradish peroxidase permeability into the submyelin space. Ankyrin‐G‐binding protein neurofascin and spectrin‐binding protein ankyrin‐B showed acute alterations in expression. These results support ankyrin‐G vulnerability in white matter following trauma and suggest that ankyrin‐G and αII‐spectrin proteolysis disrupts Node of Ranvier integrity. The time course of such changes were comparable to previously observed functional deficits in callosal fibers.
Addition of gentamicin to endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) contrast medium towards reducing the frequency of septic complications of ERCP
Authors: RAMIREZ Francisco C , OSATO Michael S , GRAHAM David Y , WOODS Karen L 
Published: May 2010

OBJECTIVE:  Bacteremia and sepsis are serious complications of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and occur in between 0.5 and 3% of cases. Patients with obstructed bile ducts are at highest risk of developing septic complications. The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether the addition of gentamicin to the ERCP contrast medium prevents or reduces the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in vitro.METHODS:  Artificial bile ducts were fashioned out of dialysis tubing and suspended in flasks containing brain heart infusion (BHI) broth. The tubing contained BHI broth alone, with or without contrast medium or with contrast medium plus gentamicin. The artificial ducts were inoculated with gentamicin‐sensitive or gentamicin‐resistant P. aeruginosa and quantitative cultures were performed.RESULTS:  The contrast medium alone was bacteriostatic to both sensitive and resistant P. aeruginosa isolates. The addition of gentamicin to the contrast medium eliminated the sensitive strain after 2 h and resulted in a reduction in the number of gentamicin‐resistant P. aeruginosa after 4 h. Incubation of the resistant isolate in the presence of contrast and gentamicin for an additional 4 h led to a further reduction in viable bacteria but did not completely eliminate the organisms.CONCLUSION:  These results support the use of gentamicin in the contrast medium injected into the biliary system as an ancillary method to prevent post‐ERCP sepsis.
Efficacy of 1‐week proton pump inhibitor triple therapy as first‐line Helicobacter pylori eradication regime in Asian patients: Is it still effective 10 years on?
Authors: QUA Choon‐Seng , MANIKAM Jeeta , GOH Khean‐Lee 
Published: May 2010

OBJECTIVE:  To re‐examine the efficacy and tolerability of 1‐week proton pump inhibitor triple therapy as a first‐line Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication therapy.METHODS:  Consecutive participants with a positive rapid urease test during an outpatient upper endoscopy were included. All participants were given pantoprazole 40 mg b.i.d., amoxycillin 1 g b.i.d. and clarithromycin 500 mg b.i.d. for 1 week. They were asked to return after 1 week to report any side effects related to the medications and to check for compliance. Successful eradication was defined by negative 13C‐urea breath test at least 4 weeks after the completion of therapy.RESULTS:  A total of 191 patients were recruited into the study, of whom 81 were male (42.4%) and 110 female (57.6%), with a mean age of 55.6 (range 21–88) years. Overall 26 patients (13.6%) defaulted follow up and five patients were not compliant (taking less than 85%) with the medications. Per‐protocol and intention‐to‐treat eradication rates were 84.4% (95% CI: 78.6–89.9%) and 71.2% (95% CI: 64.5–77.6%), respectively. Overall 68 participants (42.5%) reported no side effects, followed by 58 (36.3%) with a taste disturbance, 16 (10.0%) with epigastric pain, 15 (9.4%) with diarrhea, 13 (8.1%) with nausea or vomiting, 12 (7.5%) with loss of appetite, nine (5.6%) with dizziness and two (1.3%) with an allergic skin rash, none of which was severe.CONCLUSION:  The current regime using pantoprazole, amoxycillin and clarithromycin is highly tolerable and effective and should continue to be recommended as a first‐line therapy for H. pylori eradication in our setting.
Cardiometabolic Syndrome and Its Association With Education, Smoking, Diet, Physical Activity, and Social Support: Findings From the Pennsylvania 2007 BRFSS Survey
Authors: Liu Longjian , Núñez Ana E. 
Published: May 2010

J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich).2010;12:556–564. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.The authors aimed to examine the prevalence of cardiometabolic syndrome (CMS) and its association with education, smoking, diet, physical activity, and social support among white, black, and Hispanic adults using data from the 2007 Pennsylvania Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey, the largest population‐based survey in the state. The authors examined associations between CMS and associated factors cross‐sectionally using univariate and multivariate methods. The study included a representative sample of 12,629 noninstitutionalized Pennsylvanians aged ≥18. Components of CMS included obesity, hypercholesterolemia, angina (as a surrogate for decreased high‐density lipoprotein), prehypertension or hypertension, and prediabetes or diabetes. CMS was identified as the presence of ≥3 CMS components. The results show that the prevalence of CMS was 20.48% in blacks, followed by Hispanics (19.14%) and whites (12.26%), (P<.01). Multivariate logistic regression analyses indicated that physical inactivity, lower educational levels, smoking, daily consumption of vegetables and/or fruits <3 servings, and lack of social support were significantly associated with the odds of having CMS. In conclusion, black and Hispanic adults have a significantly higher prevalence of CMS than whites. The significant association between CMS and risk factors provides new insights in the direction of health promotion to prevent and control CMS in those who are at high risk.
Prevalence of Self‐Reported Hypertension, Advice Received From Health Care Professionals, and Actions Taken to Reduce Blood Pressure Among US Adults—HealthStyles, 2008
Authors: Valderrama Amy L. , Tong Xin , Ayala Carma , Keenan Nora L. 
Published: May 2010

J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich). 2010;12:784‐792. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.Lifestyle changes, such as changes in diet and exercise, are recommended to lower blood pressure (BP) in adults. Using data from the 2008 HealthStyles survey, the authors estimated the prevalence of self‐reported hypertension, advice received from health professionals, and actions taken to reduce BP. Among 5399 respondents, 25.8% had hypertension and 79.8% of these were currently taking antihypertensive medications. Overall, 21.0% to 24.4% reported receiving advice to adopt specific behavior changes, with younger adults and women having a lower prevalence of receiving advice. Blacks had the highest prevalence among the racial/ethnic groups of receiving advice, and household income was associated with receiving advice. More than half of respondents took action following the receipt of advice. Women were more likely than men to follow advice to go on a diet. Although many patients were following advice from their health professional and making lifestyle changes to decrease BP, the proportion of patients making changes remains suboptimal. Receiving advice from health professionals and following recommendations to reduce or control high BP are essential to hypertension management. Counseling on lifestyle modification should continue to be an integral component of visits to health professionals.
Vaccines as Monotherapy and in Combination Therapy for Prostate Cancer
Authors: Rotow Julia , Gameiro Sofia R. , Madan Ravi A. , Gulley James L. , Schlom Jeffrey , Hodge James W. 
Published: May 2010

AbstractProstate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among men in the United States. Standard‐of‐care chemotherapy for metastatic castration‐resistant prostate cancer is associated with significant but modest survival benefit, indicating a need for alternative and/or additional approaches. The use of therapeutic cancer vaccines for the treatment of prostate cancer represents a novel targeted therapeutic approach. Whereas vaccine strategies are being developed for the treatment of various stages of prostate cancer, this article focuses on novel vaccine strategies for castration‐resistant prostate cancer that have been translated into late‐stage clinical studies.
Instruction in the Responsible Conduct of Research: An Inventory of Programs and Materials within CTSAs
Authors: DuBois James M. , Schilling Debie A. , Heitman Elizabeth , Steneck Nicholas H. , Kon Alexander A. 
Published: May 2010

AbstractThe National Institutes of Health (NIH) require instruction in the responsible conduct of research (RCR) as a component of any Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA). The Educational Materials Group of the NIH CTSA Consortium's Clinical Research Ethics Key Function Committee (CRE‐KFC) conducted a survey of the 38 institutions that held CTSA funding as of January 2009 to determine how they satisfy RCR training requirements. An 8‐item questionnaire was sent by email to directors of the Clinical Research Ethics, the Educational and Career Development, and the Regulatory Knowledge cores. We received 78 completed surveys from 38 CTSAs (100%). We found that there is no unified approach to RCR training across CTSAs, many programs lack a coherent plan for RCR instruction, and most CTSAs have not developed unique instructional materials tailored to the needs of clinical and translational scientists. We recommend collaboration among CTSAs and across CTSA key function committees to address these weaknesses. We also requested that institutions send electronic copies of original RCR training materials to share among CTSAs via the CTSpedia website. Twenty institutions submitted at least one educational product. The CTSpedia now contains more than 90 RCR resources.
Melanocyte homeostasis in vivo tolerates Rb1 loss in a developmentally independent fashion
Authors: Tonks Ian D. , Mould Arne W. , Schroder Wayne A. , Hacker Elke , Bosenberg Marcus , Hayward Nicholas K. , Walker Graeme J. , Kay Graham F. 
Published: May 2010

SummaryThere has been uncertainty regarding the precise role that the pocket protein Rb1 plays in murine melanocyte homeostasis. It has been reported that the TAT‐Cre mediated loss of exon 19 from a floxed Rb1 allele causes melanocyte apoptosis in vivo and in vitro. This is at variance with other findings showing, either directly or indirectly, that Rb1 loss in melanocytes has no noticeable effect in vivo, but in vitro leads to a semi‐transformed phenotype. In this study, we show that Rb1‐null melanocytes lacking exon 19 do not undergo apoptosis and survive both in vitro and in vivo, irrespective of the developmental stage at which Cre‐mediated ablation of the exon occurs. Further, Rb1 loss has no serious long‐term ramifications on melanocyte homeostasis in vivo, with Rb1‐null melanocytes being detected in the skin after numerous hair cycles, inferring that the melanocyte stem cell population carrying the Cre‐mediated deletion is maintained. Consequently, whilst Rb1 loss in the melanocyte is able to alter cellular behaviour in vitro, it appears inconsequential with respect to melanocyte homeostasis in the mouse skin.
Chronic necrotizing pulmonary aspergillosis in a patient treated with a tumor necrosis factor‐α inhibitor
Authors: LEE Eun Jung , SONG Ran , PARK Ji‐Na , LEE Yeon‐Ah , SON Jun Seong , HONG Seung‐Jae , YANG Hyung‐In , LEE Sang‐Hoon 
Published: May 2010

AbstractTumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α is a pro‐inflammatory cytokine that plays an important role in the pathogenesis of a variety of autoimmune diseases. TNF‐α inhibitors have been shown to offer clinical benefits in the treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory disorders, including rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and Crohn’s disease. Occasionally, these agents have been associated with infectious complications because of their immunosuppressive activity. Globally, several cases of infections associated with TNF‐α inhibitors have been reported. However, Aspergillus infection associated with etanercept is very rare. We report a case of chronic necrotizing pulmonary aspergillosis in a 51‐year‐old man with AS that developed after treatment with etanercept.
Pimecrolimus versus placebo in genital aphthous ulcers of Behcet’s disease: a randomized double‐blind controlled trial
Authors: CHAMS‐DAVATCHI Cheyda , BARIKBIN Behrooz , SHAHRAM Farhad , NADJI Abdolhadi , MOGHADDASSI Maryam , YOUSEFI Maryam , DAVATCHI Fereydoun 
Published: May 2010

AbstractBackground:  Genital aphthous ulcers of Behcet’s disease (BD) are painful and usually resistant to local treatments. Pimecrolimus is an ascomycin macrolactam, used in inflammatory skin diseases.Objective:  To discover if pimecrolimus can accelerate the healing of BD genital aphthous ulcers.Methods:  Ninety patients with genital aphthous ulcers were enrolled. Only patients treated with colchicine alone were selected. All patients signed a written consent form. Patients were randomly assigned to pimecrolimus or placebo cream, applied twice daily for 1 week. The primary outcome was the healing period. Up to 7 days, it was considered as a positive result. Results were compared by chi‐square test. The mean healing time was compared by analysis of variance. Analyses were done both by the ‘intention‐to‐treat’ and ‘treatment‐completed’ methods.Results:  Both groups were similar at the entry (gender, age, ulcer size, pain intensity and treatment delay). By intention‐to‐treat analysis, in the pimecrolimus group, 18 patients had positive and 27 negative results. In the control group, four had positive and 41 negative results. The difference was significant (χ2 = 10.167, P = 0.001). By treatment‐completed analysis, with pimecrolimus, 18 patients had positive and 22 negative results. With placebo, four had positive, and 41 negative results. The difference was significant (χ2 = 12.574, P = 0.0004). Comparison of mean healing time in the pimecrolimus versus placebo group, demonstrated a significant acceleration both in intention‐to‐treat analysis (10.7 vs. 20.7 days, F = 17.466, P < 0.0001) and treatment‐completed analysis (8.3 vs. 20.7 days, F = 29.289, P < 0.0001).Conclusion:  Pimecrolimus is safe and efficient in the treatment of BD genital ulcers, by accelerating the healing process.
Value of serum and synovial fluid activin A and inhibin A in some rheumatic diseases
Authors: EL‐GENDI Salwa S. , MONIEM Alaa E. A. , TAWFIK Nabawia M. , ASHMAWY Mohammed M. , MOHAMMED Omnia A. , MOSTAFA Ahmed K. , ZAKHARI Madiha M. , HERDAN Omar M. 
Published: May 2010

AbstractAim:  The purpose of the study is to measure serum and synovial fluid levels of activin A and inhibin A in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and osteoarthritis (OA) and correlate them with disease activity parameters.Subjects and methods:  This study included 60 patients with various rheumatic diseases (20 with RA, 20 with SLE and 20 with OA), as well as 10 healthy controls. All of them were subjected to complete history‐taking, examination and estimation of disease activity index. The following investigations were done for all subjects: serum and synovial activin A, inhibin A, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C‐reactive protein (CRP), anti‐dsDNA and complements 3 and 4.Results:  Serum levels of activin A were significantly higher in RA, SLE and OA than controls and in RA and SLE versus OA The mean values of serum inhibin A were significantly higher in all studied groups than controls. Synovial activin A and inhibin A were significantly higher in RA than OA. Positive correlations were found between serum activin A and disease activity parameters of RA. In SLE, positive correlations were found between serum activin A and inhibin A with ESR and SLE Disease Activity Index.Conclusions:  Serum activin A and inhibin A were significantly higher in RA and SLE. Serum levels correlated positively with disease activity parameters of RA and SLE. However, synovial levels were significantly higher in RA than OA but showed no correlation or negative correlation with disease activity. We recommend further studies to detect the exact role of activin A and inhibin A in these conditions.
Hypervariability of Biofilm Formation and Oxacillin Resistance in a
Staphylococcus epidermidis
Strain Causing Persistent Severe Infection in an Immunocompromised Patient
Authors: Weisser Maja , Schoenfelder Sonja M. K. , Orasch Christina , Arber Caroline , Gratwohl Alois , Frei Reno , Eckart Martin , Flückiger Ursula , Ziebuhr Wilma 
Published: May 2010

ABSTRACT

We report on a leukemic patient who suffered from a persistent, generalized, and eventually fatal
Staphylococcus epidermidis
infection during prolonged aplasia. Over a 6-week period, we isolated a genetically and phenotypically unstable
S. epidermidis
strain related to an epidemic clone associated with hospital infections worldwide. Strikingly, the strain showed a remarkable degree of variability, with evidence of selection and increasing predominance of biofilm-producing and oxacillin-resistant variants over time. Thus, in the early stages of the infection, the strain was found to generate subpopulations which had spontaneously lost the biofilm-mediating
ica
locus along with the oxacillin resistance-conferring
mecA
gene. These deletion mutants were obviously outcompeted by the
ica
- and
mecA
-positive wild-type genotype, with the selection and predominance of strongly biofilm-forming and oxacillin-resistant variants in the later stages of the infection. Also, a switch from protein- to polysaccharide intercellular adhesin/poly-
N
-acetylglucosamine (PIA/PNAG)-mediated-biofilm production was detected among
ica
-positive variants in the course of the infection. The data highlight the impact of distinct
S. epidermidis
clonal lineages as serious nosocomial pathogens that, through the generation and selection of highly pathogenic variants, may critically determine disease progression and outcome.