bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Baby oil therapy for uremic pruritus in haemodialysis patients
Authors: Lin Tzu‐Chen , Lai Yu‐Hung , Guo Su‐Er , Liu Chin‐Fang , Tsai Jer‐Chia , Guo How‐Ran , Hsu Hsin‐Tien 
Published: November 2011

Aims.  The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of chilled/un‐chilled baby oil therapy for treating uremic pruritus in haemodialysis patients.Background.  Uremic pruritus affects 50–90% of haemodialysis patients, which makes it one of the most common medical problems in this population. Pruritus can cause skin infection, desquamation, pathological skin change, sleep disorder, anxiety, depression and social dysfunction.Design. A prospective, pretest—post‐test quasi‐experimental design was used.Methods.  Haemodialysis patients with uremic pruritus were recruited and randomly assigned to one of three groups: experimental group 1 (chilled baby oil treatment; n = 30), experimental group 2 (un‐chilled baby oil treatment; n = 31) and a control group (routine care only; n = 32). Participants in experimental group 1 and experimental group 2 were treated with chilled and un‐chilled baby oil, respectively, for 15 minutes at least once daily for three weeks. The control group received no intervention other than standard care. Data collection included demographic data and itch severity. Medical records were also reviewed.Results.  The baseline characteristics of subjects in this study were as follows: 59% were male, mean age was 61·88 (SD 12·7) years, mean duration of haemodialysis was 5·31 years, mean duration of uremic pruritus was 40·58 (SD 37·8) months and mean intensity of uremic pruritus was mild. The anti‐pruritic effects were significantly larger in subjects treated with either chilled or un‐chilled baby oil than in those who received routine care. Anti‐pruritic effects did not significantly differ between experimental group 1 and experimental group 2.Conclusions.  The study confirmed that, for relieving pruritus in haemodialysis patients, either chilled or un‐chilled baby oil is as effective as moisturising lotions and cooling soothing agents.Relevance to clinical practice.  Applying baby oil is a simple, safe, inexpensive and easily administered treatment for itchy skin in haemodialysis patients. By preventing or reducing uremic pruritus, baby oil treatment may also improve quality of life in this patient group.
Development of neutralizing antibody responses in muskellunge, Esox masquinongy (Mitchill), experimentally exposed to viral haemorrhagic septicaemia virus (genotype IVb)
Authors: Millard E V , Faisal M 
Published: November 2011

AbstractA complement‐dependent 50% plaque neutralization test was used to assess the neutralizing antibody response in sera of muskellunge, Esox masquinongy, experimentally infected with viral haemorrhagic septicaemia virus (VHSV, genotype IVb) by immersion. Groups of muskellunge were challenged with varying concentrations of VHSV: Group 1 with 102 plaque‐forming units (pfu) mL−1, Group 2 with 4 × 103 pfu mL−1, Group 3 with 105 pfu mL−1 and Group 4 with 0 pfu mL−1. The fish were held at a temperature of 11 ± 1 °C and were sampled over a 20‐week period. Neutralizing antibodies were not detected in sera of any of the negative control fish throughout the study. Low neutralizing titres were detected in Groups 1–3 by 6 days post‐infection (p.i.). Neutralizing titres of <80 were not detected again until 3, 4 and 7 weeks p.i. for Groups 2, 3 and 1, respectively, with peak titres for those groups occurring 16, 11 and 17 weeks p.i., respectively. VHSV was detected in serum for up to 11 weeks p.i. Results of this study show that survivors can be detected by a serological technique, despite being virus negative. This may benefit the investigation of VHSV IVb distribution in the Great Lakes and the study of host immune responses to this emerging sublineage.
Fitness consequences of social network position in a wild population of forked fungus beetles (Bolitotherus cornutus)
Authors: FORMICA V. A. , WOOD C. W. , LARSEN W. B. , BUTTERFIELD R. E. , AUGAT M. E. , HOUGEN H. Y. , BRODIE E. D. 
Published: November 2011

AbstractSocial networks describe the pattern of intraspecific interactions within a population. An individual’s position in a social network often is expected to influence its fitness, but only a few studies have examined this relationship in natural populations. We investigated the fitness consequences of network position in a wild beetle population. Copulation success of male beetles positively covaried with strength (a measure of network centrality) and negatively covaried with clustering coefficient (CC) (a measure of cliquishness). Further analysis using mediation path models suggested that the activity level of individuals drove the relationships between strength and fitness almost entirely. In contrast, selection on CC was not explained by individual behaviours. Although our data suggest that social network position can experience strong sexual selection, it is also clear that the relationships between fitness and some network metrics merely reflect variation in individual‐level behaviours.
Predicting massive blood transfusion using clinical scores post‐trauma
Authors: Mitra B. , Rainer T. H. , Cameron P. A. 
Published: November 2011

Background and Objectives  Early prediction of massive transfusion (MT) post‐trauma may reduce mortality by earlier delivery of blood products. A clinical prediction tool (PWH score) for this purpose was developed at the Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong. The aims of this study were to apply this tool to major trauma patients in Victoria, Australia and compare the score to the Assessment of Blood Consumption (ABC) score and the Trauma‐Associated Severe Haemorrhage (TASH) score.Methods  A retrospective review of patients entered into the The Alfred Trauma Registry between January 2006 and December 2009 was conducted. The performance of the PWH score to predict MT defined by 5 units of packed red blood cells in 4 h was compared with the ABC and TASH scores. Included patients presented to the Emergency & Trauma Centre from the scene and had had complete datasets with respect to the components of the three scores.Results  There were 1234 patients included in the study with 195 (15·8%) receiving a MT and an overall mortality of 14·0%. The PWH score had an area under the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve of 0·842 (95% CI: 0·820–0·862). The area under the ROC curve of the PWH score was significantly less than that of the TASH score (χ2 = 19·8, P < 0·001) and significantly greater than that of the ABC score (χ2 = 9·3, P = 0·002).Conclusions  The PWH score performs with similar accuracy when applied to an Australian population as in its derivation population. The relative simplicity of the PWH score makes it a viable tool for clinical use, although utility of such tools may be more suited for research in determining inclusion or exclusion criteria for comparative outcome studies.
Respiratory syncytial virus immunoprophylaxis in high‐risk infants with heart disease
Authors: Alexander Peta MA , Eastaugh Lucas , Royle Jenny , Daley Andrew J , Shekerdemian Lara S , Penny Daniel J 
Published: November 2011

Aim:  Passive immunisation with palivizumab is recommended in many countries for children with haemodynamically significant cardiac disease. We trialled respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) immunoprophylaxis in such infants during 2008–2009.Methods:  We identified all RSV admissions between 2005–2009 and examined all patients with significant cardiac disease who received palivizumab in 2008–2009.Results:  Infants with symptomatic cardiac disease had a more complicated course of RSV bronchiolitis with longer hospital stay, more frequent intensive care admission, longer intensive care stay and were more likely to receive respiratory support (all P < 0.05). One hundred seventeen infants with symptomatic cardiac disease received palivizumab. Of these, two (1.7%) required admission for RSV bronchiolitis. Overall, there was a reduction in admission of infants with symptomatic cardiac disease with RSV bronchiolitis in 2008–2009 (2% per year) compared with 2005–2007 (5–9% per year; P < 0.03). The number of patients with symptomatic cardiac disease who required intensive care for RSV bronchiolitis in the same period was unchanged, as a number presented to our service with RSV infection prior to commencing immunoprophylaxis or having had their cardiac diagnosis made in other centres.Conclusions:  Compared with other infants, those with haemodynamically significant cardiac disease have a more complicated course of illness with RSV bronchiolitis. In these infants, palivizumab reduced the number of hospitalisations because of RSV. Cohorting patients for maximal palivizumab use reduced overall cost. To significantly impact on intensive care admissions overall, immunoprophylaxis should be considered at a regional level.
Prader–Willi syndrome in Victoria: Mortality and causes of death
Authors: Lionti Tess , Reid Susan M , Rowell Margaret M 
Published: November 2011

Aim:  The aim of this study was to describe the rates, predictors and causes of mortality in a population sample of individuals with Prader–Willi syndrome (PWS).Methods:  One hundred sixty‐three individuals with PWS (90 males and 73 females, ages: 3 weeks to 60 years) were identified from the Victorian PWS Register. Information on demographics, age at diagnosis, genetic mechanism, age at which obesity developed and last known body mass index measurement were extracted. Notification and causes of death were obtained through linkage with Australian national and state of Victoria death indexes. Survival analysis was used to estimate the probability of survival and the effect of obesity on survival. Mortality rate ratios were calculated to investigate the effect of the factors listed above on mortality.Results:  Fifteen deaths were recorded (nine males and six females), corresponding to an 87% probability of survival to 35 years. The probability of survival was significantly lower for individuals with known obesity (P= 0.03), but there was no strong evidence for an effect on survival for the other factors studied. Cardiac or respiratory conditions were common causes of death after the age of 15 years.Conclusions:  The effect of known obesity on the probability of survival and the causes of death reported in this and other studies suggest an important association between obesity and early death in adults with PWS. This finding highlights the critical nature of preventative and intervention strategies aimed at minimising the effects of hyperphagia in individuals with PWS.
Case mix in paediatric rheumatology: Implications for training in Australia
Authors: Lim Sern Chin , Allen Roger C , Munro Jane E , Akikusa Jonathan D 
Published: November 2011

Background:  Despite a move towards the provision of specialist training in Australia in settings that extend beyond the public hospital system, formal comparisons of case mix between public and private specialty clinics have rarely been performed. It is therefore unclear for many specialties how well training in one setting prepares trainees for practice in the other.Aims:  This study aims to compare the case mix of paediatric rheumatology patients seen in public and private settings and the referral sources of patients in each.Methods:  An audit of all new patients seen in the public and private paediatric rheumatology clinics on campus at Royal Children's Hospital between June 2009 and January 2011. Data related to demographics, primary diagnosis, referral source and location seen were abstracted and compared.Results:  Eight hundred and seventy‐six new patients were seen during the period of interest. Of these, 429 patients (48.9%) were seen in private clinics. The commonest diagnostic categories for both type of clinics were non‐inflammatory musculoskeletal pain/orthopaedic conditions (public 39.4%, private 33.6%) followed by juvenile idiopathic arthritis (public 16.6%, %, private 18.6%), other skin/soft tissue disorders (public 8.7%, private 9.6%) and pain syndromes (public 4.9%, private 11.4%). Patients with haematological and vasculitic disorders were predominantly seen in public clinics. The commonest source of referrals to both clinics was general practitioners (public 40.6%, private 53.1%).Conclusion:  The case mix in private paediatric rheumatology clinics closely mirrors that of public clinics at our centre. Training in either setting would provide sufficient case‐mix exposure to prepare trainees for practice in the other.
Absolute interdialytic weight gain is more important than percent weight gain for intradialytic hypotension in heavy patients
Authors: LAI CHUAN‐TSAI , WU CHIH‐JEN , CHEN HAN‐HSIANG , PAN CHI‐FENG , CHIANG CHIN‐LING , CHANG CHIUNG‐YING , CHEN YU‐WEI 
Published: November 2011

ABSTRACT:Aim:  Few published reports have mentioned the difference between absolute interdialytic weight gain (IDWG) and IDWG/DW (IDWG%), and subsequent effects on daily dialysis. The aim of present study was to evaluate the difference between absolute IDWG and IDWG% in new haemodialysis patients.Method:  We retrospectively reviewed the records of 255 patients who recently received conventional haemodialysis for at least 1 year at the same centre from 1997 to 2008. The first 4 weeks after starting haemodialysis was defined as the pre‐study period. Data were collected for 5–56 weeks.Results:  IDWG% value remained relatively constant in the first year of haemodialysis despite most patients having certain residual renal function. For haemodialysis outcomes, both absolute IDWG and IDWG% were significantly correlated with intradialytic hypotension (IDH) in men and heavy women. After dividing patients into four strata, which according to the gender and the median dry weight, stepwise multivariate linear regression analysis showed that absolute IDWG, rather than IDWG%, was an independent risk factor for IDH in heavy men (Beta = 0.585, P < 0.001) and heavy women (Beta = 0.458, P < 0.001).Conclusions:  Absolute IDWG, rather than IDWG%, is an independent risk factor for IDH in heavy haemodialysis patients. Therefore, higher absolute IDWG needs to be strictly controlled despite the corresponding IDWG% possibly being relatively small in heavy haemodialysis patients.
Interactions between native and invasive gecko lizards in tropical Australia
Authors: YANG DAODE , GONZÁLEZ‐BERNAL EDNA , GREENLEES MATTHEW , SHINE RICHARD 
Published: November 2011

AbstractInvasive geckos of the genus Hemidactylus (Gekkonidae) are spreading rapidly through urban environments in many tropical and subtropical parts of the world. The invaders have caused rapid declines in native gecko abundance in some areas, but their interactions with Australian native species remain unknown. In a small rural village near Darwin, we found that Hemidactylus frenatus is abundant around both lighted and unlighted buildings, but rarely found in surrounding bushland. It is sympatric with the larger Gehyra australis (Gekkonidae) in this disturbed site, and often forages on the same buildings, but is active mostly during the dry‐season (vs. wet‐season for G. australis) and is competitively subordinate to the larger native species. In laboratory encounters, H. frenatus fled from G. australis, and modified its refuge‐site use in the presence of the native lizard. In those same trials, the native gecko often attacked and rarely fled; and did not shift its refuge‐site selection. In field surveys, the two taxa frequently co‐occurred. However, substrate use of the invasive H. frenatus was modified by the presence of the native G. australis, consistent with competitive displacement. Our counts of H. frenatus were highest during the dry‐season, when G. australis (like most other small native reptiles) is relatively inactive. The invasive gecko thus appears to be exploiting a ‘vacant niche’ around buildings, rather than displacing the native gecko taxon. This outcome may reflect the size disparity between the native species and the invader; Hemidactylus frenatus may well have significant ecological impacts on smaller native lizards.
Scaling and structure of dicotyledonous leaf venation networks
Authors: Price Charles A. , Wing Scott , Weitz Joshua S. 
Published: November 2011

Ecology Letters, (2011)AbstractThere have been numerous attempts to derive general models for the structure and function of resource delivery networks in biology. Such theories typically predict the quantitative structure of vascular networks across scales. For example, fractal branching models of plant structure predict that the network dimensions within plant stems or leaves should be scale‐free. However, very few empirical examples of such networks are available with which to evaluate such hypotheses. Here, we apply recently developed leaf network extraction software to a global leaf dataset. We find that leaf networks are neither entirely scale‐free nor governed entirely by a characteristic scale. Indeed, we find many network properties, such as vein length distributions, which are governed by characteristic scales, and other network properties, notably vein diameter distributions, which are typified by power‐law behaviour. Our findings suggest that theories of network structure will remain incomplete until they address the multiple constraints on network architecture.
Androgen deprivation therapy before radical prostatectomy is associated with poorer postoperative erectile function outcomes
Authors: Mazzola Clarisse R. , Deveci Serkan , Heck Matthias , Mulhall John P. 
Published: November 2011

Study Type – Therapy (case series)Level of Evidence 4What's known on the subject? and What does the study add?Erectile dysfunction is a recognized complication of radical prostatectomy. Androgen deprivation therapy adversely impacts sexual function.Our study shows that the preoperative use of androgen deprivation therapy significantly reduces erectile function recovery after radical prostatectomy. The underneath pathophysiological mechanisms for this to occur are reviewed.OBJECTIVE
To define the impact of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), undergone before radical prostatectomy (RP), on erectile function (EF) recovery.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
A total of 38 consecutive patients presenting to a sexual medicine clinic after undergoing RP who had received ADT before RP (ADT+ group) were compared with a contemporary, age and comorbidity‐matched cohort of 94 patients who did not receive ADT (ADT‐ group) before undergoing RP.
Medical records were reviewed for demographics, comorbidity profiles and duration of ADT exposure.
All the patients underwent Doppler penile ultrasonography within 6 months of RP and were administered the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) questionnaire.
All the patients underwent evaluation of EF recovery. We analysed the incidence of venous leak (VL), mean IIEF EF domain score and proportion of men with EF domain scores ≥24 at 18 months after RP.
RESULTS
The mean age, comorbidity profiles, median Gleason score, median pre‐treatment PSA level, and mean time to evaluation after RP were similar between the two groups.
The median duration of ADT exposure in the ADT+ group was 3 months.
The incidence of VL within 6 months of surgery was 60% for the ADT+ and 20% for the ADT‐ group (P < 0.001). Likewise, the IIEF EF domain scores and proportion of men with EF domain scores ≥24 at 18 months were significantly lower in the ADT+ group, even when controlled for nerve‐sparing status.
CONCLUSION
Our data suggest that preoperative use of ADT adversely impacts EF outcomes and should therefore be avoided in the absence of robust data suggesting any oncological benefit.
Detection, localisation and characterisation of prostate cancer by Prostate HistoScanning™
Authors: Simmons Lucy A.M. , Autier Philippe , Zát'ura Frantiŝek , Braeckman Johan , Peltier Alexandre , Romic Imre , Stenzl Arnulf , Treurnicht Karien , Walker Tara , Nir Dror , Moore Caroline M. , Emberton Mark 
Published: November 2011

What's known on the subject? and What does the study add?Prostate cancer is one of the few solid‐organ cancers in which imaging is not used in the diagnostic process. Novel functional magnetic resonance imaging techniques offer promise but may not be cost‐effective.Prostate HistoScanning™ (PHS) is an ultrasound‐based tissue characterisation technique that has previously shown encouraging results in the detection of clinically significant prostate cancer. The present study reports on the open ‘unblinded’ phase of a European multicentre study. The prospective ‘blind’ phase is currently in progress and will determine the value of PHS in a robust fashion overcoming many of the biases inherent in evaluating prostate imaging.OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the ability of prostate HistoScanning™ (PHS) an ultrasound (US)‐based tissue characterization application, to detect cancer foci by correlating results with detailed radical prostatectomy (RP) histology.
PATIENT AND METHODS
In all, 31 patients with organ‐confined prostate cancer, diagnosed on transrectal biopsies taken using US guidance, and scheduled for RP were recruited from six European centres.
Before RP three‐dimensional (3D) US raw data for PHS analysis was obtained. Histology by Bostwick Laboratories (London) examined sections obtained from whole mounted glands cut every 3–4 mm.
Location and volume estimation of cancer foci by PHS were undertaken using two methods; a manual method and an embedded software tool.
In this report we evaluate data obtained from a planned open study phase. The second phase of the study is ‘blinded’, and currently in progress.
RESULTS
31 patients were eligible for this phase. Three patients were excluded from analysis due to inadequate scan acquisition and pathology violations of the standard operating procedure. One patient withdrew from the study after 3D TRUS examination.
PHS detected cancer ≥0.20 mL in 25/27 prostates (sensitivity 93%).
In all, 23 patients had an index focus ≥0.5 mL at pathology, of which 21 were identified as ≥0.5 mL by PHS using the manual method (sensitivity 91%) and 19 were correctly identified as ≥0.5 mL by the embedded tool (sensitivity 83%).
In 27 patients, histological analysis found 32 cancerous foci ≥0.2 mL, located in 97 of 162 sextants. After sextant analysis, PHS showed a 90% sensitivity and 72% specificity for the localisation of lesions ≥0.2 mL within a sextant.
CONCLUSIONS
PHS has the ability to identify and locate prostate cancer and consequently may aid in pre‐treatment and pre‐surgical planning.
In men with a lesion identified, it has potential to enable improved targeting, allowing better risk stratification by obtaining more representative cores.
However further verification from the results of the blinded phase of this study are awaited.