bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mortality Trends in a Rapidly Developing Economy in Taiwan Part I: Comparison with the USA and Japan 1976-1983
Authors: Tsai SP , Wen CP 
Published: June 2011

The mortality experience of Taiwan was examined for two time periods (1976 and 1983) to determine the magnitude and direction of change in age-adjusted mortality and to identify deviation from the expected progress by comparison with two industrialized nations, the USA and Japan. Between 1976 and 1983 the overall mortality showed an annual average of nearly 2% decrease, mostly contributed by the marked reduction in the number of young. Significant reductions were also observed for deaths from strokes, rheumatic heart disease, ill-defined conditions, cancer of the stomach, and infectious diseases such as tuberculosis. A disturbing increase in suicide as well as accidents primarily caused by motor vehicles was noted. In general, cancer increased, to an alarming degree for environmentally implicated cancers such as lung, pancreas, nasopharynx, brain and liver in men. When compared to that of the USA or Japan, the mortality experience of Taiwan showed the following increases: overall female mortality, accidental deaths, suicide among elderly women, deaths from strokes, ulcers, asthma, and liver, nasopharyngeal and cervical cancers. However, the overall cancer mortality rate was still much lower than that either in the USA or Japan. Despite marked reductions in infectious disease mortality, deaths from tuberculosis were nearly 40 times those of the USA. Although deaths from ill-defined conditions decreased by half during this study period, they were still high, particularly among elderly women (13% of all deaths and 22 times higher than the USA), which probably reflects inadequate medical services for women. The role of the Taiwanese government in the financing of health services was found to be far smaller than that of the USA or Japan. Expanding health care expenditure by the government is desirable if improvement in the maldistribution of medical services is to be achieved and the untoward health effects of rapid industrialization is to be reduced.
Milk Tolerance Among Malnourished School Children in Malaysia
Authors: Chen ST , Domala Z 
Published: June 2011

1, 256 malnourished children, aged seven to ten years, were selected for study, 575 from Kuala Langat, 416 from Wilayah Persekutuan and 265 from Ulu Selangor. Ninety-three percent of the children were from low socio-economic groups with large family size, and most of their parents had only primary or no formal education. During the study period, children in Kuala Langat received daily milk supplementation for five days per week, those in Wilayah Persekutuan for two days per week, while those in Ulu Selangor did not receive any milk supplementation. The study shows that a majority of the malnourished primary school children liked to drink milk and that milk intolerance was not a problem among them.
The Effects of Rooming-in on the Success of Breastfeeding and the Decline in Abandonment of Children
Authors: Buranasin Banphot 
Published: June 2011

This study analyzed the effect of management of rooming-in, conducted in one of the regional hospitals in Thailand, on the success of breastfeeding. Data based on 2, 000 infants born in 1987 and 1990 showed a significant improvement on separation time of infant and mother after delivery and predominant breastfeeding, where the infant's predominant source of nourishment has been breastmilk. Separation time was reduced from 6.3 ± 3.2 to 1.62 ± 0.42 hours and predominant breastfeeding was significantly increased from 85 to 99 percent. Data obtained from the community related to the initiation and predominant breastfeedings showed a significant increase (p<0.05). No significant difference was demonstrated, however, on current breastfeeding among infants who were delivery before and after initiation of the rooming-in system. Also analyzed were data on prevalence of deserted children. The findings showed a progressive reduction of deserted children after management of rooming-in. The study concludes that the practices of obstetricians were a key to successful breastfeeding. Promotion and management of rooming-in significantly improves the success of breastfeeding and reduction of deserted children in the hospital.
Pacific Health: An Analysis for Training New Leaders
Authors: Finau Sitaleki A 
Published: June 2011

History, economics, culture, and politics have created health systems that can no longer meet the health challenges in the Pacific. An analysis of the health situations in the region revealed health trends, health service deficiencies and the various issues that need to be addressed. The morbidity and mortality experience in the Pacific has been approaching that of the developed countries. The contributing factors to diseases and death have been changing but other health issues, such as matters pertaining to environmental sanitation, management, health information, food and nutrition, ethnic pluralism, colonialism, and technological arrogance, may exacerbate these experiences. To appropriately meet these constraints, the health services need reorientation. However, these need new types of health leadership. Doctors, being the most socially acceptable and politically powerful, should be trained for this new leadership role. This training must be guided by the biopsychosocial model to produce community health physicians. This is being undertaken at the Pacific Basin Medical Officer Training Program, Pohnpei. It is characterized by an integrated, community-oriented, student-centered, career-ladder and competency-based approach. The graduates will then provide the leadership and catalyst for the needed health service reorientation.
Knowledge and Use of Maternal and Child Health Services by Mothers in Papua New Guinea
Authors: Karel Harumi Sasaki 
Published: June 2011

A survey was conducted in the coastal area of Morobe Province in Papua New Guinea between March to April 1992 in order to obtain and examine the current health knowledge and practices of mothers with children under two years of age. The purpose of the survey was to gather data for the detailed planning and implementation of a Child Survival Intervention Project funded by USAID. A total of 30 villages in the area were selected utilizing the WHO 30-cluster sampling technique. The results indicated that breastfeeding was a very common practice. However, because nutritional intake was not increased during pregnancy and lactation for many of the women, it is likely that their nutritional intake was insufficient. Although many mothers knew the importance of immunization, they were unclear about the importance of completing immunization series. The utilization of contraceptive methods was very low among women who did not want to have another child within the subsequent two years. The most common methods were injections and pills. The dissemination of health education to isolated rural villages is one of the most important interventions in reducing maternal and infant mortality. As there currently is no health education unit at the Morobe Provincial Department of Health. It is crucial to establish the unit and to emphasize the importance of health education as the tool for disease prevention and health promotion. Asia Pac J Public Health1994;7(3):191-3.
Impact of Midday Meal Program on Educational and Nutritional Status of School-going Children in Andhra Pradesh, India
Authors: Sarma KV Rameshwar , Rao D Hanumantha , Rao K Mallikharjuna , Galreddy Ch , Kumar Sharad , Rao Vishnu Vardhan , Rao N Pralhad 
Published: June 2011

The Midday Meal Program(MDM) is in operation in several states of India. This program aims to improve school enrollment and attendance, to reduce dropout rate to better the children's school performance, and to improve the nutritional status of primary school children. A study was undertaken in the State of Andhra Pradesh to assess the impact of the MDM program on the above parameters. A total of 83 schools from three districts, 45 schools with program and 38 schools without program, were included in the study. Results of the study on the educational component indicated improved attendance, increased retention rate with reduced dropout rates, and a marginal improvement in the scholastic performance. The nutritional component revealed better growth performance among the regular beneficiaries in the program.
Mortality Mapping in Hong Kong, 1979-83 and 1984-88: Feasibility Study and the Patterns of Cancers
Authors: Lloyd Owen L , Wong SL , Yu TS , Wong TW 
Published: June 2011

To examine the practicability and value of mapping cancers in Hong Kong, selected data from consecutive censuses were used to assess the demographic stability and sociocconomic characteristics of the 27 districts. Mortality data in two quinquennia (1979-1988) were used to calculate the districts' standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) for various cancers and their ranks were presented in maps. Correlations were calculated between the SMRs for the cancers, and between the SMRs and the sociocconomic characteristics. Population sizes and sociocconomic characteristics of the districts were fairly stable in most districts. The SMRs of many cancers differed widely between districts. Affluent districts tended to have high SMRs for colorectal and breast cancers, but low SMRs for nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) as well as liver and lung cancers. The directions of the SMR ranking correlations between the two quinquennia were generally consistent. Statistically significant correlations between some cancers were replicated, particularly for males, and between some cancers and sociocconomic characteristics.
Demographic Impact on Environment - A Case Study Focussing on CO2 Emission in China
Authors: Hayashi Kenji , Gao Jianqun 
Published: June 2011

Carbon dioxide (CO2) emission derived from economic activities results primarily from the fossil fuels consumed. The variety of fossil fuels used, the degree of efficient consumption of energy, economic growth and national population size determine the total amount of CO2 emission in a country. Considering its population size as well as its potential for economic development, China is expected to play a key role in the global warming issue in concert with other industrialized Asian countries, including Japan. In the present study, the impact of population increase on total CO2 emission in China during the period 1982-1990 was analyzed. During the study period, population increase and CO2 emission per capita were 21 per cent and 70 per cent, respectively. In terms of population increase by region, some provinces in the inland areas and megacities, like Shanghai and Beijing, contributed the highest figures. To cope with high fertility in the inland areas as well as massive population inflow into the urban areas simultaneously, increasing the number of medium-sized cities to be located in the inland areas could be a solution. For CO2 emission per capita, the figures for the North-Eastcrn provinces and South-Eastern provinces along the coast are remarkable. The estimate of total emission of CO2 by 2010 is 1.6 million tons, a 74 per cent increase from 1992. Energy transition is the key to the stabilization of CO2 emission in China.
The Impact of Modernisation on the Diets of Adults Aged 20-40 Years from Samoan Church Communities in Auckland
Authors: Bell A. Colin , Swinburn Boyd A. , Amosa Henga , Scragg Robert , Sharpe Susan J 
Published: June 2011

The objective of this study was to describe the food and nutrient intakes of adults in three Samoan church communities located in Auckland, New Zealand. The study had a cross-sectional design and measured usual dietary intake in 437 participants, aged 20 years and over, using a self-completed, 89-item quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Median daily energy and nutrient intakes were calculated and compared by gender and age groups. Men obtained a significantly (p<0.05) lower proportion of their energy from breads and cereals, fruits and vegetables and fats and oils than women. Compared to those aged 40+ years, those aged <40 obtained a significantly (p<0.01) lower proportion of their energy from meat, pulses and eggs, fruit and vegetables, and starchy staples. A significantly (p<0.01) higher proportion of their energy intake came from takeaways, soft drinks, snacks and dairy products. Nutrient analysis revealed that those aged <40 years obtained significantly (p<.001) more energy from fat and sugar, and less energy from protein (p<0.001) than the older group. They also had significantly lower intakes, per 1000 kilocalories, of a wide selection of vitamins and minerals. A dietary transition has occurred for New Zealand Samoans, reflecting a shift from traditional to modern dietary patterns and a decline in the nutritional quality of the diet.
Trends in acute myocardial infarction treatment between 1998 and 2007 in a Belgian area (Charleroi)
Authors: Collart Philippe , Coppieters Yves , Levêque Alain 
Published: June 2011

Background/objectives: To describe the evolution of the therapeutic practices over 10 years of follow-up of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in Charleroi and to analyse the factors influencing the choice of treatments and the mortality of these patients. Methods: The Charleroi register of ischaemic cardiopathies is the oldest register of infarctions in the French-speaking community of Belgium and is one of the very rare registers that allows identifying tendencies over 25 years. Analyses presented hereafter relate only patients in the 25–69-year age range over time from 1998 to 2007. The data were analysed in five periods of 2 years. Treatment evolutions over time were analysed using chi-squared tests for trend and logistic regression analyses identify factors influencing the type of treatment. Results: The present study shows a marked increase in the utilization of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) between 1998–1999 and 2006–2007. The use of thrombolytic agents on approximately one-third of the patients treated remained fairly stable between 1998 and 2007. A lower proportion of patients with a history of AMI received thrombolytic agents. Thrombolysis seems beneficial for men and without effect for women. The use of β-blockers continued to increase until the 2000–2001 period and remained fairly stable for the two following periods. 42% of patients were administered three medications (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, antiplatelet drugs, and β-blockers). Association of PTCA with antiplatelet drugs, β-blockers, and thrombolysis was observed for 58.7, 50.6, and 25.7%, respectively. These associations were still observed after adjustment for gender, age, and comorbidity. The factors associated with fatality were specifically old-aged patients, antecedents of diabetes, hypercholesterolaemia and oral antiplatelet drugs, and β-blockers therapies and PTCA. Conclusions: The evolution of the therapeutic data on AMI in this register confirms the use and the efficacy of thrombolytic therapy. PTCA becomes the main coronary reperfusion treatment with less risk of bleeding. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors were without effect on mortality.
Transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 mediates pain in mice with severe sickle cell disease
Authors: Hillery Cheryl A. , Kerstein Patrick C. , Vilceanu Daniel , Barabas Marie E. , Retherford Dawn , Brandow Amanda M. , Wandersee Nancy J. , Stucky Cheryl L. 
Published: June 2011

Abstract
Pain is the leading cause of emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and daily suffering in individuals with sickle cell disease (SCD). The pathologic mechanisms leading to the perception of pain during acute RBC sickling episodes and development of chronic pain remain poorly understood and ineffectively treated. We provide the first study that explores nociceptor sensitization mechanisms that contribute to pain behavior in mice with severe SCD. Sickle mice exhibit robust behavioral hypersensitivity to mechanical, cold, and heat stimuli. Mechanical hypersensitivity is further exacerbated when hypoxia is used to induce acute sickling. Behavioral mechanical hypersensitivity is mediated in part by enhanced excitability to mechanical stimuli at both primary afferent peripheral terminal and sensory membrane levels. In the present study, inhibition of the capsaicin receptor transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) with the selective antagonist A-425619 reversed the mechanical sensitization at both primary afferent terminals and isolated somata, and markedly attenuated mechanical behavioral hypersensitivity. In contrast, inhibition of TRPA1 with HC-030031 had no effect on mechanical sensitivity. These results suggest that the TRPV1 receptor contributes to primary afferent mechanical sensitization and a substantial portion of behavioral mechanical hypersensitivity in SCD mice. Therefore, TRPV1-targeted compounds that lack thermoregulatory side effects may provide relief from pain in patients with SCD.
Human lymphoblastoid B-cell lines reprogrammed to EBV-free induced pluripotent stem cells
Authors: Rajesh Deepika , Dickerson Sarah J. , Yu Junying , Brown Matthew E. , Thomson James A. , Seay Nicholas J. 
Published: June 2011

Abstract
Generation of patient-specific induced pluripotent cells (iPSCs) holds great promise for regenerative medicine. Epstein-Barr virus immortalized lymphoblastoid B-cell lines (LCLs) can be generated from a minimal amount of blood and are banked worldwide as cellular reference material for immunologic or genetic analysis of pedigreed study populations. We report the generation of iPSCs from 2 LCLs (LCL-iPSCs) via a feeder-free episomal method using a cocktail of transcription factors and small molecules. LCL-derived iPSCs exhibited normal karyotype, expressed pluripotency markers, lost oriP/EBNA-1 episomal vectors, generated teratomas, retained donor identity, and differentiated in vitro into hematopoietic, cardiac, neural, and hepatocyte-like lineages. Significantly, although the parental LCLs express viral EBNA-1 and other Epstein-Barr virus latency-related elements for their survival, their presence was not detectable in LCL-iPSCs. Thus, reprogramming LCLs could offer an unlimited source for patient-specific iPSCs.
Peritoneal lymphomatosis confounded by prior history of colon cancer: a case report
Authors: Kim Yun Gi , Baek Ji Yeon , Kim Sun Young , Lee Dong Hyeon , Park Weon Seo , Kwon Youngmee , Kim Min Ju , Kang Jeehoon , Lee Joo Myung 
Published: June 2011

Abstract

Background
It is well known that carcinomas of the gastrointestinal tract are frequently associated with peritoneal carcinomatosis. In contrast to that entity extensive involvement of the peritoneal cavity with malignant lymphoma is rare.

Case presentation
This is the first case reporting coexistence of peritoneal lymphomatosis and a previous history of colon cancer, which is a highly challenging clinical situation.

Conclusions
If not aware of this unusual condition medical history, radiologic finding and laboratory data alone can lead to wrong diagnosis as in this case.
Does the inclusion of 'professional development' teaching improve medical students' communication skills?
Authors: Joekes Katherine , Noble Lorraine M , Kubacki Angela M , Potts Henry WW , Lloyd Margaret 
Published: June 2011

Abstract

Background
This study investigated whether the introduction of professional development teaching in the first two years of a medical course improved students' observed communication skills with simulated patients. Students' observed communication skills were related to patient-centred attitudes, confidence in communicating with patients and performance in later clinical examinations.

Methods
Eighty-two medical students from two consecutive cohorts at a UK medical school completed two videoed consultations with a simulated patient: one at the beginning of year 1 and one at the end of year 2. Group 1 (n = 35) received a traditional pre-clinical curriculum. Group 2 (n = 47) received a curriculum that included communication skills training integrated into a 'professional development' vertical module. Videoed consultations were rated using the Evans Interview Rating Scale by communication skills tutors. A subset of 27% were double-coded. Inter-rater reliability is reported.

Results
Students who had received the professional development teaching achieved higher ratings for use of silence, not interrupting the patient, and keeping the discussion relevant compared to students receiving the traditional curriculum. Patient-centred attitudes were not related to observed communication. Students who were less nervous and felt they knew how to listen were rated as better communicators. Students receiving the traditional curriculum and who had been rated as better communicators when they entered medical school performed less well in the final year clinical examination.

Conclusions
Students receiving the professional development training showed significant improvements in certain communication skills, but students in both cohorts improved over time. The lack of a relationship between observed communication skills and patient-centred attitudes may be a reflection of students' inexperience in working with patients, resulting in 'patient-centredness' being an abstract concept. Students in the early years of their medical course may benefit from further opportunities to practise basic communication skills on a one-to-one basis with patients.
An arrhythmia classification algorithm using a dedicated wavelet adapted to different subjects
Authors: Kim Jinkwon , Min Se Dong , Lee Myoungho 
Published: June 2011

Abstract

Background
Numerous studies have been conducted regarding a heartbeat classification algorithm over the past several decades. However, many algorithms have also been studied to acquire robust performance, as biosignals have a large amount of variation among individuals. Various methods have been proposed to reduce the differences coming from personal characteristics, but these expand the differences caused by arrhythmia.

Methods
In this paper, an arrhythmia classification algorithm using a dedicated wavelet adapted to individual subjects is proposed. We reduced the performance variation using dedicated wavelets, as in the ECG morphologies of the subjects. The proposed algorithm utilizes morphological filtering and a continuous wavelet transform with a dedicated wavelet. A principal component analysis and linear discriminant analysis were utilized to compress the morphological data transformed by the dedicated wavelets. An extreme learning machine was used as a classifier in the proposed algorithm.

Results
A performance evaluation was conducted with the MIT-BIH arrhythmia database. The results showed a high sensitivity of 97.51%, specificity of 85.07%, accuracy of 97.94%, and a positive predictive value of 97.26%.

Conclusions
The proposed algorithm achieves better accuracy than other state-of-the-art algorithms with no intrasubject between the training and evaluation datasets. And it significantly reduces the amount of intervention needed by physicians.