bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Intimate partner violence and cardiovascular risk: is there a link?
Authors: Scott‐Storey Kelly , Wuest Judith , Ford‐Gilboe Marilyn 
Published: September 2009

AbstractTitle.  Intimate partner violence and cardiovascular risk: is there a link? Aim.  This paper is a report of a study of the relationship between stress associated with intimate partner violence and smoking and cardiovascular risk.Background.  Stress related to intimate partner violence persists after a woman leaves an abusive relationship. Persistent stress is associated with cardiovascular disease, the leading single cause of death among women. Smoking, an established risk factor for cardiovascular disease, is a coping mechanism commonly used to decrease the anxiety and stress of intimate partner violence. However, cardiovascular health is poorly understood in abused women.Method.  Secondary analysis of data collected between 2004 and 2005 with a community sample of 309 women who had separated from an abusive partner 3 months to 3 years previously was conducted to create a descriptive profile of cardiovascular risk. Bivariate tests of association and logistic regression analysis were used to test relationships among variables.Results.  Of the women, 44·1% were smokers; 53·2% had body mass indices classified as overweight or obese; 54·7% had blood pressures above normal range; and 50·8% reported cardiovascular symptoms. Neither severity of intimate partner violence nor smoking behaviours were statistically significant in explaining the presence of cardiovascular symptoms.Conclusion.  The prevalence of hypertension, obesity and smoking suggests that survivors of intimate partner violence may be at heightened risk for cardiovascular disease and warrant clinical attention. Because cardiac symptoms develop as women get older, the mean age of 39 years in this sample may explain why intimate partner violence severity and smoking did not sufficiently explain the presence of cardiac symptoms.
Heparin flushing and other interventions to maintain patency of central venous catheters: a systematic review
Authors: Mitchell Matthew D. , Anderson Barbara Jo , Williams Kendal , Umscheid Craig A. 
Published: September 2009

AbstractTitle.  Heparin flushing and other interventions to maintain patency of central venous catheters: a systematic review. Aim.  This paper is a report of a review to assess clinical studies comparing the effectiveness of different means of maintaining central venous catheter patency.Background.  Flushing with heparin is a routine part of central venous catheter maintenance, but it presents risks, including heparin‐induced thrombocytopenia. Other techniques used to prevent occlusion of catheters include saline flushes, heparin‐bonded catheters and pressure caps.Data sources.  A search was conducted using the MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, Cochrane, National Guideline Clearinghouse and University Healthsystem Consortium databases.Methods.  A systematic review of effectiveness was conducted, using GRADE criteria to assess the strength of evidence for each intervention. The review period covered 1982 or earlier to January 2008.Results.  There is weak evidence that heparin flushing reduces occlusion of catheters, but no evidence that it reduces bloodstream infections. Results from clinical trials of pressure caps are inconsistent regarding their ability to maintain catheter patency, but provide moderate evidence that at least some varieties of caps are associated with increased bloodstream infections.Conclusion.  The evidence base on heparin flushing and other interventions to prevent catheter occlusion is small, and published studies are of low quality. There is insufficient evidence on which to conclude that flushing catheters with heparin is more effective than flushing with saline solution.
Dignity in the life of people with head injuries
Authors: Slettebø Åshild , Caspari Synnøve , Lohne Vibeke , Aasgaard Trygve , Nåden Dagfinn 
Published: September 2009

AbstractTitle.  Dignity in the life of people with head injuries. Aim.  This paper is a report of a study conducted to determine how people who suffer from head injuries perceive respect for their dignity and to discover what patients mean by the concept of ‘dignity’.Background.  We know something about what the phenomenon of dignity means. However, we still lack knowledge about how patients perceive dignity in their lives and how dignity may be fostered and supported.Methods.  Qualitative interviews were carried out during 2007 with 14 patients suffering from head injuries, diagnosed as having mild to moderate disability. The study was explorative and descriptive, with a content analysis.Findings.  Patients experienced their dignity as maintained when they were taken seriously, received appropriate information and were reality‐oriented. They experienced their dignity as violated if they had been neglected or had encountered healthcare personnel who lacked knowledge, were sceptical about their stories, and where the patient experienced extra burden when they were mistrusted. The importance of adequate information was underscored. As interviewees said, head injuries do not show on the outside and people with head injuries do not have a high status in society.Conclusion.  Patients living with head injuries should be informed about consequences and be taught strategies for how to live with head injuries as early as possible after the injury in order to maintain dignity.
Anxiety as a factor influencing satisfaction with emergency department care: perspectives of accompanying persons
Authors: Ekwall Anna , Gerdtz Marie , Manias Elizabeth 
Published: September 2009

Aim.  To measure levels of anxiety among people accompanying consumers to the emergency department and to explore how anxiety influences satisfaction with care.Background.  When people seek treatment in an emergency department they are often accompanied by a next‐of‐kin, family member or friend. While the accompanying person plays a vital role in providing psycho‐social support to consumers, little is known about how they perceive the quality of care. Learning more about how accompanying persons perceive care may inform the development of strategies to enhance communication processes between staff, consumers and accompanying persons.Design.  A prospective cross‐sectional survey design.Methods.  Data were collected from a consecutive sample of accompanying persons at one Australian metropolitan teaching hospital. Of all eligible individuals approached, 128/153 (83·7%) returned completed questionnaires. The questionnaire comprised a series of open‐ and close‐ended questions about perceptions of medical need, urgency and satisfaction with the overall visit. Anxiety was assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale for Anxiety (VAS‐A).Results.  There was a significant association between the accompanying person’s levels of anxiety and satisfaction at point of discharge. In the satisfied group, mean VAS‐A scores were 17·4 (SD 17·5) compared to 42·9 (SD 26·6) in the not satisfied group (p = 0·011). Moreover, those participants who were not satisfied with the visit did not show a significant reduction in VAS‐A scores from triage to point of discharge.Conclusion.  The lower the level of anxiety reported by accompanying persons when leaving the emergency department, the more satisfied they are likely to be with their emergency department visit. Ultimately, well informed and confident accompanying persons are beneficial for ensuring quality patient support.Relevance to clinical practice.  Asking accompanying persons about their anxiety level before discharge gives them the opportunity to pose clarifying questions and is, therefore, an effective way of improving their satisfaction with the emergency department visit.
Stress, perceived support, resourcefulness and depressive symptoms in Taiwanese adolescents
Authors: Huang Chiung‐Yu , Guo Su‐Er 
Published: September 2009

Aims and objective.  This study investigated (1) the prevalence of self‐reported depressive symptoms among first‐year students at an Institute of Technology in southern Taiwan; (2) whether perceived support and resourcefulness were associated with these adolescents’ depressive symptoms and (3) the moderating and mediating effects of learned resourcefulness on the relationship between stressors and the adolescents’ depressive symptoms.Background.  An individual with adequate social support or resourcefulness may see stressors as less threatening or be more resilient in dealing with stressors compared with depressed individuals. The prevalence of depression in the global population increased rapidly during this past decade and consequently may have had a negative impact on population health outcomes. Among adolescents there has recently been an increased incidence of depression‐related suicide reports.Design.  A cross‐sectional, correlational design.Method.  Adolescents (n = 913) were recruited to complete the following: the SDI in Chinese, the Inventory of Social Supportive Behaviours Scale – Modified and the Self‐Control Schedule. Data analysis consisted of Pearson correlation and multiple regression analysis.Results.  The prevalence of depression among participants was 13·4%. Participants who were younger, expressed lower satisfaction with their grades, perceived their health as worse, described peer relationship problems and exhibited smoking behaviour were more likely to have depressive symptoms. We observed five partially mediating effects of resourcefulness on stressors (age, perceived health, peer relationships, grades satisfaction and smoking behaviour) and depressive symptoms and one moderating effect of resourcefulness on the relationship between peer and depressive symptoms.Conclusions.  Learned resourcefulness may play a critical role in decreasing depressive symptoms.Relevance to clinical practice.  These findings offer healthcare providers and educators information about the need for possible cognitive–behavioural interventions that could improve adolescents’ relationships with their peers, enhance their satisfaction of grades and moderate or prevent depressive symptoms among this population. Moreover, it might decrease the prevalence of adolescent suicide.
Imbalance of pro‐ and antifibrogenic genes and bile duct injury in murine Schistosoma mansoni infection–induced liver fibrosis
Authors: Loebermann Micha , Sombetzki Martina , Langner Cord , Fuchsbichler Andrea , Gumhold Judith , Silbert Dagmar , Riebold Diana , Holtfreter Martha , Fickert Peter , Nizze Horst , Trauner Michael , Reisinger Emil C. 
Published: September 2009

SummaryObjectives  The murine model of Schistosoma mansoni infection is characterized by strong fibrosis and little hepatocellular injury. The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential link between hepatic schistosomiasis and bile duct injury in relation to the expression of profibrotic cytokines and fibrosis‐related genes.Methods  Hepatic schistosomiasis was induced via percutaneous infection of mice with 50 S. mansoni cercariae. Markers of fibrosis including matrixmetalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue‐inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), as well as markers of bile duct injury (keratin‐19, VCAM‐1) were studied during 24 weeks after infection by RT‐PCR and immunohistochemistry.Results  Liver biochemistry revealed no differences in serum transaminase and alkaline phosphatase levels in infected and uninfected mice. Total liver hydroxyproline content was increased 5‐fold (P < 0.05) after infection. Gene expression analysis revealed MMP‐2 (12‐fold, P < 0.05) and TIMP‐1 (48‐fold, P < 0.05) up‐regulation after infection. The balance of MMP and TIMP was shifted towards TIMP. Bile ducts were engulfed by adjacent granulomas resulting in ductular proliferation (keratin‐19). VCAM‐1 expression and inflammatory infiltrates were reduced.Conclusions  This study demonstrates that schistosomiasis is associated with (i) an imbalance of MMP‐2 and TIMP‐1 as key players of fibrogenesis and (ii) with secondary bile duct alterations leading to ductular proliferation possibly contributing to fibrosis.
Clock drawing from the occupational therapy adult perceptual screening test: Its correlation with demographic and clinical factors in the stroke population
Authors: Cooke Deirdre M. , Gustafsson Louise , Tardiani Danica L. 
Published: September 2009

Background/aim:  The aim of this study was to explore the relationships between clock drawing ability following stroke, and key clinical variables including cognition, functional independence, side and type of stroke, educational level and age. Methods:  One hundred and ninety‐seven people with stroke were recruited from 12 hospital and rehabilitation facilities. The participants’ scores from the Clock Drawing Test in the Occupational Therapy Adult Perceptual Screening Test were the dependent variables and were entered into logistic regression with Functional Independence Measure motor scores, side of stroke, Oxfordshire Classification System of Stroke, educational level and age as independent variables. Correlation with the Mini‐Mental State Examination was analysed independently, due to its strong correlation with other variables. Results:  The Mini‐Mental State Examination correlated significantly with the Clock Drawing Test ( Exp (B) = 0.826, P < 0.001). In the multivariate analysis, a significant relationship was found with age (Exp ( B) = 1.052, P < 0.001), Functional Independence Measure — motor (Exp (B) = 0.984, P = 0.030) and side of stroke (Exp (B) = 0.384, P = 0.003). Age demonstrated the strongest correlation with the Clock Drawing Test ability and the greatest decline was from approximately 70 years of age.Conclusions:  The Clock Drawing Test may be a useful and quick screen of cognitive impairments following stroke. Age‐related decline must be considered and it is essential that clinicians use this only as a strategy to determine whether a more comprehensive assessment is required.
Increasing the occupational therapy mental health workforce through innovative practice education: A pilot project
Authors: Rodger Sylvia , Thomas Yvonne , Holley Sue , Springfield Elizabeth , Edwards Ann , Broadbridge Jacqui , Greber Craig , McBryde Cathy , Banks Rebecca , Hawkins Rachel 
Published: September 2009

Aim:  This paper describes the evaluation of a pilot trial of two innovative placement models in the area of mental health, namely role emerging and collaborative supervision. The Queensland Occupational Therapy Fieldwork Collaborative conducted this trial in response to workforce shortages in mental health.Method:  Six occupational therapy students and eight practice educators were surveyed pre‐ and post‐placements regarding implementation of these innovative models.Results:  Students participating in these placements reported that they were highly likely to work in mental health upon graduation, and practice educators were positive about undertaking innovative placements in future. An overview of the placement sites, trials, outcomes and limitations of this pilot trial is provided.Conclusion:  Though limited by its small sample size, this pilot trial has demonstrated the potential of innovative placement models to provide valuable student learning experiences in mental health. The profession needs to develop expertise in the use of innovative placement models if students are to be adequately prepared to work with the mental health issues of the Australian community now and in the future.
Factors predicting transferal after psychiatric emergency management in the elderly
Authors: Lin Chieh‐Hsin , Hsu Chao‐Wen , Teng Ching‐Yun , Sun Platinum Po‐Chun , Hsu Heng‐Chia , Wung Yu‐Ting , Lin Ching‐Hua 
Published: September 2009

Aims:  The purpose of this study was to examine the demographic and clinical characteristics that differentiate between elderly and non‐elderly visitors in the psychiatric emergency room (ER), and to identify factors predicting transferal after psychiatric emergency management in the elderly.Methods:  Data were collected over four years for patients who visited the psychiatric ER. The elderly were defined as patients older than 65 years old. Demographic and clinical characteristics were analyzed using the χ2‐test for categorical data and t‐tests for continuous data. Multivariate logistic regressions were carried out to find predictive factors associated with being transferred to a general hospital for elderly visitors in the psychiatric ER.Results:  Elderly patients made up 3.4% of all included visitors (n = 243) during the four‐year period. The mean number of visits for elderly visitors was 1.63 ± 1.18, ranging from 1 to 7. The χ2‐test and the t‐test indicated that the elderly visitors were different from controls in many demographic and clinical variables. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that being transferred to a general hospital for elderly visitors in the psychiatric ER was associated with age (odds ratio = 1.32) and a greater number of previous psychiatric hospitalizations (odds ratio = 1.42). Patients without a thought‐form problem also required transferal to a general hospital more often in our study.Conclusions:  The study suggested that elderly visitors in the psychiatric ER were a unique group, and specific considerations should be included in the intervention for these patients.
Niches versus neutrality: uncovering the drivers of diversity in a species‐rich community
Authors: Vergnon Remi , Dulvy Nicholas K. , Freckleton Robert P. 
Published: September 2009

AbstractEcological models suggest that high diversity can be generated by purely niche‐based, purely neutral or by a mixture of niche‐based and neutral ecological processes. Here, we compare the degree to which four contrasting hypotheses for coexistence, ranging from niche‐based to neutral, explain species richness along a body mass niche axis. We derive predictions from these hypotheses and confront them with species body‐mass patterns in a highly sampled marine phytoplankton community. We find that these patterns are consistent only with a mechanism that combines niche and neutral processes, such as the emergent neutrality mechanism. In this work, we provide the first empirical evidence that a niche‐neutral model can explain niche space occupancy pattern in a natural species‐rich community. We suggest this class of model may be a useful hypothesis for the generation and maintenance of species diversity in other size‐structured communities.
The role of learning in shark behaviour
Authors: Guttridge Tristan L , Myrberg Arthur A , Porcher Ila F , Sims David W , Krause Jens 
Published: September 2009

AbstractThe role of learning in behaviour is well known for many animal taxa, including teleost fishes, insects, birds and mammals. However, its importance to sharks in everyday behavioural processes has rarely been considered. Almost 50 years ago the first learning experiments on sharks were conducted; our first section discusses these studies and places them in a framework of associative and non‐associative learning. These experiments showed that sharks were capable of different forms of learning, such as operant and classical conditioning and habituation. Sharks could learn associations as rapidly as other vertebrates and also remember training regimes for several months. However, much of this experimental evidence was based on small sample sizes and few shark orders, such as Carcharhiniformes and Orectobliformes, leaving large gaps in our knowledge of the general learning capabilities of other shark orders. We also examine recent research that has tested for, or inferred learning in behavioural processes. This section reveals that sharks, like teleost fishes use learning to improve prey search and capture to potentially navigate and orientate in their home range and recognize conspecifics, heterospecifics and mates. Learning is also discussed in relation to ecotourism and fisheries. Findings indicated that these activities may lead to conditioning of sharks and that considerable effort should go into investigating what impact this could have on the shark species involved. Finally, we discuss the importance of combining laboratory experiments with field studies, the use of new experimental techniques, the role of model species and research priorities for future work.
Intralesional sodium stibogluconate alone or its combination with either intramuscular sodium stibogluconate or oral ketoconazole in the treatment of localized cutaneous leishmaniasis: a comparative study
Authors: El‐Sayed M , Anwar AE 
Published: September 2009

AbstractBackground  Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a disease caused by leishmania species. Intralesional sodium stibogluconate (SSG) has been considered the first line therapy for localized cutaneous leishmaniasis. There is still a need for more effective and less time‐consuming therapeutic methods for this condition.Objective  The aim of the present study was to investigate if the combination of intramuscular (IM) SSG or oral ketoconazole with intralesional (IL) SSG would be more effective than the intralesional SSG given alone in the treatment of localized cutaneous leishmaniasis.Patients and methods  Thirty patients with confirmed diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis were included in the study. They were randomly assigned to three groups. The first group (10 patients with 12 lesions) was treated with intralesional SSG alone. The second group (10 patients with 15 lesions) was treated with the combination of intralesional SSG + intramuscular SSG. The third group (10 patients with 13 lesions) was treated with the combination of intralesional SSG and oral ketoconazole. A follow‐up was performed every 4 weeks for a treatment period of 12 weeks, then monthly for a period of 6 months after the end of the treatment.Results  Complete cure occurred in 58.3% of lesions in group 1, while 93.3% and 92.3% of lesions were cured in group 2 and 3 respectively. The difference between group 1 and the other groups was statistically significant (P < 0.05).Conclusion  Combined intramuscular SSG or oral ketoconazole with intralesional SSG is more effective than intralesional SSG alone for the treatment of CL. Oral ketoconazole is much easier and safer therapy than intramuscular SSG in combination with intralesional SSG in the treatment of localized cutaneous leishmaniasis.
Evaluating capture–recapture population and density estimation of tigers in a population with known parameters
Authors: Sharma R. K. , Jhala Y. , Qureshi Q. , Vattakaven J. , Gopal R. , Nayak K. 
Published: September 2009

AbstractConservation strategies for endangered species require accurate and precise estimates of abundance. Unfortunately, obtaining unbiased estimates can be difficult due to inappropriate estimator models and study design. We evaluate population–density estimators for tigersPanthera tigrisin Kanha Tiger Reserve, India, using camera traps in conjunction with telemetry (n=6) in a known minimum population of 14 tigers. An effort of 462 trap nights over 42 days yielded 44 photographs of 12 adult tigers. Using closed population estimators, the best‐fit model (programcapture) accounted for individual heterogeneity (Mh). The least biased and precise population estimate ((SE) []) was obtained by theMhJackknife 1 (JK1) [14 (1.89)] in programcare‐2. Tiger density ((SE) []) per 100 km2was estimated at 13 (2.08) when the effective trapping area was estimated using the half mean maximum distance moved (1/2 MMDM), 8.1 (2.08), using the home‐range radius, 7.8 (1.59), with the full MMDM and 8.0 (3.0) with the spatial likelihood method in programdensity4.1. The actual density of collared tigers (3.27 per 100 km2) was closely estimated by home‐range radius at 3.9 (0.76), full MMDM at 3.48 (0.81) and spatial likelihood at 3.78 (1.54), but overestimated by 1/2 MMDM at 6 (0.81) tigers per 100 km2. Sampling costs (Rs. 450 per camera day) increased linearly with camera density, while the precision of population estimates leveled off at 25 cameras per 100 km2. At simulated low tiger densities, a camera density of 50 per 100 km2with an effort of 8 trap nights km−2provided 95% confidence coverage, but estimates lacked precision.