bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Clinical applicability of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale Brief Version (WHOQOL‐BREF) to mothers of children with asthma in Taiwan
Authors: Gau Bih‐Shya , Chen Yueh‐Chih , Lo Li‐Hua , Chang Mei , Chao Yu‐Mei (Yu) , Chiang Bor‐Luen , Yao Grace 
Published: February 2010

Aims.  This study examined the clinical applicability of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale brief version (WHOQOL‐BREF) to mothers of children with asthma in Taiwan.Background.  The WHOQOL‐BREF scale has been culturally adapted for Taiwan and applied to a variety of ill and healthy subjects in hospitals and the community and to the general population in the 2001 National Health Interview Survey in Taiwan. Its application to explore the QOL of mothers of children with asthma in Taiwan allows future cross‐population comparisons.Design.  A cross‐sectional survey.Methods.  Internal consistency, test–retest reliability; content validity, criterion‐related validity and discriminant validity were assessed. A total of 229 mothers participated in the study.Results.  The WHOQOL‐BREF showed acceptable psychometric properties. Internal consistency of 0·63–0·84, content validity r = 0·39–0·65 (p < 0·01) and criterion‐related validity r = 0·28–0·65 (p < 0·05) were reported. Discriminant validity was also found, especially in the domain of physical health. Issues of QOL for mothers, especially in the realm of physical health need more support and attention from health professionals.Conclusions.  This study supports the clinical applicability of the WHOQOL‐BREF scale as a measure of QOL of mothers of children with asthma. Future studies to compare the QOL measured by WHOQOL‐BREF in female caregivers of children with other chronic health conditions are suggested.Relevance to clinical practice.  Our findings show that mothers are hardly ever free from the strains of the daily‐care of an asthmatic and bear the uncertainties for the unending illness. The health care team is responsible for providing collaborative care approaches in hospital, home and school health care settings for children with asthma and their mothers.
A critical review of the evidence for nurses as information providers to cancer patients
Authors: Koutsopoulou Sotiria , Papathanassoglou Elizabeth DE , Katapodi Maria C , Patiraki Elisabeth I 
Published: February 2010

Aims.  To review evidence on the role of oncology nurses in the provision of information to cancer patients and to delineate evidence‐based implications for clinical practice and research.Background.  Provision of information is central for the empowerment of patients to participate in their care. There is not enough evidence regarding the nursing role in the information delivery process in cancer patients.Design.  Descriptive literature review.Methods.  From January 1990–2008, databases searched included Medline, CINAHL, PubMed, CancerLit and the Cochrane Library. Original research articles addressing the role of nurses in information delivery were included. We explored evidence on: (1) the effectiveness of nurses as information providers, (2) the way patients evaluate nurses’ input to information delivery, (3) the extent to which nurses contribute to information delivery to cancer patients and (4) the types of information provided by nurses.Results.  The most important findings were: (1) nurses’ role as information providers for cancer patients is prominent, especially after the initiation of treatment, (2) specialist nurses are very effective in providing information, (3) no clear evidence exists on how nurses compare with other health‐care professionals as information providers and (4) some evidence exists that patients may prefer nurses as information providers at specific times in their treatment and especially in regards to symptom management.Conclusion.  Well‐designed studies provide some evidence that nurses are effective as information providers to cancer patients. Specifically, oncology nurses are able to provide information of both high quality and of appropriate quantity and to assist individuals to interpret information provided by others.Relevance to clinical practice.  Oncology nurses should be specifically educated and prepared to offer explicit, practical and timely information and they should be trained in interpersonal communication skills, which will increase their ability to comprehend patient information needs.
Perceptions of the psychological well‐being and care of older home care clients: clients and their carers
Authors: Eloranta Sini , Arve Seija , Isoaho Hannu , Welch Anthony , Viitanen Matti , Routasalo Pirkko 
Published: February 2010

Aim.  To explore and compare older home care clients’ (65+) and their professionals’ perceptions of the clients’ psychological well‐being and care and to identify possible differences in these perceptions.Background.  Psychological well‐being is considered an important dimension of quality of life. With advancing age, older people require home care support to be able to remain in their own home. The main goal of care is to maximise their independence and quality of life.Design.  Descriptive, survey design with questionnaire.Methods.  A postal questionnaire was distributed to 200 older home care clients and 570 social and health care professionals in 2007. The total response rate was 63%. The questionnaire consisted of questions about clients’ psychological well‐being and the provision of care by home care professionals. The differences in responses between clients and professionals were analysed using cross‐tabulations, the Pearson Chi‐Square Test and Fisher’s Exact Tests.Results.  The professional group believed that their clients did not have plans for the future. They believed that their clients felt themselves depressed and suffering from loneliness significantly more often than the client group did. The client group were also significantly more critical of the care (motivating independent actions, physical, psychological and social care) they got from the professional group than how the professionals evaluated the care they gave.Conclusions.  To be able to support older clients to continue living at home, professionals need to provide a service that meets client’s own perceptions and complex social and health care needs as well as personal sense of well‐being.Relevance to clinical practice.  The findings offer useful insights for the professional in planning and delivering appropriate home care services. A better understanding of differences between clients’ and professionals’ perceptions could lead to a better individualised care outcome.
The fatigue experiences of older Taiwanese women with breast cancer
Authors: Tsai Sung‐Ling , Lin Hung‐Ru , Chao Tsu‐Yi , Lin Pay‐Fan 
Published: February 2010

Aims and objectives.  This study explored the fatigue experiences in older Taiwanese women with breast cancer.Background.  Cancer is a common disease for older people, and breast cancer ranks second in occurrence among all cancers. Fatigue is the most frequently seen symptom, with more than 90% of cancer patients having such experiences. Fatigue may lead to functional dependence, affecting the care and quality of life for this older population.Design.  A qualitative design was used in this study.Methods.  In‐depth interviews were conducted with participants being treated at the oncology outpatient department in a teaching hospital in northern Taiwan. Data were collected from November 2006–March 2007.Results.  The study included 15 women, aged 65–82, with breast cancer. Analysis of the interviews revealed three themes: factors related to fatigue, interpretation of fatigue and ways to deal with fatigue. The factors related to fatigue arose from treatment, symptom distress and the impact of their emotions. Participants interpreted the fatigue as an inevitable normal reaction, and they were embarrassed to share its occurrence with others. Although fatigue made participants suffer, they found the ways to decrease the feeling of fatigue using psychological adjustments, practical changes and support systems.Conclusions.  Facing the multilayered influences from treatments and ageing, older women with breast cancer considered fatigue as a physical and psychological expression. By raising the awareness of fatigue, nurses can help this older population manage or relieve fatigue by controlling symptoms, providing emotional support and making related resources available.Relevance to clinical practice.  The results of this study can enhance the sensitivity and evaluation abilities of nurses in dealing with the cancer‐related fatigue in older women with breast cancer.
Supervising medication administration by undergraduate nursing students: influencing factors
Authors: Reid‐Searl Kerry , Moxham Lorna , Walker Sandra , Happell Brenda 
Published: February 2010

Background.  The administration of medication is an important skill nursing students need to learn in the clinical setting to develop safe practices. Legally within Queensland, registered nurses are required to provide personal supervision for this process. Research undertaken by the authors suggests the supervision students receive frequently falls short of what is legally required.Aims and objectives.  The aim of the study was to examine the factors that influence the experiences of final‐year undergraduate nursing students when administering medications in the clinical setting.Design.  A grounded theory approach was used with constant comparative analysis to identify categories from the data.Methods.  The experiences of final‐year nursing students were explored using a grounded theory approach. In‐depth, semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 28 final‐year undergraduate nursing students in Queensland, Australia.Results.  Supervision was found to be the central issue influencing medication administration for students. Three main factors were identified as influencing the supervision provided by registered nurses: attitudes of the registered nurse, communication from the university, and busyness and having time.Conclusions.  The extent to which registered nurses provide direct supervision to nursing students when administering medication is influenced by factors inherent within the clinical environment.Relevance to clinical practice.  The factors influencing the supervision provided by registered nurses needs further exploration that effective strategies can be implemented to ensure safe practices in relation to medication administration can be implemented.
Enhancing three bliss concepts among nursing home elders in Taiwan
Authors: Chang Su‐Hsien , Fang Mao‐Chun , Chang Hsiang‐Yu 
Published: February 2010

Aims.  The purpose was to examine the effectiveness of the self‐care self‐efficacy enhancement programme (SCSEEP) to improve the three bliss concepts, life satisfaction, self‐esteem and motivation in health behaviours, among Taiwanese nursing home elders.Background.  Promoting self‐care is the most effective means for Chinese elders to achieve happiness and bliss. No studies have examined how to enhance bliss by improving self‐care ability in older nursing home residents in Taiwan.Design.  This study used an experimental, longitudinal research design. The 101 subjects were recruited and randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 55) and a comparison group (n = 46).Methods.  Subjects in the experimental group received the SCSEEP. Programme from nursing home staff. Subjects in the comparison group received care as usual. The programme was implemented immediately after staff received a SCSEEP. The training programme was based partly on the SCSEEP developed by the principal investigator. Activities used in the SCSEEP included performance accomplishment, vicarious experiences and verbal persuasion.Findings.  Results found that there was a significant positive correlation between life satisfaction and ADL performance (p = 0·019), self‐esteem and ADL performance (p < 0·001) as well as levels of ADL performance and motivation in health behaviour (p = 0·003). Additionally, the repeated measures design revealed a significant difference between scores on four tests of life satisfaction (LS) (p < 0·001), self‐esteem (p < 0·001) and motivation in health behaviours (p < 0·001) in two groups of subjects.Conclusions.  The SCSEEP is valuable to prevent decline in life satisfaction, self‐esteem and motivation in health behaviours among Taiwanese nursing home elders.Relevance to clinical practice.  The SCSEEP provides nursing home staff a series of interventions to improve self‐care ability of Chinese nursing home which in turn enhances the three bliss concept.
Moisture lesions: interrater agreement and reliability
Authors: Kottner Jan , Halfens Ruud 
Published: February 2010

Aims and objectives.  The aim of this study was to examine interrater reliability and agreement of the diagnosis of moisture lesions as defined by the European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel.Background.  Differentiation between superficial pressure ulcers and moisture‐related skin damages is difficult. To enhance the precision of the identification of moisture lesions, the European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel provided wound‐ and patient‐related characteristics. Empirical evidence regarding interrater reliability and agreement among nurses for the detection of moisture‐related skin damages in clinical practice is lacking.Design.  Observational.Methods.  Home care clients (n = 339) were independently assessed twice by trained nurses. A head to toe skin inspection was conducted.Results.  For the diagnosis of moisture lesion (yes/no), nurses exactly agreed in 95% of all assessed clients. Interrater reliability was intraclass correlation coefficient (1,1) = 0·67 (95% CI 0·61–0·73).Conclusions.  Nurses were able to differentiate between home care clients with and without moisture lesions but assessment results contained a high degree of measurement error. It seems that the descriptions for the identification of moisture lesions provided by the European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel do support the diagnostic process but reliability must be enhanced.Relevance to clinical practice.  Because of low interrater reliability, it is questionable whether the diagnosis of moisture lesions in clinical practice is valid. Measurement error is too high to make adequate inferences for individuals. Definitions and descriptions provided by the European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel, provisions of a single training and images are not sufficient to achieve acceptable interrater reliability in clinical practice.
Claudins: unlocking the code to tight junction function during embryogenesis and in disease
Authors: Gupta IR , Ryan AK 
Published: February 2010

Gupta IR, Ryan AK. Claudins: unlocking the code to tight junction function during embryogenesis and in disease.Claudins are the structural and molecular building blocks of tight junctions. Individual cells express more than one claudin family member, which suggests that a combinatorial claudin code that imparts flexibility and dynamic regulation of tight junction function could exist. Although we have learned much from manipulating claudin expression and function in cell lines, loss‐of‐function and gain‐of‐function experiments in animal model systems are essential for understanding how claudin‐based boundaries function in the context of a living embryo and/or tissue. These in vivo manipulations have pointed to roles for claudins in maintaining the epithelial integrity of cell layers, establishing micro‐environments and contributing to the overall shape of an embryo or tissue. In addition, loss‐of‐function mutations in combination with the characterization of mutations in human disease have demonstrated the importance of claudins in regulating paracellular transport of solutes and water during normal physiological states. In this review, we will discuss specific examples of in vivo studies that illustrate the function of claudin family members during development and in disease.
Burnout, psychosomatic symptoms and job satisfaction among Dutch nurse anaesthetists: a survey
Authors: MEEUSEN V. , VAN DAM K. , BROWN‐MAHONEY C. , VAN ZUNDERT A. , KNAPE H. 
Published: February 2010

Background: To meet the increasing demand for healthcare providers, it is crucial to recruit and retain more nurse anaesthetists (NAs). The majority of NAs in the Netherlands are >45 years old, and retaining them in their jobs is very important. This study investigates the relationships among burnout, physical health and job satisfaction among Dutch NAs.Methods: Two thousand NAs working in Dutch hospitals were invited to participate in this online questionnaire. We tested the relationships among burnout, psychosomatic symptoms, sickness absence, perceived general health and job satisfaction.Results: Nine hundred and twenty‐three questionnaires were completed and analysed (46% response rate). Burnout and psychosomatic symptoms were negatively associated with job satisfaction, and predicted 27% of job satisfaction. Perceived general health was positively and sickness absence was negatively related to job satisfaction. Older NAs had a higher incidence of burnout than their younger counterparts.Conclusions: The results confirmed the importance of a healthy psychosocial work environment for promoting job satisfaction. To prevent burnout, further research is necessary to determine the factors causing stress. These findings may also apply to anaesthesiologists who share many tasks and work in close cooperation with NAs.
Detection of novel mitochondrial haplotype variants in populations of the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata, from Tunisia, Israel and Morocco
Authors: Elfékih S. , Makni M. , Haymer D. S. 
Published: February 2010

AbstractThe direct analysis of DNA sequence‐based mitochondrial haplotypes in individuals from populations of the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata, from Tunisia, Morocco and Israel has revealed levels of genetic diversity that far exceed those previously described. A total of 33 distinct haplotypes were identified from 117 individuals representing seven populations from these countries. A network of haplotypes was constructed showing that we have captured essentially all of the sequence variations present in these populations for this gene. These results have important implications for future studies of the genetic structure of this and other closely related pest species.
Proctolin affects gut functions in lepidopteran larvae
Authors: Fiandra L. , Casartelli M. , Diamante B. , Giordana B. 
Published: February 2010

AbstractWe examined if the pentapeptide proctolin, a well‐investigated myotropic neutrotrasmitter/neuromodulator for which a possible role in insect control has been suggested, affected the gastrointestinal function in lepidopteran larvae. We verified in the model species Bombyx mori (Lepidoptera, Bombicidae) if the visceral muscles of the larval gut expressed receptors for the peptide, by monitoring the spontaneous contractions of the hindgut in the absence or in the presence of proctolin. The frequency of the peristaltic contractions increased only at a very high concentration of the peptide, suggesting that proctolin could effectively bind with low affinity to non‐specific receptors. The outcome on larval fitness of increasing doses of proctolin orally administered to fourth instar larvae were investigated by recording the standard nutritional indices. A significant decrease of the Efficiency of Conversion of Ingested and Digested food to body substance with a concomitant reduction of the Relative Growth Rate (RGR) was observed at the lowest dose tested (0.18 mg/g larva). The amount of peptide administered appeared critical, because a 10‐fold higher dose of proctolin abolished the negative effect on RGR by a stimulation of the feeding behaviour, possibly as a result of the activation of compensatory mechanisms. A similar decrease of larval RGR with a low concentration of proctolin was observed also in the polyphagous pest Spodoptera littoralis (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae).
Chemical control of Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte
Authors: Van Rozen K. , Ester A. 
Published: February 2010

AbstractThe western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), is one of the most important pest species of maize in several countries of Central and Eastern Europe. This pest insect has invaded from the USA and is mainly controlled by insecticides in the EU. In the USA reliance on insecticides seems to decrease due to transgenic maize production. The EU project Diabr‐Act aims at establishing a harmonized and sustainable control strategy for western corn rootworm populations in Europe. In this respect, current chemical control strategies used in the USA and EU are described. Seed, soil and foliar treatments as well as transgenically protected maize are discussed. Specific attention is given to insecticide resistance. Seed treatment has clear environmental benefits, but factors influencing the efficacy should be declared. Soil and foliar treatments have perspectives, though new technologies limiting environmental hazards should be considered. Transgenic maize may have serious perspectives.
Primary prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism in children
Authors: Cole Catherine H 
Published: February 2010

AbstractVenous thromboembolism (VTE) is rare in children and young adolescents, and occurs predominantly in those with congenital heart disease in whom guidelines exist for VTE prophylaxis. For other paediatric patients, the rarity of the event makes writing an evidence‐based clinical practice guideline difficult because each of the known risk factors contributes only a small increase in risk. Thrombophilia screening is controversial because few results assist with prediction of likely thrombosis and may not alter recommendations for prophylaxis. Recent publications highlight the importance of non‐pharmacological prevention of VTE in children and adolescents undergoing surgery and the importance of liaison among surgeon, anaesthetist and haematologist. This annotation was written with the aim of collating current evidence for VTE prophylaxis and emphasising the need for further research in vulnerable subgroups.
Chronic urticaria of neonatal onset: A potential sign of autoinflammation
Authors: Mehr Sam , Jones Kristi J , Singh‐Grewal Davinder , Aksentijevich Ivona , Kakakios Alyson 
Published: February 2010

AbstractWe present a 6 year old boy with chronic urticaria of neonatal onset associated in childhood with features of neurological and joint inflammation. Genetic analysis confirmed the diagnosis of neonatal onset multi‐inflammatory disorder (NOMID). Daily subcutaneous anti‐IL‐1 receptor antagonist therapy resulted in a dramatic and sustained amelioration of systemic inflammation. NOMID must be considered in any child with chronic urticaria of neonatal/infantile onset, particularly if associated with joint and/or neurological inflammation.
Bilateral exophthalmos: Report of a case and review of a fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 mutation associated with non‐penetrant Crouzon syndrome
Authors: Quintero‐Rivera Fabiola , Martinez‐Agosto Julian A 
Published: February 2010

AbstractThe differential diagnosis of exophthalmos requires careful examination to identify potentially serious aetiologies. We present the case of a child with exophthalmos in whom genetic analysis identified a mutation in the fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 associated with Crouzon syndrome. The variable presentation should remind paediatricians to consider mutations in fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 among the aetiologies of exophthalmos.