bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
An Overview of Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms Associated with Porcine Pregnancy Success or Failure
Authors: Edwards AK , Wessels JM , Kerr A , Tayade C 
Published: July 2012

ContentsPrenatal mortality remains one of the major constraints for the commercial pig industry in North America. Twenty to thirty per cent of the conceptuses are lost early in gestation and an additional 10–15% is lost by mid‐to‐late gestation. Research over the last two decades has provided critical insights into how uterine capacity, placental efficiency, genetics, environment, nutrition and immune mechanisms impact successful conceptus growth; however, the exact cause and effect relationship in the context of foetal loss has yet to be determined. Similar to other mammalian species such as the human, mouse, rat, and primates, immune cell enrichment occurs at the porcine maternal–foetal interface during the window of conceptus attachment. However, unlike other species, immune cells are solely recruited by conceptus‐derived signals. As pigs have epitheliochorial placentae where maternal and foetal tissue layers are separate, it provides an ideal model to study immune cell interactions with foetal trophoblasts. Our research is focused on the immune‐angiogenesis axis during porcine pregnancy. It is well established that immune cells are recruited to the maternal–foetal interface, but their pregnancy specific functions and how the local milieu affects angiogenesis and inflammation at the site of foetal arrest remain unknown. Through a better understanding of how immune cells modulate crosstalk between the conceptus and the mother, it might be possible to therapeutically target immune cells and/or their products to reduce foetal loss. In this review, we provide evidence from the literature and from our own work into the immunological factors associated with porcine foetal loss.
Measuring what matters in delivering services to remote‐dwelling Indigenous mothers and infants in the Northern Territory, Australia
Authors: Steenkamp Malinda , Rumbold Alice R. , Kildea Sue , Bar‐Zeev Sarah J. , Kruske Sue , Dunbar Terry , Barclay Lesley 
Published: July 2012

AbstractProblem:  In the Northern Territory, 64% of Indigenous births are to remote‐dwelling mothers. Delivering high‐quality health care in remote areas is challenging, but service improvements, informed by participative action research, are under way. Evaluation of these initiatives requires appropriate indicators. Few of the many existing maternal and infant health indicators are specifically framed for the remote context or exemplify an Indigenous consumer perspective. We aimed to identify an indicator framework with appropriate indicators to demonstrate improvements in health outcomes, determinants of health and health system performance for remote‐dwelling mothers and infants from pregnancy to first birthday.Design:  We reviewed existing indicators; invited input from experts; investigated existing administrative data collections and examined findings from a record audit, ethnographic work and the evaluation of the Darwin Midwifery Group Practice.Setting:  Northern Territory.Process:  About 660 potentially relevant indicators were identified. We adapted the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Performance Framework and populated the resulting framework with chosen indicators. We chose the indicators best able to monitor the impact of changes to remote service delivery by eliminating duplicated or irrelevant indicators using expert opinion, triangulating data and identifying key issues for remote maternal and infant health service improvements.Lessons learnt:  We propose 31 indicators to monitor service delivery to remote‐dwelling Indigenous mothers and infants. Our inclusive indicator framework covers the period from pregnancy to the first year of life and includes existing indicators, but also introduces novel ones. We also attempt to highlight an Indigenous consumer.
Experience of overseas‐trained health professionals in rural and remote areas of destination countries: A literature review
Authors: Dywili Sophia , Bonner Ann , Anderson Judith , O' Brien Louise 
Published: July 2012

AbstractThis study aimed to review and synthesise existing literature that investigated the experience of overseas‐trained health professionals (OTHPs) in rural and remote areas of destination countries. A systematic literature review was conducted using electronic databases and manual search of studies published from January 2004 to February 2011. Data were analysed from the final 17 original report articles that met the inclusion criteria. The reviewed research studies were conducted in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK and the USA. Overseas‐trained medical practitioners were the most frequently researched (n = 14); two studies involved nurses and one study included several health professionals. Three main themes emerged from the review and these were: (i) expectations; (ii) cultural diversity; and (iii) orientation and integration to rural and remote health work environment. The OTHPs were expected to possess the appropriate professional and cultural skills while they themselves expected recognition of their previous experiences and adequate organisational orientation and support. A welcoming and accepting community coupled with a relaxed rural lifestyle and the joy of continued patient care resulted in successful integration and contributed to increased staff retention rates. Recognition of expectations and cultural diversity by all parties and comprehensive orientation with sufficient organisational support are important elements in the integration of OTHPs and subsequent delivery of quality health care to people living in rural and remote areas.
‘We don't have anyone with dementia here’: A case for better intersectoral collaboration for remote Indigenous clients with dementia
Authors: Lindeman Melissa A. , Taylor Kerry A. , Kuipers Pim , Stothers Kylie , Piper Karen 
Published: July 2012

AbstractObjective:  This paper reports on findings related to intersectoral collaboration stemming from an evaluation of a dementia awareness resource for use in remote Aboriginal communities*. The resource includes a DVD in English and three (3) Aboriginal languages of the Northern Territory.Design:  A qualitative evaluation was conducted in four Northern Territory Aboriginal communities/organisations where the resource had been implemented by external dementia educators. The method included five focus groups with Indigenous aged care workers, community members and aged care service users (n = 26), individual interviews with health care professionals and service coordinators (n = 5), and observation. Data were analysed thematically.Results:  Specific findings relating to intersectoral collaboration as a key enabling factor of effective dementia awareness and care are discussed in this paper. In addition to context variables such as understaffing and under‐resourcing, there might be a lack of knowledge or interest on the part of some health practitioners concerning clients with dementia within remote communities.Conclusion:  Dementia awareness in remote communities needs to be tackled from a ‘whole system’ perspective and not be the exclusive domain of the aged care services. Strategies that increase the critical mass of informed caregivers as well as health professionals will contribute to better services.
Theory in rural health
Authors: Farmer Jane , Munoz Sarah‐Anne , Threlkeld Guinever 
Published: July 2012

AbstractObjective:  This paper offers theories to explain persistent rural health challenges and describes their application to rural health and research.Methods:  Review of theories from several disciplines.Findings:  Key issues in rural health are poorer health status and access to health care, staff shortages, relationship‐based health provision and the role of health services in community sustainability. These could be fruitfully addressed by applying theory and findings around social determinants of health, economic sociology, the role of culture and capitals approaches to measuring assets. In particular, the concept of rural health might be a barrier to progressing knowledge; and relational approaches, common in geography, offer a more useful conceptual framework for studying health and place.Conclusions:  To move beyond its current stage, rural health needs to look to other disciplines' theories and ideas; particularly, it needs a more contemporary understanding of what place means so that health status and service provision can be improved by more thoughtful research.
Prevalence of hypertension and pre‐hypertension in rural women: A report from the villages of West Bengal, a state in the eastern part of India
Authors: Dutta Anindita , Ray Manas Ranjan 
Published: July 2012

AbstractObjective:  To find out the prevalence of hypertension, pre‐hypertension and tachycardia among the women in rural areas of West Bengal, identify co‐factors associated with the prevalence and contribute to the body of evidence for future health programs to identify at‐risk groups.Design:  A population‐based cross‐sectional study was conducted.Setting:  The study was conducted in remote villages.Participants:  1186 women participants, aged 18 years or more were included.Main outcome measures:  They were interviewed using standard structured questionnaire. Blood pressure and tachycardia was monitored using digital sphygmomanometer. For each participant, we made two blood pressure measurements with an interval of 48 hours. Data was analysed statistically using SPSS software.Results:  Overall prevalence of hypertension in the study subjects was 24.7% and that of pre‐hypertension and tachycardia was 40.8% and 6.4%, respectively. Both hypertension and pre‐hypertension were seen to increase with age. Other identified significant factors were use of biomass fuel for cooking, absence of separate kitchen, higher body mass index (BMI), education and average family income.Conclusion:  This study suggests quite high prevalence of hypertension as well as pre‐hypertension among the women of rural areas. The findings are significant from the women health perspectives. Early detection of pre‐hypertensive and hypertensive subjects will help to formulate intervention strategies to allay the spread of cardiovascular diseases.
Effects of fatty acids on cardioprotection by pre‐ischaemic inhibition of the malate–aspartate shuttle
Authors: Dalgas Christian , Povlsen Jonas Agerlund , Løfgren Bo , Erichsen Sune Brinck , Bøtker Hans Erik 
Published: July 2012

Summary
The malate–aspartate shuttle (MAS) is the main pathway for balancing extra‐ and intramitochondrial glucose metabolism. Pre‐ischaemic shutdown of the MAS by aminooxyacetate (AOA) mimics ischaemic preconditioning (IPC) in rat glucose‐perfused hearts. The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of fatty acids (FA) on cardioprotection by pre‐ischaemic inhibition of the MAS.
Isolated rat hearts were divided into four groups (control; pre‐ischaemic AOA (0.2 mmol/L); IPC; and AOA + IPC) and were perfused with 11 mmol/L glucose, 3% bovine serum albumin plus 0, 0.4 or 1.2 mmol/L FA. The perfusion protocol included 30 min global no‐flow ischaemia and 120 min reperfusion. Infarct size (IS), haemodynamic recovery, glucose oxidation and lactate release were evaluated in all four groups.
Pre‐ischaemic AOA reduced the IS of the left ventricle in hearts perfused with 0, 0.4 and 1.2 mmol/L FA compared with that in control hearts (26 ± 2% vs 53 ± 4%, 29 ± 3% vs 53 ± 4% and 61 ± 4% vs 81 ± 3%, respectively; P < 0.01 for all). After 2 h reperfusion, AOA improved haemodynamic recovery in the absence (52 ± 2 vs 27 ± 3 mmHg in the AOA and control groups, respectively; P < 0.001) but not in the presence, of FA. Both IPC and AOA + IPC reduced IS and improved haemodynamic recovery regardless of FA levels. Postischaemic glucose oxidation was suppressed by FA and did not differ significantly between the different groups.
In conclusion, the reduction in IS induced by pre‐ischaemic MAS shutdown is not compromised by physiological FA concentrations. Transient MAS shutdown may be involved in IPC, but is not sufficient on its own as the underlying mechanism for IPC.
The working practices and clinical experiences of paediatric speech and language therapists: a national UK survey
Authors: Pring Tim , Flood Emma , Dodd Barbara , Joffe Victoria 
Published: July 2012

AbstractBackground: The majority of speech and language therapists (SLTs) work with children who have speech, language and communication needs. There is limited information about their working practices and clinical experience and their views of how changes to healthcare may impact upon their practice.Aims: To investigate the working practices and professional experiences of paediatric SLTs working in the UK through an online survey.Methods & Procedures: The survey was conducted online using Survey Monkey. Therapists were alerted to the survey through the Bulletin of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists and by e‐mails to national special interest groups.Outcomes & Results: A total of 516 clinicians completed the survey. A large majority worked in the National Health Service (NHS). A varied pattern of working was revealed. Most worked in several settings and saw a range of clients. A typical clinician spends less than one‐quarter of their time giving direct therapy and more than one‐quarter training parents and other professionals. Nearly half of respondents felt that their time could be better used. Too little time for direct therapy and the time required for administration emerged as their principal concerns. Most clinicians have specialist knowledge of particular client groups and spend more time with them than do non‐specialists. Nevertheless, clients are more likely to be treated by a therapist who does not claim to have specialist knowledge of their condition than by one who does. The only clients for whom this is not the case are those with dysphagia. Eighty per cent of respondents felt that proposed changes to the NHS would not benefit the children they treat and there was widespread concern about cuts and the effects of general practitioner commissioning. Despite this, a large majority expected to remain speech and language therapists 5 years from now.Conclusions & Implications
: This survey provides an overview of the working practices of paediatric speech and language therapists. Its findings have significant implications for training and workforce development in the profession.
Morphology of the female reproductive organs of the African lion (Panthera leo)
Authors: Hartman Marthinus J. , Groenewald Hermanus B. , Kirberger Robert M. 
Published: July 2012

AbstractThe topography and splanchnology of the reproductive organs of the African lioness were studied and described in situ and after removal. The kidneys were located far caudally in relation to the thirteenth ribs. The suspensory ligament was very well developed, originated in a fan‐like manner from the dorsolateral abdominal wall lateral to the kidney and extended up to a few centimetres cranial to the kidney. The proper ligament of the ovary as well as the round ligament was well developed. The round ligament inserted on the medial femoral fascia. The left ovary was bigger than the right. The ovarian bursa had a short mesosalpinx that did not cover any part of the ovary and the fimbriae extended along the entire length. The urethral tuberculum as well as the urethral crest were well developed. The left uterine horn was longer than the right. The uterine tube was found to open directly into the tip of the uterine horn and not onto a papilla. The reproductive organs of the lioness resembled those of the domestic cat and dog but with some major differences.
SOLIDARITY, CHILDREN AND RESEARCH
Authors: LYONS BARRY 
Published: July 2012

ABSTRACTWhile research on children is supported by many professional guidelines, international declarations and domestic legislation, when it is undertaken on children with no possibility of direct benefit it rests on shaky moral foundations. A number of authors have suggested that research enrolment is in the child's best interests, or that they have a moral duty or societal obligation to participate. However, these arguments are unpersuasive. Rather, I will propose in this paper that research participation by children seems most reasonable when considered as an act of solidarity; a form of identification with, and provision of practical assistance to, those who are less well off. This is an articulation of the view that many children, and their parents, seem to take seriously the suffering of others, and wish to assist in advancing other children's wellbeing. Perhaps, by fostering an environment in which children are encouraged to take solidarity seriously, participation in research which holds out substantial hope of benefit to those less well off would come to be perceived as a behavioural norm rather than an exceptional practice.
Voluntary Organizations as New Street‐level Bureaucrats: Frontline Struggles of Community Organizations against Bureaucratization in a South Korean Welfare‐to‐Work Partnership
Authors: Kim Suyoung 
Published: July 2012

AbstractIn recent years, the role of voluntary organizations in welfare partnership has received considerable critical attention from scholars working in the field. While mainstream debates have valued state–voluntary sector partnership as participatory governance, critical studies have argued that it leads voluntary organizations to serve as a shadow state. The present study, however, contends that partnership does not necessarily entail participatory welfare or the complete subordination of the voluntary sector to the state's bureaucratic system. Rather, as new street‐level bureaucrats, voluntary organizations can exercise a degree of autonomy on the frontline despite the bureaucratic constraints engendered by partnership. Through an ethnographic analysis of Korean community organizations engaged as frontline agencies in a welfare‐to‐work partnership, this study unveils how the former have recreated democratic and inclusive environments in a particular policy setting by organizing non‐work activities and transferring administrative authority to recipients. Delineating such street‐level practices, this article demonstrates that state–voluntary sector partnerships may be sites of struggle where voluntary organizations continuously strive to actualize participatory governance in diverse and indirect ways.
Genetic analysis of NR4A2 gene in a large population of Han Chinese patients with Parkinson's disease
Authors: Liu H. , Tao Q. , Deng H. , Ming M. , Ding Y. , Xu P. , Chen S. , Song Z. , Le W. 
Published: July 2012

BackgroundNR4A2 gene is a transcription factor crucial for differentiation and survival of midbrain dopamine (DA) neurons, and several variants have been eported to be associated with Parkinson's disease (PD) in the Caucasian population.MethodsTo determine whether there is any association of NR4A2 mutation or variation with PD in the Han Chinese population, we performed a genetic analysis of all the exons and exon–intron boundaries in 689 PD patients and 672 controls from mainland China using direct sequencing analysis.ResultsWe identified four novel variants and two previously reported variants. Two novel variants (exon 2 c.‐20 C>G and exon 3 c.711 C>A) were only found in PD. The others (exon 2 c.‐35 A>G; exon 8 c.1615 G>A; intron 4 IVS4‐16 G>T; and intron 6 IVS6 + 18 insG) were found in both PD and controls at different frequencies.ConclusionsCollectively, our results suggest that NR4A2 may be a susceptibility gene for PD in the Chinese population.
Prognostic impact of lymphadenectomy in uterine serous cancer
Authors: Mahdi H , Kumar S , Al‐Wahab Z , Ali‐Fehmi R , Munkarah AR 
Published: July 2012

Objective  To estimate the survival impact of lymphadenectomy in women diagnosed with uterine serous cancer.Design  Women with a diagnosis of uterine serous cancer were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Program (SEER) from 1988 to 2007. Only surgically treated women were included.Setting  The Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Program database provided data from 17 registries.Population  The study population comprised 4178 women.Methods  Statistical analyses using Student’s t‐test, Kaplan–Meier survival methods and Cox proportional hazards regression were performed.Main outcome measure  Overall survival.Results  Three thousand, one hundred and ninety‐four (67.7%) women underwent lymphadenectomy. Older women (≥65 years) and Caucasian women (relative to Asian) were less likely to have lymphadenectomy (P < 0.001). The prevalence of nodal metastasis in women having lymphadenectomy was 32%. Of the 1997 women who had disease grossly confined to the uterus and underwent lymphadenectomy, 387 (19%) were found to have nodal metastasis. Lymphadenectomy was associated with improved survival; women who underwent lymphadenectomy were 41% (hazard ratio [HR], 0.59; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.54–0.64; P < 0.001) less likely to die than women who did not have the procedure. Moreover, more extensive lymphadenectomy correlated positively with survival. Compared with women with 1–10 nodes removed, those with more extensive lymphadenectomy (>10 nodes removed) were 26% (HR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.67–0.83; P < 0.001) less likely to die. The impact of the extent of lymphadenectomy on survival was significant in both node‐negative and node‐positive women.Conclusion  Age and race influenced the prevalence of lymphadenectomy in our cohort. This study suggests that the extent of lymphadenectomy is associated with significant improvement in survival of women with uterine serous cancer.
Is intrapartum fever associated with ST‐waveform changes of the fetal electrocardiogram? A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Becker JH , van Rijswijk J , Versteijnen B , Evers ACC , van den Akker ESA , van Beek E , Bolte AC , Rijnders RJP , Mol BWJ , Moons KGM , Porath MM , Drogtrop AP , Schuitemaker NWE , Willekes C , Westerhuis MEMH , Visser GHA , Kwee A 
Published: July 2012

Please cite this paper as: Becker J, van Rijswijk J, Versteijnen B, Evers A, van den Akker E, van Beek E, Bolte A, Rijnders R, Mol B, Moons K, Porath M, Drogtrop A, Schuitemaker N, Willekes C, Westerhuis M, Visser G, Kwee A. Is intrapartum fever associated with ST‐waveform changes of the fetal electrocardiogram? A retrospective cohort study. BJOG 2012;119:1410–1416.Objective  To investigate the association between maternal intrapartum fever and ST‐waveform changes of the fetal electrocardiogram.Design  Retrospective cohort study.Setting  Three academic and six non‐academic teaching hospitals in the Netherlands.Population  Labouring women with a high‐risk singleton pregnancy in cephalic position beyond 36 weeks of gestation.Methods  We studied 142 women with fever (≥38.0°C) during labour and 141 women with normal temperature who had been included in two previous studies. In both groups, we counted the number and type of ST‐events and classified them as significant (intervention needed) or not significant, based on STAN® clinical guidelines.Main outcome measures  Number and type of ST‐events.Results  Both univariable and multivariable regression analysis showed no association between the presence of maternal intrapartum fever and the number or type of ST‐events.Conclusions  Maternal intrapartum fever is not associated with ST‐segment changes of the fetal electrocardiogram. Interpretation of ST‐changes in labouring women with fever should therefore not differ from other situations.