bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Geographical Variation in Ambulance Calls Is Associated With Socioeconomic Status
Authors: Earnest Arul , Tan Say Beng , Shahidah Nur , Ong Marcus Eng Hock 
Published: February 2012

ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE 2012; 19:180–188 © 2012 by the Society for Academic Emergency MedicineAbstractObjectives:  The main objective was to explore the relationship between socioeconomic status and the spatial distribution of ambulance calls, as modeled in the island nation of Singapore, at the Development Guide Plan (DGP) level (equivalent to census tracts in the United States).Methods:  Ambulance call data came from a nationwide registry from January to May 2006. We used a conditional autoregressive (CAR) model to create smoothed maps of ambulance calls at the DGP level, as well as spatial regression models to evaluate the relationship between the risk of calls with regional measures of socioeconomic status, such as household type and both personal and household income.Results:  There was geographical correlation in the ambulance calls, as well as a socioeconomic gradient in the relationship with ambulance calls of medical‐related (but not trauma‐related) reasons. For instance, the relative risk (RR) of medical ambulance calls decreased by a factor of 0.66 (95% credible interval [CrI] = 0.56 to 0.79) for every 10% increase in the proportion of those with monthly household income S$5000 and above. The top three DGPs with the highest risk of medical‐related ambulance calls were Changi (RR = 29, 95% CrI = 24 to 35), downtown core (RR = 8, 95% CrI = 6 to 9), and Orchard (RR = 5, 95% CrI = 4 to 6).Conclusions:  This study demonstrates the utility of geospatial analysis to relate population socioeconomic factors with ambulance call volumes. This can serve as a model for analysis of other public health systems.
Identifying High‐risk Geographic Areas for Cardiac Arrest Using Three Methods for Cluster Analysis
Authors: Sasson Comilla , Cudnik Michael T. , Nassel Ariann , Semple Hugh , Magid David J. , Sayre Michael , Keseg David , Haukoos Jason S. , Warden Craig R. ,   (The Columbus Study Group)
Published: February 2012

ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE 2012; 19:139–146 © 2012 by the Society for Academic Emergency MedicineAbstractObjectives:  The objective was to identify high‐risk census tracts, defined as those areas that have both a high incidence of out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) and a low prevalence of bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), by using three spatial statistical methods.Methods:  This was a secondary analysis of two prospectively collected registries in the city of Columbus, Ohio. Consecutive adult (≥18 years) OHCA patients, restricted to those of cardiac etiology and treated by emergency medical services (EMS) from April 1, 2004, to April 30, 2009, were studied. Three different spatial analysis methods (Global Empirical Bayes, Local Moran’s I, and SaTScan’s spatial scan statistic) were used to identify high‐risk census tracts.Results:  A total of 4,553 arrests in 200 census tracts occurred during the study period, with 1,632 arrests included in the final sample after exclusions for no resuscitation attempt, noncardiac etiology, etc. The overall incidence for OHCA was 0.70 per 1,000 people for the 6‐year study period (SD = ±0.52). Bystander CPR occurred in 20.2% (n = 329), with 10.0% (n = 167) surviving to hospital discharge. Five high‐risk census tracts were identified by all three analytic methods.Conclusions:  The five high‐risk census tracts identified may be possible sites for high‐yield targeted community‐based interventions to improve CPR training and cardiovascular disease education efforts and ultimately improve survival from OHCA.
Rates and clinical correlates of treatment non‐adherence in schizoaffective bipolar patients
Authors: Murru A. , Pacchiarotti I. , Nivoli A. M. A. , Bonnin C. M. , Patrizi B. , Amann B. , Vieta E. , Colom F. 
Published: February 2012

Murru A, Pacchiarotti I, Nivoli AMA, Bonnin CM, Patrizi B, Amann B, Vieta E, Colom F. Rates and clinical correlates of treatment non‐adherence in schizoaffective bipolar patients.Objective:  To analyze demographical, clinical, and therapeutic variables that may be associated with pharmacological non‐adherence in a sample of schizoaffective patients, bipolar type.Method:  Adherence to treatment and its clinical correlates were assessed at the end of a 10‐year follow‐up in 76 patients meeting DSM‐IV‐TR diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type. Adherent and poorly adherent patients were compared regarding clinical and therapeutic variables.Results:  The rate of poorly adherent patients was 32/76 (41.2%) of the sample. Adherent patients were more likely to have presented an affective episode at illness onset and to have fewer purely – non‐affective – psychotic episodes. Demographic or other clinical variables were not found to be associated to treatment adherence. Family history for psychiatric disorders or suicide did not correlate either, and neither did any specific pharmacological agent.Conclusion:  Rates of non‐adherence in schizoaffective disorder are high. Adherence seems to be associated to a more affective course of illness (affective first episode and fewer purely psychotic episodes). Patients with more prominent schizophrenia‐like characteristics could be at higher risk for poor adherence and need to be closely followed and monitored. Even when properly treated, schizoaffective disorder is a disabling and severe disorder with high risk for recurrences.
Deposition of nanometer scaled calcium‐phosphate crystals to implants with a dual acid‐etched surface does not improve early tissue integration
Authors: Abrahamsson Ingemar , Linder Elena , Larsson Lena , Berglundh Tord 
Published: February 2012

AbstractObjectiveTo evaluate hard and soft tissue healing to implants with a dual acid‐etched surface with and without deposition of calcium‐phosphate crystals.Materials and methodsThree months after extraction of mandibular premolars in six Labrador dogs, four osteotomy preparations, 8 mm deep and 3 mm wide, were performed. The prepared canals were widened in the marginal 4 mm zone to 3.74 mm. Implants with an 8 mm long and 3.75 mm wide intraosseous portion and a 5.0 mm high and 4.0 mm wide transmucosal part were placed in such a way that the base of the wider neck‐portion of the implant coincided with the crestal bone. The implants were dual acid – etched (Osseotite®; Biomet 3i). The surface of the test implants was, in addition, modified by a discrete deposition of calcium‐phosphate crystals (Nanotite™; Biomet 3i). Every second implant placed was a test unit. After 2 weeks the implant installation procedure was repeated in the opposite side of the mandible. Two weeks later the animals were euthanized and biopsies were obtained and prepared for histological analysis.ResultsThe degree of bone‐to implant contact (BIC%) was larger at implants without (Osseotite) than in those with (Nanotite) calcium‐phosphate crystals. No differences were found regarding soft tissue dimensions and composition between the two types of implants.ConclusionIt is suggested that deposition of nanometer‐sized calcium‐phosphate crystals to implants with a dual acid‐etched surface does not improve early tissue integration.
Effects of a single topical doxycycline administration adjunctive to mechanical debridement in patients with persistent/recurrent periodontitis but acceptable oral hygiene during supportive periodontal therapy
Authors: Tonetti Maurizio S. , Lang Niklaus P. , Cortellini Pierpaolo , Suvan Jean E. , Eickholz Peter , Fourmousis Ioannis , Topoll Heinz , Vangsted Tine , Wallkamm Beat 
Published: February 2012

AbstractObjectivesTo evaluate the efficacy of a slow release doxycycline gel (SRD) adjunctively administered to non‐surgical therapy in subjects with recurrent or persistent periodontitis but acceptable oral hygiene during supportive periodontal care.Material & methodsIn this single blind, parallel group, multicentre study, 202 of 203 recruited periodontal maintenance subjects with recurrent or persistent periodontitis were randomly assigned to subgingival ultrasonic/sonic instrumentation (USI) with (test) or without (control) subsequent administration of SRD in all residual periodontal pockets ≥4 mm. Intergroup differences in probing depth, BOP reductions, treatment time, probing attachment levels were evaluated at 3, 6 and 12 months. The primary outcome was the inter‐group difference in absolute change of probing pocket depth (PPD) 3, 6 and 12 months after intervention.ResultsAt baseline, the two groups were comparable. At 3 months, the test group showed a significantly higher decrease in mean probing depth than the control group at 3 months (mean difference = 0.11 mm, 95% CI 0.03–0.19 mm, p = 0.003). Administration of SRD resulted in significantly greater odds of transition of bleeding pockets ≥5 mm to a category of non bleeding sites with PPD ≤4 mm at 3 and 6 months (O.R. = 1.4, 95% CI 1.2–1.8 at 3 months). At 6 months, SRD benefit was observed only in the deeper pockets. 7.5% of subjects (no significant difference between test and control) showed disease progression (attachment loss ≥2 mm) and were exited from the study. No difference in the incidence of adverse events was observed between groups.ConclusionThe trial results show that topically administered SRD may provide short‐term benefit in controlling inflammation and deep pockets in treated periodontal patients participating in a secondary prevention programme and able to maintain a satisfactory level of oral hygiene.
Contact allergy to sodium sulfite and its relationship to sodium metabisulfite
Authors: Oliphant Thomas , Mitra Angana , Wilkinson Mark 
Published: February 2012

Background. Sulfites are in widespread use as preservatives/antioxidants. There is increasing recognition of allergic contact dermatitis caused by sodium metabisulfite; however, contact allergy to sodium sulfite is less well recognized.Objectives. We sought to establish the prevalence of positive patch test reactions to sodium sulfite in our patient population and investigate its relationship with sodium metabisulfite.Methods. Over a 4‐month period, 183 patients referred for patch testing were tested with sodium sulfite 1% pet. in addition to sodium metabisulfite 1% pet., which already forms part of our baseline series.Results. Positive allergic reactions occurred to sodium metabisulfite in 5.5% of the tested patients and to sodium sulfite in 3.8% of the tested patients. Sixty per cent of patients with a positive reaction to sodium metabisulfite were positive to sodium sulfite. Only 1 patient (0.6%) with a negative reaction to sodium metabisulfite showed a positive reaction to sodium sulfite.Conclusions. This study shows that the majority of patients with positive reactions to sodium metabisulfite are also positive to sodium sulphite. Routinely patch testing with sodium sulfite is probably unnecessary, as most patients with positive reactions will also react to sodium metabisulfite. Clinicians should consider advising patients to avoid sodium sulfite and other sulfites when a positive allergic reaction to sodium metabisulfite occurs.
Planet–planet scattering alone cannot explain the free-floating planet population
Authors: Veras Dimitri , Raymond Sean N. 
Published: February 2012

ABSTRACT
Recent gravitational microlensing observations predict a vast population of free-floating giant planets that outnumbers main-sequence stars almost twofold. A frequently invoked mechanism for generating this population is a dynamical instability that incites planet–planet scattering and the ejection of one or more planets in isolated main-sequence planetary systems. Here, we demonstrate that this process alone probably cannot represent the sole source of these Galactic wanderers. By using straightforward quantitative arguments and N-body simulations, we argue that the observed number of exoplanets exceeds the plausible number of ejected planets per system from scattering. Thus, other potential sources of free floaters, such as planetary stripping in stellar clusters and post-main-sequence ejection, must be considered.
The Prevalence and Determinants of Tobacco Use Among Adolescents in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Al Agili Dania E. , Park Hyoun‐Kyoung 
Published: February 2012

BACKGROUND: Adolescent tobacco use has been a serious public health issue, resulting in longer duration of tobacco use and higher nicotine dependence in adulthood. This study identified the current status of tobacco use among middle schools students in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and the factors leading to tobacco use, to provide information on how to effectively prevent tobacco use among adolescents.METHODS: A cross‐sectional survey was administered to measure the prevalence of tobacco use and profile tobacco users. School selection was stratified by region, gender, and type (public or private). Altogether, 1186 seventh‐ to ninth‐grade students were selected. Of those, 1019 questionnaires were used for analysis.RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 14.3 years (SD = 1.2) and boys comprised 54% of the sample. The prevalence of tobacco use among students was 9.72% with a significant difference between sexes (12.43% for boys and 6.65% for girls). Bivariate and multivariate analyses results showed that students whose families had higher income, had larger daily allowances, spent less time studying, skipped class more frequently, were less religious, spent more time out of home, drank more Coca‐Cola, intended to use tobacco in the next year, and were males who were more likely to use tobacco.CONCLUSION: Prevention programs designed to reduce adolescent tobacco use need to consider these sociodemographic characteristics. Understanding the characteristics of adolescent tobacco users and the associated sociocultural context is critical for developing effective tobacco prevention programs targeted at adolescents.
The phenotypic and genetic assessment of protein C deficiency
Authors: COOPER P. C. , HILL M. , MACLEAN R. M. 
Published: February 2012

SummaryThis paper outlines the methods and approaches used for the laboratory detection and investigation of protein C (PC) deficiency. It does not make recommendations as to which patients should have thrombophilia testing performed; this should be done in line with local guidance. Interpretation of PC level is complicated because level varies with age, and many conditions can cause acquired deficiency. Protein C is most usually measured by chromogenic assay as a part of the thrombophilia screen. There exists, however, a very small group of individuals with significant PC deficiency, in whom the chromogenic PC assay is normal. The coagulometric assay of PC is more sensitive to these rare defects, but these assays may lack specificity. Genetic analysis allows definitive diagnosis and may be useful in confirming that deficiency is inherited and not acquired and is particularly valuable in families with severe PC deficiency.
How Social Norms Promote Misleading Social Feedback and Inaccurate Self‐Assessment
Authors: Fay Adam J. , Jordan Alexander H. , Ehrlinger Joyce 
Published: February 2012

AbstractSelf‐assessments are often prone to error. Past research has identified cognitive and motivational biases that lead self‐assessments astray. In the present paper, we discuss how behavior shaped by social norms leaves the negative information that people require for accurate self‐assessments invisible. First, social norms lead people to suppress critical feedback in favor of more positive evaluations. Although people recognize that they prefer to provide positive feedback to others, they fail to consider that they might be the recipient of incomplete feedback. As a result, they are left with overconfident self‐impressions. Second, social norms lead people to hide their own negative emotional experiences from others. Again, people are aware that this positivity norm influences their own behavior but do not apply this knowledge to their understanding of others. As a result, people regard their own negative emotions as more socially aberrant than is actually the case.
Microsatellite resources for Passeridae species: a predicted microsatellite map of the house sparrow Passer domesticus
Authors: DAWSON DEBORAH A. , HORSBURGH GAVIN J. , KRUPA ANDREW P. , STEWART IAN R. K. , SKJELSETH SIGRUN , JENSEN HENRIK , BALL ALEXANDER D. , SPURGIN LEWIS G. , MANNARELLI MARIA‐ELENA , NAKAGAWA SHINICHI , SCHROEDER JULIA , VANGESTEL CARL , HINTEN GAVIN N. , BURKE TERRY 
Published: February 2012

AbstractWe identified microsatellite sequences of potential utility in the house sparrow (Passer domesticus) and assigned their predicted genome locations. These sequences included newly isolated house sparrow loci, which we fully characterized. Many of the newly isolated loci were polymorphic in two other species of Passeridae: Berthelot’s pipit Anthus berthelotii and zebra finch Taeniopygia guttata. In total, we identified 179 microsatellite markers that were either isolated directly from, or are of known utility in, the house sparrow. Sixty‐seven of these markers were designed from unique sequences that we isolated from a house sparrow genomic library. These new markers were combined with 36 house sparrow markers isolated by other studies and 76 markers isolated from other passerine species but known to be polymorphic in the house sparrow. We utilized sequence homology to assign chromosomal locations for these loci in the assembled zebra finch genome. One hundred and thirty‐four loci were assigned to 25 different autosomes and eight loci to the Z chromosome. Examination of the genotypes of known‐sex house sparrows for 37 of the new loci revealed a W‐linked locus and an additional Z‐linked locus. Locus Pdoμ2, previously reported as autosomal, was found to be Z‐linked. These loci enable the creation of powerful and cost‐effective house sparrow multiplex primer sets for population and parentage studies. They can be used to create a house sparrow linkage map and will aid the identification of quantitative trait loci in passerine species.
Response‐guided therapy for patients with chronic hepatitis who have high viral loads of hepatitis C virus genotype 2
Authors: Yamaguchi Yasunori , Tamori Akihiro , Tanaka Yasuhito , Iwai Shuji , Kobayashi Sawako , Fujii Hideki , Morikawa Hiroyasu , Hagihara Atsushi , Enomoto Masaru , Kawada Norifumi 
Published: February 2012

Aim:  We evaluated the efficacy of response‐guided therapy in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 2.Methods:  We studied 105 patients with an HCV genotype 2 load of higher than 5.0 Log IU/mL who received more than 75% of the target dose of pegylated interferon plus ribavirin. Among patients with rapid viral response (RVR; no HCV RNA detected at week 4), 14 selected 16 weeks of therapy (group A), and 28 selected 24 weeks of therapy (group B). Among non‐RVR patients, 40 selected 24 weeks of therapy (group C), and 19 selected 48 weeks of therapy (group D).Results:  All patients in group A and B achieved a sustained viral response (SVR). Clinical characteristics did not differ significantly between groups C and D. However, the proportion of patients in whom HCV RNA disappeared at a later week after starting treatment was higher in group D (P = 0.0578). SVR rate was 73% in C, and 79% in D. Among patients in whom HCV RNA disappeared between weeks 5 and 8, SVR was achieved in 28 (82%) of 34 patients in C and 10 (91%) of 11 patients in D. Among patients whose HCV RNA disappeared between weeks 9 and 12, SVR was achieved in one (20%) of five patients in C and five (63%) of eight patients in D (not statistically significant).Conclusions:  16 weeks of combination therapy could achieve an adequate antiviral effect for RVR patients. Extending therapy could not significantly improve SVR rate in non‐RVR patients.
Influence of chronic stress on the compositions of hepatic cholesterol and triglyceride in male Wistar rats fed a high fat diet
Authors: Gao Siyuan , Han Xue , Fu Jihua , Yuan Xiaoling , Sun Xing , Li Qiang 
Published: February 2012

Aim:  We determined the influence of chronic stress (CS) on the compositions of hepatic cholesterol and triglyceride (TG) in rats fed a high fat diet (HFD).Methods:  Male Wistar rats were fed either a standard diet or a HFD and half of the HFD fed rats were given CS (electric foot shock assisted with noise) for 8 weeks.Results:  Compared with the control group, the levels of hepatic total cholesterol (TC) and TG were significantly elevated in the HFD and HFD with chronic stress (HFD+CS) groups, and the more severe elevations of them were found in the HFD group. Inversely, the more severe elevations of hepatic water‐soluble parts of TC and TG were found in the HFD+CS group, as the elevations of low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, very low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol in liver and serum, tumor necrosis factor‐α, interleukin‐1β and malondialdehyde in liver. Meanwhile, downregulated mRNA expressions of hepatic liver X receptor‐α (LXR‐α) and peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐γ (PPAR‐γ) were also more severe in the HFD+CS group.Conclusion:  CS can aggravate the high levels of water‐soluble compositions of hepatic TC and TG induced by HFD as it aggravates hepatic inflammation and oxidative stress; in spite of that, however, it cannot further promote hepatic lipidosis. This is consistent with the downregulated mRNA expressions of LXR‐α and PPAR‐γ.
Cytologic and immunohistochemical characterization of a primitive neuroectodermal tumor in the brain of a dog
Authors: Choi Ul Soo , Philippe Labelle , Alleman A. Rick , Kim Min Su , Lee Ki Chang 
Published: February 2012

AbstractA 6‐year‐old intact femalePointer dog was presented for evaluation of acute onset of ataxia, circling, and head tilt. Neurologic assessment revealed overall decreased postural reaction, left‐sided hemiparesis with incoordination, rigidity of fore‐ and hindlimbs, strabismus of the right eye, and bilateral horizontal nystagmus. Using magnetic resonance imaging, a mass lesion was identified in the cerebrum adjacent to the left side of the cerebellum compressing the brain stem ventrally. The mass was incompletely resected, and during surgery fine‐needle aspiration and biopsy of the mass were performed. Cytologically, smears were highly cellular and contained predominantly small to medium‐sized discrete round cells with high nuclear to cytoplasmic ratios and round nuclei with rare deep clefts or indentation, smooth chromatin, and indistinct nucleoli. Numerous cytoplasmic fragments were noted in the background. The primary diagnosis was lymphoma; other differential diagnoses included neuroendocrine tumor and poorly differentiated tumor of neural origin. The histologic diagnosis was lymphoma, and the lesion was presumed to be metastatic. On immunohistochemical analysis, the cells expressed neitherCD3 norCD79a. Re‐examination of the histologic section revealed disorganized sheets of cells with multifocal palisading and perivascular arrangements of rosette‐like structures. An expanded panel of antibodies to vimentin, cytokeratin, glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP), neuron‐specific enolase (NSE), synaptophysin (SYN),S‐100, andCD45 was applied to histologic sections. Neoplastic cells were immunoreactive for vimentin,NSE, andS‐100. Based on the histologic appearance and immunophenotype of the tumor, a diagnosis of primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) was made.PNET, although rare in dogs, should be considered as a differential diagnosis for round cell tumors in the brain.