bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Maternal understanding of commercial cord blood storage for their offspring – a survey among pregnant women in Hong Kong
Authors: SUEN STEPHEN SIK HUNG , LAO TERENCE T , CHAN OI KA , KOU THOMAS KAM ON , CHAN SAMMY CHUNG SUM , KIM JEAN HEE , LAU TZE KIN , LEUNG TAK YEUNG 
Published: May 2011

AbstractObjective. To assess the knowledge on commercial cord blood banking (CCBB) among pregnant women. Design. Cross‐sectional survey. Setting. Antenatal clinics of two major public maternity units in Hong Kong. Population. Pregnant women. Methods. Self‐administered questionnaire. Main outcome measures. The survey explored knowledge about the use of self‐stored umbilical cord blood (UCB) stem cells and attitude towards CCBB. Results. Of the 2 000 women recruited, 1 866 (93.3%) completed the questionnaire. The majority (78.2%) had no idea that there was the chance of using self‐stored stem cells. Moreover, most of the respondents were unclear about which diseases other than leukemia are amenable to treatment with UCB stem cells in general. Only 20.3% of women knew that stem cells are available from the Red Cross in case their children need hematopoietic cell transplantation. Conclusions. The results of this study revealed inadequate knowledge on UCB stem cell banking and its applications among most of our pregnant women. The government and clinicians should combine efforts to provide accurate information on utilization of UCB stem cells during antenatal care.
The effects of climate change on density‐dependent population dynamics of aquatic invertebrates
Authors: Hart Edmund M. , Gotelli Nicholas J. 
Published: May 2011

Global climate change has the potential to alter aquatic communities through changes in evapotranspiration and increased variability in precipitation. We used aquatic mesocosms to test the impacts of variable precipitation on population dynamics of common mosquito (Culicidae) and midge (Chironomidae) larvae that inhabit vernal pools. In a mixed deciduous forest in northern Vermont, USA, we orthogonally crossed seven levels of mean water level (increased rainfall) with seven levels of water level coefficient of variation (more variable rainfall) to simulate a broad array of climate change scenarios in 49 experimental mesocosms.The average abundance of Culicidae was highest at low water levels, whereas the average abundance of Chironomidae was highest at higher water levels and low variability in water level. Treatments and environmental and spatial covariates collectively explained 49% of the variance in mean abundance. For both taxa, we fit hierarchical Bayesian models to each 16‐week time series to estimate the parameters in a Gompertz logistic equation of population growth with density dependence. We found that Culicidae population growth rate increased with decreasing water levels and that 87% of the variance in Chironomidae density dependence could be explained by treatment. Collectively, these results suggest that climate change can alter abundances aquatic invertebrate taxa but not necessarily through the same mechanism on all populations. In the case of Culicidae the abundance is affected by changes in growth rate, and in Chironomidae by changes in the strength of density dependence.
Ecological factors associated with the strength of trophic cascades in streams
Authors: Kurle Carolyn M. , Cardinale Bradley J. 
Published: May 2011

Trophic cascades are extensively documented in nature, but they are also known to vary widely in strength and frequency across ecosystems. Therefore, much effort has gone into understanding which ecological factors generate variation in cascade strength. To identify which factors covary with the strength of cascades in streams, we performed a concurrent experiment across 17 streams throughout the Sierra Nevada Mountains. We eliminated top consumers from experimental substrates using electrical exclusions and compared the strength of indirect effects of consumers on the biomass of primary producers relative to control patches. In each stream we 1) classified the dominant invertebrate herbivores according to life‐history traits that influence their susceptibility to predators, 2) determined the abundance and diversity of algae and herbivores, and 3) measured production‐to‐biomass ratios (P:B) of the stream biofilm. This allowed us to assess three common predictions about factors thought to influence the strength of trophic cascades: cascade strength 1) is weaker in systems dominated by herbivores with greater ability to evade or defend against predators, 2) is stronger in systems characterized by low species diversity, and 3) increases with increasing producer P:B.When averaged across all streams, the indirect effect of predators increased the biomass of periphyton by a mean 60%. However, impacts of predators on algae varied widely, ranging from effects that exacerbated algal loss to herbivores, to strong cascades that increased algal biomass by 4.35 times. Cascade strength was not related to herbivore traits or species diversity, but decreased significantly with increasing algal diversity and biofilm P:B in a stream. Partial regression analyses suggested that the relationship between cascade strength and algal diversity was spurious, and that the only significant covariate after statistically controlling for cross‐correlations was algal P:B. Our study contributes to the ongoing debate about why trophic cascade strength varies in nature and is useful because it eliminates factors that have no potential to explain variation in cascades within these stream ecosystems.
Immunohistochemical assessment of CD1a‐positive Langerhans cells and their relationship with E‐cadherin in minor salivary gland tumors
Authors: Dultra Fátima Karoline Araújo Alves , Barros Adna Conceição , Schaer‐Barbosa Helenemarie , Figueiredo Andréia Leal , Gurgel Clarissa Araújo Silva , Ramos Eduardo Antônio Gonçalves , da Silva Carvalho Ana Maria , dos Santos Jean Nunes 
Published: May 2011

J Oral Pathol Med(2012)41: 47–53Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of CD1a‐positive Langerhans cells and their relationship with E‐cadherin in minor salivary gland tumors.Methods: Twenty‐seven minor salivary gland tumors were investigated using immunohistochemistry for CD1a and E‐cadherin.Results: A significant difference regarding the mean density of CD1a‐positive Langerhans cells was observed between pleomorphic adenomas and malignant tumors studied (P = 0.001). No CD1a‐positive cells were detected in most cases (n = 5) of cystic adenoid carcinomas. CD1a‐positive cells were detected in one mucoepidermoid carcinoma case, and six low‐grade polymorphous adenocarcinomas cases. Comparison of the mean density of CD1a‐positive cells between the three malignant tumors showed no significant difference (P = 0.127). No significant difference was observed in the presence of E‐cadherin between tumors (P = 0.73), but it was detected in 24 cases.Conclusions: The lack of CD1a‐positive in malignant salivary gland tumors facilitates the neoplastic development and suggests that these cells might be useful as auxiliary diagnostic and prognostic tool in minor salivary gland tumors. Furthermore, it is suggested that E‐cadherin mediates cell adhesion in these tumors although we did not demonstrate significance.
Systemic treatment with corticosteroids in psoriasis–health care provision far beyond the S3‐guidelines
Authors: Augustin Matthias , Schäfer Ines , Reich Kristian , Glaeske Gerd , Radtke Marc 
Published: May 2011

SummaryBackground: The basis of induction therapy for psoriasis in Germany is the S3‐guideline which for moderate to severe psoriasis recommends the systemic agents fumaric acid esters, methotrexate, cyclosporine and the biologicals infliximab, etanercept, adalimumab and ustekinumab. Systemic glucocorticos‐teroids (GCS) are not proposed.Question: To what extend are systemic glucocorticosteroids prescribed in psoriasis therapy?Methods: The database of a German nationwide statutory health insurance 2007 was analyzed. Prescriptions of systemic glucocorticosteroids were identified by ATC‐encoding. Psoriasis patients with comorbidities requiring systemic glucocorticosteroid medication were analyzed separately.Results: Among 1 423 308 continuously insured patients in 2007 n = 34 728 (2.4 %) were patients with psoriasis. The most prescribed systemic agents were corticosteroids (2774 patients), followed by methotrexate (853), fumaric acid esters (342), retinoids (110) and cyclosporine A (105). Even after excluding patients with psoriatic arthritis, systemic corticosteroids were still the most often prescribed systemic drugs. The average number of DDD (Defined Daily Doses) per insured patient was 120 (general practitioners), 141 (internists) and 68 (dermatologists). These results were confirmed by a control analysis with IMS data.Conclusions: In Germany, psoriasis is often treated with systemic corticosteroids though these are not recommended by the S3‐guideline. General practitioners and internists are the main prescribers.
Narrative History and Theory
Authors: Tamura Eileen H. 
Published: May 2011

I am a narrative historian. By narrative, I mean the telling of a story to explain and analyze events and human agency in order to increase understanding. As a narrative historian, I have not made extensive use of theory in my analysis of past events. In fact, in the past I consistently rejected theory, considering it more of a hindrance than a help.The historian Geoffrey Roberts stated, “History is frequently labelled an idiographical discipline as opposed to a nomothetic one, that is, a discipline whose knowledge objects are particular, individual, and specific rather than classes of phenomena which are abstracted and subsumed in generalisations about trends, patterns and causal determinations.” In this vein, it was my view—as Peter Burke noted—that history examines particulars and “attend to concrete detail,” while theory attends to “general rules and screen[s] out the exceptions.”
Multiple versus single virus respiratory infections: viral load and clinical disease severity in hospitalized children
Authors: Martin Emily T. , Kuypers Jane , Wald Anna , Englund Janet A. 
Published: May 2011

Please cite this paper as: Martin et al. (2012) Multiple versus single virus respiratory infections: viral load and clinical disease severity in hospitalized children. Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses 6(1), 71–77.Background  Molecular testing for viral pathogens has resulted in increasing detection of multiple viruses in respiratory secretions of ill children. The clinical impact of multiple virus infections on clinical presentation and outcome is unclear.Objectives  To compare clinical characteristics and viral load between children with multiple virus versus single virus illnesses.Patients/methods  Eight hundred and ninety‐three residual nasal wash samples from children treated for respiratory illness at Children’s Hospital, Seattle, from September 2003 to September 2004 were evaluated by quantitative PCR for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), human metapneumovirus (hMPV), influenza (Flu), parainfluenza, adenoviruses, and coronaviruses (CoV). Illness severity and patient characteristics were abstracted from medical charts.Results  Coinfections were identified in 103 (18%) of 566 virus‐positive samples. Adenovirus was most commonly detected in coinfections (52%), followed by CoV (50%). Illnesses with a single virus had increased risk of oxygen requirement (P = 0·02), extended hospital stays (P = 0·002), and admissions to the inpatient (P = 0·02) or intensive care units (P = 0·04). For Adv and PIV‐1, multiple virus illnesses had a significantly lower viral load (log10 copies/ml) than single virus illnesses (4·2 versus 5·6, P = 0·007 and 4·2 versus 6·9, P < 0·001, respectively). RSV, Flu‐A, PIV‐3, and hMPV viral loads were consistently high whether or not another virus was detected.Conclusions  Illnesses with multiple virus detections were correlated with less severe disease. The relationship between viral load and multiple virus infections was virus specific, and this may serve as a way to differentiate viruses in multiple virus infections.
Apicystis bombi (Apicomplexa: Neogregarinorida) parasitizing Apis mellifera and Bombus terrestris (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in Argentina
Authors: Plischuk Santiago , Meeus Ivan , Smagghe Guy , Lange Carlos E. 
Published: May 2011

SummaryThe neogregarine Apicystis bombi is considered a low prevalence parasite of Bombus spp. Before our work it has only once been detected in one single specimen of the Western honeybee Apis mellifera. This contribution reports the presence of A. bombi parasitizing both A. mellifera and Bombus terrestris at a site in Northwestern Argentine Patagonia (Bariloche, close to the border with Chile) and analyses its possible absence in the Pampas region, the most important beekeeping region of the country. In Bariloche, prevalence of A. bombi in A. mellifera was 7.6% in 2009, and 13.6% in 2010, whereas in B. terrestris it was 12.1%. Infections were not detected in 302 bee hives periodically prospected along 3 years (almost 400 000 honeybee specimens) in the Pampas. Analysis with the probability program FreeCalc2 suggested a possible absence of A. bombi in this area. Because of high virulence showed in several species of Bombus in the Northern hemisphere, A. bombi should be closely monitored in A. mellifera and in native Bombus species or other Apidae.
Moduli spaces of stable quotients and wall-crossing phenomena
Authors: Toda Yukinobu 
Published: May 2011

AbstractThe moduli space of holomorphic maps from Riemann surfaces to the Grassmannian is known to have two kinds of compactifications: Kontsevich’s stable map compactification and Marian–Oprea–Pandharipande’s stable quotient compactification. Over a non-singular curve, the latter moduli space is Grothendieck’s Quot scheme. In this paper, we give the notion of ‘ ϵ-stable quotients’ for a positive real number ϵ, and show that stable maps and stable quotients are related by wall-crossing phenomena. We will also discuss Gromov–Witten type invariants associated to ϵ-stable quotients, and investigate them under wall crossing.
Susceptibility of
Streptococcus pneumoniae
to Fluoroquinolones in Canada
Authors: Patel Samir N. , McGeer Allison , Melano Roberto , Tyrrell Gregory J. , Green Karen , Pillai Dylan R. , Low Donald E. ,   for the Canadian Bacterial Surveillance Network
Published: May 2011

ABSTRACT

Ciprofloxacin, the first fluoroquinolone to be used to treat lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI), demonstrates poor potency against
Streptococcus pneumoniae
, and its use has been associated with the emergence of resistance. During the last decade, fluoroquinolones with enhanced
in vitro
activity against
S. pneumoniae
have replaced ciprofloxacin for the treatment of LRTI. Here, we analyzed the impact of more active fluoroquinolone usage on pneumococci by examining the fluoroquinolone usage, prevalence of fluoroquinolone resistance, and mutations in the genes that encode the major target sites for the fluoroquinolones (
gyrA
and
parC
) in pneumococcal isolates collected in Canada-wide surveillance. A total of 26,081 isolates were collected between 1998 and 2009. During this time period, total per capita outpatient use of fluoroquinolones increased from 64 to 96 prescriptions per 1,000 persons per year. The proportion of prescriptions for respiratory tract infection that were for fluoroquinolones increased from 5.9% to 10.7%, but the distribution changed: the proportion of prescriptions for ciprofloxacin decreased from 5.3% to 0.5%, and those for levofloxacin or moxifloxacin increased from 1.5% in 1999 to 5.9% in 2009. The prevalence of ciprofloxacin resistance (MIC ≥ 4 μg/ml), levofloxacin resistance, and moxifloxacin resistance remained unchanged at <2%. Multivariable analyses showed that prevalence of mutations known to be associated with reduced susceptibility to fluoroquinolones did not change during the surveillance period. If fluoroquinolone therapy is required, the preferential use of fluoroquinolones with enhanced pneumococcal activity to treat pneumococcal infections may slow the emergence of resistance in
S. pneumoniae
.
Epidemiological study of severe febrile reactions in young children in Western Australia caused by a 2010 trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine
Authors: Armstrong P K , Dowse G K , Effler P V , Carcione D , Blyth C C , Richmond P C , Geelhoed G C , Mascaro F , Scully M , Weeramanthri T S 
Published: May 2011

BackgroundThe 2010 influenza vaccination program for children aged 6 months to 4 years in Western Australia (WA) was suspended following reports of severe febrile reactions, including febrile convulsions, following vaccination with trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (TIV).MethodsTo investigate the association between severe febrile reactions and TIV, three studies were conducted: (i) rates of febrile convulsions within 72 h of receiving TIV in 2010 were estimated by vaccine formulation and batch; (ii) numbers of children presenting to hospital emergency departments with febrile convulsions from 2008 to 2010 were compared; and (iii) a retrospective cohort study of 360 children was conducted to compare the reactogenicity of available TIV formulations.FindingsIn 2010, an estimated maximum of 18 816 doses of TIV were administered and 63 febrile convulsions were recorded, giving an estimated rate of 3.3 (95% CI 2.6 to 4.2) per 1000 doses of TIV administered. The odds of a TIV-associated febrile convulsion was highly elevated in 2010 (p<0.001) and was associated with the vaccine formulations of one manufacturer—Fluvax and Fluvax Junior (CSL Biotherapies). The risk of both febrile convulsions (p<0.0001) and other febrile reactions (p<0.0001) was significantly greater for Fluvax formulations compared to the major alternate brand. The risk of febrile events was not associated with prior receipt of TIV or monovalent 2009 H1N1 pandemic vaccine. The biological cause of the febrile reactions is currently unknown.InterpretationOne brand of influenza vaccine was responsible for the increase in febrile reactions, including febrile convulsions. Until the biological reason for this is determined and remediation undertaken, childhood influenza vaccination programs should not include Fluvax-type formulations and enhanced surveillance for febrile reactions in children receiving TIV should be undertaken.
Exploring the transition from curative care to palliative care: a systematic review of the literature
Authors: Gardiner Clare , Ingleton Christine , Gott Merryn , Ryan Tony 
Published: May 2011

BackgroundUK policy guidance on treatment and care towards the end of life identifies a need to better recognise patients who are likely to be in the last 12 months of life. Health and social care professionals have a key role in initiating and managing a patient's transition from ‘curative care’ to palliative care. The aim of this paper is to provide a systematic review of evidence relating to the transition from curative care to palliative care within UK settings.MethodFour electronic databases were searched for studies published between 1975 and March 2010. Inclusion criteria were all UK studies relating to the transition from curative care to palliative care in adults over the age of 18. Selected studies were independently reviewed, data were extracted, quality was assessed and data were synthesised using a descriptive thematic approach.ResultsOf the 1464 articles initially identified, 12 papers met the criteria for inclusion. Four themes emerged from the literature: (1) patient and carer experiences of transitions; (2) recognition and identification of the transition phase; (3) optimising and improving transitions; and (4) defining and conceptualising transitions.ConclusionsThe literature suggests that little is known about the potentially complex transition to palliative care. Evidence suggests that continuity of care and multidisciplinary collaboration are crucial in order to improve the experience of patients making the transition. An important role is outlined for generalist providers of palliative care. Incorporating palliative care earlier in the disease trajectory and implementing a phased transition appear key components of optimum care.
What challenges good palliative care provision out-of-hours? A qualitative interview study of out-of-hours general practitioners
Authors: Taubert Mark , Noble Simon I R , Nelson Annmarie 
Published: May 2011

BackgroundNot much is known about how general practitioners (GPs) who work regular out-of-hours shifts in the community feel about prescribing medication for symptom control in end-of-life care patients, how they gain palliative care experience and what they perceive as benefits and hindrances within service delivery to this vulnerable patient and carer group.ObjectivesTo determine, by interviewing GPs who provide out-of-hours care, aspects of care provision that augmented or challenged palliative care delivery.MethodsSemistructured interviews were conducted with GPs who worked out-of-hours shifts regularly. All interviews were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis.ResultsOut-of-hours doctors were not confident about their palliative care knowledge and expressed a wish for more education. Lack of familiarity with patients requiring acute palliative care, compared with the closer bonds formed within the in-hours general practice setting, was perceived as troublesome and problematic, and lack of follow-up was felt to be a major factor. There was a clearly expressed fear of killing or harming patients with the strong drugs used in palliative care. Opiophobia, especially when faced with patients who were seen only once, affected prescribing decisions.ConclusionsThis study provides further evidence of the needs of a specific subgroup of GPs. In-depth interview analysis of their experiences with palliative care provides a framework for which aspects are perceived as a hindrance in providing good palliative care, and can inform out-of-hours policy and teaching.
A Cochrane systematic review of acupuncture for cancer pain in adults
Authors: Paley Carole A , Tashani Osama A , Bagnall Anne-Marie , Johnson Mark I 
Published: May 2011

BackgroundCancer-related pain is a significant and debilitating problem. Non-pharmacological treatments such as acupuncture may have an adjunctive role in controlling pain without the undesirable side effects of drug regimens and yet the evidence base remains limited.ObjectivesThe main objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture in the management of cancer-related pain in adults. Subgroup analyses were planned for acupuncture dose and for the outcome of studies investigating acupuncture for cancer-induced bone pain.MethodsSix electronic databases were searched, including the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, AMED and SPORTDiscus. Studies included in the review were randomised controlled trials investigating the use of acupuncture for cancer pain using pain as a primary outcome measure. In total, 253 published references were identified but only three studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the final review.ResultsOf the three included studies, only one was judged to be of high methodological quality and showed auricular acupuncture to be superior to placebo acupuncture and ear seeds at placebo points. However, the study was relatively small and blinding was compromised. The two low-quality studies gave positive results in favour of acupuncture for cancer pain, but these results should be viewed with caution due to methodological limitations, small sample sizes, poor reporting and inadequate analysis.ConclusionThere is insufficient evidence to judge whether acupuncture is effective in treating cancer pain in adults.