bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mapping the impact of patient and public involvement on health and social care research: a systematic review
Authors: Brett Jo , Staniszewska Sophie , Mockford Carole , Herron‐Marx Sandra , Hughes John , Tysall Colin , Suleman Rashida 
Published: July 2012

AbstractBackgroundThere is an increasing international interest in patient and public involvement (PPI) in research, yet relatively little robust evidence exists about its impact on health and social care research.ObjectiveTo identify the impact of patient and public involvement on health and social care research.DesignA systematic search of electronic databases and health libraries was undertaken from 1995 to 2009. Data were extracted and quality assessed utilizing the guidelines of the NHS Centre for Reviews and Dissemination 2009 and the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP). Grey literature was assessed using the Dixon‐Woods et al. (2005) checklist.Inclusion criteriaAll study types that reported the impact PPI had on the health and/or social care research study.Main resultsA total of 66 studies reporting the impact of PPI on health and social care research were included. The positive impacts identified enhanced the quality and appropriateness of research. Impacts were reported for all stages of research, including the development of user‐focused research objectives, development of user‐relevant research questions, development of user‐friendly information, questionnaires and interview schedules, more appropriate recruitment strategies for studies, consumer‐focused interpretation of data and enhanced implementation and dissemination of study results. Some challenging impacts were also identified.ConclusionThis study provides the first international evidence of PPI impact that has emerged at all key stages of the research process. However, much of the evidence base concerning impact remains weak and needs significant enhancement in the next decade.
Trust in government and support for governmental regulation: the case of electronic health records
Authors: Herian Mitchel N. , Shank Nancy C. , Abdel‐Monem Tarik L. 
Published: July 2012

AbstractBackgroundThis paper presents results from a public engagement effort in Nebraska, USA, which measured public opinions about governmental involvement in encouraging the use of electronic health records (EHRs).ObjectiveWe examine the role of trust in government in contributing to public support for government involvement in the development of EHR technologies. We hypothesize that trust in government will lead to support for federal and state governmental encouragement of the use of EHRs among doctors and insurance companies. Further, because individual experiences with health‐care professionals will reduce perceptions of risk, we expect that support for governmental involvement will be tempered by greater personal experience with the health‐care industry.Design and ResultsExamining a small survey of individuals on the issue, we find general support for both of our hypotheses. The findings suggest that trust in government does have a positive relationship with support for government involvement in the policy domain, but that the frequency of personal experiences with health‐care providers reduces the extent to which the public supports governmental involvement in the development of EHR technology.Discussion and ConclusionThis inquiry contributes to our understanding of public attitudes towards government involvement in EHRs in the United States specifically and contributes to social science examining links between trust in government and support for governmental activity in the emerging policy domain regarding electronic health records systems.
Killer immunoglobulin‐like receptors (KIR) and their HLA‐ligands in Italian paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria (PNH) patients
Authors: Cosentini E. , Gargiulo L. , Bruno P. , Lastraioli S. , Risitano A. , Camerlingo R. , Luongo V. , Serra M. , Sica M. , Garzillo C. , Giani U. , Notaro R. , Alfinito F. , Ruggiero G. , Terrazzano G. 
Published: July 2012

AbstractParoxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria (PNH) is a haematopoietic disorder characterized by expansion of phosphatidylinositol glycan‐A‐defective progenitor(s). Immune‐dependent mechanisms, likely involving a deranged T cell‐dependent autoimmune response, have been consistently associated with the selection/dominance of PNH precursors. Natural killer (NK) lymphocytes might participate in PNH pathogenesis, but their role is still controversial. NK activity is dependent on the balance between activating and inhibiting signals. Key component in such regulatory network is represented by killer immunoglobulin‐like receptors (KIR). KIR are also involved in the regulation of adaptive cytotoxic T cell response and associated with autoimmunity. This study investigated on the frequency of KIR genes and their known human leukocyte antigen (HLA) ligands in 53 PNH Italian patients. We observed increased frequency of genotypes characterized by ≤2 activating KIR as well as by the presence of an inhibitory/activating gene ratio ≥3.5. In addition, an increased matching between KIR–3DL1 and its ligand HLA‐Bw4 was found. These genotypes might be associated with lower NK‐dependent recognition of stress‐related self molecules; this is conceivable with the hypothesis that an increased availability of specific T cell targets, not cleared by NK cells, could be involved in PNH pathogenesis. These data may provide new insights into autoimmune PNH pathogenesis.
Relationships among initial hospital triage, disease progression and mortality in community‐acquired pneumonia
Authors: BROWN SAMUEL M. , JONES JASON P. , ARONSKY DOMINIK , JONES BARBARA E. , LANSPA MICHAEL J. , DEAN NATHAN C. 
Published: July 2012

ABSTRACTBackground and objective:  Appropriate triage of patients with community‐acquired pneumonia (CAP) may improve morbidity, mortality and use of hospital resources. Worse outcomes from delayed intensive care unit (ICU) admission have long been suspected but have not been verified.Methods:  In a retrospective study of consecutive patients with CAP admitted from 1996–2006 to the ICUs of a tertiary care hospital, we measured serial severity scores, intensive therapies received, ICU‐free days, and 30‐day mortality. Primary outcome was mortality. We developed a regression model of mortality with ward triage (and subsequent ICU transfer within 72 h) as the predictor, controlled by propensity for ward triage and radiographic progression.Results:  Of 1059 hospital‐admitted patients, 269 (25%) were admitted to the ICU during hospitalization. Of those, 167 were directly admitted to the ICU without current requirement for life support, while 61 (23%) were initially admitted to the hospital ward, 50 of those undergoing ICU transfer within 72 h. Ward triage was associated with increased mortality (OR 2.6, P = 0.056) after propensity adjustment. The effect was less (OR 2.2, P = 0.12) after controlling for radiographic progression. The effect probably increased (OR 4.1, P = 0.07) among patients with ≥ 3 severity predictors at admission.Conclusions:  Initial ward triage among patients transferred to the ICU is associated with twofold higher 30‐day mortality. This effect is most apparent among patients with ≥ 3 severity predictors at admission and is attenuated by controlling for radiographic progression. Intensive monitoring of ward‐admitted patients with CAP seems warranted. Further research is needed to optimize triage in CAP.
Evaluation of the Japanese Respiratory Society guidelines for the identification of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia
Authors: YIN YU‐DONG , ZHAO FEI , REN LI‐LI , SONG SHU‐FAN , LIU YING‐MEI , ZHANG JIAN‐ZHONG , CAO BIN 
Published: July 2012

ABSTRACTBackground and objective:  Community‐acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Mycoplasma pneumoniae is one of the major causative pathogens of CAP. Early diagnosis of M. pneumoniae pneumonia is crucial for initiating appropriate antibiotic therapy. The aim of this study was to determine whether the Japanese Respiratory Society (JRS) guidelines on CAP are effective for diagnosing M. pneumoniae pneumonia.Methods:  Between August 2008 and July 2009, adult outpatients with CAP were consecutively enrolled. The aetiology of CAP was determined by culture and real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods to detect M. pneumoniae, urine antigen tests to detect Streptococcus pneumoniae and Legionella pneumoniae, blood and sputum culture for bacteria and real‐time PCR for eight common respiratory viruses. The predictive value of the JRS guidelines for differentiating M. pneumoniae pneumonia from typical bacterial and viral pneumonias was determined.Results:  Data from 215 adult CAP outpatients was analyzed. An aetiological diagnosis was made for 105 patients (48.8%), including 62 patients with M. pneumoniae pneumonia, 17 patients with typical bacterial pneumonia and 23 patients with viral pneumonia. According to the JRS criteria for differential diagnosis of atypical pneumonia, 55 of 62 patients were correctly diagnosed with M. pneumoniae pneumonia (sensitivity 88.7%), and 31 of 40 patients with bacterial and viral pneumonia were correctly excluded (specificity 77.5%).Conclusions:  The JRS guidelines on CAP provide a useful tool for the identification of M. pneumoniae pneumonia cases and differentiating these from cases of typical bacterial or viral pneumonia.
Social–communicative effects of the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) in Autism Spectrum Disorders
Authors: Lerna Anna , Esposito Dalila , Conson Massimiliano , Russo Luigi , Massagli Angelo 
Published: July 2012

AbstractBackground: The Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) is a common treatment choice for non‐verbal children with autism. However, little empirical evidence is available on the usefulness of PECS in treating social–communication impairments in autism.Aims: To test the effects of PECS on social–communicative skills in children with autism, concurrently taking into account standardized psychometric data, standardized functional assessment of adaptive behaviour, and information on social–communicative variables coded in an unstructured setting.Methods & Procedures: Eighteen preschool children (mean age = 38.78 months) were assigned to two intervention approaches, i.e. PECS and Conventional Language Therapy (CLT). Both PECS (Phases I–IV) and CLT were delivered three times per week, in 30‐min sessions, for 6 months. Outcome measures were the following: Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) domain scores for Communication and Reciprocal Social Interaction; Language and Personal–Social subscales of the Griffiths’ Mental Developmental Scales (GMDS); Communication and Social Abilities domains of the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales (VABS); and several social–communicative variables coded in an unstructured setting.Outcomes & Results: Results demonstrated that the two groups did not differ at Time 1 (pre‐treatment assessment), whereas at Time 2 (post‐test) the PECS group showed a significant improvement with respect to the CLT group on the VABS social domain score and on almost all the social–communicative abilities coded in the unstructured setting (i.e. joint attention, request, initiation, cooperative play, but not eye contact).Conclusions & Implications: These findings showed that PECS intervention (Phases I–IV) can improve social–communicative skills in children with autism. This improvement is especially evident in standardized measures of adaptive behaviour and measures derived from the observation of children in an unstructured setting.
Model‐guided fieldwork: practical guidelines for multidisciplinary research on wildlife ecological and epidemiological dynamics
Authors: Restif Olivier , Hayman David T. S. , Pulliam Juliet R. C. , Plowright Raina K. , George Dylan B. , Luis Angela D. , Cunningham Andrew A. , Bowen Richard A. , Fooks Anthony R. , O'Shea Thomas J. , Wood James L. N. , Webb Colleen T. 
Published: July 2012

AbstractInfectious disease ecology has recently raised its public profile beyond the scientific community due to the major threats that wildlife infections pose to biological conservation, animal welfare, human health and food security. As we start unravelling the full extent of emerging infectious diseases, there is an urgent need to facilitate multidisciplinary research in this area. Even though research in ecology has always had a strong theoretical component, cultural and technical hurdles often hamper direct collaboration between theoreticians and empiricists. Building upon our collective experience of multidisciplinary research and teaching in this area, we propose practical guidelines to help with effective integration among mathematical modelling, fieldwork and laboratory work. Modelling tools can be used at all steps of a field‐based research programme, from the formulation of working hypotheses to field study design and data analysis. We illustrate our model‐guided fieldwork framework with two case studies we have been conducting on wildlife infectious diseases: plague transmission in prairie dogs and lyssavirus dynamics in American and African bats. These demonstrate that mechanistic models, if properly integrated in research programmes, can provide a framework for holistic approaches to complex biological systems.
What is the effect of peer support on diabetes outcomes in adults? A systematic review
Authors: Dale J. R. , Williams S. M. , Bowyer V. 
Published: July 2012

AbstractAim  There is increasing interest in the role that peers may play to support positive health behaviours in diabetes, but there is limited evidence to inform policy and practice. The aim of this study was to systematically review evidence of the impact and effectiveness of peer support in adults living with diabetes.Methods  We searched the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE and CINHAL for the period 1966–2011, together with reference lists of articles for eligible studies. Data were synthesized in a narrative review.Results  Twenty‐five studies, including fourteen randomized, controlled or comparative trials, met the inclusion criteria. There was considerable heterogeneity in the design, setting, outcomes and measurement tools. Peer support was associated with statistically significant improvements in glycaemic control (three out of 14 trials), blood pressure (one out of four trials), cholesterol (one out of six trials), BMI/weight (two out of seven trials), physical activity (two out of five trials), self‐efficacy (two out of three trials), depression (four out of six trials) and perceived social support (two out of two trials). No consistent pattern of effect related to any model of peer support emerged.Conclusions  Peer support appears to benefit some adults living with diabetes, but the evidence is too limited and inconsistent to support firm recommendations. There remains a need for further well‐designed evaluations of its effectiveness and impact. Key questions remain over its suitability to the needs of particular individuals, populations and settings, how best to implement its specific components and the sustainability of its effects.
Macroeconomic Impacts of Canadian Immigration: Results from a Macro Model
Authors: Dungan Peter , Fang Tony , Gunderson Morley 
Published: July 2012

AbstractWe use a macro‐econometric forecasting model to simulate the impact on the Canadian economy of a hypothetical increase in immigration. Our simulations generally yield positive impacts on such factors as real gross domestic product (GDP) and GDP per capita, aggregate demand, investment, productivity, and government expenditures, taxes and especially net government balances, with essentially no impact on unemployment. This is generally buttressed by conclusions reached in the existing literature. Our analysis suggests that concern should be with respect to immigrants themselves, as they are having an increasingly difficult time assimilating into the Canadian labour market, and new immigrants are increasingly falling into poverty.
Do early father–infant interactions predict the onset of externalising behaviours in young children? Findings from a longitudinal cohort study
Authors: Ramchandani Paul G , Domoney Jill , Sethna Vaheshta , Psychogiou Lamprini , Vlachos Haido , Murray Lynne 
Published: July 2012

Background:  Factors related to parents and parenting capacities are important predictors of the development of behavioural problems in children. Recently, there has been an increasing research focus in this field on the earliest years of life, however, relatively few studies have addressed the role of fathers, despite this appearing to be particularly pertinent to child behavioural development. This study aimed to examine whether father–infant interactions at age 3 months independently predicted child behavioural problems at 1 year of age.Method:  A sample of 192 families was recruited from two maternity units in the United Kingdom. Father–infant interactions were assessed in the family home and coded using the Global Rating Scales. Child behaviour problems were assessed by maternal report. Hierarchical and logistic regression analyses were used to examine associations between father–infant interaction and the development of behavioural problems.Results:  Disengaged and remote interactions between fathers and their infants were found to predict externalising behavioural problems at the age of 1 year. The children of the most disengaged fathers had an increased risk of developing early externalising behavioural problems [disengaged (nonintrusive) interactions – adjusted Odds Ratio 5.33 (95% Confidence Interval; 1.39, 20.40): remote interactions adj. OR 3.32 (0.92, 12.05)]Conclusions:  Disengaged interactions of fathers with their infants, as early as the third month of life, predict early behavioural problems in children. These interactions may be critical factors to address, from a very early age in the child’s life, and offer a potential opportunity for preventive intervention.
Mobile phones as a health communication tool to improve skilled attendance at delivery in Zanzibar: a cluster‐randomised controlled trial
Authors: Lund S , Hemed M , Nielsen BB , Said A , Said K , Makungu MH , Rasch V 
Published: July 2012

Please cite this paper as: Lund S, Hemed M, Nielsen B, Said A, Said K, Makungu M, Rasch V. Mobile phones as a health communication tool to improve skilled attendance at delivery in Zanzibar: a cluster‐randomised controlled trial. BJOG 2012;119:1256–1264.Objective  To examine the association between a mobile phone intervention and skilled delivery attendance in a resource‐limited setting.Design  Pragmatic cluster‐randomised controlled trial with primary healthcare facilities as the unit of randomisation.Setting  Primary healthcare facilities in Zanzibar.Population  Two thousand, five hundred and fifty pregnant women (1311 interventions and 1239 controls) who attended antenatal care at one of the selected primary healthcare facilities were included at their first antenatal care visit and followed until 42 days after delivery. All pregnant women were eligible for study participation.Methods  Twenty‐four primary healthcare facilities in six districts in Zanzibar were allocated by simple randomisation to either mobile phone intervention (n = 12) or standard care (n = 12). The intervention consisted of a short messaging service (SMS) and mobile phone voucher component.Main outcome measures  Skilled delivery attendance.Results  The mobile phone intervention was associated with an increase in skilled delivery attendance: 60% of the women in the intervention group versus 47% in the control group delivered with skilled attendance. The intervention produced a significant increase in skilled delivery attendance amongst urban women (odds ratio, 5.73; 95% confidence interval, 1.51–21.81), but did not reach rural women.Conclusions  The mobile phone intervention significantly increased skilled delivery attendance amongst women of urban residence. Mobile phone solutions may contribute to the saving of lives of women and their newborns and the achievement of Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5, and should be considered by maternal and child health policy makers in developing countries.
The relationship between tremor and change in brain acetylcholine concentration produced by injection of tremorine or oxotremorine in the rat
Authors: COX B. , POTKONJAK D. 
Published: July 2012

The relationship between tremor and change in brain acetylcholine concentration after the injection of tremorine or oxotremorine has been investigated in rats.
Tremorine produced a significant increase in whole brain acetylcholine and in tremor 5 min after injection. After this time tremor subsided but brain acetylcholine continued to increase.
Oxotremorine produced tremor within 30 sec. This became maximal within 5 min of injection and then declined rapidly. The brain acetylcholine concentration showed a significant increase 5 min after injection and continued to increase until 30 min afterwards.
The role of the sympathetic nervous system in the cardiovascular responses to angiotensin in the pithed rat
Authors: FINCH L. , LEACH G. D. H. 
Published: July 2012

Angiotensin (200–500 ng, intravenously) produced a biphasic pressor response accompanied by reflex bradycardia in rats anaesthetized with sodium pentobarbitone. In pithed rats and in anaesthetized animals treated with a ganglion blocking agent there was a similar pressor response but an increase in the heart rate which was coincident with the second phase of the pressor response. In pithed preparations an increase in cardiac contractile force accompanied the heart rate changes.
Acute or chronic adrenalectomy did not alter the pressor responses and chronotropic effect of angiotensin in the pithed rat. Propranolol abolished the chronotropic and inotropic action of angiotensin, but left the biphasic pressor response unaltered. Bethanidine, or pretreatment with reserpine, altered the pressor response to a simple rise, and also abolished the chronotropic action of angiotensin. Phentolamine also abolished the second pressor component. Desmethylimipramine produced a marked potentiation of the cardiovascular effects of angiotensin at all dose levels tested (10–500 ng).
It is concluded that in the rat only large doses of angiotensin are capable of indirectly stimulating the sympathetic nerves either at the site of their ganglionic cells or their post‐ganglionic nerve ending.
Steroid potentiation of responses to sympathomimetic amines in aortic strips
Authors: KALSNER STANLEY 
Published: July 2012

Responses to catecholamines (adrenaline, noradrenaline, nordefrine) were enhanced by 17β‐oestradiol, progesterone and desoxycorticosterone in untreated and reserpine pretreated aortic strips. Responses to tyramine, believed mediated via endogenous catecholamines, were enhanced only in untreated strips.
Responses to sympathomimetic amines lacking the catechol nucleus (phenylephrine, synephrine, methoxamine) were potentiated inconsistently by the steroids and reserpine pretreatment reduced markedly the frequency of potentiated responses.
Known inhibitors of catechol‐O‐methyl transferase (tropolone, U‐0521, pyrogallol) potentiated responses to catecholamines and abolished the enhancing effects of the steroids—when the steroids were given first, there was no further increase in response to catecholamines on adding inhibitors of catechol‐O‐methyl transferase.
Experiments with the oil‐immersion technique, to eliminate diffusion of drug from the tissue, indicated that 17β‐oestradiol, progesterone and desoxycorticosterone decreased the rate at which aortic strips inactivated adrenaline by Omethylation.
It is concluded that 17β‐oestradiol, progesterone and desoxycorticosterone potentiate responses to catecholamines in aortic strips by inhibiting a major mechanism for their inactivation.