bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Routine calcium measurement is not necessary after most thyroid surgeries: a prospective clinical study
Authors: Quinn E.M. , Neary P.M. , O’Connor O.J. , Shafiq A. , Kelly J. , Redmond H.P. 
Published: October 2010

Clin. Otolaryngol. 2010, 35, 468–473Objectives:  Calcium levels are often measured to diagnose postoperative hypocalcaemia following thyroidectomy. The aims of this study were to (i) prospectively determine the incidence of symptomatic and biochemical hypocalcaemia following thyroidectomy, (ii) to identify if any associations exist between hypocalcaemia, type of surgery, histological diagnosis, specimen size/weight and the presence of histological parathyroid tissue and (iii) to evaluate the necessity of routine measurement of calcium levels following all thyroidectomies.Design:  Prospective clinical study.Settings:  University teaching hospital.Participants:  Eighty‐six patients presenting consecutively for thyroid surgery.Outcome measures:  Type of surgery, indications, perioperative calcium levels, symptoms of hypocalcaemia and histology were documented.Results:  Fifty‐four patients underwent thyroid lobectomy and isthmusectomy, 19 underwent total and 13 completion thyroidectomy. Significantly, no patient undergoing thyroid lobectomy developed hypocalcaemia versus 26% of total thyroidectomies (P = 0.001) and 23% of completion thyroidectomies (P = 0.006). All eight patients with hypocalcaemia required treatment. Seven were initially identified clinically. Logistic regression analysis revealed that operation type was the only independent risk factor for developing hypocalcaemia (P = 0.021).Conclusions:  No patient developed hypocalcaemia following thyroid lobectomy and isthmusectomy. Considering the majority (63%) of thyroid surgeries were lobectomies, most patients tested appear low risk for hypocalcaemia. Definitive prediction of hypocalcaemia postoperatively remains a challenge. However, our results suggest that analysing calcium levels routinely following thyroid lobectomy is unwarranted.
Correlation between acoustic rhinometry and subjective nasal patency during nasal challenge test in subjects with suspected occupational rhinitis; a prospective controlled study
Authors: Castano R. , Trudeau C. , Ghezzo H. 
Published: October 2010

Clin. Otolaryngol. 2010, 35, 462–467Objectives:  To assess the correlation between acoustic rhinometry and visual analogue scale endpoints in the context of nasal challenge with occupational agents.Design:  Prospective controlled study.Setting:  University teaching hospital.Participants:  Sixty‐seven subjects with a history of work‐related rhinitis and asthma symptoms.Main outcomes measures:  Subjects underwent nasal challenge with control and specific agent on consecutive days. Nasal congestive response to challenge was monitored by acoustic rhinometry and visual analogue scale.Results:  Results showed no correlation between visual analogue scale and acoustic rhinometry measurements at baseline on the control (r = −0.13, P = 0.3) and active (r = 0.14, P = 0.2) challenge days. No correlation was found between acoustic rhinometry and visual analogue scale when analysing all measurements obtained at all times after challenge with the control and active agent (control: r = 0.09, P = 0.04; active: r = 0.001, P = 0.9). The correlation between acoustic rhinometry and visual analogue scale was good and significant (r = −0.62, P = <0.01) when the analysis was restricted to cases showing a decrease in nasal volume >40% from baseline values.Conclusions:  We showed that the correlation between acoustic rhinometry and subjective nasal patency was poor on steady conditions. However, a significant correlation was observed in those cases showing a greater nasal congestive response after challenge measured by acoustic rhinometry.
Effect of oral beta-blocker on short and long-term mortality in patients with acute respiratory failure: results from the BASEL-II-ICU study
Authors: Noveanu Markus , Breidthardt Tobias , Reichlin Tobias , Gayat Etienne , Potocki Mihael , Pargger Hans , Heise Antje , Meissner Julia , Twerenbold Raphael , Muravitskaya Natalia , Mebazaa Alexandre , Mueller Christian 
Published: November 2010

Abstract
Introduction
Acute respiratory failure (ARF) is responsible for about one-third of intensive care unit (ICU) admissions and is associated with adverse outcomes. Predictors of short- and long-term outcomes in unselected ICU-patients with ARF are ill-defined. The purpose of this analysis was to determine predictors of in-hospital and one-year mortality and assess the effects of oral beta-blockers in unselected ICU patients with ARF included in the BASEL-II-ICU study.

Methods
The BASEL II-ICU study was a prospective, multicenter, randomized, single-blinded, controlled trial of 314 (mean age 70 (62 to 79) years) ICU patients with ARF evaluating impact of a B-type natriuretic peptide- (BNP) guided management strategy on short-term outcomes.

Results
In-hospital mortality was 16% (51 patients) and one-year mortality 41% (128 patients). Multivariate analysis assessed that oral beta-blockers at admission were associated with a lower risk of both in-hospital (HR 0.33 (0.14 to 0.74) P = 0.007) and one-year mortality (HR 0.29 (0.16 to 0.51) P = 0.0003). Kaplan-Meier analysis confirmed the lower mortality in ARF patients when admitted with oral beta-blocker and further shows that the beneficial effect of oral beta-blockers at admission holds true in the two subgroups of patients with ARF related to cardiac or non-cardiac causes. Kaplan-Meier analysis also shows that administration of oral beta-blockers before hospital discharge gives striking additional beneficial effects on one-year mortality.

Conclusions
Established beta-blocker therapy appears to be associated with a reduced mortality in ICU patients with acute respiratory failure. Cessation of established therapy appears to be hazardous. Initiation of therapy prior to discharge appears to confer benefit. This finding was seen regardless of the cardiac or non-cardiac etiology of respiratory failure.

Trial registration
clinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00130559
Prevention of Adsorption of Fluorescent Amino Acids to Gels by Using a Peptide Containing Dendritic Amino Acids
Authors: Kitamatsu Mizuki , Akagi Kazumasa , Sisido Masahiko 
Published: October 2010

Abstract
We synthesized two dendritic amino acids containing two or four carboxylic acids in the side chain. Using these amino acids, we prepared dendritic peptides that could wrap fluorescent amino acids. Because of the steric hindrance in the dendritic amino acid units present in the peptides, nonspecific adsorption of the fluorescent amino acid to gels was prevented.
Status and Trends in the Direct Support Workforce in Self-Directed Supports
Authors: Bogenschutz Matthew , Hewitt Amy , Hall-Lande Jennifer , LaLiberte Traci 
Published: October 2010

Abstract
Self-directed programs that allow individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to exercise greater control over their finances have become increasingly common in recent years. At the same time, challenges in the recruitment, retention, and training of direct support workers in the field have grown more acute. In this article, the authors investigate the status of the direct support workforce for people using self-directed supports in 1 Midwestern state, based on the results of a statewide survey of service users. Although additional research is needed, the results of this study suggest that people who use self-directed funding options are satisfied with their ability to direct staffing, though challenges remain. Among these challenges, the presence of higher than expected wages but lower than expected benefits provision compared with traditional services may have serious policy and staff retention ramifications that affect the long-term viability of self-directed funding options. In addition, staff training remains a challenge, with service users in this sample reporting low rates of training beyond a general skill set. Implications of these findings are discussed.
On the Pulse of Change: The New Beat of Special Education in Higher Education
Authors: Keeffe Mary , De George-Walker Linda 
Published: October 2010

AbstractThe roles and responsibilities of special educators in both special and regular school settings are changing rapidly. More than two decades ago the move towards more inclusive practices disrupted the traditional, niche separatism of special educators to the extent that they are now an integral part of the regular school teaching staff. Today the broad agenda to facilitate access and participation for all students in education, not just students with disabilities, influences the roles and responsibilities of special educators. This article briefly identifies some of the generic pulses that are moving the special education profession from a focus on low incidence disabilities towards a more comprehensive approach to inclusion, school responsiveness and individualised learning pathways. From the foundation of inclusive practice, this article will describe how a qualitative study was used to understand the changing roles and responsibilities of special educators. A case-study analysis of 17 schools formed the basis of the investigation. Principals, lead teachers in special education and special education teachers were asked to identify trends and priorities in special education and also to identify rewards and challenges in their jobs. Further cross-referencing with teacher and special educator standards, a focus group, a stakeholder group and research in the field increased the opportunity for academics and special educators to critically reflect on the emerging demands placed on special educators and the attributes that are needed to be professionally effective.
Synchronous Artefact Reduction in Industrial Computed Tomography
Authors: Franz Matthias , Kasperl Stefan , Stamminger Marc 
Published: October 2010

Abstract
Computed tomography (CT) can be used for dimensional measurement. Reliable results require an effective artefact correction. In two earlier papers a Synchronous Artefact Correction (German: Einsatzsynchrone Artefakt-Reduktion EAR) was introduced. In this paper some further developments of EAR are given though the key concept isn´t altered. It is still two-staged with a separation in fine and coarse registration, the latter is subdivided into translation and rotation. For the coarse rotation the idea of the Overall Cachment Area is applied. In-depth tests favoured “Normalized Mutual Information” that was only second-best in the prime research. Another topic is the analysis of the accuracy of the registration result concerning the applied similarity measure. In this test “Normalized Mutual Information” was figured out to be the measure with the highest accuracy.
Aufgabenspezifische Messunsicherheit von Koordinatenmessungen
Authors: Hernla Michael , Wendt Klaus , Franke Matthias 
Published: October 2010

Zusammenfassung
Der Beitrag beschreibt drei Verfahren zur Ermittlung der aufgabenspezifischen Messunsicherheit von Koordinatenmessungen nach dem international anerkannten “Leitfaden zur Angabe der Unsicherheit beim Messen” (GUM): Numerische Simulation, Messung von kalibrierten Werkstücken sowie Messunsicherheitsbudget. Er stellt drei Ansätze zur praktischen Umsetzung dieser Verfahren an Werkstücken mit Regelgeometrien gegenüber und diskutiert ihre Einsatzmöglichkeiten.
Pharmacogenetic Impact of UDP‐Glucuronosyltransferase Metabolic Pathway and Multidrug Resistance—Associated Protein 2 Transport Pathway on Mycophenolic Acid in Thoracic Transplant Recipients: An Exploratory Study
Authors: Ting Lillian S. L. , Benoit‐Biancamano Marie‐Odile , Bernard Olivier , Riggs K. Wayne , Guillemette Chantal , Ensom Mary H. H. 
Published: October 2010

Study Objective. To assess the contribution of polymorphisms in the uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase gene (UGT) and the multidrug resistance‐associated protein 2 gene (ABCC2) to mycophenolic acid (MPA) pharmacokinetics and clinical outcomes in thoracic transplant recipients.Design. Open‐label, cross‐sectional study.Setting. Transplant clinic in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.Patients. Sixty‐eight thoracic (36 lung, 32 heart) transplant recipients who were receiving steady‐state oral mycophenolate mofetil.Measurements and Main Results. Eleven blood samples were obtained from each patient over a 12–hour dosing period. Plasma concentrations of MPA (active metabolite of mycophenolate mofetil), the MPA metabolites 7–O‐mycophenolic acid glucuronide (MPAG) and acyl glucuronide (AcMPAG), and free MPA were measured, and dose‐normalized conventional pharmacokinetic parameters were determined by noncompartmental methods. Genetic polymorphisms in UGT and ABCC2 were determined by sequencing, and their contributions to pharmacokinetic variability were investigated by using multivariate analysis. For both the lung and heart transplant groups, the UGT2B7 variant 802T (Tyr268 or UGT2B7*2, rs7439366) and the UGT2B7 variant −138A modified AcMPAG exposure (2.5–3.7–fold and 9.3–12.3–fold higher AcMPAG area under the concentration‐time curve [AUC] and AcMPAG:MPA ratio, respectively). In an exploratory analysis, occurrences of rejection, infection, anemia, and leukopenia were associated with an AcMPAG AUC greater than 50 μg•hour/ml and an AcMPAG:MPA ratio greater than 2.Conclusion. UGT2B7 is a promising gene candidate that may influence MPA pharmacokinetics clinically; however, larger clinical pharmacogenetic studies in thoracic transplant subpopulations are warranted to corroborate the role of AcMPAG and UGT2B7 variants in optimizing mycophenolate mofetil therapy.
Suboptimal Use of Inhaled Corticosteroids in Children with Persistent Asthma: Inadequate Prescription, Poor Drug Adherence, or Both?
Authors: Pando Silvia , Lemière Catherine , Beauchesne Marie‐France , Perreault Sylvie , Forget Amélie , Blais Lucie 
Published: October 2010

Study Objective. To assess the use of inhaled corticosteroids in children with persistent asthma, including patients' adherence to these drugs and physicians' prescribing patterns, by using a novel drug adherence measure, the Proportion of Prescribed Days Covered (PPDC).Design. Retrospective analysis.Data Source. Two administrative claims databases in Quebec, Canada.Patients. Two thousand three hundred fifty‐five children aged 5–15 years with persistent asthma who used more than 3 doses/week on average of a short‐acting β‐agonist during a 12–month period before beginning treatment with inhaled corticosteroids between 1997 and 2005.Measurements and Main Results. The PPDC measure was defined as the total days' supply dispensed divided by the total days' supply prescribed. During the 12–month follow‐up period, 20% of the children received only one prescription for inhaled corticosteroids with no prescribed renewals. The mean number of prescriptions (including prescribed renewals) was 5.0, corresponding to only 152 days' supply prescribed. Mean PPDC (drug adherence) was 62.4%. Only 25% of the patients had controlled asthma, based on the use of 3 or fewer doses/week of short‐acting β2‐agonists and absence of moderate‐to‐severe exacerbations.Conclusion. A large percentage of children with persistent asthma were prescribed intermittent rather than daily inhaled corticosteroids, and patient adherence to these drugs was suboptimal even though children had free access to their drugs. Many of these patients continued to experience poor asthma control. The PPDC adherence measure developed for this study allowed a better understanding of the gap between treatment goals and asthma control.
Bivalirudin versus Unfractionated Heparin for Prevention of Hemofilter Occlusion During Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy
Authors: Kiser Tyree H. , MacLaren Robert , Fish Douglas N. , Hassell Kathryn L. , Teitelbaum Isaac 
Published: October 2010

Study Objective. To evaluate the safety and efficacy of bivalirudin compared with heparin for preventing hemofilter occlusion during continuous venovenous hemofiltration (CVVH).Design. Prospective, randomized, double‐blind study.Setting. University‐affiliated hospital.Patients. Ten critically ill adults (median age 58 yrs, 70% male) with acute renal failure who, without anticoagulation, experienced hemofilter survival time of 24 hours or less during CVVH.Intervention. Patients were randomized to receive bivalirudin 2 mg/hour (five patients) or heparin 400 units/hour (five patients) administered prefilter into the extracorporeal circuit.Measurements and Main Results. Patients had a median Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score of 24, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score of 11, and reduced antithrombin activity (75.5 units/dl). Baseline characteristics were not significantly different between groups. Study drug was administered in 40 hemofilters (18 from bivalirudin‐treated patients, 22 from heparin‐treated patients). The primary efficacy outcome was hemofilter survival time, defined as the interval of time between commencement of CVVH with a new extracorporeal circuit (hemofilter) and hemofilter failure. Compared with no anticoagulation, the addition of bivalirudin or heparin significantly improved hemofilter survival time (mean ± SD 10 ± 5 hrs with no anticoagulation vs 22 ± 18 hrs with anticoagulation, p=0.0005). Hemofilter survival time was significantly increased in patients receiving bivalirudin versus those receiving heparin (29.6 ± 20.7 vs 16.5 ± 13.6 hrs, p=0.045). Independent predictors of hemofilter survival were use of bivalirudin therapy and increased antithrombin III activity. No patients randomized to bivalirudin experienced any bleeding or thrombosis events; one patient who received heparin developed alveolar hemorrhage, and one developed a lower extremity deep vein thrombosis.Conclusion. Compared with heparin, bivalirudin was more efficacious in prolonging hemofilter survival time and was well tolerated. Additional studies of bivalirudin for prevention of hemofilter occlusion during continuous renal replacement therapy are warranted.
Reduced Health Care Expenditures After Enrollment in a Collaborative Cardiac Care Service
Authors: Delate Thomas , Olson Kari L. , Rasmussen Jon , Hutka Kara , Sandhoff Brian , Hornak Roseanne , Merenich John ,   Clinical Pharmacy Cardiac Risk Service Study Group
Published: October 2010

Study Objective. To assess the impact of a collaborative cardiovascular risk reduction service (Collaborative Cardiac Care Service [CCCS]) on total health care expenditures after an incident acute coronary event.Design. Matched, retrospective cohort study.Data Source. Kaiser Permanente Colorado (KPCO) databases.Patients. Patients who had an incident coronary event between January 1999 and June 2004 and were either enrolled (CCCS group) or never enrolled in the CCCS (No CCCS group). Patients in the CCCS group (628 patients) were matched in a 1:1 ratio to patients in the No CCCS group (628 patients) by Chronic Disease Score (CDS) and total health care expenditures in the 180 days before the index coronary event (baseline).Measurements and Main Results. Drug purchases and medical utilization encounters were extracted from the KPCO administrative and claims databases after the incident coronary event until death, KPCO plan termination, 3 years later, or December 31, 2005, whichever came first (follow‐up). Expenditure estimates from the plan's decision support system (in 2007 U.S. dollars) were applied to each utilization encounter. A$1/follow‐up day cost was applied to all patients in the CCCS group. Expenditures/follow‐up day were modeled with adjustment for matching variables, patient characteristics, baseline expenditures, and intracorrelations of matched patients. Patients in the No CCCS group were slightly older and were more likely to be female and have had a myocardial infarction as their incident event compared with those in the CCCS group. During follow‐up, there were 12 and 98 cardiac‐related deaths and 16 and 188 all‐cause deaths for the CCCS and No CCCS groups, respectively; mean and median total health care expenditures/day were $39 and $20, respectively, for the CCCS group, and $108 and $45, respectively, for the No CCCS group (all p<0.001). After adjustment, total health care expenditures for patients in the CCCS group were approximately $60/day ($21,900/yr) lower than those for patients in the No CCCS group (p<0.001; adjusted R2=0.29 with log‐transformed expenditures).Conclusion. The comprehensive and aggressive implementation of secondary cardiac prevention strategies and close monitoring and follow‐up of patients with coronary artery disease provided by the CCCS were associated with reduced health care expenditures.
Obsessions and Compulsions in Children with Asperger's Syndrome or High-Functioning Autism: A Case-Control Study
Authors: Mack Hilary , Fullana Miquel A. , Russell Ailsa J. , Mataix-Cols David , Nakatani Eriko , Heyman Isobel 
Published: October 2010

Objective: To compare the clinical characteristics and symptom severity of children with obsessive disorder (OCD) plus autism spectrum disorders (ASD) with those of children with OCD plus Tourette's syndrome (TS) or OCD alone. Method: Children with OCD and ASD (OCD/ASD) (n = 12, mean age = 14.33, range: 12–18) were compared to children with OCD and TS (OCD/TS) (n = 12, mean age = 13.92, range: 9–17) and children with OCD-alone (OCD) (n = 12, mean age = 12.92, range: 9–17) on measures of obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptom frequency, severity, interference and other clinical variables. Results: Patients from the OCD/ASD group rated their OC symptoms as equally distressing, time consuming and contributing to a similar level of interference in functioning as patients in the OCD/TS and OCD groups. The types of symptoms were similar across groups but patients with OCD/TS reported greater frequency of ordering and arranging compulsions, and a trend towards more sexual obsessions. Patients with OCD/ASD reported more peer relationship problems compared with the other two groups. Conclusions: Children with ASD may experience a similar level of impairment from OC symptoms as children with TS plus OCD and children with OCD only. It is suggested that it is useful to establish both diagnoses given that obsessions and compulsions may respond to treatment, and their alleviation may improve functioning in children on the autism spectrum.
Ice layers as an indicator of summer warmth and atmospheric blocking in Alaska
Authors: Kelsey Eric P. , Wake Cameron P. , Kreutz Karl , Osterberg Erich 
Published: October 2010

AbstractSamples were collected from a snow pit and shallow firn core near Kahiltna Pass (2970 m a.s.l.), Denali National Park, Alaska, USA, in May 2008. The record spans autumn 2003 to spring 2008 and reveals clusters of ice layers interpreted as summertime intervals of above-freezing temperatures. High correlation coefficients (0.75–1.00) between annual ice-layer thickness and regional summertime station temperatures for 4 years (n = 4) indicate ice-layer thickness is a good proxy for mean and extreme summertime temperatures across Alaska, at least over the short period of record. A Rex-block (aka high-over-low) pattern, a downstream trough over Hudson Bay, Canada, and an upstream trough over eastern Siberia occurred during the three melting events that lasted at least 2 weeks. About half of all shorter melting events were associated with a cut-off low traversing the Gulf of Alaska. We hypothesize that a surface-to-bedrock core extracted from this location would provide a high-quality record of summer temperature and atmospheric blocking variability for the last several hundred years.