bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Clinical Features to Identify Urinary Tract Infection in Nursing Home Residents: A Cohort Study
Authors: Juthani‐Mehta Manisha , Quagliarello Vincent , Perrelli Eleanor , Towle Virginia , Van Ness Peter H. , Tinetti Mary 
Published: May 2009

OBJECTIVES: To identify clinical features associated with bacteriuria plus pyuria in noncatheterized nursing home residents with clinically suspected urinary tract infection (UTI).DESIGN: Prospective, observational cohort study from 2005 to 2007.SETTING: Five New Haven, Connecticut area nursing homes.PARTICIPANTS: Five hundred fifty‐one nursing home residents each followed for 1 year for the development of clinically suspected UTI.MEASUREMENTS: The combined outcome of bacteriuria (>100,000 colony forming units from urine culture) plus pyuria (>10 white blood cells from urinalysis).RESULTS: After 178,914 person‐days of follow‐up, 228 participants had 399 episodes of clinically suspected UTI with a urinalysis and urine culture performed; 147 episodes (36.8%) had bacteriuria plus pyuria. The clinical features associated with bacteriuria plus pyuria were dysuria (relative risk (RR)=1.58, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.10–2.03), change in character of urine (RR=1.42, 95% CI=1.07‐1.79), and change in mental status (RR=1.38, 95% CI=1.03–1.74).CONCLUSION: Dysuria, change in character of urine, and change in mental status were significantly associated with the combined outcome of bacteriuria plus pyuria. Absence of these clinical features identified residents at low risk of having bacteriuria plus pyuria (25.5%), whereas presence of dysuria plus one or both of the other clinical features identified residents at high risk of having bacteriuria plus pyuria (63.2%). Diagnostic uncertainty still remains for the vast majority of residents who meet only one clinical feature. If validated in future cohorts, these clinical features with bacteriuria plus pyuria may serve as an evidence‐based clinical definition of UTI to assist in management decisions.
Crushed Clopidogrel Administered via Nasogastric Tube Has Faster and Greater Absorption than Oral Whole Tablets
Authors: ZAFAR M. UROOJ , FARKOUH MICHAEL E. , FUSTER VALENTIN , CHESEBRO JAMES H. 
Published: May 2009

Objectives: To compare the absorption of 300 mg clopidogrel administered crushed via nasogastric (NG) tube versus whole tablets taken orally in healthy volunteers.
Background: Earlier antiplatelet therapy has proven benefits in treatment of myocardial infarction and in patients undergoing PCI. Aspirin can be delivered early in crushed form via NG tube after CABG surgery to prevent graft occlusion. If clopidogrel given crushed via NG tube provides faster absorption, it could allow earlier clopidogrel loading.
Methods: Nine healthy human subjects (34.7 ± 11.1 years, 5 males) were given 300 mg clopidogrel in crushed form via NG tube with 30 mL water after 8 hours of fasting. Plasma levels of the primary circulating inactive clopidogrel metabolite SR26334 were measured after 20 minutes, 40 minutes, 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, and 24 hours of dosing. Following ≥2 week washout, same subjects swallowed 300 mg clopidogrel (four 75 mg tablets) after an 8‐hour fasting and SR26334 levels were measured at the same time points.
Results: Plasma SR26334 concentrations peaked earlier after crushed delivery than after oral intake (44 vs. 70 minutes, P = 0.023) and the median peak was 80% higher (13,083 vs. 7,255 ng/mL, respectively, P = 0.021). At 40 minutes, area under the curve was almost twofold greater with NG administration than oral administration (geometric means ratio = 0.5299, 95% CI = 0.28–0.99, P = 0.048), but was similar over the 24‐hour period with both administration methods (geometric means ratio = 1.05, 95% CI = 0.84–1.32, P = 0.646).
Conclusions: A 300 mg loading dose of crushed clopidogrel administered via NG tube provides faster and greater bioavailability than an equal dose taken orally as whole tablets. The clinical benefits of this strategy need to be investigated.
Frequency doubling perimetry in glaucoma early diagnosis
Authors: Brusini P. , Busatto P. 
Published: May 2009

AbstractFrequency‐doubling perimetry (FDP) is a new, out‐of‐the‐ordinary, visual field testing method. Its sensitivity and reliability was tested in 16 patients (32 eyes) with ocular hypertension and 21 patients (37 eyes) with early chronic glaucoma. Significant defects were found in almost 10% of hypertensive eyes and in 67.7% of glaucomatous eyes.FDP is an effective and sensitive technique for glaucoma functional loss assessment.
Glaucoma and quality of the life
Authors: Perfetti S. , Varotto A. , Massagrandi S. , Pagliani F. , Bonomi L. 
Published: May 2009

SummaryA questionnaire was prepared and given to 332 subjects who passed through our Institute for Glaucoma with the aim of evaluating their quality of life. The diagnosis of glaucoma is associated with a diminished quality of life in a considerable percentage of the interviewed subjects. The patients are troubled most of all by the inconvenience of the treatments and the fear of visual compromission. Miotic therapies, polytherapies and systemic therapies are the less agreeable of them. Of the therapy in itself, the most disagreeable aspects are the frequency and timetable of the medications. No quality of life differences were mentioned by surgically treated patients nor those on solely pharmacological treatment.
Red Clump stars in the Boötes III stellar system
Authors: Correnti M. , Bellazzini M. , Ferraro F. R. 
Published: May 2009

Abstract
We report on the detection of a population of Red Clump (RC) stars probably associated with the recently discovered stellar system Boötes III. The RC is identified as a 3σ peak in the luminosity function (LF) of colour-selected stars extracted from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey data base. The peak is consistently detected in the g, r, i and z LFs at the expected luminosity of a typical RC at the distance of Boötes III. Moreover, the stars around the LF peak show a maximum of surface density nearly coincident with the reported centre of the system. Assuming that the detected feature is the genuine RC of Boötes III, we find that the system has the horizontal branch morphology typical of old and metal-poor dwarf spheroidals, it has an integrated magnitude MV≃−5.8 ± 0.5 and an ellipticity ε∼ 0.5, quite typical of the recently identified new class of very faint dwarf galaxies.
Storytelling and environmental information: connecting schoolchildren and herpetofauna in Morocco
Authors: FANINI Lucia , FAHD Soumia 
Published: May 2009

AbstractNorthwestern Morocco is undergoing a sudden change in the level of infrastructure growth and pressure on the environment from increased tourism. The ongoing changes are raising questions about how the ecosystem will react, and the relevant drivers of these changes. The Oued Laou valley in north‐west Morocco hosts high landscape, species and human cultural diversity. The Talassemtane National Park has been established to preserve the environment in this region; however, what information tools are available to children regarding this environment? The ecosystem is illustrated here using three components: herpetofauna (representing ecosystem components), problems related to water quantity and quality (representing interactions within ecosystem components) and Talassemtane National Park (representing a case of ecosystem management). A children's book was written on this topic, and when the book was delivered to pupils, a questionnaire was included, aimed at determining their sources of environmental information. The results identified major changes in the sources of information utilized by children in this part of Morocco, a clear role of schools in explaining ecosystem components, and an increasing role of TV in environmental information supply. The role of the family was found to be less important than TV or school. Another major source of pupils' environmental knowledge is personal observation and hands‐on experience, both for rural and urban children. Children are willing to discover and understand complex systems, and researchers should be encouraged to supply children with correct and up‐to‐date information on environmental systems, focusing at first on the local environment, as a background for sustainable development.
Distribution and conservation of the Indo–Pacific humpback dolphin in China
Authors: CHEN Bingyao , ZHENG Dongmei , YANG Guang , XU Xinrong , ZHOU Kaiya 
Published: May 2009

AbstractThe Indo–Pacific humpback dolphin (Sousa chinensisOsbeck, 1765) is a threatened species inhabiting the waters of China. Despite being of conservation concern, the distribution and abundance of this species has not been comprehensively evaluated. From 1994 to 2008 we performed over 14 000 km of line‐transect surveys and administered over 700 questionnaires to collect basic information on the geographic range and likely abundance of Indo–Pacific humpback dolphins along the southern and eastern coasts of China. Through our study we were able to establish a reporting network of stranding and incidental catches for this species. Our quantitative data suggests that only 76 animals remain around Xiamen, 39 in the Hepu Nature Reserve and 114 in the estuary of the Dafengjiang River. Qualitative data from local fishing people and government officials suggests that dolphins may exist year‐round in waters off Ningde and Shantou. We found that wild populations ofSousa chinensisin this important region are clearly being affected by human disturbance and habitat deterioration, including underwater blasting, vessel collision, fishing, aquaculture and water pollution. Although some protected areas have been established and this species is protected under Chinese law, there remains virtually no protection for this animal.
Analysis of the rescue patterns and procedures of foreign medical teams following the Wenchuan earthquake
Authors: Jiang Hong , Dai Xiao Zhou 
Published: May 2009

Abstract Objective To retrospectively analyze the rescue activities of 11 foreign medical teams during the Wenchuan earthquake in Sichuan, China, and summarize their rescue patterns and procedures to provide a reference for disaster medical treatment. Methods Statistics in the study are based on information from the Sichuan Provincial Earthquake Relief Headquarters. The authors also directly involved foreign medical teams in the data collection and statistical analysis. Results The different rescue patterns and procedures of foreign medical teams were based on specific conditions and were in strict accordance with scientific and prudent work processes. This resulted in high efficiency and effectiveness in the rescue. Conclusion Chinese medical staff could learn from foreign medical teams’ serious work attitude, patient service, and scientific working patterns.
Genetic and Antigenic Evolution of Swine Influenza Viruses in Europe and Evaluation of Their Zoonotic Potential
Authors: Kuntz‐Simon G. , Madec F. 
Published: May 2009

SummarySwine influenza is a highly contagious respiratory viral infection of pigs that has become enzootic in areas densely populated with pigs. Like other influenza A viruses, swine influenza virus (SIV) is genetically unstable and able to accumulate antigenic drifts and/or antigenic shifts. The pig is susceptible to both avian and human influenza viruses and can serve as an intermediate host in influenza virus ecology. Zoonotic agents may emerge in pigs following the modification of an established swine strain, adaptation of a strain of avian origin to the mammalian host, or reassortment between human and avian influenza viruses. Three different subtypes, H1N1, H3N2 and H1N2, are at present circulating in Europe. They differ from those found in North America and Asia and various lineages can be distinguished within each subtype. To date, European SIVs have not produced a global outbreak of influenza in humans but sporadic cases of SIV infection have been reported. This review presents a historical record of the genetic and antigenic evolution of SIVs in Europe. Our present understanding of the transmission of European SIVs from pigs to other animal species and to humans, together with the factors that limit inter‐species transmission, is described.
Code status discussions and goals of care among hospitalised adults
Authors: Kaldjian L C , Erekson Z D , Haberle T H , Curtis A E , Shinkunas L A , Cannon K T , Forman-Hoffman V L 
Published: May 2009

Background and objective:Code status discussions may fail to address patients’ treatment-related goals and their knowledge of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). This study aimed to investigate patients’ resuscitation preferences, knowledge of CPR and goals of care.Design, setting, patients and measurements:135 adults were interviewed within 48 h of admission to a general medical service in an academic medical centre, querying code status preferences, knowledge about CPR and its outcome probabilities and goals of care. Medical records were reviewed for clinical information and code status documentation.Results:41 (30.4%) patients had discussed CPR with their doctor, 116 (85.9%) patients preferred full code status and 11 (8.1%) patients expressed code status preferences different from the code status documented in their medical record. When queried about seven possible goals of care, patients affirmed an average of 4.9 goals; their single most important goals were broadly distributed, ranging from being cured (n = 36; 26.7%) to being comfortable (n = 8; 5.9%). Patients’ mean estimate of survival to discharge after CPR was 60.4%. Most patients believed it was helpful to discuss goals of care (n = 95; 70.4%) and the chances of surviving inhospital CPR (n = 112; 83.0%). Some patients expressed a desire to change their code status after receiving information about survival following inhospital CPR (n = 11; 8.1%) or after discussing goals of care (n = 2; 1.5%).Conclusions:Doctors need to address patients’ knowledge about CPR and take steps to avoid discrepancies between treatment orders and patients’ preferences. Addressing CPR outcome probabilities and goals of care during code status discussions may improve patients’ knowledge and influence their preferences.
Comparison of Thinopyrum intermedium derivatives carrying barley yellow dwarf virus resistance in wheat
Authors: Ayala-Navarrete L. , Tourton E. , Mechanicos A. A. , Larkin P. J. 
Published: May 2009

Resistance to both barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) and cereal yellow dwarf virus (CYDV) has been demonstrated in wheat genetic stocks with Thinopyrum intermedium chromatin. A number of resistance-bearing translocations have been reported on chromosome arm 7DL from two independent Th. intermedium sources; one source is the addition line L1 and the other is the spontaneous substitution line P29. Another source of resistance in wheat cytogenetic stocks is available as a 2Ai(2D) substitution line. We used a set of 38 molecular markers and the available deletion stocks to compare the size of the 7DL translocations more comprehensively than has been done previously. We also compared the efficacy of BYDV resistance of the various genetic stocks both before and after transfer to a common genetic background. TC14 was confirmed as carrying the smallest translocation, replacing about 20% of the distal end of 7DL. TC5 and TC10 had 90% of the chromosome arm replaced by Th. intermedium chromatin; the proximal 10% corresponded to wheat chromatin. YW642 appeared to have the whole 7DL replaced by Th. intermedium chromatin, as confirmed by the co-dominant marker cfd68 mapping on the bin nearest the centromere. Translocation line P961341 had bins 3, 7, and 8 replaced by Th. intermedium chromatin, making this the second smallest translocation with BYDV and CYDV resistance. The translocation sizes reported here differ from some of the previous estimates. The translocated Th. intermedium segments appeared to be bigger than the replaced wheat 7DL fragments. All the resistances derived from the L1 and P29 group 7 chromosomes and the 2Ai#2 chromosome were effective in reducing the number of infected plants and the mean virus titre, regardless of the background. Some evidence is discussed suggesting the long arm of the Th. intermedium group 7 chromosome 7Ai#1 carries two resistances, the distal Bdv2 and a proximal second gene.
3D modelling of ice-covered flows in the vicinity of a deep hole in the East Channel of the Mackenzie Delta, N.W.T.
Authors: Inkratas Chris , Gharabaghi Bahram , Beltaos Spyros , Krishnappan Bommanna 
Published: May 2009

The discovery of vast quantities of hydrocarbons during exploration of the Mackenzie Delta has led to the detection of numerous anomalous deep holes in various delta channels in the past four decades. The proposed pipeline crossing from the Mackenzie Delta to northern Alberta has renewed interest in studying the stability of these deep holes. The main goal of this research project was to study ice-covered flow velocity and bed shear stress distributions using a previously calibrated computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model for a 30 m deep hole in the East Channel of the Mackenzie Delta to provide an initial assessment of its stability. In this study, a previously developed 3D CFD model using the FLUENT code with the renormalization group theory (RNG) k-ε turbulence closure model with nonequilibrium wall functions was adapted to represent ice-covered flow conditions for the study reach. The numerical model was applied to simulate four flow conditions (500, 720, and 1000 m3/s along with a moving ice cover during a flow rate of 720 m3/s). Results indicated that a single vortex was formed near the inner bend above the hole and deposition may be a key process occurring during ice-covered flow conditions.
Étude de la résistance aux β-lactamines et des marqueurs moléculaires chez 157 souches d’Haemophilus influenzae isolées chez l’enfant à Tunis
Authors: Oueslati S. , Smaoui H. , Joubert G. , Dabernat H. , Kechrid A. 
Published: May 2009

The aim of this study was to precise the capsular type of Haemophilus influenzae , to determine its susceptibility to β-lactam agents, and to search for an eventual clonality between the clinical strains of the pathogen. Polymerase chain reaction was carried out to confirm the capsular type and to determine the β-lactamase type. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of β-lactam agents for H. influenzae were determined by the agar dilution method on Haemophilus test medium, and the strains were analyzed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis after SmaI restriction. Among 157 strains of H. influenzae studied, 12.1% was of serotype b. Sixty-seven strains (42.7%) were resistant to amoxicillin, among which 51 were resistant through production of TEM-type β-lactamase while 16 showed high MICs for amoxicillin, amoxicillin + clavulanic acid, and cefuroxim, which suggested a resistance by modification of penicillin-binding proteins. Among the latter strains, five were producing TEM-type β-lactamase. Cefotaxim, cefixim, and cefpodoxim had low MICs in all cases. The pulsed-field gel electrophoresis revealed 110 pulsotypes. All H. influenzae strains, including noncapsulated strains and serotype-b encapsulated strains, had a high level of heterogeneity, with diversity indices of respectively 0.67 and 0.94.
Effect of occupational exposure to elemental mercury in the amalgam on thymulin hormone production among dental staff
Authors: Farahat SA , Rashed LA , Zawilla NH , Farouk SM 
Published: May 2009

Occupational exposure of dental staff to elemental mercury vapor released from dental amalgam is an issue of concern because of the possible immunological and neurological adverse outcomes. Recently, studies have reported that inorganic mercury induces immunosuppression by decreasing the production of thymus gland hormone (thymulin). This study aimed at investigating mercury body burden in dental staff and the relation of this burden to the potential impact of mercury on thymus gland hormone level (thymulin). Besides, the work aimed at verifying mercury effect on nitric oxide synthetase as a possible mechanism of its immunotoxicity. The study population consisted of a group of dental staff ( n = 39) [21 dentists and 18 nurses] and a matched control group ( n = 42). Each individual was subjected to detailed occupational and medical history taking and to estimation of urinary mercury (U-Hg) and blood mercury (B-Hg) as indicators of mercury body burden and exposure, respectively. Measurement of total thymulin hormone blood level, and plasma level of nitrite and nitrate (indicators of nitric oxide) was also done. The study showed a significantly increased U-Hg and B-Hg levels in the dental staff compared to their controls. This elevation of mercury body burden was associated with significant reduction in thymulin hormone blood level and nitric oxide parameters. These results were more evident in the group of nurses compared to the dentists. In conclusion, our results show that dentists and dental nurses have significant exposure to mercury vapor and point to the negative impact of mercury on thymus gland functions and confirm the implication that the nitric oxide pathway is a possible mechanism for this impact. Moreover, the study raises attention to the importance of hygiene measures in reduction of exposure to mercury vapor released from dental amalgam.
Biological safety of liposome-fullerene consisting of hydrogenated lecithin, glycine soja sterols, and fullerene-C60 upon photocytotoxicity and bacterial reverse mutagenicity
Authors: Kato S , Aoshima H , Saitoh Y , Miwa N 
Published: May 2009

Various water-soluble derivatives of fullerene-C60 (C60) have been developed as detoxifiers for reactive oxygen species (ROS), whereas C60 incorporated in liposome (Lpsm) has not been reported yet. We prepared the liposome-fullerene (0.2% aqueous phase, Lpsm-Flln) which was composed of hydrogenated lecithin, glycine soja (soybean) sterols, and C60 in the weight ratio of 89.7:10:0.3, then examined the photocytotoxicity and bacterial reverse mutagenicity, as comparing with the Lpsm containing no C60. Photocytoxicity of Lpsm-Flln or Lpsm was examined using Balb/3T3 fibroblastic cells at graded doses of 0.49–1000 μg/mL under the condition of UVA- or sham-irradiation. The cells were irradiated with UVA (5 J/cm2, 320–400 nm, λmax = 360 nm) at room temperature for 50 min. The resultant cell viability (% of control) did not decrease dose-dependently to 50% or less regardless of the UVA-irradiation. These results show that Lpsm-Flln or Lpsm does not possess photocytotoxicity to Balb/3T3 fibroblasts, and Lpsm-Flln may not exert a UVA-catalytic ROS-increasing action. A possibility for the reverse mutation by Lpsm-Flln or Lpsm was examined on four histidine-demanding strains of Salmonella typhimurium and a tryptophan-demanding strain of Escherichia coli. As for the dosages of Lpsm-Flln or Lpsm (313–5000 μg/plate), the dose-dependency of the number of reverse mutation colonies of each strain did not show a twice or more difference versus the negative control regardless of the metabolic activation, and, in contrast, marked differences for five positive controls (sodium azide, N-ethyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine, 2-nitrofluorene, 9-aminoacridine, and 2-aminoanthracene). The growth inhibition of bacterial strains and the deposition of Lpsm-Flln or Lpsm were not found. As a result, the bacterial reverse mutagenicity of Lpsm-Flln or Lpsm was judged to be negative under the conditions of this test. Thus, Lpsm-Flln and Lpsm may not give any significant biological toxic effects, such as photocytotoxicity and bacterial reverse mutagenicity.