bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Measurement of Influenza Vaccination Coverage among Healthcare Personnel in US Hospitals
Authors: Lindley Megan C. , Yonek Juliet , Ahmed Faruque , Perz Joseph F. , Torres Gretchen Williams 
Published: October 2009

Objective.To characterize practices related to measuring influenza vaccination rates among healthcare personnel in US hospitals.Design.Descriptive survey.Setting.Nonfederal, short-stay hospitals that provide general medical and surgical services, identified by use of the 2004 American Hospital Association Annual Survey Database.Participants.Healthcare personnel from 996 randomly sampled US hospitals stratified by region and bed size.Methods.A self-administered questionnaire was distributed in 2006 to infection control coordinators to gather data on policies and practices related to the provision of the influenza vaccine and on the measurement and reporting of influenza vaccination rates. Descriptive statistics and associations were calculated, and logistic regression was conducted.Results.The response rate was 56% (ie, 555 of 996 US hospitals responded to the questionnaire). Weighting accounted for sampling design and nonresponse. Most hospitals provided the influenza vaccine to employees (100%), credentialed medical staff (ie, independent practitioners; 94%), volunteers (86%), and contract staff (83%); provision for students and residents was less frequent (58%). Only 69% of hospitals measured vaccination rates (mean coverage rate, 55%). Most hospitals that measured coverage included employees (98%) in the vaccination rates, whereas contract staff (53%), credentialed medical staff (56%), volunteers (56%), and students and residents (30%) were less commonly included. Among hospitals measuring coverage, 44% included persons for which vaccine was contraindicated, and 51% included persons who refused vaccination. After adjustment for region and size, hospitals with vaccination plans written into policy (odds ratio, 2.0 [95% confidence interval, 1.22–7.67]) or that addressed internally reporting coverage (odds ratio, 4.8 [95% confidence interval, 2.97–7.66]) were more likely to measure coverage than were hospitals without such plans.Conclusions.Hospitals vary in terms of the groups of individuals included in influenza vaccination coverage measurements. Standardized measures may improve comparability of hospital-reported vaccination rates. Measuring coverage in a manner that facilitates identification of occupational groups with low vaccination rates may inform development of targeted interventions.
Identification of a Pseudo-Outbreak ofClostridium difficileInfection (CDI) and the Effect of Repeated Testing, Sensitivity, and Specificity on Perceived Prevalence of CDI
Authors: Litvin Marina , Reske Kimberly A. , Mayfield Jennie , McMullen Kathleen M. , Georgantopoulos Peter , Copper Susan , Hoppe-Bauer Joan E. , Fraser Victoria J. , Warren David K. , Dubberke Erik R. 
Published: October 2009

Objective.To describe a pseudo-outbreak ofClostridium difficileinfection (CDI) caused by a faulty toxin assay lot and to determine the effect of sensitivity, specificity, and repeated testing forC. difficileon perceived CDI burden, positive predictive value, and false-positive results.Design.Outbreak investigation and criterion standard.Patients.Patients hospitalized at a tertiary care hospital who had at least 1 toxin assay for detection ofC. difficileperformed during the period from July 1, 2004, through June 30, 2006.Methods.The run control chart method and thex2test were used to compare CDI rates and the proportion of positive test results before, during, and after the pseudo-outbreak. The effect of repeated testing was evaluated by using 3 hypothetical models with a sample of 10,000 patients and various assay sensitivity and specificity estimates.Results.In November of 2005, the CDI rate at the hospital increased from 1.5 to 2.6 cases per 1,000 patient-days (P< .01), and the proportion of positive test results increased from 13.6% to 22.1% (P< .01). An investigation revealed a pseudo-outbreak caused by a faulty toxin assay lot. A decrease of only 1.2% in the specificity of the toxin assay would result in a 32% increase in perceived incidence of CDI at this institution. When calculated by use of the manufacturer's stated specificity and sensitivity and this institution's testing practices, the positive predictive value of the test decreased from 80.6% to 4.1% for patients who received 3 tests.Conclusion.Specificity is as important as sensitivity when testing for CDI. False-positive CDI cases can drain hospital resources and adversely affect patients. Repeated testing forC. difficileshould be performed with caution.
CRISPI: a CRISPR interactive database
Authors: Rousseau Christine , Gonnet Mathieu , Le Romancer Marc , Nicolas Jacques 
Published: October 2009

Abstract
Summary: The CRISPR genomic structures (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) form a family of repeats that is largely present in archaea and frequent in bacteria. On the basis of a formal model of CRISPR using very few parameters, a systematic study of all their occurrences in all available genomes of Archaea and Bacteria has been carried out. This has resulted in a relational database, CRISPI, which also includes a complete repertory of associated CRISPR-associated genes (CAS). A user-friendly web interface with many graphical tools and functions allows users to extract results, find CRISPR in personal sequences or calculate sequence similarity with spacers.
Availability: CRISPI free access at http://crispi.genouest.org
Contact: croussea@irisa.fr; jnicolas@irisa.fr;
G-compass: a web-based comparative genome browser between human and other vertebrate genomes
Authors: Kawahara Yoshihiro , Sakate Ryuichi , Matsuya Akihiro , Murakami Katsuhiko , Sato Yoshiharu , Zhang Hao , Gojobori Takashi , Itoh Takeshi , Imanishi Tadashi 
Published: October 2009

Abstract
Summary: G-compass is designed for efficient comparative genome analysis between human and other vertebrate genomes. The current version of G-compass allows us to browse two corresponding genomic regions between human and another species in parallel. One-to-one evolutionarily conserved regions (i.e. orthologous regions) between species are highlighted along the genomes. Information such as locations of duplicated regions, copy number variations and mammalian ultra-conserved elements is also provided. These features of G-compass enable us to easily determine patterns of genomic rearrangements and changes in gene orders through evolutionary time. Since G-compass is a satellite database of H-InvDB, which is a comprehensive annotation resource for human genes and transcripts, users can easily refer to manually curated functional annotations and other abundant biological information for each human transcript. G-compass is expected to be a valuable tool for comparing human and model organisms and promoting the exchange of functional information.
Availability: G-compass is freely available at http://www.h-invitational.jp/g-compass/.
Contact: t.imanishi@aist.go.jp
Roll: a new algorithm for the detection of protein pockets and cavities with a rolling probe sphere
Authors: Yu Jian , Zhou Yong , Tanaka Isao , Yao Min 
Published: October 2009

Abstract
Motivation: Prediction of ligand binding sites of proteins is significant as it can provide insight into biological functions and reaction mechanisms of proteins. It is also a prerequisite for protein–ligand docking and an important step in structure-based drug design.
Results: We present a new algorithm, Roll, implemented in a program named POCASA, which can predict binding sites by detecting pockets and cavities of proteins with a rolling sphere. To evaluate the performance of POCASA, a test with the same data set as used in several existing methods was carried out. POCASA achieved a high success rate of 77%. In addition, the test results indicated that POCASA can predict good shapes of ligand binding sites.
Availability:A web version of POCASA is freely available at http://altair.sci.hokudai.ac.jp/g6/Research/POCASA_e.html
Contact: yao@castor.sci.hokudai.ac.jp
Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Targeted interrogation of copy number variation using SCIMMkit
Authors: Zerr Troy , Cooper Gregory M. , Eichler Evan E. , Nickerson Deborah A. 
Published: October 2009

Abstract
Summary: Copy number variants (CNVs) contribute substantially to human genomic diversity, and development of accurate and efficient methods for CNV genotyping is a central problem in exploring human genotype–phenotype associations. SCIMMkit provides a robust, integrated implementation of three previously validated algorithms [SCIMM (SNP-Conditional Mixture Modeling), SCIMM-Search and SCOUT (SNP-Conditional OUTlier detection)] for targeted interrogation of CNVs using Illumina Infinium II and GoldenGate SNP assays. SCIMMkit is applicable to standardized genome-wide SNP arrays and customized multiplexed SNP panels, providing economy, efficiency and flexibility in experimental design.
Availability: Source code and documentation are available for noncommercial use at http://droog.gs.washington.edu/scimmkit.
Contact: troyz@u.washington.edu
Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
An analytical model for dispersion of pollutants from a continuous source in the atmospheric boundary layer
Authors: Kumar Pramod , Sharan Maithili 
Published: October 2009

For the dispersion of a pollutant released from a continuous source in the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL), a generalized analytical model describing the crosswind-integrated concentrations is presented. An analytical scheme is described to solve the resulting two-dimensional steady-state advection–diffusion equation for horizontal wind speed as a generalized function of vertical height above the ground and eddy diffusivity as a function of both downwind distance from the source and vertical height. Special cases of this model are deduced and an extensive analysis is carried out to compare the model with the known analytical models by taking the particular forms of wind speed and vertical eddy diffusivity.
The proposed model is evaluated with the observations obtained from Copenhagen diffusion experiments in unstable conditions and Hanford and Prairie Grass experiments in stable conditions. In evaluation of the model, a recently proposed formulation for the wind speed in the entire ABL is used. It is concluded that the present model is performing well with the observations and can be used to predict the short-range dispersion from a continuous release. Further, it is shown that the accurate parameterizations of wind speed and eddy diffusivity provide a significant improvement in the agreement between computed and observed concentrations.
Tracheal intubation in patients with rigid collar immobilisation of the cervical spine: a comparison of Airtraq® and LMA CTrach™ devices*
Authors: Arslan Z. I. , Yildiz T. , Baykara Z. N. , Solak M. , Toker K. 
Published: October 2009

SummaryThe aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Airtraq® and CTrach™ in lean patients with simulated cervical spine injury after application of a rigid cervical collar. Eighty‐six consenting adult patients of ASA physical status 1 or 2, who required elective tracheal intubation were included in this study in a randomised manner. Anaesthesia was induced using 1 μg.kg−1 fentanyl, 3 mg.kg−1 propofol and 0.6 mg.kg−1 rocuronium, following which a rigid cervical collar was applied. Comparison was then made between tracheal intubation techniques using either the AirTraq or CTrach device. The mean (SD) time to see the glottis was shorter with the Airtraq than the CTrach (11.9 (6.8) vs 37.6 (16.7)s, respectively; p < 0.001). The mean (SD) time taken for tracheal intubation was also shorter with the Airtraq than the CTrach (25.6 (13.5) and 66.3 (29.3)s, respectively; p < 0.001). There was less mucosal damage in the Airtraq group (p = 0.008). Our findings demonstrate that use of the Airtraq device shortened the tracheal intubation time and reduced the mucosal damage when compared with the CTrach in patients who require cervical spine immobilisation.
Anosmia after general anaesthesia: a case report
Authors: Konstantinidis I. , Tsakiropoulou E. , Iakovou I. , Douvantzi A. , Metaxas S. 
Published: October 2009

SummaryAlthough anaesthetic drugs are included among the aetiological factors of anosmia, limited reports exist of anosmia induced by general anaesthesia. We present the case of a 60‐year‐old female patient with a 3‐month history of altered smell and taste immediately after recovery from general anaesthesia for a urological operation. The anaesthetic drugs used were fentanyl, propofol and sevoflurane. Clinical examination and a computed tomography brain scan did not reveal any pathology. Psychophysical testing showed anosmia and normal taste function. Imaging studies using single photon emission computed tomography of the brain were performed twice: as a baseline examination; and after odour stimulation with phenyl ethyl alcohol. Normal brain activity without reaction to odorous stimuli suggested peripheral dysfunction or stimuli transmission problems. The patient, after four months of olfactory retraining, demonstrated significant improvement. The onset of the dysfunction in relation with the imaging findings may imply that anaesthetics could induce the olfactory dysfunction.
Litigation related to drug errors in anaesthesia: an analysis of claims against the NHS in England 1995–2007
Authors: Cranshaw J. , Gupta K. J. , Cook T. M. 
Published: October 2009

SummaryNinety‐three claims (total cost £4 915 450) filed under ‘anaesthesia’ in the NHS Litigation Authority database between 1995 and 2007, alleging patient harm directly by drug administration error or by an allergic reaction, were analysed. Alleged errors were categorised using systems employed by the National Coordinating Council for Medication Error Reporting and Prevention, the American Society of Anesthesiologists Closed Claims Project and the UK Health and Safety Executive. The severity of outcome in each claim was categorised using adapted National Patient Safety Agency definitions. Sixty‐two claims involved alleged drug administration errors (total cost £4 283 677) and 15 resulted in severe harm or death. Half alleged the administration of the wrong drug, in most (16) a neuromuscular blocker. Of the claims alleging the wrong dose had been given (25), nine alleged opioid overdose including by neuraxial routes. The most frequently recorded adverse outcomes were awake paralysis (19 claims; total cost £182 347) and respiratory depression requiring intensive care treatment (13 claims; total cost £2 752 853). Thirty‐one claims involved allergic reactions (total cost £631 773). In 20 claims, the patient allegedly received a drug to which they were known to be allergic (total cost £130 794). All claims in which it was possible to categorise the nature of the error involved human error. Fewer than half the claims appeared likely to have been preventable by an ‘ideal double checking process’.
Unrecognised dural puncture resulting in subdural hygroma and cortical vein thrombosis
Authors: Sinha A. , Petkov S. , Meldrum D. 
Published: October 2009

SummaryUnrecognised dural punctures are difficult to diagnose early. Failure of recognition may lead to sinister consequences. A case of unrecognised dural puncture in a young female leading to the development of subdural hygroma and cortical vein thrombosis is presented. The dilemma in the diagnosis of headache in such patients along with the significance of follow‐up of all, including attempted, epidurals is also discussed.
The Parker Flex‐Tip™ tube for nasotracheal intubation: the influence on nasal mucosal trauma
Authors: Sanuki T. , Hirokane M. , Matsuda Y. , Sugioka S. , Kotani J. 
Published: October 2009

SummaryWe tested our hypothesis that use of the Parker Flex‐Tip™ tracheal tube could reduce the incidence of nasal mucosal trauma during nasotracheal intubation when compared with a conventional tip tracheal tube. One hundred and two patients, who were scheduled for elective oral surgery in which nasotracheal intubation was indicated to optimise the surgical approach, were recruited into this study. Either a Flex‐Tip tracheal tube or a conventional tip tracheal tube was chosen randomly for each nasotracheal intubation. The incidence of epistaxis using the Flex‐Tip tracheal tube (6 (11.8%)) was significantly lower than that with the conventional tip tracheal tube (18 (35.3%); p = 0.009). Nasal pain due to intubation, rated on a 100‐mm visual analogue scale, was less intense with the Flex‐Tip tracheal tube (median, (10th–90th percentile) 19 (12–28) mm compared with the conventional tip tracheal tube (30 (22–35) mm; p < 0.001). The Flex‐Tip tracheal tube thus appeared to reduce the incidence of nasal mucosal trauma during nasotracheal intubation and the incidence of post‐intubation nasal pain, compared with the conventional tip tracheal tube.
The Scottish Audit of Surgical Mortality: a review of areas of concern related to anaesthesia over 10 years
Authors: McFarlane H. J. , Van Der Horst N. , Kerr L. , McPhillips G. , Burton H. 
Published: October 2009

SummaryThe Scottish Audit of Surgical Mortality is a voluntary, peer reviewed, critical event analysis of patients who die under the care of consultant surgeons in acute hospitals in Scotland. The anaesthetic contribution to surgical mortality over a 10‐year period from 1996 was reviewed. The total number of deaths was 44 230 or 1.5% of all admissions. Forty thousand, eight hundred and ninety‐six deaths (92%) were audited. Deaths after elective surgery declined over 10 years. Over 80% of deaths followed emergency admission. The number of deaths where an anaesthetist was present was 16 981 or 0.6% of all admissions. Anaesthetic areas of concern were identified in 8% of deaths. Of these, 43% were related to pre‐operative assessment. Anaesthesia also played a part in a further 18% of deaths where decision making was shared with the surgical team. Of these, 41% were related to access to critical care. A further 24% related to communication failures, principally when the operation should not have been done or was unnecessary.
Use of remifentanil as a sedative agent in critically ill adult patients: a meta‐analysis
Authors: Tan J. A. , Ho K. M. 
Published: October 2009

SummaryThis meta‐analysis examined the benefits of using remifentanil as a sedative agent in critically ill patients. A total of 11 randomised controlled trials, comparing remifentanil with another opioid or hypnotic agent in 1067 critically ill adult patients, were identified from the Cochrane controlled trials register and EMBASE and MEDLINE databases, and subjected to meta‐analysis. Remifentanil was associated with a reduction in the time to tracheal extubation after cessation of sedation (weighted‐mean‐difference −2.04 h (95% CI −0.39 to −3.69 h); p = 0.02). Remifentanil was, however, not associated with a significant reduction in mortality (relative risk 1.01 (95% CI 0.67–1.52); p = 0.96), duration of mechanical ventilation, length of intensive care unit stay, and risk of agitation (relative risk 1.08 (95% CI 0.64–1.82); p = 0.77) when compared to an alternative sedative or analgesic agent. The current evidence does not support the routine use of remifentanil as a sedative agent in critically ill adult patients.
Peri‐operative management of a patient with hereditary angioedema undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy
Authors: Spyridonidou A. , Iatrou C. , Alexoudis A. , Vogiatzaki T. , Polychronidis A. , Simopoulos C. 
Published: October 2009

SummaryHereditary angioedema is a rare genetic disorder resulting from an inherited deficiency or dysfunction of the C1‐esterase inhibitor of the classic complement pathway. It is characterised by recurrent episodes of angioedema, without urticaria or pruritus, most often affecting the skin or the mucosal tissues of the upper respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts. We describe the peri‐operative care of a woman with hereditary angioedema undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy with emphasis on the role of anaesthetists as peri‐operative physicians.
Lipid resuscitation in a carnitine deficient child following intravascular migration of an epidural catheter*
Authors: Wong G. K. , Joo D. T. , McDonnell C. 
Published: October 2009

SummaryA child with cerebral palsy and carnitine deficiency developed ventricular arrhythmias with loss of cardiac output during elective surgery under general anaesthesia with concomitant epidural analgesia. Sinus rhythm was restored on administration of adrenaline, but hypotension persisted despite resuscitation. Bolus administration of 0.8 ml.kg−1 (20 ml) lipid emulsion resulted in rapid improvement in cardiac output. Blood samples taken before and after the lipid bolus did not demonstrate toxic concentrations of bupivacaine. This case suggests that carnitine deficiency may increase susceptibility to bupivacaine cardiotoxicity.
We care about care: advice by children in care for children in care, foster parents and child welfare workers about the transition into foster care
Authors: Mitchell Monique B. , Kuczynski Leon , Tubbs Carolyn Y. , Ross Christopher 
Published: October 2009

ABSTRACTTwenty children in foster care, ages 8 to 15 years, provided advice to children in care, foster parents and child welfare workers about ways to assist service delivery during the transition into foster care. The children discussed the importance of tending to experiences such as foster home expectations, the importance of time and information, the new foster/parent–child relationship, coping with stress, the ability to be engaged in decision‐making, the benefits of foster care and the need to build a trusting and personal relationship between children in care and their caregivers. The importance of listening to children's experiences of the transition into foster care and incorporating their advice into future research, policy and practice will be discussed.
MicroRNA signature in massive macronodular adrenocortical disease and implications for adrenocortical tumourigenesis
Authors: Bimpaki Eirini I. , Iliopoulos Dimitrios , Moraitis Andreas , Stratakis Constantine A. 
Published: October 2009

SummaryPurpose  Massive macronodular adrenocortical disease (MMAD) may be caused by aberrant microRNA expression. To determine the microRNA profile in MMAD and identify putative microRNA–gene target pairs involved in adrenal tumourigenesis.Experimental design  We performed microRNA microarray analysis in 10 patients with ACTH‐independent Cushing syndrome caused by MMAD (ages 39–60 years) and four normal adrenal cortex samples were used as controls. Microarray data were validated by real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR). Identification of potential microRNA–gene target pairs implicated in MMAD pathogenesis has been performed by integrating our microRNA data with previously obtained cDNA microarray data. Experimental validation of specific microRNA gene targets was performed by transfection experiments and luciferase assay.Results  A total of 37 microRNAs were differentially expressed between MMAD and normal tissues; 16 microRNAs were down‐regulated, including miR‐200b and miR‐203, whereas 21 microRNAs were up‐regulated, miR‐210 and miR‐484 among them. Comparison of microRNA data with different clinicopathological parameters revealed miR‐130a and miR‐382 as putative diagnostic MMAD markers. Interestingly, we detected miR‐200b targeting directly Matrin 3 (MATR3) expression in an adrenocortical cancer cell line (H295R).Conclusions  MicroRNAs appear to have distinct regulatory effects in MMAD, including an association with clinical presentation and severity of the disease, expressed by the degree of hypercortisolism. This is the first investigation of microRNAs in MMAD, a disease with complex pathogenesis; the data indicate that specific microRNAs such as miR‐200b may play a significant role in MMAD formation and/or progression.