bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Implications of the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) During Public Health Emergencies and on Alternate Sites of Care
Authors: Roszak Andrew R. , Jensen Frances R. , Wild Richard E. , Yeskey Kevin , Handrigan Michael T. 
Published: November 2009

ABSTRACTHospitals throughout the country are using innovative strategies to accommodate the surge of patients brought on by the novel H1N1 virus. One strategy has been to help decompress the amount of patients seeking care within emergency departments by using alternate sites of care, such as tents, parking lots, and community centers as triage, staging, and screening areas. As at any other time an individual presents on hospital property, hospitals and providers must be mindful of the requirements of the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act. In this article we review the act and its implications during public health emergencies, with a particular focus on its implications on alternative sites of care. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2009;3(Suppl 2):S172–S175)
Systematic review: maintenance treatment of gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease with proton pump inhibitors taken ‘on‐demand’
Authors: PACE F. , TONINI M. , PALLOTTA S. , MOLTENI P. , PORRO G. B. 
Published: November 2009

SummaryBackground Proton pump inhibitors (PPI) therapy ‘on‐demand’ is often used as an alternative to continuous maintenance therapy in gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease (GERD).Aim We conducted a systematic review with the specific objectives to ascertain whether on‐demand PPI therapy was effective in preventing symptomatic relapse and to assess the relative efficacy of on‐demand vs. continuous PPI maintenance strategy.Methods Randomized‐controlled clinical trials comparing on‐demand PPI vs. placebo or on‐demand vs. continuous PPI therapy in GERD patients were identified by searching the Medline database and the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register.Results Seventeen studies were found which met inclusion criteria. Out of the 17 studies: five investigated exclusively patients with non‐erosive reflux disease (NERD), four patients with NERD and mild oesophagitis, two patients with erosive oesophagitis only, and two patients with uninvestigated GERD symptoms, respectively. Four further studies were not investigating the effectiveness of the therapies but primarily pharmacoeconomic or quality of life parameters.Conclusions On the basis of the analysis of 17 studies, we can conclude that on‐demand therapy with currently available PPI appears to be effective in the long‐term management of patients with NERD or mild and uninvestigated forms of GERD, but not in patients with (severe) erosive oesophagitis.
Reproductive system, social organization, human disturbance and ecological dominance in native populations of the little fire ant, Wasmannia auropunctata
Authors: FOUCAUD JULIEN , ORIVEL JÉRÔME , FOURNIER DENIS , DELABIE JACQUES H. C. , LOISEAU ANNE , LE BRETON JULIEN , CERDAN PHILIPPE , ESTOUP ARNAUD 
Published: November 2009

AbstractThe invasive ant species Wasmannia auropunctata displays both ecologically dominant and non‐dominant populations within its native range. Three factors could theoretically explain the ecological dominance of some native populations of W. auropunctata: (i) its clonal reproductive system, through demographic and/or adaptive advantages; (ii) its unicolonial social organization, through lower intraspecific and efficient interspecific competition; (iii) the human disturbance of its native range, through the modification of biotic and abiotic environmental conditions. We used microsatellite markers and behavioural tests to uncover the reproductive modes and social organization of dominant and non‐dominant native populations in natural and human‐modified habitats. Microsatellite and mtDNA data indicated that dominant and non‐dominant native populations (supercolonies as determined by aggression tests) of W. auropunctata did not belong to different evolutionary units. We found that the reproductive system and the social organization are neither necessary nor sufficient to explain W. auropunctata ecological dominance. Dominance rather seems to be set off by unknown ecological factors altered by human activities, as all dominant populations were recorded in human‐modified habitats. The clonal reproductive system found in some populations of W. auropunctata may however indirectly contribute to its ecological dominance by allowing the species to expand its environmental niche, through the fixation over time of specific combinations of divergent male and female genotypes. Unicoloniality may rather promote the range expansion of already dominant populations than actually trigger ecological dominance. The W. auropunctata model illustrates the strong impact of human disturbance on species’ ecological features and the adaptive potential of clonal reproductive systems.
Pharmacy students' intention to practise in a rural setting: Measuring the impact of a rural curriculum, rural campus and rural placement on a predominantly metropolitan student cohort
Authors: Taylor Susan J. , Maharaj Praveen , Williams Kylie , Sheldrake Carol 
Published: November 2009

AbstractObjective:  To compare pharmacy students' intention to practise in a rural setting expressed in their first year of university with that expressed during their final year. Design:  Longitudinal survey of students in their first and final years. Setting:  Tertiary educational institution. Participants:  Predominantly metropolitan pharmacy students. Interventions:  Students were exposed to a rural curriculum, rural campus and rural placement or rural placement alone during their degree. Main outcome measure:  Change in proportion of students expressing an intention to practise in a rural setting following registration. Results:  The proportion of respondents who indicated an intention to practise in a rural setting was 21.6% (27/125) in 2006 compared with 11.2% (14/125) in 2003. This was a statistically significant increase of 10.4% (P = 0.001) over the four years. Positive influences on students' intention to practise in a rural setting were: rural background (P = 0.012); rural placement (either two weeks or 12 weeks) (P = 0.002); having been enrolled in the BPharm (Rural) (P = 0.001).Conclusions:  This study confirmed the work of others in that the students most likely to express an intention to practise in a rural setting were those from a rural background who elected to undertake and complete a rural degree involving a rural placement. A follow‐up survey will be conducted to establish whether their stated intention as students has translated to rural practice in reality.
Dissecting large earthquakes in Japan: Role of arc magma and fluids
Authors: Zhao Dapeng , Santosh M. , Yamada Akira 
Published: November 2009

AbstractWe synthesized information from recent high‐resolution tomographic studies of large crustal earthquakes which occurred in the Japanese Islands during 1995–2008. Prominent anomalies of low‐velocity and high Poisson's ratio are revealed in the crust and uppermost mantle beneath the mainshock hypocenters, which may reflect arc magma and fluids that are produced by a combination of subducting slab dehydration and corner flow in the mantle wedge. Distribution of 164 crustal earthquakes (M 5.7–8.0) that occurred in Japan during 1885–2008 also shows a correlation with the distribution of low‐velocity zones in the crust and uppermost mantle. A qualitative model is proposed to explain the geophysical observations recorded so far in Japan. We consider that the nucleation of a large earthquake is not entirely a mechanical process, but is closely related to the subduction dynamics and physical and chemical properties of materials in the crust and upper mantle; in particular, the arc magma and fluids.
Asian perspectives in the management of inflammatory bowel disease: Findings from a recent survey
Authors: Sung Joseph JY , Kamm Michael A , Marteau Philippe 
Published: November 2009

AbstractBackground and Aim:  The prevalence and incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) differs worldwide. While the prevalence of IBD has stabilized in Europe, the USA and Japan, an increasing trend has been observed in Asia. However, there are no data on the current clinical practice for the management of IBD in the region. The present study aims to investigate the number of existing and new cases of IBD and to understand the current practice of diagnosis and treatment of IBD in different Asian countries.Methods:  A self‐administered questionnaire, designed according to European and US guidelines, was distributed to IBD specialists throughout Asia. The questionnaire estimated the annual incidence of existing and new IBD cases in physicians' clinical practices and evaluated their procedures of diagnosis and preference for therapeutic treatment and maintenance treatment.Results:  Eighty‐seven questionnaires were received out of the 107 distributed. In the clinical practices of these 87 respondents, there were 502 existing and 73 new cases per year for ulcerative colitis (UC) and 202 existing and 32 new cases per year for Crohn's disease (CD). Colonoscopy and histology were the most commonly used methods for the diagnosis of UC and CD, but clinical practice regarding the diagnosis of IBD varied. The treatment of choice for mild‐to‐moderate UC and CD was 5‐aminosalicylic acid (5‐ASA), which is also the preferred choice for the maintenance treatment of UC and CD.Conclusion:  Clinical practice with regards to IBD diagnosis and management varies within Asia.5‐ASA is the preferred treatment and maintenance therapy for mild‐to‐moderate IBD.
TLR4 monoclonal antibody blockade suppresses dextran‐sulfate‐sodium‐induced colitis in mice
Authors: Liu Yi , Zhang Zhijun , Wang Lei , Li Juan , Dong Le , Yue Wenjie , Chen Jian , Sun Xu , Zhong Liang , Sun Dayu 
Published: November 2009

AbstractBackground and Aim:  Ulcerative colitis (UC) refers to a kind of inflammatory bowel disease, of which the accurate pathogenesis is not yet well understood. Recently, the toll‐like receptor 4 (TLR4) and the TLR4 signaling pathway have been proved as playing an important role in the pathogenesis of UC. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of TLR4 monoclonal antibody on dextran‐sulfate‐sodium‐induced colitis in a mouse model.Methods:  We evaluated the effects of the TLR4 monoclonal antibody (TLR4mAb) on the development of dextran‐sulfate‐sodium‐(DSS)‐induced colitis. Tissue samples were evaluated by the disease activity index and histopathological score. Meanwhile, the mucosal mRNA expression of cytokines, tumor necrosis factor‐α, interferon‐γ and interleukin‐1β were analyzed by semiquantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The mucosal protein P38‐MAPK, c‐jun and c‐fos expressions of the TLR4‐P38MAPK pathway were analyzed using Western blot.Results:  After the treatment with TLR4mAb against DSS‐induced colitis, the bodyweight was significantly increased and both disease activity index and histopathological score were decreased significantly. Furthermore, the mucosal expression of messenger RNA of tumor necrosis factor‐α, interferon‐γ and interleukin‐1β were observed to be 8–15‐fold more than the baseline, whereas the mucosal expressions of P38MAPK and c‐jun were found to be decreased.Conclusion:  Blocking TLR4 by TLR4mAb can prevent the development of DSS‐induced colitis through the TLR4‐P38MAPK‐c‐jun pathway.
LINNAEUS AS A SECOND ADAM? TAXONOMY AND THE RELIGIOUS VOCATION
Authors: Harrison Peter 
Published: November 2009

Abstract.Swedish naturalist Carl von Linné (1707–1778) became known during his lifetime as a “second Adam” because of his taxonomic endeavors. The significance of this epithet was that in Genesis Adam was reported to have named the beasts—an episode that was usually interpreted to mean that Adam possessed a scientific knowledge of nature and a perfect taxonomy. Linnaeus's soubriquet exemplifies the way in which the Genesis narratives of creation were used in the early modern period to give religious legitimacy to scientific activities and to taxonomy in particular. Allusions to Adam's work in the Garden of Eden thus became a way of investing the vocation of the naturalist with religious significance.
Tissue and blood superoxide dismutase activity and malondialdehyde level in leprosy
Authors: Abdel‐Hafez HZ , Mohamed E‐EM , Abd‐Elghany AA 
Published: November 2009

AbstractBackground  Oxidative stress (OS) results from an imbalance between free radical generating and scavenging systems. The end product of lipid peroxidation, malondialdehyde (MDA) serves as a marker of cellular damage. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) traps free radicals and acts as a free radical scavenging system.Objective  To study OS indices in paucibacillary (PB) and multibacillary (MB) leprosy in tissues and blood.Materials and methods  The study group comprised untreated PB patients (n = 14), untreated MB patients (n = 18) and normal human volunteers (n = 20). SOD activity, MDA level and MDA/SOD ratio were estimated in both blood and tissue.Results  Compared with controls, SOD activity in tissues decreased significantly in both PB and MB patients, while SOD activity in erythrocytes decreased significantly only in MB. In addition, MDA levels increased significantly in tissues of both PB and MB patients. Moreover, the mean level of MDA in plasma of MB patients was significantly higher, whereas there was no significant difference in that of PB patients. This study showed significant increase in OS index (MDA/SOD ratio) in tissue of PB and MB patients and in blood of MB patients only, whereas there was no significant difference in OS index in blood of PB patients compared with that in the controls.Conclusion  Oxidative stress was observed in both tissues and blood of MB patients and in tissues of PB patients, denoting its crucial involvement in the pathogenesis of leprosy. This can constitute an important tool in prognosis, treatment and control of leprosy.
TRANSPLANTATION AND CELLULAR ENGINEERING: Association of stress‐related perinatal factors and cord blood unit hematopoietic progenitors is dependent on delivery mode
Authors: Juutistenaho Sari , Eskola Mikko , Sainio Susanna , Aranko Kari , Kekomäki Riitta 
Published: November 2009

BACKGROUND: Perinatal characteristics, variably utilized in cord blood (CB) selection for banking, affect CB hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs). The association between perinatal stress factors and CB unit HPCs was evaluated.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Umbilical arterial (UA) pH, absolute and relative birth weight (BW) and placental weight (PW), and PW/BW ratio of 167 healthy, full‐term infants were compared with CB unit prefreeze total nucleated cells (TNCs), total CD34+ (TCD34+) cells, and total colony‐forming unit (CFU‐TOT) number. Cesarean section (C‐section, n = 104) and vaginal delivery subgroups were also analyzed.RESULTS: UA pH (median, 7.28; range, 7.04‐7.40) correlated with CB unit CFU‐TOT number (n = 166; r = −0.32, p < 0.0001), TCD34+ cells (r = −0.31, p < 0.0001), and TNCs (r = −0.29, p = 0.0002). Similarly, BW, PW, and PW/BW ratio correlated with HPCs. In multiple linear regression analysis, CFU‐TOT number was predicted by collected CB TNCs and UA pH in vaginal deliveries (R2 = 0.53), in contrast with TNCs, PW, and BW in C‐sections (R2 = 0.37). TCD34+ cells were predicted by adding UA pH (vaginal deliveries, R2 = 0.75) or PW (C‐sections, R2 = 0.36) to collected CB TNCs.CONCLUSIONS: Stress‐related perinatal factors, particularly UA pH, are associated with CB unit HPCs and may improve unit selection. Multiple linear regression models may prove useful for predicting HPCs. Mode of delivery affects model choice; UA pH has a strong effect on HPCs in vaginal deliveries.
Geochemistry of Some Marine Fe–Mn Nodules and Crusts with Respect to Pt Contents
Authors: Cabral Alexandre Raphael , Sattler Carl‐Diedrich , Lehmann Bernd , Tsikos Harilaos 
Published: November 2009

AbstractBulk chemical analyses for Pt and Pd in marine Fe–Mn nodules and crusts from different provenances are presented, together with a wide range of elements. Platinum contents vary from 70–328 ppb, whereas Pd contents extend from 0.6–4.7 ppb only. Bromine and Pb show strong positive correlations with Pt. Lead is remarkably enriched in Fe–Mn precipitates over seawater, but Br is a conservative‐type element in seawater and shows no enrichment in Fe–Mn precipitates. Hence, the Pt–Br–Pb element association combines two elements, Br and Pb, of extremely contrasting enrichment factors in Fe–Mn precipitates.
Positive Affect Modulates Flexibility and Evaluative Control
Authors: van Wouwe Nelleke C. , Band Guido P. H. , Ridderinkhof K. Richard 
Published: November 2009

AbstractThe ability to interact with a constantly changing environment requires a balance between maintaining the currently relevant working memory content and being sensitive to potentially relevant new information that should be given priority access to working memory. Mesocortical dopamine projections to frontal brain areas modulate working memory maintenance and flexibility. Recent neurocognitive and neurocomputational work suggests that dopamine release is transiently enhanced by induced positive affect. This ERP study investigated the role of positive affect in different aspects of information processing: in proactive control (context maintenance and updating), reactive control (flexible adaptation to incoming task-relevant information), and evaluative control in an AX-CPT task. Subjects responded to a target probe if it was preceded by a specific cue. Induced positive affect influenced the reactive and evaluative components of control (indexed by the N2 elicited by the target and by the error-related negativity elicited after incorrect responses, respectively), whereas cue-induced proactive preparation and maintenance processes remained largely unaffected (as reflected in the P3b and the contingent negative variation components of the ERP).
Rapid on-site evaluation of transbronchial aspirates: randomised comparison of two methods
Authors: Diacon A. H. , Koegelenberg C. F. N. , Schubert P. , Brundyn K. , Louw M. , Wright C. A. , Bolliger C. T. 
Published: November 2009

The value of different staining methods for rapid analysis of transbronchial needle aspirates during bronchoscopy has not been explored.In the present study, we compared a Papanicolaou-based rapid stain, prepared by a technologist and read by a cytopathologist, and a Wright–Giemsa-based rapid stain, prepared and read by a cytopathologist alone. Gold standard was the final laboratory report issued on each aspirate.We harvested 827 aspirates from 218 target sites in 126 consecutive patients. At least one positive aspirate was found in 99 (79%) patients. In those 99 patients, 288 of 574 (50%) aspirates were positive for neoplastic (83%) or non-neoplastic (17%) disease. False-negative aspirates and target sites were more frequent with the rapid Wright–Giemsa than with the rapid Papanicolaou stain (14.2versus7.3%, p = 0.008, and 13.7versus3.6%, p = 0.021, respectively). The sensitivity of the Wright–Giemsa-based and Papanicolaou-based rapid stains for detecting diagnostic material was 93 and 100% in patients, 83.1 and 95.5% in target sites, and 72.8 and 84.9% in aspirates, respectively. Specificity was 100% for both methods in patients and target sites, and 90.4 and 95% in aspirates.We concluded that a Papanicolaou-based stain has superior yield and accuracy to a Wright–Giemsa-based stain for rapid on-site evaluation of transbronchial needle aspirates.
Exercise stress echocardiography for the study of the pulmonary circulation
Authors: Argiento P. , Chesler N. , Mulè M. , D'Alto M. , Bossone E. , Unger P. , Naeije R. 
Published: November 2009

Exercise stress tests have been used for the diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension, but with variable protocols and uncertain limits of normal.The pulmonary haemodynamic response to progressively increased workload and recovery was investigated by Doppler echocardiography in 25 healthy volunteers aged 19–62 yrs (mean 36 yrs). Mean pulmonary artery pressure (P̄pa) was estimated from the maximum velocity of tricuspid regurgitation. Cardiac output (Q) was calculated from the aortic velocity-time integral. Slopes and extrapolated pressure intercepts ofP̄pa–Q plots were calculated after using the adjustment of Poon for individual variability. A pulmonary vascular distensibility α was calculated from eachP̄pa–Q plot to estimate compliance.P̄paincreased from 14±3 mmHg to 30±7 mmHg, and decreased to 19±4 mmHg after 5 min recovery. The slope ofP̄pa–Q was 1.37±0.65 mmHg·min−1·L−1with an extrapolated pressure intercept of 8.2±3.6 mmHg and an α of 0.017±0.018 mmHg−1. These results agree with those of previous invasive studies. MultipointP̄pa–Q plots were well described by a linear approximation, from which resistance can be calulated.We conclude that exercise echocardiography of the pulmonary circulation is feasible and provides realistic resistance and compliance estimations. Measurements during recovery are unreliable because of rapid return to baseline.
Short-term change in self-reported COPD symptoms after smoking cessation in an internet sample
Authors: Etter J-F. 
Published: November 2009

Smoking is the first risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Some recent reports suggest that, unexpectedly, some respiratory symptoms may increase transiently after smoking cessation, but there is a dearth of short-term data to test this hypothesis. The aim of the present study was to assess the validity of an online screening tool and to describe short-term associations between smoking behaviour and self-reported respiratory symptoms, in cross-sectional and longitudinal data.An internet survey was conducted in 2003–2009, on a smoking cessation website, with a follow-up survey after 30 days.There were 15,916 participants at baseline and 1,831 at follow-up. In the 252 baseline smokers who had quit smoking at 30-day follow-up, there was a substantial decrease in the proportion of participants who declared that they often coughed even without a cold (from 51.6% at baseline to 15.5% at follow-up), expectorated when they coughed in the morning (from 47.6% to 19.4%), were out of breath after climbing stairs or after a quick walk (from 75.0% to 48.4%), and who had a wheezing respiration (from 33.7% to 10.3%) (p<0.001 for all before/after comparisons). In participants who did not change their smoking behaviour between assessments, the test–retest reliability was r = 0.87 for a score summing these four symptoms.Smoking cessation was followed by a rapid and substantial improvement in self-reported respiratory symptoms. COPD is largely underdiagnosed and undertreated. Internet screening is reliable and may allow for the early detection of COPD symptoms at a large scale, in patients who may otherwise have no access to COPD case-finding efforts.