bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Review of rural and regional alcohol research in Australia
Authors: Miller Peter G. , Coomber Kerri , Staiger Petra , Zinkiewicz Lucy , Toumbourou John W. 
Published: June 2010

AbstractIntroduction:  Alcohol is the most commonly used drug within Australia. Recently, there have been indications that there is a greater incidence of high‐risk drinking within rural populations as compared with their urban counterparts. High‐risk drinking is associated with numerous conditions, such as diabetes, heart attack and cancer, as well as acute harms such as assault, suicide and road accidents. The objective of this article is to review the current research and relevant data pertaining to alcohol use and alcohol‐related harms within rural Australia. Methods:  This paper is a systematic review of 16 databases, including PubMed, PsycINFO and Google Scholar. Results:  Overall, 18 studies describing alcohol consumption or alcohol‐related harms were found. Approximately half of these studies were large‐scale national population surveys, which were therefore limited in their representativeness of specific regional and rural towns. Most studies examining alcohol consumption used self‐report data collection, meaning that interpretation of results needs to be tentative. There is a consistent pattern of higher rates of alcohol consumption and consequent harm within regional and rural Australia than in urban areas. Conclusions:  There is emerging research examining alcohol consumption and alcohol‐related harms within regional and rural Australia. All studies show that these populations experience disproportionate harm because of alcohol consumption. The causes and mechanism for this have not been investigated, and a program of research is required to understand how and why rural populations experience disproportionate levels of alcohol‐related harm and ultimately, what interventions will be most effective in reducing alcohol‐related harms.
Is a global rural and remote health research agenda desirable or is context supreme?
Authors: Farmer Jane , Clark Ann , Munoz Sarah‐Anne 
Published: June 2010

AbstractObjective:  This paper proposes that there is value in international comparison of rural and remote health‐care service delivery models because of practical reasons – to find ideas, models and lessons to address ‘local’ delivery challenges; and for theoretical reasons – to derive a conceptual framework for international comparison. Methods:  Literature review and commentary. Findings:  There are significant challenges to international comparative research that have been highlighted generically; for example, equivalence of terminology, datasets and indicators. Context supremacy has been raised as a reason why models and research findings might not be transferable. This paper proposes that there is insufficient knowledge about how rural contexts in relation to health service delivery are similar or different internationally. Investigating contexts in different countries and identifying the dimensions on which service delivery might differ is an important stimulus for study. The paper suggests, for discussion, dimensions on which rural service delivery might differ between countries and regions, including physical geographical factors, social interaction with rurality, policies of service provision and the politics and operation of health care. Conclusions:  The paper asks whether, given the need to develop models suitable for rural areas and for theory on rural health to extend, international comparative research is an imperative or an indulgence.
Occupational therapists’ perceptions of gender – A focus group study
Authors: Liedberg Gunilla M. , Björk Mathilda , Hensing Gunnel 
Published: June 2010

Background/aim:  Women and men are shaped over the courses of their lives by culture, society and human interaction according to the gender system. Cultural influences on individuals’ social roles and environment are described in occupational therapy literature, but not specifically from a gender perspective. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore how a sample of occupational therapists perceives the ‘gender’ concept.Method:  Four focus group interviews with 17 occupational therapists were conducted. The opening question was: ‘How do you reflect on the encounter with a client depending on whether it is a man or a woman?’ The transcribed interviews were analysed and two main themes emerged: ‘the concept of gender is tacit in occupational therapy’ and ‘client encounters’. Results:  The occupational therapists expressed limited theoretical knowledge of ‘gender’. Furthermore, the occupational therapists seemed to be ‘doing gender’ in their encounters with the clients. For example, in their assessment of the client, they focussed their questions on different spheres: with female clients, on the household and family; with male clients, on their paid work. Conclusions:  This study demonstrated that occupational therapists were unaware of the possibility that they were ‘doing gender’ in their encounters with clients. There is a need to increase occupational therapists’ awareness of their own behaviour of ‘doing gender’. Furthermore, there is a need to investigate whether gendered perceptions will shorten or lengthen a rehabilitation period and affect the chosen interventions, and in the end, the outcome for the clients.
Serum E‐selectin levels in Indian children and adolescents: Relation to clinical and biochemical parameters
Authors: Srinivasa Nageswara Rao Gattem , Gurumurthy Prema , Gururajan Priya , Saibabu Ramineni , Cherian Kotturothu Mamen 
Published: June 2010

AbstractBackground:  An adverse pattern of blood lipids and atherosclerosis begin in childhood. Unfortunately, data for children and adolescents, particularly those in the Indian population, are scarce. The present study aims to evaluate the levels of serum E‐selectin in Indian children and adolescents and its correlation with anthropometric and biochemical parameters.Methods:  The study groups included 338 school children and adolescents. There were 96 obese children, 97 overweight children and 42 children with congenital heart disease who were compared with 103 normal controls, aged 10–17 years. Serum E‐selectin and serum leptin were analyzed with enzyme–linked immunosorbent assay kits. Lipid profile and fasting glucose were analyzed using an autoanalyzer.Results:  Serum E‐selectin levels were significantly increased in obese (65.3 ± 8.39 ng/mL) and overweight (56.01 ± 6.96 ng/mL) subjects (P < 0.001). However, these levels were lower in children with congenital heart disease (40.99 ± 6.54 ng/mL) than in controls (43.79 ± 6.71 ng/mL).Conclusion:  Serum E‐selectin levels showed good positive association with body mass index, waist‐to‐hip ratio, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, leptin, total cholesterol, triglycerides and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol and showed negative correlation with fasting glucose and no significant association with high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol. These findings indicate that higher E‐selectin levels can induce endothelial activation and play an essential role in the earliest stage of the atherosclerotic process in obese and overweight children. Regular camps at schools to counsel the identified overweight and obese children and to encourage physical exercise would help to reduce the risk of these children being prone to major cardiovascular anomalies in adulthood.
Molecular pathology of renal oncocytoma: A review
Authors: Yusenko Maria V 
Published: June 2010

AbstractDifferentiating renal oncocytoma from its renal cell carcinoma (RCC) mimics, particularly chromophobe RCC, can be difficult, especially when limited tissue is available for evaluation and requires sophisticated microscopic, ultrastructural and immunohistochemical evaluation. In this review, the relevant literature has been reviewed, and supporting data obtained by applying modern microarray‐based technologies are discussed with a focus on molecular pathology of renal oncocytoma. The high resolution whole‐genome DNA‐microarray based analyses excluded with all certainty the occurrence of small specific alterations. Renal oncocytomas are characterized by variable chromosomal patterns. The number of genes selected by global gene expression analyses and their usefulness in the diagnostic pathology based on immunohistochemical evaluation is far below the expectations. The conflicting staining patterns, together with the poor specificity of proposed antibodies, leads us to believe that these candidate immunomarkers might not help in the separation of these tumors. Applying DNA based tools might help in the diagnosis of renal oncocytoma with uncertain histology. However, only the combination of all available techniques could give reliable information.
Exfoliation syndrome related to sensorineural hearing loss
Authors: Papadopoulos Theodoros‐Athanassios , Naxakis Stephanos S , Charalabopoulou Margarita , Vathylakis Ioannis , Goumas Panos D , Gartaganis Sotirios P 
Published: June 2010

AbstractBackground:  To investigate the relationship between exfoliation syndrome and sensorineural hearing loss.Methods:  A prospective study was designed. Patients with evidence of ocular exfoliation syndrome (study group) and individuals without any clinical signs of exfoliation syndrome (control group) were selected. Cases and controls were chosen to have similar demographic characteristics. Study and control group subjects with a history of conditions affecting hearing function were excluded. Pure‐tone audiometry was performed in all participants in both groups and hearing thresholds were measured at frequencies of 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 4 and 8 kHz (kilohertz) for each ear.Results:  A total of 69 subjects participated in the study. The study group included 47 subjects and the control group 22. There was no significant difference in mean age (P = 0.985) and gender (P = 0.378) between groups. Mean pure‐tone hearing thresholds were significantly higher in study group at frequencies of 4 kHz (P = 0.004) and 8 kHz (P = 0.001), but not at frequencies of 0.25, 0.5, 1 and 2 kHz. The greatest difference in the comparison of mean hearing thresholds between study and control group was noted at 8 kHz.Conclusions:  The above results are in accordance with previous studies and provide additional evidence of the association between exfoliation syndrome and sensorineural hearing loss at high frequencies. Particular effect was shown on the highest frequency of 8 kHz. These findings may support the systemic nature of exfoliation syndrome.
Effect of stem cells and fibrin concentration on the vascularization of the Medpor orbital implant
Authors: Lee Sul‐Gee , Yang Jae‐Wook , Park Sae‐Gwang , Yang Young‐Il 
Published: June 2010

AbstractBackground:  To determine the effect of adipose‐derived adult stem cells (ADASCs) and optimal concentration of fibrin on fibrovascular ingrowth into porous polyethylene orbital implants (Medpor).Methods:  Medpor sheet treated with O.25% fibrin only and ADASCs in mixtures containing fibrin (0.25%, 0.5% or 1.25%) were applied to a Medpor sheet and implanted in the back of each of 20 athymic nude mice. After 10 days, implants were removed and observed for fibrovascularization and stability. Haemoglobin, collagen and cellular DNA content were determined in quantitative assays.Results:  Haemoglobin, collagen and cellular DNA levels were significantly higher in ADASC group than in the cell‐free implant (0.25% fibrin only) group (P < 0.01). The level of haemoglobin and collagen content was significantly higher in the ADASC + 0.5% fibrin group among the ADASC and fibrin mixtures (P < 0.01).Conclusion:  ADASCs significantly improved fibrovascularization on Medpor compared with implants alone. Fibrin, used together with ADASCs to potentiate fibrovascularization, was most effective at concentrations of 0.5%.
Diabetic retinopathy in a hospital eye clinic population in Honiara, Solomon Islands
Authors: Qoqonokana Mundi Qalo , Brian Garry , Ramke Jacqueline , Garcia Jose , Szetu John 
Published: June 2010

AbstractBackground:  To determine the presence, severity and context of diabetic retinopathy among diabetic adults using hospital eye clinic services in Honiara, Solomon Islands.Methods:  Fifty consecutive known diabetic patients aged ≥20 years were interviewed and underwent Snellen distance vision testing and complete ocular examination, including dilated 90 D funduscopy. Diabetic retinopathy was graded according to the International Clinical Diabetic Retinopathy and Macular Oedema Disease Severity Scales.Results:  Participants were predominantly Melanesian (94%). Mean age was 53.6 ± 10.7 years; 42% were female; and 34% were rural dwellers. Diabetes had been diagnosed <5, 5–10 and >10 years ago for 42%, 34% and 24% of participants. However, 54% denied ever having had a dilated fundus examination. Proliferative retinopathy, severe non‐proliferative changes and maculopathy were present in 5, 12 and 26 eyes, respectively. For the 32 eyes with pinhole acuity ≤6/12, diabetic eye disease was the cause for 20, with all but one due to maculopathy. Diabetes reduced the pinhole vision of five eyes to ≤6/60. Twenty‐four per cent of participants had diabetes‐related pinhole vision ≤6/12 in at least one eye. Those diagnosed with diabetes 5–10 and >10 years were 17.5 and 58.8 times more likely to have such an eye compared with those recently (<5 years) diagnosed (extended Mantel–Haenszel χ2 = 11.570, P < 0.001). Participants were not well informed about diabetic eye disease.Conclusions:  Diabetic eye disease is now a significant contributor to this clinic's workload. A population‐based survey is needed to quantify the problem and inform design and delivery of eye services for this chronic disease.
DIAGNOSTIC ACCURACY OF PIT PATTERN AND VASCULAR PATTERN ANALYSES IN COLORECTAL LESIONS
Authors: Wada Yoshiki , Kashida Hiroshi , Kudo Shin‐ei , Misawa Masashi , Ikehara Nobunao , Hamatani Shigeharu 
Published: June 2010

Background: The aim of this prospective study is to compare the usefulness of magnifying narrow band imaging (NBI) and magnifying chromoendoscopy in the diagnosis of colorectal lesions.Methods:   The subjects were 1185 patients who underwent a complete colonoscopic examination and endoscopic or surgical treatment, from January 2006 to February 2008. A total of 1473 lesions were evaluated (53 hyperplastic polyps, 1317 adenomas, 103 submucosally invasive cancers). The digital images with NBI or chromoendoscopy were recorded and diagnosed independently from each other by two endoscopists who were blinded to the final pathological diagnosis.Results:   We could differentiate between neoplastic and non‐neoplastic lesions with sensitivity of 88.9%, specificity of 98.5% and accuracy of 98.2% according to the vascular pattern. By recognizing an irregular or sparse pattern with NBI, massively invasive submucosal cancer could be diagnosed with the sensitivity and specificity of 94.9% and 76.0%. Using chromoendoscopy, we could differentiate between neoplastic and non‐neoplastic lesions with sensitivity of 86.8% and specificity of 99.2%. We were able to differentiate between massively invasive cancers and slightly invasive cancers using the pit patterns with sensitivity of 89.7% and specificity of 88.0%. The specificity was superior to that of NBI colonoscopy.Conclusion:   Both NBI and chromoendoscopy can be useful for distinguishing between neoplastic and non‐neoplastic lesions. In the diagnosis of submucosal cancer, pit pattern diagnosis was slightly superior to vascular pattern diagnosis. It is desirable to perform chromoendoscopy in addition to NBI for distinguishing between slightly and massively invasive submucosal cancer lesions and determining the treatment.
CLINICAL INVESTIGATION OF UPPER GASTROINTESTINAL HEMORRHAGE AFTER PERCUTANEOUS ENDOSCOPIC GASTROSTOMY
Authors: Nishiwaki Shinji , Araki Hiroshi , Takada Jun , Watanabe Naoki , Asano Takahiko , Iwashita Masahide , Tagami Atsushi , Hatakeyama Hiroo , Hayashi Takao , Maeda Teruo , Saito Koshiro 
Published: June 2010

Background:  Upper gastrointestinal (GI) hemorrhage after percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is sometimes reported as one of the serious complications. Our purpose was to clarify the cause of upper GI hemorrhage after PEG.Patients and Methods:  We retrospectively investigated the causes of upper GI hemorrhage among a total of 416 patients out of 426 consecutive patients who underwent PEG in our institution, excluding 10 patients who showed upper GI tumors on PEG placement.Results:  Among 17 patients who developed upper GI hemorrhage after PEG, three and four patients showed PEG tube placement and replacement‐related hemorrhage, respectively; these lesions were vascular or mucosal tears around the gastrostomy site. Ten patients experienced 12 episodes of upper GI hemorrhage during PEG tube feeding. The lesions showing bleeding were caused by reflux esophagitis (five patients), gastric ulcer (two patients), gastric erosion due to mucosal inclusion in the side hole of the internal bolster (two patients), and duodenal diverticular hemorrhage (one patient). Anticoagulants were administered in six patients, including four patients with replacement‐related hemorrhage and one patient each with reflux esophagitis and gastric ulcer.Conclusions:  Reflux esophagitis was the most frequent reason for upper GI hemorrhage after PEG. The interruption of anticoagulants should be considered for the prevention of hemorrhage on the placement as well as replacement of a gastrostomy tube.
Locally Stationary Wavelet Fields with Application to the Modelling and Analysis of Image Texture
Authors: Eckley Idris A. , Nason Guy P. , Treloar Robert L. 
Published: June 2010

SummaryThe paper proposes the modelling and analysis of image texture by using an extension of a locally stationary wavelet process model into two dimensions for lattice processes. Such a model permits construction of estimates of a spatially localized spectrum and localized autocovariance which can be used to characterize texture in a multiscale and spatially adaptive way. We provide the necessary theoretical support to show that our two-dimensional extension is properly defined and has the proper statistical convergence properties. Our use of a statistical model permits us to identify, and correct for, a bias in established texture measures based on non-decimated wavelet techniques. The method proposed performs nearly as well as optimal Fourier techniques on stationary textures and outperforms them in non-stationary situations. We illustrate our techniques by using pilled fabric data from a fabric care experiment and simulated tile data.
Maintenance of the ubiquitin–proteasome system activity correlates with visible skin benefits
Authors: Imbert I. , Gondran C. , Oberto G. , Cucumel K. , Dal Farra C. , Domloge N. 
Published: June 2010

SynopsisResearches on longevity and anti‐ageing molecules have clearly evidenced the potential to increase lifespan of the cells. These recent scientific data raise interests and questions on the capacity of the cells to live longer and maintain their fundamental mechanisms of protection, reparation or degradation of abnormal proteins to maintain their capital of healthy and functional cellular activity. In this concern, this study was focused on the ubiquitin–proteasome system as an essential cellular tool to maintain the pool of functionally active proteins allowing renewal of proteins and degradation of damaged proteins. As the proteasome keeps the ‘cells health capital’, it should be particularly interesting to associate the maintenance of the proteasome activity with increasing longevity. Indeed, although oxidative stress damage increases with ageing leading to collagen and cellular membrane alterations, it also leads to a reduction in the proteasome activity which is critical for the cells. The aim of this study was to better understand the cellular role of the proteasome and to provide new data showing the skin beneficial effects in activating the overall system of ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation. For this purpose, in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo experiments were performed to evaluate the effects of maintaining the ubiquitin–proteasome activity in basal and stress conditions on young versus aged cells. Experiments have included evaluation of a newly developed dimerized tripeptide targeting specifically the ubiquitin–proteasome pathway. Our results have demonstrated that maintenance of this essential mechanism that participates in abnormal protein elimination and protein renewal allows maintaining cellular integrity that correlates with visible skin benefits.
Stratum corneum free amino acids following barrier perturbation and repair
Authors: Visscher M. , Robinson M. , Wickett R. 
Published: June 2010

SynopsisModulation of the skin environment after stratum corneum (SC) perturbation has profound effects on the rate and effectiveness of barrier repair. Intermediate water exposure, e.g. moderate relative humidity, may provide the optimum water gradient for SC repair. More rapid recovery with semipermeable (SP) films in vivo was associated with increased hydration measured as moisture accumulation rate. We hypothesized that (i) damaged SC recovering under the high water exposure of full occlusion (FO) would have lower free amino acids (FAA) than sites with low hydration (no occlusion, NO) and semi‐occlusion (SP, semipermeable film, intermediate hydration) and (ii) SC under semi‐occlusion would have higher FAA than with low hydration. Volar forearm sites in 15 healthy adults were perturbed via cellophane tape stripping and treated with SP, FO and NO for five days. Barrier recovery rate, hydration, dryness and erythema were determined. Serial SC samples (n = 15) were collected on day 5 and FAA quantified using reverse‐phase HPLC and fluorescence detection. The cumulative protein removed was higher for SP than the control, NO and FO. FAA as total, individual amino acids and citrulline were consistently higher in the control than the three damaged sites. Generally, FAA was higher in NO than FO. Citrulline was higher for NO than SP and FO over the sampled SC. Levels were higher for SP than FO in certain, but not all of the FAAs. FAA was inversely correlated to barrier integrity. Skin hydration was relatively constant at the external microenvironment of the SP site, whereas the NO and FO had a reduction, i.e. a gradient, over the time. Overall, barrier recovery under conditions of a decreasing hydration gradient produced SC with higher levels of FAA than did conditions of full occlusion.
Management of pain associated with debridement of leg ulcers: a randomized, multicentre, pilot study comparing nitrous oxide–oxygen mixture inhalation and lidocaïne–prilocaïne cream
Authors: Claeys A , Gaudy‐Marqueste C , Pauly V , Pelletier F , Truchetet F , Boye T , Aubin F , Schmutz JL , Grob JJ , Richard MA 
Published: June 2010

AbstractBackground  Mechanical debridement of fibrin and/or necrosis promotes healing of arterial and venous leg ulcers but is limited by pain associated with the procedure.Objective  The main objective of this study was to compare the respective analgesic effect of nitrous oxide oxygen mixture (NOOM) inhalation and lidocaïne–prilocaïne cream (LPC) application during the mechanical repeated debridement of chronic arterial and venous leg ulcers.Methods  In this randomized, multicentre, open‐label study, pain was evaluated before and after each care and debridement session using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and a Verbal Rating Scale (VRS), in the context of usual debridement and wound care process. The Quality of debridement and tolerability of the treatments were also assessed.Results  Forty‐one patients were randomized: 20 received NOOM and 21 LPC. Pain assessed by VAS and VRS was more intense in the NOOM group than in the LPC group (5.29 vs. 3.68 and 2.87 vs. 1.71, P < 0.001, for the two scales respectively). No differences were found concerning quality of debridement, safety or tolerability between the two groups.Conclusion  This pilot study demonstrates the superiority of the LPC over NOOM for pain control during the mechanical debridement of chronic leg ulcers.