bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Does optometrists’ self‐reported practice in glaucoma detection predict actual practice as determined by standardised patients?
Authors: Theodossiades Julia , Myint Joy , Murdoch Ian E , Edgar David F , Lawrenson John G 
Published: February 2012

Citation information: Theodossiades J, Myint J, Murdoch IE, Edgar DF & Lawrenson JG. Does optometrists’ self‐reported practice in glaucoma detection predict actual practice as determined by standardised patients? Ophthalmic Physiol Opt 2012, 32, 234–241. doi: 10.1111/j.1475‐1313.2012.00898.xAbstractPurpose:  Questionnaires are commonly used as a proxy measure of clinical practice; however their application in a variety of healthcare settings has found significant self‐reporting bias. The aim of this study is to estimate the validity of self‐reporting as a measure of optometrist case‐finding practice for glaucoma and the appropriate referral of suspects.Methods:  Two complementary approaches were used: (1) a sample of optometrists (N = 34) on an ophthalmic list in West London were visited incognito by Standardised Patient (SP) volunteers aged over 54 who were trained to identify the components of a standard Sight Test. Optometrists from the same list were then invited to participate in a structured face‐to‐face interview regarding their case finding practice for glaucoma. The findings from the two sources were compared. (2) as part of a national glaucoma survey of optometrists, respondents (N = 1264) were asked in a free text question for the information that they would include in a referral letter for suspect glaucoma. The responses were compared to the content of a sample of glaucoma referral letters (N = 571) obtained from consultant ophthalmologists across the UK. In each case, the degree of correspondence (‘match’) between reported practice and actual practice was assessed by chi‐square analysis.Results:  For the SP study there was incomplete correspondence between the questionnaire and SP reports in several areas e.g. questions relating to a complete history and symptoms, measurement of intra‐ocular pressure and visual fields. Complete correspondence was found for questions asking about the routine assessment of ocular health and refraction. For the referral study, correspondence between survey findings and referral letters was obtained for IOP only. No correspondence was found for disc assessment, visual fields or family history of glaucoma.Conclusions:  The overall findings from both studies indicate that self‐reported clinical practice questionnaires overestimate routine tests undertaken by optometrists in practice. Although there was a good correspondence for mandatory tests, correspondence was poor for discretionary tests. These findings should be borne in mind in all questionnaire studies that report current practice in glaucoma case‐finding.
Neovascular potential of adipose‐derived stromal cells (ASCs) from diabetic patients
Authors: Gu Ja Hea , Lee Jae Sun , Kim Deok‐Woo , Yoon Eul‐Sik , Dhong Eun‐Sang 
Published: February 2012

AbstractWe explored the vascular biology of adipose‐derived stromal cells (ASCs) from diabetic patients and applied these cells to a murine ischemic flap model to assess the comparative angiogenic potentials between normal and diabetic human ASCs. ASCs were obtained from diabetic patients (n = 5) and controls (n = 5). Secretion and expression of angiogenic cytokines were measured under normoxic and hypoxic condition in vitro. Conditioned media harvested from ASC cultures were assessed for their ability to stimulate human umbilical vein endothelial cell proliferation and tubulization. The control and diabetic ASCs were injected into the murine ischemic flaps, and the surviving area was measured. Diabetic adipose‐derived stromal cells showed a lower level of vascular endothelial growth factor expression and cell proliferation rates than the control cells (p < 0.05). However, vascular endothelial growth factor, hepatocyte growth factor secretion, tubulogenesis, and cell proliferation in diabetic conditioned media were increased in response to hypoxic stimuli (p < 0.05), and it was similar to those of control cells. In an animal study, diabetic and normal ASCs significantly increased flap survival (p < 0.05); however, the functional difference was not found between the two groups. Diabetic ASCs were impaired in their ability to produce vascular endothelial growth factors and to induce cellular proliferation under hypoxic conditions. However, diabetic ASCs showed similar flap salvaging effect compared with controls. These findings may be important in the context of future study of autologous cell‐based therapy in diabetic patients.
Keratin dressings speed epithelialization of deep partial‐thickness wounds
Authors: Pechter Patricia M. , Gil Joel , Valdes Jose , Tomic‐Canic Marjana , Pastar Irena , Stojadinovic Olivera , Kirsner Robert S. , Davis Stephen C. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractKeratin gene expression is regarded as a hallmark of epidermal biology. It demarcates the three keratinocyte phenotypes: basal (expressing KRT5 and KRT14), differentiating (expressing KRT1 and KRT10), and activated (wound healing), which is characterized by expression of KRT6, KRT16, and KRT17. Activated keratinocytes are among the first signals of epidermal wound healing. In addition, they are found deregulated in nonhealing chronic wounds. To examine keratins as a potential modality for wound‐healing disorders, we evaluated two different keratin dressings, liquid or solid, and assessed their effects of epithelialization and closure using porcine partial‐thickness wound‐healing model in vivo. We found that both forms of keratin dressings accelerated closure and epithelialization, achieving statistically significant differences on day 5. Evidence suggesting early onset of epithelialization was corroborated further by gene expression analyses revealing induction of KRT6A, KRT16, and KRT17 by day 2 postwounding. The data suggest that keratin dressings may stimulate epithelialization by enhancing the activation of keratinocytes. We conclude that keratin‐containing dressings can accelerate wound healing and closure. Further studies are needed to determine the molecular mechanisms of this activation.
Septic Shock With Multiorgan Failure: From Conventional Apheresis to Adsorption Therapies
Authors: Stegmayr Bernd , Abdel‐Rahman Emaad M. , Balogun Rasheed A. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractSeptic shock is often associated with multiorgan failure, a life threatening clinical condition during which there is an imbalance in the proinflammatory and anti‐inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, antigens, endotoxins, procoagulant, and anticoagulant factors and also resultant effects of therapeutic intervention like volume overload. Various extracorporeal therapies have shown some positive results as adjunctive therapeutic intervention to traditional antimicrobials in an effort to bring the inflammatory mediators to a homeostatic balance and to improve poor organ perfusion caused by hypotension and thrombosis in the microcirculation. This review focuses on current information on the use of therapeutic apheresis procedures as adjunctive therapy in such clinical situations as well as the exciting prospects for the near future. The sometimes disappointing results of early phase clinical studies may, in some cases, be related to the well known barriers to successful clinical trials in critically ill patients rather than to failure of the novel concept of adjunctive extracorporeal treatment of septic shock. It should be noted that some of the specialized apheresis technologies reviewed in this article are not yet available for clinical use in the United States as they are not yet approved for use by the US Food and Drug Administration.
A Transformative Decision‐Making Process for Mammography Screening Among Rural, Low‐Income Women
Authors: Purtzer Mary A. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractObjectiveThe study objective was to expand theoretical knowledge of the mammography‐screening decision‐making process. The purpose of this article was to report the decision‐making process of participants who moved from nonscreening to screening.Design and SampleGrounded theory methodology was used. Seventeen rural, low‐income women aged 46–64 years were recruited.MeasuresIn‐depth, face‐to‐face interviews were conducted. Semi‐structured questions focused on decision making, readiness for change, and health care experiences.ResultsTwo phases of decision making were identified. Phase I, A Dormant Period of Nonscreening Behavior, is an inactive screening period characterized by (a) knowledge deficits, (b) unengaged cognition, and (c) misleading perceptions. Phase II, A Transformative Learning Process Resulting in Screening Behavior, is characterized by (a) aroused affective responses, (b) awakened cognitive responses, (c) new knowledge construction, and (d) changed perceptual responses. A catalytic event provides the stimulus to move from Phase I to Phase II. Transformative learning emerged as the central conceptual category underlying the decision to obtain screening. Transformative learning includes a triggering event that facilitates questioning previously held assumptions about mammography.ConclusionParticipants demonstrated a transformative process resulting in movement from nonscreening to screening. Further study is needed regarding nursing interventions that serve as catalysts for transformation and subsequent screening.
A Comparative Life Cycle Assessment Study of Polyethylene Based on Sugarcane and Crude Oil
Authors: Liptow Christin , Tillman Anne‐Marie 
Published: February 2012

SummaryA potential strategy for tackling the negative environmental impact of conventional plastics is to produce them from renewable resources. However, such a strategy needs to be assessed quantitatively, by life cycle assessment (LCA) for example.This screening LCA is intended to identify key aspects that influence the environmental impact of sugarcane low‐density polyethylene (LDPE) and compare these results against fossil‐based LDPE.The study showed that the major contributors to the environmental impact of sugarcane LDPE are ethanol production, polymerization, and long‐distance sea transport. The comparison between sugarcane‐ and oil‐based plastics showed that the sugarcane alternative consumes more total energy, although the major share is renewable. Moreover, for their potential impacts on acidification, eutrophication, and photochemical ozone creation, no significant difference between the two materials exists.However, with regard to global warming potential (GWP), the contribution of land use change (LUC) is decisive. Although the range of LUC emissions is uncertain, in the worst case they more than double the GWP of sugarcane LDPE and make it comparable to that of fossil‐based LDPE. LUC emissions can thus be significant for sugarcane LDPE, although there is need for a consistent LUC assessment method.In addition, to investigate the influence of methodological choices, this study performed attributional and consequential assessments in parallel. No major differences in key contributors were found for these two assessment perspectives.
Care‐Related Risk Factors for Hospital‐Acquired Pressure Ulcers in Elderly Adults with Hip Fracture
Authors: Baumgarten Mona , Rich Shayna E. , Shardell Michelle D. , Hawkes William G. , Margolis David J. , Langenberg Patricia , Orwig Denise L. , Palmer Mary H. , Jones Patricia S. , Sterling Robert , Kinosian Bruce P. , Magaziner Jay 
Published: February 2012

ObjectivesTo identify care‐related factors associated with hospital‐acquired pressure ulcers (HAPUs).DesignProspective cohort study.SettingNine hospitals in Baltimore Hip Studies network.ParticipantsSix hundred fifty‐eight individuals aged 65 and older who underwent surgery for hip fracture.MeasurementsSkin examinations at baseline and on alternating days until hospital discharge. Participants were deemed to have a HAPU if they developed one or more new Stage 2 or higher pressure ulcers (PUs) during the hospital stay.ResultsLonger emergency department stays were associated with lower HAPU incidence (>4–6 hours: adjusted incidence rate ratio (aIRR) = 0.68, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.48–0.96; >6 hours: aIRR = 0.68, 95% CI = 0.46–0.99, both vs ≤ 4 hours). Participants with 24 hours or longer between admission and surgery had a higher postsurgery HAPU rate than those with less than 24 hours (aIRR = 1.62, 95% CI = 1.24–2.11). Surgery with general anesthesia had a lower postsurgery HAPU rate than surgery with other types of anesthesia (aIRR = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.49–0.88). There was no significant association between HAPU incidence and timing of transport to the hospital, type of transport to the hospital, or surgery duration.ConclusionMost of the factors hypothesized to be associated with higher PU incidence were associated with lower incidence or were not significantly associated, suggesting that HAPU development may not be as sensitive to care‐related factors as commonly believed. Rigorous studies of innovative preventive interventions are needed to inform policy and practice.
A Human Vascular Model Based on Microdialysis for the Assessment of the Vasoconstrictive Dose–Response Effects of Norepinephrine and Vasopressin in Skin
Authors: FOLKESSON KIM TCHOU , SAMUELSSON ANDERS , TESSELAAR ERIK , DAHLSTRÖM BENGT , SJÖBERG FOLKE 
Published: February 2012

Please cite this paper as: Folkesson KT, Samuelsson A, Tesselaar E, Dahlström B, Sjöberg F. A human vascular model based on microdialysis for the assessment of the vasoconstrictive dose–response effects of norepinephrine and vasopressin in skin. Microcirculation 19: 352–359, 2012.AbstractObjective:  Microdialysis enables drug delivery in the skin and simultaneous measurement of their effects. The present study aimed to evaluate dose‐dependent changes in blood flow and metabolism during microdialysis of norepinephrine and vasopressin.Methods:  We investigated whether increasing concentrations of norepinephrine (NE, 1.8–59 μmol/L) and vasopressin (VP, 1–100 nmol/L), delivered sequentially in one catheter or simultaneously through four catheters, yield dose‐dependent changes in blood flow (as measured using urea clearance) and metabolism (glucose and lactate).Results:  We found a significant dose‐dependent vasoconstriction with both drugs. Responses were characterized by a sigmoid dose response model. Urea in the dialysate increased from a baseline of 7.9 ± 1.7 to 10.9 ± 0.9 mmol/L for the highest concentration of NE (p < 0.001) and from 8.1 ± 1.4 to 10.0 ± 1.7 mmol/L for the highest concentration of VP (p  = 0.037). Glucose decreased from 2.3 ± 0.7 to 0.41 ± 0.18 mmol/L for NE (p = 0.001) and from 2.7 ± 0.6 to 1.3 ± 0.5 mmol/L for VP (p < 0.001). Lactate increased from 1.1 ± 0.4 to 2.6 ± 0.5 mmol/L for NE (p = 0.005) and from 1.1 ± 0.4 to 2.6 ± 0.5 mmol/L for VP (p = 0.008). There were no significant differences between responses from a single catheter and from those obtained simultaneously using multiple catheters.Conclusions:  Microdialysis in the skin, either with a single catheter or using multiple catheters, offers a useful tool for studying dose response effects of vasoactive drugs on local blood flow and metabolism without inducing any systemic effects.
Crystallization Kinetics and Mechanism of Strontium Zinc Silicate Glass
Authors: Tiwari Babita , Dixit Anupam , Pillai C. G. Sivan , Gadkari Sanjay C. , Kothiyal Govind Prasad 
Published: February 2012

The non‐isothermal crystallization kinetics of the strontium zinc silicate (SZS) glasses, having composition 51SrO‐9ZnO‐40SiO2 (wt%), was studied using the differential thermal analysis (DTA). Glasses prepared by quenching the melt in air, were subjected to different heat treatments for studying the crystallization behavior. Formation of crystalline phases and microstructure were studied by using powder X‐ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The activation energy and mechanism of crystallization were determined according to Kissinger, Ozawa and Matusita‐Sakka equations. The DTA exotherm observed at around 920°C consists of two overlapping crystallization peaks corresponding to two different crystalline phases. Strontium silicate (Sr3Si3O9) and SZS (Sr2ZnSi2O7) phases crystallize almost simultaneously as major phases. The activation energies for the these crystallization peaks are 700 kJ/mol and 704 kJ/mol. Higher activation energies indicate that the kinetics are more thermally activated making the control of crystallization more difficult. The values of growth morphology parameters n (Avarami parameter) and m (dimensionality of crystal growth) suggest a diffusion controlled bulk crystallization with three‐ and two‐dimensional growth. This is also confirmed by an interconnected growth of stubby granular/prismatic shaped crystals in the glass‐ceramic. The microstructural evolution of the glass upon heating suggests the occurrence of phase separation with an apparently spinodal decomposition mechanism prior to the crystallization.
Assessment of the ‘no eosinophils' rule: are eosinophils truly absent in pityriasis lichenoides, connective tissue disease, and graft‐vs.‐host disease?
Authors: Sharon Victoria R. , Konia Thomas H. , Barr Keira L. , Fung Maxwell A. 
Published: February 2012

Eosinophils are often present in the inflammatory infiltrate of an interface dermatitis, but the diagnostic specificity of eosinophils in interface dermatitis has not been formally evaluated. We retrospectively identified 97 examples of interface dermatitis with clinically confirmed diagnoses, including lupus erythematosus (LE), lichen planus, pityriasis lichenoides (PL), graft‐vs.‐host disease (GVHD), dermatomyositis (DM) and drug reaction. Diagnoses were clinically confirmed by at least two dermatologists. Slides were reviewed in a blinded fashion by at least two dermatopathologists. The average eosinophil count per 10 ×200 (×20 objective) fields was lowest for PL (0.2), DM (0.3), GVHD (0.4), and LE (0.5) [defined as Group 1] and was higher for lichen planus, drug reactions, erythema multiforme (major and minor) and viral exanthems [defined as Group 2]. Distinction between Group 1 and Group 2 was maximized using an eosinophil count cutoff of 1.1. In conclusion, eosinophils are usually rare to absent in PL, DM, most forms of LE and GVHD. While final interpretation requires a composite assessment of all features, our results suggest that the presence of even a single eosinophil within nine or ten ×20 fields argues against a diagnosis of PL, DM or LE.Sharon VR, Konia TH, Barr KL, Fung MA. Assessment of the ‘no eosinophils' rule: are eosinophils truly absent in pityriasis lichenoides, connective tissue disease, and graft‐vs.‐host disease?
Prevalence and characteristics of patients with risky alcohol consumption presenting to emergency departments in rural Australia
Authors: Havard Alys , Shakeshaft Anthony P , Conigrave Katherine M 
Published: February 2012

AbstractObjective:This study measures the prevalence of problematic alcohol consumption in patients of EDs in rural areas of Australia, relative to the general population in the same rural communities. It also identifies the characteristics associated with risky drinking in rural ED patients.Methods:Surveys containing the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and questions corresponding to the 2001 Australian Alcohol Guidelines were completed by 1056 patients presenting to five EDs in rural areas of New South Wales, and 756 residents of the same five communities.Results:Relative to the general community, ED patients were statistically significantly more likely to engage in risky alcohol consumption according to the AUDIT (39%vs20%), alcohol consumption posing a high risk of short‐term harm (26%vs18%) and alcohol consumption posing a high risk of long‐term harm (7%vs3%). Although being aged under 40 years of age, being unmarried, not completing school and being assigned less urgent triage categories were associated with risky alcohol use among ED patients, rates of risky consumption were high across all patient subgroups.Conclusions:Risky drinking, across a number of measures, is overrepresented in patients of rural Australian EDs relative to the general community, and this type of consumption is not limited to certain subgroups of patients. There is a need for interventions that address both heavy single occasion drinking and excessive regular consumption in patients of rural Australian EDs, with universal interventions recommended rather than targeted programmes.
Cell Survival and Altered Gene Expression Following Photodynamic Inactivation of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis
Authors: Almeida Luciane M. , Zanoelo Fabiana F. , Castro Kelly P. , Borissevitch Iouri E. , Soares Célia M. A. , Gonçalves Pablo J. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractParacoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a systemic mycosis caused by Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. Currently, the treatment approach involves the use of antifungal drugs and requires years of medical therapy, which can induce nephrotoxicity and lead to resistance in yeast strains. Photodynamic inactivation (PDI) is a new therapy capable of killing microorganisms via the combination of a nontoxic dye with visible light to generate toxic reactive oxygen species (ROS). We investigated the phototoxic effect of 5,10,15,20‐tetrakis(1‐methyl‐4‐pyridinio)porphyrin (TMPyP), a cationic porphyrin, on the survival of P. brasiliensis following exposure to light. Phototoxicity was found to depend on both the fluence and concentration of the photosensitizer (PS). Although the biological effects of PDI are known, the molecular mechanisms underlying the resultant damage to cells are poorly defined. Therefore, we evaluated the molecular response to PDI‐induced oxidative stress by gene transcription analysis. We selected genes associated with the high‐osmolarity glycerol (HOG)‐mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway and antioxidant enzymes. The genes analyzed were all overexpressed after PDI treatment, suggesting that the oxidative stress generated in our experimental conditions induces antioxidant activity. In addition to PDI‐induced gene expression, there was high cell mortality, suggesting that the antioxidant response was not sufficient to avoid fungal mortality.
Analysis of consumption pattern of highway transportation fuel in Nigeria
Authors: Nwachukwu Maxwell Umunna , Mba Harold Chike 
Published: February 2012

AbstractThe scarcity of highway transportation fuel in Nigeria has been partly associated with the inability of the nation's forecast of demand for highway transportation to accurately determine and incorporate the diversity in consumption pattern that is apparent in the country. This has posed enormous challenge for the country. This study is aimed at providing empirical evidence on consumption pattern of highway transportation fuel in Nigeria. It was hypothesised that consumptions of highway transportation fuel do not differ significantly among the various parts of the country. Four major cities, namely Lagos, Kano, Abuja and Enugu, were chosen on representative basis of size, function and location from their respective regions as the sample for this study. Analysis of variance technique was used in testing the research hypothesis. The results of the test suggest that the consumption of highway transportation fuel differ significantly among the four selected cities, with the exception of Abuja and Kano, at 0.01 significant level (F‐cal = 160.3; α‐sign = 0.000). The outcome of this study is capable of enhancing policies towards eliminating fuel scarcity in Nigeria.