bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Low‐dose ionising radiation from medical imaging in patients hospitalised in internal medicine
Authors: Martineau‐Beaulieu D. , Lanthier L. 
Published: December 2011

AbstractBackground:  Medical imaging is responsible for increasing exposure to low‐dose ionising radiation in the general population. The extent of exposure in specific patient populations remains to be determined.Aim:  We sought to determine the level of exposure in patients hospitalised in General Internal Medicine.Methods:  In this retrospective cohort study, we searched the Centre Informatisé de Recherche Évaluative en Services et Soins de Santé database for adult patients hospitalised in General Internal Medicine from 1 January 2008 to 31 December 2008. We collected data on demographics, co‐morbidities, and radiological and nuclear imaging. We used data from the literature to calculate an estimated annual effective dose for each patient and searched for factors associated with higher exposure.Results:  One thousand one hundred eighty‐seven (1187) patients were hospitalised at least once during the study period. The median age was 69 years (interquartile range 56–81) and 636 (53.6%) were men. The median annual effective dose of the whole cohort was 8.7 mSv/year. Patients aged between 55 and 80 years were exposed to a higher median effective dose compared with their younger and older counterparts (P < 0.001). Patients with cardiac, pulmonary, peripheral arterial and neoplastic disease were at higher risk of exposure to high and very high annual effective dose (P < 0.01). Patients with longer hospitalisations were at higher risk of exposure to high and very high annual effective dose (P < 0.01).Conclusion:  Patients hospitalised on a General Internal Medicine ward are exposed to three times more ionising radiation than the general population.
Diagnostic yield of bronchoscopic sampling in febrile neutropenic patients with pulmonary infiltrate and haematological disorders
Authors: Seneviratna A. , O'Carroll M. , Lewis C. A. , Milne D. 
Published: December 2011

AbstractBackground:  The development of pulmonary infiltrate in neutropenic patients is potentially life‐threatening, and requires early diagnosis and treatment. Bronchoscopic sampling is an established form of investigation in such patients.Aim:  The aim of the study is to determine the diagnostic yield and complication rate of bronchoscopic sampling in patients with a haematological disorder presenting with febrile neutropenia and pulmonary infiltrate.Methods:  Medical records and laboratory investigations were retrospectively reviewed for all patients with a haematological disorder who underwent flexible bronchoscopy and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) or bronchial washing (BW) at Auckland City Hospital, New Zealand, after presenting with febrile neutropenia and pulmonary infiltrate between January 2008 and December 2009. Demographic, clinical, radiological and microbiological data, procedure‐related complications and treatment were recorded. Modifications to treatment regimens as a result of bronchoscopy and 30‐day mortality were recorded.Results:  Out of 678 bronchoscopies performed during this period, 26 were in patients with a haematological disorder presenting with febrile neutropenia and pulmonary infiltrate. Most patients had a haematological malignancy (19/26). Two (7.7%) patients reported minor haemoptysis. No biopsies were performed. Positive microbiological samples were obtained with BAL/BW in 23% of patients. The most common organisms identified were Aspergillus species (15.4%); other organisms were Candida (11.6%) and Streptococcus pneumoniae (3.9%). The bronchoscopic results altered the clinical management of 10 (38.4%) patients. The 30‐day mortality rate was 19.2%, but no deaths were related to the procedure.Conclusions:  In haematology patients presenting with febrile neutropenia and pulmonary infiltrate, bronchoscopy is a safe procedure that plays a significant role in management.
Comparison of size 2 i‐gel supraglottic airway with LMA‐ProSeal™ and LMA‐Classic™ in spontaneously breathing children undergoing elective surgery
Authors: Goyal Rakhee , Shukla Ravindra Nath , Kumar Gaurav 
Published: December 2011

SummaryBackground:  We compared size 2 i‐gel® (Intersurgical Inc.), a relatively new supraglottic airway device for use in spontaneously breathing anesthesized children with two different types of laryngeal mask airway‐ProSeal™ laryngeal mask airway (PLMA) and Classic™ laryngeal mask airway (cLMA) for the ease of insertion, oropharyngeal sealing pressures (OSPs), and air leak. The hemodynamic effects on insertion of device and postoperative adverse effects were also noted.Methods:  A randomized prospective study was planned in 120 children aged 2–5 years, weighing 10–20 kg, ASA physical status I–II scheduled for routine elective surgeries of <1‐h duration. They were randomly divided in three groups (i‐gel, PLMA, and cLMA) of 40 each, and a standard protocol for anesthesia was followed.Results:  The age, weight, height, and type of surgery were similar in all groups. Success rate for first attempt was 95% for the i‐gel group and 90% for the two laryngeal mask airway groups. Insertion was found to be easy in the majority of cases in all groups, and there was no change in blood pressure, heart rate, or oxygen saturation on insertion. The OSP was 26 ± 2.6, 23 ± 1.2, and 22 ± 2.3 cm H2O for i‐gel, PLMA, and cLMA, respectively. The difference between the i‐gel and both laryngeal mask airway groups was statistically significant (P < 0.01). There were no clinically important complications in the postoperative period.Conclusion:  Pediatric size 2 i‐gel is easy to insert and provides higher OSP compared with same size PLMA and cLMA in spontaneously breathing children undergoing elective surgery. It may be a safe alternative to laryngeal mask airways in day care surgeries.
The Financial Costs of Caring in the British Labour Market: Is There a Wage Penalty for Workers in Caring Occupations?
Authors: Barron David N. , West Elizabeth 
Published: December 2011

AbstractRecent evidence from the USA suggests that people engaged in occupations involving providing care for others, such as childcare and teaching, suffer a wage penalty. After taking into account job and individual characteristics such as level of education and work experience, people in these occupations in the American study earned about 6 per cent less than their peers in other types of occupation. However, we do not yet know if people working in similar occupations in other countries also suffer the same degree of disadvantage. The issue is important because, despite the perception that people in caring jobs place a relatively low weight on the level of remuneration when making career decisions, a number of studies have shown clear evidence of an association between pay and the propensity to give up working in a caring occupation. There are implications too for social inequality as many caring jobs are done by women and associated wage penalties could contribute to the persistent gender gap in pay. This study compares and contrasts the predictions of neoclassical economics, cultural feminist theory and social closure theory.Data are taken from 17 waves of the British Household Panel Survey and include a total of 23,773 individuals, giving 110,677 person‐year observations. These data are analysed using multi‐level linear regression. The results show clear evidence of a statistically significant wage penalty associated with working in some caring occupations. Those occupations requiring lower levels of educational qualification, such as nursing assistants and auxiliaries, are particularly hard‐hit by the wage penalty. On the other hand, some occupations, such as medicine and teaching, have fared better than comparable non‐caring occupations over the same period. We discuss the implications of these results for the gender gap in pay, poverty, social inequality and the future supply of caring workers.
Tissue‐engineered provisional matrix as a novel approach to enhance diabetic wound healing
Authors: Balaji Swathi , Vaikunth Sachin S. , Lang Stephanie A. , Sheikh Abdul Q. , Lim Foong Y. , Crombleholme Timothy M. , Narmoneva Daria A. 
Published: December 2011

AbstractInherent pathologies associated with diabetic wound microenvironment including increased proteolysis, inflammatory dysregulation, and impaired neovascularization prevent timely resolution of chronic diabetic ulcers. It is hypothesized that augmentation of local wound microenvironment with a stable provisional matrix formed by proteolysis‐resistant angiogenic peptide nanofibers (NFs) will create permissive environment for attenuated inflammation, enhanced neovascularization, and improved diabetic wound healing. Using murine excisional wound healing models, full‐thickness dorsal skin wounds were treated with either NFs or control solutions (phosphate buffered saline; hyaluronic acid) and analyzed for morphology, inflammatory response, neovascularization, and biomechanical properties. NF treatment of diabetic wounds stimulated formation of a robust pro‐angiogenic in situ tissue‐engineered provisional matrix leading to a significant decrease in wound inflammatory cell infiltration and proinflammatory interleukin‐6 levels, a significant increase in endothelial and endothelial progenitor cell infiltration, vascular endothelial growth factor levels, and neovascularization (day 7), as well as improved wound morphology, accelerated wound closure, and significantly stronger repair tissue (day 28). These results suggest that appropriate design of provisional matrix may compensate for some of the complex disruptions in diabetic wound microenvironment and provide missing cues to cells and direct in situ responses toward improved healing, which is promising for future development of new therapies for diabetic ulcers.
Benefit evaluation in the therapy of chronic wounds from the patients' perspective—development and validation of a new method
Authors: Augustin Matthias , Blome Christine , Zschocke Ina , Schäfer Ines , Koenig Sibylle , Rustenbach Stephan J. , Herberger Katharina 
Published: December 2011

AbstractAssessing therapeutic benefit of any drug and medical device is essential in registration and cost reimbursement decisions inGermany and in many nations. In this study, a method for the assessment of patient‐relevant benefits in wound therapy was developed and validated. A total of 83 items on treatment benefit from the patients' perspective were collected in an open survey, includingn = 50 patients with chronic wounds. The item pool was compiled to a list of 22 items by an interdisciplinary panel of experts including patients. The item list is presented prior to therapy to assess patient‐relevant treatment needs and during or after therapy to establish if benefits have been attained. A weighed patient benefit index (PBI) is calculated from the items of both questionnaires. The instrument was examined for practical feasibility, reliability, and validity in a prospective study involvingn = 172 patients with acute or chronic wounds treated by vacuum‐assisted therapy. Validation criteria were: change in generic and disease‐specific quality of life; judgment of efficacy by patients and physicians; treatment satisfaction; patients' willingness to recommend the therapy to others. Construct validity was given for all criteria applied. Cronbach's alpha was 0.88. The instrument was well‐accepted by patients and rated relevant for the assessment of benefit in wound treatment.
CARBONATE GEOBODIES: HIERARCHICAL CLASSIFICATION AND DATABASE – A NEW WORKFLOW FOR 3D RESERVOIR MODELLING
Authors: Jung A. , Aigner T. 
Published: December 2011

Quantitative data on geobodies are crucial for reservoir modelling. Although abundant quantitative data are available in the literature for siliciclastic depositional systems, equivalent data for carbonate systems are scarce. In this paper we introduce a new approach to the management of quantitative data on carbonate geobodies which is based on a hierarchical classification scheme. The classes to which a carbonate geobody are assigned are: (1) depo‐time (i.e. geological age); (2) depo‐system (i.e. type of carbonate platform); (3) depo‐zone (i.e. facies belt or zone); (4) depo‐shape (i.e. geometry of the geological body); (5) depo‐element (i.e. architectural elements present); and (6) depo‐facies (litho‐ and biofacies). This hierarchical classification is complemented by a set of rules for modifying depo‐shapes which refer to their spatial distribution and patterns of interaction.Based on this classification, an extensive database has been developed which can be used for 3D reservoir modelling. The database holds more than 600 case studies from outcrop analogues and the subsurface and also from satellite images of modern carbonate settings. The database can be used as the basis for a new workflow for reservoir modelling which uses multiple‐point statistics (MPS). MPS makes use of training images to capture and reproduce facies patterns and geometries during stochastic simulations.The application of this new approach is demonstrated by modelling a Cretaceous outcrop reservoir analogue from southern France. The use of MPS allows the generation of geologically realistic and complex facies distributions in the model based on the simplified training images.
Molecular Analysis of Cyst Fluid Aspiration in the Diagnosis and Risk Assessment of Cystic Lesions of the Pancreas
Authors: Garud Sagar S. , Willingham Field F. 
Published: December 2011

AbstractPancreatic cyst detection is increasing largely due to increasing use of cross‐sectional imaging. The management of pancreatic cysts differs for true cysts, pseudocysts, mucinous cysts, nonmucinous cysts, and malignant lesions. Depending on the setting, diagnostic tests, such as cross‐sectional imaging, endoscopic ultrasound, cyst fluid chemistry, and cytology, have moderate accuracy in characterizing the cyst subtype. Molecular analysis of cyst fluid aspirates has shown promise in preliminary studies and may require smaller fluid volumes than is needed for carcinoembryonic antigen level and cytology. This article reviews published studies in which molecular analysis was performed in the evaluation of pancreatic cysts. The molecular studies are compared with the conventional tests. Most studies have had moderate sample sizes (16–124) and have characterized a high proportion of patients with malignant cysts. Evaluation of molecular analysis as a diagnostic tool merits larger prospective trials with long‐term follow‐up of patients who are not sent to surgery. Larger cysts may meet size criteria for resection, and it is the smaller cysts for which molecular analysis may be of benefit if additional molecular testing results in a change in management. Clin Trans Sci 2012; Volume 5: 102–107
A psychotherapeutic baby clinic in a hostel for homeless families: Practice and evaluation
Authors: Sleed Michelle , James Jessica , Baradon Tessa , Newbery Julia , Fonagy Peter 
Published: December 2011

Objectives. A pilot baby clinic in a hostel for homeless families has been established to address the specific attachment and developmental needs of infants living in temporary accommodation. The aim of this study was to assess whether this clinic model was associated with more positive outcomes than mainstream community services in terms of infant development and parent–infant interactions.Design. Parent–infant psychotherapy and health visiting services collaborated to develop a new model of baby clinic, which reconfigured the traditional clinic to give priority to infants’ affective experiences in a therapeutic group setting. Outcomes for parent–infant dyads in a homeless hostel where this service model was applied were compared with outcomes for parents and infants in hostels, which did not have such a service.Methods. Fifty‐nine mother–baby dyads participated in evaluation, 30 in the intervention hostel group and 29 living in comparison hostels. Infant mental and motor development was assessed using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development. Interactions between the parents and infants were video‐recorded and coded on the Coding Interactive Behaviour Scales.Results. The indices of mental and motor development of infants in the intervention hostel were significantly improved over time in relation to infants in the comparison hostels. No significant differences were found in the quality of parent–infant interaction between the two groups over time.Conclusions. The findings indicate that the service model may have positive benefits for infant development. The findings, study limitations, and clinical implications are discussed.Practitioner Points

Parents and infants living in temporary accommodation represent a high‐risk and hard‐to‐reach population.

A new model of intervention, which combines universal infant health services with a therapeutic parent–infant group may be an effective means of supporting the emotional needs of hard‐to‐reach parents and infants.
Development of a Fluorescent Microsphere Immunoassay for Detection of Antibodies against Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus Using Oral Fluid Samples as an Alternative to Serum-Based Assays
Authors: Langenhorst Robert J. , Lawson Steven , Kittawornrat Apisit , Zimmerman Jeffrey J. , Sun Zhi , Li Yanhua , Christopher-Hennings Jane , Nelson Eric A. , Fang Ying 
Published: December 2011

ABSTRACT

For effective disease surveillance, rapid and sensitive assays are needed to detect antibodies developed in response to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) infection. In this study, we developed a multiplexed fluorescent microsphere immunoassay (FMIA) for detection of PRRSV-specific antibodies in oral fluid and serum samples. Recombinant nucleocapsid protein (N) and nonstructural protein 7 (nsp7) from both PRRSV genotypes (type I and type II) were used as antigens and covalently coupled to Luminex fluorescent microspheres. Based on an evaluation of 488 oral fluid samples with known serostatus, the oral fluid-based FMIAs achieved >92% sensitivity and 91% specificity. For serum samples (
n
= 1,639), the FMIAs reached >98% sensitivity and 95% specificity. The assay was further employed to investigate the kinetics of the antibody response in infected pigs. In oral fluid, the N protein was more sensitive for the detection of early infection (7 and 14 days postinfection), but nsp7 detected a higher level and longer duration of antibody response (28 days postinfection). In serum, the antibodies specific to nsp7 and N proteins were detected as early as 7 days postinfection, and the responses lasted more than 202 days. This study provides a framework from which a more robust assay could be developed to profile the immune response to multiple PRRSV antigens in a single test. The development of oral fluid-based diagnostic tests will change the way we survey diseases in swine herds and improve our ability to cheaply and efficiently track PRRSV infections in both populations and individual animals.
Aerosolized Vaccine as an Unexpected Source of False-Positive Bordetella pertussis PCR Results
Authors: Salimnia Hossein , Lephart Paul R. , Asmar Basim I. , Prebelich Dawn , Paulson Erin , Fairfax Marilynn R. 
Published: December 2011

ABSTRACT

When 13 of 13 nasal wash specimens from a single pediatrician's office tested positive for low quantities of
Bordetella pertussis
DNA, we suspected prelaboratory contamination. Investigation revealed that Pentacel and Adacel vaccines contain high copy numbers of
B. pertussis
DNA, which can be aerosolized, causing false-positive
B. pertussis
PCR results.
Direct Drug Susceptibility Testing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis for Rapid Detection of Multidrug Resistance Using the Bactec MGIT 960 System: a Multicenter Study
Authors: Siddiqi Salman , Ahmed Altaf , Asif Sunil , Behera Digamber , Javaid Mona , Jani Jasmine , Jyoti Arora , Mahatre Radhika , Mahto Dewanand , Richter Elvira , Rodrigues Camilla , Visalakshi Potharaju , Rüsch-Gerdes Sabine 
Published: December 2011

ABSTRACT

Conventional indirect drug susceptibility testing of
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
with liquid medium is well established and offers time-saving and reliable results. This multicenter study was carried out to evaluate if drug susceptibility testing (DST) can be successfully carried out directly from processed smear-positive specimens (direct DST) and if this approach could offer substantial time savings. Sputum specimens were digested, decontaminated, and concentrated by the laboratory routine procedure and were inoculated in Bactec MGIT 960 as well as Lowenstein-Jensen (LJ) medium for primary isolation. All the processed specimens which were acid-fast bacterium (AFB) smear positive were used for setting up direct DST for isoniazid (INH) and rifampin (RIF). After the antimicrobial mixture of polymyxin B, amphotericin B, nalidixic acid, trimethoprim, and azlocillin (PANTA) was added, the tubes were entered in the MGIT 960 instrument using the 21-day protocol (Bactec 960 pyrazinamide [PZA] protocol). Results obtained by direct DST were compared with those obtained by indirect DST to establish accuracy and time savings by this approach. Of a total of 360 AFB smear-positive sputum specimens set up for direct DST at four sites in three different countries, 307 (85%) specimens yielded reportable results. Average reporting time for direct DST was 11 days (range, 10 to 12 days). The average time savings by direct DST compared to indirect DST, which included time to isolate a culture and perform DST, was 8 days (range, 6 to 9 days). When results of direct DST were compared with those of indirect DST, there was 95.1% concordance with INH and 96.1% with rifampin. These findings indicate that direct DST with the Bactec MGIT 960 system offers further time savings and is a quick method to reliably detect multidrug resistance (MDR) cases.
Evolution of Poliovirus Defective Interfering Particles Expressing Gaussia Luciferase
Authors: Song Yutong , Paul Aniko V. , Wimmer Eckard 
Published: December 2011

ABSTRACT

Polioviruses (PVs) carrying a reporter gene are useful tools for studies of virus replication, particularly if the viral chimeras contain the polyprotein that provides all of the proteins necessary for a complete replication cycle. Replication in HeLa cells of a previously constructed poliovirus expressing the gene for
Renilla
luciferase (RLuc) fused to the N terminus of the polyprotein H
2
N-RLuc-P1-P2-P3-COOH (P1, structural domain; P2 and P3, nonstructural domains) led to the deletion of RLuc after only one passage. Here we describe a novel poliovirus chimera that expresses
Gaussia
luciferase (GLuc) inserted into the polyprotein between P1 and P2 (N
2
H-P1-GLuc-P2-P3-COOH). This chimera, termed PV-GLuc, replicated to 10% of wild-type yield. The reporter signal was fully retained for three passages and then gradually lost. After six passages the signal was barely detectable. On further passages, however, the GLuc signal reappeared, and after eight passages it had reached the same levels observed with the original PV-GLuc at the first passage. We demonstrated that this surprising observation was due to coevolution of defective interfering (DI) particles that had lost part or all of the capsid coding sequence (ΔP1-GLuc-P2-P3) and wild-type-like viruses that had lost the GLuc sequence (P1-P2-P3). When used at low passage, PV-GLuc is an excellent tool for studying aspects of genome replication and morphogenesis. The GLuc protein was secreted from mammalian cells but, in agreement with published data, was not secreted from PV-GLuc-infected cells due to poliovirus-induced inhibition of cellular protein secretion. Published evidence indicates that individual expression of enterovirus polypeptide 3A, 2B, or 2BC in COS-1 cells strongly inhibits host protein secretion. In HeLa cells, however, expression of none of the poliovirus polypeptides, either singly or in pairs, inhibited GLuc secretion. Thus, inhibition of GLuc secretion in PV-infected HeLa cells is likely a result of the interaction between several viral and cellular proteins that are different from those in COS-1 cells.