bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Adaptation and translation of mental health interventions in Middle Eastern Arab countries: A systematic review of barriers to and strategies for effective treatment implementation
Authors: Gearing Robin E , Schwalbe Craig S , MacKenzie Michael J , Brewer Kathryne B , Ibrahim Rawan W , Olimat Hmoud S , Al-Makhamreh Sahar S , Mian Irfan , Al-Krenawi Alean 
Published: July 2012

Aim: All too often, efficacious psychosocial evidence-based interventions fail when adapted from one culture to another. International translation requires a deep understanding of the local culture, nuanced differences within a culture, established service practices, and knowledge of obstacles and promoters to treatment implementation. This research investigated the following objectives to better facilitate cultural adaptation and translation of psychosocial and mental health treatments in Arab countries: (1) identify barriers or obstacles; (2) identify promoting strategies; and (3) provide clinical and research recommendations. Methods: This systematic review of 22 psychosocial or mental health studies in Middle East Arab countries identified more barriers (68%) than promoters (32%) to effective translation and adaptation of empirically supported psychosocial interventions. Results: Identified barriers include obstacles related to acceptability of the intervention within the cultural context, community and system difficulties, and problems with clinical engagement processes. Whereas identified promoter strategies centre on the importance of partnering and working within the local and cultural context, the need to engage with acceptable and traditional intervention characteristics, and the development of culturally appropriate treatment strategies and techniques. Conclusions: Although Arab cultures across the Middle East are unique, this article provides a series of core clinical and research recommendations to assist effective treatment adaptation and translation within Arab communities in the Middle East.
Factors Influencing the Health Care Expenditures of Patients with Laryngeal Disorders
Authors: Cohen Seth M. , Kim Jaewhan , Roy Nelson , Asche Carl , Courey Mark 
Published: July 2012

ObjectiveTo identify factors related to the health care spending of patients with laryngeal disorders.Study Design and SettingRetrospective analysis of data from a large, nationally representative administrative US claims database.Subjects and MethodsPatients with a laryngeal disorder based on International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes from January 1, 2004, to December 31, 2008, and who were continuously enrolled for 12 months were included. Age, sex, comorbidity, geography, provider type, visit type, and type of laryngeal pathology were collected. To identify which factors were related to the direct costs, a generalized linear regression with gamma distribution was used.ResultsOf almost 55 million individuals in the database, 309,300 patients with a laryngeal disorder and 12 months of follow‐up data were identified (mean [SD] age, 47.3 [21.3] years; 63.5% female). Age, sex, geographic region, number of comorbid conditions, type of provider, visit type, and laryngeal pathology were significantly associated with the health care expenditures (all P values <.05). Costs increased with increasing age and were greater for male patients, higher in the South and Northeast compared with the West and North‐central regions, greater in 2008 compared with 2004, higher for inpatient compared with outpatient care, higher with increasing number of comorbid conditions, and lower if a patient was treated by a primary care physician only. Among the various laryngeal pathologies, the greatest direct costs were for laryngeal cancer and patients with multiple diagnoses.ConclusionThis study identified multiple factors associated with the health care expenditures of patients with laryngeal disorders.
Outcomes of Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation in Study of the Treatment of Articular Repair (STAR) Patients With Osteochondritis Dissecans
Authors: Cole Brian J. , DeBerardino Thomas , Brewster Robert , Farr Jack , Levine David W. , Nissen Carl , Roaf Prudence , Zaslav Kenneth 
Published: July 2012

Background: This is an analysis of the prospective Study of the Treatment of Articular Repair (STAR) to evaluate the effectiveness of autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) in a subset of adult patients with osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) knee lesions. Hypothesis: Autologous chondrocyte implantation can improve clinical outcomes in patients with at least 1 chronic OCD lesion of the knee who failed a previous non-ACI cartilage repair treatment. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: Forty patients with at least one failed non-ACI treatment for an OCD knee lesion received ACI in a multicenter study. The modified Cincinnati Knee Rating System, the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), and the Short-Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) were used to assess patient outcomes at baseline and periodically to 48 months. Treatment failures, serious adverse events, and subsequent surgical procedures were recorded. Results: Thirty-two (80%) patients completed the 48-month study. Autologous chondrocyte implantation treatment was successful in 85% of patients. Mean (± standard deviation) overall knee condition score (modified Cincinnati) was 3.1 ± 1.1 at baseline and 6.8 ± 2.0 at month 48. Clinically and statistically significant ( P < .001) mean improvements from baseline to month 48 for the KOOS were as follows: 51.5 to 79.5 (pain), 54.8 to 77.9 (symptoms), 27.5 to 63.6 (sports and recreation ability), 63.5 to 86.7 (activities of daily living), and 21.9 to 59.6 (knee-related quality of life). The mean improvement ( P < .001) in overall health assessed by the SF-36 was 35.4 to 45.5. Thirty-five percent (n = 14/40) of patients had a subsequent surgical procedure, most frequently debridement of the cartilage lesion. Treatment failure occurred in 6 of 32 (19%) patients. Conclusion: Patients with OCD of the knee had statistically significant pain reduction and functional improvement for up to 48 months after ACI, despite the complexity and severity of the osteochondral lesions.
The Biomechanical and Histologic Effects of Platelet-Rich Plasma on Rat Rotator Cuff Repairs
Authors: Beck Jennifer , Evans Douglas , Tonino Pietro M. , Yong Sherri , Callaci John J. 
Published: July 2012

Background: Rotator cuff tears are common injuries that are often treated with surgical repair. Because of the high concentration of growth factors within platelets, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has the potential to enhance healing in rotator cuff repairs. Hypothesis: Platelet-rich plasma would alter the biomechanical and histologic properties of rotator cuff repair during an acute injury response. Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Methods: Platelet-rich plasma was produced from inbred donor rats. A tendon-from-bone supraspinatus tear was created surgically and an immediate transosseous repair performed. The control group underwent repair only. The PRP group underwent a repair with PRP augmentation. Rats in each group were sacrificed at 7, 14, and 21 days. The surgically repaired tendons underwent biomechanical testing, including failure load, stiffness, failure strain, and stress relaxation characteristics. Histological analysis evaluated the cellular characteristics of the repair tissue. Results: At 7- and 21-day periods, augmentation with PRP showed statistically significant effects on the biomechanical properties of the repaired rat supraspinatus tear, but failure load was not increased at the 7-, 14-, or 21-day periods ( P = .688, .209, and .477, respectively). The control group had significantly higher stiffness at 21 days ( P = .006). The control group had higher failure strain at 7 days ( P = .02), whereas the PRP group had higher failure strain at 21 days ( P = .008). Histologically, the PRP group showed increased fibroblastic response and vascular proliferation at each time point. At 21 days, the collagen fibers in the PRP group were oriented in a more linear fashion toward the tendon footprint. Conclusion: In this controlled, rat model study, PRP altered the tissue properties of the supraspinatus tendon without affecting the construct’s failure load. Clinical Relevance: The decreased tendon tissue stiffness acutely and failure to enhance tendon-to-bone healing of repairs should be considered before augmenting rotator cuff repairs with PRP. Further studies will be necessary to determine the role of PRP in clinical practice.
Tribological properties of short carbon/PA/PTFE hybrid composites under dry sliding conditions
Authors: Wei Ruiyan 
Published: July 2012

This article presents a study of the tribological properties of short carbon/polyamide (PA)/polytetrafluoroethylene hybrid composites. Their wear rate and the coefficient of friction were examined as a function of operating conditions (load and sliding distance) under dry and lubricated conditions. In addition, the hybrid composites with varying carbon to PA volume ratio were tested to assess hybrid effects. It was found that the friction and wear rate decreased with sliding distance and then leveled off under dry sliding conditions. Different changing patterns with normal load were observed under dry sliding conditions. Furthermore, it was noted that the hybrid effects on the wear resistance and the friction coefficient were identified for the current hybrid system. The composite with a carbon fiber content of 30 vol% was found to have the least wear and friction among all hybrid composites studied. Worn surfaces were observed by scanning electron microscope and wear mechanisms were discussed in this study.
The effect of γ-irradiation on thermal behavior of composites based on nanosilica and 4-chloro-3-nitro-2H-chromen- 2-one-modified urea–formaldehyde
Authors: Jovanović Vojislav , Samaržija-Jovanović Suzana , Dekić Biljana , Dekić Vidoslav , Marinović-Cincović Milena , Marković Gordana , Konstaninović Sandra 
Published: July 2012

Two types of nanosilica-based urea–formaldehyde (UF) hybrid materials with formaldehyde to urea (F/U) ratio (0.8) were synthesized without (UF + SiO2) and with coumarin (4-chloro-3-nitro-2 H-chromen-2-one). Obtained composites have been irradiated (50 kGy) and their radiation stability was evaluated on the basis of thermal behavior before and after irradiation. The thermal properties of materials were studied by nonisothermal thermogravimetric analysis, differential thermal gravimetry, differential thermal analysis and differential scanning calorimetry supported by data from infrared spectroscopy. The free formaldehyde percentage was determined for all prepared samples. The shift of temperature values for selected mass loss to a high temperature indicates the increase in thermal stability of materials with coumarin after γ-irradiation. The free formaldehyde percentage was reduced after irradiation from 15% to 3% for sample without coumarin and from 7% to 4% for sample with coumarin. The asymmetric stretching vibrations of –N–CH2–N– absorption band and νas(Si–O) of siloxane or silicone in FTIR spectra of irradiated coumarin compound are shifted to higher wave number values and confirmed its higher thermal stability.
Effect of nanoclay on the thermal properties of compatibilized ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer/high-density polyethylene blends
Authors: Rajan Atul , Upadhyaya Pradeep , Chand Navin , Kumar Vijai 
Published: July 2012

The ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), compatibilizer (maleic anhydride-grafted polyethylene (MA- g-PE)) and organophilic montmorillonite (OMMT) clays were added in different sequences in a corotating twin screw extruder followed by injection molding. Montmorillonite clay was modified by octadecylamine and aminopropyltriethoxysilane to make it organophilic. The thermal behavior was characterized by thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The influence of blending HDPE with EVA on the thermal properties of EVA/HDPE blends was investigated. The effect of MA- g-PE and nanoclay on the thermal properties of EVA/HDPE blend and modified EVA/HDPE blends, respectively, were also investigated. The blends show two distinct unchanged melting peaks corresponding to the individual components of the blend. The addition of nanoclay improves the thermal properties of nanocomposites. The results of DSC behavior of the nanocomposites indicate that melting temperature ( Tm) and melting enthalpy (Δ Hm) of the HDPE phase of the nanocomposites are lower than those of the neat EVA/HDPE blend. Although crystallization temperature ( Tc) of the nanocomposites is higher than the neat EVA/HDPE blend, it is observed that the incorporation of 4 phr clay loading into nanocomposites improves the thermal stability.
Trends in Hospice Referral and Length of Stay at a Veterans Hospital Over the Past Decade
Authors: Tang Victoria L. , French Christopher J. , Cipher Daisha J. , Rastogi Padmashri 
Published: July 2012

Introduction: Hospice decreases the fear of dying alone, reduces the agony of death, and helps in maintaining dignity at the end of life. Physicians are encouraged to offer hospice to terminally ill patients early on in their end-of-life care to maximize these benefits. However, there is limited data on the changes and characteristics of hospice utilization. We performed a study to determine the changes in the hospice utilization over the last decade in our hospital. Methods: A chart review of all veterans referred to hospice during the years 2001 and 2010 was performed and subsequently analyzed. Analyses were performed with SPSS 19.0 for Windows. Results: Referral to hospice increased significantly but the duration of stay did not change in 2010 in comparison with 2001. Factors associated with increased length of stay were full-code status, receiving hospice at home, hospitalization during enrollment in hospice, referral to hospice by oncologist, and a diagnosis of cancer. Conclusion: Hospice referrals need to be considered earlier in their disease process for terminally ill patients. In addition, requirement of a do-not-resuscitate order as a condition for hospice at some agencies needs to be revisited, and patients should not be discouraged to seek treatment for reversible medical conditions even when enrolled in hospice.
Tracing sexual contacts of HIV-infected individuals in a rural prefecture, Eastern China
Authors: Lin Haijiang , He Na , Ding Yingying , Qiu Danhong , Zhu Weiming , Liu Xing , Zhang Tiejun , Detels Roger 
Published: July 2012

Abstract

Background
Contact tracing is especially useful for identifying an infection with few cases in the population, such as HIV in China. Little such research is available in China.

Methods
Every newly diagnosed HIV case from 2008–2010 in Taizhou Prefecture, Zhejiang Province in China, was invited to participate as an “index case” in a contact tracing survey by providing contact information for up to eight sexual contacts who themselves were approached for voluntary HIV counseling and testing (VCT). Those who tested HIV-positive were then subjected to another contact tracing survey. This process was repeated until no more sexual contacts were reported or tested positive.

Results
A total of 463 HIV-infected individuals were newly identified during the study period, including 338 cases who were identified from routine surveillance programs and 125 cases who were identified from the present contact tracing survey. Among these 463 cases, 398 (86.0%) served as ‘index cases’ in the survey, including 290 (85.8%) out of the 338 cases identified from routine surveillance programs and 108 (86.4%) out of the 125 cases identified from the present survey. These 398 ‘index cases’ reported a total of 1,403 contactable sexual contacts, of whom 320 (22.8%) received HIV testing and 125 (39.1%) tested positive for HIV. Willingness to receive HIV testing was high among spouses and long term heterosexual or homosexual partners but extremely low among casual and commercial sex partners of ‘index cases’. Consistent condom use was rare for all participants. A total of 290 independent sexual network components were constructed, with high complexity.

Conclusion
Contact tracing is useful for identifying new HIV infections from spouses or long term sexual partners of HIV-infected individuals. The complicated sexual networks existing between and beyond HIV-infected persons provide opportunities for rapid spread of HIV in such areas.
RETRACTED ARTICLE: In vitro and in vivo anti-colon cancer effects of Garcinia mangostana xanthones extract
Authors: Aisha Abdalrahim F A , Abu-Salah Khalid M , Ismail Zhari , Majid Amin Malik Shah Abdul 
Published: July 2012

Abstract
Background
Xanthones are a group of oxygen-containing heterocyclic compounds with remarkable pharmacological effects such as anti-cancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities.

Methods
A xanthones extract (81% α-mangostin and 16% γ-mangostin), was prepared by crystallization of a toluene extract of G. mangostana fruit rinds and was analyzed by LC-MS. Anti-colon cancer effect was investigated on HCT 116 human colorectal carcinoma cells including cytotoxicity, apoptosis, anti-tumorigenicity, and effect on cell signalling pathways. The in vivo anti-colon cancer activity was also investigated on subcutaneous tumors established in nude mice.

Results
The extract showed potent cytotoxicity (median inhibitory concentration 6.5 ± 1.0 μg/ml), due to induction of the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis. Three key steps in tumor metastasis including the cell migration, cell invasion and clonogenicity, were also inhibited. The extract and α-mangostin up-regulate the MAPK/ERK, c-Myc/Max, and p53 cell signalling pathways. The xanthones extract, when fed to nude mice, caused significant growth inhibition of the subcutaneous tumor of HCT 116 colorectal carcinoma cells.

Conclusions
Our data suggest new mechanisms of action of α-mangostin and the G. mangostana xanthones, and suggest the xanthones extract of as a potential anti-colon cancer candidate.
Mammalian formin Fhod3 plays an essential role in cardiogenesis by organizing myofibrillogenesis
Authors: Kan-O Meikun , Takeya Ryu , Abe Takaya , Kitajima Naoyuki , Nishida Motohiro , Tominaga Ryuji , Kurose Hitoshi , Sumimoto Hideki 
Published: July 2012

Summary
Heart development requires organized integration of actin filaments into the sarcomere, the contractile unit of myofibrils, although it remains largely unknown how actin filaments are assembled during myofibrillogenesis. Here we show that Fhod3, a member of the formin family of proteins that play pivotal roles in actin filament assembly, is essential for myofibrillogenesis at an early stage of heart development. Fhod3−/− mice appear normal up to embryonic day (E) 8.5, when the developing heart, composed of premyofibrils, initiates spontaneous contraction. However, these premyofibrils fail to mature and myocardial development does not continue, leading to embryonic lethality by E11.5. Transgenic expression of wild-type Fhod3 in the heart restores myofibril maturation and cardiomyogenesis, which allow Fhod3−/− embryos to develop further. Moreover, cardiomyopathic changes with immature myofibrils are caused in mice overexpressing a mutant Fhod3, defective in binding to actin. These findings indicate that actin dynamics, regulated by Fhod3, participate in sarcomere organization during myofibrillogenesis and thus play a crucial role in heart development.
Defects in GPI biosynthesis perturb Cripto signaling during forebrain development in two new mouse models of holoprosencephaly
Authors: McKean David M. , Niswander Lee 
Published: July 2012

Summary
Holoprosencephaly is the most common forebrain defect in humans. We describe two novel mouse mutants that display a holoprosencephaly-like phenotype. Both mutations disrupt genes in the glycerophosphatidyl inositol (GPI) biosynthesis pathway: gonzo disrupts Pign and beaker disrupts Pgap1. GPI anchors normally target and anchor a diverse group of proteins to lipid raft domains. Mechanistically we show that GPI anchored proteins are mislocalized in GPI biosynthesis mutants. Disruption of the GPI-anchored protein Cripto (mouse) and TDGF1 (human ortholog) have been shown to result in holoprosencephaly, leading to our hypothesis that Cripto is the key GPI anchored protein whose altered function results in an HPE-like phenotype. Cripto is an obligate Nodal co-factor involved in TGFβ signaling, and we show that TGFβ signaling is reduced both in vitro and in vivo. This work demonstrates the importance of the GPI anchor in normal forebrain development and suggests that GPI biosynthesis genes should be screened for association with human holoprosencephaly.
Do high temperatures enhance the negative effects of ultraviolet-B radiation in embryonic and larval amphibians?
Authors: Alton Lesley A. , Franklin Craig E. 
Published: July 2012

Summary
For the embryos and tadpoles of amphibian species, exposure to ultraviolet-B radiation (UVBR) can be lethal, or cause a variety of sublethal effects. Low temperatures enhance the detrimental effects of UVBR and this is most likely because the enzyme-mediated processes involved in the repair of UVBR-induced damage function less effectively at low temperatures. Whether these repair processes are also impaired, and thus the negative effects of UVBR similarly enhanced, at high temperatures is not known, but is an ecologically relevant question to ask given that organisms that inhabit environments where the temperature fluctuates widely on a daily timescale are likely to experience high doses of UVBR when temperatures are high. Here we examined the thermal-dependence of UVBR effects in the context of an ecologically-relevant fluctuating UVBR and temperature regime to test the hypothesis that exposure to peak UVBR levels while the temperature is high (35°C) is more detrimental to embryonic and larval Limnodynastes peronii than exposure to peak UVBR levels while the temperature is moderate (25°C). Embryos exposed to peak UVBR levels at 35°C hatched 10 h later than those exposed to peak UVBR levels at 25°C and, as tadpoles, were smaller and consequently swam more slowly but, in an environment with predators, exhibited no difference in survival time. There was also no effect of experimental treatment on the hatching success of embryos, nor on the post-hatch survival of tadpoles. These findings, therefore, are not sufficiently strong to support our hypothesis that high temperatures enhance the negative effects of UVBR in embryonic and larval amphibians.