bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Quality geriatric care as perceived by nurses in long‐term and acute care settings
Authors: Barba Beth Ellen , Hu Jie , Efird Jimmy 
Published: September 2011

Aims and objectives.  This study focused on differences in nurses’ satisfaction with the quality of care of older people and with organisational characteristics and work environment in acute care and long‐term care settings.Background.  Numerous studies have explored links between nurses’ satisfaction with care and work environments on the one hand and a variety of physical, behavioural and psychological reactions of nurses on the other. One key to keeping nurses in the workplace is a better understanding of nurses’ satisfaction with the quality of care they provide.Design.  Descriptive design.Method.  The self‐selected sample included 298 registered nurses and licensed practical nurses who provide care to minority, underserved and disadvantaged older populations in 89 long‐term care and <100 bed hospitals in 38 rural counties and eight metropolitan areas in a Southern state. All completed the Agency Geriatric Nursing Care survey, which consisted of a 13‐item scale measuring nurses’ satisfaction with the quality of geriatric care in their practice settings and an 11‐item scale examining obstacles to providing quality geriatric care. Demographic variables were compared with chi‐square. Independent t‐tests were used to examine differences between nurses in long‐term care and acute care settings.Results.  Significant differences were found in level of satisfaction and perceived obstacles to providing quality care to older adults between participants from acute and long‐term care. Participants in long‐term care had greater satisfaction with the quality of geriatric care than those in acute facilities.Conclusions.  Nurses in long‐term care were more satisfied that care was evidence‐based; specialised to individual needs of older adults; promoted autonomy and independence of elders; and was continuous across settings. Participants in acute facilities perceived more obstacles to providing quality geriatric care than nurses in long‐term care facilities.Relevance to clinical practice.  Modification of hospital geriatric practice environments and leadership commitment to evidence‐based practice guidelines that promote autonomy and independence of patients and staff could improve acute care nurses’ perceptions of quality of geriatric care.
The validity and reliability of weight and height measurements and body mass index calculations in early pregnancy
Authors: Rees G. A. , Porter J. , Bennett S. , Colleypriest O. , Ellis L. , Stenhouse E. 
Published: September 2011

How to cite this article
Rees G.A., Porter J., Bennett S., Colleypriest O., Ellis L. & Stenhouse E. (2012) The validity and reliability of weight and height measurements and body mass index calculations in early pregnancy. J Hum Nutr Diet.25, 117–120AbstractBackground:  Obesity is increasing in the UK and this is having an impact on the health of pregnant women and their infants. It is recommended that all pregnant women have their height and weight measured and their body mass index (BMI, kg m−²) calculated and recorded in the midwifery notes. The aim of the present audit was to determine the extent of compliance with this recommendation.Methods:  An audit was undertaken in a large district general hospital in the South West of England. A convenience sample of the midwifery notes was accessed retrospectively on the post‐natal wards. Data collected from the notes included weight, height, BMI and gestational age when first recorded.Results:  A total of 486 maternal notes were audited; of these, 9% did not have the BMI recorded. In total, 53.8% of the sample had either height or weight not recorded; however, 90.9% of the sample had a BMI recorded. In addition, 39.7% (n = 126) of heights and 16.0% (n = 63) of weights were recorded in imperial format. There was a high prevalence overweight (26.2%) and obesity (21.3%) amongst the sample.Conclusions:  Recommendations for measurement of height, weight and calculation of BMI were not always followed. Where BMI was recorded, many notes had either height or weight missing or had measurements recorded in imperial units. This raises the question of how BMI was calculated and its accuracy. Inaccuracies in BMI could lead to individuals being overlooked as high risk and may not be referred for appropriate care including dietetic care. Accurate anthropometric measurements are important for dietary management and monitoring of weight gain.
Magnetic resonance imaging retinal oximetry: a quantitative physiological biomarker for early diabetic retinopathy?
Authors: Yang Y. , Zhu X. R. , Xu Q. G. , Metcalfe H. , Wang Z. C. , Yang J. K. 
Published: September 2011

Diabet. Med. 29, 501–505 (2012)AbstractAims  To assess the efficacy of using magnetic resonance imaging measurements of retinal oxygenation response to detect early diabetic retinopathy in patients with Type 2 diabetes.Methods  Magnetic resonance imaging was conducted during 100% oxygen inhalation in patients with Type 2 diabetes with either no diabetic retinopathy (n = 12) or mild to moderate background diabetic retinopathy (n = 12), as well as in healthy control subjects (n = 12). Meanwhile, changes in retinal oxygenation response were measured.Results  In the healthy control group, levels of retinal oxygenation response increased slowly during 100% oxygen inhalation. In contrast, they increased more quickly and attained homeostasis much earlier in the groups with background diabetic retinopathy (at the 20‐min time point) and with no diabetic retinopathy (at the 25‐min time point) than in the healthy control group (at the 42‐min time point). Furthermore, levels of retinal oxygenation response in the group with background diabetic retinopathy increased more than that of the group with no diabetic retinopathy, which in turn increased more than that of the healthy control group. There are statistically significant differences between the group with background diabetic retinopathy and the healthy control group at 6‐, 8‐, 10‐, 15‐, 20‐ and 25‐min time points (P < 0.05). According to the normal range of the healthy control group by setting fundus photography results as ‘gold standard’ in our research, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and receiver operating characteristic area for reporting the early indications of utility of diabetic retinopathy were 83.33%, 58.33%, 50%, 87.5% and 0.774, respectively.Conclusions  The results indicate that magnetic resonance imaging is a potential screening method and probably a quantitative physiological biomarker to find early diabetic retinopathy in patients with Type 2 diabetes.
Relational Aggression in Middle Childhood: Predictors and Adolescent Outcomes
Authors: Spieker Susan J. , Campbell Susan B. , Vandergrift Nathan , Pierce Kim M. , Cauffman Elizabeth , Susman Elizabeth J. , Roisman Glenn I. ,   the NICHD Early Child Care Research Network
Published: September 2011

AbstractThis study examined gender differences in the level and developmental course of relational aggression in middle childhood, as well as early predictors and outcomes of relational aggression, after controlling for concurrent physical aggression. Relational (RAgg) and Physical aggression (PAgg) scores for 558 boys and 545 girls at the ages of eight to 11 in the NICHD Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development (SECCYD) were created by combining the highest rating for each item across mother and teacher reports. Longitudinal analyses were conducted using latent curve models of RAgg with PAgg as a time‐varying covariate, with all parameters allowed to vary by gender. Boys and girls had different growth parameters of RAgg. Girls' RAgg intercept was higher, and the slope was not different from zero; boys' RAgg intercept was lower, and the slope declined. Mother–child conflict in early childhood predicted RAgg intercept for both boys and girls, but maternal harsh control and sensitivity were also uniquely predictive for girls whereas center care was uniquely predictive for boys. RAgg intercept predicted adolescent self‐reports of depression for girls and delinquency and risk‐taking for both boys and girls; the magnitude of the association with risk taking was significantly greater for boys.
Teaching peripheral nerve blocks for the head and neck area to dermatologists
Authors: Paoli J. , Halldin C. , Sandberg C. 
Published: September 2011

AbstractBackground  Peripheral nerve blocks in the head and neck region can be useful for a large number of surgical or otherwise painful procedures carried out by dermatologists. As anaesthesiologists cannot always be available to help dermatologists place nerve blocks in outpatient settings, training courses for these physicians are warranted.Objectives  To present a method of teaching nerve blocks for the face and scalp to dermatologists during residency and/or continuing medical education programmes.Methods  Half‐day courses with theoretical education, video demonstrations and supervised ‘hands‐on’ training were organized to teach supraorbital/supratrochlear, infraorbital, mental and occipital nerve blocks. The outcome and effects of these training courses were analysed with a survey amongst participants 1–2 years after the course.Results  All the 20 participants who responded the survey successfully placed at least one type of nerve block during the course. Thirteen of 20 participants (65%) reported to be able to perform all the nerve block techniques at follow‐up.Conclusions  Dermatologists can learn how to perform nerve blocks for the face and scalp in a safe and controlled manner through half‐day courses, including theory, video demonstrations and supervised ‘hands‐on’ training.
Prospective Assessment of Short‐ and Long‐Term Quality of Life After Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: FICHTNER STEPHANIE , DEISENHOFER ISABEL , KINDSMÜLLER SIBYLLE , DZIJAN‐HORN MARIJANA , TZEIS STYLIANOS , REENTS TILKO , WU JINJIN , LUISE ESTNER HEIDI , JILEK CLEMENS , AMMAR SONIA , KATHAN SUSANNE , HESSLING GABRIELE , LADWIG KARL‐HEINZ 
Published: September 2011

Quality of Life After Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation. Background
: This study prospectively assesses different aspects of short‐ and long‐term quality of life (QoL) after catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF). An analysis of 7 validated generic and tailored questionnaires was performed with regard to the relation of QoL to ablation success.
Methods

: The study included 133 patients (74% men, age 57±10) who underwent pulmonary vein isolation ± linear or electrogram‐guided substrate modification for AF. QoL was quantitatively assessed at baseline, 3 months after ablation and at a median of 4.3 ± 0.5 years after ablation by the AF severity scale (AFSS), AF symptom checklist (AFSC), WHO‐5‐Well‐Being‐Index (WHO), Major Depression Inventory (MDI), Sleep and Vegetative disorder (SV), Vital Exhaustion (VE), and Illness intrusiveness (Ii).
Results:
QoL was improved significantly 3 months after ablation in all patients (regardless of ablation success or AF type) and stayed significantly improved after a median of 4.3±0.5 years (AFSS, AFSC, WHO, MDI, VE, PE (all P < 0.001), and SV (P = 0.007)). Patients who had a successful ablation improved significantly more than patients with an unsuccessful ablation in the AFSS, AFSC, and MDI questionnaire (delta change from baseline to long‐term follow‐up P = <0.001, P = <0.001, and P = 0.039, respectively).
Conclusion:
Overall, all patients significantly improved their QoL irrespective of the AF type in all questionnaires 3 months and 4 years after ablation. The increase in QoL was significantly greater in patients who underwent a successful ablation than patients with unsuccessful ablation in the AFSS, AFSC, and MDI questionnaire. Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 23, pp. 121‐127, February 2012)
Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy: Do Women Benefit More Than Men?
Authors: XU YI‐ZHOU , FRIEDMAN PAUL A. , WEBSTER TRACY , BROOKE KELLY , HODGE DAVID O. , WISTE HEATHER J. , HUA WEI , ZHANG SHU , HAYES DAVID L. , CHA YONG‐MEI 
Published: September 2011

Gender and Resynchronization Therapy. Introduction: Women are underrepresented in cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) trials. Whether there is a gender difference in the benefit derived from CRT has not been well studied.
Methods:
This study included 728 consecutive CRT recipients at our institution who met guidelines for placement of a CRT device. Clinical characteristics and echocardiographic parameters were collected at baseline and after CRT; Kaplan–Meier survival analysis was performed using a national death and location database. The effects and outcome of CRT were compared between women and men.
Results:
Of 728 patients, 166 were female (22.8%). Female patients were younger than male patients (66.0 ± 11.9 years vs 69.4 ± 10.9 years; P < 0.001) and more often had nonischemic cardiomyopathy (68% vs 36%; P < 0.001). Both female and male patients had significantly improved clinical and echocardiographic parameters after CRT. The magnitude of improvement was similar in women and men, except that improvement in New York Heart Association (NYHA) class was greater in women than in men (–0.79 ± 0.78 vs –0.56 ± 0.85; P = 0.009). Although women were at lower risk of death than men after CRT (hazard ratio, 0.51; 95% confidence interval, 0.35–0.75; P < 0.001, unadjusted), multivariate analysis indicated gender was not, but age at CRT placement, cardiomyopathy cause, NYHA class, and lead location were independent predictors of survival.Conclusion: Female CRT recipients seem to achieve greater survival benefit than male recipients. However, this benefit is majorly driven by nonischemic cardiomyopathy and other clinical factors. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 23, pp. 172‐178, February 2012)
Scatter‐hoarding rodents as secondary seed dispersers of a frugivore‐dispersed tree Scleropyrum wallichianum in a defaunated Xishuangbanna tropical forest, China
Authors: CAO Lin , XIAO Zhishu , GUO Cong , CHEN Jin 
Published: September 2011

AbstractLocal extinction or population decline of large frugivorous vertebrates as primary seed dispersers, caused by human disturbance and habitat change, might lead to dispersal limitation of many large‐seeded fruit trees. However, it is not known whether or not scatter‐hoarding rodents as secondary seed dispersers can help maintain natural regeneration (e.g. seed dispersal) of these frugivore‐dispersed trees in the face of the functional reduction or loss of primary seed dispersers. In the present study, we investigated how scatter‐hoarding rodents affect the fate of tagged seeds of a large‐seeded fruit tree (Scleropyrum wallichianum Arnott, 1838, Santalaceae) from seed fall to seedling establishment in a heavily defaunated tropical forest in the Xishuangbanna region of Yunnan Province, in southwest China, in 2007 and 2008. Our results show that: (i) rodents removed nearly all S. wallichianum seeds in both years; (ii) a large proportion (2007, 75%; 2008, 67.5%) of the tagged seeds were cached individually in the surface soil or under leaf litters; (iii) dispersal distance of primary caches was further in 2007 (19.6 ± 14.6 m) than that in 2008 (14.1 ± 11.6 m), and distance increased as rodents recovered and moved seeds from primary caches into subsequent caching sites; and (iv) part of the cached seeds (2007, 3.2%; 2008, 2%) survived to the seedling stage each year. Our study suggests that by taking roles of both primary and secondary seed dispersers, scatter‐hoarding rodents can play a significant role in maintaining seedling establishment of S. wallichianum, and are able to at least partly compensate for the loss of large frugivorous vertebrates in seed dispersal.
Activities, Kinetics and Emission Spectra of Bacterial Luciferase‐Fluorescent Protein Fusion Enzymes
Authors: Ke Dachuan , Tu Shiao‐Chun 
Published: September 2011

AbstractA new approach to alter bacterial bioluminescence color was developed by fusing Vibrio harveyi luciferase with the coral Discosoma sp. fluorescent protein mOrange, a homolog of the Aequorea green fluorescent protein. Attachment of mOrange to the N‐ or C‐terminus of luciferase α or β subunit, via a 5 or 10 residue linker, produced fully active fusion enzymes. However, only the fusion of mOrange to the N‐terminus of luciferase α produced a new 560 nm emission. The differences in emission color by two such fusion enzymes from that of the wild‐type luciferase (λmax 490 nm) were evident by eye or photographically with the aid of cut‐off optical filters. In nonturnover reactions, light decay rates of fusion enzyme remained the same when monitored as the full‐spectrum light or at 480 nm (from the luciferase emitter) or 570 nm (from mOrange). No 560 nm emission component was observed with a mixture of luciferase and free mOrange. These findings support that the 560 nm emission by the fusion enzyme was due to bioluminescence resonance energy transfer from luciferase to mOrange. We believe that the same approach could also alter the bacterial bioluminescence color by covalent attachment of other suitable fluorescent proteins or chromophores to luciferase.
Histological features of nodular gastritis and its endoscopic classification
Authors: NAKASHIMA Ryo , NAGATA Naoyoshi , WATANABE Kazuhiro , KOBAYAKAWA Masao , SAKURAI Toshiyuki , AKIYAMA Junichi , HOSHIMOTO Kazufusa , SHIMBO Takuro , UEMURA Naomi 
Published: September 2011

OBJECTIVES:  To clarify the histological features and endoscopic classifications of nodular gastritis (NG).METHODS:  Overall 40 996 patients who had undergone an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy were enrolled. NG is defined as a uniform and diffuse protrusion from the antrum to angulus, which has two types at endoscopy: nodular (N) and granular (G). Three biopsy specimens were taken from the antrum, angulus and corpus. The histological features were evaluated using the updated Sydney System (USS). The topography of gastritis (antrum‐predominant, pangastritis or corpus‐predominant) and the prevalence of lymphoid follicles were also investigated.RESULTS:  Overall 89 patients (0.22%) were diagnosed with NG, which tended to decrease in prevalence over age and predominantly affected women. All the patients were Helicobacter pylori‐positive. Among these, 65 patients underwent biopsy. Activity and inflammation were mostly moderate or severe, while intestinal metaplasia and atrophy were mostly absent at all three sites. Pangastritis was the most frequent (72%) type of gastritis. Lymphoid follicles were found in 69% at the antrum, 65% at the angulus and 51% at the corpus. There were no significant differences between N and G types in clinical features, USS scores, topography of gastritis, and prevalence of lymphoid follicles.CONCLUSIONS:  Atrophy and intestinal metaplasia are rare but activity and chronic inflammation are severe at the antrum, angulus and corpus in NG. Pangastritis is the commonest type of gastritis. Lymphoid follicles affect everything up to the upper corpus, contrary to endoscopic protrusion found only at angulus. There was no correlation with pathological features between N and G types.
Filifactor alocis interactions with gingival epithelial cells
Authors: Moffatt C.E. , Whitmore S.E. , Griffen A.L. , Leys E.J. , Lamont R.J. 
Published: September 2011

SummaryAn association between the gram‐positive anaerobe Filifactor alocis and periodontal disease has recently emerged; however, possible pathogenic mechanisms have not been investigated. In this study we examined the responses of primary cultures of gingival epithelial cells (GECs) to infection with F. alocis. Secretion of the pro‐inflammatory cytokines interleukin‐1β, interleukin‐6 and tumor necrosis factor‐α from GECs was stimulated by F. alocis infection. F. alocis also induced apoptosis in GECs through pathways that involved caspase‐3 but not caspase‐9. Apoptosis was coincident with inhibition of mitogen‐activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) activation. These results show that F. alocis has characteristics in common with established periodontal pathogens and has the potential to contribute to periodontal tissue destruction.
Role of the MexEF-OprN Efflux System in Low-Level Resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to Ciprofloxacin
Authors: Llanes Catherine , Köhler Thilo , Patry Isabelle , Dehecq Barbara , van Delden Christian , Plésiat Patrick 
Published: September 2011

ABSTRACT

In this study, we investigated the resistance mechanisms to fluoroquinolones of 85 non-cystic fibrosis strains of
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
exhibiting a reduced susceptibility to ciprofloxacin (MICs from 0.25 to 2 μg/ml). In addition to MexAB-OprM (31 of 85 isolates) and MexXY/OprM (39 of 85), the MexEF-OprN efflux pump (10 of 85) was found to be commonly upregulated in this population that is considered susceptible or of intermediate susceptibility to ciprofloxacin, according to current breakpoints. Analysis of the 10 MexEF-OprN overproducers (
nfxC
mutants) revealed the presence of various mutations in the
mexT
(2 isolates),
mexS
(5 isolates), and/or
mvaT
(2 isolates) genes, the inactivation of which is known to increase the expression of the
mexEF-oprN
operon in reference strain PAO1-UW. However, these genes were intact in 3 of 10 of the clinical strains. Interestingly, ciprofloxacin at 2 μg/ml or 4 μg/ml preferentially selected
nfxC
mutants from wild-type clinical strains (
n
= 10 isolates) and from first-step mutants (
n
= 10) overexpressing Mex pumps, thus indicating that MexEF-OprN represents a major mechanism by which
P. aeruginosa
may acquire higher resistance levels to fluoroquinolones. These data support the notion that the
nfxC
mutants may be more prevalent in the clinical setting than anticipated and strongly suggest the involvement of still unknown genes in the regulation of this efflux system.
Penetration of Vancomycin into Epithelial Lining Fluid in Healthy Volunteers
Authors: Lodise Thomas P. , Drusano George L. , Butterfield Jill M. , Scoville Joshua , Gotfried Mark , Rodvold Keith A. 
Published: September 2011

ABSTRACT

Although vancomycin is often regarded as an agent that concentrates poorly in the lower respiratory tract, as determined from concentrations in epithelial lining fluid (ELF), few data are available. This study sought to determine the profile of vancomycin exposure in the ELF relative to plasma. Population modeling and Monte Carlo simulation were employed to estimate the penetration of vancomycin into ELF. Plasma and ELF pharmacokinetic (PK) data were obtained from 10 healthy volunteers. Concentration-time profiles in plasma and ELF were simultaneously modeled using a three-compartment model with zero-order infusion and first-order elimination and transfer using the big nonparametric adaptive grid (BigNPAG) program. Monte Carlo simulation with 9,999 subjects was performed to calculate the ELF/plasma penetration ratios by estimating the area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) in ELF (AUC
ELF
) and plasma (AUC
plasma
) after a single simulated 1,000-mg dose. The mean (standard deviation) AUC
ELF
/AUC
plasma
penetration ratio was 0.675 (0.677), and the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile penetration ratios were 0.265, 0.474, and 0.842, respectively. Our results indicate that vancomycin penetrates ELF at approximately 50% of plasma levels. To properly judge the adequacy of current doses and schedules employed in practice, future studies are needed to delineate the PK/PD (pharmacodynamics) target for vancomycin in ELF. If the PK/PD target in ELF is found to be consistent with the currently proposed target of an AUC/MIC of ≥400, suboptimal probability of target attainment would be expected when vancomycin is utilized for pneumonias due to MRSA (methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
) with MICs in excess of 1 mg/liter.