bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Illness representations, emotional distress, coping strategies, and coping efficacy as predictors of patient outcomes in type 2 diabetes
Authors: Hart Patricia L , Grindel Cecelia Gatson 
Published: August 2010

hart pl & grindel cg (2010)
Journal of Nursing and Healthcare of Chronic Illness2, 225–240 Illness representations, emotional distress, coping strategies, and coping efficacy as predictors of patient outcomes in type 2 diabetesAim.  To examine the relationship between illness representations, emotional distress, coping strategies, and coping efficacy as predictors of self‐care behaviour and A1c levels in individuals with type 2 diabetes.Background.  Diabetes mellitus affects 23·6 million Americans and is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States. Reduction in complications can be best achieved by individuals’ adhering to appropriate lifestyle changes and maintaining tight glycemic control. Understanding the degree of influence that psychosocial factors have on individuals’ decisions to perform self‐regulation activities will give insight on strategies to encourage better decision‐making to prevent acute and chronic complications.Methods.  A descriptive, correlational design examined the psychosocial factors to determine the predictive relationships with self‐care behaviour and A1c levels. Participants were 119 men and women recruited from physician offices, medical clinics, and diabetes education centers. The research was conducted from March–December 2007.Results.  Participants perceived their diabetes to be a chronic, moderately cyclical condition with negative consequences and with moderate amounts of symptomatology that greatly influenced their emotional status. Hierarchical multiple linear regression analyses revealed that a) coping efficacy uniquely accounted for 9% of the variance in self‐care behaviour and b) illness representations, particularly timeline‐cyclical, uniquely accounted for 12% of the variance in A1c levels.Conclusions.  The findings confirm how illness representations, emotional distress, coping strategies, and coping efficacy influence self‐care behaviour and health outcomes. Psychosocial factors can influence lifestyle behaviour changes and outcomes of individuals with diabetes mellitus.Relevance to clinical practice.  Findings from the study have implications for nurses in the areas of assessment, diabetes management, coping skills training, and cognitive behavioural therapy. Nurses should incorporate these strategies into their daily practice to help individuals identify successful coping strategies, enhance coping efficacy, and change misconceptions about diabetes mellitus to improve self‐care behaviour and health outcomes.
Parenting children requiring complex care at home: re‐visiting normalisation and stigma
Authors: MacDonald Heather L , Gibson Cheryl H 
Published: August 2010

macdonald hl & gibson ch (2010)
Journal of Nursing and Healthcare of Chronic Illness2, 241–250 Parenting children requiring complex care at home: re‐visiting normalisation and stigmaAims/objectives.  To increase our understanding about the impact of stigma and normalisation on parents of children who require complex care.Background.  This paper focuses on normalisation and stigma, two phenomenon that were extracted from the findings of an ethnographic study that explored parents’, nurses’, and social workers’ beliefs and experiences with respite services.Design.  Qualitative study.Methods.  In depth interviews and participant observation with 47 participants that included 19 mothers, 4 fathers, and 7 grandparents of children who required complex care, and 13 nurses and 4 social workers.Results.  Issues of normalisation and stigma emerged from the data. Unlike parents of children with various chronic illnesses, these parents were not able to use normalisation as described in the literature.Conclusions.  Parents of children requiring complex care described normalisation as keeping up appearances and as escaping. Normalisation, to them, was about counter‐acting stigma.Relevance to clinical practice.  The findings of this study have important implications for practice. Rather than encouraging parents to use normalisation as defined in the literature, clinicians should seek ways in which the parents see themselves as normal. In this study one of the ways for parents to achieve feelings of normalcy was to escape from their caregiving role for a period of respite.
Prospects of barcoding the Italian wild dendroflora: oaks reveal severe limitations to tracking species identity
Authors: PIREDDA ROBERTA , SIMEONE MARCO C. , ATTIMONELLI MARCELLA , BELLAROSA ROSANNA , SCHIRONE BARTOLOMEO 
Published: August 2010

AbstractDNA barcoding may be particularly important in influencing ecology, economic issues, and the fundamental crisis facing biodiversity as a standardized, species‐level identification tool for taxonomy assessment. Trees play important roles in the conservation of many land ecosystems, the wood trade, and the definition of biogeographical processes; nevertheless, peculiar biological, evolutionary and taxonomical features will probably constitute an intriguing challenge to barcoders. We examined whether four marker regions (trnh‐psba, rbcL, rpoc1, matK) proposed by the Consortium for the Barcode of Life (CBOL) matched species taxonomy in a preliminary tree biodiversity survey of Italian forested land. Our objective was to provide a test of future in situ applications of DNA barcodes by evaluating the efficacy of species discrimination under the criteria of uniformity of methods and natural co‐occurrence of the species in the main forest ecosystems. Fifty‐two species were included in a floristic study. We obtained 73% total discrimination success, with trnH‐psbA as the best performing marker and oaks as the least responsive plants to the markers used. A further taxon‐based study of Quercus (thirty specimens, 12 species) revealed that this genus is refractory to barcoding (0% discrimination success), a probable consequence of low variation rate at the plastid genome level, hybridization, and the incidence of biogeography. We conclude that some species‐rich tree genera in small geographical regions may prove exceptionally difficult to barcode. Until more efficient markers are developed, we recommend that improved and diversified sampling (multiple locations of sympatric and co‐occurring congenerics) be embraced as a timely and important goal for the precise assessment of haplotype specificity to facilitate the productive application of barcoding in practice.
REVIEW: Atrial Fibrillation and Dabigatran: Has the Time Come To Use New Anticoagulants?
Authors: Escobar Carlos , Barrios Vivencio , Jimenez David 
Published: August 2010

SUMMARYAtrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained cardiac rhythm disturbance found in clinical practice, increasing in prevalence with age. AF is often associated with structural heart disease, although a significant proportion has no detectable heart disease. In the last 2 decades, there has been an increase of 66% in hospitalizations for AF, and it is an extremely costly public health problem. AF is associated with an increased long‐term risk of stroke, heart failure, and all‐cause mortality. In fact, the mortality rate in patients with AF is about double that of patients in normal sinus rhythm. Antithrombotic therapy is recommended for all patients with AF to prevent thromboembolism, except those with lone AF or contraindications. Selection of the antithrombotic agent should be based upon the absolute risks of stroke and bleeding and the relative risk and benefit for a given patient. However, despite oral anticoagulation with vitamin K antagonists (warfarin or acenocoumarol) some patients still have thromboembolic events. Furthermore, for the majority of patients, international normalized ratio (INR) monitoring may be an inconvenience. This is why new anticoagulants, such as the direct thrombin inhibitors, are being investigated. The results of the RE‐LY trial have recently been published. In this study, in a population of patients with AF, dabigatran at 110 mg b.i.d was associated with stroke and systemic embolism rates similar to those associated with warfarin, and with lower rates of major hemorrhage. However, when dabigatran was administered at a dose of 150 mg, lower rates of stroke and systemic embolism and similar rates of major hemorrhage were found compared with warfarin. The aim of this review is to update information on the prevention of thromboembolic events in patients with AF and how dabigatran may change daily clinical practice.
Relationship between Oxidative Stress and Inflammatory Cytokines in Diabetic Nephropathy
Authors: Elmarakby Ahmed A. , Sullivan Jennifer C. 
Published: August 2010

SUMMARYThe prevalence of diabetes has dramatically increased worldwide due to the vast increase in the obesity rate. Diabetic nephropathy is one of the major complications of type 1 and type 2 diabetes and it is currently the leading cause of end‐stage renal disease. Hyperglycemia is the driving force for the development of diabetic nephropathy. It is well known that hyperglycemia increases the production of free radicals resulting in oxidative stress. While increases in oxidative stress have been shown to contribute to the development and progression of diabetic nephropathy, the mechanisms by which this occurs are still being investigated. Historically, diabetes was not thought to be an immune disease; however, there is increasing evidence supporting a role for inflammation in type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Inflammatory cells, cytokines, and profibrotic growth factors including transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β), monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 (MCP‐1), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α), interleukin‐1 (IL‐1), interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), interleukin‐18 (IL‐18), and cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) have all been implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy via increased vascular inflammation and fibrosis. The stimulus for the increase in inflammation in diabetes is still under investigation; however, reactive oxygen species are a primary candidate. Thus, targeting oxidative stress‐inflammatory cytokine signaling could improve therapeutic options for diabetic nephropathy. The current review will focus on understanding the relationship between oxidative stress and inflammatory cytokines in diabetic nephropathy to help elucidate the question of which comes first in the progression of diabetic nephropathy, oxidative stress, or inflammation.
Genomics and Pharmacogenomics of Schizophrenia
Authors: Cacabelos Ramón , Martínez‐Bouza Rocío 
Published: August 2010

SUMMARYSchizophrenia (SCZ) is among the most disabling of mental disorders. Several neurobiological hypotheses have been postulated as responsible for SCZ pathogenesis: polygenic/multifactorial genomic defects, intrauterine and perinatal environment‐genome interactions, neurodevelopmental defects, dopaminergic, cholinergic, serotonergic, gamma‐aminobutiric acid (GABAergic), neuropeptidergic and glutamatergic/N‐Methyl‐D‐Aspartate (NMDA) dysfunctions, seasonal infection, neuroimmune dysfunction, and epigenetic dysregulation. SCZ has a heritability estimated at 60–90%. Genetic studies in SCZ have revealed the presence of chromosome anomalies, copy number variants, multiple single‐nucleotide polymorphisms of susceptibility distributed across the human genome, aberrant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in microRNA genes, mitochondrial DNA mutations, and epigenetic phenomena. Pharmacogenetic studies of psychotropic drug response have focused on determining the relationship between variation in specific candidate genes and the positive and adverse effects of drug treatment. Approximately, 18% of neuroleptics are major substrates of CYP1A2 enzymes, 40% of CYP2D6, and 23% of CYP3A4; 24% of antidepressants are major substrates of CYP1A2 enzymes, 5% of CYP2B6, 38% of CYP2C19, 85% of CYP2D6, and 38% of CYP3A4; 7% of benzodiazepines are major substrates of CYP2C19 enzymes, 20% of CYP2D6, and 95% of CYP3A4. About 10–20% of Western populations are defective in genes of the CYP superfamily. Only 26% of Southern Europeans are pure extensive metabolizers for the trigenic cluster integrated by the CYP2D6+CYP2C19+CYP2C9 genes. The pharmacogenomic response of SCZ patients to conventional psychotropic drugs also depends on genetic variants associated with SCZ‐related genes. Consequently, the incorporation of pharmacogenomic procedures both to drugs in development and drugs on the market would help to optimize therapeutics in SCZ and other central nervous system (CNS) disorders.
Association between nonspecific skeletal pain and vitamin D deficiency
Authors: HEIDARI Behzad , SHIRVANI Javad Shokri , FIROUZJAHI Alireza , HEIDARI Parnaz , HAJIAN‐TILAKI Karim O. 
Published: August 2010

AbstractBackground:  Deficiency of vitamin D has been reported in patients with many types of musculoskeletal pain. The present study was designed to determine the association between serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D [25‐(OH)D] deficiency and nonspecific skeletal pain.Methods:  A total of 276 patients with nonspecific skeletal pain at different regions of the skeletal system diagnosed as leg pain, widespread pain, arthralgia, rib pain, back pain and fibromyalgia were compared with 202 matched controls with regard to mean serum 25‐(OH)D level and 25‐(OH)D deficiency. Serum 25‐(OH)D was measured by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay method and levels < 20 ng/mL were considered as deficient. Nonparametric one‐way analysis of variance, Kruskal Wallis and Wilcoxon tests were used for group comparisons. Multiple logistic regression analysis with calculation of adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were performed to determine associations.Results:  In patients with nonspecific skeletal pain the mean 25‐(OH)D was significantly lower (P = 0.0001) and the proportion of 25‐(OH)D deficiency was significantly higher (63.4%vs. 36.1%, P = 0.0001) compared with controls. There was a significantly positive association between 25‐(OH)D deficiency and skeletal pain (OR = 2.94, 95% CI = 1.01–4.3, P = 0.0001). The strength of association varied across the groups with strongest association observed with leg pain (OR = 7.4; 95% CI = 3.9–13.9, P = 0.0001) followed by arthralgia (OR = 3.9, 95% CI = 2.1–7.1, P = 0.0001) and widespread pain (OR = 2.8, 95% CI = 1.1–6.6, P = 0.020) but no association with back pain and fibromyalgia. There was a greater positive associations in women compared with men (OR = 2.1, 95% CI = 1.1–4.3, P = 0.001).Conclusion:  The results of this study indicate a positive association of vitamin D deficiency with a variety of nonspecific bone pain, particularly in women. More studies with larger samples are required to confirm these findings. Increasing serum vitamin D to sufficient levels and longitudinal follow‐up of patients may provide further evidence in relation to vitamin D deficiency and skeletal pain.
Biofuels and invasive species from an African perspective – a review
Authors: WITT ARNE B. R. 
Published: August 2010

AbstractA large number of proposed biofuel crops share the same traits as known invasive plant species, many of which are already present in Africa and include species such as Prosopis glandulosa Torrey (Mimosaceae), P. juliflora (Sw.) DC, Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit (Mimosaceae), Azadirachta indica A. Juss. (Meliaceae), and others. In this paper, we mainly assess the impacts of invasive Prosopis species in Africa, particularly in Kenya and South Africa. Introduced Prosopis species have invaded over 4 million hectares in Africa, threatening crop and pasture production, reducing underground water reserves, and displacing native plant and animal species. This has major implications for millions of people who depend on natural resources for their survival. It is therefore suggested that known invasive or potentially invasive plant species not be introduced to countries or regions for biofuel production. If (after a stringent cost–benefit analysis) the introduction of a potentially invasive species is deemed critical for economic development and the benefits clearly outweigh the potential costs, countries should endeavour to abide by the Principles and Criteria for Sustainable Biofuel Production developed by the Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels.
The U.S. Policy and Strategy toward DPRK: Comparison and Evalution of the Clinton and Bush Administrations
Authors: Lee Hun Kyung 
Published: August 2010

This article focuses on studying and evaluating the Clinton and Bush administrations' policies and strategies toward North Korea.The Clinton administration's policy toward North Korea was a continuation of the abandonment of containment and confrontation strategies of the Cold War era. That policy was based on a strategic transfer of power for the purpose of preventing a war, through a combination of aid and deterrence in the Korean peninsula by its engagement policy. The Administration believed that additional food aid and easing of economic sanctions would make a contribution to North Korean survival, and hence, a reduction in its bellicose disposition. Providing that this policy continued, it would be possible not merely to lead North Korea's change, but also to help it enter into international society by breaking down its self‐imposed isolation. To the contrary, the Bush administration points out that the Clinton administration's engagement policy did not lead to North Korea's change, and even left the wrong precedent in nuclear and missile negotiations. Focusing on nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction with an emphasis of transparency, monitoring, and verification, the Bush administration has claimed a broad agenda. This includes an improved implementation of the Agreed Framework relating to North Korea's nuclear activities, verifiable control over North Korea's missile programs and a ban on its missile exports, and a less threatening conventional military posture.With the different views of these two administrations as a background, this article explores the U.S. efforts for achieving such policy goals as freezing North Korea's nuclear weapons program and halting its missile development and sales, together with looking at North Korea's response. American efforts for supporting the necessities for life, easing of some economic sanctions toward DPRK are also described. At the same time, the U.S. policy toward DPRK is evaluated on the whole in considering U.S. policy limits for nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction, the lack of effort by North Korea for peacemaking and survival, and inconsistency on U.S. assistance. Lastly, this article suggests a way for an alternative solution by thinking about some dilemmas for the U.S. and the DPRK.
Japan's Nuclear Option: Its Possibilities and Limitations
Authors: Park Hahnkyu 
Published: August 2010

This study seeks to illuminate the possibility of Japan's nuclear option in the changing context of both domestic and international politics in the Post‐Cold War era.Currently, it may be very difficult for Japan to choose a nuclear option considering the domestic political context. The majority of the Japanese people still possess a strong anti‐nuclear sentiment because of the experience of nuclear bombing that took place in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. Those who advocate Japan's nuclear armament have also not become a major political force in Japanese politics. Japan has also established several legal and institutional mechanisms that prohibit Japan from becoming a nuclear power.However, international crises that could severely damage Japan's national security and vital interests, would bring about major changes in Japan's domestic political context that has so far successfully constrained Japan's move toward nuclear armament. These international crises may include mounting nuclear and military threats from neighboring countries, failure of the international nuclear nonproliferation regime, and weakening or breakdown of the U.S.‐Japan security alliance. Under these international crises, the Japanese people could feel a sense of severe insecurity and they might agree to the nuclear option for the sake of national security.It seems that, although Japan will not take a direct course to go nuclear in the near future due to the domestic political constraints, it will continue to keep a nuclear option open, which makes it possible for Japan to possess nuclear weapons when domestic and international circumstances dictate to do so.
The Second North Korean Nuclear Crisis: Assessing U.S. and DPRK Negotiation Strategies
Authors: Snyder Scott 
Published: August 2010

The experience of U.S.‐DPRK negotiations during the first North Korean nuclear crisis has framed American and North Korean strategies and tactics as they have approached the second crisis. The six party talks negotiating format itself has been favored by the Bush administration based on its own perception of lessons learned from the Clinton administration's experience. For its part, the DPRK leadership has relied on a range of familiar tactics in the initial rounds of talks, including calculated efforts to utilize brinkmanship and crisis escalation to catalyze a direct response to the Bush administration.In the case of both Washington and Pyongyang, the use of these tactics reveal that until North Korea's nuclear test on October 9th, 2006, neither side had truly committed itself to resolving the nuclear issue through a give‐and‐take negotiation process. Instead, both sides have attempted to shape the environment to their own ends as a vehicle for reaping benefits through the mechanism of negotiations. The North Korean nuclear test achieved Pyongyang's tactical goal of drawing the United States into direct talks, but against a strategic context that initially appeared to be relatively unfavorable to North Korea's longer‐term strategic aims. This paper will examine possible lessons learned from the first North Korean nuclear crisis, will review the progress of the six party process, and will analyze the tactics and strategies of the U.S. and DPRK, respectively, as well as the other parties to the talks.