bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Neonatal invasive candidiasis in Tunisian hospital: incidence, risk factors, distribution of species and antifungal susceptibility
Authors: Ben Abdeljelil J. , Saghrouni F. , Nouri S. , Geith S. , Khammari I. , Fathallah A. , Sboui H. , Ben Saïd M. 
Published: March 2012

SummaryThe aim of our study was to assess epidemiological features of neonatal invasive candidiasis in Farhat Hached hospital of Sousse, Tunisia, including incidence, risk factors, mortality, species distribution and antifungal susceptibility. Laboratory data from 1995 to 2010 and medical records of 127 invasive candidiasis cases were reviewed. We tested the susceptibility of 100 Candida sp isolates by using ATB fungus®3 and to fluconazole by using E‐test® strips. A total of 252 cases of neonatal invasive candidiasis occurred over the study period. The incidence increased 1.8‐fold from 1995 to 2006 and decreased fourfold from 2007 to 2010. Candida albicans was the predominant species up to 2006 and a shift in the species spectrum was observed with increase of the non‐albicans species mainly C. parapsilosis. The agreement between the ATB Fungus® and the E‐test® for determining fluconazole susceptibility was high. All tested isolates were susceptible to fluconazole, flucytosine, amphotéricine B and voriconazole and the itraconazole resistance rate was 5%. The mortality rate was 63%. The invasive candidiasis incidence increased from 1995 to 2006 and decreased from 2007 to 2010. The spectrum of Candida species and the lack of fluconazole‐resistant strains argue for the usefulness of fluconazole as an empiric treatment.
Retrospective analysis of factors that affect driving assessment outcomes after stroke
Authors: Chua Michelle , McCluskey Annie , Smead Janice M. 
Published: March 2012

IntroductionMore than 50% of people do not resume driving post‐stroke. Potential disincentives include limited knowledge about assessment, access to services, cost and fear of failure. Factors contributing to a successful return to driving have been the focus of limited research.AimTo determine the proportion of people with stroke who successfully pass their first on‐road occupational therapy driving assessment, and factors associated with a successful assessment outcome.MethodsA retrospective cohort study design was used. The primary data collection method was a review of 441 consecutive occupational therapy driving assessment reports from one Australian metropolitan centre. Participants had a diagnosis of stroke, a driving licence pre‐stroke and completed a driving assessment between 1999 and 2010.ResultsOf the 441 records analysed, the mean age of drivers was 65.4 years (SD: 15.4). The majority (53.7%) passed their first assessment (pass/conditional pass); only 8.8% failed. A weak relationship was found between initial driving assessment outcome and time post‐stroke (rs = 0.19), but a fair relationship with younger age (rs = 0.31) and higher scores on three off‐road assessments (rs = −0.26 to −0.28). The strongest predictors of initial driving assessment outcome were off‐road assessment scores, age, gender and time post‐stroke (R2 = 19.7%, P < 0.01).ConclusionsData on stroke severity are required to confirm these preliminary predictors of driving assessment outcome. Stroke severity should be routinely documented by driving assessment services for use in future research.
Interleukin‐6 polymorphism and bronchopulmonary dysplasia risk in very low‐birthweight infants
Authors: Usuda Touhei , Kobayashi Takehiro , Sakakibara Seiichi , Kobayashi Akira , Kaneko Takayuki , Wada Masaki , Onozuka Junya , Numata Osamu , Torigoe Katsumi , Yamazaki Hajime , Sato Takashi , Nagayama Yoshihisa , Uchiyama Makoto 
Published: March 2012

AbstractBackground:  The aim of the present study was to evaluate the role of interleukin (IL)‐6‐634 polymorphism in neonatal disorders such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) in very low‐birthweight (VLBW) infants.Methods:  This prospective cohort study included 202 infants (gestational age at birth, 23–34 weeks; birthweight, 500–1499 g). Genotypic analysis (polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism) was performed with DNA extracted from whole‐blood samples.Results:  Genotype distribution (66.8% CC, 28.2% CG, 5.0% GG) was similar to that in the adult Japanese population. BPD occurred in 85 infants (42.1%) among 202 VLBW infants. The duration of O2 therapy in infants with CG/GG genotypes was significantly longer than that in infants with the CC genotype (CG/GG vs CC: 40.3 ± 52.2 days vs 28.4 ± 32.6 days, P < 0.05), but the prevalence of BPD was not associated with the CG/GG genotype (CG/GG, 40.0%; CC, 46.3%, P= 0.24). Infants with CG/GG genotypes were more likely to have received postnatal corticosteroid therapy for BPD than those with the CC genotype (CG/GG vs CC: 20.9% vs 11.1%, P= 0.05). PVL occurred in six infants (3.0%). There was no significant difference in the prevalence of PVL among IL‐6‐634 polymorphisms (CG/GG, 3.0%; CC, 3.0%, P= 0.65).Conclusions:  IL‐6‐634 polymorphism is associated with duration of oxygen therapy in VLBW infants. This suggests that the IL‐6‐634 polymorphism G allele is an aggravating factor of BPD. IL‐6‐634 polymorphism is not associated with PVL.
Incidence and risk factors of parenteral nutrition‐associated liver disease in newborn infants
Authors: Koseesirikul Photchanaphorn , Chotinaruemol Somporn , Ukarapol Nuthapong 
Published: March 2012

AbstractBackground:  The aim of the present study was to determine the incidence and risk factors of parenteral nutrition‐associated liver disease (PNALD) in neonates.Methods:  A 1 year prospective cohort study was carried out at the neonatal intensive care unit and sick neonatal wards, Chiang Mai University Hospital. Newborns >1000 g, receiving >7 days of parenteral nutrition (PN), were enrolled. Liver function tests were done by the end of first, second, and fourth week, and then every 4 weeks until the PN was discontinued and the jaundice resolved. The diagnosis of PNALD relied on a history of PN, direct bilirubin >2 mg/dL, and exclusion of other causes of neonatal cholestasis. Selected patient factors and PN compositions were analyzed to determine the risks for development of PNALD.Results:  A total of 24 infants with a mean gestational age and birthweight of 32.5 weeks and 1840 g were enrolled. Eight of the 24 developed PNALD. Compared to those without PNALD, gastrointestinal surgery, duration of enteral starvation, duration of PN, maximum PN caloric intake, and maximum carbohydrate intake were significantly associated with the development of liver disease. Despite the lack of statistical significance, there was a trend towards cholestasis in patients with sepsis. Elevation of direct bilirubin was the earliest biochemical change, observed in the first week after PN, followed by increased transaminases.Conclusion:  Gastrointestinal surgery, duration of enteral starvation, duration of PN, maximum caloric and carbohydrate intake in PN were significant risks of PNALD in newborn infants.
Estimating the number of the people who inject drugs in Bali, 2010
Authors: SAWITRI ANAK AGUNG SAGUNG , BLOGG JAMES , ANGELA ROSY 
Published: March 2012

AbstractIntroduction and Aims. A population estimation study was performed in 2009–2010 to understand the apparent decrease in people who inject drugs (PWID) attending needle syringe programs (NSPs) and to calculate the number of PWID in Bali for service planning.Design and Methods. The multiplier method was applied to the results of a survey of 125 PWID using data from 16 institutions to calculate benchmarks for five events. Respondents were also asked to nominate other PWID and the services they used and to name PWID who had died in the previous 3 years.Results. There was consistency in the estimates calculated using the multipliers for police arrests, voluntary counselling and testing and NSP which produced estimates of 700, 723 and 769 PWID, respectively. The nominator method identified 529 PWID. The number of reported PWID deaths had decreased over the past 3 years and may reflect a shrinking in the population of PWID in Bali. Police data revealed a dramatic shift in arrests for drug possession in 2002–2003 compared with arrests during 2009. Heroin possession was recorded in 37.4% of 2002–2003 arrests but decreased to 3.1% in 2009, whereas amphetamine possession increased from 11% to 30.9% in the same period.Discussion and Conclusions. Bali appears to have experienced a decrease in the number of PWID, which is likely to be related to death and to a pronounced shift to non‐injected drug use.[Sawitri AAS, Blogg J, Angela R. Estimating the number of the people who inject drugs in Bali, 2010. Drug Alcohol Rev 2012;31:813–817]
Age‐related patterns of drug use initiation among polydrug using regular psychostimulant users
Authors: DARKE SHANE , KAYE SHARLENE , TOROK MICHELLE 
Published: March 2012

AbstractIntroduction and Aims. To determine age‐related patterns of drug use initiation, drug sequencing and treatment entry among regular psychostimulant users.Design and Methods. Cross‐sectional study of 269 regular psychostimulant users, administered a structured interview examining onset of use for major licit and illicit drugs.Results. The mean age at first intoxication was not associated with age or gender. In contrast, younger age was associated with earlier ages of onset for all of the illicit drug classes. Each additional year of age was associated with a 4 month increase in onset age for methamphetamine, and 3 months for heroin. By the age of 17, those born prior to 1961 had, on average, used only tobacco and alcohol, whereas those born between 1986 and 1990 had used nine different drug classes. The period between initial use and the transition to regular use, however, was stable. Age was also negatively correlated with both age at initial injection and regular injecting. Onset sequences, however, remained stable. Consistent with the age‐related patterns of drug use, each additional year of age associated with a 0.47 year increase in the age at first treatment.Discussion and Conclusions. While the age at first intoxication appeared stable, the trajectory through illicit drug use was substantially truncated. The data indicate that, at least among those who progress to regular illicit drug use, younger users are likely to be exposed to far broader polydrug use in their teens than has previously been the case.[Darke S, Kaye S, Torok M. Age‐related patterns of drug use initiation among polydrug using regular psychostimulant users. Drug Alcohol Rev 2012;31:784–789]
Evans on Bodily Awareness and Perceptual Self‐Location
Authors: Ávila Ignacio 
Published: March 2012

AbstractIn Chapter 7 of The Varieties of Reference Evans implicitly outlines a view to the effect that bodily awareness plays no role in perceptual self‐location or in the specification of our perceptual perspective of the world. In this paper I discuss this story and offer an alternative proposal. Then I explore some consequences of this account for our understanding of the elusiveness of the self in perceptual experience.
Thrombolysis in Cervical Artery Dissection – Data from the Cervical Artery Dissection and Ischaemic Stroke Patients (CADISP) database
Authors: Engelter S. T. , Dallongeville J. , Kloss M. , Metso T. M. , Leys D. , Brandt T. , Samson Y. , Caso V. , Pezzini A. , Sessa M. , Beretta S. , Debette S. , Grond‐Ginsbach C. , Metso A. J. , Thijs V. , Lamy C. , Medeiros E. , Martin J. J. , Bersano A. , Tatlisumak T. , Touzé E. , Lyrer P. A. ,   for the Cervical Artery Dissection and Ischaemic Stroke Patients (CADISP)‐Study Group
Published: March 2012

Objective:  To examine whether thrombolysis for stroke attributable to cervical artery dissection (CeADStroke) affects outcome and major haemorrhage rates.Methods:  We used a multicentre CeADStroke database to compare CeADStroke patients treated with and without thrombolysis. Main outcome measures were favourable 3‐month outcome (modified Rankin Scale 0–2) and ‘major haemorrhage’ [any intracranial haemorrhage (ICH) and major extracranial haemorrhage]. Adjusted odds ratios [OR (95% confidence intervals)] were calculated on the whole database and on propensity‐matched groups.Results:  Among 616 CeADStroke patients, 68 (11.0%) received thrombolysis; which was used in 55 (81%) intravenously. Thrombolyzed patients had more severe strokes (median NIHSS score 16 vs. 3; P < 0.001) and more often occlusion of the dissected artery (66.2% vs. 39.4%; P < 0.001). After adjustment for stroke severity and vessel occlusion, the likelihood for favourable outcome did not differ between the treatment groups [ORadjusted 0.95 (95% CI 0.45–2.00)]. The propensity matching score model showed that the odds to recover favourably were virtually identical for 64 thrombolyzed and 64 non‐thrombolyzed‐matched CeADStroke patients [OR 1.00 (0.49–2.00)]. Haemorrhages occurred in 4 (5.9%) thrombolyzed patients, all being asymptomatic ICHs. In the non‐thrombolysis group, 3 (0.6%) patients had major haemorrhages [asymptomatic ICH (n = 2) and major extracranial haemorrhage (n = 1)].Conclusion:  As thrombolysis was neither independently associated with unfavourable outcome nor with an excess of symptomatic bleedings, our findings suggest thrombolysis should not be withheld in CeADStroke patients. However, the lack of any trend towards a benefit of thrombolysis may indicate the legitimacy to search for more efficient treatment options including mechanical revascularization strategies.
Baroreflex mechanisms and response to exercise in patients with heart disease
Authors: Fukuma Nagaharu , Kato Kazuyo , Munakata Kazuo , Hayashi Hiroko , Kato Yuko , Aisu Noriko , Takahashi Hiroshi , Mabuchi Kousuke , Mizuno Kyoichi 
Published: March 2012

SummaryBackgroundPast reports showed that the baroreflex continuously regulates hemodynamics during exercise. However, it is still clinically unclear. If baroreflex mechanism is able to influence actually exercise cardiovascular control, baroreflex sympathetic and/or parasympathetic function relates to response to exercise. Therefore, we examined the relationship of heat rate changes to both blood pressure increment and decrement with tolerance and chronotropic response to peak exercise in patients with heart disease.MethodsIn 25 male heart disease patients (60 ± 9 years) without decompensated heart failure, baroreceptor reflex sensitivity (BRS ms mmHg−1) was measured by reflex heart rate responses to changes in blood pressure after phenylephrine (P‐BRS) and nitroglycerin (N‐BRS) injection, respectively. Symptom‐limited treadmill exercise test was performed according to Bruce's protocol.Results(i) The absolute values of blood pressure change after the administrations were similar between the agents because the dosages of nitroglycerin and phenylephrine were set to equalize absolute changes in blood pressure. (ii) In this study population, the ratio of N‐BRS to P‐BRS was not significantly correlated with hypertension and diabetes mellitus. (iii) Exercise capacity (METs) (r = −0·626) and heart rate response to exercise per METs (r = 0·670) was significantly related to N‐BRS but not to P‐BRS.ConclusionWe found that the abnormality of baroreflex function in the presence of blood pressure decrements can lead to insufficient capacity and easy sympathetic activation during exercise.
Disability Risk Management and Postinjury Employment of Workers With Back Pain
Authors: Johnson William G. , Butler Richard J. , Baldwin Marjorie L. , Côté Pierre 
Published: March 2012

AbstractWe analyze the outcomes of occupational back pain among four large employers that use one or more of the following disability management practices: aggressive return to work, claims management, medical management, or time‐limited job accommodations. Outcomes measured at 6 and 12 months postonset include: duration of initial work absence and the probability of returning to stable employment. Employment outcomes are better in firms with more proactive return‐to‐work policies than in firms with more restrictive policies. We devise a statistical test for attrition bias and conclude that sample attrition does not significantly alter our results.
Fuel Risk Management at American Electric Power
Authors: Buck Douglas , Elliott Dwayne , Niehaus Greg , Rives Bill , Thomas Laura 
Published: March 2012

AbstractThe senior management team and board of directors at American Electric Power (AEP) have emphasized the importance of an Enterprise Risk Management approach for dealing with the wide array of risk exposures that the firm faces. Senior management has put in place a risk governance structure that facilitates the identification of major risk exposures, assesses their impact on the firm's overall risk profile, and interacts the risk management process with the strategic planning process. Central to this structure is the firm's Risk Executive Committee, which includes the senior leadership of the firm and the Enterprise Risk Oversight staff. Members of the AEP Enterprise Risk Oversight group have just returned from a meeting of the Risk Executive Committee. The discussion at the meeting focused on an event that recently came to the firm's attention—an unexpected disruption in the firm's coal supply over the coming year due to necessary repairs in railroad facilities near the coal source. By the end of the week, the Enterprise Risk Oversight group needs to communicate with the relevant teams within the organization as part of its effort to identify the potential repercussions of the event for the enterprise. In addition, the Risk Executive Committee would like the groups to identify other possible adverse events that could occur and steps that should be taken now in preparation.
Insurance Protection Funds in the European Union—Quo Vadis?
Authors: Monkiewicz Marek 
Published: March 2012

AbstractContrary to the development in other major insurance markets in the world only 13 out of 27 EU member states have introduced until now some type of insurance protection funds (IPF). As a result around a third of the market is without any collective protection. There is also a continuous debate since 2001 among the member states on the need for such a system at the community level. The experiences of the latest financial crisis have raised new arguments for reorganizing the existing system to avoid regulatory arbitrage and to strengthen consumer security. Even the prospective implementation of provisions strengthening supervisory bodies, and the new solvency directive (so‐called Solvency II) are not fail‐safe solutions. This article is an attempt to review the current situation as regards IPF in the EU and to discuss possible development scenarios.
Intravenous Oxycodone for Pain Relief in the First Stage of Labour – Maternal Pharmacokinetics and Neonatal Exposure
Authors: Kokki Merja , Franco Maria Gonzalez , Raatikainen Kaisa , Välitalo Pyry , Sankilampi Ulla , Heinonen Seppo , Neuvonen Pertti J. , Kokki Hannu 
Published: March 2012

AbstractPhysiological changes during pregnancy may change pharmacokinetics of compounds. Oxycodone is an increasingly used opioid agonist in acute pain management but its pharmacokinetics in labouring women has not been established. We studied the maternal pharmacokinetics and neonatal exposure of intravenous oxycodone for pain relief in the first stage of labour. The study was prospective, open‐labelled and with a control group. After informed consent, 15 nulliparous parturients and newborns, and newborns in a control group were studied. In the study group, oxycodone boluses of 1 mg i.v., up to a cumulative dose of 5 mg, was administered when labour pain score was 5/10 or higher. As the control group, 30 other newborns after uncomplicated deliveries with no systemic opioids were assessed for the neonatal outcome. In the study group, maternal pharmacokinetics of oxycodone was measured from plasma concentrations during labour, and neonatal exposure was assessed from umbilical plasma samples using population pharmacokinetic methods. Maternal plasma oxycodone concentration decreased with a median half‐life of 2.6 hr (range, 1.8–2.8). Oxycodone concentrations in the umbilical plasma 2.7 μg/l (0.3–14.5) were similar as in maternal plasma 2.4 (0.1–14.8) μg/l at the time of birth. No severe or unexpected adverse effects were noted. To conclude, firstly, maternal elimination half‐life of i.v. oxycodone was significantly shorter than that reported in non‐pregnant women, and secondly, maternal plasma oxycodone at the birth correlated well with neonatal umbilical concentrations and may, thus, be used as an estimate of neonatal exposure.
Differentiation of Indian, East Timorese, Papuan and Floridian ‘CandidatusLiberibacter asiaticus’ isolates on the basis of simple sequence repeat and single nucleotide polymorphism profiles at 25 loci
Authors: Katoh H. , Davis R. , Smith M.W. , Weinert M. , Iwanami T. 
Published: March 2012

AbstractJapanese isolates of ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ have been shown to be clearly differentiated by simple sequence repeat (SSR) profiles at four loci. In this study, 25 SSR loci, including these four loci, were selected from the whole‐genome sequence and were used to differentiate non‐Japanese samples of ‘Ca. Liberibacter asiaticus’ (13 Indian, 3 East Timorese, 1 Papuan and 8 Floridian samples). Out of the 25 SSR loci, 13 were polymorphic. Dendrogram analysis using SSR loci showed that the clusters were mostly consistent with the geographical origins of the isolates. When single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were searched around these 25 loci, only the upstream region of locus 091 exhibited polymorphism. Phylogenetic tree analysis of the SNPs in the upstream region of locus 091 showed that Floridian samples were clustered into one group as shown by dendrogram analysis using SSR loci. The differences in nucleotide sequences were not associated with differences in the citrus hosts (lime, mandarin, lemon and sour orange) from which the isolates were originally derived.
Tokens of love: possible diagnostic value of mating plugs and refractive secretory uterine structures in Trichodorus (Diphtherophorina: Trichodoridae)
Authors: Decraemer Wilfrida 
Published: March 2012

Within the Trichodoridae, mating plugs have only been recorded from Trichodorus species. They can be observed as a clear plug within the vagina/vulva but may also be present in the uteri. These secretory structures are diverse in size, varying between 4 and 27 μm in length, and in shape from simple unipartite tubular structures to bipartite with a central indentation or with a tail-like end. All mating plugs possess a central canal that can vary in diameter. Within Trichodorus, the shape and structure of the mating plugs can provide additional diagnostic information at species level.