bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Treatment of loin pain suspected to be renal colic with papaverine hydrochloride: a prospective double‐blind randomised study
Authors: Asgari Seyed Alaeddin , Asli Mani Mohiti , Madani Ali Hamidi , Maghsoudi Parvaneh Arab , Ghanaei Mandana Mansour , Shakiba Maryam , Aval Hamidreza Baghani , Enshaei Ahmad , Farzan Alireza , Esmaeili Samaneh 
Published: February 2012

Study Type – Therapy (RCT)Level of Evidence 1bWhat's known on the subject? and What does the study add?Results of our study showed that intravenous papaverine hydrochloride plus suppository sodium diclofenac were more effective than diclofenac sodium suppository alone in the treatment of acute renal colic. Therefore, intravenous papaverine hydrochloride may be a beneficial supplemental therapy to relieve renal colic pain, particularly in combination with NSAIDs.OBJECTIVE
To assess the efficacy of papaverine hydrochloride combined with a diclofenac sodium suppository to relieve renal colic compared with diclofenac suppository monotherapy, as the effect of phosphodiesterase inhibitors on ureteric muscles might reduce the pain of renal colic.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
A prospective, double‐blind clinical study was performed.
In all, 550 patients aged 17–55 years with acute renal colic were randomised to two groups. Patients in one group (group A) received a diclofenac suppository (100 mg) plus saline 0.9% (placebo) and the other group (group B) received a diclofenac suppository (100 mg) plus intravenous (i.v.) papaverine hydrochloride (1.5 mg/kg up to120 mg).
Pain intensity was assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS) at 0, 20 and 40 min after treatment. Further analgesia was provided at the patients' request (25 mg pethidine intramuscularly).
RESULTS
Baseline characteristics (sex, age, past history of similar pains) were similar in the two groups.
There were significant differences in VAS pain scores between 0 and 20 min and 0 and 40 min in both groups (P < 0.001).
At the end of study, 71.1% of patients in group A and 90.9% of patients in group B reported pain relief and did not require pethidine, respectively.
Significantly more patients in group A required further analgesia.
CONCLUSIONS
According to our results, i.v. papaverine hydrochloride plus a diclofenac suppository were more effective than the diclofenac suppository alone for treating acute renal colic.
Therefore, i.v. papaverine hydrochloride is a beneficial supplemental therapy to relieve renal colic pain, particularly combined with non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs.
Widespread shifts in the demographic structure of subalpine forests in the Sierra Nevada, California, 1934 to 2007
Authors: Dolanc Christopher R. , Thorne James H. , Safford Hugh D. 
Published: February 2012

ABSTRACTAim Many climate‐linked vegetation models predict major contraction of subalpine forests within the next 100 years, which would require a relatively rapid replacement of high‐elevation species by lower‐elevation species over large portions of subalpine forest. We tested this prediction by comparing empirical data from a historic data set with data collected from re‐sampled sites from 2007–09.Location Central Sierra Nevada, CA, USA, 2300–3400 m elevation.Methods We re‐sampled 139 undisturbed historical vegetation plots across 5500 km2originally sampled from 1929–34 in the subalpine zone of the Sierra Nevada, and compared historical with current forest structure and composition. We compared historic and modern climatic conditions using two high‐elevation climate stations nearby.Results Subalpine forests experienced a net increase in tree stem density of 30.4%, including a 63.3% increase in small trees. Six of eight tree species showed statistically significant increases in small tree density, including species with distributions at both the upper and lower boundaries of subalpine. Increases in small tree density were partly offset by a 20% decrease in large trees. These shifts were significant throughout the landscape of our study area. Modern stand composition was indistinguishable from historical composition. Daily minimum temperature (+ 1.2°C) and precipitation (+ 15–48%) both increased during the same period.Main conclusions Warming temperatures plus steady to increasing precipitation have led to less stressful conditions for recruitment and survival of small trees, and are probably contributing to increased mortality of large trees. Tree abundance and composition in the subalpine has not changed in the direction predicted by vegetation models linked to future climate scenarios. Our results underline the fundamental role that moisture balance plays in structuring mediterranean‐zone montane forests. Future shifts in vegetation composition and structure from these regions are likely to depend on interactions between water balance and disturbance factors like fire, insects and disease.
Species distribution models indicate contrasting late‐Quaternary histories for Southern and Northern Hemisphere bird species
Authors: Huntley Brian , Allen Judy R. M. , Barnard Phoebe , Collingham Yvonne C. , Holliday Phyllida R. 
Published: February 2012

ABSTRACTAim  To test the following hypotheses: that Fynbos species had more extensive distributions at the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), extending onto the exposed ‘Agulhas Plain’; that genetically distinct British taxa could have persisted through the LGM on adjacent areas of exposed shelf.Location  Southern Africa; Europe.Methods  Climatic response surfaces were fitted for 14 Fynbos and two European birds. These models were used to hindcast species distributions for palaeoclimates simulated using a fully coupled atmosphere–ocean general circulation model. LGM annual net primary productivity (ANPP) of two plant functional types upon which the European birds depend were simulated using a dynamic vegetation model and compared with potential LGM bird distributions.Results  Fynbos birds' potential LGM distributions mostly extended southwards onto the exposed Agulhas Plain and were consistently more extensive than at present. This contrasts with conventional expectations for temperate species based upon Northern Hemisphere evidence. North‐west European taxa potentially had LGM ranges on exposed shelf and ice‐free areas to the west and south‐west of the British Isles ice sheet. This is consistent with available genetic evidence, supporting the long‐standing hypothesis that these taxa persisted through the LGM in this region. In both regions, results allow the generation of new testable hypotheses about species evolution and palaeobiogeography.Main conclusions  Bird species found today in the Fynbos probably had more extensive ranges under glacial conditions, with the potential ranges of many species extending onto the Agulhas Plain. Bird taxa restricted today to the British Isles probably survived the LGM with limited distributions on exposed shelf and ice‐free areas south‐west of the British Isles ice sheet. Areas of shelf exposed under glacial conditions are likely to have been important components of glacial distributions of species in both the Northern and Southern Hemisphere. The contrasting history of Northern and Southern Hemisphere species has important conservation implications, especially in relation to conserving intra‐specific genetic diversity.
ANALYSIS OF POVERTY AND EFFICIENCY: AN EARNINGS FRONTIER APPROACH
Authors: Chattopadhyay Somnath 
Published: February 2012

ABSTRACTThe paper introduces the concept of an earnings frontier in explaining monthly consumption expenditure (a proxy for income) in terms of human capital and endowments of a household. Individuals who translate their potential earning into actual earnings enjoy a fully efficient position. In contrast, individuals who earn less than their potential earnings suffer from some kind of earnings inefficiency. The paper estimates an earnings frontier using the Corrected Ordinary Least Square (COLS) method and classifies households in terms of efficiency scores. Splitting the sample into an efficient and an inefficient part based on the estimated frontier and a bench mark efficiency score, the status of poverty in the two parts (groups) is studied. The poverty gap between the groups is then decomposed into a characteristics effect and a coefficients effect using the familiar Oaxaca decomposition methodology. The paper also tries to establish a link between the notion of efficiency and the coefficients effect in the Oaxaca decomposition methodology. The results obtained are interpreted in light of the poor but efficient hypothesis.
DYNAMIC STOCK RETURN–VOLUME RELATION: EVIDENCE FROM EMERGING ASIAN MARKETS
Authors: Lin Hsin‐Yi 
Published: February 2012

ABSTRACTThis paper empirically examines the dynamic stock return–volume relations for six emerging Asian markets: Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand. Evidence is found that trading volume Granger causes stock return in quantiles and the causal effects of volume are heterogeneous across quantiles. This shows that volume carries some information to the return and could be interpreted in light of theoretical models. In addition, we find that there is bi‐directional causality between stock return and trading volume in most of the markets. The finding indicates that those Asian emerging markets with different institutions and information flows than more mature markets have present similar causal effects on the stock return–volume relation. Furthermore, the cross‐country evidence shows that the US market helps to predict the returns of the emerging Asian markets.
The Impact of Risk Management Standards on Patient Safety: The Determinants of MRSA Infections in Acute NHS Hospitals, 2001–08*
Authors: Fenn Paul , Gray Alastair , Rickman Neil , Rivero‐Arias Oliver , Vencappa Dev 
Published: February 2012

AbstractWe study a key part of National Health Service (NHS) policy to ensure high‐quality health care: failure to supply such care cost the NHS £787m in clinical negligence payouts during 2009–10. The NHS uses risk management standards to incentivize care, and we examine their effects on methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections. Using a specially assembled data set, our GMM results suggest that improvements in the risk management standards attained by some hospitals are correlated with reductions in their MRSA infection rates. Moreover, the exogeneity of this relationship cannot be rejected for higher risk management levels, suggesting attainment of higher standards was instrumental in reducing infection rates.
Development and use of guideline‐derived quality indicators for community lymphoedema
Authors: Herberger K. , Heyer A.K. , Blome C. , Sandner A. , Altheide F. , Lader‐Holtorf M. , Augustin M. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractBackground  Treatment of lymphoedema is complex and needs specific skills. There are no standards for the evaluation of quality of care.Objective  Development and application of indicators for the measurement of quality of care in lymphoedema.Methods  In a three‐step process including a national Delphi expert consensus, quality indicators were derived from national and international guidelines. In a cross‐sectional study involving a large spectrum of care providers, the quality of lymphoedema care in the community was assessed by transforming the indicators to one unweighted quality index (QI).Results  A total of 12 quality indicators were identified and applied to n = 348 patients with lymphoedema and lipolymphoedema of any origin in the metropolitan area of Hamburg (90.8% female, mean age 57, SD 14.5 years). On average, 55% of the quality indicators were met, and 64.8% of the patients were satisfied with lymphoedema care. There was a significant correlation between QI and satisfaction.Conclusions  The quality indicators and the QI are feasible and valid for the evaluation of quality of care. They can support optimizing lymphoedema care.
Neonatal intensive care practices and the influence on skin condition
Authors: Visscher M.O. , Taylor T. , Narendran V. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractBackground  Premature skin has a thinner epidermis with a poorly formed stratum corneum (SC) barrier compared to full term skin. Poor skin integrity increases the risk of exposure to irritants and infectious agents. Interventions that facilitate skin maturation are essential.Objective  The objective was to examine the effects of prematurity and time from birth on SC maturation and to identify factors that impact skin condition.Methods  A retrospective review was conducted among 130 NICU patients. Skin regions were evaluated for erythema, rash, integrity and function. The effects of gestational age, time from birth, stool exposure, nutrition and diagnosis were examined.Results  Three groups emerged: (i) premature and <38 weeks adjusted age; (ii) premature and >38 weeks adjusted age; and (iii) full term. Surprisingly, the premature infants exhibited lower perineal irritation and greater SC integrity (lower transepidermal water loss) than full terms (P < 0.05). Group 2 had a longer time before the first skin‐stool contact. Chest skin pH showed maturational changes for Group 1 (P < 0.05) but did not change for premature Group 2 who was older at enrollment. Erythema was lower for infants using elemental formulas or total parenteral nutrition.Conclusions  Premature infants with early stool contact and high exposure, full term infants, and patients with congenital diaphragmatic hernia or trisomy 21 are at high risk for skin compromise and may benefit from prophylactic interventions to minimize compromise. Low stool exposure and greater time before the first stool contact appear to be protective against skin compromise.
Cutaneous sarcoidosis in southern Taiwan: clinicopathologic study of a series with high proportions of lesions confined to the face and angiolupoid variant
Authors: Wu M.C. , Lee J.Y.‐Y. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractBackground  Sarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous disorder of unknown aetiology. Our clinical experience suggests that facial involvement and the angiolupoid variant appear more common in our patients compared with series reported from the western countries.Objective  To characterize the clinicopathologic features of cutaneous sarcoidosis diagnosed in our department and to compare our data with those in the literature.Methods  We conducted a clinicopathologic review of biopsy‐proved cases of cutaneous sarcoidosis diagnosed during January 2002–December 2010.Results  Our study consisted of 37 patients, ages 26–84 years (mean 54.3 years), of whom 84% were females. Systemic involvement was detected in 73%, affecting the lung in 57%, lymph nodes in 65% and eyes in 43%. Most skin lesions were the papulonodular type (70%) and confined to the face (54%). The angiolupoid variant, while rare in Europe and America, was the most common variant (38%) in our series and often associated with eye involvement. The histology was characterized by infiltration of naked sarcoidal granulomas, mostly (86%) mixed with variable amounts of tuberculoid granulomas in the dermis and/or the subcutis. Other findings included fibrinoid necrosis (23%), foreign bodies (16%), osteoclast‐like cells (14%) and granuloma annulare‐like and necrobiosis lipoidica‐like features.Conclusion  The present series of cutaneous sarcoidosis was characterized by a marked female predominance and by high proportions of facial involvement and the angiolupoid variant. Angiolupoid sarcoidosis was often associated with eye involvement. A complete dermatologic examination and biopsy of suspicious skin lesions should be routinely performed to facilitate early diagnosis of sarcoidosis.
Skin signs in diabetes mellitus
Authors: Behm B. , Schreml S. , Landthaler M. , Babilas P. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractDiabetes mellitus is the most common endocrine disorder with continuously increasing prevalence. Blood vessels, nerves, eyes, kidneys and skin are affected, which causes both an enormous financial burden and a reduced quality of life of the affected patients. Long‐standing diabetes may impair skin homeostasis resulting in skin manifestations in at least one third of all diabetics. The skin involvement may be the first presenting sign of diabetes, thus the respective skin signs should lead to diabetes focused diagnostic. Besides, the skin signs may be considered as a marker for the course of the disease or for the success of therapeutic interventions.
Models of ice‐sheet hydrogeologic interactions: a review
Authors: PERSON M. , BENSE V. , COHEN D. , BANERJEE A. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractThis study reviews the state‐of‐the‐art and promising pathways to advance hydrologic models of groundwater flow systems and related transport processes in response to transient glacial loading. We also discuss the utility of hydrologic and geochemical data sets as a means of providing ground truth for these models. The paleohydrologic models presented herein should be used as analogues to assess high‐level nuclear waste repository stability in response to future episodes of glaciations in countries such as Canada, Sweden, and Switzerland. The next generation of fully coupled ice‐sheet‐aquifer models may also be of use in assessing rates of ice sheet denudation on Greenland and Antarctica in response to global warming. However, significant uncertainty exists in paleoclimatic forcing, paleohydrologic boundary conditions, and effective basin‐scale petrophysical parameters. Thus, model results must be viewed with some caution. Model results from studies reviewed herein suggest that during the last glacial maximum, recharge rates across glaciated basin margins increased by as much as 2–6 times modern levels. Paleohydrologic models predict that as ice sheets overran sedimentary basin margins, glacial melt water penetrated to depths of up to hundreds of meters. Recent ice‐sheet models that incorporated the effects of groundwater flow suggest that the presence of a 1–10 mm film of water at the glacial bed can increase basal ice sliding rates by up to 4 orders of magnitude. No firm theoretical basis exists for coupling ice sheet and subsurface hydrogeologic models nor the effects of permafrost on hydraulic conductivity. These issues could be resolved, to some degree, by additional careful experimental studies. Analysis of fluid pressures and flow rates beneath modern ice sheets using geochemical tracers would help to reduce the uncertainty regarding suitable hydrogeologic boundary conditions, parameterization of poromechanical coupling, and transport processes. Glacial geologists should work closely with modelers to provide better constraints on model boundary conditions.
Glaciation and regional groundwater flow in the Fennoscandian shield
Authors: PROVOST A. M. , VOSS C. I. , NEUZIL C. E. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractRegional‐scale groundwater flow modeling of the Fennoscandian shield suggests that groundwater flow can be strongly affected by future climate change and glaciation. We considered variable‐density groundwater flow in a 1500‐km‐long and approximately 10‐km‐deep cross‐section through southern Sweden. Groundwater flow and shield brine transport in the cross‐sectional model were analyzed under projected surface conditions for the next 140 ka. Simulations suggest that blockage of recharge and discharge by low‐permeability permafrost or cold‐based ice causes sinking of brine and consequent freshening of near‐surface water in areas of natural discharge. Although recharge of basal meltwater is limited by the requirement that water pressure at the base of the ice sheet not exceed the pressure exerted by the weight of the ice, warm‐based ice with basal melting creates a potential for groundwater recharge rates much larger than those of present, ice‐free conditions. In the simulations, regional‐scale redistribution of recharged water by subsurface flow is minor over the duration of a glacial advance (approximately 10 ka). During glacial retreat, significant upward flow of groundwater may occur below the ice sheet owing to pressure release. If the mechanical loading efficiency of the rocks is high, both subsurface penetration of meltwater during glacial advance and up‐flow during glacial retreat are reduced because of loading‐induced pressure changes. The maximum rate of groundwater discharge in the simulations occurs at the receding ice margin, and some discharge occurs below incursive postglacial seas. Recharge of basal meltwater could decrease the concentration of dissolved solids significantly below present‐day levels at depths of up to several kilometers and may bring oxygenated conditions to an otherwise reducing chemical environment for periods exceeding 10 ka.
Plant science in forest canopies – the first 30 years of advances and challenges (1980–2010)
Authors: Lowman Margaret D. , Schowalter Timothy D. 
Published: February 2012

SummaryAs an emerging subdiscipline of forest biology, canopy science has undergone a transition from observational, ‘oh‐wow’ exploration to a more hypothesis‐driven, experimental arena for rigorous field biology. Although efforts to explore forest canopies have occurred for a century, the new tools to access the treetops during the past 30 yr facilitated not only widespread exploration but also new discoveries about the complexity and global effects of this so‐called ‘eighth continent of the planet’. The forest canopy is the engine that fixes solar energy in carbohydrates to power interactions among forest components that, in turn, affect regional and global climate, biogeochemical cycling and ecosystem services. Climate change, biodiversity conservation, fresh water conservation, ecosystem productivity, and carbon sequestration represent important components of forest research that benefit from access to the canopy for rigorous study. Although some canopy variables can be observed or measured from the ground, vertical and horizontal variation in environmental conditions and processes within the canopy that determine canopy–atmosphere and canopy–forest floor interactions are best measured within the canopy. Canopy science has matured into a cutting‐edge subset of forest research, and the treetops also serve as social and economic drivers for sustainable communities, fostering science education and ecotourism. This interdisciplinary context of forest canopy science has inspired innovative new approaches to environmental stewardship, involving diverse stakeholders.ContentsSummary12I.Introduction12II.History of canopy access13III.Consequences of whole‐tree approaches to forest science15IV.Canopy communities – their inhabitants, environment, and processes16V.The role of forest canopies in providing ecosystem services21VI.Using canopy science as a ‘hook’ to inspire forest conservation21VII.Conclusions –‘black boxes’ in canopy science that remain22Acknowledgements23References24