bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Individualized magnetic resonance imaging‐based neoadjuvant chemoradiation for middle and lower rectal carcinoma
Authors: Hermanek P. , Hohenberger W. , Fietkau R. , Rödel C. 
Published: October 2009

AbstractAim  In most institutions neoadjuvant chemoradiation for middle and lower rectal carcinoma is currently given to patients with tumours of clinical stages II or III (cT3,4 and/or N1,2). The possibility of a reduction in the use of neoadjuvant chemoradiation by an individualized magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)‐based indication for neoadjuvant chemoradiation was analysed.Method  Assessment of the pathological and oncological principles indicating for neoadjuvant treatment was used to determine the prognostic importance of the distance between the tumour and the circumferential resection margin and pretherapeutic assessment using modern MRI.Results  Based on the results of pretreatment MRI scanning, a proposal is presented for the treatment of middle and lower rectal carcinoma with neoadjuvant chemoradiation. Adopting this proposal, the frequency of neoadjuvant chemoradiation decreased from 70% to 35% and the early and late adverse effects of this therapy were reduced. In contrast, the expected locoregional recurrence rate increased from 6% to 11% if all quality criteria were met and to 18% if not.Conclusion  An MRI‐based indication for neoadjuvant chemoradiation is justified only for centres with regular quality assurance of MRI, surgery, radiotherapy and pathology. The proposal needs confirmation by long‐term follow up and by prospective studies with larger numbers of patients.
Can Nutritional Label Use Influence Body Weight Outcomes?
Authors: Drichoutis Andreas C. , Nayga, Jr. Rodolfo M. , Lazaridis Panagiotis 
Published: October 2009

SUMMARYMany countries around the world have already mandated, or plan to mandate, the presence of nutrition related information on most pre‐packaged food products. Health advocates and lobbyists would like to see similar laws mandating nutrition information in the restaurant and fast‐food market as well. In fact, New York City has already taken a step forward and now requires all chain restaurants with 15 or more establishments anywhere in US to show calorie information on their menus and menu board. The benefits were estimated to be as much as 150,000 fewer obese New Yorkers over the next five years.The implied benefits of the presence of nutrition information are that consumers will be able to observe such information and then make informed (and hopefully healthier) food choices. In this study, we use the latest available dataset from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2005–2006) to explore whether reading such nutrition information really has an effect on body weight outcomes. In order to deal with the inherent problem of cross‐sectional datasets, namely self‐selection, and the possible occurrence of reverse causality we use a propensity score matching approach to estimate causal treatment effects.We conducted a series of tests related to variable choice of the propensity score specification, quality of matching indicators, robustness checks, and sensitivity to unobserved heterogeneity, using Rosenbaum bounds to validate our propensity score exercise. Our results generally suggest that reading nutrition information does not affect body mass index. The implications of our findings are also discussed.
Beautiful Politicians
Authors: King Amy , Leigh Andrew 
Published: October 2009

SUMMARYAre beautiful politicians more likely to be elected? To test this, we use evidence from Australia, a country in which voting is compulsory, and in which voters are given ‘How‐to‐Vote’ cards, depicting photos of the major party candidates, as they arrive to vote. Using raters chosen to be representative of the electorate, we assess the beauty of political candidates from major political parties, and then estimate the effect of beauty on voteshare for candidates in the 2004 federal election. Beautiful candidates are indeed more likely to be elected, with a one standard deviation increase in beauty associated with a 1 ½– 2 percentage point increase in voteshare. Our results are robust to several specification checks: adding party fixed effects, dropping well‐known politicians, using non‐Australian beauty raters, omitting candidates of non‐Anglo appearance, controlling for age, and analyzing the ‘beauty gap’ between candidates running in the same electorate. The marginal effect of beauty is larger for male candidates than for female candidates, and appears to be approximately linear. Consistent with the theory that returns to beauty reflect discrimination, we find suggestive evidence that beauty matters more in electorates with a higher share of apathetic voters.
Racial Disparities in Risks of Mortality in a Sample of the US Medicare Population
Authors: Zhou Yijie , Dominici Francesca , Louis Thomas A. 
Published: October 2009

SummaryRacial disparities in risks of mortality adjusted for socio-economic status are not well understood. To add to the understanding of racial disparities, we construct and analyse a data set that links, at individual and zip code levels, three government databases: Medicare, the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey and US census. Our study population includes more than 4 million Medicare enrollees residing in 2095 zip codes in the north-east region of the USA. We develop hierarchical models to estimate the black–white disparities in risk of death, adjusted for both individual level and zip code level income. We define the population level attributable risk AR, relative attributable risk RAR and odds ratio OR of death comparing blacks versus whites, and we estimate these parameters by using a Bayesian approach via Markov chain Monte Carlo sampling. By applying the multiple-imputation method to fill in missing data, our estimates account for the uncertainty from the missing individual level income data. Results show that, for the Medicare population being studied, there is a statistically and substantively significantly higher risk of death for blacks compared with whites, in terms of all three measures AR, RAR and OR, both adjusted and not adjusted for income. In addition, after adjusting for income we find a statistically significant reduction in AR but not in RAR and OR.
Estimating Infectious Disease Parameters from Data on Social Contacts and Serological Status
Authors: Goeyvaerts Nele , Hens Niel , Ogunjimi Benson , Aerts Marc , Shkedy Ziv , Van Damme Pierre , Beutels Philippe 
Published: October 2009

SummaryIn dynamic models of infectious disease transmission, typically various mixing patterns are imposed on the so-called ‘who acquires infection from whom’ matrix. These imposed mixing patterns are based on prior knowledge of age-related social mixing behaviour rather than observations. Alternatively, we can assume that transmission rates for infections transmitted predominantly through non-sexual social contacts are proportional to rates of conversational contact which can be estimated from a contact survey. In general, however, contacts reported in social contact surveys are proxies of those events by which transmission may occur and there may be age-specific characteristics that are related to susceptibility and infectiousness which are not captured by the contact rates. Therefore, we model transmission as the product of two age-specific variables: the age-specific contact rate and an age-specific proportionality factor, which entails an improvement of fit for the seroprevalence of the varicella zoster virus in Belgium. Furthermore, we address the effect on the estimation of the basic reproduction number, using non-parametric bootstrapping to account for different sources of variability and using multimodel inference to deal with model selection uncertainty. The method proposed makes it possible to obtain important information on transmission dynamics that cannot be inferred from approaches that have been traditionally applied hitherto.
Trends in uptake of recently approved antiretrovirals within a national healthcare system
Authors: Belperio PS , Mole LA , Boothroyd DB , Backus LI 
Published: October 2009

ObjectiveThe aim of the study was to describe Veterans Healthcare Administration (VHA) system‐wide uptake of three HIV protease inhibitors: atazanavir, darunavir and tipranavir.MethodsThis retrospective cohort study evaluated VHA uptake of three target antiretrovirals and lopinavir/ritonavir in each complete 90‐day quarter since approval to December 2007 using VHA HIV Clinical Case Registry data. We assessed uptake using number of new prescriptions, number of providers and facilities prescribing target agents, provider type, clinic type, facility size and location within four US regions.ResultsOverall, 6551 HIV‐infected veterans received target antiretrovirals. Uptake was generally greatest within the first year after Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval, and then slightly declined and plateaued. Geographically, early adoption of new antiretroviral drugs tended to occur in the Western USA, as evidenced by comparison of uptake patterns of new antiretrovirals to use of all antiretroviral agents. A small percentage of prescribers of all antiretrovirals were responsible for new prescriptions for target medications, particularly for darunavir and tipranavir. Providers at almost 50% of VHA facilities were prescribing these agents within the first year.ConclusionsUptake of new antiretrovirals in the VHA generally reflected overall prescribing of all antiretrovirals, suggesting a lack of VHA impediments to new antiretrovirals in the healthcare system. Some regional variation in uptake among the targeted antiretrovirals occurred over time but tended to resolve after the first several months. Providers responsible for early prescribing of the target medications were limited to a fraction of providers who tended to be physicians who practised in infectious disease (ID) clinics at medium‐sized facilities.
Retrospective analysis of systemic treatments for psoriasis patients attending a Psocare center in Florence. Relevance of biological drugs use and comorbidities
Authors: Prignano F , Pescitelli L , Ricceri F , Lotti T 
Published: October 2009

AbstractBackground  Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin condition associated with several risk factors and comorbidities.Methods  The present study outlines patient and therapy profiles emerging from the analysis of 471 patients affected by plaque psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis (PsA).Results  In our sample, the age of onset and first diagnosis of PsA is significantly higher than plaque psoriasis and about 65% of the patients are either smoker or ex‐smokers, while 79% are not drinkers. We also report a different distribution in the use of systemic treatments compared to the Psocare report 2007, with a tendency for a larger use of biologics over classical systemic drugs and in particular etanercept is the main treatment for PsA, and efalizumab for plaque psoriasis. All biological treatments used in the study significantly reduced PASI score. The main comorbidity associated both with plaque psoriasis and with PsA was hypertension, while hyperlipidaemia was frequently present in patients under biologics treatment. Finally, a strong association between type II diabetes and PsA was also reported.Conclusions  Current treatments have to consider general health conditions and patients habits. In this picture, biological drugs are emerging as the therapy of choice for their good efficacy in the long term management of psoriasis.
Depression and Language Acculturation Correlate With Smoking Among Older Asian American Adolescents in New York City
Authors: Rosario‐Sim Maria G. , O'Connell Kathleen A. 
Published: October 2009

ABSTRACT
Objective: To explore the correlates of smoking status among a sample of Asian American adolescents in New York City (NYC).Design and Sample: This descriptive, correlational study compared current smokers and current nonsmokers in terms of age, gender, ethnicity, academic performance, acculturation, depressive symptoms, smoking history, and parental, sibling, and peer smoking. The convenience sample included 328 Asian American adolescents, ages 16–19, who lived in NYC, and were recruited from members, friends, and affiliates of 6 organizational sources.Measures: The study used demographic, depression (Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale), English language acculturation, and smoking opportunity survey questionnaires.Results: Statistical analyses revealed that being older, being more English‐language acculturated, having poor academic performance, increased depressive symptoms, and having siblings and peers who smoked were significantly associated with current smoking.Conclusions: Asian American adolescents initiate smoking later than other groups. Depressive symptoms were at high levels in the sample and were correlated with smoking. Thus, for Asian American adolescents, smoking prevention programs should be extended to later grades, with particular attention to low‐performing students and those who are more acculturated. Likewise, programs that identify and assist adolescents with depressive symptoms may be useful in smoking prevention.
A Grounded Theory Study of Action/Interaction Strategies Used When Taiwanese Families Provide Care for Formerly Suicidal Patients
Authors: Sun Fan‐Ko , Long Ann , Huang Xuan‐Yi , Chiang Chun‐Ying 
Published: October 2009

ABSTRACT
Objectives: There is a dearth of evidence on the care that families provide to their relatives after they have been discharged from hospital following an attempted suicide.The aim of this study was to explore ex‐patients' and family caregivers' perceptions of the care provided at home following hospital discharge.Design and Sample: A qualitative approach using Grounded Theory was adopted. Suicidal ex‐patients (n=15) and family caregivers (n=15) were contacted in the south of Taiwan.Measures: Data were collected through interviews and the data were analyzed using open, axial, and selective coding.Results: A substantive theory was developed from the findings. However, for the purpose of this paper, the section of the paradigm model named the action/interaction strategies is presented and discussed. Three categories emerged in the action/interaction section relating to the family care of relatives who had been suicidal. They were: (1) “guarding the person day and night,” which helped to ensure that their relatives felt safe; (2) “maintaining the activities of daily living,” which promoted their physical health and recovery; and (3) “creating a nurturing environment,” which facilitated their mental and emotional healing.Conclusions: Public health nurses could use the findings of this study as a theoretical map when providing health information to family caregivers during home visits.
Population Health Surveillance Practice of Public Health Nurses
Authors: Meagher‐Stewart Donna , Edwards Nancy , Aston Megan , Young Linda 
Published: October 2009

ABSTRACT
Objective: To report the population health surveillance functions of public health nurses and to describe factors that impede these functions.Design and Sample: An interpretive qualitative study was conducted in Public Health Service areas in Eastern Canada. Participants were public health nurses (n=55) with an average of 14.5 years of pertinent work experience.Measures: Semistructured face‐to‐face, telephone interviews, and focus groups were conducted, transcribed, coded, and analyzed.Results: The nurses in this study used ecosocial population health surveillance functions that included multilevel societal influences on health. Extensive interprofessional and intersectoral networks were foundational to their surveillance work, allowing them to monitor what was occurring in the community and transfer this knowledge into various systems to contribute toward improved health outcomes. However, the nurses did not acknowledge the significance of their population health surveillance work, and documentation structures did not support these surveillance functions.Conclusion: New surveillance methods and documentation structures that reflect an ecosocial surveillance approach are needed that are more consistent with public health nurses' population‐focused practice.
Psychometric Assessment of the Brazilian Version of the Breastfeeding Self‐Efficacy Scale
Authors: Oriá Mônica O. B. , Ximenes Lorena B. , de Almeida Paulo C. , Glick Doris F. , Dennis Cindy‐Lee 
Published: October 2009

ABSTRACT Objectives:The purpose of this study was to translate and psychometrically assess the Breastfeeding Self‐Efficacy Scale (BSES) among women living in Fortaleza, CE, Brazil, and examine the relationship between breastfeeding self‐efficacy (BSE) and maternal demographic variables.Design and Sample:This methodological study is the first translation of BSES conducted in South America. The psychometric assessment of the original study was replicated. This methodological study enrolled a group (sample of judgment) of 117 pregnant women.Measures:BSES and maternal sociodemographic variables were studied.Results:The Cronbach's α coefficient for the translated BSES was .88. Significant differences in BSES scores were found among mothers with a previous satisfactory breastfeeding experience (M=145.81;SD=±6.82,p=.0001). Significant relationships were found among prenatal BSE and maternal age (r=.228;p=.01), educational level (r=.234;p=.01), and marital status (r=.183;p=.04). No relationship was found among BSE and maternal occupation, family income, or number of pregnancies.Conclusions:Altogether, our findings suggest that BSES translated into Portuguese may be a reliable and valid measure to assess maternal BSE in Brazilian culture. Minor changes may be needed to use it in other Portuguese‐speaking countries, such as Portugal and Mozambique.
Ethanol Upregulates iNOS Expression in Colon Through Activation of Nuclear Factor‐kappa B in Rats
Authors: Wang Chao , Wang Shuanglian , Qin Junfang , Lv Yinglian , Ma Xuelian , Liu Chuanyong 
Published: October 2009

Background:  Alcohol inhibits colonic motility but the mechanism is unknown. The goal of this study was to test the possibility that nuclear factor‐kappa B (NF‐κB) is involved in the upregulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression induced by ethanol in colon.Methods:  The isometric contraction of longitudinal muscle strips of proximal colon (LP) was monitored by polygraph. Western blot analysis was used to measure the amount of iNOS and I‐κB in the cytoplasm and P65 in the nucleus. Immunohistochemistry was applied to locate iNOS in colon.Results:  Ethanol (87mM) inhibited the contraction of LP. Pretreatment of S‐methylisothioure (SMT) (1 mM), a specific iNOS inhibitor, Pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) (10 mM) and BAY11‐7082(10 mM), specific inhibitors of NF‐κB significantly reversed the inhibitory effect of ethanol on LP contraction. Ethanol increased the amount of iNOS and content of NO in colon, and these effects were attenuated by pretreatment of PDTC. Following ethanol administration, the amount of I‐κB in the cytoplasm decreased, but that of P65, the subunit of NF‐κB in the nucleus, increased. The iNOS was located in the cell body of myenteric plexus in colon.Conclusion:  Ethanol inhibited the contraction of LP in colon mainly through activation of NF‐κB, the subsequent upregulation of iNOS expression and increase of NO release in myenteric plexus.
Maternal Alcohol Use During Pregnancy Causes Systemic Oxidation of the Glutathione Redox System
Authors: Gauthier Theresa W. , Kable Julie A. , Burwell Leandrea , Coles Claire D. , Brown Lou Ann S. 
Published: October 2009

Background:  Increased systemic oxidant stress contributes to a variety of maternal complications of pregnancy. Although the antioxidant glutathione (GSH) and its oxidized component glutathione disulfide (GSSG) have been demonstrated to be significantly altered in the adult alcoholic, the effects of maternal alcohol use during pregnancy on oxidant stress in the postpartum female remain under investigation. We hypothesized that maternal alcohol use would increase systemic oxidant stress in the pregnant female, evidenced by an oxidized systemic GSH redox potential.Methods:  As a subset analysis of a larger maternal language study, we evaluated the effects of alcohol consumption during pregnancy on the systemic GSH redox status of the postpartum female. Using an extensive maternal questionnaire, postpartum women where queried regarding their alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Any drinking, the occurrence of drinking >3 drinks/occasion, and heavy drinking of >5 drinks/occasion during pregnancy were noted. Using HPLC, maternal plasma samples were analyzed for GSH, oxidized GSSG and the redox potential of the GSH/GSSG antioxidant pair calculated.Results:  Maternal alcohol use occurred in 25% (83/321) of our study sample. Two in ten women reported consuming >3 drinks/occasion during pregnancy, while 1 in 10 women reported consuming alcohol at >5 drinks/occasion. Any alcohol use during pregnancy significantly decreased plasma GSH (p < 0.05), while alcohol at >3 drinks/occasion or >5 drinks/occasion significantly decreased plasma GSH concentration (p < 0.05), increased the percent of oxidized GSSG (p < 0.05), and substantially oxidized the plasma GSH redox potential (p < 0.05).Conclusions:  Alcohol use during pregnancy, particularly at levels >3 drinks/occasion, caused significant oxidation of the systemic GSH system in the postpartum women. The clinical ramifications of the observed alcohol‐induced oxidation of the GSH redox system on high risk pregnancies or on the exposed offspring require more accurate identification and further investigation.
The role of the elution in antibody investigations
Authors: Yazer Mark H. , Triulzi Darrell J. 
Published: October 2009

BACKGROUND: The direct antiglobulin test (DAT) commonly detects immunoglobulin G (IgG) molecules or complement fragments on the red blood cell (RBC) surface. If IgG antibodies are present then elution procedures can be performed to identify the specificity of these antibodies. Our reference laboratory performs elutions on the RBCs of those patients who have received cellular blood products in the past 30 days and have either a newly identified positive DAT with anti‐IgG or the agglutination strength is increased over a previous DAT and if ordered by a clinician regardless of transfusion history. This study questioned how frequently elutions contributed novel serologic information under our reference laboratory's current policy or whether elutions should be performed in more selective serologic conditions.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Recipients whose RBCs underwent eluate testing were identified from the blood bank's database and information about the antecedent DAT and antibody detection test and eluate was recorded.RESULTS: In total 648 eluates were evaluated and 82 of 648 (12.7%) revealed a novel antibody not present in the serum (an informative eluate). In 2 of 82 informative eluates non–anti‐A/B alloantibodies that were not present in the serum were detected: one example each of anti‐D and anti‐E. Both were associated with a microscopically positive antecedent DAT. The rate of an informative eluate was higher when the antibody detection test was negative.CONCLUSION: The strength of the DAT does not indicate the likelihood of an informative eluate. Performing an eluate when the antibody detection test is positive has limited value.