bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Systematic review of randomized controlled trials to regulate glycaemia after stroke
Authors: Laird Elizabeth A. , Coates Vivien 
Published: August 2012

AbstractAimThis article presents the results of a systematic review of randomized controlled trials on the regulation of glycaemia among adults admitted to hospital with acute stroke.BackgroundHyperglycaemia is commonly observed in acute stroke. International stroke guidelines recommend that hyperglycaemia is treated after stroke. Nurses have a key role in the monitoring and management of glycaemia.DesignSystematic review.Data sourcesA search for randomized controlled trials was conducted in MEDLINE and PubMed electronic databases, and original papers published between January 1996–June 2011 were identified. The search was performed using the terms ‘stroke’, ‘hyperglycaemia’, and ‘treatment’ combined. Searching of citations from identified studies was also used to supplement electronic searches. The search was limited to adults and English language publications.Review methodsA systematic review was conducted for eight studies, meeting the inclusion criteria that: (i) insulin protocols were subjected to randomized controlled trial; and that (ii) only adults admitted to hospital with acute stroke were sampled. The review adheres to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analysis reporting standards.ResultsIntensive insulin therapy regimes have been investigated in a total of eight trials. Intravenous insulin therapy significantly lowers glucose levels when compared with controls but adherence to glucose monitoring and treatment protocols appeared to pose considerable challenge on nurses in routine stroke care. Trials conducted to date have been on poor to sound quality.ConclusionThere is currently no substantive evidence to support aggressive glucose lowering in the acute phase of stroke. Well‐conducted, large randomized controlled trials are required.
Individual, situational and lifestyle factors related to shift work tolerance among nurses who are new to and experienced in night work
Authors: Saksvik‐Lehouillier Ingvild , Bjorvatn Bjørn , Hetland Hilde , Sandal Gro Mjeldheim , Moen Bente E. , Magerøy Nils , Åkerstedt Torbjørn , Pallesen Ståle 
Published: August 2012

AbstractAimTo identify individual, situational and lifestyle variables related to shift work tolerance among nurses who have worked night shifts for less than 1 year and nurses who have worked night shift for more than 6 years, all engaged in rotating shift work.BackgroundWorking shifts is related to negative health consequences. Factors related to shift work tolerance may differ between nurses with little experience and nurses with extensive experience in night work.DesignCross‐sectional questionnaire study.MethodsA questionnaire including established instruments measuring shift work tolerance, personality, work schedule and lifestyle factors was administered between November 2008–May 2010. Randomly selected Norwegian nurses (n = 749) participated in the study; 322 were new and 427 were experienced in night work.ResultsThere were no statistically significant differences in shift work tolerance between the new to night work nurses and the nurses who were experienced in night work. Young age was related to higher shift work tolerance. Hardiness was positively related to shift work tolerance in both groups. For the new to night work nurses, morningness was positively related to shift work tolerance. For the experienced in night work nurses, languidity, work hours per week and caffeine consumption were negatively, but flexibility was positively, related to shift work tolerance.ConclusionSeveral variables were related to shift work tolerance among rotating shift working nurses, especially hardiness. Somewhat different variables were related to shift work tolerance for nurses who were new to night work than for nurses with more experience in night work.
Oscillatory entrainment of subthalamic nucleus neurons and behavioural consequences in rodents and primates
Authors: Syed E. C. J. , Benazzouz A. , Taillade M. , Baufreton J. , Champeaux K. , Falgairolle M. , Bioulac B. , Gross C. E. , Boraud T. 
Published: August 2012

AbstractWe investigated the functional role of oscillatory activity in the local field potential (LFP) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) in the pathophysiology of Parkinson’s disease (PD). It has been postulated that beta (15–30 Hz) oscillatory activity in the basal ganglia induces PD motor symptoms. To assess this hypothesis, an LFP showing significant power in the beta frequency range (23 Hz) was used as a stimulus both in vitro and in vivo. We first demonstrated in rat brain slices that STN neuronal activity was driven by the LFP stimulation. We then applied beta stimulation to the STN of 16 rats and two monkeys while quantifying motor behaviour. Although stimulation‐induced behavioural effects were observed, stimulation of the STN at 23 Hz induced no significant decrease in motor performance in either rodents or primates. This study is the first to show LFP‐induced behaviour in both rats and primates, and highlights the complex relationship between beta power and parkinsonian symptoms.
Genetic variants of LPIN1 indicate an association with Type 2 diabetes mellitus in a Chinese population
Authors: Zhang R. , Jiang F. , Hu C. , Yu W. , Wang J. , Wang C. , Ma X. , Tang S. , Bao Y. , Xiang K. , Jia W. 
Published: August 2012

Diabet. Med. 30, 118–122 (2013)AbstractAims  Metabolic disorders are independent risk factors for the development of Type 2 diabetes. The aim of the study is to test the association of LPIN1 variants with Type 2 diabetes and clinical characteristics in large samples of the Chinese population.Methods  In the first stage, 15 single nucleotide polymorphisms within the LPIN1 region were selected and genotyped in 3700 Chinese Han participants. In the second stage, the single nucleotide polymorphisms showing significant association or trends towards association were genotyped in an additional 3122 samples for replication. Meta‐analyses and genotype–phenotype association studies were performed after combining the data from the two stages.Results  In the first stage, we detected that rs16857876 was significantly associated with Type 2 diabetes with an odds ratio of 0.806 (95% CI 0.677–0.958, P = 0.015), while rs11695610 showed a trend with Type 2 diabetes (odds ratio 0.846, 95% CI 0.709–1.009, P = 0.062). In the second stage, a similar effect of rs11695610 on Type 2 diabetes was observed (odds ratio 0.849, 95% CI 0.700–1.030, P = 0.096). The meta‐analyses combining the information from the two stages showed a significant effect of rs11695610 on Type 2 diabetes with an odds ratio of 0.847 (95% CI 0.744–0.965, P = 0.012). Finally, the phenotype–genotype association analyses showed that rs11695610 was associated with 2‐h plasma glucose (P = 0.040) and triglyceride levels (P = 0.034).Conclusions  Our data implied that common single nucleotide polymorphisms within the LPIN1 region were associated with Type 2 diabetes and metabolic traits in the Chinese population.
Swim training attenuates oxidative damage and promotes neuroprotection in cerebral cortical slices submitted to oxygen glucose deprivation
Authors: Leite Hércules R. , Mourão Flávio A. G. , Drumond Luciana E. , Ferreira‐Vieira Talita H. , Bernardes Danielle , Silva Josiane F. , Lemos Virgínia S. , Moraes Márcio F. D. , Pereira Grace S. , Carvalho‐Tavares Juliana , Massensini André R. 
Published: August 2012

AbstractAlthough it is well known that regular exercise may promote neuroprotection, the mechanisms underlying this effect are still not fully understood. We investigated if swim training promotes neuroprotection by potentiating antioxidant pathways, thereby decreasing the effects of oxidative stress on glutamate and nitric oxide release. Male Wistar rats (n=36) were evenly randomized into a trained group (TRA) (5 days/week, 8 weeks, 30 min) and a sedentary group (SED). Forty‐eight hours after the last session of exercise, animals were killed and brain was collected for in vitro ischemia. Cortical slices were divided into two groups: a group in which oxidative stress was induced by oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD), and a group of non‐deprived controls (nOGD). Interestingly, exercise by itself increased superoxide dismutase activity (nOGD, SED vs. TRA animals) with no effect on pro‐oxidative markers. In fact, TRA‐OGD slices showed lowered levels of lactate dehydrogenase when compared with SED‐OGD controls, reinforcing the idea that exercise affords a neuroprotective effect. We also demonstrated that exercise decreased glutamate and nitrite release as well as lipid membrane damage in the OGD cortical slices. Our data suggest that under conditions of metabolic stress, swim training prevents oxidative damage caused by glutamate and nitric oxide release.
A novel dual material mouthguard for patients with dental implants
Authors: Miyahara Takayuki , Dahlin Christer , Galli Silvia , Parsafar Shima , Koizumi Hiroyasu , Kasugai Shohei 
Published: August 2012

AbstractAimDental implant–supported reconstructions demonstrate significantly less physiological flexibility for loading and traumatic forces compared with a normal dentition because of their rigid integration with the adjacent bone. Ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) material has become widely accepted as a mouthguard material; however, many studies indicate the necessity of improving the impact absorption ability by considering the design and developing new materials. The aim of this study was to compare the shock‐absorbing ability of a novel dual component material comprising EVA and porous rubber with that of EVA alone.Materials and methodsThree groups of samples were tested: Group 1 = EVA (thickness, 4 mm), Group 2 = type 1 material (2‐mm thick porous rubber sheet sandwiched between two sheets of 1‐mm thick EVA sheets), and Group 3 = type 2 material (1‐mm thick porous rubber sheet sandwiched between EVA sheets with 1 and 2‐mm thickness, respectively). Shock absorption was determined by means of a hammer impact testing device equipped with strain gauge, accelerator, and load cell.ResultsThe value of shock‐absorbing ability of group 2 (40.6 ± 12.5%) was significantly higher than those of group 1 (15.6 ± 2.1%) and group 3 (21.2 ± 9.2%). The material with thicker rubber sheet showed significantly higher shock‐absorbing ability compared with that of the material with thinner rubber sheet.ConclusionsThe novel dual material was superior to conventional EVA material in shock‐absorbing ability depending on the thickness of porous rubber, and it may be potentially effective as mouthguard material, in particular, for patients wearing implant‐supported constructions.
Effective storage rates analysis of groundwater reservoir with surplus local and transferred water used in Shijiazhuang City, China
Authors: Du Shanghai , Su Xiaosi , Zhang Wenjing 
Published: August 2012

AbstractGroundwater reservoir (GR) of both local precipitation and surplus water transferred from the Han River Basin is an effective method to prevent further lowering of the groundwater table. In this study, when the different volumes of infiltration water from the fuzzy mathematical analysis were input in the simulation, the rate at which the groundwater table rose ranged from 1.47 to 3.45 m/a. The effective storage rate (ESR) values of GR and the local reservoir was calculated, and ranged from 80.50 to 90.95% and from 49.66 to 80.90%, respectively. In GR, the ESR decreased as artificial recharge increased. Comparison of the ESR values between local reservoir and GR showed that if the volume of artificial recharge water available was < 7.86 × 108 m3/a, then GR was a better storage method than the local reservoir. According to our results, this situation would occur 80.30% of the time.
Deleuze and Badiou on the Nature of Events
Authors: Adkins Brent 
Published: August 2012

AbstractWhile any number of topics would serve to compare and contrast Deleuze and Badiou, this article will focus on the event. Focusing on the event serves several purposes. First, it provides a vantage point from which to elucidate a number of key topics in both philosophers. Second, while Badiou’s most recent work is already organized around his conception of the event, Deleuze’s discussion of the event is more diffuse. Thus, a discussion of the event in Deleuze will serve as heuristic to relate several of Deleuze’s (Deleuze and Guattari’s) texts. Finally, focusing on a single issue will clarify what is at stake in each conception of the event.
A dose point kernel database using GATE Monte Carlo simulation toolkit for nuclear medicine applications: Comparison with other Monte Carlo codes
Authors: Papadimitroulas Panagiotis , Loudos George , Nikiforidis George C. , Kagadis George C. 
Published: August 2012

Purpose:GATE is a Monte Carlo simulation toolkit based on the Geant4 package, widely used for many medical physics applications, including SPECT and PET image simulation and more recently CT image simulation and patient dosimetry. The purpose of the current study was to calculate dose point kernels (DPKs) using GATE, compare them against reference data, and finally produce a complete dataset of the total DPKs for the most commonly used radionuclides in nuclear medicine.Methods:Patient‐specific absorbed dose calculations can be carried out using Monte Carlo simulations. The latest version of GATE extends its applications to Radiotherapy and Dosimetry. Comparison of the proposed method for the generation of DPKs was performed for (a) monoenergetic electron sources, with energies ranging from 10 keV to 10 MeV, (b) beta emitting isotopes, e.g.,177Lu, 90Y, and 32P, and (c) gamma emitting isotopes, e.g., 111In, 131I, 125I, and 99mTc. Point isotropic sources were simulated at the center of a sphere phantom, and the absorbed dose was stored in concentric spherical shells around the source. Evaluation was performed with already published studies for different Monte Carlo codes namely MCNP, EGS, FLUKA, ETRAN, GEPTS, and PENELOPE. A complete dataset of total DPKs was generated for water (equivalent to soft tissue), bone, and lung. This dataset takes into account all the major components of radiation interactions for the selected isotopes, including the absorbed dose from emitted electrons, photons, and all secondary particles generated from the electromagnetic interactions.Results:GATE comparison provided reliable results in all cases (monoenergetic electrons, beta emitting isotopes, and photon emitting isotopes). The observed differences between GATE and other codes are less than 10% and comparable to the discrepancies observed among other packages. The produced DPKs are in very good agreement with the already published data, which allowed us to produce a unique DPKs dataset using GATE. The dataset contains the total DPKs for67Ga, 68Ga, 90Y, 99mTc, 111In, 123I, 124I, 125I, 131I, 153Sm, 177Lu 186Re, and 188Re generated in water, bone, and lung.Conclusions:In this study, the authors have checked GATE's reliability for absorbed dose calculation when transporting different kind of particles, which indicates its robustness for dosimetry applications. A novel dataset of DPKs is provided, which can be applied in patient‐specific dosimetry using analytical point kernel convolution algorithms.
Comparison of Gafchromic EBT2 and EBT3 films for clinical photon and proton beams
Authors: Reinhardt S. , Hillbrand M. , Wilkens J. J. , Assmann W. 
Published: August 2012

Purpose:Dose verification in highly conformal radiation therapy such as IMRT or proton therapy can benefit from the high spatial resolution offered by radio‐chromic films such as Gafchromic EBT or EBT2. Recently, a new generation of these films, EBT3, has become available. The composition and thickness of the sensitive layer are the same as for the previous EBT2 films. The most important change is the symmetric layer configuration to eliminate side orientation dependence, which is reported for EBT2 films.Methods:The general film characteristics such as sensitivity to read‐out orientation and postexposure darkening evolution of the new EBT3 film are evaluated. Film response has been investigated in clinical photon and proton beams and compared to former EBT2 films. Quenching effects in the proton Bragg peak region have been studied for both, EBT2 and EBT3 films.Results:The general performance of EBT3 is comparable to EBT2, and the orientation dependence with respect to film side is completely eliminated in EBT3 films. Response differences of EBT2 and EBT3 films are of the same order of magnitude as batch‐to‐batch variations observed for EBT2 films. No significant difference has been found for both generations of EBT films between photon and proton exposure. Depth dose measurements of EBT2 and EBT3 show an excellent agreement, though underestimating dose by up to 20% in the Bragg peak region.Conclusions:The symmetric configuration of EBT3 presents a major improvement for film handling. EBT3 has similar dosimetric performance as its precursor EBT2 and can, thus, be applied to dose verification in IMRT in the same way. For dose verification in proton therapy the underresponse in the Bragg peak region has to be taken into account.
A qualitative study to identify reasons for discharges against medical advice in the cardiovascular setting
Authors: Onukwugha Eberechukwu , Saunders Elijah , Mullins C Daniel , Pradel Françoise G , Zuckerman Marni , Loh F Ellen , Weir Matthew R 
Published: August 2012

BackgroundCardiovascular disease (CVD) is responsible for the largest number of discharges against medical advice (AMA). However, there is limited information regarding the reasons for discharges AMA in the CVD setting.ObjectiveTo identify reasons for discharges AMA among patients with CVD.DesignQualitative study using focus group interviews (FGIs).ParticipantsA convenience sample of patients with a CVD-related discharge diagnosis who left AMA and providers (physicians, nurses and social workers) whose patients have left AMA.Primary and secondary outcomesTo identify patients' reasons for discharges AMA as identified by patients and providers. To identify strategies to reduce discharges AMA.ApproachFGIs were grouped according to patients, physicians and nurses/social workers. A content analysis was performed independently by three coauthors to identify the nature and range of the participants' viewpoints on the reasons for discharges AMA. The content analysis involved specific categories of reasons as motivated by the Health Belief Model as well as reasons (ie, themes) that emerged from the interview data.Results9 patients, 10 physicians and 23 nurses/social workers were recruited for the FGIs. Patients and providers reported the same three reasons for discharges AMA: (1) patient's preference for their own doctor, (2) long wait time and (3) factors outside the hospital. Patients identified an unmet expectation to be involved in setting the treatment plan as a reason to leave AMA. Participants identified improved communication as a solution for reducing discharges AMA.ConclusionsPatients wanted more involvement in their care, exhibited a strong preference for their own primary physician, felt that they spent a long time waiting in the hospital and were motivated to leave AMA by factors outside the hospital. Providers identified similar reasons except the patients' desire for involvement. Additional research is needed to determine the applicability of results in broader patient and provider populations.
Strategies for improving patient safety culture in hospitals: a systematic review
Authors: Morello Renata Teresa , Lowthian Judy A , Barker Anna Lucia , McGinnes Rosemary , Dunt David , Brand Caroline 
Published: August 2012

PurposeTo determine the effectiveness of patient safety culture strategies to improve hospital patient safety climate.Data sourcesElectronic search of the Cochrane Library, OVID Medline, Embase, CINAHL, proQuest and psychinfo databases, with manual searches of quality and safety websites, bibliographies of included articles and key journals.Study selectionEnglish language studies published between January 1996 and April 2011 that measured the effectiveness of patient safety culture strategies using a quantitative measure of patient safety climate in a hospital setting. Studies included were randomised controlled trials (RCTs), non-RCTs, controlled before and after studies, interrupted time series and historically controlled studies.Data extractionData extraction and critical appraisal were conducted by two independent reviewers. Study design, intervention, level of application, setting, study participants, safety climate outcome measures and implementation lessons were extracted from each article.Results of data synthesisOver 2000 articles were screened, with 21 studies meeting the inclusion criteria, one cluster RCT, seven controlled before and after studies, and 13 historically controlled studies. There was marked methodological heterogeneity amongst studies. Impacts of 11 different strategies were reported. There was some evidence to support that leadership walk rounds (p=0.02) and multi-faceted unit-based programmes (p < 0.05) may have a positive impact on patient safety climate.ConclusionsDespite strong face validity for a variety of patient safety culture strategies, there is limited evidence to support definitive impacts on patient safety climate outcomes. Organisations are advised to consider robust evaluation designs when implementing these potentially resource intensive strategies.
Trade-offs between growth and cold and drought hardiness in submaritime Douglas-fir
Authors: Darychuk N. , Hawkins B.J. , Stoehr M. 
Published: August 2012

Trade-offs between growth and stress tolerance in plants may limit the possible phenotypes that can evolve or be selected. Such limits would have important implications for tree breeding. We examined evidence for trade-offs between growth and stress tolerance, particularly cold and drought tolerance, in 56 families of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) from wild stand and seed orchard seed with a range of predicted growth rates. Families were assessed in field and controlled-environment experiments for growth and key physiological traits related to abiotic stress response. In the field, family growth was negatively correlated with fall and spring cold hardiness, indicating a trade-off between growth and cold hardiness. Combined results from field and controlled-environment experiments showed lower stomatal conductance and higher water potential in fast-growing families, indicating greater water conservation; thus no evidence existed for a growth – drought hardiness trade-off. Multivariate regression trees of normalized family means of growth and physiological parameters in the field split the families primarily by an index of continentality. Continental families had greater growth, survival, and fall hardiness than coastal families. We conclude that selection pressures in Douglas-fir have resulted in a trade-off between cold hardiness and high vigour, but little evidence exists for a trade-off between growth and drought hardiness.