bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Open incisional biopsy is a safe and accurate technique for soft tissue tumours
Authors: Clayer Mark 
Published: July 2010

AbstractBackground:  Accurate diagnosis of musculoskeletal tumours is important for successful treatment. Studies have reported a high risk of complications following open biopsy and have advocated core biopsy as a safer alternative; however, accuracy may be reduced with the smaller sample. The aims of this study were to determine the accuracy of open incisional biopsy, the complications (overall and those that affected subsequent management) including local recurrence and the need for further surgery.Methods:  This study was a retrospective audit of 135 consecutive open incisional biopsies of soft tissue tumours. The complications, including changes to surgical management as a direct result of complications of the biopsy, were recorded for all 135 cases. The accuracy of the open biopsy was determined by comparing the histology of the biopsy with the final histology of the 88 cases that proceeded to definitive surgical resection.Results:  There were two complications attributable to the biopsy (complication rate 1.5%). No complication affected the definitive management. There were three cases where the biopsy incorrectly reported a benign condition when it was malignant (benign versus malignant accuracy 96%). There were no cases of benign initially being reported as malignant. The tissue diagnosis was correct in 72 of the excised specimens (accuracy 82%). The false positive rate for malignant versus benign was 0%, sensitivity 93%, specificity 100% and positive predictor value 100%.Discussion:  Open incisional biopsy remains a safe and accurate method of obtaining a tissue diagnosis when the principles of biopsy are adhered to.
Survival from breast cancers managed by surgeons participating in the National Breast Cancer Audit of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons
Authors: Roder David , Wang Jim X. , Zorbas Helen , Kollias James , Maddern Guy 
Published: July 2010

AbstractBackground:  The National Breast Cancer Audit (NBCA) of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons has collected data on early breast cancer since 1998. In this project, deaths were traced by linkage of NBCA patient identifiers (first three digits of surname and date of birth) with the National Death Index that covers all deaths in Australia.Methods:  Death data were traced to 31 December 2007. Invasive cancers diagnosed in 1998–2005 were included in survival analyses to allow enough follow‐up for assessment. Survivals were compared with survivals for similar stages recorded by the New South Wales (NSW) Cancer Registry and USA Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) programme. Survivals were analysed by conventional clinical risk factors to see if expected differences presented.Results:  The 5‐year survival from breast cancer of 93% for NBCA cases was the same as the SEER figure for local and regional cases combined in 1996–2004. The NBCA figure for localized cases was 97%, which was the same as for NSW. Node‐positive NBCA cancers had a 5‐year survival of 89%, which was slightly higher than the corresponding 86% for NSW, which may reflect exclusion from the NBCA of some cases with a poorer prognosis, including those with positive fixed nodes. As expected, lower survivals presented for older cases and those with conventional clinical risk factors.Conclusions:  These survivals are credible both overall and by clinical risk factor. Opportunities present to use these data for survival monitoring and to investigate survival by socio‐demographic characteristic, treatment protocol, case volume and provider characteristics.
Extending boundaries: Clinical communication with culturally and linguistically diverse mental health clients and carers
Authors: Cross Wendy M. , Bloomer Melissa J. 
Published: July 2010

ABSTRACTWe are often confronted with the dilemmas of interacting with people from different cultural backgrounds. How do we ensure that we meet their needs, if they have some barriers to communicating those needs? This project explores the communication mechanisms used by mental health clinicians, to explore how they modify their communication to reconcile cultural differences and promote self‐disclosure. It also identifies the practical experiences that have enlightened clinicians' practice when interacting with culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) groups. Through focus groups, mental health clinicians were probed about their experiences with CALD groups and the methods used to facilitate communication. Clinicians were working in either acute adult inpatient or community settings in a large metropolitan health service. Fifty‐three clinicians formed 7 focus groups. In the focus groups, clinicians were asked about their perceptions of communication with CALD clients. Guided questions were used. All focus groups were audio‐taped and transcribed. Two distinct themes emerged. They were ‘respect’ and ‘cultural understanding’. The clinicians recognized that showing and maintaining respect for the CALD client, and their families significantly impacted on the development of a therapeutic relationship. Showing cultural understanding and acceptance for difference also enhanced communication.
Evaluation of the effect of extra‐amniotic normal saline infusion alone or in combination with dexamethasone for the induction of labor
Authors: Kashanian Maryam , Fekrat Mohsen , Naghghash Salvasadat , Ansari Narges Sheikh 
Published: July 2010

AbstractAim:  To compare the effect of extra‐amniotic normal saline solution infusion on its own, and in combination with dexamethasone on the ripening of the cervix and induction of labor.Methods:  A double‐blind randomized clinical trial study was performed at Akbar Abadi Teaching Hospital in Tehran, Iran, between March 2002 and March 2003 on 84 pregnant women at a gestational age of 40 weeks or more, and with a Bishop score ≤5 with cephalic presentation, singleton pregnancy and intact membranes who had been admitted in the labor ward for the induction of labor. The women were randomly assigned into the two groups. In 41 cases, dexamethasone 20 mg extra‐ovulary, plus extra‐amniotic saline solution infusion (EASI) was prescribed, and in 43 patients EASI alone was prescribed. After 6 h of these protocols, oxytocin was started. Following this the process of labor up to delivery was followed in the two groups and a comparison was made.Results:  There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups according to age, parity, gravidity and primary Bishop score. Of the 84 women, 75 entered the active phase of labor (38 [88.37%] in the EASI group and 37 [90.25%] in combined group) without a significant difference. The duration between oxytocin infusion until delivery were 7.25 ± 2.86 h and 9.76 ± 3.91 h in the dexamethasone and EASI groups, respectively, which showed a statistically significant difference (P = 0.002). There were no significant differences between the two groups according to cesarean section rate, meconium passage by fetus, neonatal Apgar score, birthweight, and need for the neonatal intensive care unit. There was a statistically significant negative correlation between gravidity and interval between oxytocin induction and delivery (P = 0.001, r = −474).Conclusion:  Extra‐amniotic saline solution infusion is a suitable and cheaper method for the ripening of the cervix and induction of labor, and adding the dexamethasone to it can shorten the duration of labor without any significant risk to the mother or her fetus.
Liraglutide improves treatment satisfaction in people with Type 2 diabetes compared with sitagliptin, each as an add on to metformin
Authors: Davies M. , Pratley R. , Hammer M. , Thomsen A. B. , Cuddihy R. 
Published: July 2010

Diabet. Med. 28, 333–337 (2011)AbstractAims  Patient‐reported outcomes from clinical trials offer insight into the impact of disease on health‐related quality of life, including treatment satisfaction. This patient‐reported outcomes evaluation was a substudy of a 26‐week randomized, open‐label trial comparing the once‐daily injectable human GLP‐1 analogue liraglutide with once‐daily oral sitagliptin, both added to metformin. The patient reported outcomes substudy aimed to evaluate treatment satisfaction using the Diabetes Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire (DTSQ) at baseline and 26 weeks.Methods  In the main 26‐week randomized, open‐label study (n = 658), liraglutide, 1.2 or 1.8 mg, injected with a pen, led to greater HbA1c reduction than oral sitagliptin, 100 mg once daily, both added to metformin = 1500 mg daily: mean HbA1c reduction was 1.5, 1.2 and 0.9% (7, 10 and 14 mmol/mol) for liraglutide 1.8 mg, 1.2 mg and sitagliptin, respectively (P < 0.0001 for both liraglutide doses vs. sitagliptin) and liraglutide patients lost more weight (3 vs.1 kg; P < 0.0001). In this patient‐reported outcomes substudy (liraglutide 1.8 mg, n = 171; 1.2 mg, n = 164; sitagliptin, n = 170) DTSQ scores were analyzed by ANCOVA with treatment and country as fixed effects and baseline value as covariate.Results  Overall treatment satisfaction, calculated by adding satisfaction scores for `current treatment’, `convenience’, `flexibility’, `understanding’, `recommend’, and `continue’, improved in all groups at 26 weeks; greater improvement with liraglutide (4.35 and 3.51 vs. 2.96; P = 0.03 for liraglutide 1.8 mg vs. sitagliptin) may reflect greater HbA1c reduction and weight loss. Patients perceived themselves to be hyperglycaemic significantly less frequently with liraglutide 1.8 mg (difference = −0.88; P < 0.0001) and 1.2 mg (difference = −0.49; P = 0.01). Perceived frequency of hypoglycaemia was similar across all groups.Conclusions  Injectable liraglutide may lead to greater treatment satisfaction than oral sitagliptin, potentially by facilitating greater improvement in glycaemic control, weight loss and/ or perception of greater treatment efficacy.
Minimum Wages and Employment: Reconsidering the Use of a Time Series Approach as an Evaluation Tool
Authors: Lee Wang‐Sheng , Suardi Sandy 
Published: July 2010

AbstractThe time series approach used in the minimum wage literature essentially aims to estimate a treatment effect of increasing the minimum wage. In this article, we employ a novel approach based on aggregate time series data that allows us to determine if minimum wage changes have significant effects on employment. This involves the use of tests for structural breaks as a device for identifying discontinuities in the data, which potentially represent treatment effects. In an application based on Australian data, the tentative conclusion is that the introduction of minimum wage legislation in Australia in 1997 and subsequent minimum wage increases appear not to have had any significant negative employment effects for teenagers.
A Good Time to Stay Out? Strikes and the Business Cycle
Authors: Devereux Paul J. , Hart Robert A. 
Published: July 2010

AbstractIn this article, we compile a unique historical dataset that records strike activity in the British engineering industry from 1920 to 1970. These data have the advantage of containing a fairly homogeneous set of companies and blue‐collar workers. They cover a long period with varying labour market conditions, include information that enables the addition of union and company fixed effects, and provide geographical detail that allows a district‐level analysis that controls for year and seasonal effects. We study the cyclicality of strike durations, strike incidence and strike outcomes, and distinguish between pay and non‐pay strikes. We find evidence that strikes over pay have countercyclical durations. However, in the post‐war period, the magnitude of this effect for pay‐related strikes is much reduced when union and firm fixed effects are included. These findings suggest that it is important when studying strike durations to take account of differences in the types of companies and unions that are involved in strikes at different points of the business cycle. We also find that strike outcomes tend to be more favourable to unions when the national unemployment rate is lower.
Transnational Labour Solidarity and Social Movement Unionism: Insights from and beyond a Women Workers' Strike in Turkey
Authors: Fougner Tore , Kurtoğlu Ayça 
Published: July 2010

AbstractThrough an analysis of solidarity across borders and social groups in connection with and beyond a strike on the part primarily of women workers at a foreign‐owned factory in Turkey's Antalya Free Zone, this article contributes to the debate on the two union renewal strategies of transnational labour solidarity and coalition building with social movements. In the case at hand, the extensive strike‐related support on the part of external unions and the women's movement illustrates the positive difference that solidarity practices can make. However, looking beyond the strike itself, the case points to significant challenges related to the development of deeper and more proactive solidarity across borders and social groups.
The Involvement of Civil Society Organizations in British Industrial Relations: Extent, Origins and Significance
Authors: Heery Edmund , Abbott Brian , Williams Stephen 
Published: July 2010

AbstractThis article examines the involvement of civil society organizations (CSOs) in UK industrial relations. Organizations of this type, including advocacy, campaigning, identity and community organizations have attracted increasing attention from employment relations scholars in recent years. The study reported in this article demonstrates that CSOs have become increasingly active in the sphere of work and employment, partly in response to trade union decline but also owing to political opportunities, afforded by the labour market policy of the New Labour government. It is claimed that CSOs operate at multiple levels of the industrial relations system and interact with the state, employers and trade unions. They generate significant effects within UK industrial relations and can rightly be judged significant ‘new actors’ on the UK employment scene.
Clearing and Settlement of Derivatives: Is a Code of Conduct Advisable?
Authors: Nielsson Ulf 
Published: July 2010

AbstractThis article is a first step to assess whether a self‐regulatory ‘Code of Conduct’, which has been in effect for European equities, should also be extended to derivatives. The aim of the code is to increase competition and customer choice in the European transaction process (trading, clearing and settlement). The article examines whether such a code is advisable for derivatives by evaluating potential market failures and inefficiencies in European derivatives markets. More specifically, the article: a) highlights the main differences in the clearing and settlement procedures of derivatives versus equities; b) outlines current and alternative market infrastructures in derivatives post‐trade markets; and c) evaluates the current level of competition among derivatives exchanges and also between the on‐ and off‐exchange trading segments.The article concludes that if imminent initiatives taken to increase the competitiveness of over‐the‐counter (OTC) derivatives markets vis‐à‐vis the incumbent derivatives exchanges—such as increased clearing house usage and new entry of multilateral trading facilities—are not effective in the near future, a code of conduct could be envisaged. This should entail promoting faster automation of OTC post‐trade processes and ensuring price comparability is maintained between derivatives exchanges.
Towards Culturally Appropriate Assessment? A Contribution to the Debates
Authors: Johnston Patricia Maringi G. 
Published: July 2010

AbstractCulturally appropriate assessment in higher educational is premised on factors that do not benefit minority groups, because they have no control over the processes governing such factors. Significantly, practices to account for students from different ethnic/minority/indigenous backgrounds are the inclusion of elements like their language, knowledge and culture into the curriculum. However, assessment procedures are often seen to be ‘a‐cultural’, but are political activities that benefit the interests of some groups over others, as ‘a‐cultural’ approaches tend to be bound within the cultural capital of the dominant group. This article examines the international discussions relating to culturally appropriate assessment through generic themes, assessment practices, cultural inclusions and cultural appropriateness. It argues that there are two distinct approaches to addressing inclusion: ‘centric’ and ‘friendly’, respectively, that result in different priorities and outcomes. Assessment however, is a political struggle between dominant and minority interests, which this article also recognises and explores.
Optoacoustics–its application in photodermatology
Authors: Meinhardt‐Wollweber M. , Krebs R. , Heinrich U. , Tronnier H. , Anders‐von Ahlften A. 
Published: July 2010

IFSCC Magazine, 12 (4) 365–370 (2009)SynopsisOptoacoustics is a new method to study the optical properties of human skin in vivo. We measured the absorption spectra of human skin in a study in twenty subjects belonging to skin phototypes I‐IV. Absorption coefficients were determined in the range from 290 nm to 341 nm (3 nm steps) on the inner and outer side of the forearm and the ball of the thumb. Comparison of these new data with known action spectra of photobiologic effects and natural solar irradiation spectra indicates that the small wavelength range from ca. 300 nm to 320 nm may be responsible for significant detrimental and beneficial effects. Consequently, the skin is very sensitive to changes in irradiation in this spectral region.
A Liberal Defence of (Some) Duties to Compatriots
Authors: LAZAR SETH 
Published: July 2010

abstractThis paper asks whether we can defend associative duties to our compatriots that are grounded solely in the relationship of liberal co‐citizenship. The sort of duties that are especially salient to this relationship are duties of justice, duties to protect and improve the institutions that constitute that relationship, and a duty to favour the interests of compatriots over those of foreigners. Critics have argued that the liberal conception of citizenship is too insubstantial to sustain these duties — indeed, that it gives us little reason to treat compatriots any differently from how we treat foreigners, with all the practical consequences that this would entail. I suggest that on a specific conception of liberal citizenship we can, in fact, defend associative duties, but that these extend only to the duty to protect and improve the institutions that constitute that relationship. Duties of justice and favouritism, I maintain, cannot be particularised to one's compatriots.
Comparison of the contractile properties, oxidative capacities and fibre type profiles of the voluntary sphincters of continence in the rat
Authors: Buffini Maria , O’Halloran Ken D. , O’Herlihy Colm , O’Connell Ronan , Jones James F. X. 
Published: July 2010

AbstractThe external urethral sphincter (EUS) and external anal sphincter (EAS) are the principal voluntary striated muscles that sustain continence of urine and faeces. In light of their common embryological origin, shared tonic sphincteric action and synchronized electrical activity in vivo, it was expected that they would exhibit similar physiological and structural properties. However, the findings of this study using paired observations of both sphincters isolated from the rat show clearly that this is not the case. The anal sphincter is much more fatigable than the urethral sphincter. On completion of a fatigue protocol, the amplitude of the last twitch of the EAS had declined to 42 ± 3% of the first twitch, whereas the last twitch of the EUS was almost identical to that of the first (95 ± 3%). Immunocytochemical detection of myosin heavy‐chain isoforms showed that this difference was not due to the presence of more slow‐twitch oxidative type 1 fibres in the EUS compared with the EAS (areal densities 4 ± 1% and 5 ± 1%, respectively; P = 0.35). In addition, the fatigue difference was not explained by a greater contribution to force production by fast oxidative type 2A fibres in the urethral sphincter. In fact, the anal sphincter contained a higher areal density of type 2A fibres (56 ± 5% vs. 37 ± 4% in the EUS, P = 0.017). The higher oxidative capacity of the EUS, measured histochemically, explained its fatigue resistance. These results were surprising because the fatigue‐resistant urethral muscle exhibited faster single‐twitch contraction times compared with the anal sphincter (56 ± 0.87 ms vs. 72.5 ± 1.16 ms, P < 0.001). Neither sphincter expressed the type 2X myosin isoform but the fast‐twitch isoform type 2B was found exclusively in the EUS (areal density 16 ± 2%). The type 2B fibres of the EUS were small (diameter 19.5 ± 0.4 μm) in comparison to typical type 2B fibres of other muscles. As a whole the EUS is a more oxidative than glycolytic muscle. In conclusion, analysis of the twitch mechanics and fatigue of two sphincters showed that the EUS contained more fatigue‐resistant muscle fibres compared with the EAS.
Unintentional injuries among older adults in northern Sweden – a one‐year population‐based study
Authors: Saveman Britt‐Inger , Björnstig Ulf 
Published: July 2010

Scand J Caring Sci; 2011; 25; 185–193 Unintentional injuries among older adults in northern Sweden – a one‐year population‐based studyAim: To study the epidemiology of unintentional injuries in a population of 21 000 Swedish older adults (65+) and to compare the injury incidence with similar data collected two decades earlier.Method: This is a retrospective epidemiologic cross‐sectional study based on a 1‐year data set of all the 1753 registered injury events from a well‐defined population.Result: The injury rate per 1000 individuals was three times higher in the 85+ age group than in the 65–74 age group. The rate was also higher in women than in men aged 75 and older. Fractures, especially on lower and upper extremities, were the most common injuries. Falls in residential care facilities caused the most serious injuries. In transport areas, pedestrian falls and bicyclist crashes were much more common than car crashes. Of the 1753 people injured, 42% were treated as inpatients for a total of 11 569 days; 86% of these days were caused by injury events in the home (57%) or in residential care facilities (29%). Our 65+ age group occupied 69% of all hospital bed‐days for trauma in all ages (0–102 years).Conclusion: Over the last two decades, the injury and fracture rate per 1000 individuals has increased by 40–50%, especially in the older age groups. During this time, the nursing strategy for older adults has changed in Sweden. As a result, more people live in their homes nowadays. This increase is distressing especially when we consider the current knowledge of preventive measures. The high number and proportion (>2/3) of inpatient trauma days for these age groups are a heavy burden for the medical sector. These facts call for more effective preventive measures, especially in the home and in residential care facilities, to minimize the negative health effects and the rising health costs.