bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A Medical Simulation‐based Educational Intervention for Emergency Medicine Residents in Neonatal Resuscitation
Authors: Lee Moon O. , Brown Linda L. , Bender Jesse , Machan Jason T. , Overly Frank L. 
Published: May 2012

ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE 2012; 19: 577–585 © 2012 by the Society for Academic Emergency MedicineAbstractObjectives:  The objective was to determine if a medical simulation‐based neonatal resuscitation educational intervention is a more effective teaching method than the current emergency medicine (EM) curriculum at one 4‐year EM residency program.Methods:  A prospective, randomized study of second‐, third‐, and fourth‐year EM residents was performed. Of 36 potential subjects, 27 residents were enrolled. Each resident was assessed at baseline and after the intervention using 1) a questionnaire to evaluate confidence in leading adult, pediatric, and neonatal resuscitation and prior neonatal resuscitation experience and 2) a neonatal resuscitation simulation scenario in which each participant was the code leader to evaluate knowledge and skills. Assessments were digitally recorded and reviewed independently by two Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) instructors using a validated neonatal resuscitation scoring tool. Controls (15 participants) received the current EM curriculum. The intervention group (12 participants) experienced an educational session, which incorporated didactics, skills station, and medical simulation about neonatal resuscitation. Outcomes measured included changes in overall neonatal resuscitation score, number of critical actions, time to initial steps of neonatal resuscitation, and changes in confidence level leading neonatal resuscitation.Results:  Baseline neonatal resuscitation scores were similar for the control and intervention groups. At the final assessment, the intervention group’s neonatal resuscitation score improved (p = 0.016) and the control group’s score did not. The intervention group performed 2.31 more critical actions overall and the time to achieve warming (p = 0.0002), drying (p < 0.0001), tactile stimulation (p = 0.002), and placing a hat on the patient (p <0.0001) were also improved compared to controls. At the baseline assessment, 80% of the control group and 75% of the intervention group reported being “not at all confident” in leading neonatal resuscitation. At the final assessment, the proportion of residents who were “not at all confident” leading neonatal resuscitation decreased to 35% in the intervention group compared to 67% of the control group. The majority of the intervention group (65%) reported an increased level of confidence in leading neonatal resuscitation.Conclusions:  Medical simulation can be an effective tool to assess the knowledge and skills of EM residents in neonatal resuscitation. Our simulation‐based educational intervention significantly improved EM residents’ knowledge and performance of the critical initial steps in neonatal resuscitation. A medical simulation‐based educational intervention may be used to improve EM residents’ knowledge and performance with neonatal resuscitation.
The importance of genetic variants in TNFα for periodontal disease in a cohort of coronary patients
Authors: Schulz Susanne , Schlitt Axel , Lutze Andrea , Lischewski Sandra , Seifert Tim , Dudakliewa Tanya , Gawe Robert , Werdan Karl , Hofmann Britt , Gläser Christiane , Schaller Hans‐Günter , Reichert Stefan 
Published: May 2012

AbstractAimThe aim of this analysis was to evaluate the importance of genetic variants of TNFα for the severity of periodontal disease and periodontal risk factors with respect to periodontal risk factors in a cohort of coronary patients.SubjectsA total of 942 consecutive patients with angiographic proven coronary heart disease were prospectively included in the study entitled “Periodontitis and Its Microbiological Agents as Prognostic Factors in Patients With Coronary Heart Disease” (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier:NCT01045070).MethodsAfter including of patients, an extensive periodontal examination also involving PCR‐sampling for 11 periodontal bacteria was performed. In this subanalysis, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) c.−308G>A, c.−238G>A and haplotypes for TNFα were analysed by CTS‐PCR‐SSP Tray kit (Heidelberg, Germany).ResultsThe AG+AA genotype of SNP c.−238G>A of TNFα gene was associated with the amount of clinical attachment loss in patients with coronary heart disease in multivariate regression analysis. Moreover,
Prevotella intermedia occurred more frequently in carriers who were positive for the AG+AA genotype and A‐allele of SNP c.−308G>A in bivariate and multivariate analyses. Furthermore, only in bivariate analyses significant associations of genetic variants of TNFα with intensified bleeding on probing and with higher plasma level of interleukin 6 could be shown.ConclusionsGenetic variants of TNFα gene, namely c.−308G>A and c.−238G>A, are associated with periodontal conditions in patients with coronary heart disease.
Therapy‐related acute myeloid leukemia (t‐AML) with poor‐risk cytogenetics in two patients with persistent molecular complete remission of acute promyelocytic leukemia
Authors: Ojeda‐Uribe Mario , Schneider Anne , Luquet Isabelle , Berceanu Ana , Cornillet‐Lefebvre Pascale , Jeandidier Eric , Lioure Bruno , Ades Lionel , Mauvieux Laurent , Himberlin Chantal 
Published: May 2012

AbstractTherapy‐related acute myeloid leukemia (t‐AML) is a clinical syndrome occurring as a complication after cytotoxic and/or radiation therapy. The incidence of t‐AML after acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), all‐transretinoic acid (ATRA), and anthracycline‐based therapy is rather low. However, because of the high remission rates and long‐term overall survival achieved with current APL treatments, late complications related to antileukemic therapy should be taken into account, giving priority to efficacy agents with the lowest potential of leukemogenesis, despite individual genetic susceptibilities that are not well known. Here, we report two cases of t‐AML observed in two young women who achieved a rapid, complete molecular remission (CMR) of APL and who were still in CMR when t‐AML was diagnosed. These t‐AMLs shared some clinical and biological features such as poor‐risk cytogenetics and a rapidly progressing, unfavorable outcome. Retrospective RT‐PCR WT1 expression from the onset of APL to t‐AML diagnosis did not prove to be a good marker for t‐AML development.
The effect of competition among three salmonids on dominance and growth during the juvenile life stage
Authors: Van Zwol Jessica A. , Neff Bryan D. , Wilson Chris C. 
Published: May 2012

AbstractAlthough non‐native species can sometimes threaten the value of ecosystem services, their presence can contribute to the benefits derived from the environment. In the Great Lakes, non‐native brown trout (Salmo trutta) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) support substantial recreational fisheries. With current efforts underway to restore once‐native Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) to Lake Ontario, there is some concern that Atlantic salmon will impede non‐native contributions to the recreational fishery because Atlantic salmon exhibit niche overlap with brown trout and rainbow trout, particularly during the juvenile life stage. We therefore examined competition and growth of juvenile Atlantic salmon, brown trout and rainbow trout in semi‐natural streams. We found that brown trout were the most dominant and had the greatest growth rate regardless of what other species were present. Rainbow trout were more dominant than Atlantic salmon and consumed the most food of the three species. However, in the presence of brown trout, rainbow trout fed less frequently and exhibited negative growth as compared to when the rainbow trout were present with only Atlantic salmon. These data suggest that, outside of density‐dependent effects, Atlantic salmon will not impact stream production of brown trout and rainbow trout.
Underdispersion of anti‐herbivore defence traits and phylogenetic structure of cerrado tree species at fine spatial scale
Authors: Loiola Priscilla P. , Silva Igor A. , Silva Danilo M. , Batalha Marco A. 
Published: May 2012

AbstractQuestionDo species phylogeny and herbivory‐related defence traits influence species co‐occurrence in the cerrado? Are anti‐herbivory defence traits under‐ or overdispersed in the quadrats? Do soil features mediate these patterns?LocationA cerrado site in SE Brazil (21°58′05.3″ S, 47°52′10.1″ W).MethodsWe analysed 100 quadrats of 5 m × 5 m each, and sampled all woody individuals. For each species, we measured nine defence traits against herbivory and tested against null models whether (1) phylogenetic dissimilarities were under‐ or overdispersed, (2) trait species dissimilarities were under‐ or overdispersed, and (3) these spatial patterns were associated with soil nutrient content, considering the variation of sum of bases, organic matter, and aluminium.ResultsWe found phylogenetic signals in two traits, and conservatism of traits as a whole was significant. Phylogenetic structure of communities was in general clustered. We found trait underdispersion for specific leaf area, water content, leaf toughness, and leaf nutritional quality. Specific leaf area was also overdispersed in quadrats. We did not find either under‐ or overdispersion related to soil features.ConclusionsAs phylogenetic and trait underdispersion were not associated with soil features, and fire and drought are not expected to change at study scale, some biotic interaction may be responsible for underdispersion. We postulated that insect herbivory, when representing a large constraint to trees in this environment, could lead to functional and phylogenetic underdispersion.
Occurrence of Three Felids across a Network of Protected Areas in Thailand: Prey, Intraguild, and Habitat Associations
Authors: Ngoprasert Dusit , Lynam Antony J. , Sukmasuang Ronglarp , Tantipisanuh Naruemon , Chutipong Wanlop , Steinmetz Robert , Jenks Kate E. , Gale George A. , Grassman Lon I. , Kitamura Shumpei , Howard JoGayle , Cutter Passanan , Cutter Peter , Leimgruber Peter , Songsasen Nucharin , Reed David H. 
Published: May 2012

AbstractClouded Leopard, Leopard, and Tiger are threatened felids in Southeast Asia, but little is known about the factors influencing their distributions. Using logistic regression, we assessed how habitat variables, prey detection patterns, and presence of intraguild predators affect the occurrence of these felids across 13 protected areas within Thailand. Our analysis is based on data from 1108 camera‐trap locations (47,613 trap‐nights). Clouded Leopard and Leopard are associated with habitat where Red Muntjac and Eurasian Wild Pig were most likely to be present. Tiger are associated with habitat with a higher likelihood for the presence of Gaur, Eurasian Wild Pig, and Sambar. Clouded Leopard and Tiger were both weakly associated with areas with mature evergreen forest. Besides availability of prey, associations with potential competitors also appear to influence the distribution of these felids, although the strength of these effects requires further investigation. Occurrence rates for Clouded Leopard were no different in protected areas with Leopard versus without Leopards. Leopard had similar occurrence rates regardless of the presence of Tiger, but Leopards were less likely to be detected at the same camera‐trap points with the larger felid. Our results suggest that the two most commonly photographed prey species in the study areas serve as key prey species, Eurasian Wild Pig for all three carnivores and Red Muntjac for Leopard and Clouded Leopard.
Migration links ocean‐scale competition and local ocean conditions with exposure to farmed salmon to shape wild salmon dynamics
Authors: Connors B. M. , Braun D. C. , Peterman R.M. , Cooper A. B. , Reynolds J. D. , Dill L. M. , Ruggerone G. T. , Krkošek M. 
Published: May 2012

AbstractClimate, competition, and disease are well‐recognized drivers of population dynamics. These stressors can be intertwined by animal migrations, leading to uncertainty about the roles of natural and anthropogenic factors in conservation and resource management. We quantitatively assessed the four leading hypotheses for an enigmatic long‐term decline in productivity of Canada's iconic Fraser River sockeye salmon: (1) delayed density‐dependence, (2) local oceanographic conditions, (3) pathogen transmission from farmed salmon, and (4) ocean‐basin scale competition with pink salmon. Our findings suggest that the long‐term decline is primarily explained by competition with pink salmon, which can be amplified by exposure to farmed salmon early in sockeye marine life, and by a compensatory interaction between coastal ocean temperature and farmed‐salmon exposure. These correlative relationships suggest oceanic‐scale processes, which are beyond the reach of current regulatory agencies, may exacerbate local ecological processes that challenge the coexistence of fisheries and aquaculture‐based economies in coastal seas.
The role of palliative chemotherapy for terminally ill patients with advanced NSCLC
Authors: Yang Dan , Qiu Meng , Zou Li‐qun , Zhang Wei , Jiang Yu , Zhang Dong‐yu , Yan Xi 
Published: May 2012

AbstractBackground:  To evaluate the conditions of palliative chemotherapy in terminally ill patients with advanced non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and to discuss the potential factors that affect the prognosis of these patients.Methods:  All 205 terminally ill patients with advanced NSCLC, who died in our hospital during the period from 2006 to 2010, were included in the study. Basic information was collected and details for the treatment of patients, related to overall survival, were evaluated.Results:  One hundred and fifty‐nine out of 205 patients (77.6%) were treated with palliative chemotherapy. Of these, 59.7% patients were treated with palliative chemotherapy in the last three months and 27.7% patients in the last one‐month, prior to their expiration, respectively. In addition, 22.0% of the 159 patients were treated with palliative chemotherapy for the first time in the last three months and 10.1% in the last month of their final days. We have shown that patients treated with palliative chemotherapy in their last three and final month had a shorter overall survival rate than those patients who were not treated with palliative chemotherapy.Conclusion:  A large proportion of patients with advanced NSCLC received palliative chemotherapy near the end of their life. However, our results were not in favor of palliative chemotherapy in the last three or final month of life.
An exploration of group compassion‐focused therapy for personality disorder
Authors: Lucre Katherine M. , Corten Naomi 
Published: May 2012

Background. People with personality disorders, especially those who also experience high self‐criticism and shame, are known to be a therapeutic challenge and there is a high dropout rate from therapy. Compassion‐focused therapy (CFT) was designed to address shame and self‐criticism specifically, and to develop people's ability to be self‐reassuring and more compassionate to themselves and others.Aims. This study explored how CFT affected self‐criticism and self‐attacking thoughts, feelings, and behaviours, as well as the general symptoms of anxiety, stress, and depression of a personality disordered group within an outpatient group setting, and evaluated the extent of maintenance at a 1‐year follow‐up. A secondary objective was to identify some of the key characteristics that such an intervention would require. This was a pilot study exploring the feasibility, acceptability, and potential value of CFT in treating this difficult population and, as such, was designed as a pre‐randomized controlled trial (RCT) to provide evidence to support applications for funding for an RCT.Methods and design. This study utilized a mixed method combining qualitative and quantitative methods to support a programme evaluation. Eight participants were introduced to the evolutionary‐based CFT model and taken through explorations of the nature of self‐criticism and shame. In subsequent sessions, participants were taught the main compassion‐focused exercises, and any difficulties were addressed. The group was asked to share their personal stories and experiences of practicing self‐compassion and to develop compassionate encouragement for each other. Self‐report measures were administered at the beginning, end, and at a 1‐year follow‐up.Results. This 16‐week group therapy was associated with significant reductions in shame measured by the Others as Shamer Scale (OAS), social comparison on the Social Comparison Scale (SCS) feelings of hating oneself, and an increase in abilities to be self‐reassuring on the Self‐Attacking and Self‐Reassuring Scale (FSCRS), depression and stress measured by the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS). There were significant changes on all CORE variables, well‐being, risk, functioning, and problems. Also interesting was that all variables showed a trend for continued improvement at 1‐year follow‐up, albeit statistically non‐significant. A content analysis revealed that patients had found it a moving and very significant process in their efforts to develop emotional regulation and self‐understanding.Conclusion. CFT, delivered in a routine psychotherapy department for personality disorders, revealed a beneficial impact on a range of outcome measures. These improvements were maintained and further changes noted at 1‐year follow‐up. Further research is needed to explore the benefits of CFT using more detailed analysis and RCTs.
Optimization of temporal dose modulation: Comparison of theory and experiment
Authors: Bewes J. M. , Suchowerska N. , Cartwright L. , Ebert M. A. , McKenzie D. R. 
Published: May 2012

Purpose:To compare theoretical predictions and experimental measurements of cell survival after exposure to two different temporally modulated radiation dose patterns that deliver the same dose in the same overall time.Methods:The authors derived an analytic expression for the dose protraction factorG in the Lea–Catcheside formalism for cell survival for “triangle” and “V” temporal modulation of dose. These temporal dose patterns were used in experimental clonogenic studies of a melanoma cell line (MM576) and a nonsmall‐cell lung cancer line (NCI‐H460) that have different alpha, beta, and repair parameters. The overall treatment time and total dose were kept constant.Results:The analytic expressions forG for the two temporal modulations are presented as a function of a single variable, the product of the exposure time, and the repair constant, enabling G to be evaluated for any exposure time and for any cell line. G for the triangle delivery pattern is always the larger. For the MM576 cell line, following a large dose of 6 Gy, a larger survival fraction was found for the V delivery pattern. No difference in survival was observed for lower doses or for the NCI‐H460 cell line at any dose. These results are predicted by our theory, using published values of alpha, beta, and repair time within the limits of experimental uncertainty.Conclusions:The study provides evidence to confirm that cell lines having large beta values exhibit a response that is sensitive to the pattern of dose delivery when the delivery time is comparable with the repair time. It is recommended that the dose delivery pattern be considered in hypofractionated treatments.
Analysis of Heavy-Chain Antibody Responses and Resistance to Parelaphostrongylus tenuis in Experimentally Infected Alpacas
Authors: Purdy S. R. , Gagliardo L. F. , Lefman S. , Hamel P. J. S. , Ku S. , Mainini T. , Hoyt G. , Justus K. , Daley-Bauer L. P. , Duffy M. S. , Appleton J. A. 
Published: May 2012

ABSTRACTThe parasitic nematodeParelaphostrongylus tenuisis an important cause of neurologic disease of camelids in central and eastern North America. The aim of this study was to determine whether alpacas develop resistance to disease caused byP. tenuisin response to a previous infection or a combination of controlled infection and immunization. Alpacas were immunized with a homogenate of third-stage larvae (L3) and simultaneously implanted subcutaneously with diffusion chambers containing 20 live L3. Sham-treated animals received adjuvant alone and empty chambers. The protocol was not effective in inducing resistance to oral challenge with 10 L3, and disease developed between 60 and 71 days following infection. Immediately following the onset of neurologic disease, affected animals were treated with a regimen of anthelmintic and anti-inflammatory drugs, and all recovered. One year later, a subset of alpacas from this experiment was challenged with 20 L3 and the results showed that prior infection induced resistance to disease. Primary and secondary infections induced production of conventional and heavy-chain IgGs that reacted with soluble antigens in L3 homogenates but did not consistently recognize a recombinant form of a parasite-derived aspartyl protease inhibitor. Thus, the latter antigen may not be a good candidate for serology-based diagnostic tests. Antibody responses to parasite antigens occurred in the absence of overt disease, demonstrating thatP. tenuisinfection can be subclinical in a host that has been considered to be highly susceptible to disease. The potential for immunoprophylaxis to be effective in preventing disease caused byP. tenuiswas supported by evidence of resistance to reinfection.
Relationship between Vancomycin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Vancomycin-Intermediate S. aureus, High Vancomycin MIC, and Outcome in Serious S. aureus Infections
Authors: Holmes Natasha E. , Johnson Paul D. R. , Howden Benjamin P. 
Published: May 2012

ABSTRACT

Vancomycin has been used successfully for over 50 years for the treatment of
Staphylococcus aureus
infections, particularly those involving methicillin-resistant
S. aureus
. It has proven remarkably reliable, but its efficacy is now being questioned with the emergence of strains of
S. aureus
that display heteroresistance, intermediate resistance, and, occasionally, complete vancomycin resistance. More recently, an association has been established between poor outcome and infections with strains of
S. aureus
with an elevated vancomycin MIC within the susceptible range. This minireview summarizes the definitions, mechanisms, clinical impact, and laboratory identification of reduced vancomycin susceptibility in
S. aureus
and discusses practical issues for the diagnostic laboratory in testing and interpreting vancomycin susceptibility for
S. aureus
infections.
Prognostic Value of Indeterminate IFN-γ Release Assay Results in HIV-1 Infection
Authors: Aichelburg Maximilian C. , Tittes Julia , Breitenecker Florian , Reiberger Thomas , Kohrgruber Norbert , Rieger Armin 
Published: May 2012

ABSTRACT

In this prospective, longitudinal study on 948 HIV-1-infected patients, subjects with an indeterminate IFN-γ (gamma interferon) release assay (IGRA) result at baseline were at significantly higher risk of developing AIDS-defining manifestations other than tuberculosis (TB) irrespective of CD4
+
T cell count. Thus, in HIV-1-infected patients with advanced quantitative CD4
+
T cell depletion, an indeterminate IGRA might indicate an additional loss of global T cell function, warranting detailed clinical evaluation and careful follow-up.