bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Treatment options in candidaemia
Authors: Karthaus Meinolf , Cornely Oliver A. 
Published: March 2007

Summary Candida spp. are the fourth leading cause of bloodstream infections. Mortality in candidaemia remains substantial. In recent years Candida non‐albicans species are increasing. Inadequate and delayed antifungal treatment for candidaemia is associated with increased hospital mortality. While fluconazole has been shown to be safe and effective in Candida albicans, amphotericin B deoxycholate has substantial adverse events although being effective in most patients with candidaemia caused by non‐albicans species. With the advent of new antifungals the efficacy and safety of antifungal treatment have been improved substantially. This review summarises the new treatment options in candidaemia.
AUSTRALIAN ENDOCRINE SURGEONS GUIDELINES AES06/01. POSTOPERATIVE PARATHYROID HORMONE MEASUREMENT AND EARLY DISCHARGE AFTER TOTAL THYROIDECTOMY: ANALYSIS OF AUSTRALIAN DATA AND MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS
Authors:   AES Guidelines 06/01 Group
Published: March 2007

Background:  The risk of hypocalcaemia after thyroidectomy has traditionally mandated inpatient monitoring for signs and symptoms as well as frequent measurement of serum calcium levels. In recent years there has been much interest in the published work about the use of intact parathyroid hormone (PTH) to better predict hypocalcaemia after thyroidectomy. Although generally accurate, the use of intact parathyroid hormone in Australia has not become widespread. On behalf of the Australian Endocrine Surgeons an analysis of Australian data on the use of PTH levels to predict hypocalcaemia after thyroidectomy was carried out. The data were analysed with a view to making recommendations about the use of this test in clinical practice and the feasibility of achieving safe early discharge for patients.Methods:  Four recently published or presented Australian studies on the use of early postoperative PTH levels after total or completion thyroidectomy to predict post‐thyroidectomy hypocalcaemia were analysed. Patients were stratified into either normal or low PTH groups as defined by the normal ranges set by each laboratory and rates of hypocalcaemia were analysed.Results:  A total of 458 patients were examined. Seventy‐six per cent of the patients had PTH in the normal range and hypocalcaemia (serum‐corrected calcium cCa2+ < 2.00 mmol/L) occurred in 17.9% of patients. Sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive values of a normal postoperative PTH level as a predictor of normocalcaemia are 92.6, 70.7 and 92.3%, respectively. Low PTH as a predictor of hypocalcaemia is poor. The overall sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive values are 70.7, 92.6 and 71.6%, respectively.Conclusion:  Normal postoperative PTH levels accurately predict normocalcaemia after total or completion thyroidectomy. PTH levels should ideally be drawn 4 h postoperatively and patients with PTH in the normal range can be safely discharged on the first postoperative day. Use of oral calcium supplements, either as needed or routinely, will avoid mild symptoms that may develop in 7% without treatment.
IS EXPLORATION MANDATORY IN PENETRATING ZONE II NECK INJURIES?
Authors: Insull Phillip , Adams Dave , Segar Anand , Ng Alex , Civil Ian 
Published: March 2007

Background:  A policy of mandatory neck exploration for zone II injuries deep to platysma was promoted in the 1950s and was associated with a reduction in mortality when compared with expectant or delayed exploration. Recently many trauma centres have been practising selective neck exploration using physical examination and imaging to stratify patients to different management strategies. In the Auckland region, patients with penetrating zone II injury deep to platysma have been managed with mandatory neck exploration. As penetrating injuries in the Auckland region are caused by a range of sharp objects, with gunshot wounds rare, outcomes of management of zone II neck injuries in this population warrant investigation. The aim of this study was to determine the rate of therapeutic neck exploration in patients with penetrating zone II neck injury in the Auckland region and to suggest optimum management strategies for such injuries.Methods:  Retrospective audit of all patients presenting to Auckland and Middlemore Hospitals, Auckland, New Zealand, between 1995 and 2005 was carried out. Review of electronic clinical records and operation notes was also carried out.Results:  An overall positive neck exploration rate of 25% was obtained (87% for patients with hard signs on physical examination). Physical examination had a sensitivity of 93% and a positive predictive value of 87% in this case series. Neck exploration was not associated with known complications or missed injuries.Conclusion:  In the Auckland setting, physical examination would appear to be a safe and reliable method for the stratification of patients for either operative or conservative management.
SCORING SYSTEMS DO NOT ACCURATELY PREDICT OUTCOME FOLLOWING ABDOMINAL AORTIC ANEURYSM REPAIR
Authors: Sandford Rebecca M. , Bown Matthew J. , Sayers Robert D. 
Published: March 2007

Background:  Abdominal aortic aneurysm repair is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. This study aims to evaluate the efficiency of scoring systems in a group of patients undergoing abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.Methods:  A prospective study of 152 patients undergoing aneurysm repair was conducted. Each patient was scored according to the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II, Physiological and Operative Severity Score for the enUmeration of Mortality and Morbidity and Simplified Acute Physiology Score II systems. The predicted mortality for each patient was calculated. χ2 analysis was carried out to determine the accuracy of mortality predictions. Receiver–operator curves were drawn to compare scoring systems in terms of sensitivity and specificity.Results:  In the elective aneurysm repair group, all scoring systems tended to overestimate mortality. Receiver–operator curves showed inaccuracies in identifying patients who were at high risk from surgery. In contrast, predicted mortalities underestimated the true death rate among the ruptured aneurysm group. Receiver–operator curves showed better efficiency of scoring systems in the ruptured aneurysm group than in the elective repair group. There was no significant correlation between predicted and observed mortalities in either group.Conclusion:  In this study, all systems showed significant errors when predicting mortality. Therefore, although useful as an audit tool, scoring systems should not be used on an individual basis to guide treatment and assess prognosis after surgery.
Wegener’s granulomatosis in New Zealand: evidence for a latitude‐dependent incidence gradient
Authors: O’Donnell J. L. , Stevanovic V. R. , Frampton C. , Stamp L. K. , Chapman P. T. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractBackground: The aim of the study was to determine whether there was evidence for a geographic gradient in the incidence of Wegener’s granulomatosis (WG) and WG‐like disease in New Zealand (NZ).Methods: The National Minimum Dataset of the Ministry of Health, NZ was searched for individual patient discharges coded by the International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision, Australian Modification as either M301 (polyarteritis with lung involvement, including Churg Strauss and allergic granulomatous angiitis) or M313 (WG, necrotizing respiratory granulomatosis) for the period 1 January 1999 to 31 December 2003. Data were standardized using the 2001 NZ census.Results: One hundred and ninety‐five patients (95 men) were given a first‐time discharge code of either M301 (40 patients) or M313 (155 patients). No gender bias was seen. The rate among Europeans was twice that of NZ Maoris or Asians. The rate of disease peaked in the age band 70–79 years and during winter months. A significant positive north–south geographic gradient was present for M313. No difference in the rate of readmission or time to relapse between geographic regions was found for M313.Conclusion: A north–south gradient in the rate of patient discharges given a diagnostic code of M313 (WG, necrotizing respiratory granulomatosis) was present in NZ. This finding supports the hypothesis that there is a latitude‐dependent risk factor(s) for WG possibly common to both global hemispheres.
Prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV infection in Pacific countries
Authors: Rupali P. , Condon R. , Roberts S. , Wilkinson L. , Voss L. , Thomas M. G. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractIntroduction: A generalized epidemic of HIV infection has been evolving in Papua New Guinea over the last decade, whereas in other Pacific Island countries and territories (PICT) HIV transmission has generally been less widespread. Programmes to detect HIV infection in pregnant women and to prevent mother to child transmission (MTCT) during either delivery or breast‐feeding can decrease the incidence of infection in infants. The limited health infrastructure present in some PICT may delay the implementation of effective programmes to decrease MTCT of HIV.Methods: We used a standardized questionnaire to survey health‐care providers in 22 PICT for information on the epidemiology of HIV infection and strategies used during 2004 to prevent MTCT of HIV infection in their country. We supplemented these survey responses with data obtained from regional organizations supporting national responses to HIV.Results: We obtained responses from 21 PICT. The reported prevalence of known HIV infection was >150 per 100 000 persons in Papua New Guinea, approximately 100 per 100 000 persons in French Polynesia, Guam, New Caledonia and Tuvalu and <50 per 100 000 persons in the remaining 14 PICT. Other than in Papua New Guinea, where an estimated 500 pregnant women had HIV infection diagnosed in 2004, reported HIV infection among pregnant women was rare. Ten PICT reported that an HIV antibody test was offered as a routine component of antenatal care and 11 reported that antiretroviral medications were available for the prevention of MTCT of HIV infection.Conclusion: The prevalence of HIV infection differs greatly between PICT with a varying risk of MTCT of HIV infection. Successful prevention of MTCT of HIV infection throughout the PICT will require improved uptake of antenatal HIV antibody testing and better access to antiretroviral medications.
Transforming to Teach: Teaching Religion to Today's Black College Student
Authors: Coleman Monica A. 
Published: March 2007

Abstract.  Emerging from the particular experiences of the marginalized, postmodern pedagogies (bell hooks, Paolo Freire, feminist pedagogies) argue that education is more than conveying information from teacher to student. Rather education should encompass the transformative process of shaping character, values, and politics through the dynamic interaction among the teacher, the students' experiences, and the content of the instructional material. These perspectives argue that educators should reject “the banking model” of education, and teach to transform.However, religious studies with today's black college student tests the mettle of these approaches. On the one hand, historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) have long practiced transformative education through a commitment to shaping both the minds and characters of their students. On the other hand, many of today's black college students are less receptive to transformation, particularly in the academic study of religion. This resistance to transformation is a reflection of (1) the socio‐economic reality of the current student, and (2) a new black religiosity that portrays the world in binary terms. These economic and religious realities present a teaching context for which few religious scholars are prepared.This essay discusses the particularities of teaching religion to today's black college student by sharing the challenges, failures, successes, and joys of teaching religion at a small church‐related, historically black women's college in the south. I will discuss the techniques that fail, and the way in which this unique context causes me to transform the way I teach religion. In the midst of a commitment to postmodern pedagogies, I feel a need to return to the banking model's establishment of authority and emphasis on content. As I negotiate with this method, I find ways to stealthily infuse transformative pedagogical techniques. I also discuss the way such a dramatic shift in pedagogy has transformed me, the teacher.
On the Neutrality of Redistribution in a General Equilibrium Model with Public Goods
Authors: VILLANACCI ANTONIO , ZENGINOBUZ ÜNAL 
Published: March 2007

AbstractModels on private provision of public goods typically involve a single private good and linear production technology for the public good. We study a model with several private goods and nonlinear (strictly concave) production technology. We revisit the question of „neutrality” of government interventions on equilibrium outcomes and show that relative price effects that are absent with a single private good and linear production technology become a powerful channel of redistribution in this case. Contrary to previous results, redistributing endowments in favor of contributors is shown to be neither necessary nor sufficient for increasing the equilibrium level of public good.
Aggregative Public Good Games
Authors: CORNES RICHARD , HARTLEY ROGER 
Published: March 2007

AbstractWe exploit the aggregative structure of the public good model to provide a simple analysis of the voluntary contribution game. In contrast to the best response function approach, ours avoids the proliferation of dimensions as the number of players is increased, and can readily analyze games involving many heterogeneous players. We demonstrate the approach at work on the standard pure public good model and show how it can analyze extensions of the basic model.
Wages in a growing Russia
Authors: Kazakova Elena 
Published: March 2007

AbstractThe robust Russian economic recovery after the 1998 financial crisis raised the economic standing of the population, especially for lowly paid workers, most of whom are women. In this paper I use the Russian Longitudinal Monitoring Survey from 1996 through 2002 to ask whether this helped to reduce the gender wage gap. I first focus on those whose wages are paid in full. Next, I ask about the gender composition of wage arrears as the overall extent of wage arrears dropped from 60 to 20 per cent after the 1998 crisis. I show that a temporary widening of the overall gender wage gap in 2000 is due to low‐wage women becoming more likely to receive their wages in full than low‐wage men. Except for this effect, the male–female pay difference in Russia exhibits a stable pattern.
Lending policies of informal, formal and semiformal lenders
Authors: Pham Thi Thu Tra , Lensink Robert 
Published: March 2007

AbstractThis paper compares lending policies of formal, informal and semiformal lenders with respect to household lending in Vietnam. The analysis suggests that the probability of using formal or semiformal credit increases if borrowers provide collateral, a guarantor and/or borrow for business‐related activities. The probability of using informal credit increases for female borrowers. It also appears that the probability of using formal credit increases in household welfare up to a certain threshold, but at a decreasing rate. In addition, the paper discerns the determinants of probability of default across lender types. Default risk of formal credit appears to be strongly affected by formal loan contract terms, e.g., loan interest rate and form of loan repayment, whereas default risk on informal loans is significantly related to the presence of propinquity and other internal characteristics of the borrowing household. Overall, the study raises several important implications for the screening, monitoring and enforcement instruments that may be employed by different types of lenders.
Presentation of the French Network of Paediatric Clinical Investigation Centres (CIC.P)
Authors: Jacqz‐Aigrain Evelyne , Kassai Behrouz ,   the CIC.P collaborative network
Published: March 2007

AbstractThe network of Paediatric Clinical Investigation Centres (CIC.P) consists of eight research centres integrated into teaching hospitals. They collaborate with all medical and surgical departments, medico‐technical departments, INSERM research units, and with university research units. The aims of the network were to conduct paediatric clinical research in the areas of drug evaluation and pathophysiology (primarily growth and neurosciences) and contribute to technical innovations. The CIC.P Network provides support to investigators, from design through the conduct of investigator‐initiated or industrially sponsored clinical research protocols. It also provides physicians, pharmacists and nurses with specific training in paediatric clinical research. It has facilities specifically designed for the conduct of research in children. In accordance with Good Clinical Practice (GCP) guidelines, the CIC Network also supports parents and their children during participation in medical research.
Inhibition of cAMP‐dependent protein kinase A: a novel cyclo‐oxygenase‐independent effect of non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs in adipocytes
Authors: Zentella de Piña M. , Vázquez‐Meza H. , Agundis C. , Pereyra M. A. , Pardo J. P. , Villalobos‐Molina R. , Piña E. 
Published: March 2007

Summary 1 Non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) [acetylsalicylic acid (ASS), naproxen, nimesulide and piroxicam] decreased adrenaline‐ or dibutyryl cAMP‐stimulated glycerol release in isolated adipocytes. We aimed to determine the mechanism of this NSAIDs action. 2 Non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs decreased cAMP‐dependent protein kinase A (PKA) activity in rat adipocyte lysates and in a commercial bovine heart PKA holoenzyme. If added before cAMP, NSAIDs impaired PKA activation by the cyclic nucleotide; however, if PKA was first activated by cAMP, NSAIDs were ineffective. NSAIDs were also ineffective against PKA catalytic subunits. 3 Consequently, NSAIDs lowered hormone‐sensitive lipase translocation from cytosol to lipid storage droplets in adipocytes lysates, the critical event to promote lipolysis. 4 These results indicate that inhibition of PKA activation explains NSAIDs‐induced decrease in adrenaline‐stimulated lipolysis. We suggest that reproduction of such inhibition in nociceptive cells might enhance the understanding of the mechanism underlying the analgesic effects of NSAIDs.
Modulation of peristalsis by NK3 receptor antagonism in guinea‐pig isolated ileum is revealed as intraluminal pressure is raised
Authors: Sanger G. J. , Tuladhar B. R. , Brown J. , Aziz E. , Sivakumar D. , Furness J. B. 
Published: March 2007

Summary 1 NK3 tachykinin receptors mediate slow excitatory transmission in the enteric nervous system and play a role in reflexes induced by the intestinal stretch or mucosal compression. However, there is little evidence to suggest that these receptors are important in peristalsis. We have examined the effects of the NK3 receptor antagonist, talnetant, on peristalsis in guinea‐pig isolated ileum induced by optimal and by supra‐maximal distension pressures. 2 At the guinea‐pig NK3 receptor, talnetant was shown to have high affinity (pKB 8.8) and selectivity over the guinea‐pig NK1 and NK2 receptors. 3 Peristaltic waves in the ileum elicited by optimal distension pressures (1–3 cmH2O) were unaffected by talnetant at a supra‐maximal concentration (250 nm). 4 Distension at a higher pressure (4 cmH2O) induced peristalsis in which there was incomplete closure of the lumen during each peristaltic wave and an increase in the periods of inactivity observed between bursts of peristaltic activity. The addition of talnetant (250 nm) increased the number of peristaltic events by reducing these periods of inactivity and thus, increased the productivity of the peristaltic reflex. 5 The data suggest that NK3 receptors are not involved in the modulation of peristaltic movements by physiological stimuli, but they may have a role in modulation of reflexes in extreme or pathological conditions.
Effects of muscarinic agonists in the guinea‐pig prostate
Authors: Mitchelson F. 
Published: March 2007

Summary1 The contractile response to transmural stimulation of the guinea‐pig prostate is largely due to activation of noradrenergic neurons but there is a small contribution from cholinergic neurons. Carbachol and acetylcholine have been reported to act via muscarinic M1cholinoceptors to facilitate contractions produced by neuronal stimulation of the tissue. This action of cholinomimetics was further investigated in isolated ventral lobes of the prostate.2 Oxotremorine‐M, bethanecol, pilocarpine, xanomeline and McN‐A‐343 produced facilitation of the response to transmural stimulation of the prostate. When carbachol was applied as the first agonist, the facilitatory response to the latter four agonists above was absent or reduced, compared with the effect observed when the other agonist was applied first, indicating that the effect of these agonists is readily desensitized. Only oxotremorine‐M was unaffected by prior exposure of the tissue to carbachol. When applied first, pilocarpine and xanomeline produced a smaller degree of facilitation than carbachol indicating they were partial agonists for the effect. The facilitation produced by McN‐A‐343, when applied as the first agonist, was variable. In some preparations the facilitation was less than that of carbachol but in others it exceeded that produced by a subsequent application of carbachol.3 The release of endogenous choline from the prostate was measured at rest and during transmural stimulation using a chemiluminescent technique. A statistically significant negative correlation existed between pmol mg−1of endogenous choline released during transmural stimulation and the mass of the ventral lobe of the prostate. As the guinea‐pig prostate is known to undergo postpubertal stromal hypertrophy the finding suggests that endogenous choline release from the prostate is largely from epithelial, rather than stromal tissue.4 The possible involvement of facilitatory M1autoreceptors on cholinergic neurons in the effect of cholinomimetics was investigated. Tissue was incubated with3H‐choline to label neuronal stores of acetylcholine and the subsequent release of3H‐choline from the tissue was measured. Carbacholper seincreased the release of3H‐choline.5 Transmural stimulation usually increased the release of3H‐choline but inc.30% of preparations there was a decrease. In the presence of carbachol there was a significant increase in the release of3H‐choline during transmural stimulation of prostate lobes. However, there was no correlation between the two effects of carbachol; facilitating contractions produced by transmural stimulation and enhancing3H‐choline release during transmural stimulation. The finding provides no evidence that facilitatory M1autoreceptors on cholinergic neurons play a major role in the facilitation of contractions.