bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Who Has Power in the EU? The Commission, Council and Parliament in Legislative Decision‐making*
Authors: THOMSON ROBERT , HOSLI MADELEINE 
Published: May 2006

AbstractWhat is the relative power of the European Commission, the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament (EP) in the European Union (EU)? Both scholars and practitioners of EU affairs provide different answers to this seemingly straightforward question. In this article, we examine the balance of power among these three actors in the context of legislative decision‐making. We report the results of a small survey among a select group of practitioners of EU affairs. Their judgements on the relative power of the three organizations vary considerably. We distinguish between two contrasting views: a Council‐centric view that attributes more power to the Council of Ministers than to the Commission and Parliament, and a supranational view that attributes large amounts of power to the supranational organizations relative to the Council. To test the veracity of these alternative views, we incorporate them into two variants of a simple and testable bargaining model that makes forecasts of decision outcomes, based on information on actors' preferences. The models are then applied to a dataset that includes information on EU actors' policy positions on 162 controversial issues of which the decision outcomes are known. The variant of the bargaining model incorporating the Council‐centric view provides significantly more accurate forecasts.
Media Effects on Public Opinion about the Enlargement of the European Union*
Authors: DE VREESE CLAES H. , BOOMGAARDEN HAJO G. 
Published: May 2006

AbstractStudies of public support for matters of European integration tend either to neglect or inadequately model the role of the mass media. This study investigates how news media content affects public support for the enlargement of the EU. Other influences on support for integration, such as economic evaluations, anti‐immigration sentiment, domestic political considerations and cognitive mobilization are accounted for. The study draws on two‐wave panel surveys and media content analyses of television news and national newspapers. The results suggest that media coverage of EU affairs matters to change in public opinion about EU enlargement. The effects of the news media, however, are conditional upon the visibility and consistency in tone of the news.
Electronic journal provision in a health‐care library: insights from a consultation with NHS workers
Authors: Crudge Sarah E. , Hill Mary L. 
Published: May 2006

AbstractObjective:  This study determines the current awareness journal reading requirements of the users of Stockport National Health Service (NHS) Trust's library. The overlap between requirements and the provision of the NHS Core Content resources, four major electronic journal bundles, and the holdings of North West health libraries is also investigated.Methods:  A survey of both hospital and Primary Care Trust staff was conducted, and respondents were required to provide a list of their favourite journal titles. Each requested title was assigned a subject code, and the impact factor was noted.Results:  From 135 survey responses, 217 journal titles were identified and 33 category codes were utilized. There was little overlap between the request list and the NHS Core Content titles, but substantial correspondence existed between the request list and the print holdings of North West health libraries.Conclusions:  Current awareness journal reading requirements will not be met by the Core Content provision alone. Bundles of titles offer value‐for‐money solutions, but may be at the expense of popular titles. Furthermore, the success of regional document supply schemes may be compromised if large numbers of health‐care libraries replace print holdings with similar electronic journal bundles.
Competence in nursing informatics among nursing students and staff at a nursing institute in Sweden
Authors: Ragneskog Hans , Gerdner Linda 
Published: May 2006

AbstractBackground:  Information technology (IT) has slowly been implemented in many health‐care organizations (i.e. hospitals). The use of computers has advanced to home care and long‐term facilities. Consequently, it is important that nurses are able to demonstrate competence and feel confident in the use of IT. Yet, research has reported that nursing students have varying degrees of competence and experience with IT.Aims:  The purpose of this study was to ascertain nursing students’ and nursing educators’ self‐reported attitudes, skills and experiences using IT.Methods:  Data were collected through a written survey distributed and completed by 247 nursing students (45 of whom were registered nurses who participated in extension courses) and 52 staff members from the nursing faculty at a university in Sweden.Results:  Two‐thirds of the students and 92% of the nursing educators had access to the Internet from their homes. Of the students, 71% identified their IT skills as being sufficient for their current or future work as a registered nurse. Nurse educators were less confident in the students’ ability, reporting that only 29% of nursing students had sufficient IT skills. Comparatively, 48% of the nursing educators believed that they themselves had sufficient IT skills for their role as a nurse educator.Conclusions:  It is important that nursing students have basic IT skills and are familiar with e‐mail, word‐processing and various databases on the World Wide Web. Findings indicate that participants had a deficit in these skills, suggesting the need to integrate IT into the nursing curriculum.
The UK's SMARTAL Project: St MARTin's College health students Access to Learning resources whilst on placement
Authors: Mailer Liz 
Published: May 2006

AbstractBackground: St Martin's College pre‐registration health students spend up to half their course on periods of placement, during which times they need to be able to access learning resources. The project aimed to replicate the Health and Education Northumbria Students Access to Learning resources (HENSAL) project.Objective: To look at patterns of use and access to learning resources for health students on placement.Methods: Questionnaires were distributed to students who had recently returned from a placement. Five Practice Placement Facilitators were interviewed to gain their views.Results: There was a 60% return rate (n = 268) for the questionnaire. Most students thought access to learning resources was important yet these were not always available and varied according to placement type. Students still made regular use of the College library while they were on placement but had some difficulties. Students used electronic resources, tending to access them from home.Conclusions: The results indicated that there were issues which needed to be addressed by the College's Faculty of Health and Social Care, Library and IT services, the local NHS Trust libraries and the local Strategic Health Authority to improve access to and use of learning resources. The findings proved to be very similar to those of the HENSAL project.
Fifteen hundred guidelines and growing: the UK database of clinical guidelines1
Authors: Van Loo John , Leonard Niamh 
Published: May 2006

AbstractBackground:  The National Library for Health offers a comprehensive searchable database of nationally approved clinical guidelines, called the Guidelines Finder. This resource, commissioned in 2002, is managed and developed by the University of Sheffield Health Sciences Library.Methods:  The authors introduce the historical and political dimension of guidelines and the nature of guidelines as a mechanism to ensure clinical effectiveness in practice. The article then outlines the maintenance and organisation of the Guidelines Finder database itself, the criteria for selection, who publishes guidelines and guideline formats, usage of the Guidelines Finder service and finally looks at some lessons learnt from a local library offering a national service.Conclusions:  Clinical guidelines are central to effective clinical practice at the national, organisational and individual level. The Guidelines Finder is one of the most visited resources within the National Library for Health and is successful in answering information needs related to specific patient care, clinical research, guideline development and education.
Developing and evaluating an interactive information skills tutorial1
Authors: Grant Maria J. , Brettle Alison J. 
Published: May 2006

AbstractObjective:  To develop and evaluate a web‐based interactive information skills tutorial integrated into the curriculum. To determine whether the tutorial was acceptable to students and explore the use of a skills assessment tool in identifying whether the tutorial improved skills.Methods:  The development of a tutorial on OVID medline to teach transferable information skills. A small cohort study to evaluate students’ views on the tutorial and its effects on information skills.Results:  Thirteen objective assessments were usable. There was a statistically significant improvement in mean final assessment scores, compared with mean pre‐training scores, F(2,14) = 11.493, P = 0.001. Eleven (85%) students had improved their overall information skills. The improvement in overall searching skills was enhanced by referral to the tutorial.Conclusions:  The tutorial was successfully developed and integrated into a Masters programme curriculum. In this setting, it appears to reinforce active learning, and was well received by students, who developed core generic searching skills and demonstrated improved information skills in the short and longer term. Students could use the tutorial for revision and study at a time and place of their choosing. Further evaluation is required to assess the impact of using the tutorial with large groups of students, and as a stand‐alone teaching medium.
Inflammatory conditions increase expression of protease‐activated receptor‐2 by human airway smooth muscle cells in culture
Authors: Freund‐Michel Véronique , Frossard Nelly 
Published: May 2006

AbstractThe protease‐activated receptor‐2 (PAR‐2) has been implicated in airway inflammation and bronchial hyperresponsiveness. We wondered whether inflammatory conditions may upregulate PAR‐2 expression by the human airway smooth muscle. To do so, we treated human airway smooth muscle cells (HASMC) in primary culture with interleukin‐1β(IL‐1β), a pro‐inflammatory and asthma‐associated cytokine. Cells were starved for 24 h and incubated with or without IL‐1β. Online fluorescent polymerase chain reaction after reverse transcription quantified PAR‐2 mRNA, and Western blotting measured PAR‐2 protein expression. PAR‐2 was constitutively expressed by HASMC in primary culture, and IL‐1β(10 U/mL) time dependently elevated PAR‐2 mRNA with a maximum of 4.7‐fold after 1.5 h (P < 0.01), and PAR‐2 protein expression with a maximum of 1.5‐fold after 24 h (P < 0.01). The concentration dependence of the IL‐1βeffect (0.1–30 U/mL) confirmed a maximal increase of PAR‐2 expression at 10 U/mL. Our study clearly shows that IL‐1βupregulates PAR‐2 mRNA and protein expression by HASMC in culture. This increased expression of PAR‐2 in inflammatory conditions may have functional consequences in the bronchial dysfunction of asthmatic airways.
Evidence againstα2‐adrenoceptors mediating relaxation in rat thoracic aortae:α2‐agonists relaxation depends on interaction withα1‐adrenoceptors
Authors: Castillo Enrique F. , Ortíz Cindy S. , López Ruth M. , Ruíz Antonio , Vélez Juan M. , Castillo Carlos 
Published: May 2006

AbstractIn rat aorta, the presence of functionalα2‐adrenoceptors (α2‐AR) was investigated in ring preparations preconstricted withα1‐adrenergic and non‐α1‐adrenergic agonists. Particularly, the hypothetical interference ofα2‐AR agonists withα1‐AR‐mediated vasoconstriction was evaluated. Relaxant and contractile responses toα2‐AR agonists were obtained. In endothelium‐intact and endothelium‐denuded aortic rings preconstricted with phenylephrine (1 × 10−6 m), the imidazoline derivatives, clonidine and UK14304, induced relaxations with similar order of potencies (−log EC50) and maxima relaxant effects respectively. Pretreatment with the NO synthase inhibitor, NG‐nitro‐l‐arginine methyl ester (l‐NAME) had no effect on the relaxant responses to clonidine and UK14304. In phenylephrine‐constricted rings with endothelium, relaxations to clonidine and UK 14304 were not antagonized by the selectiveα2‐AR antagonist, rauwolscine (≤1 × 10−6 m). Clonidine and UK 14304 induced only contractions on endothelium‐intact and endothelium‐denuded aortic rings contracted with prostaglandin F2α(3 × 10−7 m). Moreover, clonidine and UK 14304‐induced relaxation of endothelium‐denuded arteries precontracted with methoxamine but not with serotonin. Finally, the concentration–contraction curves to clonidine and UK 14304 in endothelium‐denuded aortic rings were significantly shifted to the right by theα1D‐AR selective antagonist, BMY 7378, and rauwolscine. The pA2and pKBvalues for BMY 7378 and rauwolscine, respectively, against endothelium‐independent actions of clonidine and UK 14304 were characteristic of an effect on theα1D‐AR. The other selectiveα2‐AR agonist tested BHT 933 (an azepine derivative), lacks considerable relaxant and contractile effects in rat aorta. The results provide no evidence for the presence of functionalα2‐AR in rat aorta. Respectively, the relaxant and contractile effects of the imidazoline derivatives, clonidine and UK 14304, may be due to an adjustable (in relation to the agonist‐dependent active state of theα1‐AR), inhibitory and excitatory, interaction withα1‐ARs.
Late non‐relapse mortality among adult autologous stem cell transplant recipients: a nation‐wide analysis of 1482 patients transplanted in 1990–2003
Authors: Jantunen E. , Itälä M. , Siitonen T. , Koivunen E. , Leppä S. , Juvonen E. , Kuittinen O. , Lehtinen T. , Koistinen P. , Nyman H. , Nousiainen T. , Volin L. , Remes K. 
Published: May 2006

Abstract:Introduction:  Data on the incidence and causes of late (>100 d) non‐relapse mortality (NRM) in autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) recipients is limited.Patients and methods:  We have analysed NRM in a cohort of 1482 adult patients who received ASCT in 1990–2003 in six Finnish transplant centres. The most common diagnoses included non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) (n = 542), multiple myeloma (MM) (n = 528), breast cancer (n = 132); Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) (n = 86) and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) (n = 63).Results:  Until September 2005, 646 patients (44%) have died. Late NRM was observed in 68 patients (4.6% of ASCT recipients; 11% of all deaths). There were 38 males and 30 females with a median age of 58 yr (20–69) at the time of ASCT. The median time to NRM was 27 months from ASCT (3–112). The risk of NRM was highest in patients with CLL (9.5%) and those with HL (8.1%) followed by MM and NHL (4.9% and 4.8%, respectively). The risk of late NRM was comparable in patients who received total body irradiation (TBI) and those who received chemotherapy‐only regimens (6.7% vs. 4.3%). Another malignancy was the most common cause of late NRM (24 patients, 35% of late NRM). Twelve patients (0.8% of ASCT recipients) have died due to secondary haematological malignancy. Altogether 22 patients (32% of late NRM) died from infectious causes.Conclusions:  Malignancies and late infections are important causes of NRM after ASCT. These facts point out the importance of prolonged follow‐up in ASCT recipients.
Establishment of a nude mice model of human monocytic leukemia with CNS and multiorgan extramedullary infiltration
Authors: Li Zhenjiang , Chen Zixing , Lu Jun , Cen Jiannong , He Jun , Chen Suning , Xue Yongquan , Guo Lingchuan 
Published: May 2006

Abstract:Object:  To establish a human monocytic leukemia model with central nervous system infiltration in BALB/c nude mice.Methods:  BALB/c nu/nu mice, pretreated by splenectomy, cytoxan intraperitoneal injection, and sublethal irradiation, were transplanted intravenously with human monocytic leukemic cell line SHI‐1. The leukemic cells engrafted in the mice were traced by RT‐PCR, histopathological examination, immunohistochemistry and FCM.Result:  After engraftment of SHI‐1 cells in SCI‐nu/nu mice, multiple organs were involved and green solid neoplasms were formed in some organs. Paralysis was developed in some mice at both of the rear legs. Histopathological examination found that vertebral and skull bone marrow were replaced by leukemic cells. Leukemic cells penetrated to the surface of vertebrae, forming neoplasm, and entering to the subdural space, but seldom involving in the spinal parenchyma. In the brain, leukemic cells filled in the subdural space and pia‐arachnoid, covered the surface of cerebrum, cerebellum and along the virchow‐robin space on the surface of pia mater, eventually invading into the brain parenchyma.Conclusion:  SHI‐1 cells could engraft in the SCI‐nu/nu mice, creating an efficient and reproducible experimental model of central nervous system leukemia (CNSL) and multiorgan infiltration. This experimental model may be useful for studies on the pathogenesis of CNSL.
Cardiac effects within 3 months of BEAC high‐dose therapy in non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma patients undergoing autologous stem cell transplantation
Authors: Kuittinen T. , Jantunen E. , Vanninen E. , Mussalo H. , Vuolteenaho O. , Ala‐Kopsala M. , Nousiainen T. , Hartikainen J. 
Published: May 2006

Abstract:Objectives:  Limited data are available on the cardiac effects of high‐dose cyclophosphamide (CY) in patients with non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). We prospectively assessed the cardiac effects of high‐dose CY in 30 adult NHL patients receiving CY 6 g/m2 as part of BEAC high‐dose therapy (HDT).Methods:  Radionuclide ventriculography (RVG) and plasma natriuretic peptide (NT‐proANP, NT‐proBNP) measurements were performed simultaneously prior to BEAC at baseline (d − 7), 12 days (d + 12) and 3 months (m + 3) after stem cell infusion (D0). In addition to these time points, natriuretic peptides were measured 2 days before (d − 2) and 1 week (d + 7) after stem cell infusion.Results:  Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) decreased from d − 7 (53% ± 2%) to d + 12 (49% ± 2%, P = 0.009). However, no significant change in cardiac diastolic function was observed. The LVEF returned towards baseline by m + 3. Plasma NT‐proANP and NT‐proBNP increased significantly from baseline (445 ± 65 pmol/L and 129 ± 33 pmol/L) to d − 2 (1127 ± 142 pmol/L, P < 0.001 and 624 ± 148 pmol/L, P < 0.001, respectively). Thereafter, they started to decrease, but on d + 7 NT‐proANP (404 ± 157 pmol/L, P = 0.048) and NT‐proBNP (648 ± 125 pmol/L, P = 0.015) were still significantly higher than at baseline. On d + 12 and m + 3 they no longer differed from baseline.Conclusions:  Our findings suggest that high‐dose CY results in acute, subclinical systolic dysfunction in NHL patients previously treated with anthracyclines. Natriuretic peptides seem to be more sensitive than LVEF to reflect this transient cardiac effect. Serial measurements of natriuretic peptides might be a useful tool to assess cardiac effects of high‐dose CY.
JAK2V617F mutation in platelets from essential thrombocythemia patients: correlation with clinical features and analysis of STAT5 phosphorylation status
Authors: Heller Paula G. , Lev Paola R. , Salim Juan P. , Kornblihtt Laura I. , Goette Nora P. , Chazarreta Carlos D. , Glembotsky Ana C. , Vassallu Patricia S. , Marta Rosana F. , Molinas Felisa C. 
Published: May 2006

Abstract:Objective:  JAK2V617F mutation rate in granulocytes from essential thrombocythemia (ET) patients ranges from 12% to 57%. Our aim was to evaluate the frequency of this mutation in the megakaryocyte/platelet lineage, and to analyze its clinical associations in ET. In addition, we determined whether this mutation leads to constitutive phosphorylation of STAT5 in platelets.Materials and Methods:  Consecutive patients with ET were included and clinical features were retrospectively reviewed. Mutation detection was performed by allele specific RT‐PCR (AS‐RT‐PCR) and Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of platelet RNA. Constitutive phosphorylation of STAT5 in platelets was studied by Western blot.Results:  Fifty patients were included, 24 (48%) were JAK2V617F‐positive by both AS‐RT‐PCR and RFLP. Patients with the mutation were older, had significantly higher hemoglobin levels, and lower platelet counts. Besides, higher frequency of thrombotic events was found in JAK2V617F‐positive patients younger than 60, 53% vs. 4%, P = 0.0008. In addition, constitutive STAT5 phosphorylation was not detected in platelets from 12 patients.Conclusions:  The frequency of the JAK2V617F mutation in platelets was similar to that reported in granulocytes in the literature, suggesting this mutation does not occur as an isolated event in the megakaryocyte lineage. If confirmed in a larger study, the observed higher frequency of thrombosis in patients younger than 60 might be a useful predictive marker for thrombosis in this subset of patients. Even though this mutation has been predicted to constitutively activate the JAK2 kinase, spontaneous phosphorylation of STAT5 does not seem to be a frequent finding in platelets from ET patients.
Stem cell properties of human periodontal ligament cells
Authors: Nagatomo K. , Komaki M. , Sekiya I. , Sakaguchi Y. , Noguchi K. , Oda S. , Muneta T. , Ishikawa I. 
Published: May 2006

Background and Objective:  Stem cells have been used for regenerative therapies in various fields. The proportion of cells that possess stem cell properties in human periodontal ligament (PDL) cells is not yet well understood. In this study, we quantitatively characterized human PDL cells to clarify their stem cell properties, including self‐renewal, multipotency, and stem cell marker expression.Material and Methods:  PDL cells were obtained from extracted premolar or wisdom teeth, following which a proliferation assay for self‐renewal, a differentiation assay for multipotency, immunostaining for STRO‐1, and fluorescence‐activated cell sorter (FACS) analysis for stem cell markers (including CD105, CD166, and STRO‐1) were performed.Results:  Approximately 30% of 400 PDL cells were found to possess replicative potential and formed single‐cell colonies, and 30% of these colonies displayed positive staining for STRO‐1, 20% differentiated into adipocytes and 30% differentiated into osteoblasts. FACS analysis revealed that PDL cells, including cell populations, expressed the stem cell markers CD105, CD166, and STRO‐1.Conclusion:  The findings of this study indicated that PDL cells possess crucial stem cell properties, such as self‐renewal and multipotency, and express the mesenchymal stem cell markers CD105, CD166, and STRO‐1 on their cell surface, although there were some variations. Thus, PDL cells can be used for periodontal regenerative procedures.