bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Objectives and Benchmarks for Kinetic Theories of Vehicular Traffic
Authors: Nelson Paul , Raney Bryan 
Published: October 2008

Criticisms and accomplishments of the Prigogine–Herman kinetic theory are reviewed. Two of the latter are identified as possible benchmarks against which proposed novel kinetic theories of vehicular traffic can be measured. Various kinetic theories that have been proposed to eliminate perceived deficiencies of the Prigogine–Herman theory are assessed in this light. None are found to have yet been shown to meet these benchmarks. Possible objectives and applications for kinetic theories of vehicular traffic are considered. Among these is the traditional application to the development of continuum models, with the resulting microscopically based coefficients. However, the focus is upon direct applications of the kinetic theory (e.g., the kinetic distribution function). It is concluded that the primary applications are likely to be found among situations in which variability between instances is an important consideration (e.g., travel times, or driving cycles). It is suggested that cellular automata can provide a useful framework for testing of proposed kinetic theories of vehicular traffic. This possibility is illustrated by the initial results from an ongoing project intended to illuminate the basis for the recent result that the equilibrium solutions of (a mild generalization of) the Prigogine–Herman kinetic model comprise a two-parameter family, at sufficiently high densities. (And thus the corresponding traffic stream model displays the observed scatter at such densities.) These studies are based on the simple cellular automaton CA-184-CC.
Usefulness of adrenal scintigraphy in the follow-up of adrenocortical incidentalomas: a prospective multicenter study
Authors: Fagour Cédric , Bardet Stéphane , Rohmer Vincent , Arimone Yannick , Lecomte Pierre , Valli Nathalie , Tabarin Antoine 
Published: October 2008

ObjectivesPrognostic factors for progression of benign adrenocortical adenomas (AI) remain poorly known. We assessed the usefulness of 131I-6-β-iodomethylnorcholesterol scintigraphy (IMS) to predict the occurrence of adrenal hyperfunction or mass enlargement.DesignFifty-one consecutive inpatients with unilateral AI and normal 24-h urinary free cortisol (UFC) were enrolled in a multicenter observational prospective study to investigate the relationship between the scintigraphic pattern and the progression of biological abnormalities of the hypothalamo-pituitary–adrenal axis or tumor size.ResultsBiochemically defined ‘subclinical’ Cushing's syndrome (SCS) was found at baseline in 47% of patients. Unilateral uptake (UU) was significantly associated with SCS (P<0.05). During the follow-up (4.3±1.6-year): 53% of patients showed unchanged hormonal evaluation, 29% displayed intermittent SCS and 18% showed definitive hormonal progression of SCS but without overt biochemical hypercortisolism. UU was associated with persistence of SCS and hormonal progression (P<0.01). In multivariate analysis, UU and impaired 1 mg dexamethasone suppression were independently associated with hormonal progression. Three patients with UU developed clinical CS despite persistently normal UFC. Tumor size increased in 10% patients and was not associated with any scintigraphic pattern.ConclusionEvolution of SCS toward overt biochemical CS in patients with AI is a rare event during a 4-year follow-up. UU is predictive for the occurrence of SCS, its persistence and progression within the spectrum of SCS. Further studies aiming to establish the clinical consequences of SCS are needed to recommend IMS as a complementary evaluation in patients with AI and biochemical SCS.
Quality of Care for Children Hospitalized With Asthma
Authors: Nkoy Flory L. , Fassl Bernhard A. , Simon Tamara D. , Stone Bryan L. , Srivastava Rajendu , Gesteland Per H. , Fletcher Gena M. , Maloney Christopher G. 
Published: October 2008

OBJECTIVES. The goals were (1) to identify evidence-based clinical process measures that are appropriate, feasible, and reliable for assessing the quality of inpatient asthma care for children and (2) to evaluate provider compliance with these measures.METHODS. Key asthma quality measures were identified by using a modified Rand appropriateness method, combining a literature review of asthma care evidence with a consensus panel. The feasibility and reliability of obtaining these measures were determined through manual chart review. Provider compliance with these measures was evaluated through retrospective manual chart review of data for 252 children between 2 and 17 years of age who were admitted to a tertiary care children's hospital in 2005 because of asthma exacerbations.RESULTS. Nine appropriate, feasible, reliable, clinical process measures of inpatient asthma care were identified. Provider compliance with these measures was as follows: acute asthma severity assessment at admission, 39%; use of systemic corticosteroid therapy, 98%; use of oral (not intravenous) systemic corticosteroid therapy, 87%; use of ipratropium bromide restricted to &lt;24 hours after admission, 71%; use of albuterol delivered with a metered-dose inhaler (not nebulizer) for children &gt;5 years of age, 20%; documented chronic asthma severity assessment, 22%; parental participation in an asthma education class, 33%; written asthma action plan, 5%; scheduled follow-up appointment with the primary care provider at discharge, 22%.CONCLUSIONS. Nine appropriate, feasible, reliable, clinical process measures of inpatient asthma care were identified. Provider compliance across these measures was highly variable but generally low. Our study highlights opportunities for improvement in the provision of asthma care for hospitalized children. Future studies are needed to confirm these findings in other inpatient settings.
Risk Factors for Unintentional Injuries in Children: Are Grandparents Protective?
Authors: Bishai David , Trevitt Jamie L. , Zhang Yiduo , McKenzie Lara B. , Leventhal Tama , Gielen Andrea Carlson , Guyer Bernard 
Published: October 2008

OBJECTIVE. We sought to identify sociodemographic and familial correlates of injury in children aged 2 to 3 years.
METHODS. The Healthy Steps data set describes 5565 infants who were enrolled at birth in 15 US cities in 1996–1997 and had follow-up until they were 30 to 33 months of age. Data were linked to medical claims reporting children's medically attended office visits by age 30 to 33 months. Each claim was accompanied by a reason for the visit. An analytical sample of 3449 was derived from the children who could be effectively followed up and linked to medical charts. Missing data were imputed by using multiple imputation with chained equations. The analytical sample showed no systematic evidence of sample selection bias. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the odds ratios of injury events.
RESULTS. Odds of medically attended injuries were decreased for children who received care from grandparents. Odds were increased for children who lived where fathers did not co-reside or in households where the parents never married. Statistical results were robust to the addition of a variety of covariates such as income, education, age, gender, and race.
CONCLUSIONS. Children are at higher risk for medically attended injury when their parents are unmarried. Having grandparents as caregivers seems to be protective. Household composition seems to play a key role in placing children at risk for medically attended injuries.
Potential Impact of Acceleration of the Pertussis Vaccine Primary Series for Infants
Authors: Shinall Myrick C. , Peters Timothy R. , Zhu Yuwei , Chen Qingxia , Poehling Katherine A. 
Published: October 2008

OBJECTIVE. This study estimates the potential impact, on rates of pertussis infections, hospitalizations, and deaths among infants in the United States, of administering the first dose of diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis vaccine at 6 weeks rather than 2 months of age.METHODS. We used existing data to estimate current US rates of pertussis infections, hospitalizations, and deaths according to age and infant population in 2004. We then estimated the potential impact of accelerating the administration of the first dose of diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis vaccine from 2 months to 6 weeks of age, an alternative schedule consistent with current vaccination guidelines. We used Poisson distribution analysis to determine 95% confidence intervals for projected rates of pertussis disease.RESULTS. Acceleration of administration of the first dose of diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis vaccine from 2 months to 6 weeks of age is expected to prevent 1236 cases of pertussis, 898 hospitalizations, and 7 deaths attributable to pertussis per year in the United States. These decreases represent 9% reduction in cases, 9% reduction in hospitalizations, and 6% reduction in deaths attributable to pertussis among infants &lt;3 months of age. Acceleration of the second and third doses by 2 weeks is expected to prevent an additional 923 cases, 520 hospitalizations, and 2 deaths attributable to pertussis each year.CONCLUSION. Acceleration of administration of diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis vaccine from 2 months to 6 weeks should reduce the burden of pertussis among young infants.
Barriers to Care and Primary Care for Vulnerable Children With Asthma
Authors: Seid Michael 
Published: October 2008

OBJECTIVE. I tested the hypothesis that, for vulnerable children with asthma, barriers to care (pragmatics, skills, knowledge and beliefs, expectations of care, and marginalization) affect primary care experiences, after accounting for financial, potential, and realized access to care, demographic features, and asthma severity.METHODS. Patients, recruited primarily from urban, federally qualified health centers, were between 3 and 12 years of age and had been diagnosed as having asthma. Bilingual, bicultural interviewers administered surveys in participants' homes. Validated instruments were used to measure barriers to care (Barriers to Care Questionnaire) and primary care experiences (Parent's Perceptions of Primary Care measure).RESULTS. Of 252 families recruited, 56.6% of parents were monolingual Spanish speakers, 73.6% of mothers had not graduated from high school, and 24.5% of children were uninsured. Asthma severity was 27% mild persistent, 40.5% moderate persistent, and 32.5% severe persistent. In bivariate analyses, better access to care (being insured and having a regular provider) was related to better primary care experiences. Consistent with the hypothesis, multivariate regression analyses showed that fewer barriers (Barriers to Care Questionnaire scores) predicted better primary care (Parent's Perceptions of Primary Care total and subscale scores), after controlling for access to care, demographic features, and asthma severity (a 1-point change in Barriers to Care Questionnaire scores was associated with a 0.59-point change in Parent's Perceptions of Primary Care total scale scores). Having a regular doctor and not having experienced foregone care were also significant predictors of Parent's Perceptions of Primary Care scores in the multivariate analysis.CONCLUSION. For vulnerable children with asthma, barriers to care explain variance in primary care characteristics beyond that explained by access, demographic factors, and disease severity.
Emergence of and Risk Factors for Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus of Community Origin in Intensive Care Nurseries
Authors: Seybold Ulrich , Halvosa J. Sue , White Nancy , Voris Victoria , Ray Susan M. , Blumberg Henry M. 
Published: October 2008

OBJECTIVE. The goal of this study was to define more clearly the impact of community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus clones (eg, USA300 and USA400) on colonization and infection in infants in intensive care nurseries and potential modes of transmission of community-acquired methicillin-resistant S aureus clones.
METHODS. Prospective surveillance for methicillin-resistant S aureus colonization and infection was performed among infants in the intensive care nurseries at Grady Memorial Hospital (Atlanta, GA) between 1993 and 2006. Beginning in September 2004, nares surveillance cultures were collected at admission. Methicillin-resistant S aureus isolates were genotyped by using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and multiplex polymerase chain reaction assays for staphylococcal chromosomal cassette mec gene complex type and Panton-Valentine leukocidin genes. Prevalence of and risk factors for colonization with community-acquired versus health care-associated methicillin-resistant S aureus clones (eg, USA100) were assessed.
RESULTS. Between 1993 and 2006, 130 (3.5%) of 3707 infants were identified to be colonized with methicillin-resistant S aureus. Twelve (1.2%) of 996 admission nares cultures were positive for methicillin-resistant S aureus (since initiation of admission cultures in September 2004). Community-acquired methicillin-resistant S aureus clones were first recovered in 1998; the proportion of methicillin-resistant S aureus clones of community origin increased significantly between 1998 and 2004. Multivariate analysis identified vaginal delivery and maternal smoking, both among infants of mothers receiving systemic antibiotic treatment before delivery, as independent predictors for neonatal colonization with community-acquired methicillin-resistant S aureus. Systemic antibiotic therapy before delivery for nonsmoking mothers delivering through cesarean section and possibly endotracheal intubation were associated with the recovery of health care-associated methicillin-resistant S aureus clones.
CONCLUSIONS. Community-acquired methicillin-resistant S aureus clones have emerged as a major cause of methicillin-resistant S aureus colonization in high-risk newborns. Community-acquired methicillin-resistant S aureus recovery was associated with acquisition during birth, whereas health care-associated methicillin-resistant S aureus clones seemed to be transmitted nosocomially.
Office-Based Treatment and Outcomes for Febrile Infants With Clinically Diagnosed Bronchiolitis
Authors: Luginbuhl Lynn M. , Newman Thomas B. , Pantell Robert H. , Finch Stacia A. , Wasserman Richard C. 
Published: October 2008

OBJECTIVES. The goals were to describe the (1) frequency of sepsis evaluation and empiric antibiotic treatment, (2) clinical predictors of management, and (3) serious bacterial illness frequency for febrile infants with clinically diagnosed bronchiolitis seen in office settings.METHODS. The Pediatric Research in Office Settings network conducted a prospective cohort study of 3066 febrile infants (&lt;3 months of age with temperatures ≥38°C) in 219 practices in 44 states. We compared the frequency of sepsis evaluation, parenteral antibiotic treatment, and serious bacterial illness in infants with and without clinically diagnosed bronchiolitis. We identified predictors of sepsis evaluation and parenteral antibiotic treatment in infants with bronchiolitis by using logistic regression models.RESULTS. Practitioners were less likely to perform a complete sepsis evaluation, urine testing, and cerebrospinal fluid culture and to administer parenteral antibiotic treatment for infants with bronchiolitis, compared with those without bronchiolitis. Significant predictors of sepsis evaluation in infants with bronchiolitis included younger age, higher maximal temperature, and respiratory syncytial virus testing. Predictors of parenteral antibiotic use included initial ill appearance, age of &lt;30 days, higher maximal temperature, and general signs of infant distress. Among infants with bronchiolitis (N = 218), none had serious bacterial illness and those with respiratory distress signs were less likely to receive parenteral antibiotic treatment. Diagnoses among 2848 febrile infants without bronchiolitis included bacterial meningitis (n = 14), bacteremia (n = 49), and urinary tract infection (n = 167).CONCLUSIONS. In office settings, serious bacterial illness in young febrile infants with clinically diagnosed bronchiolitis is uncommon. Limited testing for bacterial infections seems to be an appropriate management strategy.
Effects of Neonatal Dexamethasone Treatment on the Cardiovascular Stress Response of Children at School Age
Authors: Karemaker Rosa , Karemaker John M. , Kavelaars Annemieke , Tersteeg-Kamperman Marijke , Baerts Wim , Veen Sylvia , Samsom Jannie F. , van Bel Frank , Heijnen Cobi J. 
Published: October 2008

OBJECTIVE. The goal was to investigate cardiovascular responses to a psychosocial stressor in school-aged, formerly premature boys and girls who had been treated neonatally with dexamethasone or hydrocortisone because of chronic lung disease.METHODS. We compared corticosteroid-treated, formerly preterm infants with formerly preterm infants who had not been treated neonatally with corticosteroids (reference group). Children performed the Trier Social Stress Test for Children, which includes a public speaking task and a mental arithmetic task. Blood pressure was recorded continuously before, during, and after the stress test. Plasma norepinephrine levels were determined before the test, directly after the stress task, and after recovery.RESULTS. Overall, in response to stress, girls had significantly larger changes in systolic blood pressure and mean arterial pressure and in stroke volume and cardiac output, compared with boys. Boys exhibited larger total peripheral resistance responses, compared with girls. The hydrocortisone group did not differ significantly from the reference group in any of the outcome measures. However, dexamethasone-treated children had smaller stress-induced increases in systolic and mean arterial blood pressure than did hydrocortisone-treated children. In addition, the dexamethasone group showed smaller increases in stroke volume and blunted norepinephrine responses to stress, compared with children in the reference group. Correction for gender did not affect these results.CONCLUSIONS. The differences in cardiovascular stress responses between girls and boys are consistent with known gender differences in adult cardiovascular stress responses. Our data demonstrate that neonatal treatment with dexamethasone has long-term consequences for the cardiovascular and noradrenergic stress responses; at school age, the cardiovascular stress response was blunted in dexamethasone-treated children. Hydrocortisone-treated children did not differ from the reference group, which suggests that hydrocortisone might be a safe alternative to dexamethasone for treating chronic lung disease of prematurity.
Mental Illness in Young Adults Who Had Strabismus as Children
Authors: Mohney Brian G. , McKenzie Jeff A. , Capo Jason A. , Nusz Kevin J. , Mrazek David , Diehl Nancy N. 
Published: October 2008

OBJECTIVE. We investigated the prevalence and types of psychiatric disorders diagnosed by early adulthood among patients who had common forms of strabismus as children.
METHODS. The medical records of children (&lt;19 years) who were diagnosed as having esotropia (N = 266) or exotropia (N = 141) while residents of Olmsted County, Minnesota, between January 1, 1985, and December 31, 1994, were reviewed retrospectively for psychiatric disease diagnoses. Each case subject was compared with a randomly selected, individually birth- and gender-matched, control subject from the same population.
RESULTS. A mental health disorder was diagnosed for 168 (41.3%) of the 407 patients with a history of childhood strabismus, who were monitored to a mean age of 17.4 years, compared with 125 control subjects (30.7%). Children with exotropia were 3.1 times more likely to develop a psychiatric disorder than were control subjects when monitored to a mean age of 20.3 years. Children with esotropia were no more likely to develop mental illness than were control subjects when monitored for similar periods. Patients with intermittent exotropia also were significantly more likely to have greater numbers of mental health disorders, mental health emergency department visits, and mental health hospitalizations and to have suicidal or homicidal ideation.
CONCLUSIONS. Children diagnosed as having strabismus in this population, especially those with exotropia, were at increased risk for developing mental illness by early adulthood. Patients with intermittent exotropia seemed to be particularly prone to developing significant psychiatric diseases by the third decade of life.
Prophylaxis After First Febrile Urinary Tract Infection in Children? A Multicenter, Randomized, Controlled, Noninferiority Trial
Authors: Montini Giovanni , Rigon Luca , Zucchetta Pietro , Fregonese Federica , Toffolo Antonella , Gobber Daniela , Cecchin Diego , Pavanello Luigi , Molinari Pier Paolo , Maschio Francesca , Zanchetta Sergio , Cassar Walburga , Casadio Luca , Crivellaro Carlo , Fortunati Paolo , Corsini Andrea , Calderan Alessandro , Comacchio Stefania , Tommasi Lisanna , Hewitt Ian K. , Da Dalt Liviana , Zacchello Graziella , Dall'Amico Roberto ,   on behalf of the IRIS group
Published: October 2008

OBJECTIVES. Febrile urinary tract infections are common in children and associated with the risk for renal scarring and long-term complications. Antimicrobial prophylaxis has been used to reduce the risk for recurrence. We performed a study to determine whether no prophylaxis is similar to antimicrobial prophylaxis for 12 months in reducing the recurrence of febrile urinary tract infections in children after a first febrile urinary tract infection.METHODS. The study was a controlled, randomized, open-label, 2-armed, noninferiority trial comparing no prophylaxis with prophylaxis (co-trimoxazole 15 mg/kg per day or co-amoxiclav 15 mg/kg per day) for 12 months. A total of 338 children who were aged 2 months to &lt;7 years and had a first episode of febrile urinary tract infection were enrolled: 309 with a confirmed pyelonephritis on a technetium 99m dimercaptosuccinic acid scan with or without reflux and 27 with a clinical pyelonephritis and reflux. The primary end point was recurrence rate of febrile urinary tract infections during 12 months. Secondary end point was the rate of renal scarring produced by recurrent urinary tract infections on technetium 99m dimercaptosuccinic acid scan after 12 months.RESULTS. Intention-to-treat analysis showed no significant differences in the primary outcome between no prophylaxis and prophylaxis: 12 (9.45%) of 127 vs 15 (7.11%) of 211. In the subgroup of children with reflux, the recurrence of febrile urinary tract infections was 9 (19.6%) of 46 on no prophylaxis and 10 (12.1%) of 82 on prophylaxis. No significant difference was found in the secondary outcome: 2 (1.9%) of 108 on no prophylaxis versus 2 (1.1%) of 187 on prophylaxis. Bivariate analysis and Cox proportional hazard model showed that grade III reflux was a risk factor for recurrent febrile urinary tract infections. Whereas increasing age was protective, use of no prophylaxis was not a risk factor.CONCLUSIONS. For children with or without primary nonsevere reflux, prophylaxis does not reduce the rate of recurrent febrile urinary tract infections after the first episode.