bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Skin capacitance in normal and atopic infants, and effects of moisturizers on atopic skin
Authors: MATSUMOTO Tomoaki , YUASA Hiromi , KAI Rie , UEDA Hiromi , OGURA Shunko , HONDA Yoshiko 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTSkin capacitance depends on the water content of the stratum corneum, and moisturizers have beneficial effects in atopic dermatitis. This study was performed to determine the skin capacitance in normal and atopic infants, and to evaluate the effects of different moisturizers on infantile atopic skin. The skin capacitance in 186 normal infants and 37 atopic infants was measured with a Moisture Checker. Measurements were also made for atopic infants after an application of pure petrolatum or an oil‐in‐water cream containing a humectant. Age‐related decreases in skin capacitance were observed at the majority of dermal sites in normal infants. The skin capacitance was significantly lower in atopic infants compared with normal infants at all body sites. Pure petrolatum and oil‐in‐water creams containing humectants significantly augmented the capacitance from 2% to 7%. The reference values for skin capacitance may be helpful for delineating normal from atopic skin. Certain moisturizers can increase skin hydration.
Cross‐sectional study of hair loss patterns in 122 Korean systemic lupus erythematosus patients: A frequent finding of non‐scarring patch alopecia
Authors: YUN Sook Jung , LEE Jae‐Wook , YOON Hyun‐Jung , LEE Shin Seok , KIM Seo‐Young , LEE Jee‐Bum , LEE Seung‐Chul , WON Young‐Ho , KIM Seong‐Jin 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTAlthough non‐scarring diffuse hair loss has been frequently observed in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients, the pattern of hair loss with regard to its frequency in SLE has been rarely studied. The aim of this cross‐sectional study was to evaluate the hair loss patterns in SLE during the course of disease. We evaluated 122 SLE patients (age range, 13–71 years; mean age, 32.7 ± 10.6; female : male ratio, 12.6:1), by conducting interviews about hair loss patterns before and after a diagnosis of SLE using a questionnaire format. History taking and physical examinations were done at the time of interview, and photographs were taken to discriminate the active LE‐specific scarring hair loss from the LE‐nonspecific diffuse hair loss. Frequency and correlation analysis were performed on the data from the interviews and photographs for determining their relation with the SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI). We found that 104 patients experienced at least one hair loss event before or during the course of SLE. Eighteen patients experienced patch alopecia, including eight who experienced this malady both before and after the diagnosis; thus, the overall prevalence of patch alopecia was 14.8% (18/122). Eighty‐six patients experienced hair loss after diagnosis, of which non‐scarring diffuse hair loss was the most common pattern (65.1%, 56/86) followed by non‐scarring patch alopecia (15.1%, 13/86). The interview survey failed to identify a statistically significant relationship between the hair loss pattern and the SLEDAI. Our results suggest that non‐scarring patch alopecia is also an important pattern in SLE that should be included in the differential diagnosis of alopecia areata and confirmed by histopathological examination.
Tosufloxacin tosilate‐induced thrombocytopenic purpura
Authors: TAKAHAMA Hideto , TAZAKI Hiromi 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTTosufloxacin tosilate, a member of the naphthyridine group, was developed in Japan and became commercially available in 1990. We experienced a 69‐year‐old male who developed thrombocytopenic purpura due to tosufloxacin tosilate. The diagnosis was made when similar symptoms (petechiae and thrombocytopenia) were induced by inadvertent challenge with tosufloxacin tosilate. In this paper, we report the first case of tosufloxacin tosilate‐induced thrombocytopenic purpura and present a brief published work review.
Familial cutaneous collagenoma: New affected family with prepubertal onset
Authors: GUREL Mehmet Salih , MULAYIM Mehmet Kamil , OZARDALI Ilyas , BITIREN Muharrem 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTTwo siblings presented with clinical and histopathological findings of familial cutaneous collagenoma which is a rare connective tissue nevus, inherited in an autosomal‐dominant pattern. A 13‐year‐old girl had oval‐round, soft, painless papules, 5–10 mm in size and a total of 9–10 on her abdomen and flanks. Skin biopsy demonstrated dense, coarse collagen fibers in the dermis and a decrease in elastic fibers. Doppler echocardiography indicated an atrioseptal defect of the secundum type. Her 9‐year‐old brother was also examined; four lesions were discovered on his back but he was otherwise normal. Our cases comprise the sixth affected family to be reported in the medical published work and all lesions had appeared prepubertally.
“Thermie” and friction therapy performed using a special instrument
Authors: IWASAKI Junya , AKI Toshiyuki , YOSHIDA Yuichi , YAMAMOTO Osamu , TAJIMA Shingo 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACT“Thermie” therapy is one of the folk remedies in Japan and is mainly done by rubbing the skin with special instruments. The therapy is believed to relieve several symptoms which include pain, common cold and ileus. We report here the first two cases of thermie dermatosis in the English published work. The first patient had suffered from poikiloderma‐like eruptions for 30 years after the initiation of a thermie therapy. The eruptions were on both the upper back and the abdomen. The second patient presented with a hyperpigmented plaque on the right femoral region, and excoriated papules and a hyperpigmented plaque on the left lower leg. The patient had received thermie therapy for 3 years. The histopathology of the first case revealed features of cutaneous amyloidosis, and, of the second case, superficial dermatitis and hypermelanosis in the epidermal basal layer. A common cause of both cases was regarded as the thermie therapy. This report suggests the importance of getting a thorough history including folk remedies in patients presenting such pigmented lesions.
Long‐term trends in fish recruitment in the north‐east Atlantic related to climate change
Authors: BRUNEL THOMAS , BOUCHER JEAN 
Published: June 2007

AbstractThis study investigates the temporal correspondence between the main patterns of recruitment variations among north‐east Atlantic exploited fish populations and large‐scale climate and temperature indices. It is of primary importance to know what changes in fish stock productivity can be expected in response to climate change, to design appropriate management strategies. The dominant patterns of recruitment variation were extracted using a standardized principal component analysis (PCA). The first principal component (PC) was a long‐term decline, with a stepwise change occurring in 1987. A majority of Baltic Sea, North Sea, west of Scotland and Irish Sea populations, especially the gadoids, have followed this decreasing trend. On the contrary, some herring populations and the populations of boreal ecosystems have followed an opposite increasing trend. The dominant signal in north‐east Atlantic sea surface temperature, also extracted by a PCA, was highly correlated with the increase in the Northern Hemisphere Temperature anomaly, which is considered to be an index of global warming. The first component of recruitment was inversely correlated with these changes in regional and global temperature. The second PC of recruitment was a decadal scale oscillation, which was not correlated with climate indicators. The analysis of correlations between population recruitment and local temperature also indicated that the dominant pattern of recruitment variation may be related to an effect of global warming. The influence of fishing on recruitment, via its effect on the spawning stock biomass (SSB), was also investigated by the analysis of correlations between fishing mortality, SSB and recruitment. Results indicate that fishing can be another factor explaining recruitment trends, probably acting in combination with the effect of climate, but cannot explain alone the patterns of recruitment variation found here.
Long‐term repeatability of body mass and resting metabolic rate in free‐living weasels, Mustela nivalis
Authors: SZAFRAŃSKA P. A. , ZUB K. , KONARZEWSKI M. 
Published: June 2007

Summary

The significant repeatability of a trait of interest is a vital condition for meaningful extrapolation of its value over long time periods, and any inference related to its response to environmental conditions. Surprisingly, although body mass and resting metabolic rate (RMR) are widely recognized as the two important traits affecting mammalian ecology and life history, very little is known about their repeatability in the wild.
Here we report long‐term repeatabilities of body mass and RMR, measured in summer and winter, in free‐living weasel males, Mustela nivalis L. Body mass was highly repeatable over extremely long periods (compared with weasels’ lifetime) of up to 400 days (intraclass correlation coefficient τ = 0·93, Pearson correlation r = 0·96). Its variation was independent of time and season. Repeatability of RMR (corrected for body mass and season) was also significant (τ = 0·63, r = 0·62) and independent of time scale. However, within seasons it was statistically significant in summer (τ = 0·55, r = 0·54) but not in winter (τ = 0·07, r = 0·25).
To our knowledge, this is the first study providing empirical support for long‐term repeatability of body mass and RMR in free‐ranging small mammals, and is consistent with a significant level of heritable variation of these two traits.
Climate envelope, life history traits and the resilience of birds facing global change
Authors: JIGUET FRÉDÉRIC , GADOT ANNE‐SOPHIE , JULLIARD ROMAIN , NEWSON STUART E. , COUVET DENIS 
Published: June 2007

AbstractFew studies have examined how life history traits and the climate envelope influence the ability of species to respond to climate change and habitat degradation. In this study, we test whether 18 species‐specific variables, related to the climate envelope, ecological envelope and life history, could predict recent population trends (over 17 years) of 71 common breeding bird species in France. Habitat specialists were declining at a much higher rate than generalists, a sign that habitat quality is decreasing globally. The lower the thermal maximum (temperature at the hot edge of the climate envelope), the more negative are the population trends and the less tolerant these species are climate warming, regardless of the thermal range over which these species occur. The life history trait ‘the number of broods per year’ was positively related to recent trends, suggesting that single‐brooded species might be more sensitive to advances in food peak due to climate change, as it increases the risk of mistiming their single‐breeding event. Annual fecundity explained long‐term declines, as it is a good proxy for most other demographic rates, with shorter‐lived species being more sensitive to global change: individuals of species with higher fecundity might have too short a life to learn to adapt to directional changes in their environment. Finally, there was evidence that natal dispersal was a predictor of recent trends, with species with high natal dispersal experiencing smaller population declines than species with low natal dispersal. This is expected if the higher the natal dispersal, the larger the ability to shift spatially when facing changes in local habitat or climate, in order to track optimal conditions and adapt to global change. Identifying decline‐promoting factors allow us to infer mechanisms responsible for observed declines in wild bird populations facing global change, and by doing so allow for a more pre‐emptive approach to conservation planning.
Nursing home residents in emergency departments: a Foucauldian analysis
Authors: McCloskey Rose , Van Den Hoonaard Deborah 
Published: June 2007

Abstract Title. Nursing home residents in emergency departments: a Foucauldian analysis Aim.  This paper is a critical review of current knowledge about use of emergency departments by nursing home residents.Background.  A great deal of literature focuses on the challenges presented by older adults in acute care environments. Nursing home residents who transfer to emergency departments have been identified as being particularly problematic because they use considerable resources and their needs are not always amenable to acute interventions.Method.  A literature search was conducted in May 2006 using the CINAHL, Medline and Cochrane databases and Google Scholar with the keywords ‘nursing home resident’, ‘long‐term care resident’, ‘hospital transfer’, and ‘acute illness and emergency room’. No date restrictions were imposed. Foucault's concept of subjectivity was used to demonstrate how power derived from medical knowledge is used by emergency department personnel to construct nursing home residents as problematic.Findings.  Knowledge about the use of emergency departments by nursing home residents has been derived mainly from retrospective record reviews, while the events in nursing homes that lead to transfers have been virtually ignored. Moreover, the primary focus of these investigations has been the effect of residents on emergency departments, rather than how residents themselves were affected.Conclusion.  Current understanding of the care of nursing home residents in emergency departments is embedded in a complex web of social, historical and political factors. Research is needed that considers multiple perspectives, including those of both emergency department and nursing home staff, residents and ambulance personnel who act as mediators between the two settings.
Review management for children with asthma in primary care: a qualitative case study
Authors: Lyte Geraldine , Milnes Linda , Keating Peggy , Finke Arthur 
Published: June 2007

Aims of the study.  To present an overview of review management of childhood asthma in one UK primary care trust with respect to organization and perceptions of key stakeholders and children's and families’ needs.Background.  Review management of childhood asthma in primary care is important in addressing the continuing high levels of morbidity. However, the delivery of this service appears to be fragmented, so it is not known how well primary care asthma clinics function. Children's, parents’ and professionals’ perceptions of such clinics and the roles they play within them are also poorly understood.Research design.  A qualitative case study design was used in the study. This is a form of enquiry that investigates contemporary issues within their real life contexts, using particular situations within the case to describe important phenomena.Methods.  Eighteen children, 16 parents, 14 practice purses and 14 general practitioners from 14 general practices in one primary care trust were interviewed. Review appointments were observed and asthma‐related documentation examined.Findings.  Key findings point to diversity in the service and that key stakeholders’ view practice nurses as primarily responsible for the review management. However, there are issues related to their levels of responsibility, other health professionals’ roles and interdisciplinary communication. Finally, families felt some of their needs were neglected and professionals reported uncertainties in providing family‐centred care.Conclusions.  This case study indicates that responsibility for review consultations in childhood asthma needs to be formalized, including a more proactive and family‐centred approach. There are implications for the practice nurse role regarding professional education and preparation for family‐centred care.Relevance to clinical practice.  This paper shows that unstructured, diverse care delivery persists in primary care; children and their families identify both strengths and unmet needs in review management visits; and professionals have uncertainties about providing effective child and family‐centred care.
Nurses’ perceived and actual level of diabetes mellitus knowledge: results of a cluster analysis
Authors: Chan Moon Fai , Zang Yu‐Li 
Published: June 2007

Aims.  Nurses’ perceived and actual diabetes knowledge was explored by identifying profiles of nurses working in two hospitals in Hong Kong. Relationships between nurses’ perceived and actual diabetes knowledge are explored.Background.  In non‐specialist clinical settings in Hong Kong, nurses provide diabetes self‐management education to patients, therefore, nurse's knowledge and skill in giving diabetes care is very important. Though patients’ perceptions are important, if patients solely select and set their own priorities for learning about and managing diabetes, their care could be compromised by knowledge deficits.Method.  A descriptive correlational survey was conducted during the period September 2004 to July 2005 in two local hospitals in Hong Kong. 245 nurses completed a structured questionnaire. Nurses’ demographic data, competence, perceived and actual diabetes mellitus knowledge were collected.Results.  Two‐step cluster analysis yielded three clusters: Cluster 1 nurses were characterized by relatively good competence and high diabetes knowledge than nurses in Clusters 2 and 3. Cluster 3 nurses reported low competence and diabetes knowledge than nurses in Clusters 1 and 2. Cluster 2 was a large group of nurses holding both positive and moderate competence and diabetes knowledge. Statistically significant differences were found between clusters. Overall, nurses’ perceived diabetes knowledge was statistically significant correlated with actual knowledge (rs = 0·32).Conclusions.  Nurses have the responsibility to educate patients with correct and updated information, therefore, knowledge should be provided and maintained to a certain standard.Relevance to clinical practice.  Lack of knowledge among nursing staff has contributed to diabetes patients receiving inadequate health care instruction. As indicated by the results of this study, ‘tailor‐made’ educational programmes should be designed to meet the learning needs of each subgroup. Expertise and nurse education should be recognized when such educational programmes are designed.
An evaluation of an insulin transfer programme delivered in a group setting
Authors: Kelley Kate , Dempsey Carole 
Published: June 2007

Aim.  This study assesses the efficacy of a group education programme through the improvement of the patients’ HbA1c status and their overall understanding of diabetes.Background.  The transfer from tablets to insulin is a crucial time for patients with diabetes. The provision of diabetes education is essential, enabling patients to develop a knowledge base from which to manage their diabetes and consequently take control of their life. The growing numbers of referrals for insulin transfer meant that the traditional one‐to‐one education approach is unrealistic and a local diabetes team developed a group programme to meet the demand.Method.  The study has a pre–post test design. Biomedical outcomes are: HbA1c and weight. Self‐report outcomes are: diabetes knowledge, diabetes treatment satisfaction (DTSQ) and quality of life (EQ‐5D). All outcomes were measured prior to the group education programme and then after the programme had been completed. HbA1c was also measured again at three months after the education programme had finished. A repeated measures anova was used to analyse the main data.Results.  Seventy‐two patients were recruited into the study and at follow‐up 77% (n = 65) remained in the study. The mean age of the participants was 64·5 (SD 12·01) years and the median time since being diagnosed with diabetes was 7·3 years (range two months to 20 years). There was an overall significant reduction in the HbA1c scores across the three time points (F(1·5) = 57·87, p < 0·0001). Post hoc tests indicate there are significant reductions (p < 0·0001) from the pregroup mean at both the postgroup (9·84% vs. 8·54%) and three‐month follow up means (9·84% vs. 8·10%). The difference from times 2 and 3 (8·54% vs. 8·10%) was also significant (p < 0·0001). There were no significant changes in weight. After the programme, satisfaction with diabetes treatment was high and knowledge about diabetes had improved (t(54) = 7·46, p < 0·0001). There were significant improvements reported on the five health dimensions of the EQ‐5D.Conclusion.  These results indicate that a group education programme can be an effective method of helping patients transfer from tablets to insulin.Relevance to clinical practice.  These group sessions have reduced waiting times for patients transferring from tablets to insulin and have proved an effective use of time management by Diabetes Specialist Nurses.
Lived experience of significant others of persons with diabetes
Authors: Rosa Stödberg , Sunvisson Helena , Ahlström Gerd 
Published: June 2007

Aim.  To elucidate the lived experience of being a significant other of a person with diabetes.Background.  A person's illness has consequences not only for the affected. Despite an increasing number of studies on significant others, there have been few about the experience of being a significant other of a person with diabetes.Design.  Phenomenological‐hermeneutic approach.Method.  Fifteen significant others of persons with diabetes were interviewed. The interviews were conversational, starting with an open question. They were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim. The texts were analysed and interpreted.Results.  The meaning of the lived experienced as narrated by the significant others is presented by way of four major themes: living in concern about the other's health, striving to be involved, experiencing confidence and handling the illness. Many significant others said that they lived a normal life and had come to accept diabetes as a normal part of life. At the same time, the significant others experienced sorrow when they saw the health of the person with diabetes deteriorate over time.Conclusions.  Living near a person with diabetes meant being constantly attentive to how the person was feeling. The significant others wanted to be involved in the illness by the persons with diabetes and healthcare staff. They felt confidence both in the way the person with diabetes handled the illness and in the ongoing research about diabetes. The significant others had found ways to handle the illness but lacked support from healthcare staff.Relevance to Clinical Practice.  Nurses need to provide support for significant others as well as good caring for the patients and this requires a profound understanding of significant others from their own perspective.