bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of antioxidative performance of tomato extracts obtained by different methods
Authors: Chang Ching‐Hui , Liu Yung‐Chuan 
Published: December 2007

AbstractBACKGROUND: Two extraction methods employing tetrahydrofuran and phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) respectively were used to process tomatoes. The antioxidant contents and antioxidative properties of extracts of four tomato cultivars were measured. To evaluate the overall antioxidative capacity of the tomato extracts, an antioxidative performance index (API) was used, defined as the average of four antioxidative assays, i.e. relative reducing power, ferrous ion‐chelating ability, 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl free radical‐scavenging activity and superoxide radical‐scavenging activity.RESULTS: A linear correlation between the total antioxidant content (TAC) and API of tomato extracts was found that was independent of the extraction method and tomato cultivar.CONCLUSION: The concept of representing multiple antioxidant activities by a single index is useful for evaluating the overall antioxidative capacity of antioxidants in tomatoes. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry
School‐based health promotion: An introduction to the practitioner's edition
Authors: Walcott Christy M. , Chafouleas Sandra M. , McDougal James L. , Miller David N. , Riley‐Tillman T. Chris , Blom‐Hoffman Jessica , Volpe Robert J. 
Published: December 2007

AbstractIn this age of increasing professional accountability, it is important that school practitioners engage in evidence‐based practices. In support of this goal, the intent of this special issue is to disseminate practical, user‐friendly, evidenced‐based information related to school‐based health issues. This article introduces the Psychology in the Schools “Practitioner's Edition” on school‐based health promotion. A conceptual framework for the issue, encompassing universal prevention strategies and tertiary intervention strategies, is described. First, school practitioners have unique opportunities to promote healthy behavior for all children and to engage in universal prevention of common health conditions. Second, practitioners should recognize the special needs of children with specific diagnosed medical conditions and employ individualized intervention strategies for these children. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Adolescent sexual risk behaviors and school‐based sexually transmitted infection/HIV prevention
Authors: Walcott Christy M. , Meyers Adena B. , Landau Steven 
Published: December 2007

AbstractMany adolescents are susceptible to negative outcomes associated with sexual behavior. This is particularly true for those who initiate sexual intercourse at an early age, have many sex partners, or engage in unprotected sex because these behaviors put one at risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV. This article reviews the various demographic, social‐contextual, and intrapersonal factors linked to sexual risk behaviors. Successful STI/HIV prevention programs must consider developmental and gender issues, as well as cultural norms and values, to effectively meet the prevention needs of all adolescents. We discuss the characteristics of effective intervention programs and provide the names and key features of empirically validated, school‐based STI/HIV prevention programs. In addition, we recommend specific roles for school psychologists in STI/HIV prevention efforts. Finally, other resources are provided to assist practitioners in their continuing review of STI/HIV prevention education. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Hospital‐to‐school transition for children with chronic illness: Meeting the new challenges of an evolving health care system
Authors: Shaw Steven R. , McCabe Paul C. 
Published: December 2007

AbstractChronic illness is common and has a profound impact on the education of affected children. A variety of approaches and programs to facilitate the transition from hospital to school for children with chronic health problems has been described in the literature. Traditional transition plans may no longer be effective because medical service delivery has changed to reduce long‐term hospital stays while increasing outpatient care. As a result, comprehensive hospital‐to‐school transitions increasingly emphasize home and family involvement that includes homebound instruction strategies, flexible school days, using differentiated instructional strategies, increasing child autonomy, and addressing affective issues. This article describes the needs of children with chronic illness, identifies educational programming consistent with the current health care system, and describes current hospital‐to‐school transition plans that integrate systemic needs of schools and health care systems with the needs of children with chronic illness. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Solution calorimetry of organic nonelectrolytes as a tool for investigation of intermolecular interactions
Authors: Solomonov Boris N. , Novikov Vladimir B. 
Published: December 2007

AbstractThe paper is mainly the review and generalization of the previous publications of the authors. It demonstrates that solution calorimetry method gives the opportunities of more detailed understanding of various aspects of intermolecular interactions in solution. We are assured that prerequisite to such an understanding is the successive analysis of various solute–solvent systems from the simplest ones which include alkanes as a solute or as a solvent to the most complex systems with solvent self‐association via hydrogen bonding. Particular findings discussed in this paper are (i) an inconspicuous contribution of electrostatic solute–solvent interaction to the solvation enthalpy and, accordingly, the dominating contribution of dispersion interactions for nonspecifically solvated solutes; (ii) new, very general method for the extraction of specific interaction enthalpy from the enthalpy of solvation; (iii) new method of determination of self‐association enthalpies for the solvents associated via hydrogen bonding; (iv) new method for determination of cooperative hydrogen bonding enthalpies of proton acceptors with associated species of alcohols; (v) the unique method of experimental determination of the hydrophobic effect enthalpy. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Thermal conductivity of open‐cell polyolefin foams
Authors: Alvarez‐Lainez M. , Rodriguez‐Perez M. A. , DE Saja J. A. 
Published: December 2007

AbstractThe thermal conductivity and the cellular structure of novel open‐cell polyolefin foams produced by compression molding and based on blends of an ethylene‐vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) and a low‐density polyethylene (LDPE) have been studied in the temperature range between 24 and 50 °C. The experimental results have shown that the cellular structure of the analyzed materials has interconnected cells because of the presence of large and small holes in the cell walls, this structure being clearly different to the typical structure of open‐cell polyurethane foams. It has been found that at low temperatures the materials have a slightly higher thermal conductivity than closed‐cell polyolefin foams of similar densities. The different mechanisms of heat flow, conduction, convection, and radiation have been analyzed by using experimental measurements and a theoretical model. It has been proved that, in spite of having an open‐cell structure, the convention mechanism is negligible, being the radiation mechanism the one which made different the conductivity of materials with varying cellular structures. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 46: 212–221, 2008
Oligomycin A and the IPLB‐LdFB insect cell line: Actin and mitochondrial responses
Authors: Tettamanti Gianluca , Malagoli Davide , Ottaviani Enzo , De Eguileor Magda 
Published: December 2007

AbstractOligomycin A, an inhibitor of mitochondrial ATP synthase, provokes simultaneous and different responses in IPLB‐LdFB insect cell line. The oligomycin A treatment causes mitochondrial loss, increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS), destabilization/reorganization of the actin microfilaments and, finally, autophagic cell death. We speculate that oligomycin A affects the mitochondria and that the impairment of these organelles leads to the generation of ROS in quantities that exceed the antioxidant capacity of the cell. This in turn would lead to a feedback loop of increased mitochondrial impairment, amplification of ROS production and the removal of damaged organelles through autophagy.
G‐protein‐coupled receptor Gpr1 and G‐protein Gpa2 of cAMP‐dependent signaling pathway are involved in glucose‐induced pexophagy in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Nazarko Volodymyr Y. , Thevelein Johan M. , Sibirny Andriy A. 
Published: December 2007

AbstractIn yeast cell, glucose induces various changes of cellular metabolism on genetic and metabolic levels. One of such changes is autophagic degradation of dispensable peroxisomes (pexophagy) which occurs in vacuoles. We have found that in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, defect of G‐protein‐coupled receptor Gpr1 and G‐protein Gpa2, both the components of cAMP‐signaling pathway, strongly suppressed glucose‐induced degradation of matrix peroxisomal protein thiolase. We conclude that proteins Gpr1 and Gpa2 are involved in glucose sensing and signal transduction during pexophagy process in yeast.
The prevalence of iodine deficiency in women of reproductive age in the United States of America
Authors: Hollowell Joseph G , Haddow James E 
Published: December 2007

AbstractObjective:To review the iodine status of women as assessed through National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys from 1971 to 2002.Design and Setting:National normative estimates of iodine status of the civilian, non-institutionalized population in the United States of America.Subjects:Women of reproductive age and pregnant women.Results:In the United States of America, iodine began to be added to the diet in the 1920s. An excessive iodine intake was documented by the first National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES I) in the 1970s which reported a median urinary iodine (UI) concentration of 320 μg l-1. In the NHANES III survey, conducted between 1988 and 1994, the median UI concentration had decreased to 145 μg l-1, while 14.9% of women aged 15-44 years and 6.9% of pregnant women had a UI concentration 50 μg l-1. The concentrations of serum T4 and thyroid-stimulating hormone of women with a low UI concentration did not, however, indicate an iodine deficiency.Conclusions:Further studies of the association between iodine excretion and biochemical and physiological changes should be undertaken to better understand women's needs for iodine and to develop criteria to monitor them in pregnancy. Because of the potential harm caused by iodine deficiency during pregnancy, we support the use of iodine supplements for all pregnancies while these data are being collected.
Evaluating iodine deficiency in pregnant women and young infants—complex physiology with a risk of misinterpretation
Authors: Laurberg P , Andersen S , Bjarnadóttir R I , Carlé A , Hreidarsson AB , Knudsen N , Ovesen L , Pedersen IB , Rasmussen LB 
Published: December 2007

AbstractObjective:To review methods for evaluating iodine deficiency in pregnant women and young infants and to discuss factors to be considered in the interpretation of their results.Design:Review of the literature regarding the various methods available for assessing iodine status.Setting:Population surveys and research studies.Subjects:Pregnant women and young infants.Results:Several factors to consider when assessing iodine status in pregnant women and young infants include: 1) the urinary iodine (UI) concentration (μg l-1) is not interchangeable with 24 h UI excretion (μg per 24 h); 2) the concentration of iodine in a spot or casual urine sample cannot be used to diagnose iodine deficiency in an individual; 3) a moderate fall in the concentration of serum free T4 during pregnancy is not a sign of maternal iodine deficiency; 4) an increase in the concentration of serum thyroglobulin (Tg) during pregnancy is not a sign of maternal iodine deficiency; 5) a higher concentration of TSH and Tg in cord blood than in maternal blood is not a sign of iodine deficiency in the mother or neonate; and 6) thyroid function in a full-term foetus, a neonate or a small child is not more sensitive to a mild iodine deficiency than in the mother.Conclusions:If the iodine status of pregnant women and small children is not to be misjudged, the above six factors need to be taken into account.
Iodine deficiency and brain development in the first half of pregnancy
Authors: de Escobar Gabriella Morreale , Obregón María Jesús , del Rey Francisco Escobar 
Published: December 2007

AbstractAn inadequate supply of iodine during gestation results in damage to the foetal brain that is irreversible by mid-gestation unless timely interventions can correct the accompanying maternal hypothyroxinemia. Even mild to moderate maternal hypothyroxinemia may result in suboptimal neurodevelopment. This review mainly focuses on iodine and thyroid hormone economy up to mid-gestation, a period during which the mother is the only source for the developing brain of the foetus. The cerebral cortex of the foetus depends on maternal thyroxine (T4) for the production of the 3′,3,5-tri-iodothyronine (T3) for nuclear receptor-binding and biological effectiveness.Maternal hypothyroxinemia early in pregnancy is potentially damaging for foetal brain development. Direct evidence has been obtained from experiments on animals: even a relatively mild and transient hypothyroxinemia during corticogenesis, which takes place mostly before mid-gestation in humans, affects the migration of radial neurons, which settle permanently in heterotopic locations within the cortex and hippocampus. Behavioural defects have also been detected.The conceptus imposes important early changes on maternal thyroid hormone economy that practically doubles the amount of T4secreted something that requires a concordant increase in the availability of iodine, from 150 to 250–300 μg I day− 1. Women who are unable to increase their production of T4early in pregnancy constitute a population at risk for having children with neurological disabilities. As a mild to moderate iodine deficiency is still the most widespread cause of maternal hypothyroxinemia, the birth of many children with learning disabilities may be prevented by advising women to take iodine supplements as soon as pregnancy starts, or earlier if possible, in order to ensure that their requirements for iodine are met.
Consent and information giving in radiotherapy
Authors: Thompson Gillian 
Published: December 2007

AbstractThis paper explores some of the issues around implementing a consent policy within the radiotherapy department. Consent can be defined as a patient’s agreement for a health care professional to provide care. The NHS Plan1 highlighted the need for quality care centred around the patient and for changes in the way patients are asked to give their consent to treatment. This led to the Department of Health (DoH) publishing a Good Practice in Consent Implementation Guide (2001)2 for use within all NHS Trusts from 1 April 2002, which aimed to provide consistency across the NHS and provides a policy model and generic consent forms.The policy recommends that the health professional carrying out the procedure is ultimately responsible for ensuring that the patient is genuinely consenting to what is being done, as it is they who would be held responsible in law should a case be made by a patient against a health professional. In radiotherapy, it is the Clinical Oncologist who obtains consent as they are responsible for prescribing courses of treatment; however, it is the Radiographer’s role to deliver this treatment. This paper discusses some of the issues around implementing a consent policy in terms of who can give and confirm consent, and what are the requirements for training if the patient is to receive the appropriate information before making the decision to consent to treatment.
Use of Safety Devices and the Prevention of Percutaneous Injuries Among Healthcare Workers
Authors: Valls Victoria , Lozano M. Salud , Yánez Remedios , Martínez María José , Pascual Francisco , Lloret Joan , Ruiz Juan Antonio 
Published: December 2007

Objective.To study the effectiveness of safety devices intended to prevent percutaneous injuries.Design.Quasi-experimental trial with before-and-after intervention evaluation.Setting.A 350-bed general hospital that has had an ongoing educational program for the prevention of percutaneous injuries since January 2002.Methods.In October 2005, we implemented a program for the use of engineered devices to prevent percutaneous injury in the emergency department and half of the hospital wards during the following procedures: intravascular catheterization, vacuum phlebotomy, blood-gas sampling, finger-stick blood sampling, and intramuscular and subcutaneous injections. The nurses in the wards that participated in the intervention received a 3-hour course on occupationally acquired bloodborne infections, and they had a 2-hour “hands-on” training session with the devices. We studied the percutaneous injury rate and the direct cost during the preintervention period (October 2004 through March 2005) and the intervention period (October 2005 through March 2006).Results.We observed a 93% reduction in the relative risk of percutaneous injuries in areas where safety devices were used (14 vs 1 percutaneous injury). Specifically, rates decreased from 18.3 injuries (95% confidence interval [CI], 5.9-43.2 injuries) to 0 injuries per 100,000 patients in the emergency department (P = .002) and from 44.0 injuries (95% CI, 20.1-83.6 injuries) to 5.2 injuries (95% CI, 0.1-28.8 injuries) per 100,000 patient-days in hospital wards (P = .007). In the control wards of the hospital (ie, those where the intervention was not implemented), rates remained stable. The direct cost increase was €0.558 (US$0,753) per patient in the emergency department and €0.636 (US$0,858) per patient-day in the hospital wards.Conclusion.Proper use of engineered devices to prevent percutaneous injury is a highly effective measure to prevent these injuries among healthcare workers. However, education and training are the keys to achieving the greatest preventative effect.
Determination of Risk Factors Associated With Isolation of Linezolid-Resistant Strains of Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus
Authors: Pogue Jason M. , Paterson David L. , Pasculle A. William , Potoski Brian A. 
Published: December 2007

Objective.To identify independent risk factors associated with isolation of linezolid-resistant, vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE).Design.A retrospective, case-case-control study.Setting.A tertiary care, academic medical center.Methods.VRE isolates from clinical cultures were retrospectively analyzed for linezolid resistance during our 18-month study period. Clinical data were obtained from electronic patient records, and the risk factors associated with isolation of linezolid-resistant VRE were determined by comparison of 2 case groups with a control group.Results.A total of 20% of the VRE isolates analyzed during the study period were linezolid resistant, and resistant isolates were most commonly recovered from the urine (40% of resistant isolates). Risk factors found to be associated with isolation of linezolid-resistant VRE were peripheral vascular disease and/or the receipt of a solid organ transplant, total parenteral nutrition, piperacillin-tazobactam, and/or cefepime. Only 25% of patients from whom linezolid-resistant VRE was isolated had previous linezolid exposure, and in the multivariate model this was not found to be a risk factor associated with the isolation of linezolid-resistant VRE.Conclusions.The results of this analysis suggest that there is horizontal transmission of linezolid-resistant VRE in our institution and highlight the need for improved infection control measures. Furthermore, the high incidence of linezolid-resistant VRE demands a reassessment of our empirical antibiotic selection for patients infected with VRE.
Comparison of Hospitalwide Surveillance and Targeted Intensive Care Unit Surveillance of Healthcare-Associated Infections
Authors: Weber David J. , Sickbert-Bennett Emily E. , Brown Vickie , Rutala William A. 
Published: December 2007

Objectives.To assess the surveillance coverage obtained with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-recommended surveillance of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), which is focused on intensive care units (ICUs) and emphasizes device-related infections (ie, those associated with central venous catheters, ventilators, and/or urinary catheters), compared with the surveillance coverage achieved by comprehensive hospitalwide surveillance. In addition, we assessed whether the infection rates in step-down units more resemble those in wards or ICUs.Methods.Review of prospectively obtained, comprehensive hospitalwide surveillance data from 2004 through 2005 for an acute care tertiary care hospital with approximately 700 beds. Surveillance data was obtained by trained infection control professionals using standard CDC criteria for HAIs.Results.CDC-recommended ICU surveillance for catheter-related bloodstream infection (BSI) and ventilator-associated pneumonia would have detected only 87 (21.4%) of 407 catheter-related BSIs and only 66 (37.9%) of 174 respiratory tract infections that occurred in the medical and surgical services. Only 31 (34.8%) of 89 infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and 7 (31.8%) of 22 infections caused by vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus occurred in our adult ICUs.Conclusions.Rates of HAIs were highest in the ICUs, intermediate in step-down units, and lowest in the wards. The rates of infections in the step-down units were more similar to those in the wards than to those in the ICUs. To prevent HAIs, more comprehensive surveillance may be indicated.
Identifying Opportunities to Enhance Environmental Cleaning in 23 Acute Care Hospitals
Authors: Carling P. C. , Parry M. F. , Von Beheren S. M. ,   Healthcare Environmental Hygiene Study Group
Published: December 2007

Objective.The quality of environmental hygiene in hospitals is under increasing scrutiny from both healthcare providers and consumers because the prevalence of serious infections due to multidrug-resistant pathogens has reached alarming levels. On the basis of the results from a small number of hospitals, we undertook a study to evaluate the thoroughness of disinfection and cleaning in the patient's immediate environment and to identify opportunities for improvement in a diverse group of acute care hospitals.Methods.Prospective multicenter study to evaluate the thoroughness of terminal room cleaning in hospitals using a novel targeting method to mimic the surface contamination of objects in the patient's immediate environment.Setting.Twenty-three acute care hospitals.Results.The overall thoroughness of terminal cleaning, expressed as a percentage of surfaces evaluated, was 49% (range for all 23 hospitals, 35%-81%). Despite the tight clustering of overall cleaning rates in 21 of the hospitals, there was marked variation within object categories, which was particularly notable with respect to the cleaning of toilet handholds, bedpan cleaners, light switches, and door knobs (mean cleaning rates, less than 30%; institutional ranges, 0%-90%). Sinks, toilet seats, and tray tables, in contrast, were consistently relatively well cleaned (mean cleaning rates, over 75%). Patient telephones, nurse call devices, and bedside rails were inconsistently cleaned.Conclusion.We identified significant opportunities in all participating hospitals to improve the cleaning of frequently touched objects in the patient's immediate environment. The information obtained from such assessments can be used to develop focused administrative and educational interventions that incorporate ongoing feedback to the environmental services staff, to improve cleaning and disinfection practices in healthcare institutions.