bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Respiratory Complications and Aortoiliac Surgery: A Retrospective Review from 105 Consecutive Conventional Revascularizations
Authors: Bonneton G. H. , Age B. , Streichenberger T. , Zabot J. M. , Lepine P. 
Published: June 2007

The purposes of this study, in view of previous controversial reports, were to assess retrospectively the frequency and severity of respiratory complications in patients undergoing aortoiliac surgery and to delineate the more significant preoperative risk factors. Excluding extraanatomic procedures, the review of 105 consecutive revascularizations, performed between June 1993 and December 1994, included the study of classic perioperative parameters; preoperative general conditions; and risk factors of the patients: age, sex, weight, diabetes, smoking habits, hypertension, coronary disease, and surgical antecedents with previous revascularizations; and type of arterial lesions: aortoiliac occlusive disease (AOID) or aneurysm. More specific perioperative studies included previous respiratory disease history evaluation, chest radiography, pulmonary function tests (PFT) analysis, and blood gas results. Prior to intervention the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class of patients was ascertained. Intraoperative techniques and conditions including types of incisions and revascularizations, methods of anesthetic monitoring, anesthetic and intubation times, blood and liquids losses and replacements, postoperative course with intensive care stay, and bacteriologic origin of septic pulmonary complications were also reviewed. The total perioperative mortality was 1.9% (two of 105), exclusively related to respiratory failures without primary cardiac origin or pulmonary embolism history. Major respiratory complications occured in 22 patients (20.9%), with a preeminence of pneumonia in 13. The total respiratory complications rate with favorable outcome was 19% (20 patients). Deaths occurred in patients with respiratory distress syndrome (one) and pneumonia with multiorgan failure (one). Univariate analysis demonstrated that only preoperative pathologic PFT and ASA classification were associated with postoperative respiratory complications. Major respiratory risks included forced vital capacity (FVC) <50%, forced expiratory volume (FEV) <1 1, and partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide (Paco2) >50 mmHg. Questionable risk factors included intubation time, aortic clamp time, crystalloid replacements, and adjunctive epidural analgesia.
Medicaid programme changes and the chronically ill: early results from a prospective cohort study of the Oregon Health Plan
Authors: Solotaroff Rachel , Devoe Jennifer , Wright Bill J. , Smith Jeanene , Boone Janne , Edlund Tina , Carlson Matthew J. 
Published: June 2007

Objective: To describe the impacts of recent Oregon Health Plan (OHP) policy changes on individuals living with chronic illness in Oregon. Methods: A mail survey was conducted of 1374 OHP beneficiaries who were directly affected by the new policies. The analyses reported in this article represent baseline findings from the first of three survey waves in an ongoing prospective cohort study. Results: A significant association was found between Medicaid policy changes and high rates of disenrolment from the OHP. Compared to the non-chronically ill, the chronically ill were more likely to report inability to pay for medications, higher medical debt, more unmet health needs, and poorer health status. Among the chronically ill, those who lost insurance reported decreased access to and utilization of healthcare, more medical debt, and more restriction of medications. Discussion: As policy-makers restructure public programmes to accommodate tight budgets and rising healthcare costs, people with chronic illness can easily be overlooked. Chronically ill individuals face disproportionate financial and health burdens. Small cost-saving policy changes can lead to widespread disenrolment that cascades into reduced access to healthcare services, altered utilization patterns, and financial strain.
`What is expressed is not always what is felt': coping with stigma and the embodiment of perceived illegitimacy of multiple sclerosis
Authors: Grytten Nina , Måseide Per 
Published: June 2007

Objective: In this study, we investigated the stigma experienced by people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and their relatives. We describe coping as impression management of the body to counteract stigma and illegitimacy. Methods: Fourteen people, including those with MS in the middle and later stages of illness, and their relatives were informally interviewed. The interviews were tape-recorded, subsequently yielding a 500-page document. Results: The findings point to the embodied perception of illegitimacy as a dimension of stigma. Informants reported instrumental and affective advantages of purposefully concealing or informing about their MS to influence social judgement in interpersonal encounters. Discussion: MS sufferers apply a tactic of protective disclosure by which they seek to guard their sense of self. The strategy of preventive disclosure is employed to obtain assistance from others. Furthermore, the strategy of concealing MS is conducted purposefully to prevent the sufferer being deprived of social belonging, especially with regard to work.
Selection of patients for inpatient rehabilitation or direct home discharge following total joint replacement surgery: a comparison of health status and out-of-pocket expenditure of patients undergoing hip and knee arthroplasty for osteoarthritis
Authors: Tribe Kate L. , Lapsley Helen M. , Cross Marita J. , Courtenay Brett G. , Brooks Peter M. , March Lyn M. 
Published: June 2007

Objectives: To analyse the differences in patient health outcomes and out-of-pocket costs following hip and knee joint replacement for osteoarthritis between patients who went home immediately after the acute care hospital stay and those who were admitted to inpatient rehabilitation care before going home. Methods: One hundred and eighteen patients undergoing total hip or knee replacement in Sydney, Australia completed cost diaries, SF-36 and WOMAC Index, pre-operatively and for one year post-operatively. Results: The health status of all groups improved significantly from before surgery to 12 months post-surgery. No significant difference in health status at 12 months post-surgery was seen between home and rehabilitation patients for either hip or knee replacement. Both hip replacement home and rehabilitation patients and knee replacement home patients reported lower out-of-pocket expenditure from before surgery to 1 year post-surgery. Discussion: The majority of total joint replacement patients can be discharged directly home and achieve excellent outcomes at 12 months post-surgery. We would recommend more focused randomized studies to explore the most suitable patient selection for rehabilitation.
Cost-effectiveness analyses and modelling the lifetime costs and benefits of health-behaviour interventions
Authors: Graves Nicholas , Mckinnon Loretta , Reeves Marina , Scuffham Paul , Gordon Louisa , Eakin Elizabeth 
Published: June 2007

Background: We describe an approach to estimating the cost-effectiveness of an intervention that changes health behaviour. The method captures the lifetime costs and benefits incurred by participants in an ongoing cluster-randomized controlled trial of an intervention that aims to change health behaviour. The existing literature only captures short-term economic and health outcomes. Methods: We develop a state-transition Markov model of how individuals move between different health behaviour states over time. We simulate hypothetical data to describe the costs and health benefits of the intervention, illustrate how the data collected in the ongoing randomized controlled trial can be used and demonstrate how incremental cost-effectiveness ratios are estimated. Results: On the basis of the simulated (i.e. hypothetical) data, we estimate the cost per quality-adjusted life year. The estimate reflects the lifetime health and economic consequences of the intervention. Discussion: The method used for the cost-effectiveness analysis described in this paper is appropriate for investigating whether interventions that change health behaviour in relation to chronic diseases represent good value for money as compared to alternative uses of scarce healthcare resources.
Factors important for the measurement of social comparison in chronic illness: a mixed-methods study
Authors: Dibb Bridget , Yardley Lucy 
Published: June 2007

Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine social comparison in illness using a mixed-methods approach that combined inductive exploration of how people used social comparison in this self-help group with a quantitative study of social comparison processes and their relationship to quality of life. Methods: The qualitative study involved 15 semi-structured interviews with people with Ménière's disease. Themes from the analysis of the interviews informed the development of the Social Comparison in Illness Scale (SCIS), which was then validated in a questionnaire study, in which participants with Ménière's disease ( n=196) completed the SCIS, the previously validated Identification/Contrast social comparison scale, and the SF-36 health status questionnaire. Results: The qualitative study uncovered a wide range of forms of social comparison, including upward, downward and lateral comparison on illness and coping dimensions, as well as comparing solely for informational purposes. The quantitative study indicated that these varied directions and dimensions of social comparison could be mapped onto five reliable categories that were related to quality of life: upward positive and downward positive comparison, upward negative and downward negative comparison, and comparing for information. Discussion: These analyses highlight the complexity of socially comparing in chronic illness, but also confirm the validity of the Identification/Contrast model of social comparison in this context.
An early response regulatory cluster induced by low temperature and hydrogen peroxide in seedlings of chilling-tolerant japonica rice
Authors: Cheng Chen , Yun Kil-Young , Ressom Habtom W , Mohanty Bijayalaxmi , Bajic Vladimir B , Jia Yulin , Yun Song Joong , de los Reyes Benildo G 
Published: June 2007

AbstractBackgroundPlants respond to low temperature through an intricately coordinated transcriptional network. TheCBF/DREB-regulated network of genes has been shown to play a prominent role in freeze-tolerance ofArabidopsisthrough the process of cold acclimation (CA). Recent evidence also showed that theCBF/DREBregulon is not unique to CA but evolutionarily conserved between chilling-insensitive (temperate) and chilling-sensitive (warm-season) plants. In this study, the wide contrast in chilling sensitivity between indica and japonica rice was used as model to identify other regulatory clusters by integrative analysis of promoter architecture (ab initio) and gene expression profiles.ResultsTranscriptome analysis in chilling tolerant japonica rice identified a subset of 121 'early response' genes that were upregulated during the initial 24 hours at 10°C. Among this group were four transcription factors includingROS-bZIP1and another larger sub-group with a common feature of having as1/ocs-like elements in their promoters. Cold-induction ofROS-bZIP1preceded the induction of as1/ocs-like element-containing genes and they were also induced by exogenous H2O2at ambient temperature. Coordinated expression patterns and similar promoter architectures among the 'early response' genes suggest that they belong to a potential regulon (ROS-bZIP – as1/ocsregulatory module) that responds to elevated levels of ROS during chilling stress. Cultivar-specific expression signatures of the candidate genes indicate a positive correlation between the activity of the putative regulon and genotypic variation in chilling tolerance.ConclusionA hypothetical model of an ROS-mediated regulon (ROS-bZIP – as1/ocs) triggered by chilling stress was assembled in rice. Based on the current results, it appears that this regulon is independent of ABA andCBF/DREB, and that its activation has an important contribution in configuring the rapid responses of rice seedlings to chilling stress.
Using a multi-method, user centred, prospective hazard analysis to assess care quality and patient safety in a care pathway
Authors: Dean Joanne E , Hutchinson Allen , Escoto Kamisha Hamilton , Lawson Rod 
Published: June 2007

AbstractBackgroundCare pathways can be complex, often involving multiple care providers and as such are recognised as containing multiple opportunities for error. Prospective hazard analysis methods may be useful for evaluating care provided across primary and secondary care pathway boundaries. These methods take into account the views of users (staff and patients) when determining where potential hazards may lie. The aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of prospective hazard analysis methods when assessing quality and safety in care pathways that lie across primary and secondary care boundaries.MethodsDevelopment of a process map of the care pathway for patients entering into a Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) supported discharge programme. Triangulation of information from: care process mapping, semi-structured interviews with COPD patients, semi-structured interviews with COPD staff, two round modified Delphi study and review of prioritised quality and safety challenges by health care staff.ResultsInterview themes emerged under the headings of quality of care and patient safety. Quality and safety concerns were mostly raised in relation to communication, for example, communication with other hospital teams. The three highest ranked safety concerns from the modified Delphi review were: difficulties in accessing hospital records, information transfer to primary care and failure to communicate medication changes to primary care.ConclusionThis study has demonstrated the feasibility of using mixed methods to review the quality and safety of care in a care pathway. By using multiple research methods it was possible to get a clear picture of service quality variations and also to demonstrate which points in the care pathway had real potential for patient safety incidents or system failures to occur. By using these methods to analyse one condition specific care pathway it was possible to uncover a number of hospital level problems. A number of safety challenges were systems related; these were therefore difficult to improve at care team level. Study results were used by National Health Service (NHS) stakeholders to implement solutions to problems identified in the review.
Immunohistochemical expression of SMAD4, CK19, and CA19-9 in fine needle aspiration samples of pancreatic adenocarcinoma: Utility and potential role
Authors: Zapata Mauricio , Cohen Cynthia , Siddiqui Momin T 
Published: June 2007

Background
Pancreatic adenocarcinoma comprises 85% of all cases of pancreatic malignancies. From a diagnostic standpoint, these tumors are readily diagnosed by fine needle aspiration, with an accuracy of greater than 90%; however it is often difficult to ascertain whether these are primary or metastatic in nature. This study was undertaken to see the usefulness of CK19, CA19-9 and a newly described marker, SMAD4 in confirming the pancreatic origin of these tumors. Briefly, SMAD4 (DPC4) is a tumor-suppressor gene located on chromosome 18q which has been shown to mediate the downstream effects of TGF-β superfamily signaling, resulting in growth inhibition. The loss of SMAD4, which as been reported to occur in 55% of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas may lead to up regulation of cell cycle proteins and hence increase cellular proliferation. In addition, SMAD4 has been suggested to possibly have prognostic potential, with the presence of SMAD4, indicating shorter survival after resection.

Design
Clinical data was reviewed to identify patients with proven, primary pancreatic adenocarcinoma. A total of 25 patients with diagnostic material from fine needle aspiration cell blocks, were retrieved from our files at Emory University Hospital. In addition cell blocks from clinically diagnosed non-pancreatic adenocarcinomas were also selected as controls for this study (10 cases of colonic adenocarcinoma, 10 cases of pulmonary adenocarcinoma, 10 cases of breast ductal carcinoma and 10 cases of ovarian mucinous adenocarcinoma). Formalin fixed, paraffin-embedded sections from these were stained with SMAD4, CK19, and CA19-9, using pressure cooker antigen retrieval, labeled polymer HRP (DAKO), and the DAKO autostainer.

Results
Immunohistochemical staining was reviewed based on intensity (negative, low-positive, and high-positive) and percentage of cells. In primary pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, CK 19 showed diffuse cytoplasmic positivity in 23 of 25 cases, CA 19-9 showed apical cytoplasmic staining in all 25 cases, and SMAD4 showed nuclear staining in 20 of 25 cases. In the control group comprising of non-pancreatic adenocarcinoma SMAD4 was negative (100%) in all 10 cases of colonic and pulmonary adenocarcinoma. However 1 of 10 cases (10%) of breast and ovarian adenocarcinoma did show low positivity nuclear staining. However the expression of CA19-9 and CK19 was more variable in these different non-pancreatic malignancies.

Conclusion
Pancreatic adenocarcinoma showed positive immunohistochemical staining for SMAD4 in 80%, CK19 in 100% and CA19-9 in 100% of the selected cases. These markers, when used as a panel, may confirm the diagnosis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma in fine needle aspiration samples, and help in differentiating from metastatic adenocarcinoma. This may help in determination of appropriate surgical and chemotherapeutic options.
Pilot Study for the Standardization of Insulin Immunoassays with Isotope Dilution–Liquid Chromatography/Tandem Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Rodríguez-Cabaleiro Diego , Van Uytfanghe Katleen , Stove Veronique , Fiers Tom , Thienpont Linda M 
Published: June 2007

Abstract
Background: An international working group convened by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) called for a reference measurement procedure for use in a trueness-based standardization project of insulin immunoassays. In view of this demand, we conducted a pilot study to investigate the feasibility of such a standardization project with our isotope dilution-liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (ID-LC/tandem MS) procedure.
Methods: We evaluated the precision, accuracy, and limit of quantification (LoQ) of the ID-LC/tandem MS procedure by use of insulin-free serum supplemented with insulin to give 3 pools with concentrations of 0.0796, 0.769, and 5.56 μg/L. We conducted a pilot method comparison study with 4 immunoassays and 80 samples from fasting and glucose-stimulated patients.
Results: The within-run and total imprecision (CV) ranged from 3.2% to 6.3% and from 4.9% to 12.1% (listing sequence from the high to the low pool). The recovery from supplemented insulin-free sera ranged from 101.8% to 104.1%, and the LoQ was 0.07 μg/L (12 pmol/L). Weighted Deming regression and correlation analysis of the method-comparison data showed considerable between-assay variation for the immunoassays but, with the exception of one assay, excellent correlation with ID-LC/tandem MS. Recalibration of the immunoassay results considerably reduced the between-assay variation. Moreover, after recalibration, 3 of the 4 assays fulfilled the total error specification of 32% proposed by the ADA Workgroup.
Conclusions: Recalibration of insulin assays by regression equations established from method comparison with ID-LC/tandem MS can result in successful standardization and fulfillment of the total error criterion proposed by the ADA Workgroup.
The Dynamics of School Change: Response to the Article, “Comer's School Development Program in Prince George's County, Maryland: A Theory-Based Evaluation,” by Thomas D. Cook et al
Authors: Comer James P. , Haynes Norris M. 
Published: June 2007

The essential findings of Thomas Cook and colleagues in their article, "Comer's School Development Program in Prince George's County, Maryland: A Theory - Based Evaluation," are expressed in their abstract as follows: A randomized experiment of Comer's School Development Program was conducted in 23 middle schools .... [This study] showed that Comer schools implemented some [but not all] of the program's central elements better than control schools .... This shortfall in program implementation may have been responsible for students in the experimental schools not changing any more than controls. Quasi-experimental analyses showed that the program theory may be correct in many of its predictions about student changes .... However, achievement gains were found in schools with a more explicit academic focus, suggesting that improving this focus should be as central to Comer's program theory as improving a school's social climate. Even more needed, though, are ways to improve program implementability, the sine qua non for student change. The study, as conducted, was not an evaluation of the School Development Program (SDP) organization or the process. It was a limited study of the effects of one application of the SDP process: using an experimental control
Resistance Heating
Authors: Spannhake Jan , Helwig Andreas , Friedberger Alois , Müller Gerhard , Hellmich Wolfgang 
Published: June 2007

AbstractIn this article, we focus on resistance heating in miniaturized electronic devices, i.e., thermal sensors and thermal actuators. Such devices are transducers of energy, which involve thermal energy conversion on an intermediate stage. In such devices, heat dissipation is not an unwanted by‐product of the energy conversion process but constitutes the central mechanism that underlies device operation. Some industrially important kinds of such sensor and actuator devices are explained in more detail.IntroductionThermal Sensors and ActuatorsThermal MicrostructuresSpecific Sensor ApplicationsSpecific actuator applicationsMathematical modeling of thermal microstructures
Reconfigurable Computing
Authors: Chung‐Kuan Cheng , Kahng Andrew B. , Leong Philip H.W. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractReconfigurable computing is the application of adaptable fabrics to solve computational problems, often taking advantage the flexibility available in the fabric to produce problem‐specific architectures that achieve high performance because of customization. Reconfigurable computing has been successfully applied to fields as diverse as digital signal processing, cryptography, bioinformatics, logic emulation, CAD tool acceleration, scientific computing, and rapid prototyping.Although Estrin‐first proposed the idea of a reconfigurable system in the form of a fixed plus variable structure computer in 1960it has only been in recent years that reconfigurable fabrics have reached sufficient density to make them a compelling implementation platform for high Performance applications and embedded systems. In this article, intended for the non‐specialist, we describe some of the basic concepts, tools and architectures associated with reconfigurable computing.
Magnetic Properties of Bulk Metallic Glasses
Authors: Tiberto P. , Baricco M. , Olivetti E. , Piccin R. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractThe discovery and large scale investigation of rapidly solidified alloys have brought to light in the last three decades a new scenario in basic and applied magnetism. With a range of composition and microstructural states unavailable to conventional materials, the rapidly quenched alloys have in fact demonstrated unprecented versatile properties, provide unique opportunities in applications and enlarged the domain of physical theories. In this paper, the basic magnetic features of two classes of magnetic bulk metallic glasses, soft and hard magnetic alloys, will be briefly highlighted.