bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Pediatric Medication Safety and the Media: What Does the Public See?
Authors: Stebbing Claire , Kaushal Rainu , Bates David W. 
Published: June 2006

BACKGROUND. In the safety community, it is widely thought that a culture of safety is required to achieve high levels of safety. However, the press tends to report accidents, which are negative by their nature. Pediatric cases are often especially tragic. Relatively few data have been available on the role that the media play in forming opinions about patient safety and the subsequent impact on the culture of safety.
METHODS. To address these issues, we analyzed newspaper coverage of pediatric medication errors and adverse drug events. We searched Lexis Nexis for newspaper articles on pediatric medication safety from the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, and Ireland, during a 10-year period (1994–2004), by using specific keywords. Main outcome measures were the number of articles (adjusted for population), the type of events covered, and article slant. We also examined qualitatively the overall themes and the extent to which these articles portrayed a culture of safety to the public.
RESULTS. Throughout the world, there was a steady increase in articles on pediatric medication safety, peaking in 2003, with the highest per-capita rate in Canada. Approximately 65% of articles were about patient incidents, 20% mentioned policy, and 25% discussed research. Of the reported events judged to be negative for patient safety, 75% were covered in a neutral manner and 19% were covered in an unduly negative manner.
CONCLUSIONS. Media coverage of pediatric medication safety has increased in the past 10 years. Reporting of patient safety failures was generally fair, and reports were generally framed in light of a culture of safety.
Variation in the Use of Intracranial-Pressure Monitoring and Mortality in Critically Ill Children With Meningitis in the United States
Authors: Odetola Folafoluwa O. , Tilford John M. , Davis Matthew M. 
Published: June 2006

OBJECTIVE. Our goal was to describe patient and hospital characteristics associated with the use of intracranial pressure monitors and outcomes in critically ill children with meningitis.METHODS. This was a retrospective cohort study of children 0 to 17 years of age hospitalized with meningitis and requiring mechanical ventilation using the 1997 and 2000 Kids' Inpatient Database. We generated national estimates of rates of intracranial pressure monitoring and in-hospital mortality by patient and hospital characteristics, and compared in-hospital mortality, hospital length of stay, and total charges for children who received an intracranial pressure monitor with those who did not.RESULTS. There were an estimated 1067 and 1170 hospitalizations nationally for childhood meningitis requiring mechanical ventilation in 1997 and 2000, respectively. Most (79%) of the hospitalizations involved infants. Overall, intracranial-pressure monitors were used in 7% of hospitalizations for meningitis, with the highest rates in children aged 5 to 17 years and lowest rates in children &lt;1 year. In-hospital mortality was 19.6%, highest in children aged 5 to 17 years and in children with pneumococcal infections. In multivariate regression analyses, intracranial pressure monitor use was positively associated with age, patient volume, and hospitals located in the West census region. In-hospital mortality was associated with increasing age, hospitalization in the year 2000, self-pay/other insurance status, and pneumococcal meningitis. There was no difference in hospital mortality associated with use of intracranial pressure monitors, but both length of stay and log-transformed total hospital charges were significantly higher in the group that received an intracranial-pressure monitor.CONCLUSION. Intracranial pressure monitoring for the treatment of critically ill children with meningitis varies by census region, the number of cases treated, and patient age. The use of intracranial pressure monitoring was not statistically associated with mortality in this national sample.
Parenting Styles and Overweight Status in First Grade
Authors: Rhee Kyung E. , Lumeng Julie C. , Appugliese Danielle P. , Kaciroti Niko , Bradley Robert H. 
Published: June 2006

OBJECTIVE. The goal was to determine the relationship between the 4 parenting styles (authoritative, authoritarian, permissive, and neglectful) and overweight status in first grade.METHODS. Data from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development were analyzed. Children with complete data for parenting parameters at 54 months and measured weight and height in first grade were included in the analysis. Overweight was defined as BMI of ≥95th percentile. The 4 parenting styles were constructed with 2 scales, namely, maternal sensitivity and maternal expectations for child self-control. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the relationship between parenting style and overweight in first grade, controlling for gender, race, maternal education, income/needs ratio, marital status, and child behavior problems.RESULTS. A total of 872 children, 11.1% overweight and 82.8% white, were included in the analysis. Children of authoritarian mothers (n = 298) had an increased risk of being overweight, compared with children of authoritative mothers (n = 179). Children of permissive (n = 132) and neglectful (n = 263) mothers were twice as likely to be overweight, compared with children of authoritative mothers. Of the covariates, only income/needs ratio was significant and did not alter the relationship between parenting style and overweight risk.CONCLUSIONS. Among the 4 parenting styles, authoritarian parenting was associated with the highest risk of overweight among young children. Understanding the mechanisms through which parenting styles are associated with overweight risk may lead to the development of more-comprehensive and better-targeted interventions.
Recurrent Wheeze in Early Childhood and Asthma Among Children at Risk for Atopy
Authors: Ly Ngoc P. , Gold Diane R. , Weiss Scott T. , Celedón Juan C. 
Published: June 2006

OBJECTIVES. Little is known about the natural history of wheezing disorders among children at risk for atopy. We examined the relation between early wheeze and asthma at 7 years of age among children with parental history of asthma or allergies followed from birth.
METHODS. Information on wheeze was collected bimonthly from birth to age 24 months and every 6 months thereafter. Recurrent early wheeze was defined as ≥2 reports of wheezing in the first 3 years of life. Frequent early wheeze was defined as ≥2 reports of wheezing per year in the first 3 years of life. At 7 years of age, asthma was defined as physician-diagnosed asthma and wheezing in the previous year.
RESULTS. Of the 440 participating children, 223 (50.7%) had ≥1 report of wheeze before 3 years old, 111 (26.0%) had recurrent early wheeze, and 12 (2.7%) had frequent early wheeze. Whereas only 31 (13.9%) of 223 children with ≥1 report of wheeze developed asthma at 7 years of age, 24 (21.6%) of 111 children with recurrent early wheeze developed asthma at 7 years of age. Among the 12 children with frequent early wheeze, 6 (50%) had asthma at 7 years of age. After adjustment for other covariates, recurrent early wheeze in children at risk for atopy was associated with a fourfold increase in the odds of asthma at 7 years of age, and frequent early wheeze was associated with an ∼12-fold increase in the odds of asthma at 7 years of age. Most (94%) of the children without frequent early wheeze did not develop asthma at 7 years of age.
CONCLUSIONS. The absence of recurrent early wheeze indicates a very low risk of asthma at school age among children with parental history of asthma or allergies. Early identification of children who will develop asthma at school age is difficult, even in children at risk for atopy. However, children with parental history of asthma or allergies who have frequent early wheeze, in particular, are at greatly increased risk of asthma and merit close clinical follow-up.
Self-injurious Behaviors in a College Population
Authors: Whitlock Janis , Eckenrode John , Silverman Daniel 
Published: June 2006

OBJECTIVE. The goal was to assess the prevalence, forms, demographic and mental health correlates of self-injurious behaviors in a representative college sample.METHODS. A random sample of undergraduate and graduate students at 2 northeastern US universities were invited to participate in an Internet-based survey in the spring of 2005. Thirty-seven percent of the 8300 invited participants responded.RESULTS. The lifetime prevalence rate of having ≥1 self-injurious behavior incident was 17.0%. Seventy-five percent of those students engaged in self-injurious behaviors more than once. Thirty-six percent reported that no one knew about their self-injurious behaviors and only 3.29% indicated that a physician knew. Compared with non-self-injurers, those with repeat self-injurious behavior incidents were more likely to be female, bisexual or questioning their sexual orientation. They were less likely to be Asian/Asian American and &gt;24 years of age. When controlling for demographic characteristics, those with repeat self-injurious behavior incidents were more likely to report a history of emotional abuse or sexual abuse, ever having considered or attempted suicide, elevated levels of psychological distress, and ≥1 characteristic of an eating disorder. A dose-response gradient was evident in each of these areas when single-incident self-injurious behaviors were compared with repeat-incident self-injurious behaviors.CONCLUSIONS. A substantial number of college students reported self-injurious behaviors in their lifetimes. Many of the behaviors occurred among individuals who had never been in therapy for any reason and who only rarely disclosed their self-injurious behaviors to anyone. Single self-injurious behavior incidents were correlated with a history of abuse and comorbid adverse health conditions but less strongly than were repeat self-injurious behavior incidents. The reticence of these clients to seek help or advice renders it critical that medical and mental health providers find effective strategies for detecting and addressing self-injurious behaviors.
Pediatric All-Terrain Vehicle–Related Injuries in Ohio From 1995 to 2001: Using the Injury Severity Score to Determine Whether Helmets Are a Solution
Authors: Gittelman Michael A. , Pomerantz Wendy J. , Groner Jonathan I. , Smith Gary A. 
Published: June 2006

OBJECTIVE. The goal was to identify regions in Ohio with severe pediatric all-terrain vehicle–related injuries and to determine whether helmet usage was associated with lower injury severity scores.METHODS. We performed a retrospective review of data for all patients entered into the registries of Ohio’s major pediatric trauma centers for the period of January 1, 1995, to December 31, 2001.RESULTS. Seven hospitals participated. A total of 285 children were admitted; 2 patients died, and 13 required rehabilitation. The mean age was 11.1 years, with 76.1% of patients being male and 88.1% white. Most patients came from the central and southwestern regions of Ohio. An average of 30 admissions per year occurred from 1995 to 1998, but the number increased to 55 admissions per year from 1999 to 2001. Among the 285 injured children, 869 injuries were sustained; 57% of patients sustained multiple injuries. The most commonly injured body parts were the head (22.3%) and lower extremities (12.6%). The most common injuries sustained were fractures (31.4%) and contusions/abrasions (22.2%). Of patients for whom documentation was available, 72.2% (171 of 237 patients) were not helmeted. There was no significant difference in mean injury severity scores between helmeted and nonhelmeted riders (9.58 vs 9.12). Helmet usage was not associated with a reduction in head/facial injuries.CONCLUSIONS. All-terrain vehicle–related injuries to children nearly doubled between 1995 to 1998 and 1999 to 2001. Fewer than 30% of injured children were wearing helmets at the time of injury. With the injury severity score as an indicator, helmets provided no significant protection for all-terrain vehicle riders in this pediatric population.
Hypericin‐induced Photocytotoxicity is Connected with G2/M Arrest in HT‐29 and S‐Phase Arrest in U937 Cells
Authors: Sačková Veronika , Fedoročko Peter , Szllardiová Beáta , Mikeš Jaromír , Kleban Ján 
Published: June 2006

ABSTRACTSusceptibility of the HT‐29 human colon adenocarcinoma cell line and human myeloid leukemia cell line U937 to hypericinmediated photocytotoxicity was investigated and compared in this study. Cellular parameters as viability, cell number, metabolic activity and total protein amount were monitored in screening experiments with subsequent cell‐cycle analysis and apoptosis detection to determine the cellular response of the different tumor types to various concentrations of photoactivated hypericin. The results show concentration dependence of the photosensitizer's cytotoxicity on the studied cell lines, with higher sensitivity of U937 cells. Whereas the two extreme hypericin concentrations (1 × 10−9 M and 1 × 10−6 M) resulted in similar changes in all tested cellular parameters on the two studied cell lines, 1 × 10−8 M and 1 × 10−7 M hypericin treatment resulted in different responses of the cell lines in all monitored parameters except for viability. Although leukemic cells proved sensitive to both 1 × 10−8 M and 1 × 10−7 M hypericin, significant changes on HT‐29 cells were detected only after the 1 × 10−7 M hypericin concentration. Cell‐cycle arrest was related to simultaneously occurring apoptosis in colon cancer. Remarkable is the difference in cell‐cycle profile where G2/M arrest in colon cancer cells versus accumulation of leukemic cells in the S phase appears. This suggests that hypericin treatment affecting the cell‐cycle machinery of different cancer cells is not universal in effect.
Blue Light Irradiation Inhibits the Production of HGF by Human Retinal Pigment Epithelium Cells In Vitro
Authors: Chu Rengyuan , Zheng Xiaofen , Chen Donghong , Hu Dan‐Ning 
Published: June 2006

ABSTRACTBlue visible light damage to retinal pigment epithelial cells occurs through a photooxidative mechanism and the resultant damage is hypothesized to induce or exacerbate age‐related macular degeneration. The purpose of the present study was to identify changes in the cell growth and the expression of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) in cultured human retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells as a result of both blue and red light irradiation. HGF is a growth factor and neurotrophic factor that stimulates growth of various ocular cells and promotes the survival of RPE and retinal neurons. Early passages of human RPE cells were exposed to blue light (460 nm) and red light (640 nm). Nonirradiated cells were used as controls. After 24 and 48 h, conditioned medium was collected and the amount of HGF was measured by ELISA. Cells were detached from the well and counted. Cell viability was evaluated by trypan‐blue exclusion study. Blue light at dosage of 63 J/cm 2 significantly inhibited the growth of RPE cells without affecting of cell viability. Amounts of HGF in the culture medium were significantly inhibited by blue‐light irradiation at the dosage from 32 to 63 J/cm2. Red light at a dose of 174 J/cm2 causes a nonsignificant inhibition of growth of RPE cells and a slight decrease of secretion of HGF. As HGF promotes survival of RPE cells and retinal neurons, the inhibition of production of HGF by visible light, especially by blue light, may enhance the phototoxic effects of visible light on the RPE and retinal neurons.
Sampling Silica and Ferrihydrite Colloids with Fiberglass Wicks under Unsaturated Conditions
Authors: Shira Jason M. , Williams Barbara C. , Flury Markus , Czigány Szabolcs , Tuller Markus 
Published: June 2006

ABSTRACTThe suitability of passive capillary samplers (PCAPS) for collection of representative colloid samples under partially saturated conditions was evaluated by investigating the transport of negatively and positively charged colloids in fiberglass wicks. A synthetic pore water solution was used to suspend silica microspheres (330 nm in diameter) and ferrihydrite (172 nm in diameter) for transport experiments on fiberglass wicks. Breakthrough curves were collected for three unsaturated flow rates with silica microspheres and one unsaturated flow rate with ferrihydrite colloids. A moisture characteristic curve, relating tensiometer measurements of matric potential to moisture content, was developed for the fiberglass wick. Results indicate that retention of the silica and the ferrihydrite on the wick occurred; that is, the wicks did not facilitate quantitative sampling of the colloids. For silica microspheres, 90% of the colloids were transmitted through the wicks. For ferrihydrite, 80 to 90% of the colloids were transmitted. The mechanisms responsible for the retention of the colloids on the fiberglass wicks appeared to be physicochemical attachment and not thin‐film, triple‐phase entrapment, or mechanical straining. Visualization of pathways by iron staining indicates that flow is preferential at the center of twisted bundles of filaments. Although axial preferential flow in PCAPS may enhance their hydraulic suitability for sampling mobile colloids, we conclude that without specific preparation to reduce attachment or retention, fiberglass wicks should only be used for qualitative sampling of pore water colloids.
Effects of Moisture and Temperature on Carbon and Nitrogen Mineralization in Mine Tailings Mixed with Sewage Sludge
Authors: Wennman Pär , Kätterer Thomas 
Published: June 2006

ABSTRACTDigested sewage sludge mixed with copper mine tailings was incubated for 3 mo at 16 combinations of temperature (−1, 5, 10, and 15°C) and soil moisture content (2, 8, 14, and 24% by weight). Carbon dioxide evolution and net N mineralization were measured at increasing time intervals. A two compartment first‐order kinetic model (refractory and labile C) was fitted to the time series of measured CO2 fluxes using nonlinear regression analysis. The dependencies of the rate constants on moisture and temperature could be well described by log‐linear functions. The estimated Q10 value (the factor by which the rate is increased as temperature is increased 10°C) was 2.55. Within the range of temperature and moisture considered here, which correspond to conditions occurring naturally in Sweden, CO2 evolution was more strongly controlled by moisture than by temperature. Less mineral N accumulated during the experiment at the lowest moisture or temperature. However, the dependency of net N mineralization on moisture and temperature in the remaining treatments was less clear than for C evolution, presumably due to denitrification at the higher temperatures and moisture contents. Nitrate was formed after around 2 wk but only at 10 and 15°C.
Organic Phosphorus Fractions in Organically Amended Paddy Soils in Continuously and Intermittently Flooded Conditions
Authors: Yang Changming , Yang Linzhang , Jianhua Lee 
Published: June 2006

ABSTRACTSoil organic phosphorus (SOP) can greatly contribute to plant‐available P and P nutrition. The study was conducted to determine the effects of organic amendments on organic P fractions and microbiological activities in paddy soils. Samples were collected at the Changshu Agro‐ecological Experiment Station in Tahu Lake Basin, China, from an experiment that has been performed from 1999 to 2004, on a paddy soil (Gleysols). Treatments consisted of swine manure (SM), wheat straw (WS), swine manure plus wheat straw (SM + WS), and a control (chemical fertilization alone). Organic amendments markedly increased soil total organic phosphorus (TOP) and total organic carbon (TOC), especially in continuously flooded conditions. Based on the fractionation of SOP, organic amendments significantly increased soil labile organic phosphorus (LOP), moderately labile organic phosphorus (MLOP), and moderately stable organic phosphorus (MSOP) compared with the control. For SM and SM + WS treatments, LOP in continuously flooded soils decreased by 30.1 and 36.4%, respectively, compared to intermittently flooded soils. In organically amended soils, continuous flooding showed significantly lower microbial biomass phosphorus (MBP) and alkaline phosphatase activities (APA) than intermittent flooding. In intermittently flooded conditions, incorporating organic amendments into soil resulted in greater P uptake and biomass yield of rice than the control. In the intermittently flooded soils, APA (P< 0.05) and MBP (P< 0.01) were significantly and positively related to TOP, LOP, MLOP, and MSOP, whereas in continuously flooded soils, there was a significant (P< 0.05) negative relationship between MBP, TOP, and MSOP. Based on soil organic P fractions and soil enzymatic and microbiological activities, continuous flooding applied to paddy soils should be avoided, especially when swine manure is incorporated into paddy soil.
Controlling Tailwater Sediment and Phosphorus Concentrations with Polyacrylamide in the Imperial Valley, California
Authors: Goodson Christopher C. , Schwartz Gregory , Amrhein Christopher 
Published: June 2006

ABSTRACTExternal loading of phosphorus (P) from agricultural surface discharge (tailwater) is the main cause of excessive algae growth and the eutrophication of the Salton Sea, California. Continuous polyacrylamide (PAM) applications to agricultural irrigation water inflows were evaluated as a means of reducing sediment and P in tailwater. Zero (control) and 1 mg L−1 PAM (PAM1) treatments were compared at 17 Imperial Valley field sites. Five and 10 mg L−1 PAM treatments (PAM5, PAM10) were conducted at one site. The particulate phosphorus (Pp) fraction was determined as the difference between total phosphorus (Pt) and the soluble phosphorus (Ps) fraction. We observed 73, 82, and 98% turbidity reduction with PAM1, PAM5, and PAM10 treatments. Although eight field sites had control tailwater sediment concentrations above the New River total maximum daily loads (TMDL), all but one were made compliant during their paired PAM1 treatments. While PAM1 and PAM10 reduced tail water Pp by 31 and 78%, none of the treatments tested reduced Ps This may have been caused by high irrigation water Na concentrations which would reduce Ca adsorption and Ca‐phosphate bridging on the PAM. The PAM1 treatments resulted in <0.5 mg L−1 drain water polyacrylamide concentrations 1.6 km downstream of PAM addition, while PAM5 and PAM10 treatments produced >2 mg L−1 drain water polyacrylamide concentrations. We concluded that, although PAM practically eliminates Imperial Valley tailwater sediment loads, it does not effectively reduce tailwater Ps, the P fraction most responsible for the eutrophication of the Salton Sea.