bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Health status of the Venda, a post‐antibiotic community in rural South Africa
Authors: L'Abbé E. N. , Steyn M. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractThis paper examines the health status of a rural African community during the emergence of Westernisation. A total of 157 skeletons, which included 120 adults (55 males and 51 females), 37 juveniles, and 14 individuals of unknown age, were analysed. Date of death ranged from 1910 to 1999, with the majority of individuals (52%) being buried after 1960. The bones were examined for infectious diseases, trauma and degenerative changes. More than half of the individuals in the sample had no pathological lesions on their skeletal remains. No cribra orbitalia was present. One case of leprosy and three cases of osteomyelitis were recorded. The most common findings were osteophytes on the vertebral bodies (syndesmophytes) (17%) and osteoarthritis (7%). The low occurrence of chronic disease is unexpected given that malaria was endemic and intestinal worms were common. Explanations for these results include adequate intake of iron from dietary sources, death from acute infectious diseases, administration of antibiotics, and poor preservation of adult skeletal remains. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
One year survival following acute myocardial infarction in diabetic subjects
Authors: Jenkins D , Krentz A. , Nattrass M. , Wright Ad , Lamb P. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractSurvival in diabetic patients up to one year following their admission for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) was studied. Two groups of patients were analysed: one comprised all diabetic patients with AMI admitted to a coronary care unit with AMI in 1987 (before thrombolysis was routine); the other comprised patients admitted in 1990. Survival was very similar in both groups. Survival was better in those patients admitted in 1990 who were treated with thrombolytic therapy (x2 = 3.46, 0.05<p<0.1). These data suggest that thrombolysis may improve one‐year survival in diabetic subjects and indicate that this topic warrants further study.
An integrated diabetes lipid clinic: Resource implications of screening and treating hyperlipidaemia in NIDDM
Authors: Sandler D , Smellie WSA , O'Donnell J. , MacCuish AC 
Published: March 2007

AbstractThree hundred and fifty non‐insulin‐dependent diabetic patients were screened for hypercholesterolaemia in an integrated diabetes lipid clinic. Forty six of the 70 patients with serum cholesterol concentrations over 7.0mmol/l were reviewed for further beta lipoprotein and endocrine assessment. After confirmatory testing or dietary therapy, only 22 of the original screened population had serum cholesterol concentrations over 7.0mmol/l. Of these, eight had both historical and biochemical evidence of poor diabetes control, two patients had significant clinical depression, two were hypothyroid, and ultimately 10 patients were started on lipid‐lowering therapy. Nine patients continued follow‐up for one year. Total costs of screening and follow‐up were £2,740, representing a non‐drug cost of £7.80 per patient screened or £468 per patient treated. These costs are also extrapolated in a sensitivity analysis for different cholesterol treatment cutoff levels. The study emphasises the need for proper assessment of diabetic patients prior to commencing lipid‐lowering therapy, not only as good clinical practice but also in view of resources involved.
A survey of patients presenting to a casualty department with severe diabetic hypoglycaemia: Is treatment unnecessarily delayed?
Authors: Sinha RN , Gill GV 
Published: March 2007

AbstractHypoglycaemia is a common complication of insulin treatment and the largest single cause of diabetic attendances in casualty departments. Thirty episodes of severe hypoglycaemia presenting over a nine month period to a large district general hospital were studied. Despite the presence of a family member, the majority (80%) received their initial treatment from a health care professional. Additionally, few patients received clear advice for the prevention of further attacks or follow‐up arrangements. We conclude that on‐going education is necessary and that closer liaison between casualty and the diabetes care team would help provide this.
Identification and management of vaginal infections in diabetic women. Vaginal infections in women with Type 1 diabetes: Is culture necessary?
Authors: Steel JM , Wu PS , Johnstone FD 
Published: March 2007

AbstractIn this new section of Practical Diabetes International, selected original articles and case reports will be published alongside comments by specialists. It is hoped that this occasional series will help broaden and deepen readers' understanding of the diabetes topic in question, emphasize the importance for clinicians working in a specialist field such as diabetes to keep abreast of standards of practice and research in separate but related fields of medicine, and provoke productive debate. Publication of the specialist comments will be always with the original author's knowledge and consent.The study was undertaken to look at the frequency of vaginal discharge, to establish how many women had received treatment for Candida without any investigation and to determine whether this form of management is reasonable in practice. One hundred premenopausal women over the age of 16 with Type 1 diabetes were questioned, and 22 of them, who had a discharge at the time of interview, had a vaginal examination, a high vaginal swab taken and a sample cultured for chlamydia. The majority of infections were due to Candida. A few other pathogenic organisms and a few commensals were cultured. It was concluded that culture is only necessary if the woman fails to respond to treatment, has a malodorous discharge, has a recurrent problem or is at high risk of sexually transmitted disease. It should be possible to carry out a vaginal examination on any patient with a vaginal discharge and take swabs in a diabetes clinic.
Case reports designed as an aid to professional education. Infection and diabetes: Fasciitis in a poorly controlled insulin‐dependent diabetic
Authors: Chalmers J. , Duncan C. , Campbell I.W. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractInfection in diabetic patients has to be treated more aggressively than in non‐diabetics, particulary if there is a history of poor control or microvascular disease known to be present. In the case described, a severe cellulitis and fasciitis resulted from an apparently trivial infection. The patient required prolonged antibiotic therapy for more than four months to ensure complete resolution of the soft tissue infection.
Blood testing in the diabetes clinic and the patient's Charter
Authors: Jowett NI , Rattenbury JM 
Published: March 2007

AbstractWithin a clinic, blood testing is routine in most diabetes centres, but often causes patient delays. This is now discouraged under the terms of the Outpatient's Charter, which states that patients should be seen within 30 minutes of appointment time. Regular assessment of long‐term glycaemic control by assay of serum fructosamine or glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) is part of what patients with diabetes should expect (the Diabetic's Charter), with the HbA1c assay being preferred. We have developed a rapid within‐clinic HbA1c service which allows fulfilment of the Patient's and Diabetic's Charter.
An audit of diabetes care in three district general hospitals in Cardiff
Authors: Hudson CN , Peters J. , Lazarus J. , Beck P. , Sinclair A.J. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractOur objective was to determine the overall prevalence of diabetes in three district general hospital inpatient populations and to compare the level of diabetes care provided, using a modification of guidelines recommended by the British Diabetic Association. The survey involved completing a standard proforma of all inpatients in the three district general hospitals in Cardiff on two separate occasions. We identified 104 diabetic patients from a total of 1,220 inpatients from the first survey, and 103 diabetic patients from of 1,236 inpatients from the second survey. The data from both groups of diabetic patients were pooled for analysis.The mean age was 64.8 years with an even sex distribution. The percentage of hospital inpatients who had diabetes was 8.4%. Diabetes was the main cause of hospital admission in 58% of cases, with the majority of patients requiring management of the long‐term vascular complications of diabetes. The mean duration of stay of diabetic inpatients at the time of the survey was 16 days.In more than half of all patients with diabetes, no record of examination of the feet for ulceration (56%) or the lower limbs for peripheral pulses (54%) was found. In 66% of cases, no record of fundoscopy was present and mydriasis was carried out in fewer than 15% of these cases. Visual acuity was not measured in 85% of cases. Measurement of glycated haemoglobin was performed in less than 40% of cases whilst approximately 75% of cases had no measurement of blood lipids recorded. Half of the patients with diabetes had not seen a hospital dietitian at the time of the survey. Only 44% of cases had a specific diabetes follow‐up plan recorded.This audit has identified several important deficiencies in the medical care of patients with diabetes in three district general hsopitals in South Wales. These are considered to be representative of other hospitals in the United Kingdom and this study emphasises the importance of strategies to improve and co‐ordinate diabetes care in the secondary sector.
Capillary blood sampling: How much pain is necessary? Part 4: Comparison of lancets for automatic lancing devices
Authors: Fruhstorfer H. , Selzer K. , Selbman O. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractSix lancets for automatic lancing devices were examined for puncture pain and blood volume in 51 healthy subjects. The lancets were used in a Glucolet® device (nominal penetration depth 1 mm). All lancets caused only slight pain of similar intensity. Blood volumes, however, differed considerably between the lancets.
Case reports designed as an aid to professional education A personal experience of brittle diabetes Lessons learned and lessons still to learn
Authors: Steel JM , Campbell IW 
Published: March 2007

AbstractBrittle diabetes is rare but imposes huge demands on the Health Service in terms of time and costs. It is almost always due to manipulative behaviour. These ‘nice girls’ behave in a very devious way. It is important to recognise the problem, bring it out in the open and treat it at an early stage. This can avoid numerous unnecessary investigations and admissions, and prevent the development of severe insulin resistance which is very difficult to treat and may lead to death.
Side‐chain effects on the morphology and properties of fluorene‐based alternating copolymers
Authors: Chen Peng , Yang Gui‐Zhong , Wang Chuan‐Ming , Wang Weizhi , Wang Min , Liu Tianxi 
Published: March 2007

AbstractSoluble fluorene‐based alternating copolymers containing benzene as the comonomer were synthesized and characterized, in which three different side chains (hydrogen atom, linear octyloxy and bulky benzyloxy groups) were attached to the phenylene ring. The effect of the side chains with different steric hindrances on the photophysical, thermal and electrochemical properties as well as the morphology were investigated. Moreover, the chain conformation and spectroscopic properties in dilute solution were studied to understand the solvent effect. Aliphatic and aromatic solvents were demonstrated to have different influences on the spectra of the polymers owing to various interaction mechanisms in the excited states. Also, a significant decrease of up to 80 °C in the thermal degradation temperature was observed as a result of the introduction of large benzyloxy units. The energy levels of the highest occupied molecular orbital and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital of the polymers were estimated to be − 5.76 to − 5.82 eV and − 2.19 to − 2.27 eV, respectively, from cyclic voltammetry measurements. In addition, the electronic structures of the polymers were described via quantum chemical calculations. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry
Polycondensation of lactic acid catalyzed by organic acid anhydrides
Authors: Bai Yanbin , Lei Ziqing 
Published: March 2007

AbstractPoly(lactic acid) was prepared by the utilization of the acid anhydrides cis‐butenedoic anhydride, phthalic anhydride and pyromellitic dianhydride as catalysts. The effect of the amount of catalyst, temperature and reaction time on the polymerization was investigated in detail. The results show that the acid anhydride catalysts are very efficient in bulk polycondensation, giving poly(D,L‐lactic acid) with average molecular weights (Mw) of (1.7–2.3) × 104 in high yield. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry
Influence of solvents on the photoinduced birefringence in chitosan films incorporating azo dyes
Authors: Siqueira JP , dos Santos Jr DS , Misoguti L , Oliveira ON , Mendonça CR 
Published: March 2007

AbstractThe photoinduced birefringence arising from trans–cis–trans isomerization has been studied in chitosan cast films doped with the azo dye Ponceau‐S. The chitosan/Ponceau‐S films are highly resistant to several solvents, which allowed the study of their optical storage features after immersion in various solvents. We demonstrate that the induced birefringence and its dynamics are influenced by the solvent. From experiments using such different solvents as water, dimethylsulfoxide, ethylene glycol, methanol and chloroform, it was found that the induced birefringence and the writing rate increase linearly with the dielectric constant of the solvent. At high dielectric constant, photoinduced molecular reorientation is facilitated, leading both to a larger birefringence and faster dynamics. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry
Molecular weight determinations on polymers by electron microscopy
Authors: Quayle D. V. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractA technique has been developed by which molecular weight averages and distributions may be obtained for polymer fractions of high molecular weight.For glassy amorphous polymers, very dilute solutions in solvent‐precipitant mixtures are atomised on to a thin carbon substrate, shadowed with platinum‐carbon mixture and examined in the electron microscope. A solvent is chosen which is more volatile than the precipitant, so that on the path from the atomiser system to the substrate, and on the substrate itself, preferential evaporation of the solvent takes place. Contacts between polymer segments become more favourable than polymer‐solvent contacts, resulting in the progressive contraction of the molecular coils, and the deposition of single spherical self‐supporting molecules, the diameters of which can be determined from the lengths of the shadows cast by them.Molecules of polymers having glass transition temperatures below room temperature, or even slightly above, show varying degrees of collapse when prepared at room temperature. A device has been constructed which allows such polymer molecules to be deposited and shadowed at temperatures down to −100°, at which temperature molecular collapse is not apparent. Molecular diameters may then be measured as for glassy polymers. An atomiser‐separator system was constructed, which produced small droplets containing, essentially, one or zero polymer molecules, when a fraction of high molecular weight was used. All the solvent was evaporated from the droplets on the path to the cooled substrate, allowing the deposition of solvent‐free molecules.Molecular weight averages and distributions are presented for a series of high‐molecular‐weight polymer fractions, in the glass transition temperature range from 100° to —73°. The high precision of the results from this technique is demonstrated, together with the close agreement between molecular weight averages obtained by electron microscopy, and those obtained by light‐scattering and viscometry.
Peel adhesion of PVC to steel
Authors: Sherlock J. C. , Shreir L. L. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractThe adhesion of PVC to various steel surfaces has been studied using a simple peel test apparatus. The effects of surface cleanliness, phosphate coatings, and oxide films on adhesion have been studied, and studies of oxide film thickness indicate that forces other than those usually considered in models of adhesion may be operative.
Studies on anion‐exchange resins IV. Chelating properties of anion exchangers prepared from melamine and commercial cashewnutshell liquid
Authors: Dasare B. D. , Krishnaswamy N. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractTwo weakly basic anion exchangers have been investigated for the selective uptake of cations. The cashewnut‐ shell liquid ‐ tetraethylene pentamine resin absorbs copper, nickel and cobalt at different pH of external solution. The unbuffered melamine‐based resin was specific for copper, which could be separated from nickel and cobalt completely.
Synthesis and characterization of novel poly(ester carbonate)s based on pentaerythritol
Authors: Xie Zhigang , Lu Changhai , Chen Xuesi , Chen Li , Wang Yu , Hu Xiuli , Shi Quan , Jing Xiabin 
Published: March 2007

AbstractNovel poly(ester carbonate)s were synthesized by the ring‐opening polymerization of L‐lactide and functionalized carbonate monomer 9‐phenyl‐2,4,8,10‐tetraoxaspiro[5,5]undecan‐3‐one derived from pentaerythritol with diethyl zinc as an initiator. 1H NMR analysis revealed that the carbonate content in the copolymer was almost equal to that in the feed. DSC results indicated that Tg of the copolymer increased with increasing carbonate content in the copolymer. Moreover, the protecting benzylidene groups in the copolymer poly(L‐lactide‐co‐9‐phenyl‐2,4,8,10‐tetraoxaspiro[5,5]undecan‐3‐one) were removed by hydrogenation with palladium hydroxide on activated charcoal as a catalyst to give a functional copolymer, poly(L‐lactide‐co‐2,2‐dihydroxylmethyl‐propylene carbonate), containing pendant primary hydroxyl groups. Complete deprotection was confirmed by 1H NMR and FTIR spectroscopy. The in vitro degradation rate of the deprotected copolymers was faster than that of the protected copolymers in the presence of proteinase K. The cell morphology and viability on a copolymer film evaluated with ECV‐304 cells showed that poly(ester carbonate)s derived from pentaerythritol are good biocompatible materials suitable for biomedical applications. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45:1737 –1745, 2007
Synthesis and characterization of white‐light‐emitting polyfluorenes containing orange phosphorescent moieties in the side chain
Authors: Mei Chongyu , Ding Junqiao , Yao Bing , Cheng Yanxiang , Xie Zhiyuan , Geng Yanhou , Wang Lixiang 
Published: March 2007

AbstractTwo orange phosphorescent iridium complex monomers, 9‐hexyl‐9‐(iridium (III)bis(2‐(4′‐fluorophenyl)‐4‐phenylquinoline‐N,C2′)(tetradecanedionate‐11,13))‐2,7‐dibromofluorene (Br‐PIr) and 9‐hexyl‐9‐(iridium(III)bis(2‐(4′‐fluorophenyl)‐4‐methylquinoline‐N,C2′)(tetradecanedionate‐11,13))‐2,7‐dibromofluorene (Br‐MIr), were successfully synthesized. The Suzuki polycondensation of 2,7‐bis(trimethylene boronate)‐9,9‐dioctylfluorene with 2,7‐dibromo‐9,9‐dioctylfluorene and Br‐PIr or Br‐MIr afforded two series of copolymers, PIrPFs and MIrPFs, in good yields, in which the concentrations of the phosphorescent moieties were kept small (0.5–3 mol % feed ratio) to realize incomplete energy transfer. The photoluminescence (PL) of the copolymers showed blue‐ and orange‐emission peaks. A white‐light‐emitting diode with a configuration of indium tin oxide/poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate)/PIr05PF (0.5 mol % feed ratio of Br‐PIr)/Ca/Al exhibited a luminous efficiency of 4.49 cd/A and a power efficiency of 2.35 lm/W at 6.0 V with Commission Internationale de L'Eclairage (CIE) coordinates of (0.46, 0.33). The CIE coordinates were improved to (0.34, 0.33) when copolymer MIr10PF (1.0 mol % feed ratio of Br‐MIr) was employed as the white‐emissive layer. The strong orange emission in the electroluminescence spectra in comparison with PL for these kinds of polymers was attributed to the additional contribution of charge trapping in the phosphorescent dopants. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. JPolym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 1746–1757, 2007
Regioregular poly[3‐(4‐alkoxyphenyl)thiophene]s
Authors: Roviello Antonio , Buono Annamaria , Carella Antonio , Roviello Giuseppina , Cassinese Antonio , Barra Mario , Biasucci Mariano 
Published: March 2007

AbstractAn easy synthetic procedure for soluble poly[3‐(4‐alcoxyphenyl)thiophene]s is reported. The polymers present a high regioregularity degree as determined by both UV–vis spectra and 1H and 13C NMR analysis. Furthermore, X‐ray powder diffraction analysis performed on films of the polymers suggests a π‐stacked packing structure of the macromolecules. Electrical characterization was performed on one of the synthesized polythiophenes on both undoped and doped (with FeCl3 or iodine) films. The conductivity and charge‐carrier mobility were assessed by current–voltage and field effect measurements. Well‐structured polymer films were obtained simply via spin coating from chloroform solutions and without the need of further processing, unlike other regioregular polythiophenes reported in the literature. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 1758–1770, 2007
Living carbocationic copolymerization of isobutylene with styrene
Authors: Puskas Judit E. , Chan Sam W. P. , Mcauley Kimberley B. , Kaszas Gabor , Shaikh Sohel 
Published: March 2007

AbstractThe carbocationic copolymerization of isobutylene (IB) and styrene (St), initiated by 2‐chloro‐2,4,4‐trimethylpentane/TiCl4 in 60/40 (v/v) methyl chloride/hexane at −90 °C, was investigated. At a low total concentration (0.5 mol/L), slow initiation and rapid monomer conversion were observed. At a high total comonomer concentration (3 mol/L), living conditions (a linear semilogarithmic rate and Mn–conversion plots) were found, provided that the St concentration was above a critical value ([St]0 ∼ 0.6 mol/L). The breadth of the molecular weight distribution decreased with increasing IB concentration in the feed, reaching Mw/Mn ∼ 1.1. St homopolymerization was also living at a high total concentration, yielding polystyrene with Mn = 82,000 g/mol, the highest molecular weight ever achieved in carbocationic St polymerization. An analysis of this system by both the traditional gravimetric–NMR copolymer composition method and FTIR demonstrated penultimate effects. IB enrichment was found in the copolymers at all feed compositions, with very little drift at a high total concentration and above the critical St concentration. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 1778–1787, 2007
The ‘thermal semi‐conductor’ effect of crushed rocks
Authors: Guodong Cheng , Yuanming Lai , Zhizhong Sun , Fan Jiang 
Published: March 2007

AbstractCoarse rock layers are widespread in periglacial environments and can lower the temperature of underlying ground. We show that the cooling effect of closed and sloping rock layers is in the form of Rayleigh‐Bénard convection, while that of open and inclined rock layers is via the ‘chimney effect’ and wind‐forced convection. Cooling has been observed in numerical simulations, laboratory models and field mock‐up experiments. Coarse rocks were widely used in the construction of the Qinghai‐Xizang Railroad and temperature monitoring of their performance indicates that they do have a cooling effect on embankments. The advantages of utilising such materials are many, including high efficiency, ease of installation, environmental friendliness and relatively low cost. It is recommended that they be used in engineering projects in sensitive permafrost areas as a cooling agent and/or a countermeasure against possible global warming. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.