bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Single session educational programme for caregivers of psychogeriatric in‐patients – results from a randomised controlled pilot study
Authors: Aakhus Eivind , Engedal Knut , Aspelund Tom , Selbæk Geir 
Published: August 2008

AbstractBackgroundFamily caregivers of patients with psychiatric or medical disorders are at risk of developing psychological distress. Studies including family caregivers of patients with dementia have shown that psychoeducative programmes reduce distress and postpone institutionalisation. Little is known about the effect of psychoeducation of relatives of psychogeriatric patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a single‐session educational intervention of relatives of psychogeriatric in‐patients.MethodsA randomised controlled intervention study was carried out with 16 relatives in the intervention group and 14 in the control group. The intervention was carried out as a single session programme. Primary outcome measures were psychological well‐being and depression as measured by means of General Health Questionnaire (GHQ‐30), Impact of Event Scale (IES) and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Outcome measures were performed at baseline, at discharge and at 3‐month follow‐up.ResultsPsychological distress was high. Daughters were more depressed and distressed than spouses. Patients' diagnoses did not seem to exert influence on the relatives' well‐being. There was a significant worsening of psychological distress in the intervention group as measured by GHQ‐30.ConclusionsThe study is small and results must be interpreted with caution. Distress among relatives was high regardless of patient's diagnosis. The results of the intervention might lead us to conclude that single‐session interventions towards this specific group of relatives do not improve psychological stress and might, in some aspects, even worsen it. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A valid instrument for measuring informal care time for people with dementia
Authors: Neubauer Simone , Holle Rolf , Menn Petra , Gräßel Elmar 
Published: August 2008

AbstractObjectiveAn economic evaluation of dementia‐related interventions from a societal perspective should take account of informal caregiving. We assessed informal caregiving time and report our findings on the validity and stability of our results.MethodsWithin the German IDA study (‘Dementia Care Initiative in Primary Practice’), informal care time for people with dementia living at home is assessed. We applied a German adaptation of the Resource Utilization in Dementia (RUD) questions on informal care, which distinguishes three categories of informal care activities: Activities of Daily Living (ADL), Instrumental ADL (IADL), and supervision. In contrast to the original version, we included the time of all informal caregivers who are involved in caring for the patient. The questionnaire was completed as a computer‐assisted telephone interview at baseline and after 1 year. To test the plausibility of the questionnaire, we proposed seven hypotheses about the reported informal care time.ResultsNearly all results confirmed our hypotheses. Informal care time as well as changes over time correlated with the physical and mental health status of the patient. Considering the time of other informal caregivers led to slightly higher correlations (not significant). The results indicate that interviewees seem to underestimate particularly the time of supervision of other informal caregivers.ConclusionIn sum, the instrument gives plausible results and is suited for measuring informal care time, as well as changes over time. If it is not possible to directly interview each caregiver involved, it is of great importance to identify and interview the primary informal caregiver in order to prevent an underestimation of total informal care time. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Does dementia predict adverse hospitalization outcomes? A prospective study in aged inpatients
Authors: Zekry Dina , Herrmann François R. , Grandjean Raphael , Vitale Ana‐Maria , De Pinho Maria‐Fatima , Michel Jean‐Pierre , Gold Gabriel , Krause Karl‐Heinz 
Published: August 2008

AbstractBackgroundDementia is often considered a predictor of adverse hospitalization outcomes. However, the relative contributions of dementia and other risk factors remain unclear.ObjectiveTo assess, in a prospective study, the relative value of dementia for predicting hospitalization outcomes, taking into account comorbidity, functional and nutritional status in 435 inpatients (age 85.3 ± 6.7; 207 cognitively normal, 48 with mild cognitive impairment and 180 demented) from the acute and rehabilitation geriatric hospital of Geneva. Hospitalization outcomes (death in hospital, length of stay, institutionalisation and formal home care needs) were predicted using logistic regression models with sociodemographic characteristics, cognitive status, comorbid Charlson index‐CCI, functional and nutritional status as independent variables.ResultsModerate and severe dementia and poor physical function strongly predicted longer hospital stay, institutionalization and greater home care needs in univariate analyses. CCI was the best single predictor, with a four‐fold difference in mortality rates between the highest and lowest scores. In multivariate analysis, the best predictor of institutionalisation was dementia, whereas the best predictor of death in hospital or longer hospital stay was higher comorbidity score, regardless of cognitive status. Functional status was the best predictor of greater home care needs.ConclusionsDementia in very old medically ill inpatients was predictive only of discharge to a nursing home. Higher levels of comorbidity and poor functional status were more predictive than dementia for the other three hospitalization outcomes. Thus, comorbid medical conditions, functional and nutritional status should be considered, together with cognitive assessment, when predicting hospitalization outcome. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Functional decoupling of BOLD and gamma‐band amplitudes in human primary visual cortex
Authors: Muthukumaraswamy Suresh D. , Singh Krish D. 
Published: August 2008

AbstractAlthough functional magnetic resonance imaging is an important tool for measuring brain activity, the hemodynamic blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) response is only an indirect measure of neuronal activity. Converging evidence obtained from simultaneous recording of hemodynamic and electrical measures suggest that the best correlate of the BOLD response in primary visual cortex is gamma‐band oscillations (∼40 Hz). Here, we examined the coupling between BOLD and gamma‐band amplitudes measured with magntoencephalography (MEG) in human primary visual cortex in 10 participants. In Experiment A, participants were exposed to grating stimuli at two contrast levels and two spatial frequencies and in Experiment B square and sine wave stimuli at two spatial frequencies. The amplitudes of both gamma‐band oscillations and BOLD showed tuning with stimulus contrast and stimulus type; however, gamma‐band oscillations showed a 300% increase across two spatial frequencies, whereas BOLD exhibited no change. This functional decoupling demonstrates that increased amplitude of gamma‐band oscillations as measured with MEG is not sufficient to drive the subsequent BOLD response. Hum Brain Mapp, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Runoff modelling of the glacierized Alpine Upper Salzach basin (Austria): multi‐criteria result validation
Authors: Koboltschnig Gernot R. , Schöner Wolfgang , Zappa Massimiliano , Kroisleitner Christine , Holzmann Hubert 
Published: August 2008

AbstractSnow cover and glaciers are the most important long‐term forms of water storage and, hence, the main sources of runoff during the ablation period for many alpine headwater basins. We therefore investigated the application of the conceptual, distributed hydrological precipitation runoff evapotranspiration hydrological response unit model (PREVAH) to the alpine glacierized headwater basin of the Upper Salzach (593 km2, 5% glacierized) river in Austria. Hourly meteorological data from 17 stations for a 6‐year period were available for the calibration and validation of the hourly runoff simulations. Multi‐criteria validation included hourly discharge, snow covered area (SCA), and glacier mass balances. SCA maps were generated from optical satellite images for six dates. These maps were compared to simulated maps of SCA to (1) calculate differences in SCA, (2) calculate altitudinal differences, and (3) show the ability to accurately model snow cover on different aspects. The differences between observed and simulated SCA for glacierized areas were between 1 and 9% during June and July, and between 10 and 36% during August and September observations. In general, the model overestimated SCA, which is the result of PREVAH not including redistribution of snow by wind or avalanches. The temporal variability of the simulated mass balance agreed well with observations from surrounding glaciers. Nash‐Sutcliffe Efficiency Criteria (R2) of the hourly discharge simulations were between 0·83 and 0·89 with the exception of the extreme summer of 2003 which had an R2 of 0·74. Contributions of glacier melt (firn/ice melt) to annual total runoff were between 1 and 4%. Again, the exception was 2003, when glaciers contributed 15% of the annual runoff and 60% to the August runoff alone. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis of streamflow series of the Yangtze River basin, China
Authors: Zhang Qiang , Xu Chong‐Yu , Chen Yongqin David , Yu Zuguo 
Published: August 2008

AbstractScaling and multifractal properties of the hydrological processes of the Yangtze River basin were explored by using a multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis (MF‐DFA) technique. Long daily mean streamflow series from Cuntan, Yichang, Hankou and Datong stations were analyzed. Using shuffled streamflow series, the types of multifractality of streamflow series was also studied. The results indicate that the discharge series of the Yangtze River basin are non‐stationary. Different correlation properties were identified within streamflow series of the upper, the middle and the lower Yangtze River basin. The discharge series of the upper Yangtze River basin are characterized by short memory or anti‐persistence; while the streamflow series of the lower Yangtze River basin is characterized by long memory or persistence. h(q) vs q curves indicate multifractality of the hydrological processes of the Yangtze River basin. h(q) curves of shuffled streamflow series suggest that the multifractality of the streamflow series is mainly due to the correlation properties within the hydrological series. This study may be of practical and scientific importance in regional flood frequency analysis and water resource management in different parts of the Yangtze River basin. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Intratumoral rhIL‐12 administration in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients induces B cell activation
Authors: van Herpen Carla M.L. , van der Voort Robbert , van der Laak Jeroen A.W.M. , Klasen Ina S. , de Graaf Aniek O. , van Kempen Léon C.L. , de Vries I. Jolanda M. , Boer Tjitske Duiveman‐de , Dolstra Harry , Torensma Ruurd , van Krieken Johan H. , Adema Gosse J. , De Mulder Pieter H.M. 
Published: August 2008

AbstractThe objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of intratumorally (i.t.) administered recombinant human interleukin‐12 (rhIL‐12) on the distribution and function of B cells in the primary tumors, the locoregional lymph nodes and peripheral blood of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients. The initial characterization of the patients participating in the phase Ib and phase II studies has previously been reported. After rhIL‐12 treatment, fewer secondary follicles with a broader outer region of the mantle zones and an increase in interfollicular B‐blasts were seen in the enlarged lymph nodes compared with control HNSCC patients. The size of the germinal center (GC) was diminished, partly due to a decrease in the number of CD57+ GC cells that have been associated with immune suppression. These changes did not correlate with signs of apoptosis or CXCR5 expression by B cells. Strikingly, in 3 out of 4 IL‐12 treated patients, increased IFN‐γ mRNA expression by B cells was detected. In addition, a highly significant IgG subclass switch was seen in the plasma with more IgG1, less IgG2 and more IgG4, indicating a switch to T helper 1 phenotype. Finally, peritumoral B cell infiltration was a positive prognostic sign for overall survival in the 30 HNSCC patients investigated, irrespective of IL‐12 treatment. In conclusion, these data indicate that after i.t. IL‐12 treatment in HNSCC, significant activation of the B cell and the B cell compartment occurred and that the presence of tumor infiltrating B cells correlated with overall survival of HNSCC patients. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Diet diversity and the risk of squamous cell esophageal cancer
Authors: Lucenteforte Ersilia , Garavello Werner , Bosetti Cristina , Talamini Renato , Zambon Paola , Franceschi Silvia , Negri Eva , La Vecchia Carlo 
Published: August 2008

AbstractA varied diet may have a favorable role against digestive tract cancers. We analyzed the relationship between diet diversity (i.e. measured by the number of different foods consumed at least once per week) and the risk of esophageal cancer. We considered data from a case–control study conducted between 1992 and 1997 in northern Italy on 304 squamous cell esophageal cancer cases below age 78 years and 743 controls admitted to hospital for acute, nonneoplastic conditions, unrelated to tobacco or alcohol consumption. There was a significant inverse association for total diet diversity: the multivariate odds ratio (OR), adjusted for age, sex, area of residence, education, tobacco smoking, alcohol drinking and non‐alcohol energy intake was 0.42 (95% confidence interval, CI: 0.25–0.71) for subjects in the highest versus those in the lowest quartile of diversity. Inverse relations were also found for diversity within vegetables (OR = 0.34, 95% CI: 0.21–0.55) and fruits (OR = 0.51, 95% CI: 0.33–0.80). No significant association was found for meat and cereal diversity. These results add epidemiological support to the dietary guidelines recommending a more varied diet, particularly in fruit and vegetables, for esophageal cancer prevention. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Measures of cutaneous human papillomavirus infection in normal tissues as biomarkers of HPV in corresponding nonmelanoma skin cancers
Authors: Rollison Dana E. , Pawlita Michael , Giuliano Anna R. , Iannacone Michelle R. , Sondak Vernon K. , Messina Jane L. , Cruse C. Wayne , Fenske Neil Alan , Glass Lewis Frank , Kienstra Matthew , Michael Kristina M. , Waterboer Tim , Gheit Tarik , Tommasino Massimo 
Published: August 2008

AbstractCutaneous human papillomavirus (HPV) may be associated with the development of nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC), as suggested by reports of HPV DNA in NMSC tumors. HPV has also been investigated as an NMSC risk factor in epidemiologic studies, although findings vary across studies that used different biomarkers of HPV infection in normal tissues. To identify appropriate biomarkers for use in future epidemiologic studies, we conducted a sampling validation study. NMSC tumor tissue was obtained from 20 patients with pathology‐confirmed basal or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, in addition to several normal tissues, including eyebrow hairs, normal skin swabs obtained using multiple techniques, normal skin punch and shave biopsies, and serum for antibody measurement. Presence of cutaneous HPV DNA in tissues was measured with multiplex PCR using HPV type‐specific primers and array primer extension (APEX) for HPV typing. Antibody detection was based on glutathione‐S‐transferase capture ELISA in combination with fluorescent bead technology. Using HPV DNA in tumor tissues as a gold standard, sensitivity and specificity were calculated for each measure of HPV infection in normal tissues. β‐Papillomavirus DNA was observed in tumor tissues in 60% of patients. The normal skin punch biopsy demonstrated optimal sensitivity (75%) and specificity (75%). Biomarkers obtained using less‐invasive techniques demonstrated poor specificity when considered individually, although specificity improved when biomarkers were combined. Based on the current case series, the combinations of antibodies+eyebrow hairs or antibodies+eyebrow hairs+Dacron swabs are the optimal, minimally invasive markers of cutaneous HPV infection for use in epidemiologic studies. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
CCAAT/enhancer binding protein‐alpha polymorphisms occur more frequently than mutations in acute myeloid leukemia and exist across all cytogenetic risk groups and leukemia subtypes
Authors: Leecharendkeat Amporn , Tocharoentanaphol Chintana , Auewarakul Chirayu U. 
Published: August 2008

AbstractCCAAT/enhancer binding protein‐alpha (CEBPA) belongs to a family of leucine zipper transcription factors necessary for late differentiation events of many cell types. CEBPA gene has recently been recognized as the target of genetic alterations in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). CEBPA mutations and polymorphisms were determined in a large series of Southeast Asian AML (n = 247) using polymerase chain reaction and direct sequencing. Chromosome and FLT3 mutation analyses were also undertaken. Thirty‐two distinct types of nucleotide changes (7 known and 25 novel mutations) were identified in 34 cases (13.8%). Three types of polymorphisms were found in 60 cases (24.3%) including a novel nt1401C>T polymorphism. All polymorphisms were located at the C‐terminal region whereas the majority of mutations (62.5%) occurred at the N‐terminal region. The most common polymorphism was the nt1175_1180dup resulting in the predicted P194_H195 duplication protein in 50 cases. Although CEBPA mutations were predominantly associated with a normal karyotype (76%), 15.7% of patients with an unfavorable risk and 4.3% of patients with a favorable risk also had the mutations. Moreover, CEBPA polymorphisms were similarly found across all cytogenetic risk groups and occurred in all leukemia subtypes. FLT3 mutations were comparably discovered among patients with CEBPA mutations, polymorphisms and wild‐type (26–30%). In conclusion, CEBPA polymorphisms occurred more frequently than CEBPA mutations and could be identified across all prognostic risk groups. The high occurrence of CEBPA polymorphisms should be recognized in order not to include this group of patients with CEBPA polymorphisms for prognostic evaluation of CEBPA mutations in any clinical trials. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Plakophilin3 downregulation leads to a decrease in cell adhesion and promotes metastasis
Authors: Kundu Samrat T. , Gosavi Prajakta , Khapare Nileema , Patel Rachana , Hosing Amol S. , Maru Girish B. , Ingle Arvind , DeCaprio James A. , Dalal Sorab N. 
Published: August 2008

AbstractPlakophilin3 is a desmosomal plaque protein whose levels are reduced in poorly differentiated tumors of the oropharyngeal cavity and in invasive colon carcinomas. To test the hypothesis that plakophilin3 loss stimulates neoplastic progression, plakophilin3 expression was inhibited by DNA vector driven RNA interference in 3 epithelial cell lines, HCT116, HaCaT and fetal buccal mucosa. The plakophilin3‐knockdown clones showed a decrease in cell–cell adhesion as assessed in a hanging drop assay, which was accompanied by an increase in cell migration. The HCT116 plakophilin3‐knockdown clones showed a decrease in desmosome size as revealed by electron microscopy. These altered desmosomal properties were accompanied by colony formation in soft agar and growth to high density in culture. The HCT116‐derived clones showed accelerated tumor formation in nude mice and increased metastasis to the lung, a phenotype consistent with the increased migration observed in vitro and is consistent with data from human tumors that suggests that plakophililn3 is lost in invasive and metastatic tumors. These data indicate that plakophilin3 loss leads to a decrease in cell–cell adhesion leading to the stimulation of neoplastic progression and metastasis. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Risk of second primary cancer among patients with head and neck cancers: A pooled analysis of 13 cancer registries
Authors: Chuang Shu‐Chun , Scelo Ghislaine , Tonita Jon M. , Tamaro Sharon , Jonasson Jon G. , Kliewer Erich V. , Hemminki Kari , Weiderpass Elisabete , Pukkala Eero , Tracey Elizabeth , Friis Soren , Pompe‐Kirn Vera , Brewster David H. , Martos Carmen , Chia Kee‐Seng , Boffetta Paolo , Brennan Paul , Hashibe Mia 
Published: August 2008

AbstractThe objective of the study was to assess the risk of second primary cancers (SPCs) following a primary head and neck cancer (oral cavity, pharynx and larynx) and the risk of head and neck cancer as a SPC. The present investigation is a multicenter study from 13 population‐based cancer registries. The study population involved 99,257 patients with a first primary head and neck cancer and contributed 489,855 person‐years of follow‐up. To assess the excess risk of SPCs following head and neck cancers, we calculated standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) by dividing the observed numbers of SPCs by the expected number of cancers calculated from accumulated person‐years and the age‐, sex‐ and calendar period‐specific first primary cancer incidence rates in each of the cancer registries. During the observation period, there were 10,826 cases of SPCs after head and neck cancer. For all cancer sites combined, the SIR of SPCs was 1.86 (95% CI = 1.83–1.90) and the 20‐year cumulative risk was 36%. Lung cancer contributed to the highest proportion of the SPCs with a 20‐year cumulative risk of 13%. Excess second head and neck cancer risk was observed 10 years after diagnosis with lymphohaematopoietic cancers. The most common SPC following a first primary head and neck cancer was lung cancer. However, the highest excess of SPCs was in the head and neck region. These patterns were consistent with the notion that the pattern of cancer in survivors of head and neck cancer is dominated by the effect of tobacco smoking and alcohol drinking. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.