bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Ambivalence of Religiosity and Religion: A Reading of Georg Simmel
Authors: Laermans Rudi 
Published: December 2006

The author discusses Georg Simmel’s writings on religiosity and religion, which only cover a rather tiny part of his total oeuvre, in view of a possible illumination of the material object of the sociology of religion. The distinction between religiosity and religion, which is fundamental according to Simmel, is presented against the more general background of Simmel’s so-called formal sociology and his overall “Lebensphilosophie” [philosophy of life]. Particular attention is given to the two basic social forms of religiosity, i.e. belief or trust and the experience of social unity. According to Simmel, religion is at once an externalization and purification of religiosity, resulting in the creation of an autonomous sphere of transcendence. It is argued that, in contradistinction to, for instance, Emile Durkheim, Simmel clearly wanted to avoid religion being reduced to a mere reflection of religiosity in general and to the discussed social manifestations of religiosity in particular. The author ends with a brief discussion of Simmel’s pessimistic diagnosis of the fate of religion within modernity. In his view, modernity is in need of a religion that no longer situates transcendence in an autonomous sphere, cut off from mundane life. French L'auteur discute les écrits de Georg Simmel sur la religiosité et la religion, qui constituent seulement une fraction de son óuvre, en vue d'éclaircir l'objet „matériel de la sociologie de la religion. La distinction entre religiosité et religion, qui est fondamentale selon Simmel, est présentée sur l'arrière-fond plus général de la ``sociologie formelle simmelienne'' et de sa ``Lebensphilo sophie'' [philosophie de vie]. Une attention particulière est portée aux deux formes sociales les plus élémentaires de religiosité, la croyance ou la confiance et l'expérience de l'unité sociale. Selon Simmel, la religion est simultanément une externalisation et une purification de la religiosité, résultant en la création d'une sphère autonome de transcendance. Il est soutenu que, contrairement à Emile Durkheim, par exemple, Simmel souhaitait clairement éviter que la religion soit réduite à un simple reflet de la religiosité en général et, plus particulièrement, à des manifestations sociales de la religiosité. L'auteur conclut par une brève discussion à propos du diagnostic pessimiste du destin de la religion dans la modernité posé par Simmel. Selon lui, la modernité a besoin d'une religion qui ne situe plus la transcendance dans une sphère autonome, séparée de la vie quotidienne.
Non-institutional Religious Re-composition among the Chinese Youth
Authors: Ji Zhe 
Published: December 2006

English The author seeks answers to the perplexing phenomenon: the increasing widespread youth religiosity in contemporary China. How is it possible for young people to acquire such religiosity in a society where the State vigorously opposes religion through its policy and practice? Using data from my own and others’ field observation and investigations, I show that in the past two decades, religious representations and practices have filtered to the Chinese through a variety of secular and non-institutional forms in the widening social and cultural space. These new reformulations of the religious traditions in turn have provided the youth with a wealth of symbolic references from which they can select according to their personal needs. To some extent, the strict state control of the religious institutions contributes ironically to the thriving growth of the individual, non-institutional and sectarian forms of the religiosity among the youth in contemporary China. French L'auteur cherche des réponses à un phénomène troublant: la religiosité croissante et répandue des jeunes de la Chine contemporaine. Comment est-il possible pour ces jeunes d'acquérir une telle religiosité dans une société où l'État s'oppose vigoureusement à la religion dans ses politiques et ses pratiques? En utilisant des données propres et issues du champ d'observation et d'investigation d'autres chercheurs, l'auteur montre que pendant les deux dernières décennies, les représentations et pratiques religieuses se sont infiltrées parmi les Chinois à travers une grande variété de formes séculières et non-institutionnelles dans un espace social et culturel s'élargissant. Ces nouvelles reformulations des traditions religieuses ont, à leur tour, fourni aux jeunes une richesse de références symboliques, parmi lesquelles ils peuvent effectuer une sélection selon leurs besoins personnels. Dans une certaine mesure, le contrÂle étatique strict des institutions religieuses contribue ironiquement à la croissance vigoureuse de formes individuelles, non-institutionnelles et sectaires de religiosité parmi les jeunes de la Chine contemporaine.
Does a short period of rehabilitation in the home setting facilitate functioning after stroke? A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Björkdahl Ann , Nilsson A°sa Lundgren , Grimby Gunnar , Sunnerhagen Katharina Stibrant 
Published: December 2006

Objective: To assess the effect of three weeks of rehabilitation in the home setting for younger patients with stroke with the aim of improving activity level. Design: A randomized controlled study with blinded evaluations at discharge, three weeks, three months and one year after discharge. Setting: Home of the patient or the ordinary day rehabilitation clinic at the university hospital. Subjects: Fifty-eight patients (median age 53 years) consecutively discharged from inpatient rehabilitation with a first occurrence of stroke participated in training directly after discharge. Intervention: Rehabilitation was given for 9 hours/week over three weeks. The home group received individually tailored training, based on the patient's needs and desires, with a focus on activities in their natural context. Support and information were also given. The intervention in the day clinic group was aimed mainly at improved functions. Main measures: The main outcome was activity, assessed with the Assessment of Motor and Process Skill (AMPS). The impairment level was also evaluated. Costs were estimated. Result: There were no significant differences between the groups on any of the four assessments. However, there seemed to be an earlier improvement on some measures (including AMPS) for the home group. For both groups there was a greater improvement on the activity level than on the impairment level. The costs of the home group were less than half of the costs of the day clinic group. Conclusion: With the present results, both rehabilitation programmes could be recommended, however, further studies are needed to define patients who may specifically benefit from the home rehabilitation programme. Costs should be taken into consideration.
Incontinence after brain injury: prevalence, outcome and multidisciplinary management on a neurological rehabilitation unit
Authors: Leary S M , Liu C , Cheesman A L , Ritter A , Thompson S , Greenwood R 
Published: December 2006

Objective: To investigate the prevalence, outcome and multidisciplinary management of incontinence in patients with acquired brain injury. Design: Retrospective case notes review. Setting: Regional neurological rehabilitation unit. Subjects: Two hundred and thirty-eight patients with acquired brain injury. Main measures: Bladder and bowel subscores of the Barthel Index and Functional Independence Measure; number of multidisciplinary goals addressing bladder and bowel function. Results: Fifty per cent of patients (n=112) had impaired bladder or bowel subscores on admission. Significant improvement was seen at discharge but 36% of patients (n=77) still had some degree of impairment. Over 90% of patients were set multidisciplinary goals addressing self-care (n=213) and mobility (n=205) but only 3.5% (n=8) were set multidisciplinary goals addressing bladder and bowel function. Conclusions: Incontinence was common in patients with brain injury on a neurological rehabilitation unit. Significant improvement was seen following rehabilitation. Bladder and bowel management was not well incorporated into the multidisciplinary management process.
Biofeedback supplementation to physiotherapy exercise programme for rehabilitation of patellofemoral pain syndrome: a randomized controlled pilot study
Authors: Yip Selina Lm , Ng Gabriel Yf 
Published: December 2006

Objectives: To examine the efficacy of electromyographic (EMG) biofeedback supplementation to exercise rehabilitation for people with patellofemoral pain syndrome. Design: Double-blinded randomized clinical controlled pilot trial. Setting: Clinical setting with home programme. Participants: Twenty-six subjects diagnosed with patellofemoral pain. Intervention: Subjects were randomly assigned into EMG biofeedback+exercise group or exercise-only group. All subjects participated in an eight-week home exercise programme, while the biofeedback group also received EMG visual feedback of their quadriceps muscle activities during the exercises. Main outcome measures: Isokinetic knee extension strength, patellar alignments and perceived pain severity were assessed in weeks 0, 4 and 8 for all subjects. The data within and between groups were compared by repeated measures ANOVA with aα=0.05. Results: Both groups improved in isokinetic peak torque (P=0.005), work output (P=0.037) and patellar alignments (P=0.001-0.014). Besides, there was a trend of decrease in pain (P=0.088). The biofeedback group improved faster than the exercise group in lateral patellar rotation and peak torque per body weight, although no statistically significant difference was shown. Conclusion: Biofeedback supplement to the exercise programme might hasten the improvement for subjects with patellofemoral pain in the first few weeks of a physiotherapy exercise programme, but this needs further study before being used.
Assessment and correlates of self-esteem following stroke using a pictorial measure
Authors: Vickery Chad D 
Published: December 2006

Objective: To describe the characteristics of a non-verbal measure of self-esteem in a sample of individuals in the acute phase following stroke. Design: Acute-phase stroke survivors (n=156) were administered measures of self-esteem, depression, anxiety, general emotional distress and cognitive functioning during admission to an inpatient stroke rehabilitation unit. Main measures: Visual Analogue Self-Esteem Scale (VASES), Geriatric Depression Scale, Adult Manifest Anxiety Scale, Visual Analog Mood Scales, measures of neuropsychological functioning. Results: VASES performance was not related to demographic variables, cognitive functioning, visual acuity, prior stroke or severe visuoperceptual impairment/left visual neglect. The VASES was most related to emotional functioning, with lower self-esteem ratings associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms and general emotional distress. Individuals with right hemisphere stroke tended to endorse lower self-esteem ratings, while aphasic individuals may have misunderstood the intent of the task. Conclusions: The non-verbal VASES appears to be minimally impacted by potentially invalidating patient factors (e.g. visual acuity, left visual neglect), although its use with patients with severe communication deficits is cautioned. The VASES may prove useful in identifying acute stroke survivors most at risk for emotional dysfunction, and may be useful as a research tool in this population.
The impact of conducting a regional palliative care clinical study
Authors: Currow David C , Abernethy Amy P , Shelby-James Tania M , Phillips Paddy A 
Published: December 2006

End-of-life care must be informed by methodologically rigorous, high-quality research, but well-documented barriers make the conduct of palliative care clinical trials difficult. With careful consideration to study design and procedures, these barriers are surmountable. This paper discusses the approach used in a large scale, randomised, controlled trial of service-based interventions in a regional palliative care service in South Australia, and the impact of this trial on palliative care research more broadly, the changes to the service in which it was conducted, and on health policy beyond palliative care. The Palliative Care Trial evaluated three interventions in a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial cluster randomised design: case conferences, general practitioner education, and patient education. Main outcomes were performance status, pain intensity, and resource utilisation. A total of 461 patients were enrolled in the study. Pre-study planning and piloting is crucial, and accurately estimated withdrawal and death rates in the study. Other study design elements that facilitated this research included assessment of three interventions at one time, a dedicated recruitment role, a single clinical triage point, embedding data collection into routine clinical assessments, and meaningful outcome measures. Recruitment and retention of participants is possible if barriers are systematically identified and addressed. This study challenged and developed the research culture within our clinical team and subsequently translated into further research.
Identifying, recruiting, and retaining seriously-ill patients and their caregivers in longitudinal research
Authors: Steinhauser Karen E , Clipp Elizabeth C , Hays Judith C , Olsen Maren , Arnold Robert , Christakis Nicholas A , Lindquist Jennifer Hoff , Tulsky James A 
Published: December 2006

Background: In order to improve the state of science in palliative care, we must increase our ability to document the real-time experience of patients and families as they traverse the end of life. Yet, frequently, prospective measurement is impeded by difficulty with patient identification, recruitment, enrollment, and retention. The palliative care literature is replete with descriptions of studies unable to meet enrollment goals, and that as a result, do not have adequate power to test hypotheses or draw conclusions. Objectives: To review the literature describing difficulties associated with ascertainment, enrollment, and attrition. To outline the successful recruitment methods of a new longitudinal study of patients and their caregivers. Design: A two-year longitudinal study of 240 patients with Stage IV cancer (breast, prostate, colorectal, lung), advanced congestive heart failure (CHF) LVEFB < 40 or advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) pCO2 > 46, and their caregivers, interviewed monthly for up to two years. Patients were identified using clinical and administrative databases from one geographic region. Results: Representative and successful ascertainment was associated with use of clinical criteria and medical record review versus physician or other provider prognostication, use of recruitment letters from personal physician, recruitment letter content, brochure content, small monetary incentives, refined phone scripts, use of matched ethnicity interviewers, in-home and phone interview strategies, measure selection, patient and caregiver rapport, and on-going staff support (including grief and bereavement). Conclusions: Recruitment to prospective longitudinal studies at the end of life is difficult, but possible. The lessons learned from this study are applicable to future investigators conducting prospective research.
Physical exercise for cytotoxic drug-induced fatigue
Authors: Hartvig Per , Aulin Johan , Wallenberg Sofia , Wagenius Gunnar 
Published: December 2006

Study objectives. Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is frequently reported by cancer patients receiving cytotoxic drugs. The specific mechanism of CRF in cancer patients is not completely known. In recent years, convincing evidence supports the management of fatigue with physical exercise. This study investigated a recommendation that physical activity, eg, a 30-minute daily walk, would decrease fatigue in cancer patients receiving cytotoxic drugs at an outpatient ward. Method. In total, 89 patients were interviewed about their fatigue and were asked to complete a questionnaire, the Fatigue Symptom Inventory (FSI), once a week over several treatment cycles of cytotoxic drugs. On inclusion, all patients received similar information about fatigue. After randomization, information about the positive effects of exercise was given to half of the patients after one cycle of cytotoxic drugs, and to the remaining patients after two cycles of cytotoxic drugs. Results. A total of 74 patients completed the study and returned useable questionnaires. The fatigue prevalence was 89% after one cytotoxic drug cycle. According to the FSI ratings, the group who received information about physical exercise after one cycle scored significantly lower ratings than the other group throughout the study (P=0.034). The patient interviews confirmed that physical activity helped them to better battle fatigue. Intensity of other symptoms and side effects from cytotoxic drugs closely paralleled the fatigue ratings. Conclusion. Fatigue was commonly found in the study population. Though small improvements followed physical exercise, results pointed towards the fact that information and exercise may support patients to combat fatigue. Early and frequent information would probably support patients to better combat fatigue by physical exercise.
5-Hydroxyindoleacetic acid and substance P profiles in patients receiving emetogenic chemotherapy
Authors: Higa Gerald M , Auber Miklos L , Altaha Ramin , Piktel Debbie , Kurian Sohba , Hobbs Gerry , Landreth Kenneth 
Published: December 2006

Background. Even though direct cause and effect has not been proved, clinical evidence suggests serotonin and substance P (SP) are involved in the emetic response following chemotherapy. Because of several parallels, we hypothesized that SP release, like serotonin, may be propagated by chemotherapy and both substances can be measured in biological fluids, and correlated with a particular phase of emesis. Methods. Urinary 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) was assessed by HPLC; serum and urine SP were measured by immunoassay. In addition to construction of neurotransmitter profiles, all SP data were grouped according to cisplatin dosages, = or>75 mg/m 2 versus <75 mg/m2, and phase of emesis, acute versus delayed. Analyses of these data were performed by repeated measures analysis of variance. Results. Samples were collected over a 72-hour period from 26 adult patients who received cisplatin-( n=13) or non-cisplatin-containing ( n=13) chemotherapy. Mean baseline 5-HIAA: creatinine ratios were 5.23 and 5.16 in females and males, respectively; mean baseline SP levels were 392 and 181 pg/mL in females and males, respectively. Comparisons between SP data stratified by cisplatin dosage and emetic phase were significantly different, P <0.0001. Conclusions. Laboratory studies provide additional evidence that serotonin and SP are involved primarily, though not exclusively, in acute and delayed vomiting, respectively.
Laboratory monitoring in oncology
Authors: Duong Cathy D , Loh Jin-Yew 
Published: December 2006

Objectives. To educate pharmacists about the application of laboratory values in oncology. Methods. Research on drugs used in cancer therapy was conducted using multiple sources, including primary, secondary and tertiary references. Online searches were conducted on Medline (1966-2004), EMBASE (1996-2004) and Ovid databases, using a drug's generic name and key words, such as ‘adverse effects’, ‘hematotoxicity’, ‘renal toxicity’, ‘hepatotoxicity’, ‘cardiotoxicity’, ‘organ dysfunction’, and terms describing chemotherapy-related toxicity, such as ‘tumour lysis syndrome’. Results. Laboratory monitoring in oncology was separated into the hematologic, hepatic, renal, cardiovascular and pulmonary systems. Laboratory tests applicable to each system are discussed. In addition, tests pertaining to specific drugs used in cancer therapy are explained. This information was compiled into a comprehensive continuing pharmacy education module. Conclusion. Laboratory monitoring assists the pharmacist in the monitoring of chemotherapy. A general understanding of common tests used in cancer therapy and knowledge specific to drugs used can help the pharmacist tailor drug therapy monitoring.
Long-term emotional state of multiple sclerosis patients treated with interferon beta
Authors: Porcel J , Río J , Sánchez-Betancourt A , Arévalo M J , Tintoré M , Téllez N , Borràs C , Nos C , Montalbán X 
Published: December 2006

Objective: To assess the long-term emotional state of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients treated with interferon beta (IFNβ) for at least four years. Methods: Patients who had started IFNβ therapy prior to 2000 with a baseline psychological assessment were identified and scheduled for long-term emotional assessment with the following questionnaires-the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, the Beck Depression Inventory and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Results: A total of 262 patients started IFNβ therapy in our MS clinic within the period 1995-1999. Baseline emotional assessment was available from 246 MS patients. Long-term assessment was conducted on 234 patients. After a mean follow-up of 65 months (43-98), 52 patients (22.3%) had withdrawn from IFNβ therapy. The comparisons, obtained from baseline and follow-up scores, showed an improvement in the depressive and anxiety symptoms of patients who adhered to IFNβ treatment. Logistic regression analysis indicated that an increase in physical disability and the presence of depressive symptoms at baseline were best predictors for long-term depressive symptoms. Conclusions: The present results support the absence of emotional worsening in MS patients treated with IFNβ for a long period of time. Increased disability and the presence of baseline depressive symptoms predicted the presence of depressive symptoms at follow-up.
Phenotype and prognosis in African-Americans with multiple sclerosis: a retrospective chart review
Authors: Naismith R T , Trinkaus K , Cross A H 
Published: December 2006

Context There is an emerging body of literature regarding multiple sclerosis (MS) in African-Americans (AA) that suggests more rapid progression and a worse prognosis in this group. A phenotype of opticospinal MS has been proposed by some publications. Objective To determine whether AA with MS have a different clinical phenotype, different distribution of clinical subtypes, and/or different levels of disability than Caucasians (CA) with MS. Specifically, is the disability attributable to severe cerebellar disease, which limits ambulation and function? Design: Retrospective chart analyses of a patient cohort from an academic MS center. Patients A total of 86 AA were identified with MS, 79 were followed for ≥5 years. The control group consisted of 80 randomly-selected CA with MS and similar follow-up. Outcome measures EDSS at diagnosis, five-year follow-up, and last follow-up; time to walking assistance device; disease subtype; involved functional systems. Results AA MS patients displayed more cerebellar dysfunction, and worse EDSS scores at diagnosis, at four to six years follow-up from diagnosis, and at last follow-up compared to the CA MS patients with similar length of follow-up. AA MS patients had earlier and more frequent gait difficulty requiring use of a cane or wheelchair. AA MS patients had a higher prevalence of primary progressive (PP) MS (22 versus 9%) and a lower rate of relapsing-remitting (RR) MS (30 versus 52%) compared to CA. Conclusions Compared to CA patients, MS in AA is characterized by a higher incidence of cerebellar dysfunction and a more rapid accumulation of disabilities. In this cohort, AA patients had a relatively higher rate of the PPMS subtype. These data suggest the presence of fundamental differences in the clinical phenotype and the natural history of MS in AA.