bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Fall Injuries in Older Adults from an Unusual Source: Entering and Exiting a Vehicle
Authors: Dellinger Ann M. , Boyd Rebecca M. , Haileyesus Tadesse 
Published: February 2008

OBJECTIVES: To examine injuries in older adults due to boarding (i.e., entering) and alighting from (i.e., exiting) motor vehicles, with a special emphasis on falls.DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of incident fall injuries while boarding or alighting from a motor vehicle.SETTING: 2001 to 2003 National Electronic Injury Surveillance System‐All Injury Program (NEISS‐AIP) data from a representative sample of 500,000 injury and consumer product–related emergency department (ED) cases in the United States.PARTICIPANTS: Fourteen thousand seven hundred seventy‐four persons unintentionally injured while boarding or alighting from a passenger vehicle.MEASUREMENTS: Annualized estimates and injury rates.RESULTS: There were an estimated 37,000 annual boarding and alighting injuries requiring medical care in EDs among older adults, many of these injuries (41.3%) due to falls. Fall rates were higher in women (52.8 per 100,000) than men (29.5 per 100,000) (P<.01). The hospitalization rate was 10 times higher for those aged 65 and older than for those younger than 65 (P<.001). Injury rates differed according to whether the person was boarding or alighting from the vehicle. Fall‐related injury associated with alighting was more common (11,030) than with boarding (4,346), and the overall injury rate for alighting (31.0 per 100,000) was more than twice the rate for boarding (12.2 per 100,000).CONCLUSION: The high incidence of falls in older adults in this study points to a variety of injury circumstances that result in falls; therefore, fall prevention activities must address the underlying risks that are widespread in this population.
Multiple Auras: Not an Ominous Sign for Epilepsy Surgery
Authors: Abou-Khalil Bassel W. 
Published: February 2008

Multiple Auras: Clinical Significance and Pathophysiology. Widdess-Walsh P, Kotagal P, Jeha L, Wu G, Burgess R. Neurology 2007;69(8):755–761. Erratum in: Neurology 2007;69(19):1890. Background Patients with partial epilepsy may report multiple types of aura during their seizures. The significance of the occurrence of multiple auras in the same patient is not known. Methods The clinical and electrophysiologic characteristics of patients with more than one aura type (abdominal, auditory, autonomic, gustatory, olfactory, psychic, somatosensory, and visual auras), evaluated in the Cleveland Clinic epilepsy monitoring unit between 1989 and 2005, were studied. Results Thirty-one patients experienced multiple aura types during a seizure. Ninety percent of patients with at least two aura types ( n = 31) and 100% of patients with at least three aura types ( n = 12) had seizures arising from the right/nondominant hemisphere. EEG seizures remained restricted in all patients during their auras. Twenty patients had epilepsy surgery with seizure freedom in 53%. Subdural EEG recordings in six patients showed either a march of sequential auras, or in one case, several ictal onset zones resulting in separate isolated auras. Ictal SPECT in six patients with right-sided seizures showed a lack of activation in brainstem structures. Conclusions Most patients who report multiple aura types have localized epilepsy in the nondominant hemisphere, and are good surgical candidates. A common mechanism for multiple auras may be a spreading but restricted EEG seizure activating sequential symptomatogenic zones, but without the ictal activation of deeper structures or contralateral spread to cause loss of awareness and amnesia for the auras.
Suicide in Patients with Epilepsy
Authors: Meador Kimford J. 
Published: February 2008

Epilepsy and Risk of Suicide: A Population-Based Case–Control Study. Christensen J, Vestergaard M, Mortensen PB, Sidenius P, Agerbo E. Lancet Neurology 2007;6(8):693–698. Background Studies have linked epilepsy with an increased suicide risk, but the association might be modified by psychiatric, demographic, and socioeconomic factors. Methods Suicide cases were identified in the Cause of Death Register in Denmark from 1981 to 1997. Up to 20 controls, matched by sex, birth year, and calendar date, were assigned to each suicide case. Findings We identified 21,169 cases of suicide and 423,128 controls. In total, 492 (2.32%) individuals who committed suicide had epilepsy compared with 3,140 (0.74%) controls, corresponding to a three times higher risk (rate ratio [RR] 3.17 [95% CI 2.88–3.50]; p < 0.0001). The RR remained high after excluding those with a history of psychiatric disease and adjusting for socioeconomic factors (1.99, 1.71–2.32; p < 0.0001). The highest risk of suicide was identified in patients with epilepsy and comorbid psychiatric disease, even after adjusting for socioeconomic factors (13.7, 11.8–16.0; p < 0.0001). In individuals with epilepsy, the highest risk of suicide was found during the first half year after diagnosis was made (5.35, 3.43–8.33; p < 0.0001), and was especially high in those with a history of comorbid psychiatric disease (29.2, 16.4–51.9; p < 0.0001). Interpretation Individuals with epilepsy have a higher risk of suicide, even if coexisting psychiatric disease, demographic differences, and socioeconomic factors are taken into account. Our study identifies people with newly diagnosed epilepsy as a vulnerable group that require special attention. Depression and Suicide in Epileptic Victims: A Population-Based Study of Suicide Victims during the Years 1988–2002 in Northern Finland. Mainio A, Alamäki K, Karvonen K, Hakko H, Särkioja T, Räsänen P. Epilepsy Behav 2007; 11:389–393. Patients with epilepsy are known to have comorbid affective disorders and a higher risk for suicide compared with the general population. Epilepsy, depression, and suicidal behavior have been shown to have common pathogenic mechanisms in their etiology. We evaluated the association between epilepsy, suicidal behavior, and depression by using the comprehensive database of all suicides ( n = 1,877) committed in northern Finland during the years 1988–2002 with information on all hospital-treated somatic and psychiatric disorders. Hospital-treated epilepsy occurred in 1.3% of the victims. Compared with other suicide victims, those with epilepsy were more often female, were older, and had significantly more often suffered from depression. Epilepsy was first diagnosed 8.8 (3.9–11.6) years before suicide, and depression, about 1 year after epilepsy diagnosis. Interictal depression among patients with chronic epilepsy is often classified as atypical or chronic depression, or it can mimic a dysthymic disorder. Therefore, diagnosis and treatment of depression among patients with epilepsy constitute a great challenge in clinical practice.
Epileptogenic Role of Astrocyte Dysfunction
Authors: Vezzani Annamaria 
Published: February 2008

Astrocytes Are a Specific Immunological Target in Rasmussen's Encephalitis. Bauer J, Elger CE, Hans VH, Schramm J, Urbach H, Lassmann H, Bien CH. Ann Neurol 2007;62(1):67–80. Objective The current histopathological criteria of Rasmussen's encephalitis (RE) include the presence of T-cell-dominated inflammation, microglial activation, neuronal loss, and astrocytic activation. An in vitro study, however, suggested glutamate receptor 3 (GluR3) antibody-mediated astrocytic loss. Therefore, we investigated astrocytic apoptosis and loss in situ. Methods Histochemical, immunohistochemical, terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated biotin-dUTP nick end labeling, and in situ hybridization techniques were applied to paraffin sections of 20 RE cases, 6 healthy control subjects, and 6 paraneoplastic encephalomyelitis, 10 Ammon's horn sclerosis, and 5 focal cortical dysplasia cases. Results Astrocytic apoptosis and subsequent loss of these cells is a specific feature of RE. Such lesions are not found in the control groups. In RE, astrocytic apoptosis and loss was present both in cortical and in white matter areas. Astrocytes in these tissues showed major histocompatibility complex class I expression. Furthermore, granzyme-B+ lymphocytes were found in close apposition to astrocytes bordering astrocyte-deficient lesions. Granzyme-B+ granules in these lymphocytes were polarized and faced the astrocytic membranes. No evidence was found for an antibody-mediated destruction. Interpretation We suggest a specific attack by cytotoxic T lymphocytes as a possible mechanism responsible for astrocytic degeneration in RE. The loss of astrocytes might play a role in neuronal dysfunction, seizure induction, and enhancement of neuronal cell death.
Effects of Presentation and Electrocardiogram on Time to Treatment of Hyperkalemia
Authors: Freeman Kalev , Feldman James A. , Mitchell Patricia , Donovan Jacqueline , Dyer K. Sophia , Eliseo Laura , White Laura Forsberg , Temin Elizabeth S. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractObjectives:  To assess the time to treatment for emergency department (ED) patients with critical hyperkalemia and to determine whether the timing of treatment was associated with clinical characteristics or electrocardiographic abnormalities.Methods:  The authors performed a retrospective chart review of ED patients with the laboratory diagnosis of hyperkalemia (potassium level > 6.0 mmol/L). Patients presenting in cardiac arrest or who were referred for hyperkalemia or dialysis were excluded. Patient charts were reviewed to find whether patients received specific treatment for hyperkalemia and, if so, what clinical attributes were associated with the time to initiation of treatment.Results:  Of 175 ED visits that occurred over a 1‐year time period, 168 (96%) received specific treatment for hyperkalemia. The median time from triage to initiation of treatment was 117 minutes (interquartile range [IQR] = 59 to 196 minutes). The 7 cases in which hyperkalemia was not treated include 4 cases in which the patient was discharged home, with a missed diagnosis of hyperkalemia. Despite initiation of specific therapy for hyperkalemia in 168 cases, 2 patients died of cardiac arrhythmias. Among the patients who received treatment, 15% had a documented systolic blood pressure (sBP) < 90 mmHg, and 30% of treated patients were admitted to intensive care units. The median potassium value was 6.5 mmol/L (IQR = 6.3 to 7.1 mmol/L). The predominant complaints were dyspnea (20%) and weakness (19%). Thirty‐six percent of patients were taking angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. Initial electrocardiograms (ECGs) were abnormal in 83% of patient visits, including 24% of ECGs with nonspecific ST abnormalities. Findings of peaked T‐wave morphology (34%), first‐degree atrioventricular block (17%), and interventricular conduction delay (12%) did not lead to early treatment. Vital sign abnormalities, including hypotension (sBP < 90 mmHg), were not associated with early treatment. The chief complaint of “unresponsive” was most likely to lead to early treatment; treatment delays occurred in patients not transported by ambulance, those with a chief complaint of syncope and those with a history of hypertension.Conclusions:  Recognition of patients with severe hyperkalemia is challenging, and the initiation of appropriate therapy for this disorder is frequently delayed.
Estimating the Probability of Passing the National Paramedic Certification Examination
Authors: Fernandez Antonio R. , Studnek Jonathan R. , Margolis Gregg S. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractObjectives:  It is hypothesized that student and program characteristics will influence the probability of passing the national paramedic certification exam. The objective of this study was to utilize student and program characteristics to build a statistical model to determine the probability of success on the cognitive portion of the national paramedic certification exam.Methods:  The study population for this analysis consisted of graduates attempting the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) paramedic written examination from January 1, 2002, through December 31, 2002. To be included in this analysis, graduates must have been first‐time testers and have completed a survey attached to the exam. Independent variables analyzed reflected program and student characteristics derived from the survey questions and the NREMT application. A multivariable logistic regression model was fit to the outcome (pass/fail) of the examination.Results:  Complete demographic and survey data were available for 5,208 (86.8%) individuals. The final multivariable logistic regression model included nine independent variables. There were two programmatic characteristics (national accreditation and instructor qualification), six student characteristics (high school class rank, years of education, required for employment, age, race, and gender), and one graduate characteristic (elapsed time since course completion) that had a significant effect on the probability of passing the examination.Conclusions:  National program accreditation, lead instructor qualifications, student educational background, and student demographics are all significantly associated with the probability of success on the national paramedic certification examination. This model can be used by program directors, paramedic program instructors, and prospective paramedic students to maximize the probability of attaining national paramedic certification.
ANTILIPOPEROXIDATIVE EFFECT OF THREE EDIBLE PLANTS EXTRACTS: VISCUM ALBUM, ARUM DIOSCORIDIS AND EMINIUM SPICULATUM
Authors: JANAKAT S. , AL‐THNAIBAT O. 
Published: February 2008

ABSTRACT In this study, evaluation of the antilipoperoxidative activity of the aqueous, boiled and nonboiled, and methanolic extracts of Viscum album (leaves, stems and fruits), Arum dioscoridis and Eminium spiculatum leaves against lipid peroxidation (LPO) induced by a rat liver homogenate model was undertaken. LPO was induced by ascorbate/FeCl2 mixture and evaluated using thiobarbituric acid reactive species assay. Nonboiled aqueous extracts exhibited the highest LPO inhibition percent, followed by methanolic and boiled aqueous extracts. Moreover, LPO inhibition percent was dose dependent, where 1.65 × 10−2 mg/mL caused the highest inhibition percent in all aqueous extracts. Aqueous extracts of A. dioscoridis and E. spiculatum exhibited significantly lower LPO inhibition percents than V. album parts, which were comparable to those obtained from the aerial parts of the positive control (Rosmarinus officinalis). Antioxidant capacity was the highest in V. album stems and leaves in all methods of extraction, and was comparable to the R. officinalis results, while V. album fruits, A. dioscoridis and E. spiculatum leaves possessed approximately 50% of antioxidant capacity using all methods of extractions. These results suggest that these plants can be used as a condiment during food processing, to improve the quality, enhance flavor, increase the nutritional value and increase the shelf life of processed food.PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Viscum album, Arum Dioscoridis and Eminium Spiculatum can be used to improve the quality, boost the nutritional value and prolong the shelf life of processed food.
EFFECTS OF ACIDIFICATION ON PE ACTIVITY, COLOR AND ANTIOXIDANT PROPERTIES OF COLD BREAK TOMATO JUICE
Authors: SARR FALLOU , TSAI PI‐JEN 
Published: February 2008

ABSTRACT Turbidity maintenance, high antioxidant activity and attractive red color are important attributes of good tomato juice. Acidification was found effective in pectin esterase (PE) inactivation and turbidity maintenance. However, no information related to the changes of antioxidant properties after enzyme inactivation by acidification has been reported. In this article, acidification of cold break tomato juice to pH 2 or 3 was conducted after extraction. The changes of antioxidant properties (content and activity) and their correlation with PE activity and color in the juice were studied. Results indicated that acidification enhanced the viscosity of tomato juice by decreasing its PE activity. Significant increases of the main antioxidant contents (lycopene, polyphenols and vitamin C) and antioxidant activities (1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl scavenging, ferrous ion chelating ability [FICA] and reducing power), as well as red color, were also found. In addition, the acidified cold break tomato juice exhibited better FICA and reducing power than butylated hydroxyanisole andα‐tocopherol. This finding reveals the possibility of producing tomato juice with high antioxidant capacities by acidification.PRACTICAL APPLICATIONSThe consumers' demand for healthy products with high quality toward fresh and health has increased remarkably these years. Tomato is one of the most popular vegetable juices, and its important quality aspects are color, stability and antioxidant capacity. Pectin esterase is the principal agent responsible for tomato juice stability. In addition, the goal of tomato juice processors is to optimize processing conditions by prevention of heat and oxidative damages on antioxidant components. Our results indicated that acidification may stabilize tomato juice and improve its color characteristics and main nutritional factors. Therefore, the acidification treatment could be used as a tool for providing the attractive color and enhancing the nutritional value and health‐promoting properties of cold break tomato juice.
SCREENING AND QUANTIFICATION OF AFLATOXINS AND OCHRATOXIN A IN DIFFERENT CEREALS CULTIVATED IN ROMANIA USING THIN‐LAYER CHROMATOGRAPHY‐DENSITOMETRY
Authors: BRAICU C. , PUIA C. , BODOKI E. , SOCACIU C. 
Published: February 2008

ABSTRACT The main focus of our study was to implement a rapid, inexpensive and reliable method that could be utilized to check the cereals for safety (i.e., screening for total aflatoxins, as well as individual B1, B2, G1, G2 aflatoxins and ochratoxin A). We developed a protocol by which we were able to isolate mycotoxins from cereals collected from different regions of Romania. After extraction in chloroform, the mycotoxins were separated by thin‐layer chromatography (TLC) and quantified using densitometry. Forty‐three samples of different cereals (wheat, maize, rye and Triticale) were analyzed. Twenty‐five of the 43 samples (58.14% of the total number) were found to be contaminated with different mycotoxins in various concentrations: aflatoxin B1 (1.6–5.7 µg/kg), aflatoxin B2 (0.89–4 µg/kg), aflatoxin G1 (1.2–5.76 µg/kg), aflatoxin G2 (0.96–3.4 µg/kg) and/or 4.3–30 µg/kg ochratoxin A. The concentration of total aflatoxin contamination ranged from 11.2 to 10.8 µg/kg. Among the different cereals, the highest number of contaminated samples was found to be in the wheat samples (62.5%). The method outlined in this study has been adopted already by our laboratory for current analyses of mycotoxins. The results obtained using this method is in compliance with the strict regulatory guidelines developed both in Romania, as well as in the European Union. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONSThin‐layer chromatography (TLC) is a rapid, inexpensive and convenient method that can be used routinely to screen for mycotoxins. This article describes the detailed procedures for the extraction, purification and quantification of aflatoxins and ochratoxin A, using TLC. Using this method one can identify concomitantly five different mycotoxins and by coupling it with densitometry a quantitative determination is also possible. Therefore, this could become a routine technique in regional laboratories responsible for checking agrifood safety.
INCIDENCE OF LISTERIA MONOCYTOGENES IN RETAIL CHICKEN MEAT AND ESTABLISHING RELATIONSHIP WITH SOME BACTERIA BY LOGISTIC REGRESSION
Authors: CEYLAN Z.G. , DEMİRKAYA A.K. , ADIGÜZEL G. 
Published: February 2008

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to determine the contamination of retail poultry meat in Erzurum (Turkey) by Listeria monocytogenes and to evaluate its relationship with indicator bacteria using logistic regression. The incidence of L. monocytogenes was 32.76%, found in 38 of 116 samples. The application of logistic regression showed Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas spp. and Brochothrix thermosphacta populations have positive, and yeast and mold population have negative relationship with L. monocytogenes presence. The results of this study demonstrate that there is a serious risk in raw poultry meat for consumer health in Erzurum, because of the high incidence of L. monocytogenes in the samples of the present study. Hygienic conditions described in HACCP program should still be enforced in order to minimize L. monocytogenes in poultry meat during the processing.PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Listeria monocytogenes and other Listeria species have been isolated from many different types of raw and processed food, but the main sources and routes of contamination are still not fully understood. There is a need for more knowledge, and data are needed for risk assessment and for improved preventive measures. In order to prevent and control contamination of the environment and food products with this pathogen, it is important to detect the most important sources of contamination and to understand the mechanisms of growth, including relationships with other bacteria. The main concern with raw poultry meat is the incidence of L. monocytogenes in raw chicken because of cross‐contamination with other foods in the home and the possibility of the microorganism surviving in processed chicken. Application of logistic regression was used to identify the main hazards associated with the presence of microorganisms, as well as for applications in predictive food microbiology, modeling binomially distributed data that involve the use of probability models, where the response variable is a “presence/absence” observation of whether or not growth will occur.
The Influence of Geologic Structures on Deformation due to Ground Water Withdrawal
Authors: Burbey Thomas J. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractA 62 day controlled aquifer test was conducted in thick alluvial deposits at Mesquite, Nevada, for the purpose of monitoring horizontal and vertical surface deformations using a high‐precision global positioning system (GPS) network. Initial analysis of the data indicated an anisotropic aquifer system on the basis of the observed radial and tangential deformations. However, new InSAR data seem to indicate that the site may be bounded by an oblique normal fault as the subsidence bowl is both truncated to the northwest and offset from the pumping well to the south. A finite‐element numerical model was developed using ABAQUS to evaluate the potential location and hydromechanical properties of the fault based on the observed horizontal deformations. Simulation results indicate that for the magnitude and direction of motion at the pumping well and at other GPS stations, which is toward the southeast (away from the inferred fault), the fault zone (5 m wide) must possess a very high permeability and storage coefficient and cross the study area in a northeast‐southwest direction. Simulated horizontal and vertical displacements that include the fault zone closely match observed displacements and indicate the likelihood of the presence of the inferred fault. This analysis shows how monitoring horizontal displacements can provide valuable information about faults, and boundary conditions in general, in evaluating aquifer systems during an aquifer test.