bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cocaine‐like neurochemical effects of antihistaminic medications
Authors: Tanda Gianluigi , Kopajtic Theresa A. , Katz Jonathan L. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractThe pattern of activation of dopamine (DA) neurotransmission in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) of rats produced by H1histamine antagonists which have behavioral effects like those of psychostimulant drugs was examined. Diphenhydramine and (+)‐chlorpheniramine were compared with triprolidine, a potent and selective H1antagonist and (−)‐chlorpheniramine which is less active than its enantiomer at H1receptors. Affinities of the drugs to DA, serotonin, and norepinephrine transporters at H1receptors and potencies for DA uptake inhibition in striatal synaptosomes were determined to assess mechanisms by which the compounds increased DA levels. Intravenous diphenhydramine (1.0–3.0 mg/kg) (+)‐ and (−)‐chlorpheniramine (1.0–5.6 mg/kg) but not triprolidine (1.0–3.0 mg/kg) elicited a cocaine‐like pattern of stimulation of DA transmission with larger effects in the NAc shell than core. The absence of stereospecific effects with chlorpheniramine enantiomers along with the lack of an effect with triprolidine suggest that the effects on DA transmission were not related to H1receptor antagonism. Althoughin vivopotencies were not directly related to DA transporter affinities, it is hypothesized that actions at that site modulated by other actions, possibly those at the serotonin transporter, are primarily responsible for the neurochemical actions of the drugs on DA neurotransmission and might underlie the occasional misuse of these medications.
Inattentional blindness and augmented‐vision displays: effects of cartoon‐like filtering and attended scene
Authors: Apfelbaum Henry L. , Apfelbaum Doris H. , Woods Russell L. , Peli Eli 
Published: April 2008

AbstractAugmented‐vision devices that we are developing to aid people with low vision (impaired vision) employ vision multiplexing– the simultaneous presentation of two different views to one or both eyes. This approach enables compensation for vision deficits without depriving the wearers of their normal views of the scene. Ideally, wearers would make use of the simultaneous views to alert them to potential mobility hazards, without a need to divide attention consciously. Inattentional blindness, the frequent inability to notice otherwise‐obvious events in one scene while paying attention to another, overlapping, scene, works against that sort of augmentation, so we are investigating ways to mitigate it. In this study, we filtered the augmented view, creating cartoon‐like representations, to make it easier to detect significant features in that view and to minimise interference with the normal view. We reproduced a classic inattentional blindness experiment to evaluate the effect, and found that, surprisingly, edge filtering had no detectable effect – positive or negative – on the noticing of unexpected events in the unattended scene. We then modified the experiment to determine if the inattentional blindness was because of the confusion of overlaid views or simply a matter of attention, and found the latter to be the case.
What do kids think about kids in eyeglasses?
Authors: Walline Jeffrey J. , Sinnott Loraine , Johnson Erica D. , Ticak Anita , Jones Sylvia L. , Jones Lisa A. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractPurpose:  Previous studies have examined how people feel about others who wear glasses, but no studies of children have been published on the subject. We conducted the Children’s Attitudes about Kids in Eyeglasses (CAKE) study to determine how children feel about other children who wear glasses.Methods:  Subjects compared a series of 24 picture pairs and answered six questions regarding which child …he or she would rather play with, looks better at playing sports, appears smarter (more intelligent), appears nicer, looks more shy and looks more honest. The children in each pair of pictures differed by gender, ethnicity and spectacle wear. Logistic regression was performed to determine the probability and confidence interval that a subject would pick a particular child.Results:  Eighty subjects between the ages of 6 and 10 years participated. The average (±SD) age of the subjects was 8.3 ± 1.3 years, 42 (53%) were females, 51 (64%) were whites, 21 (26%) were blacks, and 30 (38%) wore glasses. The spectacle wearer appeared smarter (0.66, CI = 0.60–0.71) and more honest (0.57, CI = 0.50–0.64), and children who wore glasses looked smarter regardless of whether the child picking wore glasses. Both boys (0.66, CI = 0.68–0.79) and girls (0.77, CI = 0.71–0.82) thought that boys looked better at playing sports.Discussion:  The old adage ‘Boys never make passes at lasses who wear glasses’ may be outmoded, but glasses may tend to make children look smarter and slightly more honest to their peers.
Pass rates for the Farnsworth D15 colour vision test
Authors: Birch Jennifer 
Published: April 2008

AbstractIntroduction:  The Farnsworth D15 test (D15) is used worldwide to select applicants for employment in occupations which require good colour vision. People with slight colour deficiency are intended to pass the D15 and people with significant (moderate/severe) colour deficiency to fail.Methods:  Pass rates were determined for 710 adult males with red–green colour deficiency using three different pass criteria in general use.Results:  Forty‐six per cent of subjects were successful when the pass criterion was a circular results diagram (one single transformation of adjacent hues was accepted as a pass), 53% passed when one red‐green isochromatic error was allowed and 60% passed when two red–green isochromatic errors were permitted. The pass rate for 200 dichromats was 1.5% on a circular diagram, 3% on one red–green error and 6% on two red–green errors. Protans made fewer errors than deutans and more protans than deutans were successful when either one or two red–green crossings were permitted as a pass.Conclusion:  A circular results diagram is the preferred pass criterion. This criterion most nearly fulfils the aim of the test to fail all dichromats and people with significant protanomalous and deuteranomalous trichromatism. A circular diagram is also easy to interpret consistently. Re‐examination is recommended if there are only one or two red–green isochromatic error lines across the results diagram. This gives individuals with borderline slight/moderate colour deficiency an opportunity to pass at the second attempt.
Evaluating evidence‐based practice within critical care
Authors: O’Neal Helen , Gray Alison , Thompson Angela 
Published: April 2008

AbstractBackground and Aims:  Between 2002‐2005 the Trust undertook an action research project to evaluate a corporate practice development strategy. During this period clinicians became practitioner‐researchers utilising a variety of methods to evaluate the influence of practice development. One aspect of this focused upon evaluation of evidence based guidelines. This article concentrates upon this process and the learning from this within critical care.Method:  Within critical care it was recognised that the standard of guidelines and protocols varied in terms of the amount of evidence used to underpin decision making. A group was set up to evaluate and appraise these using a structured format such as the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE) Instrument.Findings:  The initial evaluation (cycle 1) highlighted learning associated with the process of using the instrument within critical care, as well as where the quality of the guidelines could be improved. The second cycle of evaluation demonstrated that implementation of the action plans as a consequence of cycle 1 resulted in an improvement in the quality of the guidelines. It also resulted in streamlining the process of undertaking guideline appraisal across a Trust.Discussion and Conclusions:  Action resulting from analysis of the findings of cycle 1 led to a cultural change in which the structure of a tool such as the AGREE instrument could be beneficial in the development of future guidelines. This has been sustained both within critical care and Trust wide with various initiatives such as the establishment of critical care multidisciplinary guideline development groups and a Trust wide electronic library management system.
Therapeutic hypothermia following cardiac arrest: a review of the evidence
Authors: Collins Tim J. , Samworth Peter J. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractAims and objectives:  This paper aims to undertake a review on the current evidence available on therapeutic hypothermia (TH) following cardiac arrest.Background:  The use of TH has been associated as a potential treatment for a number of medical conditions including head injury and cerebral vascular accidents. Within the past decade, there have been numerous studies focusing upon the use of hypothermia following cardiac arrest. This paper evaluates the research on the use of TH following cardiac arrest and provides recommendations for clinical practice. Evidence from randomized controlled trials that are reviewed in this paper found that neurological outcome and mortality were significantly improved following inducing hypothermia following cardiac arrest.Search strategies:  The following databases were accessed: Bandolier, Embase, Medline, Science Direct, CINAHL, Blackwell Synergy, Nursing Collection, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and the National Electronic Library for Health. The following key words were used to search the databases: ‘Therapeutic hypothermia’, ‘Induced hypothermia’, ‘cooling post cardiac arrest’ and ‘post cardiac arrest care’.Inclusion and exclusion criteria:  Only evidences published within the past 10 years and written in English were included. Studies on TH for the treatment of raised intracranial pressure were excluded.Conclusions:  All adult patients who have return of spontaneous circulation and remain unconscious following cardiac arrest should be considered for TH between 32°C and 34°C for at least 12–24 h as this will improve patient mortality and morbidity. Acute hospitals need to devise policies and guidelines on the use of TH following cardiac arrest that include methods on how to achieve effective cooling by cold i.v. infusions, ice packs or purchasing specific cooling mattresses.
A dedicated retrieval and transfer service: The QUARTS Project
Authors: Andrews Sue , Catlin Sue , Lamb Nikki , Christensen Martin 
Published: April 2008

AbstractBackground:  The transfer and/or retrieval of a critically patient is inherently dangerous not only for the patient but for staff as well. The quality and experience of unplanned transfers can influence patient mortality and morbidity. However, international evidence suggests that dedicated transfer/retrieval teams can improve mortality and morbidity outcomes.Aims:  The initial aim of this paper is to describe an in‐house competency‐based training programme, which encompasses the STaR approach to develop members of our existing nursing team to be part of the dedicated transfer/retrieval service. The paper also presents audit data findings which examined the source of referrals, number of patients actually transferred and clinical status of those being transferred.Results:  Audit data illustrate that the most frequent source of referrals comes from Accident and Emergency and the Surgical Directorate with the most common presenting condition being cardio‐respiratory failure or arrest. Audit data reveal that the number of patients actually transferred or retrieved is relatively small (33%) compared with the overall number of requests for assistance. However, 36% of those patients transferred had a level 2 or level 3 acuity status that necessitated the admission to a critical care area.Conclusions:  A number of studies have concluded that the ill‐experienced and ill‐equipped transfer team can place patients’ at serious risk of harm. Whether planned or unplanned, dedicated critical care transfer/retrieval teams have been shown to reduce patient mortality and morbidity.
What factors influence arterial blood gas sampling patterns?
Authors: Andrews Tom , Waterman Heather 
Published: April 2008

AbstractStudy objective:  To investigate if patterns of arterial blood gas (ABG) sampling were influenced by values of fractional inspiratory oxygen (FiO2), partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PCO2), partial pressure of oxygen (PO2) and oxygen saturation (%SaO2).Setting:  An intensive care unit (ICU) in a university teaching hospital located in the North of England, UK.Design:  A retrospective, descriptive, correlation study based on patient records.Participants:  All patients admitted to the ICU for 24 hours or greater and who had an arterial line in situ.Measurements and results:  The study included the records of 65 patients consecutively admitted to the ICU. Patients in this study had more blood gases taken than reported elsewhere in the literature. While consistent correlation was found between values of FiO2, PCO2, PO2 and %SaO2, values of PO2 were the most consistent.Conclusions:  Values of PO2 are associated with frequency of ABG sampling and to a lesser extent on FiO2. Nurses in this study opted to track changes in oxygenation using ABGs despite continuous monitoring of %SaO2.
Functional Recovery After Hip Fracture: The Combined Effects of Depressive Symptoms, Cognitive Impairment, and Delirium
Authors: Givens Jane L. , Sanft Tara B. , Marcantonio Edward R. 
Published: April 2008

OBJECTIVES: To measure the prevalence of depressive symptoms, cognitive impairment, and delirium in patients with hip fracture and to estimate their effect on functional recovery, institutionalization, and death after surgical repair.DESIGN: Prospective cohort.SETTING: Hospital, follow‐up to community and nursing home.PARTICIPANTS: One hundred twenty‐six patients aged 65 and older admitted for hip fracture repair.MEASUREMENTS: Baseline measurements: Mini‐Mental State Examination, Blessed Dementia Rating Scale, Geriatric Depression Scale, prefracture activities of daily living (ADLs), ambulatory status. The Confusion Assessment Method was used to diagnose in‐hospital delirium. One‐ and 6‐month outcomes were ADL decline, loss of ambulation, and new nursing home placement or death.RESULTS: Twenty‐two percent of patients had one cognitive or mood disorder, 30% had two, and 7% had three. At 1 month, each cognitive or mood disorder was independently associated with one or more adverse outcome. Considered together, each additional cognitive or mood disorder was associated with greater odds of 1 month outcomes (ADL decline: odds ratio (OR)=1.8, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.1–2.9; decline in ambulation: OR=1.8, 95% CI=1.1–3.0; nursing home placement or death: OR=3.9, 95% CI=1.9–8.1).CONCLUSION: Cognitive and mood disorders were common in elderly hip fracture patients and were associated with greater risk of poor outcomes, both independently and in combination. Recognition and treatment of these conditions may reduce adverse outcomes in this vulnerable population.
Genetic variation ofFUT2in Ovambos, Turks, and Mongolians
Authors: Soejima Mikiko , Nakajima Tamiko , Fujihara Junko , Takeshita Haruo , Koda Yoshiro 
Published: April 2008

BACKGROUND:Many single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been identified in the coding region of theFUT2locus, which encodes secretor type α(1,2)fucosyltransferase. These SNPs are highly population‐specific.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS:The 1121‐bp polymerase chain reaction (PCR) product containing the wholeFUT2coding region in three human populations, Ovambos (n = 74), Turks (n = 70), and Mongolians (n = 118), was sequenced. The haplotypes consisting of novel SNPs were determined by sequencing cloned inserts, and the haplotypes consisting of already reported SNPs were inferred by free computer software (PHASE). The functional significance of novel SNPs by transient expression study was also examined.RESULTS:Twenty‐four SNPs were found including seven novel SNPs (i.e., 4G > A, 244G > A, 442C > A, 489G > A, 569G > A, 665G > A, and 950C > T). A transient expression study suggested that the 244G > A, 569G > A, and 950C > T SNPs are enzyme‐inactivating mutations.CONCLUSION:This study identified 24 SNPs in theFUT2gene, of which 7 were novel. The frequencies of alleles and genotypes were determined in Ovambos, Turks, and Mongolians. The allelic composition of each population was similar to those of geographically closer populations.
Inactivation of Leishmania donovani infantum and Trypanosoma cruzi in red cell suspensions with thiazole orange
Authors: Wagner Stephen J. , Skripchenko Andrey , Salata Jeanne , O'Sullivan Anne Marie , Cardo Lisa J. 
Published: April 2008

BACKGROUND: Methods for pathogen inactivation are currently available in some European countries for treatment of plasma and platelet (PLT) components; no approved method for treatment of red cells (RBCs) or whole blood is ready for implementation. In a previous study, thiazole orange (TO), a dye commonly used to count reticulated RBCs and PLTs, exhibited potent photoactivity against human immunodeficiency virus‐1 and several model viruses in RBC suspensions. The aim of this study is to further evaluate the ability of TO to inactivate pathogens by measuring its activity against the protozoa Leishmania donovani infantum and Trypanosoma cruzi.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: RBC suspensions were deliberately contaminated with L. donovani infantum promastigotes or T. cruzi trypomastigotes and either maintained as an untreated control, incubated with 80 μmol per L TO in the dark, or treated with TO and light. Control and treated samples were inoculated into medium and subsequently microscopically examined for growth.RESULTS: No growth was observed in samples treated with TO in the presence or absence of light, while matched control samples lacking TO and diluted up to 5 log consistently demonstrated Leishmania or T. cruzi growth (n = 3).CONCLUSION: TO inactivated Leishmania or T. cruzi to the limit of detection in RBC suspensions without intentional illumination.
The Prognostic Value of T Wave Amplitude in Lead aVR in Males
Authors: Tan Swee Y. , Engel Gregory , Myers Jonathan , Sandri Marcus , Froelicher Victor F. 
Published: April 2008

Background: Since there is an uncertainty regarding which of the 12 leads provides the most information, we investigated the association between repolarization phenomenon in all of the 12 leads and cardiovascular (CV) mortality. Methods: Retrospective cohort study was performed at Palo Alto Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Palo Alto, California, which included 24,270 consecutive male veterans with ECGs obtained for clinical reasons from 1987 to 2000. Analysis of computerized 12‐lead resting ECGs was performed of all subjects excluding inpatients, patients with atrial fibrillation, WPW, QRS duration > 120 ms, and paced rhythms. Average follow‐up was 7.5 years during which time there were 1859 CV deaths. Results: While ST segment measurements in aVR were univariately predictive of CV death, T wave amplitude superseded them in multivariate survival analysis. In addition, T wave amplitude in aVR outperformed repolarization measurements in all other leads as well as other ECG criteria (Q waves, damage scores, LVH) for predicting CV mortality. As T wave amplitude became less negative in aVR, there was a progressive increase in relative risk (RR). When the T waves in aVR had a positive deflection (i.e., upward pointing) the RR for CV death was 5.0. Conclusions: T wave amplitude in lead aVR is a powerful prognostic marker for estimating risk of CV death. Upward pointing T waves (a simple visual criterion) was prevalent (7.3% of a clinical population) and was associated with an annual CV mortality of 3.4% and a risk of five times.
Effects of Cigarette Smoking on Heart Rate Variability and Plasma N‐Terminal Pro‐B‐Type Natriuretic Peptide in Healthy Subjects: Is There the Relationship between Both Markers?
Authors: Alyan Omer , Kacmaz Fehmi , Ozdemir Ozcan , Maden Orhan , Topaloglu Serkan , Ozbakir Cemal , Metin Fatma , Karadede Aziz , Ilkay Erdogan 
Published: April 2008

Background: Cigarette smoking increased the risk of acute cardiac events related with endothelial dysfunction and increased sympathetic activity. Impaired autonomic nervous activity is recognized as a considerable symptom of cardiac dysfunction and is strongly associated with increased risk overall mortality. Methods: A total of 75 healthy habitual smokers (40 female, 35 male, mean age 36.5 ± 8.5 years), and 73 non‐smokers subjects (45 female, 28 male, mean age 34.6 ± 7.2 years) were studied. LF and LF/HF ratio were significantly higher in smokers than in non‐smokers. On the contrary, SDNN, SDANN, RMSSD, and HF values were lower in smokers compared to those in non‐smokers. Not the duration of smoking but the number of cigarettes smoked per day was correlated with the HRV parameters and NT‐pro BNP. Furthermore, the average levels of NT‐pro BNP were found to be positively correlated with LF, LF/HF and inversely correlated with SDNN, SDANN, RMSSD and HF. Results: As a result, smoking impaires sympathovagal balance and decreases the heart rate variability in healthy subjects. And even a one cigarette smoking leads to overt sympathetic excitation. Furthermore, smoking results in an increase in NT‐proBNP levels and the changes in adrenergic nervous system and NT‐proBNP levels are well correlated. Conclusion: These findings could contribute to the higher rate of cardiovascular events in smokers.
Adelmidrol, a palmitoylethanolamide analogue, reduces chronic inflammation in a carrageenin‐granuloma model in rats
Authors: De Filippis Daniele , D’Amico Alessandra , Cinelli Maria Pia , Esposito Giuseppe , Di Marzo Vincenzo , Iuvone Teresa 
Published: April 2008

AbstractPalmitoylethanolamide (PEA) and some of its analogues have shown great efficacy in the treatment of pain and inflammation. Adelmidrol – the International Nonproprietary Name (INN) of the di‐amide derivative of azelaic acid – is one of these analogues. The anti‐inflammatory and analgesic effects of PEA and adelmidrol are hypothesized to be mediated, at least in part, by mast cell down‐modulation. Mast cell mediators released at early stage of the inflammatory process drive the inflammatory reaction to chronicity as it happens in X‐carrageenin‐induced granulomatous tissue formation. In the present study, the choice of testing adelmidrol depends upon the physicochemical properties of the compound, i.e. the amphipatic feature, that make it more easily soluble than PEA. In this study, we investigated the effect of adelmidrol on granuloma formation induced by λ‐carrageenin‐soaked sponge implant in rats. Our results show that the local administration of the compound under study significantly decreases weight and neo‐angiogenesis in granulomatous tissue. The anti‐inflammatory effect was due to the modulation of mast cells degranulation, as shown by histological analysis and by the inhibition of the release of several pro‐inflammatory and pro‐angiogenic enzymes (e.g. iNOS, chymase and metalloproteinase MMP‐9), and mediators (e.g. nitric oxide and TNF‐α). The results indicate that adelmidrol, given locally, may represent a potential therapeutic tool in controlling chronic inflammation.