bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Patterns of heroin use in the methadone programme in Sydney, 1986‐1987
Authors: LEWIS JOHN H. , CHESHER GREGORY B. 
Published: July 2006

AbstractA study was undertaken to examine patterns of heroin use by clients attending New South Wales Health Department methadone maintenance units in Sydney. The study group included those clients who commenced taking methadone between January 1986 and January 1987 and who remained on individual programmes until December 1987. A total of 16800 urinalysis results from 346 clients were examined. Data were correlated vertically so as to examine heroin use by all clients beginning with their first dose of methadone. Contrary to expectation, the data indicate that heroin use did not decline as a function of time. The data were further examined within a numerically stable group, which had been sub‐classified according to the number of morphine positive urine samples over a period of 12 months. These data indicated the existence of two major groups; those whose continued use of heroin could be described as occasional and another heavy using group. The latter constituted 51% of the study population and contributed almost 90% of the morphine positive urines. The use of urinalysis data to identify the heavy and occasional‐user groups could assist in a study to define those factors which could be responsible for the continued use of heroin whilst on a methadone maintenance programme.
Ayurveda and acupuncture in heroin detoxification in Sri Lanka
Authors: McDonald David 
Published: July 2006

AbstractThe Bandaranaike Memorial Ayurvedic Research Institute in Colombo, Sri Lanka, is applying the traditional medical practices of Ayurveda and acupuncture to the management of withdrawal from heroin. This is part of a wider research effort into the application of Ayurveda in contemporary systems of health care. The detoxification programme is briefly described. Initial observations of programme outcomes suggest that these methods are of similar effectiveness to approaches used in western medicine and are culturally appropriate in the Sri Lankan context.
Preventing drug use problems: the university as a site for local action
Authors: LOCKWOOD ANNE , SAUNDERS BILL 
Published: July 2006

AbstractWhile the prevention of drug use problems comes well recommended, there is limited agreement on which preventive strategies are the most effective. Furthermore there is debate as to where activity most effectively occurs—should it be at the national or local level? In this study a university community was investigated with the aim of determining whether members of that community appreciated the need for prevention of drug use problems and which preventive strategies they deemed to be of value. The difficulties inherent in taking action within a tertiary environment are also considered and an agenda for action described. [Lockwood A, Saunders B. Preventing drug use problems: the university as a site for local action. Drug Alcohol Rev 1991; 10: 29‐35]
Alcoholic beverage consumption prior to the onset of Wernicke's encephalopathy
Authors: PRICE JOHN , HICKS MAUREEN , DUNNE MICHAEL 
Published: July 2006

AbstractAlcoholic beverage consumption prior to the onset of Wernicke's encephalopathy is shown to be, primarily, full strength beer, although not always in large quantity, by 91% of 80 patients. Secondly, in order of frequency of consumption, was white wine sold in casks and consumed by 30% of patients. These findings have implications when decisions have to be made regarding which alcoholic beverages could be fortified with thiamine as a measure designed to prevent the development of the Wernicke‐Korsakoff syndrome. [Price J, Hicks M, Dunne M. Alcoholic beverage consumption prior to the onset of Wernicke's encephalopathy. Drug Alcohol Rev 1991; 10: 115‐119]
Parental bonding and patterns of drug use amongst Greek youth
Authors: CONSTANTINIDES JOHN C. 
Published: July 2006

AbstractThis project attempted to identify patterns of drug use amongst youth of Greek descent and the parental relationships. The sample consisted of 112 subjects (69 females, 43 males). The Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI) was administered, together with a multiple choice questionnaire attempting to assess levels of drug use for 11 drug categories. The findings revealed that subjects viewed their parents as more caring and protective than the general youth population. Overall, it was the constraining type of maternal and paternal bonding (high care, high protection) that yielded the lowest levels of drug use for both sexes, and the paternal neglecting type for females (low care, low protection) that yielded the highest levels. Patterns of drug use between sexes were similar for similar types of maternal bonding; however, in the paternal neglecting type, females showed the highest levels of use while males the lowest. These findings lead to the conclusion that the relative constraining attitudes of Greek parents that may be seen as ‘over‐protective’ in the Anglo‐Australian culture might have led to insulation or resilience in the face of high availability and widespread use of drugs. When these conditions deteriorate the experimentation and misuse is a possibility for both sexes, especially for females who become more vulnerable.
The Adolescent Alcohol Involvement Scale: some findings with young offenders
Authors: PUTNIŅŠ ALDIS L. 
Published: July 2006

AbstractThe Adolescent Alcohol Involvement Scale (AAIS) has been questioned regarding its reliability, the amount of common variance among items and its clinical usefulness. Previous studies are reviewed and data for 197 South Australian young offenders in custody are presented. The AAIS was found to be a reliable and internally consistent measure of adolescent alcohol use and misuse. A strong general alcohol involvement component on which all items had positive loadings was found. The need for objective measures in work with at‐risk populations was highlighted. The AAIS meets this need through a brief yet broad sampling of clinically‐relevant behaviours.
Penetrating social worlds: conducting ethnographic research into alcohol and other drug use within Australia
Authors: MOORE DAVID 
Published: July 2006

AbstractDespite growing interest in the potential usefulness of ethnography with respect to alcohol and other drug studies, the literature on such a method in the Australian context is sparse. This paper focuses on the practical conduct of ethnographic research into alcohol and other drug use in Australia, using two research experiences as illustrations. It covers the establishment and maintenance of access to the ‘field’, methods of data collection, the process of analysis (which is intertwined with data collection), and the production of written texts. The paper's purpose is to provide prospective ethnographers in the alcohol and other drug field with some sense of the nature and texture of ethnographic fieldwork and analysis.
Assessing the relationship between craving and relapse
Authors: Tracy Joseph I. 
Published: July 2006

AbstractThe value of craving as a construct in the substance use disorders literature stems from its purported ability to predict actual alcohol or psychoactive drug consumption. Empirical reports of craving's relationship to actual use, however, are quite mixed. It is argued that craving's relationship to use variables such as relapse will remain unclear until individual differences related to acting on craving are considered. Such potential mediators of craving's relationship to relapse, such as impulsivity, are evaluated. The implications of this argument for the construct of craving are discussed.
Arrhenius curves of hydrogen transfers: tunnel effects, isotope effects and effects of pre-equilibria
Authors: Limbach Hans-Heinrich , Miguel Lopez Juan , Kohen Amnon 
Published: July 2006

In this paper, the Arrhenius curves of selected hydrogen-transfer reactions for which kinetic data are available in a large temperature range are reviewed. The curves are discussed in terms of the one-dimensional Bell–Limbach tunnelling model. The main parameters of this model are the barrier heights of the isotopic reactions, barrier width of the H-reaction, tunnelling masses, pre-exponential factor and minimum energy for tunnelling to occur. The model allows one to compare different reactions in a simple way and prepare the kinetic data for more-dimensional treatments. The first type of reactions is concerned with reactions where the geometries of the reacting molecules are well established and the kinetic data of the isotopic reactions are available in a large temperature range. Here, it is possible to study the relation between kinetic isotope effects (KIEs) and chemical structure. Examples are the tautomerism of porphyrin, the porphyrin anion and related compounds exhibiting intramolecular hydrogen bonds of medium strength. We observe pre-exponential factors of the order of
kT
/
h
≅10
13
s
−1
corresponding to vanishing activation entropies in terms of transition state theory. This result is important for the second type of reactions discussed in this paper, referring mostly to liquid solutions. Here, the reacting molecular configurations may be involved in equilibria with non- or less-reactive forms. Several cases are discussed, where the less-reactive forms dominate at low or at high temperature, leading to unusual Arrhenius curves. These cases include examples from small molecule solution chemistry like the base-catalysed intramolecular H-transfer in diaryltriazene, 2-(2′-hydroxyphenyl)-benzoxazole, 2-hydroxy-phenoxyl radicals, as well as in the case of an enzymatic system, thermophilic alcohol dehydrogenase. In the latter case, temperature-dependent KIEs are interpreted in terms of a transition between two regimes with different temperature-independent KIEs.
Transition state theory can be used in studies of enzyme catalysis: lessons from simulations of tunnelling and dynamical effects in lipoxygenase and other systems
Authors: Olsson Mats H.M , Mavri Janez , Warshel Arieh 
Published: July 2006

The idea that enzyme catalysis involves special factors such as coherent fluctuations, quantum mechanical tunnelling and non-equilibrium solvation (NES) effects has gained popularity in recent years. It has also been suggested that transition state theory (TST) cannot be used in studies of enzyme catalysis. The present work uses reliable state of the art simulation approaches to examine the above ideas. We start by demonstrating that we are able to simulate any of the present catalytic proposals using the empirical valence bond (EVB) potential energy surfaces, the dispersed polaron model and the quantized classical path (QCP) approach, as well as the approximate vibronic method. These approaches do not treat the catalytic effects by phenomenological treatments and thus can be considered as first principles approaches (at least their ability to compare enzymatic reaction to the corresponding solution reactions). This work will consider the lipoxygenase reaction, and to lesser extent other enzymes, for specific demonstration. It will be pointed out that our study of the lipoxygenase reaction reproduces the very large observed isotope effect and the observed rate constant while obtaining no catalytic contribution from nuclear quantum mechanical (NQM) effects. Furthermore, it will be clarified that our studies established that the NQM effect decreases rather than increases when the donor–acceptor distance is compressed. The consequences of these findings in terms of the temperature dependence of the kinetic isotope effect and in terms of different catalytic proposals will be discussed.This paper will also consider briefly the dynamical effects and conclude that such effects do not contribute in a significant way to enzyme catalysis. Furthermore, it will be pointed out that, in contrast to recent suggestions, NES effects are not dynamical effects and should therefore be part of the activation free energy rather than the transmission factor. In view of findings of the present work and our earlier works, it seems that TST provides a quantitative tool for studies of enzyme catalysis and that the key open questions are related to the nature of the factors that lead to transition state stabilization.
Plasma cholesteryl ester transfer protein concentrations predict cardiovascular events in patients with coronary artery disease treated with pravastatin
Authors: MARSCHANG P. , SANDHOFER A. , RITSCH A. , FIŜER I. , KVAS E. , PATSCH J. R. 
Published: July 2006

Abstract.Objective.  The B1B1 variant of the cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) TaqIB polymorphism and high plasma CETP concentrations are associated with favourable angiographic outcomes in pravastatin‐treated patients suffering from coronary artery disease (CAD). The purpose of the present study was to test whether CETP TaqIB genotypes and/or plasma CETP concentrations at baseline also predict clinical end‐points in patients with CAD.Design.  Prospective longitudinal observational study.Setting.  Primary care doctors (n = 88) and hospitals (n = 7) in Austria.Subjects.  A total of 1620 men and women with preexisting CAD were recruited and plasma lipids were determined at study entry. 1389 hypercholesterolaemic patients were included and 1002 patients completed the follow‐up.Interventions.  In all patients treatment with pravastatin was started and patients were followed up for 2 years.Main outcome measures.  Cardiovascular events.Results.  One hundred patients suffered at least one cardiovascular event. We observed significantly more events in patients within the lowest compared with the highest quartile of plasma CETP concentrations (odds ratio 3.20, CI95 1.65–6.23; P = 0.001, adjusted for known risk factors of CAD). No significantly different numbers of cardiovascular events were found between CETP TaqIB genotypes.Conclusions.  Plasma CETP concentrations, but not CETP TaqIB genotypes, predict cardiovascular events in patients with CAD treated with pravastatin. Despite higher LDL cholesterol concentrations, high plasma CETP concentrations at baseline are associated with fewer cardiovascular events compared with low plasma CETP concentrations in CAD patients treated with pravastatin.
Interpreting trends in cancer patient survival
Authors: DICKMAN P. W. , ADAMI H.‐O. 
Published: July 2006

AbstractData on cancer patient survival are an invaluable tool in the evaluation of therapeutic progress against cancer as well as other lethal diseases. As with all quantitative information routinely used in evidence‐based clinical management – including diagnostic tests, prognostic markers and comparisons of therapeutic interventions – data on patient survival require evaluation based on an understanding of the underlying statistical methodology, methods of data collection and classification, and, most notably, clinical and biologic insight. This article contains an introduction to the methods used for estimating cancer patient survival, including cause‐specific survival, relative survival and period analysis. The methods, and their interpretation, are illustrated through presentation of trends in incidence, mortality and patient survival for a range of different cancers. Our aim was to lay out the strengths and limitations of survival analysis as a tool in the evaluation of progress in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
A prospective observational study of a cohort of outpatients with an acute medical event and reduced mobility: incidence of symptomatic thromboembolism and description of thromboprophylaxis practices
Authors: BOSSON J.‐L. , POUCHAIN D. , BERGMANN J.‐F. ,   FOR THE ETAPE STUDY GROUP
Published: July 2006

Abstract.Objectives.  The study was performed to determine the incidence of symptomatic venous thromboembolism in outpatients with an acute medical event causing temporary reduced mobility. Risk factors for venous thromboembolism and thromboprophylaxis practices were also studied.Design.  This was a prospective, observational, multicentre, cohort study.Setting.  General practitioners randomly selected from a registry of 25 000 active representative doctors in France included eligible outpatientsSubjects.  Outpatients aged at least 40 years anticipated to have reduced mobility for at least 48 h due to an acute medical event were eligible.Interventions.  None required.Main outcome measures.  Symptomatic deep‐vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism at 3 weeks were the main study end‐points.Results.  Overall, 16 532 evaluable patients of mean age 71 years were recruited between October 2002 and June 2003 by 2895 doctors. The main acute medical events leading to reduced mobility were infection, acute rheumatism and falls without fracture. The incidence rates (95% confidence interval) of symptomatic deep‐vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism were 1% (0.84–1.14) and 0.20% (0.13–0.27) respectively. Venous insufficiency in legs, cancer, and a personal or family history of venous thromboembolism were independent risk factors for venous thromboembolism. Pharmacological thromboprophylaxis was initiated in 35.0% (n = 5782) of the patients. The principal driver of prescription was a personal history of venous thromboembolism.Conclusions.  The risk of symptomatic venous thromboembolism in outpatients with reduced mobility for medical reasons is close to that reported in medical and surgical inpatients. This risk and the potential need for thromboprophylaxis should be taken into account by primary care doctors.
Normalization of serum calcium by cinacalcet in a patient with hypercalcaemia due to ade novoinactivating mutation of the calcium‐sensing receptor
Authors: TIMMERS H. J. L. M. , KARPERIEN M. , HAMDY N. A. T. , DE BOER H. , HERMUS A. R. M. M. 
Published: July 2006

Abstract.Familial benign hypocalciuric hypercalcaemia (FHH) results from a heterozygous inactivating mutation of the calcium‐sensing receptor (CaR) and is characterized by hypercalcaemia, hypocalciuria and inappropriately normal plasma levels of parathyroid hormone. In a minority of patients, a loss of function mutation of the CaR results in severe hypercalcaemia associated with complications for which no effective surgical or medical treatment is available. We investigated the effects of the calcimimetic agent cinacalcet, an allosteric modulator of the CaR, in a 26‐year‐old man presenting with hypercalcaemia due to ade novoinactivating mutation of the CaR. Complicating features were recurrent psychosis and progressive severe osteoporosis. A single dose of either 30 or 60 mg of cinacalcet resulted in a 63–88% decline in plasma parathyroid hormone levels within 2 h of administration of the agent, reverting to baseline levels after 12 h. Normalization of serum calcium was more gradual but sustained for up to 12 months of treatment with a maintenance twice‐daily oral dose of 60 + 30 mg cinacalcet. In addition to its beneficial effects in primary and secondary hyperparathyroidism, cinacalcet may open new therapeutic avenues in the management of a subset of patients with severe hypercalcaemia due to inactivating mutations of the CaR.
Methotrexate: Improving safety profile
Authors: Grills Claire , Burge Susan 
Published: July 2006

SUMMARYOver the past 10 years, there have been 137 patient safety incidents in England associated with methotrexate prescribing. Recent reports show that Australia has similar concerns. Using the valuable tool of an audit, we reviewed our departmental prescribing practices for 49 patients with psoriasis on methotrexate. Results highlighted poor documentation that patients were receiving appropriate information sheets detailing complications of the drug. Inconsistencies between prescribers were also noted, particularly in regards to haematological monitoring. A review of the current published work and the guidelines of other leading centres was performed and consistent, evidence‐based guidelines were produced for the department. Such guidelines are essential in order to minimize the recognized complications of methotrexate. Recent studies highlight procollagen peptide III as a valuable adjunct for monitoring hepatotoxicity, while there is no longer a significant role for routine recording of cumulative dose. It would be valuable to repeat the audit to ensure a change in practice and an improved adherence to common guidelines.
Segmental haemangioma of infancy of the lower limb with skeletal overgrowth
Authors: Opie Jacinta M , Chow Chung Wo , Ditchfield Michael , Bekhor Philip S 
Published: July 2006

SUMMARYA female infant presented at 3 months of age with vascular lesions involving the left lower limb and left side of the vulva. At birth, the left leg was thinner than the right, but equal in length. She had macular, reticulate, bluish discolouration covering most of the skin of the involved leg with superimposed cherry‐red papules, most dense over the proximal portion. The macular component showed evidence of improvement within the first few months of life. Papular and nodular components over the leg and the vulva progressively increased in size and thickness until the age of 10 months. These elements had the appearance and behaviour typical of haemangioma of infancy. Regression of these lesions started at the age of 15 months. By the age of 6.5 months, the involved leg was no longer thinner than the right, but the left leg and foot had grown longer. Leg length discrepancy peaked at 2.4 cm at the age of 2 years. The most rapid phase of relative growth discrepancy of left and right leg bones was contemporaneous with the growth phase of the haemangioma. Radiological investigations and histopathology have been consistent with haemangioma of infancy. GLUT‐1 immunostaining of the lesion was positive.
Rudimentary polydactyly in an adult: An unusual presentation to a dermatological surgery unit
Authors: Upjohn Edward , Barlow Richard , Robson Alistair 
Published: July 2006

SUMMARYAccessory digits or polydactyly present uncommonly to dermatologists. Usually they are treated by ligature in the neonatal period or by surgery in childhood. We report a 38‐year‐old man who presented to a dermatological surgery unit for treatment of a lifelong lesion on the ulnar aspect of his right fifth finger. Clinically this appeared to be a miniature accessory digit and this was discussed with the patient. Subsequent histological examination of the excision specimen confirmed the clinical diagnosis. Further questioning of the patient revealed a strong family history of polydactyly.
Assessing latitudinal gradients in speciation rates and biodiversity at the global scale
Authors: Allen Andrew P. , Gillooly James F. 
Published: July 2006

AbstractThe mechanisms responsible for latitudinal biodiversity gradients have fascinated and perplexed biologists since the time of Darwin. Ecological theory has yielded two general classes of mechanisms to account for variation in biodiversity: dispersal–assembly mechanisms that invoke differences in stochastic rates of speciation, extinction and dispersal; and niche–assembly mechanisms that invoke species differences, species interactions and environmental heterogeneity. Distinguishing between these two classes of mechanisms requires explicit consideration of macroevolutionary dynamics. Here, we assess the importance of dispersal–assembly mechanisms in the origin and maintenance of biodiversity using fossil data that encompass 30 million years of macroevolution for three distinct groups of ocean plankton: foraminifera, nannoplankton and radiolaria. Applying new methods of analysis to these fossil data, we show here for the first time that latitudinal biodiversity gradients exhibit strong positive correlations with speciation rates even after explicitly controlling for variation in sampling effort and for increases in habitat area towards the equator. These findings provide compelling evidence that geographical variation in macroevolutionary dynamics is a primary determinant of contemporary biodiversity gradients, as predicted by dispersal–assembly theory.