bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Healthy participants in phase I clinical trials: the quality of their decision to take part
Authors: Rabin Cheryl , Tabak Nili 
Published: June 2006

Aims and objective. This study was set out to test the quality of the decision‐making process of healthy volunteers in clinical trials.Background. Researchers fear that the decision to volunteer for clinical trials is taken inadequately and that the signature on the consent forms, meant to affirm that consent was ‘informed’, is actually insubstantial.Design. The study design was quasi‐experimental, using a convenience quota sample.Methods. Over a period of a year, candidates were approached during their screening process for a proposed clinical trial, after concluding the required ‘Informed Consent’ procedure. In all, 100 participants in phase I trials filled out questionnaires based ultimately on the Janis and Mann model of vigilant information processing, during their stay in the research centre.Results. Only 35% of the participants reached a ‘quality decision’. There is a definite correlation between information processing and quality decision‐making. However, many of the healthy research volunteers (58%) do not seek out information nor check alternatives before making a decision.Conclusions. Full disclosure is essential to a valid informed consent procedure but not sufficient; emphasis must be put on having the information understood and assimilated. Research nurses play a central role in achieving this objective.
Swedish Registered Nurses’ incentives to use nursing diagnoses in clinical practice
Authors: Axelsson Lena , Björvell Catrin , Mattiasson Anne‐Cathrine , Randers Ingrid 
Published: June 2006

Aims and objectives.  The purpose of this study was to describe Registered Nurses’ incentives to use nursing diagnoses in clinical practice.Background.  The use of nursing diagnoses is scarce in Swedish patient records. However, there are hospital wards were all nurses formulate and use nursing diagnoses in their daily work. This leads to the question of what motivates these nurses who do use nursing diagnoses in clinical practice.Design.  A qualitative descriptive design.Methods.  A purposeful sampling of 12 Registered Nurses was used. Qualitative interviews to collect data and a content analysis were performed.Results.  Five categories were identified: identification of the patient as an individual and as a whole, a working tool for facilitating nursing care, increasing awareness within nursing, support from the management and influence on the professional role. The principle findings of this study were: (i) that the Registered Nurses perceived that nursing diagnoses clarified the patient's individual needs and thereby enabled them to decide on more specific nursing interventions, (ii) that nursing diagnoses were found to facilitate communication between colleagues concerning patient care and thus promoted continuity of care and saved time and (iii) that nursing diagnoses were perceived to increase the Registered Nurses’ reflective thinking leading to a continuous development of professional knowledge.Conclusions.  The present findings suggest that the incentives to use nursing diagnoses originate from effects generated from performing a deeper analysis of the patient's nursing needs. Further research is needed to test and validate the usability and consequences of using nursing diagnoses in clinical practice.Relevance to clinical practice.  Motivating factors found in this study may be valuable to Registered Nurses for the use and development of nursing diagnoses in clinical care. Moreover, these factors may be of relevance in other countries that are in a similar situation as Sweden concerning application of nursing diagnoses.
Ecology of wildlife rabies in Europe
Authors: HOLMALA KATJA , KAUHALA KAARINA 
Published: June 2006

ABSTRACTThe number of wildlife rabies cases has increased in Europe in recent years. We review the epizootiology of wildlife rabies in Europe, paying special attention to recent changes to the situation of two important vector species: the red fox and the raccoon dog. Red foxVulpes vulpeshas been the main vector of rabies since 1945, but the number and proportion of raccoon dogNyctereutes procyonoidescases has rapidly increased during the past few years, particularly in north‐eastern Europe.The transmission rate (average number of susceptible animals infected by each rabid animal) is critical for rabies spread and is partly determined by population density. Both raccoon dogs and foxes live in pairs. Foxes also live in family groups. Pairs and groups share their territories. Home range size usually correlates negatively with population density. Fox home ranges are 50–1500 ha, those of raccoon dogs 150–700 ha. The threshold value for rabies spread among foxes is estimated to be 0.63 individuals/km2. Although fox density in eastern and northern Europe may be lower than this, the pooled density of foxes and raccoon dogs exceeds the threshold density.Animal movements, especially dispersal of young, pose a risk for rabies spread. Although the likelihood of an epizootic is highest where fox and raccoon dog densities are highest, rabies may spread fastest where population densities are lower, because dispersal distances tend to correlate negatively with population density.Oral vaccinations have been more effective in rabies control than culling foxes. Where two vector species exist, vaccination should be conducted twice a year, because most raccoon dogs disperse in autumn but some foxes do not disperse before mid‐ or late winter.New rabies models, based on two vector species and their interaction, and which take into account the hibernation period of raccoon dogs, are needed for north‐eastern Europe.
Demography of three populations of American minkMustela visonin Europe
Authors: BONESI L. , HARRINGTON L. A. , MARAN T. , SIDOROVICH V. E. , MACDONALD D. W. 
Published: June 2006

ABSTRACTDemographic data on an invasive species of management concern, the American mink, are presented. Data were obtained on three feral mink populations in Europe distinguished by differences in the time elapsed since population establishment.Demographic data are presented in the form of life tables, age–sex distributions and sex ratios. Mink lived a maximum of 6 years, and mortality of 1‐year‐olds and adults differed substantially between populations.The data support the hypothesis that mink populations subject to culling have a higher proportion of young (less than 1 year old) to adults compared with non‐culled populations.
Ancient introductions of mammals in the Mediterranean Basin and their implications for conservation
Authors: GIPPOLITI SPARTACO , AMORI GIOVANNI 
Published: June 2006

ABSTRACT

The importance of taxonomy to the determination of conservation priorities and actions is widely accepted. It should be not surprising therefore that the taxonomic treatment of mammal species that have been subject to human actions in antiquity may well influence the contemporary assessment of conservation priorities at various levels.
As a result of early extinctions caused by humans and protohistoric and historic introductions, we suggest that the Mediterranean Basin and its islands are particularly prone to misdirection of efforts towards biodiversity conservation.
The two main risks associated with the failure to use an evolutionary and palaeoecological approach to conservation efforts are (i) an underestimation of the conservation importance of distinctive continental taxa vs. the apparent endemicity of island taxa; and (ii) a serious risk for native and endemic island species when anthropochorous mammals, especially ungulates, misguidedly become the focus of conservation actions, particularly inside protected areas.
Urgent measures, including refinement of mammal taxonomy, the exclusion of known anthropochorous taxa from conservation lists and implementation of protective legislation, are necessary to maintain the uniqueness and richness of the Mediterranean biodiversity hotspot.
Parental violence and the occurrence of severe and acute malnutrition in childhood
Authors: Hasselmann Maria H. , Reichenheim Michael E. 
Published: June 2006

SummaryEvidence from developed countries has linked family violence with severe acute malnutrition (SAM), yet no similar studies have been conducted in developing countries where the risk of SAM is higher. To redress this gap, the objective of this study was to explore the role of intimate partner violence (IPV) among caregivers as an independent risk factor for SAM. A hospital‐based case–control (n = 172 : 345) study was carried out in six paediatric hospitals of Rio de Janeiro (1995–99). Cases comprised children (1–24 months) admitted with SAM (weight‐for‐height z‐score < −2 SD). Controls were children of the same age admitted for non‐traumatic surgery. Couple violence was gauged through the Conflict Tactics Scales from two perspectives: (a) two ordinal variables characterising the intensity of verbal and physical aggression based on scores, and (b) a four‐level variable representing a pattern of increasing violence seriousness. Unconditional logistic regression analysis was performed to control for confounding factors.Parents of SAM cases had higher Conflict Tactics scores than parents of controls, indicating more severe partner violence. The adjusted odds ratio for the comparison of the highest to the lowest scores (10 vs. 0) was 4.15 (95% confidence interval 1.55, 11.15). Using the four‐level variable for violence seriousness, a threefold SAM risk was found for children with parents reporting severe physical abuse, but not for those with parents reporting verbal aggression or more minor physical assaults. In addition to traditionally studied risk factors, the findings suggest that family violence may also play an important role in SAM among children. Moreover, these findings indicate that the risk for SAM is not associated with all types of IPV, but that children exposed to severe and recurrent events are more likely to be admitted for SAM. For the prevention or early detection of SAM, this result points to a specific population group requiring rigorous public health targeting, especially in terms of accurate detection of both SAM and IPV, as well as appropriate handling and follow‐up of violent families.
Primary immunodeficiencies and susceptibility to parasitic infections
Authors: SUBAUSTE C. S. 
Published: June 2006

SUMMARY Primary immunodeficiencies are important disorders because they typically cause severe illness in affected patients. In addition, these diseases provide a unique glimpse at the underpinnings of the immune system in humans. Susceptibility to infections, including those caused by parasites, is a hallmark of these immune defects. Understanding the association between primary immunodeficiencies and parasitic infections will likely improve our grasp on the mechanisms of defense against these pathogens.
Reliability of the Australian Therapy Outcome Measures for Occupational Therapy Self‐care scale
Authors: Scott Fiona , Unsworth Carolyn A. , Fricke Janet , Taylor Nicholas 
Published: June 2006

Background and Aims:  With the shift of health care towards evidence‐based practice, demonstrating outcomes of intervention has become an important component of occupational therapy practice. Outcome measures and assessment procedures with sound psychometric properties are necessary to demonstrate such therapy outcomes. This study investigated the interrater and intrarater reliability of one of the 12 scales from a newly developed outcome measure, the Australian Therapy Outcome Measures for Occupational Therapy (AusTOMs‐OT). Method and Results:  Seven occupational therapists rated 15 written case studies on two occasions on the four domains (impairment, activity limitation, participation restriction and distress/well‐being) of the AusTOMs‐OT self‐care scale. The results showed that the AusTOMs‐OT self‐care scale had moderate to high interrater reliability with intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) of over 0.79 for the three domains: activity limitation, participation restriction and distress/well‐being, and over 0.70 for impairment. Intrarater reliability was also reported to be moderate to high, with ICCs of 0.88 for activity limitation, 0.81 for participation restriction, 0.94 for distress/well‐being, and 0.74 for impairment. Conclusion:  The findings of this study support the reliability of the AusTOMs‐OT self‐care scale and suggest that it can be used to evaluate self‐care intervention outcomes, thus contributing to the evidence‐based practice of occupational therapy.
Blindness and vision impairment in the elderly of Papua New Guinea
Authors: Garap Jambi N , Sheeladevi Sethu , Shamanna BR , Nirmalan Praveen K , Brian Garry , Williams Carmel 
Published: June 2006

AbstractBackground:  To estimate the magnitude and causes of blindness and vision impairment in Papua New Guinea for service delivery planning and ophthalmic education development.Methods:  Using the World Health Organization standardized Rapid Assessment of Cataract Surgical Services protocol, a population‐based cross‐sectional survey was conducted in 2005. By systematic, two‐stage cluster random sampling, 39 clusters each of 30 people aged 50 years and over were selected from urban and rural locations. A cause of vision loss was determined for each eye with a presenting visual acuity worse than 6/18.Results:  Of the 1191 people enumerated, 1174 were examined (98.6%). The 50 years and older age‐gender adjusted prevalence of vision impairment (presenting visual acuity less than 6/18 in the better eye) was 29.2% (95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 27.6, 35.1, Design Effect [deff] = 2.3). That of functional blindness (presenting visual acuity less than 6/60 in the better eye) was 8.9% (95% CI: 8.4, 12.0, deff = 1.2), and of World Health Organization blindness (but presenting, rather than best corrected, visual acuity of less than 3/60 in the better eye) was 3.9% (95% CI: 3.4, 6.1, deff = 1.0). Uncorrected refractive error (13.1%, 95% CI: 11.3, 15.1, deff = 1.2) and cataract (7.4%, 95% CI: 6.4, 10.2, deff = 1.3) were leading causes of vision impairment, age‐gender adjusted. Cataract was the most common (age‐gender adjusted 6.4%, 95% CI: 5.1, 7.3, deff = 1.1) cause of functional blindness. On bivariate analysis, increasing age (P < 0.001), illiteracy (P < 0.001) and unemployment (P < 0.001) were associated with functional blindness. Gender was not.Conclusions:  The identification and treatment of refractive error and cataract need to be priorities for eye health services in Papua New Guinea if the burden of vision impairment and blindness is to be diminished. The education of community and hospital eye care providers, whether medical, nursing or other cadres, must emphasize these. Eye care services must be structured and provided to allow and encourage accessibility and uptake, with satisfactory treatment outcomes for these conditions.
Cyclosporin A inhibits eosinophilic infiltration into the conjunctiva mediated by type IV allergic reactions
Authors: Fukushima Atsuki , Yamaguchi Tomoko , Ishida Waka , Fukata Kazuyo , Liu Fu‐Tong , Ueno Hisayuki 
Published: June 2006

AbstractBackground: Eosinophils are important effector cells in severe allergic conjunctivitis such as vernal keratoconjunctivitis. Infiltration of eosinophils into the conjunctiva is mediated by type I and type IV allergic reactions. Cyclosporin A (CsA) eye drops are administered therapeutically for severe allergic conjunctivitis, but the mechanism by which CsA acts, that is, by inhibiting type I, type IV or both types of allergic reactions, is not known. We investigated whether CsA eye drops inhibit type I, type IV or both types of allergic reactions in the conjunctiva.Methods: Experimental immune‐mediated blepharoconjunctivitis (EC) was induced in BALB/c mice by either active immunization or passive immunization by transfer of ragweed (RW)‐primed splenocytes and RW‐specific IgE, followed by RW challenge to the conjunctiva. These mice were treated in eye drops with vehicle, 0.1% CsA, 0.5% CsA or 0.1% betamethasone five times (1 and 2 h before RW challenge and 1, 2 and 3 h after RW challenge). Twenty‐four hours after the challenge, the conjunctivas were harvested for histological analysis to evaluate eosinophilic infiltration. To evaluate effects of CsA eye drops on systemic immune responses, sera and spleens were collected from actively immunized mice at the time of sacrifice to examine serum IgE levels and cellular immune responses, respectively.Results: CsA eye drops significantly inhibited eosinophilic infiltration into the conjunctiva in actively immunized EC‐developing mice compared with vehicle‐treated mice. The CsA‐induced inhibition was similar to inhibition induced by 0.1% betamethasone. Serum IgE levels and splenocyte responses in CsA‐treated mice were equivalent to those in vehicle‐treated mice. Betamethasone treatment inhibited eosinophilic infiltration into the conjunctiva induced by both splenocyte transfer and IgE transfer, while CsA treatment inhibited infiltration induced by splenocyte transfer.Conclusions: CsA eye drops inhibited eosinophilic infiltration into the conjunctiva without affecting systemic immune responses. CsA predominantly inhibits eosinophilic infiltration by interfering with the type IV allergic reaction in the conjunctiva.
Retinal branch artery occlusion following injection of hyaluronic acid (Restylane)
Authors: Peter Silvia , Mennel Stefan 
Published: June 2006

AbstractThe authors report a retinal branch artery occlusion occurring after facial injection of a dermal filler. The superior temporal artery showed occlusion due to a clearly visible long and fragmented embolus suggestive of gel and clearly distinguishable from calcific or cholesterol emboli. The authors suppose that hyaluronic acid gel was embolized in the patient. The embolized material is supposed to enter the ocular circulation through retrograde arteriolar flow after intra‐arterial injection into one of the peripheral branches of the ophthalmic artery. If there is any evidence of a visual problem after facial injection of a dermal filler, prompt consultation of an ophthalmologist is recommended.
Biologic therapies for inflammatory eye disease
Authors: Lim Lyndell , Suhler Eric B , Smith Justine R 
Published: June 2006

AbstractThe era of biologic medical therapies provides new options for patients with treatment‐resistant inflammatory eye disease. In this review, the authors summarize current published experience in a rapidly progressing clinical field, including the use of biologics, such as the tumour necrosis factor blockers, daclizumab and rituximab, and related agents, interferons and intravenous immunoglobulin, for the treatment of uveitis, scleritis and orbital inflammation. Reports of dramatic recoveries in patients with recalcitrant ocular inflammation who have received such therapies must be balanced against the high cost of biologics and the potential for serious, and at times unanticipated, complications of this treatment.
Interferon α 2b treatment for residual ocular surface squamous neoplasia unresponsive to excision, cryotherapy and mitomycin‐C
Authors: Nemet Arie Y , Sharma Vidushi , Benger Ross 
Published: June 2006

AbstractThree patients had residual or recurrent tumour following excision of large ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN) lesions, which did not resolve despite the use of adjunctive cryotherapy and topical mitomycin‐C therapy. The residual tumour was treated with topical or subconjunctival injectable interferon α 2b. All three eyes had complete resolution of the OSSN lesions after an average of 6 weeks (range 4–8 weeks) of treatment with interferon α 2b. No regrowth was seen during the follow‐up period of 22.7 ± 32.3 months (range 5–60 months). No adverse reactions or complaints were reported during and following interferon use, and previous symptoms from mitomycin‐C treatment resolved completely. In these patients subconjunctival or topical interferon was an effective and safe treatment for residual OSSN. Longer follow up is required to confirm the long‐term efficacy in prevention of recurrences.
Acute retinal necrosis post intravitreal injection of triamcinolone acetonide
Authors: Toh Tze’Yo , Borthwick James H 
Published: June 2006

AbstractAlthough few data exist on the complication of intravitreal injection of triamcinolone acetonide (IVTA) in human eyes, it is generally thought to be well‐tolerated. The commonest reported adverse events are raised intraocular pressure and progression of cataract. Acute retinal necrosis, as far as the authors are aware, has not been reported to be associated with IVTA in the literature before. The authors hereby report such a case in a patient who has IVTA as an adjunct to photodynamic therapy of choroidal neovascularization secondary to age‐related macular degeneration.
Agonist‐induced internalization of corticotropin‐releasing factor receptors in noradrenergic neurons of the rat locus coeruleus
Authors: Reyes Beverly A. S. , Fox Krysta , Valentino Rita J. , Van Bockstaele Elisabeth J. 
Published: June 2006

AbstractCorticotropin‐releasing factor (CRF) acts within the locus coeruleus (LC), to modulate activity of the LC‐norepinephrine (NE) system. Combining molecular and cellular approaches, we demonstrate CRF receptor (CRFr) mRNA expression in Sprague–Dawley rat LC and provide the firstin vivoevidence for agonist‐induced internalization of CRFr. CRFr mRNA was detected in LC micropunches by RT‐PCR. In dual labelling immunofluorescence studies, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) containing neurons exhibited CRFr labelling. At the ultrastructural level, immunogold‐silver labelling for CRFr was localized to the plasma membrane of TH‐immunoperoxidase labelled dendrites. CRF (100 ng) injection into the LC produced a robust neuronal activation that peaked 10–15 min after injection and was maintained for the duration of the recording. This was associated with CRFr internalization in LC neurons that was apparent at 5 and 30 min after injection. By 5 min after injection the ratio of cytoplasmic to total dendritic CRFr‐labelling was 0.81 ± 0.01 in rats injected with CRF and 0.59 ± 0.02 in rats injected with artificial cerebrospinal fluid (ACSF;P < 0.0001). Enhanced internalization of CRFr was maintained at 30 min after CRF injection, with the ratio being 0.86 ± 0.02 for CRF‐injected cases and 0.57 ± 0.03 for ACSF‐injected cases (P < 0.0001). Internalized CRFr was associated with early endosomes, indicative of degradation or recycling. Agonist‐induced CRFr internalization in LC neurons may underlie acute desensitization to CRF or stress. This process may be a pivotal target by which stressors or pharmacological agents regulate the sensitivity of the LC‐NE system to CRF and subsequent stressors.
Electrophysiological markers of voice familiarity
Authors: Beauchemin Maude , De Beaumont Louis , Vannasing Phetsamone , Turcotte Aline , Arcand Claudine , Belin Pascal , Lassonde Maryse 
Published: June 2006

AbstractOur ability to discriminate and recognize human voices is amongst the most important functions of the human auditory system. The current study sought to determine whether electrophysiological markers could be used as objective measures of voice familiarity, by looking at the electrophysiological responses [mismatch negativity (MMN) and P3a] when the infrequent stimulus presented is a familiar voice as opposed to an unfamiliar voice. Results indicate that the MMN elicited by a familiar voice is greater than that elicited by an unfamiliar voice at FCz. The familiar voice also produced a greater P3a wave than that triggered by the unfamiliar voice at Fz. As both the MMN and the P3a were elicited as participants were instructed not to pay attention to incoming stimulation, these findings suggest that voice recognition is a particularly potent preattentive process whose neural representations can be objectively described through electrophysiological assessments.