bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Adherence to chronic cardiovascular therapies: persistence over the years and dose coverage
Authors: Poluzzi Elisabetta , Strahinja Petar , Vaccheri Alberto , Vargiu Antonio , Silvani Maria Chiara , Motola Domenico , Marchesini Giulio , De Ponti Fabrizio , Montanaro Nicola 
Published: November 2006

What is already known about this subject • Cardiovascular diseases are the major cause of premature death in most Western countries.• Drug treatment, along with diet and lifestyle changes, is the mainstay of prevention and is effective provided that it is maintained over time.• Treatments with antihypertensives or lipid‐lowering agents are known to be affected by a high rate of early withdrawal. What this study adds Four classes of drugs for cardiovascular prevention were studied, and they showed different patterns of use:• Poor adherence to antihypertensive and lipid‐lowering therapies, probably due to poor perception of risk and a too early start of pharmacological treatment.• Higher adherence to oral hypoglycaemic agents and nitrates, which are used in conditions where disease awareness and the consequences of stopping medication favour compliance.AimTo evaluate adherence to chronic cardiovascular drug treatments, in terms of long‐term persistence and dose coverage.MethodsGeneral practice prescription data of antihypertensives, lipid‐lowering agents, oral hypoglycaemic agents and nitrates were collected over a 5‐year period (1998–2002) in a Northern Italian district (Ravenna, 350 000 inhabitants). We selected subjects (>40 years) receiving at least one prescription of the above drugs in December 1999. For each patient, we documented the regimen at the time of selection and evaluated adherence to treatment during the following 3 years in terms of persistence (at least one prescription per year) and daily coverage (recipients of an amount of medication consistent with daily treatment).ResultsFewer than 10% of the 32 068 selected subjects were naive to treatment. Antihypertensives were the most represented therapeutic category. Among patients already on treatment in December 1999, persistence was virtually complete, whereas >40% of naive patients withdrew within 1 year, except for nitrates. The rates of coverage were always much lower than the corresponding values of persistence. Coverage was significantly higher in older patients (χ2 for trend 69.41; P < 0.001), males (odds ratio 1.30; 95% confidence interval 1.25, 1.36) and users receiving more than one therapeutic category.ConclusionsLack of adherence to chronic cardiovascular treatments represents an important matter of concern: although most people continued treatment over the years, less than 50% received an amount of drugs consistent with daily treatment, thus jeopardizing the proved beneficial effects of available medications.
A mechanism‐based binding model for the population pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of omalizumab
Authors: Hayashi Naoto , Tsukamoto Yuko , Sallas William M. , Lowe Philip J. 
Published: November 2006

AimOmalizumab, a humanized IgG monoclonal antibody that binds to human immunoglobulin E (IgE), interrupts the allergic cascade in asthmatic patients. The aim was to compare simultaneously drug exposure and IgE biomarker responses in Japanese and White patient populations.MethodsAn instantaneous equilibrium drug–ligand binding and turnover population model was built from 202 Japanese patients. A posterior predictive evaluation for the steady‐state distributions of omalizumab and IgE was then carried out against 531 White patients.ResultsThe mean parameters estimated from the Japanese patients were as follows: omalizumab clearance 7.32 ± 0.153 ml h−1, IgE clearance 71.0 ± 4.68 ml h−1 and the difference between that for omalizumab and the complex 5.86 ± 0.920 ml h−1, the volume of distribution for omalizumab and IgE 5900 ± 107 ml, and that for the complex 3630 ± 223 ml, the rate of IgE production 30.3 ± 2.04 µg h−1. Half‐lives of IgG (23 days) and IgE (2.4 days) were close to previous reports. The dissociation constant for binding, 1.07 nM, was similar to in vitro values. Clearance and volume of distribution for omalizumab varied with bodyweight, whereas the clearance and rate of production of IgE were predicted accurately by baseline IgE. Overall, these covariates explained much of the interindividual variability.ConclusionsThe predictiveness of the Japanese model was confirmed by Monte‐Carlo simulations for a White population, also providing evidence that the pharmacokinetics of omalizumab and IgE were similar in these two populations. Furthermore, the model enabled the estimation of not only omalizumab disposition parameters, but also the binding with and the rate of production, distribution and elimination of its target, IgE.
Effectiveness of turning with unequal time intervals on the incidence of pressure ulcer lesions
Authors: Vanderwee K. , Grypdonck M. H. F. , De Bacquer D. , Defloor Tom 
Published: November 2006

Abstract Title. Effectiveness of turning with unequal time intervals on the incidence of pressure ulcer lesions Aim.  This paper reports a study investigating whether repositioning patients lying on a pressure‐reducing mattress alternately for 2 hours in a lateral position and 4 hours in a supine position reduces the incidence of pressure ulcers in comparison with repositioning every 4 hours.Background.  Repositioning is commonly recognized as an effective preventive measure. Almost no research has been carried out so far on the necessary turning frequencies to prevent pressure ulcer lesions. The pressure is higher in a lateral than in a supine position.Method.  A two‐arm randomized controlled trial was conducted in 16 Belgian elder care nursing homes. Patients with non‐blanchable erythema were randomly assigned to either an experimental or a control group. In the experimental group (n = 122), patients were repositioned alternately 2 hours in a lateral position and 4 hours in a supine position. In the control group (n = 113), patients were repositioned every 4 hours. The sitting protocol was identical in both groups. Pressure areas were observed daily and classified according to the four grades of the European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel.Results.  In the experimental group, 16·4% patients developed a pressure ulcer lesion (grade 2–4), while 21·2% did so in the control group. The incidence was not statistically significantly different between the two groups (P = 0·40). The severity (P = 0·65) and location (P = 0·19) of pressure ulcer lesions, and the time to developing them (P = 0·29) were also similar in both groups. No patient developed a pressure ulcer at the hips. A considerable number of patients changed from a lateral to a supine position between the turning intervals.Conclusion.  More frequent repositioning on a pressure‐reducing mattress does not necessarily lead to fewer pressure ulcer lesions and consequently cannot be considered as a more effective preventive measure.
Gender and the risk of falling: a sociological approach
Authors: Horton Khim 
Published: November 2006

Abstract Title. Gender and the risk of falling: a sociological approach Aim.  This paper reports a grounded theory study of the influence of gender on older people's perceptions of their risk of falling and their actions to prevent future falls.Background.  The incidence and rates of falls among older people, including injurious falls, are of much international concern. The risk of falling remains a major concern for older people since it increases with age, with those aged 85 years and over at greatest risk. However, research using a sociological approach to the topic is limited.Methods.  An exploratory design, with grounded theory analysis, was used. Data were collected during 2001 through in‐depth interviews with a convenience sample of 40 older people living in south east of England.Findings.  Two core categories emerged: gendered meanings of risk and gendered responsibility. The social construction of the meaning of the risk of falling and of participants’ actions was gendered. Older men and women had specific ways of talking about their ‘risk’ and identifying the risk factors for falling. Older men perceived themselves as ‘responsible’ and ‘rational’ individuals who expected to reduce their own risk of falling. Older women's expectations of themselves and of their peers explained their tendency to blame themselves or others for their falls. These perceptions influenced the actions they took to prevent future falls.Conclusion.  Nurses and other healthcare professionals need to take account of the gendered meanings attached to falling by older men and women when carrying out risk assessments and giving advice on fall prevention.
Systematic reviews of bladder training and voiding programmes in adults: a synopsis of findings from data analysis and outcomes using metastudy techniques
Authors: Roe Brenda , Ostaszkiewicz Joan , Milne Jill , Wallace Sheila 
Published: November 2006

Abstract Title. Systematic reviews of bladder training and voiding programmes in adults: a synopsis of findings from data analysis and outcomes using metastudy techniques Aim.  This paper reports a comparison of the data analysis and outcomes from four Cochrane systematic reviews on bladder training and voiding programmes for the management of urinary incontinence using metastudy descriptive techniques to inform clinical practice, generate new ideas and identify future research directions.Background.  Bladder training is used for cognitively and physically able adults to regain continence by increasing the time interval between voids. Prompted voiding, habit retraining and timed voiding, collectively known as voiding programmes, are generally used for people with cognitive and physical impairments in institutional settings. Bladder training and voiding programmes feature as common clinical practice for the management of urinary incontinence.Methods.  A synopsis of four Cochrane systematic reviews that included randomized controlled trials on bladder training, prompted voiding, habit retraining and timed voiding was undertaken using metastudy techniques for the synthesis of qualitative research, and has provided a discursive comparison and contrast of the meta‐data analysis and outcomes of these reviews.Results.  Frequency of incontinence was the most common and constant outcome measure of effectiveness in the reviews. Limited data were available on other health outcomes, change in dependency status, quality of life and cost‐effectiveness. The systematic review on bladder training included different types of urinary incontinence, whereas those on voiding programmes did not differentiate the type of incontinence. There is evidence on the effectiveness of bladder training but long‐term follow up studies are needed. Evidence on the effectiveness of voiding programmes is limited and not available for many outcomes.Conclusion.  Future research needs to consider the theory underpinning interventions for bladder training and voiding programmes for urinary incontinence and should incorporate recognized ‘quality’ research designs, established outcomes and long‐term follow up. It is unclear whether health outcomes for people with comorbidities, cognitive and physical impairments will improve if extensive diagnostic and assessment investigations are undertaken.
Hospital food service: a comparative analysis of systems and introducing the ‘Steamplicity’ concept
Authors: Edwards J. S. A. , Hartwell H. J. 
Published: November 2006

AbstractBackground  Patient meals are an integral part of treatment hence the provision and consumption of a balanced diet, essential to aid recovery. A number of food service systems are used to provide meals and the Steamplicity concept has recently been introduced. This seeks, through the application of a static, extended choice menu, revised patient ordering procedures, new cooking processes and individual patient food heated/cooked at ward level, to address some of the current hospital food service concerns. The aim of this small‐scale study, therefore, was to compare a cook‐chill food service operation against Steamplicity. Specifically, the goals were to measure food intake and wastage at ward level; ‘stakeholders’ (i.e. patients, staff, etc.) satisfaction with both systems; and patients’ acceptability of the food provided.Method  The study used both quantitative (self‐completed patient questionnaires, n = 52) and qualitative methods (semi‐structured interviews, n = 16) with appropriate stakeholders including medical and food service staff, patients and their visitors.Results  Patients preferred the Steamplicity system overall and in particular in terms of food choice, ordering, delivery and food quality. Wastage was considerably less with the Steamplicity system, although care must be taken to ensure that poor operating procedures do not negate this advantage. When the total weight of food consumed in the ward at each meal is divided by the number of main courses served, at lunch, the mean intake with the cook‐chill system was 202 g whilst that for the Steamplicity system was 282 g and for the evening meal, 226 g compared with 310 g.Conclusions  The results of this small study suggest that Steamplicity is more acceptable to patients and encourages the consumption of larger portions. Further evaluation of the Steamplicity system is warranted.
Expression of a nitric oxide degrading enzyme induces a senescence programme in Arabidopsis
Authors: MISHINA TATIANA E. , LAMB CHRIS , ZEIER JÜRGEN 
Published: November 2006

ABSTRACTNitric oxide (NO) has been proposed to act as a factor delaying leaf senescence and fruit maturation in plants. Here we show that expression of a NO degrading dioxygenase (NOD) in Arabidopsis thaliana initiates a senescence‐like phenotype, an effect that proved to be more pronounced in older than in younger leaves. This senescence phenotype was preceded by a massive switch in gene expression in which photosynthetic genes were down‐regulated, whereas many senescence‐associated genes (SAGs) and the 1‐aminocyclopropane‐1‐carboxylic acid (ACC) synthase gene ACS6 involved in ethylene synthesis were up‐regulated. External fumigation of NOD plants with NO as well as environmental conditions known to stimulate endogenous NO production attenuated the induced senescence programme. For instance, both high light conditions and nitrate feeding reduced the senescence phenotype and attenuated the down‐regulation of photosynthetic genes as well as the up‐regulation of SAGs. Treatment of plants with the cytokinin 6‐benzylaminopurin (BAP) reduced the down‐regulation of photosynthesis, although it had no consistent effect on SAG expression. Metabolic changes during NOD‐induced senescence comprehended increases in salicylic acid (SA) levels, accumulation of the phytoalexin camalexin and elevation of leaf γ‐tocopherol contents, all of which occurred during natural senescence in Arabidopsis leaves as well. Moreover, NO fumigation delayed the senescence process induced by darkening individual Arabidopsis Columbia‐0 (Col‐0) leaves. Our data thus support the notion that NO acts as a negative regulator of leaf senescence.
Exhumation during crustal folding in the Namche‐Barwa syntaxis
Authors: Burg Jean‐Pierre , Davy Philippe , Nievergelt Peter , Oberli Felix , Seward Diane , Diao Zhizhong , Meier Martin 
Published: November 2006

ABSTRACTGeological observation in the eastern end of the Himalaya shows that the Asia/India Suture is folded. Metamorphic rocks derived from India occur structurally below the suture, in the core of a regional antiform. Isotopic and fission track dating establish cooling‐exhumation of rocks from c.30 km depth within the last 4 Myr. We argue that exhumation is caused by ∼ 10 mm yr‐1 erosion coeval with crustal scale folding.
Unusual isotopic phenomena in Welsh quarry water and carbonate crusts
Authors: Andrews Julian E. , Gare Simon G. , Dennis Paul F. 
Published: November 2006

ABSTRACTModern terrestrial speleothem‐like calcareous deposits in streams draining a disused lime quarry on Black Mountain, South Wales have anomalously negative δ18O and δ13C compositions compared with other similar European deposits. Black Mountain water chemistry is unusual only in its locally very high pH (> 11.5) and carbonate ion concentrations. The high pH is caused by dissolution of lime spoil, resulting in high OH– concentrations. This high alkalinity causes uptake of atmospheric CO2 and strong fractionation of both carbon and oxygen stable isotopes, resulting in calcite precipitates with unusually negative isotopic compositions. Since shifts in δ18O of < 1° are highly significant for Holocene palaeoclimate reconstructions, depletions caused by hyperalkaline waters must be avoided. While extreme lime spoil contamination should be obvious, less heavily affected sites will record smaller fractionation effects and might escape detection. Even small depletions from low‐level contamination will have large effects on palaeotemperatures based on carbonate crust δ18O values.
The Kostomuksha greenstone belt, NW Baltic Shield: remnant of a late Archaean oceanic plateau?
Authors: Puchtel I. S. , Hofmann A. W. , Jochum K. P. , Mezger K. , Shchipansky A. A. , Samsonov A. V. 
Published: November 2006

ABSTRACTThe Kostomuksha greenstone belt consists of two lithotectonic terranes, one mafic igneous and the other sedimentary, separated by a major shear zone. The former contains submarine 2.8 Gyr old komatiite‐basalt lavas and volcaniclastic lithologies with trace element and isotopic compositions resembling those of recent oceanic flood basalts [ɛNd(T) =+ 2,8, μ.1= 8.73 (Nb/Th)N= 1.5–2.1 (Nb/La)N= 1.0–1.5]. We suggest that the mafic terrane is a remnant of the upper crustal part of an Archaean oceanic plateau derived from partial melting of a mantle plume head. When the plateau reached the continental margin, it collided with the sedimentary terrane but was too buoyant to subduct. As a result, the volcanic section of the plateau was imbricated and obducted thus becoming a new piece of continental crust. The deeper zones were subducted and disappeared from the geological record.
A laterally constricted shear zone system — the Nordre Strømfjord steep belt, Nagssugtoqidian Orogen, W. Greenland
Authors: Passchier C. W. , den Brok S. W. I. , van Gool J. A. M. , Marker M. , Manatschal G. 
Published: November 2006

ABSTRACTMany ductile shear zones are interpreted to operate by simple shear flow but some form under other flow regimes. Lineations and foliations in such shear zones can lie obliquely to those in simple shear zones, which can lead to erroneous tectonic interpretations on the assumption of simple shear flow. This paper describes a gently dipping shear zone system from the N‐central segment of the Palaeoproterozoic Nagssugtoqidian orogen of W. Greenland, which operated with a lateral constriction component. This resulted in the development of upright folds with axes parallel to the transport direction where the constriction component is weak. Where it is strong, a linear fabric and even a subvertical foliation normal to the rotation axis of bulk flow developed. This steep foliation is interpreted as the origin of the Nordre Strømfjord steep belt, previously interpreted as a crustal‐scale sinistral transcurrent shear zone. Shear zones of this type may occur elsewhere and shear zone fabrics should therefore be carefully analysed before the direction of tectonic transpost can be determined
Sensitivity and evolution of sea‐turtle magnetoreception: observations, modelling and constraints from geomagnetic secular variation
Authors: Courtillotl Vincent , Hulot Gauthier , Alexandrescu Mioara , le Mouë Jean‐Louis , Kirschvink Joseph L. 
Published: November 2006

ABSTRACTIn a series of papers, Lohmann and Lohmann (1991, 1994a, 1994b, 1996) provide evidence for remarkable sensitivity of sea‐turtles to the earth's magnetic field and suggest that it is used by these animals to determine global position and to navigate. In this paper, we emphasize that a consequence of these observations taken together is that sea‐turtles should be able to accurately detect the full (vector) magnetic‐field, and perhaps spatial gradients. In order to interpret these observations, we propose a simple model in which the turtle is considered as a small permanent magnet, on which the geomagnetic field exerts a torque. This torque varies as a function of turtle azimuth and field parameters which depend mainly on latitude. Although this simple model accounts for some of the observational evidence, discrepancies might be due to a number of other factors, such as speed of magnetic field changes during experiments or lack of field homogeneity. Also, the earth's field has varied significantly over the last few centuries and some of the magnetic features observed today and suggested by the Lohmanns for use in sea‐turtle navigation were very different or even not present two or three centuries ago. This would place constraints on the rate at which genetically inherited magnetic behavioural preferences can change with time. Alternately, it may imply that the experimental results need to be re‐evaluated and complemented.
Preliminary isotopic and palaeomagnetic evidence for Younger Dryas and Holocene climate evolution in NE Asia
Authors: Bernasconi S. M. , Dobson J. , McKenzie J. A. , Ariztegui D. , Niessen F. , Hsü K. J. , Chen Y. , Yang Q. 
Published: November 2006

ABSTRACTUntil recently the Younger Dryas cooling event was thought to be restricted to the North Atlantic region. However, preliminary evidence based on magnetic susceptibility and stable isotope data from Lake Hetongchahannor, a hypersaline alkaline lake in Inner Mongolia indicates that this event is observed in NE Asia. In addition we find indications of wetter climatic conditions between 9000 and 6000 yr BP, possibly due to increased monsoon activity, followed by a progressive aridification towards the present time.
Growth response of six weed species and spring barley (Hordeum vulgare) to increasing levels of nitrogen and phosphorus
Authors: ANDREASEN C , LITZ A‐S , STREIBIG JC 
Published: November 2006

SummaryA glasshouse experiment was carried out to investigate the influence of increasing levels of nitrogen and phosphorus on the growth of six common weed species growing alone or in competition with spring barley (Hordeum vulgare). Capsella bursa‐pastoris, Chenopodium album, Papaver rhoeas, Sinapis arvensis, Spergula arvensis, Viola arvensis and spring barley were grown in pots with different levels of nitrogen (0, 30, 60, 90, 120 and 150 kg N ha−1) or phosphorus (0, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 60 kg P ha−1). The aboveground parts of the plants were harvested after 7 weeks and the dry weight of shoots, percentage N and P content of the shoot and uptake of N and P were determined. A linear or a polynomial model was used to describe the data. Growing alone, Spergula arvensis was the only weed species that increased its dry weight at the same rate as barley. Weed species with low dry weight increase had larger increases in percentage N or P content than barley, indicating a luxury accumulation of nutrients. The uptake of N and P per pot did not differ much between weeds and barley. V. arvensis and P. rhoeas accumulated least nutrients (per cent of dry matter) and Spergula arvensis accumulated most. Weeds grew poorly in competition with barley. The percentage N and P content in barley did not change when they grew in competition with weeds.