bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Accuracy of Hospital Report Cards Based on Administrative Data
Authors: Glance Laurent G. , Dick Andrew W. , Osler Turner M. , Mukamel Dana B. 
Published: May 2006

Context. Many of the publicly available health quality report cards are based on administrative data. ICD‐9‐CM codes in administrative data are not date stamped to distinguish between medical conditions present at the time of hospital admission and complications, which occur after hospital admission. Treating complications as preexisting conditions gives poor‐performing hospitals “credit” for their complications and may cause some hospitals that are delivering low‐quality care to be misclassified as average‐ or high‐performing hospitals.Objective. To determine whether hospital quality assessment based on administrative data is impacted by the inclusion of condition present at admission (CPAA) modifiers in administrative data as a date stamp indicator.Design, Setting, and Patients. Retrospective cohort study based on 648,866 inpatient admissions between 1998 and 2000 for coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, coronary angioplasty (PTCA), carotid endarterectomy (CEA), abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair, total hip replacement (THR), acute MI (AMI), and stroke using the California State Inpatient Database which includes CPAA modifiers. Hierarchical logistic regression was used to create separate condition‐specific risk adjustment models. For each study population, one model was constructed using only secondary diagnoses present at admission based on the CPAA modifier: “date stamp” model. The second model was constructed using all secondary diagnoses, ignoring the information present in the CPAA modifier: the “no date stamp model.” Hospital quality was assessed separately using the “date stamp” and the “no date stamp” risk‐adjustment models.Results. Forty percent of the CABG hospitals, 33 percent of the PTCA hospitals, 40 percent of the THR hospitals, and 33 percent of the AMI hospitals identified as low‐performance hospitals by the “date stamp” models were not classified as low‐performance hospitals by the “no date stamp” models. Fifty percent of the CABG hospitals, 33 percent of the PTCA hospitals, 50 percent of the CEA hospitals, and 36 percent of the AMI hospitals identified as low‐performance hospitals by the “no date stamp” models were not identified as low‐performance hospitals by the “date stamp” models. The inclusion of the CPAA modifier had a minor impact on hospital quality assessment for AAA repair, stroke, and CEA.Conclusion. This study supports the hypothesis that the use of routine administrative data without date stamp information to construct hospital quality report cards may result in the mis‐identification of hospital quality outliers. However, the CPAA modifier will need to be further validated before date stamped administrative data can be used as the basis for health quality report cards.
The impact of caregivers’ characteristics, patients’ conditions and regional differences on family burden in schizophrenia: a longitudinal analysis
Authors: Roick C. , Heider D. , Toumi M. , Angermeyer M. C. 
Published: May 2006

Objective:  Impact of caregiver characteristics, patient variables, and regional differences on family burden.Method:  Two hundred and eighteen schizophrenia patients and key‐relatives of an urban and a rural area were examined five times over 30 months. Patients’ psychopathology, service utilization; relatives’ burden, coping abilities and contact duration with the patients were recorded. Effects of interpersonal differences and intrapersonal changes over time were analyzed with regression models.Results:  Interpersonal differences (patients’ positive and negative symptoms, relatives’ coping abilities, and patient contact) and intrapersonal changes (relatives’ coping abilities, patients’ negative symptoms and utilization of community care) predicted family burden.Conclusion:  Family education programs should help caregivers to improve their coping strategies. Therapy solutions must address negative symptoms just as much as positive symptoms, as these especially impact caregivers. Intensified community‐based care can reduce burden, but provision alone is not sufficient. Psychiatrists and caregivers should motivate patients to take advantage of such offers.
Two years of continued early treatment for recent‐onset schizophrenia: a randomised controlled study
Authors: Grawe R. W. , Falloon I. R. H. , Widen J. H. , Skogvoll E. 
Published: May 2006

Objective:  This random‐controlled study evaluated benefits derived from continued integrated biomedical and psychosocial treatment for recent‐onset schizophrenia.Method:  Fifty cases of schizophrenia of less than 2 years duration were allocated randomly to integrated or standard treatment (ST) for 2 years. ST comprised optimal pharmacotherapy and case management, while IT also included cognitive‐behavioural family treatment, that incorporated skills training, cognitive‐behavioural strategies for residual psychotic and non‐psychotic problems and home‐based crisis management. Psychopathology, functioning, hospitalisation and suicidal behaviours were assessed two monthly and a composite index, reflecting overall clinical outcome was derived.Results:  IC proved superior to ST in reducing negative symptoms, minor psychotic episodes and in stabilising positive symptoms, but did not reduce hospital admissions or major psychotic recurrences. The composite index showed that significantly more IC patients (53%) had excellent 2‐year outcomes than ST (25%).Conclusion:  Evidence‐based treatment achieves greater clinical benefits than pharmacotherapy and case management alone for recent‐onset schizophrenia.
Do psychotherapies produce neurobiological effects?
Authors: Kumari Veena 
Published: May 2006

Background:An area of recent interest in psychiatric research is the application of neuroimaging techniques to investigate neural events associated with the development and the treatment of symptoms in a number of psychiatric disorders.Objective:To examine whether psychological therapies modulate brain activity and, if so, to examine whether these changes similar to those found with relevant pharmacotherapy in various mental disorders.Methods:Relevant data were identified from Pubmed and PsycInfo searches up to July 2005 using combinations of keywords including ‘psychological therapy’, ‘behaviour therapy’, ‘depression’, ‘panic disorder’, ‘phobia’, ‘obsessive compulsive disorder’, ‘schizophrenia’, ‘psychosis’, ‘brain activity’, ‘brain metabolism’, ‘PET’, ‘SPECT’ and ‘fMRI’.Results:There was ample evidence to demonstrate that psychological therapies produce changes at the neural level. The data, for example in depression, panic disorder, phobia and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), clearly suggested that a change in patients' symptoms and maladaptive behaviour at the mind level with psychological techniques is accompanied with functional brain changes in relevant brain circuits. In many studies, cognitive therapies and drug therapies achieved therapeutic gains through the same neural pathways although the two forms of treatment may still have different mechanisms of action.Conclusions:Empirical research indicates a close association between the ‘mind’ and the ‘brain’ in showing that changes made at the mind level in a psychotherapeutic context produce changes at the brain level. The investigation of changes in neural activity with psychological therapies is a novel area which is likely to enhance our understanding of the mechanisms for therapeutic changes across a range of disorders.
Differential BOLD responses to auditory target stimuli associated with a skin conductance response
Authors: Lagopoulos Jim , Gordon Evian , Ward Philip B. 
Published: May 2006

Background:The orienting reflex (OR) is a fundamental biological mechanism thought to reflect automatic adaptive processing of environmental stimuli necessary for successful interaction with the environment. It has been hypothesized that the OR is generated in response to novelty such as in the case where a mismatch results between an internal neuronal template stored in working memory and incoming stimuli. Recent blood oxygenated level dependant (BOLD) activation studies that have investigated networks involved in the processing of novelty have suggested the recruitment of a distributed limbic-neocortical network. In the present study, event-related functional resonance imaging with simultaneous autonomic electrodermal activity was used to detect single trials of an auditory oddball task associated with the OR.Results:The pattern of activations indicated two distinct, but partially overlapping, networks. Predominantly, frontal activations were seen for the target stimuli that did elicit an OR, including the orbitofrontal gyrus and anterior cingulate gyrus, as well as activations in the anterior thalamus and cerebellum. On contrary, parietal activations including the supramarginal gyrus and precuneus were seen for the target stimuli that that did not elicit an OR.
In vitro antiseptic properties of an ammonium compound combined with denture base acrylic resin
Authors: Pesci‐Bardon C. , Fosse T. , Serre D. , Madinier I. 
Published: May 2006

Background:  Denture base acrylic resin is easily colonised by oral endogenous bacteria and Candida spp., and eventually by extra‐oral species such as Staphylococcus spp., Pseudomonadaceae or members of Enterobacteriaceae. This microbial reservoir can be responsive for denture related stomatitis and aspiration pneumonia, a life‐threatening infection especially in geriatric patients. However, the oral and denture hygiene of dependant elderly individuals is extremely poor.Objective:  This in vitro study aimed to determine the per cent of a quaternary ammonium compound heat‐polymerised in acrylic resin necessary to obtain denture base displaying antiseptic properties.Design:  Acrylic resin discs containing 2–50% ammonium polymer (Poly 202063A; 0% control) were soaked in artificial saliva for 4 weeks. Resin discs were incubated for 24 hours with Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa [37°C, brain–heart infusion (BHI) broth and phosphate‐buffered saline (PBS) buffer] and Candida albicans (30°C, Schaedler broth), in 15 ml (168 discs) and 600 μl (168 discs) of inoculum. Microbial growth was verified at t 0 hours and t 24 hours. Data were recorded as the mean of three colony forming unit (CFU) numerations. The borderline of antimicrobial effect was determined at 0.1% viable cells.Results:  In 600 μl of PBS inoculum, resin specimens had a bactericidal effect (E. coli and S. aureus: 2%; P. aeruginosa: 10%) and a fungicidal effect (C. albicans: 50%). Long‐term stability and toxicity in vivo studies are now required.Conclusion:  A 2% quaternary ammonium compound polymerised with a denture acrylic resin displayed antiseptic properties after a 4‐week soaking period in artificial saliva. Such antiseptic denture base could help geriatric patients to improve their oral health.
Antileukemia activity of the combination of an anthracycline with a histone deacetylase inhibitor
Authors: Sanchez-Gonzalez Blanca , Yang Hui , Bueso-Ramos Carlos , Hoshino Koyu , Quintas-Cardama Alfonso , Richon Victoria M. , Garcia-Manero Guillermo 
Published: May 2006

Abstract
We studied the cellular and molecular effects of the combination of an anthracycline with 2 different histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACIs): vorinostat (suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid) and valproic acid (VPA). The 10% inhibitory concentration (IC10) of idarubicin was 0.5 nM in MOLT4 and 1.5 nM in HL60 cells. Concentrations above 0.675 μM of vorinostat resulted in at least 80% loss of cell viability in both cell lines. Concentrations of 1.5 to 3 mM of VPA induced 50% to 60% loss in viability in HL60 and 80% in MOLT4 cells. The combination of idarubicin with vorinostat at 0.075 μM or VPA at 0.25 mM resulted in at least an additive loss of cell viability in both lines. Vorinostat (0.35 μM) and VPA (0.25 mM) in combination with idarubicin (0.5 nM) resulted in a significant increase in apoptotic cells in MOLT4 cells. The combination resulted in an increase in histone H3 and H4 acetylation at 24 hours, phosphorylated H2AX, as well as in the induction of p21CIP1 mRNA. No effect on cell cycle transition was observed. Of importance, the cellular and molecular effects observed were independent of the sequence used. In summary, the combination of an anthracycline with an HDACI should have significant clinical activity in patients with leukemia.
CRM197-conjugated serogroup C meningococcal capsular polysaccharide, but not the native polysaccharide, induces persistent antigen-specific memory B cells
Authors: Kelly Dominic F. , Snape Mathew D. , Clutterbuck Elizabeth A. , Green Sarah , Snowden Claire , Diggle Linda , Yu Ly-mee , Borkowski Astrid , Moxon E. Richard , Pollard Andrew J. 
Published: May 2006

Abstract
Neisseria meningitidis is one of the leading causes of bacterial meningitis and septicemia in children. Vaccines containing the purified polysaccharide capsule from the organism, a T cell-independent antigen, have been available for decades but do not appear to provide protection in infancy or immunologic memory as measured by antibody responses. By contrast, T cell-dependent serogroup C protein-polysaccharide conjugate vaccines protect against serogroup C meningococcal disease from infancy onward and prime for immunologic memory. We compared the magnitude and kinetics of plasma cell and memory B-cell responses to a meningococcal plain polysaccharide vaccine and a serogroup C glycoconjugate vaccine in adolescents previously primed with the conjugate vaccine. Plasma cell kinetics were similar for both vaccines, though the magnitude of the response was greater for the glycoconjugate. In contrast to the glycoconjugate vaccine, the plain polysaccharide vaccine did not induce a persistent immunoglobulin G (IgG) memory B-cell response. This is the first study to directly show that serogroup C meningococcal glycoconjugate vaccines induce persistent production of memory B cells and that plain polysaccharide vaccines do not, supporting the use of the conjugate vaccine for sustained population protection. Detection of peripheral blood memory B-cell responses after vaccination may be a useful signature of successful induction of immunologic memory during novel vaccine evaluation.
Air pollution and lung function among susceptible adult subjects: a panel study
Authors: Lagorio Susanna , Forastiere Francesco , Pistelli Riccardo , Iavarone Ivano , Michelozzi Paola , Fano Valeria , Marconi Achille , Ziemacki Giovanni , Ostro Bart D 
Published: May 2006

AbstractBackgroundAdverse health effects at relatively low levels of ambient air pollution have consistently been reported in the last years. We conducted a time-series panel study of subjects with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, and ischemic heart disease (IHD) to evaluate whether daily levels of air pollutants have a measurable impact on the lung function of adult subjects with pre-existing lung or heart diseases.MethodsTwenty-nine patients with COPD, asthma, or IHD underwent repeated lung function tests by supervised spirometry in two one-month surveys. Daily samples of coarse (PM10–2.5) and fine (PM2.5) particulate matter were collected by means of dichotomous samplers, and the dust was gravimetrically analyzed. The particulate content of selected metals (cadmium, chrome, iron, nickel, lead, platinum, vanadium, and zinc) was determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. Ambient concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O3), and sulphur dioxide (SO2) were obtained from the regional air-quality monitoring network. The relationships between concentrations of air pollutants and lung function parameters were analyzed by generalized estimating equations (GEE) for panel data.ResultsDecrements in lung function indices (FVC and/or FEV1) associated with increasing concentrations of PM2.5, NO2and some metals (especially zinc and iron) were observed in COPD cases. Among the asthmatics, NO2was associated with a decrease in FEV1. No association between average ambient concentrations of any air pollutant and lung function was observed among IHD cases.ConclusionThis study suggests that the short-term negative impact of exposure to air pollutants on respiratory volume and flow is limited to individuals with already impaired respiratory function. The fine fraction of ambient PM seems responsible for the observed effects among COPD cases, with zinc and iron having a potential role via oxidative stress. The respiratory function of the relatively young and mild asthmatics included in this study seems to worsen when ambient levels of NO2increase.
Clinical and immunological effects of Rituximab in patients with lupus nephritis refractory to conventional therapy: a pilot study
Authors: Vigna-Perez Mónica , Hernández-Castro Berenice , Paredes-Saharopulos Octavio , Portales-Pérez Diana , Baranda Lourdes , Abud-Mendoza Carlos , González-Amaro Roberto 
Published: May 2006

AbstractWe studied the clinical and immunological effects of Rituximab (anti-CD20) therapy in patients with lupus nephritis. In an open clinical trial, 22 patients with active systemic lupus erythematosis and renal involvement (mainly class III and IV according to the WHO classification) that was refractory to conventional therapy were studied. In all these patients, Rituximab (0.5 to 1.0 g at days 1 and 15) was added to the immunosuppressive therapy and its therapeutic effect was evaluated. In addition, the levels and function of regulatory T lymphocytes and the apoptosis of immune cells were assessed. We found a significant reduction in disease activity (p < 0.05, MEX-SLEDAI index), and proteinuria (p < 0.05) at days 60 and 90 of Rituximab therapy. Although most patients showed improvement in creatinine clearance and erythrocyturia, no significant changes in these parameters were detected. In most patients (20/22), B cell depletion was observed, but no clear-cut effect of Rituximab on complement levels or auto-antibody titers was detected (p > 0.05 in all cases). One patient died at day 70 with invasive histoplasmosis. No important adverse effects of Rituximab therapy were registered in other patients. A significant enhancement in the levels of different CD4+ regulatory cells (TREG, Th3, Tr1), but not CD8+ Ts lymphocytes, was observed at day 30. This increase was sustained for TREG cells at day 90, and accompanied by an improvement in their regulatory function. In addition, we observed an unexpected increase in the apoptosis of T cells at day 30. Interestingly, the enhancement in the suppressive function of TREG cells was not observed in the two patients that showed the poorest clinical response to Rituximab. We conclude that the data obtained in this open clinical trial suggest that Rituximab is a promising candidate for randomized controlled trials in patients with lupus nephritis refractory to the conventional immunosuppressive therapy. The effects of Rituximab on regulatory cells and apoptosis of T lymphocytes are interesting and its possible role in the putative effect of this biological agent in systemic lupus erythematosis deserves additional studies.
International Politics and History
Authors: Spencer Henry E. 
Published: May 2006

Our present task is one of definition. We are students of political science in its international phase, and we use history as a means. We operate in a marginal area that overlaps two fields, government as that term is usually understood, and the history of international affairs. How shall we bound this marginal area, what are its relations to those other two, more familiar conceptions?We are forced to this study by the World War. Modern history has had an immemse expansion for the reason that a tremendous political event has taken place and the world must know why it happened, the causes as well as the occasions and events. A voluminous literature is appearing on the doings and motives of Great Powers, on the rise of nationalities and their crude strivings, on the remapping of state boundaries, and the development of spheres of economic influence. We welcome, for instance, Mr. Gibbons' recent book on World Politics, a clear and useful summary of the recent history of certain political entities called world powers and their policies. It is the story as he calls it of “the struggle of European nations for world power.” The struggle is there. More power to him in his description of the contestants and the contest. But we view all this as only preparatory for our task.
Tendencies of the Labor Legislation of 1910
Authors: Andrews Irene Osgood 
Published: May 2006

A leading English economist once said, “It matters nothing to the seller of bricks whether they are to be used in building a palace or a sewer; but it matters a great deal to the seller of labor, who undertakes to perform a task of given difficulty, whether or not the place in which it is to be done is a wholesome and a pleasant one, and whether or not his associates will be such as he cares to have.”This statement strikes the keynote of the activity in the field of labor legislation during 1910. All down the ages the worker has been protesting against being required to sell his life or his health in addition to his labor, even though he was assured by most political economists that he was getting higher money rewards for dangerous or disagreeable work; and the moralist, too, was telling him that accident and disease were acts of God to be met by prayer and fasting.
History of the Majority Principle
Authors: Heinberg John Gilbert 
Published: May 2006

Perhaps no convention of our day is more acceptable to both the political scientist and the man on the street than the employment of the simple-majority device to determine the will of a group. Even the ponderous German scholar Otto von Gierke is drawn to the facetious conclusion that it is only in the institution of matrimony that the majority principle cannot be used. Exceptions, of course, exist. Examples familiar to students of American government include the two-thirds and three-fourths majorities of the federal amending process, the two-thirds vote of the United States Senate in the approval of treaties, and like majorities in the overriding of presidential and gubernatorial vetoes. But these exceptions do not invalidate the commonly accepted “naturalness” of decisions according to simple majority. The theory has probably been expressed best by Grotius: “It is unnatural,” he says, “that the majority should submit to the minority—hence the majority naturally counts as the whole, if no compacts or positive law prescribe a different form of procedure.”Although it now finds almost universal acceptance, the practice of reaching decisions by counting heads has not always prevailed, and even where employed its use has been limited and contingent. Speaking historically, the modern dogma of majority rule is a comparatively recent development, although it is probably an outgrowth of the various theories of majority rule of days gone.