bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
We can't find the Solution until We Know the Problem: Understanding the Mental Health Nursing Labour Force
Authors: Gough Karla , Happell Brenda 
Published: March 2007

Objective: Difficulties recruiting and retaining adequate numbers of mental health nurses have been extensively documented in the Australian literature. The continued increase in the average age of practicing mental health nurses has intensified concerns that a workforce crisis is rapidly approaching. Despite the urgency of this situation, there has been no comprehensive, co-ordinated collection of labour force data. The aim of this paper is to synthesise and present labour force data gathered from various official sources to more clearly identify and articulate the nature and extent of the problem. Method: Relevant labour force data was obtained from reports produced by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare and the Victorian Department of Human Services. Information was collated, synthesised and, in some cases, re-analysed to provide a clearer picture of the current national and Victorian mental health nursing labour force, as well as requirement and supply projections. Results: Findings are consistent with conclusions in the available literature but suggest that the magnitude of the problem is likely to be greater than previously anticipated. Conclusions: The systematic and coordinated collection of mental health nursing labour force data is crucial in order that appropriate interventions can be implemented and evaluated.
A Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Alcohol‐Dependent Domestic Violence Offenders: An Integrated Substance Abuse–Domestic Violence Treatment Approach (SADV)
Authors: Easton Caroline J. , Mandel Dolores L. , Hunkele Karen A. , Nich Charla , Rounsaville Bruce J. , Carroll Kathleen M. 
Published: March 2007

This pilot study evaluated the efficacy of a twelve‐session cognitive behavioral group therapy for alcohol‐dependent males with co‐occurring interpersonal violence (IPV). Participants were 85 alcohol‐dependent males who were arrested for domestic violence within the past year. Seventy‐eight male adults were randomized to either a cognitive behavioral Substance Abuse Domestic Violence (SADV) group (N = 40) or a Twelve‐Step Facilitation (TSF) Group (N = 38). There was no significant difference between SADV versus TSF in the number of sessions attended. Regarding substance use, the group assigned to SADV reported using alcohol significantly fewer days (eg, 90 days of abstinence across the 12 weeks of treatment) as compared to the TSF group. Regarding physical violence, there was a trend for participants in the SADV condition to achieve a greater reduction in the frequency of violent episodes across time compared to individuals in the TSF group. These data suggest the promise of the SADV group therapy approach for alcohol‐dependent males with a history of IPV who present for substance abuse treatment.
Adolescents with Conduct Disorder: Early Smoking and Treatment Requests
Authors: Bagot Kara S. , Berarducci Jennifer M. , Franken Frederick H. , Frazier Matthew J. , Ernst Monique , Moolchan Eric T. 
Published: March 2007

This study explored the relationship of a diagnosis of conduct disorder (CD) with the developmental smoking trajectory among 117 adolescent volunteers. Logistic regression analyses revealed that adolescents with CD smoked their first whole cigarette earlier (p = 0.03) and sought cessation treatment earlier (p = .01) compared to non‐CD adolescents. Additionally, adolescents who smoked their first whole cigarette before the age of nine were eight times more likely to have CD. These findings suggest that in addition to addressing disruptive behaviors, early prevention and access to interventions for tobacco use are needed for youths with CD.
Arteriolar Involvement in the Microvascular Lesions of Diabetic Retinopathy: Implications for Pathogenesis
Authors: GARDINER TOM A. , ARCHER DESMOND B. , CURTIS TIM M. , STITT ALAN W. 
Published: March 2007

ABSTRACTDiabetic retinopathy (DR) is the most widespread complication of diabetes mellitus and a major cause of blindness in the working population of developed countries. The clinicopathology of the diabetic retina has been extensively studied, although the relative contribution of the various biochemical and molecular sequelae of hyperglycemia remains ill defined. Many neural and microvascular abnormalities occur in the retina of short‐term diabetic animals but it remains uncertain how closely these acute changes relate to chronic human disease. It is important to determine the relationship between alterations observed within the first weeks or months in short‐term animal models, and human disease, where clinically manifest retinopathy occurs only after durations of diabetes measured in years. This review is focused on the retinal microvasculature, although it should be appreciated that pathological changes in this system often occur in parallel with abnormalities in the neural parenchyma that may be derivative or even causal. Nevertheless, it is useful to reevaluate the microvascular lesions that are manifest in the retina during diabetes in humans and long‐term animal models, since in addition to providing useful clues to the pathogenic basis of DR as a disease entity, it is in the deterrence of such changes that the efficacy of any novel treatment regimes will be measured. In particular, an emphasis will be placed on the relatively unappreciated role of arteriolar dysfunction in the clinical manifestations and pathology of this disease.
Control of Retinal Arterial Tone by a Paracrine Retinal Relaxing Factor
Authors: MAENHAUT NELE , BOUSSERY KOEN , DELAEY CHRISTOPHE , VAN DE VOORDE JOHAN 
Published: March 2007

ABSTRACTRetinal blood flow is regulated by local factors. In vitro bioassay experiments give evidence that retinal tissue from different species (dogs, pigs, sheep, cows, rats, and mice) continuously releases a factor lowering tone of isolated retinal arteries. This factor is a general relaxant as it was effective in relaxing different types of vascular as well as nonvascular smooth muscle preparations. This factor is called the retinal relaxing factor (RRF) and its characteristics do not correspond with those of the many well‐known vasorelaxants found in retina (i.e., NO, prostanoids, adenosine, ADP, ATP, lactate, glutamate, GABA, taurine, adrenomedullin, CGRP, ANP, BNP, and CNP). This unknown RRF is transferable, hydrophilic, and heat‐stable. Its relaxing effect is independent of the presence of the vascular endothelium and of NO‐synthase, adenylyl cyclase, guanylyl cyclase, and cyclooxygenase activity. RRF might have a role in hypoxic vasodilation in retinal arteries since hypoxia induces relaxation only when retinal tissue is present. Thus, the RRF pathway is sensitive to changes in oxygen tension and might be a sensitive mechanism for adjusting vascular diameter to retinal oxygen levels. Diminished RRF release might explain the decreased retinal circulation observed in disease with atrophic retina.
Retinal Blood Flow in Diabetes
Authors: CLERMONT ALLEN C. , BURSELL SVEN‐ERIK 
Published: March 2007

ABSTRACTObjective: This is a review of work focused on characterizing retinal blood flow in diabetes. The review describes results on validation of the methodology for retinal blood flow measurements, the mechanisms of action of various factors that contribute to abnormalities in retinal blood flow in diabetic rodent models, and the translation of these results to clinical studies demonstrating the effectiveness of different therapeutic agents in normalizing retinal blood flow abnormalities in patients with diabetes.Methods: Retinal blood flow measurements were performed using video fluorescein angiography, a methodology that is based on the measurement of fluorescein dye circulation times through the retinal circulationResults: The results of a number of experiments are summarized, detailing the effects of hyperglycemia and the roles of factors such as protein kinase C activation, endothelin‐1 and endothelin‐3, angiotensin‐II, and nitric oxide in the development of retinal blood flow abnormalities in diabetes.Conclusion: The measurement of retinal blood flow both in animals and in clinical trials using the same retinal blood flow measurement methodology can provide a valuable method of quantitation allowing characterization of physiological effects and their association with metabolic alterations in diabetes and their effects on the development and incidence of microvascular complications.
Inflammation and Breakdown of the Blood–Retinal Barrier During “Physiological Aging” in the Rat Retina: A Model for CNS Aging
Authors: CHAN‐LING TAILOI , HUGHES SUZANNE , BAXTER LOUISE , ROSINOVA EMELIA , McGREGOR IAIN , MORCOS YVETTE , VAN NIEUWENHUYZEN PETRA , HU PING 
Published: March 2007

ABSTRACTObjective:To examine the possible contribution of inflammation and breakdown of the blood–brain barrier in the central nervous system (CNS) of physiologically aged rats showing cognitive decline.Methods:Young (3‐ to 6‐month‐old) and aged (24‐ to 30‐month‐old) Wistar rats were assessed by the novel object recognition test. Vascular and inflammatory changes in the CNS were investigated in whole‐mount preparations or sections of retinas from young adult or aged male Wistar rats.Results:Aged rats showed a significant impairment in short‐term memory compared with young adults. Deterioration of blood–retinal barrier function in aged rats was evidenced by leakage of intravascular tracer into the retinal parenchyma and reduced immunoreactivity for the tight junctional protein, occludin. Immunohistochemistry revealed the presence of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II‐positive resident microglia, activated T cells, and monocyte‐like cells in the retinal parenchyma of aged rats only. Microglia positive for the ED1 antigen, indicative of phagocytic activity, were also observed in these retinas.Conclusion:Breakdown of the blood–retinal barrier, MHC class II expression, microglial activation, and trafficking of activated T cells are associated with physiological aging. Such changes in the CNS may contribute to the pathogenesis of age‐related cognitive decline.
Host Immune Competence and Local Ischemia Affects the Functionality of Engineered Vasculature
Authors: CHEN RUTH R. , SNOW JONATHAN K. , PALMER JACK P. , LIN ANGELA S. , DUVALL CRAIG L. , GULDBERG ROBERT E. , MOONEY DAVID J. 
Published: March 2007

ABSTRACTObjective: Localized and sustained delivery of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a promising approach to overcome the limited efficacy of bolus delivery. The authors examined the effects of host immune competence and local ischemia on the functionality of new vessel networks formed with this approach.Methods: Vessel structure and perfusion resulting from implantation of porous 85:15 poly(lactide‐co‐glycolide) scaffolds releasing VEGF165 were measured in both subcutaneous tissue and ischemic hindlimbs of immune competent C57BL/6 and immune deficient SCID mice.Results: Sustained VEGF delivery resulted in a similar ∼100% increase in vessel density within scaffolds in both implant sites, and both animal models. However, the resulting perfusion within scaffolds implanted in subcutaneous tissue increased modestly versus control (18–35%), while perfusion increased 52–110% above control when VEGF‐releasing scaffolds were placed in ischemic hindlimbs of C57BL/6 or SCID mice. VEGF delivery improved perfusion in the entire ischemic limb (55 ± 18% of the normal value by week 6; 138% increase over control) in SCID mice. Although C57BL/6 mice demonstrated spontaneous recovery from ischemia, VEGF delivery accelerated recovery as compared to control.Conclusions: Localized and sustained VEGF delivery can create functional vasculature that amplifies recovery of tissue ischemia. However, increases in local and regional perfusion were highly dependent on the implantation site and the animal model.
Proapoptotic Nitric Oxide Production in Amyloid β Protein‐Treated Cerebral Microvascular Endothelial Cells
Authors: KIMURA CHIWAKA , OIKE MASAHIRO , WATANABE MICHI , ITO YUSHI 
Published: March 2007

ABSTRACTObjective: The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of amyloid β protein (Aβ) on cerebral microvascular endothelium, and their possible involvement in Aβ‐induced apoptosis in the neighboring cells.Methods: Cultured bovine brain microvascular endothelial cells (BBECs) were incubated with Aβ for 24 h. Production of nitric oxide (NO) was assessed by nitric oxide‐sensitive fluorescent dye, DAF‐2, and the expression of NO synthase (NOS) proteins was examined by Western blotting. Effects of Aβ‐treated microvascular endothelium on the DNA damage of the neighboring cells were assessed by single‐cell gel electrophoresis.Results: Aβ increased the expression of iNOS protein, but did not affect eNOS and nNOS expressions in BBECs. Aβ‐treated BBECs showed spontaneous NO production in the presence of L‐arginine. The neural cell line PC12 showed marked apoptosis after being co‐cultured with Aβ‐treated BBECs for 48 h, and the apoptosis was as potent as that induced by the inflammatory stimuli lipopolysaccharide and interferon‐γ. The DNA damage of PC12 cells evoked by co‐culture with Aβ‐treated BBECs was prevented by L‐NG‐nitroarginine methyl ester, an inhibitor of NOS.Conclusions: These results indicate that Aβ induces the expression of iNOS in BBECs, and that microvascular endothelium‐derived NO may induce apoptosis in neighboring neural cells.
Wavelet Analysis of Skin Perfusion in Healthy Volunteers
Authors: HÄFNER HANS‐MARTIN , BRÄUER KURT , EICHNER MARTIN , KOCH ISOLDE , HEINLE HELMUT , RÖCKEN MARTIN , STRÖLIN ANKE 
Published: March 2007

ABSTRACTObjective: Rhythmical changes in microvascular perfusion of the skin depend on various influences, which appear continuously but not in a predictable manner. For identifying and quantifying different physiological influences the authors used wavelet transformation, analyzing continuously and simultaneously measured data.Methods: A total of 34 healthy volunteers were included in the study. At the dorsum of the left hand, skin perfusion was measured by laser Doppler fluxmetry (LDF) and skin temperature was measured. Simultaneously, the electrocardiogram and the respiration were recorded. The recorded time series were analyzed with wavelet transformation and scale correlation (S‐correlation).Results: Semilinear analysis with wavelet transformation allowed a visualization of temporal changes in LDF frequency and amplitude in a color‐coded quasi three‐dimensional diagram. The authors found that tissue perfusion over an observation period of 327.68 s is governed by 6 closely connected, overlying waves with different degrees of freedom. The major determinants are low frequencies in LDF, which correlates with changes in skin temperature, responsible for 68.5% of the influence. Surprisingly, though indispensable for blood flow, respiration and heartbeat contributed to less then 2.5% of the rhythmic changes.Conclusions: When wavelet transformation is used in analyzing LDF time series, the different rhythms of cutaneous blood flow are made visible and quantifiable and can be assigned to different physiological origins. The application of this novel analysis method allows identifying mechanisms regulating skin perfusion, which will greatly facilitate the diagnosis of a variety of important vascular diseases, such as chronic venous insufficiency, diabetes, or neurotrophic disorders.
Angiostatin Does Not Contribute to Skeletal Muscle Microvascular Rarefaction with Low Nitric Oxide Bioavailability
Authors: FRISBEE JEFFERSON C. , SAMORA JULIE BALCH , BASILE DAVID P. 
Published: March 2007

ABSTRACTObjective: Ischemic angiogenesis is dependent on vascular nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability, in part by reducing matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)‐2 and ‐9 activity and angiostatin production. In the metabolic syndrome, the authors have demonstrated that reduced skeletal muscle microvessel density (SKMVD) was correlated with chronic reductions in NO bioavailability, but these relationships are complicated by the presence of the multiple pathological states inherent in the metabolic syndrome. Given this, the authors hypothesized that low NO bioavailability could reduce SKMVD in normal rats, independent of any systemic pathologies associated with the metabolic syndrome, and that this would be correlated with increased angiostatin production.Methods: Rats were separated into 3 groups: (1) control, (2) chronic NOS inhibition (10−4 M L‐NAME; drinking water), and (3) NOS inhibition/normotensive (combined L‐NAME/hydralazine treatment; 50 mg/kg/d; drinking water). Vessel structure, reactivity, and NO bioavailability were assessed in isolated vessels using standard techniques. SKMVD was determined using established immunohistochemical methods. Established protein analyses were performed for MMP‐2 and MMP‐9 expression/activity and for angiostatin expression. Alterations in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels under the conditions of the study were assessed using ELISA.Results: After 6 weeks, MAP was elevated in L‐NAME rats vs. control, although this difference was abolished in L‐NAME/hydralazine rats. NOS inhibition abrogated dilation to acetylcholine and arterial eNOS activity. While NOS inhibition reduced SKMVD vs. control, hydralazine treatment did not improve density, suggesting that rarefaction in NOS‐inhibited rats was independent of elevated pressure. Skeletal muscle demonstrated reduced active hyperemia and increased minimum vascular resistance in L‐NAME rats, which was also associated with increased arteriolar wall stiffness. L‐NAME/hydralazine treatment, while still causing an elevated resistance, prevented arteriolar wall stiffening. Protein analysis demonstrated that neither expressions nor activities of MMP‐2 or MMP‐9 were altered from control in skeletal muscle of rats treated with L‐NAME and angiostatin production was not altered in any group. Chronic NOS inhibition was associated with no consistent change in plasma VEGF levels.Conclusions: These results suggest that a reduced SKMVD develops with low NO bioavailability, although this process was not associated with significant alterations to either VEGF or angiostatin production.
Non‐word repetition in Spanish‐speaking children with Specific Language Impairment (SLI)
Authors: Girbau Dolors , Schwartz Richard G. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractBackground: A number of previous studies have revealed that children with Specific Language Impairment have limitations in Phonological Working Memory as revealed by a task that requires them to repeat non‐words of increasing syllable length. However, most published studies have used non‐words that are phonotactically English.Aims: The purpose was to examine the repetition of non‐words that are consistent with the phonotactic patterns of Spanish. The study also examined the relationship between non‐word repetition performance and other language measures.Methods & Procedures: Eleven Spanish‐speaking children with Specific Language Impairment and 11 age‐matched children with typical language development aged 8;3–10;11, who were part of a larger study of sentence processing, participated in the study. The primary data were the children's repetition of 20 non‐words, four at each syllable length (one, two, three, four and five syllables). The children's productions were transcribed and scored for non‐word, segmental and cluster accuracy as well as for error type.Outcomes & Results: The children with Specific Language Impairment performed more poorly on almost all measures of accuracy, but particularly in their production of three‐, four‐, and five‐syllable non‐words. Substitutions were the most frequent error type for both groups. Likelihood ratios indicated that non‐word repetition performance is a highly accurate identifier of language status in these preselected groups. The children's non‐word repetition was highly correlated with most of the standardized language measures that were administered to the children.Conclusions: The repetition of non‐words consistent with Spanish phonotactics reveals word‐length effects and error patterns similar to those found in previous studies. It extends these findings to older school‐age Spanish‐speaking children with Specific Language Impairment. Given the limited choices for instruments that can be used to identify children with Specific Language Impairment, a Spanish Non‐word Repetition Task has the potential to be a valuable screening test for clinical and research purposes.
Sentence repetition as a measure of early grammatical development in Italian
Authors: Devescovi Antonella , Cristina Caselli M. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractBackground: Research on language acquisition and disorders highlights the need to evaluate the early phases of language development for the early identification of children with language problems (screening), and to determine the nature and severity of language disorders (diagnosis).Aims: The paper presents a new Sentence Repetition Task developed for evaluating language abilities in Italian pre‐schoolers. Two studies are reported. The first is aimed at evaluating the power of the Sentence Repetition Task in discriminating the developmental changes in children's capacity to repeat sentences of different length and morphosyntactic complexity. Moreover, the test–retest reliability was assessed. The second study explored the relationship between the Sentence Repetition Task, free speech and verbal memory span.Methods & Procedures: The test included 27 sentences of different length and complexity. Each sentence was accompanied with a picture reproducing its global meaning. In Study 1, the Sentence Repetition Task was administrated to 100 middle‐ and lower‐class children (balanced for gender) between 2 and 4 years with a test–retest design. Test results were submitted to univariate analysis of variance, using five age levels as independent variables. To evaluate the test reliability, test–retest correlational analyses were conducted. In Study 2, 25 middle‐ and lower‐class children between 2 and 4 years of age, balanced for age and gender, participated. The performance of the children on the repetition test was compared with their spontaneous language data. Moreover, the same children received a Verbal Memory Span test, consisting of a list of ten strings of different number of words. Correlational analyses were conducted to evaluate the relationships between the Sentence Repetition Task, free speech and the Verbal Memory Span test.Outcomes & Results: Study 1 showed that 2‐year‐old children's repeated sentences were highly telegraphic. Between the age of 2;0 and 2;6 the mean length of utterance in the Sentence Repetition Task grew from approximately two to three words, and the number of omissions of articles, prepositions and modifiers significantly decreased. After 3;0 years old, omissions of free function words practically disappeared. The results of Study 2 showed that mean length of utterance, omission of articles and use of the verbs in the Sentence Repetition Task correlated with the same measures of the free speech. Moreover, positive correlations were found between verbal memory span and performance of both the repetition task and the free speech.Conclusions: Results demonstrate that the repetition test is reliable, discriminates between the different age groups examined, highlights the relevant developmental stages described in the literature, and provides a reliable measure of the mean length of utterance.