bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
An uncommon presentation for a severe invasive infection due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus clone USA300 in Italy: a case report
Authors: Valentini Piero , Parisi Gabriella , Monaco Monica , Crea Francesca , Spanu Teresa , Ranno Orazio , Tronci Mirella , Pantosti Annalisa 
Published: April 2008

Abstract

Background
Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has been considered for many years a typical nosocomial pathogen. Recently MRSA has emerged as a frequent cause of infections in the community. More commonly, community-acquired (CA)-MRSA is a cause of infections of the skin and soft-tissues, but life-threatening infections such as necrotizing pneumonia and sepsis can occasionally occur.

Case presentation
This report describes an uncommon presentation of invasive CA-MRSA infection in an adolescent without known risk factors. The presentation was typical for bacterial meningitis, but the clinical findings also revealed necrotizing pneumonia. Following the development of deep venous thrombosis, the presence of an inherited trombophilic defect (factor V Leiden) was detected. The patient was successfully treated with an antibiotic combination including linezolid and with anticoagulant therapy. CA-MRSA was isolated from both cerebrospinal fluid and blood. The isolates were resistant to oxacillin and other beta-lactam antibiotics and susceptible to the other antibiotics tested including erythromycin. Molecular typing revealed that the strains contained the Panton-Valentine leukocidin genes and type IV SCCmec, and were ST8, spa type t008, and agr type 1. This genetic background is identical to that of the USA300 clone.

Conclusion
This report highlights that meningitis can be a new serious presentation of CA-MRSA infection. CA-MRSA strains with the genetic background of the USA300 clone are circulating in Italy and are able to cause severe infections.
The Reflux Disease Questionnaire: a measure for assessment of treatment response in clinical trials
Authors: Shaw Michael , Dent John , Beebe Timothy , Junghard Ola , Wiklund Ingela , Lind Tore , Johnsson Folke 
Published: April 2008

Abstract

Background
Critical needs for treatment trials in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) include assessing response to treatment, evaluating symptom severity, and translation of symptom questionnaires into multiple languages. We evaluated the previously validated Reflux Disease Questionnaire (RDQ) for internal consistency, reliability, responsiveness to change during treatment and the concordance between RDQ and specialty physician assessment of symptom severity, after translation into Swedish and Norwegian.

Methods
Performance of the RDQ after translation into Swedish and Norwegian was evaluated in 439 patients with presumed GERD in a randomized, double-blind trial of active treatment with a proton pump inhibitor.

Results
The responsiveness was excellent across three RDQ indicators. Mean change scores in patients on active treatment were large, also reflected in effect sizes that ranged from a low of 1.05 (dyspepsia) to a high of 2.05 (heartburn) and standardized response means 0.99 (dyspepsia) and 1.52 (heartburn). A good positive correlation between physician severity ratings and RDQ scale scores was seen. The internal consistency reliability using alpha coefficients of the scales, regardless of language, ranged from 0.67 to 0.89.

Conclusion
The results provide strong evidence that the RDQ is amenable to translation and represents a viable instrument for assessing response to treatment, and symptom severity.
Disability and treatment of specific mental and physical
disorders across the world
Authors: Ormel Johan , Petukhova Maria , Chatterji Somnath , Aguilar-Gaxiola Sergio , Alonso Jordi , Angermeyer Matthias C. , Bromet Evelyn J. , Burger Huibert , Demyttenaere Koen , de Girolamo Giovanni , Haro Josep Maria , Hwang Irving , Karam Elie , Kawakami Norito , Lépine Jean Pierre , Medina-Mora María Elena , Posada-Villa José , Sampson Nancy , Scott Kate , Üstün T. Bedirhan , Von Korff Michael , Williams David R. , Zhang Mingyuan , Kessler Ronald C. 
Published: April 2008

BackgroundAdvocates of expanded mental health treatment assert that mental
disorders are as disabling as physical disorders, but little evidence
supports this assertion.AimsTo establish the disability and treatment of specific mental and physical
disorders in high-income and low- and middle-income countries.MethodCommunity epidemiological surveys were administered in 15 countries
through the World Health Organization World Mental Health (WMH) Survey
Initiative.ResultsRespondents in both high-income and low- and middle-income countries
attributed higher disability to mental disorders than to the commonly
occurring physical disorders included in the surveys. This pattern held
for all disorders and also for treated disorders. Disaggregation showed
that the higher disability of mental than physical disorders was limited
to disability in social and personal role functioning, whereas disability
in productive role functioning was generally comparable for mental and
physical disorders.ConclusionsDespite often higher disability, mental disorders are under-treated
compared with physical disorders in both high-income and in low- and
middle-income countries.
Prevalence of common mental disorders in general practice attendees across Europe
Authors: King Michael , Nazareth Irwin , Levy Gus , Walker Carl , Morris Richard , Weich Scott , Bellón-Saameño Juan Ángel , Moreno Berta , Švab Igor , Rotar Danica , Rifel J. , Maaroos Heidi-Ingrid , Aluoja Anu , Kalda Ruth , Neeleman Jan , Geerlings Mirjam I. , Xavier Miguel , de Almeida Manuel Caldas , Correa Bernardo , Torres-Gonzalez Francisco 
Published: April 2008

BackgroundThere is evidence that the prevalence of common mental disorders varies across Europe.AimsTo compare prevalence of common mental disorders in general practice attendees in six European countries.MethodUnselected attendees to general practices in the UK, Spain, Portugal, Slovenia, Estonia and The Netherlands were assessed for major depression, panic syndrome and other anxiety syndrome. Prevalence of DSM–IV major depression, other anxiety syndrome and panic syndrome was compared between the UK and other countries after taking account of differences in demographic factors and practice consultation rates.ResultsPrevalence was estimated in 2344 men and 4865 women. The highest prevalence for all disorders occurred in the UK and Spain, and lowest in Slovenia and The Netherlands. Men aged 30–50 and women aged 18–30 had the highest prevalence of major depression; men aged 40–60 had the highest prevalence of anxiety, and men and women aged 40–50 had the highest prevalence of panic syndrome. Demographic factors accounted for the variance between the UK and Spain but otherwise had little impact on the significance of observed country differences.ConclusionsThese results add to the evidence for real differences between European countries in prevalence of psychological disorders and show that the burden of care on general practitioners varies markedly between countries.
Predicting violent reconvictions using the HCR-20
Authors: Gray Nicola S. , Taylor John , Snowden Robert J. 
Published: April 2008

BackgroundRisk assessment of future violent acts is of great importance for both public protection and care planning. Structured clinical assessments offer a method by which accurate assessments could be achieved.AimsTo test the efficacy of the Historical, Clinical and Risk Management Scales (HCR–20) structured risk assessment scheme on a large sample of male forensic psychiatric patients discharged from medium secure units in the UK.MethodIn a pseudo-prospective study, 887 male patients were followed for at least 2 years. The HCR-20 was completed using only pre-discharge information, and violent and other offending behaviour post-discharge was obtained from official records.ResultsThe HCR–20 total score was a good predictor of both violent and other offences following discharge. The historical and risk sub-scales were both able to predict offences, but the clinical sub-scale did not produce significant predictions. The predictive efficacy was highest for short periods (under 1 year) and showed a modest fall in efficacy over longer periods (5 years).ConclusionsThe results provide a strong evidence base that the HCR–20 is a good predictor of both violent and non-violent offending following release from medium secure units for male forensic psychiatric patients in the UK.
Using intervention trials in developmental psychiatry to
illuminate basic science
Authors: Green Jonathan , Dunn Graham 
Published: April 2008

SummaryWe discuss the nature of intervention in developmental psychiatry and the
implication of this for clinical trials. New ideas in the design of
randomised trials for complex interventions, along with recent statistical
advances in causal analysis, give such trials additional potential as a
means by which to study the basic science of complex developmental
disorders. The challenge for designers of trials is to model designs
effectively to make best use of these new opportunities. We give examples of
how this might be done and discuss implications for future trials designs in
the area.
Direct referrals from social services to community teams for older people with mental illness
Authors: Das Sujata , Bouman Walter P. 
Published: April 2008

Aims and MethodThe aim of the study was to evaluate the open referral system from social services to a community mental health team (CMHT) for older people. Referral letters from social services to the specialist team were reviewed, as were the case notes.ResultsOf the 40 referrals, 95% (n=38) were accepted by the CMHT. Only 15% (n=6) fulfilled the team's existing referral criteria. The majority of referrals (n=36, 90%) had details of the patient's mental health problems. None of the referrals with memory problems had a cognitive assessment. Of the 38 referrals accepted by the CMHT, 36 were found to be suffering from a mental illness. The open referral system from social services did not increase the total number of annual referrals.Clinical ImplicationsSocial services play an important role in identifying and referring older people with mental illness and ensure a potentially rapid referral route bypassing primary care. The practice of accepting direct referrals from social services should be encouraged and made an integral part of the referral system.
The quality of internet information on depression for lay people
Authors: Ferreira-Lay Phil , Miller Steve 
Published: April 2008

Aims and MethodTo examine the quality of information concerning depression available on the internet, identify factors associated with ‘good’ quality, and develop a simple-to-use instrument for assessing websites on depression. The Depression-Website Content Checklist was developed and compared with a previously validated, yet too complex, scale. Websites were assessed using both instruments.ResultsGood quality information is more likely to be found on websites provided by governmental, professional and charitable organisations. The differences we observed in the median scores for these websites using the Depression-Website Content Checklist are significant at the 0.05 level (Ctot; Mann–Whitney, U=24.00; P=0.013). The Depression-Website Content Checklist is a valid and reliable user-friendly tool.Clinical ImplicationsPatients can be directed towards better quality information by diverting them to public and non-sponsored websites. Clinicians can use the Depression-Website Content Checklist to determine website quality.
Lack of Association of Fatness-Related FTO Gene Variants with Energy Expenditure or Physical Activity
Authors: Berentzen T. , Kring S. I. I. , Holst C. , Zimmermann E. , Jess T. , Hansen T. , Pedersen O. , Toubro S. , Astrup A. , Sørensen T. I. A. 
Published: April 2008

Abstract
Context: A common variant in the first intron of FTO (rs9939609, T/A) is associated with fatness in Caucasians.
Objective: FTO may regulate energy homeostasis through the hypothalamus, and we hypothesized that AA-genotypes of rs9939609 FTO have lower energy expenditure and/or a lower level of physical activity.
Methods: The study population included all obese young men (body mass index ≥ 31 kg/m2) at the mandatory draft board examinations in the Copenhagen area from 1943 to 1977 and a randomly selected control group from this population. Subgroups of 234 obese and 323 controls were examined in 1998–2000 (median age 48 yr). Fat mass (FM), lean body mass (LBM), leisure-time physical activity (LTPA), maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max), resting energy expenditure (REE), and glucose-induced thermogenesis (GIT) were measured. The FTO rs9939609 variant was genotyped. A recessive transmission mode fit the data best. Logistic regression was used to assess the odds ratios of the AA-genotype in relation to LTPA, VO2max, REE, and GIT.
Results: The AA-genotype of FTO rs9939609 had higher REE in the age-adjusted model, but the association was eliminated when adjusting for FM and LBM. The AA-genotype was not associated with LTPA, VO2max, or GIT. This was not influenced by adjustment for age, FM, or LBM. The AA-genotype had increased FM, even with adjustment for age, LBM, REE, GIT, VO2max, and LTPA. Results were similar for FTO rs8050136 and rs7193144.
Conclusions: Homozygous carriers of the A-allele of rs9939609 FTO do not have lower REE, GIT, VO2max, or LTPA but higher FM, irrespective of LBM, REE, GIT, VO2max, and LTPA.
The exon 3-deleted/full-length Growth Hormone Receptor Polymorphism Does Not Influence the Effect of Puberty or Growth Hormone Therapy on Glucose Homeostasis in Short Non-Growth Hormone-Deficient Small-for-Gestational-Age Children: Results from a Two-Year Controlled Prospective Study
Authors: Audí L. , Carrascosa A. , Esteban C. , Fernández-Cancio M. , Andaluz P. , Yeste D. , Espadero R. , Granada M. L. , Wollmann H. , Fryklund L. ,   the Spanish SGA Study Group
Published: April 2008

Abstract
Context: The exon 3-deleted/full-length (d3/fl) GH receptor polymorphism (d3/fl-GHR) has been associated with responsiveness to GH therapy in short small-for-gestational-age (SGA) patients, although consensus is lacking. However, its influence on glucose homeostasis, at baseline or under GH therapy, has not been investigated.
Objective: Our objective was to evaluate whether the d3/fl-GHR genotypes influence insulin sensitivity in short SGA children before or after puberty onset or during GH therapy.
Design: We conducted a 2-yr prospective, controlled, randomized trial.
Setting: Thirty Spanish hospitals participated. Auxological, GH secretion, and glucose homeostasis evaluation was hospital based, whereas molecular analyses and data computation were centralized.
Patients: Patients included 219 short SGA children [body mass index sd score (SDS) ≤ 2.0]; 159 were prepubertal (group 1), and 60 had entered puberty (group 2).
Intervention: Seventy-eight patients from group 1 were treated with GH (66 μg/kg·d) for 2 yr (group 3).
Main Outcome Measures: Previous and 2-yr follow-up auxological and biochemical data were recorded, d3/fl-GHR genotypes determined, and data analyzed.
Results: In groups 1 and 2, fasting glucose, insulin, homeostasis model assessment (HOMA), and quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI) were similar in each d3/fl-GHR genotype. Group 2 glucose, insulin, and HOMA were significantly higher and QUICKI lower than in group 1. In group 3 GH-treated patients, height SDS, growth velocity SDS, fasting glucose, insulin, and HOMA significantly increased as did body mass index SDS at the end of the second year, and QUICKI decreased during the first and second years, with no differences among the d3/fl-GHR genotypes.
Conclusion: In short SGA patients, the d3/fl-GHR genotypes do not seem to influence prepubertal or pubertal insulin sensitivity indexes or their changes over 2 yr of GH therapy (66 μg/kg·d).
Assessing quality in community pharmacy
Authors: Halsall Devina , Ashcroft Darren , Noyce Peter 
Published: April 2008

Abstract

Objective
This review aimed to identify English-language instruments used to assess quality in community pharmacy and to evaluate their reported validity, reliability, feasibility and acceptability. Method A systematic review was conducted to identify literature relating to the use of instruments to assess quality in community pharmacy. The electronic databases searched included Embase, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, Medline, e-PIC and Pharmline, covering the period of time between January 1990 and March 2007. Reference lists of identified studies and websites of pharmacy bodies were also searched.

Key findings
Ten instruments were identified from Canada, Malta, the UK and the US. These were used for quality-assurance and/or quality-improvement purposes and focused on: clinical governance systems; organisational culture/maturity; safety (climate and systems); effectiveness of pharmacy services; and stakeholders' feedback on services. The assessments were at different stages of development, and the majority had not been tested for construct validity, reliability and feasibility.

Conclusions
Assessments with high validity and reliability give a good indication of the quality of care provided and can indicate areas for improvement. Further research is needed to establish a composite view of quality in community pharmacy; and many of the instruments identified required validation.
South Australian rural community pharmacists and the provision of methadone, buprenorphine and injecting equipment
Authors: Le Phuong-Phi , Hotham Elizabeth D 
Published: April 2008

Abstract

Objective
To explore how the provision of opioid substitution treatment (OST) services and/or sterile injecting equipment impacts on community pharmacists. This will assist in identifying strategies to improve the provision of maintenance pharmacotherapy treatment programmes in South Australia.

Setting
Rural South Australia.

Method
Analysis of data obtained from earlier focus-group interviews enabled compilation of key issues for the development of a semi-structured questionnaire. Fifty-one potential participants were contacted. Twenty-five rural South Australian community pharmacists were interviewed through a 15–20-min semi-structured telephone questionnaire. Interview responses were manually recorded. Thematic analysis of the transcribed data by one researcher enabled determination of key issues.

Key findings
Fifty-one potential pharmacies were contacted and 25 pharmacists were interviewed. All 25 pharmacists had experience in the provision of OST services, 22 sold sterile injecting equipment and 10 offered needle exchange. Exploration of service issues in the context of rural pharmacy practice found that the geographical closeness of a small community may improve rapport with local prescribers, as indicated by 15 of 25 pharmacists. Access to other allied health services was described by 13 of the 25 as difficult. Servicing OST clients can have a negative impact on pharmacy business, is not profitable for rural pharmacies and only seven of the 25 felt adequately remunerated for the provision of their services. Client debt was an identified issue and the practice of withholding doses because of lack of payment was supported by 10 participants and not supported by an equal number. Mentored practice was highlighted as a potential area for future training, as was managing clients' debts. In addition, pharmacy structural changes to provide a private dosing area would preserve confidentiality during supervised dosing.

Conclusion
Access to allied health services in regional areas could be better coordinated. Financial incentives for South Australian pharmacies, without increasing the cost of treatment for clients, requires further exploration.
How pharmacy students interpret ‘silence’ in pharmacist-customer communications
Authors: Lilja John , Volmer Daisy , Hamilton David , Reijonen Pekka 
Published: April 2008

AbstractObjectiveTo improve communication in the pharmacy we need to be more knowledgeable about the processes that lead to good communication. In a series of studies, video-vignettes have been used to analyse how pharmacists and pharmacy students assess customers, and how this influences the provision of drug information. The studies are based on a combination of cognitive psychology, attribution theory and discourse analyses. The aim of this study was to analyse how pharmacy students and management science students at Åbo Akademi University interpreted pharmacy-customer interactions when pharmacists handled requests for prescribed drugs.MethodIn total, 46 pharmacy students (first and second year) and 14 management science students participated in the study. The students were shown two pre-recorded video-vignettes illustrating pharmacists responding to two young customers who wanted their prescriptions. Both customers were rather quiet. After each vignette was shown, the students completed a questionnaire.Key findingsFew differences in responses were noted when comparing the answers from pharmacy students from the first and second year. In the more serious of the cases shown, a young woman with a swollen jaw, the management students rated the customer's desire for information about the drug's side-effects more highly than did the pharmacy students. Also, for the same case, the management science students' rating of the customer's desire for empathy and emotional support was higher than that of the pharmacy students.ConclusionPharmacy students tend to interpret a quiet customer who is clearly in discomfort as being someone who does not want much information about the side-effects of the medication prescribed. Also, there is a risk that the serious, life-threatening medical cases shown and discussed during their pharmacy degree might have led to a lower assessment of the customer's need for empathy when the customer has a non-life-threatening condition. However, further studies involving more active customers being assessed by pharmacy students need to be undertaken.
Site-selective Termination of DNA Replication by Using a Caged Template
Authors: Tanaka Keita , Kuzuya Akinori , Komiyama Makoto 
Published: April 2008

Abstract
A caged DNA template, which bears a caged thymine {4-O-[2-(2-nitrophenyl)propyl]thymine, TNPP} near its 5′-end, was prepared, and used for in vitro DNA replication. The photo labile 2-(2-nitrophenyl)propyl (NPP) group efficiently blocked DNA polymerase reaction, and site-selectively terminated the extension of complementary strand there. This NPP-group can be removed by simple 30-min UVA irradiation to the solution, to give restriction-enzyme-free sticky end on the template strand.
Bismuth-catalyzed Intramolecular Hydro-oxycarbonylation of Alkynes
Authors: Komeyama Kimihiro , Takahashi Keita , Takaki Ken 
Published: April 2008

Abstract
Bi(OTf)3 was found to be a good catalyst for intramolecular addition of carboxylic acids to alkynes (hydro-oxycarbonylation), which afforded the corresponding 5- and 6-membered lactones in moderate to good yields under mild conditions.