bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Intraperitoneal injection induces a delayed preconditioning-like effect in mice
Authors: Labruto Fausto , Vaage Jarle , Li Guohu , Valen Guro 
Published: June 2005

We hypothesized that intraperitoneal injections of anaesthetics or fluid per se might evoke a delayed preconditioning-like response in mice hearts isolated and Langendorff perfused 24 h later. To test this, mice were given opioid anaesthesia by intraperitoneal injections or sham treated and the hearts were harvested and subjected to global ischaemia and reperfusion 24 h later in series 1. In series 2, mice were subjected to intraperitoneal injection of Ringer, sham needle prick procedure, or no intervention 24 h before heart isolation. In series 3, intraperitoneal Ringer injection 24 h earlier was compared with the effects of classic preconditioning or no pretreatment of the isolated heart or no treatment. Heart function was measured in all series. At the end of reperfusion, hearts in series 1 and 2 were frozen and infarct size was estimated by triphenyltetrazolium chloride solution. In series 3, separate hearts were frozen for immunoblotting to detect phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases. Cardiac activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB) was measured using a NFκB luciferase firefly reporter mouse. The ischaemia-induced impairment of left ventricular function was attenuated by opioid anaesthesia injected 24 h earlier, which also reduced infarct size. Injection of fluid, but not the sham needle prick procedure, reduced infarct size. The functional protection afforded by classic preconditioning and Ringer pretreatment was comparable. Neither cardiac MAP kinases nor NFκB were influenced by the interventions. In conclusion, this study demonstrates a delayed preconditioning-like effect of the heart caused by intraperitoneal administration of opioid anaesthetics and of fluid only in the mouse. The mechanism of protection remains to be determined.
Banking of embryos of mutated, paralytic tremor rabbit by means of vitrification
Authors: Papis Krzysztof , Sypecka Joanna , Korwin-Kossakowski Maciej , Wenta-Muchalska Elżbieta , Bilska Barbara 
Published: June 2005

Cryopreservation enables banking of embryos for future use in medicine and in animal breeding. It also enables protection of germ plasm of endangered species and unique strains or lanes of laboratory animals. This paper describes an example of employing a vitrification method for banking of embryos of a unique lane of rabbit. The paralytic tremor ( pt) rabbit is an X-linked recessive mutant lane of the Chinchilla breed characterized by hypomyelination of the central nervous system. In order to obtain a sufficient number of embryos, pt females were subjected to superovulation and surgical embryo collection. All suitable embryos were vitrified in 0.25 mL insemination straws in a modified EFS vitrification solution comprised of ethylene glycol (40%), Ficoll 70 (18%) and sucrose (0.3 M) in Hepes buffered TCM medium containing 20% fetal calf serum. In order to assess the efficiency of the vitrification procedure, a representative portion of vitrified embryos was warmed after a period of storage. Warmed embryos were subjected to in vitro culture for 72 h or were transferred to the uterus of synchronized recipients. The majority of the 141 warmed embryos survived vitrification and 100/141 (71%) developed to the blastocyst stage. Moreover, out of an additional 34 warmed embryos transferred to four recipients, eight (23.5%) developed to term and seven live pups were born. Six of the rabbit pups exhibited paralytic tremor symptoms typical for the pt lane. Although the overall efficiency of the vitrification method was lower compared with the effects usually achieved for 'healthy' embryos, results presented confirm the real possibility of the future restoration of the colony of pt rabbit, if sufficient number of embryos are cryopreserved.
Pulmonary cryptosporidiosis in an AIDS patient: successful treatment with paromomycin plus azithromycin
Authors: Palmieri F , Cicalini S , Froio N , Rizzi E B , Goletti D , Festa A , Macrí G , Petrosillo N 
Published: June 2005

Extra-intestinal cryptosporidiosis, especially of the biliary and respiratory tract, is likely in the course of an intestinal involvement, whereas it is rare without such a localization. We report a case of pulmonary cryptosporidiosis without apparent intestinal involvement in an AIDS patient, with favourable outcome after antimicrobial combination therapy with paromomycin plus azithromycin. The successful response to antimicrobial treatment was subsequently maintained by effective highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). We suggest that respiratory cryptosporidiosis should be investigated in HIV-infected patients with pulmonary symptoms and low CD4 cell count, and, if detected, treatment should include HAART plus the combination of paromomycin and azithromycin.
Realist review - a new method of systematic review designed for complex policy interventions
Authors: Pawson Ray , Greenhalgh Trisha , Harvey Gill , Walshe Kieran 
Published: June 2005

Evidence-based policy is a dominant theme in contemporary public services but the practical realities and challenges involved in using evidence in policy-making are formidable. Part of the problem is one of complexity. In health services and other public services, we are dealing with complex social interventions which act on complex social systems-things like league tables, performance measures, regulation and inspection, or funding reforms. These are not ‘magic bullets‘ which will always hit their target, but programmes whose effects are crucially dependent on context and implementation. Traditional methods of review focus on measuring and reporting on programme effectiveness, often find that the evidence is mixed or conflicting, and provide little or no clue as to why the intervention worked or did not work when applied in different contexts or circumstances, deployed by different stakeholders, or used for different purposes. This paper offers a model of research synthesis which is designed to work with complex social interventions or programmes, and which is based on the emerging ‘realist’ approach to evaluation. It provides an explanatory analysis aimed at discerning what works for whom, in what circumstances, in what respects and how. The first step is to make explicit the programme theory (or theories) - the underlying assumptions about how an intervention is meant to work and what impacts it is expected to have. We then look for empirical evidence to populate this theoretical framework, supporting, contradicting or modifying the programme theories as it goes. The results of the review combine theoretical understanding and empirical evidence, and focus on explaining the relationship between the context in which the intervention is applied, the mechanisms by which it works and the outcomes which are produced. The aim is to enable decision-makers to reach a deeper understanding of the intervention and how it can be made to work most effectively. Realist review does not provide simple answers to complex questions. It will not tell policy-makers or managers whether something works or not, but will provide the policy and practice community with the kind of rich, detailed and highly practical understanding of complex social interventions which is likely to be of much more use to them when planning and implementing programmes at a national, regional or local level.
Towards systematic reviews that inform health care management and policy-making
Authors: Lavis John , Davies Huw , Oxman Andy , Denis Jean-Louis , Golden-Biddle Karen , Ferlie Ewan 
Published: June 2005

Objectives To identify ways to improve the usefulness of systematic reviews for health care managers and policy-makers that could then be evaluated prospectively. Methods We systematically reviewed studies of decision-making by health care managers and policy-makers, conducted interviews with a purposive sample of them in Canada and the United Kingdom (n=29), and reviewed the websites of research funders, producers/purveyors of research, and journals that include them among their target audiences (n=45). Results Our systematic review identified that factors such as interactions between researchers and health care policy-makers and timing/timeliness appear to increase the prospects for research use among policy-makers. Our interviews with health care managers and policy-makers suggest that they would benefit from having information that is relevant for decisions highlighted for them (e.g. contextual factors that affect a review's local applicability and information about the benefits, harms/risks and costs of interventions) and having reviews presented in a way that allows for rapid scanning for relevance and then graded entry (such as one page of take-home messages, a three-page executive summary and a 25-page report). Managers and policy-makers have mixed views about the helpfulness of recommendations. Our analysis of websites found that contextual factors were rarely highlighted, recommendations were often provided and graded entry formats were rarely used. Conclusions Researchers could help to ensure that the future flow of systematic reviews will better inform health care management and policy-making by involving health care managers and policy-makers in their production and better highlighting information that is relevant for decisions. Research funders could help to ensure that the global stock of systematic reviews will better inform health care management and policy-making by supporting and evaluating local adaptation processes such as developing and making available online more user-friendly ‘front ends’ for potentially relevant systematic reviews.
Identifying United States Substance Abuse Treatment Programs
Authors: Carise Deni , McLellan A. Thomas , Festinger David S. , Kleber Herbert D. 
Published: June 2005

An accurate national listing of substance abuse treatment programs is essential for reporting data about the nation's treatment system and the clients entering that system. The National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services (NSSATS) is thought to provide the most comprehensive list of treatment providers. Therefore, we report a partial test of the concurrent validity of the NSSATS in a single mid-sized city. Using operational definitions of “substance abuse treatment” and “substance abuse treatment programs” derived from prior work by the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment; and working within the defined geographic boundaries of a single, mid-sized city, we compared the NSSATS list with an independently developed compilation of programs from 5 sources: (1) the Yellow Pages; (2) the Internet Infospace Directory; (3) a State directory of licensed substance abuse treatment services; (4) the Office of Applied Studies Directory; (5) the National Master Facility Inventory. With all sources, including NSSATS, we identified 96 separate listings that met the operational definition of adult treatment within the geographic bounds of the city. The NSSATS identified 70 of those 96 programs (73%), the 5-source compilation identified a sample of 83 (86%). While these findings from a single city cannot be considered a full test of the validity of the NSSATS, the data presented offer at least one partial but promising indication that the NSSATS may be a valid national listing and may serve as satisfactory national frame.
Minimal intervention as a preparation for the treatment of alcohol dependency
Authors: Bamford Zandra , Booth Peter. G. , McGuire James , Salmon Peter 
Published: June 2005

Objective. To investigate the use of a minimal intervention as a preparation for treatment of alcohol dependency.Method. A randomized‐controlled trial with 361 treatment seekers in an alcohol treatment unit in Northwest England. Study variables included recent alcohol intake, participants' views of their drinking problem, and several self‐report scale scores. Experimental group participants received an advance leaflet containing advice on reducing alcohol intake.Results. At follow‐up participants in the leaflet group were more likely to view their drinking problem as a learnt behaviour. There was a non‐significant tendency for more of the leaflet group to attend for assessment by comparison with controls. Significant improvements occurred over time in readiness to change (recognition subscale), self efficacy and dependency, independent of group allocation.Conclusions. The tendency toward increased attendance rates should be confirmed in a larger sample. Findings have potential implications for the usage of treatment preparatory material.
The incidence and outcome of subclinical psychotic experiences in the general population
Authors: Hanssen Manon , Bak Maarten , Bijl Rob , Vollebergh Wilma , Van Os Jim 
Published: June 2005

Objectives. To examine the incidence and 2‐year stability and outcome of subclinical psychotic experiences in the general population.Design. The Netherlands Mental Health Survey and Incidence Study (NEMESIS), a longitudinal general population study.Methods. A representative population sample of 7,076 participants was interviewed with the composite international diagnostic interview at baseline, 1 year later at T1 and again 2 years later at T2. A sample of individuals was identified who had onset of a new, broadly defined psychotic experience between baseline and T1 (N=79; incidence = 2%). Stability and outcome of these incident positive psychotic experiences was reassessed by interview at T2, at which 25 individuals had a CIDI rating of broadly defined psychotic experience (subclinical outcome) and 11 individuals had psychotic experiences with functional impairment and need for care (clinical outcome).Results. The majority of individuals with an incident psychotic experience did not display persistence of the experience. Only 8% of individuals with a T1 incident psychotic experience had evidence of a T2 subclinical outcome, and only 8% had evidence of a T2 clinical outcome. The emotional context and the number of the T1 incident psychotic experiences were strong modifiers of predictive power for the clinical outcome, but not (or to a much lesser extent) for the subclinical outcome.Conclusions. The incidence of positive psychotic experiences in the general population is around 100 times greater than traditional estimates of incidence of psychotic disorder such as schizophrenia. The far most likely outcome for these experiences is discontinuity. For the small proportion who display continuity, there is an equally large likelihood of subclinical and clinical 2‐year outcomes. Emotional appraisal and degree of intrusiveness of psychotic experiences are important modifiers not for continuity per se but for clinical outcome specifically.
Associations between organizational and incident factors and emotional distress in emergency ambulance personnel
Authors: Bennett Paul , Williams Yvette , Page Nicola , Hood Kerenza , Woollard Malcolm , Vetter Norman 
Published: June 2005

Objectives. This study examined the prevalence and correlates of post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and depression among emergency ambulance personnel.Design and method. A questionnaire and reminder were sent anonymously to 1029 emergency ambulance personnel in a large ambulance service.Results. Among the 617 respondents, levels of PTSD symptoms did not differ according to grade, but men had a higher prevalence rate than women. Key predictors of the severity of symptoms were organizational stress, the frequency of experiencing potentially traumatic incidents, length of service, and dissociation in response to an index incident. The degree of organizational, but not incident‐related, stress discriminated between ‘cases’ and ‘non‐cases’. Nine and 23% of recorded scores indicated clinical levels of depression and anxiety respectively. Several work factors were associated with these emotions, explaining 38% of anxiety and 31% of depression scores.Conclusion. Both organizational and individually based interventions may be necessary to minimize PTSD and other emotional disorders among ambulance personnel.
Developing a theoretical understanding of therapy techniques: An illustrative analogue study
Authors: Freeman Daniel , Garety Philippa A. , McGuire Philip , Kuipers Elizabeth 
Published: June 2005

Objectives. In psychological interventions, clients are often asked to review unhelpful beliefs. Surprisingly, there is no theoretical understanding of how beliefs are reviewed in therapy. Moreover, by understanding a therapeutic technique, potential interactions with symptom processes can be considered. An analogue study assessing the feasibility of researching therapy techniques is described, in which links between symptoms, reasoning style, and an experimental version of the cognitive therapy technique of belief evaluation are examined.Design. Individuals without psychiatric illness (N=30) completed (i) dimensional measures of depression, anxiety, and delusions,(ii) a measure of confirmatory reasoning (Wason's 2–4–6 task) both before and after instruction in disconfirmatory reasoning, and (iii) a belief evaluation task.Results. Compared with individuals with a confirmatory reasoning style, individuals with a disconfirmatory reasoning style in Wason's task were less hasty in their data gathering, considered a greater number of hypotheses during the task, had higher intellectual functioning, and had lower levels of depressive symptoms. Conversely, the individuals with the strongest confirmatory reasoning had higher levels of depression and preoccupation with delusional ideation. Successful adoption of disconfirmatory reasoning was associated with less hasty decision‐making and lower levels of preoccupation and distress by delusional ideation. Individuals with a disconfirmatory reasoning style reported more evidence both for and against their beliefs in the belief evaluation task.Conclusion. The preliminary evidence, from this small non‐clinical group, indicates that evaluating beliefs may partially involve the use of confirmatory and disconfirmatory reasoning processes. Disconfirmatory reasoning, associated with less hasty data gathering and consideration of alternatives, may lead to better belief evaluation. In the context of clinical research indicating that individuals with delusions are hasty in their data gathering and have difficulty considering alternatives, a potential implication of the findings is that individuals with delusions may find belief evaluation in therapy particularly difficult. The current study has clear limitations, but a research focus on specific techniques of therapy does appear feasible and show promise.
Jumping to conclusions in delusional and non‐delusional schizophrenic patients
Authors: Moritz Steffen , Woodward Todd S. 
Published: June 2005

Objective. Several studies have provided evidence for the claim that a subgroup of (schizophrenic) patients with current delusions share a jumping to conclusions (JTC) bias. The primary aim of the present study was to investigate whether currently deluded and non‐deluded schizophrenic patients perform differently on three tasks tapping probabilistic reasoning.Method. Probabilistic reasoning was assessed in 31 schizophrenic patients, 28 psychiatric controls, and 17 healthy controls. In addition to the traditional draws to decision procedure, we employed two tasks for which participants had to judge, at each stage, the likelihood that beads come from either container (graded estimates procedure). Reaction times were recorded for the graded estimates procedure.Results. A JTC bias was displayed by 42% of the schizophrenic patients in the draws to decision condition, while 7% of the psychiatric patients and none of the healthy controls reached a decision after only one bead. A similar pattern of results was observed for the graded estimates procedure. This bias was more pronounced in deluded schizophrenic patients, although currently non‐deluded patients also showed evidence for earlier decisions. A bias to over‐adjust when confronted with potentially disconfirmatory evidence was confined to deluded schizophrenic participants. There was also evidence for an increase in JTC in the deluded group over the course of the tasks. No substantial group differences occurred with respect to reaction time parameters indicating that results are not attributable to impulsivity.Discussion. The findings provide further evidence for state and trait characteristics of abnormal reasoning in paranoid schizophrenia. Results are discussed in light of several competing explanations for JTC in schizophrenia.
Drug Interactions
Authors: Mick Rosemarie 
Published: June 2005

AbstractDrug interaction is the alteration of drug disposition (i.e. pharmacokinetics) and/or drug effect (i.e. pharmacodynamics) of one drug due to the presence of a second drug. In pharmacokinetic interaction, one drug's elimination rate or enzyme‐mediated metabolism may be inhibited or induced by a second drug. During pharmacodynamic interaction, the net drug effect may be enhanced or diminished or a new side‐effect may appear that was not seen with either drug alone. To assess drug interaction, a randomized complete block design is employed in which all treatments (e.g. each single drug and the combination) are administered to each subject. The order of the treatments is randomly assigned. Disposition and/or effect measures are repeated after each treatment is administered. Using planned contrasts, the interaction is tested by comparing the treatment means for a single drug to that of the combination.
Pharmacoepidemiology, Adverse and Beneficial Effects
Authors: Guess H. A. 
Published: June 2005

AbstractPharmacoepidemiology has been defined as “the study of the distribution and determinants of drug‐related events in populations and the application of this study to efficacious drug treatment.” The termdrugis generally understood to include vaccines and the populations are understood to be human. Pharmacoepidemiology is an essential component of pharmaceuticaloutcomes researchand ofrisk management of pharmaceutical products. Many pharmacoepidemiologic studies are observational, and selection bias and confounding, includingconfounding by indication, are especially critical problems to be addressed in design, analysis, and interpretation. Information bias from misclassification of exposures, outcomes, and covariates is also of particular concern and may impair the ability to control confounding. Another problem is that the hazard function for drug‐related adverse and beneficial effects often varies with duration of therapy. The hazard function may be influenced not only by the biology but also by depletion of susceptibles.
Introduction to the Dynamic Regime of Measurement Systems
Authors: Sydenham Peter H. 
Published: June 2005

Abstract
Although a considerable amount of instrument subsystem blocks can be adequately characterized and appreciated in terms of their static or steady state behavior, it often is essential to appreciate how they respond under dynamically changing conditions. Measuring systems produce changing values as measurements are made. The measuring system itself can act to alter the value of the signals during such dynamic transients. Thus, the dynamic behavior of systems is most important lest the measurements made are in error. This article introduces the general situation. Linearly responding systems are emphasized, it being considered that this treatment will suit the bulk of response situations met in instrumentation practice.